Category: 5-Stars

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Book Review, Giveaway: WHISKEY Dick Series by Ryan Ringbloom (Whiskey Dick #1, Whiskey Chick #2)

WHISKEY DICK

by Ryan Ringbloom
Whiskey Dick, #1
Publication Date: July 24, 2018
Genres: Adult, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Standalone

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SYNOPSIS:

A NIGHT WITH NO HARD FEELINGS

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. It’s a fluke. Too much whiskey. Believe me when I say, it will NEVER happen again.

I’m trying not to take it personally. Sh*t happens. It’s not a reflection on me. He claims it was too much whiskey. A onetime occurrence. And I believe him.

But then why the hell does it happen a second time?

Fate’s a funny thing.
He likes her.
She likes him.
They say the third time’s a charm….

Get ready to laugh, cringe, and swoon as two terrified flyers travel toward romance in this lovable Romantic Comedy.

This is a standalone book intended for mature readers.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She leans across the table and lowers her voice. “Erectile dysfunction happens.” Wrong words. So very wrong. If there were a book called The Big Book of Men, the first chapter would clearly state that those two words never be said to any man ever. Ever. It would be the first freaking rule.

 

One minute, I like her, I think she’s great and the next, I want to rip her head off. If we were in kindergarten I’d think I was in love with her.

 

“Is this a condom thing?” The cashier looks from me to Jax, back to me. “No need to be weird. It’s the middle of the night, half the people who come in here at this time are buying condoms. If you think you might need them, get them. Or else you’ll be like the other half who come in here in the middle of the night to buy diapers.”… I just basically agreed to sex at the register in a Walmart.

 

My Review:

 

What a delight!   This was a fast, fun, and cleverly amusing read. Two anxious fliers meet in an airport bar while killing time due to a delayed flight.   Their anxiety levels continue to ratchet skyward when their dreaded flight is pushed back several times then finally canceled due to mechanical difficulties. A situation that doesn’t inspire confidence in even a seasoned flier, so they opt to share the long drive instead. Flirting, whiskey, anxiety, mutual attraction and lots of kissing in a shared hotel room – record scratch – the little head didn’t seem to get the invitation when it came time for the main event. Awkward. Which became increasingly mortifying as they embark on a very long and testy road trip the morning after. I adored these characters.

 

 

WHISKEY CHICK

by Ryan Ringbloom
Whiskey Dick, #2
Publication Date: September 9, 2018
Genres: Adult, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary, Romance, Standalone

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SYNOPSIS:

A NIGHT FULL OF HARD FEELINGS

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. It’s a fluke. Too much whiskey. Believe me when I say, it will NEVER happen again.

I’m trying not to take it personally. Sh*t happens. It was a blind date. She drank too much whiskey. I hope it wasn’t a reflection on me.

Okay, so the first date didn’t work out. But what happens when the second one doesn’t either?

Fate’s a funny thing.
She likes him.
He likes her.
They say the third time’s a charm….

Get ready to laugh, cringe, and swoon as fate blindly intervenes in this lovable Romantic Comedy.

This is a standalone book that features a new couple intended for mature readers.

 

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Don’t worry, they probably just saw me. On top of my bed. Doing a striptease. And they probably think I’m by myself.” First there was my questionable boner-hiding moment with my aunt and mom, and now this. “They probably think I’m up here doing some pathetic mating dance before masturbating.”

 

I look back out the window. My father and uncle sit by the fire and the rest are gone. I’m guessing they’re inside pouring bleach into their eyes.

 

My Review:

 

Another quick, engaging, and fun read from the delectable Ryan Ringbloom, which kept me smirking most of the way through. Remi was a hot mess, although, to her credit, she often tried, yet she just couldn’t seem to help herself, or keep a job, or maintain her focus, or find anything to hold her interest. Her social filter was missing, a condition that didn’t seem to bother her all that much except for that one appalling incident that had always caused her shame, she had been the blind date from hell after too much whiskey.   Adam had never forgotten that date either and had recounted the story of the Whiskey Chick so often it had become a myth-like legend among his family and friends. Remi and Adam happened to meet up and square off again two years later with considerably better results, although there were complications, lots of humorous complications. The storylines were highly enjoyable and packed with colorful levity, steamy sensuality, and occasional bits of humbling angst. Ryan Ringbloom is good fun!

ABOUT RYAN RINGBLOOM

Hi, I’m Ryan Ringbloom, a Jersey girl who doesn’t write Alphas. I couldn’t if I tried. Social Media stresses me the frick out, yet I can’t seem to walk away from it. I love to binge watch TV. I think cats are awesome. I’m obsessed with coffee and Fireball. But never together. My road rage is ridiculous. And if there is ever a zombie apocalypse, I won’t even try to run. I will let the first one I see eat my brain and get it over with.

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Book Review: November Road by Lou Berney

 November Road

by Lou Berney

HarperCollins | Amazon | B & N

 Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (October 9, 2018)

Set against the assassination of JFK, a poignant and evocative crime novel that centers on a desperate cat-and-mouse chase across 1960s America—a story of unexpected connections, daring possibilities, and the hope of second chances from the Edgar Award-winning author of The Long and Faraway Gone.

Frank Guidry’s luck has finally run out.

A loyal street lieutenant to New Orleans’ mob boss Carlos Marcello, Guidry has learned that everybody is expendable. But now it’s his turn—he knows too much about the crime of the century: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Within hours of JFK’s murder, everyone with ties to Marcello is turning up dead, and Guidry suspects he’s next: he was in Dallas on an errand for the boss less than two weeks before the president was shot. With few good options, Guidry hits the road to Las Vegas, to see an old associate—a dangerous man who hates Marcello enough to help Guidry vanish.

Guidry knows that the first rule of running is “don’t stop,” but when he sees a beautiful housewife on the side of the road with a broken-down car, two little daughters and a dog in the back seat, he sees the perfect disguise to cover his tracks from the hit men on his tail. Posing as an insurance man, Guidry offers to help Charlotte reach her destination, California. If she accompanies him to Vegas, he can help her get a new car.

For her, it’s more than a car— it’s an escape. She’s on the run too, from a stifling existence in small-town Oklahoma and a kindly husband who’s a hopeless drunk.

It’s an American story: two strangers meet to share the open road west, a dream, a hope—and find each other on the way.

Charlotte sees that he’s strong and kind; Guidry discovers that she’s smart and funny. He learns that’s she determined to give herself and her kids a new life; she can’t know that he’s desperate to leave his old one behind.

Another rule—fugitives shouldn’t fall in love, especially with each other. A road isn’t just a road, it’s a trail, and Guidry’s ruthless and relentless hunters are closing in on him. But now Guidry doesn’t want to just survive, he wants to really live, maybe for the first time.

Everyone’s expendable, or they should be, but now Guidry just can’t throw away the woman he’s come to love.

And it might get them both killed.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

What if someone happened to come round that corner right now and caught them skulking? Trouble in this business had a way of spreading, just like a cold or the clap. Guidry knew you could catch it from the wrong handshake, an unlucky glance.

 

The only poor decision was a decision you allowed someone else to make for you.

 

Charlotte longed to live in a place where it wasn’t so hard to tell the past from the future.

 

Her favorite movie, as a child, had been The Wizard of Oz, her favorite moment when Dorothy opened the door of her black-and-white farmhouse and stepped into a strange and wonderful land. Lucky Dorothy. Charlotte dipped her brush again and not for the first time imagined a tornado dropping from the sky and blowing her far away, into a world full of color.

 

My philosophy is that guilt is an unhealthy habit… It’s what other people try to make you feel so you’ll do what they want. But one life is all we ever get, as far as I know. Why give it away?

 

My Review:

 

It is still unclear what actually transpired and how deeply tangled the web had to have been leading up to that awful November day in Dallas in 1963. This book wasn’t about JFK but proposes a possible, highly likely, and often speculated version of events culminating and occurring after his horrific demise with additional storylines that provided a realistic slice of life for those along the path.

The writing was superb and highly engaging. I was riveted to my Kindle and soaked in each well-chosen word like a sponge. I don’t often read this genre and this was my first exposure to the talents of Lou Berney, who is a gifted scribe. His storylines were dynamic, well-crafted, and ingeniously woven with mind prickling details. Yet I felt the true treasure of his creation was his vibrant and oddly endearing characters. I was thoroughly transported and only wished for more, but I’m greedy like that.

I was provided a review copy of this exceptionally well-written book by HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

 

 About Lou Berney

 

Lou Berney is the author of three previous novels, Gutshot Straight, Whiplash River, and multiple prize-winning The Long and Faraway Gone. His short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and the Pushcart Prize anthology. He lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Find out more about Lou at his website, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

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Book Review: If the Shoe Fits (Almost Royal #1) by Rachel Lacey

If the Shoe Fits

 (Almost Royal #1)

by Rachel Lacey

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N

NOT ALL FAIRYTALES END AT MIDNIGHT

Elle Davenport is no princess—she just dresses up as one for her job at a local theme park. But when she gets the call that she’s won a contest to live and work at a real-life castle in Virginia, she finally feels like she’s found her calling. If she’s successful, her venture could become permanent, and that sounds like Elle’s idea of the perfect modern-day fairytale. There’s only one problem: the castle’s grumpy—and sexy—new owner wants her gone as soon as possible.
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Theo Langdon never imagined he’d inherit the title of Earl of Highcastle so young. With his grandfather’s recent death, he needs to sell Rosemont Castle so he can return to London. If only he wasn’t butting heads with the vivacious new property manager at every corner. Although he’s got a life waiting for him in London, Rosemont Castle suddenly feels a lot like home, thanks to Elle. As the clock winds down on her time at the castle, he’ll have to reconcile his obligations in London with the American woman who’s stolen his heart.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

 

I’m used to thinking about life in black and white, but you’ve made me see all the beautiful colors in between…

 

My Review:

 

What a clever premise!   I adored this delightful book and all the thoughtful and well-crafted storylines as well as the ingenious fine touches that gave it sparkle. As an animal lover, I particularly appreciated the creative workings of the Fairy Tails program, which provided visiting guests the opportunity to interact and bond with adoptable shelter pets while staying at their inn.

Rachel Lacey has mad skills. The writing was pleasantly entertaining, engaging, lushly detailed, and laced with levity, delicious steam, and insightful observations into and from the characters inner musings. The story flowed smoothly and her characters were unique, witty, and enticing; I was enamored with each and look forward to delving more deeply into each one during future installments.

About the Author

Rachel Lacey is a contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She’s been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in warm and sunny North Carolina with her husband, son, and a variety of rescue pets.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads 

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Book Review: Magic O’Clock and Magical Memories by Lynne Fellows

Magic O’Clock

by Lynne Fellows

Goodreads

Amazon  (universal)

Other eretailers (Kobo, B&N, Apple) :https://www.books2read.com/MOC

 

Archie Royle is a kind, funny, gentle man.

He’s also my dad. My storyteller. My hero.

Except he doesn’t remember my face anymore.

His world, these days, doesn’t include me or his family.

Life may have changed for him, but he hasn’t given up on life.

Not at all.

It’s just different.

Dad still tells his stories, albeit for a new audience.

He makes people smile and chuckle. As he always did.

He’s a fighter, a survivor and maybe sometimes too clever for his own good! He’ll surprise you. I can assure you of that.

Welcome to Magic O’Clock, where time is irrelevant and hope is unlimited.

Magical Memories

Goodreads / Amazon

 

As Archie Royle takes his final breath, three sisters race to say their goodbyes.

Two don’t make it in time.

I do.

And now, it’s all my fault they’re too late.

Despite him having dementia.

Despite them not visiting in over a month.

 

But I won’t let anger win.

After all, we’re all grieving, aren’t we?

Surely, as a family, we can let bygones be bygones.

 

It’s what Dad would want. Expect.

It’s what he deserves.

We have so much to be grateful for.

So many fond and magical memories to share.

 

Magical Memories is a fictional tale of loss, grief and moving on.

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Magic O’Clock

Every day, without fail, shortly before three o’clock, he stops everything and heads off to his command post ready to enthrall his eager listeners. No watch is needed to tell him when it’s time. It’s purely instinctive and part of the daily marvel I have come to cherish.

 The grandfather clock in the main vestibule strikes once, then again and finally the third chime rings out. Dad is back. Complete with his confident mannerisms and easy charm. The lost soul that inhabits his body and mind for most of the day is vanquished for now and the man in his place is my father of old. My heart skips a beat as the transformation takes effect and the wonderful, self-assured storyteller prepares to weave his tale.

 He is a true word-smith, a man for whom eloquence and diction make pillow talk while he sleeps.

 Audience participation is his specialty. He loves teasing them into a frenzy. The nurses are constantly telling him not to, after all, some of these people have serious conditions, and too much excitement can be dangerous. But Archie’s response is always the same, ‘at least they’ll die with a smile on their face.’

Magical Memories

 

Where his tales came from, we’ll never know. Like a seasoned bowler, he’d put his own spin on it, launching it at full speed towards his unsuspecting audience.

 

When he surrendered the battle of the comb-over some years ago, it marked a turning point. It was at that moment I accepted defeat to his dementia. My hopes to avoid admitting him to a private care home waned, and I finally conceded that all the stored memory in my father’s brain was leaking out like a burst water pipe I could not fix.

 To say she blanched would be an understatement, but her complexion made Frosty the Snowman look like he was having a hot flush.

 Diplomacy is the act of thinking twice before saying nothing – not a skill I had ever learnt.

My Review:

 

While her father may have lost his memories and no longer recognize his family, mercifully, he had not lost his words or the ability to spin a good yarn and entertain his fellow residents at the retirement village.   These were delightfully vivid, tender, and heart-squeezing tales of bittersweet observations and inner musings.  The writing was poignant and emotive and so dear it stung my eyes and put a hot rock in my throat.  L.S. Fellows conjures sharp visuals with her excellent word skills.  She is a master storyteller with immediate engagement and keenly crafted storylines.

 

Author Bio – Despite being born in England, my heart now lies in Spain. Many moons ago, I was a student in Granada, Spain. I loved it so much and swore I would return one day on a more permanent basis. In 2003, I did just that.

Now, as a fur-mum to two adorable but mischievous mutts, in my free time, I can usually be spotted with my nose in a book, armed with just the teeniest chunk of chocolate and a zillion pomegranates!

Social Media Links –

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LFWrites

Twitter: @lfwrites – https://twitter.com/lfwrites

Website/Blog: https://just4mybooks.wordpress.com

Subscribe:

https://tinyletter.com/lfwrites

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/lsfellows

 

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Book Review: All My Life by Prescott Lane

All My Life

by Prescott Lane

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2E9rnF9

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“Hot single dad devoted to his daughter? Second chances? All the tension you could ask for? Look no further! Devoured this gem and you will too!”- Rachel Van Dyken, #1 New York Times bestselling author

 

All My Life, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Prescott Lane is now LIVE!

 

The beginning of any love story starts with the meet.

 

I’ve known Garrett Hollis since before I can remember, and I’ve loved him just as long.  I loved him while he loved someone else. I loved him when he had a baby with her. I loved him when she left him.

 

The greatest of love stories is that between a dad and his daughter.  I should know. I’ve had a front-row seat. First steps, first words, all the big moments.  

 

Garrett was just a teenager when Mia was born.  I’ve watched him braid his daughter’s hair, hold her hand crossing the street, seen her asleep on his chest.  I’m the best friend, the one they can count on for everything from dance lessons to motherly advice, anything they need.  I’m their go-to girl.

 

The best part of any love story is the happily ever after.

 

But what if the happily ever after doesn’t include you?

 

All my life, that’s how long I’ve loved him.

 

Of course, he’s clueless.

 

A stand-alone, contemporary romance.

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Boys are always an emergency… Emergencies are unexpected and dangerous. I’d say that’s the definition of most boys.

 

Who decided the heart is the body part to represent love, anyway? Why is that? Because it beats faster when you’re with someone special? Well, my dick thumps, so maybe the penis should be on all the Valentine’s Day cards. We could serve chocolates in a penis shaped container! … Is it because you can’t live without your heart? I guess a man can live without his penis, but why would he want to?

 

I decide to hide out and bake. Carbs never disappoint, so I’m making a few hundred. Biscuits don’t judge me. Pastries don’t gossip, and never has a scone made me cry, so I figure I’m safe.

 

I get the feeling she wants to say more, but she doesn’t. A woman who has something to say but won’t is like a snake ready to strike. You know it’s coming, but there’s not a damn thing you can do to prepare.

 

My Review:

 

I loved this book from start to finish. This is the fourth book of the divinely talented Prescott Lane that I have read, and while each has been stellar, it is my completely unqualified opinion that All My Life is her best work yet. Brimming with clever and observant humor, poignant insights, heart-squeezing storytelling, and sizzling love scenes; this flawlessly written and well-crafted story was perfectly balanced and hit all the feels. I was captivated by the tale, totally enamored with the endearing and enticing characters, and well entertained by Ms. Lane’s clever style. It was Nirvana!

 

Excerpt:

As far as dates go, this one has been good.  I like her. She’s attractive, funny, smart, seems to have her head on straight.  All the boxes are checked. This should be the point where I kiss her, ask her out again.  I should be devising ways to get in this woman’s panties, but instead, I’m thinking more about yanking down the tutu of one very sexy Biscuit Girl.  I should be thinking about how to get this woman to fall for me, but it’s me that’s fallen. I should have one thing on my mind, and I do — Devlyn.

 

There’s just one big ass problem.  She’s my friend. I can’t go there.  There are so many reasons why I can’t go there.  The town would have a field day. We’d have no privacy.  Everyone would have an opinion. If we broke up, where would I get a decent cup of coffee?  How would Mia react to this? Then there’s Scott, who’s actually the least of my concerns. Devlyn seemed pretty sure it was over, and if it’s not, I plan on convincing her.

 

I don’t want to lose Devlyn.

 

Staying friends guarantees her in my life.  Dating her doesn’t.

 

Love doesn’t come with a guarantee.

 

Love is a risk.  I used to be a risk taker, but teenage fatherhood buried that part of me.  Stability became the name of the game. It had to. I look towards her diner, wondering if she’s back.

About Prescott Lane:


Prescott Lane is the Amazon best-selling author of Stripped Raw. She’s got seven other books under her belt including: First Position, Perfectly Broken, Quiet Angel, Wrapped in Lace, Layers of Her, The Reason for Me, and The Sex Bucket List.  She is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and holds a degree in sociology and a MSW from Tulane University. She married her college sweetheart, and they currently live in New Orleans with their two children and two crazy dogs. Prescott started writing at the age of five, and sold her first story about a talking turtle to her father for a quarter. She later turned to writing romance novels because there aren’t enough happily ever afters in real life.

 


Connect with Prescott Lane:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrescottLane1
Twitter: www.twitter.com/prescottlane1   
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lfhlrh
Instagram: instagram.com/prescottlane1

Stay up to date with Prescott Lane by joining her mailing list:

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Website: http://www.authorprescottlane.com

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Book Review: Pretty Daring by Jenn Hype

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Title: Pretty Daring

Author: Jenn Hype

Genre: Romantic Comedy

PD Cover 

★★★Buy Links★★★

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2QU7swd

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2IftLZA

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2pzaOZ6

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2zt1vQp

Other Retailers: https://bit.ly/2QOkifD

 

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★★★Synopsis★★★

If you ask me, foolishness is like beauty – all about the eye of the beholder.

For instance – I’ve been told the amount of caffeine I consume on a daily basis will eventually kill me, which makes no sense because that caffeine is essential to living. Then I have doctors telling me that I need to get more sleep if I want to live a happy, healthy life. I can easily refute those claims because my life is neither happy nor healthy if I don’t utilize every possible second of each day to ensure my life’s goals are met.

Now I’ve got people claiming that hooking up with the sexy bodyguard I hired after someone tried to kill me in broad daylight is a mistake. And, okay, they might be right about that one. Even I can’t argue that it’s not healthy to sleep with someone you can barely stand to be around outside the bedroom.

But you know what? Life is already short enough. If there’s a chance I might die young, then I’m going to go out with a bang – preferably the kind that comes with an orgasm or twelve.

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My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

That voice. Hot damn, his voice did things to parts of my body that had no business being involved in this conversation.

 

My eyes rolled so far back into my head I swear I saw my brain.

 

“I used to think it was hot when guys went all alpha male, but now I just think it’s seriously annoying.” “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Blake deadpanned. “CJ hasn’t had the upper hand since I met him.” “How do you do it? Show me, master. Teach me the ways of the Jedi.”

 

I’ll admit, New York is a challenge when it comes to my personality. People get more offended by kind gestures than they do if you were to spit in their face. It makes no sense. But I enjoy torturing them with my niceness all the same.

 

Yeah, well, what about that time you made me wait two hours after a Jason Mraz concert so you could get a picture with him, and then I had to force you to do it because the second he tried to talk to you, you turned into a bitch and told him his moles creeped you out.

 

I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but he looked even angrier than he had minutes ago. I half expected his clothes to tear at the seams and his skin to start turning green.

 

My Review:

 

I am thoroughly enjoying this giggle-snort and smirk-worthy series. The storylines of each were brimming with sassy and feisty characters that bicker and banter like it was an Olympic sport and they were hopeful medal contenders. The main character of Paige was a deeply flawed over-the-top drama queen as well as a hot mess; yet she had a soft heart, clever wit, and compelling history.   Sebastian’s storyline was more poignant for family loyalty and social awkwardness, although his relatives provided considerable levity as well. Penned in my favorite dual POV, the premise was interesting while the writing was entertaining, engaging and well balanced. I’m hoping the third in the series is dished up soon as I am more than eager to spend more time with this lively group.

 

★★★Excerpt★★★

“After two minutes of awkward silence that felt more like hours, I leaned forward and switched on the radio.

Sebastian immediately switched it back off. We did this four more times before I got fed up. “Quit that!”

“No music.”

“Why!?”

He shrugged one shoulder. That’s it. Just a little shrug. Like that were an acceptable answer.

“Okay, fine. You don’t want to listen to music? Let’s talk, then. Your mom a fan of The Little Mermaid?”

He rolled his eyes. “Good one.”

“So Clara told me CJ only hires vets. What branch did you serve?”

“Marines.”

“Hoo-raha.”

“It’s Oorah.”

I knew that. I’d been trying to get a reaction out of him. It did not work. The less he responded to my poking, the more irritated I became. “You ever kill someone?”

That question earned me a quick side glance. “You always start off by asking extremely personal, inappropriate questions?”

“Oh, my apologies. What’s your favorite color?”

“Blue.”

“Movie?”

“Die Hard.”

“Book?” He paused and I snickered. “Guns and Ammo doesn’t count.”

“Oh, then I don’t have one.”

I bit my lip to keep from smiling. I rather enjoyed his dry sense of humor. Like hell would I ever admit it to him, though. “So. Killed someone? Yay or Nay?”

He sighed but I caught him trying to hide a smirk.”

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★★★Other Books In the Jaded Series★★★

Book 1: Simply Crazy

Available Now:

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Forget apps, websites and singles events – clearly the best way to meet a guy is to move in next door, accidentally assault him and then demand a job at his company.

If that kind of charm doesn’t totally knock him off his feet, the next step is to build an army. If possible, try to recruit those closest to the target, such as his mom, sisters and closest friends. Sure, it sounds extreme and maybe a little bit crazy, but I’ve always subscribed to the old adage “No one worth having comes willingly.” Okay, I switched out some words there, but you get the point.

Caution: Even the most foolproof plans can have hiccups along the way. I’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of things you should watch out for: Crazy ex-boyfriends who pop up out of nowhere like an evil jack-in-the-box; Women who think a strategic nip slip is effective at landing a boyfriend; Co-workers who think it’s hilarious to prank you at work and then upload the videos to social media.

Still have doubts? No worries. I’ll show you how it’s done.

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2NA6BTo
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2QVcqsy
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2OPG8xN
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Dvo9eS
ibooks: https://apple.co/2xRjwWe
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2N1P9lN

Book 3: Stupid Smart

Coming November 20th

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Ever since I was a little girl, all I ever wanted was to get married. To meet the perfect man who’d love me more than life itself and be a wonderful father to all our beautiful children.

I loaded up on chapstick and prepared myself for all the frogs I’d have to kiss to find my prince. But I hadn’t been prepared for just how slimy and gross those metaphorical amphibians could be. And as I got older, the toads got hornier and hornier. (No pun intended, but we’re talking men here, so… yeah.)

Still, I refuse to give up, no matter how many obstacles are thrown my way.

Liam, however, has other plans for my future.

Every inch the bad boy with his leather jacket, dark eyes and tattoos, you’d never expect his personality to be more along the lines of class clown. The combination is oddly sexy. Just ask any woman of legal age in the city of New York, since he’s likely slept with all of them by now.

A simple misunderstanding made us enemies. Now I can’t get rid of him. He’s like a bad case of herpes that just keeps flaring up at the worst of times. And if he sabotages one more of my dates, I’m going to kill him. Or kiss him.

Most days I can’t decide which I’d rather do more.

Add to your Goodreads TBR List: http://bit.ly/2zQqwoz

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★★★Author Bio★★★

What’s up world – I’m Jenn Hype.

Author, mother, wife, singer/songwriter, aspiring comedian – I wear many hats. Some of them fit, some of them look ridiculous, and all of them are fun. Life’s too short to take anything too seriously, so I don’t.

