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Delighted, an all-new captivating Masters and Mercenaries novella from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!

Read my review HERE.

Brian “Boomer” Ward believes in sheltering strays. After all, the men and women of McKay-Taggart made him family when he had none. So when the kid next door needs help one night, he thinks nothing of protecting her until her mom gets home. But when he meets Daphne Carlton, the thoughts hit him hard. She’s stunning and hardworking and obviously in need of someone to put her first. It doesn’t hurt that she’s as sweet as the cupcakes she bakes.

Daphne Carlton’s life revolves around two things—her kid and her business. Daphne’s Delights is her dream—to take the recipes of her childhood and share them with the world. Her daughter, Lou, is the best kid she could have hoped for. Lou’s got a genius-level intelligence and a heart of gold. But she also has two grandparents who control her access to private school and the fortune her father left behind. They’re impossible to please, and Daphne worries that one wrong move on her part could cost her daughter the life she deserves.

As Daphne and Boomer find themselves getting closer, outside forces put pressure on the new couple. But if they make it through the storm, love will just be the icing on the cake because family is the real prize.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3weltfm
Amazon: Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Delighted
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3vLCQSQ
Audible: https://adbl.co/3EO11Ec

Keep reading for a look inside Delighted!

“It was a rough day. I could use a hug, if you don’t mind,” she said, trying to hold back tears. “The oven is going to die soon, and I don’t have the money to fix it, and I’m going to fail.”
His arms came around her, and she breathed him in. He smelled clean and crisp, like a spring wind. Her brain knew it had to be soap, but she associated the smell with him, and it soothed her.
“It’s okay.” He rocked her a little. “I’ve got a friend who is good with appliances. I can ask her to look at it. Don’t worry, Daph. It’s going to be all right. Lou’s good here. I promise. Lou’s good, and you’re going to be okay. I can’t let you go under or Big Tag would get mad at me. He really likes lemon cupcakes.”
They stood there for a moment, his warmth melting some of the ice that had built up over the last several years.
She tilted her head up, and that gorgeous man was staring down at her like he could eat her up, and warm was no longer the word she would use.
Hot. Desire flooded her system like a flash fire, and she wanted nothing more than to go up on her toes and kiss those magnificent lips of his.
Those lips belonged to another woman, and that woman was in the building. What the hell was she thinking? He was a nice man. He didn’t want to kiss her. He was being kind.
She stepped back, wiping her eyes. “Thank you, Boomer. And if you do have someone who can take a look at the oven, I would so appreciate it. You get all the cupcakes. What kind does MaeBe like? Would she be okay with the hugging thing?”
He frowned, like he was trying to figure something out. “I hug Mae a lot. At least I used to. She’s not so huggy these days. She likes anything chocolate.”
Boomer had looked sad when he’d said Mae didn’t hug him much anymore. She hated the thought of this big cuddly god of a man being in a cold relationship, but she wasn’t going to be the reason they broke up.
“Then I will make her something chocolate, and the lemon ones for your boss,” Daphne promised. She had to get these crazy urges under control or she would need to find Lou another place to stay, and she got the feeling Lou would object. “So where is the lounge? Or the gulag. That one kind of scares me.”
“Kala? Oh, that proves you have excellent instincts.” Boomer turned to walk back down the hall.
Those heads were back up above their cubicle walls, and she also noticed the doors to a whole bunch of offices were open.
“Is there a reason everyone is watching us?” She hurried down the hall to catch up with him.
“Because they’re all nosy bastards, and I can’t even complain,” Boomer replied. “I was a nosy bastard, too. We’re a weird family, and everyone is always in everyone else’s business, but it’s not a bad thing. The kind of people who would take advantage get weeded out very quickly around here. Big Tag takes care of them, and there’s usually a lawsuit, but that’s what Mitch is for. Hey, we also have a criminal defense attorney on call. Her name is Lea, and she’s really scary. Now if she had been working the reception desk when we invaded, we might have had trouble.”
She loved listening to him talk. His voice was deep, but every word was tinged with the humor he seemed to have for the world around him. The positive light he exuded was always there in his words.
If only the man weren’t attached…
She shoved aside the thought because he was totally out of her league. They weren’t even playing the same game.
But maybe they could be friends.

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/34UVtdS

About Lexi Blake

New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. Since starting her publishing journey in 2010, she’s sold over three million copies of her books. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings.

Connect with Lexi

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vTyQyb

Facebook: http://bit.ly/339Svf9

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2JGwnBn

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

Website: https://www.lexiblake.net

For More information about 1,001 Dark Nights, visit
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Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

“I’m allowed to like both. The hero and the bad guy.”

What I anticipate the most from a Jessica Peterson romance is the measure by which she chooses to focus on women’s challenges. It’s clear through her storytelling that she’s woman positive in that her romances feature the plight of women in our world. And she treats these issues without a heavy hand, which I appreciate. With her careful storytelling, she weaves these messages into the unfolding drama of her hero and heroine, and it is seamless and thoughtful. 

In her recent release, The Dealmaker, we are treated to the world of banking, specifically buying and trading bonds/stocks. This world, if the cinema suggests, is a “man’s world,” and women struggle to fit themselves into this world. Her heroine, Nora, has moxie. Over time, she has learned to fashion herself into a palatable version of a tradesperson. She has learned to infiltrate this world from the inside out, and she’s ready for a promotion to effect change. On the day she believes she’s going to be promoted, she finds a new employee, Theo, aka The Bull, and she realizes her promotion is in jeopardy. 

Theo has come from Manhattan where he has had great success in the world of banking. With the loss of his father, however, he has left Manhattan and returned home to South Carolina to care for his mother and three sisters. He is also a threat to Nora’s hard-earned promotion. Instantly, they know they are in competition for the same promotion which sets them in opposition to each other. Additionally, they are instantly attracted to each other. 

As the story progresses, they create an issue through their feuding that puts a client relationship at risk. They must fly to Santa Barbara to cater to the client, and they become stranded due to weather with only the availability of one hotel room. It is there where they allow themselves to act on their attraction. When they leave Santa Barbara to return to Charleston a few days later, they are forever changed. However, will they be a temporary situation, or is forever in their sights? Even more, who will earn the promotion: the guy who needs it for his family or the woman who is ready to change the world of banking to make it a more female-positive space?

Jessica Peterson’s The Dealmaker is everything I adore about hate-to-love romances. You have a hero and heroine who are clearly at odds but can’t help but be drawn to each other. Their banter is quick and engaging, and you are drawn to them almost instantly. Nora is sharp, intelligent, and insightful. She’s learned to ‘handle’ the men around her. Theo is decided and caring. His story is interesting in that he lives in this world with a mask, much like Nora. When Nora is able to look past his carefully constructed persona, she finds Theo or Teddy’s gooey center. Through their stories, Peterson underscores the difficulty of families. She points to the want for people to belong somewhere especially when their own family isn’t a safe landing space. 

Even more, through Nora’s characterization, she asks us to consider the ways that women can be excluded in certain industries unless they cater to the toxic masculinity of the workplace. She focuses further on the ways that women feel pressured to perform while pursuing marriage and motherhood. Oftentimes, this includes missing out on “something.” Through these discussions, The Dealmaker becomes an examination of the workplace with an admonishment for needed change. 

I simply adore Jessica Peterson’s romances. They are always spicy, insightful, and compelling. Every turn of the page is a reminder of the way that fiction can challenge our thinking, even within the pages of romance.

In love and romance,

Professor A

FILTHY by Tia Louise is now live!

FILTHY
By Tia Louise

Good girls are saved by princes, but my savior is a monster.

After my father died and my family splintered, I became a target, a pawn in a game I didn’t know I was playing.
Then he appeared–dark, dangerous, tormented, and always just within reach.
He makes me feel something I lost years ago: Safe.
And he thinks he can keep me at arm’s length.

Once upon a time I was a hero, until the sins of my father caught up with me, and I was forced into darkness.
I should’ve died in that fire. Instead, I served evil men, until I risked it all by walking away.
Now I’m a wanted man. At any time, I could be taken down for what I owe.
What I don’t expect to find in my hiding place is her–broken, beautiful, so damn tempting.
I shouldn’t touch her with my filthy hands. I was hired to keep her safe.
But every day it gets harder, then she starts sneaking into my bed.

Together, we’re filthy, but together, we can find our way through the flames.

(FILTHY is a stand-alone, bodyguard, romantic suspense novel. It contains a fierce, wounded alpha-protector and the filthy girl he’s hired to protect… No cheating. No cliffhangers.)

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
https://geni.us/FilthyAm

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3redBHA

Meet Tia Louise

Tia Louise is the USA TODAY best-selling, award-winning author of super-hot and sexy romances. All her heroes are alphas with hearts of gold, and all her heroines are the smart, sassy ladies who love them.
 
Connect with Tia
Website | TiaLouise.com
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Text “TiaLouise” to 64600

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

Louise Bay’s Mr. Notting Hill is a perfect end to her Mister series and an exciting launch for her next series, The Doctors Series. In the other Mister books, Tristan is a playboy and an obsessive security guru. It seems impossible that he could fall in love with anyone. The last man standing, you wonder if he could ever find true love. 

However, Bay deftly crafts a female main character in Parker who challenges him immediately. Their meet-cute is adorable, and it leads to Tristan’s pet name for Parker: Cream Puff. Since this is a marriage of convenience story, Bay is careful to follow the expectations of the trope. As Parker and Tristan grow closer, it obviously complicates their situation. Like her other stories, Bay combines spice, sensitivity, and sass to engage her readers. I love Tristan’s evolution into the love-struck hero at the hands of Parker. 

There are obviously external forces that complicate their journey. In fact, there is a bit of suspense in Mr. Notting Hill, creating another reason to engage more deeply with Tristan and Parker’s story. Add in the other “misters” and their significant others, and Mr. Notting Hill is an effectual and engaging romance. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

I want to tell you that Boomer and Daphne’s story in Lexi Blake’s Delighted is a revelation. It isn’t that it isn’t exciting and everything you love about Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series. Even more, as a 1,001 Dark Nights, it’s a bite-sized bit of fun in this world. Make no mistake. I’m a HUGE fan of Brian “Boomer” Ward. In this book, there is talk about the simplicity of his character, or rather, his mind. However, for anyone who has been reading her Reloaded version of this world, there is nothing truly simple about Boomer. He is a devoted friend and oftentimes the levity in Blake’s stories. 

In Delighted, he’s a savior for Daphne. Not in any way that undermines her own authority or sense of self. Instead, through his care of her daughter, Lou, Boomer’s heroism shines as he’s compassionate and caring for her and Lou, especially as Daphne is served up the ire of her former in-laws. Unlike the other Masters and Mercenaries stories, we aren’t dealing with a huge external threat. There is the promise of it, but the threat is easily managed. Instead, the tension of this book is Daphne’s need for control in a lifetime that has seemed out of control. Boomer is incredibly supportive, but she pushes him away at times out of the fear of losing control. This push and pull doesn’t last long because Boomer’s perseverance and respect for her boundaries regarding Lou win her over. All of this is lovely and makes for an engaging read 

But the true “delight” of Delighted is Lou and the next-gen of the Masters and Mercenaries world. Blake mentions it in her Acknowledgments from the Author at the beginning of this book, but there is a promise of more stories from an engaging group of M&M youth. Lou is incredibly intelligent, having skipped two grades. And she’s different. This has not won over her schoolmates. When she meets the children of the Masters and Mercenaries, like her mother, and the stories prior to Delighted, she finds her found family. That message is strong in this book. It reminds you that, no matter your past or present experiences with your biological family, you can craft your own. We find Lou thriving as she has found her “home.” I finished Delighted with so much excitement and anticipation for future stories, and if you’re a dedicated Lexi Blake fan, I think you will too. Even if you’ve never read her stories, you can jump into Delighted today and find a family of characters.

In love and romance,

Professor A

Release Date: June 7 It’s the most embarrassing night of my life. Not only did I literally run into the hottest guy I’ve ever laid eyes on in a hotel lobby, but the ice-cold water and whipped cream I’m carrying (don’t ask) end up all over me. If that wasn’t enough, that same guy — the hottest one of all time — donates twenty-five thousand pounds during a charity auction… to win a date with me.   Things must be looking up, right? After all, a crazy-gorgeous guy just bid a ton of money on dinner with me. But when I see him sit down right next to my father, I know he’s not interested in me. He just wants to do business with my dad. FML.   I’m determined to make the situation work. If he really wants to impress my father, the handsome stranger can marry me… for three months. It’s all I need to get access to the trust fund so I can fund my charity. Tristan will be able to get what he wants from my dad, and my father will stop hounding me about getting a life. Everyone wins.   Soon it will be over. Until then, I’ve just got to ignore the rock-hard muscles I felt when I ran into him, the look in his eye that tells me he tastes as good as he looks, and the chemistry that sizzles between us whenever we’re together. A feel-good, fake marriage, standalone in the mister series.

Grab Your Copy Here! Meet Louise Bay   USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes sexy, contemporary romance novels – the kind she likes to read. Her books include the novels Faithful (not currently on sale as undergoing maintenance!), Hopeful, The Empire State Series, The Nights Collection, The Royals Collection, and The Gentleman Collection (these are series of stand alone books each following different characters). Louise’s most recent novel is Mr. Mayfair which is available now! Ruined by romantic mini-series of the eighties, Louise loves all things romantic. There’s not enough of it in real life so she disappears into the fictional worlds in books and films.   Louise loves the rain, The West Wing, London, days when she doesn’t have to wear make-up, being on her own, being with friends, elephants and champagne.   She loves to hear from readers so get in touch! Connect with Louise Bay Newsletter | Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub | Goodreads Hosted By:

If they make it through the storm, love will just be the icing on the cake…

Delighted, an all-new spicy and intriguing novella set in the Masters and Mercenaries world from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!

Brian “Boomer” Ward believes in sheltering strays. After all, the men and women of McKay-Taggart made him family when he had none. So when the kid next door needs help one night, he thinks nothing of protecting her until her mom gets home. But when he meets Daphne Carlton, the thoughts hit him hard. She’s stunning and hardworking and obviously in need of someone to put her first. It doesn’t hurt that she’s as sweet as the cupcakes she bakes.

Daphne Carlton’s life revolves around two things—her kid and her business. Daphne’s Delights is her dream—to take the recipes of her childhood and share them with the world. Her daughter, Lou, is the best kid she could have hoped for. Lou’s got a genius-level intelligence and a heart of gold. But she also has two grandparents who control her access to private school and the fortune her father left behind. They’re impossible to please, and Daphne worries that one wrong move on her part could cost her daughter the life she deserves.

As Daphne and Boomer find themselves getting closer, outside forces put pressure on the new couple. But if they make it through the storm, love will just be the icing on the cake because family is the real prize.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon!
Amazon:https://amzn.to/3weltfm
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Delighted
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3vLCQSQ
Audible: https://adbl.co/3EO11Ec

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/34UVtdS

About Lexi Blake
New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. Since starting her publishing journey in 2010, she’s sold over three million copies of her books. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings.

Connect with Lexi
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vTyQyb
Facebook: http://bit.ly/339Svf9
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2JGwnBn
Instagram: http://bit.ly/36oVxOP
Website: https://www.lexiblake.net

For More information about 1,001 Dark Nights, visit
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ONzTtZ
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rTZdo3
Website: https://bit.ly/2AIIr3A
Stay up to date on all 1001 Dark Nights releases, join their mailing list today! https://bit.ly/2zgxaHu

An all-new, outrageously sexy enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy set in the high-stakes world of Wall Street. 

The Dealmaker by Jessica Peterson is now live! 

Hating and dating: I didn’t realize they’re two sides of the same coin until I met him. Theo Morgan.

One of Wall Street’s highest-paid traders, he may be hot as sin in his five-thousand-dollar custom-made suit. But Theo is the bane of my existence. He’s arrogant, rude, and as brash as they come.

As our bank’s newest star hire, he’s also after the same promotion I am. But I didn’t make it this far in a man’s world just to be passed over for an entitled egomaniac. Two can play at this game.

In a surprise to exactly no one, Theo and I butt heads from the beginning–and end up losing my biggest client with a trade gone bad. Our boss’s punishment: fly us to California together to make nice with the client—or else.

When a snowstorm back home leaves us stranded on the West Coast, we learn our hotel is fully booked, save for one room.

And of course that room would have only one king-sized bed. After a little too much wine, our deal to stick to opposite sides of that bed goes out the window. But on the flight home, my resolve to keep things professional remains intact, until Theo offers me a new deal.

The gloves (and clothes) can come off. But the lipstick stays on…

  Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IJ9t8p

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3iJfSpg

Nook: https://bit.ly/38cGRrx

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3IQIesz

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3wMXAvJ

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3IfuSFH

Meet Jessica

Jessica Peterson writes smokin’ hot romance set in her favorite cities around the world. She grew up on a steady diet of Mr. Darcy, Edward Cullen, and Jamie Frasier, and it wasn’t long before she started writing swoon-worthy heroes of her own. She loves strong coffee, stronger heroines, and heroes with hot accents.

She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband Ben and her smelly Goldendoodle, Martha Bean. She’s hard at work on writing her next favorite sex scene. Stay tuned for exciting news on her next release!

Connect with Jessica

Website: https://www.jessicapeterson.com/

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/JessicaPetersonGR

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KoS0sb

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PetersonsPupils/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaPAuthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-peterson

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/JessicaPeterson

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

If you love romantic suspense…if you love documentaries about serial killers…if you are a true crime junkie, run and grab T.K. Leigh’s Temptation series. I finished the final book of the series, Obsession, and it grabbed me from the beginning to the end. Leigh takes Lachlan and Julia through the craziest ride. There was a moment in Obsession when I thought…”again?” What this does is make for a captivating, erotic read, although the sensuality between Lachlan and Julia is shading to the story. Their love is the reason you survive the action of Obsession. Leigh’s strength in this book is the full-circle moments of Julia and Lachlan, allowing her readers to acknowledge their growth from book 1 in this series. 

I will say that I did figure out most of the story. I tend to be an astute reader, and Leigh telegraphed the players a bit. However, the overall story from book 1 to Obsession is pure shock and awe. Will it engage you? Absolutely! Will you yell at Julia’s mistakes? For sure. Will Lachlan and Julia steal your heart? Indeed! The Temptation series is pure entertainment and a must-read for all the true crime devotees. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

I came to J. Saman’s Boston’s Billionaire Bachelors series late in the series. Having begun with book 3, Doctor Heartless, I only have that book and Saman’s newest book, Doctor Playboy, as comparisons. Of the two, I have to say that Doctor Playboy is my favorite, even though grumpy, sullen heroes are my catnip. Even with that as a guiding force in Doctor Heartless, Doctor Playboy does everything right with second chance romance, and I didn’t realize until its end how right Saman was in drawing her story. Let me explain.

Doctor Playboy follows Luca and Raven. Luca is the “playboy” brother of the Abbot-Fritzs. In this story, he comes upon Raven Fairchild one night when he’s feeling desolate over his future. She is the daughter of his father’s best friend and estate manager. Looking like an ethereal creature, he spies her playing cello, and he falls instantly for her. She also happens to be 11 years younger than him. Raven has loved Luca from afar since she was much younger. As they spend more time together, while Luca is healing from an injury, they fall deeply in love. Raven is on the cusp of starting at the London Conservatory, however. And after he has fully healed, Luca is returning to his residency in Minnesota. Is it possible for them to conduct a long-distance relationship? Or will they fall apart in their absence? Luca makes a decision for them that cements their future, or does it?

So here’s why I appreciated Doctor Playboy. I’ve read lots of second chance romances, and one of the things that always frustrates me is how quickly the hero or heroine falls back in love with the partner who spurned them. Now, don’t get me wrong. As I was reading this book, I became frustrated with Raven’s stubbornness in taking Luca back. But I realized towards the book’s ending that I actually appreciated it. While Luca and Raven give in to their physical attraction, Raven stays firm in holding her heart back. This feels realistic to their story, and I appreciate Saman’s insistence on making Luca work towards building his trust with Raven. 

Now, Saman and her PR company tout this story as a forbidden romance as a tertiary trope. The reality of it and one of the other things I appreciated about Doctor Playboy is that Raven and Luca aren’t really forbidden. Their relationship initially is not a secret to the family, and everyone accepts their relationship. I kept waiting for the moment when it would become a familial issue, but it never does. Instead, Saman focuses the entirety of her story on the couple, allowing the natural pitfalls of their career choices and the reconciliation of the relationship to drive her story. The development of the characters and their journey are impeccably drawn because J. Saman avoids the typical categorization of this type of love. It would have reduced Luca and Raven’s journey if she had followed the natural inclination of the forbidden, age-gap trope. 

J. Saman’s Doctor Playboy is an emotional journey about the sacrifice of love. This book feels like a bit Sabrina with a side of spice. If you are a fan of second chance romance, you will enjoy this story. 

In love and romance, 

Professor A