Thursday, June 3, 2021

Blog tour: A Kiss for a Kiss (All In #4) by Helena Hunting

A Kiss for A Kiss, an all-new surprise baby, mature adult romance from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting is available now!

I’m Jake Masterson, single dad, and the General Manager of Seattle’s NHL team. I walked away from a career as a player so I could raise my daughter. For the last twenty-plus years, Queenie has been my main priority, but now she’s getting married.

And there’s a small complication.

A beautiful, sexy complication named Hanna.

She’s my son-in-law’s older sister. Or at least that’s how they were raised. The truth is a little more scandalous than that.

I’ve been drawn to her from the moment I laid eyes on her. And I spent months trying to keep a lid on that attraction.

Until we finally give in.

It starts with one searing kiss, but quickly ends with us between the sheets—and in the shower, and the hot tub, you get the picture—and turns into months of sneaking around.
Here’s the problem: we live on opposite ends of the country. It can’t be anything but casual. And as I’ve already said…it’s complicated.

But when Hanna finds out she’s pregnant…suddenly things get real serious.

Fall in love today!
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Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/AKFAK

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Excerpt

“You’re trouble tonight, aren’t you?” Her fingertips dance along my traps as she brushes past me. “And yes, to answer your question, I did, in fact, bring the red bikini.”
She disappears down the hall to the spare bedroom, where she’s sleeping tonight. Because I invited her to stay at my place this weekend rather than at King’s. It’s not that she isn’t welcome there. It’s more that she wants them to have their privacy. It also means I get more time with Hanna, so it’s a win all the way around. And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been thinking a lot about time alone with her this weekend.
I change into my swim trunks, pour myself a scotch, heavy on the rocks, and her a glass of wine before I make my way outside. I set the drinks on the outdoor dining table, remove the hot tub cover and check the temperature, making sure it’s not too hot.
Once I carry the drinks over and set them in the cup holders, I sink into the hot, bubbly water, stretch my arms out, let my head fall back and my eyes close. All the time I’ve been spending with Hanna is starting to get to me.
Reminding me that I’m in my forties, and very much still a bachelor. There are a lot of reasons why getting involved with Hanna on a romantic level would not be a good idea. Queenie and King’s relationship being at the forefront.
But she’s fun. And sexy. And we get each other.
A minute later, the sound of the sliding door opening and closing and the slap of flip-flops against the deck have me cracking a lid.
“You better not be sleeping already!” she calls out.
“Not sleeping, just waiting on you.”
I watch as she pulls the tie on her robe and the terry fabric slips over her shoulders, revealing that red bikini I’m such a fan of. Hanna is all curves. Amazing curves. The kind I’ve fantasized about putting my hands on plenty of times over the past several months. And with us spending a lot more time together, it’s been hard not to give in to the constant draw.
I rise from the water and hold out a hand as she climbs the steps. Her fingers slip into my palm, sending a jolt down my spine and a stirring inside my swim trunks.
“Could you try to be a little less beautiful all the time?”I tease as I help her into the tub. “Could you try to have more of a dad bod?” She drags her fingers down my abs, brows waggling, a smile on her gorgeous face. “You are definitely good for my ego, Jake.” She pats me on the chest and sinks into the water on the opposite side of the tub from me.
Which is probably a good thing since I feel like we’re playing with fire tonight. The kind I wouldn’t mind pouring a gallon of gasoline on just to watch it burn brighter.
“That was a great engagement party. I think the kids had fun, don’t you?”She stretches her legs out. Her toes skim the outside of my thigh and I barely resist the urge to run my hand up her calf.
I don’t know what’s in the air tonight, but things seem…different. Heightened.
“Yeah. It was good,” I agree. She pokes me with her toe. “Then why are you frowning? You’ve been off all night. What’s going on?” With all the planning and talks we’ve been having, Hanna and I have gotten to know each other better. And she can read me pretty easily.
“I don’t know. On one hand, I’m happy for King and Queenie and I know he’s going to be a great husband to my daughter, but I spent all these years raising her, and being there for her. They’ve been living together for months, but for some reason, it’s all kind of hitting me. It’s real now.” I take a sip of my scotch. “It’s different from when she went away to college, and even when she moved out of the pool house and in with King. There’s this hole I didn’t expect.”
“It sounds like empty nester’s syndrome.” She moves to the spot beside to me, where the glass of wine I poured her sits.
“Is that what this is? I’m all morose and shit.”
She chuckles and props her elbow on the edge of the tub. “You need to look at it with a fresh perspective, that’s all. You’re not losing your daughter. It’s different with girls. Sure, she’s found her partner in life, but she’s always going to be your baby girl. And the two of you are so close.”
“I don’t know what to do with all of this freedom,” I admit. “My entire life up to this point has been revolved around raising Queenie and my career.”
“Which means you did your job. And that’s a good thing. Think about it, Jake. This is the great part about having a kid young. Sure, you lost out on the freedom of your twenties, but in some ways, this is even better. You’re in your forties. You have a great job, you’re in incredible shape.” She twists and pulls her knee up so it rests against my thigh, her arm extending along the back of the tub, fingertips skimming my . “You have all of your hair.”
“I’m definitely grateful for the last one,” I joke.
“You have great hair.” She runs her fingers through it. “It’s sexy.” She bites her lip and then shakes her head. “Anyway, what I’m saying is, you’re in the prime of your life. Most people in their forties are raising teens, or maybe their kids are getting ready to go to college. You’ve done all that. Now you can just live. You can date. Have fun. Do whatever you want.”
“Fun would be good.”My gaze drops to her lips. “And I’d like to do whatever I want.”
“Me, too.” Her bottom lip slides through her teeth. “Like right now I could kiss you.”
“You definitely could.” I skim her thigh under the water with my fingertips.
She nods. “There’s nothing stopping us.”
“So why aren’t your lips on mine yet?” I ask.
Hanna shifts again, her wet palms come to rest on either side of my jaw, and she presses her soft lips to mine.
I slip my hand under her hair and wrap it around the back of her neck. For a moment, I question whether this is a good idea. But when our lips part and our tongues meet, I forget all the reasons why it might not be.
I groan as I sink into the kiss and our tongues tangle. She tastes fruity, like the wine she’s been drinking. She straddles me and settles in my lap, her breasts pressing against my chest.
She breaks the kiss for a moment and our eyes meet. “I’ve been thinking about this for months.”
“I’ve wanted to know what your lips taste like since the first day I met you,”

