Today we have the release day blitz of SOUR by Jennifer Woodhull!
Check it out and grab your copy now! Title: SOUR Author: Jennifer Woodhull Genre: Romantic Comedy
Tall, handsome, and eternally optimistic Noah has dated a string of gorgeous women. His best friend Elle has outlasted them all. Of course, he has no idea she's been in love with him for years. Why would he? It's not like she's going to tell him. After all, she's short and awkward, and as he's fond of reminding her, has a sour disposition.
When Elle takes off on her annual ten-day vacation with her family, Noah comes to a startling realization. She's the woman who is by his side day in and day out, whose office is across the hall, and whose house is around the corner. She has called him on his shit when he gets too cocky, and he has held her in her arms when her heart was broken. Absence must make the heart grow fonder because while she's in Germany with her parents, he realizes that everything he has ever wanted was right there all along. Now he's on a mission to make her realize that romance won't ruin their friendship, but platonic friendship is ruining their relationship.
I’m beyond excited that this trip will be just me and Noah, instead of a lot of boring people there that we have to pay attention to instead of just hanging out with each other like we prefer.
I try to focus on the workflow I’m supposed to turn in this week for the marketing strategy for the last quarter of the year, but I’m having trouble focusing. My instant messenger lights up. Noah: we need things. let’s go shopping tonight. Me: what sort of things Noah: you need a new dress for the formal vendor night, and I need…things Me: what sort of things? Noah: it’s personal I grab my phone and text him. ME: WHAT SORT OF THINGS NOAH: don’t yell its rude ME: THEN TELL ME NOAH: it’s PERSONAL ME: tell me or I’ll throw away all the gummies u left at my place. NOAH: u wouldn’t dare ME: wouldn’t I though? NOAH: underwear ME: I’m sorry? NOAH: underwear. I washed my underwear with a red polo and they’re all pink. every pair. ME: <tears of joy emoji> I laugh out loud so hard I snort, and he looks up from his desk, craning his neck to look through my window at me. I stand and walk across the hall to his office, and flop down in the chair across from his desk. “So, tiger, how pink are we talkin’, here?” I put a finger up to catch the tears under my eyes from laughing so hard, and hope I don’t have an unintentional smoky-eye look from my mascara. “Pink. Like…pink.” He replies, shaking his head. “That’s not like you, Noah. You’re the perfect housekeeper. You’re great at laundry. You did such a great job cleaning up my place that I can’t find anything.” I roll my eyes. When I mention the cleaning job he did in my apartment, his cheeks turn pink. I can’t say I’ve ever seen that happen before. It’s weird. It’s intriguing. “Oh, well…,” he rubs a broad palm up and down the back of his neck. “I’ve been kinda distracted lately. It was just a stupid mistake.” “Well, we definitely don’t want you walking around Vegas in pink shorts. What if our rooms are on the same floor? If you pick up some girl, and bring her back, her laughter will probably wake me up.” I fan myself until my laughter subsides. “I’m not picking up any girls in Vegas,” he says, putting his hands behind his head as he leans back in his chair. “Oh? I thought you said you were cooling things off with…what was the last one’s name? Is that back on?” I ask, hoping my curiosity sounds light and friendly, though it is definitely neither. “No, that’s been over for a while. I’m not picking up women in Vegas, though. I’m thinking of trying something different…,” he looks down, then casts his eyes up at me, the pale blue orbs turning dark as they peek up from under thick, dark brows. “What?! Don’t tell me you’re batting for the other team now. I mean, I’ve had a few gay guys ask me about you, but I always thought for sure you preferred an innie to an outie,” I laugh. “Um, no. Definitely one-hundred-percent straight, thanks,” then he looks at me and we say in unison, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” Seinfeld. Our mutual love of 90s sitcoms is boundless. It is one of a thousand things that make him perfect. “So, what then?” I ask, dipping my brows. “I’m taking a little break from the usual, that’s all. I’m thinking maybe I want to try…I dunno. Something…more.” He shrugs and holds my gaze intensely. “So…,” I swallow hard, the words catching in my throat. Please, dear God, tell me this isn’t the conversation I’ve dreaded for the past five years. Please, please, don’t let him have found someone he’s serious about. iBooks | Google Play | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
About the Author:
We all need moments of escape. With all the demands on us day in and day out, we each need something just for ourselves. Perhaps nothing provides a private moment - a brief respite from every day - like escaping into a great story. When you pick up one of my books I hope you find that place that you can escape to. Explore the streets of Paris with new heroines or fly around the world to reclaim your lost love with a favorite hero. Whether it's the romance that takes your breath away or those climactic encounters that make your pulse race, I hope you find that solitary moment of enjoyment while lost in one of my stories. Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
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Today we have the blog tour for Lucy Eden’s Cherishing the Goddess!
Check it out and be sure to grab your copy now! Title: Cherishing the Goddess Author: Lucy Eden Genre: Paranormal Romance
Billionaire CEO Alexander Wolfe has spent years putting in 120-hour weeks and adding zeroes to his net worth. But lately, work has left him feeling burnt out and uninspired. Then he is given the chance to go head-to-head with a legendary corporate raider and the man he’d idolized his entire career. He seizes the opportunity, immediately jumping on a plane for Barbados to close the deal in person. If he’s successful, it’ll be the biggest win of his career.
He had no way of knowing that meeting a mesmerizing beauty would have the power to derail everything... Calypso Sterling has no time for men who value her beauty over her intellect. Instead, she focuses all her energy on her studies and career aspirations. But when her home—and a closely guarded family secret—is threatened, she’s ready to defend all she holds dear. She had no way of knowing a handsome stranger had the power to take away everything she’d ever loved... This standalone, workplace/ enemies to lovers romance features characters from Everything’s Better With Kimberly, is full of alphas and steam and has NO cheating. This is the novelized, extended version of the previously published novella of the same name. “Hey, Mia Hamm,’’ a deep rumbling voice called from above me. I turned in the direction of the voice. The handsome man I saw yesterday playing football with his son was calling to me from the second-floor balcony. “Who?” “Mia Hamm. The famous soccer player.” “I know who Mia Hamm is. I’m not her, and you’re in Barbados where we call it football.” “Well, I don’t know your name. Why don’t you tell me what it is so I know what to call you and then you can tell me where you learned to play football like that.” “I think you’ll find that most people who grew up in the Caribbean can pass a football with some skill. I’m not special.” “I don’t know if I agree with that.” He grinned, and I felt myself flush. “And you still haven’t told me your name.” “Where are your wife and son?” I asked, deciding to nip this little game in the bud. His brow furrowed in confusion before realization hit. “What? No. She is not my wife and Philip is not my son.” Something that felt suspiciously like hope caused my heart to flutter at his words, but he was probably lying. “That little boy looked exactly like you.” “Hey, I’m not saying he’s not a good looking kid.” His grin returned, and so did my flush. “He’s just not my kid.” “Well, his mother seemed interested. Why don’t talk to her about soccer?” “I’m not interested in his mother.” He gave me a pointed look, his grin still firmly in place. My stupid heart fluttered again. “I’m already taken,” he said. The fluttering stopped. “But the problem is, she won’t tell me her name.” He tucked his bottom lip between his teeth, still grinning. And the fluttering returned. A deep breath helped me calm myself and regain focus before I pressed the elevator button again, knowing that it would do nothing to make the elevator come faster. I glared at him and rolled my eyes. He was leaning over his balcony waiting for an answer. “No,” I said finally. “No, what?” he asked. “Whatever you want. Whatever you think this is. The answer is no.” “It can be whatever you want it to be.” That line would’ve been incredibly sleazy from anyone else, but he made it sound so sincere and almost convincing that it was clear I needed to keep my distance from him, no matter how charming he was and no matter how long it had been since I felt a man’s hands on my body. “Good,” I said. Mercifully, the elevator arrived at that moment, and I stepped inside. “Nothing it is.”
Lucy Eden is the nom de plume of a romance obsessed author who writes the kind of romance she loves to read. She’s a sucker for alphas with a soft gooey center, over the top romantic gestures, strong & smart MCs, humor, love at first sight (or pretty damn close), happily ever afters & of course, steamy love scenes.
When Lucy isn’t writing, she’s busy reading—or listening to—every book she can get her hands on— romance or otherwise. She lives in New York with her husband, two children, a turtle & a Yorkshire Terrier. Connect with Lucy: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook | Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon
★★ NEW RELEASE ★★
Don't miss this brand new contemporary romance, standalone title from Marie Harte. ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ SMOOTH MOVES is available now!
Ex-Marine Cash Griffith is a beacon for trouble. Working for the family moving company, he does his best to keep a low profile, but he can’t help finishing a fight someone else starts. There’s one person at work who annoys and baffles him. But if he even thought about taking her on, she’d put him down. Hard. Which is a real problem, because Cash wants nothing more than to tangle with sexy Jordan Fleming.
The ex-Army MP has her hands full with her new job and her rebellious teenage brother. Getting him through summer school is a chore. Figuring out what to do with her life now that she’s a civilian is disheartening. But one thing she lives for—doing battle with the obnoxious, arrogant, incredibly hot Marine at work. Their battles turn into true camaraderie, then into something more. Helping each other out with family problems, Cash and Jordan learn to trust each other. One kiss leads to another, and friendship starts turning to love. But when dangerous secrets come to light, their bond will either break or strengthen into a future they both deserve. Jordan dared him to be mouthy again, holding a slice of pie in front of him. Cash had fallen on her food as if the Russians were coming, and nothing could have pleased her more. Call her old-fashioned, but Jordan liked cooking for more than just herself. Especially for someone who appreciated it. She was an independent woman who’d made her place in the world all by herself. She was single by choice, and she had no problem indulging in casual sex when the mood struck. So it had always surprised her to find she took after her mother when it came to relationships. Maria Younger liked to coddle Carl, the same way she’d taken care of Jordan’s father. Jordan took pleasure in cooking for, cleaning up after, and generally sharing herself with her boyfriends. She’d dated some nice guys, but timing and her work in the Army had made commitments tough to keep. Had she found someone who truly clicked with her, she’d have changed a few of her decisions. But no one had pressed all her buttons, not like…not like the man she did not consider anything more than a friend and coworker. Yes, she’d made her best dish to persuade Cash to help her brother. And, yes, she’d made a cherry pie for dessert because she knew it was his favorite but also to seal the deal concerning Rafi. If only she could stop thinking about Cash in any kind of non-platonic kind of way. She had intelligence, yet lately she seemed to be thinking with her ovaries and not her brain. “Seriously. I have no idea why you’re not married right now. You’re cute, and you can cook.” Cash finished his slice of pie and sat back, patting his washboard of a stomach. “Oh, that’s right. You’re mouthy. Forgot about that.” His eyes sparkled, as if he enjoyed their verbal sparring as much as she did. Quietly, and just to screw with him, she said, “Maybe I was married and my husband cheated on me. Maybe he took my kids away from me. Maybe he wasn’t the man I thought he was.” Cash looked suddenly angry. “Are you kidding me?” Fascinated that his moods vacillated from happy to angry in the span of a heartbeat, she kicked back and put her hands behind her head. “Yes, I am kidding you. As if I’d let some asshole steal my kids…when I have any.” She huffed. “And just maybe, jackass, I don’t want to get married. This is why you should never assume.” He blinked, started to say something, then broke out in laughter. He laughed so hard he cried, and she couldn’t help grinning with him. “Fuck. No wonder I like you so much. You’re worse than I am when it comes to getting under somebody’s skin.” “Thanks a lot.” Not exactly flattered, she stood to clear their plates then started to run the water. Cash suddenly stood behind her in her tiny kitchen. He turned her around, too close for comfort. “Hey, now.” He wiped his eyes, but a hand remained on her shoulder, burning through the cotton of her T-shirt. “I’m kidding. Lighten up, Fleming.” She looked from his hand on her shoulder up to his darkening eyes. His gaze changed, the focus no longer on her face but somehow on her mouth. His breathing quickened. So did hers. “S-so you’ll help me with Rafi, and I’ll help you pack.” Great. Now she couldn’t look away from his mouth. Such firm lips, so full and pretty yet masculine. Weird. To her consternation, her nipples hardened. “Yeah, sure,” he agreed absently. Then the sexy jerk rubbed a thick, callused finger over her lips. She sucked in a breath. “Shit. Okay, we’re just gonna do this once because I can’t fucking wait another minute wondering.” She licked her lips, and his eyes narrowed. “Wondering what?” she asked, sounding weak, feeling like a limp noodle under his strong hands. “What you taste like.” He lowered his face slowly, taking his time and giving her every chance to pull away. “Damn it, you’re taking too long,” she groused and yanked him down to her. The first taste of him knocked her world off its axis. He tasted sweet, a mixture of cherries and man and sex combining to send her heart into a race it might not finish. He groaned and lifted her in his arms, their mouths still melded, the full-body hug turning her on like a drug. He settled her on the counter, his hands clasped on either side of her hips, and angled himself between her legs. For the life of her she couldn’t think about anything but how well Cash fit there, as if he’d been made just for her. The breadth of him overwhelmed her, and she clung to his shoulders, dizzy and wanting and afraid to fall off one helluva ride.
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.
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Rebel by Beverly Jenkins
Series Women Who Dare Genre Adult Historical Romance Publisher Avon Books Publication Date May 28, 2019
The first novel in USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins’s compelling new series follows a Northern woman south in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War . . .
Valinda Lacey’s mission in the steamy heart of New Orleans is to help the newly emancipated community survive and flourish. But soon she discovers that here, freedom can also mean danger. When thugs destroy the school she has set up and then target her, Valinda runs for her life—and straight into the arms of Captain Drake LeVeq. As an architect from an old New Orleans family, Drake has a deeply personal interest in rebuilding the city. Raised by strong women, he recognizes Valinda’s determination. And he can’t stop admiring—or wanting—her. But when Valinda’s father demands she return home to marry a man she doesn’t love, her daring rebellion draws Drake into an irresistible intrigue.
Tour Wide GiveawayTo celebrate the release of REBEL by Beverly Jenkins, we're giving away a paperback copy of Tempest by Beverly Jenkins to one lucky winner! GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a paperback copy of Tempest by Beverly Jenkins. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Books. Giveaway ends 6/10/2019 @ 11:59pm EST. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
About Beverly JenkinsBEVERLY JENKINS is the recipient of the 2018 Michigan Author Award by the Michigan Library Association, the 2017 Romance Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance. She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured in both the documentary Love Between the Covers and on CBS Sunday Morning. Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for multicultural romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR. To read more about Beverly, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.
In Moonlight and Memories trilogy
By Julie Ann Walker Release Date: July 1, 2019
From NYT and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker comes an epic tale of sacrifice, friendship, and the awe-inspiring power of love.
Maggie: Ten years ago, Cash Armstrong stole my heart. Then he promptly joined the army—dragging my best friend with him—and left me crying on the front porch in a red sequined prom dress. Now he's back. They're both back. Cash, the one who still has my heart. And Luc, the one who saved my life. Cash: How do you know if you’re at the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end? That's what I've been trying to figure out since a traumatic brain injury made me "unfit to serve." I'm back in New Orleans, and picking up the shattered pieces of my past means I must confront where my life's journey began... and where it all might end. Luc: Long ago, Maggie May was mine. Not mine in the way you might think. She was mine because she was my only friend. Then Cash came along and we became brothers by something stronger than blood. We became brothers by choice. When tragedy struck, I was forced to make a decision that changed all our lives. I thought, after ten years, it was safe to come back home. I was wrong...
Sneak Peek #3 for In Moonlight and Memories
I tug on his ear. It's a gesture that, once upon a time, was as normal as breathing. He tilts his face into my palm, closing his eyes and blowing out a windy breath. His beard stubble is scratchy against my skin. Is it weird to be touching him with such familiarity? We may not be strangers, but neither are we those same two lonely kids from high school. I jerk my hand away. To hide the speed of my retreat, I unpin my pillbox hat, give my scalp a good scratch, and quickly change topics. "On a happier note, I have this friend—an acquaintance really—who was at the second line tonight. Her name's Lauren. I was going to introduce you, but then, you know..." I make a rolling motion with my hand. "Cash happened. Anyway, she teaches my spin class and sometimes comes into the bar for a drink. She's sweet and funny, and she sure had eyes for you. Want me to set something up?" His lips twist into an impudent grin that would've seemed alien on the face of the boy I knew. On his man's face? It looks right at home. "Sweet and funny usually means bad butt and weird boobs," he says. I laugh and punch his arm. "No, it doesn't, you big Neanderthal! Sweet and funny means sweet and funny. And did you miss the part where I said she teaches my spin class? I think that pretty much guarantees a good butt, at the very least." "Not interested." My brow pinches. "Why not?" He looks out at the street, his expression unreadable. "I'm not in the market for romance." "Could've fooled me." I grunt. "Probably could've fooled that blonde the other night too." "That was nothing. Just some fun and done." "Oh, I get it." I purse my lips. "And if I set you up with someone I know, it'll obligate you to do more than have some fun and then be done?" "Exactly." Planting my elbow on my knee, I cup my chin in my hand and study his profile. "Enjoying the bachelor life, are you?" He shrugs. "It's suited me so far." "Funny. I always pegged you for the marrying kind. I thought you'd have a ring on your finger and a whole passel of kids hanging off your arms by now. Did I read you wrong? Or have you changed that much?" He eyes me for a moment, then asks, "Would you believe me if I told you it was neither?" "Would that be the truth?" He makes a face of distaste. "The military is hell on relationships. I watched most of the guys in my unit get married, get wronged, or do the wronging themselves, and then get divorced. When and if I ever tie the knot, I aim to do it only once. And to make sure that happens, I'm thinking I oughta be the last thing my wife sees before going to sleep at night and the first thing she opens her eyes to each morning." Before I have time to digest that, he hitches his chin toward my throat. I realize I'm working my locket in my hand when he says, "You're still wearing it." Looking down at the silver filigree heart, I murmur, "I remember the day you gave it to me. It was that first summer after we met, the third anniversary of my parents' deaths." He nods. "I thought Miss Bea was gonna bar me at the door when I came to drop it off." "I'd been crying all morning, and she doesn't believe in not putting your best face forward when it comes to company. But I jumped out of bed the minute I heard Smurf coming up the street." "You were still in your pajamas when you came downstairs. She was shocked to her core." "She was even more shocked when I sat with you on the porch swing without first putting on some clothes. 'Magnolia May'"—I do my best impression of her—"'the neighbors will think you were born in a barn!'" Switching back to my own voice, I ask, "How many houses full of furniture did you help move that summer so you could afford this?" I hold up the locket, letting it catch the light of the moon. He puts an arm around my shoulders. The clean, woodsy scent of his aftershave tickles my nose. "Every drop of sweat was worth it. Your expression when you opened that locket was priceless." I open it now to see the faces of my parents staring up at me. The old pain is there, ever present, but it's softer around the edges. Tempered by the years I've carried them close to my heart. Thanks to Luc. "I never knew how you got your hands on photos of them." I softly trace the graceful line of my mother's cheek with a fingertip. "I went to the newspaper. They had pictures of the hurricane victims, and when I told 'em what I wanted to do, they let me make copies." I shake my head in wonder. "You've always been a better friend to me than I've ever been to you." "Horseshit." His vehemence startles a laugh from me. "It's true!" "The hell it is. I was a miserable outcast at Braxton Academy. Until you came along, I thought about dropping out every day. You're the only reason I got that damned diploma." And I'd been considering doing a lot worse than dropping out before he showed up in my life. A lot worse. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves of the sweet gum tree on the corner. Bourbon Street's bawdy laughter and loud music are nothing but a soft din here, but the familiar sound of cheer and happiness makes me realize how far I've come in the years since Luc and Cash left. As I look up at the sky, a black blanket studded with diamonds, I try to imagine what the next ten years will bring. He sees the direction of my gaze and murmurs, "The night sky always reminds me of the past." "That's weird. I was thinking about my future." He's doesn't say anything to that, simply continues to stare at the sky. Reflected starlight glitters in his eyes. "So why does it make you think about the past?" I prompt. "'Cause it is the past. Take the Little Dipper." He traces the stars that make up Ursa Minor. I still remember the names of the constellations thanks to my fifth-grade teacher who taught us a song about them to the tune of a Kelly Clarkson hit. "See the big, bright star at the end of the handle?" "Polaris?" He looks at me, one eyebrow raised. "Don't look so impressed. There are more than keg prices and liquor margins stored up here." I tap my noggin. "Never doubted it for a minute," he assures me. Then, "Polaris is 434 light-years away." "Now, that I didn't know," I admit. "Which means the light we're seeing now is 434 years old. For all we know, Polaris has gone supernova. But we can't see it 'cause we're not looking at Polaris's present. We're looking at its past." I study the star in question, watching it pulse and twinkle. A snapshot of time gone by. Just like Cash and Luc. "It makes me feel small," he admits. "You're many things, Luc. But small isn't one of them." "What I mean is, we all think of ourselves as the heroes and heroines of our own epic tales. When instead, we're simply bit players in the bigger story of the universe." He's always been a philosopher at heart. Pondering the big questions. Thinking the big thoughts. "I guess that puts our paltry problems in perspective, doesn't it?" I say, realizing the alliteration only once it's out of my mouth. "Ha! Say that ten times fast. Paltry problems in perspective." He changes the subject so quickly I'm caught off guard. "What time d'ya have to be at the bar tomorrow?" I cut him a glance, wondering if we were getting too close to a truth he's not ready to share. "Eight," I tell him. "I have to meet my beer distributor. He's dropping off the kegs for the week." He pulls a cell phone from the breast pocket of his sports coat and checks the time. I'm surprised to see it's going on midnight. "I'll walk you home," he says. I turn to stare through the open door at the lump on the mattress that is Cash. "But Cash—" Before I get out another word, a soft snore drifts our way. "He's fine," Luc insists. "But I'll come back and spend the night anyway. Just to make sure." I shake my head. The silver locket has found its way into my fist again. "Neither of us ever deserved you, Luc."
A little about Julie…
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julie grew up in a house full of women – she has three older sisters. As you can imagine, there was no lack of drama… or romance. Her mother enrolled her in a book club as soon as she began to read and it was the small spark that ignited her voracious appetite for the written word. Because of Julie’s early immersion in literature, she found writing came quite naturally. In high school, she won multiple writing contests and was the proud senior editor of The Tiger’s Tale – her school newspaper. During her college years, however, she longed for a challenge. “Reading and writing felt like second nature to me, so I looked for a way to flex my mental muscles,” she recalls. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Julie began teaching advanced high school mathematics. “I loved working with the students and facing the challenges of the classroom, but I longed for the occasional snow day when I could race to the local book store, buy two or three new novels, and curl up in front of the fire to read.” It wasn’t until a fortuitous move to Chicago that Julie once more returned to her first passion. Now Julie loves to travel the world looking for views to compete with her deadlines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, cooking, petting every dog that walks by her, and… reading, of course! Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |