BLOG REVIEW TOUR WITH EXCERPT: Shattered Truths by H. Hunting

SHATTERED TRUTHS, an angsty and sizzling hot New Adult hockey romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Helena Hunting writing as H. Hunting, is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

 

 

She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape…

 

 

The first time I met Winter Marks, I almost took her out with my Jeep.

To be fair, she came out of nowhere.

I flirted with her, and she flipped me off and disappeared into the woods on her bike.

But she left me a souvenir: a single hockey skate.

Seemed to me that divine intervention shouldn’t be ignored.

She was my icy Cinderella and I would be her Prince Not-So-Charming.

Winter was more than just a sassy, badass hockey-playing hottie.

She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape.

Neither of us expected to fall.

Or for the truth to shatter us.

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON!

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“A poignant and heartwarming romance that combined the feel of a Cinderella fairy tale with the rugged charm of hockey…” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

 

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

 

 

EXCERPT:

 

Chapter One

NEAR MISS

BJ

“I’m heading to the arena.” I grab an apple from the fruit bowl and kiss my mom on the cheek. 

She glances at the clock on the stove. “I thought you didn’t have practice with Adele until ten.” 

“I don’t. Just getting in some solo ice time.” I take a bite out of the apple while I fill my travel mug with coffee. 

“Don’t forget we have a free skate tonight,” Dad says as he slathers butter on toast.

“Looking forward to it.” I put the lid on my coffee and head for the door.

“An apple won’t cut it for breakfast, Randall. You need protein!” Mom calls after me. 

“I’ve got bars in my bag. See you at the rink!” I shove my feet into my slides, grab the keys to my Jeep, and bust my ass out the door before my mom tries to sit me down for a seven-course meal. Skating on an overly full stomach isn’t my favorite. 

A minute later, I’m pulling out of the driveway and onto the packed-gravel road, stones spitting from beneath my tires. I slow down at the T-intersection, glancing in both directions before I pull onto the main road that leads to town. As I accelerate, a person on a bike comes shooting out of the wooded trail that runs perpendicular to the road. I hit the brakes and the tires squeal, leaving rubber behind me. 

My heart is in my throat as I make eye contact with the girl on the bike. She’s wearing a helmet, thank God. Her eyes are wide with shock as she attempts to course correct, and her lips form the word fuck as she turns the handlebars. I’m sure we’re about to collide, but she manages the turn, though she nearly skids out as she avoids slamming into the side of my Jeep. 

“The fuck, dude?” She grabs the edge of my door to steady herself. “It’s called a goddamn stop sign for a reason, not a fucking pause-and-keep-on-rolling sign.”

In the brief moment when our faces are less than half a foot apart, I notice a lot of things—the first being that she’s smoking hot, in an unconventional way. Her face is all angles and sharp lines, and her eyes are the color of a stormy sky, but her lips are full and pouty, softening her features, and her chin tapers, giving her face a heart shape. There’s a jagged horizontal scar in the center of her chin, and freckles dot the bridge of her nose. Her long, dark hair is pulled back in a braid that hangs nearly to her waist, and there’s a hockey bag strapped to the back of her bike.

“Your reaction time is incredible,” I say, like an idiot.

“Seriously? You’re lucky I didn’t dent your Jeep, asshole.”

The last thing I should do is smile, but I can’t help it. “Damn. You’re gorgeous, with a sharp tongue, and you play hockey? This is divine intervention. You’re basically the woman of my dreams.”

She looks at me like I have two heads, then purses her lips and pushes off the side of the Jeep. She rounds the hood while firing the bird at the windshield. “I hope you don’t fuck like you drive,” she yells. 

As she navigates the steep slope that leads to the trail on the opposite side of the road, her back tire skids on the fresh gravel and she goes down.

“Shit.” I flick on my hazard lights, pull onto the soft shoulder, and hop out of the Jeep. By the time I reach the bumper, she’s already back on her bike, disappearing into the forest. But not before I notice the Boones logo on the back of her shirt. It’s a local bakery that makes the most amazing fried apple fritter rings. Everyone I know is addicted to them, including me. 

A skid mark from her tires mars the gravel where she wiped out, and something glints from the wildflowers that line the road. I crouch to get a better look. It’s a hockey skate with MARKS Sharpied on the tongue.

I pick it up and smile. Looks like I’m making a pit stop before I hit the ice.

 

WANT MORE? Click HERE for Chapter 2!

 

 

 


About Helena Hunting: 

HelenaHunting

NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting, writing as H. Hunting, lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She started her writing career with new adult angsty romance and branched out in sports romance and romantic comedies that will make you laugh and swoon. But sometimes she likes to serve up a little heartache on the way to the happily ever after.

Connect with Helena:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub  |  Amazon

Never miss an update! Subscribe to Helena’s mailing list!

 

REVIEW: Shattered Truths by H. Hunting

5 SMOOCHES!

* * * * * * * * * *

SYNOPSIS:

The first time I met Winter Marks, I almost took her out with my Jeep.

To be fair, she came out of nowhere.

I flirted with her, and she flipped me off and disappeared into the woods on her bike.

But she left me a souvenir: a single hockey skate.

Seemed to me that divine intervention shouldn’t be ignored.

She was my icy Cinderella and I would be her Prince Not-So-Charming.

Winter was more than just a sassy, badass hockey-playing hottie.

She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape.

Neither of us expected to fall.

Or for the truth to shatter us.

* * * * * * * * * *

REVIEW:

Helena Hunting, writing as H. Hunting, returns to the Pucked world with a second generation new adult romance, Shattered Truths. Hunting combines the thrill of hockey with the timeless allure of a Cinderella-style romance, resulting in a deeply emotional love story that left me utterly charmed. A wonderful perfect blend of heartache, healing, young love and hockey, this book perfectly showcased Hunting’s storytelling prowess and her ability to craft characters that the reader can resonate with. I listened to the audiobook, and Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt delivered captivating performances, breathing life into these characters with their genuine, natural chemistry and emotional range.

Hunting beautifully captures the essence of budding young love between the strong-willed, independent Winter and the heart-of-gold, hockey legend’s son, BJ, by portraying their blossoming romance with depth, authenticity, sincerity and through their complex emotions. Winter’s hard-luck life and BJ’s kind-hearted, unwavering support created a mesmerizing dynamic that evolved as the story unfolds. What truly sets this story apart was Hunting’s ability to evoke a symphony of emotions in her readers. From heartache to hope, from laughter to tears, lust to love, she took her readers on the emotional rollercoaster of Winter and BJ’s love story, but instead of using the highs and lows to divide the couple, those challenges only brought them closer together. Winter was mature beyond her years, and BJ’s playful passionate spirit was the missing bit of youthful energy she needed.

There’s a Cinderella-esque vibe woven throughout the story that was so much more interesting and intricate than BJ simply swooping in as Winter’s knight in shining armor. Winter struggles financially and emotionally, living in a home with an alcoholic, verbally abusive father and an emotionally and mentally beaten-down mother. BJ’s family and extended group of friends envelope Winter and her mother in love and community, giving them the support system they needed to change their circumstances.

Shattered Truths was a celebration of resilience, healing, and the transformative power of love. A poignant and heartwarming romance that combined the feel of a Cinderella fairy tale with the rugged charm of hockey, this is a love story that will linger in my heart for a long time. Five smooches from me for Shattered Truths by H. Hunting.

~Danielle Palumbo

 


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RELEASE BLITZ: Mad Jack by Ahren Sanders

MAD JACK, a friends-to-lovers, opposites-attract military romance from Ahren Sanders is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

 

 

My name is Ford Whitman.
And I never back down from a fight.
Especially when I’m fighting for my forever…

 

 

Our story began long before we realized it.
As a Marine, I’m trained in discipline and control.
Until her.
Shy, Brilliant, Selfless—Rowan Ellis has no idea how beautiful she is.
The night we met, something awakened feelings inside me I didn’t think possible.
Then an unthinkable tragedy strikes, and I vow to protect her at all costs.
Even if that means protecting her from me.

