You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

* * * *

When your nemesis also happens to be your fiancé, happily ever after becomes a lot more complicated in this wickedly funny, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy debut.

Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They're preparing for their lavish wedding that's three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.

Naomi wants out, but there's a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.

But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they're finally being themselves--and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


You Deserve Each Other takes a different look at a relationship in tatters. Sometime since Nicholas and Naomi's engagement there occurred a massive breakdown between them that's kept them in a near-constant passive-aggressive mode with each other for the past months. On the surface the rift seems irreparable and all they do is sabotage things hoping that one of them will cave and call off the wedding. No one wants to be the first to accept defeat, especially when walking away means having to pay off all the cost of the wedding so far. 

What could've caused things to get this bad? We gain that insight as the history of relationship is told backwards.  Nicholas' mother is a big antagonist here as the overbearing, manipulative, control freak who wants to monopolize her son's time. She always manages subtle jabs at Naomi for not being good enough for her him and Naomi has never felt her fiancé defend her in these situations. Nicholas just continues to be a mama's boy. Then there's also their differing views on success and ambition. He is doing well at a dental practice and she's happy working at a souvenir shop. The thing is, Naomi has never felt that urge to pursue a career that requires a degree or for her to be behind a desk. So right now it just feels like all they do is needle each other or one up the other. The story is told from Naomi's perspective and with a good chunk of it from her head space, I was eager to know what was running through Nicholas' mind. I did eventually get that once their usual snark and insults started dissipating and was replaced by actual dialog.

I'll be honest, after reading the first chapter I was worried the hostile tone would be pervasive throughout the story. That was followed by Naomi scheming ways to get back at Nicholas, some of those schemes involving the most ridiculous of outcomes. All I kept thinking was how it could get that bad. There seemed to be no love lost between them and then I wondered what the point was. Hang in there, though because Nicholas does something so unlike him (that's one of the things Naomi hates about him: his predictability) that it seems to shift things between them. Relearning things about each other and actually vocalizing their thoughts (who would've thunk it, right?) begin to make all the difference in the world. 

This is essentially a smartly written, slow burn (and there is some burning involved), lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romance, and I appreciated the author not using sex to magically fix everything. Rather that comes in much later when they're finally reconnecting emotionally but it's a scary step for both of them. The enmity that's a huge part for most of the book might initially be off-putting because when we first meet Naomi and Nicholas they're at their worst which makes them simply not likable - fact - and that can make it difficult to push through. What helped me was the snark and sarcasm because I'm a fan of that. I don't necessarily think this is a lighthearted read but it does lighten up and there is reconciliation which is what makes it worth the read. You Deserve Each Other is a about rekindling a relationship and romancing in reverse. I was happy with the outcome and thought it suited Naomi and Nicholas perfectly.

~ Bel

Blindsided Release Blitz

Blindsided by Amy Daws is LIVE!

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Read Now in Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/Blindsided

FULL BLURB

What happens when an almost thirty-year-old virgin agrees to let her Scottish footballer best friend give her some lessons in seduction?

Lots of banter, awkwardness, jealousy, and heat.

Midfielder Maclay “Mac” Logan is a loud-mouthed, tattooed ginger content with focusing on football. But when an adorably-freckled seamstress comes barreling into his life, he finds Netflix-And-Bickering with her to be his new favorite pastime.

Freya Cook is used to being the invisible woman with a needle and thread, offering cheeky punchlines as she helps dress London’s finest. She’s plus-sized in body and spirit, and other than her friendship with Mac, talking to the opposite sex is one skill she never mastered.

However, after one innocent game of Never Have I Ever, Mac offers to play Love Coach for Freya.

What neither of them see coming are the feelings that develop when the clothes come off.

Now they’re both about to learn the biggest lesson of all: Don't fall in love with your best friend.

What happens when an almost thirty-year-old virgin agrees to let her Scottish best friend take her virginity? A whole lot more than either of them bargained for…

Blindsided by Amy Daws is Live!

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#OneClick🡪 https://geni.us/Blindsided 

RELEASE BLITZ GIVEAWAY LINK

Enter for a chance to win a signed paperback over on Amy’s Facebook Page!

www.facebook.com/amydawsauthor

EXCERPTS

With a heavy sigh, I drop down on the bed beside her, shaking my head and staring at the floor. “The kiss couldn’t have been that bad.” 

“It was,” she mumbles defeatedly. 

“There’s no way,” I argue, glancing at her lips. “You have nice lips. Perfect for kissing.” 

“It doesn’t matter,” she replies, her lower lip quivering slightly. “I am incapable of using them. I’m a wanker.”

“You’re not a wanker.” 

“I’m a lip wanker.” 

“How do you know he’s not the lip wanker?” I ask with a gruff reply. “Maybe you just didn’t have the right partner. Any man with a cheese hut doesn’t sound like he’s kissing a lot of burds.” 

She turns a flat look at me. “I promise you, Mac. Even if I had the right partner, I would be crap.” 

Now I’m getting angry. “Prove it.” 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Daws is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author of sexy, contemporary romance novels. She enjoys writing love stories that take place in America, as well as across the pond in England. When Amy is not writing in a tire shop waiting room, she’s watching Gilmore Girls, or singing karaoke in the living room with her daughter while Daddy smiles awkwardly from a distance. 
For more of Amy's work, visit: http://www.amydawsauthor.com

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Finding Wicked Cover Reveal

Today we have the gorgeous cover for Finding Wicked by Kathryn L. James! This sexy contemporary romance is releasing June 6th. Check it out and grab your copy on release day!

Title: Finding Wicked

Author: Kathryn L. James

Release Date: June 6th

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Finding Wicked:

Brooke Sheridan has the weight of the world on her shoulders—her mother’s terminal illness, financial woes. When she’s offered a promotion as Executive Assistant to the cocky arrogant and sexy Garrett Mitchell, CEO, she accepts without second thought. Together on a business trip, Garrett an avid pilot must make an emergency crash landing on a deserted island. With no satellite service, no phone signal, or any means of rescue on the horizon, they are forced to find ways of survival. But that’s not all they find—sizzling chemistry, undeniable attraction, and HOT passionate sex explode. But amidst paradise, there are also secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

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Exclusive Excerpt:

“Before signing the acceptance offer, you’ll need to know some of the obligations. There will be traveling, often on short notice. I expect you to always be available. There will be numerous meetings, including after-hours board sessions. Late nights are common, and you may have to arrive before dawn. Some Saturdays are expected. Sundays are off limits. The job is salaried. With successful completion, you’ll be awarded a bonus. Are these things you can live with?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Cordelia, prepare the personnel action forms for my signature. Also, give her an elevator key card. She’ll also need appropriate digital access to administrative files.” He turned his attention toward me. “After lunch, move your things up and familiarize yourself with the top floor. You won’t have time tomorrow.”

After a few clicks on her computer, Cordelia pulled the forms from the printer and handed them to Mr. Mitchell. He scrawled his signature along the line on the bottom of the page before moving around the desk toward me.

“Read over it before signing. I’ll see you in a couple of hours, Ms. Sheridan.”

“Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Mitchell.”

“We’ll see if you feel that way after a week of working for me.” He raised an eyebrow, wearing a sexy smirk.

“After a week, you might find it’s me who’s two steps ahead of you.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop my snarky thoughts from rolling off my tongue.

 

About the Author:

Kathryn James lives in a southern small town with her husband and a very sweet and spoiled poodle named Macy. Being a hopeless romantic, she loves to read and write about bad-boy sexy alpha males and strong heroines. The beach is one of her favorite places to hangout, relax, and write. She debuted her first novel, Crazy Beautiful Lies and released a short Crazy Beautiful Kiss which was published in A Story of a Kiss anthology. She plans to release it again as a novella by the end of summer.   For information about Kathryn L. James or to stay updated on upcoming releases, please drop by:  

Facebook | Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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A New Leash On Love Spotlight Tour

* * * 1/2

When Craig Williams draws the short straw and has to take his daughter’s adorable new puppy to a shelter after the holidays, it’s just another painful episode in the fall-out of a miserable divorce. He needs to pick up the pieces of his life, and, after a fiery confrontation with Megan Anderson, the young woman running the shelter, he wants to put the whole episode behind him. However, when he keeps finding new ways to reconnect with her, he realizes Megan’s compassionate and caring nature just might be the perfect salve for his broken heart.

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


Take one guess as to what convinced me to request this book? Yep. The puppers. I cannot resist a cute puppy and so I was suckered in. (Kudos to the person who designed the cover!)

Megan runs the local animal shelter which is a labour of love that requires hard work and a lot of balancing. It's apparent from the get go that all the animals at the shelter mean the world to her. She has the patience to win over their trust and to help them find the right forever homes where they can continue to lead full, happy lives. She meets Craig when he comes in to surrender his daughter's puppy. Life took a dramatic downward turn for his family even before he and his wife divorced. Now his focus is on his kids and work. Understanding that his daughter and ex-wife can no longer manage a puppy in their house, he takes it to the shelter where Megan immediately assumes that he's someone easily giving up on a pet, therefore pegging him as an entitled jerk. He doesn't appreciate her assumption of him but doesn't feel the need to correct her on it either, even if it does bother him. So imagine how confused they are that despite their negative interaction there seem to be sparks flying between them. When Craig's daughter starts volunteering at the shelter, it gives both him and Megan a redo.

This is a second-chance love story in the sense that it's a second chance at life and love. Both have suffered losses and neither is feeling too brave to jump in. I thought it was fascinating that Megan who is so brilliant at gaining an animal's trust is not so quick to trust another human. We get her and Craig's side of the story but I was nicely surprised to get his daughter Sophie's perspective as well. I thought it added an interesting layer to the story to include his child's observation. Thanks to the three of them I got a better feel for them as individuals with and away from each other and their take on what has been happening. Let's not forget that the setting is an animal shelter. I really enjoyed reading how Megan worked with and trained the dogs. (Yes, I was trying to pick up some tips myself.)

A New Leash On Love is an adorable, feel-good read that leaves your heart full. It's the first in the Rescue Me series and I'm looking forward more from Debbie Burns.

~ Bel

We're happy to share with you an excerpt from A New Leash On Love as part of today's spotlight tour. Enjoy and don't forget to enter the giveaway below!

Megan drove home through the streets of Webster Grove, trying to sort out a tangled mess of feelings that wouldn’t unravel. When it came to Craig Williams, everything was too knotted together to decipher.

Pulling onto her cul-de-sac, she felt her heart thump erratically when she spotted a BMW 7 Series parked in her driveway. She hit the brakes, then the gas a bit too hard. The engine revved, and heat rushed all the way into her fingers and toes.

Please don’t let him have seen that. She parked in her driveway alongside his car and attempted to step out as gracefully as possible. He was still in his seat, talking on the phone. She headed around and leaned against her passenger door. Meeting her gaze, he held up a finger and offered a secretive smile that lightened her mood more than a whole bag of comfort food could’ve.

She heard a handful of words through his closed window. They were boring ones that had to do with sales and reports and projections. Then he said he had to go.

With a wave of insecurity washing over her, Megan pulled her jacket closed. The sun was setting, and the temperature was dropping.

Craig stepped from his car wearing a dress shirt that was open at the collar and no coat. Keeping one arm draped over his door, he stared at her without saying anything. Just three feet, maybe four, separated them.

“Hey,” she said. Why was the onus on her to talk first? He was standing in her driveway.

“I wanted to give you something. If you have a few minutes.”

She rocked back on her heels. “I think I have a few.”

With a hint of a smile curling his lips, he reached into his car and pulled out a brown-paper gift bag. “It isn’t another donation, so I’m hopeful it won’t piss you off.”

A laugh bubbled out of her. “Based on our history, I’d have to say you never know.” She took it, admiring the gold tissue paper poking out the top. “Did you bag this yourself?”

“I feel compelled to say I’m not that good at domesticity.”

She separated the folds of tissue, then paused. “Let me guess… You bronzed my pooper scooper?” She said it in hope of easing the tension still hanging in the air. He’d commented at lunch that with the new employee they were going to add, her poop-scraping days might well be over.

Whatever he’d given her was flat, wide, and rectangular. Pursing her lips, she pulled it out and held it up in the dim light. “Um, is it a little chalkboard?”

He laughed in the low, quiet way that made her tingle down to her toes. “It’s more of a metaphorical gift.”

Megan tilted her head, looking from him to the chalkboard. “If you’re saying not to use your donation on new technology for the shelter, you could’ve given me a Hallmark card. Nothing says I don’t do technology like Hallmark.”

“Try again, Megan. This is about this afternoon. It has nothing to do with the shelter.”

That word again. Her name. Only when he said it, it was like a tall stack of chocolate chip and pecan pancakes with extra syrup.

With her heart running its own marathon, she forced her attention to the shiny new chalkboard in her hand and tried to figure out how it could be metaphorical. Suddenly she got it. Unable to keep the grin from spreading across her face, she held it up. “Are you offering me a clean slate?”

He smiled wide enough to show a set of very white, straight teeth. “Yes, as a matter of fact I am.” Pulling one hand from his pocket, he held up a finger. “And hopefully a better explanation than the one I gave you this afternoon, if you’ll allow me.”

Her heart plummeted into her stomach, then leaped into her throat. “I will.”

“That’s good. Really good.” He moved a step closer, returning his free hand to his pants’ pocket. Megan suddenly wondered if he wanted to touch her as much as she wanted him to. “Look, you haven’t had kids so you may not understand this, but the thing is, right now my life is about my kids. My ex-wife and I didn’t divorce for the chance to be with other people. Not now. Not at this stage in the game.”

Why did it suddenly feel like he was dumping her? With a chalkboard? Swallowing hard, she nodded. “I get it, Craig.”

“Please let me finish. I hardly ever say things. But I have to say this. To you. Because you’re real and because you matter.”

She swept a lock of hair behind her ear and nodded him on. “Okay.”

“You see, a few years ago, something happened and the kids—” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat.

Her own throat was so damn tight, but she had to spare him from continuing. “Sophie told me. She told me what happened.”

Craig stared at her for a mile of heartbeats before starting again. “Then you know that I can’t hurt them. Not now. Not more than the divorce already has.”

Her insides turned to mush. “I know, and I get it. Like I said, I’m sorry for the accusation I made earlier.”

With a bitter laugh, he walked away from her, pacing again. “I deserved it. And more. You caught me off guard right from the start. With what you said to me the first time I met you. About rising to the occasion. And just about everything else from then on. But I’m not making decisions for me. I can’t move forward with you in that way. And let’s face it, it’s obvious to the world you aren’t one-night-stand material. I probably wouldn’t be half as attracted to you if you were.” He sighed and dragged his fingers through his hair. “This is a terrible apology. I’ve never been good at them, but now I’m really out of practice.”

“It’s all right. I’m okay with your faults, numerous as they are.” Megan grinned and held up the bag she’d slipped the chalkboard into. “Besides, we’re starting over, remember?”

Giveaway

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Getting It Back by Elizabeth Harmon

* * * 1/2

In this second-chance romance, a former top men's figure skating champion is willing to risk everything for a comeback--except a new start with his long lost love.

An unexpected phone call from the man who broke her heart offers Amy Shepherd an opportunity to return to the work she loves, training elite figure skaters. Except it’s just one figure skater: Him. Can she finally forgive and forget?

Figure skater Mikhail “Misha” Zaikov once had it all: medals, money and the adoration of millions. But a devastating injury put an end to his career and his romance, leaving him with nothing but regret over what could have been. His last chance to re-join the world’s top skaters is now. And there’s only one person who can help him: Her.

On Russia’s unyielding ice, Misha must reclaim what he's lost while facing off against a talented young rival and risking further injury. But Amy soon discovers Misha's much bigger challenges lurk off the ice. And she's determined to keep Misha whole and healthy, even if doing so ends his shot at the gold.

Review:

I love to watch figure skating.  And when I was a kid/teen I was obsessed to the point that I checked out every possible non-fiction book at the library so I would understand EXACTLY what was happening on the ice.  As an adult, I still enjoy it but since we don’t regular TV (Netflix/Hulu family here) I rarely see a competition.  But the love is still there.  So when I saw that there was a romance featuring figure skaters I was all in!

When Amy Shepherd receives a call for help from her old boyfriend, Misha, she immediately runs to his side.  Not going to lie.  This bothered me at first.  We learn immediately that Misha left her without explanation.  So the fact that she would jump to his aid so dramatically made me uncomfortable.  But as I slowly learned more about Amy and Misha the more I was convinced of the strength of their connection as well as their individual reactions to that connection.

Although the attraction is still there they are both adamant about not having a romantic relationship.  However, they do agree to be friends.  Instead of separating after helping him, Amy invites Misha to live with her in Ohio while he figures out what he will do next.  He is still mourning the loss of his competitive skating career and is at a loss as to what he should do next.

Misha would love nothing more than to compete again and Amy is an athletic trainer that wants nothing more than to focus on training figure skaters.  They are a professional match made in heaven.  When Misha’s gets in touch with his old coach and makes plans to start training again he begs Amy to take a job as his personal athletic trainer.  She understands his back injury more than anyone else and he trusts her to keep him safe and healthy during the rigorous training required for Olympic level competition.  Of course, she takes the job.

There were a number of things that I loved about Getting It Back.  This particular romance had very different all around feel to me.   It was almost like reading an epic romance without the super long timeline (i.e. Thorn Birds).  I also enjoyed how both characters grew throughout the story.  Misha in particular.  He has huge hurdles to jump and decisions to make that take both a physical and emotional toll.  By the end of the story, I loved both of these characters and cared about them.

I had only two small complaints and they were most definitely about my own personal preferences than anything else.  The love scenes were a little too flowery.  Although I did love how they both enhanced the story telling while not taking away from the main theme of the story.  I also felt like there was a lot of repetition in regards to the elusive triple jumps that Misha was insistent on nailing on the ice and that Amy was insisting he NOT do.  The author does such a great job in portraying Misha’s physical struggles in other ways that the constant on page mention of the triple jumps became cumbersome at times.  But honestly, those are two small things in what was a really lovely atypical sport romance.

If you are a fan of sports romance…

If you are a fan of figure skating….

If you are looking for something outside the usual box of football and hockey romance…

I definitely recommend you read Getting It Back by Elizabeth Harmon.

Nat  

Fly With Me by Chanel Cleeton Cover Reveal

Fly With Me

by Chanel Cleeton

May 3, 2016

Wild Aces #1

Adult Contemporary Romance

Penguin/Berkley

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the author of the Capital Confessions Novels comes the first in the steamy Wild Aces Romance series.

U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Noah Miller—call sign Burn—loves nothing more than flying hard and fast. When he meets a gorgeous and sassy woman while partying in Las Vegas, he immediately locks on to her.

Jordan Callahan owns a thriving clothing boutique, but her love life is far less successful. Her luck changes when six feet, two inches of sexy swagger asks her to dance and turns her world upside down. 

One scorching weekend becomes an undeniable chemistry that they can’t leave in Vegas. But the long distance relationship and their different lives threaten to ground their romance. And when the dangers of Noah’s job become all too real, Jordan learns being with a fighter pilot means risking it all for a shot at love…

Praise for Fly With Me:

“Sexy, funny, and heart-wrenching—this book has it all!”

- Laura Kaye, New York Times bestselling author

“A sexy fighter pilot hero? Yes, please. For anyone who’s ever had a Top Gun fantasy, Fly with Me is for you.”

- Roni Loren, New York Times bestselling author

BOOK LINKS:

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Read the first chapter! 

Check out Book 2 in the Wild Aces series, Into the Blue (out July 5, 2016):

From the author of Fly with Me and the Capital Confessions Novels comes the newest in the sexy Wild Aces Romance series.

Eric Jansen—call sign Thor—loves nothing more than pushing his F-16 to the limit. Returning home to South Carolina after a tragic loss, he hopes to fix the mistake he made long ago, when he chose the Air Force over his fiancée.

Becca Madison isn’t quick to welcome Thor back. She can’t forget how he shattered her heart. But Thor won’t give up once he’s set his sights on what he wants—and he wants Becca.

Thor shows Becca that he’s no longer the impulsive boy he used to be, and Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But will Thor be able to walk away from his dream of flying the F-16 for their love or does his heart belong to the sky?

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Originally a Florida girl, CHANEL CLEETON moved to London where she received a bachelor’s degree from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever, until fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise and a fighter pilot with smooth dance moves swept her off her feet. Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure.

Law school made Chanel realize she’d rather spend her days writing sexy stories than in a courtroom, and she hasn’t looked back since. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she’s happiest curled up with a book. She has a weakness for handbags, her three pups, and her husband. 



Chanel writes contemporary romances, women's fiction, and thrillers. She is published by Harlequin HQN, Penguin/InterMix, and Penguin/Berkley and is the author of the International School, Capital Confessions, Assassins, and Wild Aces series.

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