Monthly Archives: June 2020

A DATE FOR THE HUNT by Heidi McLaughlin and LP Dover-Review Tour

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A DATE FOR THE HUNT (Dating Series) by Heidi McLaughlin and LP Dover-Review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date June 30, 2020

Allison Wood is single and not looking to mingle. Unfortunately, her sister, Erin, doesn’t take no for an answer. As the producer of a new reality TV show, that turns a traditional Easter egg hunt into a dating show, Erin believes her sister would be a perfect contestant and secures her a spot. 

Instead of cozying up at home and biting the ears off a chocolate bunny, Allison finds herself in Aruba hiding an egg while America watches. She could have been paired up with a slew of other guys. But who does fate match her with? Sexy fireman Hudson Bryant, who happens to be the same guy that made Allison’s high school years miserable. 

Go on a dating show, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. 

When viewers learn of their history, the pair instantly become a fan favorite. Everyone is eager to see how their story will unfold. For the good of the show, Allison agrees to play nice with the former jock… for now. 

Can Hudson make amends for the past and crack through Allison’s hard candy shell to her cream-filled center? Or will her time with him leave a bitter, black jelly bean taste in Allison’s mouth?

••••••••

REVIEW: A DATE FOR THE HUNT is the latest novella in the contemporary, adult, romance DATING SERIES co-authored by Heidi McLaughlin and LP Dover. This is fire fighter Hudson Bryant, and pharmacist Allison Wood’s story line. A DATE FOR THE HUNT is a complete stand alone. You do not have to have read any of the previous instalments in the series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Allison and Hudson ) A DATE FOR THE HUNT focuses on an Easter themed reality show wherein the competitors are flown to Aruba where they will hunt for an egg, and their potential future. Allison Wood’s sister is one of the show’s producers and single Allison is the perfect foil for her sister’s plans but Allison never expected to come face to face with her high school bully, a man who no longer remembers what happened or why. Enter fire fighter Hudson Bryant. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Hudson and Allison, and the potential fall out when their time together comes to an end.

A DATE FOR THE HUNT is a story of forgiveness and revelations; acceptance and understanding; romance and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is real and romantic-this is my favorite story line so far; the characters are flirty and fun; the romance is fated and passionate. A DATE FOR THE HUNT is the perfect read for a lazy sunny afternoon.

Previous Reviews

A Date for Midnight
A Date with an Admirer
A Date for Good Luck

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Heidi McLaughlin: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Newsletter /Instagram /Pinterest

Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she isn’t writing one of the many stories planned for release, you’ll find her sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, is currently in production for a major motion picture.

••••••••

LP Dover: Website/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Google+ / Amazon / Goodreads / Newsletter

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

She loves to write, but she also loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes and white water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.

Dover has written countless novels, including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, the Society X series, the Circle of Justice series, and her standalone novel Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense, but if she got to choose a setting in which to live, it would be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency and Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management for dramatic rights.

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The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton – a Review

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The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton – a Review

 

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Description:
Mason “Mace” Reid lives on the outskirts of Chicago and specializes in human remains detection. He trains dogs to hunt for the dead. Reid’s coming off a taxing year—mourning the death of a beloved springer spaniel as well as the dissolution of his marriage. He adopts a rescue dog with a mysterious past—a golden retriever named Vira. And when Reid begins training Vira as a cadaver dog, he comes to realize just how special the newest addition to his family truly is…

Suddenly, Reid and his prize pupil find themselves hurled into a taxing murder case, which will push them to their very limits. Paired with determined Chicago Police Officer Kippy Gimm, Mace must put all his trust in Vira’s abilities to thwart a serial killer who has now set his sights on Mace himself.

 

 

Review:

The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton is the first book in his new Mace Reid K-9 Mystery series.  The story starts off with the police being called into an abuse case, and the abuser was unconscious from carbon monoxide fumes.  The detective, Kippy Grimm, notices a poor dog laying down almost dead, and she manages to help rescue the dog.  Our hero, Mason (mace) Reid is called in to possibly acquire and train the golden retriever, as Mace trains dogs for drugs, missing persons, explosives and mainly as a cadaver dog (dead bodies-human remains). 

Mace works well with the police in Lansing and Chicago, and has a number of dogs. He names the golden retriever puppy, Vira (short of Elvira), and has three other dogs (Sue, Maggie, Delta).  Kippy visits Mace to inquire about Vira, whom she hoped to adopt, but sees how happy the dog is, and a friendship bond develops between Mace and Kippy.  Chicago police asks for his help in finding a serial killer targeting women, and Kippy becomes involved in the case with her partner, Wabs.  She enlists the aid of Mace, and when investigating a suspect, both Mace and Kippy come across the missing girl and both are injured in the process, but our young Vira saves them and proves to be such a wonderful extraordinary dog, with abilities way more then expected.

Though the case seems closed, Mace will discover that someone is trying to kill him, and all clues point to someone else involved in the serial murder case.  There is a 3rd POV of the culprit, which I felt could have been minimalized, as this killer had no redeeming qualities, though as we come close to the end, it was a surprise. It is this murderer who ups the ante, as the race is on to find him, before he kills again.

What follows is a wonderful exciting mystery, non-stop action, edge of your seat suspense, with a few twists along the way.  To tell too much more would be spoilers, and this is the kind of book you need to read to enjoy.  I will say I loved the scenes with the dogs, as they were fun and even humorous.  I also liked Kippy and I hope in the upcoming books of this series, they act on a possible romance.  Mace was a wonderful hero, and I really liked him.  But the star of this book was Vira, who not only was smart and sweet, but she was an extraordinary and amazing dog, who was loyal to Mace and Kippy, but also one step ahead of the team; especially with her senses and knowing up front who the bad people are, saving their lives in the process. I cannot wait to read more about our wonderful Vira.

The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton was a great start to this new series, as the story was exciting, suspenseful, intriguing and very well written.  If you enjoy murder mystery thrillers, with great characters and wonderful specialized dogs, you need to read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Pawn (The Pawn Duet #2) by T.M. Frazier-Review & Excerpt tour

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Pawn (The Pawn Duet #2) by T.M. Frazier-Review & Excerpt tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 28, 2020

Born into hell. Baptism by betrayal.

His life revolves around violence. My life is on the line.

I’m trapped both physically and emotionally. A pawn in a game I didn’t know I was playing.

Until I met him.

Pike acts without emotion, but I know he feels something for me. I see it in his eyes when he looks at me. I feel it when he’s close.

I know it’s real because I feel it too.

Lust. Desire. It complicates everything.

I’m part of Pike’s plan for revenge.

What he doesn’t know is that he’s part of mine.

•••••••••

REVIEW: PAWN is the second instalment in TM Frazier’s contemporary adult THE PAWN dark, romance duet focusing on Pike and Mickey. THE PAWN DUET is a spin-off from the authors KING series. PAWN should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of book one PIKE.

SOME BACKGROUND: Four years earlier Mickey lost everything , and in an effort to protect our story line hero, Mickey continues to focus on revenge, sacrificing her freedom to destroy from within.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Mickey and Pike) PAWN follows Mickey Lovejoy as she continues to search for the truth. Having lost her family to an accident that was anything but, Mickey is desperate for answers including the destruction of the Fourth Reich, a racist group her father had started and once controlled. With Pike no longer a threat to her plans, having pushed our hero out of her life, Mickey struggles to make sense of what is real when ghosts from the past continue to pull her in the other direction. As Pike battles King, Preppy and Nine for what to do about the woman he loves, Mickey must face the inevitable when a promise made years before comes to fruition forcing Mickey to trust a man she is unable to control.

PAWN is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and revenge; of mental illness, discrimination, racism and hate. Not all is well in our heroine’s life as she tries to make sense of the world around her including the loss of her family, the trust of a stranger, and the love of a man who is willing to kill to protect the only family he knows. The premise is dark and gritty; the romance is dramatic and intense; the characters are angry, broken, and struggling. TM Frazier pulls the reader into a timely and tragic look at hatred, racism, betrayal and revenge, and the resulting affects it has on our story line heroine.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one PIKE

Copy Supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

NOTE:The excerpt is intended for mature readers due to strong language and content.

