Author: Empress DJ

Empress DJ AKA Honolulubelle is a Rabid Reader, Unabashed Reviewer, and All-Purpose Goddess
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Book Review: Raving About Rhys by Jessica Redland

Raving About Rhys

by Jessica Redland

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK

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Bubbly Callie Derbyshire loves her job as a carer, and can’t believe she’s finally landed herself a decent boyfriend – older man Tony – who’s lasted way longer than the usual disastrous three months. Tony’s exactly what she’s always dreamed of … or at least he would be if he ever took her out instead of just taking her to bed. And work would be perfect too if she wasn’t constantly in trouble with her boss, The She-Devil Denise.

When the new gardener, Mikey, discovers her in a rather compromising position at work, Callie knows that her days at Bay View Care Home could be numbered. Can she trust him not to tell Denise? If she’s issued with her marching orders, who’ll look out for her favorite client, Ruby, whose grandson, Rhys, seems to constantly let her down? What does Ruby know about Tony? And what is Denise hiding?

Surrounded by secrets and lies, is there anyone left who Callie can trust?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Believe me, I’ve kissed more than my fair share of frogs. And toads. And snakes.

 ‘Please don’t tell anyone I said rude words. Especially The She-Devil.’ … I’d been hauled into her office only the week before and lectured on the ‘inappropriateness’ of shouting out, ‘Who’s farted?’ during film night. It didn’t matter to her that the residents had found it hilarious… Apparently, ‘The elderly frequently suffer from flatulence issues and staff should know better than to draw attention to it using vulgar language’. Whoops.

 I like sugar daddies. Did I tell you about my first one? I was sixteen and he was the fifty-eight-year-old lion tamer at the circus. There was nothing that man couldn’t do with a whip…

 My Review:

 

I have read this series out of order but that doesn’t seem to have mattered as every installment has strong enough legs to stand on its own. I have enjoyed each of the Whitsborough Bay stories that I’ve read and fervently hope that Ms. Redland continues the series into perpetuity. I enjoy her amusing storylines and uniquely vulnerable characters, as most of us in the real world are struggling with something even if the issues appear of no consequence or minuscule to others. Her stories are well balanced with humor, angst, and an interesting and relevant storyline with a few twists and surprises tossed in to keep us alert.

Author Bio –  Jessica Redland

 

Jessica had never considered writing as a career until a former manager kept telling her that her business reports read more like stories and she should write a book. She loved writing but had no plot ideas. Then something happened to her that prompted the premise for her debut novel, Searching for Steven. She put fingers to keyboard and soon realized she had a trilogy and a novella!

She lives on the stunning North Yorkshire Coast – the inspiration for the settings in her books – with her husband, daughter, cat, Sprocker Spaniel, and an ever-growing collection of collectible teddy bears. Although if the dog has her way, the collection will be reduced to a pile of stuffing and chewed limbs!

Jessica tries to balance her time – usually unsuccessfully – between being an HR tutor and writing.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: @JessicaRedland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/

Website and blog: www.jessicaredland.com

 

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Spotlight, Giveaway: You Send Me by Jeannie Moon

Have you Pre-ordered YOU SEND ME yet?

In YOU SEND ME, Jordan and Nick must let go or their separate pasts in order to seize their future together in this charming fake engagement romance. Fans of Susan Wiggs and RaeAnne Thayne have fallen in love with the Compass Cove series from International Bestselling Author, Jeannie Moon.

Pre-order YOU SEND ME and add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Then keep reading to get a sneak peek and to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card or books from Jeannie Moon!

Title: You Send Me

Author: Jeannie Moon

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Release Date: May 29, 2018

Publisher: Tule Publishing Group

Series: Compass Cove

Format: Digital/Print

AISN: B07CGJGDPZ

Synopsis:

Jordan Velsor didn’t want to need anyone. After dumping her cheating fiancé, caring for her sick dad, and nearly being crushed along with her car during a violent storm, she’s pretty much at her breaking point. If anyone needs some luck, it’s Jordan, but the last thing she wants is gorgeous Nick Rinaldi, her landlord’s grandson, hovering over her while she nurses a bad cold. The wounded Navy doctor seems too good to be true… which means he probably is.

Nick Rinaldi left the Navy broken and adrift, wondering if he would ever practice medicine again. When his grandparents’ tenant is almost killed by a falling tree during a storm, he discovers Jordan is not only in shock, but suffering from pneumonia. Not one to miss an opportunity to play white knight, Nick arrives at her cottage to take care of her during the storm… But the lovely teacher has a fierce independent streak, and as he learns more about her, he wants to do more than merely help. 

Can Jordan and Nick let go of their separate pasts and seize their future together?

Available at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2HzVSES

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2vpQ6ki

iBooks: https://apple.co/2IVOqof

Other books in the Compass Cove series

THEN CAME YOU

Available at: Amazon Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Enter to WIN a $25 Amazon Gift Card or one of 12 print books of THEN CAME YOU or one of 5 print books of YOU SEND ME!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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You Send Me Excerpt

Copyright © 2018 Jeannie Moon

The deep rattling cough woke her from a restless sleep. This cold was kicking her ass, but even though all she wanted to do was burrow under the covers, she was out of tissues, and the dog needed to go outside.

