Release Blitz for Celebrating Naked by Lindsey Issow Averill

 

Today we have the release day blitz for Lindsay Issow Averill’s CELEBRATING NAKED! Check out the gorgeous new novel and grab your copy today!

Title: Celebrating Naked

Author: Lindsay Issow Averill

Genre: Women’s Fiction

About Celebrating Naked:

How do you break a deathbed promise to your best friend? When Sissy came to visit Liz and Cliff Gordon, they weren't expecting her to stay. But she was pregnant and newly widowed, and more importantly, the Gordons loved her. Together, they and their children formed a family—non-traditional, but extraordinary. Eighteen years later, cancer takes Sissy, and she leaves behind a legacy so vibrant the family’s grief threatens to break them. Liz makes a promise: she'll celebrate Sissy, not mourn her. She won't let her sorrow show. But her husband, Cliff clings to a secret that brings him both joy and pain. Their son, Michael is lost in his guilt. Their daughter, Clara grapples with coming-of-age without her “second mother.” And Sissy's son, Artie discovers a love that could cause him to lose everything. They've all celebrated Sissy's life... but can they go on without accepting her death? Told from six perspectives and set in sun-drenched Santa Fe, New Mexico, Celebrating Naked explores motherly love, romantic love and the love of true friendship. This tale of a family’s heartbreak—reminds us that grief is a byproduct of love.

Get Your Copy Today!

About the Author:

Growing up in both conservative, Greenwich, CT and whimsical, Santa Fe, NM, Lindsey is the daughter of a gypsy Queen and a gynecologist. Her childhood was filled with rainbows and cotton candy and she believes that if all children had parents like hers then world peace would be right around the corner. A woman of many hearts, Lindsey is a filmmaker, an academic, a writer, an activist, a novelist, a sake and sushi lover, a notorious trashy television watcher, an odd beauty secret keeper, an amazing dancer... really, the list is endless. She's married to a dreamer who calls her pumpkin poop and makes her feel like burping hearts, and she has a son who she fondly calls potato. In her spare time, Lindsey writes stuff for lots of cool media outlets, like CNN, xojane, Time.com, The Huffington Post, Alternet, Refinery29, and Bustle.

Connect with Lindsay:

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Review for Etiquette For Runaways by Liza Nash Taylor

Etiquette For Runaways by  Liza Nash Taylor 

publication: August 18th 2020 by Blackstone Publishing

1924. May Marshall is determined to spend the dog days of summer in self-imposed exile at her father’s farm in Keswick, Virginia. Following a naive dalliance that led to heartbreak and her expulsion from Mary Baldwin College, May returns home with a shameful secret only to find her father’s orchard is now the site of a lucrative moonshining enterprise. Despite warnings from the one man she trusts—her childhood friend Byrd—she joins her father’s illegal business. When authorities close in and her father, Henry, is arrested, May goes on the run.

May arrives in New York City, determined to reinvent herself as May Valentine and succeed on her own terms, following her mother’s footsteps as a costume designer. The Jazz Age city glitters with both opportunity and the darker temptations of cocaine and nightlife. From a start mending sheets at the famed Biltmore Hotel, May falls into a position designing costumes for a newly formed troupe of African American entertainers bound for Paris. Reveling in her good fortune, May will do anything for the chance to go abroad, and the lines between right and wrong begin to blur. When Byrd shows up in New York, intent upon taking May back home, she pushes him, and her past, away.

In Paris, May’s run of luck comes to a screeching halt, spiraling her into darkness as she unravels a painful secret about her past. May must make a choice: surrender to failure and addiction, or face the truth and make amends to those she has wronged. But first, she must find self-forgiveness before she can try to reclaim what her heart craves most. 

 

Oh, my.   This book is wonderful.   I saw the cover, knowing nothing about the story inside, and knew without a doubt that I had to read this book.   The rose gold foil drew my eye and the model was mysterious and I knew she had a story to tell.  Then the title, Etiquette for Runaways, that made me curious to where the story would take me.   

 

May, the main character, is intriguing.  She grew up without knowing what happen to her mother, she lost her brother, and her father was a moonshiner.   When she was forced to go out in the world and fend for herself, she found her way.   It was not easy, it was not pretty, but it was what she needed to do to keep herself alive.   I could feel how real her story was.   Liza Nash Taylor did not make this story all pretty and sweet, she told a story as May’s life really was, she told of the drugs, the business deals, and all that went along with that life.  The story took me on a ride, telling of a life that I could not ever imagine living.  

 

Etiquette for Runaways is Liza Nash Taylor’s debut book and I am now a fan of hers.  I cannot wait to read her next book.    I highly recommend picking up your own copy and reading the wonderful, realistic story.

**Thank you Ann-Marie Nieves at GetRedPR for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

Purchase your own copy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

 

Meet Liza Nash Taylor

The farmhouse where Liza Nash Taylor lives in Keswick, Virginia, with her family and dogs was built in 1825, and it is the opening setting of ETIQUETTE FOR RUNAWAYS. She writes in the old bunkhouse, with the occasional black snake and a view of the Southwest Mountains. In 2018, Liza completed the MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Art and was named a Hawthornden International Fellow. She was the 2016 winner of the San Miguel Writer's Conference Fiction Prize. Her short stories have appeared in Microchondria II, (an anthology by the Harvard Bookstore), Gargoyle Magazine, and others. ETIQUETTE FOR RUNAWAYS is her first novel. Look for her second, a stand-alone sequel, in 2021, also from Blackstone Publishing.  Find her website https://lizanashtaylor.com/

Blog Tour for The Six Month Lease by Melanie Munton with a Giveaway

 

   

Title: The Six Month Lease (Southern Hearts Club, Book 2) 

Author: Melanie Munton 

Genre: Romantic Comedy 

Release Date: August 18, 2020 

Cover Designer: L.J. Anderson at Mayhem Cover Creations 

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC. 

Never have I ever…moved in with a guy after dating him for only three weeks. Just kidding. That’s exactly what I did. And like most of you are probably thinking, it inevitably blew up in my face when we broke up two days after signing our lease. Now, I’m stuck living with my ex. The same man who turned my life completely upside down in record time. For. Six. Whole. Months. It doesn’t matter how many times he flashes those abs at me after a shower, or how close his bedroom is to mine. I will resist him because he’s simply not the right guy for me. But if I thought he’d done a number on me before, that’s nothing compared to what happens after I finally learn the secret he’s been keeping from me this entire time.

We touch down on the helipad near Patriot’s Point where we left from. The slab of concrete is on the edge of the now mostly empty parking lot, the park having closed over an hour ago. The sun has lowered in the sky, painting it a pink hue with notes of orange and gold. West does some more talking into his radio headset while going through the process of shutting the aircraft down, flipping switches and pushing buttons. After I’ve had time to take stock of everything, I realize that I’m coming down from a small adrenaline rush. My chest is heaving, my heart still racing. Now I really get West’s love for flying. It gives you a high like no other. Helicopter heroin. The blades slowly stop rotating until the whooping sound of their spinning eventually ceases. West removes his headphones and unstraps himself. Then he leans over and repeats the same process with me. But once he has my straps unbuckled, he falls back into his own seat. Slowly removes his aviators— And spreads his legs. It’s only then that I notice the tent between his legs. “Does that happen every time you fly?” I ask, my gaze lasered in on his lap. “Or is that special for me?” “It’s always for you,” he answers roughly. “That’s the fucking problem. Nothing does it for me anymore but you. The other night when you went out for drinks with the girls, my hand could barely get the job done, even though it was your naked body I pictured in my head the entire time. It’s like nothing will satisfy except the real you.” I tsk my tongue. “Poor baby. What do you recommend for the pain?” He unbuckles his belt, lowers his zipper. “I just gave you a ride.” He reaches inside his briefs, palming his erection. “Now, it’s your turn to give me a nice…long…ride.” I lick my lips unconsciously, feeling my nipples pucker underneath my breezy, linen dress. “These windows aren’t exactly tinted.” “No one’s around,” he growls, his face reddening with burning lust. “Plus, the cockpit is facing those trees. No one can see us at this angle.” My pulse jumps at the word cock. Wriggling his hips, he shoves his shorts and briefs down past his manhood, freeing his rod until it’s rising straight up in the air. When he wraps his fist around the base, I flashback to how he looked handling the control stick. Gripping it so tight, his fingers absently stroking it when he was letting the aircraft coast. My God, I never thought helicopters could be so sexual. I’ll never be able to look at any kind of control stick the same way again. His eyes lower to my chest. “Come sit on your throne, princess.”

