Monday, January 1, 2024

Bout of Books 39

 

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 1st and runs through Sunday, January 7th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, daily Discord questions, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 39 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team


I'm finally getting the time to rejoin challenges like this. I'm not going to set major goals because I've learned in the last few years that LIFE happens.  But I'm excited to be building back up to my pre-Covid reading.  


Thursday, May 18, 2023

Release Blitz: The Trade by Kata Cuic

 




Title: The Trade
Series: Underdogs #2
Author: Kata Čuić
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Tropes: Second Chance/Fake Relationship
Release Date: May 18, 2023


BLURB

What’s a woman to do when she’s faced with the impossible decision to give an old flame a second chance?

Shore up her defenses to ward off his charms, of course.

Once upon a time, Merrick Jovanovitch was my everything. I fell fast and hard and forever. Then, I pushed him away. The end.

He’s suddenly back in my life, the newest addition to my fresh-start city’s football team. When I’m blackmailed by a vicious wife of one of Merrick’s teammates to help the team land a reality TV series, I don’t have the option to run from my problems this time. The secret I’ve been keeping from Merrick for three long years needs to stay where it belongs—in the past. With pressure mounting on my unsteady shoulders, I need a release valve to keep juggling all these very fragile plates.

Enter jagoff42. Yeah. That’s…an online handle from a language-learning app.

I know it sounds bananas but hear me out. My internet pen pal is the only man for this job because he’s a third-party bystander with no skin in the game. I don’t have to worry about him getting hurt or spilling my deepest, darkest secrets to anyone. Because we’ve never actually met.

No, I don’t know his real name.
No, I don’t know if he’s a creepy old dude.
No, I don’t know if he lives in his mother’s basement.
He’s only ever told me that he’s close. So, yeah. He’s probably creepy.

The only problem with all these brilliant plans? To land the new reality series for the team, Merrick and I have to rekindle our relationship. For the cameras. That’s fine. As long as I remember all of our kisses are for show, I can get through this.

Even though he lights my body up like a five-alarm fire.
Even though more and more of our kisses are in private instead of in public.
Even though I swore to myself that I’d never give my heart away again.

Merrick can’t be my happily ever after. I walked away the first time for a reason. Right?







PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited





Review

This story is a second chance romance with a side of fake relationship. The Trade pulled me in from the start with a strong desire to know exactly what went wrong between Merrick and Jezebel in their past relationship. Merrick has two goals with his move to this new team - 1. To find his place among his teammates and the team and more importantly 2. To discover what happened to cause Jezebel to leave him and fix it. 

Merrick and Jezebel's journey is far from boring, full of drama, secrets, angst and high emotions. I really enjoyed how the truth of the past unfolded in the present and fit together into the story as a whole. The pace of the story was steady and flowed well. I loved how Jezebel wanted to protect her friends, and yes even Merrick above all - but it also made me hurt for her and what she'd been through. 

One of the things I really enjoyed about this series is that though the focus is on the main couple there is glimpses into all of the players lives - there's a true series build up within the pages and I feel like that adds to the relatablility of the characters and their stories. 



ALSO AVAILABLE


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

Review

The Backup is book one in the Underdogs series and it delves us into the world of this football team and all it's players. It also gives us Brooke and Kyle's love story. 

As this story kicks off we discover that poor Brooke has been caught up in a scandal of sorts and when she discovers the truth it hurts her and makes her want to give up on men but also she's got a reputation to maintain and she needs her job. So what could go wrong when a plan is put into place to save both. I really enjoyed watching as Kyle and Brooke fell for each other. This story gave a new breath to the betrayed girl and fake relationships turned real. 

This story has its ups and downs and I enjoyed watching as each piece of the puzzle of these characters fit into place. It was a great introduction to the series as well, giving us a host of characters to discover more about as the rest of the stories unfold. 





AUTHOR BIO


Kata Čuić lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and three teens. No one told her life was gonna be this way. She holds a degree in Linguistics with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Her plans of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon were foiled by OChem 1. Fortunately, she’d been making up stories in her head since the days of her imaginary friend, Choosy. Putting pen to paper, er…fingers to the keyboard…came surprisingly naturally after her aforementioned teens decided it was time for them to cut their respective cords.

Kata writes everything from angst-filled YA series to standalone rom-coms and has been known to dabble in a bit of paranormal on the free stories section of her website. She believes nice guys shouldn’t have to finish last (except in the bedroom where she prefers an alpha between the sheets but a gentleman in the streets), and that the surest way to a woman’s heart is through laughter and food.


AUTHOR LINKS



Thursday, April 27, 2023

Release Blitz: Royal by Andi Rhodes

 




Title: Royal
Series: Soulless Kings MC #10
Author: Andi Rhodes
Genre: MC Romance
Release Date: April 27, 2023


BLURB

Royal…
My patch is everything to me. It signifies all that I’ve sacrificed for, all that I did as a prospect, everything I’ve ever wanted. Not only was I voted into the Soulless Kings MC as a patched member, but I’m now in charge of recruiting new prospects. And I’m damn good at it… until one night, one bad decision threatens my world.

Fortunately, I have someone looking out for me. No, it’s not who you’d expect, but it’s someone far better than I could have hoped for. Paige isn’t the chick who caught my eye, but she is the one who saves me from myself. As much as I don’t want to believe what she tells me, I don’t seem to have a choice. Because every time I turn around, the object of her warning is always there, waiting, watching, planning. And I vow to do whatever it takes to keep Paige, and my club, safe from their destruction.

Paige…
I’m not exactly what you’d call a hot commodity. I’m not the woman who catches a man’s eye or even one who drunks hook up with for one night of fun. No, all of that’s reserved for my best friend. The problem with that is she’s not single. She doesn’t care who she hurts in the process, as long as she gets what she wants.

But I’m done protecting her, lying for her. Her latest mark is someone who could easily cause a lot of damage to all involved, but there’s something about his eyes that draws me in, makes me see him for more than what he flashes on the outside. He’s not a bad guy, just a horny one. He may have had his sights set on my friend, but once I tell him the truth, I’m the woman he sinks his fingers into, literally and figuratively. I can only hope he doesn’t eventually deem me guilty by association.








PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited






ALSO AVAILABLE


Start the series for free!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

All free in Kindle Unlimited






AUTHOR BIO


Andi Rhodes is an author whose passion is creating romance from chaos in all her books! She writes MC (motorcycle club) romance with a generous helping of suspense and doesn’t shy away from the more difficult topics. Her books can be triggering for some so consider yourself warned. Andi also ensures each book ends with the couple getting their HEA! Most importantly, Andi is living her real life HEA with her husband and their boxers.

For access to release info, updates, and exclusive content, be sure to sign up for Andi’s newsletter at andirhodes.com.


AUTHOR LINKS




Monday, October 24, 2022

Release Blitz: Where Love Lies by M.N. Forgy

 




Title: Where Love Lies
Author: M.N. Forgy
Genre: Thriller Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 24, 2022


BLURB

Feeling completely sapped of life, Rain and her daughter move to the suburbs of Fairview, where white picket fences, welcoming neighbors, and immaculate green lawns make her forget the pain she’s running from. Settling into her new life, she can’t stop thinking about the guy who wrecked her car. He’s charming, says the right things, and crashed into her life right when she needs it the most. It’s only natural Mr. Handsome presents Rai with a big, shiny rock to make it picture perfect.
Then a new neighbor moves down the street. Menacing sleeves of tattoos, a permanent scowl, single with no kids—he doesn’t belong in this family-friendly community.
People are whispering.
Doors are staying locked.
Secrets are being shared.
Heart pleasing love doesn’t exist here. It digs a grave and lies in it, whispering untold truths. The quaint town of Fairview isn’t so safe anymore—and neither is Rain.



PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited





Review
Where Love Lies was my favorite kind of read, it kept me guessing as I flipped each page getting to know the characters better.

Rain and her daughter Paige are starting fresh in a new home after losing Rains mother. I really loved that Forgy dove us right in with these two and their current situation. Paige was so very well written it could have been any one of my own daughters.

Being used to the authors MC books, I wasn’t sure what was headed my way with this story, but I enjoyed the ride. I loved that there were surprises along the way, this story wasn’t as easy for me to completely guess.

We started off with a crash - and that drew me in and then the characters grabbed and held me until I read every page.



AUTHOR BIO


M.N. Forgy is an International best seller, best known for her romantic biker stories. Living in the country with her family she often finds herself outside reading or writing most of the time. She started creating stories at a young age but never took it seriously until years later, as a stay-at-home mom, she opened her laptop and started writing again. As a role model for her children, she felt she couldn't live with the "what if" anymore and finally took a chance on her character's story. So, with her iced coffee in hand and the family dog sharing her seat, she continues to create and please her readers.


