Showing posts with label Avon HarperCollins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Avon HarperCollins. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

DARING AND THE DUKE (BARENUCKLE BASTARDS #3)

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the much-anticipated final book in her Bareknuckle Bastards series, featuring a scoundrel duke and the powerful woman who brings him to his knees.

Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best...until the man she once loved returns.

Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back…and make her his duchess.

Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she's built, the life she's claimed…and the heart she swore he'd never steal again. 


Release Date: June 30, 2020
Avon Harper Collins
Historical Romance
Barenuckle Bastards #3
Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

I wanted to read Daring and the Duke from the moment I finished reading Brazen and the Beast. I needed to see how Ms. MacLean could possibly redeem Ewan, as I had serious doubts at that point. Daring and the Duke has absolutely become one of the best books I've read all year!

Grace Condry and her brothers Whit and Devil are known as the Barenuckle Bastards of Covent Garden and they rule the Garden together and protect all that reside in the Garden. Ewan, Duke of Marwick has wreaked havoc on the Gardens because he had been told Grace had died. He absolutely went mad and attached everything and anyone who were important to Whit and Devil. He was absolutely horrible, and in the first 2 books in the series, I wanted him to absolutely lose everything.

Grace on the other hand still had feelings for Ewan even after all he had done to hurt them. I loved this tough as nails woman had been in love with Ewan since they were children. I honestly never thought at the first of the book Ewan deserved the love Grace still felt. However, with each passing chapter we discover just a bit more about the past and all Ewan did to protect not only Grace, but his brothers as well. I found myself loving Ewan every bit as much if not more than his brother as each new fact from the past was brought to light. 

I absolutely adored Grace and Ewan as a couple and had all the happy feels once they started to spend more time together and Grace started seeing all that Ewan was willing to do to make everything right. Their chemistry was fabulous and only grew hotter the more time they spent together. I loved how protective they were of one another. As Grace is one of the Barenuckle Bastards, she has no problem protecting herself and all those she loves. Ewan would do absolutely anything within his power to make sure Grace was always protected. 

Daring and the Duke was everything I wanted in the end of this fabulous series from Sarah MacLean! The entire series is sublime and I can't wait to go back and re-read it again and again to revisit characters I absolutely adore. Somehow the Barenuckle Bastards series is the first I've read by Ms. MacLean, and I can't wait to devour her back list in the near future.



Rating: 5 Stars (A+)

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Monday, April 27, 2020

CHASING CASSANDRA (THE RAVENELS #6)

Everything has a price...

Railway magnate Tom Severin is wealthy and powerful enough to satisfy any desire as soon as it arises. Anything—or anyone—is his for the asking. It should be simple to find the perfect wife—and from his first glimpse of Lady Cassandra Ravenel, he’s determined to have her. But the beautiful and quick-witted Cassandra is equally determined to marry for love—the one thing he can’t give.

Everything except her...

Severin is the most compelling and attractive man Cassandra has ever met, even if his heart is frozen. But she has no interest in living in the fast-paced world of a ruthless man who always plays to win.

When a newfound enemy nearly destroys Cassandra’s reputation, Severin seizes the opportunity he’s been waiting for. As always, he gets what he wants—or does he? There’s one lesson Tom Severin has yet to learn from his new bride:

Never underestimate a Ravenel.

The chase for Cassandra’s hand may be over. But the chase for her heart has only just begun...

Release Date: February 18, 2020
Avon Books
Historical Romance
The Ravenels #6
Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:


Chasing Cassandra is the latest book in the popular Ravenel series from Lisa Kleypas. I've enjoyed each of the stories in this series and was so excited to get Cassandra's book at last. 

Cassandra is such a sweet and charming character. She truly seems to look for the good in pretty much every part of life, and was such a refreshing character. She is a bit at loose ends since her twin Pandora just got married, and is now heading into the season pretty much needing to find a husband.

Tom Severin always gets what he wants, and after meeting Lady Cassandra, he wants her...not as a love match, but because she needs a husband and he needs a wife. The fact that Cassandra will only marry for love and they were so opposite in so many ways, only made me love them more with each page I read. Cassandra challenged Tom in a way few had ever done in his life. The banter between Cassandra and Tom was delightful at times and totally felt like foreplay at other times. I seriously fell hard for them as a couple long before they became one. 

I adored Tom's protective instincts when it came to Cassandra as it was something even those he claimed as friends never thought possible. I loved watching Tom fall in love with another person for the first time in his life, and I especially loved he fell for Cassandra just as she was and didn't want her to change anything about herself. Especially as she seemed to need to change everything about herself to be with any other man. I also felt the chemistry between them from their first meeting, and loved it grew stronger with each meeting. I really was completely charmed by this couple, and loved seeing them find one another.

Chasing Cassandra was a completely charming story. I really loved all aspects of the story and couldn't put the book down once I started reading it. Lisa Kleypas gives her readers a wonderful addition to the Ravenel series with Chasing Cassandra and I can't wait to see what she brings us next with her next release.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

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Monday, September 30, 2019

SAPPHIRE FLAMES (HIDDEN LEGACY #4)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrew comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society…

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart. 

Release Date: August 27, 2019
Avon HarperCollins Publisher
Hidden Legacy #4, Catalina Baylor #1
Urban Fantasy
Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Sapphire Flames is the 4th book in the Hidden Legacy series and the 1st book with Catalina Baylor being the main character of the series. Catalina is the head of House Baylor and they are in the final weeks of new house protection when Sapphire Flames begins. I feel like all of the Baylors have the same moral code when it comes to taking care of friends, family and those in need, and Catalina was everything I wanted in the new head of the house.

Catalina's style and magic is very different from Nevada's, and I liked she delegated more responsibilities to various family members.  Even when there were issues along the way, she showed a strength I wasn't aware she had from the first 3 Hidden Legacy books. I felt like Catalina's strength was more internal and she was learning on the fly, and it was very refreshing for me. Her sense of right and wrong worked for me and I loved seeing her begin to come into her own as the story progressed.

Alessandro Sagredo gave me all the happy sighs when he was on the page. I loved the banter between him and Catalina. OMG the chemistry and attraction between these two gave me all the feels. I can't wait to see where they go as this series progresses, as I think I love them even more than I loved Nevada and Rogan...and I had mad love for those two.

Sapphire Flames was a great read. I loved getting to spend more time and learn more about each of the Baylor family members with each new installment. Ilona Andrews became an auto-buy/auto-read author for me as soon as I read the first Kate Daniels book, and I have to say my love for the Hidden Legacy series is every bit as strong. I can't wait to see where we are taken next in this wonderful Urban Fantasy series.

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

RELEASED BLITZ: WRAPPED UP IN YOU

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Kel’s been burned once too many times to believe in love, and yet Ivy makes him want things he never imagined. But when her surprising past intrudes, Kel fears that everything she’s told him has been a lie. Is he willing to fight for a true love story?

Wrapped Up in You, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Jill Shalvis is LIVE!

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It’s love. Trust me.

After a lifetime on the move, Ivy Snow is an expert in all things temporary—schools, friends, and way too many Mr. Wrongs. Now that she owns a successful taco truck in San Francisco and an apartment to call home, Ivy’s reinvented life is on solid ground. And she’s guarded against anything that can rock it. Like the realities of a past she’s worked hard to cover up. And especially Kel O’Donnell. Too hot not to set off alarms, he screams temporary. If only his whispers weren’t so delightfully naughty and irresistible.

Kel, an Idaho sheriff and ranch owner, is on vacay, but Ivy’s a spicy reason to give his short-terms plans a second thought. Best of all, she’s a tonic for his untrusting heart, burned once and still in repair. But when Ivy’s past intrudes on a perfect romance, Kel fears that everything she’s told him has been a perfect lie. Now, if only Ivy’s willing to share, Kel will fight for a true love story.

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Download your copy today!

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

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kp5icy

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About Jill:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill:



Friday, July 12, 2019

THE LEMON SISTERS (WILDSTONE #3)

The New York Times bestselling author of Rainy Day Friends and Lost and Found Sisters returns to Wildstone, California, where two completely opposite sisters—who are still nursing wounds from the past—realize they need each other more than they think.

When Brooke’s older sister, Mindy, shows up at her door with her three kids in tow, she barely recognizes her sibling who looks like she’s on the verge of a total breakdown. While adventurous, wanderlust Brooke was always the problem child, eager to slip free of Wildstone and its small-town constraints, Mindy was the golden child, who never had a hair out of place or a GPA below 4.0. The Mindy that arrives at Brooke’s apartment however, is a far cry from the ever-perfect doctor’s wife.

Brooke’s further stunned when Mindy asks to trade places with her for a few days so she can pick up her pieces and put herself back together. What Mindy doesn’t realize is that Brooke is just as broken. Her sister needs her though, so Brooke takes the kids and returns to Wildstone.

But how does one go home after seven years away and what feels like a lifetime of secrets? It doesn’t take long for Brooke to come face-to-face with her past, in the form of one tall, dark, sexy mistake. But Garrett’s no longer interested, or so he says. Only his words don’t match his actions, leaving Brooke feeling things she long ago shoved deep.

The sisters begin to wonder if the childhood taunts were true, are they lemons in life? In love? True or not, they know one thing—you can’t run far enough to outpace your demons. And when long-dead secrets surface, they’ll have to overcome their differences and learn that sometimes the one person who can help you the most is the one you never thought to ask.

Release Date: June 18, 2019
Avon Harper Collins
Wildstone #3
Contemporary Romance
Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

I absolutely adored Mindy and Brooke so much. I think what I loved best about them was each sister thought the other one had it all together, until they had to walk in each others shoes so to speak. Mindy needs a mini break from her life, so she crashes at Brooke's house while Brooke plans to take her kids on vacation for a few days. However, rather than taking the kids to Disneyland as planned, she decides to head back to their hometown instead. Brooke was so out of her element when she first arrived back in Wildstone taking care of her niece and nephews. It really was laugh out loud funny as she navigated three very different personalities in such a different way than her sister would do it. 

Luckily for Brooke, Garrett, who was her one time love, still lives next door to Mindy, and he steps up to help her as needed. I found myself falling for Garrett pretty much from the beginning. Brooke hadn't been home in 7 years and cut all ties with him, yet he not only helped her with the kids, they both couldn't seem to stay away from each other. I adored Brooke and Garrett as a couple. They had both been through so much and seemed to find happiness when they were together they didn't really have without the other. I loved seeing them reconnect and find their way back to one another. OMG they had the most amazing chemistry, which only grew stronger the more time, they were together. All the love for these two characters.

While I'm not a mom, I totally got Mindy and her need for a break...especially when she had so much going on in her life trying to make it perfect. I loved seeing Mindy stand up for herself and admit she needed the help not only from her husband, but her sister as well. Mindy and Brooke had been close growing up, but had grown apart as their lives took them in different directions. I loved seeing Mindy and Brooke reconnect and share everything that had been going on in the lives as much as I loved the romance in this story.

Jill Shalvis has pretty much been an auto-buy author for me since I read one of her very first books. I know each new story will have an emotional punch and will take me on a beautiful ride. The Lemon Sisters seriously might just be my favorite story ever from Ms. Shalvis. While it is part of the Wildstone series of books, each of these books can easily be read as a stand-alone story.

Rating: 5 Stars (B+)

Thursday, May 16, 2019

A PRINCE ON PAPER (RELUCTANT ROYALS #3)

The Reluctant Royals series returns with a good girl searching for the life that's not too big, and not too small, and the bad boy prince who might be just right for her... 

Nya Jerami fled Thesolo for the glitz and glamour of NYC but discovered that her Prince Charming only exists in her virtual dating games. When Nya returns home for a royal wedding, she accidentally finds herself up close and personal-in bed-with the real-life celebrity prince who she loves to hate.

For Johan von Braustein, the red-headed step-prince of Liechtienbourg, acting as paparazzi bait is a ruse that protects his brother-the heir to the throne-and his own heart. When a royal referendum threatens his brother's future, a fake engagement is the perfect way to keep the cameras on him.

Nya and Johan both have good reasons to avoid love, but as desires are laid bare behind palace doors, they must decide if their fake romance will lead to a happily-ever-after.

Release Date: April 30, 2019
Avon Harper Collins
Reluctant Royals #3
Contemporary romance
Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

A Prince on Paper is the newest release in Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series. Each new installment makes me fall more in love with this series. I absolutely adored every single moment of Nya and Johan's story!

I found A Prince on Paper to be absolutely delightful. Nya and Johan both had reasons for protecting their hearts, though they differed a great deal. I'll be honest, I'm still angry with all Nya's father put her through and continued to put her through in this series. Seriously I really did want to punch him in the face (I think I have a little bit of Portia in me). I understood Johan's fears after losing his mom at a young age. I too lost my mom young, and could see that being a choice to protect oneself from pain in the future.

I really liked that Nya and Johan became good friends before they acted on any sort of attraction. Yes I wanted them together from the first moment they saw each other again on the plane, but I could tell neither was really ready for more than just physical release at that point in the story. As friends they both shared parts of their pasts and really learned what made the other tick along the way. Yes Nya and Johan had amazing chemistry and loved when they finally made love, but I honestly loved their friendship was the main focus for them both through much of the story.

Johan and Nya's story took me to my happy place. I've been absolutely enchanted by the entire Reluctant Royals series and hate to see it come to an end. Alyssa Cole's voice pulls me in from the very first page of each new story. I love her stories are filled with laughter, sigh worthy moments, happiness and even some tears along the way. I love an emotionally satisfying read, and each story in the Reluctant Royals series fits the bill. I'd love to say you could start the series with A Prince on Paper, but really feel like with this series, to better understand all the characters, you need to read the book in order of release. I promise you won't be sorry for investing your reading time in each and every book in this series.

Rating: 5 Stars (A+)


Friday, January 25, 2019

PLAYING FOR KEEPS (HEARTBREAKER BAY #7)

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Playing for Keeps by Jill Shalvis

Release Date: January 22nd

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Playing for Keeps, a stand-alone Heartbreaker Bay romance, by New York Times and USA Today best selling author Jill Shalvis.

If you’re planning on falling in love…

When it comes to the confident, charismatic Caleb Parker, Sadie Lane feels the spark—the kind that comes from rubbing each other the wrong way. She’s yoga pants, he’s a suit. She’s a tattoo artist, he’s a straight-laced mogul. But after they accidentally co-rescue an abandoned dog from a storm, Sadie sees a vulnerable side to the seemingly invincible hottie.

you’d better be sure…

Caleb doesn’t do emotions. Growing up the underdog, he’s learned the hard way to build up an impenetrable wall. Perfect for business. Disastrous for relationships. He’s never worried about it before—not until he finally gets behind Sadie’s armor and begins to fall.

… someone is there to catch you.

Both guarded and vulnerable, Sadie and Caleb are complete opposites. Or are they? Shocked at their undeniable connection, can they ever admit to wanting more? That all depends on what they’re each willing to risk.


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Download your copy today!

Add to Goodreads: https://goo.gl/Ngb229
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Excerpt:
    “Don’t run off,” he said.

    “I don’t like it when people tell me what to do.”

    “I get that,” he said. “And same. Also, I try very hard to never tell anyone what to do. But I think we need to finish this.”

    Another quiver from deep inside her. “I keep telling you, there’s no this.”

    “Are you sure?” Very slowly and carefully, clearly giving her plenty of time to get away if she really wanted, he stepped into her, making her extremely aware that she now stood hemmed in between the alley wall and his body, neither quite touching her.

    But she wanted him too. She actually ached to close that last inch between them. She didn’t do it. Instead, she lifted her chin. “I could make you an eunuch right now if I wanted.” The threat was minimalized by the fact that she whispered the threat, but suddenly holding onto her temper was difficult. So was talking. “Don’t think I can’t.”

    “I have no doubt,” he said, still holding one of her hands. He took the other as well and squeezed gently. “I think you could probably do anything you set your mind to.”

    No one had ever said those words to her, not ever, and when she felt the back of her eyes sting unexpectedly, she closed them in self defense.

    “Sadie.”

    She shook her head.

    “Look at me. Please?”

    It was the damn please that had her opening her eyes. Caleb had closed the gap so that if she so much as took a breath, they’d be touching.

    So she did just that. She took a deep breath, and then their bodies were up against each other, his warm and hard. Everywhere. “What’s happening?” she whispered.

    “I believe you’re deciding between kicking me in the nuts and kissing me.” One side of his mouth curved very slightly as he lifted their still joined hands above her head, against the wall. “But that last part might just be in my dreams.”

    “Yes,” she whispered.

    “Yes, it’s just in my dreams?”
    She meant to say yes again, she really did. She even opened her mouth to say it, because this was insane, this incredible … craving she had for him. It made no sense. Less than no sense, and yet …

    She went up on tiptoe and touched her mouth to his.



About Jill:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

Jill lives with her family in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters (Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is mostly coincidental). She does most of her writing on her deck surrounded by more animals than humans. Which is quite astonishing considering she’s a city girl who was plucked from the wilds of L.A. to the wilds of the Sierra’s. Most of her books come from a combination of hard work, cookies, and hot guy pics, and not necessarily in that order.

Jill often travels to reader weekends & conventions where she LOVES getting to meet and hang-out with readers. The only problem being she tends to get lost in her hotels. So if you ever see NYTimes Bestselling author Jill Shalvis roaming the halls, someone please return her immediately.

Connect with Jill:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillShalvis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillshalvis/
Mailing List:: http://jillshalvis.com/faq/newsletter/




Liza's Review:

Playing for Keeps is the newest release from Jill Shalvis in her popular Heartbreaker Bay series. I have to say I was over the moon to get Caleb Parker's book and was a bit surprised to see his heroine was Sadie Lane as they seem like polar opposites. 

I've always loved Caleb and couldn't wait to get his story. While I did end up enjoying Playing for Keeps overall, it did seem to take me longer to get into this book than other books in the series. I loved the aspect of Caleb and Sadie co-parenting the dog they rescue and those parts of the book brought so much laughter to the story. However, I continuously felt brought down by the secrets from Sadie's past. It ended up really distracting me a good bit of the time I was reading. I really felt like the secret was much bigger in her mind than in actuality. I guess it bugged me so much as I'm not big on secrets between a committed couple. 

Of course neither Caleb nor Sadie would admit to being in a relationship or even having feelings for one another for the longest time. It made me laugh a good bit in the beginning, as they couldn't stay away from each other. I especially laughed out loud when Sadie said the only relationship she was in was with Caleb's shower. They had so many funny, tender and sexy moments together; I was able to get past my few issues with this story.

I will say the fact that Caleb and Sadie both had super interfering families drove me a bit nuts. I thought Caleb's sisters went way too far in trying to protect him. I honestly felt like Sadie's mother was just the biggest witch on earth. I did love seeing her sister step up and finally show Sadie some support at a time when she truly needed it the most.

Overall, Playing for Keeps was a good story, but definitely not my favorite from Jill Shalvis. It took longer for me to connect with the couple than those in prior books. However, once I felt the connection, I ended up really liking Caleb and Sadie together. I did feel like the struggle was worth the payoff at the end, and the additional time with favorite character from the series only made it more enjoyable.


Rating: 4 Stars (B)
 Review copy provided by publisher

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

PLAYING FOR KEEPS RELEASE BLITZ

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Two people who are oil and water come together to rescue an abandoned dog in a storm. When they both want to adopt the dog, they agree to joint custody. Little did they know it would change everything…

Playing for Keeps, a stand-alone Heartbreaker Bay romance, by New York Times and USA Today best selling author Jill Shalvis is live!

PFKhi res copy.jpeg

If you’re planning on falling in love…

When it comes to the confident, charismatic Caleb Parker, Sadie Lane feels the spark—the kind that comes from rubbing each other the wrong way. She’s yoga pants, he’s a suit. She’s a tattoo artist, he’s a straight-laced mogul. But after they accidentally co-rescue an abandoned dog from a storm, Sadie sees a vulnerable side to the seemingly invincible hottie.

you’d better be sure…

Caleb doesn’t do emotions. Growing up the underdog, he’s learned the hard way to build up an impenetrable wall. Perfect for business. Disastrous for relationships. He’s never worried about it before—not until he finally gets behind Sadie’s armor and begins to fall.

… someone is there to catch you.

Both guarded and vulnerable, Sadie and Caleb are complete opposites. Or are they? Shocked at their undeniable connection, can they ever admit to wanting more? That all depends on what they’re each willing to risk.

PFK-AN.jpg

Download your copy today!

Add to Goodreads: https://goo.gl/Ngb229
PFKTeaser10.jpg

About Jill:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

Jill lives with her family in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters (Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is mostly coincidental). She does most of her writing on her deck surrounded by more animals than humans. Which is quite astonishing considering she’s a city girl who was plucked from the wilds of L.A. to the wilds of the Sierra’s. Most of her books come from a combination of hard work, cookies, and hot guy pics, and not necessarily in that order.

Jill often travels to reader weekends & conventions where she LOVES getting to meet and hang-out with readers. The only problem being she tends to get lost in her hotels. So if you ever see NYTimes Bestselling author Jill Shalvis roaming the halls, someone please return her immediately.

Connect with Jill:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillShalvis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillshalvis/
Mailing List:: http://jillshalvis.com/faq/newsletter/