Always You by Samantha Young - ARC Review & Release Blitz

 

Arrochar Adair has loved her brother's ex-bodyguard and best friend, Mac Galbraith, for years. Once upon a time, she was too young for him, but now that she's a mature woman in her thirties, Arro can see no issue with their difference in age. Yet something deeper, a problem much more difficult to surmount, is keeping them apart.

Mac Galbraith remembers clearly the night Arro became everything to him, no longer just his best friend and boss's younger sister. However, having made many mistakes over the years, there is one mistake Mac is determined not to make: to believe that he is worthy of Arrochar Adair. Allowing them to grow closer during his daughter, Robyn's, return has proven his undoing. And when Arro forces the subject of their relationship, his response pushes her away. He just never meant for it to destroy them completely.

Devastated by Mac's final rejection, Arro is determined to move on without him in her life, though he seems intent on staying put. And when the Adair family face a new threat, one that may have ties to Mac's past, Arro can't seem to be rid of the man. In fact, Mac will do anything to protect her.

But with so much hurt between them, will Arro let Mac close enough to guard her from their enemy... before it's too late?

Midnight Dunes by Laura Griffin - ARC Review

After a scandal derails her television reporting career, Macey Burns comes looking for a change of pace in Lost Beach, Texas. She’s ready to focus on her first passion—documentary filmmaking—and has a new job working for the island’s tourism board, shooting footage of the idyllic beachside community. Her plans for a relaxing rebound are dashed when she realizes the cottage she’s renting belonged to the woman whose body was just found in the sand dunes.

Detective Owen Breda is under intense pressure to solve this murder. Violent crimes are rising in his small town, and he can’t stand to see anyone else hurt…especially not the beautiful documentarian who keeps crossing paths with him.

With the clock ticking, cameras rolling, and body count climbing, Macey and Owen must use all their resources to find the killer without getting caught in the crosshairs.

Laura Griffin titles are like catnip for me.  They just are.  One appears for me to read, and who cares if I am reading about murder while drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music, I am not waiting to read it.

Macey and Owen.  She is in town briefly (isn't that what they all say?) and her attraction to Owen is instant, although this book is far from instalove and rather is about 2 people who are attracted to one another, but remain their own people and figure out a way to make that work for them as a couple.

I also liked that Macey's past was not allowed to define her.  Yes, it was there, and it was why she was no longer employed in her former profession, but it wasn't something she had to keep dwelling on...she was making efforts to move forward, and the book allowed her to do so.

For some reason, Joel from the previous book left me wanting to know what happens next for him and Miranda, and as he is Owen's brother, he fits naturally into this story, making him excellent for the plot and giving him almost an extra epilogue from his title.

There's also a pretty compelling murder mystery going on in this one, although it's almost like it's one of the main characters.  It never feels like it's pushed to the side, but it also never feels like too much focus was placed on the suspense portion of the novel.  It's balanced well between the romance and the suspense.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

Laura Griffin's Author Website

Pre-Order this Title - Releases May 22, 2022

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Royally Remembered by Emma Chase-Release Blast

The lives of the Wessco royal family have always been extraordinary. Abounding in power and wealth, and marked by moments of soul-searing passion, exquisite love, and tragic loss.

In this collection of short stories, set during the time period of the Royally books and beyond, we explore the moments that helped shape these characters into the irresistible heroes and heroines readers have come to know and cherish.
We meet Prince Nicholas and Henry's parents, Prince Thomas and Lady Calista; we see the struggle to balance family relationships with the demands of the monarchy; and we continue the story of Queen Lenora and Prince Edward, whose deep, abiding love lasts beyond a lifetime.

Royally Remembered is not a standalone--it is a companion novella meant to be read after Royally Screwed, Royally Matched, Royally Endowed, and Royally Yours.

Star Bright by Susanna Nix - ARC Review

She’s an A-list Hollywood starlet. He’s a gossip reporter. Sleeping with the enemy has never been sweeter…

Kimberleigh Cress didn’t get to be one of the hottest young actresses in Hollywood without learning how to protect herself. Rule number one? Don’t show weakness. Ever. Especially not in front of the press.

So when a sleazy tabloid reporter comes upon her during a vulnerable moment, the last thing she expects is kindness.

Sexy, charming, and surprisingly thoughtful, Spencer Devlin isn’t at all who Kimberleigh thought he was. After their fateful encounter, she can’t seem to stay away from him—even though she knows she should.

Spencer never expected to share an unlikely connection with the spoiled starlet who hates his guts. With the face of a goddess and an attitude to match, Kimberleigh Cress is one ice queen he’d love to melt.

Now that she’s gotten under his skin, he’ll do anything to keep her in his life. Or will he?

I can't lie. On the way into this one, I was not sure what I was going to think. It's a novella (maybe a little longer than a novella but definitely not "full" novel length), so there are places where the scenes seem to move really quickly as there is not a lot of time for the development, and I was not sure if I was going to be able to find myself engaged with Kimberleigh and Spencer.

I was wrong. There was something about this, and about the 2 of them together, that really drew me in to their story. I think because, overall, I really liked both of them. Although, I was definitely a little mad (ok more than a little) at Kimberleigh in parts when she allowed her insecurities to make decisions for her. But it's also human, and the seeds of her possibly not fully believing Spencer about something like this were planted throughout the story, so it was in character.

My heart broke for Spencer, but I understood the decision he made, the reasons he had for it. And I think that was the part that really drew me all the way in to this one. I liked them, and I wanted them to find their happiness, and I was saddened when it looked like it was threatened.

I do think, in parts, the depth of the story did get lost in the fact that so much had to be skipped over due to the length. It's not really a flaw I can hold against the book, but it's the reason I didn't come away from this one in tears because I had been through so much.

That said, I enjoyed and recommend this title.

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Doctor Love by Leisa Rayven - Cover Reveal

Dr. Love, an all-new steamy, standalone from International Bestselling author Leisa Rayven is coming June 7th, and we have the stunning cover!

Being wrong for each other has never felt so right…

Toby Jenner may be tall, handsome, and own the world’s greatest collection of cardigans, but his track record with women is woeful. Even though he’s the tech genius behind the most successful matchmaking app of all time, it seems as though Doctor Love is able to predict everyone’s perfect partner except his own.

All that changes when a beautiful, intelligent, quirky-as-hell woman crashes into his life. Plagued by her own relationship woes, Joanna’s done with dating guys who aren’t right and pins her hopes on the Happy Ever After app turning her love life around.

Within hours of meeting her, Toby realizes he’s finally found the soul-deep connection he’s always craved. Even better, she seems to feel the same way.

There’s just one problem–according to his own state-of-the-art compatibility algorithm, they don’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of working out.

Being a man of logic, Toby knows he should forget about her and move on. He knows he shouldn’t move into her plush Manhattan apartment so he can monitor the glitchy A. I. that runs/ruins her life. He knows he should be fine with her dating men whose compatibility scores aren’t in the single digits. And he should absolutely ignore how just being near her sets his entire world on fire.

Yes, Toby is very aware that falling for his perfectly imperfect match will lead to devastating heartbreak. But he also knows that if there’s even a one-percent chance of them making it, he’ll move heaven and earth to beat the odds.

A sizzling new standalone from the internationally bestselling author of Bad Romeo.