She thinks she’s broken, but she’s wrong.
I can’t sit back any longer and watch as she stumbles through the motions, her light dying along the way.
So, it happens.
One look, one touch, one kiss… everything changes.
I’m done waiting.
Now it’s all on the line.
I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to give her the life she deserves.
My name is Ford Whitman.
And I never back down from a fight.
Especially when I’m fighting for my forever.

 

 

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EXCERPT:

 

Prologue

One Month Ago

Ford

“Dude, you’re being a dud.”

I lower my eyes to Addie, who’s dancing in place with a full glass of wine. My other sister, Carson, joins in, hip-bumping her and sending the liquid splashing.

“Try to behave yourselves. This isn’t a frat social.”

“Blah, blah, blah… When did you start acting like Dad?”

“When you two began acting like fools.”

“It’s a wedding, Ford. A par-tee. Let loose, have fun, and enjoy the union of your best friends.”

“I’m enjoying myself plenty.” I sip my bourbon, scanning the area.

Ace and Harley are back on the dance floor, swaying slowly, even though it’s an upbeat song. He’s staring at her like she’s the only wonder of the world. In their own little sphere, blocking out the hundreds of people here to celebrate them.

My eyes coast over the dance floor to the high-top table on the edge of the patio. More so, to the blonde standing there sipping champagne, watching the crowd.

Rowan Ellis.

Shy, sweet, selfless, and absolutely stunning.

Her expression is reflective, sadness haunting her baby-blue eyes.

Completely opposite of the woman who was cheering and laughing uncontrollably an hour ago. That woman was happy and carefree.

This woman is retreating into herself.

My pulse races and the familiar burn boils low in my gut.

If I could go back in time, I’d kill the motherfucker who hurt her.

“You should ask her to dance,” Addie suggests cheerily.

“I don’t dance.”

“Well then, prance your surly, stubborn ass over and talk to her.”

“I don’t prance either.”

“Seriously, Ford. Go talk to her.”

“She’s with her parents.”

So, go talk to them, too. Jesus, it’s exhausting dealing with you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’d have to be blind not to see the heat between Rowan and you.”

“She just got out of a relationship.”

“Her relationship ended eons ago, and it was a hoax. That guy was nothing to her.”

“She told you that?” I raise an eyebrow, wondering how much my sisters know.

“Yes, she also said—”

“Addie!” Carson cuts her off. “Ford needs to talk to her himself. We’re not doing the work for him.”

“You don’t think it makes me a dick to hit on her after the shit she just went through?”

“Do you hear yourself? She got through it. Rowan’s strong, Ford. She’s resilient and brilliant. Some dickwad of nuclear proportions isn’t knocking her down.”

“I know she’s strong, Carson. But you didn’t see what I saw. She needs time.”

“Time… yeah. That’s what she needs. You deserve to lose your shot.”

Her words sting, hitting close to home.

“Enjoy grinding your teeth and sipping your bourbon. I’m relishing in this fabulous reception.” Addie floats off.

“Seriously, Ford. Look around. Ace and Harley. Major and Jewls. Rowan could be your chance for all this.” Carson gestures around us.

“Don’t need all this, just her.”

“Finally, he admits it.” She jumps in a circle with her hands waving triumphantly.

The movement gets Rowan’s attention, her eyes meeting mine. The desolation fades slightly as she gives me a small smile.

My gut burns for a different reason.

So fucking beautiful.

“My work here is done. I’m claiming my victory and leaving the rest to you.”

I don’t tear my gaze away from Rowan—memorizing the way her eyes sparkle, the way the tip of her tongue darts across her lip before she pulls it between her teeth, the blush creeping up her neck.

All of it tempting and torturous.

She has no idea how enticing and incredible she is.

A guy steps up beside her, diverting her attention, and breaking our trance.

Would you like to dance?

I make out his words and my blood pressure spikes. Who the hell is this fucker?

Talon swoops in, taking her hand and whisking her to the dance floor. She laughs, the melodic sound making its way straight to my chest.

“He will not save the day forever.” Ace appears at my side, Major flanking the other.

My two friends are here for the same reason as my sisters.

“I can’t control who she dances with.”

“No, but the poor guy works with Harley and has no clue she’s taken. Don’t want any bloodshed today.”

“I’m not sure Rowan knows she’s taken,” Major adds.

“You two enjoying this?”

“As much as I like to see you sweat, she will not wait around forever.”

“She’s still healing.”

They nod, understanding where I’m coming from. Under her green dress, her broken rib is still wrapped.

Should have killed him repeats in my head.

“We get it.”

“If you get it, then you know I’m giving her time.”

The last six months have been hell on Rowan. My intentions aren’t casual or fleeting. I want more from her. Coming on too strong will only push her away.

“Take it from experience, don’t delay too long.”

“Says the man who denied his feelings for twelve years.”

I dip my chin to Ace.

“I didn’t deny them, just kept them from her.”

“And today, she’s your wife.”

His dark eyes light up in that damn twinkle Talon always catches. “Today, she’s my wife.”

Talon whirls her around the dance floor, her smile radiating. I want that smile in my life every day. I move to go to her, but my subconscious stops me.

I swallow the rest of my liquor, making a deal with myself.

Give her a little more time.

Because once I make my move, I plan to give Rowan Ellis everything.

 

 

 


About Ahren Sanders:

Ahren spent her formative years living in an active volcano. There her family made collectible lava art. She studied rock collecting at the Sorbonne in France. There she met the love of her life-her pet pig Sybil. She returned to the states and started writing. She is happily married to a guy who used to live under a bridge and she met while pole-dancing.

Now, meet the real me. I grew up in the south and consider myself a true “Southerner”. Most of the special locations mentioned in my books are reflections of my favorite places. Living on the Florida coast, my family spends a lot time at the beach which is where I usually can be found with a book in my hand.

Connect with Ahren:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads

Sign up for Ahren’s Mailing List

 

RELEASE BLITZ WITH EXCERPT: The Tease by Lauren Blakely

THE TEASE, a steamy and emotional forbidden, single-father, first time romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Lauren Blakely, is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

 

 

This tease of a forbidden romance is making me want so much more than I can ever have…

 

 

I swear I’m a good girl.

I didn’t go to the exclusive, after-hours masquerade to kiss my dad’s best friend. I didn’t even know who the masked man was when he touched me like I was his every fantasy.

But when I learn exactly how off-limits my new lover is, I do my best to avoid him the next time. Except, he has his sinful sights set on me, even when he discovers who I am. Just one time, he whispers. Then we’ll pretend this never happened.

Seems the enigmatic, gorgeous single dad I’ve known by day is a very dirty man after dark.

But one night turns into a stolen weekend, giving me a taste of so much more. When it ends, we vow to stay apart.

We could never work.

He’s focused on raising his young son, and I can’t let my already damaged family break more. But the caring, possessive man keeps coming back to me, and these secret nights tangled up together are turning into tender moments that make my heart thunder.

And soon, this tease of a forbidden romance is making me want so much more than I can ever have…

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY OR READ FOR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Amazon  |  Audible  |  Paperback

Narrated by Vanessa Edwin & Jason Clarke

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

“…a tantalizingly sexy and emotionally charged romance that effortlessly balanced steam and substance.”  ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

 

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

 

 

EXCERPT:

And here she is, trying to save me from hurt, from guilt, from loss.

I should walk away. I should take the gift she’s giving me.

Really, I should.

But I don’t. I close the distance, drawn to her.

