Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Book Blast for The Most Eligible Bride in London by Ella Quinn (GIVEAWAY)….

A man trying to make amends for his scandalous past finds himself drawn to the one woman he might never be able to attain in this Regency romance of second chances that will take readers from the dangerous and dreary parts of London to the glitz of its ballrooms.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Most Eligible Bride in London by Ella Quinn, then learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this third installment in the The Lords of London series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $20 bookstore GC too!

Love conquers even the most unlikely lord in USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s delightful Lords of London series, as a reformed rogue endeavors to prove himself worthy of his chosen bride...
Mistakes happen, to be sure. Rarely are those mistakes as unfortunate as the one made by Nathanael, Viscount Fotherby, when he abducted the now Lady Merton to save his friend from marriage. Nate has been trying to make amends ever since, leaving behind his self-centered ways to fulfill his duties—and that includes finding a wife of his own. One woman sparks his interest above all others—a lady he helped when she was rescuing a child. Alas, there is a devilish complication...
Miss Henrietta Stern, Lady Merton’s younger sister, is intrigued by the stranger who comes to her aid—until she learns his identity. Nate’s stunt could have ruined her sister’s reputation, and her family may never forgive him. With beauty, connections, and a sizeable dowry, Henrietta has plenty of admirers. Yet no other suitor quickens her pulse quite like Nate does. Her heart insists that the gentleman has changed for the better. But can a renowned scoundrel possibly prove himself to be the perfect husband?

EXCERPT:

Nate glanced back over his shoulder, but the lady’s coach was already turning around. When she’d first faced him with her brows imperiously raised, he’d thought she was Dotty Stern, but that was impossible. Miss Stern had married the Marquis of Merton shortly after Nate had left Town four years before. Surely Merton would not allow his wife to engage in that type of activity. Also, the lady looked like Miss Stern had four years ago.
Whoever she was, she was beautiful. Her hair was as black as night, and her eyes appeared as if they might be light. But what struck him most was her courage. He’d never met a female who had so little fear of using a weapon to shoot a man. Yet even though she was a lady—a fact that had been clear once she’d abandoned her country accent—she was not dressed like a female who would be attending the Season. The cloth was good enough, but the styling was not that of a London modiste. At one time, when he’d been a well-known dandy, those things had actually mattered to him. He was still able to recognize the differences, but he didn’t care about them anymore. Now, he was much more interested in the person instead of the way they dressed.
Yet, because he was a gentleman and she was a lady, he could not insult her by introducing himself. That was unfortunate.
He hoped the infant lived. Most babes would have given a loud screech when tossed. This one had only a small, pathetic cry.
Her carriage traveled up the street at a smart pace, and he went around to the door of his coach and found Mr. Odell, the young woman, and her child already inside. “I see you are ready to leave.”
“We are.” Odell’s smile was wider than Nate had ever seen it as he gazed at the infant in his arms. “Mary has agreed to be our daughter, just as if she and John had wed.”
Mary’s tears were gone and she too was smiling broadly. “From now on I am Mary Odell.”
“What is the child’s name?” Nate climbed into the coach.
“John for his father. Papa”—she looked shyly at Mr. Odell—“said that he was to have the same rights as if John and I had married.”
That did not surprise Nate at all. Odell and his wife had several daughters, all of whom had married well, and one remaining son. The younger son was studying to be a lawyer and had taken little interest in the farm. And there were no entailments to stop Odell and his wife from leaving the property as they wished.
Today had definitely been a good day. Nate returned her smile. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“Papa”—Nate was pleased to see how comfortable she was calling Odell “Papa.” But she would have known them fairly well. Nate briefly wondered why she hadn’t gone to the Odells in the first place, but not only was it water under the bridge, it wasn’t his business —“told me how hard you looked for me,” Mary said as the coach started. “If I live to be a hundred, I don’t think I’ll find a lord as good as you are.”
A flush heated Nate’s neck. “Thank you. I’m glad I was able to help.” The coach had turned and was headed back up the street. “Mrs. Odell should be at Fotherby House by now.” He decided to ask a question that had been bothering him. “How did you survive?”
“My, my.” She straightened her shoulders. “Mr. Bywater made me leave. But my mother gave me all the money she had been able to save, and I got work sewing. But after the baby came…”
“Well”—Odell’s voice was rough with emotion—“at least you had the sense to go to the workhouse. That’s the only way we found you.”
“Yes.” Her tone was barely above a whisper. “It was really my only choice.”
Nate and the older man exchanged a glance. They were both glad she thought that way. Too many young women and girls on their own were forced into prostitution.



FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (Kindle)  |  AMAZON (Print)  |  AMAZON (Audio)  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  AUDIBLE  |  iTUNES  |  BOOKBUB

AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn's studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side (political science professor and lawyer). Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.
She is married to her wonderful husband of over forty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, a Great Dane named Lilibet, and a cat named Winnie. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and lived on a sailboat for three years. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She's currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement. She expects to be back on the boat in 2022.
Ella loves when readers connect with her.


**********GIVEAWAY**********

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Cover Reveal for My Only Wish by Leigh Lennon……

 The Love Is Love series continues with this fourth installment featuring a gay football coach who finds an unexpected place within the warm embrace of a male couple who've never before been interested in a long-term triad...until he enters their lives.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of My Only Wish by Leigh Lennon, then start counting down the days until this steamy male-fueled ménage hits bookshelves on April 1st!

Lane:
Shaw and I have a unique and conventional kind of love. One that has found us inviting a third to join our bed from time to time. Our playmate is never meant to be anything more—fulfilling a purpose and leaving before sunrise the following day.
It had been the rule until Shaw went and confessed that he wants more. There's just one problem. I've been keeping a secret from the man I vowed to love forever. And it's the key to why we can never be a committed triad.
Shaw:
Sex is more than an action; it's an intimate exchange between partners. And I can no longer continue to have meaningless sex with strangers that disappear in the morning light.
I never thought the man I love would be so opposed to sharing our life with another—until a stranger lands in our bar—one vulnerable but beautiful night.
Keegan:
I'm no stranger to denying myself the basic needs I want in life. It's how I ended up here, alone, on the cusp of my dream job.
My plans, goals, and ambitions fall apart before my very eyes, and it's then when two strangers find their way into my life. I have a new wish, one that fills my lonely heart.
Professional football may not be ready for an out and proud coach, but I'm willing to take a chance on the two men who I vow will one day be mine.


FIND AT GOODREADS here.

*** BUY THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE LOVE IS LOVE SERIES AT AMAZON:  MY ONLY REASON  |  MY ONLY REGRET  |  MY ONLY DEFENSE ***


AUTHOR INFO:

I am a woman who loves to share all my imaginary friends with the world.
My characters become as real to me as those I call family.
I am a girl, who loves pretty nails, spikey hair and large earrings.
Coffee and wine call to me daily, depending on the time of the day.
I am a mom first and foremost and my kids are the breath of my life.
I met my husband while serving in the military and I am proud to say he's kicked cancer's ass!
I write real life issues that reflect a little of my own little world.
My family tolerates the seventh member of our family, my computer, as I lug this vital piece everywhere I go.

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Book Release Blitz for How Good It Was by Scarlett Cole (REVIEW)……

 It's an unexpected match made in Heaven when a woman known for her wholesome lifestyle has a one night stand with a drummer which leads to them having to play house to save their careers.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of How Good It Was by Scarlett Cole, along with my impressions of this angsty romance set in the glare of the media spotlight, then add this third installment in the Excess All Areas series to your bookshelf too!

Willow
Love’s an illusion.
Everyone around her is out for what they can get, except a drummer who wanted nothing more than a steamy one-night stand.
Two blue lines later, she’s on the fast track to career destruction as America’s number one wholesome content creator.
Saving her reputation and collaborations will require a plan and a little social media fakery. Okay, a lot. Like twelve months of pretending to build a family with the rockstar of her dreams.
Luke
Love’s an anchor.
Responsibilities and lack of band success have kept him trapped. But now, with the band suddenly making it big and his family obligations gone, life is off the rails. Yet fame, women, and arena tours only go so far in helping keep his pain buried.
Until one of the most spectacular nights of his life comes back to haunt him. She saved his career, now she wants him to help save hers.
A baby. A fake relationship. And a million dollars. Is it the perfect arrangement to avoid responsibilities? Or a deal guaranteed to ruin them both?


FIND AT GOODREADS here.

PRE-ORDER LINKS:  AMAZON (US)  |  AMAZON (UK)  |  KOBO  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  GOOGLE PLAY


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Readers rejoice as British rockstars, Sad Fridays, are back in this angsty contemporary romance of a one-night stand that leads to big changes for two people weighed down by their pasts as they find an unexpected connection that changes their lives irrevocably. When drummer Luke Bryson has an unforgettable night with "family friendly" media influencer Willow Warner they end up putting on the ultimate show as they try to salvage her career while he deals with all the excesses of fame seeking to pull him under as his band continues their meteoric rise.  It's ultimately a journey full of angst, heartfelt moments, and a slow burn teeming with sexual tension as they get to know each other behind the images they show to the world.  From start to finish it's a story that pulls you in, never letting you go until the very end...and an epilogue that has me greatly anticipating the next installment in this series.

Luke is a bit of a jerk when readers first meet him, fully embracing the "sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll" lifestyle to hide from a painful past where he never felt he was important or put first.  His father's death led to him taking on the role of caretaker at a young age and it's a weight that he's been rebelling from ever since.  To escape that weight he fully embraces the rockstar vices as a man who does coke, drinks to numbness, and flits from one groupie after another.  Meeting the wholesome Willow catches him off-guard though as she's nothing like the women he's been with before.  Their one night together has him being real for the first time, being honest about his life, which leads to lots of steam and heart and soul.  When she shows up on his doorstep two months later, announcing her pregnancy and an offer she doesn't think he'll refuse, he's once again caught off-guard in a journey that reveals a much softer side to him.  Luke may act tough and uncaring at the start, but being with Willow shows him to be a protective man.  It brings out a gentlemanly side full of respect, someone who doesn't think he'd be a good husband and father, but who easily embraces all those qualities.  I came to adore Luke, found him to be endearing and someone who I endlessly wanted to hug to prove to him he was always deserving of being first.

Willow was another individual bruised by her past as a childhood star.  For years she made money, money that unbeknownst to her was being stolen by her parents. Throughout her youth she had to deal with issues over her looks, and being the good girl, and with getting older she switched to social media where she became a top influencer.  The moment she spotlighted a song from Brit band Sad Fridays on her site was a life-altering event for both the band and Willow, opening up her eyes to painful truths while giving her a needed push to break free from the chains those around her placed on her.  A one-night stand with Luke was supposed to be just one night, but her becoming pregnant and going to legal war with her parents and advisers has her going to Luke and making him an unconventional offer.  It's an offer that changes everything for them, makes them stronger as individuals, and has them growing closer together as they reveal more of themselves to the other.  Willow may start off as the quiet and perfectly packaged media star, but as the story progresses a stronger and more assertive side emerges.  Her and Luke become a formidable pair, an unconventional family of their own making, one that I rooted for from the first page to the last.

This was an intensely emotional tale, one that depicted the dark and painful price of fame.  Hiding from painful pasts is what brought these two very different people together, had them making beautiful music together in a relationship that might have started out as fake, but soon became all too real as they showed their true selves to each other.  Their connection was instantaneous but grew slowly to become even more richly rewarding.  Surrounding this memorable main couple were the other members of Sad Fridays and it warmed my heart seeing the boys work through their issues here. Along with intense emotions, steamy encounters, and hard truths, readers got bits of humor courtesy of Nan.  Throughout the series she's been a bright spot amidst the heavy moments and I adored her and look forward to seeing more of her as well as the rest of the band in the next installment.  On a whole this was another winner from Ms. Cole, another sensual and emotional tale that pulled at my heartstrings, and I definitely recommend it to fans of rockstar romances and opposites attracting.  After the turn of the final page I'm now left impatiently waiting for the next book in the Excess All Areas series!

My rating for this is an A.

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


AUTHOR INFO:

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada where I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.
I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I'm getting the chance to follow that dream.
I am represented by Beth Phelan at The Bent Agency, NY.

Monday, February 21, 2022

Book Teaser Blast for Hanson by Kat Savage…….

 Readers will find themselves falling for yet another of Ms. Savage's sexy tattoo artists in this older woman/younger man romance of a single mom and the determined man used to getting what he wants as they travel down a rocky, yet sizzling, road to HEA. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Hanson by Kat Savage, then start counting down the days until this fourth installment in the Men of Bird's Eye series hits bookshelves on April 28th!

Hanson Serrano is a complicated man—even his therapist tries to convince him to put his trust in someone. But the youngest member of the Bird’s Eye crew isn’t too concerned. He’s got no plans to settle down anytime soon.

That is, until he runs into Thea James—literally. One nasty spill on the sidewalk later, and this brooding Brazilian can’t take his eyes off her fiery red curls and curvy backside. Though, the interaction makes it clear he’ll have to work for this one.

Thea James is looking for something very specific—and Hanson Serrano isn’t it. Nevermind the fact that he’s tattooed from neck to toe, but he’s also much younger than her. She’s been down the bad boy road before and all she has to show for it is her single mom status and an ex that makes her life miserable.

When Thea finally agrees to one date in an effort to halt Hanson’s chase, she’s pleasantly surprised when he pulls out all the stops. In fact, it’s the best date she’s ever been on.

The pair eventually get tangled up—in their feelings and between the sheets. But between Hanson’s walls, Thea’s ex, and a nagging age gap, their blooming relationship feels like a shipwreck waiting to happen.

As the couple navigates this ocean of obstacles, will they give up and abandon ship or find a way to get in the lifeboat and row together?



PRE-ORDER FOR $2.99 here.

Friday, February 18, 2022

Book Sales Blast for Infuriating by Onley James…..

 An older man/younger man romance sparks between a bodyguard and a witness to murder in this emotionally dark and erotically-charged tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Infuriating by Onley James, currently on sale, then add this fourth installment in the Elite Protection Services series to your bookshelf!

JACKSON AVERY has everything in life, except somebody to share it with. But as the owner of one of the largest private security forces in the country, he’s got plenty to keep him busy until he finds ‘the one.’ After spending the last year dealing with the fallout of his best security agents falling for their clients, the last thing Jackson expects is to take one look at feisty camboy, Dayton Daniels, and almost instantly know that he’s it for him.
DAYTON DANIELS has been on his own since he was just fourteen years old. He’s spent his entire life scraping by, doing whatever’s necessary to survive. A severe learning disability has left Day unable to read and forced him to find creative ways to make a living. Camming allows him to earn money while keeping his clients at a distance, and Day has grown used to keeping everybody at a distance...until he witnesses a murder and Jackson Avery walks into his life.
Guarding Day is supposed to be a favor, a simple off the books job until they find out who killed a prominent attorney, but Jackson quickly realizes there is nothing simple about Day. He’s beautiful, smart, surprising, and Jackson is all in merely ten minutes after they meet. But Day, he can’t imagine a man like Jackson wanting to spend his life with somebody like him, and he is determined to do anything to send Jackson running in the opposite direction, no matter how much it hurts.
When Day starts receiving threatening emails, Jackson enlists his team to hunt down the killer. Day doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life living in fear, but every day he’s with Jackson, he falls a little harder, forming cracks in the walls he’s worked so hard to build up around himself. Can Jackson solve a murder and find a way past Day’s defenses to convince him there is such a thing as love at first sight and that everybody deserves a happily ever after, even him?
INFURIATING is the fourth book in the Elite Protection Services Series and contains age-gap, Daddy-kink, voyeurism and lingerie with a HEA and no cliffhangers.
Warning: This book contains brief portrayals of childhood emotional abuse as well as discussions of past child sexual trauma and one scene of on-page physical violence to a main character at the hands of somebody other than the main character.

BUY LINKS here.


LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE NECESSARY EVILS SERIES:  INTOXICATING  |  CAPTIVATING  |  EXASPERATING

AUTHOR INFO:

Onley James lives in Central Florida with her daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a menagerie of animals, both good and evil. James splits her time between writing m/m romance and mainlining dangerous levels of caffeine and attempting to maintain her ever-slipping sanity.
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do and avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, obsessively scrolling social media and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Book Release Blitz for A Very Vegas St. Patrick’s Day by Kayley Loring and Connor Crais (REVIEW)……

 A drunken night leads to an unexpected future for a sexy Irish boxer and the single mom who doesn't trust what he's offering in this fun and flirty contemporary romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of A Very Vegas St. Patrick’s Day by Kayley Loring and Connor Crais, along with getting my impressions of this third installment in the Very Holiday series, then add it to your bookshelf!

You might think the problem would be waking up in Vegas, hungover, next to a beautiful woman who’s wearing your boxer briefs and finding out ya married her in the middle of an epic drunken night of festivities.
But you’d be wrong.
I, Nolan Cassidy, international charmer and maker of mischief have fallen head over heels for Cora Delaney. 
I want to be married to the lass.
So you might think the problem would be that she wants an annulment.
But again you’d be wrong—stop getting it so wrong.
I, Nolan Cassidy, with my devil tongue and Irish accent, will no doubt change her mind.
Does the problem lie in that she has a son who doesn't like me and is as clever and crafty as I?
Or that I’ve only got one month—until St. Patrick’s Day—to prove to my one true love 
that I can be a good husband and father?
C’mere and I’ll tell ya…
None of that is the problem.
I’m a problem.
My boxing days may be behind me
but the fight never left me.
When I see something I want, I get it. 
And nothing is going to stand in my way. 
Not my new wife’s hesitation nor her son’s doubts.
So buckle up, strap in.
Because I’m no longer in the business of wanting.
I’m in the business of having.
Which is gonna make for one wild Paddy’s Day.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.


BUY AT AMAZON here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

When it comes to fun and flirty reads, Ms. Loring has been the go-to author for me and through the previous books in this series she's kept me smiling while fanning myself. Add in Mr. Crais's words and emotions and you end up with yet another winner and a writing pair that I hope to see more from in the future.

With St. Patrick's Day on the horizon, readers are introduced to sexy Irishman Nolan Cassidy who finds an unexpected connection to single mom Cora Delaney which leads to the fight of his life to keep her by his side.  It's a delicious introduction that immediately charmed me and had me drooling over Nolan from that moment on.  Nolan's a former boxer, but there's much more to him than muscles and brawn.  He may think he's uninterested in commitment, but the moment he meets Cora he never wants to let her go and uses all his Irish appeal to win her over in a journey that has him counting on a bit of luck, a lot of charm, and tons of heart and soul.  He's protective, witty, and endearing as he works to win over Cora as well as her very reluctant son Ashton.  His interactions with Cora were sexy and sizzling, while his scenes with Ashton warmed my heart, and it's more than obvious how committed he is to this relationship that snuck up on him.

Cora's a likable heroine, strong and a bit overprotective of her son at times, but one who's very easy to relate to.  She's more than willing to embrace her first meeting with Nolan, happy to indulge in their scorching encounter, as long as it's all fun and games. But when things turn serious, when he doesn't want to let her go, she starts running scared.  She's worried what this new relationship will do to her son which leads to an emotional tug of war for the single mom...a war within herself as well as with Ashton. Though her feelings were understandable, I kept rooting for her to finally put herself first.

This was a decadently delightful read from start to finish...and that's totally due to Nolan.  He's a drool-worthy hero who wears his heart on his sleeve, a hero with a naughty mouth and mind, who endeared himself to me with the time he spent with Ashton.  Nolan and Cora were sizzling together, but their banter was also fun and flirty, with interactions that put a smile on my face.  From the first page to the last I was held captive, dreaming of Nolan still, in a story that I found oh so satisfying.

My rating for this is an A-

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

AUTHOR'S INFO:

Before writing steamy romantic comedy novels, Kayley Loring got a BFA in creative writing from a Canadian university and had a fifteen-year career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles (under a different name). She mostly wrote PG-13 family comedies that studios would pay her lots of money for and then never make into movies. In 2017 she decided to move to the Pacific Northwest and write about all the fun stuff that she wasn't allowed to write about in those PG-13 scripts. Now she’s an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author who’s breathing cleaner air and writing dirtier words. It’s an adjustment she’s happily getting used to. Rest assured that her funny sexy sweet romances have no cheating or cliffhangers, and always have HEAs!

Connor Crais is a classically trained actor living in the Midwest with his wife, two kids, and rescue greyhound. He has been both a stage and television actor, and before plunging into the romance genre, he had been narrating commercials, audiobooks, and explainers for well over a decade from his home studio. From alphas to bosses to cocky sports stars (a particular favorite), he loves sparring with beautiful, sassy heroines (and their talented narrators) but also loves winning them over and reaching that happily ever after. He is excited to now create those stories as an author.

Book Release Blitz for The Rocker by Harlow Layne (REVIEW)…..

 As a fan of rockstar romances I'm thrilled to find another addition to the genre with this forbidden romance full of sexual tension.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Rocker by Harlow Layne, along with getting my impressions of this fifth installment in the Love Is Blind series, then add it to your bookshelf!

The moment I saw her, I knew she’d be mine.
The only problem is she’s my band’s manager, and if we get caught, she loses her job.
I only wanted one night with her. One night to fuck her out of my system and be done with her.
The only problem is after one taste of Pen, I’m addicted. I can’t get enough of her, and she’s pushing me away.
She says what we had is a lapse in judgement, but I have to disagree. It’s the most sane thing I’ve ever done, and I’ll do anything to get her back underneath me, beside me, and to make her mine even if that means ruining what I’ve worked so hard to build up.


BUY LINKS here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

I can never get enough of reading rockstar romances which is why I was immediately drawn to this story the moment I read the blurb.  Add in a forbidden romance involving an older woman who's managing the band, and the younger male lead singer, and you end up with an entertaining story full of sexual tension and angst.

Penelope is a woman working in a predominantly male world, becoming manager to an up and coming band named Crimson Heat.  The moment she sees the band she knows they're destined for stardom, but it's the lead singer who most captures her attention in an instant connection that crackles.  Things don't go smoothly for the two of them though as she's worried about her career, scared of other's judgements, which had them hiding the truth of their connection from their friends, the band, and the media while on tour.  Pen's a tough and self-assured woman when it comes to her job, but when it comes to the personal part of her she's not as confident which added a heavy layer of angst to the story.  While her fears, and the push and pull between them, has been seen before I still found her concerns relatable and was rooting for her to embrace the HEA that her sexy young rockstar's more than obviously offering her. Together they're a formidable pair with a sizzling connection that can't be denied!

When it comes to rockstars, Walker's a delicious addition to the slew of sexy rockers I've read about throughout the years.  He may be young in years but he's wise when it comes to knowing what he wants.  And what he wants is a relationship, a future, with Pen.  After a scorching first encounter he knows that once isn't enough and sets out to claim the woman desperately trying to fight their more than obvious connection. Walker's had a difficult past but he's risen above it to be a sweet and caring soul.  He oozes tons of sexiness though too and is a master at dirty talk that made his interludes with Pen even more decadently delightful.  On a whole he's the quintessential rockstar and I swooned over him with each turn of the page.

This was a very satisfying read, though it was familiar in many ways.  I enjoyed the forbidden aspect of Pen and Walker's pairing and the extra sizzle and sexual tension it brought to their journey.  Their connection was sweet and sexy, yet teeming with angst courtesy of Pen's fears, that sometimes frustrated me but kept me glued to the pages. Alongside this likable main couple were a cast of equally likable secondary characters. From Pen's group of female friends whose support made me smile, to the brotherly and playful exchanges between Walker and his bandmates, their appearances enriched this story and have me wanting to go back to learn more about these characters while I wait with high hopes for the rest of Crimson Heat to take center stage.

My rating for this is a B+

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


AUTHOR INFO:

Indie Author. Romance Writer. Reader. Mom. Wife. Dog Lover. Addicted to all things Happily Ever After and Amazon.
Harlow Layne is a hopeless romantic who is known for her contemporary writing style of beautiful slow-burn,
 sweet, sexy, and swoon-worthy alphas and fast pace, super steamy romance in her Love is Blind series.
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.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Book Release Blast for Hard Limit by Kat Mizera & Brenda Rothert (REVIEW)……

 A hockey player uninterested in long-term finds his heart becoming entangled with a woman weighed down by secrets of her own.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Hard Limit by Kat Mizera & Brenda Rothert, along with getting my impressions of this second installment in the St. Louis Mavericks hockey series, then add it to your bookshelf!

St. Louis Mavericks star defender Lars Jansson is dead set against relationships. A new love makes him wonder if maybe he can change, but first, he must confront the truth about who he is.
Lars
On the ice, I’m unstoppable. If anyone is in my way, it’s simple—I move them. Hockey is my life, and I don’t have the patience for relationships spanning more than one night. But when I meet a woman so bold and intriguing I can’t help wanting more, I’m blindsided by the revelation that no matter what I do, I may never be enough for her.
Sheridan
One night. That’s all it was supposed to be. But Lars Jansson is larger than life in every way—how could one night be enough? It’s risky for me to see him again, and to let myself fall for the stoic hockey player who is charming in his own way. He thinks it’s his truth that could undo us, but he couldn’t be more wrong about that—it’s mine.


BUY here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

After reading the first book in this series, and discovering the sweet and caring side of Lars Jansson seen in his interactions with baby Annalise, I couldn't wait to get to know more about the gruff and socially awkward Thor-like giant.  And this book definitely didn't disappoint as it beautifully balanced action on the ice with emotionally intense interactions off the ice where the past weighs on two people hoping to make a future together, where each turn of the page amps up the angst.

Lars Jannson is an endearing hero, one who's not good with words but one who always tries to do right.  Trying to do right though doesn't make for an easy journey to HEA as the moment he gets paired with a former plus-sized model at a charity auction is the moment everything changes for him.  With the help of his teammates (through heartwarming brotherly texts) he makes the most of his chance to tell the emotionally bruised woman of his dreams how he feels in a romance that pulled at my heartstrings. With each moment they spend together the truth of their pasts gets ever closer, leading to lots of introspection for him, and the chance to support Sheridan when she needs him most.  I fell hard for Lars as the story progressed, fell for the gentle giant, and he's a delightful addition to the long list of delicious hockey heroes these two authors have crafted over the years.

Sheridan Lee's a wonderful heroine, one you can't help but like and admire after everything that's befallen her throughout the years.  She's a former plus-sized model who spent the past year recovering from a career-ending back injury.  Behind the facade she shows to the world is a woman haunted by the abuse of her manager though, weighed down by mental and physical abuse that broke my heart.  She's finally back on her feet but the scars from her past, those on the inside and outside, still exist and it's just a matter of time before she can no longer keep the past at bay which made for some heart-pounding moments as the story progressed.  Sheridan didn't know what to expect when she met Lars.  Their first date went a bit awry but from there on out they were a wonderfully entertaining couple.  Sweet and sexy interludes were balanced with emotionally engaging talks that pulled me into their strengthening connection and had me rooting for them.  Through it all I adored Sheridan and found her to be a heroine who's much tougher than she looks.  She got put through the wringer in glimpses of a past that were hurtful to read.  But she rose above it, not needing to be saved, but grateful for the unconditional support of the adorable Lars.

As a fan of both of these authors I was impressed by what they created here.  It's a sweet and sexy story full of heart and soul.  Add in angst, and a compelling past for both lead characters, and you end up with a gripping tale that had me glued to the pages. After reaching the end of this satisfying addition to the St. Louis Mavericks hockey series, I'm left looking forward to what these authors have planned next.

My rating for this is an A.

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


AUTHOR'S INFO:

Brenda Rothert was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From hot hockey romance to steamy romantic suspense, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.


USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Kat Mizera is a South Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she's called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Atlanta home. She's never been able to pick which locale is her favorite, but if pressed, she'd probably choose the west coast.
Kat's a typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max), and can usually be found either scrapbooking or indulging in her second love (after writing) - traveling. Greece is one of her favorite places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible.
Kat's been a working freelance writer for nearly 30 years. She sold her first article--a review of a rock concert--for $10 in 1985. Since then she's been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent some time working at A&M Records in Los Angeles.
As you can guess from her series, the Las Vegas Sidewinders, Kat loves hockey and occasionally writes articles about her favorite team, the Florida Panthers. The rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes makes you as happy as it makes her. There's something enticing about hockey players and romance...