Monthly Archives: September 2018

Forever Theirs / Theirs for The Night (The Thalanian Dynasty .5 & 1) by Katee Robert-Review, Except & Giveaway Tour

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Forever Theirs /Theirs For The Night ( The Thalanian Dynasty .5 & 1) by Katee Robert-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

FOREVER THEIRS
(The Thalanian Dynasty #1)
by Katee Robert
Release Date: September 10, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, menage romance

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 10, 2018

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / iTunes

Meg Sanders enjoyed her wild night with a prince and his bodyguard—but now she’s moving on. She has enough problems without borrowing the kind of trouble Theo brings just by being who he is. But no matter how determined she is to leave that night a fond memory, she hasn’t seen the last of Theo and Galen…

Galen Mikos’s life boils down to one goal. Keep Theo alive. But as long as Theo draws breath, he’s a threat to the powers that have taken over Thalania—and anyone they associate with runs the risk of becoming a target, too. Galen will never forgive himself if they let their selfish desire for Meg puts her in danger. But it might already be too late…

Theo Fitzcharles might be an exiled prince, but he doesn’t intend to stay that way. He’s only concerned with one thing—clearing his mother’s name and reinstating himself as Crown Prince of Thalania. There’s no room in that plan for distraction, especially when it makes him forget himself the way Meg does. But after spending one perfect night with her and his best friend, Theo has no intention of leaving her alone.

Even if it damns all three of them in the process.

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: FOREVER THEIRS is the first full length, and second instalment in Katee Robert’s contemporary, adult THE THALANIAN DYNASTY, erotic, MMF romance duet focusing on twenty-three year old bar waitress Meg Sanders, bodyguard and protector Galen Mikos, and former crown prince of Thalania Theo Fitzcharles III. FOREVER THEIRS can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and backstory I recommend reading the prequel novella THEIRS FOR ONE NIGHT (see below) where the reader is first introduced to our story line trio.

NOTE: FOREVER THEIRS and the Thalanian Dynasty series contains graphic menage scenarios of M/M, MMF, MFM sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from three third person perspectives (Meg, Galen, and Theo) FOREVER THEIRS focusing on the rekindling romance between twenty-three year old college student and bar waitress Meg Sanders, bodyguard and protector Galen Mikos, and former crown prince of the fictional country/principality/kingdom of Thalania Theo Fitzcharles III. Three months earlier, our heroine Meg Sanders, spent a sexually charged and erotic night of passion with crown prince Theo Fitzcharles, and his best friend/guardian Galen Mikos. Knowing there was no probability for a future, but hoping for a future second chance, Meg walked away. Fast forward to present day wherein Theo returns hoping to rekindle their relationship, a relationship that places Meg in the direct line of fire. What ensues is the second chance romance and relationship between Meg, Galen and Theo, and the potential fall-out as all three are targeted for the ultimate prize.

Theo Fitzcharles III, former crown prince of the Thalania, along with his best friend and protector Galen Mikos have been exiled in a coup to usurp the crown. As Theo’s younger half-brother Edward sits waiting to ascend to the throne, the monarchy now lies in the hands of Theo’s meddling uncle Phillip. Hoping to reveal the secrets and lies, Theo and Galen hunt for the truth, as all three are targeted in a game of cat and mouse. Theo and Galen knew that to claim Meg as their own, placed our heroine in the direct line of fire.

The relationship between Meg, Theo and Galen is one of immediate attraction; a highly sexual and passionate romance between three people whose lives changed six months earlier but lives now threatened by Theo’s quest for the truth. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense with MM, MMF, and MFM sexual situations.

The world building follows our trio from New York to Germany, to Greece and Thalania, as Galen and Theo endeavor to prove Theo is the legitimate heir to the throne. Galen’s return to Thalania is met with an offer he refuses to acknowledge; and Meg struggles with former heart break and an uncertain future.

FOREVER THEIRS is an intensely erotic, and sexual story line of family, friendship, power and betrayal. The premise is imaginative, spicy and inviting; the romance is passionate and seductive; the characters are energetic and impassioned. My only complaint is the quick resolution to the story line conflict but saying that FOREVER THEIRS ends not on a happily ever after but a happily ever after for now, with more story to come.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

__________________

THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT
(The Thalanian Dynasty .5)
by Katee Robert
Release Date: July 31, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, menage, romance

FREE ebook for a limited time: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / iTunes

About the book: Release Date July 31, 2018

Meg Sanders has spent her life playing by the rules—until tonight. It’s her birthday and she’s determined to be a little wild and a whole lot carefree, at least until she has to get back to reality tomorrow. But the last thing she expects is to be seduced on the dance floor by two gorgeous men.

Theo and Galen are each incredibly sexy on their own, and potentially devastating as a pair—and they want her. Meg isn’t down for anything resembling complicated when her life is such a mess, but the two of them win her over with the promise of a night out of her deepest, darkest fantasy—and that they walk the next morning with no strings attached.

After all, anything goes when it’s only for one night

••••••••

REVIEW: THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT is the prequel novella to Katee Robert’s contemporary, adult THE THALANIAN DYNASTY erotic, romance series focusing on twenty-three year old bar waitress and college student Meg Sanders, bodyguard and protector Galen Mikos, and former crown prince of Thalania Theo Fitzcharles III.

NOTE: THEIRS FOR THE NIGHTand the Thalanian Dynasty series contains graphic scenarios of MFM menage, sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Meg and Theo) THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT follows the one-night stand between twenty-three year old bar waitress and college student Meg Sanders, bodyguard and protector Galen Mikos, and former crown prince of Thalania Theo Fitzcharles III. It’s Meg Sanders’ twenty-third birthday but all Meg wants is a night of peace and quiet. Her best friend Cara insists on a night on the town so Meg sets out for a couple hours of rest and relaxation until our heroine meets two alpha males who invite Meg for one night of sex and fun. Enter Galen and Theo, two men whose secrets are about to unfold, as Meg finds herself falling for an exiled prince and his personal guard.

THEIRS FOR THE NIGHT is a very quick read; a novella length, highly sexualized introduction to Katee Robert’s THALANIAN DYNASTY series focusing on an embattled, exiled crown prince, the man that he loves, and the woman for whom they will risk everything and more. The premise is engaging and intriguing; the characters are charismatic and colorful; the $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate.

Own a copy

Reviewed by Sandy

 

This…
She wanted this. All of it. The reservations that clung to her like cobwebs from the moment she decided on this path went up in flames. Who the fuck cared what the future brought? They had right now, and right now Meg needed these two men. She needed to be with them together and separate and to be able to watch at her leisure just like she was now.
Except the feeling pounding through her blood wasn’t leisure.
It was desperation.
“Theo.” Her voice came out hoarse and broke in the middle of his name so she swallowed and tried again. “Theo, please.”
He rolled onto his side and ran a hand down Galen’s chest. Galen stretched into the touch, a giant wolf of a man. “She said please.”
“It was such a nice please, too.” Theo grinned, his blue eyes hot on her. “Apparently she liked the show.”
“Mmmm.” A word that meant everything and nothing.
Theo gave a stretch of his own and rolled off the bed. He offered Galen a hand and hauled him to his feet. “You’ve held on this long, princess. Hold on a bit longer.” And then the bastard walked into the bathroom. Seconds later, the shower turned on.
Galen stared after him and then spun on his heel and stalked toward her. She lost sight of him as he moved behind her, and Meg forced herself not to try to twist to follow his movement. It wouldn’t work and she’d look like an idiot. She couldn’t stop the shivers of need racking her body, though.
“Desperate little mouse.” And then his voice was in her ear, its vibrations drawing her nipples to hard peaks. He ducked under her arm and sat on the edge of the bed. “Spread.”
Meg nearly sagged in relief and then scrambled to obey. She spread her legs wide, fighting to keep from cursing him for taking so long to touch her.
He saw it, though. Of course he did. He reached down and pushed his middle finger into her, cupping her pussy with his big hand. “Do. Not. Move.”
She bit her bottom lip, half sure she’d taste blood. Her need pulsed through her like a live thing, demanding she take this pleasure and grind against his palm until she orgasmed. She was so turned on, it would take a grand total of five second and it would all be over.
Galen’s lips twitched. “Good girl.” He withdrew slowly and pumped his finger back into her. “You like this.”
“Yes.” She vibrated with the need to move, pleasure dancing closer with each drag of the pad of his finger over the spot deep inside her. “Galen, I’m—”
“Don’t you dare come,” his voice lashed her, sharp enough to fight back the budding orgasm. “You take what we give you, mouse, and you don’t have permission to come.”
It took her three tries to find her words. “I don’t think I’m into BDSM.”
“BDSM?” He smirked. “Baby, this isn’t even close. You broke the rules, and that deserves a punishment.” He kept fucking her slowly with his finger, his forbidding gaze daring her to break his command. “Do you feel contrite, mouse?”
“Yes,” she sobbed. “Galen, please, I’m so close, please.”
His expression softened and, for one eternal heartbeat, she thought he would be merciful. “No.” He gave her one last pump and withdrew. Holding her gaze, he lifted his hand and sucked his middle finger into his mouth, tasting her. She moaned, a desperate animal sound that Meg couldn’t have controlled if she’d tried—and she didn’t even think to try.
“Mmmm.” He looked down his body, and she followed his gaze to where his cock was hard once more. “How close are you to coming, mouse?”
“Close,” she whispered.
He stood and pressed a devastatingly soft kiss to her mouth. “Good.” Galen sifted gentle fingers through her hair, his dark eyes unforgiving. “Next time you get off to the idea of me watching you while you fuck Theo, you better make damn sure I’m in the room.” He brushed his lips against her forehead. “I’m going into that shower and I’m going to brace Theo against the wall, and then I’m going take his ass. He always loses his mind when I hit the right spot, and you’ll hear him moaning though you won’t get the same show you did just now.”
Her throat tried to close and her eyes burned. “Galen, I’m sorry.”
There it was again, that softening that hit her like a sucker punch. He smoothed her hair back. “I’m not. I’m just as much of a selfish bastard as Theo is, and I’m not sorry that he reeled you back in and that you’re stuck with us for the time being.” He gave her a slow smile that held a hint of meanness despite looking at her like he wanted to devour her whole. “But I’m a spiteful asshole and so, fuck yeah, I’m going to punish your pretty pussy until you’re begging for mercy, and we’re all three of us going to enjoy every minute of it.” He laughed, low and sinful. “Well, I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. You’re going to stand here and suffer a little bit longer before you earn that reward of yours.”
He dropped to his knees, hitched her right leg over his shoulder and then his mouth was on her, fucking her pussy the same way he’d fucked her with his finger. Warm and wet and wanton, moving up to tongue her clit in deliciously slow circles designed to make her loose her mind.
He told her not to come.
Meg bit her bottom lip again, harder this time, fighting against that slow slide toward oblivion. She couldn’t help it. It was too good and on the heels of his harsh words, too damn forbidden. Her hands flailing in the cuffs, grasping at air as her knees went out, and then Galen was holding her weight, lifting her to his mouth to get better access.
Oh god, she was going to orgasm.
She writhed, planting her free foot against his shoulder and kicked, wrenching him away from her. He hit the bed and the bastard had a shit-eating grin on his face. He swiped a thumb across his bottom lip. “Good girl.”
He ducked back under her arm and gave her ass a stinging slap. And then he was gone, disappearing after Theo into the bathroom. Several long minutes later, low moans echoed through the space, proof that Galen was as good as his word.
Meg sagged in her cuffs. She closed her eyes, her pussy pulsing in time with her racing heart, her body crying from adverted pleasure. She should hate them. She should scream and fight and curse until they let her down so she could suffer the rest of her humiliation in peace.
And yet…
She shivered, the faint sound of flesh meeting flesh coming from the bathroom. Of Galen fucking Theo. She could see it perfectly in her mind, exactly as he’d described. Theo’s hands braced on the wall, Galen’s on Theo. His big cock disappearing into Theo’s ass with each savage thrust. Meg moaned and her hips moved of their own volition, seeking friction, practically humping the air with her need.
The shower turned off.
She opened her eyes as, seconds later, Theo and Galen strode back into the room. Galen took up a nearly identical position as he’d been in when she walked into the room, against the head of the bed, one hand tucked casually behind his head. The only difference was that he was gloriously naked now. Theo moved behind her, a presence she felt even before he stroked his hands over her body, along her sides up to cup her breasts and then back down to her hips, one dipping to explore her pussy. “Poor Meg. Aching and empty and teased until pleasure becomes pain. You’ve suffered admirably, and you’ve followed our Galen’s orders so sweetly.” His thumb brushed her clit and he pressed his body against her back. “Are you ready for your reward, princess?” 


 

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.”  When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram  | BookBub

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Courted by Her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates #3) by Felicity Heaton-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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COURTED BY HER COUGAR (Cougar Creek Mates #3) by Felicity Heaton-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 8, 2018

Madness is sweeping through Cougar Creek, and Flint wants no part of it. The fever has two of his brothers in love already, and Flint is damned if he’s giving up the bachelor life to tie himself to one female, but when a perimeter sweep has him running into an exotic and enthralling beauty who rouses his instincts as a cougar shifter and a male, the hunt is on.

All Yasmin is interested in is making sure her friend, Ivy, is safe, but the alluring black-haired man with a wicked smile she meets on the path to the creek has her thinking about other things. When an incident at Cougar Creek leads to her revealing a secret, and Flint’s persistence pushes her to a rash decision, her entire world is in danger of being turned upside down.

With the gathering in full swing, and males determined to prove their worth to Yasmin, Flint discovers he’s not immune to the madness sweeping through the creek, because he’ll do whatever it takes to claim victory and win Yasmin’s heart… no matter how dangerous it is.

•••••••••

REVIEW: COURTED BY HER COUGAR is the third instalment in Felicity Heaton’s contemporary, adult COUGAR CREEK MATES paranormal, romance series focusing on the cougar shifters of Cougar Creek, Canada. This is cougar shifter Flint, and physician/healer Yasmin Dubois’s story line. COURTED BY HER COUGAR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The Cougar Creek Mates series is a spin-off from the author’s Eternal Mates series. It is not necessary to have read the previous series but there is an on-going premise throughout with the inclusion of the group known as Archangel.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Yasmin and Flint) COURTED BY HER COUGAR picks up immediately following the events of book two-Captured by Her Cougar- wherein Yasmin comes to Cougar Creek in search of her friend Ivy (Claimed by Her Cougar) whom she believes may be in danger. While the ‘gathering’ at Cougar Creek continues to gain momentum as the unmated males battle for the unclaimed females, Yasmin’s presence and eventually her pride pushes cougar shifter Flint to fight for the woman he claims as his own. What ensues is the acrimonious relationship between Yasmin and Flint, as Yasmin’s secrets are about to be exposed.

Yasmin Dubois is a healer but something about Yasmin doesn’t sit well with our story line hero. Yasmin is not whom or what she appears to be, and in this the unmated males of Cougar Creek enter into a battle to determine who can claim Yasmin as their own. As the guardians of Cougar Creek, Flint and his brothers are ineligible to enter into the courting ritual but Flint sees red when too many males vie for Yasmin’s affections.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Rath and Ivy, Flint’s brother Colbalt, female cougar shifter Ember, as well as a number of males hoping to win Yasmin’s heart. Cobalt and Ember’s story is next in Craved by Her Cougar.

The world building continues to focus on the ‘gathering’-a time of mating heat between unmated females and males; a time when the beast overrides any sense of human emotion.

As per Felicity Heaton’s style of writing COURTED BY HER COUGAR is more of a written narrative wherein the story is told through thoughts and emotions. The premise is engaging; the characters are colorful and energetic; the romance is passionate and seductive. COURTED BY HER COUGAR is a spirited and dramatic tale of fated mates.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Claimed by Her Cougar
Captured by Her Cougar
Courted by Her Cougar

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Yasmin huffed as she pushed her ebony waves out of her face, feeling the dampness at the back of her neck that irritated the hell out of her as her hair stuck to it, clung in a way that made her want to do something. Scream probably.
She stopped near a towering pine that looked like every other damned tree in the forest and turned in a circle, trying to spot the path. There had to be a path. She was sure she had been following one from the trailhead where she had left her car parked next to Ivy’s Jeep, and several other vehicles that had told her she was in the right area.
Maybe it had been an animal track.
A cool breeze blew up the gentle slope to her right, carrying the scent of water. She could hear the river in that direction. Maybe it would be wise to head downhill until she found it and then track it towards the area that her friend had called ‘the creek’ more than once. There had been a river in Ivy’s photographs. It stood to reason that she would find her friend near the one she could hear.
Yasmin shrugged out of her heavy pack, set it down on the rough earth between the tangled roots of the pines and rifled through the side pockets, her mood taking a nosedive as she struggled to find what she was looking for.
“A-ha.” She grinned as she opened the fifth pocket—seriously, why so many pockets on these stupid backpacks—and found her elastics and other beauty items.
She straightened, lifted her hair away from her neck, scrunched it together and tied it in place with the band. Parts of it instantly fell down again, framing her face, but it would do for now. All she cared about was keeping her neck clear. It was bliss as the breeze caressed it, had a soft sigh leaving her lips as she savoured it.
When the wind died down again, she stripped off her black jacket, because a winter coat combined with her royal purple sweater and the long-sleeved cream t-shirt she wore beneath that had probably been a bit much. She had been expecting the weather to be cooler than it was. There had been snow on the mountains in Ivy’s photographs after all.
She peered through the dense trees to catch a sliver of the mountain that loomed closest to her. There was still snow on it. Apparently, snow on the peaks didn’t mean it was cold in the valley. It was rare she learned something new, novel in fact. What else was she going to learn on this adventure?
Yasmin hefted the pack back onto her shoulders. The weight of it pressed down on her and she twisted and grimaced, trying to get comfortable again. Maybe the sunny day wasn’t solely responsible for her working up a sweat. The heaviness of her pack combined with the exertion of the hike probably would have been enough to have her running a little hot even if it had been a chilly day.
She threaded her coat over the bottom of the right strap of her pack, so it pressed against her back and hip and wouldn’t fall into the dirt, and kicked off again, picking her way through the trees as she headed downhill towards the river.
A man with wild black hair and golden eyes stepped into her path, emerging from the trees like some sort of predator to stare her down.
She casually drew to a halt four metres from him.
Raked her gaze over him, taking in a navy shirt that stretched tight over his athletic build, long legs encased in very practical black trousers, and scuffed boots that looked as if he had trekked hundreds of miles in them and needed a new pair. Too cheap to purchase them? Or sentimental and attached to these ones for some reason?
She lifted her head back up to meet his golden eyes.
He didn’t look the sentimental type.
His straight jaw set hard, his lips compressing, causing the scar that streaked across the left side of his mouth to pull on his cheek.
He looked as if he wanted to growl at her.
Yasmin concluded there was a high probability he could help her. “I’m lost, can you tell me the way—”
“Private property. Turn your ass around and march it back the way you came,” he interjected, voice a gravelly snarl that had more bite than the local bears.
That was rude.
She narrowed her dark eyes on him. “No. If you would let me finish.”
He shook his head. “Not going to happen. This is no place for camping. Private property.”
“Yes, you’ve said that twice now, and if you would let me finish.”
He took a hard step towards her, his eyes glowing brighter. Oh, if he wanted to do angry, she could show him angry.
“Listen,” she snapped. “I know my friend is somewhere around here, and I am going to see her. Something tells me you know her. Ivy Wentworth?”
The barest flicker of surprise lit his stormy gold eyes before he schooled his features, hardening them again. “Don’t know her. Off you go now. Try the other direction.”
Liar.
“The other direction is my car.” And his, she was guessing.
It was probably the battered ancient pick-up she had seen that had more rust than paint on it.
“Good.” He folded his arms across his chest and glowered at her.
“So I’m not going back that way. I’m going this way.” She started left, because he had obviously come from nearby and that meant she was close to the creek.
He was in front of her in a flash, blocking her way. “I can’t allow that. Turn your ass around and march it back to your car.”
That was it.
Yasmin mimicked him, crossing her arms over her breasts, and the bastard had the audacity to glance at them as her actions pressed them together and upwards in her purple sweater.
“Try to make me leave,” she growled as she glared at him. “I dare you. We’ll see who comes off worse.”
His golden eyes leaped up to hers, and this time he didn’t hide his surprise.
Not used to strong females?
He was taller than she was, his build slim but clearly powerful. His shirt was tight enough that she could see it was hiding a muscled torso, and he had rolled up the sleeves to reveal tightly corded forearms that flexed as she stared at them.
Yasmin lifted her eyes back to his. “I’m going to see my friend whether you like it or not. You can’t stop me.”
He tried anyway, moving left and right to block her path as she tried to get past him.
Exasperating man!
She was close to hitting him to get him to stop.
He blocked her again when she made another attempt to pass him rather than giving in to the urge to clobber him. “How do you know this friend of yours is at the creek?”
She almost smiled. The creek. So he had come from the place where Ivy was staying with her new man. Which meant he was going to take her there, whether he liked it or not.
She feinted going left, and when he moved to block her, she went right and slipped past him. He growled in frustration and grabbed her wrist, and she turned on a pinhead, slammed her palm against his chest and shoved him back into a tree. He went easily, wasn’t a challenge at all.
Mostly because he was holding back.
Thought her feeble? Thought he might hurt her by accident if he exerted a little strength? She wanted to laugh at that.
Yasmin huffed and splayed her hand out against the centre of his chest, and yes, it was firm beneath her palm, muscles rigid and tensed, and there was that strength he was hiding from her.
“Are you going to take me to Ivy now?” She inched closer to him and pressed her hand harder against his chest to keep his spine pinned to the tree, just in case he thought about moving.
But he didn’t seem inclined to break free of her hold.
He regarded her with gold eyes that held a spark of heat, his silence stretching out for a moment that was so long she began to feel a little uncomfortable as she stood with her hand on his chest, his heart pounding against it, steady and strong.
She also started to wonder whether she had done some sort of permanent damage to him. She was on the verge of asking him whether he needed medical assistance when he finally responded.
He dipped his chin in a nod, his eyes remaining locked with hers as he spoke. “What’s your name?”
Not quite the response she had anticipated, but she would give it to him, because unlike him, she wasn’t rude. “Yasmin.”
He glanced down. “I’ve heard of you.”
She followed his gaze, tensed and removed her hand from his chest as she realised she was still touching him. His eyes lifted to her, banked heat in them, a flicker of interest that had her wanting to look away from him as a fire tried to lick over her cheeks. She resisted the need that raced through her and the blush, quelling both of them.
“I don’t doubt that.” She kept her voice even and emotionless, so he got the message that she didn’t feel the attraction that zinged between them. She really didn’t. “Ivy emailed me telling me she met a guy, fell in love of all things and that she wouldn’t be home for a while. She assured me that she was fine, but I’m here to see that for myself.”
“Commendable.” He knew big words. Trying to impress her?
She nodded. “I like to think so.”
He pushed away from the tree, coming to tower over her, easily eight inches taller than she was, and looked down at her.
His handsome face softened, that heat in his golden gaze lingering. “I’m Flint, Rath’s brother. Ivy is fine. She’s in love with Rath and nothing bad is happening here.”
He could attempt to appease her all he wanted. It wasn’t going to make her leave.
“Good.” She adjusted the bag on her back. “Because I prefer to heal injuries rather than cause them.”
A hint of a smile, enough that she could see that he would be devastating if he cracked a full blown grin. “Came here prepared for war?”
Yasmin nodded again. “If necessary. Ivy is my friend. My only friend.”
That had him turning serious, the dark slashes of his eyebrows knitting hard as the corners of his lips turned downwards. “I get that. You’re protective. I have a protective streak of my own… one I’ll introduce you to if you try to do anything to hurt my brother, including attempting to take Ivy from him.”
She arched an eyebrow at that. Protective of his brother’s happiness? That was commendable, as he would say.
“You think you can take me? Good luck with that.” She strode past him.
His eyes landed on her back and raked down her spine, a hot shiver following in their wake, and he purred, “I know I can take you.”

Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

Website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk
Blog: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton
Twitter: http://twitter.com/felicityheaton
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton

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In addition to the gift card giveaway below, Felicity is graciously offering an  ebook of  choice of either Turned by a Tiger, Tamed by a Tiger or Treasured by a Tiger to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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9. Giveaway runs from September 12-15, 2018

 

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But First, Coffee by Sarah Darlington-Review & Giveaway Tour

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But First, Coffee (Love and Coffee #1) by Sarah Darlington-Review & Giveaway Tour

Title: But First, Coffee
Author: Sarah Darlington
Release Date: September 10th
Series: Love & Coffee, Book 1
**read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited
She’s the boss.

I’m only a barista in her company.I really don’t give a f**k about her one way or the other.

And then there’s Doug Maddox, a man with a lot of power over me. He’s blackmailing me. Making me spy on her. I’m supposed to find her weaknesses and destroy her. But the closer I get, the more the lines between us start to blur.

She’s sweet. She’s kind. She’s sexy as hell.
Why am I the only man who see’s this?

So now I’m stuck—between keeping my sister safe against Doug, because that’s what’s really at stake here, and these feelings I can’t deny for a woman who shouldn’t mean anything to me.

I know what I have to do. I’ll destroy her.
It doesn’t matter if I have to destroy my own heart in the process.

••••••••••

REVIEW: There are many awesome elements to books that a lot of people don’t always give a lot of thought to. The story arc, character development, good triumphing over evil concept, adult content of violence and sex, and even the dialogue whether between multiple characters or internally with one character with themselves to name a few. An interesting element I want to bring up about this book is the element that this book seemed to raise a lot of awareness on a lot of issues and a condition. I think that’s really great about the book. The hero of the book, Joe has ADHD. The books gives good insight on how different the brain can work when it comes to people with ADHD or how their impulsiveness can’t always be helped. You get a look at addiction whether it’s alcohol or prescription drugs. Even though he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, addiction was something Joe and his sister, Kitty both struggled with. While this is a touchy subject, this book brings light to the subject of rape and not just the case of the man raping a woman but the not so much talked about case of the male being the victim. Regardless of the issues of awareness the book raised, the book was still an awesome read the story was in no way sacrificed.

As for Lana and Joe’s relationship, I did enjoy their relationship very much. I kind of felt like Sarah Darlington went against the grain in some relationship norms but yet she somehow made it work. I do take my hat off to her for that. I enjoyed there was a build-up of almost-going-to-happen love scenes until it blew up into a very explosive love scene in the garage. Very enjoyable first love scene for the couple. I found the post-it notes concept extremely cute and endearing. It was like they wrote each other little love notes throughout the book. Despite Joe’s hang ups regarding sex, the love scenes was in no way sacrificed.
Like most books, it always works out in the end. The couples wins and gets to be together, the main issue of the book gets solved, and the nemesis actually becomes one of the good guys. One thing I really appreciated was the epilogue. Lana had the choice to keep going in the fast-paced overbooked corporate lifestyle or to slow down and settle down. In my opinion, I feel slowing down and settle down can be the best choice to make sometimes especially in the case of keeping your sanity. The dedication on the book said it was for the coffee lovers and Sarah Darlington most definitely delivered. As a coffee lover myself and I love my coffee chains like Starbucks and Caribou, the book makes you smile and want to reach for a cup of coffee. I see this book is part of a series and I am definitely hungry for more.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Xtina

About Sarah Darlington

Sarah Darlington, a New Adult and contemporary romance author, lives in Virginia with her husband and two children. Best known for her Kill Devil Hills Series, she’s also a former flight attendant, with a degree in school counseling, who harbors a huge passion for traveling. She’s especially set on visiting all 50 states.
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Love Like Ours (Sugar Lake #3) by Melissa Foster-Review & Giveaway Tour

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LOVE LIKE OURS (Sugar Lake #3) by Melissa Foster-Review and Giveaway Tour

LOVE LIKE OURS
Sugar Lake #3
by Melissa Foster
Release Date: September 11, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary,erotic,romance,

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.co.uk / B&N / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 11, 2018

One wrong move, and she meets a guy with all the right ones…

Talia Dalton lives her life on cruise control. Despite her successful career as a professor, she prefers protecting her broken heart to taking chances. She’s calm, cool, collected, and steady. Until the morning she takes her eyes off that familiar road and almost runs over the sexiest man she’s ever seen. It may not be the best way to start the day, but it might be the type of shake-up she needs.

Male dancer Derek Grant has goals, and nothing is going to get in the way of achieving them. As a graduate student and the sole caretaker of his ailing father, he hasn’t much time for relationships. Then Talia crashes into his life. Sweet, pretty—and so buttoned-up that he can’t wait to help her cut loose.

For Derek, falling in love was a beautiful accident waiting to happen. And it might be exactly what Talia needs—if she’s willing to let go of the past and embrace every surprise Derek has to offer.

•••••

REVIEW: LOVE LIKE OURS is the third instalment in Melissa Foster’s contemporary, adult SUGAR LAKE erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women of Sweetwater, New York. This is college professor Talia Dalton, and male dancer Derek Grant’s story line. LOVE LIKE OURS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. SUGAR LAKE is a spin-off, and interconnected with a number of Melissa Foster’s other series.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Derek and Talia) LOVE LIKE OURS follows the building relationship between twenty-nine year old male dancer Derek Grant, and college professor Talia Dalton. Having nearly hit a man, with her car, in the school parking lot, Talia must come to grips with what appears to be said man in the class she is currently teaching. An offer of coffee, and thoughts of something more force Talia out of her comfort zone with the prospect of a potential problem by dating one of her students. Enter Derek Grant, male dancer and bar tender, and the man with whom Talia will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Talia and Derek, and the potential fall-out as Talia struggles with what Derek does for a living.

Derek Grant is the sole provider and money earner for his ailing father Jonah, a man with middle-stage Alzheimer’s but a man whose deteriorating condition warrants plans for the future. In the final stages of his Master’s degree, Derek knows that his unconventional career choice is only temporary, but a choice that has Talia questioning the how and why. Talia Dalton is the easy going, practical Dalton sister but meeting Derek Grant pushes all of her buttons including buttons that spark with Derek’s touch. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary characters including Talia’s sisters Bridgette, her fiancé Bodhi and son Louie (Only For You #2), Piper, Willow and Zane (The Real Thing #1), their brother Benjamin, and their parents Roxie and Dan Dalton. Bodhi’s mother Alisha Booker returns, as well as Bodhi’s friend Aurelia. We are introduced to Derek’s struggling father Jonah Grant, his caretaker Maria, as well as Talia’s best friend and fellow professor Ryan Fletcher.

LOVE LIKE OURS is a story of family and friendship; struggle and admission; perception and acceptance. The premise is heart warming and intelligent; the characters are real, charismatic and lively; the romance is provocative and flirty. LOVE LIKE OURS is a character driven and clever story; a wonderfully sweet and compelling tale focusing on real issues and struggles of everyday people.

Reading Order and previous review
The Real Thing
Only For You
Love Like Ours

THE REAL THING:  Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk / Amazon.au /

ONLY 99¢ ONLY FOR YOU:  Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk / Amazon. au /

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Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance (M/F, M/M, F/F), romantic suspense, thrillers, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success.Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on Facebook or her personal website.

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Once Upon a Real Good Time (Heartbreakers #1) by Lauren Blakely-Review & Excerpt Tour

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Once Upon a Real Good Time (Heartbreakers #1) by Lauren Blakely-Review &  Excerpt  Tour

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ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS TODAY!

That smoking hot one-night stand with a former rock star?

Turns out he’s my son’s new music teacher. Oops.

But I didn’t know that the night I met Campbell. All I knew was he played my body the same way he played a guitar — like he owned it.

My libido is still high-fiving me after being self-served for too many years, and we’re both ready for another night or two of fun, especially since we don’t just have chemistry in bed — we connect over everything.

That is, until I learn he’s the man who’ll be coming to my house twice a week to teach my son — the best music lessons money can buy.

Time to turn down the volume on our shenanigans. Only that’s easier said than done.

***

I can rock a guitar solo in front of thousands, I can write chart-topping tunes, and I can absolutely stop thinking about my student’s mother naked.

After all, I’m a single parent too, and I know what it’s like to put your kid first. That’s what I do every damn day.

Trouble is, now that I’ve had Mackenzie, it’s hard — and I do mean hard — to stop wanting her. Harder too when I get to know her, and learn she’s an awesome mom, a great friend, and, oh yeah, she happens to get along perfectly with my daughter.

All we have to do is set some rules. No dating, no nookie when the kids are around, and no one gets hurt.

It’s all working out beautifully. Until we start breaking the rules, one by one.

Making music with her in the bedroom is easy. But will we be more than just a real good time when the music stops?

•••••••••

REVIEW: ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME is the first instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary adult THE HEARTBREAKERS erotic, romance series focusing on the Evans brothers. This is single parents, former teen idol and guitarist Campbell Evans aka Mason Hart, and graphic designer MacKenzie Marksons’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Campbell and MacKenzie) ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME follows the building relationship between former teen idol and guitarist Campbell Evans aka Mason Hart, and graphic designer MacKenzie (Markson). MacKenzie is all about playing trivia at The Grouchy Owl until the one night the sexy lead singer of a local band offers up more than a couple of songs for our story line heroine. Enter single father and former teen idol Campbell Evans aka Mason Hart, and the man with whom MacKenzie will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between MacKenzie and Campbell, and the potential fall-out as MacKenzie struggles with Campbell’s position as her son’s infamous music teacher.

MacKenzie is a single mother to Kyle Markson, a child music prodigy whose has been offered a prestigious chance with a former star but unbeknownst to MacKenzie, said former star and her son’s new music teacher is the man who is currently starring in both her literal and virtual dreams. Unwilling to risk her son’s chance for the future, MacKenzie sacrifices her friendship and relationship with the man that she loves. Campbell Evans suffered a tragic loss, and in the ensuing years left the band to raise his daughter as a single father, but meeting MacKenzie gives Campbell the hope for a second chance at a happily ever after.

The relationship between Campbell and MacKenzie is one of immediate attraction; a palpable sexual attraction between two single parents who have put their personal lives on hold for the foreseeable future. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. Both Campbell and MacKenzie like to talk dirty in the bedroom.

We are introduced to MacKenzie’s son Kyle, his father Jamison, and MacKenzie’s best friend Roxy Sterling; Campbell’s daughter Samantha, and his brothers Miles and Miller Evans aka Hart.

ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME is a story of family, friendship, music and love. The premise is sexy and sassy; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are flirty, colorful and lively. ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME is a spicy and spirited story that is sure to set the sheets on fire.

I will add I am not sure if Markson is MacKenzie’s last name. I looked throughout the story but could only find one reference to Kyle’s last name, and no last name given for the other significant man in MacKenzie’s life, Kyle’s father Jamison. I am not a fan of no last name for the heroine, especially when the leading male is ‘gifted’ not one but two last names. The female lead is entitled to the same recognition, in my humble opinion.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

CampbellShe nibbles on the corner of her lips. “My friend Roxy thinks I should—”

“—let yourself have a good time for one more night?”

