Sneak Peek: BEEFCAKES by Katana Collins #Beefcakes

 

Things are about to get sticky...

Beefcakes, an all-new hilarious, second-chance standalone romance from Katana Collins, is coming March 24th and we have the FIRST sneak peek!

I might as well permanently add the label "Ex" to my name. I'm an Ex-Mr. Universe. Ex-Mr. Olympus. An Ex-Hollywood Stuntman. But no one from my small hometown cares anything about that. They only care that I'm the ex-boyfriend to the beloved Mayor's daughter, Elaina Dyker.

And now, ten years later, I'm back, helping my siblings run my mother's bakery while she takes on chemo. What should have been a routine cupcake delivery turns into utter chaos when the bachelorette party thinks I'm a stripper. And what's worse? Elaina is the maid of honor.

But the meme about us sure went viral fast. My small hometown has become positively infested with tipsy bridesmaids looking for my erotic cupcakes.

Now Hollywood's knocking again—and this time they want me and my ex, Mr. Beefcake and Ms. Prude, to star in a reality show.

It could solve all my problems—except her.

Pre-orderyour copy today!

Be notified FIRST when Beefcakes is live: http://bit.ly/2QQe0wM

Excerpt 

I arched my brow at her. “I bragged about knowing you so well…but man. I did not see this almond croissant massacre coming. What do you have against almonds? Or was it the amount of butter that offended you? Because as a fitness expert, let me tell you butter isn’t the enemy. Sugar is the enemy.”

She laughed. “I, uh…I might have some anger management issues.”

I took the bag from her and peeked in. There were knuckle marks against the outside of the croissant. Literal knuckle marks. I barked a laugh. “Elaina Dyker. Did you punch the croissant?”

She laughed, pressing her lips together as though this would hide the fact that I saw her adorable little giggle. She brought her thumb and forefinger up beside her temple. “Maybe a little.”“Did you even try a bite?”

She shook her head no. “I like my routine. I like my daily lunch of yogurt and almonds.”

I made a face. Because she had to be exaggerating. Sure…she liked them. But having that same thing every day? Even chocolate cake every day would get tedious. “You can like yogurt and almonds but still indulge every now and then, you know.” I reached in and pinched off a piece of the smashed croissant, holding it out toward her lips. “C’mon. Live a little. I promise you, it is actually healthy, if that’s your concern.” Not that she needed to be concerned about that. “Almond flour. Gluten free. Grain free. Only two net carbs. The only sugar is the honey in the honey roasted almonds and the natural sugar in dates.” Her eyes grew wide at that and I knew I had hooked her.

She reached out her hand to take the piece of croissant from me, but I pulled back. “Nuh-uh,” I teased. “We can’t have your fingers getting sticky. Might ruin that fancy suit you’re wearing.”

She rolled her eyes, but parted her wet lips, her tongue peeking out just enough for me to place the croissant on top of. She moaned as soon as it hit her mouth, and her eyes fell closed as she slowly chewed and swallowed. “That’s…that’s healthy?”

I nodded. “See? I’m not just a pile of muscles. I’ve got some talent, too.”

Her head fell to the side. “I never said you weren’t talented. I just wish you wouldn’t show off quite so much of your other assets.”

I grinned. “I thought you liked my assets?”

“I do,” she answered absentmindedly, then immediately shook her head, realizing what she’d said. “I mean, I did.”

 

About Katana 

 

As an author and a story-teller, it is the lifeblood to which my ideas take flight. And I believe

giving credit where credit is due. Occasionally someone (ie – my husband) will try to secretly switch out my beloved regular coffee for decaf. I always know the difference. ALWAYS (I’m looking at you, SEAN).

I am incapable of achieving the perfect ponytail. I’m dyslexic. I can never wear white without spilling on myself. And I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice (gasp!).

When I was younger and stole my mother’s Harlequins to read beneath the covers with a flashlight (seriously, did we ALL do this? I think we did.), I wanted to read about the tough as nails heroine. The perfectly imperfect girl with quirks and attitude and sass. And the anti-heroes who were anything but “Prince Charming.” Forget the knight on a white horse… give me the bad boy on a motorcycle.

So, now, I write those romance novels I craved to see on the shelves all those years ago—the sassy heroines. The badass heroes. I spend my days in the throes of my imagination, and am loving every minute of it. I can travel anywhere and become anyone I want to be. One day, I’m a mechanic in Boston and the next, I’m a vampire stripping in Las Vegas.

