* Blog Tour / Review / Giveaway * THE FIRST KISS OF SPRING by Emily March

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* Blog Tour / Review / Giveaway * THE FIRST KISS OF SPRING by Emily MarchThe First Kiss of Spring by Emily March
Series: An Eternity Springs Novel
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on February 27, 2018
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four-stars

Life could be a dream...

Goal-oriented and gorgeous, Caitlin Timberlake's dreams took her to the top of the corporate ladder in New York City. Now years later, her goals have changed. She wants to come home to Eternity Springs and build a business and a family of her own—with the new man in town. So what if sexy mechanic Josh Tarkington wants nothing more than a fling? Caitlin is a patient woman who knows how to work hard and strategize to win what she desires. She desires Josh. Unfortunately, he has other plans.

If only things were different...

Josh craves Caitlin and all she has to offer. However, he is a man with secrets. He has worked hard to overcome his tragic past, but he's afraid to risk having a future because he knows trouble is never very far away. When a selfless act brings that trouble to his door, he stands to lose everything he cares about—including Caitlin. Will her love and the healing magic of Eternity Springs be enough to save him?

 

A heartwarming town, a close-knit family and secrets galore! I was intrigued from the first page. There are two sides to this story. There’s the flirty, happy-go-lucky romance that brings a smile to your face often as you read it … and there’s a glimpse into a childhood of terror that through luck and hard choices came out on the other side. It’s a little unorthodox of a method of giving us past recollections, and a tad confusing, but the overall story line was rich. The characters were really easy to fall for and the outlying community of family and friends added enrichment to the story. A satisfying read!

A chance meeting at an out of town wedding has Caitlin Timberlake setting her sites on the new man in town … before she’s even relocated! She’s ready to leave the big city lights of New York City and head to Eternity Springs, Colorado to be close to her family again and to embark on a new and exciting venture! It doesn’t hurt that she met a sexy man who happens to live in the same town!

Mechanic Josh Tarkington is all for a casual fling with the vivacious Caitlin, but he’s had his fill of hoping for forever, so he’s not willing to risk trying again. If she’s happy to settle for that, he’s her guy! As the story unfolds, we get to know Josh’s past and how it shaped him into the person he is today, and why he’s so gun shy of life outside his circles.

 

 

 

 

THE FIRST KISS OF SPRING
An Eternity Springs Novel
Emily March

 

Summary:

Spring has come to Eternity Springs in The First Kiss of Spring, the newest installment in this New York Times bestselling series by Emily March.

Life could be a dream…

Goal-oriented and gorgeous, Caitlin Timberlake’s dreams took her to the top of the corporate ladder in New York City. Now years later, her goals have changed. She wants to come home to Eternity Springs and build a business and a family of her own—with the new man in town. So what if sexy mechanic Josh Tarkington wants nothing more than a fling? Caitlin is a patient woman who knows how to work hard and strategize to win what she desires. She desires Josh. Unfortunately, he has other plans.

If only things were different…

Josh craves Caitlin and all she has to offer. However, he is a man with secrets. He has worked hard to overcome his tragic past, but he’s afraid to risk having a future because he knows trouble is never very far away. When a selfless act brings that trouble to his door, he stands to lose everything he cares about—including Caitlin. Will her love and the healing magic of Eternity Springs be enough to save him?

 

 

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Chapter One

Home.

Caitlin Timberlake exited the Telluride Regional Airport terminal and turned in a slow circle as she feasted on the scene. Colorado’s Western Slope was a world of jagged, rocky mountain peaks, of icy-cold streams that burbled and frothed and grew silvery fish that tasted like heaven when cooked over a campfire for breakfast. The San Juan Mountains in summertime presented a banquet of color—hills of green and gold; red rocks and alpine meadows blanketed in wildflowers of pink, blue, purple, and yellow, all presenting majestically beneath an azure sky.

Home.

She filled her lungs with clean mountain air, smelling pine and fir and forest, and tension melted from her bones like snowfall in spring.

Home.

For the better part of eight years, she’d lived in New York City, hustling and bustling and busting her butt as a textile designer, trying to build a life for herself. She specialized in fabric design for bedding and while she liked the creative aspects of the job, work fulfillment remained elusive. After all, pretty bedspreads would never change the world, and Caitlin wanted her work to matter. She wanted her life to matter.

Caitlin’s discontent had been born in the moment when she’d learned that her brother Chase had gone missing in a war-torn part of the world, and it had grown in the weeks that followed. His safe return home hadn’t squelched the emotion. She’d discovered too much about herself and her wishes and desires during that troubling time.

Primarily, she’d recognized that she’d spent too much time living thousands of miles away from those she loved. It had taken her some time to figure out what she wanted to do about it and even more time to make the decision to act. A few significant hurdles remained in her way, but she was closer than ever before to becoming her own fairy godmother and making some of her wishes come true.

She exhaled loudly, grinned, and announced, “Hello, Colorado. I’ve missed you.”

She’d have sworn she heard the wind whisper back, Welcome home, Caitlin.

I’m doing the right thing,” she told herself. Now if she could only convince her mother of that fact.

Well, that was a battle for another day, one after she’d cleared her hurdles and had her fairy wand in hand. Today it was time to shift into bridesmaid mode.

Caitlin had flown to Denver yesterday after work and spent the night in an airport hotel. This morning’s flight into Telluride had landed right on time, and the hotel shuttle was waiting for her. After wrestling with her purse, her tote, her computer case, and two suitcases stuffed to overflowing with necessities for her role as bridesmaid, she wanted to kiss the friendly van driver who introduced himself as he took the burdens off her hands.

The fact that Will Gustophsen was cute and about her age didn’t hurt, either.

A year ago when her college friend, Stephanie Kingston, asked her to be a bridesmaid at her destination wedding, Caitlin hadn’t hesitated to say yes. She just wished she’d known sooner about all the stuff Steph needed her to bring with her and she’d have shipped it ahead.

“You here for an extended stay?” Will asked as he lifted a suitcase into the back of the van.

“Because I have so much luggage?” Caitlin smiled ruefully and explained, “I’m here for a wedding.”

“Ahh. In that case, you travel light.”

With the luggage loaded, she climbed into the shuttle and, as the only passenger, had her pick of seats. She buckled her seat belt, then settled back for what should be a short drive to her hotel.

As the driver turned onto Last Dollar Road and headed down the big hill he asked, “Where are you from?”

“Here. Well, not Telluride. I grew up in Denver. But I went to college in Tennessee and moved to New York City after graduation.”

“Should I offer my congratulations or condolences?”

Caitlin laughed. “I’m glad I had the experience. I’m ready to come home, though.”

“Back to Denver?”

“No.” Her gaze focused on the small town nestled into the valley below. “I’ve developed a fondness for mountain towns.”

Will Gustophsen glanced into the rearview mirror and wagged his brows flirtatiously. “Please tell me you’re moving to Telluride.”

His obvious interest soothed the spot on her heart still achy from a breakup last Christmas. Doug Wilkerson hadn’t broken her heart when he dumped her, but he had bruised it. “I doubt it. This place is a little too pricy for me. Besides, I have family in Eternity Springs.”

“That’s a nice little town, but then so is this. It’s possible to live here without breaking the bank. You just need to be smart about it.” He launched into a Telluride pitch that sounded as if it had been written by the Chamber of Commerce.

Caitlin couldn’t argue with him. The scenery was spectacular and the activities he rattled off sounded inviting. As they approached her hotel in Mountain Village, the pedestrian-friendly, European-style planned resort community built above Telluride and connected to the historic mining town by a gondola lift system, she was anxious to get out and explore. She’d been a kid the last time she’d visited this part of Colorado, and she was sure the place had changed. She had a few hours to kill before meeting Stephanie for a drink, so this was her time to play tourist.

“I get off work at six,” Gustophsen said. “I’d love to show you around. Buy you dinner.”

“Thank you,” she responded, meaning it. Having a cute guy hit on her was nice. “But I’m afraid I already have plans this evening. The bride arrives this afternoon and the weekend is jam-packed from there.”

He gave an exaggerated sigh. “Always my luck.”

The friendly chatter continued until they arrived at the hotel. After he wrestled her luggage from the van and gave her his number in case her plans changed, she gave him a large tip and thanked him for the hospitable welcome.

Caitlin checked into her room and spent some time answering a few of the unending stream of work-related e-mails. She would miss a few things about her job. The mountain of e-mails that required her constant attention wouldn’t be one of them.

With her professional fires put out, she shut her laptop with a satisfied thump, grabbed a hat and sunscreen, and left the hotel. She walked around Mountain Village a bit and was suitably impressed with the style and elegance of the resort town. However, she didn’t feel quite at home until she took the gondola down into Telluride and wandered up and down the streets, reading historical markers and inspecting the shops, comparing them to those in another small, historic mining town near and dear to her heart.

Eternity Springs might not have a gondola and ski runs, but the bakery, handmade soap shop, and Christmas store could definitely hold their own against these. People came from all over the country to shop at Vista’s art gallery and Whimsies glass studio, and her mother’s Yellow Kitchen was the best five-star restaurant in Colorado.

She couldn’t wait to be there.

She ate lunch at the Thai spot that her driver had recommended, then indulged in a chocolate ice cream cone for dessert. Taking a seat on a park bench near the gondola station, she savored her treat and people-watched.

The town was bustling this August weekend with tourists and locals alike out enjoying the afternoon sunshine. She grinned as a pair of preteen boys whipped past her on mountain bikes, their mud-caked clothing providing as much evidence of a fun-filled, reckless ride down the mountain as did the joy in their smiles.

Too bad her weekend was packed with wedding activities. She wouldn’t mind giving that a try herself. She was impressed by the way the ski resorts had found ways to attract vacationers, athletes, and daredevil fourteen-year-old boys during the off season. Such was the way little mountain towns became tourist destinations and supported thriving economies throughout the year.

