Pretend Ever After by Skye Warren #newrelease

Fake relationship with the playboy billionaire who’s hiding secrets…

Pretend Ever After by Skye Warren is now live!

Billionaire. CEO. Heir to the largest fortune in the United States. Finn Hughes has a secret that no one can know. It means keeping people away… And what better way than with a fake relationship?

It will keep people from prying into his personal life.

He won’t be exposed. His family will remain safe from public scrutiny and disdain. Then the fake relationship turns all too real.

PRETEND EVER AFTER contains all three books in the Hughes series, taking you from the steamy beginning to the emotional conclusion.

 

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/43I8TDf

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/PretendEverAfter

My Review

Rating : 3.5 Stars

This was a light and easy read. The storyline held my interest. It was a little predictable and cliché but still an engrossing one.

The trilogy consists of One for the Money, Two for the Show and finally Three to get Ready.

This was perfect, all 3 books in one and I could read them without a break.

Finn Hughes was the standout in this novel. I loved this character, he is sweet, protective and decent. He is a man of wealth and privilege, yet his life is not a fairy tale. His family and his company depend on him, he has been groomed for the role of CEO of a billion-dollar company. My heart broke for the experiences he has endured. His desperation is buried under layers of secret, his playboy persona is just an act. His past has shaped him and tainted his belief in happily ever after.

Eva Morelli was more of an enigma. Her character was under-developed in my opinion, she never really managed to catch my attention. Eva has no interest in a relationship, but she needs a fake one with a suitable fiancé to satisfy her mother. Negotiating a business proposal is not how she envisioned creating a family. It is hard to ignore that the initial treatment by Eva towards Finn as merely being a means to an end for her family problems is problematic.

I enjoyed reading how Finn and Eva form a relationship and later a family, although initially it felt too much like insta love. I liked that the touching romantic moments were interwoven throughout the angst-ridden moments so that things didn’t get dark.

Reading this trilogy was an easy ride. I can’t say that this book will become a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed reading it.

Many thanks to the author and Valentine PR for the advance reader copy of this book.

 

Meet Skye

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance such as the Endgame trilogy. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. Her books have sold over ​two million copies.​ She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.

Connect with Skye

Website: http://www.skyewarren.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5339130.Skye_Warren

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BX2sUG

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1569845016592572/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyewarrenbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skye_warren

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/skye-warren

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/skyewarren/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skyewarrenbooks

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/skyewarren

Dream Keeper by Kristen Ashley #newrelease #bookreview

Dream Keeper, the all new white hot and action packed contemporary
romance from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley, is available now!

Spinning off from the bestselling Dream Man and Rock Chick series, this is the emotional
and steamy contemporary romance fans of the Dream Team series have been waiting for!

He’s perfect—but he can’t be hers.

Pepper Hannigan is determined to keep any romance off the table—and out of her bedroom—while her daughter Juno is still young. Sure, a certain handsome commando is thoughtful, funny, and undeniably hot, but Pepper’s had her heart broken before, and she won’t let it happen again. Not to her or her little girl, even if this hero could melt any woman’s resolve.

Augustus “Auggie” Hero can’t deny his attraction to beautiful, warm-hearted Pepper or how much he wants to make a home with her and her little girl, but Pepper’s mixed signals have kept him away. That is, until Juno decides to play matchmaker. Her efforts finally bring Pepper into his arms, but they expose the danger Pepper is in. To protect Pepper and Juno, Auggie will have to live up to his last name and prove happy endings aren’t just for fairy tales.

Read Now

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w5xEHH

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DreamKeeper

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3qvIKEC

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3x6txfL

Nook: https://bit.ly/3AaghbN

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2TegiuI

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3y4yExe

Barnes & Noble Paperback: https://bit.ly/3y299wn

My Review

Rating : 3.5 Stars

I liked this story and enjoyed the unraveling of the intrigue. The author did a great job in keeping the pace steady, I was surprised by the dark twists in the plot. The characters were relatable and I definitely got invested in their story, written from multiple points of view. Their chemistry is crackling with conflict and connection.

I really liked the heroine, Pepper, she is a strong female character, smart and witty. She has gone through plenty of rough patches, she knows what desperation feels like. The hero, Auggie, is resourceful, sexy, determined and protective. He is genuine and cares deeply for Pepper and her adorable daughter, Juno. I loved how both Pepper and Auggie were strong in the face of adversity.

Many thanks to the publisher and Social Butterfly PR for the advanced reader copy of this book.

Read a Sneak Peek Now!

Prologue

Auggie stood at the front of the church and watched her walk down the aisle. The bridesmaids’ dresses Lottie chose were very Lottie. Sleek. Sexy. Baring.

All the women looked great in them, but none of them looked better than Pepper.

And he thought that even before Pepper, as she strutted down the aisle, caught sight of her daughter, Juno, and shot her girl a huge smile.

Pepper Hannigan was gorgeous.

Anytime she was with her daughter?

Knockout.

They were the next in the line of Lottie’s matches. Auggie and Pepper.

Mo and Lottie were the obvious firsts (Mo was one of Aug’s four best buds), and Lottie earning the love of Mo had been all Lottie’s idea.

Mo never thought he’d find anyone as fantastic as Lots, would never go for it, until Lottie talked him around.

Now Mo was standing at the front of their line, waiting to make her his wife.

Once Lottie got her happy ending, she set about giving the same thing to Mo’s friends…fixing them up with her own crew.

And so far, she’d done a bang-up job.

Mag and Evie, the second couple, were living together and getting married.

Boone and Ryn, the third, were tight, and further, they were in business together.

Axl and Hattie, the fourth, were as good as living together, and practically inseparable. It was him and Pepper who were the holdouts.

This was not for lack of trying on Auggie’s part.

Once he’d met her, Auggie saw no reason not to go for it.

She was gorgeous. She was funny. She spoke her mind. She was laid back. Together. She didn’t seem to have any hang-ups.

But Pepper saw reason not to give it a shot because she had a kid.

He got it. She was being careful. Whatever had torn her and Juno’s dad apart had made her skittish.

So yeah.

He got it.

That didn’t mean it wasn’t torture.

Like right now, when her eyes caught his, the smile that she gave her kid still in them,

and Auggie felt that. He felt it.

Damn.

It wasn’t even aimed at him in any real way, and that residual love she’d targeted at her daughter was so big, it took forever to fade away.

He’d never felt that kind of love.

Not once in his life.

And he wanted it so bad, the backs of his teeth hurt with the need to taste it.

He lost her attention when she shifted to take her place at the front of the church and

Auggie tore his gaze away from her to watch the next woman, Hattie, march down the aisle. On its way, his gaze snagged on Juno.

Dark hair to her mom’s blonde, she was all dressed up, her hair curled —her mom was a bridesmaid in a big wedding with all the prep that entailed, but it was clear Juno had not been forgotten.

She was staring at her mother, beaming with pride.

Seeing that beam made Auggie want even more of what he’d never had. From the both of them.

About Kristen Ashley

Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland, The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil and Honey series along with several standalone novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over three million books.

Kristen’s novel, Law Man, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award for best Romantic Suspense. Her independently published title Hold On was nominated for RT Book Reviews best Independent Contemporary Romance and her traditionally published title Breathe was nominated for best Contemporary Romance. Kristen’s titles Motorcycle Man, The Will, Ride Steady (which won the Reader’s Choice award from Romance Reviews) and The Hookup all made the final rounds for Goodreads Choice Awards in the Romance category.

Connect with Kristen

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FyJg18

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3hl0A7e

Instagram: https://bit.ly/33o8nfv

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ZtoKGz

BookBub: https://bit.ly/3bYcTFl

Twitter: https://bit.ly/35Kg6rh

Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3mftcCt

Website: https://www.kristenashley.net

Stay up to date by subscribing to her mailing list: https://bit.ly/3mjJiLd

Backlash (Rivals #2) by Geneva Lee #newrelease #bookreview

Backlash by Geneva Lee is now live! 

Rivals #2

She’s a wildfire. He lit the match…

I thought my life was hell until the devil walked through my door. Sterling isn’t the boy who stole my heart anymore. He’s cunning, manipulative, and dangerous–so why does my body ache for his touch?

I thought I could trust him. I should have known better. He’s broken my heart twice. Now there’s nothing left to break. Because I’m not the girl he fell for or the woman he used. He thought he could play me. He thought he could hurt me. But I’m a survivor, and while I might respond to every stolen kiss, every forbidden moment, there’s one piece of me he’ll never touch. I sold my soul to protect it, and no one can ever learn the truth–not even Sterling Ford.

****

I never thought I’d find myself begging for Adair’s forgiveness. But she belongs to me. She always has and she always will. No matter how hard she tries to rewrite history.

It’s too late to change who we’ve become. Maybe nothing can save us now. Maybe nothing ever could. I built my fortune with blood, fueled by lies, and soon my past will catch up with both of us. I can’t protect her from the man I’ve become, and no one can save me from the storm that’s coming–not even Adair MacLaine.

New York Times bestselling author Geneva Lee delivers with the second book in the Rivals series, an emotional roller coaster that’ll leave you begging for more!

  My Review

Rating : 3.5 Stars

Backlash picks up right where Blacklist ends, and from the first page, I was sucked back into the lives of Adair and Sterling, told in past-present storytelling.

Sterling is enigmatic, complicated and has to have his way. He is calculating and it is obvious that he has his own demons to face and deal with. What does come across in this book is the intensity of his love for Adair with some very touching moments mixed with the darkness he hides beneath the surface.

Adair is strong. She feels trapped, she wants to regain control of her life and break free from her past. Her trust is put to the test.  

I love this author and really wanted to love this series too, but, so far, I’ve struggled with the lack of characters’ depth and the past-present storytelling, that is confusing at times. I hope there will be more focus on the development of Adair and Sterling’s romance in the third part of their story.

Many thanks to Grey’s Promotions for the advanced copy of this book.

  Download today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/34nuMvp

Amazon WW: http://mybook.to/glback

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2Dprzjy

 Nook: https://bit.ly/3fokTQk

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3fblJ2E

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Ob3ejO

Meet Geneva

GENEVA LEE is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including the Royals Saga which has sold two million copies worldwide. She lives in Poulsbo Washington with her husband and three children, and she co-owns Away With Words Bookshop with her sister.

Geneva is married to her high school sweetheart. He’s always the first person to read her books. Sometimes, he reads as she writes them. Last year, they were surprised by finding out Geneva was pregnant with their third child. They welcomed a beautiful baby girl in 2020.

When she isn’t working or writing, Geneva likes to read, bake ridiculous cakes, and watch television. She loves to travel and is always anxious to go on a new adventure.

Connect with Geneva

Website | http://www.genevalee.com

Goodreads | https://bit.ly/genleegr

Amazon | https://bit.ly/genevalee

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/genevaleebooks/

 Facebook Group | https://www.facebook.com/groups/GenevaLeesLoves/

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/realgenevalee/

Twitter | https://twitter.com/GenevaLeeAuthor

Bookbub | https://www.bookbub.com/profile/geneva-lee

Newsletter | https://www.genevalee.com/newsletter 

Text GENEVA to 31996

When the Walls Come Down by Aly Martinez & M. Mabie #bookreview

“Exactly what I needed to relax, laugh, and swoon after a hard day. I cannot wait to see what M. Mabie and Aly Martinez come up with next.”
–Carrie Ann Ryan, New York Times Bestselling Author

When the Walls Come Down, an all-new, steamy, swoony, highly entertaining office romance from USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez and M. Mabie is available now!

Did you ever hear the joke about the guy whose wife cheated on him with his best friend? So he quit his job, moved into his parents’ basement, and gained fifty pounds?

No? Because that wasn’t a joke. It was my life.

Four years later, I’m back with a dream job, a killer apartment, and a set of abs that are better than ever.

So, when Maggie Light, a stunning, snarky blonde moves in next door, and we spend the hottest weekend of our lives together, I think this could be the greatest comeback story ever.

That is until I realize Maggie has moved to town to do one thing—steal my job.

Maybe this isn’t a comeback story after all. Maybe this is war—one I intend to win.

What I never anticipated was that maybe I’d rather win her.

Perhaps, if I’m lucky, the universe has finally run out of jokes and I can somehow win both.

Download your copy today or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3b2zsqn
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/wallsdown

Add WHEN THE WALLS COME DOWN to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fmTgbe

My Review

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was a lighthearted, fun, fast read. The demure hero was a very enjoyable main character and the perfect fit for the funny, determined heroine.The chemistry between Shane and Maggie jumps off of the page and the reader can feel its intensity through the interactions that they have with each other. The way they taunted each other yet also cared about each other was nice. Although they were both smart and driven, they both also had underlying vulnerabilities and fears that influenced their lives.

Shane is funny and awkward at times, but he has a deep side, one that has been deeply hurt by his divorce. He is struggling to figure out what he wants out of life and what will make him happy. He is a creature of habit. There was something about Shane and his calm and collected demeanor that always pulled me to him.

Maggie’s bright, sunny personality is what Shane needs to bring some sunshine into his life. Maggie has taken a leap of faith, thrown caution to the wind to forge her own new path. She has left her family behind and moved to Francisco. She wants to see herself as a bit of an adventurer and to live the life her mother never got.

My one complaint would be that the idea that Maggie and Shane were competing for the position of creative director fell a little flat for me. I didn’t really believe in their hating game. Of course, their situation was uncomfortable. But they were always honest and thoughtful with one another.

So, overall, I enjoyed this story. I would recommend it to people who like cute, fluffy office romances.

Many thanks to the authors and Social Butterfly PR for the advanced reader copy of this book.

Excerpt

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Am I a man or not?

Here goes fucking nothing.

Take a risk, my ass. I’d fucking show Casey and Blake a damn risk.

I marched down to where she was sitting. “Hi, I’m Shane.”

She looked shocked, maybe a little startled by my approach—and rightly so. I’d stalked over like the fucking Terminator, all amped up from my private pep talk.

