Cover Reveal: The Plan by Karla Sorensen

 THE PLAN

Karla Sorensen

Release Date: February 9

Have you ever fake dated your bodyguard? I don't recommend it. 

Especially if he's anything like Erik Wilder: former football player, world class know-it-all and unapologetic grump. 

To be clear, I didn't want a bodyguard (hence the fake dating idea). Most days, I can’t figure out why he wants the job either. We drive each other insane, probably because we’re as opposite as two people can be. 

He’s suspicious, never talks about his past and has the comfort skills of a cactus. I’m a happily ever after kinda girl who knows exactly what she wants out of life. 

Erik’s words might say that the lines have to stay firm between us, but those dark eyes of his? They tell another story when he looks at me. 

He’s just as stubborn as I am, but when our fake dating plan starts to feel a lot more real, it's only a matter of time before his professional walls come crashing down. 

I just have to hope my heart doesn't get buried in the rubble.

Buy Links:

http://mybook.to/ThePlanKS 

Goodreads Link: 

https://bit.ly/3pxsnsA 

Meet Karla Sorensen:

Well, let’s see ... I’m a wife and a mother. If the things that I write bring a smile to someone's face, then I've done my job.  I am obsessed with Outlander (both the books and the show). I’m almost exclusively a romance reader, which means some people will never consider me a literary snob. If I could meet one historical figure, it would be Jane Austen. I received my Bachelors in Public Relations and worked in health care marketing before I had my babies. I hate Twitter. I do it, but I hate it. Also, if you want to get on my good side, bring me wine and I'll love you forever. 

Connect with Karla Sorensen:

Website: http://www.karlasorensen.com

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Review: The Seven Kings of Jinn by S. Young

The Seven Kings of Jinn by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided a copy of this book to review via the author, all opinions are my own. This is my second time reading this as I read it when it was originally published as Smokeless Fire about 10 years ago. This is a relaunch of the series, my understanding is that it is being relaunched under Samantha's pen name S. Young where she is publishing her paranormal and urban fantasy books and the series. The books are being edited and relaunched under The Seven Kings of Jinn series title. I didn't read them side by side for differences but the general storyline is the same.

This follows Ari in her last few days of high school. As her days of high school come to a close she is having alot of anxiety about her future, her friends are excited about going off to college and starting their futures, but Ari isn't sure college is what she really wants. She is trying to put the puzzle pieces of her life together but something just isn't fitting together just right. Her dad wants her to study business at his alma matter, but that isn't clicking. When she tries to talk about it with him he doesn't want to hear it and he is often travelling for work and she doesn't really have anyone else to talk to about it. Her best friend is still deep in mourning for his younger brother, and all she wants is to save Charlie from himself. Ari's other friends want her to move on from Charlie but she can't let him continue to self destruct. Graduation happens to coincide with her 18th birthday, the biggest surprise for Ari is that she isn't human but a lost princess of the Jinn and her biological father is a King in a world of magic and chaos. He wants to use Ari as a pawn in his plans.

Ari is thrown head first into a world of political intrigue, magic, and complex alliances. To keep her safe she is assigned a Jinn bodyguard, who happens to be broody and complicates her human life. When Ari's human dad falls ill because of a Jinn enchantment, Ari must choose to embrace her heritage or let him wither away.

I really enjoyed revisiting this world. I'm not sure if this series will stay in the YA realm or if it will transition to something more adult as the series progresses. This first book is very much young adult, there are mentions of characters having sex but it is off page and there is some violence but it is not graphic. There is some petulant teenage behavior, which is appropriate for the situations they are in given the age of the characters. This sets the characters up for good character growth throughout the series. We get a taste of the mythology of the Jinn, which you don't often see in books and it sets the scene for the remaining books in the series. There isn't a much romance in this first installment, but there is a hint of a love triangle brewing.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Sam does with the edits for the rest of the books in this series. I really enjoyed them the first time through, and I'm looking forward to revisiting these characters and this world again.

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Review: Homecoming King by Penny Reid

Homecoming King by Penny Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions are my own.

This was the perfect holiday read!  It was funny and just what I needed.  The last few weeks leading up to Christmas have been really stressful for my family, and this heartwarming book helped lift my spirits.

This follows two kind of awkward characters that have known each other since kindergarten.  Rex is a pro football player and Abby is a bartender/artist.  While Rex seems to have it all, what he really wants is a partner who gets him.  Abby has been burned by love in the past and doesn't want to be hurt again.  She's always had a crush on Rex, so when he walks into the bar she works and royally messes up her evening, I knew we were in for something special.  This first encounter turns into the start of a friendship between the two of them, which turns into a business proposition that Abby probably should refuse.  Things kind of take off from there.  There relationship is slow burn as they get to know each other again through phone calls and text messages and the occasional date.  Neither one of them is really good with expressing their feelings, so when they finally admit that their relationship of convenience might be something more it is pretty explosive and quite steamy.

