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NEW RELEASE: Love & Ghosts



Presents : New Release

Love & Ghosts
by Carrie Pulkinen


Series: Crescent City Ghost Tours; Book One
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Love in the Big Easy shouldn’t be so hard.

Trying to add some excitement to her life, Emily Rollins accepts a dare to kiss a masked stranger at a charity ball. Fireworks ignite with that simple kiss, and she longs to learn more about the enchanting man. But Emily has lost so much of her heart already; succumbing to his charm is the last thing she needs.

Sean LeBlanc is a medium who runs the most popular haunted tour company in New Orleans. When Emily shows up on his ghost tour, with no idea he’s the mystery man from the ball, the long-buried emotions she unearthed in him are rekindled, and he’s convinced he can learn to love again. The problem is Emily doesn’t believe in the supernatural.

Just as Sean begins to open her mind to the existence of spirits and the possibility of love, a mysterious wooden box with a sinister power arrives on Emily’s doorstep, threatening her sanity and her life. If Sean can’t convince her ghosts are real, her disbelief will doom them both.




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About the Author

Carrie Pulkinen is a paranormal romance author who has always been fascinated with things that go bump in the night. Of course, when you grow up next door to a cemetery, the dead (and the undead) are hard to ignore. Pair that with her passion for writing and her love of a good happily-ever-after, and becoming a paranormal romance romance seems like the only logical career choice.

Before she decided to turn her love of the written word into a career, Carrie spent the first part of her professional life as a high school journalism and yearbook teacher. She loves good chocolate and bad pens, and in her free time, she likes to read, drink wine, and travel with her family.



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BOOK REVIEW: Getting Hot with the Scot by Melonie Johnson

Don’t let the title fool you, this was more RomCom than bodice ripper. Although, the main character (Cassie) does love herself a good bodice ripper, especially ones involving men in kilts. Hmmmmm……

This was actually a fast and fun read. Five women made a pact while they were in college: five years after they graduated from college, they would travel to five European countries, with each of them picking a country to visit.

The premise is fun, the opening chapter is hysterical, and the story flows quick and easy. The conflict between Logan (said “hot Scot”) and Cassie is legitimate and makes sense – there is no melodrama or false indignation to be found, and their chemistry is off the charts.

The dialogue is witty, and the interplay between the five women is especially well-done. The author did a fantastic job of making this reader feel like she was in the middle of the fun and didn’t want it to end.

I thought the descriptions of Scotland, particularly Logan’s family and home, were especially detailed, and painted complete pictures. It definitely made me want to return to Scotland!

The only thing I didn’t completely have a feeling for was Logan’s internal struggle. It was alluded to in the first part of the book, but then took center stage in the second half. It felt a little bit forced, even though it logistically made sense for the character. In retrospect, I understand why the author chose to write it this way (because the book gets a little more serious, so the characters do as well). It just was a little jarring.

All of that being said, I still enjoyed it immensely. I now know this is the first of at least three books, and I’m assuming two more will be coming to round out the five women. I can’t wait to read the rest of them!

My Goodreads review is below.

Expected Release Date: April 30, 2019

Getting Hot with the Scot (Sometimes in Love, #1)Getting Hot with the Scot by Melonie Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a lot of fun to read. I appreciated that the author gave the reader just enough background to make the main characters, Logan and Cassie, believable – but without going over the top with backstory. The opening chapter was terrific and had me wondering if I misjudged what the book was about (but in a good way). The author did a fantastic job of tying that chapter closely to Cassie’s reading choices. The dialogue was snappy, especially between the group of friends, and I could practically feel the camaraderie spill off the page. I wanted to hang out with them. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and devoured the book in a day. I look forward to reading about each of the girl’s experiences (I hope!) Check out my more detailed review on firefliesandfreekicks.com. This review was written based on a pre-release ARC provided by NetGalley.

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CHAPTER REVEAL: Missing in Action
Presents : Chapter Reveal

Missing in Action
by K.L. Donn

 Read Chapter One HERE!

Pre-Order Today!
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Genre: Contemporary Military Romance
Series: Task Force 779; Book 1



Ryder Morrison is a man of loyalty. To his country, his family, his team.

After joining the Navy, he was secretly recruited to Task Force 779, a specialized unit that infiltrates dangerous situations when no one else can – or will. As the communications expert, it’s his job to clear the way for a smooth mission. He knows where the enemy is hidden at all times and when his team can enter a zone safely.

When things go wrong and he’s captured, declared dead before a search can truly begin, Ryder knows that when he makes his way home, his life will be different … his way home, his life will be different … better. He’ll live for himself from now on, instead of following where duty takes him. 

Enter his elusive neighbor …
A woman of mystery and fear.

Codie Ray is a woman filled with pain. Afraid of life and locked away.

She counts to soothe the anxiety. She watches her neighbor because he’s her only lifeline to the outside world. He’s a commitment she doesn’t have to worry will break her. Until the unthinkable happens and her solace is intruded upon. Ryder comes to the rescue and barges his way into her life, pushing past her barriers, causing Codie to rethink her reclusive lifestyle. Slowly being tormented with mind games from an unknown predator, she battles her better judgement and trusts Ryder to do what he does best … hunt down the perpetrator.

Their connection is instantaneous. Two broken people yearning to be loved but afraid to reach for it. Codie fears Ryder will leave when he discovers just how damaged she is. Ryder worries Codie will remain locked away in her mind, unable to break free. 

A surprise mission brings both of their fears to life, and when the walls crumble, Ryder is Missing in Action while Codie is just … missing. Will they find each other again or will they disappear, existing only in a memory?

Photographer: Paul Henry Serres
Model: Simon – Instagram
Designer: Sensual Graphic Designs



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BOOK REVIEW: Eighty-One Nights

I did not want this book to end.

That’s pretty much the review in a nutshell. (But I’ll give you guys a little bit more).

The beginning of this book reminded me of the Reba McEntire song, “Fancy.” In fact, through the first few chapters, I kept hearing the song lyric “Here’s your one chance Fancy don’t let me down” running through my head. Thankfully, the writer took the book in a much deeper direction than just a girl trying to earn money to get out of an undesirable situation.

Usually, a novel like this tends to focus on the young woman’s point of view and how she deals with this new world that has opened to her. This book is different because it focused equally on both perspectives, and this is what made the book more enjoyable.

I loved that I was able to understand Hutch’s point of view and how his past was affecting his decisions beyond the usual “I’m too broken to love” trope. He had a full backstory, as did Lou, which gave them depth. As a result, the story was much more fulfilling.

As Lou puts it, she is part of a beautiful illusion that she doesn’t want to end. I was right there with her. I was aware that I was nearing the end of the book, but I did not expect it to end where it did. As a result, I will be waiting eagerly for the second book in the duet, because this is one story that I cannot let go of easily.

My Goodreads review is below.

Eighty-One Nights (Beautiful Illusions Duet, #1)Eighty-One Nights by Georgia Cates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wrecked. There’s no other way to describe how I feel after reading this book. I am absolutely wrecked. It is such a beautifully written and passionate story; I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. As a result, I didn’t realize how close I was to the end until, well, until it just ended. In my mind, I yelled “noooooooooooo!!!!!” because I didn’t want it to end, especially not where it did! The relationship between Max and Cait (Hutch and Lou) is full-on romance, in spite of the unconventional beginning of it. The story is interesting, the characters are compelling, and the writing is such that the reader feels what the characters are feeling. Oh, and can we say super-steamy as well? An excellent read, but I sure hope the second book is released soon, because I haven’t gotten enough of Hutch and Lou yet. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

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NEW RELEASE: Eighty-One Nights

Holy heck guys, do not hesitate to grab this one. My review will be up later this afternoon!

Eighty-One Nights (Beautiful Illusions Duet #1) by Georgia Cates Release Date: April 9th

 

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44284142-eighty-one-nights

   

AVAILABLE NOW! Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TG6DMB B&N: http://bit.ly/2FhJ4ko Kobo: http://bit.ly/2F8PvoN Apple Books: https://apple.co/2F8Q1mJ

 

 

Blurb: Beautiful, penniless American girl meets handsome, wealthy Scotsman.

Sounds like the beginning of a fairy-tale romance?

It’s not.

This story begins with a contract.

And an exchange of money.

A lot of money.

An angel perches nervously on one shoulder.

A devil lounges smugly on my other.

And even that dark little bastard is leery of what I’m doing.

Maxwell Hutcheson wants the girlfriend experience.

All of it.

And I’m going to give it to him.

I’m not supposed to enjoy being his whore.

I’m also not supposed to fall in love with him.

But I do. Both.

When our contract expires, I will walk away.

Because I have to.

But he’ll always have a piece of me.

I’ll mask my sorrow with a smile.

I’ll hide my love with indifference

… all while it’s killing me softly.

A fairy-tale romance.

It isn’t mine to have.

And this man I’ve come to love so dearly isn’t my happily ever after.

About Eighty-One Nights:

While the characters from Eighty-One Nights are entirely new, their storyline is a combination of fresh material and carefully selected themes, scenes, and settings from The Beauty Series, The Sin Trilogy, Dear Agony, and Indulge. This is intentional. I chose some of my favorite elements from previous releases and interjected them into Hutch and Lou’s story. Let’s call it a “story fusion” between our old favorites and new material. This work was briefly released under a pen name and was titled The Girlfriend Experience.

   

Excerpt: “No one gets to call you a whore.”

“You can.”

He stops eating and looks at me. “I’d never degrade you by calling you a whore.”

“Not a whore. Your whore. There’s a difference.”

I can almost see the wheels turning in Hutch’s head. “You’re my whore?”

“Yes. Only yours.”

“My whore.” He grins. “I don’t think that I’m supposed to like that, but I do.”

“And I don’t think I’m supposed to like being your whore, but I do. Very much.”

He reaches out for my hand and brings it to his mouth, kissing it. “You never cease to amaze me.”

“Dirty talk. Never underestimate the power of it.”

 

 

About the Author: Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her music and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

 

 

Connect w/Georgia: Website: http://www.georgiacates.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgia.cates.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeorgiaCates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgeorgiacates/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/georgiacates1/ Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/georgia-cates

Sign up for her newsletter: http://bit.ly/2HrWkV7

 
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BOOK REVIEW: Overture by Skye Warren

You ever have this happen to you?

You read a book by an author that you love, only to be let down because it wasn’t as good as you anticipated. And then you’re left sitting and wondering why it wasn’t as good, but you can’t exactly put your finger on it.

That’s me when it comes to Overture by Skye Warren. I love her books, and I’m pretty sure I’ve read all of them. But this one was disappointing. I mean, overall it was good, and I’m not turned off of her. In fact, I’m eagerly looking forward to the second book in this series to see what happens.

That being said, I found myself hurrying through some parts of this book to get to the heart of the plot. There was an awful lot of “we shouldn’t but I really want to” and “why can’t we” between the two. Which is fine, but I thought the intrigue parts (how did Liam get to be Samantha’s guardian, what does he know about her past, what doesn’t he know about her past that could harm her now) were too few and far between.

There were times that I felt like there was a prequel that I missed, because some of the relationships didn’t make sense, or at least seemed like they had been established elsewhere and that the reader was just supposed to know about them.

All of that being said, there were some hot moments; one particular scene while Samantha is playing the violin was especially steamy.

And while we are on the subject, I did LOVE the descriptions of her virtuosity. The author was very skilled in making the reader understand how talented Samantha was as a violin player. Those passages were very descriptive and almost poetic.

Oh, and I also loved the quotes and facts that were on many of the chapter headings. I kept my husband and son entertained with a lot of them. They were curious as to what I was reading (ha ha ha).

Anyway, it was just an okay read, but I have high hopes for the next book. I want answers!

My Goodreads review is below.

OvertureOverture by Skye Warren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love this author and always look forward to her new releases. That’s why this review is difficult to write because this book confused me. On the one hand, I liked the intrigue and the premise that Liam knows a lot more than he is letting on throughout the book. I love that Samantha is a prodigy and the descriptions of her violin playing were vibrant and beautiful. The attraction between the two didn’t bother me either. Where I came up short was how much back and forth there was as the two dealt with their inner thoughts – there was just too much of it. I wanted more of the mystery. It took a long time for something to happen (both relationship-wise and in terms of the intrigue and secrets). And the bombshell at the end seemed rushed without any real set up to it. I’m hoping that the second book answers more of the questions in a quicker manner. I’ll give this one 3.5 stars because it took too long for any type of movement to occur. This review was based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

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BOOK REVIEW: My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding

Let’s cut to the chase: I enjoyed this book so much that I don’t know what part to focus on first.

The title accurately describes the basic plot, and in fact, does have a few things in common with the similarly named movie. But at the same time, the story felt totally unique. I think that is due largely in part to the characters.

Tori is a veterinarian who is more comfortable with animals than people. Josh is a people person. She lives on a farm in Iowa, he is from the bayou in Louisiana. There are several more “opposites attract” examples, but you get the picture. What makes this story work is that the author doesn’t dwell on those things too much.

You know what, I’m overthinking this and trying to be analytical. That’s not right for this book.

If you want to soak up some N’Awlins Mardi Gras fun, get this book. If you want a taste of the Bayou, get this book. If you like hot, sensitive, funny guys who are full of charm and surprises, get this book. If you want a romance that builds slowly and gives you that delicious pit of anticipation in your stomach to the point where you want to yell at one or more of the characters to just give in and stop thinking so hard, GET THIS BOOK!

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Landry family. These were some of the most colorful characters I have found in a book, especially Josh’s grandmother, Ellie. The whole family personifies the true meaning of “family” in that they annoy the heck out of each other and try to embarrass each other, but they also love each other fiercely and always have each other’s backs.

I found myself wanting to spend more and more time with the Landry family in Autre, and I was very happy to see that this is the first in a series. Well, at least one other book so far, but I’m hoping we get to cover all of the Landry brothers, and cousins, and second cousins….

Yeah, I pretty much want to move to Autre.

Seriously, though. Go pick up this book. You won’t be disappointed.

P.S. My only complaint about this book is the cover. There is no way in hell that Tori would be wearing a dress like that, and I don’t think the cover truly captures the characters, a pattern I’m seeing more and more of in books.

But that’s another post for another day.

My Goodreads review is below.

My Best Friend's Mardi Gras Wedding (Boys of the Bayou Book 1)

My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding by Erin Nicholas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am happy to announce that I have found my new book boyfriend! Josh Landry is everything a girl could hope for: funny, charming, a little rough around the edges, super-sexy and full of surprises. Josh was great, but Tori was a perfect match. She is the type of girl I love to see in a romance: unassuming, and open to whatever happens. She’s someone who would be totally cool to hang out with. In fact, it would be great to be able to hang out with the entire Landry family, because they seemed like a LOT of fun. Ellie was a real kick, I literally laughed out loud more than a few times when she was involved (plus she gave me some new terms I’ll have to try out). The plot of the story didn’t go exactly the way I thought it would. It didn’t have the drama and misunderstandings that usually accompany a romance like this. I could see the turning point coming a mile away, but the author did surprise me with the way she handled it overall, which I appreciated. I really enjoyed this book, and can’t wait for the second one to come out so I can return to Autre, LA. This review was based on a complimentary pre-release copy.



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NEW RELEASE: My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding

BBFMW - RB banner

My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding, an all-new sexy standalone in the Boys of the Bayou series from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!

MyBestFriendsMardiGrasWedding300.jpg

Josh Landry is one of the hottest bartenders in New Orleans. He’s shown many a female tourist that things are definitely big and easy down here.

And he’s now been celibate for a year. Because he finally met her.

Yes, her. The One.

But, after nothing more than a hot goodnight kiss and a promise to meet up again next year if they’re both still interested, she went home to Iowa.

It’s been a long year.

But now it’s Mardi Gras again and he’s ready for his happily ever after.

If she shows up.

***

Oh, she shows up. For her best friend’s wedding.

But Tori is a terrible bridesmaid because all she can think about is her knight-in-shining-Mardi-Gras-beads from last year.

Well, and because she accidentally lays a hot kiss on her BFF.

Aka, the groom.

Unfortunately, no one believes that it was a case of mistaken identity. So, now she has to convince everyone she has no intention of ruining the wedding. She’s going to need a crazy-about-her boyfriend ASAP. Even if he’s just faking it.

Well there’s only one other person she knows in Louisiana…

Josh is all in. In fact, he’s thrilled. And he’s not faking anything.

But the groom isn’t faking his sudden case of cold feet either.

And now Tori might have a choice to make.

BBFMW - AN.jpg Download your copy today!

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

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

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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). ErinNicholas.jpg

Connect with Erin

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Ghek4N

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Website: https://erinnicholas.com

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COVER REVEAL: Crafting Love



Presents : Cover Reveal

Crafting Love
by A.E. Gamrat

Available for Pre-Order!

Series: Wine & Furniture; Book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance



I, Kelly, am a small-town girl and love my small-town world. I get to work with two amazing, entrepreneur women. One makes wine, the other makes furniture, and I help to sell it it. On a sad, lonely night I bought myself a Cricut machine and I haven’t looked back. Now people call me the Cricut Queen. I even have a YouTube channel with a few thousand followers. Some friends and family can’t grasp my need to stay busy. Nights can be very lonely and quiet.

A night of Karaoke changes everything.

Kirk draws me in at hello and I don’t want to look away. He’s everything a girl could want. Nice, funny, could dance alongside the boys in Magic Mike. Yes, that hot. He is also very good with his hands and offers to help fix my leaking basement with his cousin. A friendship is born.

Love is a touchy subject, but a relationship can’t be ignored.

Between my crazy girlfriends, a budding relationship, and a jealous woman, this decade is starting off on a wild ride. The real question is: who will make it to the end?


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About the Author

Growing up writing was second nature that soon become a distant memory. Turning 30 (not saying when) that memory was going to be brought back to life. Lover of all books I try to grab my audience in and never let go. Hoping to get all these thoughts and ideas down for everyone to enjoy, even if it’s a moment or a life time.

This is the new chapter of my life story. Hope everyone enjoys!


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BOOK REVIEW: Going Rogue (SAS Rogue Unit #1)

I’ve recently decided to not be so closed minded about my reading habits, and have started reading books in new genres, or at least sub-genres of what I usually read.

In this case, I decided to give a military romance a try. As I mention in my Goodreads review, the few I have tried to read before have had heroes that are truly suffering at home and trying to find their way in a changed world with the help of the woman who pieces them back together. I found those to be okay, but formulaic.

Going Rogue struck me as different. Yes, the hero is damaged due to losing his unit in Afghanistan, but he goes back as a favor to one of the member’s father. So, he returns because of his sense of duty to his fallen mate.

You can get the whole synopsis from other blurbs.

I liked the way the tension between Grant and Lilly grew and morphed. I liked how the action made me feel like I was watching an episode of “The Unit” or scenes from a good military movie. I always like when I can read a story and picture actors playing the parts. That’s a fun part of reading that doesn’t happen in every book.

All in all, I really liked the book in general. AND, it’s the first in a series; I could get used to reading about Grant and his cohorts going on covert missions…and getting the girl!

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