Since penning my first novel back in 2012, I’m now an international author with 15 published books, in a wide range of contemporary romance genres–(Paranormal, New Adult, Small town, Erotic Suspense… you name it!).

After living for a decade in Brooklyn, NY, I took the plunge and moved to beautiful (although kinda chilly) Portland, Maine. I now live full time in ‘Vacationland’ with a kind of mean cat, a mellow chihuahua, and a very NOT mellow lab-pittie mix. Oh, yeah… there’s a husband who draws comics somewhere in that mix, too. I can usually be found in a coffee shop with my nose in my laptop wearing fabulous (albeit sometimes impractical) shoes.

I love connecting with readers and fellow sassy storytellers, so feel free to drop me an email at katana.collins@gmail.com or connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@katanacollins). You can find a list of my available books over on my Bookshelf or if you’ve already read a book, it would make my day if you wrote a review!

Threats, complaints, and criticisms should go to comments@fbi.gov.

 

COVER REVEAL - New Covers for The BelleCurve Series by K.K. Allen

 Look at these gorgeous new covers for 

 

The BelleCurve Series by K.K. Allen!

The BelleCurve Series, an emotional and angst-filled series of standalones

from K.K. Allen, is available now and has a beautiful new look!

Up in the Treehouse

 

"I wanted to tell him all my secrets, but he became one of them instead."

Chloe Rivers never thought she would keep secrets from her best friend, Gavin Rhodes. Then again, she never imagined she would fall in love with him either. When she finally reveals her feelings, rejection shatters her, rendering her vulnerable and sending her straight into the destructive arms of the wrong guy.

The Rhodes twins never saw the betrayal coming. Chloe has always been their forbidden fantasy—sweet, beautiful, and tempting. But soon the lines between family, friendship, and love become as tangled as the roots of the treehouse they once shared.

Now it's too late . . .

Four years after a devastating tragedy, Chloe and Gavin find themselves crashing back into each other's lives. Haunted by the past, they're forced to come to terms with all that has transpired to find the peace they deserve. Except they can't seem to get near each other without combatting an intense emotional connection that brings them right back to where it all started . . . their childhood treehouse.

Chloe still holds her secrets close, but this time she isn't the only one with something to hide. Can their deep-rooted connection survive the destruction of innocence?

Download your copy today for only 99¢!

 

Under the Bleachers

 One kiss can change everything."

Fun and flirty Monica Stevens lives for food, fashion, and boys … in that order. And she doesn’t take life too seriously, especially when it comes to dating. When a night of innocent banter with Seattle’s hottest NFL quarterback turns passionate, she fears that everything she once managed to protect will soon be destroyed.

Seattle’s most eligible bachelor, Zachary Ryan, is a Southern Gentleman at heart, a star NFL quarterback, and an undercover entrepreneur. He’s also addicted to the flirty office assistant with a sassy mouth—and not just because she tastes like chocolate and strawberries. She’s as challenging as she is decadent, as witty as she is charming, and she's the perfect distraction from the daily grind.

When Monica comes to a crossroads in her life, Zachary becomes an unavoidable obstacle, forcing her to confront the demons of her past. But as their connection grows stronger, she knows it only brings them closer to their end. It’s time to let go.

To have a future, we must first deal with our pasts. But what if the two are connected?

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Be notified FIRST when Through the Lens, the third standalone in the BelleCurve Series is live→ http://smarturl.it/KK_MailList

COVER REVEAL - The Second Time Around (Hope Valley Book 7) by Jessica Prince #TheSecondTimeAround

 

 COVER REVEAL

The Second Time Around by Jessica Prince

Isn't this cover  beautiful?

Synopsis

Tessa Day had clung to the notion of a once-in-a-lifetime love for as long as she could
remember. Then one chance encounter led her to the man of her dreams. After a
whirlwind romance that could only be described as something out of a fairytale, she
gave her heart to her other half, only to have him throw it back like it meant nothing.

Bryce Dixon was known as the care-free funny guy with a heart of gold. But it was all a
façade. For more than ten years, he’d been holding on to guilt that was slowly eating
him alive. He blamed himself for things in his past, and as punishment for his sins, he
walked away from the only woman he’d ever loved.

But when Tessa shows up in Hope Valley, Bryce begins to think that maybe he’s been
given a second chance. However, when danger comes calling, he soon discovers he’s in
for the fight of his life. Not only does he have to protect the woman who holds his heart,
but he also has to convince her that he can get things right the second time around.

 

Pre-Order Today! Releasing March 9th!

