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!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wwGoZj
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/HCKing
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3kkKxdZ
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Google Play: https://bit.ly/3dK25MZ
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Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3BXRx6s

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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoradrianalocke
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/booksbyadrianalocke
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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.

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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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Apple Books: https://apple.co/3mxY6qu

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

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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