Showing posts with label Tara Leigh. Show all posts

Monday, August 16, 2021

HAMPTONS HEARTBREAK (NYC ROMANCE #4)

One beach house.

Two months.

Countless lies.

What could go wrong?

It was supposed to be the perfect summer job.

Housesitting in the Hamptons.

And then he showed up.

Lance Welles.

Moody. Broody. Wealthy. Sexy.

And cocky. So damn cocky.

He’ll let me stay for the summer.

But only if I pretend to be his girlfriend.

I agree. Why wouldn’t I?

It’s not like I’ll fall in love.

The first time I saw Vivienne Radcliffe,

she was in a fire-engine-red bikini.

Setting fire to my house.

Well, not exactly my house.

The garden of my Hamptons estate.

She says the house is hers for the summer.

But it isn’t long before I realize . . .

I want Vivienne to be mine forever.

Release Date: August 11, 2021

Hamptons Heartbreak

A New York City Romance Series Book #4

Contemporary Romance

Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Nikki’s Review:

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. Is it enough to just tell you to buy it and read it? Because you should absolutely do that.

The characters in this book are so likeable. From the beginning I was invested in their story. Lance and Vivienne instantly burned up the pages from their first meeting, whether it was during their witty banter ( a whole conversation about a man’s lack of aim while peeing ), or sultry their romps in the pool. Damn, those pool scenes are fucking delicious.

This is not a particularly angsty book, but there is a ton of emotion. Lance and Vivienne have tough exteriors, but there’s a lot of baggage and vulnerability under their armour. I love when the walls fall down and all the feels come spilling out.

Tara Leigh never fails to deliver a solid story that is character driven and ridiculously sexy. Hamptons Heartbreak is my favourite book in this series…so far! I can’t wait for the next installment! Have I mentioned that you should just buy the book because it’s amaze balls?

Rating: 5 Stars (A+)

Friday, August 13, 2021

MANHATTAN MOGUL (NYC ROMANCE #3)

A fake engagement. A sham of a wedding.

A lie dressed up in diamonds and lace . . .

Is still a lie.

NASH

In business, I’m ruthless.

The Black Knight of Wall Street.

And in the ring, I’m downright vicious.

I don’t rescue damsels in distress.

Nixie is on the run from her past.

She’s a distraction I don’t need, a complication I don’t want.

But when she needs a husband to claim her inheritance,

I’m only too willing to play the part.

NIXIE

Nash is my fiancé, but he isn’t mine.

Our vow to love, honor, and cherish each other,

till death do us part,

is a promise we have no intention of keeping.

Our union is a solution to my problems.

The ultimate marriage of convenience.

Behind this exquisitely woven veil,

I can almost believe my own lies.

You are cordially invited to the biggest wedding Wall Street’s ever seen...

(This book is a completely revised and expanded version of Deal Breaker, which is no longer available for sale.)

Release Date: June 10, 2021

Manhattan Mogul

A New York City Romance series Book #3

Contemporary Romance

Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Nikki’s Review:

Winner winner chicken dinner! I am so in love with this series. I liked that this book was full of angsty emotions. I love feeling all the things. I love being pulled in different directions and having my heart and mind all jumbled at times. This book delivered all that and more!

Nixie, the heroine, got on my nerves at times. I like a strong heroine, but I also like when they’re vulnerable enough to lean on someone for help when it’s needed. She was so stubborn when it came to Nash helping her. That being said, I could kinda understand where she was coming from. After losing her parents she had to grow up rather quickly. Throw in a gambling addict jerkwad of a boyfriend who is venturing into abusive, and I can see why she didn’t blindly trust anyone.

Nash is an amazing character. He’s loyal, charming, successful, and has a big heart. But at the same time he’s full of that broodiness I love in a hero.

Like the previous book in this series, there is a lot of push and pull between the characters. It takes them time to understand their developing feelings. Well, they understand the crazy lust, but their pesky hearts are causing them some issues. These two were so well developed by Ms. Leigh. Their feelings, whether they were happy, sad, mad, or glad, were palpable. All of those feelings were front and centre, and I loved experiencing them.

