tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18735653944799602002024-02-20T00:14:05.616-08:00Crystal Blogs BooksCrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.comBlogger1694125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-33493286329973900772024-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:002024-01-23T23:45:15.609-08:00Review: His Wicked Ways (The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside #5) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfo6_t60zWT_x-CJbtpsAeXUSAVd6cx3LFGMCQle0fiI6a3517nSGMHQ6Pgm5-lYlsPD44bpBtEL1IzhbkB6Ld2rp50ex9yluk4TE7GTShBI3tzvarZcYoB5VSGR-dq73Ueya__gb3AYVfCXMGsdLupqNc3vL9PRA_XRc7o_KVEStDACqF6n1hS3aiYbcX/s2700/His%20Wicked%20Ways.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfo6_t60zWT_x-CJbtpsAeXUSAVd6cx3LFGMCQle0fiI6a3517nSGMHQ6Pgm5-lYlsPD44bpBtEL1IzhbkB6Ld2rp50ex9yluk4TE7GTShBI3tzvarZcYoB5VSGR-dq73Ueya__gb3AYVfCXMGsdLupqNc3vL9PRA_XRc7o_KVEStDACqF6n1hS3aiYbcX/w266-h400/His%20Wicked%20Ways.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">His Wicked Ways</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside #5</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>November 8, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>arc for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Blaine Wicked is used to women doing as he says in and out of the bedroom. Find out happens when he falls for the one woman who won’t submit to his wicked ways in the newest insanely sexy, deeply emotional, and laugh-out-loud funny standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Blaine Wicked can spot trouble a mile away. As the eldest of five and raised in a Dark Knights biker family, he has always been a protector. Rescuing a stripper from a bad situation comes with the territory, regardless of the hell the mouthy, slightly awkward, and seriously hot leggy blonde gives him for it. She’s far too innocent to bend to his wicked ways, but the more he learns about her, the harder it is for him to walk away.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Forensic scientist Reese Wilder never imagined herself as the entertainment at a bachelor party, but she’d do anything to keep food on the table for her teenage sister. With their mess of a mother in rehab—Third time’s a charm, right?—Reese is stuck paying off their mother’s debt to a dealer and trying to make ends meet. Reese has had it rough, and she knows better than to rely on anyone for help, much less a pushy biker with piercing blue eyes who probably has dozens of women at his beck and call.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The more flames Reese throws, the more determined Blaine is to walk through them. The closer he gets, the hotter they burn—and the more curious she becomes. But Blaine Wicked has the power to torch Reese’s walls to embers, and with her sister’s well-being at stake, that’s a risk she can’t afford to take.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s5BY0lpEBsHWXbQ8rMZzrUeGENn6ZnSmBgPPO1JUz2clqplLkMgqTEseC6cKfawh10dCPMFQfSeShvwsSB0LtBOmuaQXAfq6gaLj2IcptB_oJmqCeKhk_gFxuHrq4IFI1GgajMqnBzw3yKwD16H9sNe64pFG9z2twt2Vyc5J0XwF4V8BAOrNCa4TrPem/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s5BY0lpEBsHWXbQ8rMZzrUeGENn6ZnSmBgPPO1JUz2clqplLkMgqTEseC6cKfawh10dCPMFQfSeShvwsSB0LtBOmuaQXAfq6gaLj2IcptB_oJmqCeKhk_gFxuHrq4IFI1GgajMqnBzw3yKwD16H9sNe64pFG9z2twt2Vyc5J0XwF4V8BAOrNCa4TrPem/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before I jump into my review, I feel like I should give a bit of a life update. This past week, I was looking through my blog, remembering all of the fun I had with it, I realized that I never reviewed Melissa's <b>His Wicked Ways</b>. And I don't really know how, but it completely slipped my mind. You see, November was the calm before the storm. In early December, I ended up catching a random cold that kicked my ass. I was ill for the rest of December, into early January. My dad ended up catching it from me and he was finally feeling better a couple weeks ago. Then in late December, my grandmother passed away. We knew it was coming, she had been declining since October, but it still left me wandering a bit. Anyhoo, I just wanted to share what has been happening. I apologize for being so stinking quiet the last couple of years. And I think I'm finally ready to bring my blog back to life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On to my review for <b>His Wicked Ways</b>. First of all, YAS! A new Melissa Foster romance (that came out in November). I remember telling my friend Lisa that it kind of feels like Melissa's characters are losing their inhibitions a bit more lately. And I am here for it! It's no secret that I adore Melissa's books. And I'm going to continue with my tradition of picking a word that I feels best describe the book, characters, or Melissa's writing. For <b>His Wicked Ways</b>, that word is tenaciousness. That's a perfect word to describe all of Melissa's books, but it definitely works best here. Reese Wilder is the epitome of tenaciousness. Heck, she gets a job as a stripper to care for her sister and pay of her mom's debts. If that isn't full force tenacity, I don't know what is. She can take care of herself, even when Blaine tries to bulldoze his way into her life. Much like with every other Foster book, I devoured <b>His Wicked Ways </b>in record time. There is something mesmorizing about her books. The connections between the characters and the world around them, it really does feel like you are catching up with old friends and meeting new ones each time you read one of her books. I'm so thankful that I found her books all those years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ6_r1vcv8b9p32vTRkcqMplc2U5WMUwHCncHyb9UDtyWFiRRQ5zHH_8vxyvsNPnlMcUgNb7dhrA3G20NOByK0ZHoDC3Lipvi-HJ6NBA49ozEKUL-Ro8hrr6w1KRodVJVNrjZ2cTIpfXz_P_wBMuHWFD1kddceVdKQ7MOXX6LOQeBRP556KdFTuu7TBop/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQ6_r1vcv8b9p32vTRkcqMplc2U5WMUwHCncHyb9UDtyWFiRRQ5zHH_8vxyvsNPnlMcUgNb7dhrA3G20NOByK0ZHoDC3Lipvi-HJ6NBA49ozEKUL-Ro8hrr6w1KRodVJVNrjZ2cTIpfXz_P_wBMuHWFD1kddceVdKQ7MOXX6LOQeBRP556KdFTuu7TBop/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lnk.to/HWW_Kindle">KINDLE</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/HWW_Apple">APPLE</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/HWW_Nook">NOOK</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/HWW_Kobo">KOBO</a></b></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lnk.to/HWW_GPlay">GOOGLE PLAY</a> - </b><a href="https://lnk.to/HWW_Pb"><b>PAPERBACK</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Audio, narrated by Jacob Morgan and Andi Arndt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://lnk.to/HWWa_Audible">AUDIBLE</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/HWWa_Amazon">AMAZON</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/HWWa_Apple">APPLE</a></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63263546-his-wicked-ways" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1pkmlhVoxLaR4qfn_6b0ZNMW3DSsUt2Mn6na_zJr8gjEX6dQBIgvuMrTXNcCucw53glKPX5iOEKXuhlNRLCtrLwXGgb0ghAbXHllLxGQO8Ym2kj0uQRCEb8ylqQNQdDTvwBTdtIh0m58a83bR0JqfltuZjIbvWK3iZ2Z7TFBYMRtUyJXDv2WaGqacVBG/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7puzL5L1YYuTbaHOtfiDneQKLpX3Tx_NbAQE2WFK4Y5raNHEgpglicOZHz5Spor097o9p1SnFYPfraOF1QgbUgjnV3GHqsZnMvpAZUuWRYIzKaqRhJRZEfUxumXZFVRKPZj5NXgPnubabvjCMsuiuQpZSZYY6TwApvejaiYfWeY1M6e3N1o7-zE-tjZzU/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7puzL5L1YYuTbaHOtfiDneQKLpX3Tx_NbAQE2WFK4Y5raNHEgpglicOZHz5Spor097o9p1SnFYPfraOF1QgbUgjnV3GHqsZnMvpAZUuWRYIzKaqRhJRZEfUxumXZFVRKPZj5NXgPnubabvjCMsuiuQpZSZYY6TwApvejaiYfWeY1M6e3N1o7-zE-tjZzU/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div></div></div></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-4390541496009871332023-08-08T13:54:00.001-07:002023-08-08T13:54:06.241-07:00Review: Make Me Fall (Fallbank #1) by Cass Scotka<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_VaqwrYyb6LuWFjgKHzRFNLZnQGhuPNmrq8A_2QvyfPlZ45xUZ4CWg03nyRvsqUhiEoTuGB6WhDO3MA40GdtrsiX_a6_3mD0CCN3A4eiKhXcO18Nio7RiJT8gqts-RYwWKi6RGaTrJ0CLAFiQbfbXejIeXEVQEkXKEZVBg-vm23GSNuZQ8Dx7z1Le4GZ/s800/Make%20Me%20Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_VaqwrYyb6LuWFjgKHzRFNLZnQGhuPNmrq8A_2QvyfPlZ45xUZ4CWg03nyRvsqUhiEoTuGB6WhDO3MA40GdtrsiX_a6_3mD0CCN3A4eiKhXcO18Nio7RiJT8gqts-RYwWKi6RGaTrJ0CLAFiQbfbXejIeXEVQEkXKEZVBg-vm23GSNuZQ8Dx7z1Le4GZ/w250-h400/Make%20Me%20Fall.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make Me Fall</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Cass Scotka</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>Fallbank #1</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>Totally Bound</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>July 18, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>ARC for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Love in a logging town can make anyone fall.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Life in Fallbank, Oregon, is simple and quiet, exactly how Bridget Wildes likes it. She has other things to focus on, like hustling to keep her family store from closing. The age-old rumor that her family is descended from witches makes not getting run out of town difficult enough. She has no time for love, friends or distractions. And the new lumberjack in town is most definitely a distraction.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jack Thompson has yet to meet a woman who didn’t want his money more than him, so why bother dating? He needs to stay focused on researching whether Timber Logging Company would be a good investment for his family’s business. Who cares if his shy new neighbor is gorgeous and could use a little assistance in how to grow her shop’s profits? After all, his father’s plans include buying out TLC and putting the locals out of work—not boosting Fallbank’s economy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How can Bridget love someone who’s determined to destroy her small-town way of life? How can Jack dismantle Fallbank when he’s falling in love with not only the way people live there but also Bridget? Well…love and logging will keep anybody on their toes.<span><a name='more'></a></span><span></span></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibk2RKGDDd9vJLFi42lYQuHFgJaBYrprbztVd-GqYNsRi4cuGPwQLIBgBSm3oL7KzFq7pJ_VJs91gb-KEX1bgu2qT5msbBJ5buFkG4MaEhzLgPMNznLHoDQblmPc72l5jn63uQu2dBovFc_3kZHwxYaN5LxSJPNxP_LjR93UkHq1CWzqDl_mJFxddUmz7/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibk2RKGDDd9vJLFi42lYQuHFgJaBYrprbztVd-GqYNsRi4cuGPwQLIBgBSm3oL7KzFq7pJ_VJs91gb-KEX1bgu2qT5msbBJ5buFkG4MaEhzLgPMNznLHoDQblmPc72l5jn63uQu2dBovFc_3kZHwxYaN5LxSJPNxP_LjR93UkHq1CWzqDl_mJFxddUmz7/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Calling all fans of Practical Magic and Hallmark movies. <b>Make Me Fall </b>was a fun combination of both. We've got the fun, witchy vibes that reminded me so much of Practical Magic. Bridget's small business selling lotions, candles, and other goodies. The seasonal ambiance with fairs, logging, and Halloween. Add the sweetness you can always find in a Hallmark movie. As a fan of both, I thought <b>Make Me Fall </b>was a fantastic combination. This was my first time reading a book from this author. I loved her world building. Her characters were loveable, especially Gran. As a person who does craft fairs, Cass's attention to being a small business vendor was spot on. I giggled during those scenes because I could put myself in Bridget's shoes. Not that I ever sold out. If only I could be that lucky. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I loved <b>Make Me Fall</b>. It was a fun romance to read when the weather starts to cool down and we're surrounded by the fall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcQlnSDBT_z_GHxEdvRZeaeG6ycjr9gXhNsKLGWUigIwRSBlorU4cQA0WgRlJMJsO8DZtZK659ba5k460V0ZxdCtneR4efgf178BEtmfNO0GzIzBmsyPAoPIKPxMRwN_3IbGGRSc6KMH1a7WnDtunjNHU-nkFDqTvTXaRY4xFmZcZMrJ-PIpptg6XsM3F/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcQlnSDBT_z_GHxEdvRZeaeG6ycjr9gXhNsKLGWUigIwRSBlorU4cQA0WgRlJMJsO8DZtZK659ba5k460V0ZxdCtneR4efgf178BEtmfNO0GzIzBmsyPAoPIKPxMRwN_3IbGGRSc6KMH1a7WnDtunjNHU-nkFDqTvTXaRY4xFmZcZMrJ-PIpptg6XsM3F/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C3MS68HV/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/make-me-fall" target="_blank">First for Romance</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/141777435-make-me-fall" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WYA3MIKnkYf9FshX32gKLh6zuvsJsc3HT1W4vLeCeoCHBzL8CiMrJyUxXN9mi4Xz4IReeLrhtTj1M4eJEszc-9LJEfPPzQiMBCr1I5LiX-KUHKCXjEOhD9diF1aYnWfR0yFedQihHUdtQvU9n52H9RPW24dbUQ-Tn6_PBLhQbSWxmsslXYJzOm4ZvJft/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwF9XJ8O_MBwY27v6O_XI4IdIq3nB4zfsJ2-PP_AaXTx8x9pl5xuPki6Z5pF8nvtJzwdMCc1iQJQBYbmticx9xMd2HD0LW_UfF9ZDyZNMV8jUW9uTRnTUYaroYF4FQ8XszN6GZCD1OAUBxsibphegldeUgjl3IXNPRKjK-EKSLZD4IRYvO92XYd1QG4Y2/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwF9XJ8O_MBwY27v6O_XI4IdIq3nB4zfsJ2-PP_AaXTx8x9pl5xuPki6Z5pF8nvtJzwdMCc1iQJQBYbmticx9xMd2HD0LW_UfF9ZDyZNMV8jUW9uTRnTUYaroYF4FQ8XszN6GZCD1OAUBxsibphegldeUgjl3IXNPRKjK-EKSLZD4IRYvO92XYd1QG4Y2/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cass is in love with love, and has been since she peeked at her first romance novel at age fifteen. When an unannounced romance hero walked into her imagination presenting his heroine and pushing her into the spotlight, Cass knew she was destined to become a romance writer. The adventure of a new book and the comfort of an old favorite are two of her most cherished pleasures. When she's not writing or reading, Cass explores the world with her spouse and two kids. She loves chocolate, the Texas Longhorns, and the Oxford comma.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://cassscotka.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cass-L-Scotka-105664751678990" target="_blank">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cassscotkawrites/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></b></div><p></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-61138206897140543952023-08-02T13:22:00.001-07:002023-08-02T13:22:24.215-07:00Review: Wild Island Love (The Steeles at Silver Island #5) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCCawyJhZFQRWs0UKzKazMdw6YN1-q5DifsFZstbfNobBbfsapNQVzHnd_Auy46K635cpxZ4uFPCTZC8htVfmlhPnjB0GWWDxVMlBkmqznRgAFA5gAnpdmkBSYmEr9-Mm08-hwHPjcMRvifAfNJUMssulN_0xeVBgVr3KRQIf_idD-I4VbKJbh7WHpukF/s2700/WildIsland_eBook_FINAL_SHIRT.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCCawyJhZFQRWs0UKzKazMdw6YN1-q5DifsFZstbfNobBbfsapNQVzHnd_Auy46K635cpxZ4uFPCTZC8htVfmlhPnjB0GWWDxVMlBkmqznRgAFA5gAnpdmkBSYmEr9-Mm08-hwHPjcMRvifAfNJUMssulN_0xeVBgVr3KRQIf_idD-I4VbKJbh7WHpukF/w266-h400/WildIsland_eBook_FINAL_SHIRT.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wild Island Love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>The Steeles at Silver Island #5</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>August 2, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>ARC for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>Sparks fly between a PR rep and an A-list actor who want nothing to do with each other.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Leni Steele might be looking for love, but she’s definitely not looking to be someone’s fake date. Especially not one of the most infuriatingly handsome and annoyingly cocky actors on the planet, Duncan Raz. But when the owner of the PR firm for which she works forces her to walk the red carpet on his arm, she has no choice. Neither wants to be there, much less with each other. They’re like oil and water, and he gets on her last nerve. But after a few tequila shots, that’s not all he gets on. What was supposed to be one date turns into a media frenzy they can’t afford to ignore, and Leni has no other option than to continue the ruse. All the fake kisses, furtive glances, and seductive touches eventually start to feel very real. But Raz didn’t earn his A-list-actor status for nothing. Is he just doing what he does best? Playing a role? Or is Leni the leading lady in Raz’s real-life love story?<span><a name='more'></a></span></div></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0GftKAhpQ7Apxns7rqfQd6zDliPiL5m1qVtLjRjugkGS8abww0uwRhLXf21eRK5Qx-9BF7orBYncc-feNy9s1GfXTxLEJAGDrDUQcdNPanaym6u_2jiiU68BXxh-MzNrYDpblTQwwxrhc7YVER-ZBCyiK357KVcHtOqbKOQiEx1GxPeCl1CWANBcEwgH/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0GftKAhpQ7Apxns7rqfQd6zDliPiL5m1qVtLjRjugkGS8abww0uwRhLXf21eRK5Qx-9BF7orBYncc-feNy9s1GfXTxLEJAGDrDUQcdNPanaym6u_2jiiU68BXxh-MzNrYDpblTQwwxrhc7YVER-ZBCyiK357KVcHtOqbKOQiEx1GxPeCl1CWANBcEwgH/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Helloooo Romance lovers! I'm back with, you guessed it, another Melissa Foster book. Surprise! :) I keep trying to come back to the blog, but real life just keeps butting itself in the way. Here I am, nursing a hurt leg. I started walking on a treadmill and I think I might have jumped into a bit too hard. Ah well, no treadmill walking for me for at least a couple days. Anyhoo, back to the review.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today, we're here with Leni and Raz from <b>Wild Island Love</b>. Lemme tell you, wild doesn't even begin to describe these two. After reading countless Melissa Foster romances, you're probably wondering how do I keep from getting bored. It helps that each romance Melissa creates changes just enough to keep things fresh. No two characters are alike. No two romances are alike. Each couple has their own meet-cute, as well as their own spice level. Leni and Raz's spice level is pretty freaking high. Once that spark ignited, watch out. Stand too close and you might get caught up in their flame. There is one thing that irked me just a tad with them. I don't care if your team is getting their butts kicked, you never leave a game early to beat the traffic. You always stay in your seats a bit longer, take your time walking around, and then spend too much money in the team store. Then you leve because everyone else is pretty much gone. To leave early is just blasphemy. :o) I thouroughly enjoyed the time I spent hanging out with Leni and Raz. Their romance was so much fun to read. Their chemistry was amazing. And, of course, Melissa's writing was spectacular as usual. Another Foster favorite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgKF-gZqVQXvys-eUI8HsvAVmr0vBlcKwH2oBaUg9wUYxgSZOvWo3PPIeh-ND6U4aQN8VAtZjOrp-bb0Fa8r0U3vBIZ24A-JP60KEAmKCHmfy60gU9TprJw_QeR_q7uBDRs_xXzvCMYqXbidmTtJyYx-HQrcwgtAGy13OkGXKjlJkJuBpxJYjwzX1-QCu/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgKF-gZqVQXvys-eUI8HsvAVmr0vBlcKwH2oBaUg9wUYxgSZOvWo3PPIeh-ND6U4aQN8VAtZjOrp-bb0Fa8r0U3vBIZ24A-JP60KEAmKCHmfy60gU9TprJw_QeR_q7uBDRs_xXzvCMYqXbidmTtJyYx-HQrcwgtAGy13OkGXKjlJkJuBpxJYjwzX1-QCu/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://lnk.to/WIL_Kindle" target="_blank">Kindle</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/WIL_Apple" target="_blank">Apple</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/WIL_Nook" target="_blank">Nook</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/WIL_Kobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/WIL_GPlay" target="_blank">Google Play</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://lnk.to/WIL_Pb" target="_blank">Standard Paperback</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/WILsp" target="_blank">Special Edition Paperback</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/WIL_hb" target="_blank">Hardback</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Audio coming soon! Narrated by Zachary Webber and Savannah Peachwood </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://lnk.to/WIL_Audible" target="_blank">Audible</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/WILa_Amazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/WILa_Apple" target="_blank">Apple</a></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61914315-wild-island-love" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzeA8mhdZEG2ucTpppYlgmiu80IKJoxcvwuqwVdCR7ow6qnwAK4IF40EmCvyt-hgR2Vwqf9lYZNuJ40HFsrkguB5XRV4etSZbSrP8Tjc4oZT1GlCsgkgmopa7awSTmI--MUSzuv2lD_s_sQ-Aju03xgNaWQcbfjY9ljDfBHyfNWXOR4mqB3OjUxeMDpB1/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnZuHH8DJdmm5FaGs0OoFbEgoKqnRFQRhyNGCzU94uFpIxHMxDPRt7nXwWpY7Swjd6aZA0Py3aM7qe3DNh7Ic0pP95sJgMKKl-O03k2qDKY6Gm2eIOZWzk0NsDkt-unbbDxwY4tkTWRBT8pl-TcQfUb7DrJvhrC_Ly4Qya0MVa9rWtoroMf9bZMIl52nW/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnZuHH8DJdmm5FaGs0OoFbEgoKqnRFQRhyNGCzU94uFpIxHMxDPRt7nXwWpY7Swjd6aZA0Py3aM7qe3DNh7Ic0pP95sJgMKKl-O03k2qDKY6Gm2eIOZWzk0NsDkt-unbbDxwY4tkTWRBT8pl-TcQfUb7DrJvhrC_Ly4Qya0MVa9rWtoroMf9bZMIl52nW/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div></div></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-32547143452907969862023-06-07T06:00:00.001-07:002023-06-07T06:00:00.131-07:00Review: Dove (Emerald Mafia #1) by Jennifer Luna<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWABG-PwaznvrvzmYwIzi_ZPI9dR7vH6zjR7ypfb9XyfZ7Xo2oo2peexN6xEdVkpsWl4xzZQhW34fKAVJSjlBIVgyyxDUkwAt7OdT6Be8zvgbTX9xLuWZ-wig9Rv64MakUTOk0lkV_lZyEyaFuzrs2Umxl2z-f64ksEVvTZwGxHtIYl3NENyUPzEQnQ/s800/Dove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWABG-PwaznvrvzmYwIzi_ZPI9dR7vH6zjR7ypfb9XyfZ7Xo2oo2peexN6xEdVkpsWl4xzZQhW34fKAVJSjlBIVgyyxDUkwAt7OdT6Be8zvgbTX9xLuWZ-wig9Rv64MakUTOk0lkV_lZyEyaFuzrs2Umxl2z-f64ksEVvTZwGxHtIYl3NENyUPzEQnQ/w250-h400/Dove.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dove</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Jennifer Luna</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>Emerald Mafia #1</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>Totally Bound</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>June 6, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>arc for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>He wants to protect her from his world, but her past is their biggest threat.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the traumatic and mysterious death of a close family friend, Emma Marshall flees the prying eyes in her hometown, opting for the anonymity of Manhattan life. Once there, she buries herself in ramen noodle dinners and rigorous academics. When she’s attacked on the street and issued a strange, veiled threat, she takes her defense into her own hands. But involving herself with a man like Jack is far from safe.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jack O’Connell thinks of love as a liability. In his line of work, caring for someone would only give his enemies a weakness to exploit. But when Emma walks into his gym for a self-defense lesson, she unknowingly threatens the armor he’s curated. Try as he might, he can’t keep himself away. Their chemistry is electric, and she could be everything that he needs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As Jack delves into her secrets, he finds they might be somehow connected to his dark world, even though he has fought desperately to protect her from it. To his horror, Emma becomes caught in a sinister web that entraps the two of them, threatening their very lives.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKomX3JFfOk58J8MHRC98hQfJy30WYAriwr0PFhHkK5kfRLBSlFzt-qaof7SvUldlroNG_1jWPGy3r0_YtU7NblEVARLOSW8r2MRBnhgluIlwsQkvu5_yYCte4rF3geQEvo6pm69Yz3J9ykiEBi5WRetE9JO7sv4hkoompnloRMH5pWTfeYJFiUDkiA/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKomX3JFfOk58J8MHRC98hQfJy30WYAriwr0PFhHkK5kfRLBSlFzt-qaof7SvUldlroNG_1jWPGy3r0_YtU7NblEVARLOSW8r2MRBnhgluIlwsQkvu5_yYCte4rF3geQEvo6pm69Yz3J9ykiEBi5WRetE9JO7sv4hkoompnloRMH5pWTfeYJFiUDkiA/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have to admit that I don't read a lot of mafia romance. Don't get me wrong, I love a bad boy as much as the next girl, but there's something about mafia romance that doesn't normally pique my interest. There was something about <b>Dove</b> that caught my eye. So, I gave it a chance. It took me a little while before I really got into it, but once I was, I could not put it down. Let's start off with Jack and Emma. While their attraction was fairly instant, they still had to work for it. Nothing about their relationship came easy. It wasn't sunshine and daisies and I loved that. I love a romance with characters that have to fight their way towards each other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Emma and Jack were another reason why I loved this book so much. Emma... Poor Emma. That girl survived so much trauma, I often wondered how she was still able to function. She's an incredibly strong, intelligent woman. Jack is no sloutch either. From the moment Emma shows up for self-defense, there is nothing he wants more than to protect the woman he's grown to love. Although he feels as if there is a monster inside him, he'll do everything to stand up for those he loves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am really looking forward to seeing what debut author Jennifer has up her sleeves with the rest of the Emerald Mafia series. Who will be next? I know who I'm hoping for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDmcDTotegWV5TnSuAjqoQVqyfOcFgPqOaXDtPoEIebW-wSWI8_eZHAWRKx6UYq18S5fULiCVxeE6j42ev4KEnSvVFV1_m9dKCo8oXied_6o2cRWsr8g4pP0kOvpZMsXtH3LgGIDR7eLUTkpnuCY_TFQ5Zt3vjwyWq1FXwUBK-6QCvNJnBgBg1DpZzg/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDmcDTotegWV5TnSuAjqoQVqyfOcFgPqOaXDtPoEIebW-wSWI8_eZHAWRKx6UYq18S5fULiCVxeE6j42ev4KEnSvVFV1_m9dKCo8oXied_6o2cRWsr8g4pP0kOvpZMsXtH3LgGIDR7eLUTkpnuCY_TFQ5Zt3vjwyWq1FXwUBK-6QCvNJnBgBg1DpZzg/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZFMTQ3C" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/dove" target="_blank">First for Romance</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123547506-dove" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIoiF5XdC5BIOeZ8QpmnUXJdgwYvTOa8WtchrTQgdy3b6qjzafGv6nFp4gqQi4q-nKopzdn4USIbugM8APJSm7g5FGSetBK78j697Y5rPn6_QHHeUakBop4wRPQiyGgf-XSVkTxw-m4PqAbeZKIXWqJjDgu0R_N3l_v2n11yvGF-IFQEtS41FsJ1Sc7A/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j9Zx1TlgSRpTYq57uncovL3Mhq08YRYBnlGLWE3x1gmaHCmY1EJoZ9ILnqGY4iXbaZaROFSrYmAldtr12gWK_-PRdjqlkpJ0t1Evaisz75oMwHxjqPRjFVPrptiZ2bJLK3ZXDCWu3xOOrXvwa9yvwNoisCiFHsTvbVsVuZwqyf6HX9jPCalMSV74mA/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j9Zx1TlgSRpTYq57uncovL3Mhq08YRYBnlGLWE3x1gmaHCmY1EJoZ9ILnqGY4iXbaZaROFSrYmAldtr12gWK_-PRdjqlkpJ0t1Evaisz75oMwHxjqPRjFVPrptiZ2bJLK3ZXDCWu3xOOrXvwa9yvwNoisCiFHsTvbVsVuZwqyf6HX9jPCalMSV74mA/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><p>Jennifer Luna is an author by night and renowned chicken nugget chef by day—just ask her son. She lives in Virginia with her husband, son, and two cats. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found cleaning the litter box or doing just about anything for a Klondike bar.</p><p>Her debut dark romance, Dove, is the first novel in The Emerald Mafia Series, which exposes the gritty underworld of the Irish mafia and the sacrifices one woman will make to keep her loved ones out of harm’s way. </p><p>You can follow Jennifer on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@authorjenniferluna" target="_blank">TikTok</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/authorjenniferluna" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and find out more at her <a href="https://authorjenniferluna.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.</p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-174846674343204102023-05-01T22:37:00.001-07:002023-05-01T22:37:08.951-07:00Review: How Sweet It Is (Nantucket Island #1) by Gen Ryan<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLFIsqwxPXnMN1030YuTjOw2dZG5k0Ey-AWMeCk6wDLdfptYlDdE762oSjaSvybnbrl2yuacaWMl8mESMTd-WFh5PWWYh6zoeGMKffxtyqw353A-XCqNnALDfOzNe6JmKPR2XjXHOAHJv9j194Dr22FWgwjPkt9tiAX8seOMpU2TNn5WPRElJtdgqsA/s800/How%20Sweet%20It%20Is.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLFIsqwxPXnMN1030YuTjOw2dZG5k0Ey-AWMeCk6wDLdfptYlDdE762oSjaSvybnbrl2yuacaWMl8mESMTd-WFh5PWWYh6zoeGMKffxtyqw353A-XCqNnALDfOzNe6JmKPR2XjXHOAHJv9j194Dr22FWgwjPkt9tiAX8seOMpU2TNn5WPRElJtdgqsA/w250-h400/How%20Sweet%20It%20Is.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">How Sweet It Is</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Gen Ryan</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>Nantucket Island #1</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>Totally Bound</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>April 25, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>arc for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Will Lydia and Ty be able to rekindle their relationship? Or will Lydia’s time in the big city spoil the one true love she’s ever had?</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Living on the small island of Nantucket might have been the idea of perfection for some, but Lydia Duncan? She craved the big city life. She left behind her family and the man she knew she would have spent the rest of her life with to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At twenty-eight, Lydia is a big-shot lawyer, but when her father dies, she’s left with no choice but to go back to the one place she ran away from—home.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ty Rue watched Lydia walk away but never forgot her. Over the past ten years his love for her has only gotten stronger. Now that she’s home, he’ll do anything he can to make her realize what it’s like to be an island girl and to be in love. Two things that she once did so well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Will Lydia and Ty be able to rekindle their relationship? Or will Lydia’s time in the big city spoil the one true love she’s ever had?</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGR7z11pQjiL4KExaldyg5nNJR6ANReoGAlRq3CZeCzsgact7tKeZNj40HghLEGJEDf4VaRq-dUZSRFzDJFYwGPz_SQj3GJmhEhrAYt1Bu_ku7SUkCuOXErDqsQxxFMEr7KRQ8WYIvqW8oVMDz9alMQu6hYVc7sbFDo3B2PiqGek_huB1KOgw9FBqRQ/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGR7z11pQjiL4KExaldyg5nNJR6ANReoGAlRq3CZeCzsgact7tKeZNj40HghLEGJEDf4VaRq-dUZSRFzDJFYwGPz_SQj3GJmhEhrAYt1Bu_ku7SUkCuOXErDqsQxxFMEr7KRQ8WYIvqW8oVMDz9alMQu6hYVc7sbFDo3B2PiqGek_huB1KOgw9FBqRQ/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh boy. I was not prepared for the emotional ride <b>How Sweet It Is </b>took me on. It is a second chance, small town romance between Lydia and Ty, two characters that fell in love as teenagers. After high school, Lydia needed to spread her wings. She moved to Boston to become a successful lawyer. Ty, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to stay in Nantucket, start his own candy store, and start a family with Lydia. Years later, life brings them back together after the death of Lydia's father. Its as if years had not passed. They are immediately drawn together and its not long until they fall in love all over again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Going into <b>How Sweet It Is</b>, I knew it was going to be an emotional romance, but I was not prepared for just how hard it would latch on to my heart and refuse to let going until I knew Ty and Lydia were going to be okay. There was something so sweet watching them grow closer as they mourn together. Ty never pushes Lydia to face their past and make a decision that'll allow them to be together. Instead, he gently helps her mourn and prove to her that they were meant to be together, that her life in Boston will never make her happy like Nantucket does. And it doesn't take long for her to realize that he's right. Their journey together was amazing. The supporting characters were just was wonderful, especially Lydia's best friend. I loved her sass. This was my first book from Gen Ryan and I know it will not be my last. Hopefully the wait for the next book in the series isn't too long. </div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVixWKa-SeLHA7wzbOyeqcPlcMq1TA5tfL2jYK37HtepV1p1VPw9jueBdmiyn5mFIrdbM9s9mVDfqr04vk8jmdlFQ82R0k3HmSeBXOvOaqdXLZpISj5kcvAnfyGTk4rZh7FzCpuE8qU_ZH4Qp03iws4VZm8NZE0MFYxoedfoqwdCwZ0i1oitmKZEO1KQ/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVixWKa-SeLHA7wzbOyeqcPlcMq1TA5tfL2jYK37HtepV1p1VPw9jueBdmiyn5mFIrdbM9s9mVDfqr04vk8jmdlFQ82R0k3HmSeBXOvOaqdXLZpISj5kcvAnfyGTk4rZh7FzCpuE8qU_ZH4Qp03iws4VZm8NZE0MFYxoedfoqwdCwZ0i1oitmKZEO1KQ/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BRT6GBPS" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/how-sweet-it-is-gen-ryan" target="_blank">First for Romance</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85172819-how-sweet-it-is" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoIkaHBHWG2JiCFu2z43Yhl0UbqRpu-zeSpA8GBlp86NesUNVhZf-W7aSR8Obm68xJ1DkEPC058wxztEfU0OvK33rUcXh-UHheQbsIDpY2iYm2e71FdP0nPqQkmsCrCH9uim90suZeMwMIm3m8V3yiwDyCS4jZ2t0pOifyTOaKJv7aZAGm7cyvWjlCw/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HnfgEeBLWqP_F0t2ebRbrPs2WNsfsmN8KxSVwMMy5HDVlHe7osFdLxNwPPGA60kI5XHojw3fZnDpD7hC6ht0ZFFA8bdU73tsAlBsd_LJwgjDPP1buGkLsrmaoR7PLKkUlqgKgqyrtVgG18uTglNQEklc5MqBbgM4cYyo8v87FVqKNVMeeX5wCFykng/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HnfgEeBLWqP_F0t2ebRbrPs2WNsfsmN8KxSVwMMy5HDVlHe7osFdLxNwPPGA60kI5XHojw3fZnDpD7hC6ht0ZFFA8bdU73tsAlBsd_LJwgjDPP1buGkLsrmaoR7PLKkUlqgKgqyrtVgG18uTglNQEklc5MqBbgM4cYyo8v87FVqKNVMeeX5wCFykng/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can find Genevieve curled up reading paranormal romance and romantic thrillers or frantically typing her stories on her laptop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Forensic Psychology is her trade by day, teaching and molding the minds of college students. Her interest in psychology can be seen in her books, each including many psychological undertones. Although she loves teaching, her passion, her true love, lies in the stories that roam around in her head. Yes, they all come from her mind-the good, the bad, and the totally insane. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She lives in Massachusetts-no, not Boston. With each story she shares, she hopes her love for writing and storytelling seeps through, encompassing the reader and leaving them wanting more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Website - Facebook - Twitter</b></div></div><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-5663623364063509302023-04-23T15:40:00.000-07:002023-04-23T15:40:32.666-07:00Review: For the Love of Whiskey (The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch #2) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFhXMA2nW33k_Qw3nLnwd4qUW-y2xMcAdwRliKfBDUlUI9dEp35bQlYTon4YIK4WMAWppe1rp2gzJOB85SNXs1i5-LbIAL7lyeeHQcf-uuH119XXCIhrs2vO2PfvdjzLMdoyfTeVaTLdGAni7UAy3YHlzuxEsTPHIRfvBOLrIaUS8fq4MUjN1C4PTWA/s2700/ForTheLoveofWhiskey_eBook.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFhXMA2nW33k_Qw3nLnwd4qUW-y2xMcAdwRliKfBDUlUI9dEp35bQlYTon4YIK4WMAWppe1rp2gzJOB85SNXs1i5-LbIAL7lyeeHQcf-uuH119XXCIhrs2vO2PfvdjzLMdoyfTeVaTLdGAni7UAy3YHlzuxEsTPHIRfvBOLrIaUS8fq4MUjN1C4PTWA/w266-h400/ForTheLoveofWhiskey_eBook.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">For the Love of Whiskey</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch #2</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>April 19, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>arc for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>From New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster comes The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch, a small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horses—and people—a second chance. Buckle up for a wild ride in Hope Valley, Colorado, as these big-hearted badasses and their sassy sisters wrangle in their forever loves. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and always a happily ever after.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Callahan “Cowboy” Whiskey is a natural-born protector, a Dark Knights biker, and a hell of a rancher. What happens when he falls for a woman who has no idea who she really is?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When Sullivan Tate escaped from a cult, leaving behind the only life she’d ever known, she thought she’d already endured the most difficult things she’d ever have to deal with. She knew she needed to figure out who she was, but she hadn’t expected to fall for overprotective and sexy-as-hell Callahan “Cowboy” Whiskey along the way. How can she give her heart to a man who has always known exactly who he is, when she’s only just begun figuring that out about herself?</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheNQVgoIZYic9yprMfaDM6hi--GrHeK_ILtuhJAtRIsu3w6OFZLmZcUDZQpU5JzehE3yQc5I5gp-hHruJzZ8rH9UoJDpdNaF_btDtzyxD6AspJOF7yPmiWYLW9qq-VsZjoqI5kh6MjAMFRLXKQB4juI0As2m9tTCRlHfjcW9MUnKAhrj9Y-C5lk5RCQ/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheNQVgoIZYic9yprMfaDM6hi--GrHeK_ILtuhJAtRIsu3w6OFZLmZcUDZQpU5JzehE3yQc5I5gp-hHruJzZ8rH9UoJDpdNaF_btDtzyxD6AspJOF7yPmiWYLW9qq-VsZjoqI5kh6MjAMFRLXKQB4juI0As2m9tTCRlHfjcW9MUnKAhrj9Y-C5lk5RCQ/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div>Welcome back to Redemption Ranch! When I say I've lost count of how many of Melissa's books I've read over the years, I am not exaggerating. I think I can count on one hand how many I missed. Maybe 2 hands, but definitely not more. And I think there is only so many ways I can gush about her romances. I love them to pieces and I will never get enough of her fantastic characters. This is why I like to pick an element of her current book that stood out to me. It should be fairly obvious which element I want to talk about with <b>For the Love of Whiskey</b>. And that is how emotionally raw it was. A lot of Melissa's books have an emotional element. We've seen characters lose a sibling right in front of them. Characters who have done jail time to protect their family. All of which are gut-wrenching in their own right, but with <b>For the Love of Whiskey </b>and the horrors that Sully saw... Good lord, that poor woman. The scene where she describes everything that was done to her and things she had to do, I felt for her. I could not stop cheering her on as she found her voice again throughout the book. Same for Cowboy. Sully and Cowboy studied each other. They brought the best out in each other. And yes, her growth and healing was a bit fast, I think that worked perfectly for their romance. As a reader, I know they have a lot more trauma to overcome and just because their story is over, that doesn't mean they stop healing. I feel like they will continue to grow stronger as the series progresses. It was an amazing emotional romance.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkOC4Q4vQcJuYMtJ_pkTfEWhy0Yr4uBy_BzBrlHu6gh1gMQH9M8RC1WnRWHi5FbKTh46OhQyDxBcMjCiG9LEIYA003Rne3i5FxuIQHEAyOFlotbkksg4LV1wRJCqTkKgt5RsKW7E7-sJri4B-Y6BXIkySM1EqFWw_6DBJM-F5Q62Q4ilUQ2vfjjtK0A/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkOC4Q4vQcJuYMtJ_pkTfEWhy0Yr4uBy_BzBrlHu6gh1gMQH9M8RC1WnRWHi5FbKTh46OhQyDxBcMjCiG9LEIYA003Rne3i5FxuIQHEAyOFlotbkksg4LV1wRJCqTkKgt5RsKW7E7-sJri4B-Y6BXIkySM1EqFWw_6DBJM-F5Q62Q4ilUQ2vfjjtK0A/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Kindle" target="_blank">Kindle</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Apple" target="_blank">Apple Books</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Nook" target="_blank">Nook</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Kobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_GPlay" target="_blank">Google Play</a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/FTLOW_Pb" target="_blank">Standard Paperback</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/FTLOWsp" target="_blank">Special Edition Paperback</a> - <a href="https://lnk.to/FTLOW_Hb" target="_blank">Hardback</a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://melissafoster.com/RR_audio" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Audio, narrated by Aiden Snow and Meg Sylvan</span></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60889013-for-the-love-of-whiskey" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDeDJHtc8NbNYdQQxR-6Y-Ir1JMFGV5KrFTMiT0pvNAC0Fsm3oj8XTBMZjfQqwgqyt0Dmdxbr3nPAtC0VGCaznt_J0lUc5CTyG8echW1g6lpzfA56M5xycdzId4unY9MDqO8ZgXCeaZwABB-gPnaAFLkvxhdjcv82f160pz8Pn9y93lshTc0_FAf_lg/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MJ9uBvICzPZ0fFAOZ_MQTYVUdMHYnG1wKSSCHzYxBxkuF4D0Hm7JCzYgz1T7Y78xKbzgjsavQUPj_WwHEIzMBczgh-rRZo0htPwmWC2jiEA9yPLGRX40QoYmLVc5MRC4mJm5zJutGvDLcdYv7pDHtnYxdMYq4jm6pl6IHt6tTGQyXfk6ucCjUgVEww/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MJ9uBvICzPZ0fFAOZ_MQTYVUdMHYnG1wKSSCHzYxBxkuF4D0Hm7JCzYgz1T7Y78xKbzgjsavQUPj_WwHEIzMBczgh-rRZo0htPwmWC2jiEA9yPLGRX40QoYmLVc5MRC4mJm5zJutGvDLcdYv7pDHtnYxdMYq4jm6pl6IHt6tTGQyXfk6ucCjUgVEww/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div></div></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-39174403252586340872023-04-18T06:00:00.034-07:002023-04-18T06:00:00.193-07:00Review: No Reservations (Holiday Falls #2) by Elizabeth Coldwell<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PQ1yEHrDL5iKWRnDVwzvTI38oU8JhLUlDbbcsnMOIZAqCkESf_IZj8z5yuf5sC_n-IeXv2OsKZ0hROBhuSW2KZROldZdUtx6DvW6qXd4scsf1LYeamOIeV8qjuIKZi80Zb3tM2Z7DLwz9cZuT4IRCjxQlyv5KnYHbg-59YKzMQp5eVVPDzuzUs4pIg/s800/No%20Reservations.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PQ1yEHrDL5iKWRnDVwzvTI38oU8JhLUlDbbcsnMOIZAqCkESf_IZj8z5yuf5sC_n-IeXv2OsKZ0hROBhuSW2KZROldZdUtx6DvW6qXd4scsf1LYeamOIeV8qjuIKZi80Zb3tM2Z7DLwz9cZuT4IRCjxQlyv5KnYHbg-59YKzMQp5eVVPDzuzUs4pIg/w250-h400/No%20Reservations.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">No Reservations</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Elizabeth Coldwell</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>Holiday Falls</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>Totally Bound</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>April 18, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>arc for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>She’s plumb lucky to have found a hot younger man, but will the age difference get in the way?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Miranda Hickman has successfully run the Maltby Farm Inn, the top-rated bed and breakfast spot in Holiday Falls, since her husband walked out on her for another woman. She can cope with most problems, but a plumbing emergency requires professional help, and that’s when Zach Peters walks into her life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They make an instant connection, and Miranda finds herself having the best sex of her life. Zach is cute and capable, but he’s also thirteen years younger than Miranda, and he can’t stay with one woman for too long. It doesn’t seem like it should be a problem, but as the relationship progresses, Miranda begins to realize it’s a lot to navigate. Is it her imagination, or does Zach not want to be seen out with her in Holiday Falls? She doesn’t want to be his dirty secret, but will her reservations hold her back from being with a man who makes her feel like no one else ever has?</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgyrwEyPuWjO7ghraOEvYYD0NYwkuG1-5jFIciwDCUA5mwXF4b7L3sbLcSKeCCI3MJTGYdwzxFIE2tTwav2H-ImMiWpTOjz77zrMiwAPVBEYKFxH3B_jwySIbZO826ats_k3BrulbI1hiID8SUQNgm2xGLPs6hLV0vGJ4StAuLCTEiuVEdzSFmqJ1Cw/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgyrwEyPuWjO7ghraOEvYYD0NYwkuG1-5jFIciwDCUA5mwXF4b7L3sbLcSKeCCI3MJTGYdwzxFIE2tTwav2H-ImMiWpTOjz77zrMiwAPVBEYKFxH3B_jwySIbZO826ats_k3BrulbI1hiID8SUQNgm2xGLPs6hLV0vGJ4StAuLCTEiuVEdzSFmqJ1Cw/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div>Welcome back to Holiday Falls!! In <b>No Reservations</b> we meet Miranda, whom we met briefly in the previous book in the series, and Zach. When Miranda calls upon her plumber for an emergency fix, he sends his son in the place. Sparks fly between the two and suddenly this older woman is falling for the much younger man. What would the people of small town Holidays Falls think about their romance? I thought <b>No Reservations </b>was a fun addition to this quick series. The romance between Miranda and Zach was fast, but I love that the ending reflects on just how quick it was. No spoilers, but it was fitting for their romance. Again, this series is filled with quick reads that are fun with just enough steam to keep me happy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAw4Tns-fwwiGqjJzgUssAch9stEd_qTmIHdY1E7AEhEH86Hacty_WhcFNn5MPvgCUElkJulSNj5EikdBbxLa5zIsIReAHyegJNQ6yMXRzjDB-TJQDGbD-GAAshv2iDVg4uQvJqGr9iBKa9kDD7Pc7Md8l3-qlcIhi7_n9C79S-qHGwlbdnLok8s2ug/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAw4Tns-fwwiGqjJzgUssAch9stEd_qTmIHdY1E7AEhEH86Hacty_WhcFNn5MPvgCUElkJulSNj5EikdBbxLa5zIsIReAHyegJNQ6yMXRzjDB-TJQDGbD-GAAshv2iDVg4uQvJqGr9iBKa9kDD7Pc7Md8l3-qlcIhi7_n9C79S-qHGwlbdnLok8s2ug/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BPVDDVY2/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/no-reservations" target="_blank">First for Romance</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85172623-no-reservations" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitibGprxSHJyRfP7lafpobvxxxBNrkNff-7XcVUuK5ezAUKorGFSWH2nBNhvE8kUvjPBzoB40SwxZgCkFgDPwqLkRqMe2a4gyIyn7FHCk72GpXNDLI_ErWP_NDEw4Tv2dLNsCJr82ZPRadVYLr8j-Sk26_JLAzDxZPSnrZUgc5AntvEzqDAgLIJvBb-A/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecmaZjSw8GnfrXkk3LsOoP6o39haI0yJ3xPFdofyZMu55etBHJHSCsMpVKlW5Ka5KT91P8U5r8al7RPftzrug4P64Fvslup6zezgLTUNLGQMaBXVvgeTy1cbDLP5Y97ihX3xzQN9l_YZbwX_zYyuYF3WlHr7ONNECh-CqMeTs-0ZqN1M6EvLLC0kY1A/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecmaZjSw8GnfrXkk3LsOoP6o39haI0yJ3xPFdofyZMu55etBHJHSCsMpVKlW5Ka5KT91P8U5r8al7RPftzrug4P64Fvslup6zezgLTUNLGQMaBXVvgeTy1cbDLP5Y97ihX3xzQN9l_YZbwX_zYyuYF3WlHr7ONNECh-CqMeTs-0ZqN1M6EvLLC0kY1A/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Elizabeth Coldwell</b> is a multi-published author and editor whose stories have appeared in a number of best-selling anthologies. She has written novels in a variety of different genres, from paranormal to BDSM and contemporary romance. She is the former editor of the UK edition of Forum magazine and the proud winner of an International Leather Award. When she is not busy writing, she is an avid supporter of Rotherham United Football Club and can be regularly found on the terraces at weekends, cheering her boys to victory (hopefully!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://elizabethcoldwell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-50673157015417061032023-04-17T06:00:00.002-07:002023-04-17T14:35:38.079-07:00Review: Closed for Christmas (Holiday Falls #1) by Elizabeth Coldwell<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhaND-GjfJ79FPNzk2bFBJHqluZZgtoUk1XH7IxutQcsd_pFmPiiOu99ivCmoj59OuvMxb2v0yRYMKNKiVl6JCb_xmNQeKewVwMhx-I1ycXzE5EVJd36GjrkbEBPbe7EficOGIKpAXwoM8vS1wsqvkeN0eUD6cCFiu6MVUK4rUbH7fRuGNGibGrO8sQ/s800/Closed%20for%20Christmas.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhaND-GjfJ79FPNzk2bFBJHqluZZgtoUk1XH7IxutQcsd_pFmPiiOu99ivCmoj59OuvMxb2v0yRYMKNKiVl6JCb_xmNQeKewVwMhx-I1ycXzE5EVJd36GjrkbEBPbe7EficOGIKpAXwoM8vS1wsqvkeN0eUD6cCFiu6MVUK4rUbH7fRuGNGibGrO8sQ/w250-h400/Closed%20for%20Christmas.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Closed for Christmas</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Elizabeth Coldwell</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>Holiday Falls #1</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>Totally Bound</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>December 20, 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>arc for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>She's going to Holiday Falls to close him down, but will he open her heart?</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When Lori Lawrence arrives in the quaint town of Holiday Falls just before Christmas, her task is to assess whether the town’s underperforming bookstore deserves to be kept open. There’s no room for sentiment in the company she works for, yet she finds herself strangely drawn to the bookshop’s manager, the handsome and idiosyncratic Henry Cole. He doesn’t believe in loyalty schemes and hi-tech innovations, but he’s created an inviting space for everyone who loves books and reading.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This should be a straightforward job, but the heaviest snowfall in years leaves Lori stuck in town, and as the days go by and it seems like she’ll never be able to leave, she begins to see Henry’s way of running things with new eyes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It’s not long before their feelings for one another deepen, but Henry has no idea of Lori’s true intentions. What will happen when he discovers the real reason why she’s in Holiday Falls?</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u57GFtKSB7c37dpG0-FDJ1IuXn_fNqf1mDaBoaODWpt4Wz2N4Wq4vqvDiQgIaaSrsV0dTHG-A9iq6IPPVE1N3BFFNlvzgUq-r_PvaavaRS5FZ3p9yIAxoZ7M03OfG1eMfgwJJlH4GKbFfcZKQVDuWXDPWqINdCvXw4lfz4vO74MS_2aH13CpooCADw/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7u57GFtKSB7c37dpG0-FDJ1IuXn_fNqf1mDaBoaODWpt4Wz2N4Wq4vqvDiQgIaaSrsV0dTHG-A9iq6IPPVE1N3BFFNlvzgUq-r_PvaavaRS5FZ3p9yIAxoZ7M03OfG1eMfgwJJlH4GKbFfcZKQVDuWXDPWqINdCvXw4lfz4vO74MS_2aH13CpooCADw/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div>If you ever wondered what a Hallmark holiday movie would be like with a little bit of sex, this book would definitely be it. <b>Closed for Christmas </b>was such a fun, quick read with an adorable romance and enough steam to keep me glued to my Kindle. Elizabeth built the small town of Holiday Falls and filled it with lovely characters whom I cannot wait to me as the series progresses. In <b>Closed for Christmas</b>, we meet Lori and Henry. Lori is in Holiday Falls to "spy" on Henry's bookstore. Things go array when a snowstorm forces Lori to stay for longer than she anticipated. The more time she spends in Holiday Falls, the more she and Henry fall for each other. Doesn't that sound like the perfect holiday romance? It sparked more than a little Christmas cheer for me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpHf2WmpEGAo8jj5hm2AWb89UVqo7gny3BRf2W65fz4csqa9iT8v5RofzoDCBKgS77YO4qqzS7SSQZ3VWu1sCgpglwnmG3bZV6-we_W8iQcYAa95PdoBzvuXE_1zFXWHk7pCPYXqbluDjNd8OY4FWPmhoGNoFJe7XwrG6Eb0JX4LN4v7fGXmRvPDDqg/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpHf2WmpEGAo8jj5hm2AWb89UVqo7gny3BRf2W65fz4csqa9iT8v5RofzoDCBKgS77YO4qqzS7SSQZ3VWu1sCgpglwnmG3bZV6-we_W8iQcYAa95PdoBzvuXE_1zFXWHk7pCPYXqbluDjNd8OY4FWPmhoGNoFJe7XwrG6Eb0JX4LN4v7fGXmRvPDDqg/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BDBRKCXJ/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/closed-for-christmas" target="_blank">First for Romance</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62355099-closed-for-christmas" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxZ1gwvo5LfyKK8ODHOdhjnhWSeETso3_ez0P1o_0ohH53zicTxd5M-lPLifJpn0iiGAxqWvFjqae20Dr5mKNlQLP2ZIrIkHaWKTCvHUziyXmr1VqIxMeEuSM2mNw9TalxH_ysREw9cKRJF4RAXbOealLK3nKS04WbRyvOQWjMdSOhi4ktFr4fyCTrg/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbWiIurGvowausOeaoTxty3Zc7f0i9dmgAJ_12dSPjDjRjgGfM1X7aJ3TgtPj1FFviaHJ50jRIrsPq_9BnMO_xTQx7OECIDKpR0DLYajyY7gCiLk4OGJz2fHvOn-voYOql01oPDmQnsLSO1dd29PF5mqmjFxmHrSyE34jAkVTJXLjtkwndWU4-i8NxQ/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbWiIurGvowausOeaoTxty3Zc7f0i9dmgAJ_12dSPjDjRjgGfM1X7aJ3TgtPj1FFviaHJ50jRIrsPq_9BnMO_xTQx7OECIDKpR0DLYajyY7gCiLk4OGJz2fHvOn-voYOql01oPDmQnsLSO1dd29PF5mqmjFxmHrSyE34jAkVTJXLjtkwndWU4-i8NxQ/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Elizabeth Coldwell</b> is a multi-published author and editor whose stories have appeared in a number of best-selling anthologies. She has written novels in a variety of different genres, from paranormal to BDSM and contemporary romance. She is the former editor of the UK edition of Forum magazine and the proud winner of an International Leather Award. When she is not busy writing, she is an avid supporter of Rotherham United Football Club and can be regularly found on the terraces at weekends, cheering her boys to victory (hopefully!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://elizabethcoldwell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></b></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-79936285643390408002023-03-24T13:13:00.000-07:002023-03-24T13:13:22.161-07:00Review: Highest Bidder (Salacious Players Club #5) by Sara Cate<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6DbLSkXfUMk9fAgFPxGjr3jeH6ZGR10DvfR6abrpMK6ULgJtqxV7XkWrWbRbx1CwfZ7M7jKjysZIk7albWushYeefG0c54gy-ITMxQjV2TT20AYSF0ElruwMyvMDxLsfmW0SwAuSBx-TcingrWCx432kAn0yXByISoCU1U-xAzfk0rPlubAnjPo4yw/s2400/Highest%20Bidder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6DbLSkXfUMk9fAgFPxGjr3jeH6ZGR10DvfR6abrpMK6ULgJtqxV7XkWrWbRbx1CwfZ7M7jKjysZIk7albWushYeefG0c54gy-ITMxQjV2TT20AYSF0ElruwMyvMDxLsfmW0SwAuSBx-TcingrWCx432kAn0yXByISoCU1U-xAzfk0rPlubAnjPo4yw/w266-h400/Highest%20Bidder.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Highest Bidder</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Sara Cate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>Salacious Players Club #5</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>Self-Published</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>March 24, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>author for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He’s not just rich…he’s filthy rich.</div><p></p><div><div>When I started working at Salacious Players’ Club, I never expected to end up on the auction block ready to grant a date to the highest bidder.</div><div><br /></div><div>This club is not really my scene. I’m not the kind of girl rich guys take home. I’m more a piano playing, van-living, free spirit kind of girl.</div><div><br /></div><div>So when Ronan Kade, the richest man at the club, puts down over a hundred grand for my time, how can I tell him no?</div><div><br /></div><div>But he’s too old. Too rich. Too cocky.</div><div><br /></div><div>And oh yeah…he once dated my mother.</div><div><br /></div><div>Except he doesn’t know that. He has no idea who I am.</div><div><br /></div><div>One date turns into a trip to Paris. And an offer to live with him in his penthouse. Then a promise to take care of me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before I know it, I’m calling this silver fox my daddy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ronan Kade only bid on one date, but I think he’s winning much more than that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Can we overcome the years between us to find happiness?</div><div><br /></div><div>And will he find it in him to forgive me when he learns the secret I’ve been keeping?</div></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CIV0q1QumGa4VmjwzU1INjJSzgQx1IFk-dCIrFSeayp901MGDpNnZIqTWvhBuciYJyple5xWI83rQv5s5QO4SqysjNH6bu1QGXM4dB4TJuYTTbIkhOQYwjS_s6Qi45YVvLUEuaznV58HrNGcApIJhoFs8nFaVWngqSFU-NLIfzTwUWCU9nDuFNGkFg/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CIV0q1QumGa4VmjwzU1INjJSzgQx1IFk-dCIrFSeayp901MGDpNnZIqTWvhBuciYJyple5xWI83rQv5s5QO4SqysjNH6bu1QGXM4dB4TJuYTTbIkhOQYwjS_s6Qi45YVvLUEuaznV58HrNGcApIJhoFs8nFaVWngqSFU-NLIfzTwUWCU9nDuFNGkFg/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you've been following the Salacious Players Club series, <b>Highest Bidder </b>takes place 2 years after the previous book. We get a brief catch-up with our favorite club members before diving straight into what is probably one of Cate's more taboo books. <b>Highest Bidder </b>is Ronan and Daisy's book. Ronan, who we've met in previous books, is a billionaire Dom whose heart is locked away. He has a rough time when it comes to romance. His wife and child were killed years prior. After that he has a difficult time with women who are only with him for his money. The only woman who truly loved him had to leave at the end of the summer. That is where our heroine, Daisy, comes in. Her heart is also bruised and battered after watching her mom slowly lose her battle with cancer. Now she's working at the club hoping to learn more about why Ronan's name would be linked to money her mom left her. Oh yeah, did I mention that her mom is the woman Ronan loved? And that's why, in my opinion, <b>Highest Bidder </b>is one of Cate's more taboo books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a blast reading <b>Highest Bidder</b>. Was it one of my favorites in the series? Sadly no. The emotional scenes were fantastic. I loved watching both Ronan and Daisy battle through their rough pasts to fight for a future together. Their sexy scenes where a-may-zing. I also appreciated that the kink in this one, which is daddy/pleasure kink, wasn't in your face. If you're new to this type of kink or if you're not sure if you like it, <b>Highest Bidder </b>would be a good place to start. What stopped me from absolutely loving this book was how fast Ronan and Daisy's relationship progressed. It felt rushed to me, especially for a woman like Daisy who is still grieving from her mother's death. Ronan was right, she doesn't know what she needs versus what she wants. At points in the book, it felt like she latched onto him without really knowing herself first. I would have wanted their relationship (prior to the whole misunderstanding towards the end of the book) to last longer. Other than I that, I enjoyed <b>Highest Bidder</b>. It was a fun, taboo romance and a great addition to the Salacious series. I cannot wait until Eden's book.