Glancing out her window, the weather had worsened. She almost would have been content putting out a pad for Gertie to go inside, but her tissues and cough medicine were in the back seat of her car. She had to go out regardless.

“Come on, Gertie, time to pee.”

With a whimper and a moan from her spot at the other end of the couch, her little rescue buried her face in the corner. Gertie was no dummy.

“Look, if I have to go out, so do you. Your bladder is the size of a thimble, and it’s going to get even worse later.”

The dog sighed—sighed her annoyance at Jordan. A dog with an attitude. Didn’t it figure? Gertie practically rolled off the plush cushion and settled on her back on the blue patterned rug. Her short little legs were straight up in the air, feigning death.

Jordan felt pretty dead herself, but they still had to go outside.

The wind howled, and all the windows in the cottage shook like it was going to lift up and fly away. Gust after gust provided a not-so-subtle reminder that the nor’easter currently blowing across Long Island was going to make all their lives miserable. This storm was brutal. It had been wreaking havoc for the last twelve hours and based on the latest weather report it had slowed down to a crawl, meaning it was going to stick around for a while.

Grabbing the dog’s leash, Jordan gently nudged the little furry blob on the floor. Nothing. She didn’t budge. “Gertie! Come on!”

Ninety-nine percent of the time, she loved the little mutt. This moment definitely fell into the one percent.

After she broke her engagement, Jordan had the sudden urge to have a pet. A lot of people told her it would pass, but she knew that wasn’t the case. Jordan needed unconditional love in her home, so she kept her eyes open for the right opportunity. She couldn’t handle a puppy or a kitten, so when she wandered around a rescue fair one Sunday this past September, she found herself completely enamored with Gertie. A stubby-legged little mutt, Gertie was a tube of golden fur with a pointy snout and big, soulful brown eyes. She was about five years old, and her owner had just died, leaving the little dog all alone.

Jordan felt a kinship with the pooch, and took her home that day.

Lina Rinaldi, who usually frowned on her cottage tenants having pets, took to the dog right away, and Gertie loved the older woman right back.

As Jordan stared at the lump still upside down on the floor, she was about ready to offer Mrs. Rinaldi full custody. Then a deep, rasping cough shook Jordan to the core. It racked her body violently, and pain shot around her chest. God, she felt awful.

“Come on,” she said firmly to the pooch. “We’ll skip the leash this time. Out and in. Let’s get this over with.”

Gertie rolled over and trotted to the front door, giving Jordan the side eye as she waited. Donning her parka and a pair of lined wellies that she pulled over her pajama pants, Jordan grabbed the remote and unlocked her car. When she opened the front door, she was hit by a blast of wind, rain, and sleet that stung her cheeks and chilled her to the bone. “Lord, it’s miserable.” Looking down at Gertie, she nodded. “Okay, let’s make this quick.”

The two of them bolted outside, with Gertie heading for her favorite patch of grass and Jordan heading for her car. She stopped when she coughed so hard she could barely breathe. It hurt. She’d never had a chest cold that hurt so much. Finally, yanking open the door, she heard her pooch barking from the small covered porch. Jordan grabbed the bag that was filled with some basic food provisions, juice, tea, tissues, and a selection of over-the-counter cold remedies. She slammed the car door shut, and on her way back inside she noticed the whitecaps on Jennings Bay. The wind was forcing massive amounts of water into the coves and harbors around town, and she hoped the it didn’t breach the seawall surrounding the property. Jordan’s cottage was closer to Cove Road, but the Rinaldis’ big house was at risk.

Without any further delay, Jordan made it back to the porch, feeling chilled and soaked to the bone despite all the foul weather gear she’d put on. Gertie was barking frantically, having positioned herself under the old wooden swing, and Jordan was starting to lose her patience.

“Gertie, what the hell is the problem?”

That’s when she heard the groan and crack. Jordan looked up just as a large section of an old oak tree, about fifty feet from the house, gave way. Throwing her body against the wall to avoid any debris, Jordan watched as the massive tree split in half and came crashing down, crushing her car in the process.

If she had waited ten more seconds to head outside, Jordan would have been killed.

Frozen in place for—she didn’t know how long—Jordan startled when a large, strong arm wrapped around her.

She looked away from the wreckage in the front yard and into the gorgeous face of Nick Rinaldi.
“Damn. Are you alright?”

Was she? She wasn’t sure. Jordan tried to answer, but she had trouble catching her breath. Sucking in air, he kept her steady when they walked into the house.

Waiting for the dog before he closed the door, Nick sat her on the bench in the entryway. Glancing in the canvas tote from the market, his brow furrowed.

“You’re sick? What’s wrong?”

With a low rattling cough that had him pressing the back of his hand to her forehead, she muttered, “Chest cold.”

Shaking his head, he helped her off with her boots and jacket. “Let’s get you settled in bed, and I’ll go get my bag. You’ve got a lot more than a chest cold.”

“My car…”
“We can’t do anything about your car until the storm passes, so put it out of your head. It’s the last thing you need to worry about.”