She knew that such success didn’t happen on its own. She’d had a front-row seat during the revitalization of Eternity Springs and saw how people had worked together to make it happen.

Eternity Springs. It’s funny how the little town called to her. It wasn’t even home. Not the home of her childhood, anyway. She’d never even visited Eternity Springs until her parents lost their minds and separated after she went off to college at Vanderbilt and her mother ran away from home.

The ringing of her cell phone interrupted her thoughts. She dug the phone from her backpack and checked the number and the time. Stephanie. They were due to meet up in Mountain Village in half an hour. “Hello, bride.”

“Hey, Cait. You won’t believe what happened. Our plane out of Logan was late and we missed our connection. We won’t get to Telluride until late tonight.”

“Oh no.” Potential ramifications of such a delay flittered through Caitlin’s mind. “What did you have scheduled for today? What can I do to help?”

“It’s all covered. I built extra time into the schedule, thank goodness. I’m just really disappointed that you and I won’t have our girl-time this afternoon to catch up, and of course, missing dinner with George and Nathan. Nathan was really looking forward to spending some time with you before we dive into wedding business. Tomorrow will be jam-packed.”

Stephanie had been trying to set Caitlin up with her work friend ever since Doug dumped her. However, the guy’s Instagram was a total turnoff and Caitlin simply wasn’t interested. Unfortunately, Stephanie was a terrier when she set her mind to something, and she’d decided Caitlin and Nathan were made for each other—despite the little issue that she lived in NYC and he in Miami.

This plane delay might be a blessing, Caitlin decided.”Don’t worry about it, Steph. You and I will both be at Marsha’s wedding in October. We can have a nice long visit then.”

“That’s true. And maybe you and Nathan can find time to grab a drink together tomorrow. It might fit after our spa appointments and the guys’ round of golf. I don’t want you to miss the opportunity to meet him. Telluride is such a romantic place.”

Caitlin closed her eyes and worked to keep the sigh out of her voice as she said, “Telluride is beautiful, Steph. It’s a gorgeous place to have your wedding. And the weather for Saturday is supposed to be spectacular.”

They discussed arrangements for meeting the following day. Before ending the call, Stephanie said, “If you happen to meet a tall, dark, and handsome stranger tonight, feel free to invite him to the wedding. I had six last-minute cancellations, and I’ve already paid for the meals.”

“I thought you have your heart set on me and Nathan.”

“I do, but it never hurts for a guy to have a little competition.”

Thinking about her lack of a love life put a damper on Caitlin’s day. Maybe she should have taken the shuttle driver up on his offer, after all. As luck would have it, as soon as she slipped her phone into her backpack, her gaze landed on a couple about her age, holding hands and stealing kisses as they walked along the sidewalk. This time, she couldn’t hold back her sigh.

She was alone. Again. Still. How was it that she could live and work in a city of more than eight million people and always feel alone? Even when she was dating someone? But she did feel alone and she was tired of pretending otherwise. Tired of pretending, period. Hadn’t she been partially relieved when after eight months of dating, Doug sat her down and gave her the “just friends” talk?

Thinking about relationships while sitting in a mountain town caused her thoughts to drift back toward her parents. In hindsight Caitlin could see that she shouldn’t have been so hard on her mom when Ali ran off to Eternity Springs. If Ali Timberlake’s feelings back then had been anything like those Caitlin experienced now, then Cait could better understand her mom’s actions. Ali had tried to explain, using terms like “lack of fulfillment,” “yearning for more,” and “unwillingness to settle.” Caitlin hadn’t wanted to hear what her mother had been trying to say. For a while, neither had her father.

But Ali hadn’t let anyone stop her, had she? She’d left Mac, left Denver, and eventually opened a restaurant in Eternity Springs. She’d made new friends and a place for herself in the community. In proving to herself that she could live without Mac, Ali had realized that was the last thing she wanted to do. Living alone in Denver, Mac had come to a similar conclusion.

“And all was well that ended well,” Caitlin murmured, tearing her eyes away from the lovers. Guess her parents hadn’t lost their minds when they separated, after all.

Caitlin polished off her ice cream, licked her sticky fingers, and decided she’d had enough sightseeing. She’d go back to the hotel, maybe change into her swimsuit and do a few laps in the indoor pool. Shoot, maybe she’d change her clothes and rent a bike and act like a fourteen-year-old boy.

Making her way to the gondola entrance, she took a place at the end of the line. A group of college-age tourists fell in behind her, laughing, talking loudly, smelling strongly of weed.

Caitlin stepped forward and as the gondola attendant opened the cabin door for her to climb inside, the constant stream of foul language coming from two girls behind her put her off. She stepped aside. “I’ll let them go first.”

They giggled and stumbled and f-bombed their way into the cabin. The attendant met Caitlin’s eyes and rolled his, then shut the door.

As she watched the next cabin approach, a male voice spoke behind her. “This is one of the pet-friendly cabins. I hope you don’t mind sharing with my dog?”

Caitlin glanced over her shoulder and saw a tall man with sun-streaked dark hair and striking high, defined cheekbones. But it was his eyes that demanded a woman’s attention. Framed by long, thick lashes, they were the color of a stormy spring sky, and they were mesmerizing. She stared into them just a little bit too long.

What had he said? His dog. “I love dogs.”

Embarrassed, she finally jerked her gaze away from those fabulous eyes and toward his dog. Because he’d asked if she minded sharing, she expected to see a big, hairy, scary-looking dog. Instead, she saw a pretty miniature long-haired red dachshund with her hind legs propped up by a doggie wheelchair.

* * *

The hot blonde went gooey. They always did. It was one of the few perks Josh Tarkington had found of being the owner of a dog with a broken back.

“Oh no.” Her moss green eyes softened, her bee-stung mouth rounded. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Her,” Josh corrected as the cabin arrived and the attendant opened the door for them. “She’s a girl. She jumped down from a sofa and hit wrong. She’s paralyzed from the middle of her spine down.”

“That’s so sad,” the blonde said, stepping into the cabin and taking a seat.

“She’s actually a happy girl.” Josh scooped up the dog and wheelchair and set her on the seat opposite the woman. He shrugged out of his backpack, sat beside his dog, and smiled at his gondola companion. “The woman who owned her at the time of the accident said Penny was depressed for about three days, but after that she recovered her usual sunny disposition.”

A large group of children and adults asked to wait for the next cabin since they traveled together, so the attendant shut the door with Josh and the blonde as the only passengers.

“Her name is Penny?” she asked.

He nodded, and when the woman extended her hand to let the dachshund sniff her, Josh noticed she wore no ring on her left hand. “Copper Penny. I’m Josh, by the way.”

She lifted her gaze from the dog and smiled at Josh brightly. “Nice to meet you, Josh. My name is Caitlin.”

“Are you a local, Caitlin, or are you visiting?”

“I’m here for a college friend’s wedding. I live in New York. How about you?”

“I’m playing tourist here this weekend. This is my first trip to Telluride.”

“It’s the first time I’ve been in years. It’s gorgeous here, isn’t it?”

“Definitely.” Josh said it without looking away from her.

Judging by the flutter of her smile and sudden shift of her gaze, his subtle flirtation did not go unnoticed. Caitlin returned her attention to the dog and asked, “So, how long have you had this precious Copper Penny?”

“Not quite a month. Her owner had to move into an assisted living center that doesn’t allow dogs, so she asked our local vet to find Penny a home. I’d gone to the adoption center to get an appropriately manly dog. I’m still not sure how I walked out with a crippled doxie.”

“Obviously, you needed a little good luck.”

Josh needed a couple of seconds to make the connection. “Ah, as in ‘See a penny, pick it up?’”

“And all the day you’ll have good luck,” Caitlin finished.

“It must be working. I get to share the gondola with a beautiful woman instead of the campers standing behind me in line. They obviously don’t have showers at their campsite.”

“I’m flattered.” After a brief pause, she added, “I think.”

The gondola exited the station and started up the hill.

Josh leaned forward and spoke earnestly. “I’m shooting for flattery. I’m not always very good at it, I’m afraid. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth whenever I attempt to flirt.”

A smile played at her lips. “Is this an attempt at flirtation?”

“I’m bad at it. I know.” He gave her his go-to sheepish grin. Her eyes went gooey again. Damn, I’m good.

But after only a moment of goo, Caitlin’s eyes narrowed. “Actually, I think you’re probably very good at it.”

Busted.

“In fact…” She folded her arms and studied him. “I have two older brothers. I know how these things work. Is the dog even yours?”

Josh sat up straight and added an offended note to his tone. “Are you insinuating that I use Penny’s handicap to help me pick up women?”

Her eyes glittered with amusement. “Before they met their wives, my brothers would have done it in a heartbeat. Stephen borrowed a puppy one time to attract a girl’s attention.”

Josh laughed. “Okay, so maybe it hasn’t escaped my notice that Penny is a bit of an icebreaker, but she is my dog. A high-maintenance one at that.”

Then he rolled out the winner. He had yet to meet a dog-loving woman who wasn’t impressed by the fact that keeping Penny healthy and happy meant he had to manually express her bladder three times a day.

“Okay, I never would have thought of that,” Caitlin said. “That’s dedication.”

Josh decided to save the daily dog-laundry ammo for later. “She’s worth it. She really is a sweet dog. So do you have a pet?”

“No. My apartment doesn’t allow anything bigger than fish, and besides, I travel too much with my job.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a textile designer.” She named the famous fashion design house she worked for and explained a little about her work.

He was impressed. “So, you’re an artist. I’m always intrigued by creative people. Do you work on a sketch pad or at a computer?”

“Both. I usually begin with sketches, but most of the designing is done on the computer.”

“I think it must be very rewarding to create something out of nothing. Bet it’s neat to see your work in a department store.”

Caitlin offered him a brilliant smile. “It is. I was so excited the first time it happened. I knew the date the line was due to be released. My mother flew in and we went to Macy’s together.” She laughed softly and added, “She bought one of everything and then we went and drank champagne. I think she was even more thrilled than I was. But enough about me. How about you? What work do you do?”

“I’m an engine mechanic. I work for myself. Opened my own shop earlier this year.”

“Now that is awesome. I dream of working for myself.”

“Being your own boss is rewarding, but it’s also the hardest work you’ll ever—” Josh broke off abruptly when Penny’s ears perked and her head came up.

The gondola cabin shuddered, jerked, and stopped its forward movement.

“What happened?” Caitlin asked, alarm in her voice.

Josh looked up and down the line. He saw no sign of trouble, but plenty of evidence of panic. Behind them, children cried. Ahead of them, one of the female partiers screamed.

I am so glad that wasn’t a pet friendly cabin.

We seem to be stable,” he said. “I think…”

Static emerged from a speaker above them, then a male voice said, “Attention passengers. Please remain calm. There is no cause for alarm. I repeat. There is no cause for alarm. Your safety is not at risk. Due to a mechanical issue, the main line from Telluride to Station St. Sophia has been halted. We are working to get it back up and running as soon as possible. We ask for your continued patience.”

In the wake of the announcement, Caitlin shrugged. “It could be worse. We could be in the cabin with the potheads.”

“Or the crying kids.”

“I’m not on a schedule. Are you?”

He’d planned to drive toward Delores and find a place to camp, but he could adjust. “Not at all. If you are here for a wedding, I’m surprised you don’t have every minute booked.”

She explained about the bride’s plane delay and confessed to relief about it, considering the woman’s matchmaking ideas. It provided a natural segue into the question he very much wanted to ask. “So, you’re not with anyone back home?”

“No. I’m single.” She reached across the aisle, scratched Penny behind her ears, and casually asked, “How about you?”

“I’m single, too. I live alone now, well except for Penny. This time last summer I lived with a whole gaggle of women, but they wouldn’t quit feeding me and I was getting fat, so I moved into a house by myself.”

At Caitlin’s owl-eyed blink of shock, he laughed aloud. “The look on your face is priceless. Before I decided to open the shop, I lived and worked in an RV park. The average age of the ladies was around sixty, and they liked to bake.”

“So you’re one of those,” Caitlin observed with a roll of her eyes.

“Those?”

“You like to tease.”

He had the sudden vision of curvaceous Caitlin lying on his bed, naked and shivering as he teased the tip of her breast to a point with his tongue. “Oh yeah.”

“Just like my brothers,” she said with a sigh.

That comment managed to pour icy water on his fantasies.

Reminded of thirst, he started to reach into his backpack for his water bottle when the speaker sounded again. “Attention, passengers. Stoppage is due to a mechanical malfunction that does not affect your safety. I repeat. Safety is not affected. The line from Station St. Sophia to Mountain Village will be restarted. That from Telluride to Station St. Sophia will be evacuated by our highly trained team. Again, we ask for your patience.”

“Evacuated?” Caitlin asked. “We’re a hundred feet off the ground! How will they evacuate us?”

Josh peered through the window, looking straight down. “No more than eighty feet. I’ve suspect they’ll use a rope system. They’ll buckle you into a harness and lower you to the ground.”

“Oh.”

She didn’t sound the least bit enthusiastic at the prospect. “Are you afraid of heights?”

“No. Not really.” She showed him an embarrassed smile. “When I was in college I went climbing with my brother and one of his friends. To call him a daredevil doesn’t begin to describe him. Anyway, his friend missed a handhold and slid into me and knocked me off the mountain. I dangled at the end of my safety rope for the longest, loneliest five minutes of my life before my brother managed me pull me up. I can’t say I enjoyed the experience.”

“I wouldn’t think so.”

“How long do you suppose it will take them to get us down?”

“Depends on how big their team is and where they begin. We’re about halfway in between the town and Station St. Sophia.”

“So we probably won’t be the first they get to.”

“Probably not.”

She pursed her lips and thought about it, then nodded. “I’m okay with that. Will Penny be okay?”

Josh tore his gaze away from Caitlin and glanced down at his dog. “She’ll be fine. She’s had about all the exercise she can handle today.”

Though she could probably use the water he’d been about to pour for her a few minutes ago. He reached into his backpack for his water bottle but his fingers found the Corkcicle bottle he’d filled that morning instead.

“Since it looks like we’re going to be here for a while,” he said, wrapping his fingers around the bottle’s neck and pulling it from the pack. “Care to join me? I have blood orange kombucha.”

“I’d love some. Thank you.”

He reached back into his pack for the water and collapsible dog bowl, filled it halfway, then set it down for Penny. Next he pulled out the nesting wine glass and the collapsible water cup he carried.

He handed her the wine glass and she assembled it. “Don’t tell me. You were a Boy Scout.”

“Always prepared,” he quipped. That much was true. Sometimes in certain company, it was easier to drink his own “wine” than explain why he wasn’t drinking.

As he filled her glass, she observed, “You’re the first guy I’ve met who drinks kombucha. Are you into the natural health scene?”

He eyed her speculatively. “See, I don’t know you well enough yet to know how to answer that.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’ve lived in California and Oklahoma. If I told you I eat tofu and bean sprouts and you’re a California girl, chances are you’d be impressed. However, an Oklahoma girl possibly would dismiss me as a weak little weirdo.”

Caitlin gave him a fast once-over. Dryly, she said, “You’re obviously not weak or little. I don’t know you well enough to judge the weirdo part. Personally, I won’t go near tofu, but I don’t hold tofu against someone. Do you eat red meat?”

Solemnly, he nodded. “Every chance I get. Do you eat junk food?”

“I order Cheetos by the caseload.”

“That’s it, then. We’re meant to be. Will you have my baby?”

She almost choked on her kombucha. “Weirdo.”

He laughed aloud and they shared a grin, then the conversation settled into more first-date type of questions. She asked where was his favorite place in the world. He asked her who influenced her most in life. She asked him what made him laugh. As always, Josh deflected questions about his childhood and steered the conversation away from family. They talked quite a bit about dogs.

More than an hour passed before they saw any sign of rescue. Josh didn’t mind the delay. He hadn’t flirted with a woman in a long time and he enjoyed himself. She was witty and intelligent and so very fine on the eyes. Caitlin didn’t appear to mind the delay, either. She flirted right back.

He decided to ask her to dinner. He’d take her to one of the fancy restaurants in Mountain Village. He actually had a suit in the trailer because he’d attended a funeral for the elderly mother of the mayor of Eternity Springs the morning before he headed out on this trip.

While he waited for the right moment to pose that question, he continued the small talk by asking, “So, did you always want to be a textile designer and live in New York?”

She hesitated, a shadow crossing her face. “Not exactly. I’ve been living my mother’s dream.”

“That’s an intriguing statement.”

“She was a stay-at-home mom who wanted to be a career woman. She—whoa!” The gondola cabin swayed as a loud thump sounded above them. “What’s that?”

“I think we’re being rescued.”

“Oh.”

She sounded almost as bummed about it as he felt.

A moment later, the cabin door opened and a man loaded down with equipment swung inside. “Everybody okay in here?”

“We’re good,” Josh responded.

“So we have two adults and a dog to go down? Is the dog paralyzed?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve seen those wheelchairs on Animal Planet. Cool contraption. I have a pet harness. Any reason she shouldn’t go down that way?”

“Not that I know of. She’s a calm dog. She should be fine. It is better to send her down alone than with me holding her?”

“Yes sir. It’s safer for her to go alone. She’ll be completely secured.”

“If that’s best, then let’s do it.”

“Good. We’ll send her down first.”

While the rescuer deployed the rope system, Josh devoted his attention to Penny. He wasn’t worried about sending her down by herself. She’d already proved herself to be a scrapper. So far, he hadn’t found anything that phased her. He dug a dog treat out of his backpack and fed it to her while the rescuer strapped her into the pet harness.

Following a short discussion with Josh, the rescue worker attached the three-pound wheelchair to the rope, too.

Caitlin scratched the dachshund behind her ears and made kissy noises. Josh told Penny to behave, sneaked her one more treat, then watched her ride the rope down. The rescue team on the ground greeted the dog enthusiastically.

“Nothing pulls the heartstrings like a crippled dog,” Josh observed, turning toward Caitlin with a grin that quickly faded. The woman had gone green around the gills. “Caitlin? Are you okay?”

“I shouldn’t have watched that,” she said. “I’m not a cowardly person. I ski black diamond trails. I’ve ridden Class V rapids. But I really, really don’t want to leave this cabin by rope.”

The rescuer frowned at her. “Ma’am, you don’t exactly have a choice.”

“I know. I’ll handle it.” She smiled weakly and added, “I’m sorry. I have this … thing.”

“You’ll be perfectly safe. Even if the worst case happened and something failed, there’s a backup safety system.”

Josh eyed the harness and asked, “Do you have a tandem harness?”

“We have one we use for children, but adults—”

“She doesn’t weigh a hundred pounds. We can go down together.”

“One-oh-five,” Caitlin corrected, turning a hopeful gaze toward the rescuer.

Josh didn’t know how any red-blooded man could resist that look, so he wasn’t surprised when the rescuer reached for his radio and spoke to his partners on the ground. A few minutes later after the deploying the rope system, a different harness arrived from the team on the ground. The rescuer secured Josh first, then assisted Caitlin. Her cheeks turned bright red when he told her to wrap her arms and legs around Josh and hold on tight.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

“Says the stranger with his hands on my ass,” she murmured.

He was laughing when he gave the rescuer a thumbs up and they swung out into the air.

Although they descended the eighty feet slowly, it went by much too quickly for Josh. Caitlin kept her eyes closed and her head buried his against his chest, but her mouth ran the entire time.

