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Hi! My name is Kendall, I'm 29, a Media Graduate and I'm from Scotland. I'm a Reader, Reviewer, and Blogger.

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. SeƱor 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!

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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.


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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?


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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.

Sunday 28 July 2024

Stacking the Shelves [108]!


Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality where we show what books we got recently. I do this post once a month.

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you’re adding to your shelves, be it buying or borrowing. From ‘real’ books you’ve purchased, a book you’ve borrowed, a book you’ve been given or an e-book, they can all be shared!

Purchased (Ebooks):



Purchased (Paperbacks/hardbacks):

Gifted from Authors/Publishers:

I, unfortunately, didn't receive any paperbacks or hardbacks this month.

For Review from Author/Netgalley/Edelweiss:

I, unfortunately, didn't receive any review copies this month.

Saturday 27 July 2024

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Fire Called [Ember & Ash 01] by Edeline Wrigh!


Excerpt!

   “Would you all cut it out? We don’t need to scare her,” a guy’s voice echoed around Ember when she made it back to the huge room full of salamanders.
   At least the guy sounded human. Not mountain god-y. And that would have been somewhat reassuring if she didn’t recognize his voice.
   If it didn’t flip her stomach the second it reached her ears.
   She pushed the thought aside. Maybe she was imagining it. Maybe the echoes of the cave were distorting his voice and it was someone else entirely.
   “Um, hi. I guess we’re engaged?” Ember said to him. Not that she saw him; she was still scanning for the semi-opaque form of a ghost in a final attempt at denial.
   “In a manner of speaking.”
   Ember could pinpoint the sound’s location this time and turned to face it.
   She blinked. Once, twice, a third time, trying to comprehend what she saw.
   Ashton.
   He was far enough away she couldn’t touch him to be absolutely sure he was flesh and blood, that he was actually the man she’d kissed, that he was actually the man she couldn’t get out of her mind since the day she’d first laid eyes on him.
   But no.
   It was him.
   Ashton Pyne.
   He stared at her for a beat. Another. His mouth was open, just a little, and his eyes glowed a soft orange, though that might have been the lighting. He watched her move, carefully, and she felt like she was being tracked.
   When she met his gaze, his mouth spread into a full, genuine smile.
   Her attraction to him was immediate and intense. Even for Ember. Even compared to how it’d been in the days following the kiss. She couldn’t describe it, really, couldn’t figure out why all it took from him was eye contact and a tilt of his lips to make her weak for him.
   Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever to marry him.
   That felt separately absurd, but there was only so much she could do with the hand she was dealt.
   She took a moment to regain her composure. “Um. Hi. You?”
   He walked toward her so quickly she thought he might tackle her, but he stopped a perfectly gentlemanly distance away.
   “Ember.”
   “You,” she said. She had more of a thought attached to it, but it died before it could reach her lips.
   “Ember,” he said again, and stepped forward just far enough to take her hand.
   He was definitely corporeal, and his touch flustered her.
   “Why… are you here?” she blurted out.
   He tilted his head and squinted at her, a fair reaction to her odd question. “I assumed that’d be obvious.”

She’s the ember that started the fire.
He’s the ash that remains when all is dead.

When Emberly, a field biologist with a connection to the spirit world, returns to her hometown for her dream job, she thinks she’s prepared to defend her home and confront her destiny. But she’s not prepared for Ashton: the man she must marry to uphold the bargain she made for her life. And no amount of chastising from her ghost twin is going to change her mind.

Ashton, the handsome, reluctant heir to the mining empire that killed Emberly’s grandfather, wants nothing to do with his family legacy. But when his father announces plans to resume mining operations, his only hope at protecting the mountain is to work with the woman he fell in love with at first sight—and who can’t stand to look at him.

Forced into a fake relationship to keep the circumstances of their magically arranged marriage—and the supernatural salamanders—a secret, their annoyance with each other is only heightened by their mutual attraction. But there’s only so long they can avoid fate.


Check it out on Goodreads!

Buy your copy from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo or Apple Books

Author bio:

Edeline Wrigh is an eccentric storyteller with a penchant for swearing, drinking too much caffeine, and spending more time with cats than people. She writes fantasy, romance, and love stories without happy endings from her house in the midwest. When she’s not putting words on paper, she’s busy upleveling her martial arts game or taking in stories in any way she can.

Friday 26 July 2024

Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Echo on the Water [Sacred Trinity 02] by JA Huss!



Excerpt!

Rosie
 
   When the show is over everyone gets up to leave, as do I, but Amon stays right where he is. Obviously waiting for me.
   I make my way to the end of the row and stand before him, his eyes dancin’ a little. “Amon.”
   “Rosie.”
   “Are you here for me?”
   “I am.”
   “Oh. I see. Well. What can I do for you?”
   “I asked you to go bowling last night.”
   “You did.”
   “You turned me down.”
   “That’s right.”
   “Well, I was wondering if it was just bad timing or if it was me.”
   I let out a breath. “Why are you wondering that?”
   “Why?” His eyebrows shoot up. “Because if it was bad timing, I’m gonna ask you again. But if you don’t like me, I’ll move on.”
   “That’s very forthcoming of you.”
   “Thanks. I like to be forthcoming.”
   He’s talking with a straight face, but I’m smiling pretty big right now. “Well, can I think about this a little bit?”
   “Can you define ‘little bit?’”
   I smile bigger. “You’re flirtin’ with me.”
   “Why does that surprise you? You flirt with everyone.”
   “Well, yeah. But that’s me. You’re… you.”
   “What are you saying? I’m not flirty?”
   “Are you flirty?”
   He smiles now. But he narrows his eyes too. “Should I ask again? Or should I move on?”
   “If I say move on, will you truly move on? Or will you try again?”
   His smile grows. “Try again.”
   “Then I’m gonna tell you to move on.”
   He nods, still smiling, then leans forward. “By the way, I read your little paper. Not the one you gave me, but the one from last week. My sisters had a copy.”
   “Oh, right. They do the Revival marketing and I’m part of the marketing now.”
   “I like it.”
   “Which part? The whole idea of it? Or just the vibe?”
   “The writing.”
   I nearly giggle. “You like the ads?”
   “Yeah. I’m kinda jealous of Robust and Hearty because I like his taste in women. And I was thinking that the woman he described sounded a little bit like you.”
   I nearly guffaw. I manage to hold it in, but my cheeks get hot and I know I’m probably turning bright red. “You fancy a…” I pause to think back on what kind of partner Robust and Hearty was looking for. “A courageous and resilient woman who is ready to embrace the thrills and trials of a life less ordinary?”
   Amon nods. “I do.”
   “Well.” I pull myself together. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Amon Parrish. But I am not looking for a man at the moment. I am quite happy with my life as it is.”
   He nods at me. Pretends to take off an imaginary hat and bows a little. And even though he’s not in costume—he’s wearing his usual outfit of black tactical pants and black t-shirt—I picture him in one. “Well, then,” he says. “I will leave you to your day. But I’ll see ya around, Rosie Harlow.”
   I nod back. “See ya around, Amon Parrish.”
   He turns and walks out, not even looking back. But I’m not unhappy about that because he already told me that he’s gonna try again.
   I am being courted.
   By Amon Parrish, of all people.

Rosie Harlow is desperately seeking… well, she’s not sure. A romance would be nice but so would a dinner conversation with her pre-teen son. Too bad her boy is way too busy growing up to pay his mama any attention. Rosie never meant to swear off men and she’s not frigid—you don’t become a single mom at fifteen by being frigid—but this dry spell of hers had gotten out of hand and something must be done.

Enter Amon Parrish. Back in high school Amon was voted most likely to get caught with his pants down. He was a trouble maker. The quintessential bad boy. But twelve years away from home, traveling the world and working with Collin Creed doing super-secret (and somewhat illegal) things, changed all that and these days Amon Parrish is a brand-new, stand-up man.

And, to Rosie’s surprise, a romantic man as well. Because he has decided to court her. And this is not just any ordinary courting, either. It’s… well, a page ripped right out of a bodice ripper.

But everyone in Disciple, West Virginia has a secret in their past.

Even the cheerful, perpetually optimistic, and seemingly innocent, Rosie Harlow.


Check it out on Goodreads!

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Author bio:

JA Huss is a scientist, New York Times Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, and a cowgirl who rides English. Five of her books were optioned for TV/film, several of her audiobooks have been nominated for the Audie and SOVA Awards, and she was a RITA Finalist in 2019. She has been an indie author in both fiction and non-fiction for seventeen years and lives on a ranch in Colorado with her family, horses, dogs, goats, donkeys, and chickens.

Thursday 25 July 2024

Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Darkest Chase [Dark Hearts of Redhaven 03] by Nicole Snow!



Excerpt!

   “You saved me in your phone as Vampire Man?” I raise both brows.
   “Um.” Talia freezes, looking at me sheepishly with her phone clutched in both hands. “…guilty,” she whispers with an embarrassed smile. “Sorry?”
   “Uh-huh.” I lean back on my hands, just watching her. “Why did you do that?”
   “I just… you know, the first time we met—”
   “You mean when I gave you mouth-to-mouth in the middle of town? After your asthma attack,” I growl.
   Her face flashes pink.
   She swallows loudly, nodding.
   “Yeah. That time. It sorta felt like waking up from a dream. This beautiful man with sharp teeth and a red mouth hovering over me… I used to be a huge Anne Rice nerd. And Grandpa had me watching old Dark Shadows reruns from the time I was five.”
   “Uh-huh.” I never take my eyes off her. She’s squirming now, and there’s a predatory pulse in my heart that loves every bit of it. “Have you thought about my teeth, Talia? Do you want to be marked?”
   “Marked? O-oh.” Breathy, soft, and she’s already saying yes without really saying a single word. She can’t look away as her eyes gleam. “Maybe. I mean, you bit me before... but you were being gentle.”
   “That’s not a yes or a no,” I tease.
   Leaning forward, I prowl toward her.
   Every last little vulnerable thing about her jumps out at me.
   One minute, she’s this innocent angel who warms me with a light I can’t describe, who makes me feel like if I wanted, I might learn how to have a life again.
   The next minute, she’s prey, plain and simple.
   Her nostrils flare.
   Her breathing quickens.
   When she trembles again, I’m gone.
   Forever lost in this woman.
   My inner beast inhales deeply, stuck on her scent.
   Vanilla heaven. All mine for the taking.
   Closer.
   Closer, every slow movement makes her tremble more until I’m right there.
   She whimpers as I stop, almost nose to nose with her, our eyes locked.
   There’s more than rich vanilla rising off her now. This aromatic sweetness, heady and sharp.
   “Yes or no, Talia,” I breathe. “Do you want me to mark you?”

Two complete opposites fall into a heart-ripping fairy tale in this scorching hot small-town grumpy sunshine romance by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow.

Life is just full of crazy surprises with teeth.
One day you’re the forever single wallflower keeping up the boring family furniture shop.
The next, you’re getting mouth-to-mouth from a scary hot stranger who wants to make your life a thriller novel.
Yes, my disaster has a name.

Micah Ainsley.
Everything I’m not. Nothing remotely good for me.
He’s all wolf—moody, savage, and ferociously protective.
I’m a human puppy.
He thrives on secrets.
Everybody knows what I had for breakfast.
He’s experienced. So experienced.
I’ve never even been kissed.

But when he needs my help to take down a rich creep who just happens to be my new client, I’m game.
I’m ready to live a little.
I’m eager to prove I’m more than a hot mess with a cross-eyed crush on a coldhearted man who’s too old for me.

Then another surprise bites me in the face.
The night Micah claims me.
The moment our wrong becomes reality and there’s no going back.
The darkest chase is on and it only ends one way—sweet dreams or total devastation.


Check it out on Goodreads!

Buy your copy from Amazon


Author bio:

Nicole Snow is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. She found her love of writing by hashing out love scenes on lunch breaks and plotting her great escape from boardrooms. Her work roared onto the indie romance scene in 2014 with her Grizzlies MC series.

Since then Snow aims for the very best in growly, heart-of-gold alpha heroes, unbelievable suspense, and swoon storms aplenty. With over a million books sold, she lives for the joy of making two people fight with every bit of their soul for a Happily Ever After.

Current fan favorites include her Enguard Protectors series, accidental love novels, plus long beloved MC romance thrillers like the Grizzlies and Deadly Pistols.

Wednesday 24 July 2024

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Her Fake Boyfriend [Charming, Texas 07] by Heatherly Bell!


Excerpt!

   “There you are, Boo!” Michelle ran over and threw her arms around him.
   Finn seemed to freeze in place, his arms remaining where they’d been at his side. “Huh?”
   “Please,” she hissed in his ear. “Go along with this and I’ll make it worth your while.”
   “Go along with what?”
   “Long story, I’ll explain later. For now, pretend you’re my boyfriend.”
   Hands on her waist, he set her back a step, eyes narrowed. “Have you been drinking?”
   “No. I wish! Listen, there’s someone here I need to impress.”
   “With me?” He quirked a brow.
   “Well, you’ll do.”
   He scowled. “I’m not interested in pretending. I know you’re a lawyer and this is your life but the rest of us don’t lie to people daily. Excuse me.”
   He tried to step aside but she grabbed him by the lapels of his navy peacoat and planted a kiss on him. Nothing too crazy as she wasn’t big on PDA especially when she actually knew people were watching. Arthur hadn’t taken his eyes off them since she ran over here. Still, Finn’s lack of resistance surprised her. So did the buzz through her body. Finn was not a terrible kisser, as it turned out. And dear Lord he smelled good.
   When she broke the kiss Finn was staring at her with mossy green eyes. It was a look that said he thought she should be committed to the nearest mental hospital, and the idea made him a little sad.
   Well, she could work with that.

Her Prince Charming…

In a make-believe fairy tale?

Talented divorce attorney and town newcomer Michelle LaCroix needs roots in Charming to make partner, according to her old-fashioned boss. And that means a boyfriend! Problem is, she’s got to produce her beau in the flesh. Enter the town’s most eligible bachelor, former professional athlete Finn Sheridan, who’s only too happy to play pretend with his best friend’s ex—for a price. To his surprise, the more he’s thrown together with Michelle, the more he’s intrigued by a woman who’s far more than her ice-queen exterior. But with Finn’s trust still shattered by a brutal divorce, the make-believe match is just a fun diversion…until it becomes all too real!


Check it out on Goodreads!

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Author bio:

Bestselling author Heatherly Bell was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama but lost her accent by the time she was two. After leaving Alabama, Heatherly lived with her family in Puerto Rico and Maryland before being transplanted kicking and screaming to the California Bay Area. She now loves it here, she swears. Except the traffic.

Over 200,000 copies of Heatherly's books have been sold, many of them translated into two languages.

Heatherly also writes sweet and wholesome books under the pen name of Maria Michaels. She is represented by Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency.

Luke’s unwavering loyalty to Lexi and her family gives this sweet romance unexpected integrity ...Readers looking for a tender romance that leans more toward the emotional than the physical will find this very satisfying." ~ Publishers Weekly/Booklife review on Country Gold.

"Heatherly Bell writes romance that will capture your heart." ~ Marina Adair, New York Times bestselling author.

"What a thoroughly delightful story. I adored it." ~ Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author on Lucky Cowboy.

Tuesday 23 July 2024

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Forever to Fall [Buckeye Falls 05] by Libby Kay!



Welcome to Buckeye Falls, where second chances mend broken hearts for these childhoodsweethearts. Wedding bells are ringing, but the sister of the groom is conflicted.

Fifteen years ago, Mallory Lawson “married” her childhood sweetheart, Beckett, in a pretend wedding on his family’s apple farm. She treasures not only the memories, but the ring he put on her finger. The trouble now, her brother, Evan, wants to put that family heirloom on his fiancĆ©e’s finger. Mallory adores CeCe, but she struggles to get past her girlhood fantasies of Beckett swooping back into her life with a certain ruby ring…

Beckett Fox is at a crossroads. After losing his grandfather, he’s listless and fearful of coming back to the family farm. There are too many memories, and most of them are tied to the love of his life, Mallory. He doesn’t even know if she remembers that fateful day when they were kids, playing make-believe under the apple trees, but he does. Now he’s back to help his buddy get married, and he hopes to find peace on the family farm, with Mallory by his side…

When the wedding planning kicks into high gear, Beckett and Mallory are thrust together as maid of honor and best man. The more time they spend together, the harder it is to ignore the sparks between them. Beckett fears Evan won’t support him dating Mallory, so the pair date in secret. But true love won’t stay hidden forever…

Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads!

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Author bio:

Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!

When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.

Libby cohosts the Romance Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli where they recommend romance books and interview authors, influencers, and publishers. Check it out for your weekly dose of romance!

Monday 22 July 2024

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Reluctant Earl [Heirs and Graces 01] by Pamela Gibson!


Excerpt!

   When the wrestling match began Gerren circled his opponent, slightly bent at the waist, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. Then he made his move. He aimed for the legs then picked up the man and slammed him on his back, getting an elbow in his nose for his effort. When the fellow rose, they danced around until a second slam kept his opponent on the floor. It took five minutes, not ten, to be declared the winner. The man signaled his moves and Gerren read them easily.
   Wiping away the blood trickling over his mouth and chin with the back of his hand, he concentrated on his next opponent and easily outwitted him. Some nights the matches were more even and despite the rules, he’d had fingers broken and a shoulder dislocated that a sawbones had to wrench back into place.
   The last brute was a big ‘un, taking all of his strength as they danced around each other in a gruesome minuet, grappling, grunting, and finally slamming each other to the floor several times. At the end of the hour Gerren had more pins and remained undefeated. When the announcement was made, the crowd went wild. The noise in the crowded room didn’t abate until someone began singing a bawdy song and others joined in.
   Gerren slipped away to his personal bucket of water outside the back door where he could clean himself in peace. When he finished wiping the blood from his face, he wasn’t alone.
  Shiny boots appeared first, followed by a silver-headed walking stick. Sluicing the last of the water over his head and shoulders, he toweled himself dry and hoped he wouldn’t miss that nice tankard of ale waiting for him down the street.
   “Oy, what do you want? If it’s to rebuke me for winning when you bet on the other lads, come back next week and wager on the winner this time.” Gerren set his towel aside and pulled on a clean shirt. “State your business. I have a place I need to be.”
   “Are you Gerren Stafford from Falmouth?”
   “I am although I make my home here in Kingston for now. Haven’t been back in a dozen years. Why?”
   “Is there somewhere we can talk privately.”
   Gerren glanced at the darkened alley behind the warehouse. “I guess you can say this is as private as it gets. State your business.”
   “Your father was Charles Stafford, younger brother of Mathew Stafford, the late Earl of Siltsbury. Charles predeceased his two older brothers.”
   “You been studying my pedigree? Say what you’re here to say and be done with it.”
   The man took a packet from an inside pocket of his coat. “Gerren Alexander Stafford, my name is Harold Jenkins. I’m the solicitor for the Siltsbury estate and I’ve been looking for you for more than a year.”
   “Out with it, man.” Gerren’s body, even in a win, took a beating and he wanted his ale and a woman’s soft bed and body. He had no patience for a fool on a fool’s errand.
   “In November, 1818, Mathew Stafford, sixth Earl of Siltsbury, succumbed to a wasting disease in Baltimore, Maryland. He had no male heir, nor did he have any living brothers. Your deceased grandfather and your father were the only ones with male issues and your uncles, like your father, have all predeceased you.”
   “What in bloody hell is this about?”
   “Congratulations, my lord. It is my duty and my pleasure to inform you that you are the new Earl of Siltsbury and I’m here to take you home.”

Gerren Stafford, sailor and Cornish wrestler, ran away to sea when his gentle older brother was taunted and killed in a duel, and vowed never to set foot in his homeland again. When a stranger informs him he is the new Earl of Siltsbury, Gerren reluctantly returns to England with a hidden purpose, and to assume a role for which he is woefully unprepared.

Then he meets Anna.

Anna Jeffries is a baroness who is keeping her aristocratic connections a secret. She uses her new position as Siltsbury housekeeper to hide from her late husband’s successor, a man she suspects arranged her husband’s death and is now threatening her with harm if she “dares to spread her vile rumors.”

Drawn together by friendship, loneliness, and hidden emotional wounds, Anna and Gerren find solace in passion. But can they find an enduring love or are there too many secrets and lies between them?


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Author bio:

Author of eight books on California history and twenty-two romance novels, Pamela Gibson is a former City Manager who retired with her husband to the Southern Nevada desert. Having spent several years messing about in boats, a hobby that included a five-thousand-mile trip in a 32-foot Nordic Tug, she now spends most of her time indoors happily reading, writing, cooking and keeping up with the antics of Ralph, her Siamese cat. She loves dry red wine, all kinds of chocolate, old Jimmy Buffet sailing songs, and curling up with a good book. You can find her in these places: