New Release

Carpe F*cking Diem by K.D. Miller – New Release

Carpe F*cking Diem by K.D. Miller is now available!

~Synopsis~

A small-town girl with a traumatic past. A Hollywood heartthrob looking for more. Can they overcome all of the obstacles between them and find their happy ending? Find out in Carpe F*cking Diem, an emotional romance that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in second chances.

Savannah Riley is really tired of hearing that time heals all wounds. It’s been almost eight years and her wounds are far from healed, though she’s navigating her trauma the best she can. Despite all that, she’s decided to look for the good in the world, to take everything the universe dishes out and turn it into an opportunity to embrace. Never would she have imagined that one of those opportunities would be meeting Hollywood heartthrob Lincoln Ashmore…or falling in love with him.

In the small southern town of Sandlapper Cove to film a new movie, Link figures he’ll get a little break from his chaotic life in L.A., some stunning scenic views, and maybe a tan. But what he gets instead is so much more than he could have bargained for: the love of his life.

Will her past be too much for Lincoln to handle?

Will life in the spotlight be too much for Savannah?

Only one way to find out: Carpe f*cking diem.

Review

Caribbean Competitors (Simona Island Book 2) by Poppy Minnix – My Review


Title: Caribbean Competitors (Simona Island Book 2)

Author: Poppy Minnix

Release Date: November 22nd 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Xiamara Nivar and Apollo Fischer had the perfect childhood friendship, leading her to believe they’d transition to soulmate-status seamlessly. She couldn’t have been more wrong. When it came to a more-than-friends relationship, they were super cringe. No wonder Xia didn’t believe him when he promised to come back for her the night before he left for college. But still, she waited.

After seven years of foolishly hoping he’d keep his word, Xia has put all that behind her. She’s got a career, a cast of colorful comrades, and a competitive streak bigger than the Caribbean Ocean. Winning this year’s Moss Monster Meet will be a cinch—until Apollo returns to the small island of Simona.

Not only is she a stumbling, stuttering, shipwreck of a human whenever he’s present, but the unthinkable has happened. Apollo plans to compete in the race, threatening the three-year winning streak that will earn her the coveted title of Moss Boss.

When they are thrust together, Xia can’t maintain her composure—and Apollo knows it. He isn’t above using it against her, either. With the finish line in sight, Xia has one burning question: is it the race Apollo wants to win, or her heart?

This was such a cute read! I loved the push and pull between the characters. The attraction and the competitiveness. Xiamara was such a relatable character. The author did a fantastic job of world building. I could picture this tropical oasis and it allowed me to escape into the book and away from reality for a bit. Who doesn’t live that?

If you’re looking for a super cute romance, I highly recommend this book! Grab the first book while you’re at it. This can be read as a stand-alone but just do yourself a favor and get the first one too! I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Wrecking Ball by Lindsey Powell – My Review


Title: Wrecking Ball

Author: Lindsey Powell

Release Date: November 21st 2021

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Suspense

He’s a Crime Lord.
I’m just a small business owner.
I shouldn’t even be on his radar… But I am.
And now I’m being forced to make the biggest decision of my life. Marry him or die. Quite a choice, huh?
Clearly, there isn’t one, and as I become the wife of the notorious and ruthless leader, Nate Knowles, I have to prepare myself for what is to come.
He says he wants to break me.
He says he wants to own me.
And I have to be smart if I’m ever going to get out alive…

Wrecking Ball is a stand-alone romance with darker elements.

This book got its claws into me and didn’t let go. Even after I was done. Holy heck! The story is addicting and a total guilty pleasure read. Although I didn’t feel guilty when I was reading it! Miss Powell has a gift for writing those strong couples. You know the ones right? A strong woman. A man who knows what he wants. The push and pull and when they finally come together, it’s like fireworks! Oh yes!

I find a new favorite couple every time I read one of her books. If you love romance with hints of darkness, this book is for you! Add it to your TBR! I give it 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author · New Release

Interview with an Author featuring Nicola Rose

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Nicola Rose! Her latest release, Arrested: A Salvation Society Novel released today.

How long have you been writing?

I made a few half-hearted attempts at writing stories as a child. Then, when I was in my early twenties, I put a lot of effort into writing an epic adventure set in Ancient Egypt. But life happened and it was put aside. It wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my first child in 2009 when I picked it back up.

