Book Release Blitz for Code Name: Hacker by Sawyer Bennett (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Readers will find this a tale full of twists and turns as a woman tries to start her life anew after being released from prison, a life as a mother making amends as well as a woman attracted to a mystery man.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Code Name: Hacker by Sawyer Bennett, along with my impressions of it, then add this exhilarating contemporary romance to your bookshelf.  In honor of this fourth installment in the Jameson Force Security series make sure to visit the link below for the chance to win a $50 Amazon GC too!

I’m not the same Bebe Grimshaw I was years ago. The woman I was spent years behind the bars of the highest security women’s prison in the nation, my punishment for hacking nuclear codes as part of a crime syndicate I’d gotten in way too deep with. The woman I am today doesn’t regret what I did, or the fact that I got caught, but I am remorseful for the years I lost with my son, Aaron. Released from my sentence early thanks to Kynan McGrath, I joined his team at Jameson Force Security and now put my skills to use helping people.

I’m just trying to get back a piece of what I lost, focusing solely on raising Aaron and my work at Jameson. As long as I have my son and my career, I’m content. But life has a funny way of letting you know exactly what you need, and when a devastatingly handsome stranger named Griffin befriends Aaron at the park, I have to consider I might be missing something. A part of me that was locked away long ago reawakens, and I find myself looking at Griff in a way I’ve not looked at a man in more than a decade.

Just when I think things are starting to look up, my world is turned upside down. Turns out that meeting wasn’t an accident, and things aren’t going my way at all.

Griffin Moore is the man sent here to kill me.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (KINDLE)  |  AMAZON (PRINT)  |  BN  |  iBOOKS  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  KOBO  |  AUDIBLE

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Bebe Grimshaw is a character who’s intrigued me from the very start of this series.  Until now we’ve learned about her through bits and pieces, but this is where we get an in-depth look at her as she continues to rebuild her life after a prison stint.  Until now her focus has been on her son, but seeing a mysterious man start befriending her son has her thinking more about her heart too.  From start to finish this is a gripping read with a surprisingly sweet and sensual side that’s a fine addition to the Jameson Force Security series, a series that should be read in order to make for a much richer storytelling experience.

Bebe’s a wonderful heroine, strong-willed and easy to admire.  She’s owned up to her past and is now just trying to make amends to those who stood by her.  Her focus now is on her son and mother and doing the best job she can for the man who got her out of jail...Kynan McGrath.  She feels as if she owes him and it’s under a constant fear of her past revisiting that she goes through each day doing the best she can.  Seeing her son Aaron with a mystery man though puts her on high alert, not only out of fear for her son but for what the man’s doing to her heart.  Until now that part of her life has been ignored, but seeing the sexy mountain man has her heart racing and I enjoyed watching her give in to that part of herself.  She’s a mama bear at first in her interactions with Griff, but once he reveals who he is she’s completely won over and they become a formidable pair dealing with unexpected twists and turns in a sweet and sexy romance with moments of suspense to bind them together.

Griffin Moore is a man on a mission, sent by a man from Bebe’s past to make sure she doesn’t have a future.  Watching her day in and day out, spending time with her son, has him considering a new mission though...one where he claims her heart instead.  Griffin’s a delicious hero, one who looks dangerous on the outside but who has a sweet and kind heart on the inside.  He charmed me throughout this story and in his interactions with Aaron he endeared himself to me which made him an unforgettable hero.  His interludes with Bebe were sensual and nicely balanced with action and suspense to keep me glued to the pages.

On a whole this was a quick read with an immensely appealing main couple who went through very little angst.  They were a mature couple who experienced a lot in life so they weren’t ones to waste time.  Once Griff knew what he wanted he went after Bebe full steam and it made for a fun ride as they dealt with the surprising twists and turns Ms. Bennett threw at them.  Couples from past books were also on hand to lend a familial vibe to the story and it kept me even more engaged in the race to the end.  Although I’m not a big fan of kids in romances I thoroughly enjoyed Aaron and his wise beyond his years personality.  I enjoyed the softer side he brought out in Griff and their interactions often left me with a smile on my face.  Although the ending felt a bit rushed and too wrapped up, Ms. Bennett did leave readers with one heckuva twist that caught me by surprise and has me counting down the days until the next book in this series hits bookshelves!

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

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VISIT here FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A $50 AMAZON GC!  ENDS 4/5.

Book Cover Reveal For the Mobbed Up Anthology

Readers looking for a bit of suspense mixed with sexiness will have much to look forward to with the upcoming release of this gripping anthology.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of the Mobbed Up anthology, with its nine gripping tales courtesy of some of today’s favorite authors, then start counting down the days until this collection releases on October 10th too!

NINE AUTHORS FROM THE TEMPTED AND TANTALIZING AUTHOR EVENT are joining together to bring you this paperback, which is exclusive to #TNTNYC20 and includes nine short stories. Some feature the most notorious crime bosses to even walk the streets. Others center around the soldiers, associates, and enforcers who make the mafia the lethal force it is.

Leave the gun, take the cannolis, and let yourself become mobbed up while these authors take you into the underworld, where danger, sin, and revenge to hand in hand with love.

FEATURING: Angel Rose, Cyndi Faria, Elizabeth Knox, Gwyn McNamee, Janine Infante Bosco, Jeannine Colette, Jennifer Field, M. Merin & Nicole Banks.

***IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND THE #TNTNYC20 EVENT IN OCTOBER, GET YOUR TICKETS here.***

***IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND THE EVENT, BUT STILL WANT TO GET A SIGNED PAPERBACK COPY OF THIS BOOK SENT TO YOU, IT WILL COST $25 AND CAN BE PURCHASED here.***

Book Tour for Killer by Hayley Faiman (REVIEW)

The past weighs heavily on a couple trying to make a future together in this small town romance full of sexiness and suspense that will put readers through the emotional wringer.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Killer by Hayley Faiman, along with my impressions of this intense romance, then add this fourth installment in the Unfit Hero to your bookshelf too!

Murderer. Knockout. Buried. Tormented.

The image the world sees is not the man that I have become.

Images of me, of what I have done to another man, fill my mind. Nightmares fill my life, day or night, it doesn’t matter. All I see is death.

Enabler. Trash. Hidden. Scandalous.

The image the town sees of me is not who I have become. What I do late at night, to make ends meet, consumes me. I have no future. No prospects. No money.

I’ve always tried to hide the fact that I’m nothing.

Images we try to uphold are lies that we present to the outside world. Masks are all that we show, even to our closest friends.

Nobody knows what lies beneath the surface.

Nobody will ever know.

EXCERPT:

My thoughts drift back to Louis, to the way that his arms felt around me. I didn’t deserve him then and I don’t deserve him now. I was selfish and let myself indulge in all that was him. But I knew that I couldn’t let it go on. It wouldn’t be right, because he deserves someone in his class.

I’m nothing but trash, always have been. I’ve allowed myself to throw my self-worth to the side for a man who does nothing but take from me. He gives me nothing, not a single thing, not even orgasms.

Louis Kingston deserves someone who knows her self-worth, who is strong and not weak like me. He should be with literally anybody but me. I’m weak, pathetic, and kind of sad, which is why I stay with Joey when I know that he’s worthless.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (UNIVERSAL)  |  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (UK)  |  AMAZON (CA)  |  AMAZON (AU)

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Ms. Faiman’s Unfit Hero series has been a mesmerizing one since the very first installment and this latest addition to the series is no exception as readers are introduced to a couple weighed down by their pasts but trying to make a future with one another.  It’s an emotionally intense journey, one that’s both sizzling and sweet, as well as frustrating at times too.  No matter the emotions Ms. Faiman arouses readers will be quickly captivated by this couple’s struggles and will be rooting for them every step of the way.

Louis Kingston is a professional fighter still dealing with the accidental death of his opponent in the ring. It’s thrown him for a loop, weighed him down with guilt, and pointed out to him just how alone he really is.  He longs to show who he really is below his fighting exterior though which has him frequently thinking of an unforgettable young woman residing back in his hometown.  For him, going home means healing, but it’s a rocky process due to unforeseen circumstances surrounding danger to his girl Tulip.  To overcome everything though they have to stand up for each other to work through their pasts to find HEA.  Through it all Louis is a delicious hero, a bit rough around the edges but with a big heart of gold.  Like his friends, once he committed to claiming Tulip he was laser focused and would sacrifice all for her.  He showed her her true worth, after years of her being broken down, and his loving ministrations of her warmed my heart.

Tulip Fischer is a complex heroine who I sometimes liked while being frustrated by her at other times.  She’s been emotionally battered for years, treated like trash by those close to her and has been left with virtually no self-esteem.  She doesn’t think herself worthy of happiness or anything good which drives many of her decisions early on in the story.  Quite frankly she’s a doormat at the beginning, putting up with a boyfriend who lets her work herself to exhaustion to pay his bills while treating her as his whore.  Seeing her allow herself to be treated like that broke my heart, made it difficult to keep turning the pages, but with Louis arriving on the scene things finally looked brighter.  She saw herself through his eyes, she saw just how good of a friend she really is and proved to herself that she was more than deserving of HEA.  As the story progressed she became more empowered, but there were still a few bad decisions on her part that put her right in the middle of a dangerous situation full of surprising twists and turns.  Despite her flaws I still found myself rooting for her.  She’s a truly good person with a caring group of friends who are more like family to her and I enjoyed their subtle matchmaking between her and Louis.  They’re a formidable pair, just what the other needed to lift them up from their painful pasts, and along the way they steamed up the pages while making my heart flutter.

From the first page to the last this was a story that held me captive in a tale full of intense emotions, heartfelt interludes, and gripping suspense that had me frantically turning the pages.  Louis is a delightful hero with layers I enjoyed discovering more about, a hero who was just as unforgettable as those from the previous books.  These men were strong with issues that were raw and realistically dealt with which endeared them to me all the more.  They’re a supportive group, brotherly, who wanted each of them to find their HEA.  Tulip’s interactions with her girlfriends were much the same and it added a familial vibe to the story that made for an even stronger storyline. Rounding out this book was a novella featuring two characters I was hoping to get to know more about and its inclusion made for a satisfying conclusion.  Readers looking for unique characters, storylines full of conflict, and a tale full of heart and soul need look no further than this sweet and sizzling romance.

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

***BUY THE PREVIOUS INSTALLMENTS IN THE UNFIT HERO AT THESE UNIVERSAL AMAZON LINKS:  CONVICT  |  HERO  |  FRAUD***

AUTHOR INFO:

As an only child, Hayley Faiman had to entertain herself somehow. She started writing stories at the age of six and never really stopped.

Born in California, she met her now husband at the age of sixteen and married him at the age of twenty in 2004. After all of these years together, he’s still the love of her life.

Hayley’s husband joined the military and they lived in Oregon, where he was stationed with the US Coast Guard. They moved back to California in 2006, where they had two little boys. Recently, the four of them moved out to the Hill Country of Texas, where they adopted a new family member, a chocolate lab named Optimus Prime.

Most of Hayley’s days are spent taking care of her two boys, going to the baseball fields for practice, or helping them with homework. Her evenings are spent with her husband and her nights—those are spent creating alpha book boyfriends.

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Book Cover Reveal for Falling North by Alyson Santos....

A band on the edge of imploding finds its drummer in need of tlc as past pain seeks to pull him under completely, with his only hope for help coming from an unlikely source in this steamy and angsty rockstar romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Falling North by Alyson Santos, then add this second installment in the Turner Artist Rocker series to your bookshelf when it releases on April 23rd!

Turner Artist Management Urgent Action Item:

✔ Save Falling Back North from implosion.

When your agency’s newest artist shows signs of collapse, you jump on the problem. When it involves a potential rift between the brothers who form the band’s soul, you throw your Hail Mary.

So I did—by hiring a respected marketing goddess to save them. But when demons run deep and the stakes are extreme, it might prove too much for the band’s drummer and leader who’s been carrying them all since childhood. Enormous pressure compounded by impending heartbreak, what’s an agency to do?

See, I’m just the manager. The story that follows actually belongs to my client Xander Silva and the innocent marketing siren about to blow him to shreds.

Because now that both brothers have their hearts set on the same woman, everyone’s desperate to know:

Who is LYDIA CARMICHAEL??

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

PRE-ORDER AT AMAZON here.

***BUY THE FIRST BOOK IN THIS SERIES, RISING WEST, ON AMAZON here.***

AUTHOR INFO:

I’m a writer, musician, and cat lover. Not always in that order.

I write what needs to come out, whether it’s pain, tears, or laughter. I write people and relationships, about the beauty and horror of what we do to ourselves and each other. I write Love. Vengeance. Compassion. Cruelty. Trust. Betrayal. Forgiveness. Darkness, and the incredible way humans destroy and heal each other.

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Book Tour for Making Believe ​by Staci Stallings (GIVEAWAY)

Fans of the New Adult genre will be drawn to this tale of friends starting over after assessing their pasts and maybe becoming more to each other.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Making Believe ​by Staci Stallings, with its Christian elements to make this a feel good read, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this eighth installment in The Imagination Series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a print copy of the first book in The Courage series too!

Reeling from barely surviving her last relationship, Taylor Grayson is trying to put her life back together. However, every step forward means facing her past—decisions, mistakes, and relationships, and the perfect life she thought she was building suddenly doesn’t seem so perfect anymore. Can Taylor rebuild and maybe even find a new path in life with the help of her very best friend, Greg Everett, or are past mistakes simply too much to ever really overcome?

Greg Everett only wants what’s best for those he loves including Taylor Grayson. Although he’s always secretly hoped that she would see him as more than a friend, he’s known Taylor too long to believe she might ever see him the way he sees her. Besides, what Taylor needs most right now is a friend, and Greg knows better than anybody that hoping for anything else with Taylor is just Making Believe...

Come along with these friends on this crazy ride called life. Be inspired. Laugh a few laughs. Cry a few tears.

One thing’s for sure, you will never forget this emotionally-charged roller coaster ride filled with life, hopes, dreams, imagination, and most especially love.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BOOKBUB

AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today Best Selling Author, ​STACI STALLINGS is a stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side. She has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. So, sit back, grab your Kindle & something to drink, and settle in for some of the BEST stories in all of Christian Romance...

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE  |  FACEBOOK READER GROUP  |  TWITTER  |  PINTEREST  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  BOOKBUB AUTHOR PAGE  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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Book Review Blitz for Shooting Stars by Clara Fox (REVIEW)

Readers return to the sensual and competitive world of music in this contemporary romance that picks up right where the previous book in this series left off.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Shooting Stars by Clara Fox, along with my impressions of it, then add this second installment in the Last Moment series to your bookshelf!

SHOOTING STARS

Alexandra “Alex” Walton and the members of her band were given an amazing opportunity when Destiny brought them together.

Now that Last Moment has proven their talent, Alex has caught the eye of none other than sexy rock star Noah Dreagan, the lead singer of Carnal Imagination. Regardless of the fact that she has a boyfriend, Noah is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her around.

The music industry is an overwhelming place. One side can be fun and exciting, while another can be shady and dark. Craziest of all is that careers can be made or broken overnight.

What is in the cards for Alex and Last Moment? Will the fans and industry welcome them with open arms? Or will they struggle to even be heard, just trying to get in the door?

When your band is flaming hot one minute, you can end up ice cold the next. Fame can have you soaring high, then falling fast and fading away, just like Shooting Stars.

***This is NOT a standalone novel, you must first read Destiny (Last Moments Series Book 1) to understand where this story begins and takes place.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (UNIVERSAL)

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Alex Walton and the rest of Last Moment return in this tale of love and life on the road that picks up right where the previous book in this compelling series left off.  With her band earning the coveted spot of opening act for the popular Carnal Imagination things are speeding along for them amidst the glitz and glamour of the rockstar world and it leads to lots of unexpected twists and turns.  The biggest twists and turns involve who will claim Alex’s heart as there’s plenty of delicious candidates vying for the role.  Among the candidates is Noah Dreagan, lead singer for Carnal Imagination, whose first meeting with Alex teemed with sensuality and whose flirty interactions with her here made their connection crackle even more.  There’s much about Noah that’s familiar when it comes to rockstars but I still enjoyed seeing the two of them bond over music and more.  Other attractions came from surprising individuals, some I totally sensed in the previous book while some were new to this story, but it all added even more angst to this story that wrung me out at times.  Alex’s HEA was ultimately a journey full of rocky twists and turns but by the final page I found myself satisfied by her decision and yet hoping to return to this world as there’s other characters whose stories need to be told.

Alex is a likable heroine whose confidence grows as the story progresses.  She’s strong-willed on her own but I very much enjoyed her flirty interludes with others as it was nice to see her do something for herself instead of what was best for the band.  Along with this strong lead heroine came her equally self-assured friend Paige, an outspoken support to Alex who had her own romantic intrigue playing out in the background and who I’d love to see more of in the future. The remaining members of Last Moment were a sexy bunch with each of them tempting me wholeheartedly.  They too deserve to take center stage and here’s hoping that Ms. Fox brings them back.  While I was completely caught up in the emotional parts of the story I was equally captivated by the rockstar imagery.  Ms. Fox realistically depicted their chaotic life on the road along with the glamour and sensuality of being on stage and I felt like a voyeur when it came to these scenes and I applaud her presentation.  Fans of rockstar romances will find this a very satisfying addition to the genre and will enjoy Alex’s rollercoaster ride to HEA.

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

**GET THE FIRST BOOK IN THE LAST MOMENTS SERIES, DESTINY, THROUGH THESE BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (UNIVERSAL)**

AUTHOR INFO:

Clara Fox lives in the Washington, D.C. area, affectionately known as Northern Virginia (or NoVA). She’s married to a man who loves hockey and sports as much as she does. She reads close to 3 books a week, even when writing (it’s the only way she can escape and get quiet with two young kids at home). She joins the normal full time working force during the day and plays writer on her laptop at night. Dual life…she isn’t a Gemini for nothing. 

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Book Tour for The Model by Harlow Layne (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Readers drawn to tales of older women/younger men will be thrilled to get their hands on this sensual story set in the modeling world.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Model by Harlow Layne, along with my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this second installment in the Love Is Blind series make sure to visit the link below for the chance to win 1 of 3 print copies of this upcoming book too.

The moment I heard Ryder’s voice I was a goner.

As a photographer, I was used to working with beautiful people, but Ryder Williams was the most perfect male specimen that had ever stood before me. I knew without a doubt it would take no time at all for him to be the next big thing...or for him to steal my heart.

Model and photographer, we shouldn’t cross that line, but there was no stopping the passion we felt. Nothing else mattered. Not the age difference. Not that he was a client. Not even our pasts.

After my assistant caught us together, he was gone. I tried to put him out of my head, until fate threw him back into my life and my bed.

Time and time again we’re brought together, should I keep fighting or finally accept what my heart wants?

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON |  iBOOKS

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Fans of the older woman/younger man theme will find themselves captivated by this decadently delicious romance of 32 year old Lexie Keene and 21 year old model du jour Ryder Williams as it’s full of sweet sentiments while teeming with scorching sexual encounters.  In a case of instalove, these two are immediately drawn to each other and undergo a rocky journey full of self-doubts and danger from her ex  that kept me turning the pages frantically.  While much about their journey felt familiar, the talented Ms. Layne still crafted it in a way that pulled me in wholeheartedly.  Though this book is the second installment in the Love is Blind series it stands strongly on its own courtesy of a combustible main couple and their rocky road to a HEA that you’ll find yourself rooting for every step of the way.

Lexie’s the kind of heroine you can’t help but like as she’s sassy and strong-willed.  She tells it like it is but still has a tender heart that’s been recently bruised by her ex cheating on her, an ex who becomes more dangerous as the story progresses.  Lexie’s confident when it comes to her career but when it comes to men she’s starting to think they’ll all cheat on her eventually, which had me aching for her, and frustrated too by the barrier it put between her and Ryder.  Though their initial interactions were sizzling and unforgettable, courtesy of a one-night stand, it took a bit of time for them to finally find each other again as their demanding careers kept them apart in one of the realistic issues they had to deal with throughout the story.  They also had to deal with her insecurities and the ever-increasing danger Ben dealt her that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Ryder may be young in years but he left a big and bold impression on me in this story.  He was sweet and charming when first meeting him, sexy beyond belief, but behind the beautiful packaging was an even more beautiful heart.  He was self-assured and unafraid to go after what he really wanted...and what he wanted was a future with Lexie.  From the moment he saw her he knew she was “the one” and though it was a rocky road for them he never gave up on what they could have by each other’s side.  He was there for her through the good, the bad, and everything in between and each turn of the page endeared him to me all the more.  He was an equally kindhearted son, modeling to make life more comfortable for those he cared about, willing to tolerate the loneliness as long as he could make things better for others.  Along with that sweetness was an innate sensuality that made for lots of sizzling dirty talk too which made this story even more captivating.  From the first page to the last Ryder showed himself to be a drool-worthy hero full of heart and soul that I’m still dreaming about at night.

This was the perfect story to forget all your troubles to courtesy of an appealing theme and unforgettable main couple.  Sizzling and sweetness abound in a satisfying romance nicely rounded out by a bit of suspense that kept me on edge from start to finish.  Surrounding this memorable main couple was a small, but equally memorable group of secondary characters.  Of those, two stood out to me but for very different reasons.  Lexie’s dangerous ex Ben may have started out harmless but his increasingly demanding nature quickly came to the forefront to leave her in danger and my heart racing.  Lexie’s friend Raine also impressed me for her down to earth nature and a big personality just waiting to be unleashed.  She and Lexie are a good support for each other throughout the story and I’d love to see more of her in the future.  On a whole this was an immensely satisfying romance with a delightful epilogue that took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions before leaving me with a smile on my face!

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Harlow Layne is a hopeless romantic who writes sweet and sexy alpha males who will make you swoon.

Harlow wrote fan fiction for years before she decided to try her hand at a story that had been swimming in her head for years.

When Harlow's not writing you'll find her online shopping on Amazon, Facebook, or Instagram, reading, or hanging out with her family and two dogs.

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VISIT here FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN 1 OF 3 PRINT COPIES OF THIS BOOK!  GIVEAWAY ENDS ON 4/2.

Book Tour for Tough Talking Cowboy ​by Jennifer Ryan (GIVEAWAY)

Two people struggling with their pasts try to find healing through each of their one night stands before discovering their hearts becoming involved in this small town contemporary romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Tough Talking Cowboy ​by Jennifer Ryan, then start counting down the days until this book releases on March 31st.  In honor of this third installment in the Wild Rose Ranch series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a hardcover set of all three books in the Wild Rose Ranch series too!

Ex-Army Ranger Drake McGrath has come home to Montana, locked in a battle with himself, lashing out at those who love him most—driving away his ex-fiancée and alienating his family. But Adria Holloway sees beyond Drake’s tough talk to the raw pain beneath.

Raised with her twin sister Juliana by a neglectful mother at the Wild Rose Ranch, Adria also struggles to put the trauma from her past behind her. To help them both, she makes Drake a shocking deal—a no-strings relationship that’ll help them both face down their demons. Maybe it’s a way for her and Drake to heal each other, one sizzling night at a time...

The heat between them is instant and incredible. But the biggest challenges are yet to come. With Juliana battling her addiction and Drake working on his issues, Adria realizes she can’t save everyone. But Drake and Adria discover love can survive tragedy and loss—and they can have the life they never thought possible if they just hold on.

EXCERPT:

“We saw each other in the driveway. I smiled at you. I wanted to meet you. You stared at me. You didn’t want your brother to touch me even in a friendly way.” Her eyes went wide. “You want me.”

Feeling surly, he lashed out. “Conceited much?”

“Oh, I think I’m right on the money. You wanted me and came up here and destroyed my stuff because you didn’t think I’d want you because of a few scars and a bad temper.”

He raked his fingers over his head. “That’s not it.”

“Yes, it is. Melanie didn’t want you, so you think no one will.”

He tried to hold it together, but his anger flashed. “She tried. I tried. But I couldn’t. I can’t. Not anymore. So what good was I to her? I’m no use to any woman now?”

Adria shook her head. “You’re kidding, right?”

He held his hands out wide. “Does it look like I’m kidding?”

She braced her hands on the back of the sofa, leaned in, locked eyes with him and said the unexpected again. “There is nothing, and I mean nothing, wrong with you.”

“How the hell would you know?”

“Because I’m the one you held wrapped in your arms with your thick, rigid, I-want-to-fuck-her dick pressed against my ass for nearly an hour.”

He went still. “You’re lying.”

“Why would I lie about something like that?”

Dr. Porter chimed in again. “Maybe one of you should explain what really happened.”

Adria ignored the doctor, just like he did. She got up from the couch and walked around it to face him.

He stared down at her, everything inside him wanting her to be right, for it to be true.

Hope rose up inside him.

“I don’t know what happened between you and Melanie. Maybe the way she looked at you, or didn’t look at you with a longing and need to be with you, turned you off.”

He started thinking out loud. “I thought because she loved me, she wouldn’t care about the scars and that I couldn’t move the way I used to. We’d figure it out.”

“But she hesitated. The moment felt like you needed to show her that you could be the man she remembered. But overwhelmed by what happened to you and trying to fix something in your life and make it work, you couldn’t. Too much pressure. Too much riding on it. Her not showing you the compassion and patience you needed to quiet the nightmares and fall into her. She couldn’t see past the damage to the man she loved. You took her rejection and turned it into every woman rejecting you. You convinced yourself you couldn’t be with any woman, that every woman would only ever see the bad, the damage. You let your insecurity, guilt, and anger win.”

“I don’t know why you need me,” Dr. Porter interjected, startling both of them as they stared at each other. “Sounds like she’s got you pegged. Listen to her, Drake.”

“Just because it worked once, doesn’t mean it will work again.”

“You’ll never know unless you try,” she challenged.

His mind went blank for a second. She didn’t mean with her. She meant for him to give it a go by himself. Well, he’d tried. And failed. And gotten more pissed and despondent about it, because without sex, what the fuck was the point of surviving all he had if he couldn’t be with a woman, make a life and have a family with her.

That’s what he’d always wanted. But right now, he’d take a willing woman who’d give him a chance to see if he could get it up again.

“Juliana once said that my sisters and I carry around our baggage like an apology we owe the world. I’ve been thinking about that lately. I was with a couple of guys, but I could never really get past my own inhibitions and remembering what happened to me.

“My mother is a prostitute. She loves sex and doesn’t care who knows it. I’d like to stop thinking men will believe I’m like her if I just have fun and enjoy it.”

“Uh...” He really didn’t know what to say to that, except, “Shouldn’t everyone enjoy sex.”

“Exactly. But I get hung up on her past, my past, and get it all in my head that I’m doing something wrong because that despicable man made me do things that made me feel icky. I knew it was wrong and I did it anyway because I needed to protect my sister.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “We have that in common: trying to protect everyone around us and scarring ourselves in the process. So if you’re willing to try, so am I.”

His fucked up brain did not compute. “What are you saying?”

“Maybe we can face down our demons together. No strings attached. No expectations. Judgement-free sex. I’ll show you, you’re not impotent, and maybe you can help me let go and enjoy myself.”

The idea appealed a lot, but they didn’t know each other well, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her feelings or disappoint her. “You’re serious?”

“How long do you want to go without knowing if you really can or can’t have sex? How long will you deny yourself that pleasure? How many women will you let get away because you think you can’t be with them?”

He tried to find a rational reason why this was a bad idea when everything inside him wanted to try. But he didn’t want to use her like that. “You’re my sister’s friend and business partner.”

“You guys, this might not be such a good idea.” They’d completely forgotten about Dr. Porter.

Drake wished he’d shut up because the more Drake thought about it, he wanted to do it. Or at least try. And he had to admit, he felt a stirring inside him he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Anticipation. Need. Hunger. They all started to wake up inside him.

Adria walked back to the coffee table and held up the laptop and stared at Dr. Porter. “Talk therapy is good and all, but I think what we both need is a little sex therapy. And you’re not invited.” She closed the laptop lid on whatever Dr. Porter’s reply might have been.

Adria held Drake’s gaze. Mind made up, she didn’t back down. “How long should I go without knowing if I can let go, feel like a whole woman, and find satisfaction with a man? I deserve to feel wanted and needed and be okay with that, don’t I?”

He nodded because he’d always made sure the woman he was with enjoyed it as much as he did.

“Whatever and whoever we are outside this cabin makes no difference. In here, you and me, we’ll give each other what we’ve both been missing.”

Drake still hesitated. “Don’t get me wrong, I want to, but I’m not sure how this will go between us. We barely know each other.”

That seemed like it should have been her line.

“I don’t need you to love me, Drake, I just want you to want me. It seems like something about me appealed to you, enough that when you held me, your body responded.”

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NY Times & ​USA Today bestselling author ​JENNIFER RYAN writes suspenseful contemporary romances about everyday people who do extraordinary things. Her deeply emotional love stories are filled with high stakes and higher drama, love, family, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find. Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper. For information about her upcoming releases, sign up for her newsletter HERE.

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