Cruel North, an all-new surprise pregnancy, forced proximity contemporary romance with sizzling chemistry from New York Times bestselling author JB Salsbury is now available!
Cruel North is an angsty second-chance, enemies to lovers romance where the most hated man in the North Brothers world finally gets brought to his knees.
A teenage girl with my eyes and a familiar glare, strolls into my life and she’s calling me Dad.
Vanessa was my high school girlfriend and the smartest person I knew. She had a plan, a future, and she swore nothing would get in the way. Until she became pregnant. I thought we agreed on our plan. I sent her the money. Then she disappeared.
Her parents told me she was in South America for a year. They told me she needed space. I never heard from her again.
Seventeen years later and she’s back. I’m staring into those green eyes that used to tempt and taunt me. But it’s not just about us anymore. We have a daughter.
Wanting to get to know her, I convince them to move in with me for one month. I’m so angry with Vanessa and she seems to be equally upset. Every insult from her smart mouth invites me to engage. The brutal chemistry between us ignites old embers. I wish I could hate her. Instead, I want her.
But too much time has passed, and I fear some hurts run too deep to heal. At the end of thirty days, I’ll have to let them go. Unless I figure out a way to keep them.
JB Salsbury, New York Times Best Selling author of The Fighting Series, lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day lost in a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles as stories claw away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.
Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to write her first novel.
Since 2013 she has published six bestselling novels in The Fighting Series and won a RONE Award.
Okay y'all, I've never read a novel by Winter Renshaw so I wasn't really sure of what to expect but daaaang I'm mad at myself for not reading any of her previous works. The Dirty Truth immediately grabbed my attention and over the course of two days, I found every opportunity to pick it up and read it. I really enjoyed West and Elle and I especially enjoyed them when they shared a page...especially at the beginning. Her spunky attitude and his seemingly ice cold demeanor made their confrontations really fun to read. And then, of course, as they evolved from confrontational to friends to partners I enjoyed them even more. Additionally, I appreciated the 'brush with death' plot point and the changes that that caused.
All in all The Dirty Truth was a really fun read and while I cannot believe this is my first Winter Renshaw, I can promise you that I will definitely be delving into her backlist. (And I can't wait to do it).
From Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author Winter Renshaw comes an enemies-to-lovers romance about the journey of self-discovery that follows a life-changing event.
After a brush with death, I realize it’s time to make changes in my life. Big changes.
First, my job. I love being a journalist, but I hate my megawatt magnate boss, West Maxwell. When he demands I rewrite an article on short notice, I turn the tables on him with a scathing new column and quit in a blaze of glory.
But West isn’t about to let me go that easily, the jerk. He offers me an unexpected new position: mentor to his rebellious teenage niece. For some reason, I agree—I like helping people, but I’m also admittedly curious to glimpse the man behind the mogul.
However, I soon discover that my new assignment isn’t what I expected. As I learn about the private side of my enigmatic boss, I start to see the heart he hides behind his icy facade. The old Elle hated West…but maybe—just maybe—the new Elle can tame him.
Villain I'd Like to F... is NOW AVAILABLE!!The follow-up to 2020's USA Today bestselling Duke I'd Like to F... and 2021's Rake I'd Like to F..., this anthology is bursting with wicked villains, dangerous tales, and the signature high-heat swoons of the Duke I'd Like to F... crew!
Grab your copy of this all-new anthology TODAY!!AVAILABLE NOW!!!
I will never not grab this anthology series when it comes available; I've loved every single one they've produced. In Villains I'd Like to F each novella length story was unique and meaty--none of them felt rushed. The plot and characters were developed and had all of the pieces and parts we love about romance. Every one of these stories reminded me of why I like each of these writers and that in some cases, I really need to go to their backlist and read more. Prepare to be entertained and clamoring for more, y'all. The bad guys, the good guys, the steam, the angst and the love will have you glued to your book (and if you haven't read the other anthologies in this series, grab them now!).
Blurb:Lady Viper and the Bastard by Eva LeighLady Violet “Viper” Hampton is infamous for her ferocity in the ballroom and the bedroom, but her vicious reputation is nearly matched by her rakish rival, Ian “the Bastard” Molineaux. When Violet and Ian are separately hired by families seeking to tear a loving couple apart, the two enemies must work together. The bastard and the viper use every weapon in their seductive arsenal to emerge the victor, yet the passion between them is as explosive as it is dangerous...
Seven Sinful Nights by Nicola DavidsonAs the jaded, lowborn owner of London's most notorious gaming hell, Blake Evans relishes tormenting his aristocratic debtors. When an errant peer offers one night with his sister-in-law Estelle, Dowager Duchess of Tolwick, Blake counters with impossible terms: the oh-so-proper widow must spend a week in his bed, submitting to his every desire. Shockingly, she agrees. But far more surprises are ahead, for this young beauty has a wild heart, a taste for wickedness, and might just be the woman of his dreams. If only she wasn't promised to another...
The Gangster's Prize by Joanna ShupeFrom a good upstanding family, Isabelle Kelly is dedicated to righting the city's wrongs. Just like her father, who is one of New York's most powerful men and currently leading a crusade to rid the city of its violent street gangs. But when her father goes missing, Isabelle knows who is responsible . . . and she will get answers from the devil one way or another.As the leader of the Hell's Kitchen Gang, Billy Baxter always gets what he wants. And he's had his eye on the beautiful Miss Kelly for months. She doesn't know it yet, but she's fallen into his world now. And he has no intention of ever letting her go.
The Bootlegger's Bounty by Adriana HerreraRosalía Ferrer dreams of leaving her island behind and sailing north to sing in a New York City nightclub. The only way to escape her father's suffocating clutches is to align herself with a man who is as ruthless as he is lawless. Putting her fate in the hands of a villain like the Rogue of Rum Row is a very risky gamble, but Rosalía will do whatever it takes to get what she wants...even if it means striking a deal with the devil himself.After ten years, Camden McCullough is finally poised to pull off his last rum run. If he can keep the brown-eyed hellion he brought on to his schooner from getting them both killed, he might sail into the sunset with everything he's ever wanted: the loot and the girl.
The Conquering of Tate the Pious by Sierra SimoneEngland is burning with Norman fires, and Tate—the youngest ever abbess of Far Hope Abbey—is determined to guard the abbey's ancient secrets with her very life. Her life may be what it takes, however, for a Norman warlord known only as The Wolf is pillaging his way right to the abbey's doors. But when The Wolf arrives, Tate finds not the brutal warrior she was expecting, but his even more brutal widow in his place, a cruel and beautiful woman who leads her dead husband's men with a ferocity to rival that of her Viking ancestors. And after she sets eyes on Tate, it becomes clear that gold and silver aren't the only things The Wolf wants to carry off into the night…Because it’s never too early to treat yourself…
TEMPT, an all-new steamy small town, one-night-stand, age gap romance featuring a plus-sized heroine and a hot single dad from USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Melanie Harlow, is now available!
OUR REVIEW:
Dannnnng do I love this series or do I love this series? I cannot get enough of the interconnected stories and seeing some of my favorite characters...and meeting new characters to fall in love with. In Tempt I instantly loved Millie (I mean, I loved her when she was a little girl, so naturally I'd love her all grown up). I loved her passion and her spirit and her heart--Melanie Harlow made her so easy to love. I admired her restraint and her levelheadedness, in situations I know I'd find it hard to contain myself, and I loved her daring and bravery too. Zach was a little bit of a tougher nut to crack but it wasn't hard at all to fall in lust with him, instantly. The first scene he was in showed us his quiet strength and then his fiery passion. As the story progressed, his tougher exterior was easier to understand and it was sweet to see him fall for Millie and learn how to let go of his fear of losing and loss and open up to love and family.
How many times can I say love in this review? Probably too many, but I am writing this within minutes of finishing and I just have that HEA glow that won't let go. I loved every aspect of this novel from the characters and their flaws and fears, to the obstacles they had to work through (yes, even the obstacles!) and the happily ever after. I loved reading about characters who were so into each other that despite their better judgement they continued something because they simply could not stop. I loved how their friendship developed in parallel lines with their sexual relationship. Gahhh I just loved it all and hopefully this rambling lovefest has convinced you that you'll love it too.
You’ve heard the story about the wedding planner who falls for the groom? Well, this is the one where she falls for his father. And that groom? He’s my ex.
I didn’t realize who the gruff, gorgeous older man was the night he rescued me from a creep in a Manhattan hotel bar. All I knew was that a hot, bearded stranger with a protective streak showed up right when I needed a reminder that real gentlemen still exist.
(Although he left his manners behind after asking me up to his room.)
It was the hottest night of my life, but I never thought I’d see the former Navy SEAL again.
Imagine my surprise at the rehearsal dinner one week later, when my sexy one-night stand is introduced as the father of the groom. Even more surprising? That temptation we felt in New York was no fluke.
In public, we pretend there’s nothing between us.
In private, we can’t keep our hands off each other.
The situation is beyond complicated. Zach never even knew he’d fathered a child until recently, and he wants to earn his son’s trust and respect. As for me, I’m looking for a man who wants to start a family, and Zach has made it clear he’s not that man. He’s fifteen years older, newly divorced, and he lives across the country.
But no matter how many times we draw the line, we keep crossing it.
Nothing so wrong should ever feel so right.
Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
I was just lifting the glass to my lips when I noticed someone sitting around the curve of the bar to the left. He was broad through the chest and shoulders, wore a black dress shirt with the cuffs rolled up, and sat alone. His hair and beard were short and dark. Our eyes met and my body grew warm. His bone structure was beautiful—his face looked like it was chiseled from granite. He held my gaze for a moment then looked away, and I did as well, focusing on the first cold sips of my martini.
But in seconds, my eyes were drawn to him again, and I noticed the hand holding his glass—wide palm, long, solid fingers, thick wrist. I indulged in a brief and magnificent fantasy that involved those hands in my hair, his beard against my cheek, that brawny chest bare and warm above me. Was it hairy? I’d bet yes. He looked like a man’s man. My nipples tingled inside the bustier I wore beneath my dress.
Once more he caught me staring, and I realized too late that I was actually biting my lip.
Gawd.
The guy next to me whistled loudly and yelled at the bartender, “Hey! Can I get another round down here?”
The bartender, who was busy making other drinks, didn’t even look over. I didn’t blame him.
“The service is so shitty in this place,” he said. “You need a pair of tits to get any attention.” He glanced at my chest. “Yours are fantastic, by the way.”
Horrified, I picked up my glass and finished my drink in a couple swallows. I should have thrown it in his face, but it would have been a waste of a good martini. Setting the empty glass down, I reached into my bag for my credit card.
“Hey, don’t rush off.” The asshole leaned closer. He wore a white shirt and blue blazer, and he reeked of cologne. “We’re just getting to know each other.”
“Not interested,” I said, trying to catch the bartender’s eye so I could get my check and leave.
“Why not? I’m alone, you’re alone.” He covered my hand with his. That’s when I noticed he wore a wedding band.
I snatched my hand away and slid off my stool, putting it between us. “I’m not alone.”
“Oh no?” He laughed and glanced around. “Looks like it to me.”
I finally caught the bartender’s eye, and he came right over. “Can I get you something?”
“I’ll cash out,” I said quickly.
The bartender glanced at the asshole. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, I was just waiting for someone, but he couldn’t make it, so I—”
“Sorry I’m late.” A hand circled my wrist.
Startled, I spun around and saw a black shirt. Wide shoulders. Dark eyes.
The hot stranger and I exchanged a look of understanding before he leaned in and kissed my cheek. His beard was softer than I’d imagined.
“Forgive me?” His voice, by contrast, was deep and gravelly.
“Of—of course,” I stammered, my heart pounding. I couldn’t stop staring—the guy was gorgeous. A little older than I’d thought—there was silver in his hair and beard—but those dark eyes, that deep voice, and the possessive grip on my wrist? The whole package made my knees go weak.
He looked over my head at the bartender. “She’s with me.”
“Dude, she’s not with you,” argued the jerk in the blazer. “You were over there by yourself a minute ago. I saw you.”
Dropping my wrist, the stranger turned to him and growled, “You should go.”
The jerk slid off his barstool and put one palm up. “Listen, I don’t want any trouble. I just thought—”
“It’s fuckin’ obvious what you thought.” The stranger’s words were laced with fury, but he kept his volume low. Somehow it was even scarier than if he’d yelled. “Now get the fuck out of here, and don’t even look in her direction as you walk out, or you’ll be trying to do it with two broken legs.”
The jerk stood up taller, like he might be thinking of protesting, but he looked like a gerbil facing off against a Doberman. Then he adjusted his lapels and moved toward the exit without even glancing my way.
The stranger watched him go with hooded, hawklike eyes before looking down at me again. “You okay?”
“Yes.” But I was struggling to catch my breath.
“Can I bring you two another round?” the bartender asked.
The stranger looked at me. “Would you like another drink?”
I took a breath, willing myself to be brave. “Only if you’ll stay and have one with me.”
He hesitated, rubbing one hand along his jaw. “Okay. Sure.”
“Another martini for the lady and a Glenlivet on the rocks, coming right up,” said the bartender.
I perched on my barstool again, crossing my legs. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
“You’re welcome.” He sat down next to me. “I hope I didn’t insult you.”
“Insult me?”
“I didn’t mean to imply you couldn’t handle that jackass on your own.”
“Oh! Well, maybe I could have.” I laughed a little. “But I liked your way better.”
One side of his mouth twitched, setting off a thousand butterflies in my stomach.
“This round is on me,” I said as our drinks appeared.
He shook his head. “Not a chance.”
“But I’d like to repay you for standing up for me.”
“No payment necessary. Any gentleman would have done it.”
“Gentleman, huh?” I tilted my head and gave him a playful smile. I was a pretty good flirt when I wanted to be. “So you’re saying I’m safe with you?”
He didn’t answer right away, and I sat up a little taller in my seat. Slightly arched my back. But his eyes stayed put on mine. “You’re safe with me.”
About Melanie Harlow USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she's not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like Ted, Lasso, Schitt’s Creek, and Fleabag. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the BELLAMY CREEK series, the CLOVERLEIGH FARMS series, the ONE & ONLY series, AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, and the FRENCHED series. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Joanna Shupe take all my money. Seriously. I am loving your books and really loving this series. In this particular book we get to know Katherine and Preston. As noted in the synopsis, Preston is a jerk. JK. He's just not *there* yet. He's focused on his business and trying to suppress the grief he's feeling over the loss of one of his friends and doesn't for a moment give a thought about an engagement to Katherine. Enter Katherine. She's totally ignorant of his denial of their engagement and has wasted a year of her life dreaming and planning of the day they'll get married. Cue her shock and fury when he denies her that day. But true to Joanna Shupe's previous heroine, Katherine quickly resets and decides she's going to live her life and do what she wants. One thing leads to another and Katherine somehow finds herself in an affair with Preston...who is in denial that it means anything. But, once he discovers life without Katherine is not a life, his pursuit is on!
I love these novels and these characters. I love how Shupe makes her heroines really strong and self-aware. I love the friendships she's created between them all. And, I love how perfectly matched all of her love matches are. I truly cannot wait to see what happens to Nellie. I've been so curious about her since she was first introduced and I know she has a story to tell.
By beloved USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe, the third installment in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series about an arranged engagement destined for disaster.
A hard-hearted tycoon. A romantic dreamer. An engagement set up to fail.
The charismatic and vivacious Katherine Delafield should be married by now. Her father arranged an engagement to the much sought-after tycoon Preston Clarke ages ago. The only problem is Preston refuses to acknowledge it. But this isn't going to stop Katherine from living life to the fullest as she ditches all silly notions of love and marriage and sets out to sample all the excitement New York City has to offer . . . the more scandalous the better. Because no matter what happens, she and Prestonwill never marry.
After his family nearly lost everything, Preston is done letting his late father ruin his life—including choosing his bride. But when a mysterious lover at a masquerade turns out to be his would-be fiancée, Preston's resolve begins to crumble. He hadn't expected Katherine to be so charming. Or beautiful. Or passionate. And seeing her out on the town with other men is driving him crazy.
What happens when the wrong bride turns out to be the right woman after all?
“Before I Let Go is a masterpiece… A beautifully honest portrayal of love in its many forms, and the most raw, poignant, and romantic journey of healing I've read in a long time.”—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author
Before I Let Go, an all-new sensual and poignant second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan, is out now!
REVIEW:
I was fortunate to be an early reader and have had the pleasure of reading Before I Let Go more than once and I thought I loved it in the first read through but reading it in it's final form? I love it even more. As I've been watching the reviews roll in, I am thrilled for Kennedy Ryan; I love that her labor of love is being so well received and lauded for the emotional punches it packs. If you're a friend of the blog, then you know we've been on the Kennedy Ryan train from the very beginning and so it's probably no surprise that we're huge fans, with reason--she's always giving us something new and yet we can always count on her tapping into our hearts, spicing up our Kindles, and making us giggle with the girlfriend scenes. So what makes this novel such a good read? Yasmen and Josiah. It's not often that I come across a romance that starts with the couple being divorced and in a working relationship...and then finding yourself rooting for them to figure out what we all can see needs to happen--that they get back together. They both hurt so good...and so deeply. It's a credit to Kennedy's writing that I *got* why everything happens the ways that it does and while I felt so many things (curiosity, anger, sadness, frustration, and joy), I never felt that anything was off or overdone or underdone. Sorry for the vagueness but I want for the revelations to be discovered through your reading and not through my review.
As usual, one of my favorite aspects of her novels, including this one, is the strong friendships that exist. Yasmen and her friends are just so good--fun, supportive, honest, encouraging--and all things we strive to have and be in our friendships. While the romance is what brings me here, the friendships are what give me pure delight in her novels.
I've seen several reviewers express very strong emotions about Deja; I had them too. Sometimes she was so challenging but I kept trying to remind myself about where she was coming from and why she would do and say what she was doing and saying. Plus she's young and as a mom of a 13 year old, I can report that they do not always think about what they're saying and how what they're saying can leave such lasting wounds. Even though I wanted to see Deja be better, she wasn't always capable and that's just real life, y'all. Again, it's such a testament to Kennedy Ryan's writing that we feeeeel so strongly about her characters and their choices.
From idea to finished product isn't an easy one and I know for Kennedy the journey from beginning to end was quite the journey and I'm just so amazed at what she created in the midst of such trying times. I'm so grateful for her creative brain and that we all get the pleasure of living in the worlds she creates and as usual, I'm so very eager to see where she takes us next.
Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything.
It couldn’t save their marriage.
Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had.
Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It's hot. It's illicit. It's all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?
In addition to appearances in North Carolina, Kennedy will also be on tour in Atlanta, New York City & Los Angeles!
Find all tour details here: www.kennedyryanwrites.com
Keep reading for a look inside Before I Let Go!
I knock and wait for Josiah’s deep baritone telling me to enter. He sits behind his desk, eyes trained on the laptop in front of him. He doesn’t look up, but keeps typing. The silence persists, stretches to awkwardness, so I drop into one of the armchairs in the center of the room along with a sofa and coffee table, and set my purse on the floor.
“Harvey’s on his way,” he says, still not looking away from the screen. “His last meeting ran a few minutes over, but he’ll be here soon.”
“Oh. Sure. Great.”
I run damp palms over my legs, the jeans smooth and cool beneath my hands. Fidgety and looking for something to do, I tighten my topknot. I got box braids last weekend because I was tired of messing with my hair. This morning they’re studded with a few gold cuffs scattered throughout the strands. All in all, I feel pretty. And confident, and I won’t be shook by the pissy mood Josiah seems to have saved just for me. Finally, he closes the laptop and walks over to the sitting area. I study my nails, taking my turn to ignore him.
“I like the braids.”
Surprised, I glance up to find him sitting on the arm of the leather sofa across from me. I didn’t expect him to say anything personal. Definitely not about my appearance. When I meet his eyes, they’re cool like they’ve been for weeks, and his face remains unreadable.
“Thanks.” I scour my mind for something else to say. Gone are the days when I couldn’t get the words out to him fast enough. We’d watch couples eating dinner in absolute silence and promise each other that would never be us.
“Um, did you see Deja’s report card?” I ask.
“Yeah.” He frowns. “I can’t believe she got a C in English.”
“It used to be her best subject. It’s not just the grade itself, but I worry she’s spending too much time on social media.”
“I think she’ll find the balance without us having to come down hard. Your relationship with her is already strained enough and—”
“Strained?” I ask, my voice dropping to a quiet warning.
“You’ve said that yourself, Yas.” He crosses his stupid muscular arms
across his stupid broad chest. “Let’s not fight over how we need to handle things with Day. Have you given any more thought to Kassim playing football?”
“You mean since I said never when you asked last time? No. Besides, he has soccer.”
“He really wants to play football too.”
“A kid can really want a lot of things that aren’t good for him, like literally ramming his brain into a brick wall over and over again and risking his life, his mind, for what? A game? With all that’s come out about CTE, I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. Lots of parents aren’t doing football anymore.”
“Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic? I played football. Preach played. Theo’s playing.”
“I love Preach, but him letting Theo play doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. What he and Liz decide for their kids has no bearing on what we decide for ours. Kassim has barely mentioned football to me.”
“He hasn’t mentioned it,” he returns with obvious stretched patience, “because he loves you and he doesn’t want to displease you, but he asks me almost daily.”
“Of course, because you’re the cool parent.”
“Well, I’m not the one who says no to everything because I’m too scared or too uptight to allow my kids some freedom to make their own decisions.”
“How dare you!”
I surge to my feet, unable to stay seated one more second. I need to move, let this anger circulate, or it will clog in my veins. My steps eat up the space separating us, and before I know it, I’m right in front of him, standing in the vee of his powerful legs. The air sizzles with a lightning strike, sudden and hot and dangerous. Unpredictable. I should take shelter, but I don’t step back. His expression remains inscrutable, the stark beauty of his face unaffected, but his breathing deepens. In response, my breasts rise and fall with the struggle to draw breath as the air between us thickens. This close, his presence overwhelms me and my deprived senses devour him. The way his cologne mingles with his unique male scent. The hardness of his jaw at war with the sensual curve of his mouth. The heat his big body radiates, even at rest, surrounds me.
I lick suddenly dry lips, and he tracks the movement with narrowed eyes. I feel hunted by that look, like I stepped into a trap laid by my own body, devised by my own mind. Something I thought we’d buried long ago rises, encircles us, breathing new life into a connection I thought was dead. I’ve known for months that I’m still attracted to Josiah, but right now, with his eyes darkening and his jaw flexing and his hands curling into fists, I can’t help but wonder . . .
Is he still attracted to me too?
About Kennedy Ryan
A RITA® and Audie® Award winner, USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish, and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts. Kennedy and her writings have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, TIME, O magazine, and many others. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son.
Connect with Kennedy
Text KennedyRyan to 797979 for release alerts!
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Kiss Hard is a continuation of the Hard Play Series--a series of novels featuring rugby players and their future spouses. All of the novels are interconnected by family but you don't have to have read any of the prior novels to immediately feel at home in this series. In Kiss Hard, we follow the story of Catie and Danny--frenemies for a lifetime--and what starts out as a friend saving and protecting another to a ruse that ends in a happily ever after. What makes this novel a stand out is that Catie is a survivor of a car accident that's left her on prosthetic legs and we get the opportunity to explore her life as a Para-Olympic athlete in training. Representation matters and I love that Singh gives us an opportunity to read from the POV of a double amputee. As no character tells the story of all people who may find themselves living similar lives, it's definitely refreshing to be in the head of a character who leads a life that is in many ways similar to mine and in many ways unique to her experiences. All in all, Kiss Hard was a sweet and fun romance--a lovely way to spend a weekend.
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you a sinfully playful contemporary romance between two sworn enemies turned partners in crime...
Daniel Esera is a young god on the rugby field, a sexy and charming man who's got the world at his feet. There's just one problem: his sudden potent attraction to his number one nemesis--Catie River. No. Just no. Not happening.
Catie River is on her way to Paralympic gold, and she's not about to allow Danny "Hotshot" Esera to derail her plans. Too bad her body isn't cooperating. Even worse? Her heart might be coming along for the ride. No. Nope. Never.
The pair are united in their desire to remain enemies... until a stranger's reckless action threatens both their careers. Now, the only way out for Catie and Danny is to pretend to be in a relationship. How bad can it be? They're adults in full control of their hormones and their hearts. There will be no kissing. No PDA. And definitely no falling in love.
“The couple has chemistry to spare and Madden-Mills packs in the feels. Returning readers will be pleased.” —Publishers Weekly
Princess and the Player, an all-new sexy, surprise pregnancy sports romance featuring a meet cute at a masquerade ball from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills, is out now!
OUR REVIEW:
Princess and The Player swept me off my feet within pages and kept me so absorbed that the crazy LSU-Alabama game couldn't even keep my eyes off the page. I wish I could adequately put my finger on what made this such a fun read for me instead of just rambling, but probably I'll just ramble. For instance, I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed that despite both Tuck and Francesca's upbringings left much to desired (understatement of the month), they both found success. Neither of them had great role models of family or love and yet they made their own families with friends, neighbors, and teammates. I liked that they both seemed to avoid emotional attachments but found each other and couldn't help but be vulnerable, even when they didn't think they were or didn't want to be. I liked their kindness, their chemistry, their dates, their unlikely pairing, and their taste in friends. I liked that while I didn't know what to expect after reading Beauty and the Baller, the story of Jude and Tuck wasn't anything I expected; it was wonderfully different than the first book in this series. Ultimately, I think I really just liked spending time with them on a rainy Saturday and find myself still thinking of them.
All the pieces and parts of Princess and The Player worked for me: the meet cute, the angst, their backstories, the friends, the chemistry, and their happily ever after. All of it blended together into the perfect way to spend my day and I am hopeful that there are more stories to read in this series.
A masquerade ball brings together an NFL player and a penniless princess in this smart and sexy romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills. Levelheaded Francesca Lane never thought she’d miss her own wedding. But when her fiancé betrays her, she puts on her wedding dress and ditches the altar for a masquerade ball—at an exclusive lifestyle club. There, she meets unknown-to-her NFL star Tuck Avery, dressed as a prince and hiding behind a mask—he’s there to celebrate his birthday. For one night, Francesca and Tuck indulge in a wickedly incognito affair. No names. No strings. And the masks don’t come off. Unfortunately, Francesca realizes quickly that her masked prince is the wealthy jock who lives in the penthouse of her apartment building. His hobbies include parties and supermodels—or so the tabloids say. Getting tangled up with a shallow jerk is the last thing Francesca needs right now, so she vows to keep Tuck from recognizing her (not that she’s his type anyway). But fate has a teeny-tiny trick up her sleeve…a plus sign on a pregnancy test. Can this tormented prince accept love, or will he push his princess away forever?
Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.
Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.
A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.
She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.
Just What I Needed, an all-new swoony and romantic novella in the Stage Dive series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott is out now!
OUR REVIEW:
Just What I Needed is a fun short novella that puts us back into the Stage Dive world. This time we see the nanny, Jude, and a producer, Dean, get thrown together by the Stage Dive crew. As Jude and Dean are two genuinely nice people who haven't settled down together, it makes sense that the band and their wives would want to see them matched up and happy. What ensues is a whirlwind instant chemistry romance and close proximity, Jude and Dean get to know each other and fall in love. It's fun and quirky and low angst--a read you could read in under an hour and feel happy that you've had another chance to see what these characters are up to.
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…
When the Stage Dive crew decides to help, they do it in a big way.
Nanny and housekeeper Jude has been going through a dry patch. Getting ready to dip her toes back into the dating pool is a little nerve racking. And the offers of assistance from her boss, David Ferris, and his band are not helping. Right up until music producer Dean Jennings arrives to work on the band's latest album.
But Dean is more than a little wary of dating anyone with anything to do with the Stage Dive crew after losing Lena to lead singer Jimmy Ferris all those years ago. Can Jude a) Convince the crew to stay out of her business and b) Woo the man of her dreams?
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Keep reading for a look inside Just What I Needed!
I smile. I have a lot to smile about. He likes me. We’re doing this. How exciting.
He leans forward. “Can I kiss you, Jude?” he whispers.
I feel those words in every part of me. “Yeah.” I lick my lips. “You can.”
As pretty as he was at a distance, he’s even more handsome close up. All of the shadows and lines of his face. It blows my mind how Lena left him for another. What a fool. Though I am kind of deeply grateful that she did. His lips are divine. No other word will do. And the thought of him pressing them against mine is making my stomach do a weird flip-flop thing. His lips are neither thin nor plump, but somewhere in between and perfect. I stare at them as he comes closer until he’s pressing his mouth softly against mine.
A sweet kiss, as if he’s testing his welcome. The man needn’t have bothered. I balance on the balls of my feet and join our lips once more, kissing him more insistently. I mean, we might as well figure out here and now if we have no chemistry. If he has no expertise. Because I kissed this male model once who was a tongue-wrangling disaster. Just a whole lot of wet-faced yuck. Sad, but true. It’s not like I have kissed anyone in ages. Maybe I’ve forgotten how it all works. Perhaps I’ll be the disaster.
Dean’s hands grip my hips, and his tongue slips into my mouth and oh, yeah. Very nice. A lack of chemistry is obviously not going to be a problem between us. He kisses me deep and wet in a way that goes straight to my head. My fingers slide over the smooth warm skin of his shoulders before holding on tight. He is so solid and strong. One of his hands is now cupping the back of my head, holding me to him. As if I had any intention of leaving. Heck no. We kiss until my lips are numb and swollen and my mind is far away. Nothing else matters but this moment.
He leans his forehead against mine, and we both take a moment to catch our breath. As first kisses go, it was stellar. My empty stomach, however, shows no cool and rumbles loudly. Talk about keeping it real.
About Kylie Scott
Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today, best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year in 2013, 2014 & 2018 by the Australian Romance Witer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long-time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia, with her two children and husband, she reads, writes, and never dithers around on the internet.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge Alexa Martin fan. Huge. I've read everything she's written and I'm constantly scoping out her social media to see what she's writing next and when it's going to come out. No lie. The second I see anything of hers on NetGalley, I'm hitting that request button like it's my job.
In Better than Fiction we have Drew and Jasper. She's a bookstore owner who doesn't like to read and he's a writer. Match made in heaven, right? Welllll, eventually, yes. but there was a little work getting there. For one, Drew is grappling with some pretty deep grief with the loss of her grandmother, the prior owner of the bookstore and one of Drew's favorite people in the entire world. Not only is she grieving, she's also grieving the loss of her dream, while trying to do a job she never really wanted. And if that's not enough, she's also dealing with one of the worst dad's ever. He's truly awful. That's all yuck, right? Enter Jasper, an Adonis of a writer who is doing a book talk at her store, due to some wonderfully meddling Dirty Birds (her grandmother's friends, master meddlers, and book clubbers). He's the kind of guy who causes the room to stop and stare and ....drool.
After he book talk, he's encouraged to ask Drew for some help with research for his next book, which is right up her alley, so while she's hesitant, she decides to do it. There's one condition though. If she's taking the time to do this for him, he wants to do something for her. So he decides he's going to try to help her find the joy of reading; her excursions may be for book research, his will be to compliment the books he chose for her to read. Best set up ever. Their excursions allow them to get to know each other, connect, and fall for each other and we get to watch it happen in real time.
I loved how much Drew loved Colorado and now that I've read this book, I'm definitely going back to explore it more. I also loved the love story of Drew and Jasper. But I especially loved how Alexa Martin wrote the friendships between the women in this novel. It never fails that she not only gives us a love story between a couple, but also shows us a love story of friends. She always captures the banter and lives of women so well and it's one of my favorite things about her novels; Better than Fiction continues my love affair with the friends she writes. As a matter of fact, I'm hoping that she gives Daisy a book because I'm not ready to see these women go yet.
Better than Fiction blends grief, romance, and humor; you'll love Jasper and Drew and their journey of finding each other and love.
Love isn’t always by the book in this charming romantic comedy about a bookseller discovering how to be the main character in her story.
As a self-proclaimed book hater and a firm believer that the movie is always better, Drew Young didn’t anticipate inheriting her grandma’s bookstore, the Book Nook. She’s in way over her head even before the shop’s resident book club, comprising seven of the naughtiest old ladies ever, begin to do what they do best—meddle.
Bestselling author Jasper Williams is a hopeless romantic. When he meets Drew at his Book Nook signing event, he becomes determined to show her the beauty of reading. He curates a book bucket list in exchange for her help exploring the local Denver scene for his current manuscript. From going river rafting to trying local restaurants, Drew begins to connect with Jasper in a way she only thought happened in fiction.
When messy family ties jeopardize the future of the Book Nook, Drew is caught between a bookshelf and a hard place. She’s reminded that real life isn’t always big dreams and sweeping romance. But Jasper is the plot twist she never saw coming and he’s writing a happily ever after just for them.
He needs to get her out of his system. Just once...
Folk Around and Find out, a small town, second chance contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid is now available!
OUR REVIEW:
How does Penny Reid continue to one up her damn self? Every. Single. Time. Seriously. I'm never ever disappointed when I pick up a Penny Reid novel and that trend continues with Folk Around and Find Out.
Hank and Charlotte are an unlikely pairing, right? He's a strip club owner and she's the town's favorite single mom they love to pity. He's seen as a hell raiser while she's perceived as a godly mom of 4. Very opposite...or are they? I'd argue that they really aren't. In the ways that are the most important, they're very much alike: they're thoughtful, kind, and genuinely good people. They are fiercely protective of those they care about and would rather sacrifice their own happiness to help a loved one, than see them hurt. Knowing all of that, it's amusing to see how much they rub each other the wrong way. She's carrying a decades old grudge against him and he's carrying some resentment for being blamed for her failed marriage, so they're first meeting in this book doesn't really go well. Luckily for them (and us), they come to a middle ground that allows them to work together and that's when all of the fun begins.
It's incredibly amusing to see how quickly their feigned dislike is quickly seen for what it is: veiled interest in each other. Neither of them really wants to like the other, initially, but as they get to know each other, they don't stand a chance against the love story Penny Reid has planned for them. He falls for her and her children hard, and her old crush on him quickly develops into much, much more. I loved reading it. His evolution from an unreadable grump to a man who is devoted and madly in love with her and her stubborn inability to trust others to help her or be a partner to her to someone who does everything she can to make this thing with Hank work is a beautiful thing to read.
I loved every aspect of this novel--from learning all about Hank and how he ran his business to seeing what a truly good friend and human he was and from seeing someone like Charlotte, a hardworking and exhausted single mom with such a pure heart, find not only the love of her life but a true support network just warmed my cold, jaded heart. I liked that these two were often on the outside of society looking in and that they had friends in their lives who loved them as they were, creating a family of friends better than many blood relatives/families. And of course, having the Winston's play a huge part in helping these two get together was just icing on an already delicious cake.
As I said from the beginning, Penny Reid never fails to make me fall in love with her characters and the world they live in. I always finish her novels feeling completely satisfied--warm and fuzzy and smiley and happy...and eager for the next thing she writes.
Hank Weller doesn’t help people. He leaves that do-gooder nonsense to his best friend, Beau Winston. Hank does what he wants, when he wants, with whomever he wants—and Hank does not want to hire Charlotte Mitchell to be an exotic dancer at his club, The Pink Pony. Sure, he can’t help noticing the dips and curves of her, how shrewd, smart, and funny she is, the fire in her hazel eyes. He's always noticed. She’d probably draw a crowd and entice the regulars. But after Charlotte's messy, public divorce made Hank’s club out to be the culprit—and made her the single mother of four kids—he doesn’t need or want any additional bad press courtesy of Charlotte Mitchell. Or the distraction. Unfortunately for him, the town’s prettiest charity case doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of the words nope, no, and never.
Charlotte Mitchell doesn’t much like Hank Weller. Once upon a time, she used to. Years ago, she liked him a whole heckofalot despite other folks in town labeling him as “eccentric” and “nonconformist,” which were polite southern alternatives to "filthy rich" and "self-centered douchebag." Her opinion of him changed dramatically after he volunteered to be her date to junior prom and then promptly stood her up. They haven't so much as acknowledged each other in over a decade. But a sudden family emergency means Charlotte needs access to Hank’s club ASAP. Unfortunately for her, the narcissistic fancy-pants doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of the words help, generosity, and compassion.
But he’s about to find himself schooled. Charlotte is going to teach Hank a lesson once and for all about basic human decency, whether he likes it or not.
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.
VILLAIN I’D LIKE TO F…