However, I was soon sent spinning on an entirely new project after binge-reading the Twilight books! I’d always loved vampires (thank you, The Lost Boys) and I suddenly had a burning urge to write a steamy vampire love triangle (as did we all, haha!) I wrote about 90% of the first draft of Taste the Dark before letting the fear get to me and once again putting the book aside, focusing on my photography business instead.

Fast forward around four years to sitting at home with my second child and realizing what a waste it was to have written so much of a book and not at least try to publish it.

I haven’t looked back since and have just released my eighth book.

The vampire love triangle became a published trilogy (The Elwood Legacy). And I fully intend to return to that Egyptian mythology idea at some point, converting it into a new fantasy world.

Describe a typical writing day.

Procrastination. Procrastination. Procrastination.

I wish I was joking! I’m seriously bad at staying focused, but I’m trying to get better! All of my writing happens during the day when the kids are at school. It generally involves short bursts of writing followed by frequent distractions such as marketing work, TikTok, and household chores! Oh, and plenty of cups of tea!

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Everywhere. Nowhere. Some magical place that spawns them and then leaves me wondering how on earth I came up with it! 

Twisted Ginni was entirely inspired by the cover – I purchased the premade cover without any story idea and then came up with the plot afterwards. And I’m currently sitting on several other covers waiting for stories – so I guess that’s my method for the foreseeable!

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

Gahhh, don’t make me choose!!

I’ll have to go with the Elwood brothers. They were the first characters I wrote and fell in love with. They re-ignited my passion to write. They’re everything my vampire-loving heart dreamed of – dark and dominant anti-heroes who kill for food, and sometimes for fun, and would burn down the world for their woman.

How do you deal with the emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

I guess I just let the emotion take me. I go with it and pour it onto the page. My frequent procrastination breaks soon help me recover from anything too heavy!

Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?

I LOVE interacting with readers, I wish more would do it! Unfortunately, reaching readers on social media can feel like a massive uphill battle with no results. I do have a Facebook group and Instagram, but my real social media success came list year with the discovery of TikTok. Booktok is amazing!

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

For my readers, I try to throw out the twists and turns. I love those scenes that come out of nowhere and surprise people. For myself, I must admit, it can be a struggle when shiny new characters are calling to me! So those twists keep me going, too. It can reignite a stagnant writing day when some amazing new thing about a character comes to me! 

I also think that my writing improves with every book I release, so there’s that too!

Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with me?

Yes! I’ve always been very loose with my plotting, but I find that means I write slowly so I’m determined to plot the hell out of my next book! I’m currently plotting a Fae fantasy reverse harem and I’m SO excited about it. We’re talking brooding fae warriors, a delicious, wicked prince, and some epic adventure (plus, you know, all the spice with numerous men 😊

What advice would you give to other authors?

Write, write, write! Seems obvious, but sometimes the fear that it’s not good enough or that you don’t know where it’s going can stop you from writing. Don’t let that happen. You can’t fix a blank page. So just throw it down and new ideas will come to you as you go.

Also, be sure to connect with plenty of other authors, particularly the author groups on Facebook. Never stop being eager to learn and grow. There’s always so much out there to help if you just go looking.

Oh, and people absolutely DO judge a book by its cover. Get that right straight away!

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

To be warned that most of my books get pretty dark in places, and very explicit! Often the steam and darkness go together (blood, rough play etc). My passion is writing men who are dark, violent anti-heroes and villains, with all the angst and tension. 

That said, my latest release (Arrested) is my first contemporary romance, and whilst there are certainly some explicit moments, it’s nowhere near as dark as some of my other books. You bet your ass I still wrote a dominant alpha male though!

 

Thank you Nicola Rose for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her newest release, Arrested today!

~Synopsis~

Grace

10 years ago, Kane Walker stole my heart.
One night of passion and emotional revelations was all it took. All of my pain and turmoil shared with someone who actually understood. Or so I thought. The degrading video that he broadcast to the world the next day proved otherwise.
But if I want closure, I’m going to have to face him again. And this time it won’t be me on knees — it’ll be him.

Kane

10 years ago, Grace Clemente ran away with my heart.
Grabbed it and took off without so much as a backward glance. I could have followed the same downward spiral of my life into complete destruction, but I chose to fix my mistakes.
If I’m ever lucky enough that she returns, she won’t find the deadbeat she expects. She’ll find the town sheriff. And maybe this time I won’t let her go— even if it means locking her up.

