Red Hot + Blue Reads

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Review: Bad Apple by Elle Kennedy

A flirty standalone novel* from New York Times and international bestselling author Elle Kennedy!

One night with him will change her life...

Between her waitressing job, volunteer work, and college classes, there are never enough hours in Maggie Reilly’s day. Especially not for a relationship. Luckily, she’s got the perfect arrangement: a lover she meets three or four times a year. But when she shows up at the hotel expecting to hop into bed with one man, she accidentally ends up with another—Ben Barrett, Hollywood’s most notorious bad boy.

Ben, determined to lay low after another scandal, just wants some much-needed sleep. What he gets is a scorching make-out session with a gorgeous, naked redhead. He won’t accept her apology, but what he will accept is a place to hide out…and if there’s some hot, no-strings sex involved, why the heck not?

But Ben soon discovers that one week with his sassy, bed-hopping waitress is definitely not enough. He wants more. A lot more.

Now he needs to convince relationship-averse Maggie that a bad boy might be oh so good for her—and the best thing that’s ever happened to both of them.

* Previously published in 2008, Bad Apple (formerly Midnight Encounters) features almost entirely new content, including a point-of-view switch. Enjoy this new version of an old favorite!

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What I thought about Bad Apple

Actor Ben Barrett just wants to sleep. Unfortunately, the paparazzi keep him from getting the rest he needs so he checks into a hotel where no one is likely to know him.

Maggie Reilly can't wait for her work shift to get over so she can meet up with her semi-annual hookup, Tony. She doesn't believe in relationships -- but with work and school and volunteer work, she's looking forward to the release being with Tony brings. Only things go awry when she meets Ben instead (great scene), and he ends up making a deal with her -- sleep in exchange for the release that she missed from the Tony-mixup.

Maggie goes along with the plan -- she just doesn't count on falling for Ben -- and falling for him hard, especially when Ben and Maggie really click together. They are super steamy together and from their physical connection, they start really liking each other, but Ben's career and scandals catch up to them in a not-so-good way.

I devoured this book in just a few nights and really loved this story! It's got all the right elements of contemporary romance in a perfect mix -- the story is hot and steamy when it needs to be and things get serious in a very believable way. When everything falls apart for Maggie and Ben, I was devastated, which makes the HEA all the more special. And did you see that cover? Scorchin!

If you are a looking for a fast read, great characters, steamy bedroom action and an HEA you can root for, Bad Apple might just do it for you, like it did for me!

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Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Review & Giveaway:The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre

The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre
Series n/a; standalone
Genre Adult Romantic Suspense
Publisher Midnight Ink
Publication Date August 8, 2019

Some people just need killing.

Marlena Altizer Durst lives in her husband's shadow. He controls her every move―what she wears, the food she eats, and the friends she's allowed to make. If she disobeys, there are...consequences. And he has all the power.

To outsiders, it seems that she leads a fairy-tale life. But nobody ever wonders if Cinderella was happy after she married the prince. Marlena has traded freedom and safety for luxurious imprisonment, and most days, that seems like a bad bargain. Death may be the only exit she's allowed. Just like his first wife. And his second. Unless she flips the script.

Some people just need killing.

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What I thought about The Third Mrs. Durst

This is a tough book to review because everything has the potential to be a spoiler so I'll stick with the basics. Marlena does everything to attract rich widower Michael, but once they are married, everything changes. When I say that, it's not pretty at all.

Marlena must decide what she's going to do, and letting Michael make himself a widower (again) isn't an option. More is revealed about these characters as the story continues, and yeah -- Michael is a bad dude. It wasn't always easy to be sympathetic to Marlena as well, and I thought that took something away from the story.

This is a quick, easy-to-read thriller that you can finish quickly, if you are in the mood for some romantic suspense. Trigger warnings for violence. Regular readers of mystery/suspense might find some of the events predictable.

An ARC was provided for review.

Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the release of THE THIRD MRS. DURST by Ann Aguirre we're giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to internationally. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Ann Aguirre. Giveaway ends 8/18/2019 @ 11:59pm EST. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Ann Aguirre

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author ANN AGUIRRE has been a clown, a clerk, a savior of stray kittens, and a voice actress, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in Mexico with her husband and children. She writes all manner of genre fiction for adults and teens.

This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

Cover Reveal: Forever My Saint by Monica James

FOREVER MY SAINT by Monica James Volume Three
Release date: September 19th

Series: All The Pretty Things Trilogy, Volume Three

Genre: Dark Romance

Cover Designer: Sommer Stein— Perfect Pear Creative Covers

All hope was lost until Zoey Hennessy walked back into my world, shaking it up beyond repair when she uttered two simple words.

He’s alive.

She speaks of her brother, my Saint, the man who lost everything to set me free.

I believed he was dead. I saw it with my own two eyes. But when Zoey proves
he’s alive and being held captive by a monster, I know what I have to do.

It’s time I saved him.

The plan is dangerous, and there are no guarantees I will survive. But if this nightmare has taught me one thing, it’s that I don’t cower in fear. I am a woman hell-bent on getting back the man she loves, and nothing, no one will stand in my way.

However, what I uncover can only be described as hell on earth. The darkness has finally won, and Saint is lost to me forever.

Or so I thought.

Aleksei Popov is anything but a hero, yet in this story—he’s mine. Everything I believed in is about to be turned upside down, and with freedom within my grasp, I wonder how far I will go, and who I will sacrifice in order to set myself free.

Pre-Order Now:

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Bio

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.

She is a bestselling author in the U.S.A., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

Stalk Me!

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Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Review: Ellie and The Harpmaker by Hazel Prior

In the rolling hills of beautiful Exmoor, there’s a barn. And in that barn, you’ll find Dan. He’s a maker of exquisite harps - but not a great maker of conversation. He’s content in his own company, quietly working and away from social situations that he doesn’t always get right.

But one day, a cherry-socked woman stumbles across his barn and the conversation flows a little more easily than usual. She says her name’s Ellie, a housewife, alone, out on her daily walk and, though she doesn’t say this, she looks sad. He wants to make her feel better, so he gives her one of his harps, made of cherry wood.

And before they know it, this simple act of kindness puts them on the path to friendship, big secrets, pet pheasants and, most importantly, true love.

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What I thought about Ellie and the Harpmaker

On one of many lonely days in her life, Elle stumbles upon the harp maker's barn and Dan, the harp maker. Dan sees the world in his own special way, and when he meets Elle, he gives her one of his hand-made harps. Elle is fascinated with it, but her husband isn't so happy about it. She ends up keeping Dan's gift at the barn, where she gets to play the harp, see Dan daily and basically get involved in his life. Spending time with Dan changes how Elle looks at life, too.

I really loved the voices in this book, so perfectly tuned for Dan and Elle which really makes this book special. While I'm rating this 5 stars because I enjoyed the whole experience so very much because both the characters and story hit all the right notes for me, I did have some issue with things plodding around a bit, but the ending made up for all of that, at least for me.

I loved this sweet romance between two very unique characters. I'd call it more of a love story than a romance, and Dan and Elle's story left me feeling good about love.

An ARC was provided for review.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Blog Tour: Dark Alpha's Redemption (Reapers #8) by Donna Grant

Today we are excited to help
celebrate the release for
Donna Grant's
DARK ALPHA'S REDEMPTION
with a blog tour post today!

DARK ALPHA'S REDEMPTION is the highly anticipated 8th installment of the Reapers series.

If you're a fan of paranormal romance,
you're going to want to get your hands on this!

Purchase your copy of DARK ALPHA'S REDEMPTION today!

DARK ALPHA'S REDEMPTION by Donna Grant

AVAILABLE NOW!

About DARK ALPHA'S REDEMPTION:

here is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

My duty to Death drives me forward. I've never once strayed from my path – not even when the future seemed uncertain. However, Maeve's intelligence, cunning and determination challenges me in ways I never imagined. Finding out what she knows is the key to learning how to conquer our enemy. The Dark Fae breathes new life into me unlike anything I've ever know. For Maeve, I will risk trusting the Dark. For her...I will battle darkness itself.

Purchase your copy of DARK ALPHA'S REDEMPTION today!

What I thought about Dark Alpha's Redemption

Bradach is sent on a mission that he really doesn't want -- he's to infiltrate the Dark Fae on a mission to find one of the missing. I'll be honest, the details of the mission isn't what pulled me into the story. It was Maeve, the Dark Fae that Bradach falls for. Even though he hates the Dark Fae, he's entranced with Maeve and for good reason -- she kicks butt in a major way. I love strong heroines, and Maeve definitely fits the bill.

This was my first Reapers story, but I have read a few of the Dragon King series, so I wasn't completely lost with the story. This is a big universe and there are many characters, so I will warn that while you can read this as a standalone and totally enjoy the romance part of the story like I did, you would probably enjoy more about the characters if you read the previous books.

There's some great action in Dark Alpha's Redemption, along with the romance, so if that's your thing, you might like this story. I did. Things are building to a big showdown and I just can't wait!

An ARC was provided for review.

About DONNA GRANT

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas.

Follow Donna:

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Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Review: One Summer Weekend (Cedar Street #1) by Shannon Stacey

Best friends. A fake relationship. And only one bed.

New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey delivers the feel-good beach read you’ve been waiting for.
Noah Stafford loves his life—his happy, single life. So what if he made up a fake girlfriend to stop his boss’s matchmaking? He kept things close to the truth—Carly really does have long, sexy legs and a killer sense of humor. She just happens to be his best friend. His wicked awesome and completely platonic best friend.

But now his boss is having a destination wedding, and Noah is expected to attend…with Carly, his girlfriend.

Carly Randall has no interest in living out a rom-com plot. But Noah is her best friend, so she agrees to help. Still, once they arrive on Cape Cod, she can’t explain the sudden butterflies she feels when he looks at her that way. Or why she doesn’t mind when Noah’s hands stray a little south of her back.

What happens on the Cape stays on the Cape.

Except not really, not at all, and once their sexy faux-cation is over, Noah and Carly return to a reality where everything’s changed. Going for it would mean risking their friendship…but forgetting how good they were together just isn’t an option.

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What I thought about One Summer Weekend

Noah needs a big favor from his best friend -- that is acting like they are more than just best friends at his boss's wedding. It takes a little bit of convincing, but Carly agrees to help Noah with the fake relationship in spite of her friends warning her that it seems like some sort of romance novel, and you know how that ends up.

One Summer Weekend is a quick best friends to lovers story that just warmed my heart and reminded me once again why I just love Shannon Stacey's writing. It's sweet and swift and left me feeling good. Noah and Carly are just that good together. Perfect for when you want something short and a bit steamy.

An ARC was provided for review.

About Shannon Stacey:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter.

Release Day Review: Wicked Angel (Wicked Horse Vegas #6) by Sawyer Bennett

Wicked Angel
(Wicked Horse Vegas, Book #6)
by Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: August 6, 2019

Synopsis:

First there was pain, and now there is just… nothing. No one can ever understand the losses I’ve suffered. A solitary existence that consists of my work and the empty house that serves as a constant reminder of all I have lost.

After months of paralyzing emptiness, I turn to The Wicked Horse so I can feel something. Anything, really. Any shred of emotion that will explain why I’m still here. Any justification for why my life was spared and theirs were not.

It’s all in vain. Not even the debauchery of the notorious sex club can fill the hollowness that consumes me.

Until she walks in.

Absolutely perfect. Gorgeous and bends to my will. Gives me her body willingly, while expecting nothing more from me than the pleasure I offer her. And the more she gives, the more I find myself wanting to take.

Wanting to crawl out of my personal hell for this wicked angel.

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What I thought about Wicked Angel

Benjamin Hewitt suffers an devastating accident that leaves him injured and filled with a deep loss of everything he holds dear to his heart. The only way he can make it through the day is to close himself off from all feeling, turning him into a neurosurgeon that has issues when it comes to interacting with people, which isn't all that good for his partner and career. Realizing he must do something, he turns to the anonymous sex of the Wicked Angel, where he starts to feel some small return to feeling.

Elena Costieri likes having uncomplicated sex at the Wicked Angel, where she can indulge her desire to submit. When she has a scorchin hot night with a mysterious man, she can't forgot just how good it was. When she happens to meet him at her best friend's birthday party, well, things take off from there. Multiple interactions turn into something akin to dating and it isn't long before Ben and Elena are spending lots of time together.

As Ben starts to come back to the land of the living, he's filled with lots of feelings that he wants to run away from, which he does, leaving Elena with lots of questions about Ben's past. It's a good thing she's a very patient wicked angel who understands just what Ben is going through.

Wicked Angel is a sweet story of starting a new life in the aftermath of tragedy. There's plenty of Wicked Horse naughtiness, as I've come to expect from this series. It was easy to root for Ben to have some happiness in his life after what he went through, and Elena was just the person to bring him back into the light.

An easy, entertaining read.

An ARC was provided for review.

About the Author:

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Review: Bad Apple by Elle Kennedy

Wednesday, August 14, 2019