Christmas Extravaganza for Spooky Writer’s Planner by Loren Rhoads and Emerian Rich (GIVEAWAY)……

Those hoping to become a writer will be drawn to this helpful planner full of tips and timelines to maximize your writing time and give you a pathway to success.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Spooky Writer’s Planner by Loren Rhoads and Emerian Rich, then be sure to add it to your list for Santa.  In honor of this tool for writing, and courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours, fill out the form below for the chance to win a slew of other prizes too!

Are you a horror author who wants to take your career to the next level? Do you write dark fantasy, paranormal romance, spooky poetry, or morbid nonfiction? 

Would you like to advance farther in the direction of your dreams?

The Spooky Writer's Planner includes:

--13 months of monthly and weekly calendars

--Monthly goal and recap sheets

--Weekly check-ins and note pages

--Writing challenges, prompts, and brainstorming pages

--Trackers for submissions, pitches, and contacts

--Marketing, newsletter, and blog planners

--Check-off sheets for website maintenance, social media updates, and expenses

*AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL AND PRINT*

DIGITAL:

The quick-download version gives you a digital copy so you can print the pages you need and print multiples of those you'll use the most. Create your own Frankenstein's Monster of a planner! These black & white pages are designed to be printed on 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Put them in a three-ring binder or bind them with disks or a spiral, your choice. Use it year after year after one purchase!

BUY AT ETSY here.

PRINT:

The Spooky Writer's Planner is perfect-bound with a glossy cover, printed on high- quality 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Everything you need is included in one handy book that you can grab and go!

BUY AT AMAZON here.

THE ABSOLUTE BEST RED LENTIL SOUP by Loren Rhoads....

When you’re trying to carve out some writing time on a rainy (or snowy) Saturday, it’s great to put together some soup – and then write while it simmers. This is one of my favorites.

--1 tablespoon olive oil

--1 medium onion, finely chopped

--2 medium carrots, finely chopped

--1 rib celery, finely chopped

--1 cup dried red lentils

--2 T tablespoons tomato paste

--1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin

--a pinch of ground red pepper

--5 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth 6 tablespoons low-fat plain yogurt or sour cream

--Heat oil in a medium sized pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery and sauté about 3 minutes or until vegetables start to soften.

--Stir in lentils, tomato paste, cumin, pepper, and broth. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes or until lentils are soft and soup is thick.

--Ladle into bowls and top each with a tablespoon of yogurt or sour cream.

AUTHOR INFO:

Loren Rhoads writes dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction, sometimes all at once.  She’s the author or editor of 18 books, including 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die and Unsafe Words. She serves as a writing mentor for the Horror Writers Association.  She has taught workshops on reading your work in public and submitting proposals and pitches to publishers.

BLOG  |  TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM  |  NEWSLETTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  BLUESKY  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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Book Blast for Heart Fire by Rose Mackie (GIVEAWAY)……

To save two societies they must become one in this sensual sci-fi tale of painful pasts, accepting differences of others, all while politics add to the chaos of change.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Heart Fire by Rose Mackie, along with learning even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this first installment in the Under Violet Suns series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $30 bookstore GC too!

*The planet Falosia has an excess of females. The planet Verit has a surplus of males. The best of each have been put forward to start a new colony and find mates, in a last desperate attempt to save both worlds. A scorchingly hot sci-fi, alien romance.*

Denara barely survived her disastrous first attempt at marriage; for years she threw herself into her research, giving herself time to heal. When the opportunity arises to take up a position on the colony, she decides to take a risk for the chance to live, and love, again. Lucius has spent his life under the heel of the ruthless Matriarchs of Verit. Tasked with leading the males of the new colony, he reluctantly accepts the assignment. The last thing he wants is to tie himself to a scheming female through mating, but nothing could have prepared him for meeting Denara. Sparks fly, but can they overcome their pasts to find love? With the political machinations of two planets vying for control over the colony, perhaps together, they can bridge the gap between their worlds.
What to expect: Glorious world building, spicy alien romance, friends to lovers, enthusiastic consent. Recommended 18+ due to sexual content.

EXCERPT:

“I am a First Warrior.” He stroked his animal fur, which she had successfully avoided looking at until now and pointed out a series of gleaming metal pins and buttons along the edge. “Each of these represents a successful campaign.”
Denara shuddered and turned back to the medicine cabinet, trying not to regard the dead animal. Lucius was moving before he was consciously aware of it. “Why do you do that?”
Suddenly he was very close; she could feel the heat radiating from him. He had moved so fast and silently that she had not heard him move. She spun around, backing up into the medication shelving, knocking several boxes to the floor. “Do what?” she stammered.
“Shudder and turn away? What displeases you so? I saw you do the same thing when you regarded me at the introduction social event.”
He was very, very close. She could sense his energy. It was distinctly feline - curiosity with a contained violence and ruthless intelligence. It was highly unusual, and nothing in all her years of experience had prepared her for the closeness of such a male. He seemed to suck up all the air in the room.
“Oh...it’s nothing.” He regarded her, his eyes deepening from their usual pale blue to a dark navy. She was transfixed at the sight. “Why do your eyes do that? Is it an evolutionary adaption? Or a deliberate genetic alteration?”
“Deliberate alteration. It allows us to see minute biochemical and heat changes, a useful enhancement for a warrior. It also allows me to see when you lie. I saw your displeasure at the first meet yesterday as well.” He cocked his head at her, studying her reactions, attempting to determine the source of her distress. The dark stranger within him was demanding that he find the source of the problem, kill it for her and lay it at her feet in tribute. “Something displeases you, Healer. Inform me of it, my lady, and I will remedy it immediately.”
“Could you, could you back up a bit please?” she gasped out, and he took two measured steps back, to place himself against the opposite wall, as far away as he could get in the small space.
“My apologies, I did not mean to frighten you. I observed you standing close to Odran yesterday and assumed it was acceptable in your culture. I would never touch you without your permission.” She detected a faint thread of hurt in his emotional resonance. “Or perhaps it is me you don’t wish to stand so close to.” He nodded, thoughtfully, examining her reactions in his mind. “Yes, that is it. It is I that distresses you. I shall remedy this by removing my presence.”

BUY AT AMAZON here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Rose Mackie (she/her) is an Australian author who writes and loves sci-fi romance, paranormal romance and fantasy romance. Born in Scotland and living in Perth, Western Australia for the past 15 years, Rose loves nothing more than to hang out with her family and rescue cat, and create magical worlds of imagination.
All Rose Mackie books have an element of spice, kick-ass heroines, enthusiastic consent and happy endings. Rose has been writing for as long as she can remember, but has recently published her first book, Heart Fire. It still spins her out that people are reading the weird stories she makes up in her head!
Rose has fallen in love with writing, and loves seeing audiences connect with her work and characters, and hopes you’ll love them too!

FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  WEBSITE

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Book Blast for Runaway Royal by Wendi Zwaduk (GIVEAWAY)….

Sparks fly when a princess trying to live her own life finds herself falling for the artistic young man who longs to have her for his forever muse in this contemporary romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Runaway Royal by Wendi Zwaduk, then learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this sweet and endearing romance of opposites attracting make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a handmade necklace too!

Will this runaway royal ever find her place...and true love?

All Princess Catherine Zara of Lysianna wants to do is attend college like everyone else her age. So she’s a royal and requires a security guard to move about in public, but if she goes to university, she doesn’t have to marry the man chosen for her. He’s not her true love, so why torture herself? All she has to do to get her life started is to run away to the US...
And then she meets Luke.
Luke Cobb wants to survive college with a degree in studio art and guarantees that he can show his paintings in the local galleries. All he needs is the right break to get his work mainstream and the right woman to stoke his dormant muse. When he meets Zara, he’s smitten and his creativity sparks.
Except, she’s a princess and he’s a commoner, which could be a big problem...

EXCERPT:

She opened her sketch pad and created a list. While I’m at university, I want to:
*be kissed properly
*buy a cheeseburger
*see a rock band play a concert
*have sex & lose my virginity
*have sex with a handsome man
She tapped her pencil against her lips as she debated the next item for her list.

*to meet the tall, dark and handsome artist downstairs
*to model for someone (nude?)

*to attend a real party
*to fall in love

She snorted. Love wouldn’t happen. Not for her. Before things got that far, she’d be found out. The law of averages wasn’t in her favor. If her stepmother didn’t tell someone she’d arrived at the college, Corinne would let the secret slip.

Still, she could dream.
Besides, the list was only one of dreams. It wasn’t like she’d created a checklist to live by. She’d come to the college to get an education, not fall in love. Even if she wanted to be with someone and experience those aspects of life, she had to finish her degree first. She’d paid the money to attend and refused to waste the chance—even for love.

BUY LINKS:  BOOKS2READ  |  AMAZON  |  GOOGLE PLAY  |  iBOOKS

AUTHOR INFO:

Wendi Zwaduk is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Wendi spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

WEBSITE  |  BLOG  |  FACEBOOK  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  |  BOOKBUB  |  INSTAGRAM  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  TWITTER  |  NEWSLETTER

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Book Blast for Alien Legacy – The Empath by Keri Kruspe (GIVEAWAY)......

It's a thrilling and sensual story of aliens, secrets, and the future of mankind found amongst the pages of this series starter.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Alien Legacy – The Empath by Keri Kruspe, along with learning more about this edge of your seat tale by visiting the other sites hosting this tour, then add it to your bookshelf while it's on sale.  In honor of this first installment in the Ancient Alien Descendants series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $20 bookstore GC too!

The aliens we thought were long gone are coming back.

Just his luck, alien-hybrid Ben Duncan is the only one for the job. Being an empath and a financial wizard, he’s called in to uncover an essential ally at a small regional bank in Vegas to thwart a plot his alien ancestors, the Akurns, seemed to have started there. If their heinous plans are successful, the global economy would crash and weaken mankind for their invasion in less than five short months. When Ben arrives at his assignment as a covert consultant, he meets the intriguing Julienne and is instantly alarmed at the intense attraction he has for her. He’d love to indulge in his obsession with the delectable woman, but knows he has no choice but to stay as far away from her as possible. The fate of billions don’t leave time for anything personal.

As senior vice-president, Julienne King leads a stressful life immersed in organizing a huge merger for a local bank in Vegas. And meeting some arrogant, hotter-than-hell, aloof outside consultant makes things worse. When she stumbles on an insidious money laundering scheme that threatens the global economy, she’s caught and kidnapped by one of her hateful bosses. While in captivity, she’s threatened with alien experimentation, death, or both. But what shocks her the most is it turns out she may not be who or what she thought she was.

Now it’s a race against time. Can a banker and an alien-hybrid overcome their misconceptions and to not only work together, but to realize their love is the key to mankind’s salvation?

EXCERPT:

Crap on toast! She’d never seen such a gorgeous man in the flesh before.

Her mouth dried. He had to be in his early thirties, around six foot two or three, with curly dark- blond hair styled in a professional cut. The thick lashes around his light-blue eyes contrasted with the dark tan of his skin. He had a slight overbite, giving him a boyish look around full, lavish lips. Which was a stark contrast to the masculine cleft in his chin.

She sucked in her bottom lip while she scanned down his expansive torso. A costly gray silk suit molded a fit, trim body that no tailor had to hide. His conservative red tie and Italian dress shoes completed the outfit. He screamed high-priced and exclusive. If this man was a banker, she was a cheerleader for the Vegas Golden Knights’s hockey team.

She bit that lip. Damn, every woman in the bank would be hot after this guy. Yeah, and she’d be first in line.

After the man and Claude exchanged greetings, her boss turned to introduce her. With a flourish, he waved between them.

“This is Julienne King.” He clasped his hands behind him and nodded to the younger man. “Julienne, this is Ben Duncan."

Her hands twitched, eager to touch any part of his flesh. Whoa, where did that come from? Shrugging off her inappropriate urge, she let a goofy smile plaster her face.

Then the man, Ben, did a strange thing. He leaned toward her with a slumberous half-lidded gaze.

BUY AT AMAZON FOR 99 CENTS THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK TOUR here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Keri Kruspe, award-winning “Author of Otherworldly Romantic Adventures” loves nothing more than to write about romances that feature “feisty heroines who aren’t afraid to take a chance on life... or love”. Her writing career started when she became irritated that most SciFi romances had women kidnapped before they could find love. Determined to create something different, she turned “the alien kidnapping trope upside down” (Vine Voice) and the ALIEN EXCHANGE trilogy was born.

Keri’s latest SciFi Romance novel, ALIEN LEGACY: THE EMPATH, is the first in a five-book series of the Ancient Alien Descendants, taking the Ancient Alien motif and mixing it with a sensual, romantic twist.

A native Nevadan, Keri is a lifelong avid reader who lives in Northwestern Michigan with her hubby and the newest member of the family, a Jack Russell Terrier named Hestia. When not immersed in her made-up worlds, she enjoys discovering the fascinating landscape of her new home and pairing red wine with healthy ways to cook. Most of all, she loves finding her next favorite author.

If you want to know when Keri’s next book will come out, please visit her website where you can sign up for her mailing list. You’ll get a FREE copy of the novella, The Day Behind Tomorrow that is a prologue to the ALIEN LEGACY series. Not to mention being kept updated on the life of a dedicated, obsessed author.

WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM

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Book Release Blitz for Limitless by Kaylene Winter (Review & GIVEAWAY)....

A rockstar and a social media influencer enjoyed their friends with benefits connection at first, but things quickly turned more serious in a tale that will have them debating love, sacrifice, and matters of the heart.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Limitless by Kaylene Winter, along with getting my impressions of it, then learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this second installment in the Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win signed copies of this book as well as the previous book in this series too!

“She snuck up on me and stole my heart…"

Sexy Viking drummer Jace Deveraux used his genius marketing skills to help propel Less than Zero (LTZ) to the top.

Friends-with-benefits was the only thing he was capable of.

Until free-spirited social media influencer Alexandria LeRoux made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Their secret, spontaneous global hookups were decadent, erotic, extraordinary.

For the first time in his life, Jace wants it all.

Including a future with Alex.

Will one fateful night destroy his chance with her forever?

“I’ll travel the world for him…”

Ethereal animal-lover Alex had one goal in mind:

Conquer playboy Jace before they both left Seattle.

Her plans for him certainly didn’t include forever.

But their first time was so sublime, it ruined her for anyone else.

What’s a girl to do?

Enjoy him in as many countries as possible, that’s what.

Except Alex has her own dreams and they’re already in motion.

Will Jace ever follow her for a change?

Their lives orbit on different courses, but gravity always seems to pull them back together...

Unless a blast from the past blows their chance to smithereens.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

This book grabbed my attention from the very first page with its storyline set in the rockstar world and a romance between two very different people who are oh so right together.  Issues related to the band, as seen in the previous book in this series, run parallel to the action here and have me wanting to go back and read that book even though this installment stands strongly on its own.  It had the bandmates bonding as a family, trying to support each other through each doubt while gaining the fame they desperately want. The rocky road for the band seen there, along with the emotional speed bumps here, ultimately made this a story that kept me on the edge of my seat while playing with my heartstrings in a richly rewarding journey to HEA for everyone.

Jace Devereaux met Alex when they were still trying to find their place in the world, young and on the cusp of something big.  They were both hungry for something more...as well as feeling an instant attraction brewing between them.  An unforgettable bond was forged between them one night but from that moment on their dreams came first with clandestine hook-ups bringing them together from time to time.  It soon becomes clear though that they want more from each other and readers get to see just how important they are to one another in a journey full of angst, tough decisions, and sizzling chemistry.  Jace is a delicious hero, a smart and sexy drummer with talent to burn.  He's a driving force for the band behind the scenes, and is content to stay in the background too.  He's steady and sure, loyal and kind to others, a strong support to his bandmates through all the ups and downs bands experience.  He and Alex were a delight with their playful friendship, scorching and secretive couplings, and a connection teeming with sexual tension from the moment they first met.  I was captivated by all they went through to be together, the joys and fears as they never wanted to lose themselves by being a couple, they just wanted each other in a journey that had me cheering by the turn of the final page.

Alex LeRoux is a wonderful heroine, strong-willed but kind and compassionate, laser focused from a young age to take the media world by storm while rescuing every animal along the way.  She finds someone equally ambitious in Jace, as well as a combustible attraction.  She clearly wants him from the moment she meets him, but in order to achieve her dreams a real relationship will just have to wait.  Years of secret meetups and erotically-charged messages soon aren't enough though...and that's when things become REALLY difficult for these friends to become lovers as they need to learn how to juggle work with play with obligations to others as well as obligations to themselves.  Fate may have brought them together but fame might very well keep them from HEA unless they can figure out how to make it all work.  Theirs is a rocky journey, fun and flirty early on before turning more serious through heartfelt emotions and drama from the outside.

Though this is only Ms. Winter's second book, I'm impressed by how well-paced it is along with how realistically it's depicted.  Readers get an in-depth tour of the rockstar world with all the backstage drama as well as all the sexy and glamorous times the band finds themselves in.  Jace and Alex's secret meetings were like an oasis for them, a time to block out everything else and just be with each other.  I loved their scenes together as they made me laugh, cry, and put a smile and a blush on my face.  The issues they dealt with along the way played on every one of my emotions and had me rooting for them every step of the way.  Along with this enjoyable main couple, readers got to again see Tyler and Zoey (and see everything Ty went through in the last book from a different perspective here) and their captivating romance.  Add in fellow bandmates Zane and Connor and I was absolutely in heaven as the boys of LTZ utterly charmed me with their sexy looks and decadently delightful personalities.  On a whole there's much to love about this book and its characters, a sexy and emotional rollercoaster ride to HEA, and I'm now left counting down the days until Connor takes center stage next!

My rating for this is an A.

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

AUTHOR INFO:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990's, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

WEBSITE  |  TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM  |  FACEBOOK  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE

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Book Tour for Troublemaker by Kayley Loring (Review & GIVEAWAY)....

Readers looking for a charming, fun, and flirty romance will definitely want to add this book to their shelves as a single dad finds himself in a sensual dance with his son's straight-laced teacher.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Troublemaker by Kayley Loring, along with my impressions of it, then add this story set in the Sleeper/Charmer world to your to be read mountain.  In honor of this delightful rom-com of opposites attracting make sure to visit the link below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC too!

TO: Alex Vega

FROM: Emilia Stiles

SUBJECT: Hello

Dear Mr. Vega,

I felt it necessary to follow up on today’s meeting, since we weren’t able to speak candidly in front of your son.

I was shocked to discover that ​you​ are Ryder’s dad. Given that your ex-wife will be out of the country for a while and you are currently his primary caregiver, I’m sure you understand why we need to establish boundaries and etiquette. I think it would be best if we just pretend that we met in person for the first time today.

Your son is a very bright (flirtatious and talkative) student and since his education is a top priority for both of us, I hope I can count on you to respectfully refrain from grinning at me, using that sexy tone of voice, and undressing me with your annoyingly beautiful brown eyes if we should happen to interact with each other again in the future.

Thanks so much,

Miss Stiles

TO: Emilia Stiles

FROM: Alex Vega

SUBJECT: Re: Well, hello again...

Dear Miss Stiles,

Great to hear from you. My son’s education is indeed a top priority. As such, I respectfully agree to refrain from doing all of the aforementioned things.

However, I can’t promise to stop thinking about that kiss at the bar this summer. I’ve been thinking about it for the past month. It’s interesting how humorless and uptight you are about my son’s totally awesome personality, given that I have personally witnessed just how flirtatious and talkative you yourself can be when mildly intoxicated.

You’re so welcome,

Alex

P.S. I volunteered to be a chaperone for your next field trip. See you then.

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

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

**Audiobook is coming in September and will be narrated by Zachary Webber and Mackenzie Cartwright!**

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

From the moment I started reading this book I was utterly charmed!  Through rapid-fire banter, to humorous inner dialogues, to an endearing cast of secondary characters, I couldn't wipe the smile from my face as two apparent opposites find their way to HEA.  Set in the same world as Ms. Loring's previous books, Sleeper and Charmer, readers are reintroduced to single dad Alex who's feeling a bit lonely despite having his son all to himself while his ex is on tour.  Seeing his fellow child stars find their HEAs has him longing for more though, longing for someone real and different from the usual women he attracts, and one night at a bar has him meeting just such a woman.  Emilia has always been the proverbial good girl, but one night (and a few drinks) has her making a memory that neither can forget in a fun and flirty romance of second chances that puts a sexy spin on parent/teacher interactions!

Alex Vega had a pretty good life as a former child actor and now as a world class director.  When it comes to business he's extremely successful and is just as successful at being a single father.  His son Ryder is the light of his life, his reason for being, and I adored their interactions for their humor, heart, and realism.  When it comes to the opposite sex though, he's in a slump and feeling dissatisfied and disillusioned...until the moment he sees a tipsy Emilia.  Their attraction is instant and combustible but ends before it can start.  Fate can sometimes be kind however and when the sizzling emails between Alex and his son's new teacher bring him back to Emilia, the heat really turns up in a romance that has a forbidden slant to it that had me rooting for them every step of the way.  Alex is a delicious hero with a good heart!  The love, pride, and joy he finds in his son is endearing and made me like him all the more.  He's a tell it like it is kind of guy, bold and brash in what he wants, and unafraid to go after Emilia's heart despite the danger to her job.  He's willing to take his time when it comes to the heart-leery Emilia in a slow-burn romance that was steamy, sweet, while making me blush and smile at the same time.

Emilia Stiles recently broke up with her boyfriend...it was actually their final break-up and it became the impetus to her leaving her small town behind and starting over.  With her friend's encouragement she finally decides to snub her past completely by going out for shots and dancing, enjoying a night where she lets loose of all her usual inhibitions.  What she finds is an instant attraction to a stranger who becomes fodder for all her dreams once they're separated, dreams that suddenly become a reality when that stranger shows himself to be the father of her new student and shows up at school to talk.  It's an equally combustible reunion, one that tempts her to go further despite the rules against parents and teachers dating and leads to an unforgettable romance.  Emilia's a wonderful heroine, a bit nerdy and bland in her looks but oh so real when it comes to her heart.  She's a truly good person, one who's no longer content to let life pass her by, and I was cheering her on as she and Alex worked their way to HEA.  Early on she's a bit timid and uncertain but the longer she and Alex are together a more self-assured young woman emerges, a sex kitten in the bedroom and someone willing to go toe to toe with Alex.  I enjoyed watching these two, loved their crackling emails that took on a feeling of foreplay, and was completely captivated by their steamy journey to HEA.

From the first page to the last this romance was an utter delight!  With a likable main couple whose banter teemed with sexual tension, while bringing humor into and out of the bedroom, this was a romance that I never wanted to end.  It was a slow-burn bringing Alex and Emilia together, a journey where their thoughts and hearts were on unvarnished display and it warmed my heart.  Alongside this sweet and sexy couple was an equally entertaining cast of secondary characters, some who readers have seen before and some new ones too.  I was thoroughly entertained by the reappearance of Alex's friends, Shane and Nico, heroes from the previous two books set in this world and who are loving married life.  There's playful banter between the three men, a sense of brotherhood that endeared them to me while I inhaled every interaction between them.  Alex's son Ryder also made himself a special place in my heart!  He was a smart and funny little boy, wise beyond his years when it came to matters of the heart between his dad and Emilia. He had a big heart too, an infectious spirit that made me smile whenever he was on scene.  His matchmaking talent was charming and sweet and it helped bring the three of them together as a family. Emilia's flamboyant roommate Franklin was another highlight as he jumped off the page with his brash nature and devil may care attitude. He was a great support to her, pushing her when needed, while hugging her when she needed it most.  Every character and every heartfelt emotion made this a wonderful romance that I'm still thinking about long after The End.  It was an immensely satisfying romance that pushed every one of my emotional buttons and it has me excited for what Ms. Loring has 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 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 breathing cleaner air and writing dirtier words. It’s an adjustment she’s happily getting used to.

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Book Release Blitz for The What If Guy by Lauren Blakely (REVIEW)

After one missed opportunity a combustible couple finds themselves engaged in a relationship full of witty banter, scorching encounters, and a bit of secrecy as he's the new boss of her company.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The What If Guy by Lauren Blakely, along with my impressions of it, then add this second installment in The Guys Who Got Away series to your bookshelf!

It should be an easy rule to follow - don't bang your boss...

But I didn't know who he was when I met him.

And the first time I saw him, our connection sounded like the stuff of romantic legends -- that whole "their eyes locked across a crowded room" moment that turned into more.

I didn't believe it...until it happened to me.

Fine, the charming, clever, sexy-as-sin guy in the tailored suit was only trying to buy the same Snoopy lunchbox (as a gift!), but still, our eyes totally locked, and my lady parts definitely tingled as we vied for the prize.

Naturally, I did what any badass business woman would do. Negotiated for the lunchbox, then found my what-if guy online and made plans to see him the next night. One night only -- that was the deal we made.

But one fantastic night had us both changing our minds in the morning. And making plans for another.

Until I walked into the office to learn he just bought my company.

And here's the biggest rule of romantic legends -- no matter what, don't bang your boss. Especially if you're already falling for him.

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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

From the very start this story grabbed my attention!  From a crackling first meeting between the main couple, to fun and flirty banter, to a storyline with very little angst and a delightful cast of secondary characters I found much to entertain me.  From the first page to the last I wore a perpetual smile while blushing a time or two along the way as this couple worked their way to HEA.

Logan Clarke's a man still dealing with his divorce, a man who's older and wiser, but still dealing with the hurt while figuring out where everything went wrong so it doesn't happen again.  He's got a twin sister, and a supportive group of friends, who often mock him but at the end of the day they're the ones helping him find happiness.  He also has a daughter who he dotes on, a daughter who's his everything, and whose interactions endeared him to me.  Add in a pair of clever and eccentric cats and readers will find an unforgettable cast of characters who made this an even more delightful read.  Logan's a delicious hero, sexy with moments of uncertainty when it comes to his relationship with Bryn.  As the story progressed though he definitely became more self-assured, letting loose an Alpha vibe when in Bryn's presence that turned up the heat.  There's a lot of give and take between these two, a beautiful balance that made them perfect for each other and had me rooting for them...especially once their new relationship hit a snag over Logan becoming her boss.

Bryn Hawthorne's a wonderful heroine, a strong-willed and confident woman when it comes to work.  She's energetic and outspoken, knows what she wants and isn't afraid to let others know what's on her mind...both in the bedroom and at work.  This outspoken nature added an extra layer of eroticism to scenes that featured a bit of lite bdsm and I enjoyed these moments of power play.  When it comes to her heart though she's a bit more guarded.  As a divorcée with an ex who cheated on her she's a bit leery of the insta-attraction she feels towards Logan. With the support of her friends/coworkers (her best friend being a definite highlight throughout the story and one I’d love to see more of) she jumps in with her eyes wide open in an increasingly combustible connection.  Finding out he's her boss may cause a small hiccup, but their HEA is meant to be in a romance full of steam along with some heartfelt moments.

There was much that was familiar in this story, it's a storyline that's been done before, but Ms. Blakey does it oh so well.  The main couple is immensely likable with interactions that practically jumped off the page. There were moments of sizzle balanced out by fun and flirty banter that felt more like foreplay and I couldn't contain my smile as their growing connection brought me joy.  I don't normally care for kids in my romances but Logan's daughter was a delight and I liked seeing his fatherly side come out.  It made him the quintessential book boyfriend, a good and sexy man with a heart of gold.  The secondary characters were equally appealing with each more than ready to take center stage. Logan's sister had her story told previously so it was nice to get an update and it gave her an extra reason to want to see him happy.  The character that has me most excited though is the sexy and snarky Fitz whose story is next and which has me counting down the days in breathless anticipation.  Once again Ms. Blakey has crafted a winning romance, one that brought me smiles and blushes, and it is the perfect read for a scorching summer with events you want to escape from...it's better than Calgon for its escapism that's for sure!

My rating for this is an A-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes red-hot, ultra-steamy romance for her Lauren Blakely After Dark line. She'd love to give you a free book from HERE today!

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