Tag: #Small Town Romance

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NEW RELEASE: Crazy Rich Cajuns

IT’S HERE!!!! Be sure to come back on Wednesday, Oct. 2 for my stop on the Blog Tour with a full review!

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“You can always count on Erin Nicholas for fun, sexy contemporary romance.”―Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author

Crazy Rich Cajuns, an all-new sexy, small town, opposites attract rom com from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is coming September 30th!

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He wears suits and ties. He’ll one day inherit a fortune. He has a law degree. He shines his shoes, for God’s sake. What is she doing attracted to a guy like him? But she is. She so is.

She drives air boats on the bayou, drinks and cusses, and gives city boys in suits a hard time just for fun. Why can’t he get her out of his mind? But he can’t. He definitely can’t.

A weekend trip to Savannah for a fancy-schmancy party with his highfalutin family is the surefire way to prove that they have nothing in common but intense chemistry. And to maybe scratch this I’ve-never-wanted-anyone-like-I-want-you itch once or twice. Or five times.

But it takes only about twenty-four hours for the bayou girl and the city boy to figure out that they don’t really know much at all–about each other, or about themselves. And figuring all of this out is going to be downright crazy.

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Download your copy today!

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

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

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

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Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Z8PB7C

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Z8oolI

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2Z7gV6l

Start the series of standalones today!

My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding

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Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2BRrdPo

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).

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Connect with Erin

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Website: https://erinnicholas.com

Stay up to date with Erin by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2Gj56oC

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New Release: Chasing Fireflies by Claudia Burgoa



Surprise Release!

Chasing Fireflies by Claudia Burgoa


Genre: Military Romance / Small Town Contemporary Romance



The first time I met Oliver Tanner he was five years old.
I was four.
That day he was entrusted to my keep.
He was as large and loud as a church mouse.
That day I taught him how fireflies were magic with the persistence of a person.
That’s what I loved about them.
No matter how far they strayed,
they remembered where they came from
and who their family was.

After high school, he joined the army and left Knox Ridge.

Years later, the town had changed.
My dreams were shattered.
We had nothing left.
I had forgotten all about the magic of the
fireflies.
Until he came back to town.
Everything about him was comforting.
He brought some light to my darkness,
But I knew the light could only last for so long.
Fireflies only stay for the summer.
He had outgrown our small town.
It was time for me to stop chasing fireflies.

Don’t miss out on this stunning, second-chance friends to lovers romance.

This full-length novel was originally published in the Cards of Love Collection as a novella. It has been revised with additional scenes.



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Blog Tour w/Review: Wait For Me by K.L. Grayson

This book went a completely different direction than I thought it was going to, and I am happy that it did.

While the story starts with popstar Nora wanting to break out from the younger persona that made her famous (think Miley Cyrus without the craziness). After a twist in her life that causes a mini-meltdown (think Britney Spears with an umbrella but for a legit reason), she heads home to her brother Nick’s house to get her head together. Grayson is a single dad raising three young children, who also happens to be Nick’s best friend. Nora and Grayson meet casual, and the story takes off from there.

I want to focus on Grayson because so many romance novels these days have unapproachable or unrealistic heroes. Don’t get me wrong; a moody billionaire has his place in the romance world. But I found it very refreshing that the hero was a single dad trying to do right by his kids, especially considering that the six-year-old was dealing with some difficult issues.

The kids made a lot of this story for me. Emma especially wins a cuteness award (loved the thought that went into the accuracy of her pronunciation). It was always clear that the kids were the primary concern, in spite of the growing attraction between Nora and Grayson.

I did think that the whole backstory to the kid’s mom was a little bit much and in some ways didn’t seem to fit, but I do understand how the author had to make clear just how awful she was. I also felt that a few of Grayson’s reactions were over-the-top. I got that he was concerned for his family, but where he placed the blame seemed misguided.

I loved the resolution though; it’s been a while since I have read such a sweet ending. I’m not one to use a lot of slang, but it gave me all of the feels! If you’re looking for a cute romance with a little heat and some adorable kids, you should grab this book.

Oh, and a special shout out to the “Thin Man” reference.  Loved that the brother and sister were Nick and Nora!

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Release Blitz and Review: Hooked – A Love Story on 7th & Main

Hooked: A Love Story on 7th and Main, an all-new standalone opposites attract Contemporary Romance by Elizabeth Hunter is NOW LIVE!

   

She’s in high heels; he wears hiking boots. Can these two opposites make romance in Metlin work?

Tayla McKinnon is not a small town girl. The fashion blogger moved to Metlin with two goals in mind: help her friend start a book store and have a little fun. A year later, Tayla has made new friends, successfully launched INK, and is ready for a new challenge. Too bad she can’t get a certain rock-climbing, comic book geek off her mind.

Jeremy Allen has been playing the long game with Tayla, even though the avid outdoorsman was certain she was the one from the minute he set eyes on her. They may have different tastes, but their chemistry is undeniable.

When a job opportunity from a new fashion start-up lands in her inbox, Tayla takes it as a sign. She’s not meant for a small town, even though her best friend and her inconvenient crush are trying to convince her otherwise.

Jeremy can’t believe Tayla would be willing to leave her new life behind, but maybe he’s been playing it too cool. Summer in Metlin can sizzle, which gives Jeremy an excuse to turn up the heat.

Hooked is a stand-alone, opposites-attract romance in the Love Stories on 7th and Main series by Elizabeth Hunter, USA Today Bestselling author of INK.

   

Download your copy NOW!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2H4CEpO Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2JkHiBG Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2H3k2GG Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Lo4Ury Nook: http://bit.ly/2Vm9uer Kobo: http://bit.ly/2LtMB4i AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2WrSyQl Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2VMSVb2

Add to your TBR – http://bit.ly/2WwSEGw

   

 

Follow the link to enter in the Giveaway!

http://elizabethhunterwrites.com/giveaways/hooked-release-giveaway/

   

About Elizabeth Hunter

ELIZABETH HUNTER is a USA Today bestselling contemporary fantasy, romance, and paranormal mystery author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher. She once substitute taught a kindergarten class, but decided that middle school was far less frightening. She’s the author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, and the Cambio Springs Mysteries. Sign up for Elizabeth Hunter’s newsletter today and receive a free short story, “Too Many Cooks,” in your inbox. Newsletter subscribers receive monthly updates with exclusive short stories, bonus scenes, and contests. Subscribers also receive an alert when new books are released.  

Follow Elizabeth Hunter

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    Hooked (7th and Main, #2)Hooked by Elizabeth Hunter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The premise of this book seemed interesting: big city girl in a small town tries to deny that the small town is where she belongs. I loved Metlin, and I loved the residents. What I didn’t love was Tayla. She turned me off when she ignored Emmie regarding the costumes for the middle school book club, and she never really got back into my good graces after that. I found myself wishing for someone better for Jeremy. I’m sure other people will like how she realizes her love, but she rubbed me the wrong way, and it tainted the book for me. Three stars for Gus and the other residents of Metlin. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC.

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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 RocksOn 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.

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BOOK REVIEW: Missed: Rafael and Lisa (Cliffside Bay #6)

This is one of my favorite authors, and I am so happy when I see a new release of hers. I recently reviewed the third book in her Blue Mountain series. This time we are back in California for book six in her Cliffside Bay series.

(You can read my review of the first book in the series, Traded: Brody and Kara. I still have to catch up on my reviews of the four in between. I’ll get to them on this blog when I can get my hands on Hermione’s Time Turner. But they can all be found on Goodreads!)

ANYWAY, this latest book introduces us to a new pack of alpha males, the Wolves. Now that the last of the Dogs has been successfully paired off, the focus switches to a group of characters who have been secondary in previous books.

This is a talent of the author. I love how she is able to weave the characters lives together like a real community. And I especially like how she does so in this book, because it gives me twice the reason to be happy to head back to Cliffside Bay.

Rafael, Kara’s bodyguard, has been enamored of Lisa, Maggie’s NYC friend. Even though they each think that they are too different for each other, circumstances allow for them to get to know each other better and (of course) finally realize what everyone else has been able to see for a while.

I have to throw in that Lisa’s mom is one of the most despicable characters I have ever “met.” I had an almost visceral reaction to her, which is strange because I was fortunate enough to have the complete opposite of her for a mom. But man, is Lisa’s mom vile.

I will also say that I felt that the conflict that brings Lisa and Rafael together seemed like it was an effort to be timely, but it took me out of the story, especially when Lisa refers to it later during an interview. I appreciate that characters and situations need to be real, and that is one of Ms. Thompson’s strengths. Her characters are people I would love to know in real life.

But I also like to read small town romances to take myself out of the everyday noise that is sometimes otherwise difficult to escape. So, when something shows up in one of my “escapes” it’s jarring.

That being said, I still love the series and cannot wait to read how the rest of the Wolves complete their pack. My Goodreads review follows.

Missed: Rafael and Lisa (Cliffside Bay Book 6)Missed: Rafael and Lisa by Tess Thompson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The latest in Tess Thompson’s Cliffside Bay series takes the series in a new direction. Now that all of the Dogs are happily paired up, it’s time for us to meet the Wolves. First up is Rafael, the bodyguard hired to protect the Mullen family. He has a thing for Lisa, Maggie’s friend from NYC. The author puts them in a situation that you know is going to make sparks fly. I like how the author manages to keep the familiar characters around, even having a sort of “guest starring” moment with characters from another series, but still allows the main characters to have their time. The switch of focus from Dogs to Wolves is seamless, and you can already tell that this is going to be another series that you can’t wait to revisit because it’s like catching up with old friends. If I had to say anything negative about this book (and I really don’t want to), it would be that there was just a little bit too much “reality” in the plot. I understand that characters cannot live in a vacuum, but sometimes I like to escape and not think about real-life issues when I read, especially in romances. But that’s getting nitpicky because the author handles it tastefully. This is one of my favorite series, and I am excited that there is a whole new set of characters to get to know. 4.5 stars for this one. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

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BOOK REVIEW: Blue Moon (Blue Mountain Series #2)

Just a little addition to the below review. I liked how this one started and very much enjoyed the interplay between Bliss and Ciaran. As I mention, the mystery in this one is just not as strong as in the first one (and now the third one). The concept is good, but the characters weren’t fleshed out enough, and there could have been added details that made it more thrilling. That being said, I can’t dislike the book based solely on that. I just love the way this lady writes.

Here is my review from Goodreads: The second book in the author’s Blue Mountain series is just as good as the first one. This time out, we get to follow Bliss, the sister of Blythe (heroine of the first book). A real go-getter married to her work, Bliss suffers a series of unfortunate events and follows her sister’s footsteps to Idaho. Once again, Ms. Thompson bravely explores concepts that are beyond the usual scope of a small-town romance novel. I love the secondary characters that we have gotten to know, especially Moonstone. I did not think that the mystery in this book was as good as the one in the first, and I spotted the answer early on. But I still very much enjoyed the story and love Peregrine as much as the characters do!

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BOOK REVIEW: Blue Ink (Blue Mountain Series #3)

I have shared Tess Thompson’s books several times on my personal FB page and I am a huge fan of her work. I first found her through her Cliffside Bay series (which I absolutely love and highly recommend). But she has outdone herself this time. Blue Ink, the third in the author’s “Blue Mountain” series, breaks the mold of small-town romance novels.

Set in the small town of Peregrine, Idaho, this book focuses on the third Lanigan brother, Ardan, and his romance with Charlotte, the former assistant of Bliss Heywood (heroine of the 2nd book in the series). Ardan hires Charlotte to look after his mom, Riona, as she deals with failing eyesight. That’s the set-up, and (you know me) I don’t do plot recaps.

Most of the characters we have gotten to know from the past two books, Moonstone, Sam, and of course the Heywood sisters and their husbands, make appearances. This is something Ms. Thompson does incredibly well; she keeps characters from former books around, but lets the main characters take center stage for their own stories. There is something very organic and natural about the way she works secondary characters into her plots.

The relationship that grows between Charlotte and Riona is heartwarming and produces more than a few chuckles; they are both feisty and their sparring is fun to read. But this story belongs to Charlotte and Ardan, and this is where it really shines.

The concept of soulmates is one that is often used as a throwaway, sometimes in a line or two, in romance novels. But Ms. Thompson explores the idea of people being meant for each other to a new level, as Charlotte and Ardan give in to the inevitable early on and ride the current, which is different from the usual “should we or shouldn’t we/we can’t, it’s too soon” back and forth. Their story touched me personally. Simply put, when you know…you know. Not everyone understands that.

The author adds a layer to the concept of soulmates through letters written between Riona’s mother and father. Suffice to say that said exploration is deep and meaningful, and cleverly wrapped within a mystery. Pay close attention to Charlotte and Ardan’s reactions to the letters for even more levels to the concept. Again, not going to tell you any more than that 😉

This is my favorite of the Blue Mountain series, five stars, without a doubt. But I will be honest and say you should read the first two books in the series before reading this one. It will be the best way to get the full “Blue Mountain” atmosphere, and you will appreciate the journey so much more.

(As I am still catching up on reviews, I will be posting reviews of the first two books later. It’s backwards, but hey, would you expect anything less from me?)

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