“Are you kidding? Not worry about it?” How was she supposed to get to work or see her dad? How was she supposed to do anything if she didn’t have a car? The pain in her chest wasn’t just from her cough at that moment, but at the wave of dread—helplessness—that rushed through her.

“One thing at a time.” Nick, a former Navy doctor, was single minded. And as much as Jordan didn’t want to admit it, he was right. In this weather, there was nothing she could do.

“Come on,” he said. “Lead the way.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, stopping in her tracks. Those few words taxed her already strained system. She coughed painfully into her arm while Nick guided her into her room. The coughing spell was so violent, ripping at her tender lungs, she couldn’t even object as he tucked her into bed.

Sick as she was, Jordan wasn’t blind. Nick Rinaldi had been on her radar since he landed back in Compass Cove the previous fall. The guy was gorgeous, smart, and a gentleman to the core. But he’d settled back in with his grandparents almost six months ago, and other than a token hello, or a polite smile, he rarely spoke to her.

Still, with his lean frame, dark hair, and kind eyes, he checked a lot of boxes.

She thought she heard him mutter something about being stubborn, but her lack of breath didn’t allow a response. If anyone was stubborn, he was. The man of mystery was a well-known do-gooder, and obviously she was his next project. There was only one problem with that. She didn’t want his help. Needing people was a slippery slope, and Jordan had no intention of heading down that way again.

 

 

About Jeannie Moon:

Jeannie Moon, author of fifteen novels, has always been a romantic. When she’s not spinning tales of her own, Jeannie works as a school librarian, thankful she has a job that allows her to immerse herself in books and call it work. Married to her high school sweetheart, Jeannie has three kids, three lovable dogs and a mischievous cat and lives in her hometown on Long Island, NY. If she’s more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week, she gets twitchy.

Connect with Jeannie at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

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Book Review: Midlife Crisis by L.B. Dunbar

Midlife Crisis

Another romance for the over 40

L.B. Dunbar

Romantic Comedy

 

A sexy silver fox might be the perfect solution to a midlife crisis.

Goodreads

Amazon US /  CA /  UK /  AU

B&N

 

Synopsis

 

Midge Everette.

I’m forty-one today.

It’s my birthday,

And I’m crying over burnt toast.

That’s not some euphemism.

Literally, I’m sobbing over stupid bread,

so I call a crisis center.

I just need someone to talk to about life.

Only I recognize the smoky voice of the man on the line.

In the name of all things, don’t let it be…

 

Hank Paige.

As a former rock star,

I once had it all.

Fame. Fortune. Females.

Except for the one thing I wanted most.

Now, I fix cars and restore other people’s dreams.

I just want to be somebody’s someone.

And there’s a certain woman with captivating eyes,

I want to fulfill my dreams.

For the love of all things, please let it be her…

In the midst of questioning everything,

could love be the resolution to a midlife crisis?

 

 

If you loved Tommy Carrigan in After Care meet his best friend and former drummer, Hank, as he discovers romance in his forties.

Book 2 of the silver fox, former rock stars can be read as a standalone.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, lady.” His voice rings serious, surprised, as if he hadn’t noticed before and means every word.

 Brut drew the line at the old leather couch. He claims it has sentimental value, and the only thing I can imagine is him losing his virginity on it. Otherwise, the wasted DNA on those cushions could be a science experiment in why people should not reproduce.

 I know I said I want to make all your dreams come true, but I don’t know how. I have nothing to offer you. I’m being selfish because I want you to make all mine come true instead.

 Each time there’s an issue, you actually come to me, and it’s refreshing. You don’t run away, you run forward, and I want to catch you.

My Review:

 

In my vastly unprofessional opinion, L.B. Dunbar is found treasure. I typically read at a much faster pace but I found myself dawdling and humming as I read, wanting to savor every word of this well-crafted, delightfully engaging, deliciously steamy, and dangerously heart enlarging tale.   It pleased me. It was sweet, it was sexy, and it was cleverly amusing.   I was quickly immersed in the story and remained well invested in the thoughtfully observant and original storylines from beginning to end. Each and every character was endearingly and uniquely quirky, well drawn,  realistically flawed, and insightfully vulnerable; even the surly teenager. The agile and witty wordsmith known as L.B. Dunbar was a recent discovery for me during her last top-shelf offering of After Care, and I could kick myself for blindly overlooking her considerable listing for so long. Reading her skillful arrangements of words has been pure pleasure and seriously habit-forming.

 

 

 

About the Author

L.B. Dunbar has been accused of having an over-active imagination. To her benefit, this imagination has created over twenty novels, including a small-town world (Sensations Collection), rock star mayhem (Legendary Rock Star series), MMA chaos (Paradise Stories), rom-com for the over forty (The Sex Education of M.E. and After Care), and a suspenseful island for redemption (The Island Duet). Her alter ego, elda lore, creates magical romance through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). Her life revolves around a deep love of reading about fairy tales, medieval knights, regency debauchery, and strong alpha males. She loves a deep belly laugh, a strong hug, and an occasional margarita. Her other loves include being mother to four grown children and wife to the one and only.

