Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Spotlight, Giveaway: Lightstruck by Liz Crowe



Title: Lightstruck 
Author: Liz Crowe 
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance 
Release Date: May 30, 2017 






Ross Hoffman held the potential for a perfect life in his hands—a life with Evelyn, the only woman he’d ever allowed himself to love, their baby, and…her husband, Austin Fitzgerald, who also happened to be his best friend. But the challenge of trying to make a threesome into something acceptable—much less the thought of actually sharing Evelyn with anyone—forces him to bolt. Determined to put all thoughts of their relationship behind him, Ross jumps headfirst into a new brewery job in Colorado, and back into the sort of sexual decadence that he hopes will distract him from his misery.

When he agrees to assist Austin through a spate of brewery mishaps, he lays eyes on his true fate—in the form of the petite, mysterious, and exotic Elisa Nagel. Hired as assistant brewer, Elisa is absolutely everything he believes he doesn’t want in a woman. But he’s drawn to her in ways he can’t explain, and can’t help but fall hard, fast, and deep, which places him square the middle of her horrific, until-now secret backstory.

Ross is determined that his love will conquer and overcome the horrors of Elisa’s past, allowing her to trust him with the only thing he desires—her heart.









“You really know how to make yourself scarce, don’t you?” Austin said by way of greeting.
Ross grunted a reply as he sat gingerly down into a chair at the kitchen table. The sunlight blaring through the window pierced him right in the eyeballs. It shoved the spike of pain nice and deep into his brainpan, blinding and deafening him for a few seconds. “What? Sorry. I’m a little fragile this morning.”
“Whatever, dude. So, can you come?”
“I already told Evelyn I would.” He couldn’t keep the snippy tone out of his voice. It was all he could do at that moment not to puke all over the expensive hardwood floor.
“What? When did you talk to her?” Austin sounded frazzled. But he’d sounded that way ever since Rose’s birth.
“Shit man, I don’t remember. What the hell day is it anyway?”
“What happened to Mr. Pure Living?”
“He got gang banged by a pack of succubus, all right? Cut him a break.”
“Nice,” Austin said. Ross couldn’t tell if he were amused or honestly pissed off.
“Whatever. So yeah, I told her at some point I’d help you guys. I’m somewhat persona non grata around here all of a sudden, anyway.” He rubbed his eyes. “Seriously, what day is it?”
Austin’s heavy sigh set Ross’ sensitive on edge. But he sat still, willing the clanging agony in his head to stop, knowing getting angry would only exacerbate it. “It’s Wednesday morning, eleven a.m. where I am, which makes it nine where you are.”
Shocked at the lost twenty-four hours, he lurched forward, which sent a jolt of nausea up his throat. “Oh, shit.”
“Yeah. So, I guess you heard it all, then. If you talked to Evelyn?”
“I, uh, don’t know,” he hedged as he stumbled to the kitchen sink just in case. The silence on the other end of the line made his pulse race. His good buddy was getting a tad bit bossy and Ross was in zero mood for it. “Guess you should tell me whatever the fuck it all is. Since the last I spoke to Evelyn it was Monday night. Tuesday seems to have been sucked away, along with every ounce of my—”
“Spare me.”
“Dude, just fill me in. Holly showed up here that same night and I’m pretty sure she drugged me or something.”
“Poor little snowflake,” Austin said, amusement clear in his voice this time.
“Yeah. I sure as hell wish I could remember any of it.” He touched his sore dick before pressing fingertips against the many, tiny burned spots and gouges on his chest. “So, anyway, what’s going on now, drama king?”
“Oh, not much I guess. Other than my wife was nearly raped and killed by a psycho almost-ex-employee before he got popped between the eyes by my strange new German lady brewer.”
“You really shouldn’t mess with me right now.” Ross kept his head lowered, waiting for the inevitable over the sink.
“I’m not.”
“Evelyn was…is she all right?” He poured another glass of water and forced it past the rising gorge in his throat.
“Yes. Thanks to Elisa Nagel, she is. Although that woman is now in custody and I gotta go post a two hundred fifty thou bail and get her scary ass in front of my lawyer.”
“Elisa…who?” The room had commenced spinning so he squeezed his eyes shut. “Oh, right. The Berliner brewer chick.” But he knew damn well who she was. Fronting with confusion was his reflex to counter the surge of emotion that had muscled past his pain at the sound of her name.







Amazon best-selling author, mom of three, Realtor, beer blogger, brewery marketing expert, and soccer fan, Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville currently living in Ann Arbor. She has decades of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as a three-continent, ex-pat trailing spouse. Her early forays into the publishing world led to a groundbreaking fiction subgenre, “Romance for Real Life,” which has gained thousands of fans and followers interested less in the “HEA” and more in the “WHA” (“What Happens After?”). With stories set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch, in successful real estate offices and at times in exotic locales like Istanbul, Turkey, her books are unique and told with a fresh voice. The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight, frustrate and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished. Don’t ever ask her for anything “like a Budweiser” or risk bodily injury.  

  Liz Crowe writes intense true-to-life stories that make you feel. Whether it's anxiety, love, fear, hate, bliss, or loss woven into her plot lines, you will feel it deep down to your very soul. --Audrey Carlan, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author  

  Liz Crowe is one of those rare authors who knows how to take the emotions of her characters and make them real for her readers, binding you to the story.” ---USA Today and Internationally Bestselling Author Desiree Holt  

  "Liz Crowe is my drug of choice for unconventional romance that pushes the envelope of my comfort zone." --Bestselling Author of the Enigma Series, Ditter Kellan 

   “I’ve learned to expect the unexpected with any Liz Crowe novel—along with 3-dimensional characters and well-written, realistic plots.” --USA Today bestselling author AM Hargrove






















Thursday, May 25, 2017

Book Review: Fix Her Up by Carey Heywood


Fix Her Up

by Carey Heywood





If Finley Reeves is an expert at anything, it’s making mistakes. She proved this true by falling for and marrying the wrong man. Ten years later all she has to show for it is a divorce and a broken heart.

Needing not only to get away, but also to start over somewhere new, she buys a fixer-upper that’s one step away from being condemned. Deciding to tackle this project alone might be her biggest mistake of all.

That is, until Noah Thompson shows up at her front door like a knight in a shining tool belt. Determined she doesn’t need any help she pushes him away until he makes her an offer she’d be crazy to refuse.


A fun & sexy Contemporary Romance (age 17+) 


My Rating:




Favorite Quotes:




I was expecting her husband to be there, but his presence may have interrupted her attempts to put her hand in my pants. I might not have many rules when it comes to the women I see, but not being married is one of them.

He grins at me before lifting the hem of his shirt to wipe my snot from his face. I sneezed all over the hot guy buying condoms at the convenience store. 

I try not to look at him anymore but it’s impossible. He’s too attractive, it would be a disservice not to.

I’m more excited than I care to admit that I’m going to get to see Noah’s place. Especially since this visit was a spur of the moment one. When you know company is coming, you have time to clean up and hide your vibrators, or whatever stuff a guy would hide.

‘We need to talk about what just happened.’  I hold my head in my hand. ‘Like a performance evaluation? I say we both earned a ten out of ten… Need a replay?’

To put it mildly, he’s seriously hot. As in, off the grid if zombies took over the world you’d want him in your bed – er, by your side – kind of hot.

 


My Review:




The first thing I noticed about this adorable book was the clever humor, a few paragraphs in and I was already comfortable, engaged, and invested.  Written in my favorite dual POV, the plot was relevant, easy to follow, and pleasantly entertaining.  The storyline was based in New Hampshire, which is one of the few states I have never visited, and provided a sweet and slow-burn love story between adorable and highly likable characters who tugged at my heartstrings and held my attention.  This was my virgin voyage with Ms. Heywood but I enjoyed sailing with her so much, I plan to make her a habit.

Empress DJ


About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Supporting her all the way are her husband, three sometimes-adorable children, a mischievous black cat, and their nine-pound attack Yorkie.


Spotlight, Giveaway: The Last Guy by Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise

SBPRBanner-TLG-CoverReveal

The Last Guy, an all-new steamy standalone from Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise is coming June 12th!


TLG PB wrap


THE LAST GUY

By Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise

Publication Date: June 12th

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy

Cover Designer: Shanoff Formats

Photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography Model: David Wills


The first rule of office romance is don’t do it—especially if your dream is to hold the anchor spot on the nightly news and your boss is trying to get you fired.

But one look at Cade Hill, the sexy new sports director, and uptight reporter Rebecca Fieldstone is daydreaming about other things.

Sex in his office…
Sex in the on-set kitchen…
Sex in the supply closet…

She can’t stop thinking about the former NFL quarterback and how perfect he’d look between her sheets—except he’s an arrogant jerk with a huge… ego.
He’s the last guy she’d ever have a one-night stand with.
Cade Hill draws a thick professional line on office romance—until it comes to the hyper-focused Rebecca. He wants her, and he gets his wish when a chance encounter has them having the hottest sex of their lives.

It’s just a hook-up, she says.

When can we do it again? he says.

With Rebecca determined to keep Cade in the friend zone, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Cade to convince her he’s the last guy she’ll ever want.

THE LAST GUY is the first white-hot CONTEMPORARY ROMANTIC COMEDY from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise. It features Fireball-fueled hookups, Doritos Locos Tacos, attack monkeys, toddlers in tiaras, and one fabulous drag queen. Prepare for frantic clicking (or page flipping!) and smoking-hot sexytimes all the way to the out-of-this-world happily-ever-after.
 

Enter the Giveaway:

★ Get an email alert when THE LAST GUY goes LIVE on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/TLGSignup

 OR

Get a Text Alert as soon as it’s live! Text “TiaLouise” to 64600 Now.*

*U.S. only

ADD it on Goodreads: https://goo.gl/2dhXVt

SEE the inspiration board on Pinterest: https://goo.gl/ZfBjiq

LISTEN to the playlist on Spotify: https://goo.gl/AXnGKe

About the Authors:

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and the “Queen of Hot Romance” Tia Louise are not a secret duo, but simply themselves. Great friends, former English teachers, and southern gals in real life, they’ve teamed up to bring you laugh-out-loud naughty romances with strong leading ladies and sexy alpha males who know how to please their women… and who sometimes you just want to slap. 

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Connect with Tia:

Twitter: @AuthorTLouise
Stay up to date with Tia Louise by signing up for her newsletter:


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Connect with Ilsa:

     

New Release: Zero F*cks Given by Ava Danielle

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Take a girl that works at a radio station and does whatever she wants and you've got me.
Take a girl that dresses any way she wants and doesn't look for approval, you've got me
I'm just a twenty something trying to figure out life.
It was easy.
Until I found two great guys on Tinder.
One totally my Type.

One totally NOT my Type.
Between the two it's really hard to choose. They couldn't be any more different from each other.

★ Amazon US ➙Order NOW: http://amzn.to/2qXqNT8
★ Amazon UK ➙Order NOW: http://amzn.to/2qXcA6f



Zero Fucks Given Trailer:

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Signed Paperback of Zero Fucks Given!
One lucky winner will be chosen by June 1st at 12:00AM

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Zero Fucks Given Trailer:

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Signed Paperback of Zero Fucks Given!
One lucky winner will be chosen by June 1st at 12:00AM

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NO Time slots - just a good old time with LOTS of various Authors!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Book Review: All The Way by M. Mabie


all the way ebook

All The Way

by M. Mabie

ALL THE WAY IS FREE W/ Kindle UNLIMITED.


"I was going to keep my word, but I was also keeping her."—Cord Taylor


A contemporary romance with a mouthy redhead and a sexy, charming hero.             

Swoon. Laugh. Fall in love.

Blurb: 

I’m a man’s man. A bro. A pal. A dude. And I love women. 

Am I a saint? Far from it. 

Do I go out with a lot of women? You’re damn right. 
I date them all. Shy. Loud. Too busy. Lonely. High maintenance. No confidence. No filter. Bad habits. Naive. Beautiful ones. Pretty ones—and believe me there is a difference, but that’s another soap box. Point is, I don’t discriminate. 

What do I get out of it? Knowledge. I want to be prepared, adept, and ready. 

I might find the perfect woman for me today or a few years from now, but I won’t stop until I do. Then when The One comes along, I’ll be ready to go the distance. 

Ready to go all the way. 

I’m Cord Taylor, and, lady of my dreams, I’m coming for you.





My Rating:






Favorite Quotes:



Trevor’s bright orange car looked like it had been parked by a blind armless person.


Inside my head looked like a video game right before you’re about to die and the screen flashes red as a warning.


My mind wandered evilly, making up an image of him out on a date with someone else. Some combination of a dirty slut and filthy whore. A slore.


You’ve always been stubborn. You know you kept your training wheels on until you were like thirteen.



My Review:



All The Way was a cunningly plotted, cleverly humorous, and exceptionally well-crafted book.  The title was lifted from a specialty Waffle House order and not from a sexual encounter, as most would expect.  Don’t get me wrong - there were plenty of sizzling sensual scenes in this book, just not in the title.  M. Mabie is a gifted wordsmith with a wicked sense of humor.  I adored her endearingly flawed yet witty characters as much as I did her skillfully amusing, keenly detailed, and salaciously comical writing style.  She deftly embellishes her storyline with crafty little touches that summon sharp and highly entertaining and lively visuals.  I smirked, giggle-snorted, and gasped my way through this witty, engaging, and delightfully naughty tale.  I enjoyed spending time with these quick-witted and quirky people, but honestly, who couldn’t love a generous “too-hot” man who cooks, cleans, and makes cinnamon rolls from scratch?

Empress DJ









ALL THE WAY IS FREE W/ KindleUNLIMITED.

More M. MABIE


Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Book Review: All I Ask by Elizabeth York



Title: All I Ask
Author: Elizabeth York
Genre: Contemporary/Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 23, 2017 
Photographer: MHPhotography 
Designer: MGBookcover & Design



My name is Devan Anderson and I am a photographer and the by-product of a cheating father and a childhood evaporated by illness. I'm stubborn, protective, but I care more than I let on. What does a girl like me do when I taste life for the first time? 

I'll give you a hint. It isn't what you think.
My name is Ian Jensen and I am a Pediatric Oncologist that works day and night with kids that prove to be braver than I. I am open to Nerf gun fights, having fun, and taking control. What's a doctor who lives life by the book do when given a new chapter to live in? 
Ask me again tomorrow?

What happens when a photographer set to live in the dark meets the doctor that lives in the light? What happens when our world collide?









My Rating:





Favorite Quotes:



I felt out of place when the yellow vested valet smirked at my car and held my keys like they could infect him with being poor. F*ing pauper cooties.


Had I been dying, I would have cut your balls off and fed them to you. Prison doesn’t look so bad when you have no time left. Remember that.


We have come here to join Doctor Ian and Miss Devan in holy mattress-money… If anyone here thinks that Miss Devan and Dr. Ian don’t need to be married step forward now so Lydia and I can run over your toes with our wheelchairs, and pop you with marshmallows from our rubber band guns… I was granted the power of being ordinary by the internet and my mom’s credit card so what I say rings true. My judgment is that these two are husband and wife till they get wrinkly, slow, and their teeth fall out.


I think we could benefit from the ticket sales soaring if there was a cat fight… I bet she is a hair puller… She won’t punch because she might break a nail.


My Review:


I struggled with this book and am struggling with this review as well as with forming a coherent conclusion on a rating.  I enjoyed a great deal of All I Ask, although it went off the rails a little over half way through.  The premise was sound, the characters were unusual, and there was an intriguing mystery beneath the surface.  There were also many delightful scenes of stellar humor, a blossoming and transformative romance that brought the main characters to life, steamy sensual scenes, and heart squeezing exchanges.  However, the storyline veered off track and became mired in Devon’s dismal angst, over the top melodrama, and tiresome obstinance.  I would easily have rated the first half of the book four stars, although the mid to ninety percent of the book were a disappointing two to three.  

Empress DJ









Author Elizabeth York has been writing for about seven years. Located in the southeast, she spends her days drinking sweet tea on the porch with her laptop in hand. She has devoted her life to her family and her books. With the loss of her Father to cancer in 2010 she makes "Dear Daddy" dedication pages in each book and donates 10% royalties to cancer research.
Elizabeth was given a 2015 Author of the Year award sponsored by 31 blogs for her role in helping her fellow authors and her writing. She was also accepted into the Romance Writers of America organization in May of 2015.




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