Thursday, 29 June 2017

THE CATCH by K.Bromberg - Review Blitz #bookreview #teasers

After an unexpected twist of fate, All-Star catcher Easton Wylder is left questioning the loyalty of everyone around him.

Even the woman who shares his bed, Scout Dalton.

But if Easton thought being uprooted to the last place he expected was the only challenge life had to throw at him, he was dead wrong.

With an ailing shoulder and his career in limbo, his decision to make an unexpected change leads him to question everything – Scout’s love, family loyalties, and whether he can conquer the one obstacle he’s never been able to overcome. The secret he’s never shared with anyone.

He may be a man pushed to his limits, but he’s hell-bent on proving his worth no matter the cost.

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Baseball has never been sexier in an all-new novel by New York Times Bestselling Author, K. Bromberg.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty. The game is his life. His passion. His everything.

So, when an injury threatens to end Easton’s season early, the team calls in renowned physical therapist, Doc Dalton, to oversee his recovery. Except it’s not Doc who greets Easton for his first session, but rather, his daughter, Scout. She may be feisty, athletic, defiant, and gorgeous, but Easton is left questioning whether she has what it takes to help him.

Scout Dalton’s out to prove a female can handle the pressure of running the physical therapy regimen of an MLB club. And that proof comes in the form of getting phenom Easton Wylder back on the field. But getting him healthy means being hands-on.

And with a man as irresistible as Easton, being hands-on can only lead to one thing, trouble. Because the more she touches him, the more she wants him, and she can’t want him. Not when it’s her job to maintain the club’s best interest, in regards to whether he’s ready to play.

But when sparks fly and fine lines are crossed, can they withstand the heat, or is one of them bound to get burned?

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New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, K. has sold over one million copies of her books and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times.

In April, she’ll release The Player, the first in a two-book sports romance series (The Catch, book 2, will be released late June), with many more already outlined and ready to be written.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales HERE

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30826152-the-catch?ac=1&from_search=true

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and Inkslinger Pr

Genre: Adult Sports Romance

Part 2 of 2

My The Catch Review . . .

In The Player it took me awhile to fall for Easton and Scout, but by the end I NEEDED to know what happened, especially because it was left with a cliffhanger. The Catch starts immediately where The Player left off, with Scout reading some information and making a split second decision that could change everything. Now we get to see the aftermath of her decision.

While Easton's career is up for question, Scout is also dealing with her dad's decline. This part of the story got me in the feels the most.

"You're my heart, Scouty. I love you more than anything in this world, and I don't want you to ever forget that."

In The Player we were also left with some suspicions of Easton's Dad and here we finally get to find out what they were. With this new information, Easton has to put his world back together with this new revelation.

Throughout the duet, Easton has a secret. Which I felt was quite predictable. However, I don't know if it was predictable because I've already read that exact story line in a different Baseball Romance or it was just written that way.

As Scout and Easton are figuring out how to deal with all the curve balls been thrown their way, they are also finding each other and figuring out what matters most? Career or Love and Family?

"Everyone deserves some pretty in their life regardless of the scars they bear."

Sports Romance are my guilty pleasure and I did find this one sweet. The Catch also had elements of sad and some predictability. I did like Easton and Scout together and I did like the story line even though elements of it that I have read previously before. It was a sweet story about love, loss and life. It wasn't my favorite Sports romance but it was a quick read and heartfelt which made it worth the reading experience for me.

3 .5 Career isn't everything thumbs up!

. 5

Lauren

Friday, 23 June 2017

Tycoon by Katy Evans Blog Tour #excerpt #teasers

Tycoon by Katy Evans Publication Date: June 20th, 2017 Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tycoon, an all-new standalone from Katy Evans is available now!!!

He wasn’t always this rich. This hot. This difficult.

Aaric Christos was a guy who protected me. Wanted me. Maybe even loved me.

That man is gone.

In his place is the most powerful real estate tycoon in the city.

He’s a cold, ruthless, aggressive businessman.

The only one who can save me and my startup from ruin.

It takes every ounce of courage to put my pride aside and ask for his help.

I didn’t expect him to offer it easily.

And he doesn’t.

Instead, he vets me harder than he’s vetted anyone.

Don’t invest in what you don’t know, he says.

He's assessing every piece of me, to the point I've never felt so bare.

I yearn for the boy I once knew, whose touch once craved me.

Putting it all on the line will be worth it, I tell myself.

Until I realize—too late—that some risks are not worth taking.

Excerpt:

I hop off the train and walk several walks to his building.

It’s a brownstone in Park Avenue, one of the most elite of the elite spaces in town.

My lungs feel a little bit overworked from awe as I head up the steps to the double doors, grateful that I came dressed to kill in a little black dress, a jacket, and pumps. Simple, but effective.

See, I may be feeling a little awkward, but at least I don’t look it.

I’m greeted by his maid. She’s dressed in black and white, her hair drawn back in a neat bun, her expression stoic and formal as she leads me down the hall to a gorgeous study.

I catch my breath when I notice all the books and shelves.

It’s like a reader’s paradise in here. There’s a sleek chrome bar, a modern mahogany glass-topped desk, and two huge whiskey-colored leather chairs that almost swallow me up when I’m instructed to wait in one.

I drum my fingers, inhaling the scent of leather and wine, remembering a guy I knew with his mechanic navy-blue uniform, black streaks on his jaw, his big nose always the first thing you’d see, which was a pity because he had beautiful eyes and a really sinful pair of lips.

He’s living in luxury now. Wow. Good for him.

I hear footsteps approaching and the little hair on my arms prick at attention. My head turns as a tall, dark figure steps into the room, and the most intimidating guy I’ve ever seen enters and crosses the room toward the desk. He walks like he’s the shit…his strides proud and composed, elegant and powerful.

Christos, I hear myself breathe in surprise.

He’s so tall now…six three, at least. Dirty-blonde hair, gold-green eyes, chiseled jaw, and a gorgeous profile.

All in black, he looks very much a New Yorker.

He’s wearing a black jacket, black pants, and a black turtleneck beneath the jacket...

           I stare at him, my jaw hanging a little bit open. The man is….all man. Testosterone. Muscles. Height. Width. My chest hurts all of a sudden because I realize…

The boy you knew is gone.

I force myself to stand. “Thank you for seeing me.”

He heads to the bar to pour two drinks, then he prowls over, takes the whiskey leather chair across from mine and leans forward, pushing a glass of cognac with one finger across a small table, toward me.

And he waits.

In silence.

But my stomach dips as if he’d said something ultra-sexy and decadent.

“You might not remember me, I’m sorry to be reaching out like this,” I say, nervous.

“What do you want?”

There’s a pleasant shiver as he speaks. Recognition of his voice, even though it’s far deeper than I remember.

“I was told you sometimes invest in startups.”

“I’d say more than sometimes.” He raises his eyebrows as if I should’ve done my homework better.

Ugh, Bryn! Focus! Be SMART! Make yourself and your business irresistible! A silence settles as he eyes me, slowly setting his drink down as he leans forward and finally, unexpectedly, smiles. At me.

It’s just a smile.

But the world tilts under its impact.

“Hello, little bit.” Amusement touches his gaze as he tilts his head and watches me. “You know, I’d think you’d have grown up the ten-plus years since I last saw you. At least an inch.” He leans back in his seat, seemingly displeased. Wow, this guy is not the lanky kid I knew once. This guy oozes danger.

           Every ounce of “boy” is gone. Oh God. For a moment I wish that we could go back in time and I could discuss my startup with the guy I knew before.

           But time travel is not really my talent, and it seems like I have yet to see if I even have any special talents at all—depending on what this guy thinks.

“I grew two in width,” I shock myself saying.

He laughs then, his eyes drinking me in openly.

“Shame on you, you’re not trying to see if it’s true?” I ask him, frowning now.

He shrugs casually, his lips curved at the corners. “I can’t help it. Something has to have changed.”

“Why?”

“Because nothing good ever lasts. Even you, little bit.” A smile touches those unforgettable gold-green eyes.

A shiver runs through me. Because…

Christos recognized me.

“I can tell you’re as incorrigible as ever.” I shake my head, but I’m smiling, truly just relieved that he recognized me.

“I try to be,” he purrs dangerously.

I’m feeling warm all of a sudden. I can’t believe I’m staring at him so much, but it’s like I cannot take my eyes away. He looks achingly familiar, but at the same time, so different I cannot help but stare and track the differences in his features. The way his jaw squared out even more, the way his body filled out with hard, lean muscles that shift and ripple beneath his expensive designer clothes. I cannot believe that this is a guy I knew once.

He seems to silently be taking in my changes too, his keen stare allowing me to see that he seems to approve of it all. Even the dress I’m wearing. “You changed enough for the both of us,” I blurt.

“Really. How so?” he asks.

“You grew into your nose.”

“Really?” He chuckles as if despite himself.

“Width and height too. Quite a bit,” I add.

“Anything else,” he prods, one eyebrow rising.

“You learned how to dress.”

He looks down at his black suit. “This old thing?” He grins, then shifts forward, sobering up. “What can I do for you, Bryn? Considering I’m rather surprised to see you here, I’m eager for you to satiate my curiosity.” His stare becomes keen.

“So am I. I didn’t expect to be here,” I admit, and for a moment when I look into his eyes, all I see is someone I’ve seen before. Someone who belonged in my life long ago. “You know when you had that misplaced crush on me and told me one day I’d know what it felt like to throw pebbles at someone’s window wanting them to open? I’m sort of throwing rocks here.”

“Not to sing me a love song,” he says flatly, his eyes shuttering.

“No. Well, you know that was never....I mean...” Don’t bring up your rejection of him, Bryn! “It’s for something better. Business.”

“Go on.”

“I knew that’d get you.” I smile privately. “So it’s true your love is money now.”

“She gives back what I put in. Though her ass isn’t as juicy as I like,” he says nonchalantly.

“Wow. No matter how polished you look, your mouth is still as crude as ever.”

“Thank you,” he purrs, his eyes grinning at me.

I laugh. Then I sober up and realize he’s waiting for me to speak. “I’m looking for money for my startup,” I say.

“How much.”

“One hundred thousand.”

“I don’t invest less than a million.” He twirls his whiskey in his glass, eyeing the liquid.

“Well then, I’ll ask for a million.”

He raises his brows, setting his glass down. “It’s not how much you want to ask for, it’s how much the company’s worth.” Eyebrows up, he skewers me with a cold, intimidating look.

“It’ll be worth more than a million, trust me,” I bluff.

“Good for you. Except…” he leans back with a rustle of clothes, every athletic inch of his black-clad body flowing sinuously like a feline with the move, “considering that has yet to happen and I’ll need to trust you on that, my trust needs to be earned.”

This version of Christos is even more intimidating than the old one, unfortunately.

I try to hide it, keeping my voice as level as possible. “How does one earn your trust?”

“I’d tell you if I were interested, but I’m not exactly sure that I am.” He eyes me as if debating in silence.

This guy is the only guy in the world that unnerves me in this way, and I can’t seem to slow the fast pounding of my heart in my chest as I try to remember what I came here to say.

“I have a full presentation for you. I’m not taking no for an answer.” I reach into my briefcase.

“Darling. Are you ready?”

I start at the female voice and glance at a gorgeous woman striding into the study. Christos continues looking at me as he stands and reaches for the cell phone the woman extends out.

“We’re done here,” he answers her as he pockets the phone, his gaze remaining on me.

“I’ll wait for you in the car.” She leans up and kisses his jaw, her hands proprietary on his chest, then sends me a woman-to-woman claiming look, before she swishes away, all glittering jewels and lean body.

There’s a silence as he approaches, and for a second all I can hear is the sound of a toilet flushing, taking my only opportunity with a possible investor away.

“I’ll think about it,” he says.

“Christos.”

“I said I’ll think about it,” he says from the door.

“Please do,” I say as he exits the room. I cup the sides of my mouth, “I’ll be back tomorrow. Same time?” I say jokingly.

I’m surprised when I hear footsteps returning. He pauses when our eyes meet. “I’ll make contact,” he says, raising his eyebrows meaningfully, “If I’m interested in hearing more.” He nods. “Nice to see you, Bryn.”

“Nice to see you. Christos.”

Well, that went sort of awful.

Read Today!

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About the Author:

Katy Evans is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her debut REAL shot to the top of the bestselling lists in 2013 and since then 9 of her titles have been New York Times bestsellers. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages across the world.

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Connect with the Author:

Email: katyevansauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorKatyEvans

Twitter @authorkatyevans

Thursday, 22 June 2017

Salvaged by Jay Crownover Review & Excerpt Tour #saintsofdenver #giveaway #bookreview #excerpt

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover continues her delightfully sexy Saints of Denver series with the next thrilling standalone, SALVAGED! Order your copy today!

Hudson Wheeler is a nice guy. Everyone knows it, including his fiancée who left him with a canceled wedding and a baby on the way. He’s tired of finishing last and is ready to start living in the moment with nights soaked in whiskey, fast cars, and even faster girls. He’s set to start living on the edge, but when he meets Poppy Cruz, her sad eyes in the most gorgeous face he’s ever seen hook him in right away. Wheeler can see Poppy’s pain and all he wants to do is take care of her and make her smile, whatever it takes.

Poppy can’t remember a time when she didn’t see strangers as the enemy. After a lifetime of being hurt from the men who swore to protect her, Poppy’s determined to keep herself safe by keeping everyone else at arm’s length. Wheeler’s sexy grin and rough hands from hours restoring classic cars shouldn’t captivate her, but every time she’s with him, she can’t help being pulled closer to him. Though she’s terrified to trust again, Poppy soon realizes it might hurt even more to shut Wheeler out—and the intense feelings pulsing through her are making it near impossible to resist him.

The only thing Poppy is sure of is that her heart is in need of some serious repair, and the more time she spends with Wheeler, the more she’s convinced he’s the only man with the tools to fix it.

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And the Link:http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9172c1a0374/?

I put my hands to my cheeks and held my face. I could feel heat under the surface and I could hear the rush of blood between my ears.

“Are you going to be okay? Do you need me to get you something? Should I grab Dixie?” He sounded genuinely concerned about me and that only made me shake even harder.

“No, I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine and hadn’t been in a very long time. “Dixie is in Mississippi. She took Dolly down because Church moved into the house he rented for them and she wanted the dog to get used to their new home and so she could see what it was like to have a yard.” I was babbling but I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out. “How do you move me without laying a hand on me?”

He looked up from where he was watching the puppy dig into his chow. Those blue eyes were like lasers as they cut into me from across the room. He put his hands on the counter and leaned forward. “What are you talking about?” His voice held that same even tone but there was something in it, some deeper note, that let me know he knew exactly what I was talking about.

I wrapped my arms around myself in a protective hug and met his look with a pointed one of my own. “I get stuck, frozen with fear. I end up caught between memories and reality. Most people grab my arm or touch me somewhere to get me moving again. Either that or they go around me like I’m in the way. You made me move without doing anything.”

His eyebrows shot up and the corners of his mouth pulled down in a frown. “People shouldn’t touch you unless you tell them it’s okay, even if you are in the way.”

His words had me shivering in a completely different way than I had been before and I was the opposite of cold. “I didn’t use to mind it.” The words cracked and sounded almost as broken as I felt on the inside. “I mean being touched. It was until…after.”

He lowered his gaze and I saw his chest rise and fall as he sucked in a deep breath. “The reason doesn’t matter. If you don’t like it, people should respect that. No one has a right to put their hands on you unless you want them there.”

Right there in that moment I thought I wouldn’t mind it too terribly much if he walked across the room and replaced the frail and thin arms that were currently holding me together with his thick, strong, tattooed ones. It was probably the only touch I would ever crave but I would never be brave enough to ask for it, so I cleared my throat and awkwardly made my way closer to where he was standing. I lifted myself up into one of the barstools that was across the counter from him and put my hands on the cool surface separating us and prayed they would stop shaking.

About Jay Crownover: Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point, and the Saints of Denver series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her dogs.

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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Harper Collins via Edelweiss and Inkslinger Pr

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Part 4 in a spinoff series or can be read as a Standalone

My Salvaged Review . . .

So bittersweet that this series which is a spin off series of the Marked Men series is done. I have loved all of these men and their women, and it will be sad to see them go. However, this was a perfect book to end with. We first meet Poppy Cruz in Rowdy from the Marked Men series and from the beginning your heart goes out to her. As the series progressed, and as well as the Saints of Denver Series, we got to see more and more of Poppy and a little bit of Wheeler.

This book can be read as a standalone but I think it works better as a series. From the beginning we have learned that Wheeler is a stand up guy and doesn't have the best girlfriend. So when Wheeler and his girlfriend breakup I was hoping for Poppy to catch his eye. And thankfully my wishes came true.

I wasn't supposed to be looking at anything other than how to salvage the mess my life was in, but she was all I could see.

Poppy's a sweetheart but has had seriously bad luck where it comes to men in her life. So much tragedy that it would be hard for anyone to move forward. But if anyone had a chance to help her heal and find love its Wheeler.

"No, your heart was listening to what someone else trained it to think it wanted. This is the first time it's been able to speak for itself. Listen to it, little sister."
"I'm afraid of what it might have to say, Salem." My voice shook and so did my hands.
"That's how you know the message is important, Poppy."

Gah! Wheeler is such an all around nice guy. His heart is made of gold and I loved every part of him.

"Even if those scars you have from what you survived were on the outside, I'd still be right here and want you just as much. They're part of you and you are who I want to be with."

With Wheeler, Poppy finally starts to come back alive and starts to live. And for the first time, Wheeler now has someone he can count on.

"I gotta tell ya, Hudson, a bad day with you is still better then the best day without you."

Wheeler is a nice guy even though he too didn't have the best past. But his heart is huge. And these two deserved each other.

"I don't want to be a guest in your life, Poppy. I'm not interested in visiting your heart. I want to move in, stake my claim, and plant roots so deep nothing will ever be able to move me out. I don't want you to ever have to replace the memories you have of me with something better."
"There isn't anyone better than you, Wheeler. You are the only person I made room for in my heart, so if you want to live there it's all yours."

Wheeler and Poppy or so sweet and also inspiring. Especially Poppy. She started as a fragile, scared, battered woman and has blossomed into a beautiful, strong, empowering woman.

"You're not-so-nice is still pretty damn nice, Hudson. That's just who you are." And it was also why I loved him.

I loved Wheeler and his beautiful kind heart. I also loved the amazing evolution that we got to see of Poppy. Their story is sweet and beautiful and then we end this story with an amazing epilogue where we get to see everyone from the Marked Men and the whole Saints of Denver series. This made me happy and sad all at the same time, because it will be sad to see them all go. However, I did love the ending of this great series. I adored this book and this series. Jay Crownover is turning into one of my favorite authors with her fabulous Alpha men and great stories.

4.5 Love can conquer all thumbs up!

. 5

Lauren

Jay Crownover’s SALVAGED – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

June 12^th

Aurora B's Book Blog – Excerpt

Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt

Ceres Books World – Review

Grownupfangirl – Review & Excerpt

Krista's Dust Jacket – Review & Excerpt

Panda & Boodle – Excerpt

June 13^th

Booknerd1107 – Review

Foxy Blogs – Excerpt

Happily Ever After Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Mustreadbooksordie – Review

NallaReads – Review & Excerpt

The Book Disciple – Review & Excerpt

June 14^th

Books to Breathe – Review & Excerpt

Prisoners of Print – Review & Excerpt

Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Review & Excerpt

The Book Maven – Review

Two Girls with Books – Review

June 15^th

Cocktails and Books – Review & Excerpt

Ficwishes – Review

Night Owl Reader – Review & Excerpt

Blog Posting Update

I wish I had time to blog only, but real life dictates me to have a full time career. As of late this non-blogger life is becoming too busy decreasing my time to read and review. To try and accommodate all facets of my life I have a new posting regimen.

On my blog I will post 4 and up only. With the occasional worthy mention below that rating. If part of a blog tour I will post 3 and up. If you want to find out ALL my ratings please go to my Goodreads page here with all my ratings. If the review is for an author or publisher and the rating is below a 4 I'll still give feedback directly to the author or publisher.

Thanks for understanding the change and for supporting my blog by visiting on a regular basis.

Live, Read and Breathe

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