Today is my turn on the Blog Blitz for THE EDITOR by Simon Hall.
Below you will find a book blurb, my book review and the author’s biography. This book is not what I was expecting. I would not classify it as a classic mystery, but a fiction story with a mystery subplot. You will have to judge for yourself. Enjoy!
***
Book Blurb
A mysterious advert in a newspaper promising to
restore hope to the hopeless brings together four strangers.
None realising they will end up investigating a
twisted and troubling crime that threatens their very futures.
Mitch, a former Crime Scene Investigator,
Olivia, a brilliant PhD student, and Florence, a middle-aged solicitor, find
themselves working with an enigmatic newspaper editor who refers to himself
only as Ed.
But when Maddie, a teenage girl, disappears in
sinister circumstances, the team are drawn into the hunt for her. And when a
neighbour’s body is discovered in a pool of blood, they realise they must use
their unique skills in a race against time.
But can they solve the mystery before it’s too late? And before Ed’s shadowy past overcomes them all?
***
My Book Review
RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars
THE EDITOR by Simon Hall is not the book I was
expecting, but that is not necessarily a bad thing at times. I was expecting a
straight mystery due to the book blurb and the marketing, but for me it was
more of a general fiction story with a mystery sub-plot.
An ad is posted in the newspaper promising to restore hope
to the hopeless by Ed. Ed is a mysterious figure who chooses three people from
the applicants to assist him in starting a new newswire to get them out among people
and reconnect them with humanity and hope.
Mitch is a former crime scene investigator who has seen too
much. Olivia is a brilliant computer and mathematician PhD student who hates
humanity. Florence is a lawyer who feels that no matter who or what she tries
to help, it ends in disaster. Ed is the leader, but he is also is looking for an
unnamed answer.
As they search for news stories, the four become involved
with a family in crisis. When teenager, Maddie disappears after her mother is sent
to the hospital after a domestic abuse incident, the four work together to
solve her disappearance. They all use their unique skills in a race against
time and fight to maintain their hope.
The four main characters are the focus of this book more
than the mystery which is easily figured out. Even the surprise twist at the
end is focused on the main characters and not the mystery itself. I really
enjoyed the differences between the four and how they came together. The twist
at the end surprised me and cleared up questions about Ed.
This book is one of those books that everyone will have different
views on and leave the ratings all over the place, but I enjoyed it. I recommend
it for a different type of read with the emphasis on the four main characters
and not the mystery sub-plot.
***
Biography
Simon Hall is an author, journalist, communications
consultant, and business coach.
He was a broadcaster for twenty five years, mostly as a BBC
Television, Radio and Online News Correspondent, covering some of the biggest stories
Britain has seen.
He now lectures, and coaches companies at the Judge Business
School, part of the University of Cambridge, working on presentation skills,
branding, pitching, websites, and media profile, both conventional and social.
Simon has had seven books in his tvdetective series
published. They focus on a television reporter who covers crimes and gets so
involved in the cases he helps the police to solve them.
He has also contributed articles and short stories to a
range of newspapers and magazines, written plays, and even a pantomime.
Alongside his novels and stories, Simon is a tutor in media
skills and creative writing, teaching at popular Writers’ Summer Schools such
as Swanwick and Winchester, for the National Association of Writers’ Groups, at
universities including Cambridge and Exeter, on cruise ships and overseas.
Simon has also become sought after as a speaker, appearing
at a variety of prestigious literary festivals. His talks combine an insight
into his writing work, along with some extraordinary anecdotes from the life of
a television reporter, including the now notorious story of What to do when you really need a dead otter.
He began a broadcasting career as a DJ on the radio and in
nightclubs, then moved into radio and TV news. He worked in Europe, London, Ireland,
and the south west of England, before settling in Cambridge.
Simon is married to Jess, Director of Libraries at the
University of Cambridge, and has an adopted daughter, Niamh. She’s an army
officer, which makes her father both very proud and very nervous.
Simon also lectures on careers in the media at Cambridge
University, and in schools and colleges. Amongst his proudest achievements, he includes
the number of young people he has helped into higher education and jobs in
broadcasting, and aspiring writers into publication.
As for his likes, Simon lists beer – he judges at real ale
festivals – running, cycling, solving cryptic crosswords, composing curious
Tweets (find him @SimonHallNews) and studying pop lyrics.
Today I am sharing with you the Feature Post and Book Review for Penelope Bloom’s new release ANYONE BUT RICH (Anyone But…Book 1). This romantic comedy/contemporary romance that had me laughing out-loud. This is the first of a trilogy featuring three billionaire brothers who return to their small hometown to claim the women they could never forget, but the girls made a promise seven years ago to never date one of the King brothers again.
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.
This was an entertaining escape read that will make you laugh and leave you anxiously waiting for the other brothers’ stories. And as always, good luck on the Rafflecopter giveaway!
***
Guest
Post: Meet
the Kings of North Carolina with Author Penelope Bloom
Anyone But Rich is the first book of my new, three book “Anyone
But…” series. Every book is a true romantic comedy and is full of
moments that I hope will have you laughing out loud, if not at least breathing
out a little puff of air from your nose.
Anyone But Rich follows the oldest King brother, Richard King, and his love
interest, Kira Summerland. Seven years ago, the King brothers left behind a
trail of scorched earth as far as Kira and her best friends, Iris and Miranda
were concerned. The three women swore an oath that they’d never date the King
brothers again, even if they wound up becoming mega-famous billionaires and
came back on their knees, begging for forgiveness.
But that’s exactly what happened. Now, Kira isn’t so sure she’ll be able to
hold herself to a vow she made seven years ago, even if breaking it could drive
a rift between her and her best friends.
Rich
and the King brothers are global phenomenons. Each of them takes their own,
unique approach to melting hearts. Rich is the kind of guy who puts business
first and relentlessly pursues his goals, even if it means ruffling feathers
along the way. That’s what makes Kira so special for him. She’s the one person
who can bring out a softer side of Rich, and at times, even a funny side. But
Kira or not, he’s generally seen as the face of the company, and he’s easily
the biggest name to ever land in a place like West Valley.
Cade is Rich’s twin brother, but the two men couldn’t be more
different. Cade is a somewhat strange blend of intelligence, goofiness, and
unbearable cockiness. He can turn any situation into a joke, but behind the
laughs and crude comments, he still wonders if his high school crush, Iris,
would ever look beyond their past.
Nick is the youngest of the trio and generally
thought of as the quiet genius of the group. He’s not as in-your-face as Rich
can appear, but Nick commands respect in his own way. He also has the closest
relationship with Cade, partly because Nick is the only one who ever seemed up
to the task of keeping his wild, older brother alive.
All in all, the three brothers are like the riders of
the apocalypse, if apocalypses were caused by melted panties and broken hearts,
at least.
But the King brothers all share one thing in common. Whether they’ll ever admit
it or not, they all came back to West Valley for the girls they left
behind. Anyone But Rich is the story of Richard King and his
attempts to win the forgiveness of Kira Summerland, his old high school flame.
The question for Rich is how long he can pretend forgiveness is all he wants.
For Kira, it’s a question of whether she can look past the mountain’s worth of
warning signs telling her to stay as far away from Rich as possible.
There
are endless obstacles between the King brothers and their West Valley girls, but
the King brothers aren’t the type to shy away from a challenge. They’ve just
never faced one this great.
***
Excerpt
Principal
Lockett.
He was shorter
than most of the freshmen, but the shiny patch of bald skin on his crown and
the drooping bags under his eyes meant there was no mistaking him for a
student. “Just wanted to say good luck on your first day, Kira.”
“Thank you,” I
said. I hoped my smile looked genuine. I’d expected to need to try very hard to
make a good impression on my new boss, but from the first day of preplanning
two weeks ago, it seemed like he was the one sucking up. It
wasn’t the first time being the mayor’s daughter had given me some unwanted
advantage. No matter how much I protested, some people in West Valley were dead
set on the idea that getting in my good graces was the same as getting in my
father’s good graces. Unfortunately, my objections went unnoticed, and people
had never been quick to believe that favoritism wasn’t something I secretly
encouraged.
So I did what I
always did. I pretended I still needed to bust my ass to make a good
impression. I refused to sit back and let my father be an easy pass, and I
hoped for the best.
“Is everything
okay?” I asked when he was still standing there with a smile plastered on his
face. From the corner of my eye, I saw students start pouring into my room from
the back door.
“There is just
one thing. A slight hiccup, really. Nothing that you would need to worry your
father about,” he said. “There’s a very influential businessman in town. He got
on the phone with the right people a few minutes ago, made some very
interesting promises, and . . . well . . .”
“Well, what?”
My eyes were darting between Principal Lockett and my rapidly filling
classroom.
“He’s
apparently an old friend of yours. Said he’d like to be able to stop by today
and say hello. He promised it would be quick.”
“It’s my first
day,” I said slowly, hoping I wouldn’t need to explain any further.
“And you’ll do
great!” Principal Lockett seemed to sense my inevitable eruption, so he ducked
back into the hallway and flashed me a quick thumbs-up before the door snicked
closed.
I turned my
eyes toward my students and made a weak attempt to mentally rally. I
can do this. They’re just children in bodies that have grown faster than their
brains.They aren’t as mature as they look.
“Do you see how
red her face is?” whispered a girl in the front row. I wasn’t sure if it was
intentional, but I was pretty sure I would’ve been able to make out every word
of the “whisper” from the parking lot.
The boy beside
her smiled cruelly. “Maybe she’s PMSing.”
The girl
frowned at him and slapped his arm. “That’s not how it works, you idiot.”
“What do you
mean? There’s all the blood issues. Some of it must end up in their
heads.”
The girl rolled
her eyes, crossed her arms, and gave up on him.
I cleared my
throat. “I’m Miss Summerland.” I paused, swallowed, and willed my windpipe to
grow a little bigger. “This is—”
The bell
signaling the start of first period rang deafeningly, cutting me off and making
me realize I was already showing what a rookie I was.
I cleared my
throat again. “This is—”
The
announcements began, instructing the students to stand for the Pledge and the
anthem.
I turned my
back to face the flag and pretended I didn’t hear the snickering students
behind me. I also pretended I didn’t remember being a high schooler not so long
ago, and how quickly I would’ve decided a teacher like me was the kind students
were going to eat for breakfast.
A few minutes
later, the announcements ended, and I finally turned to face the students
again. “Okay. This is—”
The door to my
room opened. I spun, hands balled into fists. All the frustration of the last
few minutes boiled over into an embarrassingly squeaky outburst. “I would love
to finish my sentence!”
And that was
when I saw my visitor.
Richard
King.
Distantly, I
heard the excited whispers of every girl in my classroom.
“Is that
him?”
“Oh my God,
is my hair okay?”
“This is
going on my Snapchat!”
Their voices
faded into background noise as I looked at him in person for the first time in
so many years.
“Please,” he
said. His voice was so deep and rich I could feel it rumble through my chest.
“Finish your sentence. I’ll wait.”
He knew damn
well there was no way I could think about anything else with him standing
there. The corner of his mouth had twitched up into the suggestion of a smirk,
and his eyes were locked predatorily on me. He knew exactly what was happening
to me, and he was enjoying it.
I tried to
picture a normal human being in his place. I tried and failed to unsee the
broad, powerful shoulders and long legs, to unmake every cruel and perfect line
of his face, from the sharp jaw to the dark eyebrows and burning green eyes.
His nearly black hair was cut short and neat. He wore a suit that would’ve made
most men look overdressed, but he seemed perfectly at ease. Here I was with my
legs spread out like I was trying not to step in a puddle, pretending I was in
control. Meanwhile, Rich’s pinkie toe projected more confidence than my entire
body.
I wanted him
and his obnoxiously cocky pinkie toe out of my classroom and out of my life. I
was perfectly happy seeing him in a dirty dream every few weeks, where he
couldn’t screw up my reality any more, thank you very much.
“Out,” I
said.
“That was the
end of your sentence? ‘This is . . . out’?”
The students
acted like his sitcom laugh track, and I already wanted to give them all
detentions for being traitors.
I turned, annoyed, and gestured to my students. “This is English Four Honors.”
I looked back at Richard. “Out.”
***
My Book Review
RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars
ANYONE BUT RICH (Anyone But…Book 1) by Penelope Bloom
is a new release romantic comedy/contemporary romance that had me laughing out-loud.
This is the first of a trilogy featuring three billionaire brothers who return
to their small hometown to claim the women they could never forget, but the
girls made a promise seven years ago to never date one of the King brothers
again.
Kira Summerland is starting her first year of teaching at
her hometown high school. Seven years ago, Kira, Iris and Miranda made a promise
when they were students at this very high school to never date a King brother
again. When Richard King shows up at Kira’s classroom door on the first day of
school, she is as angry at herself as she is at him.
Richard King has returned to town with his brothers. Cade
and Nathan to set up their company’s headquarters in their hometown. The
beautiful woman on his arm is just a ruse to keep both sets of their parents
from matchmaking. He has his heart set on Kira. He knows it will be hard work
to get Kira to forgive him and get her friends approval, but Rich has always
worked hard to obtain his goals.
Kira must deal with her promise to her friends as she begins
to let Rich back into her life. Can she have both? Will Rich be able to get
Kira to forgive him and get the girl he has always wanted?
I love Rich and Kira together. Kira is the perfect lovable heroine
to bring out serious Rich’s softer side. The dialogue between the friends and
the brothers is laugh-out-loud funny and at times raunchy which made it more
realistic. The sex scenes are explicit but not gratuitous. Each character’s
unique personality adds to the fun of reading this book. For me, this is not a
new plot or storyline, but the author’s voice makes it very entertaining. This
is an easy-to-read romance that has me anxiously waiting for the other brothers’
stories.
***
About the Book
Title: Anyone But
Rich
Author: Penelope Bloom
Release Date: September 3,
2019
Series: Anyone But…, #1
Publisher: Montlake
Summary
Seven
years ago, my best friends and I made a promise: No matter what, we would never
date one of the King brothers. Even if they grew up to become megafamous,
gorgeous, heart-stopping billionaires. Even if they crawled on their knees and
begged for forgiveness.
But guess who just flew back into our lives in a private jet? And guess who
just showed up to my job on my first day? Richard. King. Fortunately, it takes
two seconds for Richard to reveal he hasn’t changed. Conceited. Cocky.
Rude. Unfortunately, he’s also the kind of gorgeous that’s
borderline offensive—with a jawline to make statues self-conscious and a grin
that short-circuits my brain.
He’s spent years taking what he wants. I doubt he’s hungry for anything else—except me, apparently. There’s no way I’ll let him maneuver his way back into my life. My friends would never forgive me. I would never forgive me. But did I mention his jawline?
***
Author
Biography
Penelope
Bloom is a USA Today, Amazon, and Washington Post bestselling
author whose books have been translated into seven languages. Her popular
romances include His Banana, Her Cherry, Savage, and Punished.
Her writing
career started when she left her job as a high school teacher to pursue her
dream. She loves taking her imagination for a spin and writing romances she’d
want to live. She likes a man with a mind as dirty as sin and a heart of gold
he keeps hidden away. Her favorite things include getting to wear socks all
day—pants optional—and being a positive example for her girls. Showing her
daughters that no dream is too big, no matter what anyone tells them, is worth
all the late nights, doubts, and fears that come with being a writer.
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!
***
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.
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!
***
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).
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.
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!
***
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.
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.
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.
