Friday, July 9, 2021

Watch Me Breathe {a review}

Watch Me Breathe is the third book in CE Johnson's Elements of the Heart series, and this time we get to learn Whack's (Lucas) story. Of course we'll also witness him fall for someone and have his HEA. We also get to see Owen, Everest, Natalie, and Dani! So yay for that.

Are you new to the Elements of the Hearts series? If so, don't worry, you don't need to read them in order. Technically they are all standalones. So while you won't know their story, you will know who they are in a committed relationship with. Also, these are romantic suspense books. So be prepared for that! Personally that is something I love, so I'm all for the suspense.

In Watch Me Breathe we catch up with Lucas. He owns a roofing company, and is doing quite well for himself. He has also taken Mason under his wing, and is giving him the opportunity to learn the profession. One day these two are at a job, and they hear a car making a noise. They turn right in time to see it crash. They immediately rush over to the scene to see how they can help, all while Mason calls in the crash. Upon arriving, Mason sees that there is a child in the back seat. Quick inspection says that she's alright, and he takes her out. Meanwhile Lucas stays with the driver. She is having a panic attack and just wants out of that dang car. Lucas manages to calm her down, and learns her name is Montana, but she goes by Tana. Tana lets us know that her husband died in a car accident, and so this crash is triggering her panic attack. Plus the fact that her daughter is in the car just makes it that much worse. Lucas and Mason are there though, and are doing what they can to keep these two safe. Mason finds a stuffed animal in the truck, and Iris is attached to this toy now, and will not give it back. Lucas initially struggles with it, but accepts it for what it is. Now, days after the crash happens, Tana cannot get this man off her mind. So imagine her surprise when he appears at the diner she works at. And what happens in the rest of this book leads up to the HEA we all know we'll get.

I loved getting to read Lucas's story and finally finding out his history. This man has been through so much in his life, and it was nice to see him get his HEA. I also understand his love of suckers/lollipops now. Montana (Tana) is the perfect fit for him. She too has been through a lot, she is doing what needs to be done for her and her daughter, and she is one strong woman. My heart was in my throat at the accident scene, and again later on in the book when the suspenseful element kicked in. During that suspenseful part of the book I was definitely going through my mind trying to think of who it was, and I wasn't even close. But I guess I should have guessed had I been paying closer attention. I was also ever so happy when Lucas and Tana went to visit Owen and Natalie. Seeing the group back together just made me smile, and it just solidified the fact that Lucas and Tana are meant to be.

I really enjoyed the book. My heart broke when Lucas shared his past, and again when Tana shared hers. Seeing how Lucas was doing everything he could to protect Tana and Iris healed that broken heart though, and made me love the book all the more. Also I cannot wait for Mason to have his story told.

Highly recommend Watch Me Breathe, and really I recommend all of the Elements of the Heart series. The characters are wonderful. The setting is fantastic. And the storylines are so dang good. If you love books that feature romantic suspense, then read the book/series!

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

Laura

She’s a widow. And I’m not what I would consider a good role model for her young child.

It’s been a long road for me. I’ve been plagued with bad decisions and grief. You could say life sucker punched the wind right out of me.

Just like it did to the woman in the car that spun into the ditch right before my eyes. I helped calm her down until the ambulance came, and assumed I’d never see her again.

Judging by her wide eyes and the soda that poured into my lap when Montana Hutchinson delivered the drinks to my table at the town diner, I would guess she believed the same thing.

I thought we could be friends. After all, we have more in common than even she realizes.

But it seems Tana happens to be a magnet for trouble.
And I happen to be the kind of guy that can’t sit back and watch the danger unfold around her.

I’ll do anything to protect her and her daughter.

But every day I spend with her gets harder to push down the feelings growing inside of me.

Being with Tana not only proves I’m capable of love again.

I can breathe again.

Happiness isn’t something that everyone gets the privilege to have.

And there’s no way I’m about to let anyone take it away from me again.

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#1 Dani & Everest's story

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#2 Natalie & Owen's story

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#4 Dani & Mason's story

Coming October 2021

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Meet C.E. Johnson

C.E. Johnson writes contemporary romance with a side of suspense. Her stories are full of emotion, heartbreak, collapsing walls, and redeeming love.

When not writing until all hours of the night, she loves to read books that feature a strong male with a soft spot for his feisty heroine. She prefers stories that rip your heart out completely, then kindly place it back into your chest with a HEA.

She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two kids, and some spoiled rotten animals.

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Thursday, July 8, 2021

The Fine Print {a review}

Happy Thursday my fellow readers!

Today is the day that The Fine Print by Lauren Asher is available, and let me tell you, if you enjoy theme parks, a work place romance, and/or billionaire romance, then you're going to want to read this one. Or if Grumpy/Sunshine is your go to trope, then again, The Fine Print would be a good book for you to pick up.

Brady Kane, the founder of Dreamland, has recently died. Before he died he wrote a few letters to various people. Three of those letters went to his grandsons. Within those letters were tasks each person needed to accomplish, and there was a deadline. Don't follow through, there goes your stake in the company. Harsh? A bit yes. Needed? Yes. Rowan is the first to tackle the mission. He figures he can return to Dreamland, put in his six months, and be done. He does not care for the theme park, and it brings back memories he'd rather not face. Shortly after his arrival he is attending a morning staff meeting. It is there where he meets Zahra for the first time. She's late to the meeting, loud, and not paying attention. It's irritating Rowan. He's already trying to think of ways to get rid of her. Zahra pays this mysterious man no mind, and goes on with her usual routine. It isn't until a little bit later, when Rowan's name is announced, that she realizes she's sitting right next to the new park Director. A bit later, Rowan is talking with the "Creators" about what needs to be done with the park, and the deadline that he has for them. One of the leads asks about opening up the employee suggestions a bit earlier than normal. While hesitant, Rowan agrees. That night, Zahra has a bit to drink, fills out the form with her true feelings/suggestions, thinks she hits save, and calls it a night. The next morning she realizes that she didn't hit save, she hit submit. But you see, Zahra has a history with the park, and with Brady Kane. Brady knew that Zahra wanted to be a Creator, and she had been working on a plan for a while. That is until her ex took her idea and ran with it. What happens next in the story is the journey toward Zahra and Rowan's HEA. It's quite the trip, and at times you may find yourself wanting to yell at Rowan. Or maybe that was just me.

In the beginning of the book, I was all in. I loved that Grandpa had given these men certain tasks. I wanted to watch how that all played out. I can't lie, in the beginning Rowan ticked me off. He was such a jerk, and it just irritated me. It seemed as though there wasn't one caring bone in his body. Rowan was all work, and anything else didn't matter. Whatever made the company the most money was all that mattered. A decent wage for employees? Nah. Good health insurance? Absolutely not. No one was complaining, so all was fine. I really liked how as the story unfolded, Rowan was starting to question things. As for Zahra, I loved her from the beginning. She is a strong female who knows what she wants. She wants to be a Creator at Dreamland. She wants to be near her family. She wants the best for her sister Ani. I also loved how she challenged Rowan left and right. She could see behind his mask. She knew there was a better man struggling to break free. He just needed a little push. This story was just so good. Yes, there were times where I wanted the pace to pick up just a little bit, but at the end of the story I see why it had to play out the way it did. I understand. When the big dramatic moment happened, my heart crashed. I was worried that Zahra and Rowan weren't going to get their HEA. Obviously they did. (I only read HEAs, with the exception of one book that broke me.) And how their HEA played out, just warmed my heart.

I cannot wait to see what happens in the next Dreamland Billionaires book, Terms and Conditions. Which brother is getting their story told? No clue, but I'm hoping it's Declan. And so help me Iris had better be his end game. If not, my kindle will be thrown.

