RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW: Honeyed (Ashton Family #2) by Carrie Aarons

 NEW SMALL TOWN ROMANCE 

Looking for a friends-to-lovers, marriage of convenience romance set in a small town? Say no more! Carrie Aarons' just released Honeyed, and it's everything you want in a love story! This is a book about best friends who have always denied their feelings for one another ... until the broken boy is set to inherit a fortune with only one stipulation outlined; marry the small town girl he's always loved in secret.

Growing up in a house full of brothers, it’s not a surprise that Alana Ashton is the princess of Hope Crest.

Being the only female of the small town’s founding family means that while she usually gets her way, she has to work doubly hard to earn and keep respect. Veering from her expected path to follow crazy dreams, like opening her own shop, not only isn’t in the cards, it’s also not taken seriously. So when her best friend, the ex-high school quarterback with a smile of gold and a traumatic past, proposes marriage out of the blue after years of Alana not-so-secretly pining after him, the answer isn’t an automatic no.

Marrying him, and the fortune they’ll both inherit if she specifically says I do, could be just the thing to set her vision in motion. But can she keep their decades-long relationship strictly business, or will those long unrequited feelings fool her into thinking this union will be for life?

Warren Teal is the orphan no one wanted but everyone speculated about.

After his father tragically took his mother from him, Warren’s story has been broadcast in the media for years. Cue the Ashtons, who took him under their wings the first time Alana brought him home in middle school. Years later, Hope Crest’s royal family offered him a job at their renowned restaurant, and Warren thought he’d found the quiet, under-the-radar life he’d always been searching for.

Until the day he received a letter leaving him a fortune. There was just one catch; he must marry to receive it. And not just anyone, but the gorgeous, stubborn woman he’d always loved in secret but never felt worthy of. Knowing he could return the favor and grant her wildest dreams, he popped the question.

But when his past comes for the future they’re building, she gets caught in the crossfires of the danger and darkness meant for him. Divorce, and breaking his own heart, seem like the only options to keep her safe.

Even if doing so means he may never get to confess that their fake marriage is the realest love he’s ever experienced.

Read it now in KU: mybook.to/Honeyed

Goodreads

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review. 

Warren is set to inherit a lot of money, but there is one catch. He must marry his best friend, Alana, first. The two have always harbored feelings for the other person, but they value their friendship too much to do anything about it. When Warren goes to Alana with his dilemma, she has no problem helping him out.

At the start of the book, Alana and Warren are working through something. They haven't spoken in a while and they definitely miss each other. Once they are married and living in the same house, they have to face not only their feelings for each other, but what they really want out of this relationship, especially since they have to stay married for five years!

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and then throw in a marriage of convenience and you got yourself a great book! I loved Alana and Warren's friendship so much and it was wonderful to watch them grow into their marriage and finally give in to their feelings. The author is so good at writing small town romances and I just love the Ashton family so much!  

CW: Murder a parent (off page), death of a loved one  

4 STAR REVIEW: She Was Made for Me by Jenn Morris

 Sparks fly as a reclusive carpenter and a workaholic project manager fight their forbidden attraction in this steamy romance about finding that all-important work/life balance.

Violet

I never meant to lie to my parents about my job—I only wanted to make them proud. So when Dad asks me to return to New York to manage the renovation of a townhouse he owns, I can’t say no, even though I’m in way over my head.

But the real challenge comes in the form of Kyle, the gruff and ruggedly-handsome foreman, eighteen years my senior and my father's best friend. We clash on everything, except for the chemistry that sizzles between us—chemistry he stubbornly denies.

Kyle

Returning to New York wasn't in my plans, until my oldest friend entrusted me with leading a restoration project and keeping an eye on his headstrong daughter.

Keeping an eye on her is easy; resisting her not so much. She's beautiful, hard-working, and infuriating as hell. The more she challenges me, the more I want to throw her across my knee and teach her a lesson. No matter how much I fight it, Violet’s determined we should be together. And she’s right.

She might be my best friend’s daughter, but she was made for me

Please note: this book is a steamy, open-door romance, told in dual first person point of view. It contains cursing and on-page sex, including dirty talk and very light BDSM (spanking). Additionally, it contains an age gap of eighteen years, with an older man/younger woman dynamic (the heroine is 25, the hero 43). It is intended for readers 18 years and older.

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review. 

Gahhhhhh! I love a good age gap! Kyle and Violet were fantastic and I really enjoyed this book!

Kyle and Violet meet in a coffee shop without knowing who the other person is or that they will be spending the next few months working together. It's clear there is an immediate attraction between them and Kyle is about to ask Violet out on a date, but then they find out who the other is and Kyle takes a big step back. He's turns into grumpy, construction man and even though Violet gets frustrated by him, she finds herself being even more attracted to him. 

Both Kyle and Violet try to keep things professional and they manage to do it for a while, but eventually they just can't help themselves. They don't care about the age difference or the fact that Kyle is her father's best friend. Or the fact that Violet probably won't be sticking around once the project is over. So they have a lot working against them.

The author has given us quite a gem of a story. This book is sexy, sweet and quite steamy at times. I think this may be the biggest age gap that I have read and I was a little worried that it may be a little weird or creepy, but thankfully the story never went that way. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW: Meet Your Match (Kings of the Ice #1) by Kandi Steiner

 

 

Meet Your Match by Kandi Steiner is now live! 

One Month with Vince Tanev: Tampa’s Hotshot Rookie

Twenty-four-seven access on and off the ice.

The headline says it all, and my bosses are over the moon when the opportunity of a lifetime lands in my lap. Of course, they aren’t aware that I’ve already met Vince Cool at an all-star gala — and that we were at each other’s throats the entire time.

It doesn’t matter that he’s the kind of hot that shows God has favorites — messy brown hair, heated hazel eyes, the smirk of a rockstar, and a scar over his eyebrow that makes every woman particularly feral.

He’s a rich, cocky playboy — a brand I’m all too familiar with, and one I’m determined to never be around again.

But after my coverage of the gala stirs up buzz, the team’s General Manager and my CEO strike a deal. To help fill the arena at home games, I’ll get up close and personal with Tampa’s new shiny toy. Whether he’s at practice, playing in a game, partying, or drinking coffee half-naked in his condo — I’ll be there for all of it.

Vince gets under my skin like no one else. It isn’t long before that paper-thin line between hate and lust blurs, and being around him every waking minute of the day leaves no chance to escape his devilish stare.

The air crackles between us. The tension is hot enough to melt my inhibitions.

But I know the way this story ends. I’ve lived it once before.

As much as I work to guard my heart, my body is a traitor — and if this man puts his hands on me, I know I’ll submit to desire.

I thought one month with Vince Tanev was a game I could win easily.

But I might have just met my match.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pfSYwg

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/MeetYourMatch

Audible: https://bit.ly/3rgm1B2

Narrated by: Edward Black & Megan Wicks 

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/44zTbuI

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review. 

It took me a bit to get into this book. There was something about the main characters that bugged me at first (honestly, it could have just been my mood), but once they were actually working together my feelings shifted. 

Maven has some serious hangups when it comes to guys like Vince. She's been burned before and trusting him does not come easy. Fortunately for him, Maven's job means she is around him basically 24/7 and that gives him plenty of opportunities to prove her wrong. 

I enjoyed this book. There were plenty of sexy times to give this book the usual Kandi Steiner spice. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and I look forward to reading future books in this series. 

Kandi Steiner is an Amazon Top 5 bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”

She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.

Connect with Kandi 

Website: www.kandisteiner.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7319216.Kandi_Steiner

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kandi-Steiner/e/B00JDJOINE

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kandilandks/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KandiSteiner

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kandi-steiner

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/kandisteiner

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner

Pinterest: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner

Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her "events" tab to see all the signings she's attending in the near future: www.kandisteiner.com/events

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW: Bittersweet (Ashton Family #1) by Carrie Aarons

 NEW SMALL TOWN ROMANCE 

Looking for a small town, enemies-to-lovers romance? Say no more! Carrie Aarons just released Bittersweet! This is a star-crossed novel about neighbors who have to play nice when he realizes she's selling the land joining their properties that his family has fought to claim for decades.

The last place Cassandra Mauer ever thought she’d step foot again was Hope Crest, Pennsylvania. But once the world famous actress gets the call that her estranged father has passed, and his only living relative will need to settle his estate, she finds herself back in the small town that sent her running once upon a time.

Little do her dilapidated childhood home and her father’s affairs know, Cassandra was in need of a project exactly like this to distract from the glamorous life she no longer wants or recognizes. That is, until she bumps into the man whose family is considered Main Street royalty.

Patrick Ashton is the boy next door, a Hope Crest celebrity, and one of the heirs to the most famous restaurants on the East Coast. He has no problem reminding her just how much the town hated her old man … and in turn her for sharing his last name. But when he realizes she’s going to sell the land their two families have fought over for decades, Patrick might have to change his tune.

As he begins scheming to charm the woman the entire country wants to be or be with, she can’t deny the spark of chemistry between them still exists after all these years. The one that simmered in the shared woods behind their homes where no one else could see.

And when the danger that sent her fleeing as a teenager returns to seek revenge, she finds Patrick genuinely in her corner, despite his family’s objections. In the place she swore never to return, she might have just found the love and life she was searching for.

Except old wounds and unsettled scores might not let her keep it.

Read it now in KU: mybook.to/ReadBittersweet

Goodreads

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review. 

Cassandra has returned to a town where she didn't stay long, but definitely made an impression. Her father's death has forced her to face her past and that comes with some surprising outcomes. Back in high school Patrick had eyes for Cassandra and now that she's back, he sees it as an opportunity to wrong some rights. 

I really enjoyed this book! From the moment that Cassandra and Patrick reconnect, it is evident that there is a connection between them. His family may not think well of her family name, but he is determined to change their minds. 

This is a sweet story that has some sexy times thrown in for good measure. I always find Carrie's books to be easy reads that give me the warm and fuzzies. Small town romance at its best!

11th Annual Mental Health Awareness Month Book Fundraiser benefiting the Keith Milano Memorial Fund at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

  📚 💚 Welcome the 11th Annual Mental Health Awareness Month Book Fundraiser benefiting the Keith Milano Memorial Fund at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 📚 💚 

Here is how you can help raise money and awareness for mental health: 

 📗 Purchase a book from the amazing books listed below! We hope you will #1click4charity a number of these amazing books! The portion of sales is from ANY platform: digital, print, and audio. 

 📗If you have read one of the wonderful stories included, gift a copy to a friend who might love it! 

 📗 Share the image below or any of the custom photos the participating authors share on social media to raise awareness and to show your support. 

 📗 In this digital age, COMMENTS are currency so as you see these images PLEASE Comment 

 📗 Make a tax-deductible donation directly to the Keith Milano Memorial Fund at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Thank you in advance for your support as we work to bring mental illness out of the darkness. 

📚 💚 Participating Books 📚 💚

Author	Book
AL Jackson	Promise Me Always
Alice Archer	Everyday History
Alison G Bailey	Present Perfect
Aly Stiles	Night Shifts Black (Hold Me, 1)
	Tracing Holland (Hold Me, 2)
	Viper (Hold Me, 3)
	Limelight (Hold Me, 4)
	An NSB Wedding (Hold Me, 5)
	Hold Me Boxset (Books 1-5)
	Rising West (Save Me, 1)
	Falling North (Save Me, 2)
	Breaking South (Save Me, 3)
	Crashing East (Save Me, 4)
	Guarding Shadows (Save Me, 5)
	Chasing Riptides (Save Me, 6)
	Young Love
	Haunted Melody: A Ghost Story
	Gifted (The Gifted Trilogy, Vol 1)
	Cursed (The Gifted Trilogy, Vol 2)
	Sören (The Gifted Trilogy, Vol 3)
Amy Lane	The Muscle
Carly Phillips	Destiny
Daniel Jon Kostalnick, MD	Trip, Stumble, and Rise
J.R. Gray	Love Equations Series
	The Friendship Equation
	The Animosity Equation
	The Forbidden Equation
Ginger Scott	Harper Boys Duet
	Wild Reckless
	Wicked Reckless
Harper Sloan	The Long Way Home
Helena Hunting	Little Lies
	Bitter Sweet Heart
Jennifer Probst	Twist of Fate Series
	Meant to B
	So It Goes
	Save the Best for Last
Laurelin Paige	Brutal Billionaire
Leylah Attar	53 Letters for My Lover
	The Paper Swan
	Mists of The Serengeti
	Moti on the Water
	The Night Blossoms
Lawrence Sprung, CFP®	Financial Planning Made Personal
Melanie Harlow	Tease
Melanie Moreland	Bentley (Vested Interest Book 1)
Natasha Madison	Made for You
Nicole Edwards	Primal Instincts Volume 1 - 9
P Rayne	Beautifully Scarred
Sawyer Bennett	Baden
Sierra Simone	Saint

⭐ Keith Milano Memorial Fund ⭐

140 Adams Ave, Suite B-12 Hauppauge, NY 11788

Watch to learn more about the Milano Sprung Family’s mission

Facebook

Twitter

Direct Donation

 

 Fund Information: The Keith Milano Memorial Fund was established to help raise awareness about the devastating and deadly disease that is mental illness. Keith’s spirit and laughter are kept alive through our efforts to increase awareness about mental illness and to raise money for education and imperative research. Keith often struggled with society’s perception of mental illness. Our hope is that by having the strength to say that Keith was “Bipolar” we can strip away the stigma and help others to be more open about their disease. 

Watch to learn more about the Milano Sprung Family’s mission The Keith Milano Memorial Fund benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). At the end of the event, participating authors pay AFSP directly.

AFSP is the only national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to people with mood disorders and those affected by suicide. AFSP is a fully accredited 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization incorporated in the state of Delaware with primary offices in New York City. Federal tax ID # is 13-3393329.