Blog Tour: Bad Billionaires After Dark: Dylan by Melissa Foster

NEW RELEASE........
Bad Boys After Dark: Dylan
(Bad Billionaires After Dark)

Indulge your inner vixen...

Bad Billionaires After Dark are a series of stand-alone hot and sexy romances.

Indulge your inner vixen with these sexy billionaires!

Meet the Bad Boys... Four fiercely loyal, sinfully sexy, uber alpha brothers, about to fall head over heels for their leading ladies.

Everything's naughtier after dark...
Sinfully sexy bar owner Dylan Bad has a thing for needy women. He's a savior, a knight in shining armor, and his mighty talented sword has no trouble bringing damsels in distress to their knees. Enter Tiffany Winters, a gorgeous cutthroat sports agent who looks like sex on legs, f**ks like she's passion personified, and wouldn't let a man help her if she were dangling from a ledge and he was her only hope. One night and too much tequila might change their lives forever. The question is, will either one survive?

The Bad Boys are a series of stand-alone romances that may also be enjoyed as part of the larger Love in Bloom series.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

"If you're interested in books with super-hot alpha males, ridiculously sexy heroines and need-to-take-a-cold-shower love scenes, this is the series for you!" - M. Engel, Book Mama Blog

My Review:

Melissa never fails to deliver on her promises and Dylan's book is no exception. Dylan is a strong, sexy, alpha male who knows what he wants and how to get it. What's surprising is how sensitive he is to what Tiffany needs, and how she'll likely respond if he makes a wrong move. He's incredibly sensitive and emotional, but it looks good on him.

Tiffany has made a place for herself in the world by controlling everything around her. Over controlling. There were times I wanted to smack her phone out of her hand, and wondered how Dylan didn't. But she thankfully finally learned, with Dylan's help, how to find a life outside of her work.

The sex scenes are steamy and creative and quite numerous, as Tiffany and Dylan couldn't keep their hands off each other. And who can blame them, with how sexy Dylan is. Another strong, sexy story from Melissa Foster.

BAD BOYS AFTER DARK 

Mick 

Dylan

Carson (pre-order available) 

Brett (coming soon)

Available to buy from ...

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Also Available...

Bad Boys After Dark: Mick (Bad Billionaires After Dark #1)

Reviews for Bad Boys After Dark: Mick (Bad Billionaires After Dark #1)
"Ultimate Pleasure, that's how I would describe this book. Oh my!!  Be prepared to have your breath taken away."  - Beck Valley Books

"I loved every bit of this read, there were so many emotions and turmoil that just kept you turning the pages, it really was an emotional roller coaster of a ride." - Irish Daisy Loves Romance

"Foster has done it again with not only steamy hot sex scenes but deeply loving emotional attachments, also." - Nicki's Nook

Bad Billionaires After Dark are a series of sexy stand-alone romances.

"Mick" is a USA Today bestseller. 

Indulge your inner vixen with these sexy billionaires!

Meet the Bad Boys... Four fiercely loyal, sinfully sexy, uber alpha brothers, about to fall head over heels for their leading ladies.

Everything's naughtier after dark... 
Amanda Jenner is done being a boring-man magnet and has finally taken control of her love life. As any smart paralegal would, she's researched the hell out of how to seduce a man. She's waxed, primped, and ready to put her newfound skills into action--and a masquerade bar crawl is the perfect venue for her solo coming-out party.

Entertainment attorney Mick Bad lives by two hard and fast rules. He never mixes business with pleasure, and he doesn't do relationships, which makes the anonymity of a masquerade bar crawl the perfect place for a onetime hookup.

Amanda thinks she's hit the jackpot when she bags a tall, dark, and sinfully delicious masked man--until she discovers the man she's made out with is her off-limits boss. Mick's already crossed a line he can never uncross, and one taste of sweet and sexy Amanda has only whet his appetite. When Mick offers to give Amanda a lesson in seduction--no strings, no regrets, and for goodness' sake, come Monday, no quitting--the tables turn, and Mick's totally unprepared for the lessons this sweet temptress provides.

The Bad Boys are a series of stand-alone romances that may also be enjoyed as part of the larger Love in Bloom series.

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+**

Available to buy from ...

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   KOBO   iBooks   GPlay

More After Dark books available now...

About the author

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance (M/F, M/M, F/F), romantic suspense, thrillers, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on Facebook or her personal website.

Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find Melissa on the following sites....

Website   Facebook   Twitter    Google+   Goodreads   Pinterest   Amazon Author Page

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I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

Click to get your FREE Love in Bloom Series Reading Order 

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Review: "This Loving Feeling" by Miranda Liasson

Synopsis:

Samantha Rushford’s future looks bright: the high school art teacher is getting ready to leave Mirror Lake and move to Boston with her ambitious boyfriend, and she hopes a diamond ring is just around the corner. But her past still has a hold on her—especially the bittersweet memory of her rebellious ex, who kissed her passionately before he left town without a word.

Since then, Lukas Spikonos has parlayed his rebel ways into life as an up-and-coming recording artist. When he shows up for a surprise gig at the high school prom, Sam is more dumbstruck than starstruck—he used the words of a poem she wrote about their breakup to create a number one hit. But Lukas hasn’t returned just to impress students; he’s facing some real-life responsibilities and needs Sam’s help. But she has her own unresolved issues about the life she wants to lead. Will the music—and the pull of true love and family—put their hearts back in harmony?

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

This Loving Feeling is an interesting addition to Mirror Lake. Ms. Liasson takes the "first love second chance" approach and ups the ante with a current boyfriend, a celebrity ex, and a child. The back and forth between Samantha and Lukas was fun to watch - they have a comfortable reparte. I also enjoyed reading the aspects of the story that bounced back to when they first met, although there were a couple of times I had trouble telling whether I was in the present or the past.

I almost felt sorry for Sam at the beginning because I feel like she had lost herself in her boyfriend. I was pleased to see her find herself and her strength as the book progressed. Childhood trauma had given Samantha a flawed self-worth and Lukas was the one to help her as a teen, and it took him coming back to realize she'd lost herself again. It was a great story of redemption and finding your true love.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:
Goodreads Amazon

About the Author:

Review and Giveaway: "Can't Get Over You" by Shirley Jump

Synopsis:

Travel back to the loveswept world of Fortune’s Island with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shirley Jump.

His voice pierced the darkest corners of her heart.

Waitress Jillian Matheson needs a life makeover. The first thing on her “Get it Together” to-do list is breaking up with her fiancé, Zach Gifford, a struggling rocker who refuses to grow up. With Zach on the sidelines, Jillian pursues the dream career she’s secretly craved for decades and finds romance in the arms of a hot, mysterious visitor on Fortune’s Island. There’s just one kink in her plans. Zach’s band has a regular gig at The Love Shack where she works. And, she can’t deny the effect of his velvet-cloaked voice, a voice that can still reach places she no longer allows his hands to touch.

She’s the only song he ever wanted to sing.

Zach thought he had everything figured out—a music career on the edge of a breakthrough and a gorgeous fiancé—until Jillian left her engagement ring on his amp one night and walked out of his life. He is sure that he can get her to remember their shared passion and realize that they belong together, until a new man enters the picture and begins to sway Jillian’s heart.

Is it ever too late for true love?


Just as Zach begins to break down Jillian’s walls of resistance, a dark secret from his past comes to light and threatens to ruin their second chance at love. With shattered trust pushing them farther away from each other than ever before, can these two wounded hearts find their way back to each other before the last song?

Genre: Contemporary Romance / New Adult

My Review:

Can't Get Over You is a sweet story that returns you to Fortune's Island. I struggled with whether to call this Contemporary Romance or New Adult because it really touches on both - the couple is a bit older than a typical New Adult story, but really, neither of them has started their lives, both of them "stuck on pause" in their relationship. I like how the story starts - just after the couple in question has broken up. We then see glimpses of their relationship as the story progresses and each of them deals with the repercussions of their lost relationship. I really enjoyed the story, it felt realistic and touching as each of their emotions spin in and out of each other's lives. Each of them has some soul searching to do, some growing up to do, and understanding what they really want out of life before they can figure out how to move forward with life - either together or separately. External forces pull them apart and push them together and the push and pull was fun to watch. I really enjoyed my trip back to Fortune's Island and look forward to future books from Shirley Jump.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shirley Jump spends her days writing romance and women's fiction to feed her shoe addiction and avoid cleaning the toilets. She cleverly finds writing time by feeding her kids junk food, allowing them to dress in the clothes they find on the floor and encouraging the dogs to double as vacuum cleaners.

Look for her Sweet and Savory Romance series, including the USA Today bestselling book, THE BRIDE WORE CHOCOLATE, on Amazon and Nook, and her new Sweetheart Club series for Berkley, starting with THE SWEETHEART BARGAIN.


Visit her website at www.shirleyjump.com or read recipes and life adventures at www.eating-my-words.com.

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Release Day Review: "Desire After Dark" by Marie Force

Synopsis:

Tobias “Slim” Jackson has the perfect life as a pilot on Gansett Island in the summer and in Florida in the winter. He’s happiest when he’s in the air, or at least that was the case before last summer when he met Erin Barton, Gansett Island’s newest lighthouse keeper. Now he can’t seem to find his usual enthusiasm for flying, winter in the sunny South or anything that doesn’t include her.

Erin has been stuck on pause since she lost her twin brother. She’ll tell you herself that her life has been a hot mess since Toby died. After dropping out of law school, she’s flitted from one pointless job to another, existing rather than truly living. Then she comes to Gansett Island to take over as the new lighthouse keeper and meets Slim, who happens to share her beloved brother’s first name. That small coincidence is enough to convince Erin that she needs to spend more time with the dashing pilot—except for the fact that he’s spending the winter more than a thousand miles from her.


Now Slim’s come home to Gansett for the holidays and to hopefully pick up where he left off with Erin. He’s got twelve days before he’s due back in Florida to finish out the remainder of his winter obligations. A lot can happen in twelve days, but will it be enough to convince Erin that it’s time to start truly living again? Read Slim and Erin’s story and catch up with the rest of the Gansett Island cast in Desire After Dark!

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:
Erin and Slim's story was teased in the last novel from Gansett Island and I was pleased to finally read their story. I have to tell you - that lighthouse must be magical because Erin is the second woman to find love there. Erin and Slim are both great characters. Erin is still living in the past - paralyzed with fears and obsessions that have only grown, not diminished, since the loss of her brother in 9/11. She thinks she's moved on, but she really hasn't. Slim is determined to break through the walls that she has put up and find a way to her heart. He comes to Gansett determined to spend time with her, not fully realizing how quickly she'd grab hold of his heart.

Ms. Force has a knack of writing wonderful male heroes, and Slim is no exception. He's wonderfully attentive to Erin and a great friend to the other residents of Gansett. But he doesn't hone in on Erin's biggest issue until he's fallen head-over-heels in love with her, and its a secret that can tear them apart - literally. But in true Gansett hero fashion, he deals with it perfectly.

The main reason this read didn't get 5 stars is that I felt there was so much jumping around between points of view. In order to update the readers on former Gansett favorites, this book must have been told from more than probably six points of view and it got to be a bit much, jumping back and forth between the main characters (Slim and Erin) and then the various residents of Gansett. As much as I enjoyed the updates, the various changes made it a bit difficult to stay with the story. Other than that, the story was well done and the characters compelling, and always a bit of hilarity to go along with the residents of Gansett Island, no matter where they are!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:
Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

About the Author:

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of 50 contemporary romances, including the Gansett Island Series, which has sold more than 2.3 million books, and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books, which has sold more than 1.2 million books. In addition, she is the author of the Green Mountain Series as well as the new erotic romance Quantum Series, written under the slightly modified name of M.S. Force. All together, her books have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide!

Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.

Join Marie's mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area.Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram. Join one of Marie's many reader groups.

Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.

Review: "Wine and Her New Year Cowboy" by Donna Michaels

Synopsis:
*Citizen Soldier/Harland County Series crossover novella*

Texas cowboy, Lucas Harper relocates to the Poconos when he’s named guardian of a teenager in the will of a father he didn’t know existed. New job, new Guard unit, new house, and a new sister fills his ‘new’ limit…until he meets his sister’s new boss. A Mr. Wrong magnet, pizza shop owner Evie Martelli decides to go ‘no male’ for the New Year, but the sexy, southern, older brother of her employee tests her resolution.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

Wine and Her New Year Cowboy is the story of Evie and Lucas. After a string of dud dates, Evie has decided to take a break from men - just as Lucas arrives in town. After years of her brother threatening any man in his unit that turns an eye towards Evie, her brother is pushing her towards Lucas. Evie is a sweet character who is giving towards her friends and family.

Lucas is a transplant from Harland County, TX and it was a fun crossover. He's dropped everything to take custody of a sister he didn't know he had. He is typical alpha male and it's fun to watch him fumbling with the early days of parenting a teen. Despite both Evie and Lucas knowing now is not the best time to start a relationship, they nonetheless do. And it follows the typical ups-and-downs of a new relationship with silly misunderstandings getting blown out of proportion and pushing two people away from each other who are just perfect for each other. Its a sweet story set over the holidays with the culmination of a New Year's Eve surprise!!

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Links:
Goodreads • Amazon Exclusive

About the Author:
It’s all my mother’s fault.

She read to me before I could read and opened up that magical world where I still reside today. Then came television and movies. Now I had three avenues that fed my imagination...and boy could I eat! As you no doubt figured out, this lead to my writing career. I’m a NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon Bestselling Award winning author. Phew, that was a mouthful! Multi-published in e-book and print with several publishers, I certainly have a ton of voices in my head.

I’m happily married to a military man for 28 years.  We have four children and several rescued cats. Michael’s been in the Army National Guard since before he graduated. The Guard has been a part of our lives right from the start. It was only natural for the military to spill into my writing.  God bless the military and their families. Thank you all for your sacrifices. ♥

You already know my mom inspired my love of reading,but it was my dad who got me hooked on movies. Even now, if I had the time, I could happily go from one movie to another all day long. They are the reason I love mixed genre and why I can’t just stick to just one in my writing, although, as you can tell, I have a soft spot for cowboys and the military.

Well, that’s about it. Thanks for getting to know me a little better. Remember, keep reading to your children. The journey you’re igniting is precious. And the next time you’re at the movies, turn around. I just might be the person sitting behind you. No, not the one throwing popcorn (it’s too expensive to waste). I’m the one already imagining the sequel.

Website: http://www.donnamichaelsauthor.com/

Review: "Playing for Fun" by Tracey Alvarez

Synopsis:

PLAYING FOR FUN is the sixth story in Tracey Alvarez’s best-selling Due South books set against the stunning backdrop of Aotearoa, New Zealand. If you like Jill Shalvis, Marie Force, or Bella Andre, then you’ll enjoy diving into these heart-warming, sexy & seductive small-town romances with authentic men and women struggling to find their special someone.

Wanted: A woman for Ford.

Ford Komeke can’t deny he could use an up-skill in the dating arena. It’s a local in-joke that his game, as far as women go, sucks. Thanks to the meddling of New Zealand’s worst octogenarian matchmaker, he’s got an online dating profile, a new wardrobe, and a haircut from Stewart Island’s sexy hairdresser, Holly Parker. But since he’s well and truly mired in the friendzone with Holly, what’s the harm in exploring his options? A little jealousy could work wonders.

Offered: Dream job with a catch.

What do you say when you’re offered an un-turn-downable career opportunity? You say, hell-to-the-yeah! Only there’s a problem. To get the dream job Holly must leave Stewart Island and her two best friends, Shaye and Ford. But if Holly can distract Shaye with wedding planning and set Ford up with a nice girl so she can stop imagining him naked, neither will notice if she exits stage right. Neither will notice if her feelings for Ford stop being strictly platonic.

Warning: One kiss is never enough.

As addictive as the chocolate stash Holly hides in her fridge, one kiss forces them out of the friendzone—way out of the friendzone. Heat and hunger explode, but the ugliness in Ford’s past hold his heart hostage. Playing for fun or playing for keeps? Holly and Ford must decide because the consequences of falling in love means that someone’s heart or someone’s dream will ultimately end up shattered.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

In all honesty, I struggled with this book at the beginning. It moved way too slowly for a long time at the beginning. Almost to the point that I considered putting the book down. It took a lot longer than I thought it should have to get to the meat of the story. There was just too much back and forth between Ford and Holly with "Ford this" and Holly that" But once it finally did, I enjoyed the book.

One thing I really enjoyed was Maori and New Zealand language and traditions. They were well placed in the story and really added to the depth of the story. I also really enjoyed the interaction with previous residents of Oban that we've met in former "Due South" books. It's great to check in and see how their lives how progressed, and what's happening in their lives affects the hero and heroine of the current story.

I also loved the octogenarian input into their lives. Adding a comic component like that in a book always adds to the richness of it.

The love story between Ford and Holly, once it finally got started, was sweet and wonderful and I was happy to see they finally worked through what were easy communication issues to dig to the root of what they needed to do to make themselves happy. Together.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

About the Author:

I live in the Coolest Little Capital in the World (a.k.a Wellington, New Zealand) where I’ve yet to be buried under my to-be-read book pile by our infamous wind—my Kindle’s a lifesaver! Married to a wonderfully supportive IT guy (who doesn’t mind cooking dinner while his wife mutters to herself and hammers away at the keyboard), we have two teens who would love to be surgically linked to their electronic devices.

As a teenager I devoured novel after novel in my maths class, which explains why I still don’t understand using the alphabet in equations. I discovered a stack of tattered paperbacks hidden in my mother’s wardrobe featuring scantily clad women wrapped around bare-chested hunks. Who needs a pimply-faced teenage boyfriend when you can have book boyfriends, right? So as a child I got my first taste of Happily Ever After in fairy-tales, but after reading romance—I was hooked.

Fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, I’m now the author of contemporary romantic fiction set predominantly in New Zealand. Small-towns, close communities, and families are a big part of the heart-warming stories I love to write. Oh, and hot, down-to-earth heroes—real Kiwi men, in other words.

When I’m not writing, thinking about writing, or procrastinating about writing, I can be found reading sexy books of all romance genres and nibbling on smuggled chocolate bars. What? You were expecting me to say free-dive training, hiking the world-famous Rakiura track on Stewart Island, and restoring classic cars? Nope, sorry. I’ll leave such excitement to my characters as they explore their worlds and find the love of their lives.

Website: http://traceyalvarez.com/

Review: "Celebration After Dark" by Marie Force

Synopsis:

On the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary, Big Mac and Linda McCarthy take a look back at how they came to be, while each of their children confront a new challenge in their own lives. Come to Gansett Island to celebrate the holidays and the anniversary of the island's most loved couple! More than 40,000 words. 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

Fans of Gansett Island, and specifically the McCarthy family, have been long awaiting the love story of the couple that started it all - Mac and Linda. Told in flashbacks to when they met, Mac and Linda's love story is sweet and endearing. Interspersed with their memories of the past on the occasion of their 40th anniversary, readers get a check-in with each of their favorite McCarthy children. It's a great addition to the Gansett Island series and a fun way to show us how the McCarthys got their start. Mac and Linda are as wonderful as ever, and this reader loved seeing how the rest of the family is doing and catch up with weddings, babies, and other important life events.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

About the Author:

With more than 4 million books sold, Marie Force is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 contemporary romances. Her New York Times bestselling self-published Gansett Island Series has sold 2 million e-books since Maid for Love was released in 2011. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Fatal Series from Harlequin’s Carina Press, as well as the New York Times bestselling Green Mountain Series from Berkley Sensation, among other books and series. Marie’s new erotic Quantum Trilogy was released under the name of M.S. Force in April 2015, and all three books were New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. The trilogy is now set to become a series.

While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and she is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of one young adult and one teenager and two feisty dogs, Brandy and Louie.

Website: www.marieforce.com

Review: "Wild Boys: Cooper" by Melissa Foster

Synopsis:

Four years ago at a film festival, Cici Fine met Cooper Wild, a man who turned her world upside down in the span of one deliciously perfect week. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of: sinfully sexy, intelligent, and incredibly loving. When the festival ended, they returned to their own hometowns with promises of forever. But Cooper disappeared, and Cici was left to raise the daughter he never knew about alone.

Cooper is finally thinking straight after years of being lost in grief from the tragedy that killed his father and left his mother blind. Now he’s on a mission to find the woman he left behind—the only woman he’s ever loved.

But Cici Fine is no longer a naive young girl. She’s a savvy businesswoman with big responsibilities, on the cusp of a life-changing move. When fate brings the two together, they’ll put the old adage to the test and find out if love really can conquer all.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review

Another hot, steamy read from Melissa Foster. Cooper is a wonderful, sensitive character. He feels things deeply, whether it be the death of his father, the impact to his mother, or his feelings for Cici. Those feelings have affected him for so long and after years, he's finally digging himself out of the emotional hole he dug for himself and is trying to set his world right.

Cici has been dealing with the impact of Cooper's departure for the past four years. I feel like I didn't get to know her as well as I wanted to in this book. And I was a bit perturbed at times that she allowed her lust for Cooper to continue to hijack her brain and what she knew she needed to do.

I loved how the author handled when Cooper found out what Cici had been keeping from him. It was another reflection of his deep emotional nature and also the guilt he was feeling over how he had handled basically everything in his life in the past four years.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

About the Author:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa at The World Literary Cafe or her personal website.Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find the author on the following sites....

Facebook   Twitter    Google+   Goodreads   Pinterest 

Blog Tour: "Built to Last" by Elisabeth Grace

USA Today Bestselling Author Elisabeth Grace's BUILT TO LAST is available now! We're so thrilled for readers to get their hands on Scarlett and Luke's story! If you love second chance romances and small town contemporaries, you definitely need to get your hands on this one!

 

About BUILT TO LAST 
At seventeen, the small town of Saltwater Springs had been everything to Scarlett Devereaux—as had her boyfriend Luke. Never had she imagined she’d have to leave them both behind—until the night that changed everything. A decade after skipping town Scarlett returns to start over in the only place that ever really felt like home. But when nothing goes as planned, she’s forced to turn to Luke for help. With a drunk for a dad and a mom making pocket change at the local diner, no one ever thought Luke Garrity would amount to anything. After building a successful contracting business he’s proven everyone wrong professionally, but things in his personal life are upside down. Making it the exact wrong time for Scarlett to return to Saltwater Springs. With a history of devastation and heartbreak between them can Scarlett and Luke make amends, or will secrets from the past threaten the foundation of Scarlett’s new life? Were Luke and Scarlett really built to last?

BUILT TO LAST is available now – add it to your Goodreads list here!

Read BUILT TO LAST for free on Kindle Unlimited: Amazon

My Review:

Built to Last is a sweet "second chance" romance. This is the first book I've read by this author - the cover drew me in! Scarlett and Luke were both great characters. Luke is very strong and sensitive and I liked how he made no apologies for how he felt about Scarlett and was quick to acknowledge that his feelings hadn't waned. Scarlett is a bit of a hot mess, but I think that makes her the perfect heroine for Luke. He's a helper and she needs help, which puts them on a collision course for romance.

I thought the crisis was a bit predictable - I saw it coming about 1/3 of the way through the book, but I did think how Luke handled it was well done, and realistic. His knee-jerk reaction was realistic and how he reasoned through the situation after he calmed down was well done.

I thought the intimacy scenes were well done and tasteful. They were also well placed and not overwhelming to the story.

And every good romance novel has a feisty octogenarian and this one doesn't disappoint. They are always good for a few laughs and straight talk when everyone else skirts around the issues.

I look forward to reading about some of the other residents of Saltwater Springs in subsequent books. This series is definitely on my "must buy" list.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Read an excerpt from BUILT TO LAST 
“Place your left hand on the piece of wood away from where you’re cutting, but close enough that it’s comfortable.” She did as he instructed. “Good, just like that. Now you’re ready to cut.”

Luke moved to stand beside her. Scarlett was nervously biting her lip. “I don’t know if I can do this.” She glanced up to him, her eyes almost pleading with him not to force her.

He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to the spitfire of a woman she’d been blossoming into before she left town. Not only had she lost some of her Southern accent during her time away, but apparently she’d also lost some of her “hear me roar” attitude. What had shaken her confidence so much that she questioned her abilities? His stomach twisted at all the different scenarios running through his mind that could have made that possible.

“I’ll help you with the first cut.” Luke positioned himself behind Scarlett and leaned over her bent frame, placing his hand over hers. Her soft hand twitched underneath his for a second and then settled. “All right, the key is to keep an eye on the saw base as you cut and to push with enough force that the saw keeps moving through the wood, but not so fast that the saw seems to slow down. Sound good?”

She nodded, the movement of her body shifting her hips ever so slightly—enough that he became painfully aware of his crotch’s proximity to the juncture of her thighs. He shifted his weight, trying to get comfortable in pants that were becoming more uncomfortable by the second. Scarlett’s whole body tensed underneath him.

With a deep breath, Luke decided the best course of action was to ignore her response to being so physically close to him, even though her rigidity further twisted the knife she’d dug into him a decade earlier, leaving him wanting to question why he was never good enough.

Scarlett cleared her throat. “Let’s get this over with.” Her words dug the knife in deeper. “Once I have the first one under my belt, I’m sure it will get easier.”

Maybe that’s all he’d ever been to her—a notch in the proverbial belt for experience sake. He’d never thought he was just a good time to her, but she’d left him questioning everything. “Turn the saw on then, and I’ll help you guide it,” he said in a brusque tone.

The sound of the blade whirling against the side of the wood cut through the silence in the storefront and Scarlett jerked a bit, startled, bumping into him.

Not at all helping the situation below his belt.

Luke lightly squeezed her hand below his, indicating that she should push the saw forward. As she did, bits of wood and sawdust bounced up and into the air. Five seconds later, the small piece they’d cut fell to the ground and the saw’s rotation started to slow.

The noise died down, and Luke was about to congratulate Scarlett on making her first cut when a shrill voice rang out from behind them.


“Well, well. Isn’t this cozy? Still trying to sleep your way into high society, are you, Luke?”

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Review: "Daring Her Love" by Melissa Foster

Synopsis:

Kat Martin knows what she wants in a man—someone stable and adoring, definitely not the type of guy who sleeps around. After all, Kat rarely does the wrong thing—until she meets seductively enticing Eric James, and suddenly wrong has never felt so right.

When it comes to his career, race-car driver Eric James is intense, obsessive, and passionate, but when it comes to sex, there's only one kind—daring, unbridled, and no-strings-attached.

One stormy night, a delayed flight and the dangerous allure of the unknown leads Kat to throw caution to the wind, and she indulges in a rendezvous that she vows to immediately forget—but the secret tryst stirs something possessive in Eric, and forgetting is not an option.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

I love how Daring Her Love ties in with Brianna and Hugh Braden, and give us a chance to check in with several of our favorite Bradens in Weston and Trusty. As with other Melissa Foster books, this book is full of sexy scenes between the hero and heroine. It is intense from the start and through most of the book. The book is well written and fast-paced and a quick easy read. I had a bit more trouble connecting with the characters in this book than other Melissa Foster books - I think I just didn't quite understand what was driving them as characters and felt, as a result, that it was just skimming the surface of their lives. The other struggle I had it that it felt as though the story ended and wasn't quite as wrapped up as I'm used to seeing in a Melissa Foster book. But that said, it is an intense story of two souls who are looking for something more than they currently have. The hero is sexy and considerate and the heroine is a bit of a "hot mess" with her feelings towards Eric, which makes her perfect for him. The positives far outweighed the concerns I have with the story and I look forward to catching up with Eric and Kat in future Braden stories.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

About the Author:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Café and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa at The World Literary Cafe or her personal website.Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find the author on the following sites....

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Review: "A Very Crimson Christmas" by Michelle Major

Synopsis:

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR 

For years there'd been only one woman in Liam Donovan's life—his beloved nanny, who'd raised him as her own. But someone is clearly taking advantage of Ruth, which brings the studly CEO back to Crimson, the place he was all too happy to have left behind. And there Liam finds Ruth has live-in help—in the form of his high school love, Natalie Holt, and her adorable son… He better not fall for Nat a second time—because what if she is the cause of his nanny's missing money? 

If Natalie had time for any guy besides her son, it would not be Liam Donovan, who'd broken her heart once, and now seems to think she could add thief to her long list of job titles! She could prove easily enough that she can be trusted with the money—but can Natalie trust Liam with her heart…again?

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

I love second chance romances and Liam and Natalie give us just that. The author developed a relationship between Liam and Natalie where each blames the other for their high school relationship ending. Natalie has had a hard life since then whereas Liam has made it big. I really enjoyed both characters and the depth of their flaws and challenges made them interesting to read. Liam has very little self-esteem and is constantly looking for the angle when people warm up to him. He thinks that no one can possibly like him for him, and that is an endearing character trait in him. Natalie is distrustful of everyone because she's been burned more than once and her mother, from an early age, has created a deep feeling of fear in Natalie. Natalie's mother's toxic views on life have permeated every aspect of her life and relationships. Both Liam and Natalie have to overcome some pretty major hurdles if they're going to have a chance together.

The storyline revolves around Christmas and I love stories set at Christmas. I think the holiday season helped break the shell around Liam, but made him vulnerable at the same time. And Natalie has the additional burden of trying to make Christmas special for her son while dealing with an overbearing-alpha in Liam, a sweet old lady who means well, and an ugly, angry ex-husband who makes an appearance at just the worst, or is it the best, time. It is a sweet story with a happy ending, although the characters has to travel a long road to get there.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

About the Author:

I was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and for as long as I can remember I’ve loved books. Growing up, I wrote stories and plays and graduated with a degree in Journalism from Ohio University.

By then I’d also fallen in love with the mountains. After college I pointed my ancient Honda west until I came to Colorado. I worked on a dude ranch and then spent a month camping through the southwestern part of the state. Technically, I might have been homeless but that hardly seemed to matter while sleeping under the stars.

I settled down to a career in Human Resources and traveled across the country for my job. With my fear of flying, I needed something to distract me on all those planes. I picked up a Julia Quinn novel in an airport bookstore and was hooked. It dawned on me that the stories milling around in my head were actually romance plots. My passion for novel writing was born.

Fast forward a couple of years and I’m now married, a part-time writer and a full-time Professional Wiper (noses, bottoms, tears, scraped knees, pet accidents – you name it, I’ve cleaned it up).


My family fills my heart and now writing feeds my soul.

Website: http://www.michellemajor.com/

Release Day Review: "Reckless in Love" by Bella Andre and Jennifer Skully

Synopsis:

Sebastian Montgomery rose from nothing to become one of the most powerful media moguls in the world. Yet beneath the seemingly perfect façade of his life, the past still haunts him. Because when he lost his parents in his teens, he also lost his faith in love. When he discovers Charlie Ballard and her incredible metal sculptures, he is awed, inspired—and he can’t help feeling things he swore never to let himself feel again. Soon, Sebastian wants not only Charlie’s art, he wants her as a woman, too. More than he’s ever wanted anything in his life. And what a Maverick wants, he always gets…

For Charlie, Sebastian offers the commission of a lifetime. Creating a magnificent sculpture for his new headquarters is a dream come true, but falling for the spellbinding billionaire isn’t part of the plan...until his luscious kisses entice her into total recklessness. He fascinates and captivates her, and as Charlie learns more about the dark depths of Sebastian’s past, all she wants is to heal him with her love. But can a man who has grown up thinking love is toxic ever believe that true love is real?

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

Reckless in Love is the 2nd book in Maverick Billionaires series by Bella Andre and Jennifer Skully. I thought the character development was well done. Sebastian is a complex character who is influenced by specific experiences in his childhood - one very much so. It drives everything he does in his life and he's constantly analyzing himself and his actions against the yardstick he formed as a child. I really liked Sebastian as a character.

Charlie is also complex. She's driven by a different set of principles but there are similarities in how their past has influenced their daily life. What I didn't like about Charlie is that she made decisions based on what she thought she needed to do to please Sebastian and lost herself in the relationship. As strong as she was portrayed, she didn't see that in herself.

The one thing that held back a 5 star rating is some of the writing style. I felt there were many times that cliches and superlatives were overused. I rarely find it credible when the first time a couple comes together that it was the "best sex they'd ever had" or "most intense orgasm they ever had". Those superlatives tend to turn me off and I felt they were overused a bit in the book. I also felt the book could have been a bit more balanced between storyline and intimacy scenes. I wanted a bit more of the story line in the book. The intimacy scenes were well written but I feel, at times, that an author can overdo it with detailed intimacy scenes over and over when sometimes they can be left to the imagination of the reader. It wasn't that there was "too much sex" per se, it was more that there were times that I felt the balance wasn't quite right and once a couple has come together, there are times the intimacy can be alluded to without specifics to keep the story moving along.

That said, the complex character development and the unique storyline of a relationship between a billionaire and a junkyard artist make it an interesting read. The authors also gave us a check-in with our previous favorite characters and continued to draw us into the lives of the other Mavericks and their parents and I look forward to subsequent stories.

Disclosure: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks • Google Play

About the Authors:
Bella Andre is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of “The Sullivans” and “The Morrisons” series.

Having sold more than 4 million books, Bella Andre’s novels have been #1 bestsellers around the world and have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists 18 times. She has been the #1 Ranked Author at Amazon (on a top 10 list that included Nora Roberts, JK Rowling, James Patterson and Steven King), and Publishers Weekly named Oak Press (the publishing company she created to publish her own books) the Fastest-Growing Independent Publisher in the US. Known for “sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance” (Publishers Weekly), her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red Hot Reads” twice and have been translated into ten languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post called her “One of the top writers in America” and she has been featured by NPR, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and TIME Magazine. Bella also writes the New York Times bestselling Four Weddings and a Fiasco series as Lucy Kevin.

If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.

Website: http://bellaandre.com/

§ § § § § § § § § §

Jennifer Skully NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Skully is a lover of contemporary romance, bringing you poignant tales peopled with hilarious characters that will make you laugh and make you cry. Writing as Jasmine Haynes, she's authored over 35 classy, sensual romance tales about real issues like growing older, facing divorce, starting over. Her books have passion and heart and humor and happy endings, even if they aren't always traditional. She also writes gritty, paranormal mysteries in the Max Starr series.

Jasmine and Jennifer lives in the foothills of a gorgeous California mountain range, the perfect setting for writing sensual romance, chilling mystery or something guaranteed to make you laugh. She and her husband have a recent addition to the household, an adorable nuisance, oops, adorable cat named Wrigley!

Website: http://www.jasminehaynes.com/

Review: "Marry Me At Christmas" by Susan Mallery

Synopsis:

To bridal boutique owner Madeline Krug, organizing a Christmas wedding sounds like a joy—until she finds out she'll be working closely with the gorgeous brother of the bride, movie star Jonny Blaze. How will a small-town girl like her keep from falling for the world's sexiest guy? Especially with mistletoe lurking around every corner!

Jonny came to Fool's Gold looking for normal, not for love. Happily-ever-after only happens in the movies. Still, nothing about this quirky town is quite what he expected, and "ordinary" Madeline is the most extraordinary woman he's ever met. Refreshingly honest, disarmingly sweet. Achingly beautiful.

Planning the perfect wedding leads to candlelit dinners and strolls through snow-covered streets. And Madeline finds Jonny in real life even more captivating than her celebrity crush. But will the action star be brave enough to risk his heart and step into the role of a lifetime?

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Review:

Marry Me At Christmas is the much-anticipated Christmas installment from Fools Gold, CA. After hearing much about the elusive movie star Jonny Blaze, the reader, along with his "biggest fan" Madeline, meet him as he makes his presence known in town - in order to plan his sister's wedding.

I love how the author showed us how normal Jonny Blaze really is - over and over. Despite his over-the-top displays of love for his sister, he is very down to earth and very believable as a real person. And his struggle with expressing his love was endearing.

And I appreciated how Madeline, despite her fan crush on Jonny, was able to see through the facade and fall in love with the man beneath it.

My biggest struggle with the story was that I felt the crisis was a bit manufactured. It came on abruptly - everything appears to be moving along nicely and then boom! But then it was resolved equally as quickly, which I also thought was a bit unrealistic. I would have liked a bit of time for the hero and heroine to stew on the crisis before it was resolved. It was otherwise a delightful story with cameos from some of our Fools Gold favorites and typical, delightful cameos from our favorite octogenarians!

Links:

Goodreads • Amazon • Barnes and Noble • Kobo • iBooks

About the Author:

Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—romance, friendship, family. With compassion and humor, Susan keenly observes how people think and feel, in stories that take readers on an emotional journey. Sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, and always uplifting, Susan's books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list, thanks to her ever growing legions of fans.


Susan lives in Seattle with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a tattletale toy poodle. Animals play a big role in her books, as well, as she believes they're an integral component to a happy life.

Website: http://www.susanmallery.com