Release Blitz with Giveaway and Christie's review: Shameless by Lex Martin

Title: Shameless

Author: Lex Martin 

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 26, 2016

Blurb

Brady…

What the hell do I know about raising a baby? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing. 

Yet here I am, the sole guardian of my niece. I’d be lost if it weren’t for Katherine, the beautiful girl who seems to have all the answers. Katherine, who’s slowly finding her way into my cynical heart.

I keep reminding myself that I can’t fall for someone when we don’t have a future. But telling myself this lie and believing it are two different things.

Katherine…

When Brady shows up on a Harley, looking like an avenging angel—six feet, three inches of chiseled muscle, eyes the color of wild sage, and sun-kissed skin emblazoned with tattoos—I’m not sure if I should fall at his feet or run like hell. Because if I tell him what happened the night his family died, he might hate me. 

What I don’t count on are the nights we spend together trying to forget the heartache that brought us here. I promise him it won’t mean anything, that I won’t fall in love.

I shouldn’t make promises I can’t keep.

Shameless is an adult contemporary romance/spinoff featuring a character from The Dearest Series, but it can be read as a complete standalone.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / UNIVERSAL

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Also Available

The Dearest Series Boxed Set is FREE on KU for a limited time. Get all three Dearest Series books, including Dearest Clementine, Finding Dandelion and Kissing Madeline, as well as Dearest Series bonus scenes and the first chapter of Shameless.

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / UNIVERSAL

Author Bio

Lex writes adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters. When she's not writing, she lives a parallel life as an English teacher. She loves printing black and white photos, listening to music on vinyl, and getting lost in a great book. Bitten by wanderlust, she's lived all over the country but currently resides in the City of Angels with her husband and twin daughters.

Author Links

NEWSLETTER

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

BLOG

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shameless brought me back to what I love most about Lex Martin. Endearing characters, adorable banter, and white-hot chemistry that's a danger to panties everywhere. I've loved reading her Dearest series and it was a joy to get back to her writing with Brady and Katherine's story. Brady is the hot tattoo artist that had a crush on Dani in Finding Dandelion. Oh, my. Did he ever live up to his potential. A tall, dark, and tatted artist who rides a Harley and a new father to his baby niece? Yes, please.

When I glance up, Brady brushes a wisp of hair out of the baby's eyes and kisses her forehead, and I swear my ovaries throb. On one hand, Brady is gruff and rough around the edges, and on the other, there's a tenderness about him that screams husband material.

That sums him up completely. He has the benefit of looking like a bad boy who can take you for a hell of a ride on the outside. But on the inside he's warm, gooey, and so irresistible. He melted my heart.

After a tragic accident, Brady must come to his brother's farm in Texas and handle the big mess that was left behind. Little does he know that he's now the guardian of his orphaned niece. When he arrives and sees Katherine holding Isabella, he's overwhelmed on so many levels. But his decision to raise this baby immediately forms and stands firm.

I just loved how his dedication to family never faltered. It broke my heart to see what he went through after arriving. His regret and self-condemnation over his past behavior with his brother consumed him. He's floundering. Financially and mentally dealing with a fathomless amount of responsibilities. This is the absolute worst time to feel an overpowering attraction to Katherine.

She's rocking the hot librarian look. She's intelligent, supportive, and compassionate. What's not to love? Not only is he secretly lusting after her, he's developing a fast growing respect and admiration for this sweet and giving girl. How long can they dance around the pink elephant in the room? The want and need pulsing beneath the polite surface of new friends. Crossing that line would be inviting heartache when he returns to Boston, but one taste and temptation deepens to craving.

Being held down by his muscular body heats me in a way I've never experienced before. Because I'm at his mercy. And I like it.

Katherine was a great heroine. She was extremely intelligent, sweet, and funny. Seeing her and Brody wade through their emotions and struggle to accept what was developing was truly enjoyable. Even though they tried to keep their distance, there was a level of tenderness and warmth between them that left no doubt over their true feelings. These were two people who were stuck in an impossible situation and a swept away in a fierce passion.

Katherine was struggling with coming to terms with her own past and regrets. Trying to move on from her mistakes has become harder than she had expected. Losing her best friend and the memories of what she witnessed are haunting her. But Brady was there for her equally as much as she supported him. They were the perfect fit for one another in so many ways.

Brady and Katherine's progression into love was admittedly pretty fast, yet it never felt forced or unrealistic. I was completely sold and rooting for them. I do wish that I could have seen more time spent on Brady's grief on arriving at the farm. It didn't feel explored to the degree that it could have been. Yes, his sadness and regret were there, but only in passing moments. It was missing something for me.

All in all, This was a solid four star read from me, it was incredibly sweet, fast paced, and enjoyable from beginning to end. I'm a huge fan of this author, her writing is just effortless to sink yourself into. And she always adds a healthy dose of humor thrown in to put a big smile on my face. You can't go wrong.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Cover Reveal: The Empty Jar by M. Leighton

Cover Reveal

The Empty Jar

by

M. Leighton

Releasing May 8, 2016

Today is cover reveal day for M. Leighton's upcoming release entitled The Empty Jar.  She wanted to say a little something about the cover before we reveal it and the description, so here she is.

First of all, a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you amazing women who are helping me reveal this cover today. I appreciate everything you do for me, for authors in general and for this community.  As a reader, I love you, too:)

Secondly...

OMG OMG OMG!  IT'S FINALLY TIME TO REVEAL!

I feel like I've been waiting AGES to share this with you!

This cover... GAH!  Y'all, it took me forEVER to get it just right. There was a certain "feel" that I wanted to achieve with it and I wasn't happy until I felt that "feel" jumped right out when I looked at it. I wanted the cover to speak of the book. I wanted it to show the highs and lows, the sweet and the poignant, the depth of it, if you will.  And finally...finally, I feel like it does:)  You might not realize just how much NOW, but once you read this story, you'll be like, "Yeah.  That cover is perfect for this book!"

When I got the paperback proof in the other day, I held it in my hands and I just stared at it.  Not only is this story extremely special to me, but this is probably my favorite cover of all my books.  Ever.  When I look at it, I see so much more than just a picture.  I see all the things that I find in life, as well as what I put into the story that is The Empty Jar.  It's a blend of happy pinks and brooding blues. It's light and it's dark.  There are highs and there are lows.  There is morning and there is night.   But if you notice the sky on this cover, there are little flickers of brightness in the bodies of the lightning bugs. Life is that way, too. Even in the darkest part of the night, there is a spark of hope.  There is beauty.  There is the romantic glow of a full moon, the silvery face of your mate, the delicate twinkle of fireflies. It's all there if we look closely enough—that balance of beauty and tragedy.

And love.

Always love.

Below is a little more about the book. It's hard to tell you much without spoiling anything, but I think you can get a feel for it.  It's such a special story.  So raw, so real. I honestly can't wait for y'all to read it! I hope you love IT and the cover as much as I do:)

If you want to know more about how it came about, you can read my blog post about it here.

But before I get to that...THE COVER!

Description

Add to Goodreads!

Connect with Michelle!

Newsletter

Website

Laid-back with Leighton

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Youtube

A little tease

Read More

Release Blitz with Giveaway: Shift by Drew Elyse

Title: Shift (Disciples' Daughters #2)

Author: Drew Elyse

Genre: Contemporary/MC Romance

Release Date: April 19, 2016

Synopsis

Once a Disciple, forever a Disciple.

After the death of her father, Ash learned an important lesson: being a Disciple is dangerous. The club her father had loved, the club that had been their family, took him from her. She couldn’t stay and wait for the day it would take the man she loved from her, too. So, she left. Now, she’s the one in danger, and the Disciples are the only ones that can keep her safe. She has no choice but to return to the club and the man she left behind. A Disciple will fight like a savage for what is his. Sketch has what he needs: his tattooing, the club, and his bike. Anything else would require a heart, and his was ripped out of his chest a long time ago. It wasn’t coming back. At least, not until she did. His heart isn’t the only thing Ash brings with her, though. She has a daughter. A daughter old enough to be his. A daughter Ash claims might not be. But in his heart, Sketch knows the truth. That little girl is his… just like her mom. This biker knows one thing: a Disciple’s daughter’s return is about to make his whole world shift.

Purchase your copy today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Ibooks | Kobo

Excerpt

Gabe

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Emmaline—Emmy, was Ash’s daughter. Ash had a fucking daughter. Ash…

“Three, but my birthday is real soon.” Emmy had to me.

Ash had a three-nearly-four-year-old daughter.

Ash left me almost five years ago.

I’d stopped doing the math on it, stopped tracking how long it had been since she had left me. I did the math then, though. Four years, seven months. Emmy was nearly four, plus nine months of pregnancy.

Fuck.

No.

She wouldn’t.

I tore out of the kitchen and flew through the hallway where I’d found Emmy, past the stairs, and out to the back deck.

Ash was there, standing in the middle of the yard, facing away from me. She looked different, the silhouette of her body more curved than I remembered and her curly blonde hair falling farther down her back. Still, I would have known it was her anywhere.

All around and in front of her, little sparks of light flashed and died away. Fireflies. She was watching them flicker around the yard.

Indian had called Ash firefly since before I knew her. He used to say it was because her smiles weren’t constant given how introverted she was, but when one came out, it was like a light shining out of her.

He wasn’t exaggerating. Not one fucking bit.

For a moment, the image of her transfixed me. I wanted to break out my sketchpad and commit the sight to paper so I would never lose it. I wanted to ink it into my own skin so it would always be with me.

Then, I remembered Emmy.

The rage returned, burning underneath my skin. Storming across the yard, I clenched my hands at my sides. I couldn’t touch her. I couldn’t be responsible for what might happen if I did.

Just as I got close, Ash looked over her shoulder at me and jumped at the sight. Whether that was because I was not who she was expecting or my fury was clear on my face, I didn’t know. Didn’t really fucking care.

“Is she mine?” I demanded.

“What?”

My heart was beating triple time in my chest. The shock to my system at seeing Ash’s beautiful face again was almost enough to break through the cloud of anger, but not quite.

“Emmy,” I explained. “Is. She. Mine?”

Ash went pale. “How did you—”

“She was out in the hall. Woke up and needed a drink. Funny thing is, she says she’s about to turn four. It’s been just about nine months more than that since you left. So, I’ll ask one last time. Is she my fucking daughter?” I roared.

Ash shrunk back, and answered in a small voice, “I don’t know.”

She…what? “You don’t know?”

Her eyes fell to the ground. “I would have told you if I knew for sure.”

She would have…

Holy. Fuck.

No. Not possible.

A ringing in my ears filled the silence in the yard. Emmy might not be mine. Ash didn’t know for sure who the father was. Ash…Ash slept with someone else. But the timeline…

She fucked someone else right after she left me.

I spent months—fuck, over a year—doing nothing but missing her, trying to find her. I didn’t touch another fucking woman until Ash had been gone for over eighteen months. But she…fuck.

How long did she even wait before letting some other guy in where only I had been?

A week? Two? Couldn’t have been that long if he might be Emmy’s father.

Fuck.

Ash still wasn’t looking at me and that was a really fucking good thing. I couldn’t see her face. Couldn’t see those eyes.

Without another fucking word, I left. I couldn’t be anywhere near her. I couldn’t handle the blow she just dealt.

About The Author

Drew Elyse spends her days trying to convince the world that she is, in fact, a Disney Princess, and her nights writing tear-jerking and smutty romance novels.

When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found over-analyzing every line of a book, binge watching a series on Netflix, doing strange vocal warm ups before singing a variety of music styles, or screaming at the TV during a Chicago Blackhawks game.

A graduate of Loyola University Chicago with a BA in English, she still lives in Chicago, IL where she was born and raised with her boyfriend and her fur babies Lola and Duncan.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Newsletter | Goodreads

Buy The Book

Amazon |Barnes & Noble | IBooks | KOBO

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Shameless by Lex Martin

Title: Shameless

Author: Lex Martin

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs

Photography: Perrywinkle Photography

 Release Date: April 26, 2016

Brady…

What the hell do I know about raising a baby? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing. 

Yet here I am, the sole guardian of my niece. I’d be lost if it weren’t for Katherine, the beautiful girl who seems to have all the answers. Katherine, who’s slowly finding her way into my cynical heart.

I keep reminding myself that I can’t fall for someone when we don’t have a future. But telling myself this lie and believing it are two different things.

Katherine…

When Brady shows up on a Harley, looking like an avenging angel—six feet, three inches of chiseled muscle, eyes the color of wild sage, and sun-kissed skin emblazoned with tattoos—I’m not sure if I should fall at his feet or run like hell. Because if I tell him what happened the night his family died, he might hate me. 

What I don’t count on are the nights we spend together trying to forget the heartache that brought us here. I promise him it won’t mean anything, that I won’t fall in love.

