Jock Rule (Jock Hard #2) by Sara Ney Publisher: Three Legacies, LLC Publication Date: December 6, 2018 Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance Pages: 214 Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR Find on Goodreads
Goodreads Description
Kip Carmichael is no pretty boy.
He's a rough. Dirty. Giant. Hair so unruly, and a beard so thick, his friends on the team call him Sasquatch.
The first time Sasquatch lays eyes on Theodora "Teddy" Johnson across the keg at a party one night on Jock Row, she'd been relegated to the sidelines by her jock hungry "friends."
Week-after-week, he watches beautiful but bashful Teddy getting overshadowed, and overlooked. Sasquatch finally broad shoulders his way through the crowd, offering to to be her hairy godmother. But the minute their eyes meet? He's a goner.
Teaching her the RULES for winning a jock will be the easy part. Not falling in love with her is going to be a losing game.
My Thoughts
I wouldn't even know how to begin to explain my level of excitement when I found out I was approved for a review copy of this book. When the first book in the companion series, Jock Row, came out earlier this year I picked it up and finished the book in 2 days. Since I'm a pretty slow reader that's a big deal for me. Jock Row is one of my favorite romances of the year, especially when it comes to new adult romances. Similar to the previous book, Jock Rule follows two characters that meet randomly at a party and their unexpected romance afterwards.
Sara Ney has a way of writing protagonists that I almost immediately feel attached to. Teddy and Kip had some similarities to the characters from the other book but they didn't feel like they were the same people in a different setting. I loved the connection between the two and how their time together throughout the novel progressed. There were moments where I was shocked by the escalation of the physical connection but it never felt like things between Teddy and Kip were rushed.
Another unexpected factor of joy in this story was Kip's family, mainly his sister. When she first appeared I wasn't expecting her to have such a prominent role. However, Kip has consistent communication with his sister throughout the entire novel. I really loved it because they had such a strong sibling relationship and she brought a lot of humor whenever she appeared.
Jock Rule was another book by Sara Ney that I had a lot of fun with while reading. I wish we had a little more time with Teddy and Kip before their story ended but overall I really enjoyed it. I am definitely looking forward to whatever else this author releases in this series!
He's a rough. Dirty. Giant. Hair so unruly, and a beard so thick, his friends on the team call him Sasquatch.
The first time Sasquatch lays eyes on Theodora "Teddy" Johnson across the keg at a party one night on Jock Row, she'd been relegated to the sidelines by her jock hungry "friends."
Week-after-week, he watches beautiful but bashful Teddy getting overshadowed, and overlooked. Sasquatch finally broad shoulders his way through the crowd, offering to to be her hairy godmother. But the minute their eyes meet? He's a goner.
Teaching her the RULES for winning a jock will be the easy part. Not falling in love with her is going to be a losing game.
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog.
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Love, Sincerely, Yours by Sara Ney and Meghan Quinn Publisher: Self Published Publication Date: October 9, 2018 Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Pages: 273 Source: eARC from Ink Slinger PR Find on Goodreads
Goodreads Description
Dear Mister...**strike out** no, too formal. Hey there sweet cheeks *strike out* no, too forward.
To whom it may concern, Full disclosure; before we move forward with this email, I would like it to be known that I have consumed an adequate amount of alcoholic beverages to intoxicate myself tonight. Three margaritas, two shots, and one beer—because it was free. I think it’s important to be open and honest with your co-workers, don’t you? So here I am, being honest. Drunk but honest. Or just drunk with lust? You decide. I like you so much it’s clouding my judgment and making me do things I never would sober. Like write this letter. I have a hopeless, foolish, schoolgirl crush on you when you are the last person on earth I should be falling for. Did you know people around the office call you a sadist? An egomaniac. An insensitive, arrogant prick. Your bark is worse then your bite, and you don’t scare me. The fact is, I’d love that bite of yours to nip at my bare skin while we’re both wearing nothing but sheets. For once I want you to look at me as more than one of your employees. And as long as we're being honest, that navy blue suit you wear? With the crisp white shirt? It really makes me want to loosen your tie and show you who’s boss. Love, Sincerely, Yours.
My Thoughts
When I first saw this book I knew I had to pick it up! Office romances can be hit or miss for me but Love, Sincerely, Yours sounded promising. In this book we are following Peyton who works running the social media for Roam, Inc. Pretty early on she reveals she has a secret crush on her boss and CEO of the company, Rome Blackburn. When she goes out with a few friends she ends up sending Rome an anonymous email with details on how she feels about him.
