Cover Reveal: Whiskey by Sybil Bartel

Whiskey
Sybil Bartel
(The Alpha Elite, #7))
Publication date: May 23rd 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense

Mercenary.

Navy SEAL.

Unconventional Operative.

I didn’t join the Teams. I was recruited. They called me the Specialist. They said I had a unique skill set. I knew who I was.

For eight years, the Navy tried to rein me in with their tactics, techniques and procedures—operations, missions, objectives—they told me to adapt and overcome. I didn’t adapt. I did my time.

Now I worked for Alpha Elite Security. If you called me Specialist, I’d eliminate you before you took your next breath. If you recognized me, it was already too late. I lived by my instincts, and used the resources around me. No target was out of my scope…until my boss unknowingly handed me the only assignment that was.

The one woman I couldn’t kill.

Code name: Whiskey.
Mission: Eliminate.

WHISKEY is a standalone book in the exciting Alpha Elite Series by USA Today Bestselling author, Sybil Bartel. Come meet Will “Whiskey” Damien and the dominant, alpha heroes who work for AES!

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Author Bio:

Sybil Bartel is a USA Today Bestselling author of unapologetic alpha heroes. Whether you’re reading her deliciously dominant mercenaries, bodyguards or military heroes, all of her heart-stopping, page-turning romantic suspense novels have sexy-as-sin alpha heroes!

Sybil resides in South Florida and she is forever Oliver’s mom.

To find out more about Sybil Bartel or her books, please visit her at:

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Cover Reveal: Bratva Jewel by Sabine Barclay

Bratva Jewel
Sabine Barclay
(The Ivankov Brotherhood, #6)
Published by: Oliver Heber Books
Publication date: January 24th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mafia, Romance

I can’t resist her. I don’t want to…

She’s tried to leave our life behind, but no one walks away from the bratva.

She can run, but she can’t hide.

I’ll be the one to catch her when she falls. And she will because she’s walking a fine line.

I’ll be there because she’s mine.

I’ll go to the ends of the Earth for her. She’ll discover her limits and realize only I can please her.

She’s my soulmate, and I’m hers. Heaven help anyone who gets in the way.

Bratva Jewel is an interconnecting, standalone Dark Mafia Romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains extra-steamy scenes that will make your toes curl and your granny blush. This is book six in The Ivankov Brotherhood, a six-book series that’ll keep you warm at night.

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Author Bio:

Sabine Barclay, a nom de plume also writing Historical Romance as Celeste Barclay, lives near the Southern California coast with her husband and sons. Growing up in the Midwest, Sabine enjoyed spending as much time in and on the water as she could. Now she lives near the beach. She’s an avid swimmer, a hopeful future surfer, and a former rower. Before becoming a full-time author, Sabine was a Social Studies and English teacher. She holds degrees in International Affairs (BA), Secondary Social Science (MAT), and Political Management (MPS). She channels that knowledge into creating engrossing contemporary romances that will make your toes curl and your granny blush.

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Book Blitz: January is for Jackson by Eve London & Dylann Crush

January Is for Jackson
Eve London & Dylann Crush
Publication date: January 2nd 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Her mountain man hero must make an impossible choice.

Emma

I’ve always been spontaneous, but this time I might have gone too far. Showing up at my brother’s remote cabin to surprise him for his birthday seemed like a good idea. But he’s nowhere to be found, the cabin’s locked up tight, and a snowstorm’s on the way. When his closest neighbor stops by, the gorgeous grumpy mountain man insists on taking me home with him until the storm passes. He’s burly and bossy, but I can tell there’s a kind heart buried under the layers of flannel.

Jackson

The last thing I need is to be snowed in with my best friend’s little sister. If anything happens between me and the beautiful curvy blonde, he won’t just end our friendship, he might even end me. It doesn’t matter that she’s impossible to resist. The sooner I get her out of my cabin, the better off we’ll both be. But how can I let her go when I know deep down she’s meant to be mine?

Welcome to Mustang Mountain, where love runs as wild as the free-spirited horses who roam the hillsides. Framed by rivers, lakes, and breathtaking mountains, it’s also the place the Mountain Men of Mustang Mountain call home. They might be rugged and reclusive, but they’ll risk their hearts for the curvy girls they love.

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EXCERPT:

“Hey.” Jackson put a hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”

Why did I think it would be a good idea to come to Montana? If I wanted to get away, I should have booked a trip to a spa in Arizona or something instead of trekking all the way up here. If I had, maybe I’d be sweating in a dry sauna right now instead of freezing my ass off on the front porch of a remote mountain cabin. Not that I could afford a trip to a spa. I’d just about wiped out my savings by paying for a last-minute flight and renting the SUV.

Nodding, I swiped at my cheek and lowered my hands. “Yeah. I’m just sorry I missed him, is all.”

“What are your plans?”

Good freaking question. My plan was to escape to my brother’s cabin for a few days so I could figure out a plan. Getting laid off right after the holidays hit me hard. I hadn’t had the guts to tell my parents yet. If I couldn’t find a new job soon, I’d have to move back in with them… every twenty-five-year-old woman’s dream.

“I guess I’ll try to find somewhere to stay in town tonight. If you don’t think he’ll be back for a while, I’ll head home tomorrow.” My lower lip trembled, and I bit down hard to make it stop. I’d really wedged myself into a tight spot this time… and in front of Jackson, too. Not that he’d ever think of me as more than his best friend’s little sister, but a stunt like this would guarantee it. It figured that my attempt at proving to myself I could be competent and capable would turn out like this.

Jackson ran a hand over his beard. “You’re not going to make it back down the mountain tonight.”

The snow had started falling while we’d been talking. Giant flakes landed on his dark green hat. I couldn’t feel my nose anymore. If I stayed out here a few more minutes, I’d probably end up with frostbite. The reality of my situation sank in.

“You’ll have to come to my place.” He didn’t look too happy about it. His lips twisted into a scowl, and I could have sworn his jaw clenched under the thick layer of scruff on his chin.

I didn’t want to put him out. Based on his sour expression, he looked like he’d rather stand out in the snow and freeze to death than take me home with him. The last thing I needed was to be forced to spend time where I wasn’t wanted. I’d had enough of that at home.

“Don’t you have a rope or something you can use to pull my truck out of the snow?” From what Miles had told me, Jackson had lived in Montana all his life. He had to be used to this kind of weather. It couldn’t be the first time he’d come across someone stupid enough to get their car stuck in the snow.

“Yeah, but it won’t do any good. I barely made it up the mountain myself. Until I get out and plow the road, there’s no way you’ll make it back down.”

I tried to cross my arms over my chest, but the fluffy ski jacket I’d borrowed from a friend made it almost impossible. “When do you think you’ll be able to plow?”

“Hopefully tomorrow. I’ll try to get word to Miles too. He usually takes a satellite phone with him when he heads out alone.”

Tomorrow. That meant I’d be spending the night with Jackson Hill. I got tongue tied even thinking about him. How would I be able to hold myself together overnight? My best chance of not making a bigger fool out of myself would be to limit our interaction as much as possible. I could say the trip drained me and head to bed super early. Or say I had a sore throat and couldn’t talk so we wouldn’t be forced to make conversation.

“I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

“No trouble at all. Besides, Miles would kick my ass if I let you stand out here and freeze to death.” He held out a hand to help me down the steps of the porch. “Come on. We’ve still got a way to go up the mountain, and I’d like to make it before dark.”

I grabbed hold of his hand and glove in glove, we walked down the steps toward an evening I’d dreamed about for years.

Too bad it wouldn’t turn out like I’d always imagined. There was no way Jackson Hill would ever fall for a woman like me. Not when the idea of having to spend one night under the same roof made him look like he’d just swallowed a pitcher full of vinegar.


Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author Dylann Crush writes contemporary romance with sizzle, sass, heart and humor. A true romantic, she loves her heroines spunky and her heroes super sexy. When she’s not dreaming up steamy storylines, she can be found sipping a margarita and searching for the best Tex-Mex food in the Upper Midwest.

Dylann co-hosts Romance Happy Hour (https://www.romancehappyhour.com/) with live episodes every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month and is a founding member of the Romance Chicks group where authors and romance readers can connect.

Although she grew up in Texas, she currently lives in a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul with her unflappable husband, three energetic kids, a clumsy Great Dane, a lovable rescue mutt, and a very chill cat. She loves to connect with readers, other authors and fans of tequila. You can find her at www.dylanncrush.com.

Sign up for her newsletter and snag a free book: https://dylanncrush.com/signup/

Author links:
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When Eve London was a girl she wanted to be a trapeze artist. Instead, she grew up to be like most women – a juggler –trying to keep bunches of balls in the air. Now she spends her days writing about the kind of men she likes – sexy, shameless, and just a little bit sarcastic.

Author links:
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GIVEAWAY!


Book Blitz: Cusp of Darkness by Olivia Preya

Cusp of Darkness
Olivia Preya
(The Cusp Series, #1)
Publication date: January 20th 2023
Genres: Adult, Mafia, Romance
Valerius Cafarelli
In my world, we live and die for our family. We brand our skin with symbols of loyalty and rank that bind us together. It’s time to step from behind the scenes and claim my birthright, leader of the Cafarelli family. But the mafia is nothing if not set in tradition. Marriage is the only way to claim what’s rightfully mine.
When the angel I’ve protected from a distance suddenly needs me as much as I need her, I make an offer she can’t refuse.

She is a candle in the night.
She is a prayer to the gods.
She is the knife that brings me to my knees.

Adaliya Solarin
I took an oath to save lives, trying to redeem myself from a bloody night where I played judge, jury, and executioner. I worked hard to erase all traces of the night I claimed revenge, but my mind can’t forget the man who ensured I’d never be put away for my crime.

Now I need someone to help me save my father from himself. When I’m left desperate and defeated, the man who saved me once offers one last chance at survival. What can I do but make a deal with the devil?

He is the bump in the night.
He is my darkest temptations come to life.
He is my salvation.

Cusp of Darkness is book one of the Cusp series but can be read as a standalone. It has a guaranteed HEA, swoon-worthy anti-hero, and badass heroine. This is an interracial mafia romance containing explicit sex scenes, graphic violence, and is recommended for readers 18+. Please check the author’s website for the full list of content warnings on the author’s website.

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EXCERPT:

Valerius suddenly hiked up a leg, holding it firmly with one hand on my calf and the other discarding the slipper on my foot.

“Hey!” I protested; the motion propelled me back onto my elbows and I scrambled to keep the towel from riding up. I froze, unsure of what he was doing. Unsure of what I wanted him to do. I was hyper-aware of my lack of underwear and his proximity. My mind told me to wiggle my foot out of his hold, but my body wanted to have his hands on me for as long as possible.

Valerius ignored me and inspected the pad of my food intently, stroking his thumb over the sole and narrowing his eyes. A strangled sound escaped my throat as tingles shot straight from his touch to my core. Valerius’s hand was rough and easily clasped my ankle, pulling the entirety of my focus to his touch. I never thought my feet were erogenous zones, but God was I wrong. He flicked his gaze to mine briefly and his bright green eyes were now dark. The cruel, cruel man then suddenly dropped the one foot and picked up the other, repeating the same treatment without a word.

“Listen,” My voice strained too much to sound normal, but I continued anyway. “Foot fetishes are super common, or so I’ve heard. I don’t judge. But I’m not really into that kind of kink.”

“Oh yeah?” His eyes caught mine and he started kneading my foot, hitting a pressure point that made my body simultaneously light up and release pressure at the same time. My head fell back onto the bed, and I stifled a moan. “Then what is your kink, angelo?”

“I don’t have one.” Lies. I had fantasies, don’t get me wrong. But I would never bring them to life. The romance books I read gave me a slew of ideas, but it was one thing to read about bondage and voyeurism and a complete other to act on them.

He stopped his stroking of my sensitive flesh and I almost pouted. Instead, he traced his hand up my calf to bend my knee and stepped into the narrow space between my thighs. He maintained a firm grip on my leg, and I yelped as the towel started to ride up and cool air touched me. I was naked under the towel, and he was getting closer than I should allow. But Valerius kept his eyes on mine the entire time, not once glancing toward my almost exposed pussy. “What did I say about lying?”

I swallowed as he brought his face to mine, balancing his weight on his arm right above my head and fanning his warm breath over me. The position was too close, too intimate. If he lowered himself a fraction more, the length of his torso would press into mine. I bit my lip and turned away, but he caught my chin and forced it back to face him.

“My kinks are none of your business. It’s not like we’re lovers.” I tried to sound matter of fact, but it came out too breathy. His eyes hardened and he dropped my leg before pulling back suddenly.

“Your feet have healed well from when you stepped on glass,” I appreciated him not explicitly referring to the night of Derrek’s death. “But you could have easily torn them again last night without shoes.” Valerius turned away from me and walked to a chair by the window, leaving me to catch my breath on the bed. He was giving me whiplash with this conversation.

“Huh?

“You need to take better care of your body. I will not have you neglect your needs and unnecessarily harm your body.”

“It’s my body.” I huffed. I didn’t intentionally seek to harm myself, but who was he to tell me what to do with my body.

“Wrong. While we are married, it is my body. And you will treat it well.” He sat in the chair and watched me. I clenched my thighs together. Why did my stomach knot and face flush when he said it was his body? That should make me furious. “And you can keep your deepest, darkest fantasies to yourself for now. But I’ll learn them soon enough. And angelo, you’ll be glad I did.”

I scrambled off the bed. The power dynamic seemed too unbalanced with me––vulnerable and on a bed, practically naked and him radiating power and dominance on a chair.

“I told you, I’m not having sex with you.”

“And I told you we wouldn’t until you begged.” He dragged his eyes over my body, and I felt completely naked. Holy mother of God.


Author Bio:

Olivia Preya is a romance fanatic and author living in Toronto, Canada. She writes about what she loves—love, spice, and panty-dropping men with a soft spot for the love of their lives. When life gets a little tough or bland, she finds that fictional men are the best medicine.

Olivia considers herself to have two personas, like Wonder Woman, but with a pen––corporate marketing specialist by day and spicy romance author by night. She also likes to embrace all forms of sensuality, from pole dancing and erotic novels to good food; she believes that sometimes the best things in life are a little sinful.

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Review: The Planner Book

Review: The Planner BookThe Planner Book: Stylish Projects to Creatively Organize and Commemorate the Day to Day by Dawn DeVries Sokol, Jean Sagendorph
Published by St. Martin's Griffin Pages: 192
Goodreads

Creatively organize your life!

The Planner Book! will help you design, create, an embellish the perfect planner.

Forget about boring calendars and ancient date books. Nowadays planners are gorgeous, colorful works of art--one part organization, one part art journal, and two parts keepsake. Loaded with projects, how-tos, tips, and tricks The Planner Book! has all the information you need to tap into your creativity, take control of your to-do list, and craft a custom planner.

Featuring color photos and interviews from more than 20 creators, the book is full of ideas to spark your creativity and keep you organized. With 24 projects, from simple tricks like making your own washi tape to more ambitious projects like crafting a leather planner, you'll soon have the best looking to-do list around. Whether you're juggling a hectic work schedule, keeping track of a busy family, or trying to balance your class schedule, getting organized has never been this fun or this cute!

one-starI have been doing various forms of journaling over the years and used various planners until I finally found planner peace with the Always Fully Booked planner. This will be my 4th year using AFB.

With that being said I am sort of creative and I am always looking for ideas and inspiration to use in my planner so when I found this on Book Outlet I quickly added it to my cart. I thought this would be perfect and inspirational but sadly it wasn’t. I really wish I would have done more research on this book before buying it.

I think this is probably perfect for someone who wants to make their own planner and accessories but to be honest you can find all this stuff online. I am thankful that I didn’t pay full price for this.

The Planner Book is very heavy on making accessories for your planner rather than how to decorate your spreads which I was actually hoping for. I guess that I found the photo to be misleading and the text as well. When you read it you think one thing until you open up the book and discover the opposite.

 

 

The 10th Annual First Book of the Year 2023 Edition

The totally amazing and incredible Sheila from Book Journey is once again organizing the First Book of The Year 2023 edition. This is Sheila’s 10th year of hosting this yearly event.

This is my 10 th year taking part in the  First Book of the Year.

So what is First Book?  First Book is the first book you plan on reading in the New Year.  It can be a long-coveted read you have not had time for, a guilty pleasure read like a re-read of a favorite…  really it can be anything – it is…after all…YOUR First Book.

If you are interested in taking part be sure to head over to Sheila’s blog.

Every December I always struggle with finding the right book to start the new year off with because I want to start the year off right. I have to admit that it takes quite some time to pick out my book.

This year my book is:

One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming…

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

The reason I picked this is that I decided to do the 12 books 12 friends suggested and this was one of the books so why not start the year off with this one? I have been hearing really good things about this.

Have you read this yer?

Cover Reveal: Apex Predator

Apex Predator
Cara Dee
(The Game, #11)
Publication date: January 24th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
Ring in the new year with Lane, Macklin, Walker, and Ty as a group of Mclean members head down to Florida for some fun. More info to come.

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Author Bio:

I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex.

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.

Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

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