Dream (Rosewood Bay #4) by Carly Phillips-Review & Excerpt tour

DREAM (Rosewood Bay #4) by Carly Phillips-Review & Excerpt Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK Release Date October 16, 2018

She was his best friend, his first love. And she broke his heart. Now she’s back. Will they find a second chance?

As a little girl, Andrea Harmon wanted to marry a prince, and Kyle Davenport hoped it would be him. But he never told her how he felt, and lost her as a result. Because sometimes the bad guy gets the girl. And Kyle left town to get over her.

Andi made the wrong choice years ago, choosing the bad boy over the best friend she trusted and she paid for it every day since.

Coming face to face with his former best friend was bound to happen once he moved back to Rosewood Bay, but for Kyle, becoming her son’s new teacher is a painful reminder of what they never had. But this time around, Kyle is determined to change their ending. Prince Charming is determined to break down her walls.

Except that no happily-ever-after is won without a fight—and her ex-husband doesn’t like to lose.

••••••••••

REVIEW:  DREAM is the fourth instalment in Carly Phillips’ contemporary, adult DREAM erotic, romance series. This is primary school teacher Kyle Davenport, and florist Andrea ‘Andi’ Harmon’s story line. DREAM can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. Andrea is Kane Harmon’s (Fearless #1) sister.

NOTE: Due to the story line content and issues of spousal abuse, DREAM may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Kyle and Andi) DREAM is a best friends/second chance romance focusing on primary school teacher Kyle Davenport, and florist Andrea Harmon. Ten years earlier Andrea Harmon broken Kyle Davenport’s heart, in fact, Andrea destroyed any remnants of their friendship by pushing away the only man she would ever love. Broken and bitter, Kyle left Rosewood Bay in search of something more, only to return to his hometown where he will face the woman he has always loved. A single mother of a nine year old boy, Andi will come face to face with her past when she discovers her son’s teacher is the boy whose heart she broke and shattered. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and love between Andi and Kyle, and the potential fall-out as Andi’s past refuses to let go, and threatens any potential happiness for her future happily ever after.

Andi and Kyle were best friends for most of their lives until the day Andi pushed Kyle away, opting for the high school quarterback, and the excitement it brought for the foreseeable future. Kyle, broken and battered, ran from Rosewood Bay in an effort to forget about the girl he left behind, a girl whose own life would be shattered by the choices she made.

The relationship between Kyle and Andi is a former best-friends to lovers/second chance relationship that quickly develops into something more. As the school year progresses Andi and Kyle would reconnect and revisit what happened and why, until Andi’s past threatens to destroy their hard-fought reunion. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

All of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters including Kane and Halley (Fearless#1), Phoebe and Jake (Breathe #2) , Braden and Juliette (Freed #3), as well as Kane and Andi’s father, a man whose own demons continue to ride him hard. We are introduced to Andi’s son Nicky, and he ex-husband Billy, a man who is determined to make Andi’s life miserable.

DREAM is a story of family and friendship, romance and love, second chances and happily ever after. The premise is sexy, sassy and inspiring ; the characters are colorful, animated, strong and real; the romance is stirring and moving. DREAM is a quick read; a passionate and energetic story about two people torn apart by stupidity, broken dreams and the volatile nature of domestic abuse.

Reading Order and previous Reviews
Fearless
Breathe
Freed
Dream

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

“I didn’t mean to drag you away from Kimberly. You two seemed to be hitting it off.”
He didn’t pull his hand away from her face, struck by the tinge of something in her voice. Jealousy? And if so, why did it please him that she cared?
“Kimberly was like a leech who wouldn’t let go. She even used her sick brother’s story to hang on to me. I wasn’t doing anything more than offering sympathy,” he said, opting for the truth.
Andi blinked, unmistakable relief in her pretty brown eyes. “Really?”
“Did it bother you when you thought I was into her?” he heard himself asking, knowing he hadn’t planned to go down this road, but the attraction between them was a real, tangible thing.
His fingers itched to run through her thick, wavy hair, and he couldn’t tear his gaze from her glossed lips as she ran her tongue nervously over them. Not to mention the energy it took not to look down at her full breasts beneath the jersey.
“Would it upset you if I said it did? That watching you with her stirred up feelings that took me by surprise?”
“I shouldn’t want you, Andi. You hurt me. Took a fucking knife to my heart. But that was in the past. And what’s going on now between us is the present.”
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the past alive despite them both wanting to put it behind them. But everything inside him was pulled toward her now, drawn to her fragile strength and beauty.
He dipped his head and pressed his mouth to hers. Warm and giving, her soft lips moved beneath his. His hand slid around her jaw, tilting her head, giving him better access as his tongue delved into her mouth and tangled with hers. Finally, finally, finally, finally. His heart beat out the word in rapid rhythm, a long-held desire coming true as her kiss turned him inside out.
He explored the deep recesses of her mouth, tasting her essence, aware of his body’s reaction, the swell of his cock behind his jeans, the spike in adrenaline, the racing of his pulse.
Despite the pain, the anger, the hurt, this was the girl of his dreams and she was in his arms, eagerly accepting his kiss. He slid his hand into her hair, grasping the thick strands between his fingers and tugging as the kiss turned hotter and he backed her against the vanity, his waist flush against hers, his hard erection cradled between her thighs. His cock throbbed with unappeased need, desire flowing between them.
Until a hard knock sounded on the door, startling them into breaking apart. She looked at him, wide-eyed, the surprise etched in her face as strong as the shock rippling through him.
“Be right out,” he called to the person on the other side of the door.
He glanced at Andi, her face now flushed a bright red. “There’s no way to avoid walking out together, is there?” she asked.
“Whether you go first or last, whoever it is heard my voice.” Her blush deepened.
“Well, then here’s to giving them something more to talk about.”

After a successful fifteen-year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.

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Freed (Rosewood Bay #3) by Carly Phillips-Review Tour

FREED ( Rosewood Bay #3) by Carly Phillips-Review Tour

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

Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2smqZtK

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 10, 2018

Fall for the missing Ward sister…

Juliette Collins is privileged and isolated from the world by her over-protective father. She thinks she knows the truth about her history until a file on her father’s computer reveals she has sisters she never knew about. A family she’s never met. Betrayed, she realizes there’s a life waiting for her outside the walls of her daddy’s New York City penthouse and Juliet is determined to live it. Against her father’s wishes, she heads to a small beach community to meet her siblings… and finds herself way out of her depth instead.

In the personal protection business, Braden Clark thinks nothing of taking on a job to watch over a city girl in town for the summer. If her father wants to know his daughter is safe, it’s no problem and an easy way of earning a paycheck. Except Braden doesn’t count on falling for the sheltered Juliette. Watching her experience her firsts, getting an apartment, finding a job, meeting up with her lost sisters, soon Braden’s brand of protection becomes a little too personal. He’s mixing business with pleasure and lying to a woman he’s coming to care deeply about.

Sexual attraction burns bright between them and Braden is by her side as she finds herself, her family, and what it means to love… but what happens when she discovers his secret? That he’s been paid to watch over her all along?

••••••••••••••

REVIEW:  FREED is the third instalment in Carly Phillips’ contemporary, adult ROSEWOOD BAY romance series focusing on the Ward sisters. This is missing Ward sister twenty-six year old Juliette Collins, and private investigator Braden Clark’s story line. FREED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Juliette and Braden) FREED follows Juliette Collins, the missing Ward sibling, as she searches for the sisters she knew nothing about. Raised by her over-protective father, following the death of her mother, Juliette has been sheltered her entire life until the day she reads her father’s file about her ‘not so dead’ mother, and the daughters (Juliette’s sisters) he abandoned years before. Heading to Rosewood Bay to meet Phoebe and Halley Ward, Juliette is unaware that her father, New York City investment banker Andrew Collins, has hired a private investigator to report back on the daughter of whom he is desperate to return home. Enter Braden Clark, former police officer and PI, and the man with whom Juliette will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Juliette and Braden, and the fall-out when Juliette learns the truth about her father’s ongoing betrayal, and the lie of omission by Braden Clark.

FREED is a story of betrayal, secrets and lies. From the proverbial frying pan into the fire, Juliette Collins discovers that the men in her life cannot be trusted. Naïve and isolated from the basic experiences of life Juliette Collins embarks on a bucket-list of activities beginning with the introduction to the sisters she never knew. Braden Clark struggles in the face of his father’s ever—increasing Alzheimer’s disease, a disease that is quickly destroying the man he once was. Falling for Juliette Collins was never in the plans but meeting the awkward, innocent and beautiful Juliette gave Braden a hope for a happily ever after.

The relationship between Juliette and Braden is off-limits due to the fact that Braden has been hired to spy on our heroine, reporting back to the father who has broken her heart. The attraction between Juliette and Braden is immediate but Braden’s pursuit of Juliette is an ongoing mix-up of signals for our story line heroine. The romance is fun, flirty and spicy. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The wonderful secondary and supporting characters include Juliette’s sisters Phoebe (and Jake), Hally (and Kane) as well as the local florist Andrea ‘Andi’ Harmon; Juliette, Phoebe and Hally’s father Andrew; Braden’s struggling father Jonathan Clark, and their neighbor Lucy Mulligan. Andi and Kyle’s story line is next in DREAM, a departure from the Ward sister story lines.

FREED continues to focus on the daughter’s of New York City investment banker Andrew Collins, a man who abandoned his eldest children, and left them to suffer with a drug-addicted mother. Raised in the child-welfare system, Phoebe and Hally have battled the stigma of desertion, betrayal, and drug abuse to find their happily ever after without the aid of neglectful parents. FREED is an encouraging story of independence, with animated and playful characters. The struggle was limited to the lies and deception directed towards our story line heroine; the conflict resolution was a little too neat and clean for this reader.

Reading Order and previous Reviews
Fearless
Breathe
Freed

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

After a successful fifteen-year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.

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Text Updates of New Releases  Carly’s Corner!  Instagram

Blog & Website Updates  Bookbub

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Breathe (Rosewood Bay #2) by Carly Phillips-Review Tour

BREATHE (Rosewood Bay #2) by Carly Phillips – Review Tour


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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 15, 2018

Fall in love with the Wards…

From troubled teen to successful general contractor, Jake Nichols turned his life around from his time in foster care. Divorced and single, he juggles his time between his daughter and his work. Next on his agenda, a new project that is his chance to prove his worth at the job he loves. Except he never anticipates that the only girl he’s ever loved and lost as a teen is now a grown and beautiful woman in charge of the project.

Phoebe Ward has survived and conquered a painful past that includes foster care and becoming a teenaged mom. She wants nothing more than to focus on the present but it’s hard when she looks into the eyes of her son, knowing she’s tried and failed to find his father. She’s resigned herself to raising him alone with the help of her family… Until a client meeting brings her face to face with her first love. A boy… now a sexy man she thought she’d never see again … and the father of her child.

So many years have gone by and both of their lives have changed drastically. Will they be able to put the past behind them and find the second chance they both deserve?

••••••

REVIEW: BREATHE is the second instalment in Carly Phillips’ contemporary, adult ROSEWOOD BAY erotic, romance series focusing on the Ward sisters. This is real estate agent Phoebe Ward, and general contractor Jake Nichols’ story line. BREATHE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jake and Phoebe) BREATHE is a second chance / secret baby romance that follows the rekindling romance and relationship between real estate agent Phoebe Ward, and general contractor Jake Nichols. Growing up in foster care our leading couple became best friends early on but at sixteen years of age Phoebe’s Aunt Joy found our story line heroine offering a permanent home and a happily ever after but what neither one knew was that Phoebe was pregnant, and the father was currently no where to be found. Fast forward to present day wherein Phoebe will come face to face with her past, and the man with whom she is still in love. Enter general contractor Jake Nichols, divorced father of one, and the man who fathered her beloved son. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship and romance between Jake and Phoebe, as Jake becomes better acquainted with the son he never knew.

BREATHE is a sweet story line of second chances; of one woman’s struggle as a single parent, and the shock of discovering the man that she loved lived within miles of her home. The premise is heart warming, engaging and entertaining; the conflict is limited as Jake’s clingy ex-wife comes looking for a second chance; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are spirited, strong and determined. Phoebe’s sister Halley and her boyfriend Kane (Fearless #1) return as secondary and supporting characters. BREATHE is an inspiring, encouraging and energetic story of family, love and second chances.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one FEARLESS.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

After a successful fifteen-year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.

Website  Mailing List   NewsletterGoodreads  Amazon  Facebook  Twitter

Text Updates of New Releases  Carly’s Corner!  Instagram

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Fearless (Rosewood Bay #1) by Carly Phillips-Review & Excerpt Tour

FEARLESS (Rosewood Bay #1) by Carly Phillips-Review and Excerpt Tour

FEARLESS
Rosewood Bay #1
by Carly Phillips
Release Date: March 20, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 20, 2018

Fall in love with the Wards…

Mechanic and garage owner, Kane Harmon is used to the wealthy beautiful women visiting his beach town. He doesn’t get involved because he knows most females would merely be slumming for the summer.

Except Halley Ward isn’t just passing through. She lives a solitary life in a bungalow on the beach. A woman tormented by her past, distant from her wealthy family, different from Kane’s usual fare of town girls who know his M.O.- Don’t expect more than he’s willing to give.

Kane rescues Halley and her broken down car from the side of the road and instantly he’s hooked. She says she’s not interested in him. He knows she lies. And he makes it his mission to bring her back to life, to return her emotionally to her family. To show her the colors around her were as vibrant as the ones she puts on her canvas.

Until past meets present and threatens all the progress they’ve made. Then it’s Halley’s turn to step up and stand up for the relationship and life she’s finally coming to believe she deserves.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: FEARLESS is the first instalment in Carly Phillips’ contemporary, adult ROSEWOOD BAY erotic, romance series focusing on the Ward sisters-Halley and Phoebe Ward, and Juliette Collins. This is artist Halley Ward, and mechanic Kane Harmon’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Halley and Kane) FEARLESS follows the building relationship between mechanic and garage owner Kane Harmon, and artist Halley Ward. When a call comes into the garage about a broken down SUV Kane is surprised to discover his childhood crush Halley Ward at the side of the road looking for help. Kane had no idea that Halley, the girl that was bullied through most of her life, still lived in Rosewood Bay. From the outset, Kane’s attraction to Halley is met with resistance by our story line heroine, a resistance meant to protect Halley from further rejection by the people she loves. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Halley and Kane, and the potential fall-out when Halley’s past destroys what little trust Halley as built through most of her life.

Halley struggles to move on from the past, a past shrouded in the bitter memories of her mother’s battles with alcohol and drugs. Passed from foster home to foster home, our heroine’s earlier years control her present such that she is unable to let go, and move on from the past.

Kane Harmon’s life hasn’t been easy. While he and his sister Andi battle to keep one step ahead of their father’s addiction, Kane also struggles with issues of trust stemming from a woman who broke his heart.

The relationship between Kane and Halley is one of mutual attraction but Halley struggles with demons from her past, and low self-esteem as a direct result of her earlier life. Kane is falling in love with a woman who struggles with issues of trust, a trust that will be broken once again. He is a kind and gentle hero who is willing to accept everything in Halley’s past but Halley isn’t ready to allow Kane the benefit of the doubt. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Kane’s father Joe Harmon; Kane’s sister Andrea aka Andi, and her seven year old son Nicky; Halley’s sister Phoebe, and her eleven year old son Jamie, their Aunt Joy, and Halley and Phoebe’s mother – a woman whose addictions almost destroyed the lives of the children she was meant to love. Phoebe’s story line is next in BREATHE.

The world building reveals the destructive nature of addiction, of rejection, of the destruction of childhood dreams.

FEARLESS is a sexy but predictable story line in that our heroine, so desperate for a relationship with the woman who abandoned her as a child, is too easily sucked in by the lies and fears of addiction and drugs. The premise is engaging; the characters are broken but colorful; the romance is seductive and hot.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Kane drove Halley to her house on the beach. He didn’t need directions until they got closer, since he didn’t know exactly where she lived. She was quiet on the trip over and he let her be, mostly because he didn’t plan to just drop her off and walk away. He had, while upstairs washing up, thought quite a bit about this enigmatic woman and whether he wanted to put in the effort to pursue her.
He normally didn’t have to work hard to get a female into his bed. Not that he was bragging, but ever since he’d been aware of his interest in the opposite sex, they’d come easily and willingly. He hadn’t had many long-term relationships, mostly because no one woman had held his interest for long, but he wanted to get involved with someone who could be with him for the long haul. His parents had had a good marriage despite his father’s failings. His mom had put up with the gambling, probably because it hadn’t been as bad when she was alive to keep him in check. And though Kane hadn’t met the right person, he’d like to.
Of course, he was plenty busy with his family, keeping his father on the straight and narrow and keeping an eye on his sister’s kid when he could.
Once he arrived at Halley’s cottage, which was a name many houses in this area had, he realized it was a misnomer. He took in the beautiful structure, the water lapping in the background, the gorgeous porch in the front, and the visible wraparound deck in the back, and he was struck with the enormity of Halley’s family’s wealth.
It didn’t bother him, not in the way of she’s out of my league. Which was odd, considering ever since Liza had slept with him, led him to believe she was interested in a relationship only to dump him when her summer at the beach ended, with her amused comment that he’d believe she’d remain involved with a mechanic, of all things, he avoided the women who vacationed here during the season. Women who rented the type of house Halley lived in for the hot months of July and August. But nothing about Halley screamed standoffishness because of either her money or family status, so he immediately put it out of his mind.
Nothing really mattered but chemistry and the genuineness of a person, or so he believed, something he’d never found in the summer visitors. But Halley, for all her wariness about people, was as genuine as they came. No airs. So yeah, he’d decided, though he didn’t know her well, he wanted to go for the pursuit.
He parked the car he drove, a classic royal-blue Camaro, and climbed out, determined to beat or at least meet her around by her side.
She’d already swung her legs out and stood, glancing at him with a confused expression on her pretty face. “What are you doing?”
“Walking you to your door,” he said with his most charming smile on his face.
“But… this isn’t a date. You’re dropping me off after doing me a favor.”
“Aah. But my father raised a gentleman, and a gentleman always walks a lady to her door.”

About the Author:

After a successful fifteen-year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.

Website /  Mailing List  /  Newsletter /  Goodreads /  Amazon /  Facebook /  Twitter / Text Updates of New Releases /  Carly’s Corner!  / Instagram. / Blog & Website Updates  / Bookbub

 

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