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Tuesday 28 February 2017

#1 Crush by T. Gephart



Blurb:

#1 Crush

Tia Monroe was smart, sassy and successful. Sure, she could get a little crazy at times—life around Tia was never boring—but that was part of her appeal. And while she didn’t see herself as ‘classically beautiful’, she had no shortage of options in the boyfriend department. She just hadn’t found one who held her interest.

Until she laid eyes on Eric Larsson, and then it was lust at first sight.

He packed the perfect mix of smoldering sexy and unapologetic cool into his blond-haired, blue-eyed, ridiculously hot six-foot-four frame. One smile from him was enough to twist her insides, making her girlie bits tingle in the most delicious way. But it wasn’t just his looks, he was smart and funny—charming in the most a-dork-able way.

The only problem was . . . Tia had never actually met him.

Eric Larsson was one of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars, rising to the top of his game and leaving a trail of disintegrated panties in his wake. Tia’s were no exception—but she wasn’t delusional. Love, marriage and happily-ever-after were not part of her fantasy; she just wanted to meet him. Just one time. One time. Confident that just seeing him in the flesh would get him out of her system.

So, with her resolve steeled, Tia set off on a quest to make it happen while avoiding her mug shot being splayed across the five o’clock news.

The journey no doubt will make for one hell of a story.

Find on Goodreads



Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2m3lwqW
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2krOfof
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2mlzViF
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2jZh7Di
Amazon PB:
http://amzn.to/2kM7jOt

B&N: http://bit.ly/2kDhqEx
Kobo:
http://bit.ly/2kX7whV

iBooks: http://apple.co/1tvo2pk



Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.


Before I tell you all about #1 Crush I feel the need to tell you a little known story, in year seven (the first year of high school for the non-Aussie's) I discovered David Duchovny, today's generation would know him as Hank from Californication, but back then DD or my future husband as I affectionately referred to him was Fox Mulder, he was half of the lead cast of The X Files and my God was he swoony... he was determined and single minded, he was searching for the truth and he was sexy AF! I adored him, his posters adorned my walls, his pictures covered my school diary and folder, I played the MATCH game with our names more times than I could count, hell myself and two of my friends probably could of started writing erotica with the crazy stories we came up with featuring our mutual love. Even now through his sexual addiction scandal and everything in between he still floats my boat if you know what I mean... you see we've all been there at one point. Or at least after showing you my crazy, I hope we've all been there, crushed on a singer or actor or someone we'd never have the slightest chance with, I mean sure David might have been my first, but through five live concerts for The Script I still try to convince everyone around me that there's a HUGE chance the lead singer Danny will see me in the crowd and fall madly in love with me, I mean sure it hasn't happened yet, but considering last time I touched his arm so we're getting closer, I have to hope for lucky number six.

"Not any crush either. Eric Larsson was my number one."


Now that I've thoroughly embarrassed myself, I can tell you about what you came here for, in #1 Crush Tia Monroe has a thoroughly indecent and unholy crush...obsession...lets just stick with crush on Hollywood A Lister Eric Larrson. He's well and truly out of her league in the sense that they run in two different worlds, that's not to say that Tia isn't a pretty rockin' lady, she's self sufficient, independent and under no false assumptions that she would meet and run off into the sunset with the object of her affection. Tia has been able to earn a decent living as a columnist for a New York paper and she's content, she's happy with where she is and has no real reason to complain.


"Think about it. I meet him, I see what an asshole he is and I move on with my life. Simple. Because we both know he’s going to be a disappointment.” Boom. Cured. It was brilliant."



Tia hatches a plan to meet her #1 Crush, with the goal to find out that he's a Hollywood jerk and finally get over her obsession over a night of heavy drinking with her bestie, I mean despite all the craziness involved what could possibly go wrong?? In true Gephart style what ensues is a wacky, wild ride as one woman gets everything she ever dreamt of. The author referred to #1 Crush as ridiculous and crazy, and I'll be honest, it is, it's so ridiculous that I found myself laughing my arse off, it's so crazy that it could almost actually happen, and it was so damn sexy that I found myself fanning my face as reality and one girls wild imagination collided in the best possible way. Instead of rolling my eyes or shaking my head, I was giddy for more, because while David and I were never meant to be, maybe there's a chance that the Tia's of this world might just have a chance with the Eric's and after all isn't that why we read romance in the first place?

"He’d stopped being my crush a while ago, and now he was my forever."



T. Gephart showed a new breadth to her talent with this release, while her previous books have had a comedic vibe, #1 Crush cemented her ability to write pure comedy, with a delicious sexy twist. Funny, engaging and impossible to put down this book left me giddy and overjoyed in a way very few have.



About T. Gephart:





T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.

T's approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.

With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.

While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have travelled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley the wonder dog.

An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident who didn't lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn't let it go.

T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colourful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey - she is well and truly enjoying the ride!

Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled.

Connect with T on Facebook


Monday 27 February 2017

Sweet Rivalry - 1001 Dark Nights by K.Bromberg

Release Date: 28th February 2017.



Blurb:


Ryder Rodgers had a plan.


He was going to stride into the conference room, do the required song and dance over the next five days, and win the biggest contract of his career. But when he walked in and heard the voice of one of his competitors, all his plans were shot to hell.


Harper Denton. She was always on top. In college. First in their class. Always using every advantage to edge him out to win the coveted positions. The only one who could beat him. His academic rival. More like a constant thorn in his side. And his ego’s.


When he heard her voice, he was brought back to years before. To the bitter taste of being second best. But the woman who meets his gaze is nothing like the drab wallflower he used to know. Hell no. She was all woman now: curves, confidence, and staggering sex appeal. And no doubt, still brilliant.


The fact that she’s gorgeous and bright won’t distract him. This time, Ryder’s determined to be the one on top. But not if Harper can help it.
Find on Goodreads



Purchase Links:





Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

When the loving and protective Ryder Rodgers burst onto the scene in Sweet Cheeks there was something intriguing about him, he was at once the typical big brother protective to the enth degree and jovial and fun loving in the way only a big brother can be, but in Bromberg's new novella we see the sexy side of Mr Rodgers, a man who is confident and suave and downright dirty when he wants to be. He's grown out of his pretty boy high school stage into a mover and shaker in the world of capital works and consultancy.

Harper Denton was once a gangly, shy young girl, suffering from nervousness and the typical afflictions of any high school student until she went head to head with Ryder Rodgers, when under his cool gaze she found herself and was able to exhibit a cool, calm collectiveness that would benefit her in her future career. Shining brightly and climbing the ranks in a male dominated industry takes talent and perseverance, having a sister in law who is Project Manager in Capital Works and Construction I know all to well the kinds of misogynist attitudes you have to face, proving your worth is one thing, but constantly fighting patriarchy can be demoralising to say the least. When Harper rose to the top of the ranks she was ready to take on the world, until one decision left her floundering in a world she no longer knew, now armed with the ticket back into the world of corporate construction consultancy she'll let nothing or no one step in her way.

With a past behind them and a big ticket job on the line, Ryder and Harper will go head to head to see who is the best candidate for the job. They denied their connection all those years before as teenagers, but now their chemistry burns brighter and their connection tangible, only one person can win, but what they could stand to lose could be greater than anything they've ever competed for before.

Filled with the kind of chemistry that Bromberg has become known for, Ryder and Harper have that banter that draws you in instantly, everything about this short, sexy novella had me invested, making Sweet Rivalry impossible to put down, laugh out loud funny, devilishly sexy filled to the brim with the kind of magic I find in every one of Bromberg's releases. While I recommend reading Sweet Cheeks, Sweet Rivalry could absolutely be read as a stand alone, especially when your in the mood for something short and sweet.





About K. Bromberg:




New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

She’s a mixture of most of her female characters: sassy, intelligent, stubborn, reserved, outgoing, driven, emotional, strong, and wears her heart on her sleeve. All of which she displays daily with her husband and three children where they live in Southern California.

On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Since then she has written The Driven Series (Driven, Fueled, Crashed, Raced, Aced), the standalone Driven Novels (Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, Hard Beat, and Down Shift), and a novella (UnRaveled). She is currently finishing up Sweet Cheeks a standalone novel out November 14th.

Her plans for 2017 include a sports romance duet (2 books: The Player, The Catch) and the Everyday Heroes series (3 books: Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit). She’s also writing a novella for the 1,001 Dark Night series that will be out in February 2017.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author | Driven Group




Sunday 26 February 2017

What I have learnt over the past weekend...

This past weekend I ventured to North Sydney for the first Books by the Bridge event, there's an unparallelled sense of excitement for book signings, and for most the idea of spending time with some of your favourite authors is just about the best thing ever, for me it's more than that though, for me, most of dearest friends have come from book world and book signings like this one. In fact, almost all of my closest book friends I met at a signing on the Gold Coast in Queensland in early 2014.



So this past weekend I was not only going away for my wedding anniversary (at a book signing no less) but I was also going to see and spend time with some of my closest friends, catching up and laughing about anything and everything, and spending some much needed time away from all the stresses of day to day life. 




I've been honest about my difficulty with reading and time constraints of late, I've even been forthright about both personal and family health scares, and in the effort of full disclosure I thought I'd talk about some other issues that have been causing issues of late. By nature I'm an extrovert, the life of the party (if I do say so myself ), I enjoy nothing more than being around people, in fact up until two years ago I worked in retail and hospitality full time, you see I even originally rediscovered my passion for reading when I became bored with spending so much time alone during my first year of marriage when my husband worked long hours. Sitting idly by is not my forte, but in reading I found a place I could lose myself, and with the explosion of social media, I found a way to connect with those authors I had found. I made friends easily and chatting away the hour became my second favourite thing next to reading. GPI was born, beta reading and reviewing commitments tripled, and I became burnt out, and for a long time I kept telling myself that's all it was. I mean I was reading excessively, a book a day at least, a review to accompany it, feedback for authors, and a signing to help organise... last year I decided to take a step back in terms of blog commitments and it helped, but unfortunately it didn't solve the problem. It wasn't until the past weekend that I realised that something bigger was going on, as a person who had always thrived in large groups anxiety was never something I had experience in, and yet there I was on Thursday night, sitting on the floor freaking out, unable to control the sense of panic that was welling inside me. After all I love being sociable, I adore being around big groups of people, and as my mother will attest I work best when on a deadline. 



Why am I telling you this, you may ask? Well one thing I realised this past weekend is that admitting you're struggling isn't a sign of weakness, asking for help isn't going to ruin your street cred, facing the things that scare you doesn't impact on the person you are, and talking to someone, anyone who you trust, is invaluable. 

 

Finding your tribe, those that lift you up is one of the greatest things you will ever experience, and if like me you feel the need to talk to someone entirely removed from your circle for added support I implore you to reach out to your GP, set up a mental health plan and get the help you need from a professional. 


 

Wednesday 22 February 2017

The Cad and the Co-Ed (Rugby #3) by Penny Reid and LH Cosway



Blurb:

Third book in the USA Today Bestselling Romantic Comedy Series

Keeping a secret this big is going to take lots of balls. Specifically, rugby balls.

THE CAD
Bryan Leech is a cad.
Or, he *was* a cad.
No one is quite certain.
Once the quintessential playboy, Bryan claims he’s done with wild parties and weekend benders. No more one night stands leading to mornings he can’t remember; no more binges and blackouts; no more exploits plastered all over the tabloids and rag sheets. According to Bryan, he’s cleaning up his act.
The only problem is, no one believes him.

THE CO-ED
Eilish Cassidy never thought she’d be a mother at nineteen or still in college at twenty-four. Cut off from every member of her family except her favorite cousin, she’s finally managed to put her life back together. Stronger and wiser, Eilish enters her last semester of university determined to stand on her own. Now she just needs to find an internship.
The only problem is, her best option—by far—places her directly in the path of her son’s father, and he doesn’t remember her at all.

THE PLAN
Bryan is determined to prove he’s changed. Eager to settle down with the right woman, he’s got his sights set on the gorgeous redhead who seems terribly familiar.
Eilish is determined to hide her secret. She’ll do anything to keep her child safe, even if that means ignoring her own wishes and desires.
But what happens when Bryan starts to remember? And what will it take for Bryan to convince the girl he forgot that she’s unforgettable?

Find on Goodreads



Purchase Links:


The books in the Rugby series can be read as stand alones, but I encourage you to start at the beginning:



Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

I discovered Penny Reid and LH Cosway individually quite some time ago, when the Knitting in the City series and Painted Faces were first released, both authors have risen to the top of my one click sight unseen list for varied reasons, but when two beloved writers come together there's a sense of trepidation that maybe you won't connect as readily to their co-authored work as their individual releases, even after the success of the first two books in the Rugby series, there's still that chance that with a hero like Bryan Leech, their latest might just miss the mark, and yet within the very first pages I was transported to that idyllic state only a Reid/Cosway book can induce,  because Eilish is funny and self deprecating and strong and resilient... and did I mention funny? And that Cad.... Bryan ....well despite wanting to junk punch him at first I found myself quietly cheering him on, not because I wanted him to prove himself worthy of a second chance, and I wanted Eilish to get a shot at the happily ever after she secretly desired once upon a time.

“So yes,” Sean gave me a pointed look, “I approve of it wholeheartedly. In fact, seduce her again.”

I coughed, choking on nothing, and sputtered, “What? What did you say?”

“I said seduce her. And do it now. She has more unresolved feelings for you than Jennifer has for Brad.” He paused, then added, “And do a good job. Do a great job.”
her
I stared at him for several seconds, dumbfounded. “Of course I’ll do a great job.”

Sean pointed at me accusingly. “I’m serious. Look up some moves or watch some videos, do whatever it takes to make sure she enjoys herself.”

Now I was offended. “F*ck you, Sean. Of course she’ll enjoy herself. She’ll like it so much she’ll beg for-”

“Hey.” My teammate narrowed his eyes, slicing his hand through the air. “I don’t need or want to know the specifics. I’m just saying, take good care of her. Take excellent care of her. Give her everything she needs. And don’t be selfish.”

“I won’t be.” I shook my head with the denial, staring at Sean.

Staring at him because . . .

Did he just tell me to seduce his cousin?”  

Five years ago Eilish and Bryan had a one night stand at a team mates wedding, what she thought was a magical night of love at first and sexual worship was a drunken hook up for him, when months later Eilish found out she was pregnant, and Bryan was making his way through a bevvy of young beauties and too drunk to even notice, she made a decision to keep their night together to herself and move on with her unborn child. Now years later, with her studies completed and her young son in toe, Eilish is now set to join the physio squad for none other than her cousin Sean's rugby team, which by default means that she is set to be in close proximity to the reformed bad boy of Irish rugby, and her baby daddy Mr Leech.

"She didn’t deserve to be forgotten.
She deserved to be treasured."


Often funny, and I mean really funny, laugh out loud, guffawing into your arm so as not to wake the household funny, interspersed with the right amount of tender and slow burn sexy that left me positively giddy in the best possible way. With banter and chemistry that leapt straight off the page The Cad and the Co-Ed ticked all the right boxes, but more than that what truly drew me in, like Reid and Cosway's brilliant blend of witty romance often does was the exponential character development that takes the accidental pregnancy trope from what could of potentially been average to a story I absolutely adored. Regardless of your preferred tropes, or if you're a closet second chance romance fan like myself, this is a title you don't want to miss.



About Penny Reid:


Penny Reid is a USA Today Best Selling Author of romantic fiction. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances she works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She's also a full time mom to three diminutive adults (boy-8, girl-6, and girl-4 months), wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny on Facebook

About LH Cosway:

L.H. Cosway lives in Dublin, Ireland. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Connect with LH Cosway on Facebook







Tuesday 21 February 2017

A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart


Blurb:

Sometimes your life is split by a single decision.

I’ve spent every day of the last seven years regretting mine: he left, and I didn’t follow. A thousand letters went unanswered, my words like petals in the wind, spinning away into nothing, taking me with them.

But now he’s back.

I barely recognize the man he’s become, but I can still see a glimmer of the boy who asked me to be his forever, the boy I walked away from when I was young and afraid.

Maybe if he’d come home under better circumstances, he could speak to me without anger in his voice. Maybe if I’d said yes all those years ago, he’d look at me without the weight of rejection in his eyes. Maybe if things were different, we would have had a chance.

One regretted decision sent him away. One painful journey brought him back to me. I only wish I could keep him.

*A contemporary romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion*


Find A Thousand Letters on Goodreads


Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2kGFSpW
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2lBdvsr
Amazon Photobook: http://amzn.to/2kGG5JK
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2lhglSX
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kTUail


Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

When Hart announced A Thousand Letters was inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion I was intrigued, modern retellings are part and parcel of my generation, who can forget Alicia Silverstone's modern take on Emma... it seems we revisited and revised many of the iconic literary greats over the years, and while some have been thoroughly enjoyable, others have missed the mark for me.


"I could heal him, but he would ruin me."

Hart's writing continues to go from strength to strength for me, resulting in A Thousand Letters being an emotionally charged, beautifully eloquent homage to one of the greats of romance. Wade and Elliot were once best friends and lovers, with dreams of conquering the world and trading their lives of obscurity for something far greater, but when demands were made, their plans for the future crumbled. Years apart, swamped with guilt and anger over their individual losses have altered the people they once were, when Wade has to return home under the most dire of circumstances, they are forced to address all that transpired all those years ago, when confronted with the pain of their past Wade and Elliot must decide if a second chance is what they need or if it's time to move on finally after all those years apart.


"Life is short, so short, so precious, every minute, every day. Don't let the people you love, the people who make you happy, the people who bring you joy —don't let them go. Hang on to them, even when it hurts. When it seems impossible. Hold on to the things that breathe life into you. Listen to your soul and honor what it tells you. Live. Fight for what you love."

There's a beauty in Hart's words, an eloquence that breathes life into everything she writes, there's that same beauty in her flawed and damaged characters, a resilience that must be admired, a quiet strength and tenacity that shines through, in A Thousand Letters the Author begs you to trust her to take a well loved favourite and give it a uniquely Staci feel, while I love her quirky humour, I absolutely adore her ability to create angst that never feels too much or overdone, it's in those quiet moments of exquisite prose that you find these rare gems of thoughtful and yet raw dialogue that leaves your heart thundering against your chest. If it's the author's job to make you feel, then Hart deserves a gold medal, it's impossible to not be moved by her words. Where other's have tried and failed, this inspired by story has absolutely hit the mark, leaving this sometime cynic clutching her chest, with the message of this beautiful story resonating so deeply within.



About Staci Hart:


Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey.

From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Connect with Staci on Facebook


Singe (Guardian Protection #1) by Aly Martinez



Blurb:

She was my nightmare. Every time I closed my eyes, I watched her fall into that inferno. Over and over, I failed to save her.

I hadn’t been able to reach her, and the guilt only burned hotter over time. Four years later, I was the unreachable one.

Heroes aren’t always saints. Sometimes, we’re nothing more than jaded sinners driven by sleepless nights and hearts full of darkness.

And then I met her. She was a dreamer who managed to soothe my scars and heal my wounds.

But, as the flames closed in around us, I feared I wasn’t the right man to save her. That is until I realized she was the one woman I’d burn the world down to protect.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:


Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

I discovered Aly Martinez with The Fall Up, I was utterly spellbound by her ability to draw in the reader, her talent absolutely captivated me, when news of Singe hit the interwebs I was intrigued, why every romance reader has a soft spot for strong alpha heroes, it was the somewhat eerie blurb that truly captured my attention.  

Four years ago Jude Levitt, was doing what he had always dreamt of and was working as a Cop, one night, long after he had finished his shift he received a phone call that would change his life, summoned to a disturbance, he found a home in flames, and an ethereal beauty who he knew he couldn't save, that night would alter more than just his life.

"My Butterfly was beautiful. Still a little broke. Still a little scared. But weren't we all."

Years after the fire that changed Jude's life, he finds himself the newest recruit for Guardian Protection, battling alpha males and their top dog mentality is nothing new, but finding his feet and proving himself is to be harder then he anticipated, when he meets Rhion Park, his world is set to shift once again.

"I shrank back, but he kept talking. In paragraphs. Horrible, heartbreaking paragraphs."

Martinez paints a picture so vivid that it plays through the mind like a movie reel, everything about her use of imagery sets the scene so effortlessly that you lose yourself in the world she creates. Her ability to weave magic that is both heartbreakingly raw and sweetly romantic ensured that Singe would stand out in my mind long after I turned the last page. Singe perfectly tells the story of two people recovering from a past that has shaped the way the inhabit the world, it has forced them to be more aware of their world, and in it's most extreme forced one to nurture the need to protect and for the other the need to hide behind closed doors, and yet in each they find something they both equally possessed but had forgotten they had, it was in those quiet moments when they were discovering each other that they found something that every romantic at heart desires, a reason to take that step forward, into someone else's light. Heartbreakingly beautiful, raw and real, this story is about second chances, letting go and moving on, and true to Martinez's talent, is one that will linger in my mind for a long time to come.




About Aly Martinez:



Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five- including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

Connect with Aly on Facebook






Sunday 19 February 2017

CON MAN by T. Torrest



Start at T. Torrest's Facebook page:


Blurb:

Lucas Taggart is the best con man in the business, so to speak. 
A former-geek-turned-hottie, Luke is now an image consultant and life coach to the rich and privileged in New York City. His eight-week program is designed to transform ugly ducklings into swans by instilling some much-needed confidence, and hey, a makeover never hurts. 
But when Ainsley Carrington signs up as a client, Luke's world is thrown into a tailspin. Ainsley doesn't need an image consultant; her image is already perfect just the way it is. Luke immediately finds himself grappling with his attraction to the introverted beauty as all his old insecurities come bubbling back to the surface. 
The thing is, Luke doesn't date his clients. Ever. But fighting his desire for Ainsley is proving more difficult than he ever imagined. Especially since the cocky and arrogant "confidence man" has just completely lost his cool.
***CON MAN is a romantic comedy novel intended for ages 18+ due to some offensive language and graphic sex/sexual situations.***
READ WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR: cocky, funny, sexy, insightful, relatable.

Pre-order will be available March 20 for .99, price goes up to 2.99 on Release Day March 24.

EXCERPT: 

There was an awkward pause between us as the situation sank in, until finally, she let out with a resigned sigh. “Well,” she said agreeably as she rose from her chair. “It looks like my little sex-school adventure is going to turn into a shopping marathon instead.” She gave me a smile and held out her hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Luke.”
  I came around to her side of the table to give her a hug. “You too, Charise.”
  When we pulled away from each other, there was a devilish twinkle in her eye as she purred, “You know, Luke… Just because I’m not hiring you for sex, that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun off the clock. Armed with nothing but false information and your photograph, I flew all the way out here from Houston, and I have to say, you’re even more delicious than your picture. I’d hate to think the sexy vacation I was planning is actually going to be a complete letdown. I could use some company over the next couple of months while I’m here.”
  I couldn’t contain my smirk as I answered, “That is one tempting offer, Charise. Truly. But I’m going to have to respectfully decline your generous proposition. Something tells me you’re going to have one hell of a vacation without me. Here,” I added, pulling out my wallet and digging around for my associate’s business card. “Maybe after you’ve torn up New York for a few days, you’ll decide to reroute to Sedona. Give Drake a call. He really knows his stuff.”
  She took the card from my hand, flicking it around her fingers as she said, “I will. I promise.”
  One of my brows raised as I added, “Although you strike me as someone who’s already well-schooled in this area.”
  Charise grinned as she gave me a last peck on the cheek before jaunting across the patio and into the park.
  My morning appointment was a bust, and my afternoon appointment wasn’t scheduled to be here for another two hours. Since now I had some time to kill, I decided to take a walk to clear my head. I asked Fernando to hold my table, then slipped out of the gated patio and into the courtyard.

© T. Torrest. 

 

 

 

REMEMBER WHEN has gotten a make over, with a new look designed by Hang Le, and to celebrate we're giving away a complete autographed set of ALL SEVEN books by T. Torrest. 



About T. Torrest:

T. Torrest is a fiction writer from the U.S. She has written many books, but prays that only a handfuliy of them will ever see the light of day. Her stories are geared toward readers of any age that know how to enjoy a good laugh and a dreamy romance.

Ms. Torrest was a child of the 80s, but has since traded in her Rubik's cube for a laptop and her Catholic school uniform for a comfy pair of yoga pants. She's a pop-culture junkie, a movie aficionado, and an enthusiast of talking about herself in the third person. A lifelong Jersey girl, she currently resides there with her husband and two sons.

She also really digs it when she hears from readers, and is known to use words like "dig" in a non-sarcastic way. You can find out more about her books at her website: www.ttorrest.com

WEBSITE: www.ttorrest.com 

 








Friday 10 February 2017

P.I.T.A. by Brooke Blaine


Blurb:

As one of the most prestigious wedding coordinators in Los Angeles, Paige Iris Traynor-Ashcroft is known for being classy, elegant, and the orchestrator of many happily-ever-afters.

But in the words of Paige herself: “What a crock of shiitake.”

Known affectionately (or not) as P.I.T.A. to those closest to her, she’s never been one to buy into the whole monogamy thing for herself. Sure, her BFFs are getting picked off by Cupid one by one, but his arrows have nothing on her semiautomatic.

Richard “Dick” Dawson does his best to live up to his name. A long-time frenemy and manwhore extraordinaire, he thrives on pushing limits, pushing up skirts—and pushing every single one of Paige’s buttons. He’s the itch she can’t scratch, and doesn’t want to. Or does she?

What happens when blazing-hot rage turns to crazy, unexplainable lust? Surely not...love? Because that would just be a total P.I.T.A.

Find on Goodreads




Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2kPfFCb
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2kanIwA
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2karKEV
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2l0qIe8




Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

Prior to the L.A. Liaison's series I had not been introduced to Brooke Blaine, and yet the quirky bright colours and bold title of the first book in the series instantly intrigued me. Throughout the previous two books in the series Paige Iris Traynor-Ashcroft aka P.I.T.A. struck me as a strong, business savvy, man eater, loyal to a fault to her friends but filled with contempt at the thought of true love and marriage, despite two of her bestfriends finding love. 

“I appreciate the strip show, but you can keep your clothes on and Channing your Tatum some other time.”

When the wedding planner who doesn't believe in marriage ends up in a battle of the wits with her arch nemesis Richard Dirty Dick Dawson sparks are sure to explode. Two former best friends that now seem to thrive on annoying the other creates the kind of animosity that breeds my favourite kind of chemistry. In between the battle for control, unbridled chemistry and I can't believe I want you this badly even though I don't want to lust, there was a sweet story about two old friends that were perfect for each other if they could just get out of their own way.

"That was how it always was with us—constantly trying to one-up each other, always fighting for dominance. It put things back on comfortable ground."

The third book in the series was just a quirky and fun as the previous two, with their witty banter and sizzling chemistry it has become an easy read favourite of mine, Brooke Blaine shows both her depth and comedic timing here, interspersed with humour and heat, was sweet moments that left the heart swelling in anticipation of what was to come. P.I.T.A. left me sated and yet anxious for the final part of this series.


"I want to be the goddamn reason you can’t wait to wake up in the morning. I want you to be unable to sleep if I’m not there with you at night. And I want to be the only fucking man that you let come near you when you’re moving those hips like you’re having sex on the dance floor."



About Brooke Blaine:

You could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her ‘quiet time.’ Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas.

She is the author of Flash Point, a romantic suspense standalone, as well as the co-author of the erotic series, A Desperate Man, with Ella Frank. The latter has scarred her conservative southern family for life, bless their hearts. Licked, a romantic comedy, will be released November 11th, 2015 and is the first in the L.A. Liaisons series.

If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find - just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for ten years.
Connect with Brooke on Facebook


Tuesday 7 February 2017

Should bloggers promote everything?

I've debated back and forth whether I post about the current blogger debates going on, I've commented on a couple of posts but thought I'd give my thoughts on my own page. 

There's been a lot of debate at what and who bloggers should promote of late, and I find the need to address it. Let me start by saying, blogs are extensions of the reader, very few of us do it to earn a living, while some are able to (and good for them that they can) it's not the "norm". Most of us, collectively speaking started blogging to share our love of reading, to give voice to what we love, reading is subjective and personal, and just as a reader shouldn't dictate what an author should write, an author shouldn't dictate what a blogger should promote or read. 

The industry has become saturated, not only by authors, but by bloggers, for every new reader, there's a new author and indeed a new blogger deciding to open their laptop, and that is a testament to this great community. 

I can only speak to my own blog, so I will give you some insight into my observations, in 2012 I became an avid reader, over the two years that followed I read, almost obsessively, I penned reviews and posted them to Goodreads, in 2014, after encouragement from friends I started GPI, I felt it was my duty to read and promote nearly everything that crossed my path, I was reading and reviewing a book a day, for over 2 years I continued that way, I was beta reading for dozens of authors, I loved every second of it, but I also lost precious time away from family and friends, I had book induced tunnel vision, and somewhere along the way I found myself getting more and more burnt out. Last year I struggled to find the same enjoyment I once found, I was overwhelmed by obligation, and I stopped loving reading. I did a lot of soul searching and decided I would change how I operated, I would ONLY read what I desperately wanted to, (be it a "big" or "new" author) I would not sign up to blog tours or accept review requests, or beta requests if the blurb or cover didn't "speak" to me, I would promote books that captured my attention, I would NOT say yes out of obligation. The result is my readers *know* my recommendations are purely given because in my opinion they *need* to read that title. Has that reduced my audience? Possibly. Do I feel that despite that, I made the right decision for me? Absolutely. 

I would like to point out, that bloggers are unpaid, yes we earn money from affiliate fee's but by and large for most those earnings don't even come close to covering the costs with running giveaways on our blogs. Bloggers hope to connect with readers, to open a dialogue about books they are passionate about, to encourage readers to try something different, there is no greater joy for a blogger than introducing a reader to a new to them author, be it an established NYT best seller or a indie author marking their debut, and finally please remember that bloggers are people, and respect goes both ways, if you want to reach out to a blogger, big or small, personalised emails introducing yourself rather than a generic "dear lovely blogger" email will go a long way to differentiating you from others.


 



Thursday 2 February 2017

Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey



Blurb:

Lucas Thatcher has always been my enemy.

It’s been a decade since I’ve seen him, but our years on opposite coasts were less of a lasting peace and more of a temporary cease-fire. Now that we’re both back in our small town, I know Lucas expects the same old war, but I’ve changed since high school—and from the looks of it, so has he.

The arrogant boy who was my teenage rival is now a chiseled doctor armed with intimidating good looks. He is Lucas Thatcher 2.0, the new and improved version I’ll be competing with in the workplace instead of the schoolyard.

I’m not worried; I’m a doctor now too, board-certified and sexy in a white coat. It almost feels like winning will be too easy—until Lucas unveils a tactic neither of us has ever used before: sexual warfare.

The day he pushes me up against the wall and presses his lips to mine, I can’t help but wonder if he’s filling me with passion or poison. Every fleeting touch is perfect torture. With every stolen kiss, my walls crumble a little more. After all this time, Lucas knows exactly how to strip me of my defences, but I’m in no hurry to surrender.

Knowing thy enemy has never felt so good.

Find on Goodreads



Purchase Links:






Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2017.

Positively giddy, that's the only way to describe how I'm feeling right now. It's no secret that I've been suffering through something akin to reader's burn out of late, injury, illness and some family issues coupled with a packed reading schedule over the last few years have impacted on the joy I once found in reading. I had this looming sense of what if I can't get into this book when it landed on my kindle, and yet instantly, and I mean instantly, on the very first page I was hooked, my fears and doubts were replaced with loud cackles of laughter, R.S. Grey set the scene for a fast paced, fresh take on frienemies turned lovers and even as I'm typing this I still have huge smile on my face.

"I am Daisy Bell, rival to Lucas Thatcher, and the weight of carrying around that hatred has started to wear on me. Deep down I'm starting to forget what exactly it is I hate about Lucas."

The ongoing rivalry between Daisy and Lucas is the stuff legends are made of, neighbours since birth, the pair have seemingly been in competition since conception. Where once upon a time their rivalry caused nothing but fights and friction, as they grew older it also served to push them both to strive for the best, their careers as Doctor's is a testament to that. With dreams of owning their own family practice Daisy and Lucas return to their hometown of Hamilton after a decade away, even with years apart their need to one up each other still burns bright, now fighting over the same practice it seems the games have only just begun.

"Lucas Thatcher, bane of my waking life and lead role in my nightmares is kissing me, and my good hand is wrapped around the collar of his white coat and tugging him. Hard. Against me."

The animosity between these two is humming just below the surface, the chemistry between them white hot, the angst, oh God the angst of will they/won't they is EXPLOSIVE, it's a living breathing thing, tangible and so very real that it seeped from the pages and left my body buzzing in the way that any avid reader longs for. I was clutching my kindle to my chest and grinning like a fiend, every fibre of my being twisted in anticipation desperate for more.

"You listen here, Lucas Thatcher. I hate you, but you're going to kiss me. You're going to kiss me and you're not going to stop."
I have been a long time fan of R.S. Grey, from the moment I read Scoring Wilder all those books ago I was enamoured, with a style that is inherently hers, I found myself #1clicking without preamble, sight unseen, I just knew that I needed to dive into whatever she released next, while I have loved her previous titles, Anything You Can Do was a step above the already high standard she had set. With it's electric chemistry, laugh out loud banter and relatable human connection that Grey excels at, Anything You Can Do deserves my very first GOLD LIPSTICK of 2017, absolutely impossible to put down, my only complaint is I wish I could experience it for the first time again.

"For 18 years, I loved you. Now, I've loved you for 28. It sounds like quite the accomplishment, but it's always been so easy for me to love you. Through all the pain, all the conflict, I've always known the truth. We cared about each other. Nobody fights over something that doesn't matter - they just walk away..."




About R.S. Grey:




I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things… everyday.

I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors are Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m a comedy geek and love all things “funny”. Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.
Connect with R.S. Grey on Facebook