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Scotland, United Kingdom
Hi! My name is Kendall, I'm 31, a Media Graduate and I'm from Scotland. I'm a Reader, Reviewer, and Blogger.

Monday, 5 August 2024

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Cost of Love [Jenkins & Sons Construction 06] by Sharon C. Cooper!


Excerpt!

   The lust radiating in his dark orbs sent warmth rushing through her body. Their attraction to one another was definitely on the rise, and Scarlett was curious about whether he’d make a move on her.
   Did he want to kiss her, touch her, and explore her body as much as she wanted to do to him? She wasn’t sure, but if his heated gaze was any indication, he was thinking along those lines.
   “Show me your room,” she said, her voice low and seductive, though that hadn’t been her intent.
   His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but then a slow smile crept across his sensual lips. “Right this way.”
   As they headed in that direction, giddiness bubbled inside of Scarlett, and she almost laughed out loud at herself. She felt like a kid on Christmas morning, anxious to see what presents Santa had in store for her. She was acting as if getting a tour of his bedroom was code for rendezvous, kissing, and hot, sweaty sex. When in fact, Antonio probably only planned to walk her around the space and point out the changes that he’d made since buying the house.
   They moved slower than necessary with each other, unsure of how to proceed or even if they wanted to. Considering how she’d kept him at a distance the last few months, Scarlett might have to make the first move.
   They reached the master bedroom at the end of the hallway, and she stepped into it and glanced around. Like the rest of the house, the bedroom was bright and airy, and it gave her that warm, cuddly feeling like a cashmere sweater on a chilly day. The room was double the size of the other two, with large, dark masculine furniture that contrasted with the brightly painted walls but together it worked.
   When she turned back to Antonio, he was standing with his shoulder propped against a nearby wall and his muscular arms folded across his chest. He watched her intently, and his smoldering gaze only added to his sexiness.
   The man was just too fine. He seemed so cool and comfortable in his skin, and he was tempting as hell.
   Scarlett approached him, her gaze volleying between his eyes and his mouth. She was never bold when it came to asking for what she wanted from a man, but this man was different. With Antonio, she felt comfortable, and she knew he would never deny her anything.
   “Remember when you said I can kiss you anytime?” she said as she stood before him.
   Antonio straightened. “I remember.”
   He slid his arm around her waist and crushed her against his hard body. His touch ignited like liquid fire against the bare skin between the band of her sports bra and the waistband of her pants.
   Goodness, this man had her all twisted up inside—in a good way. She loved that, though he came across as a little grumpy and introverted, he definitely wasn’t shy.
   Scarlett gasped and her pulse accelerated when he suddenly turned her and backed her against the bedroom door. She hadn’t even noticed it was closed, and the moment his mouth covered hers, she didn’t care about anything but him.

A marriage of convenience was not exactly what he had in mind when he vowed she’d one day be his.

Antonio Jenkins is resigned to being a bachelor for life. Everyone around him is getting their happily ever after, leaving him without hope of ever finding his special someone. Until he meets Scarlett. He instantly knows she’s the one for him. Yet proving it to her is going to be the biggest battle of his life.

Single mom Scarlett Rowsey craves that toe-curling, heart-stopping, undeniable love she’s seen in the movies. But history has shown her it’s impossible. She’s incapable of falling in love. However, everything changes when she learns her daughter, Bella, might be in danger. There’s nothing Scarlett wouldn’t do to protect her—even marry someone she may never love. Antonio is everything she longs for in a man—kind, gentle, and protective. Still, Scarlett fears she might crush his heart in the end.

For Antonio, a marriage of convenience is a small price to pay to love and protect the woman of his dreams. But will Scarlett lower her guard enough to see this arrangement as more than a transaction?


Check it out on Goodreads!



Author bio:

USA Today bestselling author Sharon C. Cooper loves anything involving romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and dabbles in romantic comedy. She enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Sharon’s stories have won numerous awards over the years, and when she isn’t writing, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work, or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net

Sunday, 4 August 2024

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Rue the Slay [Laurel Haven Witches 01] by ReGina Welling!


