July 2020 – Page 4 – Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations

Top Shelf Romance is bringing you the best modern classics of romance in Collection #6, NEVER LET GO, featuring FOUR bestselling books from authors: Kandi Steiner, Ella James, Tijan, and Alessandra Torre!

Never Let Go will be releasing on August 4th!

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54239333-never-let-go

Every mood has its book.⁣

When you crave something exceptional, exciting and enchanting, Top Shelf Romance promises this and more.⁣

Teardrop Shot Blurb:
I asked for his criteria for bed buddies-that’s the PG version.

He swore at me and said he didn’t do groupies. And just like that, our friendship was off to a great start.

Reese Forster was the starting point guard for the Seattle Thunder.

Gorgeous. Cocky. Loved by the nation.

He’s also attending preseason basketball training camp where I used to work.

Correction: where I work again, because I was fired from my last job.

And dumped.

And I might have a tiny bit of baggage, but that’s normal. Right?

Reese and I shouldn’t have become friends. We shouldn’t have become roommates.

And we really shouldn’t have started sleeping together … (Except we did.)

I’m adorably psychotic. He’s in the NBA.
This is not a disaster waiting to happen, at all.

About Tijan:
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores.

Connect w/Tijan:
Website: http://www.tijansbooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TIJANSBOOKS
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TijansFanPage
Audiobook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tijansaudiomen
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tijansbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tijansbooks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4851199.Tijan
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TTQUIL
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tijan
NL Signup: http://eepurl.com/cTumVr

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NEW RELEASE

Brody is LIVE!

Looking for a HEA? Go grab a copy of Brody by Kris Michaels

Brody-Live-8-36
#One-Click:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0844YHB35/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50658114-brody

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/brody-hope-city-book-3-by-kris-michaels-and-hopeful-heroes

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The love of family meant the world to him, and he’d found his forever girl. She was his everything. He’d never love another like he loved her. Marriage, a house, children. He wanted the whole fairy tale—with her. He dropped to one knee and held out a ring that symbolized all his hopes for a future with her, all his love. In horror, she turned and ran. He tried to go after her but wound up the victim of a drunk driver. It was over a week before he came out of the coma and then the surgeries began.

Ten years passed before he saw her again.

Dreams

She yearned to see the world, to escape the city that stifled her, that strangled her spirit. She ached to see more, to be more, but there was this boy… She loved him so much. His sudden proposal frightened her. How could she give up her dreams and stay? She panicked and ran. Hours after she’d fled from him, she realized her dreadful mistake. She loved him with all her heart. He was the other half of her soul. All she needed to be happy in life was him Yes…she would marry him. She called until his voice mail was full. She searched for him in all their places—but he wasn’t there. His mother turned her away. Her son deserved better, she said. Weeks later, full of bitter regret, she faced the truth. She’d lost him.

Ten years passed before she saw him again.

Forgiveness

Brody King, part of Hope City’s elite JDET team eyed their new DEA liaison, Amber Swanson with locked-down rage. Anyone but her, God, anyone but her. She strode toward him, nervous, but determined. She should be nervous. If he unleashed half of the hurt and anger he felt, she’d be a sniveling wreck in seconds. Why him, why now? This hurt. He still loved her. Had dreams about her. Still, Amber had brutally rejected him, so play nice with her? Hell, no. The less he saw of that woman the better.

Oh, he looked forbidding. Cold. Angry. Amber knew all that was on her. She accepted responsibility as the sight of his handsome face broke her heart all over again. She loved him, still, and he loathed her. It radiated off him. It didn’t matter. There were things she needed to say to him. She could do this. She had to do this. She had to tell him. It wasn’t fair, family meant everything to Brody King. He needed to know he had a ten year old son.

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Meet Kris Michaels:

USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author, Kris Michaels is the alter ego of a happily married wife and mother. She writes romance, usually with characters from military and law enforcement backgrounds.

Kris was born and raised in South Dakota. She graduated many years ago from a high school class consisting of 13 students (yes that is thirteen, eleven girls and two boys… lucky boys). She joined the military, met her husband, and traveled the world. Today she lives on the Gulf Coast and writes full time.

Kris is an avid people watcher and dreamer. The stories she writes are crafted around the hopes and dreams of a true romantic. She believes love is essential, people are beautiful, and everyone deserves a happy ending.

When she isn’t writing Kris enjoys a full life revolving around family, friends, laughing, whiskey, and cold red wine. (Yes cold… don’t judge.)

Connect with Kris Michaels:

Website: https://krismichaelsauthor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaels_kris

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krismichaelsauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krismichaelsauthor/

#KrisMichaels #thatbookrocks #HEA #HopeCity #SecretChild #SecondChance Romance

Release Date: July 29

Truth or dare? I always choose a dare. And no matter the dare, I always follow through.

Even if it means walking down a busy street in my bathrobe and hair curlers.

Or recreating that iconic When Harry Met Sally deli scene while on a crowded subway.

Or hitting on a handsome stranger in a bar.

And then … marrying that stranger. While in Vegas.

But the one thing I’m not supposed to do is fall in love with this man.

That wasn’t part of the dare.

Only my heart never got that memo.

Grab Your Copy Here:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DRTFQ7J

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3hPaazF

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3jM560R

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Dbt1pU

Free in KU

Meet Whitney Barbetti

Whitney Barbetti writes character-driven contemporary and new adult romance novels, heavy on the emotional connection. Thanks to her passion for mental health awareness, she often writes characters who suffer from some type of mental illness, in an effort to help people understand them better and to rid the stigma that surrounds those who live bravely despite their struggles.

As a Navy brat, Whitney grew up all over the country, from California to Colorado and up and down the eastern United States. She currently resides in the western United States with her husband, two children, and two ridiculous cats. Her favorite things include Taco Bell, Diet Coke, terrible reality tv, and a really good thriller novel.

Connect with Whitney Barbetti

💙Review💙

Attending a bachelorette party in Vegas is exactly what Tori needs and what better way to put her problems aside and have fun then. Accepting a few dares quickly escalates into a fake marriage and spending the week with a sexy stranger, what could possibly go wrong?

Liam is going through a painful loss in his life which is weighing heavily on his heart. Becoming part of the antics with Tori brings a peace and happiness he wasn’t expecting but will their week together be nothing more than a fling or the beginning of forever?

Although the timing for Tori and Liam was far from perfect in each other they find something that isn’t only unexpected but magical as well.

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Title: GoodKnight

Series: Reed Security Series – Series Finale Part 2

Author: Giulia Lagomarsino

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 10, 2020

I f*@ked up when I killed that senator. I thought I was uncovering some dirty secrets.

But the things I uncovered could kill millions.

Lives are at stake, but none of that matters to me.

Not when they’ve taken my wife.

They held a gun to her head.

Now they’ll all die.

I won’t stop until I take them all out. Until she’s back in my arms.

Then I have to walk away. My family isn’t safe as long as I’m in their lives.

Sometimes to protect the ones you love, you have to walk away.

I glanced down at the blood on the floor one last time and ran through what Carrie had just said. It could have ended so much differently. If Carrie had never opened that door, Kate might still be alive. She might have had a chance to get out the back door and run. But instead, Carrie led them right to her.

I turned to go, but a flash of gold on the floor caught my eye. Under her desk was the gold locket that I had gotten her after Raven was born. Inside was a picture of each of our kids. I slowly bent over and snatched it off the floor. The clasp was broken, probably during her struggles to get away. I closed my fist around it, the chains dangling between my fingers. I held my fist to my mouth, kissing the locket. I would not let her down again. I would get her back and keep her safe.

I stared down at the blood on the floor one last time, wondering how much of that was hers. I was usually so in command, so ready to push forward through anything, but that had been too close. My life had almost been ripped away.

“Hey,” Pappy said, snapping me out of the haze I was in. “Kate is gone. Let’s go get her back. Don’t just stare at the fucking floor.”

That snapped me out of it. I nodded and stormed past him, ready to get back to work and bring the woman I loved back to me. Racing out to my motorcycle, I threw on my helmet and immediately dialed Reed Security as I drove back to the property.

“Sebastian Reed.”

“Cap, I need Becky to get footage of the clinic. It’s been broken into. One man dead, and Kate’s missing.”

“On it.”

Sinner (Reed Security Series #1)
Cap (Reed Security Series #2)
Cazzo (Reed Security Series #3)
Knight (Reed Security Series #4)
Irish (Reed Security Series #5)
Hunter (Reed Security Series #6)
Whiskey (Reed Security Series #7)
Lola (Reed Security Series #8)
Ice (Reed Security Series #9)
Burg (Reed Security Series #10)
Gabe (Reed Security Series #11)
Jules (Reed Security Series #12)
Sniper (Reed Security Series – Book 1 of a 3 Book ARC)
Jackson (Reed Security Series – Book 2 of a 3 Book ARC)
Chance (Reed Security Series – Book 3 of a 3 Book ARC)
Phoenix Rising (Reed Security Series #16)
Alec (Reed Security Series #17)
Storm (Reed Security Series #18)
Wolf (Reed Security Series #19)
A Mad Reed Security Christmas (Reed Security Series #20)
Rocco (Reed Security Series #21)
Coop (Reed Security Series #22)
TNT (Reed Security Series #23)
Nightingale (Reed Security Series #24)
Parker (Reed Security Series #25)

I’m a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, “No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book.” I didn’t think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn’t already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven’t been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

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RETURN TO YOU by Leia Stone & Jennifer Millikin
Release Date: July 29th

Add to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54022484-return-to-you

AVAILABLE NOW!!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/386fLhD
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/31iVQL0
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2VpGvo0
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Af6KGA

Blurb:
We thought we had it all.

We were two kids, young and desperately in love, dreaming of a future together.

Our love burned as bright as the red rock desert where we grew up, but we learned the hard way that sometimes love isn’t enough. One choice tore us apart, and we stood by helplessly, watching it burn us to the ground.

It feels like a lifetime ago, but when I’m called home to care for my sick mother after ten years away, my past with Owen Miller comes charging into the present.

I expected him to be the same kind, confident guy he used to be. What I didn’t expect was the fire still raging between us, even after all this time.

Years of buried feelings emerge, as scorching as the Arizona sun. Anger, resentment…and passion. And the second time around, we burn even hotter.

Giving in to Owen means finally facing the choice I made so long ago, but even old wounds still ache. Is the possibility of a second chance worth the pain it could cause in the end?

About Leia Stone:
Leia Stone is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Matefinder series which is optioned for flim, and the Hive Trilogy. She lives in Arizona with her husband, two kids and her dog. When she is not chasing around her twin son and daughter, or writing, she has her nose shoved in a book. She wrote her first book when she was 23 years old. Keep reading and live with purpose.

Connect w/Leia:
Website: https://leiastone.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leia.stone
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216684032044799
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeiaStoneAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leiastoneauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3065284.Leia_Stone
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NCJQM8
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/leia-stone
Newsletter Signup: https://leiastone.com/newsletter

About Jennifer Millikin:
Jennifer is the author of seven novels, two of which have been awarded Reader’s Favorite Gold Stars. She lives in her home state of Arizona with her husband, two children, and playful Labrador Retriever. Grateful to be living her lifelong dream of writing, Jen juggles her made-up worlds with her real one of soccer practices and laundry. She’s passionate about creating multi-dimensional characters and stories that jump off the pages. Jen wrote her first book in the fifth grade, and it was titled A Gust of Wind and He Was Gone. She blames the dramatic title on her childhood soap opera habit.

Connect w/Jennifer:
Website: https://www.jennifermillikinwrites.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifermillikinwrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenmillwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenmillwrites
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14441655.Jennifer_Millikin
Amazon: https://amzn.to/389Bs01
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-millikin

Release Date: July 29

That awkward moment when you insult the boss on your first day on the job.

Yeah, that just happened.

In my defense, if I’d known it was Connor Colby of the Colby’s Chocolates and Candies empire standing by the display dressed in a candy cane-striped suit, I never would have opened my mouth to tell him that their signature chocolate bar sucked.

How was I supposed to know he was the boss man?

He was in town temporarily to help save his father’s company.

I was only there for a payday to jump start my art career.

I had one job—help him come up with a rock solid marketing plan.

The task included long nights and late dinners working by Connor’s side.

It did not include kisses, sex in the supply closet, or … worst yet, falling in love.

Why is that so bad you ask?

Because the man is leaving right after our mission is complete. Job done.

Finito.

Will our sweet love turn into sour patched tear jerkers or will he be my big hunk, now & later and forever?

Grab Your Copy Here!

Review

Charlie has recently moved to her hometown and has put her dreams for the future aside and taken the practical route which has her working in technology for a confections company. It might not have been her best career move to insult the products to her boss but rather than getting her fired he is inspired by her input.

Connor finds himself in town trying to modernize the family business before it is too late. That means trying to overcome his father’ determination to keep everything status quo when a revitalization of their marketing may be the solution to their problems. Convincing Charlie to help was the easy part as denying the chemistry and connection between them may be the biggest challenge of all.

This is a fun and flirty story about love and family that is equal parts heat, heart and humor.

Enter the Giveaway Here!

Meet Mia Kayla

Mia Kayla is a USA Today Bestselling Romance writer who lives in Illinois. She is the wife to the husband of the year, and mommy to three unbelievably cute little girls who have multiplied her grey hairs.

In her free time she loves reading romance novels, jamming to boy bands, catching up on celebrity gossip and designing flowers for weddings.

Most of the time, she can be caught on the train with her nose in a book sporting a cheeky grin because the main characters finally get their happily-ever-after at the end.

She loves reading about happy endings but has more fun writing them.

Connect with Mia Kayla

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NEW SERIES COVERS

This series is based on men, good men, who are not perfect. But, like all good men, they work to handle mistakes they make. It is the Measure of a Man…these men who are Heroes at Heart.

HeroesAtHeart-GroupBanner

#One-Click:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B1KKFFZ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/229052-heroes-at-heart

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maryann-jordan

From Book 1: Zander. Serious to a fault, he had no time for anything other than focusing on running his bar, Grimm’s. Until he saw her… and pushed her away… right into danger.

Racked with guilt over what happened, he could not stay away from her hospital room. Hoping Sleeping Beauty could hear him and know that he was near.

What started as guilt, became so much more. But, when Rosalie awoke, would she remember the night he pushed her away? Or just remember the man who rescued her?

A Heroes at Heart novel. These men, raised in the loving foster home by the benevolent Miss Ethel, discovered there lies a hero in all of us. Based loosely on the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty.

A Heroes at Heart novel based loosely on the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty.

Themes, language, and adult situations are similar to an R-rated movie. For 18+ years.

#MaryannJordan #thatbookrocks #HEA # Fairytales #MilitaryRomance #ContemporaryRomance #HeroesatHeart

Meet Maryann Jordan:

I have always been an avid reader. My early memories were of my mother taking me to the library and allowing me to check out as many books as I could carry. My favorite books were checked out numerous times and read over and over. I would use my Barbie dolls to play out the scenes in books (such as Nancy Drew!).

I have written as a hobby for many years (probably since childhood). I have written devotionals, autobiographical writings about having a severely handicapped, medically fragile child, about my mother’s Alzheimer’s, and other subjects that interest me.

I joke that I “cut my romance teeth” on the old historical romance books. In 2013, I started a blog to showcase wonderful writers. In 2014, I finally gave in to the characters in my head pleading for their story to be told. Thus, Emma’s Home was created.

I worked as a counselor in a high school and was involved in education for the past 30 years, until retiring in 2015. I have been married to a wonderfully patient man for 35 years and have 2 adult, very supportive daughters. When writing, my dog or one of my cats will usually be found in my lap!

Connect with Maryann Jordan:

Website: https://maryannjordanauthor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorMAJordan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ma.review

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_maryann_jordan/

Title: Midnight Wreckage

Series: Kings of Vengeance MC #4

Author: Winter Travers

Genre: MC Romance

Release Date: July 29, 2020

Don’t mess with the Kings of Vengeance…

I may not have been raised on the right side of the tracks, but there are two things in life you never mess with: women and children.

With the world of the Kings going crazy, the overwhelming urge to keep Queenie safe is just as strong as the need to find Gunner.

Anyone who threatens the Kings or what I’ve claimed as my own better pray I never find them.

Vengeance is coming.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DROP A GEAR AND DISAPPEAR IS ON SALE 99 CENTS

Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin. After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons, and to the place they now call home.Winter spends her days writing happily ever afters, and her nights being a karate mom hauling her son to practices and tournaments.. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, puppies, and baking.

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TAUNT HER (Rebels at Sterling Prep Duet #1) by Caitlyn Dare
Release Date: July 23rd
Genre/Trope: Dark bully high school romance

AVAILABLE NOW!!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2WIdkgI
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/32EXnvp
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/39nQY9l
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3eS6pYq

PREORDER TAME HIM:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3fQTjMj
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2BhZutR
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3hoxTXy
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3jlweUp

Add to Goodreads
https://bit.ly/TauntHerGR

Blurb:
𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

Remi Tanner wasn’t part of the plan. But when I see my uncle doting on her, I know she’s going to help me destroy him.

I’ll taunt her.
Test her.
In the end, I’ll break her.

Ace Jagger wasn’t a good guy. But he swept into my life like a storm, and I’m caught up in the aftermath.

He’s cruel.
Calculating.
In the end, I never stood a chance.

She might be a Sterling Prep princess, and I might be the guy from the wrong side of the tracks, but one thing’s for sure… I won’t stop until I get what I want.

Revenge.

Taunt Her is a dark high school bully romance. If possessive, tattooed, motorcycle-riding alphaholes aren’t you thing, you probably won’t like this book!

About the Author:
Two angsty romance lovers writing dark heroes and the feisty girls who bring them to their knees.

Connect w/Caitlyn:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlyndarebooks
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CaitlynsDaredevils
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20272477.Caitlyn_Dare
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcaitlyndare

Review

Ace and his brothers may not have had much but the one thing they had was each other. They now find themselves alone and even though they just want to maintain the status quo they have no choice when their uncle becomes their guardian and they now find themselves living with him.

Remi was raised in an affluent lifestyle but all that came crashing down when her father left without a backward balance. With her mother dating Ace’s uncle she has drawn his attention and not in a good way.

Ace thinks that Remi is nothing more than a privileged princess but the last few years have forced Remi to stand up for herself and she isn’t about to be the pawn in anyone’s plan for revenge and that includes Ace. There is no denying the chemistry and connection between them but that is only the beginning of their story.

Can a person find their true love at sixteen?

Hardin Ambrose knew he had found his soulmate when he was a high school soccer phenom.

McKenna (Mac) Vesley was sunshine to his soul.

The girl he never dreamed existed.

The person he didn’t know he needed.

Mac has never forgotten the boy she gave her heart to.

The boy who changed her life forever.

Hardin was all her dreams come true.

Twelve years ago, under the steamy Illinois night sky, they planned their forever together.

But forever never came.

Twelve years later, Hardin still searches for his Mac—the girl who slipped away.

Twelve years later he has the chance to grasp forever, for hearts don’t lie.

But after all this time, does Mac want the same?

Pre-Order Your Copy Here:

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU

Add To Your Goodreads TBR List!

Enter the Giveaway to Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card & a signed copy of Afraid to Hope, Ancient Passages Book 1!

Meet Sutton Bishop

Sutton Bishop enjoys having a foot in both worlds—real and make-believe.

She’s been writing stories since she was a little girl, her imagination inspired by the rural meadows and woods of her childhood and her travels and life experiences.

She has degrees in forensics and anthropology and a minor in world history.

She lives in the Midwest with her husband, their four kids, and a passel of pets.

Connect with Sutton Bishop

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