4.5 Smooches
Feb 01
Happily Ever Ninja by Penny Reid Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway
Happily Ever Ninja
by Penny Reid
Publication Date:
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Humor
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
From the USA Today Best Selling Author of ‘Truth or Beard’
There are three things you need to know about Fiona Archer… I would tell you what they are, but then I’d have to kill you.
But I can tell you that Fiona’s husband—the always irrepressible and often cantankerous Greg Archer—is desperately in love with his wife. He aches for her when they are apart, and is insatiable when they are together. Yet as the years pass, Greg has begun to suspect that Fiona is a ninja. A ninja mom. A ninja wife. A ninja friend. After fourteen years of marriage, Greg is trying not to panic. Because Fiona’s talent for blending in is starting to resemble fading away.
However, when unexpected events mean Fiona must take center stage to keep her family safe, her response stuns everyone—Greg most of all. It seems like Greg’s wish has come true.
Except… not.
When all is said and done, can Greg handle this new version of his wife? Will his irrepressible cantankerousness push her away? Or can the couple find a way forward without either being forced to step back into the shadows?
This is a full length, 100k word novel, and is the 5th book in the Knitting in the City Series. All books in the series can be read as a standalone except book #1.5
Check out our 5 smooches review HERE
Excerpt
I tucked my fingers under her chin and lifted her face to mine, stealing a kiss; true distress clawed at my chest, traveled like a spike down my spine. I didn’t want to guess, or entertain any possibilities. Inevitably, my mind always jumped to the worst possible conclusion whenever I saw her inexplicably sad (i.e. brain tumor).
Even so, I attempted to keep my tone level and calm. “What could be too important for the greeting card aisle? It’s the perfect place to tell me anything and everything. There’s likely a card we can buy afterward for the occasion.”
She huffed a laugh, laughed a bit more, and then began crying again.
Her laughter was a good sign, so I went with it.
“Let’s see . . .” I shuffled us both to the rack and plucked a greeting card from it. “You tell me if this one describes your situation.” I cleared my throat and began to read, “Dear Brother, Many blessings on your fortieth birthday. May your girlfriend bring home that hot girl she works with and suggest a three-way.”
Fiona began laughing in earnest, burying her face against my chest.
I returned the original card, walked us a few steps farther down the aisle, and selected another card at random. “Here’s another. Dear Friend, Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I am so lucky to have you in my life, especially after that time I hit you with my car and salted the earth around your house.
I cracked a smile as I grabbed another card. She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
“Dear Co-worker, Get well soon. Sorry about the scorpions in your bed. And the leprosy. And the chlamydia.”
“Stop! I can’t- I can’t breathe.” Fiona gripped the front of my shirt as though she needed my solid frame to remain upright.
I took one more step and picked a new card. “Dear Dad, Happy Father’s Day. I know I’m not your favorite child, but I hope you will . . . you will . . .” I stopped reading because Fiona had stopped laughing.
In fact, she’d grown eerily still, though her fists remained anchored in my shirt. I don’t think she was even breathing.
“Fe?”
She released an audible exhale—as though bracing herself—and titled her head back. New tears shone in her eyes and she looked . . . emotional.
Not sad. Not worried or scared. Just emotional.
And I knew.
“I’m going to be a dad,” I said.
She nodded, her mouth wanting to smile but her eyes betraying the disordered chaos of her thoughts.
I had no idea what she was thinking.
I had no idea what I was thinking.
But I felt like I’d just been punched, slapped across the face. And it felt scary. And good.
I felt like I was the king of the universe, the luckiest man alive.
I felt panic, because I didn’t know how to be a dad, at least not the kind I wanted to be.
I felt a bizarre surge of pride, of accomplishment.
I felt a heady wave of possessiveness, for this woman I loved, for the child we’d made. I felt responsible.
But I did not feel burdened.
And I knew nothing would ever be the same.
About the Author
SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).
By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Feb 01
Happily Ever Ninja by Penny Reid Review
5 Smooches
Synopsis
There are three things you need to know about Fiona Archer… I would tell you what they are, but then I’d have to kill you.
But I can tell you that Fiona’s husband—the always irrepressible and often cantankerous Greg Archer—is desperately in love with his wife. He aches for her when they are apart, and is insatiable when they are together. Yet as the years pass, Greg has begun to suspect that Fiona is a ninja. A ninja mom. A ninja wife. A ninja friend. After fourteen years of marriage, Greg is trying not to panic. Because Fiona’s talent for blending in is starting to resemble fading away.
However, when unexpected events mean Fiona must take center stage to keep her family safe, her response stuns everyone—Greg most of all. It seems like Greg’s wish has come true.
Except… not.
When all is said and done, can Greg handle this new version of his wife? Will his irrepressible cantankerousness push her away? Or can the couple find a way forward without either being forced to step back into the shadows?
Review
‘Over the years I’d learned absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder. The heart becomes wary, somnolent and cynical during periods of prolonged absence, burdened with cares and fears borne in solitude. However, absence does make the body grow greedy and irrationally amorous with frustrated need.’
I very rarely stay up all night reading, I have an eye issue which makes this close to impossible and yet two or three times a year I come across a book that is absolutely impossible to put down. I stayed up till 4am to read Happily Ever Ninja and despite the headache I endured it was worth every second. If you are a long time fan of the Knitting In The City series you have been desperate for feisty Fiona and her often MIA husband Greg’s story. If you are new to the series I highly recommend you at least read their FREE prequel novella, Ninja At First Sight in order to see how these two fell in love and watch everything be set in motion.
“We haven’t talked through everything yet. I’m angry with you, and I know you’re still upset with me.” He shrugged. “Then we’ll have angry intercourse.” “We’re not having intercourse.” “Then I’ll give you angry cunnilingus.”
There are so few books out there where the two main protagonists are already married, especially in the contemporary category. Look and you will mostly find books about falling in love or follow up books where they get married and the woman gets pregnant. So how completely refreshing to find a story not about live at first sight but instead about an enduring and lasting and flawed love. Maintaining a love that last fifteen years is not easy and is not without regret and sacrifice and yet Fiona and Greg have not only wadded in these murky waters they have swam laps of them and come out stronger for it.
‘Each marriage is a living thing, just as complex as the two individuals within it.’
While Fiona is clearly the badass star of this book (if you have read the previous book you know that Fiona is a former badass and current stay at home mom) but Greg is like a slow build love. I go from being frustrated with him, to being sympathetic to him to flat out loving him with the ferocity it is clear that Fiona does. He is witty and socially conscious and even though he if often away from home he strives to be a fixture and influence in his children’s lives. Fiona and Greg face so many obstacles, some large (and by large I mean BIG PICTURE large not just can we make this relationship work large) and some that might seem trivial to some but all of them matter and all of them make this story so uniquely beautiful and poignant.
“You’re ridiculous.” And I loved that he replied as expected. “It’s pronounced remarkable, darling.”
From the gentle love to the action packed crisis’s I adored every moment of Happily Ever Ninja and by the end I only wanted more from these two. They have so much to show and share with us that I can’t imagine ever getting tired of them (or anyone in the Knitting gang really.) Penny is a master at giving us a story we didn’t know we were desperate for and can’t imagine having lived without. I can not stress enough that whether you are reading this as an extension of the series or as a standalone your day, week, year will be better for it!
~miranda
Buy It Now
Feb 01
Little Black Break by Tabatha Vargo and Melissa Andrea Cover Reveal
LITTLE BLACK BREAK
The follow-up to New York Times bestseller LITTLE BLACK BOOK
RELEASING MARCH 8TH, 2016
By Tabatha Vargo & Melissa Andrea
Genres: Romance, Erotic, Contemporary
LITTLE BLACK BREAK
My name’s Sebastian Black, and my life as I know it is over. My little black book days were numbered the minute I met Rosslyn. She became my one and only and lightened my dark soul.
But now my past is threatening my future—threatening the woman I love. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. Even if I have to lie—pretend to cheat—I need her to leave my world and remain safe.
Breaking her heart is killing me, but I refuse to let my old sins destroy the only good in my life.
If you love her, let her go. If you’re dangerous like me, pray she stays away. I won’t let her get caught in the crossfire. No matter who I have to break.
SIGN UP FOR THE LITTLE BLACK BREAK RELEASE DAY BLITZ!
SURPRISE!!
BECOMING BLACK a prequel to LITTLE BLACK BOOK is FINALLY releasing on
MARCH 1ST!
Get to know Sebastian before he was BLACK!
Get your copy of LITTLE BLACK BOOK today!
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
My name’s Sebastian Black, and I want to buy you. I could have any woman I want, but I choose you.
NO RELATIONSHIP, JUST SEX.
Here’s my offer…
I’ll put your name in my LITTLE BLACK BOOK, and when I want you, I’ll call you. When I call, you’re going to come, in more ways than one. It will be mutually pleasurable for both of us.
There are only two rules:
DON’T EVER DENY ME.
DON’T FALL IN LOVE.
If you do either, I’ll remove you from my book and payment stops.
Do we have an understanding?
Feb 01
Faking It by J.D. Hollyfield Release Blitz and Giveaway
Fake it till you make it.
That’s Lexi Hall, the wild socialite’s motto for how to live life.
Single and allergic to commitment, Lexi is having the time of her life. Or is she? With a new promotion at the art gallery, and her colorful lifestyle as bright as ever, she swears she has no interest in slowing down. When Lexi receives a phone call that can change her career, she pounces on the opportunity. But what this outgoing diva doesn’t plan for is her new client, the closed off, secluded artist, Hunter James. Fighting to draw the line between work and pleasure, it’s up to Lexi to figure out how to balance her fake life for something real.
Hunter James is an artist without a muse. Lacking the beauty in his life that he craves, his art is beginning to suffer. Unfortunately for the mysterious artist, a past mistake also tarnishes his trust in women. Forced to take a meeting with an art gallery dealer, he accepts knowing he’ll turn her down. He turns them all down. But what he doesn’t anticipate is for the seductive bombshell to turn his world upside down. As his body and mind come alive, he vows to stop at nothing to have her on his canvas and in his bed.
As Lexi’s life begins to brighten with the promise of something beautiful, can she stop faking it and find a reason to make it real? Or will Hunter’s past replace their light with darkness?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
On sale for $0.99 on release day only!
The clacking of my stilettos on the shiny marble of his penthouse floor is the only sound that can be heard between us. As I hit the button for the elevator, I feel Hunter behind me. His body heat is setting my back ablaze as he pins me with his dominant frame. I expect him to say something. Do something. But he doesn’t. His solid chest pressed against my back, his heavy breaths hitting the outside of my earlobe.
“Please,” he finally whispers, almost like a plea. “Please say yes to me, Lexi.” His words sending a spiral of heat down my spine. He’s barely touched me, yet I feel as if I’m going to combust. “Let me paint every contour of your exquisite body. Every curve, every dimple.” His mouth is so close to my skin that I imagine his lips on me. His warm breath caresses the back of my neck, traveling down to my collarbone. “Tell me you don’t feel just a little bit intrigued at how freeing it would be to sit for me. To expose yourself to me while I take in every part of your body and transform it into my own private masterpiece.”
I exhale audibly, my shoulders beginning to weaken. His arms lift, enclosing on each side of my now pulsating body. His strong hands press against the wall forming a barricade around me. “Tell me that you don’t agree that your body is a paradise for any man’s eyes. I need that. I need to be able to capture that beauty and paint a vision that leaves me struggling for air every time I look at it. That is what you will give me if you say yes.”
J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer by day and superhero by night. When she is not trying to save the world one happy ending at a time, she enjoys the snuggles of her husband, son and three doxies. With her love for romance, and head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own story to life.
J.D. Hollyfield lives in the Midwest, and is currently at work on blowing the minds of readers, with the additions to all her series, along with her charm, humor and HEA’s.
J.D. Hollyfield – Release Blitz
Jan 31
Kismet by A.E. Woodward Sales Blitz
Katie’s world came crashing down in an instant.
Her husband, daughter, and unborn baby. . . all gone in a flash. The life that she’d come to know, gone before she ever really got to live it.
With a broken heart, she deals the only way she knows how, by shutting it all off. No communicating, no feelings, just pure nothingness.
Alone with nothing but her own thoughts and a well meaning family, she moves back to her childhood home, a horse farm. It’s there that she finds herself healing along with the horses her family rehabilitates. But when Parker McKenzie comes back into her life she’s reminded of all that went wrong, and all that she lost.
Will Katie ever begin to heal? Or will her secrets and loss be too much for her to overcome?
Perhaps, this is her kismet.
A.E. lives in Vacationland with her husband and two children. Between her real job and writing she finds little time to enjoy life’s finer things. However in the free time she does manage to steal, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and reading. A.E. is the author of Kismet and A Series of Imperfections: Imperfectly Perfect, Imperfectly Real, and Imperfectly Bad. She is currently writing her fifth book, Working Girl.
Hosted By:
Jan 31
Bite The Bullet by C.C. Wood Release Blitz
I don’t know what happened to my life.
Just a few months ago, I was independent and had an excitingjob I loved. Now, along with my friends, I’m in hiding.
Why? Because I’m one of the Five, a group of human womenbestowed with powers and abilities to fight and control supernatural beings. A
prophesy was written about us centuries ago. We are supposed to save the world,
though none of us knows how.
Now, Cornelius, the leader of a malevolent group known asthe Faction believes that by killing us and absorbing our power, he will become
unstoppable in his bid to control not only the supernatural domain, but the
entire world.
After evading capture and an attempt on my life forced meinto months of hiding, I finally have a chance to take action against the
Faction — as bait.
Asher Leroux, the vampire tasked with helping me, makes mefeel things I don’t understand. It’s as if he fills the empty places in my
soul, spaces that I didn’t know existed.
As the final battle draws closer, I know that defeating the Faction won’t give me back the life I once had, but maybe that’s not such a bad deal after all.
 |
A native Texan, C.C. grew
Now that she has a baby
girl at home, C.C.’s non-writing time is usually spent cleaning up poopy
diapers or feeding the poop machine.
Sometimes she teaches piano, cooks, or spends time bugging her hubby and
two beagles.
Jan 31
Karma by A.E. Woodward Cover Reveal
At thirty-two Tommy Garvin never thought he’d be playing house. Especially not with his best friend. But when life throws lemons at you, it hurts. Then once the pain subsides you adjust and figure out how to make lemonade. It was apparent to everyone that Parker and Khloe needed Tommy, but in a strange way he needed them just as much.
None of them could have imagined what a life without Katie would be like and they certainly couldn’t have predicted what would come from the gaping hole she left behind. No one knew what would rise from the ashes, but one thing is for certain-life sure has a way of knowing what’s needed. It’s karma.
CURRENTLY ONLY $.99!!!!
A.E. lives in Vacationland with her husband and two children. Between her real job and writing she finds little time to enjoy life’s finer things. However in the free time she does manage to steal, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and reading. A.E. is the author of Kismet and A Series of Imperfections: Imperfectly Perfect, Imperfectly Real, and Imperfectly Bad. She is currently writing her fifth book, Working Girl.
Hosted By:
Jan 29
Where Lightning Strikes by AL Jackson Cover Reveal
We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for AL Jackson’s upcoming WHERE LIGHTNING STRIKES releasing March 22, 2016. We can’t wait for you to fall into this sexy emotional novel!
Do you know what it feels like right before lightning strikes? How you can feel the current running through your veins? The trembles of warning that ripple through the air? It was a thrill Tamar King chased all her life until it became the very thing she had to escape.
For the last four years, Tamar King has hidden herself in an isolated world she created. She was safe. No one could touch her. Until Lyrik West walked through her door.
He’s the lead guitarist for Sunder and everything she can never have. The dark and beautiful rock star becomes everything she craves.
Lyrik’s life has been devoted to his band and that success has cost him. Bitter, hard, and filled with regret, he refuses to lose himself again, but from the moment he sees her, he wants one night with Tamar King.
The gorgeous bartender is more than he bargained for. Their attraction is consuming. Their desire overpowering. With one touch, they ignite.
But is it worth the cost of getting burned?
She’s a gorgeous nightmare and he’s a wicked dream…
WHERE LIGHTNING STRIKES, a Bleeding Stars Stand-Alone Novel
Exclusive Pre-Order on iBooks
ADD TO GOODREADS
A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.
Connect with A.L. Jackson online:www.aljacksonauthor.com
To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!
Jan 29
Enshrine by Chelle Bliss Blog Tour with Excerpt
NEW STAND-ALONE NOVEL
by USA Today Bestselling Author, Chelle Bliss
EVERYTHING CHANGED IN AN INSTANT.
I thought I knew what was important, but one phone call sent my life into a tailspin.
Alone and afraid, I cling to the one man I shouldn’t.
I was warned about him and told to stay away. “He’s dangerous,” they said.
But the man who could hurt me the most, gave me the greatest comfort.
“He’s not who they think,” I told myself.
But just like an illusion, things are never what they seem.
IBOOKS
Enshrine Excerpt:
She fiddles with her cosmopolitan. “I think you should get your eyes checked next time you’re at the doctor, Cal. He’s always watching you. It’s sexy, but it also creeps me the fuck out. He’s so dangerous.”
I laugh, playing it off, but I’ve noticed it too. “Is he looking over here now?” I ask, refusing to turn around to look for myself.
She leans forward, her eyes peering behind me. “He is. He’s not taking his eyes off us either.”
“He probably thinks we’re trouble or something,” I say and hope she drops the topic because I’d rather find out what she was going on about before.
“You can pretend like you don’t think he’s hot, Cal, but I’ve seen you flirt with him more than once.”
I shake my head and chuckle softly. “Smiling and saying hello isn’t necessarily flirting.”
“He has a thing for you.”
“He probably has a thing for every girl in this place.”
“Nope.” She shakes her head vigorously and puckers her lips. “He wants you.”
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today Bestselling author, Chelle Bliss, currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. She’s written over ten books and has two series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.
Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in history. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.
FACEBOOK | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
CLICK HERE TO VISIT CHELLE’S WEBSITE
ALSO BY CHELLE BLISS
