Blog Tour + Review: "Smitten" by Lauren Rowe

I am very happy to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Lauren Rowe's latest novel, "Smitten." I'm not usually a fan of rock star romances because so many of the ones I've previously read were very dark, but "Smitten" was actually quite joyful and light, so I really liked it. It is a spinoff of several of Rowe's earlier books featuring record label CEO Reed Rivers and members of the Morgan family, but still works perfectly as a standalone, so readers (like me) who are new to Rowe's work can jump in here easily.

A full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I enjoyed "Smitten" and would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I will definitely be checking out more of Lauren Rowe's work in the future!

About "Smitten"

I met Alessandra at a party. Tried to impress her. Was almost positive I was going to fail.

I think I said something along the lines of, “I’m a Goat called Fish who’s hung like a bull—but not really. I’m actually pretty average.” Smooth. I know. Try not to be jealous.

When she laughed—and I mean, really laughed—I knew she wasn’t like the other girls I’d been meeting on tour. Hell, she wasn’t even in the same stratosphere as those fangirls and gold-diggers.

At one point during the party, Alessandra said, “There’s nothing like a girl’s first love.” I knew she was talking about the first smash hit by my band, 22 Goats. Alessandra said it was the first song she’d heard by us and it “hit her like a ton of bricks.” Ironic, seeing as how I was having the same reaction from being in her presence.

I made it my mission to impress her. Give her the kiss of a lifetime that night. But since I’ve always been the dude with zero game, nothing went according to plan.

I’m not giving up, though. I’m going to win this girl over. I’m done sitting on the sidelines, watching the bad boy getting the girl. This time, the nice guy will finish first. Even if it’s the last thing he’ll do.

Smitten is an all-new standalone friends to lovers romance!

My Review

Lauren Rowe's "Smitten" was a sweet, funny, joyful rock star romance featuring likeable characters and an engaging plot. It works well as a standalone despite being a spinoff of several of Rowe's earlier works, including the Reed Rivers trilogy and the Morgan Brothers series. I will say that trying to keep track of all of the secondary characters could be a challenge in the beginning for readers (like me) who are new to Rowe's work, but it gets much easier by the end of the book.

Main characters Alessandra and Fish (aka Matthew) were well-matched in that they were both sweet, quirky, and slightly awkward. It was almost impossible not to like Fish, who seemed as if he'd be the life of every party. Alessandra was quite likeable too, but she seemed very young, naive, and immature to me at first, which made sense given that she was only 19 when the story began. She certainly didn't seem ready to take on the music industry! She grew up quickly, however, and I liked that she didn't lose her enthusiasm and genuine love of music along the way.

My one (small) complaint about the book is that the relationship between Alessandra and Fish seemed almost too easy, and there was basically no conflict between them. I'm not a fan of creating drama for drama's sake, but I do like to see couples work together to solve problems and overcome obstacles. Things between Alessandra and Fish got a bit more interesting in the second half of the book when Fish started to realize how difficult it could be for them to juggle competing recording and touring schedules, but even that problem was solved relatively easily.

In addition to Fish and Alessandra, the book's secondary characters were a lot of fun and added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the story. I especially enjoyed Fish's friends Keane and Zander, who were very amusing but also provided Fish with some good advice on navigating his relationship with Alessandra. I will definitely be going back to read their stories as soon as I find the time!

Overall, I enjoyed "Smitten" and recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance or romantic comedy, especially those who enjoy rock star romances (though this story isn't as edgy as a lot of those books) or anyone who has any interest at all in songwriting or the music industry. The author actually wrote and produced her own songs to go along with the story, which was a very unique and creative touch. I look forward to checking out more of Lauren Rowe's work in the future.

*ARC provided by the author via Candi Kane PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Release Blitz + Review: "One Hot Italian Summer" by Karina Halle

I am delighted to participate in the release blitz celebrating the publication of Karina Halle's latest novel, "One Hot Italian Summer." I have been anxious to get my hands on this book ever since I first read the synopsis, and it turned out to be even better than I had hoped. This sweet, funny, and passionate story was the perfect summer read, and I loved escaping to Tuscany and falling in love alongside main characters Grace and Claudio.

A full review is included later in this post, but in short, I highly recommend "One Hot Italian Summer" for all fans of contemporary romance. I can't wait to see what Karina Halle writes next!

About "One Hot Italian Summer"

A writer looking for inspiration in Tuscany.
One hot Italian single dad.
This summer is going to be a scorcher.

One Hot Italian Summer by New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author, Karina Halle is now live!

After the death of her best friend and writing partner, Grace Harper is struggling both with grief, and with her next novel, the first one she’ll have to write alone.

Fortunately, her new powerhouse agent, the formidable Jana Lee, has a solution for her. She can stay at her villa in Tuscany for a month, soak in the sunshine, relax, and find her confidence again. After all, Jana has a lot riding on Grace’s next book, and the last thing she wants is for her reputation as a “super-agent” to be tarnished.

At first the villa is a dream come true for Grace – that is until Claudio Romano shows up one day with his ten-year old son, Vanni, in tow. Turns out, this is Claudio’s house, and Claudio happens to be her agent’s ex-husband from long ago. Thanks to their annual father and son bonding trip being cancelled, Claudio and Vanni are here to stay.

So is Grace.

With the three of them sharing the same house, Grace’s writing plans are thrown out the window. But even if she’s not pounding the keyboard, she’s still finding beauty and inspiration... in none other than Claudio. He's unlike any man Grace has met before. He’s smart, charming, and wickedly sexy, plus a great father to Vanni. He’d be the perfect summer fling – if only he wasn’t completely off-limits.

But as the hot Italian summer wears on, Grace and Claudio are destined to succumb to the heat, no matter how hard they try to resist each other. One steamy encounter with Claudio could affect Grace’s chances of starting her career over.

Or he could be exactly what she needs.

My Review

Karina Halle's "One Hot Italian Summer" was the perfect vacation escape read and I enjoyed it immensely. This sweet, funny, and passionate story featured incredibly likeable, three-dimensional characters and an engaging plot that kept me reading long past my bedtime. The book's setting in Tuscany was vividly captured on the page and it felt like I was right there with main characters Grace and Claudio. It was almost as good as actually vacationing in Italy (and considering our current circumstances under quarantine, I'll take whatever kind of vacation I can get, imaginary or otherwise).

The chemistry between Claudio and Grace was intense from their very first (awkward!) meeting, and the slow burn built from there until, finally, neither of them could deny their feelings for each other any longer. They truly seemed to bring out the best in each other, and it was very easy for me to cheer them on to their HEA despite the obstacles that stood in their way. I particularly loved the way that Grace seemed to blossom as she spent more time with Claudio and learned to cope without her longtime writing partner and friend, Robyn.

Claudio's precocious young son, Vanni, was an excellent secondary character who both made me laugh and fascinated me with his talk of science and time travel. The father-son relationship between Claudio and Vanni was very sweet, and I enjoyed the friendship Vanni and Grace developed along the way. I also enjoyed meeting Claudio's friend Lorenzo Ducati, the Calcio Storico player, and would love to see him get a story of his own in the future.

Overall, I adored "One Hot Italian Summer" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I can't wait to see what Karina Halle writes next!

*ARC provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Release Blitz + Review: "Knox" by Prescott Lane

I am thrilled to participate in the release blitz promoting Prescott Lane's latest novel, "Knox," book #1 of the Merrick Brothers series. It was the first book I've ever read by this author, but certainly won't be the last. This story gave me all the feels; it was sweet, funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure, and had some unexpected twists and turns that kept me glued to my Kindle and turning the pages well past my bedtime. I read most of the book in a single session because I absolutely had to know what was going to happen next!

A full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I adored "Knox" and highly recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series!

About "Knox"

From USA Today bestselling author Prescott Lane comes a standalone second-chance romance between a Hollywood heartthrob and the small-town girl he left behind…

Knox by Prescott Lane is now live!

Sexiest man alive, scene stealer, Hollywood headliner.

That's what the world calls him. I've got more colorful names for him, all of which would be bleeped out if I was on air doing my radio show. Even if he hadn't broken my heart, he would just be Knox to me. Not a famous movie star.

Just a boy.

The boy who grew to be my first love.

That is, until he ripped my heart out of my chest and stepped on it, live on the red carpet.

I thought that was all behind me. Until he decided to come waltzing back into my life. Granted, he looked hot as heck doing it, but that's neither here nor there.

He may have acted alongside some of Hollywood's hottest "it" girls, but being my leading man is a much harder part to win.

My Review

I adored "Knox" by Prescott Lane, a sweet, funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story with a healthy dose of steam between main characters Mae and Knox as well as several unexpected twists and turns that kept me glued to my Kindle and turning the pages long past my bedtime. I read most of this book in a single session because I absolutely had to know what was going to happen next!

The second chance element of this romance was particularly well-crafted, and I really appreciated that Mae gave Knox a hard time at first, forcing him to explain exactly what went wrong between them when they were younger and work to earn her forgiveness and trust. Knox wasn't afraid to fight for his second chance, however, and I loved the way he used the cassette recordings they exchanged as kids in his campaign to win her back. I also loved how hard he tried to protect Mae when their relationship went public in a way that neither of them had planned. The media attention was a huge obstacle for them to overcome, and I honestly wasn't sure how they would get past it at times. I was really happy that they managed to come up with a plan that worked for them in the end.

In addition to Knox and Mae, I really enjoyed the book's supporting characters, who added a lot of depth, humor, and heart to the narrative. Mae's grandmother Imogen (aka Gigi) and best friend Everly were especially wonderful, and I was very intrigued by what we learned about Knox's older brother Ryder. I can't wait to get my hands on Ryder's story next!

Overall, I highly recommend "Knox" for all fans of contemporary romance. I will definitely be checking out more of Prescott Lane's work in the future.

*ARC provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour + Review: "One Little Dare" by Whitney Barbetti

I am super excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "One Little Dare" by Whitney Barbetti. This book is apparently the third in a series, but I didn't realize that until after I had finished it and got to the sample chapters included at the end, so I would say that it reads as a complete standalone. ;-) Based on how much I enjoyed this one, I will certainly be going back to read the first two books (One Little Lie and One Big Mistake) as soon as I find the time.

This book was not at all what I was expecting it to be, in the best of ways. While it was just as sweet and funny as the synopsis promised, it also addressed some serious topics, and I had all the feels by the time I got to the end. I highly recommend "One Little Dare" for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy and will be watching to see what Whitney Barbetti writes next!

About "One Little Dare"

Truth or dare? I always choose a dare. And no matter the dare, I always follow through.

Even if it means walking down a busy street in my bathrobe and hair curlers.

Or recreating that iconic When Harry Met Sally deli scene while on a crowded subway.

Or hitting on a handsome stranger in a bar.

And then … marrying that stranger. While in Vegas.

But the one thing I’m not supposed to do is fall in love with this man.

That wasn’t part of the dare.

Only my heart never got that memo.

My Review

"One Little Dare" by Whitney Barbetti was a sweet, funny, and heartwarming story that managed to address several serious topics with delicacy and humor. Main characters Tori and Liam were both incredibly likeable and well-developed, and I found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA. Tori was quite impulsive at times, but her kind and caring nature was apparent, and I loved that she always stood up for her family and friends. Liam was her opposite in a lot of ways, but spending time with Tori and his old friends over the course of the story really brought out his fun side. Liam and Tori were a great match because he grounded her and helped rein in some of her more impulsive tendencies, while she reminded him that it was OK to take risks and have fun sometimes.

The attraction between Tori and Liam was obvious from the start, but it never felt like insta-lust or insta-love to me. Surprisingly, since this is an "accidentally married in Vegas" book, it ended up being kind of a slow burn; there were a couple of passionate kisses but nothing more than that until about two-thirds of the way through the book. The entire story took place in about a week, but Liam and Tori were together almost constantly during that time, so it was kind of like a road trip or similar forced proximity story because they were able to get to know each other very quickly. When they said they loved each other at the end of the book, I believed it because they had already learned so much about each other, including secrets from their pasts that neither had shared with anyone before.

Overall, I loved "One Little Dare" and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I will definitely be reading more books by Whitney Barbetti in the future!

*ARC provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour + Review: "The What If Guy" by Lauren Blakely

I am thrilled to participate in the blog tour celebrating the publication of Lauren Blakely's latest novel, "The What If Guy," book #2 in the Guys Who Got Away series. Lauren Blakely never disappoints when I need a funny, sweet, steamy read, and "The What If Guy" definitely fit the bill. The banter between main characters Bryn and Logan was terrific, and I laughed out loud at the quirky and unexpected addition of chapters narrated by their cats. I highly recommend this charming story for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy and can't wait to see what Blakely comes up with next!

About "The What If Guy"

A sexy standalone romance with a single dad you'll fall hard for!

It should be an easy rule to follow - don't bang your boss...

But I didn't know who he was when I met him.

And the first time I saw him, our connection sounded like the stuff of romantic legends -- that whole "their eyes locked across a crowded room" moment that turned into more. I didn't believe it. . . . until it happened to me.

Fine, the charming, clever, sexy-as-sin guy in the tailored suit was only trying to buy the same Snoopy lunchbox (as a gift!), but still, our eyes totally locked, and my lady parts definitely tingled as we vied for the prize.

Naturally, I did what any badass business woman would do. Negotiated for the lunchbox, then found my what-if guy online and made plans to see him the next night.

One night only -- that was the deal we made.

But one fantastic night had us both changing our minds in the morning. And making plans for another.

Until I walked into the office to learn he just bought my company.

And here's the biggest rule of romantic legends -- no matter what, don't bang your boss.

Especially if you're already falling for him.

THE WHAT IF GUY is a sexy standalone you can escape into! The other standalone romances in The Guys Who Got Away series include DEAR SEXY EX-BOYFRIEND and THANKS FOR LAST NIGHT.

My Review

I loved "The What If Guy" by Lauren Blakely, a funny, sweet, and charming story with some definite heat and fantastic banter between main characters Bryn and Logan. I especially enjoyed the unexpectedly quirky addition of chapters narrated by their cats, which made me laugh out loud and ended up being some of my favorite parts of the book.

It was easy for me to empathize with the dilemma Logan and Bryn faced in regards to dating after they learned that they would be working together. It's sad but true that Bryn would have been judged more harshly than Logan for the relationship simply because she was female, so IMO her fears regarding going public were completely justified. However, I really appreciated that the topic was addressed and that Bryn and Logan made the effort to go about things the right way rather than sneaking around and hoping for the best.

In addition to the central romance between Bryn and Logan, it was great to catch up with Logan's twin sister Summer and her fiance, Logan's best friend Oliver, as well as their mutual friend Fitz. Pro hockey player Fitz is such a charming rogue and I can't wait to read his story in just a few weeks!

Overall, "The What If Guy" was yet another wonderful read from Lauren Blakely, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

*ARC provided by the author via Candi Kane PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Re-Release Blitz + Review: "Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy" by Abigail Sharpe

I am happy to participate in today's re-release blitz celebrating "Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy" by Abigail Sharpe, book #1 of the Love Match series. (This book was previously published in 2013 as volume one of the With This Ring series.) I don't watch reality TV shows like "The Bachelor," but even so, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the thought of that type of competition taking place in real life on a Wyoming ranch. The story certainly didn't disappoint, delivering plenty of drama with a group of catty women alongside a sweet, heartfelt romance between main characters Riley Pommer and Ainsley Fairfax.

I always love a grumpy hero, and male lead Riley was an excellent example of that archetype. He had plenty of reasons to be grouchy, most notably the fact that his younger siblings had forced him into participating in a singles event for "market research" while they were all still grieving the recent, tragic death of their father. Riley was something of a loner and had never planned to marry due to lingering trust issues from his mother's abandonment of their family years earlier. Even so, he was unwillingly drawn to one of the "contestants," Ainsley, who had taken her sister's place on the ranch in an attempt to avoid their overbearing mother's efforts to manipulate her into marrying a family friend. Both Riley and Ainsley had a number of issues to work through before they were ready for a long-term relationship, and they also had to deal with the interference of Ainsley's fellow "contestants" as well as their own families. However, it was very easy for me to root for them to overcome those obstacles and end up together.

In addition to the central romance between Ainsley and Riley, there were a couple of cute secondary romances between Ainsley's roommate Meagan and the ranch foreman, Cookie, and Ainsley's sister Cecelia and her erstwhile suitor, Edward. Cecelia and Edward's relationship was a bit frustrating at times because it wasn't clear why Edward was so desperate to please Ainsley and Cecelia's mother, or if he would ever get over his fear of marrying for love and admit that he and Cecelia belonged together. When he finally got his act together, Edward turned out to be a pretty likeable guy, and I appreciated his efforts to run interference with Ainsley's mother so that she could work things out with Riley.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy" and would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, cowboys, or Bachelor-style reality TV competitions. I hope that there will be more books in this series for Riley's siblings!

*ARC provided by the author via L. Woods PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

About "Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy"

Hardworking and seriously single, there's nothing Riley Pommer wouldn't do for his family. So when his sisters concoct a crazy plan to save the family ranch, the hunky cowboy reluctantly lets them turn his homestead into the site of a dating competition. As Crescent Ridge is invaded by beautiful women vying for the top prize -- him -- Riley still isn't interested in being roped into a relationship. But when he meets the spirited and intriguing Ainsley, partnering up no longer seems pointless.

Between her business and her meddling mother, Ainsley Fairfax desperately needs to get away, and her only immediate choice is standing in for her sister in a bachelorette competition on a far away ranch. Determined not to win the grand prize cowboy at any cost, she sets out to forget her troubles and relax on Crescent Ridge. But when her path finally crosses with rugged Riley's, Ainsley finds herself heating up rather than cooling down.

With instant chemistry that sizzles, Riley and Ainsley can't help falling for one another. But as the other competitors stampede through their lives, are Riley and Ainsley destined to find their hearts trampled by the very same game that brought them together?

Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy is a hot and sexy standalone romance and book one in the Love Match Series. It was previously published as volume one in the With This Ring Series by Forever Yours.

Release Blitz + Review: "The Girl Next Door" by Emma Hart

Congratulations to author Emma Hart on the release of her latest romantic comedy, "The Girl Next Door." I'm a big fan of the friends-to-lovers and fake relationship tropes, and they were both well-represented in this cute, sweet, and funny story. Main characters Kai and Ivy were likeable and well-developed, and I loved their witty banter as they got to know each other better while also dealing with an unexpected pregnancy.

A full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I recommend "The Girl Next Door" for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. Also, be sure to one-click the free prequel, "The One-Night Stand Next Door," the perfect short, sweet, and steamy introduction to Kai and Ivy's story.

About "The Girl Next Door"

One accidental pregnancy. One fake husband. What can go wrong?

There’s nothing like starting your Monday morning with a positive pregnancy test.

Trust me, I know. Because I’m looking at one right now.

All I can think is: Oh, hell. My grandmother is going to kill me.

This might just send her to an early grave, so there’s only one option—pretending the father is my new husband.

If only he’d agree to fake it.

Kai Connors was supposed to be nothing more than a one-night stand. A long, dirty, one-night stand fueled by one too many tequila shots, where the only promise was to never speak of it again.

But if my unfairly sexy next-door neighbor gets his way, this fake marriage could turn out to be very, very real…

My Review

I enjoyed "The Girl Next Door" by Emma Hart, a cute, sweet, and funny story featuring an accidental pregnancy, a fake marriage, and a well-crafted friends-to-lovers romance. Main characters Ivy and Kai were both very likeable, and I was impressed at how well they reacted to the news of their unexpected bundle of joy. Kai was so sweet and supportive of Ivy, and I especially appreciated his willingness to indulge her frequent need for ice cream! I also loved Ivy and Kai's amusing conversations and banter as they got to know each other better and tried to navigate the complexities of their new relationship.

That said, I did feel that the story's ending was rather abrupt, and things didn't seem like they were entirely settled between Ivy and Kai. During their last conversation on the topic, Ivy still seemed to be having doubts about whether her feelings for Kai were real or only a result of pregnancy hormones. I wish that there had been one final conversation in which Ivy clarified her feelings for Kai before the end of the book.

Aside from that minor point, "The Girl Next Door" was a fun, enjoyable read containing wonderful characters and plenty of laughs. I recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy, and can't wait to see what Emma Hart writes next!

*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Hate Thy Neighbor" by S.M. Soto

Today, I am thrilled to participate in the blog tour celebrating the publication of "Hate Thy Neighbor" by S.M. Soto. I expected to enjoy this book based solely on the synopsis, but it ended up being an incredibly funny, sweet, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story that I absolutely loved. There were some plot twists I didn't see coming plus major heat between main characters Roman and Olivia, which combined for a very compelling read that kept me up well past my bedtime. I couldn't wait to know what was going to happen next!

A full review is included later in this post, but in short, I highly recommend "Hate Thy Neighbor" for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for S.M. Soto's next book.

About "Hate Thy Neighbor"

Hate Thy Neighbor, a sexy and LOL enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy from S.M. Soto, is available now!

Fresh out of a failed engagement, Olivia Hales is in dire need of a fresh start. Tired of being the charming and accommodating girl that always gets stomped on, she’s determined to change her outlook on life.

When she finds her dream job in a small town in California, she thinks she’s finally found her place in life. That is, until she meets her new neighbor.

Roman Banks.
Moody. Foul-mouthed. Jerk.
And the hottest man on the planet.

At a sprawling six foot five, he was coldly distant and physically intimidating. Not only was her new neighbor a God that was good with his hands, he was also a grade-A jerk. Trapped on the same street, sharing the same space together, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous, never-ending game of insults and pranks that result in the destruction of two perfectly good homes.

The tension between them is as thick as the walls of their houses are thin. Roman’s touch burned like fire even when his words were ice, and both of them will stop at nothing to make the others life hell.

In the midst of the pranks and the hate they harbor for each other, Olivia slowly pulls back the layers of the man next door and finds herself consumed with wanting to fix him and his past. When both enemies start to catch feelings for each other, Olivia finds herself hiding her own secrets, not wanting to lose another man in her life.

Lines are drawn. Strict rules put into place. But that doesn’t stop Olivia from wanting to save the quiet, broody man next door.

They say you’re supposed to love thy neighbor, but that was the furthest emotion she felt when thinking about Roman. Hate was all there was to their relationship. At the very least, that’s what she tried to tell herself.

Hate Thy Neighbor is a full length enemies to lovers standalone.

Read an Excerpt from "Hate Thy Neighbor"

I hear a soft pop behind me, and when I turn, I find Olivia sitting cross-legged on her couch, watching me closely, with a lollipop hanging out of her mouth. A smirk tips the corners of her lips.

“A girl can get used to this.”

“To what exactly?”

“A hot guy in the middle of her living room, putting back the pieces of her miserable life together.”

Closing the distance between us, I stare down at her fixated on the way the stick of the lollipop juts out between those pink bee-stung lips. Gripping the end that’s hanging out of her mouth, I tug, and she lets go with a pop that goes straight to my groin. Taking the lollipop, I put it into my mouth, and her mouth drops open, her eyes heating with desire.

“About that bed.”

She licks her lips, pushing to her feet. “Oh, that’s right. What was it you mentioned earlier? You’ve been waiting to fuck me there?”

Christ in heaven.

My cock goes from half-mast to hard as a fucking rock at her words.

That mouth will be the death of me.

Knowing the effect she’s having on me, Olivia smiles. It’s downright sexy and full of seduction. Tugging my hand in hers, she pulls me along after her, leading the way to her bedroom.

With slow, methodical movements, she strips her shirt off over her head, leaving her in a sports bra. I drop down onto my haunches beside her on the bed, resting my hands on her hips. I hear her sharp intake of breath, as I begin tugging her bottoms down her legs. She bares her center for me, and I groan when I get a closer look at her pussy. Back at the garage, everything was fast and hot, but here, I want to take my time with her.

“You stole my lollipop,” she whispers, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth, nibbling on it.

“I wanted to taste you.”

Her brows dip. “And you thought that was best done with a lollipop?” I hear the amusement in her voice. That’s what makes what I’m about to do next so damn perfect.

“I can show you much better than I can tell you, Sunshine.” Taking the lollipop, I drag the sticky ball of sugar down her stomach and pause just over her pubic bone. She gasps, and when I glance up at her, I see the knowing gleam in her eyes.

Taking the candy, I swirl it around her clit, enjoying the way she squirms on the bed. The way her hips ride off the sheets and she moans, begging for more. I apply more pressure, swirling through her folds, and then I pause at her entrance.

“You like that, Olivia?”

“Y-yes,” she pants.

As I slide the sucker inside her, she groans, drawing a deep chuckle from my chest. “I thought so.”

I fuck her slowly, sliding the lollipop in and out, watching the way her walls grip the candy, the way she glistens and drips. With one last stroke, I pull it out and slide the lollipop over my tongue, tasting her.

Her eyes slam shut, and she tosses her head back onto the sheets.

My Review

"Hate Thy Neighbor" by S.M. Soto was an incredibly funny, sweet, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story that I absolutely loved. I'm generally a fan of grumpy heroes, but the male lead character of this book, Roman, took grumpy to a whole new level. It was a lot of fun for me to try and figure out why he was so awful to the female lead, Olivia, at first when he was supposedly such a gentleman with everyone else. Learning the truth of Roman's past broke my heart, but at the same time it made me admire him for trying so hard to do better for his little brother, Ryder. Roman's hard work and dedication to bringing Ryder home was amazing.

Olivia was also pretty amazing and ended up being the perfect match for Roman despite their rocky start. I especially appreciated her determination to be independent and how much pride she took in her home even though there was still so much work to be done. The one thing I didn't love about her was her tendency to bury her head in the sand when it came to her health. I completely related to Olivia's point of view and desire not to be defined by a medical condition, but at the same time thought she could have done a better job of acknowledging the issue and taking the proper steps to address it.

The chemistry between Roman and Olivia was intense from the very beginning, and they were drawn together time and time again no matter how much they tried to resist (not to mention how many juvenile, though funny, pranks they pulled on each other). I adored the slow burn of their relationship development and couldn't wait for them to finally stop fighting and act on their feelings. When they did, it was totally worth the wait.

Overall, "Hate Thy Neighbor" was a fantastic read and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for S.M. Soto's next book.

*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Hairpin Curves" by Elia Winters

I am excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Hairpin Curves" by Elia Winters today. This lighthearted and fun road trip/forced proximity romance featured well-developed, likeable characters and a story that, while sweet, definitely had some heat to it.

When former childhood friends Megan and Scarlett set out on an epic road trip from Florida to Quebec to attend a third friend's wedding, there was quite a bit of awkwardness between them, but also an undercurrent of attraction that was tough to ignore. As they got further into the trip and began to understand more about why their friendship fell apart when they left for college, they finally started to open up and have fun with each other again. It soon became clear how well they complemented each other both as friends and as a couple; Scarlett was very outgoing and impulsive, while Megan was more thoughtful and methodical. They had a number of issues to work through but I thought that their relationship developed at just the right pace, and I appreciated how supportive they were of each other, particularly when it came to Scarlett's insecurities regarding her intelligence and Megan's insecurities about her appearance.

Overall, I enjoyed "Hairpin Curves" and recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance, especially my fellow fans of road trip romances. I would read more of this author's work in the future.

*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

About "Hairpin Curves"

Megan Harris had hopes of seeing the world, but at twenty-five she’s never even left Florida. Now a wedding invitation lures her to Quebec…in February. When her ex-friend Scarlett offers to be her plus-one (yeah, that’s a whole story) and suggests they turn the journey into an epic road trip, Megan reluctantly agrees to the biggest adventure of her life.

A week together in a car is a surefire way to kill a crush, and Scarlett Andrews has had a big one on Megan for years. The important thing is fixing their friendship.

As the miles roll away, what starts as harmless road-trip games and rest-stop dares escalates into something like intimacy. And when a surprise snowstorm forces Megan and Scarlett to hunker down without the open road as distraction, they’ve got a bigger challenge than making it to the church on time: facing the true nature of their feelings for each other.

Read an Excerpt from "Hairpin Curves"

Megan hadn’t brought a lot of clothing on this trip, anticipating getting to do laundry at some hotel along the way, but she had a couple of nice outfits in addition to the dress she planned to wear for the wedding. She selected an emerald green sweater dress from her suitcase. She was normally more of a jeans kind of girl, but this dress made her feel cute, and it felt very Nashville when she paired it with some knee-high boots. She gathered up her clothes and undergarments and headed for the bathroom.

When she left the bathroom, Scarlett was pinning up her curls into two buns up near the top of her head. It was one of the cutest hairstyles she wore, and one that always made Megan wish for something other than her own super-straight brown hair. Scarlett looked away from her hair when Megan entered the room, her gaze skimming down Megan’s body in a way that made Megan burn up inside.

Before Scarlett could say something, whether it was going to be a compliment or not, Megan blurted out, “I don’t know what to do with my hair.”

Scarlett tapped her lips, studying her like she was an interesting painting. “You want me to curl it?” Scarlett asked.

“My hair doesn’t curl.” Megan had never had any luck with that. “It’s too fine.”

Scarlett tucked the final bobby pin into her own style and walked over to Megan, running her hand through Megan’s hair. The contact sent a chill all down Megan’s spine. Oh, she wanted Scarlett to keep touching her like that.

“It’s pretty fine.” Scarlett gathered up a bunch of Megan’s hair in her hands. Megan shivered. Hopefully Scarlett wouldn’t notice the shiver. “It would curl if you didn’t wash it so much. You need it to get dirty.”

Megan laughed, and it sounded breathless coming out. “I don’t really do dirty.”

Scarlett still had the hold on her hair, and she tipped Megan’s head back to look at her. “You sure about that?”

The unspoken after last night hung in the air between them. Megan sucked in a breath, her lips parting, and their gazes locked. Then it was like Scarlett had suddenly realized what she said, and she slid her hands out of Megan’s hair and backed away. “Your hair is cute just like it is. You don’t need to do anything to it.” She turned toward the mirror again and fumbled with her makeup bag. Was it Megan’s imagination, or were Scarlett’s hands shaking? “You, uh, ever think about cutting it?” Scarlett asked.

Megan was still rattled and warm all over. It took her a moment to process Scarlett’s words. “Oh. Yeah, actually. Sometimes I think about a pixie cut. Cutting all of it off. But I get nervous.”

“It’s a big step. But you’ve got the perfect heart-shaped face for it.” Scarlett glanced over, then back at the mirror. “If you ever want to do it, there’s probably a million great salons along our road trip. Could be a fun change. And it grows back.”

She was talking fast. Megan was having a hard time thinking. “Yeah. Maybe. I’ll…do my makeup.”

She had the new makeup from Sephora to try, and while it wasn’t her area of expertise, she put together what she hoped was a good look—not super fancy, but she didn’t end up looking like a clown, either. When she returned from the bathroom, Scarlett was done.

“What about lipstick?” Scarlett asked.

“I’m wearing some.” Megan resisted the urge to touch her lips in reflex.

Scarlett frowned. “Nude?”

“It’s light pink.”

“You need a bold lip. Something really red. It would bring the whole look together.”

“I don’t have anything really red.” Megan stuck with all light pinks whenever she got makeup, which wasn’t very often. Red was showy and ostentatious, and she wasn’t the type of person to try to get noticed.

Scarlett rummaged in her bag and pulled out a lipstick. “Here. Let me.” She touched Megan’s chin, gently tilting her head back, and then began to apply the lipstick with focused precision. Megan tried not to shiver as Scarlett held her face perfectly still, her attention locked onto Megan’s lips. When she finished, they held that pose, and desire flared up in Megan like a flashover. She wanted to lean forward and ruin that perfect lipstick against Scarlett’s berry-red mouth.

About the Author

RITA™ Award-winning author Elia Winters is a fat, tattooed, polyamorous bisexual who loves petting cats and fighting the patriarchy. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and teaches at a small rural high school, where she also runs the drama club. In her spare time, she is equally likely to be found playing tabletop games, kneading bread, cross-stitching, or binge-watching Marie Kondo. A sex educator and kink-positive feminist, Elia reviews sex toys, speaks at kink conventions, and writes geeky, kinky, cozy erotic romance. She currently lives in western Massachusetts with her loving husband and their weird pets.