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My Review

I always wonder why people hate each other when they don’t truly know one another. Where does it stem from? What allows it to continue? And, why can’t they see the truth beneath the dramatics?

All of these questions and more were on constant repeat as I ventured further into my first M. Robinson read for quite some time and while I don’t have any clear answers, I do know that most of the above actions and attitudes can’t be explained because when feelings are a part of the equation, anything goes.

I seriously don’t even know how to feel about Hated You Then. My thoughts and emotions are all over the place…it was incredibly difficult to keep myself in check as I read the first part of Jackson and Harley’s story because as much as I understood that this part focused on their younger years, meaning that their childish antics and over-the-top behaviors made more sense, I still wanted to throttle both of them multiple times as I read, and then, M. Robinson would craft scenes that broke my heart, making me get over my frustration for these two and hope that they’ll find a way to heal the scars and turn their hatred into something else, something that they both clearly needed, especially Jackson.

Coming-of-age romance insinuates that as the characters grow up that their childish antics and games would be a thing of the past, but that is so not the case with these two. No…all the time and growing up, age wise, only fuels the fire, mixing in some unwelcomed thoughts and feelings amidst entertaining banter that slowly goes from confusing to volatile, making me question if these two would ever find a way passed their hatred and animosity, but with the ending of book 1, I fear everything will only get worse before anything good will come of Jackson and Harley’s unwanted but intertwined nonetheless connection. 

Because of the characters’ perspectives that Robinson provides, readers begin this journey with Jackson and Harley and watch it twist into something that has gone from a spark to an inferno, so what that means for book 2 is anyone’s guess; I, for one, am scared to death because it’s clear that there’s something broken between them, something that has festered and grown into something that is bound to erupt and the fallout of it and where that leaves them will remain unclear until the Queen of Angst puts readers out of their blubbering misery.

4 Poison Apples

LOVE YOU NOW

Release Day – Nov 12

BLURB TO COME

Amazon: Live soon
iTunes: https://apple.co/32i1Cuc
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2LHClUA
Nook: Live soon
Google Play: Live soon
Add to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/series/265933-love-hurts

Blurb

When all that you want, is all that’s forbidden…

I’ve known him my entire life.

Before marriage.

Before fatherhood.

Before betrayal.

Now, he’s one of rock’s bad-boys trying to be good.

Trying to be the best father he can for his daughter.

He’s my brother’s best friend.

He’s my boss.

He has a wife.

Max isn’t mine to have, but I want him all the same.

And I haven’t survived all that I have to not go after what I want.

Her story is a tragedy, mine’s a publicity disaster.

Just when I needed her most, she walked back into my life, and the timing couldn’t be worse.

With a newborn baby, a divorce, an album to record, and a world tour to plan, I don’t need the distraction.

She’s off limits.

She’s my best friend’s little sister.

She’s my nanny.

Billie’s a golden drop of sexy sun on a grey autumn day, tempting me into the light and a life full of possibilities.

A life not meant for us.

Add to your Goodreads TBR: http://bit.ly/2YKvG2Q

Amazon: https://geni.us/ATFT

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/all-the-forbidden-things-by-lesley-jones

My Review

I always tell my students that when they come up with a title for their papers that they need to think about their audience as well as the content of the piece and then create one that not only represents what readers will be heading into but also name it something that will lure them in from the start.

I can wholeheartedly say that Lesley Jones definitely knew who her audience was and created a title that would make readers want to quickly see and understand what all of those forbidden things were! And believe me, they were aplenty.

I loved how Jones crafted Max and Billie’s characters. Max is an edgy rocker, but he’s also a caring man and loving father and that’s what is clearly conveyed in the pages of this story. And, it’s not that he doesn’t have a sorted past or indulged in the things that rock stars are known to – drugs, drinking, women – but he’s more of a seasoned veteran at this stage in his life, so he has his priorities where they need to be and although his burgeoning feelings for Billie complicates his already dramatic life, sending things spiraling even further, she becomes essential to his and his daughter’s lives.

What I admired about both Max and Billie is their fortitude and the way they see things, even when they’re crumbling. Neither of them would give up; of course, they  feel every single emotion involved when it comes to what they’re coping and dealing with, but they understand what matters and go about containing the chaos in ways that won’t affect the sweet little girl who has come to mean almost as much to Billie as she does to her father.

Because I’ve read several of Jones’ stories in the past, I thought I was mentally prepared for the amount of angst that would be included as the hero and heroine try to get on the same page and deal with outside circumstances, but the complications that occur in Max and Billie’s story are even more dramatic due to the fact that there’s a 16 year age difference between them and Max’s wife is an untrustworthy witch who seems to only be alive to make Max’s life as miserable as possible. There are also a litany of factors involved in sabotaging anything that Max and Billie could build: his fame is a factor…the paparazzi and tabloids are a factor…his WIFE is more than a factor because she’s her own brand of drama llama…and all of these factors pose a huge threat to not only a relationship between Max and Billie but also Max’s image in the public eye.

Jones never allows her characters to have an easy go of things; in fact, at times, I feel like she torments and tortures them in as many ways as she can, not necessarily for sport, but to show them just how strong they truly are and to offer true examples of perseverance in the face of adversity. And let me tell you, Max and Billie will have to fight with everything that they are for their loved ones, for each other, and for themselves.

All Things Forbidden is one heck of a bumpy and dramatic ride, but it’s also one that has a great cast of characters with a bevy of poignant, sweet, and steamy scenes and readers will absolutely be smitten with Max – the dad, just as much as they will with Max – the rock star.

4.5 Poison Apples

Excerpt

It’s at that point I notice Billie climbing from the car. Although, if Mel hadn’t told me, I’d never have recognised the girl standing on my drive as Billie Wild.

She closes the car door and turns towards me.

Silence.

She stares down at her feet as she moves slowly along my driveway. When she reaches the front of the car, she looks up. The bluest of blue eyes meet mine, and she stops moving.

Deafening silence.

No birds singing.

No traffic sounds.

The silence is so loud it hurts my ears.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

She takes a step towards me, and my hearing returns. The gravel crunches beneath her green biker boots, a pigeon coos, brakes screech, engines rev . . . a bomb could fucking drop, but nothing, not a single thing can divert my attention from Billie Wild as she moves towards me.

About the Author

Lesley was born and raised in a small working-class town in Essex, just outside of East London. She’s married with three sons and in 2006 they all moved to the other side of the world, settling on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, about fifty kilometres outside of Melbourne, Australia.

Lesley is currently ‘a stay at home mum’, but in the past, she has worked at ‘good old Mark & Spencer’ for thirteen years and as a teacher’s assistant.As well as writing, Lesley loves to read and has been known to get through four or five books a week, when she’s not writing that is.

Her other interests are watching her boys play football… the round ball version. She’s happy to admit to being an addict of social media and owes a lot to her Facebook and Twitter family in promoting her book. Lesley is also rather partial to a glass or bottle of wine, a nicely chilled Marlborough Sav Blanc being her favourite.

Being a born and raised Essex girl, she will happily admit being a big fan of spray tans, manis, pedis, and is regularly, waxed, tinted and sculpted, although she doesn’t own a pair of white stilettos.

Facebook Reader Group: bit.ly/LJBOOKBAR

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Twitter @LesleyKJones : http://bit.ly/2DIBCwo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleyjoneswrites/

“This is Penny Reid at her finest.” — L.B. Dunbar, author

Beard With Me, an epic and breathtaking story from New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Penny Reid, is available now!

No one is better at surviving than Scarlet St. Claire and making the best out of circumstances beyond her control is Scarlet’s specialty. In an apocalyptic situation, she’d be the last person on earth, hermitting like a pro, singing along to her CD Walkman, and dancing like no one is watching.

Scarlet is clever, Scarlet is careful, and Scarlet is smart . . . except when it comes to Billy Winston.

No one is better at fighting than Billy Winston and raging against his circumstances—because nothing is beyond his control—is Billy’s specialty. In an apocalyptic situation, he’d be the first person on earth to lead others to safety, overcome catastrophe, or die trying.

Billy is fearless, Billy is disciplined, and Billy is honorable . . . except when it comes to Scarlet St. Claire.

‘Beard With Me’ is the origin story of Billy Winston and Scarlet St. Claire (aka Claire McClure) and is just the beginning of their epic love story.

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Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lAQAj8

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2kwugqz

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BeardWithMe

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Google Play: http://bit.ly/2kwnscx

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Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2lzgOCt

Meet Penny Reid

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lakzsD

Twitter: @ReidRomance

Mailing List: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/

www.pennyreid.ninja

TEAM PLAYER 2 ANTHOLOGY

Release Date: September 23rd

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Designer: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs

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Blurb

Our love of hot jocks is never-ending.

Muscular football players. Passionate tennis pros. Sexy soccer stars. All sorts of alpha hotties, on the field and off.

Have no fear! The team is back again, and this time…it’s thicker. You’ll get your sports romance fix with brand-new stories from eleven bestselling authors.

Need one last summer fix? Dive into this anthology.

*This anthology contains original, never-before-seen stories by the following authors: Mandi Beck, Ella Fox, Teagan Hunter, Ilsa Madden-Mills, Sara Ney, Rochelle Paige, Meghan Quinn, Charleigh Rose, Kennedy Ryan, Emma Scott, and Kate Stewart. We still aren’t responsible for melted devices.

Stories Included

Arena Lights by Mandi Beck
End Goal by Ella Fox
A Slice of Love by Teagan Hunter
Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills
The Teaching Hours by Sara Ney
Body Heat by Rochelle Paige
The Strike Out by Meghan Quinn
Guys Like You by Charleigh Rose
Fast Break by Kennedy Ryan
Love Game by Emma Scott
Fair Catch by Kate Stewart

About Charleigh Rose

Charleigh Rose lives in Narnia with her husband and two young children. She’s hopelessly devoted to unconventional love and pizza. When she isn’t reading or mom-ing, she’s writing moody, broody, swoony romance.

Connect w/Charleigh

Facebook page: facebook.com/charleighroseprose
Facebook group: Charleigh’s Angels: facebook.com/groups/1120926904664447
Instagram: instagram.com/charleighrose
Newsletter Signup: http://eepurl.com/cVUcsH

About Ella Fox

USA Today Bestselling Author Ella Fox has learned a bunch of stuff along the way but the most important of all those things is that anything is possible when you try. In 2012 she took a big leap of faith and published her first book, Broken Hart. Since then she’s written fifteen more full-length books and several novellas– and every one is a reminder that you can live your dream as long as you work for it.

Ella’s favorite things are music, movies, traveling, The Foo Fighters and, of course, reading. This isn’t a surprise considering the fact that her mom is USA Today Bestselling Author Suzanne Halliday.

Connect w/ Ella

Website: http://www.authorellafox.com/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2oTMJvU
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ella-fox
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllaFoxAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorellafox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6456709.Ella_Fox
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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorEllaFox/
Book + Main Bites: https://bookandmainbites.com/ellafox
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About Emma Scott

Emma Scott is a bestselling author of emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy her novels.

RECENT RELEASES
A Five-Minute Life (standalone)
Bring Down the Stars (Beautiful Hearts #1)
Long Live the Beautiful Hearts (Beautiful Hearts #2)

COMING SOON
Someday, Someday (M/M standalone)

Connect w/Emma

Super-cute NON SPAMMY newsletter: http://bit.ly/2nTGLf6
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaScottwrites
Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/906742879369651
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmaS_writes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmascottwrites
Amazon: https://amzn.to/31pkRBx

About Ilsa Madden-Mills

Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her contemporary romances ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She’s addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.

Connect w/Ilsa

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2nY2pxT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilsamaddenmills/
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Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2EESfM9
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2GaR6cn
Join her online bookclub on FB today! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ilsasunicorngirls/

About Kate Stewart

A Texas native, Kate Stewart lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. She pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it’s what she loves as a reader. Kate is a lover of all things ’80s and ’90s, especially John Hughes films and rap. She dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity, and on occasion, does very well at whiskey.

Contact Kate- Email-authorkatestewart@gmail.com

Connect w/Kate

Website: http://www.katestewartwrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkatestewart
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/793483714004942/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatestewart

About Kennedy Ryan

A RITA® Award Winner and Top 25 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts.

She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Atlanta families living with Autism, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for families living with autism.

Connect w/Kennedy

FB: https://www.facebook.com/KennedyRyanAuthor/
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http://kennedyryanwrites.com
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/681604768593989/

About Mandi Beck

Mandi Beck has been an avid reader all of her life. A deep love for books always had her jotting down little stories on napkins, notebooks, and her hand. As an adult she was further submerged into the book world through book clubs and the epicness of social media. It was then that she graduated to writing her stories on her phone and then finally on a proper computer.

A wife, mother to two rambunctious and somewhat rotten boys, and stepmom to two great girls away at college, she shares her time with her husband in Chicago where she was born and raised. Mandi is a diehard hockey fan and blames the Blackhawks when her deadlines are not met even though her favorite hockey player calls her…mom.

Connect w/Mandi

Website: https://www.authormandibeck.com
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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authormandibeck
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authormandibeck
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About Meghan Quinn

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

Connect w/Meghan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7360513.Meghan_Quinn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormeghanquinn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMegQuinn
Website: http://authormeghanquinn.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/meghan-quinn
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LitE4x

About Rochelle Paige

I absolutely adore reading—always have and always will. When I was growing up, my friends used to tease me when I would trail after them, trying to read and walk at the same time. If I have downtime, odds are you will find me reading or writing.

I am the mother of two wonderful sons who have inspired me to chase my dream of being an author. I want them to learn from me that you can live your dream as long as you are willing to work for it.

When I told my mom that my new year’s resolution was to self-publish a book in 2013, she pretty much told me, “About time!”

Connect w/ Rochelle

Website: http://www.rochellepaige.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochellepaigeauthor/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RochellesRacyReaders
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Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XRRB8E
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rochelle-paige
Newsletter Signup: http://eepurl.com/Ly1Tn

About Sara Ney

Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte’s, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives in the Midwest, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.

For a list of cities/venues Sara will be signing at, or to purchase signed books, please visit her website at www.authorsaraney.com

Connect w/Sara

Website: https://authorsaraney.com/
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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/saraneyauthor/
Goodreads: bit.ly/SaraNeyGoodReads
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sara-ney

About Teagan Hunter

I’m a Missouri-raised gal, but currently live in North Carolina with my US Marine husband and 9-year-old dog. I spend my days begging him for a cat, and I survive off coffee, pizza, and sarcasm. When I’m not writing, you can find me binge-watching various TV shows, especially Supernatural and One Tree Hill. I like cold weather, buy more paperbacks than I’ll ever read, and I never say no to brownies.

Writing is my passion, and this is just the beginning of my journey.

Connect w/Teagan

Website: https://www.teaganhunterwrites.com/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/teagan-hunter
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TeaganHunterReaderGroup/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thunterwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teaganhunterwrites/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13263928.Teagan_Hunter

Fighting Absolution by Kate McCarthy

Release Date: September 10, 2019

Fighting Absolution, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by USA Today Bestselling author Kate McCarthy.

At fifteen, Jamie Murphy finds herself broken and alone, convinced she doesn’t need anyone.

Until she does.

Bear is the boy behind the fence, the one who was there for her when no one else was.

Until he’s not.

Left with nothing, Jamie joins the army hoping it will give her purpose. The last thing she expects is the best friend from her past to reappear in the dusty plains of a war-torn country. No longer the boy she once knew, Bear is now a man: big, bearded, and SAS—one of the army’s elite.

Soon Jamie finds herself not only fighting against her enemies, but her feelings for a man who left her once before. Can she risk losing him all over again?

Fighting Absolution is a friends to lovers romance and features characters from Fighting Redemption, but is written as a standalone.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2YkqAtT

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/FightingAbsolution

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2NZNUco

My Review

Absolution is an act of forgiveness…it’s an act that works to absolve a person of a sin committed, and once absolution is given, redemption is hoped to be reached, offering the sinner a second chance…a clean slate, so to speak, that should not be taken for granted.

Little Warrior – I don’t think there’s a more perfect name to describe Jamie Murphy, both as a teen and as an adult; because since the day her father died, she’s had to fight every step of the way, not just because she was left with no one at her back, but because she was constantly searching for a purpose, for direction, for a place and perhaps even a person to call her own; except, the person she thought was there for her left, just like her father, forcing her to fight, or at least leading her in that direction, but it’s a much different fight – one that could end up getting her killed.

I wouldn’t say that Jamie is on a road to absolution because the only thing she’s done is try to make herself whole in whatever avenue she thought she could accomplish it. But she most definitely is on a journey of self-discovery, and while it’s a bumpy and road blocked path, it’s one that will, hopefully, give her a purpose…a reason for continuing to survive as her past merges with her present and she reconsiders her choices and her ultimate goal.

Throughout the story, there are characters who ARE fighting for absolution, but there’s one in particular, and you’ll know who when you meet him who owes it to himself and to his little warrior to sort through the chaos and come to terms with what it will take to seek the forgiveness he needs and find absolution that will last him a lifetime.    

The story’s use of text messages, letters, and other forms of communication gives an authentic feel to how soldiers communicate with those they love and say the things that need to be said but might be a bit too difficult to express face-to-face. It also serves to remind readers the loneliness and the fear that comes with being deployed and wondering whose lives may be lost and how their families would feel if they didn’t come home.

Amidst the extraordinarily harsh circumstances of war, hope and faith may be difficult to have, but there are lessons to be learned even when doubts or insecurities may fuel decisions, and in the simplest of terms, the message is clear –

choose to be happy…to truly live…to not just exist to serve but to do it because it’s your calling, it’s where you’re destined to be. Because if it’s not truly your purpose, then you need to have the strength and the courage to head in the direction you’re supposed to be, regardless of the uncertainty that awaits.

My love for Kate McCarthy and her books started with Give Me Love, and since that book, I’ve witnessed her growth as a writer and a storyteller. Her stories are meticulously researched, as evidenced by the open and honest details that make up the sentences, paragraphs, and chapters of every single one of her narratives, and her multifaceted characters are brought to life in ways that allow readers to see every side of these broken, scarred, and more than deserving heroes and heroines.

Even though I just finished Fighting Absolution, I’m so ready for more of Kate McCarthy’s words, which means I’ll be impatiently waiting for her next book!

4.5 Poison Apples

Excerpt

After an early night, I wake in the morning with my body sagging into the ground. “What the hell?”

I roll and flail, my air mattress squeaking like a little bitch.

Bear laughs and I turn. He’s watching me, thoroughly amused. “I’m not here for your entertainment,” I hiss, my back aching from an uncomfortable sleep.

“Someone needs her coffee.”

“Did you poke a hole in my mattress?”

“No, but there’s something poking a hole in my—”

“For the love of god!” I rise up, the knife from beneath my pillow in hand. “I’m gonna stab yours just for that.”

“No!” He laughs, half-rising from his own bed, warding me off with his massive paws. “That damn thing is probably why you woke up on the ground.”

I lunge across the tent, my knife jabbing straight into his inflatable mattress. It tears a long, deep gash in the corner. Air hisses out in a wheezy rush. “What in the actual fuck?” he shouts, falling back with a stunned laugh. “You’re such a bitch!”

The knife drops from my hand, and I double over, gasping with laughter while the airbed deflates around him, sinking him slowly to the ground.

“Now neither of us have a bed!”

“Oh well.” I tuck my knife away. “We can start on those bottles of red tonight until we can’t feel a damn thing, and then it won’t matter.”

I unzip the tent and step out, my jaw cracking from a yawn that stretches my face. “Bring me coffee!” he orders from inside the tent.

I turn my head, sneaking a glance his way. He’s standing over his duffel bag, clad in nothing but a tight pair of bright blue cotton boxer-briefs. It’s almost a physical punch. I linger a moment before I look away, back to the ocean, trying to dispel the image, but my mind won’t let it go. The wide, muscled shoulders, his tattooed arms, the thick washboard abs, his body scarred from combat and a lifetime of hard and heavy training.

I shiver with a sense of longing and have to remind myself that it’s just Bear as I start on the coffee. The same Bear who laughed his ass off when I tripped on the edge of the jetty in Broome and fell in the water. The one who snores like a freight train after one too many beers. The one slowly turning into a mountain man because he hasn’t shaved since we left. The very same Bear who tips his head back each night in his camp chair and makes me scratch his head with my nails while he sits there and whimpers like a little girl.

About Kate:

Kate is the USA Today Bestselling Author of The End Game and Goodreads Nominee for Best Contemporary Romance Fighting Redemption, and the Give Me series.

When she’s not plotting or writing, she works as a financial officer.

Kate has two mini me’s (both bookworms to her delight), three Dachshunds named Petie, Maximus and Thor, and a fish named Cash (who unfortunately suffers resting bitch face). She lives in Brisbane, Australia and decided to miraculously stop ageing at 30.

Connect with Kate:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateMcCarthyAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KMacinOz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatemccarthy/

Website: https://katemccarthy.net/

♦ ♦ ♦

Title: All I Do

Series: Paradise Beach

Author: Tamara Lush

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Beach Read

Release Day: October 4, 2019

Cover Designer: Najla Qamber

♦ ♦ ♦

Charter fishing boat captain Remy Hastings is known as the Playboy of Paradise Beach, and he can’t believe his luck when a gorgeous mermaid literally swims up to his boat. She’s not a real mermaid, of course, but a woman with a gorgeous… tail.

Leilani Kostas is opening Mermosa, a mermaid-themed bar on Paradise Beach. She’s intrigued by the bronze-skinned, amber-eyed Remy. But she’s always had questionable taste in men, so she’s not mer-mazed when she follows him back to his sailboat for a hot night of fun.

Before they hook up, Remy lays down the law: no-strings sex. He doesn’t have the time. Leilani enthusiastically agrees, because she doesn’t either.

But for the first time, Remy wants more than one night. Leilani makes him feel like a fish out of water. Trouble is, his ethereal mermaid fled in the middle of the night, and he never got her number.

Then the local Chamber of Commerce pairs the new business owner with a mentor — and it’s Remy. Now they have to compete together for a cash prize that could help her new business, and that means long hours in her bar. And on his boat.

And in his bed.

No strings turns into a tangled knot, and for the first time ever, Remy’s casting a net for only one woman…

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Enter Here!

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Tamara Lush writes steamy and emotional contemporary romance stories set in tropical locations. Her recent book, Constant Craving, was a 2018 RWA RITA® finalist in erotic romance.

She’s married to an Italian and lives near a beach in Florida. For many years, she was an award-winning newspaper journalist. In 2017, she was one of 24 writers chosen by Amtrak to ride around the United States on a train and write fiction.

Tamara’s a fan of vintage pulp fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, 1980s fashion, tropical chill, kombucha, gin, tonic, seashells, iPhones, Art Deco, telenovelas, coloring books, street art, coconut anything and strong coffee.

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Title: Forever Lies

Author: Jill Ramsower

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Day: October 3, 2019

Photographer: Chris Davis at Specular

Model: Adam Cowie

Cover Designer: Hang Le

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Luca was heartache waiting to happen.

On the surface, he appears well-dressed and professional, but behind those impassive black irises, I can sense something dark and ruthless. He’s unlike any man I’ve come across in my life. With my wealthy upbringing, I’ve been around any number of affluent, powerful men, but Luca is different. Enigmatic. Overwhelming. He wears an air of secrecy like the latest fashion trend.

I’m not one of those girls who seeks out the bad boy—I have enough issues to deal with in my life without adding his brand of trouble. Problem is, a chance elevator malfunction put me straight in his crosshairs, and now, he won’t let me walk away. The most disturbing part—no matter how dangerous he may be, there’s a mutinous side of me that doesn’t want to run. As if I ever had a choice…

ENTER HERE!

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Within a year of self-publishing her first book, Jill Ramsower quit her job as an attorney and dedicated her days to churning out romantic adventures. She likes to think of her books as contemporary romance with a touch of fantasy—at its core, her writing is about the connection between two people. Sometimes that connection involves a little magic…

With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.

Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she’s a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.

