Review: "For Better or Worse" by Lauren Layne

     

Will a budding wedding planner and her bad boy neighbor stop banging heads and start hearing wedding bells in the sexy second novel in USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series that marries Sex and the City with The Wedding Planner? When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from assistant to actual wedding planner, she’s determined to make it as one of Manhattan’s elite Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her first client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in five months’ time. Heather’s days quickly become a flurry of cake tastings, dress-fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she’s really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor’s apartment all night. Five years ago, Josh Tanner was an up-and-comer on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there is more to life than the corner office. If only he could convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. As Heather lets down her guard, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon, it’s Heather’s turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love.

Thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books via Netgalley for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Oh my gosh, this book was exactly what I was looking for right now! So sweet, romantic, funny, something to put a smile on my face - it was just fabulous!

Both main characters were wonderful, but I have to say it was Josh Tanner who really wormed his way into my heart. After a somewhat rocky start (I really didn't love the first scene between him and Heather - in fact, it had me scoffing and doing the eye roll thing!) I was not expecting to like him so much! But honestly, I dare anyone to read this book and NOT like him - it's impossible! Mostly, Josh acts like a big kid, which can be appealing on a certain level, but not so much to Heather. It drove her absolutely NUTS, which was so funny to see! It may have been lust at first sight, but there was definitely no love between the two of them.

I also really loved the plot for this book, as well. The idea of Heather working so hard to make her way independently in the world made her an empathetic character to me. The idea of an independently wealthy genius of a guy who almost lost his life to cancer and is living every moment as if it could be his last also drew me in. The fact that Josh is a musician on top of all that just makes him even more attractive, in my mind! Will Josh and Heather be able to meet in the middle, compromise somehow, in order to have a future together? Read for yourself to see how "For Better or Worse" pans out, I don't think you'll be disappointed! As for my reading plans, I already have the next in the series queued up - this is definitely one series I don't want to miss a moment of!

My rating: 

Review: "In Ruins" by Danielle Pearl

She wanted to start again. To be someone---anyone---different . . . Freedom. When Carleigh Stanger thought of college, that was the word that came to mind. Freedom from her unhappy home life. Freedom from high school mistakes. Freedom from the memory of that terrible morning. Only instead of bringing a sweet escape, Carleigh's first campus party traps her in the scornful gaze of the last person she wants to see, Tucker Green. It wasn't long ago that being close to Carleigh was everything Tucker wanted. But that was before he realized she was just another scheming girl who'd do whatever it took to get her way. Even lie to the guy she claimed to love. Unfortunately while Tucker's brain remembers the pain Carleigh caused, his body only remembers the pleasure . . .

 Thank you to Forever Romance for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

By now I've read many books in the New Adult genre, and I feel like I've experienced enough of both the good and bad to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. That said, I'm having a hard time deciding what I think about this book. On the one hand, I was fully engaged from beginning to end and had a hard time putting this one down! On the other hand, I felt a bit bogged down by the sheer length of the book, as well as the repetitiveness of the writing and the constant back and forth between the two main characters. There are also a couple of plot developments that felt a tad overdramatic to me.

"In Ruins" is written in dual POV style, and so we get to know what both Carleigh and Tucker are thinking and feeling both in the present time frame and through flashbacks to the year before when their friendship developed into a romance, and subsequently disintegrated into "ruins". This worked well for me on a few levels.  I loved seeing how Carl and Tuck moved from friends to more - it was both sweet and steamy, which you wouldn't think would be possible. Usually it's one or the other, but very rarely both, and I loved every minute of those particular flashbacks into the past.  The way the plot unfolded in this manner kept me reading, as I wanted to know exactly how a couple who had been so close as friends and lovers could abruptly become so cold to each other, and I was only given snippets at a time until closer to the end of the book.

In the present time period, Carl and Tuck have had their nasty breakup. They are attending the same college, though, and even have a class together. Despite their efforts to avoid each other, we continually get the play by play as they attend the same parties and get assigned to the same group for their marketing class. Must be a small university. We see them eyeing up the competition, and occasionally getting possessive. It's all very been-there-done-that, except for the mystery behind their breakup.

As for Carl and Tuck themselves, they are both pretty good characters. I liked Carl's outward confidence and how she took such great care of her brother. She also seemed to be a decent friend, even though she hadn't really told anyone the truth about her family situation.  And Tucker had all the usual desirable attributes of a romantic male lead, but with the added bonus of a sense of humour - he and Carl had some great banter going on between them. There were even some interesting secondary characters, along with hints of interesting plots to go along with them - do I sense a trilogy in the making? I guess I'll have to wait and see.

There were some elements of the plot that I really liked, and others, not so much. The situation that led to Carl's idea for her marketing class group project is definitely one that needs to be addressed, and I really like how the author handled this issue without becoming overly preachy. On the flip side, this led to another plot development that was a little over the top, and I didn't really love it.  It was handled rather oddly, too, and the resolution didn't sit right with me. I can't go into more detail than that, unfortunately, but I'd be interested to know what other readers thought of the last few chapters.

So, definitely plenty of potential here, and I'm super curious to see how Danielle Pearl's writing develops in the next little while - I'll for sure be checking out any future books by her.

My rating:

"Between Love and Loyalty" Blog Tour, Excerpt, and Giveaway

   Today we have the blog tour for BETWEEN LOVE AND LOYALTY by Shannyn Schroeder. Check out the blog tour, and grab your copy today!

Between Love and Loyalty Synopsis: When at war, aim for the heart…   Connor Duffy is desperate. His tell-all book on corrupt Chicago alderman Brady Cavanagh isn’t telling enough to get publisher interest, and in order to get the hot dirt, he must find a way to get closer to the man who let Connor go to prison to cover for his own son’s misdeeds. So when fate puts Cavanagh’s lively, artsy daughter across Connor’s path, he decides to take advantage of the first bit of good luck he’s had in a long while.   … but don't forget to keep your own under guard.   Fiona Cavanagh needs a break. Between assisting with her father’s political campaign, trying to please her unpleasable mother, and dealing with an ex who won’t go away, she has no time for a life of her own. One night she meets sexy and mysterious Connor and everything looks like it’s about to finally turn around… until she discovers that the one man she thought she could love was using her for her father's power, just like all the others. As dark family secrets unravel around her, Fiona finds herself caught between love... and loyalty. Get your copy today! Amazon | IBooks | Kobo | B&N

 

Excerpt:

“What do you want to know?”

This was what he’d been looking for. Time with Fiona to sneak under her defenses. “Whatever you want to tell me. I don’t want to ask about something off-limits, so you choose. Although it might be nice to at least know your last name. We’ve been naked together a few times, but I only know you as Fiona.” He whisked eggs and milk together and waited for a response.

“I wish I could just be Fiona everywhere I went,” she mumbled, then quickly covered as if he shouldn’t have heard the admission. “Wells. Fiona Wells.”

He tried not to let the lie get under his skin as he mixed the remaining ingredients and turned the flame on under the griddle. He should’ve expected the lie. “Tell me, Wells, Fiona Wells, do you like chocolate?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

He smiled and leaned over to kiss her. “You’re supposed to be telling about yourself.”

“My life’s not exciting. I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life except for a year in high school when I studied abroad in Paris. Went to college and majored in art, much to my mother’s dismay. Art is such a useless degree. It wasn’t until her friends started buying my jewelry that she accepted I was never going to be a lawyer or an accountant. I make my jewelry when I’m inspired, usually late at night, and a few days a week I teach at the youth outreach. That’s the extent of my life. See, not exciting.”

He scooped the first pancakes onto the griddle and looked at her from the corner of his eye. “Paris sounds pretty exciting.” That had been the year he and Aiden had gotten into so much trouble. It also explained why she didn’t know who Connor was.

“It was. I had a great time, but I was too young to appreciate it. I want to go back someday.”

He flipped the pancakes and grabbed a couple of plates from the cabinet above Fiona’s head. The action caused him to lean over her and she took the opportunity to kiss his chest. He caged his arms around her on the counter. “I wasn’t kidding when I said you better watch yourself if you want food.”

She smiled and pointed. “My pancakes are burning. You don’t want to have to start over.”

He pulled the first pancakes off the pan and poured more. “What do you do for fun?”

“I don’t know. I don’t go out much. I’m kind of a homebody. I like to watch cheesy horror movies. I’ve never had many hobbies because I have my art. I love it and I’m lucky enough to get paid to do it.”

Connor plopped pancakes onto the other plate. She had no political aspirations. Homebody was an understatement. Where most of the Cavanaghs clamored for the spotlight, Fiona clung to the shadows.

Shannyn Schroeder is the author of the O’Leary series and the For Your Love Series - contemporary romances centered around large Irish-American families in Chicago. She also authors the Hot & Nerdy series about nerdy friends finding love. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing, she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies. Find out more at: www.ShannynSchroeder.com

Connect with Shannyn:

Web site -- http://www.shannynschroeder.com

Goodreads -- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6575201.Shannyn_Schroeder

Twitter -- https://twitter.com/SSchroeder_

Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/shannyn.schroeder

 

Enter Shannyn’s Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: "The Bachelor Auction" by Rachel Van Dyken

Cinderella never had to deal with this crap. Jane isn't entirely sure that Cinderella got such a raw deal. Sure, she had a rough start, but didn't she eventually land a prince and a happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Jane is busy waiting on her demanding, entitled sisters, running her cleaning business, and . . . yep, not a prince in sight. Until a party and a broken shoe incident leave Jane wondering if princes---or at least, a certain deliciously hunky billionaire---maybe do exist. Except Brock Wellington isn't anyone's dream guy. Hell, a prince would never agree to be auctioned off in marriage to the highest bidder. Or act like an arrogant jerk---even if it was just a façade. Now, as Brock is waiting for the auction chopping block, he figures it's karmic retribution that he's tempted by a sexy, sassy woman he can't have. But while they can't have a fairy-tale ending, maybe they can indulge in a little bit of fantasy . .

Thanks to Forever Romance for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from "The Bachelor Auction", but whatever it was, I don't think it was this.  The cover is cute, the synopsis sounds cute, so I guess, I was hoping for something lighthearted, romantic, and, well, cute.  And while there were certainly some funny and sweet moments throughout, overall, this book struck me as being overly silly.

If you didn't realize you were reading a modern Cinderella retelling when you first picked up "The Bachelor Auction", you would figure it out within the first few pages, guaranteed. Every character is an over-the-top Disney caricature, from the Ass to the Cock - not even kidding, these are actual characters, also known as Donkey and Rooster, and are more developed than some of the more important secondary characters, for example, Cinderella's - oh, pardon me, Jane's! - sisters (not step-sisters in this case, but still evil.) Of course, in the Disney version of Cinderella, the prince didn't have much of a personality, or interchangeable twin brothers, but other than that, the similarities between that story and "The Bachelor Auction" are decidedly obvious.

Which gives rise to more of the silliness I spoke of earlier. There are several different versions of the Cinderella tale, all written hundreds of years ago. Taken in that context, it's easy to see why a French orphan in the late 1600's would allow herself to become enslaved by her step-family. What other choice would she have? Probably a convent or a brothel.  But when you look at Jane in the context of "The Bachelor Auction", i.e. modern day Arizona, I had to wonder why on earth she would become an indentured servant to her sisters? She has an education. She has a thriving business. What more does a modern woman need to stand on her own two feet?  Instead of appearing brave and resilient, to me Jane appeared like more of a doormat than anything. And then Prince Charming, aka Brock, is not much better. I mean, he allows his grandfather to auction him off as a husband to the highest bidder? What craziness is this? I could understand the whole "bachelor auction" thing for charity, but for some reason, both Brock and Jane thought that the highest bidder would be a future fiancé for Brock. Why couldn't Brock just go on one date with the winner, and then go back to dating Jane? This whole aspect of the plot did not make any sense to me at all, and it was a major plot point throughout. It just did not work. At all.

So while I had a few snickers here and there, mainly to do with Brock's brothers and occasionally his grandfather, I'd have to say I was disappointed in "The Bachelor Auction". I think other readers might enjoy this book, especially if they're looking for some comic relief or something not too serious, but unfortunately this one was not for me, and I don't think I'll be continuing with the series.

My rating: 2.5 stars

Review: "One Was Lost" by Natalie D. Richards

Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Are they labels or a warning? The answer could cost Sera everything. Murder, justice, and revenge were so not a part of the plan when Sera set out on her senior camping trip. After all, hiking through the woods is supposed to be safe and uneventful. Then one morning the group wakes up groggy, confused, and with words scrawled on their wrists: Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Their supplies? Destroyed. Half their group? Gone. Their chaperone? Unconscious. Worst of all, they find four dolls acting out a murder—dolls dressed just like them. Suddenly it's clear; they're being hunted. And with the only positive word on her wrist, Sera falls under suspicion…

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Fire (via Netgalley) for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the perfect time to read this book, right around Halloween! I mean, what's scarier than being stuck out in the woods with no connection to the outside world? Trust me, I've been there, done that, and it's scary enough without throwing some murderous psychopath into the mix. Add a mysterious killer into the plot, and we're talking some serious heebie jeebies!

"One Was Lost" had me fully in its grip for the few short days I was reading it. I was completely enthralled, and felt this real urgency to figure out what the heck was going on with this group of teenagers and their teacher wilderness guides. The author only lets us in on Sera's point of view, and this really works with keeping the suspense high. Sera does not know who in her group she can trust, if anyone, and the only person I was convinced was not the killer was Sera herself. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was suspect! And yet I still ended up surprised by the outcome, so all my suspicions were wrong, and I love it when that happens!

The characterization in this book was quite interesting to me. Early on, we find out that Sera had a bit of a "thing" going on with Lucas, one of the boys on this wilderness adventure. It's obvious that Sera now feels extremely uncomfortable around Lucas, but it takes a while before the reasons behind her feelings are revealed. Again, the suspense was killing me! I needed to find out what the story was behind their relationship, or lack thereof, and that is a big part of what kept me steadily turning the pages. I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed when I found out why Sera wanted to keep away from Lucas - her reasoning did not make much sense to me. It felt like she took somebody else's completely different situation and applied it to her own, letting it dictate how she should behave, even though the two situations weren't really related. I think this is one area of the story that could have been better explained or developed.

Aside from Sera, there are three other students that we get to know to some extent.  Lucas is obviously the "love interest", for lack of a better term, but can he be trusted? I wanted to believe he was a good guy, but I wasn't always entirely sure. Jude and Emily round out the group, but these are people that Sera only knows by reputation. Again, Sera was not sure whether or not she could trust them either, and likewise, they didn't trust her either. It was interesting to see how Sera's perceptions of all these side characters changed throughout the book. I think being thrown into a life or death situation with others forces a strong bond, and nobody else will ever be able to know exactly what you went through except for the people who were right there alongside of you.

My only other problem with "One Was Lost" came at the end, and this seems to happen to me quite often with thriller/suspense type reads. I just wasn't completely convinced that the killer's motivations were authentic. I can't really get into much more detail without spoilers, so I'll just have to leave it at that, but otherwise, "One Was Lost" was a  unique, exciting adventure that I won't soon forget!

My rating:

"Searching For Disaster" by Jennifer Probst - Blog Tour & Excerpt

I haven't kept it secret that I really love this series! If you're looking for a mix between sweet, sexy, and sassy in your contemporary romance reads, I highly recommend you pick up all of these books by Jennifer Probst.

Today I have an exclusive excerpt from the newest release in the series, "Searching for Disaster", the final novella featuring the ladies from the Kinnections matchmaking agency. But first, here's a little bit more about the book and its author:

BOOK INFORMATION:

SEARCHING FOR DISASTER by Jennifer Probst

Buy the book now:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/SearchingForDisasterAMZ
B&N: http://bit.ly/SearchingForDisasterNOOK
Kobo: http://bit.ly/SearchingForDisasterKOBO
iBooks: http://bit.ly/SearchingForDisasterIBOOKS

GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/SearchingForDisasterGP

Blurb:
The next highly anticipated novella in the Searching For series, a romantic spin-off of the Marriage to a Billionaire series from New York Times bestselling sensation Jennifer Probst.

When Isabella MacKenzie tries to move on from her disastrous past, Officer William Devine is determined to show her that love is the only way to heal. This sexy enovella, the final installment in Jennifer Probst’s heartwarming Searching For series, follows the high-powered women of the popular matchmaking agency Kinnections, located in the small, picturesque town of Verily, NY.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Jennifer Probst -  Bio:
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.
She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.


Website:  www.jenniferprobst.com
Facebook Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage
Twitter:   https://twitter.com/jenniferprobst
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst

EXCERPT 

HE REMINDED HER of every delicious, forbidden, dirty action that could be committed under a tangle of sheets. And tonight, he was going to be hers. Isabella MacKenzie barely kept from licking her lips in anticipation of a feast. His golden movie-star looks should have put her off. She wasn’t into pretty boys. She liked her men dark, dangerous, and tatted up. This one had no mar on his dusky-brown skin, and his white-blond hair gleamed like a halo gifted by the angels. He leaned against the wall, drinking a beer, a serene expression on his features. The party was loud and wild, with hookups galore played out amidst the screaming of alternative music, but he seemed untouched by his surroundings. He barely even glanced at the lineup of girls looking to offer themselves up for a night of forgetfulness. Her gaze flicked over his outfit. She preferred leather and old, tight Levi’s. This one wore darkwashed designer jeans and a button-down ice-blue shirt with large cuffs pulled up to show a fancy design. His shoes were camel colored with ties and also looked expensive. Definitely a mystery. One she wouldn’t mind figuring out. Because the demons had come for her again. Tickling her skin, whispering in her ear. That empty ache in her gut urged her forward, to do something to forget and take away the restlessness consistently taunting her. A night of forgetful, rowdy sex would help. And this time she wouldn’t take the drugs. She didn’t need them. Her best friend, Raven, was already suspicious, and she didn’t want to lie. God knows she’d been lying enough to her own family. It wasn’t fair to put that on the last relationship she had left. Yes. This man would help her quiet the voices. She headed across the room, making sure her generous hips swayed with enticement. It had become so easy now to become someone else. The seductress was like second nature, especially since she enjoyed her body and the pleasures it brought. She bucked the ridiculousness of the terms slut and whore, refusing to let civilization or stupid male viewpoints take something precious from her. Izzy enjoyed sex and picked who she wanted, when she wanted. It never lasted long anyway, but that was her choice. Her terms. She wasn’t like her siblings, who craved a permanent relationship and ideals of love that didn’t exist. She lived for the now and the excitement of dawn, where new possibilities always existed.

She stopped in front of him, cocking her head. His gaze had lit with a touch of interest. Up close, his eyes were pale, pale blue and so clear they reminded her of a still, serene lake touched with ice. His hair fell in thick, burnished, messy waves streaked with a dozen colors of light. His features were as classic as his clothes. Square chin. High cheekbones. Arched brows. Long, elegant nose. His lips were full and lush and looked so soft, she imagined her thumb skating over the plump flesh. Up close, he was even more beautiful, and her breath caught just a bit in admiration, as it would in front of Michelangelo’s statue of David. Or Chris Hemsworth as Thor. “You don’t belong here.” His gaze flicked over her, then swept back up again, lingering. “What gave it away?” She shrugged. “You look bored. And you’re too dressed up.” He regarded her with an honest curiosity she savored. “I think you’re underdressed.” Izzy grinned at his pointed stare, which was taking in her beaded black crop top and low-cut jeans showing off her belly ring. She’d worked on her uncontrolled curls with a ruthless precision until the pin-straight strands framed her face with a bit of an edge. She sported purple streaks today because it matched her nail polish. “Usually that isn’t considered a problem.” His slight frown told her maybe it was. Interesting. “You don’t go to college here, do you?” The SUNY upstate campus was rural, with a solid education and a huge reputation for epic parties. Raven had dragged her here for the weekend for some type of art-and-wine festival in town, and they’d ended up hooking up with a cool group who invited them to crash at the dorms. Tammy and Rick were the party couple in the crew, quickly offering up Tammy’s room to Izzy. Raven wanted to skip the college parties and head into town, so she’d left Izzy on her own for tonight. “No. I graduated,

but my brother lives in the dorms, so he invited me. You?” “Nope. I just get invited to the parties.” They stared at each other for a moment. Izzy noticed immediately the instant connection simmering underneath the dialogue. Yes, there was chemistry. And he was different from the others. “How old are you?” she blurted out. “Twenty-three.” He glanced at the red Solo cup she held. “Tell me you’re drinking age.” Her lips curved in amusement. “I am. Is that important to you?” “That you’re able to drink?” She stepped forward, testing. “That we follow the rules.” His eyes darkened. The sounds around her dimmed to a foggy slur. “Nothing wrong with rules,” he said softly. “Nothing wrong with breaking them either.” The simmer caught and flared. Her heart ramped up as sweet sexual arousal sung in her blood, loosening her limbs and quieting her mind. How she loved the beginning of the chase; the excitement of the unknown gave her the perfect edge. “What’s your name?” he asked. “Izzy.” “Short for Isabella?” She nodded. “Yours?” “William.” “Do they call you Willy?” She gave him credit. Those gorgeous lips twitched in a half smile. “Not if they want to live. Friends call me Liam for short.” “Well, Liam. I’m crashing at a friend’s place down the hall. It’s quieter there. Want to go?” Fascinated, she watched an array of emotions flicker across his face. “Is it safe to invite strange men to your room?” With another man, she’d give in to the anger that he was judging her. But with him, she got the impression he really cared and didn’t want her hurt. He seemed like the oldest twenty-three-year-old she’d ever met. “Are you safe?” “Yes.” “Then let’s go.” She didn’t turn back to check if he was following. Threading through the crowds with expert ease, she exited and headed down the narrow hallway, where students spilled out, talking and laughing in a rowdy parody of American Pie. She paused at the door with the plastic rose wrapped around the handle and went inside. He followed her in.

Release Day! "Rule Breaker" by Kat and Stone Bastion

We're thrilled to bring you pre-order news of Kat & Stone Bastion's exciting new adult, multicultural, surfing romance RULE BREAKER. PLUS be sure to visit, like, and comment on Mase's Facebook page: Mase on Maui - Stone is posting as Mase and randomly choosing one commenter each week to win a $10 gift card.

RULE BREAKER is set to release November 7, 2016!

Pre-order Your Copy... $2.99 Today | Releases 11.07.16 at $4.99 Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | Amazon AU | iBooks Kobo pre-order will be up soon, Nook goes live by release day.

Cover Designer: Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations

Image provided by: Love N. Books

Photographer: Made by MK

Model: Jase Dean

Genre: New Adult Romance / Sports Romance / Multicultural and Interracial

Racial Tensions Flare as Hot as the Passion in RULE BREAKER, a Modern-day Romeo and Juliet Story

Leilani Kealoha wants to be set free. Of family expectations. Of generations of prejudice. Chafing at rules made by the proud Hawaiian men in her family, she yearns to discover herself and hungers to explore the world. Her adventuresome heart? Longs for something even greater, deeper. The last thing she expects is an East Coast haole surfer to hold the key to everything. Mason Price is done walking his parents’ path. Done with social acceptance—with cold politics. On a surfing quest to reinvent himself, Mase finds an exotic beauty standing on his towel. But it’s her feisty bargaining that catches him off guard. When he challenges her with a “Truth or Shots” drinking game, she unwittingly reveals more than she’d intended about herself…and him. The raw truth stuns him: She’s suffered like he has, is lost like he is—keeps secrets like he does. But will young love and shared situations be enough to conquer racial and cultural divides? Lines in the sand…were meant to be crossed. ***RULE BREAKER is a standalone, full-length new adult romance told in dual POV. Due to mature themes and adult language, this book is for those 18 and older.***

Remember to visit, like and comment on Mase's Facebook page: Mase on Maui for fun posts on surfing, Maui, and a chance to win a $10 gift card each week just by commenting.

Have You Joined Their Email Notification List? Keep informed of new releases by signing up: Kat & Stone Bastion's Email Subscription

One lucky subscriber wins an eBook of their choice from the backlist AND a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card with each announcement.

About Kat & Stone Bastion:

Kat Bastion won several awards for her bestselling debut novel Forged in Dreams and Magick. Kat and Stone Bastion’s bestselling first novel No Weddings and the No Weddings series were named Best of 2014 by multiple romance review blogs. When not defining love and redemption through scribed words, they enjoy spending their time mountain biking and hiking in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

Stay in touch with them on their social media pages...

Blog * Facebook * Kat's Twitter * Stone's Twitter * Website

Release Day! "Searching for Disaster" by Jennifer Probst

 

Today we are celebrating the release for Searching for Disaster by Jennifer Probst. This book is part of the Searching For series and you can buy your copy now! Don't miss out on getting a chance to chat with Jennifer, and some fabulous guest authors, today through October 12th! You can join them HERE.

 

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Searching for Disaster by Jennifer Probst

Searching For series novella

Purchase Now

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay

BLURB:

The next highly anticipated novella in the Searching For series, a romantic spin-off of the Marriage to a Billionaire series from New York Times bestselling sensation Jennifer Probst.

When Isabella MacKenzie tries to move on from her disastrous past, Officer William Devine is determined to show her that love is the only way to heal. This sexy enovella, the final installment in Jennifer Probst’s heartwarming Searching For series, follows the high-powered women of the popular matchmaking agency Kinnections, located in the small, picturesque town of Verily, NY.

--------

 

Purchase Now

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay

 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Jennifer Probst - Bio: Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again. She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

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Excerpt Reveal! "Royally Screwed" by Emma Chase

     

Hey everyone, I'm so excited to be sharing an exclusive excerpt for you today from "Royally Screwed", a brand new book by Emma Chase! But first, here's a little bit more about the book:

Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled Series & Legal Briefs Series, returns with the first of three sizzling standalone books about a family of racy, irresistible Royals.

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, but more importantly, who he wants to be: a King... or the man who gets to love Olivia forever.  

Preorder: iBooks  | Amazon Print   | Audible  |  B&N  | IndieBound  | BAM!

     

     

Excerpt:

The next week is blissfully uneventful. I address Palace business during the day, and spend my nights with Olivia—which are so much more than blissful. While I work, she relaxes like I want her to. She walks the grounds and has found a friend in Franny. They’ve had lunch together a few times, which doesn’t exactly thrill me, but at the very least, I know she’s safe with Simon’s wife. Franny, and her forked tongue, will protect Olivia from the Lucy-types looking to wound her with their half-truths. On the rare occasions my brother is sober, he becomes increasingly agitated—like he’s unable to sit still, to stand his own company, or any sound that resembles silence. Finally, he decides to throw a welcome home party for himself. I’m in my bathroom preparing for his royal yacht party, just showered with a towel around my hips, scraping the last of the shaving cream off my jaw, when Olivia appears in the doorway. I thought she was lovely from the first moment I saw her. But here, now—her bare, soft skin wrapped in a pink silk robe, her face glowing with well-rested happiness…she’s magnificent. “So…do you guys have like a gift shop or a convenience store around here?” I laugh. “A gift shop?” She holds up a light blue disposable razor. “I’m out of razors. This one’s so dull I could run it over my tongue without drawing blood.” “Let’s not test that theory. I like your tongue too much.” I wipe my chin with a towel. “I can have the staff bring one to your room.” The devil on my shoulder—and the angel too—smack me upside the head. And they whisper a much better idea. “Or…I could help you out.” Her brows draw together. “Help me out? I can’t use your razor.” “No, definitely not—you’d cut yourself to ribbons.” I finger the sharp, heavy straight blade. “What I mean is…I could shave for you.” Her eyes darken, the way they do when she’s right on the edge—right before she comes. And she moves closer to me. “Do you…want to do that?” My gaze drags down, down, over every sumptuous inch of her body. “Oh, yes.”  

   

Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

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