I shouldn’t make promises I can’t keep.

Shameless is an adult contemporary romance/spinoff featuring a character from The Dearest Series, but it can be read as a complete standalone. Shameless is on SALE for 99 cents only during the pre-order, which is available now.

Pre-order Links

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | iBOOKS | UNIVERSAL

Also Available

The Dearest Series Boxed Set just went live and is FREE on KU for a limited time. Get all three Dearest Series books, including Dearest Clementine, Finding Dandelion and Kissing Madeline, as well as Dearest Series bonus scenes and the first chapter of Shameless.

Purchase Links

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | UNIVERSAL

Lex writes adult novels, the sexy kind with lotsa angst, a whole lotta kissing, and the hot happily ever afters. When she's not writing, she lives a parallel life as an English teacher. She loves printing black and white photos, listening to music on vinyl, and getting lost in a great book. Bitten by wanderlust, she's lived all over the country but currently resides in the City of Angels with her husband and twin daughters.

Author Links

NEWSLETTER
FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP
BLOG

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM
PINTEREST

a Rafflecopter givea-way

Read More

Release Blitz with Giveaway and Review: The Player and the Pixie by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid

The Player and the Pixie by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid 

Publication Date: April 12, 2016 

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Sports, Humor

Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

How can someone so smokin’ hot be so bad in bed? I mean, Sean Cassidy is absolute rubbish. RUBBISH. He is the epitome of walking, talking false advertising and I want a refund! Plus he’s an arsehole. So… what is wrong with me that I can’t stop thinking about him?

The Pixie and the Player is a full-length, romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the second book in the Rugby Series.

THE PIXIE Lucy Fitzpatrick doesn’t like rugby. As the little sister of Ireland’s most infamous rugby player, Lucy can’t seem to escape the championship-sized shadow cast by her big brother, or her mother’s frequent attempts to micromanage her future. Her rainbow hair is as free-spirited as her quest for inner peace, yet overbearing expectations keep bringing her down. And when she’s down, her compulsive little problem lands her in seriously big trouble.

THE PLAYER Sean Cassidy is a cold-hearted brute… or so he’s been told. Frequently. By everyone. His blonde locks, baby blues, and rock hard bod make ladies the world over drool with desire. As the rugby world’s second most infamous player, he should be basking in his success. But Sean has never been content settling for second place, and his frequent confrontations with Lucy’s big brother leave him cold. And when he’s cold, his compulsive little problem lands him in the lap of Lucy Fitzpatrick.

THE PLAN Sean has a problem only Lucy can solve. Lucy has a problem only Sean can fix. The solution seems obvious: you scratch my back, and I’ll bail you out of jail. But when their business arrangement unexpectedly leaves Sean scorching hot and Lucy on the precipice of inner peace, can they convince the world—and Lucy’s big brother in particular—that this is the real deal? Either way, both the Player and the Pixie are about to teach each other some pretty monumental lessons about family, life, but most importantly, love.

Excerpt

*Sean*

I didn’t know what I was doing.

Requests, things I wanted, words I would never speak or allow myself to think were now uncontainable.

It’s the sex, I reiterated. Again. I’d used this explanation, now on repeat, as a simple justification for the complex cacophony of my mind.

“Be with you?” Her long, dark lashes fluttered, beating like distressed butterfly wings against warming pink cheeks.

I licked my lips, tasting her there. “Yes.”

She stared at me, confused. I was also confused. And oddly frightened.

Because it wasn’t the sex.

Several seconds ticked on as we studied each other in breathless silence. She found her voice before I did. “What does that—”

“Lucy?” Annie’s voice was paired with a soft knock on the bathroom door. “Are you okay?”

I opened my mouth to whisper a clarification to the question Lucy hadn’t quite posed, because I was compelled to tell her it wasn’t the sex. We didn’t have to have sex. We could just . . . talk. Or play cards. Or touch. Or look at each other from across the room.

We could merely be together.

But she covered my mouth with her hand. Her features arrested with unmistakable panic.

“Yes. I’m fine! I just . . . started my period is all. Made a mess in my jeans, like a crime scene.” Lucy hollered in response then grimaced. She immediately mouthed I’m sorry to me. Her cheeks flushed red.

I lifted an eyebrow. She rolled her eyes, ducking her head with obvious embarrassment. I pressed my lips together so I wouldn’t laugh.

Issuing me a quelling look, Lucy released me and skittered out of the stall, whispering, “Stay here and count to three hundred.”

“Oh! Do you need anything?” Annie’s voice was less muffled and I surmised she’d opened the bathroom door.

“Ah, no. Have it all sorted now. Thank God Tom has these nice absorbent napkinsinstead of those troublesome hand driers. Although I feel like I’m wearing a nappy. They’re bad for the environment, so I should talk to him about replacing the napkins. Maybe make a few available for emergencies . . .”

Lucy’s anxiety-riddled chatter faded as the bathroom door clicked shut.

I released an audible exhale. My heart was beating as though it might leap from my chest. I needed to catch my breath. Neither had anything to do with being caught.

What the fuck were you doing?

It was the sex. She’s phenomenal in bed. You’ve never had that before. It was just sex.

I nodded, reiterating the logic of my justification for the uncharacteristic behavior. If I repeated it enough, perhaps I would believe it.

I didn’t count to three hundred as instructed. I counted to one hundred and twenty-three, then realized what I was doing.

“You’re mad, Sean,” I muttered, shaking myself and promptly leaving the ladies’ room. I checked the cufflinks on my dress shirt—a nervous habit—and strolled back to the table, eyeing the assortment of eejits gathered.

L.H. Cosway

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favorite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books. She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Penny Reid

SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing). By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Penny Reid and L.H. Cosway are the ultimate dream team when it comes to co-writing romance. They showed their excellence in The Hooker and the Hermit, their first collaboration and the first in this Rugby series. With this next installment, they've proven again that their writing compliments each other flawlessly. Both with a quirky flair and attention to unique characterization, they've managed to do the impossible. Take a character who was previously reviled and detested and turned him into someone that we're happy to see end up with our lovable heroine Lucy.

Lucy isn't without her own flaws, yet she's a good person who struggles with an unusual addiction. Kleptomania. Instead of drugs, alcohol, food, or many other variables that people use for coping mechanisms, she has an uncontrollable urge to steal. Deep down, she's ashamed and loathes herself for what she does, but doesn't have the proper help she needs to conquer her problems.

Her mother is at the root of her issues, only causing her stress and frustrations to increase. Compared to her brother, the golden boy of the family, she's always been looked at as a disappointment. So she rebels by dying her hair in a rainbow of shades and refusing to fall in line with what her mother wants her life to be. She's very independent and strong, just as you'd come to expect with these two authors. She's also sweet, and always has a witty comeback to counteract Sean's cutting remarks aimed at keeping people away.

There was something inextricably enticing about the dichotomy of her. For a softly spoken fairy princess with a rainbow mane, she had a remarkably tart mouth.

Sean is on her brother's Rugby team and the most disliked person by everyone she knows. His manwhore reputation, and his history of blatant and outrageous moves to hurt her brother make him someone she has no desire to get to know.

He's untrustworthy and cruel. Filled with jealousy and aggression. But things aren't always exactly what they appear. There are hidden depths that he keeps locked up tight. And a secret about his womanizing ways that no one would ever suspect.

As many women as he's slept with he's like a fumbling teen when it comes to foreplay. Not your typical hero now, is he? Take my word on this though, Lucy is just the woman to teach him how to satisfy. But more importantly, she opens his eyes to the world in a way he never allowed himself to do before with her honesty and free spirit.

"You have this incredible way of showing me new ways to look at things, do you know that, Lucy Fitzpatrick?"

The authors managed to make me empathize with Sean. Not immediately, but in a very naturalistic way. His attitude and personality didn't flip like a light switch, it was a clear evolution through Lucy's caring and affection. This was something that he never felt from anyone in his life except his cousin, and it made him want to be the type of man who would deserve her love.

The underlying message underneath the romance was a strong one. We're all flawed, we're all struggling with issues that have molded us into who we are. But our faults don't define us, if you can find the strength to look within yourself and examine what needs to change. I enjoyed seeing both Lucy and Sean shed their insecurities and their fears and find a most unlikely love. They found a feeling of belonging together, a home. It was heartwarming, funny, and very engrossing from start to finish. And with the wonderfully fleshed out secondary characters, there's plenty of potential for future stories in the series. I'm eagerly awaiting book three, I can't wait to see who's lined up for us to read about next.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More