New Release and Review Round Up

Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars - One of the Absolute Best

Review Copy Provided by Publisher Via Net Galley

I don’t care who you are, you need to read this book.
Georgia, Marley, and Emerson may be fictional characters, but they have a lot to teach us.
The focus here may be primarily weight and body image issues, but the over arching messages of acceptance and self love are important for everyone to hear.
Personally, I related most to Marley. I could see little bits of myself in her and cheered for her when she fully embraced her own value and started putting herself first.
I could also see myself a little bit in Georgia and was incredibly proud of the way she embraced her emotional evolution.
Ms Higgins took these two characters and the shake up of losing their friend to craft a powerful narrative about how to stop treading water and truly start living.
Incredibly well written,Good Luck With That is an emotional book  that made me cry a couple of times. Emerson’s journals showed a heartbreaking view of her life while Marley and Georgia dealt with their own issues.
Ms Higgins is an author whose work I pick up expecting to enjoy it. This fits the style I anticipate from her and takes it up a notch in terms of emotional impact.

Amazon

Down with Love by Kate Meader

3.5 stars - Worth a Reader's Time

Review Copy Provided By Publisher via Net Galley

3.5 Stars for a cute, fun “not quiet enemies” to lovers story.
I liked Max and Charlie and truly enjoyed getting to know the characters behind the facades they initially portrayed. It was fun to watch them butt heads and eventually figure out what they needed.
Well written and entertaining this is a good start to a new series from the reliable Ms Meader. The cast, both primary and secondary, is well rounded and funny. I am looking forward to seeing more of them in future books.
One thing that I was very impressed by was Ms Meader’s ability to world build and introduce us to future players without taking away from Max and Charlie. Definitely a fun read!

Amazon

Taming Him by Kennedy Fox

3.5 stars - Worth a Reader's Time

Review Copy Provided by Author

This is a book I struggled to rate. There are parts I really enjoyed and things that I found to be nails on a chalk board irritating. By the time I finished Taming Him, I decided that some of the irritating things fall under personal bias and preference, so I gave more weight to the things I liked.

The good:
The story itself.... good intro of the characters individually, great meet cute, entertaining interactions. I enjoyed the two pieces of the puzzle coming together and I appreciated the fact that the conflict of the story was more external than the characters creating drama for the sake of drama.

River and Alex.... I liked his emotional growth and his all in attitude. I appreciated that she was willing to reach out when the situation called for it.

The less good....
This is where personal bias and preference comes in....
I honestly didn’t like the characterization of the Bishop boys and the small town they live near. I felt like is was over the top and shoved every potential stereotype of what Texans are into one person/family. This seemed to be toned down as the story went on, so it moved from a story killer to annoying.

Overall, I enjoyed Taming Him and rooted for Alex and River to find their happy ending. I enjoyed meeting the other Bishop Brothers and am looking forward to their stories.

Amazon

Crazy Sexy Love by Alison G. Bailey

3.5 stars - Worth a Reader's Time

Review Copy won in a contest

This was a cute not-exactly- enemies to lovers read.
Doug and Sophie have been each other's orbit for years when fate/life put them in close proximity.
I liked both Sophie and Doug, along with their friends, and enjoyed seeing their interactions. Not only are they interesting on their own, they are really fun together.
This was my first read by Ms. Bailey, so I went in with very few expectations and was pleased with what I found. The only thing that kept this from being a full 4 star read was that the ending seemed rushed.
I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Ms. Bailey.

Amazon

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Forever Love -~J Lum ~ Blog Tour

Today we have J. Lum stopping by with the blog tour for FOREVER LOVE! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: Forever Love

Author: J Lum

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Forever Love:

To appreciate the sun, you have to withstand the storm. Free-spirited, poetic Casey Loughlin has had her fair share of rain, and she always manages to see the silver lining. During her teenage years, when she met Toby Cardona, she learned everything she ever needed to learn about love and loss—all in one year. When Toby lost Casey, everything changed for him. The once caring and endearing boy, with dreams and hopes of his own, became the cold, broken, money-hungry man he swore he'd never be. Now, with Casey back in his life, it's up to her to show Toby that the second time around, love can still hurt, but it's worth every painful prick. Will Toby weather the storm, and embrace a second chance, with the woman he’s always loved?  

Get Your Copy Today:

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Get Your Free Copy of SUMMER LOVE Today:

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About J Lum:

J. Lum resides in the Northern Virginia area. While she calls Virginia home, she is constantly on the go. She’s got a constant case of #Wanderlust; most of the time, you can find her traveling around the world to see her book besties, or checking off her bucket list places. Her second home away from home is Hawaii, where her family is from. The love for the ocean runs through her veins. She also has a love of pugs, unicorns, and anything chocolate. She and coffee have been having a love affair for many years. And, if you don’t find her wandering around the world, she’s more than likely hanging with her pug, Lani.  

Connect with J Lum:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjlum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjlum Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/authorjlum BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lum Book + Main: @jlum

Enter J. Lum’s Giveaway:

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Not Until You by Corinne Michaels ~ Cover Reveal

Not Until You by Corinne Michaels 

Publication Date: September 24^th, 2018 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Photography: Perrywinkle Photography 

Cover Design: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative

I have two rules in life: 1. No relationships, falling in love or attachments. 2. No sleeping with clients of my interior design firm.

Since the last guy turned out to be married, they’ve been easy to follow.

Until him.

Callum Huxley is a ridiculously sexy Brit, and the connection we have the moment our eyes lock scares the ever-loving hell out of me. Thank God I came to my senses before going back to his hotel where I would’ve ended up naked, panting, and unable to forget him.

Thinking I walked away from that night unscathed was stupid. Sure enough, at the biggest meeting of my career waits the CEO of Dovetail Enterprises—him. It might be the most embarrassing moment of my professional life. And breaking my no-client rule might just be the hottest moment of my personal life.

Learning to trust has never felt so good, but falling has never hurt so bad.

Pre-Order Exclusively on iBooks: https://apple.co/2vHRjjC Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2nhCNeS

Meet Corinne:

Corinne Michaels is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller author. She’s an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children. Corinne is happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife.

After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness. She enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak and finding a way to heal them through their struggles. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love.

Connect with Corinne:

Facebook: https://bit.ly/1iwLh6y Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Jcp29z Instagram: https://bit.ly/2L1Vzo6 Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2N1H2Gb Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NVZmhv Pinterest: https://bit.ly/2m7MkEL Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2yc6rss Stay up to date with Corinne and sign up for her mailing list: To sign up for monthly text alerts: Text CMBOOKS TO 77948 *US only due to carrier restrictions*

A Splash of Vanilla by Bethany Lopez ~ Cover Reveal

Today we are celebrating the cover reveal for A SPLASH OF VANILLA by Bethany Lopez. A Splash of Vanilla is the third book in the contemporary romance series, Three Sisters Catering. Check out the buy links for the book below, along with a giveaway for a Kate Spade necklace!

 

A Splash of Vanilla by Bethany Lopez

(Three Sisters Catering, #3)

Pre-order it Now - Releasing November 5th!

Amazon | iBooks | Smashwords

Add the book to Goodreads

 

Synopsis:

For the past year, Dru has put everything she has into building a catering business with her sisters. She’s so used to working until all hours of the night with them by her side, that when they both find love and move out, Dru decides to focus on something that has always weighed on her… finding the father who’d abandoned them.

For the past year, Mick has been living the good life. A content bachelor with his own business as a private investigator, he enjoys making his own decisions and answering to no one. When a couple of clients-turned-friends bring him in contact with Dru, his first thought is that he wouldn’t mind getting her alone for a night, but when she hires him, that spark is extinguished. Mick doesn’t mix business with pleasure.

When their lives become constantly entwined, Dru becomes more and more determined to get Mick to break his rules. Will they discover that even a seemingly perfect dish, can be made better with the right amount of spice, or are they too set in their ways?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Purchase the other titles in the series...

Purchase A PINCH OF SALT Now:

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Check out the A Pinch of Salt Pinterest Board!

Purchase A TOUCH OF CINNAMON Now:

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----------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She's a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.

AUTHOR LINKS:

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Hockey Holiday Anthology ~ Cover Reveal

This holiday season unwrap a brand-new collection of hockey romances that includes humor, drama, love, and - of course - hockey! **100% of the proceeds from sales of this anthology will be donated to charity.**

ONLY 99c for 18 novellas! PRE-ORDER NOW!

Amazon alert ➜ http://eepurl.com/dDiTQn

iBooks ➜ https://apple.co/2ONznwT 

Nook ➜ http://bit.ly/2OPnQwS 

Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/2KwtHEb

 
  Each book is EXCLUSIVE to the anthology and NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED by USA Today, New York Times, and all your favorite bestselling hockey romance authors.
  How We Fell in Love (Ice Cats) by Toni Aleo He knew she was the one, she wasn't so sure, which is why Grace and James' love story is one for the ages.
  A Second Shot by Shannon Stacey She was the one who got away—the woman Erik Burke walked away from to focus on the game—but when their paths cross once again, all he wants for Christmas is the chance to take another shot at love.
  A Wolfe Brothers Christmas (Game On in Seattle) by Jami Davenport Spending their first Christmas together in years, the Wolfe brothers fumbling attempts to create good memories go awry. Christmas Crosscheck (The Dallas Comets) by Jaymee Jacobs Bryan's planning to propose to Georgiana on Christmas Eve, but will the chaos of their families’ first holiday together ruin their special moment?
  The Final Slapshot by Jean C. Joachim Harry "Deke" Edmonds hides his secret, hoping for a Christmas miracle. When confronted with the truth, will his heart-breaking decision cost him both Kitty and the Huskies?
  Lucky Holiday (The Las Vegas Kingsnakes) by Jennifer Lazaris Vegas forward Tyler Quinn made the biggest mistake of his life when he broke Ella’s heart, and he’ll need more than an ace up his sleeve to win her back in time for Christmas.
  Dmitri's Christmas Angel (Las Vegas Sidewinders) by Kat Mizera Two women. Two surprise pregnancies. Dmitri Papadakis is screwed.
  His Christmas Cinderella (San Francisco Dragons) by Kate Willoughby On his way to the team holiday party, Gideon Aguilar mistakes Bailey Peng for his Uber driver. After inviting her to join him, they make more than merry, but at the end of the evening, the sexiest, most captivating woman he’s ever met is nowhere to be found.
  Red-Hot Trouble (Hot Ice) by Lily Harlem Sophie Delaney never intended to walk into ‘that’ locker room, at ‘that’ moment, but she did, it happened, and now she’ll never be the same again. Christmas Interference (The Baltimore Banners) by Lisa B. Kamps Shane Masters no longer believes in second chances, happy-ever-afters…or love. Can the woman who knew him best thaw his heart with a little holiday magic before it's too late?
  The Devoted Father and the Introvert (The New Hampshire Bears) by Mary Smith Elexis Dunaway loves Twitter and work. Dag Limon loves his twin boys and playing professional hockey. Soon their worlds will collide with one simple tweet.
  Her Best Worst Boyfriend (Vancouver Vice Hockey) by Melanie Ting This Christmas, Em Davis is bringing Mr. Wrong home to prove a point to her parents. He’s arrogant, conceited, and uneducated, and they’re going to hate him. But what if Ian Reid turns out to be Mr. Right?
  Icing isn't Only for Cookies (The Renegades Series) by Melody Heck Gatto Avery James wasn’t looking for love when tall, dark, and deliciously handsome hockey player Kyler Wilson walked into her bakery.
  Dallas Christmas by RJ Scott Logan knows lusting after his captain's brother can only lead to trouble. But when fate throws him and the temptation that is Archie together, it’s hard not to fall in love.
  All I Want (San Francisco Strikers) by Stephanie Kay When fate finally brings first loves Maggie and Alex back to the same city, will Maggie be brave enough to give the relationship she never forgot a second chance? Or will she put their love on ice?
  Holding On Tight (Buffalo Bedlam) by Susan Scott Shelley For Buffalo Bedlam defenseman Vince Forsberg and his boyfriend Joseph Parelli, the pressure to make their first Christmas together perfect leads to a lot of chaos, holiday mishaps, and some unexpected results.
  A Star-Crossed Christmas (Cayuga Cougars) by V.L. Locey Two years ago, Mitch shared an explosive kiss with his childhood friend, Olympic snowboarder, Shaun. Will Christmas be the time for the two men to untangle lust from love, and find a future together that works?
  The Playboy (Redtails Hockey) by Stephanie Julian Kyle is back in the minors to rehab his career but that's not all he's hoping to fix. He wants to get back the girl he left behind, but convincing Leah to take another chance on this former playboy will be harder than making it back to the NHL.

Mixed Up Love ~ Natasha Madison ~ Blog Tour and Review

     
Hunter

 When my business partner asked me to do him a favor, I had no idea he was sending me on a blind date his mother arranged for him. I walked in the bar, saw the woman drinking her third martini, and knew I was in for an eventful night. After the unexpected second date, she didn't know my real name or who I really was. By that time, the lie was too far gone, and I wanted her too much to admit the truth.

 Laney

 It's not every day you find out your ex-boyfriend is engaged. I shouldn't have agreed to the blind date. My mother insisted, and I wasn’t in any position to turn down a night out. I will admit, I definitely shouldn't have ordered that fourth martini before said blind date even arrived. The man turned out to be swoon worthy, handsome, condescending—a perfect distraction. Then I found out he was a liar. I've never been in over my head to this degree. Then again, I've never been in love.    

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Barnes & Noble | iBooks

   

I pull up to the front door, and the valet meets me at my door once I stop. “Good evening, sir,” he says once I open my door. “Yeah, I won’t be here long,” I tell him as I get out, not bothering to take off my sunglasses when I hand him the keys. “No worries, sir. It will be here when you are ready,” he says, handing me the ticket for later. I put it in the inside pocket of my suit jacket. I walk inside to the hostess table, where a woman who looks like she is eighteen stands smiling. “How may I help you?” she asks sweetly. I stop and look around to see if I might recognize the woman I’m here to meet, even though I’ve never met her. I spot a couple of women at the bar, but I instinctively know they aren’t her. I also check for exits. It’s not my fault; it’s just instilled in me. Looking to the left, I don’t see anyone sitting alone, but then I look to the right, and I see her. I don’t know why I know it’s her, but I just do. With curly long blond hair, she downs a martini, then picks up another one and brings it to her mouth. I spot a waiter walking with two more martinis on his tray, and I’m not surprised when I see him approaching her table. “Great,” I say under my breath. “I found her,” I tell the hostess and start walking toward the table. She spots me and watches my every move. Luckily, the glasses I’m wearing stop her from seeing my eyes. The closer I get to her, the more my pulse speeds up. What the fuck? This is weird. I look around maybe to see if something else is piquing my interest or maybe I spotted something to elevate my pulse, but no, it’s her. The fact that a gorgeous woman is sitting by herself and drinking like a fish is enough to get any man’s adrenaline pumping. Isn’t it? “Are you Laney?” I ask, taking off my glasses, and my gray eyes finally meet her blue ones. She opens her mouth, expecting, I think, something to come out, but nothing does. I continue looking around to see if anyone is watching her, and it’s no surprise that I spot two guys at the bar sizing her up. “Here are two more.” The waiter smiles at her, putting two more glasses down on the table and taking the two now empty ones away. She laughs nervously, and I want to reach out and trip him when he walks away. “It isn’t what it looks like.” Her soft voice breaks me out of my plan, and I turn back to her as she smiles at me, causing my heartbeat to skyrocket. The collar of my shirt suddenly feels tight, but it’s not even buttoned. “Really? I find it hard to believe,” I finally say. Looking around again, I spot the same two guys in suits sitting at the bar watching her. This time, one of them spots me and looks back down at his drink. “It looks like you’re sitting here waiting for something bad to happen.” I pull out the chair and sit in front of her. “Um.” She still doesn’t say anything.          
When her nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her... FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK READER GROUP | FOLLOW ON AMAZON | FOLLOW ON BOOKBUB | SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER      

Elizabeth's Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 0 Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

This is a super fun and quick read!

Ms Madison introduces to a new set of characters and they are all a blast. I enjoyed Hunter and Laney as romantic leads and thought their story was a cute one. From the blind date mix up, to his feelings getting in the way, they were a couple that was entertaining to watch and root for. I think what I enjoyed the most were Hunter and Laney's personalities and the shenanigans they got up to thanks to friends. He was this tough Alpha guy on the outside, but was extremely sensitive and showed that in actions.

The secondary cast here is also a hoot and there are at least 2 other stories that I NEED from this group of characters. This is not a long book, so there are no super deep dives, but it's the perfect light hearted read.

Mixed Up Love ~ Natasha Madison ~ New Release & Review

   
Hunter
 When my business partner asked me to do him a favor, I had no idea he was sending me on a blind date his mother arranged for him. I walked in the bar, saw the woman drinking her third martini, and knew I was in for an eventful night. After the unexpected second date, she didn't know my real name or who I really was. By that time, the lie was too far gone, and I wanted her too much to admit the truth.

 Laney
 It's not every day you find out your ex-boyfriend is engaged. I shouldn't have agreed to the blind date. My mother insisted, and I wasn’t in any position to turn down a night out. I will admit, I definitely shouldn't have ordered that fourth martini before said blind date even arrived. The man turned out to be swoon worthy, handsome, condescending—a perfect distraction. Then I found out he was a liar. I've never been in over my head to this degree. Then again, I've never been in love.    

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Barnes & Noble | iBooks 

   

       

When her nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her... FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK READER GROUP | FOLLOW ON AMAZON | FOLLOW ON BOOKBUB | SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER    

Elizabeth's Review

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 0 Would Recommend to a Friend

Review Copy Provided by Author

This is a super fun and quick read!

Ms Madison introduces to a new set of characters and they are all a blast. I enjoyed Hunter and Laney as romantic leads and thought their story was a cute one. From the blind date mix up, to his feelings getting in the way, they were a couple that was entertaining to watch and root for. I think what I enjoyed the most were Hunter and Laney's personalities and the shenanigans they got up to thanks to friends. He was this tough Alpha guy on the outside, but was extremely sensitive and showed that in actions.

The secondary cast here is also a hoot and there are at least 2 other stories that I NEED from this group of characters. This is not a long book, so there are no super deep dives, but it's the perfect light hearted read.


View all my reviews