**REVIEW** A Taste of Christmas [Dublin Style] by Krissy V

Although, a little late (or early) for Christmas, I was delighted to read A Taste of Christmas earlier this month. It was a little book I picked up from the Second City Signing from the author herself, and I am very happy that I did!

A Taste of ChristmasTitle: A Taste of Christmas [Dublin Style]

Author: Krissy V

Genre: Festive, holiday romance, contemporary, chick-lit

Date released: December 5th, 2014

Length: 169 pages

Blurb: My name is Nollaig, it’s the Irish word for Christmas. I hate my name. My parents loved Christmas and that’s why they gave me such a festive name, together with the fact that I was born on Christmas Day.

However, my parents are no longer with us after dying in a car accident on Christmas Eve, five years ago.

Now I hate Christmas all together.

I always hated the fact that everyone got presents on my birthday. Now my parents are gone and ever since then I just don’t feel like celebrating Christmas. Everything about this holiday gives me sad memories.

I need a miracle to happen over the Christmas holiday to make me change my mind about Christmas.

Who knew that a quick shopping trip would provide me with the miracle that I so desperately needed?

REVIEW ***** (5* rating)

A Taste of Christmas is the ideal festive romance story to read, especially during advent, whether you enjoy Christmas or not. It is a super, sweet romance between characters Nollaig and Tully that takes you through most of December from the moment that they meet up in mid-December until New Year’s Eve.

The contrasting attitudes that Nollaig and Tully have towards the festive period make for a very interesting read, and enables readers to empathise with at least one of the main characters, creating a connection with the reader immediately. Nollaig cannot get away from Christmas no matter how much she tries. Her name is the Irish word for Christmas, and her birthday falls on Christmas day, meaning that one special day of the year meant just for her is actually shared with everybody she knows, taking the edge off her day! To top it all off she lost her parents on Christmas Eve. So, yes, Christmas is and always will be grim for Nollaig.

But, her life takes a turn when one day when out shopping she stumbles into musician, Tully, in a most embarrassing way. Tully is a very warm, kind and caring character who absolutely loves the festivities. And, over the course of the story it becomes clear just how magical Christmas can be as he empathises with Nollaig, yet tries to show her just how beautiful it can be. Will Nollaig appreciate Tully’s efforts, or is it too much too soon?

I love how the author has made both of these characters patient with each other, and they both give each other a chance, rather than giving up. The conflict of the story is their opposing views, which is a little overwhelming at times for Nollaig; sometimes in an exciting way, and other times in an emotional way. This couple are just so cute for each other, the reader is constantly rooting for a nice outcome.

It is a lovely, warm story that is sure to warm up any cold winter. And so, if you’re looking for a winter read while the season is still upon us, or whether you want to make your Christmas list early for December 2016, A Taste of Christmas is perfect for you!

A Taste of Christmas by Krissy V is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

**SALES BLITZ** ~ Shuttergirl, by C.D. Reiss (includes excerpt)

shuttergirl sale use 1

Are you ready for a different kind of love story?

Meet Michael & Laine in this Hollywood themed second chance romance by CD Reiss!

NOW ON SALE for ONLY $0.99!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1RXBv1n

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1FlYvSs

Barnes & Noble – http://bit.ly/1d3hzub

iBooks – http://apple.co/1KS8bUC

Kobo – http://bit.ly/1bBO020

ShutterGirl Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u2QJM0key0&feature=youtu.be

SHUTTERGIRL FINAL

Blurb

THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER

I never forgot her.

Not for one minute. Not from the last time I saw her, at seventeen, to today. I measured all women against her and all women came up short. But being with her was unfeasible in high school, and it’s taboo now. I see her sometimes, but I’ve never spoken to her. She runs, or I run. We’re in the same town, on the same block, in the same building, and the gulf between us is just too wide to cross. Until tonight. —- He was my high school crush, back when I lived in a world that didn’t want me. He was the perfect boy, and I was the outcast kid from the other side of town. And when he held my hand I thought I could fit in, just a little. I thought I could be his and he could be mine. Then he left, and my life fell apart. Now we are the king and queen of opposite sides of Hollywood. And we haven’t spoken a word to each other. Until tonight.

shuttergirl teaser tour

Excerpt #1

I stroked his hair, waist deep in peace, all worry gone for the moment, and floating in no more than an ocean of gratitude. I must have been more vulnerable than I realized, or he’d reopened some wound with his kindness, because though my sweet reverie stayed, as the minutes passed, a layer of need fitted itself on top of it.

I needed to tell him, if not the details, the outlines of who I was.

“I want you to know,” I whispered, starting somewhere small, then everything I didn’t want to say spilled out. “I have stuff. I’ve never been to jail, but you know, it’s stuff, and it’s ugly, and it scares me. Because, I mean, you’re so perfect, and I’m… I’m just a mess. I’m not whole. I’m a bunch of pieces of a person I cobbled together.” My eyes got wet when I thought of the comparisons between us and that picture in my silverware drawer. “So if you have to move on when you realize that, I’ll understand. You have an image, and if anyone understands protecting a career, it’s me. I mean, I’ll be mad, don’t get that wrong, but also.” I swallowed and blinked, shifting my head so he wouldn’t feel the tear on his forehead. “I won’t blame you.”