This book, like the previous books in the series, is very character driven. As a reader I really cared about them. I hurt for them, and I was cheering them on the whole way. When an author makes me fall hard for their characters I know the book is special. I can hardly wait for the next installment!

Rating: 4 Stars (A)

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

PENTHOUSE PRINCE (NEW YORK ROMANCE #2)

My billionaire boss is keeping a secret. Me.

Tristan James Xavier Bettencourt IV.

The prodigal son of a banking dynasty.

And my new boss.

With his silver tongue and dirty mouth,

he’s everything I’ve ever wanted.

And the one man I’ll never have.

Some rules are as old as time.

Girls like me don’t ride off into the sunset with men like him.

Reina St James has a body made for sin,

and a face that could tempt the devil himself.

As the heir to a financial empire,

a scandal is the only thing I can’t afford.

But all work and no play

make this billionaire a very bad boy.

Reina is the one woman I can’t have.

And a temptation I can’t resist.

(This book is a completely revised and expanded version of Penthouse Player, which is no longer available for sale.)

Penthouse Prince

A New York City Romance series Book #2

Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 10, 2021

Review Copy Provided by the Publisher

Nikki's Review:

Let me start by saying...I love me some Tara Leigh! This book was a welcomed escape from the stay at home orders here in Toronto, which officially ended yesterday! After almost 2 months. This book was perfect for forgetting about the crap that is the world right now.

Tristan. Gah! He is so amaze balls! Smart, sexy, and a whole lotta alpha. He definitely needed an equally smart, and all kinds of feisty, heroine like Reina. The flirty and witty banter between these two was highly entertaining and kept me grinning.

I liked that Reina wasn’t willing to let anything get in the way of her dreams, even though Tristan tripped her up a few times. I mean, I probably would forget my own name if he shot me a lopsided grin from across the room. Although Reina is focused on her career you could really feel her vulnerability. She seems like she’s got it all figured out, but she’s kinda lost. She has baggage. But all that stuff just makes her more determined to come out on top of her career...and Tristan.

Speaking of being on top...the sexy times were delicious! Tara Leigh always delivers in that department. Woohoo!

There’s definite conflict, and a lot of back and forth in this book. I imagine that a lot of women struggle with trying to balance a relationship and a career, and I’m sure many readers could relate to that.

This book is wonderfully solid in the plot and writing. I felt the characters turmoil like it was my own, and the emotional pull was like a weight on my chest. Tara Leigh has hit it out of the park with this one!

Review: 5 Stars (A+)

Thursday, February 27, 2020

WE ARE US RELEASE BLITZ

“A superbly written and beautifully haunting love story, that is gut wrenching and raw. These characters, this story—it will stay with you. Brava.”

-- Trilina Pucci, author

We Are Us, an all-new, edge-of-your-seat and compelling love story from Tara Leigh is out now!

I fell in love with a beautiful, broken boy.

His whispered words of love were the sweetest of lies.

He gave me his heart and destroyed mine.

I am his.

I fell in love with the beautiful man who broke me.

His boldly spoken vow was the cruelest of cages.

He gave me his name and destroyed my soul.

He is mine.

The boy I once loved is now a man.

The man I once loved is now gone.

We are us.

I have been called many things.

Victim. Survivor. Daughter. Sister. Wife.

Now I am called something else.

Murderer.

Believe it or not, this is our love story.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/36tpLQg

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/WeAreUs

Add WE ARE US to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2IEvQzn

About Tara Leigh

Tara Leigh is a multi-published author of steamy contemporary romance. To keep in touch, click here! http://bit.ly/TaraLeighNwsltr. A former banker on Wall Street, she graduated from Washington University and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, but she much prefers spending her days with fictional boyfriends than analyzing financial spreadsheets. Tara currently lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut with her husband, children, and fur-baby, Pixie.

Connect with Tara

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2QIUpP9

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2ZPYAgf

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/TaraLeighGR

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2trxjo3

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Qmvq55

Join Tara’s VIP Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2uhcWdA

Stay up to date with Tara by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2umamTH

https://www.taraleighbooks.com

Nikki's Review:

This book was...heavy. It was emotionally exhausting. It was heartbreaking, and it was beautiful.

Lord, this review is hard to write. Let me backup a bit by saying that I loved this book. But loving it doesn’t mean that I’ll have an easy go at expressing my feelings about it. I’ve been putting off writing this review for a few days because I’ve been processing everything I read. I think, maybe, I can finally put the words down.

Poppy and Gavin both come from difficult backgrounds, and their childhood friendship provides an escape from that. It provides them comfort. I liked seeing their relationship grow and develop from the awkward start to an all encompassing love. You really get to watch them grow.

A series of circumstances separate Poppy and Gavin, and Jesus, that was hard to not feel devastated for them both. Poppy’s grief over Gavin’s absence was palpable.

Insert Tucker. I spent a good portion of this book feeling really confused and conflicted on how I felt about him. Much like Poppy, I’m sure. I think Ms. Leigh did a phenomenal job at really putting me inside Poppy’s mind and heart. I was upset in regards to some of Poppy’s decisions, but now I know that all of that stuff was setting the stage for a much more complicated situation.

I know I’m being vague in this review, but I really can’t get into specifics. As a reader, I think I would be doing you a huge disservice to rob you of the experience of walking the journey with Poppy and Gavin. Even Tucker, as much as I grew to dislike him.

I will say this, and mean it with my whole heart, I love this book. It’s a departure from Tara Leigh’s other books, and it’s definitely darker, but it’s no less amazing. I do wish that there was more page time dedicated to Poppy and Gavin’s relationship. I did feel like this book wasn’t quite a full romance novel. In my opinion, It felt more like women’s fiction with romantic elements. No matter how you see it, it was beautifully written.

I still feel kinda wrung out, and it’s been a few days since I put the book down. I think I felt every emotion possible while reading this book. When an author does that to you, I think it’s a sign of a magical talent.

Rating: 4 Stars (A)

Friday, February 21, 2020

WE ARE US SNEAK PEEK

We Are Us, an all-new “powerful and beautifully written” love story from Tara Leigh is releasing February 27th, and we have a sneak peek inside this not-to-be-missed novel!

Sneak Peek

Sounds break through my insulated cocoon of unconsciousness. Harsh sounds. Ugly sounds. Buzzing. Beeping. Humming.

The fingers of my left hand twitch with the impulse to swat at… something. An alarm clock? The television remote? But although my wedding rings slide around my finger, my arm doesn’t move. Almost as if the platinum bands have turned into lead, weighing me down.

Panic whispers at the edge of my mind, though there is no corresponding pulse of adrenaline through my veins, forcing me into action. My limbs are heavy and uncooperative.

Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop.

Despite my silent pleas, the unwelcome orchestra continues its assault. Buzz. Beep. Hum.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this awful, this lethargic. Filled with an all-encompassing exhaustion that has seeped into the marrow of my bones.

Survivor’s guilt, apparently. Sleeping the day away is preferable to facing what happened, what I’ve done. The dawn of a new day isn’t a fresh start, a new beginning.

It is a violation. A betrayal.

Make it stop.

Finally, I manage to clutch at my covers, dragging them over my head. Egyptian cotton, a thread count so high it could be spun of silk. Surely it will muffle the noise.

But something is wrong. The fabric is rough beneath my fingertips. It doesn’t smell of the lavender and verbena packets tucked into the shelves of the linen closet. And there is a sterilized stench to the air I didn’t notice before.

The whisper of panic becomes more of a murmur, then a shout. This isn’t my bed.

The beeping noises pick up, racing now. My breaths quicken, my lungs throbbing from the sharp bite of bleach with each shallow inhale.

Hospital. I am in a hospital. The buzzing and beeping and humming. Those are machines.

What happened? Think, think.

My mind is frustratingly blank even as my skin prickles with memories of another time. Another confused awakening. Another frantic search for memories. Did he… No. He wouldn’t dare. Not again. Not ever again.

Want more? Click to continue reading → http://bit.ly/3bKLgz9

To read the first three chapters of WE ARE US, subscribe to Tara’s mailing list today → http://bit.ly/2umamTH

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Synopsis:

I fell in love with a beautiful, broken boy.

His whispered words of love were the sweetest of lies.

He gave me his heart and destroyed mine.

I am his.

I fell in love with the beautiful man who broke me.

His boldly spoken vow was the cruelest of cages.

He gave me his name and destroyed my soul.

He is mine.

The boy I once loved is now a man.

The man I once loved is now gone.

We are us.

I have been called many things.

Victim. Survivor. Daughter. Sister. Wife.

Now I am called something else.

Murderer.

Believe it or not, this is our love story.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/36tpLQg

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/WeAreUs

Add WE ARE US to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2IEvQzn

Be notified FIRST when We Are Us is live: http://bit.ly/2umamT

About Tara Leigh

Connect with Tara

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2QIUpP9

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2ZPYAgf

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/TaraLeighGR

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2trxjo3

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Qmvq55

Join Tara’s VIP Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2uhcWdA

Stay up to date with Tara by joining her mailing list:

http://bit.ly/2umamTH

Website: https://www.taraleighbooks.com

Wednesday, January 08, 2020

COVER REVEAL: WE ARE US

We Are Us, an all-new, angst-filled, second chance standalone romance from Tara Leigh is releasing February 27th, and we have the gorgeous cover along with the very first sneak peek!

I fell in love with a beautiful, broken boy.

His whispered words of love were the sweetest of lies.

He gave me his heart and destroyed mine.

I am his.

I fell in love with the beautiful man who broke me.

His boldly spoken vow was the cruelest of cages.

He gave me his name and destroyed my soul.

He is mine.

The boy I once loved is now a man.

The man I once loved is now gone.

We are us.

I have been called many things.

Victim. Survivor. Daughter. Sister. Wife.

Now I am called something else.

Murderer.

Believe it or not, this is our love story.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/36tpLQg

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/WeAreUs

Add WE ARE US to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2IEvQzn

Be notified FIRST when We Are Us is live: http://bit.ly/2umamTH

Enter the giveaway to win a signed paperback of We Are Us AND a mystery signed paperback from Tara Leigh: http://bit.ly/WeAreUsCRGiveaway

Cover Designed by Regina Wamba, Mae I Design

Excerpt

“Close your eyes.”

I slant a curious look at Gavin, taking in his kiss-swollen lips and flushed skin, his untamable mop of hair and the blaze of excitement lighting up the blue of his corneas.

Gavin squeezes my hand reassuringly as I do what he’s asked, then slowly walks me the remaining few steps toward our cave. Without vision, my other senses are heightened. The cry of birds sounds closer, like they are perched just overhead instead of on branches thirty or forty feet above. The bite of the breeze on my skin is sharper, each gust sending a chill racing along already sensitive nerve endings. The smell of ripe earth and rich evergreen and the clean, bracing scent of Gavin himself is downright intoxicating, my head swimming as I pull breaths deep into my lungs.

Most of all, the moonstone pendant laying against my collarbone is making my chest tingle, my heart fluttering against my ribcage.

“Okay, open them.”

I do, immediately gasping in surprise at what Gavin’s done to our little cave. There are candles burning and scattered rose petals—no, poppy petals—and a basket filled with drinks and snacks. A pile of blankets and pillows.

“You did all this for me?” I ask, my voice sounding whispery and weird.

I feel whispery and weird.

I’ve never had a birthday like this. I’ve never even imagined a birthday like this. First the necklace and now, seeing the lengths Gavin has gone for me…

Beneath the surface of my skin, I’m a chaotic mess of emotions. I don’t know what to say, how to act. This is unchartered territory for me.

“Of course,” he says, as if it’s nothing. But it’s not nothing. It’s everything.

Before I dissolve into a teary puddle, Gavin reaches into his pocket and pulls out a deck of cards. “You taught me how to play gin rummy—how about I teach you to play poker?”

A strangled laugh leaves my throat. “I think that’s fair.”

We sit down and Gavin spends a few minutes going over the basics of the game before dealing out the cards. It’s not as easy as gin rummy, but I get the hang of it after a few rounds.

And when Gavin lifts a mischievous brow and asks, “Want to make things interesting?” I know exactly what he’s doing. Not just poker. Strip poker.

And that’s when I realize just how much planning went into tonight. Beyond buying me an expensive present. Beyond pimping out our cave. Gavin found a way to make my first time—our first time—a mix of old and new. An experience evoking our past and celebrating our future.

I’ve imagined the night Gavin and I would finally go all the way a million times. But I’d only focused on the physical aspects. Would it hurt? Will there be blood? What if I do it wrong?

It never crossed my mind that he would take such care with… everything.

But, of course, it should have.

Gavin Cross is one of a kind.

And he’s mine.

About Tara Leigh

Connect with Tara

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2QIUpP9

BookBub: http://bit.ly/2ZPYAgf

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/TaraLeighGR

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2trxjo3

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Qmvq55

Join Tara’s VIP Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2uhcWdA

Stay up to date with Tara by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2umamTH

https://www.taraleighbooks.com

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2019 TOP READS

Liza’s 2019 Top Picks

So I shared my top audiobook picks yesterday, and wanted to spotlight my top picks I read as well. Seriously I was super lucky to read so many amazing books this year, and it was really hard to narrow down my favorites from the 150 books I read this year. These books are in no particular order, and I loved each and every book.

Easy Ride by Breezie Bennett

Breezie Bennett is a new author who has hooked me as a reader from her very first book. Lots of sexy football players, smart women, laughter and tears in each book.

Tomboy by Avery Flynn

We finally got Fallon Hartigan’s story and it was totally worth the wait. She is probably my favorite character every written by Avery Flynn. I own this book in print, digital and audio I love it so much!

Old Dog New Tricks by Roxanne St. Claire

We waited forever for the Dogfather to get his books after he took care of helping his adult children each find their mates. I knew it would be a tough thing for Daniel to love again after his true love Annie had passed away. This story was full of love, along with some laughter and tears. Loved every moment of this story!

Total Surrender/Absolute Pleasure by Erika Wilde

I love the grown up fairy tale series of books from Erika Wilde. Seriously I couldn’t pick which one was my favorite so far, so I had to list them both. Super sexy stories with a bit of intrigue along the way. Highly recommend this series of books!

As Long As I Have You by Bella Andre

We finally got to meet the London part of the Sullivan clan, and I fell just as in love with this part of the family as all the other members of the family. The Sullivan series of books remains some of my favorite stories I’ve ever read.

Dare Me Tonight/More Than Sexy by Carly Phillips

I love the Dare family so much!!! With Dare Me Tonight we got the baby of both family’s story, Sienna Dare. I’ve wanted her story from the beginning and loved seeing her meet her match in Ethan Knight. More Than Sexy wrapped up our Florida Dare siblings with Jason Dare’s story and introduced us to the best friends in his life who are just like brothers to him. Loved both stories so much, I’ve read them each multiple times this year.

Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh

The newest Psy-Changeling book took us back to DarkRiver/SnowDancer territory and I was so freaking happy to be back with so many of my favorite characters. Memory and Alexei’s story was a wonderful addition to the series and I felt like I was coming home with this story.

Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

Honestly one of my favorites in the Mercy Thompson series. I love that Mercy seems to become stronger with each new book. I also really loved the time we got with Mercy and Adam together and seeing Mercy and Mary Jo finally find some peace.

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

Seriously this was such an amazing contemporary retelling of Pride & Prejudice. Sonali Dev pulled me in from the very first page and I loved the entire ride. I fell in love with the entire Raje family and can’t wait to read more of their stories in the future.

Black List by Lynn Raye Harirs

The first book with Ian Black’s Bandits, and I totally loved this first book. Loved Jace and Maddy, and especially the times we got to spend with Ian Black. These books have every bit as much suspense as the Hostile Operations Team books, and I can’t wait for future stories.

Nikki’s Top 2019 Picks

2019 was an amazing year filled with great romance books. The titles listed below are in no particular order. It would be difficult to do that because I love them all. I've included links to my reviews for all the novels listed, with the exception of the last trilogy because I haven't written it yet. I hope you find my suggestions helpful in your quest for your next great read!

I've included links to my reviews on the blog for the ones that have a review.