BOOK BLITZ Then Came You by Kate Meader

Then Came You 

Kate Meader 

(Laws of Attraction #3)

Published by: Loveswept

Publication date: May 7th 2019 

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

In the courtroom, they’re rivals. In the bedroom, they’re . . . divorced. But could the road trip from hell lead to a second chance at love? 

                               “I love Kate Meader’s books!”—Kelly Jamieson

Aubrey Gates is the hottest divorce lawyer in Chicago, a barb-tongued stiletto with legs that go on for miles. When her cool gray eyes meet mine across the battlefield, I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone or anything. Then I remember who she is: the woman who brought me to my knees. The woman who destroyed my faith in relationships. 

The woman I used to call . . . wife. 

And she needs a favor from me, Grant Lincoln. 

It seems my ex forgot to mention the demise of our marriage to her dear old grammy, and now we’re both expected to attend her ninetieth birthday party. In Boston. And because it isn’t already awkward enough, Aubrey and I are driving there together from Chicago. That’s more than a thousand miles of tension, heartbreak, and barely concealed lust.
A little piece of paper might say we’re over, but this road trip is the true test. I intend to get my wife back . . . and I won’t stop until “I do.” 

Kate Meader’s super-sexy Laws of Attraction novels can be read together or separately: 

DOWN WITH LOVE • ILLEGALLY YOURS • THEN CAME YOU

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The third and the last book of the Laws of Attraction series. There were things about this book that I loved and other parts that I just didn't. Normally I'm a sucker for second chance romance and reconciliation, I guess I wasn't in the mood for it I didn't enjoy it as much as I might have. The first half of the book felt a little tedious but once Meader got onto the root of the problem and all the emotion attached to it I enjoyed it more. The switching between the reminiscing flashbacks and present day was a little confusing at times there was no real clear transition. It's told from alternating first person POVs so you get Grant and Aubrey's side of the story. What I did love about the book is that road trip didn't "fix" their relationship, for one, it made them realize how much they still love each other (which is a given in), and two, it forced them to finally open up and talk about the main issue, the reason for their divorce.

I love Grant, he was great, a southern gentleman with a great charm and he loves his mother and little sister. Aubrey was okay at times, it took most of the book for me to warm up to her. Overall, it was a good read. I definitely needed tissue reading this one.      

“Ms. Gates.” 

Damn, the man himself has to appear and ruin a perfectly fine fantasy. He looks like the Terminator in Tom Ford. I can assure you that he didn’t dress so well before I met him. He didn’t even use chopsticks. 

“Mr. Lincoln.” 

“Oh, hold up, please!” Just before the elevator doors close, Serena Gleason, one of my colleagues at Kendall, joins us inside. She flashes a grin. “Aubrey, heard you got your ass handed to you by—Grant! Didn’t see you there.” Unlikely, given that the man is about as impossible to miss as a redwood. 

“Serena, how you doin’?” Grant’s syrup drenches the entire car and he leans in to buss her cheek. “A little birdie told me some lucky guy’s scooped you right up. Congratulations.” 

Serena flashes her hand, showing off a rock the size of a planet. She’s marrying her hunky personal trainer. “Thanks, he is lucky.” Sighing for a couple of seconds at the sight of her ring, she raises her gaze and frowns at me. “What happened to your arm?” 

“Nothing.” 

“Doesn’t look like nothing.” 

“She won’t say,” Grant offers. “I’m thinking maybe a tryout for the Hawks.” 

My eye roll is epic. 

“Oh, there’s a story here.” Serena narrows her eyes in suspicion. I’ll be a source of gossip, visits from senior partners, and hopefully a tray of cupcakes by five. 

The elevator reaches the lobby—finally—and we all step out and stand around awkwardly like we need to discuss our next moves. Sushi or Italian, friends? 

Serena divides a look between the two of us. “Should I play referee? Or maybe something else?” 

I shut that nonsense down immediately. “I’ll walk back to the office with you, Rena.” 

“Got a minute, Bean?” 

Again, with that Bean business. I can’t. Not now. 

Serena mouths “Bean” at me. I want to thump her and stuff that rock on her finger in an uncomfortable place. 

Instead, I say sweetly, “No—I need to get back. I’ve got a client’s financials to investigate, remember?” 

“Been thinkin’ on your dilemma,” Grant says, his voice ridiculously lazy and sexy. 

“My dilemma?” 

“Thanksgiving, traveling with the beast, heading into the Lion’s Den.” 

I shoot a look of not here at him, but Serena has already sniffed blood. “The Lion’s Den? Color me intrigued!” 

He looks amused. “Think you’d prefer we discuss this in private.” 

“Discuss what? How you tried to bypass discovery in Judge Jamieson’s court like a first year associate?” 

“Nah. Me driving you to Boston for Thanksgiving so you can pretend to your grandmother that we’re still married.” 

I gasp, which sets off a chain of unfortunate events. Slightly panicked, I move closer to Grant instead of farther away, inhale how good he smells, become light-headed with the pleasure of it, then step back. I look like a dancing fool and Serena definitely notices, her eyes going wide with wonder at my smoothness. 

“Rena, I’ll catch you later.” 

“Yeah, you will, girl.” Serena toddles off to get the rumor mill grinding at the office. 

I shoot stabby eyes at Grant. “Nice going, idiot.” 

“No problem. Let’s get coffee in the food court. Won’t take long to sort out the details.” 

What details? This isn’t happening. Yet I turn, trancelike, toward the escalator. 

I know he’s watching my ass with those dark blue eyes of his. I’m not much taller than five four and I need heels to strike fear and envy. But I’ve always had a very well-proportioned behind that looks good in pencil skirts and Grant has always been an ass-man. 