Connect with L.B. Dunbar

www.lbdunbar.com

Stalk Me: https://www.facebook.com/lbdunbarauthor

Stalk Me More: Instagram @lbdunbarwrites

Read Me: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8195738.L_B_Dunbar

Follow Me: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/l-b-dunbar

Tweet Me: https://twitter.com/lbdunbarwrites

Pin Me: http://www.pinterest.com/lbdunbar/

Get News Here: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/j7j2s0

AND more things here…

Hang with us: Loving L.B. (reader group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/LovingLB/

 

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Book Review, Giveaway: Road Trip by Andie M. Long and Laura Barnard

Road Trip

by Andie M. Long & Laura Barnard 

Amazon US / UK

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Romantic comedy authors Andie M Long and Laura Barnard have teamed together to bring you the hilarious Road Trip! 

Out NOW!  #oneclick #romcom #chicklit #lovehate

After the end of a car crash relationship can Katy find true love?

Catching her sister in bed with her fiancé, school teacher Katy Cornish enlists playboy colleague Felix Montague to help her save face. What she doesn’t bargain on is them both losing their jobs in the process.

With finances running out, Katy must endure the rude and arrogant Felix while they embark on a road trip around the country in hopes of securing a new job. But there’s just one problem… they’re up for the same posts. This road trip is going to be unlike any other, with them doing whatever they can to sabotage the other.

Can they see past themselves and their egos to each other? Or will their desperation to continue their careers drive them apart?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I might be twenty-six, but in my parents’ eyes me and Vic are still about twelve. I am, but only in clothes.

 I don’t need to prepare anything. People naturally love me. It’s you I’d be worried about. People assume you’ve got something stuck up your arse. You might want to look into that.

 It wasn’t my fault, it was Victoria’s… She hit it with a stick while I was at a swimming pool party. It flew around and stung my bum. Then it died, so I felt really sad while Vic laughed that it had been so scared of my bottom it had died of fright.

You like me? … Like, as in you also like cheese? Or a different kind of like?

My Review:

 

I frequently smirked and occasionally giggled-snorted during this amusing and saucy misadventure of two broke and suddenly unemployed teachers, who were not always comfortable or friendly with each other while sharing a ride during their desperate attempts to find new employment. Both had lost their teaching positions due to a backfired prank, with continued shenanigans, antics, irresponsible behavior, poor planning, bad luck, accidents, mishaps, and incidents of sabotage to come during their careening trek across the country in search of new futures while their limited funds dwindled to mere coins. Written from my favorite dual POV, the story was entertaining and engaging with colorful humor and bits of steam. However, the snarky characters were not always likable or admirable in their motivations as they are often competing for the same limited job openings. Forced to remain in constant contact and close quarters for days on end, they began to see each other differently and an unexpected attraction bloomed in a fretful and vexing manner until they scorched the sheets. I scored a new addition to my Brit Vocabulary list with “on the lash” which is drinking to intoxication.


Giveaway

Head on over to Laura’s Facebook page to enter their giveaway for a chance to win $10/£10 Amazon Gift Card.

Connect with Andie

Website ☆ Facebook ☆ Twitter ☆ Instagram

☆ Pinterest ☆ Goodreads

 

Connect with Laura

Website ☆ Facebook ☆ Twitter ☆ Instagram

 ☆ Pinterest ☆ Goodreads

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Book Review: The Forever Night Stand by Bena Roberts

The Forever Night Stand

by Bena Roberts

Goodreads

Amazon  / Smashwords /  Kobo  / Nook 

 

A two-hour romance which starts with drama and mayhem!

Sara has her back up against the wall. She is recovering from the side effects of chemotherapy and at her own “cancer free” party, she makes a decision that will change her life forever.

The adventure begins when she leaves her posh lifestyle in Scotland and moves in with her Bollywood loving parents, in West London. Her parents are tragically ashamed of Sara’s actions and her electronic monitor. She decides to make them happy again and considers re-marrying.

Enter Raj, a possible hero who comes with the promise of a huge Indian wedding in Goa!

George, the childhood love of her life who seems to be hanging around every corner. Or should she just go back to her husband? Sara faces the biggest dilemma of her life, after making the colossal mistake of her life. What will she do and whom will she choose?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Men are like a chapati. Difficult to cook in the beginning, but after five years you will be slapping them around! Make them your own!” My mother’s inability to make chapati after fifty years not mentioned.

 

If I were on an airplane the sick bag would have been working overtime, but I wasn’t, both my parents were watching me, so I faked it and giggled.

 

The volcano in my brain spurted lava.

 

The DJ put on a popular Indian song and my mom plucked me like a chicken and ushered me onto the dance floor.

 

Sara, sucked the teeth from Raj’s mouth. Sara searched for his tonsils until Raj went red, I feared I would have to resuscitate him.

 

The expression on his face was stolen from Salvador Dali.

 

The hall erupted in clapping and cheers, apart from Raj’s family who became wax works.

