Friday, January 5, 2018

Meghan Quinn - Three Blind Dates review and excerpt

  

     

"Good Morning Malibu, it’s another beautiful day on the west coast! I'm Noely Clark, your host: and I'm in the market for love…” When the publicity team of the new local restaurant, Going in Blind, began their search for a hot, local celebrity to promote the wildly popular eatery, they couldn’t have found a better person than me. Outgoing? Check. Single? Check. Open to finding love? Check. I signed up immediately. A hopeless romantic with an exceedingly demanding schedule, I've found it impossible to find the man of my dreams—so Going in Blind seems too good to be true! That’s until they start setting me up on dates—three very different, very attractive, very distinct blind dates—and only one thing is for certain . . . I’m in big trouble. Good Morning Malibu, I'm Noely Clark, and I have a choice to make. The question is who will I choose; the suit, the rebel, or the jock

AMAZON | AMAZON PRINT | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | AMAZON CA

My Review

I can't even tell you how much I FLOVED this book! Ok, I can. It's why we're here, right?! I completely DEVOURED this book! The story was interesting, the concept different. I loved these characters and what they were going through. Noely is a tv host and she's looking for love.  When this opportunity plants itself in front of her, what does she have to lose!? I loved Meghan's writing style. I FELT Noely's anticipation, anxiety and the emotions the guys brought out.  Her morning co-host was hilarious and helped Noely calm down.  She was there for her when Noely needed her.  I liked the very different guys Noely met.  They were each hot and sexy in their own right and I liked living vicariously through her! After my own online dating experiences, I'd glady join Going in Blind! Sounds like fun :)   This was a GREAT book to get lost in and I honestly can't recommend it enough! Go grab your copy today!



    
 EXCERPT 

I didn’t realize how close I was to the restaurant because I’m ten minutes early. Does that make me seem desperate? No, I chastise myself. It shows that I respect the other person’s time . . . right? 
God, dating is the worst. There are so many unspoken rules you have to follow to not look desperate, or to not look like a psycho, or a creep, or horny, or— 
“Can I help you, miss?” 
Straightening up, I turn toward the hostess stand, which is a beautifully carved piece of wood. Standing behind it is an exotic, tall woman with long black hair, stunning grey eyes, and a massive engagement ring on her hand. Please tell me she got that rock from dating someone in this program. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that happiness for my life is dependent on getting married, but to see a success story in the flesh—particularly for me—would be encouraging. 
“Hi, yes, I’m Noely Clark. I have a date at seven tonight with”—I lean forward, feeling silly and whisper—“with WindsorKnot.” 
Her smile is kind and reassuring, making me feel a little calmer. 
“Yes, Miss Clark, I have you here for seven. You’re date hasn’t arrived yet, so can I show you to the bar for a drink while you wait?” 
“That would be lovely, thank you.” 
With my clutch tucked under my arm, I follow tall, dark, and beautiful to the bar where a very handsome Asian man is standing with a towel draped over his shoulder and a bright grin on his face. He’s wearing a button-up shirt with rolled sleeves, a brown vest covering his chest, which totally channels his inner Justin Timberlake. 
“Danny, this is Miss Clark. She has a reservation at seven. Would you be so kind to make her whatever drink she would like?” 
“Of course.” He winks at the hostess who presses her warm hand on my arm. 
“Enjoy, Miss Clark. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. My name is Veronica, this is Danny, and we will be happy to serve you in any way.” With a parting grin, she moves back to her hostess spot. 
Well, she’s nice. 
“Miss Clark, please take a seat. What would you like?” 
My tight, formfitting red dress makes my hop onto the bar stool a difficult task, but with a pleading prayer to the dress gods and a swift jump, I situate myself, only breaking a minor sweat. I let out a sigh of relief and place my hands on the bar in front of me, scanning the glitzy bottles of “muscle relaxant.” “Hmm . . . how about a Moscow Mule?” 
“Coming right up.” He gets to work and I watch as he magically floats around the bar, pulling the ingredients. “We recently bought new copper mugs, and I’ve been dying to use them.” 
“Yeah? Am I the first?” 
Winking, he says, “You are.” 
If I didn’t know any better, I would say Danny is a bit of a flirt. Either that or he’s super friendly. Or simply made to be a bartender. 
From beneath the bar, Danny pulls out a shiny, hammered-copper mug, and I’m instantly taken by the design. So sleek, just like its surroundings. The restaurant, with its white exposed brick, natural wood features, electric colors, and stone tabletops, is sexy, yet inviting. The friendly waitstaff is an absolute bonus. Every table is cornered off in its own spot, never getting too close to the other tables around it, and the mood lighting is on point with dim Edison bulb lights hanging from the ceiling and tabletop candles. I’m feeling the mood. 
Despite the welcoming atmosphere, I can’t help but feel nervous, even after my brief exchange with WindsorKnot. There’s something to say about a blind date: the anticipation, the unknown, the knowledge that you’re having dinner with someone to possibly form a romantic relationship. It’s intimidating, but exhilarating all at the same time. 
Could this be the last time I ever go on a first date? Will he like me? Will he want to get to know me? Butterflies float around in my stomach and my cheeks heat as Danny places a napkin in front of me, topped by my drink with a lime slice on the side. 
“Here you go, Miss Clark. Please enjoy.” 
 I smile politely. “Thank you.” When I take a sip, I’m instantly assaulted by the ginger-lime combination. Perfect. “This is fantastic.” 
“Good.” Danny winks again and like an old-time bartender, starts drying a tumbler with the towel hanging over his shoulder. Eyeing me for a second, he asks, “A little nervous?” 
After taking a sip from my drink, I lick my lips and nod. “Just a little.” I scrunch my nose, squinting ever so slightly. “Is it obvious?” 
“Nah, you look pretty chill compared to a lot of blind daters I see come through the door.” 
“Oh, I’m sure you see a lot of different reactions to these dates.” 
I lean forward, the cold wood of the bar cooling my sweaty hands, and whisper, “Any good stories you can tell me?” 
Danny chuckles quietly and leans forward himself, taking a look from side to side before answering. “Plenty, but looks like your date just arrived.” 
My date just arrived? 
The temperature in the room seems to go up a thousand degrees as my body seizes and my shoulders tense. “Oh God, can you see him? Is he hot? What does he look like? Should I turn around? No, I shouldn’t, he would know I was checking him out.” Whispering a little louder, I ask again, “Just tell me, is he cute?” 
Danny’s eyes scan over my head and his smile stretches across his face. “That’s for you to judge, not me.” Damn you, Danny. 
Oh Christ, I’m not ready. 
That’s right, I’m not freaking ready for this. 
I get it, I know I said I was ready, that I wanted to do this, that I was all-in, that I wanted to find my soul mate, but now that I’m here, seconds from meeting “the one,” I’m pretty sure I’m going to throw up. Yep, I’m going to throw up. I can feel it rising. 
Oh God, I’m going to retch all over him, right on his shoes. I know it. It’s bound to happen. 
“Relax, you’re going to have fun,” Danny whispers before he turns to the bottles behind him. 
As if the light hairs on my arm can sense it, they stand at attention as the sound of faint footsteps come closer. 
Click, click, click. The cement floor leaves zero room for sneaking up on anyone. 
Don’t throw up, don’t throw up. Think compliments, think pleasantries, think— 
“Hello.” 
Smooth molasses drips over my shoulders as the most velvet of voices I’ve ever heard echoes behind me, pulling me away from the death grip on my copper mug and turning me in my seat to face one of the most handsome and polished men I’ve ever seen.        

     
 

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped. Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking. Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze! 

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Kendall Ryan - Baby Daddy cover reveal

We are thrilled to bring you the cover for the brand new hot and hilarious standalone from New York Times bestseller Kendall Ryan.

BABY DADDY releases on February 27th!

         

A hot and hilarious new standalone from New York Times bestseller Kendall Ryan.

We met in a trapped elevator.

Emmett was on his way to work, sophisticated and handsome in his tailored suit and tie. I was on my way to the sperm bank. Awkward, right? At thirty-five, my life hadn’t taken the path I thought it would and I was tired of waiting—I wanted a baby. And I was ready to take matters into my own hands to make it happen. After our ill-fated elevator encounter, Emmett insisted on taking me to dinner—he also insisted on something else—that I ditch my plan involving a turkey baster and let him do the job. He would be my baby daddy. He was a wealthy and powerful CEO with little interest in diapers or playdates. And since he didn’t want kids, I’d be on my own once his bun was in my oven, free to go my own way. But once his baby was inside me, it was like a switch had been flipped, and I got a whole lot more than I ever bargained for. This full-length standalone contains a hot, swoonworthy hero, lots of playful banter and some hot baby-making ! Enjoy.   ADD TO GOODREADS  

PRE- ORDER

Amazon | Amazon.UK | Amazon.CA | Amazon.AU | iBooks

        A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras Subscribe to Newletter Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page  

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Kerri Carpenter - Bayside's Most Unexpected Bride release blitz and excerpt

To save his family’s newspaper, Sawyer Wallace has to decide if he can out his best friend, Riley Hudson, who’s been gossiping about everyone in town as the Bayside Blogger. Will revealing the truth destroy their chance at happily ever after? Find out in this delightful & playful novel by award-winning romance author Kerri Carpenter.

Rafflecopter for Bayside’s Most Unexpected Bride Blitz Giveaway:

Kerri is offering one (1) lucky Grand Prize winner a $50 Amazon Gift Card and four (4) Runner-Up winners with a Kindle eCopy of Falling for the Right Brother (Saved by the Blog #1)! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:




Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 1, 2018
Publisher: Harlequin, Special Edition
Series: Saved by the Blog
Format: Digital eBook / Print
Digital ISBN: 9781488093388
Print ISBN: 9781335465535

Always a Blogger. Never a Bride?

Word on the street is that Sawyer Wallace, editor in chief of our favorite—but financially strapped—local paper, has been offered a hot deal to save the Bayside Bugle! All he’s got to do is reveal the identity of the Bayside Blogger. Even if doing so means losing Riley Hudson, his oldest friend. And, maybe, the woman making him rethink his singleton status!

Riley’s just as crazy about her best bud and boss—which is why she’s always kept him at a distance. Plus, only Sawyer knows her real identity. Talk about compromising positions… Would revealing the truth destroy their chance at leaving the friendzone? Or perhaps there will be wedding bells for this couple, who truly are meant for each other!

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available at:  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes


Excerpt:

“Hey, boss. What’s up?”

He steepled his hands on his desk and peered at her with his dreamy hazel eyes.

Damn. Dreamy? She meant irritating. Beady even.

The weather was unseasonably cold already and he was sporting a pair of corduroy pants and a somewhat ugly argyle sweater that she knew had been a Christmas gift from his mother last year. Not the most stylish of outfits and yet somehow he looked like he’d walked out of the pages of an L.L.Bean catalog. Just because he was tall with broad shoulders and had really cute sandy-brown hair that flopped on his head because he needed a haircut. And today he was wearing his glasses. What was it about a large lumberjack-looking man who wore glasses? Why did that make her stomach twist up into knots? And then there was his lopsided smile…

What in the heck was she doing? This was Sawyer Wallace, lifelong friend and, more importantly, boss. She couldn’t size him up like a piece of meat. Especially because they worked together. Especially because of what had happened to her in New York.

“Riley,” he began.

“Sawyer,” she countered, and bit her lip in anticipation.

He reached into his top desk drawer and pulled out a colorful silk scarf. “Before I forget, Tony found this at The Brewside. Said you left it there a couple of weeks ago and he kept forgetting to give it to you.”

She reached for the bright yellow scarf with lime-green polka dots. One of her favorites.

“Thanks,” she mumbled. “Tony must have given this to you while you were on your date.” She used air quotes for the word date and wiggled her eyebrows.

Sawyer exhaled a long breath.

“What?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“‘Bayside’s forever bachelor’?” he quoted. “Really?”

She shrugged.

“I thought I told you to keep me out of the Bayside Blogger’s column.”

Copyright © 2018 Bayside’s Most Unexpected Bride by Kerri Carpenter


Other Books in the Saved by the Blog series:

Falling for the Right Brother

Saved by the blog!

This just in, fair readers! Chic and stunning, that gorgeous new woman about town is none other than our very own little Ellie--now Elle--Owens. She's a far cry from the frumpy, bookish student we used to know, but then, living in Italy will do that to a girl! Still, this blogger can't forget the infamous video that caused her to leave!

Apparently Miss Elle has been spotted with yummy contractor Cam Dumont...but we thought her heart belonged to his little brother. Are Cam and Elle a new couple? They were seen cooling their passions in the bay...in April! If this is love, let's hope she's swimming with the right brother. The Bayside Blogger will keep you posted.

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available at:  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  iBooks


Bidding on the Bachelor

Another roll of the dice

Big news, fair readers! Bayside High's favorite It Girl is back. Would you have bet Clarissa Blackwell would ever return? Ten years ago, she crushed Jasper Dumont's heart under her Jimmy Choos and left town for a bigger, better life. Her return raises one question: What is she running from (or is it to) now?

Perhaps Jasper knows? One look at Carissa and he fell in the bay! (Rich, single and devastatingly handsome, Jasper's our catch of the day.) That icy plunge should have brought him to his senses, yet "Casper" has been spotted together all over town. Does this mean Bayside's legendary couple may reunite? The stakes are high, but the Bayside Blogger's money is riding on love!

Add to your TBR list:  Goodreads

Available:  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes




About Kerri Carpenter:

Award-winning romance author Kerri Carpenter writes contemporary romances that are sweet, sexy, and sparkly. When she’s not writing, Kerri enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, taking Zumba classes, rooting for Pittsburgh sports teams, and anything sparkly. Kerri lives in Northern Virginia with her adorable (and mischievous) rescued poodle mix, Harry. Visit Kerri at her website, on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or subscribe to her newsletter.


  Amazon  |  BookBub


Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Roni Loren - The Ones Who Got Away review

This was my first Roni Loren book, but definitely not my last! This book deals with tragedy that I'm afraid we're seeing all too frequently.  In fact, my timing of reading this was just after the Las Vegas shooting, so our world had recently been rocked by a real life tragedy.  I enjoyed getting to know these characters and seeing how the event changed their lives, even years later.  The documentary Liv, Rebecca, Taryn, Kincaid and Finn are a part of brought them back together. It reminded them of good and bad times.  They are reminded of what their younger selves wanted to do after the wake of such tragedy.  Liv decides to go after what her younger self wanted.  Finn offers her something neither one of them expected and their journey was heartbreaking, bittersweet, sweet and provided ALL THE FEELS!  

I don't want to give away this story but I will tell you I enjoyed the friendships, their sadness and the fact that they experienced something so terrifying but it didn't completely break them. It made them stronger. This group of people weren't friends before the event happened, but they were working on maintaining that friendship. I completely devoured this book and couldn't put it down! HIGHLY recommend this read. 


**ARC provided by NetGalley for my honest review**


"With a unique setup, a swoony hero and a lively cast of characters, The Ones Who Got Away is the best kind of second-chance romance! It's a great read."—SARINA BOWEN, USA Today Bestselling author of Good Boy

A fresh new contemporary romance from New York Times and USA Today bestseller Roni Loren that will rock your world.

Twelve years ago, tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a small number of students survived, a group the media dubbed as The Ones Who Got Away.

Now, web designer Liv Arias, along with the rest of the survivors, have returned to the small Texas town to tell their stories for a documentary. Which means Liv seeing former star-athlete and old flame Finn Dorsey. A lot happened between them that night and Liv is ready to end their decade-long rift and move on. But when her attempt at closure turns into a steamy kiss, moving on proves much more difficult than either of them thought...

Liv's words cut off as Finn got closer. The man approaching was nothing like the boy she'd known. The bulky football muscles had streamlined into a harder, leaner package. The smooth face was now dusted with scruff, and the look in his deep green eyes held no trace of boyish innocence. A thousand things were in those eyes. A thousand things welled up in Liv.

Praise for Roni Loren:
"Addictive and intense."—RT Book Reviews for Nothing Between Us
"The romance is...emotionally satisfying...and the characters are worth rooting for."—Publishers Weekly for Not Until You
"What really sets this story apart is the emotional connection between the characters. As they both heal from their pasts, they grow together as a couple."—RT Book Reviews for Caught up in You