Oh man!! I was not expecting the slow burn but it was so good! I realized it was going to take about halfway through the book for Rome to realize it was Peyton emailing him and I was worried the romance would feel rushed from that point on. That was not the case. The waiting made that moment right after he found out really intense. Also, it was even better because Rome started noticing Peyton outside of the emails. At this point they had a closer connection than just physical attraction. Although they had this connection and Rome was finally fully aware, they didn't automatically jump into a relationship which I really appreciate.
The pacing of this entire story was amazing! It never felt like anything that happened between Peyton and Rome was happening too fast or slow. I absolutely loved the two characters and the effect they had on each other when they were together. On a bit of a side not the, I was disappointed that one of the subplots wasn't fully developed. Since Rome thinking Peyton betrayed him was a major part of their relationship, I wanted to know who the mole in the company was and if what happened with Peyton was a set up. I had my suspicions but I would have loved a definite answer.
Before starting this book I had already read a couple books by Sara Ney and enjoyed her writing. However, I've never read anything by Meghan Quinn so I wasn't sure what to expect from the two of them. The two authors writing together was magical and I never wanted to put the book down. With the way this book ended I'm guessing these two are planning to collaborate for at least one more book and I can't wait! Love, Sincerely, Yours is on of my new favorites this year and I highly recommend for anyone wants some romance in their life!
Cold Spell (Sweet Escapes #3) by Mia London and Susan Sheehey Publisher: Amepphire Press Publication Date: October 3, 2018 Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Pages: 147 Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR Find on Goodreads
Goodreads Description
She can't stand him. He thinks she's never more adorable than when she's angry at him.
Liddy Drake would rather gamble on double black diamond runs than take a chance on love. Escaping dreary San Francisco for a Colorado mountain resort with her besties is just what the doctor ordered. But an injury on the first day lands her in the lap of a loud-mouthed ski instructor who knows exactly how to get under her skin. She doesn't have time to waste on a playboy with a too-easy laugh and gorgeous blue eyes.
Luke Sawyer left New York ten years ago for the ski runs of Colorado, concealing his identity as a Rothchild heir. He'd seen money change too many people, never for good. Scrappy, sassy, and oh-so-sexy Liddy doesn't fall for the mask of his over-the-top charm. He accepts the challenge to show her his true self.
Their chemistry is enough to melt snow-capped mountains, until she finds out the truth. There's no way her humble background could compete with America's royalty. How can he melt the ice around her heart and convince her that Mr. Wrong is actually Mr. Right, who loves her just the way she is?
My Thoughts
Cold Spell is the third and final book in the Sweet Escapes series. As soon as I realized Hot Spell would be following Jordan I was curious to see how Liddy's love story would play out. At the start of this book Liddy had a pretty tough year after going through a break up and getting drugged on their last vacation. This time around the three friends decide to go to a ski resort right before Thanksgiving. Due to an unexpected injury Liddy has to sit out most of the trip and as a result spends a lot of time with Luke.
I was on the fence about Luke for a while. When he was mentioned I had a feeling he would be the love interest. He seemed a bit obnoxious but not in a terrible way. There was a scene pretty early on where Luke accidentally sees Liddy naked. The scene and Luke's actions in them didn't feel right considering the two main characters didn't know each other. While the situation was funny, Luke's actions were inappropriate. I appreciate that Luke immediately called himself out and thought what he did was wrong, however he never apologized to Liddy or at least talked to her about how he crossed a line. After that scene Luke started to grow on me and I felt like he would be a good match for Liddy. They had amazing chemistry and in between their intimate moments they talked!
I have mentioned this in reviews of the previous two books but I absolutely love the friendship between Sam, Jordan, and Liddy. They are always supportive of each other but always call one another out when one isn't thinking clearly. I was sad we didn't get to see them together as much in Cold Spell but I still love them. I was also a little disappointed we didn't get a Sam and Chase wedding. Overall I think this was a satisfying conclusion. If you want to read about an amazing friend group, stunning vacations, and swoon worthy men make sure to check out the Sweet Escapes series.
Blood Highway by Gina Wohlsdorf Publisher: Algonquin Books Publication Date: August 7, 2018 Genre: Thriller Pages: 320 Source: eARC from Publisher Find on Goodreads
Goodreads Description
A gripping, surprising, and sexy thriller with a big, pounding heart, Blood Highway takes a seventeen-year-old girl on a brutal journey into adulthood on a road trip that threatens to kill her before she reaches the end.
Rainy Cain, a tough, troubled high school senior, desperately wants to escape the confines of her life in Minneapolis. When her increasingly unstable mother suddenly commits suicide, Rainy thinks she has found her chance. Instead, her father, Sam—who she had always believed died before she was born—escapes from prison and abducts her, taking her on a cross-country trek in pursuit of millions of dollars that he believes her mother had kept from a botched robbery years earlier. On their heels the whole way is a young Minneapolis detective intent on bringing Rainy safely home. It is an odyssey that will test Rainy’s considerable instincts about sanity and madness, and keep readers turning pages till the twisty end.
My Thoughts
ARC provided by Algonquin Books for honest review.
Typically I don't read a lot of thrillers so I never know what to expect when I start one. I was really intrigued after reading the synopsis and was excited to see how the story would play out. Unfortunately, Blood Highway had a bad case of giving away too much of the plot in the description. If so much of the story hadn't been revealed before I even started reading it could've had a stronger impact.
It took me a while to get into this story. The beginning was really confusing and I'm still not completely sure I understood what was going on. We are following 17 year old Rainy as she does her best to deal with the crappy life she's been dealt. It's not clearly stated but it's hinted that her mother might have some type of mental illness. It has gotten so bad it's like Rainey doesn't exist to her mother. She's forced to lie and steal to take care of herself.
I'm not sure if Rainy, or any of the other characters that appeared were meant to be likable. Each were well rounded but they had so many flaws it was hard to feel connected to any of them. I didn't exactly like Rainy but I admired her tenacity, especially when it came to her survival. Throughout the story Rainy made some bad decisions but every step of the way I hoped she would succeed. Also, I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about Blaine but I quickly grew to like him. I've never felt so conflicted about a set of character but I was happy Rainy and Blaine were able to be there for each other.
Blood Highway was such a dark, twisted story. It took me a while to wrap my head around some of the things that happened. Some of what happened still makes me feel wrong and violated. There was so much build up throughout the majority of the story and I didn't like the way it ended so suddenly. It left me feeling really unsatisfied with the ending. This was an intriguing and sometimes unsettling story but there was too much that felt missing for me to enjoy it more.
Trigger warnings for abduction, extreme violence, drug use, suicide, child neglect.
Hot Spell (Sweet Escapes #2) by Mia London and Susan Sheehey Publisher: Amepphire Press Publication Date: September 5, 2018 Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Pages: 123 Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR Find on Goodreads
Goodreads Description
She never trusted unconditional love. He never believed he'd be worthy. Almost-Olympian gymnast Jordan Beck has coordinated an emergency vacation getaway in Puerto Vallarta for her broken-hearted bestie. Nightly parties, exotic drinks, and sandy beaches are just what she has in mind for her and her friends. She strives for perfection in everything she does and believes she's found it in the emerald-eyed bartender who doesn't back down from her challenge.
Zac Durant learned early on that life is a gift and he's determined to live his to the fullest. Scuba, surfing, tending bar by the ocean, his abuelita's tamales. He's content--until a Latina beauty struts across his pool patio and orders his best drink. Zac isn't the kind to hook up with the resort guests but Jordan changes his mind.
Zac and Jordan know this sensual interlude in paradise is a vacation fling but when sparks turn to fireworks, they are tempted to believe in something real. The illusion of perfection vanishes and Jordan panics, erecting walls around her cautious heart, sabotaging their chance at happily ever after. It is up to Zac to prove that unconditional love is worth a shot at the gold.
My Thoughts
Hot Spell is the second book in the Sweet Escapes companion series. This book follows Jordan as she finds love when the girls take a vacation in Mexico to help Liddy get over her recent breakup. I was so excited going into this sequel/companion because I had so much fun while reading Dry Spell. Sadly I didn't have that same giddy feeling as I did reading the previous book.
If you've read my review of Dry Spell you'll remember I mentioned being concerned that the length of the book wouldn't leave enough room for the story to fully develop. While I didn't feel like it was a problem in that book I think Hot Spell could've benefited from being longer. There was quite a bit going on in the story and there wasn't enough time for each of these aspects to shine.
With that being said, I still think Hot Spell was an enjoyable read. Just like in Dry Spell my favorite part was the characters. I love the friendship between Sam, Jordan, and Liddy! They are always supportive but are never afraid to call each other out when they believe another is making a mistake. I also fell in love with Zac and his grandmother. This was a quick, fun read and I'm looking forward to seeing how things are rounded out in Cold Spell.
Ten Reasons to Stay (The Risky Hearts Duet #1) by Candace Knoebel Publisher: Self Published Publication Date: August 29, 2018 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Pages: 238 Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR Find on Goodreads
Goodreads Description
One day a week—Thursdays—my husband and I could do whatever or whomever we pleased. Protection was non-negotiable. And no matter what, we had to be home by midnight.
Jack was the one who wanted an open marriage, but we were supposed to keep things simple. No strings. No commitments. It seemed so easy… until it wasn’t.
Devilishly handsome Cole Blackwater was only supposed to be a fling, but everything about him made me feel alive. Wanted. Seen. When I realized he was my husband’s boss, I should have broken things off right then… but I didn’t.
One day a week, I could pretend that I was his and he was mine… until Cole wanted more.
But how could I decide between the man I’d promised to love, honor, and cherish, and the man who tempted me to break every single vow I’d made?
My Thoughts
I never thought the day would come where I would pick up a book centered around an open marriage. It's not something I could ever see myself agreeing to which was why I was so intrigued to see how everything would play out. Let me just start by saying I was not ready for the emotional rollercoaster Ten Reasons to Stay took me on.
For about 80% of this book I was frustrated with Corrine. She allowed herself to get into this situation even when it was not something she wanted. Also, I didn't agree with her way of thinking. Corrine had this idea that she was there to provide for her husband while completely disregarding her own wants and goals. Anytime her husband, Jack, made a suggestion or told her what to do Corrine would go along with it, no questions asked most of the time, in order to please him. This continued until it got to the point where Jack suggested they should have an open marriage. Once again she went along with it because she thought it would make Jack happy.
"Aren't we all searching for sunlight? For that warmth from the brightest touch that lets us finally breath."
Hands down the best part of this whole book was Cole Blackwater! I loved him almost from the very beginning. He came into the picture and showed Corrine exactly how she should be treated. Cole challenged every thought Corrine had of how marriage should be. Like I mentioned before this story had my emotions all over and half of that had to do with Cole. As much as he tried to hide it, Cole was incredibly vulnerable in their agreement. He was always willing to follow Corrine's lead even when he wanted so much more.
Throughout the book I enjoyed being able to see Cole pull Corrine out of the shell she was in and help her realize she deserved more than she was getting. I never thought I would become so invested in a story dealing with a failing marriage where the people in the relationship just tried to patch up the holes instead of actually addressing the problem. The entire situation was messy! This story broke my heart and put the pieces back together. Essentially Ten Reasons to Stay is about finding your worth and never settling. With all that being said, if this author can continue to deliver this level of emotional impact I am looking forward to reading more from her.
The Wedding from Hell Part 3: Exclusive Excerpt of Consumed
by J. R. Ward
Available: August 28, 2018
Gallery Books | E-book Original
ISBN: 9781982105389 | Free
The Wedding from Hell, Part 3: Exclusive Excerpt of Consumed is the final part of J.R. Ward’s The Wedding From Hell ebook serialization. Don’t miss this exclusive teaser to her upcoming standalone romantic suspense, CONSUMED (available in October 2, 2018). See why “Consumed takes it to a whole new level” (Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
About the Book:
From the creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series, get ready for a new band of brothers. And a firestorm.
Anne Ashburn is a woman consumed...
By her bitter family legacy, by her scorched career as a firefighter, by her obsession with department bad-boy Danny McGuire, and by a new case that pits her against a fiery killer.
Strong-willed Anne was fearless and loved the thrill of fighting fires, pushing herself to be the best. But when one risky decision at a warehouse blaze changes her life forever, Anne must reinvent not only her job, but her whole self.
Shattered and demoralized, Anne finds her new career as an arson investigator a pale substitute for the adrenaline-fueled life she left behind. She doesn't believe she will ever feel that same all-consuming passion for her job again—until she encounters a string of suspicious fires setting her beloved city ablaze.
Danny McGuire is a premiere fireman, best in the commonwealth, but in the midst of a personal meltdown. Danny is taking risks like never before and seems to have a death wish until he teams up with Anne to find the fire starter. But Danny may be more than a distraction, and as Anne narrows in on her target, the arsonist begins to target her.
About the Author:
J.R. Ward is the author of more than thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than fifteen million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-six different countries around the world. She lives in the South with her family.
Box alarm. One-niner-four-seven. Two engines and a ladder from the 499, responding.
Or, put another way, Anne Ashburn’s Friday night date had showed up on time and was taking her to a show. Granted, “on time” was the precise moment she had sat down for a meal at the stationhouse with her crew, and the “show” was a warehouse fire they were going to have to chorus-line for. But if you judged the health of a relationship on its constancy and whether it brought purpose and meaning to your life?
Then this firefighting gig was the best damn partner a woman could ask for.
As Engine Co. 17 turned the corner onto Harbor with siren and lights going, Anne glanced around the shallow seating area of the apparatus. There were four jump seats behind the cab, two forward- facing, two rear-, the pairs separated by an aisle of gear. Emilio “Amy” Chavez and Patrick “Duff” Duffy were on one side. She and Daniel “Dannyboy” Maguire were on the other. Up in front, Deshaun “Doc” Lewis, the engineer, was behind the wheel, and Captain Christopher “Chip” Baker, the incident commander, was shotgun.
Her nickname was “Sister.” Which was what happened when you were the sibling of the great Fire Chief Thomas Ashburn Jr., and the daughter of the revered—falsely as it turned out— Thomas Ashburn, Sr.
Not everybody called her that, though.
She focused on Danny. He was staring out the open window, the cold November wind blowing his black hair back, his exhausted blue eyes focused on nothing. In their bulky turnouts, their knees brushed every time the engine bumped over sewer access panels, potholes, manholes, intersections.
Okay, okay, she wanted to say to fate. I know he’s there. You don’t have to keep reminding me.
The hardheaded bastard was a lot of things, most of which carried terms you couldn’t use around your grandmother, but he knew she hated the “Sister” thing, so to him, she was Ashburn.
He’d also called her Anne—once. Late at night about three weeks ago.
Yes, they had been naked at the time. Oh, God . . . had they finally done that?
“I’m gonna beat you at pong,” he said without looking at her. “Soon as we get back.”
“No chance.” She hated that he knew she’d been staring at him. “All talk, Dannyboy.”
“Fine.” He turned to face her. “I’ll let you win, how about that?”
His smile was slow, knowing, evil. And her temper answered the phone on the first ring.
“The hell you will.” Anne leaned forward. “I won’t play with you if you cheat.”
“Even if it benefits you?”
“That’s not winning.”
“Huh. Well, you’ll have to explain to me the ins and outs of it when we’re back at the house. While I’m beating you.”
Anne shook her head and glared out the open window.
The first tap on her leg she ascribed to a bump in the road.
The second, third, and fourth were obviously—
She looked back at Danny. “Stop it.”
“What?”
“Are you twelve?” As he started to smile, she knew exactly where his mind had gone. “Not inches. Age.”
“I’m pretty sure I peak more like at sixteen.” He lowered his voice. “What do you think?”
Between the sirens and the open windows, no one else could hear them—and Danny never pulled the double entendre if there was a risk of that. But yes, Anne now knew intimately all of his heavily muscled and tattooed anatomy. Granted, it had been only that once.
Then again, unforgettable only had to happen one time.
“I think you’re out of your mind,” she muttered.
And then they were at the scene. The old 1900s-era warehouse was a shell of its former useful self, sixty-five thousand square feet of broken glass panes, rotting beams, and blown-off roof panels. The outer walls were brick, but based on the age, the floors and any room dividers inside were going to be wood. The blaze was in the northeast corner on the second floor, billowing smoke wafting up into the forty-degree night air before being carried away by a southerly wind.
As Anne’s boots hit the ground, she pulled the top half of her turnouts closed. Her ponytail was up high on the back of her head, and she stripped out the band, reorganized the shoulder length, and cranked things tight at her nape. The brown was still streaked with blond from the summer, but she needed to get it trimmed—so all that lightness was on the chopping block.
Of course, if she were a woman “who took care of herself,” she’d get it highlighted through the winter months. Or so her mother liked to tell her. But who the hell had time for that?
“Sister, you sweep the place with Amy for addicts,” Captain Baker commanded. “Stay away from that corner. Danny and Duff, run those lines!”
As Captain Baker continued to bark orders out, she turned away. She had her assignment. Until she completed it, or there was an insurmountable obstacle or change of order, she was required to execute that directive and no other.
“Be safe in there, Ashburn.”
The words were soft and low, meant for her ears alone. And as she glanced over her shoulder, Danny’s Irish eyes were not smiling.
A ripple of premonition made her rub the back of her neck. “Yeah, you, too, Maguire.”
“Piece’a cake. We’ll be back at pong before ten.” They walked away from each other at the same time, Danny going around to the stacks of hoses in the back, her linking up with Chavez…
Liar (Faux-Mance #1) by Stephanie St. Klaire Publisher: Self-Published Publication Date: August 23, 2018 Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Pages: 190 Source: eARC from InkSlinger PRR Find on Goodreads
Goodreads Description
Fake it until you make it. That was the mantra Cori Dash chanted as she chased a big city dream. The more you tell people you’re on top of the world, the more they believe it – just like they believed the embellished image she sold them with her knock off designer facade. It wasn’t lying if the truth stood somewhere in the middle – and she didn’t get caught.
Dominic Blackthorne owned half of that big city…and a reputation. Rather than dispel rumors or show the world the real Nick, he let his own fake image run free. Until Cori Dash – the only person who told him exactly how it was, even if it stung.
You know what they say about lying – the truth always comes out – and it hurts. Especially when Cori finds out she isn’t the biggest Liar in this game, and she’s been out played.
My Thoughts
Going into Liar I was a little worried. I had read one book by this author and while I liked the idea of that story I didn't really like how it turned out. Fake relationships are one of my favorite tropes in romance novels. That coupled with the rest of the description made this sound like a book I would love which is why I decided to give it a try.
About halfway through this book is when things started falling apart. I didn't know going into this the story was meant to be a novella and not a normal length novel. In this case, the story wasn't as good as it could've been if it had the extra time to truly come alive. The author spent so much time setting up the fake relationship and the very beginning of their arrangement that there wasn't enough time for everything else. Even though they were in a fake relationship there were some missed opportunities to show off some significant moments between the two main characters. Most of the important moments were rushed through or were completely missing for example, their first kiss, them realizing they might have a feelings for each other, and other little moments like that. I had this feeling that I missed out getting to see them connect on the romantic side of their relationship.
While I didn't enjoy feeling like I was being rushed through the second half of the story, by the time we got to that I was already invested in the characters and I didn't care too much. In the end I still wanted Cori and Nick to have their happy ending. If you are considering checking out Liar keep in mind some of the things I mentioned above if they'll have a big impact on your enjoyment while reading. With that being said, I feel like Stephanie St. Klaire is one of those authors whose writing improves with each new book release.
What's a girl to do when a man who's countless shades of wrong feels oh-so-right?
Ambitious book editor Asha Tate is a hopeless romantic. Despite her mediocre track record with men, she believes in swooning, sighing, and the everlasting love of true soul mates. Sure, sex is okay, but she’s not someone who’s ever been driven by her animal urges.
Until now.
When Asha stumbles upon the scorching hot Instagram feed of someone calling himself Professor Feelgood, she falls in lust for the first time. Not only is she left panting over the professor’s insane body, but his angst-filled poetry about losing his one true love speaks straight to her soul.
Desperately in need of a bestseller for her struggling publishing company, Asha knows the professor’s potential to sell to his millions of loyal followers could be the lifeline her bosses need. However, the ink is barely dry on a book deal before she realizes she’s made a terrible mistake. Sure, the professor is incredibly talented and sexier than any man has a right to be, but the man behind the persona isn’t at all who she pictured. In real life, he’s intense, arrogant and infuriating, and his uncanny ability to rub her the wrong way turns her dream project into a total nightmare.
Knowing that the professor is everything she doesn’t want in a man should help Asha ignore her occasional urges to mount him, but she quickly learns that explosive, unwanted chemistry can make even smart people do stupid things.
Don't miss this sexy new standalone from the international bestselling author of Bad Romeo!
The Wedding from Hell, Part 2: The Rehearsal Dinner is the exciting second adventure in J.R. Ward’s three-part ebook serialization: The Wedding From Hell. This exclusive prequel to her upcoming standalone suspense, Consumed (available in Fall 2018) takes us back to the night steamy arson investigator Anne Ashburn and ‘bad boy’ firefighter Danny Maguire will never forget.
About the Book:
The Wedding From Hell, Part 2: The Reception: As the wedding from hell continues, Anne and Danny find themselves walking the delicate balance between professional distance and explosive attraction. Will the desire they feel last through the night and change their lives? Or are they doomed to part after one night of passion?
About the Author:
J.R. Ward is the author of more than thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than fifteen million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-six different countries around the world. She lives in the South with her family.
Saturday, October 31 T minus 2 hours ’til blastoff St. Mary’s Cathedral, New Brunswick, Massachusetts
Anne Ashburn had never had veil envy, as they called it. As a young girl, she had never pictured herself walking down an aisle in a white dress, ready to be rescued by a knight-in-shining-armor groom who was going to take charge and take care of her for the rest of her life. Nope. Anne had wanted to fight fires like her father and then her brother. Even though she no longer respected the former, and had a strained relationship with the latter, she’d wanted to pull on turnouts and strap an air tank to her back and breathe canned air as she ran into open flames dragging hundreds of pounds of charged line with her. She’d wanted to rescue grandmothers, and children, and people who had succumbed to smoke inhalation. She’d been ready to cut open crumpled cars and drag broken bodies out of wreckage at the sides of highways. She’d been determined that the extremes of cold winter nights, hot summer days, physical exhaustion, and mental fatigue would never keep her from doing her job. So, yup, the old fashioned Mrs. degree had never held any fascination for her. There was no way in hell she was going to be like her mother, living a derivative, nineteen-fifties version of life, nothing but a pretty blow-up doll that was expected to cook, clean, and cut the yapping. On that note, as she pulled into St. Mary’s parking lot and looked up at the great cathedral’s stained glass windows and lofty spires, she decided it made sense that not only was she not the bride, she wasn’t even a bridesmaid. Like the rest of the crew down at the 499 firehouse, she was a groomsmen in the impending nuptials of Robert “Moose” Miller and Deandra—what the hell was her last name anyway? Cox. That was it.
Anne was thinking groomsmen was a role she might as well get used to. Not that Duff, Emilio, Deshaun, or any of the other men she worked with were settling down anytime soon.
Especially not Dannyboy Maguire.
Right on cue, a Ford truck entered the parking lot, the late afternoon sun flashing across its windshield.
As Anne’s heart kicked in her chest, she was tempted to hustle in the side door of the church—but she had never been one to run from a challenge.
Danny was more than just a challenge, though.
And okay, fine. So maybe she had already run out of his way at least once: Last night, at the rehearsal dinner, she’d positively bolted after he’d made that speech of his. I never believed in love . . . I thought it was just a word, a title folks gave to daydreams and misconceptions about destiny, a lie folks told to themselves to make them feel solid in this imperfect, unreliable, and mean-ass world.
Now I know it can happen between two people. And it doesn’t have to make sense because it’s not about logic. And it doesn’t have to have good timing because forever is like infinity, without beginning or end. And it doesn’t have to be defined because truth is like faith—it just is.
So, let’s toast to love.
He’d looked at her while he’d spoken. He had been talking . . . to her . . . in that slow, deep voice.
Everybody else had toasted Moose and Deandra. But Anne had known it hadn’t been about them. Danny, ever the ladies man, king of the one-night stand, he who shalt never be tied down . . . seemed to be suggesting not just that he’d had a change of heart.
But that he might have given his own to Anne.
Unless she was misreading everything? Then again, they had kissed the night before that. In her living room. While riding an adrenaline high after they’d saved a life in an alleyway.
And lips-to-lips had been better than good, the rare circumstance when reality had improved on a fantasy. After two years of attraction and sizzle and unacknowledged heat, that which had been pushed under the rug was exposed now. And there was no going back.
Especially as she felt the same way.
So hell yeah she had bolted out of that restaurant. The second she had been able to get up from her chair, she had hit the exit and left Danny without a ride home.
He’d called two hours later. He’d been in a bar, probably
Timeout where the crew always went, the noise in the background loud and raucous.
She had not answered. He had left a short message, but not called again.
Anne just wasn’t sure what to do. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. There were plenty of things she wanted to do to him, with him, on him—all of which were naked and erotic and not necessarily only horizontal.
Refocusing, she watched Danny’s truck pass by. From behind the wheel, he looked over at her.
She waited for him to find a space and get out, and as he walked across to her, she tried—tried—not to go sixteen-year-old girl at the sight of him in a tuxedo.
#epicfail
He was very tall, over six feet five, and he was built hard and muscular, his shoulders so wide, his chest so broad, his waist the point of the inverted triangle of his torso. His jet-black hair was still damp, and what sunlight there was in the mostly cloudy sky flashed blue in its depths. He was freshly shaven—his cologne reaching her nose even before he stopped in front of her—and his eyes were that brilliant blue that had always arrested her. Irish eyes.
But they were not smiling.
For a man who was rarely serious, he looked positively grim, and she frowned.
“You okay?” Stupid question. “I mean—”
“Yeah, no. I’m fine.”
Standard answer for firefighters when they were in pain. And she wondered if it had to do with that speech of his, and what she could have sworn he had been telling her.
His eyes shifted off to the side and then his mouth got thinner.
“And here’s the blushing bride.”
A stretch limo entered the parking area and made a fat turn toward the back door of the cathedral. When it stopped, its driver got out and went to the rear door.
Seven all-in-pink, spray-tanned, body-glittered, and blond-streaked women got out one by one, a clown car of bridesmaids who were such carbon copies of each other, it was like they had been ordered out of a catalogue.
And then the white dress emerged.
Deandra, Moose’s intended, had her blond-streaked hair—natch—piled up on her head in an organized, sculpted waterfall of curls. Her veil was a gossamer fall over her tiny waist and her big skirt, and the shimmer of crystals across the bodice and down the front and sides of the gown made her look like a princess.
Provided you didn’t catch her expression.
She was sour as an old woman with gout and shingles. In spite of the fact that she was supposedly marrying her true love, she looked downright nasty as she snapped at the driver, glared at her maid of honor, and yanked her skirting up to march into the back of the church.
“Wow,” Anne muttered. “That’s a happy bride.”
“Whatever. They’re on their own with this dumbass idea.”
“Did you happen to talk to Moose last night?” she blurted.
“As in out of this? Or would that be considered tacky given it was less than twenty-four hours before the priest hit the altar with them.”
Danny rolled his eyes. “He’s bound and determined to ball-and-chain himself. Personally, I’d be running in the opposite direction.”
And then there was silence between them. Tension coiled up quick, and as Anne’s temples started to pound, she decided it was going to be a long night, just not for the reasons she’d assumed at the beginning of the weekend.
Dry Spell (Sweet Escapes #1) by Mia London and Susan Sheehey Publisher: Amepphire Press Publication: August 1, 2018 Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Pages: 187 Source: eARC from InkSlinger PR Find on Goodreads
Goodreads Description
Samantha Callahan fights hard to succeed in a man’s world. At the top of her game with a promotion nearly in her grasp, nothing can stand in her way, not even greedy competitors or a crashed laptop. So, an overdue and well-deserved vacation to the beach with the girls shouldn’t put her on edge. But perhaps Sam’s head has been down in the trenches for so long, she’s forgotten how to enjoy life.
Chase Bradshaw is the classic hottie next door—a nice man who happens to surf as well as he sizzles in the bedroom. He ditched corporate America for the stress-free salt life, and to follow his dreams. When Sam walks onto his beach, he can practically see the uptight personality oozing from her pores. The woman looks like she could use something other than work to keep her up at night.
Lucky for her, Chase is just the man to coax the conservative right out of her.
My Thoughts
Dry Spell was a pleasant surprise for me. Usually I try to go into a book feeling neutral however I was a little concerned when I realized this book was listed as only being 187 pages. I worried that since there wasn't a lot of time work through a story line everything would feel rushed. Once I started reading I grew even more concerned after seeing that the story was told in third person POV. I'll be the first to admit sometimes I find it hard for me to get into stories told in third person and I really don't like it in romance novels. As you can see from my rating none of those things were an issue when it came to this story.
The POV did take me a little time to adjust to but what I love was that it didn't keep me from connecting with the characters. I acknowledge that this story took place over a short amount of time, and there were moments I felt the main characters were moving fast, but I never questioned their feelings for each other. The authors made me believe anything is possible with the right person. One of my favorite parts about Chase and Sam's relationship was that they were able to have an emotional connection in between the steamy bits. Those moments helped make me feel like their feelings were more than surface level. I also really loved Sam's friends and the relationship between them.
I've never read anything by Mia London or Susan Sheehey so I have no personal experience with their writing. In this story they managed to come together and blend their writing seamlessly. With less than 200 pages they we're able to make me fall in love with the characters and experience each emotion right along with them. Without a doubt I will be continuing the series. I definitely recommend supporting Mia and Susan by picking up Dry Spell!
A sexy, smart, and heart-swooning romance about a girl who has nothing to lose when it comes to flirting with her boss.
This seductive contemporary romance from bestselling authors Meghan Quinn and Sara Ney will keep you on the edge of your seat as you fall in love with the first novel from this dynamic duo releasing October 9th!
Dear Mister...**strike out** no, too formal.
Hey there sweet cheeks *strike out* no, too forward.
To whom it may concern,
Full disclosure; before we move forward with this email, I would like it to be known that I have consumed an adequate amount of alcoholic beverages to intoxicate myself tonight. Three margaritas, two shots, and one beer—because it was free.
I think it’s important to be open and honest with your co-workers, don’t you?
So here I am, being honest. Drunk but honest. Or just drunk with lust? You decide.
I like you so much it’s clouding my judgment and making me do things I never would sober. Like write this letter.
I have a hopeless, foolish, schoolgirl crush on you when you are the last person on earth I should be falling for. Did you know people around the office call you a sadist? An egomaniac. An insensitive, arrogant prick. Your bark is worse then your bite, and you don’t scare me. The fact is, I’d love that bite of yours to nip at my bare skin while we’re both wearing nothing but sheets.
For once I want you to look at me as more than one of your employees.
And as long as we're being honest, that navy blue suit you wear? With the crisp white shirt? It really makes me want to loosen your tie and show you who’s boss.
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog.
Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.
Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.
Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!
