Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Test Drive by Samantha Chase

Author: Samantha Chase

Series: RoadTripping #3

Release Date: June 23, 2020

Willow Andrew’s life is a hot mess.

Coming from a family of successful professionals, the fact that at twenty-seven she still doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up doesn’t sit well. Desperate not to disappoint her grandmother, she invents a fake boyfriend so Gammy won’t worry so much. It seemed a victimless lie... until Gammy announced that Willow AND her boyfriend needed to be present at her 75th birthday party. Or else. Out of time and options, Willow turns to the sexy bartender she’s been secretly crushing on for help.

Levi Sullivan has his life in order and thrives off helping others.

In fact, he would do anything to help out a friend. But he’s angling for far more than friendship with Willow. Entranced by the clumsy beauty since the first time he watched her trip over nothing, he happily agrees to a chance to spend more time with her. Fake romance or not, he’s determined to use their long-distance road trip to turn a game of pretend into something more.

Warning—the roads ahead will twist and turn with laugh-out loud moments and sizzling chemistry. But traffic should be aware, the journey ahead is far more important than the destination.

 Buy Links:

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Test Drive is the third book in the Road Tripping Series.  It definitely cn be read as a stand alone. This one is willow and Levi's story.  Along with the road trip trope, it's also a fake boyfriend trope.  For the most part, I enjoyed the romance.  What really save it for me was Levi.  I loved his character.  Loved his outlook on life and love.  But, I'll be honest, it took me a long time to warm up to Willow.  Is anyone really that clumsy?  Apparently, because I was reminded of it on almost every page.  Her insecurity drove me crazy.  I just couldn't see someone wanting to put up with that long term.  She did grow on me toward the end and I could see she was finally gaining some confidence and was willing to stand up for herself.    My favorite character was Gammy.  I hope I'm that spunky when I'm her age.  She was hilarious.  I do think it's worth checking out.

Excerpt

“I must say, Willow. Well done.”

It was really hard to relax in the massaging chair while getting the world's greatest foot rub when all your grandmother wanted to do was talk about sex.

The car ride over had been hell.

The only silver lining was that her mother had opted out of getting pedicures–she thought the salons were too unsanitary.

I wish I had thought of that…

“Gammy, please…”

“All I’m saying is I…” She paused and seemed to consider her words. Reaching over, she held one of Willow’s hands. “Now, don’t be upset with me, but…”

“But…?”

“But I was beginning to think you made him up.”

Eyes wide, Willow had no idea what to say. Her mouth seemed like it was moving, but no words came out.

“You were always so vague on the phone whenever we talked about Levi, and at first, I thought you were just being shy. Then I thought you didn’t want to share because the relationship was new and you didn’t want to jinx it.” She sighed. “But after a while, I thought he was a figment of your imagination, and honestly, I didn’t want to embarrass you by calling you out on it.”

Maybe I can go for a bikini wax and get away from this.

“When the two of you pulled into my driveway though, hoo-wee! I got a glimpse of Levi and thought, what a lucky girl you are!”

Seriously, hot wax all over my crotch would be less painful…

“And his hands! Oh, my…he has the kind of large hands that you know can make you tingle in all the right places!” She shook Willow’s hand excitedly. “Is he a good kisser?”

“Gams, I’m really not comfortable talking about this with you. Or anyone, really. What Levi and I have is…private.”

“Sweetie, there’s nothing wrong with sharing just a little bit. It’s all harmless fun. I mean, I’m 75 years old. It’s not like I haven’t been where you are. I mean, your grandfather–God rest his soul–was a wonderful husband and a fantastic lover…”

“OH MY GOD!” her hands flew over her ears.

“Sex is a healthy part of life! I’m not asking for specifics, just a general idea. Although, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish for you to have a fantastic sex life too. You’re young and pretty and have such a curvy little body! Honestly, I wish my boobs were still…”

“Lalalalala!” Willow cried out as she stuck her fingers in her ears.

Gammy swatted at her arm. “I never would have pegged you for a prude, Willow. I have to say, I’m a little disappointed.” And with a dramatic sigh, she turned her attention to the nail attendant who was massaging her feet. “That feels wonderful. Thank you.”

They sat in silence for several minutes until Willow couldn’t take it anymore. “Okay, Gam, here’s the thing,” she began carefully. “I’m just not used to…you know…talking sex with anyone other than my friends. My mother never talks about it…”

“Your mother’s too uptight.”

No argument there…

“You know what I’m saying. We never did this before and…”

“You never brought a sexy boyfriend here before.”

“We never did this before,” she repeated for emphasis. “And I’m not comfortable this.”

“Would it help if I told you a little about my sex life?”

Oh, dear God…

“Remember the night I beat you at Words With Friends and I mentioned I was going out with Donald?”

“If I say no, can we change the subject?”

“No.”

“What if I say yes? Then can we change the subject?”

“I’m ignoring you and telling my story,” Gammy said stubbornly. “Now, I wouldn’t say that Donald is my steady beau, but we do out together once a week, and he has been known to spend the night.”

Groaning, Willow turned her head and rested it on her hand.

Again.

“Viagra is a game-changer, let me tell you.”

“I really wish you wouldn’t.”

“But I really miss the spontaneity, you know? Sometimes it would be nice to just be able to…you know…do it whenever we wanted rather than waiting those pesky thirty minutes.”

Another groan.

“One time, Donald took two pills instead of one!” She laughed joyously. “Now that was a memorable night!”

“Levi’s an amazing kisser! And his hands are a little rough and scratchy, and I love the way they feel against my skin! And the sex is the stuff of fantasies!” Willow blurted out loudly and then noticed the entire nail salon had gone quiet.

Dammit.

Gammy gave her a knowing grin. “I knew I’d wear you down.”

“Gammy…” she whined.

“The stuff of fantasies, huh? Bravo!”

“Yup. Fantasies.”

Mainly because that’s the only point of reference I have where sex with Levi is concerned…

“I’ll say it again, Willow. Well done. I think he is absolutely perfect for you.”

About the Author

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Website: https://www.chasing-romance.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaChase3

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

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

Newsletter: https://www.chasing-romance.com/newsletter

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/samantha-chase

Blog Tour: Review of A Little Bit Wicked by Melissa Foster

A captivatingly funny and deeply emotional new standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. When the Dark Knights at Bayside and the cast of Bayside Summers collide, sparks fly, and trouble—or maybe love—is not far behind.

Set on the sandy shores of Cape Cod, the Wickeds feature fiercely protective heroes, strong heroines, and unbreakable family bonds. If you think bikers are all the same, you haven’t met the Dark Knights. The Dark Knights are a motorcycle club, not a gang. Their members stick together like family and will stop at nothing to keep their communities safe. Their stories are told in the same loving, passionate voice readers have come to adore from Melissa. Some of the Wickeds’ love stories will be hilariously fun, others will tear at your heartstrings with injections of humor, but they will all leave you wishing you could climb between the pages and join them!

In A LITTLE BIT WICKED… 
What do a cocky biker and a businesswoman who has sworn off dating bad boys have in common? According to Chloe Mallery, not much.

Justin came into the Wicked family after a harsh upbringing by a thieving father. He’s gone through a lot to become a true Wicked, and he’s made them proud. Now he’s ready to show the woman he loves exactly what type of man he is. But Chloe Mallery has worked hard to move past her difficult upbringing, and she’s wary of getting involved with a man who looks like he’s walked right out of it. When tragedy strikes, will their trying pasts draw them together, or will Justin’s protective nature be too much for Chloe’s independent heart to accept?

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

MORE WICKED LOVE STORIES COMING SOON!
Crazy, Wicked Love
The Wicked Aftermath
Wicked Lucky
Wicked Temptations

Available to buy from ...

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble    KOBO    Apple   GPlay   Paperback

My thoughts:

A Little Bit Wicked is the first book in a new series about the Wicked family.  They are members of the Dark Knights Motorcycle club. They aren't a gang, they are a motorcycle club who dedicate their lives to helping their community.  This is Justin and Chloe's story.  I really enjoyed their romance.  Both of them have heart-breaking back stories.  One of my favorite parts of the book was the scene on the beach whee they both told their childhood stories to each other.  I loved that they were willing to communicate and work through preconceived ideas about each other.  I can tell this is going to be a new favorite series.  I loved large families who fight fiercely for their own, be by blood or of the heart.  The Wickeds are like that and, boy, there were a lot of them to keep track of.  I highly recommend this one.

MEET THE WHISKEYS (cousins of the Wickeds)! Available for your binge-reading pleasure!

TRU BLUE

TRULY MADLY WHISKEY

DRIVING WHISKEY WILD

WICKED WHISKEY LOVE

MAD ABOUT MOON

TAMING MY WHISKEY 

THE GRITTY TRUTH (Releasing October 14th)

And don't miss RIVER OF LOVE, the first story in which the Whiskeys were introduced!

About the author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented, the perfect beach reads for contemporary romance and women’s fiction lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!

Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find Melissa on the following sites....

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Instagram   Pinterest   YouTube   Goodreads   Bookbub   Amazon Author Page

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Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Broken Dawn by Dianne Duvall

Book #10 Immortal Guardians

By Dianne Duvall

June 16, 2020

GOODREADS

Nick Belanger can't stop thinking about the single mother who lives next door. She's smart. She's funny. She's so beautiful he can't stare at her too long for fear his eyes will start to glow. But Kayla thinks he's just an ordinary guy who works in security. Finding out he instead is a powerful immortal warrior who hunts and slays psychotic vampires for a living may not go over well, particularly since she has a daughter she doesn't want to endanger.

Kayla Dorman can keep neither her gaze nor her thoughts from straying to the man next door. Who can blame her really? He is the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome with smart, charming, and honorable thrown in. He's also a few years younger than her and surely would not be interested in a single mom who hasn't dated since her divorce. At least that's what she thinks until an accident nearly takes her life and Nick risks all to save her.

The dynamics of their relationship swiftly change. The friendship they've developed over the years deepens into love as the two spend every minute they can together, laughing and teasing, never suspecting a threat may lurk in the shadows. But that threat soon strikes, making it clear that Nick is the target and his enemy doesn't care if Kayla gets caught in the cross fire. Though Kayla bravely rises to the occasion and is determined to do whatever it takes to help Nick defeat his enemy, Nick is terrified of losing her. Can he identify and eliminate his new nemesis before the man takes everything from him?

My thoughts:

Broken Dawn is the 10th book in the Immortal Guardians series. This time around, we get a glimpse into a different part of the country and different Immortal Guardians, Nick and Eliana.  Never fear, other beloved characters make several appearances.  This one had less of an intrigue, battle feel to it.  It's more about two people finding the loves of their lives.  There is a little danger that adds to the story, but I didn't feel that was the main focus.  I loved Nick and Kayla.  They were just too cute together.  We also get to know Eliana a little more.  She is the focus of the second Aldebarian Alliance book, The Segonian.  I can't wait to read that one!!

Usually by now I start to get bored with a series and I want to walk away for a while. I can honestly say that I have never felt that way with this series.   I eagerly look forward to every book and devour new ones as soon as they come out.  I highly recommend starting at the beginning if you haven't read any of them.  What are you waiting for?

Enjoy this excerpt:

Nick climbed the stairs and silently entered Kayla’s bedroom.

She lay curled up on her side, so small she didn’t even take up half the full-sized bed.

He stared down at her, fighting the desire to stroke her hair or kneel beside her and wake her with a kiss. He had never expected to fall in love. Had never thought he would experience the euphoria manifested by finding that one person who completed him. Had never believed he needed completing. He had existed for hundreds of years, after all.

But he knew now that something had always been missing. Not simple companionship. Something more. Something intrinsic that felt like the mortar that held a brick wall together.

Kayla did that for him. She filled the empty spaces. She made him stronger. She made everything better. Bigger. He wasn’t content. He was truly happy for the first time since his transformation. He didn’t worry for her safety. He was terrified for her. He didn’t want to make her smile. He wanted to see her throw her head back and laugh uproariously. Sex wasn’t good. It was fucking fantastic. It didn’t simply sate a hunger. It touched him deeply and brought him an ecstasy he had never before experienced.

He couldn’t lose her. He didn’t want his life to go back to what it had been before he met her. He didn’t want to face an endless stretch of days in which he had nothing to look forward to.

He wanted forever with her.

As if she sensed him standing beside the bed, watching her sleep like a damn stalker, Kayla opened her eyes. She blinked once, then looked up at him.

Heart pounding in his ears, Nick stared down at her.

A long moment passed that stretched his nerves taut. Then she reached out and snagged his hand. He curled his fingers around hers, grateful for the simple touch.

Closing her eyes, she pulled his hand around behind her back.

Nick didn’t have to be asked twice. Unwilling to relinquish her hand, he knelt on the mattress, straddled her legs, then rolled onto the empty side of the bed. As he slipped beneath the covers and curled his body around hers, that feeling of completeness returned.

Without saying a word, Kayla drew his arm around her and pressed his hand to her chest.

Snuggling closer, he exhaled a long sigh.

THIS was what he needed.

This.

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Night Reigns (Immortal Guardians, #2) — http://amzn.to/2t0Co5K

Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians, #3) —  http://amzn.to/2v8LABy

In Still Darkness (Immortal Guardians, #3.5) — http://amzn.to/2t9V26z

Darkness Rises (Immortal Guardians, #4) — http://amzn.to/2u4AW1V

Night Unbound (Immortal Guardians, #5) — http://amzn.to/2ueeJiB

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Awaken the Darkness (Immortal Guardians Book 8) — https://amzn.to/2NdiGOw

Death of Darkness (Immortal Guardians Book 9) — https://amzn.to/32URd8L

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Aldebarian Alliance Series:

The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) — https://amzn.to/3aRq1Kx

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians series and The Gifted Ones series. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), "extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Her books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews. 

Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she creates in her books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit DianneDuvall.com. You can also find Dianne online . . .

Blog   Facebook   Twitter  YouTube   Pinterest   Goodreads   Book Bub   Instagram 

Review: Rescued by a Highlander by Keira Montclair

Author: Keira Montclair
Audio-book: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: October 2014

Madeline MacDonald has been a victim of her stepbrother’s cruelty ever since her parents’ death in a fire two years ago. Forced into a betrothal to a man she hates, her only way out is to escape to a convent.
Laird Alexander Grant is honor bound to rescue Maddie after seeing the bruises on her face. What he doesn’t realize is that once he holds the beaten lass in his arms, his heart will never be the same. He vows revenge for the abuse she was forced to endure and yearns to make the sweet woman with an iron will his, but can he help her fight the demons in her mind left behind by her abusers’ horrid treatment?

**WARNING** Mature content- Contains references to abuse and a previous rape that may be disturbing for some readers.

Rescued by a Highlander is the first book in the Clan Grant series.  Upfront, you should know that this story does deal with some heavy topics.  The main character, Madeline was raped before the events of this book and some details are given  So if that is hard for you to read, then you might want to skip this one.

That being said, I did enjoy this romance.  I thought that the author did a great job of dealing with Madeline's PTSD from the abuse she experienced at the hands of her step brother as well as the man he essentially tried to sell her to.  I loved how Alex was so patient with her and let her take the lead in her working through emotions.  I also loved how she put him in his place when he needed to be taught a few things about relationships.  Alex's family were wonderful characters.  I loved Jenny and her perspective.  Children always know how to tell it like it is without the adult filter.    I highly recommend this romance and will be continuing with the series.

Review: Tucker by Emily March

Author: Emily March
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date:

Meet Gillian Thacker. Her business: Bliss Bridal Salon. Her passion: Weddings. Her own wedding: It’s complicated. Life isn’t turning out like she’d planned. The last thing she wants is for a real-life hero to ride to her rescue but when an unexpected event puts her entire future in Redemption, Texas, at risk. So what’s a broken-hearted bridal expert to do? Maybe a new set of survival skills is exactly what she needs…

Tucker McBride has been proud to call himself a U.S. Army Ranger. But now that his days of service are over, he’s decided to put his expertise to use by founding a wilderness skills training school. He sets up shop in Redemption, next to Bliss Bridal, and so begins life: Part Two. Marriage has been pretty low on his agenda, but as soon as he meets Gillian, Tucker can’t help but contemplate the ultimate challenge: Convincing the reluctant bride to take his hand and leap into the adventure of a lifetime. . .until death do they part.

Tucker is the sequel to Jackson.  This one is Gillian and Tucker's story.  It can be read as a stand alone.  I enjoyed the first book, But I liked this one a bit more.  I felt like it had more humor and I enjoyed the couple a lot more.

Tucker is officially on my book boyfriend list.  With the number of book boyfriends that I have collected, I think I need to start calling it a "book" instead of a list.    He is back from serving our country and is ready for the next step in his life.  He is taken with Gillian from the beginning.  I loved that he just really "saw" her and did what he could to make her feel loved.  His banter with Gillian was a lot of fun.  Gillian did annoy me at times.  I thought she cared about what her mother thought a little too much.  That drove me crazy.  Still, I was invested in this couple and was rooting for them.   I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Boone.

Review: Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Author: Lyssa Kay Adams
Publisher:Berkeley
Publication Date: March 2020

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assist Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart… even while she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

Undercover Bromance is the sequel to The Bromance Book Club.  I can say that I liked this one a LOT more than the first book.   You can read this one as a stand alone.  However, the first book does explain the book club a bit more.  I was really glad that there were many "excerpts" from the book that the club was reading.  I felt like there were too many of those in the first book.  This one is Liv and Braden Mack's story. 

I was glad that Liv got a story, because I couldn't stand her in the first book.  We get to know her a lot better in this book and more about what her childhood was like.  It went a long way to explain her actions and behavior.  I loved how Mack and Liv played off of each other.  Their banter was fun and it was a cute "hate to love" romance.  They were really good for each other.  Mack's back story was just as heartbreaking.  I loved his conversations with the guys in the book club.    I felt like there was a lot more humor in this book.  I laughed out loud multiple times.  Oh, and we finally get to find out the Russian's name.  I do recommend this one.  I look forward to reading the next one.

Blog Tour: Excerpt of Forbidden Lust by Karen Booth

Author: Karen Booth 

Publisher: Harlequin Desire

Publication Date: June 2, 2020

A secluded island resort is the perfect romantic setting for the night of passionate abandon Allison Randall plans to share with Zane Patterson. Her elder brother's best friend has always been off-limits...and Zane is determined to keep it that way. But when a storm strands them together, neither can hold back. Everything Allison dreamed of is finally in reach...until unwelcome revelations threaten a rude awakening!

Purchase links:

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Try the Dynasties: Seven Sins miniseries!

One man’s betrayal can destroy generations. Ten years ago, a hedge-fund hotshot vanished with billions, leaving the high-powered families of Falling Brook changed forever. Now seven heirs, shaped by his betrayal,  must reckon with the sins of the past. Passion may be their only path to redemption. Experience all Seven Sins!

Zane’s pulse skipped a beat as the aircraft floated down to the tiny landing strip and bounced its way to an abrupt stop. Another five hundred yards and they would’ve been in the ocean. Engines whirring, the plane taxied around to a modest outbuilding—yellow with a rust-red roof. The crew quickly opened the cabin door, and Zane whipped off his seat belt, sucking in his first sweet breath of Bahamian air. Sunglasses on, he surveyed the landscape from his vantage point at the top of the plane stairs. Palm trees rustled in the wind, and gauzy white clouds rolled across the seemingly endless stretch of azure sky. This was exactly what he’d needed. He knew it already.

A driver from Rose Cove, the boutique resort owned by Scott’s aunt and uncle, met him outside the airport building, and after a quick zip through customs, Zane was on his way to the marina in a golf cart. From there, a speedboat captain named Marcus took Zane for the two-mile trip to Rose Cove Island, off the southernmost tip of Eleuthera. The water was tranquil and clear, the wind buzzing through Zane’s ears as the boat sliced through the water and the sun blanketed him in warmth. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and powered it down. He had zero plans to look at it while he was in paradise. He not only needed to unwind, he wanted to disappear. Fall-ing Brook, the Lowell family and Black Crescent weren’t even a distant thought—they’d evaporated from his mind.

Pulling up to the dock at Rose Cove, Zane was struck by the beauty of the pink sand beaches from which the tiny private island got its name. Marcus directed him down a crushed-seashell path through a tropical forest so shaded by palm trees that it was a good ten degrees cooler. Colorful birds chirped and flitted from tree to tree, while the occasional lizard. skittered across the sandy ground to hide behind a rock. He eventually reached a clearing with a white single-story building of colonial architecture, with a porch that wrapped around the entire structure. In-side, Zane finally got to meet Scott’s aunt Angelique.

“Welcome to Rose Cove!” she exclaimed, rushing out from behind the check-in desk, wearing a beautiful turquoise sundress, flat sandals and her braided hair pulled up in a twist. Despite her enthusiasm, Angelique’s peaceful voice suggested that she lived her life at a pace far different from the rest of the world’s. “My nephew has told me so much about you.” She gave him a hug, showing the same warmth Zane had found in Scott’s entire family. He already felt at home here. He wasn’t sure he ever wanted to leave.

“You can’t believe everything Scott says,” Zane joked.

Angelique smiled wide. “He had nothing but great things to say.” She bustled back behind the counter and unfolded what appeared to be a map. “Here’s all you need to know about the island. This is the main building, where my husband, Hubert, and I live.” She circled a picture of the building where they were. “The ten cottages spoke out from here and are a good distance from each other for privacy. You’re in cottage number eight. You have a quiet stretch of beach, a hammock and a private plunge pool. There’s a beautiful king-size bed, a luxury bath and a fully stocked kitchen. Or our staff will bring you breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Simply fill out the card waiting for you in your room. Until then, I invite you to relax and enjoy the island. Per-haps say hello to your neighbor in cottage nine. She’s been waiting for you to arrive.”