Review:

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars


A Kiss for a Kiss is the 4rth stand-alone novel in the All In series by Helena Hunting. Jake is Queenie's father and Hanna is Ryan's mother/sister. There is some history with Ryan and Hanna that took place in the previous book (A Secret for a Secret) and it might make a new to the series reader feel out of place if they decide to read just this book.


I will get straight to the point and to what has been bothering me for the past 10 days. In my opinion, this is not a romance book. Jake and Hanna are just two people who had some fun, ended up with a child on the way, and decided to make the best of it. They have so many things going on in their lives that involve other people and there wasn't any time for them to just be together and romance each other. Honestly, they could have gone on their separate ways, found other people to be with and I wouldn't have had a problem with it, because I wasn't invested in them as a couple. The book ended and I was like "Wait, is this it?" and it wasn't in a good way. There were simply too many things taking place at once and Jake and Hanna's relationship came always third, not even second. 


So, while I did like the series of the series, I wouldn't recommend this book.



About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

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Blog tour: Finale (North Security #4.5) by Skye Warren

Finale, an all new captivating and sexy North Security novella from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!


Francisco never backs away from a challenge.

Isabella never bows down to anyone.
This scorching hot battle of wills may leave both of them broken.

Francisco Castille, the exiled Duke of Linares, knows his duty. Even in modern times, the line must continue. So he'll marry and produce an heir.

Yes, a wife will fit into his well-ordered life.

Instead he ends up with the brilliant pianist Isabella. Strong. Spirited. And highly disobedient. She rebels against every custom and every rule, threatening his careful balance.

Francisco never backs away from a challenge.

Isabella never bows down to anyone.

This scorching hot battle of wills may leave both of them broken.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

                          

Grab yours today exclusively on Amazon!
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/FinaleSkye

Review:

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Finale is a novella set in the North Security Series by Skye Warren. Samantha and Liam have a brief cameo, so Fransisco and Isabella must have appeared in their books too. I honestly cannot remember them, but it doesn't really matter anyway. The story is a stand-alone.

I like novellas and usually, I don't have a problem with their length. I would have liked 30-50 more pages for this story though. I feel like the menage aspect of the book wasn't explored as much as it should have been. Isabella goes from being a virgin to having threesomes and Fransisco is into some kinky stuff, so I was expecting her to need some time to process everything, but she just accepts everything. Fransisco doesn't explain anything, not even to us readers, and just expect everyone to go with the flow. Also, I would have liked for a little more time to have passed before our characters realized their feelings for each other and have them in some romantic situations. 

Overall, I wouldn't call the book bad. I do feel like we just touched the surface with Isabella and Fransisco's story, but I didn't dislike the book and I didn't have any high expectations in the first place due to the book's length. 


Excerpt

We reach the entrance to the cathedral. The powerful organ reverberates through the floor. Every single person—man, woman, and child—stands and turns to face me. It would be so easy to flush. To let my heart pound out of my chest and the blood rush to my face.

Instead I lift my chin. I face them down with a calm expression. A Bradley at heart.

Only, I won’t be a Bradley for much longer. Fifteen minutes, give or take.

My father steps forward. I grip the sleeve of his tuxedo so tight he must feel it. He must feel my terror, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He keeps walking, and so I do the only thing I can—I follow his lead. I float down the long carpet covered in rose petals.

At the end of the aisle, my groom waits for me.

Francisco Castille, the exiled Duke of Linares.

I suppose I should leave the “exiled” part off. It’s probably a touchy subject in his family. I wouldn’t know. I’ve never met anyone on the right side of the church. They move in European high society, while my family has been strictly New York City upper crust. This will be a merger of more than two people. It will combine businesses and connections. And, above all, this wedding will save my family’s entire world. Our livelihood. Our reputation. And the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of employees. So if my groom is as controlling as my brother warned, then that’s the price I’ll pay.

That is the price I’ve promised to pay.

Francisco wears a tuxedo, naturally.

Some men stand stiffly in them. He looks as if he was born in that tux. As comfortable as I might be in my favorite sweater and worn jeans. It’s the royalty in him, I suppose.

Black hair. Thick brows. A stern expression.

So far away. The cathedral has to be huge to fit the guest list. Walking closer is like coming into focus, seeing the brackets around his lips, the small slash in his eyebrow. A scar, perhaps. How did he hurt himself? I have no idea. We’re basically strangers.

We reach the end of the aisle.

My father moves my hand into Francisco’s grip.

Then we’re left alone, two of us standing in a sea of people. About to be married.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he murmurs.

Through the delicate satin of my glove, I feel his strength. His heat. It’s a comfort, even though I barely know him. I match his dry tone. “I heard someone’s getting hitched.”

His lips quirk. “A wedding, you say. Nothing too fancy.”

Add Finale to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ShhjBu

About Skye
Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance such as the Endgame trilogy. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.

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Thursday, May 27, 2021

Blog tour: Savage Love by Cassia Leo

 

New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo is back with a new steamy, emotional and angsty love story you don't want to miss! Get your copy of SAVAGE LOVE today!

About SAVAGE LOVE 

When I walked into the bar across from the hospital, all I wanted was a drink to help me forget the worst day of my life. What I got was sexy, mysterious Jake Maxwell and the most amazing one-night stand of my life.

Months later, he seeks me out with an unconventional offer: He’d like to take me and my dog for a walk.

My lazy dog could use the exercise, and I could use something to distract me from the pain of my sister’s death. Jake’s bad puns, gorgeous smile, and protective nature turn out to be the perfect medicine for my injured soul.

But just like the day we met, that one date turns into so much more. And as Jake and I grow closer, it becomes difficult to separate his pain from my own.

All I want is to share the burden of his secret. But some truths are too savage to be spoken. 

Savage Love is a new steamy, emotional stand-alone romance from New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. This book deals with sensitive subject matter. Due to graphic scenes and strong language, reader discretion is advised.

Add SAVAGE LOVE to your TBR!

Get your copy of SAVAGE LOVE today! Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo | Google Play

