Sunny Shelly’s Review: 4 Stars

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Excerpt

I take her
hand and remember the thousands of times I’ve done it before. “I’m glad we got
to talk. It’s been too long.”

A few
strands of her hair catch in the breeze and I tuck them behind her ear. Only
just like with hearing my name and holding her hand, the tactile sensation from
the soft strands between my fingers stirs up memories I thought safely put to
bed. It gives me ideas I shouldn’t be considering.

“Hank?”
Abby whispers, quiet and confused. “What are you doing?”

Losing my
mind. “Giving us a better goodbye.”

My fingers
curl in so the backs of my knuckles stroke her soft cheek. This is so messed
up. I know what I’m doing is wrong, but she’s looking up into my eyes.

I kiss her.

By adult
standards, it isn’t much of a kiss. A single brush of my mouth against hers and
a lingering contact I’m not quite ready to give up. And yet that barely-there
kiss has my heart slamming against my ribs and fire racing through my veins.

It’s like
I’m fifteen again. Except instead of this being my first kiss with Abby, it’s
our last, and I don’t want it to end.

I’m not
talking about not wanting it to end like I didn’t want all the other Abby stuff
to end before.

No, this is
different.

I. Don’t.
Want. This. To. End.

But too
soon, that soft clinging contact is gone, leaving only the warmth of her breath
against my lips.

One breath.

Two.

Three.

I open my
eyes, realizing I’m not the only one still holding on. Abby’s free hand, the
one that isn’t still trapped in mine, is wrapped around my tie.

She hasn’t
let go.

A shadow
passes over her eyes. “You’re not in Chicago for good.”

She isn’t
really asking, but she wants to hear me say it anyway. She wants to remind us
both that fundamentally nothing has changed. That we need to stop this before
it goes too far, and hell, I know
she’s right.

“I’m not.
Tomorrow’s just a business trip, but all indications are I’ll be out of Chicago
in a few months if this deal goes through.” And even if it doesn’t, there will
be something else. There’s always something else.

It’s the
deal breaker that lost me this woman ten years ago. After the way Abby grew up,
she couldn’t watch me leave and she wouldn’t wait for me to come back. I didn’t
understand until it was too late the first time around, but now I do.

And with
her in my arms, it’s good that neither of us loses sight of the fact that this
fundamental difference between us hasn’t changed.

She nods
her understanding, and I wait for her to take a step back, for the shake of her
head and quiet laugh. Only it doesn’t come. Instead, her eyes drop back to my
mouth and the world around us starts to slow. Because I know that look. I fucking love that look.

But this
has to be a mistake. We aren’t teenagers. We aren’t starting something new.

So what am
I doing, uncurling my fist to sift my fingers into the dark silk behind her
ear? Using that hold to tip her head back? Waiting until her heavy-lidded stare
finds mine again?

What am I doing?

Only it
doesn’t matter what I’m doing,
because then Abby is the one tugging at my tie to bring me closer. She’s the
one murmuring her agreement that this is a much better goodbye a scant inch
from my mouth.

She’s the
one short-circuiting my brain, and now the only thing I’m thinking is that I
can do much, much better.

This time
when my lips meet hers, there’s nothing barely-there about it. I kiss her hard,
gathering her close, then closer still as she opens beneath me with a
shuddering gasp I feel all the way through me.

Her fingers
knot in my hair, then race over my shoulders and neck. Christ, her touch is
electric, building the charge in my chest by the second.

We’re
breathless and frantic. Devouring each other with a hot need that edges the
line of control.

Just
another minute and we’ll stop.

Just
another taste.

My hand
wraps in her hair and she moans around the thrust of my tongue.

Yes.

The part of
my brain that’s still functioning is rolling through the data… 

We’re in a
parking lot.

The press
is camped out on the other side of the school.

I don’t do
serious, and this is the girl I learned how to love with.

We should
stop. No maybe about it.

But Abby’s
breasts are pressing into my chest as she wraps her arms around my neck, and
now there’s another part of my brain speaking up… and this is the part I know
better than to listen to. It’s the part that dirty-talked me into climbing up
the old oak outside Abby’s bedroom window… when her parents were home. It’s the
part that swore up and down security wouldn’t notice if I let myself back into
the lab at MIT after hours just to finish my experiment. And right now, it’s
casually noting the parking lot is empty.

It’s asking
me why, if the press knew we were back here, they aren’t calling my name to
score a frontal face shot.

“Hank,” she
gasps, and there’s no more mental chatter. I press her against the car, pinning
her with the weight of my body.

Author Bio

Today we have the release blitz for MAKING SENSE by Lila Rose! Check out this fantastic new romance and grab your copy today!

Title: Making Sense

Author: Lila Rose

Genre: Romance

About Making Sense:

Adalyn Sage.

I’m thirty-seven, a mother, a divorcee, and I’m ready to date again.

I need a man willing to love me for who I am, despite what size I am. Only finding such a guy is harder than it’s cracked up to be. Afterall, I’m a little clumsy and just a tad outspoken… that is unless I’m in front of a man so good-looking my panties melt. Then I become an absolute weirdo.

Case in point: Vice Salvatore. Stunning. Growly. And also my boss.

Thank God his a**hole attitude put my racing heart at ease and changed my lust to hate.

Nope. I don’t care for him. Won’t. I’ll continue to ignore my ladybits and stay strong.

At least for a while.

Get Your Copy:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Exclusive Excerpt:

The bell over the door rang as someone opened it. I placed a wide smile on my face, only to freeze when my wet dream walked into the store.

Oh, God. He was… stunningly hot.

I was going to choke and burn.

He glanced over his shoulder and smiled when a woman entered just after him. I let out a whoosh of air that had caught in my lungs. When I knew the hot guy, like Clint, for instance, was taken, I was totally fine around them.

Although, I couldn’t help but feel the sad dip in my belly knowing the man candy in front of me was taken. Then again, he was totally out of my league. At least he was entertainment for a few moments in the boring night.

“Hi,” I chirped, and waved when they both looked my way.

Wow, his lady friend was also stunning. A little on the larger size like myself, and gorgeous, and seeing them together made me like the man even more because he went for a bigger-sized woman.

“Hey, hi, um, just looking,” she spat, and then giggled nervously.

Aw, she was shy. I wanted to take her in my arms and hug her, tell her there was nothing wrong with being in an adult store.

However, I didn’t. Instead, with my eyes holding hers, I said, “Let me know if you need any help. The other day our delivery came in with a shock therapy simulation kit for the nipples, clit and pussy mound. I’ve heard they do wonders to get you aroused.” The woman blanched. But when the man beside her choked out a laugh, I turned to find him looking at me. I quickly averted my gaze back to the woman. Yes, I was okay with good-looking men once I knew they were taken, but his eyes, his warm, dark, luscious eyes wanted to hold me captive until I shouted my deepest darkest secrets, and I didn’t think it would go down well when his girlfriend was standing right next to him.

“Um, thank you. I think. But really we’re just looking. Filling in some time.” She thumbed to the man next to her. “He dared me to come in while we waited—”

“What are these?” the man asked suddenly.

Dang it, I didn’t want to look at him. My face was already starting to feel hot. I shouldn’t have had that reaction since it was obvious he was taken, yet I was still acting like an idiot around him. Quickly, I flicked my gaze to see what he held. My eyes widened a fraction. Did he even read the packet? It was really self-explanatory.

Or maybe he couldn’t read or he needed glasses to read.

Sucking in a breath, I called forth my sales persona and pasted on a smile. Talking to him didn’t actually mean I had to look at him. I could fake it.

God, I hoped I could.

About the Author:

Lila was born in Brisbane Australia, her step-dad was in the Army which caused them to move around a lot. They finally settled in country Victoria, Australia. Being the youngest of four children she admits she was spoilt a bit. Even drove her mum crazy when she refused to eat meat at a young age.
Now, Lila lives with her husband and two children.
She started writing in 2013 and self-published the first of the Hawks MC: Ballarat Charter series- Holding Out. Since then, she has published seventeen other titles, which range from romantic comedy, erotica, YA, and paranormal.

Connect with Lila:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Enter Lila’s Giveaway:

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White Knight an all-new romantic standalone from New York Times bestselling author CD Reiss is LIVE!

Catherine’s long-lost love is found.

Catherine Barrington is a rich girl. Chris Cartwright is a poor boy.

He left her to make something of himself. A man she could be proud of. A man she could bring home to her parents. A man she could marry.

On the trading floor he became the man he knew he could be. Now, it’s time to return.

Rich girl.

Poor boy.

She didn’t care about his money, but he didn’t believe her. Soon after he left, all the money was gone.

Her life is hell.

Now he’s back, and he’s different. Pristine. Gorgeous. Rich.

Rich boy.

Poor girl.

Money was never the barrier, until now.

—-

White Knight is a standalone in the same world as King of Code, with its own beginning, middle, and end. You don’t need to read anything else to read White Knight.

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2DnefaI

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/WhiteKnightCDR

iBooks: https://apple.co/2BgQT4O

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

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2G3v38v

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

About the Author

CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up she’s at the well hauling buckets.

Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.

She’s frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn’t ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Connect with CD Reiss:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iwpkPQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDReiss.writer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdreisswriter
Instagram: https://instagram.com/cdreiss/
Website: www.cdreiss.com
Newsletter: https://cdreiss.com/cd-reiss-mailing-list-signup/

Jake and Casey are BACK!
CAKE: The Newlyweds by J. Bengtsson is NOW AVAILABLE in ebook, paperback & audio!

Amazon ebook ➙ http://amzn.to/2FEKsfG
Amazon paperback ➙ http://amzn.to/2C9tFm5
AUDIO BOOK ➙ http://amzn.to/2BGLcAR

You thought their story was over… but a love like theirs has no end.

Fate doesn’t own Jake McKallister. At least that’s what he tells himself. Life is better than ever. He’s at the top of his game, performing to sold-out crowds the world over.

He has his health and a solid, fun-loving family to keep him grounded.

And he got the girl – the beautiful, quirky girl he’s just made his wife.

Yes, life is good. If only fate would stop screaming in his ear.

Lucky is the word to best describe Casey McKallister. Life is not just great… it’s amazing.

She has an awesome, devoted support system, a nerd’s dream job at a prestigious accounting firm, and, best of all, she’s married to the hottest rock star to ever roam the earth.

Yes, life is perfect… until it comes crashing down around her.

They say love concurs all. That’s what Jake and Casey are counting on.

ADD TO YOUR TBR ➙ http://bit.ly/2E2z1xf

Start reading CAKE: A Love Story NOW!
Over 1700 Reviews on Amazon!

Amazon ➙ http://amzn.to/2DDid2h
FREE with #KindleUnlimited

-A reclusive rock star going through the motions-

Jake McKallister might have been a rock star, but he was no ordinary one. Surviving an unspeakable crime as a young teen had shaped him into a guarded workaholic, and he now lived his life trying to forget. If it hadn’t been for music and the redemption he found through it, he might not have survived. Career success came easily for him. Personal connections did not.

-A vivacious college student embracing life-

When outspoken and fun-loving Casey Caldwell was paired with the famously reserved musician for a friend’s wedding, she was prepared for the worst. What could they possibly have in common? She was a bubbly talker; he was a media-shy loner. His life was filled with music; she couldn’t carry a tune. She’d enjoyed a happy childhood; his was a well-publicized nightmare.

-Their worlds are about to collide-

Despite their obvious differences, Jake and Casey found each other, and her light balanced out his darkness. Would their love be strong enough to survive the weight of his tragic past?

About the Author:

J. Bengtsson lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. Her favorite things to do are laugh, go for walks, and hang out with family.

Connect with J.!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbengtssonauthor/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/CakeALoveStory
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/chhhbX
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2rxHjuK
Join her Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebananabinder/

Today we are sharing the re-launch of COME CLOSER by Brenda Rothert. This book is a contemporary romantic suspense title that can be read as a standalone. Check out some incredible teasers, and the buy link, for the book below.

PURCHASE IT NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON!

Come Closer by Brenda Rothert

An adult standalone, contemporary romance

PURCHASE IT NOW EXCLUSIVELY ON AMAZON!

Book Blurb:

Sometimes appearances deceive. Take me, for instance. I look like a respectable doctor with his shit together, but the rural Montana mental hospital I work at is actually a sanctuary from my demons. At just thirty-five years old, I’ve already failed on an epic scale. Treating patients at Hawthorne Hill is part of my atonement.
I’ve found peace when a new patient turns me inside out. Allison Cole is a beautiful, haunted survivor who fell into silence after witnessing a murder. But even without words, I’m drawn to her. The closer we get, the more I’m tempted to cross my professional boundaries and give in to my desire.
Soon I find myself in a desperate race to put the pieces of Allison’s silence together. Her life becomes inextricably entwined with mine as I fight to save the second chance I never thought I’d have. I’ll break whatever rules I have to in order to protect this woman who’s been to hell and back. For her, I’ll do harm.

————–

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | | Wattpad | Amazon

Cake, an all-new romantic and hilarious standalone from USA Today bestselling author Carmen Jenner is available NOW!

Poppy Porter’s ex is getting married … to her ex-best friend. To land her dream job of partner in the most prestigious firm on the Upper East Side, Poppy must now pull double shifts as their wedding planner and maid of honor. And the icing on a truly craptastic cake? Leo Nass. Handsome, infuriating, womanizer, and … the best man. Despite their longstanding loathing, Poppy doesn’t see Leo coming. Literally.

One ruined cake.

One archnemesis.

One hour to save the wedding.

Can they put their hatred aside long enough to save Poppy’s job and Bridezilla’s head from exploding?

Piece of cake, right?

Excerpt:

I sneak closer to the bed, my heart pounding as I throw the pillow at him. The guy shifts in his sleep, and his breathing slows, but a beat later the snoring starts again and I have to resist the urge to scream. Instead, I raise my poker and jab the sheet covered body. It’s not hard, just a quick jab or two, but he still doesn’t stir.

“Hey, asshole!” I shout, and whack him hard in the butt with my poker.

The giant freak jumps up and seizes my hand. His grip forces me to drop my weapon. He yanks me toward him—on top of him—and this is how I find myself eye to eye with the beast. He breathes his heavy, stinking breath on my face, and I wince and wrinkle my nose.

Leo’s eyes crinkle in the corners as he laughs. “Morning, Pop Tart.”

“Get the hell out of my bed. And brush your goddamn teeth. What are you doing in my house, Nass?”

“Ah, still feisty, huh? Is this like an all-day thing with you, or do you eventually turn from an angry sea witch into a person? Would coffee help?”

“Fuck you, Leo.”

“Darlin’, you wish.”

“You’re disgusting. I wouldn’t touch you if—”

“Yeah, yeah, if I were the last man on Earth. I’ve heard it all before, sweet cheeks, and I don’t buy it for a second.” He flips us so suddenly my head spins. I’m beneath him, my wrists pinioned to the bed above my head by just one of his strong hands. The other glides up my side. My sheets have twisted up around us, but from this angle it looks as if Leo Nass is very much naked in my bed.

“Goddamn it,” I complain once I find my voice. “I’m going to need to burn these sheets after you leave.”

His eyebrow quirks, and the grin he gives me is all-out salacious. He shifts his weight between my legs, then he drops his hips and grinds his erection against me. I’m stunned, speechless. I have no words. They’ve all left me because my brain has turned to mush and my vagina is the only one thinking, and I’m really not okay leaving her in charge. “Why burn them when we’re not done messing them up?”

Sunny Shelly’s Review: 5 Stars

This book was EVERYTHING! Carmen Jenner’s Harley & Rose remains one of my favorite ugly-cry stories, and I can’t believe that the same author had me snorting out loud while reading Cake.

The plot of this story is a girl’s worst nightmare: Poppy’s ex-fiancé, Chase, is marrying her ex-best friend, Claire, whom he cheated on her with. And she’s not only sucking it up to be the maid of honor, but she’s the wedding planner to boot! And the best man is the oh-so-sexy, ever-so-infuriating Leo, Poppy’s childhood tormenter. Leo, Poppy and Chase grew up together, their mothers are best friends, and there is a helluva lot of history between them all, which adds so many layers to this fantastic story. Imagine the horror of being caught doing it in public by both of your mothers!

Let’s just pause for a minute and honor Jenner for Poppy and Leo’s nicknames for each other: Pop Tart and Nass The Ass. Brilliant!

The banter between Leo and Poppy is unlike anything I’ve ever read. The barbs they lob back and forth at each other are down-right awesomesauce. Better than chocolate ganache filling awesome. I’m generally not a fan of the guy-makes-a-bet-he-can-sleep-with-the-girl trope, but for some reason, I just fell so in love with Poppy and Leo before he even makes that bet with his brother that I didn’t care. I was so rooting for these enemies to get their hate sex going on and fall madly in love. Because of their familial connections, the moment of Poppy’s humiliation is magnified tenfold…. which in turn makes Leo’s groveling for forgiveness that much better.

Get yourself this book. Then sit down with a cupcake and dig in. You won’t regret it.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

Read Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2t08Ci3

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/CakeCJ

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

About Carmen:

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA Today and international bestselling author.

Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU, 2015.

A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore makeup addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.

A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?

Connect with Carmen:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarmenJAuthor

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

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Amazon: http://amzn.to/2BKhcoL

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http://www.carmenjenner.com

What He Doesn’t Know Duet by Kandi Steiner
Coming March 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Photographer: Perrywinkle Photography, Lauren Perry
Cover Designer: Kandi Steiner

What He Doesn’t Know
Release Date: March 15^th, 2018

On the northeast side of town, there is a house.

The house was once magical, filled with love and joy and plans for the future.

Inside its walls are many things that belong to me — my books, the china from my mother on my wedding day, the beautiful cage once home to two birds, now empty, just like me.

And a man.

A man who also belongs to me.

A man I no longer wish to keep.

A man who, no doubt, has not slept, though the sun is rising. Because the house where he waits is where I laid my head to rest every night for eight years. Until last night.

No one who knows me would believe Charlie Pierce, the quiet, bookish girl who never made waves is pulling out of the driveway of a man who isn’t her husband.

But they don’t know me at all.

I don’t even know me.

Not anymore.

They say there are two sides to every story, and I suppose in most cases, that’s true. But the one I live inside of? It has three.

On the northeast side of town, there is a house.

But there is no longer a home.

Add to Goodreads: bit.ly/WHDKGoodreads

What He Always Knew
Release Date: March 29^th, 2018

Left or right.

It’s that simple, and it isn’t simple at all.

If I turn left, the road will lead me back to the man I promised my life to, the one I’d imagined building a family with, the one who’s done everything in his power to get me back.

If I turn right, the road will take me to the man I loved first, the man who brought me back to life, the man who would do anything to keep me.

I knew the fork in the road was inevitable; it was the decision I never wanted to make between choices I didn’t know I had.

And I love them both.

My heart is destined to exist in two equal halves — one with each man. But one half beats stronger, the vein running deepest, and holds my choice in silence long before I know it for myself.

The realization of what I have to do, of the heart I have to break, just might break mine too.

Left or right.

All I have to do is take a breath and turn.

Add to Goodreads: bit.ly/WHAKGoodreads

About the Author:

Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer.

Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).

When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.

Connect with the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KandiSteiner/
Twitter: @KandiSteiner
Stay up to date with Kandi by signing up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/TLsut8
Website: http://kandisteiner.com