Showing posts with label 4 Hearts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4 Hearts. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Tour: Love Emerged by Michelle Lynn





Dylan

Bea Zanders’s interest penetrated me.
I tried to ignore her unwavering eyes and lasting touches.
But my willpower failed me.

Our one-night affair was mutual.
No expectations, no exchanging of phone numbers, nothing.
The next morning, she sauntered out of my life as fast as she had entered it.

Bea

I claimed Dylan McCain as soon as I saw him.
His disheveled dark hair and tattooed arms screamed bad boy.
Finally, I won, and he claimed me in return.

But in the light of day, he changed.
His smile further dented those dreamy dimples.
His panicked green eyes held layers of kindness.
Making sure the rules were clear, I walked away, showing him how little relationships meant to me.

Now, two months later, we come face-to-face again—as coworkers.


4 Stars
Geez, where to start...
I wasn't sure how I felt about a story for Dylan and Bea. The two were just fune as supporting characters, but I just didn’t know. I liked Bea okay in the first books, but she wasn't an OMG I need her story kind of character for me. Turns out I really, really enjoyed her story. Well, it isn't just her story, but Dylan's as well. Love Emerged is book 3 in this series, and it is a great addition.
At first, I was a bit wishy washy about Bea. She's kind of *itchy. However, once the author peels back her layers, it is evident that her attitude is her armor. I won't lie, I liked her sassy, take no crap attitude, but sometimes (at the beginning), it was a bit much. She doesn't do relationships, and just wants a friends with benefits one with Dylan.
Dylan on the other hand is one of the good guys. He is a relationships guy. He is searching for his one, and he can't seem to get Bea out of his system. I just loved him. I loved how his alpha would come out, but he was always sweet and cautious of Bea's needs.
The characters really came into their own in this story. When one was weak, the other was there for them (usually this was Dylan there for Bea). They made a great match. This story is a great Contemporary Romance and is a perfect read when you are looking for something light and fun.





Love Emerged (Book 3)
Purchase Links




My coworkers’ hands slow down until the clapping eventually dies.
“So, I’m excited to announce that Deacon Advertising has landed a top-notch graduate of NYU. After a fighting war, we won out.”
I inch up on my tiptoes to see the mystery million-dollar man, but to no avail. Big Vic from the mailroom is blocking any view I might have of the man standing next to Tim.
“Oh my dreams, he’s come to life,” Kevin says next to me.
I crane my neck desperate to catch a glimpse.
“He’s good-looking?” I whisper, still dodging my head in each direction to catch a glimpse. I’ve never been patient when I’m the one in the dark.
“That’s an understatement. This man could not shower for a week and have spinach stuck in each one of his teeth, and I’d still melt at the sight of those dimples.”
With the one word dimples, my stomach flips as I think about Dylan. He thought he was skating the issue the next morning when he said he had to go. Asking me to climb down the trellis of his parents’ house was new for me, but I understood. If my mom had been on the other side of the bedroom door, I’d have pushed him out the window. At least he met me down the street and drove me back to the bar to retrieve my car. He was sweet and kind to think my feelings would be hurt once I realized I was a booty call. Hell, he was my booty call.
“Deaconators, please put those hands together and welcome Dylan McCain.”
“Even the name.” Kevin shakes his head, probably already naming their kids.
“What?” I screech.
A few heads turn toward me.
I inch back to Kevin’s side, taking refuge in a friend. “It can’t be.”
Then, as if I asked for it, he switches spots with Tim, and he’s standing there with those mouth-watering dimples on high alert. Through a sliver of space between Big Vic from the mailroom and Ben from design, he’s clearly visible. And I can’t take my eyes off him.
A high-end tailored suit contours his broad shoulders, buttoned down past his taut waist. No tie but a nice, crisp gray shirt lies under his jacket with the top button undone. His hair is freshly cut, and the small waves are now gelled into a style that doesn’t suit him as well as the messy morning look.
As if he can spot me in the crowd of one hundred, our eyes catch, and my throat dries. For the first time in my life, I’m speechless. My body warms, and I don’t know if it’s because of the intimate things I shared with him that night or the fact that, besides Piper, he’s the first one in so long who seems to care for me.
“Hello, Deaconators.” He laughs. “Surely, we can find a better name than that, Tim.” He clasps Tim on the shoulder and winks.
The room uproars into laughter, and I can’t stop the smile sneaking across my lips.
“I’m happy to be here. I’m originally from the Detroit area. I grew up forty minutes outside of the city. I did my internship at AdSec in New York, but I wanted to come back home to my roots. So, here I am.”
He does a bow just like Tim, and I know he’s already mimicking his new boss. Dylan has a dry sense of humor, much like my own. He adds on a little wave of his hand in front of him, and suddenly, I wish we were back in the eighteen hundreds, and he was asking for my hand at a dance.
No, you don’t. Stop that line of thinking, I scold myself.
The room claps again, and Dylan stands there, absorbing the attention. He’s the glory boy, huh?
“You okay?” Kevin asks as everyone funnels out of the room.
“Yes, why?” I toss my own coffee in the trash can in the corner, not needing anything to further warm my veins.
“You look a little flushed, that’s all.” He laughs and brushes by Big Vic to make his exit. “See you at lunch,” he singsongs, leaving me behind. Thinking twice, he turns, his feet continuing to move with the line of traffic. He raises his cup in the air. “Thanks for the coffee, Bea Zanders. Tomorrow’s on me.”
He smiles, and I glance over to Dylan. He’s shaking hands with a line of women currently attempting to dig up his credentials. Married, engaged, or single?
Those green hues sparkle to me like emeralds in a jewelry store, and I hold his gaze. I’m surprised he doesn’t seem as shocked as I am, but instead more curious. Then, a slow smirk crosses his lips, and he turns to the woman touching his bicep. He shakes her hand, and before the next desperate woman can slide into her spot, he breaks free. Zigzagging between the throng of people, he lightly acknowledges the pats on his back, congratulations, and good-to-meet-you’s, but his eyes are focused solely on mine.
My body buzzes with alarm, feasting on his eyes bearing happiness. Once he finally breaks free, his fingers slide down my arm, capturing my hand, and he veers us away from the stampede.







SYNOPSIS:

The equations are simple.

Piper Ashby + Brad Ashby = Twin Siblings 
Brad Ashby + Tanner McCain = Best Friends 
Piper Ashby + Tanner McCain = Off limits 

Tanner and I abided by the rules. We stayed on our designated sides of the relationship circle. 

Ignoring swarming butterflies. 
Brushing off skipped heartbeats. 
Settling on lingering stares. 

Here’s the secret … a hand extended over that invisible line once, exponentially changing the equation. I was convinced we could make our relationship work until Tanner broke the trust he embedded in me from the age of seven. 

One deceit of mega proportions and the relationship we built for that short month vanished. I swore never to speak to him again and it’s worked. Until now—two years later, when my brother’s wedding places me face-to-face with the best man—Tanner McCain. 

Leaving one equation to be solved. Can love surface twice?


Love Surfaced
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1GK2wRV








SYNOPSIS:

Taylor Delaney is the love of my life. 
She’s also the one I've hurt the most. 
Two years ago, I made a disastrous mistake. 
One I’m not sure I can make amends from. 
But I have to try, because I’m nothing without her. 

Brad Ashby's here, in my hometown, asking for a second chance. 
All those unresolved feelings for him have resurfaced. 
Not that they ever went away. 
I know I should run him out of the town, but I can’t. 
He needs to know that I wasn’t the only one who was deceived. 

Even if we gave our relationship another try, how can we rebuild what’s been destroyed? If we weren’t strong enough then, what makes us strong enough now? 

This is a standalone novel involving two characters from Michelle Lynn's Love Surfaced novel.

Love Rekindled (Book 2)



USA Today Bestselling author, Michelle Lynn moved around the Midwest most of her life, transferring from school to school before settling down in the outskirts of Chicago ten years ago, where she now resides with her husband and two kids.  She developed a love of reading at a young age, which helped lay the foundation for her passion to write.   With the encouragement of her family, she finally sat down and wrote one of the many stories that have been floating around in her head. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found playing with her kids, talking to her mom on the phone, or hanging out with her family and friends.  But after chasing around twin preschoolers all day, she always cherishes her relaxation time after putting the kids to bed.



Twitter: @michellelynnbks





Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Release Blitz: Bindings by Kate Roth

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Ashamed of the woman she allowed herself to become, Sloane Montgomery sets out to repair the self-inflicted damage done to her life. A new town holds her new beginning and when Leo Calloway arrives everything changes.

Captivated by Leo and his dark desires, Sloane wonders if her fascination with his dominance goes deeper than fantasy. Has she been seeking punishment to atone for the sins of her past all along? Though Leo’s brutal lust is what first enthralls her, the bonds of trust they form could have the power to heal her.
When the ties to her former life threaten to take hold of her again, the passion binding her to Leo may be the key to her ultimate release.


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Bindings by Kate Roth is a great read for anyone who is craving a darker novel. Though if you are looking for a truly dark book, this isn't the one for you. I would say that Bindings is a middle level dark novel, where there are some dark scenes, mostly it reads like a contemporary novel and it is quite fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters' navigation of both sides of their relationship.

Sloane is running away from her old life and a horrible relationship. See, she was the other woman for years, and once she saw the error of her ways, she got out of it. Though she had the backbone to leave, she is left with feeling inadequate and down on herself. She is convinced that she is going to write a book to purge her feelings. She does her writing in a little bookstore in town.

It is at this bookstore that she meets Leo. He is mysterious, commanding, and caring. He sees a naturally submissive woman in Sloane and mistakenly takes her down the road of such thinking that it is one she has traveled before. When he finds out that she is new to the life he leads, he gives her a choice to follow or not. She chooses to submit. However, submission isn't the only thing that Leo wants from her. He wants a relationship and to get to know her.

I really liked the dynamic between Leo and Sloane. He was always what she needed when she needed it. He always knew when to push and when to pull back. Sloane showed great growth in this story. She starts as a shell of a woman and emerges confident and strong. Take note that this book is not a stand alone. It is merely the first book in the series and it DOES end in a bit of a cliffy. It wasn't too bad, though, just giving the relationship more growth. I can't wait to see where the author takes these two characters next.



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Bindings first chapter preview link http://www.katerothwrites.com/chapter-one.html

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FB reader group, Kate Roth's NSFW Zone.
I'll be hosting a party in there 10-6pm EST on Feb. 1st Join Kate Here


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Published since 2012, Kate Roth is addicted to all things romance. Her passion for love stories, both traditional and unconventional, has led her to write in various sub-genres of romance including New Adult, Paranormal and Erotica. Kate is inspired by everything from music to the real-life romance tales she's heard through her years as a professional hair stylist.

One thing is certain, Kate Roth writes steamy connections, sassy dialogue, and strong heroines & heroes.

Kate spends her time away from the keyboard with her insta-love husband, Adam and their faithful pound puppy, Sampson.

Mailing list sign up: http://eepurl.com/P_655

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Release Blitz: I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne




Title: I Wish You Were Mine
Series: Oxford #2 
Author: Lauren Layne
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 2, 2016


Perfect for fans of Alice Clayton and Emma Chase, Lauren Layne’s Oxford series heats up in this story of forbidden desire as a brooding jock hoping for a comeback falls for a woman who’s strictly off-limits.

A year ago, Jackson Burke was married to the love of his life and playing quarterback for the Texas Redhawks. Now he’s retired, courtesy of the car accident that ruined his career—and single, after a nasty scandal torpedoed his marriage. Just as he’s starting to get used to his new life as a health and fitness columnist forOxford magazine, his unpredictable ex shows up on his doorstep in Manhattan. Jackson should be thrilled. But he can’t stop thinking about the one person who’s always been there for him, the one girl he could never have: her younger sister.

Mollie Carrington can’t say no to Madison. After all, her older sister practically raised her. So when Madison begs for help in winning her ex-husband back, Mollie’s just glad she got over her own crush on Jackson ages ago—or so she thought. Because as Mollie reconnects with Jackson, she quickly forgets all her reasons to stay loyal to her sister. Tempted by Jackson’s mellow drawl and cowboy good looks, Mollie is sick and tired of coming in second place. But she can’t win if she doesn’t play the game.





I Wish You Were mine is a great example of a fun, light contemporary romance. This is a story of a girl, Mollie, who falls in love with her sister's husband, Jackson. Jackson and Madison, the sister, don't work out. Okay, so she ended up being shallow, a liar, a cheater, and a psycho; so, they wind up getting divorced. Throughout their marriage however, Jackson could always count on Mollie. They ended up becoming very close friends, all the while Mollie pushed her feelings aside. Did I mention that Jackson is a hot shot quarterback in Texas?

When Jackson's career ends due to a tragic accident, he shuts everyone out and moves to New York to (begrudgingly) pursue a career as a fitness editor. Coincidentally, Mollie lives in New York, too. The two get together for drinks and sparks start to fly. Jackson tries to deny the chemistry because he doesn't want a relationship or complications. Mollie tries to deny it because, well, that's her sister's (ex)husband. She ends up living with Jackson temporarily, and Madison decides she wants him back. She tries to manipulate the situation no matter who she hurts (Mollie especially).

I must say that I was so frustrated with Jackson and Mollie several times. It really grated on my nerves how they let Madison manipulate situations. It's like they were scared of her and had absolutely no backbone where she was concerned. I just wanted to scream multiple times. However, this was the only part of the story that I didn't quite like.

All the characters were great! The group that Jackson works with, and becomes friends with, were so much fun. Each character brought something special to the story. The author not only infused the story with witty dialogue, but the emotions of the characters jumped off the page. I won't lie, I did shed some tears. Overall, this is an excellent excellent addition to the series and I can't wait for more!



AMAZON US / UK




AMAZON US / UK




Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen contemporary romance novels. Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. A year after moving from Seattle to NYC to pursue a writing career, she had a fabulous agent and multiple New York publishing deals. Lauren currently lives in Manhattan with her husband and plus-sized Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll likely find her running (rarely), reading (sometimes), or at happy hour (often).

WEBSITE    FACEBOOK    TWITTER    GOODREADS

Monday, January 25, 2016

Release Blitz: Paradise Fought: Abel by L.B. Dunbar




Title: Paradise Fought: Abel
Series: Paradise #1
Author: L.B. Dunbar
Genre: Contemporary New Adult Romance/MMA
 Release Date: January 25, 2016



I'm not a fighter.
I was born into a fighting family. As the middle child, I was overlooked in favor of my older brother.
He took the negative attention, too. In comparison, there's nothing special about me.\
I’m not as big as Cobra. I’m not as strong as Cobra. He's the alpha.
I'm a beta.
The second son.
The lesser one.
The one never encouraged to fight, never encouraged to do anything, but stay out of my father’s way.

I'm not a lover either - but I wished to be – that’s why I needed her.
I met a girl in the pouring rain.
Sounds cliché, but it's true. It changed everything.
Because of love, I learned to fight.

Betas come second, but in this fight, my story is first.





Paradise Fought: Abel by L.B. Dunbar is a great read. It gave a new twist to both MMA stories and New Adult. Honestly, it was refreshing.

Abel is an up and coming MMA fighter. He is used to being put down and overlooked by this abusive father. Unfortunately (or fortunately for him) his older brother took the brunt of the abuse, but also the praise, attention, and training to become a successful MMA fighter. Abel is training in secret, to prove, not just to his father, but to himself that he is worthy. Because of his upbringing, Abel is socially awkward, especially around girls. So when he runs into the girl of his dreams, Elma, he can't resist swooping in to save her. But not without a price. He needs her to teach him how to interact and pick up girls.

Elma is more than what is seen on the surface. She has a reputation for being easy, and she uses it to her advantage. She has a secret agenda of her own and needs to break into the underground fighting scene. Abel is an unwelcome complication in her life, but even she has to admit that he is always swooping in to save her at the right moments.

I loved the growth that we see from Abel. He really comes into his own and starts to have a quiet confidence about him. He actually starts to grow a backbone. His one flaw would be that he is so self doubting. It is embedded into his mind and he has a terrible time letting it go. On the flip side, Elma learns a lesson in letting go of her issues and and facing facts. These two characters complimented each other perfectly. Book 2 is Cain's story, the brother of Abel. If this book is anything to go by, it is going to be awesome!






AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU






If I thought I was going to make a speedy getaway, I was wrong. My savior caught up to me, half way down the walk, outside the finance building. He was quick and a large hand wrapped around my upper arm.

“Whoa, sister,” he said, slightly out of breath. “You almost got away from me again.”

“What?” I questioned. I had no idea what he meant: again.

“Never mind,” he muttered, his hand still on me. I looked down at it and he immediately released me. My eyes pinched as I realized I didn’t mind his hand on my skin. There was something nonthreatening about him. He seemed rather innocent, studious, actually. His shirt was buttoned almost to the top and tucked into his pants. The sleeves secure at the cuffs. His jeans were snug and hugged him well. He wore dark rimmed glasses that screamed smart. Brown boots looked too new on his large feet. It was like he had the right parts but the wrong combination.

His blue eyes were soft and easy to look into. They practically spoke to me, but I had no idea what he was saying. His dark hair was disheveled, a bit shaggy, but cool looking. He kind of looked like a pop star, which was a little too sugar sweet for me. His form was questionable. It was hard to tell what kind of body he had under those clothes. He looked rather preppy, like half the guys at this university. I didn’t want to think about it. I’d just sold my soul for another semester.

“So when do you want to do this?” I asked. His blank stare told me he had no idea what I meant.

“Us,” I said, pointing between him and me.

“I…” His voice trailed off as he gawked at me. His expression changed from confusion to shock.

“I didn’t buy you to sleep with you,” he said, a touch of disbelief in his voice. His face turned crimson, then fell. “Why, have you done that before?” It was my turn to be surprised and offended.

I turned on my heels and began stomping away from him. He was too quick and he caught me again. His hand on my arm halted me. This time he didn’t release me when I peered down at his fingers wrapped around my bicep.

“Look. I need help,” he blurted. His face pinked a little, and it was sweet. “I don’t need help with sex. I need help with before.” His tone dropped, and he looked side to side to see if anyone would hear him. I took his meaning.

“You don’t know how to do foreplay?” I questioned in a loud whisper, trying to hide my astonishment. How could anyone have sex and not know a touch of foreplay?

His face pinked again.

“Not that,” he said, sounding like a child. “The flirting. The dating. The…other stuff.”

I was stunned. I stared at him, taking in his features again. He was kind of cute, leaning toward the potential for good looking. He couldn’t possibly need help with this request. The confusion on my face made him speak.

“I don’t know how to flirt.” The words swirled between us.

“I don’t understand.” I didn’t. I didn’t know what he wanted from me.

“I need lessons how to be…cool: with girls. Call it a tutoring session. I need to learn how to be…seen.” His voice took on a touch of sadness. He couldn’t possibly be serious. I continued to stare at him. My mouth might have actually dropped open a bit, and I noticed he was watching my lips. It was a little exciting the way he stared at them. I licked them and his pupils dilated, filling in more black over the blue. His expression changed. Knowingly, he blinked when he realized I was teasing him. His lip quirked up and a dimple showed in his cheek.

“I need to date you,” he blurted. “To learn how to do, what you just did to me.”






L.B. Dunbar loves the original legend of King Arthur. Inspired by this classic tale, she pulled over to the side of the road to take notes when it hit her that if King Arthur lived today, he'd be a rock star. A lover of fairy tales, myths, legends, and anything with happily ever after, she loves to read and write contemporary romance. Her Legendary Rock Stars series is complete with the final tale: The Trials of Guinevere DeGrance, but the story began with The Legend of Arturo King. She also wrote The Sensations Collection, which includes five stand alones based on the five senses in a small town setting near Lake Michigan. Raised on one side of that lake, she grew up in Michigan, but now lives on the other side, in Chicago. Mother to four, wife to the one and only, and teacher to hundreds of former students, she looks forward to sharing more stories in the future.

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