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L.A. Cotton’s “The Trouble With You” is Live, and we’re celebrating with a Five Fun Facts + an awesome giveaway!!

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The Trouble With You (Rixon Raiders Book 1) <— SHE FINDS HERSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOOTBALL PRANK GONE WRONG!! “…One year of life in her football obsessed town. One year of nauseating school spirit. Just one more year of her cruel step-brother Jason; and his cocky, arrogant, football-playing friends. She hates them. Especially, Cameron Chase, the guy she thought was different...

Squeeeee!! Sounds right up our infuriating hero alley! It was just recently released and to celebrate, the author is this week’s newsletter sponsor, and has sent over a “Five Fun Facts”, an excerpt AND a signed book (and swag!!) giveaway!! :D!!!

She says:

The Trouble With You is an angsty, push and pull, enemies-to-lovers YA/NA romance, featuring a trio of cocky football players, a heavy dose of school rivalry, and two feisty girls who get in their way.

Five Fun Facts about The Trouble With You…
  1. I binged watched Friday Night Lights (the TV Series), and QB One: A Netflix Documentary,  as research for this series
  2. I fell in love with the cover image before I had a story idea, and Cameron Chase evolved from the guy in the image.
  3. The Trouble With You is my longest book, coming in at 97,000 words, but it’s also the quickest book I’ve ever written, taking me only a month to complete – the story poured out onto the pages!
  4. I don’t often have muses for my characters but Jason Ford was definitely inspired by Tim Riggins from FNL; only a meaner more brooding version!
  5. I’m from the UK so have very little experience of American Football … but I did go out with a guy in University who played the sport. Sadly, I can report he did defintiely not steal my heart like Cameron, Jason, and Asher have 😉

And now…

An Excerpt:

“So, you haven’t been avoiding me all week?”

The air in the room turned dense as Cameron’s gray-blue eyes stared at me intently.

Clearing my throat, I managed to choke out, “I think it was pretty clear after last Saturday-” He took a step forward and I swallowed, backing up, careful not to touch the trophy cabinets. “Cameron,” I sighed.

“Yes, Sunshine?” The corner of his mouth tipped.

“You promised this was just for research purposes.”

“Is that what we’re calling it?” Humor danced in his eyes as he kept advancing on me, and despite knowing I needed to escape, I found myself lost in his stormy gaze.

My back finally hit the wall, the reverberation rattling my bones. I pressed my palms against it to stop myself from reaching out for him. But Cameron leaned in, touching his head to mine, completely overwhelming me. “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he admitted, so quietly it was more like a rush of warm air than actual words. “Last Saturday was me doing the right thing, Hailee. You were drunk and I-”

“You just want what you can’t have.” My eyes burned with defiance, willing myself to stay strong.

“I wish it was that simple.” He let out a deep breath.

“What are we doing, Cameron?” What are you doing Hailee? I silently added as I breathed him in.

All week, I’d told myself avoiding him was for the best, that I needed to stay away from Cameron and his mind games. It was easy when I saw him with the team, the constant rotation of girls vying for his attention. Cameron Chase, wide receiver, number fourteen, belonged to Rixon. He was theirs to have, theirs to worship, theirs to love. But there were moments with him, when it was just the two of us, when it felt like he was mine. Like he was offering me a piece of himself.

And all I had to do was reach out and take it.

But I didn’t want the scraps. I wasn’t just another jersey chaser looking for whatever she could get. I wanted all of him or nothing. Something, I knew, he would never be able to give me.

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY :D !!

An L.A. Cotton Book Box including: a signed paperback of The Trouble With You and series swag, and author swag!!

How to enter for a chance to win it? Just leave a comment below and by 10pm EST, Sunday June 30th, 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.

Giveaway open to International!!! :D

Monday Early Bird Book Releases + some that are going live at midnight! 06-24-19

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<— It’s not a huge list today, but what’s on here might just be rocking worlds. Like that TIJAN latest release there to the left!!!! 😀 !!!!