She’s next to the ladder against the shelves, that shiny dress showing off her bare calves and her lovely throat and teasing me with the skin I want to kiss.

I should not want my best friend’s twenty-five-year-old daughter. “I should go,” I mutter, without making a move to do so.

“You should,” she says, not pushing me to go either.

I inhale her. That flowery perfume is driving me wild. It makes it hard for me to think straight. “It’s so goddamn frustrating that I’ve been thinking nonstop about having you, and now I can’t,” I say.

“I wanted it to be you,” she says, seeming equally annoyed, equally pissed at fate.

But then I replay what she just said. I wanted it to be you.

And I have to know. “You wanted what to be me, Jules?”

Her eyes blaze with truth and desire. “I wanted you to be my first.”

 

 

 


About Lauren Blakely:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes USA Today bestselling LGBTQ romance.

With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, with more than 65 titles on the USA Today Bestsellers list alone. She’s sold more than 5 million books. A Brown University graduate, Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.

Connect with Lauren:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads

Sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date with Lauren!

 

REVIEW: The Tease by Lauren Blakely

5 SMOOCHES!

   

* * * * * * * * * *

SYNOPSIS:

I swear I’m a good girl.

I didn’t go to the exclusive, after-hours masquerade to kiss my dad’s best friend. I didn’t even know who the masked man was when he touched me like I was his every fantasy.

But when I learn exactly how off-limits my new lover is, I do my best to avoid him the next time. Except, he has his sinful sights set on me, even when he discovers who I am. Just one time, he whispers. Then we’ll pretend this never happened.

Seems the enigmatic, gorgeous single dad I’ve known by day is a very dirty man after dark.

But one night turns into a stolen weekend, giving me a taste of so much more. When it ends, we vow to stay apart.

We could never work.

He’s focused on raising his young son, and I can’t let my already damaged family break more. But the caring, possessive man keeps coming back to me, and these secret nights tangled up together are turning into tender moments that make my heart thunder.

And soon, this tease of a forbidden romance is making me want so much more than I can ever have…

* * * * * * * * * *

REVIEW:

Lauren Blakely lights the pages on fire in the third book of her Virgin Society series, The Tease. Seamlessly blending passion with emotional depth and richly developed characters, Blakely crafted a story that explored the intensity of desire and delved into the complexities of a forbidden age-gap relationship between a single dad and a first-timer who are also connected professionally and through the heroine’s father.

While it’s not necessary to have read the other two books in the Virgin Society series before this one, readers who have will recall the crisply professional and efficient assistant television producer, Jules Marley. There are also appearances by characters from the other books here, but The Tease can absolutely be read as a standalone. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jason Clarke and Vanessa Edwin. Both narrators delivered fantastic performances, and they drew me right into the story with their portrayals of these complex characters.

Blakely’s prose is like a sultry dance that enticed me into the world of her characters. The chemistry between Jules and Finn is nothing short of explosive, and their flirtatious banter crackles with the undeniable sexual tension pulsing between them. Jules is a confident and independent young woman who may lack practical experience, but she knows exactly what she wants. She finds it in Finn Adams, the enigmatic, sinfully sexy and successful venture capitalist who just so happens to be her father’s best friend. Set in New York and Paris, Blakely took me along on Jules and Finn’s heart-racing, cheeks-burning, fanning-myself, fantasy-fueled whirlwind romantic journey.

While the steamy scenes are undeniably titillating, The Tease was not just about passion—it was also about the power of connection and the thrill of the forbidden. A symphony of desire, self-discovery and love without bounds, Blakely penned a tantalizingly sexy and emotionally charged romance that effortlessly balanced steam and substance. Five smooches from me for The Tease by Lauren Blakely!

~Danielle Palumbo

 


BUY IT NOW!

Amazon  |  Audible  |  Paperback

 

RELEASE BLITZ: Shattered Truths by H. Hunting

SHATTERED TRUTHS, an angsty and sizzling hot New Adult hockey romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Helena Hunting writing as H. Hunting, is available now!

 

 

She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape…

 

 

The first time I met Winter Marks, I almost took her out with my Jeep.

To be fair, she came out of nowhere.

I flirted with her, and she flipped me off and disappeared into the woods on her bike.

But she left me a souvenir: a single hockey skate.

Seemed to me that divine intervention shouldn’t be ignored.

She was my icy Cinderella and I would be her Prince Not-So-Charming.

Winter was more than just a sassy, badass hockey-playing hottie.

She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape.

Neither of us expected to fall.

Or for the truth to shatter us.

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON!

Amazon US  |  Amazon AU  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon Universal  |  Audio  |  Paperback  |  Alternate Paperback

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

 


About Helena Hunting: 

HelenaHunting

NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting, writing as H. Hunting, lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She started her writing career with new adult angsty romance and branched out in sports romance and romantic comedies that will make you laugh and swoon. But sometimes she likes to serve up a little heartache on the way to the happily ever after.

Connect with Helena:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub  |  Amazon

Never miss an update! Subscribe to Helena’s mailing list!

 

BLOG REVIEW TOUR WITH EXCERPT: I Could Never by Penelope Ward

I COULD NEVER, an all-new enemies-to-lovers romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Penelope Ward, is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

 

 

This was Josh. I could never…

 

 

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new forbidden, enemies-to-lovers story…

It all started with an unexpected phone call.

Two years after my fiancé passed away in an accident, his father died suddenly, leaving Brad’s adult, special-needs brother with no one to care for him.

The next thing I knew, I was on a cross-country drive to New Hampshire where I’d be moving in to look after Scottie until I could get him into a group home.

The last thing I ever expected?

I wouldn’t be taking care of him alone.

Josh Mathers, my fiance’s best friend—who also happened to be my sworn enemy—insisted he was the better person for the job. He told me to go back to California, and I told him where he could stick that demand.

Our disdain for each other wasn’t anything new. It dated back to a text I’d accidentally read years ago.

We hated each other. But we both loved Scottie, so neither of us budged.

Now we were living together in a tiny house—with one available bedroom. Thank goodness it was only temporary.

Over time, I realized the broody jerk I thought I knew was different than I’d imagined.

I found myself slowly growing attached to someone I once considered the enemy…and growing attracted to him.

Sure, both of us were guilt-ridden over Brad. We were also two grown people with pent-up frustration toward one another—stuck in a cabin in the woods.

But this was Josh.

I could never.

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

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Add to Goodreads

 

 

“…skillful storytelling, well-developed characters and the perfect blend of tension and tenderness…” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

 

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

 

 

EXCERPT:

Josh sat at the table, casually having coffee as I walked into the house after my drive home from the salon. The smell of cigarettes emanated from him. He hadn’t smelled like that since the first day he arrived.

“Where’s Scottie?” I asked.

“In his room,” he answered without making eye contact.

I stated the obvious. “You smell like smoke.”

“Must be the firewood.” He brought his mug to his mouth.

“Bullsh*t. The pellet stove doesn’t emit any fumes.”

“Yeah. I caved and had one. Big deal.” He pointed toward the door. “I did it outside, though, while keeping an eye on Scottie through the window.”

“You’d been doing so well. What happened?”

He still wasn’t looking at me, and instead stared straight ahead. “Just human, I guess.”

Then something in front of him on the table caught my attention: pieces of ripped pages piled atop…my journal.

A rush of adrenaline shot through me. “Why do you have that?”

“It’s apparently your diary.”

“I’m quite aware of that.” My heart began to pound. “You were snooping in my room?”

He shot daggers at me. “Think, Carly. Of the two guys in this house, who is the one more likely to have been ransacking your room?”

“You were supposed to be watching him while I was at the salon,” I yelled.

“God forbid I take a piss in peace. Is it not bad enough that I’m showering with him now? Getting my balls tugged?”

I wanted to laugh, but this moment was far from funny.

“Scottie ripped those pages out?”

“The notebook is bright orange, like his iPad cover. Probably caught his attention. The drawer next to your bed was open, so he must have gone in there. I assume that’s where you kept it. Admittedly, I’d been letting him hang out in your room, but you sometimes do, too. I went to check on him, make sure he wasn’t doing anything bad, and found those pages strewn about.” A vein popped in his neck.

Josh was angry. Why? I should’ve been the angry one.

“Did you read it?”

“I only happened to see what was on the pages he ripped. I didn’t read anything else once I figured out what the hell it was.”

This is bad. Starting to sweat, I asked, “But how much did you see?”

He stood up from his seat and slowly approached me. With each step he took toward me, I took one back. When we could go no farther, he placed his arms on either side of me, leaning his hands against the wall.

And I forgot how to breathe.

Fear. Arousal. Embarrassment. You name it, I was feeling it right now.

Every emotion hit me at once.

His breath grazed my face. “How much did I actually see?” He paused.

“Enough to know you think I’m an evil pig.”

Ugh. No. Now his anger made sense.

When he backed away, I walked over to the ripped pages on the table and sifted through them.

“It’s the last one, for reference,” he noted.

I read what I’d written the other night.

Copyright © 2023 by Penelope Ward

 

 

 


About Penelope Ward:

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

Find Penelope here:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  | Twitter  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub  |  Amazon

Stay up-to-date with Penelope by signing up for her mailing list!

 

REVIEW: I Could Never by Penelope Ward

5 SMOOCHES!

* * * * * * * * * *

SYNOPSIS:

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new forbidden, enemies-to-lovers story…

It all started with an unexpected phone call.

Two years after my fiancé passed away in an accident, his father died suddenly, leaving Brad’s adult, special-needs brother with no one to care for him.

The next thing I knew, I was on a cross-country drive to New Hampshire where I’d be moving in to look after Scottie until I could get him into a group home.

The last thing I ever expected?

I wouldn’t be taking care of him alone.

Josh Mathers, my fiance’s best friend—who also happened to be my sworn enemy—insisted he was the better person for the job. He told me to go back to California, and I told him where he could stick that demand.

Our disdain for each other wasn’t anything new. It dated back to a text I’d accidentally read years ago.

We hated each other. But we both loved Scottie, so neither of us budged.

Now we were living together in a tiny house—with one available bedroom. Thank goodness it was only temporary.

Over time, I realized the broody jerk I thought I knew was different than I’d imagined.

I found myself slowly growing attached to someone I once considered the enemy…and growing attracted to him.

Sure, both of us were guilt-ridden over Brad. We were also two grown people with pent-up frustration toward one another—stuck in a cabin in the woods.

But this was Josh.

I could never.

* * * * * * * * * *

REVIEW:

I Could Never by Penelope Ward is an exceptional contemporary romance novel that masterfully weaves a complicated enemies-to-lovers romance into a heartwarming and captivating love story. With a seamless blend of emotion, chemistry and character development, Ward delivered a story that me drew me in from the start. Ward’s writing is beautifully evocative, painting vivid scenes that transport me into the characters’ world. The pacing is perfectly balanced and allowed the relationship to develop in a natural and believable way. She incorporated moments of humor and vulnerability with all that emotion, which added layers of authenticity to the characters’ growth and transformation.

Set against a backdrop of shared connections, Penelope Ward introduced readers to new characters who are worlds apart, each harboring their own secrets and motivations. The palpable tension between Josh and Carly created a crackling atmosphere that was electric from the very beginning, and their witty banter and genuine animosity made for a relationship that gradually evolved into something deeper and more meaningful.

With skillful storytelling, well-developed characters and the perfect blend of tension and tenderness, Penelope Ward’s I Could Never was an exceptionally executed and engaging enemies-to-lovers romance. Sizzling chemistry, an addictive storyline, and the slow-burn build-up of the romance made this a page-turning pleasure-to-read. But the emotional depth and authenticity of the characters’ struggles is what truly made their eventual romance all the more rewarding and satisfying. Five smooches from me for I Could Never by Penelope Ward!

~Danielle Palumbo

 


BUY IT NOW!

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COVER REVEAL: Without You by Lacey Black

WITHOUT YOU, an emotional new second-chance, single-dad romance from USA Today Bestselling Author, Lacey Black, is coming September 26th! Check out this cover!

 

 

Title:  WITHOUT YOU
Series:  BURGERS AND BREW CRÜE (#8)
Author:  LACEY BLACK
Genre:  CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Cover Design:  MELISSA GILL DESIGNS
Photographer:  WANDER AGUIAR
Model:  TYLER COLLINS
Release Date:  SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

 

 

Tucker

I spend my days brewing beer for the popular Brew Crüe Beer Company and my nights devoted to being a dad. Raising a young child with special needs can be tough and stressful, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. He’s everything to me, and the reason I keep going. It’s him and me against the world, and I have no intention of changing that.

Then, Kinsley McGregor walks back into my life.

Letting her go all those years ago was the hardest thing I had ever done, and having her here proves how good we are. Unfortunately, her Nashville life is calling, and I will have to let her go again.

This time, it’s not just my heart I risk, but my four-year-old son’s too.

 

Kinsley

My entire life explodes on television for the whole world to witness. After my husband’s public affair throughout the course of my very first headlining tour, I retreat to my safe haven: Stewart Grove. I need a place to lick my wounds and figure out my next step, without being under the watchful eye of the paparazzi, and I find it in my hometown.

I wasn’t planning to reconnect the man I left behind, along with his adorable son.

Tucker Dunn was everything I ever wanted before I went to Nashville to chase my country music dreams. Leaving him in Stewart Grove wasn’t easy, but it was the path we chose together.

Now, I stare down the same choices; only this time, the decision will be harder to make.

 

 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

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Available to pre-order at the following retailers for a VERY limited time!

B&N  |  Kobo  |  Apple Books 

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

 


About Lacey Black:

USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.

Connect with Lacey:

Website | Facebook | Readers Group | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon | Bookbub | Goodreads

Sign up for Lacey’s newsletter

 

RELEASE BLITZ: I Could Never by Penelope Ward

I COULD NEVER, an all-new enemies-to-lovers romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Penelope Ward, is available now!

 

 

This was Josh. I could never…

 

 

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new forbidden, enemies-to-lovers story…

It all started with an unexpected phone call.

Two years after my fiancé passed away in an accident, his father died suddenly, leaving Brad’s adult, special-needs brother with no one to care for him.

The next thing I knew, I was on a cross-country drive to New Hampshire where I’d be moving in to look after Scottie until I could get him into a group home.

The last thing I ever expected?

I wouldn’t be taking care of him alone.

Josh Mathers, my fiance’s best friend—who also happened to be my sworn enemy—insisted he was the better person for the job. He told me to go back to California, and I told him where he could stick that demand.

Our disdain for each other wasn’t anything new. It dated back to a text I’d accidentally read years ago.

We hated each other. But we both loved Scottie, so neither of us budged.

Now we were living together in a tiny house—with one available bedroom. Thank goodness it was only temporary.

Over time, I realized the broody jerk I thought I knew was different than I’d imagined.

I found myself slowly growing attached to someone I once considered the enemy…and growing attracted to him.

Sure, both of us were guilt-ridden over Brad. We were also two grown people with pent-up frustration toward one another—stuck in a cabin in the woods.

But this was Josh.

I could never.

 

 

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Amazon US  |  Amazon AU  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon UK  |  Apple Books  |  B&N  |  Google Play  |  Kobo  |  Paperback  |  Audible  |  Amazon Audio 

 

Add to Goodreads

 

 

 


About Penelope Ward:

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

Find Penelope here:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  | Twitter  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub  |  Amazon

Stay up-to-date with Penelope by signing up for her mailing list!