Publication Day Push and Extract: The Earl She Should Never Desire by Lara Temple

The Earl She Should Never Desire by Lara Temple

This very handsome earl…Is the one man she cannot fall for…
War widow Lily Walsh has left her aristocratic family behind, but she can’t deny her younger sister’s request to come to London to meet her fiancé. Though not a love match, Lord Sherborne is kind, amusing and ideal for her sister on paper. But as Lily gets to know him, she’s finding him alarmingly attractive! And the forbidden look in the earl’s eye shows the feeling is mutual…

This scene takes place after Lily convinces Marcus, Lord Sherbourne to agree to release her sister from their engagement so she can marry her childhood sweetheart. He agrees, but he has some conditions that Lily is only too happy to fulfill… They will meet three times and share three midsummer kisses. This is from their first meeting.

‘I don’t like gloves,’ she said, her voice low, almost dreamy. ‘I like to feel the world.’

‘Yes.’ He held on to her hand and brushed his knuckles along the line of her cheek with the other. The twin scars were a little puckered and he wanted to touch his mouth to the contrast between the velvety skin and those ridges. He touched his thumb to the line of her lower lip, settling on the soft, deep rose-coloured pout.

Her lips parted a little, her breathing shallow.

So was his. He hadn’t even done anything yet and his insides were already caving, his skin in flames.

One kiss today. Only one. Don’t be greedy.

He bent, touched his mouth to hers and had to stop, holding tight against the need to groan.

He proceeded carefully, brushing his lips against hers, buffing them like a cat. Her hand fluttered against his waistcoat before settling, her fingers curling into the fabric, dragging it against his skin. Cascades of sparks spread over his chest and downwards, adding to the growing heat in his groin.

God, he’d known it would feel right. He’d known it.

‘The day I came,’ she whispered, ‘you weren’t wearing a waistcoat.’

‘How improper of me,’ he whispered back and touched his tongue to the succulent middle of her upper lip. Her body shivered against him, her hands twisting deeper into the fabric of his coat.

It was going to kill him to go slowly.

‘I want you to be improper again,’ she whispered against his mouth. ‘Take it off.’

He drew back. ‘Take it off?’

‘Off.’

‘Here? Now?’

She flicked a button. ‘Here and now.’

He didn’t wait for further invitation. He tossed coat and waistcoat on to the table and she laid her hands gently on his shirt, the corners of her mouth picking up.

‘Better.’

He locked his legs. Steady on, now. ‘Your pelisse. Tit for tat.’

Her dimples deepened. There were only six buttons worked into the dark frogging and she slipped them off without coyness and laid her pelisse in a rather more orderly fashion on the back of a chair.

‘This doesn’t mean I agree to anything else,’ she said with a quick look and he shook his head.

‘Nor I. Just a kiss today.’

‘Just one?’ she asked.

‘I prefer to space out my treats. Come here.’

She laid her hands on his chest as she had before and raised her chin. There was so much in her eyes when she wasn’t being cautious. Excitement, worry, laughter. He gave up trying to understand either of them, cradled her face in his hands and kissed her.

And lost himself entirely.

https://books2read.com/ThreeKisses

https://bit.ly/MarcusLily

Lara Temple writes strong and sensual Regency romances about complex individuals who give no quarter but do so with plenty of passion. She lives with her husband, two children, and one very fluffy dog and they are all very understanding about her taking over the kitchen table so she can look out over the garden as she writes and dreams up her Happy Ever Afters.

Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/LaraTempleAuthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaraTemple1

Twitter: www.twitter.com/laratemple1

Amazon author page US: http://bit.ly/LaraTemple

Amazon author page UK: http://bit.ly/LaraTempleUK

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LaraTemple

Website: www.laratemple.com

Giveaway to Win 3 x e-copies of The Earl She Should Never Desire by Lara Temple (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Review: Rules For Engaging The Earl by Janna MacGregor

Get ready for lost wills, broody dukes, and scorching hot kissing all over London in Janna MacGregor’s RULES FOR ENGAGING THE EARL (St. Martin’s Paperbacks, April 26, 2022, $8.99).

Constance Lysander needs a husband. Or, so society says. She’s about to give birth to her late husband’s child—a man who left her with zero money, and two other wives she didn’t know about. Thankfully, she has her Aunt by her side, and the two other wives have become close friends. But still—with a baby on the way, her shipping business to run, and an enemy skulking about, she has no time to find the perfect match.

Enter Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston. Returned war hero and Constance’s childhood best friend, his reentry into society has been harsh. Maligned for an injury he received in the line of duty, Jonathan prefers to stay out of sight. It’s the only way to keep his heart from completely crumbling. But when a missive from Constance requests his presence—to their marriage ceremony—Jonathan is on board. His feelings for Constance run deep, and he’ll do anything to make her happy, though it means risking his already bruised heart.

With Constance, Jonathan, and the new baby all together, it’s clear the wounds—both on the surface and in their relationship—run deep. But when the nights come, their wounds begin to heal, and both come to realize that their marriage of convenience is so much more than just a bargain.

This second book in The Widow Rules series is a delightful friends-to-lovers romance.

Constance Lysander, one of the widows of Lord Meriwether Vareck, needs a husband. However, by the time the man she asked for help turns up, circumstances have changed somewhat and he is no longer needed. Yet, they still exchange vows and marry before the new groom leaves her for a secret assignment.

Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston feels obligated to help the only woman he has ever loved, although, deep down he feels their relationship won't work. When he sees Constance, she’s more beautiful than he remembers. Only, he knows there is no future for them together. So, despite his reservations, he marries her before making an excuse to leave her. However, his bride is a determined woman and sees things from a very different perspective!

I enjoyed the first novel in this series, so jumped at the chance to read more, not only from Ms MacGregor, but to find out what happened to the other widows. I liked that we get an update on the other two Vareck wives and how friendship has blossomed between these women. Additionally, other secondary characters add humour as they entertain us with their antics... cue Noble!

The relationship between the protagonists wasn’t as predictable as these former best friends struggled to find a way that suits them both. Luckily, there are those close to them who see things differently and the result is a well-deserved happy ending.

Unlike me, if you’ve not read the first instalment, there is an opportunity to understand the heroine's past. Of course, book one; Where There's a Will comes highly recommended. So, if your looking for a well-written novel with an entertaining narrative, you wont go far wrong with this one.

***arc generously received courtesy of St Martin’s Paperbacks via NetGalley***

AmazonUS      Amazon UK

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She is the author of the Cavensham Heiresses series, which begins with The Bad Luck Bride.

Janna credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to hear from readers.

New Publication Review: The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley

Nobody ever talks to strangers on the train. It's a rule. But what would happen if they did? From the New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of The Authenticity Project, a heartwarming novel about unexpected friendships and the joy of connecting.

Every day Iona, a larger-than-life magazine advice columnist, travels the ten stops from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station by train, accompanied by her dog, Lulu. Every day she sees the same people, whom she knows only by nickname: Impossibly-Pretty-Constant-Reader and Terribly-Lonely-Teenager. Of course, they never speak. Seasoned commuters never do.

Then one morning, the man she calls Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader chokes on a grape right in front of her. He'd have died were it not for the timely intervention of Sanjay, a nurse, who gives him the Heimlich maneuver.

This single event starts a chain reaction, and an eclectic group of people with almost nothing in common except their commute discover that a chance encounter can blossom into much more. It turns out that talking to strangers can teach you about the world around you-and even more about yourself.  

AMAZON US          AMAZON UK

Wow, once again, this is another delightful and original novel that’s blown me away! Ms. Pooley has truly mastered the art of feel-good fiction, and her latest novel, The People on Platform 5 is no exception. Like her previous work, The Authenticity Project, this book is centred around the theme of friendship and will leave you feeling joyful and uplifted.

I found myself completely engrossed in the story of Iona and the group of strangers she meets on her daily train commute. The author does an excellent job of weaving together their individual storylines and creating a heart-warming group of friends that you can't help but root for. While all of the characters are memorable, Iona truly shines as the star of the show. She is lovable, relatable, and someone you wish you could call your own best friend.

As I read, I found myself laughing out loud and occasionally shedding a tear. Again, the author has an incredible talent for making you feel a wide range of emotions. After I finished this book I already know it will be one of my all-time favourites.

If you're looking for a book that will make you smile, feel good, and believe in the power of friendship, this is it. It's a solid 5/5 stars from me. Trust me, you won't regret picking this one up.

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Random House via NetGalley***

Publication Day Push: The Island in Bramble Bay by Victoria Walker

The Island in Bramble Bay by Victoria Walker

Welcome to Bramble Island! Find breezy, sunshine-filled days, shaded woodlands, glittering sea and a summer of love…

Maggie Cassidy is the new park manager of Bramble Island in Dorset. A job on an island where she is the only year-round inhabitant is the perfect fresh start for her. But when she’s torn between the job she came to do and the island she has grown to love, can she hang on to her perfect new life without compromising her dreams?

Charlie Mackenzie is the forester on Bramble Island. He is a loner full of secrets, burnt out by the life he left behind in San Francisco. When his past catches up with him can he finally face what he has spent three years running from without jeopardising everything that healed him?

Bramble Island lulls them both into an idyllic existence but when the outside world bangs on their door, is history about to repeat itself for both of them?

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Bramble-Bay-Victoria-Walker-ebook/dp/B09X4MDK6D/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Island-Bramble-Bay-Victoria-Walker-ebook/dp/B09X4MDK6D/

Victoria Walker has been writing romantic fiction since a visit to Iceland in 2014 inspired her first novel. As well as writing, she spends her free time dressmaking, knitting and reading an inordinate amount of contemporary romance, occasionally punctuated by the odd psychological thriller and saga.

In the past she has worked as a cinema projectionist, a knitting and sewing tutor and has owned a yarn store, all things which will no doubt appear in her books if they haven't already.

Victoria lives in the Malvern Hills with her husband and two teenage children.

Twitter -@4victoriawalker 

Instagram - victoriamakes

Publication Day Spotlight & Review: The Weekend Getaway by Hannah Ellis

The Weekend Getaway by Hannah Ellis

A weekend away changes everything…

The chemistry between Keira and Noah is instant. After their first date, it’s clear there’s something special between them.

A weekend in Noah’s hometown further cements their feelings, and Keira falls head over heels. Not only for Noah, but his close-knit family and the stunning Isles of Scilly.

There’s just one problem: Noah’s about to move back home and his plans can’t be altered.

It’s too early in their relationship to make life-changing plans, but if they stand a chance of being together, one of them is going to have to take a leap of faith.

Can love triumph over location? And when following your heart, how far should you go?

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Isles of Scilly, The Weekend Getaway is the first instalment of what promises to be an unforgeable series.

Keira, a digital marketing specialist, has had her eye on Noah for a while. He’s a barman at the local pub, she visits regularly with her flatmate, Mel. He’s definitely her highlight of the week when he’s serving on a Sunday evening. When Mel, sees that her friend and Noah are attracted to each other, she makes it her duty to get them together. Not surprisingly, they hit it off, but is this just a one-off date, or could it lead to something more?

Noah’s favourite shifts at the pub are when Keira is around. So, when her friend Mel, suggests he should ask her out, phone numbers are exchanged and a date is set up. However, his feelings are conflicted about whether he should tell Keira he’s leaving Bristol…

Secrets and family play a huge part in Keira and Noah's story as the pair get to know each other. Communication and lack thereof, play a part as presumptions and misinformation threaten to spoil not only their relationship but also with family members too. In addition, the pair have some life-changing decisions to make within a short time span, yet somehow, it all comes together perfectly.

I liked the contrast between both their families; Keira is an only child and Noah has four brothers. They are different, but both have their share of problems… relatable issues, so it’s easy for a reader to understand the emotions attached to each incident.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Ms. Ellis and I enjoyed how effortless it was for me to read this book in one sitting. Overall, a delightfully entertaining novel with a terrific cast of characters and a beautiful setting.

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher via Rachel’s Random Resources***

 https://mybook.to/ScillyBook1

Hannah Ellis spent many years working in childcare before deciding she'd like to write books. When she's not busy writing she likes to read, drink tea and eat chocolate. She also enjoys yoga and jogging.

Twitter: @BooksEllis https://twitter.com/BooksEllis

Facebook: @authorhannahellis https://www.facebook.com/authorhannahellis

Instagram: @authorhannahellis https://www.instagram.com/authorhannahellis/

Cover Reveal: Just One Day by Susan Buchanan

Just One Day – Spring by Susan Buchanan

Mum-of-three Louisa thought she only had her never-ending to-do list to worry about, but the arrival of a ghost from the recent past puts her in an untenable position. Can she navigate the difficult situation she’s in without their friendship becoming common knowledge or will it cause long-term damage to her marriage?

When a family member begins to suspect there’s more to her relationship with the new sous-chef than meets the eye, Louisa needs to think on her feet or she’ll dig herself into a deeper hole. But the cost of keeping her secret, not only from her husband, comes at a high price, one which tugs at her conscience.

With everyday niggles already causing a further rift between Louisa and husband Ronnie, will she manage to keep her family on track whilst her life spirals out of control? And when tragedy strikes, will Ronnie step up when she needs him most?

For fans of Fiona Gibson, Holly Martin and Jill Mansell.

books2read.com/u/4XDkre

Publication Date: 17^th May 2022

Susan Buchanan lives in Scotland with her husband, their two young children and a crazy Labrador called Benji. She has been reading since the age of four and had to get an adult library pass early as she had read the entire children’s section by the age of ten.

Susan writes contemporary fiction, often set in Scotland, usually featuring travel, food or Christmas. When not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, Susan loves reading (obviously), the theatre, quiz shows and eating out – not necessarily in that order!

Website – www.susanbuchananauthor.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Susan_Buchanan

Facebook – www.facebook.com/susan.buchanan.author

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/AuthorSusanBuchanan/

Publication Day Push: Secrets Behind The Billionaire's Return by Rachael Stewart

Secrets Behind The Billionaire's Return by Rachael Stewart

Find out what happens when a billionaire returns to Felicity’s life in book one of Rachael Stewart’s new duet, Claiming the Ferrington Empire, from Harlequin Romance.

The man she never forgot…

The feelings she never lost…

Sixteen years ago, Felicity fell in love with the boy from Ferrington Manor. But their affair was short-lived when Sebastian vanished and she was left with the secret consequence of their love. Now he’s back and his return sends shock waves through Felicity! Will the revelations about Sebastian’s departure be enough for Felicity to succumb to the feelings that still draw her to him? 

https://mybook.to/SecretsBehindReturn

Rachael Stewart adores conjuring up stories for the readers of Harlequin Mills & Boon and Deep Desires Press, with tales varying from the heartwarmingly romantic to the wildly erotic.

She’s been writing since she could put pen to paper as the stacks of scrawled on A4 sheets in her loft will attest to, and the lovingly bound short stories that her father would run off at work and proudly share out with his colleagues. Thinking it was a pipe dream to be published one day, she pursued a sensible career in business but she was really play-acting, achieving the appropriate degree and spending many years in the corporate world where she never truly belonged. Always happiest when she was sat at her laptop in the quiet hours tapping out a story or two. And so here she is, a published author, her full-time pleasure, a dream come true.

A Welsh lass at heart, she now lives in Yorkshire with her husband and three children, and if she's not glued to her laptop, she's wrapped up in them or enjoying the great outdoors seeking out inspiration.

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

Twitter - https://twitter.com/rach_b52

Website - https://rachaelstewartauthor.com/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rachaelstewart3/

Giveaway to Win 4 x Signed Rachael Stewart Paperbacks and more (Open Int)

Prize Contains:

4 x Signed paperbacks:

• Tempted by the Tycoon’s Proposal

• Surprise Reunion with His Cinderella

• Beauty And The Reclusive Millionaire

• Secrets Behind the Billionaire’s Return

And:

• “Hug” Bracelet

• Diamond Metallic Pen

• Heart Post-Its

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway