Reviews Published Professional Reader Challenge Participant 80% 2016 NetGalley Challenge 50 Book Reviews

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Rule: The Finale (Black Hearts Still Beat #3) by L.A. Cotton


My Rating: 4 Stars
Series: Yes, Black Hearts Still Beat #3.
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject: Letting go of their fears.
Synopsis:

Rafe Hunter thought he was destined for two things in life: playing guitar, and keeping his brother on the straight and narrow.

Until Eva.

She makes him want to be better. Makes him dream of life after the band. But Black Hearts Still Beat is all he’s ever known.

Rafe wants a future with Eva but when you’re choosing between your heart and head, fame or the future, nothing is ever simple.

Music saved them, but is it finally time for Rafe to let his heart rule? Or will love be the ultimate downfall of Eva and her Black Hearted boys?

๐ŸŽธ ๐—ฅ๐—˜๐—Ÿ๐—˜๐—”๐—ฆ๐—˜ ๐—•๐—Ÿ๐—œ๐—ง๐—ญ ๐ŸŽธ

Read the conclusion to Eva and Rafe's story today, and fall in love with Rafe Hunter and the boys from Black Hearts Still Beat.

๐ŸŽธ ๐—ก๐—ข๐—ช ๐—Ÿ๐—œ๐—ฉ๐—˜


#๐Ÿฏ ๐—ฅ๐˜‚๐—น๐—ฒ: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—™๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ฒ



๐ŸŽง Audio coming soon













A new chapter in Rafe's and Eva's love story. 

Last book we were left hanging with Eva leaving and Rafe sort of choosing his brother and breaking her heart. But now he is back, he has made a choice to stay with her no matter what and from now one they are the only team that matters.

Still they are part of the tour and they have to find a way to keep everyone happy, specially Levi, and that won't be an easy feat.

Levi doesn't trust either of them anymore, and trust is everything for him, they will have to figure out how to earn it back.

They also continue to learn about each other and how to grow together; letting go of their fears will set them free.
Eva's career is taking off and that scares Rafe. 
Can they survive the pressure of the fame and the Crazy Die hearts ?












๐ŸŽธ ๐—ฆ๐—ง๐—”๐—ฅ๐—ง ๐—ง๐—›๐—˜ ๐—ฆ๐—˜๐—ฅ๐—œ๐—˜๐—ฆ ๐—™๐—ฅ๐—˜๐—˜


๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘Ž ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘š๐‘–๐‘ก๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘ก๐‘–๐‘š๐‘’





#๐Ÿญ ๐—ฅ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ต: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด







๐ŸŽง Audible US: http://geni.us/RBZkrM


๐ŸŽง Audible UK: http://geni.us/XPqCxuN





#๐Ÿฎ ๐—ฅ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฒ: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ










๐ŸŽง Audible US: https://geni.us/Pdes


๐ŸŽง Audible UK: https://geni.us/gQXeLO





๐ŸŽธ ๐—”๐——๐—— ๐—ง๐—ข ๐—š๐—ข๐—ข๐——๐—ฅ๐—˜๐—”๐——๐—ฆ













Saturday, May 9, 2020

Love Under Quarantine by Kylie Scott & Audrey Carlan

thumbnail_LUQuarantine_eBook_HighRes
My Rating: 5 Stars
Series: No.
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject:Desperate times...
Synopsis:

Love Under Quarantine, an all-new feel good strangers-to-lovers romance about finding love in the most unexpected ways from New York Times bestselling authors Kylie Scott and Audrey Carlan, is out now!

While the world is ravaged by a global pandemic, hotshot NFL running back Evan Sparks is locked in his own personal hell. With a career-ending scandal on his back, Evan hides out in his best friend’s empty San Francisco home, the full city shutdown locking him in a lonely twenty-story apartment in the sky.

Romance writer Sadie Walsh is having the worst case of writer’s block ever…until the incredible, muscular stranger staying next door gets her muse going strong. The pair of loners, never expecting to find a friend in all the madness, meet each day out on their balconies like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.

Each new day brings unique challenges for the pair as they navigate the unknown and find solace together. They quickly figure out that as long as they have one another, they can handle anything.

Even falling in love under quarantine.

***

Writing together for the first time, New York Times bestselling authors Kylie Scott and Audrey Carlan team up to tell a story that not only is a beautiful escape during a trying time, but a true lesson on the power of humanity’s ability to survive. Through a sexy, hopeful, strangers-to-lovers romance, the authors prove with love, trust, and faith, we can conquer anything.



LUQ - BT banner copy.jpg


I truly enjoyed the book, it’s a sweet neighbors, to friends, to lovers story during an extremely scary and strange time we are all going through.

Evan’s life had just exploded alongside the entire world. This quarantine might be just what he needs to take a break from real life and heal himself. Keeping his mind clear will help him find the mastermind behind his scandal and clean up his name.

His solitude retreat gets interrupted by this gorgeous creature living next door. She isn’t like anyone he has ever met and he can’t get enough.

Sadie is not a stranger to staying home isolated for days. Being a writer means days of self isolation and oddly hours of work.
Having lost her muse she is stuck, until she sees the perfect male specimen she has ever seen next to her balcony. From there on, words just fly out of her mind and the book is looking promising.

Meeting each other was not in their plans, neither was the great connection they made.

Not being able to touch, forced them to forge deeper connections and actually get to know one another. Falling in love so fast never made more sense.

Beautiful fun read!





LUQ - AN


Download your copy today or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xb7wmo Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/loveunderquarantine

Excerpt


SADIE

Okay, reposition feet hip-distance apart and centered on the mat. Inhale and let it all go on the exhale. I look over the balcony across the barren city and try to find perspective. What did the teacher say? Set your intention? My intention is to maintain a modicum of good health and to not go insane during self-isolation. Fingers crossed on both fronts. Getting some work done wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
“They locked down the fucking city, man!” The voice blocks me from finding my zen spot. Some big blond dude is pacing back and forth in the neighboring apartment. Guess we’ve all got to get our exercise one way or another. A nice quiet doctor owns the place, but he’s overseas right now. No idea who this guy is. The new cat sitter, maybe? If so, I hope Gloria housetrains him quickly because all of this shouty behavior is not okay. Not if I have to share a wall with him for the next few weeks.
My new neighbor’s voice lowers to a more tolerable level and I take a deep, calming breath before moving into my next pose. Much better. Despite having questionable balance and being new to this whole yoga thing, I’m not doing too badly. It’s weird how quiet the city is with everything on lockdown. Peaceful, almost.
“Two weeks! I’ll be stuck here for two weeks!” he rants once more.
Ugh.
Due to the architect’s penchant for floor to ceiling windows—perfect for letting in the light—I have quite the view of my new neighbor’s performance. Much angst. Such woe. Like we’re not all going to go stir crazy during lock in. Even if it has only just started. I for one can’t wait to see how many divorces and break-ups this causes. Call it morbid curiosity. Though, being a romance writer, my mind would be better served dwelling on the possibilities for true love in this situation.
A random casual hook-up turning into so much more due to weeks of forced interaction? Roommates bonding over newly revealed shared interests? Nuh. Roommates entering into a sex pact to stave off boredom! Now that could work. Broken beds and broken hearts. That’s how to get things done. With the requisite happy ever after at the end, of course.
“Excuse me!” he shouts, shoving a frustrated hand through his head of thick, wavy, dark blond hair. New phone call, I think. After all, you can’t yell at the same person all day long. How tedious would that be?
Call me distractible, but watching him is actually a hell of a lot more interesting than perfecting my Downward Dog or doing yet another inventory of my pantry. Damn Oreos. I could have sworn I had another package. Day one and I’m already out of my favorite snack. Just bring on the apocalypse already. Without Oreos my life is already functionally over.
“Are you kidding me!” The man sure has a set of lungs on him. Unfortunately, at this point, he about-faces and strides back into the apartment. Still yelling, of course, though I can’t quite make out what he’s saying.
On the plus side, in those blue jeans, his ass is a thing of wonder. Honest to God. In less pandemic-y times, I’d charge my friends a bottle of wine to come over and witness the beauty of that thing. So tight. So nice. I lick my lips. Impressively broad shoulders beneath his T-shirt too. When he paces back to the front of the apartment, I’m presented with a strong jawline, high forehead, and a nose that could be slightly crooked. At least, it will be in the book. Readers dig that shit. The hint of a complicated past with a dash of violence thrown in for good measure. Ideally, he’d have broken it defending a small child or rescuing puppies. A combination of the two, perhaps?
Yes, it’s a definite. Apart from the anger management issues, this guy is officially hot stuff. Not that I’m after an actual love interest. Just inspiration for the hero of my next book.
Which is when it hits me…big buff dude reveals surprisingly sensitive side to sexy single introverted neighbor during quarantine. Hmm. It has possibilities. I stop procrastinating and move onto the next pose, arms out in a T, legs wide, and a slow bend at the waist. I exhale, pondering the plot idea along with the thickness of his thighs. The way the denim lovingly embraces every inch of his musculature. It’s like it’s on a loop playing over and over in my head. Okay, maybe I’m a little sex starved. He can feature in my masturbatory fantasies as well. After all, he’s that kind of can-do, helpful guy. Or at least, he is in my mind. And that’s where the man will stay. At a safe and appropriate distance. For both the virus and my heart.


Meet the Authors

About Kylie Scott
Author-Kylie-Scott Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.
Connect with Kylie
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2EUrx11 
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Imusk3 
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2S7cc32 
Book+Main Bites: http://bit.ly/2ETz5RQ 

Stay up to date with Kylie by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2TOOivT 



About Audrey Carlan
image-assetAudrey Carlan is a #1 New York Times and International bestselling author. Her titles have appeared on USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Audrey writes wicked hot love stories that have been translated in over thirty different languages across the globe. She is best known for the world-wide bestselling series Calendar Girl and Trinity.
She lives in the California Valley where she enjoys her two children and the love of her life. When she's not writing, you can find her teaching yoga, sipping wine with her "soul sisters," or with her nose stuck in a steamy romance novel.



Connect with Audrey 

Stay up to date with Audrey by joining her mailing list: https://bit.ly/2V050Y1 

Friday, May 1, 2020

Rafe: An Arizona Vengeance Novella (Arizona Vengeance #6.5) by Sawyer Bennett


My Rating: 5 Stars

Series: Yes, Arizona Vengeance #6.5.
Sex Scenes: Yes.
Subject: It's always been her.

Synopsis:
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett comes a new story in her Arizona Vengeance series… I was living my dream until one phone call changed everything. As the second line center for the Arizona Vengeance, my mind has been on one thing—helping my team bring home a championship. But that all changed when I found out my dad had cancer and only months to live. In that moment, nothing mattered more than getting home to North Carolina to be by his side. That meant asking for the unthinkable—a trade to the Carolina Cold Fury. Now I’m home and when I’m not on the ice with my new team, I’m helping care for my dad. And in the midst of my grief, I find comfort from the one person I never expected. Calliope Ramirez stole my heart at a very young age. The beautiful, smart, headstrong girl next door, she was my first… everything. She has never forgiven me for leaving her, believing that I chose hockey over a future together. What she doesn’t understand is that every decision I made was for her, and I’ve never given up hope that one day we’d be together again. Watching my dad slip away is a harsh reminder of how short life can be, and having Calliope by my side makes me realize I was a damn fool before. That changes starting right now. Calliope Ramirez is mine and I’m not going to waste the second chance that I’ve been given. **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.** 

Add RAFE to your Goodreads TBR here!
Purchase your copy of RAFE today!


















And she has done it again!
Sawyer always creates these amazing characters that even though they might have absolutely ruined things, they learn from that and become even more amazing!

The puppy love they shared was beautiful and they thought they could be together forever; but life turns out to be harsher than they thought and Rafe has to make a heartbreaking decision that destroys them.

Years have passed and Calli's heart is still not healed, Rafe broke her when he left her without explanation, and now that he is back, the wound is reopened.

He is home, and heartbroken and she wants to stay away but how can she leave him alone in his time of need. Is there still some love left for him in her heart?

Rafe's situation in not a happy one, going back home to prepare to say goodbye to his dad is one of the hardest things he has done so far in life. Calli being there... he is not sure if it's gonna make it better or worse, it's always been her and he has no idea how to win her back.

Is real love something that last forever and can withstand all things? 

Can a broken heart heal, open up again and love even more than before? 

Will she be able to risk her heart again for the person who broke her in the first place?

Calliope understands things better now and maybe that will make her strong enough to decide to accept him back into her life.

People make mistakes, the important thing is what they learn from it and how they grow form the experience, Rafe is a changed man and he is ready to get his girl back.





We are beyond excited to celebrate this release from Sawyer Bennett with you today by participating in the blog tour! RAFE is part of her Arizona Vengeance series and it is releasing as part of 1001 Dark Nights. Check out an excerpt and book trailer from the title below. Click here to grab your copy now


Purchase your copy of RAFE today!
 


BOOK TRAILER
 


“Each time I read a new book in this series, I have a new favourite, they just keep getting better and better. This was an entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed.” ~ Erin, MI Bookshelf

"Is it weird that I want to give this book a standing ovation? It was just...so perfectly done. So beautifully written and so emotionally fulfilling. It was absolutely everything I was hoping for and my heart is overflowing with feels." ~ Shelly, Bookgasms Book Blog

"This series is by far eclipsing any other I have read by this author. This is the story of Dax and Regan. Brother's best friend, friends to lovers, hockey romance, and just a great read about two people who deserve to be happy together. " ~ Suzi, Obsessive Reading Disorder

“The writing was observantly insightful and sneakily emotive. . . . The storylines were briskly paced, well plotted, written with my favorite dual POV, and kept me continually entertained with a pleasantly engaging romance while also tickling my curiosity as I waited for the looming threat to arise.”—Books and Bindings

“Add together an incredibly sexy story and a swoon-worthy hero with the intensity of a hockey player and you have an absolute winner. Sawyer Bennett has long been an instant one-click author for me, and Erik’s story is a fantastic addition to the Arizona Vengeance series.”—Stacey Lynn, author of Knocked Up

“Forbidden fruit always tastes better! With the kick off of a new hockey series, Sawyer Bennett introduces us to the Arizona Vengeance team and brings us Bishop’s story. The characters are quick to grab attention, and keep us entertained throughout.”—Thoughts of a Blonde


 








About SAWYER BENNETT:

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone. Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both. Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe. 

Connect With Her: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Twitter | Bookbub