Book Release Blitz for Big Nick Energy by Lani Lynn Vale (REVIEW)…….

 Christmas has come early with this collection of stories featuring some of Ms. Vale's favorite characters, tempting little morsels that have me eagerly awaiting her next release.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Big Nick Energy by Lani Lynn Vale, along with getting my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf!

Big Nick Energy is a compilation of things that Ms. Vale has written as companion pieces to already published novels.Get updates on your favorite couples during COVID-19. These stories were written in the very first weeks of the Covid-19 Pandemic. You’ll see some of your favorite couples as they navigate that time period. Their coping mechanisms to being locked down can be kind of...flamboyant.

Somethin’ About That Boy: You’ll get some of the ‘rest of the story’ from Banner and Perry’s new life together far away from their family and friends. But don’t worry, big, rich, all grown up and famous Slone and Titus make appearances in their update. You’ll also get the story between Blue and Titus that you’ve been waiting for in Titus’s very own short story.
But don’t despair, Viddy and Trance, as well as their kids, have their own Christmas story, too!

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Readers have reasons to rejoice as just in time for Christmas comes this decadently delightful collection of short stories and snippets featuring some of Ms. Vale's most beloved characters, along with some secondary characters taking center stage.  Pulling readers in from the very first word to the last, it's an emotional journey that shows couples living their lives in Lani's world while showing other couples finally making their way to each other.

The stories set amidst the backdrop of COVID are especially emotional.  With storylines depicting couples and their kids coping with the pandemic, with tales that were reminiscent of that chaotic time, I found a sense of solidarity.  These characters felt what we all felt during that time and there was a feeling of comfort because of it.

With the longer stories I found rich and rewarding storylines, while the shorter stories were a decadently delightful appetizer.  On a whole this collection was a bountiful feast full of steam, laughs, and a few tears.  It was a heartwarming collection with appealing characters and entertaining storylines that showed Ms. Vale at her best.  It's a collection that I wholeheartedly recommend as it was a satisfying read that has me ready for more!

My rating for this is an A-

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

Book Tour for Detroit by Sadie Rose (REVIEW)……

 Fans of the Mystic Venom MC series will rejoice with this tale of second chances and starting over.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Detroit by Sadie Rose, along with getting my impressions of it, then add it to your bookshelf!

How does the saying go? The past always comes back to haunt you? Detroit knows what it's like to be haunted by the past - and how to run from it. But not all hauntings are bad; sometimes you have to face the past to see your future.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Fans of MC romances will find this a quick and decadent appetizer, a story of second chances that ends before it's barely begun.  Diving once again into the Mystic Venom MC, readers get to see new brother Detroit get patched in and become a member to a new family.  He's never forgotten the one who got away though and in this story they have a scorching reunion that leaves you wanting more.

While much about this is cookie cutter, the characters are likable with a connection that flows beautifully, one of tantalizing and unrequited emotions.  With each turn of the page Detroit and Viv are a combustible coupling, scorching up a whole chapter, and it has me hoping to see more of them in the future to tie up their HEA a bit tighter.  On a whole this was a satisfying but sinfully short read that is a pleasant addition to the Mystic Venom series!

My rating for this is a B-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Sadie Rose is an American author who pens fantasy novellas and romance novels. When she isn't writing she enjoys spending her free time reading, watching television and traveling.

She lives on the west coast with her husband and son.

NEWSLETTER  |  WEBSITE

Book Tour for Level Up by Sadie Rose (REVIEW)………

 When life is suddenly thrown into chaos, a man moves to a small town where he can start over, but he soon finds unexpected romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Level Up by Sadie Rose, along with getting my impressions of this sweet and sentimental m/m romance, then add it to your bookshelf!

Jackson

They say nothing in life is promised, I know that now. When everything I've ever known imploded I made the impulsive decision to leave it all behind by moving to this small town where nobody knows my name.

They also say to expect the unexpected, and I just might like that more.

Alex

They say you can't have it all and I'm starting to think they're right. I have a thriving business and great friends- so why is it I've yet to find The One?

Something else they say? Good things come to those who wait - and I've been one hell of a patient man.

This is a standalone novella.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Readers looking for a little afternoon delight will get just that with this sweet tale of self-discovery and starting over in a small town.  When two men find themselves suddenly single after the end of their relationships, sparks soon start flying in the basement of a hardware store in an endearing meet-cute that put an immediate smile on my face. Amidst talk of nuts and bolts, both men discover mutual attraction that leaves both of them questioning their future in a straightforward talk that I truly appreciated.

Though this is a novella, making it a quick read, I still found their burgeoning romance satisfying.  Alex and Jackson are a very likable pair with interactions that were crackling and teeming with sexual tension.  Their scenes warmed my heart and were utterly charming as they navigated their new feelings.  On a whole I enjoyed their journey, but with a quickly rushed conclusion I'm left hoping that we see more of them in the future. The only other issue about this book revolved around the lack of editing.  For me it's not a big issue, but it did have me rereading some sentences to clear up confusing moments.  Despite that small quibble I definitely fell for Alex and Jackson, fell for their sweet small town personalities, and was rooting for them from start to finish...and by the turn of the final page you'll be rooting for them too!

My rating for this is a B-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

Sadie Rose is an American author who pens fantasy novellas and romance novels. When she isn't writing she enjoys spending her free time reading, watching television and traveling.

She lives on the west coast with her husband and son.

NEWSLETTER  |  WEBSITE

Book Tour for I’m With the Band by Tanith Davenport (REVIEW & GIVEAWAY)…..

Readers will find this a quick and entertaining rockstar romance, one of the sentimentality of second chances amidst looking back on the past with fondness.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of I’m With the Band by Tanith Davenport, along with my impressions of it, then learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour.  In honor of this third installment in the Rock My world series, make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $10 bookstore GC too!

When filmmaker Tawny Michaels is asked to make a documentary about recently re-formed band Greycomet, she already knows who she’ll have to face – her ex-boyfriend Marsh Kilmer, lead singer of the band. In the ten years they’ve been apart Tawny has been happy with nothing but flings, choosing to avoid relationships, but Marsh’s only regret is losing her – and he’s determined to win her back, no matter what.

Knowing the production company is in the financial hole and finding herself still attracted to Marsh, Tawny decides to go along for the ride, but their passionate reunion hits trouble when the documentary attracts a stalker who has been relentlessly chasing the band. Tawny finds herself hiding out with Marsh, fighting to keep her business afloat while keeping herself safe – but soon realises her safety is the last thing on her mind. Can she forgive Marsh the past and trust him with her heart?

EXCERPT:

“Ready, Dani?” Tawny asked, just as a reminder to Lola that she was the one in charge, thank you very much. “Keep the camera on Marsh for now.”
“Ready to go.” Dani held a hand up alongside the camera, three fingers aloft. “Three, two, one.”
“So what made you decide to do this documentary?” Lola asked. The tone of her voice was a little off, almost excited, and Tawny eyed her suspiciously.
Marsh tilted his head, shrugging. “The band and I are entering a new phase of working. We’re ready to look back over our past as well as turn towards the future.”
“Look back over the past...” Lola paused, although to Tawny it didn’t seem as though she needed to think about her next question. “Do you have any regrets from your past?”
Marsh glanced across at Tawny. “Many things happened in the course of my career that I’m proud of. But I also lost a lot of people along the way. And some of them I will always regret losing.”
A stone seemed to settle in Tawny’s stomach.
“You’ve had a varied career,” Lola commented coolly. “And now you’re releasing a greatest hits album. Would you say that and the documentary are intended to rejuvenate a failing career?”
What?
Tawny’s gaze snapped towards Lola at the same time as Marsh’s did, but Marsh spoke first.
“This interview is over.”
And, holding up one hand towards the camera, he stalked out of the room, brushing past Tawny on his way.

BUY LINKS:  AMAZON (UK)  |  TOTALLY BOUND

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Fans of rockstar romances will find this a steamy and emotional tale of second chances amidst the cold hard truth of addiction that seems to permeate the music world.  There's a feeling of sentimentality radiating off the lead couple, and the remaining bandmates, and it led to painful recollections of their past that have them questioning the here and now.

Overall, the story has a superficial feeling to it as there's no deep delving into what happened between the hero and heroine years ago.  Being told what happened as opposed to being part of the action took away some of the emotional impact.  The few steamy scenes depicted took on a superficial tone too, though there was still a feeling of playfulness that alluded to their long-term connection.  Regardless...the interactions between Tawny and Marsh definitely grabbed my attention, leaving me curious while rooting for them to make a comeback...as a couple and as emotionally-healed individuals.  The three remaining bandmates had me longing to know more about them too as the storyline surrounding them is timely and compelling.  While this story didn't go as deep as I'd hoped it would, it definitely gave me hours of afternoon delight that made me blush while warming my 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:

Tanith Davenport began writing erotica at the age of 27 by way of the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers' Scheme. Her debut novel "The Hand He Dealt" was released by Totally Bound in June 2011 and was shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon Award for 2012.
Tanith has had short stories published by Totally Bound, Naughty Nights Press and House of Erotica. She loves to travel and dreams of one day taking a driving tour of the United States, preferably in a classic 1950s pink Cadillac Eldorado.
Tanith's idea of heaven is an Indian head massage with a Mojito at her side.

FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER  |  BLOG

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Book Cover Reveal for Level Up by Sadie Rose………

 When life is suddenly thrown into chaos, a man moves to a small town where he can start over, but he soon finds unexpected romance.  Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of Level Up by Sadie Rose, then start counting down the days until this sweet m/m book hits shelves on June 22nd.

They say nothing in life is promised, I know that now. When everything I've ever known imploded I made the impulsive decision to leave it all behind by moving to this small town where nobody knows my name.

They also say to expect the unexpected, and I just might like that more.

This is a standalone novella.

PRE-ORDER AT AMAZON here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Sadie Rose is an American author who pens fantasy novellas and romance novels. When she isn't writing she enjoys spending her free time reading, watching television and traveling.

She lives on the west coast with her husband and son.

NEWSLETTER  |  WEBSITE

Book Release Blast for Ice Burn by L.A. Cotton (REVIEW)……..

 A young woman returns home and ends up catching the attention of the local bad boy hockey star, who needs to clean up his act, in this sports-fueled romance of opposites attracting.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Ice Burn by L.A. Cotton, along with getting my impressions of this first installment in the Lakeshore U series, then add it to your bookshelf!

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rixon Raider series comes a brand new sports romance series. Lakeshore U, where hockey is religion, and the players are gods. Are you ready to fall in love with a Laker?When Dayna Benson moves home, she doesn’t expect to feel so torn. On the one hand, she’s glad to be back in Dupont Beach. But it means parting ways with her boyfriend and facing ghosts she thought she’d left behind.

Enter Aiden Dumfries.
Arrogant. Angry. With enough attitude to freeze over Lake Erie, he’s determined not to let anyone help him.
When he finds himself exiled to the small coastal town after a scandal that could ruin his hockey career before it gets started, his plans for summer break are dashed.
He’s Lakeshore U’s bad boy on the ice. She’s sunshine, smiles, and something that feels a lot like hope. But can Dayna melt Aiden’s heart?
Or will she end up burned?

BUY LINK here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Previously released as a novella in the Reckless Summer Love Anthology, Ms. Cotton has expanded things a bit here to give more insight into this couple, adding more steam, and amping up the emotions Aiden and Dayna are feeling upon returning home.  With each turn of the page readers will find this a charming story of opposites attracting, a small town romance of starting over while not letting the pain of your past define you.  Ultimately it's a quick read, a satisfying one, that will have you adding this series to your "to buy" shelf.

Aiden Dumfries is the bad boy of hockey, a sexy playboy teeming with arrogance, with a thick wall around his heart.  Feeling distrustful of others leaves him with no desire to form commitments.  According to others he's a one and done kind of guy, someone who talks dirty and isn't shy in showing that side to the world.  There's more to him though than what the world sees and thinks.  After being relegated to hiding out in small town America, for yet another misdeed, he slowly discovers more to himself in his instant attraction to a woman with her own demons from the past.  Aiden rubs you wrong the moment you meet him.  Like others I too thought I knew all there was to him, but as his past was revealed I became drawn to him.  His father was truly awful and it had him closing himself off to the world.  He hates being compared to such an awful man and his anger over this brings out a self-destructive side.  He constantly gives the world a big middle finger in scenes teeming with anger and frustration.  The moment he meets Dayna though is the moment when everything changes for him.  Being with her brings out a more honest version of himself, a loving and caring side normally reserved for only his mother.  Being with Dayna has Aiden being the best he can be, being his own man once and for all, in a sweet and steamy burgeoning romance.

Dayna Benson has returned home too, but not exactly as the person she thought she'd be.  She envisioned someone successful and self-assured.  But after a recent, tragic, loss she's returned home to lick her wounds as she's a shell of her former self.  Returning home gives her the chance to start over though...and start over she does...with the sexy Aiden!  They sizzled from the very start in a relationship that evolved very quickly...almost too quickly to savor fully.  Through it all I liked her and rooted for her in her dealings with her ex, an ex who played with her emotions by tearing at her self-esteem.  Her relationship to Aiden might've started out rocky but their connection grew as truths about themselves were revealed and became a bond between them.

This was a quick and satisfying story, one with likable characters and a nice glimpse of things to come for the Lakeshore U series.  While more time spent with Dayna and Aiden would've been appreciated, what was on display was entertaining.  Dayna's ex was immensely unlikable and I wish time spent on him would've been spent on this couple's burgeoning romance.  Despite those small quibbles I still recommend this book and its charming and steamy small town romance.

My rating for this is a B.

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

*GRAB THE PREQUEL, BITE THE ICE, FOR FREE here.*

AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty mature young adult and new adult novels, LA COTTON is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.

Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find LA immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.

Book Teaser Tuesday for Manticore by Kate Hill (GIVEAWAY)…………

A man trying to make a life of his own finds himself connecting to another through a paranormal bond that leads them to love and a woman willing to die for them both!  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Manticore by Kate Hill, then start counting down the days until this book hits shelves on December 23rd.  In honor of this third installment in the Confessions series, make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win an e-copy of Bloodbloom, the second installment in this series!

Martin: I was an outcast. Humiliated and abused, I ran away to carve out a life apart from the Specter family business. Convinced the family magic would never work for me, I was taken by surprise when I met him.

Manticore: Shunned by other manifestations, I lived alone and nameless. Then I found Martin. He gave me a name and his body. Now, we exist as one. We never expected to find a woman who’ll love us, but Daisy Fay is full of surprises. We’ve walked through demonic fire to protect her, and we will have her as our mate.

Daisy Fay: Martin is the sweetest guy I know. Manticore is an enticing beast. I never dreamed they shared a body. It’s a good thing I love them both. We’re in constant danger, though, because their father wants to kill them. They want to keep me safe, but sitting in the sidelines isn’t my style, and they’d better get used to it.

FIND THE BUY LINKS FOR THIS BOOK AT CHANGELING PRESS here.

AUTHOR INFO:

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies. When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, watching horror movies, and researching vampires and Viking history. She runs the Compelling Beasts Blog that is dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. Kate also writes as Saloni Quinby.

WEBSITE  |  NEWSLETTER  |  TWITTER  |  BLOG  |  GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE  |  PINTEREST  |  BOOKBUB AUTHOR PAGE

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Book Release Blast for Wrap Up My Life by Hayley Faiman (REVIEW)………

 A woman broken by her past and wanting to hide from the world finds herself the center of a biker nerd's world in this holiday-fueled romance full of heart and soul.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Wrap Up My Life by Hayley Faiman, along with my impressions of it, then be sure to add this 8th installment in the Nasty Bastards MC series to your bookshelf!

It’s the holidays in East Texas. The A/C is cranked down. The Old Ladies have decorated the clubhouse with care, hoping big bearded men will adorn them with gifts.She never wants to celebrate Christmas again. He wants nothing more than to meet her beneath the mistletoe.

Lies don't just hurt the liar. They destroy every life that is somehow touched by that lie. Moxie knows that more than anyone, the man she thought she loved turned out to be a lie.
Bans has always been the nerd. He’s the computer tech for the Nasty Bastards MC, but he sees something in Moxie. What he sees, he likes and wants for himself. He doesn’t just want to fix her. He wants to wrap her up and keep her.
She’s a shell. Broken beyond repair. But when Bans looks at her, she feels something that she hasn’t in far too long. Hope.
He has watched her go through hell. She has put herself through self-sabotage for far too long. The holidays are a time for renewal, rebirth, and leaving the past...in the past. But can she move forward when her entire adult life has been nothing but a lie?

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Step aside Elf, A Christmas Story, and Miracle on 34th Street!  When it comes to feel-good Christmas stories I'll now be reaching for this sweet, sexy, and sentimental book instead of the usual collection of heartwarming movies when I want to make my holidays brighter.  Though it's part of a series it stands strongly on its own as it pushes every one of my emotional buttons...making me smile, while causing a few tears and blushes along the way, all while making my heart sing with joy seeing the healing power of love amidst the warmth of holiday togetherness.

Moxie's a heroine who's been put through the wringer courtesy of her deceased husband Smoke and the lies he told his Club as well as her.  His lies have left everyone a bit bruised and when readers first see her here she's wallowing in betrayal and anger, swearing off love forever.  She's drinking and stripping to numb the pain, but with nightly visits to the strip club from the Nasty Bastard's tech god Bans, things are starting to change for her....but only if she's willing to put her heart on the line ONE LAST TIME. Moxie's a tough and sassy woman, someone who starts off broken and bruised but who ultimately became a kick butt heroine.  Her actions at the start were completely understandable though and my heart ached for her with the betrayal she was dealing with.  Once Bans offered himself to her though it wasn't long before she started moving on from the past in a sweet and steady journey to HEA.

Bans is the tech guru for the Nasty Bastards MC and has been in the background or on the periphery of the Club's actions until now, when he takes center stage to admit his long-simmering love for her in a sweet and empowering love story.  From the moment I first saw Bans I knew I needed to know more about him and this is the perfect story for him as it shows someone who's normally quiet but whose actions speak louder than words.  He's a stand-up guy with a big heart who wants to show Moxie her true worth and to be allowed to lavish her with love.

This was a quick read, a slow-burn second chance romance that brings together two wonderful characters in a romance that renewed her faith in love.  Bans is a truly delicious hero who made me happy, a powerful man who was quiet and unassuming, a man determined to get his gal.  Surrounding him are the other men of the Nasty Bastards MC, as well as their mates, who were a solid support system that helped in the matchmaking of this pair and that gave readers insight into "Where are they now?" too. On a whole this was a decadently delightful romance of second chances, a heartwarming tale with a bit of steam that was the perfect diversion from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and is a book I wholeheartedly recommend!

My rating for this is an A-

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

AUTHOR INFO:

I was born and raised in California. My husband and I met when I was just 16. We were married a few years later, we lived in Oregon while he was in the US Coast Guard.

Texas is now where we call home, where our boots rest, and where we're raising our two little boys and a chocolate lab named Optimus Prime.

WEBSITE  |  NEWSLETTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM  |  TWITTER  |  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Book Blitz for Let There Be Snow by Charlotte Rains Dixon (GIVEAWAY)………

Set within the world of the Calderwood Grove series comes this festive tale of opposites attracting as a strong, independent woman finds herself frustratingly attracted to an arrogant man who's determined to win her over no matter what.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Let There Be Snow by Charlotte Rains Dixon, then add it to your bookshelf.  In honor of this holiday novella make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win an e-copy of this book along with a mug embossed with a picture of this book cover too!

Christmas isn’t Christmas without snow.

So Dixie Dunham believes.

But she’s about to experience a Christmas with nothing but cold, gray rain after taking a job at the Starlight Winery in Pineview, Oregon, smack in the middle of wine country. Dixie likes her new job at the winery and she’s hoping owners Jamie and Ernest will soon name her to the position of national sales manager. She’s certain the proposal she’s working on for a city-sponsored contest will cement her claim to the job. That would be something to impress the friends and family she left behind in New York.

And Dixie is desperate to impress them, seeing as how she fled after her fiancée jilted her at the altar in favor of her maid-of-honor best friend. Now as the December days shorten and darken and Pineview celebrates the season with lavish decorations and festive events, it’s hitting Dixie hard how much she’s lost. All she has left besides her job is the company of her loyal dog, Bo. And a Christmas without snow.

When Jamie and Ernest introduce her to their good friend Max Pettigrew, who has just moved from Paris back to Pineview after a wrenching divorce, she’s instantly attracted to him. But Max Pettigrew never met a woman he didn’t want to flirt with. All in the strictest of innocence, of course. Too bad what he thinks is charming flirtatiousness is off-putting to Dixie. Ridiculously handsome he may be, but he’s also ridiculously annoying. And she does not need more annoyance in her life. When the two of them turn out to be vying to win the same city contest, her annoyance turns to anger. But Max grows more determined to win her over, inviting her to the Pineview Christmas parade and holiday parties, and turning to a stream of self-help books to help improve himself.

Can Max mend his entitled bro ways? Will Dixie get her promotion, and perhaps more important, her snow at Christmas in rainy Oregon?

EXCERPT:

And then the doorbell sounded.
“Bo, hush,” she called and commanded him to sit before opening the door, only too late remembering it wasn’t the best idea to open the door without knowing who was there. Well, she’d have the security of the screen door. As if. It was an old wood screen, old-fashioned and lovely but absolutely no protection.
Max Pettigrew stood on the front porch.
She didn’t need protection from him.
He raised one hand in a dorky wave. It matched the dorky grin on his face. “Hi.”
Her heart did a gymnastics flip. Maybe she did need protection from him.
“Um, hi?” She stiffened her shoulders. Was this weird for him to suddenly show up on her doorstep? Maybe he was a mad stalker.
“I’m not a mad stalker,” Max said. “But I am here to kidnap you and take you to the parade. Because I figure you probably have the mother of all hangovers and if there’s one thing I know that cures them, it’s a hair of the dog and some nice fatty treats.” He lifted the large blue tote bag he was carrying. “And I’ve got both in here, in the form of wine and stinky gooey French cheese. And bread—which is also excellent for soaking up the alcohol. Never mind that you’re going to be consuming more. Plus, the parade will cheer you up.”
“I’m not sad,” she said. Lying.
“Yes, you are. You’ve been sad all year. You told me so last night. And that’s no way to live your life.”
Just then, Bo nosed the screen open and pushed his way out, heading straight for Max, who knelt to pet him. Bo, the dog who never let any man get close to her and barked madly at any human of the male persuasion, preened under his touch. Traitorous canine.
Max turned his attention from the dog to her. “So put a warm coat on and some good socks and let’s--”
He was interrupted by a loud alarm. The smoke detector. She whipped her head around and realized the house was filling with smoke. “Oh, crap, the cookies.”
She ran into the kitchen, dimly aware of the screen banging and Max close behind her, Bo following everyone and barking. The smoke grew thicker as they neared the kitchen, where great swaths of it billowed from the oven. She opened the door with one hand and groped for a hot pad with the other. When she didn’t find one, Dixie grabbed a dish towel and yanked the door open, grasping the edge of the cookie sheet.
“Youch! Hot!”
She promptly dropped it on the floor with a loud clatter. Burned bits of cookie flew everywhere and Bo rushed in to nose at them.
“Shit!” Dixie yelled.
Max bent to the floor and using the hem of his coat, grasped the cookie sheet and wrestled it into the sink. He turned on the faucet and the blackened cookies fell off in chunks. Bo happily scarfed up the cookie bits that remained on the linoleum. Max grinned at Dixie, pointing to his coat. “Thermal,” and then, “Perhaps baking is not your forte.”
“I’m an excellent baker,” Dixie huffed.
“Uh, huh.”
Dixie scowled. “Don’t your self-help books counsel you against dissing women?”
Max grinned and waved his hands through the smoke that was now dissipating. He grabbed the spatula and scraped a corner of completely charred cookie off the pan and held it up in the air, inspecting it.
“Excellent baker, indeed.”
She couldn’t help it. She started laughing. He joined in and soon the two of them were laughing uncontrollably.
“I guess this is a sign,” Dixie said when she finally got hold of herself. “I’ll go to the stupid Christmas parade with you.”

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY AT AMAZON here.

AUTHOR INFO:

The great-granddaughter of pioneers who walked across the Oregon Trail, Charlotte Rains Dixon considers herself a westerner through and through. Many of her stories are set in her home state of Oregon, where her characters reside in fictional versions of her favorite wine area and coast towns, as well as Portland, where she lives.
When not writing fiction, Charlotte teaches writing in England, the south of France, and around the Pacific Northwest. She also coaches writers privately. She is Director Emeritus and a current mentor at the Writer's Loft, a certificate-in-writing program at Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her MFA in creative writing from Spalding University and is also the author Emma Jean’s Bad Behavior.
Charlotte lives with her husband in Portland, Oregon, in a multi-generational home that is by turns boisterous and exuberant but seldom quiet. She believes no breakfast is complete without a crossword puzzle to work and no Happy Hour can actually be happy without popcorn. (Wine goes without saying.) Despite frequent stays in France, she regularly fractures the language. She is, however, fluent in Carney.
Charlotte writes stories about places you long to live filled with people you’d love to know.
Learn more about Charlotte at her WEBSITE and be sure to sign up for her author newsletter HERE.

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Book Cover Reveal for Violins and Vampires by CEE BEE (GIVEAWAY)……

Readers looking for a seductive and suspenseful read will get all that and more with this novella of a woman desperately in need of money who finds herself attracted to her mysterious boss, a man who's more than what he seems.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Violins and Vampires by CEE BEE, and learn even more about this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour, then start counting down the days until this book hits shelves on July 26th!  In honor of this first installment in the Vampires of the Daemonverse series make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $20 bookstore GC too!

Lexa Kozlov must pay off her family's massive debt to the mob...all while raising even more money to save her little sister. The result? A never-ending (and incredibly illegal) stakeout for the Bratva. Lexa barely has time to sleep, let alone find love.

Enter Caelin Vass, the handsome Scotsman who runs Empire Investments. Caelin offers Lexa a new job with dollars galore, as well as a hot bod (his own) to contemplate every workday. Even so, Lexa isn’t sure. Freaky things keep happening whenever Lexa and Caelin are alone. The energy between them is magical, sensual, and way overwhelming.
Is Lexa leaving her old prison just to enter a worse one...or is Caelin Vass all he seems and more?

***12,000 word novella, previously published on Kindle Vella as Blood Slave***

EXCERPT:

I've never wanted anyone more than Caelin Vass. Never hated a man so much, either.
Vass looms before me right now. He's all broad-shoulders, brown hair, and searing dark eyes. Imagine a Celtic god in a three-piece suit; that's the general idea. We stand in his office—a place that's all plush leather chairs and heavy wooden furniture.
Sadly, Vass and I aren't alone. Some chick in a kimono kneels before him. She toys with his belt buckle with ill intent. And by ill intent, I mean she's about to give my potential employer a blow job.
In his fancypants office. Right in front of me.
Wish I could say this is the first time something like this happened. It isn't. I also wish I didn't want to punch Kimono Chick in the throat and take her place.
Yet I do.
Still, I must stay away from Vass' pants and get this gig. Why? It pays one hundred grand a month. For someone like me, that money's literally a life-saver.
Across the room, Kimono Chick smirks so hard, it's a wonder her face doesn't get stuck that way. "Join in or get out."
Meanwhile, Vass stares at me with a smoking hot look that makes my thighs clench. He knows the affect all this has on me.
Stupid Vass.
Stupid thighs.
Which leads to a big decision: do I go for the job, the belt buckle, or the door?

Tough call.

PREORDER here.

AUTHOR INFO:

CEE BEE writes stories that blend epic fantasy, steamy romance, and lots of sass. If you want immersive tales that transport you to fresh worlds (and new book boyfriends) then you’ve come to the right author. To learn more about CEE BEE, please visit www.ceebeeauthor.com.

CEE BEE also writes young adult fare under the name Christina Bauer. Check out Christina’s books at www.christinabauerauthor.com. There’s a literal sh*t ton of them.

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