And…

Three things (and umm… for a weekend completely inside with barely a toe outside in the “real world” – hermit-style, my weekend has been… different…) 😉 :

1.) My corn progress. Two real corns growing!! See ’em? But… they’re kind of small! Like… 4″? They look bigger in my picture, but trust me. They are nowhere near the size of grocery-store corn. I poke and squeeze and I feel ’em in there. But what’s up with their size? Do they take months to grow to proper-sized corns? When do we know corn is full grown? How many weeks? Or is this some bird-poop “baby-sized” corn that I know nothing about and they’re ready to be pulled? Any bird-poop corn experts out there? 😛

2.) So like… that one time? When you haven’t been out not even ONE time during the entire day (what? I was reading! 😛 ), and your alarm is still armed from the night before, and you decide since it has’t rained all weekend to go out and water your “patio garden” and you don’t hear your own alarm screeching, going off as you happily water things without a care in the world, and then you come in, and hear the crazy-screeching and then you think you got the alarm code in on time (’cause you got the text saying alarm code entered – alarm cleared), and you breath a sign of relief,  and then… a few minutes later, a cop shows up at your door, and your dogs are screaming at him and you look like a homeless person in your ratty mis-matched Minnie Mouse pajamas, and your off-kilter messy bun (that you put up early that morning), and all the baby-hairs that are growing back… waving in the air, to-and-fro, and when he asks for your ID, obviously second guesses the photo with… well the “actual” presentation. *snort*. Nope. That didn’t happen to me at all. Wasn’t me. 😛

3.) Also that same day, feeling like I lost my mind from the book I’ve been reading (Tarryn Fisher’s upcoming psych-thriller love story) that had me all worked up and pacing, and hyperventilating and stressing out. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that had me so into it, so absorbed that I felt like the heroine to THAT extent. Trauma, and second-guessing my every thought and perception. Eeeeep! Luckily the cop didn’t show up when I was feeling all crazy-headed and erratic and all delusional-like. *phew* 😉

LOOK WHAT JUST WENT LIVE :D !!!
  • Teardrop Shot by Tijan <— BREAKING NEWS UPDATE!!!!!!!!! TIJAN‘s latest IS LIVE!!!!!! HER BASKETBALL STAR ROOMMATE!!! “…Reese and I shouldn’t have become friends. We shouldn’t have become roommates. And we really shouldn’t have started sleeping together … (Except we did.) I’m adorably psychotic. He’s in the NBA. ​This is not a disaster waiting to happen, at all...”

Rochelle: Teardrop Shot was sooooooo good!

  1. Indefinite (Indefinite Duet Book 1) by Corinne Michaels <— Corinne Michaels ALERT!! HER LATEST IS LIVE!! SHE’S NOW PREGNANT BY THE MAN THAT TOLD HER HE’D NEVER LOVE HER... “…The day he said he’d never love me is when I vowed Quinn Miller would never break my heart again. I wanted a family—but he wouldn’t give me that. As one of the top embryologists in the country, I’ve spent years creating babies in the lab for other people as my own dreams of motherhood fade. I’m done waiting. I decide to start the journey to parenthood alone. Then Quinn strolls back into my life…”
  2. Shelter (First Response Book 1) by Claire Boston
  3. Consume Me (Royal World Book 3) by Geneva Lee
  4. Toy: A Dark Captive Romance (Original Sin Book 3) by Stella Hart
  5. Frat House Confessions: Ridge by Bethany Lopez <— FAKE RELATIONSHIP ALERT!! She wants revenge… “…it’s a new year and Karrie’s ready to build herself back up and move on to bigger and better things. Still, a little revenge would go a long way in helping the healing process. He’s got a plan for revenge that will suit them both… Ridge is used to being the BMOC. Sergeant of Arms of his frat and the ability to land any chick within snapping distance has made life pretty easy for him.
    His home life is another story….”
  6. Always: A Romance Starter Collection by Victoria Pinder
  7. Baby Cakes: A Vegas, Baby Novella by Fiona Davenport
  8. Delayed Satisfaction by Lauren Blakely <— LAUREN BLAKELY ALERT!! SHE LEARNS JUST HOW FORBIDDEN THEY ARE… “...I’m not looking for love. I’m definitely not even interested in dating. But when I first see the handsome stranger singing on stage and our eyes lock, it feels like kismet. For seven blissful days, we fall into an intoxicating romance. Until one night when I learn just how forbidden we are…..”

