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Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 10-18-19

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Another AMAZING FRIDAY & FRIDAY FINDS DAY because HOLY MOLY this list is almost as big as the Tuesday new release lists!! 50+ books ’cause we have a bunch of new releases, but this list is extra-amazing ’cause it’s comprised mostly of enthusiastic (and I mean OMG HAPPY!!) reader recommendations. YAY!! I love those so much. Tried and true. 😉 We are on a reading roll!!!

Plus a fantastic giveaway by an author that I went crazy for back in my early indie days, and OMG I just got a HUGE blurb jolt off of this one. She’s sponsoring today’s newsletter, put her book on super-bargain sale and is giving away a signed copy right here ➔ Five Fun Facts about Ginger Voight’s “Glitter on the Web” + a giveaway!! And, it’s on super-sale!

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE FOUND FOR THE WEEKEND :D !!

  • Downfall (Kingdoms of Sin Book 1) by Willow Aster <— LIVE!! WILLOW ASTER ALERT!!! GASPPP!!! I can’t quite tell from the blurb what it’s going to be other, other than *I think* it’s an arranged marriage and will be tumultuous!!! “…A wife was never something he wanted.Torturous was not a strong enough word to describe how I felt when I was in a room with Luka. Besides hating nearly every word that came out of his mouth, I also drowned with lust every time I looked at him. At times I thought he might feel the same.But nothing prepared me for what his family would make me become...”

Lauren: Super bargain priced too!! I 1-clicked this morning, can’t wait to start reading!

Amy: This sounds good!!

Maryse: I love this author!!

  • Forbidden (Farrellton Foster Family Book 3) by Renee Dahlia <— LIVE!! “…Love between foster siblings should be forbidden… unless you’ve never met until now…”
  • Glitter on the Web by Ginger Voight <— BLURB JOLT ALERT & IT’S SUPER-BARGAIN PRICED TODAY!!! Oh yessss this is totally my thing (rock star is a total jerk in real life – opposite of his “image” & his ex tells the press the truth and now our curvy heroine is hired to be his girlfriend…) YES PLEASE!! “...all his faithful groupies want desperately to believe every word he sings, like he’s not another run-of-the-mill superficial jerk. One little wrinkle. He totally is. After a vindictive ex goes public that he secretly hates fat chicks, Eli must find a full-figured decoy pronto. Obviously the only way to save his rocketing career before it collapses under the weight of one lie is telling an even bigger one. Enter voluptuous Carly Reynolds, his agent’s assistant, who knows what kind of arrogant fake he is and can’t stand him as a result.  Still, a girl’s gotta eat, and it’s not every day you get a million bucks for telling one teeny tiny fib…” P.S. Enter for a signed copy and check this post out for the awesome tidbits!! ➔ Five Fun Facts about Ginger Voight’s “Glitter on the Web” + a giveaway!! And, it’s on super-sale!

Paula: Glitter on the web would have been 5* with an epilogue but then I see Ginger has said there is going to be another one!! Yippee!

Maryse: Yep!! And they are now out, too!! 😀

  • Mr. Marshall’s Method by Tessa York <— LIVE!! FORBIDDENY STUDENT-TEACHER ROMANCE ALERT!! Nancy found it for us. 😀 “...Evan Marshall is more than my teacher. He’s everything: Smart, witty, insightful, And incredibly sexy. The more I see him, The more he touches me, The more I want…”
  • I Knead You Tonight (Slice Book 2) by Teagan Hunter <— LIVE!! SINGLE MOM W/ A BABY & THEY HATE EACH OTHER…
  • Hunted: A Reverse Harem Shifter Romance (The Feral Souls Trilogy – Book 1) by Erica Woods <— LIVE!!
  • Stealing the Bride by Nadia Lee <— LIVE!!
  • The Second We Met: An enemies-to-lovers romance by Maya Hughes <— LIVE!! SHE HATES HER FOOTBALL STAR NEIGHBOR ALERT!! “...Had I known Phoenix “Nix” Russo would’ve been the neighbor from hell, I’d have told him right where he could shove my words. Nix is the big man on campus with everyone lined up at his games to make sure he knows it. Sure, he’s got piercing blue eyes, abs that don’t quit and a smile that could set fire to a set of panties from a hundred yards away, but he’s also the biggest pain in my ass…”
  • A Jar Full of Light (Aveline Book 2) by Rae Walsh <— LIVE!!
  • Reawakened (The Unexpected Series Book 3) by S.E. Roberts <— LIVE!!
  • Don’t Make Me Beautiful by Elle Casey <— ABUSED & DISFIGURED WOMAN IN HIDING SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT (and I just one-clicked it SO HARD!! This is TOTALLY for me) “...At twenty-two, Nicole doesn’t even look human anymore. The beast made sure of that. So she hides. A monster, consigned to a life of fear and solitude. This is all she deserves, she is quite sure of that. And then one day out of the blue, the autographed baseball caught by Brian Jensen at the latest Marlins game enters her prison and manages to turn her world completely upside down...” This was the book for one of our reader questions AND is a “What to Read After “It Ends With Us” suggestion and OMG it sounds heartbreaking and amazing…

Pam: I already have it. It’s an amazing read.

Melissa: Just wondering if you have ever read Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardian series? Oh my gosh so good. This is book one You will love it!!

  • What We Do in the Light (Day to Night Book 2) by Stylo Fantome <— LIVE!! STYLO FANTOME’S LATEST!! “…Just one month ago, Valentine O’Dell got her heart ripped out – yet another problem to add to her rapidly growing list. Between fighting to bring her sick grandmother home, searching for a new apartment after being evicted, and trying to figure out how exactly she’s going to pay for everything, she doesn’t have time to cry over a broken heart. Then Ari Sharapov walks back in and tries to solve everything…”
  • The Pledge: Mafia Vows by SR Jones <— LIVE!!
  • Like Storms (Vikings Book 2) by Catherine Lievens <— LIVE!!
  • Broken (South Side Boys) by Alexis Winter <— LIVE!!
  • Amber Sky by Cassia Leo <— LIVE!!! PSYCH-THRILLER ALERT!! HE HELPED HER AFTER SHE CRASHED HER CAR… Oooooh this sounds so gooooood!!! “…A devastating car crash leaves Cassidy O’Connor stranded in rural Pennsylvania. Her only company is Walker Ainsley, the ruggedly handsome man who saved her from the wreckage and took her into his home. But when her ride back to town arrives after the crash, Cassidy can’t bring herself to leave Walker behind. She is determined to convince him to go back to town with her, until she begins to wonder if she actually survived the crash that brought them together...”
  • Bylines & Blue Lines (Fast Ice Book 1) by Stephanie Julian <— LIVE!!
  • Madman’s Cure (Madman Duet Book 2) by V.F. Mason <— LIVE!!
  • Wolf Bound (Lunar Academy, Year One Book 3) by Alyssa Rose Ivy and Jennifer Snyder <— LIVE!!
  • Branded (Demon’s Mark Book 1) by Nora Ash <— LIVE!! SHE’S TRAPPED BY A DEMON… “…Trapped by a demon whose singular desire is to possess her, body and soul, Selma’s only hope for freedom is to submit to his grueling pleasures…”
  • Magic Sleeps by Cherie Smith <— FANTASY ROMANCE ALERT!! Keri took a chance on it & recommends it!

Keri: Hi Maryse! I have been an avid follower for about 3 years and love getting my next read ideas from your Friday Finds!

I’d like to suggest a book for any fantasy/paranormal lovers….Magic Sleeps by Cherie Smith.  I just finished and loved this book!! She is a new author but had all 5 star reviews so I took a chance and  was very impressed!!

  • The Stand-in by Lauren Campbell <— COMEDY ROMANCE ALERT & KAT 5-STAR LOVED IT!

Kat: Maryse! Check out the stand-in by Lauren Campbell … it’s so witty. I loved it. Just finished this, 5 witty stars!

Kelly: This was a fantastic read!!! Such a unique book. I seriously couldn’t put it down and devoured every page. It’s in KU too!! 🐳💛

Kat: Kelly agree! It was so freaking good. Witty and had those little twist I didn’t even suspect

Kelly: Kat Robin yes!! That’s “devious” Lauren Campbell for you. Always had something twisted to throw at you. Have you read her Ivy series? (I also had “This is the song that never ends” in my head on repeat for days 😂)

Nancy: One of my favorite series: ASHES & EMBERS COLLECTION

Kathy: I have read all of her books. I loved her Ashes and Embers Series.

Steph N: I love Carian Cole and devoured her books when I first found her.

  • Petal Plucker: A Steamy Romantic Comedy by Iris Moreland <— SUPER-BARGAIN ALERT!! And that title has me!! “…The boy I once loved. The same boy who humiliated me when he stood me up for prom. This Jacob is no boy, though: he’s all man now—confident, charming, and so sexy my metaphorical blossoms are getting scorched. I can almost forget I’m supposed to hate him forever. Almost. To make things worse, he’s my main competition now, since he took over his parents’ flower shop…”
  • Copper: A Romantic Suspense Novel (Blackwood Elements Book 7) by Elise Noble <— LIVE!!
  • Wild Ride (South Florida Riders Book 1) by Breezie Bennett <— LIVE!!
  • Beyond Measure: A Dark Bratva Romance (Ruthless Doms) by  Jane Henry <— LIVE!! RUSSIAN MAFIA ROMANCE ALERT!! She’s scarred and ruined & forced to marry him sight unseen... “...I’m the girl no one wants. Scarred beyond repair and locked away, I’m tainted and tarnished. Unworthy of friendship, love, or hope. But I was born into Bratva life, and my life is not my own. I’m ripped from my home and forced to marry a man I’ve never met, sight unseen...”
  • The Grace Year by Kim Liggett <— RECENT RELEASE & MICHELE G IS RAVING ABOUT THIS ONE!!

Michele G: While I’m raving with tons of exclamation points, I have to tell you all that I finished reading The Grace Year by Kim Liggett last night…wow! It was awesome! It was a different read for sure and kind of hard to explain but absolutely fantastic. I know at some point I will have to read it again because there was so much going on that I feel like I may have missed things along the way.

…I highly recommend it. It’s been described as Handmaid’s Tale meets Lord of the Flies and Hunger Games…I can see the comparisons but it definitely is it’s own story. Definitely on my favorites list for the year!

Tasha J: Yes!! I was really looking forward to this one, glad it scored high points. I’ve never watched The Handmaid’s Tale (or read) or Lord of the Flies so I can’t wait to jump in and see what else I may enjoy.

Maryse: I’m adding it to this week’s Friday Finds!! This sounds AMAZING!! I’ve watched The Handmaid’s Tale and I’ve read Lord of the Flies & Hunger Games (and loved ALL) so big huge SQUEE from me on this!! *claps*

Ella: That was epic and awesome and great and I can go on. Such a great reminder of the Hunger Games yet nothing like it so I will not compare, I just love something different! The h is awesome sauce and the witch deserved what she got! WILL THERE BE A SEQUEL?

  • The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste <— AWESOME SOUNDING HORROR ALERT!! Tasha J was in the mood for scary (as am I!!! I love horror and especially during October!! 😀 ) and she was trying to select from these (and she made a choice and has some early feedback)!!

Tasha J: Results of my hunt- based off ‘What to read after’ from FantasticLand: A Novel, since I thought that was a big help to me, after reading blurbs, pretty good ratings….

I want to pick one to try, but which to choose?? I should just finish Year One, continue my roll, but the squirrel is strong. Not even mentioning my “short list” from earlier this week. 🤦‍♀️ Must stop looking!!

…I’ve started The Rust Maidens, in between my eyes drifting in and out during nap time. I’m really loving the writing and story, so far, VERY early in, but I’m there, I feel the character and that’s the best in books.

  • Serenading Heartbreak by Ella Fields <— SLUMP-BREAKER ALERT!! ANGSTY ROCK STAR LOVE TRIANGLE & it’s BACK ON THE LIST ’cause Liz loved it!!

Liz: Serenading Heartbreak fantastic book, I was in a slump for two weeks and It brought me out of it. Cannot recommend it enough. Angsty, love triangle, rockstar.

Sharon F:  I just finished Serenading Heartbreak by Ella Fields and it was really good! Nice and angsty and I really felt for all three characters. It felt a little slow at first, but I blame that on my reread of the Carnage series (even better the second time). Not too far in, I couldn’t put it down. There wasn’t a true cliff-hanger, but I need more and I can’t say more without giving the ending away. What’s wrong with me that I love an angsty triangle? I give it 5 stars for angst, and 4 overall.

Maria: Maryse,

After giving it much thought (because there weren’t many reviews on Goodreads and I couldn’t find anything about the author) I finally gave Bully Me Once by Moira Barretti a try, and what can I say? IT IS AMAAAAAZING!!!!!

It should definitely be on the list for this week’s reads!!! The build-up, the slow burn, the tension and HOLY SH*T… WHAT A CLIFFHANGER!!!

  • Good Boy (Wags Book 1) by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy <—COMEDY ROMANCE SUPER-BARGAIN ONE CLICK ALERT!!! Two AWESOME authors and it’s super-bargain priced, and if you get the ebook, the audiobook is super-bargain priced too!! 😀 I one clicked both.

Teri: These two authors are an unbeatable combo. 😍

Leslie M: I can’t stop crying in Good Boy. Crazy right?? I feel like I am at the wedding and weddings make me weepy.

…I really liked Good Boy! 4**** and Blake was awesome.

  • Fast Lane by Kristen Ashley <— KRISTEN ASHLEY ROCK STAR RECENT RELEASE & we have short & sweet feedback! Also, it’s done in interview style!!

Kathy: Loved it!!

Kim: OMG! I can’t stop thinking about this book! I loved it! I immediately ordered the paperback once I finished reading it❤️❤️❤️

Jennifer: The Stopover by TL Swan and it’s funny and SEXY as all bloody H word!

…Just finished The Stopover….it was so dang good! The banter and straight up ruthless fights between the couple was AWESOME…I would go from laughing to tearing up. It was so intense! I loved every minute of it and think it’s for sure a must read!

Meagan: Maryse it was sooo good I just finished and now I am destroyed I can’t wait to read the rest but I sure hope they match together!! 😭😭

  • The Guy on the Right by Kate Stewart <— LOOKING FOR A SLOW BURN COMEDY ROMANCE? Priscilla enjoyed this one (and I LOVE this author so I know it’s a sure bet)!

Priscilla: The guy on the right was a pretty cool RomCom, slow burn

JR: The best I’ve read this year is The Guy on the Right. It’s a slow burn but enjoyable.

  • Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E. Ann <— JEWEL E ANN’S LATEST COMEDY ROMANCE & it’s back on the list ’cause Mary Ann LOVED it!

Mary Ann: Maryse I just finished reading Perfectly Adequate by Jewel E Ann and OMG I LOVE IT!!! I was expecting myself to laugh because of the emu on the cover. But I wasn’t expecting myself to cry. The hero is just a very very good guy. The heroine is simply superhero Dorfee!!!

Carol: My favorite! I was obsessed with it. Might need to reread as it has been years.

Maryse: Don’t you still remember ALL the feels with this series? I was on the edge of my seat, freaking out, devouring one after the next, butterflies, in my stomach… it was my absolute PERFECTION.

Carol: I almost couldn’t sleep waiting for the last book. Rose is one my top five heroines.

Lisa: I love this series. It would make a great TV show.

Nadia: One of my favorites series ever ❤️

Maryse: I still remember every single thing about it!!!! That series left its mark on me for sure.

Amy: My favorite series of all time!

  • The Brave Line by Kate Stewart <—- UNREQUITED LOVE ALERT!!! OMG I 4.5 STAR LOVED this one (here’s my Book Review), and Shawna brought it back to the forefront:

Shawna: You need to read The Brave Line by Kate Stewart. It’s one of my favorites and I reread it every time I get in a book funk. I love this book!!! It’s a love story between an alpha male, brooding, Police Seargent and a 911 dispatch operator . She’s liked him for 2 years, but he won’t give her the time of day because they work together.

Every night, she sends him into dangerous situations over the radio, and can’t help but love him from a far. He is aware of how she feels, but won’t cross that line, until one day he does. They each have a past they are trying to overcome and once they give in with no-strings-attached intimacy, they can’t stop each other until the past catches up to them.

The book is about unrequited love, overcoming tragedy, falling in love and you’ll love the characters! He’s bossy, and a total take-charge kind of guy, and dirty…She is funny, witty and has a huge heart (which is why she does the job she does), but also is one to be reckoned with, can totally hold her own. Enjoy!

AUDIOBOOK L:DVERS!

For those going on a road trip soon, or maybe you’ve got some projects that require both hands this weekend but still allows you to “listen”… check out the free audible trial + 2 free audiobooks deal

Maryse: YOU GUYS!!! I’m listening to it!!! And I’m totally feeling it (seeing the scenes, the descriptions and interactions in my head as it’s being narrated). INCREDIBLE!! I love the narrator except when she does the male voice (AND his Australian accent). It’s hard to understand her when she squinches her voice like that. *sigh* Still though, I love her “heroine” voice. She’s good.

Leslie M: *happy dance* I LOVE Heat Wave!!! Great story and I felt like I was in Hawaii. I’m also so happy you are getting used to audiobooks. They will change you life. 🙂

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )

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Five Fun Facts about Ginger Voight’s “Glitter on the Web” + a giveaway!! And, it’s on super-sale!

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 <— OMG Glitter on the Web sounds like so much tumultuous fun & the actual blurb alone had me gasping and yet so excited imagining all the possibilities!! So you can imagine how thrilled I am that Ginger (today’s newsletter sponsor!! 😀 ) put THIS one on sale, sent me over these amazing “fun facts” and is giving a copy away right here on the blog!!

Paula: Glitter on the web would have been 5* with an epilogue but then I see Ginger has said there is going to be another one!! Yippee!

Maryse: Yep!! And she explains below – in her Five Fun Facts – that there is more to come (and also, they’ve made appearances in a few of her other books in the meantime).

In fact: here’s the reading order:

New books in 2020 <— See details below – AMAZING details!!! 😉

P.S. She’s also the author of the “Groupie Trilogy” that I devoured, and made me rant and rave back in my early indie days – so many of us buddy-read that trilogy, simultaneously experiencing a few “OH-NO-HE-DIDN’T” gut-punches yet absolutely titillated by that rock star guilty pleasure. Remember??? SO FUN!

What’s it about?

After rising to fame singing about “big girls with big hearts,” a cocky rock star is outed that he secretly despises fat chicks. He decides nothing will prove he’s not a phony like a plus-size girlfriend.

Enter his agent’s assistant, who can’t stand him. It’s perfect. No love. Just business. He makes an offer she can’t refuse. One lie. One year. One million dollars.

Now… tell me this blurb doesn’t get you in the *ooooomph*!!!

After Eli Blake’s viral video “Big Girl/Big Heart” shoots him right to the top of the charts, he rises to fame shamelessly tapping into this niche. Because of his striking good looks, all his faithful groupies want desperately to believe every word he sings, like he’s not another run-of-the-mill superficial jerk.

One little wrinkle. He totally is.

After a vindictive ex goes public that he secretly hates fat chicks, Eli must find a full-figured decoy pronto. Obviously the only way to save his rocketing career before it collapses under the weight of one lie is telling an even bigger one. Enter voluptuous Carly Reynolds, his agent’s assistant, who knows what kind of arrogant fake he is and can’t stand him as a result.

Still, a girl’s gotta eat, and it’s not every day you get a million bucks for telling one teeny tiny fib. Surely she can handle this lying, philandering opportunist for a year. It’s not like she’ll actually fall for the guy.

Or will she?

Five Fun Facts about “Glitter on the Web”

1. “Glitter on the Web” likely would never have happened had it not been for Macklemore.

The bestie and I share movies and videos with each other every weekend, which is pretty cool that even 35 years into our friendship, we find new things to share between us. We’re still teaching each other things, and he, inadvertently sometimes, purposefully other times, has inspired more than one story doing it. Many months back, he sent me the video for “Downtown” by Macklemore. 

In the video, Macklemore shows some love for a bigger girl:

Now do you or do you not wanna ride with me

I got one girl, I got two wheels

She a big girl but ain’t a big deal

I like a big girl, I like ’em sassy

First thought: “Aw, that’s cool. Hope he means it.” So, being me, I dug a little deeper as I’m known to do, to find a pic of his wife to see if she, too, was a big girl. She wasn’t. It got the gears turning. What if a popular singer showed love for bigger girls, endearing him to that particular audience, but it was all a marketing ploy? Hence, Glitter was born.

2. GLITTER is my unintentional homage to Purple Rain.

This one happened by accident, really. It’s Eli’s fault. He started playing an instrumental piece early in the book, and it just felt right to give it the Purple Rain treatment. That movie makes the list of one of my favorite closing scenes ever, given the emotional payoff at the end. To have a musician struggle with an important piece of music, to figure out what he wanted to say, and say it when it had the most emotional payoff, made sense.

I had already given Eli a few Kid/Price-like qualities, including his teaching himself to play the piano, and producing/writing/performing all of his earliest work. So really, it was unintentional, but in the end I was proud to pay tribute to one of my idols, especially one who taught me so much how to be my own kind of artist. Little did I know at the time it would be a memorial. 🙁 

3. It took me a long-ass time to title this book.

Names come to me relatively easy. It’s not so much a choice as it is a discovery. When I name my characters, I generally know who they are before they have a name to go with the character. So I go down a list of potential names that I keep (and add to,) until I find the one that feels right, like I’m looking for someone who already exists and I’m just waiting to have them step forward for roll call. (This is also why I generally don’t change names easily when I’ve found the one that clicks, and why working with anyone else creatively is so challenging because they typically want to change these names first thing. It’s like taking your kid to school and introducing them, only to have the teacher say, “Hum, we already have a Justin. Can I just call him Doug?”

Self-publishing allows me the freedom to allow my characters to be who they were supposed to be, something I got to know very early on in the creative process.) Book titles are even harder, because if you inadvertently name your book after a book that already exists, you can risk suffering from comparison. I knew I had to think outside the box with this one, because I really, really wanted it to stand out.

With GLITTER, I had my concept and my characters, but I had no idea what to name their journey. Finally I circled around to the “web” idea, given the story is about a big lie. What’s the only thing that could entice someone like me onto a web? My husband doesn’t call me a magpie for nothing. Also, GLITTER ON THE WEB leaves a little wiggle room if I ever want to revisit the story… like… GLITTER DOWN THE AISLE, or GLITTER IN THE CRIB… that kind of thing. Y’know… just in case… 😉 

4. Eli is based on real men I’ve known.

If you’re really close to me, you probably recognize Eli. I really didn’t hide what I was trying to do with this character. While reading it, my husband turned to me and said, “You think So-N-So will recognize himself in your book?” My first thought was, “Probably not, because anyone who would really Eli me wouldn’t read the book in the first place.” Which is true. All I can say is I hope so, even though the So-N-So Steven referred to isn’t *technically* the whole inspiration for the character (though bad experiences involving him definitely worked themselves out in the book, as they tend to.) Truthfully, I hope every guy who has ever Eli’d me sees themselves in the book, because they’re all represented in every nasty thing Eli said or did. I threw it all into an Asshole Bouillabaisse as my way of saying, “How you treated me was not okay, and I only wish I had had Carly’s ovarian fortitude to tell you that.”

Everything Eli did or said to piss you off has happened to me at some point, just like it has probably happened to many, many women of size reading the book. Typically, these were the things I accepted and excused when I was too stupid to recognize my own value, and this was my way to rewrite things, to let someone else know that it isn’t okay of if someone treats them this way. Stand up for yourself. You can. And if the guy is worth having, he’ll cowboy the fuck up. (Many don’t, but that’s okay. If they can’t see your worth, they don’t deserve you anyway. Trite, but true.)

Honestly, it gives me great satisfaction when I hear that people hate Eli. I wanted you to. I wanted you to see how unacceptable this behavior is, so that we learn to nip that shit in the bud in real life. He is the voice of our media… he’s the voice of our society. It’s *our* job to stop accepting it as some kind of given and demand the respect and human courtesy we deserve.

5. Eli’s and Carly’s story isn’t over.

A lot of people wanted an epilogue but there’s a reason I didn’t include one. Their story isn’t over, and you get to see them in books like MASKED IN THE MUSIC, my first M/M romance, and FFF, the book that marries my Groupieverse and my Glitterverse. Their story will also continue in a brand new trilogy coming in 2020. 

EXCERPT #1:

“So I take it you think you’re impervious to all my tricks.”

I laughed again. “I know I am.”

He ran his hand along my back until it rested on my hip. “What makes you so sure?”

I shrugged. “I see through the bullshit. There’s glitter on your web, Eli, but it’s a trap all the same. I’ve seen it. I’ve always seen it. When you see it for what it is then you can’t get caught up in all it’s not.”

He swung me around. “You sound so confident. Care to make it interesting?”

“Any more interesting than it already is?” I countered.

He laughed. “I guess you have a point,” he conceded. “But I still think I could make you fall in love with me.”

“Gee,” I said, completely in character. “And I thought I already was.”

It made him laugh again. “Touché,” he said before he kissed me on the lips. He deepened the kiss, and I responded. His eyes were cloudy as he straightened. “So tell me, OGWO. What am I thinking now?”

He kept me flush against his body, which I could feel come to life. “You’re thinking that you haven’t fucked anyone in a few months, and maybe I’ll do.” His eyes met mine. “But I won’t do. Not for one million dollars.”

I smiled and exited the dance.

EXCERPT #2:

“You really don’t care what people think, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like today. I tell you to skip makeup, you put on sunglasses like it’s  nothing. If I had said that to Rhonda, she would have spent the next ten  minutes yelling at me in Spanglish, telling me I didn’t understand what  it was like to be a woman in the public eye.”

“Big difference. I’m not in the public eye.”

“Yeah, you are,” he corrected. “You just don’t care. At the spa. On the  beach. You just walked through a crowded lobby in beachwear, and don’t  even notice if other people stare or talk behind your back. It’s like  you’re a queen and they’re all beneath you.”

I chuckled. “Oh, I notice. But you’re right. I don’t care. I’m not defined by the opinions of others.”

His caresses grew even gentler. “Like a queen.” I said nothing. “It’s  sexy,” he murmured, his fingers trailing over my shoulders and down both  arms as he leaned closer. “You’re sexy.”

My eyes met his. “Surprised?”

He nodded. “Every day.” He leaned forward for another kiss.

Books in the entire Groupieverse (which marries the Glitterverse in FFF,) are in this reading order:

1. Love Plus One:

This standalone romance introduces us to Shannon, Dixie and Jorge, who pop up again in the Groupieverse in Mogul, which is Book Three of the original Groupie Saga. They also show up in the Fullerton Family Saga, starting in Book 2, Entangled. Jorge comes back often because I just love him.

2. Groupie -> Rock Star -> Mogul -> Vanni.

Here’s where my most beloved character, Vanni Carnevale, makes his grand introduction. He has a prequel, Vanni, which you can read first if you’d like to get his perspective prior to going in. He’s a bit of a douchebag at first, so if you need a reason to root for him, you can start with his story first. It was written to work either way, however.

3. Fierce -> Unstoppable -> Epic

For those who are disappointed by my “big girl” stories starring smaller sizes like 12-16, Fierce introduces Jordi Hemphill, a size 20+ young woman who moves to L.A. to take Tinsel Town by storm. She ends up on Vanni’s radar, and is swept into the Groupieverse as a result. All your favorites pop up in this series.

4. The Undisciplined Bride

This is another standalone which introduces the Bravos into the Groupieverse. Both Graham and Jace (from the Fierce trilogy) pop up to help tell this Texas tale about a bridezilla from hell and the hot Latin cook who is about to turn her world upside down.

5. Enticed -> Entangled -> Enraptured

My Groupieverse shares the stage with my Fullerton Family Saga, which is most beloved by my readers. The Fullerton family blends well with the Groupieverse, starting with Book 2, Entangled. Vanni pops up, as does Graham, Shannon, Jorge, etc. Most importantly, it introduces Alex and Jonathan Fullerton, who will come into play in later books/series. Young Jonathan will get his own romance book one day. If you’ve read Beauty and the Bitch (formerly Big Fat Bitch), you’ve already met someone who will be very important to him in the near future.

6. The Leftover Club

This is another standalone that introduces a character who will enter our Groupieverse: Meghan Lawless. Expect her to shake some stuff up when I publish Rewound, the next book in the Groupieverse, coming in 2019.

7. Southern Rocker Boy -> Southern Rocker Chick -> Southern Rocker Showdown

My southern rockers start in Texas, but by the ends of both SRB and SRC, they end up heading for the Golden Coast of California, where everyone in the Groupieverse is waiting to help make their dreams come true. Technically speaking, Boy and Chick are the same story from two different perspectives. They are not, however, a retelling of the same book. Southern Rocker Chick is most like the Danielle Steel books I grew up reading. It’s about Lacy Abernathy’s life, getting her to her HEA/dream come true. Jonah Riley just happens to come along and mess up all her plans.

8. Masters for Hire -> Masters for Life -> Masters Forever

This series stars L.A.’s rich and powerful, so naturally they orbit in the same galaxy as my Groupie/Fullerton Family Saga characters. Graham Baxter and Alex Fullerton actually come into play in a BIG way in Book Three, but Graham was sprinkling his fairy dust long before that. (I love that man.) It also introduces Caz Bixby, whom I love even MORE. This man is now my copilot. You’ll see him a LOT in upcoming books, including one just for him. (You’ve already met the woman who is going to rock his world, too.)

9. Glitter on the Web -> Masked in the Music -> FFF

This series wasn’t really written as a series on purpose, but the characters insisted that they all be grouped together. It starts with Carly Reynolds meeting Caz Bixby, which opens the Groupieverse even more. Each of these TECHNICALLY work as standalones, because whether or not the couple in question get together is answered by the end of their specific book, but the world they’re living in is the same – so they’re linked as family. (And I like that.) If, however, M/M romance is not your cup of tea, or… if the reverse is true and M/F is not your cup of tea, you can skip the story. But FFF embraces both couples, so… it’ll help keep you up to speed to read them all.

10. Beauty and the Bitch (formerly Big Fat Bitch)

Likewise, Beauty and the Bitch is a standalone, but we’re setting the stage here for other books coming next year, listed below:

11. Rewound -> Rebound -> Renowned (starting in 2020)

Here we pick up with Andy, Vanni and Graham, as well as Carly and Eli, Rudy and Tony, and, of course, Caz Bixby. If you prefer your HEA from the original book rock solid, you may want to take a pass with these. I’ve had to pick up some pieces of what happened in FFF, and it will throw our favorites into chaos for a while. But that’s the fun of it, am I right? When they’re blown apart, we can see if their love is strong enough to bring them back together again. And believe me, there’s nothing I like more than falling in love with Vanni all over again.

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY :D !!

The author is giving away a signed copy of Glitter on the Web to one lucky commenter here!

How to enter for a chance to win it? Just leave a comment below (or better yet – tell me your favorite fake relationship book) and by 10pm EST, Sunday October 20th, 2019, I will randomly select one lucky commenter as the winner.

The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond confirming their mailing address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. The signed book will be sent to the winner directly by the author.

Open internationally.

Reader Question…Solved! The book about the woman that was a soccer mom by day, and a hired killer by night…

By 3 Comments

Robyn has a book she needs help finding. We’re killing two birds with one stone, ’cause it’s actually a recommendation she has for “ Our Favorite “Falling In Love With An Assassin” Romance Books” list, but she can’t remember the title.

She asks:

I also remember a book I read a long time ago about a woman who was a Mom who drove a mini van and took her kid to soccer by day and then at night was a hired killer.

I can’t remember the name of the book and have way to many books to look through to find it.

So if anyone else has any ideas let me know.

Have a guess? Let’s make a list! 😀

Michele: I think it could be The End of Me Series by Tara Brown.

Robyn: Yes!! This is it! Thank you Michele.

Maryse: YAY!!! Thank you so much Michele!! And I’ll be adding this right now to the Assassin list. 😀

➔➔➔  Browse more reader questions (solved & unsolved) here. 😀 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… Solved! The book about the girl who used to play piano, but quit because her father had an affair with her best friend.

By 2 Comments

Casey is looking for this book. GASP!!!!!!! That title says it all. 😉 HOLY. MOLY. But I don’t think I’ve read it. Have you?

She asks:

I read a book about a high school aged girl who used to play piano, but quit because her father had an affair with her best friend.

Her next door neighbor was a bad boy love interest, her dad took down the basketball goal because it made too much noise.

Please help me! It’s driving me crazy, and I want to read it again. It was awesome!

Thank you!

Anyone know which one she’s looking for?

Ashley: Omg I know this!! As you know by now, I will probably never find it but I’m gonna try! 😂

Chris: Yay, I know this one! Wild Reckless (Harper Boys Book 1) by Ginger Scott. Loved it, I may have to do a re-read now.

Ashley: Ahhhh! Yay! That’s definitely it!

Maryse: YAY!!! Thank you so much, Chris!!! 😀 YESSSS!! My goodness I was so focused on a different part of the question (the affair her father had – which I had forgotten about) that I completely forgot the whole “bully aspect” of her neighbor and how much she hated him at first. <— THAT was what stuck with me on this one. How infuriating he was, and how crazy I was over their interactions and the eventual slow burn. I remember one of the basketball scenes clearly now.

GAH!!! One of my all-time FAVORITES!!!!!! In fact, here is my Book Review.

Casey: Thanks so much for your help! It was driving me nuts!

➔➔➔  Browse more reader questions (solved & unsolved) here. 😀 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… Solved! The book about the heroine adopted by a lady who trains poor girls…

By 3 Comments

N@m needs our book help! Sounds like it’s one of two “feels”. A Cinderella story, or is this one… darker? Or will it tear our hearts out?

She asks:

Im looking for the name of a book i read a couple of years back.

Its contemporary romance. Long story short :

Poor heroine gets adopted or taken under wing by a business woman who trains poor girls.

Two years later heroine is in college and is super classy now. Trains other poor girls with the woman as well. Hero is friend or business partner(?) of the woman.

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

He is down with some  illness (something life threatening) and asks for heroines companionship.

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

*spoiler alert*

They fall in love and marry and have kid.

Please help me find the title of the book.

Do you have a guess?

Tanya: I read this book recently. It’s Dear Agony: A Novel by Georgia Cates

Maryse: YAY!!! Thank you so much, Tanya! 😀

N@m: Oh my god. Finally i found it. Yes its the same. Thank you so much Tanya and Maryse. Love you guys 🤗🥰😍

➔➔➔  Browse more reader questions (solved & unsolved) here. 😀 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.

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