Dream Spinner by Kristen Ashley // Review + Excerpt

May 10, 2021

Dream Spinner by Kristen Ashley

Stop delaying in tackling things that terrify you.
Because you never know.
The spoils might be sweet.


Dream Spinner by Kristen Ashley

Dream Spinner by Kristen Ashley


Standalone - Dream Team #3
Release - May 25, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Dual POV - Hattie/1st person & Axl/3rd person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5/a few scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the publisher
Length - 393 pages
Publisher - Forever

Hattie Yates has finally met the man of her dreams. Yet years of abuse from her demanding father have left her petrified of disappointment. She’s already failed to reach her goal of becoming a professional ballerina—she can’t handle the terrible consequences of another dream becoming a nightmare. But when a stalker sets their sights on Hattie, there’s only one man she dares to hope can help . . .

Axl Pantera knows Hattie is the only woman for him. Yet despite the attraction burning between them, Hattie refuses to let him in. The former soldier is determined to woo her into letting down her walls. And when danger comes calling, he’s up against more than her wary and bruised heart. Axl will do anything to prove to Hattie that they’re meant to be, but first, he’ll need to keep her safe.

Find your copy of Dream Spinner here:
Amazon * Nook * iBooks * Kobo


Dream Spinner by Kristen Ashley
Can you tell me what is so addictive about KA's books? No? Yeah, neither can I. All I know is that I'm hooked!

There's Hattie, who has suffered many years of abuse from her father, who has built up walls that allow her to deny herself her greatest wish, walls that do their best to keep Axl out. Then there's Axl, a man who has been through a lot. He has his own demons, he has a huge heart, he's compassionate and patient, he's bloody awesome!

I wasn't Hattie's biggest fan in the beginning, but I grew to like her as the story developed. Now Axl, I loved him from the start. Again, this is something I find with many of the KA books I've read. Love the hero, like the heroine, ecstatic over the journey to get to the end.

Dream Spinner gave me tons of feels, oodles of laughs, and a story I could really sink my teeth into. Whether you're an old hat like me or new to this author, this is definitely a book to fall in love with.


➔ My Side Note(s)


I'm all for female empowerment... but I'm completely over strippers who are happy to be strippers and aspire to be nothing else until the men in their lives give them inspiration. That really doesn't work for me and turns me off of the female in question. Weird right? It's just that unless you're a headliner in a chic, respectful club, there is nothing fabulous about a stripper's life. Actually, a stripper's life, on average, isn't the glamorous show that KA presents. Most strippers are struggling, beaten down, low on self-esteem or confidence, and invisible. So yes, I wanna say thank you for making a stripper into someone worthwhile in a story, but no to how proud they are to be a stripper.
Dream Spinner by Kristen Ashley

He stared down at me, unmoving.

I stared up at him, the same.

The air around us grew heavy.

And he was so gorgeous, saying such incredible things, not to mention right there, and I was touching him, I couldn't stop my lips from saying, "Shut up, shut up."

The words that came after that lingered in the air unsaid, but they were there.

Kiss me like you mean it.

And he heard them.

I knew he did when his arm sliced around me and my hand on his chest was forced up into his spiky hair because my body was plastered to his.

And his mouth was on mine.

He kissed me.

Axl kissed me.

And he did it like he meant it.

His other arm swept around me, and I came up on my toes, his head angling, mine tipping the other way. He held tight and I pressed deep and I tasted, and I took, and I gave, and I drank, and he plundered, and he sucked, and his tongue danced with mine and yes...

Yes.

He kissed me like he meant it.

And I kissed him back the same way.


Dream Spinner by Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland, The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil and Honey series along with several standalone novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over three million books.

Kristen, born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana, was a fourth-generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and now she resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her independent publishing career. She currently writes full-time.

Visit https://www.kristenashley.net/ for more information

The Brave Line by Kate Stewart // Review

May 07, 2021

The Brave Line by Kate Stewart review image

You can begin again anywhere you want to in life, but you can't recreate your past or the way it shaped you.


The Brave Line by Kate Stewart cover

The Brave Line by Kate Stewart


Standalone
Release - March 31, 2017
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - Amazon Kindle purchase
Length - 290 pages
Publisher - KLS Press

She is a five foot seven long list of things he can’t have.

He is a determined cop, desperate to keep his heart sealed behind his badge.

Michelle is a survivor. With a fresh perspective on life, she trades her tragic past in California for the coastal waters of Charleston. Fueled by a new career as a dispatcher, she’s determined not to let her scars weigh her down. She apologizes for nothing, especially her insatiable need for a certain police officer.

Rowdy is a newly minted sergeant dedicated to his job, but the life of a Charleston police officer has never been more dangerous. With his need to take order of a city spiraling out of control, the last thing he wants is an entanglement with a mouthy dispatcher. But, there’s just one problem. He can’t get enough of her.

As the heat rises between the unlikely pair, so does the tension.

Three months of summer was all it took to shake their foundations, rattle their walls, and bring them crashing down.

It was lust.

It was love.

It was real.

And it would have been perfect . . . if it wasn't already over.

You can find your copy of The Brave Line on Amazon
It's FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited


The Brave Line by Kate Stewart quote teaser

The Brave Line by Kate Stewart Review
For me, this story was not just about facing one's fears, but embracing them. Becoming fearless. Michelle seemed to have that down pat (kinda sorta) and Rowdy spent this entire book playing catch up. I enjoyed the angst, the push and pull, the combustion that existed when these two came together. Slow build + slow burn = I slowly loved it.

While Rowdy's fears weirdly aggravated me, I understood them. He had lost someone close to him. He was still dealing with that loss and didn't want to put anyone through the pain he was going through. It was an honorable motive. It was also dumb. He was hurting himself and Michelle more than anything else. It took him a long while to finally see how wrong he was, but when he did... Damn! The author did a beautiful job of busting this man's heart wide open!!
USA Today bestselling author and Texas native, Kate Stewart, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. She pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense. Kate's title Drive was named one of the best romances of 2017 by The New York Daily News and Huffington Post. Drive was also a finalist in the Goodread's Choice awards for best contemporary romance for 2017. Her works have also been featured in USA TODAY and BuzzFeed, and translated into five languages.

Kate is a lover of all things '80s and '90s, especially John Hughes films and rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whiskey.

Visit http://www.katestewartwrites.com/ for more information about Kate Stewart

Blood Seeker by Lexi C. Foss // Review + Excerpt

May 05, 2021

Blood Seeker by Lexi C. Foss review

Remember, trust no one. Pay attention to the details. Don't believe everything you hear. And watch your back.
A war is coming.
Which side will you choose?


Blood Seeker by Lexi C. Foss cover

Blood Seeker by Lexi C. Foss


Standalone - Immortal Curse #7
Release - October 24, 2020
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 / a couple of scenes
Format/Source - Amazon Kindle purchase
Length - 286 pages
Publisher - Ninja Newt Publishing, LLC

An unexpected connection led to a forbidden affair that ended in blood. Now Sethios will stop at nothing to find his mate, even if it means risking his life and love in the process.

Caro’s mind is fractured, her body destroyed, her heart broken. She thought he would come for her, save her, free her from this nightmare. But her hope flees with every wave, her soul teetering on the brink of madness.

Will Sethios arrive in time? Or will other powers intervene?

A new prophecy is rising… One that will threaten to destroy them all.

Amazon blurb:

Seraphim do not feel.
Seraphim do not love.
Seraphim do not react.


Those are the rules every higher being lives by. And Caro broke them all for him.

Now she’s lost in a vacant sea, punished for the ultimate sin of choosing an abomination—a vampire—over her duty.

Sethios promised to come for her, to find her, to save her, but with each passing breath, her hope melts into despair.

Will he find her in time? Or will her mind shatter from the madness?

Welcome to the Immortal Curse world.
The High Council of Seraph will see you now...


Find your copy of Blood Seeker here:
Amazon * Nook * Kobo * Indigo * Audible


Blood Seeker by Lexi C. Foss teaser
Blood Seeker by Lexi C. Foss review
I've had this sweet baby of a book sitting on my kindle since release day, but I was waiting. What was I waiting for, you ask? I wanted the next book to be released so that I could continue the story. Do you know how hard it is to finish one of these books, know that there is so much more to come, and not have the next book in sight?! It's excruciating!! I'm telling you, Lexi C. Foss is a master storyteller and I'm drawn to these immortals like Winnie the Pooh and his honey.


That is most definitely me!

Stas is still at the head of a prophecy. Sethios is now up-to-date on everything and is trying to figure out how to be a father to his daughter, who grew up without him. And Caro is somewhere they can't find her. When the family is finally reunited, it's beautiful and it's funny. But those super warm feelings I got when I watched them interact paled in comparison to all of the moving parts of this story.

★ the seraphim aren't as lovely as they seem
★ someone I always believed to be the 'bad guy' may not be as bad as he seemed
★ there is still so much more to know about what is to come
★ Vera... Vera... Vera
★ and it seems that Balthazar is getting his memory back - bound to be good times :)

I believe there is so much more to come and that this story is far from over. And as I impatiently wait for the next book...


I'll implore you to get started!

Check out the other books from this series:


Blood Seeker by Lexi C. Foss excerpt
This was her life. Her purpose. Her meaning.

She loved this man. This Sethios. This male who had shattered all her beliefs and had broken through the harshest of her resolves.

Caro clung to him, weeping, her time with him too short. The sacrifice they would make would change the future of the world. But what if they couldn’t come back from it?

She would never voice that fear, the knowledge of what was to come. Because her mother would find her when she failed to locate Astasiya. Caro would endure rehabilitation. And she would survive.

That was her purpose, her one secret, that she never gave up. With Sethios forever etched into her very soul, the council couldn’t separate them. They would try, and they would fail. She would return to him. Always.

“I love you,” he whispered to her, his lips a caress against her ear. “I will forever love you.”

“I love you, too,” she breathed. And this time it was her. Her voice. Her heart. Her body. Her soul. She’d fallen into the memory, enraptured and ensnared and never letting go.

His eyes burned into hers. “Come back to me, Caro.”

“I’m right here.”

“Come back to me, angel.”

She frowned. “I’m here.”

“I miss you.”

It didn’t make any sense. How could he miss her? He was holding her. A part of her. Only, everything began to blur, the memory slipping from her fingers and surrounding her in a cage of literal glass.

She frowned. Where am I?

Blood Seeker by Lexi C. Foss author
USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi C. Foss loves to play in dark worlds, especially the ones that bite. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their furry children. When not writing, she’s busy crossing items off her travel bucket list, or chasing eclipses around the globe. She’s quirky, consumes way too much coffee, and loves to swim.

For more information: https://www.lexicfoss.com/

The Rise of Fortune and Fury by Sawyer Bennett // Review + Excerpt

May 03, 2021

The Rise of Fortune and Fury by Sawyer Bennett

While I might be willing to sacrifice myself for the good of the world, I know Carrick won't put me in mortal danger.


The Rise of Fortune and Fury by Sawyer Bennett

The Rise of Fortune and Fury by Sawyer Bennett


Chronicles of the Stone Veil #5
Release - May 4, 2021
Genre - Urban Fantasy
Dual POV - Finley/1st person & Carrick/3rd person
Heat Level - 1.5/kisses with sex alluded to
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 285 pages
Publisher - Big Dog Books, LLC

It’s time to meet my destiny.

Kymaris has everything she needs to bring down the veil between Earth and the Underworld. If she’s successful in completing the ritual, Earth will be darkened by evil. Demons will swarm our lands and the human race will be decimated.

It’s up to me to stop her.

My fate is to thwart the prophecy, but I’m not sure what to do. While I may have some gifts, I am still merely a human facing the queen of the Dark Fae who holds unimaginable power.

But I have something she doesn’t. Something she could never comprehend.

I have love.

Deep, abiding love which gives me the strength and courage to face down evil. Family, friends, and unexpected allies, who will stand shoulder to shoulder with me against this enemy. Should I fail, they are prepared to go down with me, but only after we have given our all.

My sacrifice may destroy everything I am. Fate may require my demise. But if that happens, I will leave this realm without regret, knowing that I have loved and been loved in return.

Find your copy of The Rise of Fortune and Fury here:
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3vweDOO
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3uizsgi
iBooks: http://apple.co/3pSLTgS
Nook: http://bit.ly/39vpwIq
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2MFLbF2


The Rise of Fortune and Fury by Sawyer Bennett

And that is how you end a saga, ladies and gentlemen!!

I know that this isn't really a fantasy romance series, but I have to tell you this... I lived for Carrick and Finley. Their epic love made every hardship, every loss, every twist, and every obstacle extremely worthwhile.

After the huge betrayal revealed at the end of the last book, I had no idea where this story was going to go. With Kymaris gaining so much, having everything she needed to begin the destruction of Earth as we know it, what could the 'Scooby gang' possibly do to stop her? Granted, I never had a doubt that our team would win. I had a strong feeling that I was destined to get a happy ending (which I did), but I also knew that I wouldn't be getting there the easy way.

I'm remembering how much I couldn't stand Finley at the beginning of this series. How she rubbed me the wrong way, got on my nerves, and had me thinking I couldn't care less what happened to her. Look at me now! I'm so proud of the development of this character. She could still be annoying (I'm not gonna lie), but she became such a fierce, smart, and easy to cheer for heroine and I was completely invested in her stake in the war against evil.

If you haven't started this series, start now!

Check out my reviews of the previous books of the series:
The Revelation of Light and Dark by Sawyer Bennet A Discovery of Secrets and Fate by Sawyer Bennett
The Evolution of Fae and Gods by Sawyer Bennett A Battle of Blood and Stone by Sawyer Bennett

"Life is so fragile," he murmurs gently. "No stronger than glass. And it seems from the moment I met you in this lifetime, that was something you inherently accepted. You lost your parents, and you understood how fleeting it all is. The strength you've shown these last few months, especially after leanring about this sacrifice you'll have to bear, is greater than some of history's bravest warriors. Time and time again, you've acknowledged that fate will not take a backseat, and you've faced it head-on with not only brute confidence, but also with a graciousness that comes from the beauty of your heart. It's because your heart is so fucking big and loves so goddamned generously that you've been marching forward to greet your destiny without ever taking a moment to be scared. And now... you're taking it, and I'm here for it. I'm here to shoulder the burden with you. I'll take on all of your worries, pain, and fear if you'll let me. I will continually remind you that you brought a demi-god to his knees time and time again, and you are more magnificent than all the gods put together. It's with that knowledge I know I'll have to let you go until I find that shining star again. Until then, I hope it's enough that I will be by your side every step of the way. And if the fates are kind to us, hopefully I'll be holding you as you leave this world to wait for me in the next."


New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

For more information about this author and her books, check out her website: https://sawyerbennett.com

Rebellious by Kristy Marie

April 30, 2021

Rebellious by Kristy Marie

This is our life. No touching. No nakedness. No kissing. No loving each other.


Rebellious by Kristy Marie

Rebellious by Kristy Marie


Standalone - although reading the Commander in Brief series first really gives a fullness to this story
Release - April 30, 2021
Genre - New Adult Contemporary Romance/best friends to lovers
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5/a few descriptive scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 257 pages
Publisher - Indie

A love controlled by guilt, contained by rules… One summer will change everything.
No kissing.

