Thursday, June 30, 2022

Rules for Engaging the Earl by Janna MacGregor

As their wounds begin to heal, both come to realize that their marriage of convenience is so much more than just a bargain.

Get ready for lost wills, broody dukes, and scorching hot kissing all over London in Rules for Engaging the Earl by Janna MacGregor.

Constance Lysander needs a husband. Or, so society says. She’s about to give birth to her late husband’s child—a man who left her with zero money, and two other wives she didn’t know about. Thankfully, she has her Aunt by her side, and the two other wives have become close friends. But still—with a baby on the way, her shipping business to run, and an enemy skulking about, she has no time to find the perfect match.

Enter Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston. Returned war hero and Constance’s childhood best friend, his reentry into society has been harsh. Maligned for an injury he received in the line of duty, Jonathan prefers to stay out of sight. It’s the only way to keep his heart from completely crumbling. But when a missive from Constance requests his presence—to their marriage ceremony—Jonathan is on board. His feelings for Constance run deep, and he’ll do anything to make her happy, though it means risking his already bruised heart.

With Constance, Jonathan, and the new baby all together, it’s clear the wounds—both on the surface and in their relationship—run deep. But when the nights come, their wounds begin to heal, and both come to realize that their marriage of convenience is so much more than just a bargain.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Widow Rules series!
For book one, A Duke in Time, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Rules for Engaging the Earl by Janna MacGregor

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
St. Martin’s (Macmillan)

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Erica☆☆☆☆
Rules for Engaging the Earl is the second installment in The Widow Rules series. The novel can easily be read as a standalone within the series with little to no confusion. However, the "widows" themselves are connected by a singular husband, where it would benefit the reader to start with A Duke in Time, as Constance was introduced in the first novel.

Pregnant and struggling to come to terms with the fact that her husband was a bigamist, while surrounded by his "wives." The man left her and their unborn child with no money, now she has no husband, extra wives to consider, and pregnancy makes it difficult to run her shipping business.

Jonathan, a former childhood friend, reenters Constance's life. The returning war hero was wounded – physically, mentally, and emotionally – which has him draw away from society.

This pair of old friends needs one another, deciding a marriage of convenience would benefit them both. The author continuously puts our hero and heroine in situations meant to draw them closer together, to rely on one another, and to truly get to know each other soul deep.

Unique and lifelike characters this reader rooted for from page one, Constance and Jonathan balanced one another perfectly in this second-chance, friends-to-lovers, beauty and the beast novel.

I highly recommend to fans of the author, historical romance, and this series. The only complaint I can make is a pacing issue, simply because the story dragged at parts, not progressing fast enough to completely hold my interests.

With that said, I'm beyond eager to get my hands on the next installment.

 

 

Author Bio

JANNA MACGREGOR was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She is the author of the Cavensham Heiresses series, which begins with The Bad Luck Bride.

Janna credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to hear from readers.

Connect with Janna MacGregor

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Janna MacGregor's Ladies and Lords of Langham Hall

 

 

St. Martin’s Press.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Rules for Engaging the Earl (The Widow Rules #2) by Janna MacGregor to read and review.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Flawless by Elsie Silver Blog Tour

Available Now. Flawless. Elise Silver. Blog Tour June 27th – 29th.

The rules were simple. Keep my hands off his daughter and stay out of trouble.
But now I’m stuck with her. There’s only one bed. And well, rules are made to be broken.

I’m the face of professional bull riding—the golden boy. Or at least I was, until it all blew up in my face. Now my agent says I have to clean up my image, so I’m stuck with his ball-busting daughter for the rest of the season as my “full-time supervision.”

But I don’t need a goddamn babysitter, especially one with skin-tight jeans, a sexy smirk, and a mouth she can’t stop running.

A mouth I can’t stop thinking about.

Because Summer isn’t just another conquest. She sees the man behind the mask, and she doesn’t run—she pulls me closer, even when she shouldn’t.

She says this means nothing.

I say this means everything.

She says there are boundaries we shouldn’t cross. That my reputation can’t take any more hits—and neither can her damaged heart.

I say I’m going to steal it anyway.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Flawless by Elsie Silver

Book 1
Buy Links

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

 

 

Excerpt



“I don’t think I can lift my arm to put the cream on my shoulder.”

She freezes, skirt swishing against her knees. On a heavy sigh, she turns back to me with an expression I can’t quite place on her face. Some cross between annoyance and sadness. And then she’s kicking her boots off and padding across the room in socked feet, swiping both creams off the desk, and then crawling up on the bed until she’s kneeling behind me.

“Which shoulder?” Her voice is tight as her breath dances across my bare back.

“The right one.”

“Where?”

“Everywhere.”

“Jesus, Rhett,” she breathes.

“Getting hung up tonight didn’t help.” Nothing worse either because you can see the disaster coming in slow motion. This sense of panic settles into your gut that your hand is really fucking stuck in there.

“Okay, before tonight, where did it hurt?”

“Under the shoulder blade.”

The tips of her fingers land gently right where the plate of my shoulder blade rests over my ribs, and I shiver. “Here?”

“Jesus, why are your hands so cold?”

“Because it’s freezing outside, and I walked to get you all this, dumbass.” Her fingers prod along the line of the blade, and I wince.

“Careful. Your dad told me to keep my hands off you.”

“Yeah, well, he didn’t tell me to keep my hands off you.”

A quiet, strangled noise lodges in my throat as her hands flutter over my skin. Somehow, that one sentence from her lips has all my blood rushing in a singular direction. And suddenly, things feel awkward. Altogether too quiet. Too personal.

“Thank you,” I mutter, it’s so much easier to say without looking her in the eye.

She rests her hand flat against my back for a few beats and quietly replies with, “You’re welcome.”

I can hear her squeeze the cream out into her palm next, the sound of her hands rubbing together as she warms the ointment between them. And then she’s slathering it over my shoulder, hands gliding against my skin with such tenderness that it doesn’t even hurt. She massages gently, and I let my eyes fall shut, my shoulders drooping when I didn’t even realize I had them tensed up.

Her fingers press and slide down every line of muscle, down into my mid-back, toward my spine and over the top of my shoulder.

“These muscles are hard as rocks,” she mutters with a thread of annoyance in her voice.

Yeah, and so is something else.

When her fingertips push up the line from the top of my shoulder into my neck, I groan.

“Is your neck sore too?”

“I told you everything is sore.”

She sighs and reaches for the other tube. I can smell the minty medicated scent the minute she squeezes it out. “Your neck is sore because all the muscles beneath it are so fucked.”

“Is that the medical diagnosis? Fucked muscles?” I ask as she brushes my hair aside.

Her responding laugh is quiet, but then her hands are on my neck, digits digging in at the base of my skull and pulling down, thumbs working hard. And when I groan this time, it’s in pleasure, not pain. I lean into her touch like a dog getting a scratch behind the ear.

I hate seeing the tour doctor on the best of days, but after The Summer Treatment, I will definitely dread his thick, rough hands when I could have her careful, soft ones instead.

My cock throbs between my legs, and I’m momentarily grateful for my loose sweatpants.

At least she’ll never know.

She spreads the muscle balm over my shoulders, covering areas she’s already soothed. And for a moment, I let myself imagine that she really likes this. Doting on me. Caring for me. Putting her hands on me. That it’s not just a job. That she isn’t just trying to prove herself in what I’m assuming is a brutally cutthroat industry.

When she pulls away, I bite my tongue to stop myself from asking her to keep going.

She swallows audibly before she crawls off the bed and straightens herself beside me. “Just make sure you cover that cream up with a shirt, so it gets nice and hot.”

“Okay. Yeah.” My eyes shift over to my luggage, wondering if I’ll be able to lift my arms comfortably enough to pull a shirt on.

Summer must catch the look on my face because she sighs deeply and moves over to my open bag while shaking her head. “Is this t-shirt okay?” She turns, holding up a well-worn gray shirt.

“Yeah.” I scrub at my beard, feeling a little embarrassed by her involvement here, but also relieved. Because I’m tired. Tired of hurting. Tired of knowing my body isn’t keeping up but pretending it’s fine. It’s nice not having to pretend in front of someone.

She saunters back toward me, gathering the body of the shirt up and holding the right side arm hole out to me first as she comes to stand between my knees. I silently put my arm through, lifting it as little as possible, and inhale her scent. She even smells like cherries. Once both arms are through, she steps even closer, legs brushing against my inner thigh as she lifts the neck hole over my head and pulls it down.

All I can hear is the brush of fabric over my ears and the sound of us breathing the same air.

The t-shirt falls over my body, and she gives me a forced closed-lip smile. She brushes my shoulder, as though there’s something there, and then quickly turns away. Almost like she can’t get away from me fast enough.

And who could blame her? I’m sure dressing a grown-ass man wasn’t what she imagined for herself when she went through law school.

“Thank you, Summer.” My voice comes out gravelly in my dry throat.

“Of course. Just doing my job,” she replies, pulling her boots up over toned calves. “You were incredible tonight. You should be very proud of yourself.”

She says it as she walks out, not looking me in the eye. Which is fine, because she’d see how much it bothers me that she’s just doing her job.

Because it does bother me, and I can’t put my finger on why.

The worst part is, it doesn’t bother me enough to stop me from limping over to the bathroom and fucking my hand while thinking about her cherry lips the minute she shuts the door.

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Shannan☆☆☆☆☆
Flawless is the first book in the Chestnut Springs series. It can be read as a complete standalone.

First let me say, this is the first time I have read anything by Elsie Silver, and I am not disappointed at all.

Rhett is nearing the end of his bull riding career. Is he ready for that career to end? Absolutely not. It's all he knows. He loves the attention being the best brings him and he's not ready to give that up. When he unknowingly upsets one of his main sponsors, his reputation takes a nosedive. His agent, Kip, is beyond livid. He knows Rhett has always been a wild child but ending his career this way isn't acceptable, so Kip sends his daughter to be the bull rider's babysitter until the end of the season.

Summer has always been one of Rhett's biggest fans since she was a teen. The last thing she expects to do is to have to be stuck like glue to the man, so he doesn't ruin his career. Summer needs to prove to her dad she can do the job. She will be capable to take over his company one day. Every day with Rhett she lets down that guard just a little more. She can't be involved with him, it would ruin everything.

I loved the chemistry with Rhett and Summer. Her past with men had her walls almost unbreakable but Rhett finds a way to break them down brick by brick. Their story is an emotional rollercoaster that had me in tears at one point. The connections they develop are deep and exciting to watch.

I can't wait to see what is next for this series. Now that I've read Elsie Silver, I'm excited to read more from her!


Mary☆☆☆☆☆
You know the old saying, opposites attract? Well, Rhett and Summer are total opposites. He is the golden boy of professional bull riding, and she is the daughter of his agent. She is sent to help him clean up his image. When he first looks at Summer, he sees a princess, but she will put him through his paces, make him believe in himself, and see that she is more than just a princess.

Summer can't believe she has been sent to help Rhett clean up his image. She had posters of him on her teenage bedroom walls, so now she gets to look at him in person. And he looks so much better in person.

Rhett and Summer were drawn together from that first meeting in the conference room. Their chemistry was off the charts hot. He is a dirty-talking, protective cowboy needing the love Summer can give him. Summer is strong, independent, caring, and wants to help others before herself. His father and brothers are great, and I cannot wait for their stories. I also hope there is a story on Theo, Rhett's bull riding buddy.

This story is built on trust, a perfect enemies-to-lovers tale that is fast-paced and will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. This story can be read as a standalone and I hope you love it as much as I have.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
As a big fan of the Gold Rush Ranch series, I was delighted to get this first book in a new series, with a link to that one – however, other than Rhett mentioning his sister, Violet, by name, we get no discernible overlap.

I found this to be a fun read, particularly the text exchanges which set up many of the inevitable events along the way. Rhett is a curious character who holds a lot inside, and having got fed up of being teased for what he does and most especially what he did as a younger, cockier bull rider. He is now definitely at the end of his career, aching, somewhat jaded, and unfortunately, has just revealed his hatred of milk on air! I am guessing that the rest of the men in his family will feature in future installments, but it will take a bit for me to warm to them after their attitude to Rhett! Even if it was meant in love.

Summer has an interesting past, to say the least, and the most amazingly supportive dad in the face of a glacial stepmother and half-sister – they were a little cartoonish in character. The revelations about Rob were hugely distasteful, and only added to the unpleasant home life that they must all have suffered. I did enjoy how the layers were pulled back though, each slightly more unexpected than the last!

I enjoyed the buildup between the two of them, although Summer's naivety made her seem even younger than she was. Together they were going to be combustible, and the adrenaline created from the 8 seconds bull ride was clearly potent for both Rhett and Summer when they finally gave up resisting. That Kip was good with it was slightly disturbing, but really also a relief. He did turn out to be a bit of the hero of the book, which was a surprise given the beginning!

 

 

Author Bio


Elsie Silver. Sassy, Sexy, Romance.

ELSIE SILVER is a Canadian author of sassy, sexy, small-town romance who loves a good book boyfriend and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees. She lives just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, son, and three dogs and has been voraciously reading romance books since before she was probably supposed to.

She loves cooking and trying new foods, traveling, and spending time with her boys–especially outdoors. Elsie has also become a big fan of her quiet five am mornings, which is when most of her writing happens. It’s during this time that she can sip a cup of hot coffee and dream up a fictional world full of romantic stories to share with her readers
.

Connect with Elsie Silver

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: The Silver Society

 
 

Hosted by

Social Butterfly PR.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Flawless (Chestnut Springs #1) by Elsie Silver to read and review.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

On One Condition by K. Bromberg Release Blitz

Sometimes first loves deserve a second chance...

First loves deserve a second chance in an all-new small town, billionaire romance by New York Times bestselling author, K. Bromberg.

The requirement is ridiculous but simple. Spend two months in Cedar Falls and play the mayor’s games to ensure that The Retreat, Sharpe International’s newest resort, can open.

But I have a history with this small, Montana town. One I’d tried to forget but never could. Asher Wells. My Lavender Girl.

She’d had dreams and aspirations to leave Cedar Falls and make her mark on the world. So why is she still here, standing in front of me? And more importantly, why is she looking at me with hurt in her eyes when I was the one who‘d been forced to leave or else face the damning consequences of that night?

I have everything in life: money, success, an empire to run... everything except for one, very important thing. Her.

Fifteen years is a long time to wonder... what if. I’ll be damned if I leave town this time without her.

Are you ready to fall for the Sharpe brothers in K. Bromberg's sexy, contemporary, billionaire romance series? These books can all be read as standalones, but can be enjoyed as a series as well…

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the S.I.N. series!
For book one, Last Resort, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

On One Condition by K. Bromberg

Book 2
Buy Links

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

 

 

Ledger Sharpe. A name I’ve never forgotten… even if I wish I could have.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Mary☆☆☆☆☆
I loved the first book in this series and could not wait to see where Ledger's story would take him.

Ledger is the older triplet, and he is taken back 15 years to a place where he and his brothers spent their summers and the girl he lost. Asher Wells was his “Lavender Girl,” and the end of their relationship is one that will break your heart.

I found that while reading this story, I needed to know why neither wanted to tell the other what they knew about the night they last saw each other. It would have been hard on them but might have made understanding better and the hurt each felt somewhat easier.

This author has found a way to bring these triplets to life with each one getting their own story and I have fallen in love with both books so far, and I cannot wait to see how Ford's story goes. If you haven't read anything from this author yet, you can start with this series; they can be read in any order, so just start reading. I have loved everything I have read so far. I hope you love Asher and Ledger as much as I have.


Avid Reader☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Second-Chance Romance

This is the second triplet's story. Ledger loved his summers. They were a time where he could be himself. He fell in love as a teenager and despite it also being his first heartbreak, Ledger has never forgotten his “Lavender Girl.”

Asher has had to make several tough decisions in her short life. Returning to take care of her grandparents (her parents were not in the picture) was not an easy decision, but Asher would not change it for the world. The farm has been in her family for generations and Asher is determined to see it through.

When Ledger is tasked with staying in Cedar Falls to complete his company's latest project, he does not expect to run into Asher. Ledger is used to city life and all it has to offer. But he also remembers his summers fondly here.

When truths come to light and the air is cleared, will Asher and Ledger still be standing? Can they rekindle what they lost?

This is a story about love, loss, sacrifice, and forgiveness. You'll want to cheer for the couple, but also be somewhat wary of the people in Cedar Falls. It's a quick read and I can't wait for the third brother to get his story.

Ledger and Asher have a lot of history. Some of it's good and some of it's bad.

 

 

It’s just her. It’s just me. It’s just us.

 

Author Bio

New York Times bestselling author K. BROMBERG writes contemporary romance novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate but can't help to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow and her mind scattered in too many different directions.

Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Bromberg has sold over 1.5 million copies of her books across eighteen different countries and has repeatedly landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by the streaming platform Passionflix, with Driven available now.

With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero. You can find out more about him or chat with Kristy on any of her social media accounts.

Connect with K. Bromberg

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: VP Pit Crew/The Driven Trilogy

 

 

You’re better than the memory of you ever was.

 

Hosted by

Valentine PR & Literary Management.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of On One Condition (S.I.N. #2) by K. Bromberg to read and review.

Monday, June 27, 2022

Sweet Home Alaska by Jennifer Snow

When old feelings resurface, will the truth bring them back together?

When old feelings resurface, will the truth bring them back together?

Skylar Beaumont never wanted to return to Alaska. Still, when duty calls, she can’t refuse. And, as a third-generation “Coastie” and the only female captain in the local coast guard, she has too much to prove. Being stationed in her hometown of Port Serenity isn’t ideal—but she’ll tough it out until her transfer goes through and she can move on to warmer waters. That’s the plan, at least, until she crashes into Dex Wakefield. Again.

Shocked to see his secret high school sweetheart after all this time, Dex can’t help but wonder if he should finally come clean. Skylar deserves to know the real reason why he abandoned the dream they’d shared—and broke her heart. But this small tourist town is home to one big grudge where their families are concerned… And leaving the past behind might be the only way Dex and Skylar will finally realize that their first love deserves a sweet second chance. 

Bonus Novella

In Jennifer Snow’s Love on the Coast, Rachel Hempshaw embarks on a themed cruise, aiming to dispel yet another local legend. But when her ship is caught up in a coast guard operation, one sexy officer makes it his mission to prove the existence of something that Rachel no longer believes in—real love.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Sweet Home Alaska by Jennifer Snow

Book 1
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

Skylar has coast guard in her blood. For generations, she and her family have been protecting those who get in trouble in Port Serenity. When she left for the academy, she knew this was her destiny. What she left behind though, was her heart.

Dex is from a family who is wealthy and despite maybe not working hard for their money, their family has held on to their wealth – sometimes at the detriment to the city they call home. In order to keep their town going, Dex's family bought out businesses and companies. In their minds, they were helping. But to some in town, Dex's family was just greedy.

Skylar and Dex had a romance when they were young that most people dream of. Despite the family tensions, they were going to make it. When an unexpected health issue arises, Dex will be left questioning his future and Skylar is just plain left confused.

Years later, Dex and Skylar are thrust together on rescues again; can they figure out if their love was one to span the decade or will their young love die young too?

The characters are pretty well developed. There is a lot of back and forth – somewhat tedious dialogue for a good portion of the middle of the book – but overall, the characters are relatable and enjoyable.

You'll fall in love with Dex and Skylar. They both want love in their life, both want a future they've always dreamed of. The question becomes if their futures still include each other or others.

 

 

Author Bio

JENNIFER SNOW is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty-five contemporary romances and thrillers. Her novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and some have been optioned for film and television. Also a screenwriter, Jen is known for her romantic comedies and female-driven dramas. A Canadian living in Torrevieja, Spain, with her husband and son, she loves to travel and spend time near the ocean.

Connect with Jennifer Snow

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Harlequin.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Sweet Home Alaska (Wild Coast #1) by Jennifer Snow to read and review.

Thursday, June 23, 2022

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian

Two bisexual disasters just doing their worst. The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian.

Cat Sebastian returns to Georgian London with a stunning tale of a reluctant criminal and the thief who cannot help but love her.

Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, just shot her husband. Of course, the evil, murderous man deserved what was coming to him, but now she must flee to the countryside. Unfortunately, the only person she can ask for help is the charismatic criminal who is blackmailing her—and who she may have left tied up a few hours before…

A highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain, Rob Brooks is no stranger to the wrong side of the law or the right side of anybody’s bed. He never meant to fall for the woman whose secrets he promised to keep for the low price of five hundred pounds, but how could he resist someone who led him on a merry chase all over London, left him tied up in a seedy inn, and then arrived covered in her husband’s blood and in desperate need of his help?

As they flee across the country—stopping to pick pockets, drink to excess, and rescue invalid cats—they discover more true joy and peace than either has felt in ages. But when the truth of Rob’s past catches up to him, they must decide if they are willing to reshape their lives in order to forge a future together.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb series!
For book one, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian

Book 2
Buy Links

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

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Erica☆☆☆☆
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes is the second installment in The Queer Principles of Kit Webb series. This can most certainly be read as a standalone.

Notice: For readers expecting an historical M/M romance that are upset about a M/F paring, this novel features a straight-passing queer couple who are both bisexual.

Freshly widowed (by her own hand), the Duchess of Clare, is being blackmailed by a con artist. With every breath Mariam takes, the reader is waiting for the other shoe to drop (the guillotine blade to drop). She is the most inept of criminals, but so is her blackmailer, Rob.

The blackmail letters begin to feel more like intimate love letters shared between admirers. Forced proximity, where Rob and Marian journey together, with the popular trope of only one bed available, sparks fly with experimentive sexual practices for this genre between a male-female coupling. Crimes are continuously committed, their ineptitude hazardously charming and entertaining.

A warm and humorous, feel-good historical romance between two delightful characters. Cat Sebastian is a go-to for queer historical romance, no matter the gender of the coupling.

 

 

Author Bio

CAT SEBASTIAN lives in a swampy part of the South with her husband, three kids, and two dogs. Before her kids were born, she practiced law and taught high school and college writing. When she isn't reading or writing, she's doing crossword puzzles, bird watching, and wondering where she put her coffee cup.

Connect with Cat Sebastian

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: League of Extraordinary Historical Romance Authors

 

 

Avon Books.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes (The Queer Principles of Kit Webb #2) by Cat Sebastian to read and review.

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee

Can love heal life’s wounds? Now Available. When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee.

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a bittersweet romance about the power of love in the face of heartbreak and loss.

Brooke Turner has always had a complicated relationship with her father. But when his health takes a turn for the worse, she drops everything to care for him. He’s her dad, after all, and he needs her. What Brooke doesn’t anticipate is the unraveling of her long-term relationship and a cross-country move to San Diego’s Little Italy.

Luca D’Angelo is the oldest of three children and a single father to a young daughter. When his mother rents the top floor of their house to Brooke, he’s angry. Who is this beautiful stranger with no ties to the neighborhood? Can she be trusted in such close proximity to his family?

As Luca learns of Brooke’s difficult journey with her ailing father, his heart softens. And Brooke, who witnesses Luca’s struggle as a single parent, develops feelings for him, too. But when it all falls apart, will love heal their wounded hearts?

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee

Book 1
Buy Links

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

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the first in a new series, and I am really looking forward to reading future installments, as I am already invested in this family. I love romances set in restaurants with broody, sexy chefs... so this was always going to be good plot-wise, but I am also a big fan of the very talented Catherine Bybee – which made this a definite win-win!

Brooke has to make a difficult decision when her father needs help, and her boyfriend refuses to be patient. She ups sticks and moves to San Diego – not back to her father's dreary hometown, but close enough to be there for him.

Luck (and a somewhat interfering possible mother-in-law) gives Brooke the opportunity to live in a small, top floor flat above an Italian restaurant. Now she finds that she is being adopted by the family, especially Luca's young daughter, Franny, and it feels good. Brooke and Franny have something profound in common, and that link between them is a beautiful bond. It is always important that along with the passion of the main characters, the child is not neglected – that is dealt with so organically here, that it enhances the progress towards love of Luca and Brooke.

Knowing that we are going to get more goodness, more sass, and more family from this new series is very gratifying!

 

 

Author Bio

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author CATHERINE BYBEE has written twenty-seven books that have collectively sold more than three million copies and have been translated into twelve languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Not Quite series, the Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series.

Connect with Catherine Bybee

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Catherine Bybee's Chatty Cathy's

 

 

Montlake.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of When It Falls Apart (The D'Angelos #1) by Catherine Bybee to read and review.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

All the Wright Moves by K.A. Linde Release Blitz

Available Now. All the Wright Moves by K.A. Linde.

A sexy, brother's best friend, roommates romance set in the world of the Wrights from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…

When I moved in with my brother’s best friend, I thought it was temporary.

Weston Wright would be in LA with my brother for six months. I’d get the place to myself to get back on my feet. A perfect plan.

Until he comes back and asks me to stay.

I take one look at those beautiful baby blues, the dimpled smirk, and muscled arms, and say yes. I want to say yes to a lot more, but I’ve dated exactly one boy my entire life, and not only did he cheat on me with my bestie, now they’re engaged.

I don’t even know where to start with dating. But when I mention it to Weston, he offers to teach me how to date. No strings attached.

All I have to do is not fall in love with him… or let my brother find out.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Wright series!
For book seven, A Wright Christmas, click HERE.
For book eight, Wright with Benefits, click HERE.
For book nine, Serves Me Wright, click HERE.
For book ten, Wright Rival, click HERE.
For book #11, Wright That Got Away, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

All the Wright Moves by K.A. Linde

Book 12
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


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the Wright Vineyard series but makes a round dozen in the overall Wright series – so if you are a fan, you will love how many familiar faces appear in this book! I would recommend that you have read at least the prior four, but this is such a fun story, if you want to just dive in, it's a lot of fun regardless.

We left these two characters as newly minted housemates, but with Weston going to work in LA, so basically Nora has the house to herself, and no danger of romantic wishes on either part. Now West is back, and they slip into an easy friendship and an uneasy desire to be more. It is cute and engaging, as well as playing into the dynamics of the families that are key to this series. There are so many interwoven friendships and familial relationships that it is to an extent difficult to see how this would be any different – but Campbell and Hollins are still feeling guilty for rather abandoning their baby sister, and maybe feeling even more protective after the 'August' debacle. He, foolishly, continues to feature in Nora's life, but only makes more of an idiot of himself.

I love following the career successes and adventures of both Nora as a wedding planner, and Weston as he finally gets his big chance in the music business. West, particularly, has been missing the stability that is rare in the business, but even if he achieves it, then his home will be the road, not Lubbock, where Nora thrives in her role. Linde has an inspired solution to that problem, which comes about in such a natural way – very clever, fun, and ties in previous storylines perfectly.

As always, there are hints of new relationships to come and I for one am already looking forward to catching up with the gang and finding out more!


Erica☆☆☆☆
All the Wright Moves is the twelfth installment in the Wright series, but most importantly, this is the fifth installment in the Wright Vineyard series.

Can this novel be read as a standalone? No, not without confusion, as well as spoiling plot threads in prior novels that you may or may not wish to read in the future. The emotional payoff will be stronger if the reader has a connection to the cast of characters, not just to the main characters of this novel. If you don't wish to wade through a dozen Wright novels, reading the previous four Wright Vineyard novels are a must.

Brother's best friend, such a tasty plot device... and Nora feels exactly the same as I do. Nora has been sharing a house with Weston, but she is given a reprieve when he had to relocate for work, giving Nora full run of the house by herself. She can finally take a deep breath without Weston's intoxicating presence influencing her... or so she thought.

Gun-shy from a bad breakup and a friendship in tatters, Nora is hesitant to date. But now with Weston back in the house, with the promise of friendship and the intimacy of sharing a close bond with their friends and family, those sharp edges of her emotional walls are crumbling.

An all-around good person, Weston is easy to love and befriend, coaxing and bringing out a confident side to Nora, one she thought was destroyed after the "love of her life" broke her heart. Weston offers to be Nora's dating coach, falling head over heels when he promised himself he wouldn't, not when he has to return to LA.

Outside of the romance between Nora and Weston, the best portions of the novel feature the huge cast of endearing characters and how they interact with one another. Campbell brings some angst by pulling the "don't touch my sister" card, which was deliciously entertaining.

All the Wright Moves is a page-turner of warm and fuzzy feels, a great way to de-stress while being entertained. I highly recommend this novel, the series, as well as K.A. Linde's entire backlist to fans of contemporary romance.

 

 

Author Bio

K.A. LINDE is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a master’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.

Connect with K.A. Linde

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: K.A. Linde Books

 

 

All I have to do is not fall in love with him… or let my brother find out.

 

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of All the Wright Moves (Wright #12; Wright Vineyard #5) by K.A. Linde to read and review.