 

Pike bends me over the sink. I grip the edge to prevent falling face-first against the porcelain. I glance up at him through the mirror to where he’s standing behind me, appraising my body with fierce heat in his fiery eyes. He molds his body against mine. I close my eyes at the sensation I’ve been dreaming about feeling since the last time I saw him. I relish in his scent, his heat.
“Open your eyes, Mic,” he orders. “I want you to see this. To see us.”
My only response is a whimper. I have no words.
Only need.
As ordered, I open my eyes.
Pike grazes the back of my neck with his lips. “I want to see your reaction in the mirror as you take my cock. I want you to see mine as I give it to you. I’m not just going to fuck you. This is a message. One I want you to hear loud and fucking clear so that there will be no more misunderstandings between us.” He reaches between my legs under my skirt, cupping my pussy over my damp panties.
I push back against him with a loud groan. Pike holds me in place, pushing my panties down my legs before resuming his touch, this time against bare and soaking wet flesh.
He groans when he feels what’s waiting for him. “This belongs to me.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder, closing a hand over my throat, biting at my earlobe. His next words are both a statement and a warning, delivered while the shaft of his thick cock presses against the cleft of my ass.
“You. Belong. To. Me.” 


 

T.M. (Tracey Marie) Frazier never dreamed that a single person would ever read a word she wrote when she published her first book. Now, she is a five-time USA Today bestselling author and her books have been translated into numerous languages and published all around the world.  

T.M. enjoys writing what she calls sexy‘wrongside of the tracks romance’ with morally corrupt anti-heroes and ballsy heroines.  

Her books have been described as raw, dark and gritty. Basically, what that means, is while some authors are great at describing a flower as it blooms, T.M. is better at describing it in the final stages of decay.

She loves meeting her readers, but if you see her at an event please don’t pinch her because she’s not ready to wake up from this amazing dream.  

Connect with T.M. Frazier

Facebook: http://bit.ly/TMFRAZIERBOOKS

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Join Frazierland:http://bit.ly/frazierland

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Twitter: @TM_Frazier

Stay up to date with T.M. by signing up for her mailing list: http://bit.ly/TMFrazier

Website: http://www.tmfrazierbooks.com

 For Text Alerts: TEXT “TMFRAZIER” TO 77948

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Code Name: Ghost by Sawyer Bennett-Review Tour

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Code Name: Ghost (Jameson Force Security #5) by Sawyer Bennett-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 30, 2020

I knew the risks of this job when I signed on with Jameson Force Security. Knew my time as a marine would prepare me for the danger I would face. But no amount of training could have ever prepared me for the helplessness of watching my teammates die, the agonizing mental and physical pain of torture, or the despair of captivity.

Returning home to Pittsburgh following a mission gone wrong, I am riddled with guilt and haunted by nightmares. I spend my days trying to regain the parts of myself I lost in that desert, the pieces that made me the Malik Fournier I once was. While the physical effects of my torture are fading, the emotional ones are proving much more stubborn and I find solace from the last person I should ever seek such comfort.

Anna Tate lost even more than I did in that mission. Now a widow and a single mom to the daughter she gave birth to shortly after her husband’s death, Anna offers me comfort I don’t deserve. As my feelings for Anna grow, I worry that once she learns the truth about what happened, she’ll turn her back on me.

I pull her to me just as tightly as I push her away. Hoping this forbidden love will save me from the ghost I’ve become.

•••••••••••

REVIEW:CODE NAME: GHOST is the fifth instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult JAMESON FORCE SECURITY romantics suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Jameson Force Security. This is former US Marine Malik Fournier, and PA Anna Tate’s storyline. CODE NAME: GHOST can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Malik’s story has been building for several instalments. There is a slight cross-over with the author’s Cold Fury Hockey series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Anna and Malik) CODE NAME: GHOST follows in the wake of Malik Fournier’s imprisonment and torture in the Middle East in the aftermath of a mission that went all to h*ll. Five months would pass before Malik is rescued and our hero struggles to move on with his life. Riddled with survivor’s guilt, Malik begins to fall for his late friend’s wife, a woman who lost her husband just months before giving birth. Blaming himself for the death of his friends and Anna’s husband, Malik battles between head and heart when Anna makes it known she would like to take their friendship and relationship to the next level. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Anna and Malik, and the potential fall-out as Anna begins to struggle with the reality of Malik’s job.

Malik Fournier was captured and tortured for close to five months, and never expected to survive. His rescue and return home came with the grief and remorse of losing his friends, and the guilt that he takes upon himself. Weeks of counseling and talks with family and friends slowly begins to pull Malik out of his own mind, and into a world where the woman he loves is willing and waiting. Anna Tate lost her husband the day Malik went missing but Anna never once suspected that Malik was to blame for her loss. A single mother, working for Jameson Force Security, Anna is up close and personal with the men and women who have traversed a world of evil and war.

The relationship between Anna and Malik begins as friends and co-workers to lovers but Malik continues to struggle with survivor’s remorse as well as the unwritten ‘bro-code’ of dating his late friend’s available wife. Anna is the first to make a move on our story line hero, and in this Malik continues to battle between head and heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense without the use of over the stop, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including Jameson Force security owner Kynan McGrath, psychiatrist Corinne Ellery, security specialists Tank Richardson, Merritt Gables, and Cage Murdock, as well as Malik’s siblings Max, Lucas, Simone and her husband Van (Cold Fury Hockey), and their parents Marilyn and Laurence Fournier Cage and Jaime’s story line is next in Code Name: Rook.

CODE NAME: GHOST is a story of loss and love; forgiveness and acceptance; second chances, relationships and falling in love. The premise is emotional and haunting; the characters are inspiring and spirited; the romance is passionate and dramatic. CODE NAME: GHOST is an encouraging and inspiring look at survival and grief.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Wicked Force
CODE NAME: GENESIS
CODE NAME: SENTINEL
Code Name: Heist
Code Name: Hacker

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

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

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Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Description:
These adorable service puppies
are matchmakers in the making…

Dawn Vasquez never takes life too seriously. But when she rescues a golden retriever named Gigi, Dawn begins to imagine what it’d be like to settle down and let someone rely on her for a change. Unfortunately, Adam Dearborn–a handsome, hopelessly buttoned-up cattle rancher in need of a guide dog–has also fallen in love with the little ball of fluff and stubbornly insists that no other animal will do.

Adam isn’t sure what drives him to fight to keep Gigi for himself, but he suspects it has something to do with his growing–and unfortunate–attachment to Dawn. Her whirlwind spirit and sunny disposition might make her a delight to be around, but they also make her unsuited for the difficult life of a rancher. He should be able to put her out of his head. But what’s a love-struck cowboy to do when what he wants and what he needs have never seemed so far apart? And can he allow himself to take a chance on everything Dawn has to offer: puppy kisses, puppy love…and her.

Forever Home Series:
Puppy Love (Book 1)
Puppy Christmas (Book 2)
Puppy Kisses (Book 3)

 

 

Review:

Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore is the 3rd book in her fun enjoyable Forever Home series.  Dawn Vasquez, our heroine, is the middle sister, of the three sisters who run Puppy Promise, a service puppy training school.  The story begins with Dawn, and her friend, Zeke, rescuing an abused, chained, sickly, starving puppy golden retriever, and escaping from the terrible dog owner.  The local sheriff stops them for speeding, and they falsely explain they are bringing the puppy to Zeke’s brother, Adam.

Adam Dearborn, our hero, runs the Dearborn ranch with Zeke and his sister, Phoebe.  When the sheriff follows through about the puppy, Adam does go along with the ruse, and has the local veterinarian visit to check on the poor puppy.  But Adam decides to keep the puppy, much to Dawn’s chagrin (she was planning to nurse the puppy back to health and be her pet), but Adam loves to push Dawn’s buttons and keeps Gigi, even if the puppy is not meant to be a service dog.

Adam and Dawn have been attracted to one another, but neither looks at this being a permanent relationship, especially as they are night and day opposites.  Adam is serious, organized and totally dedicated to his ranch and his family.  Dawn is the wildly fun-loving free spirit opposite, always bubbly and pushing herself into everyone’s lives.  Dawn will bring ‘Uncle’ a great Dane to the ranch to prove to Adam that this is the dog that is trained to help him, but Adam, realizing that the great dane was perfect for him, he still refused to give up Gigi.  I really did enjoy the antics between Dawn and Adam, though early on it was a bit frustrating; as Adam felt that Dawn was not meant to a dull life on a ranch, and did his best to try and stay clear from Dawn, even if he was beginning to fall hard for her.

Puppy Kisses was another sweet, fun heartwarming story, with a great couple, fantastic secondary characters, such as Lila, Sophie, Zeke, Phoebe, Bea, Marcia.  But most of all, I absolutely adored Gigi, who as she recovered from her ordeal, fell in love with both Adam and Dawn, not to mention Uncle.  Those moments with the dogs was so much fun, and smiles.

Puppy Kisses was so very well written by Lucy Gilmore. The three sisters were wonderful heroines, and I loved how close they were to each other.  If you love puppies, and a sweet romance, you need to be reading this series.  I for one enjoyed all three of the books in this series. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Mentioning her lips had to have been some kind of tactic. Just the word—lips—had him remembering their shape and size, the way the bottom one was so much plumper than the top, how good they felt when pressed against his bare skin. She always warned him to scrub hard before he met up with any other women, since she left a trail of lipstick all over his body.
He wasn’t seeing any other women, but there was no way he was telling her that. She already had him under her spell. He didn’t need to be under her power as well.
“Thank you for the offer,” he said tightly. “But I already like—”
“—the one you can’t have,” Dawn finished for him. She was definitely closer now, the unmistakable nonscent of her mixing with the hay and dirt to whirl his senses. “That seems to be a sort of thing with you, doesn’t it?”
He ran his hands through his hair, since it seemed suddenly important that he do something with them. It was also important to do something with this situation. If he let her continue like this, unchecked and uninhibited, there was good chance neither one of them was getting any work done today.
“As I recall, I’ve had you plenty of times already,” he said, a challenge in his voice. “In fact, I bet I could have you right here and now.”
Adam didn’t know if he was the one who’d drawn closer to her or if she’d stepped up to him, but there was no longer anything between them. Not a puppy, not air, definitely not common sense. The jut of her breasts pressed softly against his chest, the toes of her shoes touching the tips of his work boots.
His hands suddenly decided they had minds of their own. Moving forward to clasp her around the waist, they touched silky fabric and heat and a patch of skin where her shirt didn’t quite reach her waistband. That alone should have been enough to stop him—what kind of a person wore a tiny, silken shirt to a working ranch?—but of course he didn’t. That touch of skin set off something inexplicable inside him.
It always did. That was the problem. Words could be ignored and the sound of her laughter pressed deep down inside him, but one graze of his fingertips on her body and he was lost.
“I’ve always wanted to have sex on a pile of hay,” Dawn said, calling his bluff. She arched into his touch, allowing his hand to slide up her back. He encountered nothing but soft skin and the gentle curve of her spine, both of which promised more of the same, should he give in and really cop a feel. Which was tempting for a lot of reasons, including the fact that Dawn was stacked in ways that seemed wholly against nature. “Surely there must be one or two of those in the barn we could try?”
“There are.” He brought his lips close to her ear, though he was careful not to press against the gently pounding pulse below it. The moment the kissing started, all other bets were off—including the one that had a Great Dane puppy at their feet and a golden retriever puppy napping under Phoebe’s desk. That was the one thing he knew for sure. Dawn had come out here with the sole intention of luring him into lowering his defenses, in using her incredible body and the promise of what it could do to get her own way. She wanted Methuselah, and she’d stop at nothing to get her.
Well, two could play that way. In fact, he was becoming something of an expert at this particular game.
“We could slip in there right now, and no one would know where we are,” he murmured. Dawn arched her neck to give him better access, but he didn’t kiss, didn’t touch. Only teased. “I could throw you into the biggest stack of hay and rip this tiny scrap of a shirt from your body.”
A slight, guttural sound indicated how much she liked the direction this conversation was going. Typical. With Dawn, the anticipation, the clandestine nature of their meetings, was half the fun.
Who was he kidding? Where that woman was concerned, it was probably all the fun.
“No one will think to look for us for hours,” he added, still in that low, crooning voice. “It’ll just be me and you, our bodies slick with sweat.”
Dawn’s hips pressed against his, her arms coiling around his neck so that her entire body could melt against him. This was how she always struck, coiled and soft and yielding.
So he struck back.
“Well, that and the snakes.”
Instead of pulling back, Dawn only laughed and clasped her hands tighter around his neck. “Good thing I happen to like snakes,” she said. Her mouth brushed lightly against his, fluttering like a pair of butterfly wings. “Like the alligators, they make such nice shoes. Purses too.”
Even though Adam’s body thrummed with anticipation, burning hot in all the places it touched hers, he kept his tone level. “We also get the occasional badger, even though they’re pretty rare in these parts. Rats are almost a certainty.”
“Why, Adam Dearborn, are you trying to sweet-talk me?”
No, dammit. He was trying to do the exact opposite. Why did this woman refuse to act like a normal human being? She should run at the mention of rats, not press her hips against his until he ached.
“I’m just making sure you know what you’re getting into, that’s all,” he said. His voice sounded strained to his own ears. “Things can get pretty nasty out here in the wilderness.”
“That’s funny,” she purred. “So can I.”
***

Excerpted from Puppy Kisses by Lucy Gilmore. © 2020 by Lucy Gilmore.
Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc.
All rights reserved.

 

 

 

Lucy Gilmore is a contemporary romance author with a love of puppies, rainbows, and happily ever afters. She began her reading (and writing) career as an English literature major and ended as a die-hard fan of romance in all forms. When she’s not rolling around with her two Akitas, she can be found hiking, biking, or with her nose buried in a book. Visit her online at http://lucygilmore.com. She lives in the Spokane, WA area.

Author Website: http://lucygilmore.com.

 

 

 


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This Time Tomorrow by Tessa Bailey-Review & Excerpt tour

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This Time Tomorrow (Phenomenal Fate #2) by Tessa Bailey-Review & Excerpt tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 22, 2020

Roksana, heiress to the vampire slayer throne, has performance anxiety.

She’s supposed to kill Elias, but so far she’s only succeeded in maxing out his credit card. Now her failure to stake the brooding vampire has sent her back to Moscow in disgrace to face her mother’s wrath. Expecting punishment by death, she’s given a rare reprieve. She now has three tasks to complete, the last of which is to finally kill Elias. She will not fail this time.

If only the memories of one magical evening—back when Elias was human, would stop holding her back. He claims to have forgotten that night. Why can’t she? Three years ago, Elias was a SWAT team member on a guy’s weekend in Vegas. Playing poker and minding his own business, his life changed forever when a captivating blonde strolled past his table in a light-up bra. He followed Roksana as if compelled, his very bones demanding he do so, his soul resonating with the belief she would be important to him. Always. That turned out to be a vast understatement—and nothing has changed.

Roksana embarks on her mission, determined to win back her mother’s approval, but when an astonishing truth emerges in the eleventh hour, will her stake pierce the very heart that beats in her honor? Or will love triumph over duty?

••••••••

REVIEW:THIS TIME TOMORROW is the second instalment in Tessa Bailey’s contemporary, adult PHENOMENAL FATE erotic, paranormal romance series. This is former SWAT team member Elias, and Russian, vampire slayer Roksana. THIS TIME TOMORROW can be read as a stand alone with limited difficulty. Any important information is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion. Elias and Roksana were first introduced in Jonas and Ginny’s book -Reborn Yesterday.

NOTE: If you have not read the previous instalment, there may be some spoilers in my review.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Roksana and Elias) using present day and memories from the past THIS TIME TOMORROW focuses on the enemies to lovers relationship between former SWAT team member Elias, and Russian, vampire slayer Roksana. Three years earlier, Roksana and her friends arrived in Las Vegas to celebrate the impending nuptials between her BFF Ginny Lynn, and vampire Jonas Cantrell but what no one knew was that our heroine Roksana came from a long line of vampire slayers, and Roksana refused to act on her family heritage. Meeting US SWAT team member and human Elias meant the possibility of one-night of freedom but to Roksana’s horror, Elias would turn on her friends, destroying them all. Fast forward to present day wherein, Elias, now a vampire working for King Jonas Cantrell, has been targeted for termination by Inessa, the Queen of Shadows vampire slayer using our heroine as the means to exact her revenge. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and forbidden relationship between Roksana and Elias, and the fall-out as Roksana learns the truth, and refuses to obey her mother’s commands.

Roksana knows she is the bane of her mother’s existence; a failure as a slayer whose heart is too soft when it comes to destroying the bloodsucking undead but to Roksana’s horror, our heroine is the ultimate target of her mother’s hatred, and in doing so destroys everything and everyone Roksana has loved. Three years earlier, Elias and his best friend Tucker, awoke to a new life of darkness, drinking blood and a desire to kill. Believing himself a cold-blooded killer, Elias is willing to offer up his life to protect the woman with whom he would fall in love.

The relationship between Elias and Roksana is fated by blood. What began as a case of infatuation and lust would soon turn into a case of fated mates wherein Elias’ need to claim Roksana supersedes his need to protect himself. Knowing his secrets could destroy the woman he loves, Elias is willing to risk it all including sacrificing himself to protect Roksana from the one person who should be protecting our heroine, herself. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Ginny Lynn and her husband, king of the vampire Jonas Cantrell; Elias’ former SWAT teammate Tucker; Roksana’s mother, Iness, the Queen of Shadows, as well as the introduction of another supernatural power-the Fae-and the potential for Tucker to have found his mate.

THIS TIME TOMORROW is a story of betrayal and revenge, secrets and lies; family, friendships, power and love. The premise is heart breaking and emotional; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are colorful, energetic and charismatic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

“Beers on me later,” Elias muttered, keeping his attention on the cards. “You can ask me whatever you want…”

He trailed off, that scrape between his shoulder blades growing more pronounced, until he couldn’t concentrate enough to decipher the suits of his cards. What the hell was going on? Throat dry, he laid down his hand and turned in his chair—

Silence fell around him when he saw her.

She was golden. Radiant.

Miserable.

The long-legged blonde limped through the casino with a beautiful pout on her face, a pair of high heels shoved under one arm. There was a fine sheen of dew on her incredible face, telling Elias she’d just escaped the stifling Vegas heat. Simply by existing, she commanded fealty and the casino seemed to part around her like the Red Sea, creating a path for her to complete a wobbly strut toward Elias’s poker table—and the closer she came, the more his lungs compressed, as if he was running out of fucking oxygen.

Who is she?

No idea. But the discomfort between his shoulder blades was gone.

Like a balm had been applied.

The girl was beyond gorgeous. He’d never noticed cheekbones on anyone in his life, but he noticed her high ones. The indigo blue of her eyes. And Jesus, he definitely noticed the way her soft mutterings made his heart flop over. Who are you?

Vaguely, he heard Latte ribbing him. “Bet you’d call her back, huh, Silent E?”

“Forget what I said about him being mysterious,” Kenny quipped. “Everything he’s thinking is right there on his face.”

More laughter. But the buzzing in his skull was already drowning them out.

Elias watched the blonde’s high heel fall out of her arms and flop sideways on the casino floor. He was on his feet before it stopped moving, abandoning his hand at the table without a thought so he could scoop up the shoe and follow. He didn’t have a choice in the matter. Going after her was a requirement, searing him, compelling him.

And a moment later, when she looked up at him from her seat at a slot machine, his world righted itself with a grinding snap. He hadn’t even known it was off kilter.

The blonde crossed her impossibly sexy legs and his body reacted swiftly, hardening.

“Well?” she said in a husky Russian accent. “Make it good. I only have five minutes before I wreak the havoc.”

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans, and laptop, and drove cross-country to New York City in under four days. Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend, and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband and daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

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Before Nightfall by Kat Martin – a Review

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Before Nightfall by Kat Martin – a Review

 

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Description:
When her best friend’s son is kidnapped, private detective Lissa Blayne drops everything to focus on the missing boy. Julie and Lissa have been close for years, so when Julie’s friend Colt Wheeler joins the investigation, Lissa bristles at the former ranger’s take-charge attitude. Lissa doesn’t need a man calling the shots, even if there is something about Colt’s protective side that has her tough exterior melting away. As Lissa and Colt take their search on the road, the tension between them slowly morphs into trust and understanding—and they’ll need both in order to outsmart the dangerous abductor they’re tracking. The only thing hotter than their attraction is the heat of the Mexican sun, but this road trip is no vacation…

 

 

Review:

Before Nightfall by Kat Martin is a novella in her Maximum Security series. Lissa Blayne is a private detective for Maximum Security, and when her best friend calls for immediate help, Lissa drops everything to go to her friend.  Lissa’s friend Julie is desperate, as her abusive ex-husband, whom she has not seen in 8 years, kidnaps her 11-year-old son.  Her ex has no interest in the little girl, but he wants his son to train him to be like him.  When Lissa runs into the house, there is another man, whom she mistakes for the ex, only to learn that this man, was a friend of her deceased husband (she remarried. 

Colt Wheeler is a former Ranger, who was Liam’s (Julie’s deceased husband) friend, and has always tried to make sure the family was doing well.  When he was traveling to a possible job, he stopped in to visit, just after her ex kidnapped the boy.  Colt is determined to help find the boy, and Lissa is not thrilled that he plans to go with her.  Colt has friends who can help in Mexico, where the ex is heading, since he is part of the cartel.  Lissa knows that she will need help trying to get the boy back alive, especially going against a powerful cartel.  In a short time, they both will begin to feel the attraction they have for each other. 

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful adventure where Colt and Lissa find themselves in intense and dangerous situations as they get closer to finding the boy. Even with the help of powerful friends in Mexico, they must deal with not only the cartel, but with the Mexican police who are threatening Lissa and Colt to not interfere with their plan to bring them down.  But Lissa and Colt know they cannot wait any longer, as the boy could be in middle of an attack.

Before Nightfall was an intriguing, action packed, suspenseful, exciting story line that had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book, even though it was a novella.   I also loved Colt and Lissa together, as they made a great couple that we rooted for.  Once again, Kat Martin gives us another exciting thriller. If you enjoy action, suspense, fast paced thriller, and romance, you should read anything by Kat Martin. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Dilemma by B.A. Paris – a Review

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The Dilemma by B.A. Paris – a Review

 

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Description:
It’s Livia’s fortieth birthday and tonight she’s having a party, a party she’s been planning for a long time. The only person missing will be her daughter, Marnie.

But Livia has a secret, a secret she’s been keeping from Adam, her husband, until the party is over. Because how can she tell him that although she loves Marnie, she’s glad their daughter won’t be there to celebrate with her?

Adam is determined everything will be just right for Livia and the party is going to be perfect… until he learns something that will leave him facing an unbearable decision.

 

 

Review:

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris is a standalone novel focusing on a family preparing for a special birthday celebration and the ensuing complications.  Having read a previous thriller by Paris, I was surprised at this different genre, but it did turn out to be a great story that was very well written.  The Dilemma revolves around Livia and Adam, a married couple with two children (Josh & Marnie), with each having their own POV. The story starts out with Livia planning her 40th birthday party, which she has saved and planned for many years, having all her family and friends attend.  When Livia and Adam got married, they were very young and did not have enough money for a big wedding; this party has been her dream, and she is going all out, with Adam determined to help her enjoy her day. With everyone planning to attend, Livia understands that her daughter Marnie, who is overseas at school in Hong Kong, and cannot attend the party. But Marnie plans a surprise, as she tells Adam that she was able to switch planes and be able to attend the party, and to keep it a secret.

Livia has been carrying a secret of her own that she needs to tell Adam about, but decides to wait until after the party.  The secret, which she accidently discovered to her dismay, involves Marni, and Livia knows it will destroy Adam, so she is content that Marni cannot come home.  Though she hides this from all of the family, Livia knows the family dynamics will change drastically if her secret is revealed. Hence, she will wait for after the party to tell Adam, and decisions can be made.

Adam also has his own secret, and is having a hard time not telling anyone why he seems very upset.  Before people arrived at the party, Adam learns that there was a crash on a plane that Marni was planning to travel on, but he was sure she had changed planes.  In order not to worry Livia, he keeps it to himself and continues to try to leave messages for Marni on her phone. 

What follows is a heart wrenching story about family, friendships and secrets that were meant to wait for the right time to reveal them; but when revelations are made, all hell breaks loose. Will Livia and Adam be able to come to terms with each of them hiding their terrible secrets? 

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris was a wonderful story line that continually pulled on our emotions, especially this mostly covering a 24-hour period.  I do not want to tell too much more, as you really need to read this book.  If you enjoy a dramatic family dynamics and relationships, you should read The Dilemma, written so well by B.A. Paris.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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