Excerpt!

   “Excuse me. I don’t think that area’s for paying customers.”
   The man’s voice sounded like Alan Rickman and Benedict Cumberbatch had a baby but without the British accent. He could read me a bedtime story, Rue thought as the deep tones shivered across the air.
   “No worries. I’m not planning to pay for anything.”
   “Get back here,” he called out when she took another step.
   Dismissing that, Rue waggled her fingers over one shoulder but kept going and caught Tansy pulling another sheet of cookies out of a professional oven that Rue knew damn well she couldn’t afford. How much debt had Tansy racked up in a single morning?
   Still, the scents of sugar and butter set Rue’s stomach grumbling. “You’re hired if you want the job. I have no idea how to run a bookstore, but if you stay on, I guess we’ll figure it out between us, so I’d like to make it official. Providing we don’t go out of business in a week because I can’t afford the stock or that stove. Or the ingredients in those cookies come to that.”
   Grinning—did the woman ever not smile?—Tansy did a little two-step, bobbled the cookie sheet, then set it on the stainless worktable. “Not to worry. We’ll talk about the finances later.” With practiced speed, she transferred warm cookies to a lined display tray. “I have a customer waiting for these.” Picking up the tray, Tansy headed out, leaving Rue to follow.
   “You mean Mr. Grumpy?” She kept her voice low since Tansy was nearly out of hearing distance anyway. The woman moved like lightning.
   “They’re still warm,” Tansy was saying when Rue came up behind her. “You came in at just the right time.”
   Mr. Grumpy turned a million-watt smile on her and accepted the cookie Tansy offered, but his expression hardened when he turned toward Rue. “I’m not sure how they do things where you’re from, but in Laurel Haven, customers know enough to stay on this side of the counter.”
   “Oh, but—“
   Rue cut Tansy off. “I’m glad to hear it, but I believe I’ve already mentioned I’m not a customer. My name is Rue, and this is my shop, so if it’s okay with you, I’ll go anywhere I please.”
   “You’re one of…them.” He nodded toward Tansy. “That explains some things.” His hazel eyes searched her face as if looking for validation of something she didn’t quite understand. He offered his hand when she came out from behind the pastry case. Steeling herself for what she might see, Rue took it. It wouldn’t bode well for her business if she ran off potential customers. Even ones like him.
   The vision of him armed with a sword, his eyes blazing black, and riding a dark horse through misty woods slid across Rue’s mind, bringing with it a bone-deep sense of recognition. Here was the figure that had haunted her most romantic dreams come to life.
   “I suppose I am,” she said.
   “Then, I guess I’m your new neighbor. I live upstairs.”
   “You have more than that in common.” After popping two cookies in a bag, Tansy joined them.
   “I can’t imagine what,” Rue muttered. This man was clearly an outlaw of some sort. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have seen what she’d seen. He certainly looked the part with dark hair falling recklessly over his furrowed brow, eyes narrowed, and lips that might have been kissable if they weren’t set in a stern line. Even annoyed, Rue had to admit, he packed a hell of a punch.
   He wasn’t Rue’s type at all. Not one little bit.
   Grinning, Tansy made the introductions by pointing and naming them in turn. “Ry. Rue.”
   Okay, now Rue understood. They lived in the same building and had names that sounded sort of similar. As far as common ground went, she figured theirs was roughly the size of a postage stamp. The man put her hackles up even when he wasn’t talking.
   “Ry?” she said, unable to help herself. “What’s that short for? Wait, let me guess. It’s Ryder, right?” A wicked smile tugged at her lips. “Ryder…Storm. That’s it, isn’t it? Or maybe it’s Ryder Strong. Either one sounds like the perfect name for an urban cowboy with a hero complex.”
   Where had that come from? Rue considered herself a circumspect woman, but everything about this day brought out the worst side of her tongue.
   “The name’s McFadden, ma’am,” he drawled and tucked his thumbs into his belt. “Ryland McFadden at your service, but you can go ahead and call me Ryder if it helps you feel better.” He cocked his head to the side. “What’s Rue short for? Wait. Let me guess. It’s Rudella, isn’t it? Like Cinderella, only meaner.”

Three hundred years ago, four witches went into the forest to cast a spell of protection against the evil creeping into their town but they were too late.

Today, Rue Channing never sees it coming, and she should because seeing is her special power. Still, who would have expected to be kidnapped and hauled off to a small coastal town in Maine?

But that is exactly what happened. Now, Rue, a lover of order and strict routines, is dragged out of her comfort zone and into a new life in the small, coastal town of Laurel Haven.

Things could not be worse, she thinks, until she meets the man next door and decides they could. Ry McFadden is the most infuriating man on the planet. He’s a study in contrasts; grumpy yet generous, intensely private, but somehow open. Rue can’t think what to do with him, except she can, and that just makes things worse.

The problem is, Ry McFadden just might be part of Rue’s destiny as she learns she’s been brought to Laurel Haven to finish what her ancestors started.


Check it out on Goodreads!



Author bio:

ReGina Welling prefers not to talk about herself in the third person so...

I live in Maine with my husband, a silly flufferpup named Dash, and a crazy cat named Cricket. I write full time and also create mixed media artwork when I get the chance.

When I was three, my mom brought home a new book and when she went to read it to me, I read it to her instead. That was when she realized I'd learned to read. Since then I couldn't even estimate the number of books I've read. It's a lot!

I love talking to other readers so please visit me in any one of these various places and don't forget to let me know you stopped by!

Saturday, 3 August 2024

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Blood Curse [Cully Beinn Wolves 01] by Brekke Elle!


An untrained healer’s apprentice.
A shifter pack forced to go to war.
And a curse that could swallow all of them whole.

Rini MacIllroy chafes at the responsibilities of being an apprentice healer to her shifter wolf pack. They have stayed safe by keeping separate from humankind, but the American Civil War encroaches on their village, and Rini’s friends and lover are sent down the mountain to fight, while Rini must stay behind.

When a deserting soldier attacks a young girl, Rini jumps into action with tooth and claw. But her rage unknowing unlocks an ancient curse that feeds on bloodshed and violence. Now Rini is hunted through her dreams by a shadow made of nightmares and midnight. Even her steadfast friends and mentor, the ancient priestess Sedna, are unable to help her quell the lust for blood that threatens to consume Rini from the inside out.

When one of her Pack returns from the battlefield, he is broken in body and spirit. Even Sedna’s considerable power cannot heal him. Rini must sing back his soul, using her healer’s magic to heal the wounds that go beyond flesh. While the curse tightens its hold, calling not just for bloodlust but to claim souls, Rini struggles to keep her own inner wolf at bay. Neighbors turn against neighbors, friends betray friends, and the Pack threatens to rip itself apart at the seams.

Can Rini defeat the curse in her own blood, or will she and the Pack she loves be consumed by the beast within?


Check it out on Goodreads!



Author bio:

Brekke Elle is a word tinker, coffee drinker, and has clumsy thumbs (or so she claims to excuse typos!). A Georgia peach living in the heart of North Carolina, Brekke has traveled and lived around the world – including attending the University of Cambridge in England, interning for an NGO in rural Cambodia, and working at a university in Northern California. Along the way she has collected stories (and a bit of bad poetry too). Her first real desire to become a writer (more than just wanting to be Jo March when she was 9) was after reading SABRIEL by Garth Nix. It was the first world she ever wanted to fall sideways into, and she has been recreating those lush worlds for readers ever since.

When she’s not losing herself in her imaginary universes, Brekke spends most of her time chasing her four kids (including twin toddlers!), canning up homecooked chicken broth, and volunteering at a neighborhood community garden. Her favorite color is black (no, really), her favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast (preferable one of Robin McKinley’s retellings), and her favorite drink is coffee until 3pm, then it’s a full bodied Pinot Noir.


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Thursday, 1 August 2024

Blog Tour & Giveaway: My Prince [Iron Fiends MC 05] by Winter Travers!


The hate, the blood, the bodies

No one could have seen this coming, but it’s now on the Iron Fiends' doorstep, and Fade knows that this is just the beginning.

With the cameras rolling and the Iron Fiends having done everything they could to keep themselves off the radar, they know the time to play nice is over now.

The world is about to see just what the Iron Fiends are made of.


Check it out on Goodreads!

Buy your copy here


Author bio:

Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin. After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons, and to the place they now call home. Winter spends her days writing happily ever afters, and her nights being a karate mom hauling her son to practices and tournaments.. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, puppies, and baking.

Wednesday, 31 July 2024

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Wicked Suspicion [The Paladin League 06] by Patti O'Shea!


Excerpt!

   “Hey, hon, is there something I should know about? You’ve been pacing pretty intensely since we finished eating.”
   He stopped and shook his head. “No, sorry. Señor Vargas should have asked to talk to me by now. I’m trying to come up with why, and I think better when I move.”
   “Maybe he’s busy with something else,” she suggested.
   One side of his mouth quirked up. “That’s on the mental list.”
   “Along with a dozen other items,” Nyx said, trying to ignore the way that sort-of smile made her heart beat faster.
   “At least that many.” Lurch didn’t relax, but some of the tension left his face and it made his lips soften. She found herself wondering what it would feel like to kiss him. Really kiss him, not that fake goodnight brush of lips they’d done last night.
   Clearing her throat, she got to her feet and stood in front of him. “What do you need me to do? I want to help.”
   “You’re doing what I need—following orders, and not becoming overly emotional or demanding. That helps more than you realize.”
   Nyx nodded. She understood more than he knew. Her dad told her all the time that emotional reactions got people killed. He’d also trained her to obey orders when the situation warranted it. Like now. Her dad would expect her to listen to Lurch, to follow his lead. And she would. If she came up with a plan to get them out of here, she’d run it by him. If he told her it wouldn’t work, she’d do more thinking.
   What she wouldn’t do was go rogue.
  “You’re in charge,” Nyx assured him, wanting him to understand she wouldn’t be a bigger liability than she was already. “You’re the one with experience. If we need research done, then I can take over. Grad school taught me my way around a library.”
   Lurch smiled and Nyx nearly sighed. It was a good thing he didn’t do that often, or she’d be in big trouble.
   “Thanks. I’m aware you like to call the shots.”
   How did he know that?
   His smile broadened. “Fireball, I realized the first time we met that you were strong-willed. It’s one of the things I appreciate about you.”
   It was Nyx’s turn to smile. “As I recall, it irritated you when we met, not something you deemed a virtue.”
   “You’re wrong,” he said. “If you’d walked away when I glared, I would have forgotten about you.”
   Was he implying that he hadn’t put her out of his mind? Or was she reading too much into it because she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him?
   Lurch’s hands went to her hips, and he pulled her closer. Although he seemed to be looking at her, his gaze was to his right. The balcony. One of the guards was peering in the window. Damn, she was glad he was cognizant of what was going on around them but disappointed that his touch was for show. Nyx put her hands on his shoulders and tried for an adoring expression.
   “Our relationship will never be dull, since you like issuing orders, too.” Nyx forced the teasing tone in case he’d missed a microphone, but fear had returned. Her life literally hung on the whim of a drug lord.

In the treacherous world of covert operations, Special Forces Sgt. Case “Lurch” Lundquist thrives on danger. Undercover as a gunrunner, he dances on the razor’s edge, avoiding rebel forces who hunt him relentlessly. But when his mission jeopardizes a woman’s life, he breaks the rules to protect her.

Nyx Templeton is no damsel in distress—usually. But this time, she’s out of her depth. She doesn’t trust the rugged mercenary who steps in, until she recognizes him from a picture she saw years earlier. He’s her brother’s best friend. She remains quiet, knowing one wrong word could cost him everything.

Case battles to stay focused, but Nyx is a distraction. When she boldly asks him to cash in her V-card, he can’t resist. It’s not just a yes—it’s a hell, yes!

But in the high-stakes game of arms dealing, every edge counts. Nyx unwittingly becomes a pawn, and Case must navigate a deadly web of betrayal to keep her safe. As shadows close in, their love becomes the ultimate weapon—one that could save them both or destroy everything they hold dear.


Check it out on Goodreads!

Buy your copy from Amazon


Author bio:

Patti O'Shea's passions are writing, airplanes and traveling. Fortunately, she's been able to enjoy all three. After receiving a degree in advertising copywriting, she took a job with a major U.S. airline and now works in 757 Engineering. Besides teaching her about the planes she loves, it's given her an opportunity to travel to places like Australia, Papua New Guinea and Canada's Yukon Territory.

Writing, though, remains her primary love. Patti created her first romance when she was in junior high school and has been hooked ever since. She should have figured out she was a writer years earlier, however, since her dolls had such involved lives, complete with goals, motivation and conflict.

Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Release Day Blitz: Thorned Vengeance [Saints Purgatory MC 06] by Andi Rhodes & Lacy Rose!


There isn’t a person in the world who hasn’t committed a sin. Some sins are worse than others, but seven of them are deadly. But those seven worst of the worst? They’re what drive Saints Purgatory MC to keep fighting.

Thorn…
I joined the military to escape the demons that haunted me and the repeating nightmare I had every time I closed my eyes. After I was discharged, I had no purpose. I was lost. But salvation came in the form of two familiar faces and motorcycles. Becoming the Sergeant at Arms for Saints Purgatory MC has given me an outlet for all the rage I’ve kept buried deep for years.

People don’t realize that behind my jokester veneer is a ticking bomb ready to detonate. My brothers think they know my story, but some parts are too painful to divulge… until I cross paths with her. We’re two battered souls who find solidarity in tragedy and vengeance. But she’s too stubborn for her own good.

When she refuses the club’s help, she finds herself in extreme danger, and I vow that the sinner plaguing her will have the beast inside me to deal with.

Delaney…
My life was perfect… until it wasn’t. That night was supposed to be a celebration, a party, but it became a nightmare that’s forever etched on my brain. What happened to my sister will never happen again because I’ve made it my life’s mission to see that it doesn’t.

There isn’t a person or thing that can stop me from getting the vengeance I crave because my nemesis will never see me coming. I’ve made sure of this over the years, but then a man foils my plans. We have the same agenda, but I refuse to give him my kill.

My life might be in jeopardy, but death would at least put an end to my pain. But now that I’ve met him, can I put aside my bloodthirst and accept the connection he offers?

He is Saints Purgatory, and he’s a sinner who takes out the sinful.


Check it out on Goodreads!

Buy your copy from Amazon


Author bios:

Andi Rhodes is an author whose passion is creating romance from chaos in all her books! She writes MC (motorcycle club) romance with a generous helping of suspense and doesn’t shy away from the more difficult topics. Her books can be triggering for some so consider yourself warned. Andi also ensures each book ends with the couple getting their HEA! Most importantly, Andi is living her real life HEA with her husband and their boxers.

For the most up-to-date information on releases, preorders, signings, and all things Andi Rhodes, visit her website at www.andirhodes.com.
Lacy Rose is an author who loves to write gritty MC (motorcycle club) romance. Lacy loves multiple genres and can be found reading almost anything in her free time. She lives with her husband of 23 years and two children. When she isn't writing, her life is often filled with mayhem from kids’ school activities, so she reads and writes in her free time to escape reality. Lacy enjoys sharing her stories with others, and they always have a HEA.

Monday, 29 July 2024

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Sparks Ignite by Aurelia Yates!


Excerpt!

   Charles’ showing up has shaken me. I nervously fumble with my dress, trying to hide the embarrassment that’s bubbling inside me. I never would have thought Charles would do something so desperate. After he claimed we were too different and I was beneath him, I would have thought he would have moved on. He and Nat seem perfect for one another. They were both on the same level. The level where you’re in between childhood and adulthood. You still think of only yourself before others. Yeah, that one. 
   Jay more than handled the problem and for that, I’m relieved. I’m not sure if he could see how upset I was or if it was a chance for him to get his hands dirty with blood. Something tells me he enjoys intimidating others along with beating the crap out of them. 
   Speaking of the devil himself, he struts back into the tent with a smile that I could only describe as amusement. I’m sure his size makes him feel like King Kong. He’s standing around six-one, but his muscles are larger than most of the men I’ve ever seen. Other than one other man. I’ve had the pleasure of being pressed up against.
   “Are you okay?” Jay asks. 
   I nod, but I know I’m not. I don’t know how to feel. 
   The D.J. taps on the microphone getting everyone’s attention, “I want to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Joel Huntingburg!” 
   The music cranks up as Macy and Joel walk in holding hands and dancing onto the dance floor. Everyone claps and it seems the outburst is forgotten as the evening kicks in. 
   After the newlywed couple cuts the cake, everyone takes their seat and I know it’s my time to make my speech. Tapping my glass, I stand up, “I want to make a toast,” holding up my glass I continue. “To the new couple. May your marriage be filled with happiness, and your hearts filled with love, and Macy, may you never have to call Bob again to do Joel’s handy work,” I wink at Macy and she laughs with a few others knowing exactly what the hell I’m referring to. 
   Everyone cheers, “Here, here.”
   A few hours later, when the non-partiers go home, the lights go dim and the atmosphere changes to more of a club style vibe. When couples make their way to the dance floor, I stay planted in my chair, not bothering to look up. Concentrating on the napkin in my hands, I twist and pick it apart. I should get up and socialize with the other bridesmaids who have all gathered at the edge of the dance floor, talking in a deep conversation, but I don’t have it in me. My body is tired from these past two weeks of running around gathering and collecting items for this beautiful event. 
   When April, the girl I can’t stand, turns to her left and smiles at someone, I crane my neck to see who’s got her attention. I jump when someone’s breath fans my skin. 
   “I need a dance,” the deep voice says. “You owe me a date.” 
   Jay.
   My cheeks heat with discomfort. I really don’t know why I agreed to go out with him. His good looks and bad boy persona make me want to run away. I can’t visualize him as being husband material. A good fuck, of course. He’s everything you would want sweating over you, but I’m not looking for a good fuck, so why did I agree? 
   Sliding my chair back, I stand, only to face Jay as he softly wraps his hand around my waist, pulling me out of the dance floor. The music changes to a slower beat and I place my hands on his shoulders. 
   I’m about to step into his embrace when my body is jerked backwards. I gasp when I stumble up against something solid. My body instantly melts. There’s one person who my body has ever melted for, Colt. 
   “Your body remembers me, hmm?” He brushes his lips against my ear. “Does your pussy remember my fingers, or should I reintroduce them?”

Colt Donovan has it all: a thriving bar, stunning looks, and a stream of admirers. But despite his success, he can’t shake the memory of Maggie Wilson, the woman who stole his heart during one unforgettable weekend. Her taste lingers on his lips, and her sassy spirit haunts his dreams.

Determined to find her, fate brings them together, but with a cruel twist—Maggie is now on the arm of his best friend. Torn between loyalty and desire, Colt faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: risk his friendship for the woman he can’t forget, or let her slip away forever.

Maggie, fresh from a painful breakup, dips her toes back into the dating pool, only to find no one compares to Colt Donovan. When he appears at her best friend’s wedding, his piercing blue eyes make her weak in the knees. Despite the man by her side, she can’t resist the magnetic pull of Colt’s presence.

Colt Donovan is trouble—the kind of trouble Maggie can’t afford, especially with danger lurking around every corner whenever he’s near. Can she navigate the treacherous waters of love and peril, or will she lose herself to the undeniable allure of the one man who makes her burn?


Check it out on Goodreads!

Buy your copy from Amazon


Author bio:

International, Barnes and Noble and Amazon Best Selling Author

Aurelia writes contemporary and dark romance and enjoys reading it just as much! She lives in Alabama with her husband, daughter and fur babies. She spends most of her time taking care of her loved ones and plotting stories. Excited to begin this new journey, she’s looking forward to sharing her stories.