“How did you know?”

“She seemed like a good wingwoman.” I reach for a strand of her hair, running my finger across the soft locks, cataloging her reaction. “Want to know what I’m thinking?”

She nods.

I flash her a wicked grin. “I’m wondering if you want to be kissed by someone who’s been wanting to kiss you all night long.”

A flash of hesitation crosses her face, then she raises her eyes as if she’s thinking.

“I do,” she whispers, and the few seconds of reticence make her answer even sweeter.

I thread a hand through her hair. I’m going to take my time working up to a kiss, to make sure she wants it desperately. “I’ve been thinking about running my hands through this hair.”

“You have nice fingers…”

“Were you watching my hands when I was on stage?”

Her voice is soft and feathery, a quiet little confession. “Yes. I like the way you play.”

“What did you like about it?” I curl my hand tighter around her head. I swear, heat is radiating off her body, and it’s so damn enticing. “Did it make you think of anything?”

She nibbles on the corner of her lips. “Made me thing about how you might play…me.”

A groan works its way up my chest. She is an alluring mix of daring lioness and clumsy puppy. I yank her flush to me, bringing her mouth mere inches away from mine. “I’d like to play your body like a guitar. I’d like to make you sing, make you cry out in pleasure.” I run both hands through her soft hair, tugging her head back.

She gasps, and that’s my cue to lick a path up her neck, where I nibble on her jaw till she’s squirming against me. “Did you think about how I might kiss you when you watched me play?”

A sexy little sigh seems to escape her lips, followed by a yes.

“I noticed you the other week. At your booth, doing your quiz. Couldn’t stop looking at you. You were so sexy and adorable, and now you’re so damn close to me all I want is to turn you on.”

She parts her lips, and there’s no more need to tell her what I want to do. It’s time to show her.

 


 

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In October she’ll release HARD WOOD, a sexy, standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter!laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads

 

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Jilted Brides Series 1-3 by Cheryl Holt-Reviews and Giveaway

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Jilted Brides Series 1-3 by Cheryl Holt-Reviews and Giveaway

The JILTED BRIDE series
by Cheryl Holt
Release Date: September 20, 2018
Genre: adult, historical romance

JILTED BY A CAD

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Josephine Bates only ever wanted to marry and have a home of her own.  At age eighteen, when a handsome suitor swept her off her feet, she believed all her dreams were about to come true.   But he was actually a cad who stole her dowry and jilted her at the altar. Since then, she’s been wary of men and their motives.  She’s accepted the notion that she’ll never escape her dreary, quiet existence, and she’ll most likely live out her days as a spinster…

Peyton Prescott is a ship’s captain in the Royal Navy.  He’s a man of action and adventure, and his years have been filled with danger and excitement.  But his brother has died, so he’s inherited a title and earldom he never sought or wanted. He’s afraid his new position will force him to abandon the thrilling life he loves, and he’s loafing in England, feeling landlocked and desperate to return to the sea.  He’d give anything for a diversion, and when pretty, lonely Josephine crosses his path, he’s fascinated and can’t resist…

But Peyton isn’t looking for a bride, and Josephine could never be interested in a handsome, dashing scoundrel.  Yet as friendship blossoms and passion flares, can love be far behind? 

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: The first book in a new series always has a hard job, if it’s not good enough do you carry on reading the series?

It’s the usual dashing cad and scoundrel falling for the dowdy and let down spinster story, and reading the back I really wasn’t too convinced …..

But the writing is very well done. It’s very descriptive and well thought out. And can be easily read in an afternoon.

Our “spinster of the Parish” Josephine (or Jo to family and friends ) was jilted at the altar, so wants no part in “love” she wants to live a quiet life, but secretly longing for a little adventure and that all elusive “love” she lives with her older half sister, who likes to constantly remind her of her silly mistake.

Our “dashing scoundrel” Peyton is not ready to settle down, he wants to continue his adventures …..
But when his poor brother dies, Peyton has to step into the role of Earl, and he can’t think of a worse fate, he wants to be back on his ship and sail away to find adventure.

So ….. the two characters meet, Josephine is extremely wary, and Peyton just wants to have a little fun.
But the two strike up a friendship, and then the chemistry starts to work its magic.

Will Peyton be cured of his need to leave for new adventures? And will Josephine ever trust a cad and scoundrel with her heart ?

Julie ?

___________

JILTED BY A SCOUNDREL

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CHERYL HOLT continues to delight readers with the thrilling, dramatic second novel in her Jilted Brides trilogy…

Winifred Watson grew up as the only daughter of a decorated war hero. When he died suddenly, she was shocked to learn that he was bankrupt and she lost everything to pay his final debts.  She’d hoped to wed her fiancé—a steady, handsome man who would have guided her through the tumult of her father’s death.  But when her penury was revealed, her fickle betrothed jilted her at the altar. His treacherous conduct pitched her into a downward spiral that she can’t seem to halt…

John Dunn escaped his dreary home by joining the army when he was sixteen.  He loved his years as a soldier and planned to dedicate the remainder of his life to King and country.  But he was swept into a scandal and drummed out of the service. He’s returned to his family’s isolated, dreary castle on the Cornwall coast, but it’s the one spot on the globe he vowed to never visit again.  He’s bitter, raging, and eager for a diversion from his pathetic situation…

When Winifred arrives, demanding shelter and assistance, John isn’t inclined to provide any help.  But she’s pretty, intriguing, and in desperate need of a knight in shining armor. How can he resist?

•••••••••••••

REVIEW:So …..

after reading book one in the series I delved into book two ….

The family is loosely connected to the Earl of Benton ( Peyton’s brother) he fathered (another) two children, (they have the same father, but different mothers) and when Winifred (or Winnie as the children like to call her) comes storming in to demand that he not only provide a home for the child, his sister had with the Earl of Benton, she also asks that he take in the child’s half brother and herself (she claims that she is the child’s legal guardian, but when all in fact she is their governess) and when he refuses, Winifred is at a loss at what to do next, their home gone, her job no longer needed, John was their last hope ….

John isn’t happy that he has to come home, he loved the army after joining it at a very young age, he gave him the “family feeling” he didn’t get at home. But after a scandal drums him out of his “beloved” army, John wearily makes his way home, to become the Lord of Dunworthy (an honorary title, not an actual title)

Coming face to face with Winifred annnoys him no end ….. how dare she claim his sister had a child out of wedlock, and to a married man at that !!! And that she wants a home for the children and the rest of the family !!! She has a nerve, but she was a feisty young thing.
But he really can’t afford the young lady and two children to wander around the castle and village …. John has a secret, he’s had to start smuggling to cover the debts his family has left him with.

But he comes to his senses and offers Winnie and the two children a room for the night, but just for tonight, and as soon as the tide is low, he’s getting them off his island.

But circumstances change, and John and Winnie become allies (there are people in the castle that want Winnie gone, and John to be married to the widow of his late brother) their bickering and bantering had me chuckling at times.

So ….. do John and Winnie have a happy ending ? Or will she find out about his smuggling ? And will the other forces come into play and keep them apart ?

Julie ?

_________

JILTED BY A ROGUE

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CHERYL HOLT delivers the delightful, emotional, and stunning conclusion to her Jilted Brides trilogy…

Amelia Boyle has always viewed herself as an extremely modest and moral woman. But after suffering a string of personal catastrophes, she went a bit wild and made several reckless decisions. Her spurt of excess culminated in her becoming engaged to a man she barely knew. When he promptly jilted her at the altar, the cruel act yanked her to her senses. She’s been forced to admit she has frivolous tendencies, and she vows to never let them flare again.

James Hastings loves his life in the army, and he doesn’t plan to ever retire. He’s a confirmed bachelor who spends his days around active, tough men who are proud to serve King and country. He’s not interested in marriage or settling down, and he has no time for women and no patience for flirtation.

But when Amelia stumbles into his dull, boring world, she turns it upside down, and it gradually dawns on him that he might not be able to live without her. Amelia has sworn off romance though and has other plans that don’t include binding herself to a handsome, dashing soldier. Can James convince her that he might be precisely who and what she needs to be happy?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: Amelia is planning a trip to Gibraltar, well planning isn’t exactly the word. Amelia fell for a smooth talking con man ….
And now she needs to get away, and answering a call to become a ladies travel companion seems like an ideal opportunity to escape London and all the gossip her downfall will bring.

We meet Amelia in book one (Jilted by a Cad) and I had hoped she would get a book.

Her rescuer comes in the form of James Hastings (Lord Denby)
He’s a sailor and the brother to the lady she travelled with.
But a rescuer isn’t how she first sees him, he’s half naked and riding on the back of a horse.

He is so rude, and vain, and conceited, he flirts like mad with Amelia, but soon stops when he finds out Amelia travelled with his sister (she told Amelia that James had written to her and told he she was to come to Gibraltar, when in fact, he hadn’t had spoken to his sister in years) so storming to their hotel, he is absolutely fuming.

James doesn’t want to be Lord Denby, he told his family that he didn’t want the title. But as his brother passed away, the title is rightfully his. And his sister told him that he had to come home and look after her. He likes his life in Gibraltar and has no inclination to go home.

The banter and bickering was very much in the same vein as the other two books.
And all the books connect (there is a man that cons all the women out of money and innocence)

They were fun and very light hearted. The romance felt a little stilted.
So if you like your historical romance, then give these books a go.

They don’t really need to be read in order, but I did and felt they read better.

Reviews by Julie  ?

Copies supplied for review

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Cheryl Holt is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon “Top 100” bestselling author of fifty novels. 

She’s also a lawyer and mom, and at age 40, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She’d hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn’t sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance, where she was stunned to discover that she has an incredible knack for writing some of the world’s greatest love stories.

She is considered to be one of the masters of the romance genre, and her emotional, dramatic, and riveting stories of passion and illicit love have captivated fans around the world. She has won or been nominated for many national awards. For many years, she was hailed as “The Queen of Erotic Romance”, and she’s also revered as “The International Queen of Villains.” She is particularly proud to have been named “Best Storyteller of the Year” by the trade magazine Romantic Times BOOK Reviews.

Cheryl lives and writes in Hollywood, California. www.cherylholt.com.

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Dr. Strange Beard by Penny Reid-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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DR. STRANGE BEARD (Winston Brothers #5) by Penny Reid-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

DR. STRANGE BEARD
Winston Brothers #5
by Penny Reid
Release Date: July 30, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 30, 2018

Hunches, horse races, and heartbreak

Ten years after Simone Payton broke his heart, all Roscoe Winston wants is a doughnut. He’d also like to forget her entirely, but that’s never going to happen. Roscoe remembers everything—every look, every word, every single unrequited second—and the last thing he needs is another memory of Simone.

Unfortunately, after one chance encounter, Simone keeps popping up everywhere he happens to be . . .

Ten years after Roscoe Winston dropped out of her life, all Simone Payton wants is to exploit him. She’d also like some answers from her former best friend about why he ghosted her, but if she never gets those answers, that’s a-okay. Simone let go of the past a long time ago. Seriously, she has. She totally, totally has. She is definitely not still thinking about Roscoe. Nope. She’s more than happy to forget he exists.

But first, she needs just one teeny-tiny favor . .

••••••••••

REVIEW: DR. STRANGE BEARD is the fifth full-length instalment in Penny Reid’s contemporary, adult WINSTON BROTHERS romance series focusing on the Winston siblings. This is twenty-six year olds, FBI agent Simone Payton, and veterinarian Roscoe Winston’s story line. DR. STRANGE BEARD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Roscoe and Simone) DR. STRANGE BEARD follows the second chance relationship between twenty-six year olds, childhood friends and sweethearts, FBI agent Simone Payton, and veterinarian Roscoe Winston. Ten years earlier, at sixteen years old, after professing his love to the girl that he loved, the youngest Winston sibling Roscoe walked away without explanation leaving a grieving Simone Payton to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Fast forward to present day wherein Simone, now an undercover FBI agent, returns to her hometown of Green Valley, Tennessee as part of a sting operation to take down the local MC believed to be involved in a string of murders and missing men. Enter veterinarian Roscoe Winston, the man who destroyed her heart, and the man with whom she is still in love. What ensues is the rekindling romance between Roscoe and Simone, and the potential fall-out as the sting operation comes to a head placing our story line couple in the direct line of fire.

For close to five years, Roscoe Winston has avoided Payton’s bakery owned and operated by Simone’s mother but a chance encounter found Roscoe face to face with his past when he and his father squared off the bakery parking lot, as Simone played interference between the cantankerous duo. Still reeling from the events ten years earlier, Winston is constantly on the run to avoid a confrontation with the woman he loves.

Throughout the story Penny Reid offers up bits of information from the previous story lines including the dysfunctional Winston family dynamics, as well as the on-going history of the local MCs. The Winston siblings are a tight knit group held together by their tormented pasts including their futile relationship with the man they called dad.

The relationship between Simone and Roscoe is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between two people torn apart by misunderstanding and miscommunication, and the betrayal of heart break and pain. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the Winston siblings are present and accounted for including the long suffering eldest brother Billy Winston whose own personal life is spiralling out of control. We are re-introduced to Simone’s parents Daisy and Trevor Payton, and her siblings Dani and Poe. The requisite evil has many faces including Roscoe’s father Darrell Winston, and MC member Razor Dennings.

DR. STRANGE BEARD is a well-written, infinitely detailed, and intelligent story line focusing on family, friendships, second chances, murder, betrayal and race. The premise is energetic and animated; the characters are colorful and spirited; the romance is dramatic and edgy. DR. STRANGE BEARD is a suspenseful, impassioned and palpable tale about the destructive nature of secrets, lies, power and greed.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

“Why are you here?”
Simone twisted toward me, resting the side of her head against the back window of the truck’s cab. “Are you asking me why am I in Green Valley? Or are you asking me why I’m here, now, in Hawk’s Field? Because we already covered the latter and, honestly, I don’t want to discuss the former.”
I lifted an eyebrow at her slippery response. “No. We did not cover the latter.”
It seemed to me like she didn’t wish to discuss anything of substance except how much she hated the idea of falling in love.
“Yes, we did cover it.” Her eyes were on my raised eyebrow and her lips pressed together, like she was combating a grin.
“No. We didn’t. I asked, ‘What are you doing out here, Simone?’ And you said—” I paused here to lift my voice and imitate hers, Yankee accent and all, “‘Oh, well, you know. Shelly and Beau mentioned that you like to camp one night a week.’”
“Roscoe.” She laughed, hitting me lightly on the shoulder with the back of her hand. “I do not sound like that.”
I caught her wrist so she couldn’t hit me again, she was a double hitter. “So then I asked, ‘You were looking for me?’ And you said, ‘Yes.’ And then you asked a hundred questions in order to change the subject—”
“I was not trying to change the subject,” she hollered.
The uneasiness and charged atmosphere from moments prior had dissipated, and I breathed in a full breath, rolling my eyes with a great deal of exaggeration. “As I was saying, in order to change the subject and distract me from the fact that you never answered my original question.”
“I’m sorry”—she put on a mask of confusion, the effect mostly ruined by the cute and mischievous smile she was attempting to iron from her features— “what was the original question?”
I wasn’t going to ask again, but I didn’t need to. As she’d alluded earlier, there were other ways to get answers out of her, tried and true methods.
My eyes dropped to her neck. A tick of meaningful silence passed, during which I questioned myself and the wisdom of what I was doing—teasing her, threatening to tickle her, which would necessitate putting my hands on her, disregarding the levelheaded precautions I’d put in place to maintain the essential barrier between us in order to avoid making new memories I couldn’t control—but I actively decided to ignore wisdom and good sense.
Just for a minute.
Just for a moment.
Just to be with her again, like this.
Simone gasped, breaking the silence and yanking her hand away.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
I grinned, my eyes still on her neck, where she was most ticklish.
She covered each side of her throat with her hands, a preemptive defense strategy, but she was giggling.
Lifting my eyebrows, I tilted my head to the side and braced my hands on either side of me, preparing to launch myself if necessary. “Answer the question.”
Now she was laughing again, watching me, as though waiting to see if I did dare.
I pushed myself up and she squealed, her hands bracing against my chest. I easily captured her wrists with one hand, wrapped my other arm around her torso, and brought her back down on the bed. Straddling her thighs and sitting on her knees, I lifted her arms over her head while she focused her defensive efforts on tucking her chin to her chest.
Between gasping laughter, she said, “I should have worn a turtleneck.”
“Poor planning, princess.” I laughed, trying to get my fingers under her chin, and had to work to keep my seat because she was now bucking her hips and trying to bend her knees, proving herself to be stronger than I’d assumed.
No matter. Pulling her arms to the right, I maneuvered her on her side and found the sweet skin at the back of her neck.
Simone bucked again, but this time it was a reflexive response, because I’d found her spot. She shrieked as I tickled her.
“Oh my God, I can’t breathe.”
I stopped. “Answer the question.”
She panted and gasped, shaking her head, and giving me a big, teasing grin. “Never!”
Squinting in suspicion, I studied her twisted form. She wasn’t struggling, her wrists in my hands were slack, her body was both relaxed and clearly bracing for another attack, like she anticipated it, like she wanted it, like she was having a good time and wanted it to last.
Despite the chill, I was getting hot under the collar. My eyes moved over her prone form, traveling from her beaming smile to her neck, the swell of her breasts, the indent of her waist, the generous curve of her backside. The urge to do something—to her, with her, inside her—seized my lungs and nerves and muscles, a blazing flare of carnal want shot down my spine.
Yeah, I’d definitely lost control of this new memory.
Breathing out at the dizzying instinct, I moved completely off her body. I released her wrists—releasing her—as I averted my eyes and backed away to gather my wits. She sat up, reaching for me. I twisted away. The bed of the truck was too crowded, so I turned to jump down. Before I could, she caught me by the arm.
“Hey.” Her grip was tight and she tugged. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, tossing my thumb over my shoulder. “Just remembered something.”
“Roscoe—”
Pulling my arm from her fingers, I hopped over the edge of the truck and walked toward the tent. I reached the first post, I walked beyond it, my direction aimless.
I suspected it wasn’t like this for most folks, but this sporadically cruel and often inconvenient time travel to my past was all I knew. Therefore, I dealt with it the only way I knew how.
I retreated. 


 

Penny Reid is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Please feel free to drop her a line. She’d be happy to hijack your thoughts! You can find her on her blog or email her: pennreid at gmail dot com

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A Nanny For The Reclusive Billionaire by Regina Kyle – a Review

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A Nanny For The Reclusive Billionaire by Regina Kyle – a Review

 

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Description:
Mallory Worthington has had enough of being treated like a fragile flower. She needs to get out of Dodge, as far and fast as possible. Somewhere no one knows about her childhood battle with cancer. A talented chef working at her family’s flagship hotel, she leaps at the first job opportunity that meets her criteria – personal chef and nanny for a reclusive and insanely hot billionaire in the Florida Keys. She doesn’t know a lot about the nanny part, but how hard can it be?

Billionaire Rhys Dalton cut himself off from the world after his wife was killed. Living on this remote island was the only way he could ensure the safety of his son. Finding someone willing to help him take care of his child, well that’s been a challenge right up until Mallory knocks on his office door. She makes him think and feel things he hasn’t in years. He’s smart, so he fires her on the spot.

But she’s not going anywhere, no matter how hard he might try to get rid of her… 

 

 

Review:

A Nanny for the Reclusive Billionaire is a romance story by author Regina Kyle.

I enjoyed the story and it was a relatively quick read. I find most romances to be predictable, which doesn’t bother me if they are well written or told. This one was told quite well.

Here’s the basic set up. Mallory Worthington is a young woman who spent much of her childhood fighting deadly cancer. It left many scars on her heart, not physical ones but the experience of spending time with other children who didn’t survive takes a toll. Her parents are way over protective and kept her pretty much prisoner into adulthood. She attended and graduated from a wonderful culinary school. Her parents expected her to work for their luxury hotel, so they could keep an eye on her. Needing to get away from home and experience life and freedom, she interviewed and applied for a nanny job far away from New York.

Rhys Dalton is a tech billionaire who was widowed almost ten years ago and left to raise his son alone, except for household staff. Rhys’ wife was slain in a drive by shooting in New York. He carries a lot of guilt, because she wanted to move to their Florida island and he was too busy with business at the time. Afterward, he took his son and became a recluse to keep such a thing from happening to his son. A bit much but given his wealth and ability to work from anywhere…understandable.

The writing is well done and very descriptive. The characters are developed and loveable. My favorite is the son, Oliver “Ollie”. He’s imaginative and very smart for a young child. He stole my heart in a New York second.

The attraction between the two main characters is immediate and is the cause of the original issue. Rhys doesn’t want to feel the attraction and thinks he’s dishonoring his wife, so he immediately fires Mallory upon seeing her. He apologizes but doesn’t elaborate on his reasons to her. His driver/assistant is Collins and he persuades Rhys to keep her there until they can replace her…a couple of weeks.

Okay. That’s the set up and the rest of this lovely story you must read for yourself. They say the devil is in the details and the details are very interesting. I encourage you to grab a copy and see for yourself!

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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