Read an excerpt from SAVAGE LOVE

Colette

When we’ve finished lathering Gary, I let the water out of the tub and pass the handheld shower-head to Jake, so he can do the rinsing. Twice, Gary tries to shake the water off before Jake is done, soaking our shirts with soapy, gray bathwater. Eventually, I remember that this is supposed to be a lesson. So I show Jake how to stop him from shaking off the water by placing his hand on Gary’s head. Afterward, I give Jake the large orange bath sheet I’ve designated for Gary, and he drapes it over him. He spends a few minutes towel-drying him, then he wraps the bath sheet around his damp body, lifts him out of the tub, and cradles my boy in his arms like a baby. He nuzzles Gary’s wet nose, and my dog takes this as an invitation to settle his snout into the crook of Jake’s solid neck. “You were a very good boy,” Jake coos. “Yes, you were.” I stare at him as my heart turns to mush. “Sorry about your shirt.” He laughs as Gary licks his neck. “I don’t mind,” he says, glancing at my chest. “But you might want to change yours.” I look down and gasp. My nipples are showing through the light-pink top I’m wearing. Jake follows me out of the bathroom with Gary still cradled in his arms. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.” I tug open the second drawer of my dresser and pull out a purple UW T-shirt. When I turn around, I find Jake and Gary lying on my bed, smiling at each other as he continues to towel-dry him. What the fuck is going on here? “Am I getting swooped by a Golden Retriever?” I say as I unfold the T-shirt. “Excuse me, but we’re trying to have a moment here,” Jake says, scratching Gary’s belly as Gary attempts to make himself comfortable on my pillow. “Well, can you close your eyes for a moment, so I can change my shirt?” He looks at me with obvious confusion. “Are you serious?” I roll my eyes and briskly remove my top, revealing that I’m not wearing a bra. “Happy now?” I say as I pull on the clean T-shirt. He stops scratching Gary’s belly and reaches down to adjust the crotch of his jeans as his gaze zeroes in on my chest. “I should get going.” He springs up from the bed, giving Gary a mild startle. “Sorry, buddy.” “I thought this was nothing you hadn’t seen before?” I say, grinning at the effect my body has on him. He shakes his head. “Yeah, but that’s like when an alcoholic tells you they’ll be fine having just one beer. Never believe that shit.” I finish pulling my hair out of the back of my T-shirt. “So, you’re the alcoholic and I’m the beer in this analogy, right?” Now that I’m fully clothed, he allows his gaze to wander the length of my body from my bare feet all the way upward until his eyes meet mine. “I’d say you’re more of a bourbon straight up, but yes. You’re dangerous,” he says, maintaining a safe distance between us. My brow furrows at the word dangerous. “Do you mean that in general? Or am I only dangerous to you? ’Cause, honestly, I think I’m pretty boring.” He shakes his head as I make my way toward him. “Trust me, boring is not a word I’d use to describe you.” I stop a few feet away from him to respect his personal space. “Speaking of drinking, are you thirsty? Can I interest you in a glass of the finest tap water in America?” The change of subject seems to put him at ease. “Actually, I’ve answered a lot of your questions today. But there’s one question you haven’t answered for me yet.” “Shoot.” He flashes me a charming smile, and it definitely looks like he’s been dying to get something off his chest. “I already answered this question for you, so it’s my turn to ask it… Have you thought of me since that night?” I chuckle at the insinuation that I could somehow forget the best and worst day of my life. “You’re kidding, right?” He looks pleased with my response. “Is that a yes?” “Uh… that’s a big yes. I mean…” My voice trails off as memories of that day flash in my mind: his arms carrying me, his solid chest pressing me against the shower wall, the way he knew exactly how I wanted to be kissed, the way he effortlessly slipped into the role of friend-slash-lover-slash-caregiver, then just as easily slipped away into the night. “You’re not exactly easy to forget.” His smile is tempered by this disclosure. “I do aim to please.” The response feels hollow, almost as if he’s uncomfortable being thought of as unforgettable. Some people are naturally bad at accepting praise. Dahlia would say this kind of behavior is a trauma response. Maybe it makes him uneasy to picture me thinking about him every day. Was he hoping I’d say he barely crossed my mind? Was he being hyperbolic last night when he claimed he thought of me every day? Maybe I’m just overthinking this. “Do you have to get going?” I ask as he takes his phone out of his pocket to glance at the screen. “Yeah, I have a meeting in the morning with—well, it’s about tips.” My eyebrows pinch together as I feel a little confused. “You’re having a meeting about bar tips?” My question makes him laugh. “No, not bar tips. T-I-P-S is the acronym for the software project. I just call it tips. It’s easier.” I cast a sideways glance in his direction. “Are you allowed to tell me what T-I-P-S stands for?” “No, but don’t worry. It’s not very interesting. Unlike you.” I smile at his uncanny ability to always bring the subject back to me. “Okay,” I say, accepting his inability to discuss the project. I try not to let my disappointment show, but the secretiveness surrounding his work feels like one more roadblock to getting to know Jake. And now that he’s leaving so soon after I basically flashed my breasts at him, I question whether I’ve misread him. His expression becomes serious as he holds my gaze for a long moment. “I’m not leaving because I want to,” he clarifies, and his tone is urgent with the need for me to believe him. “I’m leaving because I don’t want to mess this up again. Okay?” My body tingles as I’m flooded with feel-good chemicals. “Okay.” I remind myself of Dahlia’s warning to not get caught up questioning whether Jake likes me. So, instead, I take her advice and ask myself, do I like Jake? Of course, I like him. And now that I think about it, it’s ridiculous to question if he feels the same. The question isn’t whether we like each other. The real question is, are we right for each other? And there’s only one way to find out. As I lead him to the door, the feel-good chemicals slowly dissipate as I worry this is the last time I’m going to see him. But as I place my hand on the door handle, I freeze when I feel his body pressed softly against my back. “You smell really fucking good,” he murmurs as he gently turns me around so we’re facing each other. I swallow hard as his gaze lands on my mouth. “So do you.” The corner of his mouth curves upward. “Is this okay?” he whispers, brushing the backs of his fingers over my cheek. I nod. “Yes.” His hand moves down slowly, grazing my jaw as he reaches around to clasp the back of my neck. “And this?” I nod again as his fingers slip under the hair at my nape, gently closing around it. “How about this?” he says, leaning forward to lay a soft kiss on my cheek. The sensation of his scruff and his lips against my skin sends a jolt of pleasure coursing through me. I nod slowly to let him know what he’s doing is very okay, and he responds by tightening his grip ever so slightly on my hair. The throbbing between my legs transforms into a painful ache as my need to kiss him becomes unbearable. He softly brushes his lips down my cheek and places a tender kiss on the corner of my mouth. “I’ve been dreaming of having you for months,” he murmurs as the enormous bulge in his jeans presses against my belly. “But this time, I’m going to be patient and take my time with you.” I reach up to grab fistfuls of his T-shirt for support as my knees get weak. “Being patient isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” I whisper as I struggle to catch my breath. “I mean, patience has gotten us Game of Thrones fans nowhere.” He takes my face in his hands and looks me in the eye. “There will be a next time. I promise.” I want to point out that he said something similar before he skipped out on me in the middle of the night, but I remind myself that we’d only known each other for a few hours then. And we didn’t have sex today, so it’s not like he used me so he could take my dog for a walk. For now, his promise is enough to assuage my worries about him disappearing again. I flash him a warm smile to let him know I believe him. Mercifully, he takes my gesture as permission to kiss me. His mouth lands softly over mine. His kiss just feels so right. Even with the rasp of his new facial hair abrading my lips, it’s as perfect as it was that night; as if he’s the first and only man I’ve ever kissed. Like we invented the kiss and everyone else just copied us. When he pulls away, my head feels heavy, my thoughts fuzzy, as if I’ve downed a few cocktails. But I know it’s just the intoxicating effects of Jake’s touch. The corner of his mouth pulls upward as he seems to recognize the effect he has on me. “I’ll text you later.” He places one last kiss on the tip of my nose before he opens the door to leave. I stand partially in the doorway, holding the door slightly ajar as he heads toward the stairs. He glances back a couple of times with that sexy grin that makes me want to straddle him. The sight elicits a sigh from deep in my chest. But my mind snaps back to reality when the door across the hallway opens, and my creepy neighbor emerges. As if they can sense something is wrong, Gary is suddenly prodding the backs of my legs, and Jake looks over his shoulder one last time before he descends the stairs. When he glimpses the man in the hallway, his gaze locks on him with an intensity I’ve seen in his eyes before, but never really understood. I glance at my neighbor, but Jake’s presence gives me the courage not to smile this time. When I turn back to Jake, he’s stopped at the top of the stairs, watching and waiting, as if he can sense my uneasiness from thirty feet away. “Hey,” my creepy neighbor says, glancing at my legs as Gary pushes his snout through my thighs, trying desperately to get past me. I don’t respond to him, and he laughs. “Is something funny?” I ask, reaching down to grab Gary’s collar as he’s now trying to squeeze past me through the gap between my leg and the doorframe. My creepy neighbor stops in the corridor and turns his body halfway toward me. “I’m just trying to be friendly, but you seem to think you’re too good to say hi to me. So, yeah, I think it’s funny that you think I give a shit.” My eyes widen as my pulse races. “You think I don’t say hi to you because I think I’m too good for you?” But before he can answer, Jake arrives and positions himself between us. “Is something wrong?” Jake asks me as he shoots the guy a deadly glare. “No, it’s just neighbor stuff,” I reply, but I immediately regret downplaying the way this guy puts me so on edge. I don’t want to get in a feud with my neighbor, but I also don’t want to feel threatened by this man’s aggressive insecurities every time I open my front door. Unsatisfied with my answer, Jake turns to my neighbor. “Is there a problem?” They’re both about the same height, but I’m certain that if this became physical, Jake would rip my skinny neighbor to shreds. And I wouldn’t want Jake to get in trouble for something like that. My neighbor casts an unfriendly glance in my direction. “I don’t got any problems, man.” Maintaining my grip on Gary’s collar, I venture into the hallway, letting the door close behind me so I can position myself and my dog between Jake and the creepy guy. But this only excites Gary and, as if he too is emboldened by Jake’s presence, my docile old man begins barking. My neighbor doesn’t appreciate it, sneering at Gary the way he usually does. “He’s supposed to be on a leash,” he remarks, then he turns around and heads toward the stairs. “How about you mind your fucking business?” Jake calls after him. Jake’s voice is calm, almost playful, as if he’s daring him to say or try something. My neighbor stops in the middle of the corridor and turns around. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.” Jake closes the distance between them in a few strides and my neighbor appears afraid as he takes a few steps back, bumping into the wall behind him. “We’ll see about what?” Jake says, getting in his face. “Is that a threat? Are you threatening her?” My heart is pounding out of my chest as I’m frozen in place. “I’m not threatening her, but she needs to keep that dog on a leash. It’s the building rules,” my neighbor says, his words tumbling out fast as he repeatedly glances in my direction, as if he’s silently pleading with me to intervene. My body breaks out of freeze-mode and moves into fight-mode as I open the door and push Gary inside. “You know I never have Gary off-leash,” I say to my neighbor, then I make my way to Jake and carefully place a hand on his arm. “He can’t actually make a complaint.” Jake’s chest rises and falls heavily as he continues to stare at my neighbor. “Are you going to leave her alone?” “I won’t make a complaint.” “That’s not what I asked,” Jake says, his tone low and deadly now. “I asked if you’re going to leave her alone.” My neighbor glances at me and nods. Jake’s fists are clenched at his sides as he steps back and nods toward the stairs. “Leave.” My neighbor wastes no time disappearing down the stairwell. When I can no longer hear his footsteps, I look up at Jake. His eyes are fixed on the stairwell as the rise and fall of his chest slows. After a moment, he turns to me and his face is a mixture of emotions, some of which I can’t discern. But I definitely recognize regret and anger. “I hope I didn’t scare you. It just pisses me off when guys try to intimidate women for just existing.” “That’s a pretty accurate description of my relationship with that neighbor.” He looks concerned now. “How long has he been harassing you?” “I wouldn’t exactly call it harassment, but—” “It’s harassment. That guy has creeper written all over his fucking face.” I pause as I consider whether I should downplay how much I agree with his assessment. “It’s only been a couple of times that he’s made me feel uncomfortable. But I’m sure he’ll think twice about it now.” “A couple of times is twice too many. If he says or does anything again, you need to come to me.” “I’ll just tell management about it.” Jake shakes his head, and his eyes are filled with a blazing need for me to understand him. “No, you don’t understand. They won’t do anything. He pays rent just like you, and they always give these creeps the benefit of the doubt. You come to me. You understand?” I nod, almost afraid to disagree with him. “I do. And I will. I’ll tell you if he does anything else.” He heaves a deep sigh of relief. “Fuck. I should get going. But I’m definitely going to text you later.” He grabs my face and kisses my forehead before pulling me into a tight hug. I bury my face in his chest as I wrap my arms around his waist. “I don’t want you to be scared,” he says, kissing the top of my head before he lets go of me. “I’m not,” I assure him. He nods, but he doesn’t seem convinced. “Lock your door,” he says, flashing me a guarded smile as he turns to leave. As he descends the stairs, I wonder why that entire encounter felt strange to me. It isn’t until I’m back inside, and running the dog brush through Gary’s fur, that I’m finally able to put my finger on it. Jake seems to feel my neighbor presents more of a danger to me than I do. Is this because men are better able to sense another man’s ill intentions? Or is Jake one of those volatile guys who can never resist the opportunity for a confrontation? I shake my head at this thought as Gary rolls onto his back to discourage me from brushing his fur. I recall how Jake helped me with Gary today. I don’t think he’s the type of guy who goes looking for a fight. He seems more like the guy who goes looking for someone to save. But this could be because his father was a literal hero who flew around in a helicopter rescuing people. Whatever it is, I think what matters most is that I feel safe with him. Whether I know him enough to justify those feelings is a chance every woman—and man—takes when starting a new relationship. I hope this safe feeling lasts. After I’m done grooming Gary, and I’ve settled down into bed around midnight, my phone buzzes on my nightstand. Jake: Are you safe in bed? I reply with a selfie of just my face and the covers tucked under my chin. Jake: What do you have on underneath those blankets? I hesitate as I consider sending him a picture of my black panties and bare breasts, but I decide against it as I remember his comment about patience. Me: Just a T-shirt and panties. Jake: What kind of T-shirt? Me: Actually, I’m not wearing a shirt. Jake: And you sent me a pic of your covers pulled up to your chin? Me: I didn’t want to get you too excited. Jake: Good call. Just the thought of it has me dangerously close to hopping in my truck and heading straight over there. Me: In that case, I lied about the underwear too. Jake: I want you to touch yourself tonight. And I want you to imagine it’s my mouth on you while you do it. Me: Okay. Anything else you want me to do? Jake: I want you to come to the bar this weekend and meet my friends. I stare wide-eyed at the text message as I try to think of a response. Me: Are you sure? Jake: I’m positive. I’ll pick you up Saturday at 9:30. Cool? I bite my lip as a million questions mingle in my mind. Is this too fast? Is this a test? Do I actually want to do this? My muscles warm as I remind myself I have a gorgeous man who wants to protect me and support me. And he’s considering making me a part of his life. My body relaxes into the mattress and an uncontrollable grin spreads across my face. The cocktail of emotions I’m feeling right now is exactly what I needed when I walked into Jake’s bar four months ago. It took him a few tries, but he finally got it right. Me: Cool. Jake: Goodnight, baby. Me: Goodnight, 007.

