Release Blitz + Review: "Not What I Expected" by Jewel E. Ann

I am incredibly excited to take part in celebrating today's release of author Jewel E. Ann's latest standalone novel, "Not What I Expected." It was the first book I've ever read by this author, but it's safe to say that it will not be the last! I absolutely loved this funny, sweet, sometimes poignant story and highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and women's fiction.

 

It's been a while since I signed up to review this book, so I had completely forgotten what it was supposed to be about by the time I started reading. I'm happy it worked out this way because the story was able to take me completely by surprise and really live up to its title. As it turned out, this book was not the traditional romance I was expecting, although the love story was an important component. Female lead character Elsie's efforts to figure out who she was outside of her marriage and motherhood were equally important, and actually the aspect of the story I enjoyed the most.

I really appreciated that Elsie was a mature protagonist who had some life experience because it made her incredibly relatable. Elsie had been married, her children were all nearly grown, and she was struggling to figure out her next steps as she prepared to move into a new phase of her life. She certainly never planned on starting an affair with rival shopkeeper Kael, but she found herself unable to resist the pull of attraction between them. Their banter was a ton of fun, and even though there were quite a few obstacles in their way, I found it easy to root for them to find happiness together, whether that was within a traditional relationship or not. 

Overall, "Not What I Expected" was a tremendously compelling story, and I had a difficult time putting it down once I started reading. I look forward to checking out more of this author's work soon.

 

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

 

  

About "Not What I Expected"

Not What I Expected by Jewel E. Ann is now live!

Are humans meant to mate for life?

After four kids and an unfortunate but fateful end to her twenty-two-year marriage, Elsie Smith meets the new guy in town.

Kael Hendricks is ... a little younger, a lot sexy, and too confident for his own good. He also doesn't believe in marriage and all that goes with it.

And ...

He's just opened a new business that threatens the livelihood of Elsie's family's store--just in time for the holidays.

The problem?

There's an undeniable attraction that leads to out of control situations, a loss of inhibitions, and a lot of small town gossip.

As Elsie tries to redefine herself and convince her family she isn't having a midlife crisis, she's forced to answer the biggest question of all ...

Can she love an enemy who will never surrender? 

 

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Holiday with You" by Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire

Today, I am very excited to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "Holiday with You" by authors Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire. I absolutely loved this delightful story, which IMO would be perfect source material for a Hallmark or Netflix holiday movie.

Main characters Colin and Audrey were both incredibly likeable, and while their relationship moved fast, I had no problem believing in the strength of their feelings for each other. I enjoyed their banter and fiery chemistry, as well as Audrey's sweet relationship with Colin's adorable young daughter, Perry. I had to laugh when Colin described Perry as a "princess with an evil mastermind," but it totally fit her feisty personality.

 

The mystery surrounding the owner of the B&B Audrey was sent to purchase in Colin's hometown of Winter Valley, Colorado was very intriguing, and I couldn't wait to find out why it seemed as if the entire town was determined to keep it a secret. The authors did a good job of keeping me guessing because when the truth was revealed it was nothing like what I had predicted.

The book's secondary characters, mostly members of Colin's family, were a ton of fun and added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the story. I particularly enjoyed the way Colin and his siblings teased each other, as well as the way they welcomed Audrey and her mom into the fold.

Overall, "Holiday with You" was a short, sweet story with the perfect amount of steam, and I loved it. I highly recommend this story for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I hope that the authors will consider writing more books together in the future! I'd love to read future stories about Colin's siblings set in the lovely little town of Winter Valley. 

 

*Review copy provided by the authors via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Holiday with You"

Holiday With You, an all-new festive small town romance from USA Today bestselling authors Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire is available now!

Audrey’s boss gave her one objective—head to the small town of Winter Valley, and acquire that bed and breakfast the company has had their eye on forever. A big sale like this could change her career . . . and she’s the only one who could convince the owner to make the deal.

On her way, she crashes into the truck of sexy, unavailable, single Dad Colin Bradford. The repairs won’t be done until Christmas Eve, so she’s stuck in Winter Valley until her car is fixed.

There’s something magical about being in a small town at Christmas. Life is slower than her hectic job in the city. She finds herself falling for Winter Valley . . . and for Colin.

Though acquiring that bed and breakfast is much harder than she planned . . .

Amidst all the hot chocolate, snowflakes, and silent nights, Audrey has a choice to make. Could Colin end up being her Christmas miracle? 

 

 

Read an Excerpt from "Holiday with You"

I hit a patch of ice.

The car skids and spins out of control.

This is it.

I knew it.

This is how it all ends. I’ll slide into a ditch where no one will find my body until this winter wonderland thaws.

When the car slams against something, I hold on to the wheel and scream until the airbags blow, pushing me back into the seat. My lungs contract with such force I’m afraid they might fold into themselves. The car has spun so many times that, when the door opens, I'm disoriented.

"Are you okay?" someone asks smoothly, the baritone of his voice reverberating through my bones. The low rumble is comforting, and I could listen to it all day.

When I look up, I understand why his silky words felt like a warm hug. I’m in heaven, and St. Peter is the most gorgeous angel I’ve ever come across. Not that I met any while I was among the living.

 

***

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Review: "Best Friends Don't Kiss" by Max Monroe

Today, I am absolutely thrilled to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Max Monroe's latest standalone novel, "Best Friends Don't Kiss." Each Max Monroe book seems to be better than the last, and this one was my favorite so far.

 

Main characters Ava and Luke were completely fluffing adorable together with their inside jokes and flirty, witty banter. They may have thought they were faking a relationship, but nothing about it ever felt fake to me because they were so obviously made for each other. I loved that they supported each other's dreams and did little things to show how much they cared. My favorite was the way that Luke secretly watered Ava's beloved plant so that it wouldn't die. Ava consistently tried and failed to keep plants alive (she was on her twelfth one!), but she kept on trying, and Luke secretly helped her because he wanted her to succeed even in that.

I loved the book's secondary characters every bit as much as Luke and Ava themselves. It was especially fun to see Thatch and his friends again; they remain one of my favorite bromances ever. I also enjoyed Ava's family and their over-the-top Christmas traditions, especially her dad's insane itinerary and all of the hot cocoa. Her dad really was the best even with his Christmas obsession, and he gave Ava excellent advice when she needed it. Luke's friend Trevor and Ava's friends Claire and Desi were a lot of fun too. I could see any one of them starring in a book of their own in the future.
 

Overall, "Best Friends Don't Kiss" was an incredibly charming, laugh-out-loud funny story with the perfect amount of steam, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I can't wait to see what Max Monroe comes up with next.

 

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

 

 

About "Best Friends Don't Kiss"

Best Friends Don’t Kiss, an all new friend zoned best friend rom com from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe available now!

Goal: Find a boyfriend, get married, buy a house in the suburbs with a white picket fence, and pop out 2.5 kids.

Deadline: Sixty days.

That’s possible, right?

HAHAHA. *Faints*

I’m kidding. Well, kind of. I mean, I’m not going to attempt a shotgun wedding or try to get knocked up by some guy I met on the internet, but there is no doubt that, this year, home for the holidays takes on a whole new, terrifying meaning.

I have to travel from New York City—my home and safe haven for the last fifteen years—to my tiny hometown in Vermont for Christmas, my baby sister’s wedding, and my high school reunion.

Talk about a trifecta of single-doom.

Throw in Callie Camden—aka my high school class’s version of Regina George—and it’s a recipe for certified disaster.

Especially since my mouth ran away from me when she asked me if I’d be bringing someone to our reunion, and I told her to put me down for two.

Gah. Now I can’t go alone.

But the online dating world is a cesspool of bad manners, speedy hookups, and outright weirdos.

Handsome, single, successful—that’s what I’m looking for.

And it just so happens that my best friend Luke London fits all of the criteria.

The only problem is best friends don’t kiss…

But maybe it doesn’t count if it’s pretend? 

Read an Excerpt from "Best Friends Don't Kiss"

Ava

I only get two steps toward my door when my phone starts ringing from inside my purse. I dig it back out again to find an unknown number with a Vermont area code flashing on the screen.

I know I should let it roll to voice mail, but Aunt Poppy called me from jail one time, and I never heard the end of how I wasted her one phone call by not answering.

Reluctantly, I hit the green button and put it to my ear.

“Ava! It’s Callie!”

Damn Aunt Poppy and her fascination with streaking!

“Oh, uh…hi, Callie…”

“Sorry to bother you, but I had one more question to ask, and since I now have your number, I figured I’d just call you really quick!”

Greattt. “Sure thing,” I say with saccharine sweetness.

“Since I have to finalize the head count for the venue by tomorrow, I need to know if I should just put you down as a single,” she begins. “Pretty sure your mom told me you weren’t married or engaged or dating anyone, but I just want to double-check that you’re still single. Honestly, I think you’re one of only ten people from our high school that isn’t married yet!” she exclaims through an amused giggle.

I put my phone on speaker, drop it down on my entry table, and give it the double finger with as much gusto as I can manage.

Obviously unaware of my display, she continues. “So crazy that most of us have reached the age where we’re married, and some with kids now. Which, by the way, I can’t believe your baby sister Kate is getting married before you. Soon, you’re going to be the only single Lucie left!”

My tongue is tied by an imaginary angry fist, but it doesn’t matter. One of the only positive qualities Callie possesses is the ability to carry on an entire conversation herself.

“By the way, you’re the best for helping me plan the reunion!”

“That’s me.” The best people-pleasing lunatic in NYC who really should look into finding a good therapist to help me work through all of this before I have to head home to Vermont to watch my baby sister get married in the same week I get to attend a fifteen-year high school reunion I somehow got roped into helping plan. With the Regina George of my high school class. In less than two short months from now.

Okay. So, I don’t need to find a therapist; I need to find Jesus. I just hope he lives in Manhattan.

“So…one or two?” Callie asks, pulling me from the deep recesses of my thoughts.

“One or two?”

She giggles again. It’s like nails on a chalkboard to my ears. “How many people should I put you down for, silly?”

This is a remake of Nightmare on Elm Street; it has to be. A new Halloween movie or something. Michael Myers himself must be right outside my freaking door. That’s the only way the universe would be cruel enough to add Callie’s interest into the swirling, boiling pot my family already has roasting over the Ava’s Relationship Status fire.

Just like that, it hits me. I cannot go to this reunion and attend my baby sister’s wedding alone in the same damn week. I just…can’t.

I completely break under the fucking pressure of it all, and the words blurt from my lips before I can stop them. “Two.”

“Two?”

“Uh…yeah… I’ll be bringing my…boyfriend.”

You’ll be…what? You don’t have a boyfriend, Looney Tunes!

“Your boyfriend? Oh, how exciting! Your mom didn’t tell me you were seeing someone!”

“It’s…uh…fairly new.”

Yeah, it sure is. It hasn’t even fucking started yet…

Thinking better of my answer, I add to it quickly before Callie can undercut it. “But serious. Really serious, actually. We’ve just been keeping it private so we can enjoy the perfectness by ourselves for a while.”

Dear God, Ava.

“That’s so awesome! What’s his name?”

Yeah, Ava! Tell your old archnemesis all about your imaginary boyfriend!

Panic sets in when I realize there is absolutely no way I can talk myself out of this conversation. So, I do what anyone in my situation would do—avoid it.

Three bangs of my fist to my own freaking door, I end the call in a rush, “Oh shoot, Callie! I have to go. My boyfriend just got here, and we’re already late for a big, fancy Halloween party in SoHo. Talk soon! Bye!” Click.

It’s official. I’m pathetic.

I might as well be Debra Messing’s character in The Wedding Date.

Sure, my sister didn’t have an affair with my ex while I was still dating him, but she is my baby sister whose impending nuptials will make me the oldest and last single Lucie sister. And now, because I let Callie fucking Camden get the best of me with her backhanded bullshit, I told the snooty biotch that I have a boyfriend and I’d help plan the reunion.

Oy vey.

Call me crazy, but I highly doubt I can find a hot, Dermot-Mulroney-looking escort in under sixty days.

You know, you could just be an adult about this and tell Callie how you really feel—that you don’t have a boyfriend and you don’t want to help plan that stupid reunion with someone who was a total bitch to you in high school…

That would certainly be the easy way out, wouldn’t it?

Too bad my damn pride is making that feel like an impossible option.

On a heavy sigh, I drop my phone back in my purse, sling my bag over my shoulder, snag the stupid invitation off the counter, head straight out of my apartment, and stride right across the hall, barging through my best friend’s unlocked front door.

I swear, one of the best things Luke and I ever did was rent apartments in the same building—and on the same floor—from his rich uncle Gary. It makes freak-out moments like this a heck of a lot easier to handle.

My go-go boots pound across the hardwood floors as I make a beeline past Luke—who is standing in his living room—dump my purse, and head straight for the kitchen.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where’s the fire?” he says on a laugh. “Please tell me you haven’t gone old-school and brought a hot plate into your apartment.”

“Funny ha-ha, Luke,” I retort but keep it moving to the fridge. “The fire is my life. Everything is shit, I need a drink, and I’m pretty sure we’re already late to the party!”

 

***

Blog Tour + Giveaway + Review: "The Christmas Mistake" by Josephine Templeton

Today, I am pleased to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of "The Christmas Mistake" by Josephine Templeton. I love holiday romances and make sure to add a lot of them to my reading list each year, and I've been looking forward to getting my hands on this one ever since I saw the adorable cover. It turned out to be a cute, sweet story with a fun (if slightly cheesy) Hallmark movie vibe, which I always appreciate!

I couldn't help but feel bad for female lead Carina when the story began. She got a LOT more than she bargained for when she arrived in New Orleans to surprise her fiance, Bart, in an effort to spice things up between them. Things started to look up for her when she realized the connection she had with the person who greeted her as she emerged from the gift box that had been delivered to what Carina thought was Bart's hotel room. This "stranger," Rad, turned out to be an old friend, and the story quickly turned into a second chance romance as the two reconnected.

 

There were many things I liked about this book, particularly its descriptions of New Orleans at Christmas. I would love to see those unique decorations and holiday lights displays for myself, especially Santa's sleigh being pulled by alligators! However, there were also a few things I thought could have been improved. For example, the story seemed a bit disjointed because of the way it jumped around in time and from one third-person POV to another. I did like that we got both Carina and Rad's perspectives, but it might have flowed better if the story had been told in a linear timeline and from dual first-person POVs. 

Overall, "The Christmas Mistake" was a short, sweet holiday story that I would recommend for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. It wasn't exactly a typical holiday romance, but it definitely got me in the Christmas spirit.

 

*Review copy provided by the author via Xpresso Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.   

 

 

About "The Christmas Mistake"

Dressed in nothing but Christmas lingerie, Carina has a bellhop deliver her in a gift box to her fiance’s hotel room, but the last thing she expects when she is unwrapped is to see a sexy stranger in holiday boxers who looks like he just stepped off a magazine cover – definitely NOT her fiancé! How in the silver bells was she delivered to the wrong room?

As the owner of a small flower shop, Carina’s surrounded by romance on a daily basis. Her workaholic fiancé has been distant for the past several months, so she decides to drive from Baton Rouge to New Orleans to surprise him on Christmas Eve. However, that distance between them has brought loneliness, and the mere thought of the sexy stranger plucks at her mistletoe. When she discovers the reason for her fiance’s lack of attention, will she put him on Santa’s naughty list and take the stranger for a sleigh ride? 

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Release Blitz + Review: "Hard to Hold" by K. Bromberg

I am thrilled to participate in the release blitz celebrating K. Bromberg's "Hard to Hold," book #2 of the Play Hard series. This book reads as a complete standalone, but I absolutely loved the first book of the series ("Hard to Handle") and highly recommend picking it up in addition to this one.

The main characters of "Hard to Hold," Lennox and Rush, were both incredibly likeable and well-developed. They had a lot more in common than was immediately apparent, and it was easy for me to understand why they were drawn to each other. They were both stuck in highly complex situations that made pursuing a relationship a bad idea, but neither of them could resist the pull of the attraction between them or the feelings that crept up on them as they spent more time together. Unfortunately, Rush's plans to return to England to get his football career back on track and Lennox's need to return to her family's sports management firm in New York meant that their time together had a built-in expiration date. Could they possibly make a relationship work over the long term?
 

Both Lennox and Rush had a lot of baggage to work through over the course of this story, and I really empathized with each of them. It was clear that they were both so much more than their reputations! I particularly adored Rush because he was secretly so sweet and compassionate. The way he interacted with his young fans, especially the boy whose single mother reminded him of his own mother, was heartwarming. Lennox was a good match for Rush because she saw the parts of himself he tried to keep hidden and helped him see that he was worth fighting for. In return, Rush grounded Lennox and helped calm some of the wanderlust she felt because she found a home in him.

Lennox's father and sisters were excellent secondary characters in this story, and I am very much looking forward to the remaining books of the series, which will feature Lennox's sisters Brexton and Chase. Lennox and Rush's mutual friend Johnny was also an intriguing character, and I wouldn't mind learning more about him in a future story. 

Overall, I loved "Hard to Hold" and highly recommend it for all fans of emotional contemporary romance. I look forward to whatever K. Bromberg writes next!

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

 

 

About "Hard to Hold"

Rush McKenzie is a bad boy soccer player who's running from a scandal. Lennox Kincade is an ex-beauty queen who's trying to revamp her reputation.

What starts as a bit of fun, ends with something they never saw coming.

Hard to Hold by K. Bromberg is now live!

New York Times bestselling author, K. Bromberg, is back with a heartfelt, standalone romance and a new hero to steal your heart . . .

The contract with Major League Soccer was supposed to help repair my damaged reputation.

Then I discovered that I'd made a deal with the devil: the player I'm supposed to recruit is none other than the bad boy, star Premier League footballer, Rush McKenzie.

British. Tattooed. Sexy. A man currently at the center of a huge scandal.

The goal? To convince him to stay in the States.

But what's wrong with a little fun in the meantime? No strings. No sweet nothings. Just a way to pass the time while we're both struggling to prove our true selves to the world. If someone found out our relationship was anything more than professional, it would only serve to prove all our critics right.

***

I never should have agreed to take the fall.

But I did and I'm a man of my word.

Even if it means risking everything I've worked for.

The only bright side is Lennox Kincade.

Gorgeous. Defiant. Rumor-tainted. Totally off-limits.

Sharing a house with the gorgeous sports agent should have been a fun distraction from the turmoil. Someone to help pass the time while the tensions back home die down.

But what started as nothing, ends up as something I never saw coming.

Release Blitz + Review: "Wedding Date" by Monica Murphy

I am delighted to take part in the release blitz celebrating Monica Murphy's latest novel, "Wedding Date," the sixth and final book in the Dating series. It reads as a complete standalone, but I have read and loved each of the previous stories and would recommend them all.

I adored main characters Theo and Kelsey, whose fake relationship certainly never felt fake to me. Their chemistry was fantastic even when they were still trying to convince themselves that they were just friends, and I loved how playful they could be when they let their guard down with each other. Both Kelsey and Theo had been hurt in the past, and it wasn't easy for either of them to trust again. It was clear how much they cared about each other, however, and I found it very easy to cheer them on to their HEA.

As has been the case throughout this series, the book's secondary characters were wonderful and added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to Kelsey and Theo's story. It was great to catch up with Kelsey's friends one last time, and I also enjoyed getting to know Theo's younger siblings. I'm very much looking forward to the possibility of a spin-off series featuring Theo's brothers and sister!

Overall, while I'm sad to see this series come to an end, "Wedding Date" was a lovely send-off for Kelsey, Theo, and the whole gang. I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy and look forward to seeing what Monica Murphy comes up with next.

 

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

 

 

About "Wedding Date"

Wedding Date by Monica Murphy is now live!

Kelsey Phillips is over the dating scene.

All that time and energy perfecting your profile and taking just the right picture and articulating exactly what you're looking for, only to get the same sleazy propositions? No thanks. She's doing just fine on her own, so there's no point in a fruitless hunt for "the one" that doesn't exist.

Besides, she already has the perfect man in her life. Theo is the type of friend who's always there for a laugh, a hug, or a drink-- and no propositions.

So when he somehow manages to agree to be a groomsman in his ex-fiance's wedding to his cousin, the least Kelsey can do is be his date.

But why stop at doing the least?

Pretending to be in a relationship is easy. They already know everything about each other. And it sure isn't hard to fake attraction to a guy as gorgeous as Theo. Soon enough, the only pretense left is that they haven't fallen for each other for real... and the very small matter of the secret Kelsey's been keeping. Can a fake relationship survive this real revelation?

Download today on Amazon, Apple, Kobo, or Nook! 

 

Review: "The Bookworm's Guide to Faking It" by Emma Hart

The Bookworm's Guide to Faking It by Emma Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved "The Bookworm's Guide to Faking It" by Emma Hart. Childhood best friends Holley and Sebastian had a falling out because of a misunderstanding at their senior prom, and then lost touch entirely when Sebastian left their hometown of White Peak, Montana to pursue his dream of playing professional baseball. Holley managed to avoid Sebastian for years during his infrequent visits home, but when he decided to rehab in White Peak following a potentially career-ending injury, she was forced to face him and finally come to terms with their past. The situation was further complicated by Sebastian's well-meaning but meddling relatives, who pushed them into a fake relationship supposedly for the sake of Sebastian's grandfather. Holley and Sebastian each began to suspect that there might be legitimate feelings behind the fake relationship, but how could they tell if their feelings were real or just remnants of a high school crush?

Holley and Sebastian's snarky banter was a ton of fun and consistently made me laugh. I especially enjoyed the creative ways in which Holley threatened Sebastian with bodily harm or death, though she never really managed to come off as threatening. (Even so, if I were Sebastian, I might be a tiny bit worried given how many books Holley has read. She probably knows a lot of different ways to hide a body!) I also loved Holley's obsession with organization. I had to laugh when she told Sebastian she didn't think she could date him because his kitchen cabinets held too much "insanity."

The book's secondary characters were just as much fun as Sebastian and Holley themselves. I particularly loved the scenes featuring White Peak's senior citizens. Their continued obsession with the ducks was hysterical! Holley's friends and business partners Kinsley and Saylor were wonderful too. I am very excited to read Saylor's story next! She's so inappropriate sometimes and it always makes me laugh.

Overall, "The Bookworm's Guide to Faking It" was a very entertaining read, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy. I look forward to Emma Hart's next release.

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

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