Sunday, October 30, 2016

ARC Review:Her Naughty Holiday (Men at Work #2) by Tiffany Reisz

Her Naughty Holiday (Men at Work #2)

Clover Greene would sooner crawl into her oven than host family for Thanksgiving dinner. Yet another annual ritual of too much food, served with a side of criticism over "Clover's Bad Life Choices." This year, she needs to distract them all—with a handsome fake boyfriend. And she has the perfect guy in mind.

Contractor Erick Fields is the poster boy for sexy single dads, and Clover has been secretly crushing on him for ages. She certainly wasn't expecting Erick to agree to her insane charade…or to add lots of hot, wicked sex to the deal. If they can pull it off, the worst Thanksgiving ever might give them something to be really thankful for!

“Plenty of sex and just enough tension, charm, and passive-aggressive family banter to make for delicious, festive R-rated fun.”

— Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Mass-Market Paperback and Audio Out Now (US/Can/UK)
eBook Available November 1st
Published by Harlequin Blaze

Buy Links

What I thought about Her Naughty Holiday

Clover Greene is a successful business owner, but all she's feeling is stressed about because....holidays. She's not eager to face the firing squad of a family that wants her to "settle down", get married and have babies.

Enter the "fake" boyfriend, the father of an employee and friend. Erick is a business owner too and single father. When he's set up by his daughter to play fake boyfriend, he's all too willing to go along with it because he's had his eye on Clover for the last year.

There's instant sparks between Erick and Clover, once they decided to go along with the fake boyfriend plot. Lots of sex with those sparks too, and lots of flirting and sexual banter between them. Now I love banter, and I found it cute but after a while it just seemed like there was too much of it. I wanted some real conversation mixed in between the fun times. This was a minor irritation, and the story kept me reading. It's clear from the start there is no faking going on -- these are two people falling in love and it was very sweet.

When Thanksgiving comes and Erick meets the family, it's clear why Clover was apprehensive about spending the holiday with her family. Her family takes passive-aggressive to a whole new level and things come to a head as they should, because wow, it's a family holiday nightmare! Clover saves the day by finally speaking her mind and it was awesome!

I really liked this story. Clover and Erick were very likable characters, and it was easy to get behind them. I also liked the ties to the first book in the series which helped to build this world out somewhat.

Overall, if you are looking for a quick romance with lots and lots of sexy banter (and sex) between the main characters, you might like Her Naughty Holiday.

ARC provided for review.

And there's more from Tiffany Reisz...

IAN'S DREAM GIRL (Men at Work #2.5)

Before you read the new Men at Work contemporary romance series...
...read Ian's Dream Girl, a free novella on Harlequin.com.
It's a prequel to the third book in the series, One Hot December.

As the head of a family-owned construction empire, sought-after bachelor Ian Asher is feeling the pressure to find a suitable woman and settle down. There’s only one woman who fires his blood—and Ian is sure his father would find her anything but suitable.

Welder and artist Flash Redding is head-to-toe wild from her spiky red hair and tattoos to her wickedly sharp tongue. Ian can tell she’s drawn to him as well—but he’s her boss, and his company has a strict no-fraternization policy. That may be…but whatever smolders between them just needs a spark to set it off!

One Hot December (Men at Work #3)

Hard as steel…and hotter still!

Never mess with a woman who carries a blowtorch in her backpack. Welder and artist Veronica "Flash" Redding's playful sense of evil sometimes gets the better of her. Like when her insanely handsome, wealthy, suited-up boss gave her the most sensuously wicked night of her life…then dumped her. Yep, revenge is a dish best served hot.

Only Ian Asher isn't quite letting Flash get away quite so easily. He's not ready to forget the intensity between them. The searing heat when they touch. And the deliciously demanding control Ian wields in the bedroom. Now he has only the holidays to convince Flash that they belong together…and that even the most exquisite, broken things can be welded back together.

About the Author

Tiffany Reisz is the author of the internationally bestselling and award-winning Original Sinners series for Mira Books (Harlequin/Mills & Boon). Tiffany's books inhabit a sexy shadowy world where romance, erotica and literature meet and do immoral and possibly illegal things to each other. She describes her genre as "literary friction," a term she stole from her main character, who gets in trouble almost as often as the author herself.

