Category: Uncategorized

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

In a word, the newest anthology, Rake I’d Like to F…, is titillating (beyond measure.) It would be easy to call it “smutty;” in doing so, however, it would be reductive. Each of the talented authors in this anthology has brought the steam factor, ratcheting it up to a 5. However, infused in their $exy historical tales are messages about autonomy, diversity, and power dynamics. It would be easy to focus solely on the eroticism of this new book, but you would miss out on the endeavors of this anthology and its predecessor to infuse equity into the historical fiction genre. So what should you expect with the stories of Rake I’d Like to F…?

“The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hill” by Sierra Simone

As always, Simone has crafted an elegant, beautifully wrought story infused with erotic romance. This is an MM romance between a highwayman bent on revenge and a $exually adventurous, seemingly irresponsible brother of a duke, the rake of this story. Peregrine and Sandy steam up the pages, while also stealing your heart.

“Two Rakes for Mrs. Sparkwell” by Eva Leigh

What is not to love about a MFM story! Especially one set in 1700s London. Vivian Sparkwell is determined to control her future. A widow hoping to tarnish her reputation so that she can live a solitary, comfortable life, she asks Rushton Cantley, renowned rake, to ruin her so she cannot be married again. Ruston is intrigued with her and agrees to it, not realizing that she will steal his heart. Rush’s friend, Jack, is also beguiled by Vivian’s kindness and empathy, and they realize that they are a perfect throuple. Unfortunately, Rush is so good at his intrigue, and Vivian falls so easily under his spell that her reputation becomes too tarnished for them to continue as a threesome. However, this is romance, and they find a way in the end. This story challenges the lack of authority women had over their lives during this time, and Vivian’s characterization decidedly challenges that societal norm. What should be wholly erotic becomes a treatise on autonomy. 

“A Rake, His Patron, & The Muse” by Nicola Davidson

This story is all MMF. Unlike “Two Rakes…” and the other stories in this anthology, “A Rake, His Patron & The Muse” is just plain fun. This is the smut of Rake I’d Like to F… Every turn of the page of this story draws you into an erotic world that leaves everyone satiated in the end…including the reader. 

“Monsieur X” by Adriana Herrera

Monsieur X is probably my favorite story of this anthology. It’s a MM story with its own batch of eroticism. However, there is a sensitivity to the characterizations here. Of the 5 stories, the rakishness of this story is the most innocuous. Instead, the main POV, Cantor, is a man looking for more without the hope of it. Given the danger of a same-sex relationship at this time, he only allows himself dalliances at a $ex club. When he meets X at the club, though, he craves more. For me, the depth of characterization, the insistence on diverse characters, and the overall story grabbed my heart from its beginning. 

“Sold to the Duke” by Joann Shupe

Sold to the Duke is my second favorite story of the five. It’s an MF story. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed every story in this anthology. They are well-written and exhilarating in their articulation. However, “Sold to the Duke” underscores the lack of authority of a woman with a noble background. The heroine of the story, Eliza, has been forced to sell herself in order to care for her sister. Having lost her family and the title associated with it, she has fought to mete out a life for her sister without the assistance of friends or extended family. When her autonomy becomes threatened by the friend of her brother who buys her at auction, she continues to fight to maintain her choice and independence. This fight is an important one, and I loved reading it in the pages of Shupe’s story. 

Sometimes, you read an anthology and most of the stories are great, but there might be one or two that could be stronger. Across the board, Rake I’d Like to F… is well-written, intentional, and the perfect way to while away a weekend. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Kristen Ashley’s Dream Keeper, book 4 of her Dream Team series, is everything I love about a KA story. Her stream-of-consciousness delivery coupled with the delightful characterization of Pepper and Auggie captivates the reader. Once I started Dream Keeper, thinking I would savor it, I couldn’t stop reading it. Here are some of my general thoughts on the newest story in her arsenal of epic books:

1. Juno, Pepper’s daughter, steals the book. Without spoiling anything, she has her own space in Dream Keeper, and she creates an unlikely relationship with another character that adds depth to Pepper and Auggie’s story. 
2. Of the Dream Men, I think Auggie is the most unassuming hero. He’s just naturally a good guy with commando tendencies. He’s the most innocuous of the bunch. After Pepper figures herself out and Auggie is granted access to her, he is swoony delishness. 
3. Pepper, like her Dream Team counterparts, is a touch-as-nails chick. She’s endured a stinker of an ex- which has made her reticent to enter relationships. It takes a portion of the first part of Dream Keeper to accept her attraction to Auggie. While it’s frustrating for the reader that she doesn’t go “all in” with him immediately, her reasons are sound, and you can’t help but respect her. Her evolution is pure Rock Chick/Dream Team personified, and she and Auggie are magic. 
4. Kristen Ashley throws some new wrenches into the ointment of the Dream Team series. There are new twists in this book and some new characters that I suspect will have future stories. This felt like a curveball of sorts which is the reason for my 4-star rating. For this reader, it seemed like a ploy to extend this world. Not that I don’t like KA’s universe, I do. It felt, however, as though this book should have wrapped up the suspense portion of this series. It doesn’t. Instead, there is more waiting to be had, more threads to unravel. 
5. There aren’t as many Rock Chick sightings in this book. We are dealing mostly with the Dream Teamers and their men. Pepper and Auggie’s stories are definitely enough without the intercession of the Rock Chicks and their guys. 

Dream Keeper is everything I had hoped it would be. I had no idea the direction of Ashley’s Dream Team series, and now I see she has more in store for her readers. That means…buckle up, KA fans, there is definitely more to come in this world. 

In love and romance,

Professor A

“Kristen Ashley captivates.”―Publishers Weekly

Dream Keeper, the all new addictive and steamy contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley, is available now!

Spinning off from the bestselling Dream Man and Rock Chick series, this is the emotional and steamy contemporary romance fans of the Dream Team series have been waiting for!

He’s perfect—but he can’t be hers.

Pepper Hannigan is determined to keep any romance off the table—and out of her bedroom—while her daughter Juno is still young. Sure, a certain handsome commando is thoughtful, funny, and undeniably hot, but Pepper’s had her heart broken before, and she won’t let it happen again. Not to her or her little girl, even if this hero could melt any woman’s resolve.

Augustus “Auggie” Hero can’t deny his attraction to beautiful, warm-hearted Pepper or how much he wants to make a home with her and her little girl, but Pepper’s mixed signals have kept him away. That is, until Juno decides to play matchmaker. Her efforts finally bring Pepper into his arms, but they expose the danger Pepper is in. To protect Pepper and Juno, Auggie will have to live up to his last name and prove happy endings aren’t just for fairy tales.

Meet Pepper and Auggie today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w5xEHH
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DreamKeeper
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3qvIKEC
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3x6txfL
Nook: https://bit.ly/3AaghbN
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2TegiuI
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3y4yExe
Barnes & Noble Paperback: https://bit.ly/3y299wn

Start to the Dream Team series today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ic6Pyp
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DreamMaker
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3vKO1dl
Nook: https://bit.ly/2S14b3I
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2SNvFcW
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3wRzigG

About Kristen Ashley
Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland, The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil and Honey series along with several standalone novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over three million books.
Kristen’s novel, Law Man, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award for best Romantic Suspense. Her independently published title Hold On was nominated for RT Book Reviews best Independent Contemporary Romance and her traditionally published title Breathe was nominated for best Contemporary Romance. Kristen’s titles Motorcycle Man, The Will, Ride Steady (which won the Reader’s Choice award from Romance Reviews) and The Hookup all made the final rounds for Goodreads Choice Awards in the Romance category.

Connect with Kristen
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FyJg18
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3hl0A7e
Instagram: https://bit.ly/33o8nfv
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ZtoKGz
BookBub: https://bit.ly/3bYcTFl
Twitter: https://bit.ly/35Kg6rh
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3mftcCt
Website: https://www.kristenashley.net
Stay up to date by subscribing to her mailing list: https://bit.ly/3mjJiLd

RAKE I’D LIKE TO F…

Release Date: November 30th

The follow-up to 2020’s USA Today bestselling Duke I’d Like to F…, this anthology is bursting with wicked rakes, searing romance, and a swoon-to-spice ratio guaranteed to make your pulse pound!

Authors:

Nicola Davidson

Adriana Herrera

Eva Leigh

Joanna Shupe

Sierra Simone

AVAILABLE NOW!!!

Amazon: amzn.to/3zL1jbp

Amazon INTL: mybook.to/RakeIdLikeToF

Apple: bit.ly/AppleRILF

Nook: https: bit.ly/NookRILF

Kobo: https: bit.ly/KoboRILF

Google Play: bit.ly/GoogleRILF

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58657455-rake-i-d-like-to-f

Blurb:

He’s a legend in the raking…

The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hind – Sierra Simone

Peregrine Hind, known to all as the bloodiest highwayman ever to bedevil the road, seeks only one thing—revenge against the Dartham family. And so when a robbery sends the second Dartham son and notorious rakehell Alexander Dartham tumbling to Peregrine’s feet, it seems like fate has given Peregrine his vengeance at last. Except then Alexander offers him a desperate bargain: to kidnap him instead, so Peregrine can harvest a generous ransom from Alexander’s family first. Peregrine agrees, but he’s in no way prepared for a captive like Alexander, who insists only on the softest beds and the finest wines…and who enjoys being tied up a little too much…

Two Rakes for Mrs. Sparkwell – Eva Leigh

The last thing Mrs. Vivian Sparkwell wants is to tie her life to another stifling husband. But thanks to the surprise terms of her last marriage contract, if she refuses any reasonable offer to wed again, she loses her widow’s portion. What she needs is a thorough and public ruining to make her would-be suitors cry off. Who better to provide the necessary scandal than notorious rake Rushton Cantley? Yet when Rush proposes that his friend, gaming hell bruiser Jack Morgan, join in on the ruination, Vivian can’t decide if she’s shocked—or aroused. How far is too far when infamy is on the line?

A Rake, His Patron, & Their Muse – Nicola Davidson

London playwright and notorious rake Lennox Townsend is renowned for bold melodrama and bolder pleasures. When he loses interest in both, his shy yet devoted patron Lord Jonathan Grant escorts him to a country boarding house managed by repressed widow, Mrs. Viola Prescott. The trio soon surrender to sizzling—and forbidden—passion, made sweeter as each share their deepest secrets and find acceptance of their true self. Yet cold reality is ever ready to intrude, and they know happiness is fleeting. Or is it?

Monsieur X – Adriana Herrera

Joseph Cantor Marshall never imagined reaching the pinnacle of artistic success would be so… uninspiring. Desperate for a spark of excitement he attends the notorious masked soirée at the most exclusive sex club in Paris. The moment he walks in he’s entranced by the mysterious X, the embodiment of the painter’s darkest fantasies. But X is as slippery as he is tempting, and soon Marshall’s days and nights are consumed by growing desire for his elusive lover. Will falling for X prove to be Marshall’s undoing or his greatest masterpiece?

Sold to the Duke – Joanna Shupe

Though she once lived a life of privilege, Lady Eliza is now destitute and desperate to care for her ill sister. She decides to sell the one thing of value she has left: her virginity. At the auction, a shocked Duke of Blackwood recognizes Eliza and refuses to allow her to fall into the clutches of a depraved bidder. But his role of noble rescuer is upended when the proud beauty insists on giving him his money’s worth…

Gilded Love: The Complete Boxed Set
by Kilby Blades is now live!

Money can buy them anything. Happiness might take a little work.
They’re young, they’re hot, they’re filthy rich, and they’re using their power to change the world. From finding love to fighting the establishment, they’ll do it. On their terms.

Snapdragon
The rules are simple: unattached companionship, toe-curling sex, and a clean break whenever it ends. And either one can say the single word to end it: Snapdragon.

Chrysalis
When taking a promotion in Sydney proves to be the biggest mistake of his life, Michael must go to extremes to win Darby back. But how will he fight for their love and protect her from her crooked politician father from half a world away?

Vertical
Jasmine is in desperate need of extraction from a high-end human trafficking bust gone wrong, one she never should have taken on alone. But there’s only one man who can help her: Avi. And she left him at the altar six months ago.

Loaded: A Holiday Romance
When his grandmother summons him to an urgent family dinner, Marsh is forced to do the one thing he’s been avoiding: bring his woke Black girlfriend home to his stuffy old money family. With forced proximity and alcohol, what could possibly go wrong?

Sleigh My Name
Michael never forgave himself for the time he broke Darby’s heart, no matter how fast he’d fixed his stupid decision to move away. Five years later, he has a shot at orchestrating a do-over of one fateful night. At the Jingle Ball, he’ll pull off his grandest gesture yet.

Download today!
Amazon: http://mybook.to/gildedlove
Apple Books: coming soon
Nook: https://bit.ly/2YWAswd
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3cn7vg6
Google Play: https://bit.ly/30FH2Z4

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3286rLf

Listen to the audiobooks today!
Snapdragon (Narrated by Erin Mallon): https://bit.ly/snapdragon-audible
Chrysalis (Narrated by Sebastian York): https://bit.ly/chrysalis-audible
Vertical (Narrated by Jacob Morgan + Nicole Small): https://bit.ly/vertical-audible
Loaded (Narrated by Tim Paige and Nicole Lewis): https://bit.ly/loaded-audible

Meet Kilby Blades

Kilby Blades is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and rom-com with a little bit of mystery and a lot of heart. Her debut novel, “Snapdragon”, was a HOLT Medallion finalist, a Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize Semi-Finalist, and an IPPY Award medalist. She’s been lauded by critics for “easing feminism and equality into her novels” (IndieReader) and “writing characters who complement each other like a fine wine does a good meal” (Publisher’s Weekly). She’s an oenophile, a cinephile and, most of all, a glutton for a good story. 

Connect with Kilby
Website | http://www.kilbyblades.com
Goodreads | http://goodreads.com/kilbyblades
Amazon | https://www.amazon.com/Kilby-Blades/e/B01N4770M0
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/kilbybladesauthor
Facebook Group | https://www.facebook.com/groups/kilbyskorner
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/kilbyblades/
Twitter | https://twitter.com/kilbyblades
Bookbub | https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kilby-blades
Pinterest | https://pinterest.com/kilbyblades
Verve Romance (formerly Book + Main) | https://ververomance.com/app/kilbyblades
Newsletter | https://www.kilbyblades.com/readersubscribe

My new neighbor is a firefighter—and a scorching hot single dad—but I swear I didn’t set off that smoke alarm on purpose.

Ignite, an all-new smoking hot, single dad romantic comedy from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is available now!

Read my 4.5 ⭐️ review HERE.

My new neighbor is a firefighter—and a scorching hot single dad—but I swear I didn’t set off that smoke alarm on purpose.

(And I was beyond mortified when he rushed in and saw me naked.)

Nothing happened, of course—because I, Winnie MacAllister, romance junkie and owner of a constantly broken heart, have sworn off men for one solid year.

Even protective men with chiseled jaws, bulging biceps, and deep brown eyes that make my breath come faster. Even former SEALs with broad chests and strong hands that make my skin sizzle. Even gorgeous, grumpy guys who have their hands full raising two adorable little girls and claim they don’t believe in love.

Until Dex kisses me one night, and I drop all my defenses.

(Also my underwear.)

He says he’s not gentle, and he’s right. He says I should take the dream job I’m offered in another state, and he’s right. He says he’s too old for me and could never be the man I deserve.

He’s wrong.

Dex and I might be twelve years apart, but the fire between us is the kind that will never burn out.

How can I convince him to give happily-ever-after with me a chance?

Fall in love with Winnie and Dex for ZERO PENNIES in Kindle Unlimited today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kePkO0
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/IgniteHarlow

Audio Coming Soon, narrated by Stephen Dexter & Kirsten Leigh

Excerpt

She looked a little nervous, not that I blamed her, as she held out a small pink box of Band-Aids. “I had these lying around and thought Luna might want them for her knee. Band-Aids sometimes come off in the shower, so . . .” 

I reached out and took them from her, noticing she was careful not to let our fingers touch this time. “Thanks.” 

“That’s it—I just wanted to—um, okay, have a good night.” She turned to leave, and I probably should have let her.

“Wait a second.” 

She faced me again, her expression still wary. 

“I’m sorry about that.” I gestured over my shoulder with the pink box. “My ex-wife—the girls’ mom—knows how to get a rise out of me.” 

“Oh, that’s okay. It’s none of my business, and I didn’t really hear anything.” It was obvious she’d heard everything. 

I nodded slowly. “Well, thanks for the Band-Aids. Luna will appreciate it.”

 Her smile was back, along with that stutter in my chest. “Good. Enjoy your night.” 

“You too.” 

She turned around and went down the steps, cutting across the lawn to her place with that same youthful bounce in her step. Glancing down at the box, I shook my head—of course she had a whole thing of pink princess Band-Aids. I shut the door and trudged up the stairs to get the kids cleaned up. 

Hallie went first, after a brief attempt to get me to let her wear socks in the shower. As usual, I refused, explaining again that the entire house had been thoroughly cleaned before we moved in, and I’d been here yesterday to make sure of it. 

While she was getting dressed, I made sure Luna washed her hair and used soap, then helped her get dried off. After hanging up their towels, I double-checked that they’d chosen appropriate clothing and was just about to get in my own shower when I heard a series of high-pitched beeps. 

“What’s that?” Hallie said, scrunching up her face. 

Instantly on high alert, I put my hand up. “Shh.” I heard it again, and recognized it as a smoke detector going off, but not in our house—we were hearing it through the walls. “Stay here.” 

I raced out of their room and took the stairs down three at a time, jumping to the bottom with five to go. Barreling out my front door, I ran over to Winnie’s and knocked. The alarm was clearly coming from inside her unit, and when she didn’t answer the door, I made a split-second decision to bust in. 

Fortunately, the door wasn’t locked. 

I shouldered it open, relieved when I didn’t see or smell smoke right away. Winnie’s townhouse was laid out exactly like mine, and I immediately realized the detector going off was upstairs. Racing up the steps three at a time, I reached the master bedroom doorway just in time to see Winnie climbing onto a suitcase, one hand reaching toward the ceiling to disconnect the unit. 

My jaw dropped. 

She was totally naked and dripping wet.

One hand was clutching a small towel to her chest that didn’t fucking hide anything . Behind her, steam from her shower billowed from her bathroom, which must have been what set off the alarm—some detectors are that sensitive. Behind me, I heard clamoring on the stairs, and a second later both Hallie and Luna rushed into the bedroom. 

Startled, Winnie looked over and saw us. Her eyes went wide as she screamed, lost her footing, and toppled backward off the suitcase. She landed hard on her ass, arms and legs flailing like a rag doll. 

Averting my eyes, I strode over and disconnected the unit while she scrambled toward the bathroom on her hands and knees, presumably in search of a bigger towel. 

But then she slammed the door . . . and didn’t come out. 

The eighty-five decibel alarm had ceased, but the sirens in my head continued.

I looked at the girls. Luna had her hands over her mouth. Hallie’s eyes were wide, and she pointed to the bathroom door. “Winnie was naked,” she whispered. “We saw her bum.” 

“Quiet,” I scolded angrily. “You two were supposed to stay at our house. You didn’t follow my orders.” 

“But Daddy, we were scared,” Luna said. Her hair was still wet and tangled. “We came to find you.”

“We’ll talk about it later, but when I tell you to stay put, you stay put-especially in an emergency. Understand?” 

They nodded. 

“Now go back to our house, both of you.”

“But what about Winnie? Is she okay?”

I went over to the bathroom door and knocked, trying not to picture her naked. The shower wasn’t running anymore. “Winnie? Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine!” 

“Are you hurt?”

 “I’m fine!” she repeated in the same false, bright tone.

A tiny smile inched onto my lips. “Are you sure?”

About Melanie Harlow
USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like Ted, Lasso, Schitt’s Creek, and Fleabag. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.

Melanie is the author of the BELLAMY CREEK series, the CLOVERLEIGH FARMS series, the ONE & ONLY series, AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, and the FRENCHED series. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

Connect with Melanie
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2RPwr51
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NPkYKs
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/36kL7yB
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2NW3UtA
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2sVOz55
Facebook Reader Group: https://bit.ly/3mYzBBo
Stay up to date, sign up for Melanie’s mailing list: http://bit.ly/2P7MATT
Website: http://www.melanieharlow.com

Darling Venom, an all-new dark and angst-filled romance from Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Parker S. Huntington is coming December 11th and we have the first look at the stunning cover!

My first love ended in tragedy.
My second began with his brother.

From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Parker S. Huntington comes an angsty, broken love story.

I wasn’t supposed to be on that roof on Valentine’s Day.
Neither was Kellan Marchetti, the school’s designated freak.

We met on the verge of ending our lives.
Somehow, the tattered strings of our tragedies tangled and tightened into an unlikely bond.

We decided not to take the plunge and agreed to check on each other every Valentine’s Day until school ended.
Same time.
One roof.
Two restless souls.

We kept our promise for three years.
On the fourth, Kellan made a decision, and I was left to deal with the consequences.
Just when I thought our story ended, another one began.

They say all love stories look the same and taste different.
Mine was venomous, disgraceful, and written in scarlet scars.
My name is Charlotte Richards, but you can call me Venom.

Reserve your copy today!
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3Cm1afm
Barnes and Noble Hardcover: https://bit.ly/3kEFKnW

About Parker S. Huntington
Parker S. Huntington is a USA Today bestselling author from Orange County, California. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside and a Master’s in Liberal Arts in Literature and Creative Writing from Harvard University.

Connect with Parker
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2rn7GE8
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2QUgnQX
Twitter: http://bit.ly/36bwnlH
Amazon: https://amzn.to/37PI9nI
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2QTGc3y
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2sVupYy
Website: http://bit.ly/2OXVX8e

It’s the season for gift giving!

Five FREE standalone holiday short stories!

 

Hot Item by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

Getting into a fight with a sexy stranger over the last hot toy on the shelf was not the way I intended to spend Christmas Eve. And I certainly didn’t plan on spending hours more trying to win a contest to decide who would get to buy it. But when our time is up, would the toy be the only hot item I wanted to take home?

 

One Night Only by Lucy Score

After a Christmas Eve concert mishap, divorced Brooke finds herself snowed in with the silver fox retiring rocker she’s been trying to interview. Will it take a Christmas miracle to get him to open up to her or does the tattooed bad boy of punk rock have other ideas on how to pass the time?

A Kellan Holiday by Tijan

Humans are so simple with their holiday traditions.

They are ignorant of the powerful and majestic creatures among them, like me.

I am the most powerful demon above the surface.

Nothing can stop me…except, well, some stupid prophecy.

Holiday Swing by Kennedy Ryan

For our five-year wedding anniversary, my husband decides he wants another woman.

The traditional gift is wood, but okay.

After trying everything with little improvement, our marriage counselor suggests we experiment to reignite our sex life. A swing party is my husband’s adventure of choice.

Once inside, I can’t go through with it. Seeing him walk off with someone else, I realize we want very different things. Our marriage is over, and I have no intention of having a random hook up with a stranger.

But then away from the noise and revelry, I find him.

It’s one illicit encounter. A night with no names and no inhibitions.

I don’t hold back, knowing I’ll never see him again.

And I don’t…until my parents’ Christmas party…

Nochebuena by Marie Force

Nochebuena is the Cuban community’s Christmas Eve celebration, and in this short story, the cast of Marie Force’s Miami Nights Series comes together to mark the holiday after a year of change that’s touched nearly every member of the family. Catch up with the characters from How Much I Feel, How Much I Care and How Much I Love and get a sneak peek at the couple that will headline book 4, How Much I Want. If you haven’t read the books yet, you’ll still enjoy this short story set in the Miami Nights world!

COVER CREDIT:

Cover designer: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative

Grab your free copy today, before it goes away!

Available for only a limited time!

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/y20g69cp6x

Savage (adjective):
1) Not domesticated; wild and untamed
2) A brutal or vicious person
3) Malek Antonov

Savage Hearts, the highly-anticipated third standalone in the Queens & Monsters mafia romance series by JT Geissinger is available now!

Read my review HERE.

Savage (adjective):
1) Not domesticated; wild and untamed
2) A brutal or vicious person
3) Malek Antonov

When my older sister calls out of the blue to announce she’s getting married, it’s a shock. She’s
not the settling-down kind, and we haven’t spoken in almost three years.
Even more of a shock? Sloane wants me to visit her and meet her new fiancé. Curious, I decide
to take her up on the offer.
I should’ve known something was wrong when she wouldn’t tell me where I’d be going. I
should’ve known things were odd when she sent a private jet to pick me up. But there’s no way
in hell I could’ve ever guessed what would happen when I finally meet her fiancé.
Declan O’Donnell.
Head of the Irish Mob.
Target of a savage Bratva assassin who wants revenge for the murder of his brother.
Now, I’m thousands of miles from home, I’m smack in the middle of a mafia war, and I’ve got a
Russian assassin who’s decided he likes the looks of me.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
They never met Malek Antonov.

Excerpt

“Yeah. Oh—can I ask you a favor? Will you please not hurt him? Kieran, either. He’s the other bodyguard. The bigger one. They’re both really nice.”
Malek stares at me in disbelief.
“Sorry. Is that asking too much? It’s just that I’d never get over it if they got hurt because of me. They’re only trying to do their jobs.”
After a moment, he says angrily, “You know who I am. You know what I do. Correct?”
“Yes. I’ve been filled in on the particulars.”
“And you’re lying there with my hand around your neck asking me not to hurt your bodyguards.”
He says it like my sanity is in question.
“I know it’s maybe a little unorthodox.”
“No,” he says flatly.
“Please?”
He growls, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“There’s no need to get testy.”
“Testy?”
“I’m just saying. You don’t have to get all mad about it.”
Furious again, he glares at me, grinding his jaw and probably calculating how much pressure it will take to snap the brittle bird bones in my neck.
Before he does, I say, “I also want to thank you for the rose you left me. That was really nice. I’ve never had a man bring me flowers before. I know it was only the one, and also you thought I was a captive prostitute at the time, but still. It was thoughtful. So thank you.”
He stares at me with an expression somewhere between confusion and amazement, with a healthy dose of disgust on the side.
“Now is probably a good time to remind you that I’m still the same person you left the rose for. So if you did kill me, you’d be killing her, too. Just a thought.”
“Are you on drugs?”
“Not at the moment, no. Why, do you have any?”
“There’s something wrong with you. Mentally. Right?”
That makes me laugh. “Oh, totally. I’ve got more than a few screws loose. At least that’s what my dad tells me. But he’s super uptight, zero imagination, so his opinion doesn’t really count. Not that he’s wrong, because he isn’t, but normies shouldn’t judge creatives. They just have no idea how we’re wired. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’ve never had a conversation with an insane person before.”
“Very funny.”
“It wasn’t a joke.”
“Ouch.”
We stare at each other in silence. His hostile, mine hopeful. He still hasn’t murdered me, so things are looking up.
“Malek?”
“What.” He says it flatly. With dread.
“Thank you for not killing me.”
He says emphatically, “Don’t thank me yet.”
“You’re still deciding?”
“If only to get you to shut up, yes.”
“In that case…” I make a zipper motion across my lips.
He watches with outrage, astonishment, and absolute disbelief.
“Actually, before I shut up, I also want to say that it was really sweet that you tried to save me from being a sex worker. I mean, what a gentleman! A gentleman killer who gives strangers big wads of cash in restrooms. You’re quite the puzzle, Mr. Ghost. Or is it just Ghost? I’m never sure how the nickname thing works, except between me and my sister, but that doesn’t count because my whole family is a little weird. I’ll just call you Malek, if that’s all right. Or Mal for short, since we’re such buds now, what with you breaking into my various bedrooms for midnight visits and all. Okay, I’m shutting up now. Here I go.”
I press my lips together and gaze up at him, watching him struggle with dueling urges to cut off my air supply or break something over my head.
Maybe he’s right about me being insane, because rather than terrifying, I find his indecision understandable.
He’s not the first man I’ve driven to the brink of murder. He’s just the most capable of actually going through with it.
“Oh, one more thing—”
“I know a way to keep that mouth quiet,” he snaps.
Then he kisses me.

Grab your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3iNRNyE
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/savagehearts

Add Savage Hearts to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2W1MjHZ

About J.T. Geissinger

J.T. Geissinger is a #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty-seven novels. Ranging from funny, feisty rom coms to intense, edgy suspense, her books have sold over five million copies and been translated into more than a dozen languages.
She is a three-time nominee in both contemporary and paranormal romance for the RITA® Award, the highest distinction in romance fiction from the Romance Writers of America®. She is also a recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book and the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy.
She’s a Southern California native currently living in Nevada with her husband and rescue kitty, Zoe.

Connect with J.T. Geissinger
Facebook: http://bit.ly/37Iv1zU
Instagram: http://bit.ly/35v6fBu
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2upzIQI
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2NaBT2c
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2oAkodD
Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2Oj7iMg
Mailing list: http://bit.ly/39KRQol
Website: http://www.jtgeissinger.com

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

If you’re a Melanie Harlow fan OR have read her before, keep scrolling. You are fully aware of the storytelling genius of Melanie Harlow. Go. Buy. Grab Ignite. It’s everything you love about her stories. This review is for anyone who has yet to read her AND/or Melanie Harlow herself. I expect that she doesn’t read her own reviews, but I’m probably wrong too. 

In simplistic, reductive terms, Ignite is a small-town romance between a twenty-something young woman/ post-college graduate who is trying to figure out her next steps in life AND a divorced dad of two precocious young girls whose life hasn’t been the easiest and has made him fairly pessimistic. While he loves his girls, to him, there will be no fairy tales in his life. Dex and his girls move in next door to Winnie, the sweet, kind heroine. At first glance, there is a clear attraction between these two, but there is also an age gap, and Mr. Pessimism initially only sees her as someone too young and idealistic for him. Thankfully, his daughters along with some serious $exual chemistry bring these two together, but it’s a bit of a rocky road with denials of true feelings as its pathway. 

Melanie Harlow is imprinted all over this story. The charm she infuses in her characters along with the simplicity of her story makes for a read that is mostly sweet with a big side of $exy. And Dex, a former SEAL, is one of her more aggressively spirited in the bedroom heroes. He’s fairly dirty in contrast to the heroes of Cloverleigh Farms, and it contrasts nicely with the innocence of Winnie. 

The true catnip of Ignite, though, is the contrast of their personalities. This is your grump/sunshine trope, yet don’t mistake Winnie for naivete. Yes, she’s younger than Dex, and she’s still solidifying her path. Yet, the issue isn’t that she doesn’t know what she wants. She does. Instead, it’s the societal expectations for someone her age that she shouldn’t want to be a young wife and mother. Pushing back against that while finding her space in the expanded Sawyer family world causes her confusion. But make no mistake, Harlow has crafted her with tenacity, mature introspection, and drive. While she is young compared to Dex’s gruff age, she teaches him vulnerability and honesty in relationships. The evolution of their relationship is filled with sweetness, steam, pitfalls, and happily ever afters, and it is the best part of this book (besides the characters of Hattie and Luna who inflect the true humor into Harlow’s story.)

Ignite is the perfect weekend read. The only criticism I have is the predictability of Harlow’s tropes, but that’s also why her dedicated readers (readers like me) continue to inhale her books. There is the knowledge that you will adore her characters and their story, and by the end, they will have left your heart bigger than when it started. 

In love and romance,

Professor A