Review – From This Day Forward by Lauren Layne

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FROM THIS DAY FORWARD

The Wedding Belles #0.5

Lauren Layne

Released June 6th, 2016

Pocket Star

Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in this prequel to USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s The Wedding Belles series about three high-powered New York City women who can plan any wedding—but their own.

Up-and-coming wedding photographer Leah McHale’s career is on the rise–thanks in no small part to the Wedding Belles, the elite New York wedding planning agency that always throws top-tier business Leah’s way. So when one of the Belles asks Leah to fill in at the former First Daughter’s wedding, Leah is overjoyed to say yes–until she finds out who she’ll be working with.

Jason Rhodes is the one man who was able to capture Leah’s heart and, once he had it, promptly stepped all over it and left her broken. Now he’s working side-by-side with her at the biggest wedding of the season and Leah is determined to give him the cold shoulder. Despite his persistence, she is not going to fall for his charming, impish ways again. Not even if he still has that killer, irresistible smile…

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BFF K’s Review of From This Day Forward

Lauren Layne has come upon an idea that absolutely hits upon one of my favorite storylines….the wedding planner! From This Day Forward is a novella prequel that gives us a brief intro to the successful ladies of the Wedding Belles. These successful, no-nonsense women create incredible events to stun celebrities and commoners alike.

From This Day Forward gives us a glimpse into their world through the eyes of two of their most trusted business partners. Leah and Jason are wedding photographers and incredibly good at what they do. They’re also former lovers, with unresolved feelings and a common assignment to photograph the wedding of the year. It’s a wild ride to discover if they can they make it through without ripping each other apart or ripping each others’ clothes off!

As is common with novellas, it didn’t always feel like there was enough time given to the characters or their story. I found myself wanting more. I wish there had been more time for the storylines and the characters. But, I guess it’s a good thing to finish a book and still be wanting more. The good news is this novella is just a small taste of whats to come. I’m intrigued by the world and the characters that are being created and I’m certainly ready for the first full-length story in the Wedding Belles series…..Coming soon!

An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

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About the Author

Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband (who was her high school sweetheart–cute, right?!) and plus-sized Pomeranian.

In 2011, she ditched her corporate career in Seattle to pursue a full-time writing career in Manhattan, and never looked back.

In her ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.

For a list of all her works, please be sure to check out her official website!

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Review – Hanging by a Thread by Jenna Sutton ALSO Features an Exclusive Excerpt

HANGING BY A THREAD

Riley O’Brien & Co. #3

Jenna Sutton

Releasing June 7th, 2016

Berkley Sensation

Thirty-year-old Bebe Banerjee is desperate to get rid of two things: her fiancé and her virginity. Escaping her arranged marriage might be impossible, but she refuses to give her firsts to an entitled jerk who lives on another continent. Instead, she devises a plan that guarantees another man will get her momentous firsts. But she never imagined that man would be Cal O’Brien, the gorgeous heir to the Riley O’Brien & Co. denim empire…

Although Cal has always been fascinated by Bebe’s brilliant mind and beautiful eyes, he’s never pursued her. She can’t stand the sight of him, and every time they’re in the same room, they end up trading insults. Yet when he finds out about Bebe’s bold plan, he makes his move, unaware of her upcoming nuptials. He promises to make her firsts unforgettable, but he doesn’t know how hard it will be to forget her when their arrangement ends.

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BFF K’s Review of Hanging by a Thread

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Opening another book in the Riley O’Brien Series is like slipping into your most favorite pair of the blue jeans. They just feel right! And, everything about this book feels so right! I desperately hope this isn’t the end of this series.

The characters seem like old friends that you want to catch up with; just hang out and have a beer. They’re charming, but down to earth and authentic. It was great to check in with Quinn and Amelia, Priest and Teagan, but hands down, Cal and Bebe are my favorite couple in the series. Their wicked tongues and lashing dispositions only mask some seriously repressed attraction. It’s like watching the fuse on a bomb slowly light to a MAJOR explosion! Once they come together, the butterflies are constant as you realize what an incredible match they are for one another. Those sharp tongues and quick wits turn into some playful, sexy banter.

I love both Cal and Bebe. Cal is book boyfriend perfection – strong, confident, compassionate, affectionate, head-over-heels in love. He is also a neat freak with a passion for gourmet cooking. See what I mean….PERFECTION! Bebe is a fascinating mix of uber-smart and shockingly naive. Jenna Sutton’s writing also manages to take a 30-year-old-virgin and make her NOT annoying! I think that is a feat of writing prowess in itself. In fact, I really really liked Bebe. She’s caring, sweet and innocent without being a total pushover. The cultural details surrounding her Indian lineage are interesting and they create layers in the story making this a very unique and engaging plot.

Again, I hope that there will be more to come for the Riley and Co. gang. Hanging by a Thread can be read as a stand-alone, but you’ll enjoy all of the other books in this series. Though the price-point on this series is a bit higher than I usually see; I think the quality of writing and interesting storyline makes it worth the extra pennies! I will definitely be recommending this series more often!

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An Advance Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

Exclusive Excerpt

Check out this Exclusive Excerpt – only on the BFF Book Blog and one of BFF K’s FAVORITE scenes in the book! ❤️

Cal checked his phone again. He really needed to see if Teagan had reviewed the contracts he had sent over last week. He had a few minutes before his next meeting, so he headed toward her office. It was located at the end of the hall, and as he got closer, he could hear voices.

The door wasn’t closed completely, and he was just about to knock when he heard Bebe’s voice. He turned on his heel to head back to his office because he didn’t think he had the emotional energy for a verbal duel but froze when one of her words floated to his ears.

“Virgin.”

Flattening himself against the wall, he slid closer to the door and peeked through the crack. Bebe stood beside Teagan’s desk, and his sister sat on top of it, her eyes intent on her best friend’s face.

Cal edged closer and cocked his head so he could hear their conversation better. He ignored the angel on his shoulder warning him that he was going to hell for eavesdropping and gave in to the devil assuring him that this was worth hearing.

“It’s unnatural!” Bebe exclaimed, throwing up her hands. “Do you know any other thirty-year-old virgins?”

Cal frowned. Who was a thirty-year-old virgin? And why was Bebe so upset about it?

“It’s not unnatural,” Teagan replied. “And it’s probably more common than you think. A lot of women want their first time to be special so they wait until they find the right guy.”

“I don’t care if my first time is special, and I don’t care who the guy is! I just want to lose it! As soon as possible!”