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The Fall of Legend Trilogy

Release Dates:

The Fall of Legend – November 12, 2019

House of Scarlett– December 10, 2019

The Fight for Forever- January 14, 2020

About The Fall of Legend

We come from two different worlds.

I’m from the streets. She might as well live in an ivory tower.

I made my living with my fists. I doubt she could even throw a punch.

Our paths never should have crossed.

We never should have met. 

That doesn’t change the facts.

I would sell my soul to taste those red lips.

Fight the devil himself to hear her laugh.

Burn in hell to have a single night.

Scarlett Priest shouldn’t even know men like me exist, but sometimes temptation is stronger than will. 

If this is how I go down, it’ll be worth every second of the fall.

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/MMLegend

Apple Books: http://bit.ly/MMLegend

BN: http://bit.ly/MMLegendBN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/MMLegendKobo

About the Author

Making the jump from corporate lawyer to romance author was a leap of faith that New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Meghan March will never regret. With over thirty titles published, she has sold millions of books in nearly a dozen languages to fellow romance-lovers around the world. A nomad at heart, she can currently be found in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, living her happily ever after with her real-life alpha hero.

Sign up for Meghan’s newsletter and receive exclusive content that she saves for her subscribers: https://meghanmarch.com/subscribe/

To get the inside scoop on a daily basis, search Meghan March’s Runaway Readers on Facebook and join the fun.

FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | TWITTER | BOOKBUB

You Can Have Manhattan by P. Dangelico

Release Date: September 10, 2019

You Can Have Manhattan, an all new standalone contemporary romance by P. Dangelico.

Sydney

I’m no stranger to hard work. It’s the one constant in my life. And with no family or friends to speak of, it’s been easy to pour all my time and everything I’ve got into my career as general counsel for Blackstone Holdings.

And, hey, I’m not complaining. I mean, life is good…sort of…mostly. It was perfectly fine until my boss offered me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. One I’d be crazy to pass up. All I have to do in return is marry his good-for-nothing son. I can do this. I can handle it…I think.

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Scott

I’ve had my fair share of fun. Some would even say I used to be somewhat of a party whore. Pardon, party animal. I haven’t been that guy in a long time, though. Not since I moved to Wyoming, bought a failing cattle ranch, and turned it into a profitable business.

Life isn’t just good––life is great. Until a phone call from my father threatens the quiet, simple life I’ve built. Marry or lose everything. And to a woman who can’t stand me, no less. Well, I’m not going down without a fight. I’m never going back to Manhattan. Not if I can help it.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2y2H2QF

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/YouCanHaveManhattanPD

Nook: http://bit.ly/YouCanHaveManhattanPDBN

Apple Books: http://bit.ly/YouCanHaveManhattanPDAB

Kobo: http://bit.ly/YouCanHaveManhattanPDKOBO

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Yr813e

My Review

Sometimes I have a difficult time with the enemies-to-lovers’ trope because there doesn’t seem to be a foundation for the characters’ respective hatred for one another…there’s not a backstory that places them in the same spot, forcing them to have less than stellar interactions and be a catalyst for future encounters.

Sydney Evans and Scott Blackstone have a past that proves rather challenging for the marriage of convenience that these two are supposed go through with as a business partnership but also as a way for Scott’s father to keep him in line and in a town that’s so far removed from Manhattan – a place Scott has built a life in and helped him become a better man.

What I loved the most about Sydney and Scott and the interactions they have as they attempt to ‘play nice’ and follow his father’s dictates. These two are about as evenly matched as I’ve ever seen when it comes two rivals and because there seems to be a lot on the line for both of them, they’re willing to play a bit dirty in order to get what they want. As a reader, that idea works in our favor because we get to witness how explosive these two are together and how the sexual tension that surrounds them builds to the point that it’s just a matter of time before Sydney and Scott have to decide what’s most important in the relationship that they’ve been faking.

Dangelico does an amazing job with the back and forth, push and pull that exists between her hero and heroine. When these two are anywhere near each other, it’s a combustible situation; their emotions are high and their tempers flare easily, which means that if they don’t find a way to cope with their growing feelings for the other, they could potentially ruin everything that brought them together in the first place.

Both Sydney and Scott are interesting characters – they’re headstrong, driven, intelligent, quick witted, and more. They actually complement each other quite well, not that they would ever admit to that. I do have to give Scott credit for how he turned his life around after being casted as the arrogant rich playboy. He made something of himself without his family’s help and he also forged a new path – one that he feels pride in, so the fact that his father puts him in a situation that he wants nothing to do with is maddening, so I can’t say that I blame him for his antics, but I also can’t blame Sydney for taking his father up on his offer either.

Marriages of convenience, at least in romance stories, never stay convenient; they become incredibly complicated and maddening because of what the couple begin to feel toward one another and their stakes in why they went into it in the first place. I liked the path that Dangelico made for her hero and heroine – it fit them as characters and getting both of their perspectives allowed readers to truly see the two sides, which is important in an enemies-to-lovers’ storyline.

With a tagline that states “You are cordially invited to the worst wedding of the century,” how could I not want to dive into P. Dangelico’s newest release, You Can Have Manhattan. And I’m glad I did, because I thoroughly enjoyed Sydney and Scott’s story!

4.5 Poison Apples

Excerpt

“Just stand still for five more minutes…” Romeo scooted away and started running in circles around me, his entire massive Wolfhound body covered in shampoo. It was high time these two got a bath and the weather was finally cooperating. I’d found a spray nozzle out back and went to work.

“Romeo! Get over here! Stop it.” The more I chased, the faster he ran, tongue hanging to out, tearing up the lawn because this was the best game ever! Then Juliet got in the mix, barking loudly, and it all went to hell. Romeo suddenly hit the brakes and shook, sending suds flying everywhere––and me screaming when some hit me in the face.

“What’s going on here?” an amused man inquired. Behind me, Scott was grinning. Taking off his ball cap, he adjusted his hair and slammed it back on.

“They smell like cow shit is what’s going on,” was the obvious reply.

I wiped my brow with the back of my wrist and watched Scott’s gaze track up and down my body, taking his time to thoroughly evaluate my wet t-shirt covered in dying suds, my hair falling into my face, and my bare legs shoved into my Hunter boots. He was so distracted that he missed Romeo coming at him like a heat-seeking missile. Before he knew what hit him, Scott was on his back, lying spread eagle on the ground.

Oh sweet, sweet vengeance. I still missed my orange ASICS.

I doubled over in laughter while he blinked, trying to ascertain what the heck had just happened to him. Stepping over him with my legs straddling his body, I bent to get a better look and tipped his ball cap off his head. “You okay there, Sweet Nuts?”

Next thing I know, I’m lying on top of him. Eyes hooded and aimed at my mouth, he murmured, “Better now, Sunshine.”

We kissed and touched and got covered in mud. He stood, and with pure muscular power, took me with him. We peeled clothed off even though it was only March and still a little nippy out. Grabbing the spray nozzle, he hit me in the chest with the cold water. The look of pure shock on my face…

“Oh, you’re gonna get it now.”

He chuckled darkly. “And I’ll happily take it. This is better than a Girls Gone Wild video.”

I snatched the hose out of his hands and aimed for the jewels, but he turned in time to save “future generations of Blackstones.” His exact words. I was also labeled a “genocidal maniac,” for my actions. Which was a bit extreme, if you ask me.

After we’d rinsed the mud off, he wrapped his warmth around me, chased away the chill, and kissed me as he backed me up to the side of the house. His restless hands moving over me possessively, with the authority and conviction of a man who knew all my secrets and still wanted me.

About P. Dangelico

Dangelico loves romance in all forms, cuddly creatures (four legged and two), really bloody sexy pulp, the NY Jets (although she’s reconsidering after this season), and to while away the day at the barn (apparently she does her best thinking shoveling horse crap). What she’s not enamored with is referring to herself in the third person and social media so don’t expect her to get on Twitter anytime soon. Oh, and although she was born in Italy, she’s been Jersey Strong since she turned six.

Connect with P. Dangelico

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p.dangelico/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PDanAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdangelicoauthor/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2C91Fv7
Website: http://www.pdangelico.com/
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