Review – Keeping Score by Alyssa Kale


One more careless mistake and I could lose the career I’ve worked my entire life for—I could lose everything. My last year has been wrapped in one scandal after another, and I am done.

Done with the jersey chasers.

And done with women… for the time being.

Or so I thought.

Sophie Thomas, a local magazine photographer, is my undoing. She’s bright, she’s funny, and her very being just draws me in. I know I need to stay away, but there’s something about her—a sadness almost—that keeps pulling me back to her.

Maybe I’m not quite as done with everything as I once believed.

 

Purchase Links

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Apple ➜ https://apple.co/2Qz4NsT

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Add to Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/3jp1qRH

 

BFF K’s Review of Keeping Score

Never in a million years would I guess this is a debut novel! I loved this book and characters so much! I’ve been in and out of reading-funks this past year. (Thanks, Corona virus!) After starting and stopping about 4 different books, I opened up Keeping Score and was thrilled when I couldn’t put it down. Every chapter was better than the last and I couldn’t wait to know happened next. I read the entire book in less than 24 hours and loved every minute of it!

Sophie is a terrific heroine. She’s tough and tender at the same time. Braxton has a bad boy reputation that overshadows his true nature. He’s battling some demons that have a serious impact on his outlook and relationships. Sophie doesn’t let him get away with anything and forces him to man up.

The HEA is a fantastic pay-off for a fast-paced, heart-warming story that you won’t want to put down! I can’t recommend Keeping Score strongly enough and I’m desperately hoping Alyssa Kale’s first novel won’t be her last!

 

An advance copy of this book was received. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.

 

About the Author

Alyssa Kale, better known as Alyssa Garcia, is a debut author that really got her start in the industry as a book blogger, then a cover designer, then she got into the busy world of PR and marketing. It was only a matter of time before she actually sat down and wrote a book considering how intertwined her life is with the industry.

Website: https://alyssakale.com/

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

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/alyssamg89

 

 

Review – Been There Done That by Hope Ellis

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Been There Done That, an all-new second-chance romantic standalone by debut author Hope Ellis, is LIVE!

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Theirs was a forever kind of love, until it was stolen.

ZORA LEFFERSBEE’S once perfect life is no longer perfect. Her tenure at the University is in question, funding for her employees uncertain, and her faux-fiancé, Jackson James’s unpredictability is wearing on her last nerve. Just when Zora is convinced things can’t get more complicated, life proves her wrong.

What the heck is he doing here?

NICK ROSSI’s complicated life is still extremely complicated. He’s used to fighting for everything he has, but he’s also used to winning. Now a man of power and influence, his return to Green Valley after so many years hasn’t gone according to plan, especially with the woman he’s always wanted.

She can’t know why I left, or why I’m back.

A powerful woman intent on righting the wrongs of the world, Zora doesn’t have time or energy to deal with the man who broke her young heart.

A powerful man intent on righting the wrongs of the past, Nick can’t help wanting to protect Zora, even if his devotion is unrequited.

‘Been There Done That’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #1 in the Leffersbee series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

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Download your copy TODAY links below!

 

BFF K’s Review of Been There Done That

Oh the angst! If you’re an angst lover, this book delivers. Been There Done That is a second chance romance for two childhood sweethearts and best friends who were torn apart by life’s circumstances. But, coming together is not as easy as it should be. Hurt feelings, misconceptions, and more life get in the way and then keep getting in the way.

Overall, I really liked the book, but it is a slow burn full of so much more angst than I expected. After awhile I just wanted them to get on with it already. You could see the pivotal drama toward the end coming from a mile away but it was like a train wreck you couldn’t look away from!

I really loved the Male POV in this story. Nick is wonderful. He’s swoony and determined and you will want him to win what his heart desires most. And his heart desires Zora. She’s smart and talented and a little awkward, but so very endearing. You’ll want them come together and likely to do it sooner than they do. If you love a slow burn, this one smolders so good.

I’m incredibly impressed with this debut author and how expertly she has woven her story right into the Pennyverse. You don’t need to follow the Pennyverse to enjoy this story, but why wouldn’t you? Been There Done That was a rewarding enjoyable read and I highly recommend it, just be prepared for the scorch!

An advance copy of this book was received. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.

 

 

 

 

 

Download your copy TODAY!

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About the Author

Hope Ellis is a health outcomes researcher by day and writes romances featuring sexy nerds by night. She hopes to one day conquer her habit of compulsively binge-watching The Office.

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Find Hope Ellis online

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Series Review – Cake A Love Story by J. Bengtsson


I happened upon Cake: A Love Story by J. Bengtsson via some recommendations in my most favorite audiobook lovers Facebook group. Shout out to Aural Fixation! I listened to Book 1, and immediately to book 2 and then book 3. It was 33 hours of audiobooks in 8 days. Don’t judge – I drove a lot, my house was spotless and all the laundry got folded! I’m in love with this series and I can’t wait to see what this author delivers next! If you’re an audiobook lover, you have got to get this series! If you’re a romance lover, you’ve got to get this series! I’m going to feature brief reviews below for each book, but you’ve just got to get them!!! This post contains: Amazon buy links, reviews, author bio and then book descriptions!

Buy this series TODAY on Amazon

All of the books are also available on Kindle Unlimited!

Cake: A Love Story

The Theory of Second Best: Cake Series Book Two

Fiercely Emma: Cake Series Book Three

 

BFF K’s Series Review for Cake: A Love Story

BFF K’s Quick Review for Cake: A Love Story

This is a Rockstar Love Story that is ANYTHING but a typical Rockstar Love Story! There is a backstory combined with supporting characters that make this book something truly special.

I fell in love with Jake. He’s deep and broody, sweet and funny, moody and swoony and everything that a romance Hero should be! Casey is witty and charming, laid back, young and sweet. She is also Jake’s perfect match. No one else brings out the best in Jake. Casey doesn’t worship or coddle Jake, but she listens and supports and loves him unconditionally. There are powerful demons and unbelievable experiences in Jake’s past, but Casey proves woman enough to handle them and him.

Their romance is a wave that’s swift and powerful and an absolute joy to ride. Andi Arndt and Joe Arden deliver an engrossing and enthralling audiobook performance. Beware – once you start this series, you’ll be consumed until it’s over! But, it’s worth every minute, I know you’ll fall in love with Cake!

 

BFF K’s Quick Review for The Theory of Second Best: Cake Series Book Two

Kyle has lived his life in the shadow of his talented and sometimes troubled older brother. He’s spent his life being second to Jake. But, it’s a role he’s grown weary of playing and Kyle wants to see what else is out there. Is there anything else he can be good at or can he be content filling this role forever. In an attempt to figure out the answer to that question, Kyle signs up for a Survivor-esque reality show. He discovers a great deal about himself and finds the girl who lights up his world.

Kenzie has been sister, mother, daughter, and manager for her entire family. She’s worked harder than anyone her age should have to. Her efforts have kept her father and siblings going. But, she wants to see what life looks like outside of the tiny town she calls home. This reality game show will provide her with the perfect opportunity.

Kyle and Kenzie come together under the craziest of circumstances, but learn so much about each other and themselves. They’re not perfect. They’re flawed and damaged, naive and reckless. But, they’re also sweet and silly, charming and funny and absolutely perfect for each other! The cast of quirky characters makes this book a humorous tale of self-discovery and sweet love. Andi Arndt and Zachary Webber deliver engaging performances that drive the story. This book is second in the series, but holds its own in all the very best ways!

 

BFF K’s Quick Review for Fiercely Emma: Cake Series Book Three

 

Emma feels as if she was denied a childhood. Her family’s trauma (particularly her brother Jake’s) impacted her in ways that she never disclosed or dealt with. Emma is cautious and careful. She prescribes to specific plans and ideas for the best ways to live her life and she has no intention or desire to deviate. Until she meets Finn.

Finn blows into her life like the hot winds that whip up a wild fire. He is unlike anyone she’s ever met and absolutely the last thing she thinks she needs. Finn dances to the beat of his own drummer. He takes life as it comes and rolls with the punches. He doesn’t realize that Emma’s brand of structure and organization is just what he’s been searching for.

Apart, Finn and Emma are pretty much a mess in completely opposite ways. But together, they’re pretty much perfect! They bring out the best in one another, each smoothing the other’s rough edges. Are they just too different to make life work together for the long run? Or, can their differences become the glue that binds them together? This book is a stellar opposites attract love story and the perfect continuation to the Cake Series!

 

About the Author

J. Bengtsson lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. Her favorite things to do are laugh, go for walks, and hang out with family.

Twitter: @CakeALoveStory

jbengtssonauthor@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/jbengtssonauthor

Join the Cake series email list for updates on new books http://eepurl.com/chhhbX

 

Cake: A Love Story

-A reclusive rock star going through the motions-

Jake McKallister might have been a rock star, but he was no ordinary one. Surviving an unspeakable crime as a young teen had shaped him into a guarded workaholic, and he now lived his life trying to forget. If it hadn’t been for music and the redemption he found through it, he might not have survived. Career success came easily for him. Personal connections did not.

-A vivacious college student embracing life-

When outspoken and fun-loving Casey Caldwell was paired with the famously reserved musician for a friend’s wedding, she was prepared for the worst. What could they possibly have in common? She was a bubbly talker; he was a media-shy loner. His life was filled with music; she couldn’t carry a tune. She’d enjoyed a happy childhood; his was a well-publicized nightmare.

-Their worlds are about to collide-

Despite their obvious differences, Jake and Casey found each other, and her light balanced out his darkness. Would their love be strong enough to survive the weight of his tragic past?

 

The Theory of Second Best: Cake Series Book Two

 

-A brother who lives his life in the shadows of greatness-
Kyle McKallister is the younger brother to one of the world’s most elusive and embattled celebrities. He has carved out a comfortable existence touring with his famous brother and living in the lap of luxury with no commitments or plans of his own, only a deep, haunting loyalty to his brother. But Kyle’s life is about to be shaken up when the opportunity comes to compete on a popular reality show.

-A sister who sets aside her dreams for the ones she loves-

Small town girl Kenzie Williams has come on the show for one thing only: to win. But when a disastrous start forces her to rely on an eclectic band of misfits, she finds herself immediately smitten with a handsome and mysterious cast mate.

-Pushed together by circumstance, two outcasts find love-

But life on the island is just a game. Can Kyle and Kenzie’s fragile spark survive the pressures of the real world?

 

Fiercely Emma: Cake Series Book Three

Emma, older sister of renowned rock star Jake McKallister, has crafted a quiet existence for herself. Fiercely independent, scorned at work, and indifferent to relationships, she’s spent the past decade trying to move on from the crime that shook her family to the core. Living by a promise she made to herself as a distraught sixteen-year-old, Emma has sworn off marriage and children… until a chance encounter with a scruffy hitchhiker throws her orderly world into chaos.

A wild child raised in mayhem by a teenage mother, fearless Finn Perry cruises through life as the perennial nice guy. Now a struggling actor, he supports himself by performing daredevil stunts. At a crossroads in his life, one thing has always remained constant in his world: Finn’s desire to start the family he never had. The mystery woman who rescues him from the side of the road sure seems like the perfect person for the job.

But unfinished business from Emma’s troubled past looms heavy, threatening to destroy the fledging love she’s found with the only man to ever jump-start her wounded heart.

 

Buy them all TODAY on Amazon

All of the books are also available on Kindle Unlimited!

Cake: A Love Story

The Theory of Second Best: Cake Series Book Two

Fiercely Emma: Cake Series Book Three

 

New Release – Wild Thing by Liberty Laine

 

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HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO LIBERTY LAINE!
WILD THING IS LIVE ON AMAZON!
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Wild Thing by Liberty Laine
Standalone Romantic Comedy Novella
I’ve waited my whole life to catch her. They call her a criminal. A con-woman. A thief and too wild for her own good. But me? I just call her mine. –Officer Nathan Trent. 
 
He’s one of the good guys. Honorable. Reliable. I’ve loved him since we were kids. But there’s no way I’ll let my wild ways tarnish his squeaky clean reputation. No matter how badly I wish he was mine. –Tillie Coletrain 
 
Warning: This novella is chock full of sexy times, ridiculous shenanigans, and surprise weddings. You’re welcome.
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ADD TO YOUR TBR ON GOODREADS!
PURCHASE FOR 99CENTS OR READ FOR FREE WITH KU!
Read book one, Jail House Rock, for FREE for a limited time only!
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Grab your copy for FREE today!

About the Author

Liberty Laine is a writing duo made up of two smart-mouthed best friends who have a passion for romance and reading. They can usually be found together at their local Mexican restaurant with a margarita in one hand and a chip covered in cheese dip in the other. They spend their days being desperate housewives, blogging about books, and using all of their willpower not to eat all the cake and donuts.
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New Release – Strong Enough by Melanie Harlow & David Romanov

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Strong Enough, an all-new sexy standalone from USA Today Bestselling author Melanie Harlow and David Romanov is LIVE!

 

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Strong Enough

by Melanie Harlow & David Romanov

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Publication Date: June 19, 2017

 

I wasn’t looking for Derek Wolfe.

I wasn’t looking for anybody. All I wanted was to start a new life in America. But when I found myself stranded here with no place to go, he came to my rescue, offering me a place to stay.

He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell—I can barely sleep knowing he’s right down the hall. And when the chemistry between us explodes one night with fierce, fiery passion, it’s hard to deny there’s something real between us.

But he does.

He says he was drunk. He says it was a one-time thing. He says he’s not into guys and what we did meant nothing.

He’s lying. Because it happened again, and again, and again. And it’s better every time.

I know we could be good together, and I want the chance to try, but I’m done hiding. If he’s not strong enough to admit the truth, I’ll have to be strong enough to walk away.

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Read  Today!

Amazon     Amazon UK     iBooks     Nook

Add to GoodReads

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About the Authors

Melanie Harlow writes sexy, emotional romance about strong, stubborn characters who can’t help falling in love. She’s addicted to bacon, gin martinis, and summer reading on the screened-in porch. If she’s not buried in a book or binging on Netflix, you might find her running, putting a bun in someone’s hair, or driving to and from the dance studio. She lives outside Detroit with her husband and two daughters.

Melanie is the USA Today bestselling author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, MAN CANDY, AFTER WE FALL, IF YOU WERE MINE, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieHarlow/?fref=ts

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NPkYKs

Twitter: @MelanieHarlow2

Website: http://www.melanieharlow.com

Sign up for Melanie’s Newsletter: http://www.melanieharlow.com/subscribe/

For David Romanov, STRONG ENOUGH is to a great extent autobiographical. Born in Russia and raised in Europe, he landed in the United States at the age of 24, where he learned a lot about cultural differences between East and West. David firmly believes in ‘The One’ and learning through love. When he isn’t traveling or educating Melanie in Russian culture, he enjoys books and the company of his husband and dog in Los Angeles.

GoodReads: https://goo.gl/2Bekxz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/David-Romanov-Author-1487479804635708/

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

Cover Reveal – Strong Enough by Melanie Harlow and David Romanov

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Strong Enough, an all-new sexy standalone from USA Today Bestselling author Melanie Harlow and David Romanov is coming June 19th!

 

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Strong Enough

by Melanie Harlow & David Romanov

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Publication Date: June 19, 2017

Cover Designer: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs

Photographer: Vitaly Dorokhov

I wasn’t looking for Derek Wolfe.

I wasn’t looking for anybody. All I wanted was to start a new life in America. But when I found myself stranded here with no place to go, he came to my rescue, offering me a place to stay.

He’s smart, successful, and sexy as hell—I can barely sleep knowing he’s right down the hall. And when the chemistry between us explodes one night with fierce, fiery passion, it’s hard to deny there’s something real between us.

But he does.

He says he was drunk. He says it was a one-time thing. He says he’s not into guys and what we did meant nothing.

He’s lying. Because it happened again, and again, and again. And it’s better every time.

I know we could be good together, and I want the chance to try, but I’m done hiding. If he’s not strong enough to admit the truth, I’ll have to be strong enough to walk away.

Check Out the First THREE Chapters of Strong Enough HERE:

http://www.melanieharlow.com/strong-enough/

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Preorder Now:

Amazon     Amazon UK     iBooks     Nook

Add to GoodReads

About the Authors

Melanie Harlow

Melanie Harlow writes sexy, emotional romance about strong, stubborn characters who can’t help falling in love. She’s addicted to bacon, gin martinis, and summer reading on the screened-in porch. If she’s not buried in a book or binging on Netflix, you might find her running, putting a bun in someone’s hair, or driving to and from the dance studio. She lives outside Detroit with her husband and two daughters.

Melanie is the USA Today bestselling author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, MAN CANDY, AFTER WE FALL, IF YOU WERE MINE, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s.

Connect with Melanie:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieHarlow/?fref=ts

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NPkYKs

Twitter: @MelanieHarlow2

Website: http://www.melanieharlow.com

Sign up for Melanie’s Newsletter: http://www.melanieharlow.com/subscribe/

David Romanov

For David Romanov, STRONG ENOUGH is to a great extent autobiographical. Born in Russia and raised in Europe, he landed in the United States at the age of 24, where he learned a lot about cultural differences between East and West. David firmly believes in ‘The One’ and learning through love. When he isn’t traveling or educating Melanie in Russian culture, he enjoys books and the company of his husband and dog in Los Angeles.

Connect with David:

GoodReads: https://goo.gl/2Bekxz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/David-Romanov-Author-1487479804635708/

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

New Release – Ain’t He Precious by Juliette Poe

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Ain't-He-Precious-FOR WEB-newWelcome to Whynot, North Carolina, population 3,872. It has one stoplight, one bar, and the one-and-only Trixie Mancinkus.