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

  • AND! Here’s the fun-tool again! —> Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! <— This thing is so cool (Amazon calls it “Matchmaker“)! It’s an Amazon feature, that scans all of your Kindle books and will list all of the ones you have that are also available as an audiobook at a discounted price (not normal audiobook prices). This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )

       

➔➔➔  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).

Michelle Mankin – Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances Series Reading Order + some fun facts!!

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ROCK STAR/SURFER SERIES ALERT!!!! And for this week only, each book in the series is super-bargain priced!! Why? ‘Cause book #4 & #5 (a duet) will be out in just a few weeks. 😀

About the series the author says:

I’m going to have a cowabunga sale on the series leading up to the release. Outside, book 1 will go zero any minute. I have a bookbub feature on Oceanside, book 3 for international surfing day this week.

Michelle Mankin’s surf instructor

…a flashback to my surf lesson for the first book in series to my love of all things surfing and ocean beach cali. The Hawaiian model is actually wearing a necklace that an ocean beach jeweler Heidi, now a friend of mine, made just for the photo shoot.

Attached exclusive photos of me in Ocean Beach, my surf instructor and the cover model at the jewelry shop. I love my job. I love Ocean Beach, and I love the friendships I’ve made like yours that I never would’ve had if I hadn’t started writing.

Another exclusive fun fact. The blond cover model Clint Lewing and the redhead Emily Jones had never met before the photo shoot and now they are a couple. (NOTE: scroll down to see a photo from their photoshoot together)

So I can add cupid to my list of fun facts with my job as a romance author!

About book #1:

When handsome California surf god Lincoln Savage suddenly rolls into Ocean Beach like a rogue wave, shy beauty Simone Bianchi’s foundation is shaken. No longer under the thumb of her domineering father, she’s made a simple quiet life for herself and her fluffy fourteen pound Havanese pup running a surf shop in her hometown of OB. Long ago she gave up her dreams for a future with Linc.

But now the notorious lead singer of the Dirt Dogs has returned, and Simone is reluctant to admit that she’s still vulnerable to his killer dimpled smile and easy charm. She finds that although she’s stowed away the mementos, it hasn’t been as easy to erase the memories of their epic summer love.

It seems he hasn’t forgotten, either.

Is the recording contract he’s offering merely a pretense? Or does he have something more in mind?

Does he really believe that they can just pick up where they left off, despite all the bad luck and heartache? And is she willing to risk everything again for one last chance at love?

READING ORDER:

*Each book in the rocker surfer series features a different couple and can standalone, but Oceanside (with Hollie’s sister) book #3 is recommended before reading the duet “High Tide” and “Island Tide”.*

 

These two models became a real-life couple after this shoot!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The author and her surfboard

Friday Finds & Reader Recommendations – 06-21-19

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HAPPY FRIDAY!!! We’ve got a nice list of new releases and fun finds today, and I’m not even done adding to it. But I figured I’ll post it now, since we’ve got some incredible looking options. AND!! I’ve started my next read. 😉 I couldn’t help it you guys. I HAD TO start it. *red-faced*

I’ve decided to start Tarryn Fisher’s upcoming releases, “The Wives: A Novel” (I have a review copy), and her writing is IN. CREDIBLE. Being in the main character’s head is EXACTLY how I would feel and think… (how does she DO that??). It’s as if she’s me! UGH what a predicament. I’m so nervous (but even more titillated). 😉 Oh yesssss, you KNOW this is right up my alley. I think Tarryn Fisher is truly my most favorite. Her voice is incredible.

Cheryl: It does sound good. EXCEPT IT’S NOT RELEASED UNTIL. DECEMBER!!! What a tease Maryse!!! 😉

Jean: No fair Maryse! Many of us are waiting for that one!!

Maryse: *giggles with glee* You guys… I am HOOKED!! I read late into the night and had to force myself to put it down to go to sleep. That is RARE now as I usually always fall asleep while reading.

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

P.S. Lots of these books are in Kindle Unlimited, so if you’re not a member yet and want to test it out, Kindle Unlimited Membership super-bargain deal!!!! eek <— EXTENDED through the month of June!!!

  • Yes, Officers by S.E. Hall <— LIVE!!! HER MARRIAGE FELL APART & THEN SHE MEETS TWO POLICE OFFICERS... *blush* “…those who knew them well also knew that when the uniform and badge came off, their lives were far from “normal.” Or fulfilled. The two men agreed that something was missing, they just didn’t know what exactly that something was… until they crossed paths with Jacquelyn Jacobs, stranded on the outskirts of their little town. But finding her, the one to complete them, doesn’t mean she wanted to be found…”
  • Stuck with You: A ONE WEEK Novella by Roya Carmen
  • Ask Me Why: An Enemies to Lovers Standalone Romance by Harloe Rae <— LIVE!!! BROODING, UNINTERESTD SINGLE FATHER ALERT!! “…an adorable little boy dashes into my store. His zest for life makes me smile in a way that’s been long lost. Then I meet his father.Well, confront is more like it. Brance Stone is volatile. Offensive. Harsh. And can’t be bothered to care. Not that I want him to. I get frostbite just looking into Brance’s glacial stare…”
  • Love Story Duet by Robin Huber <— THE DUET IS COMPLETE & Michele G LOVED it!

Michele G: I read and enjoyed A Love Like Yours and A Story Like Ours (The Love Story Duet) by Robin Huber. They were romance with a Rocky feel to them…I ate it up! (Don’t even look at them though Leslie…there are tears.)

Daffy: My friend said it’s super cute! On my list

  • RORY: Brothers Ink Tattoo (Brothers Ink Tattoo Series Book 4) by Nicole James <— LIVE!! BLURB JOLT ALERT!! ONE NIGHT STAND WITH A ROCK STAR & NOW SHE’S PREGNANT!! “…When rain forces them all to take refuge in the same motel, sparks fly. A night of drinking and karaoke leads to a connection deeper than either of them expects. She opens up about her most intimate and tragic experiences. He lies about who he really is, never telling her he’s in a band that’s the opening act for rocker Charlotte Justice. The night they share is magical, but they’re headed in two different directions like two ships passing in the night. Or in this case, two Harleys passing in the night. What do you do when someone writes a song about your most private feelings and experiences and you hear it on the radio for the first time?….“
  • Jersey Six by Jewel E. Ann <— RECENT RELEASE BY ONE OF OUR FAVS & WE HAVE FEEDBACK!!

Jean: Morning! Finished Jersey Six last night! Loved it! …Another great book by Jewel E. Ann! …I too was able to figure one thing but the other twist I did not see coming!!

Cheryl: Just finished Jersey Six. 5 stars!! It was a rollercoaster of an emotional read. Your heart just breaks for Jersey. I was on edge wondering how this was going to end. I did figure one thing out correctly but was surprised by something else. Just when you think it’s going to be ok, nope, real life continued to happen and the angst just kept coming.

Perfect ending; does not leave you wanting more. Definitely a book you need chocolate and tissues for. If you have triggers it may not be the book for you.  …it does deal with some heavy subject matter.

Jean: Maryse, read Jersey Six first…..it is a standalone and I’m curious to get your thoughts on it…….

Linda: Good morning and Happy Friday!! Jersey Six. Finished last night. Jersey and Ian will be in my head for awhile. Yes one of those reads that is so amazing but sooo painful too. I agree with Cheryl’ s comment. I had some things figured out but not the other!! Oh my heart. Another book where you don’t want to skim over one single word. Jewel E Ann never disappoints!!

  • Stuck with You: A ONE WEEK Novella by Roya Carmen <— LIVE!! ROYA CARMEN’S LATEST!! HER EX SHOWS UP… “…Corrie is looking forward to getting off the grid and having a quiet week with her two Pomeranians. On the week’s agenda: journal, walk on the beach, paint, read, relax and reflect on life. Unfortunately, her plans hit a snag when she finds her soon-to-be ex, Jacob, at the cottage too. Turns out they’ve been double booked…”
  • Sparking Sara (The Men on Fire Series) by Samantha Christy <— LIVE!! FIREMEN ALERT!! “…The doctors tell us getting Sara back into her normal routine is what’s best for her.
    But what happens when she doesn’t want her old normal? Some would say I’m trying to save ghosts from my past. I think they’re wrong. Maybe all of them are wrong. Maybe the best thing for Sara is me…”
  • The Help: A High School Bully Romance (Kings of Linwood Academy Book 1) by Callie Rose <— RECENT RELEASE BULLY BOOK ALERT & ANGELA LOVED IT!!

Angela: Just finished “the help” by Callie Rose (bully book). I have to say wow! I finished it in a day. I was sucked in wanting to know what was going to happen next. So many unanswered questions through and a shocking jaw dropping ending. I have to wait until August until the next release. 4.5 stars.

  • Beautiful by Ella Bordeaux <— OLDIE BUT GOODIE ALERT!! Ashley just discovered this one!!

Ashley: I’m reading Beautiful by Ella Bordeaux. It’s from 2016! 😳 Can’t believe I missed it! It’s awesome so far!

  • What We Do in the Night (Day to Night Book 1) by Stylo Fantome <— LIVE!!! STYLO FANTOME’S LATEST!! SHE’S A NIGHTCLUB DANCER… “...Working for his father’s law firm has left Ari with very little control over his life, so when he meets Valentine for the first time, he sees a girl who is desperate for someone to take care of her. To take overher. So what he can’t get for himself in the day time, he’ll simply take for himself at night. But when power struggles lead to real feelings, who’s actually controlling whom? Some relationships are better left in the dark…”
  • Devilry (King University Book 2) by Marley Valentine <— M/M STUDENT TEACHER ROMANCE ALERT!! “…Diving head first into new experiences, new friends, and parties, I didn’t expect to run straight into the one thing I wasn’t ready for. His arms are welcoming, his body is addictive and his lips are heaven. Cole Huxley is everything I could fall in love with, except for one problem… I never wanted to fall for my professor...”
  • Flying by Megan Hart <— LIVE!! MEGAN HART ALERT (I LOVVVVVE HER!!!!) SHE RANDOMLY FLIES TO VARIOUS AIRPORT BARS… “…Stella flies standby every other weekend, finding the airport bar wherever she arrives and waiting for the right guy to come along. From businessmen to baggage handlers, each conquest brings a whole new meaning to the term layover. Every departure is the sweetest possible distraction from the life and memories she’s trying to forget. When she meets the mysterious Matthew in Chicago, something about him tells Stella she’s not the only one running from the past. Their connection is instant, electric, volcanic – and for the first time, Stella wants a layover to turn into a roundtrip ticket…”
  • Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances series by Michelle Mankin <— MICHELLE MANKIN SERIES BARGAIN ALERT!! All the books are super-bargain priced!! She says: “…I’m going to have a cowabunga sale on the series leading up to the release. Outside, book 1 will go zero any minute. I have a bookbub feature on Oceanside, book 3 for international surfing day this week…” P.S.!!! FUN POST ALERT!! I have super-fun facts & photos + the models in one of the photoshoots are now a real-life couple!! 😀 !!! I LOVE THAT!!

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

  • AND! Here’s the fun-tool again! —> Find out which of YOUR Kindle books are available as audiobooks at a BARGAIN-PRICE! <— This thing is so cool (Amazon calls it “Matchmaker“)! It’s an Amazon feature, that scans all of your Kindle books and will list all of the ones you have that are also available as an audiobook at a discounted price (not normal audiobook prices). This way, you can switch back and forth, seamlessly between your ebooks and your audiobooks. VERY COOL!

PREORDERS (going live soon!!! 😀 )

       

➔➔➔  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).

Reader Question – The book about the MMA fighter that is opening a club with his sister…

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Hadia is looking for this series. Her question is short and sweet with barely any details, but what she does provide might just be detailed enough to spark your memory. 😉

I DO love MMA romance books and have read a ton, but I can’t remember this specific detail in any of the ones I loved.

She asks:

I don’t know the name of the series but it is amazing. It’s a 4 book series.

The plot is of a MMA fighter opening a club with his sister. It has a lot of martial arts in it.

Do you know the name?

Anyone have a guess?

Stephanie: The Battered Hearts by Kele Moon has a brother, sister, and one of their best friends who own a MMA/UFC Fighting club.

➔➔➔  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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