Absolutely recommend the book. Take a trip to Dreamland for yourself, and fall for the setting! I think you'll fall for the characters along the way too.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

Laura

Rowan

I'm in the business of creating fairy tales.

Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels.

Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland.

My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her.

Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias.

By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late.

People like me don't get happy endings.

Not when we're destined to ruin them.

Zahra

After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland's most expensive ride, I should have been fired.

Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job.

The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I'd ever met.

Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn't care.

At least not until I discovered his secret.

It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn't fix everything.

Especially not us.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

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Meet Lauren Asher

Plagued with an overactive imagination, Lauren spends her free time reading and writing. Her dream is to travel to all the places she writes about. She enjoys writing about flawed yet relatable characters you can't help loving. She likes sharing fast-paced stories with angst, steam, and the emotional spectrum.

Her extra-curricular activities include watching YouTube, binging old episodes of Parks and Rec, and searching Yelp for new restaurants before choosing her trusted favorite. She works best after her morning coffee and will never deny a nap.

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Thank you to Lauren Asher and Grey's Promotions for providing me with an advanced copy of The Fine Print.

Twisted Games {cover reveal}

Ana Huang has just revealed the cover for Twisted Games!

This is the second book in the Twisted series, but can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy forbidden romances, bodyguard romances, or royal romances, then be sure to grab this book when it releases on July 29, 2021!

She can never be his…but he’s taking her anyway.

Stoic, broody, and arrogant, elite bodyguard Rhys Larsen has two rules:

1) Protect his clients at all costs

2) Do not become emotionally involved. Ever.

He has never once been tempted to break those rules…until her.

Bridget von Ascheberg. A princess with a stubborn streak that matches his own and a hidden fire that reduces his rules to ash. She’s nothing he expected and everything he never knew he needed.

Day by day, inch by inch, she breaks down his defenses until he’s faced with a truth he can no longer deny: he swore an oath to protect her, but all he wants is to ruin her. Take her.

Because she’s his.

His princess.

His forbidden fruit.

His every depraved fantasy.

***

Regal, strong-willed, and bound by the chains of duty, Princess Bridget dreams of the freedom to live and love as she chooses.

But when her brother abdicates, she’s suddenly faced with the prospect of a loveless, politically expedient marriage and a throne she never wanted.

And as she navigates the intricacies—and treacheries—of her new role, she must also hide her desire for a man she can’t have.

Her bodyguard.

Her protector.

Her ultimate ruin.

Unexpected and forbidden, theirs is a love that could destroy a kingdom…and doom them both.

Twisted Games is a contemporary royal bodyguard romance. It’s book two of the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.

Warning: This book contains a possessive alpha hero, explicit sexual content, and profanity.

Pre-Order Your Copy Here!

Add to your Goodreads TBR List!

Meet Ana Huang

Ana Huang is an author of primarily steamy New Adult and contemporary romance.

Her stories range from lighthearted to dark, but they all have HEAs with plenty of banter and swoon sprinkled in.

Besides reading and writing, Ana loves traveling, is obsessed with hot chocolate, and has multiple relationships with fictional boyfriends.

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Nothing Bundt Love {a review}

Nothing Bundt Love is the latest release by Samantha Lind, and let me tell you it is fabulous! This book has the billionaire romance happening, the friends to lovers trope happening, small town romance, and it was all just SO GOOD!

In Nothing Bundt Love we meet Nathan and Harper. Nathan is a big tech mogul out in California, and his life was forever changed when he and his best friend sold their first app. Since then he's had an amazing career, but not such an amazing love life. As his Grandmother's 90th birthday approaches, she convinces him to return home to Sweet Valley to celebrate with her. Nathan has stayed away for almost 10 years, as he was in love with Harper. But he never told her. He never revealed that information, he just assumed it was a one sided deal. Flash forward a few days, and Nathan arrives in Sweet Valley. First stop for him is the local coffee shop. He immediately notices the beautiful woman working behind the counter, but does not know her name. Harper on the other hand immediately recognizes Nathan, and is taken away with how handsome he is. She's secretly hoping he will remember her, unlike back in high school. After all she's all grown up now, and she is a small business owner. She's making a name for herself, and she's content with her little life here in Sweet Valley. Or so she thinks. Nathan is talking to his Grandmother, and she tells him that Harper owns the shop now, and fills him in a little bit about what has gone on while he's been out west. Needless to say the next day Nathan goes back to the coffee shop, talks to Harper, and then asks her on a date. What happens next? A LOT.

This is my second book by Samantha Lind, and I really enjoyed Nothing Bundt Love. I'm actually eagerly anticipating Nothing Bundt Forever, but I didn't see an expected release date listed for that book. Anyways back to this book. I loved the small town setting, the fact that Nathan returned home for this big family event, and the fact that he fell hard for Harper. I also liked the fact that Nathan wasn't afraid to offer his assistance (whether just business advice or financial assistance). He wanted Harper's business to succeed. So I loved every little bit about all that. My ONLY issue with the book, or maybe it's Samantha Lind's writing, is that the big drama moment/moment of conflict that tends to happen in romance novels, didn't really happen. It was more of a little mole hill than a big thing. And I guess that just left me underwhelmed. I want to see my couples fighting for their relationship. I don't want them to just have an easy go. Yes, Harper and Nathan are located on opposite sides of the US. Yes they are both workaholics. Yes they are both driven. But honestly it felt as though Nathan got his way a bit. He could have easily moved his company to Sweet Valley, or opened up a regional office there. But it is what it is. I still loved the characters, the Sweet Valley setting, and the storyline. I just wanted the big dramatic moment. (Also, am I the only one who reads Sweet Valley and immediately thinks of the series by Francine Pascal? Or am I just aging myself?)

If you're looking for a new romance book to read that is 1) a quick read, 2) has wonderful characters, and 3) has that awesome small town setting, then go grab Nothing Bundt Love.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
Laura

Nathan Bailey was the one that got away…or so I thought.

After leaving our hometown of Sweet Valley, Tennessee, for college, he never looked back….
Until ten years later, when he walked into my bakery.

The now billionaire tech-mogul is back in town and has his eyes set on me.

He's no longer the boy next door.
Tall, dark, and handsome, he's all man now

His sweet-talking is impossible to ignore; it's almost as delicious as my bundt cakes.

Can I take a chance on my first crush and hope he won't break my heart for a second time?

Grab Your Copy Here!

Add to Goodreads Here!

Meet Samantha Lind

Samantha Lind is a contemporary romance author. Having spent the first 27 years of her life in Alaska, she now calls Iowa home where she lives with her husband and two sons.

She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, watching hockey (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.

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Thank you to Samantha Lind and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an advanced copy of Nothing Bundt Love.

Bulletproof {cover reveal}

Bulletproof is the brand new release from Xavier Neal!

If you enjoy forbidden romances, the forced proximity trope, the fake relationship trope, or romantic suspense, then you're going to want to read Bulletproof when it releases on July 22, 2021!

Add Bulletproof to your Goodreads TBR

and

preorder on Amazon!

Cover Design: Dana Leah with Designs by Dana

The assignment is simple.

Don't let the client die.

Don't let her get kidnapped.

Don't sleep with her.

It's the last part that unexpectedly complicates things for me after I'm introduced to the most beautiful and brilliant woman I could've ever envisioned.

And it only gets worse when we have to stash ourselves away in a small town where our calculated cover is to be a recently engaged couple.

My new mission is now significantly harder.

Don't let her hate what's for dinner.

Don't let anyone else make her laugh more than I do.

And, most importantly, don't let myself actually fall for someone again.

After all, my job isn't to love my boss's sister.

It's to stop an unidentified threat from taking her – or die trying.

About

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.

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