Friday, June 4, 2021

The Varsity Dad Dilemma {cover reveal}

The Varsity Dad Dilemma

by Lex Martin

A Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 20, 2021

Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs

Photo: Perriwinkle Photography

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Savage Falls MC {series announcement}

Welcome to Savage Falls...

A brand new dark reverse harem bully romance trilogy from bestselling author Caitlyn Dare, coming this summer!

Two dirty-talking tattooed bikers, a pretty boy football player with secrets, and the MC princess who will bring them to their knees...

Are you ready for a SAVAGE summer?

SIGN UP NOW!

SAVAGE #1
Release Date: July 1st
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/SFSbook1

SACRIFICE #2
Release Date: August 5th
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/SFSbook3

SACRED #3
Release Date: September 2nd
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/SFSbook3

Meet

Two angsty romance lovers writing dark heroes and the feisty girls who bring them to their knees.

Author Links

Smoke {a review}

Smoke is the fourth book in the Virtues and Lies series by Alexandra Silva. It is also the first part of Freddie and Georgina's story. You'll have to stay tuned for Flame which is the conclusion of their story, and it releases later this month.

From the few, spoiler free, comments that I've read on Goodreads, it does sound like you should read Virtue and Lies IN ORDER. However, I didn't do that. I KNOW, I KNOW! I'm jumping into the series by reading Smoke first, but I am going to go back and read from the beginning. I am. I just promised to have this review out by today, and my schedule didn't allow me to read the first three books prior. So don't do what I did. I don't know if I will write individual reviews for Burn, Scorch, and Blaze here on my blog, or if they will just be on Goodreads. But I should have that figured out soon.

Let me just say, this is a DARK romance with mafia vibes. But it isn't a mafia romance book. Does that make sense?

ANYWAYS...In this book we have Freddie who has been searching high and low for Lucy. While he never specifically says it, she is the woman he loves, and he feels guilty that she is missing. Had he just been on time, maybe she wouldn't have been taken. Fast forward 8 years. Freddie is in a relationship with Georgina. She loves him, but he will never say it back. That's beside the point. One day, out of the blue, Lucy shows up at Freddie's house. She is looking rough, and he takes her to the hospital. Now it's time to try and get some answers as to where she's been, and who took her. Lucy is being tight lipped about it all. Then there is Georgina, the extremely talented ballerina who is hopelessly in love with Freddie. Georgina is also accustomed the world that Freddie is a part of. So she doesn't question things. When a bouquet of flowers is delivered to Georgina, Freddie and company go on high alert. This bouquet has a specific meaning, and someone is coming for her.

As I said above, I stepped into the series not having read the previous three. Honestly I think that's why I struggled a bit while reading. I didn't have the full picture. I didn't know the background of the characters or the group they are up against. So that definitely did not play into my favor. I also think I struggled because I just wasn't in the mood for a dark romance. Yet I did not let those things sway my rating. I still feel that Smoke deserves 4 stars. Now that rating may change once I go back and read Burn, Scorch, and Blaze. Time will tell.

As I read Smoke, my curiosity was definitely piqued. The fact that there is this element of mystery (where was Lucy, who is coming after Georgina) definitely had me wanting to read more. I'm also really curious about the relationship between Freddie and Georgina. Then the fact that the book ends in a cliffhanger? Well geez Louise, just hook me in why don't ya. I need to know what happens next! Thankfully Flame is coming in a couple weeks so I can find out. I'm seriously hoping that Georgina and Freddie get their HEA. Also, what is going to happen with Lucy? Will the villain be defeated or will they escape? I NEED TO KNOW!

It is my goal to have Burn, Scorch, and Blaze read before Flame comes out. Wish me luck on that. I am hoping there might be a little leeway in my schedule to allow three additional books to be read.

If dark British romances are your thing, then definitely go check out the Virtues and Lies series by Alexandra Silva. Just be sure to start from the beginning. You know, that thing I didn't do.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

Laura

Just Out Of Reach {cover reveal}

JUST OUT OF REACH (The Just Series #1) by Xavier Neal

Re-Releasing on June 10th

Photographer: Eric Battershell, Eric Battershell Photography
Model: Johnny Kane
Cover Designer: Dana Leah, Designs By Dana

From best-selling author Xavier Neal comes a slow-burn romance that's full of the unexpected...

They say all the best things in life are free.

I say all the best things in life are easy.

That is until easy gets me put on house arrest where I'm stuck with an estranged aunt, a needy cat, and drinking lemonade instead of tequila.

Easy suddenly becomes hard.

I basically have to sweat to get paid.

I finally realize that great cheesecake doesn't magically materialize.

And I have to deal with a law-appointed babysitter constantly showing up to c-block my chance of proving to the drop-dead gorgeous neighbor - who I want screaming my name every night - that I'm more than just the crime I committed.

All the best things in life may be easy, but I'm slowly learning that all the greatest require real work.

Real effort.

And most importantly, real sacrifice.

Add to Goodreads HERE!

Purchase Links:

About the Author

Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub genre to sub genre like a game of Hopscotch she can't resist.

In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy's t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible).

She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband "Lumberjack” and their two fur babies.

Connect w/Xavier:

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Back to Us {a review}

I FREAKING LOVE A WELL DONE SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE! And reader friends, Back to Us by T.C. Matson fit that bill perfectly.

Back to Us is the second book in the Cameron Falls series, and I am hooked. I will be reading Back to Me, and I will be reading the next two in the series as well. I am falling for this small town, and the people in it.

Dakota and Blake were high school sweethearts. That is until the day after Dakota tells him she's been accepted to a college in California. You see that next day, she found him in bed with another girl. She saw red, and ran. Leaving both of them heartbroken. Now, 11 years later Dakota is returning to town for her Granny's funeral. She is hoping she won't have to see Blake, but since it's a small town and the families are friends, the likelihood of that it miniscule. When the community sees Blake and Dakota in the same area, people start talking. Are they getting back together? Will they forgive each other? Is Dakota moving back to town? And that reunion is exactly what this book is about. It's about forgiveness and finding your way back to the person you're meant to be with. It isn't perfect. It isn't easy. But in the end, there is forever.

When I read the teaser for Back to Us, I was immediately drawn in because of it being set in a small town, and the fact that it is a second chance romance. Those are two of my favorite things in books, and Back to Us did not disappoint. As I was reading the book, it seriously felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie, just with a bit of steam added in. I could picture the scenes playing out, and I LOVED IT. I could feel the tension, the heartache, the longing, the emotions just flowing off of these two. I could see their friends and family watching from the sidelines and watching this reunion happen. Then when the big moment happened, and that pie went flying, I could hear the heartache, the pain, the anger coming from both of them. But then towards the end of the book, when Dakota had to return to California, my heart shattered for Blake and Dakota. I was crushed. After going through all that with the characters, I couldn't see how they would get back together again. Thankfully T.C. Matson had me covered, and I watched it all unfold. When the book ended, my heart was so happy. The HEA I knew I would get happened. It all wrapped up wonderfully.

Loved the story. Loved the characters. Loved the setting. Cannot wait to see who the next book is about. Especially since I'm sure we "met" the main character in Back to Us. Time will tell.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
Laura