Sarcasm is my go-to, especially when it’s most inappropriate. Need someone to make an uncomfortable situation even more awkward? I’m the girl for the job.

I’m ridiculously A.D.D. and I own it. I have a serious addiction to ecards and the majority of my Pinterest account is dedicated to them. The key to my heart is glitter and caffeine – my needs are basic.

I’m a bookaholic and I crush hard on my book boyfriends and their authors. Some might call me obsessive, but I disagree. That word really doesn’t do justice to how crazy I get when it comes to something I’m passionate about. I’m not afraid to go fangirl on you, so don’t test me.

★★★Social Media Links★★★

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jennhype/

Goodreads –  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14254207.Jenn_Hype

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Hype/e/B01D8UQIIQ

Jenn’s Hypsters (STREET TEAM)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/236465496731730/

Asylum for Hypermaniacs ( Reader Group)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EmbraceTheCrazy/

Nameless (Reader Group with Jenn and Mary Frame)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/213252492446817/

Newsletter http://eepurl.com/bPeZa9

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jenn-hype

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/authorjennhype/

#JennHype #AllAboardTheCrazyTrain #PrettyDaring

#JadedSeries #RomanticComedy #BlogTour

#BookwormPromotions

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Book Review: Christmas at The Little Duck Pond Cafe by Rosie Green

 

Christmas at The Little Duck Pond Cafe

by Rosie Green

Amazon US / UK / CA/ AU  

 

Fen has always hated being the center of attention.


She loves her new job, working behind the scenes at the Little Duck Pond Cafe and baking the scrumptious cakes that have helped its reputation soar. But frankly, she’d rather scrub the public toilet floor with a toothbrush than have to come out and talk to the customers.


She’s always been happy to stay in the background as long as she has a good supply of books to escape into. That’s her kind of romance – the fictional sort where she can read about other people taking a chance on love, but she doesn’t have to risk her own heart.


But that was before Ethan Fox arrived in the village and turned her world upside down. Ethan is a leading light in the local amateur dramatics theatre company and Fen knows he’s way out of her league.


But when the popular village Christmas pantomime hits a crisis, Fen and Ethan find themselves thrown together. Can Fen overcome her shyness and find the courage to step on stage and save the day?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I’ve always hated my blushes. You can’t have any secrets if you turn as red as a ripe tomato at anything that’s even mildly unsettling. When I was younger, I used to wear a weird green-coloured cream on my face that was supposed to hide the blushes. Then my latest crush commented loudly, in front of the whole class, that I always looked like Casper the friendly ghost. So the tube of cream went in the bin.

 

He of the hard muscles yet adorably soft centre.

 

I prefer muted colours. (Mum describes these colours ‘jokingly’ as ‘shades of sludge’ and is always trying to encourage me to dress more colourfully.)

 

I wish I had more confidence. So when I’m pitching for an important business contract and I know I’ll be nervous, I do my ‘Superman pose’ before I go to the meeting… It’s a little-known fact that you can con your brain into believing you’re confident, which then makes you feel more confident. And one way to do that is to adopt what they call a “power pose” to make you feel more powerful. In private, of course. They might carry you off if you were to do it on public transport.

 

My Review:

 

This was book three in the series and my favorite to date. I continue to adore these quirky characters and have been curious about the excruciatingly timid yet talented Fen since her first introduction. Fen was painfully shy and suffered from feelings of inadequacy and paralyzing anxiety, which was superbly captured and cleverly portrayed by this wily author.   The multiple and equally intriguing storylines were well-crafted and shrewdly paced with equal measures of levity, family drama, and attempts at romance as Fen and company were attempting to push past her restrictive comfort zone as well as deal with the community, work, and family concerns. I enjoyed Fen’s inner musings, confused insights, skewed observations, gradual ripening, and finally her personal shackle shattering awareness and epiphanies.   I was highly amused by the manner Fen drew plot similarities and concepts from her favorite romance novels and beloved heroines to draw confidence, check her deportment, or assimilate her feelings while attempting to interact with men she found attractive. Now that Ms. Green has dealt with the three women working in the café, I am eager to see whom her keen writer’s eye hones in on next.

I’m trying something new – I’m taking part in the lovely Jo Linsdell’s Booktastic link up Thursday – she is such a precious little thing.

Author Bio

Rosie Green has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’. Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all, unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie’s brand new series of novellas is centered on life in a village café. The first two stories in the series are: Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe and Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café.

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988

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Book Review: Lone Star Christmas – Cowboy Christmas Eve (A Coldwater Texas Novel) by Delores Fossen

Lone Star Christmas:

Cowboy Christmas Eve

(A Coldwater Texas Novel)

by Delores Fossen

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: HQN; Original edition (October 1, 2018)

Amazon | Books-A-Million | B & N

A family crisis brings him home…

Just in time for Christmas

Cattleman Callen Laramie has no intention of returning to his hometown of Coldwater, Texas until a Christmas wedding and a family secret convince him he has no choice. And when he’s reunited with his childhood crush, the girl who’d always been off-limits, Callen knows leaving might not be so easy this time.

Shelby McCall is as pretty as a Christmas snowfall, and Callen wants to kiss her under the mistletoe…and the Christmas tree…and the stars. But once Shelby knows the whole truth behind this homecoming, will their holiday fling come to an abrupt end? Or will she accept the gift of his heart?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

It was Gopher Tate, and he threw open his heavily lined raincoat to flash her. He had a blue bow tied around his wrinkly junk that was covered by a pair of whities that weren’t so tight. They were at least three sizes too big, and the elastic in the waist was shot… Shelby gave him a glare that was colder than the sleet pelting his thinly covered privates. “Close your coat, Gopher, before you have to explain to the ER folks why you got frostbite on your wanger.”

 

She was reasonably sure that had she been wearing toenail polish, it would have melted, too.

 

Seems a shame to let the pizza go cold after you slaved over the phone to order it…

 

The cat was there, sitting by a nearly empty food and water dish and glaring at Callen as if he were responsible for multiple crimes against felines and humanity.

 

My Review:

 

Delores Fossen has gifted us with the early Christmas present of a new series, and she has started it off with her own special blend of damaged yet sexy and lovable heroes, clever wry humor, heart squeezing storylines, colorful and quirky small-town characters, and a sweet romance with delectably steamy bits. I always look forward to meeting her amusing and uniquely peculiar characters and she didn’t disappoint with the introduction of Rosy – the armadillo obsessed geriatric bride-to-be with a taxidermy shop called Much Ado About Stuffing; and Gopher – the pervy elderly flasher who was well known yet never actually naked under his raincoat. As always, her storylines were engaging, entertaining, and well-paced.   I’m already primed for the next installment.

 

About Delores Fossen

USA Today bestselling author, Delores Fossen, has sold over 70 novels with millions of copies of her books in print worldwide. She’s received the Booksellers’ Best Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award and was a finalist for the prestigious Rita ®. In addition, she’s had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines.

Connect with Delores

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

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Book Review: The Secrets We Carried by Mary McNear

The Secrets We Carried

by Mary McNear

HarperCollins | Amazon | B & N

 

 368 pages
William Morrow Paperbacks (September 25, 2018)

Readers who love Susan Wiggs and Susan Mallery will adore New York Times bestselling author Mary McNear newest novel. A young woman travels home to Butternut Lake, confronting her past and the tragedy she and her friends have silently carried with them for over a decade while also facing an unknown future.

Butternut Lake is an idyllic place—but for one woman, her return to the lake town she once called home is bittersweet…

Sometimes life changes in an instant.

Quinn LaPointe grew up on beautiful Butternut Lake, safe, secure, sure of her future. But after a high school tragedy, she left for college and never looked back. Becoming a successful writer in Chicago, she worked to keep out the dark memories of an accident that upended her life. But now, after ten years, she’s finally returned home.

Butternut is the same, and yet everything is changed. Gabriel Shipp, once her very best friend, doesn’t want anything to do with her. The charming guy she remembers is now brooding and withdrawn. Tanner Lightman, the seductive brother of her late boyfriend, wants her to stick around. Annika Bergstrom, an old classmate who once hated Quinn, is now friendly. Everyone, it seems, has a secret.

Determined to come to terms with the tragedy and rebuild old relationships, Quinn settles into Loon Bay Cabins, a rustic but cozy lakeside resort, where she begins writing down her memories of the year before the accident. Her journey through the past leads her to some surprising discoveries about the present. As secrets are revealed and a new love emerges, Quinn finds that understanding the past is the key to the future.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Northern Superior High School had been built in 1930, when Americans still had a reverence for public education, and the two-story brick building, with a white stone arch over the entranceway and two white stone columns flanking it, spoke to the seriousness of the work to be done inside.

 

Her closest girlfriend, Katrina, referred to these relationships as Quinn’s “eleventh-month specials.” This wasn’t intentional on Quinn’s part. It wasn’t as if she kept an eye on the calendar as the anniversary of their first date approached. It was more like an inner mechanism of hers sensed a shifting of the light, a changing of the seasons. Either way, she was apt to end things before the earth had made a full rotation around the sun.

My Review:

 

This is one of those books that is hard to put down as I sense something important to the plot is coming that I really need to know and it is right around the corner, and it was true, but there are several more somethings, and then a few more I wasn’t expecting. I went at this book like an alcoholic on a binge as I couldn’t find a stopping place, nor would I have been willing to stop had I found one. Ms. McNear’s compelling characters and insightful and emotive writing held me in place and while it wasn’t a thriller or a suspenseful read, my curiosity was tripped while my heart was being mercilessly squeezed.   This was the second well-textured and maddeningly paced book of Ms. McNear’s that I have devoured – and in much the same manner. I am greedy for all her words as this talented scribe has strong word voodoo.   I was provided with a review copy of this excellent book by HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.

About Mary McNear

Mary McNear, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Butternut Lake series, writes in a local doughnut shop, where she sips Diet Pepsi, observes the hubbub of neighborhood life, and tries to resist the constant temptation of freshly made doughnuts. Mary bases her novels on a lifetime of summers spent in a small town on a lake in the northern Midwest.

Find out more about Mary at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

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Book Review: Odyssey In A Teacup (Ruth Roth #1) by Paula Houseman 

Odyssey In A Teacup

Ruth Roth #1

by Paula Houseman 

 

Amazon US / UK  / B&N

A tut-tutting, big-breasted, modern-day gorgon; a humorless schoolmarm with an unfortunate name and freakishly long, yellow incisors (yeesh)—these are the kinds of people Ruth Roth regularly encounters. Add in daily dealings with an acerbic mother who squawks like a harpy, a father with a dodgy moral compass and a God complex, a bitchy mirror, and Ruth’s existence feels like a Greek tragicomedy.The idiocy of daily life makes sense to Ruth when she develops a fascination with ancient mythology. She learns that the deviant gods and spectacular monsters of bygone myths are alive and well in the backwoods of our psyche; that there’s always one who escapes suppression and can have the whip hand in our lives. Ruth’s is one of the most unwelcome societal presences—the goddess of obscenity. And talk about ugly!

Ruth can relate to this immortal. Not in looks; Ruth is quite comely. But she feels unwelcome in her own family (she gatecrashed her mother’s womb only two months after her brother vacated it). Despite being labeled the ‘black sheep’, or maybe because of it, Ruth takes on her nemeses, bravely and brazenly (her dirty goddess doesn’t give a rat’s about social niceties). But our heroine is war-weary. And the yearning to fit in somewhere—anywhere—eventually undoes her. We must look on helplessly as Ruth loses her soul.

She wants it back, though!

Just as well the mad characters in her mind and experiences won’t quit. Just as well Ruth never loses her wry wit. And where her nearest and dearest attempt to keep her shrunken into a wholesome package of conformity, Ruth’s two closest girlfriends simply won’t allow it. And then there’s Ralph Brill.

Ruth’s hot-looking, eccentric cousin and best friend, Ralph is her staunchest ally. Also a misfit in his family, he has his share of problems including a st-t-t-tuttering brutish father, and an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder—Ralph needs to do everything twice, twice.

Ruth relies on his repeated encouragement and the support of her girlfriends as she embarks on an odyssey. A good homeopathic dose of ancient mythology helps her find her way back through the sludgy shame and irrational fears choking her spirit. Then just when all seems well, Ruth faces an apocalypse …

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Ralph staunchly and compassionately defended his brothers: ‘They’re only aggressive because they’ve got such über-small penises.’

 

I was learning about ancient Greece in history class. Greek mythology was a very large component of this because my teacher had a passion for it. His name was Zero Kosta … poor bastard… this man must have truly felt like he was worth nothing from the get-go. Suddenly, my name didn’t seem so bad. I think Mr Kosta had first- hand knowledge of ancient times because he looked like he was raised from the crypt. He was cadaverous.

 

In our family, Joe had a special aptitude for farting. And he was renowned for it in the Jewish community. There were whispers: Psst, did you hear what Joe Roth did during the visiting dignitary’s speech? What chutzpah! Still, never heard anything like it before! and, That’s Ruth Roth. Her father’s the one who farts in public. This earned him the nickname ‘Joe Blow’ (clever, but also dumb because he was anything but your average Joe).

 

If the eyes are the window to the soul … what if someone’s cross-eyed? Is that like looking through a bay window?

 

When I was seven, Joe backed up against my freshly ironed school shirt, which was hanging on the linen closet door. He deposited a fart in the shirt pocket. ‘For safekeeping,’ he’d said. The teachers didn’t think it was too funny that day when I told them I had a fart in my pocket.

 

My Review:

 

Paula Houseman is found treasure. My face kept a near-constant smirk and my reading of this vibrant and cleverly amusing story was frequently and forcefully interrupted, as I was laughing so hard I could not see. I adored it start to finish and had 5 pages of favorite quotes. The book was packed with a full cast of peculiarly eccentric, neurotic, and quirky characters who had starring roles in Ruth’s memories of her most calamitous and psyche-scarring life events. The storylines and writing were highly entertaining and I was hard pressed to put my Kindle down. Her father’s legendary flatulence issues alone caused several bouts of giggle-snorting.   Ms. Houseman is my new favorite author and I will fangirl her hard. I am thrilled to have two more of her masterworks on my Kindle, but I cannot imagine how she could possibly top the humorous storytelling of this one. And I have doubled my newly established Aussie Vocab List with the new entries of furphies – which are erroneous stories; fossick – to rummage or search; stoush – a commotion or dust-up; and Strine – the English language as spoken by Australians as well as their accent.

 

 

Author Bio 

 Paula Houseman was once a graphic designer. But when the temptation to include ‘the finger’ as part of a logo for a forward-moving women’s company proved too much, she knew it was time to give away design. Instead, she took up writing.

She found she was a natural with the double entendres (God knows she’d been in enough trouble as a child for dirty wordplay).

As a published writer of earthy chick lit and romantic comedy, Paula gets to bend, twist, stretch and juice up universal experiences to shape reality the way she wants it, even if it is only in books. But at the same time, she can make it more real, so that her readers feel part of the sisterhood. Or brotherhood (realness has nothing to do with gender).

Through her books, Paula also wants to help the reader escape into life and love’s comic relief. And who doesn’t need to sometimes?

Her style is a tad Monty Pythonesque because she adores satire. It helps defuse all those gaffes and thoughts that no one is too proud of.

Paula lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband. No other creatures. The kids have flown the nest and the dogs are long gone.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulahouseman

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/PaulaHouseman

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulahouseman