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Thursday, April 21, 2022

JUST ONE DARE (KINGSTON FAMILY #5)


 A one night stand with no names exchanged.

Six years later, she comes face to face with her baby’s father again.
Aurora Michaels isn’t the same girl she was that spring night. No longer homeless and living in the back room of a diner where she worked, she’s now a member of the wealthy Kingston family. She has her daughter, a career and has adjusted to her new normal.
Billionaire Nick Dare is a man who takes charge. He runs the hotel arm of the family empire and his life revolves around business and travel. A quick stop at his brother's movie premier has him doing a double take.
The woman who haunts his dreams is there. He’s been given a second chance and is determined to make the most of it.
When he learns about their daughter, Nick becomes a man on a mission. Aurora and their child are his. Even if he has to knock down Aurora’s emotional walls to prove it.
Release Date: April 19, 2022
Kingston Family #5
Contemporary Romance
CP Publishing
Review copy provided by publisher
Liza’s Review:
Just One Dare is the book I’ve wanted from the moment we met Aurora Michaels, now Kingston. I’ve always wondered about Leah’s father, and this story was so worth the wait! Seriously folks, I literally reread this book as soon as I finished it the first time it was so awesome!!!
Aurora and Nick had one night together the day Aurora aged out of foster care and never shared last names, so there was no way for Aurora to get in contact with Nick once she realized she was pregnant. Leah had been abandoned by both birth parents, but was lucky enough to have her Kingston siblings find her, and their mother Melly accept her into their family as another daughter. So when Aurora sees Nick for the first time in 6 years, she completely freaks out knowing she has to tell him about Leah.
Nick Dare has never had a long-term relationship in his life. He literally has a 3 dates and he is done rule that has been in place forever. All of his siblings kid him about it on the regular. When he sees Aurora again he knows he doesn’t want to lose her again, and when he meets his daughter for the first time, he is completely blown away. I pretty much fell in love with Nick as soon as he told Aurora there was no fault with her not telling him sooner about having a child together. Since they never exchanged last names, there really was no way they could reach one another again, but he still could have been a jerk about it, and he wasn’t. I also loved how he defended Aurora to his family when they questioned not learning about Leah until now.
We knew Aurora had been in foster care since her grandmother passed away, but didn’t know the extent of her abandonment from her birth parents until this book. Aurora has major trust issues thanks to both parents rejecting her, and she will do everything in her power to make sure Leah never feels that, so she is super protective and hesitant to let Nick in to quickly to protect her heart and Leah’s. However, the chemistry Nick and Aurora felt all those years ago is even stronger and neither fights their attraction to the other for very long. Aurora’s abandonment issues definitely didn’t go away overnight, and I loved who Aurora talked to about everything to get a better feel for how to handle her issues going forward. I loved Nick and Aurora as a couple so much! That said Nick, Aurora, and Leah as a family gave me even more of the happy feels. Leah has a big presence in this book, and Ms. Phillips did an amazing job with the little 5 year old spitfire. I know there are readers who don’t love kids in romance books, but when done right, it adds so much to a story, and every moment with Leah in this story was done right.
Just One Dare was amazing from start to finish! I loved we not only got to finally get Aurora’s story, but we also got to see all of her siblings and their spouses, and got updates on where they are in their lives. I’ve loved each of the Kingston Family books, and am so excited we will soon get more books with the Dirty Dares. I highly suggest Just One Dare to romance readers who love to experience all the feelings as they read an incredible story!
Rating: 5 Stars (A+)

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

FALLING EMBERS (TATTERED & TORN SERIES #2)


 I’ve loved Calder Cruz from the moment he taught me how to fly. Racing down a mountain and giving me the release I so desperately needed. My understanding. My safe space.


Hadley has fought for a life of her own ever since her sister’s kidnapping. When she was drowning in expectations and family pressures, Calder was always the one who understood her.

Until one night changed it all. From best friends to strangers in a single breath.

She’s like a fire that lives inside me. Even when I thought it was all burned out, there were still embers that lived in my bones.

Calder knows what it’s like to almost lose the people he loves most. He’ll never make that kind of mistake again. Working at the fire station and taking care of his daughters are the only things he needs.

All it takes is a single moment to make him realize how wrong he is. A split second of coming close to losing the woman he has always loved.

But as long-buried embers light anew, there are those who lurk in the shadows. And they’ll do whatever it takes to extinguish that flame for good…

Release Date: April 12, 2022
Tattered & Torn Series #2
Contemporary Romance
PageSmith, LLC
Review copy provided by publisher

Nikki's Review:

I always think the current Catherine Cowles book I’m reading is her best yet. Until the next one comes out. So, right now THIS one is her best! 


I loved Hadley. She’s spunky, brave, loyal, and strong. But under all these great qualities she’s hurting and vulnerable. She was kinda lost. Calder was floundering just as much, but once they let go to be together  it was like they both felt a bit more balanced. Not perfect, but like they could face the difficult things better because they had each other. 


Calder and Hadley had great chemistry. Like scorching chemistry. The I can’t keep my hands off of you kind! Once Calder got his head out of his ass it was on!


Catherine Cowles really digs deep into the intimacy of love and relationships with her characters. Not just the sexy times, but the inner workings of the heart. I always get a well rounded feeling of what’s going on in the characters heads. This book was no exception. As for the writing? I think brilliant is a good word to use. Phenomenal is another one, but I think the best word to describe it is masterpiece. 



Rating: 5 Stars (A+)

Monday, April 11, 2022

BLACK MAIL (BLACK'S BANDITS #6)


Shy Cassie Dixon was never the girl most likely to succeed. Then she moved to the big city, landed a job she’s good at, and started her own YouTube channel for plus-sized girls like her.


When her channel attracts unwanted attention, the threats quickly turn personal—and vicious. But nobody takes the danger seriously. Not even the police.

BDI operative Tyler Scott agrees to check on Cassie when his favorite cousin insists her bestie’s in danger.

The decorated former Marine doesn’t remember Cassie from high school, but one look into her pretty green eyes and he’s got a feeling he’s hooked.

Before he can fight for her heart, he’ll have to fight for her life—and his.

Because someone wants Cassie dead. And they’ve got a foolproof plan to make it happen.

Release Date: March 29, 2022
Black's Bandits #6
Romantic Suspense
Review Copy Provided by Publisher
HOT Publishing, LLC

Liza's Review:

Black Mail is the newest book in the Black's Bandits series from Lynn Raye Harris. This series of books is like catnip to me, and I was really excited to get Ty's book. 


Cassie Dixon is Tyler's favorite cousin's best friend. When Kari gets him to check in on Cassie because she has been receiving threats and unwanted attention, and many of the threats have become violent, Ty does so to get his cousin off his back. Even though Ty and Cassie grew up in the same town, he didn't really remember much about Cassie and was blown away by her beauty upon seeing her again all these years later. Cassie had the biggest crush on Ty when they were in high school, but was so introverted she never would have acted on her attraction.

Cassie is an introvert and a plus-sized woman who really has only ever been talked down to not only from her mother, but by any of the men she has been involved with in the past. Ty is the perfect man to not only protect Cassie, but to help her realize the beautiful and sexy woman he sees when he looks at her. I loved that Ty was always encouraging Cassie, and helping to bolster her self esteem. The stalker messing with Cassie with threats and unwanted emails and gifts were so ugly and vicious, it broke my heart to see Cassie continue to be down on herself and even believe Ty could never really be interested in her because of her size. Words hurt, and the stalker after Cassie only wanted to belittle her and make her feel horrible about herself, and if Ty wasn't there, I honestly think Cassie would have eventually moved back into her introverted shell.

I loved Ty and Cassie as a couple. They had amazing chemistry together, and they had smoking hot smexy times once Cassie finally got out of her head. I also loved how much Ty and Cassie shared all they went through with their parents growing up. They both talked to each other about things they had never shared with anyone else, and it made me love them more and more as a couple. Yes their chemistry was amazing, but some of their talks and fixing meals together were some of the best parts of the book for me.

Ms. Harris kept me guessing about Cassie's stalker with Black Mail. I usually can figure out the bad guy before it is revealed, but was pretty shocked with this one. I love how all of the members of BDI are always there to help out their own, and Cassie became one of their own once they met her with Ty.

Black Mail was a wonderful addition to the Black's Bandits series of books. I didn't love how down Cassie was on herself when the book started, but I did love seeing her come out of her protective shell and show courage and strength as the story progressed. Tyler and Cassie's story only has me wanting even more time with the characters in the Black's Bandits series, and I can't wait to read the next installment.

Rating: 4 Stars (B)

Review copy provided by publisher 

Friday, April 01, 2022

SWEET HOME COWBOY BLOG TOUR


SWEET HOME COWBOY

Author: Maisey Yates, Jackie Ashenden, Caitlin Crews, Nicole Helm

ISBN: 9781335639967

Publication Date: March 29, 2022

Publisher: HQN Books


Book Summary:

SWEET HOME COWBOY S is a Western-themed anthology featuring four stories from bestselling authors Maisey Yates, Nicole Helm, Jackie Ashenden and Caitlin Crews!

Four half sisters create the family they’ve always dreamed of in this enchanting quartet from bestselling authors Maisey Yates, Nicole Helm, Jackie Ashenden and Caitlin Crews.

The Hathaway sisters might have grown up apart, but when they agree to move to Jasper Creek, Oregon, to revitalize their grandfather’s farm, it seems a straightforward decision. Until they meet their neighborhood cowboys…

Sweet-natured Teddy has never met a man worth taking a risk on, until now. Tomboy Joey has more affinity with farm equipment than men, until a brooding cowboy changes her mind. Prickly baker Georgie can’t resist the temptation of the most forbidden cowboy of all, and sparks fly between ceramicist Elliot and the grumpy single-dad rancher next door.

The sisters’ feelings are anything but simple, but with the love and support of each other, they discover that a cowboy might be the sweetest thing of all about coming home.

Buy Links: 

BookShop.org

Harlequin 

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Books-A-Million





Author Bio: 

Maisey Yates is a New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romance novels. Whether she's writing strong, hard working cowboys, dissolute princes or multigenerational family stories, she loves getting lost in fictional worlds. An avid knitter with a dangerous yarn addiction and an aversion to housework, Maisey lives with her husband and three kids in rural Oregon. Check out her website, maiseyyates.com or find her on Facebook.

Jackie Ashenden writes dark, emotional stories with alpha heroes who've just got the world to their liking only to have it blown wide apart by their kick-ass heroines.

She lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband the inimitable Dr Jax and two kids. When she's not torturing alpha males, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, wasting time on social media, or forced to mountain biking with her husband.

Caitlin Crews is a USA Today bestselling, RITA-nominated, and critically-acclaimed author who has written more than 100 books and counting. She has a Masters and Ph.D. in English Literature, thinks everyone should read more category romance, and is always available to discuss her beloved alpha heroes. Just ask. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her comic book artist husband, is always planning her next trip, and will never, ever, read all the books in her to-be-read pile. Thank goodness.

Nicole Helm writes down-to-earth contemporary romance and fast-paced romantic suspense. She lives with her husband and two sons in Missouri. Visit her website: www.nicolehelm.com

Social Links:

Author Website: http://www.maiseyyates.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MaiseyYates.Author/ 

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/maiseyyates 

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


Author Website: https://www.jackieashenden.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.ashenden 

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jackieashenden 

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


Author Website: https://megancrane.com/ 

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

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/megancrane 

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


Author Website: https://www.nicolehelm.com/ 

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

Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/nicole_t_helm/ 

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



EXCERPT

PROLOGUE

It was never comfortable for people when four sets of vi­olet eyes zeroed in on them with the level of intensity the Hathaway sisters could manage.

A fact the half sisters had learned when they’d first met at summer camp, thanks to their families, who’d been care­ful to give the girls the opportunity to meet each other, without the pressure of having to become friends or even real sisters.

But sisters they had become that first day at the age of thirteen. In each other, they’d found kindred spirits. Not just in the unusual color of their eyes, but in the depths of their passions, and in their driving need to forge family out of the fragments their father had left behind when he’d impreg­nated all their mothers at different points in the same year.

So that, as adults, though they lived in different parts of the country, they were the best of friends. Sisters, through and through, and when Georgie had informed them of Grandpa Jack’s heart attack in Jasper Creek, the rest had rushed to the small Oregon town to see what they could do.

Grandpa Jack looked at each of them with his usual squinty-eyed suspicion. Though their father had never made any effort to be a part of his daughters’ lives, Grandpa Jack had always made it clear he’d be there if needed.

But not to expect him to be cheerful about it.

“Didn’t all have to come,” he grumbled, shifting in his hospital bed.

“Well, of course we did. And we’ll stay until you’re on the mend,” Teddy said, patting his hand. The squinty-eyed suspicion became a full-fledged scowl as he pulled his hand away.

