Category: After Hours

Posted on

Book Review: Why Him? (Mistaken Identities #1) by Rie Warren

Why Him? 

 (Mistaken Identities #1)

by Rie Warren

Goodreads

Amazon  /  Series Link

 

If you believe in romance . . . 

I don’t want to know his full name.
I don’t even want his phone number.
In fact, the only thing I want from Jude is the filthy hot sex the masterful hung stud delivers on a weekly basis.
He’s way too young for me . . . and much too good at fulfilling my every dirty desire.
He definitely isn’t supposed to show up one morning on my doorstep with an offer I can’t refuse.
Now he’s in my life on a daily basis, and I can’t shake him no matter how hard I try.

He’s absolutely unsuitable.
She’s everything he knew he wanted from the first moment he saw her.

A book full of filthy sex and beautiful tortured romance. Why Him? is a standalone novel with a tear-worthy HEA, no cheating, no cliffhangers, just all yes. Keep the fan handy, you’ll need it.

My Rating:

Favorite Quote:

There are no words to describe that blight to the human eye…

My Review:

Oh, my… This couple was deliciously naughty and with explosive sensual chemistry, I felt sorry for the ladies working housekeeping in the hotel they frequented as I’m sure their room required steam cleaning and their linens could only be tossed upon their exit.   The writing was salaciously scandalous and occasionally went a bit past my comfort zone for eewwww with the body fluids, while their activities were punctuated with the filthiest of bawdy talk, OMG, I couldn’t read fast enough, err, I mean, for review and research purposes, of course… hmmm. Yep, that’s it… All right, I will confess to experiencing a sharp increase in respirations while reading, as well as frequent gasping for breath, elevated heart rate, and an uptick in my laundry needs.

Rie Warren left me breathless! While the storyline was highly lascivious, there was also a highly amusing family drama as well as a sweet romance building between decidedly endearing characters. The story was original, easy to follow and smirk-worthy and enjoyable, despite the lubricity and sticky residue. And I learned a new word – fapping – what the boys used to call spanking the monkey in my highly sheltered youth.

 

Rie Warren

Home of Alpha Male Romance and the Original Bad Boys

Author of the Carolina Bad Boys, the Bad Boys of Retribution MC,

the Bad Boys of X-Ops and the Don’t Tell series.

www.riewarren.com

All of Rie Warren’s self-published series are available to read on Kindle Unlimited, including the instant hit Bad Boys of Retribution MC, Carolina Bad Boys, Bad Boy Ballers, and many more!

Badass, sassafras Rie Warren is the author of Sugar Daddy and the Don’t Tell series—a breakthrough trilogy that crosses traditional publishing boundaries beginning with In His Command.

She lives in gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina with her small family where she basks in the sunshine during the day, and adjourns to her woman cave at night. A nocturnal creature, she stays up way too late talking to herself, her characters, and anyone who will listen. She’s all about writing with heat, heart, and a hint of the dark, and she doesn’t shy away from the impossible.

Rie’s work has been called “edgy”, “daring”, and “some of the sexiest smut around”.

Sign up for my newsletter for special promotions and release news:
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor…

Posted on

Book Review: Bentley by Melanie Moreland

Bentley 

(Vested Interest #1)

by Melanie Moreland 

Goodreads

Amazon / B&N


Three young men meet in university and form a lifelong friendship.

Their pasts dictate the men they are, but their present shapes their future.

What happens when these men meet the one person they are destined to be with? Can they fight their feelings and walk away? Or will they each succumb and learn the sweet agony of love?

Bentley

The leader of the group. He is uptight, formal, and cold. Rigid and set in his ways, always following the same path. Until the day, he stumbles upon her.
Emmy.
She brings with her spontaneity and light. The world she lives in is so different from his, yet he cannot control the draw to her. Nor can he explain the way she makes him feel.
Happy.
Protective.
Loved.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

My name isn’t Emmy… Winifred Windfall. That means, really, I’m Freddy Money.

 “Does he go with you everywhere?” I nodded, winking covertly at her. “He’s like a fungus I can’t get rid of.”

 We headed toward the counter, and I made a beeline for an older woman, thinking she’d be the safest bet. Except when she looked up, her frank appraisal made me hesitate. When she licked her lips, I felt Maddox’s yank on my arm. “Abort, abort,” he hissed. “Cougar.” Like a well-oiled machine, we veered to the right…

 Aiden, maybe you can teach me some of your karate skills. I bet I could take them if I tried. I don’t know if there is, like, a kidnapper network, but if word got out I wasn’t to be messed with, that would help keep them away.

My Review:

I adored each of these characters and am eager to delve into the rest of the series. The storylines were crisp, intriguing, cleverly amusing, and unfailingly entertaining. The character of Bentley was initially that of a frosty and arrogant businessman, but underneath he was a considerate and swoony teddy bear. I relished the easy banter and bawdy teasing among the group and was in awe at the deft and insightful handling of several rather heavy and vexing emotional issues.   Ms. Moreland’s smooth and engaging writing style held my interest, attention, and admiration from start to finish.

About the Author

New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them. 
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip. 
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free-falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at flavia@bookcaseagency.com
.

Posted on

Book Review, Giveaway: Maddox by Melanie Moreland

Title: Maddox
Series: Vested Interest Series
Author: Melanie Moreland
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense 18+
Release Date: July 9, 2018
.
.
.
.
.

“Every reader is going to tell you that Maddox is a dirty talker. He also likes control, but the one thing he can’t control is Dee’s heart.The joy of this story is the characters learning to trust one another with their hearts.” Mae Wood, author of Pig & Barley series

“There’s a new book boyfriend on the block and his name is Maddox. Hands off ladies, he is all MINE.” Eva LeNoir, author of UCC Saga series

“Right, let’s get one thing straight. Maddox = MINE. I mean, I claimed him way, back when, and now I’ve read his story, I’ve even more obsessed with him. Even more in love with him. Even more in love with this series, TBH.” B. Cranford, author of The Avenue series

.
.
Brought up in chaos and fear, Maddox requires order and control to cope with life. He has his career and his two closest friends. That is all he needs. Until Dee enters his life. She brings forth feelings he has denied himself his entire life, threatening his control.
He wants to hold.
Keep.
Love.
Live.
 
Damaged by her past, Dee cannot admit her feelings for him, fighting him at every turn.
Is he strong enough for both of them?
Can he prove to her that they would be perfect together?
.
.
.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“I don’t date,” she insisted, stubborn as a child being told something they didn’t want to hear. I scrubbed my face. “I hate to break it to you, my lovely. We’ve been dating the past few months.” She sat up, clutching a pillow in front of her like a talisman. “We have not!” I sat up as well, grabbing her shoulders. “Listen to me. We’ve been having dinner, meeting with our friends, talking on the phone, texting. Having sex.” I dropped my voice. “Amazing, crazy sex. Neither of us is seeing anyone else… Whether you like it or not, we’re in an exclusive relationship.” She gaped at me, making me laugh.

 “If I have to beat you for this, Mad Dog, I will—but I’ll try to be gentle.” “Whatever,” I snorted. “I can take you, big man.” “You think so? I could snap you like a twig.” “I’ll throw a couple of lemon Danish at you and run. You’ll be so busy trying to catch them, I’ll be fine.”

 … he was such a pretentious asshole. He makes Bentley look like a laid-back hippie. The pole he has shoved up his backside must tickle his throat.

My Review:

This series has become one of my favorites to date – I’m intrigued by this endearing and bossy group of successful entrepreneurs who had met and became best friends during their college years. Each had suffered a traumatic past with no desire for a serious relationship, until one-by-one, the mighty fell, and I so enjoyed watching them tumble. The three friends, having each miraculously paired off, were assisting Bentley and Emmy in wedding preparations, with cleverly amusing results. The character of Maddox was happily settling into his first satisfying relationship when an unpleasant part of his past places everything he had worked for at risk and proved to be a sticky thorn to dislodge. Written from my favorite dual POV, the storylines were entertaining, amusing, and quite erotic. Maddox was a salacious and sensual read with breath-stealing scenes that left me gasping and seeking cool hydration. Clutch the pearls; this lascivious couple was scorching the sheets with reams of bawdy talk. I relished the humor, ease, and supportive nature of this colorful and vibrant collection of curiously alluring personalities, and eagerly anticipate equally entertaining tales of their expanding circle of friends and employees.

