Jun 27
Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker Review
Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania (population three thousand outside of tourist season).
Jun 27
On The Plus Side by Alison Bliss Release Blitz with Excerpt
Title: ON THE PLUS SIDE
Author: Alison Bliss
Series: A Perfect Fit, #2
On Sale: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Forever
Mass Market: $7.99 USD
eBook: $5.99 USD
Audio: $22.98
Add to Goodreads
Big girls don’t cry. They go after what they want.
Thanks to her bangin’ curves, Valerie Carmichael has always turned heads-with the exception of seriously sexy Logan Mathis. Just Valerie’s luck that the object of her lust-filled affection is also best friends with her overprotective brother. But Valerie’s determined to get Logan’s attention…even if it means telling a teeny little lie to get a job at his new bar.
Logan can’t remember a time when Valerie didn’t secretly fuel all his hottest fantasies. Now the curvaceous she-devil is working behind his bar, tempting him every damn night. It’s only when he finds Valerie’s naughty things-to-do list that Logan decides to break every rule in the book-by making each red-hot deed a reality.
No one warned them that they were going to fall this hard. And no one warned them that sometimes the smallest secrets can have the biggest consequences.
Check out our 5 smooches review HERE.
Excerpt
Valerie Carmichael needed a drink. A strong one. Because it was the only way she envisioned herself getting through the night.
An elbow nudged into her side, bringing her thoughts back to the crowded bar. “I can’t see anything through all of these people,” Brett said, scanning the room with his eyes. “Come on, let’s go to the other side so I can get a better view.”
Sighing, Valerie trudged behind him without a word.
When Brett had asked her to attend the grand opening of Bottoms Up, a new bar in their hometown of Granite, Texas, she’d hesitated to say yes. Sure, she was curious what the inside of the recently remodeled bar looked like and had no doubt the place would be jam-packed with handsome, available men. But it was still the last place on earth she wanted to be.
She knew better than to hang out in bars with her older and only—thank God—brother. Every time she’d done so in the past, the nights had always ended the same way. Brett would spend the entire evening hovering over her like a rabid pit bull, daring any single guy with a glint in his eye to look her way. Because Valerie turned heads. She always had.
Oh, she wasn’t silly enough to believe she looked like some gorgeous supermodel with a lean, trim figure or anything. She definitely didn’t. But she had a pretty face, banging plus-size curves, and a lively personality. And that was good enough for her. Valerie was just…Valerie. And damn proud of it.
Across the room, Sam and Leah emerged from the dense crowd, with a beer bottle for him and a glass of water for her. Apparently, Leah was still on that damn diet and counting calories so she would fit into her wedding dress. Though why she didn’t just buy the dress in a larger size was beyond Valerie.
Leah blinked at the sight of her. “Val? What are you doing here? You said you weren’t coming.”
Valerie shrugged. “I changed my mind.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, sure. Why?”
“When you said you didn’t want to go out, I assumed you were sick. You never turn down a night out.” Leah placed her palm lightly against Valerie’s forehead. “You sure you don’t have the flu or something?”
Valerie laughed and pushed her friend’s hand away. “Oh, stop it. I just didn’t feel like getting dressed up. I’m getting tired of the whole bar scene.”
Then Valerie’s heart stopped, along with her lips. Oh God.
Brett stood there talking to a tall, dark-haired man who had one thumb hooked in the front pocket of his jeans while he leaned comfortably against the wall with his right shoulder. She couldn’t see the other guy’s face, but she didn’t need to. Valerie recognized all six feet, two inches of him. Logan Mathis.
ORDER THE BOOK HERE
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THE A PERFECT FIT SERIES
SIZE MATTERS, #1
ON THE PLUS SIDE, #2
MORE TO LOVE, #3
Series Page on Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alison Bliss grew up in Small Town, Texas, but currently resides in the Midwest with her husband and two sons. With so much testosterone in her home, it’s no wonder she writes “girl books.” She believes the best way to know if someone is your soul mate is by canoeing with them because if you both make it back alive, it’s obviously meant to be. Alison pens the type of books she loves to read most: fun, steamy love stories with heart, heat, laughter, and usually a cowboy or two. As she calls it, “Romance…with a sense of humor.”
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Jun 27
On The Plus Side by Alison Bliss Review
4.5 Smooches
Synopsis
Big girls don’t cry. They go after what they want.
Thanks to her bangin’ curves, Valerie Carmichael has always turned heads-with the exception of seriously sexy Logan Mathis. Just Valerie’s luck that the object of her lust-filled affection is also best friends with her overprotective brother. But Valerie’s determined to get Logan’s attention . . . even if it means telling a teeny little lie to get a job at his new bar.
Logan can’t remember a time when Valerie didn’t secretly fuel all his hottest fantasies. Now the curvaceous she-devil is working behind his bar, tempting him every damn night. It’s only when he finds Valerie’s naughty things-to-do list that Logan decides to break every rule in the book-by making each red-hot deed a reality.
No one warned them that they were going to fall this hard. And no one warned them that sometimes the smallest secrets can have the biggest consequences.
Review
On The Plus Side is the second standalone in the A Perfect Fit series by Alison Bliss and it is so far my favorite. While each of these books can be read as a complete standalone, I personally had read the first one since I love everything Alison Bliss writes. In book one we met our heroine, Valerie. She is the best friend in that book and we quickly found out that she was loyal, sassy, fun and full of confidence (both body and sexual). Boy did she live up to all of that in On The Plus Side.
Valerie has always wanted Logan, her brother’s best friend but he was older and constantly in trouble and therefore not meant to be hers. When he left and never returned for eight years she moved on and lived her life, discovering who she is and what she likes. Now he is back and opening his own bar and she knows that now is the time to put herself on the line and go for what she has always wanted. When she talks her way into a job at the bar he finally cannot resist her anymore. One main problem . . .her brother is way overprotective and knows every bad thing Logan has ever done.
‘Yes, she wanted him. But he was the one damn thing she was apparently never going to have.’
Valerie was the kind of heroine I live for. She was so spunky but also real. She makes mistakes but she is also self aware and owns her mistakes. Logan is flawed but passionate and caring. The two of them are sweet but also so freaking SEXY!!! This book was full of heat in the best way possible. If you enjoy hilarious banter, a ton of heat and a story that is so sweet and fun you can’t put it down than this is one you need to pick up now!
~miranda
Jun 27
On A Tuesday by Whitney G. Cover Reveal
Title: On A Tuesday
Author: Whitney G.
Release Date: On A Tuesday (Summer 2017)
Type of Book: Standalone novel.
Genre: Second Chance Romance. (Contemporary)
Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs
Model Credit: Andrea Denver
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book
Pre-order (iBooks):
https://itunes.apple.com/us/bo
SYNOPSIS:
We met on a Tuesday.
Became best friends, then lovers, on a Tuesday.
And everything fell apart on a Tuesday…
Charlotte Taylor has three automatic strikes in my book: 1) She hates me. She also claims that I’m a “domineering jerk with a huge, overbearing ego.” (I do have something huge. It’s not my ego, though.) 2) She takes our mandatory tutoring sessions way too seriously. 3) She’s sexy as hell…And a virgin.
At least, those were her strikes before our study sessions started lasting longer than they were supposed to. Until one innocent kiss became a hundred dirty ones, and until she became the first woman I ever fell hard for.
Our future together after graduation was supposed to be set:
Professional football for me. Law school for her.
But she left me at the end of the semester with no explanation, and then she completely disappeared from my life.
Until tonight.
We met on a Tuesday.
Became everything, then nothing, on a Tuesday.
And now it’s seven years later, on a Tuesday…
*This is a full length second chance romance, inspired by Adele’s “When We Were Young”
Cocky Client pre-order + TBR links:
Indie Sage PR links:
June 19th: Cocky Client cover reveal (http://indiesage.com/r
NAUGHTY DIRTY COCKY LINKS
Pre-order
amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073
iBooks:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/bo
Jun 26
Big Shot by Kim Karr Cover Reveal
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00071]](https://thenextsteppr.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/big-shot-paperback_for-promos.jpg)
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Title: Big Shot
Author: Kim Karr
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 27, 2017
Cover Designer: Michele Catalano – Creative
Model: Mitchell Wick
Photographer: Wong Sim
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To believe one person can change your destiny sounds absurd. But it happened to me… twice.
Ten years ago I had no idea what I wanted out of life, until I met Hannah Michaels. She was a computer-engineering student ready to conquer the social media world, and I was smitten. Even though I knew she was taken, I had to have her.
Being the big shot that I was, I didn’t let her status stand in my way. It wasn’t long before my hands were on her thighs and my name a whisper on her lips. This smart, sexy girl inspired me to greatness, helped me grow into the kind of man I never knew I wanted to be. The man I am today.
Too bad I hadn’t grown fast enough to keep her.
Moving on wasn’t easy, but I knew I had to let her go. Eventually, I found someone to share my days and nights with, and together we had a daughter. My life was nearly perfect until my world turned upside down.
A single father has challenges, and one of those is learning how to calmly deal with your child coming home in tears. I had no idea the day I pounded on my daughter’s classmate’s door, Hannah would be the one standing on the other side.
The wild, burning desire that rushed through my veins was unwanted, and yet impossible to ignore. Letting her in meant so much more this time around. Guilt hit me like a hammer. I hated myself. I hated her. The problem was I really didn’t hate her—I wanted her more than ever.
But this time around, I can’t have her.
This time it’s my status that stands in our way—and going up against myself just might be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
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Kim Karr is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author.
She grew up in Rochester, NY and now lives in Florida with her husband and four kids. She’s always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, she wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. She went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise her family. Kim currently works part-time with her husband and recently decided to embrace one of her biggest passions–writing.
Kim wears a lot of hats! Writer, book-lover, wife, soccer-mom, taxi driver, and the all around go-to person of her family. However, she always finds time to read. One of her favorite family outings was taking her kids when they were little to the bookstore or the library. Today, Kim’s oldest child is seventeen and no longer goes with her on these, now rare and infrequent, outings. She finds that she doesn’t need to go on them anymore because she has the greatest device ever invented–a Kindle.
Kim likes to believe in soul mates, kindred spirits, true friends, and Happily-Ever-Afters. She loves to drink champagne, listen to music, and hopes to always stay young at heart.
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Click HERE to participate in Release Day promotions!
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Jun 26
Forgetting You, Forgetting Me by Monica James Release Blitz with Excerpt
FORGETTING YOU, FORGETTING ME
Monica James
Series: Memories From Yesterday Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 26th 2017
German Rights sold to: Heyne, Random House
Order Now:
Kindle: bit.ly/FYFMKindle
Amazon Paperback: bit.ly/FYFMAmazon
iBooks: bit.ly/FYFMiBooks
Nook: bit.ly/FYFMNook
Kobo: bit.ly/FYFMKobo
Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/mk4hrx5
My name is Lucy Tucker, and my life…it was perfect.
I worked the dream job. I had the most incredible family and friends. My home, Whispering Willows, a ranch in Montana, was everything I could ever wish for. My adoring fiancé, Samuel Stone, loved me unconditionally.
I had everything a girl could ever want.
But one fateful event shattered my perfect life. It’s unimaginable how simple, ordinary words can change a person’s life forever. For me those words were, “There’s been an accident.”
I thought Sam was my forever, but that forever came to a close the day Saxon Stone, Sam’s identical twin brother, came back. Saxon returned to Montana to help save Sam, however, the moment he entered my life, he turned my world upside down. But through chaos I somehow found clarity—clarity of who I was meant to be.
As time progressed, as seasons changed, and as a fire began to burn, I soon realized that Saxon was there for another reason…he was there to help save me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.
When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.
She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.
Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.
Author Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormonicajames
Twitter: https://twitter.com/monicajames81
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MonicaJames
Instagram: @authormonicajames
Website: http://monicajamesbooks.blogspot.com.au/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/monicajames81/
Excerpt
“Let’s pretend tomorrow doesn’t exist.” Pressing his forehead to mine, he earnestly says, “Whatever happens now, it’ll just be memories from yesterday.” I can feel the tremble rumble throughout his entire body, and his uncertainty leaves me abandoning any lingering doubts. For this stolen moment in time, I just want to…feel.
Gently pushing on his bare, solid chest, he allows me to climb onto his lap as he nestles into the rocky terrain. Without a second thought, I wrap my legs around his waist and hold on tight, with no intention of ever letting go. His chest is rising and falling so quickly, I’m certain I can hear his heart hammering wildly within his body. The cadence matches mine as I seal my mouth around his. The touch of his full lips pressed to mine is complete perfection. But when he angles my mouth at the perfect slope and skillfully tangles my tongue with his, I know that this is nirvana.
The kiss at first is slow, like a roller coaster beginning its incline. But as we reach the pinnacle, it’s an exhilarating head rush of fast, breathtaking passion. When he senses me coyly opening up, lowering my guard and losing myself in the moment, he growls into my mouth. He dominates me with a fierce desire and in this moment, I am his.
I can’t keep up with the frantic pace, and finally, I surrender all I am. I allow him total control, melting when he sucks my bottom lip with a long, wet pull. I madly fuse our lips together, unable to get enough of this heady feeling, needing him to consume me, devour me, make me whole.
Jun 23
Counting on You by JC Reed Review
3 Smooches
Synopsis
I have everything I want. Success. Wealth. Women…and make that plenty of those. As a filthy-rich CEO, I would say I’m pretty much close to perfection. Except for that one weakness: I’m cocky as hell, and an irresistible magnet for women.
So when one tiny mistake lands me in hot waters with the investors, I have one hell of a choice to make:
Restore my reputation…
Or risk losing my company.
I’m a man of my word and failure is not an option. Not now. Not ever. I fully intend to uphold my responsibilities.
Sharing an apartment should be easy, right? And it’s only for six weeks.
That’s what I thought before I found out that my new roommate is female.
And wow.
Vicky Sullivan is unlike any woman I’ve ever met.
She’s hot as sin, and crazy.
Definitely not my kind of crazy, but too hot to pass up.
There’s something about her that makes me rage with want.
I don’t like her, but obviously my dick does. And what he wants, he gets.
Six weeks…
Living together shouldn’t be too hard…
Until my best friend challenges me to a bet…
I make it my mission to make her mine.
There’s only one problem.
I have to break…Every. Single. Rule.
And did I mention she’s completely off-limits?
It’s too late to say no.
COUNTING ON YOU is a standalone rom-com with no cliffhanger.
Review
This was my first time reading JC Reed. I’ve been on a big romantic comedy reading kick this year, devouring them almost exclusively. I loved many of them, and there have been some that just didn’t work for me. Unfortunately, Counting on You falls into the latter category for me. I’ll preface this by saying that it could very well be a case of “it’s me, it’s not the book.” But either way, the fact remains that this just wasn’t for me.
I went it this book looking forward to it because the premise was cute and original. It sounded like a light fun read. Right out of the gate though, the hero grated on my nerves and was a character I could not connect with, root for or like. He was boorish, juvenile and I found it unbelievable that a man who was supposedly the CEO of big, successful company would call the members of his board of directors “buzzkills” when they called him out on his blatantly promiscuous behavior. Behavior, mind you, that was so inappropriate, it was landing him more often than not in the tabloids. He reacted petulantly, childishly and practically threw a temper tantrum when they ordered him into treatment for sex addiction. The heroine did not fare much better for me. Plain and simple, she was delusional and a straight-up stalker. That she glossed over those issues by calling it love would have been laughable had she not truly believed this down to her marrow. Further exasperating me was the wholly untraditional notion that the rehabilitation center would have roomed these two – a sex addict and a love addict – together. I just didn’t buy any of it, and unfortunately, this all happened in the first few chapters. By the time I got past that point and into the meat of the story, I was frustrated and not at all into the premise, the characters or their pairing but I had committed to read this book, so I continued on.
It’s not all doom and gloom. There were some moments of levity and even I can admit that it was pretty sexy. But with what happened early on to set up the plot, I just never got into the story, and I couldn’t connect with or relate to these characters. My disinterest was sometimes so great, I found myself struggling not to skim through, and on occasion, I lost that battle. Three smooches.
~ Danielle Palumbo
BUY LINK:
Jun 23
The Knocked Up Plan by Lauren Blakely Release Day Launch
From #1 NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes a new and sexy romance…THE KNOCKED UP PLAN! A standalone romance told in dual POV, THE KNOCKED UP PLAN is about all of the fun, hotness, and heartfelt emotions that come when a single woman asks her gorgeous, jaded, sworn-to-be-single-forever good friend to get one particular job done. What happens next when he agrees to provide the bun for her oven are lots of hot sexy times and heartfelt moments.
Now available on all retailers! Get your copy delivered now!
✮✮✮ THE KNOCKED UP PLAN is here! Grab your copy today! ✮✮✮
There are three little words most guys don’t want to hear on the first date. Not those…I mean these… “knock me up.”
This single gal has had enough of the games, the BS and the endless chase. I know what I want most, and it’s not true love. It’s a bun in the oven, and I’m not afraid to hit up my sex-on-a-stick co-worker to do the job. Ryder is gorgeous, witty and charming — and he’s also a notorious commitment-phobe. That makes him the perfect candidate to make a deposit in the bank of me.
I won’t fall for him, he won’t fall for me, and there’s no way baby will make three.
Right?
****
There are four words every guy wants to hear on the first date — “your place or mine?”
When my hot-as-sin co-worker makes me a no-strings-attached offer that involves her place, my place, any place — as well as any position — I can’t refuse. Besides, I’ve got my own reasons to take her up on her deal even with her one BIG condition.
There’s no way I’ll want more from one woman than any position, any where, any night? Except . . . what if I do?
Be prepared to swoon and fan yourself from the heat! This full-length standalone contains lots of hot baby-making s-e-x, happy tears, playful jokes and a hot, swoon worthy hero you will fall madly in love with. One-click now for pure reading enjoyment!
Check out our 5 smooches review HERE.
✦ Kindle US ✦ Kindle UK ✦ Kindle CA ✦ Kindle AU ✦ iBooks
✦ Barnes & Noble ✦ Kobo ✦ Google Play ✦ Amazon PB
✦The audiobook will be narrated by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt! Link coming soon! ✦
“A refreshing take on the baby trope, The Knocked Up Plan is as sweet as it is naughty. Blakely not only balloons Nicole and Ryder’s incredibly powerful chemistry to new heights with their steamy love scenes, but she also infuses sweet emotion into every single one of their interactions.”
– USA Today
“Wildly romantic! Incredibly sexy! Hilarious and sweet! The Knocked Up Plan HAD IT ALL! The PERFECT romance to kick your Summer into HIGH GEAR! Ryder and Nicole are Lauren Blakely’s BEST CHARACTERS YET!”
– Shayna at Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads
“The chemistry between Ryder and Nicole is COMBUSTIBLE!!! They are magic together.”
– Bookalicious Babes Blog
Add it to Goodreads here!
http://bit.ly/2r4ml1u
✮✮✮Enter to win this amazing THE KNOCKED UP PLAN GIVEAWAY!✮✮✮
Lauren’s Bundle of Joy Special Delivery Giveaway! This bundle is valued at $200 and includes the most delicious cupcakes delivered to your door from Wicked Cupcakes, a $50 gift certificate for luxurious bath products to make your skin baby soft from The Body Shop, and comes wrapped up with a beautiful sterling silver bow bangle bracelet from Pandora ($125 value).
http://laurenblakely.com/knocked-plan-giveaway/
About Lauren Blakely:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. 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 eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In June she’ll release THE KNOCKED UP PLAN, a standalone contemporary romance. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter
Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads
Jun 23
The Knocked Up Plan by Lauren Blakely Review
5 Smooches!
Synopsis
There are three little words most guys don’t want to hear on the first date. Not those…I mean these… “knock me up.”
This single gal has had enough of the games, the BS and the endless chase. I know what I want most, and it’s not true love. It’s a bun in the oven, and I’m not afraid to hit up my sex-on-a-stick co-worker to do the job. Ryder is gorgeous, witty and charming — and he’s also a notorious commitment-phobe. That makes him the perfect candidate to make a deposit in the bank of me.
I won’t fall for him, he won’t fall for me, and there’s no way baby will make three.
Right?
****
There are four words every guy wants to hear on the first date — “your place or mine?”
When my hot-as-sin co-worker makes me a no-strings-attached offer that involves her place, my place, any place — as well as any position — I can’t refuse. Besides, I’ve got my own reasons to take her up on her deal even with her one BIG condition.
There’s no way I’ll want more from one woman than any position, any where, any night? Except . . . what if I do?
Note: Be prepared to swoon and fan yourself from the heat! This full-length standalone contains lots of hot baby-making s-e-x, happy tears, naughty jokes and a hot, swoonworthy hero you will fall madly in love with.
Review
I’m not even going to pretend that I’m anything but a huge Lauren Blakely fan girl. She just seems understand what I want in a romantic comedy, and she nails it for me every single time. Just when I think she couldn’t possibly top her last book, she comes out with another that totally sweeps me off my feet. Asking me to pick a favorite is like asking me to select the best chocolate chip from the bag. It’s impossible, they’re all wonderful little bits of awesomeness. But sometimes, one will rise to the top of the bag in all it’s perfectly formed glory, and for me this year, it’s The Knocked Up Plan.
Everything I love about romantic comedies was here, all wrapped up into a fabulously well written package. The plot wasn’t a typical workplace romance, and Blakely’s take on this genre was a breath of fresh air. I’m always impressed by the research she does for her books. This author is wildly creative, and she always finds something interesting and fun that makes each of her couples unique—their “thing.” I loved what she did in this book–it was romantic, exciting and, quite honestly, pretty darn inspiring.
These two characters are professional communicators, so it was no surprise that they had the banter down pat—it was sharp, witty and never missed a beat. The humor in this book is abundant, but pay very close attention. What really kept me grinning throughout this story was the completely pragmatic way this couple approached their arrangement. Totally oblivious to their mutual attraction, neither one of them ever really considered the ramifications of throwing some romance onto that blazing inferno of lust. It was pretty tongue-in-cheek, and I have to say Blakely executed it spectacularly. I think all of her readers will agree, though, that while she doesn’t hesitate to put obstacles in her characters’ paths to their happily-ever-afters, she also doesn’t allow those obstacles to turn into these big, drawn-out, pain-filled, angst-ridden scenarios. There is just enough contention, just the right amount of conflict, before she delivers an incredibly satisfying resolution. I don’t know how other readers feel about that, but I find it pretty dang refreshing.
I just couldn’t put this book down! It was so romantic, so swoony, so incredibly sexy! The Knocked Up Plan kept me furiously tapping my Kindle, late into the night, while simultaneously lamenting the turn of those pages and the fact that each one drew the story closer to completion. Three-hundred-plus pages of pure reading pleasure, this story kept me smiling from start to finish. Five smooches from me for Lauren Blakely’s The Knocked Up Plan!
~ Danielle Palumbo
BUY NOW:
Jun 23
The Bars Between Us by A.S. Teague Cover Reveal with Excerpt and Giveaway
Today we have the gorgeous cover reveal for The Bars Between Us by A.S. Teague!! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy July 20th!!
Title: The Bars Between Us
Author: A.S. Teague
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 20th
About The Bars Between Us:
I don’t have a damn thing in common with the beautiful rich girl who walks in to my bar. She’s southern class, fancy cars, and designer shoes.
I’ve got a drunk for a mother, a cheater for a father, and a reputation for trouble I’ve more than earned.
I look the other way, pretending I don’t notice how perfect she is. She wouldn’t give me the time of day anyway. Until she shatters that first impression and shows me she’s so much more––everything I never thought I deserved.
After a lifetime of being a disappointment, I want to prove to her that I’m better than my past.
We have one tragic thing in common, and the thread that binds us together will tear us apart as it unravels.
Are we strong enough to break through the Bars Between Us?
Add to your Goodreads TBR!
Exclusive Excerpt:
Parked beside my car is a truck that’s got to be twice as old as I am and looks like it should have been buried long ago.
Bronn hooks a thumb in the rust bucket’s direction and tells me, “Bessie’s seen better days, but I just can’t bring myself to put her out to pasture.”
I pull my door open and toss my purse inside, before turning to face him. “Bessie, huh?”
He props a hip on her front fender. “Belonged to my dad. When he died, Dani’s mom kept her. Gave her to me.”
His face is relaxed, but the pain of his loss is still in his eyes, and I’ve come to notice that it’s a look that’s always there. Even when he’s laughing, it doesn’t erase the perpetual sadness that he carries with him. It’s a sadness that I carry with me as well.
“When I was a kid, my dad took me to the beach once.”
Bronn’s brows knit and I hurry to continue my story. “It was cold that morning, early spring, the breeze causing goosebumps to take up permanent residence on my arms. I remember Daddy taking his sweat shirt off and putting it on me. The thing swamped me.” I pause and laugh, remembering how the arms of the hoodie had drug the ground and how daddy had belly laughed at the sight before rolling them up. “Anyway, we searched for shark’s teeth that morning. It was too cold to swim, too cold to play in the sand. But I’d had a fascination with the predators of the sea, a newfound one, and Daddy had been determined that we were going to find a great white’s full jaw, I think.” I’d been staring up at the sky, but I glanced at Bronn to see his face rapt with attention, his expression intense. “We looked and looked until my eyes went cross. But, we didn’t have any luck.”
I can’t tear my gaze away from Bronn’s, even though the way he’s studying me is a little unnerving.
“We found all kinds of amazing shells, rocks that were smooth from being tumbled by the waves, crab shells that must have been eaten by gulls. But nothing that came from Jaw’s mouth.” I shrug, and smile. Bronn smiles back. His face finally relaxes, but his eyes are still full of emotion.
“I remember Daddy was so disappointed. But I wasn’t. I’d spent the morning with my favorite person in the world. I may have been freezing the whole time, my face chapped from with wind and sand whipping in it, my hair a tangled mess that took mama an hour to brush, but it was the best day.”
The half-smile that I’d been sporting while lost in the memory fades. “That was my last happy memory with him. He died not long after that.” I swallow hard, determined not to cry.
The memory is bittersweet, but it’s still sweet. That’s the thing about memories. The same exact memory can be happy or sad, depending on how you choose to remember it. And I choose to remember the sheer joy I’d felt that day, not the crushing sadness that it was the last time I’d felt that way.
I clear the emotion from my throat. “Anyway, I don’t know why I shared that. Just, maybe, to tell you, that I understand holding on to something because it has sentimental value.” I nod at his truck, “Bessie may not be worth any money, but she’s worth her weight in gold if she makes you happy.”
My lips quiver as I offer a smile. Bronn may think that we come from different worlds, and maybe we do. Nana would have killed me dead if I had ever come home from a date in a truck like his. But there’s sadness and loss everywhere, no matter how much money you have. And that common thread binds us together, whether Bronn realizes it or not.
About the Author:
A.S. Teague enjoys the warmth of South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. The stereotypes about peach cobbler and sweet tea are not overstated. After years in the medical field, she is now enjoying every minute of being a stay-at-home mom. She loves wine, the beach, wine on the beach, and crying at Disney movies. When she doesn’t have a book in her hand, she can be found pestering her husband with pictures of animals she wants to rescue, as well as debating whether to exercise or take a nap.