“The bartender, Chris, said you’re new in town, and it’s your first time here.”

Her sparkling blue eyes stood out against her makeup, and now—standing close to her—I could smell her perfume. A subtle and warm scent that made me want to lean in.

What the fuck had I been thinking?

To put it mildly, she was out of my league, but hey… Risks, right?

“If you’re dining alone, would you mind if I offer a suggestion from the menu?”

“I was only looking it over out of curiosity. I really just came in for a drink or two.” She folded it and placed it on the wooden top in front of her.

Goddamn, that cleavage.

“Oh. Yeah. Okay. Well, then…uh…let me get one for you.” I might have strutted over like the Terminator, but I was fumbling over my words like Barney Fife and beginning to sweat like a Crossfitter.

Her brows bunched. “Um, you really don’t have to do that.”

“Please. After the day I’ve had, I’ll actually have one with you.” I swiped at the back of my neck. “The drinks are good here. Very cold. Wet.” Jesus fucking Christ, Shane. Wet!? “Um. Alcoholic, if that’s what you’re into.” I waved Chris—and his bigger-than-life shit-eating grin—down to us.

“Find something you’d like?” he asked her.

“I’ll just have a Titos and cranberry,” she answered. “I hear they’re very cold and wet here.”

Chris looked at me disappointedly, probably guessing at how badly I’d botched this introduction. He wasn’t wrong, but she hadn’t told me to fuck off yet.

Yet.

“And I’ll take a Honeybee Brown,” I added.

He spun on his heel, shocked. “Really?”

I shrugged and shot daggers at him. “Really. A pint, please.”

“A cold, wet one too, eh? Okay, man. Coming right up.” He made our drinks and then about a dozen more for the servers who were keeping him busy.

“Thanks for the drink,” she said, clinking our glasses together, her eyes never quite meeting mine.

“Yeah. Sure. No problem.” I followed her lead and took a sip.

“So, do you come here a lot, Shane?”

My name on her lips had me clearing my throat.

“Yes,” replied our asshole bartender before I could answer.

“I live close,” I explained, and she nodded in understanding. “So, where did you come to the Bay from?” I took another sip, realizing that counting the beer I’d had with Casey earlier and this one, I was nearing my only-a-few-drinks daily limit. So I’d be savoring the pint as long as she didn’t seem too put off by my dusty-ass small talk. Otherwise, I could chug it down and then be on my merry way, leaving her to enjoy her night without a divorced, practically fired dude bugging her.

“Atlanta,” she replied and swirled a piece of ice with the drink stirrer in her glass. Still no eye contact.

Small talk. I fumbled for more small talk.

“You have family here?”

“No, I’ve always wanted to get out of Georgia. So, when I landed a job out here, it seemed like a sign.”

Finally, her blue eyes met mine and… Fuck, if I could have just remembered to blink, I’d have been doing well. I feared if I broke the gaze for just a second, I’d never see that color again, because surely it was a mirage of some sort. Like a crystal-blue pool in a desert. The kind of trick eyes could only play on a man who hadn’t been laid in nearly half a decade.

She finished with, “I start on Monday. I guess fate is as good a time as any to take a risk.”

About Aly

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her husband and four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and olives. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

Connect with Aly

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2RvbjCA
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2DUCq1Z
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2We92eT
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2V32S4B
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2UKGUOM
Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2DEpPAh
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2DUgzrJ
Website: https://alymartinez.com/
Stay up to date with Aly by joining her mailing list today:
http://bit.ly/2WnkxjS

About M. Mabie

Mabie lives in Illinois with her husband. She writes everything from steamy romantic comedies to angst-filled, pull your hair out drama. She enjoys it all. With her unconventional love stories, she tries to embody “real-life romance.”

She cares about politics, but will not discuss them in public. She uses the same fork at every meal, watches Wayne’s World while cleaning, and lets her dog sleep on her head. She has always been a writer. In fact, she was born with a pen in her hand, which almost never happens. Almost.

Mabie usually doesn’t speak in third-person. She promises.

Connect with M. Mabie

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2W3M2Bu
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3de6q8K
BookBub: https://bit.ly/35wkuaT
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2SBypHu
Twitter: https://bit.ly/2W1cr2W
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/2xzhmyF
Website: https://www.mmabie.com
Stay up to date with M. Mabie by joining her mailing list:
https://bit.ly/3dkTJcp

Wild, Wild Rake (The Cavensham Heiresses #6) by Janna Macgregor #newrelease @SMPromance #bookreview

Wild, Wild Rake, the next sweeping, emotional, witty, and sharp romance in the Cavensham Heiresses series from beloved author Janna MacGregor.

Her first marriage was an epic fail.

Lady Avalon Warwyk never did love her husband. Arrogant, selfish, and cruel, it’s a blessing when she’s widowed and left to raise her son all by herself. Finally, Avalon can live freely and do the work she loves: helping fallen women become businesswomen. She’s lived these past ten years with no desire to remarry—that is, until Mr. Devan Farris comes to town.

Can he convince her to take another chance at happily ever after?

Devan Farris—charming vicar, reputed rake, and the brother of Avalon’s son’s guardian—is reluctantly sent to town to keep tabs on Avalon and her son. Devan wishes he didn’t have to meddle in her affairs; he’s not one to trod on a woman’s independent nature and keen sense of convictions. But she’ll have nothing to do with a vicar with a wild reputation—even though he’s never given his heart and body to another. If only he could find a way to show Avalon who he really is on the inside—a good, true soul looking for its other half. But how can prove that he wants to love and care for her. . .until death do they part?

Buy this book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250296016

My Review

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Everything I have read by this author in the past has been an absolute blast, unfortunately I personally felt that this book didn’t meet my expectations, which were pretty high, I’ll admit. The “enemies to lovers” trope is one of my favorite. This novel does deliver on the banter, rivalry and friendship. I couldn’t put this down because Janna MacGregor’s storytelling is addicting, but at the same time, it left me feeling a little bemused. I didn’t really feel the romance all that convincingly.

Avalon is the heroine that I found truly admiring. I certainly loved her spirit, her generosity and her determination. She is the shining star in this installment, she’s just a delightful character to follow. I loved her confidence and uniqueness. I loved how strong she was even during tougher times. I loved how mature she was. Her backstory really made me feel for her. Her first marriage was a sham, and she was deeply hurt by her late husband’s actions. As a widow, she has gained her independence and has opened a home for former prostitutes and foundlings.  Her son’s legal guardian wants to take control over her estate and has sent his younger brother, Devan, to spy on her and discover where she received the funds to do her charitable work.

Devan Farris took a while for me to warm up to. He did end up growing on me but I still didn’t end up loving this character. I liked that he was thoughtful and had a solid relationship with his brother, but I thought that he wasn’t fleshed out enough for me to like him.

The plot and its pacing was the main downfall for me. The first part of the book drags on. The tension between the two main characters wasn’t enough to keep me engaged. I just wanted something to happen. Then, everything happened in the last part of the book, and I just wished some subplots didn’t take away from Avalon and Devan’s storyline. But despite some of the contrived drama, this book does hit the mark for a sweet romance and I really enjoyed the ending.

Many thanks to the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book.

Excerpt

Avalon read the first line in the letter from her son’s guardian, Gavin Farris, the Earl of Larkton. By all appearances the words resembled something innocuous, purely designed to lull a person into thinking it contained real concern with a touch of whimsical affection.

My dearest lady, I do hope this finds you and your intrepid son well.

“Avalon, did you hear the news?” Seventeen, on the cusp of eighteen years of age, Avalon’s sister, Lady Sophia Cavensham, looked up from her embroidery and smiled. Her gaze darted to her friend Miss Penelope Rowley, the one and only niece of the wealthiest gentry landowner in the shire. Though she was two years older than Sophia, Penelope had become somewhat of a fixture at Warwyk Hall over the last six months since she’d moved to her aunt and uncle’s home. The two women were inseparable.

Penelope let out a dramatic sigh then collapsed in a swoon across the pink-and-gold brocade sofa. In the process, she kneed the table, upsetting the delicate pink china cup and saucer. “Oww.”

Avalon tried to ignore their chatter. The Earl of Larkton’s correspondence had increased in frequency over the last several months. The weekly letters were turning into biweekly posts. Each one wanted more and more control over the Warwyk estate and more decision-making control over her ten-year-old son, Thane Pearce, the Marquess of Warwyk. She doubled her concentration on the letter as she read the entire first paragraph.

The purpose of my correspondence is to inform you that I’ve appointed a new vicar for the village of Thistledown. The man comes with impeccable standing and experience. In addition, his educational training is second to none. He’s a protégé of Lord Bishop Marlowe.

“He’s extraordinary.” Sophia’s dreamlike whisper floated through the air like a dandelion seed.

“He’s . . . simply exquisite.” Penelope’s voice joined Sophia’s in a chorus of dazzled fascination.

My dear Marchioness, it’s my pleasure to announce that my brother—

Avalon swallowed the sudden onrush of bile that marched up her throat. It couldn’t be. Fate was not that hateful.

“Mr. Devan—” Sophia sighed.

“Farris.” Penelope finished the sentence and slowly drew her hand against her forehead as if saying his name caused her to faint.

“No. Not him.” Avalon murmured the words aloud. The sanctimonious prig had arrived to make her life a living hell. Avalon grimaced to keep from casting her accounts. Now she was just exaggerating like the girls. She wasn’t really physically sick, but the news could make a person ill. “When did he arrive in the village?”

Clueless as to how the news affected her older sister, Sophia scooted to the edge of the crimson-and-white striped club chair that sat adjacent to Avalon’s matching one. “Two days ago. Penelope and I just happened to be walking in front of the vicarage when we saw the Earl of Larkton’s coach arrive. The new vicar followed behind on horseback.”

Penelope nodded vigorously as if Sophia’s story needed affirmation.

Avalon wanted to roll her eyes. The two women “never just happen” to do anything. They orchestrated and connived everything from shopping to men. God save anyone who crossed their paths. If one of the girls took a shine to any of the ton’s marriageable men, then London’s finest would soon understand what it meant to be hunted.

As the girls continued their chatter, Avalon devoted her full attention to the rest of the letter. Better to finish the horrid task, then take a long walk through her gardens. Though it was January and bitterly cold outside, a brisk hour of exercise would help Avalon clear some of her unease at the news that Mr. Devan Farris had invaded her village.

I’ve considered your request that the young marquess continue his studies at home, but at the age of ten, his interests would best be served by attending Eton sooner rather than later. That’s where boys turn into men. Your suggestion that he attend Harrow won’t do. His father had insisted that I promise he attend Eton. However, since his Latin skills are somewhat lacking, I’ve decided to hire my brother, Mr. Farris, to tutor him in the subject.

Her blood simmered at the words. The earl’s declaration was nothing more than gilding the lily. Everyone within fifty miles of London knew that Devan Farris sought to marry an heiress. Until he found one, the fortune-hunting vicar thought to use her son’s marquisate to pay double for his services. Since her son’s estate paid for the vicar’s wages, Mr. Farris would receive another wage from the coffers for tutoring lessons.

But what really brought her blood to boil was that the smug vicar would be nosing into her business, and that wouldn’t do at all. She and only she ruled the parish with a fair and impartial hand. No one, including Devan Farris, would upset her world.

About the Author

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She is the author of the Cavensham Heiresses series, which begins with The Bad Luck Bride. Janna credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs.

 

 Author website: https://www.jannamacgregor.com/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/JannaMacGregor

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JannaMacGregor/

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jannamacgregor/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15613220.Janna_MacGregor

 

SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts

SMP Romance Website: https://heroesandheartbreakers.com/

Outmatched by Kristen Callihan & Samantha Young #bookreview

Outmatched by Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young

Release Date: November 19, 2019

Outmatched, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by New York Times bestselling authors Kristen Callihan and Samantha Young.

What happens when a boxer finds chemistry with a geek?

Parker Brown can’t believe she needs to hire a fake boyfriend. When she landed her dream job in renewable energy, she thought she’d be entering a world at the forefront of progressive thinking. But the head boss prefers to promote employees who are “settled.” Thankfully, she’s found the perfect candidate, a fellow intellectual looking for some quick cash. What Parker gets is his protective big brother—Rhys Morgan. The tall, muscled ex-boxer with a foul mouth shows up just as her boss does, and now she’s stuck with the manipulative jerk.

Responsibility weighs heavily on Rhys. Now permanently out of the ring, he’s trying to hold together his late father’s gym and keep his younger brother, Dean, on the straight and narrow. To save Dean from himself, Rhys takes his place, ready to give this society girl a piece of his mind. Instead, he finds an opportunity. Even though they can hardly stand each other, posing as Parker’s boyfriend is a win-win deal. She gets to keep her job, and he’ll charm her star-struck boss into sponsoring his gym.

Problem is, they can barely keep their hands off each other. And what started as an easy deal isn’t so easy anymore. Because what future can a rough ex-boxer, afraid to open his heart, and a polished society geek, who has sworn off real relationships, possibly have?

They say opposites attract. These opposites are about to combust on impact.

My Review

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was an enjoyable read. A Fifth Avenue princess gets an ex professional boxer to pose as her boyfriend to help her professionally. I absolutely love the « fake relationship » trope, it’s very classic and predictable contemporary romance, but a nice break from darker plots. These two characters are opposites but work very well together. I enjoyed the contrast between them. Rhys is rough around the edges, obnoxious and intimidating. Parker is privileged, smart and comes from money. I loved her no-nonsense attitude, her zest and wit.

Rhys’s professional career has come to an end and he is in danger of losing his sole source of income, his gym that is about to be repossessed by the bank. He ambushes Parker to take his younger brother’s place posing as her fake boyfriend. To attend events with a sexy athlete on her arm should not be tough, but the man pushes her buttons.

Both main characters were warm and touching. I loved the fiery back and forth dialogue between Parker and Rhys, their constant bickering was fun. Sparks fly between these two both with chemistry and tempers. Rhys is cocky and brash, and one hot-blooded alpha! I loved how much he wanted Parker, and how hard he tried to fight it. She absolutely tested his self-control! Parker is insecure and feels stupid for putting herself in the position of being a mere monetary means to end.

This was an entertaining read with great characters, amusing dialogue, but the plot itself was a bit thin in my opinion.

Many thanks to the authors and Social Butterfly PR for my copy of this book.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ZwJjPt

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/OutmatchedKCSY

Kobo: http://bit.ly/OutmatchedKCSYKobo

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2zsHUyR

Nook: http://bit.ly/368dv84

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/OutmatchedKCSYGR

Excerpt:

AngryTink: Hey. This is Parker. Parker Brown.

My phone dinged loudly. I fumbled around my bed, finally finding the damn thing under a pillow. Wiping the sleep off my face, I rolled onto my back and read the text that had pulled me out of a pleasant sleep. I smiled. It was just so … Parker. Settling in, I answered her.

RhysThis: Don’t have to tell me who you are. Your number is programmed on my phone. What do you want?

AngryTink: Well, good morning to you too, Happy Pants.

My smile turned into an evil grin. The girl was always going to punch back and make it count.

RhysThis: That’s Mr. Happy Pants. Though, TBH, my pants aren’t too happy at the moment. Want to help me out with that?

AngryTink: Tempting. Truly. But, no.

RhysThis: RU sure? ‘Cuz Happy Pants Rhys is much more agreeable than Sad That He Had to Self-Satisfy Rhys.

AngryTink: Would you please behave?

RhysThis: I’m not the one who mentioned the emotional state of my pants.

AngryTink: ARGH!

A chuckle rumbled in my chest as my thumbs tapped out a response I knew would piss her off more.

RhysThis: Was that even English? Honestly, Ms. Brown, I thought you were educated.

She took a moment to answer. I could picture her, phone in hand, grinding her teeth.

AngryTink: You’re deliberately trying to annoy me, aren’t you?

RhysThis: You’re quick. I’ll give you that.

AngryTink: Mr. Morgan, I’m about ten seconds away from finding an alternate fake boyfriend. A goat on a rope would be a better candidate at this point.

It was cute she thought that was threatening.

RhysThis: Yeah, probably. But the goat doesn’t have a signed contract. I do, Tinker Bell.

AngryTink: ARGH@!!

RhysThis: You’re kind of cute when you talk pirate.

About Kristen:

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a RITA winner and three-time nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

Connect with Kristen:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KristenCallihan/

Twitter – Kris10Callihan

Website – http://www.kristencallihan.com/

Amazon – https://amzn.to/2zrf3Lo

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/Kristen_Callihan

About Samantha:

Samantha Young is a New York Times and #1 International bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. She has since published over thirteen romance titles including the New York Times Bestsellers Into the Deep, Hero, and her most recent contemporary romance Play On. When writing Adult Paranormal romance she writes under the pen name S. Young.

Connect with Samantha:

Social media links:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamanthaYoung/

Website – http://authorsamanthayoung.com

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/authorsamanthayoung/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AuthorSamYoung

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.co.uk/samyoungauthor/

Amazon – http://amzn.to/2H47kEP

Goodreads – http://bit.ly/2FWgYdn

Bookbub – http://bit.ly/2D241eO

Hated You Then (Love Hurts #1) by M. Robinson

 

 

 

 

From Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author M. Robinson comes Hated You Then, book 1 in the Love Hurts Duet. 

Release Date: September 17th

A coming of age, enemies to lovers, contemporary romance filled with angst and all the feels. 

I couldn’t remember a time before her… Harley Jameson.

 

Before she owned me.

Hated Me.

Needed me.

 

Before I hated her…

 

Things were simple.

We had an understanding.

Bully. Fight. Hate. It’s what we did.

Mind. Body. Soul. It’s how we loved.

 

I thought nothing would ever change that, until everything did.

 

She was mine.

 

Always had been.

Always would be.

Nothing altered that.

Not how much I hated her.

Not how much she hated me.

Especially, not how much I hated…

 

That I LOVED her.

Buy Here:

AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | KOBO | NOOK | GOOGLE PLAY

 

My Review

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I’ll be honest, it took me a while to read the first chapters of this book. I was not sure I was going to like this story. After a few chapters, I got used to the storytelling and the book flew by.

Jackson Pierce and Harley Jameson grew up together and this first part of their story focuses on their childhood, from little kid to teenager. From the start, they show a lot of animosity towards one another and yet, each secretly suppresses their affection for the other. They bicker every time they are in the presence of one another and it always ends with them at each other’s throats. Hate is a constant in their troubled relationship. Yet, there is a thin line between love and hate. The dialogues are quite good but the same argument seemed to go on for too long. They both have a fiery temperament. There were some cute scenes and a few funny lines but overall this story was rather sad. Jackson mourns the family he lost and pushes everybody away.

Both characters are entertaining and it’s probably why this book was so addictive. I’m really looking forward to the next part of their story.

Many thanks to the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for my copy of this book.

 

 Love You Now

Love Hurts Duet, Book 2

Release Date: November 12th

Blurb to be released soon!

 

 

Add to your GR TBR

 

Pre-Order Now:

AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | KOBO | NOOK 

 

 

 

Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author M. Robinson loves to read. She favors anything that has angst, romance, triangles, cheating, love, and of course sex! She has been reading since the Babysitters Club and R.L. Stein. 
She was born in New Jersey but was raised in Tampa Fl. She was pursuing her Ph.D in psychology, with two years left. However, she dropped out of school and became a fulltime writer.
She is married to an amazing man who she loves to pieces. They have two German Shepherd mixes, Kobe and trooper, a Wheaten Terrier, Teddy and a Tabby cat, Gio. 
She feels blessed to be living her dream.

 

 

Website | Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|YouTube Channel| Reader Group

 

 

Jackson (Eternity Springs : The McBrides of Texas #1) by Emily March

From New York Times bestselling author Emily March comes Jackson, the newest novel in the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series.

Sometimes it takes a new beginning
Caroline Carruthers thinks she buried her dreams along with the love of her life…until a stranger named Celeste dares her to chase a dream all on her own. Moving to Redemption, Texas, is chapter one in Caroline’s new life story. Opening a bookstore is the next. Finding love is the last thing on her mind as she settles into this new place called home. But when she meets a handsome, soulful man who’s also starting over, all bets are off.

to reach a happily-ever-after
Jackson McBride came to Redemption looking only to find himself, not someone to love. Ever since his marriage ended, he’s been bitter. Sure, he used to believe in love—he even has the old song lyrics to prove it—but the Jackson of today is all business. That is, until a beautiful young widow who’s moved to town inspires a change of heart. Could it be that the myth of Redemption’s healing magic is true…and Jackson and Caroline can find a second chance at a happy ending after all?

Buy-Book Link:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250314918

My Review

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This new series is a spin-off of the Eternity Springs series. It is set in Redemption, a small town in Texas. The story is light-hearted for the most part. The novel also has serious issues that the main characters must deal with in order to move forward.  This author has an amazing ability of creating not just characters or plot lines but communities and extended families. This explains why there are a lot of secondary characters in this novel, some new, some already familiar if you have read the Eternity Springs series.

Jackson McBride is a gifted songwriter but he hasn’t written anything since his divorce and he is depressed by his creative dry spell. His ruthless ex-wife has dragged him through hell and she has recently separated him from his six year old daughter. He is only allowed to speak to her on the phone. His relocation to Redemption, a small town in Texas brings him hope a new chapter in his life has started. He has inherited Enchanted Canyon, a very special place, unspoiled and underdeveloped.

Caroline Carruthers is a widow who has found her way to Redemption. She intends to make a home for herself in the idyllic small town that calls to her and calms her troubled spirit. What I like most about Caroline is her caring and thoughtful nature. She noticed Jackson being depressed and helped him instead of letting him be.

The characters of Caroline and Jackson were strong and layered. They both had issues that they carried into their relationship. These issues were handled with sensitivity. I loved the dynamic between these two characters, nothing was forced or rushed.

Jackson’s family also has a nice spot in this story, and I wish there had been more of them.

Overall, this was an entertaining read, that can be read as a standalone.

Happy reading and thanks for stopping by!

Many thanks to the SMP Romance team for my invitation to this blog tour and my advanced reader copy.

Excerpt

Chapter One Excerpt

  

Nashville, Tennessee

Bang. The judge’s gavel fell and officially crushed Jackson McBride’s heart. He closed his eyes. Bleak despair washed over him. Up until this very moment, he hadn’t believed she’d take it this far.

He’d thought she’d come to her senses. He’d thought she would recognize that this proposal was not only nonsense, but truly insane. He’d believed that somewhere deep inside of her, she still had a spark of humanity. That she wouldn’t do this to him. To them. He’d been wrong.

Damn her. Damn her and the yes-men she surrounded herself with. Damn them all to hell and back.

The enormity of what had just happened washed over him. Oh, God, how will

I survive this?

On the heels of his anguish came the rage. It erupted hot as lava, and it fired his blood and blurred his vision with a red haze of fury. He’d never hit a woman in his life. Never come close, despite plenty of provocation from her direction. In that moment had she been within reach, he might have lived up her accusations.

It scared the crap out of him. That’s what she’s brought me to.

Abruptly, he shoved back his chair so hard that it teetered, almost falling over. He strode toward the courtroom exit. “Jackson? Jackson, wait!” his attorney called, hurrying after him.

Jackson waved her off and didn’t stop. There was nothing left to be said. Nothing left to be done. No place left to go.

No little girl waiting at home to hug and cuddle and kiss good night.

The tap on the toes of Jackson’s boots clacked against the tile floor of the courthouse as his long-legged strides ate up the hallway. He shunned the elevator for the stairs and descended three flights at a rapid pace, then headed for the building’s exit. In a foolish bit of positive thinking, he’d driven his SUV to the courthouse this morning. Now the sight of the safety booster seat in the back seat made him want to kick a rock into next week.

He didn’t want to go home to a quiet, empty house. He shouldn’t go to a bar. Alcohol on top of his current mood could be a dangerous combination. Somebody probably would get hurt.

He got into the car and started the engine. For a long moment he sat unmoving, staring blindly through the windshield, his hands squeezing the steering wheel so hard that it should have cracked. When his phone rang, he ignored it.

A couple of minutes later, it rang a second time. Again, he ignored it. When it happened a third time, he finally glanced at the display to see who was calling. His cousin. Okay, maybe he would answer it.

“Hello, Boone.”

“How did the hearing go?”

Jackson couldn’t speak past the lump in his throat, so he said nothing.

Following a moment’s silence, Boone got the message. He muttered a curse, and then said, “I’m sorry, man. So damn sorry.”

“Well, it is what it is.”

“You can take another run at it.”

“Yeah.” In three years. Three years. Might as well be three decades. He cleared his throat and changed the subject. “So, how are things in Eternity Springs?”

“Good. They’re good. My friend Celeste Blessing visited my office a few minutes ago and spoke of her granite-headed cousin. Naturally, I thought of you.”

“Naturally,” Jackson dryly replied. But he felt a little less alone.

“Do you have plans this weekend? I could use your help with something.”

Pretty convenient timing. Knowing Boone, he had a spy in the courtroom. But Jackson wasn’t in the position to ignore the bone he’d been thrown. “I’m free. Whatcha got?”

“I’d like you to meet me at home.”

Jackson straightened in surprise. “You’re going back to the ranch?”

“No. Not there. I’m never going back there. However, I am talking about Texas. The Hill Country in particular. A little town west of Austin called Redemption.”

“Redemption, Texas?” Jackson repeated. For some weird reason, his heart gave a little skip. “Why there?”

“It’s a long story. Too long for a phone call. I’ll give you the entire skinny when I see you. When can you get there?”

After today’s debacle, Jackson had absolutely no reason to remain in Nashville. “When do you want me there?”

“I’ll be in later today. I’m in Austin now. I’ve been helping a friend with a project. I have a flight back to Colorado Sunday evening. The earlier you can get here the better, but I’ll make anything work.”

Jackson figured the distance and the drive time. “I’ll meet you tomorrow afternoon. Where?”

“Great. I’ll text you the info when we hang up. Bring camping gear.”

When a sound behind him had Jackson glancing up into the rearview mirror and the booster seat caught his notice, he made an instant decision. “Can’t. I’ll be on my bike.”

“You’re gonna ride your motorcycle all the way from Nashville?”

“Yes, I think I am.”

“Okay. I’ll bring stuff for both of us.” Boone hesitated a moment and added, “Hang in there,

Jackson. It’ll get better.”

No, I don’t think it will. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jackson ended the call and finally put his SUV in gear and backed out of the parking place. With the distraction of the call behind him, fury returned, and by the time he reached home, he felt like a volcano about to explode.

He threw a handful of things into his tail bag, filled his wallet with cash from his stash, and ten minutes after his arrival, he fired up his bike and took his broken heart and headed out of Nashville. He left behind his home, his work, and his one reason for living, his six-year-old daughter, Haley.

From Jackson. Copyright © 2019 by Emily March and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.

About the Author

Emily March is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the heartwarming Eternity Springs series. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.

Bred by Ginger Scott #bookreview

BRED
A coming-of-age romance inspired by Great Expectations
By Ginger Scott

Mature Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Release day: May 10, 2019

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2TwSsER

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RKK8P4L/

#Free with #KindleUnlimited

My life was irrevocably changed the moment I stepped foot inside Elena Alderman’s grand front doors.

A lifeless tomb on the edge of Chicago’s South Side,
the Alderman home sat in one of the city’s oldest and wealthiest neighborhoods, and Elena Alderman was the queen.

She was also mad.

Not the kind of madness that’s readily apparent. No, her psychopathy was far more surgical—more…insidious.

She was surrounded by beautiful things—most notably her grand piano and her adopted son, Henry.

I fell in love with both.

My gift blossomed when my fingers touched her black and white keys. But my
life began when I became haunted by the boy. Henry Alderman was a
handsome blend of arrogance and seduction, and as we grew up together, I
found it more and more impossible to separate him from my thoughts. I envied
his life. I imagined how my name—Lily—would look with his. I became his
closest friend…and more. I gave him my kiss, locked away his secrets, and
loved him even when it was hard to.

But we were just a game. Elena Alderman made the rules. And when she
decided to change them, she broke everything.

Almost.

My Review

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

From the start, there was a lot of angst and mystery in this coming-of-age story set in modern-day Chicago. The romance between Henry and Lily is built very nicely and is, in my opinion, pretty realistic for a first-love type of story.

The overall story is unique and bittersweet. It’s angsty and heartwrenching while also sweet and full of that kind of young love you can’t stop reading. The messiness of the relationships made the story more exciting. The plot was intriguing and a slow build. The whole mystery factor coupled with suspected betrayals and twisted games was very interesting. It gives you high hopes.

Most importantly, it’s got what I love in a good romance and that’s character development, how they change and grow. The characters are so very well-written. They are complex with deep flaws and fears. Lily and Henry are both orphans, but their circumstances are very different. Henry has been bred to be a winner, with room for little else. He hides his emotions and is secretive and lonely. His manipulative, jaded adoptive mother makes it difficult to have real friends. Lily is a girl with a tragic story. She is an average girl, going through hard times and never giving up. You can’t help but root for her. Their dialogues were great, I loved Lily’s sassiness.

Overall this contemporary retelling of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations was an intriguing read, a classic tale of star-crossed lovers foiled by evil external forces, that got me hooked from the start. But the pacing was a bit slow for my liking.

Many thanks to the author and Wordsmith Publicity PR for my copy of this book.

 

Excerpt 

(Copyright Ginger Scott, 2019)

“You know this stuff…” he starts, but I interrupt with an emphatic shake of my
head. When his fingers splay out over my back I freeze. I follow the path my
book takes back to the place it started in front of me as Henry slides it in place,
flipping open to the chapter I’m trying to memorize. Knelt down next to me, he
leans closer, resting his right arm next to my left one—we are touching.

I swallow. I’m going to fail. I cannot memorize something like the varied
historical degrees of differences between a Protestant hell and a Lutheran one
while the master of all hotness is sharing a desktop with me. My arm hairs are
literally electric, standing up and reaching to plant themselves in his skin.

I’ve gone completely primal—my body convinced that I am the gatherer in need of
this hunter.

“Look,” he says, leaning in even closer and reaching to flip the pages. I barely
register the movement of his thumb under a bold section of words. When his
eyes catch mine still stuck on his face, I jump in my seat a little.

“Sorry,” I say, clearing my throat. “I’m just overwhelmed. Maybe a little slow,
too, from being in here so long.”

It’s partly true, but I’m also just crushing. Crushing—that’s what Nicki calls it.
She rolls her eyes every time she catches me doing it too, then labels it with
that word. I crush in the dining area. I crush between classes when Henry pokes
my arm with his index finger as we pass in the halls. I crush when I watch him
sprint across the lawn every day at three in the afternoon, late for rowing. It’s
literally become how I know it’s three o’clock! My body just instinctually
glides toward my window at exactly 2:59. Pathetic!

At this point, we should just say that I’m crushed rather than crushing. Crushed
and utterly destroyed of all pride.

I am gatherer.

“What you need to do is make up a rhyme. Something that will help you keep
all of the key words in your brain so when it comes time to write them down in
order, you’ll have them there.”

I draw in my lips and let the acid climb up my throat.

“I don’t even understand that. Ugg, I’m hopeless,” I say, letting my head fall
flat against the book. I bounce my forehead there lightly while I eke out a
desperate laugh at my own expense.

“You aren’t hopeless.” I feel the warm breath from his chuckle and smell the
mint of his gum, and it’s intoxicating enough without his touch, so when the
warm hand slides the hair from my cheek I go full hypnosis. His fingers trace
my jaw, and my head lifts from the light pressure of his hold. For a moment, I
believe in myself just because of the look in his eyes when our stares meet.
He’s dead serious—and God, the way he’s looking at me, hair all tousled,
smile soft and true, cheeks lifted as if they’re glad to see me.

Like a drunk, I lean closer, my lips parting and ready—my mind imagining
everything I’m about to feel—Henry’s mouth on mine, the graze of teeth
against my lips, us standing as his arms sweep around my back before his
hands rush up my spine into my own messy hair.

None of that happens.

I get an inch away from his mouth, my eyelids fluttering with nerves and
uncertainty whether they should close or remain open, and Henry turns a few
inches to his left, stiffening and backing away just enough to keep me from
making this worse—as if I can make this worse somehow. The rush of heat that
coats me isn’t from passion—it’s from humiliation. My eyes remain open just
long enough to see the movement in his neck as he clears his throat. His
soft smile is replaced with a hard line, drawn under the pity that slants his eyes.
I think I understand hell a little better now. It helps that I’m in it.

“I’m just tired. I…” Why I try to speak, I don’t know.

“It’s fine.” His voice is laced with discomfort. In one blink I erased everything
that was easy between us. All because of my damn fantasies.

Fine. That word—so short, so four-lettered. Such a lie. I ruined everything.

About the Author

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-
nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting
on the Sidelines, Going Long, The Hail Mary, Blindness, How We Deal With
Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before,
Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, Hold My
Breath, A Boy Like You, A Girl Like Me, Memphis and Cry Baby.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often
blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher,
pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for
newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the
stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and
towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she’s not writing, the odds are high that she’s somewhere near a baseball
diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering
on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in
Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork’em, Devils).

Social Media Links:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor
Twitter: @TheGingerScott
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/thegingerscott/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GingerScottAuthor
Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GingerScottAuthor/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GingerScott
Website: http://www.littlemisswrite.com

No Other Duke But You by Valerie Bowman #newrelease #bookreview

A lady with a love potion. A Duke who takes it by mistake. Romance and mischief ensues when plans go awry in No Other Duke But You by Valerie Bowman.

SINGLE LADY SEEKS DUKE

Lady Delilah Montebank has her marital sights set on the Duke of Branville. There’s just one problem: he barely knows she exists. But no matter, she’s got a plan to win him over with her charm, her wit—and perhaps the love potion she has in her possession wouldn’t hurt her cause…

Lord Thomas Hobbs, Duke of Huntley, thinks his best friend Delilah’s quest to become a duchess is ridiculous.

He’s always said he’d rather give up all the brandy in London than commit to one person for life.

Besides, he knows that Delilah’s love potion can’t possibly win over Branville…since she accidentally gave it to him instead. But perhaps this is the excuse he needs to show her he’s always loved her…

Delilah can’t believe she gave the potion to the wrong duke. Then again, Delilah could do a lot worse than win the hand of her handsome best friend.

Could it be that the right duke has been before her eyes all along?

Buy-Book Links: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250121684

My Review

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The romance element of this book was good, but the plot was a bit thin for my liking. Delilah and Thomas were very comfortable with each other and I loved how well they knew each other. Having been friends since childhood, they share a close bond and deep affection. Where Delilah is gregarious, exuberant in nature, Thomas is quiet and patient. Delilah enjoys making matches for others and she didn’t spare a thought to her own. Thomas is convinced they are a perfect match and he has been waiting the right time to make his move. But Delilah is unpredictable, and he is afraid of losing his best friend.

I loved Thomas. His character is genuine and consistent. He is also very endearing. The smoldering banter was somewhat lacking between these two though. They were a cute couple, although I wanted them to realize they were made  for each other sooner.

All in all, this story is refreshing all while being cute and entertaining. Like all the other books in the series, this is a well-written and lighthearted story. I enjoy Valerie Bowman’s writing style. And she never fails to deliver a very satisfying happy ending.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book!

Excerpt

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Delilah glanced up and down the dim hallway. It was well past three in the morning, she was still
dressed in the pink ball gown she’d worn to the party, and she clutched the small vial of Cupid’s
Elixir in her sweaty, guilty palm. She pressed her back against the shadowed wall not far from the
Duke of Branville’s bedchamber. She could do this. More importantly, she would do this. She’d come
this far, hadn’t she? What did a little sneaking about in the middle of the night matter?
She’d got detailed instructions to Branville’s room from Derek, who thankfully hadn’t asked
any questions about why she wanted to know. According to him, the room was four doors to the
right, just past the staircase on the third floor. The third floor was where all the bachelor gentlemen
were sleeping. It would be a complete scandal if she was found lurking about alone at this time of
night, but she’d waited until the household seemed quite asleep and then waited a bit longer for
good measure. Anyone who saw her now would be skulking about themselves, which meant they
would hardly be in a position to judge her. She briefly wondered if she’d run into Lavinia.
It was not as if she was out to do anything particularly scandalous. It was more silly and
frivolous than anything else. She’d simply die, however, if Branville woke up and asked her what she
was doing sprinkling pixie water in his eyes. She’d already decided to pretend as if she were
dreaming, thinking she was Puck in the play. Sleepwalking. That would make all the sense in the
world. Wouldn’t it? She swallowed hard. Probably not, but she wasn’t about to let the fear of being
caught stop her. Besides, all of her and Lucy’s matchmaking had turned into a colossal mess. If a
spray of perfume could sort it out, so be it. Of course, Delilah’s conscience reminded her that she
hadn’t offered any of the perfume to Rebecca to use on Thomas. She didn’t want to even
contemplate that. She’d already shared it with one other person, and that made her guilty enough.
The image of Madame Rosa’s disapproving, craggy face had haunted her all evening.
Delilah shook off the thought and turned her attention back to the matter at hand. Pressing
her empty palm against the darkened wall, she inched her way along until she came to Branville’s
door. She felt like a spy. This was how professional spies did such things, wasn’t it? Too bad she
was too embarrassed by her actions to ask the veritable house full of professional spies who
happened to be asleep behind other doors right now.
She transferred the vial into her opposite hand and slowly reached to grasp the door handle.
The metal was cold in her bare hand. She’d discarded her gloves, deciding that they would make her
actions more clumsy. The last thing she needed tonight was to be more clumsy than usual.
Decidedly, she needed to be less so.
She clutched the door handle like a lifeline and closed her eyes, steadying her shaking
fingers on the knob. She was close, so close. Praying that the door wouldn’t squeak, she turned the
handle slowly. The only sound was the thumping of her own heart in her ears.
When the handle was turned as far as it would go, she pushed it, praying fervently that it
wasn’t locked. It took a moment before she realized the door was opening. Its hinges silent, merci a
Dieu. Completely silent.
She slipped inside the cool, dark room. Steady, deep breathing came from the bed. Thank
goodness, she hadn’t woken the duke with her entrance. She could barely see a thing, but she didn’t
dare light a candle. A tiny stream of moonlight filtered into the room through a small opening in the
curtains on the far window. She used that to identify the hulking bed in the center of the room. She
tiptoed over to it slowly, taking care in case there was anything to trip over. No doubt she would find
it if there was.
She made it to the foot of the bed without incident and paused, trying to quell her nerves and
dispel her guilt. She clutched the vial more tightly in her palm, shaking with fear and anxiety. Now
that she was here, she had no earthly idea how to drop liquid on a man’s eyes without awakening
him. Besides, how much of it was she supposed to use? Surely not much. She would employ the
tiniest drops possible so as not to disturb him, but she also needed to ensure the perfume touched
his eyelids. Tricky business, this being a fairy. She had a sudden appreciation for Puck.

Holding her breath, she lifted her skirts with her free hand and tiptoed to the right side of the
bed. Because it was summer, the bed curtains weren’t drawn. The window was open, and a slight
breeze blew through the crack in the curtains.
The outline of the duke’s body was barely visible in the moonlight. He was turned away on
his side, his back to her, his face toward the window. She would have to lean over his body to
sprinkle the elixir on his eyes. The bed was tall. She must carefully climb up to do this task properly.
She only hoped she didn’t jostle the mattress enough to wake him.
She waited in silence for a few moments to ensure his breathing remained steady, then she
carefully lifted first one knee and then the other, bracing them on the mattress and pulling herself up,
still clutching the vial. She winced as he moved slightly in his sleep, but he kept his face turned
away. Blast it.
Once she was fully atop the bed, she paused and hoped the hammering of her heart didn’t
wake him. He smelled good, a combination of soap and maleness that she wanted to breathe in.
There was something vaguely familiar about his scent.
Shaking away that unhelpful thought, she moved gingerly across the mattress on her knees
until she came to a stop at his side. His shirt was off. The beam of moonlight hit his smooth, muscled
arm. She swallowed. The man’s chest was positively swoon-worthy. She took a deep breath to calm
her nerves and uncorked the vial. Then she carefully leaned over as far as she could to locate his
eyes. They remained shrouded in the dark, but she took a guess as to their general direction and
tipped the little vial as slowly and carefully as she could. He turned then, and she was afforded
enough light to see that the first tiny drop of liquid did indeed fall directly onto his eyelid.
He blinked, and she held her breath. When he settled back into sleep, she closed her eyes
and said a brief prayer that she would get away with it a second time before tipping the vial once
more to allow another tiny drop to fall on his other eyelid.
He blinked and rubbed at his eyes while Delilah held her breath again, paralyzed with fear.
Soon, he settled back into his pillow and his breathing returned to its steady pace.
She pressed a hand to her throat. It was over. She was done. All she had to do was extract
herself from the bed and the room without being seen or heard. The difficult part was behind her.
Still praying he wouldn’t stir, she backed away from the duke. Slowly. Slowly. She’d nearly
made it to the edge of the bed when he flipped over to face her. A beam of moonlight slid over his
sleeping features.
Delilah gasped.

From No Other Duke But You. Copyright © 2019 by Valerie Bowman and reprinted with
permission from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.

 

About the Author

Valerie Bowman grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels.
After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got.
Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzers, Huckleberry and Violet. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS.