WITHOUT PROMISES (Under the Pier Book 2) by Delancey Stewart Release Date: May 21st Genre: Contemporary Romance
BLURB:
Trent McNeil was a classic trust-fund kid until he watched a team of firefighters save his family home. From that moment on, he rebelled against the path his parents were determined to keep him on. Now a San Diego firefighter, he knows he’ll eventually be expected to take over the family empire. But until that day, his only plan is to have fun and enjoy life.
After a childhood of upset and uncertainty, Amy Hodge is going to make something out of herself. She has her future all planned out. She’s starting medical school and is going to be busy…far too busy for a relationship. But she does have time for a quick fling before she buckles down and concentrates on her studies.
Amy quickly realizes that playboy Trent is not all he seems to be. Never relinquishing control and sticking to her plans has done well for Amy, but no one has ever made her want to throw caution to the wind like this sexy firefighter.
Each book in the Under the Pier series is STANDALONE:
* Without Words * Without Promises
A sexy smile slid across his face as he looked at me, maybe picturing me with jet-black hair, and then his eyes dropped to my lips, causing a little jolt of energy to dance in my stomach. I didn’t do it on purpose, but I licked my bottom lip, and his eyes widened slightly.
What the hell was that? Now he thinks I’m trying to seduce him or something. God, I’m terrible at this. This. This is why I don’t date.
I stiffened, but Trent’s smile didn’t fade. He was still watching me, and his hand found mine where our thighs touched beneath the edge of the bar. His strong fingers wrapped around mine, and I felt my breath catch at the contact.
“Can I kiss you, Amy?” His voice was sandpaper.
Oh my God. Say yes.
I nodded, and he gently wrapped his other hand around the back of my neck and pulled me toward him, his mouth lingering just centimeters from mine. I closed the distance, curious to feel his mouth on mine, to taste those perfect laughing lips, to press myself into this easygoing playboy and absorb a bit of his light.
Trent’s lips met mine softly, and they stayed pressed gently there for a beat, and then he moved, slanting his mouth against mine, pressure building. We were facing each other fully now, and I let go of his hand and slid my palms up his arms, lingering on those swollen biceps. Trent rose to stand between my knees where I perched on the high stool, deepening the kiss. For what felt like long moments, I was lost in the push and pull. It was like being taken out by a wave, giving myself to the undertow and letting go, being sucked under into sweet, cool, dark water.
When he broke the kiss and pulled back to look at me, a wide smile spread across his face.
“Exactly what I expected,” he murmured. “Fucking perfect.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
“I’m not big on labels, but there are a few that fit me (not necessarily in this order. Or maybe in this order):
– wine drinker (and wine geek)
– mother of small boys
– military spouse
– writer
– chocolate eater
– ice cream addict
I write about emotional connection and intimacy, and love giving readers smart, sexy books to curl up with.”
**********
Delancey Stewart is an award-winning author who writes romantic fiction with humor and heart.
Stewart has lived on both coasts, in big cities and small towns. She’s been a pharmaceutical rep, a personal trainer and a wineseller.
A wife and the mother of two small boys, her current job titles include pirate captain, monster hunter, Lego assembler and story reader. She tackles all these efforts at her current home outside Washington D.C.
What was your motivation behind writing these books?
A number of years ago, I became fascinated by the real-life story of the Waldensians, a persecuted, pre-reformation Christian sect who were often martyred for holding to their doctrinal views against papal authority over the centuries of the second millennium. While church historians have written volumes on the religious group, I wanted to write a fictional, Christian suspense series that created a contemporary story around a people whose real-life story of valor and faith endured the test of time. In both Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor, Jamie and Alessandro come face to face with unrelenting criminal forces that require the protagonists to find courage and hope by looking toward the preserving faith of their ancestors.
A number of years ago while my family and I were on vacation in Varenna, Italy and enthralled with the beauty of the Lake District and the Northern Italian Alps, I pictured the place as an enchanting setting for a book. On our return home, I couldn’t get the allure and Old World charm out of my head. Still, I needed a story to make the setting come alive…
She whirled around and peered down the path behind her. No one else seemed to be on the darkened walkway. Those who had hurried past her were nowhere in sight. She heard only the calm lap of the water against the shoreline and relaxed again. Wasn’t it just like the darkness to make insane fools of us all?
Coming to a stretch of the walkway where the path widened and a bench sat under another lighted lamppost, Jamie caught sight of a shadowy figure, elongated by the extended light. A tremor chased through her body. There was nowhere to go except straight ahead. She began to run, but the footfalls matched her pace. Her feet shifted into high gear.
In Undaunted Valor, Book 2 of The Waldensian Series, Jamie finds a letter written by her seventeenth century cousin Anne Charbonnier. Anne’s story of courage and strength bolsters Jamie’s fight against the men who want to destroy her and Alessandro. Jamie identifies with the persecution her ancient cousin faces at the hands of King Louis XIV during the Nine Years’ War. Setting out to eradicate Waldensians and Huguenots from existence, Louis sends dragoons—military soldiers—to their home valleys to confront them at gunpoint. His message—convert, accept exile in Switzerland. or die for their faith…
They clambered about the exterior of the stone edifices for a few minutes more. The buildings seemed in need of repair after the winter snows, though Jamie imagined these structures had never been truly rain- or snow-worthy. She suspected the barba had always contended with their surroundings in the same way they persevered through persecution.
All at once, an explosive cacophony of what sounded like firecrackers ricocheted across the valley. Jamie whirled around as Alessandro snatched hold of her. “We’re being shot at. Follow me!”
She clutched his hand and sped with him toward the stone pathway back down through the chestnut forest.
“If you like different-than-the-norm settings, high-tension suspense, art and antiquities intrigue and sweet romantic chemistry, then you definitely need to check out The Waldensian Series by Donna Wichelman. Layered characters and fascinating history in a modern & picturesque locale draw you in and keep you engaged with the story and its outcome. Pop some popcorn and settle in for a riveting journey through Italy and France!” – Review of the Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor
Jamie appealed to the woman once more, her voice more urgent. “Signorina, we’re terribly concerned for our friend. You must understand …”
The woman kept her nose down, straightening up the clutter on her desk—or pretending to. She seemed to cogitate in silence. She looked up and around and then back at Jamie. Her eyes pleaded, and she whispered. “Signorina, please. The man in the photograph. Capo di Mafioso.”
Jamie’s eyes softened, desperate to show the woman she understood. Of course Justina would fear the mob boss. “Just tell us. Our friend—did he say where he was going?”
Paulette’s Papers – Find Your Own Romantic Adventure in Italy’s Lake District
In Light Out of Darkness—Book 1, The Waldensian Series—Jamie Holbrooke and Alessandro Marianni’s adventure begins on the shores of romantic Lake Como in Varenna, Italy when a prestigious art exhibition turns into a horrific spectacle and a murder sends the art curator and professor on a search for a highly coveted painting…
Outwardly, Luciana could only manage deep guttural sounds through the hands that clasped her mouth. What did these two people want with her, an old lady from a long-forgotten Alpine people? She didn’t have a scrap of money. They would see that right away.
Her impostor spoke in Italian. “I feel … old in this drab outfit. I don’t understand why I need to impersonate her. It’s not like anyone will care.”
Perhaps not here. But my grandson—
“You are not being paid to ask questions. Just do your job right, and you will be handsomely rewarded.”
Not until they were halfway through the park at a curve in the path did Jamie see another living soul. She slowed her pace, her heart pumping hard. She released Alessandro’s arm and halted, staring ahead.
Alessandro took a step back. “What’s wrong?”
“The man leaning against that tree, leering at us.” She indicated the towering ash ahead of them and the lanky man whose hands dug into black leather military jacket pockets as he rested with one foot against the tree. She’d know that figure anywhere from their encounter with him the year before. She wanted to flee, but he pulled her in like gravity to a black hole.
Out of nowhere, Alessandro’s Mercedes came to an immediate halt in front of them. “Get in!” Nico shouted. Jamie hopped into the back on the driver’s side.
“I’ll drive,” Alessandro said, waving his hand at Nico to go around to the other side, while he slid into the driver’s seat. He slammed his door. As soon as Nico had dumped himself into the front passenger seat, Alessandro accelerated forward toward the way they had come.
“Have we lost them?” Jamie gripped the armrest, her knuckles turning white, her body fighting the G-forces as Alessandro drove past the park and village businesses, then up an incline.
Jamie and Alessandro’s ancestors come from the Cottian Alps—the mountain range that forms the border between present day France (Hautes-Alpes and Savoy) and Italy (Piedmont). For nature lovers, ski aficionados, travel enthusiasts and history scholars, the terrain provides some of the most spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation in all of Europe with its majestic mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls, unspoiled forests and quaint mountain villages. People all over the world come to get away from the daily grind and rejuvenate…
“Light Out of Darkness is the beginning to Donna Wichelman’s series. . . . It is full of hold on your seat action and adventure and nail biting suspense and mystery. Jamie and Alessandro were quite the duo and I enjoyed reading how it would end for them…
Undaunted Valor continues Jamie and Alessandro’s story . . . . I had a hard time putting it down and no problem turning the pages. I found their story to be fascinating, intriguing and exciting.
I give Undaunted Valor 5 stars and I highly recommend it. It is so so good.”
If you’re like me, Italian food sits right up there with life’s most delectable encounters. In Italy, meals are a festive time enjoyed with family and friends and accompanied with a good glass of wine. Like art and culture and love, Italians are passionate about their food and pay particular attention to the preparation and presentation. Each region has its own cultural flair and unique flavors…
“I loved the fact that this story is set in Italy. (It’s on my bucket list of places to visit) The setting, the details, all of it, make this a lovely place to “visit”.
And then there’s the mystery…
She gets to know Alessandro. There’s a bit of romantic attraction between the two. And they are determined to solve the mystery…
The Italian Mafia also has a part in this story….and there are other elements as well that all tie together to make this an intriguing suspense novel.” – Review of Light Out of Darkness
“Any story that takes place in Italy is going to grab my attention. Add to that numerous references back to Cleveland, which was one of my favorite places to visit when I lived in Ohio, and the setting has completely grabbed my attention.” – Review of Light Out of Darkness
“…the setting is a good one. I adore the area around the French Alps. It’s just majestic and a place that everyone should aspire to visit at least once in their life…
And again, I adore Luciana. Plus my antique book geek side loved the secret Jamie finds in her grandmother’s trunk.” – Review of Undaunted Valor
Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven’t already…
Light Out of Darkness (The Waldensian Series #1) By Donna Wichelman
Romantic Suspense
Paperback & ebook, 320 pages
April 2nd 2018 by Soujourner’s Press
A prestigious art exhibition turns into a horrific spectacle when a murder sends an art curator and a professor on a hunt for a highly coveted stolen painting.
Escaping a painful past in Cleveland, Ohio, Jamie Holbrooke flees to Milan, Italy as an art curator. But her past follows her during an evening stroll along Varenna’s shoreline walk when an assailant, who looks like her dead brother, presses a mysterious riddle into her hand. Still reeling from shock the next day, she discovers her long-time paragon, Dr. Alessandro Marianni, may have a link to the enigmatic riddle. Before she can discover the answers, their colleague falls prey to an assassin’s bullet. Convinced the riddle and murder are connected, Jamie and Alessandro risk their lives to uncover why an obscure painting has caught the attention of art critics and criminals alike. At stake is a two-thousand–year-old drama, unfolding in the contemporary world of the Northern Italian Alps.
Will Jamie and Alessandro stop powerful organized crime figures before the painting is lost forever and with it a secret more valuable than the prized artwork? Will Jamie find the answers to help her reclaim her life again? She will need the courage to face her fears and the persevering faith of Dr. Alessandro Marianni to heal her wounded heart.
Undaunted Valor (The Waldensian Series #2) By Donna Wichelman
Romantic Suspense
Paperback & ebook, 281 pages
April 4th 2018 by Sojourner’s Press
For nature lovers, ski aficionados, travel enthusiasts and history scholars, the French Alps offer some of the most spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation in all Europe with its majestic mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls, unspoiled forests and quaint mountain villages. People come to get away from the daily grind and rejuvenate their spirits.
But when Alessandro Marianni’s grandmother Luciana is kidnapped during a church conference in Chamonix, the same landscape becomes an ominous height to scale, and Jamie Holbrooke and her fiancé Alessandro have difficulty distinguishing between friend and foe on the race to find her. They will have to weather a rainstorm on a mountain trail, negotiate a dangerous waterfall, outmaneuver a car chase, and defy an assassin’s gun in their search.
Will they find their beloved Luciana before it’s too late? Who will die on the way to the finish line? Who can they trust? And where will Jamie find the courage to confront her adversaries?
In this sequel to Light Out of Darkness, the answers will lie in unanticipated places and with unexpected allies and require Jamie to discover what it means to trust God with Undaunted Valor.
Donna Wichelman was a communications professional before writing full-time. She has authored short stories, essays and articles in various inspirational publications and lives her dream writing novels and screenplays. She and her husband work with teens at their local church in Fort Collins, Colorado. They travel, bike and kayak whenever their schedules allows.
1st Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card, Copy of the LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS (signed print copy to US winner, ebook to international winner) + 4 oz. Tea of your choice from the Tea Source or 1 LB of Coffee from DazBog Coffee (will Add $10 to Gift Card for international gift in lieu of tea or coffee)
2nd Prize: $15 Amazon Gift Card + Copy of LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS (signed print copy to US winner, ebook to international winner)
3rd Prize: Copy of LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS (signed print copy to US winner, ebook to international winner)
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Blackwood fans the flames of desire in her smoking-hot series about firefighters and the women who want them…
Unemployed schoolteacher Erin Jenkins is back in Portland, the town she hasn’t called home for more than a decade. It’s not the way she wants to spend her last days of summer: in between jobs and avoiding her mother’s snooping by escaping to the ice-cream aisle. But when the opportunity arises for her to accompany her brother’s best friend—her lifetime crush—to a wedding, summer gets a whole lot more interesting.
Firefighter and single dad Jake Bennett has built a nice, safe wall around his heart—no romance, no getting burned. That doesn’t mean he’s ruling out a fling. Considering Erin’s visit is temporary, they’re the perfect fit for a scorching no-strings one-night stand. Or two. Or five. Until the worst thing happens: Erin and Jake are feeling more. Damn that four-letter word.
Now their hearts are on the line, and when their smoldering summer comes to a close, it’s going to be harder than ever to put out the fire.
Review: Burning Up is the start to a new series, and what a start it is!
I loved Jake and Erin’s story. She’s had a crush on him forever–he was her brother’s best friend growing up–but he shut her down years ago. As soon as she had the chance, Erin left town and has barely looked back since…until her mother’s health takes a turn for the worse. Newly out of a job, she plans to spend the summer finding a new one as far away from her hometown as she can and avoiding her mother’s meddling at all costs.
For years Jake’s life has revolved around two things–his daughter Bailey and his job as a firefighter. He doesn’t need the complications that dating would bring, but still jumps at the chance to take Erin as his plus one to a family wedding, if only to prevent a maternal set-up with her neighbor the cat lady. It’s not like a relationship with Erin could go anywhere–her brother Reece is his coworker now, and anyway, she’s leaving before the summer’s over. It’s just a friendly date, right?
Riiiight. 😉
I loved the two of them together, even if they took turns making me crazy. Jake’s hesitancy to get involved with his friend’s sister and to start something with someone who’s got one foot out of town already was understandable–mixed with his undeniable attraction to Erin, though, it made him go hot and cold constantly. Erin spent the summer wishing she were somewhere else (literally, at one point–I loved the scenes at the town wishing fountain!), except when she was with Jake…and with her friends, and her family, and…gah! couldn’t she just see how right her hometown was for her? (Not living with her mom, though. That’s never the right choice when you’re almost 30.) Watching Jake and Erin grow closer and let go of their fears was a lot of fun, and I’m anxious to get glimpses of where their relationship is going in future books.
Burning Up is only my second book my Ms. Blackwood but definitely not my last–I can’t wait to find out what’s going on with Sloan (Erin’s BFF) and Reece. Fingers crossed that book 2 is theirs!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Stripped by Tara Wyatt Series: The Blue HEAT Series Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Publisher: Avon Impulse Publication Date: May 15, 2018
The first in a sexy new series from Tara Wyatt!
Detective Sawyer Matthews isn’t just having a bad day—he’s having the worst day. His hunt for the criminal who killed his team member has stalled and now… he’s got to play nice with his new, totally unwanted partner. It’s not that she isn’t qualified, or that he doesn’t like her—it’s because he knows what she looks like naked. So very, very naked.
Brooke Simmons finally landed her dream job working for H.E.A.T, an elite undercover detective squad, and she’s not giving up simply because she had a one-night-stand with her sullen—but undeniably sexy—new partner. They’ll just have to keep it professional. Easier said than done, considering their first case requires Sawyer to infiltrate a drug cartel operating out of a male strip show. Watching him do his best Magic Mike impression every night isn’t just hot—it’s torture.
Sawyer doesn’t need any distractions, yet his attraction to Brooke is explosive and he can’t resist going for round two. Or three. Or four. But as their investigation progresses and danger mounts, they’ll have to put their jobs, hearts, and lives on the line to fight… for each other, for survival, and for justice.
The elevator doors slid closed and Sawyer tugged Brooke against him, wanting to drown in her mouth, in her body. To feel something good. To forget about the near constant ache in his chest, just for a few hours. Drinking, punishing workouts, burying himself in cases, nothing worked. So it was time for a new plan. He was going to fuck this woman’s brains out and make her lose her damn mind in the hopes of shutting his off. A night of distraction and relief. Exactly what he’d been hoping to find. After the night she’d had, he was confident that she needed this—wanted this, deserved this—just as much as he did.
As he crushed his mouth to hers again, she moaned, her tongue stroking against his, sending more blood rushing to his already hard cock. He trailed his hands down her back and to her ass, giving her cheeks a firm squeeze. With a soft chime, the elevator doors opened onto her floor, and she broke the kiss. Threading her long, slender fingers through his, she led him down the hall. Her blond hair fell in styled waves around her shoulders, and when she glanced back at him over her shoulder, her warm brown eyes sparkled at him as she smiled. God, she was pretty. High cheekbones, delicate features, killer smile. She was tall, at least five-foot-ten, with slender arms and long, toned legs. Clearly fit, she moved with an athletic grace that he’d found appealing the second he’d laid eyes on her. Small, perky breasts, and what had felt like an equally perky ass, but he wouldn’t know for sure until he got her out of that dress.
As far as distractions went, he could’ve done far, far worse. She’d come across as funny and confident despite her horrible night. She’d exuded a warmth that he’d found immensely appealing. He’d tried so hard to stay numb in the weeks since his best friend’s death, but she’d melted that hard knot in his chest so easily, reminding him of what it was like to feel good.
The ripped strap of her dress slid down her shoulder, and he reached forward, pushing it back into place, letting his fingers linger on her soft, warm skin. She turned suddenly and fisted her hands in his shirt, pulling his mouth back to hers, kissing him hungrily, catching him off guard. A low, gruff moan rumbled from somewhere deep in his chest and he slid his arms around her, pulling her tight against him. Her body fit perfectly against his and a surge of something hot and sweet curled through him, and he knew he’d made the right decision to try to pick her up. Vaguely, he wondered where she was from, what her last name was, what she did for a living, but none of that mattered for tonight. This wasn’t a date. This was sex.
Not that he dated, in the traditional sense. Hadn’t since the divorce. No, it was always just sex, and he liked it that way. Simple. Easy. Painless.
He deepened the kiss, claiming her mouth as images flashed through his mind. Everything he wanted to do with Brooke. To her. Have her do to him. Given the deliciously greedy way she was kissing him, she seemed to be up for what he liked, what he needed, but he had to be sure. Something was coiling tight inside him, and he knew it was only a matter of time—minutes, probably, with how damn good her mouth felt—before it snapped free and he gave in to the hot oblivion that came with hard, dirty fucking. He broke the kiss and spoke low, urgent words against her throat. “Tell me if I get too rough with you.”
Heat flared in her eyes and she rocked her hips against him, letting out a shuddery breath when his erection slid against her hip. She bit at his bottom lip, tugging and then releasing him with a slow smile. “I like rough.”
Halle-fucking-lujah.
She scraped her nails down his chest, just enough to sting even through the cotton of his T-shirt, and he smiled. For the first time in weeks, luck was on his side, because he had a feeling that this woman was exactly what he needed tonight. He kissed her again, deep and bruising and she sighed against his mouth. Blood rushed through his veins, and his cock throbbed against his zipper. The temptation to back her up against the wall and fuck her in the hallway was strong, despite the likely indecent exposure charge they’d both get when caught. Something was building between them, an explosive need, each kiss, every touch fueling the fire. He needed this woman with an intensity that ripped through him like nothing he’d ever felt before.
With a growl, he broke the kiss. “Which room?”
Her hands trembled a little as she fumbled for her key card in her bag, and a sense of pure, masculine satisfaction cascaded over him. He’d done that to her, with his mouth, his hands, the few words he’d said. And he couldn’t wait to do more. She led him two doors down from where they’d stopped and slipped the card into the slot. The lock released with a click, the little green light flashing.
Green light. Go.
Review:
I’ve never been to a strip club–never wanted to go to one (true confessions time, here–just watching Magic Mikemade me cringe in mortification, and I’m pretty sure I fell asleep at one point. I know, I know–I’ll be over in the corner, hanging my head in shame) but the premise of this story–a brand-new detective finding out her new partner is her one night stand, and her first major assignment involves her having to watch him pose undercover as a male stripper–made it one I couldn’t resist.
And I’m so very glad I didn’t!
Even though my inner rules-follower shook her head in dismay every time Sawyer and Brooke proved that rules were made to be broken by giving in to the attraction between them while working together (really, how did they not get busted sooner?) I absolutely loved the two of them together. They practically lit up the pages of my ereader every time they were together, and even as I worried that they’d both get their butts fired I was cheering them on every step of the way.
And reading about the stripping scenes was definitely not a hardship. I didn’t feel sleepy at all. 😉
Ms. Wyatt also gave us two more HEAT team members to look forward to in future books, love-’em-and-leave-’em playboy detective Jack Ward and still-grieving Amelia Perez. Plus, we’re sure to see more of Sawyer and Brooke in their books, so…win-win!
Tara Wyatt is a new-to-me author, but I’ll absolutely be reading more from her in the future. I absolutely cannot waitto see Jack go undercover at a preschool, LOL 🙂
Rating: 4 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About Tara Wyatt:
Tara Wyatt is an award-winning romantic suspense and contemporary romance author known for her fast-paced writing, humor, and sexy love scenes. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario with the cutest dog in the world and a husband who makes all of her heroes look like chumps.
Today we are celebrating the release of Do You Like My Wiener? a non-expert’s no-nonsense guide to dating by Brenda Rothert. With laugh-out-loud mishaps and heartfelt advice, bestselling romance author Brenda Rothert shows readers that while dating these days can be the worst, great men aren’t just fictional. Check out the links below to grab your copy now!
Do You Like My Wiener?: a non-expert’s no-nonsense guide to dating by Brenda Rothert
Book Blurb:
With laugh-out-loud mishaps and heartfelt advice, bestselling romance author Brenda Rothert shows readers that while dating these days can be the worst, great men aren’t just fictional.
Ladies, we’ve all been there…a good first date is wrapping up and we’re sure a second date is likely after a great goodnight kiss beside our car. He’s tall, funny and charming. FINALLY a good one. He asks to get in the car, which seems natural since it’s cold outside. And then, once inside, another kiss, and he exposes himself and asks us if we like his wiener.
Wait, what? You haven’t been there? Guess that one only happened to me. What about the guy who spends most of a first date complaining bitterly about his ex-wife? The one with the guy who cops to his criminal record over dessert?
Dating these days can leave a girl frustrated and disgusted. But fear not, I’m here to help. I’m a veteran dater, having spent a fair amount of time in the cheap-cologne scented trenches. And while I am admittedly not an expert, I can help you avoid my mistakes.
I’ll show you how to prepare yourself for dating, how to spot the red flags and how to laugh off the misadventures you will inevitably have. And hopefully, how to avoid an awkward wiener encounter of your own.
Do You Like My Wiener? delivers exactly what it promises–a no-nonsense guide to modern dating from a non-expert who’s been “in the trenches” more than once. It’s a quick read and very funny at times, but still has some very solid advice to offer without comepletely overwhelming and/or scaring those who are still trying to work up the courage to get (back?) “out there”.
Not that that’s me, or anything.
(Spoiler: it totally is. OMG, things were so different in the 90s! Dick pics weren’t even a thing yet. I really wish they still weren’t, but what can you do?)
But anyway.
While Ms. Rothert doesn’t talk about specific apps/services here, in contrast to the last dating book I read, she still gives some good, general suggestions for best practices across the board. She continually stresses the importance of believing in yourself and knowing your own worth, and making sure that the guys you choose to be with know it too. She also talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with a “tribe” of trusted friends who can give you honest feedback and support as you navigate the often scary and frustrating but (hopefully!) just as often rewarding world of dating. By the end of the book, you’ll feel as if Ms. Rothert herself is at least an honorary member of your own personal tribe–and really, really hope that the first date she describes in her book never ever happens to you. 😉
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
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AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.
TAMING HIS HELLION COUNTESS (Lustful Lords, #2) by Sorcha Mowbray is coming next Tuesday, May 22!
BLURB:
A duty bound earl and a jewel thief might find forever if he can steal her heart…
Robert Cooper, the Earl of Brougham must marry in order to fulfill his duty to the title. He’s decided on a rather mild mannered, biddable woman who most considered firmly on the shelf. But, her family is on solid financial ground and has no scandals attached to their name.
Lady Emily Winterburn, sister of the Earl of Dunmere, is not what she seems. With a heart as big as her wild streak she finds herself prepared to protect her brother from his bad choices, even if it means stealing from the Ton. But marrying their way out of trouble is simply out of the question. What woman in her right mind would shackle herself to a man, let alone one of the notorious Lustful Lords?
Cooper’s carefully laid plans are ruined once he must decide between courting his unwilling bride-to-be and taming the wild woman he caught stealing–until he discovers they are one and the same. And when love sinks its relentless talons into his heart? He’ll do anything to possess the wanton who fires his blood and touches his soul.
Sorcha Mowbray is a mild mannered office worker by day…okay, so she is actually a mouthy, opinionated, take charge kind of gal who bosses everyone around; but she definitely works in an office. At night she writes romance so hot she sets the sheets on fire! Just ask her slightly singed husband.
She is a longtime lover of historical romance, having grown up reading Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught. Then she discovered Thea Devine and Susan Johnson. Holy cow! Heroes and heroines could do THAT? From there, things devolved into trying her hand at writing a little smexy. Needless to say, she liked it and she hopes you do too!
Celebrate this reveal by entering the giveaway found at the end of the post!
Blood Oath (Blood Oath #2)
by Amanda McCrina
Release Date: June 19, 2018
Publisher: Month9Books
The aftermath of what happened in the capital has shaken Torien to the core. Battling self-doubt and bitterness, he must find his resolve as he is sent back to Tasso to quell a violent uprising on the Road.
But Torien will need more than resolve to navigate the deadly path before him. His troops are inexperienced and his new adjutant untrustworthy. A series of murder attempts leaves the whole camp on edge. As the threat of mutiny builds, the mission seems doomed before they even reach Tasso—and Torien is beginning to suspect it was meant that way. He and his men are being set up to fail.
With his best friend in the hands of the rebels, his commanding officer refusing to negotiate a peace treaty, and his own men ready to turn on him at any moment, Torien must decide once and for all how much he’s willing to sacrifice for an empire he no longer believes in.
Amanda McCrina has studied in Italy, taught English in Japan, and currently tutors Latin in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her BA in History from the University of West Georgia, and is now pursuing her MA. She writes stories that incorporate her love of history, languages, and world travel. She drinks far too much coffee and dreams of one day having a winning fantasy-hockey season.
Today we are sharing the release of CUPCAKE EXPLOSION by Bethany Lopez. Cupcake Explosion is the fourth book in the contemporary romance series, Cupcakes. Check out the purchase links for the book below, and links for the previous books in the series.
Cupcake Explosion by Bethany Lopez
(Cupcakes, #4)
Synopsis:
For the first time in a long time, life is good. I’ve got a smokin’ hot motorcycle man as my fiancé, the best friends a woman could have, a couple of great kids, and things have been relatively quiet on the PI front.
You know what that means… the other shoe was bound to drop sooner or later…
Just when I was ready to settle down and plan the coolest wedding Greenswood has ever seen, the shit hit the fan, and hit it hard.
My friends are fighting, Cade’s been out of town doing God knows what for the club, and my sweet little twins are turning into hair-pulling pre-teens with more drama than my old daytime soaps.
I feel like I’m being pulled in a million directions, and I’ve been going so crazy that Elin’s swear jar is near to overflowing. I’ve been eating cupcakes like a woman possessed, and if I’m not careful, there’s going to be a Cupcake Explosion… in my pants.
WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS FOUL LANGUAGE, SEX, SOME VIOLENCE, AND SHENANIGANS. IF NONE OF THAT BOTHERS YOU, GRAB A CUPCAKE AND READ ON!
I shut the door and prayed there was no evidence of my investigation as I followed her into my living room.
“Carmen’s here?” she asked, looking at the two wine glasses, cheese board, and our discarded electronics.
Carmen was still in the kitchen. I could hear the strain of her voice, but luckily couldn’t make out the words.
Hopefully, Bea didn’t have supersonic hearing.
“Yeah, we were just hanging out. And, don’t beat yourself up, I was busy most of the day with the Wilkes.”
“Oh, right, the future in-laws are here. I can’t wait to meet them,” Bea said with a grin.
My friends had all loved hearing about our escapades with Cade’s parents in Hawaii. How his mom always seemed to know when we were about to have sex, the time we accidentally skinny dipped together, and when Elin found Cade’s mom’s vibrator.
Good times.
“I’m sure you’ll all love each other,” I said wryly, then asked, “Want a glass?” Pointing at the wine.
“Sure,” she said, as Carmen came back into the room talking.
“He’s on his way and happy to help,” Carmen said, then stopped in her tracks when she saw Bea.
“Who’s on the way?” Bea asked curiously.
“Bran,” I replied, then tried to keep the conversation going by sing-saying, “Her boyfriend.”
“Oh, stop, he’s not my boyfriend,” Carmen argued, playing along.
“Oh, I didn’t know you’d given him a second chance, that’s great, Carmen. I’m happy it worked out this time,” Bea said.
I hurried to grab her a glass and came back as Carmen said, “It’s still pretty new. I don’t want to jinx anything.”
“I can’t wait to finally see you guys together, you know, since you made it official. Did you say he’s coming over now?” I asked.
Carmen nodded.
“Can you ask him to pick up some McDonalds? I’m suddenly jonesin’ for a quarter pounder with cheese, no onions.”
“Oh, yeah sure, I’m hungry, too. You want anything, Bea?”
“I’m good,” she said, then looked pointedly at the cheese board.
Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She’s a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn’t reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.
We’re a little under a month away from the release COLD BLOODED by Toni Anderson and we can’t wait! Check out the awesome trailer below and preorder your copy now. Romantic suspense lovers – this is the series for you!
About COLD BLOODED
Available June 12th
Searching for the truth…
Disgraced investigative journalist Pip West is devastated when she discovers her best friend’s body face-down in a tranquil lake. When cops and federal agents determine that her friend overdosed then drowned, Pip knows they’re mistaken and intends to prove it.
Special Agent Hunt Kincaid doesn’t trust journalists and has no patience for Pip’s delusions, especially since her meddling could reveal why the FBI is interested in her friend’s last days. The dead scientist worked at the cutting edge of vaccine research and might have a connection to a new, weaponized, vaccine-resistant anthrax strain that just hit the black market.
…just turned deadly.
Pip is thrown off her game by grief and her unexpected attraction to the handsome federal agent. Hunt battles the same unwelcome pull, determined to resist the heat that threatens to consume them both. But the more Pip digs, the closer she gets to both the sexy FBI agent, and to a bioweapons terrorist who’s more than capable of cold-bloodedly sacrificing anyone who gets in his way.
New York Times and USA Today international bestselling author, Toni Anderson, writes dark, gritty Romantic Suspense novels that have hit #1 in Barnes & Noble’s Nook store, the Top 10 in Amazon and Kobo stores, and the Top 50 in iBooks. Her novels have won many awards. A former Marine Biologist from Britain, she inexplicably ended up in the geographical center of North America, about as far from the ocean as it is possible to get. She now lives in the Canadian prairies with her Irish husband and two children and spends most of her time complaining about the weather.
Toni has no explanation for her oft-times dark imagination, and only hopes the romance makes up for it. She’s addicted to reading, dogs, tea, and chocolate.
If you want to know when Toni’s next book will be out, visit her website (http://www.toniandersonauthor.com) and sign up for her newsletter. If you want to read other fascinating stories about life in a city that, during winter, is sometimes colder than Mars, friend her on Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/toniannanderson).
