Breaking Limits ~ Brooke Cumberland ~ Cover Reveal

 

 

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. That seems to be my lifelong theme. With a string of heartaches behind me, I’m no longer falling for their one-liners.

When the opportunity arises to study abroad in London for a semester, I can’t pack my bags fast enough.

Bringing a new outlook with me, I leave my broken heart and memories of the past behind and set out on the adventure of a lifetime. One chance meeting leads to the hottest night of my life. All I know is his name and that’s enough for me. After all, isn’t that what one-night stands are all about?

But everything changes that first day of class. The guy that I left without so much as a goodbye the morning after the most mind-blowing sex of my life is standing in front of me—introducing himself as Professor Cox.

Now I must sit in his class and pretend like nothing happened. But that’s harder than it sounds. What feels so right can only go wrong if I try breaking the limits of my already-broken heart.

PUSHING THE LIMITS

AMAZON

Brooke Cumberland is a USA Today Bestselling author who's a stay-at-home mom and writes full-time. She lives in the frozen tundra of Packer Nation with her husband, 4 year old wild child, and two teenage stepsons. When she's not writing, you can find her reading love stories, listening to music that inspires her, and laughing with her family. Brooke is addicted to Starbucks coffee, leggings, and anything sweet. She found her passion for telling stories during winter break one year in grad school—and she hasn't stopped since.

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The Baller ~ Vi Keeland ~ Sneak Peek

(A standalone novel)
Release date 1/18/2016
 A Contemporary Romance novel
 New York Times & USA Today Bestseller
Vi Keeland
 *** 

Excerpt from THE BALLER 

“You ready?” Nick slung his bag over his shoulder and lifted his camera. The reporter in front of us wrapped up his interview and shook hands with Easton.
As I’ll ever be. “Sure.”
I stepped forward and extended my hand. “I’m Delilah Maddox with WMBC Sports News.”
A slow grin spread across Easton’s face. He surprised me by leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. “Pleasure to meet you.”
I wasn’t sure if he was baiting me into an argument—expecting me to lash out at him for kissing me when he’d just shaken the last male reporter’s hand—or if he was trying to use his blatant sexuality to throw me off. Either way, I wasn’t playing his game. I cleared my throat and stood straighter, even though my knees felt a little wobbly.
“Do you mind if I ask you some questions?”
“Why else would you be in here?”
I ignored his sarcasm. He was still smiling at me. Actually, it was more like a smirk, and it made me feel like a toy he was about to play with. “You ready, Nick?” My cameraman finished setting up the lighting, then lifted the camera into position and gave me a hand signal.
“Congratulations on the win today, Brody. How is your knee feeling after your first game back?” I lifted my microphone high, knowing Nick was filming in close.
“I feel . . . ” He nonchalantly reached to the towel wrapped around his waist and tugged at the corner. The towel fell to the ground. “Great. I feel great. And how about you? It’s your first trip into the locker room, isn’t it? Do you like what you see so far?” His lips curled up into a full-blown wicked smile.
Before I could catch myself, my eyes dropped to his naked lower half. Shit. He was dangling in the wind. I totally got distracted by just how low the thing dangled. It was probably a full minute before I responded to his question. A full minute of dead air time. Great. “Yes. Umm . . . the locker room is . . . ummm . . . nice.”
I sounded like a total ditz. On air.
The jackass continued interviewing me. “Is it as big as you thought it would be?”
“Ummm . . . it’s much bigger than I imagined.”
His smile grew even wider.
Ugh.
I needed to get back on track or my first locker room interview would become a laughingstock blooper. Viewers had no idea he was naked from the waist down. “Do you think you were at one hundred percent today?”
His eyebrows jumped. “If you’re referring to today’s game, definitely. I had one hundred percent out there on the field. There’re some other areas where I have a lot of growth potential, but my knee felt one hundred percent today.”
His pale green eyes darkened, and I watched his long lashes lower. I followed his line of sight, and suddenly I was staring at his naked package. Again. Damn it. My eyes darted back up, but I felt my cheeks heating. I had to end this, or I was going to be beet red on air.
“Well, welcome back. And congratulations on today’s win.”
I waited until Nick lowered his camera and turned off the light. Then I looked right at Brody Easton’s smug face. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”
 His eyes sparkled. “I do.”
I heard the chuckles and high fives at my back as I stormed out of the locker room.  

 ★★★★ 

 We hope you enjoyed this extended preview! 

 Would you like to read the FULL BOOK before it’s published? 

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 ARCs can only be sent to Kindles or Kindle apps.

Coming January 18th 

 Available for Pre-order on iBooks, B&N and Kobo now! 

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Just Stop Me ~ Rosalind James ~ REVIEW

Sometimes you have to run away to find yourself. 

 Lots of young women dream of being a princess. Nina Jones isn't one of them. After escaping from her palace/prison in the back of a gardener's van, she ends up in a beach cottage on New Zealand's South Island. She's meant to be looking after a cantankerous widower. Too bad she doesn't know how to boil an egg. 

 Iain McCormick may be an All Black, a member of New Zealand's elite rugby team, and a bona fide celebrity. During the offseason, though, he's meant to be a regular Kiwi bloke. A good son, a good neighbor, and a good citizen. But civility comes harder when you've been dumped at the altar. He doesn't need anybody he has to look out for. He definitely doesn't need to fall in love. 

 Yeah, right.

Goodreads ~ Amazon 

Elizabeth's Review

4 Stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Just Stop Me is another strong entry in the Escape to New Zealand series. Don't worry if you are new to Ms. James' work, even though this is the 9th book in the series, it stands completely on it's own.

 In Just Stop Me, we meet Iain (our All Black/Auckland Blues Rugby player) who is nursing a bit of a bruised heart and ego after his would be marriage came apart at the alter. He is at his parent's home for the tail end of his rugby off season. We also meet Nina, a model who walked away from her own wedding less than a week before the big day. She is running from her fiance and mother, neither of whom seem to treat her as an adult. A chance encounter with his mother on a flight from London leads Nina to Iain when she agrees to work as a companion to his grandfather.

One of the things I really enjoyed about Just Stop Me is that Iain and Nina really didn't like each other at first. He kept "stuffing" things up and having to apologize. Even though the time line wasn't terribly long because it was Iain's holiday, we got to see them get to know each other and become friends and then become attracted to one another. We also had a front row seat for Nina's growing independence and Iain softening from his heartache. These two were a lot of fun to watch together, even when things weren't going smoothly. It was a treat to see them being willing to work on their relationship to make sure they were the other's "shoe." There are sweet moments, romantic moments, and a few fun sexy times too.

The supporting cast was also fantastic, more family than ruby based in this book. Iain's parents are having a rough patch in their own relationship and it was wonderful to see an example of people continuing to work on their relationship 30 years in versus just giving up. Arthur, Iian's Grandfather is a fun addition to the story. His gruff exterior hides a caring heart and he is great source of advice for both Nina and Iain.

 Just Stop Me is well written, as expected from Ms. James, and runs the gamut of experiences. There is romance, humor, growth, and even a little suspense before we find out if our couple can find their happy ever after. Definitely a book I would recommend, whether you are a fan of Ms. James or new to her work.

Playing for Fun ~ Tracey Alvarez ~ Review

PLAYING FOR FUN is the sixth story in Tracey Alvarez’s best-selling Due South books set against the stunning backdrop of Aotearoa, New Zealand. If you like Jill Shalvis, Marie Force, or Bella Andre, then you’ll enjoy diving into these heart-warming, sexy & seductive small-town romances with authentic men and women struggling to find their special someone. 

Wanted: 
A woman for Ford. Ford Komeke can’t deny he could use an up-skill in the dating arena. It’s a local in-joke that his game, as far as women go, sucks. Thanks to the meddling of New Zealand’s worst octogenarian matchmaker, he’s got an online dating profile, a new wardrobe, and a haircut from Stewart Island’s sexy hairdresser, Holly Parker. But since he’s well and truly mired in the friendzone with Holly, what’s the harm in exploring his options? A little jealousy could work wonders. 

Offered: 
Dream job with a catch. What do you say when you’re offered an un-turn-downable career opportunity? You say, hell-to-the-yeah! Only there’s a problem. To get the dream job Holly must leave Stewart Island and her two best friends, Shaye and Ford. But if Holly can distract Shaye with wedding planning and set Ford up with a nice girl so she can stop imagining him naked, neither will notice if she exits stage right. Neither will notice if her feelings for Ford stop being strictly platonic. 

Warning: 
One kiss is never enough. As addictive as the chocolate stash Holly hides in her fridge, one kiss forces them out of the friendzone—way out of the friendzone. Heat and hunger explode, but the ugliness in Ford’s past hold his heart hostage. Playing for fun or playing for keeps? Holly and Ford must decide because the consequences of falling in love means that someone’s heart or someone’s dream will ultimately end up shattered. 

 Praise for the Due South series! 
 "It’s official…I’m hooked on this series! I want to jump on a plane and fly to this island, because apparently they grow them big and HOT in New Zealand…men that is!!!" ~ Swept Away By Romance 

"Perfection comes in many shapes and forms, and Ms Alvarez delivers in her contemporary voice and quirky character traits that make a distinctive difference between average and stellar storytelling." ~ InD’Tale Magazine 

"Just as the must-read series of Donna Kauffman (The Bachelors of Blueberry Cove), Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor), Terri Osburn (Anchor Island), Marie Force (The McCarthys of Gansett Island), Sherryl Woods (Chesapeake Shores) have entranced me with their seaside settings and caring communities - so has Tracey Alvarez - and I'm adding her series to my must-read shelf too."~ Fab Fantasy Fiction 

Don’t miss any of the Due South books! Book 1: In Too Deep. Featuring Piper and West. A smoking-hot reunion which may lead to a second chance for them both... Book 2: Melting Into You. Featuring Kezia and Ben. Can this widowed single mom and the stubborn but sexy single dad ever make one big happy family? Book 3: Ready To Burn. Featuring Shaye and Del. Two chefs, one workplace where things get seriously overheated—and a passionate enemies to lovers romance. Book 4: Christmas With You. Featuring Carly and Kip. A New Zealand holiday romance where becoming friends with benefits can sometimes make the sexiest Christmas present of all... Book 5: My Forever Valentine. Due South Short Stories. Book 6: Playing For Fun. Featuring Holly and Ford. New Zealand’s octogenarian matchmaker has Holly and Ford in her cross-hairs, but do best friends really make the best lovers?

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Elizabeth's Review

3.5 stars - Worth a reader's time

Review Copy Provided by Author

Tracey Alvarez takes us back to Oban in NZ to the small community we have gotten to know in the previous Due South books. Don't worry if you are new to Ms. Alvarez's work, you can jump right in with this one and be just as comfortable as someone who has been with the series from the beginning. I should know - this is just my second Due South book and I felt right at home.

Playing for Fun follows Holly and Ford. These two have been friends for a long time and each want out of the "friend zone." Unfortunately for them, neither will say so. Their friends team up to encourage them to get their acts together - leading to several funny moments before they dive into a romantic relationship. Both Holly and Ford have emotional baggage that causes them to stumble as they get things figured out. Ms. Alvarez does a great job of letting us see them dealing with their issues without feeling we are on the doctor's couch with them. I enjoyed the fact that Ford could be in tune enough with Holly to know what she needed from him, even when he couldn't deliver. Holly's ability to love Ford, but not sacrifice her own feelings had me respecting her too.

Playing for Fun is a great balance between a growing romantic relationship and individual growth for both characters. The supporting cast is fantastic! They add dashes of humor as well as needed sounding boards for our friends turning lovers. Add is several dashes of fun pop culture and you have a great read; perfect for curling up on the couch!

Meet The Author ~ Lili Mahoney

We are thrilled to welcome Lili Mahoney to our first Meet the Author Feature of 2016. 

Published work:

Barefoot Pastures

What are you working on now?

Right now I have a couple projects going, Barefoot Pastures Book 2, as well as a book I will publish under another pen name as it isn’t YA, but romance.

Do you get to write full time or do you also have a “day” job?

I have a day job, but dream of writing full-time! I recently resigned from working in the legal system because I had a baby prematurely and he needs me more.

Favorite part of being an author?

My favorite part of being another is creating something that inspires or moves people. I love to make people laugh, to identify with a characters flaws, or even draw them in enough emotional that they feel everything that character is feeling, even if they cry. That to me, is success.

Scariest part of being an author?

The scariest part of being an author is putting your work out there for people to judge.

Who are your favorites to read?

I love Larry McMurtry! I also enjoy Lori Foster, Janet Evanovich, Iris Johanson, Lee Child, Adriana Locke, Meg Cabot, Colleen Hoover, and Kristen Ashley. To name a few.

If you had $1 million to giveaway, what would you do with the money?

If I had $1 million to giveaway, I would donate to Wounded Warrior Project. I love and respect all military and their families and feel we do not do enough to support what they give up for our rights.

One piece of advice to an aspiring writer?

One piece of advice I would give to an aspiring writer would be simply, write. Get the words out. It’s so therapeutic. Then get brave and let someone read it. A stranger, a close friend. Someone to share it with.

Where can we find you?

·         https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009058535087  

·         https://www.facebook.com/Lili-Mahoney-561102494034451/ 

·         on instagram as @lilimahoney

·         http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00TBGW1KQ

·         http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SNUZHXY

·         https://www.goodreads.com/lilimahoney

Big Rock ~ Lauren Blakely ~ Excerpt Reveal

We are so excited to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Lauren Blakely’s BIG ROCK! A standalone sexy romantic comedy, BIG ROCK takes everything you love about a Lauren Blakely novel –witty dialogue, smoking hot sex scenes, and heartfelt moments –and puts them into one fantastic book! BIG ROCK is releasing Wednesday, January 6th! Readers can start their new year off right with Spencer! BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV. Come join us as we meet Spencer-parts, heart and all!

   

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Google Play

  ABOUT BIG ROCK: It's not just the motion of the ocean, ladies. It's definitely the SIZE of the boat too. And I've got both firing on all cylinders. In fact, I have ALL the right assets. Looks, brains, my own money, and a big cock. You might think I'm an asshole. I sound like one, don’t I? I'm hot as sin, rich as heaven, smart as hell and hung like a horse. Guess what? You haven't heard my story before. Sure, I might be a playboy, like the NY gossip rags call me. But I’m the playboy who’s actually a great guy. Which makes me one of a kind. The only trouble is, my dad needs me to cool it for a bit. With conservative investors in town wanting to buy his flagship Fifth Avenue jewelry store, he needs me not only to zip it up, but to look the part of the committed guy. Fine. I can do this for Dad. After all, I’ve got him to thank for the family jewels. So I ask my best friend and business partner to be my fiancée for the next week. Charlotte’s up for it. She has her own reasons for saying yes to wearing this big rock. And pretty soon all this playing pretend in public leads to no pretending whatsoever in the bedroom, because she just can’t fake the kind of toe-curling, window-shattering orgasmic cries she makes as I take her to new heights between the sheets. But I can’t seem to fake that I might be feeling something real for her. What the fuck have I gotten myself into with this…big rock?   BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV by NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…  

This hysterical and addictive standalone can be bought everywhere!! Go forth and laugh, swoon and fan yourself into the New Year with this dirty, sexy romantic comedy told from the male POV!

 

Excerpt

I do my best work in the bedroom. This is completely my domain. So it should be no big deal that she asked me to wait here. But something about being in Charlotte’s bedroom is wigging me out. Mostly because there’s nearby nudity transpiring mere feet away. She’s taking a shower, and no matter how you slice them, New York apartments are approximately thimble size. Let me spell this out—wet, naked, hot woman in a ten-foot radius. Got it? Okay. Moving on. I pick up a picture frame on her sky blue bureau of the dog her parents have. A fluffy brown summa dog—some of this, some of that. I’m going to focus on this mutt. Zero in on him. Look at his tail. Check out his ears. Yup, this picture is doing the trick. It is helping me not to linger on the naked woman and how well she kisses. Or how much I liked it. Why the fuck did I like it so much? Of course you liked it, idiot. A pretty woman kisses you, and you’re straight—you’d be stupid not to like it. End of story. Doesn’t mean anything. Stop analyzing. Especially since she just turned off the shower. Maybe she forgot a towel. Maybe she’ll open the door a crack, and ask me to grab one for her. I smack my forehead. Get it together, Holiday. I set down the picture, draw a deep inhale and straighten my shoulders. The door creaks open. She steps out of the bathroom wearing only a white fluffy towel wrapped above her breasts. “You might be wondering why I asked you to wait in my bedroom instead of the living room,” she says, in the most matter-of-fact tone. I have no clue how she can be talking like we’re having a business transaction when droplets of water slide down her bare legs. But I’m a strong man. I can handle this. I’m not tempted at all by my best friend. Though my dick begs to differ, the traitorous prick. “The thought crossed my mind,” I say, as I lean against the bureau, striking a casual pose. “Because if you’re my fiancé, you need to be comfortable with me being naked,” she says with a crisp nod. Shit, she’s going to do it. She’s going to drop the towel. She’s going to make us practice fucking. I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Wait. No. I can’t fuck my best friend. I absolutely, positively, can’t screw Charlotte. Even if she tosses the towel on the floor and begs me to. I lace my fingers together behind my back, linking these twitchy hands. “Okay, so you’re getting naked,” I say, doing my best to imitate her cool-as-a-cucumber tone that is throwing me off big time. “No. It’s the idea of me naked,” she corrects. I give her a pointed look. “Seems to me it’s both the idea and the reality.” “Fine, fine. They’re one and the same, and it’s part of the debrief.” “Is this the exam portion?” She walks past me, her arm brushing against mine before she yanks open the top drawer of the bureau. “Yes. This is the practical portion.” “And this is because you somehow think we’re going to be required to be naked together in front of Mr. Offerman in order to pull this off? This isn’t like some feats-of-strength style fake engagement where we have to pass certain skill sets in an obstacle course. You know that, right?” She nods, as she hunts around in the drawer. “I’m aware of that. I see this as more like the Newlywed game.” “And in this version of the game we’re quizzed on how I get used to the idea of you naked and vice versa?” Her breath hitches when I say that—vice versa. I don’t know what to make of that small gasp, or if it means something about the idea of me au naturel. She spins around, and holds up two pairs of panties, one in each hand. “Quick. Do you prefer it when your fiancée wears the black lace thong?” She waggles a scrap of silky-looking fabric that is so hot my face might be engulfed in flames right now because Charlotte owns that? “Or do you prefer her in the white side-string bikini?” She waves the white pair before my eyes, and all I can see is a tiny triangular patch of fabric that’s the slightest bit see-through. Forget the flames. I am a fucking inferno right now knowing she owns this too. White panties that reveal pretty much everything.

Add it to Goodreads here!

  About Lauren Blakely: Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had eight books on the New York Times Bestseller list and fifteen on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire. She recently released SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, the first novel in her new sexy romance series Sinful Nights that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her new adult forbidden romance, 21 Stolen Kisses, hit e-readers in May and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list. In January, she'll release BIG ROCK, a standalone contemporary romance sure to make you swoon. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign).  

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads

   

✮✮✮ Enter to win this amazing giveaway for a “Friends Make the Best Lovers Basket” including a signed copy of BIG ROCK and an Open Table Gift Card! ✮✮✮

 

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I Saw Her Standing There ~ Marie Force

We are adding a new feature in 2016. Thursdays will be reserved for reviewing books off of my To-Be-Read list; a little motivation to get me to dive into books that I have been missing. Hopefully, you guys will enjoy seeing these books too! Here is our first installment:

There’s a budding romance on Butler Mountain, but in the hornets’ nest known as the Abbott family, keeping a secret is no easy feat… 

Colton Abbott and Lucy Mulvaney have a secret. Colton’s nosy siblings have begun to put the pieces together, but it’s not like Lucy to keep things from those closest to her—especially her best friend, Cameron, who recently moved to Vermont to live with her true love, Will. But Lucy isn’t about to tell Cam she’s having a fling…with Will’s brother. 

Flitting between New York and Vermont is exhausting, so Lucy is looking forward to a long weekend with Colton at the Abbott family lake house in Burlington. Too bad Will and Cameron have the same idea, and once Colton and Lucy are caught red-handed (and red-faced), will their clandestine romance lose its appeal or will their secret beginnings be the start of something lasting?

Contains an exclusive Green Mountain short story!

Elizabeth's Review

4 Stars - Would Recommend to a Friend

Hunky Hero? Check
Likable heroine? Check
Great setting? Check
Fun supporting cast? Check
Great sexy time? Check

When I pick up a Marie Force book I expect all of these elements to appear in a well written format. I Saw Her Standing There definitely delivered. The third installment of the Green Mountain series does a great job of telling Lucy and Colton's story while also catching loyal reader's up on previous story lines.
Having lived a long distance relationship, I felt like Ms. Force did an excellent job portraying the real conflicting emotions that both Lucy and Colton experienced as they tried to figure their relationship out.
My one complaint was Lucy. I liked Lucy, I really did, She was a hard worker, dedicated to her friends and family, and she genuinely cared about Colton. My complaint had to do with the fact that she almost refused to let love in and embrace what could be in favor of maintaining the status quo. It really felt like she was creating heartache where it didn't need to be, especially with the solution they worked out to the long distance issue.
I Saw Her Standing There is strong addition to the Green Mountain series that would appeal to current fans of the series and new readers alike.

Find it here : Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Nobel