Avonna

Release Blitz/Feature Post and Book Review: About Face by D.E. Haggerty

Title: About Face (Love in the Suburbs #1)

Author: D.E. Haggerty

Genre:Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 29, 2019

Cover Designer: Jeroen E. Spaan – Geared Training

Hosted by:Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

Hi, everyone!

Today I am happy to be a part of the Release Blitz for D.E. Haggerty’s new romantic comedy/contemporary romance ABOUT FACE (Love in the Suburbs Book 1). I love all the characters in this book and especially Grandma who is an absolute hoot!

Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, the author’s bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway. This romance is definitely one to add to your TBR list. You will be laughing long after you are done reading. As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!

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Blurb

My grandma is trying to hook me up.

To be painfully specific, my seventy-five-year-old grandmother thinks a little hanky-panky would cheer me up. Direct quote. Since I’m currently living with her, I can’t escape the endless line of grandchildren of friends who keep ‘dropping by’ for dinner. Literally, I can’t escape. I can barely manage the trek to the dining room at this point.

While Grandma’s determined to find me a husband, I’m determined to learn how to walk again so I can walk away from her matchmaking skills. Spoiler alert: She has no matchmaking skills.

But then I get a brilliant idea. I can fake date my physical therapist. Only he wants a real date. Gulp. A real date with me? Is he for real? I’m no longer the stylish girl with the glamorous job. Now, I’m a woman with a shattered leg and a scarred face.

If I’m going to learn to live with my new reality and give love a chance, my attitude needs to do an about face. Easier said than done.

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

ABOUT FACE (Love in the Suburbs Book 1) by D.E. Haggertyis a new romantic comedy/contemporary romance by a new to me author that is also the start of a new series. I love all the characters in this book and cannot wait for more!

Francis “Frankie” McMillan is living it up in the big city. At 35, she is the top event planner in the firm she works for. Life is long hours of work, checking out hip venues while dancing and drinking with her three girlfriends. She is beautiful with designer clothes, stiletto heels and a third floor walk-up.

And then…. she wakes up in the hospital after a horrible car accident with a leg that was barely saved and a two inch scar on her cheek. Upon release, she moves in with her Grandpa and Grandma in the suburbs. Now, she is facing physical therapy and going out in public. She does not want to do either, but she has to learn to walk again to get her job back. Facing the world with her scars has her terrified, but she can hide the scars on her leg with clothes and she always wears a bandage on her face.

She is surprised when her physical therapist is a burly Viking with a beard named Brodie. She also cannot believe that she is very interested in him, but what man wants to be with someone as ugly and scarred as she is now? With laugh-out-loud help from her Grandma, her new best-friend Shelby and Brodie, Frankie learns things about her old life and self she is not very happy with and maybe with the help of some real friends, she just may live happily-ever-after after all.

This is a laugh-out-loud entertaining romance that also has some very poignant scenes. Frankie is on a very sharp learning curve, not just physically but also emotionally. Brodie has his job cut out for him trying to convince this “city girl” that she is still beautiful inside and out. The sex scenes are appropriate to the story and realistic. Shelby, who Frankie meets in physical therapy is a true friend and I love her snark. Almost every time I laughed-out-loud while reading this book is when Grandma makes an appearance. She is “THE BEST”!

I highly recommend this romantic comedy/contemporary romance! You will laugh-out-loud and be cheering Frankie on throughout. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.

***

About D.E. Haggarty:

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin.

A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. But being a lawyer really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out being a B&B owner wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

Social Media:

Website: http://dehaggerty.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dehaggerty

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dehaggerty

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

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/denahaggerty

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210211.D_E_Haggerty

Newsletter:https://mailchi.mp/027b2768aa1c/newsletter-sign-up-for-a-writers-life-by-de-haggerty

Buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TX42MKD

iBooks: https://apple.co/2Ge7MCy

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

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2Lo8f97
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/3kp8EN

***

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Book Review: Exception to the Rule by Charlotte Symonds

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

EXCEPTION TO THE RULE by Charlotte Symonds is a contemporary romance by a new to me author. This is a well written romance with fun and witty dialogue, a hero that every girl dreams of and a wounded heroine who avoids dealing with her emotional past by avoiding relationships.

Delilah Bennet can write a sex scene so well, she has been hired to be a ghost writer by a well-known romance author. She loves her job because she gets to freely manipulate all of the heroes. She is in total control. In her personal dating life she has rules and keeps the control, always. She must be the one to approach and she uses the men for sex. No relationships.

Delilah lives with her best-friend, Rhen and has always been the shield that Rhen uses to hide his true sexuality from his ultra-conservative family. Rhen is the only person who knows the real Delilah and why she is the way she is with men. When she tells Rhen about the fantastic mystery man she spies on while he exercises through the window of their apartment, he believes this may be the one to get Delilah to give real dating a shot, but she never sees his face.

Jake Hastings is the plus-one to Rhen’s cousin at a family wedding. When he sees Delilah dancing, something seems familiar about her, but he does not know from where. With his blue eyes, hard-body and sultry voice, Delilah cannot resist, even though he came up to her. Jake has trouble keeping Delilah from running away each time they get close, but he also cannot stop thinking about her and wanting more.

Is Jake truly sincere and an honorable man? Will Delilah make an exception to her rules and end up possibly having her heart broken for the first time or believe in Jake?

I am in love with Jake! Here is a romance hero who did not do anything, but be a nice guy. (OK. He is gorgeous and rich, too, which never hurts.) Delilah is the wounded heroine, instead of the wounded hero as in most romances. She proves she is capable of love and friendship with Rhen, but Rhen is safe. Her reasons for her rules are believable and give her a reason for always doing a runner when things get personal with Jake. Ms. Symonds has written realistic, funny and witty dialogue throughout the story. The sex scenes are fun, hot and explicit. The characters in this romance are interesting, entertaining and I feel could walk right off the page.

I highly recommend this romance!

Feature Post and Book Review: Catching Him by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Hi, everyone!

I am sharing CATCHING HIM (How to Catch an Alpha Book 1) by Aurora Rose Reynolds in this Feature Post and Book Review. I love this romance because it has fun dialogue, made me laugh and has hot sex scenes all without relationship angst and drama.

Below you will find a guest post from the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review, a book summary, the author’s bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway.

I hope you love Tyler and Leah as much as I did and as always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!

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Guest Post: Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Guide to Catching Him

In my newest book, Catching Him, Leah Emmerson is over men who can’t commit and she is determined to find a man who is willing to chase her for once. When she meets Tyler Duncan she’s not sure she likes him, however, once she gets his attention he makes it clear that he wants her. Tyler goes out of his way to make Leah his and prove that he’s the kind of guy she should be with. The task isn’t easy; Leah has built up walls because of her past relationships, but after getting to know Tyler as a friend she realizes that he’s the perfect catch.

I’m here to give you some advice on how to catch an alpha male, this method is tried and true.

Step one.

Ignore the hot guy. I know this might seem a little crazy when you’re trying to actually catch a hot guy, but I’m telling you now that for whatever reason the more you ignore him the more he will come around.

Step two.

Avoid danger, however, if you do get into trouble be open and honest with the hot guy. If he’s worth your time then he will step up to protect you.

Step three.

Don’t be afraid if things go fast.

Step four.

This step is the simplest of them all: Believe him when he says he loves you and go on to live happily ever after.

***

Excerpt

“Is that any good?”

I look at him with my mouth full and raise a brow as I chew and swallow. “Did you just ask if Fruity Pebbles is any good? Have you ever had it?”

“I haven’t eaten cereal since I was a kid. The only kind my ma ever bought for us was Cheerios, and not the real kind—the kind that comes in the family-size bag.”

“Here.” I lift a full spoon up toward him, and he looks down at it. “Don’t be a chicken; just try it.”

He leans forward, and his lips wrap around the spoon I’m holding, the sight way more erotic than it should be. He chews and swallows, shaking his head. “It’s . . .”

“Delicious,” I finish for him. “Do you want some more?”

“I’m good.” He laughs. “I am worried that you’re eating that for dinner.”

“Why? It’s fruit and dairy,” I deadpan, and he laughs again.

“Whatever you say, gorgeous. Tomorrow I’ll make you breakfast so your body has the fuel it needs before we get to work.”

I haven’t forgotten I’m spending the day with him tomorrow, pretending to help him paint his kitchen. I’ve been thinking about it all day today. I’ve been thinking about him all day today, actually. I really am starting to like him, even if he has the ability to annoy me like no one else I have ever met in my life.

“Will there be bacon?” I set my bowl on the coffee table, then lean back against the couch, looking at him.

“Is that your roundabout way of saying you want bacon?”

“Yep.”

“Then I guess there will be bacon.”

“Now I can’t wait for breakfast.” I smile at him when he grins. “I do have to leave around four, or maybe a little earlier, so I can shower and change to get to my parents’ place for Sunday dinner.”

“Sunday dinner?”

“Yeah, do you want to come?” Crap, why the heck did I just ask him that? I didn’t mean to. It just came out before I could stop it. “I mean . . .”

“Sure,” he agrees.

“Oh . . . okay. Awesome.” I bite the inside of my cheek. My mom is going to flip her lid—not in a bad way. She’s going to be so happy I’m bringing a man with me that she will probably start knitting baby booties. Not that she knits. She’ll probably just order some off Amazon for free two-day delivery.

“You don’t want me to go?” He tugs that piece of hair he hasn’t stopped playing with, and I turn my head.

“It’s not that. I just . . . well, I’ve never invited someone to Sunday dinner. I mean, I have, but not a guy. My parents and brothers might assume . . .” I look away at his smirk, and my face gets warm. “It’s just . . .” I blow out a breath. “You know how parents and siblings are.”

“We’re friends. I’m new in town, and we’re neighbors.”

“Right,” I agree, even though it’s a little disappointing to think he’s not interested in me and that the comments he’s made haven’t been a lead-up to something more—that something more being him fricking kissing me. But maybe that’s just him . . . maybe he flirts with everyone.

“I don’t have to come if you’re going to be uncomfortable.”

I turn to look at him once more. “You’re right. We’re just friends and neighbors; it won’t be a big deal.”

“Hmm.”

Okay, what does that mean? Never mind. I don’t want to know. I focus on the TV and not so much on him playing with my hair or sitting so close that the weight of him on my couch forces us even closer together.

“You should go to bed. You’ve yawned three times in as many minutes,” he tells me.

“I need to know if Bethenny is going to tell Luann about her husband being with another woman,” I say, keeping my eyes glued to the TV.

“I’m sure you can google it if you really need to know.”

“True.” I yawn again, and my eyes water.

“Come on.” He stands, then pulls me up with him off the couch. “Walk me to the door, then go on to bed.” He walks to the door and stops with his hand on the handle, then looks at Bruce, who hasn’t gotten up. “Bud, come on. Time to go home.”

“Come on, big guy.” I pat my thighs, and he comes instantly, and I laugh as Tyler grumbles under his breath. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I tell Bruce, hugging him around his furry neck, and then I stand and look at his dad. “When do you want me?”

His eyes change ever so slightly, and I swear he’s going to say something dirty, but he doesn’t. “Nine thirty or ten.”

“Okay,” I agree.

He touches his fingers to my cheek, then opens the door and steps out onto the porch. “Bruce, come,” he calls when Bruce doesn’t follow him. I giggle, and he shakes his head as I push Bruce outside with my hands on his rump. “See you in the morning, babe.”

“Mmm-hmm.” I watch him walk down the stairs and roll my eyes when he orders me into my house and to lock the door. I do what he asks, only because I want to, but I still watch him through the window as he and Bruce walk across the grass between his yard and mine and up to his front door. When he’s inside, I go back to the TV and turn it off, then get in bed, where eventually I fall asleep thinking about the guy next door.

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

CATCHING HIM (How to Catch an Alpha Book 1) by Aurora Rose Reynolds is a new contemporary romance by a new to me author and I will be looking for more books in her series. This book left me with a smile and the happy feeling that there are still romances being written with no over-the-top relationship angst or drama; just a feel-good relationship with a likable alpha hero and smart heroine and just a touch of suspense.

Leah Emerson is sweet, upbeat and beautiful inside and out. She works with her grandma and mother every day as a stylist in their hair salon. Her two brothers are married with kids and her mother wants the same for her, but she has decided that she is done with relationships where she is the person chasing and settling. She is willing to wait for the “right” man.

Tyler Duncan recently moved into town for a new job as a construction foreman for his friend’s company. He is focused on his new job and not looking for a relationship, but when his beautiful next-door neighbor falls through his window chasing her wayward kitten, he knows he wants her.

Tyler is sexy, confident and protective and Leah is very attracted, but is he the right man for Leah?

I love this hero and heroine! Tyler is the type of alpha male every girl should have. Leah is smart, upbeat and compassionate, but protective of her heart after being disappointed by men in the past. The relationship comes together in a realistic way with fun dialogue, funny situations and hot sex scenes that are explicit, but not gratuitous. All the secondary characters add depth to the story, including the pets. The story focuses on the romance, but there is a small bit of suspense added for the drama you do not get from the relationship.

This romance put a smile on my face, had laugh-out-loud situations and dialogue and left a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart. I am anxiously awaiting the next book by this author.

***

About the Book

Title: Catching Him

Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds

Release Date: August 27, 2019

Series: How To Catch an Alpha, #1

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Summary

Leah Emerson isn’t looking for a man—she’s looking for the right man. But her mother’s idea of a great catch leaves her cold, and she’s pretty sure her cocky, arrogant, and way too good-looking new neighbor isn’t the one either. If only her wayward cat would stop jumping through his window, she could get on with her life.

Tyler Duncan moved into town for a new job, not to fall in love. But he always goes after the things he wants in life with steadfast determination . . . and he wants Leah Emerson. He wants her smiles, he wants her touch, and he definitely wants her in bed.

Unfortunately, someone else wants Leah—in the worst way. Now Tyler’s on a mission to protect the woman he’s falling in love with while proving he’s worth falling for, and Leah must decide whether Tyler is a catch worth catching . . .

***

Author Biography

Aurora Rose Reynolds is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose wildly popular series include Fluke My Life, Until, Until Him, Until Her, and Underground Kings. Her writing career started as an attempt to get the outrageous alpha men in her head to leave her alone and has blossomed into an opportunity to share her stories with readers all over the world.

To stay up to date on what’s happening, join the Alpha Mailing List: https://bit.ly/2GXYsVS. To order signed books, go to https://AuroraRoseReynolds.com. You can reach Reynolds via email at Auroraroser@gmail.com and follow her on Instagram (@Auroraroser), Facebook (AuthorAuroraRoseReynolds), and Twitter (@Auroraroser).

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/323BWkr

Social Media Links

Website: https://aurorarosereynolds.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/auroraroser

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7215619.Aurora_Rose_Reynolds

***

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Feature Post and Mini Book Review: Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day

Hi, everyone!

I am extremely excited to be sharing this Feature Post and Mini Book Review for the new novella BUTTERFLY IN FROST by Sylvia Day. This story is emotionally charged, explicitly hot and sexy and has a twist that threw me for a loop!

Below you will find an excerpt, a book summary, my book review, author bio and social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway. As always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!

***

Excerpt: Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day

Roxy bounces on her feet with excitement. “Les and Marge sold their house.”

I blink. “I didn’t know they were selling.”

She laughs and heads toward the front door. “That’s the thing. They weren’t.”

“Wait, what?” I hurry after her as she steps outside.

I look to the right at my home, a lovingly restored butterfly-roofed midcentury, then on to the traditional house just beyond it that belongs—belonged—to Les and Marge. Including Roxy’s, all three of our homes have unique lots set between the homes that line the street and the Sound, affording us unhindered views of the water as well as exceptional privacy—all within a twenty-minute drive of the airport.

Roxy shortens the length of her stride to allow me to catch up, then glances over at me. “The day after you flew to New York, a Range Rover pulled into their driveway, and the guy inside offered them cash to close—and move out—in fourteen days.”

My step falters, and Minnie gets momentarily tangled in her leash. The dog shoots me what I would describe as an irritated look, then keeps trotting forward. “That’s crazy.”

“Isn’t it? Les wouldn’t say how much the offer was, but I’m thinking it was huge.”

We march up the inclined driveway, my head tilted back to take in the houses scaling the hillside. Designed with big windows to maximize the view, the homes have a look of wide-eyed wonder. Our little stretch of the Sound used to be a secret, but with the housing boom taking over Seattle and Tacoma, we’ve been discovered. Many residences are undergoing major renovation to suit the tastes of new owners.

Reaching the road, we turn left. To the right is a dead end.

“Well, if they’re happy,” I say, “I’m happy for them.”

“They’re overwhelmed. It was a lot to happen all at once, but I think they’re happy with their decision.” Roxanne stops when Bella does, and we wait as the two dogs mark one of their usual spots on the gravel edging the asphalt. There are no curbs on the streets in our neighborhood and no sidewalks. Just beautiful lawns and a profusion of flowering shrubs.

“We all tried prying information out of them,” she goes on, “but they weren’t sharing anything about the sale.” She gives me a sidelong glance. “But they did share a bit about the buyer.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because Mike and I both think the buyer is someone famous. A film director maybe. Or an artist. Can you imagine? First Emily, a bestselling author. Then you, a reality-TV surgeon. Now this guy! Maybe we’re sitting on the new Malibu—beachside living without wildfires or state income tax!”

The mention of Roxy’s husband, Mike, coaxes an inner smile. A New York transplant like me, he adds a welcome touch of the life I left behind to the reality I’ve since created for myself—a reality that’s just been rocked by the loss of neighbors I like.

“What are the clues you’re working with?” I ask, deciding to play along. If I’ve learned anything the past year, it’s to accept the things I cannot change. A tough task for a control freak like me.

“Les pointed out to this guy that he hadn’t even seen the inside of the house. The guy said he didn’t need to. He knew already that ‘the light is perfect.’ I mean, who would say that? Gotta be someone who’s in visual arts, right?”

“Maybe,” I agree tentatively, disquieted by the unexpected conversation. The road rises sharply before us, the incline steep enough to put a little burn in my thighs. “Doesn’t mean he’s famous, though.”

“That’s the thing.” Her words carry a note of breathlessness. “Les wouldn’t give numbers, but he did say it was crazy the guy didn’t just buy that huge compound at the end of the street. That house is listed for three and a half million!”

My mind staggers at the thought. Les and Marge have—had—a beautiful home, but it’s not worth anywhere near that much.

“I think I saw the buyer once through that big arched window in the living room,” Roxy goes on. “The blonde with him was a looker. Supermodel skinny with legs for days.”

I’m panting when we reach the top; Roxy, who hits a gym most days of the week, is not.

A quarter mile farther, there’s a street to the right leading to Dash Point. Beyond that and straight ahead, the road slopes back down and around until it’s at water level. Redondo Beach is there, as is Salty’s, a restaurant on stilts in the water with expansive views of Poverty Bay and beyond. I’m about to wax poetic about Salty’s seafood chowder when a runner dashes around the corner at a full sprint. His sudden appearance rattles me. A closer look makes me freeze midstride. My breath locks in my lungs.

There are too many things to register at once, so my mind attempts to absorb the whole man. Dressed only in black shorts and shoes, he is a visual feast of deeply tanned skin, intricate sleeves of tattooed art, and sweat-slicked, flexing musculature.

And his face. Sculpted. Square-jawed. Brutally, breathlessly handsome.

Roxy, now a few feet in front of me, gives a low whistle. “Hot damn.”

***

About the Book

Title: Butterfly in Frost

Author: Sylvia Day

Release Date: August 27, 2019

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Summary

Once, I would never have imagined myself here. But I’m settled now. In a place I love, in a home I renovated, spending time with new friends I adore, and working a job that fulfills me. I am reconciling the past and laying the groundwork for the future.

Then Garrett Frost moves in next door.

He’s obstinate and too bold, a raging force of nature that disrupts the careful order of my life. I recognize the ghosts that haunt him, the torment driving him. Garrett would be risky in any form, but wounded, he’s far more dangerous. I fear I’m too fragile for the storm raging inside him, too delicate to withstand the pain that buffets him. But he’s too determined…and too tempting.

And sometimes hope soars above even the iciest desolation.

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day is a new contemporary romance novella that is emotionally charged, explicitly hot and sexy and has a twist that threw me for a loop!

I am writing a mini review because the book summary sets the novella up well and if I give too much more information, I risk revealing something that may give away the surprise twist. When I am looking for an erotic romance, Sylvia Day is one of my “go to” writers and I am so glad I read this book.

Garrett Frost is a famous artist who is gorgeous, sexy and wounded. When he moves in next door to Teagan, he could be just what she needs to move forward with her life or he could destroy her fragile new life and peace.

These two come together in an emotionally charged dance; one step forward, two steps back, take each day one at a time, do not discuss the past. Usually I want a longer book to get more in-depth emotions from the characters, but this novella gave an emotional punch in a short number of pages. The sex scenes are explicit and smokin’ hot. Crank the air-conditioner! At first, I felt you needed to read previous books to know what was going on, but I was wrong. When you hit the twist, it brings a whole new light to the story and it stands on its own.

I loved this story!

***

Author Biography

Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels sold in more than forty countries. She is a #1 bestselling author in twenty-eight countries, with tens of millions of copies of her books in print. Visit the author at www.sylviaday.com.

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2KKUcZH

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.sylviaday.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSylviaDay

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SylDay

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sylvia_day

Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/list/19823.Sylvia_Day

***

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Book Review: Wanted by the Marshal by Ryshia Kennie

RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars

WANTED BY THE MARSHAL (American Armor Book One) by Ryshia Kennie is a new Harlequin Intrigue romantic suspense by a new to me author. This is the first book in the American Armor series featuring a US Marshal sent to watch over the sole survivor of a serial killer.

Kiera Connell is a nurse practitioner who loves her job at the Prairie Seniors’ Care Home in Cheyenne Wyoming. She is on her own, but she views the seniors as her family. One night as she is walking home after work she is abducted.

Kiera escapes and is able to direct police to where she was kept. The police arrest Eric Solomon and discover he is the serial killer the FBI has been looking for. The only problem is, Kiera heard two voices, but without evidence, the authorities just believe it is PTSD and they have their man. The FBI is afraid Kiera may take off before the trial, so she is to be watched by US Marshals.

US Marshal Travis Johnson is assigned to lead Kiera’s case. Travis’ job is to keep watch over her until she appears in court. As Travis gets to know Kiera and strange phone calls occur, he begins to believe her about there being two abductors against all the physical evidence. When Travis is attacked, they move to a safe house, but will it be enough? As the threat to Kiera escalates, Travis and Kiera find their attraction does the same.

I loved the suspense plot with the idea of a second abductor that there is no physical evidence of and the authorities are skeptical of the witness’ memory. It was a good twist that kept the suspense growing. Kiera is a strong heroine who is determined to stand up for herself, while also having a very kind and loving heart towards her patients and Travis. I did not feel a strong enough attraction for the romance to jump to sex scenes. I felt the trope of the bodyguard falling for his charge was written well for the shortness of the story, but I did not like when Travis left Kiera alone for the plot points of bad things happening to her. For me, it was not believable since his main job was to protect her and it felt forced. Overall, it was just an O.K. romantic suspense read for me.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Cowboy Up by Michelle Beattie

Title: Cowboy Up

Author: Michelle Beattie

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Release Date: August 20, 2019

Cover Designer: The Killion Group

Hosted by:Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

Hi, everyone!

I am happy to share this Feature Post and Book Review for my turn on the blog tour for COWBOY UP (Tangled Up in Texas Book One) by Michelle Beattie.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, buy links, author bio, author social media links and a Rafflecopter giveaway.

This is a good start to a new contemporary cowboy series. And as always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!

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Book Description:

When Dallas Granger left his family’s Last Stand, Texas, ranch, he hadn’t planned on returning. But when a medical emergency calls him home and a legal matter affects his business, suddenly his family isn’t the only thing in need of a re-build. Unfortunately his new project involves building a house for a woman who not only awakens his desires, but also his fears. But if he wants to claim her as his own, he’ll have to tear down the walls he’s built around his heart.

Single mom Ashley Anderson knows all about juggling. Between an assortment of part-time jobs and raising her sixteen-year old daughter, she doesn’t need a hunky construction worker with an attitude as a distraction. Even one who steps in to help her when she needs it most. Life has taught Ashley that when the going gets tough, she’s on her own. It’s going to take a man with a Texas-sized heart to show her that this cowboy isn’t going anywhere.

Goodreads book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46001405-cowboy-up?from_search=true

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My Book Review:

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

COWBOY UP (Tangles Up in Texas Book One) by Michelle Beattie is a contemporary cowboy romance that is the start of a new series by a new-to-me author. This first book focuses on the oldest of five brothers and the single mom he meets working on a Houses of Hope (similar to Habitat for Humanity) project.

Dallas Granger loves building beautiful things. From cabinets to houses, he started his own construction company when he left the family ranch. As he is trying to take care of a problem one of his employees caused, he gets tangled up with the law. Then his brother calls to tell him his father is in the hospital and he is going to need help with the ranch. He does not know how he will find the time to deal with everything.

When Dallas is assigned to volunteer for Houses of Hope, he is not happy. He believes the people who receive the homes get them for free (not true), but he feels he worked to build his company from scratch and everyone else should work for what they have, too. When he gets to the work-site he is instantly attracted to the blonde helping with construction. When he finds out the home is for her, he is surprised and not very gracious.

Ashley Anderson juggles a number of part-time jobs to support herself and her sixteen-year-old daughter. She pinches every penny and the last thing she needs to deal with is a cowboy with an attitude problem. She has worked her whole life to stand on her own since she was a teen mom and does not need the judgement.

But as Dallas and Ashley get to know each other, they find they cannot stop their attraction. Dallas has a lot of family baggage to deal with and a broken engagement has left his heart closed off. Will he break Ashley’s heart or will he prove he can open his own?

This is a good start to the series, but there is a lot going on which somewhat detracts from adding more depth to the hero and heroine. I could relate to Ashley and her life, but Dallas really had trust issues that I thought were over blown. That said, they were a good couple and I loved when they talked out their issues and Dallas was a romantic. The sex scenes were realistic and romantic. I also, enjoyed Ashley and her daughter, Brittany’s relationship. It was nice to not have to read about a stereotypical problem teen.

I will be looking forward to reading the other brothers’ stories and having the family secret revealed.

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Buy links:

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

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2XtDl1G

Nook: http://bit.ly/2WgV8aN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2HXnSlc Google Play: http://bit.ly/2HYbeCh

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About Michelle:

International Bestselling Author Michelle Beattie first found her love of romance in romantic comedies such as Romancing the Stone and Valley Girl (yes, she realizes that dates her). It wasn’t until after high school when she worked for a car rental company and had too much time on her hands that she started reading romances. Historicals were her go-to and she raided many bookstores looking for historical western romances.

Eventually she started thinking “what if” and “I’d have done that differently” and quietly started writing her own. More than a dozen books later, Michelle has published in both digital and print platforms and her works have been translated in more than 4 languages.

Michelle is a mother of two very strong, independent daughters. She is a certified member of the Master Bowler’s of Alberta and loves coaching and passing on her love for 5 pin bowling. Besides bowling herself in a weekly league, she also likes to golf in the summer, play games, and read.

Michelle lives in a solar-powered house in Central Alberta with her husband of almost 25 years, youngest daughter, and the cutest dog ever.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.michellebeattie.com/Home.html

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/M_Beattie

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

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Giveaway:

<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/eef4ee4b1746/” rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”eef4ee4b1746″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”54761f08ee20562638ce5c19″ id=”rcwidget_rybobxp5″>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>