I loved this!  It has the perfect balance of humor, great banter, and steam.  I'm really looking forward to reading the other books in the series.  

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Release Blitz: Homecoming King by Penny Reid

 

Homecoming King, an all-new holiday romcom from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid is now live!

Rex “TW” McMurtry’s perpetual single-hood wouldn’t bother him so much if all his ex-girlfriends didn’t keep marrying the very next person they dated, especially when so many of those grooms are his closest friends. He may be a pro-football defensive end for the Chicago Squalls, but the press only wants to talk about how he’s always a groomsman and never a groom. Rex is sick of being the guy before the husband, and he’s most definitely sick of being the best man at all their weddings.

Bartender Abigail McNerny is the gal-pal, the wing-woman, the she-BFF. She’s dated. Once. And once was more than enough. Privy to all the sad stories of her customers, ‘contentment over commitment’ is her motto, and Abby is convinced no one on earth could ever entice her into a romantic relationship . . . except that one guy she’s loved since preschool.

The guy who just walked into her bar.

The guy who doesn’t recognize her.

The guy who is drunk and needs a ride home.

The guy who has a proposition she should definitely refuse.

Meet Abby and Rex today!
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Meet Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator/ publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

Connect with Penny
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter/
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Release Blitz: Resolution by Adriana Locke

 

TITLE: Resolution
AUTHOR: Adriana Locke
RELEASE DAY: December 10, 2021
BUY LINK: https://amzn.to/3ExNT5k 

BLURB:

From USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a workplace romance between a grumpy, alpha architect and his new client—who just so happens to have the blueprint to bring him to his knees.

Romance is not in Wade Mason’s portfolio.

This is tragic. It’s unfair that a man so maddeningly gorgeous—an architect with a deliciously squarish jaw, adorably dimpled chin, and the hottest black glasses that straddle the line between professional and provocative—rebukes all things love.

I knew this well before I walked into his office.

The man is a conundrum—a complicated, steel wall of a puzzle. On the one hand, he brushes against me in the conference room with a broodiness that sets me on fire. He demands in-person meetings about the house we are working on together. I catch him watching me out of the corner of his eye with a look that’s anything but platonic. But any talk of hookups, love, or relationships—even in general? Completely off the table.

I’m determined to peel back his layers until I get to the bottom of the mysterious businessman. But my plan is foiled by a surprise that leaves both of us reeling. Neither of us sees it coming, but it changes everything … forever.


Excerpt:

Much to my surprise and annoyance, she laughs as she walks by me. Her elbow grazes my stomach in a move that I think is intentional. Before I can react, she’s down the hall and standing in front of Eliza.

“That dress is stunning on you,” she tells Eliza as if we weren’t in a strained conversation five seconds ago. “Where did you get it?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I grumble as I slam my door. The framed copy of the first building I ever designed shakes against the wall.

I lean against my desk and suck in a deep lungful of air. The scent of coconuts only intensifies my frustration.

I open a window and then sit down.

“Busy men always go through the motions and never have time to be creative. I’m not sure that fits my needs.”

What the hell?

Relational intimacy.

Loads of rubbish, just as it was ten years ago.

Instead of listening to spoiled, silver spoon-fed women who want their ridiculous projects handled, I have real work to do.

My heart pumps from the interaction with Dara, and I find myself replaying much of our conversation. It’s not until I get to relational intimacy do I realize how much time I’ve wasted—and am still wasting.

I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and get back to the only thing I ever want to know intimately—my work.


About the Author:

USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own. She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket.

Connect w/Adriana:
Website: https://adrianalocke.com
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Review: Resolution by Adriana Locke

Resolution by Adriana Locke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions are my own.

This is the long awaited story about Wade Mason, the most introverted of the Mason brothers. Wade is broody, doesn't really like physical contact (or fun), he is a brilliant architect, and doesn't have time for anything that isn't on his busy schedule. Wade isn't devoid of emotion, he just doesn't have time for them, he likes everything in it's place and emotions tend to be unpredictable and messy. Enter Dara, while she isn't his complete opposite, she complements Wade in every way. Dara owns her own business, she drives her car like it is a racecar, and doesn't always have everything mapped out. They both have some baggage to deal with when it comes to relationships. They are forced to spend alot of time together when Wade is contracted to design Dara's dream house for her. The both realize that there might be more to their working relationship if they can give each other a chance.

I loved the banter and humor of this. I laughed out loud so many times while reading this. There were so many quotable lines. From the very beginning when Wade and Dara meet their conversations are filled with innuendo, and they are always cracking jokes at one another's expense. Slowly Wade comes out of his shell and starts to laugh and smile, in the books about his brothers we see him commanding them around to get work done so he can get on with whatever he was doing. It was nice to see a softer side of his personality. I loved Dara, she is such a great character! This has it all, it touches your emotions, makes you laugh, has some angst, has great characters, and has a great story that I could not put down!

This is the 5th book in the Mason series, but it does read as a standalone. If you want to get to know the other Mason brothers I'd highly recommend reading the rest of the books in the series as well as The Relationship Pact. We get closure on several threads that have been woven through the series, but you get enough background info to understand what is going on without having to read all of the other books.

View all my reviews

Review: When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles

When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.,

I enjoyed this, however I'm left feeling like I missed something. As the ending approached, I feel like I missed a chapter or two. Things kind of jumped from one place or time to another without an explanation, maybe that is because I read an ARC and that was resolved in the final copy. I felt these jumps were confusing and either needed a few lines of explanation to how the characters got from where they were in the last chapter to where they are now or there needed to be another chapter to explain things. This was especially true at the end. Hopefully this was resolved in the final version, as I see some of the other ARC reviewers mention that they were also confused.

Much like with the first book, I felt like this was far too long and meandering. Certain scenes are repetitive and don't really add to the plot. I also am left with just as many unanswered questions as I was in the first book. There are things mentioned that are left without an explanation and characters that seem important that aren't really given an ending. As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I'm not a fan of books that leave me with more questions than answers when I'm done and this duology did just that.

This picks up where book 1 left off, Kallia has fallen through the mirror devoid of her magic. It introduces an almost entirely new set of characters. If you were a fan of the characters of the first book, some of them are present in the beginning but the focus of the book is on the world behind the mirror where Kallia landed. Daron is desperate to find her despite the consequences and destruction that might bring. Both Kallia and Daron find that they are pawns in a dangerous magical game, and they both must decide if they want to play or fight against the man who holds all the cards.

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RELEASE BLITZ: Love Stories: A Novella Collection by Samantha Young

 

 

Brother's best friend, enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance... this collection has it all!

Love Stories: A Novella Collection by Samantha Young is now live!

 

A collection of contemporary romance novellas from New York Times Bestselling Author Samantha Young.

This volume includes novellas previously only available exclusively to newsletter subscribers. They have now been collated into this romantic collection of modern love stories.

Includes:
The Forbidden Christmas Gift:
It's Christmas at Shaw's Department store in Edinburgh! Reid Shaw should feel nothing but gratified by his success. But he's not satisfied because the sexy Scot wants forbidden fruit for Christmas: Evan Munro. Reid's Evan's boss. He's thirteen years older than her.
Oh ... and she's his best friend's little sister.

New Year's Eve:
After Ryan drunkenly kisses the object of her crush, Joe--her sister's father-in-law-- at his son's birthday party, all she wants to do is avoid Joe for the rest of eternity. But when they find themselves stranded alone together on New Year's Eve, Ryan discovers Joe most definitely doesn't want to avoid Ryan...

Loving Valentine:
Micah Green has loved Valentine Fairchild for over ten years; ever since they were kids brought together by Micah's difficult family life. Too many outside factors have gotten in their way, pushing them further apart over the years. But Micah, no matter how hard he tries, can't forget her. When he finds a way to see her again, he realizes he's wasted too much time loving Valentine from afar. Now he just has to convince her to let go of their past so they can move on with their future. Together.

Ember in the Heart:
Loosely Inspired by Pride & Prejudice.
When Ember Bonet overhears her sister's fiancé's best friend uttering rude remarks about the Bonet sisters at the engagement party, she instantly dismisses him as a pretentious man-child. Then said man-child, Foster Darwin, moves into the house next door along with his five-year-old daughter, making him hard to ignore.
Foster can't believe his best friend, Colt, omitted to tell him the spinsterish Bonet sisters live in the house next door to his new home. Problem is, Ember Bonet is anything but spinsterish. From the moment they met, Foster has fought an overwhelming attraction to her. An attraction he has no time for. Not only is he determined to prioritize his daughter Georgie, he can't fail his own father again. And Edward Darwin has made it clear that Foster must settle down with the right woman. Unfortunately, his family's idea of 'right' isn't the sexy massage therapist next door who's eleven years his senior.
Determined to keep her distance from Foster, Ember fails when it becomes clear he and Georgie need support in their new life together. But proximity to one another is too great a temptation, and physical chemistry soon turns into so much more. If only Ember could get over their age difference and Foster his family pride...

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!

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Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3mrYZkB

 

 

Meet Samantha

Samantha is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over fifty books, several of which have been nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards. She writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction. Her books have been published in 31 countries. She resides in Scotland.

Connect with Samantha

Website: http://authorsamanthayoung.com

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Review: The Awakening by Nora Roberts

The Awakening by Nora Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows Breen, an unhappy middle school teacher who has been held back and put down by her successful and driven mother for most of her life. When she finds out that her mother has been lying about her estranged father for years and that he's been sending funds to provide for her since they divorced, Breen is understandably angry. She and her best friend Marco decide to take a trip of a lifetime to Ireland to try to find her father and reclaim some of Breen's lost heritage. While in Ireland, Breen begins a journey of self discovery starting out with Marco and it becomes even more after she meets her Grandmother and learns more about her family. This book has been out for a while so I won't go into the plot too much. I really enjoyed taking this journey with Breen, I was captivated by the story and enjoyed the characters! If the second book isn't out yet, I know it will be available soon.

I loved this! The narrator was wonderful, and I thought she did a great job with the different characters and accents. I didn't know much about the series going in, but I've read a different paranormal/fantasy series by Nora Robert so I thought I'd give this a try. I'm so glad that I did. I thought the world building was excellent and it makes me want to take a trip to Ireland even more than I did before. I thought Breen's character development was good, but some of the side characters could have used a bit more development. Keegan who I assume is going to play a much larger role as the story develops is a good example, Breen spends a good deal of time with him, but I don't fee like we know him yet. We know he's driven by duty and has high expectations of everyone, but we don't get to know the man very well, at least not yet. As for Breen, I really liked that she went from a timid kind of push over character to someone that while she was skeptical of the new world she is now part of, was willing to speak up for herself. She communicated her needs even if people weren't willing to listen, and she was willing to train to fulfil her duties even if she didn't always want to.

I felt that the magic system was a bit under developed. When it came to Breen developing her abilities, everything just kind of came to her without much effort. Maybe that was by design, but it felt too easy considering how hard she has to work at everything else. I also didn't love the ending. The audiobook is over 15 hours long, and the ending makes it feel like a really long introduction instead of a standalone novel. I'm very much looking forward to the next book, but I feel like the conclusion could have been a more sound as I prefer books even if they are part of a series to feel like they stand on their own. The ending almost felt like a cliffhanger after such a long book, I don't have a feeling of closure. It does make me want to pick up the next book ASAP, so that works in the author's favor. I'm looking forward to book 2 and seeing where the series is headed.
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Surprise Announcement from Ilsa Madden-Mills

"Spider is a delicious, forbidden read you won't be able to put down."
–Melanie Harlow, USA Bestselling Author

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills has a surprise just for you! SPIDER has an incredible new look, and to celebrate it’s ZERO PENNIES for a limited time only!

From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills comes a new standalone romance about a flawed hero and the woman he can’t forget.

"She crossed my path and changed my whole direction."

He called himself Spider.

I just knew him as the sinfully gorgeous guy with eyes of fire that fate sat next to me on the airplane.

I didn’t know who he really was . . . British rock star . . . my stepbrother.

He kissed me because he thought we’d never see each other again. We would.

Everyone warned me about him.
They told me he was ruthless and cold and screwed up.
They said he’d leave me with a hole in my heart.

Maybe I should have listened.
Maybe I should have built up a fortress to keep him out.
But I crumbled instead.

They say an unbreakable thread connects those who are destined to meet. If that’s true, then the moment he sat next to me, we were bound together forever.

He just had to figure it out before it’s too late…

Don’t miss this steal! Grab your copy for ZERO PENNIES today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pmkFAf
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About Ilsa Madden-Mills
Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.

Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.

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Review: Love Stories: A Novella Collection by Samantha Young

Love Stories: A Novella Collection by Samantha Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions are my own.

This is a collection of novellas that were previously available in Samantha's newsletter. If you are a subscriber, you may be familiar with these stories. This has a little bit of everything for every romance reader. I really enjoyed all of them, each one of them has a familiar romance trope or two, but they were all very enjoyable and have a good level of heat.

Every reader should be able to find a story they enjoy. I liked every single one of them. I love collections like this. You can read them one story at a time or read them straight through. Each of the stories gives you the sense of completion where some novellas leave you wanting more and wondering what happened with the characters. These don't feel like a prequel to a longer story. I felt like each one of the stories was well developed and had the feel of a novel even if it wasn't quite as long.

If you are a fan of Samantha's work, I highly recommend this collection. It is a great way to get to know her work as well.

View all my reviews

BLOG TOUR: BEARD IN HIDING by Penny Reid

 

Beard in Hiding, the USA Today bestselling companion novel to the Winston Brothers and Solving for Pies series is LIVE! Penny Reid delivers a heartfelt romantic comedy about two lost souls who find love in the most unexpected way.  

Propositioning the Iron Wraiths’ money man seemed like a good idea at the time…

Diane Donner—recently divorced pillar of polite society—is craving danger. She’s tired of playing it safe and she knows just the sexy criminal motorcycle man to proposition for a good time. Problem is, she doesn’t actually know his name.

Jason “Repo” Doe never takes risks. So when the queen of local commerce walks into his club, looking to get risky and frisky, Jason knows the smartest thing to do is save himself a headache while saving the new divorcee from her worst impulses.

But then one thing leads to another, and the memory of just-one-night doesn’t feel like enough.

Theirs is a story with no future, because how can a dangerous criminal win (and keep) a queen?

‘Beard In Hiding’ is book #4.5 in the Winston Brothers series, is a full length contemporary romantic comedy about two lost souls in their 40s, and is a companion novel to the Winston Brothers and Solving for Pie series.

If you want to get the full immersive Green Valley world experience, I recommend reading ‘Truth or Beard,’ ‘Beard Science,’ ‘Engagement and Espionage,’ and ‘Marriage and Murder’ beforehand. ‘Beard In Hiding’ contains spoilers for these four books (in specific).

Grab your copy TODAY!

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Excerpt

“Just say it, Diane.”

“Fine.” She lifted her chin. “I want someone to court me.”

And there it was. I continued staring at her, counting the seconds as they ticked by. Why she couldn’t just say, I don’t want you, you’re not good enough for me, I had no idea. Did she think I needed to be let down gently? 

Well, now. That would be a first.

“I want dinners and flowers,” she went on. “And picnics and romantic gestures. I don’t want to constantly be making excuses for someone, for their lack of ability or skill or generosity.”

I deadened the needlingly ache behind my ribcage, suffocated thoughts and desires long abandoned. “Diane. You don’t need to say anything else.”

“I don’t?” Her features brightened and she approached the arm of the couch. “You understand what I mean?”

“Yes. You mean you don’t want me.” And that was fine, and it made sense, and I wasn’t going to dwell on it, and now I needed to go.

“What?” she snapped, her head tilting to the side like she needed to inspect me from a different angle. “No! No, you irritating man. Did I say that? That’s not at all what I’m saying.”

“Then what do you mean?” I glanced over her head toward the room’s exit, impatient to leave. I didn’t belong here, and I’d rather be stranded outside in a snowstorm than accept any more of her charity. 

“I mean, I want you.” 

My eyes cut back to hers and as I waited for the but—because there was always a but—I ignored the tightness seizing my lungs, the hope.  

When she kept on looking at me, as though expecting a reaction, I prompted, “But?”

“But nothing.” She placed her hands on her hips, her tone salty, impatient.

What? “There’s always a ‘but.’”

“Fine. Yes. Okay. There is a ‘but.’” Her eyes moved like she might roll them, but stopped when they reached the ceiling. “I want you. But . . . only if you want me the same way.”

I stared at her and that’s all I could do because I was so damn confused. 

Meanwhile, she peaked at me, nibbling her bottom lip, looking so goddamn gorgeous in her little nighty.

“Do you . . . want me?” The uncertainty in her voice, the vulnerability, hit low in my stomach.

“Pardon?” I choked out because, was hers a real question? How could she not know how much I wanted her? Hadn’t I just kissed the hell out of her? Hadn’t her breast just filled my palm? Hadn’t I just literally said the words, I want you? 

Her tongue flicked out to lick her lips and she stepped fully around the couch, her eyes huge. “I’ve been in a lonely, one-sided romance before. I don’t want that. I want something deep, something meaningful for both people involved. I’m not saying we have to get married. Lord knows, I’ve had enough of marriage to last a lifetime. I don’t think I’ll ever get married again. What I’m talking about is something real, authentic, passionate, but also—above all else—loving. Because what I’ve never had, what I’ve never known, is that.”

“I . . . don’t understand.”

Diane took a deep breath and then said loudly, “I want a relationship,” like the words were a painful confession and the only way she could speak it out loud was by shouting them.

I stared at her for a moment longer before finally asking, “With who?”

Her lips twitched. “With you.”

What? “With me.”

“Yes. But a real one, not just—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—not just sex.”

I barely heard a word she’d said, instead repeating, “With me,” again because the idea was absurd. A relationship with me? Is she crazy?

“Yes. With you. As I’ve said.”

“But . . . Why?”

“What do you mean why?” She frowned. It was severe. “Have you met you?”

About Penny Reid

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

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Review: Rebel Without A Claus by Emma Hart

Rebel Without A Claus by Emma Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions are my own.

This was hilarious and the perfect read to get you ready for the holidays.  If you are a fan of romcoms and need a little Christmas spirit to brighten your mood, this is a great book to do just that.  I know I've been really stressed out over the last few weeks for several reasons, and this was the perfect read to relax with.  There was great banter between the characters, and some really funny moments.  I really loved the concept of the family that runs the single most Christmassy booth in the Holiday Village in their winter wonderland destination town is a total Grinch!

Quinn hates Christmas, but her family runs the Christmas Grotto in town every year where her dad plays the part of Santa.  This year he's got the flu, and Quinn is left to run things by herself while the rest of her family is busy with other parts of the family business or taking care of other family members.  Left to find a fill in Santa at the last minute, Quinn is faced with the last person she ever expected to see again, Nicholas White.  Nicholas offers to fill in as Santa while he's in town for the holidays visiting family, but Quinn isn't so sure it's a good idea.  They have some unfinished business from the past that she isn't quite over.  Left with no other choice and no other options, they agree to work together and clear the air.  Nicholas is determined to get back in Quinn's good graces and figure out if there is anything she actually does like about the Christmas season.

The characters in this were really great.  As always there is a hilarious grandparent character that Emma Hart does so well!  I loved the grandpa, his antics added comic relief throughout the book.  Quinn's family was a riot, I'm glad she finally told her sister she was being completely ridiculous.  I really enjoyed Nick and Quinn together as well.  It was kind of an enemies to lovers romance, but they weren't really enemies, Quinn was being cautious and it played along nicely with her Scrooge attitude toward the holiday season.  It was fun to watch her grouchy persona melt as Christmas grew closer and she became more festive each day.  I'm kind of with her when it comes to Christmas, I hate crowds and all of the consumerism that surrounds the holiday.  I love the lights and the family time and the holiday traditions we have.  

If you are in need of a fun read to get your holiday spirit going, give this a read.  It is funny, has great banter, moderate spice, and a good story.  It was exactly what I needed after a couple of weeks of craziness and I'm feeling a bit more ready to embrace the holidays.

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COVER REVEAL: Always You by Samantha Young

Samantha Young has revealed the cover for Always You !

Releasing: April 28, 2022

Cover Designer: Hang Le

Photographer: Regina Wamba

Arrochar Adair has loved her brother's ex-bodyguard and best friend, Mac Galbraith, for years. Once upon a time, she was too young for him, but now that she's a mature woman in her thirties, Arro can see no issue with their difference in age. Yet something deeper, a problem much more difficult to surmount, is keeping them apart.

Mac Galbraith remembers clearly the night Arro became everything to him, no longer just his best friend and boss's younger sister. However, having made many mistakes over the years, there is one mistake Mac is determined not to make: to believe that he is worthy of Arrochar Adair. Allowing them to grow closer during his daughter, Robyn's, return has proven his undoing. And when Arro forces the subject of their relationship, his response pushes her away. He just never meant for it to destroy them completely.

Devastated by Mac's final rejection, Arro is determined to move on without him in her life, though he seems intent on staying put. And when the Adair family face a new threat, one that may have ties to Mac's past, Arro can't seem to be rid of the man. In fact, Mac will do anything to protect her.

But with so much hurt between them, will Arro let Mac close enough to guard her from their enemy... before it's too late?

 

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Meet Samantha

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She's been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. Samantha writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction and is currently published in 31 countries.
She resides in Scotland.

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Review: Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards

Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a relatively fast paced YA thriller, check this out.  It takes place over the course of about 24 hours, and just about everything goes wrong for these 5 strangers.  I do feel like younger readers will really enjoy this and that I am not the target demographic for this type of thriller.  I do enjoy the occasional YA thriller, but the characters here were a bit too immature for my taste.  I think some of the things that bother me about the characters (immaturity, poor decision making, panic in certain situations) would really appeal to a younger reader.   I don't identify with that demographic, so those character elements don't appeal to me.  That being said, this did keep me interested and engaged.

This follows Mira, a high schooler on her way home for Christmas.  She makes it from California to New Jersey when her next flight gets grounded due to a winter storm.  Her seatmate from the plane offers to let her catch a ride across Pennsylvania so she can get home for Christmas.  Mira, opts to go along with her despite being slightly put off by riding with 4 strangers.  What is the worst thing that could happen, right?  Not only is the weather taking a turn for the worse, but at ever step of the journey things go wrong on the drive.  This puts the passengers on edge and starts to make everyone suspicious of one another of sabotaging their drive to get home for the holiday.  The thriller aspect wasn't too bad, the author keeps giving us different breadcrumbs to mislead us as to who the culprit could be.  Mira and her four new friends are all really stressed out and that really comes through.   Each of the characters has a good narrative of why they aren't at fault for the things that are going wrong on their journey.  I don't want to spoil it, but if you are looking for a decent YA thriller that doesn't have sex or gore, and is relatively non-violent, give this a go.  

I did appreciate that there were mentions of places that I knew in this book.  I grew up in Pittsburgh, very close to Beltzhoover, this is where our main character Mira is from.  This location plays no part in the story other than it is Mira's destination, but it was kind of cool to see a place I know mentioned in a book.  

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire to providing me a paperback copy of this book.  I did end up listening to the audio version during the The Big Library Read in November 2021.  Whether you read the print book or listen to the audio, the execution of the creepy letters from Mira's "admirer" is done really well.

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Review: Kiss To Remember by Anna B. Doe

Kiss To Remember by Anna B. Doe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided and ARC via the author, all opinions are my own.

I highly recommend you read Kiss Before Midnight, the prequel novella before you read this. While not required it certainly sets up the events of this book and explains where we meet Grace at the beginning of this book. Grace Shelton has started her freshman year at Blairwood, she is hoping that this is the fresh start she needs after having her heartbroken at 16. Her first love went missing and she's never really recovered from it, she is determined to put Mason and her feelings behind her and start fresh now that she is in college. She is all set to move forward when she literally runs into Mason's doppleganger Trent Remington. Trent looks exactly like Mason, but he doesn't recognize Grace at all. Needless to say, this brings up all of the emotional turmoil Grace wanted to put behind her. When Trent and his girlfriend seem to pop up everywhere Grace and her friends are, she can't seem to move on and put Mason to rest. The more she gets to know Trent, she sees similarities to Mason but he's not Mason.

Trent has no idea who Grace is, however he is drawn to her despite the fact that he has a girlfriend. There is just something familiar about her, plus they are always running into each other. He enlists Grace to help him pass his French class so he can stay on the basketball team. This of course leads to drama with the girlfriend. It is also unfair to Grace as she sees so much of Mason in him, but he's not the boy she used to know. Their relationship is filled with angst as they try to figure out what they want from each other and who they want to be moving forward. They also have to deal with Trent's constant migraine headaches as he navigates the stress of school, his relationships, and basketball.

I really enjoyed this, and had a hard time putting it down. I was really invested in the story. This has some good twists and turns as well. I do have a few pieces of feedback. I did think that Grace's obsession with Mason was a bit over the top. I did appreciate that she started to stand up for herself at some point, she gets her heart broken a lot in this book. I did feel that the reveal and the ending were a bit rushed. I kind of expected some of the events in the reveal, and I thought the way it was executed was good. The ending wrapped up in about the last 100 pages and given the lead up to the ending I felt it could have had a bit more time to resolve.

I do really enjoy this series and I highly recommend it. All of the books are standalones with interconnected characters. You can read the books in any order, but I do recommend reading any connected prequels associated with the full novel and any bonus epilogues to get the full story.
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Review: Beard in Hiding by Penny Reid

Beard in Hiding by Penny Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions are my own. This book was published November 16, 2021 and is available for purchase now.

We were first introduced to the concept of Diane Donner and Mr. Repo in a short story during the holidays of 2016. Penny wrote a short story that was posted on Nocturnal Book Reviews. It can also be found in A Beardy Bonus: Bonus and deleted scenes from the Winston Brothers Series, which is a collection of all of the short stories and bonus content from the Pennyverse. As the synopsis states, this is not really a standalone, you will want to have read Truth or Beard, Beard Science, Engagement and Espionage, and Marriage and Murder prior to reading this to really get an understanding of the events that are taking place and not be spoiled. I think you could still read this on its own, but it will spoil things in the other books, and you might be confused about certain things, but Penny does a good job giving you enough info to follow along.

I was pleasantly surprised that this was a full length novel. I'm not sure why I thought this was a novella, but it is in fact a fully developed novel about Dianne and Jason (aka Repo) from beginning to end. If you have been keeping up with the Winston Brothers and Solving for Pie series as I have, you probably don't like Diane Donner very much. If you've read the books up to this point as I mentioned above, you will know why and there is a reason. She is just starting to redeem herself and in this book we get to know her a bit better as she begins to discover life post divorce. Her ex was a bit of a tyrant, who Diane was eager to please and wanted his approval to the detriment of her relationships with both of her children and those around her. Now that she is recovering from her divorce she wants to have a little fun, so she takes a trip to the local motorcycle bar in search of a little fun and maybe some danger. She finds Repo, who's real name is Jason, who happens to be part of the notorious Iron Wraiths motorcycle club, he's a criminal and she knows it. Repo doesn't want Diane to get hurt, but when she propositions him one thing leads to another and they have a connection atleast for one night. A year passes and they meet again, but this time they decide to take things slow and get to know one another. This is where this book really shines, we get to know them both as people, which we didn't in the previous books. While they may seem like an unusual couple, romance readers know that opposites attract and this is the case here. Jason has a soft side despite his gruff exterior, and Diane is tough as nails when she needs to be. They both complement each other nicely and I really enjoyed getting to know them and watch their relationship develop. We get a ton of backstory that leads up to the events that take place in the other books. I think Penny did a masterful job making sure the storylines matched up without rewriting scenes from the other books verbatim.

This was amazing as are all of Penny's books! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! I hope we get an Isaac book soon! He and Hank Weller are the two characters I am most anxious to read about. I know Hank is getting a book in the Good Folk series, but I'm not sure about Isaac. I do highly recommend this book and all of the other books in the Winston Brother series and the Solving for Pie books!

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Review: Restraint by Adriana Locke

Restraint by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first of many wonderful books in the Mason family series. I've read all of the other books in the series to date, but I hadn't read Blaire and Holt's story.

The narration was awesome! Wen Ross plays the male parts in many of Adriana Locke's audiobooks, and he has a great voice for narration. He did a great job with Holt and the Mason brothers. Kelsey Navarro was an excellent Blaire, she had sass where she needed to and was vulnerable and emotional when the time called.

Hold and Blaire literally run into each other at the airport. Blaire is in Savannah for a few days on vacation. She is a bit of a workaholic, so her brothers sent her away to rest and recuperate from her busy life as a lawyer. Holt is a workaholic as well, he's co-CEO of Mason Limited with his brother Oliver, and running the company and making business deals takes all of his time and attention. Both Blaire and Holt have baggage from previous relationships, and want nothing to do with anything more serious than a single night. They are both career focused, however they are insanely attracted to each other, so when an opportunity presents itself for a one night stand to extend itself, they take the opportunity to enjoy each others company. I really enjoyed that while they had great chemistry and there were plenty of scenes that were NSFW, that all of their time together was not spent between the sheets. After their first night together, Holt and Blaire spend time getting to know each other with tons of great banter. This leads them both to open up to each other about tough emotional situations. As their week of romantic bliss draws to an end, it has them both thinking about their future together. Can they make it work long distance? Do they want to try a long distance relationship? Do they even want to be in a relationship? Are they moving too fast?

As with the rest of the Mason books, this had me hooked right away. I was invested in Blaire and Holt and if they would put aside their work commitments to give love a chance. This had a little bit of angst, but not too much. They both had to deal with their own baggage before they could come to terms with their feelings for each other despite only knowing each other for a few days. While this did have a bit of an insta-love feel, they did spend quite a bit of the book getting to know each other and sometimes when you know, you know. I felt this was really well executed and I had a hard time putting it down.

While this has character ties to the Gibson and Landry series, it can be read as a complete standalone. I've read all of the Mason series out of order, and I'm so happy to have finally read Blaire and Holt's story. I love the whole series and highly recommend them on audio or in print. The whole family is a riot and I have been completely invested in each of the brothers and their stories. This was no exception

I received an audible code from the author, all opinions are my own.

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RELEASE BLITZ: BEARD IN HIDING by Penny Reid

 

Beard in Hiding, an all-new companion novel to the bestselling Winston Brothers and Solving for Pies series is LIVE! Penny Reid delivers a heartfelt romantic comedy about two lost souls who find love in the most unexpected way.  

Propositioning the Iron Wraiths’ money man seemed like a good idea at the time…

Diane Donner—recently divorced pillar of polite society—is craving danger. She’s tired of playing it safe and she knows just the sexy criminal motorcycle man to proposition for a good time. Problem is, she doesn’t actually know his name.

Jason “Repo” Doe never takes risks. So when the queen of local commerce walks into his club, looking to get risky and frisky, Jason knows the smartest thing to do is save himself a headache while saving the new divorcee from her worst impulses.

But then one thing leads to another, and the memory of just-one-night doesn’t feel like enough.

Theirs is a story with no future, because how can a dangerous criminal win (and keep) a queen?

‘Beard In Hiding’ is book #4.5 in the Winston Brothers series, is a full length contemporary romantic comedy about two lost souls in their 40s, and is a companion novel to the Winston Brothers and Solving for Pie series.

If you want to get the full immersive Green Valley world experience, I recommend reading ‘Truth or Beard,’ ‘Beard Science,’ ‘Engagement and Espionage,’ and ‘Marriage and Murder’ beforehand. ‘Beard In Hiding’ contains spoilers for these four books (in specific).

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About Penny Reid

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

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