Coercion
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GIVEAWAY! #Book Blitz #Sleigh Bell Serenade by Shanna Hatfield #Contemporary Romance @Xpresso Book Tours23/1/2023
Sleigh Bell Serenade
-- EXCERPT: “What a mess,” the woman said, brushing at her coat with the napkin Sassy handed to her. “I’m not usually such a klutz.” She gave up dabbing at the cider soaking into the white cashmere and looked to Bo again. “Thank you for catching me before I fell. I’m Juniper, by the way. Juniper Haynes.” “Juniper,” Bo mumbled, finally managing to gain a miniscule amount of control over his tongue. However, his heart pounded so fast and loud, it echoed like a bongo drum in his head. “That’s an awesome name,” Sassy said, with the enthusiasm summoned by a teenager impressed by someone older and more worldly. “I’m Sassy, and this is Bo Jensen.” Juniper’s smile widened as she looked up at him. Even with her high-heeled boots, she barely came up to his chest. Then again, at six-four, he tended to tower over a lot of people. “Sassy and Bo. It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you, again, for catching me. Happy Christmas Eve.” Juniper turned away and took a lopsided step, but her foot slid on a patch of hidden ice. She would have fallen if Bo hadn’t caught her a second time, his arms looping beneath hers from the back. She tilted her face upward and offered him a look of gratitude. Something that felt like an electrical current trailed up his arms, threatening to short circuit what few working brain cells he had left. Words. He needed words. To speak—to say anything—but nothing seemed to be able to work its way from his overloaded brain to his mouth. The sharp elbow Sassy jabbed into his side didn’t help any more than her questioning glare to rattle something loose. Bo stared at the woman, fascinated. Juniper. What an intriguing name for an entirely captivating woman.
GIVEAWAY! Submission
Get it FREE for a limited time! -- EXCERPT: “Who do we have here?” A deep, gravelly voice at my right drew my attention. My breath hitched and my body heated when I spotted the sexiest man I’d ever laid eyes on. I’d always been a sucker for a man with salt and pepper hair. Damn, he filled out that navy t-shirt nicely. My eyes traveled his full length before returning to his face. I flushed at the amused half-smile he wore at my perusal. It took me a moment to remember he’d asked me a question. “Pe-Penny,” I stuttered, almost breathless as the heat in my face intensified. I don’t remember blushing this much before in my life. Fake it ’til you make it was my mantra. I stood a little taller and attempted to gain the confidence I typically displayed with chauvinistic surgeons. “I’m Marcus.” His secret smile remained as he reached out to shake my hand. When I placed mine in his, he squeezed it firmly, and I thought I felt his thumb gently caress mine, but he pulled away before I could be sure. “Nice to meet you.” The words came out a little shaky. “So, what brings you out to play with us today?” His voice dropped suggestively. Maintaining my barely-there confidence, I answered his question. “I’m curious about domination and submission. I figured this was the best place to gain some knowledge.” “Knowledge about what?” Marcus asked, showing true interest. Everything. I wanted to know what it felt like to give up control. To just feel and not have to think. To be dominated. To have someone fulfill needs I didn’t even know I had. I wanted to find my happily ever after, damn it. Sadly, I didn’t know how to express any of this. I shrugged my shoulders. “Whatever someone will teach me.” “Sweetness,” he murmured, “I’d be happy to teach you anything you want to know.”
GIVEAWAY! One Hundred Reasons
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo -- EXCERPT: “This feels kind of perfect.” He adjusted the blanket and pulled her closer. The arm of her chair dug into her side, but she didn’t complain. For the first time since she arrived in Aspen Cove, she wasn’t alone or lonely. It was an odd sensation to be so comfortable with a man who made her temper flare, and her insides turn soft. The most interesting thing was he made her feel something other than empty. She would take rage and passion over apathy any day. They sat in companionable silence for minutes. Cannon turned toward her and tilted his head. A kiss was coming, and all her questions about his lips would be answered. She leaned in, relaxed her lips and inhaled. Just as the lids of her eyes fluttered closed, she felt him shift. “I think they’re done.” He rolled to his feet, taking the blanket with him. “Let’s get you inside and warmed up.” He offered her a hand and pulled her to her feet. “I’ll clean this up.” With his arm at her back, he led her to the door. Sage wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but it was the smart choice. There was no point in starting something that wouldn’t go anywhere. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you. This was probably the best night I’ve had in a while.” He held her close, and his lips touched the top of her head in a gentle kiss. “You need to get out more.” “I do. I really do.” “Tomorrow night, you should come to the bar.” He stepped back. “It’s karaoke night. Bring Otis.” “Okay.” She nodded. It would be the first Saturday night where she wasn’t pulling a shift or spending it curled on the couch, watching reruns. “It’s a date.” He stepped away and started down the stairs. “Is it?” Did he mean a real date, or was he using it as a figure of speech? “Just come to the bar.” He disappeared into the night. She watched his outline as he picked up the glasses and bottles by the water and moved toward his cabin. She giggled as she walked into the house. Suddenly, nothing bothered her. Not her nose. Not the newlyweds going at it like rabbits. Not the thought of being stuck here until the house sold. A voice from deep down told her she could be happy here if she’d let herself. Flopping onto her bed, she grinned up at the ceiling, thinking of the magical effect that a long hug and light kiss from the right man could have. She wasn’t sure if it was the wine talking or her hormones, but something was telling her to trust Cannon.
GIVEAWAY! Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Blinded me with Science, the second book in Lesson in Love series by Tara September. Blinded Me With Science Opposites attract like a magnet to steel, or in this case, Emerson to Steel Emerson Powers has been so focused on obtaining her science degree that she’s neglected the more social aspects of college life. With the new start of her junior year, she’s determined to fix that with a real hands-on lesson in biology. The assignment is simple enough—teach the rock star’s son how to be good, while he shows her how to be very bad. Two objectives, one outcome … will the lesson be love or heartbreak? Steel is no longer the bad boy Emerson knew from prep school, and he’s set to prove it by helping Emerson complete her secret list of desired college experiences. And if he can convince her that they are meant to be together along the way, even better! While teaming up on experiments, both in and out of the classroom, Emerson discovers a new side to Steel. Leaving her to question everything she thought she knew. Still, is it enough to forgive the past or just mere chemistry? Purchase Links US / UK / CA / AU My thoughts: We really can't get enough STEM-oriented girls and their romance- I'm blaming Ali Hazelwood and her overnight success...But what if your science knowledge is kind of rusty and reading about formulae makes your eyes glaze over (...ehm...Project Hail Mary has somewhat tempered my enthusiasm for maths in fiction)? here are five reasons why you might still enjoy this one: 1 this is a very short, dual POV novella that will take just an hour or two of reading time at most; 2 if you like the campus setting and New Adult fiction in general and are missing your college days (when all you had to worry about were essay deadlines and midterms), you'll feel right at home. All the usual elements are present and the writing is definitely targeting the college age category. I don't want to spoil the story, but Professor Albright's class sounded awesome based on her first lecture. 3 science bits are kept to minimum...scratch that, there's no science and minimum amount of studying, so don't let the title scare you off, focus on the cover and you'll get a much better idea of the book. 4 Everyone loves a good list and the sublime feeling of crossing the completed items off it (better than hot chocolate on a winter day, right?) and Emerson's secret list of desired college experiences is pretty much universal for an archetypal Good Girl. 5 There's no cheating, no miscommunication, and the bad boy isn't just perfectly charming, he is charmingly perfect in every single way. Who doesn't love a good second chance story with a reformed wild teenager determined to do right to win his girl? The only thing I wasn't so happy about was a bit of not like the other girls vibe, but, on the plus side, Emerson and Steel's kisses were hot and no one could deny their chemistry and attraction. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. Author Bio –
Fueled by an IV of green tea and Prosecco, Tara September is a multi-award-winning contemporary romance author of bestselling sassy & steamy love stories filled with banter. Based in Southwest Florida, Tara holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, a B.A. from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, as well as attended college courses at Queen’s College in London, U.K. She is also the proud mom to identical twin 10-year-old boys and three cats. Social Media Links Instagram / Facebook / Twitter Cole Twins Box Set
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: When the doors slid open, I was greeted by a huge sign that read Cole Investment Research Advisors, Inc. To my left, at the end of the hallway, a receptionist desk stood empty. I strolled to it anyway, casually peering into the other offices. Every person was either on the phone or had their gazes glued to their computer screens. A man’s deep and sort of angry voice caught my attention. I ambled toward the suite in the corner, the only room with a shut door. Could this be Wesley? Of all the Cole brothers, he was always the most intense and intimidating. Was that why I’d had such a big crush on him? Because he seemed impossible to get, so beautiful and unattainable. I pressed a hand on the frosted-glass door for support. In a split second, the panel swung open, and I fell flat on my face. Technically speaking, I tumbled over a pair of large Italian-leather shoes. “Let me call you back.” The angry voice now had an annoyed edge to it. “The door just opened.” I glanced up as a pair of hands picked me off the floor. My heart drummed in my ears. In part because I was embarrassed, but also because, holy shit, this was Wesley Cole. Somehow, he’d gotten hotter in the last eight years. The boy I remembered was gone, replaced by an incredibly gorgeous man. “Yeah, I opened it.” His warm fingers loosened a bit around my bare shoulders, and he smiled at me with a little twinkle in his eye. “Are you okay?” Was that recognition in his gaze? “I am. Thank you.” I shuffled back and smoothed out my skirt. “Can I help you?” He shot a glance toward the empty receptionist’s desk. “I think so. I came to see you. I’m Ana?” I pursed my lips. I hated that name when I was little. I especially hated it Wesley’s grandmother owned the estate next to ours. Wesley and his family spent so much time at that house, I considered them neighbors. In his letter, Charlie had mentioned that Wesley’s oldest brother, Derek, had acquired the estate, done a full renovation, and planned to move in soon. “I know who you are.” A crease shot across his forehead. He released me so fast I stumbled back. “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you today.” “I’m sorry. I should’ve made an appointment.” My cheeks burned hot. Wesley wasn’t a boy anymore, but the stern look in those hazel eyes told me he still thought of me as Charlie’s little sister. “I should go.” I turned to leave. “Anabelle, please wait.” He put out his hand but then retrieved it. “We do need to talk. Sit down.”
GIVEAWAY! Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The Testing of Rose Alleyn by Vivien Freeman and thank you to Vivien for her guest post today. About the book: The Testing of Rose Alleyn England in the year 1900. A vibrant young woman must take control of her destiny. Vivien Freeman’s atmospheric novel brings late Victorian England hauntingly to life in the mind of the reader. In this beautifully written romance, we explore the choices facing an independent-minded woman at a time when women struggled for self-determination. Purchase Links Amazon / Waterstones / Amazon Guest Post by Vivien Freeman Ordinary Women by Vivien Freeman No one is ‘ordinary’… In 1921, when Marie Stopes opened her Mothers’ Clinic for Constructive Birth Control, offering contraceptive advice to married women, she said that it was not uncommon for her to meet women there who had been through twenty pregnancies. I learned this fact from a Woman’s Hour feature just when I was starting to write about Rose Alleyn. The thought of what life must have been like for those women horrified and angered me. It also made me want to explore it, in a work of fiction, through the eyes of a daughter of one such mother as she approaches adult life. At the age of sixteen, Rose has lived through the deaths of a much-loved little brother and sister, a new-born, a still-born, and the loss of a baby late in term, as well as what she has come to understand were five miscarriages. Late in her twentieth pregnancy her mother suffered a fatal heart attack. This traumatic event has fuelled Rose’s resolution never to marry. The tension between this resolve and a developing relationship with her employer, Leonard Pritchard, is one of the strands of conflict in The Testing of Rose Alleyn. If you look hard enough, you can always find exceptions to the general rule that women’s lives in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were prescribed by gender and social status. But they are rare examples, usually helped by the women in question being titled or wealthy or both, and not being opposed by a father or other male relative. Marie Stopes herself is a good example. She came from an enlightened family who encouraged her thirst for knowledge. Even so, when her father died in 1902 and her family faced financial ruin, she was only able to continue her ground-breaking studies due to the patronage of her professor. The illustrious (as she became) Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, upon completing her initial education, had to spend the next nine years undertaking domestic duties, continuing her studies in her spare time, since at first her father was opposed to his daughter becoming a physician. These are some of the women you hear about because they managed to surmount everything that was thrown at them. They were, indeed, the exceptions. In The Testing of Rose Alleyn, I wanted to explore what life would be like for an ‘ordinary’ woman who, because of her humble background, had no lofty aspirations, was not under the patronage of some male, nor of independent means and who, therefore, had to earn her own keep. I wanted to do this also, indeed, especially, because I believe that no one is ‘ordinary’. We all have our own dramas. Every life has incalculable depth. There is no such thing as ‘ordinary’. The fact that Rose has defied expectations and, unlike her three sisters and two of her brothers, has not gone into service at the local Big House, Sawdons, astonishes the rest of her family. It is, as one of her brothers acknowledges, courageous when she chooses the path she does, since she has never worked in a shop, let alone a bookshop. She has, though, as her most loyal family supporter remarks, always been a great reader devouring the very limited library within her reach. For a female as young as Rose to strike out and try to forge an independent life in the busy market town of Widdock is a bold venture in Victorian times. Her struggle to maintain that life, with all that it offers in terms of new cultural horizons and female friendships – not to mention love – against the demands of family loyalty back in her old home village, Markly, is another strand of conflict which runs through the novel. If there is no such things as ‘ordinary’, there are, on the other hand, archetypal experiences, and these need to be celebrated. Giving birth, dying and being witness to these events, celebration and grief, together with activities as everyday as preparing and sharing a meal – these things are perennial and universal. I would like to think that someone from another age could recognise the scenes and experiences I describe in my novel, and that someone from another culture could do so, too. We are all human beings. I choose to celebrate the positive in our human nature and, in my writing, hold it up to the light. Author Bio Vivien Freeman grew up in North London and graduated in Art History from the University of East Anglia before settling in Ware, Hertfordshire. A published poet as well as a novelist, she taught Creative Writing for many years and has an M.A. in Scriptwriting from Salford University. She now lives in rural Wales in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband, the poet, John Freeman.
Happy Cover Reveal Day to Clare Hawken and her new book Happy Days! Happy Days Meet Steph Barnacle, an English teacher at a private school, married to Dan. Her son has just left for university, her life is feeling a bit stale … and something weird is going on with the skin on her neck. And then Charles Kurmudge, the man she’s never forgotten, walks back into her world. Charles’s life has blown up spectacularly – he’s lost his job, his house and his marriage. Determined to get back on track, he’s changed career. He’ll now be working for Steph, whose heart he broke over twenty years ago. He still finds her very attractive. What a shame she’s married. Her husband, Dan, knows he loves Steph more than she loves him. And now that Charles is back in his wife’s orbit, he’s worried about their marriage. But surely Steph wouldn’t dream of leaving him for Charles, who’d treated her so badly … would she? Can Steph resist her first love? Or will she give him a second chance? Publication Date: 3rd February Author Bio
Clare Hawken was born in Zambia and has lived in England, France and Australia. She now lives in Wiltshire with her family and a stubborn springer spaniel. She writes about families, relationships, and the blind spots, mistakes and mishaps that can change life in a heartbeat. Apart from writing, she enjoys reading voraciously across a wide range of genres; other people's gardening efforts; and long walks, if she can persuade the dog to come with her. The Year of Cecily
Goodreads / Amazon / Bares & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: Having escaped the madhouse, Cecily dutifully made her way down the street to the Lee residence. She knocked on the door and was greeted by Jeffrey’s younger sister Bethany. She was dressed in a soft blue sweater and jeans, with a bandana pulling her hair back. “CeeCee!” Bethany exclaimed as she enveloped Cecily in a hug. Despite herself, Cecily couldn’t prevent a grin. She’d always had a soft spot for Bethany. “You’re home for the weekend?” Cecily asked. Last she heard, Bethany was a senior at Columbia, majoring in biochemistry. “Yep. Where else would I be?” Bethany readjusted her bandana. “Mom needs all hands on deck for the cleaning.” Cecily made a face. “My mom’s planning a top-to-bottom deep cleaning today too. I’m on bathroom duty. She’s also grumbling because she needs to take me to Walmart later to buy new clothes. But you can’t fight tradition.” She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. It was a New Year tradition slash superstition to clean the house top to bottom, get a haircut, and buy a new outfit. It was all about out with the old, in with the new and generating good luck and a fresh start for the Year of the Pig. Bethany had no response, just blew out a breath and looked at her expectantly. “Oh, right. Is Jeffrey around? I need to speak to him.” Speaking of the devil, he appeared behind his sister in the doorway. “If you’re here to pay me for the Uber, think again.” He crossed his arms, and a stubborn look came over his face. All right. If he was going to be a hard-ass about this, then so could she. She had plenty of experience dealing with difficult clients. “It’s out of my hands, Jeffrey. You know that I can’t go into the New Year unless I settle all debts. You wouldn’t want me to start the Year of the Pig with bad luck hanging over my head, do you? You really want that on your conscience?” She gave her most innocent look and blinked disarmingly. Jeffrey just scowled. “You always were a spoiled brat when it came to getting your way,” he muttered. Cecily took immediate umbrage. “How dare you!” Such an unfair accusation. Besides, how did he know? They hadn’t seen each other in ten years. Maybe she had her moments, but didn’t everyone? Jeffrey just raised an eyebrow. “Who was the one who told our moms I scalped her Barbie doll when she really was the one who decided to give it a haircut?” “Really with that? I was five years old for God’s sake!” Seriously. An implacable stare from him. “Did you or did you not get a new doll for your birthday?” “To be clear, the statute of limitations for that has come and gone,” Cecily sniffed. “Not fair for you to throw that in my face now. It’s been thirty years, and I doubt your ability to accurately recall the event in question. Besides, whether or not I got a replacement Barbie doll is irrelevant to the current discussion.” “And I was the one who got spanked for something I didn’t do.” She continued to glare, and so did he. Bethany just looked at them back and forth like she was watching a tennis match. “You two are weird,” she decided with a shake of her head. She walked away and disappeared back into the house. Jeffrey ignored her. “But if you insist, it was sixty dollars.” As Cecily dug through her wallet and purse, he added nonchalantly, “Oh and just so you know, Guillermo gave us a four and a half star rating.” Her head snapped up and she stopped searching for the money. “Why didn’t we get five?” “You were always so competitive.” He chuckled. He leaned against the doorjamb and put his hands in his pockets. “Well, why didn’t we get five? We did nothing wrong,” she insisted, with her hands on her hips. “Go ask him,” Jeffrey suggested, his lips twitching. Cecily frowned and went back to her purse. Finally, she scrounged up thirty dollars and thrust it at him. “There you go.” “Glad I could help you start the New Year with a clean slate,” he drawled. “Happy now?” She raised a warning brow. “You’re lucky I didn’t ask for a receipt.” “Your faith in me is touching.
GIVEAWAY! "Sophie Sullivan’s writing feels like a warm hug.” —Rachel Lynn Solomon, bestselling author of The Ex Talk Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. With a head full of entrepreneurial ideas and a bad ex in her rearview, her one and only focus is living life the way she wants to. No distractions. Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. With a string of lackluster first dates and the pain from his parents’ angry divorce following him around, he’d much rather find someone who he likes, but won’t love. Companionship, not passion, is the name of the game. When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love. What could possibly go wrong? Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin Publication date: 17/1/23 Purchase link ISBN 9781250624208, 1250624207 My thoughts: A lovely final book in a delightful series featuring three brothers and their different ways to Happily-ever-after. If you loved 10 Rules For Faking it and How to Love Your Neighbour, you must have been waiting impatiently for this third and final book. If you are new to Sophie Sullivan's romcoms, don't worry, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Hailey Sharp is a ray of sunshine- sweet and independent, Hailey never complains or relies on other people to solve her problems. Instead of wallowing in misery after her emotionally-abusive relationship came to an end, Hailey sold her apartment, moved to a new town and opened a business of her own. Now what she really needs is to focus on making her salad bar successful and ...finding friends, becoming a part of this lovely, vibrant community. Wes Jansen has decided to follow his brothers to California and continue building their cybersecurity/investment business as far as possible from their father. Unlike Chris and Noah he doesn't want love and family, as they are too difficult to predict and control. He doesn't even want to date casually. What he needs is a friend, and luckily he already has a perfect candidate for that- Hailey, after their embarrassing meet-cute. All they have to do is set their boundaries and not let their feelings grow in (un)predictably romantic ways.... If friends-to-lovers happens to be your favourite trope, you know how often it is about old childhood friends or schoolmates or a best friend's brother/sister. Sophie Sullivan explores something else her - two people may be perfect for each other, but aren't ready to date seriously not this specific person, but anyone. Hailey's just started her business and needs time to forget her ex's lies, Wes is ...very rigid and uptight. They both have parents issues (very different, but with the same outcome)-the author writes about something very realistic and relatable, but in a light-hearted, entertaining way. Recommended to anyone who likes slow-burn romance, sweet, likeable characters (both main and secondary), and happily-ever-afters. Can't wait to read Sophie Sullivan's next book! Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. SOPHIE SULLIVAN (she/her) is a Canadian author as well as a cookie-eating, Diet Pepsi-drinking, Disney enthusiast who loves reading and writing romance in almost equal measure. She writes around her day job as a teacher and spends her spare time with her sweet family watching reruns of Friends. She has written Ten Rules for Faking it and How to Love Your Neighbor, and has had plenty of practice writing happily ever after as her alter ego, Jody Holford. |
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