Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Book Review, Giveaway: Mr One-Night Stand by Rachael Stewart



Mr. One-Night Stand
by Rachael Stewart 


Amazon US / UK / AU / CA / B&N

One night only. 
Just think of the possibilities…

The second she sees Mr. Oh-So-Delicious, Jennifer Hayes knows she needs one night of crazy. No names, no strings, no rules. Except that Jennifer's naughty one-nighter is actually Marcus Wright—her new business partner! Now they're mixing business with all kinds of pleasure. But when it comes to falling in love her sexy Mr. Wright is either Mr. Wrong or the best mistake of her life…


My Rating:


Favorite Quote:

Crack? It wasn’t a bad way to put it. He certainly felt as if someone had ripped him apart and put him back together all wrong.

My Review:

Sizzle and snap, this lascivious story had my Kindle throwing off sparks. It was lust at first sight and this couple was a five-alarm fire hazard. I could skip any plans of cardio for the day as this tale had me gasping for breath, elevated my heart rate, and doubled my laundry. It could best be coined as an out of office unromance as neither party was willing to have anything to do with the other once they realized they would be working together. Yet neither could seem to concentrate. The premise wasn’t unique but the storylines were entertaining with frequent lashings of salacious inner musings. It was a quick, easy to follow and umm, highly sensual read. Certainly not one I would recommend for my elderly mother’s church ladies book club. Keep cool libations handy and ceiling fans set on high.

Empress DJ

About The Author


Rachael Stewart adores conjuring up stories for the readers of Harlequin Mills & Boon and Deep Desires Press, with tales varying from the heart-warmingly romantic to the wildly erotic.

Despite a degree in Business Studies and spending many years in the corporate world, the desire to become an author never waned and it's now her full-time pleasure, a dream come true.

A Welsh lass at heart, she now lives in Yorkshire with her husband and three children, and if she's not glued to her laptop, she's wrapped up in them or enjoying the great outdoors seeking out inspiration.


Social Media Links –
Twitter: @rach_b52

Giveaway
Win an e-copy of Mr. One Night Stand
by Rachael Stewart
(Open Internationally)


*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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Book Review: No Regrets (Small Town Big Love Series Book 3) by Kelly Collins


No Regrets
(Small Town Big Love Series Book 3)
 by Kelly Collins


Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

 Their divorce papers are ready to sign. So why can’t they say goodbye? 


Billionaire Samuel “Clem” Clemons Blackwood is tired of fighting with his wife. In an attempt to forget about his broken marriage, he agrees to help his sister save their tiny hometown from bankruptcy. But instead of signing the divorce papers, his former high school sweetheart joins the impossible rescue. 



Kaitlin Blackwood can’t figure out where her perfect life went wrong. Even though she and Clem can’t stop fighting, she makes one last desperate attempt to rekindle their passion. As she starts to figure out where they want wrong, Kaitlin watches their years of bitterness begin to fade. 

In the midst of Blackwood's abysmal budget struggle, can Kaitlin and Clem’s marriage overcome its own deep deficit?



No Regrets… is the third book in the Small Town ~ Big Love series of contemporary romance novels. If you like billionaires with hearts of gold, sizzling chemistry, and second chance stories, then you’ll love Kelly Collins’ sweet and sexy tale.



My Rating:


Favorite Quotes:


“You’re lucky Kevin isn’t here. He’d arrest both of you for indecent exposure.” “I’d say what is exposed is pretty decent,” joked Damon, suddenly listening.

Nothing killed the mood like an old lady in loafers and knee-high stockings.

Mrs. Jensen, who was all set with her coat and gloves. Without them, she might freeze to death as she moved through the store in slow motion. It seemed she squeezed every peach and smelled every apple. No pear went untouched. Her gloves came off and were put back on between all the feels.

His impulse was to barrel through the grocery aisles and toss one of everything into the cart, but there was no way he could. She was a little old lady and if he was honest, she was funny. She went through all the bags of grapes, taking out the best ones and putting them in the bag she would buy. “I don’t think that’s allowed,” Clem whispered to Kaitlin. She giggled. “We’re all going to grape jail.”

Counseling is an excellent idea because the two of you are either causing sparks or throwing spears.

“I’m not ready for anyone to call me daddy except for Jennifer.” “Okay, TMI.” Clem shook his head like he was getting rid of a bug in his hair. “TMI.”

I’ve never been a father. I’ve never been married but my advice to you is to never refer to your wife as a cute butterball again.


My Review:


There were three main story threads in this installment; a wealthy family full of newlyweds facing major life changes; a dying tiny mountain town in flux; and a restless and dissatisfied couple struggling to decide the fate of their broken marriage.  Each of which sounds rather mundane and lackluster on the surface yet Kelly Collins spins them into amusing and engaging storylines with humorous descriptions, witty banter, emotive insights, sizzling sensuality, and mind snagging and vibrant details.  I didn’t expect to enjoy this couple as much as I did.  Kaitlin and Clem initially seemed rather childish and highly volatile, however, they were impeccably well matched and adorably in sync well before the concluding chapters and brought a satisfying closure to the series.  


Empress DJ

ABOUT KELLY COLLINS   


Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive.

Always a romantic, she is inspired by real-time events mixed with a dose of fiction. She encourages her readers to reach the happily ever after but bask in the afterglow of the perfectly imperfect love.

Kelly lives in Colorado with her husband of twenty-seven years. She loves hockey, shiny objects and has a new-found appreciation for green smoothies.
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Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Book Review: Return to Lily Pond Lane (Lily Pond Lane #6) by Emily Harvale



 Return to Lily Pond Lane 
(Lily Pond Lane #6)
 by Emily Harvale


Amazon US / UK / AU / CA 

Life couldn’t be better for Mia and her friends in Little Pondale – until tragedy strikes…

Mia Ward is on cloud nine after a magical Christmas and New Year and she isn’t the only one. Everyone on Lily Pond Lane seems to be living in blissful harmony. Until tragedy strikes… not once, but twice. And as Hettie Turner points out: ‘Bad things always come in threes.’

Whilst the other residents of Little Pondale are wondering what might happen next, Mia is busy worrying about her friends and trying to help them with their grief. But she needs to be careful. Just when she thought she had everything, there’s a very real chance she might lose the only thing she truly wants.


My Rating:


 Favorite Quotes:

 I’m telling you now, Mia. If I die and Gill’s not around, or we die together, I want the whole shebang. A big carriage pulled by four beautiful black horses. More flowers than you could fill a shop with and everyone crying and saying how wonderful I was and that life will never be the same without me. Oh, and I want my ashes to be scattered on the moon, or somewhere equally fabulous. With all your dosh, you can arrange that, right?

‘I’d quite like to have my ashes scattered on Frog Hill. Or in Frog’s Hollow, near the pond.’ ‘What? So that you can watch everyone going skinny dipping on Midsummer’s Eve? You dirty old bag!’

… you’d better start learning how to change a nappy and hold your nose at the same time. God, that stuff stinks. I thought babies smelt of vanilla or something lovely like that, not like every toilet in the known universe has exploded and landed in their nappy. Make sure you’ve got plenty of wine in. We’re going to need it.


She loved having a pantry. It made her feel like Nigella Lawson – although Mia was far from being a domestic goddess. Sometimes, it was difficult to decide whether to ice her cakes, or use them as stepping stones in her soon-to-be, herb and vegetable garden.
My Review:

I always enjoy my adventurous stopovers in Emily Harvale’s Little Pondale, there is always some scandalous secret as well as covertly or overtly observed gossip fodder about to erupt. Poor old Hettie just cannot help herself, she feasts on the tittle-tattle and all the scurrying about to be the first to inform everyone else appears to her full-time job and only source of exercise. This quaint little village appears to be populated with an interesting mix of quirky residents with oddly amusing traits and customs. I adore them all and enjoy my visits, which are all too brief yet thankfully frequent.

Empress DJ

About The Author
Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her home town of Hastings where she now spends her days writing... and chatting on social media. Emily is a Member of the SoA, a PAN member of the RWA and a Pro Member of ALLi. She's an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All-Star. Emily loves writing and her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.

Emily says, "I write about friendship, family and falling in love. I believe in happing endings." When she isn't writing, she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, or in a wine bar with friends, discussing life, love and the latest TV shows. Chocolate cake is often eaten. She dislikes housework almost as much as she dislikes anchovies - and will do anything to avoid both.
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Book Review: The Roommate Agreement by Emma Hart

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Let your homeless best friend stay with you, he said. Being roommates will be fun, he said. It's only temporary, he said.

He never said I'd fall for him.

The Roommate Agreement, all-new hilarious and romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart is available now!


ROOMMATEAGREEMENT-coverdraft1

You know what isn't 'temporary?' The endless stream of dirty socks in my bathroom and empty food packets under the sofa—and don't even get me started on the hot guys who take over my living room every Sunday to watch sports.
I can't take anymore.
So I propose a roommate agreement. One that will bring peace and order back to my life, complete with rules that might just stop my newfound crush on my best friend in its tracks.
After all, there’s only so many times you can see your best friend naked before you start to lose your mind.
Rules. They're meant to be broken... Aren't they?

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Download your copy today!
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2U6lAam
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2H3qOyc


My Rating:


Favorite Quotes:

Jay’s grandmother’s obsession with Fireball wasn’t exactly a secret in town, and it’d caused her to remove her shirt in public more than once. I did not want to be the person who was responsible for that. The entire town was still getting over the last time. Especially since Betsy, uh, favored letting the girls go free, if you know what I mean.

The only people who have problems with inches are men and hair stylists.

“Leggings aren’t pants!” “Wash your filthy mouth out with soap!”

She wanted to know why you were such a heathen who didn’t visit anymore. I told her you were learning to do your own laundry, and she laughed so hard I think she broke a rib.

Introverts weren’t designed for this kind of human interaction. We were more of a mumble and hide in a blanket-fort kind of people.


My Review:


Inspired by her adulation of fellow oddball Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory, Shelby drew up a set of rules for her new roommate/lifelong best friend as his errant socks, Oreo thievery, and slovenly habits were working her last nerve.  Well, everyone knows a girl’s Oreos are sacrosanct!  This was my second glee-filled exposure to the lovely Ms. Emma Hart, and the mystery of why I have just recently stumbled into her gifted wordplay feels like a cruel joke – where are my book friends, why didn’t someone tell me?  I adore her mischievously clever wit and uniquely quirky characters.  Written in my favorite dual POV, this highly amusing tale was packed with swift and wily banter that kept me smirking and giggle-snorting as I read.  I adored this smartly crafted friends to lovers story from start to finish.  Emma Hart = good fun!

Empress DJ

About Emma Hart

EmmaHart.jpgEmma Hart is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels and has been translated into several different languages. She is a mother, wife, lover of wine, Pink Goddess, and valiant rescuer of wild baby hedgehogs. Emma prides herself on her realistic, snarky smut, with comebacks that would make a PMS-ing teenage girl proud. Yes, really. She's that sarcastic.
Connect with Emma
Stay up to date with Emma by joining her mailing list: https://www.emmahart.org/newsletter
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Sneak Peak: THE SAVIOR (The Black Dagger Brotherhood #17) by J. R. Ward

Waiting for this has been MURHDER…


THE SAVIOR
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series
by J. R. Ward
On Sale: April 2, 2019
Get your copy and Murhder can be all yours:





The Black Dagger Brotherhood has a new SAVIOR: 



Sneak Peek at J.R. Ward’s Brand-New Newsletter:
The Caldwell Courier Journal

Sign-up for exclusive Black Dagger Brotherhood original content:

Who better to ask for honest, snarky relationship advice than Vishous?
Ask At Your Own Risk.

Dear Vishous, Agony Aunt Column
(with help from Mary)

Dear Vishous,

First of all, thank you for doing this.  I need another perspective. I am a 27-year-old woman, about fifteen months out of a five-year relationship.  I started dating a guy about two months ago. I’ll call him “Evan.” We met on Match.com. We both workout. We like a good time out at the clubs and the bars.  We’re both Sox fans. He’s funny and he’s been good about keeping in touch when he travels frequently for work.

My problem is this.  He told me he was twenty-eight.  A week or so ago, when we were playing pool at our local, he told me to snag his wallet and pay for the next round at the bar.  While I was getting money out, I saw his driver’s license. It said he’s thirty-six and the address listed was in a different area of the city than he told me he lives in. I got the drinks and put his wallet back in his pocket, and tried not to think about it.

But I can’t shake the idea he lied, and it’s causing me to obsess about things that are probably no big deal.  Like, he only comes to stay at my place. I’ve never been to his apartment, and when I asked about this, he said he has two roommates who get on his nerves and he prefers the break he gets when he sleeps at my apartment.  And I’ve introduced him to my friends, but he’s never offered to do the same. At first, I was psyched because my ex never wanted to hang with my people. But now? I guess I’m uneasy and looking for shadows everywhere.

I don’t care how old he is, and I know that some times folks on Match fudge their age to make them more attractive.  And maybe it’s just an old license. I don’t want to ruin a good thing by looking like I’m second guessing him about stuff that only appears iffy and for which there is a reasonable explanation.

Please advise,

On The Fence In Beantown

#################

Vishous:  Here’s what you need to do.  Go to your local Stahp ‘n Shahp and get some Sweet Baby Ray’s  BBQ. Then get a good knife. After you slice his b*lls off, marinate them and then pan fry ‘em.  Serve them to him hot and spicy and-

Mary:  Okaaaaaaay.  Let’s just all take a deep breath here.

V:  I know, because the BBQ sauce smells great, right?

Mary:  Ah, no.  It’s because we should not settle this type of conflict through bodily harm.

V:  Whatever, that lying sack of sh*t with the fake Match profile doesn’t deserve a set of nuts.  S’all I’m sayin’.

Mary:  I think we’ve heard your point of view loud and clear.  And now, I’d like to offer a more nuanced opinion. On The Fence, it’s clear that there are some reasons to be concerned about this guy.  One of the things that I tell people in my practice is to always trust your instincts. As much as you want to believe the best-

V:  Fine.  No BBQ sauce, then.  Just slice, dice and toss ‘em in the pan.  He doesn’t deserve Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Mary:  ................

V:  What.  Oh, come on, don’t look at me like that.

Mary:  I’ve never actually said this before to someone, but why don’t you light up a cigarette and take a few deep drags.

V:  I thought you’d never ask.

Mary:  Anyway, On The Fence, my suggestion is that you have a frank, face-to-face conversation with “Evan.”  Share your concerns calmly and succinctly. See what his answers are. Based on how he responds, you should be able to tell a lot.  Is he listening to you and taking you seriously? Is he offering to have you stay over at his place? Or is he defensive and turning everything back on you-

V:  And his Red Sox card is revoked.  He has to root for the Yankees now.

Mary:  -in a way that makes you uncomfortable?  At the end of the day, you deserve to be in a relationship with someone who’s as honest as you are and treats you the way you’re treating them.

V:  I have to agree with Mary on this one.  Even though you’re a human, being with a lying sack of sh*t is whack.  

Mary:  Remember, your physical safety comes first, and fast on its heels is your emotional health.  Please do not sacrifice your happiness just because you are hoping that “Evan” is the one-

V:  I think you’re going to find out he’s got a wife and kids and he’s playing you.  Which brings us back to my solution to the problem-

Mary: -and let us know how it goes, please.  Best of luck!

V:  F**k him!  Go get a real man- and that skillet.

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Book Review: Hustle (Men of Inked: Southside #4) by Chelle Bliss


Hustle (Men of Inked: Southside #4) 
by USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss 

AVAILABLE NOW! 
❥ Amazon: mybook.to/hustle
❥ Apple: smarturl.it/9mo8nq 
❥ Nook: bit.ly/2SwCASk
❥ Kobo: bit.ly/2IAVSWR
❥ Print $12.99: amzn.to/2Axk31W 

**Remember, buy the print on amazon.com and get the eBook FREE.

Genre: Contemporary Romance #ChelleBliss #Hustle #ReleaseBlitz #MenOfInked


Hustle is the fourth book in the interconnected standalone Men of Inked: Southside series


 Synopsis

Vinnie Gallo's the hottest rookie in professional football.
He's a smooth-talker, good with his hands, and knows how to score.
Bianca Hernandez thinks she's immune to Vinnie's charms.
She's not impressed by the glitz, glamour, or fame, but after a six-month self-imposed break from men and sex, she feels her resistance slipping.
Nothing will stop Vinnie from trying to get the girl--not a crazy stalker, Bianca's two older brothers, or the fear he's falling in love.


My Rating:



Favorite Quotes:

I don’t know what century my mother is living in, but it’s not this one… “He has nice teeth too,” she adds, like that little detail should be enough to seal the deal.

You’re talking to a bunch of jocks and housewives, sweetheart. We barely write, let alone read.

She slides her hands down his thick neck to his shoulders. “Solid frame. Good genes. You’ll make wonderful grandchildren.” Vinnie stiffens. “I don’t think we’re ready to have children yet,” he tells her, letting her feel him up like she’s buying livestock. “I didn’t plan to have Luis when I did either. Accidents happen, handsome.”

I motion for her to give the book back. “But I want to finish it and yours too.” “Is Vinnie Gallo a secret romance lover?” “Shut your mouth. Don’t you dare tell anyone.”


My Review:


If in need of a quick, light, spicy, and irreverently amusing read, Hustle will put a smirk on your face and a kick in your pulse rate – this couple had sizzle and snap.  Written in my favorite dual POV, the storylines were easy to follow and humorously entertaining while laced with sensual steam naughty levity, and bawdy talking characters.  I enjoy the rowdy Gallos and am highly amused by the ingeniously uncommon element of an Italian mother who cannot cook.  

Empress DJ



Men of Inked Series Also Available Now! 

❤️Maneuver→ menofinked.com/maneuver 
❤️Flow→ menofinked.com/flow 
❤️Hook→ menofinked.com/hook 

 

 Meet the Author

USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico. She's a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. She's written over ten books and has two series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.
Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master's degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor's in History. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can't imagine doing anything else.

http://chellebliss.com/
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