 

My Review:

 

I am conflicted about how to rate this unusual little tale. Written from a dual POV, the premise was compelling although the writing style was oddly peculiar with incomplete sentences and occasionally skipped about rather erratically without a rational or cohesive flow, like the stream of consciousness or the inner musings of a person with a short attention span and rage disorder. There were considerable instances of razor-sharp humor and clever wit, and other stretches where I felt lost and confused with few clues to what was actually occurring. Yet my interest was snagged and didn’t want to concede to a DNF, as I was curious as to where the story was going to take me. I was satisfied with the conclusion, but damn, I had to work for it.

 

Author Bio – Bena Roberts

Bena Roberts was a journalist and analyst. Now she prefers the title novelist and romance adventurist. She graduated in England in 1994 and then with a Masters in 1997.

Born in 1973, Bena lived in West London until she was 24. Then she lived and worked in Budapest, Bruges, Prague, Amsterdam, Vienna, Hamburg and Munich. She currently resides in Germany, between Heidelberg and Frankfurt. Although she still refers to London as ‘home.’

Bena successfully created a technology blog which gained funding, had lunch with Steve Ballmer and was ‘top 50 most influential woman in mobile.’ Her blog also won several awards including Metro Best Blog.

Bena has two children, loves small dogs and always writes books with a cup of Earl Grey.

Bena’s favorite literary style is black humor, and she hopes to offer a unique voice in this area. Her books aim to confront the darkest of life experiences, with levity. Most of her writing is heavy hitting yet also entertaining.

Also – Available My Cake! A short story

Pre-Order Tammy&Lisa – How far would you go to protect your teenage son?

Twitter – https://twitter.com/benaroberts

Amazon Author – https://www.amazon.com/Bena-Roberts/e/B076ZRDW8G

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17307556.Bena_Roberts

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Book Review: Allure (Brooklet Dreams #1) by C.A. Harms

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Title: Allure (Brooklet Dreams)

Author: CA Harms

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 22, 2018

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

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The next generation of the Southern Boys returns in a new spin-off series, Brooklet Dreams…

 

She was supposed to be my forever…

 

I’ll never forget the first time I saw her. She wore overalls two sizes too big and a pair of gloves that were also too large for her little hands. But that didn’t faze her one bit, and we clicked instantly.
By the age of twelve, we had become best friends, and by the time we turned sixteen, we were more. I had eyes for only one girl.  My girl.
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But then life changed, and different paths led to broken promises. When she left town, I was forced to let go of our dreams.
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I spent my days existing. Baseball, classes, and working at the family farm became my life. I didn’t care about anything else. Until I met Allison Jo.
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AJ was the quiet girl I never expected. She brought me to my knees with that beautiful smile. She made me laugh and slowly brought the old me back to life. I found myself wanting more with her.
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I became her world, and she was my everything.
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But when my past returns, my world is turned upside down. 
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I’m not sure I was prepared for what was about to happen.

 

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I’ll admit it—I was a twenty-one-year-old guy who was still terrified of his mother. That woman could get pretty vicious when needed…

 I’m here with you because I wanna be, not because I feel like I need to be. You’re not who I thought you were, Allison Jo, you’re so much more. I wanna know everything there is to know about you. I want you to be the girl I call first with anything, whether it’s big or small, and I wanna be that guy for you in return.

 If I thought I was embarrassed before, it had nothing on the current situation… Once I was inside my car and had a minute to actually breathe, I looked down, and my heart felt like it hit the seat beneath my ass. I had my damn shirt on backward, and what made it worse was the tag was sticking out just below my chin. Why me?

 My Review:

 

I quickly fell into this easy to follow and engaging story with realistic and relatable storylines containing a fair balance of angst, humor, and sensuality, and packed with likable and endearing characters. A.J. was a sweet and delightful main character and Rhett was a near perfect BBF; he was sexy, thoughtful, attentive, and protective. Ms. Harms brought a refreshing twist to the dilemma of giving up and letting go of first love, and the possible second chance at first love not always being the best choice. I was holding my breath a bit but was more than satisfied with the conclusion and eager to see what this clever author does with the rest of the series.

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C.A. Harms is like any other addicted reader. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories. She hasn’t always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently she has taken on a new liking and now is a full-blown Romance novel addict.
 
She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. You will always find her with her kindle or paperback in hand as it is her favorite past time.
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HOSTED BY:

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Book Review: Hot Asset by Lauren Layne

Hot Asset 

by Lauren Layne

Goodreads

KINDLE: https://amzn.to/2rVZEyl

PAPERBACK: https://amzn.to/2kb5DMe

AUDIOBOOK: https://amzn.to/2IyoUSy 

MP3 CD: https://amzn.to/2rSMfIc 

 

A sexy agent hounds Wall Street’s hottest new wolf in an exhilarating novel from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne.

Ian Bradley is the definition of a Wall Street hotshot: seven-figure salary, designer suits, and a corner office. His drive off the floor is just as potent. Every woman who knows him has felt the rush. But now he’s met his match in Lara McKenzie—a woman with the power to bring Ian to his knees.

An ambitious, whip-smart daughter of FBI agents, Lara is a rising star in fighting white-collar crime. Her latest case—the investigation of Ian Bradley for insider trading—could make her career. She knows a scoundrel when she sees one. Ian fits the bill: a cocky, ridiculously handsome bad boy with a slick swagger.

She’ll do anything to prove he’s guilty. He’ll do anything to prove he’s not. But it’s only a matter of time before their fierce battle of wits gets oh so hot and personal. Now, taking down Ian has become more than business for Lara. It’s become a pleasure—and there’s more at risk than she ever dreamed.

“[A] playful romance…Layne populates her world of high-stakes finance with charismatic characters, and the fast-paced story works well with the simmering sexual tension between the leads…It’s easy to root for this couple.” —Publishers Weekly

“Layne can always be counted on to create an engaging, steamy, and thoroughly rewarding reading experience.” —RT Book Reviews

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The weekday lunch hour on Wall Street is everything you’d expect—plenty of suits and martinis and pretension. Nobody bothers to look twice at a woman in a boring blouse and four-year-old stilettos bought at Nordstrom Rack.

 Yes, men just love my combination of forthright and awkward.

 “What the heck is day cleavage?” She holds up her thumb and forefinger to her cleavage as though she’s measuring something. “No more than a half inch or so, see?” “What’s night cleavage?” She widens the gap between her fingers. “An inch, at least.” I shake my head in wonderment. “It’s like you’re from a different planet.”

My Review:

 

I always enjoy Lauren Layne’s enticing stories, they beckon me. I adore her amusing and sharp wit but not as much as I love her endearing flawed yet vulnerable characters. In Hot Asset, the two main protagonists initially appeared to be complete opposites in every arena.

Ian was a wealthy playboy and self-made success story as through his relentless efforts and keen intelligence, this survivor of multiple negligent foster homes became a Yale graduate and had worked hard to earn his spot near the top of the food chain in his Wall Street firm. He was also a dirty talking sex machine who appeared to have a hard edge but was layers deep with a marshmallow center, although no one knew of his charitable efforts as he played nearly as hard as he worked and never bedded the same woman twice, “because I don’t have to.”

Lara was a tightly wound, honest, and hardworking government employee who followed the rules, yearned for career advancement and acceptance into the FBI, and had no social life.   As the SEC agent that arrived at Ian’s office to personally investigate him, she was unimpressed with his slick approach. They were at odds yet seemed to enjoy bantering and antagonizing each other yet each also fought a building respect and attraction. Yet there was something just not right with the case and allegations against Ian.

I am excited with Ms. Layne’s new 21 Wall Street series, as this installment has started it off with the propulsion of a space rocket that was locked and loaded with a cast of quirky yet alluring characters. I doubt I could tire of them and am already greedy for the next volume.

 

Author Info

Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than two dozen romantic comedies. Her books have sold over a million copies, in eight languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, The Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City.

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.laurenlayne.com/

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6969772.Lauren_Layne

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_laurenlayne/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lauren-layne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/LLayneAuthor/

Lauren Layne Library: http://laurenlaynelibrary.com/

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Book Review, Giveaway: Still Us by Lindsay Detwiler

 

Title: Still Us

Author: Lindsay Detwiler

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 19, 2018

Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing 

Cover Designer: Soxsational Cover Art

 

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Amazon: US | UK | CA | AU
 
From the first time they locked eyes, Lila Morrow and Luke Bowman had a special spark. Their first kiss sealed their fairy-tale romance… until everything fell apart. 
 
Luke’s life began when he met Lila—and in many ways, it ended when she left him. Drowning in regrets, Luke is determined to give Lila the space to be happy. The sexy, singing roofer quickly realizes, however, he really shouldn’t have let her go.
After their breakup, Lila moves back in with her family. The twenty-nine-year-old veterinarian’s transition to a life without Luke isn’t as easy as she expected. With the help of her wild Grandma Claire and her high-heel-loving sister, Maren, she starts to play the field… but she isn’t sure she’ll ever stop loving the curly-haired man from her early twenties.
Luke and Lila’s love story ended, and their individual boxes have been packed. But as they explore the single life and the dating world, both discover sometimes the love you leave behind is exactly what you need to be happy.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Maren and Will are making out in the corner like he’s just come back from war, and I quickly avert my eyes so I don’t see something I won’t be able to unsee. Maren’s bold, but I didn’t think an accountant would be so shameless at a family gathering. I guess Maren really does bring out a different side of him, as he claimed during their crazy romantic proposal last December.

 

“Oh, Harvey, you know I like to get a look at the delivery boy. How am I going to rate him on my scale when you didn’t let me answer the door?” Grandma whines. “I even put on my red lips, my good Avon lipstick, because I knew he would be coming. What a waste.”

 

I sit beside my mom and dad in the church basement, enjoying the weekly breakfast after mass. It’s been years since I’ve been here. Usually Luke and I spent Sunday mornings saying God in a very, very different way.

 

That religious program I like is coming on in ten minutes. Figure it wouldn’t hurt to get some extra heaven points today after the lewd thoughts I was having about the preacher at Maren’s wedding.

 

I laugh hysterically as the strippers parade down the aisle, their hips very loose—especially for their age. “I got them for a discount on the internet,” Grandma yells, clapping wildly as the bus driver just sits in horror. I laugh as Maren screams as the lead stripper props his leg on the seat in front of her, gyrating his hips wildly despite the fact he must be at least eighty. “No fair, I paid good money. Come this way, boys,” Grandma yells.

My Review:

The story began with the two main characters of Luke and Lila packing up and leaving their shared apartment after dissolved their relationship. They had drawn a line in the sand that each hoped the other would erase. Their game of chicken went too long and too far as neither would flinch or admit their rueful mistake or repentant their stance. The soulmates parted and avoided each other like a zombie-inducing plague, although each remained miserable and unable to disengage or fully move on.   While the tone of the dual POV narrative was often angsty, the story was well-balanced with humor and engaging observations, insights, and memories. I enjoyed the tale and adored all the character depictions in this book, each one was uniquely quirky and amusing. Grandma’s appearance was a guaranteed smirk sparkler to any scene. The premise was original, well-crafted, and relevant to the world we live in. Ms. Detwiler’s entertaining writing style and storylines are easy to follow, relatable, pleasantly appealing, and always include an enticing food element that pervasively tunnels through my cranium and wrecks my diet. Sigh, first she introduced me to Swedish Fish and now I feel compelled to run a Google search for local bakeries that provide peanut-butter glazed doughnuts.   I am ruined.

 

On sale for half price!

Nook: http://bit.ly/2olh9qZ 

 

Facebook I Twitter I Website

A high school English teacher, an author, and a fan of anything pink and/or glittery, Lindsay’s the English teacher cliché; she loves cats, reading, Shakespeare, and Poe.
She currently lives in her hometown with her husband, Chad (her junior high sweetheart); their cats, Arya, Amelia, Alice, and Bob; and their Mastiff, Henry.
Lindsay’s goal with her writing is to show the power of love and the beauty of life while also instilling a true sense of realism in her work. Some reviewers have noted that her books are not the “typical romance.” With her novels coming from a place of honesty, Lindsay examines the difficult questions, looks at the tough emotions, and paints the pictures that are sometimes difficult to look at. She wants her fiction to resonate with readers as realistic, poetic, and powerful. Lindsay wants women readers to be able to say, “I see myself in that novel.” She wants to speak to the modern woman’s experience while also bringing a twist of something new and exciting. Her aim is for readers to say, “That could happen,” or “I feel like the characters are real.” That’s how she knows she’s done her job.
Lindsay’s hope is that by becoming a published author, she can inspire some of her students and other aspiring writers to pursue their own passions. She wants them to see that any dream can be attained and publishing a novel isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
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Book Review: One Hundred Wishes (An Aspen Cove Romance Book 3) by Kelly Collins


One Hundred Wishes

 (An Aspen Cove Romance Book 3)

by Kelly Collins

Goodreads

Amazon

 

Best-selling author Kelly Collins welcomes you back to Aspen Cove, the tiny Colorado town where anything can happen if you just open your heart and mind.

Pop star Samantha White walks off the stage and disappears into a crowd of cheering fans. After ten years as the music sensation known as Indigo, she needs to figure out who she really is.
With her manager pressuring her to sign a new contract, Samantha runs to the only place she remembers with fondness—Aspen Cove—a small town that embraced twelve-year-old Samantha when she and her mother finally left her abusive father.

She’s sure a few weeks of peace in a secluded cabin will be exactly what she needs to figure out where to go from here. But when Dalton Black storms into her life, Samantha realizes she may not get the clarity and calm she’s seeking. If she plays her cards right, she’ll get something better—love.

Dalton Black doesn’t ask for much. But then, he knows most people would say he doesn’t deserve much—not after spending six years in prison for killing a man. He’s carved out a quiet life in Aspen Cove where he knows who is friend and who is foe. Just when he’s accepted his life will be a string of meaningless relationships, he meets Samantha White and everything changes.

Can a famous singer find her forever with an ex-convict? Or will the secrets they keep tear them apart? Find out in One Hundred Wishes.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

If you’re talking ice cream I’ve got Breakfast in Bed which is maple ice cream with donut pieces and glazed bacon. Lickin’ Lizard, which is vanilla ice cream and gummy worms, and Unicorn Poop which is basically rocky road with the addition of Pop Rocks.

 

“You saved me. Doc can deal with that case of hemorrhoids by himself. No one should see that before lunch.” Sage opened her purse and took out candy bar after candy bar. She picked up the peanut butter cups and handed them to Samantha. “These are particularly helpful in a time of crisis.”

 

I can understand your need to lie. I mean, she’s a hundred pounds soaking wet. Not sure my ego could take that beating either. I get why you have to invent a story. Tall tales compensate for your little wiener.

 

He was a man of simple tastes, but he made jeans and a black T-shirt look better than an Armani suit.

 

My Review:

 

The latest installment of this engaging and entertaining series provided generous portions of steam, humor, and endearing characters who continue to hold my attention and interest. Samantha White needed a vacation and felt she had to escape by fleeing from her agent and controlling manager to get one. She had planned to lay low and hide out at a cabin in a tiny town she remembered fondly from her childhood. One of the first people she ran into was the sexy Dalton Black, her first childhood crush at the age of twelve who was now her new neighbor. Swoon, I’d like to find a handsome man living next door while I was on vacation… a man who could cook in every room and spark all manner of fire. Dalton was the perfect BBF and a big romantic teddy bear who said all the right things.   I am already looking forward to the next installment and trying to guess which character will be the main feature.

 

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   

.

Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive.

Always a romantic, she is inspired by real-time events mixed with a dose of fiction. She encourages her readers to reach the happily ever after but bask in the afterglow of the perfectly imperfect love.

Kelly lives in Colorado with her husband of twenty-five years. She loves hockey, shiny objects and has a new-found appreciation for green smoothies.

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Book Review: The Wedding Date by Zara Stoneley

The Wedding Date

by Zara Stoneley

Goodreads

 Amazon  US /  UK   /  iBooks  /  Waterstones

One ex.
One wedding.
One little white lie.

When Samantha Jenkins is asked to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, she couldn’t be happier. There are just three problems…

1) Sam’s ex-boyfriend, Liam, will be the best man.
2) His new girlfriend is pregnant.
3) Sam might have told people she has a new man when she doesn’t (see points 1 and 2 above)

So, Sam does the only sensible thing available to her… and hires a professional to do the job.

Actor Jake Porter is perfect for the role: single, gorgeous and cheap! Sam is certain it’s the perfect solution: no strings, no heartbreak and hopefully no chance of being found out.

But spending a week in the Scottish Highlands with Jake is harder than she imagined. He is the perfect boyfriend, charming, sexy and the hottest thing in a kilt since Outlander! And his dog Harry is quite possibly the cutest things Sam has ever seen!

As the wedding draws closer, Jake plays his part to perfection and everyone believes he is madly in love with Sam. The problem is, Sam’s not sure if Jake is acting anymore…

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

The drinks are green. I’m never quite sure that anything I eat or drink should be green. Apart from M&Ms.

 

She giggles in what I can only describe as a flirtatious manner and I could swear she’s got a bum wiggle going on as she heads back towards the front door. Bum wiggles should be banned for all mothers, at least when their daughters are there. Particularly if the wiggle is for the benefit of their daughters’ boyfriends. Honestly, it’s indecent, even if he isn’t a proper boyfriend.

 

Dad knows the warning signs, he knows that sometimes, like after a bottle of wine, or a couple of cocktails, she gets stuck in and things can escalate. Like they did in Crete when Juliet said she’d dived in the Commonwealth games, so Mum said she’d dived for the Girl Guides and ten minutes later had to be rescued after a belly flop that half-emptied the pool of water. It added insult to injury when she recovered enough to find her saviour looked more Sumo wrestler than Hoff and he was determined to give her the kiss of life. For some strange reason we didn’t sit by the pool after that; it was all sea, ice-creams and historical monuments.

 

I haven’t had hot sex for at least three years, and that happened by accident when Liam accidentally put the air conditioning on a heat setting he didn’t know it had. I thought he was all hot and sweaty from excitement, and apparently he thought the same about me.

 

‘Steer well clear. I think she must be … what do they call it … vajazzled or something, to have led Liam astray like that… Well, the rest of her isn’t that pretty, is it? … Crystals for your crotch, it said in that magazine article I saw in the hairdresser’s. I’m not sure it would suit me though dear.’ From the look on Dad’s face it wouldn’t suit him either. ‘I’m quite sensitive down there and if you start using superglue you don’t know where it will all end up, do you?’

 

My Review:

 

I alternated between smiling and smirking while I read this amusing tale of relationship woe.   Samantha had been unceremoniously dumped, shortly before her best friend’s wedding, where she was to be the maid of honor, and her ex the best man – awkward. The wedding festivities were to last a week, in Scotland, with friends and family, including the ex and his “hugely” pregnant girlfriend. Yikes – obviously his “double-dipping” had been going on for quite awhile, which crossed the intersection of Uncomfortable and Embarrassing and turned right onto Torture Street! Not wanting to be pitied and unable to find a suitable date, Samantha hired an actor, a sweet and gorgeous man, to be her pretend boyfriend. While the overall premise was not anything new – we’ve all read similar tales – the quirky characters, clever humor, and fresh storylines made this one unique. I adored the twinkly-eyed Jake Porter, who had relationship wounds of his own. Samantha’s mother was an original personality and her scenes provided considerable mirth and gleeful entertainment. I was brand new to Ms. Stoneley’s wily humor but I hope to rectify that oversight going forward; reading her clever words was good fun.

Author Bio –

Born in a small village in Staffordshire, Zara Stoneley wanted to be James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. Writing novels means she can imagine she is all these things, and more!

Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘The Holiday Swap’, ‘Summer with the Country Village Vet’, ‘Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage’ and the popular Tippermere series – ‘Stable Mates’, ‘Country Affairs’ and ‘Country Rivals’.
She lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a naughty cockapoo, and a very bossy cat, and loves spending time in sunny Spain.

Where you can find her-

Website:http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter:@ZaraStoneley
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zarastoneley/