Category: Uncategorized

Mr. Mayfair by Louise Bay

Release Date: October 1st, 2019

Mr. Mayfair, an all new red-hot, Standalone Romance, by Louise Bay is coming October 1st, 2019

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Amazon & Audio live October 1st.

Synopsis:

It should be the most shocking news I’d ever gotten—My boyfriend is getting married.

Okay, technically he’s my ex-boyfriend. Two months ago he decided he wanted a break. I still thought he was my happily ever after.

On any other day, knowing he was gone for good would be the worst thing that could possibly happen.

But not today.

Because not only is my boyfriend getting married—his bride is my best friend.

And they’ve sent me an invitation.

There’s no way I’m going to attend.  I don’t care if it’s in beautiful Scotland.

Nothing and no one could convince me.

Not even when a deliciously handsome stranger tells me he needs to go as my plus one.

Not even when he shoots me a wickedly, sexy smile.

But then he offers me the opportunity of a lifetime—a dream come true. How can I say no?

But I have one condition. He has to be my new boyfriend. I mean, my pretend new boyfriend.

I’m about to find out that faking it can be a whole lot of fun.

“You didn’t have to do that for me,” I tell him.

He scoffs, taking a sip of his beer.

“These are your glory days,” I add. “You should enjoy them. Take full advantage. You shouldn’t be pretending to be annoyed by all this attention all because you’re trying to impress some girl who doesn’t even want to be impressed.”

“Not trying to impress you.”

“Bullshit,” I say, laughing. “You’re a liar.”

“All right.” He nudges his shoulder against mine. “Maybe I am. Just a little.”

“Well it ends here, tonight,” I say.

“Just like that?” he asks. “And just because you say it does?”

“Pretty much.” I stand, stretching my legs. A small shiver works its way through me and from here, the house looks warm and glowing and a million times more inviting than it did before.

Talon rises, towering over me with his eyes locked on mine. “Why do you hate me, Irie?”

“Just because you’re not my type and I don’t want to date you doesn’t mean that I hate you, Talon. I don’t even know you—how can I hate someone I don’t know?”

“How do you know I’m not your type if you won’t take the time to get to know me?” he asks.

Fair enough. “Maybe I don’t know you, but I know enough about you to know you’re not my type.”

“Fuck types.”

“Says the guy who’s fucked half the school.” I fold my arms and glance down. That was a little harsh even if it’s true.

“That’s what you think?” he asks.

I challenge myself to meet his accusatory stare, to own my stance. “I told you earlier … you have a reputation. I’ve heard girls talk about hooking up with you. I’ve heard about the way you treat anyone who so much as thinks they might have a chance with you. Forgive me if I’m trying to steer clear of your warpath.”

“Irie, you are the reason for that warpath,” he says, his tone callous and his jaw flexing.

“So I’m supposed to be flattered? You treat other girls like crap because they’re not me? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“You’re oversimplifying.”

“Am I though?” I angle my head to the side, my mouth twisted as I fight a smirk. Maybe I’m flirting. Maybe I’m also making a point.

Talon is looking at me like he’s two seconds from devouring me—my mouth specifically. His tongue wets his full lips and his left hand tightens at his sides, like he has to refrain from allowing himself to touch me.

There’s a lot of clout standing before me.

An insane amount of restraint.

He’s mere inches from the only thing he wants—the only conquest he can’t have—and it’s physically torturing him.

To wield this kind of control over someone so powerful is a sensation unlike any I’ve experienced before … and in an unexpected turn of events, my nipples harden, my sex tingles, and my lips swell with a curious ache.

In my defense, I’m not normally aroused by torturing people.

In his defense, he’s not normally used to reoccurring rejection.

This is quite the standoff we have going.

🔥🔥 COVER REVEAL 🔥🔥

Check out the HOT cover for DOWNFALL, book 1 in the Kingdoms of Sin series by Willow Aster! Downfall is coming on October 17th!

Cover designed by: Hang Le

Photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography

Model: Alex Clagett

I was naïve to think my marriage to Luka Catano might work.

I was infatuated with him from afar…

Until I met him.

He loved the challenge of his next conquest, anyone would do…

Except me.

A wife was never something he wanted.

Torturous was not a strong enough word to describe how I felt when I was in a room with Luka. Besides hating nearly every word that came out of his mouth, I also drowned with lust every time I looked at him.

At times I thought he might feel the same.

But nothing prepared me for what his family would make me become.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47482027-downfall

Willow Aster is a USA Today Bestselling author and host of Living in the Pages podcast. She lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband, kids, and rescue dog.

Website: www.willowaster.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/willowasterauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WillowAster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowaster1/

Listen to her Living in the Pages podcast:

iTunes: https://bit.ly/2DzM9ZU

Android: http://bit.ly/2Uj5JkZ

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2SJE7bI

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I met Kendall Ryan at Book Bonanza this year. To say I was effusive over meeting her is an understatement. Specifically, I jabbered away about this book, All the Way, with her. I had just finished the ARC of Playing for Keeps and had read the first chapter of this newest book in the Hot Jocks series of standalones. I was colored intrigued by Owen to say the least.

See, in Playing for Keeps, I wasn’t a fan of Owen’s. He represented the prototypical jock: womanizer, too protective of his sister, hyper-focused on his sport, etc. I especially struggled with him because it was clear, in that book, that Becca had “a thing” for Owen, and he seemed blissfully unaware, hopping from woman to woman. Not to mention, I hated that he was too protective of his sister, Elise. I thought he shouldn’t have any say in dating or not dating his best friend, Justin.

But then, Ryan presented the first chapter of All the Way, and I laughed. Like full-on belly laughed at the absurdity of his experience with a drunken Becca. I mean, c’mon…who allows a woman who you’ve seen as only your best friend to touch your “man meat.” And he does it in a way that almost makes him a victim. It’s hilarious, and I told Kendall Ryan at Book Bonanza. She promised me that I was going to love this new romance. That it is one of her favorites, and I’m pretty sure I laughed it off. C’mon….this is Owen. But…she did it. She made me fall in love with him, more than I loved Justin in his book. Even more, she made this book about something bigger than hot hockey players and romance. This is the reason why you need to read All the Way, why it is an important book in the world of romance:

1. Ultimately, Kendall Ryan’s new romance is a book about consent. Period. The reason I fell hard for Owen is his maturity in this book. Becca is a victim of sexual abuse. (Yes…trigger warning). It has been years since she has been intimate with a man, and she’s tired of her fear. She enlists Owen’s help in awakening her $exuality again after her trauma. At first, Owen is reticent, but he is suddenly aware of Becca in ways he had never been before. He decides that he wants to guide her through this journey except that they need to try to maintain their friendship. Owen doesn’t engage in relationships. Through all of this, Owen and Becca negotiate. He is careful with his actions, asking for permission at every turn. He checks in with Becca emotionally as they progress through the development of intimacy. It is intentional throughout the entire story, so much so that Owen shows a level of maturity that he failed to show in Playing for Keeps. And I fell for him: for his ability to protect Becca, for his need for her, and for his compassion. The Owen of this book is NOT the Owen of the first one. Remember that.
2. It is clear Owen’s growth comes about because Becca is the type of woman who allows him to grow. She provides him with opportunities to be a better person. She challenges him, and she allows herself eventually to fall for him. Instinctually, the friendship between Owen and Becca grants them permission to fall in love. Honestly, this book doesn’t dwell too long on their confusion over their feelings for each other like some books do. Ryan crafts it as such that it’s momentary. Instead, this book tells a story of personal growth, while love blooms.

To me, Kendall Ryan is one of the hardest working writers. It seems as though she releases books once a month. What I find impressive about her, especially after reading All the Way, is the way her books are maturing. Just in the first two books of the Hot Jocks series, her storytelling evolved and offered us a lesson: the reminder that people can be more if it’s expected of them. Owen is more than I ever thought he could be after Playing for Keeps, and revelling in their romance was one of the best parts of my weekend. Read All the Way; share it with your spouse or significant other. This should be required reading.

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I am not usually one who reads a series simply for its covers. And I’m not being fair if I said that I’ve read Emma Hart’s “Kiss Me” series of standalones, simply for their covers. #1 – I like Emma Hart’s rom-coms. She does quirk pretty well. #2 – The first book pulled me in with its sassy heroine and reticent hero. Yet, the covers for this series make me incredibly happy. Like, the type of happiness that bubbles up in your soul and has to be released through little shivers and seat dancing, so I was dying to read these books.

That being said, there were aspects of past Hart books that made me a bit cautious for Kiss Me Tonight. Sometimes, the quirk of her characters can overwhelm the story and make it just plain silly. I can appreciate what she’s doing, wanting to make her readers fall in love and swoon over her characters, while busting a gut in laughter. But it sometimes makes the story disjointed. That is NOT the case with Kiss Me Tonight, however. Trust me, there is silliness galore in this book: an underwear-eating chihuahua, a crazy great aunt, pictures of the male anatomy sent accidentally to unsuspecting persons, and a crazy heroine.

But all of that makes this story charming in a way that I didn’t necessarily feel with the first book in this standalone series, Kiss Me Not. Kiss Me Tonight tells the story of Reagan and Noah. Reagan is one of the best friends of Halley (the heroine of the first book) and the sister of Preston, Halley’s boyfriend. One night, someone sends her a picture – of his male anatomy. Being the sarcastic, sassy heroine she is, she replies to him, letting him know that she is not his intended. This leads to an extended texting relationship over the course of the next week. On an evening later in the week, Reagan’s apartment building is burned in a fire, and she has to be rescued from it. The firefighter who rescues her is Noah, the man who sent her the picture. These two are attracted to each other instantly – first through their texting and then through their meeting. As the story progresses, Reagan and Noah’s relationship moves quickly, worrying her that everything is happening too soon. Will Reagan and Noah settle, or will they grow apart?

This book came at just the right time for me. I had been reading a lot of books that were dealing with heavy subjects such as $ex trafficking, addiction, etc. With those types of subjects, the books are dealing in angst. When you read heavy subjects consecutively, you forget about the fun of romance. Your soul becomes heavy even with an HEA at the end. Hart’s romance, however, is a reminder of what I love about rom-com. Yes, she offers up some moments when you worry over Noah and Reagan’s commitment. But this is never long. This book is feel-good from beginning to the end.

Together, Reagan and Noah along with Reagan’s crazy family and friends serve up the laughs. Kiss Me Tonight is equal parts humor, romance, and steam. It’s a perfect reminder that romance comes in many forms. That if you don’t like one, there is something for you to fall in love with.

And this is what I know. Emma Hart and the Kiss Me series make me laugh. I am absolutely looking forward to Ava’s story, Kiss Me Again, because I trust that Hart can tickle my funny bone and make me swoon one page a time.

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Okay. Confession. This is only the second book I’ve read of Stacey Lynn’s with the first book being the 3rd book of her Rough Riders series of standalones, Wicked Player. I know with that book I appreciated the storyline of the stoic Gage and his need to release pain along with Elizabeth’s need to use pain to move her out of her head. On some level, I connected with them. I know that I downloaded the first two books in this series, but I haven’t had an opportunity to read them yet (reading and reviewing takes up a bit of time), but know that I intend to read them because Stacey Lynn is swiftly becoming a favorite of mine. To be honest, it’s mostly come about with Cocky Player, her newest book.

The story goes that Brenna is a virgin and wants to lose her innocence to a stranger. She’s tired of “carrying” it on her like a driver’s license, and she wants to lose it to a stranger so there are no attachments. She goes with her roommate to a bar one night, intent on achieving this, and she meets Connor at the bar. Ready to give her virginity to him, at the last minute, the moment is ruined, and she runs away from him. Confused and unable to get Brenna out of his mind, he goes about his business until, a few days later, he finds that Brenna is the daughter of his team’s owner. See, Connor is the starting running back for the Raleigh Rough Riders. Angry, he approaches her, thinking she is “playing” him, the consummate playboy. However, there is something darker about Brenna. Connor recognizes something in her; he’s drawn to her. He decides he wants to be her “teacher” because the thought of her with anyone else unnerves him. And so their relationship begins, but it is fraught with something Brenna hasn’t revealed and Connor doesn’t know, causing a challenge that could keep them apart forever.

A little tidbit about me as a reader of romance…I love bad boys. You know the ones? The playboys, the heroes who are surly and full of themselves. They are some of my favorite heroes because they fall hard for the heroine of their stories. Even more, we often find that they are hiding behind that facade, and they usually believe they aren’t “good enough” for her. But deep down, these men are loyal, caring, compassionate, and they have HUGE hearts that even they don’t know they have. If you are like me, and you love this type of hero, then you NEED to read this book. Because this is Connor.

You should know that he is going to give you whiplash at the beginning of this story. One minute he wants to be with Brenna and the next he can’t. It will drive you crazy, confuse you, make you yell at your book. Then, that moment of recognition happens, and you will fall deeply for this guy. I know I did. Lynn crafts him to be this handsome, hot, seemingly cranky running back, and you’ll love his outside. But then, she offers up his heart, and you’ll be done. Stick a fork in ya’ done.

Now, as you know, to change a hero like Connor, you need a strong heroine. Brenna is that type of heroine, but Lynn has given her a very soft, naive, innocent exterior. You won’t understand the depth of her strength until you hear her story. In that moment, your heart will ache, and you will understand Connor’s connection to her. That is really the essence of Cocky Player, their connection. This is soulmate-level stuff. From. The. Very. Start. Kismet. Karma. Kindred.

Yes, there is a general story of Connor finding his way and Brenna finding her space in her family, but the depth of this book lies in their coupling. This is true contemporary romance, and it’s grounded in the building of Connor and Brenna’s relationship.

If you love some angst with a side of hot, then Stacey Lynn’s Cocky Player is definitely your book. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew from a few chapters in that this book would have my heart more so than Wicked Player. I didn’t expect that. This romance has everything you love to read: hot, cocky football player with a heart of gold, a easy temptress of a heroine, lots and lots of steam, and some angst to keep you grounded.

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you were to go back and look at all my Stark Security novel reviews, you’d probably see that I’ve rated them 4 to 4 1/2 stars. I’ve loved them all, partly because, as I’ve noted in other reviews, they are like “going home,” back to Stark and his right hand man, Ryan Hunter. I am a sucker for what I call “extended universe” series. To a certain degree, it make you seem like you’re watching a Marvel movie in the MCU with all of its interconnectedness. That’s a J. Kenner Stark book. And this series, doesn’t just give us access to the characters of her universe, she also creates romantic suspense that drives your reading forward. J. Kenner’s newest book, Ruined with You, does this well.

I have to admit that I went into this book with a preconceived notion based on the last book in the series, Broken with You. It seemed as though Liam, one of the main security folk, might find love with the singer he’s tasked to protect. In hindsight, Kenner doesn’t really allude to it, but it seemed rational for his story. Boy, was I wrong. Yes, Ellie Love, the singer that Liam is tasked to protect, figures dramatically into this story, but she isn’t his love interest; his love interest is Xena Morgan, Ellie Love’s personal assistant. And there are three things clear from the start of the story: (1) she isn’t who she seems to be, (2) Liam and Xena are drawn deeply to each other, and (3) Liam and Xena are going to fight their attraction to the end. With a set up like that, you know that angst is on the menu with this book. And Kenner delivers. There is a reason that out of the four books thus far, this is my first 5 star review. Here goes:

1. The story. This is a heart-wrenching one, folks. I am not going to share Xena’s secret. It’s one of the best parts of the book as she tells her story. Just know it will break your heart.
2. Liam and Xena’s chemistry flies off the page. I’m not spoiling this terribly by telling you this, but know that they act on that chemistry earlier in the book than you expect. It’s the “feelings” part of a relationship that takes the entire book for them to reconcile.
3. This is, once again, romantic suspense. Liam and Xena, along with the other security force, are going after some bad guys, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, literally and figuratively.
4. Everyone is here, even Damian and Nikki at the end. But we get more information on the other couplings we’ve read about in the other Stark Security series. We also get more Dallas and Jane. This book figures in nicely to the Kenner Stark universe.
5. Liam. I love him in this book, especially when Xena’s story is revealed. He’s compassionate and caring, albeit incredibly stubborn. For the most part, you’ll love him, but he will also frustrate you. He fights his connection with Xena more than she fights against his.
6. The message. This book is an important one because it’s difficult to love yourself, to accept yourself, after you’ve endured trauma. Yet, Kenner helps her readers see that, with love, you can fully accept yourself as you are. It’s the message that won me over to the additional star for this book. For me, Xena’s story, along with Liam’s background, push this over the edge of “better” than the other books.

If you are a J. Kenner fan, then this book will remind you why you love her Stark series so much. Ruined with You is an important story about self-love and acceptance, but also allowing yourself to love after trauma. Kenner has a way with bringing you into her world and leaving behind a little bit of you in the midst of her stories.

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There is this strange dichotomy with Sierra Simone’s writing voice. In her series books, whether it’s the New Camelot Trilogy or her newest offering, The Thornchapel series, there is an academic nature to them, something that is almost didactic. Implicitly, she’s teaching us about some social construct that’s meant to challenge and titillate us. Many have commented on her newest series, The Thornchapel Series, that they need a dictionary while reading her book, which is oftentimes true. But she challenges us with a voice that is heavy in its language and style.

Something else is manifested in her Misadventures books. Whether you’ve read Misadventures with a Professor or the menage Misadventures of a Curvy Girl, she is still didactic, she is still trying to point us to a lesson of sorts, but that writing voice is less academic and more common. And it’s intriguing, at least to this writing instructor.

I love her Misadventures books. Yes. I’ve read them all. But her newest story, Misadventures in Blue, has a message that sits more heavily with this reviewer. This story involves Jace and Cat. Cat is a distinguished detective whose case is puzzling. The book begins with a crime scene of which Jace is the first responder. He is attentive and thoughtful in his work, and he calls it in to supervisor because he believes it affects Cat’s investigation. At this point, he has never met her, but her reputation precedes her: she has been deemed the “ice queen” for her stoicism in the face of trauma and on the job. On meeting her, Jace and Cat feel a strong chemistry, and this book tells the story of their journey to each other. It’s complicated and angst-ridden because Cat is thirteen years older than Jace, and she has already lost the love of her life in front of her own eyes. These are complications to them finding their happily ever after.

So, I said that this Misadventures book connected with me the most because this is a romance about vulnerability. Cat is the epitome of strength. She’s a “ball-buster” for lack of a better term, and she holds her place against any man on the job. She’s intelligent, intuitive, and intentional. It’s what makes her the best. And she is the best. However, it also keeps a wall built around her heart. When a woman has to gird her heart against tragedy and compete with men, she oftentimes loses her ability to be vulnerable. Relationships require vulnerability, and therein lies Cat’s issues within the story. In order to accept Jace, she has to break down her walls and allow him into her heart. A woman with strength struggles with that because it feels cataclysmic. It feels broken, and Simone does a beautiful job of creating this in Cat’s character.

Along with the characterization of Cat, she offers us Jace. This is the second older woman/younger man book I’ve read in the past few months, the first being Vi Keeland’s All Grown Up. What that book has as well as this one is a hero who, quite frankly, is more emotionally mature than the older heroine. It is revealed early on that Jace is an “old soul,” that he has served in the military. We recognize easily that he is not like his rookie colleagues. And in that recognition, we notice that Jace is the very man for Cat. He is not only handsome and her best partner in the bedroom; he’s intelligent and intuitive like her. Jace is the ONLY man who can help Cat be the best version of herself, and Simone uses their relationship to remind us that allowing one’s self to be vulnerable offers up the ability to be loved fully and to fully love one’s self.

This is one of those books that you eat in one big sitting. Jace and Cat’s chemistry, the romantic suspense of the story, and Simone’s lesson about learning to be vulnerable and open make this book a delicious midnight snack. Yes, it can be read in small bites, but I challenge anyone to try and put this book down once you start. Misadventures in Blue is a heady portion of steaminess, steadiness, and story.

In love and romance,

Professor A

✮ ✮ ✮ NOW AVAILABLE IN AUDIO ✮ ✮ ✮

“I dare you to put it down once you start!” – Rita® Award winning author Kennedy Ryan

Narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Lucy Rivers, The Sun and Her Star, an emotional friends to lovers romance from Dylan Allen is now available in audio! 

Listen today! 

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If envy is a sin, then let me be damned.

Graham was born to be a star.  

Once upon a time, that star shone only for me.  

Now, I have to share him with the rest of the world. 

For a while, I thought I could do it. Because, beneath the hypnotic smile, gorgeous body and God-given charm that made him famous, I still caught glimpses of my best friend.

Of the boy who called me sunshine and loved me. 

I wore that love like a crown . . . until he placed it on another’s head. 

Losing him was agony, distance felt like the only cure.  

When tragedy reunites us after years apart, it only takes one touch to erase the past. Just like that, I’m back in his arms. 

He promises this time will be different. But I’m afraid to believe him. 

Because behind his star’s blinding brilliance is a darkness that doesn’t want to let him go. 

I know a star that bright can’t belong to just one person, but my jealous heart doesn’t want to share him.

I want all of him . . . even if wanting what doesn’t belong to me leads me to ruin.

Possessive. Passionate. Powerful. 

Three commanding men and the women who tame them in three, full length standalone novels by CD Reiss.  

Fall in love with Dirty Tycoons at the special pre-order price of only $2.99!

The Dirty Tycoons bundle, from New York Times bestselling author CD Reiss is coming September 27th! 

Pre-order you copy today for $2.99! 

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KING OF CODE

Taylor Harden’s on the edge of fame and untold wealth, until a hacker freezes his company and holds it hostage.

Life as he know it is ruined unless he find out what he wants…or what she wants.

Harper doesn’t want much from Taylor.

All he has to do to get his company back is teach her how to please a man. 

Step by step, and for every step she’ll unlock a piece of his system.

They hate each other. They can’t keep away from each other. They’re decoding each other with every step, until all Harper’s secrets are revealed, and Taylor risks losing his heart as well as his dreams.

PRINCE CHARMING

Keaton Bridge is 100 percent bad boy.

Cassie doesn’t need a boy and certainly not a bad one. Nope. She fights crime for a living, and everything about this guy screams trouble, from his charming British accent to his mysterious past. And Cassie doesn’t do trouble.

Keaton’s got his own trouble. He’s trying to disappear, but all it took was one night of passion to sear Cassie into his skin. Now he can’t imagine living happily ever after without her.

All they have to do is walk away. But neither of them ever walks away from a challenge.

WHITE KNIGHT

Catherine Barrington was a rich girl. Chris Cartwright was 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.

—–

Three full length, standalone romances with hot, passionate, possessive men and the women who tame them.

Available individually in audiobook.