“I wish I’d had a glass of wine instead of kombucha. Two glasses of wine. One wouldn’t be enough. It’s humiliating to be so afraid. I’m gonna kill my brother—it’s all his fault. I’m shaking like a baby.”

And I’m hard as the granite on Mt. Wilson.

She was soft and warm and she used coconut-scented shampoo. Josh didn’t care for the taste of coconut, but he loved the scent. To distract them both, he said, “So you’re a Denver girl. Someone told me that Mt. Wilson is the mountain depicted on the Coors beer logo. Is that true?”

“What? Oh. The logo. Yes. I think that’s true. The logo depicts the Wilson Group. Mt. Wilson, Wilson Peak, Gladstone, and El Diente.”

“The tooth,” Josh translated. “It does look like a tooth, don’t you think?”

Caitlin lifted her head and looked toward the mountains. “How beautiful,” she said, her head swiveling. “Oh wow. What a view this is.”

When the smile slowly spread across her face, a captivated Josh couldn’t help himself.

He kissed her.

Copyright © 2018 by Emily March in The First Kiss of Spring and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.

 

 

Author Bio:

Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a “master of delightful banter,” and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Romance Writers of America. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.

Social Links:

Emily March Website

Twitter: @EmilyMarchBooks
Facebook: Emily March
Pinterest: Emily March

 

 

four-stars

* Blog Tour / Excerpt * CROSSING PROMISES by Kimberly Kincaid

 

 

From USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Kincaid comes CROSSING PROMISES, the third standalone title in the Cross Creek series, releasing March 5th! A series filled with rugged, salt of the earth heroes who happen to be brothers, and strong family dynamics. Each standalone novel is filled with heart, humor, and heat. Order your copies of the Cross Creek series today!

 

 

For Owen Cross, the only thing that matters more than family is farming. As the oldest Cross brother, the land is his legacy, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make Cross Creek a success—including hiring local widow Cate McAllister to manage the bookkeeping tasks that are growing in his office like weeds. Cate’s as pragmatic as she is pretty, and she rattles his hard-fought composure at every turn.

Cate had known a lot of things about her husband before he died three years ago in a car accident, but how much debt he’d gotten them into wasn’t one of them. She needs her job at Cross Creek, even if her boss is both gruff and gorgeous. But Owen’s a family man, through and through, and the last thing Cate is interested in is anything—or anyone—with strings attached.

As Owen and Cate join forces to right the farm, they discover there’s more to the other than the surfaces shows, and that passion can be found in unexpected places. Can Cate heal from the loss of one family to gain the love of her life? Or will the past prove too much for the promise of the future?

 

 

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * iBooks * Kobo

 

 

 

 

 

EXCERPT:

Cate ditched the napkins she hadn’t really needed in favor of doing her job, loading up a tray with Owen and Lane’s order and making her way back to their table.

“Oatmeal raisin cookies without walnuts are an abomination,” she overheard Lane say, but Owen, whose back was to her, simply snorted.

“You’re cracked. Simple is better. Plus, they’re not called oatmeal raisin walnut cookies. Still—” A soft thunk sounded off from beneath the table, followed by a less-than-polite hiss from Owen. “Ow, dude! What the…oh, hell.” He snapped to attention, his coffee mug meeting the Formica with enough force to slosh some of its contents over the rim. “Cate. Hi.”

She thought of the walnuts that had been in every single one of the cookies she’d baked at oh-dark-thirty this morning and arched a brow. “Still hungry, I take it?”

“Sure. I mean”—he closed his eyes. Exhaled. Damn, eyelashes like that were honestly unjust on a man. Also, really freaking hot—“the cookies were great, and I’ve got room for breakfast, too.”

“Glad to hear it. Two breakfast specials, one with scrambled eggs, one with eggs over easy, extra home fries, and extra bacon.” She delivered their respective plates. “Can I get you anything else?”

“Just the check, if you have a minute,” Owen said, and shit. She might be a little light in the filter department (okay, fine, so she didn’t really have one. Potato, potahto), but the last thing she wanted was to piss off one of Clementine’s customers. Not to mention lose her tip.

“You don’t have to rush,” Cate started, and jeez, those eyelashes were even more lethal when they framed his wide, gray stare.

“Unfortunately, I do. Got a date with the invoices and books at the farm, and it’s gonna take me all day if I’m lucky.”

Confusion kicked in, good and hard. “But it’s Sunday.”

“Yes ma’am,” he agreed.

A prickle worked its way through her, half irritation at the politeness that bordered on poor-Cate sympathy, half something else that headed decidedly south.

She tried again. “You’re working all day?”

Most everybody around here held Sundays pretty sacred out of self-preservation. Working the land seven days a week was brutal, even for the most well-practiced farmers. And from the look of Owen’s biceps, he was extremely well-practiced.

He dropped his chin but not his stare. “Don’t really have a choice. Cross Creek’s books aren’t going to balance themselves.”

“You don’t have a bookkeeper?” She shifted back on the linoleum, her confusion turning to outright shock.

“If we did, I don’t reckon I’d be working the books on a Sunday.”

Huh. Looked like she wasn’t the only one who was a little light in the filter department. “Okay, fair,” she said. “But Cross Creek is the largest farm in Millhaven. I just figured you’d have someone who handles that for you full-time.”

“Believe me, I wish we did,” Owen said, and her mouth opened of its own volition.

“Do you.”

Cate heard the non-question before she even knew she’d spring it past her lips, but oh, how she wished to have it back. This was a bad idea. No, check that. This was an epically shitastic idea, with don’t-you-even-think-it sprinkles on top. A full-time job was more commitment than she’d had in three years. The thought of something so regular, so permanent, gave her the shakes.

But then Owen was looking at her with a not-small amount of curiosity, and backpedaling was as impossible as catching smoke in her bare hands. “As a matter of fact, yeah,” he said, straightening against the booth. “I’d love to hire a full-time bookkeeper. Why? Do you know someone who’s interested?”

No. Nope. Sorry, buddy, I sure don’t. These were all things her brain instructed her mouth to say, but her mouth—which liked to eat—betrayed her by going with, “Actually, I am.”

The stunned silence that followed told her she’d better start making her case before he dismissed the idea as downright nutters. “I mean, I don’t have a degree or any formal training, but I’m really good with numbers, and I’m not afraid of hard work. I can start as soon as you like, tomorrow, even, and—”

“Done.”

“—I don’t need…wait, what?” Cate asked as his answer caught up with her verbal landslide.

“You said you’re good with numbers and you can start tomorrow, right?” Owen’s piercing gray stare was as tough to decipher as the rest of his expression.

She managed to nod. “Yes.” She was only on evenings and weekends at the diner and The Bar. Time would be tight, but she could swing it. She had to. “I can.”

“Great. Then you’ve got yourself a job.”

 

 

 

 

 

And don’t miss the first two standalone titles in the Cross Creek series, CROSSING HEARTS and CROSSING THE LINE!

 

 

Hunter Cross has no regrets. Having left his football prospects behind the day he graduated high school, he’s happy to carry out his legacy on his family’s farm in the foothills of the Shenandoah. But when a shoulder injury puts him face-to-face with the high school sweetheart who abandoned town—and him—twelve years ago, Hunter’s simple life gets a lot more complicated.

Emerson Montgomery has secrets. Refusing to divulge why she left her job as a hotshot physical therapist for a pro football team, she struggles to readjust to life in the hometown she left behind. The more time she spends with Hunter, the more Emerson finds herself wanting to trust him with the diagnosis of MS that has turned her world upside down.

But revealing secrets comes with a price. Can Hunter and Emerson rekindle their past love? Or will the realities of the present—and the trust that goes with them—burn that bridge for good?

 

AMAZON

 

 

Cocky farmer Eli Cross plays twice as hard as he works. When his latest stunt drums up a heap of negative PR for the family farm, he grudgingly agrees to play host to an ambitious New York City photographer. Her feature on Cross Creek could be just the ticket to show the country what the Cross brothers do best…which is more problem than solution for Eli.

Scarlett Edwards-Stewart has photographed everything from end zones to war zones. She’s confident she can ace this one little story to help her best friend’s failing magazine. At least, she would be if her super-sexy host wasn’t so tight lipped. But the more Scarlett works with Eli, the more she discovers that he’s not who he seems. Can his secret bring them closer together? Or will it be the very thing that tears them apart?

 

AMAZON

 

 

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Cross Creek Series Tour

February 26

Read-Love-Blog-Review
What is That Book About-Excerpt

February 27

Reading in Pajamas-Review
All Things Dark and Dirty-Excerpt

February 28

Always a Happy Ever After-Review
Thoughts of a Blonde-Excerpt

March 1

Irishdaisylovesromance-Review
The Fairest of All Book Reviews-Excerpt

March 2

Just the Write Stuff-Excerpt
I Love Romance-Review

March 3

Tangents and Tissues-Excerpt
What Do We Want Book Reviews & More-Review
1 Chick and her Kindle-Review

March 4

KDRBCK-Review
Books According to Abby-Excerpt
Bad Boys and Bedtime Stories Book Blog-Review

March 5

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews-Review
Jax’s Book Magic-Excerpt

March 6

Nicole’s Book Musings-Excerpt
Oh My Growing TBR-Excerpt

March 7

The Heathers’ Blog-Review
Becky on Books-Review

March 8

Melena’s Reviews-Review
Read Your Writes Book Reviews-Excerpt

March 9

One-Click Chocolate Chick-Review
Kari’s Book Reviews & Revelations-Review

March 10

KatyaRath-Review
Reese’s Reviews-Excerpt

March 11

Two Book Pushers-Excerpt

March 12

Only One More Page-Review
My Book Filled Life-Review

March 13

Fire and Ice Book Reviews-Review
The Power of 3 Readers-Review

March 14

Shannon’s Book Blog-Review
Book Loving Pixies-Review
The Romance Reviews-Review
Blushing Babes Are Up All Night-Review

March 15

Star-Crossed Book Blog-Review
Sascha Darlington-Review
Bookgasms Book Blog-Review
Hannah’s Words-Review

March 16

G & T’s Indie Café-Excerpt
TBR Book Blog-Review
Teatime and Books-Excerpt

 

 

About Kimberly Kincaid:

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today best-selling author and a 2015 RWA RITA® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

 

 

 

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Instagram

 

* Blog Tour / Review * FOREVER A FATHER by Lynne Marshall

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour / Review * FOREVER A FATHER by Lynne MarshallForever a Father by Lynne Marshall
Series: The Delaneys of Sandpiper Beach
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on March 1, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

“Will you be my dad?”

Ask me anything but that.

Once upon a time, Dr. Daniel Delaney had it all. But he lost it in the blink of an eye, and he won’t let himself fall again—not even for his dedicated new assistant, Keela O’Mara, and her adorable, lonely little girl, Anna. Resisting a starry-eyed four-year-old is tough enough. Denying her perfect, loving single mom may be more than Daniel can handle…

 

Adorably sweet and heart-wrenching all in one! My heart was stolen by a four year old! 🙂 Such a great story! The hero and heroine have both had a hard time with love in the past and carry the scars on their heart each and every day to prove it. Daniel has suffered immeasurable loss and isn’t sure he can heal himself enough to be any good for Keela and Anna … but he sure wishes they could be his! The Delaney family is really down to earth and fun to spend time with, and I’m looking forward to more to come in this trilogy!

Dr. Daniel Delaney is still trying to pick up the pieces of his life and move forward after suffering heartbreak and loss. He’s finally stepping outside of his comfort zone and making a go of a new practice, and his new assistant is turning out to be his best employee ever … even before he starts to fall for her!

Keela O’Mara is so grateful for Daniel giving her a shot at her dream job and she’s enjoying the fulfilling work. When her adorable daughter visits the office, it doesn’t take long for Dr. Dan to fall under her spell and wish he could call her his very own!

 

 

 

 


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Forever a Father
(Delaneys of Sandpiper Beach #1)
by Lynne Marshall
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 224 pages
March 1st 2018 by Harlequin Special Edition
GoodreadsAmazonB&NBook Depository
iBooksKoboGooglePlayHarlequin

“Will you be my dad?”

Ask me anything but that.

Once upon a time, Dr. Daniel Delaney had it all. But he lost it in the blink of an eye, and he won’t let himself fall again—not even for his dedicated new assistant, Keela O’Mara, and her adorable, lonely little girl, Anna. Resisting a starry-eyed four-year-old is tough enough. Denying her perfect, loving single mom may be more than Daniel can handle…

Other Books in the Series (coming soon)

About the Author

Lynne Marshall has been traditionally published with Harlequin as a category romance author for more than ten years with over twenty-five books, and more recently with TULE Publishing, she has also gone hybrid with self-publishing. She is a Southern California native, has been married to a New Englander for a long time, and has two adult children of whom she is super proud. She is also an adoring grandmother of two beautiful little girls, a woman of faith, a dog lover, a cat admirer, a meandering walker, a curious traveler, and an optimistic participant in this wild journey called life.

WebsiteGoodreadsFacebookPinterestBookBub

Tour Schedule

February 26th:
Launch
Among the Reads
Hearts & Scribbles
Thoughts of a Blonde
Teatime and Books
February 27th:
Deal Sharing Aunt
Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang!
Rockin’ Book Reviews
Paulette’s Papers
February 28th:
Jorie Loves A Story
It’s All About the Romance
Busy Bumble Bee Book Reviews
Nicole’s Book Musings
March 1st:
A Striking Viper, Caught in a Tangled Web
Becky on Books
underneath the covers
Wishful Endings
March 2nd:
Inside The Mind of an Avid Reader
Brooke Blogs
Simply Kelina
March 3rd: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

3 winners will receive their choice of one print book from Lynne Marshall’s Home in Heartlandia series: A DOCTOR FOR KEEPS, HER PERFECT PROPOSAL, and FALLING FOR THE MOM-TO-BE (if US, winner will receive their book signed)
Open internationally
Ends March 7th

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five-stars

* Blog Tour / Review * DRIVING WHISKEY WILD by Melissa Foster

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour / Review * DRIVING WHISKEY WILD by Melissa FosterDriving Whiskey Wild by Melissa Foster
Published by World Literary Press on February 21, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Special Forces veteran and Dark Knights Motorcycle Club member Bullet Whiskey lives to protect his family, their bar, and the residents of his small hometown. He's rough, unapologetic, and haunted by a secret, painful past. He's also a master at keeping people away, and when his sister hires gorgeous and sweet Finlay Wilson to help expand their biker bar, he knows just how to get rid of her.

After losing her boyfriend and her father, Finlay moves back to her hometown to be closer to the little family she has left. She needs her temporary job at Whiskey Bro's to get her catering business off the ground, and she's determined not to let the gruff, arrogant mountain of a man Bullet Whiskey scare her off.

Finlay is everything Bullet has never wanted. She's afraid of his dog, afraid of motorcycles, and sweet enough to give him cavities, but as she weaves her way into the hearts of everyone around him, he's powerless to resist her charms. Passion ignites, but trust doesn't come easily, and when their pasts collide, Bullet finds out the true meaning of protecting those he loves.

 

Two unlikely hearts collide as Melissa Foster once again wraps a man around our hearts and squeezes! Her heroes always have such a strong voice and personality, and Bullet Whiskey keeps up with the trend. He’s a tough as nails, dirty talking man who melts when it comes to kids and family! I adored him from the start, and look forward to seeing glimpses of him again in future books. Great characters, with a super easy to fall into dialogue and plot.

Bullet Whiskey is a gruff, take no attitude type of guy. He loves his family, his dog and his motorcycle club and will do anything to protect what’s his. When his sister brings a sweet little thing on board to expand the offerings on the menu at the family bar, he’s not sure what to make of her. He wants her on sight … but she already blew him off once, and she’s too petite, classy and sweet for the likes of him!

Finlay Wilson needs this job in order to get her catering business off the ground now that she’s moved back to her hometown in order to be close to family again. She’s had a lot of loss in her life, and she just wants a chance to hold those dear to her close for awhile. She really shouldn’t be drawn to Bullet at all … he’s so totally the opposite of anything she’s ever wanted. He adores things she’s terrified of, he’s borderline obnoxiously blunt, and he’s basically sex on wheels … so why does she find herself virtually swooning every time he gives her that steamy look??

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Driving Whiskey Wild
Series: The Whiskeys (Stand alone)
Author: Melissa Foster
Genre: Steamy Sexy Romance
Release Date: February 21, 2018 
A captivating new sexy standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. 

Special Forces veteran and Dark Knights Motorcycle Club member Bullet Whiskey lives to protect his family, their bar, and the residents of his small hometown. He’s rough, unapologetic, and haunted by a secret, painful past. He’s also a master at keeping people away, and when his sister hires gorgeous and sweet Finlay Wilson to help expand their biker bar, he knows just how to get rid of her.

After losing her boyfriend and her father, Finlay moves back to her hometown to be closer to the little family she has left. She needs her temporary job at Whiskey Bro’s to get her catering business off the ground, and she’s determined not to let the gruff, arrogant mountain of a man Bullet Whiskey scare her off.

Finlay is everything Bullet has never wanted. She’s afraid of his dog, afraid of motorcycles, and sweet enough to give him cavities, but as she weaves her way into the hearts of everyone around him, he’s powerless to resist her charms. Passion ignites, but trust doesn’t come easily, and when their pasts collide, Bullet finds out the true meaning of protecting those he loves.

“Don’t fuck this up, Bullet, or I swear I’ll make your life a living hell. She’s agreed to work with us for a month, and we need her if we’re going to pull this off. She knows about menus, hiring kitchen staff, and health regulations.”


“She doesn’t belong in a place like this, Dix. She’s not like us.” Finlay looked like a frigging angel with her silky blond hair and innocent blue eyes. It was that innocence that had flipped some switch inside Bullet and made him want to sin her up and protect her at the same time. Fucking Finlay Wilson. The wedding was four weeks ago, and he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since. If she wasn’t starring in his X-rated fantasies, she was flitting about town in those frilly dresses she wore, spreading smiles like fairy dust.

“You didn’t seem to mind that when you hit on her at the wedding.” She arched a brow. “Or did you think I didn’t notice the way you were watching her every move when Bear and Crystal also decided to tie the knot? Sidling up to her every chance you got during the reception, like a puppy chasing a treat?”

Bullet scoffed. He’d been looking at her long before Crystal and Bear’s impromptu proposal and subsequent wedding the day Tru and Gemma got married. “She’s a hot chick. So what? I didn’t want to marry her—just have a little fun.”

“Then you shouldn’t mind seeing her in here for a few hours a day while we pull things together.”

“It’s a mistake, Dixie.” He moved around the bar and stood beside her. “A pretty little thing like her is just asking for trouble in a place like this. Why are you so hung up on hiring Finlay anyway? Did you even check with our club members to see if anyone needed a job?”

“You know, sometimes I forget that you have so much Dad in you, it’s like beating my head against a brick wall.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“That you’re as hesitant to hire outside the family as he is. That you think if someone’s not in the club or one of us, they can’t do shit.”

“Jed’s working here, isn’t he?”

Bear had recently given up bartending and was now designing motorcycles for the elite Silver-Stone Cycles. For the first time in the history of the bar, they’d been forced to hire outside the family and outside their motorcycle club, the Dark Knights, which was as solid as family. Although Jed Moon, who was not only their new part-time bartender but also worked as an auto mechanic for the shop, was Bear’s new brother-in-law. So technically, he was family. Finlay Wilson was not. Finlay Wilson was trouble waiting to happen.

“Give me a break.” He shook his head. “We always hire family first.”

“Yeah? Well, which of our club members do you think knows how to run a restaurant? Gutter, the home repair expert? Or maybe one of the Bando brothers, who pour concrete for a living? Do you realize Finlay went to one of the best culinary schools in Boston? She’s worked in a restaurant, and she’s run her own catering company for years, and soon she’ll be opening a catering company right here in town.”

He didn’t give a rat’s ass about her credentials. If anything, she was overqualified. But the thought of her flouncing around the bar with a bunch of horny, drunk guys going after her made Bullet’s blood boil. The fact that she was not his to worry about did not escape him. “We’re offering sandwiches and fries, not gourmet meals.”

“Which makes her the perfect person for this job. She knows how to keep costs down, and she’s from Peaceful Harbor. She’s putting down roots here, which means she’ll want to see the business do well—so it doesn’t reflect poorly on her. What do you have against Finlay, anyway?”

 

“Against her? Nothing.” Though he’d like to be buried deep inside her. “But she’ll get eaten alive in a place like this and she’ll go cowering out the door. Then we’ll be left trying to figure shit out anyway. Besides—”

The creak of the front door opening drew their attention. Bullet looked over his shoulder, meeting the innocent blue eyes of the angel peeking in at them.
 

 

Melissa writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big-family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, Wild Boys and Bad Boys After Dark, and the Montgomerys. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented– perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex and relatable issues.


Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.
Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on social media or her personal website. Get 5 eBooks FREE >> www.MelissaFoster.com/LIBFREE

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five-stars

* Review * THEIR SECRET BABY BOND by Stephanie Dees

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THEIR SECRET BABY BOND by Stephanie DeesTheir Secret Baby Bond by Stephanie Dees
Series: Family Blessings
Published by Love Inspired on March 1, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-half-stars

He wanted roots. She chose career.
Can a baby bring them back together?

Wynn Sheehan planned to change the world—not return to Alabama alone and pregnant. Her life is in shambles, but at least she can help take care of Latham Grant’s ailing grandpa. Latham isn’t ready to trust the woman who eagerly left him and their small town behind. But can they ignore the spark rekindled by unexpected Family Blessings?

 

Heart-wrenchingly real! She thinks her dreams have come to an end, but he teaches her that as long as they’re together, the sky is the limit! A powerful story about picking up the pieces when life deals you hard times. The character’s story caught my attention and kept me entrenched in what their future would work out to be from the start. Great dialogue, a sweet love story, and adorable characters!

A decade ago, Wynn Sheehan left small-town Alabama for the big city lights without a backward glance. Now she’s coming home after the plans she made for herself have fallen apart … pregnant, alone and disillusioned. She didn’t like the person she became while living her dream life … but what does she have to work towards now that the life she left home for has crumbled?

Latham Grant considers Wynn the one that got away. Crushing on each other for years, but not getting to the point to actually act on it until just before she left town … and him. He’s never forgotten her, but how can he trust that she’s truly here to stay when she found it so easy to walk away all those years ago … especially when she’s pregnant with the baby of the man that had her attention for several of those wayward years?

four-half-stars

* Blog Tour / Review * DANGEROUS MOVES by Karen Rock

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour / Review * DANGEROUS MOVES by Karen RockDangerous Moves by Karen Rock
Series: Dallas After Dark
Published by Lyrical Liaison on February 13, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Pounding music. Sculpted men. And a conspiracy that could cost far more than a few dollar bills . . .

HOT COP

Detective Blake Knight has been undercover before. But an assignment to bust a steroid ring running out of Dallas’s elite male strip club means his new cover will be nothing but his own taut muscles and oiled skin. It’s one thing for the tough, by-the-books agent to take down bad guys with his gun. Facing a rowdy crowd in only a G-string is another story . . . especially in front of his new boss, gorgeous, mysterious Reese Landon.

Her father’s club and shady business practices bring back terrible memories for Reese. But when he’s shot and goes into a coma, she vows to protect him the way he never did for her. That means keeping the police at a distance—especially sexy, driven Detective Knight. If she has to give him a cover job, it would be a crime not to put that glorious ass on stage. But no matter how good he looks in a Velcro uniform, she can't trust him, or give into the undeniable heat between them. They're both chasing the truth. And it might expose more than either wants to show . . .

 

Steamy, potent and real! The kick off to Karen Rock’s new Dallas After Dark series is explosively HOT! Not only do we have a bad boy cop on the scene, but he’s also going undercover as a stripper … YUM! The main characters are easy to like and are well-developed, and the secondary characters lend a level of both humor and danger as subterfuge is overturned around every corner leaving them not knowing who to really trust. The overall plot of the story is interesting … there a few holes in the follow through, but overall a very entertaining read! You smile, you fan yourself here and there and on more than one occasion you hold your breath to see what’s going to happen next.

When Reese Landon learns her dad has been shot and is in a coma, she puts the past aside to come home and be by his side and hold down the fort for him on the business side of things. She grew up at Dallas Heat, so she knows the business like the back of her hand … what she doesn’t expect is a cop showing up saying he needs to be undercover in her dad’s club in order to bring down a steroid ring.  Could her dad really be mixed up in this? She has to make protecting him her top priority … even if she feels like he didn’t do the same for her all those years ago!

Dallas detective Blake Knight pretty much lives his entire life undercover, but his past jobs have been nothing like this one! He can’t believe he’s going to stripping at Dallas Heat on a regular basis just to have an “in” to the club happenings! Reese is an added bonus though, because the sparks that fly when she’s anywhere close to him are bound to combust any minute now. As they grow closer, so does the danger surrounding them … and before they know it, they’re finding out the truth about key players that neither one of them wanted to be hearing!

 

 

 

DANGEROUS MOVES

Dallas After Dark, Book 1
by Karen Rock

[Read more…]

four-stars

* Blog Tour / Review * ON HIS KNEES by Laura Kaye

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour / Review * ON HIS KNEES by Laura KayeOn His Knees by Laura Kaye
Series: Blasphemy
on February 13, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Getting on his knees makes him question everything…and want even more…

Another failed relationship has lawyer Jamie Fielding confronting the truth—he’ll never be satisfied with any woman until he admits what he needs…to submit and to be used—hard. When a friend invites him to the exclusive Blasphemy club, Jamie is stunned to find everything he ever wanted—in the fierce, ruthless hands of a man.

Psychiatrist Alex McGarry will play with anyone who craves his rough brand of domination, but what he really wants is to settle down. Which makes the submissive male he meets at his club a bad idea—the man might be hot as hell but he’s also new to everything Alex has to offer. Except that doesn’t keep them from coming together again and again, sating every one of their darkest desires.

Master Alex sets Jamie’s whole world on fire and makes him question everything—and that’s good. Because Alex won’t tolerate hiding what they have for long and he wants much more than just having Jamie on his knees...

 

Explosively hot! When Laura Kaye sets out to give sadist Alex McGarry his happy ending, she goes all in! Such a great read! There’s an endearing quality to Jamie that draws our (and Alex’s) attention right from the start. He’s honestly humble with how little he knows about the lifestyle, but his eagerness to find the piece of himself that has always been missing shines through to everyone that meets him. I would have loved to have had a longer story for them with more day to day living because they were just that good of a couple together. Really enjoyed!

Jamie Fielding is facing yet another failed attempt at a relationship with a woman who should have been all he had ever dreamed of … but once again, it just fell flat. When a friend calls his attention to the fact that he sort of gets a rush from pain and introduces him to Club Blasphemy, his entire world changes. Could this be what he’s been yearning for all along?

Master Alex has been feeling burned out for awhile now. Scene after scene with any sub who wants to feel the pain of his wrath is no longer holding the appeal that it used to. He still goes home to an empty bed. He’s not one to work with newbies to the scene, and he’s pissed off at being asked to show Jamie around on his first night at the club … but a few minutes with him, seeing the passion and awe show in every move of his face takes him back to how it used to feel. The excitement, the rush, the tingling awareness … the burning attraction between them is hard to resist, but could a novice ever be able to handle the pain he burns to give?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

 

About ON HIS KNEES (Blasphemy #5):

Getting on his knees makes him question everything…and want even more…

Another failed relationship has lawyer Jamie Fielding confronting the truth—he’ll never be satisfied with any woman until he admits what he needs…to submit and to be used—hard. When a friend invites him to the exclusive Blasphemy club, Jamie is stunned to find everything he ever wanted—in the fierce, ruthless hands of a man.

Psychiatrist Alex McGarry will play with anyone who craves his rough brand of domination, but what he really wants is to settle down. Which makes the submissive male he meets at his club a bad idea—the man might be hot as hell but he’s also new to everything Alex has to offer. Except that doesn’t keep them from coming together again and again, sating every one of their darkest desires.

Master Alex sets Jamie’s whole world on fire and makes him question everything—and that’s good. Because Alex won’t tolerate hiding what they have for long and he wants much more than just having Jamie on his knees…

 

ORDER ON HIS KNEES:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Add to Goodreads

 

 

 

EXCERPT:

Breathing hard and shaking with arousal, Alex eased the two of them down to the floor so that he could hold Jamie in his arms. “Come here, Jamie. Rest on me.”

Jamie’s sluggish movements revealed that he was still riding the physical and emotional waves of the scene, so Alex helped turn him until he was cradled against his chest. And then Jamie released a breath that resounded with such utter contentment that it reached inside Alex’s chest.

Christ. Christ. The way Jamie had taken his beating. The way he’d reveled in the pain of it. Alex’s twisted sadist heart was flying, because what they’d just shared had been perfection.

“Talk to me. Are you okay?” Alex asked, his gaze raking over the relaxed lines of the sub’s handsome face and the almost sleepy appearance of his gray eyes. Before, he’d thought Jamie hot. Now, seeing him totally sated because of the pain Alex had given him, he thought him beautiful.

“I—I have never felt better in my whole life.” His voice was little more than a raw scrape, but the emotion behind the words came through crystal fucking clear. “All this time…all this time I thought something was wrong with me. When I just needed this.” Those gray eyes slanted up at him. “And you.”

Damn if the guy wasn’t riding pretty damn close to subspace, a euphoric altered state of mind that some submissives achieved due to the overwhelming rush of endorphins and adrenaline that spiked and receded during intense BDSM scenes. So Alex wasn’t going to take the adoration in that steel gaze too much to heart.

“You handled that so perfectly,” Alex said, wiping away the wetness of tears or sweat—or both—from Jamie’s face. Doing so emphasized the warm heat still filling Alex’s palm. He freaking relished it and the quiet, calm peace in his mind that he hadn’t felt in far too long.

“I did?” When Alex nodded, Jamie smiled. “Thank you.” His lids sagged, then snapped back open. “Thank you, Sir.”

Alex chuckled. “How was the intensity of that for you, Jamie? Did you feel you were nearing your limit?”

He shook his head. “Even though it hurt and I started to feel…shattered, I was green. I was green the whole time.”

Jesus. Master Alex brought Jamie’s cuffed hand to his mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I think you can switch out the light blue ribbon for the dark.”

Jamie’s eyes went wide, like Alex had just surprised him with a gift. “Really, Sir?”

See? There was just no questioning the sincerity of Jamie’s pleasure, the intensity of his satisfaction, nor how profoundly experiencing his first sadomasochistic scene had affected him. Still affected him. And, in turn, Alex, too. Because when had he last seen such unadulterated elation? When had he last witnessed such a pure example of the freeing power of this lifestyle? When had anyone he’d played with recently found so much of themselves in a scene?

 

 

 

Don’t miss the previous standalone books in the Blasphemy Series!

Hard to Serve #.5

Bound to Submit #1 – FREE EVERYWHERE!

Mastering Her Senses #2

Eyes on You #3

Theirs to Take #4

On His Knees #5

 

 

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Laura Kaye’s ON HIS KNEES – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

February 14th

Always a happy ever after – Review

Behind Closed Doors Book Review – Review

Books According to Abby – Review & Excerpt

Edgy Reviews – Review

NallaReads – Review & Excerpt

OMGReads – Review & Excerpt

Ripe For Reader – Review & Excerpt

Shh Mom’s Reading® – Review & Excerpt

Thoughts of a Blonde – Review

February 15th

Booked All Night – Review & Excerpt

East Coast Book Chicks – Review & Excerpt

Jen’s Reading Obsession – Review

Kari’s Book Reviews and Revelations – Review & Excerpt

Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm – Review & Excerpt

Only One More Page – Review & Excerpt

Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt

Wicked Reads – Review & Excerpt

February 16th

Bookaliciousbabes blog – Review & Excerpt

Feeling Fictional – Review & Excerpt

GraveTells – Review & Excerpt

JordansBookReviews – Excerpt

Kitty’s Book Spot! – Review & Excerpt

Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt

Romancing the Readers – Review

Sip Read Love – Review

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews – Excerpt

February 17th

BFD Book Blog – Review

Dog-Eared Daydreams – Review

KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt

Nadine’s Obsessed with Books – Review & Excerpt

Smokin’ Hot Reads Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

The Book Boyfriend Addict – Review & Excerpt

Vagabonda Reads – Review & Excerpt

February 18th

All Things Dark & Dirty – Review & Excerpt

Bobo’s Book Bank – Review

I Love Books – Excerpt

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt

Renee Entress’s Blog – Review & Excerpt

Sofia Loves Books – Review

We Do What We Want Book Reviews & More – Review & Excerpt

February 19th

Book Boyfriend Reviews – Excerpt

Cara’s Book Boudoir – Review

Literary Gossip – Excerpt

Novel Addiction – Review

Obsessive Reading Disorder – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

February 20th

Joandisalovebooks – Review

Msquared Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Nose Stuck in a Book – Review & Excerpt

Reese’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Romance Readers Retreat – Review

Romance Reviews and More – Review & Excerpt

The Book Maven – Review & Excerpt

Wicked Babes Blog Reviews – Review & Excerpt

February 21st

Amo’s Book Corner – Review

Evermore Books – Review & Excerpt

For The Love of Fictional Worlds – Review & Excerpt

Lost in Love Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Nerdy Dirty & Flirty – Review & Excerpt

Spoons, Hooks, and Books – Review & Excerpt

The Book Reading Gals – Review & Excerpt

Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess – Review & Excerpt

February 22nd

Four Chicks Flipping Pages – Review

Girls With Books – Excerpt

I’m A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore – Review & Excerpt

Love Notes Book Blog – Excerpt

Sultry Sirens Book Blog – Review

The Reading Cafe – Review & Excerpt

Treat Yourself with Books – Review & Excerpt

Wickedcoolflight – Review & Excerpt

February 23rd

A small girl, her man and her books – Review & Excerpt

Alphas Do It Better Book Blog – Review

Jax’s Book Magic – Excerpt

Love Drug Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Lovinghotbooks – Review & Excerpt

RentasticReads – Review

Tanya the book obsessed momma – Review & Excerpt

The Book Avenue – Review

We Stole Your Book Boyfriend – Review

 

 

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Blasphemy, Hard Ink, and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. Laura also writes historical fiction as the NYT bestselling author, Laura Kamoie. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

 

 

 

 

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four-half-stars

* Release Blast * FOR THE SAKE OF HIS HEIR by Joanne Rock

 

For the Sake of His Heir
Billionaires and Babies
The McNeill Magnates #6

Harlequin Desire #2569
Mass Market Paperback & eBook
February 2018

 

 

When a marriage of convenience is the only answer…things get inconvenient.

Gabe McNeill is done being manipulated. By everyone from his ex-wife who abandoned him and their baby to the grandfather forcing him to remarry. Now the only way Gabe can ensure his son’s inheritance is if Brianne Hanson agrees to be his bride. They’ve always kept things strictly business and this is no different…until she falls into his bed and all bets are off!

GOODREADS  |  AMAZON  |  B&N  |  ITUNES  |  KOBO 

 

 

EXCERPT:

Brianne was busy scooping up another snowball, scraping red gloves through the foot of accumulation on the wooden deck. She’d traded her wool cape for a red down parka and boots. A gray knit cap was pulled low over her eyes, her ponytail covered with snow and hanging bedraggled over one shoulder.

His loafers would be ruined, but he had no intention of leaving the aggression unanswered, especially after he’d heard that laughter of hers. Had she moved on from their earlier disagreement? Or simply found an outlet for her frustration with him? He’d thought dinner would smooth things over between them, but if she preferred a snowy standoff, he was ready.

“I’d think carefully about your next move,” he warned her, taking in her pink cheeks and bright eyes as she stalked closer to him, the wind lifting her hair off her shoulder and whipping it across the front of her parka. “I can’t very well lob snow missiles at my new bride, but I can get even other ways.”

“You can’t play that card.” She wagged one gloved finger at him, her voice raised so he could hear her over the howl of the wind. “No veiled threats allowed, Mr. McNeill. I give you my permission to get into an old-fashioned snowball fight with me.”

He’d missed this part of their relationship. The teasing and one-upping. Only now, there was a new dimension to it thanks to their wedding vows. The possibility of things getting much more interesting.

“I’d hardly call it a veiled threat.” He kept one eye on the snowball in her hand as they squared off a few feet apart in the middle of the balcony. “You make it sound ominous.”

“Okay. No mystery threats, then. No suggestive innuendo allowed.”

“I draw the line there, Mrs. McNeill.” He liked her expression as he tested out the new name. Even in the reflected light from the house, he could see a flare of something that looked like pleasure in her eyes. “Half the reason I married you was for the suggestive innuendo.”

Her gaze narrowed as her fingers closed harder around the snowball. “Maybe I should have read that contract more carefully.”

They both knew she’d read it exhaustively, working on a tentative draft while her grandmother was in the emergency room. She’d changed wording in a handful of places and argued against several points of the settlement to try and decrease the amount she would receive after they’d been married for a year. He’d tweaked the wording as she wished, but he’d left the settlement terms as generous as originally written.

“You didn’t see the suggestive-language addendum?” He moved fractionally closer, ready to disarm her if the opportunity presented itself.

A light snow fell, or else the wind kicked up enough to make it feel like it was actively snowing. There was a swirl of white between them. Behind her, he could see the outline of the railing. Down on the far end of the balcony, he could see the shape of the hot tub he’d warmed up earlier. He shifted closer still.

“I know perfectly well there’s no such thing. We’re married for a handful of hours and we’re already at odds about the agreement.” She tsked and sighed dramatically.

“I’m the one who has come under attack, though.” He nodded meaningfully toward the hand that still held the snowball. “Maybe I’d be more amenable if you put down your arms.”

“And risk retribution?” She shook her head. “I’ll go on firing, thank you very much.”

“At such close range?” He put a hand to his chest. He only wore a sweater and a shirt in the chilly winter air, but the thought of touching Brianne heated him inside and out. “I don’t think you can pull the trigger on your new groom, Brianne. Not when you know how much I’m dying for payback.”

He closed the distance between them even more; they were so close his body blocked the snowflakes from landing on her. So close he could see her sway on her feet for a moment, as if she wanted to fall into his arms as much as he wanted her to.

Her eyelashes fluttered. She dragged in a slow breath.

And socked him square in the chest with the snowball.

 

 

ABOUT JOANNE ROCK:

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.

 

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* Blog Tour / Review * SECRET BABY, SECOND CHANCE by Jane Godman

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Blog Tour / Review * SECRET BABY, SECOND CHANCE by Jane GodmanSecret Baby, Second Chance by Jane Godman
Series: Sons of Stillwater
Published by Harlequin Romantic Suspense on January 1, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

A terrorized young mother and her secret child return home, where a killer awaits…

She’s alive! Vincente Delaney has finally found his girlfriend, Beth Wade, who disappeared a year and a half ago, alive. But he’s shocked to discover someone with her: their child, a little girl he never knew about! Once upon a time, lone wolf Vincente never expected forever with Beth, but now he must put everything on the line to protect her and their family.

Beth was forced to leave Vincente to protect everything she held dear. But now the threat to her loved ones’ lives has reared its ugly head again. As danger approaches, she and Vincente must delve into her past to cast out the darkness jeopardizing their future.

 

Exciting from start to finish! We begin the latest book in Jane Godman’s Sons of Stillwater series thinking we are stepping into one story, and by the end it’s evolved into more than we ever expected! It’s exciting, real and a refreshing take on solving an in depth suspense. My favorite in the series so far! Well developed characters, a back story that’s carried forward nicely from previous books and a story all of it’s own to keep us interested. Looking forward to more to come in the series!

When Vincente Delaney’s on again/off again girlfriend disappeared a year and a half ago, he didn’t understand it, but angrily assumed she had run out on him. When new details came to light months later, they assumed she was probably dead, so to say he is shocked to learn that she’s alive and well and raising the daughter that he knew nothing about is putting it mildly!

Beth Wade was forced to leave Vincente for his own safety. She never expected to see him again, and has spent the time apart basking in the love of their innocent daughter. When Vincente finds her and brings them home to Stillwater, the danger she was running from rears it’s ugly head yet again foisting them all into the a race against time to save lives!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re so excited to be hosting Jane Godman and her Secret Baby, Second Chance Blog Tour today! Please leave a comment to let her know you stopped by!

 

 

Title: SECRET BABY, SECOND CHANCE
Author: Jane Godman
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 288
Genre: Romantic Suspense

 

BOOK BLURB: 

She’s alive! Vincente Delaney has finally found his girlfriend, Beth Wade, who disappeared a year and a half ago, alive. But he’s shocked to discover someone with her: their child, a little girl he never knew about! Once upon a time, lone wolf Vincente never expected forever with Beth, but now he must put everything on the line to protect her and their family.

Beth was forced to leave Vincente to protect everything she held dear. But now the threat to her loved ones’ lives has reared its ugly head again. As danger approaches, she and Vincente must delve into her past to cast out the darkness jeopardizing their future.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

 

BOOK EXCERPT:

As he approached, he sized up the building. Nothing about it made him think of Beth. It had a slightly neglected air, as if the owner didn’t have the time, energy or money to spend on it. He contrasted that with the Stillwater house she had lived in. That had been as neat as wax. Being organized seemed to come effortlessly to Beth, spilling over into how she dressed, her surroundings and how she dealt with other people. Vincente wondered, not for the first time, if the reason she had struggled with their relationship was because she couldn’t neatly package up her feelings for him. When they were together there was no controlling what they felt. It had always been raw, primal…and incredible.

The thought spurred his feet up the front step. His heart was pounding so loud it almost drowned out the sound of his knock on the door. Prepared for disappointment, his nerves—already under intense pressure—were ratcheted up to crisis level when he heard a voice calling out.

“Did you forget something, Detective ?” It wasn’t just any voice. It was Beth’s voice.

He wondered how she would react if she checked who it was through the peephole in the door. Her words indicated she thought Laurie had come back again and he heard a key turn in the lock immediately after she spoke.

The door swung open and the smile on her lips faded. As she gazed at him in shock, Vincente took a moment to drink in her appearance. Her hair was shorter, just reaching her shoulders now instead of the waist-length mass in which he had loved to bury his hands. It was scraped back into an unflattering ponytail. She looked thinner. And tired, definitely tired. Almost to the point of exhaustion. But maybe the reason for that was sitting on her hip.

The baby wore pink sweatpants and a T shirt with butterflies embroidered all over. Not quite a toddler, she was a perfect little girl. Her black hair clustered in a halo of curls around her head and she studied Vincente with eyes that were huge, dark and framed by thick, spiky lashes. The hint of olive to her skin and the full ruby lips were additional confirmation of his first suspicion. It was like looking in a mirror .

Vincente almost took a step back in shock as he gazed at his daughter.

 

 

 

JANE GODMAN worked in a variety of shops, bars, and offices before settling into a career as a teacher. She was born in Scotland and has lived in Germany, Wales, Malta, South Africa, and England. Home is now the Wirral, a beautiful English peninsula situated between Wales and Liverpool.

Jane still gets the urge to travel, although these days she tends to head for a Spanish beach, or a European city that is steeped in history. Venice, Dubrovnik, and Vienna are among her favorites.

When Jane isn’t reading or writing romance, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. She is married to a lovely man, has two grown up children and has recently discovered the joy of becoming a grandparent.

Jane writes paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne and SMP Romance, thrillers for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, and self-publishes her steamy historical and gothic stories.

Her latest book is the romantic suspense, Secret Baby, Second Chance.

 

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

five-stars

* HARLEQUIN January Blog Tour * Review of CLAIMING THE CAPTAIN’S BABY by Rochelle Alers

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* HARLEQUIN January Blog Tour * Review of CLAIMING THE CAPTAIN’S BABY by Rochelle AlersClaiming the Captain's Baby by Rochelle Alers
Series: American Heroes
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on January 1, 2018
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

His Daughter’s Guardian

Former marine captain Giles Wainwright had seen his share of battles. When the military man turned multimillionaire learned he had a baby girl, he vowed to go to war to keep her. But Mya Lawson had her late sister’s last will and testament on her side and was prepared to fight for custody.

Mya was only following her sister’s last wishes to have Lily raised in their childhood hometown. She’d grant Giles the visitation he was due. Yet as he dropped his arrogant stance and made Lily his priority, Mya’s guarded emotions were swayed. Giles’s offer of marriage to make them a true family was tremendously tempting. But was his proposal genuine or a bid to claim Lily forever?

 

For the baby’s sake! The latest from Rochelle Alers is an easy, enjoyable read about an adorable baby that everyone wants a chance to love. The characters are likable from the start with a well laid out backstory, but the lack of conflict was a bit unrealistic. I kept waiting for a wrench to fall into their happy-go-lucky life, but other than one little spat, things were fairly calm and steady. Definitely a fun read!

When Marine Captain turned multi-million dollar real estate developer Giles Wainwright finds out he has a daughter out there that he knew nothing about, he steps up and wants her by his side. The only problem is, her mother left instructions in her will that she wants her sister to raise her in their hometown of Wickham Falls, WV. He’s a busy man based out of New York City and traveling constantly to his development projects in the Caribbean … how is this going to work??

Mya Lawson is blindsided when a month after her sisters death, a codicil to her will beckons Giles to a reading to inform him that he’s a father. Sammie refused to tell her who he was and was adamant that she wanted Mya to raise her … so why is she springing a daddy on her out of thin air? Giles claims he wants to do things her way and is there by their side to get to know Lily instantly, but she can’t help but be suspicious. He seems too good to be true!

 

 

 

 

Title: The Rancher’s Baby
Author: Maisey Yates
Genre: Western Romance
Harlequin Imprint: Desire
Blurb:
When a torrid, possibly dangerous scandal comes to Royal, Texas, Selena Jacobs is nearly caught in the middle. Until her best friend Knox McCoy ensures her safety—by moving in! Selena has loved Knox for years, but she’s never had the courage to tell him. Now the sparks she’s tried to smother burn out of control…and leave her pregnant. But with the pain in his past, will Knox finally take a chance on love…with her?
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.
In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
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Title: Claiming the Captain’s Baby
Author: Rochelle Alers
Genre: Multicultural Romance
Harlequin Imprint: Special Edition 
Blurb:
Former marine captain Giles Wainwright had seen his share of battles. When the military man turned multimillionaire learned he had a baby girl, he vowed to go to war to keep her. But Mya Lawson had her late sister’s last will and testament on her side and was prepared to fight for custody. Mya was only following her sister’s last wishes to have Lily raised in their childhood hometown. She’d grant Giles the visitation he was due. Yet as he dropped his arrogant stance and made Lily his priority, Mya’s guarded emotions were swayed. Giles’s offer of marriage to make them a true family was tremendously tempting. But was his proposal genuine or a bid to claim Lily forever?
Rochelle Alers has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today’s most prolific African American authors of romance and women’s fiction.
With more than sixty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, Ms. Alers is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expression Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award.
She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Theta Zeta chapter and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling.
A full-time writer, Ms. Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
Author Links:
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Title: Playing with Seduction
Author: Reese Ryan
Genre: Romance
Harlequin Imprint: Kimani

Blurb:
As the reigning queen of competitive beach volleyball, Brianna Evans wants her career to go out with a bang. And what better send-off than a signature tournament sponsored by an exclusive high-end luxury resort? But Bree’s heart could end up on the line. Her partner on the project is the irresistible man with whom she shared one perfect night in London…and never heard from again.
After great UK success, premier event promoter Wesley Adams is glad to be back on his North Carolina home turf. Until he discovers the collaborator on his next joint venture is the flawless beauty he spent an unforgettable evening with more than a year ago. Wes wants to finish what they started, but he can’t risk derailing the project or hurting Bree. And when they finally give in to their growing passion, will a terrible secret from his past and an escalating threat from Bree’s cost them their second chance?
Reese Ryan is a multi-published author of romantic fiction featuring complex, deliciously-flawed characters. She challenges her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, and life-changing secrets while treating readers to an emotional love story and unexpected twists.
Past president of her local Romance Writers of America chapter and a panelist at the 2017 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Reese is an advocate for the romance genre and diversity in fiction.
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four-stars