Drop Dead Gorgeous by Juliet Lyons – Review, Spotlight Tour & Giveaway

Drop Dead Gorgeous by Juliet Lyons – Review, Spotlight Tour & Giveaway

 

Swipe Right for Mr. Bite. Don’t miss Juliet Lyons’s snarky and sexy new release, Drop Dead Gorgeous!

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Description:
SWIPE RIGHT FOR MR. BITE

Mila Hart’s first experience with the hot new vampire dating site is a complete disaster. Turns out, her date is wanted for murder! But things turn around when she’s rescued by dashing vampire cop Vincent Ferrer. Dangerous and drop dead gorgeous, he’s just the vampire hottie Mila was hoping for.

Haunted by his past, Vincent can’t risk falling in love again, even if Mila charms him more than anyone he’s ever met. But when the killer from Mila’s first date seeks her out, Vincent is the only one who can protect her. Protecting his heart is a different story…

 

Review:

Drop Dead Gorgeous by Juliet Lyons is the 2nd book in her Bite Nights series.  This series is a paranormal story line revolving around a dating service for vampires and humans.  I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I thought this one was even better.  Mila Hart is our heroine, and she was a blast from the start.  When she decides to date a vampire from the V-Date internet service, it turns out to be a disaster that almost costs her life.  The handsome vampire is a serial killer, and just when she thinks her life is over, Mila is saved by a vampire cop.

Vincent Ferrer, our hero, is the detective who saves Mila, and from that moment on he is totally mesmerized by her.  Vincent is deep in finding this serial killer, but he also finds himself disturbed by his attraction to Mila, as he has not had these feelings since hundreds of years ago, when his then betrothed was killed.  Mila is also attracted to this hunk that she names “Chris Hemsworth”.  Since Vincent is not only a good detective, but he is a vampire, which enables him to kill another vampire.

What follows is Vincent’s determination to protect Mila, and do all he can to find the killer before he kills again.  Though this is somewhat exciting, the best part of this story is the relationship between Vincent and Mila.  It was not only sizzling hot, very sexy, with a wonderful couple, it was also such a fun humorous story. As I said earlier, Mila was a blast with her humor and use of TV shows that Vincent had no idea of.  I also thought Vincent was a terrific hero, and despite him being a vampire, a perfect gentleman.

I really enjoyed Drop Dead Gorgeous mainly because the main characters were lots of fun, likeable and their chemistry was off the wall.   The storyline with Mila in danger was also exciting and very well done.  Most of all Lyons humor throughout made this a fun and sexy story. If you enjoy a sweet, fun, sexy romance with an element of danger and humor, I suggest you read this series. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

excerpt

 

Inside the flat, I kick off my heels and turn the cold tap on full blast, grabbing a glass from the cupboard. “Do you have any aspirin?” I ask, breaking the silence.
Vincent shakes his head, face glum. “I’m sorry I listened to your conversation,” he says, picking at the edge of the kitchen island with a finger.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say quietly. “Thanks for sorting out O’Geary for me.”
He nods, frowning. “Mila—”
“Look,” I say, interrupting him. “I know what you must think of me.”
His frown deepens, eyes dark. “What do I think of you?”
“That I’m totally flaky and pathetic. What with dead rats in my bed and going on dates with serial killers and getting felt up my first week at work. If you think I don’t know how ridiculous my life is, Vincent, you’re wrong, because I do, and the truth is, I don’t know why I told my work friend you like to be tied up with silky scarves. Maybe I’ve watched too many dodgy French movies. But my point is, I know I’m not like you, with the fancy view and the starch spray in the cupboard and all this.” I circle a finger wildly in the air. “So I’m sorry that you’re stuck with me, and I’m sorry you had to show your fangs and lose your chance at a hookup with Leggy Layla from Marketing. I am sorry.”
I suck in a deep breath and take a gulp of my water. I must be drunker than I thought.
When I finally summon the courage to meet his eye, I jolt in surprise. His eyes are dark, tortured. He leans against the counter, hands gripping the edges so tightly his knuckles are whiter than bone.
“That’s the second time you mentioned those girls.” His voice is husky, throaty, as if the words are coming from some dark, forbidden place deep inside him.
“Yeah, well. They irritate me. Add that to my list of faults. I’m jealous of a group of women who wear double the recommended amount of mascara.”
“Jealous,” he repeats.
Jesus. What is up with him? He looks like a four-year-old trying to figure out an algebraic equation. “Yes. Jealous. Not usually. Just tonight. Because you were speaking to them.”
Inside, I’m well aware I’ve more or less just announced I have an enormous crush on him. But on the outside, the half-drunk, cocky Mila is still running the show.
He continues to stand, frozen. I snatch up my glass of water and slip past him into the lounge.
“Mila,” he says loudly.
I turn around at the same time he does.
“I don’t enjoy Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No. I don’t.” He runs a nervous hand through his dirty-blond hair. “It’s the only show where I can sit and not have to pay attention to the plotline to know what’s happening.”
I sigh. “Fine. I give up. We’ll hire a harpist for our evening entertainment.” I continue stomping toward the bedrooms—as much as it’s possible to stomp in bare feet.
A gust of air lifts the hair from the nape of my neck and, in an instant, Vincent is filling the doorway with his luscious frame. “I can’t pay attention to the plot,” he says, “because I’m too distracted.”
“Why? Because I’m here messing up your apartment and getting in the way? It won’t be forever, and I’ll tidy up before I go—”
Before I can finish the sentence, he cuts the short distance between us in a single bound, placing hands on my hips. The heat from his fingers burns through the material like red-hot flames. My heart thuds beneath my ribs. Without my heels, my head is level with his chest—his perfectly sculpted, chiseled-from-rock chest—rising and falling as if something is fighting to get out. I lift my gaze, and as our eyes lock, he bunches my dress in his fists. The relaxed look he wore when he lied to the marketing girls and threatened Leery is gone, naked anxiety assuming its place.
“Ask me to stop,” he says, his voice breaking.
I gulp. The only sound is my heart pounding against my ribcage. Is this really happening?
“I can’t,” I say at last. “Because I don’t want you to.”
He releases my dress, looping strong arms around my waist, and lifts me onto my tiptoes until our bodies press together, torso to torso. I drop the glass of water onto the rug at our feet, hearing the loud slosh of liquid as it soaks into the carpet. The water is swiftly forgotten as he leans closer, brushing warm lips over my jawline. He tightens his grip, anchoring me to him as a tremor of pleasure rips through my body.
When his mouth finally fastens onto mine, I mold myself into him like clay, my breasts pushed up against the steely ridges of his chest, my hands twisting into his hair like vines around the branches of a tree. I part his lips, and he responds intensely. He tastes like champagne—warm and fruity—and I devour him like a woman who’s been living carb free would a loaf of bread. My tongue slides over his, a low animal groan erupting from my throat.
He cups my face in his warm hands as he begins feverishly whispering my name between kisses. “Mila, oh God, Mila.”
He wants me, I realize in surprise, knowing from the way my name sounds in his mouth—hard and spiky as barbwire—that this is no whim, no spur-of-the-moment fancy. All the times he’s blushed suddenly make sense, those intense stares I mistook as him thinking I’m an idiot.
I stop kissing him, leaning back to gaze into his drowsy, silver-dappled eyes. His face is slack, his mouth half-open, lips moist.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” I murmur, dragging hands down his muscled back. “You haven’t really been enjoying Dr. Quinn at all.”


 

About The Author

Juliet LyonsJULIET LYONS is a paranormal romance author from the UK. She holds a degree in Spanish and Latin American studies and works part-time in a local primary school where she spends far too much time discussing Harry Potter. Since joining global storytelling site Wattpad in 2014, her work has received millions of hits online and gained a legion of fans from all over the world. When she is not writing, Juliet enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

 Find Juliet Online:

Website: https://www.julietlyons.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterJLyons/
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/julietlyons
Twitter: @WriterJLyons
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15118466.Juliet_Lyons

 

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The Billionaires: The Bosses by Calista Fox-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

The Billionaires: The Bosses by Calista Fox-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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THE BILLIONAIRES: THE BOSSES
Lover’s Triangle #2
by Calista Fox
Release Date: September 5 , 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

The Billionaires The Bosses

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 5, 2017

What do you do when you have not just one hot boss, but two? And they both want you?

What will it take to make her theirs?

Bayli Styles leaves California wine country behind for the bright lights of New York City, in search of fame and fortune. However, fame and fortune are a little further out of reach than she had hoped, so to supplement her meager modeling income, she seeks a hostess position at Manhattan’s hottest new venue, owned by billionaires Rory St. James and Christian Davila. Bayli gets much more than she bargained for when both devastatingly handsome and magnetic men make her blood sizzle…and offer her the guiltiest of all pleasures–themselves.

Bayli is the perfect solution to the two problems currently plaguing entrepreneurs Rory and Christian, professionally and sexually. She’d make the ultimate -face- for their current joint venture, but both men are thinking beyond business and waste no time seducing Bayli into their brand of double pleasure. In the end, the threesome will put it all on the line–their bodies, their hearts, their souls–either destined for failure, or for the redefinition of true love.

This is a standalone menage romance with an HEA.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: The Bosses begins with Bayli going in for a job interview at NYC’s hottest new restaurant, only to run into (literally!) a little trouble with one of the co-owners, Rory St. James, who just happens to be a world famous chef known for being difficult and demanding in his kitchens. Knowing right off the bat that she’s not going to get the job she applied for, she sets her sights on co-owner #2. Bayli is bound and determined to make him notice her, which only takes about a nanosecond when she enters the party he’s attending. Having accomplished what she set out to do, she heads out at the end of the party and finds herself stranded miles from the city. Luckily for her, co-owner #2, Christian Davila, has stayed late at the party and offers her a ride into the city. She accepts his offer, not knowing that that decision would affect the rest of her life in ways that she hadn’t ever imagined………..

The Bosses is the first I’ve read by Calista Fox. I enjoyed all three main characters. Bayli was fun with her take on things and her boldness. I also liked the way Rory and Christian were written: one being fiery and demanding, while the other was more methodical and thoughtful. I enjoyed the storyline, even though it was pretty predictable. There’s a lot of sizzle in this book, which leaves the whole plot feeling a little forced to me. However, my overall feeling about the book is a good one. If you’re a fan of ménage stories, and maybe even if you’re not, I think you’ll enjoy the book. It’s entertaining and a pretty quick read, with some funny moments as well. I would definitely entertain reading another Calista Fox book.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Click HERE to read CHAPTER ONE of THE BILLIONAIRES: THE BOSSES by Calista Fox

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Follow: Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook

Calista FoxCalista is a former PR professional, now writing fast-paced, steamy books to set your pulse racing! Her publishing houses include St. Martin’s Press, Grand Central Publishing and Harlequin. She is an Amazon bestseller and has won many Reviewer’s and Reader’s Choice Awards, as well as Best Book Awards.

Calista is a college graduate and teaches online writing classes. She is also a Past President/Advisor of the Phoenix chapter of the Romance Writers of America national organization.

 

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Calista Fox’s publisher (St. Martin’s) is graciously offering a paper copy of of THE BILLIONAIRES: The Bosses to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Going Dark (The Lost Platoon #1) by Monica McCarty-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

GOING DARK (The Lost Platoon #1) by Monica McCarty-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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GOING DARK
The Lost Platoon #1
by Monica McCarty
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, military suspense

Going Dark

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 5, 2017

Like Rome’s Lost Legion, a SEAL platoon goes on a mission and vanishes without a trace.

After walking into a trap on a covert op in Russia, the men from top secret SEAL Team Nine are presumed dead. Not knowing whom they can trust, and with war hanging in the balance, the survivors must go dark and scatter around the globe.

Marine ecologist Annie Henderson joins her new boyfriend on a trip to the Western Isles of Scotland to protest a hazardous offshore drilling venture. When she realizes that she may be swept up in something far more dangerous than she’d intended, there is only one man she can turn to. . . .

She and the mysterious but sexy dive boat captain haven’t exactly gotten off to the best start, but something about his quiet confidence makes her think that he’s the kind of man she can depend on. Because he’s gruff and guarded, she can tell Dan Warren has secrets. But she could never imagine how high the stakes are for him to keep his cover, even as he risks everything to protect her.

••••••••••

REVIEW: 4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Going Dark by Monica McCarty is a contemporary romance with a serious dose of action and suspense. If you like your story line having a bit of everything then this is certainly a good book to pick up. I will say, those that have knowledge of military and political jargon/acronyms just may enjoy this a tad more. There is much for a person with limited knowledge to take in and I can understand that it may be a little confusing. I happen to be someone who has served and knows much about military language and op procedures, so this wasn’t hard for me to follow.

The book starts off with a bang. SEAL Team Nine is sent on a Black Ops mission and it happens to go terribly wrong. Assumed dead, they are soon conveniently “forgotten” despite the fact that there are survivors. These survivors (which I expect will be the main characters in the books of the series), decide to stay undercover only revealing the truth to a few people, and swear to get answers for their failed mission and lost team mates.

Our leading male is Dean. Dean was the chief of SEAL Team Nine and if currently laying low in Scotland. He is a no nonsense kind of guy who leads by example, is tough as nails, conservative and set in his way of thinking. Very aware of what could happen and be lost, Dean will do just about anything to find the answers he is desperate for.

Annie is our leading lady. Annie is an ecologist, activist, and totally liberal in her thinking. She has set off to Scotland with her boyfriend to protest some off shore drilling. There she meets Dan (who is actually Dean undercover), who accompanies her on an expedition to the drilling grounds. There is an instant attraction and despite having a boyfriend (if that is what we call him .. I would like to call him dip**** ..lol) she feels very drawn in a way she isn’t with her current guy. But no time to act on attraction just yet .. little does she know her expedition to do good will turn into a fight for her life and for Deans.

I really loved the action and adventure in this book. I have a thing for opposites attract so I was pleased with the constant lusty bickering Annie and Dean do. I did however roll my eyes a couple of times when the predictable argument of liberal vs conservative popped up. I don’t mind the opposite views, it was just that it came across a little “naggy” at times. I did find though, that Annie and Dean really tried to get thru all the turmoil together, and let love just happen even when it shouldn’t.

Monica also has another side romance story going between other characters as well, so you do in fact get more bang for your buck where couples are concerned. A good flow to the story line, I never found myself bored or wanting to skip read. I love that both our leads are equally passionate when it come to their personal beliefs, experiences, morals and affection for the other.

Fantastic read for those that like the adventure, military and love. I will eagerly await the next novel!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Rachel T

Going Dark teaser

Excerpt

Dean was about to turn up his street when a woman darted past him. She was so preoccupied with whatever was bothering her that she didn’t notice him.
But he noticed her. The sexy brunette had been the focus of too many of his sex-starved thoughts for him not to have recognized that shadowed figure right away.
His thoughts immediately turned to anger. What the hell was she doing out here alone at this time of night?
Granted Stornoway wasn’t exactly the mean streets of name-your-favorite American inner city, but it had its share of illegal activity—especially along the waterfront—and it wasn’t a place where a young woman should be walking alone in the middle of the night.
He went after her without thinking. Proving his point, she took way too long to realize he was behind her.
He could tell by the way she jumped when she turned around that he’d startled her.
But it didn’t last. As soon as she recognized him, her eyes narrowed angrily. “Why are you following me? You scared me!”
“Good. You shouldn’t be out here alone—” He stopped suddenly, seeing her expression. She looked about ready to burst into tears. “What’s wrong?”
Unconsciously he’d reached for her arm. Why the hell he’d done that he had no clue. He didn’t go around touching women without an invitation.
He released her before she could protest. But if she’d noticed the too-personal gesture, she didn’t let on.
“Nothing,” she replied, her expression too blank.
He held her gaze long enough for her to see that he knew she was lying. It must not be something she did often, because a guilty blush rose to her cheeks.
She was so damned cute. He wanted to . . .
Fuck.
He took a step back.
Go dark. Don’t do anything to risk your cover.
He heard the warnings loud and clear. But he couldn’t very well let her walk around alone. What if something happened?
“Where’s your boyfriend?”
The tightening around her mouth before she responded gave a big hint of what might be bothering her. Trouble in paradise? Now, that was a cryin’ shame.
“He’s still at camp. He’s hanging around for the music. Julien plays guitar.”
Dean didn’t care if he was Jimmy Hendrix returning from the dead for one last show. “And he let you walk back alone?”
She immediately stiffened, giving him a scathing look. “He didn’t let me do anything. I make my own decisions.”
From the way she said it, it was clear she thought he was some kind of medieval misogynistic pig.
One of those, was she? He should have guessed. That kind of oversensitive feminist crap drove him crazy—not everything was a “microagression.” Being a strong woman didn’t mean you could be stupid about personal safety. And all he’d meant was that douche bag should have cared enough about her safety enough to insist on accompanying her.
Although admittedly Julien probably wasn’t much of a defense.
“Then your decision was a shitty one.”
She looked stunned. “You just say whatever you think, don’t you? I wasn’t asking for your opinion.”
“Well, you got it.” He gave her a long look, taking in the Tulane sweatshirt, tight jeans that left no room to hide anything, and flip-flops. “And unless you are a black belt jujitsu specialist or trained in self-defense and carrying some kind of weapon, I’m walking you to the guest house.”
She looked up at him half outraged and half bemused, as if she couldn’t quite believe someone like him actually existed. It was a look he’d been on the receiving end of more than once.
Eventually her mouth twisted with a smile. “How do you know I’m not?”
“Because if you had any secret ninja skills, from the way you were looking at me a few minutes ago, I’d be on my ass right now.”

About the author

Click HERE to learn about Monica McCarty

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The Reading Cafe and Monica’s publisher are graciously offering a paper copy of GOING DARK to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Grave Ransom by Kalayna Price – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Grave Ransom by Kalayna Price – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Grave witch Alex Craft is no stranger to the dead talking. She raises shades, works with ghosts, and is dating Death himself. But the dead walking? That’s not supposed to happen. And yet, reanimated corpses are committing crimes across Nekros City.

Alex’s investigation leads her deep into a web of sinister magic. When Briar Darque of the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau gets involved, Alex finds herself with an unexpected ally of sorts. But as the dead continue to rise and wreak havoc on the living, can Alex get to the soul of the matter in time?

 

Review:

Grave Ransom by Kalayna Price is the 5th book in her Alex Craft series. Grave Ransom picks up a short time after Grave Visions leaves off.   Alex runs an investigation firm, mostly to do with magical issues, such as talking to the dead, which is her specialty.  When a young girl hires Alex to find her missing boyfriend, Alex has no idea how this simple case will turn out to be a wild crazy adventure of real life zombies.

 Alex will find the missing boyfriend robbing a bank; she uses her magic to be able to tell that the three robbers are actually dead, occupied by different souls.  Before Alex can do anything, the police arrive and the robbers, including the boyfriend are dead, and the souls are collected by the reapers.

The police are baffled, and Briar Darque, magical crimes investigator, returns to take over the case, and forcing Alex to work with her.  Falin, Alex’s ex boyfriend, and a Fae agent, will also play a big part in helping solve this complex case, which is suspected to be the work of a necromancer.   How can someone put souls into dead bodies?

Alex is still besieged with her eye problems, whenever she uses her magic.  Though they are not really friends, Briar began to see Alex and her magic in another light; at the same time having no problem putting Alex in the middle of danger as bait.  It was nice to see some of the other characters that have been part of this series; Falin, Death, Tamara, Rianna, etc. 

This is a complicated review, as it would require giving spoilers.  Grave Ransom was an exciting, interesting and wild adventure, as Alex tries to solve this mysterious case.   In this book, both Falin and Death played smaller parts, and there are a few twists along the way.   Not much was further revealed about which court Alex leans toward, as she has one year to decide. Currently she lives partially under the Winter Queen. We know nothing more about this or the other courts pursuing her.   This is a fun series written very well by Kalayna Price.  It is important to start with the first book to understand everything. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Excerpt

 

 

The first time I realized I could feel corpses, I had nightmares for a week. I was a child at the time, so that was understandable. These days I was accustomed to the clammy reach of the grave that lifted from dead bodies. To the eerie feeling of my own innate magic responding and filling me with the unrequested knowledge of how recently the person died, their gender, and the approximate age they were at death. When I anticipated encountering a corpse, I tightened my mental shields and worked at keeping my magic at bay. Usually that was only necessary at places like graveyards, the morgue, and funeral homes—places one might expect to find a body.
I never expected to feel a corpse walking across the street in the middle of the Magic Quarter.
“Alex? I’ve lost you, haven’t I?” Tamara, one of my best friends and my current lunchmate, asked. She sighed, twisting in her seat to scan the sidewalk beyond the small outdoor sitting area of the café where we were eating. “Huh. Which one is he? I may be married and knocked up, but I know a good-looking man when I see one, and girl, I don’t see one. Who are you staring at?”
“That guy,” I said, nodding my head at a man in a brown suit crossing the street.
Tamara glanced at the squat, middle-aged man who was more than a little soft in the middle and then cocked an eyebrow at me. “I’ve seen what you have at home, so I take it this is business. Did you bring one of your cases to our lunch?”
I ignored the “at home” comment, as that situation was more than a little complicated, and shook my head. “My case docket is clear,” I said absently, and let my senses stretch. When I concentrated, I could feel grave essence reaching from corpses in my vicinity. All corpses. There were decades of dead and decaying rats in the sewer below the streets, and smaller creatures like insects that barely made a blip on my radar, but like called to like, and my magic zeroed in on the man.
“He’s dead,” I said, and even to me my voice sounded unsure.
Tamara blinked at me, likely waiting for me to reveal the joke. Instead I pushed out of my seat as the man turned up the street. Tamara grabbed my arm.
“I’m the lead medical examiner for Nekros City, and I can tell you with ninety-nine point nine percent certainty that the man walking down the street is very much alive.” She put extra emphasis on the word “walking,” and on any other day, I would have agreed with her.
My own eyes agreed with her. But my magic, that part of me that touched the grave, that could piece together shades from the memories left in every cell of a body, disagreed. That man, walking or not, was a corpse. Granted, he was a fresh one—the way he felt to my magic told me he couldn’t have been dead more than an hour. But he was dead.
So how the hell had he just walked into the Museum of Magic and the Arcane?
I dropped enough crumpled dollars on the table to cover my portion of the bill and tip before weaving around tables and out of the café seating. Behind me, Tamara grumbled under her breath, but after a moment I heard her chair slide back as she pushed away from the table. I didn’t wait for her to follow me out as I all but sprinted across the street to catch up with the walking corpse.
The museum’s wards tingled along my skin as I stepped through the threshold. I’d been inside the museum a few times, and the collection of rare and unusual artifacts from both pre- and post-awakening was impressive, but I was a sensitive, capable of sensing magic, and between all the security wards and the artifacts themselves, the museum tended to be overwhelming. Definitely migraine-inducing in large doses. I noted that the magic in the air was particularly biting today, like one of the security wards had recently been triggered. I sucked in an almost pained breath, trying to adjust to the sudden crush of magic all around me. The extra sting of the deployed ward didn’t help.
I should have walked the extra few steps to clear the entrance wards.

 

 

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Kalayna’s publisher is offering a paper copy of GRAVE RANSOM to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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A New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns – Promotion Excerpt & Giveaway

A New Leash on Love by Debbie Burns – Promotion Excerpt & Giveaway

 

A New Leash on Love STARRED review(1)

 

 

Title:A New Leash on Love
Series:Rescue Me #1
Author: Debbie Burns
Pub Date:July 4, 2017

A New Leash on Love

First in a fresh contemporary romance series from award-winning debut author Debbie Burns.

Every heart has a forever home.

Megan Anderson loves the animals at her no-kill shelter. She’ll do anything for them—even go toe-to-toe with a handsome man who’s in way over his head. She’ll help him sort out his troubles, but getting too close to an adorable puppy’s human counterpart? Been there, done that, got burned.

When Craig Williams arrived at the local shelter for help, he didn’t expect a fiery young woman to blaze into his life. But the more time they spend together, the more he realizes it’s not just animals Megan is adept at saving—she could be the one to rescue his heart.

Soon, Craig and Megan find that the magic of unconditional love can do anything…even lead to their forever home.

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Indiebound

NOTE: The review for A New Leash on Love will post on July 4th.

 

excerpt

 

[Craig] stood in Megan’s kitchen, watching her twist a mass of wavy hair up into a knot, leaving lone strands clinging to her neck, and he felt it again. His world was full of women who would be less complicated. Women who wouldn’t tie up his core and make him ache until his lungs seemed to scrape against his ribs.
What was he doing? He’d sworn to himself he’d stay away, but he’d driven here as if on autopilot rather than waiting for another time to give her the silly little present. Being with her was a mistake, even under the pretense of friendship, when he knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He’d make a bigger mess of a disaster.

She was unpacking groceries and making small talk he couldn’t process. Pulling out a colander, she filled it with fruit and washed it in the sink. When she turned off the water, she looked his way for the first time since he’d followed her inside carrying her packed-full reusable shopping bags.

“You okay?” She wiped her wet hands on her hips. “You look, I don’t know, confused.” She grinned suddenly and made air quotes as she continued. “Is it your lack of domesticity? Did I blunder by bringing you into my kitchen?”
Craig shook his head, surprised by the laugh that erupted from his chest. “No, you didn’t blunder.”
“Good, because I’m going to let you put together a plate of cheese and fruit while I take a shower. And don’t think that’s anything special because I always shower after I work in the kennels. I hate smelling like bleach and God knows what else.”
He felt his tension easing away as she spoke. He could do this. He could handle being with her. Tonight at least. A salve for wounds so raw he couldn’t ignore them any longer.
Megan pointed to one of the bags. “There’s fresh bread in that one. And crackers in the cupboard if you prefer.” She walked over to a cabinet beside the fridge and made a ta-da gesture as she opened it to reveal a latticed assortment of wines. “You can choose the wine, if there’s any you can stomach. I’m sure you don’t know any of the brands because they’re all under eight bucks a bottle.”
“Funny,” he said, “but most likely true.”
She shrugged, clearly unoffended. “Make yourself at home. I won’t be long.”
Under the watchful gaze of the cat that had scratched him, Craig pulled the rest of the contents from the bags after she left, then searched through cabinets and drawers to find a cutting board, a plate, and a knife.
By the time he’d chosen the wine, opened it, and laid out a decent-looking arrangement of cheese, fruit, and crackers, Megan was back, filling the small room with the scent of shea and lavender. She was dressed in a long-sleeved Henley and lounge pants, her hair still dry but free again. It was full, wavy, and beautiful, and made him want to lose his hands in it.
“Impressive.” She eyed his plate and cocked an eyebrow. “So there’s more to Craig Williams than marketer and entrepreneur extraordinaire.”
“You forgot abandoner of dogs.” He leaned back against the counter, trying not to focus on the small patch of skin between the rim of her shirt and the elastic-waisted pants that would be very easy to slide off.
“I didn’t forget. I’m officially forgiving you for that. And excuse the pants,” she said, noticing the direction of his gaze. “But your little slate came with the call for friendship, and there’s nothing like a pair of look-I’ve-added-ten-pounds cozy pants to meet that call, if you want my opinion. That and they’re comfortable.”
He passed her a glass of the wine. “As long as they’re comfortable.”
“Ha, are they that bad? On second thought, don’t answer that.”
“I won’t, but for the opposite reason of what you’re thinking. After asking for friendship, I don’t want to come across as if I’m hitting on you.”
A blush lit her cheeks as she sipped the wine. “Okay then. So, since you made the first course, I’ll get busy with the pizza. I’ve been told I make a killer pizza. In fact, it’s one of my best dishes.” She gave an exaggerated toss of her hair. “All it takes is one slice to become a true believer.”
Craig refilled his glass, noting the buzz washing over him. A buzz he realized he desperately wanted. Letting the halfway decent Syrah roll across his tongue, he sank to a chair at her table and watched her move about her kitchen with the confidence of someone who not only had committed everything about it to memory, but enjoyed it.
“I didn’t know you liked to cook.”
“You mean in my shoe filled with dogs?” Megan wrinkled her nose at him, remembering a joke he’d made about his thoughts on her home life during his and Sophie’s tour. “I do actually. I love it.”
“What’s your favorite dish?”
“To bake or cook?”
“Is there a difference?”
“A huge one. My favorite thing to bake is an in-season pie from fruit I’ve actually picked. To cook… That’s a hard one. I like to mix it up.”
“I’m sold on the pie.” He ran his fingertips over the smooth top of her table. “Let me know if I can help with anything.”
“You’re good for a bit. I’m going to teach you how to toss a crust. Everyone should learn to toss a crust.”
Craig chuckled. “Like they do in Italian kitchens? Don’t tell me some of those Europeans you mentioned at the coffee shop were Italian. You don’t look it.”
“I’m like an eighth or something. My dad worked his way through college in a pizzeria. I think I could toss a crust before my training wheels were off.”
He sank back in his chair and shook his head. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was her. Most likely it was her.
The cuts and scrapes and bruises that filled his insides had fallen silent for the first time in a long while. Finishing off his wine, he savored the peace washing over him.




About the Author

Debbie Burns
Debbie Burn resides in St. Louis, Missouri. Shelter is her first contemporary romance and has finaled in multiple contests. Her writing commendations include first place awards for short stories, flash fiction, and longer selections from the Missouri RWA and the Missouri Writers’ Guild.

You can find her on Twitter  and at debbiecausevic.com.

 

Giveaway

Debbie’s publisher is offering a paper copy of A NEW LEASH ON LOVE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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4. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

6. Follow DEBBIE BURNS  on Facebook.

7. Giveaway is open to USA/Canada only

8. Giveaway runs from June 29 to July 2, 2017

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Gone to Dust by Liliana Hart – Review, our & Giveaway

Gone to Dust by Liliana Hart – Review, Tour & Giveaway

 

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Gone to Dust
Gravediggers series – Book #2
by Liliana Hart
Release Date: June 20, 2017

Gone to DustAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Sometimes the dead do rise…

Miller Darling is one of the most popular romance novelists of her time. Not bad for a woman who doesn’t believe in romance. She’s as logical as they come, and she doesn’t believe in happily-ever-afters. What she does believe in is family, so when her brother disappears, she doesn’t think twice about packing her bag and her laptop and heading out to find him.

Colin Moreau has an axe to grind. Of all the Gravediggers, he’s the most reluctant in his new role as dead man walking. He’s angry, and being stuck in the tiny town of Last Stop, Texas might as well be purgatory. He misses his country and the life he had before he was betrayed. The only thing keeping him sane are the men who are like him—the Gravediggers—and the woman who makes his head spin. He’s never met anyone like Miller Darling. She’s not intimidated by his scowls, and damned if he doesn’t find that appealing.

When Miller sneaks out of town in the dead of night, her suitcase in tow, he has no choice but to follow. He’s made an oath to the Gravediggers. Only death can separate them. But he’s willing to risk it all to follow the one woman who drives him crazy halfway around the world. But when the ones who own his soul find out that he’s deserted them, there will be nowhere to hide.

 

 

Review

Gone to Dust by Liliana Hart is the 2nd book in her Gravediggers series. Gone To Dust is a romance suspense, with a humorous touch, that takes place in a small town, Last Stop, Texas.   The Gravediggers are elite former military men that work at a funeral home as a cover, and are in actuality working for a secret government agency that takes on impossible missions.

We met Elias Cole in the previous book, as he is one of the Gravediggers.  Elias does what he has to do, but deep down he wants revenge against Eve Winter, the person who controls the organization that rules the Gravediggers.  Miller Darling, our heroine, is a successful romance author, whose own life is void of any kind of romance, until she meets Elias.  However, Miller is still very much angry with Elias, since the day he left her without a word, just when their sexual lust for each other was at its highest level.  Neither of them has spoken to each other since.

One day Miller receives a package, and to her horror, it contains a finger.  Miller will confirm that it belongs to her brother, whom she has not seen in many years.  Miller will go to Tess, and the rest of the Gravediggers for help to find her missing brother, and hope to save his life.  Elias and the Gravediggers will discover that the man behind the threat is a powerful drug lord, who wants Miller to help find her brother.  Why you ask?  It seems that Miller’s family (mother & father are deceased) has always been obsessed on finding  the treasure of King Solomon.  Justin, Miller’s brother, spent his life also looking for the treasure, which the drug lord is also obsessed with attaining, at any cost.

Elias, despite his desire to stay away from Miller, will change his mind when he sees she is planning on going to the Galapagos Islands to save her brother.  What follows is an exciting adventure, which has so many humorous moments between Elias and Miller, mainly due to their banter. Of course, along the journey, their sizzling chemistry will heat up, allowing them to finish what they started long ago.  Their romance was fun, as they made a fabulous couple, and it did not take long for them to find themselves falling in love.

Gone to Dust was action packed, with much excitement as the danger escalates.  Elias was a terrific hero, as he was a former Seal, which helped keep them alive.  What I loved the most about him was despite his rough exterior, he was so sweet and loving to Miller.  She was also a wonderful heroine, who had us laughing quite often along the way.  This was an enjoyable and exciting story, which kept us turning the pages to the end.  Liliana Hart once again gives us a fun filled, action packed, and fast paced story.  I suggest you start this series by reading the first book, The Darkest Corner, and then read Gone to Dust. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

About the author

LilianaHartAuthorPhoto

Liliana Hart is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than forty titles, including the Addison Holmes Whiskey and J.J. Graves Mystery series. Since self-publishing in June 2011, Liliana has sold more than four million ebooks. She’s hit the #1 spot on lists all over the world, and all three of her series have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. Liliana is a sought-after speaker who’s given keynote speeches and self-publishing workshops to standing-room-only crowds from CA to NYC to London.
Visit LilianaHart.com, facebook.com/lilianahartauthor, twitter.com/Liliana_Hart.

 

giveaway

Liliana’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of the first book in this series, THE DARKEST CORNER to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Follow Liliana Hart on Facebook.

4. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

5. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from June 20-23, 2017

Publisher Note: For the Gravedigger Giveaway, we are giving away one review copy of Book 1, The Darkest Corner! Be sure to check out all participating sites on the blog tour for more Gravedigger Giveaways. And note that RT will giveaway three bundles of Book 1 and Book 2, with the drawing to be held Monday, July 10th.

 

Gone to Dust blog tour:

June 20

Moohnshine’s Corner

RT Book Reviews – Gravedigger Giveaway Bundle (Book 1 and 2) drawing opens

For the Love of Books and Alcohol

Dirty and Thirty

The Reading Cafe

Red Carpet Crash

Celtic Lady’s Reviews

Booktalk with Eileen

June 21

Book Sniffers Anonymous

Abigail Books Addiction

Crossroads

Fandemonium Network

Little Black Book Review

Blonde Bookworm

Eye on Romance

June 22

Read Your Writes

Three Boys and an Old Lady

Rock Stars of Romance

A Midlife Wife

Tigris Eden

Under the Covers

Positively Book Crazy

June 23

Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind

Once Upon An Alpha

Reading Diaries

WTF Are You Reading

Thoughts in Progress

The Lovely Books

The Sassy Bookster

June 24

Romance Junkies

June 26

Reviews by Crystal

Blogging by Liza

 

June 27

Pick of the Literate

The Reader’s Den

June 28

Dew on the Kudzu

Read for Your Future

Bookfan-Mary

June 29

Bea’s Book Nook

JoJo the Bookaholic

June 30

Readaholic

The Book Avenue

July 5

Caffeinated Book Reviewer

July 7

Romance Reviews Today

July 9

RT Book Reviews – Gravedigger Giveaway Bundle (Book 1 and 2) drawing date

September 25

Authors on the Air Global Radio Network – Gravediggers Series interview

 

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Wolf Hunt by Paige Tyler – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Wolf Hunt by Paige Tyler – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Wolf Hunt
SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team series – Book #6
by Paige Tyler
Release Date. June 6, 2017

Wolf HuntAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
A STORM IS BREWING…
Remy Boudreaux is back in his hometown, New Orleans. He’s there with three of his fellow Dallas SWAT officers for a week of training with the NOLA PD. On the eve of a tropical storm, Remy and his buddies prowl the French Quarter. One tantalizing scent captures Remy’s senses, forcing him to follow until he is face to face with Triana Bellamy—his beautiful high school crush.

After reconnecting, Remy and Triana are close—very. Remy struggles to keep things casual. Ever since his partner—and first love—was killed on the job, he’s kept women at a distance.

But when a mysterious wolf pendant ropes them both into danger, Remy’s protective instincts kick in. He may have to reveal his true self…and hope Triana accepts him.

 

 

Review:

Wolf Hunt by Paige Tyler is the 6th book in her wonderful SWAT series.   I love this series by Tyler, as she always manages to give us an exciting, fun, action packed, sexy  story, with a great couple.  Of course, it is always nice to learn more about our Hot hunks that are members of the Dallas SWAT team.  It doesn’t hurt that they are all sexy alpha werewolves.

The story starts with Remy Boudreaux, our hero, on a mission that kills his girlfriend, and leaves him near death.  We pick up a few years later, where Remy is now a member of the Dallas SWAT team, and we learn that he was turned into werewolf to save his life.  Remy and his three fellow members of the Dallas SWAT team attend training in New Orleans, his old home town.  When they go to the bar at night, Remy scents someone from the past that he knew from school. 

We meet our heroine, Triana Bellamy, who had a crush on Remy in high school.  The attraction between them is immediate and strong; before long Remy begins to feel a bond develop. His friend’s tease him, asking if she is “the one”, as legend says a werewolf will find his “one” mate, and it seems lately that the Swat members are slowly finding their “one”.  Remy does not want to hear this, as he does not want to be hurt again or put anyone close to him in danger. But fate is making it difficult to ignore his intense feelings.

Triana works in California as a scientist in a CSI lab, which helps discover clues such as DNA, etc.  Triana is home to visit her mother, who runs a voodoo shop, and also wants to find out more information as to who murdered her father.   When she sees someone badgering her mother to sell them a missing wolf pendant, or the store, her suspicions rise.   While Remy and the guys are working with the New Orleans police, they help on a real assignment to catch a drug lord.  As the tension escalates, this will eventually coincide with Triana’s quest to find her father’s murderer.   What follows is an exciting, tense, pulse pounding adventure putting Triana and her mother in danger; as well as pulling Remy and his friends to help.

What I love about this series is not only the suspense and action packed story; but Paige Tyler always gives us a wonderful sexy couple.  Remy and Triana had sizzling chemistry, and were great together.  She knew Remy was the man for her, and he was doing all he could to step away, so not to see her get hurt.  But when push comes to shove, Remy finds out that not being together will not protect Triana.  Her research into her father’s murder will put her in deeper danger, and he will be forced to find a way to save her, as she was in terrible danger.  Triana will also learn the truth about Remy and his SWAT members.   Will she try to stay with Remy knowing what his really is?

I love this series. It is always fun, exciting, sexy, with a fantastic group of characters that make up the SWAT team, and their eventual mates.  Paige Tyler does it so well, putting the story in the forefront and at the same time giving us a beautiful romance.  If you have not read this series, you are missing a gem.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

excerpt

 

Triana was having so much fun, she was disappointed when they finally reached her mother’s voodoo shop and the apartment over it. Even though it was after two in the morning, she didn’t want the evening to end yet.
“The shop hasn’t changed much, but do you want to come in and look around anyway?” she asked hopefully.
He grinned. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
Triana unlocked the door, then closed and locked it behind them quietly, so she wouldn’t wake her mom. When she turned back around, Remy was already walking around the dimly lit shop, taking in the shelves upon shelves of knickknacks that had mesmerized her since childhood. The overhead lights were off, so the red, green, and purple neon tubes that edged the display windows were the only source of illumination, but it was more than enough to guide her steps as she moved to Remy’s side. She watched as he picked up the various dolls, candles, beads, tarot cards, potions, books, and other trinkets that filled the store. For such large hands, he handled everything he touched with a surprisingly gentle touch.
“Everything is exactly the same as I remember it.” He turned to smile at her, a warm glint in his eyes. “Well, not everything. You’ve changed quite a bit.”
The heated way he looked at her made her tummy quiver. “Really. How so?”
Remy took her hand and tugged her closer. The tips of her nipples grazed his muscular chest, sending tingles spiraling through her. “I tend to remember you as a shy, somewhat awkward girl who was all knees and elbows back then.”
She laughed softly, a little embarrassed. Yeah, that was a pretty good description of her when she was in high school. She had been what her mom called a late bloomer, so everything had changed her freshman year in college, when her body had made up for lost time.
“And now?” she asked in a near whisper.
He bent his head until his face was so close to hers that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. His left hand came up and found her hip, slowly gliding back and forth across the silky material and heating the skin underneath.
“And now, you definitely aren’t shy, you move like a cat, and all those knees and elbows have turned into some serious curves I’d love to explore, since I’m smart enough to know what I want.”
She blushed at hearing him put all that into words. “No one’s stopping you.”
The glint in his eyes flared brighter for a moment as the neon lights caught them. Then, one of Remy’s hands was in her hair and he was kissing her. A moan involuntarily escaped her lips as his mouth came down on hers and his tongue slipped inside. He tasted so delicious she couldn’t help it.
She slid her hands up the front of his shirt and grabbed his shoulders, squeezing hard as she pulled him even closer, urging him to kiss her harder.
Remy must have understood what she was trying to say because the hand in her hair tightened possessively and his tongue teased hers more aggressively. At the same time, his free hand moved around from her hip to her lower back, fitting her against him so firmly she could feel every ripple and bulge in that perfect body of his. And one of those bulges suggested he was enjoying the kiss just as much as she was.
Triana melted against him, surrendering to a kiss she’d been fantasizing of for over a decade. She’d heard women talking about going all weak kneed from a great kiss, but she’d never experienced it or even believed it. She believed it now. If Remy hadn’t been holding on to her so tightly, she was sure she would have just collapsed to her knees right there in front of him.
Isn’t that an interesting thought?

 

 

theauthor

Paige_Tyler_

PAIGE TYLER is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast.

Visit her at www.paigetylertheauthor.com

 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

 

 

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NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour provider.


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Run to Ground by Katie Ruggle – Review, Excerpt, Spotlight & Giveaway

Run to Ground by Katie Ruggle – Review, Excerpt, Spotlight & Giveaway

 

My Dog's Day Job Final

 

Run to GroundAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository iBooks:

Description:
He lost his mentor.
He lost his K9 partner.
He almost lost his will to live.
But when a killer obsessed with revenge targets a beautiful woman on the run, Theo and his new K9 companion will do whatever it takes to save Jules before they lose their last chance at a happily ever after

Theodore Bosco, grieving the death of his partner, is reluctantly fascinated by secretive newcomer Jules. Although his instincts scream that he should avoid her, he can’t seem to stay away. It doesn’t help that Theo’s new K9 companion, Viggy, has fallen head over paws with Jules’s rambunctious family.

Or that when he’s with Jules, Theo finally knows peace.

When Jules kidnapped her siblings, whisking them away from abuse to the quiet anonymity of the Colorado Rockies, she never expected to catch the eye-or the heart-of a cop. All it would take is one wrong move and she’ll lose everything. Yet as Jules attempts to fight her growing attraction to the brooding K9 officer, another deadly threat lurks much closer to home. Someone’s gunning for Theo and Viggy, and they’re willing to take out anything…or anyone…who gets in the way of revenge.

 

 

Review:

Run to Ground by Katie Ruggle is the 1st book in her new Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series.  We meet Jules, our heroine, at the start working in the local diner.  Jules has run away with her siblings from a nasty step mother and has settled in the Colorado Rockies, with new identities.  We do get flashbacks about Jules,  showing us their escape, and how she received her new identities from her former employer.  I was not a fan of the flashbacks, but that fortunately they did not last long.

We also meet Theo, our hero, who is a cop on the K-9 squad.  While Theo is having breakfast with his cop buddies, he notices the new waitress, and decides to quiz her.  At the start, and through at least half of the book, Theo was very grumpy and moody, causing me not to like him too much.  He recently lost his partner to a suicide, and Viggy, the K-9 dog, who is now with Theo, was also badly affected by that suicide.  Theo constantly badgered Jules to find out more information, suspecting she might be running from something.   That begins to change when Theo becomes attracted to the sweet Jules, and meets her wonderful siblings.  Theo takes it upon himself to help fix up the cabin they are living in, giving him the chance to spend more time with them.  What follows is a slow build romance that grows over time, and also lightens Theo into a more likeable character. 

Viggy, the trained dog for explosives, is now gun shy and Theo cannot get him to do the work of a K-9 dog; but he becomes such a cute and happy dog when he meets Dee and Jules other siblings.  I loved how he was with the kids. 

In the midst of the romance, the sweet family & Viggy, the suspense and action within the story was exciting and very well done.  Besides worrying that she will be discovered, Jules life also becomes more dangerous when her life is threatened by an unknown villain. The last 1/3 of the book was filled with action and suspense, as well as the heating up of Theo and Jules relationship.

There was a couple of things I felt should have been better handled.  Though this is a series, and Ruggle usually continues the flow into the next book, I did feel that Jules should have told Theo the truth about her having run away from her abusive stepmother.  I also felt the Theo was too unlikeable for a bit too long early on, even if he did become better later.  Besides that,overall the story was good, and I did love Jules, her siblings and Viggy.  The epilogue opens things up for more adventure to look for in the next book of this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Excerpt

 

Her shoulders lifting and dropping again in a sigh, Jules stiffened her spine. She just needed to be confident. She also needed to not let the cop’s air of authority—as well as his muscled forearms and pretty dark-brown eyes—reduce her to the babbling idiot she’d become the last time he’d been at the diner. For goodness’ sake, she’d messed up her name. Her name. If she wanted to survive in her new life, she needed to step up her game. Firming her jaw, she picked up a coffeepot and headed to Theo’s table.
He watched her, his frown deepening with each step, and she fought the urge to slow or, better yet, turn tail and run.
“Morning.” She turned the mug in front of him right side up with shaky fingers. His wary eyes—almost black and alarmingly perceptive—took in everything, including, she was sure, her obvious unease. “Did you need a menu?”
Jules caught herself before he could respond.
“Sorry.” Her flush prickled her chest and moved up to her face to warm her cheeks. “Of course you don’t need a menu. You probably know everything on there by now. Well, I’m guessing you do. I’ve only seen you here once, but Megan mentioned you’re a regular.”
Abruptly, Jules stopped talking. More of the nervous babble pressed on her lungs, wanting out. Afraid to open her mouth again in case she started talking and wasn’t able to stop until she told this man—this police officer!—everything he shouldn’t know, she forced a smile and stayed quiet. She was turning out to be a terrible felon.
“Number three,” he said after another pause just long enough to make her uncomfortable. “Scrambled.”
“Got it.” Jules scribbled down the order, relieved to have something to focus on other than his too-intense gaze. He looked at her like he could see everything about her, and there were so many things she wanted to keep hidden. When she glanced up, she kept her eyes away from his, focusing on his left earlobe instead. “That’ll be right out.”
After picking up the coffeepot again, she began to turn around, relieved. A sound behind her, something halfway between a masculine grunt and a throat clearing, made her stop reluctantly. Jules focused on his other earlobe this time, trying not to show her renewed panic. “Was there something else you needed?”
“Where are you staying?” He bit off each word, making him sound like he was angry he had to speak to her.
The mild, unfocused fear blossomed into terror. Why was he asking? Was he investigating her? His frown deepened when she took a beat too long to answer, and she rushed out her response. “Um…in Monroe.”
“Where?”
Her paranoia was feeding her panic, and she gave a vague wave toward the north. “On the edge of town.”
If he narrowed his eyes any more, he’d be squinting. “The blue house off of Orchard Street?”
“No.” Her feet moved of their own volition, and she took a step toward the door. This job was too important for her to run out on her second day, but the cop’s questioning was pushing her to the point where she just wanted to escape, paycheck or no paycheck.
“The old Garmitt place, then.” It was a statement instead of a question, and the accuracy of the guess made her eyes widen despite herself. Jules knew fear and guilt must be plastered all over her face. “Heard someone had moved in there.”
“Uh…” Her mind raced as she scrambled to think of the best way to respond, to save this conversation from the quickly approaching crash and burn heading her way. “I’m not sure.” She barely caught herself before closing her eyes in exasperation. That was her clever save?
“Your address is Thirty-Two Blank Hill Lane.” Again, he said what should’ve been a question with such certainty that it came out as a statement of fact. “Did you buy it?”
“No.” Running was beginning to sound better and better. Jules was willing to do pretty much anything to get away from this man, this cop, who knew too much already.
“You rent then?” At her nod, he studied her. She stared back, determined not to say more. Every line in his body was held tightly, from the hard line of his mouth to his forearms to his erect spine. “What brings you to town?” he finally asked.
Her mouth opened, but nothing emerged as her thoughts bounced against each other in a chaotic mess. “This job?” Her voice was pitched too high, and the end of her sentence rose, turning it into a question. Jules resisted the urge to smack herself. Between her twitchy behavior and asinine answers, she knew that, even if he hadn’t been suspicious before, he would know for sure now that something wasn’t right. Her shoulders curled in as she wished for the power of invisibility. Either that or better acting skills—or any acting skills.
“What the hell, Theo?” Megan appeared out of nowhere, grasping Jules’s elbow and tugging. Although she jumped initially, Jules relaxed and allowed herself to be pulled a few steps away from the extremely awkward conversation—or interrogation? “I finally find an employee who can do basic math and doesn’t spit on people’s eggs, and she’s the one you inflict yourself on? Drink your coffee and be all broody, like you normally are. Quietly broody.”
The tiny muscle in Theo’s jaw pulsed with tension. Jules didn’t breathe as she waited for him to react. There was strained silence for several seconds before Theo spoke.
“Which one spits?”
“You missed my point.” Whatever else Megan was going to say was interrupted by the thump of the front entrance as it closed behind some new customers. “Be right with you!” Her gaze never left Theo’s face. In turn, he never looked away or flinched. The non-panicked corner of Jules’s brain was impressed with both of them.
“What’s up?” Another cop came to a stop next to the booth, reaching to gently bump Theo’s shoulder with his fist. Although the newcomer was wearing a congenial smile, there was a coiled tension to him. The way he placed his body almost, but not quite, between them and Theo said a lot. It was protective in a got-your-back kind of way, but it also showed that Theo had the lead, that the new guy wasn’t taking over the situation.
“Theo’s scaring my new waitress.” Megan’s glare shot toward the new arrival. “The one who can do math.”
“And doesn’t spit.” Theo’s deadpan delivery made Jules start, and an unbidden smile curled her mouth. Their gazes met, and the cop’s eyes seemed to soften for the shortest of moments. Even before Jules was certain she saw it, it was gone.
“Are those your only hiring qualifications? Adding, subtracting, and saliva control? T, maybe we need to look for a new place for our breakfast meetings.” There was humor in the cop’s voice, although his gaze was ready and watchful, moving from Theo to Megan to Jules.
Turning toward the kitchen while keeping a firm grip on Jules’s arm, Megan said over her shoulder, “Your food is safe, Hugh.”


 

 

FREE NOVELLA – AFTER THE END by Katie Ruggle

After the End Graphic

For fans of sexy, brooding ice divers
Motorcycle Club bad boys turned firefighters
Tall, dark, and silent wilderness guides
And cops with hearts of gold…
The end is just the beginning.

What happens after happily ever after? Now that the murderer has been caught and the arsonist is behind bars, the town of Simpson, Colorado has returned to its sleepy, picturesque former glory. Yet for the heroes of Search & Rescue, work is never done…

…especially not if the extraordinary women if their lives have anything to say about it.

Told in alternating chapters focusing on four unforgettable romances, this slice-of-life novella catches up with fan favorites from Katie Ruggle’s Search & Rescue series—proving once and for all that the end is just the beginning.

After the End is the fun and heart-warming epilogue novella to the exciting Search & Rescue series by Katie Ruggle.

Kindle: IBooks  /   Google

 

 

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