[Review] IF YOU NEED ME (Toronto Terror, #3) by Helena Hunting

Cover Designer: Hang Le
Artwork by Rosie's Fables

Book Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: November 6, 2024

DESCRIPTION

A standalone enemies-to-lovers, fake engagement hockey romance.

I’ve been secretly in love with Wilhelmina Reddi-Grinst since the third grade.

I should be the one taking her to our small-town high school reunion. The prom king finally gets his chance with the valedictorian.
Except she hates me.

To the world, I’m a pro hockey player with a million dollar smile. 
To Hemi, I’m the menace who (accidentally) sank her bike to the bottom of the lake.

I never thought I’d be able to right my wrongs until she took the team’s PR job.
I’d hoped I was making progress, winning her over—one geriatric polka party at a time.

Until I got drunk one night and made a mistake. A very big mistake.
Now the world thinks we’re both very much in love–—except Hemi is absolutely in loathe. 

To save our jobs and reputations, we have to convince all our friends, family, and bosses that our fake relationship is the real deal.

I’ll do anything to protect her, especially if it means I get to be the best boyfriend Hemi never expected.

Grab your copy today!

Amazon → https://geni.us/IfYouNeedMeEbook
Website →  https://helenahunting.com/books/iynm/
Goodreads → https://geni.us/IfYouNeedMeGR

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REVIEW

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book since we first saw Hemi and Dallas interact when the series started and their story was definitely worth the wait!!!

I love how fierce Hemi is and she’s such a powerhouse, but Dallas was definitely the one I was the most excited for in this book because it was very clear that he’d been head over heals for a very long time and boy is he just as much of a cinnamon roll as I was hoping for! He was so generous and considerate, but he was also a dirty talker and boy did that make him even better. He’s my fave out of all of the heroes in the series so far and I loved his dynamics with Hemi.

Seeing the way the relationship evolved in IF YOU NEED ME was wonderful! I love a good fake dating story and this one had me hoooooked! There was a bit more drama that I expected at times, but I loved how it was resolved and that we got lots of sweet moments afterwards!

Overall, this is my fave in the Toronto Terror series and I loved Dallas and Hemi so much! Looking forward to what Helena comes up with for our hockey boys and bad@ss babes brigade next! Highly recommend this one if you love stories where it starts out looking like enemies to lovers, but really one of them has been pining for ages…especially if you also love dirty talking golden retriever mmcs. ;)

Star Rating:★★★★★

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About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her adorable, emotional cat, who thinks the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from emotional contemporary romance to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

Connect with Helena:
Website | Amazon | BookBub | Facebook
Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads
Facebook Fan group

Never miss an update!
Subscribe to Helena's Mailing List

---

 What do you think?

Does IF YOU NEED ME sound like something you'd like to read? Who else is a sucker for fake dating tropes and cinnamon roll MMCs who love to dirty talk? :P

[Review] IF YOU WANT ME (Toronto Terror, #2) by Helena Hunting

Cover Designer: Hang Le
Artwork by Rosie's Fables

Book Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: July 11, 2024

DESCRIPTION

A standalone age-gap, dad's best friend's hockey romance.

There’s no one more off limits than my best friend’s daughter.

Peggy Aurora Hammerstein. The Toronto Terror’s unofficial team princess. I would never do anything to mess with our team dynamics this late into the hockey season, but seeing her work in the front office changed something for me.

I see her as she is now: a powerful woman with ambition for miles.
When I hold her against me, she fits perfectly.

Her little flirts and taunts push my buttons, if she doesn’t stop–my control just might break.
But I can never cross that line. I can never know what it could be to call her mine.

I’ve never wanted anyone more than Aurora and no one can ever know.

*This is Hollis Hendrix's standalone novel. If you want to meet Hollis before you read this book, check out If You Hate Me, Rix and Tristan's story.

Grab your copy today!

Amazon Universal → https://geni.us/IfYouWantMe
Audio → https://geni.us/IfYouWantMeAudio
Paperback → https://geni.us/IfYouWantMePB

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REVIEW

Helena's new Toronto Terror series has been off to a quick and intense start! In the first book, IF YOU HATE ME, we had an enemies-to-lovers romance that was also brother's best friend, and now in the second book, IF YOU WANT ME, we have an age gap and father's best friend. 

So far, my favourite part of the series continues to be the friend group and team dynamics, and I'm also loving the mentions and cameos from Helena's other popular series. It's so fun to see how all of her books connect and I'm loving that we'll definitely get to see lots of the past couples in future books, too.I'm already super excited for the next book in the series, IF YOU NEED ME, since it's going to be Hemi and Dallas's story...and I'm ALWAYS a fan of enemies-to-lovers.

Now onto, IF YOU WANT ME, Peggy/Aurora/Hammer (I'm going to stick with Hammer just for consistency :P) and Hollis definitely had some serious chemistry. The start of their story gave me some serious flashbacks to PUCKED and the banter was classic Helena Hunting. I was constantly laughing, and I loved seeing Hammer and Hollis's friendship in the beginning of the book...their antics when Hollis's cats, Postie and Malone, were involved were so adorable! I have to admit that I enjoyed the first half of the story more than the second part. Because the first book in the series dealt with a hidden relationship, I was a bit letdown by the fact that the second book did, too, and I wished it hadn't stretched on so long. Seeing Hammer and Hollis start to fall for each other was lovely though...I'm hoping we'll get to see Hammer's dad, Roman, find love sometime in this series though because that man has a lot of love to give and definitely needs someone to share his heart with.

 
Overall, IF YOU WANT ME was an absolute wild ride. If you're a fan of age gaps, forbidden romance, and angst then you will love Hammer and Hollis's story! It definitely feels like Helena Hunting has plans for a lot of the characters in the Toronto Terror series, so I'm excited to see how all of the stories unfold and who gets paired up!

Star Rating:★★★

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About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her adorable, emotional cat, who thinks the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from emotional contemporary romance to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

Connect with Helena:
Website | Amazon | BookBub | Facebook
Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads
Facebook Fan group

Never miss an update!
Subscribe to Helena's Mailing List

---

 What do you think?

Does IF YOU WANT ME sound like something you'd like to read?

[Release Day, Excerpt, + Review] IF YOU HATE ME (Toronto Terror, #1) by Helena Hunting

Cover Designer: Hang Le
Artwork by Rosie's Fables

Book Source: Received an egalley in exchange for an honest review
and also pre-ordered a Kindle version.
Release Date: March 7, 2024

DESCRIPTION

A brand new standalone hate-to-love, brother's best friend hockey romance.

My new roommates are two pro hockey players.
First, my manwhore older brother, and second, his seriously hot best friend (who I seriously hate).
This was a last resort.
No one should be sleeping on a futon that smells like Cheetos and ball sweat.
But here I am, trying to get my life together.

Tristan Stiles is the bane of my existence.
He never wears a shirt.
We can’t seem to stop fighting.
He’s an arrogant playboy with a filthy reputation.
Sure, I had a crush on him when I was fourteen, but that was a long time ago.
I know better than to trust him.

I just need to survive long enough to find a new job and get a new place.
And not accidentally let Tristan rail me into next week.

Grab your copy today, exclusively from Amazon!

Amazon Universal → https://geni.us/IfYouHateMeZon
Paperback Universal → https://geni.us/IfYouHateMePB
Audio Universal → https://amzn.to/49rB7F1

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REVIEW

Wowzers! I couldn’t put IF YOU HATE ME down! I’m always up for a new book for Helena Hunting, so I jumped at the chance to read and review this one nice and early and I’m so glad that I did! I read it both as an egalley and listened to bits of the advanced listener’s copy and both the ebook and audiobook were absolutely fabulous…the readers are amazing and Helena’s words were as captivating as always!

IF YOU HATE ME was hilarious, heartwarming and jammed full of sizzling spice! Rix and Tristan were such wonderful characters and I had so much fun seeing them go from hate to something much, much deeper…and their chemistry was off the charts! I loved their solo journeys, and also how they complemented each other. I loved seeing Rix become more confident in herself, uncover her passions, and find a sense of belonging...and Tristan. Oh boy! I was right there with Rix when Tristan was on her last nerve, but he won me over hard! It was a delight to see him grow, and I love, love, loooooved seeing him learn to realize his own worth. Gotta love self-aware main characters who know they have to work on themselves! ;)

 

There truly was so much heart in this story...and it definitely didn't cool the heat down at all. In fact, I'd say this is one of Helena's spiciest books yet and if you haven't perfected your spicy reader poker face...you might want to watch if you decide to read this one in public...especially if the audio is your format of choice! It's a scorcher and you will likely find yourself blushing. ;)

 

Now onto the rest of the fabulous cast of characters! One of my favourite parts of starting new series from Helena is meeting her delightful cast of characters...and she's once again created the most excellent group of side characters who I desperately want to read about. I loved Rix's growing group of friends, and loooooved all of the Toronto Terror players! If you look around online, you might just spot some hints on what's in store next for this series (*hint hint* look for IF YOU WANT ME)...and I am seriously so excited for what's next! I'm also just so excited for all of the potential in this series, and can't wait until more and more people have read IF YOU HATE ME so we can all discuss who we want to read about next! ;)

Overall, I absolutely loved IF YOU HATE ME! Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes and I'm always a fan of brother's best friend...so this was right up my alley! I also adored seeing a sports romance set in Toronto from one of my favourite Canadian authors! It was so fun to see certain Canadianisms...and even hear some of them in the audio version, too. I highly recommend IF YOU HATE ME to anyone who loves spicy rom-coms that are high on the spice scale and pack some delightful heat, especially if you also love hockey romances! This is one that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon and I already can't wait to reread it! ;)

Star Rating:★★★★★

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About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her adorable, emotional cat, who thinks the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from emotional contemporary romance to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

Connect with Helena:
Website | Amazon | BookBub | Facebook
Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads
Facebook Fan group

Never miss an update!
Subscribe to Helena's Mailing List

---

 What do you think?

Does IF YOU HATE ME sound like something you'd like to read?
And are you excited for the start of Helena's new series?

[Release Day Blitz] THE HOOKUP HANDBOOK by Kendall Ryan

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THE HOOKUP HANDBOOK
By Kendall Ryan
Release Day: March 19th

DESCRIPTION

My love wand is on a strike.

As bad as that blows, pun unintended, it’s ten times worse for me. I’m a male escort, but not just any escort, I’m the escort. The one with a mile-long waiting list and a pristine reputation that’s very well-deserved.

Only now, I’m on hiatus. Because after years of pleasing women all over the city, my man missile decides to get finicky. And the only woman he wants? Someone I can never have—my best friend’s younger sister, the nerdy and awkwardly adorable Sienna.

She’s working at the agency this summer, keeping me organized, handling paperwork, and most importantly, keeping me on track to finish writing my book about sex and intimacy, which is due to my publisher in thirty days.

She thinks I hate her, that I don’t want her here. The truth is much more twisted. I get hard every time she walks into my office. Her wide blue eyes and pouty mouth drive me wild with desire, and if she stays, I’m not sure how much longer I can stay away from her.

Little Miss Overachiever says she’s here to help? Fine. I’m going to put her nerdy, curvy tush to work.

💜 Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/2EjEfXh 


💜 Apple ➜ https://apple.co/2Ei9ALh 


💜 Nook ➜ http://bit.ly/2Qgc5UF 


💜 Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/2Eo6HZg 


💜 Goodreads ➜ http://bit.ly/2rnraoC

About Kendall Ryan

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than three dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world.
Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than 70 times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. 

She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras.

Subscribe to Kendall's newsletter: http://www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter/

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

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I'm a huge fan of Kendall's romances, so I'm stoked that this one is releasing today!

What about you?

Are you excited that The Hookup Handbook is out? 

Have you read any of Kendal's books? If you have, what did you think?

[Spotlight Post] SUDDENLY MINE (The Montgomery Brothers, #8) by Samantha Chase #Excerpt

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Suddenly Mine
The Montgomery Brothers, #8
By Samantha Chase
Publication date: 1/29/19

Love is a sanctuary

Christian Montgomery is burnt out—the family business might be his entire world, but his father's judgment means Christian never stops working. His only respite is gazing at the beach and the carefree surfers riding the waves...especially the curvy redhead who's caught his attention.

Sophia Bennington has just fled from her small Kansas town to California, where she's trying her best to embrace her new beginning. Soon Christian and Sophia find one another, and it feels like sanctuary. But when their difficult pasts catch up to them, will they run away from each other?

Montgomery Brothers Series:

• Wait for Me (Book 1)
• Trust in Me (Book 2)
• Stay With Me (Book 3)
• More of Me (Book 3.5)
• Return to You (Book 4)
• Meant for You (Book 5)
• I'll Be There (Book 6)
• Until There Was Us (Book 7)

Praise for Samantha Chase:

"Chase's three-dimensional characters leap off the page..."
—Publishers Weekly for Until There Was Us

"A sweet romance: classic, thoughtful, and as lyrical as the stars."
—Kirkus Reviews for A Sky Full of Stars

"Chase just gets better and better."
—Booklist

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Rkbz8W

B&N: http://bit.ly/2VJRirC

Apple: https://apple.co/2TAFIxk

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2VIqacP

Walmart: http://bit.ly/2H5qu1W

Indigo: https://bit.ly/2MDVdCb 

Visit Samantha Chase's Author Website: https://www.chasing-romance.com/

---

EXCERPT

      “This was Christian’s idea?” she asked incredulously.

      “Oh…um, well, yes. He feels incredibly thankful to you for all you did.”

      “I see.”

      Sophie wasn’t stupid—she’d accept any and all the jobs she might get through this. That was a no-brainer. But knowing that Christian had more than likely orchestrated it bothered her. Was he doing it simply because he was thankful, or was it because he’d acted like a jerk when he’d refused to let her help him?

      Unfortunately, she didn’t know him well enough to know for sure.

      With no other choice—because she would make herself crazy sitting here thinking about it—she took a shower and got ready, bracing herself to go knock on Christian Montgomery’s door.
      Did she take a little extra time in the shower and use her favorite scented soap?

      Yes.

      Did she spend a little extra time on her makeup?

      Yes.

      And did she curse more than once while she styled her hair because it was way too long and took forever to make look good?

      Again, yes.

      But as she looked at her reflection when she was done, all Sophie could say was, “Damn, girl! You look good!”

      With all of the extra attention she’d already given herself, choosing something to wear was a bit more challenging. Obviously, he knew she wasn’t working, so showing up on his doorstep dressed up would look ridiculous. However, showing up in a pair of cutoffs and a T-shirt seemed wrong. It wasn’t as if she had an extensive wardrobe to begin with, but right now it sure as heck felt that way!
Grabbing a pair of faded denim capris and a bold blue halter top, she felt casually sassy. That was a thing, right?

      Slipping on a pair of flip-flops, she grabbed her purse and was out the door, feeling much calmer than she had an hour ago. The drive took less than fifteen minutes, and as Sophie parked in his driveway, she took a moment to give herself a small pep talk.

      “The good thing is that you have a job,” she said quietly. “It shouldn’t matter why you have the job, the fact is that you have one.” She paused. “And while it would be great if he apologized for coming off as being ungrateful last week, you need to remember that he’d had a traumatic day and maybe it wasn’t about me at all.”

      Sighing, she flipped down her visor and checked her reflection in the mirror, fixing her lipstick. When she was done, she flipped it back up and continued her talk.

      “If he recommended me for these jobs because he feels sorry for me, then I am completely within my rights to tell him that I’m offended. I don’t need charity. However, if he did it based on my experience, then I’ll be polite and say thank you.” She took a steadying breath and thought about how she was going to feel when she saw him back at the office after he went back to work. “He needs to know that I’m going to be checking up on him and his health more than anyone else in the company—especially in the beginning—since I know his history. Like it or not.”

     No doubt he wouldn’t like that one bit, but those were her terms and she wasn’t going to be budged.

      At least, she hoped she wasn’t.


      With one deep, cleansing breath, Sophie climbed from her car, fidgeted with her hair, and made her way up the front steps. Ringing the bell, she wondered how Christian was going to react to her showing up unannounced.

      Although, really, how else could she show up? It wasn’t as if she had his phone number.

      When the front door opened, she almost forgot how to breathe.

      His hair was a bit of a mess and it looked like he hadn’t shaved in a few days. But it looked good on him. Really good. His blue eyes sparkled with surprise and she swallowed hard, trying not to sigh dreamily.

      Then she glanced down.

      Big mistake.

      Dressed in a pair of black athletic shorts and nothing else, Christian Montgomery was like some sleek, athletic god.

      She’d recognized that he had a fit physique before, but seeing him standing before her practically naked confirmed it.

      And then some.

      Right now, she was having a hard time forming words. Never before had she seen such a perfect male specimen and her fingers nearly twitched with the need to reach out and touch his flat stomach, and then maybe scratch their way up to tangle in his hair. She bet he smelled really good too.


      “Sophie?”

      Oh. Right. He’d asked her a question.

      “Um… I wanted to talk to you,” she said, her voice trembling a little—and not from nerves over what she wanted to say, but from the sight of him.

      Maybe she should go…

      Stepping aside, Christian motioned for her to come in, and with no other choice, she walked into his house.

      Swallowing hard, she walked in front of him and looked around. She’d admired the house when she was here before, but at the time, her main concern had been Christian and his well-being. Now she could see just how beautiful the space was—high ceilings, exposed beams, colors that were cool and soothing in shades of tan and blue, and a wall of windows facing the ocean.

      Not a bad way to live, she mused.

      “Can I get you something to drink?” he asked, coming to stand beside her.

      Part of her was afraid to turn and look at him because…well, she didn’t want to do anything stupid.

      Like drool.

---

Have you read any of the Montgomery Brothers books yet?

What did you think of that excerpt for Suddenly Mine?

Spotlight Post: CRAZY CUPID LOVE (Let's Get Mythical, #1) by Amanda Heger

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Crazy Cupid Love
By Amanda Heger
Publication date: 1/29/19
 
"'Percy Jackson for Romance fans.' Delightful."―RT Book Reviews Forewords

When a single arrow inspires romance, can you really trust happily ever after? In this magical rom-com, the descendants of Greek mythology must learn to live and love in a mundane world where Aphrodite's blessing can sure feel like a real pain in the quiver. 

Eliza Herman (a.k.a. The World's Worst Cupid) has spent her entire life carefully avoiding her calling as a Descendant of Eros. After all, happily-ever-afters are nothing but a myth. But when a family crisis requires her to fill in at the local Cupid-for-hire shop, Eliza finds herself enchanting couples under the watchful eye of her assigned mentor, Jake Sanders...the one man she could never get out of her head.

Before long, Eliza is rethinking her stance on romance―until things start going terribly wrong with her enchantments. Now Eliza and Jake must fight to unravel a conspiracy that could destroy thousands of relationships, including their own...and spell the end of Love itself.

No pressure, right?

G E T   Y O U R   C O P Y    N O W !

Amazon | B & N | Kobo | Apple | Indiebound | Indigo | Walmart

AMANDA HEGER is a writer, attorney, and bookworm. She lives in the Baltimore with her unruly rescue dogs and a husband who encourages her delusions of grandeur. She strongly believes Amy Poehler is her soul mate, and one of her life goals is to adopt a pig and name it Ron Swineson.

Connect with Amanda:

Author Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

---

EXCERPT

      Tap, tap, tap.

      Eliza jumped, cracking her head on the steering wheel. Son of a… She grasped for the seat belt while her brain tried to place the man peering down at her from the passenger-side window.

      “Hello?” he said.

      No.

      Not just a man. An underwear- model- worthy man with the perfect amount of five- o’clock shadow and cheekbones that could cut diamonds. A navy tie hung loosely around his neck, and the top button of his shirt lay open, practically daring her to look away from the tan skin at the base of his throat.

      It was the worst thing Eliza had ever seen.

      TURN BACK NOW. ABANDON SHIP. THIS WAY LIES MADNESS. Her mind screeched its usual warnings like a tornado siren, but she couldn’t look away.

      Over the years, in her attempt to live a “normal” life, she’d constructed an intricate maze of rules and guidelines that she followed at all times. Number one on that list? Stay away from hot guys.

      On a good day, her clumsiness hit a six on the Richter scale. Add the fumbling, sweaty awkwardness of attraction to the mix, and Eliza became a walking catastrophe.

      “Eliza?”

      “Do I know…” She narrowed her eyes. There was a familiar seriousness in his gaze. Something nostalgic about the way he dug his hands into his pockets. Something… “Jake?”

      Eliza shoved open the car door and tried to push all the dirty thoughts she’d just had from her mind as she stepped out into the driveway. “Jake Sanders? I thought you were in Peru or something.”

      “Brazil.”

      “Brazil then. What are you doing here?” She tried to smooth her hair. When that failed, she tried not to notice how mind- bendingly attractive her childhood best friend had become. They’d known each other since elementary school, when— as the only three school- age Cupids in town— Jake, Eliza, and Elijah had been enrolled in PSC (Public School Cupiding) classes together. Every Wednesday night, they’d sit in a classroom for two hours, drinking juice boxes and learning about the history of Cupids. On the weekends, Jake would come to her house, where they would conduct elaborate reenactments of the War of the Titans from the tree house in Eliza’s backyard. But in middle and high school, the two of them had drifted apart the way people do. Especially when one of those people is class president and captain of the track team (Jake) and the other is a walking disaster (Eliza).

      After high school, Jake enlisted in the Cupid Corps. For the last ten years, he’d been taking cases on assignment in impoverished and war- torn areas. Aside from a brief visit over Christmas nine years ago, Eliza hadn’t seen him since.

      “I moved back to town about a week ago,” he said. “Doing some odd jobs while I get reacclimated.”

      “At Dionysus again?” she asked. When they’d been teenagers, he’d worked there as a bar back. The raucous restaurant and bar sat dead center in the Agora— a building at the edge of town where Descendants had gathered for decades, undetected by “regular” humans. Eliza, the ultimate clumsy introvert with an unheard- of level of enchantment, hated the place. People stared and pointed when she walked by. It made her feel like a lab rat.

      “No.” He looked down at his feet, then back up at her. “Doing some deliveries right now. This one is for your parents. Are they here?” He held out a large manila envelope.

      “No.” She started to say more, but the words snagged in her throat. “They’re out.”

      “Can you sign for this then?” She took his tablet and scrawled her name at the bottom of the screen. “Here you go.”

      Jake handed her the thick envelope and flashed her a grin. It was same grin— the one that rose a smidge higher on the left— that had always seemed kind of dorky when they were kids. As adults? Totally different story. “Happy Day- That- Shall- Not- Be- Named, by the way,” he said.

      Despite everything, Eliza let out a laugh. “Finally, someone around here understands me.”

      “I aim to please.” His dark eyes locked on hers for a half second. “I can’t believe your parents finally gave up on the whole Herman birthday extravaganza thing.”

      “Oh, they didn’t. We already had cake. Blood and tears were shed, yadda, yadda.”

      “You did all the blood shedding before dark? The Hermans have really gotten soft over the years.” There it was again. That grin. “Here. I have something for you.”

      Jake took a step closer. Miniature fireworks went off in her chest, leaving trails of nervous energy in her stomach. He’d become so handsome. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, a jawline that could make Adonis weep. And he’d been there for all her childhood traumas and celebrations. The hot days they’d chased down the ice- cream truck in bare feet. The games of checkers on her parents’ back porch. The awkward here- come- the- braces- and- puberty years.

      “You brought me a gift?” Eliza asked.

      “You think I was going to step inside this house on your birthday without a gift in hand? No way. Your parents would have eaten me alive.”

      “That’s fair.” For the first time on this godsforsaken day, Eliza felt herself relax. They could have been ten years old and playing Battletoads again, the way everything fell into place. Like life had never taken them in separate directions.

      “Here.” He produced a small, rectangular package from his back pocket.

      The paper was a plain navy blue— not a Valentine remnant in sight— and the featherlight present crinkled when she turned it over. She smiled up at him. “You didn’t have to do this.”

      He reached for the gift with a boyish look in his eyes. “If you don’t want it— ”

      Eliza whipped it out of his reach. “I didn’t say that.”

      “Don’t get too excited. It’s nothing big.”

      “I’ll be the judge of that.” Eliza pried open the wrapping. An all- too- familiar cartoon kangaroo stared up at her from the tiny package of treats. A rush of nostalgia washed over her. “Dunkaroos? Dunkaroos, the best snack ever made? Dunkaroos, the sole reason I made it through childhood in one piece?”

      “I think you’re forgetting something.” Jake gave her a pointed look.

      “Okay. Dunkaroos, the reason I made it through childhood, in addition to your friendship.”

      His face broke into a wide smile. “I’ll accept that.”

      “Where did you find these? I didn’t think they made them anymore.”

      “Canada. I was in Vancouver last week.”

      “So you smuggled them into the country in the dark of night, risking everything, just for my birthday?”

      He let out a soft chuckle. “Something like that.”

---

I've been eagerly waiting for CRAZY CUPID LOVE because it sounds utterly adorable...and hilarious! 

What do you think?

Did you like the excerpt and does it sound like a book you'd like?

[Release Day] THE KISS THIEF by L.J. Shen

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GUESS WHAT?

 L.J. Shen's THE KISS THIEF has released early! Scroll down to read the blurb, check out an excerpt and some riveting teasers...and get your hands on those buy links! ;)

THE KISS THIEF

by L.J. Shen

Official Release Date: January 9th

Add to Goodreads:

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41450662-tk

Blurb


They say your first kiss should be earned.



Mine was stolen by a devil in a masquerade mask under the black Chicago sky.



They say the vows you take on your wedding day are sacred.



Mine were broken before we left church.



They say your heart only beats for one man.



Mine split and bled for two rivals who fought for it until the bitter end.



I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit.



Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage.  



They say that all great love stories have a happy ending.



I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter.


One kiss.



Two men.



Three lives.



Entwined together.



And somewhere between these two men, I had to find my forever.

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About the Author

L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.

Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets peoples’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.

She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.



Connect with L.J. Shen:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon

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EXCERPT & TEASERS

“Are you sure you’re on my card?” I turned to the man with a polite yet distant smile. I was still disoriented from the exchange with Angelo when the stranger pulled me against his hard body and pressed a possessive hand lower than socially acceptable on my back, a second from groping my butt.



“Answer me,” I hissed.



“My bid on your card was the highest,” he replied dryly.



“The bids are undisclosed. You don’t know how much other people have paid,” I kept my lips pursed to keep myself from yelling.



“I know it’s nowhere near the realm of what this dance is worth.”



Un-freaking-believable.



We began to waltz around the room as other couples were not only spinning and mingling but also stealing envious glances at us. Naked, raw ogles that told me that whomever the blonde he’d come to the masquerade with was, she wasn’t his wife. And that I might have been all the rage in The Outfit, but the rude man was in high demand, too.



I was stiff and cold in his arms, but he didn’t seem to notice—or mind. He knew how to waltz better than most men, but he was technical, and lacked warmth and Angelo’s playfulness.



“Nemesis.” He took me by surprise, his rapacious gaze stripping me bare. “Distributing glee and dealing misery. Seems at odds with the submissive girl who entertained Bishop and his horsey wife at the table.”



I choked on my own saliva. Did he just call the governor’s wife horsey? And me submissive? I looked away, ignoring the addictive scent of his cologne, and the way his marble body felt against mine.



“Nemesis is my spirit animal. She was the one to lure Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection and died of vanity. Pride is a terrible illness.” I flashed him a taunting smirk.



“Some of us could use catching it.” He bared his straight white teeth.



“Arrogance is a disease. Compassion is the cure. Most gods didn’t like Nemesis, but that’s because she had a backbone.”



“Do you?” He arched a dark eyebrow.



“Do I…?” I blinked, the courteous grin on my face crumpling. He was even ruder when we were alone.



“Have a backbone,” he provided. He stared at me so boldly and intimately, it felt like he breathed fire into my soul. I wanted to step out of his touch and jump into a pool full of ice.



“Of course, I do,” I responded, my spine stiffening. “What’s with the manners? Were you raised by wild coyotes?”



“Give me an example,” he said, ignoring my quip. I was beginning to draw away from him, but he jerked me back into his arms. The glitzy ballroom distorted into a backdrop, and even though I was starting to notice that the man behind the demi-mask was unusually beautiful, the ugliness of his behavior was the only thing that stood out.



I am a warrior and a lady…and a sane person who can deal with this horrid man.



“I really like Angelo Bandini.” I dropped my voice, slicing my gaze from his eyes and toward the table where Angelo’s family had been seated. My father was sitting a few seats away, staring at us coldly, surrounded by Made Men who chatted away.



“And see, in my family, we have a tradition dating back ten generations. Prior to her wedding, a Rossi bride is to open a wooden chest—carved and made by a witch who lived in my ancestors’ Italian village—and read three notes written to her by the last Rossi girl to marry. It’s kind of a good luck charm mixed with a talisman and a bit of fortunetelling. I stole the chest tonight and opened one of the notes, all so I could rush fate. It said that tonight I was going to be kissed by the love of my life, and well…” I drew my lower lip into my mouth and sucked it, peering under my eyelashes at Angelo’s empty seat. The man stared at me stoically, as though I was a foreign film he couldn’t understand. “I’m going to kiss him tonight.”



“That’s your backbone?”



“When I have an ambition, I go for it.”



A conceited frown crinkled his mask, as if to say I was a complete and utter moron. I looked him straight in the eye. My father taught me that the best way to deal with men like him was to confront, not run. Because, this man? He’d chase.

---

GET YOUR COPY NOW!

FREE IN KU!

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | AMAZON AU | AUDIO

---

I'll be posting my review near the end of the blog tour for THE KISS THIEF on January 17th, but I absolutely LOVED it! It has some dark moments, but overall, it was sensual and absolutely impossible to put down! When I wasn't reading it, it was ALL that I could think about! Other than my beloved VICIOUS, THE KISS THIEF is my new L.J. Shen favourite...and Wolfe is only second to Vicious as my favourite of her leading men...trust me that is mighty high praise. ;) 

Who can't wait to read THE KISS THIEF?

[Release Day Blitz] ENGAGED TO THE EMT (Blue Collar Brothers #3) by Piper Rayne

Woo hoo! Today is the day! It's release day for the final book in the Blue Collar Brother series, Engaged to the EMT...and this one is all about Luca! ;)

I have absolutely been loving this series, and I've been super eager for Luca's story...and you guys, it didn't disappoint! ;D

ENGAGED TO THE EMT
Blue Collar Brothers Book 3
By Piper Rayne
Release Day – December 6th

A Sexy FAKE RELATIONSHIP rom com standalone written by a duo of two USA Today Bestselling Authors



Luca Bianco is a jerk. There I said it.



He thinks he’s so suave and sexy, walking around in his paramedic uniform stretched out by all his hard muscles and saving lives every day. I swear he thinks every woman in the world would kill for a chance to be with him.



Men like Luca are good for one thing only—a one-night stand—not commitment. I don’t care if my friend did pay good money at a charity bachelor auction for me to go on a date with him, I refuse to do it.



That is until Luca offers me a deal I can’t refuse, and I agree to be his pretend fiancé.



The heat that’s simmered between us for a decade ignites and I’m not sure even Luca will be able to kickstart my heart after I call code blue.



What’s that saying? Love is blind?



Not true. I can see this head-on collision coming a mile away.

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2mgMYjn

Get Your Copy Now!

Amazon US | 
Amazon UK | 
Amazon CA |
 Amazon AU 

iBooks | 
B&N | 
Kobo |
 Google Play 


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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us... We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

Connect with Piper Rayne:

Goodreads | 
Facebook | Instagram
Pinterest | 
Bookbub | 
Website



Join our newsletter, HERE, and get 2 FREE BOOKS!
 


Be one of our unicorns: http://bit.ly/2snaBtK

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I'm a sucker for companion series like this, and I'm a big sucker for the fake relationship and hate-to-love tropes, so this was right up my alley! ;)

What do you think?

Are you planning to read ENGAGED TO THE EMT?

What are some of your favourite romance tropes?

[Release Day Blitz] HOTSHOT DOC by R.S. Grey

R.S. Grey's next romantic comedy, HOTSHOT DOC, is available now!

Find out more about it below and pick up your copy today!

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About HOTSHOT DOC
 
Dr. Russell has a bad reputation around our hospital. The scrub techs say he’s cold-blooded, the nurses say he’s too cocky for his own good, and the residents say he’s the best surgeon in the world—really, just a swell guy!—on the off chance he’s within earshot.

I try to avoid him and his temper at all costs. It’s just as easy to admire his sexy, grip-it-while-he’s-ravishing-you hair and chiseled jaw from a healthy distance, preferably from the other end of the hallway…half-hidden behind a plant.

Unfortunately, my plan crumbles when my trusty ol’ boss decides to swap his white coat for a Hawaiian shirt. His retirement leaves me with two terrible options: switch specialties and spend months retraining, or take an open position as Dr. Russell’s surgical assistant.

That means I have to stand near him in the OR for hours on end and anticipate his every need without letting his biting words and bad attitude intimidate me. Oh, and as if that’s not difficult enough, my silly crush on him—the one I’ve tried to stomp on until it disappears—might just be reciprocated.

It’s fine.

I’m fine.

I take my job seriously. There will be no smoldering bedroom eyes across the operating table, no angry almost-kisses in the storage closet. (Well, no more of those.)

What’s the phrase? An apple a day keeps the doctor away?

Maybe I should go for a whole damn bushel.

Add HOTSHOT DOC to your Goodreads list here!

 Get your hands on HOTSHOT DOC now!

---

About R.S. Grey

R.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels, including THE FOXE & THE HOUND. She lives in Texas with her husband and two dogs, and can be found reading, binge-watching reality TV, or practicing yoga! Visit her at rsgrey.com

Connect with R.S. Grey:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | R.S. Grey's Little Reds Facebook Group | Newsletter | Instagram

---

I'll be sharing my review for this one shortly, but I'll tell you this much--I absolutely LOVED Hotshot Doc! Matt and Bailey were absolutely amazing and their chemistry was off-the-charts!!! So, so good!!!!

Are you a fan of rom-coms? 

How about doctor/medical dramas? 

If you answered "yes" to either of the above questions, then this is the romance book for you. ;)

[Release Day Blitz] CHASING IVY ( #1) by S. J. Sylvis

Hey fellow romance readers!

I was recently introduced to S. J. Sylvis and I thought that CHASING IVY sounded adorable, so when I had the chance to help promote her book on its release day, I jumped at the chance. I'll be sharing my review sometime soon, but I thought that it was wonderful. It's definitely on the dramatic side and it has a really fantastic couple who get a second chance at their first love which I truly loved. Fans of contemporary romance with a bit of drama and a whole lot of steamy chemistry will definitely love this one...and guess what, you can get your copy now since it's release day! :D

---

CHASING IVY
(Oak Hills #1)
by S. J. Sylvis
Release Day: November 15, 2018

DESCRIPTION:

Six years ago, I had a best friend with sky-blue eyes, purposefully messy brown hair, and a body that made every single girl drool on sight. I would know—it drove me absolutely crazy…until I was the one doing the drooling.

Our days were filled with stomach-hurting laughter accompanied by easy conversation, and our nights were filled with secret, awkward teenage flirting.
But that was when Dawson was just my best friend. Nothing more, nothing less.

And then… it was more.

It’s a memory I pretend to see through blurry eyes, hazed by passing years of no communication. The one night that my heart was suddenly soaring through the starry night, only to catch fire as it rapidly descended seconds later.

Six years was a long time to get my heart under control. A lot has changed, and yet here I am, still drooling over Dawson—my ex best friend.

Download your copy today!

Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK

---

About S. J. Sylvis

S.J. Sylvis is a lover of reading and writing and just recently graduated with her graduate degree focusing on English and Creative Writing (the only fun parts were the writing classes). Besides writing, S.J. Sylvis loves coffee (specifically caramel iced coffee, but really, any coffee will do), binge-watching Gilmore Girls, going to the beach and spending time with her family! She currently lives in Louisiana but is often moving as her husband is in the United States Marine Corps and they go where the military sends them!

Connect with S. J. Sylvis:

Instagram | Twitter | 
Facebook | Facebook Reader Group | 
Website


Never miss an update! Subscribe to S. J. Sylvis's mailing list.

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 What do you think?
Are you planning to get yourself a copy of CHASING IVY?

[Release Day Blitz] PUCKED LOVE (Pucked #6) by Helena Hunting

Hey fellow romance readers!

I don't know about you, but I'm an absolute sucker for rom-coms...and if you add sports, I want it even more! Because of that, it's probably no surprise that I absolutely love Helena Hunting's Pucked series! For a while, I'd only read the first book, but recently I've gone back through the series, and I've read all but a few novellas now. Let me tell you...it. is. AMAZING! I love the characters, the friendships, the relationships (duh! haha), but I also just love how interconnected the series is! Each book adds onto the one before it, and Pucked Love happens to bring it all together...and lucky for us today's the release day!!!

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PUCKED LOVE
(Pucked #6)
by Helena Hunting
Release Day: November 13, 2018

Pucked Love, the final sexy and emotional standalone in the NYT bestselling Pucked Series from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting, is LIVE!

As an NHL player, relationships haven’t been my thing. Shrouded in secrecy and speculation, they never last very long. But then that’s what happens when you require an NDA before the first date.

Until Charlene. She’s like a firefly. She’s elusive, and if you catch her she’ll burn bright, but keeping her trapped dulls her fire and dims her beauty.

I caught her. And as much as I might want to keep her, I’ll never put the lid on her jar. Not at the risk of losing her. So I've let her set the rules in our relationship.

But as long hidden secrets expose us both, I discover exactly how fragile Charlene is, and how much I need her.

We’re all broken. We’re all messed up. Some more than others. Me more than most.

Download your copy today!

Amazon Worldwide (Digital) | Amazon Print | iBooks | Kobo | B&N | Audible

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About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.


Connect with Helena:

Instagram | Twitter | 
Facebook | Facebook Fan Group | 
Website


Never miss an update! Subscribe to Helena's mailing list.

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Any other Helena Hunting or Pucked fans out there?

Are you excited for Pucked Love's release?

If you haven't started the Pucked series, does a sexy rom-com series centred around a hockey team appeal to you?