“A neighbor?” A she, no less? Perhaps this was Zane’s lucky day, although there was a part of him that knew his tendency to get lost in women was not his best trait. Really, he should be focusing on fishing and swimming while detoxing from social media and the internet.

“My niece, Allison. She arrived a few hours ago.” Zane’s jaw dropped so far he had to make a conscious decision to close his mouth. He was flabbergasted. What were the chances that he and Allison would end up on the island at the same time? “Alli-son is here. On this island. Right now.” 

“Is there a problem?”

He shook his head so fast he nearly lost his sun- glasses, which were resting on top of his head. “Absolutely not. I love Allison. I’m just surprised. I’ll have to stop over and say hi.” He hadn’t seen Allison much in the years since he graduated from high school. He’d gone to college in North Carolina on a basket-ball scholarship, and when he returned to Falling Brook after four years, she was off to school in Los Angeles, where she stayed to start a business. She returned every Christmas, but Zane always seemed to be visiting his mom in Boston at the same time. 

But three weeks ago Scott’s wife, Brittney, invited both Allison and Zane to a surprise birthday dinner she was having for Scott. Allison flew in for the weekend. The instant Zane saw her, he knew exactly how good the years had been to Allison—almost too good. She’d taken a straight line from cute to drop-dead gorgeous. Her long and wavy black hair was pulled back in a ponytail, showing off the incredible depth and warmth of her brown eyes. The chemistry of the entire room shifted when she smiled or laughed. He’d always found her interesting and a bit otherworldly, with a style and vibe all her own, but that night he was transfixed.

She’d surprised him many times when they were younger, like the day she got her nose pierced, but she’d flat-out shocked him that night at Scott’s house. She kissed him—soft and sensuous and so packed with sexy intent that he’d felt the earth shift beneath him. He was so conditioned to think of Allison only as his best friend’s little sister that he’d been wholly unprepared for Allison, the fully formed woman. And with Scott in the other room, a man to whom there would be no explaining, Zane had done the un-thinkable that night. He’d pushed beautiful, beguiling Allison away.

About Karen Booth

Karen Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on 80s music, Judy Blume, and the films of John Hughes. She loves to write big city love stories. When she takes a break from the art of romance, she's teaching her kids about good music, honing her Southern cooking skills, or sweet-talking her super-supportive husband into mixing up a cocktail. 

Author social links:

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• Author website 
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Blog Tour: Review of The Breakup Bucket List by Cassie Cross

Today we have the blog tour for THE BREAKUP BUCKET LIST by Cassie Cross! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: The Breakup Bucket List

Author: Cassie Cross

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Ever since Lindsay Castillo was a little girl, she dreamed about living in Port City. As an adult, she learns the difficult lesson that dreams aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. With a broken heart, an apartment full of boxes and a moving company booked, Lindsay jots down everything she wants to do before she leaves Port City and heads back home to start over.

She has a month to mark off everything on The Breakup Bucket List.

Evan Roberts is doing his best to live up to the high expectations that come along with having his last name. As Port City royalty, he’s been following a strict path to success since the day he was born. He’s looking for a little fun—something to shake up the monotony of his life—when he runs into Lindsay. He’s captivated by her and welcomes the challenge of helping her complete her bucket list.

It doesn’t take much convincing for Lindsay to agree; there are some things she wants to do before she moves that only someone with Evan’s access can help her with. What starts off as a simple partnership grows into more as Lindsay and Evan race against the clock and Lindsay’s moving day draws closer…

Get Your Copy!

The Breakup Bucket List is the fourth book in the Love Is... series. Each one can be read as a stand alone.  This is a quick and really sweet romance.  I wish it was a little longer because I would have loved to spend more time with this couple.  Lindsay and Evan were too cute together.  Their relationship was easy and just a lot of fun to take a peek at.  I won't spoil what happens.  You'll have to read to see if Lindsay decides to stay in Port City or not.  I am really enjoying this series and highly recommend this one as well as the others that are a part of it.

About Cassie:

Cassie Cross is a Maryland native and a romantic at heart, who lives outside of Baltimore with her two dogs and a closet full of shoes. Cassie’s fondness for swoon-worthy men and strong women are the inspiration for most of her stories, and when she’s not busy writing a book, you’ll probably find her eating takeout and indulging in her love of 80’s sitcoms.

Connect with Cassie:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrossWrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiecrosswrites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassiecrosswrites