Thursday, September 29, 2022

Audiobook Review: The Exception by Adriana Locke

 

The Exception (The Exception, #1)The Exception by Adriana Locke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
Although I am a big fan of author Adriana Locke, I had not gone back and read/listened to The Exception series but have been meaning to do it for a while. I was excited when she announced that for the first book in the series, also called The Exception, she had it re-edited (same story, just cleaner) and re-narrated. Narrators Connor Crais and Samantha Brentmoor were fantastic and perfect for this story. I love a little suspense with my romance, and this book really delivered. At first I wasn't sure about Cane, but a reformed playboy can make an awesome swoony hero and Cane did just that. I really liked our heroine Jada and understood her hesitancy to begin a relationship with Cane. Max and Kari were great side characters and now that I've listened to Book 1, I am all in on this series and am hoping the audiobook for Book 2 will be released soon.

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Cover Reveal: A Wild Heart by Amie Knight

 

Weston Reeves’s grumpy soul called to my tortured one.

A Wild Heart, an all-new heart-tugging and emotional standalone romance in the Heart Series from bestselling author Amie Knight is coming October 27th, and we have the first look at the beautiful cover!

I lost a huge piece of myself the day my husband was killed in action.
In the months that followed, I felt like my grief would swallow me whole.
My only solace was my daughter, whose bright light guided me through the darkest of times.

I never wanted to meet someone else.
I vowed to never fall in love again, especially with a marine.

It was supposed to be no strings attached and for a while it was.
But Weston Reeves’s grumpy soul called to my tortured one.
Maybe it was the midnight rides on his bike or the way that only I could make him smile.
He lit me up, set my body afire, and for the first time in five years made me feel alive.

Our relationship was probably the worst gamble I’d ever taken.
But my stupid, wild heart needed him, even if our love was destined to burn me to ashes.

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3AtPMQX

About Amie Knight
Amie Knight has been a reader for as long as she could remember and a romance lover since she could get her hands on her momma's books. A dedicated wife and mother with a love of music and makeup, she won’t ever be seen leaving the house without her eyebrows and eyelashes done just right. When she isn't reading and writing, you can catch her jamming out in the car with her two kids to '90s R&B, country, and showtunes. Amie draws inspiration from her childhood in Columbia, South Carolina, and can't imagine living anywhere other than the South.

Connect with Amie
Facebook: https://bit.ly/2UtTe85
Twitter: https://bit.ly/33HQ8l0
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aekE8H
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/39aPvkZ
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IOzy8z
Join Amie’s reader group: https://bit.ly/2Jg0xL7
Stay up to date with Amie by joining her mailing list: https://bit.ly/3dltdjQ
Website: https://www.authoramieknight.com


Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Audio Review: Hating the Player by Rebecca Janshak

 

Hating the Player (Campus Wallflowers #2)Hating the Player by Rebecca Jenshak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
I read a novel by author Rebecca Jenshak last year and really enjoyed it, so I jumped at the chance to listen to an early copy of Hating the Player. Although it reads OK as a standalone, main characters Gavin and Violet's first try at a relationship must have happened in the first book of the Campus Wallflowers series. At the start of this book, they are definitely NOT in a relationship and Violet does not like Gavin at all and is quite disappointed that he is joining their friend group on a camping trip. The forced proximity was so good (one tent!) and I loved seeing Violet's distaste for swoony Gavin melt little by little. There is a super fun fashion design storyline and Violet's friends are darling. I really enjoyed Violet and Gavin together- there was a perfect balance of companionship and spice. I will definitely be going back and listening to the first book in the series and looking forward to future Campus Wallflowers books as well. Narrators Tim Paige and Cindy Kay gave fantastic performances. Paige has narrated several books in my audio library and I really like his voice. Cindy Kay was new to me, but I hope to find her in future titles I listen to.

View all my reviews




Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Excerpt Reveal: More Than I Could by Adriana Locke

 

       

MORE THAN I COULD by Adriana Locke

Release Date: September 30, 2022

Genre/Tropes: Single Dad/Blue Collar/Nanny/Close Proximity/Grumpy-Sunshine/Small Town Romance

 Add to Goodreads:

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31686622-more-than-i-could


       

EXCERPT

“If you’d rather call for a tow, that’s fine.” A faint smirk settles on his lips. “But let me give you a little heads-up.”

“What about?”

“It’s almost seven o’clock on a Friday night. Tucker, your savior tow truck driver, is currently occupying the last barstool at the Wet Whistle, knocking back cold ones left and right. He ain’t coming to get you until tomorrow afternoon at best. So if you wanna wait it out, I’d find a blanket. It gets cold around here at night.”

He knows he made his point. The smugness in his features gives him away.

I wish I was ballsy enough to wait for Tucker or, at the very least, call this guy’s bluff. Unfortunately for me, I listen to too many crime podcasts, I’m scared of the dark, and I really, really just want to get to the hotel tonight and take a hot bath.

“Suit yourself,” he says, turning like he’s going to leave.

Wait.”

Against my better judgment, I unlock the door. I climb out of the car before I can think about it.

That’s my second mistake today.


     

Blurb:

This grumpy hero makes things hard for the nanny.

You know what? I’m over him.

His moods.

The verbal sparring.

Those biceps that look like they were cut from marble.

Okay, maybe I’m not over him being shirtless.

Chase Marshall is a single dad with a daughter to love, so fighting with me shouldn’t be a priority. But he can’t seem to stay away.

The lingering looks when he thinks I’m not watching.

The seemingly innocent touches while making breakfast.

The smirks gracing his lips after I’m irritated by his antics.

He’s ridiculously sweet to his daughter. I even catch glimpses of how charming he could be to me—if he wanted to.

But that’s the problem. He acts like he doesn’t want to. That he doesn’t want me.

He does. It’s in the innuendos, the way he places his hand in the small of my back—the almost kisses while we’re putting away groceries. The way he comes running when I see a spider and checks on me before he goes to bed. Even if he does grumble about it.

I might not be totally over my boss, but I’m going to make him think I am.

Let’s see how frustrated Mr. Marshall gets now.

 

From USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a grumpy/sunshine, blue-collar single dad, nanny romance. This small-town romance is a standalone novel with tons heat and even more heart.

 

More Than I Could is a standalone in the Coming Home series where one author a month will be delivering a brand-new story about coming home.      

About the Author:

USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

 

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket.


 



Monday, September 19, 2022

New Release Review: The Rules of Dating by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland




Title: The Rules of Dating
Authors: Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 19, 2022


BLURB

It all started when I hosted a little party for a bunch of new friends.
Though “friends” might not be the right word since the invitees were all the women I’d found out my boyfriend was talking to behind my back. When the guest of honor walked in—aka my now ex—things took a turn…
Unfortunately, a stranger witnessed the whole blowout. I was in a mood that night and ended up giving this gorgeous guy an attitude, too. As if my night could get any worse, before he stormed off, he informed me he was actually my landlord.
Colby Lennon, along with three of his friends, owned the building where my tattoo shop was located. He and I were total opposites. He wore a tie, oozed confidence that came with years of women falling at his feet, and wasn’t afraid to say what he wanted, which lately—was me.
I hated that I found myself attracted to him. Especially since I was supposed to be on a self-imposed dating hiatus. Yet the two of us couldn’t seem to stay away from each other. We started hanging out, as friends. I even went as far as making rules for what he’d dubbed our “undates.”
But eventually, our explosive attraction became too much to bear, and we broke our resolve. I let my guard down and started to really fall for Colby.
Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on. And I certainly wasn't prepared for where I'd wind up when the ride was over.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.







PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited


ALSO AVAILABLE





My review: 5 stars!

The writing duo of Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland is one of my favorites and their books are an automatic one-click purchase for me. I loved Billie and Colby and their insane chemistry. Colby's daughter Saylor was just darling. I loved the beginning of the book so much- Ward and Keeland always set up unique settings and storylines and I am never disappointed with their work.

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.



VI KEELAND


Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.




OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE & VI


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE IN PRINT & AUDIO




AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK & AUDIO




OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU


OTHER BOOKS BY VI


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU


Find more books







Friday, September 16, 2022

Cover Reveal: More Than I Could by Adriana Locke

 

       

MORE THAN I COULD by Adriana Locke


Release Date: September 26th
Cover Designer: Kari March
Photographer: J. Ashley Converse Photography
Cover Models: Dane Peterson and Maddi Hansen

 

Genre/Tropes: Single Dad/Blue Collar/Nanny/Close Proximity/Grumpy-Sunshine/Small Town Romance 


Add to Goodreads:

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31686622-more-than-i-could

     

Blurb:

This grumpy hero makes things hard for the nanny.

You know what? I’m over him.

His moods.

The verbal sparring.

Those biceps that look like they were cut from marble.

Okay, maybe I’m not over him being shirtless.

Chase Marshall is a single dad with a daughter to love, so fighting with me shouldn’t be a priority. But he can’t seem to stay away.

The lingering looks when he thinks I’m not watching.

The seemingly innocent touches while making breakfast.

The smirks gracing his lips after I’m irritated by his antics.

He’s ridiculously sweet to his daughter. I even catch glimpses of how charming he could be to me—if he wanted to.

But that’s the problem. He acts like he doesn’t want to. That he doesn’t want me.

He does. It’s in the innuendos, the way he places his hand in the small of my back—the almost kisses while we’re putting away groceries. The way he comes running when I see a spider and checks on me before he goes to bed. Even if he does grumble about it.

I might not be totally over my boss, but I’m going to make him think I am.

Let’s see how frustrated Mr. Marshall gets now.

 

From USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a grumpy/sunshine, blue-collar single dad, nanny romance. This small-town romance is a standalone novel with tons heat and even more heart.

 

More Than I Could is a standalone in the Coming Home series where one author a month will be delivering a brand-new story about coming home.


     

 

About the Author:

USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

 

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket. 


Thursday, September 15, 2022

Excerpt Reveal: The Rules of Dating by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

 




Title: The Rules of Dating
Authors: Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 19, 2022


Excited about Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland’s upcoming release, The Rules of Dating? 
Check out this SNEAK PEEK!


Crash!
S$&t. Billie and I looked at each other. A devilish smirk spread across her face…and then she turned and bolted.
I looked around. The coast seemed clear, so I ran as fast as I could while pushing a heaping cart full of crap. For the last hour and a half, Billie had been picking things out and holding them up to show me. If I agreed, she chucked them over her shoulder for me to catch with the cart. I’d been zigging and zagging, trying to scoop up all the merchandise she threw as I followed her around—both of us laughing like school kids the entire time. That is, until I missed that last toss and a glass bowl shattered on the floor.
IKEA was a giant maze, and both of us kept running, turning left and then right, until we finally arrived in the warehouse portion of the store, which was right before the checkout line. Billie leaned over with her hands on her knees, huffing and puffing.
“I think we’re in the clear,” she said.
“Pretty sure I would’ve rather paid for the twelve-dollar bowl than make a run for it. This cart is so full, it almost tipped like ten times.”
She laughed. “Did we get everything we need?”
“I’m not sure. But we definitely bought a lot of s%&t we don’t need. Like I think we could have done without the motorized ice cream cone spinners. The tenant can lick their own ice cream.”
Billie grinned. “Those are for me and Saylor. They light up, too!”
I snorted. “Come on, let’s check out before I’m completely broke.”
While we loaded everything onto the conveyor belt, I lifted my chin toward the in-store restaurant located just after the cashier stations. “You still up for meatballs?”
“Uh…hello? It’s the only reason I came.”
I clutched my hand over my heart. “Oww, that hurts. And here I thought you came for the company.”
After we were all checked out, I wheeled the cart over to a table for two in the corner of the restaurant. “Why don’t you stay here with the stuff, and I’ll go get us some meatballs.”
“Okay. But can you get me a drink, too, please? I’m so thirsty.”
When I came back, I set two big plates of meatballs on the table.
“Did you forget the drinks?” Billie asked.
I grinned and lifted a finger. “Actually, I didn’t. I brought them.” My gym bag from earlier had been lying on the bottom shelf underneath the cart since we walked in. Taking it out, I unzipped and started to unpack. “Wine, madame?” I held a bottle of merlot over one arm, showing the label like a maître d’.
Billie cracked up. “You brought wine with you? I thought it was strange when you took your duffle bag into the store. But I figured maybe your wallet was in it and stuff.”
I shrugged. “What choice did I have? You won’t go out with me, so I have to make the best out of our undate at IKEA.” I unloaded two plastic wine glasses, white cloth napkins, and a candleholder with a red candle.
Billie picked up the candle and examined it before raising a brow. “A winter village scene?”
I shrugged. “They’re Christmas candles. I only had an hour to get out of the house with a four-year-old. Don’t judge.”
The looks we got from the people around us as we ate meatballs by candlelight were pretty comical. I was also pretty sure it was against the rules to have an open flame in IKEA, let alone an open bottle of wine, but evidently the people behind the counter hadn’t read the employee rule book to be certain. Either way, the smile on Billie’s face made it all worthwhile. After we were done eating, I blew out the candle and started to pack up.
“You know…” Billie shook her head. “I think you just snuck a date into our undate.”
I shoved the cork back into the top of the wine bottle and zippered it into my duffle. “I did not.”
She squinted at me. “I’m pretty sure you did. What’s the difference between what we just did and a date? We shared a candlelight meal with wine and cloth napkins.”
I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “The difference is, you don’t get to come at the end.”
When I pulled back, Billie’s jaw was hanging open. I freaking loved that she looked so affected. She swallowed. “Is that the way all your dates end?”
I shook my head back and forth slowly. “No, but it’s damn straight the way ours would.”

Copyright © 2022 Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland











BLURB

It all started when I hosted a little party for a bunch of new friends.
Though “friends” might not be the right word since the invitees were all the women I’d found out my boyfriend was talking to behind my back. When the guest of honor walked in—aka my now ex—things took a turn…
Unfortunately, a stranger witnessed the whole blowout. I was in a mood that night and ended up giving this gorgeous guy an attitude, too. As if my night could get any worse, before he stormed off, he informed me he was actually my landlord.
Colby Lennon, along with three of his friends, owned the building where my tattoo shop was located. He and I were total opposites. He wore a tie, oozed confidence that came with years of women falling at his feet, and wasn’t afraid to say what he wanted, which lately—was me.
I hated that I found myself attracted to him. Especially since I was supposed to be on a self-imposed dating hiatus. Yet the two of us couldn’t seem to stay away from each other. We started hanging out, as friends. I even went as far as making rules for what he’d dubbed our “undates.”
But eventually, our explosive attraction became too much to bear, and we broke our resolve. I let my guard down and started to really fall for Colby.
Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on. And I certainly wasn't prepared for where I'd wind up when the ride was over.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.


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.



VI KEELAND


Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.




OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE & VI


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE IN PRINT & AUDIO




AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK & AUDIO




OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU


OTHER BOOKS BY VI


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU


Find more books