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Melanie grew up in a small town in rural Missouri. After marrying her husband, she decided she wanted to try coastal life because why not? A few months later, they moved to North Carolina where she discovered her passion for writing, and they never looked back. They are now enjoying life with their beautiful daughter in Savannah, GA and loving every minute with their little Georgia peach.

Melanie’s other passion is traveling and seeing the world. With anthropology degrees under their belts, she and her husband have made it their goal in life to see as many archaeological sites around the world as possible.

She has a horrible food addiction to pasta and candy (not together…ew). And she gets sad when her wine rack is empty.

At the end of the day, she is a true romantic at heart. She loves writing the cheesy and corny of romantic comedies, and the sassy and sexy of suspense. She aims to make her readers swoon, laugh out loud, maybe sweat a little, and above all, fall in love.

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Review for The Search Party by Simon Lelic

 

The Search Party

by 

Simon Lelic

 publication: October 18th 2020 by Berkley

A twisty, electrifying new thriller from the author of The New Neighbors and The Liar's Room...

The entire town thinks Sadie Saunders is dead. Missing now for a week, they say she was murdered. And they think they know who did it.

Aware of the suspicion that surrounds them - and one of them in particular - Sadie's five best friends vow to find out the truth. So they pack their bags and set off for the woods where Sadie was last seen.

But what starts as a search quickly turns into something more sinister. Each of them has a secret, and they all know more about Sadie's past than they are willing to admit. As the landscape opens up, and the darkness closes in, the reality of their situation begins to dawn on them.

It was never really a search party.
    
It was a witch hunt.

And not everyone is going to make it home.

 

My Thoughts…

The idea of 5 best friends trying to find out what happened to Sadie all while protecting each other and themselves was intriguing.   I loved that they each had their own stories to tell and were willing to tell them to the police.   As with any story told, I had no doubt that there was so much more to the story than what met the eye.  

 

I am a fan of Simon Lelic.   I have read his past books and loved them, found them unable to put down.     With The Search Party, I struggled a little bit with the text.   Maybe it was more the format.   The story was told by Sadie’s 5 best friends and a DI Fleet.   It seemed that the friends rambled on, sometimes reliving the same event as seen through different perspectives.    There was not much dialogue and that threw me off the story.  I wanted to connect with the characters, to feel their pain at the loss of their friend and to fear their fear while searching the woods.

 

Simon Lelic has a talent of writing thriller stories.   There are twists, turns, ups, and downs.   Try as I might I cannot solve the who-dun-it but I enjoy taking the ride.

***Thank you Danielle Keir at Berkley and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

 

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Review for Unexpected Expectations by Lauren Helms

 

What started as a $10 raffle ticket, turned into a vacation in Vegas and a whole lot of expectations that neither of them saw coming. For Kevin and Lucy, it was just supposed to be a little fun but when they are served with a large dose of luck, everything suddenly becomes unexpected. Readers will fall in love with this rags to riches romance from Lauren Helms. The 425 Madison series is back with season three and Unexpected Expectations is now live!

Kevin

With everyone around me settling down, I’m happy to continue living my life single and carefree.

That is unless I can convince the concierge, Lucy Wilson at 425 Madison to finally take me up on that offer to go out on a date.

She’s beautiful, friendly, and her compassion for each and every one of the residents is admirable. Something tells me that she doesn’t see herself that way at all though.

This is why I’ve made it my mission to break her out of her overly cautious shell starting with a lucky penny and a $10 raffle ticket.

It was all supposed to be a little fun but when a large dose of lucky graces us, everything suddenly becomes unexpected.

Lucy

He thinks I don’t see him, but I do. Oh yes, I’ve been aware of the all too good looking Kevin Harper for quite some time now.

The thing is, I’m not sure that we have enough in common and I sure don’t have the free time for a social life between my job and school. Dating? That’s pretty far down on the list of things I’d like to check off - not by choice.

That is until Kevin convinces me that a little fun is good for the soul.

What started as a $10 raffle ticket turned into a vacation in Vegas and a whole lot of expectations that neither of us saw coming.

I always believed in fairy tales, but I wonder if what we have is too good to be true. I can only hope that it’s true what they say…

After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.

My Thoughts…

Season 3 of the 425 Madison Series has arrived, and I am so extremely excited.     While this is part of a series each book is its own story. The setting of 425 Madison is the common thread.    Lauren Helms writes the first book for this season and she did it perfectly.

Unexpected Expectations is a little different in that the main characters, Kevin and Lucy, are not rich and privileged.   They are everyday working people, living in New York, and are trying to find their happy ever after.    They were very relatable, easy to like or not like, and interesting to see them with each other.    Kevin and Lucy flirted, went on a date, and then life got interesting.  

I highly recommend picking up any book in the 425 Madison series, but Unexpected Expectations by Lauren Helms is a wonderful place to start.    

Read Unexpected Expectations toady!

Add to Goodreads!

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Excerpt

Copyright @ Lauren Helms 2020

My fingers brush the smooth copper coin reminding me that I have a second mission to complete. I pinch the coin between my fingers and walk toward the concierge desk. Just like I hoped she would, there stands one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Standing around 5’4, the golden-haired beauty has curves in all the right places. She’s soft around the edges, but I can tell by the way her uniform fits her body that she’s got a sexy as fuck body underneath. Today, her thick locks are pulled low in the back, but her waves fall over her shoulder. I’d love to give that hair a yank in the throes of passion. Shit, I’d love to do a lot of things to this girl.

I’ve flirted with Lucy for a while now, and she’s one of my favorite parts of visiting the building. I’m not a shy man, and I enjoy a good romp between the sheets, but Lucy, I could tell right off the bat is the kinda girl you don’t have meaningless romps with. Nah. She’s a take-home-to-your-momma kind of girl.

My mom would love her.

Maybe, one of these days I’ll ask her out. Heck, I don’t even know if she has a boyfriend or not. It’s never stopped me from flirting, but flirting is harmless. The lady seems damn good at her job, maybe she is just that good at dealing with flirts like me every day.

I come to a stop in front of her, leaning my arm on the desk.

“Heya, Lucy. Seen any tangerine trees or marmalade skies lately?” The Beatles reference earns me a stunning smile.

“Hi Kevin, how are you today?”

I give her my sexiest smirk. “I’m better now that I’m seeing your gorgeous face.” My words hit their mark, and Lucy’s cheeks turn a sexy shade of pink.

“Okay, Mr. Charmer.” She giggles a bit. I always feel like an accomplished mother fucker when I get a girl to giggle. Especially a girl like Lucy, she’s not a giggler. Which is something I dig about her. Besides her looks, she seems to be whip-smart and down to Earth. Most likely, she doesn’t come from money, or why would she be working this gig? She has to deal with the rich and spoiled day in and day out, and she doesn’t lose her cool. I’ve seen her in action, and I’ve seen the way some of the residents treat her. I’ve had to bite my tongue a few times. As Jake has reminded me, this place is private property, I can be banned from the building.

I snap my finger, pretending to recall something important. “I actually have a gift for you.”

Two dainty eyebrows arch in surprise as I lift the penny between my thumb and forefinger.

“A penny?” Her tone is full of amusement.

“Yup. I found a penny outside the building. You know what they say, “If you find a penny, pick it up, if it’s heads, you’ll have good luck.” I smirk as I finish the saying. Pleased with the soft smile that plays at her kissable lips.

“You know, I’ve never told anyone this before…” She leans toward me and lowers her voice as if she doesn’t want anyone to hear. “When I see a penny on the ground, if I notice its tails up, I lean down and flip it over. Hopefully, I can help someone else find a little good luck.”

My heart slams against my chest. Her words nearly cause me to stumble. Who is this woman? She takes the time to flip over a penny just in case the next person who comes along can find a lucky penny? Why does hearing this nearly shatter my charming, nothing gets to me-exterior?

Why?

Because I do the exact same thing.

I clear my throat.

“Don’t worry, Lucy girl, your secret is safe with me.” I extend my hand toward her, and she holds out her hand. I carefully place the penny in her open palm and slowly drag my fingers across her bare hand. I’m expecting the sizzle from our touch, but I don’t miss Lucy’s reaction to our chemistry when I hear her tiny intake of breath.

She closes her hand around the lucky penny and pulls her fist in toward her chest, holding it to her heart.

---

But wait, there's more!!

Don’t miss Boyfriend Maintenance and Flawless Foundations, both by Lauren Helms, featured in the first two seasons!

Read Boyfriend Maintenance, Jake & Emmy’s story on Amazon today!

Read Flawless Foundations, Levi & Becca’s story on Amazon today!

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About Lauren Helms

Lauren Helms is a romance author her nerdy and flirty contemporary words. Lauren has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best--video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and write her first novel, Level Me Up. Several published novels later, Lauren, with her book bestie, also formed PR company, Forever Write PR, to help other authors promote their books.

Lauren lives in Indianapolis, Indiana sharing her love of books and video games with her own Gamer Boy husband and three little kid nerds who will hopefully grow up to share the love of things that united Lauren and her husband on their own happily ever after.

Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

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About the 425 Madison Series

Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Rounding out the summer with some hot city nights and coasting into fall with more cool characters at this famous high-rise, 425 Madison is returning for a third season!

With some familiar faces and some brand new residents - you'll be sure to find an author you love and a trope to ignite your taste buds after all 425 Madison IS the perfect place to fall in love!

We’ve got an amazing line of up must-read romance authors including, Lauren Helms, Allie York

J Marie, Kay Gordon, Marcie Shumway, Aubree Valentine, S.L. Sterling, and Fiona Tulle

Prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.

Season One and Two feature stories from some of your favorite romance authors: Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Allie York, Aubree Valentine, Kay Gordon, Lauren Helms, Sylvia Kane, Katy Ames, KC Enders, Marci Shumway, and C. Lesbirel. All these authors came together, each with a standalone romance for you to enjoy. Covering all of your favorite tropes each tale offers you something new, something different.

Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals, and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!

Facebook | Newsletter

Catch up on the first two seasons, available exclusively in Kindle Unlimited!

Release Blitz for Captivated by the Light by Cheryl Sloan with a Giveaway

 

Today we have the release of Captivated by the Light by Cheryl Sloan, the first in her sexy romantic suspense series! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: Captivated by the Light

Author: Cheryl Sloan

Genre: Romantic Suspense

About Captivated by the Light:

Determined to live life on her terms, Jenna Lachlan

focused her energy on growing her business all the while

flying under the radar, but fate had other plans.

Insert the sexy, assertive, and captivating Cameron Rijker

into the fold, and the stakes just got higher. He pushed

her buttons, decimated her comfort zone, and made

her yearn for a life she long since vowed wasn't

in the cards.

Their attraction was immediate, their chemistry

undeniable, and their connection unparalleled.

However, beneath the surface remained a secret so

big that Jenna would go to any lengths to keep

hidden no matter the cost.

The only downside to anonymity was that you could

never fully trust anyone but yourself.

Get Your Copy Today!

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Exclusive Excerpt:

“Something amusing you, Jenna?” He asked. “Yes, you.” “Me?” His spine straightened, and the tension brewing below my waist began building momentum. “Where’s the dominating man I know—” “He’s not far away I can assure you.” He interrupted before I could finish. “It’s not like you to be so willing to hand over control, yet here you are, letting me take the lead on the designs. You’re giving me an awful lot of power. You know that, right?” “I do.” The edge in his voice was a seductive purr, making me question his agenda. “I’m not interested in playing games, Cameron,” I replied, fully prepared to go head to head with him. “I can assure you; I never play games.” His shoulders pushed his upper body back flush against his desk chair while his arms folded across his chest. “When it comes to business,” he added with a cocked eyebrow and a suggestive glint in his eyes. “Business aside, what are your plans for dinner tonight, Jenna?” I stood up and took my growing frustration out on the laptop as I jammed it in my purse with authority. “Jenna, I asked you a question.” His brusque tone startled me. “I don’t know I’ve lost my appetite.” I lied. Irritated by his behavior, I refused to inform him of my plans for heading out of town. “Hopefully, not because of me?” His voice softened. Yes, because of you and your mercurial personality disorder, I wanted to say. “I’m not sure really what to think right now.” This man had me exasperated and running in circles. “What’s with this attitude of yours?” “My attitude?” My hand flew to my chest as if I’d been stung by his words. “You didn’t sleep in your bed? You barely spoke two words to me in the kitchen this morning. What’s a girl to think? But don’t worry. I get it. You’ve had me now, and it’s time to move on. So for the sake of both of us, let’s not drag this out any longer. I can still keep things professional as long as we are working together if that is a concern.” A sinking feeling pushed down on my chest, threatening my next breath. “Is that what you really want?” he asked. His expression was unwavering as he studied me intently, searching for a hint as to the direction I was leaning. No, was my gut reaction. If Cameron was having doubts, I wished he’d be upfront about them. “Isn’t this what you want?” I twisted his words and threw them back at him. He stood up and held his hand out to me. “I’d rather show you what I want.” I needed to keep my composure, stand my ground, and end this now before my emotions delved deeper. However, my head and heart were miles apart as I placed my hand willingly in his.  

Title: Blindsided by Darkness

Release Date: September 15th

With everything Jenna had worked toward at risk,

yet everything she'd ever dreamed of to gain, she had

to decide if Cameron jeopardizing her trust was

worth the risk of letting her guard down.

Getting involved with another man was never part of

her plan. However, Cameron wasn't just any other man.

He was the one. He was an unexpected ray of light

in an otherwise darkened existence.

So, when Jenna's past and present collide, and viable

threats emerge from the shadows, she finds herself

fighting for the future and a life she hadn't believed

she was worthy of until Cameron showed her what

it meant to be truly loved.

Title: Darkness to Light

Release Date: October 13th

When Jenna's past was called into question, truths

uncovered, and a stunning secret revealed, her world fell

apart in the most earth-shattering of ways.

One so devastating and profoundly painful, there

was no escaping the hollowness that would remain

in her heart until she righted the wrongs of the past.

While Jenna was no stranger to a blindside, nothing

would stand in her way as she fought to reclaim the

life she rightfully deserved. However, being

confronted by one's worst nightmare, meant her

fortitude would face the ultimate test.

The problem with putting your life on the line was not

everyone would walk away unscathed.

About Cheryl Sloan:

Cheryl Sloan lives an hour outside Toronto with her husband, two children, and has a love for all things creative. With the unwavering support and encouragement of her husband, she decided to abandon her comfort zone and pursue her dream of becoming a published author. When she’s not lost in crafting her character’s world or cuddled up with a good book and her lapdog Labradoodle, she can be found spending quality time with her family and hanging out at the ballpark supporting their favorite MLB team.

Connect with the Author:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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Review for Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden Mills

Not My Romeo (The Game Changers #1) by Ilsa Madden-Mills

 

publication: August 18th 2020 by Montlake

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a smart and sexy romance about a professional football hottie and the small-town girl he can’t resist.

We start off with a lie on Valentine’s Day.

My blind date isn’t the studious guy I expected. Nope, he’s a drop-dead gorgeous player with sinful amber eyes and a killer body. Somehow we end up at his penthouse. I blame the gin and tonic.

The next day I learn he’s Jack Hawke—bad-boy professional quarterback with a murky past.

The NDA he had me sign should have been a warning that he isn’t a regular person. Please. I signed it Juliet Capulet, so goodbye, famous football player with abs of steel, and good luck tracking down this small-town librarian.

But Jack keeps showing up in places I least expect him. Just when I’m sure he’s gone, he waltzes into my community theater and wins the part of Romeo to my Juliet.
How’s a plain, mostly innocent girl like me supposed to resist a man like him?

Is Jack my real Romeo…or will this gorgeous football player only break my heart? 

 

Looking for an alpha male that is so used to everyone taking advantage of him that he does not know how to react when Elena does not use him for his fame or fortune?  Check out Jack Hawke a pro quarterback for a football team that Elena knows nothing about.   When they accidentally go out on a blind date sparks fly, the attraction is there, and they both do not know what to do about it.   Are you wondering how someone accidentally goes out on a blind date?  You will have to read the book to find out the answer to that.

 

I loved Elena.   She has spunk, she is strong, but she has a sweet and innocent side to her.   While she puts Jack in his place more than once, she also understands that Jack is used to people using him for what he can get them, where he can take them, and what he does for a living.   Very few people know the real Jack Hawke and Elena wants to know that person.   

The small-town setting where most of the book takes place is so true to form.  Everyone knows everyone else, they gossip, drive by the house when a new car appears, and knows your coming and goings.   Daisy, the town, was the perfect place for Elena to live and for her story to be told.

 

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Review for Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen

Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen 

publication: August 18th 2020 by Berkley Books: Penguin Random House

Two strangers start out saving animals and end up rescuing each other in this heartwarming romance from the author of Unbreak Me. 

Mari Tucker is a wildlife biologist who scoops bunnies and endangered tortoises out of harm’s way on construction sites. Still haunted by her past, she takes the most remote jobs in the Mojave Desert to avoid people and hide from her ex. It’s a simple, quiet life filled with sweet animals and solar-powered baking until she ends up assigned to Jack Wyatt’s crew.

Construction foreman Jack Wyatt’s loud, foul-mouthed temper keeps even the most rugged of men on his crew in line. No mistake is overlooked, because out in the desert it could mean life or death. In his opinion, the job site is no place for sensitive biologists, especially one as shy as Mari. But instead of wilting from the heat and hard work, Mari wins over Jack and his crew one homemade brownie at a time.

Jack and Mari find a comfortable rhythm, building a friendship that’s rare for both of them. After Jack’s rocky childhood, they have more in common than they’d imagined. But even the Mojave sun can’t chase away the shadows when the past is determined to track them down… 

Jack and Mari circled each other so much.  Jack was a jerk; Mari was scared of becoming close with anyone, yet they were drawn together without much chance of fighting it.   Mari calmed Jack and Jack allowed Mari to let down the walls she had built.   

Breathe the Sky is not a new story to tell.  I have read versions of it before but this one was sweeter, more friendly, and fun to read.    Both characters had histories, both characters had been hurt, and both were not looking for a relationship.   Together they work and together they learn to live and love again.  

Michelle Hazen wrote a fun story to read.  It was easy to read and quick to read.   If you are looking for a book with a cute story, tough characters, and characters opening their hearts again check out Breathe the Sky. 

**Thank you Dache Rogers at Berkley and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Audiobook Review for Mixing the Blue Blood by Stacy Eaton

 

Mixing the Blue Blood

My Blood Runs Blue, Book 4

By: Stacy Eaton

Narrated by: Alex Black

Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 07-10-20

Language: English

Publisher: Nitewolf Novels

 

Publisher's Summary

Officer Kristin Greene returns along with the rest of the characters you have grown to love. Only, this time, it’s not just her life on the line. Now, the entire breed’s existence is in danger.

Olivia Newman has been Kristin’s best friend for years and loves the new life that Kristin is living. Her relationship with Gabriel is bittersweet, and she knows that because she is human. A future between them can never really last.

Gabriel Montgomery takes his position in the Vampire Military Force seriously and never expected to have such intense feelings for a human woman. When Olivia is kidnapped, Gabe, Kristin, and the gang realize they have stumbled upon a human trafficking ring. 

Only, this ring isn’t for sex. The leaders of this ring are hell-bent on destroying the breed. Can they rescue Olivia and save their future before old enemies return and destroy the breed? Find out in Mixing the Blue Blood.

©2019 Stacy Eaton (P)2020 Stacy Eaton, Nitewolf Novels

My Thoughts…

Audiobook Thoughts…I have become a fan of Alex Black, narrator.   His tone, the emotion he projects, and the way he can bring a story to life has me looking forward to listening to him tell Stacy Eaton’s Mixing the Blue Blood.     There are many characters in this book and the way he can change his voice to bring the characters to life make the story come to life as I listen.

Book Thoughts…  There is a lot going on in this story.   This is the fourth book in the series and you definitely have to read or listen to the ones earlier in the series to know what is happening.    The characters are all intertwined with each other, the storylines for each run into each other at every turn, and the new characters keep the story fresh.   I love how it all comes together perfectly and even with all that is going on it is easy to follow the story.   

There were a few times that I felt it got repetitive.  When different characters retell what was happening at a certain time I felt that it was maybe a little too much of the same story but I still enjoyed getting the different perceptive of what was happening.   

I recommend picking up your own audiobook copy and losing yourself in Alex Black’s voice and Stacy Eaton’s story or picking up a print book and finding an amazing vampire story.

 

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