Like the recent reawakening of my long-dormant sexuality, the sway of my hips as I walk ahead of my ex-husband fills me with power. I know it’s ridiculous to feel this way because of a male gaze, but I can’t help it. It’s his gaze that fuels me.

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Author Bio:
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she's there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.

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ARC REVIEW The Military Wife by Laura Trentham

A Heart of a Hero #1, Laura Trentham is wonderful when it comes to small town romance, with this new series it's  more Women's Fiction with a romance. What I loved about this book was the alternating of past and present it was a nice touch you get to see all the best and the worst memories Harper and Bennett had with Noah at the same time you get to see Harper and Bennett fall in love and Harper finally finds what she was meant to do with her life. Told in the third person but switches perspective between Harper and Bennett.

We also meet Allison and Darren. Darren is an officer and Allison is his wife, mother of three, and Harper's best friend. Darren is feeling the effects of PTSD but too ashamed to admit he needs help doesn't feel like he deserves the help. Harper can tell Allison needs someone to really talk to and goes to visit her on that visit she attends one of the group meetings for the wives and hears the same stuff she heard when she was in their shoes so she comes up with a plan to help out military wives who feel like they need to do more than just fill the time. Harper has the start up money she was given a large sum when Noah died. But when Allison tells her one of the guys on the team gave her that money and not the NAVY Harper tracks down Bennett Caldwell to return the money.

Bennett meet Noah in BUDs and they formed a fast friendship, they became brother's in every way except blood. When Noah found out Harper was pregnant he had Bennett promise him if anything should happen he would take care of Harper and the baby. The entire friendship Bennett avoided meeting Harper, through all the emails and letter that Noah shared Bennett had fallen in love with her. He left the SEALs after Noah died and thought that giving Harper all that money would be enough to take care of the baby and herself. He never expected to see her again after handing over the money but here she is five years later trying to give it back.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was such an emotional journey not just for Harper and Bennett but for Allison and Darren too. This book made me cry and laugh and cry. This was a wonderful second chance romance and a wonderful story of a woman helping other women and finally getting on with her life and moving on. A lot of lessons in this too, like learning how to accept help and learning to let go of guilt.

ARC REVIEW Sweet Sacrifice by L.D. Rose

The Soul Mate Tree series is a multi-author series the common denominator for the whole series is the soul mate tree, it helps the soul mates find one another. I love second chance romance stories where it's a married couple getting a second chance, in this instance Bash and Irene were separated by death. It's emotional and heartbreaking but the ending just makes you feel so good. L.D. has great imagery, her active setting is so good, her words made picturing it in my head so easy.

Bash was a SEAL he gave his life to protect his teammates, in his death he was chosen by Michael to become an archangel and help fight the never ending war with evil. Irene was devastated by her husband's death, even now two years later she's still just a hollow shell of what she use to be, it doesn't help that she is preparing to be the maid of honor for her best friend who is marrying one of her husband's former SEAL teammates.

The book starts off with Bash and Gabriel saving the San Diego Zoo from a a Deava. The public saw armed men open fire and two other  men disarm them in the matter of seconds. Irene was working in the ER and was treating a woman whose young daughter said they were saved by an angel, and when the little girl caught a glimpse of Irene's phone with a picture of Bash on it the little girl said the was the angel who saved her. Later when she saw the news coverage she could swear that one of the men was in fact Bash. After a couple of days Irene has almost convinced herself that it could not have been Bash and tries to enjoy her best friends wedding without having a break down. Bash isn't having it any easier, a year in purgatory and a year with the arcs and the pain of losing her hasn't eased and trying to prove himself to Michael isn't easy. It could have just been chance or even fate that Bash saw Irene that night, and Irene saw him too. Irene fearing for her own mental stability leaves the wedding reception. Bash couldn't stay away, he reveals himself to Irene and breaks just about every rule set in place for the archangels. One thing is certain Bash isn't going to be kept apart from Irene ever again.

Overall, such a heartbreakingly beautiful story. Irene is so emotionally broken she forces herself to go on and Bash even though he loves what he does as an arc he loves Irene so much more. It's a great story of what we would do for love and how much it hurts when it's gone.

       

ARC REVIEW The Great Estate by Sherri Browning

The Great Estate, book three in Sherri Browning's Thronebrook Park series. In the last book these two broke my heart you see the progression of their relationship deteriorating in the previous two. Sophia and Gabriel story is a heart breaking one and I love them it's a second chance romance at it's best. I love the setting and the period of time. Edwardian time is a great period; the clothes, the new fangled invention of the automobile, woman's suffrage, it's the calm before the storm (WWI). I loved this book, as with the others it is well written, enjoyable, and the characters are all likable.

Gabriel Thorne saw his wife being kissed by another man and he was heart broken, he also came to realize he hasn't been the best husband so he left to Italy to reinvent himself as a more romantic husband so he could win over his wife again. Sophia Thorne was young and naive when she married Gabriel, her mother convinced her a wife should not enjoy herself in the marriage bed, so despite the fact that she loved him with all her heart she held back. The falling point of their relationship was the death of their son. Sophia was afraid it would happen again and Gabriel had not idea how to help her and ended grieving in his own way and becoming uber involved in the Thornebrook Estate.

The event of another man kissing Sophia spurred a change in both of them. With Gabriel gone for a year Sophia takes up the reigns of running the beloved Thornebrook Park and has even raised the incoming money. When Gabriel returns they struggle with dealing with the changes in both of them especially since Sophia isn't ready to relinquish her hold on running the estate.

Overall, I loved reading the entire journey of Sophia and Gabriel from book one to the end of this one. There is a great change in both of them that just reinforces the love they share for each other.

ARC REVIEW Hot Alphas Anthology

Hot Alphas is a collection of novellas from some pretty hot erotica authors and well I liked half of it.

Erin's Kiss
I always used to read Lora Leigh and I think I just burned myself out on her, I don't enjoy reading her writing anymore. I thought maybe reading something new and not from her Breed series would be nice I couldn't get into it and quite honestly even though I just read it last week I don't remember it.

MisTaken
Laurelin McGee is new to me, I don't think I have ever read anything from her and what I did read did not impress me. I just could not like the characters; normally I like the overly opinionated and more then likely "Bitchy" female this one how ever is a judgey narrow minded twat that does a complete 180 at the flip of a switch. I can understand what the author was trying to do, to not to judge or assume a book solely on what you think when you haven't read anything from the genre. (Like what so many people did with 50 Shades of Grey). But I think this novella was ill fitting in for this anthology.

Burn for Me
Shiloh Walker I love, everything she has written is an immediate winner for me. This is a side story for the very emotional and dark series Secrets & Shadows, this takes place almost simultaneously as the first book in the series. Tate is and has always loved Ali, even if he didn't realize it and he has just kept Ali at a distance. Ali loves Tate and understands his past and his feelings but she can't take it anymore it hurts too much not to have all of him. Tate keeps her at arm's length because he fervently believes his father killed his mother and got away with it and because of that he is afraid he might snap and do the same. Ali is a hard working single mom and Tate is a tormented mechanic. Tate must come to terms or lose the woman of his dreams forever.        

Tangled
Kate Douglas is another one I really like she has a fun and quirky way of writing. This novella is I believe a stand-alone story about Tangled Vineyards. Nate is probably one of the least "alpha" heros in this set but he is one of my favorite. Nate has a new job and he is looking forward to managing the vineyard he never expected to fall head over heals for the winemaker. Cassie is resentful that the new owner has hired a new manager but also thankful for saving the place after her father fell ill and almost ran the place to the ground. Cassie likes Nate but is hesitant about mixing business with pleasure. When Cassie's father's past rears it ugly head Nate proves  himself beyond measure
    

ARC REVIEW After the War by Jessica Scott

After The War is book two in Jessica Scott's Homefront series and is probably the most emotional book I've read and still loved with all my heart. I hate crying it gives me a migraine but with Jessica Scott books, which always make me cry, I don't mind. With every book of hers I review I always say how wonderful of a writer she is and this book is just another one to love. In Jessica Scott's facebook post and in the author's note at the end she explains how hard this book was for her to write because of how close to home it hits and you can tell.

I find the blurb on Goodreads is one of the best summaries for a book I have read.

A terrible loss…

Captain Sarah Anders lost her husband to the Iraq war and has nearly lost the career she loves. Sent to Fort Hood, she only wants to do her job and take care of the daughter she’s raising on her own. She never counted on running straight into a memory she’d tried to forget. 

A love he never forgot...

Captain Sean Nichols never got over Sarah. He simply tried to forget her amidst the war and the chaos of combat. But when she’s assigned to investigate his unit, he comes face to face with the woman no war or any amount of time could make him forget. 

A dark secret…

As Sarah gets closer to the truth, Sean must accept that actions he took during the war may end the tentative love building between them. And even if Sarah can forgive him, Sean may never be able to forgive himself.

Jessica Scott does not glamorize the military, and it's hard to read sometimes because you know how much truth she puts into her stories. I look up to moms like Jessica Scott and the character Sarah because they do what they do best and even if it means making hard sacrifices. I love Sarah Anders because the type of person she is the mom she is and choices she has had to make. The relationship between Sarah and Sean is hopeful; and you continue to hope for their continued HEA.     

BLOG TOUR Sinful by Joan Johnston

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

GOODREADS

*For readers of Linda Lael Miller and Susan Mallery comes NewYork Times bestselling author Joan Johnston’s sizzling contemporary Western romance, where power, money, and rivalries rule—and love is the best revenge.

WHILE HE SEEKS A HAVEN,

SHE SEARCHES FOR A PLACE TO CALL HOME

After a tragic accident leaves Delta sergeant Connor Flynn a widower, he faces the toughest fight of his life: battling his in-laws for custody of his two young children. To win he’ll need a make-believe bride to take care of the kids while he runs his Wyoming ranch. Who better than a woman he already knows and likes—his late wife’s best friend?

Ruthlessly forced from her home by her powerful father, King Grayhawk, Eve needs somewhere to go . . . and so does the herd of wild mustangs she’s rescued. Connor’s offer sounds like the answer to a prayer. But Eve has a guilty secret she’s guarded for years: She’s always been in love with Connor.

Now forced to live under the same roof as her heart’s desire, Eve must hide the love that has never died, while Connor vows to resist his growing need for a woman who was forbidden fruit during his marriage. Can two lonely people set adrift by fate and haunted by guilt find redemption in the healing embrace of love?*

CHAPTER 1 – SINFUL BY JOAN JOHNSTON
Her name was Eve. Not Evelyn or Eveline or Evette. Just Eve. The day she was born, her father, King Grayhawk, took one look at her large blue eyes, soft blond curls, and bowed upper lip and whispered, “Eve.” Apparently, she reminded him of some woman he’d fallen in love with as a younger man. That Eve, he’d declared, was the only woman he had ever loved.
Those words, spoken as her mother lay recovering from labor, must have been the final insult, because Eve was still a babe in arms when her mom ran off with one of King’s cowhands. Eve had grown up with the knowledge that her birth had caused a terrible rift between her parents. That marital fracture had left her and her fraternal twin sisters, Taylor and Victoria, and their older stepsister, Leah, as motherless children.
Eve felt burdened by her name. It didn’t help that she shared it with the woman who’d tempted Adam to sin in the Garden of Eden. In high school she was teased and taunted as she began to acquire seductive curves. She was sure one of those pain-in-the-butt Flynn brothers had started it, but the other boys had quickly followed his lead.
“Show me an apple, and I’ll eat it,” a boy would say, “so long as you come along with it, Eve.” Or, “Too bad you ate that apple, Eve, or we’d all still be running around naked,” followed by a lurid grin.


She’d gotten pretty good at sending back zingers like, “If God had seen you naked, Buck, He might have decided He made a real mistake only taking out a rib.” But the constant innuendo made Eve’s teenage life miserable.
That was the least of the trouble those four awful Flynn brothers—Aiden, Brian, Connor, and Devon—had caused her and her sisters over the years.
From her father’s rants at supper, Eve had known he was feuding with Angus Flynn. It wasn’t until she was eight years old that she understood why. Angus’s older sister, Jane, had been King’s first wife, and Angus blamed King for his unhappy sister’s death from an overdose of barbiturates. Eve had no idea whether her father was innocent or not, but he was sorely tried by Angus’s efforts to blight his life.
The animosity should have remained between their fathers, but it had bled onto their children. Angus Flynn’s four sons were infamous around Jackson Hole for wreaking havoc and causing mischief. After their aunt Jane died, as though a switch had been flipped, the Flynn brothers began aiming all that tomfoolery toward Eve and her sisters. It didn’t take long before King’s Brats, who’d done their own share of troublemaking around Jackson Hole, were giving as good as they got from those wild Flynn boys.
Eve could remember vividly the year fourteen-year-old Leah’s blueberry pie had been mysteriously doused with salt at the Four-H competition. Her stepsister had retaliated by shaving the flank of fourteen-year-old Aiden’s Four-H calf so it looked like it had the mange.
Some of the mischief she and her sisters perpetrated was merely a nuisance. Like putting an ad in the paper for a cattle auction at the Flynn ranch, the Lucky 7, beginning at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning, offering their prize bull for sale, when no such auction existed.
Eve had helped Taylor and Victoria punch a tiny hole in the gas tank of Brian’s truck, so that when he and Devon headed off to hunt deer in the mountains, where there was no cell phone reception, they’d ended up making a long, bitterly cold walk back to civilization.
The Flynns had retaliated by placing slices of bologna in a vulgar design on the hood of Taylor and Victoria’s cherry-red Jeep Laredo. The next morning, when her sisters pulled the deli meat off the hood, the preservatives in the bologna caused the top layer of paint to come off as well, leaving the distinct imprint of male genitalia.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if the pranks had remained physically harmless. They hadn’t. When Eve was a freshman in high school, the cinch of her saddle had been cut before a barrel race at a local rodeo, and she’d broken her arm when the saddle broke free. Eve could remember how enraged Leah was in the moments before the ambulance carted her away. The Flynn boys were competing at the same rodeo in calf roping. They should have known to check their cinches, but Eve supposed they hadn’t expected Leah to retaliate so quickly. When Aiden roped a calf his cinch broke—along with his leg.
The mischief escalated into attacks involving other people. Taylor’s and Victoria’s prom dates were kidnapped by a couple of boys wearing hoods, who tied them to a tree so they never showed up. The twins were devastated. The fallout afterward was even worse. The kidnapped boys made it clear that it wasn’t worth the trouble to date a Grayhawk when it meant putting up with all the horseshit being shoveled by those crazy Flynn boys.
Since Eve had lived in the same small town her whole life, the “harmless” high school prank involving her name had been a continuing source of irritation. Most of the kids who’d gone to high school with her still lived in Jackson, and there was always some jerk who couldn’t resist prodding her, hoping to get under her skin.
Like now.
Eve wasn’t looking to hook up or make waves. All she wanted to do was sit at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on the square in Jackson, along with the tourists who’d come to enjoy the last of the black-diamond ski season on the Grand Tetons, review the digital photographs she’d taken that day of the herd of wild mustangs she’d rescued, and enjoy her martini.
“Is that an apple martini, Eve?” a man called from behind her.


Eve turned to find Buck Madison, the former Jackson Broncs quarterback, grinning like an idiot at one of the pool tables in the center of the bar. Two of his former teammates stood shoulder to shoulder with him, giggling like teenage girls. All three were obviously drunk. She purposefully turned her attention back to the digital shot of the only colt in her herd. With any luck, Buck would give up and shut up.

Eve smiled as she studied the image of Midnight frolicking with his mother, his black mane and tail flying, his back arched, and all four hooves off the ground.
“You look good enough to tempt a man to sin, Eve.”


Buck’s voice was loud in a bar that had suddenly become quiet. Eve shut off her camera and laid it on the bar as she dismounted the Western saddle on a stand—complete with stirrups—that served as a bar stool. She glanced at Buck in the mirror over the bar as she gathered her North Face fleece from where it hung off the saddle horn. She wasn’t going to get into a war of words with a drunk. It was a lose-lose proposition. She had one arm through her fleece when Buck stripped it back off, dangling it from his forefinger.

“Uh, uh, uh,” he said, wagging the finger holding the fleece. “I’m not done looking yet.”
She turned to confront Buck, her chin upthrust, her blue eyes shooting daggers of disdain. “I’m done being ogled. Give me my coat.”
She held out her hand and waited.
She felt a wave of resentment toward the Flynns, who’d started that whole Garden of Eden business in the first place. She couldn’t help the fact that she’d developed a lush female figure in high school. At twenty-six, she’d made peace with her body. There was no easy way to conceal her curves, so she didn’t try. But she did nothing to emphasize them, either.
She was dressed in a plaid western shirt that was belted into a pair of worn western jeans. She had on scuffed cowboy boots, but instead of a Stetson, she usually wore a faded navy-blue-and-orange Denver Broncos ball cap. She’d left the cap in her pickup, but her chin-length, straw-blond hair was tucked behind her ears to keep it out of her way.
“My coat?” she said.
As she reached for it, Buck pulled it away. “How about a kiss first?”
Eve had opened her mouth to retort when a brusque male voice said, “Give the lady her coat.”
Eve hadn’t heard anyone coming up behind her, which surprised her. She photographed wild animals in their natural habitat and prided herself on her awareness of her surroundings. In the wilderness, missing the slightest sound could result in being bitten by a rattler or attacked by a bear or mountain lion. She glanced over her shoulder and felt her heart skip a beat when she recognized her unlikely savior.
Connor Flynn.


Connor was third in line of the Flynn brothers, but he’d been at the top of the teenage troublemaking list. He was thirty now but, if anything, his reputation was worse. He’d done three tours as a Delta sergeant in Afghanistan before leaving the military with several medals to prove his heroism in battle.

He’d paid a high price for his long absences from home serving his country. A year ago his wife, Molly, who’d been Eve’s best friend, had died in a car accident while Connor was overseas. After the funeral, he’d agreed to let Molly’s parents take his kids into their home while he served the nine months left on his final tour of duty.
Now they were threatening to keep them.
Connor had ended up in a court battle to get his two-year-old son and four-year-old daughter back. So far he hadn’t been able to wrench them away from his late wife’s parents. They’d argued to a judge that Connor was a battle-weary soldier, a victim of post-traumatic stress, and therefore a threat to his children. According to all the psychological tests he’d been forced to endure to prove them wrong, he was fine. But seeing him now, Eve wondered for the very first time if Molly’s parents might not be completely off the mark.
Connor looked dangerous, his sapphire-blue eyes hooded, his cheeks and chin covered with at least a two-day-old beard, and a hank of his rough-cut, crow-wing-black hair resting on his scarred forehead. His lips had thinned to an ominous line.
If she’d been Buck, she would have handed over the coat in a heartbeat. But Buck wasn’t known for his smarts.


“Butt out!” Buck said. “This is between me and Eve.”
Without warning, Connor’s hand shot out and gripped Buck’s throat. Buck dropped the coat to protect his neck, but Connor didn’t let go. His inexorable grasp was slowly choking the big man to death. Even using both hands, Buck couldn’t get free.
Eve looked around the bar, expecting someone, anyone, to intervene. No one did. She wouldn’t have interfered except she knew that Connor might be turning the lock and throwing away the key where custody of his kids was concerned. She didn’t step in for Connor’s sake. Ordinarily she wouldn’t have thrown a glass of water to douse a Flynn on fire. But she cared very much about the future well-being of her dead friend’s children, who needed their father alive and well and out of jail.

As part of the Bitter Creek series this arc centers on King Greyhawks spoiled daughters nicknamed King's Brats and Angus Flynn's boys nicknamed those Wild Flynn Boys and their family feud that started years ago. It is another great book by Joan Johnston, like the three first books in the Bitter Creek series the families are feuding, unlike the original feud it hasn't gone on as long as the Blackthorne and Creed feud did but the hate runs deep between King and Angus. It really did not seem like it was 300 some odd page book it went so quickly, Connor and Eve's love was inevitable. Since high school they had feelings for each other, not that they knew how the other felt they wouldn't act on it because their families. Eve's best friend, Molly, was also in love with Connor and married him and gave him two beautiful children, unfortunately she died in an car accident leaving Connor alone with two young children to raise. Unable to deal Connor intrust his kids to Molly's parents only have to fight for them when he got back. 

King just survived a bout of cancer and now he wasn't to right things he has screwed up in the past the main one being bringing back his eldest son the only way to do that is by giving him everything. Eve a nature photographer, rescued a herd of wild mustangs and not with the prodigal son's return and taking over the ranch she needs to find another place for her herd. Connor is in need of someone close to his kids for the extra added comfort in the new environment around there Dad, Eve was just suppose to stay temporary just until the kids acclimated, but then Connor announces to the social worker that they are engaged and it just rolls from their. As time passes the truth comes out about their feelings and nothing not even their families will stop them.

In Joan Johnston's typical fashion she hints into the past and future stories of the other characters and has me hooked for the upcoming books. I love her voice and I know each book is just going to get more emotional and more involved with each book.

   

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*Goodreads Blurb

RELEASE DAY BLAST 1001 Dark Nights by Julie Kenner

CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner is available today! Dante is waiting...

 

                       

About CARESS OF PLEASURE

I'd thought that he was mine, the dark, arresting man who commanded not only my body but my heart. Dante had swept into my life, and I'd succumbed to the burn of passion in his arms.

I'd believed we had a love that would last forever, but he'd shattered my dreams and broken me into pieces when he'd walked away, taking a piece of my soul with him. Now he has come back seeking my help, and though I try to keep my distance and protect my heart, I cannot deny that the fire between us burns hotter than ever. And I cannot help but fear that this time our passion will reduce us both to ashes.

Amazon | Amazon UK

                

I fell in love with him once—and I'm honestly not sure that I ever fell out of love.

But I do know one thing for sure—Dante Storm is dangerous to my heart. And whatever we started just now is something that we can't finish.

I meet his eyes and am about to say just that when he shakes his head. “No. Don't say it. You don't need to say it.”

“What?”

“That we can't do it again.”

“We can't.”

“I know.”

I stand in silence. I know why I can't; it's because he will break my heart.

But I don't know why he doesn't want me. I only know that he doesn't. I only know that he walked away once, and that he has already told me he will walk away again.

That should be enough, but then I have to go and open my mouth. I have to ask— “Why? Why did you leave?”

For a minute, I don't think that he's going to answer. But he surprises me by saying, “Because I was looking at forever.”

“And you don't think I was, too?” I'm baffled. With Dante, forever was my mantra.

He looks at me, his eyes so sad I want to cry. “No,” he says, “I know you weren't.”

I start to protest, but he just shakes his head, like a dog shaking off water. “Let's go transfer your money.”

“No,” I say, standing firm.

He cocks his head, then winces. “We shouldn't have done this. It won't happen again. But please don't back out. I really need your help. I can't tell you how urgent this is.”

“I'll help,” I say. “But I don't want your money. And I don't want sex.” That's not entirely true. I want it; I don't think I can handle it.

“Then why?”

“I don't know,” I say. “Maybe because I loved you once upon a time.”

Maybe because I still do.

About Julie Kenner

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres. Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures. Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries. J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

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SPRING READING ARC REVIEWS

Spring reading I am going to be replacing that horrible "C" word cleaning, with books starting with the letter "C". I'll present to you three book from different genres, different authors, they have nothing in common except they all have titles starting with the letter "C". 

Covered in Coal by Silla Webb. Crushed by Lauren Layne. Carnival Tricks by Jade Kerrion. 

Crushed by Lauren Layne

First up Lauren Layne's Crushed is book two in the series Redemption. In the previous book we meet Michael St. Claire since then his life has been turned upside down. Michael left Manhattan leaving everything behind, except his car, he learned the truth that the man he thought was his father is not and that his biological father is in Texas. So Michael leaves the lights of New York for teaching tennis at an upscale country club. The idea was to see his father first then wrangle an introduction. His plan to do that involved one of his students a gorgeous young lady Kristen Bellamy. Kristen is dating his half brother, Devon. Kristen is a conceited cock tease and Michael was going to use her to get close to Devon until Kristen's twin shows up. Chloe is the exact opposite of her sister plump instead of model thin; smart and witty instead of clothes and makeup, the only thing they share is their love for Devon. Michael convinces Chloe into letting him be her personal trainer, not to lose weight but to get healthy, and it works the longer she stay at the better food choices she makes and drops a few pounds. The more time Chloe spends with Michael the more she likes him, and Michael her. Michael even confides in her the real reason he's here and where he comes from. But as always something happens that tears them apart just after they both realize they love each other and must both face some hard truths before gaining their HEA.

I loved this book, I didn't think I would like Michael after reading the last book but WOW, Chloe brings out the good in him. Chloe is fabulous and I wish I could be her, outrageous head of curly hair and everything.The relationship between Michael and Chloe was great, the sparks fly and even when they don't see it themselves it's there and it's palpable. A great book a must read!

Covered in Coal by Silla Webb

Covered in Coal by Silla Webb came out last year and is the first book of the Buried Secrets series was also her debut novel. Carly Jo Simonwas up shit creek without a paddle, she just found out she was pregnant and her boyfriend a boy she thought the sun rose and set on broke up with her the day before and when she went to her father for help but he just got made and said he wasn't raising a bastards child. Devastated and without the support she needs she ran away. Seven years later her Father is dying and she comes back to make amends. Her plan was to go back to her life but her father left her the whole company, and the CEO position in charge. Colton knows he screwed up and has never stopped loving Carly Jo and will do anything to prove it to her. After telling her the truth about why the breakup happened she accepts and forgives, but Colton is pushing her too hard and too fast for her to feel comfortable about making any decision. Throw in to the mix an old friend, a kindred spirit Luke has Carly Jo even more confused. Top it all off with finding out secrets buried by her father and a nemesis out to ruin everything having to do with the Simon name. 

 I loved the story I loved the premises, what I didn't like was Colton, I did not like him at all with shared first person POV with Carly Jo didn't help, it just made him seem more on the verge of unhealthy obsession and the most upsetting of all... I didn't know it was a cliffhanger!!! I think my exact words were.. " H..How the Fuck could it end there!" but none the less I will be getting book two and three...

Carnival Tricks by Jade Kerrion

Carnival Tricks is a special book it can be read as a stand alone or as an introduction to the Double Helix World. This science fiction universe that Jade Kerrion created seemed to me like a mix between Gattaca (loved that movie) and The X-Men. Like in Gattaca creating the "Perfect child" through genetic manipulation has become the thing to do, what no one expected was that these in vitro children would gain psychic powers. The Genetic Revolution has sprouted purest calling them Human Derivatives, and mutants like in X-Men they are categorized and rated the really powerful ones are rated Alpha and are some of the most hated and feared. Kyle Norwood is 100% human and proud of it everything he has and done has been by his own merit and hard work. Now working for The Three Fates he is charged with protecting two scientist as they make a transaction. Everything goes SNAFU and ends up in a firefight between a ruthless South American cartel and the IGEC (International Genetics and Ethics Council). Sofia Rios is just barely human, the telekinetic powers don't even register on any scale. Working and going to school Sofia gets caught in the middle of firefight at her job when she tries to save one of the men who got shot she was injected with a microchip. Sofia uncertain about what is on the chip isn't just about to hand it over to a drug cartel, IGEC, or even Proficere Labs. Kyle might not like her decision but he will stand by her and protect her with his life, but when he discovers the truth that Sofia is one of those "mutants" that he hates so much can he look past it and maybe see things instead of how he thinks he sees them.

You can't see me but I'm doing the grabby hands gesture. I want all the other and the ones to come. I love Sci-Fi and this world is so in depth and intricate it ties you up in knots, it digs in and spreads it roots into your brain not letting you go. I read Jade's contemporary first and love 'em and when I saw sci-fi was also a genre she wrote in I knew I had to read them and oh boy I love it.   

These books were given as ARC by either the author or publisher in return for an honest review. It was my choice to put them in my spring reading post. 

ARC REVIEW Homefront and It's Always Been You by Jessica Scott

These are late in posting they were suppose to post early but as John Lennon says "life is what happens when you're busy making plans". So here are Jessica Scott's releases, brand new Homefront the first book in a new series and It's Always Been You now out in paperback.

As always I get excited about Jessica Scott books, and I always try and find the right time to read them bracing myself for the emotional turmoil she puts me through. I love a good romance about second chances and this is a good one. Another brilliant and hopeful novel from Jessica Scott.

Two people meant to be with each other they just got the timing wrong. High school sweethearts Gale and Melanie get married when Mel ends up pregnant and Gale makes the decision the best way to support his new family is to join the Army. Mel struggles with Gale gone all the time and dealing with a baby all on her own so she leaves him. Now years later Gale asked for an assignment at Ft. Hood to be closer to his teenage daughter, Jaime, and Mel; but everything is confusing for them. Gale has never stopped loving Mel and being close to her again stirs up all the old feelings. Mel is struggling with trying to be a good mom but Jaime is a troubled teen, already with one accidental suicide, yes accidental she was a cutter and she accidentally cut too deep. Now Mel is scared of it happening again and is a little overprotective of her which naturally leads to conflict between them.

The start of the book opens up with Gale finding out Jaime is in the hospital and because Mel didn't explicitly write that she needed him there he was not allowed to leave Gale then blacks out when he wakes up he finds that he had beaten his CO so badly he put the man in the hospital. Trying to make amends for time lost Gale but at the same time he was scared of inserting himself in their lives and one more deployment he is hesitant; but Jaime needs him. When he finds the son of an old friend in his daughters room he personally escorts the boy to his father. Trouble begins the next time he sees the boy with a black eye and the lame excuse of walking into a car door isn't cutting it, Gale reports the man that pulled his butt off of his CO to keep from killing him. 

War changes people and in another great book by a woman who know her stuff it shows how sometimes that change is for the better or for the worst.

     

NOW OUT IN PAPERBACK!

It's Always Been You is yet another fantastically heart wrenching novel by the fabulous Jessica Scott. A wonderful piece about the side of the military you forget about, what the ravages of war can do to a person and how it affects their family. I love all the characters, as always. Captain Ben Teague is a strong and loyal soldier with a wicked sense of humor. Ben is so loyal he dreads his new promotion to command his own team for fear he would become a cold hearted and distant like so many CO's before him; including his own mother a colonel who became distant after the death of Ben's father. Major Olivia Hale a lawyer with a painful past who doesn't let anything get by. She is best friends with Emily the psychologist from the last book, All For You, she is also strikingly beautiful and feels apart from the crowd she doesn't want to wear her combat badge because she didn't actually see combat and she feels not worthy of wearing the Stetson like the rest of the men.

When Ben's old mentor and the person who saved his live, Escoberra is charged with child abuse Ben is adamant that his old friend couldn't possible have abused his adopted daughter. Olivia wants to believe Ben when he tells her their has to be another explanation, but past experiences tell her to protect the daughter no matter what. Ben is in charge of cleaning up his company from the users and that puts him right up front dealing with Olivia for most of it. One in particular he bends the rules for and sits on his packet so when he is discharged he can be eligible for the G.I. Bill. He bends the rules and works with his men so he can keep their loyalty and not lose his loyalty to the men. His men appreciate everything he does. Ben is a great leader even if he doesn't see it. 

Escoberra and his family aren't talking to anybody, and Child Services have no choice but to drop the charges. Ben is happy but Olivia feels like she has failed. It isn't until after when she gets more information that she takes the initiative and sends Escoberra's medical records to specialist. Ben almost quits when it get tough and the budding romance between Ben and Olivia gets put to the test with lack of communication and lack of trust but Ben knows Olivia is the best thing to happen to him in forever. This is a great story with plenty of sexual tension and smart ass jokes to keep me satisfied, I really enjoyed this book and I really love this series

ARC REVIEW The Trouble with Love by Lauren Layne

The Trouble with Love book four in the Sex, Love and Stiletto series; the book that came to be because fans wanted Emma's story. First off I have not read any of the other books in this series and I was not lost at all so it is safe to say it can be read as a standalone but that by no means means you should if the other books are half as good as this one they are worth the read. I was hesitant at first because I dislike books where there is a character in a current relationship, I don't like the temptation of cheating and one person getting hurt; well that did not happen so I was saved that. This is a case of the reluctant H/h, yes both of them. I love Lauren Layne's writing style it's funny and emotional; it ties you up inside and make you want to hit the characters over the head and say, "What's wrong with you?" I am definitely going to have to get the first three books in the series.

Emma Sinclair is the woman's magazine, Stiletto, number one authority on break ups and getting over them. Alex Cassidy is the editor in chief of the men's magazine, Oxford. With a past that even their best friends know only part of find themselves working together when Stiletto's editor and chief takes a leave of absence. In the honor of Christmas and flat out curiosity Alex charges Emma to write an article titled The 12 Ex's of Christmas where she finds must write about her past relationships and what went wrong and where are they now. Thinking that he would be a big one of that articles since they were at one point engaged. The shit really hits the fan not when Emma's apartment floods, or when she gets to live in her editors apartment while she's gone, not even when she finds out that Alex is going to be her boss for a couple of months no it's when she finds out her new neighbor is her ex and current boss, Alex.

At the beginning of the book Alex is dating but that doesn't last long as he and Emma quite literally watch her fall in love at first sight with Emma's blind date. Being in such close proximity to him is difficult they have been successfully avoiding each other for months. Now they must face the past as it slowly reveals itself to the reader with a nice flashback at one point. Emma and Alex fight with each other only to keep themselves from falling back in love, but you know it doesn't work and soon the are sleeping with each other again. Emma learns something about herself having to face her ex-boyfriends that she never fell out of love with Alex and Alex seeing Emma with her other ex's helps him realize something too.

It's an emotional story that had my heart in the palm is it's hands the entire time.        

REVIEW Her Sexy Sentinel by Jenn Burke

Jenn Burke's His Sexy Sentinel I really enjoyed, it's one of those books where I hope the author writes more about this sentinel universe. I loved the concept and the secondary characters have piqued my curiosity to want to find out more. Callie and Derrick are hot! Trying to not give in to the sexual desire quickly building between the two. It was a fast paced emotional story that had me enthralled to the very end.

Callie ran when some bad stuff went down in her home town. She ran to Ottawa for reasons she herself could quite understand and when she got there she was assaulted by some local thugs. Something strange happened to Callie then she was able to defend herself using a strange power she never had before. Already with some psychic powers she saw what would happen if she didn't do something to stop it. As soon as she does she runs scared and the only person she can think of to call is Derrick. Friends in college who dated briefly but Derrick cut and ran leaving a brokenhearted Callie behind. . Callie always thought Derrick wasn't interest but he is her only hope little did she know Derrick was more than interested in her but had his own reasons for breaking it off. Now a call in the middle of the night brings Derrick and Callie together again.

Callie's magical talent of controlling air has finally emerged, saving herself but now she thinks she has killed her attacker. Derrick has already know of Callie's potential and tried to avoid her for that reason,but now that she is back and needs his help. To make matters worse Derrick's sister was murdered and Callie became her replacement as the Magus. Callie is thrown into the world she has no clue about. The Sentinels are two magic users designated to kept the town safe. The two of them made up of the Magus, the highest magic user, and The Knight, the one who defends and protects the Magus. They are connected; bonded in a way that bring them mentally closer to each other and the sexual tension between the two becomes almost unbearable. In Derrick's grief he forgets to tell Callie some important things and since she has no clue what she is doing when Derrick is injured beyond repair Callie does the only thing she can and forms the forbidden bond between the them.

The first Sentinels formed such a bond and ended up killing all but one of the council. The two Sentinels claimed the council member was a demon and that he killed the other council members. They were put to death and the council band that bond between the Sentinel stating it would slowly drive them crazy. Derrick and Callie try to hide it both still unsure about the others feelings but they both still love each other and that bond was inevitable. Derrick is upset with it after being told since childhood that it was wrong but Callie is adamant that she was just doing what felt right, and it still does.

The death of Derrick's sister was just the start of it. Soon Derrick and Callie are evading sniper attacks, tracking the killer of several young women and when the council finds out about the bond Callie wants to continue to avoid them and continue trying to find the killer before he strikes again, but Derrick wants to explain. It all comes together in an explosive "what a twist" ending.

 

REVIEW Some Like it Sizzling by Robbie Treman

Book three in A Perfect Recipe series is a delightful romance about second chances and proving people can change. Even as the third book in the series it can definitely be read as a stand-alone, the previous leads are prominent but their individual storylines aren't relevant. I enjoyed this light hearted but emotional romance with funny situations that make you giggle out loud. I love second chance stories and this one was very in depth and emotional without getting too heavy and a really good read.

Jenna Rawley left home without saying goodbye, she left to pursue a modeling career in Europe. Not turning out like she hoped she stayed staying away from her family and friends until her best friend called her up with a business opportunity. Returned to the states to help a friend and to start over and she has swimmingly until her fiance jilted her. To make matters worse he stole all of her money and has been under investigation by the FBI for laundering money for the mob. Forced to give up the life she has gotten use to sell her clothes and move back in with her father.

Luke Kearney had his heart broken when Jenna left, the day after he proposed. He always blamed her belief that to have money means to be happy and secure and always imagined the worse of her. He never got over it and it inadvertently ruined his marriage to a good woman. Olivia left Luke because she knew he could never love her as much as he denies to love Jenna. They maintain an amiable relationship for the sake of their son, Eli. When Jenna pops back into Luke's life the sizzle is still there; Jenna is scared of it and Luke fains indifference. But when Jenna's world comes crashing down Luke can't help but play the white knight. They are avoiding their past and refuse admit anything let alone their own feelings for each other. There are some humorous scenes of almost sex, you know where they start but get interrupted, those are always fun. As much as Luke loves Jenna he still doesn't quite trust her, so when she does a favor for a friend and a hefty paycheck Luke shuts her out. A near death experience changes it both for them both.

BLOG TOUR BLITZ Enduring Fate by Alicia Rae

Colton Kingston has loved Paige Summers his entire life. All he has ever dreamed of is having Paige by his side while he lives the simple life of a cowboy raising horses and cattle on his farm.

When tragedy strikes, fate tests the strength of their love.
Paige’s confidence is shaken as she wonders if she can heal from her past and move forward, so Colton can have the life he was born to live.

Can Colton and Paige endure everything in fate’s path?

Or will Paige give up her one true love to give Colton the life he deserves?

Alicia Rae Bio:

Alicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography.

Thank you to my dear sister, Kels, who showed me a few years ago how much I truly missed reading. And to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing in my mind. I am forever grateful. Xo

Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you.

Believe in yourself and follow your dreams...

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