Read for #Free with #KindleUnlimited

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Va8mcG

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/SecondTimeAround

Add to your TBR: http://bit.ly/TheSecondTimeAroundGR

 

Have you read the other books in the Hope Valley series?

I loved each and every one of these interconnected books about a group of friends finding love and happiness and experiencing true friendship along the way. Each of these seven books can be read as a standalone and somehow every one of these books always seemed to be even better than the last only for the next one to be even better. I can't wait for The Second Time Around to come out!

Silver Bastard (Silver Valley #1) by Joanna Wylde #SilverBastard

  Silver Bastard (Silver Valley #1) by Joanna Wylde

First in the new Silver Valley series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reapers Motorcycle Club Novels

Fourteen months. For fourteen months, Puck Redhouse sat in a cell and kept his mouth shut, protecting the Silver Bastards MC from their enemies. Then he was free and it was time for his reward—full membership in the club, along with a party to celebrate. That’s when he saw Becca Jones for the first time and set everything in motion. Before the night ended he’d violated his parole and stolen her away from everything she knew.

Five years. It was five years ago that Puck destroyed Becca and saved her all in one night. She’s been terrified of him ever since, but she’s even more terrified of the monsters he still protects her from... But Becca refuses to let fear control her. She’s living her life and moving forward, until she gets a phone call from the past she can't ignore. She has to go back, and there’s only one man she can trust to go with her—the ex-con biker who rescued her once before.

Puck will help her again, but this time it’ll be on his terms. No more lies, no more tears, and no more holding back what he really wants...

It is always a fine line to toe when an author writes alpha males who thrive on bossing around their female counterparts and who don't tend to take no for an answer. I must admit that I was a bit hesitant but I also was curious because I had heard a lot of good things about the author's books but still...I have a problem with any kind of glorified rape that is considered okay just because the characters fall in love and it somehow doesn't matter anymore (which sounds rather ...well, disturbing...either, in my opinion). Soooo...alpha male, the blurb describing Becca as still being terrified - yup, it could have gone both ways, right?

Truth to tell, though, I really loved this story. Becca is hesitant to trust and to fall for Puck as she knows far too well what life in an MC might mean for a woman but she is still attracted to him and feels safe with him despite (or because of) their history. Puck pushes her though he tries to hold back but five years is a long time, right? With Becca getting older and her starting to date other guys...well....that doesn't fly well with him. he makes his move and no matter how much she pushes back, he keeps pushing into her life and claiming her as his own. Yeah, she is not impressed...is she?

What I really loved is the fact that no matter what happened later on I never felt that she was in danger with him, I always knew that he would accept it if she didn't want him or anything that he did but like those around them, I felt that they belonged together and that she felt a lot for him, no matter how much she fought her feelings.
No, he is no saint, far from it, but his life is based on respect and honor and to respect her also means respecting her wishes. He pushes her boundaries, he pushes for a commitment but never in a way that felt offensive to me.

Despite this being a book set in a world of violence and guys that are more than a bit rough around the edges, this book was captivating and intense but never downright brutal so I really could enjoy every single page of it. The focus was on Becca and Puck though no matter what happened around them so some events towards the end that were important to the club, seemed to be a bit rushed or anti-climatic.

 On the whole, it was a well-written, interesting and thrilling story with great characters - did I mention that I already downloaded the next book by her?

★★★★

COVER REVEAL - Taming Hollywood's Baddest Boy by Max Monroe

Look at

TAMING HOLLYWOOD'S BADDEST BOY

and its gorgeous cover!

 

Do people say they hate someone’s guts so that they can still fall stupidly, head-over-heels in love with the other parts?

Asking for a friend.

Taming Hollywood’s Baddest Boy, an all-new steamy laugh-out-loud romantic comedy standalone from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe, is coming March 12th and we have the dreamy cover!

Okay, fine. I’m not asking for a friend.

I’m asking for me—and I’m begging you to tell me that the practice of falling in love with your should-be-enemy is common.

Please tell me that I’m not the only person to track down a guy—who used to be Hollywood’s baddest bad boy before he left LA for good—at his off-the-grid cabin in Alaska, show up unannounced, and find him gloriously naked.

This probably happens all the time…right?

Tell me I’m not alone in my stupidity—that I’m not the only woman who would fall for gorgeous blue eyes and a sexy devilish smirk, even if they belong to a broody, mysterious jerk.

Please. Please. Please. Tell me I’m not alone in this.

For the love of everything, I need all the supportive girl power I can get if I’m going to convince Luca Weaver to come back to Hollywood—otherwise known as the place he hates so much that he ghosted Oscar-level success and escaped to no-man’s-land for the last eight years just to avoid it.

Yeah, don’t worry—that smoke you’re smelling isn’t your house catching fire as you read this…it’s just my career and what was previously known as my heart going up in flames.

Gah. Is it just me, or am I totally, completely, and utterly screwed?

Add TAMING HOLLYWOOD'S BADDEST BOY to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2U46YI7

Be notified FIRST When Taming Hollywood’s Baddest Boys is live: http://bit.ly/2HzGmau

About Max Monroe

A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far. ​

The Girl Who Cried Captive by Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd #TheGirlWhoCriedCaptive

  The Girl Who Cried Captive 

by 

Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd  

#TheGirlWhoCriedCaptive

 Romy thought that being kidnapped by a pack of douchebag werewolves was the worst thing that could happen to her. Turns out she's the worst thing that could've happened to them.

Romy isn't going to let a little something like getting kidnapped get her down. She's determined to turn the tables on her captors. Using her wits and somewhat questionable charm, Romy uses her time in captivity to learn her captors secrets.

But the secrets she discovers still hold her captive. Can she find a way to save more than herself? Or will the secrets she learned hold her prisoner long after she’s escaped?



Okay, this is not a drill, this is a real problem - how do I rate this book if the first one was already five stars and this one is just ...wow!? I can't rate it higher than five stars but if I could, I definitely would!  As much as I already loved The Girl Who Cried Wolf, this sequel simply blew me away.

I loved the world-building, the story and the characters in the first book and this one, The Girl Who
Cried Captive has all of this and so much more.
I can't count the number of times that I burst out laughing, that I grunted something like, "Ha!" and "Yes!" or "Take that!", ranted and raged a bit and smiled indulgently. Somehow the story flows even better, the wit and the intensity are off the charts - oh, well, and the guys are not that bad either.

I started to read this book the moment it turned up on my kindle because...did you read the first one?!? Do you know where we left our heroine?!? Right. That's why.
Many action-filled fast-paced moments and emotional outbursts later, this book kept me glued to my reader till the very last page. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, I'm dying to find out what happens next!

🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺

Until it Fades by K.A. Tucker #UntilItFades #audiobook

Until it Fades by K.A. Tucker 

Synopsis

Twenty-four-year-old truck stop waitress and single mother Catherine Wright has simple goals: to give her five-year-old daughter a happy life and to never again be the talk of the town in Balsam, Pennsylvania (population 3,000 outside of tourist season).
And then one foggy night, on a lonely road back from another failed date, Catherine saves a man's life. It isn't until after the police have arrived that Catherine realizes exactly who it is she has rescued: Brett Madden, hockey icon and media darling.
Catherine has already had her 15 minutes of fame, and the last thing she wants is to have her past dragged back into the spotlight, only this time on a national stage. So she hides her identity. It works. For a time.
But when she finds the man she saved standing on her doorstep, desperate to thank her, all that changes. There's an immediate connection, and it's more electric than the bond of two people who endured a traumatic event. It's something neither of them expected. Something that Catherine isn't sure she can handle, something she is afraid to trust.
Because how long can an extraordinary man like Brett be interested in an ordinary woman like Catherine...before the spark fades?

 Review

Once again an amazing story by K.A. Tucker with great characters that kept me glued to my mobile.

Not only were the story and the book itself amazing but I also loved the narration. It was vivid and made a great book even better. At one point I found myself standing in the hallway at 2 am, clutching my mobile in my hand, being unable to go to bed because I wanted too much to listen to the story instead of going to bed!

I loved this book and having finished the audiobook read by Shayna Thibodeaux, I can't wait to buy the paperback as well because it really is THAT good that I need both! 

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Unbreakable (Cloverleigh Farms #4) by Melanie Harlow #Unbreakable

 

  Unbreakable by Melanie Harlow

 Synopsis

In hindsight, I should not have had that fifth mimosa at Breakfast with Santa. 

Or the sixth, seventh, and eighth.

But my shame over the public meltdown that resulted was nothing compared to being abandoned by my husband of fifteen years for a much younger woman—and did I mention she’s pregnant?

For the sake of my children and my pride, I packed up and headed for my childhood home and the small town where I grew up. Cloverleigh Farms would be the perfect place for a fresh start.

Falling for Henry DeSantis wasn’t part of the plan.

Sure, he’s easy on the eyes and hard in the bedroom (also the hallway, the bathtub, and on top of his desk), but he’s newly divorced too, and things between us are moving so fast I’m afraid neither one of us has had enough time to heal. Not to mention the fact that I’m a single mom now—my kids have to come first.

But Henry makes me feel beautiful and sexy and wanted and strong—I haven’t felt that way in years. We understand each other, and when I’m in his arms, I’m tempted to trust again. To love again. To let myself be loved without fear.
But deep down, I’m terrified.

Is this all too much, too soon? Or am I a fool to let a second chance at happily ever after pass me by?

 Review

I loved all of the books in the Cloverleigh Farms series but I think Unbreakable might be the one that I love best. Sylvia and Henry's story is intense and turbulent and you can feel their chemistry and you can also feel how much both of them need the other one to heal, to feel desirable, to feel complete.
Sylvia's world just broke apart when her husband left her for someone much younger and Henry, well, Henry and his wife had their own issues that had them drift apart. 



Throw Sylvia's two kids into the mix who were deeply hurt by their father's actions, the fact that Henry is working for Sylvia's father and things got real very fast and...yep. Things are not that easy. Unfortunately.
I loved to see Sylvia learn to trust and it was also great to see her kids shake off their past and start to trust again. All in all this book is a sweet and moving addition to the series and I can't wait to read April's story. At least I think that hers will be next but we will see...

**~4.5 stars~**

The Clutter-Free Home: Making Room for Your Life by Kathi Lipp

  The Clutter-Free Home: Making Room for Your Life

 by 

Kathi Lipp 

 

When it comes to your home, peace is possible...

Longing for a place of peace from which you can love others well? The Clutter-Free Home is your room-by-room guide to decluttering, reclaiming, and celebrating every space of your home.

Let author Kathi Lipp (who once lived a life buried in clutter) walk you through each room of your house to create organizational zones that are not only functional and practical but create places of peace that reflect your personality.  Kathi will help you tackle the four-step process of dedicate, decide, declutter and “do-your-thing” to reveal the home you’ve always dreamed of, and then transform it into a haven that reflects who you truly are meant to be.

If you’re also feeling overwhelmed by the care and upkeep of all the stuff under your feet or sense that your home is running you, instead of the other way around, come discover how to create a space that doesn’t have to be showroom perfect to be perfect for you and the people you love.


I mean, deep at heart we all know exactly what we have to do to get rid of all this stuff that is cluttering our home. Of course, I've already read several books about it as well and tried to get rid of everything but somehow....well.

This book doesn't have any big groundbreaking ideas either but somehow when I finally gave up procrastinating and started reading and doing something, I got into the right mood and it worked. I still have a lot of decluttering ahead of me but I like the author's approach to it, the concrete checklists of d's and I also like her definition of clutter. There's no number or amount of something given, there's no minimalistic approach, it's always just about the questions whether you really like an object, need it and use it. Basically.

I love books for example and I need long shelves of books to feel at home somewhere, so I wouldn't take kindly to the suggestion to get rid of them and keep but...<insert any number>. It doesn't make me a failure when it comes to decluttering if I still keep most of them as long as I make sure that these are books that still represent me. This is an approach that feels right and something I can work with.

It's always difficult to get rid of the clutter but step by step, one room after the other, I work my way through it. This book doesn't invent decluttering, it doesn't do it for me but it definitely helps with the process of deciding what to keep and how to proceed. 

★★★★

 

BLOG TOUR - Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills #DearAva

Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills

"Dear Ava is heartwarming and angsty and don't get me started on Knox. Read this book! You will love Ava's fight and Knox's alpha."

--Tijan, New York Times bestselling author

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a gripping enemies-to-lovers, secret admirer, high school romance with Dear Ava, available now!

SYNOPSIS

The rich and popular Sharks rule at prestigious, ivy-covered Camden Prep. Once upon a time, I wanted to be part of their world--until they destroyed me.

The last thing I expected was an anonymous love letter from one of them.

Please. I hate every one of those rich jerks for what they did to me. The question is, which Shark is my secret admirer?

Knox, the scarred quarterback.

Dane, his twin brother.

Or Chance, the ex who dumped me. . .

Dear Ava,

Your eyes are the color of the Caribbean Sea.

Wait. That's stupid.

What I really mean is, you look at me and I feel something REAL.

It's been ten months since you were here, but I can't forget you.

I've missed seeing you walk down the hall.

I've missed you cheering at my football games.

I've missed the smell of your hair.

And then everything fell apart the night of the kegger.

Don't hate me because I'm a Shark.

I just want to make you mine.

Still.

Download your copy today or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/37T4EYl

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DearAva

Add DEAR AVA to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Z2jwQx

Excerpt

 “What do you want?” Knox says with as sneer as I ease in the football locker room. Cold eyes flick over my cheer skirt then move up and land on the hollow of my throat. It’s not cool enough at night for our sweater uniform so tonight my top is the red and white V-cut vest with CP embroidered on my chest.

“Where’s Chance?”

He whips off his sweat-covered jersey along with the pads underneath. “I don’t keep tabs on my best friend for you. Get out—before I scare you.”

He’s scaring me already.

But I can’t stop looking at him.

His shoulders are broad and wide, his chest lightly dusted with sparse golden hair, tan from the sun, rippling with powerful muscles, leading down to a tapered and trim waist. He has a visible six-pack, and my gaze lingers briefly on a small tattoo on his hip, but I can’t tell what it is. He isn’t brawny or beefy-looking like one might expect from a guy blessed with his athletic prowess, but sculpted and molded and—

Dropping my gaze, I stare at the floor. I shouldn’t be ogling him. Chance is my maybe-boyfriend.

I hear male laughter from one of the rooms that branch off from the locker room, maybe the showers, and I deflate, guessing that’s where Chance is.

Glancing up, I intend to ask him to tell Chance I came by to congratulate him on his two touchdowns, but my voice is frozen. Knox has unlaced his grass-stained pants and is shucking them off. His legs are heavily muscled and taut, unlike the leaner build of Chance. His underwear are white and tight, cupping his hard ass, the outline of his crotch—

“Like what you see, charity case? You can look, but you can’t touch.”

Anger soars, replacing my embarrassment. I know I'm just the scholarship girl at Camden, but why does he have to constantly remind me?

“Don't worry about me touching anything. I don’t like ugly.” The words tumble out before I can stop them. I meant his superior attitude, not his face, but I see the moment when he freezes and takes it the wrong way.

He touches his face, tracing his scar while his jaw pops. “Get the hell out. Only players allowed in here.”

I pivot and go for the door, forcing myself not to run. “Asshole,” I mutter.

His laughter follows me.

About Ilsa Madden-Mills

Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.

Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.

Uncovering The Merchant's Secret by Elisabeth Hobbes #UncoveringTheMerchantsSecret

  Uncovering The Merchant's Secret by Elisabeth Hobbes

 *Synopsis*

A man with no past…
… could she hold the key to his future?
Shipwrecked merchant Jack Langdon wakes with no memory and steals a kiss from a beautiful stranger—widow, Blanche Tanet. As he recovers in her castle, passion flares between them. Jack’s fascinated by her independence and courage but, discovering his identity is not what it seems, Jack must first uncover the secrets of his own past, if they’re to have a future together…

 *Review*

Uncovering The Merchant's Secret tells Jack and Blanche's story, the story of two people who lost themselves somewhere along the way and are finding their way back, each in their own way. Jack didn't only lose his wife but when he meets Blanche, he has lost his memory and can't remember anything about his life before he met her. Blanche, well, she is a widow, not once but twice and life and circumstances or rather society being what it was in those times, she lost parts of herself while fighting to survive.

She is still fighting. Fighting for revenge, for her freedom and her dignity but things are getting tighter and it gets even more difficult for her to thrive in this world made for men. Oh, and she may also fight some softer feelings that don't make things less complicated, all things considered.
Fortunately, Jack is also slowly falling for his mysterious and strong-willed rescuer but without knowing more about his former life and those that he might left behind, he can't act on it. At least, well...
Pirates, merchants, spies and so much more, this book has it all and it will keep you on your toes. And if you are like me, you will probably be furious when once again men decide about a woman's fate because she has no rights  - even Blanche who is strong and independent. I loved her character, her loyalty and her sense of honor, her feminity paired with a core of steel and an independent mind. Jack was perfect for her, he respects her, he understands her - at least as much as he can, considering the fact that he is lacking some not that minor information and he is loyal to himself, his cause and his friends, including her.

Considering the fact that losing himself while almost losing his life helped him overcome his crippling sadness and find his love of life again, one might be tempted to think that shipwrecking or almost drowning could be seen as something positive....but  I wouldn't go that far. I do think though that finding Blanche under these circumstances allowed Jack to open his heart and to start living again. Preferably with a certain beautiful widow at his side!

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