The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse
The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Nina McCarrick was a typical homemaker and soccer mom that spent all her time taking care of her kids and family, that is until the day her husband was involved in a horrible accident that took his life. Dealing with his loss was bad enough for Nina and the kids but shortly after her husband passed away Nina finds that their finances were not what she had thought they were.
Left alone to raise the kids with no job and no savings Nina helplessly has to watch as their possessions get taken away. Without any where else to turn Nina packs up what was left of the luxurious life she had once known and heads to Southampton to the rundown area she grew up in and the sister she had left behind when setting out for her new life with her husband that is now gone and she wonders if she ever knew at all.
The Art of Hiding is actually the first book that I’ve read by Amanda Prowse although I’ve noticed her work before but just hadn’t taken the time to read any. Being an established author with so many books in print I went into this one expecting to enjoy it and thankfully I really did.
The story in this book starts off a rather sad one with the family being torn apart with the loss of Nina’s husband and you can’t help but feel for her and the kids. But what I enjoyed the most was the growth that was shown in overcoming so many obstacles afterward instead of just giving up. I found this one inspirational and quite compelling to read and will certainly look for more work by this author in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Skirt Chaser by Stacey Kennedy Release Blast with giveaway
Sometimes, Love gets filthy
SKIRT CHASER
Filthy Dirty Love #2
Stacey Kennedy
Releasing Aug 8, 2017
Love gets filthy in this new erotic
romance by USA Today bestselling author, Stacey Kennedy.
Greyson
Crawford works hard by day and plays even harder at night. And he understands
and obeys the rules of the game. One, don’t mix business and pleasure. Two,
employees are off-limits. So, he’s been eagerly counting down the days until
interior designer, Evie Richards is no longer under contract with his Seattle
architecture firm. But when that day comes, he realizes there are more
obstacles in his way. The biggest…Evie herself.
Until Evie
gets asked to be the maid-of-honor in her best friend’s destination wedding,
and Evie needs a date. The circumstances are perfect for Greyson to set his
plan of seduction into motion. He will happily play the boyfriend for the
weeklong wedding event, if Evie will surrender to his every command and play in
his bed.
For Evie,
it’s all fun and games until Greyson’s first touch; then she begins to question
what’s real. She knows better than to fall for a guy like Greyson—a skirt
chasing ladies’ man—but with every slow caress and kinky adventure, she
realizes that Greyson knows what he wants, and it isn’t just her body
surrendering to him…it’s her heart.
When Janet headed back to her desk outside of Grey’s office, he looked back to the black screen on the phone. What kind of thoughtless friend would not only date an ex but then ask you to stand up for the wedding? There had to be more to the story.
Determined to get to the bottom of it, and erase those tears the bastards had caused, he kept Evie’s phone in his hand and then moved down the hallway, looking for her. Midway down the corridor, he noticed that his CFO’s assistant, Trina, was glancing at the women’s washroom. “Did Evie go in there?” he asked Trina when he reached her.
“Yeah,” Trina said with a soft nod. “She seemed upset.”
Grey glanced at the closed black door with the woman’s washroom logo. “Is anyone else in there?”
“I can’t be sure since I haven’t really been paying attention, but I don’t think so.”
Good enough for him. “I’d appreciate it if you could ensure that no one else goes in until I come out.”
Trina didn’t even bat an eye. “Yes, sir.”
Of course, she wouldn’t. Grey was her boss, and this was certainly none of her business. Even if his company had typical office gossip, and he knew word of this would get around, no one would ever dare chatter to his face.
Intent and careful to take his time not to scare any other employees in the restroom, he entered the simple and modern bathroom with the five stalls. Only one door was closed, and there was no one at the sink, so he moved toward the vanity and leaned against it. Hands shoved into his pockets, he stared at the closed door, giving Evie the time she needed. That’s when he heard her soft cries, and with those pained noises, something inside of him tensed.
It was a sensation strong enough to make him question what it was about this woman that drew him in so intently. She’d gotten a grip on his mind and body so tightly that he pondered her situation, and his, and what he could do about both. He’d become so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t realize she’d opened the door until she was leaving the stall and striding out.
Head down, she hadn’t noticed him yet, so he called out to her, “Evie.”
A scream ripping from her throat, hands pressing against her chest. “Holy shit!”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m sorry for scaring you.” His amusement washed away when he took a good look at her face. There was so much pain there. He didn’t like it.
The shock from her face slowly faded. “Why are you in here?” she asked.
“To return your phone to you.” He moved to her, watching her following his every step. The heat in her eyes was instant, and that’d always been the problem. She wanted him. Christ, did she want him, he could tell. But she was smart and clever, never one to cross the
professional line either. She was also a good girl, who likely needed love before sex. Maybe that was the real reason she didn’t ever cross the line. Maybe it was less about the job and more about protecting her heart from a guy that screamed danger. He could understand why
Though he never was a man who took the easy road, and he sure as shit liked a challenge. He stared into her gorgeous eyes, and a plan formed. One that got him what he wanted, and yet would benefit her, too. He’d never been a sly or shady guy, but he was a good businessman. And that meant using a situation to his advantage.
“So, that’s it. You got out the good cry you needed to,” he said to her, and he liked the way her lips parted when he leaned in toward her; it showed him just how much she yearned for his kiss. “Your ex is marrying your best friend,” he added. “He’s an asshole. She’s a bitch. This is happening, but it’s how you deal with it that truly matters.”
“He’s not an asshole,” she said softly, shaking her head. “And she’s not a bitch. I’ve helped plan their wedding for the last year, and I’m happy for them. I think…maybe it hadn’t sunk in or something.” She drew in a deep breath, releasing it out her nose and added with a soft smile, “But I’m better now. I’m sorry I fell apart out there.”
“One, I disagree with you,” he retorted sternly. “I’m not convinced these aren’t terrible people. And two, do not apologize that their selfishness hurt you. In fact, I’d say it’s time to get revenge, don’t you think?”
The side of her mouth arched slightly. He noted her long exhale, and he knew that had nothing to do with emotions. That it was this push and pull thing going on between them. Call it chemistry, intensity, whatever, it was as addictive as it was captivating. “How exactly do I do that?” She grabbed a paper towel, got it a bit wet with cold water, and then began wiping off her makeup, adding, “Murder them?” She gave him her sexy smile that pooled heat in his groin.
Grey chuckled, leaning his hip against the counter. “Perhaps that’s a bit extreme. Murder means jail time, and you going away is definitely not what I want.”
She slowly glanced at him then, cheeks flushing pink, and the dilation of her pupils was obvious. That look had snagged him the very first day after his COO hired her to design the lobby of the interior of their latest multi-million-dollar high-rise.
Now, the look intensified, hardening his cock, centering his mind on all the wicked things he’d like to do to her. He stepped toward her, as she spun around, leaning against the
counter, wide eyes on him. There was something about her, maybe her innocence, maybe this unexplainable connection that had only grown since he worked alongside her, but it captured him in an unbreakable spell.
Don’t miss more Filthy Dirty Love
USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy has written more
than 30 romances, including titles in her wildly hot Club Sin, Dirty Little
Secrets, and Filthy Dirty Love series. Her books are about real
people with real-life problems, searching for that special thing we call
love…in a very sexy way. When she’s not burning up the pages and setting
e-readers ablaze, she’s living her happily ever after with her husband and two
young children in southwestern Ontario. She’s a firm believer that wine,
chocolate, and sinfully sexy books can cure all of life’s problems.
Right Text Wrong Number by Natalie Decker Reid blitz with giveaway
Right Text Wrong Number
Natalie Decker
(Offsides, #1)
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: July 11th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
High school juniors, Layla and Tyler, are complete opposites. Sure she’s a cheerleader and he’s a football player, but she thinks he’s the biggest jerk in the school and he thinks she is too high on her horse to even be worth of a second glance from him. And when the two of them are near one another, sparks fly in all the wrong directions. They are NOT interested in speaking to one another, let alone date.
But when Layla unknowingly sends Tyler a smack-down text meant for the girl sending naked photos to her then-boyfriend, Adam, Tyler has no idea it’s Layla and decides to play along. After all, Tyler cannot resist messing with the pissed off girl firing off texts about junk pictures, cheating, and girl code.
As the fallout from Adam’s sexting scandal plays out in front of the entire school, Tyler and Layla secretly continue to text one another using fake names. But as days and weeks pass, things take a turn for the serious between them, and suddenly, their texts mean more. They both begin to consider revealing their true identity to the other and taking the relationship from texts to dates, then kissing and maybe more.
They say there’s a thin line between love and hate. Can reality live up to the fantasy, or will Layla and Tyler be forever offsides?
—
EXCERPT:
Beep! Beeeeeeeeep! “Stop screwing with your phone and pay attention to the road!” I blow my horn some more. The light is green, has been for a good forty seconds. I glance over at my best friend for some support for my general crabbiness this morning. She’s not giving it though, she’s too busy tapping away on her own cellphone.
“You believe this guy? Same to you, Buddy!” I yell as I catch his middle finger pop up in front of his rearview mirror.
Rachel doesn’t say anything. She’s still engrossed in messages from whomever is texting her. Possibly the latest gossip, or party happening. Who knows?
I’m usually a perky, non-violent person. All of this has seemed to change recently. I saw an episode on the news about how much society is turning into walking mutants because they’re so absorbed in their phones. You won’t catch me searching for the perfect snap shot of yourself, only to be mauled by a huge mountain lion ready to pounce from behind. I don’t want to be mauled by some crazy animal in a park. I mean how awful would that be, death-by-selfie. So, I gave up on taking poses in the cute outfits I wear and selfies altogether.
And don’t get me started on texting. I loathe it. I know what you’re thinking. What kind of weirdo hates texting? The kind who’s dyslexic. And when everything looks like absolute gibberish anyway, and now I have to read words on a small screen just to find out who made out with whom; no thanks. If it weren’t for my text-to-voice app, I’d be screwed. People would think I’m a complete airhead because I couldn’t decipher a silly text.
“Sorry; what were you having a beyotch fit about?” Rachel asks drawing my eyes from the road and landing on her. “Austin was telling me what happened to Jared during football practice yesterday. Plus, I guess there is this monster party after the game Friday. You in or out?” She looks up from her phone.
“In,” I answer reverting my attention to the line of cars turning into the school’s parking lot. I know my boyfriend Adam will want to go hang out with his team so it’s a given that I’ll be tagging along. Although I really would rather it just be him and me this weekend. Lately we’re either in group functions, at parties, on double dates at the movies, or hanging out with his friends. I just want some me-time with him. No disgusting belching contests happening in the background or listening to other couples make out next to me. Gross.
“Austin wants to know if your sister’s coming?”
This question shakes me from my miserable funk, and I snort laugh. My twin sister at a party? HA-HA-HA. OMG; I think I peed my pants a little. “That’s not happening. Unless the words ‘book,’ ‘ComicCon,’ or ‘mud’ were in front of the word ‘party.’ Then she’d probably go. But yeah; no. Why’s does he want to know? Is he crushing on my sister?” That could be news I could get down with.
“He said one of the guys was asking.”
Raising a brow, I inquire, “Which one?” It’s probably Chase, but that would be weird considering he’s her best friend and knows her daily schedule.
She’s tapping away again as I pull up to the school parking lot. “He won’t say.”
“Why not?”
“Do you really care or are you just morbidly interested that someone might actually like your super wacked out sister?”
“She’s not … wacked out.”
Rachel is my best friend, but she’s not a fan of my sister, Juliet. In fact, she pretty much despises her. My twin isn’t mean or anything, she’s just … super smart. And sometimes tends to let her geekiness fly. She can recite the first five chapters of each Harry Potter book. She knows all the lines word-for-word in every Star Wars movie. Every stinkin’ one.
Speaking of my awesome twin, she pulls up next to me and slams her Jeep door. “You did it again! You know you only have one simple chore. One. And every time I get stuck with it.”
I roll my eyes at her. “Calm down, sis. I’ll get it next time.”
She smiles wickedly at me. It’s like looking in a mirror since our physical features are almost exactly the same. The only one small difference isn’t something most people notice just from looking at our faces: she has a small birthmark on her neck just below her ear, shaped like a heart, whereas I do not. Everything else is definitely the same, from the dark, rich brown hair to the mossy-green eyes, right down to the height of a whopping 5’6”. I’ve thought about cutting my waist-length hair to my shoulders just so people can tell us apart.
“You say that every time! I’m done helping you out Layla. Maybe next time instead of rushing off to get Starbucks, see Adam, or pick up your BFF you’ll do your chores and stop putting them on me. I have a life too you know.”
Rachel cuts in. “You have a life, since when?”
“Butt out Rach.” I shift my attention back to my sister who is currently glaring at my bestie. “Juliet, I’m sorry,” I say.
Her eyes cut to me. She shakes her head and walks away. I call out, “Juliet.” She doesn’t look back. Instead, she flips me off—and okay this time —I rightly deserve it.
I totally thought she’d take out the recycling for me again. “Dang it. Mom’s going to kill me.”
“This is why your sister is a freak,” Rachel says as we head into the school. Once we’re inside, she ditches me for Austin and I head to my destination, Adam.
Author Bio:
Natalie Decker is the author of RIVAL LOVE series and the Scandalous Boys series. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
Find out more visit: http://www.authornataliedecker.com
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Cover Reveal: Falling For You by Charlotte Blake
Falling For You
Charlotte Blake
(Great Escapes, #1)
Publication date: September 12th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Sometimes love finds you whether you want it to or not …
Grace Clark is a star at her job as an art director at Boston’s biggest advertising firm. But inside she’s still mourning the loss of her sister two years ago. Losing Mia and a failed engagement have been enough to keep her heart on lockdown ever since.
Luke Arnold is tired of relationships that don’t go anywhere. Usually women are all over him, but it’s been years since he’s met someone he could really fall for.
But when he sees Grace from across the room at the Redview Lodge, he can’t keep his eyes off her. They meet in the New Hampshire mountains over Thanksgiving, and they find in one another something that neither of them expected.
18+
NOTE: This STAND-ALONE romance contains very steamy love scenes. All of the books in the Great Escapes series can be read in any order.
99 Red Balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter
99 Red Balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Eight year old Grace had been begging her parents to start letting her walk home from school with her friends so they finally begin to let her. Grace’s mother, Emma, had at first followed her daughter and hid to keep an eye on her as she walked but once she saw she was doing alright she let the girl make the trip on her own until one day Grace didn’t come home.
Frantic with worry every searches every where for the little girl finding the last place she was seen was seen in a sweetshop with no other clues to her whereabouts. Soon the police and media are involved in the search for young Grace when ageing widow Maggie Sharples sees Grace’s image on the news bringing back memories of her own granddaughter being kidnapped years before. For Maggie though the face she sees on the television is a bit too familiar to be coincidence.
99 Red Balloons is a thriller that takes the thought of every parent’s worst nightmare and expand the story to yet another level blending the past and present together. The overall plot is one that is sure to keep a reader on edge with a little girl’s life on the line when she can’t be found but for me this one also seemed to be a bit confusing with so much going on.
The story is told with alternating points of views from various different characters all throughout the book which is where I think I struggled with keeping track. Some chapters are from the family then a lady watching the story unfold and even a little girl who had been taken. By the time it all wrapped up it made sense but during the early pages and the middle there were a few times the voices within the chapters just weren’t standing out enough to remember who was who.
In the end I decided to rate this book at 3.5 stars. The intensity was there to keep me wanting to know how it would unfold but I had to sometimes stop and remind myself who was who and what situation I was reading so the flow could have been a bit better in my opinion.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
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