Earning JACKSON’S TRUST–Review and Giveaway!

jt-releasedayHi there! Today I’m so excited to share a release day review for a contemporary romance from Violet Duke. I really enjoyed LOVE EXES AND OHS so I was eager to read more of her work. JACKSON’S TRUST is a fun and flirty romance that blooms between a football analyst and a sideline reporter–but neither is who they claim to be…entirely. And earning each other’s trust, is well..fraught with difficulty.

Catch the excerpt, my review and enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

Jackson's Trust_Duke (1)About the book:
New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke kicks off her sizzling-hot new Fourth Down series with a friends-to-lovers romance between a no-strings-attached sports analyst and the hottest damn tomboy he’s ever met.

It’s no secret that sports analyst Jackson Gray doesn’t do relationships. What is a secret, however, is the reason why. Jackson’s life is…complicated. And it doesn’t help that his current hands-off “friendship” is with the cute-as-hell new sideline reporter he’s assigned to train. Turns out, not only is the woman damn sweet, she also knows as much about football as he does. Like it or not though, Jackson has to remind himself that sex is the only thing he has to offer…until now.

Leila Hart’s fast-growing friendship with Jackson is something she’d never risk, no matter how unbelievably seductive the reward. Becoming an NFL sportscaster has always been the goal, and thanks to Jackson’s fierce support and mentoring, it all finally seems within reach. Problem is, a girl can only take so much of that sexy-as-sin voice whispering dirty, filthy football stats in her ear before she loses all self-control. A workplace romance with Jackson is a disaster waiting to happen, especially for someone with big dreams . . . and secrets of her own.

Advance praise for Jackson’s Trust…
“I totally love this hotter side of Violet Duke. You still get the same sweet, emotional story but with a little bit of extra sizzle. Jackson’s Trust is a must-read novel.”—New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett

“A delightfully fresh read . . . Violet Duke delivers it all in Jackson’s Trust!”—New York Times bestselling author Jen McLaughlin

“Violet Duke’s writing jumps off the page and grabs you from the first sentence. You will love Jackson’s Trust.”—New York Times bestselling author Bella Andre

“Jackson’s Trust is hot, sweet, and filled with tender moments. Violet Duke writes heroes who make me swoon!”—New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan

How about a little taste?

“So what’s your stance on morning-after breakfasts?”

Her gaze never wavered. “I actually like cooking breakfast for one,” she replied with an honesty he could hear clear as day. “But,” she concluded softly, “I think that’s an irrelevant point for us.”

Coming from any other woman, the finality in that statement would be merely disappointing. Coming from Leila, his brain was finding it almost unacceptable. “Let me guess. You don’t sleep with guys you work with.”

She answered via a slight head tilt, before driving the point home. “This job is really important to me.”

Enough said. That was that.

Jackson did his best to curb the disappointment while he dropped his hands from the wall and backed away. “I don’t blame you. It’s a great opportunity for your career.” He grit his teeth against the urge to crowd her back up against the wall when he saw her chest rise and fall, at a pace that matched his own.

Hell, even the way the woman breathed was a turn-on.

Being the consummate professional around her was going to be a damn nightmare. But not impossible. He just had to focus. “So that brings us right back to why we’re here today; throwing you into the deep end so you can hit the ground running in this amazing career opportunity.”

Her eyes widened the slightest bit in surprise. “Just like that? No muss, no fuss? I’m now in the same category as Rachel, never to be flirted with again?”

He almost laughed at that as he swept another quick glance over her. Commercial-shiny, sleek layers of caramel and toffee framing her face, ultra-feminine curves he couldn’t spend too much time on without disrupting the fit of his slacks, and approximately a mile or two of toned legs. Seriously, she was superheroine pretty. Tough and sexy, with a sweet country rock goddess smile, and a hella cute tomboy way about her that she couldn’t hide. Not even under that chic thigh-high skirt and five-button blouse—yes, he’d counted—she had the rightfully held confidence to wear unplastered to her body . . .

The same category as Rachel? Was she kidding? Christ, she belonged in a category all her own. When you threw in her wit, fire, and football chops, Jesus, she was basically his dream girl.

“Don’t think it’s going to be easy for me not to flirt with you, sunshine. But I respect your commitment to your career.” So saying, he walked over to the refreshment bar at the corner of the conference room and poured them both some coffee, giving his brain the time it needed to shift gears and make good on his declaration.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

Because while he had absolutely no problem stepping back when a woman wasn’t interested, Leila wasn’t disinterested. In fact, all evidence would point to her being about as interested as he was.

She was just . . . off-limits.

A volatile combination.

My Review:
Leila and Jackson both have secrets. They are both haunted by families that have serious dysfunction–in Leila’s case she’s the “other” child. The one her congressman father only sees as a commodity to barter for political power. For Jackson, he’s well, on the outs with his half-brother who runs their late father’s company. At any moment, however, he might be needed to correct his brother’s missteps.

Jackson’s a well-respected football analyst with a fledgling sports network and he’s earned the respect of many teams’ management. He’s wondering why the newly-hired sidelines reporter, Leila, is allowing their producer to speak down to her, as if she doesn’t know anything about football. Jackson sees immediately that Leila’s putting on an act–but why?

Thing is, Leila’s a football guru. And a well-educated woman. Sports reporting is her dream job, the one she pursued when her beloved Gram died. Jackson’s drawn to her–because he sees her intellect, and that’s even sexier than her pleasingly-plump frame. Over the course of their time in the office each sees the little kindnesses the other extends to the rest of the staff. Leila’s a big hit with the management, well, until her SOB of an ex reveals some of Leila’s secrets involving sports gaming and gambling websites. It’s all a wash, however, and she win’s Jackson’s trust completely.

Just when we think it’s going to go completely right we get a squib kick to the guts. I don’t want to give things away, but I’ll say that Jackson’s big bro is at the root of the problem, and he steadily endeavors to make things worse. There are some harrowing bits here, I won’t lie about it. While Leila and Jackson pull through, they aren’t quite together…for a bit. I so loved how each of them made sacrifices for the other, both assuming they’d never be a couple again. It was charming in an O. Henry Gift of the Magi sort of way. Expect an HEA, and a football fantasy come true.

There isn’t a lot of conflict here–between Leila and Jackson. They have a mutual respect and grow to care for each other long before this gets physical. The conflict all comes from outside–mostly resulting from one or the other’s family. this is the first book in a series, and it’s likely the next one will feature one of Jackson’s best friends.

Interested? You can find JACKSON’S TRUST on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education ecstatic to now be on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romances filled with strong, unique heroines and memorably romantic heroes. With just under a million books sold to date, since becoming an author in 2013, Violet has appeared on the USA Today bestseller list thirteen times and the NYT bestseller list three times, with the additional honor of charting in the Top 10 across the major eretailers both in the U.S. and internationally. Her fans, who she just adores to pieces, affectionately call her books sweet & sexy ‘laugh & cry’ love stories.

When she’s not feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, Violet enjoys tackling reno projects with her power tools, trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first, and cooking impossible-to-be-duplicated ‘special edition’ dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. A born and raised island girl, she spends her days in Hawai’i chasing after her two cute kids (daughter Violet & son Duke) and similarly adorable husband (their ringleader).

Connect with Violet on her website, twitter, Facebook, Facebook Fan Page, or sign up for her newsletter.

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Out Today! MOSAICS: Stories by Women–Review and a Giant Giveaway

Hi there! I’m so glad to share a release day review for MOSAICS: A COLLECTION OF INDEPENDENT WOMEN, an anthology of poems, short stories and art that celebrate womanhood in all it’s terrible grace. All proceeds will be given to the Pixel Project to support the production of films that will highlight, and hopefully end, violence against women.

Don’t forget to enter the mega giveaway, including a Kindle Fire, a $50 gift card, and a paperback library, at the end of this post!

A project focused on bringing women’s voices to readers and celebrating the stories they have to tell. Including stories by Keyan Bowes, Carol Cao, Chelo Diaz-Ludden, Sarina Dorie, Naomi Elster, Jordanne Fuller, Ari Harradine, Karen Heuler, L.S. Johnson, Tonya Liburd, Kelsey Maki, Julia Ray, Patty Somlo, P.K. Tyler, Deborah Walker, Keira Michelle Telford, Kim Wells, Elizabeth Wolf, and Sylvia Spruck Wrigley

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.jsMosaic CoverMosaics: A Collection of Independent Women will inspire and shock you with its multi-faceted look at the history and culture surrounding femininity. If gender is a construct, this anthology is the house it built. Look through its many rooms, some bright and airy, some terrifying- with monsters lurking in the shadows.

Mosaics Volume One features twenty self-identified female authors writing about Intersectionality, including women of color, and members of the disability, trans, and GLB/ GSD* (Gender and Sexual Diversities) communities. We have curated amazing short fiction, flash fiction, poetry, essays, and art. It’s personal, political, and a great read.

This collection includes Hugo Award Nominees, Tiptree Shortlists, Pushcart Prize Winners, USA Today Bestsellers, indie superstars and traditionally published talents alike. The anthology combines leading and new voices all proclaiming their identity as Women, and their ability to Roar.

My Review:
This is a collection of stories, poems, and art from female authors collected into an anthology for charitable sale. All proceeds will be given to The Pixel Project to support the production of films that will highlight, and hopefully end, violence against women.

The stories are not related in any way. They are diverse, with characters who are of color, disabled, of varying ages, and in various states of control regarding their lives and opportunities. All together these stories represent many people, all female, who are taking steps toward empowerment. The tone varies from story to story, but you should expect all of them to resound with desire to better their situation. From the African woman whose husband abuses her and her daughters finally taking a stand, to the wheelchair-bound woman fighting Social Security to get her due benefits, to the elderly woman, shamed at the lack of interest she receives from her only child–the one she continually sacrifices herself for, these women want a life free of drama, and pain, and suffering. And they deserve it. And they take it, make it happen.

These are very uplifting messages. The characters empower themselves. Oh, how I gloried with the octagenarian stealing her own car back from her shiftless daughter. Oh, how I giggled when Captain Obvious had to cool his heels so the narrator could tour with Star Girl. Oh, how I felt the rage of gamer girls /deleted by hate speech, or Lilith’s impotence when Ya gave Adam the power to name all in creation. There are so many points of view to experience in this collection.

Length of each offering varies from short poems to longer stories. There’s a little bit for everyone.

Interested? You can find MOSAICS on Goodreads and Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win the mega giveaway, including a Kindle Fire, a $50 gift card, and a paperback library!

ALSO!!! For those who dig Facebook parties, there’s a launch party tomorrow March 8th beginning at 9am CDT. Tons of giveaways to be had! Click here for more info.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

Book Blast! DIRTY MARTINI 2: THE SCREWDRIVER–Excerpt and KINDLE Giveaway!

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Hi there! Sharing an excerpt and giveaway for the latest in G. R. George’s The Other Team contemporary M/M romance novella series. DIRTY MARTINI 2: THE SCREWDRIVER is the eighth novella in the series, and it’s advised to read at least THE DIRTY MARTINI, first.

Catch the excerpt, and the Kindle Fire giveaway, below.

thescrewdriverHRAbout the book:
Marty Lincoln and Chris Lawson are only happy when they’re in each other’s arms. Unfortunately, their relationship remains long-distance as Marty completes his final months in the Army. Chris has a new and challenging job that keeps him busy, but he yearns every day for Marty. Marty suffers from PTSD and needs Chris as his anchor. Time apart feeds the doubts each man harbors as they deal with their tragic pasts and try to hold on to the love blooming between them.

Will fear make them give up before they even get started? Or will love find a way?

How about a little taste?

Mid-August…

Marty pulled up into the parking lot of Chris’s apartment complex in his mid-sized rental car. The evening heat and humidity clung to his skin. He and Chris had talked at least three times a week since that first phone call a month earlier, but he’d really wanted to see the man again. They’d decided to meet up on Chris’s first weekend off since becoming day manager at the bar. Marty had the jitters. What if they didn’t have the same chemistry? The same spark? All their intimacies since June had been via phone.

Chris had suggested video chat, but Marty had been too much of a chicken. Living in the military made a man paranoid about privacy. He pulled his tee shirt at the collar to let in some air, mustering his courage. The heat exacerbated the oily scent of the recently tarred parking lot. He smiled, remembering the choice words Chris had about the tar sticking to his tires. The outside steps leading to the second floor were concrete. Marty gripped the metal railing. His leg ached as he walked the flight to apartment 3B.

He bit his upper lip, running his fingers through his hair, as he stood at the door. His stomach ached with a misery born of anticipation and fear. His impulse was to bang down the door, but instead, he simply knocked. Twice.

The door opened. Chris smiled. “You made it.” Chris wore a kiwi-green tee shirt that brightened the green in his hazel eyes and a pair of low-slung jeans that hugged his narrow hips. His chestnut hair was neatly combed, and his narrow, angular face was clean shaven.

“You look nice,” Marty said.

Chris stepped back inside his apartment. “Come in. You’ve had a long trip. The bathroom is the door across the way.” There were two doors off the living room. Chris pointed the nearest one. “If you need to use it.”

“I’m fine,” Marty said. The living room and kitchen were combined in the small apartment. Chris had a blue couch, a coffee table, a recliner, and a small flat screen on a stand across the room from the couch in the living room. The kitchen had a three-by-three wooden table, four chairs, a fridge, dishwasher, sink, stove, and limited counter and cabinet space. The place wouldn’t win any decorating awards, but it was clean.

“Do you want to sit down?” Chris asked.

“Sure.” Marty felt let down by Chris’s mild reaction. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but this congenial greeting hadn’t been it. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” Chris said. “Can I get you a drink? Beer? Wine?”

“Sure. I’ll take whatever beer you have.” He watched Chris open the fridge and heard the telltale clinking of bottles.

Chris brought two beers into the living room. The bottles hissed as he popped the tops with an opener. He sat on the couch next to Marty. “Here you go.”

The cold bottle sweated against his hot, clammy hands. He swigged the beer, glad to have a reason not to talk for a moment. They’d talked so much on the phone over the past month that he’d assumed they’d never run out of things to say.

“So,” Chris said. “Long drive, huh?”

Wow, this conversation really was going nowhere. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Chris said. “Yes, of course. Why? Is everything okay with you?”

“Sure.” Marty scratched at the small hole near the knee of his jeans. “Good.” Why was this so goddamn hard? He turned to Chris and waited for Chris to meet his gaze.

They both laughed nervously.

“Maybe you should kiss me,” Marty said.

These guys sound like a great pair! I sure hope they reconnect…

Interested? You can find DIRTY MARTINI 2: THE SCREWDRIVER on Goodreads, and Amazon (US, UK and CA).

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a Kindle Fire!!

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Meet the author:
G.R. George is the pen name for USA Today Bestselling author Renee George’s GLBT urban fantasy, paranormal romance, erotic romance, contemporary romance, and romantic comedy books that highlight varying themes including ménage, gay and bisexual relationships. A published author since 2005, she has written and published over 30 books in the past decade. Accolades include: EcataRomance Award for Best Paranormal Erotic Romance and Best Gay Erotic Romance and a Literary Nymph Blush Award for Best Paranormal Romance.

Catch Ms. George online on Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook, twitter, or sign up for her newsletter.

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Living a Lie: FIFTY PERCENT VAMPIRE

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Hi there! I’m spreading the word on a contemporary YA paranormal adventure romance from debut author DK Janotta. FIFTY PERCENT VAMPIRE tracks the misadventures of Astrid, a half-vampire, as she attempts to assimilate into human society.

FPV_cover_high_resAbout the book:
Living at home is driving seventeen-year-old Astrid Sonnschein nuts. She’s desperate to leave her parents behind, and why not, with stepfather George a foul-tempered old vampire, and Mom — well, the less we say about Mom the better.
Our heroine has another compelling reason for getting out of Dodge. If she stays home any longer she’s in danger of being transformed forever, and the last thing she wants is to become the newest Nosferatu.

She escapes to start a new life with her aunt and uncle, but soon finds out that nothing lasts forever. Living a lie proves to be more than a challenge, and Astrid is soon tracked down by the one person she hoped never to see again.
To make things even more complicated, she falls for Mike, a handsome young cop who has every last girl in town under his spell. Will Astrid be able to keep her guard up, or will her new love be her downfall?

Thoughts from the author:
In ‘Fifty Percent Vampire’ there are frequent references to the books your heroine Astrid Sonnschein is reading (when she isn’t obsessing about Mike Hanson). I guess there is some significance in this?

You’re right, the books Astrid is reading are of great significance. Most, if not all, are books from her stepfather George’s extensive library, books he has collected over the centuries. George is hooked on accumulating human knowledge, and he has influenced his stepdaughter in a similar way, to appreciate the very best of human thought. I wouldn’t say he is exactly brainwashing her; I guess this is normal. What parent doesn’t want to have some control over their offspring’s thought processes? Even after Astrid leaves Vampville and starts attending high school, she still continues to study the books George sends her via her mother, such is their importance to her.

At the same time, Astrid is also getting valuable exposure to her Aunt Jean’s worldview, mostly the various world religions, maybe a more emotional education than the masterpieces of science and philosophy provided by George.

In his own way George is helping Astrid to decide which future she wants.

Yes, I get the impression that Astrid has been rather sheltered in her upbringing.

This is true. Astrid spent her first seventeen years at home, with no contact to the outside world. It’s not surprising she now wants to spread her wings and explore. There’s also the matter of choosing immortality or a normal human life however, with temptations on both sides of the argument.

Interested? You can find FIFTY PERCENT VAMPIRE on Goodreads, Amazon, Amazon CA, Amazon UK, and Amazon Australia. The book is currently on sale for $.99 through the end of the week.

About the Author
D.K. Janotta was born and raised in England and Wales but now calls a chalet on a mountainside overlooking beautiful Lake Geneva in Switzerland home. He has worked in Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway, France, South Korea, and several states of the USA. He subverts the vampire genre to ask questions about and reflect on the meaning of human life.

You can catch up with DK on his website, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

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Cover Reveal: PRINCE OF THE PLAYHOUSE

Prince of the Playhouse Cover Reveal Banner
Hi there! I’m so excited to share with you the cover for a new contemporary M/M romance from Tara Lain. As you know I adored KNIGHT OF OCEAN AVENUE and KNAVE OF BROKEN HEARTS, so I’m terribly excited to read PRINCE OF THE PLAYHOUSE, which releases April 4th.

Don’t you just love this yummy cover?
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About the book:
Driven by his desire to become a successful fashion designer and concerned with hiding his questionable past, Ru Maitland lets his obsession with action movie star Gray Anson on the big screen replace his social life. Then obsession and reality collide when Ru is asked to design fashion costumes for a special performance of Hamlet at the Playhouse in Laguna starring none other than Gray Anson. Gray turns out to be a compelling mix of shy and brash and, despite a high profile engagement to a female socialite, the signals Gray sends Ru have his libido doing the salsa.

Gray Anson has what most people only dream of—great wealth, huge fame, a job he loves. For that, he’s given up any semblance of privacy and the right to say no to the thousands of people who depend on him and the millions who love him. He sees everything he’s ever wanted just outside the bubble of his life, but how can he make the compromises needed to embrace it? When Ru’s shady past crashes into Gray’s paparazzi-haunted present, both men have to learn that sometimes the only acceptable compromise is the truth.

How about a little taste?

Ru nodded and words blurted out. “I’d say you just bought and paid for the right to do most anything you want.”

Gray’s forehead creased for an instant, then smoothed again. “Okay, come with me.” Gray led the way through the crowd and stopped beside Chris. “I need to talk with Ru. We’ll be back in a few.”

“Sure thing, boss.” He turned to face the crowd as Gray pulled Ru through the doors that led to what could now officially be called Ru Maitland Designs. People crowded the halls. Gray muttered, “Well, hell.” He nodded and smiled as he kept exploring all the way back to Ru’s office. A couple of cameramen snapped pictures inside.

Ru snorted. “Had I known I was about to be preserved for posterity, I might have been neater.”

The last door led out to the parking lot behind Shazam. Gray glanced back at Ru. “Will an alarm go off if I open it?”

“Nope. It’s our secret exit.”

“Good.” He pushed down on the bar and opened the door, pulled Ru into the parking lot, and closed the doors behind them. He fished in his pocket and pulled out a key ring, then pushed a button. A chirp came from the black limo parked under the trees. He opened the back door, grabbed Ru’s arm, and pulled him inside with him. “Close the door.”

“Gray, I—”

“Close the damned door.”

Well, okay. He slammed the car door, closing them into a secret hiding place, barely illuminated through the heavy tinting on the windows. Ru turned toward Gray, who now full-on frowned. “Open your fly and lie back.”

“What? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I’m going to give you a blowjob. You said I bought the right to do anything I want, and that’s what I want.”

“Fuuuuuck me.” The words came out on a long, slow breath.

“We can do that too, but we’re a little short on time, so a blowjob is more practical.”

“Are you always practical?”

He gazed directly at Ru. “When you’re a gay man in the biggest, deepest closet in the world, you pretty much have to be. So unzip.”

“Hang on. You can’t just—”

“I can’t? I thought you said I could.”

Ru frowned back at him.

“Oh, you mean we might have something to talk about? Maybe I didn’t just spend a ton of money to buy sex from you? Is there a chance of that?”

(O.O) Whoa. I think this one just jumped a few books in my TBR queue…

Interested? You can find PRINCE ON THE PLAYHOUSE on Goodreads and Dreamspinner Press (ebook or paperback) for pre-order in advance of it’s April 4th release.

About the Author:
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her best­selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.

She lives with her soul­mate husband and her soul­mate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at:

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!