Mr. Wicked (Hooked 2) by Marni Mann-review tour

Mr. Wicked (Hooked 2) by Marni Mann-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 23, 2024

Grayson Tanner has had better days. Coming off the successful international launch of Hooked, the hook-up app he cofounded with his two best friends, and a night with one of the sexiest women he’s ever met, he’s now in a PR nightmare. A video of him has gone viral—a toast to the indulgence of bachelorhood. It’s a bad look for the creator of the app’s marriage arm. As memberships plummet amid a media firestorm, his PR firm has a new narrative to quell the flames: Grayson has to get married. Fast.

Hello, Jovana Winters—social media influencer and Grayson’s former one-night stand. The one-night stand he has yet to move on from mentally. Their immediate connection is undeniable. In front of the camera, they’re charismatic and passionate, and social media is calling them the It couple. But off camera, Grayson doesn’t trust women or believe in commitment.

Jovana is the opposite, a believer in love who knows what she wants. Now she’s on a mission to turn this fake marriage into the real deal, even though she’s hiding the biggest secret of them all.

But with a man like Mr. Wicked, it won’t come easy.

••••••

REVIEW:Mr. Wicked is the second in the Hooked series by Marni Mann. Reading book one (Mr. Hook-Up) is recommended, while Wicked can be read alone, Grayson is part of a trio and is introduced in book one. Wicked is an alpha, billionaire romance filled with funny characters, spicy moments and a he falls first vibe.

Grayson is living the high life. The dating app he and his close friends have designed has exploded all over the internet, now it’s time to celebrate. When Grayson sees the waitress at the bar, he knows two things. 1. She is the hottest thing he has ever seen and 2.She is unlike anyone he has ever met before. When these two meet, the room is on fire with their chemistry, think of it as lust at first sight. Jovana isn’t one for hook-ups, she believes in love, but with Grayson, their lust is potent. She throws caution to the wind and puts her trust in the chemistry they have for one another, too bad that it comes to bite her in the bum. An empty bed in the morning.

Days later Grayson’s face is plastered all over the tabloids with half a dozen different women, all stating how amazing he thinks being single is. The company takes a hit, new enrollers are at a standstill, and their company’s PR is under fire to contain the issues. Their solution? Grayson must get married, and fast. Grayson isn’t one to take things lying down so you best believe the farce of a marriage the PR people are trying to peddle to him is a no go. Finally, after much conversation, Grayson is on board with the plan. Now they must find a woman willing to marry Grayson with the current situation. And of course, who is their first choice? Jovana.

What else is there to say about Mr. Wicked other than how fantastic a read it was. Grayson and Jovana were engaging and fun to read with the perfect amount of spice and character development. Grayson’s story as to why he had his issues is addressed and Jovana really does come into herself. I’m excited to see what our last bachelor has in store for us.

Click HERE for Sarah’s review of book one Mr. Hook Up

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

 

Best-selling Author Marni Mann knew she was going to be a writer since middle school. While other girls her age were daydreaming about teenage pop stars, Mann was fantasizing about penning her first novel. She crafts sexy, titillating stories that weave together her love of darkness, mystery, passion, and human emotion. A New Englander at heart, she now lives in Sarasota, Florida with her husband and their two dogs who subsequently have been characters in her books. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop working on her next novel, she’s scouring for chocolate, sipping wine, traveling to new locations, and devouring fabulous books.

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Wingman Score (For Puck’s Sake 5) by Crea Reitan-review tour

🩵🏒Wingman Score (For Puck’s Sake 5) by Crea Reitan-review tour🩵🏒

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Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 18, 2024

It’s time to score.

Zak

When you fight for so long, sometimes it’s just easier to give in. I want to give in to the god before me. Sent to me from the heavens, Owen is the very definition of divine perfection. But he doesn’t know my truth. If he did, he’d know that I don’t belong in his world.

The shame of seeing the disgust on his face when he figures it out keeps me running from him. Even though fate or destiny or something cruel keeps throwing us together. Maybe he’s the motivation I need to get my shit in order.

But can I do it before he figures out I’m nothing but a street rat?

Owen

The person who was made for me turns up at the New Year’s Eve party I didn’t want to go to. We’ve been serendipitously thrown together a handful of times since and though I know Zak wants me, he keeps walking out my door and refusing to call.

I can’t figure out why and it’s driving me insane. When I can’t take it anymore, I chance him thinking that I’m a stalker and show up at the address I dropped him off at last. Zak doesn’t live there but I finally learn his secret.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to convince Zak that I’ll give him the world if he’ll let me. Should be as easy as winning that elusive Stanley Cup.

••••••

REVIEW:Reading the blurb had me wondering if this would be as good as the rest of the series. Let me tell you it was, it took me a little longer than usual to warm up to the characters, but as usual the author puts so much into these stories, it’s hard not to fall in love with them and their story.

Zak hasn’t got two cents to rub together, sleeping on his friends couch and ducking into parties that he can’t afford! He’s not lazy, he wants a better life for himself, but as a struggling fashion designer, he knows he’s never going to make it big! He just needs motivation or a chance….

Owen is a god amongst his peers (well that’s what all the media says!) he’s loved and lived his best life to the fullest so far. But not having anyone to share it is becoming boring. But people are only usually nice to him because of his status.

Fate puts them in the right place. And are struck by how right they are together, but Zak can’t get past the fact they are from two different worlds …. Owen has money behind him, and Zak feels he just isn’t good enough to be with Owen! I loved Owen such a caregiver. He never let Zak think any less of himself. If he could he would have given him the world.

The angst comes mainly from Zak, his inability to let go of his inadequacies, not thinking more of himself. Owen never gives up, but it does get a little close at times!

And seeing Orson again 😊 that brings back happy memories, and a few of the other characters have books (look them up and give them a read, you won’t be sorry 😉)

So can Owen convince Zak to give them a chance? Or will Owen not be able to give his trust and love to the only man who will love him back unconditionally?

Again another original story that will have you thinking of Owen and Zak long after you put them down.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shiver
Starting Line
Lucky Shot
The Crease

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

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Giving the Dragon Fire by Victoria Jayne-review tour

🔥 Giving the Dragon Fire by Victoria Jayne-review tour 🔥 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 9, 2024

She captured his dragon’s attention and stole his fire.

With her final exams behind her, Ella Kincaid has one weekend to live carefree before entering the grueling world of corporate America to start her dream job. She never expected her one-night stand with Gideon to put her in an ethical dilemma on day one.

As a dragon shifter, all Gideon Hayes wants is his fire and to make jewelry. One incredibly stupid mistake cost him his flame. What’s he supposed to do with a human mate, anyway?

They’re mates who shouldn’t be. If Ella can’t get Gideon out of her head, she’ll lose her career. He’ll be damned if a human negates his fire.

Can they deny what destiny has in store for them? Challenging fate may have worse consequences than they ever imagined.

••••••

REVIEW:Another new author for me 😉 and a shifter book (one of my favourite reads) so I’m well happy 😊

Ella, has a strong personality who takes no messing from anyone. She values her work and has worked hard to get where she is now. It might be a family owned business, but didn’t do her any favours. She loves her job (the one thing that puzzled me though… it’s family run, but hardly any of her family wander through or are mentioned!)

Gideon is a dragon shifter. He has the reputation of being a bad boy, but it didn’t really come across that way (well I didn’t to me 🤷🏻‍♀️) He loves his job. He make’s jewellery for the family run business. (Now this is where it differs from Ella, we meet, and hear about his family all the time 🤔)

I liked how the author (through Gideon) explains how the shifter community works. How they shift/meet other dragons and how they live in general, (they are governed by a dragon council) We got the information in a way that wasn’t just an information dump (you get some authors just unload too much too soon!)

Meeting leads to obvious chemistry between Ella and Gideon. One thing leads to another…. The bedroom scenes are spicy 🥵 but there aren’t too many (lately all I’ve been reading is no plot and lots of $ex, it gets a little monotonous)

Did make me roll my eyes when they decided they weren’t going to be together, they wanted to continue their own lives separately. It’s good to have conflict, it’s ok to make them realise they will be happier together. (Nothing worse than no drama) but both Gideon and Ella got a little whiny (that is me skipping a few pages)

I loved Felicity, Ella’s friend/roommate, she’s an absolute blast. Witty and totally out there, but we all need a friend like that. Some of the stuff she comes out with had me chuckling.

So when an opportunity arises that could end they’d bond, will they take it? or will they finally realise what they have really is special?
Storyline is fairly original and straightforward. Characters are well thought out.

