Switched,
a laugh-out-loud, body switch rom com is coming February 20th by Sarah Ready
and we have the fantastic cover!
For Serena Otaki, free-spirited Californian, life is
simple. She loves smashing atoms at The Large Hadron Collider near Geneva,
Switzerland. She loves Star Trek, spicy tofu, and her cat, Captain Purrk. She
loves her messy (slob-fest) apartment, her chaotic brand of organizing, and
staying permanently, happily unattached.
Life is perfect. She has one true love—physics.
Loving a man isn’t in her future.
For Henry Joule, uptight Brit, life is simple. He loves
making analog black holes, drinking piping hot tea, and organizing his pencil
tray. He loves his family, red meat, and obsessively cleaning his spotless
apartment.
Life is perfect. He has many loves—physics, family,
friends. He can’t wait to find the woman of his dreams.
Love and marriage are in his future.
One perfect night Serena and Henry meet. Sparks fly,
particles collide, the universe comes to a halt, and…
It was a mistake.
They’re too different.
It won’t work.
Love isn’t in their future.
Until an electric storm causes an unexpected event at the
particle collider and suddenly—they’ve switched.
Serena is in Henry’s body.
Henry is in Serena’s body.
And both life and love are suddenly very, very
complicated.
SWITCHED will be available on all platforms February 20th
The Scramble, an all-new holiday, meet-cute romance featuring a heroine scrooge and a hot hero who loves Christmas from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby, is now available!
There are two things you need to know about me. 1: I’m never late. And 2: I hate Christmas. Yes, I’m a girl who hates the holidays.
My entire, enormous family is already enjoying their holiday vacation in Iceland, but thanks to my busy job and having to meet them there, I’m late. They could have chosen any holiday to fly across the world, but Christmas won, which sent me scrambling because the end of the year is my busiest time. It’s difficult to carve out moments to see the family at all.
So, now, I’m forty thousand feet in the air, trying to get to Iceland before Christmas morning, all while also attempting to get some work done. If only the hot guy next to me would leave me be.
Dylan says I should put the work away until after my holiday and relax a bit. And while his suggestion of spending some time together on the north Atlantic island seems preposterous, I can’t help but feel intrigued when he promises to show me how to enjoy the Yuletide season properly.
After all, I can’t possibly spend every minute with my family.
But how do I just shrug off my duty to my job and throw caution to the wind for a stranger...no matter how handsome he is? Because that’s something else about me: I never throw caution to the wind—even a beautiful, blustery Icelandic wind.
Then again, Mama always said, “Never say never…”
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My review:
The Scramble is a novella (book #2.5) in A Single in Seattle series and is also part of the 1001 Dark Night collection. It was a great holiday romance that was a quick read that will have you in the holiday mood. I had no problem reading it as a standalone and actually enjoyed all the family time.
Maddie was a workaholic and reluctantly agreed to travel to Iceland for the family gathering for Christmas. She planned to leave the next day until her family and Dylan encouraged her to take time off and enjoy her vacation. Dylan was traveling to Iceland for work and was instantly attracted to Maddie when he saw her on the plane. He does something he has never done before, a vacation fling. But after spending time with Maddie, he wanted more.
I loved this short story and highly recommend it if you are looking for a short holiday romance.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kristen was born and raised in a small resort town in her beloved Montana. In her mid-twenties, she decided to stretch her wings and move to the Pacific Northwest, where she made her home for more than a dozen years.
During that time, Kristen wrote many romance novels and joined organizations such as RWA and other small writing groups. She spent countless hours in workshops, and more mornings than she can count up before the dawn so she could write before going to work. She submitted many manuscripts to agents and editors alike, but was always told no. In the summer of 2012, the self-publishing scene was new and thriving, and Kristen had one goal: to publish just one book. It was something she longed to cross off of her bucket list.
Not only did she publish one book, she’s since published close to thirty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion Series.
Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their two pugs and two cats.
TEMPT, an all-new steamy small town, one-night-stand, age gap romance featuring a plus-sized heroine and a hot single dad from USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Melanie Harlow, is now available!
You’ve heard the story about the wedding planner who falls for the groom? Well, this is the one where she falls for his father. And that groom? He’s my ex.
I didn’t realize who the gruff, gorgeous older man was the night he rescued me from a creep in a Manhattan hotel bar. All I knew was that a hot, bearded stranger with a protective streak showed up right when I needed a reminder that real gentlemen still exist.
(Although he left his manners behind after asking me up to his room.)
It was the hottest night of my life, but I never thought I’d see the former Navy SEAL again.
Imagine my surprise at the rehearsal dinner one week later, when my sexy one-night stand is introduced as the father of the groom. Even more surprising? That temptation we felt in New York was no fluke.
In public, we pretend there’s nothing between us.
In private, we can’t keep our hands off each other.
The situation is beyond complicated. Zach never even knew he’d fathered a child until recently, and he wants to earn his son’s trust and respect. As for me, I’m looking for a man who wants to start a family, and Zach has made it clear he’s not that man. He’s fifteen years older, newly divorced, and he lives across the country.
But no matter how many times we draw the line, we keep crossing it.
Nothing so wrong should ever feel so right.
Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
I was just lifting the glass to my lips when I noticed someone sitting around the curve of the bar to the left. He was broad through the chest and shoulders, wore a black dress shirt with the cuffs rolled up, and sat alone. His hair and beard were short and dark. Our eyes met and my body grew warm. His bone structure was beautiful—his face looked like it was chiseled from granite. He held my gaze for a moment then looked away, and I did as well, focusing on the first cold sips of my martini.
But in seconds, my eyes were drawn to him again, and I noticed the hand holding his glass—wide palm, long, solid fingers, thick wrist. I indulged in a brief and magnificent fantasy that involved those hands in my hair, his beard against my cheek, that brawny chest bare and warm above me. Was it hairy? I’d bet yes. He looked like a man’s man. My nipples tingled inside the bustier I wore beneath my dress.
Once more he caught me staring, and I realized too late that I was actually biting my lip.
Gawd.
The guy next to me whistled loudly and yelled at the bartender, “Hey! Can I get another round down here?”
The bartender, who was busy making other drinks, didn’t even look over. I didn’t blame him.
“The service is so shitty in this place,” he said. “You need a pair of tits to get any attention.” He glanced at my chest. “Yours are fantastic, by the way.”
Horrified, I picked up my glass and finished my drink in a couple swallows. I should have thrown it in his face, but it would have been a waste of a good martini. Setting the empty glass down, I reached into my bag for my credit card.
“Hey, don’t rush off.” The asshole leaned closer. He wore a white shirt and blue blazer, and he reeked of cologne. “We’re just getting to know each other.”
“Not interested,” I said, trying to catch the bartender’s eye so I could get my check and leave.
“Why not? I’m alone, you’re alone.” He covered my hand with his. That’s when I noticed he wore a wedding band.
I snatched my hand away and slid off my stool, putting it between us. “I’m not alone.”
“Oh no?” He laughed and glanced around. “Looks like it to me.”
I finally caught the bartender’s eye, and he came right over. “Can I get you something?”
“I’ll cash out,” I said quickly.
The bartender glanced at the asshole. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, I was just waiting for someone, but he couldn’t make it, so I—”
“Sorry I’m late.” A hand circled my wrist.
Startled, I spun around and saw a black shirt. Wide shoulders. Dark eyes.
The hot stranger and I exchanged a look of understanding before he leaned in and kissed my cheek. His beard was softer than I’d imagined.
“Forgive me?” His voice, by contrast, was deep and gravelly.
“Of—of course,” I stammered, my heart pounding. I couldn’t stop staring—the guy was gorgeous. A little older than I’d thought—there was silver in his hair and beard—but those dark eyes, that deep voice, and the possessive grip on my wrist? The whole package made my knees go weak.
He looked over my head at the bartender. “She’s with me.”
“Dude, she’s not with you,” argued the jerk in the blazer. “You were over there by yourself a minute ago. I saw you.”
Dropping my wrist, the stranger turned to him and growled, “You should go.”
The jerk slid off his barstool and put one palm up. “Listen, I don’t want any trouble. I just thought—”
“It’s fuckin’ obvious what you thought.” The stranger’s words were laced with fury, but he kept his volume low. Somehow it was even scarier than if he’d yelled. “Now get the fuck out of here, and don’t even look in her direction as you walk out, or you’ll be trying to do it with two broken legs.”
The jerk stood up taller, like he might be thinking of protesting, but he looked like a gerbil facing off against a Doberman. Then he adjusted his lapels and moved toward the exit without even glancing my way.
The stranger watched him go with hooded, hawklike eyes before looking down at me again. “You okay?”
“Yes.” But I was struggling to catch my breath.
“Can I bring you two another round?” the bartender asked.
The stranger looked at me. “Would you like another drink?”
I took a breath, willing myself to be brave. “Only if you’ll stay and have one with me.”
He hesitated, rubbing one hand along his jaw. “Okay. Sure.”
“Another martini for the lady and a Glenlivet on the rocks, coming right up,” said the bartender.
I perched on my barstool again, crossing my legs. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
“You’re welcome.” He sat down next to me. “I hope I didn’t insult you.”
“Insult me?”
“I didn’t mean to imply you couldn’t handle that jackass on your own.”
“Oh! Well, maybe I could have.” I laughed a little. “But I liked your way better.”
One side of his mouth twitched, setting off a thousand butterflies in my stomach.
“This round is on me,” I said as our drinks appeared.
He shook his head. “Not a chance.”
“But I’d like to repay you for standing up for me.”
“No payment necessary. Any gentleman would have done it.”
“Gentleman, huh?” I tilted my head and gave him a playful smile. I was a pretty good flirt when I wanted to be. “So you’re saying I’m safe with you?”
He didn’t answer right away, and I sat up a little taller in my seat. Slightly arched my back. But his eyes stayed put on mine. “You’re safe with me.”
About Melanie Harlow USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she's not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like Ted, Lasso, Schitt’s Creek, and Fleabag. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the BELLAMY CREEK series, the CLOVERLEIGH FARMS series, the ONE & ONLY series, AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, and the FRENCHED series. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Baked Inn Love, an all-new friends-to-lovers fake-marriage romance full of heat and swoon from bestselling author Erin Branscom is live now!
Single mom Allie’s only bright light is her son, four-year-old Caleb. When Allie is fired from her job, and Caleb’s previously absent father returns to fight for custody, she knows it’s time to leave San Diego. To get closer to her support systems, she needs to move across the country to her family inn in Freedom Valley, New Hampshire. Enter Logan Nolan, a handsome Canadian literary agent. When a good friend begs him to help bring Allie and Caleb home, he can’t say no. During the road trip, Allie and Logan realize they have something to offer each other: A marriage of convenience.
Before they know it, Allie and Logan live as a family in Freedom Valley. Allie, a passionate baker, starts her own business, and Logan learns how to balance his career with his new pretend family. Logan never saw himself as a family man, but as he spends more time with Allie and Caleb, he begins to rethink his views. Allie has always gotten by on her own, but with Logan around, she’s starting to wish her marriage was real, especially as Caleb’s father’s efforts to take his son intensify. Can Allie and Logan give in to their true feelings and turn make-believe into something real?
Download your copy today! Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EfUIcH Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/bakedinnloveEB Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/3hOgU68
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3yimweo
Excerpt
“I feel like royalty staying in a place this incredible,” I tell Logan. He stands up and as he walks to the door, I notice he’s dressed comfortably like me, in blue jeans and his “I Love Hot Moms” t-shirt, wearing Nikes and a New York Yankees hat. He looks so good my heart skips a beat. All I can think about is seeing him without his shirt on. Those muscles. So many muscles. Like, more than a human male should have. My mind wanders to what it would feel like to trace them with my fingertip. With both of us lying naked in bed. Just after the hottest sex either of us has ever had… I shake myself back to reality. We have a mission, and sex is not on the agenda. “What are you shaking your head at?” he asks. My mind races and I start to stall by grabbing my bags when my eyes land on his hat. “Well, first, I know you lived in New York previously, so that’s probably why you are making the unfortunate mistake of wearing that Yankee’s hat. But, being that you’re now living in the land of the Red Sox, we’ll have to add a new hat to our shopping list.” Good catch, Allie. Phew. “Oh, and nice shirt.” I smirk. Logan looks at me and chuckles. “Let’s see how many people look at me and laugh today.” “This is serious, Logan. Does Evan know you’re a Yankees fan? He won’t be happy about this,” I tease, trailing behind him with my bags. “At this point, I’ll have to offer you my protection on the streets of Boston if you continue to wear that hat around town. You know how Bostonians are… Very serious about their baseball. You’re not safe.” I shrug my shoulders at him. I don’t miss the playful eyeroll Logan gives me. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” I laugh. “Right, we’ll see how that pans out for you.”
About Erin Branscom Erin Branscom has read everything she can get her hands on for as long as she can remember. To this day, her favorite place is still the library. In 2021, after a decade of writing novels just for fun, she finally decided to finish a book series and has found writing novels to be her greatest escape. Erin is a passionate author’s advocate and host of the highly popular My Level 10 Life podcast on Amazon Live, where she interviews authors live every week. She lives in Oklahoma and loves traveling and spending time with her husband, four kids, and best friend Molly, a Boston Terrier mix.
“Before I Let Go is a masterpiece… A beautifully honest portrayal of love in its many forms, and the most raw, poignant, and romantic journey of healing I've read in a long time.”—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author
Before I Let Go, an all-new sensual and poignant second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan, is out now!
Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything.
It couldn’t save their marriage.
Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had.
Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It's hot. It's illicit. It's all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?
In addition to appearances in North Carolina, Kennedy will also be on tour in Atlanta, New York City & Los Angeles!
Find all tour details here: www.kennedyryanwrites.com
Keep reading for a look inside Before I Let Go!
I knock and wait for Josiah’s deep baritone telling me to enter. He sits behind his desk, eyes trained on the laptop in front of him. He doesn’t look up, but keeps typing. The silence persists, stretches to awkwardness, so I drop into one of the armchairs in the center of the room along with a sofa and coffee table, and set my purse on the floor.
“Harvey’s on his way,” he says, still not looking away from the screen. “His last meeting ran a few minutes over, but he’ll be here soon.”
“Oh. Sure. Great.”
I run damp palms over my legs, the jeans smooth and cool beneath my hands. Fidgety and looking for something to do, I tighten my topknot. I got box braids last weekend because I was tired of messing with my hair. This morning they’re studded with a few gold cuffs scattered throughout the strands. All in all, I feel pretty. And confident, and I won’t be shook by the pissy mood Josiah seems to have saved just for me. Finally, he closes the laptop and walks over to the sitting area. I study my nails, taking my turn to ignore him.
“I like the braids.”
Surprised, I glance up to find him sitting on the arm of the leather sofa across from me. I didn’t expect him to say anything personal. Definitely not about my appearance. When I meet his eyes, they’re cool like they’ve been for weeks, and his face remains unreadable.
“Thanks.” I scour my mind for something else to say. Gone are the days when I couldn’t get the words out to him fast enough. We’d watch couples eating dinner in absolute silence and promise each other that would never be us.
“Um, did you see Deja’s report card?” I ask.
“Yeah.” He frowns. “I can’t believe she got a C in English.”
“It used to be her best subject. It’s not just the grade itself, but I worry she’s spending too much time on social media.”
“I think she’ll find the balance without us having to come down hard. Your relationship with her is already strained enough and—”
“Strained?” I ask, my voice dropping to a quiet warning.
“You’ve said that yourself, Yas.” He crosses his stupid muscular arms
across his stupid broad chest. “Let’s not fight over how we need to handle things with Day. Have you given any more thought to Kassim playing football?”
“You mean since I said never when you asked last time? No. Besides, he has soccer.”
“He really wants to play football too.”
“A kid can really want a lot of things that aren’t good for him, like literally ramming his brain into a brick wall over and over again and risking his life, his mind, for what? A game? With all that’s come out about CTE, I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. Lots of parents aren’t doing football anymore.”
“Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic? I played football. Preach played. Theo’s playing.”
“I love Preach, but him letting Theo play doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. What he and Liz decide for their kids has no bearing on what we decide for ours. Kassim has barely mentioned football to me.”
“He hasn’t mentioned it,” he returns with obvious stretched patience, “because he loves you and he doesn’t want to displease you, but he asks me almost daily.”
“Of course, because you’re the cool parent.”
“Well, I’m not the one who says no to everything because I’m too scared or too uptight to allow my kids some freedom to make their own decisions.”
“How dare you!”
I surge to my feet, unable to stay seated one more second. I need to move, let this anger circulate, or it will clog in my veins. My steps eat up the space separating us, and before I know it, I’m right in front of him, standing in the vee of his powerful legs. The air sizzles with a lightning strike, sudden and hot and dangerous. Unpredictable. I should take shelter, but I don’t step back. His expression remains inscrutable, the stark beauty of his face unaffected, but his breathing deepens. In response, my breasts rise and fall with the struggle to draw breath as the air between us thickens. This close, his presence overwhelms me and my deprived senses devour him. The way his cologne mingles with his unique male scent. The hardness of his jaw at war with the sensual curve of his mouth. The heat his big body radiates, even at rest, surrounds me.
I lick suddenly dry lips, and he tracks the movement with narrowed eyes. I feel hunted by that look, like I stepped into a trap laid by my own body, devised by my own mind. Something I thought we’d buried long ago rises, encircles us, breathing new life into a connection I thought was dead. I’ve known for months that I’m still attracted to Josiah, but right now, with his eyes darkening and his jaw flexing and his hands curling into fists, I can’t help but wonder . . .
Is he still attracted to me too?
About Kennedy Ryan
A RITA® and Audie® Award winner, USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish, and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts. Kennedy and her writings have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, TIME, O magazine, and many others. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son.
Connect with Kennedy
Text KennedyRyan to 797979 for release alerts!
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The last time I saw Tim Cheltenham, he was an eighteen-year-old soccer hottie with an irresistible English accent, a painfully gorgeous face, and an enormous . . . ego.
He’s A Player, a spicy fake engagement standalone sports romance from Stacy Travis, is out now!
To the world, he’s a sexy soccer superstar. To me, he’s the arrogant jerk who broke my teenage heart–and my new fake fiancé.
The last time I saw Tim Cheltenham, he was an eighteen-year-old soccer hottie with an irresistible English accent, a painfully gorgeous face, and an enormous . . . ego.
Fifteen years later, with a medical degree under my belt and a new dream job with The Strikers soccer team—his team—I’m not about to let Tim’s bad attitude and grumpy scowl ruin it for me.
But when my chauvinistic boss implies that he doesn’t trust single women to stay on the job long-term, I panic and tell him I’m engaged. And to my surprise, it’s Tim who comes to my rescue, offering to play my fake fiancé if I’ll do him a favor–cover up the truth about his injury.
The lie could derail both our careers, and I’ve got no desire to spend more time than necessary in Tim’s surly presence. And falling for him again? Ha! That’s never going to happen.
So with my job on the line, I say yes. Now, the more time I spend with Tim, the more I sense a softer side beneath those chiseled muscles and broody exterior. But the more I understand him, the harder it is to pretend that we're just for show.
And when a rival player threatens to expose our secret, I’m terrified I’ll lose everything.
They say you have to fake it to make it. But what happens when love is the goal?
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
My review:
Tim and Jordan met as teenagers when Tim came to America for soccer and broke her heart. Years later Jordan joins the Strikers soccer team as the medical director where Tim is now the superstar. While her predecessor had allowed players to play while hurt, she is charged with evaluating the players and determining if they can play. When one of her bosses implies that single women are a risk to hire, she quickly comes up with the story of being engaged. Now she must either confess her lie or find someone to be her fake fiancé. Tim volunteers to fill the fake fiancé role but soon the lines get blurred for both. Can they overcome their past and the lies that threaten to expose them?
He’s a Player is the second book in the San Francisco Strikers series, but I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone. It was well-written, easy to read, and had characters that were lovable. It was a great second chance with a fake relationship romance. I enjoyed reading it and I recommend it.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Even amid the din, I recognize the voice as huskier than Charlie’s. My stomach drops to my feet, and I fight back a surge of adrenaline mixed with nausea.
I turn, and I’m met by broad shoulders under a tight black Henley with the Strikers logo on the front. Even in heels, I have to look up to see Tim Cheltenham’s face.
It’s gorgeous. Undeniably gorgeous—angular jaw, olive-colored eyes under criminally long lashes, lips that inspire fantasies among virgins. And everyone else.
Except right now, those beautiful eyes are squinting in confusion, and his luscious lips are pressed into a line. The only thing harder than this man’s muscles is the intensity of his stare, and his muscles could tear holes in his shirt.
My eyes go rogue, taking a slow tour of his frame, starting with his ripped, low-slung jeans and those sculpted soccer player thighs, hugged tight by the denim fabric, which is probably having its own orgasm from the contact.
Lucky-duck jeans.
His shirt is tight enough that I can clearly see his six-pack abs, right below carved pecs that have me swallowing hard, so I don’t open my mouth and take a bite out of his bicep. It would be embarrassing but so worth it.
“Tim.” That’s all I can muster.
Bringing my glass to my lips, I feel a tremor in my hand, which I hope he doesn’t notice. Fifteen years since I’ve seen him in person. Same damn reaction.
I take a long sip. Then another.
Thank you, bartender. I’m drunk now.
Just looking at him brings back age-old hurt coupled with memories I’ve pushed down hard and tried to forget. Tried and failed.
Tim had burrowed in deep, affected me in ways I couldn’t fight and couldn’t fathom. I stopped thinking about him eventually out of pure self-preservation, but I never forgot about him.
Besides, it’s pretty hard to forget when his name and face are plastered all over the sports news, which I started looking at when I applied for jobs as a medical director. And for years before that, right about the time I met Tim. Coincidentally.
“What are you doing here?” His eyes flicker under the dark blond hair that falls across his forehead before he pushes it back with a large hand. His gaze bears down on me, and he jiggles the sudsy remains of a beer in a pint glass.
You’ve earned this. Own it. Just breathe in and out, in and out.
I choke halfway through my inhale. I sputter my exhale. I don’t own a damn thing.
“I work here. Or at least I will in a month.” I feel a tic in my cheek.
He stares at me like my words make no sense. Like I make no sense. “Doctor Jordan Page.”
“Yes?”
He shakes his head. “You went by Danny. Back then.”
“Nickname. Jor-dan. Dan-ny. No one calls me that anymore, except my mom on occasion, and even she mostly doesn’t because I’ve asked her not to. Of course, I think that makes her want to do it more. Or maybe old habits die hard.” I’m oversharing. Or under-explaining? Or rambling because he makes me nervous—that hasn’t changed at all.
But he still seems flummoxed. “Doctor Jordan Page. Fuck me for thinking it was a bloke,” he mutters, raking a hand through his hair. My eyes track the motion, fixated on how much better he looks in person than in recent photos. Pure masculine virility radiates from him.
And yet…
“Because you assume all doctors are men?” My sexism radar flares to life, my bottom lip jutting out with my retort.
“No, I—”
“Good. You shouldn’t.”
“You’re the team doctor?”
“Director of Sports Medicine. Yes. I’m—”
“Part of Charlie’s new brigade. Coming to fix what isn’t broken. Right. I know all about it. Don’t think much of the plan.” His accent makes him sound so much more polite than his sharky smirk suggests.
My confidence shrivels like a sunburned grape. I feel my attempted smile pull down into a glower.
Is that what all the players think?
I tell myself I don’t care what he thinks, that I’m a professional. But I do care. And I have worked hard to get this job. I should own it. I’m tethered to my resolve by a fraying thread.
As I try to kickstart the syrup in my brain to find a witty retort, I’m jostled from behind by someone big—big enough to send me off-balance in my stupid two-inch shoes.
I lurch forward toward Tim, who puts his hands on my shoulders to steady me, but not before his entire beer spills down the front of my blouse.
His eyes go to the spill, which makes my shirt virtually sheer. And now it’s sticking to my bra, which has demi-cups made of thin baby blue lace—a stupid gift from my mother, who hoped I’d wear it on a date. Instead, I wear it on laundry day when all my plain cotton bras are in the wash.
After a mortifying second or six, Tim wrenches his eyes upward and releases his grip on me. I close my eyes to blot out the image of him. Of everyone.
Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of my future, the culmination of everything I’ve worked to achieve. It was supposed to be proof to my mother and anyone else that I don’t need a boyfriend to be happy. I was supposed to drink and celebrate and meet the players who’d be grateful to have me on their team.
But apparently not. They’re not all grateful, starting with this one.
I must have stepped on a puppy in a past life.
Because karma’s acting like a little bitch.
About Stacy Travis
It’s a rough world out there, and we all sometimes need a good, romantic beach read, even if we can’t make it to the beach. I’ve spent many lazy days walking the streets of Paris and other gorgeous European cities, and if I’m doing it right, I’m bringing you a dash of romance and a vacay fantasy.
I can’t sit still, so when I’m not hiking, biking or running, I’m playing a very average game of tennis. Background music for writing undoubtedly features some U2, Lizzo, Billy Joel, Pink, Taylor Swift, and Led Zeppelin. Not necessarily in that order. And if I could only eat one food group, it would be cheese. Or wine. Or bread. Are those food groups? Whatever.
To the world, he’s a sexy soccer superstar. To me, he’s the arrogant jerk who broke my teenage heart–and my new fake fiancé.
He’s A Player, an all-new sexy second chance sports romance from Stacy Travis, is now available!
The last time I saw Tim Cheltenham, he was an eighteen-year-old soccer hottie with an irresistible English accent, a painfully gorgeous face, and an enormous . . . ego.
Fifteen years later, with a medical degree under my belt and a new dream job with The Strikers soccer team—his team—I’m not about to let Tim’s bad attitude and grumpy scowl ruin it for me.
But when my chauvinistic boss implies that he doesn’t trust single women to stay on the job long-term, I panic and tell him I’m engaged. And to my surprise, it’s Tim who comes to my rescue, offering to play my fake fiancé if I’ll do him a favor–cover up the truth about his injury.
The lie could derail both our careers, and I’ve got no desire to spend more time than necessary in Tim’s surly presence. And falling for him again? Ha! That’s never going to happen.
So with my job on the line, I say yes. Now, the more time I spend with Tim, the more I sense a softer side beneath those chiseled muscles and broody exterior. But the more I understand him, the harder it is to pretend that we're just for show.
And when a rival player threatens to expose our secret, I’m terrified I’ll lose everything.
They say you have to fake it to make it. But what happens when love is the goal?
It’s a rough world out there, and we all sometimes need a good, romantic beach read, even if we can’t make it to the beach. I’ve spent many lazy days walking the streets of Paris and other gorgeous European cities, and if I’m doing it right, I’m bringing you a dash of romance and a vacay fantasy.
I can’t sit still, so when I’m not hiking, biking or running, I’m playing a very average game of tennis. Background music for writing undoubtedly features some U2, Lizzo, Billy Joel, Pink, Taylor Swift, and Led Zeppelin. Not necessarily in that order. And if I could only eat one food group, it would be cheese. Or wine. Or bread. Are those food groups? Whatever.
I got pregnant from a one-night-stand with my worst enemy Then I walked into the office to find out he was my new boss...
The Christmas One Night Stand, an all-new steamy enemies-to-lovers forbidden romance from bestselling author L. Steele is coming December 8th, and we have the first look at the gorgeous cover!
I got pregnant from a one-night-stand with my worst enemy Then I walked into the office to find out he was my new boss...
In my defense, I hadn’t planned on having anything to do with Hunter Whittington again. So what if his jaw can cut glass, his gaze is piercing and he has a body that haunted my dreams. Our values are contradictory. Our principles are contrasting. Our upbringing couldn’t be more different. He’s the entitled Oxbridge educated billionaire on track to become the leader of the country. I’m the daughter of a shopkeeper, who by sheer determination rose to become a PR specialist.
We hated each other on sight. Couldn’t spend time in the same room without getting into a fight. Until we find ourselves double-booked... ...in the same house over Christmas.
What’s worse there’s only one bedroom. And a snowstorm brewing outside. Then the electricity goes out... Only the chemistry between us takes off.
Unable to keep our hands off each other we make a pact... ...to spend one night together. We wouldn’t speak about it afterwards. Not to each other, not to the world. We’d pretend it never happened.
Except for the pink line across the test in my hand...
Reserve your copy today! https://readerlinks.com/l/2715687
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Meet L. Steele L. Steele loves to write romance novels featuring dangerous men and feisty women. She enjoys trading trivia with her filmmaker husband, watching lots and lots of movies, and walking nature trails. She lives with her family in London.
Connect with L. Steele Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DrrRBJ Facebook: https://bit.ly/3JYqVqE Instagram: https://bit.ly/3yqyqnC BookBub: https://bit.ly/3ITdJ56 Website: https://authorlsteele.com/
Just What I Needed, an all-new swoony and romantic novella in the Stage Dive series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott is out now!
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…
When the Stage Dive crew decides to help, they do it in a big way.
Nanny and housekeeper Jude has been going through a dry patch. Getting ready to dip her toes back into the dating pool is a little nerve racking. And the offers of assistance from her boss, David Ferris, and his band are not helping. Right up until music producer Dean Jennings arrives to work on the band's latest album.
But Dean is more than a little wary of dating anyone with anything to do with the Stage Dive crew after losing Lena to lead singer Jimmy Ferris all those years ago. Can Jude a) Convince the crew to stay out of her business and b) Woo the man of her dreams?
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Keep reading for a look inside Just What I Needed!
I smile. I have a lot to smile about. He likes me. We’re doing this. How exciting.
He leans forward. “Can I kiss you, Jude?” he whispers.
I feel those words in every part of me. “Yeah.” I lick my lips. “You can.”
As pretty as he was at a distance, he’s even more handsome close up. All of the shadows and lines of his face. It blows my mind how Lena left him for another. What a fool. Though I am kind of deeply grateful that she did. His lips are divine. No other word will do. And the thought of him pressing them against mine is making my stomach do a weird flip-flop thing. His lips are neither thin nor plump, but somewhere in between and perfect. I stare at them as he comes closer until he’s pressing his mouth softly against mine.
A sweet kiss, as if he’s testing his welcome. The man needn’t have bothered. I balance on the balls of my feet and join our lips once more, kissing him more insistently. I mean, we might as well figure out here and now if we have no chemistry. If he has no expertise. Because I kissed this male model once who was a tongue-wrangling disaster. Just a whole lot of wet-faced yuck. Sad, but true. It’s not like I have kissed anyone in ages. Maybe I’ve forgotten how it all works. Perhaps I’ll be the disaster.
Dean’s hands grip my hips, and his tongue slips into my mouth and oh, yeah. Very nice. A lack of chemistry is obviously not going to be a problem between us. He kisses me deep and wet in a way that goes straight to my head. My fingers slide over the smooth warm skin of his shoulders before holding on tight. He is so solid and strong. One of his hands is now cupping the back of my head, holding me to him. As if I had any intention of leaving. Heck no. We kiss until my lips are numb and swollen and my mind is far away. Nothing else matters but this moment.
He leans his forehead against mine, and we both take a moment to catch our breath. As first kisses go, it was stellar. My empty stomach, however, shows no cool and rumbles loudly. Talk about keeping it real.
About Kylie Scott
Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today, best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year in 2013, 2014 & 2018 by the Australian Romance Witer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long-time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia, with her two children and husband, she reads, writes, and never dithers around on the internet.
Call It Merry, an all-new steamy holiday novella set in the Sterling Mill world from bestselling author M.E. Montgomery is available now!
The holidays are such a soul-sucking time. I don’t buy into all the commercialism of decorating a tree or Santa. But then I’m bamboozled into hanging lights, making ornaments, and baking fruitcakes—all things I hate—by a woman who’s haunted me since I met her months ago.
Now, Megan is determined to fix what she calls my Grinchy attitude about the holidays. We might not share the same feelings about Christmas, but I am more than happy to unwrap her behind closed doors. However, she’s determined to keep me on the “friends only” list when I would rather be on the "naughty list." The only problem is, the more I spend time with her, the more everything I believe is called into question.
Because the Grinch may have stolen Christmas, but Megan may have stolen my heart.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My review:
Call it
Merry is a novella that is part of the Sterling Mill series. This was a
new-to-me author, but I had no trouble reading it as a standalone. The blurb sounded great, and I was pleasantly
surprised by the story. Although it was
short, the author was able to add depth to the story without making it feel
rushed.
Clay met
Megan when their best friends Emalee and Zach got together (Call it Fate). After their one night together following
their friends’ wedding, Megan left before Clay awoke. She feared a relationship with Clay could destroy
their friendship and put Emalee and Zach in a bad position. Clay had a bad memory of Christmas from his
childhood and since then he hated Christmas. Fate landed him in Sterling Mills during
the week the town is preparing for the Sterling Christmas celebration. Can the woman he can’t stop thinking of show
Clay that Christmas is more than presents?
I am a huge
fan of small-town romances and add in the festive storyline and this was a perfect
choice of book for me. The characters
were likable and sprinkle in some reindeer fun to get a fun festive story that
will leave you will all the feel goods.
I received
an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Fall in love today! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DNVHSE Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/callitmerry Apple Books: https://apple.co/3NrGcTF Nook: https://bit.ly/3DMUuLf Kobo: https://bit.ly/3UhaTNk
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3FwnDeU
Excerpt
I was about to head upstairs for a shower when the doorbell rang. Grimacing, I debated on ignoring whoever it was, but the bell rang again. I glanced down, then shrugged. The sweatpants I pulled on to walk through the house were better than what I’d originally had on, which was nothing. Besides, it was probably Reid with my police report. Maybe it was a good thing they had woken me up early. I had to deal with calling the insurance company and arranging for a rental. Milo barked and ran between me and the front door. “Shush,” I commanded, and he quieted but continued to prance in front of the door. I couldn’t help but be amused. He might be getting on in years, but the pup in him was still going strong. The brisk air woke up the part of me the coffee hadn’t, but not enough to prevent me from blinking at the woman who stood there. “Good morning!” she practically sang. That solved that. Only an elf would be so chipper this early on a Saturday morning. Megan’s bright blue eyes popped beneath the same white hat she wore last night. Dark blue jeans hugged long legs, and a red pea coat nipped in at her waist. Her nose and cheeks were tinted pink from the cold temps, but it did more for her than any makeup would. She must have been equally interested in my appearance. Her eyes roamed freely over my more-than-casual appearance, pausing without shame on my bare midriff. I deliberately scratched my stomach again. “See something you like?” I teased. She sniffed. “Nothing worth getting me on Santa’s naughty list.” I knew she lied. Despite her denial, a new pinkish hue highlighted her cheekbones, bringing out the blue in her eyes, which sparkled as prettily as the sun glinting off the frost on the grass behind her. Callie strode into the room and began to rub against my ankles. I scooped her up, and for a brief moment, I thought Megan’s eyes darkened with disappointment as I cradled the cat, covering my chest. Megan wasn’t the first woman to appreciate my efforts at keeping in shape, but knowing how much I got to her almost made me want to purr along with Callie. “Want to come in? I just woke up, thanks to these clowns.” I scratched Milo between the ears. “I thought I’d take you to breakfast before we get to work.” “Huh?” “You don’t understand the concept of breakfast? Please don’t tell me you’re one of those people who grab a coffee and a bagel from a bakery and eat at your desk.” I was, but I wasn’t going to admit it. “I know what breakfast is. I just don’t know what work you think I’m supposed to be doing, especially at this hour.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head as she pushed past me into the entranceway. “We promised Em and Zach we’d help them get ready for the town festival next weekend.” “Huh?” I knew I sounded like a broken record, but I couldn’t help it; that seemed to be my only available response to her ridiculous statements. Her eyes narrowed, and I swore I saw a flicker of devilment in them before she continued in an innocent voice. “Last night? When they left for the hospital? We made a promise.” She knelt down to receive enthusiastic kisses from Milo, who then flopped over onto his back for tummy rubs, which my uninvited guest happily gave. She glanced up at me. “I told you I’d be over in the morning. Maybe that bump on your head should be looked at again if you’ve already forgotten.” Her expression softened. “You did hear about the baby, right?” Finally, a question I could answer. “Yeah. I talked to Zach last night. I’m really happy for them.” “Mama Rae is going to pick Iain up from his friend’s house and take him over to meet his new sister this morning. Then this afternoon, we’re going to visit the new baby and bring Iain back from the hospital and pick out a Christmas tree with him, then bring it here. In the meantime, we’re going to get everything else ready and start tackling some of Em’s lists, as well as my own.” I scratched my head. There wasn’t enough coffee in the pot for this kind of confusion. “I’m sorry. We’re decorating their house for them?” She rolled her eyes. “Yep. Keep up, Mr. Grinch.” I scowled. It was true I didn’t get into all the decorating and extra festivities, but being called “Grinch” didn’t sit well with me, either, especially from her. “I’m not grinchy. I just don’t—” “Yeah, yeah. I know.” She stood as she talked, scowling at me. “You don’t believe in the magic of the holidays. But I also know you’d do anything for the Abbott clan.” At least, she wasn’t wrong about that. She took off her coat. “Now scoot. Time’s awastin’. Go get that shower, and I’ll treat you to the best breakfast outside of Em’s cooking. I’ll just help myself to coffee while you…you do something about that.” She waved a finger in a circle in front of my naked chest. Seeing a woman take charge with such confidence, even if she was a pain in my ass this morning, was a turn-on. I didn’t want to spend my morning doing anything “festive”, but I found myself following her bidding, mostly because I didn’t want her to see just how much she turned me on. There was only so much the loose sweatpants I was wearing could hide.
About M.E. Montgomery M.E. Montgomery has been an avid reader her entire life, and after falling in love with so many characters created by other authors, a new one began to form in her head. With the support of her family, she decided to to write it.
She is the homework queen to her four school aged children who think she is a genius in math, science, history and spelling. Fortunately, her biology and elementary school teaching background help her to keep up the expert façade, at least for now.
Although born and raised in the Washington DC metro area, she has considered many places to be called home since she left to attend college in North Carolina. She is a proud Navy wife, setting up a home wherever the Navy sends her husband. When she’s not reading or writing, she loves to go camping with her family, drink wine on the deck, and be swept off to romantic getaways.
