Showing posts with label forbidden romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forbidden romance. Show all posts

Monday, April 15, 2024

Book Release Blitz for Sir, Yes Sir by L. L. Ash (GIVEAWAY)……



A man left bruised by war finds healing in a forbidden place when his best friend offers him a place to stay...and time with his sweet and enticing daughter.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Sir, Yes Sir by L. L. Ash, then add this emotionally intense tale to your bookshelf.  In honor of this older man/younger woman romance make sure to visit the link below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC along with some awesome goodies too!

Ashton
One single moment changed everything. After receiving life-altering injuries on my last operation, I was forced to retire early. What was I if not a Raider and a Marine? When my brother in arms Tommy (Gun) Blair offered his home up to me to finish my recovery, I snatched up the opportunity with both hands because I had nowhere else to go. Amidst all my calculations, however, I realized that I’d missed one significant detail. Freya, Tommy’s daughter. She’d been a kid last time I’d seen her. She was definitely NOT a kid anymore. Living up to her namesake, the daughter of my best friend was beautiful, sweet, and deadly. If Tommy knew the kinds of things running through my head, he’d kill me in my sleep with a rusty spoon. Didn’t matter though. The woman was temptation embodied, and despite all my training, discipline and control, she was the one weakness that I just couldn’t give up.
Freya
I’d never met a man like him. Ashton was solid, confident, rigid, and bold. He also had the body of a god. No joke. But I was just the kid of his best friend. Seeing a man as powerful as him bow to the agony of injuries and PTSD…it broke my heart. It also proved that he wasn’t just a fighting machine. When he started working at Dad’s dealership with us, I started to get to know the man instead of the legend, and I loved what I found. Good with his hands, and loyal to a fault, I fell so deep in love with him it’s almost disgusting. Too bad he was my father’s best friend and would never love me back.

EXCERPT:

“Sorry,” Freya said from...yep, the kitchen. “Mom’s been into that stuff ever since I can remember. She thinks that good thoughts and crystals can heal just about everything.”
“You don’t buy it?” I asked her.
She just blinked at me.
“She once tried healing my broken arm with obsidian and selenite. It took me two hours to convince my mom that a couple of pretty rocks weren’t going to reset my bones.” I whistled.
“How old were you?”
“Eight. Eight and a half, I think.”
Holy shit.
“Where was Tommy? Your dad, I mean.”
“Working. In Afghanistan, I think. He’d been gone for months before it happened. Mom always got super sucked into that stuff when he was away for a while.”
“I’m sorry, kid,” I told her, which made her bristle.
“I’m not a kid, you know that, don’t you, Ashton?”
Oh, I fucking knew it. I remembered the feel of her very grown-up breasts pressing against my chest while I was having a full on mental breakdown in the employee bathroom at work.
She’d never brought it up though. After Tommy had led me away, Freya never mentioned the incident again. Maybe she just wanted to forget the traumatizing moment, and I could respect that. I’d taken full advantage of her sympathetic and loving heart, and I knew it.
But I digress.

I didn't remember things being so bad. Tommy had mentioned that he’d needed to leave the Marines to be with his wife and daughter, but he’d never mentioned how bad it had evidently gotten. Had Freya been dealing with being the grown-up in the house ever since she was a kid? Maybe our pasts were more similar than I ever realized.
“You look like you’re thinking too hard,” Freya said as she dipped to look into the fridge for something.
Damn, that ass...
“I’m afraid that maybe your head will explode or something,” she mused.
I barked a rusty laugh, just as she stood and graced me with a grin over her shoulder. “You’re insane,” was the only comeback I had, because maybe she was right.
I was thinking way too hard about her and that peachy ass when I should’ve been focused on other things. “Is Tommy still at the dealership?”
She nodded, then slid over a beer to me.
“You know him. Workaholic.”
Yes, I did, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why. He had such an amazing life to come home to, why would he choose work over this?
I grunted instead of answering, but took the beer happily.
“So?” she asked after a minute. “You took the day to go to the base. How’d it go?”
I didn’t fucking answer. I didn’t want to.
Funny though, as it turned out, I didn’t need to.
“Oh...Ash...” she moaned, sadness and sympathy coloring her cheeks.
“Guess my nickname Citizen really matches now,” I grunted out, thinking it would be funny, but my voice cracked like a prepubescent boy, showing my emotions.
Freya came right around the counter and took me into her arms, beer and all where she squeezed me harder than anybody had ever hugged me before.
“You’ll be ok,” she muffled a whisper with her face in the crook of my neck and shoulder. “You’ve got us, and we’ll be your team.”
An unwelcome tear started slipping out of my eye, and I quickly tried sucking it back up before she could notice. But funny that, tears don’t suck back up like snot.
When she let me go, Freya looked into my face and lifted her hand, sweeping the trail of that singular tear away.
“You’ve got us,” she said, looking me right in the eyes. “If you need a wingman, I’m your girl. I’ll help get you laid and help you find a place when you’re ready. I’ll even watch sports with you, even though I hate everything other than hockey and MMA.”
I snorted a laugh, which made her sad lips turn into a small smile.
“I appreciate that,” I told her, pressing my palm to her cheek now. “But I’m ok. I don’t need a wingman. I can get laid all by myself. As for sports, what other real sports are there other than hockey and MMA?”
She snorted a laugh, legit making snot burst out of her nose, which made her cheeks flame with embarrassment.
I laughed too while she hurried away to the bathroom to get away from me. That girl was too much.
And fucking everything.



FIND AT GOODREADS here.


BUY AT AMAZON here.

AUTHOR INFO:

L.L. Ash is a Washington-born writer who has traveled and lived across the western coast of the US. Ash has been writing fiction since she was a pre-teen, and while her writing has improved since then, her love for literature has not changed.
Oftentimes you can find Ash reading an indie romance or enjoying a historical fiction. Dabbling in culinary arts and music, Ash has been an artist for decades but found her true love and passion in romances.

WEBSITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM


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

VISIT here FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A $25 AMAZON GC, ALONG WITH A SLEW OF OTHER GOODIES!  GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO ALL.  ENDS ON 4/29.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Book Blitz for The Professor by Skye Warren (GIVEAWAY)……


Readers get ready to blush with this contemporary, student/teacher romance full of erotic encounters and a bit of the forbidden.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Professor by Skye Warren, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this first installment in the Tanglewood University series, make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $5 Amazon GC too!

One night only with a handsome stranger.
Older. Alluring. Savage. Dominant.
No last names or expectations.
Just raw, carnal, filthy pleasure.
I never thought I would see him again.
Until the first day of class. He’s my new professor.
And my ex-boyfriend’s father.
He has a world of secrets in his eyes and the weight of the world on his shoulders. I should stay away from him, but the more I try, the more consumed he gets.
His possessiveness is rivaled only by his secretive nature. He knows everything about me, but mystery surrounds him. Shadows threaten the entire university…and our forbidden love.

EXCERPT:

“What’s going on out here?” Professor Stratford asks.
Panic pricks every inch of my body. “Nothing.”
He peruses me with deep interest, his dark gaze taking in my tense stance, my messenger
bag clutched to my chest like a shield, the anxiety I’m barely holding back. He turns to Brandon, who shifts his weight, trying to look innocent but with defiance coming through.
“Brandon?” he asks, his voice low.
I hadn’t realized he would know him. After all, Professor Stratford is new to campus. And he teaches an advanced class in the Humanities Department, something Brandon doesn’t need to take as part of his MBA track program.
“Talking to my girlfriend,” Brandon says, his voice tight. “Or do you have a problem with that? Maybe you’d like to get a transcript of our conversation.”
My eyes widen. That’s a super intense way to speak to a professor, especially one who did nothing more than step outside his own office. And it sounds weirdly... personal. “We’re not...um... We’re not dating anymore.”
Brandon glares at me, even more pissed off with an audience. “Maybe we would be if you hadn’t gone and slept with—”
An involuntary squeak escapes me.
The man I slept with is standing right beside us, watching us with too-perceptive eyes. “Do you need assistance, Ms. Hill?”
“No, thank you. I’m done talking with him.” I turn to Brandon. “Please leave.”
My ex-boyfriend gets a sulky expression. “I didn’t mean to get so mad, Annie. It just took me by surprise, that’s all. Let’s meet up after class.”
“She asked you to go,” comes Professor Stratford’s voice, silky with threat.
Brandon doesn’t seem to recognize the danger. “I’m an adult now, Dad. You can’t tell me what to do anymore. You can’t send me to my room or ground me.”
For a second, a sweet second, I think it’s a joke. The way Daisy rolled her eyes and said, okay, Mom, when I asked her to put her seat belt on in the cab ride over to the hotel.
For that second, I can believe that these two men, my past and present, my ex-boyfriend and my one-night stand, aren’t related to each other.



FIND AT GOODREADS here.


BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  BN  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO

AUTHOR INFO:

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance. Her books have sold over one million copies. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.



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

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Monday, February 26, 2024

Book Release Blast for Wright Kind of Trouble by K.A Linde (REVIEW)……

 Set in the emotionally intense Wright Family world, readers will find themselves drawn to this forbidden age-gap romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Wright Kind of Trouble by K.A Linde, along with my impressions of it, then add this seventh installment in the Wright Vineyard series.

An age gap, enemy’s little sister romance set in the Wright world about Harley Wright & Chase Sinclair
from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde. He didn’t know I was ten years younger.
I didn’t know he was a Sinclair.
He didn’t care that I was a Wright. I knew exactly what I wanted.
Yet, I know none of this when I fall into his bed.
Touching him is like finally waking after a long sleep and the thought of being without him is like driving a knife through my chest. But it's worse—he was almost engaged to my brother's wife—which makes him public enemy number one.
Our families hate each other.
No one can know what we did.
If any of my four older brothers find out, they will run him out of town.
And still...I want him.


BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS |  KOBO  |  BN  |  GOOGLE PLAY


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Harley and Chase have instant chemistry the moment they meet and enjoy a sizzling one knight stand that sets the stage for a romance spanning years.  The one night they share is near perfect, but in the harsh light of day the issues between them become obvious and lead to an angsty and heated journey full of ups and downs that kept me glued to the pages.

The issues between them involve her being ten years younger and their families being enemies.  Chase is drawn to Harley, but when learning her age he desperately tries to stay away from her.  The heart wants what the heart wants though, leading to a forbidden romance full of secret meetings and a connection that is undeniable.  The connection between these two jumped off the pages and I enjoyed their secret meetings and their struggles seen with each turn of the page.  Theirs is a journey just starting here and I look forward to where things go for Chase and Harley.  Luckily, the continuation of their romance is coming soon and I'll be counting down the days until they reach their HEA.

My rating for this is a B+

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


AUTHOR INFO:

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of both romance and fantasy novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was a head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, traveling to far-off destinations, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, son, and super-adorable puppy.

Friday, October 6, 2023

Book Cover Reveal for Wright Kind of Trouble by K.A Linde……



Set in the emotionally intense Wright Family world, readers will find themselves drawn to this forbidden age-gap romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Wright Kind of Trouble by K.A Linde, then start counting down the days until this contemporary romance hits bookshelves on February 26th!

A sexy Romeo & Juliet age gap romance set in the Wright world about Harley Wright & Chase Sinclair from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde.
He didn’t know I was ten years younger. I didn’t know he was a Sinclair.
He didn’t care that I was a Wright.
I knew exactly what I wanted.
It’s only after our mind-blowing night that it sinks in.
Our families hate each other.
No one can know what we did.
Everyone—especially my two older brothers—will run him out of town if they find out. And still...I want him.

PRE-ORDER LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  KOBO  |  BN  |  GOOGLE PLAY


AUTHOR INFO:

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of both romance and fantasy novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was a head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, traveling to far-off destinations, and dancing in her spare time.
She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband, son, and super-adorable puppy.

Friday, August 18, 2023

Book Cover Reveal for Reckless Heart by Brighton Walsh…….

 A secret romance explodes in this fourth installment in the Starlight Cove series as a businessman becomes entangled with his employee...who just happens to be his sister's best friend.  In a tale of opposites attracting readers will be drawn to this steamy and sentimental small town romance, especially after this glimpse of the two book covers representing this contemporary romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Reckless Heart by Brighton Walsh, then start counting down the days until this book hits shelves on September 8th!

Turns out the gorgeous woman I had a one-night stand with is not only my sister’s best friend but also my new employee.
Worse? I shared a whole lot more with Avery than one mind-blowing night. I told her my deepest, darkest secret.
Despite my constant worry that she’ll let the truth slip to my family, I can’t stay away from her. And when we’re tossed together for an out of town trip and forced to share a room with only one bed, the chemistry between us finally explodes...again.
I have no problem making her see stars—or breaking the bed. The trouble is, the longer our secret relationship goes on, the more I want to keep her.
But she’s eight years my junior, the sunshine to my grump, and I know her free spirit wants more than the small town of Starlight Cove can offer.
I have no doubt no one will ever give her more pleasure than I will, but I refuse to hold her back. Even if that means letting her go when her three month contract is up.


PRE-ORDER here.


AUTHOR INFO:

Award-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh spent a decade as a professional photographer before taking her storytelling in a different direction and reconnecting with her first love—writing. She likes her books how she likes her tea—steamy and satisfying—and adores strong-willed heroines and the protective heroes who fall head over heels for them. Brighton lives in the Midwest with her real life hero of a husband, her two kids—both taller than her—and her dog who thinks she’s a queen. Her boy-filled house is the setting for dirty socks galore, frequent dance parties (okay, so it's mostly her, by herself, while her children look on in horror), and more laughter than she thought possible.
Sign-up for newsletter HERE.
Connect with the author HERE.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Book Cover Reveal for the Temptation Trilogy by Dylan Allen……

 
Readers will quickly find themselves consumed with the emotional ups and downs of this trilogy fueled by a forbidden romance that's meant to be and the fateful decisions that lead to heartache and pain.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Captivate, Collide, and Climax by Dylan Allen and then start counting down the days until each new release hits bookshelves!


CAPTIVATE (Book 1)
Once upon a sultry summer night,
A prince and a pariah shared a kiss they couldn’t forget.
But, very quickly, they learn that there are some rules,
That not even love will allow them to break.

PRE-ORDER here FOR THE OCTOBER 12TH RELEASE!

COLLIDE (Book 2)
Ten years later, his reputation tarnished by scandal and personal tragedy, Carter’s back.
He begins a relentless pursuit to win me back,
but those stars in my eyes have been replaced by flames.
And for a chance to claim my ticket to freedom, I made a deal with the devil that I dare not break. But, a rock god fallen from grace is still a god,
And a woman with her walls up, is still a woman.
Soon, my foolish heart is torn between duty and desire.
When it finally falls, he stands ready to claim it.

PRE-ORDER here FOR THE NOVEMBER 9TH RELEASE!


CLIMAX (Book 3)
Just when we think we can see forever, a dark secret is revealed that rips us apart. Loving him is forbidden, but my heart can’t let him go.
Because Carter and I are meant to be.
And what’s meant to be will find a way.

PRE-ORDER here FOR THE DECEMBER 7TH RELEASE!


AUTHOR INFO:

Before I was "Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author, Dylan Allen", I was a lawyer who was unhappy at work and a bookworm who wanted nothing more than to get lost in stories I loved. I've always written for myself as a creative outlet, but in the year leading up to my 40th birthday, I decided to do something that had always been on my bucket list...write a book.
I'm not an independently wealthy person and had no intention of leaving my career. I didn't think it was even possible to make a living writing the stories that lived in my vast and dynamic imagination.
That book, now called Then Came You, was so warmly and broadly received that I decided to write another. And then another...And two years after I accidentally found this amazing career, I left my job and went all in on my dream.
It hasn't been a smooth journey. It's been full of volatile ups and downs. But, it's been the most rewarding and exciting thing I've ever done.
My favorite part of this job is connecting with my readers. I'm so honored by the kind and interesting people who read my work and reach out to connect to me.
I write compelling, dramatic, emotional romances with exceptional, diverse characters you'll root for and never forget.
I'm a self-proclaimed happily ever junkie, I love creating stories where under dogs find a love worth fighting for. When I'm not writing or reading, eating, or cooking, I indulge my wanderlust by planning her next globe-trotting adventure.
I was born in Accra, Ghana, raised in Houston, Texas, and find that home is where my heart is.
I'm a proud graduate of Tufts University, Howard University School of Law, and the London School of Economics. Nearly twenty years ago, I married the love of my very own book boyfriend and together we're raising two wonderful sons who are the light of our lives.
I believe in the power of dreams and know that nothing is beyond our reach if we're willing to work hard and step out of our comfort zone to grab it.
I hope you find hours of entertainment and joy in my books!
Keep up with DYLAN ALLEN and subscribe to her newsletter HERE.
To connect with the author, visit HERE.

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Book Release Blitz for Puffin Bay by Annie Dyer (REVIEW)…….

 A suit-wearing city man goes toe-to-toe with a small town woman recovering from heartbreak in this sweet and sensual journey of opposites attracting.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Puffin Bay by Annie Dyer, along with getting my impressions of this first installment in the Puffin Bay series, then add it to your bookshelf too!

Heartbreak led me to Puffin Bay, searching for peace in a small, coastal town. Four years later, my bar is thriving and my next business is just what the town needs.
It doesn’t need Roman Tominey. Arrogant, city-boy, suit-wearing grump - he knows how to push every one of my buttons, and after an evening of bad decisions, he knows how to push that one too.
When Roman’s newly found teenage son joins him, Roman’s summer stay is extended. We spend the days arguing over a building project the local council insisted we did together, and the evenings with him sneaking into my room.
Roman’s a businessman with his own ambitions for Puffin Bay - and they don’t agree with mine. Our differences could turn our not-so-secret romance to dust, but my grumpy single dad doesn’t seem to want to stop the sparks.
Even if he has to discard his suit - and its buttons - to keep on pressing mine.


BUY here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

A delightful small town romance drives this tale of opposites attracting in the bedroom while fighting each other in public.  With a likable main couple, and a colorful community of characters just screaming for their stories to be told, this ends up being a sweet and entertaining series starter that kept me turning the pages with a smile on my face.

Amelie is the kind of heroine that you like from the very start.  She was seen in a previous series of books by Ms. Dyer and quickly became someone readers wanted to see get a HEA.  With her move to this small town she's made a successful start for herself, becoming a strong and confident businesswoman.  She's a more mature heroine than you usually find in romance books, fiercely independent, and a bit set in her plans for herself and the town.  She's thoroughly endeared herself to the denizens of the town though and I truly enjoyed her interactions with each and every one of them.  She's unfortunately had her heart stomped on in the past which has her barricading her heart behind a very thick wall of distrust...a wall that Roman starts to wear down the moment he meets Amelie.

Roman Tominey is a big city developer who comes to this small town with a plan of his own after buying a piece of land Amelie wanted, a plan that immediately puts them at odds but also shows sexual sparks igniting between the two apparent opposites. Roman's a stoic and determined man, a man who looks a bit too polished for small town living, but he and Amelie just clicked.  As the story progressed, as he and Amelie had more and more clandestine encounters, and as he interacted more with his grandfather and newfound son, readers discovered a softer and more vulnerable side that made him very appealing.

Amelie and Roman were an entertaining couple with witty and playful banter teeming with sexual tension.  To the outside world they seemed like opposites but in the bedroom they crackled in their secret connection.  This was a pleasant read on a whole with no manufactured drama, just a glimpse of small town living with a HEA made possible through the machinations of the likable and colorful townsfolk.  Ms. Dyer beautifully and realistically depicted Puffin Bay, showed a sweetly serene and idyllic town and gave readers numerous appealing denizens that enriched this story and made me smile.  Among the secondary characters, I found myself particularly drawn to Roman's grandfather and son.  His grandfather was utterly charming with homespun humor and wisdom that warmed my heart while bringing out a soft and caring side to Roman that made his interactions with his son Caleb even more emotionally satisfying.  Fleur too caught my attention...thanks to an unexpected twist towards the end that has me counting down the days until the next installment in the Puffin Bay series hits bookshelves!

My rating for this is an A-/B+

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


AUTHOR INFO:

Annie Dyer enjoys her alarm to be off, her books to be steamy, and her gin to be dry.  Her stories are set in the UK and filled with more heat than an English summer.  She writes about strong women and the men who are men enough to make them happy!  Her books are made to binge read, and guarantee a happily ever after.  Annie lives in Manchester, England with her husband and pets, in a Victorian house with leopard print carpet!
Keep up with Annie and subscribe to her newsletter HERE.
To learn more about her and her books, visit HERE.
Connect with Annie HERE.

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Book Release Blast for The Tryst by Lauren Blakely (REVIEW)…..

 An unexpected relationship between a young woman and her ex-boyfriend's father creates a steamy and forbidden connection that kept me glued to the pages.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of The Tryst by Lauren Blakely, along with my impressions of it, then add this second installment in The Virgin Society series to your bookshelf!

Some men are just off-limits. Like your ex-boyfriend’s father.

But when I met the sexy, powerful older man shortly after my business school graduation, he was simply the seductive stranger I wanted to notice me, and he sure did.

Fast forward a few months later, when my college ex – now a good friend – introduces me to the person he looks up to most…his father.

The man I spent that one hot night with.

I should stay far away from the commanding business mogul. But my ex and I are planning a charity fundraiser that involves late nights at his dad’s penthouse in Manhattan.

Nights where he can’t stop looking at me with desire in his eyes that matches my own.

I try to resist him, playing the good girl in the city…mostly.

He’s the perfect gentleman…until he comes knocking on my door and tells me exactly what he wants to do to me.

And I say yes.

Stealing nights with him like this is supposed to be wrong, but it feels so right. And when he saves the day to protect his son at the fundraiser, my heart wants him as much as my body does.

Can we ever be more than just a tryst?


BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (Kindle)  |  AMAZON (Paperback)  |  AUDIBLE


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Readers who enjoy walks on the wild side will find much to entertain them in this forbidden romance of an older man's attraction to a younger woman...a woman who has a connection to his son.  From the moment this unlikely couple meets the sparks fly, the strong feelings they have for one another palpable as it sets their romance off on an emotional journey of feelings and societal mores.

From their first one-night stand together to their reunion full of clandestine encounters, it's clear that Nick and Layla are meant to be...if they can just listen to their hearts and ignore the judgements.  Though their journey deals with a forbidden romance there's not too much angst to get in the way as this couple actually talks through their concerns in a mature way that pulled me into their pairing even more.  They're both likable characters, smart, and willing to do what it takes to make her fundraiser a success.  Nick Adams came from nothing and built his business into a prosperous success, displaying a commanding and knowledgeable presence that bound him even more to Layla.  He was a single dad, focusing on that through the years while guarding his heart and trying to give his son David the best life he could.  Layla was a virgin heroine with a painful past that hangs over her still.  She grew up with money but it was more of a curse than a charm as it left her feeling beholden to others.  Here though we see a confident woman, one who's finally broken out on her own with the support of her friends and Nick.

On a whole this was a satisfying read that took a deep look into the hearts of a couple who some would say doesn't belong together but who are in perfect sync despite their differences.  The heroine being a virgin was dealt with nicely, not made into a big deal, but made her connection to Nick more intense from their first time together.  Their clandestine encounters, due to the complicated nature of their connection through David, also added to the steaminess of the story.  Along with the strong and likable main couple was a cast of secondary characters, among them David and a few others who were friends to Layla, who made the story even stronger through their support of Nick and Layla.  As the story headed towards its conclusion, and with a flow that stressed the heart and soul of this unique pairing, I was left fulfilled and excited for the next installment courtesy of the tempting taste I was left with.

My rating for this is an A-

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

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Book Release Blast for Snared by Stephanie Kay (REVIEW)……

 A female drummer in the usually male-dominated role is a dream come true for Charlie who just wants to be admired for her playing.  But when her heart becomes involved things turn complicated for her and her new band's manager with their fake marriage quickly becoming all too real.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Snared by Stephanie Kay, along with getting my impressions of it, then add this third installment in the Steelwolf series to your bookshelf!

He's been the bane of my existence since the day we met, so how did I wind up wearing his ring?
Charlie Jones is living her dream as the drummer for Steelwolf, one of the top rock bands in the country. But as the newest member of the band, and a woman, the scrutiny is endless. Steelwolf has had more than enough drama over the years and she's not planning to add to it, so she focuses solely on her career, pouring her heart into every beat.
Josh Harrison has everything he's ever wanted. He's been Steelwolf's manager since the beginning and they've been through it all. But he epically screwed up a few months ago. To get back in the band's good graces, he's agreed to do whatever they want, including being their lackey for the rest of the tour. Which means he'll be on a bus with the woman who's gotten under his skin since she walked into the studio two years ago.
She thinks he sees her as a gimmick to sell albums. His cockiness grates on her nerves. He thinks she's amazing. He craves her. But he has one rule: no hooking up with musicians, especially not a client. Now--- somehow --- she's in his bed, in Vegas, with a ring on her finger. And she's agreeing to stay married to him until the end of the tour.
When their fake marriage starts to look --- and feel --- all too real, Charlie must decide. Will she listen to her head and run? Or has the man who drives her crazy finally snared her heart?


BUY here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of rockstar romances I jumped on this one the moment I read the synopsis. With its strong-willed female drummer, a manager trying to make amends, and its colorful and outspoken bandmates, Ms. Kay has crafted an entertaining tale of forbidden romance set in the world of rock music.  A bit of angst, a lot of witty banter and steamy interludes, makes this a satisfying yet unexpected romance between two people trying hard to not give in to the attraction eating at them.  When a morning after in Vegas leads to an out of the blue marriage, what started out as fake soon becomes all too real!

Charlie Jones is that rare female in the male-dominated world of drummers, a role she's honored to have.  Past experiences as a bandmate have left her burned and desperate to be seen for her talent instead of her sex.  Joining Steelwolf gives her just such an opportunity as her new bandmates treat her like one of the guys, engaging in playful banter and anointing her with a nickname.  With the guys she gives as good as she gets, treating them like brothers in a connection that took on a familial feel.  When it comes to band manager Josh, though...well, she definitely doesn’t feel brotherly around him.  The moment these two meet there's sparks!  There's a definite attraction that both try to ignore, but a stop in Vegas changes their lives irrevocably as what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas.  Once the media learns about their "marriage" Charlie will need to decide whether to listen to her head or her heart as what was once fake soon becomes all too real.  Charlie's a likable heroine, down to earth with tons of talent.  She's a good fit with the other members of Steelwolf, easily engaging in playful banter that made her seem like one of the guys.  She wants to be taken seriously as a drummer, have the focus be on her talent instead of her looks, and I rooted for her to achieve that desire as she truly earned it.  She and Josh are a sizzling pair and I enjoyed seeing their connection grow with each turn of the page.

Josh Harrison, the smart and controlled manager to top rock band Steelwolf, messed up big time by letting a recent secret get out to the media.  To make amends to the band he agrees to go on tour with them and do whatever they ask of him.  It's a rocky journey for the arrogant manager, being given menial tasks, but it's even rockier being so close to the sizzling new drummer.  Though there's a no-fraternization policy, Josh can't help being attracted to the sexy and talented Charlie.  Up until now he's been able to keep his hands to himself...but being in close quarters with her makes it harder to ignore his desires.  When the two of them blow up the internet with a wedding ring and a morning after in Vegas, Josh will have to prove what his heart has known all along...that he and Charlie are meant to be together.

Not having read the first two books in this series wasn't a detriment to enjoying this one. It was easy to see and feel the brotherly bond between the bandmates, seen in their witty banter and playful nicknames for each other.  The rockstar world was realistically depicted, the highs and lows of fame, along with the pressure of reaching the top of the charts.  The overall storyline of this installment was familiar though, has been done before, and I was left hoping for something more/something different from these two assertive characters.  The connection between these two though was satisfying.  Their connection crackled from the very start and I applaud Ms. Kay for making Josh work for his HEA in a journey that had a few bumps along the way but had a nice balance of steam and heart and soul!  Along with the appealing main couple were the other bandmates of Steelwolf, sexy and larger than life men who playfully poked at one another.  Among them, it was Jax who kept me smiling the most with his nicknames and outspoken nature.  He's everything you hope to see in a rockstar and I look forward to seeing him take center stage in matters of the heart!

My rating for this is a B+

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


AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today Bestselling Author, Stephanie Kay has always loved a good romance, and she got hooked on the dirty ones at the tender age of 14, when she told her mother that if the cover wasn’t a bodice ripper, then there was no sex in the book. As an avid mystery reader, her mother never checked to see if Stephanie was lying. Twenty plus years later, Stephanie’s most prized possession is her Kindle, and she may have a Hallmark movie obsession.
​She has called California and Maryland her home, but now lives in New England with her husband where she asks him incessant questions until he escapes to go hiking in the mountains. That’s the only time she can get him out of the house so she can get her writing in. Married couples shouldn’t both work from home!
​Sports were never her thing, but after beta reading for another hockey author and buying NHL Game Center within one month of watching her first hockey game a few years ago, she dove into learning everything she could about the sport and the hot men that play it. Now she spends her spare time visiting hockey arenas in the name of research and loving every second of it.
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