One look into Everly Williams’s big brown eyes and I knew I’d do anything to protect her. And for eight years I did. She was my world. My best friend.
But afraid I’d lose her, I held on too tight. Became a dark cloud blocking her sun. So I did what I needed to, and walked away. I hurt us both.
Now I’m home, and need Everly back in my life. Only everything is different. We’re different. My body burns for her when she’s near. And after one explosive kiss, I know she feels it too. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn her trust again.
Because I don’t want what we had before. I want it all…for a lifetime.
A best friend’s to lovers romance in the sexy new Rocktown Ink series.
MY REVIEW
**I WAS GIVEN AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW **
I am a sucker for friends who turn in to lovers because there is that established sense of love and devotion to one another. I like the spin on this one that there was not one that was pining the whole time for the other. There was a natural love that grew, there was conflict that made my heart break for Everly, she truly did feel abandoned by Dane, who was doing what he thought was best, because she was his best friend, his world. He lived to protect her and make sure she was ok at all times. Even if he over stepped the limits of what was really needed.
Dane is a sweet and broken man, who has watched over Everly for years, when an incident involving one of her less desirable dates at the time, caused Dane to make a call that broke him almost as much as it broke Eves. Who now felt abandoned by EVERYONE who ever loved her, she had to start over again and then after 18 months, Dane was back and wanted so very much to get his best friend back.
She agreed if he taught her how to date, and one kiss was all that it took for him to want more than just to be her friend, and was ready to work slow and hard to get her on his level.
Dane and Everly are not my favorite dream couple, I was sad to see it come to an end.
Cecelia
watched with amusement as his footsteps faltered and then stuttered to a stop.
The bewilderment on his face when he turned to her brought a giggle to the
fore.
“Seriously? You expect me to sleep in . . . on . . . that?” With
great reluctance, he turned back and gestured toward the offending item in
question.
She twirled past him and hooked an arm around one of the four
interwoven, antique iron posts shaped in the form of tree trunks supporting the
intricate metal canopy above. She flung her other arm open to indicate her
extremely feminine bedroom and whimsical bed, and breezed out, “Welcome to my
boudoir.”
She sat down on the white-on-white jacquard bedspread and patted
the space next to her. “Despite its fragile appearance, my bed is sturdy, very
comfortable, and extra-large, so never fear, you will fit.” She flung her torso
back onto the bed, arms stretched above her head, her eyes following the leafy
pattern above. “I found it in a darling
shop in the South of France five years ago and just had to have it.” Her laugh was light and tinkling, as whimsical as
her quirky antique bed.
Aidan’s large presence loomed over her. He supported his weight
on extended arms, dipping the mattress beneath her shoulders. Her legs,
dangling off the edge of the bed, were pinned between his, and his upper body
hovered over hers. Her eyes, sparkling with amusement, met his oh-so-serious
gaze.
“It better not find its way to Texas,” he drawled in warning.
Her grin widened. “And if it does? Whatcha gonna do, cowboy?”
“Tie you to those posts with one of the scarves you seem to favor
and have my wicked way with you.”
Cecelia’s belly fluttered at the promise of his words, and her
brows lifted in response. “In that case, it would behoove me to ensure it finds
its way to Texas,” she replied huskily.
Aidan’s
eyes widened as her meaning — and what he’d said — sank in. He’d spoken without
thought. He groaned as a dull flush crept up his face, and he made a move to
straighten. “You scramble my brains.”
Her arms found their way to his neck, stopping his retreat. “I
rather like your brains scrambled,” she murmured. Her exploring fingers spread
over the shorn hair at his nape, and she tugged him closer, her laughter fading
as desire replaced amusement.
“I have many scarves,” Cecelia whispered as his lips hovered over
hers, their breaths mingling.
His body lowered as his elbows bent in answer to her pull. He
tugged her lower lip between his teeth, eliciting a moan from her, scattering
her thoughts.
His teeth released their hold, lips moving
closer to her ear. “Does bein’ tied to your bed tickle your fancy, Lily?” he
whispered, his lips continuing to kiss a path across her hairline. She’d the
power to unleash a racy side in him he’d never known existed.
She moaned, angling her head just so to expose more of her neck.
Being a clever man, he followed her invitation, leaving her breathless in the
wake of his lips. “You have no idea . . . how tickled my . . . fancy is right
now, cowboy.”
He sank lower, eliminating the little space between them. He
asserted extra pressure — perfect pressure — aligning all the right body parts.
