Thursday, March 4, 2021

Vegas Aces Series {new releases}

Hello my fellow romance readers,

Today the folks at Wildfire Marketing asked me to share some information regarding Lisa Suzanne's brand new series, Vegas Aces!

If sports romance (specifically football) is a favorite of yours, you'll want to read this series. 

If fake relationships is your trope, you'll want to read this series.

If brother's best friend is your trope, you'll want to read this series.

I had the honor of reading an advanced copy of both Home Game and Long Game and I am hooked. I am eagerly awaiting March 18 so that I can read Fair Game. Curious what I thought of the books? You can find my mini reviews in my weekly wrap up post.

Happy reading, and please let me know if you read this series!

Laura


 

Home Game Release Date: March 4

Getting fired and dumped in the same thirty seconds makes for a pretty bad Tuesday. But by Thursday, I’ll be in Vegas celebrating my brother’s wedding. Since I could use a fresh start, he offers me a place to stay with a buddy of his.

At the bachelorette party, a raunchy game results in a quest to find me a one-night stand. When a hunk with dark blue eyes and perfect bone structure hits me with a silly line at the bar, my mission is complete.

I vow to move on from our steamy night as I head to the rehearsal dinner, certain one of my brother’s hot pro football player groomsmen will be my Prince Charming.

Then the best man turns around. Dark blue eyes. Perfect bone structure. A body I won’t soon forget.

And apparently my new roommate.

Grab Your Copy Here!



Long Game Releases March 4th

Nothing makes me work harder than when my future husband tells me, “Prove your worth.”

Luke hired me as his publicist so his pro football team owner will see that he’s indispensable to the organization. When a defamatory headline hits newsstands, it’s up to me to show the world what a Prince Charming he truly is.

My solution? A marriage of convenience. 

It’ll get his boss off his back and quiet the slanderous voices.

Luke is adamant that this is nothing more than a business transaction, but I still feel the heat from the single night we spent together when we were strangers.

Now I just have to figure out how not to fall in love with my fiancé.
 
Grab Your Copy Here!




Meet Lisa Suzanne


Lisa Suzanne is a romance author who resides in Arizona with her husband and two kids. 

She’s a former high school English teacher and college composition instructor. 

When she's not chasing her kids, she can be found working on her latest book or watching reruns of Friends.  


Connect with Lisa Suzanne


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Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Amazon First Reads {March}


 

Happy March fellow readers!

Have you checked out Amazon's First Reads options for the month? I did yesterday, and there are 8 book choices available. As of today, I'm still not certain which I am going to choose! There are only two books that I'm not all that interested in. Of the remaining six, there are two I am debating on.

If you are unfamiliar with the Amazon First Reads program, it is part of your Prime membership. (or at least in the continental US) Each month, the editors at Amazon select a certain amount of books that will be releasing the following month, and then offer those up for free. The idea is that you read the book, and then leave a review. It's a nice little benefit of the Prime membership. 

Adulting

by Liz Talley

This is a contemporary fiction about a woman facing her past, and being on the verge of a break through. It sounds interesting, but this isn't the book for me this month.


I'm in Seattle, Where are you?

by Mortada Gzar

This memoir sounds really moving, and is one I am putting on my "read eventually" list.



A Deadly Influence

by Mike Omer

Adding this book to my list of books to read sooner than later. This thriller sounds AMAZING. It's also the first book in a new series. So you know that gets my attention.



The Perfect Marriage

by Adam Mitzner

Domestic Suspense anyone? I have a feeling this would keep me on the edge of my seat.



Lies We Bury

by Elle Marr

Another suspense book! Ooh, I read the description, and this one sounds like quite the read. I am imagining it's going to be slightly emotional, and a bit of a rollercoaster.


Julius and Macy: A Very Brave Night

by Annelouise Mahoney

This book sounds ADORABLE! I might have to add this to my kids book shelf, as it would be a great read aloud.




Okay now time for the two books I am going back and forth on.

The Secret Stealers

by Jane Healey

Historical fiction draws me in every now and then. It's been a while since I've read a book set during World War II, and this one might have to be downloaded.


Here's the description for the book:

Anna Cavanaugh is a restless young widow and brilliant French teacher at a private school in Washington, DC. Everything changes when she's recruited into the Office of Strategic Services by family friend and legendary WWI hero, Major General William Donovan.

Donovan has faith in her -- and in all his "glorious amateurs" who are becoming Anna's fast friends: Maggie, Anna's down-to-earth mentor; Irene, who's struggling to find support from her husband for her clandestine life; and Julia, the cheerful OSS liaison. But the more Anna learns about the organization's secret missions, the more she longs to be stationed abroad. Then comes the opportunity: go undercover as a spy in the French Resistance to help steal critical intelligence that could ultimately turn the tide of the war.

Dispatched behind enemy lines and in constant danger, Anna is filled with adrenaline, passion, and fear. She's driven to make a difference--for her country and for herself. Whatever the risk, she's willing to take it to help liberate France from the shadows of occupation and to free herself from the shadows of her former life.
Um, yes please!


The Light Through the Leaves

by Glendy Vanderah

This is the book club selection for March, and it sounds like it will be an emotional journey. I predict tears, and quite possibly a lot of them.


Here is the description of the book:

One unbearable mistake at the edge of the forest.

In a moment of crisis, Ellis Abbey leaves her daughter, Viola, unattended--for just a few minutes. But when she returns,Viola is gone. A breaking point in an already fractured marriage, Viola's abduction causes Ellis to disappear as well--into grief, guilt, and addiction. Convinced she can only do more harm to her family, Ellis leaves her husband and young sons, burying her desperate ache for her children deeper with every step into the mountain wilderness she treks alone.

In a remote area of Washington, a young girl named Raven keeps secrets inside, too. She must never speak to outsiders about how her mother makes miracles spring from the earth, or about her father, whose mysterious presence sometimes frightens her. Raven spends her days learning how to use her rare gifts--and more important, how to hide them. With each lesson comes a warning of what dangers lie in the world beyond her isolated haven. But despite her mother's cautions, Raven finds herself longing for something more.

As Ellis and Raven each confront their powerful longings, their journeys will converge in unexpected and hopeful ways, pulled together by the forces of nature, love, and family.
Oof, that is going to be a rough one. Bad things happening to kids always drives me to tears. ALWAYS. So as good as this sounds, I just don't know if I can handle it emotionally.



Ugh, how do I choose which book to read? There are so many on here that have grabbed my attention. Which are you choosing?



Happy Reading,


Monday, March 1, 2021

The Wedding Game {new release}

Hello my fellow readers,

Today the folks with Candy Kane PR asked me to share a promotional post for Meghan Quinn's brand new release, The Wedding Game!

Now you may recall that I read this book in February through the Amazon First Reads program. If you read my first weekly wrap up for Febraury, then you already know that I did enjoy the book. For the most part. With many books there are frequently little things here or there that might not vibe with the reader, and I had those moments. Okay fine, it was namely Thad who I had issues with.

Please enjoy this little promo piece that I have for you.

Thanks and happy reading,

Laura



THE WEDDING GAME by Meghan Quinn
Release Date: March 1st Genre: Contemporary Romance
Montlake Publishing


AVAILABLE NOW!! FREE in Kindle Unlimited!!

   

Blurb: 
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn’s latest bauble is the charming story of a crafting queen battling a jaded divorce lawyer on a wedding reality show. 

Luna Wu is a veritable crafting genius—she can bedazzle and bead so hard her Etsy site is one of the hottest in the world. So it’s only natural that Luna would convince her brother and his husband-to-be to compete on The Wedding Game, a “do-it-yourself” TV show, for the title of Top DIY Wedding Expert. 

As a jaded divorce lawyer, Alec Baxter scoffs at weddings and romance. But when his recently engaged brother begs him to participate in The Wedding Game, Alec grudgingly picks up a glue gun and prepares for some family bonding. Both fierce competitors, Luna and Alec clash on national TV as harsh words and glitter fly with abandon. But as they bicker over color swatches and mood boards, they find themselves fighting something else: their growing mutual attraction. 

While Luna is torn between family loyalty and her own feelings, Alec wonders if he might have been wrong about love and marriage all along…   

    

Excerpt: 

“Are you ready?” Farrah says, coming from behind me and massaging my shoulders. I move my head side to side while we both hop up and down. “Did you do those finger exercises I told you about?” I flex my fingers and nod. “Yup, all warmed up.” 

“Do you have your game face on?” Farrah spins me around and grips my shoulders as I mean mug it at her. “Ooo, you’ve been practicing in the mirror. I can tell.” “When I brush my teeth. I really feel like I’ve mastered the scowl.” “Honey, you mastered the scowl years ago. Now you’re just coming into your own with it.” 

She holds up her hands, and I start boxing into them as we leap around the apartment. “Quick on your feet, quick on your feet.” Farrah swings her hand at me, and I duck. “Focus, hone your attention.” “Focused.” “Tell me, who’s going to kill it today?” “I am.” I bob back and forth and then give Farrah a one-two punch to her hands. “Who’s going to do anything necessary, even sit on someone’s face if you need to, in order to win today’s challenge?” “I am. Show no mercy. My ass is coming for your face.” Farrah pauses, winces. “I’m not sure I like that.” “Just go with it.” “Okay, Luna’s ass is coming for your face.” She shrugs. “Next week let’s work on your trash talk.” “Might be necessary.” 

Circling again, I box at Farrah’s hands, feeling light on my feet and ready for anything that comes my way. “You’re going to ignore all conversations from Mr. Snobby Shoes.” “I don’t even know he exists.” “Your eyes are on the prize. And what is that prize?” “Giving Cohen and Declan the best wedding possible.” “Exactly.” 

She lowers her palms. “Quick, flash me your hands.” I lift my hands, and she inspects them carefully. “You lotioned—good. Nails are clipped to a perfect length, and those fingers are stretched and strong. Rotate your wrists for me.” She lowers her ear to my wrists as I circle them around. “Perfect, no cracking, no tension.” She points to the ground. “Fast feet.” My feet start bouncing up and down, like in those football movies, and I hold my hands at my hips, ready for the call . . . “Draw!” Farrah shouts. I pull my glue gun from my hip and point it at her. “You’ve been glued.” Farrah claps her hands. “Reaction time was spot on. You’re ready.” “Yeah?” She nods. 

“You got this, girl. This competition is yours for the taking. And remember what we talked about: don’t focus on what you think will win . . .” “Focus on what will bring Cohen and Declan joy.”  

      

About the Author: USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

 

Connect with Meghan: 

Weekly Wrap Up

 


Why hello there March! Glad to see you. Please tell me your friend Spring isn't too far behind you. I'm sick of snow. I want warmer temperatures, and the snow to melt. I don't think it's asking too much. 

Last week was a ridiculous good week for reading. Seriously not my normal, and I do not expect to see it happen again. Here are my stats ⬇️:

              • 8 Books Read
              • 7 E-books
              • 5 E-Arcs
              • 1 Physical Book
              • 1,875 Pages Read
My average rating was 4.5 stars. Which is amazing. 

Not too shabby, am I right? 

Let's jump in and start talking about the books.

Friday, February 26, 2021

Rookie Move {a review}

Samantha Lind has released a brand new book called Rookie Move! Rookie Move is the 9th book in her Indianapolis Eagles hockey series. You already know I love a good hockey romance, so this book drew me in!

 

In this book we are following the relationship between Dylan and Hailey. These two are high school sweethearts, and both know that one day they will marry. They are completely on the same page. The only issue is that he's in Indiana, and she is in California.

If you are not familiar with the premise of Rookie Move, here is the teaser blurb for it.

Dylan

My future was all mapped out.
Graduate high school.
Get drafted.
Make a professional hockey team's roster.
Marry my high school sweetheart.

I had it all within my grasp;
Everything was falling into place.
Except for the distance,
And our conflicting schedules.

Hailey

My future was all mapped out.
Graduate high school.
Graduate Med-School.
Land my dream residency.
Marry my high school sweetheart.

My dream took me to the opposite coast, but my heart just wasn't in it anymore.

Could I find a new path to my goal and still find happiness?

Was thinking we could make this work another rookie move?

 

Time for my thoughts. 

(I will do my best to be spoiler free.)

Rookie Move was a sweet story, and I really liked how it flowed. I felt like I knew the characters, and could imagine the heartache that they were both dealing with due to the distance. Other than their relationship, what also grabbed my attention was the way Dylan was accepted into the Indianapolis Eagles team with little to no issue. From what I could "see" his teammates had no issue with this rookie, and a recently retired player took Dylan under his wing. I thought that was awesome. I love seeing teammates who are more like family than coworkers. The fact that Hailey was also immediately accepted by the WAGs was equally impressive. She didn't have to struggle through making these connections, and building the friendship, it just happened. I mean, yes, she put her foot in her mouth once or twice, but those moments were quickly over looked. 

Honestly, for me, it felt like something was missing in the story. 

I have read NUMEROUS hockey romance series, and and they all seem to follow the same path. We witness the relationship build, we see how the characters connect and fall in love, we meet their friends/family, there are minor issues that get worked through, and then there is the big conflict that happens, and we find ourselves wondering how they will fix this. It is at this point in the book where I am screaming (internally) at the characters, and wondering how they could screw this up! Once that is remedied, we get the reunion, and see them on their way to their HEA.

For me, Rookie Move was missing that. Yes, Dylan and Hailey are living thousands of miles apart. Yes they are both extremely busy with their work (him hockey, her school). But that's minor. Where is this moment that drives them apart, and we witness them coming back together? I needed that, and it wasn't there.

I liked that they were high school sweethearts, I really did. However Dylan and Hailey were almost too perfect. 

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story. I really did. I just wish it had everything I wanted. 

At the end of the day, as I reflect on the book, I decided to give it a 3/5. 

For those who have read the entire Indianapolis Eagles series, are all the books this way? I fully admit that I jumped into book 9 without having read any of the other books, so I'm not certain. I'm debating with myself about if I should go back and read the other 8 books. Part of me wants to.

Thank you for reading my review. If you've read Rookie Move, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading,


Congratulations Samantha Lind on your new release. Thank you to Wildfire Marketing and Samantha Lind for the advanced reader copy of Rookie Move. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. As you can see, mine was more middle of the road.

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