I waited for an answer. Anything. A change in position or a word on any subject. The weather. Sports. Something. But all he did was breathe.

I smiled so wide, tears fell into my mouth. He was sleeping.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

cd reiss bio

CD Reiss

CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets.

Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did embed TV story structure in her head well enough for her to take a big risk on a TV series structured erotic series called Songs of Submission. It’s about a kinky billionaire hung up on his ex-wife, an ingenue singer with a wisecracking mouth; art, music and sin in the city of Los Angeles.

Critics have dubbed the books “poetic,” “literary,” and “hauntingly atmospheric,” which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she’s some sort of braggart who’s too good to give the toilets a once-over every couple of weeks or chop a cord of wood.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Stalk Her:

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

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*Release Day* Innocence of Love by Holly J Gill

 

Innocence of Love

 

 

Release Day!

This book comes as part of a series!

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance with sexual tension

Published by: Holly J. Gill

Word count: 110.256

 

  Tagline

 

 

Two directions, one past

 

Lives tipped upside down.

 

 

Forgiveness and pain.

 

 

Love and respect.

 

 

Can two hearts heal?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quote: ‘I never make promises I don’t keep!’

 

 

 

Blurb

 

Calvin Edward’s life has been tipped upside down, never had he imagined encounter his first one true love. Only she held a massive secret from him for nine years— his son. His flesh and blood. How could have Sophie denied ever telling him about his child, now adopted to another family? Struggling with his emotions for Sophie, he has to deal with how to handle his son. Could he find it in his heart to forgive Sophie or is all lost?

 

Sophie Richards couldn’t believe the turn of events— how could the man who saved her turn out to be her first partner? Now the truth is out, her secrets discovered and finally she shared all her pain, never to have imagined the one man who showed her true care and affection is the father to her first child. She loves him, only Calvin resents her. How could she ever say sorry?

 

 

Excerpt

“I don’t hate you…I

would never hate you. I just wish you had come to me, I would’ve helped you. I

would certainly not have seen you out on the street or allowed you to have him

adopted.”

“Calvin, please don’t.”

Her eyes filled with tears. Her heart ached to his kindness that she really

didn’t deserve.

“I want to be here to

support you and Kacey.”

Sophie snapped her head

to glare at him. “She isn’t yours.” He stared back at her horrified. His lips pressed

firmly together, eyes peering harshly at her. She swallowed heavily and could

feel her heart being ripped out of her chest. “Sorry,” she managed to say

feeling larger knots in her tummy.

“I just want to help

you.”

“You don’t need to.”

“I want to.

Regardless!”

With that, Calvin stood.

 

She watched him walk away,

heading toward the main building indecisive if to chase after him to explain.

So fed-up of allowing her mouth to run away with her, but the truth was Kacey wasn’t

his to worry about.

Sophie allowed him to

go. She hitched her breath, aching in every limb.

 

 

 

 

 

Kobo 

Barnes and Noble

 

 

 

Book 1 Innocence

 

 

 

 

Author Bio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holly is a wife, mum of three grown

up and not starting to flee their nests she’s also a proud nana

to twins. Holly lives in England a town called Grimsby. The J in her

name stands for Jody. She enjoys spending quality time surrounded with her

family. Her and hubby have a secret hideaway for peace and quiet in a

sweet idyllic campsite where they like to pitch a tent close to York one

of her favourite cities. Holly also likes touring around the UK,

sight-seeing, visiting stately homes and castles. Her hobbies are reading,

writing, socializing and listening to music.

Writing is where

Holly’s heart is…

Where

to find Holly

 

Books

available from Holly J. Gill

Erotic

Romance series

Desires

 

 

 

~*Rennillia 2*~ by M. Sembera ~ Pre-release Promotion

The truth is simple. It’s what comes after that makes things complicated.

#Msembera #rennilliaseries #Ren2 #99cent

ren2 pre-order teaser

 Why not pre-order Rennillia 2  for 99c and grab hold of book 1, also for 99c at the same time?

Pre-order: http://amzn.to/1PsBiPn

Rennillia 1 Now Available only 99¢: http://amzn.to/1PsBhep

**Release Blitz** ~ Moondancing by Celia J Anderson (includes excerpt)

Out Now 

Moondancing by Celia J Anderson (@celiaanderson1) #romance #contemporary #ebook

Moondancing_by_CeliaJ_Anderson-FB_banner

Contemporary Romance

Moondancing_by_CeliaJ_Anderson-500

Blurb: 

Together since their teens, Molly and Jake have four children, a house in a sleepy village and jobs that bore them to distraction. Their marriage is an accident waiting to happen. When Nick arrives in Mayfield, young, disturbed and in desperate need of mother-love, Molly doesn’t realise that he will be the catalyst that blows everything apart. Add a headmaster whose wife doesn’t understand him and Molly’s unpredictable, frustrated best friend to the mix, and the blue touch paper has been well and truly lit.

Buy links:      Goodreads:

Excerpt:

‘But who’s going to do our lunch if Mum’s staying in bed?’ asks Max.

‘If people need things putting in boxes, they’ll have to find them and put them in themselves for once,’ says Jake through gritted teeth, as he tries to make toast, unload the dishwasher, find clean socks for Hattie’s netball match and avoid the small pile of cat-sick by the table leg. He sighs and mops up the squelchy mess on the floor before Theo spreads it around the kitchen with her big boots.

It’s only the third day of term so the foolproof system for school mornings hasn’t kicked in yet. Even the two kittens look offended, meowing around Theo’s feet as she rifles through her schoolbag for her lost homework.

Jake feels as if he’s dropped into some alien, much less relaxing world. His early morning routine usually involves sitting at the kitchen table drinking strong coffee and keeping some kind of order while Molly dashes around serving up milky tea, bacon sandwiches, and muesli. As she cling-films sandwiches, throws yogurts and chocolate biscuits into plastic bags and sorts out last-minute crises, she talks him through the day ahead. She likes him to know what’s going on.

Theo still hasn’t found her homework. Jake and Molly’s eldest daughter is reasonably chilled, as a rule, but today she’s in a filthy mood. Her form tutor has given a final warning that if anyone else comes to school with purple streaks in their hair, he’ll make them wear his grey woolly hat to lessons. Theo’s managed to cover the offending bit of her fringe with black poster paint, having run out of dye, but she knows if it rains things could go badly wrong.

Jake can hear Theo muttering as she abandons the homework search and opens a tin of food for the yowling kittens, gashing her finger in the process, and bleeding all over Sam’s newly-made tuna sandwiches. She spits out all the rudest words she knows, and so does Sam, which makes Hattie run round the table screaming, ‘He said the “F” word, Dad, and she said “bugger”.’

Jake’s patience, never his strong point, runs out. ‘At your age,’ he thunders, ‘me and my little brother did all the chores for our mum before breakfast, went to school without moaning, and then came back and did our paper rounds. We weren’t spoiled like you lot – you’re all an absolute disgrace.’

Theo pulls herself up to her full five feet four inches. She hasn’t been allowed to have a paper round due to Molly’s fear of possible rapists and muggers on the loose. It’s a peaceful village normally, but there’s a first for everything.

Author Bio:

Celia J Anderson loves cake, champagne and her family, although not in that order. Moondancing is the first book she ever completed but it needed a couple of years relaxing in the cupboard before it was ready to be revamped to follow Sweet Proposal, Little Boxes and Living the Dream out into the world.

One eighth of the Romaniacs, to be found at  https://theromaniacgroup.wordpress.com, Celia regularly blogs with this sparkling group of writers who support each other through the journey to publishing and beyond. Her ultimate aims are to spend less time on Facebook, have a few less chins and to walk five miles a day – she feels the three may be connected…

http://celiajanderson.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/CeliaJAndersonAuthor

http://www.twitter.com/celiaanderson1

releaseblitzbutton_moondancing

*ARC REVIEW* ~ To Win Her Trust (Players book 2), by Mackenzie Crowne

Contemporary Romance

MC

Can she trust this player with her heart?

Ever since experiencing a childhood trauma, reclusive artist CC Calhoun has suffered from panic attacks. But when a fateful kiss from handsome wide receiver, Kevin “Tuck” Tucker, is enough to stop one of those episodes cold, she wonders if guarding her heart has been the right choice. Will going on a test date with Tuck open her to trusting someone for the first time in years? Or will she wind up being just another notch in the football player’s bedpost?

Tuck has a reputation for charming women into bed, but after his kiss with CC, he’s left aching for more. When he proposes a second date, his attraction to the sexy blonde looks like the makings of true love—something he’s never quite believed in—until now. But when Tuck discovers CC’s childhood secrets, will the pro athlete be tough enough to stay by her side—or will he betray her hard-earned trust?

 

My Review ~ 5 Stars

Heart-Warming and Sexy!

Mackenzie Crowne’s contemporary romance To Win Her Trust is the second book in Mackenzie Crowne’s Player series and it is a fab read, containing a strong but vulnerable heroine and a sexy hero who is just what she needs to heal her emotional scars! I haven’t read the first book To Win Her Love, the hero and heroine of which also appear in this novel, but this read works perfectly well as a standalone and I would definitely read works by this author again.

When reading romance I do have a penchant for tortured characters and Mackenzie Crowne does an excellent job with how she depicts and develops the character of CC the heroine. CC is a virtual recluse on account of childhood trauma, being prone to severe and debilitating panic attacks when she is in social situations. Although her work as an artist means that she can to a large extent control her exposure to people and places, events conspire to trigger one as she exits a coffee shop. She is stunned when a kiss from a handsome stranger immediately calls a halt to the attack.

And as for Tuck the hero what can I say? He is a sexy but lovable rogue. Although this star football player has a reputation as a man whore, I loved that he is so empathetic and has a good and kind heart. He has a strong attraction to CC, entranced by her combination of sass and vulnerability. He wants her and, as he has a few weeks before he departs on his team’s training camp, he seeks her out and they strike a deal: Tuck will spend three weeks before camp dating CC, with the aim of helping her to overcome her social anxiety and fear of dating, (at the same time trying his level best to seduce her)!

CC is grateful for his help and confident that she can avoid falling for him. After all, Tuck has a reputation as a serious celebrity gigolo and a serial dater and is hardly the type that she desires for keeps! Of course, as this is a romance novel, their deal has unexpected repercussions: sexual tension and passion reach a crescendo and they both start to realise that they may find it difficult to walk away from each other….. Add to the mix an interfering mother, an estranged father, CC’s issues from her traumatic past and well-meaning friends, we get a well written and balanced heart-warming and sexy read in which the hero and the heroine need to risk their hearts before a HEA can be reached, I found it to be hugely entertaining.

To Win Her Trust is a sexy, emotional (and often humorous) read, which I recommend to lovers of contemporary romance.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this novel was given to me by the author or the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon.com   Amazon.uk

Connect with the Author

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821344.Mackenzie_Crowne

http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/

https://twitter.com/search?q=mackenzie%20crowne&src=typd

https://www.facebook.com/mackenzie.crowne.5

**RELEASE BLITZ & ARC REVIEW** for Hold Me Until Forever and Author Interview with Christina Phillips

Erotic Contemporary Romance

Adult/18+ read

Today it’s a huge welcome to Christina Phillips from Down Under! Christina will be releasing Hold Me Until Forever, the third and final instalment in her sizzling contemporary erotic romance series, the Grayson Brothers on January 4th. I was fortunate to be offered an ARC of this book and if you’d like to read my review, scroll down after our interview with Christina in which we quiz her about the series and her writing process.

I have been a fan of Christina’s work for years, whether she is writing historical, paranormal or contemporary romances. For me what distinguishes her work from that of others are how she writes her deliciously dominant alpha males who are always a perfect fit for the women who are destined to be theirs. If you’d like to read my reviews of some of Christina’s other books, I’ve included the links at the end of the post. Tina ❤

HMF

Blurb

She’s the only one he wants…and the one he can never have

Ella Clark has been in love with Alex Grayson forever. She’s tired of being invisible—or worse, being treated like his kid sister. If she can just get him to drop his iron-fisted control for two seconds, she’ll prove she knows exactly how to blow his mind.

Alex has been fighting his attraction to Ella since her should-have-been-innocent sweet sixteen kiss burned down his world. He’s damaged, and there’s no way he’ll ever drag her into his screwed up life. Until she offers him something he’s always craved—steamy, no-strings sex inside his exclusive BDSM club. Where she’ll be safe from the darkness that haunts him.

Except there’s nothing safe about being with Ella, and the more she gives, the harder it is to let her go. If he stays, he risks everything, but how can he walk away from the only woman he’s ever needed?

Author Interview

1. What inspired you to write the Grayson Brothers series? 

I’d wanted to write a connected series about brothers for some time, but it wasn’t until mid 2014 that the Grayson brothers suddenly appeared in my mind. They were hot, tough and had survived a brutal childhood and I was instantly hooked and had to find out more about them!

2. Did you base any elements of your heroes or heroines on anyone you know?  

Well, it’s a closely guarded secret that I have a slight crush on Henry Cavill and I’ve based a few heroes on him in the past (not only is that man beautiful he’s so versatile when it comes to heroes!) However, strangely enough, he wasn’t the inspiration behind any of my Grayson brothers.

3. In the three novels which make up the series, Hold Me Until Midnight, Hold Me Until Morning and now Hold Me Forever, the three Grayson brothers and the women they are destined to love are all very different. Have you a favourite couple, brother or heroine? 

Oh this is a hard question because I love each couple for different reasons. But if you’re really going to push me for an answer, then I’ll have to say Alex and Ella, in Hold Me Until Forever. They’ve known each other all their lives and Ella is literally the girl next door, who’s been secretly in love with Alex for years. As for Alex, he’s so consumed with guilt at what happened in the past that he’s convinced he doesn’t deserve her. I just love these two and desperately wanted them to have their happily-ever-after.

4. Whose book was the most challenging to write and why? 

Each book had their own challenges, but I always knew Alex’s book would be hard, because of his past and the barriers he’d erected around his heart. Unfortunately I was right! It took a long time to unravel the layers and reach the core of the man, but when I did I fell in love with him all over again. 🙂

5. What do you think makes a good hero and heroine?

I like a heroine who isn’t afraid to go for what she wants, in her own way, and who is the hero’s match in every way that counts. As for the hero, I do love a man with a sense of humour. It doesn’t matter how powerful, wealthy or bad boy hot he is, I just love it when he has that moment of not taking himself seriously. And I have to admit I do like it when the hero needs to do a bit of a grovel at the end of the book!

6. Why do you think most romance readers have such an appetite for alpha males and are they fulfilling to write?  

There are several degrees of alpha male, but I think what makes them so fascinating is their air of danger, their conviction that they’ll never fall in love and then of course their utter devotion and loyalty to the woman who finally captures their heart. I love writing about them, and have a special sense of glee when their heroine ends up bringing them to their knees. 🙂

7. The hero in your latest Grayson novel, Alex, has a penchant for BDSM. Did you (cough, cough) have to carry out any research into this world before writing the novel? 😉 

Heh 🙂 Well, I do have a vivid imagination which helps, but I also did some online research. Also an author friend did a series of interviews with Doms on her blog last year, which was very enlightening.

8. Have you any writing/publishing projects in the pipeline that you are able to share? 

I have a few things in the pipeline that I’m very excited about! I’m in a second TAKEN boxed set with Cathleen Ross and Mel Teshco which will be out very soon, and I also have a release with Tule Publishing for their new erotic romance line, Eros, in January – Every Breath You Take. The hero is a tattooed bad boy, who after five years meets up again with the one girl he can never have. I also have a super-secret project in the works that I can’t wait to share!

9. Have you a message to readers? 

Thank you for reading and enjoying my books! And thank you for taking the time to let me know. It really does mean so much! Yes, authors are a needy bunch!!!

Forever 1

My Review ~ ***** FIVE stars

Steamy and Heartfelt!

Hold Me Until Forever is a combustible mix of one damaged alpha male with a penchant for BDSM and a long-time female friend he has forbidden himself to lust after but who desires him like no other! I just LOVED this read from the off and although all of the books in Christina Phillips’ Grayson Brothers series are fab reads this is my favourite: I like my heroes to be alpha, brooding and tortured and Alex fits the bill perfectly, and Ella is a perfect foil for him: understanding his dark past and being spunky enough to stand up to him.

Alex has had an unbelievably tragic childhood, fearing his emotional responses to situations and likes to keep people at a distance. This is especially so when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex, where he is careful to keep his emotional barriers well and truly up, lest he loses control. Excalibur, the BDSM club which he part owns, is where he goes to have his sexual needs fulfilled, knowing that he can, through a combination of control and safe words, ensure the safety of his submissives.

Despite his attraction to Ella he has treated her like a younger sister for years to protect her from his dark nature. Alex has been hoping that Ella, who works at his security firm, will hook up with his brother Cooper. However, when Cooper, as well as his brother Jackson show that they have found their own soulmates, things are about to change. Alex’s icy façade that he has maintained when it comes to Ella begins to crack and when she offers him total submission at his BDSM club, he cannot resist. Yet rather than this being a one off experience for them, both crave more.

I felt so much for both characters. Ella understands Alex’s issues, having witnessed his past, and is very giving emotionally. However, there is a limit to even what she can endure. Maybe Alex is just too broken to ever want a normal relationship? For his part Alex begins to unravel and is forced to face his demons from the past. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to cope with what Ella really wants, a relationship with all of him, not just the part confined to his club, however much she adores the ecstasy he brings her to (and the scenes between them are damn hot)!

The characters, plot, dialogue and the pacing in this book all came together perfectly for me and Christina Phillips once again excels in writing the most delightfully erotic and heartfelt love-making scenes. The book works very well as a standalone, but if you enjoy steamy contemporary romances why stop at one Grayson brother when you can enjoy reading about all three? You can find out about Cooper and Jackson’s romances in the first two novels in the series, Hold Me Until Midnight and Hold Me Until Morning.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK   Amazon US

About the Author

Christina Phillips is an ex-pat Brit who now lives in sunny Western Australia with her high school sweetheart and their family. She enjoys writing paranormal, historical and contemporary romance where the stories sizzle and the heroine brings her hero to his knees.

She is a triple finalist in the 2013 ARRA Awards for Favorite Erotic Romance, and finalist in the 2012 ARRA Awards for Favorite Paranormal Romance. She is published by Entangled, Ellora’s Cave and Berkley Heat and has dipped her toe in the indie pubbed waters. She is a member of the Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America, the Dark Side Down Under Group blog and Historical Hearts Group blog. She helped establish the inaugural Professional Development for Authors program and has been a member of the editorial team for the RWA’s monthly newsletter, Hearts Talk. She loves hearing from her readers!

Christina is addicted to good coffee, expensive chocolate and bad boy heroes. She is also owned by three gorgeous cats who are convinced the universe revolves around their needs. They are not wrong.

Connect with Christina

Website

Facebook

Twitter

For our reviews of some of Christina’s other books click on the links:

Hold Me Until Midnight

Hold Me Until Morning

Bloodlust Denied

Willow (Secret Confessions: Sydney Housewives #9)

Taken by the Sheikh* (Boxed Set), by Christina Phillips, Mel Treshco and Cathleen Ross

Her Savage Scot, Highland Warrior Chronicles #1

Her Vengeful Scot (Highland Warrior Chronicles #2)

 

**COVER REVEAL** ~ Reign, by M.N. Forgy

Cover Reveal

MC Romance

reign cover [92038]

One bad biker. One gorgeous sheriff.

One intense biker romance.

Reign releases on January 27th!

Now Available for Pre-order

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1PW98BW

iBooks: http://apple.co/1R8tNCO

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1QdBQy7

Blurb

As the president of the Sin City Outlaw Motorcycle Club, l I fuck as hard as I ride and rarely go to bed alone.

The women are fast and the violence is intense.

I excel in both.

People either respect me or fear me. I’m not arrogant. It’s just the truth.

I was a king, reigning over Vegas without complication, until one gorgeous sheriff made everything fall apart.

When I saw her, I became a Neanderthal, wanting nothing more than to be between those legs.

I guess that’s where I went wrong, because my reality was shot to hell real

fucking fast.

One kiss caused her to step over that blue line.

One night in her bed made me a traitor.

And now… we’re both screwed.

reign full cover [92037]

About the Author

m.n. forgy bio [92036]

 

M.N. Forgy was raised in Missouri where she still lives with her family. She’s a soccer mom by day and a saucy writer by night. M.N. Forgy started writing at a young age but never took it seriously until years later, as a stay-at-home mom, she opened her laptop and started writing again. As a role model for her children, she felt she couldn’t live with the “what if” anymore and finally took a chance on her character’s story. So, with her glass of wine in hand and a stray Barbie sharing her seat, she continues to create and please her fans.

Stalk Her:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Release Day Blitz *The Homespun Holiday* by Sarah O’Rourke (includes excerpt)

Contemporary Romance

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Synopsis

STANDALONE!  Dr. Mackenzie Daniels was a loner. He had the divorce, a far-away family, and well-known cranky persona to prove it. And if he had his way, he would continue on his loner way, in spite of the attempts of the townspeople to infiltrate his life with their irritating, so-called charming ways. That was…until he met the beautiful Nurse Millicent Robbins.

Millie Robbins had done the love and marriage thing, and all she could say was that she got a beautiful daughter out of the entire debacle. Love was not in her long-term plans when she graduated from nursing school, thank you very much….until she found herself falling head over heels for the grouchiest but most gorgeous doctor she’d ever met.

Can Mack and Millie find their way to love in spite of their histories? Can happiness actually exist for two star-crossed lovers?

Join the entire town of Paradise for a Christmas celebration of lasting love!  STANDALONE

HH Teaser Meow

 

Excerpt  

“Fine.  What about a favor, huh?  Friends do favors for each other all the time, don’t they?” Mack volleyed smoothly, studying her.  “How about you do me this favor, Millicent?  You won’t deny me that, will you?  Especially since you’re the one that got me into this predicament.”

“No, I suppose not.  I’d be happy to spend the holidays with you and your family.”

“Same here,” he admitted softly.  “Now, how do you feel about you and Paisley helping me decorate my place tomorrow?  It’s Saturday.  We both have the day off unless one of my patients decides to go into labor, and since nobody is that close to delivery yet, I think we’re pretty clear there.   My family expects to fly into Paradise and find my home a completely undecorated mess.  I’d love to knock my sister down a peg or two and surprise her with a perfectly designed Winter Wonderland.  Really, this is the least you could do,” he grumbled when Millie didn’t make a peep.  “Let me remind you once more that this shit is all your fault.”

“Such a sweet talker.”  Millie sighed dramatically and batted her eyelashes demurely.  “You sure know how to charm a girl.”

“My ex-wife used to say the same thing,” he reminisced.

You were married?  For real?  To a woman?”  Millie gaped in stunned disbelief, unable to imagine this male as a part of a couple.  Sure, she’d had her fantasies about her sexy boss.  Of course she had!  He was hot.  Lean and muscular in all the right places.  And she’d bet her right pinky toe that he was hung like a horse.  But that’s where the fantasy ended.  Because in addition to all she fantasized about, Mackenzie Daniels was also surly, stubborn and an all-around Gloomy Gus on most all the days that ended in Y.

“For your sake, lady, I’m going to choose not to be offended here,” Mack returned mockingly as he fought a grin.  “You don’t need to look quite so astonished; I’m not exactly an ogre, Mills.”

Staring up at him, Millie took stock of the Doc’s high, chiseled cheekbones, his dimpled chin, his square jaw and his perfectly sculpted, extremely kissable lips and she had to agree.  “No, definitely not an ogre,” she whispered, as her tongue darted out to lick her suddenly dry lips.  “What I meant to say is that I just never imagined anyone that valued his solitude and privacy as much as you do married to anyone.”

“I do enjoy my solitude and privacy, but I’m also a guy, Millie.   I do like to fuck.”

Millie nearly choked on her tongue.  “Women, right?”

“Yes, women!  Did you assume I was asexual?  Or did you think I was gay?  Do I strike you as a latent homosexual, Millie?” he asked as his steady gaze connected with her nervous one.

“N-no, but if you did swing that way, you should know that Paradise has this lovely florist that’s been looking for love in all the wrong places,” she managed to impart through her mostly frozen lips.

“He’ll have to keep lookin’ then because I’m straight as an arrow, woman,” Mack growled, his eyes skating hungrily over her pretty face.

“Doc, why are you tellin’ me this stuff?” Millie asked, trying desperately to understand where and when this new and open Mackenzie had emerged.  Would she find the ‘Old Mackenzie’ collapsed at his desk in the office?  Was she hallucinating?  What exactly had been in her sandwich from the diner?

“That’s what friends do, right?  Share and shit like that?” he asked with a careless shrug.

“I reckon,” Millie mumbled.  “But maybe we should think about getting back to the office.  It’s almost two and you’ve got a 2:30 with Sandy Bingham.”  Honestly, she was more than a little nervous standing here with him because suddenly Mack was eyeing her like she was a steak and he was a very hungry animal.  And crazily enough, she found herself not minding in the least the idea of being his meal.

Ignoring her reminder of his afternoon appointment, he kept staring at her.  “So, is that a yes to spending tomorrow with me?”

“I… uh…. I guess, if that’s really what you want,” she agreed, her cheeks blushing as she tried to make herself stop fidgeting like a teenage girl being asked on her first date.

“What about tonight?  Are you busy tonight?” he asked.

“I don’t think so.  Why?”

“Because, you haven’t seen my place.  I want to show it to you so that you can get an idea of what we’ll need.  I’ll even feed you if you’ll agree to help me out,” he offered calmly.

“I…you’re sure about this?” she asked, not quite able to believe that this man was volunteering to spend time with her.  Or hell, with anybody really.  Mack was a loner.  Everyone, including her, knew it.  He’d already knocked her off her axis with the news that he’d once had a wife.  Now, he was acting like — dare she even imagine it – like he was actually interested in her?

“I’m positive.  And maybe tonight could be an adults-only evening since tomorrow will be kid-friendly,” he suggested smoothly.

“Uhmmm – okay,” she agreed slowly, nodding.  “I’m sure my mom and dad won’t mind watching Paisley for a few hours.”

“Good,” Mack declared with a satisfied nod as he reached around Millie to open the vehicle’s door for her.  “Then I’ll pick you up at your place around six.  Is that enough time to get off work and get Paisley to your parents’ house?”

Millie nodded as she began to climb into the cab of the truck, her mind reeling as she tried to keep up with their conversation.  Things were happening so quickly that she felt like she’d somehow fallen into an alternate universe – one where sexy-as-sin doctors wanted to spend time with her outside of work.  “Yeah, that’ll be…great,” she acknowledged, her voice a little shaky.  Offering him a dazed look, she shook her head.

“What?” he growled in that surly voice she knew so well.

“I don’t understand what’s happening here, Doc,” she said truthfully.  “Have you just asked me out on a date?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm as her heart pounded in her chest.

Mack’s face flushed and he shrugged.  “Why is it so important to women to label everything?  We’re gonna share a meal tonight.  If you wanna call it a date, I can’t stop you,” he declared before slamming the door on her reply.

“I’ll be damned,” Millie muttered to herself as she watched him slowly circle the SUV to reach the driver’s side.  “It’s an honest-to-God Christmas miracle.”

HH Teaser It Must Have Been the Mistletoe

 

HH Teaser Paisley

Buy Links

Amazon.com:    UK:     CA:     AU:  

Social Media links

www.facebook.com/sarah.orourke.507
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www.sarahorourke.info
Twitter:  @SarahORourke99
sarahrourkebooks@gmail.com

Author Info

Sarah O’Rourke is actually TWO besties who live three states apart and write at all hours of the day and night! Born and raised in the Southern United States, they are overly attached to their one-click accounts, can’t make it through the day without copious doses of caffeine, and spend way too much time on the phone with each other.  Between them, they have four children and eighteen years of marriage…one to a super soldier and the other to egomaniac engineer. They hate empty chocolate wrappers and writer’s block, love to talk to readers…and oh, by the way, they write about strong, kick-ass women and hot alpha heroes!

**RELEASE BLITZ** ~ Christmas at the Castle, by Jenny Kane (includes extract)

Out Now! Christmas at the Castle by Jenny Kane

(@jennykaneauthor) #contemporary #romance #christmas #ku #kindleunlimited

Christmas at the Castle200

Blurb

Christmas at the Castle is a seasonal treat from Jenny Kane, featuring much-loved characters from her bestselling novel Another Cup of Coffee.

When hotshot businesswoman Alice Warren is asked to organise a literary festival at beautiful Crathes Castle in Scotland, her ‘work mode’ persona means she can’t say no – even though the person asking is her ex, Cameron Hunter.

Alice broke Cameron’s heart and feels she owes him one – but her best friend Charlie isn’t going to like it. Charlie – aka famous author Erin Spence – is happy to help Alice with the festival…until she finds out that Cameron’s involved! Charlie suffered a bad case of unrequited love for Cameron, and she can’t bear the thought of seeing him again.

Caught between her own insecurities and loyalty to her friend, Charlie gets fellow author Kit Lambert to take her place. Agreeing to leave her London comfort zone – and her favourite corner in Pickwicks Café – Kit steps in. She quickly finds herself not just helping out, but hosting a major literary event, while also trying to play fairy godmother – a task which quickly gets very complicated indeed…

Available to buy from Amazon, and to read as part of the Kindle Unlimited Programme: http://mybook.to/christmasatthecastle

Extract

Charlie pushed open the door of The Deeside Bookshop.

Instead of being greeted by John, she was surprised to see a much younger man behind the counter. Having never known the shop without John in it, Charlie was immediately concerned. ‘Um, hello, I wondered if I could speak to John, is he OK?’

‘He’s very OK, thank you. Soaking up the sun in New Zealand in fact.’

‘Oh.’ Not sure what to do, Charlie decided she’d dive straight in anyway. If John trusted this man to run the shop in his absence, then he must be alright. ‘Could I have a quick chat about the literary festival at Crathes? I know Ms Warren has already approached the shop, but I…’

The man, who Charlie guessed must be in his late thirties, ran an exasperated hand through his short hair. ‘I already told your colleague I can’t help. What Ms Warren is asking of me is not cost-effective. Although I wish you luck with the festival, the tactic of sending her prettier colleague to get me to change my mind is not going to work!’

Prettier colleague? Charlie felt thrown. No one ever thought she was prettier than Alice.

‘I assure you no… tactics are in play. I’m only helping out today because I’m a friend of one of the other organisers, and I have a more sensible and, I think, more realistic proposition for you than Alice did. I will tell you about it if you would like to hear it; if not, I’ll leave you in peace to stare around your customer-free shop!’

Rather taken aback by the edge to her tone, the tension in Charlie’s shoulders unknotted a little as, to her amazement, the man began to laugh.

Placing the books he’d been holding on the counter he said, ‘I’m sorry, forgive me for being abrupt. My name is Gervase Potter; I bought John out a few weeks ago. This little empire is now mine.’

Tilting his head to one side, giving Charlie the impression he was enjoying the view, he added, ‘I would very much like to hear your proposal. How about we discuss it tonight over a drink at Scott Skinner’s? I haven’t made it there yet, and I hear it’s a nice pub.’

With her brain privately grappling with the concept of being asked out for a drink by a handsome man who liked books, Charlie replied, ‘It is nice. I often go to Skinner’s to write when I need a change of scene from my desk at home. Oh, I’m Charlie, by the way. Charlie Davies.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you, Charlie. So, you write?’

‘Yes.’ Charlie pointed to the bookshelves, ‘I’m over there somewhere.’

‘You are? Who are you, then? I mean, who else are you?’

‘Erin Spence.’

The Unbrave Heart Erin Spence?’

Charlie’s pulse started to beat faster. He didn’t immediately connect me with The Love-Blind Boy. ‘Yes. Yes that was my first novel.’

‘I love that book.’

‘You’ve read it?’ Charlie was shocked. ‘Forgive me, but you don’t look like you’d be into women’s fiction.’

‘I’m not as a rule, but my ex-girlfriend had the audiobook and we played it on a long journey once or twice. I enjoyed it. You have a very perceptive view of the male side of things.’

‘Really?’ Charlie could feel herself blushing, ‘Thanks. It’s kind of you to say so.’

‘Not at all. That drink tonight, then? Eight o’clock? With a meal as well, maybe?’

‘To talk about my idea for the festival?’

‘I’m making no promises, because I think I’d rather talk about you.’

Charlie’s head buzzed with contradictory thoughts. Had she been right to agree to go out with Gervase? Only this morning she’d been thinking about how she felt about Cameron being back, and now she was going on a date with someone else. A part of her knew she’d only said yes in the hope that Alice and Cameron might see them. But so what if they did? Cameron isn’t going to be jealous, and I don’t want him any more anyway. And Alice wouldn’t notice in her current mode if I walked around naked with a pineapple on my head.

A new thought entered Charlie’s head. Was there any point in going out with another man until Alice had gone home? Gervase would only have to see them standing next to each other, and it wouldn’t be her that he wanted to take for dinner anymore.

Suddenly, Charlie stopped moving. She knew she was being ridiculous, but somehow the thought of how Alice was always going to be there to eclipse her wouldn’t shift…

Bio

Jenny Kane is the author the contemporary romance Christmas at the Castle (Accent Press, 2015), the bestselling novel Abi’s House (Accent Press, 2015), the modern/medieval time slip novel Romancing Robin Hood (Accent Press, 2014), the bestselling novel Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press, 2013), and its novella length sequels Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press, 2013), and Christmas in the Cotswolds (Accent, 2014).

Jenny’s fourth full length romance novel, Another Glass of Champagne, will be published in 2016.

Jenny is also the author of quirky children’s picture books There’s a Cow in the Flat (Hushpuppy, 2014) and Ben’s Biscuit Tin (Coming soon from Hushpuppy)

Keep your eye on Jenny’s blog at www.jennykane.co.uk for more details.

Twitter- @JennyKaneAuthor

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JennyKaneRomance

Jenny also writes erotica as Kay Jaybee.

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