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Four Weddings and a Swamp Boat Tour-Blog Tour (Review)-RomCom-Available Now

How much do I love this series?

How excited am I that we are back in Autre with the Landry family?

We just moved 1000 miles, and I have left ALL of the unpacking until I could finish this story. I don’t even care about not having space for all of our clothes, or where the plunger is, or that we still haven’t found our pots and pans or even have furniture to sit on.

Don’t care one bit. I care about the Paige and Mitch and their story. Period.

I devour these books. I want to live there. Just like Paige realizes, being part of their world would be amazing.

While I greatly enjoy other books and series, I cannot think of a single other setting or characters that I want to be real and be able to be a part of…weird, right?

I really enjoyed Paige’s journey in this one. As we are reminded a few times, she’s only 22, and she definitely exhibits a self-centered vibe through the beginning chapters. It may make me sound old, but I think that’s pretty typical of any person in their early 20s.

But as she spends time with Mitch and the Landrys, she comes to some deep realizations that make her re-evaluate her own perspectives on family and how they support each other.

For a rom-com, I thought her growth was particularly interesting and heartfelt. I could literally see her maturing throughout the book. That made me want to root for her.

I think that (maybe…just maybe) she also reminded me of, well…me. I was older than 22, but I also took off across the country, leaving my family (and everything I’d ever known) on a whim for a guy I’d met only a few times.

That was 18 years ago. We’ll be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary this May.

Didn’t realize how much I identified with Paige while I was reading the story, but now it makes more sense to me.

But I digress.

Of course, it being Autre and the Bayou, there’s a healthy dose of Landry crazy, although not as wild as some of the past stories. And Mitch truly is one of the good guys….one of the most swoon-worthy heroes of the series.

And that’s saying a lot with this bunch.

My only complaint, and it’s a minor one, is that I wish more attention had been given to the weddings. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I would have loved some details about each of the weddings in question (readers will know what I am talking about).

There were some perfect opportunities to explore the things that made these couples who they were, and I wish they had gotten a little bit of extra detail – just to spend some time with them celebrating.

That being said, I am truly beyond excited that we got to meet the next group of Bayou Boys and that it seems as if there a few stories yet to come. I can’t wait to return and visit with this crazy clan.

Many thanks to Ms. Nicholas for creating a world that engulfs me and reminds me that there are still many things to be thankful for in this world, even if they’re fictional.

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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Blog Tour (Review): Summer Storms by Brittainy Cherry

I first introduced to this author’s work with Eleanor & Grey, which to me, is still her best work. Summer Storms comes close, though.

Download your copy today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bJYlYJ
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SouthernStorms
Add Southern Storms to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Rj7I94

I love how Ms. Cherry’s characters have a way of seeming familiar as if they’re people that you already know. It’s not because all of her characters are the same (far from it). I think that it is more because they are so relatable and down to earth. They are never caricatures.

What they are, however, is flawed, and that is what makes them human. None of her characters are ever perfect. I mean, even the therapist and his wife have a “moment” that makes them more than “just” a therapist. And that’s not to say that their moment is flawed…I’m getting tangled up. Anyway, the characters always just seem to have an extra something that makes them easier to get to know.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to when Jax and Kennedy were children. I thought those scenes were very well done and gave great insight into the events that further shaped their lives.

I did feel like the editing got lax about two-thirds of the way through. There seemed to be an increase in the number of repeated phrases and paragraphs that seemed to ramble. But that could be because it was an ARC and not fully edited yet.

The one thing I was a little disappointed in was how lackluster the “big reveal” for Jax was. It was something that he had built his whole life upon, and then all of a sudden, it was different, and he raged, but then he was sort of like, “what can I do?” I felt like that should have been a much bigger deal for them to deal with, maybe as a couple.

But I did love the way they found each other again, and how they “knew” what was right. That’s the kind of hope and love that will keep me coming back to her books.

About Brittainy

Author Brittainy C. Cherry is an Amazon #1 bestselling author.

She has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a Bachelor Degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing.

Her novels have been published in 18+ countries around the world. Brittainy lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin with her fur babies.

Connect with Brittainy
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Fc8izo
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Oe1m8V
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Fltnc1
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Fk2jKg
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2ThAciJ

Join Brittainy’s Golden Girls (And Boys) Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2Y4WEir
Stay up to date with Brittainy by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2oK1voU

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Blog Tour (Review): Sugarcoated by Erin Nicholas

Erin Nicholas is one of my favorite authors, so I was super-excited to see this new series from her. It’s not a spoiler to say that this book has everything that I love about her writing.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bjel3L
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/sugarcoated
Apple Books: https://apple.co/36BvxzB
Nook: http://bit.ly/39UU6t5
Kobo: http://bit.ly/37Lz6Dk
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Wxondp
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2UvGsWr

Feisty Heroine: Check. Zoe is charming, and possibly a little bit naïve, but when faced with some challenges, she rises to the occasion and gives as good as she gets.

Hunky Hero: This is something Ms. Nicholas does exceptionally well. Her male lead characters, in this case, Aiden, are charming, handsome, and love to drive their women crazy with their teasing.

The Chemistry: Always hot. This author does an excellent job of describing a scene so that readers get what I call “the swoop.” It’s that feeling in your belly when there is a hot scene, and you can either apply it to your own experience or just enjoy the scene in the book.

You know which one I’m talking about – where your stomach drops in anticipation of what happens next?  There’s a scene near the beginning in the kitchen that is totally “OMG.”

The Conflict: I loved the premise of this one. Without giving too much away, I thought that the “small-town bakery vs. corporate giant” was a good set up, but the twist of the personal connections to each of the places added another layer of conflict.

Other Characters: Also something this author does well. The secondary characters (friends, family members, co-workers) are all fully-realized. They’re people who are supportive of the main characters, but real enough that you want to know their stories as well.

The Promise of More: Considering that there are four other partners in Fluke Inc., and ample women in town, I think there’s a story for each of them coming. And THAT is the best part of Ms. Nicholas’ books…the desire to keep hanging out with her characters in their world.

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).

Website: http://bit.ly/2NkB2uF 

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2tdTM8e 

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2QLd1Pr 

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3a3rnm4 

Instagram: http://bit.ly/36NqV9y

Website: http://bit.ly/2FM3Doo

Stay up to date with Erin Nicholas by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/38a5Fv5

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Blog Tour w/Review: Getting Off Easy by Erin Nicholas

Erin Nicholas has fast become one of my favorite authors. Her male characters are the right balance of sexy and smart (sometimes street, sometimes book), and her female leads are feisty and quick-witted. In fact, that’s one of the biggest attractions of her books – everyone has smarts of some kind, and they’re not afraid to show it. Her latest is no exception.

Download your copy today! 

James is a firefighter known for his nurturing nature; Harper is a linguistics professor – talk about opposites attract (and boy, is there an attraction)! I found them to be relatable because my husband is a police officer, and I am an English/Drama teacher by trade. So, yeah, I could see a little bit of each of us in the characters.

I loved how the couple met and got to know each other (a unique opening). I enjoyed how subtle and sexy James was. I REALLY loved how quickly Harper came up with ideas. I kept waiting to see what she would do next.

I also thought that the entire plot was unique. Without giving anything away, I felt that the set-up and subsequent events were interesting and allowed the characters to have quite the slow-burn romance (he’s a firefighter…get it?)

Anyway, Ms. Nicholas is at her best when she has her characters sparring with each other, and not necessarily in an entirely adversarial manner. Their banter was entertaining at every turn. I did figure out one twist from the beginning, but that’s because I read A LOT and…well, hellooooo – law enforcement hubby!

Regardless, it’s another entertaining visit to New Orleans, and I will always look forward to the next book from this author!

Author Info

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).

Connect with Erin

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Release Blitz w/Review: The Forbidden Man

How do I love this book? Let me count the ways:

  1. The heroine is 40 years old (yay for that!)
  2. It is set in Spain.
  3. It centers around Real Madrid and is full of soccer references.

For me, that’s all the author had to do to make it a winner. I’ll explain.

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2rrQYDd
Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/TheYoungerManKH

I do like reading romances for characters of all ages. A well-written novel transcends age. That being said, it does sometimes get tiring reading about a 24-year-old whose life is over but then miraculously meets their soulmate (not that there’s anything wrong with that, it just gets tiring after a while).

Thalia has been through a divorce (relatable), has the opportunity to switch jobs, and moves to do so (relatable) and connects with a hot young soccer player (okay…not so relatable). But still, I really “got” Thalia. The author did a great job of covering the myriad of feelings a woman goes through in those situations.

Spain. I traveled a lot as a kid because my dad worked for airlines. But somehow we never made it to Spain. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Valencia due to my son’s soccer talents (see where this is going) and absolutely fell in love with the country. I was really excited when he was invited back in the Spring to play again in Barcelona. Still haven’t made it to Madrid.

But I loved the descriptions of the different areas of Madrid. I found myself picturing places I went to in Valencia as stand-ins. It was nice to “wander back” to the country.

Soccer. My son is a total football fan. Only 14 years old, and he knows more about the game than many adults. Obsessed is a good word. Our house is all EPL and La Liga/all the time. I would have been interested in the book anyway because of the story, but the details around the players and clubs gave me another level of enjoyment.

As to the story itself, I loved reading about a woman who has the opportunity to re-invent herself and continue with new experiences. It was easy to be in Thalia’s corner, rooting for her. The romance between her and Alejo was a delicious slow burn. It was nice to live vicariously through her for even a little bit.

Even if you aren’t into football/soccer, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Thalia will win you over.

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Blog Tour w/Review: Landon & Shay, Part 2

There are very few authors who can bring me to tears with the beauty and heartache of true love. Brittainy C. Cherry is one of those authors, and Landon & Shay Part Two is no exception. I liked how Part One traced the evolution of their relationship, and I was looking forward to the continuation in Part Two.

While there were sections that tugged at my heartstrings, I felt that overall, the second half of their story was rushed.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2BQhBDW
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/landonshay2

It started where the first book left off, with Landon in Southern California and Shay back at home, writing letters back and forth to keep each other grounded and remind each other of their bond. It becomes evident fairly quickly that Landon’s new life in SoCal will take center stage, and boy, does it ever.

These were the parts that I felt were on fast forward. Landon’s rising star rose quickly, and I wish that the author had spent some more time on those parts. I would have loved to watch the two of them support each other through that rise (and fall).

I thought that Shay was more inconsistent in this book. I understand that her heartbreak (from her father and Landon) made her distrustful, but there was just a little too much inconsistency. A lot was made out of her writing abilities, but it ultimately went nowhere.

She even got on my nerves towards the end when she would ask why something happened and then immediately say, “never mind.” That got annoying.

All of that being said, their romance is still vintage Brittainy Cherry. There are angst and pure emotion, creating places where I did tear up. I especially liked the parallel with Eleanor and Grey, and how that story fed Landon and Shay’s. I love how she creates that world where people are connected and not just functioning in a vacuum.

Part Two doesn’t quite live up to Part One, but put together they make an epic love story.

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Book Review: Total Surrender

The “Beauty and the Beast” trope is one that gets lots of action, especially in romance novels. Who doesn’t love a story where the bookish, nerdy gal tames the beastly, hunky guy, amiright? The problem is that it is SO popular, it becomes difficult to find a new way to use the trope.

Erika Wilde does an excellent job in Total Surrender, the first in her “Dirty Sexy Fairy Tales” series.

No plot spoilers here, but Arabella attends an annual charity ball put on by Maddux and his siblings. She’s excited to do something new; little does she know that her father was only invited so Maddux can settle an old score between him and Arabella’s father (and his sidekick Gavin, who is an awesome up-to-date version of Gaston).

I liked how the author continued the set-up between Arabella and Maddux, and how it wasn’t an instantaneous thing. The build of the story was well-paced. The struggle Maddux had with himself seemed real, and I loved Arabella’s attitude toward the whole situation. (Her conversations with the cameras had me giggling along with her).

I did think that the whole story wrapped up rather quickly, and I would have been happy to keep reading more about how Arabella charmed Maddux. And I really would have liked to have seen more repercussions for her father and Gavin (especially him, because he was slime). On the other hand, I appreciated that the author didn’t draw things out unnecessarily, and got right to the point.

A scene between Hunter (brother of Maddux) and Arabella reminded me a lot of the scene in “Pretty Woman” when the lawyer confronts Vivian about Edward’s attention. But it worked for the story here as well. I can’t wait for his story next, and I am really looking forward to Tempest’s story – mainly because I can’t quite figure out which fairy tale that one is going to be yet.

Oh, and the sexy times are super-sexy!

I definitely recommend this new series. It’s a quick read with interesting characters and a unique twist on a familiar theme. Looking forward to the rest of the series

Total Surrender (Dirty Sexy Fairy Tales Book 1)Total Surrender by Erika Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the best “beauty and the beast” novels I have read in a long time. The characters were realistic, the set-up was plausible, and the action moved right along. I was drawn in especially by Arabella’s nature – even though she was the bookish “Bella,” she was still a strong female who knew herself. It was refreshing to see her go toe to toe with the beast (Maddux). I also enjoyed how the author set up the siblings’ stories and can’t wait to read Hunter’s, which looks to be “Cinderella” based. It was a quick read, but it kept me engaged the entire time. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was based on a complimentary pre-release digital ARC of the book.

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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 (Cloverleigh Farms, #2)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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Cover Reveal: Wait for Me

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Wait for Me by K.L. Grayson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publishing date: July 23rd, 2019

Cover Designer: Perfect Pear Creative Cover

Photographer: Rafa G Catala

Model: Adrián Pedraja Barrientos

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My life is a mess. Literally.

I’m a single dad, which means If I’m not cleaning up spilled milk or changing a diaper, I’m pulling gum from my daughter’s hair. I barely have enough time to eat—let alone sleep.

And women? Forget about it. That ship sailed two years ago along with my ex-wife. My brother says I need to get laid. I say, screw that. I’m content with my life, until pop star Nora Hayes walks through my best friend’s front door and flips my world upside down.

She’s beautiful, famous, and completely off limits.

My life is a headline waiting to happen. Literally.

It all started with fishnet stockings and ended with a baseball bat to boyfriend’s Porsche, putting me on the front page of every newspaper and gossip magazine in the country.

My life is spiraling out of control and I’m ready to make some serious changes. What I’m not ready for is a hunky man to strut his jean clad tush into my life. Grayson Calhoun is as rugged as he is sweet. He’s also way in over his head with his kids, and I have an offer I’m hoping he can’t refuse.

What starts as an agreement, turns to a friendship, and quickly escalates to stolen kisses and heated nights spent wrapped in each other’s arms. What we have is temporary. I promise him that I won’t fall in love.

But I make that promise already knowing it’s a lie.

WaitForMe_FrontCover.jpg

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Yk7FvL

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

iTunes: https://apple.co/2vfnyHc

B&N: https://bit.ly/2Vda5Kp

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2Vl3IK6

WFM_CoverRevealGraphic.jpg

About K.L. Grayson

K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained

daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she

writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the

day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males,

brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that

order.

Connect with K.L. Grayson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooksbyKLGrayson/

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/booksbyklgrayso/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-l-grayson

Website: www.klgrayson.com

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BOOK REVIEW: Beauty and the Professor by Skye Warren

The first book in the latest duo by Skye Warren, Beauty and the Professor is a modern retelling of (you guessed it) Beauty and the Beast. The premise was good, and it had a lot of things going for it, but for some reason, it just didn’t impress.

I think one of the reasons is that I recently read Overture by the same author, and I felt that there were a lot of parallels: young, lively female/older wealthy male with a chip on his shoulder, mutual attraction but unwillingness to act, etc. It even felt like I was rereading some passages.

There were parts that I liked. I thought the premise of Blake being a former soldier who had suffered his injuries while serving was a good one, but it should have been explored more. I think more insight into his experiences allow more sympathy for his character as opposed to Erin just wondering about his PTSD. The author did address this a few times, but I think it could have been a little bit more.

I also really enjoyed the college classroom episode – the author obviously did homework, because the discussion about precedent was very well done. Aside from being interesting, it allowed Blake to use his mind to guide people away from focusing on his features.

No review of a Skye Warren book is complete without mentioning the sexy times, and there are plenty of those. As always, they are super steamy but also darkly romantic, which fits the overall character development.

But because of the romance and the inner thoughts, there were a couple of events that felt totally out of place, especially towards the end of the book. I know that the author was setting up for book two, but the cliffhanger for this one seemed to come out of left field (especially considering a few events that happened shortly before).

Overall, the book was okay. Knowing it is part of a duet makes it difficult to review because I know the story will be continuing. So think of this as a review written halfway through the book just to keep everything straight. I do look forward to seeing how it all works out in the end.

As always, my Goodreads review is below.

RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2019 (Available Now!)

Beauty and the Professor (A Modern Fairy Tale Duet, #1)Beauty and the Professor by Skye Warren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As a modern twist on the classic “Beauty and the Beast,” this book had a lot of potential. Erin is a sweet college student who cleans the house of the reclusive Blake, a former soldier who suffered burns that disfigure half of his face (shades of “Phantom of the Opera” as well). If you know the fairy tale, you know that they end up together, but seeing as how this is a modern retelling, “together” means mostly in bed. Those scenes (and there are plenty of them) are steamy as heck. The rest of the plot is just…okay. I thought there were some inconsistencies in characters, and a couple of twists were predictable. I did like the scene in the classroom, as the concept being taught (about precedent) was very interesting. I look forward to seeing how the second book finishes the story because this novel does end on a cliffhanger (that seemed out of the blue). This review was written based on a pre-release digital ARC.

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