AUTHOR LINKS




Thursday, April 21, 2022

Cover Reveal: Misfit by Elle Kennedy

 MISFIT

A Prep Novel





Finding out your mom is marrying some rich dude you’ve never met is enough to make any eighteen-year-old guy’s head spin. But for RJ SHAW, it only gets worse: he’s being sent to Sandover Prep for senior year. If there’s one place a misfit hacker like RJ doesn’t belong, it’s an ivy-covered all-boys boarding school for rich delinquents.


RJ knows his stay at Sandover will be temporary. Which means there’s no point making friends or trying to fit in. But the plan to remain antisocial goes awry when he meets a gorgeous girl in the woods on campus. SLOANE TRESSCOTT is pure temptation, with a sharp tongue and an ice princess attitude RJ’s determined to crack. Except there’s a catch. Sloane is the one girl he is forbidden from touching.


The headmaster’s daughter.


Good thing RJ doesn’t believe in rules. Sure, Sloane insists she’s swearing off guys this year, but their connection is impossible to deny. He wants her bad, and he’s going to win her over if it kills him.


Unless her ex-boyfriend kills him first.


DUKE, the ruling king of Sandover, will stop at nothing to get rid of his competition. Luckily, RJ’s unwittingly made some friends—his new stepbrother FENN, a pretty boy with a self-destructive streak; LAWSON, self-proclaimed agent of chaos; and SILAS, the All-American Good Guy who can’t actually be as nice as he seems. 


If RJ wants to survive prep school and win Sloane’s heart, he’ll need to adapt—and fast


Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Cover Reveal: Hard Limit by Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera

 




Title: Hard Limit
Series: St. Louis Mavericks #2
Authors: Brenda Rothert & Kat Mizera
Genre: Hockey Romance
Cover Design: Lori Jackson
Release Date: February 15, 2022


BLURB

St. Louis Mavericks star defender Lars Jansson is dead set against relationships. A new love makes him wonder if maybe he can change, but first, he must confront the truth about who he is.

Lars

On the ice, I’m unstoppable. If anyone is in my way, it’s simple—I move them. Hockey is my life, and I don’t have the patience for relationships spanning more than one night. But when I meet a woman so bold and intriguing I can’t help wanting more, I’m blindsided by the revelation that no matter what I do, I may never be enough for her.

Sheridan

One night. That’s all it was supposed to be. But Lars Jansson is larger than life in every way—how could one night be enough? It’s risky for me to see him again, and to let myself fall for the stoic hockey player who is charming in his own way. He thinks it’s his truth that could undo us, but he couldn’t be more wrong about that—it’s mine.







PRE-ORDER LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU





EXCERPT

Mavericks group text
Wes: Boys, this is your captain speaking. I want every member of the team to join me in congratulating Nash and Lars, who are selling their bodies to raise money for charity. Nash brought in 7k for a night with a cougar, and Lars brought in 10k from a supermodel. Enjoy those dates, guys – and update all of us here.
Boone: I hated to miss that auction but I had to. How much of a cougar are we talking? Is Nash’s date at a nursing home?
Nash: No dude, maybe like 50 and she’s hot.
Beau: Dude, cringe. My mom is 50.
Nash: Is she hot? Can I get her number?
Beau: FU
Drew: Lars is going out with an actual supermodel?
Wes: Yep, Sheridan Lee ...
Ross: Holy shit! She paid 10 large to go out with Lars??
Lars: What is a supermodel?
Nash: It’s a generous person who spends an evening with a total dipshit to benefit charity.
Lars: I just Googled her. She’s more famous than me.
Ross: Dude, she’s way way more famous than you. More famous than any of us. She has a clothing line or something and she makes the lists of wealthiest women in the world.
Lars: She could have paid more than $10,000 then.
Nash: You’re lucky she paid anything at all for you. Put some duct tape over your mouth and the date will go great.
Lars: You’re just jealous.
Nash: Nah, cuz I know you’ll blow it. You’ll make some stupid comment and then wonder why she doesn’t like you.
Wes: Check in here after the dates, both of you. Let’s see who ends up with a second date.
Lars: Okay.
Nash: Deal.

Nash was right. I didn’t have the best track record with relationships. But I didn’t care, because I wasn’t looking for one.
Eat. Sleep. Hockey. Occasionally get laid. That was all I needed.
I’d dated a woman who occasionally spent the night after we slept together when I was in the minors, and she always complained when my alarm went off at 5:30 for my workout. She’d wanted to stay in my apartment while I worked out, but there was no way I was going for that. She’d bitched the entire way out the door the last time we’d been together, and I’d decided then and there—no more women staying the night. My 5:30 workouts were non-negotiable.
It wasn’t just that, though. I’d seen what my friends and teammates had to go through with their wives and girlfriends. If they asked where they wanted to go for dinner, it was always, “Oh, I don’t know,” but if the guy suggested something, it was, “No, I hate that place”.
My teammate Drew got stuck watching stupid shit like Big Brother and Real Housewives, because that was what his wife Nina wanted to watch. He spent forever in the grocery store trying to find the exact brands of ingredients she put on the grocery list, and he went to Fashion Week and Broadway shows just to make her happy.
Fuck that. If I went to New York City, I’d be watching baseball and hockey games. My teammates in relationships just didn’t seem to get it—you could have all the sex you wanted without the bullshit.






AVAILABLE NOW


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU






BRENDA ROTHERT

Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.


KAT MIZERA

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Kat Mizera is a South Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she's called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Atlanta home. She's never been able to pick which locale is her favorite, but if pressed, she'd probably choose the west coast.

A typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max), Kat can usually be found scrapbooking or indulging in her second love (after writing) - traveling. Greece is one of her favorite places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible.

Kat's been a working freelance writer for nearly thirty years. She sold her first article--a review of a rock concert--for $10 in 1985. Since then she's been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent some time working at A & M Records in Los Angeles.

As you can guess from her Las Vegas Sidewinders and Alaska Blizzard series, Kat loves hockey and occasionally writes articles about her favorite team, the Florida Panthers. The rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes makes you as happy as it makes her. There's something enticing about hockey players and romance...




Release Blitz: Washed Away by RC Boldt

 




Title: Washed Away
Author: RC Boldt
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: December 7, 2021


BLURB

USA TODAY bestselling author RC Boldt brings us a sizzling romance chock-full of intrigue and deceit in this brand new romantic suspense…

All that’s forgotten isn’t always gone…

I’m at death’s doorstep when my body washes up on shore in Panama.
My memory is a blank slate. I can’t even remember my name. I don’t know who shot me and left me for dead—or why.
Patient and kind, the lone doctor there mends my body while offering me refuge.
But as tiny flashbacks of my past occur, I wonder if there’s anyone I can trust.
It’s up to me to discover whether I’m in danger or a danger to others. Whether I’ve actually found love or if it’s all been a lie.
I need answers to find out who I really am.
If only I could remember…







PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU





EXCERPT

“Do you know my name?”
Every muscle in my body goes rigid. “Excuse me?”
Her chest heaves, and the movement clearly causes her pain, but her lips flatten stubbornly. “What is my name?” Those blue eyes are troubled now, fear edging in, while distress practically oozes from her voice.
“You don’t…know your name?” I ask slowly, carefully gauging her reaction.
“No.” She swallows audibly, her eyes filling with tears. “I don’t remember anything.”
Fuck.
I scoot my rolling stool closer and take a seat beside her. Peering at her, I try to decipher whether she’s being completely honest.
I’ve learned to be suspicious over the years, especially with living in part of the denser, remote jungle areas bordering the coast.
“Well, what I can tell you is”—I lace my fingers casually—“you’re not pregnant, you have an IUD for birth control, and the panel I ran on you says you’re negative for any sexually transmitted diseases.
“You’re also blood type O, and your X-rays showed some broken bones—both previously incurred and current.
“Two of your ribs on your right side showed current hairline fractures, likely sustained during your…accident.”
I pause for even a flicker of acknowledgment but get nothing. Nothing, that is, except witness her expression bloom with stark terror.
“I removed two bullets from your shoulder and two more from your side near your hip. You also suffered a considerable stab wound.
“The X-rays indicated you most recently broke your index finger on your left hand. It’s since healed.”
She stares down at her hand, now trembling slightly, as if it’s grown a head of its own. I don’t bother informing her of the other bones in her body that indicated a previous break or fracture.
Broken left wrist.
Fracture near the base of her right elbow.
Fractures of most of the small bones in her right foot.
Broken nose.
Fractured jaw.
Straightening her fingers, she wiggles them before her eyes cut to mine. A thread of panic lines her tone. “I should remember something like that, shouldn’t I?”
I scan her features again for evidence of deceit but come up empty.
I’m dealing with a woman who has a severe case of amnesia.
Sonofabitch.






AUTHOR BIO


RC Boldt is a USA Today bestselling author currently living in part of the Costa Rican jungle with the love of her life and her mini-me.


AUTHOR LINKS