When Emma Mancini finds out the news of her impending arranged marriage to Samuel Mione, the future Underboss of the Outfit and one of Chicago’s most sought-after bachelors, she is hopeful for their future despite their age difference. However, the never ending gossip surrounding their union and Samuelโs cold attitude extinguishes that hope.ย
After an unfortunate decision made in the past– guilt and bitterness are Samuelโs constant companions. He doesnโt have time for emotional nonsense, and a bond to a woman only adds another unwanted obligation.
Nevertheless, Emma isnโt someone who resigns herself to her fate. Sheโs overcome much greater obstacles than a cold husband whoโs determined to keep her at armโs length.ย
A car accident may have resulted in Emma being in a wheelchair however it doesnโt define despite what others think about her or treat her.ย ย Her marriage has been arranged to Samuel, soon to become the under boss, and she is going to show him and everyone else that she is capable of being the wife he needs.
Samuel is a man who is tortured by the past and not only doesnโt he allow anyone close, but he doesnโt believe he deserves happiness.ย ย Emma is a revelation as he was expecting a marriage where they were faithful to each other but lived their own lives however Emma is about to accept that or his bad behavior.
The suspense part of the story was low, but the emotion and angst was high as Emma forces him to face both his past and the effect it is having on their present.ย C.J. Mission brings out the turmoil that Samuel was feeling while Lucy Rivers allows us to feel Emmaโs strength and resilience.
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Cora Reilly is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a traditionally published author of young adult literature.
Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn’t spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.
I signed the contract. I just didn’t expect her to show up ten years later, ready to cash it in.
Recently traded to the Grizzlies, Iโm struggling to find my place on the team. Iโve changed coasts, moved away from my best friend, from the Breakers who became family, andโฆIโm alone.
And itโs my birthday.
A fact that everyone around me seems to have forgotten.
Until a knock at the door proves differently.
I was in love with Luna when I was a teenager, and now she’s on my doorstep, vivacious and beautiful andโฆholding a piece of paper I barely remember.
One that says weโll get marriedโฆ
And I think Iโm just insane enough to say yes.
Married to Twenty-Two is the first book in the brand new Grizzlies Hockey series. If you love big, bearded hockey players who fall hard and fast for the women they love, this series is for you!
Luna loved Aiden when they were teenagers however it wasnโt meant to be. Years later when Lunaโs grandmother passes away she comes across the wedding pact that she made with Aiden so many years earlier, so it felt right to search him out and reconnect.
Aiden may have been surprised to see Luna at his door, but he also doesnโt want her to leave. The feelings between them are stronger than ever and now he will do whatever is necessary to not only protect her but to help her achieve her dreams and marrying her is just the beginning.
Life hasnโt been easy for Luna but when she reconnects with Luna she is not only welcomed by him but by his family and his team as well. The story combines humor, a little drama, a love that hasnโt diminished and an eclectic group of secondary characters.
Meet Elise Faber:
USA TODAY bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her teamโthe Sharks!โare playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys. She lives in Northern California.
To find out about Elise Faberโs upcoming releases and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter here
Burn Bag: The act of throwing all caution to the wind and burning down all previous plans.
Nothing in my life had worked out as expected.
I lost the woman I loved to another man, my father had been shot in front of me, and I nearly died in his grave when a sniper tried to take me out.
Suffice it to say, things could have been going better for me.
So, I tore up the game plan, went online, and found myself a wife.
Everything was finally coming up roses.
And then she lifted the veilโฆ
When I said I was burning down my old life, I didnโt really understand what that entailed.
But I laid it all on the line for this woman, and I wasnโt walking away for anything.
No matter how many times either of us ended up in the hospital.
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ย
The veil covered her face, but I knew what waited underneath would be absolutely breathtaking. She had been gorgeous in that coffee house, so I knew today would be even more amazing. Women always did themselves up for their weddings.
โI canโt believe this is really happening,โ I choked out. โIโm finally getting married.โ
โCongratulations,โ Red muttered, though he didnโt sound too thrilled.
Everyone in the church was in awe of the woman walking toward me. She was absolutely beautiful. God, my heart was clenching at what was about to happen.
Finally, after what felt like five minutes, she stood beside me. Grinning like a fool, I took the veil and lifted it, brushing it back over her head.
And paused in confusion.
Blond hair. Check.
Blue eyes. Nope.
Long, slender nose. Nope.
Short? Not really.
โUmโฆโ I stared at the woman who was not the woman I chose to marry, and failed to say anything else.
โEmily decided she couldnโt make it,โ the woman smiled. โIโm Daphne. Iโm filling in for her.โ
Filling in. As if she was taking her place in a race instead of a marriage. My heart thundered in my chest as I heard Red chuckling behind me. What the hell was I supposed to do now? All these people were here, waiting for me to get married. Iโd told everyone she was the woman of my dreams, and then she failed to show.
And she even got a stand in.
โIโm sorry, what?โ
The woman looked a tad nervous as she leaned in closer. โDaphne Gray. Itโs nice to meet you.โ
I had two choices. I could go walk out and lick my woundsโadmit that this whole thing had been a stupid decisionโor I could go through with this insanity and save face. At least for the next day.
โBradford Kavanaugh,โ I said after just a moment of hesitation. โLetโs get married.โ
๐Review๐
Recent events and his romantic history have forced Kavanagh to take a good look at the future he wants and who he wants to spend it with.ย ย With the help of a friend he is ready to proceed with his nuptials however the bride is a surprise he didnโt see coming.
The wedding switcheroo might just be the best thing to ever happen to him as she proves to be his perfect partner in every way and fits in with this eclectic group like she has always been there as the surprises and humor keep coming.
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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.
When her nose isnโt buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, sheโs in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. Itโs a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesnโt listen to herโฆ
I thought I knew until I accidentally discovered my adoring parents’ biggest secret on my twenty-fifth birthday.
I am adopted.
Part of me is missing, and I set out to find it.
Trying to figure out the past piece by piece, I bought a little fixer-upper in the small town I was given up in.
Old lies will come out. Secrets that everyone is trying to keep buried.
Who am I really?
Caleb
When I needed a clean slate, I moved to Montgavin to start my own construction firm.
Slowly, I built my crew after my success with the bakery renovation.
When the newcomer in town wants to restore her house to its former glory, I trust no one but myself.
Sierra looks lost, slowly putting her life together, with her dedicated room complete with a whiteboard.
Something calls to me to protect her and her secrets.
Someone wants her out of the town.
But now they have to get through me.
๐Review๐ When Sierra finds out she is adopted the foundation of her life is rocked. Needing to try and find the reasons of why she was abandoned and who her birth parents were, she decides to move to Montgavin. When she purchases a house that needs upgrading Caleb is the one she hires.
Caleb was drawn to Sierra from their first meeting and didnโt understand her reluctance to pursue what they could have together. Once they get through that obstacle they are all in however the danger escalates as not everyone wants Sierra to uncover the secrets of her past.
The romance between them was delightful, the interactions between them hot and humorous and there is also the intrigue part of the story when it comes to her past. Gregory Salinas and Savannah Peachwood not only gave us great insight to the characters, but they make this romantic story even better.
โจDid you see?โจSOMEHOW YOU KNEW by @harlowjamesauthor is available NOW! Grab it in KU and in audio with the amazing narrators Erin Mallon and Brandon Francis!
I never imagined Iโd agree to an arranged marriage for over 5 million dollars.
Not to mention that the man Iโd be marrying is someone Iโd already met once before.
Gage Kingston waltzes into the meeting with the lawyer unaffectedโcocky, tattooed, and acting like he didnโt know who I was.
But after we agree weโd be stupid to walk away from that kind of money, we embark on a six month timeline to riches despite the animosity between us.
Now Iโm living with the man his aunt thought would be perfect for me while wondering if the woman was going insane before she died to think this was a good idea.
Then the first letter came.
Turns out Diane had a plan to get us to fall for each other while trying to make our marriage work.
Arguments turn to meaningful conversations.
Innocent brushes turn to lust-filled challenges.
And before I know it, weโre crossing every line we drew in the sand.
Did Diane somehow know that we were meant for each other before we figure it out for ourselves?
Or was jumping into a marriage with a man I barely knew one of the worst mistakes of my life?
Donโt miss this heart pounding apocalyptic romance from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott!
Thereโs only one person Dean Wallace wants to save from the end of the world: sunshine girl from across the street. Sheโs always smiling. Who knows, maybe she can teach him a thing or two about how to live? But saving her against her will is harder than he expected.
Astrid Hardy doesnโt know what to think when she wakes up in her hot neighborโs basement. He says he wants to protect her from the deadly virus threatening to collapse society. But that sounds like paranoid conspiracy theory nonsense, and losing her sh*t seems like the correct response.
As they watch the downfall of the world play out online, hear approaching gunshots, and smell smoke from nearby burning buildings, it all starts to seem horribly realistic. With almost everyone they know dead, and law and order goneโฆhow will they navigate this new world together?
The men of the NOLA Rebels MC will do anything for their club. Theyโre a brotherhood, a club who stands mighty, and above all else, they take care of business, New Orleans style.
The bikers may rule this city, but the women of the club have their hearts, and the men will do anything to protect whatโs theirs.
It is part of a series, but can be read stand-alone with a HEA. This book is recommended for mature readers.
Iโm a bridesmaid at a bachelorette party, minding my own business at a local bar after doing six shots of Fireball, when I realize I need to pee. In size small Spanx.
Iโm a large.
While I wrestle with my white-spandex belly-smasher in the only bathroom, Iโm holding up the whole bar from relieving itself.
When the broody, tatted-up owner breaks down the door, thinking maybe Iโve alcohol-poisoned myself into the afterlife, my drink-addled brain decides to revisit the karate I learned around third grade.
But I misfire my karate kick and hook a thigh around his waist. Then, the sexy rock skull chains hanging off his belt snag my Spanx.
Weโre stuck.
Junk to junk.
My best friend, the bride, holds back the bar room paparazzi and promises to snip us apart on one condition:
This hottie biker bad boy has to be my date at her wedding.
Friends, this is the start of one wicked love story.
โ
WICKED PICKLE is a romantic comedy about a down-on-love, dumpling-loving bridesmaid who ends up taking the outcast member of the Pickle family deep into the belly of the biggest Pickle wedding this side of the Mississippi.
Dieselโs story is part of the Top 100 bestselling Pickleverse, and includes the wedding of Rhett and Bailey from Juicy Pickle, but truly, you donโt need to read any of the other books before this one. You can start your crazy adventure with the Pickle family right here.
When Symphony agreed to attend her friendโs bachelorette party the evening is filled with twists and turns. They now find themselves in a biker bar, a place so outside of their comfort zone, but it doesnโt end there when a clothing mishap has her requiring the assistance of the bartender and it ends with a little coercion that has him becoming her date to the wedding.
Diesel and his brother Merrick have their bar, and they donโt require anything else from the Pickle clan. Their lives will never be the same after four women infiltrate their world and the combination of humor and hijinks show him what he doesnโt know was missing from his life.
Diesel and Symphony were a hoot from the situations they found themselves in to the heat between them and to the secondary cast of characters who bring their own brand of mayhem to the story which only makes it more enjoyable.
AUTHOR BIO
JJ Knight is the USA Today and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic comedy including Single Dad on Top and Big Pickle.
The Reluctant Flirt, the captivating second book in the Outer Banks Series from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst & Blue Box Press is available now!
Just one nightโฆ
After discovering her husbandโs affair, Sierra Lourde flees to New York City for a little damage controlโand a lot of wine. A tipsy night in a bar with a charming stranger seems like the perfect way to forget her troubles. No names, no promises, just one night to escape reality and regain her confidence. The next morning, mortified by her vulnerability, she flees without looking back. But who needs closure, right?
But one night changes everythingโฆ
Sierra has reinvented herself as the proud owner of Flirt, a trendy boutique in the Outer Banks. Life is goodโuntil Kane Masterson, the man she left behind, walks back into town. And of course, heโs now the developer whose big new project threatens to bulldoze her beloved shop. Kane needs this deal to save his career, but Sierraโs not about to let him demolish her hard-won success.
With sparks flying, sarcastic jabs turning into lingering looks, and a family wedding forcing them into close quarters, Sierra and Kane find themselves tangled in a battle of willsโand hearts. But now he has to choose: reclaim his career or risk everything for a second chance with the one woman he canโt forget.
Keep reading for a look inside The Reluctant Flirt!
โKane, this is Sierra. Sierra, this is Brickโs friend, Kane. Heโs visiting from New York and helps Brick out with some of the tours.โ
Her gaze lifted and collided with familiar emerald green eyes.
Everything stilled. Her entire body froze in shock, trying to keep up with her spinning mind that kept repeating the same word over and over and over.
No, no, no, noโฆ
Her hand jerked and the glass she was holding dropped, shattering on the floor.
It was him.
The man whoโd haunted her dreams for the past four years. The man whoโd stolen a piece of her heart and soul that one perfect rainy night. The man without a name.
That man was Kane Masterson.
Dear God, he was just as sexy and devastating as she remembered. Thick auburn hair that fell in a wave over his forehead. A lush mouth and chiseled jaw that was a work of art. His lean muscled body was clad in pressed khakis, a starched white shirt, and beautiful leather shoes. Broad shoulders and powerful thighs forced the fabric to yield and surrender, just like sheโd done under his talented hands and fingers. His scent of spice and clove drifted to her nostrils and sparked erotic memories that she wasnโt ready to confront.
But God, his eyes. She was already drowning in the green-gold depths, framed by thick lashes. That gaze drilled deep and pinned her in place while she swayed on her feet, helpless underneath the intense male stare, as shocked as hers.
โSierra?โ
She shuddered. The low, gravelly voice raked across her ears. Heโd never spoken her name. The raw intimacy of hearing it for the first time from his lips shot her into a total panic.
She wasnโt ready to confront her past in the middle of a crowded bar. Sierra jumped, realizing Aspen and Brick were both staring at her with concern.
โUmm, hi. Nice to meet you, Kane.โ
The words flew from her mouth automatically. Something flashed in those beautiful eyes. Pain? Regret? Anger? She had no time to process. The voice inside screamed for her to flee.
Sierra forced her gaze away, turning toward her sister. She pressed a fisted hand to her trembling mouth. โAspen, so sorry, I gotta go. Iโve got anโฆawful headache. Tell the girls Iโll see them later this week.โ
โWait, Iโll go home with you.โ
โNo!โ She blinked, forcing a smile. โNo, stay. I want you to stay. I just really need some sleep and alone time. Bye, Brick. Talk to you guys later.โ
She shot out of the bar like Satan was trying to snatch her soul. Her drive was a blur, as the past and present crashed into each other and left a broken trail of memories behind.
By the time she arrived home, there was no more fight left.
Sierra pressed her back against the door. Slid down to the floor. Closed her eyes.
And remembered.
๐ฉทReview๐ฉท
In the aftermath of her divorce Sierra was struggling so the chemistry and connection she shared with a swoony stranger was exactly what she needed knowing that one night was all they would share. In the years since she has created a new life for herself which includes her business anow both her emotional and professional wellbeing are being threatened by the same man.
The one night that Kane spent with Sierra was not enough. Seeing her again brings up all the feelings from the past and he wants to see what they could have together. He is determined in his pursuit to show her that she is the man she needs, and she can trust him even if they find themselves on different sides at times.
This is a touching story featuring two characters whose difficult pasts have shaped them into the people they are today. As they face the challenges and their insecurities it not only allows them to heal but strengthen their love for each other.
Award-winning author E.M. Shue returns with another installment in the Happily Ever Alpha World, created by USA Today and New York Times best-selling author Aurora Rose Reynolds.
Ham Martinez never expected a traffic confrontation to change his life.
When a sexy little blonde cuts him off and blows him a kiss, Ham assumes itโs just a playful invitation. But the moment he looks into her eyes, everything shifts. Sheโs his. He doesnโt care that her sole focus is her doctoral studies. Ham is determined to prove that heโs her future and the one she can trust with her heart.
Presley Blanchard has one goal. Earn her doctorate and finally gain her fatherโs approval.
She also wants to avoid her cruel stepsister, who finds great joy in bullying her. But when Presley accidentally cuts off a black lifted Jeep, she apologizes with a pucker of her lips, thinking thatโs the end of it. She never expects the driver to chase after her, or for him to be a tall, sexy, alpha male who wonโt leave her alone. He promises to make her his priority, something sheโs craved for a very long time. Giving Ham a chance and losing her heart wasnโt in her plans, but now she canโt imagine a life without him.
When Presley catches the attention of a deadly enemy, Ham will stop at nothing to protect her. As the danger surrounding Presley grows, their love will be tested by the deadly waters threatening to tear them apart. Ham and Presley will have to fight through the darkness to dive into their BOOM, no matter what stands in their way.
If you loved Until Hanna, you wonโt be able to put down Until Presley.
Presley never imagined that her aggressive driving skills would cause a fellow motorist to not just accept what happened as a matter of course but pursue her.ย ย Now that rash decision might be the best thing to every happen to her not only for the chemistry and connection between them but that he quickly becomes her protector.
From the moment that Ham sees Presley he knows that they are meant to be together, and he hasnโt even met her yet.ย ย Those feelings only escalate when he meets her, and he is determined that they are destined to be together and as the danger escalates around them he will do whatever is necessary to keep her safe.
Ham is exactly who Presley needs in her life as supports her both when it comes to her career and with the family turmoil she has been dealing with.ย ย He is determined to show her that she can count on him to always be there for her, and they will face anything life throws at them together.
AUTHOR BIO
Writer, wife, mother of three girls, grandma to two beautiful grand-daughters, doggie mom to one, and doggie grandma to five. This multi-published award-winning author likes her whiskey Irish, her chocolate dark and her hockey hard hitting. Sheโs an avid reader and you can find her Kindle packed full of all sub-genres of romance. When she isnโt writing action-adventure, dark-mafia, suspense, MC, and strong woman sheโs spending time with her family exploring Alaska.
Sheโs currently writing several series and stand-alones in multiple sub-genres of romance but all are hot & steamy and action-packed.
Four of her books have won the Colorado RWA Beverley contest, Sniperโs Kiss in 2018 for Suspense, Angelโs Kiss in 2019 for Contemporary, Accidentally Noah in 2020 for Suspense, and Zeke’s Choice in 2021 for Suspense, while many others were finalists in this same contest.
E.M.โs favorite saying is donโt piss her off sheโll write you into a book and kill you off in a new and gory way.
Aurora Rose Reynolds and her husband, Sedaka Reynolds, created Boom Factory Publishing to use their experiences to expand and promote upcoming and existing indie authors.ย
With over five years in the industry, and millions of books sold worldwide, we know what it takes to become a successful author and we will use this knowledge to take our authors to the next level.
โAs a successful hybrid author in this ever evolving industry, I know that youโre only as successful as the team that is promoting you!โ โ Aurora Rose Reynolds
Fake dating her gay best friend to avoid the man of her dreams should be a piece of cakeโฆright?
Zoya Mikhail I was not supposed to fall for my sister’s hot guitarist, Jareth Grayson. I wasn’t supposed to kiss him, either.
But mistakes were made.
Asking my gay best friend to pose as my boyfriend at my sister’s wedding is an act of desperation meant to keep me out of Jareth’s arms.
Until it fails spectacularly.
My bestie is MIA as soon as we land, and I’m pretty sure Jareth is stalking me. It’s the only explanation for why I keep ending up in his arms.
He’s a rockstar with a vineyard to run. I’m still in grad school, half a country away. This is never going to work. But God help me, I don’t want it to end, either.
Jareth Grayson The woman of my dreams skipping town after I kissed her? Brutal.
Finding out that she has a boyfriend? Ouch.
Watching her boyfriend dote on her at my family’s vineyard? Oh, hell no.
Zoya Mikhail is mine. She can pretend she’s in love with another man all she wants, but I know better. I see the way she looks at me like she’s dying for another taste. She’s wild about me, and she knows it.
As soon as I find out why she’s lying to herself, I intend to put a stop to it.
In the meantime, I’ll be putting my hands on her curvy little body as often as necessary to remind her where she belongs. Right here with me.
Whiskey Promises is a spicy small-town romance featuring a possessive alpha hero, a reluctant-to-love heroine, a merry band of interfering cousins, and a whole lot of banter.
โค๏ธReview From the moment that Zoya met Jareth, the guitarist in her sisterโs band, the sparks flew but she was determined to deny them as she has seen what happens about caring too deeply. As a result, when her sisterโs upcoming nuptials are happening at his familyโs vineyard she convinces her best friend who is gay to pretend they are a couple. What could possibly go wrong?
From the moment that Jareth saw Zoya he knew that they were meant to be together so finding out she was in a relationship was unwelcome news. Seeing them together he soon realizes that all is not as it appears, and he is a man on mission when it comes to claiming Zoya as his own.
The banter between them is witty and the chemistry radiates off the pages as Zoyaโs reluctance is no match for Jarethโs determination and charm.
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Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 