.
Until one day, I was browsing my local bookstore for something new to read.
Studying a book jacket, I was distracted when a woman’s silhouette caught my attention. She was lissome and pretty, the sunlight catching her light red hair. She was reading the back of a book, her finger running over the spine. Something about her beckoned to me yet seemed familiar. With a grin, I realized it was Dee, and I approached her. “Find something good?”
She glanced at me, startled. I was close enough to see the flecks of brown in her wide green eyes. She smiled and slid the book back onto the shelf. “Not really.” She indicated the books I had in my hand. “I think you’ve had better luck.”
“You can borrow one if you like. I tend to buy in batches.”
She tilted her head, silently mouthing the titles. She looked up with a smile. “That would be lovely.”
“I was gonna grab a cup of coffee. Can I interest you in joining me?”
“I’d love to.”
Seated across from her, I realized it was the first time we’d ever been alone.
“You come here often?”
She shook her head with a wry grin. “Is that your best pick-up line, Maddox?”
I chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in here until today.”
“I was in the office for a short while, then dropped in here. Usually I browse on my lunch hour.”
“That makes sense.”
Silence fell as we sipped our coffee, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I noticed she nibbled at the end of her thumb, and it struck me as odd. Given her stoic persona, I found it rather endearing.
And I found my thoughts strange. Endearing wasn’t a word I used often—if ever.
She met my gaze. “So, is it?”
“Is it what?”
“Is that your best pick-up line?”
I studied her as I drank my coffee. “I don’t typically do pick-up lines.”
She smirked. “I’m not surprised.”
“Sorry?”
“With that whole silver fox thing you’ve got going, I’m sure you don’t have to.”
I frowned. “Silver fox?”
“Maddox, the silver fox. Young, sexy, wealthy, plus that premature gray? I bet you beat them off with a stick.”
I shook my head, amused at her thoughts. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but no.”
“Really? I’m surprised.”
I sat back, crossing my legs, swinging one foot. “What about you, Deirdre? All prim and pretty. You drive the lawyers crazy at your firm?”
She laughed. “Dee. No one calls me Deirdre. It’s stuffy and formal.”
“No. It’s a lovely name for a lovely woman. It suits you. The lawyers you date don’t call you by your full name?”
She ignored my comment about her name. “I don’t date lawyers, or anyone else at my firm,” she stated firmly. “In fact, I don’t date.”
“Ever?”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “No. Love, romantic love, isn’t for me.”
I took in a deep breath and spoke. “Why is that?”
“It’s dangerous. It overwhelms and kills you.”
At my raised eyebrow, she continued.
“I’m not saying I don’t see people. I have…needs. But I don’t do romantic relationships. I’ve seen the way love destroys people.” She held up her hand before I could speak. “I know it works for some, but I’m not built that way.”
I drained my coffee, then leaned forward. “Neither am I.”
She widened her eyes. “Really?”
“Love equals power. The power to destroy. The ability to hurt and cause pain. The chaos it causes. That’s what love means to me. It destroys trust and leaves you weak.”
“You feel that way about everyone?”
“There are a few exceptions. And I will never break them for a woman.”
Our eyes met, silent understanding passing between us. The air shifted, and I felt our mutual desire grow. It stretched out, pushing tentatively against the boundaries we had erected. She propped her elbow on the table, lifting her thumb to her mouth. Her small teeth gnawed at the flesh. It was an innocent gesture, yet I found it provocative.
“I have needs too,” I murmured. Reaching over, I tugged her thumb from her mouth, inspecting it. From the roughness of the skin, and the fact that it was the second time she’d done it since we sat down, it was clearly a nervous habit for her. I slowly dragged my fingers across her palm, then laid her hand on the table.
Her breathing hitched. “I’m older than you are.”
“Three years,” I scoffed. “It’s nothing.”
“I’m serious. I don’t do relationships.”
“Nor do I.” I bent forward, lowering my voice. “May I be blunt with you?”
“I prefer blunt.”
“I find you incredibly attractive, Deirdre. Very sexy in your buttoned-up clothes and calm exterior. I’d like to see what happens when you’re naked and aroused.” I tilted my head, studying her. “Like now—are you aware in the past few minutes, your breathing picked up and your eyes darkened? You have the loveliest color across your cheeks. Even the tips of your ears are pink. I wonder how far down I could make you flush that way.”
Her color deepened, but she didn’t flinch. She shifted closer, our knees pressed together under the table. Her normally husky voice was even lower, turning me on. “You want honest?”
I nodded.
“I think you’re one of the sexiest men I’ve ever met, Maddox. I see how your toned body moves when you walk, and I imagine you moving in me. You use your hands a lot when you talk, and I want to feel them on my skin. Your muscles flex under your expensive suits, and I want to feel them tighten under my touch.” She ran her finger over her lips. “I want to taste you and watch you fall apart.”
“Then maybe we should go and explore each other.”
.
.
.
.
.

.

.

.
New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them. 
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip. 
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free-falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at flavia@bookcaseagency.com
.

.

HOSTED BY:

Posted on

Book Review: Crash & Burn (A Crashing Series Standalone) by Kristen Hope Mazzola

Crash & Burn

A Crashing Series Standalone

by Kristen Hope Mazzola

Goodreads

Amazon

My girl left me for a rockstar.
I thought I was in love.
There wasn’t anything left of me. So I ran.
And when I stopped, everything began.
She was tattooed and badass.
She was the piece I never knew I was missing.
She was real love.
And she was keeping us a secret.
But all secrets are bound to break free. I just hope that when ours does, she knows that this time, I’m staying.
NOTE: A shorter version of this story was previously published in the BURN ME Anthology. This is the extended and complete story that will make your heart burst into flames. Grab an ice-cold drink and a fan; it’s about to get hot in here! Crash & Burn is a standalone romance. It is a companion novel to the Crashing Series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Here’s to the breezes that blow through the treezes, that lift the girl’s skirt high above her kneezes, it reveals a spot that teases and pleases. Here’s to snatch, down the hatch!

I do not sleep with the guys here. Self-preservation thing, ya know.” Bryn was talking a mile a minute. “I have to make sure that they never think of me as a chick or a piece of meat. It took me a long time to gain the respect of all those twat waffles with egos the size of Texas in there.”

 

My Review:

 

I giggle-snorted and smirked my way through this delightfully naughty and scorching hot firefighter romance. This dirty talking, well-tatted and nimble couple needed flame retardant sheets and fire extinguishers in every room. This was my first exposure to Ms. Mazzola’s wordcraft and I adore her endearing characters, clever use of levity, and bawdy sense of humor. I’ll be on the lookout for future opportunities to indulge in her tales.

About the Author
Bestselling author, Kristen Hope Mazzola, lives in the suburbs of Tampa soaking up the sunshine while watching hockey or football at beach bars. She writes contemporary romance ranging from steamy romantic comedy, angsty new adult, all the way to sports romance – with dirty bikers, hot military men, and swoon-worthy rockstars in between. A portion of her royalties goes to the Marcie Mazzola Foundation.
Posted on

Book Review: Here for the Seer (Supernatural Dating Agency Book 4) by Andie M. Long

Here for the Seer

(Supernatural Dating Agency Book 4)

by Andie M. Long

Goodreads

Amazon

 

What use is being a Seer, if you can’t see your own future?

After Ebony has a vision of her own wedding, she wonders who the groom is as she isn’t even dating.

A trip to the Supernatural Dating Agency soon changes that. While Kim and Lucy look for her future husband, Ebony keeps busy protecting Shelley and Theo’s newborn daughter from the visiting elite supernaturals of Withernsea.

But she’s not their only house guest, and Henry, the decorator, doesn’t only get under her feet, he gets under her skin…

Return to Withernsea for more supernatural mayhem!

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

… my own supernatural powers were limited to the visions. The vampires could whizz, the werewolves could run at speed, demons could open and travel through portals, and angels could fly. It wasn’t entirely fair that I helped the universe and still had to pay for taxis, but such was my lot.

 

“I’m this girl’s Auntie Kim. She’s my girl. I’m going to lead her astray let me tell you.” She looked down at the baby. “You come see me when your mummy says you can’t have your ears pierced, hair dyed, tattoos, or go to the family planning clinic underage, okay sweetie?”

 

Shelley wanting a ‘word’. I’d bet they were ones where she’d need to donate to the swear jar.

 

“So bare, hair, or landing strip there? Personally I rate a landing strip so they know where they’re aiming for.” Kim stood, motioning with her arms like an air hostess.

 My Review:

 

I smirked and giggle-snorted at the naughty banter and amusingly lascivious humor that was deftly tossed about throughout this clever tale. The rib-tickling storylines were inventively entertaining and laden with every known and unknown type of supernatural creature as they come to pay homage to their new leader, who was an even more powerful hybrid with unexpected and enviable abilities yet to be uncovered. The pace was brisk, the characters enticing and oddly appealing, and the writing was witty, wry, and cleverly bawdy. I will be eagerly awaiting further developments at Withernsea.

About The Author 

After twenty+ years of thinking about it, at the age of forty, I decided it was time to finally WRITE THE BOOK or forget about it. I studied two Open University Courses in Creative Writing and finally wrote my first novel. I’ve now written a ton of novels and have the ideas for so many more!

I live in Sheffield with my son and long-suffering partner. We now have a beautiful fur-baby called Bella. When not being a partner, mother, employee (I also work for the NHS) or writer I can usually be found on Facebook or Pinterest.

I’ll be signing in Newcastle 2017 and York 2018.

Stalk Andie Here:

Posted on

Book Review: One and Only (Bridesmaids Behaving Badly #1) by Jenny Holiday

One and Only 

(Bridesmaids Behaving Badly #1)

by Jenny Holiday 

Goodreads

Amazon 

 

Miss Responsibility meets Mr. Reckless
.
With her bridezilla friend on a DIY project rampage, bridesmaid Jane Denning will do anything to escape – even if it means babysitting the groom’s troublemaker brother before the wedding. It should be a piece of cake, except the “cake” is a sarcastic former soldier who is 100% wicked hotness and absolutely off-limits.
.
Cameron MacKinnon is ready to let loose after returning from his deployment. But first, he’ll have to sweet talk the ultra-responsible Jane into taking a walk on the wild side. Turns out, riling her up is the best time he’s had in years. But what happens when the fun and games start to turn into something real?

.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

She was talking fast and ending declarative statements with question marks— sure signs she was stressed. Elise always sounded like an auctioneer on uppers when she was upset.

 

The words job list practically gave Jane hives. Elise had turned into a total bridezilla… But, oh, the job list. The job list was like the Hydra, a serpentine monster you could never get on top of. You crossed off a job, and two more sprouted to take its place.

 

He was having trouble imagining Jane as a girl. She seemed like the kind of person who had been born thirty years old.

 

Gia was gorgeous. Jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Jane was used to it— it was like she’d had exposure therapy or something— but when you were meeting Gia for the first time? Well, just hope you weren’t simultaneously operating any heavy machinery.

 

Gia started humming the wedding march but morphed it into the theme from Jaws as Elise approached the bar.

 

 My Review:

 

I greatly enjoyed this humorous and sexy tale but it wasn’t all cotton candy and marshmallow fluff as the author skillfully wove in some insightful and thoughtful observations about the military, family drama, the cruelty of gossip, self-concept, anxiety, addictions, and PTSD. I adored her complicated and quirky characters with my favorite being the geeky yet staid and responsible Jane who was a devotee of cosplay, Comicon, and all things Xena. The storylines were adroitly paced, consistently engaging, pleasantly entertaining, and cleverly amusing with sizzling hot licks of sensuality between the two main characters.   This was my first Jenny Holiday read, an experience I plan to habituate.

About the Author:
Jenny Holiday is a cunning Slytherin who is constantly being told she’s unduly optimistic. This year, after realizing she had accidentally put “hero makes late-night grilled cheese sandwiches for heroine/other hero” in three books, she started doing it on purpose. When she’s not writing, she’s probably having porch wine with her neighbors and enjoying having gardened. Follow her @JennyHoli on Twitter, @holymolyjennyholi on Instagram, and find other fun stuff at JennyHoliday.com.
Posted on

Book Review: JUST ONE TOUCH (Oh’ Tequila #3) by CA Harms

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000447_00006]

JUST ONE TOUCH

by CA Harms 

is LIVE!

 

AMAZON US | AMAZON INTERNATIONAL

Oh’ Tequila #3 Series / NA Contemporary Romance
Available on Amazon & KU from Limitless Publishing

 

I should have known this would happen…

Nothing about my Fraternity was ever simple. Parties, tequila – tons of tequila – and wild souvenirs from our kind of crazy.

Never, and I do mean never, did I expect my brother’s girl to target me in a midnight prank. A prank that backfired and left me squealing in pain.

Have you ever seen those shows, the ones that say the “dirty deed” sent you to the ER? Well, I went to the ER and yes, my manhood was involved. Let me just say, I gained absolutely no pleasure from it. Unless, of course, you consider that sweet nurse who treated me.

The problem? She hated me…and I had no idea why, but I wasn’t willing to let her walk away until I figured it out.

Emelie was feisty and I’d never felt the type of excitement I did after spending only five seconds in her line of fire. I was gonna enjoy this…way more than I should, and I knew it.

She saw, she conquered, and I was defeated.

All it took was just one touch and oh, what a ride it was.

PURCHASE: AMAZON US | AMAZON INTERNATIONAL

READ THE OH TEQUILA SERIES TODAY! https://amzn.to/2Ms5D7L

friendly family, young parents, mom and dad, play with their young child son

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Corbin and I grew up in a town called Morehead, Kentucky. My parents were older before they’d decided to start a family, and they said after they had us, they knew they were done.

 

I’m not even sure if you’d call us friends. More like we were stuck in the same car for eleven hours and I had to count to ten a whole bunch of times and remember that I’m not the prison type.

 

 My Review:

 

I have relished every cleverly amusing installment of this series. CA Harms has a wicked sense of humor and I adore her brand of sassy levity, spirited banter, and naughty hijinks. The storylines were sweet, heart squeezing, and relevant while the characters were endearing and adorable. I needed a fun read and this quick and engaging read was more than timely.

JOTouch2

SNEAK PEEK

“Ethan,” I said, holding a tiny bear between my fingers. “Buddy, are you hungry?” I was practically begging my son to pay attention to me and stop idolizing the man who held him.

I held the bear closer and kind of shook it in between him and Clayton where he was still staring. Please just eat the thing and give us all something new to focus on.

“Ethan,” I said his name once more, and before I could register what was happening, Clayton wrapped his lips around the tips of my fingers and consumed the teddy graham. “Num num,” he said to Ethan, yet he was looking at me. “That’s yummy.”

Just One TOUCH full cover.jpg

MEET THE AUTHOR:
C.A. Harms is an avid romance and mystery reader. She’s always had a love for books, getting lost in writing and storytelling even as a young girl. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories.
She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She holds an addiction for Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha’s and KitKat when she should really be focusing on water and maybe a fruit or two to make herself feel less guilty, but that feeling quickly passes…thankfully.
She is easy going, fun, and although she may seem like one of the quiet ones at first, you just wait until she gets to know you better…that quietness changes, fast.
c8699-hea2bpr2blogo2bbanner
Posted on

Book Review: Moonshine and Muscadines (Hemlock Creek Book 3) by Josie Kerr

Moonshine and Muscadines 

(Hemlock Creek Book 3)

by Josie Kerr

Goodreads

Amazon  US / UK / CA / AU

 

Tallulah Douglas is starting over. She’s left her abusive husband behind in California and is building a new life for herself and her teenage daughter in the North Georgia mountains. Between working at her family’s vintage shop, volunteering at the local legal aid office, and avoiding the scrutiny of the town’s Gossip Brigade, dating is the last thing on Tally’s mind.

Only two things are worthy of Robert McFerrin’s attention: his eight-year-old daughter and his fledgling distillery business. He just wants to keep his head down and live his life, but unfortunately, memories are long in Hemlock Creek and getting a fresh start is easier said than done.

A captured bouquet and too much muscadine wine sends Tally into Rob’s arms, and smarmy suitor makes her stay there. Can a fake relationship develop into something more?

 

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“What? What is wrong with you? Who doesn’t like weddings? I love weddings.” A dreamy look drifted across Billie’s face for a split second, and then she was back to her no-nonsense self. “I’m good at weddings. After all, I’ve had four. It’s the marriage part I have a problem with.”

 

If this were a spaghetti western, the main theme song, complete with whistles and the cries of coyotes, would be playing as the two men faced each other across the dusty expanse of desert. But this was actually the lobby of the only modern three-story building in the county, and the elevator music version of that damn Toto song was all Rob could hear as that jackass Chad Bryson eyeballed him.

 

I’m an open book… Okay, I’m an open book that’s facedown and dog-eared and maybe a bit redacted, but I’ll truthfully answer any questions you have.

 

Okay, that was an excellent subject change. Wow. Total boner-killer… Inchworm city over here now.

 

What did this woman look like? Kind of like Miranda Lambert if Miranda Lambert was a freeze-dried chain-smoker?

 

Chloe yawned so wide it seemed as if her head had hinges.

 

My Review:

 

This was a fun and playful read packed with clever humor and observant wit.  Although I never want to live in a small community again, Hemlock Creek sounds like such a hoot where gossip and team fishing are competitive sports and local businesses are as quirky as their eccentric customers with a coffee shop named Nonesuch Possum, a boutique named Goat Waggle, and an antique shop named Backward Glance. The storylines were keenly written, stealthily amusing, buoyantly satisfying and pleasantly enjoyable. I found myself perusing slowly in order to fully savor each well-chosen word. The writing was crisp, pleasingly breezy, and vibrant with colorful and evocative descriptions of each quirky character as well as the sounds and surroundings in each scene. I adored Tallulah, but how could I not? She wore “super-cute leopard-print Mary Janes,” snotted on her boyfriend’s shirt during an ugly cry, and snorted when she laughed. And Robbie Mac was the perfect charmer. I was blithesomely entertained from beginning to end and greedily wished for more, although I always do when I’ve lost myself so thoroughly inside a perfectly written tale. Please, Ms. Kerr, I beg of you, keep this delightful series going.


Josie Kerr   

.

Josie Kerr is a transplanted West Texan living on the edge of semi-profoundly rural Georgia, a.k.a. the southernmost edge of the northernmost county in Metro Atlanta.

She has an M.Ed. in Secondary English Education but discovered that she hated high school more the second time than she did the first, so she decided to meld her love of technology with her education background and became an Instructional Designer. When not writing articles about how to fire someone without getting sued or why you should really not apply for jobs using your SexxyStud99@aol.com email address, she writes steamy romance novels that feature grown-up Heroes and Heroines.

Posted on

Book Review: Encore (Rock Star Duet #2) by Rachel Lacey

Encore

(Rock Star Duet #2)

by Rachel Lacey

Goodreads

Amazon /  Barnes & Noble /Apple iBooks/ Google /  Kobo 

 

SHE STOLE CENTER STAGE…IN HIS HEART

Rocker Colton Nix would do just about anything to rid himself of the unflattering nickname his womanizing ways have earned him in the tabloids—anything except settle down with a woman, of course. If his parents taught him anything, it’s that love is as fleeting as celebrity. But after a few too many drinks on a private island in the Caribbean, Cole wakes up with the king of all hangovers…and a wedding band on his left ring finger.

Celebrity assistant Jenn MacDonald has her future meticulously planned, and she’s ready to make her next move: becoming a songwriter. Drunk-marrying a rock star was definitely not on the list. When Cole suggests they stay married for six months so that he can ride out the good publicity while helping her launch her new career, she can’t help but say yes. She’s even able to convince herself—almost—that her decision has nothing to do with the way one glance from Cole sets her body humming like the strings on his favorite guitar.

They were near strangers when they exchanged drunken vows on the beach, but the connection—and the attraction—between them is powerful and real. Soon, they’re making beautiful music together, both in and out of bed. They’re giving the performance of their lives, until it all comes crashing down around them. But every great performance deserves an encore, and theirs might just be love.

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I do get panties thrown at me onstage, which is less sexy than you’d imagine… Well, some of them are hot, but some of them are dirty… and not in a good way.

 

The most shameful “walk of shame” she’d ever made. The only time she’d ever had to make the walk of shame. Except she hadn’t even gotten laid. She’d gotten married.

 

My Review:

 

I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this steamy and engaging tale much more than I expected, as I don’t often read rocker-star romances. The premise was original and interesting while the writing was well paced, insightfully observant, and held my avid attention. And as enticing as all that was, I always find Ms. Lacey’s characters to be my favorite aspect of her work. Her characters tend to be well nuanced, alluring, a bit fractured, and undeniably endearing. I’ve heard of drunk-dialing, and umm, maybe even committed that discourteous act a time or ten, but drunk-married was a new term and whole other level of faux pas, hooray – I don’t feel so shame-faced now.

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 

Posted on

Book Review, Giveaway: The Varlet and the Voyeur (Rugby #4) by Penny Reid and L.H. Cosway

BANNER-ReleaseDay.jpg

The Varlet and the Voyeur, an all-new standalone in the USA Today bestselling Rugby Series from Penny Reid and L.H. Cosway is LIVE!

Cover.jpg

He kept his salacious secret for years. But soon, everyone is going to be reading about it in their morning paper…

THE VARLET (and the VOYEUR)

William Moore is a long way from home. A farm boy from Oklahoma, he’s now the most well-respected member of the Irish rugby team. But appearances are often deceptive, and Will isn’t the clean-cut, all-American good-guy everyone imagines him to be. He’s got a secret, one that will tarnish his reputation forever.

THE VOYEUR (and the VARLET)

Josey Kavanagh is a self-proclaimed mess, but she’s finally getting her shi…uh, act together. She’s set her sights on becoming a veterinarian, but there’s one teeny tiny road bump. Her living arrangements are coming to an abrupt end, leaving Josey homeless and in need of a job to pay her way through college.

THE PLAN

What he needs is a companion to keep him on the right path.

What she needs is an apartment with free rent.

Will is convinced Josey will make the perfect companion, since she’s brutally honest and basically ‘just one of the guys.’  Josey is convinced she can ensure Will doesn’t succumb to his voyeuristic proclivities by keeping a scrupulous eye on him.

Except, what happens when the varlet is tempted by the voyeur, and vice-versa?!

Perchance something very, very volatile. And vexing.

The Varlet and the Voyeur is a full-length romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the 4th(and last) book in the USA TODAY bestselling Rugby Series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

I wish speaking out loud came with a delete button. How awesome would that be?

 

I cried so much after you broke things off that night, that I used all the tissue in the hotel room? All the Kleenex, all the toilet tissue. I used all the towels, and was tempted to use the edge of my sheet… Think of the trees, Will! And now I need more tissue, you selfish, cowardly coward! You’re killing trees!

 

My heart shimmered inside my chest. I was sure if they opened me up they’d see it glittering. That was how Will made me feel. Like a unicorn cupcake dipped in edible glitter covered in chocolate sprinkles.

 

My Review:

 

I have enjoyed every book I have ever read by either of these two clever wordsmiths, whether as an individual effort or their collaborated labors. Singly or combined, their amusing arrangements of words are essentially a guaranteed promise to provide a smirk filled day of gleefully engaging and inescapable perusal as once I start one of their books I am rendered essentially incapable of stopping. I adored these devastatingly quirky yet highly endearing characters as well as the unique conundrums they caused themselves and each other. Written from a dual POV, the storylines were delightfully crafted, deviously insightful, swoon-worthily sexy, cheekily clever, and peppered with smart levity and gasp-inducing sensuality. I am always happiest when I can claim having learned a few vocabulary words, which is a boast I can yet again claim with my current new additions being the old-world words of varlet (an attendant, as well as a dishonest or unprincipled man), and muffin-walloper (a Victorian widow who spent her days gossiping and eating cake).

LIVE01.jpg

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2l89gDn

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/TheVarlet

Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2jqFMiU

SignedPaperbackGiveaway02.jpg

Enter the giveaway to win a signed paperback of The Varlet and the Voyeur!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Start the Series of standalones with The Hooker and the Hermit!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2wp3GoC

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/TheHookerandtheHermit

Meet Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full-time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

PennyReidAuthorPic.jpg

Connect with Penny:

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

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lakzsD

Twitter: @ReidRomance

Newsletter: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/

www.pennyreid.ninja

Meet L.H. Cosway:

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favorite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

lhcoswayauthorpic.jpg

Connect with L.H. Cosway:

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

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jVTDk8

Twitter: @LHCosway

Newsletter: https://goo.gl/vkhYHN

Website: www.lhcoswayauthor.com