Wednesday, July 31, 2019

#NewRelease - "Quarterback Blitz" by Frances Stockton #Giveaway


Quarterback Blitz
Alexandria Griffins, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb

All Anna James wants for her fortieth birthday is a ladies’ night out, her plans stalled when she ends up stuck in her griffin costume. As the mascot for the Alexandria Griffins, she never expects to be rescued by the star of her midnight fantasies, quarterback Kyran Black. Dubbed “The Rebel” by the press because of his long hair, tattoos, and playboy stats off the field, he’s everything she should avoid…but still craves and Anna agrees to celebrate her birthday with him.

Certain she’s too old for him, she intends to guard her heart, but he blitzes her defenses, proving to be so much more than a legendary athlete with a media-driven reputation. But when their romantic weekend evolves into love, a blast from his bad boy past returns with a vengeance, threatening to tear their worlds apart.

Can their love overcome the pressures of living in the spotlight, or will they lose the future they’ve only begun to build?

Excerpt

Checking his phone, he noticed a text from Dallas letting him know the coast was clear. Good, one less thing to worry about. Sending a text asking his friend to bring his duffel bag to the hallway outside the women’s locker room, he hoped he wouldn’t need to go into an explanation. When he got an okay emoji in response, he relaxed and put the phone next to Anna’s purse.

He’d just withdrawn his hand when a terrible scream sent him running toward the shower room that wasn’t much different than the men’s.

“Anna,” he called out over the sound of water, steam flooding the whole room, her yips and yelps making his heart race like a jackrabbit. Sliding to a halt when he reached the last stall, he slid open the curtain only to panic when he realized he couldn’t even see her.

“No, don’t come in here. It’s too hot and I can’t reach the faucet to shut off the water.”

“Fuck that,” he growled, charging forward, the water pelting his shoulders making him hiss. “Shit!”

At last, he found the knob, requiring three turns before the water shut off. Waving at the steam, he found Anna sitting in the corner of the stall, hugging herself, her head bowed, the skin on her shoulders bright pink. Hating to see her that way, he sat down next to her, his back against the wall, his knees bent.

“Go home, Kyran, I’m sure you’ve a thousand things to do after a game.” “The only thing I need to take care of right now is you,” he assured, meaning it. “Can I get you anything, first aid cream, aloe? I’m an excellent masseuse.”

“That’s kind of you, but unnecessary. It was weird, you know? The warm water suddenly went cold and when I tried to turn the knob, it became way too hot and I panicked. I’m sorry to have frightened you.”

“That is weird and I’m going to take it up with stadium management ASAP. That should not happen, Anna.”

“You can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because they’ll ask how you knew about the hot water mix up.”“Trust me, I can inform them of the fault in the plumbing without bringing your name into it. I sure as hell can’t let anyone else use this shower until it’s been checked. Come on, let me see if you’ve been burned.”

“Um, I’m naked.”

“That’s okay, most people take showers without clothes on.” “And, there’s still shampoo in my hair. This was the last straw in a day from hell and all I want is to curl up in bed, watch a movie that’ll make me cry, and eat a gallon of rocky road ice cream,” she grumbled, her panicked breaths muffled when she dropped her head onto her forearm and cried.

“Don’t cry. Please don’t, that’ll kill me,” he urged, getting nowhere. Didn’t matter that his ass was sitting in water that was still too hot for comfort. All he could do was turn to her, take her elbow and tug, next thing he knew, she’d crawled onto his lap, snuggling up against him. God have mercy, she was the sweetest thing he’d ever known, felt. His need for her more than physical, it was down deep, refusing to let him so much as look at another woman since they’d met.

Buy Links

Any other retailers and links: https://books2read.com/u/m2rowr

Author Bio

My love for storytelling began when I created my first fictional characters in kindergarten, convincing my family and friends that Red Henry and Green Henry were identical twin brothers in my school. They were mischievous, rarely did their homework, and even had girlfriends! Years later, I started to write, completing my first manuscript in middle school. I confess the heroine was a cross between a contemporary Laura Ingalls Wilder and Nancy Drew, who’d been dating one of the Hardy Boys, but when I wrote “the end” I’d known I had more stories to tell.

To learn more about me, my books, and what’s coming next, check out my new website and blog: https://francesstocktonauthor.com/

Author Social Media links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francesmstockton
Website: https://francesstocktonauthor.com/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/francesstockton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francesstockton/


Giveaway

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Tuesday, July 30, 2019

#ReleaseDay - "Bad, Bold, and Beautiful" Anthology


BAD, BOLD…AND BEAUTIFUL
Published: July 30, 2019 by Perfectly Poisoned Anthologies
Paranormal Fiction

Synopsis

Ten amazing women authors.
Ten stories of paranormal powerhouses.
They’re bad, they’re bold, and they are beautiful!
And we’re not talking just about the authors.
Perfectly Poisoned Anthologies brings you ten stories of the paranormal featuring powerful, kick-ass heroines who take no prisoners. There’s no fight they won’t win, no argument they’ll back down from. Not to mention these feisty ladies of fiction are damn sexy. When these women get ready for action, you better stand back!

Amazon Links:


The Origin of Akari  - Alice La Roux
There has always been something different about Akari. One fateful night of bloodshed reveals her true nature. Japan isn’t safe for a kitsune and soon she and her family are on the run trying to evade The Council, a group who hunt demons and unnatural creatures. Suppressing her inner fox does nothing but bring chaos to her life and with the help of a new friend, she decides it’s time to embrace her true form.
But with power, comes great danger.

Amber Illusion - T. Elizabeth Guthrie
Amber Roberts is on a mission for NASA when she suddenly finds herself 500 years in the future and about to be sold as a slave.
She manages to get free and three years later becomes the best bounty hunter in the universe. She finds herself working for the king of Midnight, a vampire, and has to go after the very man who tried to sell her.

Love’s Cry – Casia Courtier
After her death, Vivian’s only memories are her name and Jacob Butler. For over twenty years she has watched over him. He is her one constant.
That is until his son Scott returns.
Vivian is beginning to learn more about her past, her present, and questions her future. No matter what, her obsession will never die.

Tango Fuego – Terri A. Wilson
Welcome to Tango Fuego, one of New York City’s hottest burlesque clubs, where the dancers are hot, and the drinks are cold. Bring your change ladies because Monday and Tuesday nights feature an all-male review that will tingle your ta-tas and moisten your panties.
Rosie runs her bar the way she ran her army in hell; everyone is welcome but follow her rules, take care of each other and don’t mess with innocents. For some, that’s a hard lesson to learn especially if you are an incubus yearning for your next high. Lester Fine is about to regret the day he met Rosie. She’s tougher than he knew, has friends in low places, and always gets what she wants.

The Black Silence – Jennie L. Morris
The Holy Roman Empire 1055 AD. Eyda of Villicus must defy her husband's command and return home, a place she left seven years ago on her wedding day. Her father dead, her stepmother imprisoned as a witch, and her two half-siblings vanished, it’s her duty to set things right. 
Nestled against the Black Forest, ten young children are missing from her home town of Groschen. No one dare go beyond the hills and meadows to search for them, as darkness encompasses the once lively woodlands. Armed with a sword and relentless determination, Eyda gathers a small  band of loyal companions to bring back the children and destroy the monsters which plague her people. Failure is unacceptable, she’d rather die upon her sword than return without saving the innocents.

The Grimoire’s Key – Andra Dill
Sometimes a simple favor can complicate a girl’s life. Kayla  Byrne—lynx-shifter, mom, and former thief—doesn’t mind a little trouble.  Keeping an enchanted pendant safe for a few days shouldn’t be that hard.
When those hunting the necklace target Kayla and her loved ones, this resourceful lynx refuses to become their prey.

The Huntress – Lauren Tisdale
Blood. So much blood. Luna Gonzales life was forever changed the day she found her entire family massacred. It was then she discovered the truth about her family’s legacy. Revenge and anger fueled her desire to see those responsible brought to justice - her justice.
On the hunt for the responsible party, she slowly unravels hidden lies that could alter her perception entirely. Luna locks her target on the suspected killer, only to halt herself in her revenge. Something within her awakens and she realizes not everything is as it seems.

Creating Darkness (Fiann Company 2.5) – Vanessa Ross

The Last Woodcutter – Krystle Able

Wicked Radiance - KZ Riley
They said there was a girl. A girl with hair the color of lilacs. Swaying in the breeze, casting its floral scent about.
Eyes the color of the brightest rubies the world had ever seen, singeing your soul when their gaze was set upon you.
Skin that looked like the finest china, as if a single touch would crumble the porcelain to the ground.
She may look fragile, but she was anything but.
She was fierce. Independent. And our only salvation.
Her soul must combine with the six. Together, they will reign. Together, they will bring salvation.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Andra Dill 
When not daydreaming about plot lines and characters Andra practices yoga, reads voraciously, and drinks too much coffee. She loves road trips and going off on wild tangents. 
Andra Dill Links
Twitter @aedill  
Instagram: www.instagram.com/andradillauthor 
Facebook www.facebook.com/andradillauthor

Terri A. Wilson
Terri is a former English teacher and librarian. She taught middle and high school and college. Now she works from home homeschooling her two daughters and living out her dreams via her stories. She began escaping into books a little later than most but was hooked after the first book she read. It has been her dream to give back to the book world since she was in second grade.
When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys binging on Netflix and painting. Due to her crunchy lifestyle and free spirit, she considers herself a recycled hippie. Her most important goal is to help others jump and learn to fly.
Terri A. Wilson Links
http://www.terriluvsbooks.com
https://linktr.ee/terria.wilson

Jennie L. Morris  
 As a self-proclaimed Anglophile and research geek, it's no wonder that Jennie L. Morris writes Romance and Historical Fiction with a flair for realism. Her love for learning led to obtaining degrees in Anthropology and Biology, which she often relies on during her writing process. Coming from NE Ohio, and raised on a small beef cattle farm, life was anything but ordinary growing up.
Jennie now resides in rural Kentucky, among the bluegrass and dazzling horse farms, with her amazing husband and their boxer Archie. When she isn’t reading or writing, she is feeding her tea obsession or perfume addiction, letting the scents and flavors fuel her creative fires.
Jennie L. Morris Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJennieL.Morris/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JLMTeaAndBooks/
Website: www.jennielmorris.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjennielmorris/
GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/JennieLMorris

KZ Riley
KZ Riley is 29 years old and lives near Lubbock, Texas where the wind blows constantly. She has been married to her husband for 7 years and they have two daughters together. She has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember and recently took that love to the next level. First, it started by being an ARC and BETA reader for authors, then she began her own review page to let others know of amazing books she was reading, and finally she came to the ultimate outcome: an author yourself. For several years, she played with the idea of writing a story and even jotted down notes and storylines, but never had the courage to finish and publish it. It was with the help from the Penned in Ink group that she put her fears aside and decided to go for it. 
Hopefully you enjoy the awesomeness she has brought you and you will be kind enough to leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. 
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this story and I hope you will read more from me in the future. 
KZ Riley Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18117951.K_Z_Riley?from_search=true
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kz.riley89
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/848759325303293/

Lauren Tisdale 
Writing was not something that Lauren ever thought she’d want to do professionally. After becoming a mother, she stayed home to care for her son. In between diaper changes and nap times, Lauren found herself embarking on a journey of discovering herself through written word; with stories that somehow needed to be told, and characters who gave her glimpses into new worlds. It was there that she began her journey in fan fiction writing with a group of friends. Something sparked and a passion was lit. With many other independent authors as mentors, she grew and learned all she could to master her skills. What once was a hobby, led to a passion and then became a dream. Encouraged by her family and friends, she set out to pursue her writing, finally taking part in National Novel Writing Month, which brought forth her first novel – Circle of Secrets.
Lauren is married to her husband of eleven years, Brett. Together they have one son, Payton and a lab retriever, Meeko.  She calls a small town in south-central Louisiana home. Staying busy is what she's used to, but it keeps life interesting. She has a severe case of Wanderlust.
Lauren Tisdale Links
www.laurentisdaleauthor.com
www.facebook.com/laurentisdaleauthor
www.facebook.com/groups/beyondthepages
www.twitter.com/LTisdaleAuthor
Instagram: accidental_author
 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7375543.Lauren_Tisdale

Alice La Roux
Alice La Roux is a dirty minded, foul mouthed Welsh author who dabbles in erotica, contemporary romance and fantasy. She’s a bookworm who drinks too much prosecco (is there such a thing?), loves her dog and is addicted to social media and anthologies. She’s also the owner of Indie Love, a company that hopes to bring more events to Wales through signings and retreats and support Indie authors in any way they can. 
Alice La Roux Links
 https://twitter.com/AliLaRoux
 https://www.instagram.com/alicelaroux/
 https://www.facebook.com/asmadasAlice/

T. Elizabeth Guthrie
T. Elizabeth Guthrie is the mother of two daughters, BamMaw (grandma) to two grandsons and one new granddaughter. She’s happily married to her best friend and works alongside him building their own line of live edge furniture. Look them up at Phunky Junk Alley.
She started writing when she was young after the passing of her mother. She said it was and still is a great way to escape to other places real and imaginary. She writes all genre's but her favorites to write are the same as the ones she loves to read, horror, science fiction and romance. 
She currently has four paranormal romances published and loves to create fantasy jewelry with a whole line of pieces that are inspired by the stories she publishes and future ones she wants to publish someday.
T. Elizabeth Guthrie Links
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/telizabeth.guthrie
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17630523.T_Elizabeth _Guthrie 
https://t-elizabeth-guthrie-author.jimdosite.com

Casia Courtier
When Casia isn't perfecting a new story, she is rubbing elbows with great literary minds and soaking up their advice for her blog. She has been published in numerous anthologies and will soon have a full length novel(la) of her own. She enjoys dabbling in different genres, spending time with her family, and computer design.
Casia Courtier Links
casscourtier.wordpress.com/
www.instagram.com/casiacourtier
www.twitter.com/casiacourtier
www.facebook.com/casiacourtier.author
www.facebook.com/groups/casiacrew

Vanessa Ross
Vanessa Ross is a jack of all trades. She is an educator, counselor, service dog trainer, writer, mother, and wife. Her passion is aiding others that have fallen on hard times. She comes from a military family and loves her country. She started out as an avid reader because she was told she would not succeed as a reader due to her learning disabilities. Vanessa refuses to let her disabilities stop her and read 550 books the first year. Then she was told she could not write because she has dysgraphia, she had a new goal. She has published multiple books, in the paranormal romance and mythology genre. What is her next project you may ask, helping others achieve their dream? Through this journey Vanessa has met so many people that just need some help. She has started a non-profit publishing house, A Valkyrie’s Muse that focuses on helping new and veteran Arthurs navigate the world of self-publishing. She is currently running free writing workshops in Texas, for those that have been abused or have disabilities. Opening locations in other cities is currently in the works. To fund this altruistic venture, she gives 10% of her proceeds to the charity.
Vanessa Ross Links
Newsletter: https://vanessaross.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1760240f18c112bf9ba0692fd&id=68a80ee7d8
Website: http://bit.ly/2TJ5Eb4
Vanessa Ross Page:http://bit.ly/2AkpIax
Book Bub: http://bit.ly/2DEUDlr
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2TKiPYW
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessa.ross.author/
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2QguzDP
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2SdIF6k

Krystle Able
Krystle Able grew up and still lives in Central Illinois with her husband, three children and dog. Krystle knew she wanted to be a writer when she won a book making contest in summer daycare when she was 9 years old. After 10+ years in retail management, Krystle took the plunge into writing full time in 2015 when she and her husband began a content writing company called TypedIt. Krystle enjoys being a multi-genre author with releases planned in the dark romance, thriller, contemporary fiction, fantasy, and paranormal genres. Always a reader first, Krystle's favorite hobbies include supporting and cultivating relationships in the indie publishing and small press publishing world, and talking about literature. She is currently finishing her BA in English Literature at University of Illinois Springfield.
Krystle Able links
www.krystleable.net
www.facebook.com/krystleableauthor
www.facebook.com/groups/krystlebookclub
www.instagram.com/krystleable

Monday, July 29, 2019

#BookSpotlight - "Dance or Die" by Liza O'Conner

White Oak-Mafia series

At the end of book 2, Unexpected Love, Steel declares his love to Tess and pulls a family heirloom ring from his hand and gives it to her. The questions is: Is this a sincere gift?

Here’s the moment:

“Tess Campbell, will you marry me sometime in the future when we get all this nonsense behind us?”

Her face lit up in pure joy. “Yes!” She then tested it on all her fingers. The ring was too large for even her thumb.

“I’ll buy you a proper ring later,” he promised. “Just wear it as a necklace right now. We don’t want anyone else seeing it. Not even Dan.” Nor her father, nor his parents, nor the men who worked for him. “But you need to know I’m truly in love with you. That’s a family heirloom that has been passed down for countless generations. It’s important to me, but you are even more so. I love you, Tess, with all my heart.”


Sounds sweet doesn’t it? But does he actually mean it? Or is he creating a situation to use to his advantage in the future? At the end of Book 2, he truly seems to love Tess. But does Steel even know how to love? Yes, he’s very happy to have Tess working for him, but then she is doing the work he was hired to do, plus she is creating the work plans that are required by the state. That’s his responsibility as well, only Steel has no clue how to create the documents required. Nor does he have any wish to. He’s been greatly relieved that Tess took on the task.

Only matters have changed in book 3 and Steel, from his hospital bed, lobs an accusation that would land Tess in prison for twenty years if it were believed. Did he always plan to do this? Or has his recent misfortunes put him on this path? Read the excerpt below and you decide.

By Liza O’Connor
Contemporary Suspense/Romance 

Blurb

Tess Campbell, mafia princess, has fallen in love with a British prince, who is protected by a Secret Service agent during his stay in America. Two weeks into their budding romance, Tess’s father, a psycho mafia don, kidnaps and nearly kills the prince and his Secret Service agent, believing she has taken both as her lovers. The brutal assault reveals the true character of each man and Tess must face some hard truths, even as she takes control of her destiny to build the finest state park in the country.

Excerpt for Dance or Die
“Steel is much the same as he was yesterday,” Sheriff Cobbs snapped. “He’s insisting you stole a valuable ring from his hand while he was being beaten by Benito.”

“Why would he say that?” Tess asked.

“Then you don’t possess a ring of his?”

“I do, but he gave it to me.” She reached in her shirt and pulled the chain holding his ring out so the sheriff could see it.” She focused on Sheriff Cobbs as he studied the ring. “When exactly did he give this to you?”

“Four or five days ago. I had begged him to make love to me, but when he discovered I was a virgin, he refused, saying we’d be safer if I remained untouched. I thought he was backing off, but to prove he wasn’t, he pulled this ring from his finger and gave it to me as he asked me to marry him sometime in the future. I threw my arms around him and said I would. He asked me not to show it to anyone. So I wore it on a chain beneath my clothes.”

“Unfortunately, he now claims you stole it. Any chance anyone else overheard any of this?”

“No. It was just the two of us.”

The old sheriff sighed heavily.

“I would never steal from him. I love him! Why would he accuse me of stealing from him?”

“He’s claiming it’s an heirloom worth half a million.”

Tess pulled the chain over her head and handed it to Sheriff Cobb. “I had no idea it was so valuable. Why would he give me something like that?”

“It might be because he loved you at the time, or he might have been setting you up from the first. I’ve no idea.” He removed the ring from the chain and handed it back to her. “The chain is yours, right?”

She nodded.

“I believe matters went down just as you claimed. However, that’s going to get you thrown into prison for grand larceny.”

Tess opened her mouth to protest, but the gravity of the situation left her mute.

He held up the ring. “So I’m going to return to the barn and find this ring near the post Steel was tied to. Then nobody can be falsely accused of anything. It’s just a lost and found priceless ring.”

“But Steel knows he gave it to me.”

The sheriff grinned. “I’m sure he does. But the only way he could prove you stole it was if I found you wearing it. Which I haven’t. I will find his ring at the barn, so to my perspective, it must have fallen off his finger while he was being battered.” He then eyed Tess. “But you can never talk about this to anyone. You understand?”

Tess nodded. “He really hates me…”

“He’s full of rage and you should stay far away from him. Had he succeeded with this trick, you’d be in prison for twenty years. And God only knows what would become of your forest by the time you got out.”

God! Steel truly hated her.

“Just put this all in your past and move on.”

“Can I hug you?”

“No, you can’t, but only because I was never here.”

He tipped his hat and hurried outside, rather like a reverse Santa who carries away gifts that would ruin her life.

She sat down in her Grams’ chair, shaking at how close she had come to losing everything dear to her over a ring that had been given to her in a moment of love.

Had Steel ever loved her or was this just a clever way of securing control of her forest? She had no doubt that the governor could and would remove her permanently if she had a criminal record.
Buy Links

B&N
Kobu
Apple
And more
Amazon - Dance or Die

About the Author

Liza O’Connor lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT


LIZA O'CONNOR’S MANY BOOKS

(There are over 50 now)

Investigate these sites:


Sunday, July 28, 2019

#BookReview – “Beauty and the Geek” by Sidney Bristol


Blurb

Professor Steven Kipper is used to the stares, the muttered insults. Monster. Disgusting. Gross. It's all he's ever known. Relationships suck when his date won't even go out in public with him, which is why he hasn't bothered. That is until her. The woman on the internet who gets his every quirk. He's hooked on a person he's never met. The way she gets his jokes, the uninhibited sexuality and…just talking to her. She's everything he's ever wanted, only she's a stranger. Unless he can convince her they should unplug and take their virtual relationship off-line.

Tamara Roh has heard all the insults from slut to whore and they bore her. She refuses to let other people define her. Life's tough in the gaming industry, and if she can't handle a few insults the haters will chew her up and spit her out. Her only haven is with her friends and in one very explicit chat room. On-line she can be anyone she wants to, even the normal girl-next-door who just happens to get off on dirty talk, erotic gifs and video chats from the neck down. She might not be able to trust guys in real life to see past the Hot Asian Girlfriend stereotype, but with her internet beau anonymity is her safety net. The only problem is…she's falling for a man who thinks she's someone else. 

Review


In book one of the Gone Geek series, robotics professor Stephen Kipper is having a sexual relationship with a woman he’s never officially met. They hooked up in an adult chat room and instantly clicked, but he wants more than just dirty talking online. Unfortunately, he has a noticeable birthmark on his face and neck, and most people think he’s a freak. Though he wants to meet Tamara, he’s afraid he’ll lose her after she finally sees his face.
Tamara Rho is a video gamer and surrounds herself with YouTube geeks and cosplayers. She’s had a lot of bad experiences with men and is resigned to dealing with sexual harassment. Though she wants to meet Stephen, she doesn’t want him to know about her crazy life. Once they finally meet, however, romance and love blooms.
I liked Stephen a lot. He’s a total OCD neat freak with emotional baggage. Women have used and hurt him in the past, so he’s hesitant about trusting Tamara. Luckily for him, however, she saw him for the good, decent man he really was, despite his birthmark.
I couldn’t connect with Tamara. She allowed men to take advantage of her and got angry with Stephen for standing up for her. She didn’t mind Stephen’s birthmark (which is great), but she brushed aside his insecurities and only worried about her own problems.
I liked Tamara’s friends for the most part, but I didn’t like the way they ganged up on Stephen for hurting Tamara’s feelings. He did nothing wrong, and Tamara needed to hear the truth.
The book is mostly well written, but the repetition and the characters starting a sentence and then abruptly stopping became tiresome. I enjoyed the story for the hot sex scenes, geek culture references, and for Stephen, but I wish I could’ve connected more with Tamara.
3 Stars

Saturday, July 27, 2019

#BookReview – “Studmuffin Santa” by Tawna Fenske


Blurb

Brandon Brown is the unlikeliest Santa ever to don a red velvet suit. 
His abs are more cheese grater than bowl full of jelly, and deploying to Syria is the closest he’s come to the North Pole. But family drama sends the jaded Marine home for the holidays, and lands him an unexpected gig as a part-time Santa. 
Jade King is hustling to get Jingle Bell Reindeer Ranch off the ground, and she’s not thrilled her sister hired a Santa with sex-appeal. The last thing Jade wants is a beefcake circus, and guys like Brandon bring sleigh-loads of trouble. But Studmuffin Santa proves more popular than anyone dreamed, drawing hordes of happy kids, lusty moms, and a mystery foe hell-bent on wrecking it all. 
The threat has Brandon playing protector for the reindeer and their sexy keeper, which is risky for a guy who’s sworn off happy endings and the whole Christmas mess. But as Jade and Brandon bond over Santa suit malfunctions and risqué Christmas cookies, they find they have more in common than a craving for gingerbread. Can they find a way to mesh their wish lists, or will ghosts of Christmas past bring things crashing down like a fat man in a cast iron sleigh? 


Review


Book one in the Ponderosa Resort series is a blast. Jade King and her sister Amber are determined to get their new reindeer business off the ground, but mysterious things have been happening around the ranch. Jade refuses to believe anything is wrong, but Amber hires a man to keep an eye on the property. As part of the ruse, he’s also playing Santa Claus, which draws all the flirty moms in town to Jade’s ranch.
Hometown football hero and decorated Marine Brandon Brown is back home to visit his ailing father, and he takes the job as Santa in an attempt to fight the demons in his past. Though he went to high school with Jade a decade earlier, he doesn’t remember her, but he’s determined to get to know her now. Jade, however, remembers him and his jerk friends very well, which hangs over their new relationship like a dark cloud.
I like the story, as well as the H/h. Jade was horribly bullied back in school, but grew up to be a strong, self-assured woman. Brandon had a bad home life, but put on a brave, cocky face at school to pretend he was fine. He’s now kind and honorable, fully aware of the mistakes he’s made, but he was pretty blind to Jade’s pain. On the flipside, she kept the pain to herself, so they’re both at fault for that.
There are few loose ends that I really wanted tied up. For example, after Brandon finally learns how his friends tormented Jade in school and how they still did to a lesser degree as adults, is he still gonna be all friendly and chummy with them? I hope not.
The secondary characters were really great, Amber especially. The reindeer were awesome, and I just love Tammy to death—such a good, protective Mama!
I normally don’t read romantic comedies or 1st person narrative, but this story was equal parts hilarious and heart wrenching, and I didn’t feel lost when reading all the “I” pronouns. Book two in the series is Sean (Brandon’s cousin) and Amber’s story, and I would love to read it.
4 Stars

Friday, July 26, 2019

#BookReview – “Secret Husband” by Normandie Alleman


Blurb

Psyche's new husband only appears to her at night and she's not allowed to see him.

At first she finds this strange, but before long she falls so deeply in love with him, she forgets all about the unusual conditions of her arranged marriage.

But once she hears the rumor that her husband is actually a monster, she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth. Determined not to be deceived, she finally unmasks the man she loves, and risks destroying the one relationship that has brought her happiness.


Review


In the 21st century, the Greek Gods of Olympus have returned to earth in order to rule and create some semblance of peace, but are leaning closer toward control. Everything is now high-tech and digital. Marriages are now arranged among the humans, who are considered little better than chattel, and love is no longer a necessity for most couples.
Psyche enters into an arranged marriage with a man she’s never met in order to pay off her father’s gambling debts. She’s a celebrity and longs for the simple life, which she finds in the arms of her sensual, secretive, and faceless husband Q.
I liked Psyche for the most part, but I didn’t understand why she never asked Q why she couldn’t see his face. She accepted his unusual rules very easily. Since the story is told only from her POV, I didn’t connect well with Q. Even though he later explains his reasons for his deception, Psyche is still made out to be the person in the wrong, not him.
I’m very familiar with the Psyche and Cupid myth, having read it often as a child, and I found this modern retelling interesting and fun. Other than a few minor typos, this novella is well written and fast-paced. I would like to read more stories by Ms. Alleman, especially the ones about Greek myths retold.
4 Stars