Happy Weekend! As I try to do every week, I've put together a list (scoured Amazon) of the latest sales and freebies. Again, all books are under $2 and really it doesn't get any better than that. I hope something here inspires you! 💙💙 Please Note: this list may be missing some (I only recommend authors I've actually read or plan to read) and it's obviously not in any particular order. For more sales & freebies (because they might still be on sale or free), CLICK HERE and Happy Hunting!

Stolen by Alison Aimes

Standalone
Release - June 1, 2020
Genre - SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 340 pages
Publisher - Orchid Publishing

He’s a half-Martian Warlord. Savage, dominant, and dangerous—and now he’s on the hunt. For her.

Deception is a way of life for desperate thief Aurora Blake. Her sole purpose is to snatch enough jewels to escape her vicious stepfather, the powerful head of the corrupt Earther Corporation.

And the fierce Warlord she frames for her crimes? He's the last complication she needs.

She never expects to cross his path. Or to burn so hot after watching from the shadows as his rough commands bring exquisite pleasure to another female.

But Aurora's expectations don't matter when the Warlord wants her for himself. He won't stop until he's claimed her as his obedient mate.

Can she survive whatever he has in store once he discovers she's stolen far more than his barbarian heart?

Stolen is a sexy, standalone Alien Alpha Romance full of danger, betrayal, love, and the kind of epic steam that will have you flipping the pages fast!

Amazon * Nook * Kobo * iBooks

I can obey too, DaKar! I can so freaking obey!!

The year is 9094 and what is left of Earth is unrecognizable. After many wars, all that's left of what we call home is protected by a dome. The people of Earth are divided - the Élithe and the others. DaKar was the son of a powerful member of the council that rules over everyone. He was also half-Martian, seen and treated as an Outer World freak. He was abused and tormented for his half blood, surrounded by monsters who believed themselves somehow above him. Years later, after returning to his true home and becoming the man he was always meant to be, he arrives back on Earth to take his inheritance and finally shake things up in the oppressive culture that was propagated by the wealthy.

A chance 'meeting' when he was just a boy created a connection between DaKar and Aurora. She was Élithe and supposed to be untouchable. But DaKar isn't one for rules and Aurora can't deny what is quickly growing between them. However, she has a secret she cannot tell. When DaKar's honor is called into question, the one person he would never suspect is also the person responsible for his predicament. However, there is more at work here and I loved all of the moving parts the author introduced.

While I'm not the biggest fan of how this story reached its climax or its ending, I enjoyed the journey to get there. It was so much fun to watch all of the minor characters go about their business, gossiping, griping, and generally being pains in the behind. I was also entertained by everything about DaKar and his experiences, both as a boy and as a man. I loved the way his mind worked and I would have been happy to spend more time with him. Aurora wasn't very impressive. I get that her being a liar and a thief were meant to feature heavily in the plot, but she didn't do herself any favors.

After being introduced to this author's work with Ruthless King, I'm making it my mission to read all of her books!

Alison Aimes is the award-winning author of the sexy sci-fi romance series the Condemned as well as the sizzling contemporary romance Billionaire Bad Boys collection. A sci-fi fanatic with a PhD in Modern history, she’s an all-over-the-map kind of woman with a love for dramatic stories and great books, no matter the era. Now, she’s creating her own stories full of intrigue and passion, but always with a happy-ever-after ending. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two kids, and dog. When not in front of the computer, she can be found hanging with family and friends, hiking, trying to turn herself into a pretzel through yoga, listening to a fabulous TED talk, or, last but not least, sitting on the couch imagining her characters’ next great adventures.

As bloggers, we get contacted by authors, big and small, traditionally published or independent, to review their books. Most of us have a set of criteria that a potential read has to fit. Let's be real... there are just some books we have no intention of ever reading. So why bother put yourself through something that you're only going to review poorly?

That's how I feel about Love Triangles. I don't like 'em. If I'm warned in advance, I stay away. It's not to say that I haven't read and loved stories that centered around a love triangle. Take Black Swan Affair by K.L. Kreig. I gave it five whole stars!! And why? Because the story was phenomenally written. However, I look at it as an aberration rather than the status quo.

I know there are a ton of people who will disagree with my take on the trope. They love it and can't understand why I don't. They believe that I'm missing out. Well, the following are my reasons for giving this trope a pass:


I'm sure there a still more reasons for why I don't like love triangles, but honestly, thinking about them is making me remember all of the bad ones I've read and I'd rather not.

One of my 2021 bookish resolutions was to be more open with my fellow readers and bloggers. To open up more about my thoughts and opinions. To post more about my likes, dislikes, loves and favorites. So here's post one and I hope you like it!

I genuinely don't know what the hell "acting naturally" would be around someone as glorious as Ryan Asshole Morgan."

Captain by Lauren Rowe

Standalone - Morgan Brothers #2
Release - May 14, 2017
Genre - RomCom/enemies-to-lovers
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/several scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from KU
Length - 360 pages
Publisher - SoCoRo Publishing

It wasn’t the way this kind of story was supposed to go . . .
Insta-love isn’t supposed to turn into insta-hate.

But that’s exactly what happened when the hot-as-hell dreamboat I met in a bar turned out to be a lying, cheating scumbag-player-douche looking for nothing but a little side action. Jerk.

And he has the nerve to call me a liar and a “sociopath”? Assh*le.

And now, three months later, through a mind-blowing series of events I couldn’t have predicted in a million years, it turns out my boss is marrying his sister in Hawaii and I’ve got to play nice with him for an entire freaking week.

Okay, sure, I’ll put on a happy face this week and act like I’ve never even met the jerk before--did I mention his sister is marrying my boss?--but that doesn’t mean I’ll like it. And it certainly doesn’t mean I’ll stop secretly hating the cocky bastard’s guts.

Because I do.
I hate him.
I really do.

I just wish my brain would explain the situation to my body . . . because every time he flashes that panty-melting smile at me, it takes all my self-restraint not to jump the bastard’s hot-as-f*ck bones.


After falling in love with Colby in Hero and then Zander in Mister Bodyguard, I knew that I had to get to know all of this characters as soon as possible. They were just too special to miss. Too awesome to be passed over. Too incredibly funny not to enjoy more and more laughs with.

Honestly, I thought that this story would be a no-brainer. Five stars like the rest of them and on to the next. And it would have been if it was about Ryan, the rest of the amazing Morgan family, and their equally phenomenal friends and family. However, I had to endure Tessa and she was a hard pill to swallow.

Burned by love, Tessa didn't need much to push her into believing that Ryan was pretty much like every other lying, cheating, scumbag of a man. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary... despite the many people who loved and respected him... despite how he carried himself... despite how obvious it was that he was a great man... she treated him like garbage. She was disrespectful, mean, and ugly to him. She went above and beyond to treat him like dirt while continuing to sleep with him.

Thankfully there were plenty of high points to this story to enjoy. Every moment with the Morgans was a delight and a half. The family (oh Peenie), the friends, the sweet and hilarious conversations and hijinks made this story amazingly entertaining. I loved Ryan so much and I look forward to seeing him again as I continue to read about his brothers.

Find your copy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/38KlhZc
FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited

USA Today and Internationally bestselling author Lauren Rowe lives in San Diego, California, where, in addition to writing books, she performs with her dance/party band at events all over Southern California, writes songs, trains her new puppy, Ruthie and spends time with her wonderful family, and narrates audiobooks.

"I'm fighting for you, Emily. I don't even mind the fight because I know in the end that you'll see I'm the better man. But what I won't do is fight for someone who won't even be there in the end. Someone who'll fade away trying to be like everyone else. I won't fight for someone who won't even be the girl I want by the time she chooses me."

Girl Meets Boys by Ari Reavis

Standalone
Release - January 15, 2021
Genre - New Adult Contemporary Romance/love triangle
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/several scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 249 pages
Publisher - Indie

Girl meets boy, they fall in love, and live happily ever after. But what happens when, instead of meeting one boy, the girl meets two?

With Emily starting college, she figures it’s the perfect time to break out of her shell and have a new beginning. She doesn’t expect that in rewriting her story, it would include a love triangle.

First she meets Julian. She can’t help but notice his shirts with quotes on them, that match his quirky personality, his crooked smile and ruffled hair. He understands her in ways few others do. That’s what makes her afraid to let him get too close.

Then she meets Will. He’s from a different world, different crowd. When he goes out of his way to show her just how well she fits in his life, she finds herself getting swept up all too easily. Sometimes though, opposites really shouldn’t attract.

Girl meets boys and soon the choice isn’t which one of them is better, but who she’s better with.

You know that Ari Reavis is a talented storyteller when she can get me to read one of my least favorite tropes ever - the love triangle! I tend to stay away from these types of stories, usually because I end up hating someone (the heroine) and I'd rather save myself the pain and the pressure. But I find it hard to resist this author's writing. So here I am and here are my humble thoughts.

Emily was a young woman trying to find herself. Tired of being the shy one, the one hiding in the shadows, she decided that her first year of college was going to be different. New look, new day, new attitude... same girl. She immediately realizes that nothing was going according to plan, however, she did meet a charming boy named Julian. He was a lot like her, he made her feel free to be herself, and he seemed to adore her for just who she was. But she needed more.

Enter Will. He's the campus bad boy, he comes from money, people seem to flock to him like he's the new Messiah, and Emily is instantly captivated. No matter what he does, she can't seem to get enough. He's the one to pull her out of her shell, to get her to try new things, to become a different person. He offers something that Julian cannot provide. Which girl will Emily be in the end?

This story in no way swayed me to start enjoying love triangles, especially when they involve young people. I'm over teenage angst and drama. Growing up is hard and Emily had to take some hard knocks in order to see the light. I'm happy with who she chose, but dang, she made it hard for herself! The author didn't shy away from illustrating the hurdles and hormones and doubts and insecurities that young people face when she created Emily. She also showed how beautiful it is to find oneself and love oneself for all of one's faults and favors.

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” - Maya Angelou

Find your copy on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3qkz7re

Ari Reavis is a wife and mother of five. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, she enjoys staying in, devouring books and watching movies. Her kids are running around, her husband is trying to show her martial arts moves, and she's trying to write. Her day in a nutshell.

I wasn't aware that an Adam's apple could be such a complete turn-on, but there I was, looking at one and thinking 'holy shit I could totally slide my vagina against that when he was talking and come.'

Repeat Offender by Lani Lynn Vale

Standalone - Souls Chapel Revenants MC #1
Release - January 12, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance w/ elements of suspense
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/a few scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author thru Uplifting Author Services
Length - 208 pages
Publisher - Indie

Lynnwood Thatcher Windsor has lived a lot of lies. Seen a lot of good men go down.

But he will not stand by and watch as the world he’s built from the ground up burns to ashes before his eyes. Even if he has to build an army to combat the problem he sees brewing around him.

One step at a time, he carefully lays out his plan, building layer after careful layer until everything is where he wants it to be.

Every part is impeccably played, his pawns are in the perfect place, and then she barrels into his life, totally scattering every single piece he’s set in motion.

The bad thing is, she doesn’t even realize how badly she’s messed up until she’s roused the beast.

***

The day that Six Ines Broussard met Lynnwood Thatcher Windsor was the worst day of her life.

First, she has a public breakup with a man she’s not even dating. Second, she has to deal with a black-tie event that she’d rather gouge her eyes out than to go to. Third, she then has to sit at a table for hours on end with the one man she despises.

Just wanting a break, she thinks she’ll lose herself for a few hours and do what she loves to do best—spend time by herself and go for a walk in the middle of nowhere, spot some birds, and get a little sun. Only, her day doesn’t go nearly as planned.

She walks right into the middle of hell. And at the center of it? Lynnwood Thatcher. The mayor. The man that she took one glance at on the night of his inauguration and dismissed as boring. A total stick in the mud.

Only, he’s not so boring shirtless, in the middle of nowhere, doing things that are very illegal.

At first, she’s appalled. Then her interest gets piqued. Stuck-up suit is hot! And he has tattoos. Oh, and let’s not forget one hell of a mouth on him!

Then he goes and kidnaps her, and she realizes that nobody is quite as hot as you thought they were when they’re now holding you hostage.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sfmK1i
iBooks: https://apple.co/32E6Z9l
Nook: https://bit.ly/2H9wjfh
Kobo: https://bit.ly/35IoxDa
Audible: http://adbl.co/3q0YT3C

To say I've been excited for Lynn getting his own book would be an understatement. This gorgeous man has been popping up like no one's business and I was one of the fans clamoring for his story to be told. And let me tell you... if I thought he was hot before, this book made him even hotter!!

Okay, so Lynn is the undercover bad boy. He's currently the mayor of town, but there is just so much more going on, hiding beneath his elegant suits and perfect hair, stuff I can't even begin to explain. Just know that he is bound and determined to clean up the place and he's not afraid to get blood on his hands. A lot of blood, if necessary.

Six is a woman who is what some would call a free spirit. She doesn't really fit, but that's one of the things that makes her so great. LLV created a character that moved to her own beat, followed her heart, and that organ led her right to Lynn.

These characters couldn't be more different. And yet they fit so well together. I loved their every interaction, the slow build up to their inevitable relationship, the hotness in between, their everything.


My only real hang up was that some parts of the story deserved more time to develop. They were so interesting and were given such a starring role that I felt they should have been fleshed out a bit more.

I'm all agog (and yes, I use this word regularly in real life) to see what this author is going to come up with for all of the characters introduced here. For example, that doctor who let the kid who was terrorizing women die on the operating table... yeah, I'm dying to read his book! I was dying to read his book right after he did all that! Oh Zach... Seriously, I'm excited to read ALL of their books.

If Repeat Offender is anything to go by, this series is going to be outstanding!

P.S.... Side Note... Whatevs... The author left this little tidbit in the book... Go to Google. Type Wizard of Oz. Touch the red slipper. Then the tornado. You're welcome. Now I'm probably the very last person to do this, but I do thank her for showing me it. It gave me so much joy. It's so neat that someone took the time and gave the effort to make it possible. So freaking cool!

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.