Nicola Rose is from the UK, where she lives with her husband and two boys. When she’s not writing or reading, she can probably be found on family days out hiking and mountain-biking in the countryside, messing in Photoshop, and playing board games in her pjs!

Newsletter Sign-Up (FREE BOOK!) → https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/u8e9v4

FB Reader Group → https://www.facebook.com/groups/444269096326939/

 TikTok →  https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolaroseauthor

Instagram →  https://www.instagram.com/nicolaroseauthor/

Goodreads → https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17644428.Nicola_Rose

Facebook Page →  https://www.facebook.com/nicolaroseauthor/

Amazon UK→  https://www.amazon.co.uk/~/e/B079J7QT53

Amazon US →  https://www.amazon.com/Nicola-Rose/e/B079J7QT53/

Bookbub →  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nicola-rose

Website → http://nicolarose-author.com/

New Release · Release Blitz

The Perfect Bachelor: A Small Town Workplace Romance (The Perfect Man Book 4) by Lynn Dare – New Release

The Perfect Bachelor: A Small Town Workplace Romance (The Perfect Man Book 4) by Lynn Dare is now available!

~Synopsis~

Welcome to Cape Kismet, where the neighbors are nosy, the bookstores offer an escape, and epic romances abound.

A little change? Try a whole new life.

I thought I was moving to a sleepy little town where nothing interesting happens. Taking on the care of my teenage brother wasn’t in the plans. Neither was getting into an argument with the charming man at the bookstore my first week in town. We fought, we fell—physically, not figuratively—we left. End of story.
Or, it should have been.
When I show up to a job interview, I’m ready to prove I’m good at what I do, to be taken seriously as a professional woman.
Then he’s there. The man from the bookstore. Greyson Amore.
Game over, right? It would have been if he didn’t want to hire me. And I needed the job. I could do this. I could keep my distance, ignore Grey’s disarming smile, and work for him.
Somewhere along the way, lost in a world of pranks with plants and potatoes, delicious tacos, and a restaurant with a ridiculous legend I forget what we’re supposed to be to each other. I forget to be annoyed, to deny him my smiles and friendship.
But there’s a reason this town calls him the perfect bachelor.
I was warned, urged to stay away.
Too bad I’ve always hated being told what to do.

The Perfect Bachelor is book four in the Perfect Man romantic comedy series. Dive in for plenty of swoons, lots of laughs, and a guaranteed HEA ending.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jhWgsm

New Release · Release Blitz

The Perfect Husband: A Small Town Fake Relationship Romance (The Perfect Man Book 3) by Lynn Dare – New Release

The Perfect Husband: A Small Town Fake Relationship Romance (The Perfect Man Book 3) by Lynn Dare is now available!

~Synopsis~

Welcome to Cape Kismet, where the neighbors are nosy, the bookstores offer an escape, and epic romances abound.

A little mistake? Try huge.
Being the screw up of the family is a talent, one I excel at.
I’m Cecilia Cabot, and I’m a teacher. Sounds pretty tame, right? Except I’m also a serial dater. Not by design, really. While the rest of my siblings are falling in love and settling down with their perfect matches, I’m going on dates with d-bags and finding out way too late that my partners have ridiculous clown fetishes.
Thank the clowns that last one wasn’t the man I met at the bar that night. The night of my huge, gigantic, exhilarating mistake. The night I got married.
Once we sleep off the liquid courage and have ourselves a wee bit of a freak out, we make a plan. Step one: Learn each other’s names. Step two: Figure out a way to keep everyone we know from figuring out how badly we messed up. Step three: Do not sleep together… again.
And finally, under no circumstances will we fall in love.
Harley Hardwick is not the man I’ve been waiting for. He’s infuriating and smug and I can hardly stand him half the time.
But the other half… I’m pretty sure all our steps won’t mean a thing if I can’t keep my heart out of this.

The Perfect Husband is book three in the Perfect Man romantic comedy series. Dive in for plenty of swoons, lots of laughs, and a guaranteed HEA ending.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VAgJRa

 

New Release

The Perfect Boyfriend: A Small Town Romance (The Perfect Man Book 2) by Lynn Dare – New Release

The Perfect Boyfriend: A Small Town Romance (The Perfect Man Book 2) by Lynn Dare is now available!

~Synopsis~

Welcome to Cape Kismet, where the neighbors are nosy, the bookstores offer an escape, and epic romances abound.

A hot brother? Try two.

Dating the same person for more than a decade has its pitfalls. Like being dumped out of the blue and realizing you have nowhere to go, no one else to rely on.
Yep, I Kennedy Davis was a fool. It wasn’t until Harley said he wanted to chase a big love that I realized what we had wasn’t it.
Sleeping in my car outside my favorite bookstore is what I always wanted to do. Really. We’ll call it “camping”.
When Hadden finds me “camping”, he offers me a guest room, no strings attached. But there are always strings.
Because he’s my ex-boyfriend’s older brother.
An older brother I once thought I’d loved.
Yeah, this will end well.
Did I mention he’s a cop who looks great in uniform? It’s only a matter of time before I smash the cardinal rules of breakups.
Don’t crush on your ex’s brother.
And definitely don’t fall in love with him.
Oops.

The Perfect Boyfriend is book two in the Perfect Man romantic comedy series. Dive in for plenty of swoons, lots of laughs, and a guaranteed HEA ending.

 

Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/theperfectboyfriend

Lynn Dare is the pen name for authors Michelle MacQueen and Michelle Dare. One day, they were talking about tropes and cliches when an idea was born. Next thing they knew, they had a book planned out. The Perfect Man is their first series together where they combine humor and romance. They hope you fall in love with their characters and laugh at their antics along the way.

Amazon – https://amzn.to/3zSXJfh

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lynn-dare

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/lynndare

 

New Release

The Perfect Man: A Small Town Brother’s Best Friend Romance by Lynn Dare – New Release

The Perfect Man: A Small Town Brother’s Best Friend Romance by Lynn Dare is now available!

~Synopsis~

Welcome to Cape Kismet, where the neighbors are nosy, the bookstores offer an escape, and epic romances abound.

A hot date? Try Five. 
Every time a perfect man shows up at my door, I swoon the proper amount and do my best not to stare at his chiseled features and firm… jaw. Yes, definitely his jaw.
But I, Ellie Amore, have a problem. It’s big, gigantic, and not in the good way.
None of these men are real. And that version of me? More fake than an author calling herself classy while drinking boxed wine in her yoga pants.
Me, that author is me.
I dream of hot men. Perfect men. Fictional men. These men go into my books, and it’s all I need for my messy cat-lady-living-above-a-bookstore life. Really.
I don’t need my brother’s best friend checking up on me. The man who brings me tacos. The one who is decidedly not perfect—as his enemy cat would tell you—but somehow might just be perfect for me.
I’m not sure how it all started or when he decided I was more than a favor to his friend.
All I know is Cruz is not a man from my dreams. This time, it’s different.
This time, he’s real.

The Perfect Man is book one in the Perfect Man romantic comedy series. Dive in for plenty of swoons, lots of laughs, and a guaranteed HEA ending.

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2W4tPGk

Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/theperfectman

Lynn Dare is the pen name for authors Michelle MacQueen and Michelle Dare. One day, they were talking about tropes and cliches when an idea was born. Next thing they knew, they had a book planned out. The Perfect Man is their first series together where they combine humor and romance. They hope you fall in love with their characters and laugh at their antics along the way.


Amazon – https://amzn.to/3zD5ZzR

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LynnDareBooks

Author Spotlight · Interview with an Author

Interview with an Author Featuring Victoria Monroe

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Victoria Monroe! Author of Lucky, in Love which released on July 12th 2020.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve always been writing—poems, ideas, thoughts… I’ve been writing to publish since 2012.

Describe a typical writing day.

That’s a loaded question (laughs). Most of the time, my days aren’t structured around writing. My days are busy… so when inspiration strikes, I write notes on my phone, hand write pages in notebooks—I’ve even filled a napkin with a conversation that came to me. When I dedicate time to writing—I play music, drink coffee and allow my fingers let it all out.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

My two biggest muses are nature and music. Both of those things are essential to me as an individual. I’m outside as much as I possibly can be—it’s an interesting dynamic when my mind clears of daily static and inspiration emerges. I get a lot more from nature than I ever seek. Nature and music are also essential components in each of my stories.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

Every character is screaming at me from somewhere in my writer’s brain, “Pick me, pick me” (laughs)! They are all special and for different reasons, but if I had to choose one it would be Ashe Bennett. Ashe… (dreamy stares) I always wonder if I did him right. His character was always caring and dependable. Ashe is as loyal as they come. But when it comes to romance, Ashe was a no strings attached guy. I painted him in a sexually raw light at first… that’s where I wonder if I should have done something different. Ashe evolves from the playboy with a hidden heart of gold into the rock of not only his life, but also a few other characters.

How do you deal with the emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

I’m a very sentimental person to begin with, and truth be told—my stories consume me. To me, and I hope to my readers, these characters are real—when pages are being read, these characters are working, talking, laughing, crying, dreaming, yearning, loving… if I do my job, and a reader feels that, the way I do… well, it leaves me rooting for them, and missing them when the final words are written and the book closes.

What book is currently on your bedside table?

Technically, there are a couple hundred… my kindle rests there. (winks). I have all the romance!

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

In my Forever series, each book has a different H/h. I think that makes it fun and fresh for readers. The overall cast is there in varying supporting roles to make it familiar all while learning something new. As for me, these characters are always developing in my mind and wracking my brain with their personalities.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Loving. Passionate. Funny.

What advice would you give to other authors?

Write.

 What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

One thing about me: I may not be all over social media, but that doesn’t mean I’m not aching to interact with readers—I’m available. One thing about my books: don’t judge a book by its cover. Books, like people, are always so much more than a single glance can reveal.

Thank you Victoria Monroe for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her book Lucky, in Love today!

~Synopsis~

Lucky
I’ve never wanted much, but what I want seems to be unattainable. I’ve lived my entire life right here in Ocean Creek, dreaming of making the abandoned island property mine. My dream never changed until I met Kace Donovan. We fell in love that summer, and promised each other everything. Suddenly, all my dreams included having Kace by my side. Weeks turned into months, months into years, and eventually I saw almost every one of my dreams turn into reality—almost. While I stand on the property that’s my dream come true, Kace Donovan is just a memory…

Kace
The movie I just wrapped is the pinnacle of my acting career. I’ve acquired fame and fortune. I’ve had starlets on my arm for decades. Through it all, I’ve kept almost every promise I’ve made—almost. I was in love once, and I promised Lucky MacIntyre that our goodbye wouldn’t be forever. I promised her I’d come back. I never said it would take twenty-one years…

Will they ever be lucky in love?

Victoria loves reading great romance! She writes steamy contemporary romance and loves sharing the stories she has written with readers! There’s nothing like knowing that her characters have nestled their way into someone’s heart, just like they’re in hers. She’s a daydreamer, star gazer, and loves watching the moon come and go. Victoria loves being an author, but her favorite job title is—mom!

Facebook Author Page:
https://m.facebook.com/victoriamonroeauthor/
WordPress:
www.victoriamonroeauthor.Wordpress.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sTORIbooks
Snapchat:
add me @vm-storibooks
Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/sTORIbooks
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14921390.Victoria_Monroe
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/victoria-monroe
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/sTORIbooks
Amazon Author Page:
http://amazon.com/author/victoriamonroe

Review

The First Day of Forever (Romance in Chicago Book 2) by Lisa Keifer – My Review

Title: The First Day of Forever (Romance in Chicago Book 2)

Author: Lisa Keifer

Release Date: September 22nd 2020

Genre: Contemporary Romance

What do you do when a secret catapults your steady relationship onto rocky ground?

Christabel and Eric’s wedding preparations have had their ups and downs—including a cancellation!–but she just knows their big day will be absolutely perfect. Their relationship already is.

When Eric drops a bombshell three months before the scheduled nuptials, Christabel must navigate through her heartbreak. Eric, the first person she would normally run to in times of trouble, suddenly becomes the only person she wants to avoid.

Until she’s sure whether this is a break or a break-up, Christabel decides it’s best to pretend things are just fine to their loved ones. Admitting the truth would only make it all too real. Why can’t a real fiancé be a fake one, too? But, at some point, she must decide if trusting Eric—and loving him—is worth the risk.

Find out what happens now in book 2 of the Romance in Chicago duet!

They’re back! I love Christabel and Eric’s love story. Their chemistry is pretty awesome! Eric is definitely book boyfriend material. Totally swoon worthy! What is a wedding without some sort of drama. Right? Christabel finds herself dealing with one heck of a bombshell. I haven’t always been a fan of her choices but in some ways I found myself relating to her more in this book. She still doesn’t make some great choices in this book either but the hurt she is feeling is real and relatable. Jetta is the bestest friend a gal could ask for!

This is a good read. You smile and you’ll shed a tear or two. The love between these two characters is truly heartfelt. You’ll be rooting for them throughout the story! If you love romance, this book is right up your alley. I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*