Eleven years ago, Trixie graduated Harvard Law, turned down a job offer from one of the most prestigious law firms in Boston, and headed home to Whynot to open her own firm. Not only did she leave behind the big city, but she also left her boyfriend of three years. And just so we’re clear… that would be me.

So what am I doing in Whynot at this very moment? It seems Trixie needs help with a legal case and for some insane reason, she called on me for assistance. I’ve been in town for five minutes, and I’m every bit as out of place as I feel. Trixie is all sweet, southern curves to my tailored suits and high-priced haircuts. It’s a culture clash of north versus south and about the only thing we have in common is our physical attraction to each other.

But I have a new motto since coming to Whynot: When life hands you lemons, all you need is a little sex and sweet tea to make things better.

 

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

 

Catfish

 

Excerpt from Ain’t He Precious

Suddenly, my pole jerks in my hands, and I instinctively snap the tip upward into the air. I feel something catch as the pole bends in an extreme arc.

“Holy shit,” I exclaim as I sit up straighter in the boat.

“That’s a big one,” Pap says, and Trixie laughs with delight. “Now… keep the rod up and reel it in.”

I plant my feet hard on the bottom of the boat and crank my catch in. My heart is racing because I don’t know what’s on the other end of the line, but it feels massive. I reel and reel and reel, watching as the end of the line in the water comes closer to the boat. I see a flash of grayish-brown thrash at the top of the water before the fish dives back down deep, but I keep cranking that spinner.

Pap sets his pole aside, grabs a net, and leans forward, balancing himself with a hand on the edge of the boat. I give another mighty heave on the spinner’s handle, and the fish comes to the surface.

“Oh, my God,” Trixie practically shrieks with excitement as her feet come off the edge of the boat. She leans closer to me. “He caught Ol’ Mud. I was knee high to a grasshopper the last time someone managed that.”

Pap grunts in acknowledgment, scooping the net into the water under my catch. He proceeds to pull it up, and in it is the biggest, ugliest fish I’ve ever seen in my life. Not that I’ve seen many up close and personal. I mean, I went snorkeling in the Cayman’s once, but those were all brightly colored fish with long, flowing tails. This thing is indeed the color of mud, with enormous eyes that seem to be rolling and long whiskers sticking out from around its mouth.

“What the hell is that thing?” I ask in horror.

“That’s a flathead catfish,” Pap says as he hauls him in and carefully maneuvers him out of the net with practiced efficiency. He pulls the hook out of the corner of the fish’s mouth and then holds him up for me to see.

The fish is massive and thrashes in Pap’s hands, but he grips him firmly before pushing him my way. “Want to hold him?”

I recoil slightly. “Um… no, but thank you.”

Trixie snickers behind me. “Oh, God… ain’t he precious?”

Pap snorts but doesn’t give me too much shit. “Suit yourself. Take a picture, Trixie.”

I turn in my seat and watch Trixie pull her phone from her pocket. Pap scoots closer to me and holds the damn fish up over my shoulder—which, in addition to fish, smells like mud too—and chuckles, “Smile for the camera, city boy.”

Trixie holds the phone out, grinning as she takes a picture of Pap and me as he holds that slimy, nasty-looking catfish. I know my manhood took a bit of a ding with my refusal to hold it, and I can’t say I’m thrilled that Trixie thinks I’m precious, but screw it… not going to apologize for my failure to bond with that smelly thing.

To my amazement, Pap leans over the side of the boat and slides it gently into the water while murmuring, “Until we meet again, Ol’ Mud.”

“You let it go?” I ask incredulously. While the thing was scary looking as all get out, I’ve eaten catfish before and it’s delicious. I have also witnessed Catherine’s cooking firsthand, and I bet she’d do heavenly things to that fish. Besides… I thought that’s what you did in the south. You hunted shit and you ate it.

“Ol’ Mud’s been in this lake for years,” Trixie says by way of explanation. “He’s rarely been caught, but we always release him. He’s like an icon around here. The fact that you caught him, and in the morning, is amazing.”

“Really?” I ask, a small pattering of pride thumping in my chest.

“Flathead’s normally sleep during the day, usually down under lake debris,” Pap explains. “They’re easiest to catch at night, but I don’t think Ol’ Mud’s ever been caught in daylight hours, right, Trix?”

“Right, Pap,” she says and then winks at me. “We might turn you into a southern boy yet, Ry.”

 

 

IfYouLike

 

About the Author

AuthorPhotoJuliette Poe is the sweet and swoony alter ego of New York Times Best Selling author, Sawyer Bennett.

A fun-loving southern girl, Juliette knows the allure of sweet tea, small towns, and long summer nights, that some of the best dates end sitting on the front porch swing, and that family is top priority. She brings love in the south to life in her debut series, Sex & Sweet Tea.

When Juliette isn’t delivering the sweetest kind of romance, she’s teaching her southern belle daughter the fine art of fishing, the importance of wearing Chucks, and the endless possibilities of a vivid imagination.

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Cover Reveal – Serenading the Shadows by Jodie Larson

Today the BFF’s have the cover reveal for Serenading the Shadows by Jodie Larson! We’re so excited for this new release. Check it out and grab your copy Nov 10th!

 

Title: Serenading the Shadows

Author: Jodie Larson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Day: Nov 10th

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No one should have their life planned out at the age of three. Yet that’s exactly what happened to Adrienne Carmichael. Paving the way as the “piano prodigy” was all her parents wanted…

Only she didn’t.

All she wished for was to be normal, to be a regular teenager and everything that came with it – including the decisions that would shape her life.

Wish granted.

Ten years later, scarred and broken, she knows that being alone isn’t everything she imagined. The piano is finally everything, except nobody will ever hear her play again. All that changes when a sexy-as-sin rock god blows into her life. Tall and tattooed with jet-black hair and a dangerous bad-boy smile…he’s every girl’s fantasy.

To her, he’s a distraction, yet Kade Evans is everything she shouldn’t want. Instinct tells her to run, but she can’t get him out of her mind.

But maybe, just maybe, he can be the one to pull her from the shadows before the darkness swallows her…for good.

Add on Goodreads

 

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Excerpt for Serenading the Shadows

“Why? I don’t understand what the big deal is. Can’t you just move it so I can go out and live my life?”

Another crack of lightning illuminates the sky. The responding thunder rumbles in the background as the torrent of rain falls upon the ground. The cold, bitter wind howls against the glass as it presses forward, matching the mood inside the car.

“The big deal? Adrienne, you’re sixteen years old. There is no way we’re going to let you go to an overnight concert two hours away with that boy,” Mom says from the front passenger seat.

That boy? Ugh, why does she have to say it like he’s a disease? Just because Brian isn’t from our side of town doesn’t mean he’s not good enough. Sure, he dresses in nothing but baggy jeans and leather jackets, but he listens to me, treats me like a human and not a piano playing robot. In fact, half the time we’re able to sneak away together, the piano never comes into the conversation. I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not with him. I can just be me, whoever that is. Most days I’m not even sure anymore.

“You know how important this weekend is to your career. You need to be there,” Dad adds.

I let out a frustrated groan and stomp my foot. “No! I’m sick and tired of playing on your schedule. You’re always trying to run my life. When do I get to have a say in what I do, or where I go, and when I play?” I run a hand through my hair, yanking at the roots. “You know what? Maybe I’ll give up the piano altogether just so I can be a normal teenager for once in my life!”

Playing the piano has been my world since I first crawled onto the bench at the age of three. My fingers hit the keys and played a simple melody: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I had listened and watched my mother play it so many times I knew exactly what to do. That’s when my life, my freedom to choose, ended. Piano lessons, performances, traveling concerts, scholarships to private schools to work on my music, voice lessons, and anything else related to better my ability. Not once have I been able to go out on a Friday with friends. Those nights were dedicated to showing everyone that the local piano prodigy is going to make a name for herself.

“Sweetie, you have the rest of your life to do what you want. What we’re doing now is helping you succeed for the future. You have a gift, and it shouldn’t be wasted,” she says. “Trust me, Adrienne, you’ll thank us later. Besides, it’s only for a few more years.” She turns and pats my leg. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the orchestra asks you to play with them for the new season.”

“Maybe I don’t want to play with the orchestra. Maybe I want to do something for myself.” I can feel the heat crawl up my neck the more this conversation doesn’t go my way. Time for the kill. “You can’t live your life through me. Eventually, you’re going to have to deal with the fact that you’re a washed up nobody who can’t play the piano anymore, Mom.”
A twinge of pain hits me as I watch my mom’s face fall from the sharpness of my words. It’s not like I’m asking for much. One weekend of normalcy is all. That shouldn’t be too much to ask for.

“Adrienne, you’re not going, and that’s final. You will go to this performance, and you will play the piano. And when they offer you the seat with the orchestra, you will accept.” The scowl Dad gives me in the rearview mirror almost makes me shrink back in my seat. “We are done talking about this. It’s what’s best for your future,” he says with the utmost finality in his voice.

I lift my face to the ceiling and let out a frustrated yell. “You don’t understand! I hate you! I hate you both! I’m nearly an adult. I should be making decisions about my life!”

Angry bolts of lightning flash across the sky, creating a distraction from the deafening rain pelting the car. Within seconds, the car shakes and rocks with the roar of thunder and gusts of wind. Darkness surrounds us again as the sky opens up, releasing its fury.

Suddenly, the car jerks and we float across the water on the road. Dad’s knuckles turn white before he corrects us. The wipers can barely keep up, making it nearly impossible to see.

Dad turns his head to say something, only he never has the chance to speak.

Mom clutches his shoulder, pulling at his shirt.

Everything moves in slow motion. Scenes flash before my eyes. Blinding white lights pour in from the oncoming vehicle. Our screams echo in my ears as I brace for impact.

And then there’s nothing.

No sound.

No lights.

Nothing.

I don’t know where I am or how much time has passed. Faint voices sound above me, while machines beep in the background. I can’t move. I can only listen to what the voices are saying.

“We need to get her to an OR, stat,” a man says.

“How’s her pressure?” someone else asks.

“Eighty over forty.” The woman’s voice grows fainter as the darkness threatens to pull me under again.

“Now, people, move it! We’re going to lose her.”

I want to move, but nothing works. I want to cry, to scream, to ask what happened, but I have no voice. Something’s wrong. Why won’t my body respond?

Sounds fade in and out, the voices and machines are a constant now, the only reminders I’m still here.

“She’s stable now,” a familiar masculine voice says. “She’ll need to stay here in ICU for a while, though. How’s her family?”

“Died on impact,” another voice says. “They never had a chance. She was lucky she was in the back seat.”

Darkness.

Quiet.

Alone.

It’s what I wanted.

It’s what I asked for.

I guess what they say is true.

Be careful what you wish for.

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About the Author

 

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Jodie Larson is a wife and mother to four beautiful girls, making their home in northern Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior. When she isn’t running around to various activities or working her regular job, you can find her sitting in her favorite spot reading her new favorite book or camped out somewhere quiet trying to write her next manuscript. She’s addicted to reading (just ask her kids or husband) and loves talking books even more so with her friends. She’s also a lover of all things romance and happily ever afters, whether in movies or in books, as shown in her extensive collection of both.

Other books written by Jodie Larson:

Fated to be Yours

Fated to be Mine

Lessons of the Heart

You can find Jodie at:

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New Release – How to Catch an Heiress by Natalie Rios

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How to Catch an Heiress

by Natalie Rios
An Heiress Series Novel
Publication Date: October 3, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

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Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Anthony Carter has not had it easy in life. In a matter of months, he lost his mother to cancer along with his much coveted spot in a prestigious doctoral program. Swimming in debt, he’s been forced to move back to his hometown in rural Montana and take whatever job he can find. A drunken weekend in Vegas is exactly what he needs to help him forget his problems.

A recent break-up with her boyfriend of nearly a decade has left straight-laced Liz Rockwell disillusioned with love and in desperate need of a vacation. She gets more than she bargained for when one drunken night at a Vegas bar results in her being married to Anthony. Embarrassed by her lapse in judgment, Liz is ready to make this whole night just go away. A quickie divorce seems like the best solution to their problem, until Anthony realizes who Liz really is.

Known in the media as the Candy Heiress, billionaire Liz is the answer to Anthony’s prayers. All he has to do is convince her to write him a check. Unfortunately, Liz is not one to be easily intimated or coerced. Discovering the Rockwell family secret may be Anthony’s only hope. But the more time he spends with the intelligent and tenacious Liz, the more he realizes their chapel wedding may not have been such a drunken mistake after all…

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Excerpt from How to Catch an Heiress

Watching him squirm was fun, almost too much fun.

A muscle in his jaw twitched and if his teeth were clenched any tighter, they would probably break. He oh-so-gently set my card down on the entryway table, as if it were a grenade that needed to be handled with great care. When his gaze met mine again, I could see the worry in his eyes. It was finally hitting him that he was up the creek without a paddle.

“This,” I made whirling motion with my index finger, “is all so very predictable.”

That had his eyes narrowing, anger quickly replacing worry. “Predictable,” he snorted. “You don’t know anything about me. And what little you do know is hardly enough for you to be able to predict anything about me.”

“Oh, but I do know about you. Quite a bit, in fact. Shall I tell you what my research on you has turned up?”

His eyes and mouth widened with shock. “You researched me?”

“I’m the Candy Heiress, born to a family worth billions. Did you seriously think I would wake up suddenly married to a stranger and not immediately look into his criminal history? His life story?” Studying him, his expression told me that’s exactly what he’d thought. The prick. “Let’s see…Where should I begin? Perhaps chronologically?”

“Get on with it. You probably don’t have much,” he replied gruffly. “I was only a bit surprised because I’m not as searchable as you are, princess.”

The nickname had me sending him a withering look. “Don’t call me that.”

“I’ve Googled myself before. There’s hardly anything out there.” His words were like a gauntlet being thrown, a challenge I could not resist accepting. Like most people, he was underestimating me. A huge mistake on his part and a notion I was happy to disabuse him of.

Giveaway

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About the Author

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Natalie can’t sing. Or dance. Or play an instrument. She can’t ride a bike and doesn’t know how to swim or drive. As a result, her husband often asks “Are you sure you’re not really from Mars?” (the answer, in case you were wondering, is no. Unless New York counts as another planet). When she’s not geeking out at her day job, Natalie can be found attempting to wrangle her overly energetic Westie, baking ridiculously chewy chocolate chip cookies, and watching so-bad-it’s-good reality television shows.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

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Review – Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci

We’re so thrilled to bring you BFF K’s Review of Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci! You’re gonna LOVE this book!

 

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy—away from home and licking her wounds…and perhaps a gelato or two. But when Daisy, an American expat now living in Rome, throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop. She falls, quite literally, at the feet of a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello is a man from her past—the man, the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and the life she once had and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious.

And so is Marcello…

Avery slips easily into the good life that is summertime in Rome. She spends her days exploring a city that would make art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over a whirlwind what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could it really be her life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twinset cardigans and crustless sandwiches?

 

Buy Roman Crazy Today

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BFF K’s Review of Roman Crazy

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This is a dream team! Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci have paired up to deliver an absolutely wonderful, heart-warming, sweet and steamy story of second-chance love. And you need to read it!

The first chapter is so fantastic; this story bursts out of the gates and introduces you to Avery, the fantastic heroine. Her soon-to-be ex-husband and his mother are something else! When her world turns upside down, Avery escapes to Rome and the comfort of her best friend, Daisy. It takes just hours for Avery to get knocked on her a$% (literally) by the one man she thought she would never see again. Enter Marcello, one of my favorite Book Boyfriends of 2016! He’s everything you hope for: a strong, sweet, seductive, hunky hero. And, you’ll find yourself falling just as quickly as Avery.

Roman Crazy is a wild ride of ups and downs as Marcello and Avery rediscover one another, put their past in its place and determine if and how they can move forward together. The book is chock-full of wonderful supporting characters. The sites, sounds and tastes of Rome are so beautifully described that the city becomes another character in this already superb cast. Roman Crazy is full of romance, friendships and self-discovery. Second-chance love is one of my most favorite Romance tropes and Roman Crazy is one of the best!

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An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

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Giveaway

Gallery Trifecta

This amazing giveaway is courtesy of Gallery books. Gallery is graciously giving away three print books to one lucky winner. (US only. Sorry!) It’s ROMAN CRAZY, NOTHING MORE from Anna Todd and BEAUTIFUL from Christina Lauren!

To enter, comment below and tell us your dream destination for a romantic adventure.

You have from now through September 27 to post a comment on this blog post. The winner will be chosen at random and have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be selected.

 

About the Authors

Alice Clayton worked in the cosmetics industry for over a decade before picking up a pen (read: laptop). She enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up, and finally convinced her long-time boyfriend to marry her. And she finally got her Bernese Mountain Dog.

 

AliceClayton.com | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Nina Bocci is a novelist, publicist, eternal optimist, unabashed lipgloss enthusiast, constant apologist, and a hopeless romanticist. She has too many college degrees that she’s not using and a Lego addiction that she blames on her son.

NinaBocci.com | Twitter | Facebook Goodreads

GALLERY BOOKS is an imprint dedicated to publishing a variety of must-read books on a wide array of topics.  Launched in February 2010, Gallery is designed to showcase established voices and to introduce emerging new ones—in both fiction and nonfiction genres.   Some of Gallery Books’ bestselling titles include Still Alice by Lisa Genova, Gunn’s Golden Rules by Tim Gunn, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren, Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill, and The Tucci Cookbook by Stanley Tucci.

 

Simon & Schuster, a part of the CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.