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-iR3wDAy_cMSTs9XaZZdtfkRWJV0G6LkRlbE3kXACiwblCYZO13aViR4PGl59IHM_d6ozSHm9Uc0cShK8pG6bNSmFiwPo4-4TodScxfskeU5-kUYuIGymGc7Q9dNIMIgLf89iaX17381VONU-CilkiPfVxfnfU-1uGMvHyz3-_5WjGh0zpZKvN-17A/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-iR3wDAy_cMSTs9XaZZdtfkRWJV0G6LkRlbE3kXACiwblCYZO13aViR4PGl59IHM_d6ozSHm9Uc0cShK8pG6bNSmFiwPo4-4TodScxfskeU5-kUYuIGymGc7Q9dNIMIgLf89iaX17381VONU-CilkiPfVxfnfU-1uGMvHyz3-_5WjGh0zpZKvN-17A/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BCWZHGW6"><span style="font-size: large;">Amazon</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62322599-highest-bidder" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWNAQRPCTOLrWqcGHaaeJvPmn7xk12OGrZ6siIM2Z9yMiiPYJ9y4oNp2nsEpow_W4zFSQM-GZLrIIdPgK6Flr1fT27TACGxeH7tufxG4nxI1zi0XtnpNd6P3w68zcv_COC9xmpGS6_22hoPtQ0ZxQ3hc25mKcOhDNsVHMexaA2Rq4D6kvCOFtDBBnhw/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLARoRnTGBxm4ySADUQPkaDMvvrAY_r7-Mys-Zp8Dyljaf2UFYHqGRZPOcHehEcgdVFAXzq6tujZHIeI9hHBU7ubNxOC-qos6MTfoZwh_Oo0vGB_XZigTOhYXZ7O-G40BQivpjzvn7C-BtFQbik0ZAqoZYiUuqlZ0bgimQieWbQ8ihWdi4COBn5yxWPQ/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLARoRnTGBxm4ySADUQPkaDMvvrAY_r7-Mys-Zp8Dyljaf2UFYHqGRZPOcHehEcgdVFAXzq6tujZHIeI9hHBU7ubNxOC-qos6MTfoZwh_Oo0vGB_XZigTOhYXZ7O-G40BQivpjzvn7C-BtFQbik0ZAqoZYiUuqlZ0bgimQieWbQ8ihWdi4COBn5yxWPQ/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Let’s skip the boring About the Author bit where I tell you how I’m a USA Today bestselling author who lives in Arizona with her kids, husband, and dog and enjoys baking in my free time. Boring. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Instead, I’d like you to know I strive to be a taboo and forbidden romance author who dares to tell stories with heart-wrenching plot and toe-curling heat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My passion in life is to normalize a reading experience that pushes boundaries and empowers women to own their sexuality. Things that trigger my soapbox rants are discrediting the romance industry or belittling its readers by calling it “trash.” You’ve been warned. I could could quite literally go on for days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I like to take risks and write from the heart. And I want nothing more than to be an author readers trust to deliver books that are steamy AF but with a strong storyline and well-rounded characters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What is The Sara Cate Experience?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Sara Cate Experience means being pulled into a story and escaping reality a little bit for romances that are as emotional as they are arousing. The feelings are strong and the steam is scorching. There is never one without the other because when sex and love come together, it’s fireworks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://saracatebooks.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Website</span></a></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-45411498561192905082023-03-11T16:50:00.002-08:002023-03-11T16:50:10.524-08:00Review: Rocked by Love by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Vk-nW0bacoHwUTm_ZxGVfKGHg3HKwQvdQ4qgcMH_SLXlhn4fkwqoBBDLKB1GOFlraEqy8l5wqjSKGgK5UteWmEywvrIu3Ksnnc2Rr6R6bqi9P4APnhS_npYPYnD0OiEK1XELnnKm8K6zYKqbxm8tT5AAPhmtYMK2ga-5ZWaHxZqlNpTsIApoewiwcw/s2700/2022_RBL_Guy_eBook.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Vk-nW0bacoHwUTm_ZxGVfKGHg3HKwQvdQ4qgcMH_SLXlhn4fkwqoBBDLKB1GOFlraEqy8l5wqjSKGgK5UteWmEywvrIu3Ksnnc2Rr6R6bqi9P4APnhS_npYPYnD0OiEK1XELnnKm8K6zYKqbxm8tT5AAPhmtYMK2ga-5ZWaHxZqlNpTsIApoewiwcw/w266-h400/2022_RBL_Guy_eBook.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rocked by Love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>The Bradens & Montgomerys, Pleasant Hill – Oak Falls #10</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Release Date: </b>March 8, 2023</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>arc for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>What happens when a rock star with no plans of settling down finds out he has a teenage daughter, his manager is embezzling from him, and the woman he’s hired to design his tour wardrobe is breathing fire? Come along for the snarky, emotional, and insanely sexy ride as Jillian and Johnny get caught up in a storm that just might be bigger than both of them.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jillian Braden’s quick, creative thinking and fierce determination have helped her singlehandedly build a fashion empire. She doesn’t mince words and demands respect, but beneath all that armor, she carries the Braden curse of a soft heart. But that soft heart isn’t looking to start a family and doesn’t know the first thing about mollycoddling. When famed rock star Johnny Bad hires her to design his tour wardrobe and then postpones it at the last minute for the third time, she’s had enough. Jillian is determined to set him straight, but she isn’t at all prepared for what she finds or for the type of help Johnny Bad really needs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">**</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Scorching heat, laugh-out-loud humor, and an abundance of swoon-worthy moments make this sexy new standalone romance by New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melissa Foster unputdownable. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and happily ever afters guaranteed to leave you breathlessly in love with the fiercely loyal and wickedly naughty characters in the Love in Bloom series. All Love in Bloom books are written to stand alone or be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right in and enjoy the ride!</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa2DCrtbAPFJnp3dYj0ZrjDs8WvujsMBZgi1CHgSIfWpi_ZDVJtElgOM68k0kiNZ8BfJItMDLfXtYa5XhsPcdwpFcEwG-T3U79BRoiBNy548PvhNPo4ED3l3liEenhJ4AGaIUhG1E_48GGIiJfVKpa6820oWZfuT7E7r_OO1w-Km7L_LO7MRfNZhAgA/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa2DCrtbAPFJnp3dYj0ZrjDs8WvujsMBZgi1CHgSIfWpi_ZDVJtElgOM68k0kiNZ8BfJItMDLfXtYa5XhsPcdwpFcEwG-T3U79BRoiBNy548PvhNPo4ED3l3liEenhJ4AGaIUhG1E_48GGIiJfVKpa6820oWZfuT7E7r_OO1w-Km7L_LO7MRfNZhAgA/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div>I'm back! And I have another Melissa Foster review for you. And since I have read/reviewed most of Melissa's books (I think I'm missing a couple), I will once again focus on an element of <b>Rocked by Love </b>that stood out to me. As usual, I friggin' loved this book. From the characters to the story to the sizzling hot sex scenes between Jillian and Johnny, this one had everything I love when it comes to Melissa's books. Seriously, I devoured it in record time. One element in particular stood out the most to me and that was Jillian's decision that she does not want to settle down and have kids. Not all, but most of Melissa's heroines cannot resist an adorable baby. Whether it is one of their family members or a friend's child, the majority of the women in Melissa's world go bonkers for it. Jillian does the exact opposite. And that is refreshing to see in a romance nowadays. She is brutally honest and upfront with that decision to everyone in her life, most importantly to Johnny. While those feeling's may change in the future, its still a welcomed change in my eyes. I loved that about her and about this book. <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuGGsQMbKTyxTxdc8joqlgx9SdRawwiEROCLodytG5xSm7JIwbkbHkdEjfbn1HQ8AWIYHRBuyu1y_GCN4HIXZ5sLa_t6PWbnqUOAamC869kwSYsQj0OEstA7VPtjnFgR8kXixKNj6JjTrf7SoqEP1ScsZpddkbhg4bAhxQ4HCNE3V7m3FK9oTgTkDyg/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuGGsQMbKTyxTxdc8joqlgx9SdRawwiEROCLodytG5xSm7JIwbkbHkdEjfbn1HQ8AWIYHRBuyu1y_GCN4HIXZ5sLa_t6PWbnqUOAamC869kwSYsQj0OEstA7VPtjnFgR8kXixKNj6JjTrf7SoqEP1ScsZpddkbhg4bAhxQ4HCNE3V7m3FK9oTgTkDyg/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/RL_Kindle">Kindle</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/RL_Apple">Apple</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/RL_Nook">Nook</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/RL_Kobo">Kobo</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/RL_GPlay">Google Play</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/RL_Pb">Paperback (Amazon)</a> - <a href="https://melissafoster.com/books/rocked-by-love-special/">Special Edition</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Also available in audio narrated by Aiden Snow and Savannah Peachwood</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/RLa_Audible">Audible</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/RLa_Amazon">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/RLa_AppleBooks">Apple</a></span></div></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25317330-rocked-by-love-a-braden-bad-boys-after-dark-crossover-novel" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsD5G9TEwAilKQHQSx_izD_uneL6uyAXOmjGis58CLUyH-6V-SB_5wutModmhmnDm6Ds6KbEtupa1r20wQIlt1FHIBMCHlv-N4wm-2R5bpNTiKAfrIHKnAH_zKqXp65Wg_RsLRCQ0CH2VBa_7XgUitVyw6OfOouXh2MoLg3wKf57jdZQwxafJMUstfg/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4o_80i5Ocb48tkGDPr7xuCTBB7zRhuGRV_0JjWCWwqFDuj_2tqNIVnacul0g29rWu-D5qaWN5oix_MbEnjPLhQTmYvDeOP_ZA5zuI2JYNSECH3LZM79tIteuOn36d1mv7-X-qtzXj712TueeS1RgbdR5E9koZ9O-GfQWPbraHFeeWMF95yvNRHnsCA/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4o_80i5Ocb48tkGDPr7xuCTBB7zRhuGRV_0JjWCWwqFDuj_2tqNIVnacul0g29rWu-D5qaWN5oix_MbEnjPLhQTmYvDeOP_ZA5zuI2JYNSECH3LZM79tIteuOn36d1mv7-X-qtzXj712TueeS1RgbdR5E9koZ9O-GfQWPbraHFeeWMF95yvNRHnsCA/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-1808824485034556322023-01-23T19:51:00.000-08:002023-01-23T19:51:06.893-08:00Release Blitz & Review: Remaking A Man (Sun Valley Mafia #2) by Amy Craig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1DmTsRFBDc-7H9BACzw52wD_FLne8XH0322PDruJvGIiO3UzAgjeWV4yUT9VTnNRNwOmLPLvQ2-hZplP1Rm1mU4_pIG5L2qxAZBYSigpQLcwGaL8c_gFCYZbPf0jqHMvyizMrFWMIKBr0lxUEpPuyYdJg3pcc19vsYHp1ydO0ItljLQSTR6JWfWl2Q/s851/Remaking%20a%20Man%20Banner%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1DmTsRFBDc-7H9BACzw52wD_FLne8XH0322PDruJvGIiO3UzAgjeWV4yUT9VTnNRNwOmLPLvQ2-hZplP1Rm1mU4_pIG5L2qxAZBYSigpQLcwGaL8c_gFCYZbPf0jqHMvyizMrFWMIKBr0lxUEpPuyYdJg3pcc19vsYHp1ydO0ItljLQSTR6JWfWl2Q/w640-h236/Remaking%20a%20Man%20Banner%202.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":14721,"3":{"1":0,"3":1},"10":0,"11":4,"14":{"1":3,"3":1},"15":"Calibri","16":11}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Remaking a Man"}">Remaking a Man</span> by Amy Craig</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/series/sun-valley-mafia" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Book 2 in the Sun Valley Mafia series</a></h3>
<h3 class="group-link" style="text-align: center;"><strong><i>General Release Date: 17th February 2023</i></strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Word Count: 72,223<br />Book Length: SUPER NOVEL<br />Pages: 305</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Genres:</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="info-value"> BILLIONAIRE<br />CONTEMPORARY<br />CRIME<br />CRIME AND MYSTERY<br />EROTIC ROMANCE<br />THRILLERS AND SUSPENSE</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62224459-remaking-a-man" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></h2>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Book Description</strong></h1><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/978-1-83943-647-5_RemakingaMan_500X800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-98487 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/978-1-83943-647-5_RemakingaMan_500X800-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>
<div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Breaking family ties can set her free.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Gisella meets Dante, a brooding West Coast executive, at a Miami Beach cleanup. When she realizes he’s buying an insurance company from her mafia-boss father, she suggests Miami and her father will eat him alive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dante disagrees, but when Gisella’s father offers him fifteen million dollars to marry her or her sister, he accepts on the condition that he can choose which daughter to marry. Dante’s previous ties to West Coast organized crime help him navigate Gisella’s family, but to have her in his life, he risks succumbing to the high-octane lifestyle he left behind.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of drug use, gun violence and murder.</i></div><div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><i><br /><br /></i>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><strong>My Thoughts</strong></h1><div><br /></div><div>You know when you take 2 magnets and try to push them together wrong ends facing each other? That force making them push against each other? And when you flip one of them, they finally connect? When I think of Gisella and Dante, that is immediately what comes to mind. I had a blast watching them bicker until their chemistry took over. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall to watch them bounce and play off each other. There was so much going on in Remaking A Man in such a short amount of time. It was fast paced with a little bit of everything. I am really starting to love Amy's writing style. </div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Excerpt</strong></h1><div><strong><br /></strong></div>Standing on the marble front step of her family’s Miami mansion, Gisella tapped her designer footwear, adjusted her sunglasses and blocked out the bright
spring day. She breathed deeply and shuffled the bags hanging from her toned arms.<p>At the end of the driveway, her brother Antonio revved his red convertible’s souped-up engine and pounded the dashboard in time to blaring rock music. Miami traffic streamed past the estate. People stared.</p><p><em>Why can’t he just leave?</em> She marveled at his arrogance, but she kept her expression neutral and her phone in her pocket. He was the youngest of her two siblings, and he had the stocky, tan physique her male family members prized. He also had a propensity to wear outlandish suits, a revolving door of girlfriends and a sophomoric sense of humor. If he caught her taking a selfie in front of the house, he would turn it into a meme, but her account depended on dance stills and teasing hints of glamour. The minute he left the estate, she would take the picture while her hair looked good.</p><p>Flexing her toes, she rifled through the bags on her arms. One duffle held her ballet kit, another tote functioned as a purse and the bags from her morning shopping spree hiked her credit card bill. Instead of feeling guilty for the extravagance, she admired her long, lean legs.</p><p>Her form allowed her to excel as a professional ballerina, but she worried she had the coltish naivety to match her legs. When would she work up the nerve to demand a driver’s license and stop relying on Antonio for transportation? Every time she talked about her license, her father pouted and asked what more he could do to ensure her comfort.</p><p>If her mother had lived, Gisella’s life might be so different.</p><p>A car horn honked. A woman blew kisses. “Antonio!!”</p><p>He ignored the entreaty, let the engine rumble and scanned the beachside traffic. His muscled forearm hung over the door, and he tapped his fingers against the expensive paint job. Milky fingerprints marred the convertible’s finish.</p><p>A second Miami driver slowed to gawk at the handsome, moneyed mobster. A trailing car smashed the vehicle’s lights. Horns blared and doors flew open.</p><p>Releasing the engine’s pent-up energy, Antonio took advantage of the distraction and roared across two lanes of traffic.</p><p>Gisella rolled her eyes and snapped the picture she needed, but she doubted her high-gloss smile was worth the price of the photograph.</p><p>Riding home with her brother from dance rehearsals and a shopping spree, she had stared out of the window and listened to him complain about women and their fickle ways. His problems never changed, but the consistency soothed her. If he spent more time listening to the women, he would have fewer problems with them.</p><p>For instance, she had wanted to close her eyes and rest, but Antonio couldn’t take a hint. As soon as she made Principal Dancer, she could move out of her father’s house and make rent, but she would have to stop shopping like a mafia princess.</p><p>Squaring her shoulders, she faced her father’s front door. Most Miami residents painted their doors to ward off humidity’s warping effects. <em>Papà </em>imported Cocobolo heartwood and exposed the precious wood to the elements. His house could grace the cover of <em>Architectural Digest</em>, but his acceptance in local society depended on discretion. Biscayne Bay would freeze over before he opened the mansion’s doors to gawking strangers.</p><p>Every piece of furniture came with a decorator’s commission, authenticity papers and a cataloged serial number. The insurance company knew the exact cost of her father’s investment, and if the house burned, they’d be wise to pay up.</p><p>She appreciated the wealth, but its origins bothered her. Her sweet <em>Papà</em>, Gregorio Vitella, ran drugs from South America up the Eastern shoreline. She feared that enjoying the proceeds made her complicit in his crimes.</p><p>Pressed by a tipsy ballet friend, she’d admitted the concession that let her sleep at night. Her father’s legitimate insurance company probably covered her bills, but how could a person separate good money from bad people—and where did that distinction place her?</p><p>Pushing open the door, she scanned the marble foyer and dropped her bags, but a green potted palm, a black concert piano and an excruciatingly expensive console table provided little company. The console table rested on acrobatic
loops of brass. Beneath a glass top, python skin gleamed with a subtle sheen, and she wondered if the piece’s black crystal pulls would make an interesting jewelry set. Opening a drawer, she checked for mail and flipped through the family correspondence. <em>“Come stai, Papà?”</em></p><p>Her question echoed.</p><p>Raising her head, she set down the mail and waited.</p><p>A hidden white paneled door opened. Martin, the butler, emerged, wearing the formal black suit and crisp white shirt required for his service. He’d perfected the practiced, subservient gaze on his own. She’d grown to like him, but she wondered how long he would last in the household.</p><p>“<em>Signorina </em>Gisella, your father is in his study.”</p><p>Keeping a bright smile on her face, she handed Martin her shopping bags and kept her purse on her shoulder. “Thanks. I’ll freshen up and join him.”</p><p>“Yes, <em>Signorina</em>.”</p><p>The man couldn’t speak ten words of Italian. As soon as staff members picked up a basic understanding of the language, her father fired them. Smart members played dumb. Gisella found her allies among them, but she’d learned to mind her comments, too.</p><p>Ducking into the gilt-papered bathroom off the foyer, she pinched her cheeks, added lipstick and prepared to act like a dutiful daughter. Her life revolved around the Miami Ballet Company, beachside runs and formal dinners, but in her father’s house, she would forever be ‘Gigi’.</p><p>Bracing her hands on the sink, she tilted her head. Her loving father owned Florida’s biggest commercial real estate company, Cosmica Insurance Holdings, but he also ran the Florida branch of the Italian mob.</p><p>He wore a suit to school functions, but when business soured at home, he rolled up his shirtsleeves, and the gentlemanly look faded. When she had been ten, she’d witnessed the reality of his business dealings through a crack in the study door. She’d never seen his victim again, and she’d kept her observations to herself—but she listened.</p><p>When classmates at her parochial school asked what her father did for work, she parroted the company line. “CIH offers property insurance, casualty insurance and value-added insurance services across twenty southeastern states.”</p><p>They looked impressed.</p><p>Why shouldn’t they? Every new homeowner in Florida received a direct mailing touting CIH’s low rates and friendly staff. The mailings glossed over the company’s potential money laundering credentials, but who read the fine print?</p><p>Leaving the bathroom, she made her way to the back of the house and to her father’s study. The caviar-black masculine room had views of the pool and heavy leather furniture. Despite a sparking oasis waiting beyond the windows, the room looked like a cave.</p><p>Last fall, her father’s interior designer Lisette had joined the family before Sunday dinner. Wearing a pantsuit, she’d sipped a dirty martini and made vague references to former clients. “I<em> prefer to create a visual impact by mixing wood species and texture. That movie star I mentioned”</em>—she sipped her drink—<em>“had a thing for ebony.”</em></p><p>Gisella had wanted to like the woman, but her influence on the house’s décor leaned toward gilt and Hollywood glamour. Having a thing for ebony shocked her as much as Lisette’s cosmetic surgery bill. Once a woman immersed herself in wealth, keeping life entertaining required novelty and a steady flow of cash. <em>“How do you plan to tackle the study?”</em></p><p>Lisette had wrinkled her surgically enhanced nose. <em>“The hospitality industry uses black to create glamour, drama and intimacy. Everyone’s doing it.”</em></p><p>Gisella had sipped her wine and assumed Lisette was doing her father.</p><p>Walking across the room, Gisella admitted the study’s black walls created drama, but if her father wanted to scare his minions into compliance, he could pull out the handgun he kept in the desk’s top drawer. To keep her in line, he deployed guilt. <em>‘What would your mother think?’</em></p><p>She wrinkled her nose.</p><p>Walking around the polished walnut desk, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He smelled of black tea, Damascus rose, tobacco and leather. At sixty-five years old, he looked
ten years younger. Faint silver streaks threaded his black hair. He could wear chinos and he would still smell like old manners and aged wine caves. <em>“Come è andato il lavoro, Papà?”</em></p><p>“It is what it is.” Continuing in Italian, he set aside his papers. “How was your shopping trip?”</p><p>She sat opposite him and crossed her legs. “Fruitful.”</p><p>He laughed.</p><p>Pulling a stack of receipts from her purse, she slid them across the desk. “The rest will come by email.”</p><p>Shrugging, he leaned back in his chair and left the crumpled slips on the table. “Gigi, you’re old enough to drink and old enough to marry.”</p><p>She picked at her nails. “Is that so?”</p><p>“More than old enough. In the home country…”</p><p>Looking up, she tilted her head. “We’re not in the home country.”</p><p>He held up a hand. “But if we were, you’d be a bride, and I’d be a grandpa.”</p><p>“Ursula is older.”</p><p>“Your sister wants to be a nun.”</p><p>“So she says.” Looking past his full head of hair, she regretted her outburst and second-guessed her decision to come home after rehearsal. If she’d stayed out and shared a drink with Antonio, she’d have to listen to his stories and give up her evening run. She couldn’t hide from her father. He financed her life and provided patronage for her art. Looking at him, she softened her expression and recalled the sunlit days he’d spent with her and Ursula. “You’re too young to be a grandpa.”</p><p>“Hear me out,” he said.</p><p>She exhaled. Drinks with Antonio sounded better. At least he planned to fuck up his own life instead of hers.</p><p>When her mother had drowned off the Amalfi Coast, Papà had whisked his three children to Miami and begun a new life on the Atlantic’s eastern coast. Given how he’d lost his wife, one would think he would have chosen Oklahoma, but he knew how to make money along a coastline. Aunts and nannies had sopped up spilled milk, but when he’d come home at night, he’d kissed her cheek and left his old-world scent against her shoulder.</p><p>Some nights, remembering the smell of roses and leather, she recalled how much consistency mattered to children and old men. “Yes, <em>Papà</em>.”</p><p>“I have a series of eligible young men lined up. You will give them each an evening and tell me which man suits you.”</p><p>“What if I prefer women?”</p><p>“Gisella Santa Maria Vitella!” He slammed his palm against the desk.</p><p>A vase rattled but resisted gravity’s lure.</p><p>She rolled her eyes and stood. The dates her father arranged would be insurance agents or mob hit men. She couldn’t decide which option she found more appalling. “I can find my own dates, Daddy.”</p><p>He gripped the leather armrests. “Sit down.”</p><p>Lowering her frame, she kept her back straight and maintained eye contact. The company’s Artistic Director scared her more than her father did, but his familiar expectations could surprise her. Cosseted and pampered, she enjoyed an easy life until she slammed into a glass wall keeping her from enjoying life’s stunning vistas. Eventually, she found an exit, and her father acquiesced to her wishes.</p><p>He cleared his throat. “You’re too old to prance around the stage in a tutu.”</p><p>She wet her lips. “Too old to dance, and too young to procreate. What’s a girl to do? Marriage is a contract, isn’t it? Do I get a lawyer?”</p><p>He raised an eyebrow.</p><p>Outside the mansion’s walls, ballet defined her life and gave her predictability. At fifteen, she’d enrolled in the company school and trained for three years. After graduation, she’d joined the ballet as a School Apprentice and spent two years in the trenches before joining the corps de ballet. Three years later, she’d made Soloist, then Principal Soloist. The lure of becoming Principal Dancer kept her focused.</p><p>The goal also kept her father off her back. It was like he’d made a deal with his six-year-old daughter, and he refused to back out of his agreement. For the last twenty years, he’d sponsored the company’s performances, but rarely attended them.</p><p>Last month, she’d celebrated her twenty-fifth birthday. Most dancers stopped dancing professionally between thirty-five and forty years of age. She’d known her father wouldn’t give her that much time and would propose an arranged marriage. She might have to accept it, but an IUD would buy
her time to achieve her dreams. Crossing her arms, she settled back into the chair.</p><p>Sometimes, she lay awake at night and imagined defying her father, but he killed the men who disobeyed him, and she lacked a mother to intercede on her behalf. Caught between ideals and reality, she walked a narrow line and kept her gaze focused on the future. Sometimes, she dreamed of her mother, but she wondered how much time had reshaped the memories.</p><p>She remembered holding her breath under water to watch fish, but now she hated to swim. Her inability to trust her memories undermined her faith in herself, and her father’s coddling approach undermined her achievements. She could dance across the stage playing a role, but striking out on her own meant vulnerability. Until she knew she could succeed, she would humor his demands. “I hear you, <em>Papà</em>. Who’s the first victim?”</p><p>“You will love Marco.”</p><p>Tilting her head to the side, she rubbed her scalp. “Doubtful, but tell me where to report.”</p><p>“You’re a good girl, and you’ll make me proud. I’ve tried to raise you the old way, but your aunts can’t replace your mother. I’m getting old. You’ve had leeway to pursue your dancing, but tomorrow evening at eight, you and Marco will dine.”</p><p>She shook her head. “Not tomorrow, Papà. I organized a beach cleanup.”</p><p>“You hate the water. Find someone else to pick up trash…”</p><p>Holding up her hand, she interrupted his mandate. “CIH is sponsoring the event.”</p><p>His forehead wrinkled.</p><p>Maybe he was getting old. “Perhaps Tuesday?” she offered.</p><p>His nostrils flared. “Tuesday.”</p><p>Standing, she rounded the desk, pressed a kiss against his smooth cheek and let his scent calm her frustration. How many times had he threatened her dancing? How many times had he shipped her back to Italy to take in the old country? Here she remained. Marco and the remaining suitors would fizzle out, and she’d continue dancing. “Ti amo, Papino.”</p><p>He pulled back. “You will go on this date.”</p><p>“Sure.” Picking up the receipts, she dropped them in the trashcan. “I have plenty of new dresses to wear.”</p><p>“Gigi…”</p><p>She winked. Walking out of the office, she let her clicking heels say everything she held back. The marble-backed rhythm sounded so final, like the sound of a bullet fired at close range. Violence hung over her family like a constant threat. If her father understood anything, he understood endings. Keeping him focused on new beginnings remained her job.</p><p>Opening the door to her room, she shucked the heels for soft slippers, settled into a stretch and let the music guide her.</p><p>Ursula opened the door connecting their rooms and pushed a shoe out of the way. “I thought dancers didn’t wear high heels.”</p><p>“They do when they want salespeople to take them seriously.”</p><p>Dropping to the floor, Ursula lolled her head. “You’d think a black credit card and a bodyguard would be enough to get their attention.”</p><p>“You’d think.” Gisella deepened her stretch and puzzled through Ursula’s recent transformation. Her sister’s dark brown hair, olive skin and generous curves could rock a bikini, but lately she’d insisted on dressing like a martyr. If Ursula deviated from her prayers and walked into a boutique, the salespeople might press the panic button. Gisella suppressed a smile.</p><p>Her sister had always been serious, but her devotion had deepened in the last six months. After Sunday mass, Gisella had known why. No longer content to hide behind her hymnal, Ursula had stared at Father Pietro, the hot new priest. The man of the cloth must have given Ursula a bit of pious encouragement.</p><p>Gisella shrugged and laid her torso along her leg. If Ursula wanted to plan her life around vespers, God love her. “How was your day?”</p><p>“Good. Lots of praying, solemnity, hymns and stuff.”</p><p>Gisella raised her head. “And stuff?”</p><p>Ursula swallowed. “Church stuff.”</p><p>“Maybe you could put the stuff on hold and help me cleanup the beach tomorrow. Every set of hands helps.”</p><p>“Sure.” Ursula stood. “I have a few hours to spare.”</p><p>Watching her sister slip into the next room, Gisella judged her sister’s choices. Dancing made her feel alive. Why
would any woman dedicate her life to an organization that spent so much time imagining what came after death?</p><h1 style="text-align: center;">Buy Links</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/mZEMBp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Choose Your Store</a>
<br /><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/remaking-a-man" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">First For Romance</a></h3>
<a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/978-1-83943-647-5_RemakingaMan_OutNow.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-98488 size-large" height="426" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/978-1-83943-647-5_RemakingaMan_OutNow-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">About the Author</h1>
<h1><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11753" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amy Craig</a></h1>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AmyCraig.jpg"></a><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AmyCraig.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-94998 size-medium" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AmyCraig-257x300.jpg" width="257" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Amy Craig lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA with her family and a small menagerie of pets. She writes women's fiction and contemporary romances with intelligent and empathetic heroines. She can't always vouch for the men. She has worked as an engineer, project manager, and incompetent waitress. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’s honey-do list. </div><div><br /></div><div>Find Amy at her <a href="https://www.amy-craig.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>, on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/amycraig" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and follow her at <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-craig" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BookBub</a>.
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Giveaway</strong></h1>
Enter for the chance to win a $50.00 First for Romance Gift Card! Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group. </div><div><br /></div><div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="555033ec1005" data-template="589504cd4f3bedde0b6e64c2" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/555033ec1005/" id="rcwidget_e4hcov2p" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div><div><br /></div><div>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-83715 size-large" height="213" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Totally-Bound-Banner-1024x341.jpg" width="640" /></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-20405504858829801212023-01-06T12:23:00.001-08:002023-01-06T12:23:11.178-08:00Review: Sugar by Lydia Michaels<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLm0J_rBUUHZkWI0tLupA_vBfgrwTXlgOO4F4m27F5qQOU5J_UmsnMbOjs3zEccgbzYMirnLdJUmsJ4QLrA6llUNVhJDX7Xbxfd5xQK7d8NcfZ8nvlD8PaN-0spii5tuzSL2PesCmpCsh1a8W2CxUyF-FKiHGSTBKc8JzyXsM8x5YrAIqOQ0DI2AJd_Q/s346/41-TKJb3I6L._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="230" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLm0J_rBUUHZkWI0tLupA_vBfgrwTXlgOO4F4m27F5qQOU5J_UmsnMbOjs3zEccgbzYMirnLdJUmsJ4QLrA6llUNVhJDX7Xbxfd5xQK7d8NcfZ8nvlD8PaN-0spii5tuzSL2PesCmpCsh1a8W2CxUyF-FKiHGSTBKc8JzyXsM8x5YrAIqOQ0DI2AJd_Q/w266-h400/41-TKJb3I6L._SY346_.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sugar</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Lydia Michaels</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>Bailey Brown Publishing</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>September 29, 2020</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>author for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A sexy alpha male from the poshest part of Philadelphia gets snowed in with his beautiful neighbor in this modern day rags-to-riches, enemies to lovers romance from bestselling and award winning author, Lydia Michaels.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Avery Johansson is borrowing against her youth and beauty to afford a better future by working as a sugar baby. Gifted at playing the role of a delicate female, she makes a living by stroking men’s egos. But the real Avery prefers leather over lace and spice instead of nice.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Noah Wolfe is used to getting exactly what he wants when he wants, and when he sets his sights on his sexy neighbor, he’s determined to have her. Little does he know, the soft female across the hall doesn’t swoon for roses–she plays with the thorns.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Two dominant hearts collide in an explosion of sin and safewords as boundaries are pressed to the limit in a battle of power and ultimate possession.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3JiLhjEHTijlJMZr772mt39XwC681GSu-ose2sG37r4iTX-_AIsfaxgrc7b_ZrmYwXT6QUW21EKUJlRKG0S-NWNZfBFArlhG0bGw8FzeYWK8wWfp8kx4do1pa4_TTksSN9T8jCYpQKpNoHomu8ZkouqZcNKwNjZTytB23BwA2-5p8SvgtqAa8YyfrA/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3JiLhjEHTijlJMZr772mt39XwC681GSu-ose2sG37r4iTX-_AIsfaxgrc7b_ZrmYwXT6QUW21EKUJlRKG0S-NWNZfBFArlhG0bGw8FzeYWK8wWfp8kx4do1pa4_TTksSN9T8jCYpQKpNoHomu8ZkouqZcNKwNjZTytB23BwA2-5p8SvgtqAa8YyfrA/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really wanted to love this one. I mean, who doesn't love a romance between two strong willed, dominate characters? Sign us up, right? However, Noah and Avery were not what I wanted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Avery came from a not-so-nice background. She's had to raise herself up and do whatever it took to be in the position she's in now. For a smart and tough woman she she did run and hide a lot. Kisses Noah. Hides and ignores him for a week. Spends the night with Noah. Hides and ignores him for a week. Then instead of giving Noah time to adjust and decide if he's okay letting her be dominate in the bedroom, she immediately fights back and pushes him away. No discussion. Nothing. It's all or nothing for her and that came off a bit of a spoiled child to me. That's not how relationships work, especially one that has an element of kink.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Noah was no saint. Someone needed to slap some sense into him and when Avery did (though she claimed it slipped), his idea was to spank her. What. The. Fuck? The man would not take no for answer and that pissed me off. He would push his way into her life, but when she says they can only be friends, he decides that that isn't enough. He decides to try to make her jealous by kissing another woman. No, thanks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The relationship between Avery and Noah was borderline toxic. At no point did I want them to be together. I really did not feel the chemistry between them other than the initial attraction. While I do enjoy a toxic relationship from time to time, I just did not feel anything towards these two as a couple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With all that said, I did still enjoy reading this book. Lydia's writing style was fantastic. Her writing made it really easy to fall into this world. The sexy scenes were very well written. I think that is why I believed the attraction between the two characters, but it didn't feel long-lasting. The pace of the book was great. It never lagged, which was another reason why I kept coming back to it. It never felt like the story was bogging down. I enjoyed the book, but didn't like the characters. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxopZ-3y3qtTXTLRr3FouEMPDxhz-Rz9JXRC5UNXWsAREMbnn-cSKpUQ2G_f9-kcQRIXeolvjMLYGIAEaIBM-r24zB1UggcKc134QA1yxo0t9ikclWJmGhuYfWdH_JeJ7hFg_uaB9fxTRXc_vy0_lWcxFOHDrsqnWRceVx-8f_eoQt3_a549j9z2NDIQ/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxopZ-3y3qtTXTLRr3FouEMPDxhz-Rz9JXRC5UNXWsAREMbnn-cSKpUQ2G_f9-kcQRIXeolvjMLYGIAEaIBM-r24zB1UggcKc134QA1yxo0t9ikclWJmGhuYfWdH_JeJ7hFg_uaB9fxTRXc_vy0_lWcxFOHDrsqnWRceVx-8f_eoQt3_a549j9z2NDIQ/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Lydia-Michaels-ebook/dp/B08DJ3VPPS?ref_=ast_sto_dp">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sugar-lydia-michaels/1137383734;jsessionid=1A09FCD5ED07D56CA0E83EC07512D90E.prodny_store02-atgap04?ean=9781735467719">Barnes & Noble</a> - <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/sugar/id1524741221">Apple</a> - <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sugar-68">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lydia_Michaels_Sugar?id=I5fyDwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54650836-sugar" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0EDCWMRuRm5ECzvDPICQ-LZtVLZIpCnLJE2XHlydqRSPH_J1iDGsmGtKo3YoVHo748N6H6c5d9DKY1pJcRVxBZs4RVdZ0fISSbGEhStlGNLxBHlQtacXSO6vMl_sG08ksXP42YZsQNbhwDFslMbXRWl1WaGBqusFJMUZco4V21r7ve592SpmgAn1qw/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_zR0ZraSLFXssQWKo3rbpxlLJUOX2ucczAyP7TeE-LsPnnTpIvrre-6-hAlqZTdttHx-Kk4dJ7_vsCycX6zvXdCTNkuxBthfFc_AILtTS9XxNWMhTyTDBbZjk2zffegdqszz7r7MyZNB5g97RAqHjUQ8sTCnueNrUaBfDM9kszSkWAERoyyamF5VXw/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_zR0ZraSLFXssQWKo3rbpxlLJUOX2ucczAyP7TeE-LsPnnTpIvrre-6-hAlqZTdttHx-Kk4dJ7_vsCycX6zvXdCTNkuxBthfFc_AILtTS9XxNWMhTyTDBbZjk2zffegdqszz7r7MyZNB5g97RAqHjUQ8sTCnueNrUaBfDM9kszSkWAERoyyamF5VXw/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Lydia Michaels</b> is the award winning and bestselling author of over forty novels, including the groundbreaking collection, Write 10K in a Day. She is the consecutive winner of the 2018 & 2019 Author of the Year Award from Happenings Media, as well as the recipient of the 2014 Best Author Award from the Courier Times. She has been featured in USA Today, Romantic Times Magazine, Love & Lace, and more. As the host and founder of the East Coast Author Convention and the Behind the Keys Author Retreat, Lydia Michaels plays a respected role in the book community. When she’s not working on her next novel, she is accepting speaking engagements and using her platform to advocate for positive author business practices and doing whatever she can to empower female entrepreneurs around the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lydia is happily married to her childhood sweetheart. Some of her favorite things include the scent of paperback books, listening to her husband play piano, escaping to her coastal home at the Jersey Shore, cheap wine, 80’s pop culture, coffee, and kilts. She hopes to meet you soon at one of her many upcoming events.</div></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://lydiamichaelsbooks.com/">Website</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LydiaMichaels">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Lydia_Michaels">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lydia_michaels_books">Instagram</a></b></div><p></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-46270485489561806912022-12-31T06:00:00.001-08:002022-12-31T06:00:00.186-08:00Review: Secret Santa Face-off by Victoria Denault<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZipioL7LR5tcnwuz1VtYkR9kORAGnW5YSozHvRwtP308ZvrVkoQEnRhj94Brd_RDVzqXWk74mibBc2JUCE04YFnwAHTCQqKMwqDxCk1pBfzpzgjp1GzrRQ95XSQ_ruIabLfAh7rRWnbnVzeSyaRAIDdJ4xIt2ggt5rIh_7EINn46kadADd8p0RPmXg/s475/Secret%20Santa%20Face-Off.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZipioL7LR5tcnwuz1VtYkR9kORAGnW5YSozHvRwtP308ZvrVkoQEnRhj94Brd_RDVzqXWk74mibBc2JUCE04YFnwAHTCQqKMwqDxCk1pBfzpzgjp1GzrRQ95XSQ_ruIabLfAh7rRWnbnVzeSyaRAIDdJ4xIt2ggt5rIh_7EINn46kadADd8p0RPmXg/w250-h400/Secret%20Santa%20Face-Off.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Secret Santa Face-off</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Victoria Denault</div><div style="text-align: left;">*Originally appears in <i>Scoring Over The Holidays Anthology</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>December 16, 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>author for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>The only thing colder than the ice I skate on is my heart. Especially at Christmas.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>We’re having a horrible season and when my team is struggling, I hold myself accountable. All I want to do is work harder on the ice. I definitely don’t need Felicity Roarke, the team’s Community Outreach director, distracting me. But there she is, handing out candy canes and decorating our locker room like a rabid, little Christmas elf. A very attractive, unintentionally sexy elf. I make sure I draw her name in the staff’s Secret Santa exchange, and start brainstorming the worst gift ideas ever. My goal is to throw cold water all over her holiday spirit. But somehow, things between us end up getting hotter. Suddenly I’m unable to focus on anything but proving to Felicity that she wants a Grinch in her life. Or at least in her bed.</div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMiSTY4PzylTXNtUaXcZ-T4AQSRuOJXjRYtwJEgYD34rEYseCHnQzNjDi4X_lLTZVaSyZvO_icubc5qztvhSoJYYiuW_iczaFEvdYdPGSrBh_L4Y7aneRhKDXRxhtwRKDfgpPKTlME-dNQzvQc5dRLwjPc9nHM17COL2ybYw2w0QNfKOrwXCcpG-QmQ/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMiSTY4PzylTXNtUaXcZ-T4AQSRuOJXjRYtwJEgYD34rEYseCHnQzNjDi4X_lLTZVaSyZvO_icubc5qztvhSoJYYiuW_iczaFEvdYdPGSrBh_L4Y7aneRhKDXRxhtwRKDfgpPKTlME-dNQzvQc5dRLwjPc9nHM17COL2ybYw2w0QNfKOrwXCcpG-QmQ/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I want a sweet and sexy hockey romance, Victoria Denault is the first author I turn to. I previous read <i>Secret Santa Face-off</i> novella when it was part of the <b>Scoring Over the Holidays</b> anthology and loved it. She added more to the story and released it as a stand-alone novella. Of course, I had to read it again. Gotta say, I adored it just as much the second time around. <i>Secret Santa Face-off </i>is a super quick enemies-to-lovers romance between the team Grinch and the woman who is determined to find out why he hates Christmas ... while decorating the arena in as much holiday spirit as possible. I wish we got to spend more time with Nolan and Felicity, but I still fell in love with them in the short amount of time we do get. It gave me everything I love about Victoria's hockey romances in a fun little novella.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3dMWtT44hfEfWP7xEJXKetqa1e8C0jEcz6-YBIs1NfsN0qTXhIxBfJO9dfwsnQHv-X-eU2WDD8g6lw0CQ2dE_MvomWHn5bFl1I2pt9rMsocPJXnMvOcMeiw7ZLgguoaGoUxePOsNb45JkJC1zLowQXfauGGxDM7L8ZV8XLVQtcXY5OlttK-KwfHYIA/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3dMWtT44hfEfWP7xEJXKetqa1e8C0jEcz6-YBIs1NfsN0qTXhIxBfJO9dfwsnQHv-X-eU2WDD8g6lw0CQ2dE_MvomWHn5bFl1I2pt9rMsocPJXnMvOcMeiw7ZLgguoaGoUxePOsNb45JkJC1zLowQXfauGGxDM7L8ZV8XLVQtcXY5OlttK-KwfHYIA/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3W33rqk">Amazon</a> - <a href="http://bit.ly/3VQnZm5">Barnes & Noble</a> - <a href="http://apple.co/3Fp4x8K">Apple</a> - <a href="http://bit.ly/3iYHjPh">Kobo</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63889970-secret-santa-face-off" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBQVsgBFbfiuFu1vFoOK2VZI-84Di56XIpmqB4SdNmI0Y0HLxdq-Wht3NAn5CZaUqG6HjRcL1N0N3LmPH1qOdQu8NR0v6chW4HPdQWNWnsok6ISDoq_J3TYf-IL31ydXDUcWojKOdzQRR6QM-pxDLB93UT44YEAVymZoGCppyHydK7p7PrxSGhIx_vw/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMwUVjGZ6hQgHnag__oILL-dB2KHbFEmkfnOAB_iid-mi7EyPvUKuMLlGxyuSDCQxlA5BjSar-aAQUrIDRqnOMhYvKbnMBJ3usdaytCZo39j-KqPfHDtlSMLhmUetZ-uDgf8FfjWQI853QEv1PMvHiVDAivOx1X3dyeGApPNGdvWpYnxrHFfAvtzJbg/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMwUVjGZ6hQgHnag__oILL-dB2KHbFEmkfnOAB_iid-mi7EyPvUKuMLlGxyuSDCQxlA5BjSar-aAQUrIDRqnOMhYvKbnMBJ3usdaytCZo39j-KqPfHDtlSMLhmUetZ-uDgf8FfjWQI853QEv1PMvHiVDAivOx1X3dyeGApPNGdvWpYnxrHFfAvtzJbg/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Victoria Denault</b> loves ocean air, seventies music, strong heroines and flawed heroes. She is a former journalist, stand-up comic and corporate marketing minion. Victoria is a Canadian and former Californian who currently lives in a 222 year-old house with her husband, their grumpy Chihuahua Gus and more spiders than she cares to think about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://victoriadenault.com/">Website</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorvictoriadenault/">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/BooksbyVictoria/">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/victoriadenaultbooks/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/VictoriaDenault/">Pinterest</a></b></div></div><p></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-17841833744456072332022-12-30T00:05:00.002-08:002022-12-30T00:05:33.075-08:00Review: Sparks Along the River by Amy Craig<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/978-1-83943-663-5-SparksAlongTheRiver_TB_500x800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-97785 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/978-1-83943-663-5-SparksAlongTheRiver_TB_500x800-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><i></i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sparks Along the River</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Author: </b>Amy Craig</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Series: </b>Secret Santa Collection</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Publisher: </b>Totally Bound</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Published: </b>December 6, 2022</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Source: </b>publisher for review</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Her new friend’s brother is totally off limits.</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Rachel flees an abusive relationship and takes shelter in rural Louisiana before the Christmas holidays. Grateful for a new friend and a place to hide out, Rachel runs her media empire from the swamplands and tries to keep her hands off her friend’s older brother.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On Christmas Eve, bonfires light up the levee, but when the embers cool, Rachel must choose whether or not to return home.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I63nVO3QJNiA9491RnE8hN_QEQEGIwlrFmaPaXWZ583Kc0Of3kx2ed7toeIa3hsG2Mu-U8c16l2GH2JsK_y7fHsFQFqzrQuG66wIkUUsXUIjbRj5oxG-mgitMpnk0p_ij-Fb_StTRfULAbgMUQeih2zAFN0E6eITeLYyDEWi9NuilRseopyvYV2QCQ/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I63nVO3QJNiA9491RnE8hN_QEQEGIwlrFmaPaXWZ583Kc0Of3kx2ed7toeIa3hsG2Mu-U8c16l2GH2JsK_y7fHsFQFqzrQuG66wIkUUsXUIjbRj5oxG-mgitMpnk0p_ij-Fb_StTRfULAbgMUQeih2zAFN0E6eITeLYyDEWi9NuilRseopyvYV2QCQ/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I just recently discovered Amy Craig and I can't seem to get enough of her writing. <b>Sparks Along the River </b>popped up on my radar and it was all systems go from the very beginning. It is a slow burn romance with a hint of suspense surrounding Rachel's abusive ex. Rachel's new found friendship with Grace was so much fun to watch. Rachel needs to stay in hiding until her restraining order goes into effect so she's on her toes watching her back for the majority of the book. Grace, on the other hand, is high on life. She's funny and wild. She packs a punch and I'd like to think that people in her life don't quite know what to do with her. In her current predicament, Rachel and Grace couldn't be more opposite and I loved that about them. Now Rachel and Andreas is a completely different story. They were like a moths to a flame. From the moment they meet, you could feel the chemistry radiate off them. I flipping loved <b>Sparks Along the River</b>. Everything from Amy's writing to her characters to the mysterious setting of Louisiana, it was a win on all levels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62224558-sparks-along-the-river" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnLQTXbWSqIFcCgDDBit4lUKfY33PDLiLJRo15060lWp8SoNYGIs0I-NUrz6IaNpbL3GyqvgVNhedebsOLqDatULDJLA0JT-ZZgaDNP9i0BY2Jm9Ts0qcLLUtyBGD7A3VGBghW1LndXyZXDE1dczUUXYLljo87dHf5Fm4Q05AgQ6vSwN45zp1OUan0Q/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOZpyN1RpXuLeNDQPj6yl1YDHfglE46qcRNfb0NGrpdGntA2HnuyxnyisOjsNAUHhb0pfF4GRDq4PKpvCck_cGTfPnpMzANC5_cUCvMIwEHxm-Nw-hAcM1JAhlTbCrRE4WluUh6oLwvzSmRlCIpexbn_Z3ktdPsYXYVsvvggf-rVNUu_rvqu4zA5nMA/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOZpyN1RpXuLeNDQPj6yl1YDHfglE46qcRNfb0NGrpdGntA2HnuyxnyisOjsNAUHhb0pfF4GRDq4PKpvCck_cGTfPnpMzANC5_cUCvMIwEHxm-Nw-hAcM1JAhlTbCrRE4WluUh6oLwvzSmRlCIpexbn_Z3ktdPsYXYVsvvggf-rVNUu_rvqu4zA5nMA/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h3><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BBNG1HKN?tag=totallyentw07-21">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sparks-along-the-river-amy-craig/1142050026;jsessionid=47A004D24363BB8287551EFEC510A492.prodny_store01-atgap08?ean=9781839436635&st=AFF&2sid=_5375106_NA&sourceId=AFF">Barnes & Noble</a> - <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/sparks-along-the-river/id6443319874">Apple</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/sparks-along-the-river" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">First For Romance</a></h3></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtvYQElx9Fm5Nyasqf5MQMzBGYYk4ssnJvGRoLYx_8bnKdUihoxJaYmtwD98EOIZ134W-pXyDiOwcyxioVKUnc52bGN7gzH8NIgSA2qNCpsaJ_kJSH2aH4DdylbcH6xK6Ndq4uwn6tDUGzYNGtr2U5WwvhpzCNTLtED3zVgB3JZa8GBmHk6GYlSZKtA/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtvYQElx9Fm5Nyasqf5MQMzBGYYk4ssnJvGRoLYx_8bnKdUihoxJaYmtwD98EOIZ134W-pXyDiOwcyxioVKUnc52bGN7gzH8NIgSA2qNCpsaJ_kJSH2aH4DdylbcH6xK6Ndq4uwn6tDUGzYNGtr2U5WwvhpzCNTLtED3zVgB3JZa8GBmHk6GYlSZKtA/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Amy Craig</b> lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA with her family and a small menagerie of pets. She writes women's fiction and contemporary romances with intelligent and empathetic heroines. She can't always vouch for the men. She has worked as an engineer, project manager, and incompetent waitress. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’s honey-do list. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Find Amy at her <a href="https://www.amy-craig.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">website</a>, on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/amycraig" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and follow her at <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-craig" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BookBub</a>.</p></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-21518529253361359552022-12-11T22:18:00.000-08:002022-12-11T22:18:18.205-08:00Review/Release Blitz: Holiday in Hiding by Lily Michaels & Daddy's Secret by M.C. Roth<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Pride-Secret-Santa-Banner.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-97741 size-full" height="237" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Pride-Secret-Santa-Banner.png" width="640" /></a></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Holiday in Hiding by Lily Michaels</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><i>General Release Date: 6th December 2022</i></b></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Word Count: <span class="info-value">48,367</span><br />Book Length: SHORT <span class="info-value">NOVEL</span><br />Pages: <span class="info-value">186</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Genres: </strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="info-value">BISEXUAL<br />CHRISTMAS<br />CONTEMPORARY<br />EROTIC ROMANCE<br />GLBTQI<br />MEN IN UNIFORM<br />MÉNAGE AND MULTIPLE PARTNERS<br />THRILLERS AND SUSPENSE</span></p><p><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/978-1-83943-250-7_HolidayInHiding_Pride_500x800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-97742 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/978-1-83943-250-7_HolidayInHiding_Pride_500x800-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><i> <br /></i></p><p><em>Hiding from his past may wind up leading Liam to the merriest Christmas of his life.</em></p><p>Constantly looking over his shoulder has become Liam Carlson’s norm after five years in witness protection. Living with his new identity has come with a major downgrade in lifestyle and a lack of any meaningful connections. But when he loses his minimum-wage job and the rundown apartment he called home, he finds himself in the middle of a Texas state park waiting for the marshal in charge of his case to help with relocation. A sudden, ferocious storm destroys many of his belongings, including the tent that offered him some protection, but it also heralds in a sexy-as-hell park ranger, Jax Gallagher, who taunts Liam’s long-neglected libido.</p><p>Jax and his wife, Megan, have had an unconventional relationship from the beginning, with a military romance that blossomed into marriage. Their mutual desire to share their love with a third member resulted in several blissful years with another man that ended when they left the service and took on civilian careers. An unexpected visitor in the form of a drenched Liam is the first glimmer of hope since then that they can reclaim the happily-ever-after they thought they’d lost. Their attraction grows with every second they spend together. While they become closer, another lifesaving rescue also manages to open the door to a career Liam never fathomed.</p><p>But the truth of the criminal world Liam grew up in threatens to destroy the still-tenuous bond the three are forming and the bright future Liam never believed possible.</p><p><em>Reader advisory: This book contains a description of an injured or abused animal.</em></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><h1>My Thoughts</h1><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I cannot lie, I am a sucker for any M/M/F romance. I feel like it is an under represented trope within multiple partner romances. Whenever I do find one I immediately have to read it. That's kind of what happened with <b>Holiday in Hiding</b>. It is a fairly short romance, but boy howdy it was so good. Jax and Megan have an open relationship. After 5 years in witness protection, Liam is in a bad patch of road. One bad storm brings the 3 of them together. In the short time I spent reading <b>Holiday in Hiding</b>, I loved getting to know Jax, Megan, and Liam. Jax is incredibly trusting, wanting to help Liam the minute he saw him. At first glance, it seems like Megan is just along for the ride. However, she's a strong woman that would do anything for her husband and now Liam. As for Liam, he definitely has gotten the short end of the stick. He's been through so much, but he's resilient and I think that made him so much stronger. I loved the three of them together. Each brought something to their new relationship. Mix in the author's fun writing style, add in some very hot scenes, and you've got a very fun book.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><h1 style="text-align: center;">Buy Links</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/bMxe1k" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Choose Your Store</a>
<a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/holiday-in-hiding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><br />First For Romance</a></h3>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">About the Author</h1>
<h2><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11721" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Lily Michaels</a></h2><p>Coffee, chocolate, and books make up Lily’s world, often all three at the same time. Whether reading or writing she is a sucker for an over-the-top happily ever after… only following an appropriate amount of pain, of course.</p><p>When she is not writing or reading (which is not very often) she enjoys exercising her right brain in non authorly ways such as creating mosaics, crocheting, knitting, scrapbooking, and taking one man’s trash to create something new. But never, ever ask her to draw something. That is a beast best left alone.</p><p>You can find Lily on her website <a href="http://lilymichaels25.wordpress.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a>, and follow her on <a href="https://pinterest.com/lilymichaels25" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lilymichaelsauthor/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</p><h1 style="text-align: center;">Daddy's Secret by M.C. Roth</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><i>General Release Date: 6th December 2022</i></b></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Word Count: <span class="info-value">35,309</span><br />Book Length: SHORT <span class="info-value">NOVEL</span><br />Pages: <span class="info-value">143</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Genres: </strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="info-value">BILLIONAIRE<br />CHRISTMAS<br />CONTEMPORARY<br />EROTIC ROMANCE<br />GAY<br />GLBTQI</span></p><p><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/978-1-83943-251-4_DaddysSecret_Pride_500x800.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-97743 alignright" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/978-1-83943-251-4_DaddysSecret_Pride_500x800-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><i> <br /></i></p><p><em>If only you were mine… If only you needed a Daddy to look after you.</em></p><p>This Christmas promises to be the loneliest of Sullivan’s life and he’s set to brave the season alone until he receives an amazing, yet heartbreaking, Secret Santa gift that was inspired by his best friend’s pen pal, Lincoln.</p><p>What starts as a thank-you letter to Lincoln soon becomes more as Sullivan finds himself drawn to a man he’s never met—a man who somehow seems to know him. The problem is, Sullivan needs a friend more than he needs a hookup, so he pretends to be married, taking an intimate relationship out of the equation.</p><p>Soon pen and paper aren’t enough, and he writes his phone number in his next letter, hoping that Lincoln will call him. When Lincoln finally does, Sullivan’s breath catches at the sound of his voice. When Sullivan pretends that his fake husband is away on a business trip, Lincoln invites himself over for a Christmas movie marathon.</p><p>Beside each other on the small couch, the lines begin to blur and Sullivan curses himself for pretending to be married. But maybe he’s not the only one with a secret.</p><h1 style="text-align: center;">Buy Links</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/3kYWOn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Choose Your Store</a>
<a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/daddys-secret" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><br />First For Romance</a></h3>
<h1>About the Author</h1>
<h2><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11772" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">M.C. Roth</a></h2><p>M.C. Roth lives in Canada and loves every season, even the dreaded Canadian winter. She graduated with honours from the Associate Diploma Program in Veterinary Technology at the University of Guelph before choosing a different career path.</p><p>Between caring for her young son, spending time with her husband, and feeding treats to her menagerie of animals, she still spends every spare second devoted to her passion for writing.</p><p>She loves growing peppers that are hot enough to make grown men cry, but she doesn’t like spicy food herself. Her favourite thing, other than writing of course, is to find a quiet place in the wilderness and listen to the birds while dreaming about the gorgeous men in her head.</p><p>Find out more about M.C. Roth at her <a href="https://www.mcrothbooks.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">website</a>.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>Giveaway</b></h1><p>
Enter for the chance to win a $50.00 First for Romance Gift Card! Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.
</p><p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="555033ec1001" data-template="589504cd4f3bedde0b6e64c2" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/555033ec1001/" id="rcwidget_60o832un" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><p>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Pride-Banner.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-87458 size-full" height="213" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Pride-Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-41772588693391716052022-12-07T21:25:00.000-08:002022-12-07T21:25:34.649-08:00The Wicked Truth (The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside #4) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kJHcG30AwX6LycfnmHrur2yTrJcBzFrJ6Kq0GPKCqwOc7iEnxhCkwDvRAx5KLZb7PTyxAHsPacrpj-u-d-0gCnRPPRGBbaXU7EVx3IepSdXdzo8veY03kwbm76LmhrrADl-iH52PwX59FpaZk3yDtdG2e61XF3Qk--RApldKM2TO6nJvUdYVHB-vmg/s475/60167705._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kJHcG30AwX6LycfnmHrur2yTrJcBzFrJ6Kq0GPKCqwOc7iEnxhCkwDvRAx5KLZb7PTyxAHsPacrpj-u-d-0gCnRPPRGBbaXU7EVx3IepSdXdzo8veY03kwbm76LmhrrADl-iH52PwX59FpaZk3yDtdG2e61XF3Qk--RApldKM2TO6nJvUdYVHB-vmg/w268-h400/60167705._SY475_.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Wicked Truth</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside #4</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>December 7, 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>publisher for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Scorching heat, laugh-out-loud humor, and swoon-worthy moments abound in this sexy new standalone romance by New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melissa Foster.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What happens when you’re not looking for love, but it walks in the door?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Madigan Wicked’s heart is not up for grabs. She’s been there, done that, and she’s not going back for seconds. She pours her heart and soul into her family, her greeting card line, puppetry, and storytelling performances. But she’s not opposed to having a night of fun, and the gruff, sinfully hot, definitely-not-looking-for-love mysterious stranger she runs into at a bar might be just the right man to enjoy it with.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ex-con Tobias Riggs has lost enough for one lifetime. The only family member in his corner doesn’t remember him, and the people who he thought would always be in his life, walked away. He’s just trying to make it through each day, and the last thing he’s looking for is any sort of connection. When chemistry ignites with the snarky, sexy storyteller, with lips he can’t stop thinking about, he gives in to a night of passion.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Though neither is open to love, it’s been known to bully its way into even the most resisting hearts. But can it survive the wicked truth of Tobias’s dark past?<span></span></div><p></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj0mFBNgYhESf7uEnyvkghuo0u1L6TsGloVbQ-tADY-BR-J3NisPM_zMNAKBceG370G_fE6ExV1KAEhrLWFOSNw0Ik5W9QHef8cBlAyqZG_VK9i0tuMkKLPYT_5_wJW2j-yCgMkWtcuOOAtPkA4951mrdbgH6oksF8F0xAc58VPzcf8LcweoMz0_OTg/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDj0mFBNgYhESf7uEnyvkghuo0u1L6TsGloVbQ-tADY-BR-J3NisPM_zMNAKBceG370G_fE6ExV1KAEhrLWFOSNw0Ik5W9QHef8cBlAyqZG_VK9i0tuMkKLPYT_5_wJW2j-yCgMkWtcuOOAtPkA4951mrdbgH6oksF8F0xAc58VPzcf8LcweoMz0_OTg/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you are new to the world of Melissa Foster... First of all, welcome. You are now part of the family. And second of all, you picked one heck of a book to start from. <b>The Wicked Truth </b>encompasses just about everything that I love when it comes to one of Foster's romances. It has a strong family dynamic, friendship bonds that are unbreakable, and some of the hottest sexy scenes that I've read in one of Melissa's books for awhile. And that's saying something because all of her books are hot as hell. The chemistry between Tobias and Madigan was scorching. What I loved the most about <b>The Wicked Truth </b>is that it really shows just how big of a role family has in the Foster world. Her characters would do absolutely everything for their family. They protect each other. They stand up for each other. They forgive each other and grow from that forgiveness. And above all else, family doesn't stop with blood. When you become a friend, loved one, or the sibling of a loved one, you immediately become one of the family. Whether we're talking about the Wickeds or the Bradens or the Bads, everyone is family. I think the only change I would make in this one would be more of Tobias's sister, but I have a feeling she will be front and center in a book soon enough.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXkilHYTR_cFgWxcgJbq0LyHryW2qY7uLrIN6jDJDq3LIiUNG3Dm10Ht6VAQfxXI5EWSEyWJQVmAa7IRfGQCZd1XFY6JIfzgum3lUyc7MDDTOio_ytba1B8y_61LXhi_TtoczlUfngYv5qYsOzX_mdWLCoR5oYoph8zyzhVptvX5pZDazcrY29UoaYg/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXkilHYTR_cFgWxcgJbq0LyHryW2qY7uLrIN6jDJDq3LIiUNG3Dm10Ht6VAQfxXI5EWSEyWJQVmAa7IRfGQCZd1XFY6JIfzgum3lUyc7MDDTOio_ytba1B8y_61LXhi_TtoczlUfngYv5qYsOzX_mdWLCoR5oYoph8zyzhVptvX5pZDazcrY29UoaYg/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/TWT_Kindle">Amazon</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/TWT_Apple">iBooks</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/TWT_Nook">Barnes & Noble</a> - </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/TWT_Kobo">Kobo</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/TWT_GPlay ➜PAPERBACK: http://smarturl.it/TWT_Pb">Google Play</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Available in audio book, narrated by Jacob Morgan and Savannah Peachwood</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/TWTa_Amazon">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/TWTa_Apple">Apple</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/TWTa_Audible">Audible</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60167705-the-wicked-truth" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_G29SRn5flR1NxExlMqSizS-m1HOfC1mJbxjh_vg5norLMkSAnuujRPiBLFqxsl_3eyluBpw11DL9_D6vEUu0loH-8cb5eboOYgd7aAaRTGiwgGSoRFNUP4AKAP0JzJR5aOUN_FjQU1lw-vVpQcpBKpPKHJfgnMCBcgARMNfraQAc19KAbTd9TDqxw/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivyjH7G9fRh4GYvcNqwVJx4tO1zcASkx7Oiv92WeVqFyjv2inQzRKFLsZCqjEMnsyn0mb9k6UeoUGpTCRQE-SiICNOA7iIsOhamMpOttrh5KzMZg8lRhr4gmOm-d7ssNoH6KnqJlsIETkDtJ-cQO5Lpo6QEMe8XLPh6NbB1XfGknmsSEbd4iPffEJYg/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivyjH7G9fRh4GYvcNqwVJx4tO1zcASkx7Oiv92WeVqFyjv2inQzRKFLsZCqjEMnsyn0mb9k6UeoUGpTCRQE-SiICNOA7iIsOhamMpOttrh5KzMZg8lRhr4gmOm-d7ssNoH6KnqJlsIETkDtJ-cQO5Lpo6QEMe8XLPh6NbB1XfGknmsSEbd4iPffEJYg/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-29801351810963219262022-09-21T21:10:00.000-07:002022-09-21T21:10:06.573-07:00Review: Always Her Love (The Steeles at Silver Island) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnMherVF50bOZRpyhb1tzANuv0fW3jBrDWvWgHSRlUr9ZMQi9ZojbweIZPofOR8fu-7DCA49WLptGVUaeXn8tu5DWWA1roL252XNW4UPa3ORS12dQn1zZw9Cqv9Z-msrhHQUOZa4cQbm4BWOr_z3LLkTBjfEm8AY2NKBsGgEcZEIVgiTuCSI255qQdQ/s2700/AlwaysHerLove_eBook_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnMherVF50bOZRpyhb1tzANuv0fW3jBrDWvWgHSRlUr9ZMQi9ZojbweIZPofOR8fu-7DCA49WLptGVUaeXn8tu5DWWA1roL252XNW4UPa3ORS12dQn1zZw9Cqv9Z-msrhHQUOZa4cQbm4BWOr_z3LLkTBjfEm8AY2NKBsGgEcZEIVgiTuCSI255qQdQ/w266-h400/AlwaysHerLove_eBook_FINAL.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Always Her Love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster<br /><b>Series: </b>The Steeles at Silver Island</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press<br /><b>Published:</b> September 21, 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>ARC for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>Some fates are too tempting to deny…</b></div><div><br /></div><div>If you love single-parent romances, you won’t want to miss Always Her Love, an emotionally gripping, funny, and sinfully-hot story of forbidden love, with a much deserved and epic happily ever after. Fall in love on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, midnight rendezvous, and the sexy, sharp-witted Steeles. They have a penchant for pranks, a passion for loyalty, and a trunk full of secrets. All Steele novels may be enjoyed as standalone romances.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>In ALWAYS HER LOVE</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>“I'm pregnant. It’s yours. I’m having it, and unless you want it, I’m putting it up for adoption.”</i> Those were the words that changed Levi Steele’s life before he was even legally allowed to drink. There was never any question about whether he would keep his daughter, and eight years later, he doesn’t have a single regret. He owns a successful contracting company, he’s part of the Dark Knights motorcycle club, and Joey’s happiness is his top priority. None of that would be possible without the help of Joey’s beautiful and selfless aunt Tara, who’s going to be staying with them over spring break and who he’s been thinking about in ways he shouldn’t. But Tara’s older sister is Joey’s birth mother, and she’s the last woman the dirty-talking biker should want to get his hands on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tara Osten has been crushing on Levi for as long as she can remember. He’s a loving father, a loyal friend, someone with whom she can always be herself, and six-plus feet of deliciously hard, tattooed muscle. At twenty-four, she’s finally realized he will never see her as more than his baby mama’s younger sister. It’s time to let go of her lustful fantasies starring Levi Steele and move on with her life. Step one: Buy her own place and start dating. Step two: Survive spring break without falling harder for the one man she can never have.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdTm9ynKeiuxvE72frhT4vH_QrS0LmKh3tRRTKLG2vccuJ2ZTjH3MENR00WzbvZ5dnXWgLmouCF20C55uv-7DuOnT_7UA18p4fUtmVuGywaDloRCXE5SsY8bYgYTL5T1mtJX-IR-YllbKb5WYAXiNudyEit-R6vOlNJb4Nh1XgmbwAjjiNoLpnwMqcg/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdTm9ynKeiuxvE72frhT4vH_QrS0LmKh3tRRTKLG2vccuJ2ZTjH3MENR00WzbvZ5dnXWgLmouCF20C55uv-7DuOnT_7UA18p4fUtmVuGywaDloRCXE5SsY8bYgYTL5T1mtJX-IR-YllbKb5WYAXiNudyEit-R6vOlNJb4Nh1XgmbwAjjiNoLpnwMqcg/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Always Her Love</b> is the perfect example of what Melissa Foster does best ... foreplay. Hear me out. From the beginning of the Steeles at Silver Island series, Levi and Tara have always been in the background. Whether they're watching each other while the other isn't looking or Levi's siblings teasing him relentlessly for being blind of the attraction, we knew they were going to happen. As the series progressed, the anticipation grew. It all came to an explosive finale in <b>Always Her Love</b>. And boy, there were plenty of fireworks. I adored Tara. Her insecurities that stemmed from her sister made me love her from the very first page. Levi, on the other hand... I loved him by the end of the book, but it took us a bit of time to get there. At times it felt like he was being a bit of a jerk towards Tara. I don't know if he realized what he was doing, but I wanted to shake some sense into him. All in all, <b>Always Her Love </b>was probably one of my new Foster favorites. I can't wait to see them in future books to see how they're doing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVbtP_CBALlod23osiNz8jKsj8EoHvTYEguiTmbCcgEVpffaaQc4Y2PGhE7C6kLn1K-81RnBbutriWTyJ2LYotuxi2eUgBzz4zVZcZObB3SyGKQEDqwXTq051CaD8dqFXhBD-XSeSXMcg0_aOk6VHfboH7KldxtjcYQ8iqnnBQPG9uHGJs1XrsUFDxw/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVbtP_CBALlod23osiNz8jKsj8EoHvTYEguiTmbCcgEVpffaaQc4Y2PGhE7C6kLn1K-81RnBbutriWTyJ2LYotuxi2eUgBzz4zVZcZObB3SyGKQEDqwXTq051CaD8dqFXhBD-XSeSXMcg0_aOk6VHfboH7KldxtjcYQ8iqnnBQPG9uHGJs1XrsUFDxw/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/AHL_Kindle" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/AHL_Apple" target="_blank">iBooks</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/AHL_Nook" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/AHL_Kobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/AHL_GPlay" target="_blank">Google Play</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/AHL_Pb" target="_blank">Paperback</a> - <a href="https://melissafoster.com/steeles/" target="_blank">Special Edition</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming soon in audio book, narrated by Aiden Snow and Ava Erickson</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/AHLa_Amazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/AHLa_Apple" target="_blank">Apple</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/AHLa_Audible" target="_blank">Audible</a></span></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60103217-always-her-love" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VPiaoWCoEIqDQ9An8j_MhnaWeoD0DCQDDe4Nitz8bC_uWOEXgPlzBhuk55p9PGEtjihngiiXc9qO1DftyCqRd6jfSGlSjAe_ixMcahMWx3lzBEpCe3xWvZxt021K4I3sdqEZ-bvDfY-QyEdvZaww1W2tjJ5Br8h7bYjJwl5NUA62DvFwjwbEaDhxTQ/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflqvREB1o7OiQWzfs-91joTOWEBci5Db2EYwaszIAhE3u7Z-Z_OsQF4Hr493BBWazsF7FRATlzWQMpxaehQ3w5epn3hYMItacE6beVxbMTC0ePcvPBeYeolM9H_JLp72gYr9SnhDMX3QRf9LcWC4hfwLWP_oJkQShyBle9rkwf7RMdn_nVnnXFphD7w/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflqvREB1o7OiQWzfs-91joTOWEBci5Db2EYwaszIAhE3u7Z-Z_OsQF4Hr493BBWazsF7FRATlzWQMpxaehQ3w5epn3hYMItacE6beVxbMTC0ePcvPBeYeolM9H_JLp72gYr9SnhDMX3QRf9LcWC4hfwLWP_oJkQShyBle9rkwf7RMdn_nVnnXFphD7w/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-61112383416287395152022-07-20T06:00:00.001-07:002022-07-20T06:00:00.167-07:00Review: The Trouble with Whiskey (The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch #1) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkPagH8x6qQcXVGl96Zx7c-WbDvlluDsnl550yg-njLU3TDtujmecIbKYs7jS4GVO5vUNXumNh9BDFEPk-zWOQg0nY-oj8mhYJ6UqOX-T4SGt614xm_jDPGASxugL-yd5K2MM0bDm2kS5ykS7pjbMXYaCeab6gj6AGmyVzLwa6IuYAOfGtuJzHwXPdQ/s2700/TheTroubleWithWhiskey_eBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkPagH8x6qQcXVGl96Zx7c-WbDvlluDsnl550yg-njLU3TDtujmecIbKYs7jS4GVO5vUNXumNh9BDFEPk-zWOQg0nY-oj8mhYJ6UqOX-T4SGt614xm_jDPGASxugL-yd5K2MM0bDm2kS5ykS7pjbMXYaCeab6gj6AGmyVzLwa6IuYAOfGtuJzHwXPdQ/w266-h400/TheTroubleWithWhiskey_eBook.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Trouble with Whiskey</span></div><div><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div><b>Series: </b>The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch #1</div><div><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div><b>Published: </b>July 20, 2022</div><div><b>Source: </b>ARC for review</div><div><br /></div><div><div>She’s the only woman he’s ever loved, and the one he could never have…</div><div><br /></div><div>Years after losing one of their best friends to a dare gone wrong, Devlin “Dare” Whiskey continues to live up to his name, endlessly testing fate, while Billie Mancini buried the best parts of herself. Billie is beautiful and tough, and battling demons Dare has no idea exist. But Dare is done watching her pretend to be something she’s not and takes on his most important challenge yet—showing the woman he loves that some dares are worth the risk.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcduk4WeY3FV33SGLuWSXNGsNSDAVODPUavkkKc_VvgUF2CGBMZJKBNuffSwaWyNgZEJaJjz5R0kbHVB57OMdmRPVFtNWVIRaX5c-khu8Q9gFEB_TTJATryFNrjHoQylz76SPFyYyIQMiQRxWtr7w7sVFa6XtK-5lJppXM9FShUHcEcRZb6AoFAjQi0Q/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcduk4WeY3FV33SGLuWSXNGsNSDAVODPUavkkKc_VvgUF2CGBMZJKBNuffSwaWyNgZEJaJjz5R0kbHVB57OMdmRPVFtNWVIRaX5c-khu8Q9gFEB_TTJATryFNrjHoQylz76SPFyYyIQMiQRxWtr7w7sVFa6XtK-5lJppXM9FShUHcEcRZb6AoFAjQi0Q/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, dang. Melissa sure did hit the gates running with <i>The Trouble with Whiskey</i>. This is the start of a brand new Whiskey series featuring the rehabilitation ranch readers visited briefly in a previously book (whose name escapes me). I devoured this book. I say this time and time again, but Melissa's ability to create a new series while seamlessly connecting it to previous books is uncanny. It never feels like we're starting over. Rather it's always connected to a previous book or character. The transition is always smooth and it feels as if no time has passed. And yet, she's also introducing new characters and building a new world. One of my favorite things to do with a new series is to see if any of the background characters already have a connection with their future significant other. There were a couple of potential romances in the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back to <i>The Trouble with Whiskey</i>. We know I cannot get enough of Melissa's books. Once they hit my Kindle, it is non-stop reading until I finish it. That certainly happened with Dare and Billie. I could not get enough of their romance. Theirs is a second chance/friends-to-lovers romance that'll hit you right in the feels. After the death of their friend, Dare and Billie went their separate ways. Dare continued to live life on the wild side while Billie did the opposite. She found herself a nice little hole and buried all of the hurt inside it. She hid her true wild side from the world. Dare kept trying to break through her defenses, but to no avail. I love how they finally come together. Watching Dare break down Billie's walls... Talk about swoon-worthy. Just a fantastic book all around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1syCRPSUGt4m6Thg0fY8rkf3LEXJyALk0yA07uHbRnqrFSGn_xzN16pTOMN3JTGZcup4uuz_q80X_kad2G709XXvQx8q2tOur_p8BOXHhZqjswa0bX_WOVxTSiT2nuIICbdw8xlCvHQgmCMmiUxf5v5Ds6YBsPYm0XCbVYQFVk6n7yL0r4iDsr_-vjQ/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1syCRPSUGt4m6Thg0fY8rkf3LEXJyALk0yA07uHbRnqrFSGn_xzN16pTOMN3JTGZcup4uuz_q80X_kad2G709XXvQx8q2tOur_p8BOXHhZqjswa0bX_WOVxTSiT2nuIICbdw8xlCvHQgmCMmiUxf5v5Ds6YBsPYm0XCbVYQFVk6n7yL0r4iDsr_-vjQ/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Kindle">Kindle US</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/TWW_Kindle">Kindle Worldwide</a> - <a href="https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Apple">Apple</a> - <a href="https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_BN">Nook</a> - <a href="https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Kobo">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_GPlay">Google Play</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://melissafoster.com/TTWW"><b>Standard Paperback</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><a href="https://melissafoster.com/TTWW">Special edition paperbacks</a> (bonus content)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Audible: COMING SOON</b></div><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58754487-the-trouble-with-whiskey" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2x5Xc7Vlyfmjgknjp-P8KJ0uLgEK5tRE3piTUo5E6llSvFa-CQIkXHpAqBfR-4DJuaa8F_lNLIpAJkKOM8-7UL8DD2Fg2MRoepxnfsAd_3_2ATWqCowSwz3MIbw9ZgWH_8vYPAJiCG39WhuDK-Udh7CZG0SR4FqN0wNYJbhmBCfOjHsrFSVV3P0Cc7w/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfdJeLcVRDnrYQZTJ5FBbRh-Bmf_2VrXAjODYNGt0Z6TBBgz8RSwO63x168XjaDQ9i8SdXZ6CiUaxjYL-TbgAWhLDbZaYlzcDiwdtpzqdj64HUogWRxXFpgcWHr9daMtSzXrjH7X2pqV0FPpp-II3PLBGxjkEHynpYiPcr6AhzsqJ_IagRYkHZzFhQw/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfdJeLcVRDnrYQZTJ5FBbRh-Bmf_2VrXAjODYNGt0Z6TBBgz8RSwO63x168XjaDQ9i8SdXZ6CiUaxjYL-TbgAWhLDbZaYlzcDiwdtpzqdj64HUogWRxXFpgcWHr9daMtSzXrjH7X2pqV0FPpp-II3PLBGxjkEHynpYiPcr6AhzsqJ_IagRYkHZzFhQw/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-18200758585282984102022-06-06T21:31:00.000-07:002022-06-06T21:31:26.524-07:00Review: Trapped by Doubt (Dark Sanctuary #2) by Jayce Carter<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Trapped-by-Doubt-Banner.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-93101 size-full" height="237" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Trapped-by-Doubt-Banner.png" width="640" /></a></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Trapped by Doubt by Jayce Carter</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/series/dark-sanctuary" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Book 2 in the Dark Sanctuary series</a></h3>
<h3 class="group-link" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>General Release Date: 31st May 2022</i></b></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Word Count: <span class="info-value">83,619</span><br />Book Length: SUPER <span class="info-value">NOVEL</span><br />Pages: <span class="info-value">307</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>GENRES:</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="info-value">BONDAGE AND BDSM<br />CONTEMPORARY<br />EROTIC ROMANCE<br />MÉNAGE AND MULTIPLE PARTNERS<br />REVERSE HAREM</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60823322-trapped-by-doub" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></h2>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Description</b></h1><p>
<a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-601-7_TrappedByDoubt_500x800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-93099 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-601-7_TrappedByDoubt_500x800-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><i> <br /></i></p><p><em>It will take three Dominants to drag this submissive out of her safe little rut.</em></p><p>After a chaotic childhood, Ell uses routine and order to feel safe. When she goes to Sanctuary, a well-known BDSM club, the last thing she expects is to run into anyone she already knows, let alone three Dominants who are all too willing to mess up her perfectly ordered life.</p><p>Clint, Ethan and Fox have gone to Sanctuary for years, but after a bad experience with a submissive, they’re gun-shy about taking on anyone else. However, when they see Ell there, they can’t resist the pull to the sweet, stubborn woman.</p><p>When Ell is attacked in her home, the men help her move into an apartment in the same complex as them, which lets them explore each other—and their own wants—that much more. But there’s Ell’s trouble with trust, the men’s doubts about her commitment and mounting suspicions about the attack on her to deal with.</p><p>The quartet will have to learn how to let go of their pasts and trust one another to have any hope of finding happiness—and staying alive.</p><p><em>Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of violence and abduction, and mentions of child abuse.<span></span></em></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><i></i>
</p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>My Thoughts</b></h1><div><b><br /></b></div><div>I am very much loving the Dark Sanctuary series. I've been a fan of Jayce Carter for awhile now, but this series is giving me a whole different vibe from her previous books. That's why I've been drawn to this series so much. I love that her characters aren't rushing into their kink/BSDM relationships. It's not like "Hey, how you doing? Wanna be my submissive?" Everyone involved ease into their respective relationships slow and with 100% consent. Let's take Ell for example. She's never been in a BDSM relationship. Knowing this, her men don't rush her into scary situations that might frighten her. They don't attempt to push her limits or boundaries. They take things slow and that's something I don't see often in these kinds of romances. Then to top it all off, there's a hint of suspense that is enough to get me wondering who is behind the attacks.</div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Excerpt</b></h1><p>There was something about the courthouse that Ell both loved and hated. She loved the clear rules and the regimented way it ran. There was never a question about what the next step should be, about what was and wasn’t allowed and about how a person went through those steps.</p><p>However, another part of her remembered
coming as a child and the crushing disappointment that happened no matter how it went. Being there as an adult was different, gave a person a sense of power, but as a kid?</p><p>She recalled sitting beside a social worker, trembling, never sure how it would go or what that meant for her. Would they hand her over to her mother? Her father? Some relative she’d never met who wanted good karma points for taking in the poor, destitute child? Or would she take the gamble that was foster parents?</p><p>It was terrifying—always.</p><p>Which was exactly why Ell handed a closed cup of hot cocoa to the boy sitting on the bench in one of the many long hallways.</p><p>Donnie Denton, the first case she’d ever been assigned on her own. She could still remember walking in to see him, black eye but ready to take on anyone he needed to to survive. It had broken her heart to see him like that, to know he’d lived a life where he’d needed that hard edge.</p><p>He took the hot cocoa and offered a rough thank you. While other case managers had had trouble with him—they claimed he lied and was disrespectful and labeled him a lost cause—Ell had taken to him right away. She still smiled each time he went to respond with cursing but stopped himself, as if he knew it wasn’t appropriate to say in front of her.</p><p>At fourteen, Donnie stood taller than her and had started to put on more bulk. Even still, she couldn’t help but see the kid he’d been when she’d first met him.</p><p>“I’m sorry,” he muttered softly, holding the cup between his hands.</p><p>“You don’t need to apologize.” Ell took her seat beside him.</p><p>“Yeah, I do. I fu—I screwed up. You shouldn’t have to waste your time cleaning up my messes.”</p><p>Ell shook her head. “I know you—if you got into this fight, you had a good reason, right?”</p><p>The color leeched from his lips as he pressed them together, the universal signal for ‘I’m no snitch’ that he got whenever she questioned anything. Then again, he was going to have to go back to that life, to those streets, and the sorts of people who existed in that world didn’t forgive betrayal.</p><p>“I’m not trying to find out who it was,” she pressed, gesturing at his split lip and his black eye, all signs he’d taken a hell of a beating. “I’m just saying, I know you have a good heart. You wouldn’t be out there attacking random, innocent people. So for this to happen, you had a good reason.”</p><p>He let out a long breath before taking a sip of the drink. He held it in his mouth for a long moment, as if thinking, then swallowed. “Someone wanted me to do a job, but they didn’t tell me the real job. When they did? I told them to fu—I told them no. Well, he didn’t take no very well.”</p><p>Ell set her hand on his back and rubbed, knowing there wasn’t much she could do for him. It was like his path had been made for him before he’d ever been born, and no matter how hard she tried, she had no idea how to get him off it.</p><p>The creaking of a door caught Ell’s attention, and sure enough, Jeff Jadzen walked out of his office. Exactly the man she’d been waiting for.</p><p>Ell rose to her feet after nodding at Donnie, her way of assuring him she’d handle it.</p><p>Jeff took one look her way and walked faster.</p><p>Too bad Ell was perfectly fine with running in heels.</p><p>“Jeff, I need a minute—”</p><p>“Sorry, Ell, but I’m really busy. Set something up with my secretary.”</p><p>“I tried. I haven’t heard anything back in a week, and I’ve called every day.”</p><p>“Like I said, very busy.” He reached the men’s room, then smiled like he’d won some prize. “It was nice to see you. Call the office and we’ll try to get together next week.” He ducked into the bathroom, his voice floating out as the door swung closed.</p><p>Next week would be too late. The pretrial was set for Friday of this week, and she shuddered to think about Donnie ending up in juvie, of how quickly the rest of his options could float away.</p><p>Which was the exact thing that had her walking into the men’s room. She’d been in far worse places in her life for far less noble reasons.</p><p>“Please tell me you didn’t follow me into the men’s room.” Jeff spoke through a closed stall door, the annoyance palpable.</p><p>“I wasn’t finished talking with you. At least now, you can’t leave.”</p><p>The longest sigh came from the stall. “Which charity case are you here about this time?”</p><p>“Donnie
Denton.”</p><p>“<em>Him </em>again? Come on, Ell, you run yourself ragged and for what? Donnie isn’t some six-year-old who needs you to save him—he’s basically an adult in his world. Stop seeing him as something he isn’t.”</p><p>“He’s fourteen—that’s still a kid. He isn’t a bad kid, either.”</p><p>“You say that because you didn’t see the other person in the fight. Donnie shattered his eye socket with a bat.”</p><p>That took her off guard, the level of violence new. Still, Ell shook her head, reassuring herself that she knew Donnie. He didn’t lie to her. If he didn’t want to tell her something, he just wouldn’t, but he didn’t lie.</p><p>“You know what it’s like for people who live in that area.”</p><p>“Yeah, I know, because I see what happens to the victims.”</p><p>“Some victim. They wanted Donnie to do a job that was bad enough he turned it down once he knew the details.”</p><p>“Is that what he told you? Well, his ‘turned it down’ moment ended up being inside someone’s house as they robbed it. Did he leave that part out? That the woman walked in and saw them there.”</p><p>Ell cringed at the little detail that, well, yeah, Donnie had left out. Still, it didn’t change the rest. “Well, did Donnie touch the woman?”</p><p>Silence let her know she was right.</p><p>There was the flush of a toilet, then Jeff walked out and headed for the sinks. “No. According to her, Donnie’s friend pulled a bat, and when Donnie objected, the two got into a fight. Scared the poor woman half to death, and when Donnie won, when the other man took off, Donnie said sorry and escaped through a window. We caught him down the street.”</p><p>“You see? He was trying to help.”</p><p>Jeff dried his hands, then turned to face Ell. “You see the best in people, Ell, and that’s great, but it’s going to get you killed. These kids you help, they aren’t innocent and fragile. By the time they hit their teenage years, a lot of them are already killers. They’re dangerous, and they’re manipulative, and if you’re not careful, it’ll end you.”</p><p>How many times had she heard that sort of warning? People who told Ell that she should pick a safer job, that she should do something else?</p><p>It didn’t matter. She knew exactly why she did what she did. “Donnie has a shot. If you throw him into juvie, you’re just going to solidify this path for him. Prison doesn’t rehabilitate kids. It just makes them into better criminals.”</p><p>Jeff rubbed the corners of his eyes. “What do you want me to do? He broke into a woman’s house and put someone else in the hospital. I can’t just look the other way with that.”</p><p>“Community service.”</p><p>“What?”</p><p>“He needs to see there are options for him, that there’s a life he can still have that isn’t on the streets. Assign him community service hours, and I’ll make sure to find him a place to work them where he can do some good, where he can see a different life is possible.”</p><p>Jeff’s expression twisted the way it always did when he was in thought, when he was trying to see all the possible outcomes. His job had jaded him, but he wasn’t a bad man.</p><p>Finally, he nodded. “Okay. I’ll get it all drawn up and present it to his public defender. Make sure he understands that this is it, though. This is his one big shot. If he gets involved in something else like this, you won’t be able to save him again.”</p><p>Ell agreed, thanked Jeff, then exited the men’s room. A quick conversation with Donnie outside let him know the details, and even though he wasn’t the sort to admit to being nervous, the shuddering breath he released said he had been. He thanked Ell, then took off.</p><p>She would have driven him home, but Donnie was used to using the bus system. He always refused when she tried, saying he’d meet her wherever it was.</p><p>A glance at her watch told Ell that she didn’t have another appointment until later, which gave her time to gather herself. When she slung her bag over her shoulder and turned, however, she ran directly into someone else.</p><p>Hands grasped her arms to keep her upright, and Ell glanced up to find a familiar face grinning down at her.</p><p>Ethan Jaymes, a detective she’d dealt with more than a few times. He was tall, dark and handsome—all the things that made her certain he was also trouble, especially when he smiled at her the way he always did. His green eyes danced with an amusement that his voice
mirrored. “Aren’t you in a hurry?”</p><p>She pulled away, extracting herself from his strong grasp. “You were the one standing far too close.”</p><p>“I said your name, and you didn’t hear me. Distracted?” He lifted an eyebrow.</p><p>“Well, believe it or not, my world doesn’t revolve around you.”</p><p>He let out a soft laugh, the way he always did when she soundly rejected him. It was odd, because sometimes it seemed the meaner she got, the more Ethan liked her.</p><p>And, just like clockwork, Ethan’s shadow came around the corner.</p><p>Clint Faire, Ethan’s partner, and an unnerving presence who had always made Ell fidget under his intense stare. He peered at her, no pleasure or surprise showing in his hazel eyes. He had a light brown beard and mustache, both well groomed, but shaved his head. If he weren’t dressed so well, she’d no doubt think he was some muscle-head up to no good. “Ms. Hayden,” he said, his tone as respectful as always.</p><p>Ell nodded back, still trying to calm her racing heart from her surprise at seeing Ethan. It shouldn’t have surprised her that much—the two detectives were often at the courthouse—yet they always managed to make her feel out of control.</p><p>Which was about the worst feeling she could imagine. Ell was the sort of woman who preferred everything in its place, everything well-regulated and scheduled. Ethan and Clint managed to make her feel the opposite, as if she couldn’t quite get a hold of all the pieces of her life, as if she couldn’t make sense of it all.</p><p>And why, she had no idea.</p><p>She’d known the two men for years, though never well. She wouldn’t call them friends by any stretch of the imagination, but they’d worked together from time to time—both on the same side and not so much.</p><p>“So who are you harassing today?” Clint asked in his matter-of-fact way that always made Ell’s cheeks heat.</p><p>“I wasn’t harassing anyone. I was doing my job.”</p><p>“And who did your job require you to harass today?” Clint pressed.</p><p>“No one.” Ell crossed her arms and tapped her foot, trying her best to make her annoyance as clear as possible.</p><p>“She followed me into the men’s room,” Jeff answered as he walked past, not slowing down to talk, seeming more than happy to rush across the hall so he could hide in his office again.</p><p>Ethan let out a hard laugh at that, and the fact he accepted her actions without question annoyed Ell. Yes, she was dedicated, but he could have had a second of ‘Are they being serious? Would she really do that?’ doubt.</p><p>“I needed to discuss something important with him, and he wanted to hide in the bathroom.”</p><p>“You’re going to get yourself into trouble one day,” Ethan said as he caught his breath from his laughter. “It’s good to go to bat for your kids, Ell, but be careful that you don’t put yourself in a position you don’t want to be in.”</p><p>His words ran through Ell like they always did, tinged in something she tried so hard to ignore. Why was it that Ethan managed to get beneath her skin like this? His voice was like honey, something sweet enough to draw her closer, but also sticky enough she feared it might trap her.</p><p>All the reasons it was a bad idea had gone through in her head on nights when she stayed up thinking about him, even about Clint. She had her life in order. She’d perfectly crafted each part of it, fitting the pieces together, making exactly the picture she wanted. The idea of anyone else coming into that, of them possibly tearing apart everything she’d worked so hard to put into place, terrified her.</p><p>Life was hard and scary and dangerous, but if she kept the pieces in their spots, if she made sure everything went where it belonged, she could avoid the pain and fear she’d known so well as a kid.</p><p>So Ell offered a quick goodbye before she risked falling any further into either man, before she risked everything she’d built, her perfect house of cards.</p><p>The last thing she needed was to let either of these men blow down all the hard work she’d put in.</p><h1 style="text-align: center;">Buy Links</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/4AjJvk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Choose Your Store</a>
<a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/trapped-by-doubt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><br />First For Romance</a></h3>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-601-7_TrappedByDoubt_OutNow.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-93100 size-large" height="426" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-601-7_TrappedByDoubt_OutNow-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /></a></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">About the Author</h1>
<h2><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11711" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jayce Carter</a></h2>
Jayce Carter lives in Southern California with her husband and two spawns. She originally wanted to take over the world but realized that would require wearing pants. This led her to choosing writing, a completely pants-free occupation. She has a fear of heights yet rock climbs for fun and enjoys making up excuses for not going out and socializing. You can learn more about her at her <a href="https://www.jaycecarter.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">website</a>.
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>Giveaway</b></h1><p>
Enter for the chance to win a $50.00 First for Romance Gift Card! Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group. </p><p> <a class="rcptr" data-raflid="555033ec970" data-template="589504cd4f3bedde0b6e64c2" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/555033ec970/" id="rcwidget_0ap5b3jw" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><p>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-85030 size-full" height="213" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Totally-Bound-Banner.jpg" width="640" /></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-2932148692398094742022-06-05T22:50:00.002-07:002022-06-05T22:50:26.561-07:00Review: The Billionaire's Appetite by L.A. Day<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/The-Billionaires-Appetite-Banner.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-93107 size-full" height="237" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/The-Billionaires-Appetite-Banner.png" width="640" /></a></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Billionaire's Appetite by L.A. Day</h1>
<h3 class="group-link" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>General Release Date: 31st May 2022</i></b></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Word Count: <span class="info-value">24,700</span><br />Book Length: <span class="info-value">NOVELLA</span><br />Pages: <span class="info-value">102</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>GENRES:</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="info-value">BILLIONAIRE<br />BONDAGE AND BDSM<br />CONTEMPORARY<br />EROTIC ROMANCE</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60764573-the-billionaire-s-appetite" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></h2>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Description</b></h1><p>
<a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-595-9_TheBillionairesAppetite_500x800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-93105 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-595-9_TheBillionairesAppetite_500x800-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><i> </i><em>She wanted funding—he needed submission. He would give her more than she asked for.</em></p><p>Charity’s father pulled the funding for her research, but she may have found the perfect replacement. Silas is a billionaire and he agrees to meet to discuss her proposal. After an embarrassing first encounter with the gorgeous but elusive billionaire, she didn’t expect him to help her.</p><p>Silas Radford is intrigued by the beautiful and brainy scientist. She asks for funding, but he wants a partnership—and not just in business. Sparks fly between them the moment they meet, but there are a few issues to set to rest before he can close the deal.</p><p>But Charity doesn’t realize Silas is friends with the father she feels betrayed her. And even if they can get past that, he still has to show her the full extent of his darker appetites…<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>My Thoughts</b></h1><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Pardon the pun, but L.A. Day certainly whetted my appetite with this sexy little novella. That's why I love novellas, especially when it is a new to me author. It gives me a chance to explore their writing style with little commitment. <b>The Billionaire's Appetite</b>, however, left me wanting so much more. In a good way because wasn't ready to leave Charity and Silas quite yet. The sexual tension between them was red hot and while there was an element of insta-lust in the story, it made sense considering this is a novella. I had fun reading <b>The Billionaire's Appetite </b>and I look forward to trying more of the author's book in the future.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Excerpt</b></h1><p>Today was the day. Finally, I had been granted an interview with the elusive Mr. Silas Radford. I paced as I looked over my notes and waited for the ride service. Radford Towers dominated the downtown skyscape, so I knew I would have been able to find his office, but that downtown traffic would have shaken my nerves. If I wanted to get funding for my research, I couldn’t get rattled. I needed to project a calm, confident image.</p><p>I tugged at the hem of my suit jacket. I was wearing my best, black power suit. A full-control bodysuit helped contain my overly abundant curves and give me a professional look. I eyed myself critically in the hall mirror. There really was no taming “the girls” but at least they didn’t bounce when I moved. I took a deep breath and practiced my walk. Frowning, I looked at my sensible shoes. Unfortunately, I could only trust myself with two-inch heels. Anything higher and I would almost certainly land on my more-than-prominent ass. It was fine. I was a scientist, not a model.</p><p>A text alerted me that my ride had arrived. I took one more look to make sure my messy bun was still in place and I hurried out of the door. My interview wasn’t for an
hour. I had given myself plenty of time in case of an emergency. Twenty minutes later I was seated in the lobby. No way was I going to his office forty minutes early.</p><p>People-watching was a hobby of mine and this lobby was like an anthill, busy people running every which way. A tall, muscular man strolled through the door like he owned the place. His dress shirt was partially unbuttoned and his chestnut hair looked like someone had run their fingers through it, but even slightly rumpled he still exuded raw masculine power. I wondered if he’d enjoyed a tryst at lunch. I licked my lips. I could picture him bending a petite female over his desk, lifting her skirt and paddling her bottom before ravishing her from behind. A shiver rode up my spine. Obviously I’d read too many steamy romances lately.</p><p>I nibbled my lip as my eyes roamed over every delicious inch until I met sparkling blue eyes brimming with amusement. <em>Caught!</em> Heat traveled up my neck to my cheeks. The alarm on my cell alerted me that it was time to head upstairs. Saved by the bell, I stood, grabbed my portfolio and strolled toward the elevator. This time I was the one being scrutinized. Mr. Hottie was deep in conversation with a security guard but his eyes followed me as I walked across the lobby. Chin up, shoulders back, I strode confidently. A man like that wouldn’t be interested in a nerdy girl like me. In actuality, he probably would be for a night. I’d lost count of the number of men who had told me they fantasized about titty-fucking me. The ridiculous thing was that they thought I should be flattered. Can’t live with them, but if science keeps progressing, we might be able to live without them. I would love to find a man who appreciated more than my breasts and ass.</p><p>The elevator dinged on the next-to-top floor of the tower. The doors opened to an impressive lobby. A smiling, middle-aged receptionist greeted me. “Hello, Dr. Jones. Please have a seat.” She waved her arm at a couple of tufted yellow accent chairs. “Mr. Radford will be available shortly. Would you like coffee or a bottle of water?”</p><p>“No. Thank you.” I smiled and perched nervously on a chair. The next twenty minutes could make or break my project. I ran through my proposal in my head.</p><p>“Mr. Radford will see you now. Right this way.” The receptionist led me down a short corridor and opened one of two mammoth wooden doors.</p><p>I stepped into a lavishly decorated room that reeked of old money. Taking a deep breath, I plastered on a smile and approached the massive leather-topped mahogany desk as the executive chair spun to face me.</p><p>Frozen, I watched Mr. Hottie rise from the chair. A sexy, knowing grin tugged at his lips. I stared with mouth ajar. It couldn’t be.<em> Dammit,</em> I cursed inwardly. Well, I’d lost any chance at this funding.</p><p>He approached, holding out his hand. “Dr. Charity Jones, I’m Silas Radford. It’s very nice to meet you.”</p><p>My hand was engulfed in a warm, firm grip. “It’s nice to meet you too,” I muttered. How could this be Silas Radford? I’d heard my father mention him in passing and had assumed he was much older.</p><p>His blue eyes sparkled. “Come,” he commanded in a whiskey-rough voice. He waved me forward and I wondered about his choice of words. I really needed to get my mind out of the gutter, but this man stirred something dark and foreboding inside me.</p><p>Two plaid wing-backed armchairs faced his desk and I took a seat and crossed my legs, trying to regain my composure. I could probably secure the funding in exchange for sexual favors, but I didn’t mix business with pleasure. I cleared my throat. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”</p><p>“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.” He’d retaken his seat, crossed his hands and cocked his head to the side. “I read your proposal. I believe you’re seeking money for…”</p><p>“I am inquiring about funds for my research. I am a scientist.”</p><p>He glanced down. “Right. I’ve read it and conducted my own research. You have an impressive professional portfolio as well as an interesting project.” His eyes rose from the folder to meet my gaze. “I recognized you downstairs. I’d intended to introduce myself before I got waylaid.”</p><p>My cheeks flushed under his scrutiny. I realized he’d brought up the incident to
unnerve me. “I’m a people-watcher. I enjoy observing…”</p><p>“I noticed. It’s probably the hormones.”</p><p>I blinked. “What?”</p><p>“You enjoy examining human interactions.” He arched a dark brow. “Your research is on hormones, correct?”</p><p>“Oh yes, it is.” This man was sharp. He was fucking with me and enjoying it. “My research is on hormones and hormone replacements. I read a publication recently on how today’s women prefer more feminine men and dad bods. I found it interesting.”</p><p>His chuckle was deep, dark. “I’m sure a certain type of woman does. But there’s another type of woman who prefers more of a take-charge, physical, dominant male, wouldn’t you say?”</p><p>I arched my brow. “I couldn’t say. That’s not my area of expertise.”</p><p>“You’re looking to replace current hormone therapy for menopausal women.” He flipped through my proposal.</p><p>“Yes. Current HRT, while effective for many, also has dangerous side effects. Aging women still want to feel like women but not risk their lives to do so.”</p><p>“Are you looking for a little blue pill for women?”</p><p>I smiled tightly, refusing to be intimidated. I was certain I’d already lost the funding so… <em>Fuck it.</em> I tipped my chin up defiantly. “Certainly, women’s sexual arousal is part of it. The scientific community has spent an enormous amount of money on erectile dysfunction. Don’t you think women deserve the same? After all, won’t men benefit from it as well, or maybe men don’t really care if women enjoy intercourse.”</p><p>Mr. Radford threw back his head and roared with laughter. “I like you. You aren’t intimidated easily. You may have heard I’m controlling and I like to get my way, but sometimes I like a challenge.”</p><p>“Thank you. I believe in standing up for oneself. And I hadn’t heard that about you, so thanks for warning me.”</p><p>One brow rose. “Really? What have you heard?”</p><p>I eyed him warily, sensing a trap. I had the feeling he was toying with me and that this was all a game to him.</p><p>“Out with it. You won’t hurt my feelings.”</p><p>At this point, there was no reason to hold back. “I heard you were an acute businessman by day and a cold-hearted womanizer by night. Were they wrong?”</p><p>His gorgeous eyes locked onto me in a way that made my insides quiver. “I like to think I have a head for business.”</p><p>“And the rest?” I grinned, awaiting his reply.</p><p>“The women I entertain know the score, but that might be changing. I could fund your research if you agree to my terms.”</p><p>“Mr. Radford…”</p><p>“Call me Radford.”</p><p>I sighed. I was sure his terms involved me on my knees, and that just wasn’t happening. Not that he wasn’t knee worthy. He absolutely was, but I wouldn’t sell myself for money.</p><p>“Radford, I don’t know what your terms are but…”</p><p>He leaned ever so slightly closer. “I want you to pretend we are involved.”</p><p>“Excuse me?” I straightened in my chair.</p><p>“If you want funding, I need something in return.”</p><p>That answer took me by surprise. Why would a man as powerful and gorgeous as Radford need a fake girlfriend? “May I ask why?”</p><p>“You said yourself, I’m known as a womanizer, but I have a new venture in mind, which will require me to appear to be in a serious, committed relationship.”</p><p>The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “It will be pretend? I won’t sell myself for funding.”</p><p>“Of course not!” His smile was wicked. “I would never expect a professional woman such as yourself to barter your, uh, <em>goods</em>.”</p><p>His voice had dropped a level and I shifted uncomfortably. That tone alone made my blood zip through my veins. Once again I had to wonder why he would need any help finding an appropriate woman. “I don’t understand. I’m sure you are acquainted with women who would be willing to play the role of girlfriend. After all, you’re attractive in a non-feminine, non-dad bod way.” I smirked. “Plus, you’re a billionaire.”</p><p>“Is my money what you first noticed about me?” He watched me through a hooded gaze.</p><p>I remembered feeling his presence before I’d seen him, then being robbed of my breath by his sheer physical authority. “Initially, in the lobby, I didn’t know you had money. I noticed your…” I licked my lips slowly. “Smile.”</p><p>He lowered his eyes to my assets.
“The first thing I noticed about you was the mischief that sparkled in your eyes.” One eyebrow rose, as if he dared me to question his words. “But to answer your question, the women I know might want to make the position permanent. After all, as you mentioned, I <em>am</em> a billionaire.”</p><p>“You don’t think I’ll want the position permanently? I mean, there is all that money!”</p><p>“I think you are dedicated to your profession and have little time for a relationship.”</p><p>He had me there. I cleared my throat and delved into the details of his proposal. “What would be involved in this deal, and for how long would you need my services, so to speak?”</p><p>“Dinner engagements, social functions, I’m sure you know the drill. I’m thinking a few months should be sufficient.”</p><p>“I wouldn’t want this to look like a quid pro quo, like I sold myself for funding.”</p><p>“Of course not! We will convince everyone that we met and fell madly in love.”</p><p>“<em>Madly in love</em>?”</p><p>“I will be totally smitten with you and you will be with me as well. Can you do it?” There was challenge in his eyes.</p><p>I swallowed hard and nodded. “I’m sure I could appear smitten.” I was positive it wouldn’t be hard to act smitten. The trick would be not to fall for the man.</p><p>“Of course, we will have to project an intimate relationship.”</p><p>“How intimate?”</p><p>“Hand holding, hugs, kisses the type of touching lovers do in public.”</p><p>“If I consider this there can’t be other women. I won’t be made to look like a fool.” Was I really considering this?</p><p>“Agreed.”</p><p>I furrowed my brow as I looked at him. Was he sober? “You’re going to go months without sex?”</p><p>His eyes twinkled. “We’ll see.”</p><p>“What does that mean?”</p><p>He shrugged. “I could decide to end the deal sooner, but of course you would still get the funding.”</p><p>“Will that be in the contract?”</p><p>“Of course, but you might decide to enjoy the rewards of being my girlfriend.”</p><p>“I already said I wouldn’t sell myself.”</p><p>“Understood. Any sexual relationship arising from our agreement wouldn’t be part of the agreement and would have to be initiated by you.”</p><p>Under his scrutiny, I squirmed in my chair. He had a way of getting under my skin with those penetrating eyes and that sexy voice. “That won’t happen.”</p><p>He leaned back and shrugged. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”</p><p>“This whole thing is crazy.” I jumped to my feet.</p><p>Slowly, he rose from his chair. “You need funding. I need a fake relationship. We both get what we want.”</p><p>Seated he was hot as hell, but standing he projected confidence, dominance, and something in me reacted to him in a way I wasn’t entirely comfortable with. I let out a shaky breath. “Yes. But…?”</p><p>“Are you afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off me?” A sexy smirk curved his lips and devilry blazed in his eyes.</p><p>I tugged on the bottom of my blazer. “Absolutely not! I never mix business with pleasure.” I sounded more confident than I felt.</p><p>“Are you worried I might make advances toward you?”</p><p>“Hardly! I doubt I’m your type, and let’s not forget I might then get designs on your money.”</p><p>He grinned. “I do have one question. Why did your father pull his funding?”</p><p>“How do you know he did?”</p><p>“I do my research,” he replied.</p><p>Of course, I thought. Any astute businessman would question why my funding had been canceled. “It was a family issue. He wanted too much control.”</p><p>“He wanted to dictate your research?”</p><p>“No. My life.”</p><p>“Ahh, <em>family issues</em>.”</p><p>“Yes.”</p><p>“Fine then.” He held out his hand and I grasped it firmly, doing my best to ignore the sizzle of awareness his touch aroused.</p><p>I considered my options. They were limited. This was a better option than humbling myself before my father.<em> What’s the worst that could happen?</em> He’d already jump-started my dormant libido. If I was foolish enough to encourage his advances, I’d probably get the best orgasms of my life out of a tryst with him. What if I tore my clothes off, begged him to fuck me and he said no? Unlikely, he was a womanizer. I could handle this, I thought, then I took another look at his smile and
wasn’t so confident. “For the record, this is a horrible idea.”</p><h1 style="text-align: center;">Buy Links</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/3y1ZM6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Choose Your Store</a>
<a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/the-billionaires-appetite" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><br />First For Romance</a></h3>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-595-9_TheBillionairesAppetite_SocialImages_OutNow.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-93106 size-large" height="426" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-595-9_TheBillionairesAppetite_SocialImages_OutNow-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /></a></h1>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">About the Author</h1>
<h2><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LADay-300x400-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-93108" height="230" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LADay-300x400-1.jpg" width="228" /></a><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11789" rel="noopener" target="_blank">L.A. Day</a></h2><p>
L.A. Day is a multi-published author of erotic romances. Her heroes might be bikers, shifters, vampires, aliens, time-travelers, barbarians, billionaires, or CEO's but they are always strong, assertive men! Her heroines might be tough or submissive but they are always sassy, funny, and sarcastic. In real life, Laura is a wife, mother, and dog lover. She loves to collect pottery and you can often find her at antique and resale shops. Her friends are often SHOCKED that their seemingly sweet friend writes dirty books. </p><p>Follow L.A. Day on <a href="https://instagram.com/ladayauthor" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and check out her <a href="http://www.la-dayauthor.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">website</a>.
</p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>Giveaway</b></h1><p>
Enter for the chance to win a $50.00 First for Romance Gift Card! Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group. </p><p> <a class="rcptr" data-raflid="555033ec970" data-template="589504cd4f3bedde0b6e64c2" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/555033ec970/" id="rcwidget_0ap5b3jw" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><p>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-85030 size-full" height="213" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Totally-Bound-Banner.jpg" width="640" /></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-87766923866992713662022-05-21T06:00:00.001-07:002022-05-21T06:00:00.179-07:00Review: In His Hands (Perfect Taboo #3) by Hannah Murray<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/In-His-Hands-Banner.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-92919 size-full" height="237" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/In-His-Hands-Banner.png" width="640" /></a></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":14721,"3":{"1":0,"3":1},"10":0,"11":4,"14":{"1":3,"3":1},"15":"Calibri","16":11}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Wreck My Mind"}">In His Hands</span> By Hannah Murray</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/series/perfect-taboo" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Book 3 in the Perfect Taboo series</a></h3>
<h3 class="group-link" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>General Release Date: 17th June 2022</i></b></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Word Count: <span class="info-value">71,221</span><br />Book Length: SUPER <span class="info-value">NOVEL</span><br />Pages: <span class="info-value">277</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>GENRES:</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="info-value">BONDAGE AND BDSM<br />CONTEMPORARY<br />EROTIC ROMANCE</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60717704-in-his-hand" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></h2>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Description</b></h1><p>
<a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-598-0_InHisHands_500X800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-92917 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-598-0_InHisHands_500X800-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><i> <br /></i></p><p><em>Consent is everything…and with consent, everything is possible.</em></p><p>Olivia has one wish—to find a partner who will do consensual non-consent scenes with her. She thought she’d found the perfect man, but he turned out to be more dud than Dom. When their relationship implodes, she moves out, and moves in with her friend Cade. He’s happy to have her, but living with him won’t be easy. It was easier to ignore her feelings for him, and the fact that he’d always been her ideal Dom, when she’d had a boyfriend. But he’d stopped doing CNC after a scene had gone wrong, so she’d set her sights elsewhere.</p><p>Cade has his own problems. He’s been in love with Olivia since they met, but when she started dating someone else, he put his feelings aside and focused on being her friend. But now that she’s single again, he’s not going to let opportunity pass him by. He’s happy to set her straight about his feelings on CNC play—totally still into it, but won’t do casual scenes—and more than eager to make all her kinky dreams come true.</p><p>Olivia finally has the kind of kinky relationship she’s always wanted, and her feelings for Cade only grow stronger as time goes on. But when her ex reappears to explain why he ended their relationship, she wonders if she’s mistaking her happiness with their CNC play for love—and worries that Cade might be doing the same…</p><p><em>Reader advisory: This book includes scenes of consensual non-consent, as well as RACK, role-play, sexual fantasy, blood play and rape
fantasy.</em></p><p><em>Publisher's Note: The story told in this book begins on the same day that </em><a href="https://firstforromance.com/sharing-his-submissive">Sharing His Submissive</a><em> ends, and before the events of </em><a href="https://firstforromance.com/show-me-something-good">Show Me Something Good</a><em>.<span></span></em></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><i></i>
</p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>My Thoughts</b></h1><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Before I jump into my review, I feel like I need to explain the reader advisory first. <b>In His Hands </b>is an erotic romance with a consensual non-consent kink. The CNC scenes contain anything from rape fantasy to somnophillia. Every scene is consensual between all parties involved.</div><div><br /></div><div>With all of that said... Holy Shitballs! CNC is really something I haven't come across before in any of the BDSM and kink books I've read. It is an extremely taboo and triggering topic, so I can see why authors would be leery of even mentioning it in their books. Its something that you would have to handle properly with care and Hannah Murray does so perfectly. Every scene where consent is given were well-written and clear. Not just the consent scenes between Cade and Olivia, but also the consent scenes with anyone who participates with them. There are no questions left in the air. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now on to the romance... I loved Cade and Olivia. Their chemistry was off the charts. And bonus points, their chemistry doesn't revolve around their kink. It's an added element to their sexual relationship. I love their support group made of previous characters and one who I hope gets his own book soon. I loved everything about <b>In His Hands </b>and I happily devoured it in one delicious gulp. Now I need to go back and read the previous books in the series. What a hardship, right?</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Excerpt</b></h1><p>Olivia stared at her boyfriend in disbelief. “Are you serious?”</p><p>Kyle raised one blond eyebrow, which unfortunately added a layer of smug condescension to his Generically Handsome White Guy face. “Do I look serious?”</p><p>“Yes.” His usual affable smile was missing, his mouth pinched tight. “You look very serious.”</p><p>“Well, then.” Kyle took out a pen and tapped the thick sheaf of papers on the table between them.</p><p>“You’re telling me if I don’t sign that, we’re done.”</p><p>“That’s what I’m telling you.”</p><p>This didn’t make any<em> sense.</em> “I don’t want a Master/slave relationship, Kyle. You know that.”</p><p>He laid the pen on the table. It was the fountain pen she’d given him for his birthday last month, she noted. It was made in Germany, by some company that was apparently the world leader in fancy fountain pens, and had cost almost as much as her share of the monthly rent. It had a black lacquer finish, gold trim, and a gold nib that squirted ink all over her fingers every time she used it.</p><p>“It’s not about what you want, but rather, what you need,” Kyle said, and Olivia narrowed her eyes. He only used words like ‘rather’ when he was trying extra hard to be taken seriously.</p><p>“I don’t need a slave contract—which, by the way, is not in any way legally enforceable.” She paused to take a calming breath. If she started yelling, he’d just shut down, and they’d never get anywhere. “I need you to talk to me. I don’t understand where this is coming from.”</p><p>“There’s nothing to talk about.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, his expression shuttered. He looked the way he did when he was trying to bluff his way through a crappy hand at the poker table, or when someone disagreed with some political talking point he was repeating. Like he knew he was fucked and wanted to walk away, but his pride wouldn’t allow it.</p><p>She knew that pride. It was stubborn and immovable and her biggest obstacle to figuring out just what was behind this ridiculousness.</p><p>She switched tactics. “Kyle, this is something we have to talk about. You can’t just spring a contract on me like this.”</p><p>“Actually, I can.” He arched an eyebrow again. “I’m the Dom, and I make the rules.”</p><p>That was such pile of verbal crap that she momentarily lost the power of speech, and while she was gaping at him, trying to figure out what the <em>hell</em> he was thinking, he stood up.</p><p>“I have to pick up Andy for the game.” He crossed the room and scooped his keys out of the bowl on the table next to the door. Her bowl, her table. “I expect that contract to be signed when I get back.”</p><p>The bafflement and shock that had held her frozen since he’d first tossed that contract on the table was fading, replaced by an incredulous fury that made her feel like she was breathing sulfur. “Or?”</p><p>“Or you can pack your things,” he replied calmly. “It’s your choice.”</p><p>He twirled his keys around his finger—another nervous tell—opened the door and walked out.</p><p>Olivia stared at the closed door for a moment, then looked down at the contract. It was at least twenty pages, held together with one of the bright pink binder clips she kept in the kitchen junk drawer to use on bags of chips or frozen vegetables. Kyle’s name was in bold type at the top, right in front of the words, “hereafter referred to as Master”, and her name, bolded but not capitalized, right before “hereafter referred to as slave”, and the remainder of her disbelief disintegrated in a flood of pure rage.</p><p>She stood up, shoving back from the table hard enough to make it wobble, and stalked to the bedroom. She pulled her suitcases from the back of the closet, laid them on the bed, and began to pack.</p><p>She worked methodically, rolling her clothes to minimize wrinkling and maximize space. When the dresser, the closet, and the nightstand on her side of the bed were empty, she walked
across the hall to the guest room-office to gather the clothes she had stored there.</p><p>There wasn’t a lot—the cocktail dresses she rarely had occasion to wear, a formal gown she’d bought on a whim when a local dress shop had gone out of business, and the plastic storage bin with her corsets. When she pulled the bin down from the top shelf, the dust coating the lid made her sneeze. It had been months since she’d worn one, though she and Kyle went to a kink event nearly every week. It had just seemed like too much trouble, and Kyle hadn’t cared one way or the other.</p><p>“That should’ve been a fucking clue,” she muttered, and sneezed again.</p><p>Back in the bedroom, she crammed the dresses into the already full suitcases, then zipped them closed and wrestled them to the floor. She pulled the duvet off the bed, then the sheets, and added the pillow she’d broken in how she liked it to the pile before heading into the bathroom for her toiletries.</p><p>She needed a box for the kitchen, and found one in the office, full of Kyle’s tax files. She dumped them without remorse onto his desk chair and packed it tight with utensils, measuring cups, and the egg timer in the shape of a cow—and she took the pink binder clip off the damn contract, too. She pulled a garbage bag from under the sink for the potholders and dishtowels, then added her bedding, towels, and every spare sheet from the hall linen closet.</p><p>The sonofabitch had been sleeping on a bare mattress when she’d moved in, and he could damn well do it again.</p><p>She gathered her laptop and tablet from the living room, her extra phone charger and the blanket her aunt had crocheted for her in college. The electronics went into the tote she used as a purse, the blanket into the garbage bag. Then she dragged everything to the front door and took a last tour of the apartment.</p><p>She made a list of all the things she’d need to come back for. The prints and photos on the walls, the table by the front door. Her stand mixer still sat on the kitchen counter, her dishes in the cabinets. There were pieces of sculpture and statuary she’d collected over the years scattered throughout the apartment that would need to be carefully wrapped and packed, as would her reproduction Tiffany lamp. Her grandmother’s mirror hung above the entry table, and the chair and dresser that were the only pieces of furniture she’d kept when she’d moved in with Kyle.</p><p>She quelled the twinge of anxiety at the thought of leaving so many of her things behind and grabbed her keys. It took three trips and some creative arranging, but she managed to get everything into her ancient Camry. By the time she climbed the stairs for the last time, she was sweating, her tank top sticking to her back. She’d retrieved one of the hair ties she kept on the stick shift of her car, so her hair was off her neck. But sweat trickled between her breasts and down the backs of her legs, and the only thing keeping her moving was righteous rage.</p><p>Back in the apartment, she hefted her tote with a grunt, and started to take the front door key off her key ring. She wanted to leave it right in the middle of his damned contract where he couldn’t possibly miss it, but she hesitated. She had to retrieve the rest of her things, and if she left her key behind now, she’d have to go through Kyle to do it.</p><p>“The hell I will,” she muttered, and palming her keys, turned to go. Then she caught her reflection in the mirror over the entry table and winced. She was a mess. Half her honey-blonde hair had fallen out of its hastily constructed topknot to hang, limp and damp with sweat, to her shoulders. She’d sweated off her makeup except for a solid smudge of mascara under each eye—which, except for the faint flush of exertion on her cheeks, was the only color on her already pale face. Even her eyes looked dull.</p><p><em>Dull and beige</em>. It was a good way to describe her relationship with Kyle. And now, over.</p><p>She hitched her bag higher on her shoulder, and her gaze landed on the chain encircling her neck. The everyday collar was only slightly longer than a choker, with a tiny key charm that nestled in the hollow of her throat. The necklace’s standard clasp had been removed and replaced with silver rings that attached to the charm, turning a standard removeable chain into a permanent one. The only way to get it off was to break it.</p><p>She stared at it, remembering how
she’d felt when Kyle had fastened it around her neck. She’d been so happy, so full of hope. Now, staring at the tiny key that had meant so much, all she felt was anger and sadness.</p><p>She dropped her bag to the floor and grabbed the necklace in both sweaty fists. The little silver rings gave way easily, pulling free with barely a twist, and the key fell with a musical clink to the floor at her feet.</p><p>She picked it and stared at it, small and insignificant in her palm, the broken chain dangling from her fingers. A year of her life in two broken pieces of silver, she thought, her throat tight, and wanted to rage and scream at the waste of it all.</p><p>Instead she walked to the table, dropped the charm and the necklace on the contract, then walked back to the mirror and pulled it off the wall. With the heavy tote on one arm and the mirror tucked under the other, she walked out.</p><h1 style="text-align: center;">Buy Links</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/4El6PY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Choose Your Store</a>
<a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/in-his-hands" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><br />First For Romance</a></h3>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-598-0_InHisHands_OutNow.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-92918 size-large" height="426" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/978-1-83943-598-0_InHisHands_OutNow-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /></a>About the Author</h1>
<h2><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=11750" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hannah Murray</a></h2><h2><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HannahMurray-photo-300x400-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-86965 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HannahMurray-photo-300x400-1-225x300.jpg" width="225" /></a></h2><p>
Hannah has been reading romance novels since she was young enough to have to hide them from her mother. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband—former Special Forces and an OR nurse who writes sci-fi fantasy and acts as In-House Expert on matters pertaining to weapons, tactics, the military, medical conditions and How Dudes Think—and their daughter, who takes after her father. </p><p>Find out more about Hannah at her <a href="https://www.hannahmurray.net" rel="noopener" target="_blank">website</a> and <a href="https://hannahmurraywrites.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">blog</a>.
</p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>Giveaway</b></h1><p>
Enter for the chance to win a $50.00 First for Romance Gift Card! Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group. </p><p> <a class="rcptr" data-raflid="555033ec970" data-template="589504cd4f3bedde0b6e64c2" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/555033ec970/" id="rcwidget_0ap5b3jw" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><p>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-85030 size-full" height="213" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Totally-Bound-Banner.jpg" width="640" /></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-63796215195502262062022-05-18T06:00:00.001-07:002022-05-18T06:00:00.185-07:00Review: Then Came Love (The Bradens & Montomerys: Pleasant Hill - Oak Falls #9) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuxhrzCHP0nbPaG1JFBtw_ibnasK3lLxFdWBi7ZtEEiLJ0q3KZQPNjqXBCeOk53TL2XjS1S3XvH8E7XCKy6sYmuV3vFita6nO3V-ZQqgPuAnp3wok6AA86UfKE18_crX623Vs4SDPKuRMHkvKF3OgCRXXJrnKDei_-W8BFwAcd33QMYyAEXOm042LFA/s2700/TCL_2021_eBook%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuxhrzCHP0nbPaG1JFBtw_ibnasK3lLxFdWBi7ZtEEiLJ0q3KZQPNjqXBCeOk53TL2XjS1S3XvH8E7XCKy6sYmuV3vFita6nO3V-ZQqgPuAnp3wok6AA86UfKE18_crX623Vs4SDPKuRMHkvKF3OgCRXXJrnKDei_-W8BFwAcd33QMYyAEXOm042LFA/w266-h400/TCL_2021_eBook%20(1).jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then Came Love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>The Bradens & Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill - Oak Falls #9</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>May 18, 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Format/Source: </b>ARC for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>What happens when you find your soul mate but she belongs to someone else?</b></div><p></p><div><div>Months ago, famed wedding-gown designer Jax Braden met the woman of his dreams when a bride-to-be came in for a consultation. He’s tried to move on, but there is no forgetting beautiful, smart, and refreshingly real Jordan Lawler, or the loneliness she cleverly tries to hide. When Jordan hires him to design her wedding gown, Jax knows he’s in trouble, but he cannot walk away. As business meetings turn to late-night confessions, their connection deepens, igniting passion too strong to deny. They’re drawn into an inescapable and forbidden love. Loyalties are tested and hearts are frayed, but neither will cross that invisible line in the sand. Come along for the sexy, emotional ride as Jax and Jordan face their toughest competitors yet—their hearts.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP3rxICKaojALLx499SlALLzBYJYiy3fBjz6CGK_Mm0mmYu6E7zioqRbfMKVDHMw9kjFe8EMU3hzTlpV5c_oBUHsEJnzz8zT0NG2ClTQ7fKjvM5WUq3-iNu5wd6WgpX765XEwh0nnJ7S-GFnlZdxyCZ8It3p0X3NbLt3Zhc3GBRzyIXOBO1qID6vang/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP3rxICKaojALLx499SlALLzBYJYiy3fBjz6CGK_Mm0mmYu6E7zioqRbfMKVDHMw9kjFe8EMU3hzTlpV5c_oBUHsEJnzz8zT0NG2ClTQ7fKjvM5WUq3-iNu5wd6WgpX765XEwh0nnJ7S-GFnlZdxyCZ8It3p0X3NbLt3Zhc3GBRzyIXOBO1qID6vang/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Melissa Foster's heroes are a completely different breed. They are loyal to the very end. They are passionate, sinful, and sweet. They're compassionate. They put the happiness of others before their own. They can be rough around the edges, but also professional. All of these attributes perfectly describe our hero from <b>Then Came Love</b> - Jax Braden. He stole my thoughts from the very first moment he appears in this book. The poor guy fell in love with the one woman he can't have. He had to stand back and watch Jordan plan her wedding to another man. Not just another man, but the man he knows is not worthy of her. And while Jax would never do anything to compromise Jordan or force her hand, that doesn't stop him from trying to show her just how great they could be together. Don't worry, there is no cheating. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fun fact about me is that one of my favorite Braden books is <b>Friendship on Fire</b>. The dynamics between Jax and Jordan remind me a lot of Riley and Josh's romance. I was remembering what initially drew me to Melissa's books back in 2013/2014 and I loved that. And much like those original books, I freaking devoured <b>Then Came Love </b>in just a couple of hours. As always, another fantastic Foster romance!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhricztja_acNpv9PP81joy-OF23OueVVSv52zFkd0U3zG6R-GBlXTYR_OjuE5pqVnpRrOBDljc-EkVI_Hh67ToHTIb6ykdvx1_N9JOJnNQeciqKwXo9w80JglpQ6efGZH7rHBtLcRFlh5kXtjWO6Lc8kUOq2hDGTpfBSftALWVy1nYjXO6SOACFUPJaQ/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/TCL_Kindle">Amazon</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/TCL_Apple">iBooks</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/TCL_Nook">Barnes & Noble</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/TCL_Kobo">KOBO</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/TCL_GP">Google Play</a> - <a href="http://smarturl.it/TCL_Pb">Paperback</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Coming soon to audio book (narrated by Aiden Snow and Meg Sylvan)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/TCLa_Amazon">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/TCLa_Apple">Apple</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/TCLa_Audible">Audible</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25317324-then-came-love" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfcqVNuNR_Mt7T56vcsTaBqyibu_rDVA5ItpfdhTTztl02-RaRUeA_MNlEpsCU1YyCwiG1ktnRWEw1Wnds_j1UTwSzWDzg4GuZfqZGzNOsp01_jyt1aqfU6Gccr-flBdMiil31j77Ovm9PzAav8ky_liMZ6gBqK9qsXa9W08kFp3bX4LMGGxGJbi_Jw/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufuRHXPP-YjYcOiZjbUpOGvW-HSZ2t4FVOdkjgl7uqKsc3tjYV1c9ZDwgoLUzj9zmXEQTcV0EJVKR4ra1z-iSx5Y68bPfawYZ6qxPsospIOZMdVtwmTDww3dfRk2Jpb2KZUOonUyyNWOn3MvdKRQ66JTebrTYqx2_fy8PLORUxywNxgTOTY4Gpoo-sg/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufuRHXPP-YjYcOiZjbUpOGvW-HSZ2t4FVOdkjgl7uqKsc3tjYV1c9ZDwgoLUzj9zmXEQTcV0EJVKR4ra1z-iSx5Y68bPfawYZ6qxPsospIOZMdVtwmTDww3dfRk2Jpb2KZUOonUyyNWOn3MvdKRQ66JTebrTYqx2_fy8PLORUxywNxgTOTY4Gpoo-sg/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div></div></div><p></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-44186546363675289442022-03-23T09:00:00.045-07:002022-03-23T09:00:00.192-07:00Review: Crazy, Wicked Love (The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside #3) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOUNojXs2FIf3lnXEWf3BWojQQEDfPQiYHCmLeEGVIcUDqmK6jDMWSYlBk1Tsu1vbPXhj-A4J0scyk70LykRO2lRISIiSMXl66fDi7hjTacyH5tVTOe24XhEKTPyeDp2jkrm7gix2Rq7xldSsJhlrrfgSecOY7FVecDV4Jlfji4xS-3ZGaqeQUj9p2w/s2700/CrazyWickedLove_eBook_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOUNojXs2FIf3lnXEWf3BWojQQEDfPQiYHCmLeEGVIcUDqmK6jDMWSYlBk1Tsu1vbPXhj-A4J0scyk70LykRO2lRISIiSMXl66fDi7hjTacyH5tVTOe24XhEKTPyeDp2jkrm7gix2Rq7xldSsJhlrrfgSecOY7FVecDV4Jlfji4xS-3ZGaqeQUj9p2w/w266-h400/CrazyWickedLove_eBook_FINAL.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crazy, Wicked Love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>The Wickeds: Dark Knights at Bayside #3</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>March 23, 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>publisher/author for review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b>Scorching heat, laugh-out-loud humor, and swoon-worthy moments abound in this sexy new standalone romance by New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melissa Foster.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>What happens when the player gets played?</div><div><br /></div><div>Sidney Carver has a big problem, and he goes by the name of Dwayne “Gunner” Wicked: six-plus feet of muscular, motorcycle-riding, animal-loving deliciousness. Gunner is her boss, roommate, and best friend. They’ve seen each other through life-altering injuries and unimaginable losses, and they work side by side at Wicked Animal Rescue, fulfilling their passion to save animals. Unfortunately, Gunner is also the man Sidney is in love with, and he’s the ultimate player. As her former military comrade, Gunner sees her as his buddy—just one of the guys. Sidney is at her wit’s end, ready to risk the friendship and job she adores for a chance at forever love with the man she can’t live without. Like any good marine, she comes up with a mission. Enter Operation Get My Guy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gunner loves his life. He has a family he adores, a brotherhood that always has his back, and a host of willing women to warm his bed. As the owner of Wicked Animal Rescue, he saves lives and works with his best friend, Sid, the coolest woman on the planet. When Sid concocts a crazy plan to win his cousin’s heart, Gunner reluctantly agrees to be her wingman.</div><div><br /></div><div>Practices heat up as roommates become teammates. Let the wicked fun begin…</div><div><br /></div><div><b>No cheating. No cliffhangers. Guaranteed to melt panties and leave readers hopelessly in love with the sinfully delicious Wickeds.</b></div><div><b><span><a name='more'></a></span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HsY69TYnDYQXescczPfu1mbxsh3byIp5MdIMlK_GBzYANM2VLJt-8QBCUpXZaY_vLWoMEwK95ThIAEihJpHVOlODEyoDtTmTR6HGQlGCLjmnRMLoZqU_BiGKLqPdtzJH_9e49OclxvbkJhPr2cmGLtTgfUlQutWWvldvvQiAN7OEmpZmu3Fl3j93mw/s288/My%20Thoughts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HsY69TYnDYQXescczPfu1mbxsh3byIp5MdIMlK_GBzYANM2VLJt-8QBCUpXZaY_vLWoMEwK95ThIAEihJpHVOlODEyoDtTmTR6HGQlGCLjmnRMLoZqU_BiGKLqPdtzJH_9e49OclxvbkJhPr2cmGLtTgfUlQutWWvldvvQiAN7OEmpZmu3Fl3j93mw/s1600/My%20Thoughts.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've said it many times, I love Melissa Foster. Her books are auto-reads for me. This time around we've got a sexy as sin friends to lovers romance between Sidney and her obliviously handsome best friend, Gunner. Why is he oblivious, you ask? Well, she's in love with him and he's clueless. For that reason, I'm going to focus on him for this review. Melissa's heroes come in all forms. They've been bikers, artists, ranchers, clothing designers... You name it, they've probably been there. The best part is that no matter what profession they are, they rock it 100%. Gunner, for example is a badass animal rescuer. Could he get any hotter? What sets him apart (and what sets this book apart) is that he is absolutely clueless about Sidney's true feelings. Normally the heroes go into their book guns a-blazing for their heroine. Gunner, on the other hand, needed a little kick in the pants to get him on the right path. Once he realizes that those feelings were always there, he's a goner. That is one of the reasons why I devoured <b>Crazy, Wicked Love</b>. We don't see heroes like Gunner often in Melissa's world, so when one crosses my path, I fall instantly in love. And that, my friends, is why can never say no to Melissa's books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHHImB_lGlZFaHemcJRP-zte2hAZd-80lWX0Ua9Z5dCwJI1BwRKMtPQu9OAcB7EUes4RnLguyy1k9BJDGxwamS_kxRHd9FV9FrrRopJAfn82lSTfA1hlx180A88aR9hZPvofx7ps829tRuF3_Pqvm_WL9VbMEwLQBal6NmSJrm2amlpjuY8XItDYMmw/s288/Purchase%20Links.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHHImB_lGlZFaHemcJRP-zte2hAZd-80lWX0Ua9Z5dCwJI1BwRKMtPQu9OAcB7EUes4RnLguyy1k9BJDGxwamS_kxRHd9FV9FrrRopJAfn82lSTfA1hlx180A88aR9hZPvofx7ps829tRuF3_Pqvm_WL9VbMEwLQBal6NmSJrm2amlpjuY8XItDYMmw/s1600/Purchase%20Links.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/CWL_Kindle">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/CWL_Apple">iBooks</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/CWL_Nook">Barnes & Noble</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/CWL_Kobo">Kobo</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/CWL_GPlay">Google Play</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/CWL_Pb">Paperback</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Audio, narrated by Jacob Morgan and Ava Erikson</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/CWLa_Amazon">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/CWLa_Apple">Apple</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/CWLa_Audible">Audible</a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57811944-crazy-wicked-love" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYJdPftknDJFzBeZtWQgX-xjWec4EjtUSZJQmHlp2pQ8UlbB1gNzxfx6jyjwbXHrex827ZyShYGLDY6qzoUneg35lvr6oQ7U9HHBav8k6TvPOYqi91THx-hUedGEKNWl9VajLMwZ9bAIKFA0-c-0vHtc-StkbWzD0vvZkFe-aJhI2fTLX8Z6CqXoy9A/s1600/add-to-goodreads-button.png" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z3OCwvHV1996CDYX-BUhOtpwE6TEO0vuNuDgWOUtVZCjR6EXbP2Ed3nTBw46dlkT1afD1yeJGC_1dgkk6KHjWwARYICLuuiWa3TOplKhDXnX35OeXEN7dzyEGDL56AWLviDxtcwmIBwWa366xlmHFjP79rVpDMYtRZEyOkWNp6tdN5SzJNIyHe6tpA/s288/Meet%20the%20Author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z3OCwvHV1996CDYX-BUhOtpwE6TEO0vuNuDgWOUtVZCjR6EXbP2Ed3nTBw46dlkT1afD1yeJGC_1dgkk6KHjWwARYICLuuiWa3TOplKhDXnX35OeXEN7dzyEGDL56AWLviDxtcwmIBwWa366xlmHFjP79rVpDMYtRZEyOkWNp6tdN5SzJNIyHe6tpA/s1600/Meet%20the%20Author.png" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-52444993624746319602022-02-09T13:38:00.001-08:002022-02-09T13:38:48.357-08:00Review: Caught by Love (The Steeles at Silver Island #3) by Melissa Foster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFgmD324ju5wfi-6KUpKycfzkyj4aHkb94ypnP-JqLg6Dw0FQtHEGR8mNkcykmnvy2PeCGCFzd872P6moKQcmP9SEU8wH2icQXoxpsgvI3H9no7f543HWy5GPLHC3o73SL_oaF1LvJhXxxCGzk5R7Hn2tJ68YqnVdp_3n6us2wddrVFxpqzUAafGeAfQ=s2700" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFgmD324ju5wfi-6KUpKycfzkyj4aHkb94ypnP-JqLg6Dw0FQtHEGR8mNkcykmnvy2PeCGCFzd872P6moKQcmP9SEU8wH2icQXoxpsgvI3H9no7f543HWy5GPLHC3o73SL_oaF1LvJhXxxCGzk5R7Hn2tJ68YqnVdp_3n6us2wddrVFxpqzUAafGeAfQ=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Caught By Love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Author: </b>Melissa Foster</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Series: </b>The Steeles at Silver Island #3</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Publisher: </b>World Literary Press</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Published: </b>February 9, 2022</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Source: </b>Author for Review</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He’s set on pleasure, but she’s all business. Sizzling chemistry and a surprising connection set this sexy love story in motion. But is it enough to last forever? Find out and fall in love on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, midnight rendezvous, and the sexy, sharp-witted Steeles.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Archer Steele is one of the leading vintners on the East Coast. He’s arrogant, aggressive, and has never been interested in settling down, which is what makes his hookups with his sister’s beautiful blond best friend, hair and makeup artist Indi Oliver, the perfect escape. But Indi’s toying with moving to the island, and when she ends their no-strings trysts to focus on her business, Archer isn’t ready to let her go…</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLUMm7GHgpjFpnGmXpRt65fbgUZHuOGCY7BzwEMwwIPGizf7ybGNsx8dg1B9BJyuR1gPu9HJpkuoqp3hGNQUg-v4ZM9RdxjvQQvfAOXScY5JTVZfajRaopot3IC9JpFyc4BuXOzS8Z1CoXk8ZeEDpzZ-mT-G-oNKm_VpK2t7oTM0kJmE8qGOlVHR3ovg=s288" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLUMm7GHgpjFpnGmXpRt65fbgUZHuOGCY7BzwEMwwIPGizf7ybGNsx8dg1B9BJyuR1gPu9HJpkuoqp3hGNQUg-v4ZM9RdxjvQQvfAOXScY5JTVZfajRaopot3IC9JpFyc4BuXOzS8Z1CoXk8ZeEDpzZ-mT-G-oNKm_VpK2t7oTM0kJmE8qGOlVHR3ovg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Melissa Foster is the author that'll never cease to amaze and entertain me. I always fall deeply in love with her characters. Her writing will always keep me coming back for more. The sex scenes, sexual tension, chemistry, pure animalistic lust... It always makes me blush and then re-read when I finish the book. I don't know why I do that. It's just been a habit for years. I'm weird, I know. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Honestly, I wonder how I can keep my reviews for Melissa's books fresh because I feel like I keep saying the same thing over and over again. I love her writing, characters, and just her tone in general. Her books have the perfect mixture of light, comic moments with the darker scenes that make her characters feel so damn real. Not everything with her characters are sunshine and daisies. They have problems. They have skeletons in their closets that they have to defeat if they want any chance at happiness. That moment when they do and you know everything will be okay... That's the moment Melissa is best at. In <b>Caught by Love</b>, Archer's battle with his demons rivals any of Melissa's previous heroes. He's not used to having these feelings for a woman. Settling down was never in his cards. But Indi came along and not only knocked his life off kilter, but she blew down his carefully built exterior until only his soul remained. And when he realizes that she has not only imprinted her soul onto his, she holds his heart within the palm of her hands. It takes a strong woman to go toe-to-toe with Archer and Indi never backs down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I adored <b>Caught by Love</b>. I laughed, cried, giggled, swooned, mourned, and cheered right along with them. Nothing beats diving headfirst into a Melissa Foster book and not emerge until I'm finished reading it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR3I2qa-H9juF4N73kHRQQet-BplaNMkzivlxmP6SBg7eao6N853vqFTKeJ0ef4GYZXjOeoo6nlPGWMZNJ_oos3CGGojOVoE0-mTAysMJTtsk4byKIazNyTDR4u9vYGppvXFqf_94l7ejnTTC1INAf43zNndqXWL7GB_B1qlviFaB0GFQMC4jf5hKZKw=s288" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR3I2qa-H9juF4N73kHRQQet-BplaNMkzivlxmP6SBg7eao6N853vqFTKeJ0ef4GYZXjOeoo6nlPGWMZNJ_oos3CGGojOVoE0-mTAysMJTtsk4byKIazNyTDR4u9vYGppvXFqf_94l7ejnTTC1INAf43zNndqXWL7GB_B1qlviFaB0GFQMC4jf5hKZKw" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3_Kindle">KINDLE</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3_Apple">APPLE</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3_Nook">NOOK</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3_Kobo">KOBO</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3_GPlay">GOOGLE PLAY</a> - <a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3_Pb">PAPERBACK</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Audio, narrated by Aiden Snow and Andi Arndt</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3a_Amazon">AMAZON</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3a_Apple">APPLE</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://smarturl.it/SI3a_Audible">AUDIBLE</a></div></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56957819-caught-by-love" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="45" data-original-width="134" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyFhBEunCZV7v2NijeO8tBF7BIGvo96hdJYVBIFtK3TEK-JTeAtM5mNugJnmWERT5XT633rNU1CVopfRs7f1V6nDC7R0F-9M9OgqtZa0zR4QlvFgwnyRUkC2tXr5ecaa_UhLogpHbt9GpAfAIEHGK_XIkoxt9q_XaAiw0OX0_1wZLf23o73v6k4ZxoZw" width="134" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuMOMfCemr5jwWiQD5fbkS83KGFP-U_Ij8bdy9GK9HkBlqR_2GyEqTBjwvwEwWZUOIHFvJA5xs0gR5AjKkeKywlvTOXnesJSpeei5CYH1j1HqrdjwXoVcZIMG4URpLh-Pt42qZv2RG9e3IIr-nGRrEa0xm6eEmpUYWq1L-6KSOcoPu-7e-PwnJusxytg=s288" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="288" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuMOMfCemr5jwWiQD5fbkS83KGFP-U_Ij8bdy9GK9HkBlqR_2GyEqTBjwvwEwWZUOIHFvJA5xs0gR5AjKkeKywlvTOXnesJSpeei5CYH1j1HqrdjwXoVcZIMG4URpLh-Pt42qZv2RG9e3IIr-nGRrEa0xm6eEmpUYWq1L-6KSOcoPu-7e-PwnJusxytg" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Melissa Foster</b> is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.melissafoster.com/">Website</a> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/Melissa_Foster">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster">Goodreads</a> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://melissafoster.com/newsletter/">Newsletter</a> - <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melissa-foster">BookBub</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melissafoster_author/">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@melissafoster_author">TikTok</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTj4OKMznDhJ7l4-tA7VTx5MYWVFK8OypbFDIQO7bztZQ9aKxoidwxwUN6C5sWRAvGUGx-3etL8OdMa8O9s7IoTlIDoNoPnhTYpA6AkpujCZ1B4PvkgZnd-7w9dH_U0m0uPkts9ZekL56R7_9w1LRrzPK2IICTS7TFogHo4-FSwqAEbQlLY-o_B9E6rg=s940" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTj4OKMznDhJ7l4-tA7VTx5MYWVFK8OypbFDIQO7bztZQ9aKxoidwxwUN6C5sWRAvGUGx-3etL8OdMa8O9s7IoTlIDoNoPnhTYpA6AkpujCZ1B4PvkgZnd-7w9dH_U0m0uPkts9ZekL56R7_9w1LRrzPK2IICTS7TFogHo4-FSwqAEbQlLY-o_B9E6rg=s320" width="320" /></a></div></div>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873565394479960200.post-74419286939568948122022-01-31T20:36:00.001-08:002022-01-31T20:36:24.515-08:00Review: Love & Moonshine (Family Forever #2) by Aliyah Burke<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Love-Moonshine-Banner.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-91032 size-full" height="237" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Love-Moonshine-Banner.png" width="640" /></a></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:15px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:'docs-Calibri';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">Love & Moonshine by Aliyah Burke</span></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/series/family-forever" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Book 2 in the Family Forever series</a></h2>
<h3 class="group-link" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>General Release Date: 25th January 2022</i></b></h3><p style="text-align: center;">Word Count: <span class="info-value">31,215</span><br />Book Length: <span class="info-value">SHORT NOVEL</span><br />Pages: <span class="info-value">131</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Genres: </strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="info-value">CONTEMPORARY<br />EROTIC ROMANCE<br />FRIENDS TO LOVERS<br />MEN IN UNIFORM<br />MULTICULTURAL</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59819808-love-moonshine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a></h2>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Book Description</b></h1><p>
<a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/978-1-83943-563-8-_LoveMoonshine_500x800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-91030 alignleft" height="300" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/978-1-83943-563-8-_LoveMoonshine_500x800-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a> <em>Going home can be the best medicine.</em></p><p>Country boy Colum Boyle has been home to work the family farm for a while now. He’s shocked when he’s sent to pick up his sister’s best friend for a wedding, and he realizes he’s never gotten over her.</p><p>Veterinarian Xaya Asher isn’t sure all the mental preparation in the world has her ready to face Colum again. The sparks between them are combustible and soon the flames erupt.</p><p>Do these two have what it takes to overcome the obstacles before them?<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>My Thoughts</b></h1><div><b><br /></b></div><div>I have been having a blast rediscovering my reading mojo. I seem to be devouring these Totally Bound books in one big delicious bite. I mean, have you see these covers? Believe me when I saw what is inside the covers has been just as hot as the covers themselves. <b>Love & Moonshine </b>was another one I couldn't put down for more than 10 minutes. The push and pull between Xaya and Colum... Holy balls, that was so damn hot. The whole "I want you, but I'm not good enough for you." As annoying as that thought process can be, it really worked for these 2 wounded characters. And when they are finally on the same page, the sparks that ignite can scorch my Kindle any day. I'm so into reading Aliyah Burkes books right now that I'm actually re-reading a novella series that I read a couple years ago, but didn't review. I will for sure review them this time, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I'm going to keep devouring books for a long as my mojo keeps up.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><b>Excerpt</b></h1><p>“Line two, Dr. Asher.”</p><p>Jogging up the hallway from the back, Xaya waved a hand in acknowledgment to her practice manager as she passed the woman’s room.</p><p>The morning had been crazy and she was trying to get to her office for a moment of rest and food. That was the main thing. The half a bagel she’d inhaled at the ass-crack of dawn this morning hadn’t been what she needed to keep up with the expenditure of energy she’d expelled so far today.</p><p>“We ordered out—there’s a sandwich on your desk because I know you didn’t bring anything in with you.”</p><p>“I love you, Mrs. Connie.” And it was true, she loved her staff.</p><p>“Yeah, yeah,” the manager teased back.</p><p>With the door closed behind her, she walked to her desk and sat with a groan. The hot roast beef sandwich tempted her and the smells rising from it had her stomach chiming in on its opinion of how this should go. <em>Phone or food first?</em></p><p>She kicked off her shoes once she’d taken her seat, stole two bites just to make her mouth happy, then she picked up the phone.</p><p>“Dr. Asher.”</p><p>“Xaya? It’s Avery.”</p><p>She
frowned and shook her head before the smile overtook her. “Girl, what are you doing calling me on this line? I have a cell phone of which I’m fairly certain you have the number.”</p><p>“I wanted to give you a heads-up before I start hammering away at you on the cell.”</p><p>“I’m putting you on speaker so I can eat.” After doing just that, she took another big bite of her food and moaned in contentment.</p><p>“You sure you’re eating food and not getting dick?”</p><p>She snorted. “Positive. Now come on, tell me what this is all about. Why do I need a heads-up and what’s it going to cost me?”</p><p>“A plane ticket.”</p><p>Sucking gravy off her thumb, she scowled. “Everyone okay?”</p><p>A deep breath. “Yes. Lani’s getting married.”</p><p>“Oh my God!” Xaya clapped her hands. “This is incredible. She found someone we’re all okay with?”</p><p>“I miss you, Xaya. I love how you need to make sure you’re going to be okay with him as well, but yes. We do love him. His name is Sanders and no, not as in Colonel.”</p><p>She snorted because that was exactly where her mind had ventured. “Okay, so we approve of him, good. Why do I need a heads-up? I would love to come for the wedding. She’s like my own little sister. Where is it? Maui? Baja? Cabo? Paris? Italy? Bahamas?”</p><p>“You know Lani. It’s home.”</p><p>Her fork clattered to the desk, leaving behind a smear of mashed potatoes.</p><p>“Conception?”</p><p>Was that her voice that squeaked when she asked that?</p><p>“Yes.”</p><p>Xaya sighed. The denial built on her tongue. She wasn’t ready to head back to the small town she’d grown up in down south. Conception. School just hadn’t been a blast for her and to return was not something she wanted to do.</p><p>“I know,” Avery said quickly. “You didn’t have a lot of fun here, despite us having fun. It wasn’t easy for you but you did it. You survived. Lani wanted me to ask you and I’m willing to cash in any and all chips I have with you to get you here for her wedding. It’s all she wants, so what’s it going to take?”</p><p>“Nothing.” As soon as the word left her mouth she knew it was true. She would do anything for Avery, her best friend outside of her cousins, and Lani was also included in that.</p><p>“Text me the information and I’ll make the arrangements. You know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Lani.” And that was true. She and Avery’s family had been fiercely protective of that particular Boyle sibling. “Still going to cost you, though.”</p><p>“What?” she demanded in false outrage. “Are you sure?”</p><p>“More and more so with each passing second. And you better make it worth my while.”</p><p>“Okay, how about this… I give you one hot—your words not mine—brother of mine, Colum Boyle.”</p><p>If she’d had any food in her mouth she would have spit it out. Or choked. Colum had been five years their senior and, good Lord, he’d starred in all of her fantasies. No one in school had been able to compare to him.</p><p>“Pretty sure you’re pimping out your brother and I’m not sure he’s going to be okay with that.”</p><p>“Doesn’t matter what he thinks. This is about me making sure we’re square.”</p><p>Xaya laughed. “You totally mean that, don’t you?”</p><p>“Of course.”</p><p>“You can’t sell your brother to be my sex slave for the time I’m up there.”</p><p>“I never mentioned slavery. More like an escort.”</p><p>She dug back into her food, highly amused by the conversation. “How about we discuss payment that doesn’t include you selling off a family member for favors?”</p><p>“You’d take him.”</p><p>“Not even necessary to discuss this because we’re not using him as money.” Fuck yes, she’d take him. Especially if he’d only improved on what she remembered from the last time she’d seen him, right before he’d gone and joined the Marines.</p><p>“Dr. Asher. Hit and run inbound. They’ll be here in ten minutes.”</p><p>“Thanks, Melody.” She stole one last bite and took a drink. “Sorry to cut this short, Avery.”</p><p>“I know, I heard. I’ll text you the deets. And, Xaya?”</p><p>“Yeah?” She stood and readjusted her lab coat before swiping her cell and sticking it in her back pocket.</p><p>“Thanks for coming.”</p><p>“I meant what I said, Avery. I wouldn’t miss it for the
world.” She hung up the phone and ran out of her office.</p><h1 style="text-align: center;">Buy Links</h1>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/u/mBwOeM" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Choose Your Store</a>
<a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/book/love-and-moonshine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><br />First For Romance</a></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/978-1-83943-563-8-_LoveMoonshine_SocialImages_OutNow.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-91031 size-large" height="426" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/978-1-83943-563-8-_LoveMoonshine_SocialImages_OutNow-1024x682.jpg" width="640" /></a></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">About the Author</h1>
<h2><a href="https://www.firstforromance.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=29" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aliyah Burke</a></h2>
<p><strong>USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR</strong></p><p>Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is happily married to a career military man. They are owned by six Borzoi. She spends her days at the day job, writing, and working with her dogs. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached <a href="http://www.aliyah-burke.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a>. She can also be found on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aliyah-Burke/283998078320168" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/AliyahBurke96" rel="noopener" target="_blank">@AliyahBurke96</a>. And <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/aliyahburke5/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.</p><p>If you would like to be kept abreast of what's going on in the world of Aliyah, you can sign up to her newsletter <a href="http://aliyah-burke.com/newsletter.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><b>Giveaway</b></h1><p>
Enter for the chance to win a $50.00 First for Romance Gift Card! Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.
</p><p><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="555033ec953" data-template="589504cd4f3bedde0b6e64c2" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/555033ec953/" id="rcwidget_s876rmql" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></p><p>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-85030 size-large" height="213" src="https://www.indigomarketingdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Totally-Bound-Banner-1024x341.jpg" width="640" /></p>CrystalBeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13698316945505231869noreply@blogger.com0