No cuddling.

No blah, blah, blah.

He wrote the rules onto our skin—every ink stroke tragically smeared by the lines we’d crossed.

He claimed it was the only way we could be together—the only way we wouldn’t destroy our families.

But there was an exception to his rules—one he never saw coming.

All I needed was opportunity and a sunburn.

The girl who played by his rules is gone.

This girl… is not his “friend.”

Find your own copy of Rebellious on Amazon: CA * US * UK
FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited


Rebellious by Kristy Marie
Oh, the sweet, sweet agony of angst! Rebellious is the love story of Aspen Von Bremen and Bennett Jameson and it pulls on those heart muscles like a beast! Throughout this book, I kept thinking of that quote from Tennyson: 'Tis better to have loved and lost, / Than never to have loved at all. Except for the most part, their love was a huge secret (although not really a secret to ANYONE) and we spent the majority of the book wondering 'will they or won't they?'

Fine. We knew they would and that it was a matter of when, but they worked that when like a stripper on a pole — smooth and tantalizing. Obviously I'm talking about a talented stripper.

So here's the deal... Aspen has loved Bennett since she was two years old and was handed his newborn body to hold. He's loved her just as long. But Bennett's an honorable guy. He's a guy that cares about his family, ALL of his family, and he doesn't want anything to mess up what they have going. So being Aspen's bestie will have to be enough. Almost kisses and slightly inappropriate touching aside, they've kept things platonic (if you don't count certain things that they do that you will discover when you read the book), but Aspen's graduated and she's going to be leaving. Bennett's lifeline will soon be out of reach. When he finally caves to give them one summer of loving each other without rules... That's when things really start to get interesting... and messy.
For years, I've made decisions that hurt Aspen repeatedly. And every day she shows up with a smile and a bigger attitude than the day before. She never allows my shit to stop her.
I don't want to be the guy she remembers as causing her pain.
Because that's all we'll have after this summer.
A memory.
Or a nightmare — if I allow a woman like Aspen to walk away.
She's crazy.
Funny.
Beautiful.
And... lyal, even when she shouldn't be.
While I'm not a big fan of new adult romances, Kristy Marie has this special way of writing them that draws me in and keeps me engaged. There's none of the usual whining or unnecessary drama. It's just straight heart, humor and feels.

I loved how she displayed the dynamic between Aspen and Bennett. He was the brooding, unapproachable hero who had a soft spot for his girl. She was the one constantly trying to break all of his rules and draw out the amazing guy she knew he was. She was trouble and he was trying to keep them out of it. She was temptation and he tried his best to resist. In the end, they were perfect for each other and no one who reads this story can deny that.


Some of my Favorite Quotes

"Von Bremens don't run away from our problems. We ignore them." - Theo

This is us: raw, desperate, and madly in love. - Aspen

"Aspen Von Bremen. You loved me before I could even pronounce your name. I took my first steps into your arms. Will you do me the honor of taking your last steps as a Von Bremen into mine?" - Bennett

Rebellious by Kristy Marie
A self-proclaimed reader enthusiast, Kristy started her writing journey back in 2009, reading and writing when her daughter was napping. Establishing her place in Corporate America (because something had to pay the bills), writing became her dirty, late-night secret.

After eight long years, she released her debut novel, Commander in Briefs. It was a long road, but she can honestly say, the road less traveled had the most beautiful sights.

The only thing Kristy Marie loves as much as reading and writing is sports! Especially those that require muscles and a nice ass. Her favorite is, and always will be, baseball. She's such a fan, that she even married her small town's high school's centerfielder where they still live with their three badass kids.

Commander in Briefs is her first series but definitely not her last.

For more about Kristy Marie and her books, check out her website: https://authorkristymarie.com/

Royally Screwed by Emma Chase // Review

April 26, 2021

Royally Screwed by Emma Chase

I can't remember wanting anything as much as I want this — as much as I want her.


Royally Screwed by Emma Chase

Royally Screwed by Emma Chase


Standalone - Royally #1
Release - Octobe 16, 2016
Genre - Romantic Comedy
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/a few explicit scenes
Format/Source - Amazon Kindle purchase
Length - 272 pages
Publisher - Emma Chase, LLC

Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, Crowned Prince of Wessco, aka His Royal Hotness, is wickedly charming, devastatingly handsome, and unabashedly arrogant; hard not to be when people are constantly bowing down to you.

Then, one snowy night in Manhattan, the prince meets a dark haired beauty who doesn't bow down. Instead, she throws a pie in his face.

Nicholas wants to find out if she tastes as good as her pie, and this heir apparent is used to getting what he wants.

Dating a prince isn't what waitress Olivia Hammond ever imagined it would be.

There's a disapproving queen, a wildly inappropriate spare heir, relentless paparazzi, and brutal public scrutiny. While they've traded in horse drawn carriages for Rolls Royces, and haven't chopped anyone's head off lately, the royals are far from accepting of this commoner.

But to Olivia, Nicholas is worth it.

Nicholas grew up with the whole world watching, and now Marriage Watch is in full force. In the end, Nicholas has to decide who he is and, more importantly, who he wants to be: a King... or the man who gets to love Olivia forever.

This story had me swooning so hard that I thought there might be a problem. Seriously, there was almost too much to love about this book!!

Nicholas was the crowned prince, next in line to rule the made up country of Wessco. Olivia was a broke, barely holding it together waitress in her family's failing coffee shop. There should have been no reason for these two to meet, however, one stormy winter's night... You already know how that goes.

So they meet and it's instant sparks.

From her:

He’s wearing a tuxedo, the black tie hanging haphazardly around his neck, and the top two buttons of his pristine white shirt are open, teasing a glimpse of bronze chest. The tux hugs him in a way that says there are hard, rippling muscles and taut, heated skin beneath it. His jaw is chiseled—fucking chiseled—like it’s made of warm marble. His chin is strong, beneath the planes of prominent cheekbones that a GQ cover model would kill for. His nose is straight, his mouth full and perfectly made to whisper dark, dirty things. Masculine eyebrows sit above gray-green eyes—the color of sea glass in the sun—framed by sooty, long lashes. His hair is dark and thick—a few strands fall over his forehead, giving him an effortless, edgy, I-don’t-give-a-fuck kind of look.


From him:

Delicate midnight tendrils frame a face that belongs in a museum — with stunning dark sapphire eyes that should be commemorated in vibrant oils and soft watercolors. If Helen launched a thousand ships, this girl could raise a thousand hard-ons.

She's prettily made, the top of her head coming only to my chin, but fantastically curvy. Great full tits that strain the buttons of a wrinkled white blouse, shapely hips in a black skirt tapering to a tiny waist I could wrap my hands around and toned legs encased in sheer black tights finish off the whole package very nicely.


It's lust at first sight. And yet, within moments, they both know that what they could share, what they would share, was far more than a physical connection. He's showing her everything a man should be, introducing her to a world that would have forever remained unknown to her, while she's given him something no one else ever has — the freedom to be himself.

Going in, we already know the conflict Nicholas and Olivia will face. He's destined to be king, she's a commoner, and never the two shall meet. They can't have forever. They can't last. Or can they? I loved that although they both felt their time together was finite, the author had them throwing themselves all in to make the most of the experience. It was passionate and sexy. It was hilarious and tender. It was beautiful and bittersweet.
I want the world for Olivia.
I want to show her every corner of it, explore it while holding her hand. I want the stars for her — and the moon and the heavens — and everything in between.
And for a moment, I truly thought I could give them to her. I believed there was a way.

It has been far too long since I've read from Emma Chase, but this story has reaffirmed my faith in her stories and I will definitely be coming back for more. I spied a little something being teased for Nicholas's brother, Henry, and a bookishly awkward Lady that had me eager to find out if they would be getting their own tale. And they are! I'm off to get my hands on Royally Matched and I'm hoping to see Nicholas and Olivia again!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Emma Chase writes contemporary romance filled with humor, heat, and heart. Her stories are known for their clever banter, hilariously authentic male POVs and sexy, swoon-worthy moments. Emma’s novels have been translated into over twenty languages around the world.

Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and two misbehaving dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

For more about this author and her AMAZING books, visit her website: https://authoremmachase.com/

Hissy Fit by Lani Lynn Vale // Review


Ezra was my unicorn. The man that I wanted above all others, and I knew nothing else would ever do.


Hissy Fit by Lani Lynn Vale


Standalone - The Southern Gentleman #1
Release - March 19, 2019
Genre - Contemporary Romance/Suspense
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/a few scenes
Format/Source - Kindle Amazon purchase
Length - 240 pages
Publisher - Indie

He is the one that never looks her way.
He is handsome and strong.
He is rough around the edges and mean.
He is everything she’s ever wanted.
He doesn’t even know she exists.
Her life is a joke.

She doesn’t step on cracks in the sidewalk.
She laughs at inappropriate times.
She talks when she shouldn’t.
She is clumsy and trips on air.
She is finally on his radar.
God help her now.

I wasn't reading for long before I realized that I loved this story. The characters, their chemistry, the subplots... I loved this book!!

Like the ninny I am, I read this series out of order, but it didn't even matter in the grand scheme of things. These books truly do read as standalones. I did find this one to be a more well-rounded and developed story than the ones that followed it, which only made me enjoy it more.

This is the story of Raleigh and Ezra. She's crushed on him for most of her life. He didn't even know she existed until recently. She hero-worshipped him and he didn't know how much weight his kind words and actions carried with her. While she was mooning over the most popular guy in school, the football star, he vaguely knew she was there. Nothing she did got his attention until she was a grown woman who embarrassed herself in front of the man of her dreams. And he could never look away from her again.

I loved how the author illustrated the growth of these characters. Raleigh may still have been the awkward, accident-prone, hot mess of a person as she was growing up, but she had evolved into an incredible woman with so much heart. However, it was Ezra whose strength of character shined the most. He went from being an oblivious jock to an amazing, intuitive, compassionate man. The ways in which he cared for Raleigh had me swooning all over the place. She owned him every bit as much as he owned her!

And again, with this story, Lani Lynn Vale has proven why I will be one of her staunchest supporters. She gave me a story full of heart, heat and humor that I was only sad because it ended. Luckily there are still tons of her books I have yet to read and I'm going to happily make my way through them. Who knows? Maybe I'll even get to see these charming characters again 😊😊

“Jesus,” she breathed. “The things you do to me.”


The things I did to her? What about the things she did to me?


Kind of like right now.


She was pressing that small, soft palm of hers against my length and stroking it. She was unskilled, clumsy, and it felt like the best thing that had ever happened to me.


Her forehead was resting on mine, and the only thing separating us at this point was a thin sheen of sweat that had collected on my body the moment that she came near me.


The woman had the power to bring me to my knees.


“The things you do to me have no comparison,” I told her honestly. “You may not like hearing this but…you are the best I’ve ever had, hands down.”


She stiffened.


“And that’s because what I feel for you isn’t the same as what I felt for other people,” I told her bluntly. “You make me want forever.”


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.

You can find out more about her and her amazing books on her website: https://lanilynnvale.com/

Quit Bein' Ugly by Lani Lynn Vale // Release + Review

April 20, 2021

Quit Bein' Ugly by Lani Lynn Vale

Quit Bein’ Ugly
The Southern Gentleman Series Book 3
Lani Lynn Vale
Release Date: April 20, 2021


Quit Bein' Ugly by Lani Lynn ValeThere’s a crush, and then there are the type of feelings that Croft Cruisie evokes from a person.
He’s everything that any straight woman would want: tall, handsome, charismatic, muscular, and sweet.
At least, Carmichael thought he was sweet, until he brings another woman to the gym she owns with her brother, on the night that’s to be their first date, and lets her know in a quick and painful, non-verbal way that her feelings are not reciprocated.
Fast forward six months, and she’s still trying to move on from the rejection.
It doesn’t help that the jerk moves in next door to her, and that she has to see him workout shirtless every single day.
How can a woman get over a silly crush when that silly crush won’t so much as give her room to breathe?

***

Croft doesn’t know what happened.
One day he was supposed to go on a date with the girl that wouldn’t leave his thoughts for even a second, and the next she’s avoiding him like the plague.
No matter how hard he tries—and admittedly, it isn’t all that hard due to the biggest case of his career taking over his life—he can’t get her to tell him what he did wrong. She refuses to give him a second chance.
At least, not until he’s nearly killed in front of the courthouse, that is.
The moment he sees his chance, he pounces. Or, more literally, he limps.
But the limping is what draws Carmichael in. The Southern charm that was instilled in him since birth will be what gets her to stay.
That’s his plan, anyway.
Funny thing about plans… they never seem to work out how you expect them to.


Purchase Links




Check out my review:

Once these two had things sorted, their relationship evolved into something beautiful. Croft was all strength and intelligence and dominance, but Carmichael was no slouch. She gave as good as she got, she loved just as hard, and together they built something that could last.

For the full review, click below...



The Southern Gentleman series:


HISSY FIT: The Southern Gentleman Series, Book 1


He is the one that never looks her way.
He is handsome and strong.
He is rough around the edges and mean.
He is everything she’s ever wanted.
He doesn’t even know she exists.
Her life is a joke.

***

She doesn’t step on cracks in the sidewalk.
She laughs at inappropriate times.
She talks when she shouldn’t.
She is clumsy and trips on air.
She is finally on his radar.
God help her now.

Purchase Links

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3aUSUHp
Amazon Intl.: https://geni.us/04fSN
Apple: http://apple.co/373PMYG
Nook: http://bit.ly/2N9dLPb
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3a5s5kG
Audible: http://adbl.co/3p41dpH
iTunes: http://apple.co/3pa3UFY

LORD HAVE MERCY: The Southern Gentleman Series, Book 2


Poor judgment: knowing better yet doing it anyway.
Flint Stone is a professional in every way.
He’s a police officer with the K-9 unit and works at Gun Barrel High as the school resource officer. In his spare time, he’s working his heart out to create a successful gym from the ground up.
He’s loved by every single person he ever encounters—student, faculty, and employees—Everyone but Camryn Elvis Presley.
The only thing they have in common is their mothers’ poor excuses for names.
Period. The end.
So why is it every time she crosses his path that he has the urge to mess up her perfectly curled hair? Or unbutton a few of her prim and proper buttons?
He knows he should stay away, yet like the high schoolers he’s around every day, he has no choice but to react first and think about the consequences later.
Side note—bad decisions are made, leading to lapses in judgment that threaten both of their jobs. Yet when the time comes, neither one can seem to find the wherewithal to care. Why? Because being bad feels so good.

Purchase Links

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2NbORyy
Amazon Intl.: https://geni.us/ZSDdJ
Apple: http://apple.co/2LC52Ve
Nook: http://bit.ly/3jBbFnn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2LGrcWw
Audible: http://adbl.co/3aUVehB
iTunes: http://apple.co/3tKrnRE


About Lani Lynn Vale

Lani Lynn Vale is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens.

When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.

Website: http://www.lanilynnvale.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/LLV-fb
Instagram: https://bit.ly/LLV-IG
Twitter: https://bit.ly/LLV-twitter
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/LLVgoodreads
BookBub: http://bit.ly/LLVbb