She lives in Oregon. If she couldn't write, she would die.

Social Media: Facebook • Twitter • Wattpad

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Cover Reveal:Wicked Impulse by Chelle Bliss

COVER REVEAL - CHELLE BLISS

Wicked Impulse ALFA PI #3 Chelle Bliss Releases December 13th

There’s only one thing worse than dating a friend’s sister–sleeping with his mother.

Fran DeLuca’s known for her bossy, overbearing personality almost as much as for her love of nylon tracksuits. But when someone runs off with fifty thousand dollars, she becomes involved in an ALFA investigation and catches the eye of silver fox biker, Bear.

Bear North, ALFA’s resident bad boy, has never thought of Fran as anything more than his buddy’s mom. When she trades in her elastic pants and orthopedic tennis shoes for a pair of skintight jeans and high heels, he takes notice of the fifty-something MILF.

When the money trail leads closer to Fran than expected, Bear takes charge of the investigation and will do anything to protect her. Can Bear track a thief, claim Fran, and keep Morgan DeLuca in the dark long enough to solve the case?

PRE-ORDER

Audiobook releases on December 13th too!

BOOK 1 FREE - SINFUL INTENT!

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay International Sites

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT CHELLE BLISS Chelle Bliss, USA Today Bestselling author, currently lives near the Gulf of Mexico, but hates sand. She's a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN Chelle's FACEBOOK Group

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Release Day ARC Review:Keepsake by Sarina Bowen

Happy Release Day Sarina Bowen!

There's a first time for everything.

Lark Wainwright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.

When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.

Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.

Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.

Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he's good for much more than farm labor.

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Other books in this series

Bittersweet | Steadfast

What I thought about Keepsake

Wow! I'm not sure I can even put into words how much I loved this book. Zach has been a relatively quiet character in the previous two books in the series. We didn't know much about him, other than he had come to Vermont after escaping from a cult-like environment out west. In Keepsake, we get to see his heart, and it's absolutely beautiful.

When May's friend Lark comes to stay at the farm, Zach tries to hide his growing feelings for her, but she's working through some serious issues. When her nightmares waken her at night, it's Zach who comforts her. What starts out as solace turns into something else as Lark struggles with the demons of her past. Now, don't get me wrong. There's no insta-love here -- there's a gentle and touching progression of feelings that just made my heart sing.

Unfortunately, Larks problems are so much bigger than Zach or the Shipley's can handle. When everything comes to a head and other secrets are revealed, well, it isn't just Zach and Lark's heart that breaks, mine did too. These are two strong people pushed to the breaking point and there's a lot of pain between the pages. Lark's descent into darkness is handled with sensitivity and realism and I appreciated that.

I adored this book. I couldn't get it out of my head for days afterward and writing this review makes me want to read it again. There is so much love in this story, it filled my heart over and over. It wasn't just Lark and Zach -- it was all of the Shipley family and their neighbors, Isaac and Leah as well.

Besides Lark and Zach's story, one of the things I loved about this book is the way Sarina Bowen showed how important family farming is to the fabric of our country. Here is a family that eats together, works together and stands together to love each other through the good times and the bad. Griff was just amazing in his support of both Zach and Lark, and again, I could feel the emotional connection between them.

There's just so much love in this story, the love of family and friends, and the love of the land and it's fruits of labor. I particularly liked the secondary story regarding Zach's insecurities about his place in the Shipley family. It was done just right, and there's a great moment between Griff and Zach that just brought tears to my eyes.

I thought everything about this book was perfect. Sarina Bowen's words effortlessly carry the reader through the story and will have you falling in love with all the characters. This entire series is terrific, and Keepsake is the book I know will be at the top of my "comfort" reads list.

5 big bright stars and a hearty recommendation for all the books in this fabulous series.

ARC provided for review.

About the Author

Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont's Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

WWW | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Tumblr

Release Day Review, Excerpt & Giveaway:Love Amplified by Ann Marie Frohoff

Happy Release Day!

Love Amplified (Heavy Influence, #3)

By: Ann Marie Frohoff

Publisher AMF Publishing

Release Date: October 25, 2016

Pages: 176

Jake Masters is on the rise, sober and inspired. His solo music career has taken off and he's packed away his ugly skeletons - so he thought.

When a tropical rendezvous with Alyssa turns into an unexpected life-altering reunion, they must decide what's more important - their happily ever after or doing the right thing.

Can it be both?

99 cents! Today Only

Amazon | Goodreads

Other Books in the series

SKID OUT (#0.5) FREE FIRST KISS (#1) FREE

FEVER PITCH (#1.5) 99 cents

BROKEN NOTES (#2) 99 cents

HIGHER OCTAVE (#2.5) FREE

JUST JAKE - A Heavy Influence Video Short

Exclusive Excerpt:

Alyssa

There are things you can’t un-see…things that remain like thick burn scars,

always there to remind you of a fire you couldn’t run away from. Living in the same town as my rock star ex-boyfriend was one of them. Jake Masters, the love of my life and the torment of my existence had moved back from New York City, unexpectedly, and I had spotted him in the most unbelievable way.

Standing in the middle of the Manhattan Beach Pier the ocean waves crashed

against the pier piling, matching the pounding of my heart. My emotions churned like the blue water bubbling beneath me. I felt the heat of emotion rising up my neck. I kept blinking, not believing what I was seeing. I looked back at Nathan, who’d always been there for me during my darkest of days with Jake in high school. My friend Nathan, who became my boyfriend, back to friend, then turned fiancé. He was talking on his cell phone. He’d answered a call from his hospital intern program, stalling our all too serious marriage conversation.

Waiting for him to get off the phone I had leaned against the pier’s railing,

looking out over the sand. It was a warm spring Monday afternoon and there were more people on the beach than usual, too many kids ran around at the shoreline and I thought it must have been a school holiday.

That’s when I saw him – Jake. My hands trembled instantly and my legs grew

wobbly. I took in a deep breath to get a hold of myself. His shirtless back faced me. There was no mistaking him. The tattoo dedicated to me, angled over his left bicep and down his shoulder blade, taunted me. It was as if it were alive, its strands of hair waving back and forth as he dug in the sand next to a little boy and a woman with long black hair. I could see them clearly as I stood above them on the pier. They were building a sand castle. I turned away unable to believe it. I leaned my back against the railing, watching Nathan as he slowly walked toward me.

My handsome Nathan…maybe not mine anymore. I didn’t deserve him. I never

did. This was a sign. My heart would always belong to Jake. No man deserves a woman who would always pine for someone else.

What was I seeing?

I didn’t want to turn back to get another glimpse, but I had no control. I casually

glanced over my shoulder. Now I could hear their laughter as if they were the only ones on the beach and it shredded me to my core. Nathan finally made it to my side and I watched him as he rubbed his jaw, despondent. He’d flown in that morning, just to see me and to give me an ultimatum.

“Alyssa if we’re not gonna set a date this has to end…” - that’s what he’d said

right before his phone rang. I still couldn’t believe he took the call, maybe because he wanted me to suffer. I’d dragged our engagement out long enough. I looked back over my shoulder again. Seeing Jake play happy family made my stomach turn.

Who were they? That’s probably his new girlfriend – I thought, wondering whom

the kid was. Would Jake date someone with a kid? – Obviously. I felt the life rush out of me like the air in a punctured balloon as memories flooded through my mind, lingering on the things that caused our complete and final breakup. What the hell did I expect? Of course he’d move on with his life. I ended it so harshly and heartlessly, but he deserved my cold shoulder. He’d been sleeping with his deceased best friend’s wife, more than once. He was on drugs and not the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I remembered the pain and hurt in Jake’s eyes when I threw the ring he’d given me, our promise of forever, in his face as if it happened yesterday.

I never looked back.

Nathan tucked his phone back in his pocket and I launched off of the railing,

grabbing him by the arm leading him away. I didn’t want him to see what and whom I was staring at. His face was still serious and his green eyes more somber. I knew the end was near, but not in the way I’d expected.

“Everything ok, with work?” I linked my arm through his. He sighed and pulled away from me. “Aly, what’s it gonna be?” I stopped to face him. “You want an answer now?” “Alyssa, you’re graduating. I…” He hung his head and my heartbeat was in my ears. “I met someone, Alyssa, and I’m interested in taking her out. If you’re not going to marry me…we both need to move on with our lives.”

The ringing in my ears made me dizzy. I watched Nathan’s face as he eagerly

looked at me for a response and all I kept hearing in my mind was – “…I met

someone…” “Nathan,” I crossed my arms, trying to figure out how I was feeling. I was both hurt and not surprised. “What you’re saying doesn’t make sense…” “Yes, it does…it came out wrong, Alyssa, I love you.” He was flustered and it made me feel worse about everything. “It’s about you not wanting to commit to a life with me...” he gulped, searching my eyes, “and I met someone in my program. I spend a

lot of time with her. She enjoys my company…and she made a comment that if I wasn’t engaged, she’d ask me out. It was a simple, flirtatious comment, yes, but it got me to thinking…since you won’t commit to a wedding date.”

Sadness and guilt gutted me.

“Nathan you knew…” “I know.” He interrupted, frustrated. “I’ve grown tired of hoping you’ll come around, Alyssa. I’m ready to start my life with someone. I know we’re young but I wanna build a life with someone from nothing and I wanted that to be you.”

Alyssa. He never calls me Alyssa.

“You don’t even wear the ring I gave you.” He continued. “I should have known

when you stopped wearing it.” His arms flew up in indignation. “I want you to be happy. I want to be happy. I thought I could be something better in your life. I thought I could show you the love you deserve, show you how a man is supposed to treat a woman.” “Nathan, if this is about Jake…”

“That’s part of it.” He said loudly, drawing a bit of attention to us. “I wouldn’t marry him either.” I practically shouted, blurting out more than I wanted, “he asked me several times, too.” I felt heavy like I could collapse from emotional weight.

He looked confused. I’d never shared this information with him.

“Really.” He laughed to himself, almost mockingly. He turned away and his arms

flew out again as he paced back to me sarcastically saying, “I suppose that makes me feel slightly better.”

This was a side of Nathan I’d not seen before and I ignored his biting contention,

saying.

“I’m just fucked up, what can I say.”

What I thought about Love Amplified

Aly's about to graduate from college and has plans to spend time in Florida, training for the Olympics. But when Jake attends her graduation, neither one can deny there are still strong feelings between them.

I really liked the mature Aly and Jake. There was some real conversation going on here between them and I wanted to see more of their actual reunion and thought that deserved a little more page time.

Of course, their happiness doesn't really last long. People from the past threaten to destroy their renewed relationship and Aly and Jake are faced with some very difficult decisions in Love Amplified. I liked how they dealt with them, too.

Overall, this was a slightly bittersweet chapter in Jake and Aly's story and at the same time, hopeful. I loved the story, but I have to be honest and say that I had some minor issues with the delivery of the story. There were a few fast forward paragraphs and it was a bit jarring, but there are still plenty of good parts to Love Amplified.

Looking forward to more of this story!

ARC provided for review.

Ann Marie ("Annie") Frohoff grew up in sunny Southern California. As a teen and young adult, she spent her time frequenting and living in nearly every beachside city up and down the coast.

Ann Marie is a debut author whose vision to tell a story started out like many other aspiring writers, with a dream, literally. After taking her then eight-year-old daughter to a concert, her dream weaving took on a life of its own. Long story short, she quit her high- paying corporate job and went for broke to follow her dream.

The first installment in her Heavy Influence Trilogy, FIRST KISS, released June 11, 2013 — the series is a story about young, reckless love between a rising rock star and his younger muse, spanning 10 years of their tumultuous and passionate relationship.

Each book in the Trilogy will come with a soundtrack of original music, of which the lyrics will appear in the pages of the books.

Annie has settled in the South Bay area of Los Angeles with her family.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Mailing List | YouTube | Goodreads

Giveaway: