Blog Tour w/Review: Save the Date

I love a book that allows the reader to journey with the characters. And I love an author who takes the time to build the romance between the characters, instead of just jumping from one point to another in the characters’ relationship. Save the Date by Monica Murphy has both of these aspects, and that’s one reason I recommend this book.

I liked the “meet-cute-with-a-twist” set up worked very well. It did not come across as heavy-handed or manipulative. Caroline is genuine, and it shows in all of her interactions throughout the book. From hanging out with her friends to her dealings with Tiffany, I could see myself having the same thoughts as her. I do like when I can relate to a character that strongly.

As usual, I don’t want to reveal plot points here, so I can’t talk about a few events in detail. Suffice to say that I felt like one of the gals hanging out at brunch, and I loved the “Pretty Woman” vibe of the shopping spree scene. I also enjoyed the descriptions of another location, because my family and I recently visited there, and my son had some of the same reactions Caroline did to seeing places for the first time.

But it is the slow-building romance that kept me turning the pages of this book. As a reader of many romances, it is easy to get jaded and think “Oh, just get together already, would you?” Or know that the couple is destined to be together anyway (wouldn’t be romance otherwise, now, would it?)

That makes the journey to the HEA important. When an author can build it so that I get that same swoop in my stomach that the heroine gets when there is a first kiss or first touch? That’s romance magic, right there. And this book delivers on that, big time. Hearts and romance galore….

This is listed as the first in a series, and with the number of friends Caroline has, I will be happy to visit with them as they take their journeys. I do hope that we get to see more of Caroline and Alex’s story play out, if even in the background of the others.

Go get this one, guys, it’s a great summer read!

Save The Date by Monica Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Right off the top, the author had me at “Carmel-by-the-Sea,” which is one of my favorite places on Earth. I loved the descriptions of the real locations she included in the story because I was able to picture them as they looked when I visited there. But beyond that, the whole book was enjoyable. I liked Caroline’s periodic awkwardness – it was enough to make her realistic without being cartoonish or over the top. I also liked how the plot built; nothing was given away too early, which allowed the reader to journey with the characters. For more thoughts, visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of the book.

View all my reviews

June 26, 2019June 26, 2019

Blog Tour: Total Surrender

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Total Surrender, the new release from Erika Wilde. Make sure to check out my review of this quick and sexy read, and then go pick it up for yourself! (P.S. It’s free in KU!)

Not all fairy tales are sweet. Some fairy tales are dirty, sexy, and completely untamed.

Total Surrender, an all-new steamy standalone from New York Times bestselling author Erika Wilde is available now!

How far would you go to make the man that destroyed your family pay?

Maddux Wilder is a man consumed, a beast in a three-piece suit. Rich and powerful, he built his empire with one thought in mind: revenge.

After years of patience and planning, the wait is finally over. Tonight, Maddux will finally watch Theodore Cole’s kingdom crumble. At a lavish ball in the New York City castle the Wilder siblings call home, the man that killed their parents will atone for his sins.

If only he’d planned for her.

Arabella Cole is Theodore’s only child; his cherished and sheltered daughter. She’s an innocent, captivating beauty that would do anything to save her loving father, including sacrificing herself.

With her freedom gone, she must surrender to a man she hates. A man that makes her want things she shouldn’t. A man that awakens deep, forbidden desires.

But everyone knows that roses don’t bloom in darkness.

Enter Maddux Wilder, a man that doesn’t believe in fairy tales.

Can the beauty tame the beast or will revenge cost them both everything that matters most?

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Amazon: https://amzn.to/2woUhKH Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TotalSurrender

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/30LgZeb

Excerpt:

Arabella turned toward Maddux with tears glimmering in her beautiful blue eyes.

“Maddux . . . please . . .” she implored, so softly and so kindly even though he’d just announced his intentions to desecrate her dad. “Whatever my father has done to earn your wrath, you can’t do this to him. He’ll never survive. He’s sick . . .” She took a step closer to his desk, brave and resolute despite the flicker of trepidation he saw in her gaze. “Take me instead.”

Shock jarred through Maddux, but as a man who’d spent years perfecting a mask of control, neither his expression or body language betrayed that emotion. This woman was willing to give up her own freedom for her father’s, and it was definitely an interesting turn of events he never saw coming.

“Arabella, no,” her father uttered in horror.

Ignoring her father’s objections, Arabella held Maddux’s gaze steadily. “In exchange for you leaving my father alone, I will do whatever it takes, and whatever you demand, to work off his debt.”

Maddux stared at the beautiful woman offering herself up to him, so sweet and naive in contrast to the dark, ruthless man he’d become. While he originally wanted to crush Theodore, Maddux also realized that taking Arabella in exchange—his only daughter he adored—would be equally devastating to the other man. How could Theodore live with himself knowing Arabella belonged to his greatest enemy solely because of his own weakness?

“And how do you propose you work off your father’s debt, Bella?” he asked, curious to hear her answer, especially when his own mind was already listing all the different ways he’d enjoy having her at his beck and call.

Bare shoulders held back, she swallowed hard, but her gaze remained bold and determined on his. “I will do anything you ask of me. I’m . . . I’m not afraid.” God, the woman was fucking fearless, he thought, and he was drawn to that courage despite himself. Unlike her father, or even Gavin, she was unwavering in her loyalty.

“For Christ’s sake, Arabella,” Gavin shouted angrily, his face contorted with rage. “He’s not going to ask you to cook and clean and wash his laundry for him! He will ruin you for any other man.”

Arabella turned her gaze to Gavin, her expression cool with resolve. “Then so be it. It’s my choice to make.”

Gavin clenched his jaw and shifted his hot, angry gaze to Maddux. “She clearly doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

“I know exactly what I’m saying, and what I’m doing,” she snapped at Gavin as she came to stand in front of him, poking her finger at his chest. “Unlike you, I’m willing to stand up and put my father’s life and welfare before my own. I’ll do whatever it takes to relieve him of this burden.”

When Gavin said nothing else, Arabella whirled around to face Maddux again, the skirt of her voluminous ball gown swirling around her legs. “I promise, you’ll have no trouble from me. I will work off his debt, in any way you demand, in exchange for his freedom. Just . . . let him go. Please.”

Maddux could have denied her request and forged full steam ahead with the original plan, but everything about Arabella intrigued and tempted him. He wanted her, desired her . . . plus there was the added bonus of Theodore thinking the worst was happening while his only daughter was under his care. The things the man would conjure in his mind would rip any decent father apart inside.

Determined to keep the upper hand, Maddux strolled around his desk until he was standing in front of Arabella and she tipped her head back to meet his gaze, hers with bold resolve. She’d clearly meant what she said when she’d told him she wasn’t afraid, and her tenacity made his dick twitch with the thought of taming that fiery attitude in the bedroom.

Not giving a shit that both Theodore and Gavin watched, he reached out and brushed the backs of his fingers across Arabella’s smooth, silken cheek, immensely pleased to see a heated awareness flicker in her gaze, proof that persuading her into his bed wasn’t going to be all that difficult. She might hate him for what he held over her father, but she wasn’t immune to the attraction between them.

“I’ll accept your offer, Bella,” he murmured, taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, wanting this beautiful creature to look into his eyes and know exactly what he expected of her. Wanted to make sure there was no mistaking what she was about to trade. “Your father’s freedom, for your total surrender. That is the deal.”

Meet Erika Wilde Erika Wilde is a New York Times Bestselling author. She is best known for her super sexy Marriage Diaries series and The Players Club series, and has also co-written the Dirty Sexy Series and the Book Boyfriend Series with Carly Phillips, her best friend and writing buddy for the past twenty years. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two daughters, and when she’s not writing you can find her exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For more information on her upcoming releases, please visit her website at www.erikawilde.com and sign up for her mailing list for updates and news!

Connect with Erika: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OLvHe9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/erikawilde1 BookBub: http://bit.ly/2Ply3lh GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2MsZBqj Friend Erika on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2PkVyKZ Visit her author page: http://bit.ly/2vVITpY Join her reader group: http://bit.ly/2OLuIut Stay up to date with Erika by joining her mailing list:http://bit.ly/2OJIsWE https://www.erikawilde.com

June 20, 2019June 21, 2019

Book Review: Nine-The Tale of Kevin Clearwater

Yeah, I really don’t know know where to start with this one. It was truly unlike any romance I have read before. Anti-romance? I don’t know. But what I do know is that I loved it.

I was very unsure about it in the first few chapters. But as I read further, I understood why the set up needed to be the way it was and it made a huge difference in how I looked at Nine for the rest of the story.

(Here is where I add that this is the first of the series that I have read, so even though it is a standalone, I got the definite feeling throughout that there was backstory to be found. That being said, I’m glad that I hadn’t read any others, because the style and characters were all new, which added to my reading enjoyment).

Okay, back to the story. I thought it moved along at a rapid pace and I loved the interplay between all of the characters. There were a number of times where the notes in my Kindle were “HA!” “Funny” and variations thereof. And the backup singing “Boom Boom Pow” had me literally laughing out loud.

I liked the interplay between Nine and Lenny. I really enjoy when an author creates a palpable magnetism between the characters that can be felt through the pages.

I loved Bo. With everything going on around him, there’s no way he could be anyway but the way he was. My favorite was when he said that he was nine and listening wasn’t a strong point for kids his age. He gets it.

While we are on the subject of kids, the ending gutted me. I don’t want to give it away, but the mom’s speech in court was heart-wrenching. As someone who is adopted and knows that I was given up so that I would have an opportunity at a better life than my birth mother could give me….that speech touched me deeply.

My ONLY complaint is about the cover. It does not seem to be representative of Nine’s tattoos at all. When he unveils his main one, it has meaning to both him and Lenny. and it most certainly is NOT what is on the cover. That is disappointing.

Other than that, I enjoyed the book, and I know that I will enjoy reading the first eight books in the series.

Nine: The Tale of Kevin Clearwater (King, #9)

Nine: The Tale of Kevin Clearwater by T.M. Frazier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the most interesting “romances” I have ever read. The hero is an anti-hero (he does lots of bad stuff), and the heroine is pretty much an anxiety-riddled alcoholic – but it all works to make one helluva story. In some ways, their flawed characters make them more real than the perfect pretty-boy billionaires and saucy ingenues that often populate romance novels. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just a nice change every so often). I liked the plot, I liked the tension, both romantic and in general, and I really liked the twist that I didn’t see coming. For more thoughts on this “not-cute” romance, visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. I’m now going looking for the other stories involving these characters! This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of the book.

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June 17, 2019June 17, 2019

Blog Tour: His Peace Her Pleasure

Title: His Peace Her Pleasure

Author: Keke Renee

BOOKS2READ

Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance

GOODREADS

Peaches Ellinson is done with love and relationships. From now on, the Harvard-educated teacher wants to focus on building her dreams. She knows one day, with hard work and true grit, she’ll leave nude modeling behind and become the next great artist and revered gallery owner.

Santiago Garcia has no problems winning over hearts and minds … until he meets Peaches.

She’s unlike any woman he’s ever known, and that’s what makes him want her more.

The harder Peaches tries to resist, the more difficult it is to deny herself the pleasure and give in to her desires.

Will Santiago convince her to follow her heart or will she keep her head and her heart in the game?

June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

Book Review: On the Rocks

I was intrigued by the description of this book and was happy when I received an ARC. I did NOT expect it to be such a gut-wrenching look at love and loyalty.

I’ll be honest, the author kinda had me at “whiskey” anyway, but was still sucked in to the plot.

You know me, no plot recaps here. But the four Becker brothers and their mom are very interesting characters. The allusions to Jordan’s differences from the family and their father’s connection to the whiskey factory gave the story an air of mystery that I truly hope is explored in future books.

Both of these plot points were very subtle but were a nice addition to the romance, rounding out the story more thoroughly.

That being said, the story really belongs to Ruby Grace and Noah. I loved his strength and her grit, his grace and her loyalty. I thought the way their relationship built slowly was very effective and liked that there were nuances to it – there was emotion in addition to attraction.

And that is where the author was very successful. Ruby Grace’s actions and reactions were very true to form for a 19 year old Southern girl brought up to believe in doing what’s right for family.

Speaking of family, even though some may think that Ruby Grace’s family situation was beyond belief, I can attest that it was extremely indicative of small-town life. From everybody knowing everybody else’s business to the backroom dealings, it all happens.

I also enjoyed the references to various movies (whether they were intentional or not). I found Dirty Dancing, The Wedding Singer, and Runaway Bride, to name a few. Betty would love this book 😉 And by the way, she was a fantastic secondary character. I loved the role she played.

I’m new to this author’s books, but after reading this one, I am a huge new fan and can’t wait for Logan’s story. Color me excited to find a new author to explore!

On the Rocks by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading this expecting a good romance, but what I actually got (in addition to that) was a surprisingly deep exploration of family expectations and dedication. I couldn’t put this book down, fell in love with the Becker brothers, and hope that the author continues to explore the history of Scooter Whiskey in future books, because I think there’s more to Patrick Scooter than meets the eye. Oh, and I had fun recognizing some movie references here and there. For more on that, visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC.

View all my reviews

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019

Blog Tour: Million Dollar Devil

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour. I have to say that this book looks pretty interesting, and I can’t wait to jump in!

Million Dollar Devil by Katy Evans

Release Date: May 28, 2019

Million Dollar Devil, a devilish contemporary romance where big-city sophistication meets carnal hunger from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Evans.

Heir apparent to her father’s company, Lizzy Banks needs a man. The perfect man. But when the rich “fundbabies” she usually rubs shoulders with prove impossible to hire, she takes a chance on a raw beast of a man salvaged from the wreckage of a bar brawl.

James Rowan earns a modest income as a YouTube daredevil, but he can’t refuse Lizzy’s million dollar deal. As she polishes his rough edges, creating a sophisticated gentleman fit for the highest circles of society, not only does she bring out the perfect man—it’s like she’s making the man of her dreams. How can she resist?

Though Lizzy loves seeing James in his clothes—and out of them—he isn’t the kind of man you bring home to Daddy. Her father’s disapproval and the pressure of the campaign have her eyeing the straight and narrow, but Lizzy’s finding it awfully hard to resist the devil on her shoulder…

A stand-alone, contemporary romance.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WFkkby

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/MillionDollarDevilKE

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2UkaXSg

Excerpt:

He has a face that—until now—only existed in my dreams. Hard jaw, chiseled to perfection. Firm, plush, kissable lips. Sharp, pristine blue eyes that feel like lasers zeroing in on me. He catches my gaze, and the devil’s smile suddenly playing on his lips is worth a million bucks. That’s exactly how much it cost me. What this guy cost me. I would’ve paid so much more. It’s like he’s the only man in the room. Like he belongs here. Confidence oozes out of his every pore. Masculinity envelops him as perfectly as his custom black suit. He walks like he owns the place. My heart beats harder and harder for him. I can’t believe I got him to agree to this. Women are vying for his attention. His moves are smooth. Sophisticated. Elegant. “An autograph?” a young woman asks shyly. He takes the notepad and pen she extends and scribbles his name, his voice low and rough. “There you go.” Beneath all that polish is his raw masculine energy. The determination that brought him here. “James . . .” I halt him before we go any farther. “Whatever happens . . .” He looks at me. A thousand words lingering in his look. “I know.” But does he? I’ve fallen in love with my own creation. I polished a diamond, and now it’s flawless. Perfect. But it’s not mine to keep. He is not mine to keep. This elite world he’s about to join isn’t one he was born into. These fans only know him because of me. His place at the top? That’s not where I found him.

About Katy:

Katy Evans is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her debut REAL shot to the top of the bestselling lists in 2013 and since then 9 of her titles have been New York Times bestsellers. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages across the world.

Connect with Katy:

Email: katyevansauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorKatyEvans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6997072.Katy_Evans

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatyevans/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/katy-evans

Amazon Author: https://amzn.to/2rdox8A

May 23, 2019May 23, 2019

Review and Blog Tour: Undeniable

Let’s be honest right off the bat: this book had me at “distillery” and “rye whiskey.” I knew I was going to like it based on that alone.

But for you guys, I’ll talk about the other stuff as well.

I loved the way the author rolled out the relationship between Chloe and Oliver and how we got to see it from both of their perspectives. It gave the story more depth and allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations. I also liked how it was nearly the end of the book before we finally got the full story and background. That curiosity helped move the plot along.

(Yeah, I know it’s a romance and all that, but sometimes I like to have a little bit of substance in between the sexy, romantic times. So sue me)

And as to those sexy, romantic times? I make notes in my Kindle when I’m reading, because it helps me write my reviews. There is a scene in the bedroom about 1/3 of the way through that I just typed “Holy hell that’s hot.” But there was also another about 1/2 way through where I commented “le sigh.” I love that the author balanced hot sex and romance and got them both perfect.

Oh, and about that rye? I absolutely got into the story that Oliver told Chloe about the growing of the rye. That was a fantastic historical piece and added a lot to the story.

When I received this, I didn’t realize it was the second in a series, so I’m going to find the first one, and believe me, I will be looking out for the rest in the series.

Undeniable by Melanie Harlow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Undeniably sweet, undeniably sexy, and undeniably romantic (with a little bit of snark), the author couldn’t have picked a better title for this book. Oliver and Chloe are a study in missed opportunities, but the inevitability that they will end up together cannot be denied. Everyone seems to know it except for them. The author deftly maneuvers between present and past and between Oliver and Chloe. It sounds complicated, but it all worked smoothly, and I was never confused. I loved how Chloe was no pushover and that she was a strong character in general (not just when it came to romance). At times dreamy and then steamy, this book covered all the bases, and I can’t wait to read more from this author. Visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews for a more detailed review. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC.

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May 17, 2019May 12, 2019

Excited to be a stop on this Blog Tour!

Read why I loved this book, and then go pick up a copy for yourself.

Meet the Author:

Rebecca Brooks lives in New York City in an apartment filled with books. She received a PhD in English but decided it was more fun to write books than write about them. She has backpacked alone through India and Brazil, traveled by cargo boat down the Amazon River, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, explored ice caves in Peru, trekked to the source of the Ganges, and sunbathed in Burma, but she always likes coming home to a cold beer and her hot husband in the Bronx. She likes outdoorsy guys with both muscle and heart and independent women ready to try something new.

Connect: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

About the Book:

Falling head-first into the wrong woman’s bed was not how Reed Bishop’s night was supposed to go. Now a gorgeous, half-naked ballet dancer was threatening his manhood…with a book. He can’t blame her.

It wasn’t how it seemed—he was just doing his job, tracking down his lead informant, who, unfortunately, took off, leaving him to figure out what to do with her friend. Staying in her apartment was no longer safe.

And that’s how he got himself into this mess.

Now she’s sleeping in his bed while he tosses and turns on the couch.

There are pink tights in his bathroom.

Pointe shoes next to his boots.

He swears he won’t touch her like that…but he can’t ignore his fantasies.

As a tattooed, muscled DEA Agent, Reed’s seen some things. Drug dealers, murderers…He can’t let Talia get close. Even though she’s made it clear they’re both fighting the same hunger. And he definitely can’t use his handcuffs on her…no matter how much she begs.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | AppleBooks | Kobo

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Giveaway:

$15 Amazon Gift Card

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May 9, 2019May 9, 2019

Blog Tour/Book Review: Better Than Me

As y’all know, I read a lot of romances, so I am pretty well-versed in the usual romance tropes. I love it when I find a book that tackles a romance from a different angle and doesn’t fall into the usual patterns. Better Than Me by Kimberly Kincaid falls into this category.

I appreciated the depth that the author put into the characters’ backstories. It made their actions much more believable and real. There was just enough quirkiness and humor to make it real without being over the top; sometimes subtlety is the key to building a relationship. The writing style perfectly mirrored how the characters related to each other.

I also liked that the characters were equals – both doctors. While the “female in a lesser job meets guy who gives her better chances” has its place in romance novels, it’s refreshing to find a book where the characters can spar with each other on a level playing field. This added to Nat and Jonah’s connection; they worked with each other very well.

As I mentioned in my Goodreads review (see below), this book gave me all of the feels. I snorted with laughter at some of the scenes, especially involving the staff at the hospital, and I got choked up with tears a few times as well (I’m not going to spoil it for you, you’ll know the parts when you read them). I also got that neat butterfly feeling in my stomach when the characters came to their senses and made important decisions. The emotion of the characters practically spilled off the pages for me.

I especially liked how the author set up the next book in the series. Instead of “Hey, here’s the end of this story, on to the next couple,” it was more of a “stay tuned to find out what happens.” I don’t feel like Nat and Jonah’s story is over yet. And I will be reading the next books in the series (as well as going back and finding the first one). These are characters I’m not ready to let go of just yet.

Oh, and one final word. Natalie’s view on adoption made me love her even more. It’s personal for me and I appreciate when an author gets it right.

Better Than Me by Kimberly Kincaid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You gotta love a book that starts with a bathtub in a living room. With that setup, Better Than Me takes what could have been a standard friends-to-lovers story and gives it an edge. Nat and Jonah have always been close, but each has baggage that prevents them from thinking of each other as anything but best friends. Of course, as the plot progresses, they start to realize that there may be more there for each of them. This book gave me all of the feels: I laughed out loud and shed tears. I even liked that the book didn’t exactly end with a conventional HEA and I look forward to reading more of Nat and Jonah’s stories in future books. Visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews for more on thoughts on this book. My review was written based on a pre-release digital ARC.

View all my reviews

May 8, 2019May 8, 2019

BLOG TOUR: Sweet Home Louisiana

IT’S AVAILABLE NOW! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!? (Here’s a reminder as to why you should be excited to read this)

Sweet Home Louisiana, an all-new sexy, small town, second chance rom com from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!

Thanks to a drawn-up-while-drinking-moonshine partnership agreement, Madison Allain has to spend thirty days back on the bayou before she can sell her part of the family business.

And if the heat and humidity and freaking alligators of Louisiana aren’t enough to agitate the cool and in-control California girl, then Owen Landry, the equally hot guy who stole her heart twelve years ago, will sure do the trick.

Owen just has to remember three simple-ish rules: Do not fight with her. Do not fight *over* her. Do *not* kiss her. He can do this. He’s charming and friendly for a living after all. But this is Maddie. The only woman to ever shake up this laid-back bayou boy.

Besides, she’s not staying. No way. These people and this town make her crazy. She doesn’t want to be crazy. She definitely does *not* want to own a swamp boat tour company. She just wants to paint. In her quiet, beautiful, alligators-not-allowed, *air-conditioned* art studio.

As for that hot bayou boy? Well, he’s…amazing. But he belongs here in the South. And she definitely doesn’t. Even if her heart stays behind when she leaves.

Download your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IeBN7M

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2FZZE7q

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SweetHomeLA

Nook: http://bit.ly/2Gg0fDw

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2GfO3T3

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Excerpt:

Owen felt his mouth curve into a grin as he heard the familiar clap, clap, clap behind him. That was one of his favorite sounds—high heels on the wooden dock of the Boys of the Bayou swamp boat tour company. He took his time turning and once he did, he started at the shoes. They were black and showed off bright red toenails. The straps wrapped sexily around trim ankles and led the eye right up to smooth, toned calves. The heels matched the black polka dots on the white skirt that thankfully didn’t start until mid-thigh, and showed off more tanned skin. He straightened from his kneeling position in one of the boats as his eyes kept moving up past the skirt to the bright red belt that accentuated a narrow waist and then to the silky black tank that molded to a pair of perfect breasts. He was fully anticipating her lips being bright red to go with that belt and her toenail polish. God, he loved red lipstick. And high heels. In any color. But before he could get to those lips, she used them, to say, “Oh, dammit, it’s you.” Owen’s gaze bypassed her mouth to fly to her eyes. Because he’d know that voice anywhere. Madison Allain was home. A day early. Not that an extra day would have helped him prepare. He’d been thinking about her visit for a week and was still as wound tight about it as he’d been when Sawyer, his business partner and cousin, had told him that she was coming home. For a month. Owen stood just watching her, fighting back all of the first words that he was tempted to say. Like, “Damn, you’re even more gorgeous than the last time I saw you.” Or, “I haven’t put anyone in the hospital lately.” Or, “I’ve missed you so fucking much.” Just for instance. She blew out a breath and now he did focus on her lips. Yep, red. Terrific. That wasn’t going to make ignoring them any easier. “I was hoping you were Sawyer,” she said, propping a hand on her hip. Owen tossed the wrench he held into the toolbox at his feet. “Nope. Sorry.” So she wasn’t happy to see him. Big shocker. He hadn’t always been the perfect Southern gentleman around Maddie, that was for sure. He wiped his hands on his jeans. Okay, he was supposed to be niceto her. That meant treating her like she was one of the tourists who frequented this dock. Polite. Friendly, but not I’ve-known-you-my-whole-life-and-kissed-you-a-whole-bunch friendly. Just mildly hey-how’s-it-goin’ friendly. So that she didn’t sell off her portion of the business that not only fed him and his other two partners, but that was their pride and joy. And the only thing he was really good at. Nice. Polite. A little friendly—but not too much. He could do that. Annoyed that within thirty seconds of seeing her again he was already thinking about kissing her, he kicked the toolbox, trying to slide it into the nook under the bow of the boat. Of course, he kicked it too hard and it tipped, spilling tools over the floor of the boat with loud clangs of metal against metal. He shoved a hand through his hair. That was typical. Everything was an overreaction when it came to how he acted around Maddie. Even the little stuff. Certainly the big stuff. Always had been. “Sawyer’s over at Ellie’s.” Owen pulled himself up out of the boat and onto the dock. That took him about two feet closer to her and he instantly became aware that he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Very aware as Maddie’s eyes tracked over his shoulders, chest and abs. The heat that arrowed through him was unwelcome. Though not unexpected. There had always been this crazy chemistry between them. Key word: crazy.

Start the series of standalones with My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding

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About Erin Nicholas

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters. Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books).