The Gun Runner Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I'm joined on the blog by author Scott Hildreth as part of the promotional tour for his newest contemporary romance, The Gun Runner. Scott was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about bad boys, relationships, and crime families, so I hope you guys enjoy the interview and add this one to your lists:)

What are three things that make Tripp a true bad boy rather than a more romanticized version of one?

Tripp’s experiences as a US Marine have left him with the belief that he is invincible. This belief, be it accurate or not, have left him fearing no one. This lack of fear allows him to push boundaries that a normal man wouldn’t come close to even approaching. Three things that I believe support his belief are:

• When approached (and threatened) by the mafia boss, his response was “tell him to go f*ck himself”
• When provided many opportunities to walk away from potential harm, he repeatedly chooses to walk right into the middle of it (saving a woman from being raped, ridding a movie theatre of a man who is a nuisance, saving a woman from being assaulted, defusing a live bomb…)
• Saks Fifth Avenue dressing room sex scene.

Terra comes from a family capable of truly terrible things. What is her biggest fear regarding her family (other than that Tripp will find out who she is)?

Loss. Criminals are eventually captured. Considering the crimes her family commits, she realizes the strict penalty (should anyone be caught) would split her family apart.

If Terra could give her pre-Tripp self a few words of advice about what was in store for her in their relationship, what she say?

Regarding relationships, never keep secrets.

Looking forward to book two, what one word would both Tripp and Terra use to describe the events that unfold?

Unbelievable.

Thanks so much for stopping by Scott!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

THE GUN RUNNER

Tripp

Once, I took down terrorists on the front lines as a marine.

Now I'm in the business of bad.

I've sold guns to people others might not approve of.

I've eliminated the criminals, the lowlifes and the thugs who've tread on my turf.

And I looked the Sicilian Mafia boss in the eye and told him to f*** off.

No one tells me no, unless it's their last word.

I didn't just act the part of bad—I lived it. Then she stumbled into my life.

I tried to stay away from her. Tried focusing on moving my merchandise. But one smile from Terra was like a shot to the heart.

She's mine now. And no one threatens what's mine.

Terra

I've seen a lot of terrible things in my life.

I grew up around lies and deception, and I ran away from all of them.

Until I met him.

I knew he was corrupt. I knew he was dangerous.

I should have stayed away, but my attraction to him, my need for him, overrode my logic.

Now I love him.

If he finds out who I am, we're done and I'll be nothing.

I never wanted to be the Mafia princess they tried to make me, but mia familia had other plans. And what mia familia wants…it gets.

Only Michael Tripp can save me.

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

SCOTT HILDRETH

Born In San Diego California, Scott now calls Wichita, Kansas home. Residing in Kansas with his wife, Jessica, and six children, he somehow finds twelve hours a day to work on his writing.

Addicted to riding his Harley-Davidson, tattoos, and drinking coffee, Scott can generally be found in a tattoo shop, on his Harley, or in a local coffee house when not writing.

Scott is a hybrid author who both self-publishes and conventionally publishes. Look for a three book (mafia erotic romance) series releasing in 2016 through Harlequin Romance.

Loyal to the fans, fan girls, and faithful followers who allowed him to make writing a full-time career, Scott communicates with his followers on Facebook almost daily. He encourages his readers to follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Goodreads Author Page

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the team at Harlequin and Carina Press, one lucky winner will receive the following:

• $25 Amazon Gift Card
• eCopy of The Gun Runner by Scott Hildreth

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

• Monday, July 25th - Bewitched Bookworms
• Wednesday, July 27th - BookHounds
• Friday, July 29th - Supernatural Snark 
  
  
• Monday, August 1st - Book Briefs
• Wednesday, August 3rd - Curling Up With A Good Book
• Friday, August 5th - Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets 
   
• Monday, August 8th - Alpha Book Club
• Wednesday, August 10th - Parajunkee
• Friday, August 12th - underneath the covers

The Asset Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Today I'm so pleased to welcome author Anna Del Mar to the blog as part of the promotional tour for the first book in her new Wounded Warrior romance series, The Asset. Those of you who are frequent visitors to this blog know what a romance lover I am, and when you add a military hero (in this case a SEAL) to the mix I basically go into meltdown mode. Must. Read. Now. Anna was nice enough to answer a few questions for me, so I hope you guys enjoy the interview! Be sure and check the bottom of the post as well for all the details on a special giveaway:)

I’m 99% sure I would last approximately 4 minutes in Navy SEAL training before I curled up in the fetal position and started crying. How long do you estimate you’d last?

Four minutes? You’re tough, girl! I don’t think I’d make it to the sixty second mark. Plus, I’d want to talk about my challenges with my instructors. I don’t know about you, but the term Hell Week? Not very appealing to me.

What are 3 small things about The Asset's wounded warrior hero, Ash Hunter, that will surely make female readers everywhere want to pick this book up immediately?

First, Ash might be wounded, but he’s by no means out of the game. He’s got the skills, training and experience that allow him to discover Lia’s secrets. This wounded warrior is about to kick some ass.

Second, there’s a lot more to Ash than meets the eye. He has access to resources Lia could only dream of and he won’t hesitate to use them. Now, if he could only win Lia’s trust, he’d clear the path to her heart.

And third, Ash recognizes Lia as a survivor. He understands that she’s a veteran of life’s most terrifying battles and that she suffers from her own version of PTSD. Most importantly, he’s patient. He will watch. He will wait. And he’ll be there when she’s ready for him.

If Lia could ask you one question about why you wrote her and Ash’s story the way you did, what would she most want to know?

Hmm. What an interesting question. I’ve never been asked that one before. I think Lia would want to know why I started with Ash being wounded in the first place. Yeah, I think she might throw that one in my face a little, not angrily, that’s not Lia for you, but she’s very protective of Ash.

I always have a soft spot for the heroes who have physical or mental wounds they’re trying to heal, so I have little doubt I’m going to fall madly in love with Ash. Who would you say are your all-time favorite romance heroes?

I’m the exact same way. I like heroes who are brave, strong, smart and sexy, but also vulnerable. I think contrast makes for the best kinds of heroes. A hero who knows suffering is a hero who values life and love. I don’t want perfection. I want my heroes to be human, like you and I, struggling, conflicted. What better way to get to know the depth of someone’s character but to watch him or her fight their way out of their weaknesses and reclaim their strengths?

As to my all-time favorite romance heroes, that would be a long list. How about I give you one that really stuck with me over the years? One of the first romance novels I ever read was Outlander, by Dianna Gabaldon. I fell in love with Jamie Frasier on the spot. I think it was precisely because he suffered from the get-go and then came back with the sort of resiliency that made him a better person and a phenomenal hero. He made my heart melt every time. To this day, when I travel to Scotland, I look around the streets of Edinburgh, wondering if Jamie is around, time-traveling and—ehem— available.

If you were to make yourself a heroine in the Wounded Warrior series, what are a few of the traits your leading man would have?

Well, I’m definitively not one of the heroines in the Wounded Warrior series, but I can say, with a measure of confidence, that I’ve had a little say about the traits of the leading men of The Asset and the Wounded Warrior series.

My leading men are leaders, brave, strong, smart, sexy, resilient, decisive, determined, skilled. But they’re also sensitive, emphatic and compassionate, because they’ve experienced suffering and struggled with survival and recovery. They’re not big talkers. That’s just not who they are. But they’re big doers. They’re going to show you what they mean with their actions. They look at life from a different perspective. They’ve been close to death. They know what’s important. This time around, they’re going to give love all they’ve got.

Thanks so much Anna!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

THE ASSET

Anna del Mar’s explosive, sexy debut novel in the Wounded Warrior series, perfect for fans of Lisa Marie Rice and Lora Leigh—the story of a woman desperate to escape her dangerous past and the navy SEAL who would lay down his life to save her

Ash Hunter knows what it is to run. A SEAL gravely injured in Afghanistan, he’s gone AWOL from the military hospital. Physically and mentally scarred, he returns home to his grandmother’s isolated cottage—and finds a beautiful, haunted stranger inside.

Like recognizes like.

Lia Stewart’s in hiding from the cartel she barely escaped alive, holed up in this small Rocky Mountain town. Surviving, but only just. Helping the wounded warrior on her doorstep is the right thing to do…it’s loving him that might get them both killed.

Soon, Ash realizes he’s not the only one tormented by the past. Pushing the limits of his broken body, testing the boundaries of her shattered soul, he’ll protect Lia until his last breath.

Amazon • B&N • GooglePlay • iBooks • Kobo • Carina Press • Goodreads

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

ANNA DEL MAR

Anna del Mar writes hot, smart romances that soothe the soul, challenge the mind, and satisfy the heart. Her stories focus on strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, kickass, military heroes who defy the limits of their broken bodies to protect the women they love. She is the author of The Asset (Carina Press), the first novel of her Wounded Warrior series and three other novels scheduled for release during 2016.
 
A Georgetown University graduate, Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and the sea. Writing is her addiction, her drug of choice, and what she wants to do all the time. The extraordinary men and women she met during her years as a Navy wife inspire the fabulous heroes and heroines at the center of her stories. When she stays put—which doesn’t happen very often—she lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the team at Harlequin and Carina Press, one lucky winner will receive the following:

•     $25 Amazon Gift Card
•     eCopy of  The Asset
  

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• Monday, February 22nd - Books and Things Guest post
• Wednesday, Febraury 24th - Blushing Reads Review with short Guest Post
• Friday, February 26th - The Book Cellar Interview

• Monday, February 29th - Curling Up With A Good Book Guest Post
• Wednesday, March 2nd - Book Briefs Guest Post
• Friday, March 4th - Supernatural Snark Interview

• Monday, March 7th - Sassy Book Lovers Review with short Guest Post
• Wednesday, March 9th - Happy Ever After Book Reviews Review with short Guest Post
• Friday, March 11th - Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets Short Teaser

Review: The Harder You Fall

THE HARDER YOU FALL
Original Heartbreakers #3
Gena Showalter
Contemporary Romance
384 pages
Harlequin
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Millionaire video-game creator Lincoln West has a dark and tragic past. The sought-after bachelor lives by a rigid schedule and a single rule—one relationship per year, lasting no more than two months. No exceptions. He moved to small town Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, with his brothers-by-circumstance hoping to escape the worst of his memories—until a brash beauty dredges up long-buried emotions.

A reformed party girl, Jessie Kay Dillon is determined to walk the straight and narrow. But her love-hate sizzle with West is just too irresistible. They can't be near each other without tearing off their clothes, but the last thing she needs is to be his next two-month dump. Can she be the one exception? Because as any former girl-gone-wild knows: rules are made to be broken.

MY THOUGHTS
The synopsis for The Harder You Fall leads us to believe we'll crack the spine of this book and find a hate-sex fueled relationship that eventually turns into so much more, and while that would have undoubtedly been entertaining, what we uncover instead is a slow burn romance full of delightful banter to offset the baggage both Jessie Kay and West carry.

Jessie Kay has a past she's not entirely proud of, labeled a sure thing by the men in her small town and therefore burdened with their suggestive comments and wandering hands whenever in public, and though she wishes she had made different choices here and there, she's not overly self-pitying or convinced she's deserving of such treatment. She's instead determined to find a man who's willing to give and take with her in equal measure, and while West tests that resolve through the majority of the book, she sticks to her guns and gives herself the respect she's so long overdue. She and West fully admit to their mutual attraction early on (once they take the animosity down a level that is), and what follows is two people taking baby steps toward a future that's not limited by the sins of their respective pasts.

It takes West a little while to recognize how low Jessie Kay's self-esteem truly is, distracted as he is by her ability to make light of any situation, but once it becomes clear that her self-worth is linked to her reputation he does everything in his power to show her who he sees when he looks at her. He knows his offer of a 2-month relationship (which stems from the aforementioned baggage) isn't good enough for her, and he's both frustrated and proud in turn when when she tells him she wants and deserves more. They both push each other at just the right moments, never asking for more than the other person can give and content to wait until they're both emotionally ready to be all in, and the journey they take to get there plasters a smile to our faces throughout.

The intensity of their feelings for one another is over the top at times, but the two of them are just so much fun together it's hard to be too bothered by their boldly possessive declarations. Overall, The Harder You Fall is the perfect read for those (like myself) who love tension and banter in their romances, the chemistry between Jessie Kay and West off the charts from page one as they push each other's buttons, and it only builds as their enmity shifts to lust and finally love.

Rating: 4/5

Find Gena:

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

Review: Maybe This Christmas

MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS
O'Neil Brothers #3
Sarah Morgan
Contemporary Romance
384 pages
Harlequin
Available Now
Source: Bought

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
This winter, ex-skiing champion, reformed heartbreaker and single dad Tyler O'Neil has only one mission—making sure his daughter, Jess, has the best Christmas ever. The fact that his best friend, Brenna, is also temporarily moving into his chalet at the overbooked Snow Crystal resort is a delicious distraction he's simply going to have to ignore. Theirs is the one relationship he's never ruined, and he's not about to start now.

Ski pro Brenna Daniels knows all about the perils of unrequited love—she's been in love with Tyler for years. But living with him is absolute torture…how can she concentrate on being his friend when he's sleeping in the room next door? Then when Tyler kisses Brenna, suddenly the relationship she's always dreamed of feels so close she could almost touch it. Could this be the Christmas her dreams of a happy-ever-after finally come true?

MY THOUGHTS
Maybe This Christmas gives us a delightful best friends to lovers romance, one rippling with all the delicious tension that stems from a relationship in transition, and we can’t help but flip the pages at record speed to see how long it takes buried feelings to come bubbling to the surface in all their exhilarating glory.

Brenna is someone who kicks our protective instincts into high gear from the first page, the fact that she’s been completely in love with Tyler O’Neil her entire life but has found herself relegated inescapably to the best friend role making our hearts hurt instantly. She’s in no way maudlin about her predicament however, instead she’s largely come to terms with the firm boundaries of their friendship, but like anyone who’s experienced unrequited love, hope springs eternal. It’s easy to root for her chapter after chapter, hoping she finally works up the nerve to tell him how she feels but of course completely understanding when her fear of losing him altogether keeps her silent.

The tension between them is so thick we practically have trouble breathing as we read, the air heavy with all the words that continue to go unspoken yet charged with possibility as things ever-so slowly start to change. Even though we’re well aware this is a romance and we’re therefore pretty much guaranteed a happily-ever-after, Ms. Morgan does a beautiful job of making us question whether or not such a thing is actually possible for these two time and again.

We’re of course left with a smile on our faces though, infused with the warmth that comes from vicariously experiencing a woman get the one thing she’s always wanted but never dreamed she’d actually have.

Rating: 4/5
 

Find Sarah:

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon

Harlequin Naughty or Nice Winter Blog Tour + Giveaway: Naughty Heroes

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I'm thrilled to be a part of Harlequin's Naughty or Nice Winter Blog Tour, a 4-week event featuring six romance authors and their exclusive holiday-themed guest posts. I have the pleasure of welcoming Maisey Yates to the blog to talk about something very close to my heart: Naughty heroes. What? I can't help it! I love a book boyfriend who has a few rough edges and isn't afraid to revel in them, so I will certainly be checking out every book on Maisey's list. I hope you guys enjoy her recommendations as much as I did!

MY TOP 5 NAUGHTY HEROES BY MAISEY YATES

All right, since it’s Christmas, I thought I’d devote a post to my favorite heroes who would absolutely get coal in their stocking.

My hero in A Copper Ridge Christmas, Ryan, would most definitely earn himself a lump of it. Why? He’s on the naughty list. A gruff, grumpy fisherman harboring illicit fantasies for his former foster sister, he’s certainly not going to qualify for presents from Santa.

But that’s okay! Because I like my heroes naughty.

Here are my Top 5 Naughty Heroes who are just as naughty…if not naughtier…than my hero.

1. Ajax from Make You Burn by Megan Crane. Naughty is kind of an understatement for Ajax, an MC President with hard language and a hard body. He’s possibly the naughtiest hero around ever. You’ve been warned.

2. Dan from Rebel Cowboy by Nicole Helm. Former hockey-playing, llama-ranching (yeah, you heard me), sexy, naughty cowboy hero who hires the heroine to help him figure out how to run his ranching spread in Montana.

3. Vin from Having Her by Jackie Ashenden. A very naughty, very…er…bossy hero who enters into a fantasy-driven relationship with his little sister’s best friend.

4. Rafael from Unwrapping the Castelli Secret by Caitlin Crews. Rafael is a very naughty hero who reformed slightly when he lost the love of his life in a car accident. But when he finds out she’s actually alive…it’s pretty clear he still retains his naughty edge!

5. Alex in What I Did For a Duke by Julie Anne Long. This hero sets out to seduce the much-younger sister of the man who stole his fiancée, all for revenge. Delicious, romantic and very, very naughty.

I can’t guarantee reading these guys won’t put YOU on the naughty list, but then I think they’re pretty good compensation. :)

Happy holidays,

Maisey

Thanks so much Maisey!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A COPPER RIDGE CHRISTMAS

Snow is falling in Copper Ridge, Oregon—but the heat between a holiday-loving party planner and the town’s resident Scrooge is off the charts in this sweet and sizzling Christmas novella…

Holly Fulton is throwing a special Christmas Eve party for the foster parents who gave her so much. To finish the preparations in time, she needs to recruit her one-time foster brother, Ryan Masters. He may have a scowl that could curdle eggnog, but under that surly demeanor is a big heart. And amazing muscles. And a gorgeous chest. In fact, X-rated visions of Ryan have been dancing in Holly’s head for years, but she can’t risk complicating the only real family she’s ever known.

But maybe there’s a way for Holly to have her Christmas cake and eat it too. A no-strings affair, just until they’re done with the planning. Ryan is certainly willing. But from the first touch, it’s clear that this isn’t just a festive fling. It might just be a Christmas miracle in the making…

Find A Copper Ridge Christmas:

Goodreads • Amazon • B&N

Find Maisey:

Website • Facebook • Twitter

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 

GIVEAWAY

One grand prize winner will receive:

• 1 print copy of The Harder You Fall by Gena Showalter, White Wedding Christmas by Andrea Laurence, A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Wrapped in Red by Nana Malone and Sherelle Green
• 1 eBook copy of A Copper Ridge Christmas by Maisey Yates and Under the Spotlight by Kate Willoughby
• 100,000 Harlequin MyRewards points
• 2 Harlequin Classics limited edition notebooks
• 1 Brenda Jackson Westmoreland limited edition notebook

Please enter via the Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Motor City Shakedown Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Today I'm thrilled to kick off the blog tour for Motor City Shakedown, the first in a new mystery/thriller series from Jonathan Watkins. Jonathan was nice enough to let me pick his brain a bit about his characters and police procedure, so I hope you all enjoy the interview! Be sure to check the bottom of the post for the full list of participating blogs as well as all the details on a fantastic giveaway. Welcome to Supernatural Snark Jonathan!

If Issabella could conjure up a dream partner (other than Darren of course ;-)) to help her work the SWAT case, what are a few of the characteristics he would have?

Hmm. That’s an interesting question. I think that since Izzy is just starting out on her legal career and is extremely anxious about her prospects as a defense lawyer, she would have initially preferred someone who could serve as a mentor. Izzy is an extremely self-aware person. She knows that she is young and inexperienced and she feels very out of her depth when Darren manipulates her into taking on a big murder case.

A legal partner who consciously decided to guide her through the process of a murder trial would have been Izzy’s first choice—someone calm, maybe even paternal/maternal, who was well-respected in the community. She’s just out of law school, so I think a professorial-type of partner would have put her at ease.

If Darren saw the above wish list, what would the first words out of his mouth be?

“Seriously? You know, Izzy, being a safe lawyer isn’t synonymous with being a good one.”

Which of Darren’s weird investigative methods would Issabella say she was most surprised actually worked?

Hands down, it would be Darren’s barging into court and serving a bogus lawsuit on a sitting judge and the prosecutor’s office. The idea of actively antagonizing a judge and a prosecutor to that degree would leave any defense lawyer aghast, since the reality is that those two offices hold all the cards. The power of a defense lawyer lies exclusively in the Constitution and the rights guaranteed therein. But, as many of us know, the Constitution is open to interpretation—by judges. So making an enemy of a judge is not high on the list of goals for any defender who wants future motions and decisions to go their way in that judge’s courtroom.

But that’s part of the fun in writing Darren. As an often frustrated and beleaguered lawyer representing the poor and the powerless, I get a visceral thrill out of Darren’s disregard for his own well-being in pursuit of what he thinks is right.

If you were to join Darren and Issabella on this case, what set of skills do you possess that you think would most help them?

As a defense lawyer, the one thing I learned early on was that everybody lies. Clients lie in the most extravagant and obvious ways. Prosecutors, cops and judges lie, usually through omission. Clients will profess their innocence to their lawyer even in the face of incontrovertible evidence and even after they have made knowing and detailed confessions to the authorities. Prosecutors will neglect to reveal Brady material (exculpatory evidence beneficial to the accused). Cops will refuse to be honest about their motives for a traffic stop or the real reasons why they performed a legally questionable search. Judges will make rulings based on their own personal biases, but those biases will never appear in their stated justifications for the ruling.

That’s the game, at least in this moment in our history.

In the book, Darren already knows all this. Izzy most assuredly does not, as she hasn’t been in court enough to see it play out again and again. So maybe I would act to accelerate her acceptance of the fact that the game is not played on an even field, which in turn might prompt her to embrace Darren’s methodology a little more quickly.

What’s one thing about police or SWAT procedure you didn’t know prior to doing research for Motor City Shakedown?

When I wrote the book, I was still in my second year of law school. At that point in time, I didn’t know how pervasive the practice of no-knock warrants had become. Generally speaking, cops aren’t allowed to barge into your house unannounced. They have to get a judge to sign a warrant that details why there is probable cause to justify the search. What was surprising then, and is still surprising to this day, is the relative ease with which cops can get a warrant that allows them to charge into your home without any prior notice to you.

I used to work in security. I’ve worked with retired cops in the past and many of my friends are local cops. They are, almost uniformly, some of the most decent and forthright people I know. That isn’t lip service. One of my former co-workers has dedicated himself to finding, arresting, and locking up adults who prey on children. I can’t think of a calling that could be nobler or more personally taxing than that.

The problem is that we, as a people, have continued to vote in politicians and judges who have a decidedly medieval view of personal autonomy and freedom from government intrusion. As a result, just about any pretext will get a cop their warrant.

To be clear, there are situations where a no-knock raid by SWAT is absolutely necessary. No law enforcement agent should be needlessly put at risk of loss of life. But today in this nation, that sort of invasion of personal liberty is all too often predicated on the thinnest of justifications.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions Jonathan!

• • • • • • • • • • • •

MOTOR CITY SHAKEDOWN

Darren Fletcher, once the rising star of Detroit's criminal justice system, has fallen far. All the way to an office in a smoky dive bar on the wrong side of the city. But a single phone call could be the key to climbing out of his downward spiral: a police brutality victim needs his help, and the family's willing to pay. Big-time.

Issabella Bright's daily panic attacks aren't entirely due to her decision to forgo a flashy firm and go out on her own, but that's a large part of it. She never thought she'd resort to ambulance chasing, until the story about a SWAT raid gone wrong proves too intriguing to ignore—it's the perfect chance to prove she made the right decision.

But Issabella's not the only one after the job.

Darren's connections are enough to get past the cops stonewalling them both at the hospital, but only a judge's order makes Issabella even consider teaming up with the disheveled attorney and his weird—and weirdly effective—methods. But as the case deepens and it becomes clear the Detroit PD is concealing a much bigger conspiracy, Darren and his methods may be all that keep her alive.

Amazon • B&N • Goodreads

• • • • • • • • • • • 

JONATHAN WATKINS

Jonathan Watkins lives and works in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Art and Children's Literature from Eastern Michigan University and his Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. A life-long fan of detective fiction, Jonathan is the author of the Bright and Fletcher mystery series. He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife, who is too good for him. They are blessed with two kind-hearted sons.

Website • Twitter • Goodreads

• • • • • • • • • • • •

GIVEAWAY

Harlequin is generously offering up the following prizes to one lucky winner!

• 5000 Harlequin Rewards Points (US/Can only)
• $25 Amazon Gift Card
• eCopy of MOTOR CITY SHAKEDOWN
  
  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• Monday, September 28th - Supernatural Snark
• Wednesday, September 30th - Book Swarm
• Friday, October 2nd - Bewitched Bookworms

• Monday, October 5th - Good In The Stacks
• Wednesday, October 7th - Happy Ever After Book Reviews
• Friday, October 9th - Parajunkee

• Monday, October 12th - Books and Things
• Wednesday, October 14th - Nick's Book Blog
• Friday, October 16th - Curling Up With A Good Book

 

The Billionaire's Fantasy: Meet Jaiven Rodriguez + A Giveaway!

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you guys to Jaiven Rodriguez, the oh-so gorgeous hero of Kate Hewitt's newest romance, The Billionaire's Fantasy. (Seriously, look at those abs! He looks like he's got six rock-hard dinner rolls hiding out under his skin, whereas my midsection is more on par with a large angel food cake. Awesome ;-). Anyway, baked-goods midsections aside, I'm super excited to share a couple Jaiven tidbits with you, and be sure and stop by Bewitched Bookworms for a few extra Jaiven-related details. Before I get to Jaiven and all his sexiness though, a little bit about The Forbidden Series:

The Forbidden Series is a trilogy of sexier reads with serialized release dates and a different author for each title. Each week a new part of these seductive reads will be released so be sure and follow along for some flirty fun!

For Logan Black, Jaiven Rodriguez and Zair al Ruyi, New York is spread out before them like the Garden of Eden…and no one knows the sweet taste of forbidden fruit better than America’s most ruthless billionaires! Jaded, cynical, with a darkness that threatens to consume them whole, they think they’ve seen it all. But temptation has something new in store for each of them…

MEET JAIVEN RODRIGUEZ

What he looks for in a girl: 

Secretly he wants someone who values him. On the surface he looks for a woman who only wants a good time.

His one weakness: 

He secretly doesn’t think he’s good enough for anyone.

That's all you get ladies (well, that and a few more details in Danny's post), but he's clearly a man of mystery. To know more, you'll just have to read ;-)

• • • • • • • • • • •

THE BILLIONAIRE'S FANTASY

When Louise Jensen spent one wicked night with the devastatingly handsome Jaiven Rodriguez, she thought it would be enough. But now Jaiven has had a taste of his greatest fantasy, he wants more! Louise is about to be taken on a sensual journey by this billionaire bad boy.

Get the Book:

Part 1 – Free! : Amazon | B&N:
Pre-order the whole book here: Amazon | B&N



Get the different parts:
Purchase Part 2:  Amazon | B&N
Purchase Part 3: Amazon | B&N
Purchase Part 4: Amazon | B&N

Release dates:

June 14: Part 1 is available for FREE!
June 16: Part 2 is available for sale
June 18: Part 3 is available for sale
June 21: Part 4 is available for sale
June 24: The complete book is available for sale

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KATE HEWITT

Kate Hewitt has worked a variety of different jobs, from drama teacher to editorial assistant to church youth worker, but writing romance is the best one yet, and she has written over 25 books for Harlequin. She also writes short stories and serials for women’s magazines, and all her stories celebrate the healing and redemptive power of love. Kate lives in a tiny village with her husband, five children, and an overly affectionate Golden Retriever.

Twitter | Facebook  | Website

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GIVEAWAY

The amazing team at Harlequin is offering up a $100 gift card (Amazon, B&N or iTunes) to one lucky winner! Please enter via the Rafflecopter form. Giveaway is open internationally.

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Don't forget to check out all the stops for the entire Forbidden series!

The Billionaire’s Intern:

• Sunday, June 7th – The Book Cellar
• Tuesday, June 9th – The Bookmark Blog
• Thursday, June 11th – Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance
• Sunday, June 14th – Read My Mind
• Tuesday, June 16th – Whirlwindbooks  & Fresh Fiction for Today’s Readers

The Billionaire’s Fantasy:

• Sunday, June 14th – Reading Between the Wines
• Tuesday, June 16th – The Irish Banana
• Thursday, June 18th – Bewitched Bookworms
• Sunday, June 21st – Literaria
• Tuesday, June 23rd – Supernatural Snark

The Billionaire’s Innocent:

• Sunday, June 21st – Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm
• Tuesday, June 23rd – Read My Mind
• Thursday, June 25th – Curling Up With A Good Book
• Sunday, June 28th – The Book Swarm
• Tuesday, July 1st – Parajunkee

Review + Giveaway: Brokedown Cowboy

BROKEDOWN COWBOY
Copper Ridge #2
Maisey Yates
Contemporary Romance
368 pages
Harlequin
Available Now
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
There are lines best friends shouldn't cross, but in Copper Ridge, Oregon, the temptation might be too much…

If practice makes perfect, Connor Garrett should be world champion of being alone. Since losing his wife he's concentrated exclusively on his family's ranch. Until his dear friend Felicity Foster needs a place to stay and Connor invites her to move in temporarily. That's what friends do—and Liss is his rock. What friends don't do? Suddenly start fantasizing about each other in their underwear. Or out of it…

Since high school, Liss has kept her raging crush in check. Another few weeks should be a breeze. But helping Connor rebuild his life only reinforces how much she longs to be a part of it. One explosive encounter, and she'll discover that getting what you always wanted can feel better than you ever dreamed…

MY THOUGHTS
Brokedown Cowboy is a romance fraught with the kind of tension that can only exist between longtime friends as they navigate the potentially treacherous waters of a shifting relationship, keeping us on edge throughout despite knowing a happily every after is awaiting us at the end. What makes this friends-to-lovers romance so successful is leading lady Liss, a woman who ensures the channels of communication between her and Connor are wide open even as she holds the full depth of her feelings back as a means of self-preservation. Where there could have been miscommunications and unnecessarily hurt feelings we find instead a woman who knows when to push Connor and when to take a step back, and we can't help but want her to have her fairytale ending with every fiber of our being.

Liss is upfront with Connor from the get-go, letting honesty serve as the foundation for their relationship and sparing us all the drama that accompanies silence or misdirection, but while she doesn't allow either of them to get away with hiding, she's unable to keep herself from throwing her heart in Connor's direction and hoping he catches it. She's careful as she can be though, as honest with herself as she is with Connor about what their relationship is and what it isn't, until she reaches the point where her careful honesty turns blunt and she starts fighting for all that she deserves. 

Connor, while not quite as strong a character as Liss, is a thoroughly enjoyable romantic hero, lost and adrift after his wife's death three years prior until Liss steps into his field of vision and blithely rips away his Jack Daniels-soaked blinders. Both Connor and Liss have a well-developed sense of humor that works its way into their everyday banter, able to laugh at the inevitable awkwardness that accompanies the change from friendship to intimacy while keeping intact what made them best friends in the first place.

The only minor drawback is the speed with which the damage caused by Connor's resistance to admit there's anything serious between is repaired, Liss granting forgiveness and exhibiting a willingness to jump back into them as a couple with an ease that's a tiny bit surprising given how careful she'd been all along. That being said though, when the man you've loved for years with no real hope of him ever being yours is standing in front of you professing his love in return, it's hard to do anything other than grab hold of what's being offered and never let go. Overall, Brokedown Cowboy is the perfect combination of sweet and sexy, with just a kiss of heartache to ensure we're emotionally invested in our couple's happiness. Ms. Yates also does a beautiful job of setting up our next romantic pair, and I can't wait to see how things unfold for Connor's younger sister Kate and his womanizing best friend Jack.

Rating: 4/5

Get Brokedown Cowboy:

Amazon • IndieBound • B&N • Goodreads

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MAISEY YATES

USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances  set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads 

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TOUR & GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs today are 5 paperback copies of Part Time Cowboy (book one!). To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

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For more tour details and the full list of participating blogs, visit CBB Book Promotions.