It’s descriptive without wasting pages. A recommended read if you like your shifter stories. I’d love Felicity to get a story, that would a fun read.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

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Victoria Jayne is the epitome of a Jersey Girl. She doesn’t [know how to] pump her own gas, enjoys pork roll, and grew up on the Jersey Shore.

She’s lived throughout the state of New Jersey and remains there with her sports journalist husband and two darling daughters.

When not writing, Victoria enjoys baking with her daughters, rooting for the New Jersey Devils, thinking of home improvement projects, and staying up far too late chatting on Discord.

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Dead to Rights (Ashland 1) by Jessica Prince-review tour

🏍️🧡Dead to Rights (Ashland 1) by Jessica Prince-review tour🏍️🧡

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 8, 2024

When I caught my husband having an affair, I picked up what remained of my tattered pride and broken heart and left the city behind, heading for a small town where motorcycles outnumbered cars three to one.

Ashland, Tennessee was where I planned to start over and become the woman I wanted to be; a woman who was fun and just a little bit reckless. The need to break out of my shell led to one wild night with a man I never planned on seeing again. But when the tattooed stranger showed up unexpectedly at my new job, he made it clear that once wasn’t going to be enough for him.

As the president of a motorcycle club with a checkered past, Courtland Pope should have scared me, but no matter how hard I tried to stay away, the pull to him was too strong to ignore.

However, when old rivalries breach the surface and the line between good and bad begins to blur, I find myself stuck in the middle. And as much as Pope wants me, he might not be able to protect me from the past.

••••

REVIEW:As a long time Jessica Prince fan, I have been DYING to get Popes’ book ever since he stormed into Redemption all those years ago, and the wait was so worth it. Dead to Rights is the first in what I hope will be an expansive series and can be read as a standalone.

Pope is everything you want in a hot guy. He speaks his mind, he tells it how it is and he follows through with everything he says he will. He’s the President of his MC and when he isn’t cracking heads, he’s spending time with his niece. Enter Lennon, and the story is complete. These two are absolute fire from the moment they meet, and the flames they kick off during their story are ones that will have readers coming back for more.

Pope and Lennon’s story is filled with spicy moments, funny banter and small town drama. He’s a bad boy, she’s a woman looking to start over, together they form a bond that people dream about. Plus who doesn’t want a guy that has “touch her a d*e energy? Pope has broken into the top five of my book boyfriend list, and I am totally looking forward to seeing what comes next in this series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

Born and raised around Houston Texas, Jessica spent most of her life complaining about the heat, humidity, and all around pain in the ass weather. It was only as an adult that she quickly realized the cost of living in Houston made up for not being able to breathe when she stepped outside. That’s why God created central air, after all.

Jessica is the mother of a perfect little boy–she refuses to accept that he inherited her attitude and sarcastic nature no matter what her husband says.

In addition to being a wife and mom, she’s also a wino, a coffee addict, and an avid lover of all types of books–romances still being her all time favs. Her husband likes to claim that reading is her obsession but she just says it’s a passion…there’s a difference. Not that she’d expect a boy to understand.

Jessica has been writing since she was a little girl, but thankfully grew out of drawing her own pictures for her stories before ever publishing her first book. Because an artist she is not.

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The Wallflower’s Midnight Waltz by Collette Cameron-review

The Wallflower’s Midnight Waltz (Chronicles of the Westwood Brides 5) by Collette Cameron-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 2, 2024

A masquerade ball sets the stage for an American wallflower’s revenge against an English noble, only to be complicated by unexpected love…

American Eva Westbrook has had enough of English aristocrats looking down their snooty noses at her. Among these elite nobles is her neighbor, Peter Hartigan, a notorious rake she believes played a part in her cousin’s humiliation a few years ago. Disguised as a mysterious masked woman and seeking reprisal, Eva sneaks into a masquerade ball that Peter is hosting.

As Eva spends more time with Peter, she realizes he may not be the heartless blackguard she thought he was. She becomes torn between her duty to avenge the past pain and suffering of her dear cousin and the unexpected feelings for the very man who’d caused it.

As they dance the midnight waltz, Eva and Peter engage in a dangerous game of deception and desire. Eva struggles to maintain her facade while battling her growing attraction to Peter. Meanwhile, Peter is captivated by the enigmatic woman in his arms and is determined to uncover her true identity.

With her blossoming feelings conflicting with a quest for vengeance, will Eva decide to follow through with her vendetta or let go of the past and take a chance on a future with Peter?

•••

REVIEW:A short story, but with lots going on, it read like a longer book. I have to admit I’ve not read any of the other stories in this series, don’t think it bare too much of an issue, but meeting characters through the book, I’m wondering if they’ve been in previous books 🤔

American woman Eva can’t stand bullies! And when her cousin is the target, then she will come to her defence! But how? This man deserves to be taken down a peg or two, and Eva is the the woman to do it!

Englishman Peter has amnesia (a fall from a horse) he can’t recall certain parts of his memory, but told that he wronged a young lady from society. It’s taken nearly eighteen months for Peter to regain his strength. And a ball seems like the best way to reintroduce himself into society and hopefully apologise for all the harm he caused!

Revenge is on Eva’s mind, so she decides to disguise herself with a mask and attend the ball that is being held by Peter Hartigan.

They meet/dance and have a connection. Eva realises that maybe he’s not as bad as all the stories were told about him. But she’s here for revenge. Can she set things on motion?

Peter can’t believe his good fortune, meeting a mysterious lady at his party had him thinking of starting to believe in love again. What will he think of Eva when he finds out why she is really here?

Really enjoyed my visit with the Westbrooks and Hartigans. I’ve not read any of the previous books (there are quite a few) and I don’t think I really missed anything. The author says you can read without reading the other books. And I felt that was correct.

Really good characters. A good plot (would have liked a little revenge first 😉) and a great eye for a detailed description.

If you like your romance behind closed doors (otherwise known as clean or sweet) then give this a look. It was rather refreshing after all the dark and s£x books I’ve been reading. It’s like a palate cleanser after a heavy meal.

A recommended read from me 👍🏻

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie 🦋

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A Taste of Darkness (Satan’s Touch Academy) by Crea Reitan-review

A Taste of Darkness (Satan’s Touch Academy) by Crea Reitan-review tour

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Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 28, 2024

Don’t touch the walls…

The world is getting a little darker and the girls aren’t sure what to do. Summer has come and their newest and perhaps biggest line is ready to launch. There are big things planned, but the insidious underbelly of Satan’s Touch Academy won’t let them go.

When the secret society hits a little too close to home and Crea nearly loses one of her demons, the witches decide that turning their backs on the problem and hoping it goes away isn’t working. Maybe it’s time to try a new tactic and see what they can figure out… from the inside.

Everything appears shiny and new, glamorous and glitzy. But when one of the angels who have been paraded around naked and chained manages to break free, he tells a very different, darker story than what the society would have everyone believe.

Not that it matters, because right before school starts, the disappearances become far too personal.

•••••

REVIEW:Third book in the Satan’s Touch Academy series, and I loved it. It revolves around a group of girls who find their mates. It shares pages with everyone, but each book has a little more time with one female…. Devyn is the lucky one this time 😉

This book takes up from the last book, so it’s best to read the two previous books before starting this one.

The girls toy shop (not the type you take kids to 😜) is going great. The relationships between them and their mates are going really well (s£x and lots of it in the book) they even managed to squeeze a holiday away together. So life is looking good. It would be marvellous if it weren’t for the society (Saint Sacred Tongue, Sanctus Sacrum) wanting them to join their ranks.

The Sanctum isn’t sacred and isn’t nice, as the group are about to find out….

Rescuing someone from the Sanctum seemed like a good idea at the time, but when the Sanctum retaliate by trying to grab a mate, it makes the girls stop and think.

And when one of the girls (not saying who 🤫) gets kidnapped, it throws them all in a turmoil!!

As always the characters are well thought out. The plot had me engrossed. And the pages flew past. Yes there is silliness and fun, but there is also a dark side to this story, and as the books progress, so does the darkness!!

This author has now become a one click without reading the blurb. The time/effort and emotions put into each book has to be exhausting, add different genres into the mix, and there should be something in her works to please most people.

Another cliffhanger 🫣 leaving me wanting answers and more time perusing the shelves of their shop 😜

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
A Lick of Magic
A touch of Seduction

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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Amulet (Heart’s True Desire 1) by Kathryn Amurra-review & excerpt

Amulet (Heart’s True Desire 1) by Kathryn Amurra-review & excerpt

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / NOOK

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 3, 2024

Intelligent, charismatic, and successful, Val Nikolov has achieved everything he’s ever wanted, thanks to a wish made on his grandmother’s magical amulet.

Alex Weaver, however, can’t seem to get her life in order. As a temp-agency lawyer helping Val’s company prepare to be acquired, Alex has no hope that she will ever land a full-time job as an attorney (or convince her boyfriend to marry her).

When one of Val’s key engineers abruptly departs, the acquisition is suddenly at risk. Hoping to salvage the deal, Val asks Alex to travel with him to Israel for a meeting with the decision-makers. The more time Val and Alex spend together, however, the more they question the things they thought were most important in their lives. Soon, they find themselves at a crossroads, having to choose between the lives they’ve always wished for and their hearts’ true desire.

••••••

REVIEW:Amulet is the first book in the Heart’s True Desire series.

Slow burn romance, but with lots of character and really well written.

Alex who is a contract lawyer, and Val who runs a tech company. Both are good at their jobs.

Val runs his company firm but fair. He’s about to sell his company and start on a new venture, which he’s really excited about, but his love life is a different matter! He needs to say goodbye to his girlfriend and fast!

Alex is new to the company. Brought in to make sure all legal aspects are correct. She likes her work and she good at it. Shame she couldn’t say the same thing about her boyfriend! (Can you see a pattern? 😉) hoping she will get an offer to stay on, Alex puts all her time and energy into the work she’s asked to do….

It is a little slow for the first quarter of the book. But once the path is clear (no boyfriend/girlfriend to get in the way) then the attraction and the fun can begin….

He definitely falls first, and it’s fun to watch him pursue and try to convince Alex it’s more than an office fling.

A trip away gives Val the opportunity to tell Alex just how he feels. But can Alex jump at the chance of happiness, or will those feet stay firmly on the ground?

I really liked both of the characters. Val had a sense of duty and purpose. Alex made me smile with her incredible brain and her social skills (she really didn’t mix well with others, preferring work to play)

But where is the magic I hear you ask? Well, that comes in the form of a locket that has been passed down through the generations. It grants the wearer what they truly desire. Val has heard about the locket and the prophecy surrounding it all his life. Does he believe in the magic? And what happens when he gives Alex the locket as a token of his affection?

There are a few stories that go on in the book, and I’m hoping these play out in other books.
I can’t wait to see what the author has planned for the next book.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

 

Val opened the passenger side door for her, silently grateful for having just cleaned the interior.
Thanking him, Alex got into the front seat. He couldn’t help noticing as Alex’s coat parted at the bottom and her skirt slid a couple of inches up her thighs in the process.
He shut the door before she could realize where his eyes and thoughts had been and went around to the driver’s side.
“I’ll try not to breathe too much on the short ride over to your parking lot,” he said, starting the car. “I’d hate it if I got you sick.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ve got a pretty robust immune system. Plus, if I’m choosing between catching a cold and dying in a fiery car crash because you held your breath and passed out, I think I’d choose the former.”
Val laughed. “It’s always good to put things into perspective.”
He reached over to the stick shift and put the car in reverse. It was only after grasping the shifter that he sensed how close his hand was to Alex’s left knee. Indulging himself, Val glanced at her face in profile as he turned his body to look behind them and backed out of the parking spot. She was looking down at her lap and trying to adjust her coat.
Val shifted again, driving toward the exit. Alex was quiet, and he hoped she wasn’t uncomfortable sitting next to him. After their dinner and a pleasant conversation, she couldn’t possibly be worried that he was trying to put the moves on her, could she?
“We’ll have to see about getting you a parking spot in the building. I’ll talk to Judy about it tomorrow.”
Alex looked over at him. “That’s really nice of you, but I can’t afford to park here. It’s more than twice as expensive as the lot I’m in right now, and I can hardly afford that.”
Val knew that contract attorneys made less than in-house counsel or attorneys in big law firms, but he was curious how much less. “What are they paying you at Advance Legal?”
“Thirty dollars an hour.”
He was quiet for a moment. “They’re making a killing on you, you know. I should have hired you directly—you could have made more money, and I could have spent less money. Anyway, don’t worry about the cost. The company will pay for your parking.”
The unexpected offer had her eyes widening in surprise. “I can’t ask you to do that!”
“You’re not. It’s a business decision that I’m making. Look, it’s going to be crazy the next few weeks with this deal. I might need you to come in extra early on some days and stay late on others. And the days are short this time of year. I can’t be worrying about the seven-block walk you have to make to your car in the dark every night.”
Alex pressed her lips into a straight line, and even relying only on peripheral vision, Val could tell she was skeptical. “So, you’re saying I’d be doing you a favor by allowing the company to pay exorbitant amounts of money for me to park in the building.”
He could hear the smile in her voice as she said the words, and he wished he could take his eyes off the road for more than just a moment to see it.
“Yes, that’s exactly right.”
Sighing, Alex relented. “All right, then. I’ll do it. For the company.”
He laughed. “You might just get employee of the month at this rate.” 


 

Kathryn Amurra is the author of sweet and sensual love stories. Her debut series, Soothsayer’s Path, is a historical romance series of standalone books set in Ancient Rome around 115 CE. Her new series, Heart’s True Desire, is a paranormal romance series of standalone books published through The Wild Rose Press. Kathryn has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and writing since grade school. Against the advice of her 12th grade English teacher, she studied Mechanical Engineering in college, then worked as an Engineer for a few years. After finding and marrying her own hero, she and her hubby went to law school together. They currently live in North Carolina with their three girls.

Email – kathrynamurra@gmail.com

Website – https://www.kathrynamurra.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kathrynamurra/

Twitter – @AmurraKathryn

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20280375.Kathryn_Amurra

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Lord Ashley’s Beautiful Alibi by Cerise Deland-review

Lord Ashley’s Beautiful Alibi (Scarlett Affairs 1 )by Cerise Deland-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 21, 2024

He pretended he was her lover. She became his alibi…and his only love.

Augustine Bolton lives amid the social whirl and treachery of the stylish court of Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte. When Gus’s dearest friend, Amber, disappears, Gus must find her before the deputy chief of police finds Amber and carts her off to his bed—or to la Force.

But Gus’s means are few and her own duties as an agent in Amber’s network mean she is also suspect. Gus needs help.

Kane Whittington is just the man for the job.

He has worked for London merchant-cum-spymaster Scarlett Hawthorne for years and welcomes Scarlett’s call to build a large espionage network in Europe. His first task is to find the missing head of Scarlett’s espionage network.

The best person to help him is the lady’s best friend whom he’s never met. But when he sets eyes on ravishing Augustine Bolton in Josephine’s salon, Kane recognizes the black-haired beauty as the one he kissed years ago on the road to Malmaison during a botched abduction of Bonaparte.

Kane must persuade the beautiful Gus to allow him to help her. He suggests the cover for their escapade is simple: They show the gossipy Parisian court they enjoy a mad love affair. Thus, Gus gains an ally—and Kane acquires an alibi.

But Gus’s ally is a darling man whose kindness thrills her. His alibi is a brave, beautiful woman he cannot give up. Can they find a way to fulfill their missions—and join together to claim their love for a lifetime?

••••

REVIEW:I’ve only ever read one of this authors books before and I throughly enjoyed it.
So as this is a new series (one book so far, but lots more promised) I thought I’d give it a go…

Kane needs a way into a spy network, and by finding the head of the network will get him where he needs to be. But finding her proves tricky, he needs a cover story……

Augustine (or Gus to her friends) needs to find and rescue her best friend before she becomes a target of the chief of police (he’s got more than his eye on her friend!!) the help she needs requires stealth and guile. But where will she find the help she needs?

Their first meeting was years ago, a stolen kiss and a fond memory of one another. But they need to work together to find Amber, and get her back. But chemistry and sneaky looks at one another soon have the mission hanging in the balance! They are only suppose to play at being in love, it’s only suppose to be a cover! Try telling that to Gus and Kane 😝

An action/adventure story set in the past with a romance thrown in for good measure. A fast paced book that had me reading late into the night, couldn’t put it down! I needed to know what went on next…

Lots of twists and turns, with a few double deals and betrayals thrown in as well. Can Gus and Kane really trust one another? Or are they the only ones they can trust?

Liked how the author spent time on details. Set just before the Napoleonic war. The couple have to decide on wether they can trust one another. Kane is thinking of using Gus to extract the information he needs. It’s nothing personal at first. But spending more and more time with her, Kane struggles with his conscience and his growing admiration and affection for this young woman who isn’t afraid of going against society.

I did like Gus. Her attitude although in the past was very modern in those times. Marriage was basically slavey for the women. And powerful men could do what they liked! So marriage was never going to be on the cards for her.

History mixed with fiction, spies and intrigue. Lots of detail. Beautifully written and well thought out.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

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