Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Play Smart" by Aly Stiles

I'm excited to take part in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Play Smart" by Aly Stiles, book #5 of the multi-author Work For It series published by Smartypants Romance. It works well as a standalone, though characters from the first book of the series make cameo appearances in this one.

 

Paige Andrews wants to be the CEO of a multi-million dollar company someday, and the first step on that path is beating out her fellow intern, Nash Ellis, for a permanent position with Reedweather Media. The truth is that Nash couldn't be less interested in the job, but he does need the cash. His apparent lack of motivation drives Paige crazy, but she can't help but think there's more to him than meets the eye. Her suspicions are confirmed when they're forced into working together on a project that utilizes Nash's talents as a musician. After that, it won't be long until Nash starts to drive Paige crazy in an entirely different way...

There was plenty of chemistry between Paige and Nash, and I knew that it was only a matter of time before it was going to ignite. That said, the shift from enemies to lovers happened a bit too fast for my tastes. All it seemed to take was Nash being nice to Paige's brother Val (and showing off his tattoo along with his sexy back and abs) for her to suddenly decide that she was in love with him. Aside from that, there was a lot to like about this story. The scenes with wacky Chad and his Mer-Nuts (mermaid peanuts) were consistently hilarious, and I enjoyed the continuation of the corporate espionage plot from the previous book (though IMO some of their antics seemed a bit far-fetched and juvenile). There was also a fair amount of angst related to Nash's past, but I thought it was handled well. He was a nice guy even if he didn't realize it, and the way he took Paige's brother Val under his wing was very sweet.

Despite a few (relatively minor) frustrations, I'd recommend "Play Smart" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to whatever Aly Stiles writes next. 

*Review copy provided by Smartypants Romance. All opinions expressed are my own.  

 

About "Play Smart"

Nash Ellis knows music. Producing, performing, writing—if it involves the creative process he’s there for it. He knows nothing about copy machines. Or financial reports. Or anything related to the stuck-up business world his best friends have been chasing since they were kids. But Nash also needs money, so when his roommate gets him a paid internship at Reedweather Media, he reluctantly agrees. At least his know-it-all intern competitor is kind of cute in a nerdy-librarian sort of way—especially when she’s being tormented by an angsty rocker she can’t stand.

The only thing Paige Andrews hates more than failure? Nash Ellis. She has little patience for incompetence and zero tolerance for indifference. He clearly doesn’t belong in their corporate world, so why does he insist on ruining her dream job? And the worst part—he’s not what he seems. In fact, it’s all the things he’s hiding behind those electric blue eyes that make him straight-up captivating in an ironic-slacker sort of way.

But their smoldering friction bursts into open flames when the feuding interns are forced into a high-stakes mission that requires intimate knowledge of the music industry. Yep, what could go wrong when the least-qualified candidate to ever walk the halls of a major corporation becomes their only hope of success?

'Play Smart' is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #5 in the Work For It series, Educated Romance World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Play Smart"

Turning around, he stops in his tracks when he sees me. His face falls, and I don’t know how to read the mix of emotions that filters over him. He clearly doesn’t know what to do next, so I close the gap and grab his wrist.

“Let’s dance,” I say.

“What?”

“Dancing.” I wave behind me at the sea of bodies demonstrating this ancient ritual.

“You… wait. You want to dance with me? You’ve been turning me down all night.”

I nod. “Yes. Because I don’t dance.”

“But you do now?”

“No.”

“I don’t understand. What’s changed?”

“My internal—and a few external—organs.”

“Huh?”

His brow scrunches, and I notice for the first time how much I like the image of his silver piercing when he does that. I reach up and brush my finger near it, then let my touch drift down the side of his face. My gaze settles on his lips and a sharp wave of desire surges through me.

“I turned you down because you’re extremely attractive tonight,” I explain. “Dangerously so.”

“Wait, you’ve been turning me down because you wanted me too much?”

I nod again, forcing my attention back to his entrancing gaze. “Yes, and since we agreed we can’t have what we want, it felt like a terrible idea to indulge in a sample of the forbidden fruit.”

His confusion morphs into amusement. “Do you always have to say stuff in the weirdest way possible?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Do you always have to be a jerk when I’m trying to be nice?”

“This is you being nice?” 

 

Review: "Big Duke Energy" by Emma Hart

Congratulations to Emma Hart on the release of her latest novel, "Big Duke Energy."

 

Struggling with a case of writer's block as her deadline draws ever closer, romance writer Ellie Aarons decides to take her best friend's advice and get away for a while. She packs up her ill-tempered cat, Sir Winston Purrchill, and leaves London for Greygarth Lodge, a rental property in the Lake District owned by Max, the Duke of Windermere. Grumpy Max isn't exactly welcoming of his new tenant, but his eccentric grandmother, Esme, immediately takes Ellie under her wing. She seems determined to push the two of them into being friends, if not something more, even though Max has made it clear that he has no intention of ever getting married or starting a family. However, when he accidentally finds out that he's the inspiration for Ellie's latest hero, he can't stop himself from offering to help her with "research" for the book. If his grandmother happens to think that they've actually started dating, so much the better. It's not long before spending time with Ellie (and Winston) becomes the best part of Max's day, but he's sure that he can't be the man to give her the life she wants. Can he find a way to overcome the baggage of his past before he loses Ellie for good?

Max and Ellie's banter was absolutely the highlight of this book for me. I loved the way her mind worked and that she was so quick to respond with a witty, teasing remark. On the other side of the emotional spectrum, Max's backstory was heartbreaking, but it perfectly explained his decision to forego marriage and children. It took him some time to come to terms with everything, but I appreciated that he took ownership of his issues and admitted that he needed help working through them. Meeting Ellie was the catalyst he needed to make positive changes in his life, and I was rooting for him (and their relationship) the whole way.

 

I've said it before, but it's worth saying again how much I love Hart's ability to create lovable, quirky secondary characters, and the ones in this book were no exception. My favorite was Max's delightful grandmother Esme, who kept me laughing from the first time she appeared on the page.

Overall, "Big Duke Energy" gave me all the feels, and I completely adored it. I highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. Hart really has been at her best with these last few books set in the world of the British aristocracy, and I can't wait to find out what she comes up with next. 

 

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

 

About "Big Duke Energy"

When bestselling romance author Ellie Aarons finds herself with chronic writer’s block, she’s pretty sure all she needs is a change of scenery. A beautiful lakeside cottage with her cat seems like a good idea.
She’s wrong. She needs more than a change of scenery—she needs a muse.
Which is why it’s so irritating that she’s drawn to the enigmatic but grumpy Duke of Windermere who owns the estate she’s staying on.
They don’t get along—not in the slightest. They could not be more different, which is why it’s so irritating that Max seems to be the muse she’s been looking for. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t help but picture him as the hero in her next book.
Oh, well. There’s really not a lot she can do about it. The muse wants what the muse wants.
Except Sir Winston Purrchill keeps exploring the goat barn, and Max’s delivery of him for the fiftieth time means he sees her manuscript open on her laptop.
He knows instantly that she’s writing about him. The story she’s written reflects their entire relationship until now, but that spicy scene?
That hasn’t happened. Yet.
Max is ready to compromise—he’ll give her the inspiration she needs for her novel, but she has to stop asking why he’s so against the relationship his grandmother desperately wants him to have.
With her deadline looming, Ellie has no other option but to agree.
She just hopes that she won’t do what her heroine is doing.
And fall in love with the duke.

 

Review: "All Is Fair In Food And War" by Samantha Baca

All Is Fair In Food And War by Samantha Baca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ever since they met a few months ago when he started parking his food truck outside the upscale Seattle restaurant where she works, Miles Sexton has made no secret of his interest in executive chef Kat Elliott. Something about him reminds her of her deceitful ex-fiance, however, so she's turned him down every time he's asked her out. He finally decides to try getting her attention in a different way: by challenging her to a friendly cook-off. If he wins, Kat must agree to go on a date with him, but if he loses, Miles will never ask her out again. The stakes get higher when Kat's boss finds out about the competition, offering to host it at the restaurant with local celebrities, including Kat's personal cooking idol, acting as judges. With Miles working in the restaurant's kitchen every day to get ready for the competition, Kat can't help getting to know him better, and the slowly simmering attraction between them begins to heat up. Could Kat have been wrong about Miles all along?

Miles really was a good guy, and it's a shame that Kat didn't get to see that side of him at first. I loved his efforts to help the homeless, which he did partially to honor his late father but also because it was just the right thing to do. He had incredible chemistry with Kat, and it was a lot of fun to cheer them on to their HEA. Also, all of their talk about food and cooking made me HUNGRY and everything they made sounded delicious! I'd like to volunteer as a judge for their next friendly competition so that I can sample some of it. ;-)

I very much enjoyed "All Is Fair in Food and War" and recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to Samantha Baca's next release.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Simply Mine" by Laura Pavlov

I'm thrilled to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Simply Mine" by Laura Pavlov, book #4 of the Honey Mountain series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

Kindergarten teacher Charlotte Thomas has had a crush on her best friend Jilly's older brother, architect Ledger Dane, for as long as she can remember. They've even had a few secret hookups over the years, but those never led to anything serious. Working together as the maid of honor and best man for Jilly's upcoming wedding prompts them to renew their old friendship, and Charlotte quickly realizes that her feelings for Ledger have never gone away. He seems to be equally drawn to her, so she proposes a secret fling that will end when he goes back to the city after the wedding. After all, they want different things; Charlotte is looking for marriage and family, while Ledger has sworn off serious relationships after witnessing the implosion of his parents' marriage when he was a teenager. The problem is that neither realizes how difficult it will be to say goodbye when the time comes for Ledger to leave.

 

I loved how flirty and cute Ledger and Charlotte were with each other. In comparison to her sisters, Charlotte has always seemed like the quintessential "good girl" to me, so it was a lot of fun getting to know the more naughty, playful side that came out when she was with Ledger. There were a few obstacles that stood in the way of their relationship, but the biggest one was Ledger's baggage related to his father and the collapse of his parents' marriage. His father was a real piece of work, and I couldn't help but empathize with everything he put Ledger through over the years. Thankfully he had his grandmother, a retired therapist, to help him work through those issues and realize what he had with Charlotte before it was too late.
 

I highly recommend "Simply Mine" for all contemporary romance fans and can't wait for the next book in the series, featuring Charlotte's twin sister Dylan.

 

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

 

About "Simply Mine"

She’s looking for Mr. Right. I can offer her Mr. Right Now.
That’s my specialty.

He’s my best friend’s older brother.
He was also my teenage crush and completely out of reach.
But we had our secrets—moments that nobody knew about.
I’d tucked them away in a safe place, and that’s where I’d planned to keep them.
He’d moved to the city, and I’d moved on.
But now he was back in Honey Mountain for a few weeks.
And he’d found endless reasons to spend time with me.
What started out as rekindling our friendship turned into a different kind of… stroking the fire.
No pun intended.
It was temporary.
Just another secret that we’d keep between us.
Ledger Dane came with an expiration date.
He’d always been one foot out the door.
Why would this time be any different?

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Scoring Chance" by Teagan Hunter

I'm delighted to participate in the release blitz promoting "Scoring Chance" by Teagan Hunter, book #5 of the Carolina Comets series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

 

Scout Thomas has secretly had a crush on professional hockey player Grady Miller ever since he started dropping by her donut food truck with his teammates, so it's pretty embarrassing for her when they come face-to-face at a party and he doesn't recognize her at first. Miller feels terrible and tries for weeks to apologize, but Scout's a tough nut to crack. He eventually wears her down and she accepts his apology, but rejects his overtures of friendship. Miller pledges to come back every day until Scout agrees to be his friend. The more time they spend together, the more his feelings for her grow, and he begins to wonder if she's the woman he's been waiting for all along. But will it be game over for Miller when Scout learns that the supposed serial dater is actually a virgin?

I loved the chemistry and banter between Scout and Miller as well as how hard she made him work to earn her forgiveness after he messed up with her at the party. He's reminded me a bit of a puppy ever since the beginning of the series, and his behavior towards Scout only reinforced that impression. That's not a bad thing, however; it showcased his natural sweetness and turned him into totally swoon-worthy book boyfriend material. As for Scout, I couldn't help relating with her in a lot of respects, but particularly when it came to her discomfort with her appearance. I related SO HARD when she was trying on dresses for the charity gala and thinking about how she "didn't have the arms" for strapless. That exact thought has gone through my mind more than once. Miller's efforts to help her see how beautiful she was through his eyes were so sweet and just made me love him more.

As in the previous books of this series, the secondary characters were fantastic and added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the story. I particularly enjoyed Scout's hockey-loving niece Macie, who was adorably sassy with Miller and his teammates. The adversarial relationship between Macie's mom, Scout's older sister Stevie, and Miller's teammate Greer was also intriguing. I have a sneaking suspicion that we're going to see more of those two in the next book.

Overall, I loved this funny, sweet story and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary/sports romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to the next book in the series.

 

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

 

 

About "Scoring Chance"

Scoring on the ice? Piece of cake.
Scoring off it? Well, there's a reason I'm still a virgin.

I'm not entirely clueless with women, though I do tend to put my foot in my mouth around them far too often.

Like I did with Scout, the donut maker I stupidly introduced myself to despite visiting her truck for years.

Maybe my teammates have a reason to call me the dumb one, but I'm determined to prove them all wrong—Scout included.

I want to be her friend. Want her to see the real me.

What I'm not expecting is to like her so much when we start spending time together...or want to kiss her so badly.

I'm the jock, and she's the bookworm.
On paper, we make no sense together.

But maybe I have a scoring chance with her after all. 

 

Review: "Sideline Infraction" by Emily Silver

Sideline Infraction by Emily Silver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With his best friends and teammates all starting to pair off, Alex Young, star quarterback of the Denver Mountain Lions, sometimes wishes he could find love himself. He's afraid to risk losing his career by revealing to the world that he's gay, however, so he limits himself to anonymous off-season hookups. Everything changes when Alex meets high school math and statistics teacher Carter Brooks, son of the Mountain Lions' head coach. Looking for a way to help his students understand the real-world applications of statistics, he comes up with a project involving football and arranges for his class to meet with his father's team. After a bad experience when he was in high school, Carter never expects to find himself attracted to one of the players, but he can't help being smitten with Alex. The connection between them quickly grows, but when Carter finds out that he's still in the closet, will Alex be forced to choose between his football career and the man he loves?

I really enjoyed Alex and Carter's story. Their banter was a ton of fun and I loved how playful they were with each other. They were both incredibly likeable, sympathetic characters, and even though I've never been in Alex's position, I totally understood his fears about the impact coming out would have on his career. It was very emotional to watch him wrestle with the decision to come out, knowing everything that he was risking. I wish the world were a kinder place so that these kinds of decisions would never even come up!

I highly recommend "Sideline Infraction" for all contemporary/sports romance fans and look forward to the next book in the series.

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

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Review: "Slide Tackle" by Claire Hastings

Slide Tackle by Claire Hastings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a bad experience with his previous team, professional soccer player Mahoney Holmes decided to keep his personal life to himself when he came to play for the Atlanta Rising. He's totally smitten with his boyfriend of six months, nurse Trent Slater, but only his family and a handful of close friends know that Mahoney is gay. He's afraid of the consequences for his career if the secret gets out. Unfortunately, the choice is taken away from him when a photograph of him with Trent goes viral, forcing Mahoney to face his worst fears. Now that they know the truth, will his teammates accept him - and can his relationship with Trent withstand the pressure?

I loved this sweet and steamy story! There was a strong connection between Trent and Mahoney from the start and it seemed like they had a lot of fun together, even when they were doing something as mundane as cooking dinner. After reading the previous books in this series and getting to know Mahoney's teammates, I wasn't surprised that they had his back when the truth came out about his relationship with Trent, but it did make me happy to know that he had them on his side.

I highly recommend "Slide Tackle" for all fans of MM/sports romance. I look forward to whatever Claire Hastings writes next.

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

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Release Blitz + Review: "Stuck with the Boss" by Georgia Coffman

I'm excited to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Stuck with the Boss" by Georgia Coffman, book #3 of the Stuck with You series. Characters from the earlier books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone.

After yet another in a long string of dating disasters, high school math teacher Erin Hayes decides it's time to take a break from looking for love and focus on her career. Unfortunately, her bad luck continues when she attends the first faculty meeting of the school year and totally humiliates herself in front of her infuriating (but handsome) new boss, Oliver Westbrook. Neither that nor the fact that he continues to annoy her stops her from developing a crush on him, and secretly, principal Oliver can't help being attracted to Erin too. The situation reaches a boiling point following an offsite retreat when Oliver and Erin are stranded alone together at a rural campground. While waiting for their ride back to the city, their true feelings for each other are revealed, leading to an unexpected yet steamy hookup. Even though dating isn't technically against the rules for them, Oliver asks Erin to keep their relationship a secret for the time being. The last thing either of them needs to deal with is accusations of favoritism, especially after the school's vice principal announces her retirement and Erin's fellow teachers begin competing to fill the vacancy. When rumors about the principal and the math teacher begin to circulate anyway, will Erin and Oliver's fledgling relationship survive?

This book had me smiling and laughing from the first page to the last. I loved the push-pull and hilarious banter between Erin and Oliver, as well as the funny nicknames she and her friends came up with for him. Even though Oliver came across as a grump at first, he had such a good heart, and the way he connected with his younger half-sister Rebecca and nephew Malcolm in addition to Erin was very sweet. He took a big risk by moving from London to New York, but it paid off for him because he finally found the family he'd been looking for all along.
 

I highly recommend "Stuck with the Boss" for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. It's my new favorite of the series so far, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.

 

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

 

 

About "Stuck with the Boss"

I have a crush on my new boss.

I’m very professional, but I’m not superhuman. I can’t resist a broody man in a suit, and the new principal wears his well. He’s so put together and sophisticated—a far cry from the duds I’ve been out with lately.

On top of that, his smooth British accent gives me the feels.

I didn’t think men like Oliver Westbrook existed in real life.

I just wish I would’ve made a better impression at our first faculty meeting. In fact, I wish every encounter with him didn’t end with me nervously sweating through my blouses.

If only I could stop putting my foot in my mouth.

To make matters worse, I get stranded with the frustratingly handsome man after a teacher retreat since our co-workers accidentally forgot us.

But the minute we’re alone and miles away from reality, something glorious happens.

Oliver loosens his tie and opens up to me, revealing more about himself and his feelings, which makes my knees weak.

With every vulnerable truth, I find myself falling harder.

I’m in deep trouble—the kind that’ll land me in detention.

But it doesn’t stop me from taking the risk. 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "A Cosmic Kind of Love" by Samantha Young

I'm pleased to take part in the release blitz celebrating "A Cosmic Kind of Love" by Samantha Young.

While planning an engagement party for a wealthy socialite turned environmental lawyer, event planner Hallie Goodman is accidentally given access to video messages from her client's ex-boyfriend, sent during his time as an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. She can't help feeling guilty after watching them, so Hallie decides to send Captain Christopher Ortiz a video message of her own to apologize. Even though it bounces back, Hallie keeps sending videos, realizing that it felt good to have a way to vent her frustrations. She doesn't realize that Chris is actually receiving her messages and finds himself intrigued by the sender. He schemes a way to meet Hallie at his ex's engagement party, and they quickly become friends with the possibility of much more. But when Chris is offered an unexpected opportunity to continue his NASA career, will their fledgling relationship survive?

I have to admit that I was drawn to this book as much by its gorgeous cover as its unique premise, but fortunately, it didn't disappoint. Hallie and Chris were super cute together when they finally met. I appreciated the genuine friendship that grew between them, though that created its own set of problems since neither of them was sure how to make the first move towards a romantic relationship. They were both incredibly relatable protagonists, dealing with more than their fair share of parental baggage. I loved seeing them draw strength from each other and stand up to their parents in the end.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "A Cosmic Kind of Love" and would recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. It was the first book I've read by Samantha Young, but it won't be the last. 

 

*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley/Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "A Cosmic Kind of Love"

Space is the last thing an event planner and an astronaut need in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

When event planner Hallie Goodman receives party-inspiration material from the bride of her latest wedding project, the last thing she expects to find in the files are digital videos from Darcy's ex-boyfriend. Hallie knows it's wrong to keep watching these personal videos, but this guy is cute, funny, and an astronaut on the International Space Station to boot. She's only human. And it's not long until she starts sending e-mails and video diaries to his discontinued NASA address. Since they're bouncing back, there's no way anyone will ever be able to see them...right?

Christopher Ortiz is readjusting to life on earth and being constantly in the shadow of his deceased older brother. When a friend from NASA's IT department forwards him the e-mails and video messages Hallie has sent, he can't help but notice how much her sense of humor and pink hair make his heart race.

Separated by screens, Hallie and Chris are falling in love with each other, one transmission at a time. But can they make their star-crossed romance work when they each learn the other's baggage? 

 

Release Blitz + Review: "Here with You" by Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire

I'm happy to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Here with You" by Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire, book #3 of the Winter Valley series. Characters from the previous books make appearances in this one, but it reads as a standalone. 

 

Thoreau "Theo" Foster has been best friends with Morgan Bradford since they were kids growing up together in the small town of Winter Valley, Colorado. After Theo's little sister Tilly died, his parents divorced and they moved away. Theo went to live with his father in Boston, though he came back to visit his grandmother for the holidays each year and remained close with Morgan and the Bradford family. There's nothing he wouldn't do for Morgan, which is why he says yes when his best friend calls to ask for help in managing his family's auto repair shops after deciding to go back and finish his degree at MIT. Unfortunately, that puts Theo into direct conflict with Morgan's younger sister Elisse, who's already volunteered to run the shops while Morgan's away. She's angry and hurt that her brother doesn't trust her to handle things on her own and resents her childhood crush Theo for agreeing to step in. She always thought she'd outgrown her crush on Theo, but now that they're working together, she worries that her old feelings are coming back. Theo, meanwhile, has had feelings for Elisse for years but knows she's off-limits as his best friend's little sister. Will they be able to resist the pull of the attraction between them?

I really enjoyed the chemistry and banter between Theo and Elisse, especially when she told him off for continuing to use her childhood nickname, "Squirt." They both had a strong work ethic and were devoted to helping the people they cared about, but they weren't quite as good at caring for themselves. For example, Theo had a tough time standing up to his father and asking for more control over the family business, instead choosing to retreat into his love of racing and spending time with the Bradfords. Elisse, meanwhile, couldn't seem to say no to her sister Clarissa, who kept trying to pull her back into the events management business they co-founded rather than hiring a new assistant after Elisse quit. Theo and Elisse were definitely stronger together, finally standing up for themselves with their families as well as finding a way to be together despite geographic complications and Morgan's objections.

As in the previous books of the series, the secondary characters were a highlight of the story for me, with the exception of Elisse's sister Clarissa. Her passive aggressive behavior and refusal to allow Elisse to step away from the events management business really annoyed me. If the authors decide to write a story for Clarissa in the future, IMO they're going to have their work cut out for them in trying to redeem her character. She needs to learn that she can't always get her way. 

 

Overall, I enjoyed "Here with You" and would recommend it for all contemporary romance fans. I hope this isn't the last we've seen of Winter Valley!

*Review copy provided by the authors. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

About "Here with You"

USA TODAY bestselling authors Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire bring you an enchanting best friend’s little sister holiday romance filled with sarcasm, love, and mistletoe.

I finally landed my dream job.
No one told me my childhood crush came with it.
Theo Foster, my brother’s best friend.
The famous billionaire playboy, race car driver, and my long-time frenemy.
Now I’m forced to see him every day.
And that childhood crush…
It hasn’t gone anywhere.
Lucky for me, Theo Foster isn't one to stick around and he'll be out of Winter Valley in no time.
If only he'd stop being all flirty with me.
He isn't supposed to be all swoony and romantic.
And I’m not supposed to flirt back.
But a few caresses and kisses shouldn’t matter.
Or do they?

 

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Not Since Ewe" by Susannah Nix

Today, I'm thrilled to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Not Since Ewe" by Susannah Nix, book #4 of the multi-author Common Threads series published by Smartypants Romance.

 

I loved Nix's first contribution to this series, but I think I enjoyed this one even more. Even though they were in a situation unlike anything I will ever find myself in, main characters Tess McGregor and Donal Larkin were somehow both incredibly relatable. There were misunderstandings on both sides to work through, but I appreciated that they were brought out into the open so early in the story. That's not to say that they got over those hurts and fears overnight, but they did do a good job of communicating and trying to move past them. 

I also loved the "found family" aspect of this story, which was somewhat unique in that the reason they all came together was the daughter Tess and Donal gave up for adoption 30 years ago. After losing her stepmother and with her father in the late stages of Alzheimer's, Tess didn't really have any family (or even a circle of close friends) left when the story began. Having Erin in her life not only gave her a second chance with Donal, but with his family as well. Donal's mom took Tess in and made her one of her own even before she and Donal started dating. Their love and support gave Tess the courage she needed to prioritize and re-establish other relationships, such as the one with her old friend Dawn from high school. (Readers familiar with "Mad About Ewe" will likely remember Dawn as the female lead of that story.)

Overall, "Not Since Ewe" gave me all the feels and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to whatever Susannah Nix writes next.

 

*Review copy provided by Smartypants Romance. All opinions expressed are my own.  

 

About "Not Since Ewe"

Tess McGregor doesn’t need anyone.

So what if she doesn’t have any close friends or family anymore? Her successful consulting business keeps her so busy she barely has time to be lonely. She’s got her life organized exactly the way she wants it.

Until the daughter she gave up for adoption 30 years ago tracks her down.

Tess doesn’t know anything about being a mother, but now that she’s met Erin, she’ll do anything to stay in her life.

Even if it means facing the life-ruining jerk who got Tess pregnant in high school and broke her heart.

Donal Larkin would do anything for a second chance.

He’s divorced, his kids hardly talk to him, and he works so much he barely has time to eat. But when he’s united with the daughter he never had a chance to know, he vows to make up for past mistakes.

Step one is proving to Tess he’s not the same unreliable kid she knew 30 years ago.

And maybe if he’s lucky he can win back the heart of the girl he never got over…

"Not Since Ewe" is a full-length contemporary romance and can be read as a standalone. Book #4 in the Common Threads series, Seduction in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe. 

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Not Since Ewe"

“I’m just nervous.” Admitting that to Donal took a lot of effort. “Opening up to people isn’t exactly my strong suit, and I’m taking my insecurity out on you.”

He surprised me by pulling me into a hug.

Wow. The man really knew how to give a hug. I wasn’t generally a big hugger, but just like the other night when he’d held me in his arms, I didn’t hate it.

In fact, it felt amazing. A few more hugs like this, and I’d be a dedicated convert to the holy sacrament of hugging. I’d be going door to door proselytizing on the spiritual benefits of embracing physical embraces.

“I promise I’m on your side.” Donal’s voice was low and rough, his breath a warm caress against my hair. “I’m not going to say or do anything to damage your relationship with Erin. You’ve got to trust me on that.”

It was difficult to talk with my heart lodged in my throat and my face pressed against his astonishingly firm chest. “I want that for you too. I’ll try to be a better teammate.”

He pulled back to look at me, and my stomach did another one of those unsettling flips under his up-close scrutiny. “We’re really bad at this, aren’t we?”

I was so flustered, I thought he was making fun of my poor hugging skills and stiffened. “I—what?”

“Being friends.”

Oh. There went my heart, right into my throat again. “Is that what we are?”

“I’d sure like us to be.” His eyebrows notched up a few millimeters. “Wouldn’t you?”

Damn the man for being so likable. How was I supposed to protect myself when he kept being all vulnerable and appealing?

And handsome. Don’t forget the handsome.

Shit, did I really want to be friends with Donal Larkin again?

Yes.

Even with our poor track record, I wanted that. Maybe it could be different this time. We were both mature adults now. Surely we could handle it. We wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

“I’d like that too.” I sounded out of breath, like I’d just done a hill ride on the stationary bike.

“Good.” Donal’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Can we go sit down and eat now? Because I was too nervous to eat much at lunch, and I’m seriously hangry.” 

 

Review: "Gio & Joy and the Three French Hens" by Ellie Hall

Gio & Joy and the Three French Hens by Ellie Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having lost her job, apartment, and boyfriend on top of learning that she has a life-changing gluten sensitivity, architect Joy Glover decides to leave her life in New York City behind and move in with her mother in the small town of Hawk Ridge Hollow, Montana. It's only supposed to be a temporary move until she finds a new job, and on the bright side, she'll get to spend some quality time with her best friend Frankie Costa, who lives in the same town. She's shocked to arrive at her mother's new home to find it decked out in candy cane lights to fit the neighborhood's holiday theme, and her mom acting like one of Santa's elves dressed in a punny Christmas sweatshirt. While Joy has always loved Christmas, her mother has never really been big on celebrating the holidays, so she's not quite sure what to make of the sudden change. She decides to embrace it and starts settling into life in Hawk Ridge Hollow, even accepting a temporary job at the Costa family's new pizza and pie shop.

Frankie's older brother Giovanni, who's also working at the family restaurant, doesn't recognize Joy at first, but that doesn't stop him from flirting with her. When he does realize who she is, something suddenly and unexpectedly clicks into place for him. He's secretly felt lonely for a long time; even his large, close-knit family and glamorous, jet-setting life as a professional photographer haven't been enough to fill the void. Maybe Gio just needed to find the right woman - and maybe that woman is Joy. But he'll have to overcome his sister's objections and his own reputation as a flirt before she'll give him a chance.

Gio and Joy's funny, sweet story was a fantastic addition to what has already become one of my favorite series of 2022. Gio's dad jokes were unexpected but completely adorable, and I had to laugh every time someone mentioned his "Resting Flirt Face." I also loved his chemistry with Joy, though I totally understood why she was so hesitant to pursue a relationship with him at first. However, he proved to be the perfect partner for her because he saw exactly how special she was, and I loved cheering them on to their HEA.

I highly recommend this story for all fans of sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

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

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