While Teddy was all about gestures of affection, Grandpa Jack was decidedly not.

Which made the fact Georgie was the only local grand­daughter a blessing as she shared the discomfort with such goings-on. He turned his glare to her. “Didn’t have to call them.”

Georgie shrugged.

“She was right to,” Joey said firmly, meeting Grandpa Jack’s scowl with her own. “We won’t hear another com­plaint about it. A waste of time. You know how stubborn we are.”

Grandpa Jack grunted.

Elliot smirked. “Wonder where we got it.”

A nurse knocked on the door, then poked her head in. “Sorry, girls, it’s time to head home. Visiting hours are over.”

“Girls,” Elliot muttered under her breath with a consid­erable amount of disdain for the word.

But Teddy pressed a kiss to Grandpa Jack’s wrinkled forehead, Elliot touched his shoulder, and Georgie and Joey hovered at the door until they all left the room, chorusing goodbyes.

“I hate leaving him all alone,” Teddy said as Elliot linked arms with her. Teddy reached out and took Joey’s arm.

“He’ll be home soon enough,” Joey reassured her. She gave Georgie an apologetic shrug, then linked arms with her too, so they were a unit as they walked out of the hos­pital into the cool spring evening.

“He’s not going to let you fuss over him, Teddy. It isn’t his way,” Georgie said pragmatically as they walked to her truck.

Teddy frowned. “I think you misjudge my tenacity.”

Elliot’s eyebrows winged up. “Do we?”

Teddy wrinkled her nose, but didn’t argue with Elliot.

“I found an Airbnb closer to the hospital,” Georgie said, sounding tired as she climbed into the driver’s seat. “I knew this wouldn’t be a quick visit and we’d need more room than Felix and I have.” Georgie had grown up with her half brother right here in Jasper Creek.

The four sisters climbed into Georgie’s truck. Whatever belongings they’d packed were strapped into the bed of the truck from when Georgie had picked Joey and Teddy up at the airport this afternoon, after Elliot had driven down from Portland.

Georgie drove onto the highway, and it was only about fifteen minutes later she parked in front of a pretty little farmhouse just outside of Jasper Creek.

“This place is amazing,” Teddy said.

“Much better taken care of than the main house at Grandpa Jack’s property,” Georgie returned.

The women got out, grabbed what they’d need for the night, then headed inside.

“I’ll make us some dinner,” Teddy said, already mov­ing for the kitchen.

“The host said she left some things for us to eat when we arrived,” Georgie replied, dropping her stuff in the front room.

They all descended on the kitchen, which was quaint and old-fashioned—something that suited all four women to the bone. On the table were a variety of baked goods.

“I found a teapot and some tea,” Teddy said.

“Scones and sweet rolls for dinner sounds good to me,” Joey said, already unwrapping the plate of baked goods and digging in.

Elliot found plates and set the table, shoving one at Joey as she’d already plowed through three-fourths of a scone.

“Do you think Grandpa Jack is stressed about the ranch? And that’s what caused this?” Teddy asked, fiddling with the stove.

“I think he’s an old man who eats poorly and smokes cigars regularly. But…” Georgie sighed.

“He’s been talk­ing about selling off the last piece of land to Colt West next door. He’d keep the

cabin and about an acre around it, but the rest would go to Colt.”

“Even the main house?” Joey asked, as she licked crumbs from her fingers.

“You could hardly call it that these days. It’s falling apart at the seams.”

Teddy frowned. “That’s just not right.”

Georgie shrugged. “He hasn’t lived in that house in de­cades. He’s a single, old, grumpy man. He’s finally accept­ing he can’t really take care of the ranch. Why not sell?”

“It’s our legacy,” Joey said. Then she looked around the table. “Isn’t it?”

“It’s our absent father’s legacy,” Elliot returned. “As­suming he’s still alive.”

All eyes turned to Georgie, who was the only one who’d ever had any contact with Mickey Hathaway. She lifted her shoulders. “Far as I know.”

Silence filled the room until Teddy’s teakettle began to whistle. She poured tea for everyone, then took a seat at the kitchen table. As far as she was concerned, this was all fate. The timing, the chance of all four of them com­ing here at a point in their lives where they got to decide what came next.

“We’ve always talked about how much we wanted to live there, so why don’t we?”

“Why don’t we what?” Joey replied, mouth full with her last bite of scone.

“Live there. Do what we all love to do. Put together some kind of…business. Honey, eggs,” Teddy said, pointing to herself. “Produce,” she said, pointing to Joey. “Ceramics.” Elliot’s specialty. “Our sweet Georgie’s baked goods,” she said, grinning at Georgie’s negative reaction to being called sweet.

“Most of us are already selling our wares anyway. Why don’t we do it here? The four of us.”

It would be more than the year her mother wanted, more than just learning some independence. It would be actually, hopefully permanently, forging that independence. Well, with her sisters. Which suited Teddy better. She didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to be a part of a family. Her family.

“You’d move here all the way from Maine?” Joey asked dubiously. “Leave your mother?”

Teddy sniffed. “I can leave my mother.” Then she wrin­kled her nose. Subterfuge wasn’t her

strong suit.

“She wants me to move out anyway.”

“Why?” her sisters demanded, offended on her behalf.

“She thinks I need a year of independence. To find my own way. Apparently twenty-five is too old to have always lived with your mother, according to her.”

When none of her sisters argued, she glared at them. “You agree with her?”

Elliot shrugged. “I don’t disagree with her.”

“Well, anyway, this would solve that, wouldn’t it? We can fix up the house. I’m sure some people need bee re­moval around here, so I’ll start a new hive. Buy new chick­ens. Elliot can drive her ceramics van down here. Joey, you could start the farm of your dreams with local produce and flowers—a brand-new challenge, all yours. Georgie, you can design the baking kitchen you’ve been planning since childhood. And we’ll be close enough to Grandpa to help him—and far enough away he won’t beat us away with sticks.”

They looked at Teddy, varying looks of consideration and concern on their faces. But as the idea took shape in Teddy’s mind, she knew it was exactly right. This wasn’t some new dream out of left field; it was an old dream.

And if she had to be independent, why not make that old dream a reality?

“We always wanted to live in one place. Like a real fam­ily,” Teddy said. She would have reached out and grabbed all their hands if she had three herself. As it was, she only looked at them imploringly. “Sisters. Live together. Work together. It’s the dream. Maybe something good can come out of Grandpa’s health scare. If Grandpa lets us live in the house, and we pool whatever our savings are together, it’s not a financial stretch. Elliot and I can keep our indepen­dent businesses running while we get our joint business set up. Then we split the farm profit four ways.”

“Profit. That is optimistic at best,” Georgie said.

“You know I am all about optimism,” Teddy returned.

A wind chime tinkled from the front room, which was odd considering there shouldn’t be enough wind to make it move here inside.

“Did someone leave the door open?” Joey asked, push­ing back from the table. The girls got up and walked to­ward the door, which was indeed open.

“Look at that,” Elliot said.

They stepped out onto the porch together. Beyond the dogwood in the front just beginning to bloom, the sun was setting in a riot of colors—bright magentas, deep oranges, fading into lavenders and lighter pinks.

“It’s the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen.”

“That’s a tad dramatic, Teddy,” Georgie said gently, though her voice held all the awe of someone who agreed, but would never admit it.

“We have to do it,” Teddy said, her voice almost a whis­per. “This is a sign. Don’t you believe in fate?”

Elliot nodded. “Yeah. I’m mobile. I go where I please. Why not right here?”

Georgie shrugged. “Don’t know about fate, but it wouldn’t change much for me, except you guys would be close. I’d like that. Felix is talking about leaving Jasper Creek.”

Teddy reached out, but Georgie stopped her with a quell­ing look. “It’s fine.” She offered a smile, or Georgie’s ver­sion of a smile anyway. “Especially if you guys are here.”

All eyes turned to Joey.

“I have to talk timing over with my mom. I don’t want to leave her short-staffed,” Joey said, her eyes still on the sunset. Then she pushed out a breath and looked at her sis­ters and grinned. “But why the hell not?”

Teddy smiled at the sunset, feeling a bit teary over the whole thing. But it was meant to be, she was sure of it. “Four Sisters Farm.” She looked at each of her sisters. “That’s what we can call it. Because it’ll be ours. Always.”


Excerpted from Sweet Home Cowboy by Nicole Helm, Maisey Yates, Jackie Ashenden, Caitlin Crews. Copyright © 2022 by Nicole Helm, Maisey Yates, Jackie Ashenden, Caitlin Crews. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.