Excerpt Reveal – The Rules of Dating My Best Friend’s Sister, Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

March 30, 2023 | Posted in Excerpt | By

 

Title: The Rules of Dating My Best Friend’s Sister
Authors: Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 2, 2023
Excited about Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward’s 
upcoming release, The Rules of Dating 
My Best Friend’s Sister? 
Check out this SNEAK PEEK!

 

“What the hell?” He stood on the other side of the door. “Where’s the doorknob?”

 

I leaned down and spoke through the hole where the knob used to be. “It’s in here with me. The lock jammed, and the knob came off in my hands when I tried to pull it open.”
“Alright. Give me a minute. I need to run next door to get a screwdriver.”
“I have one now! I picked it up after the beeping incident, so I wouldn’t need to bug you again. It’s in the top drawer in the kitchen!”
“Okay, great. Hang on.”
Two minutes later, the door popped open. It wasn’t until I saw Holden’s face that I remembered I was only wearing a tank top and underwear, sans bra.
He gulped and took a long look before turning his head. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you weren’t dressed.”
I wasn’t the only one scantily clad. Holden had on only a pair of boxer briefs, his beautiful tanned skin and carved six pack on full display for my eager eyes, yet again. I couldn’t stop myself from staring. Silence ticked by until Holden turned his head back, probably to see why I’d grown quiet. “You oka—”
My eyes rose to meet his, but not before he’d caught me ogling him.
I shook my head and laughed nervously. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. I just hadn’t expected you to be in your underwear either, I guess. It caught me off guard.”
Holden ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’m sorry if I checked you out, too.”
I should’ve just left the bathroom and covered up with a robe, but something about being near this man made me say and do things that were completely out of character. “Would you mind if I…looked a little more?”
Holden’s brows shot up to his hairline. “You want to check me out?”
My face heated. I shook my head and looked down. “Oh my gosh. I’m so embarrassed. I think the lack of sleep and stress from being locked in here made me a little bonkers. It’s just that maybe we both have some pent-up curiosity about what we look like as adults. I mean, I’ve only stolen glimpses of you without a shirt on since we were teenagers in my backyard pool. And you certainly haven’t seen me in a skimpy bottom and no bra since then. I guess I was thinking if we took a good, long look, once and for all, we might get it out of our systems.”
Holden stared at me. I could see the wheels in his head spinning. Eventually, his eyes dropped to my chest. “You have no bra on…”
I shook my head. “No bra.”
He swallowed. “Let’s do it.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Fuck yeah. I’m going to hell anyway. Might as well enjoy the ride down. But you have to stay in the bathroom, and I’ll stay on this side of the doorway.”
“Okay.” I bit my bottom lip. “You look first.”
“Why don’t we look at the same time?”
I nodded. “Good idea. How long should we do it for?”
Holden shrugged. “A minute?”
“Do you have your phone?”
“No. I thought someone broke in and you were being attacked. My phone was the last thing on my mind.”
“Mine should be on the coffee table. Do you want to grab it so we can use the timer?”
Holden walked away and came back ten seconds later. “What’s your code?”
“Zero, seven, one, three.”
He started to type and then froze before looking up at the ceiling. “That’s the day you’re getting married, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
Holden cursed as he went back to typing. “I’m so fucking going to hell.”
He called up the clock app and then turned the phone to show me. The countdown was set for one minute. His finger hovered over the green button. “You ready?”
I nodded.
Holden pressed the button, and we began to openly ogle each other.
Copyright © 2022 by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

 

 

PRE-ORDER LINKS
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

 

BLURB

 

From New York Times bestselling authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward comes a new standalone romance.

 

Rule number one for dating your best friend’s sister: Don’t.
Just don’t do it.
Especially when your best friend is dead and the last thing he made you promise him was that you’d keep an eye on his little sister, but not too good of an eye.
As a musician whose longest committed relationship was six weeks, I, Holden Catalano, was the last guy on Earth who should’ve been messing around with Laney Ellison.
The super smart girl whom I affectionately dubbed Lala since childhood was always off limits.
Though that didn’t stop me from thinking about her over the years, especially those times when the two of us would sneak out onto the roof and talk for hours after my buddy fell asleep. It was innocent, but I’d always held a torch for her.
After Ryan passed away, I vowed to always protect Lala. That included protecting her—from me.
Now all grown up and a scientist, Lala needed a place to stay when she accepted a temporary research position in New York. I thought I did the right thing by offering her an apartment in the building I co-owned with my three friends.
Except having her close by reignited all of those old feelings.
And things started to get complicated.
Especially since she was engaged.
And especially since, lately, I’d noticed something more in her eyes. Desire.
Lala didn’t exactly look at me like the platonic brother figure I was trying so desperately to be, even though I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anything.
Yet, I was being good—on my very best behavior.
But you know what they say…all good things must come to an end, right?

 

VI KEELAND

 

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

 

PENELOPE WARD

 

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance. 

 

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism. 
With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

 

OTHER BOOKS BY VI & PENELOPE

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
ALSO AVAILABLE IN PRINT & AUDIO
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
ALSO AVAILABLE IN PRINT & AUDIO
OTHER BOOKS BY VI
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Find more books

 

 

Read More...

New Release & Review – Dirty D-Man, Mira Lyn Kelly

March 28, 2023 | Posted in Release Day Blitz, Review | By

 

DIRTY D-MAN

by Mira Lyn Kelly

Release Date: March 28th

 

 

🏒 NEW RELEASE 🏒

DIRTY D-MAN by USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly is LIVE!!!

 

What to expect:

Best Friend’s Sister

Forced Proximity

ALL the Steam

Hockey Romance

GRAB  YOUR COPY NOW!

 https://books2read.com/dman

 

Add to Your GR TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61633907-dirty-d-man

 

BLURB:

Yeah, she’s my buddy’s little sister and every kind of off limits.

She’s frustrating, infuriating, chaos in motion.

And she’s my new roommate.

There’s no defense against this girl.

 

 

Kara's Review

5 out of 5 stars

Dirty D-Man is the latest book in the Slayers Hockey series by Mira Lyn Kelly. This is the book I didn’t even know how much I needed in my life. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know I wanted Bowie and Piper’s story, but damn! I didn’t expect to fall hard and fast for them both. This is a totally forbidden, best friend’s sister romance and I loved every second of it. Bowie has been friends with Boomer for years and knew Piper when she was young. Ever since he saw her again when she was older, he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her as a woman. Someone he wants, but can’t have. Boomer would lose his ever-loving mind. But when Boomer is recuperating after an incident, that leaves Bowie and Piper. Alone. In the apartment. There’s no way Bowie will ever be able to live with her. He tries to push her away. Ignores her. But he’s just not that strong. Will he risk his friendship with Boomer for the only woman he’s ever wanted? Piper never thought Bowie saw her as a woman. Until she sees it in his eyes. Then it is game on! I couldn’t love this couple more and I have to admit it’s one of my favorites of the series! The fun, the laughter, the foreplay, the friendship and the love! And of course, the hockey! Well done, Mira!

 

Find more books by Mira Lyn Kelly here: https://www.miralynkelly.com

 

 

 

 ABOUT MIRA LYN KELLY

Hard core romantic, stress baker, and housekeeper non-extraordinaire, Mira Lyn Kelly is a USA TODAY bestselling author with over a million readers worldwide. She writes sizzly love stories with hot, possessive heroes who know how to laugh, heroines who give as good as they get, friends as close as family, and happily ever afters up-against-the-wall style!

Growing up in the Chicago area, she earned her degree in Fine Arts from Loyola University and met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy… only to discover he’d been living right around the corner from her back home. Mira now lives in Minnesota with her husband, four amazing children and two ridiculous dogs.

When she isn’t reading, writing, or indulging her weakness for hard cut abs, she can be found running the kids around, watching the Chicago Blackhawks, and cooking with her family and friends.

 

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook Group | Facebook Page | Instagram | Amazon | Bookbub | Goodreads | Website | TikTok | Newsletter

 

Read More...

Review & *Giveaway* – Fairy Cakes in Winter, Lane Hayes

March 15, 2023 | Posted in Blog Tour, Review | By

Fairy Cakes in Winter
By Lane Hayes

FairyCakesInWinter Cover

A grumpy baker, a quirky ad man, and a recipe for forever…

Scott

So this cute guy sits next to me on the plane and proceeds to talk my ear off for hours. Not good. I don’t like talking and I don’t like strangers. But Theo’s sweet, smart, and sexy—the perfect distraction from business woes and personal worries.

Okay, things got overly friendly, but we’re adults and we know the score. I’m too old, he’s too nice, and we live on different continents.

Then, out of the blue, he shows up at my bakery with that pretty smile and a list of wacky marketing ideas—like how to make fairy cakes a thing.

I don’t like fairy cakes.

But I do like Theo, so…maybe?

Theo

The new me takes risks. The new me is brave and confident. The new me flirts with hunky, imposing bears on planes while traveling to a foreign country.

It’s going well, thank you.

However, my plans to do some sightseeing, drink tea, and eat my weight in biscuits every day get derailed when I realize there might be a way to help Scott and prove a few things to myself.

Don’t worry. I won’t fall for the grumpy baker. No way. He’s complicated and broody and—

Uh oh…it might be too late. Help!

Fairy Cakes in Winter is a bisexual, age-gap, grumpy/sunshine MM romance featuring a sexy baker, a sunny tourist, and a few dozen fairy cakes.

Universal Link

Add to Goodreads

 

Kara's Review

5 out of 5 stars

Fairy Cakes in Winter is a new fun and sexy romance from Lane Hayes. Scott and Theo are traveling to the UK on a plane, but not together. Scott just wants to put in his headphones on and not talk to anyone. Too bad the guy next to him seems to be afraid of silence. He’s adorable and smells like Christmas. Theo is afraid to fly and he doesn’t like the noises on the plane. His neighbor is ruggedly handsome and he can’t seem to stop talking. Scott finds himself actually having a good time talking to Theo. He’s cute as hell and funny. When they get to the UK, they can’t seem to say goodbye. What’s a few more minutes. What about sexy ones? Oh yeah! Since Theo is going to be there for a month, he goes to check out Scott’s bakery, not thinking he would be there. The attraction is still sizzling and before they know it, they are talking, making plans to see each other again. And then spending all their free time together. Will Scott let Theo leave without knowing how he really feels? Of course not. Ha! I loved Scott and Theo. They are so cute together and so crazy sexy! I just wanted to read it, drink tea and eat fairy cakes!

FCIW Teaser 2


Excerpt:

The flight attendant directed traffic with a smile, pointing the college-aged twentysomethings hefting giant backpacks to the far side of the plane before picking up her microphone. She gave the usual rambling speech, asking passengers not to crowd the aisles or stuff winter jackets into the overhead bins…Yadda, yadda.

I listened with half an ear for important info, like when this tin can was expected to get in the air and what time we’d land in London. Not that it mattered. I’d been on the late flight from Seattle so often, I knew I was in for a nine-and-a-half-hour ride and that I’d arrive at Heathrow sometime in the late afternoon. I also knew I’d be too disoriented to care about anything other than grabbing something to eat on my way home.

I had to admit, I was one of those weirdos who kind of liked the hum of airplane noise, and there was something vaguely comforting in the routine I’d established over the past seven years. I shrugged off my coat and made sure my headphones were within reach—along with my iPad, reading glasses, and the Ziploc bag of homemade trail mix my sister had sneaked into my carry-on bag. Then I buckled up, settled in, and hoped like hell that the seat next to mine would magically remain open.

Of course, that rarely happened. And I highly doubted my wish would come true this time around ’cause A, cross-Atlantic flights were rarely empty, and B, I didn’t have that kind of luck. The best I could hope for was a quiet neighbor. I peered over at the empty window seat and sent up a quick prayer for it to stay that way before slipping my readers on to check messages on my phone.

My ten-year-old nephew informed me he’d already beat my high score on Madden, my parents asked if there was any way I might finagle a trip home in the spring, and my sister claimed she’d added more M&M’s to her trail mix this year. She also asked if I was okay.

I sent an exclamation sign to Emmett, a heart symbol to my folks, and a thumbs-up to Heather. None of those messages required a wordy response. I’d learned that it was best to stick to basic communication with my family. Emmett was happy with the occasional poop or wind emoji, and my parents liked hearts. Real words got tricky. My parents knew that coming home for Christmas had been a stretch for me. I couldn’t swing another trip too soon, and it was best to avoid circular arguments.

And questions that might spark conversations about an old ex and his new wife. Yep, a thumbs-up was much easier.

I added another for posterity and was about to switch my cell to airplane mode when a new message from Becca lit up my screen.

Call me when you land! I’ll pick you up. Btw, I made a gorgeous lemon meringue pie I’m dying for you to try. Safe travels! xo

FCIW Teaser 1


Enter the Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of Fairy Cakes in Winter, Lane is giving away the Winner’s choice of an audiobook or ebook of your choice from her published works!

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cc0f2a57640/?

FCIW Tagline


Lane Hayes Alternate Logo 3-2

About the Author:

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, 2018-2019, 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.

Connect with Lane:
My Readers’ Group, Lane’s Lovers: https://bit.ly/3aIbMYg
My Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3cICfaK
Blog: www.lane-hayes.com
Twitter: twitter.com/LaneHayes3
FB: facebook.com/LaneHayesAuthor
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/lanehayes
BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/lane-hayes
Instagram: instagram.com/lanehayes3/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/LaneHayes
Tiktok: tiktok.com/@lane_hayes

Lane Pic


grr-tours-promo


Read More...

Review Tour – Toe the Line, Penelope Ward

March 3, 2023 | Posted in Blog Tour | By

 

Title: Toe the Line
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Trope: Friends-to-Lovers
Release Date: February 27, 2023
BLURB

 

 

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a friends-to-lovers story spanning more than a decade…

 

At first, I thought I’d hate spending the summer with Archie Remington—the conceited son of my parents’ friends.
What I knew about Archie: he was gorgeous, pre-law, and had always treated me like I didn’t exist when we were younger.
When our families bought a house together on an island in Maine, he and I were forced to share a bathroom.
The boy I remembered was now a full-grown man—but with the same attitude.
After a rough start, Archie and I unexpectedly started getting along one day and eventually became friends. We shared secrets and bonded during our morning jogs. I discovered that Archie had a wild spirit and that he struggled to conform to his father’s expectations.
Things were cool until I had to go and ruin it, getting drunk one night, and blurting out my fantasy—involving him.
I took it back, but it was too late. Archie had heard me loud and clear. After that, we never quite knew how to toe the line.
When that summer came to an abrupt and shocking end, I headed back to college, unsure if anything would ever be the same again.
Across the miles over the years, he and I stayed in touch as friends, but fate and timing always kept us from becoming more.
You know the saying: If two people are meant to be, they’ll find their way back to each other?
Let’s just say Archie came back into my life in a way I would’ve never expected.
And this time, my heart would really be put to the test.

 

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS
Six F*cking epic stars!! 
Toe the Line is Penelope Ward’s newest standalone and it’s one of my favorites! If you follow my reviews, you know I don’t read blurbs unless it’s a new-to-me author. I love going in totally blind. It’s really the only way I rebel now. One of the main reasons I love Penelope’s books is that the characters love story is never a straight shot. The plot twists make my heart pound and sometimes rip my heart out and I am always here for it…
Noelle and Archie have spent summers together over the years with their parents but the summer before her freshman year of college changed their lives. They usually just pass each other in the hall but this summer, they saw each other. Deeply. It was unexpected, beautiful, and raw. It was the start of a complicated friendship from different coasts. They didn’t get to see each other often but they were always there for each other. For the good, the bad, and the unexpected. For years they toed the line with their friendship, the love and trust was always there but can Noelle trust him with her heart? And does Archie want it? 
This was one hell of an epically beautiful roller coaster of a story. I read most of it in one day, once I started I didn’t want to stop and if I didn’t start at night, I wouldn’t have stopped. I said it was one of my favorite Penelope books but it is seriously one of my faves of 2023! I fell hard and fast for these two. I was fully invested. I ♥️ them. They made me swoon, laugh, get hot and bothered, and cry! 
Quotes: 
“Promise me I’ll never lose you, Noelle.”
“You look so goddamn beautiful right now.” His eyes were hazy as he murmured, “It hurts to look at you.”
“I can’t remember the last time I wanted something so badly,” he rasped.
5 out of 5 stars

Toe the Line is Penelope Ward’s newest, heartbreaking, heart-warming, wild ride of a romance! This is truly an epic romance that starts one summer between virtual strangers and spans years of ups and downs. Archie and Noelle have one crazy summer when they are young. It’s full of fun, laughter, family and attraction. When they go their separate ways, they stay in each other’s lives and over there years, they see each other but never seem to be in the same place in their lives to make a move. Noelle always had a crush on Archie, but the timing wasn’t ever right. Archie needed to have Noelle in his life, so he wasn’t going to take a chance and ruin the best thing he had. Life gets in the way and they are reunited years later under the most interesting circumstances! Will they? Won’t they? I was on the edge of my seat the entire book! I loved the push and pull. The foreplay. I could feel the love between them and seriously wanted to smack Archie upside his head, but I got what he was going through. Love is never really easy. You have to go through the hard times to get to the good stuff. I couldn’t love Archie and Noelle more if I tried!

 

 

AUTHOR BIO
Penelope
Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling
author of contemporary romance.
 
She grew up
in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a
television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son,
and beautiful daughter with autism.
 
With over two
million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author
of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen
languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.
AUTHOR LINKS
OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

 

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Read More...

New Release & Review – Annoyed At First Sight, Lani Lynn Vale

March 3, 2023 | Posted in Review | By

 

The first time Cassius Ulysses Costas met Alice Paradis, she was in a string bikini and filling up a long line of boats that were there just to see her. She was eighteen and every man’s wet dream.

Even his.

For the longest time, he went out of his way to stay as far away from her as he could get without actually taking his eyes off of her. For years, he was the better person. He played his hand close, and not a single person would know just how obsessed he was with her.

Then he goes to prison and comes out a man that couldn’t care less about anyone or anything, least of all what someone thought of him and his actions. But not one second while he was behind bars did he forget about Alice.

He tries to stay away. For a few long months, he fights his every instinct to make her his. But, as if the universe is conspiring against him, Alice is thrown into his path time after time, instance after instance.

And his resolve is waning. Fast.

In one last ditch effort to stay away, he walks away, hoping making her mad enough will force her to do the work for him.
However, when Alice is attacked, it isn’t Cassius’s harsh words she remembers, but the way he makes her feel safe.

Soon, the very last thing he’ll do is let her walk away. He did the right thing, and that didn’t work out. Now, it’s time for him to embrace the wrong.

5 out of 5 stars

Annoyed at First Sight is the fourth book in the Gator Bait series by Lani Lynn Vale. This is Alice and Cassius’s story! They have known each other since Alice was eighteen and Cassius watched her from afar. After spending time in prison, he’s back home and when he sees Alice, he’s annoyed AF. He wants her but he can’t have her. He won’t put himself through losing another person he cares about. He’s grumpy, jerky and does everything he can to push her away. Alice is so funny and independent and her family relies on her too much. She sees Cassius and can’t believe he’s back. She had a crush on him when she was younger and it never really went away. But now he hates her and she has no idea why. Turns out, he’s wildly attracted to her and fighting it. What’s a girl to do? Show him what he’s missing. He’s doesn’t quite fall for it, but when she’s in trouble he’s the one she runs too. When Cassius finds Alice hurt, he vows to stop running. He tried that and it didn’t work, only made him want her more. Now that they can fight together, she’s safe, he’s calmed down. I really loved Alice and Cassis! She’s so freaking hilarious and smart and doesn’t care what people think. He’s so sweet and nice to everyone but her, but I get it! Together they made me laugh out loud and smile a lot. I loved her brother and so many of the secondary characters! Looking forward to the next one in the series!

 

Read More...

Release Blitz & Reviews – My So Called Sex Life, Lauren Blakely

March 1, 2023 | Posted in Release Day Blitz, Review | By

 

 

 

MY SO-CALLED SEX LIFE by Lauren Blakely

Release Date: March 1st

Genre/Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers/Forced Proximity/Broody Grump/Only One Bed

​​

 

MY SO-CALLED SEX LIFE by #1 NYT bestselling author Lauren Blakely is NOW LIVE!

 

Grab this all-new sexy, dirty-talking grump of a hero, enemies-to-lovers, rom-com standalone TODAY!!

 

NOW AVAILABLE! FREE IN KU!

✦ Amazon ➜http://blkly.pub/AmazonMySoCalled

✦ Audible ➜ http://blkly.pub/AudioSLife

(Narrated by Vanessa Edwin & Sebastian York)

 

“My So-Called Sex Life is the enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine story I didn’t know I needed until I met Hazel and Axel…The humor, the banter, and the evolution of their enemies to friends to lovers is heartwarming and fun to experience.” ~ FaveyList on Goodreads

 

 

 

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60171498-my-so-called-sex-life

 

Sandra's Review

5 out of 5 stars

My So-Called Sex Life is the first book in the How to Date series by Lauren Blakely! It’s a fan-f*cking-tastic start to a new series. In Lauren fashion we have met Axel and Hazel in previous books. I love them both individually but together… wow. Explosive.
Axel and Hazel have history. They were the best of friends, they wrote together once upon a time but then one day, it was over. That was over a year ago and now they avoid each other. Except, now they can’t. Their publishing houses are sending them on a train tour across Europe with a few lucky readers. One week stuck with your nemesis on a train. What could go wrong?
They knew they had to adult to make it through without killing each other but could they go one week sharing a sleeper car without touching each other? I mean hate-sex is kinda hot, right? They do say there is fine line between love and hate and these two know it and I am here for it.
I am so in love with these Axel and Hazel. Together they are fire but that’s not all they are. They story is fun, sexy, and emotional. There is more to them and I loved their emotional connection as much as their sexual connection. They just get each other. I believe this is my first train romance and it was amazing! It makes me want to book my own trip.
Quotes:
Why are jerks so hot?
Seriously? Who decided that sexy jerks could be old-looking? With freshly fucked hair, and undress-me eyes, and those goddamn blak glasses that get e every time. Axel Huxley is the sexiest jerk of all.
I could get lost in this kind of attention. It’s pulsing. It’s a mix of midnight and starlight and fire.
It’s everything I’ve ever written and nothing I’ve ever experienced.
5 out of 5 stars

My So Called Sex Life is the first book in the How to Date series by Lauren Blakely. I have been looking forward to Hazel and Axel’s story for a long, long time!! It’s even better than I imagined! This is a sexy, fun enemies-to-lovers romance and I am here for it! Axel and Hazel used to work together and then one day he just left. No explanation. Nothing. Now they have to spend a week on a train in Europe and just try not to kill each other. But while sharing only one cabin and one bed, they are feeling anything but hatred for each other. Now it’s lust, attraction and could it be more? Maybe. But Axel needs to confess why he just left her. Hazel needs to let go of her past. Together they are fire and sweetness and so sexy! As in all of Lauren’s books, I love the friendships, family and supportiveness. Even their new reader friends are there for them. I don’t know how Lauren does it. Every. Time. Just when I think I can’t possibly love a couple more than the last, bam! Axel and Hazel. I swooned, laughed, got hot and bothered and just loved every minute of it.

Audio – Oh boy, Sebastian and Vanessa brought out the big guns for this one. They were so freaking fantastic and the perfect Axel and Hazel!

 

 

 

 

BLURB:

 

I’ve got a list of people I absolutely don’t ever want to be stuck with on a boat, or a plane, or a train, and it starts and ends with the broody, grumpy, too-sexy-for-my-own good Axel Huxley.

Also known as this romance novelist’s number one nemesis.

The man is legendary for his mighty pen and his even mightier scowl. I tried to work together with the cocky thriller writer once upon a time, but the two of us are like vodka and good decisions. We don’t play well together.

Only now, our publishers are sending us on a joint trip across Europe to mingle with our most devoted readers on an old-fashioned luxury train. And thanks to a booking snafu, we have to share a sleeper car.

You guessed it–there’s only one bed.

I’m not sure I can survive the next seven days and nights with my dangerously sexy enemy and all our fiery tension.

Which explodes one night in a desperately needed hate bang.

But the bigger plot twist is this – the more time we spend together, visiting the most romantic cities in Europe by day and discovering each other at night, the more I’m forced to face our past.

To let go of the hurt.

To see the man he’s become.

And when I do, I wonder if it’s too late to write a new happy ending for us?

My So-Called Sex Life is a standalone MF romantic comedy!

 

 

 

 

 

About Lauren Blakely:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible

Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s

sexy, sweet, and witty. She also writes USA Today bestselling LGBTQ romance.

 

With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York

Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, with

more than 65 titles on the USA Today Bestsellers list alone. She’s sold more than 5 million books. A Brown University graduate, Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.

 

 

Connect w/Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenBlakely3

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

 

Read More...

New Release, Review & Excerpt – The New Guy, Sarina Bowen

March 1, 2023 | Posted in Excerpt, Release Day Blitz, Review | By

 

A new male / male hockey romance from 24-time USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen!

My name is Hudson Newgate, but my teammates call me New Guy.

That was my nickname in Chicago, too. And Vancouver. That’s what happens when you keep getting traded. Brooklyn is my last chance, especially after my poor performance last season.

But I can make this work. The new guy knows to keep his head down and shoot the puck. The new guy puts the game first.

What he doesn’t do is hook up with the other new guy—a hot athletic trainer who lives in my building. Gavin needs this job with my team. He’s a single dad with responsibilities.

We can’t be a couple. My arrogant agent–who’s also my father–will lose his mind if I’m dating a dude. And my team needs me to score goals, not whip up a media circus.

Too bad Gavin and I are terrible at resisting each other…

 

Amazon: https://geni.us/New-Guy-Amzn
Apple Books: https://geni.us/New-Guy-Appl
Kobo: https://geni.us/New-Guy-Kobo
Nook: https://geni.us/New-Guy-BandN
Audio: https://geni.us/New-Guy-Audible

All links in one place: https://shor.by/NewGuy
ADD TO GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63355404-the-new-guy

 

Kara's Review

5 out of 5 stars

The New Guy is the first book in the NEW series, Hockey Guys, by the fabulous Sarina Bowen. Did you hear that? A NEW m/m series. Holy hell, I’m so excited! It’s a spin-off of the Brooklyn series so we get to see some of our favorites and meet new ones! There are two new guys in Brooklyn. Hudson Newgate is a new player who’s been traded four times in the last five years so he knows how to be the new guy. Gavin is the new athletic trainer. There is an instant attraction between them, but Hudson isn’t out and Gavin can’t afford to lose his job, he has a daughter to take care of. Not only are they both new, they’re neighbors! They try to stay away from each other, they really do, but their chemistry is just too strong. Oh man, when they give in, it’s fire! Gavin is such a good dad and Jordyn is freaking hilarious! He’s patient with Hudson who’s struggling to decide to come out. They are supportive of each other, they have fun together and they are sexy as hell! I loved everything about this book. The push and pull, the weeks of foreplay, the banter, the sexiness and the laughs. I just couldn’t love Hudson and Gavin more if I tried! Sarina is one of my favorite authors and her m/m romances are top-notch. Him was the first m/m I listened to in audio and I never looked back.

Audio: Teddy Hamilton and J.F. Harding were freaking fantastic! They are the perfect Gavin and Hudson.

 

Excerpt

When I win the ping pong game, he laughs. “Didn’t take you too long to finish me off.”

I shrug, like it’s no big thing. But my heart is thumping and my face is flushed. And I realize that I don’t want the night to end. It’s the first time I’ve felt this way in a long time. 

“You’re a shark. I owe you five bucks.” He reaches for his wallet.

I hold up a hand. “Sorry, I don’t take cash. You’ll have to work it off in trade.” Yup, that ridiculous line just came out of my mouth. And I don’t regret it. 

His hand stills on his back pocket. “Yeah?”

“Oh yeah.” My words are full of bravado. But this is a big moment for me. I haven’t been with a guy since Eddie died.

Across the table, Hudson might be having his own internal battles. His handsome face is thoughtful. Maybe even troubled. He sets down his paddle and actually glances over his shoulder to make sure there’s nobody nearby. There isn’t, though. We’re the only ones in the ping-pong room. His gaze snaps back to mine. “I don’t do this.”

“Oh.” That could mean so many things. “You mean pickups? Or guys?”

“Well, both.”

“You’re not married,” I whisper. “Right?”

He actually laughs. “Nope. No way.” He turns his chin toward the front of the bar, and I am suddenly worried that I’ve killed the mood. But instead of begging off, he says, “My place is only a couple blocks from here. But I have to settle up with Pete. You want to meet me outside?”

Ah. Now I get it. He doesn’t want us to walk out together, and he doesn’t know how to say so. 

“Sure,” I say with forced casualness. “I’ll be outside. Don’t take too long.” I grab my jacket off the hook on the wall and stride past him, through the bar and out the door. 

Read More...