Tag Archives: Monica Murphy

Save the Date (Dating Series) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt tour

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Save the Date (Dating Series #1) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 25, 2019.

Caroline Abbott loves her job—helping engaged couples pick out the perfect save the date cards and invitations for their dream wedding. Working at Noteworthy means she has to deal with the occasional bridezilla, but Caroline’s always up for the challenge.

Until one particular bridezilla walks into the stationery store who’s fiancé happens to be the boy Caroline shared her first kiss with. Alexander Wilder is all grown up now, helping run his family’s successful luxury hotel chain, and is somehow even better looking than she remembers.

When Caroline just happens to catch Alex’s fiancée half naked with another man well, of course she has to tell Alex. Of course, he breaks off his engagement.

And of course, the ex-bridezilla has gone completely bonkers.

At least Caroline has her friends to save her from crazy ex-fiancées. But she also has the sudden interest of…Alex? Caroline knows they share a connection, but is he on the rebound? Or after seeing her all these years later, does he really want something more?

•••••••••

REVIEW: SAVE THE DATE is the first instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult, romance series. This is twenty-five year old, stationary salesperson Caroline Abbott, and twenty-eight year old, billionaire hotelier Alexander Wilder’s storyline.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Alex and Caroline) SAVE THE DATE follows the second chance romance (of sorts) between Caroline Abbott, and Alexander Wilder. Caroline works for a local stationary store, NOTEWORTHY, and her latest wedding client is none other than her ‘first kiss’ Alexander Wilder, her brother’s childhood friend, and the man with whom she will fall in love. Alexander seems oblivious to his fiancé ‘s actions, including the affair discovered by our story line heroine. As Alex prepares for a trip overseas, our hero is informed, by his father and company CEO he needs a ‘fake fiancé ‘ to improve his image as he negotiates the purchase of new property. With his fiancé no longer in the picture, Alex offers Caroline a trip to Paris in an effort to secure his business negotiations. What ensues is the building relationship between Alex and Caroline, and the potential fall-out as Alex struggles with the possibility of sabotage at a personal level.

The relationship between Alex and Caroline is a rekindling romance between two people who were one another’s first kiss, a first kiss where shortly afterward Alex ghosted our story line heroine. Years later Caroline will come face to face with her childhood crush only to discover Alex was engaged to someone else. The limited $ex scenes are passionate and seductive, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text but I struggled with the lack of perceived palpable sexual chemistry.

We are introduced to Alex’s former fiancé Tiffany Ratcliffe, and his father Mr.Wilder; Caroline’s boss Iris, co-worker Cassie, and best friend Stella; and French businessman Alain Descheaux and his wife Sabine, as well as their son Louis, and his wife Manon.

SAVE THE DATE is a story of family, friendship, second chances and love; a story of perception, power, and wealth. The premise is engaging and inviting; the romance is tender and suggestive; the characters are captivating and colorful. SAVE THE DATE is a energetic and spirited story of fated love.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

I head straight for the pickup counter, where I see my skinny vanilla latte waiting for me, my name written on the side of the cup in Stella’s familiar scrawl. Without hesitation I grab it, inhaling deeply before I take a sip. Just a tiny sip so I can savor it. I close my eyes for a second, maybe two, and when I open them, I find a guy standing there.
Watching me.
And he’s not just any guy. He’s cute. Wait, no. Not cute. He’s…hot. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Wearing a suit that fits him perfectly. I know just from looking at the fabric that it’s custom. Expensive.
He’s smiling at me. And I’m scowling at him in return because the caffeine hasn’t quite hit my bloodstream yet, so I’m not on top of my game.
“You looked like you were having a moment.” His voice is deep. Rich. His face…vaguely familiar?
I stand a little straighter. Take another sip of my coffee as I contemplate the man in front of me, because for some reason I still can’t come up with anything to say.
Listen, I always have something to say. But this guy. This gorgeous, well-dressed maybe-stranger, is leaving me a little…
Dumbstruck?
Huh.
“That moment you were just having. With your coffee,” he continues, gesturing at the cup I’m clutching in both of my hands, like it’s my baby. Which this morning—every morning—it is.
“She loves coffee,” Stella says from behind me.
Glancing over my shoulder, I give her a look, one that says shush.
“I can see that.” The amusement in his voice is obvious. He thinks it’s funny. The sacred moment I was having with my latte made him smile.
I wouldn’t mind coming up with other ways to make him smile.
Whoa. Where did that thought come from?
“What I want to know is, how did you get such special treatment?”
I blink at him like I’m an uncomprehending idiot. “Excuse me?”
“Well, I’ve been here for the last fifteen minutes. First, standing in line.” He gestures at the line of customers that trails out the door. “And now, waiting for my order.”
Guilt fills me. Just a tiny bit. Sweet Dreams Café is the most popular bakery and coffee shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea. All the tourists love it. All the locals love it too. It’s been in Stella’s family for generations.
“Yet you skip past the line, walk straight in here and grab your ready-made drink within a few seconds of your arrival. Do you have a Fast Pass?” A brow lifts, and I’m hit with a quiver. Like Cupid just drew back his bow and shot that arrow right in my heart.
Or perhaps that arrow struck me in, ahem, other places.
Who knew a brow lift could be so sexy?

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Thinking About You (Forever Yours #2) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

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THINKING ABOUT YOU ( Forever Yours #2) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt  Tour

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Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Qcrh5s

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 9, 2019

One minute I’m minding my own business at a party and the next I meet this woman who blows my mind. She’s beautiful. Smart. Funny. A little shy. I’m immediately drawn to her. We make an instant connection.

The problem?

Lady Susanna Sumner lives in London.

I live in California

I play professional football.

She works part-time at an art gallery and lives off her family’s money.

Her family is nobility. I come from a single mom who always scraped to get by.

Susanna and I should have nothing in common. But when we’re together, it’s…

Electric.

What are we supposed to do? Can we really make this work? I can’t give up my career. And I can’t ask her to move to California for me. All I know is, I want her in my life.

Desperately.

•••••••••

REVIEW: THINKING ABOUT YOU is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult FOREVER YOUR erotic, romance series. This is twenty-five year old, San Francisco 49ers football player Cannon Whittaker, and twenty-three year old, part time art gallery worker, Britain’s Lady Susanna Sumner’s story line. THINKING ABOUT YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. FOREVER YOURS series is a spin-off from the author’s FRIENDS series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cannon and Susanna) THINKING ABOUT YOU follows the building relationship between twenty-five year old, San Francisco 49ers football player Cannon Whittaker, and twenty-three year old, part time art gallery worker, Britain’s Lady Susanna Sumner. When the San Francisco 49ers are invited to Britain for an exhibition game at Wembley Stadium, all bets are off when our hero meets the woman with whom he will fall in love. Four days of sight-seeing and $ex ends with tearful goodbyes, and the possibility of a long distance romance. What ensues is the quick building relationship and romance between Susanna and Cannon, as they must come to terms with their plans for a future-together or alone.

The relationship between Cannon and Susanna is quick to develop; an insta-lust/love romance that is dampened by the scheduled departure of our story line hero, a departure that comes with promises of more including face-time escapades and sexting. Cannon likes to talk dirty both in and out of the bedroom. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Cannon’s 49ers’ teammates Tucker McCloud, and quarterback Jordan Tuttle and his girlfriend Amanda (You Promised Me Forever #1) as well as Susanna’s brother George; their parents Lord and Lady Harwood, George’s co-worker Priscilla, and Susanna’s best friend Evie.

THINKING ABOUT YOU is an uplifting and inspiring story line. The premise is imaginative and moving: the characters are sassy and flirty; the romance is seductive and captivating. The conflict is limited to distance and commitments.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one-YOU PROMISED ME FOREVER

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

“I’m thinking about how beautiful you are,” I answer Susanna truthfully. She really is stunning, in that classic, elegant way some women are. She’s just very…refined? Is that the right word? Her cheekbones and jaw are sharp, her nose is straight, her blue eyes are extra bright and her full lips are the color of a classic red rose.
Her cheeks are the color of pink roses, thanks to the compliment I just gave her.
“Thank you. That’s very sweet of you to say,” she murmurs, casting her gaze downward for a brief moment before she lifts her head. “I can’t believe we’re here. Together.”
“Why do you say that?” I feel the same way, but want to hear her reasoning first before I make any confessions.
“You’re not my type,” she blurts, covering her mouth after the words escape for a brief moment before slowly dropping her hand. “Not that there’s anything wrong with you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Gee, thanks.”
Her cheeks turn redder. “Oh goodness, I’m not trying to insult you, I just—I’m making a mess of this, and I apologize. What I meant to say is…” She takes a deep breath, exhaling loudly before she continues. “You’re not the type of man I normally date, but there’s something good to be said in that.”
She’s not the type I normally go for either, that’s for damn sure. She’s too prim, too proper, too sweet. “Like what?”
“There’s nothing wrong with trying something a little different sometimes. Clearly who I’ve been dating in the past hasn’t worked, since I’m still single,” she says with a self-depreciating laugh.
“I thought Dickie was your ex-boyfriend,” I point out with a wince. That is the damn worst name on the planet, I swear.
“Oh, it was never too serious with Dickie.” She waves a hand. Laughs again. “That was a long time ago, though.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know. Six months? Nine?” She tilts her head, as if she’s quietly counting back the months. “Eight months, actually. During the winter. He told me I was a bright light on a cold, dreary day once. That was nice.”
For some godforsaken reason, jealousy rises within me, making me clench my fists in my lap. “I guess he’s a goddamned poet.”
I would never think to say something like that to a woman. I’m not one to say a bunch of flowery nonsense to get between a woman’s legs. I’m a little more direct.
She seems startled by my response. “Oh, he wasn’t a poet. Not at all. That was probably the nicest thing he ever said to me while we dated.”
Huh. Well, I guess that makes me feel a little better, but not much.
And why the hell do I care what her ex-boyfriend said to her? This is a one-shot deal. I’ll take her to dinner, hopefully kiss her a little bit in the back of an Uber, maybe even feel her up a little bit too, and then we’re done. I’ll play my game tomorrow, we’ll win because that’s what we do, and then head back home.
End of story.
The server returns to the table with our drinks, making an elaborate show of popping the cork on the bottle of Veuve Clicquot before pouring us each a glass. I didn’t want any champagne, but when Susanna lifts her glass toward me in a toast, I grab mine and clink our glasses together.
“To new friends,” she says, smiling prettily.
“New friends,” I agree, downing most of the champagne in one swallow. 


 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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You Promised Me Forever (Forever Yours #1) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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YOU PROMISED ME FOREVER (Forever Yours #1) by Monica Murphy-Review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 29, 2018

I’ve got it all, they say. I’m the starting quarterback for the best NFL team in the league. I’m rich. I’m famous. I can have any woman I want, any time I want.

Yeah, I’ve got everything—except for the one who got away. How do you move on from loving the same girl since you were in the seventh grade? She promised me forever until forever got too hard and at nineteen, she dumped me.

By text message.

Now she’s walked back into my life. Just as beautiful. Just as sweet. Just as smart. More grown up and incredibly sexy…

We’re older now. Supposedly wiser. This time, I’m going to fight for what I want, no matter how hard it gets.

This time, I’m going to make her mine.

Forever.

••••••••••

REVIEW: YOU PROMISED ME FOREVER is the first instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult FOREVER YOURS erotic, romance series- a spin off from the author’s FRIENDS series. This is twenty –five year old, NFL star quarterback Jordan Tuttle, and PT assistant Amanda Winters’ story line. We were first introduced to Amanda and Jordan, high school sweethearts, in Monica Murphy’s young adult series FRIENDS. YOU PROMISED ME FOREVER fast -forwards the couple’s story approximately six years. There is a slight cross-over with the author’s One Week Girlfriend series with the mention of Drew Callahan. You do not have to have read the FRIENDS series to follow, but for back story and cohesion I recommend checking it out.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Amanda and Jordan) YOU PROMISED ME FOREVER focuses on the rekindling romance between twenty –five year old, NFL star quarterback Jordan Tuttle, and PT assistant Amanda Winters. Six years earlier Amanda Winters broke Jordan Tuttle’s heart by walking away without explanation or cause-a break up text that left our couple destroyed and floundering for years to come. Jordan’s college football life gave way to loneliness for Amanda, loneliness that pushed Amanda out of his life. Fast forward to present day wherein Jordan Tuttle is now an all-star quarterback in the NFL, and Amanda Winters works as a physio-therapist’s assistant. A recent television interview with Jordan revealed that he too, hadn’t stopped thinking about the ‘girl’ that got away, so our heroine decides to reconnect with the man that she still loves. What ensues is the rebuilding romance between Jordan and Amanda, and the potential fall-out as Amanda struggles with Jordan’s fame and the paparazzi nightmare.

Amanda Winters hasn’t stopped loving Jordan Tuttle but destroying his heart meant humiliation and potential grovelling for a second chance. Jordan knows that Amanda is the woman for his happily ever after but proving she is worthy takes a special kind of overture for his ‘pretty woman’.

The relationship between Jordan and Amanda is one of second chances with limited conflict or accusations; an emotional reunion fraught with sexual tension, and years of pent up pain and anger for our story line couple. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Amanda’s co-workers Cade and Lena whose friendship with Amanda falters in the face of Jordan’s return; Jordan’s best friend and fellow football player Cannon Whittaker; and Lady Susanna Sumner. I am hoping for a story line between Cannon and Susanna.

YOU PROMISED ME FOREVER is a story of friendship and love; second chances and romance; forever and a happily ever after. The premise is spicy and sweet; the romance is sexy and sassy; the characters are animated and enchanting.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Damaged Hearts (Damaged Hearts #3) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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DAMAGED HEARTS (Damaged Heart #3) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 24, 2018

After all we’ve been through, things are finally good between us. So good, I think I’m falling for Rhett, and I hope he’s falling for me. Once my enemy, he could now be my forever. But I’m still keeping a big secret from him. One that threatens to destroy us…

Jensen has stopped running away from me. She’s realized that we’re actually meant for each other. I need her, and I think she needs me too. Yet there are still secrets between us—will she hate me when she finds out the truth?

All the lies, all the secrets come to an explosive finale in the last book in the Damaged Hearts series!

•••••••••••

REVIEW: DAMAGED HEART is the third and final instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult DAMAGED HEARTS erotic, romance trilogy focusing on college students Rhett Montgomery, and Jennifer ‘Jensen’ Fanelli. DAMAGED HEARTS should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events, and cliff hanger of book two HIS WASTED HEART.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jensen and Rhett) DAMAGED HEARTS continues to focus on the secrets and lies between our leading couple. No longer determined to destroy the woman who abandoned her as a child, Jensen settles into her relationship with Rhett Montgomery only to come face to face with the deviant who almost destroyed her life. Secrets continue to build as the dysfunctional Montgomery family dynamics force both Jensen and Rhett to bury the truth behind more lies. The prospect of revealing more devastating information could blow the family apart, as Jensen and Rhett battle with the knowledge that infidelity is a by-product of the family DNA. The push and pull of their relationship, compounded by secrets and lies force Rhett and Jensen to reconsider what it is they want from one another, as Rhett’s family life begins to implode.

DAMAGED HEARTS is the culmination of three instalments wherein the growing angst and building anxiety, intrigue and butterflies surrounding the secrets and the lies falters in the face of several anticlimactic conflict resolutions. When all of the information, knowledge and secrets are revealed, the anticipated reaction and backlash are not forthcoming. There were no apparent histrionics or theatrics for the reader to observe as most of the confrontations were handled behind the scenes. There was a quiet acceptance and acknowledgment that no one is perfect, and life must go on. Monica Murphy’s slow reveal of secrets, and the bold and colorful characters will captivate your attention until the final reveal.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Her Defiant Heart
His Wasted Heart
Damaged Hearts

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy 

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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His Wasted Heart (Damaged Hearts #2) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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HIS WASTED HEART (Damaged Hearts #2) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

HIS WASTED HEART
Damage Hearts #2
by Monica Murphy
Release Date: April 26, 2018
Genre: new adult,contemporary, erotic, romance

ibooks exclusive:  iBooks

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 26, 2018

Jensen is a mystery I can’t figure out. She’s a liar. A thief—though the only thing she stole is my heart. She tried her best to escape me and by pure luck, I found her. In the very last place I expected.

No matter how hard we try, we can’t resist each other, and as we grow closer, she’s starting to reveal pieces of herself. Sharing her secrets, sharing her truths. Yet she’s still hiding something from me, and I can’t figure it out.

Soon I have my own secrets to keep. One that has the potential to ruin everything

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: HIS WASTED HEART is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult DAMAGED HEARTS romance trilogy focusing on college students Rhett Montgomery, and Jennifer ‘Jensen’ Fanelli. HIS WASTED HEART should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff-hanger of book one HER DEFIANT HEART.

Told from first person perspective (Rhett Montgomery) HIS WASTED HEART follows in the wake of Rhett’s discovery of Jensen’s job, and the embarrassing nature of the potential fall-out if anyone were to discover. While Jensen and Rhett’s relationship struggles with the reality of Jensen’s secret life, the Montgomery family dynamics grows more dysfunctional as the story line progresses. What ensues is the up and down, back and forth relationship battle between Jensen and Rhett, and the potential fall-out as Jensen’s past continues to threaten her present and her future.

Jensen’s obsession with, and need to destroy the woman who abandoned her as a child takes a back seat to Rhett’s inability to accept the reality of Jensen’s life. Dark secrets will be revealed, and the ensuing emotional turmoil find our couple at a cross-roads when a past encounter exposes the truth, and a dangerous predator is too close for comfort.

The relationship between Jensen and Rhett continues to be highly sexual; the physical attraction to one another is palpable but the secrets Jensen holds close to her heart are slowly unravelling to reveal a dark and tormented soul. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Rhett’s dysfunctional family as their own secrets and hatred for one another begin to implode. Jensen is about to be caught in the middle of a Montgomery family catastrophe wherein her own secrets are about to be revealed.

HIS WASTED HEART is a tale of betrayal and mistrust; secrets and lies; challenges, struggles, insecurity and self-esteem. The story line slowly begins to unravel Jensen’s past, the Montgomery secrets, and the possibility that love does truly not conquer all. The premise is edgy and revealing; the characters are broken, strong, and resilient; the romance is emotional and dramatic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one HER DEFIANT HEART

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Twitter / Newsletter Sign Up

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Her Defiant Heart (Damaged Hearts #1) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

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HER DEFIANT HEART (Damaged Hearts #1) by Monica Murphy-Review & Excerpt Tour

Read Today Exclusively on –> iBooks

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 29, 2018

Life can feel like a cruel joke. I grew up poor and motherless, with a father who never got over his wife’s abandonment. But now he’s gone too, and I’m dead set on finding the woman who so carelessly tossed me aside when I was a baby.

I want revenge. And I’m going to get back at my mother any way that I can.

I change my name. Start my new life in college, and just happen to cross paths with the gorgeous, ultra-rich Rhett Montgomery. He’s immediately interested in me, not that I’m surprised.

You see, I planned it that way. I meant for him to find me. He’s the one connection to my mother, and I’m using him, so I can destroy her. But I didn’t plan on Rhett being so charming. Sweet. Sexy.

And I definitely didn’t plan on falling for him either.

•••••••••

REVIEW: HER DEFIANT HEART is the first instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult DAMAGED HEARTS romance trilogy focusing on college students Rhett Montgomery, and Jennifer ‘Jensen’ Fanelli.

Told from first person point of view (Jensen) using preesent day and memories from the past, HER DEFIANT HEART follows our heroine as she sets a plan into motion to destroy the mother she knew nothing about. At almost two years of age Jennifer Fanelli lost her mother when the woman she no longer remembers walked away without looking back. Years of hardship and her father’s inability to let go of the past found our heroine planning to confront the woman her destroyed her life, beginning with befriending a young man she knows to be her mother’s step-son. Enter Rhett Montgomery, fellow college student and all-around popular guy, and the man with whom Jen would fall in love. What ensues is Rhett’s pursuit of the woman he knows as Jensen, and the potential fall-out as Jennifer’s secrets are about to be revealed.

Jensen, as she calls herself, struggles on a daily basis but having battled an alcoholic father for most of her life, wants revenge against the woman who broke her father’s heart. Getting close to Rhett Montgomery meant one step closer to her ultimate goal but Jensen never thought she would lose her heart along the way.

The relationship between Jensen and Rhett is one of immediate attraction although Jensen never expected to lose her heart to the man in question. Rhett is the perfect boyfriend, not what Jensen thought him to be, which makes her ambition to destroy her mother’s life, that much more questionable and confusing. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic, language and text.

The world building focuses on the growing lies Jensen tells to keep secret about the path upon which she has embarked. We learn how Jensen’s earlier years were filled with a mother’s rejection, a father’s loss of control, and a childhood marred by emotional abuse, and thoughts of being unwanted and unloved. Jaded and tired our heroine battles between head and heart wondering if vengeance is the most important direction in her life.

HER DEFIANT HEART is a story of struggle and rejection; hatred and vengeance; secrets, lies and moving on from the past. The premise is heart breaking; the characters are broken, colorful and charismatic; the romance struggles with Jensen’s inability to let go of the past.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

“Your friends are calling you,” I finally say.
He glances over his shoulder, then returns his attention to me. “They can wait.”
I’m surprised he’s putting talking to me above wanting to spend time with his friends. “Well, my homework can’t.” I gesture to the open textbook by my laptop. “Nice to see you again.”
“Nice to see you again? That’s all I get?” He slides into the booth seat across from mine, leaning across the table like he wants to get closer to me. “I bet you don’t even remember my name.”
“I bet you don’t remember mine either,” I toss back at him, tacking on an annoying giggle after I say it.
He makes a face, like he knows I’m fake as hell. “Jensen.”
“Rhett.”
His smile is back, wider than ever. “You should come sit with us.”
“No, thank you.” My voice is prim, like a snotty rich girl’s would be. Wouldn’t they find it hilarious to know that I spent my teenage years living in a mobile-home-slash-trailer park, in the decrepit old fifth-wheel my dad called our new home right before I started eighth grade.
One brow lifts. “My friends would love to meet you.”
“I doubt that.”
“It’s true.” He glances over his shoulder again, and they call out to him, a couple of choice words ringing in the air. The waitress glares, stomping over to their table to give them a lecture I suppose, and Rhett whirls around so he’s facing me once more, his expression full of amusement. “Or maybe not.”
“Go hang out with your friends,” I tell him gently, wanting to give the impression that I am the perfectly understanding girlfriend. He might not have those types of serious thoughts about me—yet—but my good behavior can enter his subconscious, right?
“Jensen. I want to see you again.” He reaches across the table and touches the top of my right hand, his warm fingers practically burning my skin. I snatch my hand away from his, my fingers trembling as I clutch my hands together in my lap.
One casual touch from him and I feel like I’m going to erupt in flames.
It’s terrifying.

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Safe Bet (The Rules #4) by Monica Murphy-Review and Book Tour

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SAFE BET (The Rules #4) by Monica Murphy-Review and Book Tour

Safe Bet Banner

SAFE BET
The Rules #4
by Monica Murphy
Genre: new adult,contemporary,romance
Release Date: January 10, 2017

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2iBpT8e

Safe Bet

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / ibooks /

About the book: Release Date January 10, 2017

Sydney Walker’s new job is perfect. As the live-in nanny to the most famous quarterback in the NFL and his beautiful wife, she couldn’t have it any better. Their kids are adorable. Her bosses are more than generous. Plus, there are hot football players at the house all the time. Life can’t get much better than this.

Until her life turns into an absolute nightmare. The media is abuzz with rumors that she and her boss Drew Callahan are having a torrid affair. Everyone knows the truth—except the public. So Drew’s wife Fable comes up with the perfect idea.

She creates a fake relationship between Sydney and one of the rookie players on Drew’s team. Wade Knox is forever indebted to Drew and Fable and readily agrees to the set up. Pretending to be in a romantic relationship with the hot nanny for a week—how hard can it be?

Crazy how it only takes one week for two people to fall head over heels in love…

••••••••

REVIEW: SAFE BET is the fourth installment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult THE RULE romance series. This is twenty two year old, NFL wide receiverWade Knox, and nineteen year old nanny Sydney Walker’s story line. SAFE BET features characters from Monica Murphy’s THE RULES and ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND (Drew and Fable) series, and can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Sydney is Gabe’s (In the Dark #2) younger sister; Wade is best friends with Fable’s brother Owen (Four Years Later-Drew and Fable).

Told from dual first person perspectives (Sydney and Wade) with a couple of chapters from Fable Callahan’s POV, SAFE BET focuses on the ‘fake girlfriend’ premise following the media reports that Sydney is having an affair with her boss Drew Callahan. Weeks earlier Sydney found herself homeless and in need of a job when she lied to her millionaire parents about college-the fact that she didn’t intend to go to college at all. Fast forward and her brother Gabe finds our heroine a position as the nanny for one of the NFL’s hottest quarterbacks, but in the ensuing weeks Sydney will find herself immersed in a paparazzi scandal when images of her and Drew Callahan surface purporting the sports hero to be having a torrid affair with his live in nanny. Enter Wade Knox, the Niners’s newest recruit, and Drew’s friend, and the man who will steal our heroine’s heart. What ensues is the fake boyfriend/girlfriend arrangement that quickly turns into something more.

SAFE BET is a story of family, friendship and love; a ‘one week girlfriend’ scenario that focuses on distracting the media from the lies they have propagated in the hopes of taking down a professional sports hero.

The relationship between Sydney and Wade is one of immediate attraction but Sydney does not want to lose her job with an ill-timed affair with her boss’s friend. The ‘fake girlfriend’ scenario is perfect until the heart wants something more. The cross over between series brings familiarity and some backstory to fans of both THE RULES and DREW AND FABLE’S (One Week Girlfriend) series. It was wonderful to catch up with Drew and Fable, and their expanding family, as well as Owen and Chelsea, and his rising star. The premise is sweet and sexy; the romance is fated; the characters are spirited and lively. SAFE BET is a lighthearted story with passionate characters and wonderful happily ever after. There is very little external conflict affecting the couple’s relationship.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Safe Bet teaser

Excerpt beige

“Drew!” Fable calls, waving him over. “Come meet Sydney.”
He starts to head over there and when he sends me a look over his shoulder, I reluctantly follow him. I really don’t need to be involved in this scenario, but I just can’t tell him that, can I? It would be rude. And I’m never rude to Drew and Fable.
Ever.
“Sydney, this is my husband, Drew. Drew, this is Sydney Walker. She’s going to be our new nanny,” Fable says, sounding pleased. She looks over at her husband with a little wince. “I hope you don’t mind that I went ahead and hired her.”
“Of course I don’t mind. I trust your judgment.” Drew turns to greet Sydney. “Good to meet you,” he says as he gives Sydney a firm handshake. She’s staring up at him, her lips slightly parted, her eyes wide. Full on awestruck, which is typical. He’s a superstar. That’s how most people look at Drew when they first meet him.
“Hi,” she squeaks, her cheeks going pink as she releases Drew’s hand. Her gaze slips to mine, and then flitters away. But that one quick glance was like a sucker punch to my gut.
The nanny is beautiful.
I take a deep breath, shoving my hands in my jeans’ pockets so I won’t do something stupid—like try to grab her. She has pretty blue eyes and a full mouth that’s made for kissing. Her curves are even lusher than I first realized. She has full hips and a tiny waist and shapely legs. But I can’t worry about pretty nannies right now. I have to concentrate on work.
It still blows my mind that I might play for the NFL. That football is my job. I’m a lucky son-of-a-bitch.
“Sydney, this is Wade Knox. He’s an old family friend,” Fable says, knocking me from my thoughts. I blink and look down to find Sydney smiling up at me, interest clearly showing in her gaze. Hmm. “Wade, this is Sydney.”
“Hey Sydney.” I shake her hand, electricity pulsing between us the moment our palms touch. She jerks her hand away from mine as if I burned her. Guess she felt it too.
Interesting.
“Nice to meet you,” she murmurs as she takes a step back. Like she needs the distance.
Even more interesting.
We make small talk for a few minutes before Fable takes Sydney back to the house, and the moment the door shuts behind them, Drew’s talking.
“The nanny’s cute,” he observes, his voice way too nonchalant.
“Uh huh.”
“She looked at you like she thought you were cute, too.”
I roll my eyes. He never says stuff like this, so what’s his deal? “Cute? What are you doing? Trying to play matchmaker?” I send him a pointed look. “Give me a break. I don’t need the distraction.”

 

Slow PlaySLOW PLAY
(The Rules #3)
by Monica Murphy
Genre: New Adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 13, 2015

Newly broke girl Alexandria Asher just wants to live a normal life. After her parents are sent to prison on embezzlement charges, she enrolls in college under her mother’s maiden name and tries her best to pretend she’s someone else.

Tristan Prescott is everything Alex is trying to avoid. A seemingly egotistical, lazy, rich jerk, she dumps her beer on his head when he comes on to her one night at a party. This only spurs Tristan into action. He loves nothing more than a challenge. And the beautiful Alex is exactly the type of challenge that intrigues him.

Despite her reluctance, Alex finds herself quickly involved with Tristan. Underneath that playboy exterior is a good guy, a sweet and sexy guy who she is undoubtedly falling for. What they both don’t realize is the actions of Alex’s parents are the reason for so much tragedy in Tristan’s family. And when Tristan discovers who Alex and her family really is, can he forgive and forget?

•••••••

REVIEW: SLOW PLAY is the third installment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult THE RULES romance series focusing on a tight night group of college friends. This is Tristan Prescott, and Alexandria Asher’s story line. SLOW PLAY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person points of view (Tristan and Alexandria) SLOW PLAY focuses on the building relationship between two college students –Tristan Prescott and Alexandria Asher. Tristan’s reputation as a manwhore precedes his introduction to Alexandria Asher. His acerbic personality, rude comments, and childish behavior are three strikes against our story line hero that continue to grow throughout the series. Alexandria Asher is a young woman who once had it all but her parent’s fall from grace has left Alexandria struggling to make it on her own. Meeting Tristan Prescott pushes all of her buttons because she is attracted to the man who gets on her nerves. What ensues is the growing love between two people who keep secret their dark and heartbreaking pasts where lies, betrayal and secrets will come to the surface and destroy everything they had together.

The attraction between Tristan and Alexandria is immediate but Alex has a difficult with Tristan’s less than appropriate behavior and sexual come-ons. Tristan is a man who goes for what he wants and he wants Alex in his bed and between the sheets. He is cocky and self centered; extremely gifted when it comes to the woman in his life. He is not looking for a relationship and in this the struggle between Tristan and Alex continues to grow. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

All of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters including Jade and Shep (Fair Game #1), and Gabe and Lucy (In the Dark #2), as well as an assortment of friends, roommates and potential love interests.

The world building continues to focus on the love lives of several college friends. There is a wide assortment of personalities that allows for a continuous growth in the character development. There are several references to ‘Sex in the City’ and if you are a fan you will recognize most if not all.

SLOW PLAY is a sexy and intimate story; the push and pull of heartbreak and passion. The premise is enjoyable and pleasant ; the characters are passionate and animated; the romance is tender and encouraging.

Reviewed by Sandy

About The Author beige

Monica MurphyMonica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Just Friends (Just Friends #1) by Monica Murphy-Review & Book Tour

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JUST FRIENDS (Just Friends #1) by Monica Murphy

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JUST FRIENDS
Just Friends #1
by Monica Murphy
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: young adult

Just Friends

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM /ibooks

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2cu3XZM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 13, 2016

It’s the end of summer. Just before I start senior year with my two best friends in the whole world. Dustin and Emily are everything to me. We’ve been inseparable since middle school, and when we’re together, nothing can go wrong.

But things aren’t always what they seem. Em’s turned into a drunken mess who parties too much. Dustin and I have hooked up a few times—and now he’s ready to take our relationship to the next level. Yet I’m not sure I want things to change. I’m scared if I take it any further with Dustin, our friendship will be ruined forever. Then there’s Ryan. The new guy. He’s hot. He flirts way too much. And Em has totally set her sights on him.

So when my best friend betrays me in the worst possible way, guess who’s there to help me pick up the pieces of my broken heart? Ryan. But he’s so confusing. Annoying. Sweet. Sexy. I want to trust him, yet he makes it so hard. What I really want is for everything to go back to the way it was before.

Before I found out that best friends make the worst kind of enemies.

•••••••

REVIEW: JUST FRIENDS is the first installment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young adult JUST FRIENDS romance series focusing on a group of friends whose relationships and friendships spiral out of control as they are about to start their final year of high school.

NOTE: I want to add that the author/publisher have labelled JUST FRIENDS a new adult story line but all of the characters are under 18 years of age, still in high school, and all of the $ex and romance are implied or fade to black,  therefore a label of Young Adult seems more appropriate.

Told from first person point of view (Olivia Hudson) JUST FRIENDS looks at the fall out between high school seniors Olivia, Emily and Dustin when jealousy, betrayal, secrets and lies destroy a life time of friendship when newcomer Ryan Bennett begins to push his way into the threesomes lives. The competition between girls for attention, and the thrill and fear of going ‘all the way’ heighten the insecurities and selfishness when our heroine Olivia refocuses her attention on the new boy in town, while the boy she left behind pines on the sidelines hoping for a second chance.

JUST FRIENDS is a well written but frustrating and aggravating YA story line with ALL of the earmarks that come with the genre: the requisite love triangle or quadrangle, jealousy, envy, mean girls, the popular crowd, selfish attitudes, drinking and drug experimentation, and of course the oblivious, absent or controlling parents. As I have said in a previous article, the three way and sometimes four way love interests are heartbreaking, angst-ridden, gut wrenching and occasionally annoying and condescending. And in many of the cases, the heroine is in love with both man-boys (or more in some cases) and vice-versa. Such is the case with JUST FRIENDS where our leading heroine –Olivia Hudson-falls for Ryan Bennett while still harboring feelings for her best friend Dustin.

Throughout the story we discover that while Olivia spent the summer at her father’s home, her besties Dustin and Em took their relationship to a physical level, not only rocking the trio’s friendship but pushing Olivia towards the new boy in town. Dustin claims to love and want Olivia but Olivia is too hurt to see beyond her best friend’s betrayals. And of course, new boy looks like he is playing the field and begins to pit Emily and Olivia, among others, against one another.

All of the major story line characters are not very likeable-Olivia, Dustin, Emily and Ryan. I could not find one redeeming quality that would make me feel sympathy for the emotional breakdowns or loss of friendship because at every opportunity someone is hooking up with someone else fearing a lifetime of loneliness or missing out on the popular party; back stabbing and social media exposure adds insult to injury as the friendships implode. The one saving grace is Dustin, who at this point is willing to walk away to allow the girl that he loves to figure out who and what she needs. The circle of friends ebbs and flows as relationship histories take center stage with all of the high school drama of battered emotions and destructive friends. And through it all, Olivia claims to be ‘just friends’ whenever the question about her relationships arise.

To be honest, I had stopped reading young adult story lines for the very reasons I listed above as my anxiety level builds with each consecutive story. The drama is over the top, the angst and tears are explosive, the friendships suffer from jealousy and perceived betrayal. Monica Murphy does an amazing job drawing the reader back into the world of teenage, high school drama but I am one of those readers who had enough back in the day –I was totally exhausted before the final cliff hanger.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Just Friends Teaser

About The author

Monica MurphyNew York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She’s a workaholic who loves her job. When she’s not busy writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.

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