Contemporary Romance

They Had STARS IN THEIR EYES–Review and Giveaway

SITE BT BannerHi there! Today I’m reviewing a New Adult Romance From Lauren Blakely. STARS IN THEIR EYES features a young paparazzo ekeing out her college tuition by following where the stars go–and the young private eye who up-ends her world.

SiTE-AmazonGRSWAbout the book:

A sexy and swoony new adult romance…

Celebrity photographer and college senior Jess Leighton desperately needs to crash the wedding of the year. Snapping just one pic of the A-list Hollywood couple tying the knot will pay her way through grad school. But with security tighter than the bride-to-be’s corset, she’ll need more than her camera and smarts, she’ll need help from her biggest rival–hot, British, motorcycle-riding William Harrigan, whose sexy accent can melt the panties off any woman. He’s the last person Jess should trust, but he’s her only ticket in.

William Harrigan wants one thing – to stay in L.A. past college graduation. With a student visa set to expire, the clock is ticking. When he lands a gig that pairs him with the beautiful blond spitfire Jess, he’s scored his best shot at living out the American dream. Winning her trust would be a whole lot easier, however, if he didn’t have ulterior motives…

But there’s no faking the intense attraction between them. Try as they might to resist each other, soon sparks are flying, as they devise a plan to sneak into the ceremony. But when Jess’ new celebrity client raises the stakes, she starts to smell blackmail, and soon she and Will are chasing down cheating directors, staking out clandestine trysts, and making fake IDs, all while sneaking scene-stealing kisses and hot nights together.


The audience loves a happy ending, but in a town where everyone’s acting and no one’s playing by the rules, can Jess and William find their own ever after in time?

**Stars in Their Eyes is the start of the sexy, swoony and scandalous new adult series Wrapped Up in Love, which is a spin-off of the NYT and USA Today Bestselling Caught Up in Love series. You don’t need to have read Caught Up in Love to follow this new series, but you’ll likely enjoy those books!*
Starsintheireyeskisses

20141017-075152.jpgMy Review:
The review copy I read contained the novella A STARSTRUCK KISS, which introduces us to Jess Leighton and William Harrigan. Jess is a college senior and has been a paparazzo for the past few years. Her family’s fortune disappeared in her high school years leaving her without a college fund, but this didn’t stop Her. She’s got a regular contact who feeds her tips and she returns the favors with photos for cash as she slowly builds her money up to pay for medical school. She is driven and focused, and fears she has new competition from her tipster in the for of sexy, British college student William.

William is a terrible paparazzo. He knows virtually nothing of celebrities, and seems more interested in tracking down Jess than a good pic, but he needs a real job in the US if he wants to stay here. And BOY does he want to stay–especially after meeting acid-tongued Jess. She pushes all his naughty buttons. Jess rebuffs William, at first. She’s had serious problems losing herself in a guy before–and she won’t sacrifice her grades to spend time with William. Problem is, the more time they spend staking out star sightings, the more their camaraderie builds and the more her attraction grows.

Jess has a lead on the Wedding of the Year pic, one whose sale would yield enough money to cover a good bit of med school, but blows it in favor of saving the dog of uber-famous sister-of-the-bride, Riley Belle. Riley’s gratitude is palpable, and Jess is sure she has an in on the wedding shots, if she treads carefully. Unfortunately, she discovers William to be a sham of a paparazzo about this time, right when she started falling for him.

What William has going for him, however, is an invite to Riley’s sister’s wedding, and he’ll bring Jess if she’ll divulge her secrets to paparazzo-life. It’s kind of a no-brainer proposition.

STARS IN THER EYES picks up with Jess and William planning the bust into Riley Belle’s sister’s wedding, and Jess selling down-and-dirty shots of Riley canoodling with her director. Jess has a serious crisis of conscience that William solves with a bit of his detective work. The romance between William and Jess sparks and it gets mostly-down-and-pretty-dirty, too.

The complications are real, and portrayed realistically. William struggles to land a permanent job to support a work visa while Jess struggles with her feelings, and her disappointments–especially questioning if William is honest with her, or not. Does he really care for her, or is he playing her? If so, at what cost? Jess has suffered from bulimia in the past, and she’s afraid it will re-trigger if she gets attached to William only to find he’s using her…

Jess suffers a mini-breakdown over her relationship with William while having lunch with Riley, even confessing her whole sordid double-life as a paparazzo and the results? True Hollywood. The book is an HEA at the very, final end, but the getting there is fraught with tension. I really enjoyed both Jess and William, though I felt their connection was a bit rushed. Also, as a mother of a child with ED-NOS (eating disorder, not otherwise specified) I had issues with Jess’s bulimia. She has a seriously unhealthy relationship with food, even if she isn’t binge/purge at this time; I wouldn’t want any reader to mistake Jess for “cured,” or even managed.

The smexytimes are good. Because this relationship develops in a compressed timeframe, the “slower build” of their intimacy is kinda misleading. Still, it’s well-written with plenty of emotional grounding.

Interested? You can find STARS IN THEIR EYES on Goodreads, Amazon, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble. A STARSTRUCK KISS is also available, FREE, and it should be read first, in my opinion. Grab it off Amazon, B&N, iBooks or Kobo.

Author PhotoAbout Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

Links:

Website** Facebook** Twitter** Goodreads ** STARS IN THEIR EYES Goodreads

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Inkslinger

Lots of Love Found in NO WEDDINGS and ONE FUNERAL–Reviews

Hi there! Today I’m sharing two New Adult romances from the husband-and-wife writing team of Kat and Stone Bastion. I had really enjoyed Kat’s time traveling/supernatural/Scottish mysticism series, and this contemporary work has scratched a whole other itch. The No Weddings series is a 4-book effort following the romance of a disillusioned business student/entrepreneur Cade Michaelson, and jilted cupcakery owner Hannah Martin.

No Weddings (No Weddings, #1)About NO WEDDINGS (Book One):

I think I have my act together as a successful bar owner, my master’s degree within reach, and a list of no-strings-attached women warming my bed. Turns out, I don’t.

Hannah believes she has safeguarded her wounded heart by shunning men and focusing on her new baking business. The thing is, she hasn’t.

When my three sisters and I form an event-planning business with Hannah as our baker, I have no idea how my life is about to change. As Hannah and I work closely together, the attraction between us becomes irresistible. And complicated. I’ve promised my sisters I wouldn’t mix business with pleasure. But I’ve never been one to follow the rules

My Review:
Cade is a cad. Well, yeah. He is. He’s 24 and had his heart obliterated on Valentine’s Day two years ago, so he only has friends-with-benefits, now. Unfortunately, he’s attracted to his new business associate, Hannah.

Hannah’s an Ice Queen, or so Cade thinks at their first meeting. As he gets to know her, he finds out she’s been deeply hurt, too. More so than even Cade it seems. Can these two wounded hearts find solace in each other?

Okay, this book is told through Cade’s POV, which is pretty refreshing. He’s a decent guy, so long as he’s got control. And Hannah makes him lose it–so he’s a bit ruthless. Okay, not exactly ruthless. More like manipulative. Her business of cake/pastry art is new, and needs help. He’s got connections and knowledge. If she agrees to cook for him, and his buddies, a few nights a week, then Cade will share his business acumen as a start-up coach. It’s kind of a lame set-up, which Cade fully acknowledges, but he wants to know more about Hannah and relishes the time he gets to spend with her at these meals and afterward as he consults with her. He’s sworn to his three sisters (and business partners) that he won’t get physical with Hannah, but it’s hard to stay focused on what he SHOULD do, when he’s getting closer and closer to her. And finding he likes her very, very, much.

So much, he’s willing to ditch his list of female companions….for good.

I liked this one. It’s got a whole lot of sexual tension, without the usual girl-flops-into-bed-the-second-time-they-meet happening. No, Cade is very patient, realizing that both he and Hannah need a lot of work to get to the point where they can emotionally connect. A true friendship is developed, and the weight of that is heavy: how will they proceed if they begin a relationship and it fizzles? Their professional life will suffer, but they NEED the friendship, almost more than anything physical.

In fact, I wasn’t disappointed by the ending, because I really felt so ‘in tune’ with the characters that I was sure everything romantic would be working out in the next book. This isn’t a typical new adult romance, and I think that made it stand out re, for me. I was on constant edge, waiting to see if Cade and Hannah would take THE NEXT STEP, that all the side-steps only ramped up my interest. Plus, for all that he’s a cad, Cade is an interesting narrator. Hannah is a strong woman, with serious goals and a passion for her work. She doesn’t fall for Cade’s BS, and gives him some serious friction–in the relationship department. Cade’s sisters make for a fun cast of supporting characters; looking forward to seeing them in later books.

Interested? You can find NO WEDDINGS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One Funeral (No Weddings, #2)And, ONE FUNERAL (Book Two):
I’m drawn to Cade as he charms his way into more of my life and offers me something I truly haven’t ever had: a friend. Yet his humor, patience, and drop-dead sexiness take my breath away, and I know my heart is at risk. I want to move forward but am terrified I can’t.

Cade seems to have it together from his own devastating heartache. His subtle actions, however, suggest a different story. And even though he says he wants more, I wonder if he’s able to trust in our developing relationship.

As we navigate through our tangled feelings, we vow to take it slow. Yet no matter how careful we try to be, things between us intensify—and there’s nothing we can do, or want to do, to stop it.

But the biggest question remains: Is chemistry enough to move beyond the past and toward a future together?

My Review:
This second book of the series features Hannah’s POV throughout. Hannah has survived being jilted, but barely. In her life she’s had few close relationships; her mother died years ago, but they weren’t close. Raised by her (now deceased) grandparents, she had the closest connection with her Gran, who died a year ago. Embarking on a relationship with Cade is a REALLY big deal for her, and it’s good that Cade is really understanding.

In fact, with his encouragement, Hannah seeks counseling. Therapy does a world of good as Hannah challenges herself to step out of her comfort zone and make friends, not only with Cade’s sister, but with fellow business owners in her community. And, she challenges Cade to claim her in a public way with his family and friends–though they were non-dating “exclusively” openly embracing Cade helped quell Hannah’s relationship anxiety.

I enjoyed watching Hannah crawl out of her shell. Like NO WEDDINGS, ONE FUNERAL is long on sexual tension. Cade and Hannah spend lots of time together, but the attraction only simmers, it never overboils the pot…well, until the end. There are some humorous moments, and Hannah’s slightly snide narration made for a fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages. The constant push of innuendo, and super-sexy HEA puts this book in the Grown-Up category.

Interested? You can find ONE FUNERAL on Goodreads, Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
I received a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

About the Authors:

Award-winning and bestselling romance author Kat Bastion has teamed up with her husband Stone Bastion to create the new contemporary romance series No Weddings.

A few factoids about the writing team…

Kat enjoys her chocolate rich and dark, her music edgy and soul-filling, and her vacations exotic with toes dug into the sand. And she’s wildly, madly, deeply in love with Stone.

Stone likes pounding the trails on a mountain bike, vibrating the sound system with rock music, and down time spent on a stand up paddleboard. And he loves Kat wildly, madly, deeply…and then some.

Together, they’re having a blast bringing fun-filled romantic stories to life and hope you’ll join them in the exciting adventure.

Kat’s first published work, Utterly Loved, was a twentieth anniversary gift of love poems to Stone that they decided to share with the world to benefit charity. Net proceeds from Utterly Loved, and a portion of net proceeds from all their books, go toward charities involved in the fight against human trafficking.

Kat and Stone live amid the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Visit their blog, website, and their Twitter accounts (Kat and Stone) for more information.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

They Were MAKING HEADLINES–Review and Giveaway

image
Hi there! Today I’m reviewing a New Adult romance newly released by Erin Brown. (For those who got an incomplete post yesterday, I’ll have to plead trackpad failure, and I have the work order from the Apple Store to prove it!) MAKING HEADLINES is a book about making mistakes, making due, and making even, and I really enjoyed it.

imageAbout the book:
When a one-night stand turns into an online photo scandal, Sophie Tucker and Luke McGraw become campus celebrities overnight for all the wrong reasons.

Sophie Tucker can’t wait to start her freshman year of college—she has a full scholarship to her dream school and her sights set on landing a coveted staff writer position on the college newspaper. But when a scandalous photo from a one night stand she barely remembers is posted on The Score List, a new tabloid-style gossip site the campus is buzzing about, Sophie realizes her freshman year isn’t going to be what she imagined. As more photos are posted, Sophie decides to use her journalistic prowess to take down the anonymous person behind the site.

Luke McGraw is that guy—the vice president of his fraternity, the online editor of the school newspaper, and the one every girl wants to date. When a photo of Sophie, the girl he hooked up with the night before classes started and can’t get out of his head, shows up on The Score List, he knows that he has to find out who is behind the site—both to avenge Sophie, and to save the reputation of his fraternity.

When Sophie and Luke realize they’re both investigating, they decide to team up. But focusing on the investigation instead of each other proves difficult, especially when neither of them are sure the other can be trusted.

In a story full of the scandal, mystery, intrigue, friendship, and cheeky, sexy romance, Making Headlines channels Veronica Mars and Greek, in the companion novel to Taking Flight.

My Review:
I’m just gonna say this, being a college freshman is hard. But Sophie Tucker makes it really hard. There were a few times her antics made me shake my head, and her fictional travails are no blueprint for How To on campus life, more the opposite.

The first day of classes Sophie wakes up hungover in a strange man’s bed. She doesn’t know his name, but he remembers all of the night prior, and he’s actually decent enough to accompany her on the Walk of Shame. Aside: There’s a LOT in the news about date rape on college campuses and bedding a gal who is wasted is REALLY not something I condone…ever. That said, what is described in this book, a gal pounding away at the booze and being coherent, but completely uninhibited, is not an unlikely scenario. Sophie doesn’t feel like she was raped, but she does feel that she made a VERY POOR CHOICE. (We agree on this.)

After hearing from her roommate that her mystery bedmate is a well-known player, and newspaper editor Luke McGraw, Sophie’s even more mortified, but she plays this down as a life decision she’d rather not repeat. And, she tells this to Luke when she sees him after her class that morning. Luke was actually hoping for a second, sober, shot at dating Sophie, but has other business to address first. Turns out some jackwad posted pictures of her and Luke from the night before and that morning’s walk home online in some online rag calling itself The Score List. The pics aren’t nude, but they are suggestive, and label Sophie as a slut in the inaugural post, and that is really problematic.

Luke suspects he was the original target, well the one who was meant to be hurt–which is odd because he’d been all but cropped out of the pics. He actually confesses to being Sophie’s partner when he learns there will be an exposé of the Score List website in order to lessen the fallout on Sophie. So, Luke is portrayed in a pretty positive light. He’s attracted to Sophie–for more than her looks–and eagerly wants to shut down the Score List, as its updates have featured five students, so far.

Sophie uses Luke’s interest to her advantage–keep your enemies closer, amiright?–and actually begins to get some feels for Luke, putting her in the awkward position of investigating her pseudo-boyfriend. Can’t fault her logic: He had the opportunity to get the pics taken, and he’s an editor of the school’s online newspaper, so he knows how to work a website. Her suspicions end up getting back to Luke, however, which sours the romance factor. Still, these two continue to seek out the mastermind of the Score List, Sophie going “undercover” to link up with computer programming majors to assist with the online hack-jobs while Luke hunts down the original photographer and sets up a sting to catch the webmaster.

It’s actually a well-plotted contemporary mystery, with appropriate calls to question ethics in journalism, morals in society, and the interpersonal dynamics of campus life. Despite being a legacy Sophie is shunned by all sororities (even her mother’s house) after her “scandal” and she deals with her mother’s disappointment in a mature way. Even her manner of brushing off the Score List is pretty badass. Lots of people would cower, afraid for more notoriety, but Sophie screws her courage to the sticking place and eventually triumphs over the scandal.

And, speaking of sticking, Luke sticks around. He’s found a partner in Sophie, even if she’s a bit too cavalier to accept his overtures, at first. Apparently a crap previous boyfriend put her off relationships, but Luke’s steadfastness eventually wears down her resistance. This New Adult romance is a bit mature–some scenes of hard partying and casual-ish sex probably elevate it out of YA, but Sophie’s a college freshman so I think it will resonate as a “cautionary tale” for some upper YA readers. While this book is part of a planned series, there is no cliffhanger.

Interested? You can find MAKING HEADLINES on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBook Store, and Smashwords.

imageAbout the author:
Erin Brown is a writer, Whedonite, Whovian, yogi, HGTV addict, and connoisseur of The CW’s TV line-up. She was born and raised in Arkansas, lived in New York City for five years, and recently moved to Singapore, where she lives on the beach, which is completely wasted on her because she is a ginger and the sun is not her friend. She is the author of Taking Flight and Making Headlines: A Taking Flight Novel. You can follow her on Twitter, friend her on Facebook, catch her on Goodreads or her website.

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Best of luck, and keep reading my friends!
Inkslinger

SPAGHETTI WESTERN Is Delicious! A Review

Hi all! Today I’m sharing a delicious contemporary M/M romance newly released by EM Lynley. I really enjoyed her suspense-filled BDSM-lite BOUND FOR TROUBLE, so I was excited to get another great read. Spaghetti Western combines a jilted chef and a lonely cowboy into a feast for the heart.

Spaghetti Western (Delectable #5)About the book:

Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef Riley Emerson arrives in Aspen, Colorado for a summer season at the best restaurant in town, only to discover his jerk of a boyfriend has dumped him, leaving his heart and his summer plans in tatters. Doubting himself and longing for a change of pace, he takes a low-paying position as chef at a guest ranch, the Rocking Z. The scenery is gorgeous, but he expects that nature up close and personal can’t hold a candle to his exciting Paris lifestyle.

When born-and-bred cattle rancher Colby Zane spots a newcomer letting himself be pawed at by a passel of horny cowboys at Aspen’s Club Rawhide, he doesn’t think twice before rushing in, throwing the guy over his shoulder, and rescuing him from the volatile situation. Sober, Riley Emerson turns out to be sweet and sexy, but not interested in more than a one-night stand with Colby. Initially disdainful of the guest ranch side of the business, Colby’s over the moon when Riley late arrives as the new cook on his family’s ranch

But all’s not well at the Rocking Z. Insurmountable financial problems force them to rely on a cash infusion from an outside investor, Fitz Wellington. Only Fitz is hot for Colby, and he won’t sign on the dotted line without some very personal incentives. The future of the ranch is at stake, and Colby’s just desperate enough to go along, but saving the Z might mean losing Riley.

My Review:

Riley Emerson is a new graduate of Le Cordon Bleu culinary school and reuniting with his fellow chef and lover, Denny, in Aspen CO when he learns Denny is two-timing schmuck. Oh, and that all the high cuisine restaurants in Aspen have hired their staff for the summer season. Recognizing that he’s stuck without a job, or a place to live, in Colorado and unwilling to reach out to his wealthy (but disinterested and obstructive) father for help gaining another position. Riley decides to hang out in Aspen and attend a local hiring fair in a couple days. It may yield a kitchen job on a spa ranch, or the like, and Riley is determined to make his way on his own merit.

Cutting loose before his interviews, Riley decides to get over the melancholy of finding his longtime lover a cheat. He attends “Cowboi” night at a local bar–with staggering results. And, by that I mean he couldn’t even stagger home. Holy smokes! That “Geyser” game sounded…towel-worthy? (It’s like sponge-worthy, but messier #JustGoWithIt). While off his head with booze, Riley is rescued by an anonymous cowboy who has some serious motel bed skills. In the light of day, a mortified Riley departs their one-nighter before his bedmate wakes. He gets hired that same day and is anxious to begin his summer adventure as a dude ranch chef.

Colby Zane is a stalwart gay cowboy. (I tried finding a pic of a sexy gay cowboy, but they all displayed raging “stallions”…so, yeah. Not gonna post those here…) Anywho, Colby’s the heir to the Rocking Z Ranch which is a working ranch with a profitable “Dude Ranch” experience. Actually, to Colby’s shame, the dude ranch supports the steer ranching operations due to some less-than-profitable decisions Colby made to cut cost. His aunt and uncle run the ranching operation, and Colby stays on the “right” side of the ranch, that being the side with the steer and away from the guest ranch his cousins run. Of course, he’s not inclined to avoid the brand new chef–who happens to have been his Cinderfella (yes, Riley) from the bar.

Riley and Colby strike up a clandestine romance–not because either is closeted, but because Colby is nervous to appear to show favor to any of the ranch employees, even if he is not Riley’s boss, per se. Besides, Roley’s anxious to build a ranch cuisine that employs all his culinary techniques. He busts his tail scouring the ‘Net and old pioneer cookbooks to gain experience in chuck wagon cooking and provides a cuisine that makes the guests rave. On a personal note, Colby’s only ever had hook-ups, and having Riley (and their incendiary sex) available 24/7 begins to play on his mind. Riley states he doesn’t want a serious relationship–not after he and Denny went down in spectacular flames–but neither man can prevent experiencing deeper feelings for the other.  And, since they don’t TALK about these feelings, each believes the other is simply out for a fling. At least, until Fitz, the flamboyant gay millionaire investor, arrives to inspect the ranch and determine if he’s willing to contribute to Rocking Z’s business plan. If Fitz is on the fence about investing, he’s CRYSTAL CLEAR about where he’d like Colby to spend his nights.

So Colby has to choose: make Fitz happy and gain the money he needs to maintain his family ranch, or spurn Fitz to be Riley’s “summer fling.” Okay, it’s not that simple. Guests love Riley’s cuisine, and he’s earning a great reputation for the ranch on his own; if Fitz buys in he wants to control hiring (and firing) of his “competition” for Colby.

It’s a well-told story of budding love. I had a little struggle with the timeline for the book. There seemed to be some inconsistencies with Riley’s history with Denny and also with event occurrences. At more than one point I wondered if Riley had been on the ranch for one/two/three weeks due to (perhaps) continuity errors. (I’m willing to concede that I may have mis-read some of the time guides as I raced through the book, but it gave me pause and that doesn’t happen for no reason…)

Colby and Riley are good characters. They are upstanding men (pun intended) who have found companionship–and more–in an unlikely place and time. Despite Riley’s drunken antics at Cowboi night, he’s a level-headed man with a deep affection for those he holds close. He got hurt by Denny and he’s afraid to fall for Colby only to get turned out at the end of the summer–or sooner if Fitz has anything to do with it–but he won’t sabotage Colby’s chances with Fitz as an investor (or a lover) for his own sake. Meanwhile, Colby is as hardworking and fair as they come. He has no desire to strike up a tryst with Fitz and only considers it because Riley encourages him to not compromise any attempt that might gain him the capital he needs to save his floundering finances without selling off bits of his heritage.

Fitz is a decent guy, albeit pushy. He has real ranching credentials and is interested in making the Rocking Z a destination of significance which would benefit Colby greatly. Partnership with Fitz is a legitimate offer that Colby must seriously consider–and he does.

I had suspected the ending would resolve as it did, and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. My heart ached when Colby went to Fitz’s cabin, because both Colby and Riley were getting hurt, but the resolution was deliciously romantic and satisfying.

Speaking of delicious and satisfying, I adore that the book has a dozen recipes buried in the back pages. It really helped to ground me in the story-world. This is my second book from this author and I have enjoyed both immensely. I received a copy of this book via Goodreads’ Don’t Buy My Love program in exchange for my honest review.

Interested? You can find SPAGHETTI WESTERN on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Dreamspinner Press.

EM LynleyAbout the Author:
EM Lynley writes gay erotic romance. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. Her Precious Gems series is best described as “Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone”—only gayer. The Delectable series is Gay Romance with Taste.

A Rainbow Award winner and EPPIE finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she’d rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.

She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others. Her books are available in print and e-book from Amazon & other book distributors.

You can find EM Lynley on Goodreads, her website, Facebook, and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

They Just Needed A LITTLE FAITH–Blitz and Giveaway!

Happy Book Birthday to

A LITTLE FAITH

a Contemporary New Adult Romance

from Emma James

Synopsis:
I had no idea a carefree island vacation would tear my life apart.
But now it’s time to put my walls up, make them impenetrable.
It’s the only way to survive.

Six years ago, Faith’s brother Chance was killed in a terrorist bombing. Now she’s come to San Diego to lay her brother’s ashes to rest with his best friends in the whole world. These five men were all on the trip that changed their lives forever, and Faith has the power to heal them.

Harley, the protector. Retro, the straight shooter. Keanu, the funny bone. Levi, the model. And Text, who can’t seem to find himself.

All their lives were permanently altered by one event. With a pact made, these five best friends need something from Faith. Is she ready now to give them what they have been waiting for?

Join Faith as she goes on an emotional and heartwarming discovery where all may not be what it seems. But with every ending, comes a new beginning, a second chance. You just gotta have A Little Faith…

Welcome to Ocean Beach.

Add to Goodreads


Interested? You can find A LITTLE FAITH on AMAZON—US, UK, and AU.

Book Trailer

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Excerpt:

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice
you have.” – Bob Marley

Keanu and Levi have wandered off somewhere and Retro’s gone for another piss while Jase and I are chilling and talking when, suddenly, there is a bit of commotion in the club. A young Asian guy with a backpack has climbed up onto a table, screaming like a wild man. I can’t understand what he’s saying; he’s not speaking English.

Jase is standing beside me, shouting in my ear, “What the fuck is that guy’s problem?”

I’ve got no idea. He’s still screaming wildly, his face is dripping with sweat, and he keeps wiping his face on his sleeve. He’s angry and agitated with fear in his eyes, and he’s gulping down air.

The young guy, who doesn’t look much older than us, pulls something out of his pocket, holding it above his head, waving it about. I wish I knew what he was yelling about.

Sensing something isn’t right with this guy, the bar’s crowd begins trying to move away, making their way towards the entrance.

Seconds have ticked by. I grab Jase and move him away from the inevitable crush while I search the crowd for Levi, Retro, and Keanu.

I shout over the music, “Fuck! I can’t see where the others are.” I need to know where they are. Right. Now.

It’s only been about twenty seconds since the guy made himself known. I’ve moved us to the other side of the bar, as far away as we can shuffle through the crowd from the crazy guy.

The front entrance is getting a line up as people shove at others. In the few seconds we’ve grabbed, I keep my eyes on him as we move. The kid is positively shaking. Then, his thumb raises and starts to press down on the device in his hand.

Jesus!

I duck, grabbing a girl near me around the waist and shoving both her and Jase behind a table and some chairs. I try to cover them as much as I can, pushing their heads down.

BOOM! There is a loud explosion that rocks our ear drums.

I look up from our crouched position over the table top. Blood has rained down on us. It’s everywhere. Bits of what I can only describe as flesh have landed on the table we are hiding behind. There is a horrid, burnt smell in the air. People are crying out. The girl with us has gotten up and blended into the crowd. Everyone is moving like a herd of scared cattle towards the club entrance.

“Fuck. The guy blew himself up. Fuck.” I’m talking almost to myself. I feel like I’m in a vacuum. I can’t really hear. I can only stare. I’m stunned by what just happened. A lot of
people tried to take cover like we did, yet I can see bodies lying on the ground. Are they dead? There is blood and bits of flesh covering people like a macabre abstract painting. It’s everywhere.

I’m having trouble believing what I’m seeing.

“We need to find the guys and get out of here,” Jase is shouting at me, the fear clearly evident in his voice.

I rub my hand through my hair, dislodging bits of gunk. I don’t want to think about what it is. “Can you see the others?” I’m probably shouting back at him since I can’t hear myself properly.

The rest of the crowd who are still inside the bar have just woken up from their places of stunned disbelief and are frantically trying to help their friends or the person closest to them. They are as desperate as we are to get out of the club and to safety. They know
something is wrong. Very, very wrong. This is no longer the happy place it was a few minutes ago.

Then it happens.


About the Author:
Emma James lives in Queensland, Australia with her smexi husband, three children and a big black Labrador. Life is busy and most entertaining in the James household. She often bounces ideas off her family and gets very creative responses. She loves to read as much as write. Daytime for writing, night time for reading.

Emma hopes to surprise you with her debut book, A Little Faith.

Catch up with Emma on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and GOODREADS.

***Giveaway***

Click the rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card

or one of three ecopies of A LITTLE FAITH.

Good luck and keep reading my friends!
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Will you Love THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR as Much as I Did? #Doubtful–Review and Giveaway!

Understatement BannerHi all! Today I’m celebrating the release of one of my absolutely fave new M/M romances: UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR. This book had all the feels I dream of in a love story–and is especially poignant in light of the new revelations of gay players in the big leagues of sports.

Understatment coverAbout the book:
What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.
Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexual orientation from everyone. Including himself.

So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it.

John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused.

And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.

Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former… best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. He drinks too much and can’t focus during practice.

Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another. To say that it won’t be easy is the Understatement of the Year.

Warning: unlike the other books in this series, this heartbreaking love story is about two guys. Contains sexual situations, dance music, snarky t-shirts and a poker-playing grandmother.

My Review:
K. So. Sometimes a book just fills my head and my heart and makes songs on the radio speak to me in a new way because I’m thinking of this story.

That’s is exactly how I felt about this book.
First, I was sure that Rikker and Graham were going to be buried by their FLAWS

They seriously made me feel the hole in my soul. Rikker is a gay athlete–he survived a hate beating as a teen, and being shipped off to his grandmother’s care after coming out, but reuniting with his first love, Graham, might just kill him. Five years have passed and, while Rikker’s physical wounds have healed, he’s still emotionally scarred by Graham’s abandonment.

He’s a great hockey player and a newly transferred student at Harkness ready to hit the ice. Despite being a transfer, Rikker is not subject to a yearlong suspension of play–because his previous coach violated the non-discrimination clause kicked him off the team when he was outed.

In order to avoid all the drama, Rikker reveals his orientation at the outset, and is subject to casual and overt homophobia–as well as some GREAT teammate support. Except, the one teammate he wishes to be there for him, well, won’t: Graham.

Graham is so deep in the closet he might be able to sit tea with Mr. Tumnus. He is attracted to men, and denies this at every turn. He seeks out women, always under the influence of alcohol. To hear his thoughts, when experiencing the slights and slams of Rikker–both direct and indirect only cements in Graham’s head what a coward he is.

People like Big-D have it wrong. They think that the gay guy is going to be the one who’s slowly soaping up his dick, watching you shampoo. But that’s not how it works in a varsity locker room on planet Earth. The gay guy is the one who discreetly goes about his business, showering quickly and then getting the hell out of there. He puts his underwear on when his skin is still damp, even though it will stick up his ass crack for the rest of the night.
He isn’t staring at you, and he’d rather eat broken glass than sport some wood in the locker room.

Still, Graham simmers with attraction for Rikker, and uses lots (and LOTS) of alcohol to quell it. Rikker himself can’t let go of the affection he held for his once best friend (and first love) even as he expects the taciturn Graham hates him, now. Imagine his surprised delight when Graham lets his defense shields slip…only to have them nearly discovered.

With shaking hands, he stumbled into his jeans.

I pulled the blanket up from the foot of the bed, mostly covering myself. And I watched a freaked-out Graham prepare for a hasty exit from my room. I could almost hear the worry loop trailing around inside his head. Never should have done that. Never should have done that.

Whatever. If he wanted to freak out and run away after hooking up with me, that was his loss. That’s what I was going to tell myself, anyway. What’s one more bruise on a battered heart? Mine probably already looked like a veteran NHL player’s face.

Before the door closed on him, he said one word to me. “Sorry.”

I was tired of hearing that word from him.

On the campus Rikker is mostly a pariah. He keeps to himself, attending classes and team events/practices only. He eats alone, and lives in a single room in a dorm filled with foreign students to whom he cannot relate. He longs for connection, and after one drunken hook-up he reaches out for Graham again, and Graham reaches back–only when it’s a clandestine meeting, however. And Rikker accepts this–because, well…

In the dark, he studied me. “Rik,” he whispered. “I had fun tonight.”
“Me too, G.”

He moved then, hitching across the seat to reach me. “One more,” he breathed. “For old time’s sake.” Then he turned my face toward his, capturing my mouth in a kiss.

Stupid or not, I just went with it. If you stripped away all the confusion and the old heartaches, I’d had an almost perfect day. And this right here was pretty much all I’d ever wanted from Graham. I wanted his friendship, and then I wanted him to reach for me at the end of the night. So for those few minutes, I had everything.

Yeah. I got super melty over this book. The first loves. The separations. The reconnection and healing of woulds long scabbed over. The comic relief! Oh, I think we all needs a “Skippy” in our lives. He’s Rikker’s effeminate ex who’s known for spouting his opinion, getting his way, and wearing t-shirts with outrageous slogans like Power Bottoms for Jesus. I loved him. And, of course there’s a girl with a Graham-crush who’s gonna get hurt..a bit. But, she takes it all well.

Hearing Milky Chance croon “I want you by my side/ so that I never feel alone again” and lament the lost years of affection due to the actions of others…well, I was glad Rikker and Graham got a Stolen Dance with each other…

The anxiety factor is tremendous. I couldn’t fault Graham for his closet-case antics. He’d seen the worst of homophobia up close and personal, and never recovered. Rikker helped Graham to see the better side of coming out–in some ways. It wasn’t easy for Rikker by any stretch. The media attention wasn’t pleasant, and Graham certainly didn’t want such a spotlight on his love life.

By the end, I swear, I was hearing OneRepublic banging their drums in my brain and I was drinking the sweet, sweet nectar of a satisfying read where the Love [never] Runs Out.

This was a fave book for me–gay, straight, erotic, whatever. It’s a powerful read and handles homophobia, closet-cases, unintentional outing, isolation, and sports in such a commanding way. There is little sex, but when it’s there it is amazingly rendered in the emotional context of the story. I hoped so hard for these two men to find their path together, and I think the arrangement they contrive at the end is more HEA than Happy For Now. (Well, I HOPE it is!)

Interested? You can find THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR on AMAZON, B&N KOBO, and iBOOKS. It is the third book in the Ivy Years series, but it reads as a standalone.

Previous books in the series:

#1 The Year We Fell Down (March 2014)

#2 The Year We Hid Away (June 2014)

#2.5 Blonde Date (July 2014)

#3 The Understatement of the Year (October 1st, 2014)

About the author:
Sarina Bowen makes her home in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where she lives with her family, eight chickens and a large pile of skis and hockey equipment. She is a graduate of Yale University. You can catch up with Sarina online via Email, her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

***GIVEAWAY***
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
a signed copy of one IVY YEARS book (4 winners, win choice)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Inkslinger

Out Today! HOMETOWN HEROES! Giveaway and Soldier Benefit

 Hi all! Today I’m sharing a book blast for a cause–This bundle of romances has been assembled to raise money for the Pets for Vets charity. I hope you’ll consider picking up a copy–and helping out a vet…I am.

Hometown Heroes – Hotter Ever After

Contemporary Romance
Date Published: 9/30/14

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Available for a limited time at a discount of $1.99. All proceeds from this bundle benefit the Pets for Vets charity. The Pets for Vets program is dedicated to providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America’s veterans who can benefit from a companion animal.

They’re all hometown heroes, guys from small towns who’ve made a name for themselves, big or small, who’ve withstood the odds and risen to the challenge, who are heroes in their own right.

Presenting a contemporary romance bundle of 16 novels with happily ever after endings, including previously published readers’ favorites and brand-new material by USA Today Bestselling Authors: Melissa Schroeder, Lucy Monroe, and Nancy Warren

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Sabrina York. Along with bestselling and award-winning authors Allie K. Adams, Destiny Blaine, Cathryn Cade, Jami Davenport, Kate Davies, Taryn Elliott &Cari Quinn, Rachel Grant, Sandy James, Adrianne Lee, Hildie McQueen, Katy Regnery, Sandy Sullivan.

Hometown Heroes Charity Bundle Facebook

Pets for Vets Facebook

Pets for Vets Website

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A LITTLE HARMLESS SEX (Harmless, Book 1) by USA Today bestselling author Melissa Schroeder–When Anna falls for her best friend Max, it might be true love, or the biggest mistake of her life.
CHANGE THE GAME by USA Today bestselling author Lucy Monroe–Alex is looking for revenge.  Isabel is looking for a relationship without those pesky things called emotions.  Neither will get what they’re looking for, but a whole lot more!
WILD RIDE (Changing Gears, Book 1) by USA Today bestselling author Nancy Warren–Trouble is piling up in the small town of Swiftcurrent, Oregon with hints of a treasure missing since WWII, a motorcycle riding bad boy history prof, a sexy librarian and a murder. It all adds up to a very Wild Ride.
HEARTBREAK ON A STICK by USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Sabrina York–When the man who broke her heart ten years ago suddenly returns to town—a hot shot movie star—Gina Fox is determined to avoid him. But for some reason, Jason Sherwood is pursuing her again. It is all she can do to resist his seductive wiles. But she must. Sexy Jason always has been heartbreak on a stick.
MADRONA SUNSET (Madrona Island) by bestselling author Jami Davenport–Meet a wounded warrior suffering from paralyzing guilt and a woman pining for her dead husband–both damaged souls craving comfort for a moment or a lifetime.
BRACE FOR IMPACT by bestselling author Allie K. Adams–Bush pilot Reid Cavanaugh’s life is turned upside down when he takes a fare that ends up driving his plane into the ground and him into the danger surrounding her. When he discovers that she’s a doctor—the only profession he hates more than lawyers—he knows better than to trust anything that falls from her sexy lips.
HONORABLE SACRIFICE by bestselling author Destiny Blaine–Hired to protect an affluent family with embarrassing secrets, Audra McAllister doesn’t believe in love until she reconnects with a small-town hero willing to risk everything to win Audra’s heart.
SHE’S WORTH IT ALL (Club 3, Book 4) by bestselling author Cathryn Cade–Mase Barnett is a hometown hero with a secret. Natalie Cusco has a broken heart only a strong man can heal. Will this wounded hero risk everything to show her she’s worth it all?
DECEIVING DANTE by award-winning author Kate Davies–A stolen car on her front lawn. A sexy cop – looking to arrest her favorite student. A principal ready to fire her. Could Ellie’s Monday get any worse?
ROCK, RATTLE AND ROLL (Lost in Oblivion, Book 1.5) by USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn and bestselling author Taryn Elliott–A beachfront cottage, hours of alone time, and plenty of skin-on-skin action is just what the rock star and his new wife ordered. Until the future comes much quicker than they expected, threatening to crumble not only their perfect honeymoon but also their brand new marriage.
GRAVE DANGER by Golden Heart finalist Rachel Grant–An archaeologist digs up a murder victim in a Northwest archaeological site and must help the hunky local police chief solve the crime before she becomes the next victim.
TURNING THIRTY-TWELVE by award-winning author Sandy James–Jackie Delgado didn’t want a new man in her life until a dreaded blind date with police detective Mark Brennan turns out to be more exciting than she’d ever imagined.
HIS ONLY DESIRE by Adrianne Lee– Nick Rossetti married the wrong twin sister. Will the right one ever forgive him?  Not if her stalker has his way.
EVEN HEROES CRY by Hildie McQueen–War widow Tesha Washington slowly draws Adam Ford out of the shell that used to be a man, and learns there really is such a thing as starting over.
THE VIXEN & THE VET by bestselling author Katy Regnery–In a Beauty & the Beast reboot, an ambitious reporter tracks down a wounded war vet for a scoop and ends up falling in love with him instead.
TROUBLE WITH A COWBOY by Sandy Sullivan–Can some slashed tires and an ornery bull bring two hard-headed people together for some fun in the sun…and a little more?
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Interested? You can find the HOMETOWN HEROES bundle on Amazon, Smashwords, iBooks, and Barnes and Noble.

***GIVEAWAY***
$20 Amazon gift card, and one of Jami Davenport’s ebooks of choice
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

They Solved A PERFECT DILEMMA–Review and Giveaway

Hi all! Today I’m reviewing A PERFECT DILEMMA, the third book in the Perfect Secret series from Zoe Dawson. For other stops on the tour, click here. Like the first two books int he series, this is a SEXY New Adult romance with a whole lotta bayou heat.

APD Amazon GR SW(1)
About the book:
The one secret she can’t stand to keep is the one she can’t afford to tell.
The perfect little rich girl, River Pearl Sutton has always done what her family expected of her. She’d become the perfect little beauty queen, the perfect child model and now her global success locks her into a life she never really chose.

Coming home for the summer to prepare for the Founder’s Day Festival, a celebration of her lauded ancestor, she is tasked by her father to write a speech to be delivered at the end of the party.

Returning to Hope Parish brings her back into close proximity with sweet-talking, skirt-chasing Braxton Outlaw, the boy who always seemed immune to her charms in high school. But now he looks at her with those challenging blue eyes, both intimidating and seductive at the same time. Using research of her family lineage and his as way to get close to this bad boy, they fall into a hot, torrid affair.

She stumbles across a terrible secret that could bring to ruin not only her reputation, but the reputation and standing of her family. But when her infatuation with Brax grows into something that she can’t live without, she must decide what to do. Keep the secret and lose Brax or destroy her family and lose them.

It’s an awful, heartrending perfect dilemma.

My Review:
River Pearl Sutton is a model daughter, and a model period. She’s been all over the world in fashion shows and glam mags, but she longs to follow her dreams of art school and painting–not enter another pageant to please her mama. While researching a new angle on the history of her town–and I mean HER town–Suttontowne was founded by her great great grandaddy, Colonel Sutton. River Pearl learns of a secret between the Colonel and the shame of Suttontowne, Duel Outlaw.

150 years ago Duel was hanged by a lynch mob on the suspicion that he robbed a cache of gold that was due the Confederate army. Turns out the Colonel and Duel had been best friends and Duel’s execution may have been unwarranted. Can one runway model turn the tide of hate against Duel’s grandkids–most importantly uber-sexy Braxton Outlaw?

Braxton Outlaw will never marry. He’s seen the way Outlaw women get treated in Suttontowne–cursed, spat upon, nudged and tumbled–his mama took a whole lotta abuse after his no-good thief of a daddy up and disappeared leaving her destitute with triplet sons. All grown now, Brax has is super bad for River Pearl, but he knows the score in Suttontowne–any woman he associates with becomes a pillar of scorn to the community; and her daddy sure won’t want any no account Outlaw on his doorstep. But what Daddy can’t hear climbing through River Pearl’s bedroom window sure won’t trouble him none.

The book’s a bit of Romeo and Juliet–with the clandestine love affair simmering away. Don’t worry. There’s some serious double-crossing and double-exonerations to with the double-O’s. It’s a fine addition to the sultry bayou collection complete with a high-stakes battle and a gator feed. In the meantime, Brax comes to terms with his frustration of being an Outlaw in the town where history is long and prejudice is longer. I enjoyed this book–it’s a quick read with decent heat and a likeable cast.

Interested? You can find A PERFECT DILEMMA on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.

A Perfect Mess CoverA Perfect Mistake coverA PERFECT DILEMMA is the third book in the A Perfect Secret series. I’ve reviewed the other two books–and they were interesting, spicy New Adult reads. They are all stand-alone novels with some common characters and no cliffhangers.

If you’re thirstin’ for an entertaining quick read these Bayou books might could wet your whistle. Check out my reviews for either A PERFECT MESS or A PERFECT MISTAKE.

I’ll tell you, never did suspect a pretty young smart gal could hide a body so darn good. And the Outlaw triplets are a big ‘ol slice of yum.

****GIVEAWAY***

The author is giving away (1) $25 Gift Card!

To enter, visit her Facebook page HERE.

About the Author
Zoe Dawson is the alter ego of Karen Anders, award winning, multi-published author. Her writing journey started with poetry and branched out into fiction. With a couple of college English courses under her belt, she penned a historical, then moved onto contemporary romance fiction. Today, she is happy producing romantic suspense, romantic mystery, urban fantasy and paranormal novels. The words feed her soul and the happily ever afters feed her heart.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Goodreads | Newsletter

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Happy Book Birthday to FALLING FOR FATE by Caisey Quinn

FFF_BlitzBannerFALLING FOR FATE by Caisey Quinn is LIVE!

While second in the Second Chance series, this novel stands alone.

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*SURPRISE!! Caisey decided to include a Special Bonus Novella!

Grab your copy now and it will include Falling for You, the prequel to Falling for Fate!

**ON SALE DURING RELEASE WEEK FOR 2.99!
~PURCHASE LINKS~
DefineOftenTeaser

SYNOPSIS
Fate Buchanan just wants to escape the constraints of her old life. After checking her mother into rehab and catching her fiancé with her maid of honor the night before their wedding, she ran. Angry and hurt, she’s aching to do something reckless.

Dean Maxwell is having one last summer of freedom before taking over his family’s multi-billion dollar medical conglomerate. When he sees a beautiful woman running down the beach alone after dark, he knows it’s not safe. So he does something impulsive.

When their paths cross unexpectedly after a night of unbridled passion, neither of them can forget the memory of the affair they shared. What began as one night is about to become a whole lot more.*While part of the Second Chance series, this novel is a standalone.

CAISEY’S CASTING PICKS
FateDreamCast

EXCERPT

“God, you’re so f*cking beautiful.”

Her eyes widened up at him. She could only imagine how she looked. Hair messy and damp, his shirt sliding off one shoulder, eyes glazed over.

“You are.” He shook his head as if searching for the words to explain his attraction to her.

“That first night, swear to everything holy, I thought you might be some mythical creature come to steal my soul. But you were so damn beautiful that I would have given it to you.”

She kept quiet, afraid to move or speak and risk breaking the magic that kept him with her, kept him from running. He wasn’t running. He was opening up and being honest.

Dean lowered himself into the bed beside her, propping on one elbow and facing her. Fate mirrored his position and admired the way the moonlight lit his handsome face.

“I asked the universe for a sign. It sent me you.”

Her whispered confession made him smile. But his expression turned serious far too soon for her liking. “I felt it the moment I saw you. A compulsion like I’d never felt before, as if some unseen force propelled me toward you without my consent. I’ve felt it ever since.”

Fate rested her head on her hands and nodded against them. “I feel it too. I’m just…a little afraid of it. Of what it might cost us.”

“My mom used to say that things worth having didn’t come easy and that the kind of girl that was worth waiting for wouldn’t wait on anyone. Those two adages keep coming back to me every time I think of you.”

She inched her hand over toward his. “Do you do that often? Think of me?”

Dean kept eye contact, only breathing and watching her. “Define often.”

Fate grinned. “More than once a week.”

The slight curve of his lips faded and his gaze became a heavy, tangible thing she could feel pressing into her.

“I thought of you every day, Fate. And I didn’t even know your name. Even after I did… I think after that, it was more like several times a day.”

She wanted to keep this moment, to keep him here with her just like this. Both of them exposed and vulnerable. It was real and honest and—despite her exhaustion— exhilarating. But she knew it wouldn’t last forever. Nothing ever did.

“Sleep with me tonight. Don’t leave. Just… Just sleep with me, please.”

He nodded, letting his fingers interlace with hers between them and placing a soft kiss on the top of her hand. “I’m not going anywhere. Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Goodnight, Dean.”

*PLAYLIST TRACK: Stay with Me by Sam Smith*

***GIVEAWAY***
Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
Signed copies of FALLING FOR FATE and LAST SECOND CHANCE
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CaiseyQuinn Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. You can find her online at http://www.caiseyquinnwrites.com

Connect with Caisey on Facebook and twitter. 

 

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WALLBANGER–Tastier Than I Imagined

You know how, sometimes, it seems everyone and your grandma is telling you about this book (or movie) they just experienced. “You can’t miss this! It’s SOOOO good!” they say.

Well, I’m always cautious about those sort of reviews. If they come from someone I know and trust, I tend to give it more weight. I heard about Alice Clayton‘s WALLBANGER long before I found it on the shelf. It has over 2000 5-Star reviews on Amazon, all singing such high praise. It’s been on my TBR a long time, languishing, because I was afraid to be disappointed by the hype.

SILLY ME!!!!

This is a first-class, snappy, romantic comedy that is long on sexual tension and short on time between laughs. I loved every second of it.

Wallbanger (Cocktail, #1)About the book:
The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she’s gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor’s nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy’s athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women.

And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly…

In a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight…

My Review:
Caroline is a no-nonsense woman. She takes her life, and her job, seriously. She works hard and plays a bit, having two great friends from college with whom she regularly connects. As an interior designer, NOT decorator, she is moving up, taking on bigger clients and adores her boss–another career-focused woman. Caroline is also single. And, semi-okay with that. She had a rather long term thing previously, with a man who wanted her to change too much, to adapt her life to suit his career/life goals, so she walked away. In the interim a sloppy one-night fling destroyed her O–got it lost somewhere out in the Hinterland, always just out of reach.

Hearing the orgasmic caterwauling and banging of her sexually-gifted neighbor’s headboard through their adjoining wall (night after night) is wearing down Caroline’s patience, however. When the motion of his ocean actually brings down a piece of art, onto Caroline’s head, she tears into him in person, and the meet-cute is set.

Simon is a good guy. Sure he has a few regular gals with whom he has no-strings sex, but it’s all open. The gals know all about each other, and are comfortable with their casual arrangements. The altercation between Caroline and Simon only becomes more interesting when they meet in person, again, at the home of mutual friends. Inconveniently, Simon’s two best buds seem smitten with Caroline’s BFFs. They begin a dating circle, alternately inviting either Simon or Caroline out as fifth wheel.

Realizing the awkwardness of their position, Caroline and Simon strike a tentative truce, cemented with baked goods. Simon was orphaned in his teens and craves home-baked treats–while Caroline bakes away her frustration. The truce soon morphs into a friendship. Caroline has no interest in joining Simon’s harem, even if he is very attractive. It seems Simon, however, may be changing his ways. One after another of his regular visits seem to be off-schedule.

Caroline isn’t sure, but the idea that Simon is interested in a real relationship is certainly appealing to her, and her girly bits. Especially as Simon is a proven O finder. It takes him quite a while, however, and the journey is delicious.

I liked Caroline. She was sexy and sardonic. She talked to her cat as if he was a person. She has a good heart and a lot of respect for herself. At first, she believes Simon to be a shameless womanizer, but learns that he isn’t. He’s more of an opportunist, I’d say, having discreet relations with a few friends, for mutual satisfaction. When Caroline really gets to know him, she finds him to be very charming, and kind, and someone she honestly fears becoming intimate with, unwilling to upset their friendship. Caroline is a brave lass, however, and Simon can be irresistible, at times. Particularly when he’s got the right bait–a luxury trip planned to a destination Caroline longs to visit.

Lookit. This book is really something. If you enjoy romantic comedy, baking, cats with strong personalities, humorous plot twists and/or people slowly falling for each other in a very real way, this book won’t let you down. It has some heat, but it won’t melt your kindle. And, when the physicality develops, it’s all long, long after a true bond has been forged. I was glad I started it on a night the hubs was out-of-town because I couldn’t stop reading and spent half the night snortling with suppressed laughter trying not to wake my toddler in the next room. I had to power nap through the wee hours just so I could race to the finish.

Interested? You can find WALLBANGER on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Alice ClaytonAbout the Author:

Alice Clayton is a novelist with an unholy love for her KitchenAid mixer. Making her home in St Louis, she enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up afterwards, and is trying desperately to get her long time boyfriend to make her an honest woman. Hi sweetie!!

After working for years in the cosmetics industry as a makeup artist, esthetician, and national educator for a major cosmetics company, Alice picked up a pen (read laptop) for the first time at 33 to begin a new career, writer. Combining her love of storytelling with a sense of silly, she was shocked and awed to be nominated for a Goodreads Author award in 2010 for her debut novels, The Redhead Series.

Alice has penned three novels, The Unidentified Redhead,The Redhead Revealed, and coming soon in November 2012, Wallbanger. She thinks you should purchase them immediately. She’s not kidding, not even a little bit. Everyone needs some comedic erotica in their lives. She is hard at work on the third book in The Redhead Series, set to release in Spring of 2013, continuing the saucy and sexual escapades of everyone’s favorite couple, Jack and Grace.

Additionally, Alice loves spending time with her besties on Not Your Mother’s Podcast, make sure you check them out at notyourmotherspodcast.com or over on iTunes. 3 women rushing towards their forties still acting like teenagers. A saucy little mix of sex, love, relationships, pop cultural, celebrity gossip and All Things Jake Ryan.

Alice enjoys pickles, Bloody Mary’s, 8 hours of sleep, and a good pounding.

Finally Alice would also like all her readers and listeners to help her convince Mt. Alice that the only other thing that would make her truly happy is finally bringing home a Bernese Mountain Dog. She is totally serious. And done talking about herself in the third person.

You can connect with Alice on Goodreads, her website and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!