Thursday, February 28, 2019

NEW: The Girl in the Painting by Max Monroe

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Love is blind, but fate sees everything

The Girl in the Painting, an all-new standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe, is available now!

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Ansel Bray, an artist known around the world for his tragic hiatus from the canvas.
Ansel Bray, a broody, handsome man not known by me, at all.
Long dark hair, blue eyes, and dimpled cheeks. I’ve never met her, but her image is imprinted in my mind. An angel muse who inspires me to paint again.
There is something about him. Something that spurs a need to be as close to him as possible. A need to find out why.
There is something about her. Something that draws me in. Something that urges me to find out what her presence means.
Why does the girl in his painting look so much like me?
Who is this girl, and why can I see her so vividly?
I shouldn’t fall in love with him.
I shouldn’t fall in love at all.
But fate plays her hand.
But fate has other plans.
The lines of my life will blur.
The needs of my heart will change.
What a beautiful mess we’ve made.
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Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2UbdiL1
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2HSvZS8
About Max Monroe:
A secret duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads. Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.
Connect with Max Monroe:
Stay up to date with Max Monroe by joining their mailing list today: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/newsletter

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

REVIEW: The Risk by Elle Kennedy


OUR REVIEW:

It's been a while since we've read an Elle Kennedy novel so when we had a chance to read it, I thought what the heck, let's do this. I'll be honest and admit that it took me a few chapters to remember how these characters were all connected but once I connected the dots, I settled in for a fun read. The characters were young, sassy, smart, and entertaining--all of them, the complete ensemble. The friends were hilarious and caring and the two main characters, Jake and Brenna, were wonderfully sarcastic, snarky, and even sweet. 

I enjoyed the forbidden aspect of this love story--the constant wondering when they were going to get caught, and how had me flipping pages in anticipation for that moment.  The hockey aspect had me definitely wanting to watch more hockey than I've ever watched, and I absolutely loved Brenna's drive and ambition and her internal clapbacks at her perspective douchebag boss. 

This couple was such a nice blend of humor and sexiness and pure romance--throw in their fun friends, secrecy, and the intensity of some hockey finals and you have the makings of a weekend of fun reading.

SYNOPSIS:
A sexy standalone novel from New York Times and international bestselling author Elle Kennedy.

Everyone says I’m a bad girl. They’re only partly right—I don’t let fear rule me, and I certainly don’t care what people think. But I draw the line at sleeping with the enemy. As the daughter of Briar’s head hockey coach, I’d be vilified if I hooked up with a player from a rival team. 

And that’s who Jake Connelly is. Harvard’s star forward is arrogant, annoying, and too attractive for his own good. But fate is cruel—I require his help to secure a much-coveted internship, and the sexy jerk isn’t making it easy for me.

I need Connelly to be my fake boyfriend. 

For every fake date…he wants a real one.

Which means this bad girl is in big trouble. Nothing good can come from sneaking around with Jake Connelly. My father would kill me, my friends will revolt, and my post-college career is on the line. But while it’s getting harder and harder to resist Jake’s oozing sex appeal and cocky grin, I refuse to fall for him.

That’s the one risk I’m not willing to take.

BUY IT on AMAZON.

Sunday, February 17, 2019

REVIEW + GIVEAWAY + EXCERPT: Motion by Penny Reid


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Motion, the first in the all-new Laws of Physics Trilogy from Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid, is available now!

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I am absolutely helpless against Penny Reid’s books. I always, stupidly believe I can start one and juggle all of my other work and that never happens. I start one of her books and no work happens. Reading happens. Compulsive, eyes on the page, kindle in hands at all times reading. 

Motion got me good too.

Mona, quirky, interesting Mona and her strong moral compass (unless it came to covering for her sister) had me hooked. I liked her so much and I’m so very curious about her, her dynamic with her siblings, and some of the breadcrumbs Penny Reid left for me to follow into the next book. 

And then there’s Abram. He’s also got my attention—I like him so much and I have so many questions and I’m also anticipating some major MAJOR conflict when every thing comes out...in the next book?!

In case you didn’t realize—this is book 1 of 3 and the end is definitely a cliffhanger and it’s awesome and I cannot wait to have the next two book! Can.not.wait.


Also, I want to kick myself for having not read all of Penny Reid’s books because I feel like I would know so much more if I’d only read them allllll. I need more time and more money so that I can catch up! There so good and gahhhh. I need more. 


One week.
Home alone.
Girl genius.
Unrepentant slacker.
What’s the worst that could happen?
Mona is a smart girl and had everything figured out a long time ago. She had to. She didn’t have a choice. When your parents are uber-celebrities and you graduate from high school at thirteen, finish college at seventeen, and start your PhD program at eighteen, you don’t have time for distractions outside of your foci. Even fun is scheduled.
Which is why Abram, her brother’s best friend, is such an irritant.
Abram is a talented guy, a supremely gifted musician, and has absolutely nothing figured out, nor does he seem to care. He does what he feels, when he feels, and—in Mona’s opinion—he makes her feel entirely too much.
Laws of Physics is the second trilogy in the Hypothesis series; Laws of Physics parts 1 (MOTION) & 2 (SPACE) end with a cliffhanger.
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Download your copy today!
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Motion
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2DoH8pv
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2T4ebo9
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2U1pnSv
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Enter the Giveaway:

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Excerpt:

My stomach rumbled, long and loud, and I pressed my hand against it. Grunting into the darkness, I tossed off the covers and stood from Lisa’s bed. Food on my mind, I slipped out of the room and down the stairs. The kitchen was dark, but instead of flipping on a light—which might’ve alerted Abram as to my whereabouts . . . which he probably didn’t care about so long as “Lisa wasn’t doing anything crazy”—I crept on quiet feet to the fridge and opened it. Momentarily dazzled by the bright light within, it took several seconds of squinting and blinking before the scant contents became visible. I frowned. In addition to the pizza box, two suspicious-looking containers of Chinese takeout, and various condiments, I found: shredded cheddar/jack cheese blend, a zucchini, a half a pint of mushrooms, and hot salsa. Opening the hot salsa, I smelled it, and then I dipped my pinkie inside and tasted it while examining the lid. It looked, smelled, and tasted fine. Placing my finds on the island counter, I shut the fridge. The sudden extinguishing of the bright light meant that the kitchen was now pitch black. Shrugging off my lack of sight, I extended my arms and blindly felt my way over to the pantry until my hands connected with the torso of a person. A person. A PERSON! I jumped back on instinct, my leg hitting one of the stools at the island counter and sending it crashing to the ground. My heart in my throat, I screamed, turned, and darted forward, but my feet tangled with the felled stool and I pitched, bracing myself for a gravitational collision with unseen wooden bars and a granite stool top. But then strong arms caught me, deftly spinning and lifting me into the air. Cold dread rushed through my body, tensing every muscle. I couldn’t think. I didn’t think. Instinctively, my legs and fists pumped, fighting against my captor. Rocks in my throat as I readied another scream, a hand covered my mouth just as I belted it out. “Whoa! Calm down. It’s me.” Abram’s voice at my ear soothed, his bulky arm a tight band around my torso, my back to his front, my feet not touching the ground. “Calm down. Shhh. Calm down.” Hot breath teased my hair and neck, and I stilled, relief at discovering it was Abram didn’t quite chase away the viral panic still attached to my hemoglobin, coursing through my veins. I shook. I was shaking. And I was gasping through my nose, greedy for air. Perhaps he heard or felt my strained breathing because his arm loosened, lowering my feet to the ground, and his hand covering my mouth slid away. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” “I’m fine,” I said, not sounding convincing. Truth was, I felt like throwing up. “Can you, uh, let me go?” His arms immediately fell away and I stupidly rushed forward, once more crashing into the stool. I heard Abram mutter a curse under his breath just as he caught me again, lifting me off the ground again, and saving me—again—from another gravitational collision. This time he turned us away from the stool and carried me across the room. I didn’t fight him this time. In fact, I relaxed into him. Wired and exhausted, but mostly embarrassed, I allowed myself to be transported without protest. We left the kitchen and I was finally able to see dim outlines of furniture and walls, courtesy of the streetlamp illumination spilling through the windows of the living room. Abram carried me to my mother’s favorite piece of furniture in our house, a gold velvet chaise lounge said to have once belonged to Napoleon’s sister, Pauline Bonaparte. Depositing me on the soft surface, Abram crossed to one of the Tiffany lamps and pulled the chain, bathing the room in soft blue and yellow, colored light filtering through the stained glass. He then returned, knelt in front of me, one hand on my leg, the other cupping my cheek. “Are you okay?” “Yes,” I said, cleared my throat, unable to lift my eyes higher than his black T-shirt, and said again, “Yes.” He blew out a breath, pushing his fingers through my hair. By doing so, he forced my chin up and caught my gaze. That wrinkle of worry appeared between his eyebrows, and his very pretty eyes—which glowed and sparkled like polished amber cabochons—moved between mine. “You really freaked out.” I stiffened, gritting my teeth and yanking my head back, out of his reach. “I didn’t know you were there.” Watching me with watchful watchfulness, he let his hand drop slowly until it rested on my left leg, next to his other hand which covered my right knee. “I said your name—twice—when I walked in.” “I didn’t hear you.” I glanced from his eyes to where his palms were hot on my skin. “And I couldn’t see. I’d just shut the fridge, my eyes hadn’t adjusted.” “Did you think I was a robber?” His left eyebrow lifted as did the side of his mouth, just a hint. Clearly, he was trying to lighten the mood. Unfortunately, I still felt shaky. And embarrassed. “I- I didn’t think,” I admitted, releasing an unsteady breath. “I wasn’t thinking. Sorry I fell.” “No need to apologize. It wasn’t like you could help it.” “Yeah. Gravity can be such a downer.” He made a light, laughing sound. “What?” “Uh, nothing. Whatever.” No physics jokes! His frown returned, his fingers flexing slightly on my legs. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Reaching for his hands, I removed them from my knees, setting them away. “I’m really fine. I just don’t like—” He glanced at my knees. “Being touched?” “When it’s unexpected.” I crossed my arms. “That makes sense. But your reaction, even after you knew it was me—” He paused and sat back on his heels, as though debating how to continue and finally settling on, “It was a big reaction.” Abram continued to study me with his big, pretty, knowing brown eyes. “Hey, I would never hurt you.” I winced, just a little, my gaze falling to my knees where his hands had been. I wanted to huff a laugh and roll my eyes, maybe say something like, I know, don’t be ridiculous. But the word “Okay,” small and fragile sounding, slipped out instead. I immediately wished it back, because I didn’t understand it. I didn’t know why I’d said it, and I hated not knowing. Get ahold of yourself, Mona. Pull it together. You are fine. Nothing happened. Meanwhile, he continued his examination of me, I felt his stare, assessing my downturned face. “Out of curiosity, and no big deal if you don’t want to say, but did something happen to you this last year?” My back straightened and I sucked in a slow, deep breath before asking calmly, “Like what?” “You’re very . . . different than you were before.” “Because I don’t want you touching me?” I tried to infuse my words with challenge, strength—wanting to shake off any earlier impression of weakness—and mostly succeeded. Peeking at him, I gauged his reaction from behind a hastily built wall of dispassion. But then Abram dropped his chin to his chest, a massive grin lighting his features, and the fragrance of him hit me. My lashes fluttered as though he’d blown dust in my eyes, penetrating my wobbly wall of dispassion and sending it crumbling to the ground. God, he smelled so good, and—unlike visual stimuli—I couldn’t stop whatever cascade of relaxing, soothing, melting awareness smelling his scent set off. Unthinkingly, I leaned forward an inch, chasing and inhaling the smell of him while he cleared his throat, like he was trying not to laugh. Why he was fighting a laugh, I didn’t know, but the apparent genuineness of Abram’s struggle to subdue his grin only served to increase his attractiveness. A moment later, he lifted his eyes and they connected with mine. He’d conceded to a shy smile. It was quite a smile. “Yes,” he said. “Yes?” I parroted dumbly. What were we talking about? And would it be weird if I buried my nose in his neck? “Yes. You not wanting me to touch you means that you are very different now than you were before,” he explained. I appreciated the completeness and thoroughness of his sentence. My cheeks were hot. I pressed my hands against them while I examined him with suspicion. What was he doing to me? “How so?” I asked, hoping to keep him talking so I could hunt down the splintered pieces of my concentration. His eyebrows pulled together as his shy smile became a smirk. “You’re telling me you don’t remember?” “Tell me your version of events,” I demanded, side-stepping a lie and still holding my cheeks. “Uhh . . .” He scratched the back of his neck, peering at me like I both confused and amused him. I was used to confusing people, but not amusing them. My cheeks burned hotter. “Do you even remember?” I pushed, knowing my tone was belligerent. He made a sound like he was choking on a laugh. “Yes. It’s hard to forget waking up to a naked girl in my bed.” Jaw dropping, my eyes grew to their maximum diameter. Naked. Girl. In . . . bed? “Are you serious?” I whispered, my mind darting in all directions, attempting to form a reasonable hypothesis for Lisa’s behavior and coming up completely empty. Suddenly, I couldn’t catch my breath. He shook his head, giving me an astonished once-over. “You honestly don’t remember?” My mouth opened and closed as I struggled to speak, but it was no use. I was too . . . I was too many things. Shocked. Confused. Incredulous. ANGRY. LISA! What had she been thinking? She’d been eighteen! How would she have liked waking up to find a strange, naked, eighteen-year-old boy in her bed? I was beyond shocked. I was horrified. I was electrocuted by the reality of my sister’s brazen-slash-creepy quotient, because I couldn’t imagine doing anything in the same sphere of possibility. I was beginning to believe that if my twin and I were represented by a Venn diagram, our only areas of overlap would be physical. A minor sliver of shared corporal characteristics, and that was absolutely it. “Lisa?” Blinking at Abram, and promptly becoming tangled in his searching gaze, I realized he was still there. And I was still here. And my hands were still pressed against my cheeks as I warred with what I now identified as hot mortification. What else could I do? I shot to my feet and marched out of the living room, dropping my hands and running up the main staircase.
Pre-order the rest of the series today!
Space
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SpacePR
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2RRny94
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2tfBT5C
Time
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TimePR
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Sm1Zmu
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2WSQbXe
Meet Penny Reid:
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
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Connect with Penny:

Stay up to day with Penny by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2szN34G

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

COVER REVEAL: The Girl in the Painting by Max Monroe

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Love is blind, but fate sees everything

The Girl in the Painting, an all-new standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe, is coming February 28th and we have the brand new cover for you!

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Ansel Bray, an artist known around the world for his tragic hiatus from the canvas.
Ansel Bray, a broody, handsome man not known by me, at all.
Long dark hair, blue eyes, and dimpled cheeks. I’ve never met her, but her image is imprinted in my mind. An angel muse who inspires me to paint again.
There is something about him. Something that spurs a need to be as close to him as possible. A need to find out why.
There is something about her. Something that draws me in. Something that urges me to find out what her presence means.
Why does the girl in his painting look so much like me?
Who is this girl, and why can I see her so vividly?
I shouldn’t fall in love with him.
I shouldn’t fall in love at all.
But fate plays her hand.
But fate has other plans.
The lines of my life will blur.
The needs of my heart will change.
What a beautiful mess we’ve made.
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2HSvZS8
Cover Designer: Peter Alderweireld
About Max Monroe:
A secret duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads. Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.
Connect with Max Monroe:
Stay up to date with Max Monroe by joining their mailing list today: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/newsletter

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

NEW: Things We Never Said by Samantha Young


THINGS WE NEVER SAID (A HART’S BOARDWALK NOVEL)
By Samantha Young
Cover Design by Hang Le (http://www.byhangle.com/)
US Release Date: May 7th 2019 in ebook & paperback
This book can be read as a standalone.

Blurb:
Local metalsmith and gift shop owner, Dahlia McGuire, likes her quiet life in Hartwell, Delaware. It's the perfect place to hide from her family and the tragic events that led to their estrangement. However, when her father, the person she loves most in the world, needs her Dahlia has no choice but to return to Boston to face her ghosts. One of those happens to be her ex-boyfriend's best friend, Michael Sullivan. The man she was never supposed to fall in love with.


Michael Sullivan has never forgotten Dahlia McGuire. Some might say he’s never gotten over her. For years he lived with the anger of her desertion, and now, newly-divorced, he’s finally ready to move on. That proves impossible when Dahlia returns to Boston and reawakens their explosive connection. Despite everything, Michael wants her back, but  Dahlia can’t seem to let go of the tangled emotions of the past. When she flees home to Hartwell, Michael follows, determined to do everything in his power to convince her they belong together.

However, when the unthinkable hits the quiet seaside town, Michael finds himself trying to unravel more than the mystery of Dahlia's broken heart. It's time for truths left unsaid to finally be spoken or Michael and Dahlia might find themselves torn apart forever…



US Preorder Links:


NOOK

iBooks


Kobo


Smashwords



Follow Samantha Young




Instagram : @authorsamanthayoung





Tuesday, February 5, 2019

NEW + REVIEW: Gentleman Sinner by Jodi Ellen Malpas

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In the tradition of The Protector, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man series delivers a steamy, suspenseful new standalone romance about a British alpha hero and the one woman who may be able to save him-as long as he can protect her from his dark past.
Gentleman Sinner, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Ellen Malpas, is live!

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OUR REVIEW:


You know why I enjoy books by Jodi Ellen Malpas? It's because I know she's going to write best friends who make me laugh, broody alpha males and their strong female counterparts who have the best clashes, and the plot and pacing will keep everything moving. Gentleman Sinner contained all of these things in a way that didn't feel like anything she's written before. Theo, our broody alpha male, was an interesting mix of intensity and vulnerability while Izzy was fierce and fearless right from the start. And their first meeting? The sparks flew between them and never seemed to stop. As a matter of fact, this entire novel seemed to start with a fast pace and that pace never really seemed to slow. I never felt like I had to wait too long for the next twist or turn, nothing was drawn out--if anything, I'd love to have more of all of the characters (especially a certain pairing that I'm hoping will have their own story).

Gentleman Sinner is pure romance, an escape, with strong and interesting characters whose romance is sweet and sexy; you'll find yourself smiling and swooning and unable to put it down.

SYNOPSIS:

Izzy White knows of the darkness in this world. After all, she escaped it long ago. Determined not to let her past beat her, Izzy has a secure, stable life with a job she loves in nursing. But one act of kindness will completely upend everything she's so carefully built-putting her right back in the crosshairs of danger she's been so desperate to avoid.
When Theo Kane shows up like a knight in shining armor, Izzy can't help thinking she's been saved from one threat and exposed to another. His imposing physique, the harsh lines of his face, and the wariness of everyone who comes close are just a few clues to Theo Kane's notorious reputation. The man is positively terrifying. But with Izzy, he's tender and a complete gentleman, and her fascination with the mysterious beast of a man becomes too powerful for her to walk away.
As Theo's demons come to light, running becomes even more impossible. And yet staying together could doom them both.

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Download your copy today!
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2NmIIh6
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2CzwT3l

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About Jodi:
Jodi Ellen Malpas wrote her debut series, The This Man Trilogy, in secret, worried about what people might think if they knew what her imagination was capable of. She was shocked herself. But she finally found the courage to unleash her creative streak and self-published THIS MAN – the first book of the This Man Trilogy – in October 2012. She took a chance on the story with a hero who soon became one of modern day fictions most prolific alpha male characters. Jesse Ward – also affectionately known as The Lord of The Manor, sparked incredible reactions from women across the globe and catapulted Jodi into the world of romance.
She was soon signed by Grand Central Publishing, part of the Hachette Book Group, and the third book of the trilogy, This Man Confessed, took Jodi to the top of the bestsellers lists, earning her the proud title of #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. This Man has since been voted one of the top romance novels of all time. With so much love and enthusiasm for her words, Jodi suddenly wasn’t afraid of her imagination anymore and has since let it run riot. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters has become her passion—a passion she now shares with her devoted readers.
Jodi was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her real-life man, her boys, and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a Converse and mojito addict, and has a terrible weak spot for alpha males. Her work is now published in more than twenty-five languages across the world.

Connect with Jodi:
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