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Monday, August 26, 2024

New Release Review: The Rocker's Muse by Penelope Ward

 



Title: The Rocker's Muse
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Rockstar/15-Year Age Gap/Small Town
Found Family/Slow Burn/Forbidden
Release Date: August 26, 2024


BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…

No one but me knew why I was actually in the California desert that day.
Nestled deep within the desolate, rocky area was a recording studio.
When a door suddenly opened, a man mistook me for someone he was supposed to be interviewing for a job.
The next thing I knew, I was whisked inside.
The position? An assistant on the upcoming tour for one of America’s most famous rock bands.
Pretty exciting opportunity for a twenty-two-year-old, just out of college.
Not surprisingly, I bombed the interview.
When I ended up mistakenly walking into the men’s room on my way out, I struck up a conversation with a stranger—not realizing it was the lead singer, Tristan Daltrey.
He seemed to like the fact that I had no idea who he was, that I saw him as a normal person.
That night, I got a call offering me the job.
So began my complicated story with Tristan.
Millions of women loved him.
Yet for some reason, after the shows, he only wanted to hang out with me.
Late-night talks. Casual dinners in his hotel room.
I wasn’t supposed to be fraternizing with the band’s frontman.
Despite our fifteen-year age difference, Tristan and I had a connection.
But I had a secret.
One that would eventually lead to my leaving the tour.
And one that would lead Tristan and the band straight to the small town where I came from.







PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Audiobook coming soon!






WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

ROCKSTAR
15-YEAR AGE GAP
SMALL TOWN
FOUND FAMILY
SLOW BURN
FORBIDDEN




My review: 5 stars!

Oh this was so good! Author Penelope Ward always serves up some twists and turns that I don't see coming, and I am always here for it! Tristan and Emily's story made me swoon and their slow burn romance was so worth the wait. This book consumed me and I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to listen to this on audio!

AUTHOR BIO


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

SEE MORE BOOKS HERE

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Thursday, August 22, 2024

New Release Review: Cash by Jessica Peterson

 



Cash by Jessica Peterson is now live! 


Butting heads leads to knocking boots in this wildly sexy enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, small town cowboy romance by Jessica Peterson.

My dad and I have been estranged for years. But as his only living relative, it’s no surprise I inherit his massive cattle ranch when he dies. Something that is a surprise? The stipulation in his will, which requires me to live on the ranch and actively manage it for a year before I can access my inheritance money.

I haven’t stepped foot in Hartsville, Texas, population one thousand, since my parents split when I was six. Now a city girl through and through, I never imagined having to move back to cowboy country. But I need the money to invest in my company, and a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

There’s just one giant roadblock to my plan: the ranch’s foreman, grumpy cowboy Cash Rivers. I don’t care how good he looks in his Wranglers and chaps. He’s rude, he’s growly, and he wants me gone. I’d fire him in a heartbeat, but I need this cowboy to teach me the ropes of running a ranch.

We’re enemies from the get-go. But turns out, Cash is really good at this ranch thing. He’s got strong hands, an intelligent mind, and let’s just say everything really is bigger in Texas. Working alongside him leads to conversations beneath the stars. Throw in some cheek-to-cheek dancing at the local dive bar, and it all feels so right that I start to fall in love with life on the ranch. And maybe with him, too.

But my stay in Hartsville is only temporary. And you know what they say about cowboys: they may break horses, but they also break hearts. If only Cash hadn’t already lassoed mine…

CASH is the first standalone book in the brand new steamy, interconnected Lucky River Ranch Series!



  Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited


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

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


Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3wuACfa


My review: 5 stars!

When I saw that one of my favorite authors, Jessica Peterson, was going to do a series based on a ranch in Texas, I was immediately in since I grew up in a small Oklahoma town just a few hours north of Texas. Cash was just as great as I hoped it would be and now I am so excited for the Lucky River Ranch series. Grumpy/sunshine is my all-time favorite trope, and this was a fantastic take on it. The banter was on point and I loved sassy Mollie and cowboy Cash together. 



Meet Jessica



Jessica Peterson writes romance with heat, humor, and heart. Heroes with hot accents are her specialty. When she’s not writing, she can be found bellying up to a bar in the south’s best restaurants with her husband Ben, reading books with her adorable daughter Gracie, or snuggling up with her 70-pound lap dog, Martha.


A Carolina girl at heart, she fantasizes about splitting her time between Charleston and Asheville, but currently lives in Charlotte, NC.


Connect with Jessica


Website: https://www.jessicapeterson.com/

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/JessicaPetersonGR

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KoS0sb

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

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaPAuthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-peterson
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Excerpt Reveal: The Rocker's Muse by Penelope Ward

 



Title: The Rocker's Muse
Author: Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Rockstar/15-Year Age Gap/Small Town
Found Family/Slow Burn/Forbidden
Release Date: August 26, 2024


BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE novel…

No one but me knew why I was actually in the California desert that day.
Nestled deep within the desolate, rocky area was a recording studio.
When a door suddenly opened, a man mistook me for someone he was supposed to be interviewing for a job.
The next thing I knew, I was whisked inside.
The position? An assistant on the upcoming tour for one of America’s most famous rock bands.
Pretty exciting opportunity for a twenty-two-year-old, just out of college.
Not surprisingly, I bombed the interview.
When I ended up mistakenly walking into the men’s room on my way out, I struck up a conversation with a stranger—not realizing it was the lead singer, Tristan Daltrey.
He seemed to like the fact that I had no idea who he was, that I saw him as a normal person.
That night, I got a call offering me the job.
So began my complicated story with Tristan.
Millions of women loved him.
Yet for some reason, after the shows, he only wanted to hang out with me.
Late-night talks. Casual dinners in his hotel room.
I wasn’t supposed to be fraternizing with the band’s frontman.
Despite our fifteen-year age difference, Tristan and I had a connection.
But I had a secret.
One that would eventually lead to my leaving the tour.
And one that would lead Tristan and the band straight to the small town where I came from.







PRE-ORDER LINKS



**No Amazon e-book preorder.
Both the Kindle version and model-cover paperback will go live on/around release day. 
The current paperback preorder is for the special-edition, floral cover only.






WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

ROCKSTAR
15-YEAR AGE GAP
SMALL TOWN
FOUND FAMILY
SLOW BURN
FORBIDDEN






EXCERPT

Copyright © 2024
By Penelope Ward

I stayed close to the door as Tristan sifted through some stuff. There were a bunch of papers with handwritten words scattered on his bed. A leather jacket lay over a chair. He’d lit a candle on the bedside table—smelled like vanilla. This scene was a little different than I might’ve imagined in here. Much more Zen.
He zipped open a bag. “I guess you didn’t realize wrangling drunk assholes was part of your job?”
“Thankfully, it’s not, usually.”
“I kind of feel guilty now,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because you wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me.”
“What do you mean? The condoms weren’t for you…”
He froze for a moment. “Condoms?”
“That’s why I was over here. To drop off condoms for Atticus.”
“What a jackass.” He rolled his eyes. “Anyway, what I meant was, you were nervous about taking this job to begin with. I told you nothing bad happens on tour. And then you ran into that situation tonight. I was the one who told Doug to hire you.”
I nodded as understanding dawned. “Thank you for putting in a good word, by the way. I wasn’t sure you remembered me. We haven’t spoken since the tour started.”
“Don’t take it personally. Tour’s just been crazy. I’ve been meaning to say hello. Just under different circumstances.”
I nodded. “Why did you tell them to hire me? You don’t even know me.”
“I liked that you didn’t know who I was. That was the first time in a long time someone’s looked me in the eyes and seen a normal person, not some musician they’ve made a million incorrect assumptions about.”
“I saw more than your eyes in that bathroom, unfortunately.”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. I’m just kidding. I was the idiot who walked into the men’s room. Served me right.” My eyes traced the ink at the base of his neck, just peeking out from his white T-shirt. “Anyway, I probably would’ve recognized you from the Internet if you hadn’t had that long beard.”
“That’s exactly why I had the beard. I grow one every recording season when we don’t have to perform. It helps me not be recognized in public. I hated having to cut it before the tour.”
“Makes sense.”
Tristan opened another drawer and finally pulled out the ibuprofen. “Ah! Got it.” He handed me two pills and a bottle of water.
“Thanks.” I cracked open the bottle and took a sip before downing the meds. “I’m surprised you’re alone tonight.”
“Why is that?”
“I’ve heard you guys have a different girl every night on hotel stops.”
“Wow.” He scratched his chin. “A different girl every night. I think my d%&k would fall off. Where are you getting your information?”
“I don’t disclose my sources.”
He shrugged. “Some nights I just want to be alone. I do have to write music at some point, rest my voice, get sleep.”
I nodded. Now the papers scattered over his bed made sense. “You write a lot on the road?”
“I write whenever inspiration strikes, but being on the road is actually when I’m most creative. Late at night on the bus, when everything goes quiet? That’s what I like best about touring. That’s my favorite time to write.”
“That’s my favorite time of the day lately, too. There’s something so relaxing about staring out at the moving darkness.”
He cocked his head. “What do you do?”
“On the bus? Read or listen to podcasts…”
“Sorry, I meant in general. What do you do when you’re not held captive by a tour for four months?”
“Not much of anything, actually. I’m trying to find my place in the world at the moment. I just graduated from Nevada State University.”
“How old are you?” he asked.
“Twenty-two.” I’d googled his age but asked anyway. “How old are you?”
“Almost thirty-eight. Old as f%&k, right?”
“You don’t look thirty-eight. I would’ve guessed, like, thirty.”
“What did you study at Nevada State? Blowing smoke up people’s asses?” He winked.
I laughed. “It’s true. You look younger. But I majored in communications.”
“Nice.”
I shrugged. “Well, it’s been challenging finding a job with such a broad degree.”
“You’re in a good position,” he assured me. “I envy you.”
“Envy me?” I drew my brows in. “Why?”
“You’re a blank slate with your whole life ahead of you. Some days I wish I could go back and start over.”
“Why would you want to do that? You’re a huge star. If you did even one thing differently, you might not be where you are today.”
“Where I am today isn’t all it’s chalked up to be.” He sighed. “Don’t get me wrong—I’m very grateful for it all. But there’s always a price to pay for fame. Like giving up your privacy.”
“Yeah. I’m seeing that. You guys can’t go anywhere without being mobbed.”
“You clearly don’t give a shit who I am, though. I need that sometimes.” He smiled. “Your innocence is refreshing, Emily.”
Innocence? “I may be young. But I’m not innocent.” I scoffed.
“I don’t believe you. I can see it in your eyes. You’re innocent as hell.”
“You’re not a good reader of people, then.”
Tristan crossed his arms. “Tell me the worst thing you’ve done, and I’ll believe you.”
No one had ever asked me such a direct question before. And something about looking into this man’s eyes made me want to answer honestly.
So I did.






AUTHOR BIO


Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

SEE MORE BOOKS HERE

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New Release Review: Alone With You by Aly Martinez

Alone With You
By Aly Martinez
Release Date: August 22, 2024


Blurb:

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of From the Embers comes a new jaw-dropping standalone romance.

Pain trapped me in this house. Can love set me free?

Death had been chasing me my entire life. I survived the horrors of war, but it was the aftermath that truly destroyed me.

People called me a recluse, but the only time I didn’t feel like I was suffocating was inside that house.

For my daughter, I kept some semblance of normalcy by implementing a rigid routine. Once a week, I forced myself to walk to the diner at the end of the block—a ritual I despised but relied on as my last anchor to the real world.

Until the day a “Closed” sign on the door shattered my fragile existence. Worse, the new owner was the most haunting ghost from my past.

It had been years since I’d laid eyes on Gwendolyn Pierce. She hated me—and rightly so. But when a film crew arrived in town to dig into my past, she became my only ally.

With my secrets threatened, I leaned on Gwen, forging a connection neither of us could deny.

But with a past as dark as ours, I feared it would eclipse any hope for a future.

I always said that when Death finally came for me, I would be ready, eager, and alone.

Always alone.

But for Gwen, maybe I could face the world again as long as it meant I could be alone—with her.


My review: 5 stars!
I always say author Aly Martinez is the master of catastrophic romance, and Alone With You might just be my new favorite of hers! She does twists like nobody else and they always slay me. Gwen and Truett's story was so real, and so raw, and so well done. Although the subject matter is dark and heavy the journey brings them to such a happy ending.

Meet Aly Martinez:

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in
South Carolina with her four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, charcuterie boards, and her
mildly neurotic golden retriever. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice
cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her
hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

Connect with Aly Martinez:
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Wednesday, August 21, 2024

New Release Review: The Boyfriend Goal by Lauren Blakely



From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the first standalone hockey romance in her Love and Hockey series, THE BOYFRIEND GOAL! This sexy, teammate’s little sister, roommates-to-lovers, forbidden romance is now available in all formats, and free to read in Kindle Unlimited. Check out the excerpt below, and one-click your copy of this steamy, hockey romance with one hell of a meet-cute today!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/boyfriendgoalAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/TBGAudible
Erin Mallon & Connor Crais narrate in duet!


About THE BOYFRIEND GOAL:

A forbidden romance with my brother’s hockey teammate wasn’t on my to-do list when I moved across the country…

Neither was getting locked out of a friend’s place wearing next to nothing.

Or spending the night with the sexy stranger who rescues me.

But I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone so getting out of the rest of my clothes with him seems like a good way to start.

In the morning, I learn the filthy-mouthed man with the talented hands is not only the hotshot new hockey player on my brother’s team: he’s also – wait for it – my brand new roommate.

I’m a good student turned good librarian. A rule-follower. I’m not the kind of girl who does complicated flings. So we agree to another rule: friends-only.

It’s not easy though. Wes is bossy, flirty and generous.

He gives me rides to work.

Pitches in at my library’s fundraiser.

Takes care of me when I get hurt.

And looks at me like I’m the only one.

Soon, I’m falling hard for my brother’s teammate.

Especially when Wes comes to my door and tells me exactly how he’d like to break our rules.

Every single one.

ONE-CLICK YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/boyfriendgoalAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ https://blkly.pub/TBGAudible
Erin Mallon & Connor Crais narrate in duet!

 

 My review: 5 stars!

I just finished the audiobook for The Boyfriend Goal, and let me tell you, author Lauren Blakely always casts the best narrators! Connor Crais and Erin Mallon performed in duet style and they were amazing! The story itself was so good (the meet cute was top-notch!) and even though the relationship itself was "forbidden" due to the no-dating-teammates-sisters rule it was a relatively low angst story which was nice. Wesley's dyslexia paired with Josie's librarian job made for great storytelling as far as accommodations and just how darn important libraries are. I always love getting back into author Blakely's world (hello again Doctor Insomnia's!) and seeing characters visit familiar locations and it's always fun when past characters drop in. Excited for this new series!



ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s cute but spicy. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks
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Cover Reveal: Jilted by Vi Keeland

 



Title: Jilted
Author: Vi Keeland
Publisher: Bramble/Macmillan
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Wedding Meet Cute/Pro Athlete Hero
He Falls First/Cocky Hero
Cover Design: Sarah Kellogg
Release Date: May 6, 2025


BLURB

Weddings. I spend every working minute talking and writing about them, when just the thought of one makes me want to scream. After my fiancé abandoned me at the altar last year, my dream job at Bride magazine has turned into a reoccurring nightmare.

To add insult to injury, the bridezilla at my latest assignment, somehow roped me into filling in for a missing bridesmaid. Of course, I had to get paired with the most gorgeous groomsman. Wilder Hayes is perfect—except when he opens his mouth and we end up bickering all evening. That is, until the coat closet incident.

At least I’ll never have to see him again. Or so I think… Until I walk into work on Monday and find out Wilder isn’t just a jerk, he’s also my boss’s son. And I’ll be spending the rest of the season working with him at every single wedding I cover this year.

Can the jilted bride and the man who is afraid of love find a way to heal each other?







PRE-ORDER LINKS

EBOOK

AMAZON US / B&N / KOBO

Please note: Jilted will be available
in Kindle Unlimited

PAPERBACK 
WITH SPRAYED EDGES

AMAZON US / CA

Note: All US/CA paperback pre-orders will
have gorgeous sprayed edges!

Sign up for Vi's mailing list now and be the first one notified when it goes live!


Do you like texts better than email? Receive text notices of Vi’s new releases by texting the word BOOKS to 1 (888) 560-2650  
You will ONLY receive a text when a new book goes live - no other messages at all!






AUTHOR BIO


Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles are currently translated in twenty-seven languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in the US, Germany, Brazil, Bulgaria, Israel, and Hungary. Three of her short stories have been turned into films by Passionflix, and two of her books are currently optioned for movies. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.


AUTHOR LINKS



OTHER BOOKS BY VI


AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS
GOOGLE PLAY / AUDIOBOOK
PAPERBACK



AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS
GOOGLE PLAY / AUDIOBOOK
PAPERBACK

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