Get your copy of SAVAGE LOVE today! Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo | Google Play

 

About CASSIA LEO

New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time re-watching Catastrophe. When she’s not binge watching, she’s usually enjoying the Oregon rain with a hot cup of coffee and a book. Find her on… Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter | Join Club Cassia

Release Blitz: Faceoff by Jami Davenport

Reformed Playboy Hockey Romance!
Faceoff by Jami Davenport is now live!

Buy on All Platforms

She's every man's girl next door. I'm the playboy your mother warns you about.

I'm the party-boy extraordinaire and perpetual playboy of the Seattle Sockeyes. I thought this was the dream life, but after multiple poor choices, it's all gone too far and I'm about to lose everything. My reputation has been shot to hell, I'm on thin ice with the team, and I'm financially broke AF. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I'm about to agree to the last thing an irresponsible dude like me should ever do.

Darcy is the sweetheart of reality TV and every guy's girl-next-door fantasy, but her luster is fading, her show is on the chopping block, and she's now living in my condo. Did I forget to mention she's also my fake girlfriend and soon-to-be fake fiancé? And not a fake girlfriend with benefits, but the hands-off, leave-me-alone except when the cameras are rolling girlfriend.

I crave attention and notoriety. She craves stability and love. We both have our secrets...and chemistry. We have a lot of chemistry. Together we're explosive, but explosions have a way of hurting those closest to the blast. And this celebrity match made in heaven is about to detonate.

Review:
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Faceoff is the book that made me realise that Jami Davenport's writing style is not for me anymore. Has she written a "hero" who is not a man-whore lately? Because all the male main characters seem to be constantly sleeping around. I haven't felt as disgusted as I did when reading Gage's point of view in a very long time. Darcy is just a doormat. This seems to be the norm lately. 

What truly sealed the deal though was one of Gage's teammates who slept with Darcy's friend. At some point at the end of the book, Cave says that he has met the love of this life and she divorced him and I just cannot get out of my head the idea that the Cave's wife is going to be the heroine of his book and she will have probably stayed celibate this whole time.


About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary and sports romances, including her two new indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Madrona Island Series. Jami’s new releases consistently rank in the top fifty on the sports romance and sports genre lists on Amazon, and she has hit the Amazon top hundred authors list in both contemporary romance and genre fiction multiple times. Jami ranked Number Seven on Kobo’s Top Ten Most Completed Authors, an honor bestowed on the year’s “most engaging” authors based on an average page completion rate by their readers.
Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland cross with a tennis ball fetish, a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat, and an opinionated Hanoverian mare.
Jami works in IT for her day job and is a former high school business teacher. She’s a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan and is waiting for the day professional hockey comes to Seattle. An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it’s the most beautiful place on earth.

Connect with Jami!
Subscribe to my newsletter to receive a free novel and be notified of new releases, special sales, and contests: http://eepurl.com/LpfaL
Website Address: http://www.jamidavenport.com
Twitter Address: @jamidavenport
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Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1637218.Jami_Davenport

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Blog tour: Grumpy Cowboy by Max Monroe

 

Grumpy Cowboy, an all new steam and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe is available now!

ATTENTION: If you have been a victim of false advertising, you may be entitled to compensation. If you were ever hired to take care of a fourteen-year-old boy’s knee injury on a luxury ranch in the Middle of Nowhere, Utah, but that fourteen-year-old boy ended up being a tall, rough-and-tumble, muscular, one-hundred-percent all-man cowboy by the name of Rhett Jameson, you may have been put at risk for falling in love. Please seek counsel immediately.

Dear Counselor,

It was supposed to be simple favor for my very important boss, Frank Kaminsky of the Salt Lake Slammers professional basketball team—go to his good friend Tex Jameson’s luxury ranch and provide personal medical care for his recently injured teenage son.

I thought it’d be a working vacation of sorts—a chance for my city-girl self to experience something I would never otherwise do—but everything is upside down, and absolutely nothing is as I thought it would be.

For one, this patient is not a teenage boy.
He’s a real-life, blue-eyed, tough-as-nails, thirtysomething cowboy who is so darn strong he looks like he could lift a car just for the heck of it.

He’s also stubborn, rude, and we don’t get along…at all.

Add in the heart-melting vision of him as a single father to the cutest little girl on the planet, and I’ve found myself in a whole different dimension of trouble.

Lust. Feelings. A whole lot of enemies-to-lovers-style complication.

Please help me. My name is Dr. Leah Levee, I am a victim of false advertising, and if I’m not careful, this Grumpy Cowboy might just be the death of me.

Grab yours today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tia1eA
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/GrumpyCowboyMM

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3saZJva

Excerpt

Leah

   Gently, I rap my knuckles against the wood, and moments later, an adorable little blond-haired girl comes running down the hall and right toward me.

   She pushes the screen door open with one of her cowgirl boots and steps out until she can keep it open with just her hip. With pigtails and dimples and big blue eyes, she just might be the cutest kid I’ve ever see in my life.

   Is this Rhett Jameson’s little sister?

   “Who are you?” she asks, ignoring any sort of greeting and getting straight to the point.

   I grin. “My name is Leah. What’s your name?”

   “Joey,” she answers, her small hands moving with her words. “Well, Josephine, but everyone calls me Joey.”

   “That’s a very pretty name.”

   “And you’re a very pretty lady,” she says, and her eyes move up and down my body, taking in my hair and my face and my dress and my shoes. “Maybe the prettiest lady I’ve ever seen. Are you in movies?”

   “No, I’m not in movies,” I answer on a soft laugh. “But you know what’s funny?”

   “What?”

   “You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in my whole life.”

   She giggles, and then her eyes get big. “Wait…oh my goodness! Are you here to teach me how to braid my hair?” Her button nose crinkles up in the most adorable way. “My granny told me she’d teach me how to do it, but I think she can’t remember, and is that why you’re here? Because you know how to do it?” she asks, and her short legs bounce up and down ever so slightly.

   “Uh…” I pause, completely entranced by this sweet little human, but also utterly confused. “Actually, sweetie, I’m not here to teach you how to braid your hair. I’m here—”

   “Aw, shucks.” She swishes one fist from her right hip to her left hip, and her tiny mouth points down at the corners.

   Immediately, I feel like the worst human being alive, and it takes everything inside me not to step inside the house and ask her to get me a hairbrush.

   But I rein in the emotion and offer up something I hope will soften her disappointment.

   “How about this? Since I’m going to be here for the summer, I’ll make sure someday very soon, I teach you how to braid your hair.”

   “Yeah?” Her big blue eyes light up like the sun. “Ya promise?”

   “I promise.”

   Truthfully, I’m just assuming this young girl lives here on this ranch, but I have no idea.

   I don’t know if she’s Tex’s daughter or someone else’s daughter. I don’t really know much of anything. Haven’t known much of anything since I told Frank Kaminsky I’d take this job.

   But so far, feeling out of the loop appears to be par for the course.

   The girl steps out of the house on her tiny cowgirl boots and wraps her arms around my waist. “I’m so excited, Leah!”

   I’m shocked at first by her instant affection, but it doesn’t take long before I’m putty in her teeny hands.

   “Me too, Joey.” A tickled laugh emerges from my lungs, and I pat her head tenderly.

   Eventually, she steps back and puts one hand to her hip. “So, if you’s supposed to be here all summer but it’s not just for my hair, why are you here?”

   “I was just about to ask the same thing, Joey.” A deep, raspy voice fills my ears, and that’s when I realize someone else has joined our conversation at the door.

   My eyes move up, up, up past Joey and land on a pair of perfectly worn-in jeans, over a shirtless and firm set of abs and an even firmer chest, and they don’t stop until they meet aqua-blue eyes that are pointed directly at me.

   Holy shit.

   This rugged, fine-as-hell specimen standing right behind Joey isn’t just any man; he’s the manliest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. His body is stretched tight with the kinds of firm muscles that do not come from protein shakes and a gym membership to LA Fitness. No. These are real muscles, made from hard, sweaty work on a big-ass ranch like this.

   If you typed the words “hot cowboy” into Google, I’m pretty sure this guy would be the number one search result.

   And he looks so damn strong, so physically capable of anything, I honestly think he could lift a car just for the fun of it.

   With brownish-red hair that looks almost gold in the sunlight, a sharp jaw that’s peppered with some scruff, and full lips that are set in a firm line, I can’t help but wonder who is this guy?

   Rhett Jameson’s…older brother? His uncle?

   Some kind of familial male figure?

   He clears his throat, and that’s when I realize just how long I’ve been standing here staring at this slightly irritated, but also handsome-looking, cowboy like a moron.

Uh…hello? Earth to Leah? Now would be a really great time to remember how to speak…

About Max Monroe
A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.

Connect with Max Monroe
Stay up to date with Max Monroe by joining their mailing list today: http://bit.ly/2HzGmau

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Release Day Blitz: With This Cake by Samantha Chase

 

New York Times bestselling author Samantha Chase is bringing more wedding shenanigans with a new standalone story in the Meet Me at the Altar series. WITH THIS CAKE is out now and you don't want to miss it!


About WITH THIS CAKE

Cheery baker dreams of finding Mr. Right…

When your last name is Baker, it’s really only a matter of time before it also becomes your job title. Some might see it as a self-fulfilling prophecy, but for Leanna, being the go-to baker for Meet Me at the Altar is a dream come true. There’s nothing she loves more than to create the perfect desserts to help couples celebrate their big days. But despite what they say about the way to a man’s heart being through his stomach, Leanna has yet to lure her perfect man with her sweet treats.

Uptight workaholic dreams of being left alone…

If Brody King is going to take time off, he would much rather it be to train for his triathlon and not his brother’s engagement party. It would be one thing if it was just a regular party, but no, his brother and his bride-to-be had to go over the top and plan a full week of family togetherness and ridiculous wedding games. There’s no way he’s going to survive it.

When Brody crashes into Leanna and a hundred cupcakes are ruined, he does the only thing he can–he offers to help her make more. All it takes is a few cups of sugar and a dash of vanilla before Brody is craving not just Leanna’s sweet treats, but the baker herself.

Add WITH THIS CAKE to your TBR!

Get your copy of WITH THIS CAKE today! Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo


      

 

About SAMANTHA CHASE

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter | BookBub

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Blog tour: Wild Dreams (Wilder Irish, #12) by Mari Carr

 

Fate has another wild card in store for the three of them, one that will test everyone’s faith in their very different dreams for the future.

Wild Dreams, the all-new sizzling hot, menage romance in the Wilder Irish Saga from New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr is available now!


Dream big. Dream wild.

Oliver has always longed for a love just like his parents have—all three of them. He’s certain he’s already halfway to that happily ever after. His foster brother calls it wild, but Ollie knows they can find the woman of their dreams.

Gavin has always accepted that life is just one disappointment after another. Growing up in the foster system taught him that. Oliver is one of the few people he can trust, so he prefers they stay a two-man band.

Erin is a curvy, spunky brunette neither of them saw coming. But fate has another wild card in store for the three of them, one that will test everyone’s faith in their very different dreams for the future.


Review:
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Wild Dreams is the 12th book in the Wilder Irish series by Mari Carr. Don't let that number scare you, the book can be read on its own. I'd strongly recommend reading every single book because so far, the series hasn't disappointed me.

I went in not knowing what the book is about and I was a little worried about the formation of the triad because there was some history between Oliver and Gavin. After finishing the book, I know that our characters needed to go as slow as they did because there was a lot of baggage on Gavin's part. Oliver and Erin had been dating for over a year, which is something that might have been a problem when Gavin was supposed to be added to the mix, but as I read more and more about these three, I realized that all of them were a throuple without knowing that they are a throuple. It was actually sweet.

The book is mostly about Gavin's development as a character and leaving behind the hurt from the past. That happens with the help of Erin and Oliver who already know what they want for their lives and work towards getting it. He made some decisions that I think more people should make IRL, which is something that has stuck with me since the moment I finished the story.

I don't have a single complaint when it comes to this book. It will go on my list for my top books of 2021. It had everything I want from a romance book with the addition of Oliver's grandfather. Erin was a great heroine and if she were a real person I would love to be her friend.

There was quite the teasing about Padraig and Emmy's story so I am looking extra forward to that one!

Dream wild, today!
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/wilddreams

Add WILD DREAMS to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ZTvmy3

Excerpt

“Sometimes I wonder…” Erin said, pausing. She bit her lower lip, and Oliver got a sense she regretted what she’d just started to say. “Never mind.”
“You wonder what?” he pressed.
“I wonder if you and I had never met…if you and Gavin would have…”
Oliver sighed. There were no secrets between him and Erin. He’d fallen for her just as quickly as her roommate Jordan fell for her flavors of the month. Layla had introduced him to her cousin shortly after Erin had landed a nursing job at Johns Hopkins in the E.R., making the move from Philly to Baltimore. Oliver had taken one look at the curvy brunette with chocolate-brown eyes and known he’d met his soulmate.
Well…one of them.
Erin’s hot-blooded Italian mother had met and fallen madly in love with her hard-working and hard-playing Irish husband, and the result had been Erin Cafferty. Like him, she laughed loudly and often, spoke her mind, rarely flashed her fiery temper—but when she did, watch out—and once they’d committed to this relationship, she’d been all in, holding back nothing.
As such, she knew all about Ollie’s wild dreams, his desire to find a relationship just like that of his parents. Erin was as open-minded and adventurous as they came. Unlike the Moretti brothers, Erin had been quick to accept Layla’s relationship with both Finn and Miguel, confiding to him early on that she’d thought it was “very cool and totally hot,” and how she couldn’t imagine anything better than finding true love with not just one person but two. She’d told him she would be open to that kind of relationship if it was what he truly wanted.
If Oliver hadn’t already fallen for her before, that would have sealed the deal for him.
Erin had also heard all of Oliver’s “past lovers” stories, just as he’d heard hers, so she knew about his one night with Gavin and how it had ended. Why it had ended. Oliver had tried to convince her that he’d since come to realize that dream of a threesome relationship was just that…a dream.
But every now and then, like tonight, he’d slip up and reveal more than he should, and once more, she’d be left to wonder if she truly was enough. He hated doing that to her.
He’d let his dreams keep him and Gavin apart, so how could he expect her to believe the same wouldn’t hold true in their relationship? While he’d sworn to her that wouldn’t happen, it was clear she didn’t believe him.
“You know Gavin and I…” He started to say hooked up, but that felt too impersonal, especially given his feelings for Gavin.
“Slept together,” Erin finished when he stumbled. “I know that, but—”
“But nothing. It was just one time and we both knew afterwards that…it wasn’t enough. That something was missing.”
The truth was his night with Gavin had been fucking amazing. The only other lover he’d ever taken to bed who’d rocked his world like that was Erin. But Oliver had fucked it up when he’d misread the entire thing with Gavin, planning a future out loud for the two of them and some unknown woman.
“Nothing was missing in Gavin’s mind,” Erin softly reminded him.
He knew that. But it didn’t change the facts. “It wouldn’t work, Erin. I want a wife and babies.”
“And a husband. Gavin.”
Oliver hadn’t planned to add anything else to that list because he’d made that mistake once before. Lost someone he loved because his dreams were too big, too wild. But Erin wouldn’t let him lie. Not even to himself. Because she was right.
He didn’t just want a wife.
He wanted it all.

About Mari

Virginia native Mari Carr is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance novels. With over one million copies of her books sold, Mari was the winner of the Romance Writers of America’s Passionate Plume award for her novella, Erotic Research. She has over a hundred published works, including her popular Wild Irish and Compass books, along with the Trinity Masters series she writes with Lila Dubois.

Connect with Mari

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