Wednesday 5 April 2017

New Release Blitz: The Magnate's Mail-Order Bride by Joanne Rock

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The Magnate’s Mail-Order Bride
The McNeill Magnates #1
By: Joanne Rock
Releasing April 4, 2017
Harlequin Desire


A mix-and-match mock engagement? 

Ballerina Sofia Koslov's career is on the line when she's accosted at the airport by a rich, reckless playboy who thinks she's his mail-order bride! But the playboy's levelheaded brother, Quinn McNeill, solves the media snafu with a switcheroo. He'll pretend to be her legitimate fiancĂ© to protect her reputation—and to protect his family's business deals from her father's wrath. Sofia's one condition: they'll share the spotlight as a loving couple but won't share a bed. But soon Quinn's gentlemanly ways strike a chord, and Sofia's dying to renege on that condition and have a real fling… 

I never would have guessed your brother would spend a small fortune on a ring for a woman he never met.” She edged out of his grip. “I thought he was a romantic, not completely certifiable.”
Quinn’s smile faded. “I assure you, Cameron is neither.” He set the ring on the steamer trunk beside her. “I’ll let you decide whether or not to wear it in the morning. And in the meantime, I’d better let you get some rest.”
He rose to his feet, leaving a priceless piece of jewelry balanced on last month’s Vogue.
Quinn.” She stood to follow him to the door then reached back to grab the ring so she could return it. “Please. I don’t feel right keeping this here.”
He turned to face her as he reached the door, but made no move to take the glittering ring.
If you were my bride-to-be, I would spare no expense to show the world you were mine.” His blue eyes glowed with a warmth that had her remembering his kiss. Her breath caught in her chest and she wondered what it might be like for him to call her that for real.
Mine.
I’m—” At a total loss for words. “That is—” She folded the diamond into her hand, squeezing it tightly so the stones pressed into her soft skin, distracting her from her hypnotic awareness of this man. “If you insist.”
It’s a matter of believability, Sofia.”
It’s only for one month.” She wasn’t sure if she said it to remind him or herself.
We’ll work out the details tomorrow.” He reached to smooth a strand of hair from her forehead, barely touching her and still sending shimmers of pleasure along her temple and all the way down the back of her neck. “Sleep well.”
She didn’t even manage to get her voice working before he was out the door again, leaving her alone in a suddenly too empty apartment.
Squeezing the ring tighter in her fist, she waited for the pinch of pain from the sharp edges of the stones. She needed to remember that this wasn’t real. Quinn McNeill had only agreed to this mad scheme to clean up his brother’s mess. Any hint of attraction she felt needed to be squashed immediately, especially since Quinn was cut from the same mold as her father—focused on business and the accumulation of wealth. Her world was about art, emotions and human connections.
Her mother had taught her that people did not fall into both camps. In Sofia’s experience it was true. And since she wanted her own relationships to be meaningful bonds rooted in shared creativity and ideals, she was willing to wait until she had more time in her life to find the right partner. Romance could not be rushed.
It’s only for a month,” she said aloud again, forcing herself to set the engagement ring on the hallway table.
Surely she could keep up her end of a fake engagement for the sake of appearances? She’d made countless sacrifices for her career, from dancing on broken toes to living away from her family on the other side of the globe to train with Russian ballet masters.
Ignoring the sensual draw of Quinn McNeill couldn’t possibly be more difficult than those challenges.


Yet, even as she marched herself off to bed, she feared she was lying to herself that she could keep her hands off the man anywhere near as easily as she’d set down the ring.


   AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

Four-time RITA nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn't like. The author of over seventy books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her life outlook perfectly--love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann. When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded sons.

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New Release Spotlight: Crazy For You by Rachel Lacey

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Crazy for You
Risking It All #2
By: Rachel Lacey
Releasing: March 28, 2017
Forever


Crazy For You

Risking It All

“Rachel Lacey is a sure-fire star." --- Lori Wilde, New York Times bestselling author
SHE'S TAKING A WALK ON HIS WILD SIDE
Emma Rush can't remember a time when she didn't have a thing for Ryan Blake. Haven's resident bad boy is just so freakin' hot-with tattoos, a motorcycle, and enough rough-around-the-edges sexiness to melt all her self-control. Now that Emma's over being a "good girl," she needs a little help being naughty . . . and she knows just where to start.
Before Emma's brother enlisted in the military, he made Ryan promise that he would protect her from everything--including himself. When her brother doesn't come home, Ryan needs to turn his screwed-up life around to honor his pledge. But he knows he's still not the right kind of guy for someone as sweet as Emma. Only he can't stop wanting to be with her. Wanting her. Falling in love with a good girl may be the craziest risk this bad boy can take . . .

     AMAZON | B & N | GOOGLE | ITUNES | KOBO

Whoa. Emma closed her eyes and let out a shriek as Ryan guided the motorcycle onto Main Street and picked up speed. The cold wind whipped her face, taking her breath away. Beneath her, the engine rumbled and roared like a wild thing. Holy sh*t. She was on the back of Ryan Blake’s bike, and it was amazing.
The wind bit through her thin, knit gloves, hitting her fingers with an icy blast. Actually, every part of her was freezing, but she didn’t care. She wrapped her arms more firmly around Ryan’s waist, anchoring herself to him so she didn’t tumble off the back of the bike, and somehow her hands slipped beneath his jacket. Ahh. That was better. Toasty warm, and also…her hands were on his T-shirt. Even through her gloves, she felt the hard contour of his abs, and nope, she wasn’t cold now.
And this was absolutely freaking amazing.
She hung on tight as he guided them over Haven’s twisting mountain roads, deserted at this hour. Overhead the moon shone like a beacon, illuminating the night in its soft, silvery glow. The roar of the engine and the slap of the wind against her face shocked her senses. It was thrilling, invigorating, so completely different from riding inside a car.
She’d never have done this if Mandy hadn’t dared her, and now she felt like her eyes were open for the first time in years. This was what she needed. Somewhere along the way, as she sat at the bar talking to Ryan, she’d realized she was having fun, really having fun. And she wanted more. She wanted it all, every last wild and crazy fantasy.
All too soon, her building came into view. Ryan cut the engine and guided them quietly into the driveway, coming to a stop behind her silver Toyota RAV4. He turned his head to look at her, so sexy in his helmet and riding glasses. “So how was it?”
Even better than I thought it would be.” She gulped for air. His lips were way too close to hers, and she was still a little bit drunk on beer and a whole lot drunk on her first motorcycle ride. Mandy’s words echoed in her ears. Bonus points if you kiss him. Just stand up a bit, lean over his shoulder, and…
Emma leaned forward, her chest sliding up his back as she tipped her face to his. Holy hell, she had completely lost her mind, but she was going for it. Every nerve in her body went haywire.
Clunk. Her helmet smacked into his, drawing her up an inch short of his lips.
Rachel Lacey is a contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She's been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in warm and sunny North Carolina with her husband, son, and a variety of rescue pets.


What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I loved writing all the fun, adventurous things Ryan and Emma did together in CRAZY FOR YOU – rock climbing, cliff jumping, motorcycle rides, etc. They were so much fun to write, and it was the perfect balance to some of the heavier themes in the book. These two characters really bring out the best in each other, constantly pushing each other out of their comfort zones.
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
Dream On by Aerosmith – “Dream until your dreams come true!”
Name one thing you won’t leave home without.
Chapstick! I have a weird obsession with it.
A la Twitter style, please describe your book in 140 characters or less.
Contemporary Romance Author. Wife. Mother. Animal Lover & Rescue Advocate. Hufflepuff. Powered by wine, chocolate, and books!
If you could have dinner with any three authors (alive or dead), who would you choose and why?
First, JK Rowling because she is a literary genius and a fierce feminist, and I’d love to chat with her about anything and everything. Next, Mary Higgins Clark because she was my very first “favorite author,” and I’d love to thank her for that. And of course Nora Roberts because she is my hero and gives great advice. All three of these ladies have inspired me so much, and I would love to just soak up all the knowledge they could impart.
What are your favorite types of stories to read?
My favorite books make me laugh *and* cry. I want ALL THE FEELS while I’m reading!

Rafflecopter Giveaway ($25 Amazon Gift Card)

Spotlight: Entangled Publishing celebrate new adult heroes!


This week I’m helping Entangled Publishing celebrate new adult heroes! Today is focused on the out-of-this-world hotness of otherworldly heroes! Entangled has all of the Embrace books that feature paranormal heroes on sale for just 99¢ today!



Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn't chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he's saddled with something he's never had to do before: protect the human Serena Cross from his mortal enemy. Soon he's doing the unthinkable breaking the rules he's lived by. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena's life...or is it Hunter?

Ruined by Jus Accardo
Eternal Balance #1
Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world's first murderer, he's plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. Samantha can't outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she's thrown into the path of a past--and a guy--she's been trying to forget. But someone--or,something--followed her home from school: a ruthless monster with a twisted plan centuries in the making. Forced together to survive, and fighting an attraction that could destroy them both, Jax and Sam must stop a killer bent on revenge.

Embraced by Jus Accardo
Eternal Balance #2
Descended from Cain, Jax Flynn is destined to spend his life making others suffer. To shield the world from horrific chaos, he was forced to sacrifice the only thing he loved. Samantha Merrick. When an enemy from the past resurfaces with an ultimatum—complete a simple task or Sam dies—they're backed into a corner. The goal? Kill a demon called Malphi. The problem? Jax's demon, Azirak, has no intention of letting that happen…

Released by Jus Accardo
Eternal Balance #3
Jax Flynn’s life just went from bad to worse. He was already sharing his body with a demon named Azirak, but after killing its mate... Well, shit got real. Now the demon has taken control of Jax’s body and everything he cares for is at stake, including Samantha, the girl he loves. Yeah, that’s not going to happen. It’s time Jax showed everyone what he was really made of.

Forged by Fate by Reese Monroe
Bound by Hades #1
He’s waited more than 900 years to love her...Being the Gatekeeper to Hades is no small feat, but Theo Bradford’s mark has finally surfaced on young genius, Sadie Nowland, and now he has to convince her to embrace her supernatural heritage. Targeted by a vicious demon escaped from Hades, Sadie is thrust into the volatile world of Shomrei warriors and a connection to Theo her brain can’t comprehend and her body can’t deny—a bond that just may be the key to the world’s survival.

Marked by Hades by Reese Monroe
Bound by Hades #2
For 911 years, Gatekeeper companion Justin Bradford has denied the possibility of being mated to only one woman. He enjoys them all too much to settle down. So when he feels his mate’s Ahavah mark surface, his first instinct is to ignore it. But when he sees the leather-clad beauty in need of his help that’s easier said than done. As Justin and Yvonne navigate the mystery of her past, their bond grows, but the secrets they discover and the sacrifices that must be made could be enough to rip them apart for eternity.

Claimed by Light by Reese Monroe
Bound by Hades #3
When his sister becomes tangled with a coven of demons, college senior Slade Bennet must trade his soul to save her. But first he must kill the assigned target: a sexually charged beauty who ignites his protective instinct. Halena Girard lives for only two things: vanquishing demons and seeking Artifacts rumored to lead to Lucifer’s downfall. That is, until she’s seduced and tortured by a...frat boy? Working together is the only way Slade can find his sister and Halena the
Artifacts, but as they face the darkest of evil, crushing Halena’s carefully erected walls might prove to be the most lethal battle for Slade.

Altered by Marnee Blake
Altered #1
The sickness came on suddenly and violently. When it ended, the entire town of Glory seemed to be dead...except Blue Michaels. And she is very different. Only a handful of them made it, including U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell, who is fierce and protective, and way too good-looking. Now they are hunted. What their pursuers don't know is each of them has strange new powers. And they’ll use their "gifts" to survive...no matter who stands in their way.

Avenged by Marnee Blake
Altered #2
Special-ops soldier Nick Degrassi blames himself for Kitty Laughton’s capture, and he’ll do whatever he can to free the quiet beauty, but close quarters and a shared secret bring an attraction that neither of them expected. With the organization that started it all making mercenaries for hire, Nick and Kitty must save themselves and stop a madman...before it’s too late.

Darkside Sun by Jocelyn Adams
Mortal Machine #1
Since she was six years old, Addison Beckett's seen the world around her unraveling, as if someone is pulling a thread from a sweater and it’s all slowly coming undone. Her arrogant-but-
hot professor Asher Green insists that the dead from a parallel dimension are trying to possess the living in this one. And since Addison seems to be the only one who can see these “wraiths,”she just might be the key to saving the world. Stop the wraiths. Break the rules. Save the world. All in a day’s work. Normal was overrated, anyway.

Midnight Dawn by Jocelyn Adams
Mortal Machine #2
With only three days until the wraith king turns the earth into an all-you-can-eat buffet, Addison Beckett must enlist brooding sentinel Asher Green’s help. But Asher has erased her memory, along with the knowledge that he loves her, wants her, needs her. When Addison’s trapped by the wraith king, she must choose who will stand by her side during battle: the sentinel she loves who refuses to love her back, or a powerful stranger who insists they’re meant to be together. Her decision will decide the fate of humanity, and once determined, can’t be undone.

Forever Dusk by Jocelyn Adams
Mortal Machine #3
Life for the Mortal Machine—the secret-society that protects Earth from dark forces—has become almost...normal. For everyone but Addison. The evil she's imprisoned in her soul is destroying her sanity. Consequently, nobody believes her warnings that an old enemy has returned. If she relies too much on her soul mate Asher, he'll likely imprison her, if only to keep her safe. So she's forced to distance herself from her love—to keep the world from certain death.





Authors Marnee Blake, Reese Monroe, & Jocelyn Adams share their inspiration for their otherworldly heroes!

Who or what inspired your otherworldly heroes?

Reese Monroe (author of the Bound by Hades series): I've always been inspired by The Rock and Vin Diesel. Yeah, I know I kind of dated myself a little there, but in some of their movies...**whew**...the lengths to which they'll go to protect what's theirs--amazing to watch.

Off the screen, if you watch their social media feeds, it's all about family, inspiration and working hard for your goals. I'm all about that.

Oh, and they're nice to look at, too.

As far as what inspired me while creating my heroes...Love. In all honesty, faith, hope and love are the key elements to all my stories. Love being the greatest of these. It makes my heroes stronger than they already are and that kind of strength, no matter what kind of evil they face off with, gives them an edge.

Jocelyn Adams (author of the Mortal Machine series): Years ago, a friend of mine suggested I read the Anita Blake series of books by Laurel K. Hamilton, and I absolutely fell for Jean-Claude. Tall, unusual, with a colorful past, and that French accent was the cherry on top. He was the first hero I'd ever read that stepped outside the boundaries of typical romantic relationships. The moment I finished the first book in the series, I knew what genre I wanted to write.

Besides otherworldly heroes, about what kind of heroes do you like to read?

Marnee Blake (author of the Altered series): I love reading about heroes who do real-life heroic things as well. FBI agents, cops, detectives, military men, firefighters... People who help others are sexy.

Reese: Those who cherish their mates above all else and would do anything for them. Also, I love a good hero that is strong and honorable.

Jocelyn: Dark anti-heroes are my absolute favorite, or even better, villain-turned-heroes. There's nothing I love more than a good redemption story.