Holy shit! Bebe is a virgin?

Cal shifted and used the tip of his finger to push open the door a little more. He didn’t want to miss a word of what Bebe had to say.

“Why are you suddenly so determined to lose your virginity?” Teagan asked. “Did you just wake up and say to yourself, ‘I don’t want to belong to Club Virgin anymore’?”

Bebe made a growling noise, and damned if she didn’t sound like a rabid dog. “Why am I even talking to you? You’re having so much sex, I’m surprised you can even walk. And I’m never going to eat anything that’s been made on your kitchen island since you and Nick have sex there all the time!”

Cal winced. He definitely could have done without hearing that. And he agreed with Bebe. He wasn’t going to eat anything prepared on Teagan’s kitchen island, either.

“I always clean it with bleach afterwards,” Teagan choked out between giggles.

“I’ve never even been kissed,” Bebe wailed, and Teagan’s laughter died in her throat.

“What?”

“I’ve never been kissed,” Bebe repeated huskily.

Bebe had never been kissed? What the hell is wrong with all the guys on this planet?

Teagan stood and wrapped her arms around the shorter woman. “Oh, sweetie, it’s okay.”

“It’s not okay,” Bebe disagreed, her voice muffled against Teagan’s shoulder.

Cal could tell she was crying, and he dropped his head back against the wall. Much to his surprise, he was overwhelmed with the urge to comfort her. He had no doubt he could have made her feel better.

Check out BFF K’s Reviews for some of the other Riley O’Brien & Company novels

Coming Apart at the Seams

The Perfect Fit

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About the Author

Jenna Sutton is a formeraward-winning journalist who traded fact for fiction when she began writing novels. Surprisingly, the research she conducted for her articles provided a lot of inspiration for her books.

Jenna is the author of the Riley O’Brien & Co. romances including All the Right Places and Coming Apart at the Seams. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.

Jenna and her husband live in a 103-year-old house in Texas affectionately known as “The Money Pit”. You can find out more about her and her books by visiting www.jennasutton.com.

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Review – Good Girl by Lauren Layne

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GOOD GIRL

Lauren Layne

May 17th, 2016

Loveswept

In thissteamy novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Blurred Lines, country music’s favorite good girl hides away from the world—and finds herself bunking with a guy who makes her want to be a little bad.

Jenny Dawson moved to Nashville to write music, not get famous. But when her latest record goes double platinum, Jenny’s suddenly one of the town’s biggest stars—and the center of a tabloid scandal connecting her with a pop star she’s barely even met. With paparazzi tracking her every move, Jenny flees to a remote mansion in Louisiana to write her next album. The only hiccup is the unexpected presence of a brooding young caretaker named Noah, whose foul mouth and snap judgments lead to constant bickering—and serious heat.

Noah really should tell Jenny that he’s Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, the owner of the estate where the feisty country singer has made her spoiled self at home. But the charade gives Noah a much-needed break from his own troubles, and before long, their verbal sparring is indistinguishable from foreplay. But as sizzling nights give way to quiet pillow talk, Noah begins to realize that Jenny’s almost as complicated as he is. To fit into each other’s lives, they’ll need the courage to face their problems together—before the outside world catches up to them.

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BFF K’s Review of Good Girl

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Good Girl is exactly what I’m coming to expect from Lauren Layne. It’s a fast-paced, sweet, heart-clenching, butterfly-inducing, character driven story. Layne is a consistently strong story writer who dreams up rich characters and unique plot lines. The grumpy, Alpha-hero, Noah, and the sweet, Taylor Swift-esque heroine, Jenny, have a connection that’s so explosive it’s about to erupt and change their lives forever.

Noah and Jenny bicker and taunt as much as much as anything else. But, there is something about their personalities that sets off a spark the instant they’re in one another’s proximity. It doesn’t take long for those sparks to become a full-fledged inferno that threatens to burn them both. Jenny is sweet and feisty, holed up in Louisiana to write her new album and escape her high profile life for awhile. Noah is searching to reconcile his past and determine who he wants to be and how he wants to live.

Every romance novel has an ultimate conflict; this one was not even masked a little bit. You can see it coming from a mile away, but that doesn’t diminish its’ impact or importance to the storyline. How the conflict resolves is pure romance-novel-nirvana. If you’re looking for a light-hearted, quick read that wraps you up in great characters and sweet settings, Good Girl is a sure thing!

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An advance copy was received in exchange by an honest review.

dual point of view

Excerpt

Noah

“What time did you say this chick was arriving?” Finn asks around his cigarette.

“Tomorrow morning,” I say, rapping my toe against a funny-looking floorboard and wincing when it buckles.

“Huh.” Finn exhales and looks out the window.

I know that tone. “What?”

“Seems she might have gotten here early,” he says, a second before the quiet afternoon erupts with the sound of my dog losing his mind, mingled with the shrill piercing yap of a much smaller dog.

“Seriously?”

Finn shrugs and nods. “There’s a girl outside.”

“Shit,” I mutter as I head toward the stairs, dodging the two broken ones.

Ranger’s about as good a dog as they come, wouldn’t hurt a fly. But he’s a big dog with a big bark, and one serious weakness: gleefully humping smaller dogs. He’s a rescue, and though he was fixed after they brought him in, he’d already gone through canine puberty, or whatever. He’s still got the fierce urge to hump, although it’s more habit than hormones.

I exit out the front door just in time to see my big brown Lab leap forward, his clumsy paws finding the shoulders of a blond girl who lets out a shriek, holding a cat above her head like that scene from The Lion King.

“Ranger, no! Down.”

I run forward, my hand finding the collar of my dog and yanking him backward as I search the ground to find the source of the small-dog barks still piercing the air.

Then I register that the sound is coming from above, and realize . . .

The cotton ball isn’t a cat.

That orange piece of fluff is a dog, and Ranger is apparently in love.

“What the heck is wrong with your dog?” the girl says as she slowly lowers the puffball from over her head, cradling the hideous little monster against her chest as it continues its high-pitched bloody-murder yips.

“At least my dog is actually a dog,” I say, staring in horror at the pointy face of a canine that could fit in one of my hands. “I’ve seen dust bunnies bigger than that thing.”

“Dolly’s a Pomeranian,” she says, setting a hand on top of the monster’s head. “She’s supposed to be this tiny.”

“Well, Ranger’s a Lab. He’s supposed to be this normal.”

“He attacked me,” she says, giving Ranger a wary look as his tongue hangs out the side of his mouth, his eyes locked lovingly on Dolly.

“He didn’t want you, he wanted the . . . dog,” I say, forcing myself to acknowledge that the creature in her hands might be part of the canine family.

“For what, dinner?”

I don’t respond, because now that the crisis is averted, I’ve managed to shift my attention from the dogs to the girl, and . . .

Holy shit.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been sucker-punched by equal waves of lust and disdain before.

Jenny Dawson is hot as hell.

I knew that going in, but up close she’s even more mouthwatering. Her white skirt is short and tight, her legs long and toned.

She’s wearing some billowing pink top, so I can’t get a good look at what’s happening there, but it doesn’t really matter. I’ve always been a legs man, and I can’t stop looking.

The legs are a 10.

The face is a 10.

And the long blond hair spilling over one shoulder definitely begs to be spread over a man’s pillow. My pillow.

And yet even as my cock says yes, my brain is saying hell no.

Gorgeous as she is, she screams diva from the pink toenails to the sky-high stiletto sandals and all the way up to the carefully made-up face.

I just turned my entire life upside down trying to get away from a woman exactly like this one, so this is definitely a look, don’t touch situation.

But I’m looking. I’m definitely looking.

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About the Author

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of more than a dozen contemporary romance novels.Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. A year after moving from Seattle to NYC to pursue a writing career, she had a fabulous agent and multiple New York publishing deals.Lauren currently lives in Manhattan with her husband and plus-sized Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll likely find her running (rarely), reading (sometimes), or at happy hour (often).

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Release Week Blitz – The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L Armentrout

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER – a young adult title about friendship, survival, and finding your voice. This incredible book is available today! Read more about this stunning new novel below and be sure to order your copy today to receive an amazing FREE fan pack while supplies last!

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About THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes a riveting new story about friendship, survival, and finding your voice.

For some people, silence is a weapon.

For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield.

Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

Excerpt

Prologue

Dusty, empty shoe boxes, stacked taller and wider than her slim body, wobbled as she pressed her back against them, tucking her bony knees into her chest.

Breathe. Just Breathe. Breathe.

Wedged in the back of the dingy closet, she didn’t dare make a sound as she sucked her lower lip between her teeth. Focusing on forcing every grimy breath into her lungs, she felt tears well in her eyes.

Oh gosh, she’d made such a big mistake, and Miss Becky was right. She was a bad girl.

She’d reached for the dirty and stained cookie jar earlier, the one shaped like a teddy bear that hid cookies that tasted funny. She wasn’t supposed to get cookies or any food by herself, but she’d just been so hungry that her tummy hurt, and Miss Becky was sick again, napping on the couch. She hadn’t meant to knock the ashtray off the counter, shattering it into tiny pieces. Some were shaped like icicles that clung to the roof during the winter. Others were no bigger than chips.

All she’d wanted was a cookie.

Her slender shoulders jerked at the sound of the all cracking on the other side of the closet. She bit down harder on her lip. A metallic taste burst into her mouth. Tomorrow there would be a hold the size of Mr. Henry’s big hand in the plaster, and Miss Becky would cry and she’d get sick again.

The soft creak of the closet door was like a crack of thunder to her ears.

Oh no, no, no…

He wasn’t supposed to find her in here. This was her safe place whenever Mr. Henry was angry or when he—

She tensed, eyes peeling wide as a body taller and broader than hers slipped inside and then knelt in front of her. In the dark, she couldn’t make out much of his features, but she knew in her belly and her chest who it was.

“I’m sorry,” she gasped.

“I know.” A hand settled on her shoulder, the weight reassuring. He was the only person she felt okay with when he touched her. “I need you to stay in here, ‘kay?”

Miss Becky had said once that he was only six months older than her six years, but he always seemed so much bigger, older than her, because in her eyes, he took up her entire world.

She nodded.

“Don’t come out,” he said, and then he pressed into her hands the redheaded doll she’d dropped in the kitchen after she broke the ashtray and rushed into the closet. Too frightened to retrieve her, she’d left Velvet where she had fallen, and she’d been so upset because the doll had been a gift from him many, many months before. She had no idea how he’d gotten Velvet, but one day he’d simply shown up with her, and she was hers, only hers.

“You stay in here. No matter what.”

Holding the doll close, clenched between her knees and chest, she nodded again.

He shifted, stiffening as an angry shout rattled the walls around them. It was her name that dripped ice down her spine; her name that was shouted so furiously.

A small whimper parted her lips and she whispered, “I just wanted a cookie.”

“It’s okay. Remember? I promised I’d keep you safe forever. Just don’t make a sound.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Just stay quiet, and when I…when I get back, I’ll read to you, ‘kay? All about the stupid rabbit.”

All she could do was nod again, because there had been times when she hadn’t stayed quiet and she’d never forgotten those consequences. But if she stayed quiet, she knew what was coming. He wouldn’t be able to read to her tonight. Tomorrow he would miss school and he wouldn’t be okay even though he would tell her he was.

He lingered for a moment and then he eased out of the closet. The bedroom door shut with a smack, and she lifted the doll, pressing her tearstained face into it. A button on Velvet’s chest poked at her cheek.

Don’t make a sound.

Mr. Henry started to yell.

Don’t make a sound.

Footsteps punched down the hall.

Don’t make a sound.

Flesh smacked. Something hit the floor, and Miss Becky must have been feeling better, because she was suddenly shouting, but in the closet the only sound that mattered was the fleshy whack that came over and over. She opened her mouth, screaming silently into the doll.

Don’t make a sound.

Register your preorder of THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER by May 20^thto receive a FREE fan pack! Includes inspirational wall art, a colorful poster, and flag-as-you-read stickers. You will also get immediate access to an extended excerpt from the book.

JUST FILL OUT THE FORM HERE

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THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER - RWB - Text Teaser

Praise for THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER:

“The intensity between Mouse and Rider is palpably sizzling… romance aficionados [will] lose themselves in Mouse and Rider’s smoldering glances and steamy kisses.” –Kirkus

“Armentrout’s effort to gradually coax her protagonist from her shell via a supportive, loving community succeeds, and readers looking for an inspirational comeback story will find Mallory’s to be satisfying and hopeful” –Publishers Weekly

About the Author

# 1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER - RWB - Text Teaser 2

Review/New Release – Mister O by Lauren Blakely

Lauren Blakely’s MISTER O is here for all of your reading pleasure! MISTER O is a standalone, sexy romantic comedy, including a forbidden romance, told from the male POV. You met Nick in Lauren’s BIG ROCK, and he’ll keep you up long into the night as you turn the pages of MISTER O.

“This book is an absolute gem! Nick is so freaking SEXY! And funny! And adorable in the HOTTEST way!!!” – NYT Bestselling Author Emma Chase

Just call me Mister O. Because YOUR pleasure is my super power.

Making a woman feel ‘oh-god-that’s-good’ is the name of the game, and if a man can’t get the job done, he should get the hell out of the bedroom. I’m talking toe-curling, mind-blowing, sheet-grabbing ecstasy. Like I provide every time.

I suppose that makes me a superhero of pleasure, and my mission is to always deliver.

But then I’m thrown for a loop when a certain woman asks me to teach her everything about how to win a man. The only problem? She’s my best friend’s sister, but she’s far too tempting to resist–especially when I learn that sweet, sexy Harper has a dirty mind too and wants to put it to good use. What could possibly go wrong as I give the woman I’ve secretly wanted some no-strings-attached lessons in seduction?

No one will know, even if we send a few dirty sexts. Okay, a few hundred. Or if the zipper on her dress gets stuck. Not on that! Or if she gives me those f*&k-me-eyes on the train in front of her whole family.

The trouble is the more nights I spend with her in bed, the more days I want to spend with her out of bed. And for the first time ever, I’m not only thinking about how to make a woman cry out in pleasure –I’m thinking about how to keep her in my arms for a long time to come.

Looks like the real Adventures of Mister Orgasm have only just begun….

MISTER O is a standalone romantic comedy and it follows supporting characters first introduced in BIG ROCK

Mister O - RWB - Teaser 1

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BFF K’s Review of Mister O

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Mister O is a stay up ’til 3am, steam up the Kindle, smile so hard your face hurts, fall in love kind of book. And when I say fall in love, I’m not just talking about the characters, I’m talking about how much I adore everything about this book!

Mister O is absolute rom-com perfection! Nick is everything you want in a hero: sweet, witty, sarcastic, sensitive, skilled, and perfectly matched to the heroine. And, the male POV of this book, just reinforces all of that. Harper is the perfect sidekick for the hero: quirky, perky, funny, innocent-but-not, eager and charming. You can’t help but see and feel all of the reasons that Nick is crazy about her. You’ll soon fall in love with them too!

I LOVE Big Rock, Spencer and Charlotte’s story was sweet and fun in really surprising and unexpected ways. I had high hopes for Mister O, but the reality blew those hopes out of the water in the very best way. This will absolutely be on my Rom-Com Besties list! I will be recommending this book to everyone looking for a light-hearted, feel good, sweet, steamy, satisfying, super-fun book that you can’t put down! Mister O is perfection!

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An Advance Copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

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Mister O - RWB - Teaser 2

Add it to Goodreads here!

Excerpt

“You’re good, Nick. You know just what to do and how to behave. This is why you attract women in droves.”
            I kind of want to protest. I feel like she has this impression of me that I don’t necessarily want her to have, but I’m not sure how to deflect this. “Because I have a gift?”
            “That and several other reasons.” She waves broadly at my arms. It’s October, but it’s not chilly tonight so I don’t have a jacket on. “First, there are the arms. All that ink and muscle.”
            She roams her eyes over my biceps. “I mean, your ink is awesome,” she says, pointing to the shapes and swirls I designed myself. The tattoos are abstract lines and curves, but inside them there’s a sun, a moon, and stars, because those were the first things I realized I was good at drawing.
            “Then, the body. Mr. Men’s Health-I’m-so-fit,” she says in this mocking tone, but it’s not me she’s making fun of. It’s the article.
            “You read it?”
            “I read everything. I devour information,” she says, and we’re right back to that place I seem to inhabit with her, where she compliments me, but she could be saying it like I’m a car she’s considering buying. And this one has one hundred seventy horsepower.
            “And then, there’s your face, and you have all this awesome scruff on it.”
            I run a hand over my jaw, and the neat, trim beard that’s like an additional sex toy I can bring to the bedroom. “Chicks dig the beard,” I say, with a lopsided grin.
            “I bet they do,” she says under her breath. She doesn’t say anything else right away. She presses her teeth into the corner of her lip and then speaks, more softly than before. “Can I feel it?”
            FUCK, YES.
            She raises her hand and touches my jaw. My breath hitches as she runs her thumb across the light bristles. I’m keenly aware of every second that passes, one ticking into the next as she touches me, stroking my jawline like she’s mesmerized by the texture.
            “Soft,” she whispers, almost in wonder as she stares at my chin. My heart starts hammering, and I fight to stay still. When she says, “But kind of hard, too,” I swear, I don’t know how I manage not to cup her cheeks, back her up against the stone wall, and just kiss the hell out of her. Kiss, touch, grind, and then some. I want to yank that lush body against mine, let her feel how much she turns me on, and find out if I do the same thing to her. The way her breath barely catches sends my mind spinning and lust spiraling tight in me. I can’t help but hope she wants what I do, and it feels like she could, going by the way she touches my face. It truly fucking does, and maybe that’s why her name takes shape in my throat like a warning.
            So she knows she’s playing with fire if she touches me like this again.

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About the Author

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With nine New York Times bestsellers,her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller List more than three dozen times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love and Fighting Fire. She recently released BIG ROCK, a sexy standalone romantic comedy that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. In the late spring, she’ll release MISTER O, another standalone romantic comedy.

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Review – The Player and the Pixie by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid

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The Player and the Pixie
by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid
Publication Date: April 12, 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports, Humor

PATP

How can someone so smokin’ hot be so bad in bed? I mean, Sean Cassidy is absolute rubbish. RUBBISH. He is the epitome of walking, talking false advertising and I want a refund! Plus he’s an arsehole. So… what is wrong with me that I can’t stop thinking about him?

The Player and the Pixie is a full-length, romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the second book in the Rugby Series.

THE PIXIE
Lucy Fitzpatrick doesn’t like rugby.

As the little sister of Ireland’s most infamous rugby player, Lucy can’t seem to escape the championship-sized shadow cast by her big brother, or her mother’s frequent attempts to micromanage her future. Her rainbow hair is as free-spirited as her quest for inner peace, yet overbearing expectations keep bringing her down. And when she’s down, her compulsive little problem lands her in seriously big trouble.

THE PLAYER
Sean Cassidy is a cold-hearted brute… or so he’s been told. Frequently. By everyone.

His blonde locks, baby blues, and rock hard bod make ladies the world over drool with desire. As the rugby world’s second most infamous player, he should be basking in his success. But Sean has never been content settling for second place, and his frequent confrontations with Lucy’s big brother leave him cold. And when he’s cold, his compulsive little problem lands him in the lap of Lucy Fitzpatrick.

THE PLAN
Sean has a problem only Lucy can solve. Lucy has a problem only Sean can fix. The solution seems obvious: you scratch my back, and I’ll bail you out of jail. But when their business arrangement unexpectedly leaves Sean scorching hot and Lucy on the precipice of inner peace, can they convince the world—and Lucy’s big brother in particular—that this is the real deal?

Either way, both the Player and the Pixie are about to teach each other some pretty monumental lessons about family, life, but most importantly, love.

BFF K’s Review of The Player and the Pixie

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2015 was my “Year of Penny Reid” where I read and/or listened to all of her books. The Hooker and the Hermit was one of my most favorites. I’ve been anxious to slip back into the world of professional rugby and these terrific characters ever since! The Player and the Pixie is book 2 in the Rugby Series by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid (though it can be read as a standalone) and it’s absolutely fantastic.

Sean is the character that I really really disliked in HatH, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Though Sean starts the book as pretty much the same a$$hat that he was in the first book; there’s more to him than meets the eye. This book explains why Sean acts the way he does and reveals that perhaps he’s not as evil as we thought. And then he meets sweet Lucy. She’s sunshine and color and kindness and everything Sean didn’t know he wanted or needed. There are some major issues for both of them. Lucy’s overprotective big brother Ronan, who is also Sean’s nemesis, is just ONE of those obstacles.

Penny Reid delivers smart, quirky characters better than any other author. And, the partnership with L.H. Cosway only seems to enhance this skill. Lucy and Sean are both a little damaged, but in ways that make them human and vulnerable, and perfect for each other. The Player and the Pixie is an absolutely delightful story full of honesty, redemption and super sweet romance. I will be anxiously awaiting the next story in this series!

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An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

Excerpt

Lucy

Later that evening, I got ready for the party. My dress was cream lace, sort of floaty, and I wore my hair down with a single daisy clip at the side. I was sitting in a VIP room at the back of the venue with my brother, his fiancée Annie, and a couple of Ronan’s teammates. We were enjoying a few bottles of champagne and discussing the success the Irish squad had enjoyed during the year. Mam was elsewhere, socializing with the other team mothers, and I was glad. I just wanted to enjoy my night without her saying something about how unattractive or embarrassing I was.

We were all having a great time until the door swung open and Mr. Tall, Blond and Up Himself walked in. That would be Sean Cassidy to those not in the know, Sleazy Sean, as nicknamed by the rugby club. I tried to always see the good in people, but he and my brother didn’t have the best relationship. Not only had Sean slept with Brona, Ronan’s ex-girlfriend, but he was also universally acknowledged to be an arsehole.

It went against everything I believed in to say, because I liked to think everyone was redeemable in some way, but Sean just wasn’t a nice person. He actually seemed to be proud about the fact, like he wanted people to dislike him.

The conversation died down, everybody casting surreptitious glances at Sean who swaggered his way up to the private bar and loudly ordered a bottle of bubbly. That’s actually what he called it, but speaking of bubbly . . .

Almost of their own accord, my eyes wandered over his broad shoulders, muscular back, and down to what must have been the most perfect bubble butt I’d ever seen. You know how sometimes male athletes develop those really defined, rounded but masculine derrieres? Well, Sean Cassidy was most definitely rocking one of those, and I couldn’t resist the urge to ogle it. It was pure muscle and simply bite-worthy.

I snickered to myself when I realized I’d almost commented on it out loud. Okay, I’d officially had too many glasses of “bubbly” as Sean so douchebaggedly called it. He must have heard my snicker because his attention landed on me. He stared at me for a second, arched a condescending brow, then dismissed me all in an instant, returning his attention to the bar.

Huh.

After about thirty seconds everyone went back to their conversations, trying their best to ignore Sean. Ronan had told me once that Sean was the kind of person who thrived on attention, so ignoring his presence was probably the best course of action to take.

It was my own fault I couldn’t stop staring. We’d never spoken before. In fact, I’d only ever seen him from afar at parties like this one, or on television when there was a match on. But right now he was close, close enough for me to realize just how devastatingly and legitimately handsome he was: light blue eyes, a strong jaw, nice lips, attractive nose.

Sigh.

Why were the beautiful ones always such pricks, huh?

He leaned back against the bar, having uncorked the champagne bottle and poured some into a glass. He wore a shit-eating grin as he stared right at Ronan, holding the glass to his lips, his pinky popped. I knew he was getting to Ronan when my brother muttered to Annie under his breath, “Is he fucking shitting me?”

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About the Authors

L.H. Cosway

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favorite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

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Penny Reid

SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

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Cover Reveal – Below the Surface by Elizabeth Lee

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Daniella Alvarez and Dylan McKendrie used to be in love. They used to be a team. An inseparable force to be reckoned with. But, when tragedy struck, their relationship sank faster than the ships they used to scour the ocean floor for. Now all that’s left are scattered remains of what used to be.

Dylan, no longer seeking the mysteries on the ocean floor, now goes for the sure things and the guaranteed paychecks. When a longtime friend suggests he has hard proof that one of those legends that used to keep Dylan up at night could be real, he’s torn between going after the gold and maintaining the life he’d built since leaving The Florida Keys.

Daniella was always a dreamer. She’s always been chasing what would most deem unattainable—professionally and personally. Everything she’d ever wanted seemed to slip through her fingers the day he left, which is exactly why his return has her seeing red.

Can the two of them put their past aside long enough to figure out a mystery that has plagued them both for years? Can they work together to see what lies below the surface?

COVER PHOTO by Sarah Lee Photography

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Releases May 12, 2016

Excerpt

“Would you wait just a goddamn second,” I said when I finally caught up to her. She was halfway to the ocean and just about to sit down in the sand to pout. Just like her. Things get a little heated and she’s running for the water to avoid an actual conversation.

“Why? So you can tell me how I’m wasting my time on ghosts. How I just chase every lead I get without thinking things through?” A part of me wanted to put my hand over her mouth and shut her up, but another part of me reasoned I could do the same with my lips. The urge to kiss her had my blood overheating. “Like I said before…We. Don’t. Need. You.”

“Oh you need me,” I said with a smirk.

“No I don’t,” she quickly replied. “You left and I’ve been doing just fine.”

“I’m not talking about you in particular, Miss Impulsive.”

“Oh.” She paused for a second but quickly recovered. “I know you’re not talking about me.”

“I’m talking about that fact that I have the boat,” I pointed out. “I have the equipment you need to bring this so called ship up out of the water.”

“Whatever. I can find a boat anywhere.” She crossed her arms across her chest and glared.

“Oh yeah. That right? ‘Cause from what I’ve heard, the only boat you’ve been on lately comes equipped with a snorkel and tourists.”

“Keeping tabs on me, McKendrie?” The edge in her tone was sharp enough to raise the hairs on my arms. I might have occasionally asked Cal about her, but I wasn’t going to fess up at that moment. “Can’t imagine that you could even be bothered to check on what you left behind.” Her words stung just as badly as I expected them to.

“I shouldn’t.” I was still pissed too. If she wanted to play who can be the bigger asshole, I was going to win. I was part Irish and there wasn’t a chance in hell that I was going to let her get the better of me. She wasn’t the only one with a fiery temper. “Not a damn thing has changed.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“I’ve been called worse.” I took a step toward her. “Probably by you.”

“I can guarantee that,” she said between gritted teeth. The ever present noise of the ocean, the sound of traffic and the island town vanished as we held each other’s stare.

The two of us stood inches from each other on that beach. The tide rolled in over our feet and I was so mad that I didn’t even care that my best pair of boots were wet. The sand and surf were bearing witness to a good old fashion showdown. I could practically see the steam rolling off of her as I tightened my gaze.

Her lips were parted, words threatening to tear into me, but neither of us spoke. Instead, we just waited for the other to break.

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When I’m not writing or playing the part of wife and mom, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here’s the thing about being born and raised in a small town–you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

Review – The Perfect Fit by Jenna Sutton

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THE PERFECT FIT

A Riley O’Brien & Co Novella

Jenna Sutton

Released April 5th, 2016

Zeke May has spent the past two years recovering from an IED attack and trying to adjust to life as a civilian. The veteran hiring program at denim empire Riley O’Brien & Co. offers a new beginning. The only problem is the high cost of housing in San Francisco, and Margo Lange could be the perfect solution.

Now that Margo has completed veterinary school, she’s ready to fulfill her dream of living in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, she’s drowning in student loan debt and the only places she can afford are dumps. Luckily, one of her uncle’s Army buddies needs a roommate.

Although Zeke’s place is a perfect fit for Margo’s budget, he is not what she expects. He’s much younger than her uncle, and he’s melt-your-panties hot. She doesn’t want to fall for him, but it doesn’t take her long to realize that Zeke is the perfect fit for her, regardless of their age gap. Too bad he’s so obviously still in love with his ex-wife…

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BFF K’s Review of The Perfect Fit

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Zeke May is a Veteran who has recently moved to San Francisco to take a job at Riley O’Brien & Co. as part of a Veterans to work program. To help meet expenses, he offers to share his apartment with the niece of an army buddy. But, he doesn’t expect Margo to share the space in his head and heart as easily as she occupies a room in his apartment.

Margo and Zeke are terrific characters that are really well developed for a brief novella. Margo is a veterinarian with a huge heart. She bring out the best in Zeke and he adores and protects her. This is really the story of two lonely souls who find one another and become stronger together than they are apart. Though Margo and Zeke are on the periphery of the Riley Co. gang, we do see glimpses of the other characters in this series. And, it just makes me anxious for the next book, which will be releasing in early June. This novella adds to depth and quality of the entire series.

The Perfect Fit is a standalone novella in the Riley O’Brien & Co. Series. You do not have to read any of the other books in the series to enjoy The Perfect Fit. But, why would you not? The Perfect Fit is a sweet and heartwarming romance. I have really grown to love this series and Jenna Sutton’s writing. I think you’ll love it too!

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Excerpt

As Zeke stood in the elevator in the Four Seasons, he ran his hand over his hair, searching for any unruly strands. Satisfied that everything was in order, he adjusted the French cuffs of his bright white tuxedo shirt and furtively checked his fly to make sure it was zipped.

Never in his life had he showered, shaved, and dressed as quickly as he had tonight. He was surprised he’d only nicked himself once.

Even though he’d driven like a maniac to get to the hotel as fast as humanly possible, he was still forty-five minutes late. He hated being late, regardless of the circumstances. But his tardiness tonight was even more unacceptable because Margo had been counting on him.

Because of stupid softball game, she’d had to take a taxi in an evening gown. She was probably livid, and he couldn’t blame her.

Why hadn’t he just left the game early? Better yet, why hadn’t he declined Margo’s invitation to attend Pictures & Paws?

He should have. But he’d hated the thought of her going to this type of event alone. And, if he were honest with himself, he would admit that he’d wanted to go with her, even if it was a monumentally bad idea.

Being around her was torture. A couple of days ago, he’d accidently bumped into her in the kitchen, his front grazing her back. That small touch had created a big problem … behind his zipper.

Ever since that day when he had retrieved Margo’s panties from Roby’s paws, Zeke had tried—and failed—to push her back into the roommate-only zone. But those tiny panties had already done their damage.

Whenever they were together, he constantly thought about what she wore underneath her clothes. He even thought about it when they weren’t together.

His dormant libido had awakened, and now the damn thing was boiling like an active volcano. It could erupt at any time.

Zeke should be happy that his penis had returned to its normal operations. But he wasn’t. Instead, he was frustrated and edgy and hard all the fucking time.

He didn’t understand why this was happening now. And he sure as hell didn’t understand why it was happening with Margo.

It didn’t happen with anyone else.

Today, during the softball game, a pretty woman on the opposing team had run into him. The force of the impact had knocked them to the ground, with her sprawled on top.

She’d been a sweet-smelling, curvy armful. And his penis had been uninterested.

If it could talk, it would have said, I’m bored. But around Margo, it said, Mmm, I want some of that.

Of course, his dick didn’t care about the eleven-year age gap between them. And it didn’t care that she had her whole life ahead of her, while he had already lived a big portion of his.

Finally, the elevator reached the fifth floor. When he stepped out, he immediately began to look for Margo. No matter where they were, her bright hair made it easy to spot her.

After searching the area where the pictures were displayed and the ballroom where dinner would be served, he wandered onto the terrace. The huge space overlooked Yerba Buena Gardens, and the surrounding buildings provided plenty of light.

He surveyed the small group of people on the terrace. His gaze landed on a woman with vibrant reddish-gold hair. She was a little taller than Margo, and her hair was wavy instead of straight. Her back was to him, the flawless skin exposed by her form-fitting dress.

Damn, that dress is something else.

The dress’s lace overlay gave the impression that she was naked underneath. And the way it hugged her curvy hips and cupped her round ass … that should be prohibited in public venues to prevent riots.

Wait … he recognized that ass. He saw it—stared at it—every day.

The woman in the sexy dress was Margo. And the moment his dick realized that fact, it woke up from its nap and did a couple of stretches in preparation for vigorous exercise.

Zeke took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. For a brief moment, he thought about turning around, going back home, and locking himself in his bedroom until this insanity passed.

But then Margo glanced in his direction. And he knew, without a doubt, that he wasn’t going anywhere.

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About the Author

Jenna Sutton spent most of her career as an award-winning journalist covering business-related topics including healthcare, commercial real estate, retail, and technology. Nowadays she writes about hot, lovable guys and the smart, sexy women who make them crazy. It’s the culmination of a lifelong dream, and she feels so lucky to be able to do it.Jenna has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.Jenna and her husband live in a 103-year-old house in Texas.

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Check out the rest of the Riley O’Brien & Co series

New Release – Dirty by Kylie Scott

The last thing Vaughan Hewson expects to find when he returns to his childhood home is a broken hearted bride in his shower, let alone the drama and chaos that comes with her.

Lydia Green doesn’t know whether to burn down the church or sit and
cry in a corner. Discovering the love of your life is having an affair on your wedding day is bad enough. Finding out it’s with his best man is another thing all together. She narrowly escapes tying the knot and meets Vaughan only hours later.

Vaughan is the exact opposite of the picture perfect, respected businessman she thought she’d marry. This former musician-turned-bartender is rough around the edges and unsettled. But she already tried Mr. Right and discovered he’s all wrong-maybe it’s time to give Mr. Right Now a chance.

After all, what’s wrong with getting dirty?

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Excerpt

“Once upon a time,” he began, voice low and measured. “There was a princess. A beautiful, occasionally annoying princess.”

“What was her name?”

“Ah, Notlydia.”

I frowned. “Her name is Notlydia?”

“You wanted a story, I’m giving you one. Shut up.”

“Whatever.”

An even heavier sigh from the man. “Anyhoo, Notlydia was all set up to marry this prince. We’ll call him Prince Bag of Dicks.”

“Works for me.”

“But on the day of her wedding, when she was wearing this sweet dress that served her tits up like they were a fucking platter—”

“Is this an R-rated story?”

“Please,” he said, sliding an arm around my bare waist. And I let him. “R is for rubbish. If you don’t get to see any penetration then you’re wasting your time. This is XXX.”

I laughed.

“So on the day of her wedding to Prince Bag of Dicks, Notlydia kisses him and he turns into a big slimy two-headed toad with terrible breath and even worse foot odor.”

“Whoa.” I rested my head back against his shoulder. “Poor Notlydia.”

“Hell of a plot twist, right?”

“Never saw that one coming.”

“Mm.” He rested his cheek against the top of my head.

“What happens next?”

“Well, she’s completely freaked out, of course.”

“Of course.”

“And she takes off into the woods. She’s running through bushes, jumping fences, climbing trees, you name it. Nothing’s going to stop her from getting the hell away from that toad, Prince Bag of

Dicks.” He took a sip of beer. “Unfortunately, she loses her fancy dress along the way. She’s just down to some skimpy underwear and a corset and with all that jogging through the forest, it’s barely holding her in. One decent breath and there’s going to be nipple out there for all the world to see.

Did I happen to mention she’d been voted Best Rack in the kingdom four years running? Anyway, eventually she finds this small cottage. Now, what you don’t know about Notlydia is that she has a shady past.”I tried to look up at him. But with the angle, all I got was stubble and cheekbone. “That doesn’t sound like Notlydia.”

“Be quiet.” A hand covered my mouth. “Notlydia’s a dirty, dirty girl. Got a bad side like you wouldn’t believe. A little breaking and entering is nothing to her. So into the house she goes. But she’s all muddy from running through the woods, see? She can’t let people see her like this, she’s a princess, for fuck’s sake.”

The hand remained over my mouth. Which was fine, I had nothing to add to his pornographic fairy tale.

“Notlydia gets in the shower and starts soaping herself. There’s lots of bubbles and steam, and she’s a modern woman so there’s a bit of self-love. She even finds time to wash her hair, shave under her pits. Things like that. But then the owner of the cottage wakes up and hears the water running. He stomps into the bathroom saying, someone’s using up my hot water. Notlydia cries out, not me, not me.”

He craned his neck, meeting my gaze. “See, babe, what did I tell you? That Notlydia is a filthy little liar.”

I looked up to heaven. No help was forthcoming.

“Someone’s using up all my soap, says the owner. Not me, not me, cries Notlydia.” He put his lips next to my ear. “She should be ashamed of herself, shouldn’t she? If ever a busty princess deserved a spanking.”

I bit at the palm of his hand, teeth catching at the fleshy mound beneath his thumb.

“Ow.” He laughed, pulling his hand free. “Then the owner said, someone’s been fingering herself in my shower.”

“Stop!” I put my hands over my ears, trying desperately to hold in my laughter. “This is the worst story ever. The Brothers Grimm are rolling over in their graves.”

“Notlydia throws back the shower curtain and says, oh yeah, big boy, that was me. Come and get it. And they have wild sex all over the cottage.” Vaughan’s body jerked beneath mine as he laughed his ass off. “The end.”

“No way. Notlydia is virtuous and pure. She’d never pull that sort of shit.”

“Nah.” He chuckled. “It all happened exactly as I said. Dirtiest princess in all the land.”

“Like hell. The owner of that cottage was a pervert and a deviant. Why, he would have picked the lock on a chastity belt. She never stood a chance.” Difficult to maintain my pious stance, given I’d started laughing so hard tears were pouring down my cheeks. The funny bastard. “I want to know more about this cottage owner. What’s his name?”

“I don’t know. Let me think . . .” He rested his chin back on top of my head. “He definitely isn’t Prince Charming.”

“He could be!”

Silence.

“If he wanted to. Or not. Whatever,” I added weakly. Crap. “Let’s go back to not talking.”

I was a moron.

We’d been all relaxed and laughing. Me and my idiot mouth. Way to go, Lydia. Just shout out any old impossible daydream to the dude who’s made it clear there was no future “we.” If someone could just direct me to the nearest brick wall, I’d knock a little sense into myself.On the other hand, it was two stupid words. Surely he could have ignored the last hundred years of Disney perpetuating slick-haired young royals gallivanting around the countryside saving hot babes in distress. For the sake of getting along. God knows, Chris never had any problems ignoring or placating me. I’d seen his thoughtless gorgeous smile aimed my way a hundred times. No, a thousand. If only I’d recognized it for what it was.

Ugh. Just the thought of it made me want to punch the douche all over again.

Maybe I needed a bit more than a week to get over that catastrophe. The money would help. Substantially. I’d never imagined that compromising my morals and taking hush money from such foul woe-begotten assholes would feel so good. Maybe I should sell out more often.

“This, ah, this Prince Charming of yours,” he said haltingly.

“Yes?”

Vaughan shifted beneath me, pushing out a heavy breath. “I mean, it doesn’t make sense, does it? Why would he be in a cottage instead of a castle?”

“Well . . . his parents, the king and queen of the neighboring kingdom, died in a terrible accident.”

I stayed perfectly still, waiting to see how he’d react.

“I see.”

“And it hurt him so bad he just, he didn’t want to be a prince anymore.”

Nothing from him.

“Bad things happen in fairy tales sometimes.”

A grunt.

“It’s not fair, but it happens,” I said, feeling my way with more caution than skill. “The prince loved his parents and the castle had too many memories.”

“Hmm.”

“So he ran away into the woods too.”

“Doesn’t sound like much of a prince if he can’t handle his shit,” he said.

“Princes are just men too, human beings. I don’t think a crown or a penis gives you magical invulnerability to loss and pain.” I stared at the wall, thinking the problem through. “Life is hard.

Terrible things happen. We all have feelings. We’re all just flesh and blood, trying to do our best.”

“Running away from problems isn’t doing your best.” His voice echoed around the small room, the same as around in my head.

What with holding the Coeur d’Alene title for runaway bride of the year, I had no answer. None at all. So much for my half-assed wisdom.

Twist – Book 2 in the Stage Dive series releases on November 22, 2016!

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Pre-order your copy of TWIST here

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About the Author

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Kylie is represented by Amy Tannenbaum at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, New York.

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Review – Listen to Me by Kristen Proby

Kristen Proby is known for writing heartfelt characters with deep connections and sizzling passion. In her brand new series from William Morrow Paperbacks, Fusion, she will seduce readers’ senses with the sexy, contemporary romance, LISTEN TO ME, in which five best friends open a hot new restaurant together. Today, we are thrilled to bring you this first book in the Fusion Series. Available now, LISTEN TO ME finds a hot former rock star looking for a steady gig at the restaurant, but he’ll have to convince the prickly front-of-house manager to take a chance on him—with her business and her heart.

In New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby’s brand new series, five best friends open a hot new restaurant, but one of them gets much more than she bargained for when a sexy former rock star walks through the doors—and into her heart.

Seduction is quickly becoming the hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to claim 1/5 of the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better way to bring in new customers than live music. But when former rock star Jake Keller swaggers through the doors to apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were plastered all over her bedroom walls in high school—he’s all bad boy…exactly her type and exactly what she doesn’t need.

Jake Keller walked away from the limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven him: the music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the better. But talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading her that he wants more than a romp in her bed. Just when she begins to drop her walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him.

Will Addie be torn apart once again or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and listen to her heart?

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BFF K’s Review of Listen to Me

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I have read just a few of Kristen Proby’s books, but I definitely consider myself a fan! Her books are full of interesting, engaging and well-developed characters. Her storylines are inventive and fresh. I’m excited about the new Fusion Series. Book #1, Listen to Me is an absolute joy to read.

Addie is looking for a musician to play at her restaurant an evening or two a week. She isn’t looking for a handsome, talented, conflicted, compassionate and kind man to suddenly become her world. Jake Keller is looking for a chance to recapture just a small piece of his old life. An opportunity to perform live will give him back a small taste of the thrill of singing and playing for a live audience. Jake wasn’t looking for a smart, sassy, sexy, strong woman to open up his world and his heart. But Addie and Jake found each other. Surrounded by a terrific cast of characters, they will find that holding on to one another and over-coming their fears will be the biggest challenge yet.

Listen to Me is a wonderful story that gave me goosebumps, butterflies and all the feels. The characters are charming and their love story is uplifting. Listen to Me is a satisfying, romantic read that will be enjoyed by any romance lover! It needs a spot on the top of your To Be Read list.

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An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

Addison

It’s quiet in here now, and the silence is too loud. He’s staring down at his drink, his eyes a deep green in the low light of the bar. A crease forms between his eyebrows in a frown, and then he shakes his head, just a tiny bit. Jake sips his drink, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking.

And I’m a woman, so I ask.

Because who ever heeded the whole, don’t ask the question if you don’t want the answer warning?

“What are you thinking?” I ask softly.

He chuckles and shakes his head.

“You don’t want to know.”

“I asked.”

He swivels in the stool, facing me, and rests his hand on the arm of my own stool, leaning into me, and it takes everything in me not to back away. His eyes lower to my lips.

I lick them, and watch his eyes dilate.

This is a very bad idea.

I swallow hard as he continues to watch my mouth.

“It’s quiet in here,” he says evenly.

“I was thinking the same.”

“Are you comfortable in the quiet, Addie?”

I frown and feel my nipples pucker when he reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear. His fingers are warm.

And when he’s this close, I can’t help but breathe him in and enjoy the scent of him.

“Why shouldn’t I be?”

“Some aren’t. Some need chaos, noise. The quiet makes them nervous.”

You make me nervous.

I lick my lips again.

“I don’t mind quiet. You?”

“I love the quiet.”

I smirk. “You’re a musician.”

“And I love music too. But the quiet is where the truth lives.”

I blink once, twice.

“Where the truth lives?” I’m whispering now.

He simply nods. “There’s no distraction. No way to deny what is. It’s honest.”

“And you claim to be honest?”

“To a fault,” he confirms. “I’d also love to hear more about this sexcation you’re scheming.”

I feel my cheeks flush and turn away, taking another sip of my wine.

“I was simply being silly with my friends, Jake. Drop it.”

He doesn’t answer. Damn the fucking quiet.

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

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