“I think I might’ve some idea, sweetheart,” he said hoarsely, “as I am in the
same predicament.”
They both moaned. He lifted his head and repositioned his lips on
hers. The tip of his tongue sought entry, and she gladly opened to him. An
intimate duel ensued, fueling the fire building between them.
“Oh, Lily, I love your bed! It’s sick!” The loud shriek was
vicious in its untimely interruption.
Aidan stilled. Groaning, he pushed himself upright, his movement
sluggish and reluctant. His gaze embraced the gorgeous woman, still spread out
on the bed, one arm flung above her head, her chest heaving in rapid movement.
She was breathless and undone. Because of him.
His plan had been to keep his physical distance from her for a
while. To get to know her a bit better — build a relationship — before becoming intimate. He raked his hand across his face. It was
going to be harder than he’d anticipated.
Tearing his eyes from the alluring image, he focused on his
daughter.
Author
Bio:
Nicole Ann Nielsen believes in romance, in
love, and everyone deserves a happy ever after.
And that is what she writes — Contemporary
Romance.
Working as a web developer and running her
own company, one morning, having had enough of code, she opened a word
document, and finally, finally, let the ideas bouncing around her head out.
In her own words: “The words flowed, the
characters talked, the scenes developed, and a story formed. It was magical.”
Nicole lives in scenic Cape Town, South
Africa, and shares her space with her husband, two dogs, and a lone cat, her
son and daughter having long flown the parental coop.
She is an avid reader, enjoys Pilates,
inhales coffee, and loves dreaming about her next novel.
A story that starts with “Once upon a time in Vegas…” isn’t supposed to end with “happily ever after.”
Sebastian
I know this better than anyone, and I can’t let history repeat itself. This is why I have rules, and at the top of that list is no fraternizing with audience members after shows. But my rules mean nothing after my instant connection with Kendall. Her southern accent suggests a certain charm, but her sharp tongue says otherwise. Which is why I can’t help myself—she’s a mystery I need to solve. The more I get to know her, the more I start to believe she could be the one.
Until my past comes barreling in and makes me wonder if my one night with Kendall was real or all a cruel game.
Kendall
Although I live in LA, my conventional family loves to remind me of my small-town upbringing. They’ve never approved of my life choices—dropping out of college, moving across the country, and dating around, to name a few. Getting involved with Sebastian will be yet another decision they disapprove of—how much more of their disappointment can I take?
After all, he’s a stripper for Vegas’s hottest male revue show. He can’t be my forever.
The odds are against us, but then again, anything can happen in a story that starts with “Once upon a time in Vegas…”
*Strip for Me is Book 1 in the Naked Heat series. Each book is a standalone contemporary romance.
MY REVIEW
** I WAS GIVEN AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW **
This book was sweet, Sassy and sexy.
I saw the synopsis and was on the fence about it, because I have my certain kind of books and authors I stick close to. Like Sports, mainly Hockey, Baseball and Football, then My MC books, and then the single parent books. This is was one that I stepped out of the norm for me and I was not disappointed in the least.
I love how strong Kendall is, but when things are provent that they are not as she sees them, she kind of falls apart in a way that I see as weak and childish. She has a lot of self confidence issues that play into that at the same time I believe and what she finds with Sebastien helps her open up in the way that she needs to.
Sebastien has a few self confidence issues as well although they are not as obvious as Kendalls and they are deeper down. I think that is why I loved this book a lot, it helps you see the beauty in everything including yourself.
I do recommend this book to anyone and every one struggling a bit, there are people who believe in you.
“Absolute
Christmas magic. If Hallmark doesn’t make this movie I may go on Christmas
movie strike!” #1 New York Times bestselling author
Rachel Van Dyken
Holidate, an all-new standalone contemporary
holiday romance by New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author Monica Murphy is LIVE!
Candice Gaines loves Christmas. Not only does she bask in the twinkling lights,
sing Christmas carols and go crazy with the decorations, she’s also in the
giving spirit, donating much of her time and wealth to various charities in the
local area.
Charlie Sullivan despises Christmas. Though it keeps his family afloat, considering
they own Sullivan Family Christmas Tree Farm, the main provider for Christmas
trees on the Monterey peninsula. He’d much rather work among the trees versus
have to deal with people.
But Charlie’s parents are taking on more
philanthropic projects—and as their oldest child, they want him to be their
official public representative. He just has to play nice and convince everyone
he’s not a total holiday hater.
When Charlie’s mom asks Candice to
accompany him to a variety of holiday parties and events, she reluctantly
agrees. She thinks Charlie is a big ol’ Grinch, but is determined to change his
mindset and help him spread Christmas cheer. Charlie finds Candice too chatty,
too sweet, too much. Do people like
her really exist?
Why yes, yes they do. The more time they
spend together—along with a few kisses under the mistletoe—the more they start
to like each other. Hopefully Charlie can convince Candice he doesn’t have a
heart that’s two sizes too small before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.
Monica
Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author
of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules
series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold
over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by
Random House/Bantam and HarperCollins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult
and contemporary romance.
She
is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen
acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A
self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out
with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she
will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they
finally get that hard won HEA.
Let’s say you’re an
independent, self-sufficient woman who runs the family company and you find
yourself falling for your little brother’s best friend. Now, more than ever,
you need to count all the reasons why you need to abandon falling.
Abandon Falling #1 – He’s a womanizer. Hasn’t had a serious
relationship a day in his life and changes women more often than he changes his
sheets.
Abandon Falling #2 – He’s never serious. He cracks one-liners,
mostly at your expense.
Abandon Falling #3 – When things go wrong, he seems unfazed and
always remains in control. It’s so annoying.
Abandon Falling #4 – He has tattoos. Lots of them. Everywhere. Not
to mention, he owns a tattoo parlor. (Damn it! Why doesn’t that sound like a
bad thing anymore?)
Abandon Falling #5 – There’s a growing list of how different you
two are. You can’t get along for fifteen minutes—a lifetime together would land
one of you in prison.
Keep repeating those
reasons and drown yourself in work. Pretend you don’t notice his good qualities
or how enticing he looks without a shirt, and do not, I repeat, do not agree to
live with the man while your place is being repaired from flood damage.
Trust me, even the strongest of us can only forego temptation for so long.
MY REVIEW
** I WAS GIVEN AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW **
The long wait is over! After month of speculation and hopes of what will go down with Savannah and Liam I was not left disappointed!
Liam has this kind heart that really isn’t hidden under anything, he actually wears it out on his sleeve when it comes to Savannah, who saw him as her younger twin brothers partner in crime. But as they all grew up her attraction grew to him. But seeing herself as the matriarch of the Bailey children, the one who needed to be responsible and a positive, strong female role model for her younger sisters as well as the other young women of Lake Starlight, she forgot how to be anything but that. She forgot to take care of herself and let herself relax and have moments to remember who she was.
But Liam was watching this, and was not boustrious about this fact about her but he wasn’t exactly silent about it either. He was determined to prove that he was not the trouble making friend of Savannahs younger brothers, that he was a strong man, who was worth her time. While doing that he built up this air of self confidence that masked a softer side that worried about what others thought, about him, his art and his life’s choices.
With Savannah, he let those walls come down, but will she let hers come down as well?, Well you will have to read the book to find out!!!
This was a book worth the wait in so many ways! I highly recommend it! It is my first 5 STAR Review of October!!
Let’s say you’re an
independent, self-sufficient woman who runs the family company and you find
yourself falling for your little brother’s best friend. Now, more than ever,
you need to count all the reasons why you need to abandon falling.
Abandon Falling #1 – He’s a womanizer. Hasn’t had a serious
relationship a day in his life and changes women more often than he changes his
sheets.
Abandon Falling #2 – He’s never serious. He cracks one-liners,
mostly at your expense.
Abandon Falling #3 – When things go wrong, he seems unfazed and
always remains in control. It’s so annoying.
Abandon Falling #4 – He has tattoos. Lots of them. Everywhere. Not
to mention, he owns a tattoo parlor. (Damn it! Why doesn’t that sound like a
bad thing anymore?)
Abandon Falling #5 – There’s a growing list of how different you
two are. You can’t get along for fifteen minutes—a lifetime together would land
one of you in prison.
Keep repeating those
reasons and drown yourself in work. Pretend you don’t notice his good qualities
or how enticing he looks without a shirt, and do not, I repeat, do not agree to
live with the man while your place is being repaired from flood damage.
Trust me, even the
strongest of us can only forego temptation for so long.
Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because
we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors
for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have
“Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle” (okay…you caught us,
that’s our tagline). A little about us… We both have kindle’s full of
one-clickable books. We’re both married to husbands who drive us to drink.
We’re both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky
heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.
First comes marriage, then comes…love? Divorce? Let’s pretend this never happened …
They say opposites attract and that couldn’t be truer when it comes to CeCe and Shep. But what happens when the two most anti-marriage people in the French Quarter start enjoying the act?
CeCe
I never planned on getting married. After my dad deserted my family the day before my tenth birthday, and I watched my mother fall to pieces over him, I decided it wasn’t worth the heartache. Then Shepard Rhys-Jones, who ghosted me two years ago, declares he needs to marry someone to claim his inheritance, and I drunkenly offer myself up as his wife.
He was the best I’ve ever had and now, he’s all mine… but only for the next year.
Shep
I never planned on getting married. It was one business transaction I had no desire to close. Yet, here I am… sitting in a bar in New Orleans… seriously considering making CeCe Calhoun my wife. If we can manage to stay married for a year, I’ll be one hundred million dollars richer and finally have the freedom to forge my own path, separate from the Rhys-Jones name.
She’s the only woman I’ve struggled to forget, and she’s finally mine. For now.
Is it possible for this fake marriage to be real?
MY REVIEW
** I WAS GIVEN AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW **
Shep was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and the world at his feet. Cece has had to work hard for everything and anything in her life. Yet they both have such a skewed vision on weddings and marriage. They are very much the opposites in every social sense, but emotionally they were on the same level, and they didn’t even know it.
I love how they are together and how this plan was hatched, it was a bit harder for me to really get into it but only because I have been reading a lot of instant love books and this was a slow burn that took its time for the emotions to catch up to the physical. And there is a lot of physical there that leave you semi fanning your face, (Not Safe To Read At Work! LOL)
They have a great mutual friend group that adds so much to their story without taking away from it. I did feel that the book itself was slow to start, mainly on the emotional level, and it was dragged out longer than needed in certain aspects but skipped over others that didn’t really get an answer. Then it also felt very rushed out at the end, and even the epilogue didn’t really wrap up many of the unanswered questions I had… Not that they were really important, but it felt a little un finished.
Our relationship starts as a game. I sneak into his bar underage. He kicks me out. Repeat.
Maliki Bridges is the town’s hottest bar owner. He thinks I’m the mayor’s troublesome daughter. I think he has a stick up his a**.
Once I turn twenty-one, we become friends. Nothing more …
Until my world is turned upside down, and he offers me his guest bedroom. It’s a bad idea, moving in with him, but any opportunity I get to be around him I’ll take. Consequences be damned.
Becoming roommates is the riskiest game we’ve ever played.
MY REVIEW
** I WAS GIVEN AN ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW **
Sierra is one of my top favorite Female leads, but some of her thought processes annoy me to no end. Maliki is the strong stoic brooding type that is my weakness!!
This is my very first Charity Ferrell book, that’s right I just jumped in the middle of a series! It is how I roll these days it seems.
The banter between Maliki and Sierra is amazing and comical! How they became to be friends is a unique story that really does reflect on how their relationship and friendship runs its course. This slow Burn frenemies to Lovers is just to sweet to not share to everyone out there.
Can’t Block My Love, an all-new sports romance by Xavier Neal is coming October 22nd!
Synopsis:
From bestselling romance author Xavier Neal comes an all-new, rom-com sports romance featuring a gorgeous goalie who can block any shot — except Cupid’s…
Once upon a time, the Vlasta Vipers hockey team was so incredible — on and off the ice — they were almost mythical.
Every other university wanted their team to be them.
Every chick who crossed their paths wanted to bang them.
Now?
Their clout on the ice is questionable.
Their competition cutthroat.
Their beds…
Well, there will always be puck bunnies ready to keep them warm. After all, no matter how well they do or don’t do, they are the university’s most important athletes.
However, when Remington Ronald Rutledge the 3rd, lands himself on the new head coach’s bad side, which threatens his chances of playing for the season, he finds himself striking an unusual deal with a blast from his past he can barely remember.
Did she always wear these glasses?
Was her hair always this curly?
Has she always had a smile that makes him wanna smile?
What happens when the bad boy who makes all the rules is forced to play by someone else’s?
Can this good-looking goalie let love score, or will blocking it be the biggest mistake of his life?
“You look like you’re about to do a Christmas commercial for PetSmart.”
Her eyes dart down to the evergreen dress shirt.
“You don’t have anything else to wear?”
“I don’t think I look that bad…”
“You look like I should cover your ass in Tinsel and hang ornaments off your nipples.”
“That would hurt.”
“Not as much as having to stare at you in this shirt.”
Poppy’s eyes dart up to me and narrow. “Well, unless you wanna stop by Target-”
“Try again.”
“Or Macy’s-”
“More likely.”
“Or Nordstrom’s-”
“We’ve got an account there.”
“This is what I’m wearing,” she defiantly grumps. “Deal with it.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
In one swift motion, I reach over and undo the top three buttons of the shirt. Her squeaks of objection fall on deaf ears as I mentally debate on unfastening one more. Currently, this gives just the smallest side shot of her tits, which should be enough to entice without giving her the skate chasing slut sensation I’m trying to avoid. I approve my handy work with a pleased nod. “Dealt with.”
“Ren-”
“Hair.”
“What about my hair?” Poppy instantly squeaks.
“You look like you don’t own a brush.” I tilt my head condescendingly to the side. “Do you?”
Her jaw plummets to her lap in my favorite way.
Unable to resist the urge to get under her skin, I scold, “Might wanna shut that before my dick finds its way into it.”
She snaps it closed so fast a chomp sound echoes around my SUV.
About Xavier Neal
Xavier Neal lives in Texas where she spends her time getting lost in writing, reading, or fandoms she recently discovered. Whether she is enjoying books or movies, she continues finding inspiration at every turn to bring more exciting stories to life.
One look into Everly Williams’s big brown eyes and I knew I’d do anything to protect her. And for eight years I did. She was my world. My best friend.
But afraid I’d lose her, I held on too tight. Became a dark cloud blocking her sun. So I did what I needed to, and walked away. I hurt us both.
Now I’m home, and need Everly back in my life. Only everything is different. We’re different. My body burns for her when she’s near. And after one explosive kiss, I know she feels it too. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn her trust again.
Because I don’t want what we had before. I want it all…for a lifetime.
We ate dinner, and I hung around for about an hour.
But all I could think about was Everly. So damn close.
I needed to leave before I did something I promised Cal I wouldn’t
I said my goodbyes and was at my bike when Everly walked right out of the barn, like I’d summoned her through the sheer force of my desperation to see her. I couldn’t take my eyes of her. Fuck, how I’d missed her. I’d missed my best friend.
Her auburn hair was down and wild, like it often was. She was wearing cut off denim shorts and a red tank top, both of which hugged her curves, curves she hadn’t had quite so much of before I moved away.
Everly was short, the top of her head fitting under my chin perfectly. She was kind of petite, and now she was also built. A small curvy package.
I clenched my teeth. Don’t go after her. Don’t do it.
I cleared my throat, because my vocal cords were suddenly tight as hell, and because I was a glutton for punishment. Goddammit, I wanted her to look at me.
She spun around, and as soon as her eyes hit me, they widened.
I lifted my hand, like I was preparing to approach a wild horse, my mouth opening, to say something, anything—
Everly took off, running,in the opposite direction.Fucking running.
I’d tried, Jesus, I’d tried to leave her alone, to give her time, but I couldn’t deal with this, the way it made me feel, the way she had to be feeling to fucking flee from me like I was a goddamn axe murderer.
It was like a gazelle running from a lion, instincts kicked in and there was no holding back. My feet were already moving, pounding across the field after her. “Stop, Everly.”
She veered left shooting down the side of the barn and I followed, chasing her around the barn like a damned fool until we ended up back where we started. She shoved the door open to the ranch hands quarters as I came flying around the corner.
“Eves wait…”
She lifted her hand, saluted me with her middle finger, and slammed the door in my face—then locked it.
I stood there braced against the doorframe, breathing heavily, heart racing, but not from the impromptu run, not entirely, but from my desperation to talk to her, from being so close to her.
Being barred from her.
“Let me in, Eves. We need to talk…you know we do.”
There was nothing but silence from inside.
I’d been without her for a year and a half, and it had sucked, a lot. More than I could even put into words. I wanted her back. I wanted what we had back.
How the fuck was I going to make this right?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sherilee Gray is a kiwi girl and lives in beautiful New Zealand with her husband and their two children. When she isn’t writing sexy, edgy contemporary and paranormal romance, searching for her next alpha hero on Pinterest, or fueling her voracious book addiction, she can be found dreaming of far off places with a mug of tea in one hand and a bar of Cadburys Rocky Road chocolate in the other.
