Thursday, September 30, 2021

Truth or Dare by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine Blog Tour

Available Now. Truth or Dare. USA Today bestselling authors, Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine. Blog Tour. September 28th through 30th.

Lieutenant Kieran Bailey never saw his life anywhere but the bustling streets of Chicago—but then again, he never saw his life with a boyfriend, either. That all changed when he fell in love with bombshell CEO Sebastian “Bash” Vogel.

But it’s one thing to fall in love. It’s another to try to build a life together when you live hundreds of miles apart.

How do you choose between everything you’ve ever known and everything you’ve ever dreamed of?

Truth or Dare is the final book in the Dare to Try trilogy and should only be read after Dare You and Dare Me.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Dare to Try series!
For book one, Dare You, click HERE.
For book two, Dare Me, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Truth or Dare by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series and be very clear, this is definitely one which should only be read after the previous two! Personally, I would recommend reading all the linked books across the Bailey family, and probably start even earlier – but then, I am a huge fan of these talented authors and love how their stories all have connections!

I was so ready to see how Kieran and Bash would find their permanent home, settle down, and yet still be the dynamic, fascinating people that they are. We certainly get to find that out in this totally enchanting and sexy story. I stayed up and read it in one go, because... well, I had to know! I keep thinking of things I could share with you, but really, you will enjoy it all the more reading it for yourself.

I promise you will not be disappointed – there is such a great mix of passion, playfulness, and lots and lots of love.


Shannan☆☆☆☆☆
Truth or Dare is the final installment in the Dare to Try series. It cannot be read as a standalone and should be read in the order that the author intended.

This was the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. Kieran and Bash put themselves first and go after what they want. I loved watching this story come together. They were funny and sweet, sexy and so very combustible when they were in the same room together.

I love this world Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine have created and the interconnected characters throughout. It makes for such a better reading experience!! If you are a fan of either of these two authors together or independently you HAVE to read this trilogy!


Angie☆☆☆☆
Great ending to a wonderful trilogy. I can't explain how much I love these authors and their books. Gives you the feels every dang time! I don't want to give anything away, so hurry and read this one! You must read the series in order by the way. Such a good love story. Ahhhh, sweet, sexy, got me all mushy feeling!

 

 

Author Bio



ELLA FRANK is the USA Today bestselling author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!”

A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction.

Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.

Connect with Ella

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Brooke & Ella's Naughty Umbrella



BROOKE BLAINE is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance that ranges from comedy to suspense to erotic. The latter has scarred her conservative Southern family for life, bless their hearts.

If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find - just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for years. Or you can reach her on her website.

Connect with Brooke

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Brooke & Ella's Naughty Umbrella

 
 

Hosted by

Social Butterfly PR.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Truth or Dare (Dare to Try #3) by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine to read and review for this tour.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

The Virgin Replay by Lauren Blakely Blog Tour

The Virgin Replay. #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Lauren Blakely. Available Now.

A virgin, an athlete, a fake romance, and only one bed in the hotel room.

Following rules shot me to the top of my game as an all-star baseball player, and the golden rule is this – don’t hookup with your teammate’s sister.

But ask her to be your fake date when you desperately need one for a family wedding? Nothing in the guy code against that. Plus, the flirty, feisty Sierra’s my friend too, so why the hell not pretend we’re madly in lust for two days in Hawaii?

No hardship in a make believe kiss here, a fake smooch there, as long as we don’t cross any dangerous lines.

Then, the hotel books us into the same suite. Which means she’s showering near me, putting on itty bitty bikinis in the same room, sliding into that king-size bed wearing only a black lace cami.

But I resist... until the night she tells me she’s been waiting for me to be her first. And there’s nothing fake about my desire to say yes, even though that’s definitely against the code. But, maybe only if someone catches feelings? And neither one of us will.

Until I do…

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Rules of Love series!
For book one, The Virgin Rule Book, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

The Virgin Replay by Lauren Blakely

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Mary☆☆☆☆
Sierra has a crush on her brother's teammate, Chance. Although he has flirted with her each time he has come into her bar over the last year, he hasn’t asked her out yet. She is her own woman, is the owner of her bar, confident, sassy, independent, and wants to give her innocence to Chance.

Chance sees Sierra as the woman she is, but he doesn't want to break the bro code. He doesn't believe in dating a teammate's sister. But when he needs a fake date for a family wedding in Hawaii, Sierra is the first woman to come to mind.

Is it safe for Sierra and Chance to be alone and think nothing will happen between them? Can they spend time together and not end up with one or both brokenhearted?

I loved the others in this series, and I really enjoyed Chance and Sierra, they were fun, flirty, heartfelt, friends-to-lovers, chemistry sizzling under the surface, and the story is perfect for Sierra and Chance. And don't forget the epilogue from Tom the cat.


Shannan☆☆☆☆
The Virgin Replay is the third installment in the Rules of Love series. It can be read as a standalone but reads so much better if you read in the order the author intended. It is even better if you read the Men of Summer series before this series.

Chance is the closing pitcher with the San Francisco Cougars. He has very specific rules on how to life his life. Be a good teammate, be a fantastic closing pitcher, and don't date a teammate's sister. He's got the first two with no problem, it's the third he's having trouble with. Sierra is Grant's sister. Grant is Chance's catcher on the Cougars. Sierra owns the Spotted Zebra, a bar that the team's players frequent often. Sierra and Chance friendly flirt when they are together, but Sierra has plans that involve Chance. When they are both invited to a location wedding in Hawaii, Chance asks Sierra to be his fake date to show his family and ex-wife he's finally moved on from the very public divorce. Sierra agrees but the date turns out to be anything but fake.

I loved getting the small glimpse of the characters from Men of Summer. Lauren Blakely definitely hit the ball out of the park with this one. It's a great friends-to -lovers read. Fun and flirty, and the sexy chemistry comes through with Sierra and Chance.

I can't wait for TJ's book! I need to know all about the romance writer!


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, and whilst each one is a new romance, there are links across this and other of the author's sports romances – I love catching up and seeing different sides of the story!

Sierra has been a stalwart in earlier books, and so we all know how hard she works in her bar to be successful, and independent of her rich and famous baseball playing brother. We also have a strong suspicion of her crush on Chance, but due to his friendship with Grant, there are bro codes not to be broken.

However, as fake dates to a wedding? Surely Grant can't complain at that... but then they find themselves together in Vegas... Yep, these two are definitely riding the wave of chemistry, but also years of friendship and closeness.

I really enjoyed how they smoothly slip into wanting more, and knowing that it is both unacceptable, but inevitable. The Hawaii wedding setting, the crazy thing they do in Vegas – fabulously entertaining and enjoyable.

All three books so far have been really brilliant at taking the virgin from the title and making it clear that this is not to be seen as a slur or an ambition, but just is how it can be, and who should judge anyway? Thank you, Lauren Blakely, for a great series!


Avid Reader☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Sierra is feisty, competent, strong, and, sigh, still a virgin. She's been so busy with school and running her business, that she put relationships on the back burner. However, now that she has a successful business, her friends and family are pushing her to take a break for herself. Sierra loves her bar and especially enjoys nights when a certain sexy player comes in to flirt with her.

Chance knows that baseball is what he has. He holds on to it with everything he is. He also knows that you don't date your teammates' sisters. But there's just something about Sierra that he can't let go. He loves their banter, comes in to chat with just her, and doesn't really date ever. He knows that it can lead to heartbreak and a life full of regret. He has his family to show him why relationships are not for him.

On a whim, because they are heading to the same wedding and Chance doesn't want so many questions regarding his cheating ex-wife, who will also be at the wedding, Chance and Sierra decide to attend together. Sierra wants to be wild and spontaneous and Chance just wants to be near her.

Their spontaneity might get them in trouble, or it might lead to something so much more. It's a fun story where sometimes you have to get out of your own way to find happiness.

 

 

Author Bio



A #1 New York Times bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling, and #1 Audible bestselling author, LAUREN BLAKELY is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sweet, sexy and witty. She also writes red-hot, sexy romance and USA Today bestselling LGBTQ romance.

With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, with more than 55 titles on the USA Today Bestsellers list alone. She’s sold more than 4.5 million books.

A Brown University graduate, Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.


Connect with Lauren

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Lauren Blakely's Lovelies

 

 

I hit the jackpot. This good guy is a filthy fucker in bed.

 

Hosted by

Candi Kane PR.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Virgin Replay (Rules of Love #3) by Lauren Blakely to read and review for this tour.

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Fated Hearts by Kelly Elliott Release Blitz

Fated Hearts. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Kelly Elliott. Available Now.

It was only meant to be a short trip—up to Chicago for two days and then back to Texas. At least, that was the plan until a massive snowstorm leaves me trapped in Chicago at a local hotel with no definite timeframe of when I can go back home. If that wasn’t a crazy-enough turn of events—I wake up to a beautiful princess standing in my hotel room.

She was definitely a sight to behold, but she’s not the least bit thrilled to see me—think Momma Bear finding Goldilocks lying in her bed type of annoyance.

You see, my princess turned out to be a tired and angry traveler who had been double-booked… in my hotel room. With no rooms left anywhere in the city, we are forced to bunk together to ride out the storm. Now all that’s left to determine is will we survive each other.

After a rocky start and some much-needed rest, Analise and I soon forge a friendship that turns into a no-strings-attached fling.

When the fairytale we got lost in melts away, we have an even bigger storm to weather that we never saw coming. The one where I’m faced with the uncertainty of having to walk away from the one woman who has opened a part of my heart I had thought was as frozen over as the city we found each other in.

Fated Hearts is a stand-alone novel and the last book in the Southern Bride series.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Southern Bride series!
For book seven, Fool for You, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Fated Hearts by Kelly Elliott

Book 8
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)  ~  Signed Paperback

 

 

She wasn’t just beautiful. She was thrilling as hell. It was nice to meet a woman who wasn’t afraid to spar back with me.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Shannan☆☆☆☆
Fated Hearts is the eighth installment in the Southern Bride series. It can be read as a standalone. I have only read a few in this series and had no issues nor did I feel like I was missing any information.

The last thing Roger wanted to do was stay another night in Chicago, but the weather had other plans. After sweet talking his way into a hotel suite close to the airport, all he wants to do is sleep. Having a half-naked woman waking him up was definitely not in his plans. She is as shocked to see him as he is to see her. Finding their room is double booked and they are forced to share, hoping the weather will break sooner rather than later.

I loved the banter between Roger and Annalise. Kelly Elliott has such a way with words that you can feel the chemistry between the characters build. I was brought to tears more than once but loved every minute of it.

I can't wait to go back and read the rest of this delicious series!

 

 

Author Bio



KELLY ELLIOTT is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Her bestselling works include Wanted, Broken, Lost Love, and Never Enough, to name just a few.

Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, Gus, her chocolate lab, four cats, and endless wildlife creatures. When she's not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.

Connect with Kelly

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Kelly's Krew

 

 

Don’t look away. I want to see you when I start to make love to you, princess.

 

Hosted by

Grey’s Promotions.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Fated Hearts (Southern Bride #8) by Kelly Elliott to read and review for this tour.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Between Two Thieves by Sloane Steele

She’s no stranger to theft—but this time, it’s her heart at risk of being stolen.

Don’t miss this new high-stakes romantic caper series, where they’re planning the art heist of the century—to right the wrongs of the past.

She’s no stranger to theft—but this time, it’s her heart at risk of being stolen.

Get in. Get out. The two basic rules of thieving.

But when Nikki Russo runs into ex-boyfriend Wade Palmer, getting out gets mighty complicated, mighty fast. Burned by Wade before, her life was less difficult with him gone—even if it was less exciting.

Nikki’s working for the good guys now, trying to restore some ill-gotten gains to their rightful owners. Wade is doing one last job for his mentor—who also happens to be Nikki’s dad.

Now it seems they’re after the same high-value painting. And maybe a little of that thrill they used to share. Teaming up with a man she’s not sure she can trust won’t be easy, especially when Nikki discovers there’s a lot more at stake than Wade first let on.

But then, Nikki’s always loved a challenge. Where’s the fun in easy anyway?

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Counterfeit Capers series!
For book one, It Takes a Thief, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Between Two Thieves by Sloane Steele

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Carina Press (HQN)

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Mary☆☆☆☆
Nikki Russo has only known one thing, how to be a good thief. Nowadays she is stealing from the bad guys to make things right. She works with a group of people that are trying to set things right. When Nikki runs into her ex-boyfriend, she is in danger of losing her heart.

Wade Palmer needs a painting stolen and he knows who can get it for him. When he contacts Nikki, she is hesitant to see him. Funny thing is, Nikki and Wade are after the same painting.

Who will get to it first? Will Wade tell her the truth of why he needs the painting? Will she give in to the feeling she is feeling towards him? Can they spend one night together for old time's sake? And what about the dogs, can Nikki get past them?

This story was fun, flirty, and crazy, with friends, family, and past loves, and I enjoyed the suspenseful aspect of them trying to steal the treasures without getting caught and then getting them to the rightful owners. I can't wait to read the next one in this series.

 

 

Author Bio

SLOANE STEELE is the pen name for contemporary romance author Shannyn Schroeder. Shannyn is a part-time English teacher, part-time curriculum editor, and full-time mom, even though her kids are pretty self-sufficient teens. In her down time, she bakes cookies, reads romance, and watches far too much TV. She's a sucker for a good heist and even more, loves a team who can pull one off.

Connect with Sloane

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Wicked Reads Review Team.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Between Two Thieves (Counterfeit Capers #2) by Sloane Steele to read and review. Review copy purchased by the blog.

Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

Bombshell. Hell’s Belles, Book 1. Caleb is fast realizing that Sesily isn’t for forgetting… she’s forever. And forever isn’t something he can risk.

New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with a blazingly sexy, unapologetically feminist new series, Hell’s Belles, beginning with a bold, bombshell of a heroine, able to dispose of a scoundrel—or seduce one—in a single night.

After years of living as London’s brightest scandal, Lady Sesily Talbot has embraced the reputation and the freedom that comes with the title. No one looks twice when she lures a gentleman into the dark gardens beyond a Mayfair ballroom… and no one realizes those trysts are not what they seem.

No one, that is, but Caleb Calhoun, who has spent years trying not to notice his best friend’s beautiful, brash, brilliant sister. If you ask him, he’s been a saint about it, considering the way she looks at him… and the way she talks to him… and the way she’d felt in his arms during their one ill-advised kiss.

Except someone has to keep Sesily from tumbling into trouble during her dangerous late-night escapades, and maybe close proximity is exactly what Caleb needs to get this infuriating, outrageous woman out of his system. But now Caleb is the one in trouble, because he’s fast realizing that Sesily isn’t for forgetting… she’s forever. And forever isn’t something he can risk.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Bombshell by Sarah MacLean.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Hardcover (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Avon (HarperCollins)

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Erica☆☆☆
Bombshell is the debut in the Hell's Belles series.

Sarah MacLean tops my favorites list on Historical Romance. I need to add a disclaimer. If you're an old-school Historical Romance fan, where historical accuracy is tantamount, I might dissuade you from reading. Simply put, I see MacLean's novels more like a historical spin on modern romance, with a feminist twist in an era where women were not treated as a man's equal in society. The heroine will know her worth, be it in the 1800s or the 2000s, even if it messes with historical accuracy.

Bombshell was an anomaly to what I posted above, the fine line generally ridden was pitched, where the feminism was so hard-hitting that it felt as if it was in the wrong era, the wrong genre. No longer a romance novel but a vehicle to punch the reader in the face with the author's mindset, none of which worked in the era/genre it was written.

To be honest, I struggled from the start, not truly hooked, attempting to read the beginning portion of the novel, which is not the norm for me when it comes to MacLean's novels. I have no idea if it was my mood, or inability to concentrate, but I was just not connecting with Sesily or the story itself. After I fell into the groove of it all, I read the rest of the novel in a single sitting. But the struggle was real in the beginning. If you're experiencing this as well, here's my push to soldier forth if you're a fan.

Lady Sesily Talbot is not unfamiliar to those who have read all of MacLean's works. Scandalous and brazen, Sesily has the personality to start a brand-new series, featuring Caleb Calhoun. Their connection was introduced in Day of the Duchess, and I was surprised that MacLean didn't end the Scandal & Scoundrel series with their story. Embracing the freedom scandal allows her, Sesily doesn't fret over what the ton thinks of her reputation, one of the little freedoms women were allowed in the era.

Quite frankly, I'm not a fan of this premise. "Caleb wants Sesily but can't have her, so he ignores her, which affects her self-esteem, because she's heartbroken someone doesn't want her, someone she just met, in the ultimate of insta-loves, because Caleb had the audacity to not want her back."

Sesily is a feminist, right? Doesn't she realize she is the one who is responsible for her own feelings? Caleb doesn't have to want her, just because she wants him. To have this impact your life for two years is a bit extreme and childish. It's ironic that as a reader I'm to feel bad for her because of this, even if it's angsty AF how he wants her back too but feels as if he can't have her.

Sesily is invited to join a grouping of women, spearheaded by Duchess of Trevescan, focusing on helping women escape abusive marriages, dubbed the Hell's Belles. With a varying cast of personalities, the women stole the show. A heavy feminism mindset is woven throughout the entire story, one that may not feel authentic for those who read old-school historical romance.

Caleb has always been drawn to his friend's scandalous sister, and together they share a past, a past in which he has hurt Sesily's feelings. Even still, the protective sort, Caleb is determined to watch Sesily's back from afar, watching on as Sesily behaves as the ultimate of pot-stirrers. Caleb is harboring secrets of his own, ones in which the author keeps from the readers and fellow characters alike.

I'm not a fan of this drawn-out delivery system, and this isn't being said by an instant-gratification reader. It's not a mystery if one of the narrators knows the secrets but purposefully withholds it from their own mind for over 70% of a novel. A mystery is something in which neither of the narrators knows. Otherwise, it's just an evasive tactic utilized by the author to withhold information until they feel it will be most impactful, either making it look like it came out of nowhere or that we had an unreliable narrator for the most part. This is just a pet-peeve of mine that I had to voice.

Forced proximity places both Sesily and Caleb in readers' grasps, which is one of my favorite, angsty treats. Forever drawn to one another, they are under the impression how they can get each other out of their systems. I'm not sure where this premise started, one which we have in real life, how you can get someone out of your system. Never once has this helped in novels or in person, forever falling for the object of your obsession. Who is spreading this BS to get people to honestly think this is a course of action? Name one person in history where this worked? Why does this keep being perpetuated? But I digress.

What I will say is this was an entertaining calamity of errors, where nothing on the pages would have had happened in reality. Was I entertained? Yes, for the most part. But I spent the entire time reading at a rapid pace, entirely flying by the suspension of belief notion. If I paused too long, if I mused over anything, it would tear me from the story and I'd begin to struggle too much.

As a feminist myself, even I had a hard time connecting with Sesily. I found her behavior and mindset somewhat disrespectful for the era, as well as childish and self-indulgent, with all the pot-stirring, "I don't care what others think." It came off as she very much cared what others thought, so she went out of her way to make them uncomfortable, knowing they thought poorly of her, so she might as well make an impression, ya know, versus not be thought about at all. My over-analytical mind thought Sesily insecure, no matter how much she professed her independent thinking.

Sesily's behavior was selfish and mindless. She felt she had a right to do anything she wanted, consequences be damned, caring little of the impact her actions had on others. If anyone, particularly Caleb, voiced how she was being an idiot, she would argue how she had a right to do as she pleased. Reminded me of trying to explain to a toddler why they can't run into traffic, even if they were completely capable of running there, the toddler not able to realize how the person who hits them will ultimately feel, or how badly it will hurt if they survive. That is Sesily, and I couldn't figure out why anyone liked her. She gave my ilk (feminists) a bad name, selfish, vapid, and narcissistic. I doubt MacLean wished to have the opposite happen, where readers would actually resent people like Sesily, instead of identifying with her.

This is a case where I wanted to like it but struggled to find entertainment within it. As a fan of MacLean's, I'm sure that influenced my rating, as well as my overall thoughts on the novel. This is by far one of her most feminism-forward novels, to a preachy degree.

As a feminist seeking escape, I personally didn't need to be preached at one iota. I think this impacted my entertainment value. I hope Sarah MacLean just takes her foot off the gas a bit, idles it back a bit in future installments. You change more minds by being subtle than punching them in the face with it. Because the story stops being about the characters, their journeys, the journeys of the side characters, all completely overshadowed by an agenda being preached.

To be honest, I just expected more out of Sesily and Caleb's story, after waiting to read their journey so long. What was promised as an angsty journey seemed to be overshadowed by preaching and showcasing other characters who will undoubtedly get an installment next. I felt the novel was disjointed, the wrong things in the forefront, with not enough of the couple or their romance showcased, especially as this is historical romance.

Many of MacLean's novels are on my reread list. I'll skip Bombshell on future rereads and only recommend it for series continuity. I look forward to the next installment, hoping this was just a dud among diamonds.

 

 

Author Bio

SARAH MACLEAN grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance and bemoaning the fact that she was born far too late for her own season. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book.

Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, baby daughter, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She loves to hear from readers.

Connect with Sarah

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Avon Books.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Bombshell (Hell's Belles #1) by Sarah MacLean to read and review.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

One Day Like This by Scarlett Cole Release Blitz

Available Now. One Day Like This by Scarlett Cole.

Matt

Loving Izabel Bryson should be the easiest thing in the world. Heck, she’s been the inspiration for at least half a dozen of the songs he’s written for his rock band, Sad Fridays.
He’s loved her for a decade.
But she’s his best friend and fellow-band mate’s little sister, and he promised a decade ago that he’d never put his hands on her.
She can never be his, no matter how much he craves her.

Izabel

Loving Matt Palmer is the most hopeless thing in the world.
The hours she spends working at the Manchester homeless shelter only go so far in distracting her from the painful truth.
He doesn’t want her.
Because she screwed up that awful night two years before when she slept with Matt’s brother. He will never be hers, no matter how much she yearns for him.

When a good deed leads to one bed, and one night of ruthless honesty, everything is laid bare. They belong together, but acting on it will cost them everything.

It's raw. It's real. It's rock and roll.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

One Day Like This by Scarlett Cole

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Paperback (US)

 

 

I can still feel your hands on my skin, and I wondered if you can still feel mine on yours.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Sarah☆☆☆☆☆
This is a fabulous start to a new series by a favourite author. Where the Preload books were about successful band whose members were household names, this series starts with a band whose members are nearing 30 and still gigging around their day jobs. Matt and his bandmates are killing themselves and still barely breaking even.

Matt and Izabel are both really engaging characters. I always love that Cole’s female characters are engaging and likeable. Izabel’s work in the shelter is inspiring. Matt’s determination, talent, and hard graft are equally engaging. Both characters have complicated family relationships that feel real and relatable.

While I really enjoyed Matt and Izabel, I didn’t quite buy into the reasons they felt they had to hide their feelings from each other and stay apart for so many years. The conflict felt conflated and improbable. The result is a story that lacks some of the buildup of sexual tension I want from a romance. I like the friends-to-lovers element of the story but not the unbelievable conflict.

I absolutely love the Manchester setting for this book. In recent years, I’ve followed Cole from the Second Circle Tattoo books set in the USA to the Preload books set in Canada and now to this series set in the UK. I love the way Matt’s band fits into Manchester’s fabulous music scene. With Izabel’s shelter, Cole captures the tension between Manchester’s gritty industrial heart and its rapid gentrification beautifully.

I love the structure Cole sets up for the series at the end of this book. While we get a strong HFN (happy for now) for Isobel and Matt, the author leaves some threads open and the last chapter is the first chapter of the next character’s book. I love that the band’s story will be told across the series.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, and I can tell you, I am definitely hooked.

Set in Manchester, a thriving place for successful music bands, we meet a band who have most definitely not hit the big time... yet! They are doing well enough to have regular gigs, enough music to record an album, and collectively, a bad rock star lifestyle habit of drink, drugs, and sex.

As we get to know the guys, some of whom work together painting and decorating to make ends meet, we soon see that there is a very down to earth vibe amongst them, even though they are keen to break into the scene. How much longer they can stay together when things are not working out, well that's the question.

Then of course, there is the younger sister of Luke, who has crushed on the band's songwriter, Matt, forever. There is a lot of history there, and bro code issues, as Matt too really likes her. Throw in the fact that Matt's brother and band singer, Jase, did hook up with her, and you have the set up for some really complicated romantic possibilities.

You will not be disappointed, and as we follow the potential success or otherwise of the band, we also watch the two leads work out what is and isn't allowed, and how much they will play by the rules.

Left on a sort of cliffhanger, I am very keen to get my hands on the next installment very soon (hint hint!).

 

 

She’s not the girl you hide. She’s the girl you marry! Stop dicking her around.

 

Author Bio



The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada where I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are Scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I'm getting the chance to follow that dream.

Connect with Scarlett Cole

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Scarlett Cole's Passionistas

 

 

I don’t want an audience the first time I kiss you.

 

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Wildfire Marketing Solutions.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas #1) by Scarlett Cole to read and review for this tour.

Foolish Hearts by Synithia Williams

All they need is a second chance… Foolish Hearts by Synithia Williams.

All they need is a second chance…

It’s been three years since Ashiya Waters walked away from Russell—and made the biggest mistake of her life. She knows she shouldn’t dwell on the past. Love isn't meant to last… and nobody taught her that better than her own family. But when her grandmother unexpectedly dies, leaving Ashiya in charge of a multimillion-dollar company, Russell is the only one who can help her… and things get complicated fast.

Russell Gilchrist would do anything to be named COO of Robidoux Holdings—with all of the power and money that comes along with it. He’s been desperate to solve the disappearance of his brother, Roderick, for years, and the Robidoux influence could finally turn this cold case hot—and give his family some much-needed closure. The job is his… if he helps Ashiya manage her new business. He’ll just do his work and get out—that’s the plan. But being so close to the woman who broke his heart is dangerous. Seeing her smile and feeling her touch makes him want to forget the past. But will this second chance at love burn them both?

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Jackson Falls series!
For book one, Forbidden Promises, click HERE.
For book two, Scandalous Secrets, click HERE.
For book three, Careless Whispers, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Foolish Hearts by Synithia Williams

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Harlequin

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Avid Reader☆☆☆☆
M/F Second-Chance Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Ashiya never wanted much to do with her family's wealth and lifestyle. She loves her shop and how successful she's made it. But when her long-lost grandma leaves everything to her, Ashiya doesn't really know what to do.

Russell vowed to never let someone into this life again after Ashiya used him. He didn't ever want to feel like that again. But when he sees her struggling to figure out where to go when she's handed a company, Russell knows that his heart is more able to forgive than he thought.

As Ashiya navigates a new family's hidden secrets and agendas, Russell visits old wounds that have been left to fester. Together they will tackle each other's problems in the hopes that at the end, they'll have found exactly what they were looking for.

It's a good second-chance story with a lot of moving parts. Stealing, cheating, and lying all come fairly standard in this new company and in the mystery behind Russell's family's mystery. I enjoyed watching them fight for what they wanted and loved watching them find each other again.

 

 

Author Bio

SYNITHIA WILLIAMS has loved romance novels since reading her first one at the age of 13. It was only natural that she would one day write her own romance. When she isn’t writing, Synithia works on water quality issues in the Midlands of South Carolina while taking care of her supportive husband and two sons.

You can learn more about Synithia by visiting her website.

Connect with Synithia

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Harlequin.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Foolish Hearts (Jackson Falls #4) by Synithia Williams to read and review.