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Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 08-12-2022

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HAPPY FRIDAY!! Guess what I’m doing? I’m building today’s list, and have a nice mix of recommendations and brand new releases so let’s see what we can come up with. Hopefully a ton of blurb jolts.

And while I gather up our book-thrills, I’m watching a thriller while I do it. I had to “rent” this one on Amazon as it’s still in theaters, and so far, so good. No regrets on paying for it yet. The main girl has a stalker… so, you know those FREAK. ME. OUT!!! It’s called “Watcher“. Not terrifying, horror movie wise (but if it was MY real life? I would be terrified!!). Β Certainly creepy and disconcerting (oops, I just hit a super scary moment) and she’s in another country where she doesn’t even speak the language, so she is already not comfortable. And now neither am I.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE FOUND FOR THE WEEKENDΒ :DΒ !!

Rochelle: I really love Julian Whelan. Thanks for listening. A long extremely well written novel. I love that she didn’t make it into 3 books. Her first book My Oxford Year hooked me to her talent. She narrates with so many characters.

R. Renee: I can’t wait to read (or listen to) TFL!

  • MONY’S LATEST BOOK UPDATES:

Some summer reads in past couple weeks…

Tasha J: I read Every Summer After, loved it!

Kathy: I have been binge reading Cee Bowerman. She is a new to me author and I have been devouring her books.

Amy: I started I’m Fine and Neither Are You last night, and so far I am LOVING the writing. We’ll see how the actual story goes, but I flew through the first three chapters without even realizing it. Fingers crossed it stays this good!

Amy: I’m at 40% of I’m Fine and Neither Are You, and I’m STILL enjoying it! The writing isn’t flowery or overly descriptive but rather the author packs a punch with her minimalist and straightforward style. The interactions and relationship between the h and her husband are absolutely relatable and just so REAL.

Effie: I absolutely loved this book. Loved it, loved it.

Read Me: I agree 100% with your review. I have read over 5000 romances and Pretend You’re Mine remains in my top 5 of all time. I have read it several times over the years and love it more and more for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

AUDIOBOOK L:DVERS!

βž”βž” BECOME AN AUDIBLE MEMBERΒ πŸ˜€

βž”βž” Audiobook Matchmaker!! <β€” Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE!Β This is how it works. Click on that link & AmazonΒ will show you all of your Kindle books that are also available as an audiobook at a seriously discounted price. This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!

Rochelle: Another I finished is Run Rose Run. Another long exciting story about a musician. Dolly Parton narrates written by James Patterson. Excellent read.

  • AIMEE FOUND US AN AUDIBLE SALE!!

Aimee: If you are an audible listener I just received this message for their latest sale!!

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! πŸ˜€ )

  1. Becoming Family: A Novel (Dogwood County Book 3) by Elysia Whisler | Aug 16, 2022
  2. The Last Housewife: A Novel by Ashley Winstead | Aug 16, 2022
  3. The Manhattan Girls: A Novel of Dorothy Parker and Her Friends by Gill Paul | Aug 16, 2022
  4. Pen Pal: A Standalone Dark Romance by J.T. Geissinger | Aug 16, 2022
  5. The Close-Up: A Hollywood Renaissance/HOOPS Novella by Kennedy Ryan – August 16th 2022
  6. Blush by Helen Hardt – August 23, 2022
  7. Would You Rather: A Novel by Allison Ashley | Aug 23, 2022
  8. Reckless Hands (Chained Hearts Duet Series Book 5) by T.L. Smith | Aug 23, 2022
  9. Soul Taken (A Mercy Thompson Novel Book 13) by Patricia Briggs | Aug 23, 2022
  10. Second Chance Rival by M. Robinson | Aug 23, 2022
  11. Ruby Fever: A Hidden Legacy Novel by Ilona Andrews | Aug 23, 2022
  12. Changing The Game (The Risks We Take Duet Book 1) by Bella Matthews | Aug 24, 2022
  13. What Hunts Inside the Shadows (Of Flesh & Bone Series Book 2) by Harper L. Woods | Aug 30, 2022
  14. Mafia Vows: Standalone Fake Marriage Romance (Arranged Marriage Book 6) by L. Steele | Aug 31, 2022

βž”βž”βž” Β Looking for more book releases? Check out the upcoming new releases here or check out the latest new releases here.

βž”βž”βž”Β Β Get Maryse’s Book Blog updates delivered by email (you’ll get one daily email that will have each post from that day consolidated on it). AND/OR you can also subscribe toΒ my newsletter. πŸ˜€Β It goes out once or twice a week and features my β€œBest Of…”

βž”βž”βž” If you haven’t β€œliked” my Facebook page,Β come on over and join us! We’re fun & we’ve got great taste in books!

Latest Romance Book Releases – 08-09-2022

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HAPPY TUESDAY NEW RELEASE DAY!! IT’S TIME TO BUILD OUR LIST so keep checking back as it will grow. πŸ˜‰

BLURB JOLTS: Royally Not Ready (Meghan Quinn’s latest!Β She finds out she’s the only heir to a King and now has to learn to be a princess, and her teacher is cold and pompous!!) Mad About YouΒ (he’s her new roommate, and when her world implodes, he’s her calm center), Embers Β (post-apocalyptic that must be read in order, but blurb jolt for this one which is book #3!! I won’t say what but it sounds tumultuous!) The Make Out ArtistΒ (Sara Ney’s latest –Β he asks her to be his wingwoman!)

Don’t forget to check out:

READER RECOMMENDATIONS & BARGAIN FINDS:

PARANORMAL/FANTASY/SCI-FI/DYSTOPIAN NEW RELEASES:

  1. Storm Echo (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 6) by Nalini Singh <— NALINI SINGH’S LATEST!!
  2. Ruthless: A Paranormal Romance (Immortal Enemies Book 2) by Gena Showalter
  3. Beer & Broomsticks (The Unlucky Charms Book 3) by T.M. Cromer
  4. Fathom: Tales of the Were – Grizzly Cove (Trident Trilogy Book 2) by Bianca D’Arc
  5. Steel Wolf by Eve Langlais
  6. Her Alien Spymaster (The Drift: Haven Colony Book 4) by Susan Hayes
  7. Prince of Fire (4 Princes Book 1) by Riley Storm
  8. Omega’s Wish (Fairhaven Academy Book 1) by Cara Bryant
  9. Blood at Dawn: Dark Ink Tattoo Book Five by Cassie Alexander
  10. Desperately Seeking Vampire by Katie MacAlister <— VAMPIRE HAS RUN OUT OF HOPE… “...When tarot reader Minerva finds herself in a foreign country without friends or money, and hunted by a pair of thief takers, the last thing she expects to find is a near dead vampire. A familiar near dead vampire...”
  11. Dead and Gone (Cold Case Psychic Book 19) by Pandora Pine <— M/M ROMANCE!!
  12. An Empire in Time: A Time Travel Romance (Thief in Time Book 8) by Cidney Swanson
  13. A Cursed Legacy: Poly Paranormal Romance (The Bestiary Book 1) by Kaye Draper
  14. Angry Gods (Chronicles of Zoey Grimm Book 5) by Theophilus Monroe and Michael Anderle
  15. Embers (Kindled Book 3) by Claire Kent <— POST APOCALYPTIC!! MUST BE READ IN ORDER! “…I never thought I’d live through an apocalypse, but I guess no one ever does. Now my family’s gone, and the only person who can keep me safe in a violent, chaotic world is my dead boyfriend’s rough, uncivilized father. I don’t like him. At all. Cal’s the last person I want to rely on, but for now he’s all I’ve got…”
  16. Rejected Moons Trilogy: Complete Reverse Harem Romance Series by J.L. Wilder
  17. Tea Set and Match (Tea Princess Chronicles Book 2) by Casey Blair

CONTEMPORARY NEW RELEASES:

  1. The Next 365 Days: A Novel by Blanka LipiΕ„ska <— MAFIA ROMANCE!! THE TOUGHEST DECISION OF HIS LIFE!! “…As the wife of Don Massimo Torricelli, one of the most dangerous Mafia bosses in Sicily, Laura’s life is a roller coaster. She is often at risk, the potential target of Massimo’s unscrupulous enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy the powerful man. And when Laura is seriously injured in an attack, pregnant and fighting to survive, Massimo faces the toughest decision of his life...”
  2. The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
  3. Wolf (Sentinel Security Book 1) by Anna Hackett
  4. Daddy’s Little Nurse (Daddy Series Book 23) by Lila Fox
  5. Walking Him Home: Helping My Husband Die with Dignity by Joanne Tubbs Kelly
  6. Royally Not Ready by Meghan Quinn <— MEGHAN QUINN’S LATEST!! HE’S POMPOUS, COLD & HE’S TRAINING HER TO BE A PRINCESS! “...I might be up for a good time, but I’m also educated enough to know leaving with a stranger isn’t smart. Well, that’s until he mentioned my mom’s name. My mom who passed away several years ago. So after some serious fact-checking, my bikini-clad bum went with him to a sub-arctic country I had never heard of just north of the British Isles, where I found out my grandpa was the king of said freezing country, and I was the one and only heir.Β Desperate to learn more about my mom, I decided to give this princess thing a chance…”
  7. Deserving Alaska (The Refuge Book 1) by Susan Stoker
  8. Out of the Night (The Epic Story of RJ and York Book 1) by Susan May Warren
  9. Forever Protected: Forever Bluegrass #18 by Kathleen Brooks
  10. Charmed By You: A Stark Security Novella by J. Kenner <— FAMOUS ACTRESS NEEDS PROTECTION! “…Former vigilante-for-hire Simon BarrΓ© has one steadfast rule: stay far away from celebrities. Too bad Simon’s first assignment at Stark Security is to protect A-list actress Francesca Muratti. He can’t even turn down the assignment, as that would be violating his second ruleβ€”never fail a woman. Now he finds himself up-close-and-personal with a high-maintenance diva whose flash and sass drives him crazy…”
  11. My Best Chance: A Brother’s Best Friend Single Dad Romance (Second Chance Harbor Book 4) by Lea Coll
  12. Bend Toward the Sun: A Novel by Jen Devon
  13. The Beach Escape by Rachel Magee
  14. Mad About You: A Novel by Mhairi McFarlane <— HE’S HER NEW ROOMMATE! “…when her long-time partner proposes, she panics. Suddenly Harriet is single… and living down the hall from her ex. She needs a new apartment, like, yesterday. Enter Cal Clarke, a hopeless romantic who just experienced his own wedding-related disaster. Harriet and Cal are like chalk and cheese, but as they go from strangers to roommates to friends, it becomes clear they’re both running from something. When Harriet’s most heavily guarded secret comes to light, her world implodes...”
  15. Scott’s Summit (Terkel’s Team Book 6) by Dale Mayer
  16. DIRTY GROOM: A Slayers Hockey Novel by Mira Lyn Kelly
  17. Ex-Boyfriend Bosshole: An Enemies to Lovers Romance by Ruby Emhart
  18. The Island: A Coral Island Novel by Lilly Mirren <— STARTING OVER IN HER 40s… “…She had her life all planned out. A marriage of more than two decades. Two grown children. An empty nest and a future full of possibility beside the man she’d built her life around. With nowhere left to turn, she goes home to Coral Island to stay with her estranged family. Her father offers to let her renovate a beach cottage on his property where she can live, but when she demos the kitchen she finds a roll of fifty-year old undeveloped film hidden in the wall...”
  19. Morris: A Young Brothers Novel (Coral Canyon Cowboys Book 3) by Liz Isaacson
  20. Secrets at the Old Hotel (Cozy Mystery Romance Book 5) by Sage Parker
  21. Cowboy Finding Love (Coming Home to North Dakota Western Sweet Romance Book 4) by Jessie Gussman
  22. Only for the Weekend by Riley Hart <— M/M ROMANCE!! “…Something about the beautiful, lonely man on my mail route interests me. He’s different in my world, where everything’s the same. I think he hates me, but that doesn’t stop me from hand-delivering every package and trying to find ways to make him smile.Β Then Emerson makes me an offer: he’ll pay me to spend the weekends with him…”
  23. Horribly Harry (Bad Boyfriends, Inc.) by Sarah Honey and Lisa Henry <— M/M ROMANCE!!
  24. The Tempest (Rebel Hearts Book 3) by Lily Baldwin <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE!
  25. King of Thieves: Regency Romance (Lords of Scandal Book 21) by Tammy Andresen <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE!
  26. Beauty and the Thief (The Royal Saboteurs Book 1) by Shana Galen <— HISTORICAL ROMANCE!
  27. Waiting On Forever (The Walker Brothers Book 4) by Claudia Connor <— SHE JUST WANTS TO BE LEFT ALONE & HE’S HER NEIGHBOR… “…Maggie Ellis just wants to be left alone. She’d rather spend her days spinning clay into art and feel nothing than open herself up to another devastating loss. But her sexy new neighbor with a lonely look in his eyes isn’t giving up. And he makes her question everything…”
  28. Hung Up: A Steamy, Thrilling Romantic Suspense (Bennett Security Book 5) by Hannah Shield
  29. Mr. Perfect on Paper: A Novel by Jean Meltzer
  30. Forced To Marry: Dark BWWM Mafia Romance (The Amalfi Coast Brotherhood Book 2) by Jamila Jasper
  31. What’s It Gonna Take (Burgers and Brew CrΓΌe Book 5) by Lacey Black <— SHE’S INTO HER BARTENDER BOSS… “…There’s something about the charismatic, flirty bar manager that pulls me in. When my boyfriend breaks up with me via text message, I suddenly see Garreth Taylor in a whole new light. He’s gorgeous, fun, caring, and everything a single woman could ever want. And for some reason, he seems to have his sights set on me, even if he doesn’t say it outright.Β So, I make the first move.Β The result is both explosive and dynamic, and before I know it, one night turns to two. He has a hang-up, however, about being professional while at work, and draws a line in the sand…”
  32. The Scoundrel’s Widow by Anita Stansfield
  33. Santino DeLuca: Savage Bloodline by KENYA WRIGHT
  34. An Unexpected Paradise by Chelsea Curto
  35. Black Forest (Little Cakes Book 6) by Pepper North and Paige Michaels <— SHE JOINS A GYM & HER TRAINER IS A SILVER FOX!! “…she joins the gym near Little Cakes and commits to putting in the work.Β When fate leads Davis Irving to coach Sue through her first workout at his gym, the silver fox is captivated by the cheerful woman in his charge. He knows his search for someone special to care for has ended. Sue doesn’t need crunches, just the special training of an experienced and devoted Daddy…”
  36. Mafia Madman: A Dark Mafia Romance (The Kings of Italy Book 3) by Mila Finelli
  37. Finding Her Curves: A BBW Romance (Search and Rescue Book 2) by Joann Baker and Patricia Mason
  38. Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
  39. The Make Out Artist: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Accidentally In Love) by Sara Ney <— HE NEEDS A WINGWOMAN!! “...Elias Cohen is nothing special (no offense); smug, arrogant. Too flirtatious for his own good.Β He won’t charm me with that crooked smile and dimple in his chin.Β When Elias comes knocking on my office door during a house party after I play wingman for a friend, I’m tempted to slam the door in his face. But I don’t.Β Because If there’s one thing I am, it’s curious…”
  40. Lumberjack Daddy’s Little Star: An Age Gap Plus Size Daddy Dom Romance (Lumberjacks Daddies of Sweet Pine City Book 10) by Penny Snoak
  41. Manatee Bay: Retreat: Treasure Seeker Beach Book 1 by Amy Rafferty
  42. Someone Else’s Honeymoon: A laugh-out-loud, feel-good romantic comedy for 2022 by Phoebe MacLeod
  43. Her Unexpected Roommate (Cider Bar Sisters Book 5) by Jackie Lau
  44. Trusting In Forever (The Forever Love Series Book 1) by Ali Holt
  45. His to Condemn: Men of the Mafia by Stasia Mars <— MAFIA ROMANCE! SHE ESCAPED BUT HE FOUND HER! “...I tried to escape him, knowing he would hunt me down.Β Just when I thought I was safe, he came.Β Came to sentence me to punishment.Β On some level, I wanted to be found.Β I still loved the cruel man.Β Even when he locked me away like a real prisoner.Β To convict me of those crimes I still knew nothing about...”

AUDIOBOOK L:DVERS!

βž”βž” BECOME AN AUDIBLE MEMBERΒ πŸ˜€Β 

βž”βž” Audiobook Matchmaker!! <β€” Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE!Β This is how it works. Click on that link & AmazonΒ will show you all of your Kindle books that are also available as an audiobook at a seriously discounted price. This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!

  1. The Next 365 Days: A Novel by Blanka LipiΕ„ska
  2. Storm Echo (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 6) by Nalini Singh
  3. Royally Not Ready by Meghan Quinn
  4. Deserving Alaska (The Refuge Book 1) by Susan Stoker
  5. Ruthless: A Paranormal Romance (Immortal Enemies Book 2) by Gena Showalter
  6. Mad About You: A Novel by Mhairi McFarlane
  7. Only for the Weekend by Riley Hart
  8. Steel Wolf by Eve Langlais
  9. Charmed By You: A Stark Security Novella by J. Kenner
  10. Bend Toward the Sun: A Novel by Jen Devon
  11. Mr. Perfect on Paper: A Novel by Jean Meltzer
  12. Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
  13. The Beach Escape by Rachel Magee
  14. Someone Else’s Honeymoon: A laugh-out-loud, feel-good romantic comedy for 2022 by Phoebe MacLeod

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! πŸ˜€ )

  1. Becoming Family: A Novel (Dogwood County Book 3) by Elysia Whisler | Aug 16, 2022
  2. The Last Housewife: A Novel by Ashley Winstead | Aug 16, 2022
  3. The Manhattan Girls: A Novel of Dorothy Parker and Her Friends by Gill Paul | Aug 16, 2022
  4. Pen Pal: A Standalone Dark Romance by J.T. Geissinger | Aug 16, 2022
  5. The Close-Up: A Hollywood Renaissance/HOOPS Novella by Kennedy Ryan – August 16th 2022
  6. Blush by Helen Hardt – August 23, 2022
  7. Would You Rather: A Novel by Allison Ashley | Aug 23, 2022
  8. Reckless Hands (Chained Hearts Duet Series Book 5) by T.L. Smith | Aug 23, 2022
  9. Soul Taken (A Mercy Thompson Novel Book 13) by Patricia Briggs | Aug 23, 2022
  10. Second Chance Rival by M. Robinson | Aug 23, 2022
  11. Changing The Game (The Risks We Take Duet Book 1) by Bella Matthews | Aug 24, 2022
  12. What Hunts Inside the Shadows (Of Flesh & Bone Series Book 2) by Harper L. Woods | Aug 30, 2022
  13. Mafia Vows: Standalone Fake Marriage Romance (Arranged Marriage Book 6) by L. Steele | Aug 31, 2022

βž”βž”βž” Β Looking for more book releases? Check out the upcoming new releases here or check out the latest new releases here.

βž”βž”βž”Β Β Get Maryse’s Book Blog updates delivered by email (you’ll get one daily email that will have each post from that day consolidated on it). AND/OR you can also subscribe toΒ my newsletter. πŸ˜€Β It goes out once or twice a week and features my β€œBest Of…”

βž”βž”βž” If you haven’t β€œliked” my Facebook page,Β come on over and join us! We’re fun & we’ve got great taste in books!

Forever Mine by Monica Burns is super-bargain priced today + we have warnings, an excerpt & it gave me a blurb jolt!!

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HISTORICAL ROMANCE/TIME TRAVEL/REINCARNATION LOVERS, REJOICE!!! Look what we have today!! Forever Mine (The Forevermore Series Book 1) is super-bargain priced today (and book #2 – Forever Yours (The Forevermore Series Book 2) – Β just went LIVE)!!

So to celebrate, the author is today’s newsletter sponsor and she’s sent us a bunch of goodies to tempt us. πŸ˜‰ I especially love the warnings!!! LOL!!

I LOVE this trope already!!!

So what’s it about?

This book contains a proper English earl, whose frozen heart hides a tortured soul, and a feisty modern-day heroine determined to convince the man she’s not the woman he thinks she is. With an endearing cast of characters this multiple award-winner is guaranteed to make you experience a wide range of emotions.

BLURB (trigger warnings below the blurb)

When a bomb explosion thrusts Victoria Ashton backward in time to 1897, she’s forced to impersonate the Countess of Guildford. Despite Victoria’s attempts to convince the earl she’s not his wife, her counterpart’s infidelity, lies, and ill-tempered personality makes the task almost impossible. Worse, Victoria finds herself falling in love with a man who loathes her. Only when the earl learns to trust her does she realize her future lies in the past. But love always comes at a price, and she must make a painful sacrifice in order for them to be together.

Nicholas Thornhill, Earl of Guildford has been searching for his missing wife for three weeks. Rumors of him being guilty of murder make him unwilling to believe his wife’s latest in a multitude of lies. But the changes in Victoria continuously surprise him. Despite his best intentions, he finds the contempt he once felt for his wife turning into something deeper and stronger. But when danger threatens to separate them forever, he must forge a bond with her that crosses the boundaries of time.

CAVEAT EMPTOR β€” Please factor the following information into your buying decision.Β 

  • This book is a time travel / reincarnation / historical romance. Yes, it does have a HEA, although it’s not necessarily the one some readers want/wanted. The majority of readers enjoyed the ending.
  • This book has been compared to Somewhere In Time (Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour) and A Knight In Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. If you didn’t enjoy and/or hated either or both of those, then dollars to donuts, it is highly unlikely that you will enjoy this book.
  • This book is 443 pages because it has TWO story lines throughout the book (Readers say it’s a long book, but a fast, page-turning read).
  • For readers who do not enjoy sex scenes, there is 3.75% (16 pgs out of 443) of sexual content in this book. Yes, hot, steaming, naughty, raw open door scenes that might shock or excite depending on the reader, but nonetheless, it’s 16 pages.
  • The F-word occurs 34 times in this 443 page book or about 1% of the entire book. Men as a general rule have used the F-word long before the Victorian era, which this book is set in. The difference in usage is that men in the past didn’t use the word in the company of women outside of brothels.Β Men used it frequently in gentleman’s clubs and outings where well-bred women were not present.Additionally, the F-word is used extensively by women in today’s world (it happens to be the author’s favorite curse). It is not unrealistic for a woman from the future who’s been thrown into the past to use the word during hot, lusty, steamy moments of passion. It happens.In contrast, the author refuses to use the word sh*t as it evokes an image of filth, bodily waste, and the malodorous, fetid aroma of the outhouse at her great-grandfather’s farm as he had no indoor plumbing. The author refused to eat or drink while visiting the farm.

FOREVER MINE Excerpt

October 1897

β€œIf thank you isn’t in your wife’s vocabulary, and I refuse to let you call me Vickie, how much of a leap is it to accept that I’m Victoria Ashton, not your countess?”

β€œAn impossible one.” The impassive, unyielding mask had returned to his face. β€œI admit your performance is quite remarkable, but I doubt I’ll ever be convinced you’re anyone other than my wife.”

β€œWhat would it take to convince you?”

The quiet sincerity and frustration in her voice seemed to touch a nerve in him. A strange look crossed his face, and he closed the distance between them. Victoria struggled to keep her pulse under control as his quizzical gaze warmed her skin. With a swift movement, he captured her chin in his strong fingers, his thumb tracing the fullness of her bottom lip. The unexpected caress made her quiver as her heart pounded a fierce rhythm inside her.

β€œI wonder,” he murmured, almost as though speaking his thoughts aloud. Mesmerized by his hooded gaze, anticipation sent a delicious warmth racing through her body. She licked her lips and drew in a quick breath as the earl’s head descended toward her mouth.

The instant his lips met hers, a wave of desire swept her out into the depths of a sea she’d never swum in before. Fire blazed its way through her limbs, and she trembled with an unexpected need.

Base instinct took control as she returned his kiss, her tongue teasing his lips apart until it danced with his. The growl reverberating in his chest sent a frisson tingling through her as she pressed her body into his. God, her knees were actually rubbery from his kiss. None of the other men she’d dated had ever made her feel wobbly like this.

Warm hands pushed the sleeves of her gown downward until she heard a soft ripping sound. The sleeves fell away from her arms, and the gown’s bodice fell to her waist. A low moan rose in her throat as his hand caressed the top of one shoulder before he wrapped his arms around her to pull her tight against him. Their kiss deepened as his tongue mated with hers in a furious dance of desire.

Victoria murmured a protest as his lips slid away from hers to glide down the side of her neck to her shoulder. Lost in the fire of his touch, she didn’t realize he’d undone the laces of her corset until his mouth caught the tip of her breast in his mouth. She shuddered as he sucked on her nipple then gently bit down on it before swirling his hot tongue around the hard peak.

An ache latched itself to her insides, and she realized she was wet between her thighs. The heat melting through her tugged another moan from her, and her hands slid through the black thickness of his hair. Oh God, she wanted him. She wanted him now. On the floor, on the bed, she didn’t care, as long as he eased the intense longing clutching the lower half of her body.

He’d not changed out of his riding clothes, and her hand slid downward across his chest to his erection. It was hard and thick beneath his breeches. A dark rumble sounded in his throat as she stroked him through the fawn-colored material. Trembling with a frightening need for him, Victoria uttered a soft cry as a shudder rippled through her, and she recognized it for the small climax it was.

GOLD MEDAL Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards;
BRONZE MEDAL Winner, IPPY Awards
USA Today HEA Blog Must-Read

Universal Buy Link: http://www.books2read.com/FMS1

About the author:

Author Monica Burns

Monica Burns is a bestselling author of spicy historical and paranormal romance. She penned her first romance at the age of nine when she selected the pseudonym she uses today. Her historical book awards include the 2011 RT BookReviews Reviewers Choice Award and the 2012 Gayle Wilson Heart of Excellence Award for Pleasure Me. She’s also the recipient of the 2015 GOLD MEDAL Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards, 2016 Bronze Medal IPPY Awards, and USA Today HEA Blog 2015 Must-ReadΒ for FOREVER MINE.

Her paranormal romance awards include the prestigious 2011 PRISM Best of the Best award for Assassin’s Heart. From the days when she hid her stories from her sisters to her first completed full-length manuscript, she always believed in her dream despite rejections and setbacks. A workaholic wife and mother, Monica is a survivor who believes every hero and heroine deserves a HEA (Happily Ever After), especially if she’s writing the story.

Social Media Connections

Universal Social Media Link For Monica β€” https://monicaburns.net/connect

 

Reader Question – The book about the heroine’s abusive & neglected childhood that wanted to be a ballerina…

By 1 Comment

Miss Calloway is lookin for this one, and I have no idea but it sounds like it might get crazy!

She asks:

Can’t remember if the setting was in HS or college but the leads are still students.

The heroine came from a poor family living with only her mom whom was constantly leaving her as a kid alone starving for days in their apartment. Her dad is a powerful man (not sure if mafia type) who shockingly abuses her sexually.

She finally escaped that life when she grows up and become a working student in their school. I think she’s then living with her aunt or a friend who works in a club/bar.

I can’t exactly remember the romance with the H but the dad sorta has a hand on the main conflict (blackmail and stuff). The key point I remember is that she wanted so bad to be a ballerina but they were too poor so she takes free lessons as a kid from a studio nearby.

My apologies if my explanation is all over the place, I just wanna know the title of this book. Just trying my luck here.

Thanks!

Anyone have a guess?

βž”βž”βž” Β Browse more reader questions (solved & unsolved) here. πŸ˜€ Maybe you’ll find a solved one to read or have a guess for us for one that’s still unsolved.

Have a reader question for us to solve? Send it to me here.

Reader Question – The book about the heroine that broke up with him because she felt like she was holding him back…

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Idena needs our book help! Okay well, this could be numerous books that we’ve read however the “serial killer” and “detective” detail might narrow it down nicely. Β πŸ˜€

She asks:

I’m looking for a specific book and I can’t remember what the name was.

From what I can remember there is a serial killer and the MMC is a detective who goes back to his home town.

The MFC used to date the MMC but she broke up with him because she feels like she was holding him back with her problems.

This book is a few years old and any help would be greatly appreciated!

Anyone have a guess?

βž”βž”βž” Β Browse more reader questions (solved & unsolved) here. πŸ˜€ Maybe you’ll find a solved one to read or have a guess for us for one that’s still unsolved.

Have a reader question for us to solve? Send it to me here.

βž”βž”βž” Β Love this genre? Browse more second chanceΒ romanceΒ or police romanceΒ features and reviewsΒ on my blog. πŸ˜€

J. Kenner’s β€œCharmed By You: A Stark Security Novella” is LIVE, plus we have a fun fact & an excerpt!

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FAMOUS A-LIST DIVA ACTRESS NEEDS PROTECTION!!! And he can’t say no.

Charmed By You: A Stark Security NovellaΒ IS LIVE and to celebrate this release, J. Kenner (as well as her publisher,Β 1,001 Dark Nights Press) are sponsoring today’s newsletter and we have a fun tidbit about the author’s experience writing this one. πŸ˜€

The author says:

It’s release day for Charmed By You!!!! And it is sooooo aptly named! Because last night, right about the time it would have gone live in the UK, it started raining at my house! (I’d almost forgotten what that looked like, LOL!)

I hope you enjoy Renly and Francesca! This romantic suspense story is a Stark Security/Stark World novella that can absolutely be read as a standalone!

…Don’t miss book 9 in the Stark Security series (totally readable as a standalone!)

So what’s it about?

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Kenner comes a new story in her Stark Security series…

Former vigilante-for-hire Simon BarrΓ© has one steadfast rule: stay far away from celebrities. Too bad Simon’s first assignment at Stark Security is to protect A-list actress Francesca Muratti. He can’t even turn down the assignment, as that would be violating his second ruleβ€”never fail a woman. Now he finds himself up-close-and-personal with a high-maintenance diva whose flash and sass drives him crazyβ€”but whose touch he undeniably craves.

The world might believe that Francesca Muratti leads a fairy tale life, but the truth is far darker. For years, she’s kept a horrible secret about her best friend’s death. Now someone is threatening to kill Francesca if she doesn’t reveal all. She needs protection, but there’s no way she’s going to tell the sexy Stark Security agent what she did or why she’s being threatened. Which means that in order to survive and protect her secrets, Francesca must pull off the biggest acting job of her career: she’s going to have to let Simon close, but not let him see her true heart.

**For fans of J. Kenner’s Stark Security series, Charmed By You is book nine in that series.**

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

And now for a fun tidbit about the author!

Q: What scene in this book was the toughest to write and why?

A: The opening, which is usually the easiest for me. But not only where they starting with animosity, which I wanted to get right and yet also have that frisson of attraction, plus there are clues hidden in the scene that had to be carefully placed, like when you’re hiding Easter eggs from your kids. You want them to notice them … but maybe not right away.

AND HERE’S AN EXCERPT!!

β€œMr. BarrΓ©,” I say. His name is Simon BarrΓ©. I make a show of looking him up and down. He and all the others might be in my house because I’m scared for my safety, but there is no way I’m going to let this guy look at me as if I’m some simpering fool.

Even if I was acting like one.

Damien and Ryan had told me this agent has incredible skills and years of training, and I give him a slow, thorough once-over, taking in his wind-ruffled hair, faded jeans, and the long-sleeved scoop-neck shirt that hugs his pecs in a way that suggests he has some serious muscle.

He doesn’t react to my inspectionβ€”which, honestly, impresses me. Most men are intimidated by me. It’s a perk of the job.”

***