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SPOTLIGHT – The Sweet Spot by Cassie Cross
Title: THE SWEET SPOT
Author: Cassie Cross
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About The Sweet Spot:
Lexie James spent years dreaming about opening her own bakery. She’s invested every penny she’s ever saved—and some other peoples’ pennies too—into making that dream come true. The Sweet Spot is thriving thanks to her dedication and penchant for perfection, but she’s lonely and Hunter, the gorgeous guy who owns the gym across the street, is a nice distraction.
Hunter Elliott is Lexie’s high school crush. The timing’s never been right for the two of them, but when he notices that all work and no play makes Lexie a stressed-out overworked mess, he stages an intervention. He’s determined to show her that she can be successful and have a life.
First, he needs to help her find that sweet spot between business and pleasure…
About Cassie:
Cassie Cross is a Maryland native and a romantic at heart, who lives outside of Baltimore with her two dogs and a closet full of shoes. Cassie’s fondness for swoon-worthy men and strong women are the inspiration for most of her stories, and when she’s not busy writing a book, you’ll probably find her eating takeout and indulging in her love of 80’s sitcoms.
Connect with Cassie:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrossWrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiecrosswrites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassiecrosswrites
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REVIEW – Once in a Blue Moon (Belles of St. Clair #2) by Amanda Ashby
Title: Once In a Blue Moon
Series: Belles of St. Clair
Author: Amanda Ashby
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About Once In a Blue Moon:
Florist Laney George has a successful business, amazing friends and big, big dreams––oh, and a broken heart. But she’s working through that last one. Then the man she hoped to never see again shows up––and Laney’s carefully ordered plans are experiencing technical difficulties.
Celebrated Author Adam Fitzpatrick planned to be in St. Clair for no more than a day. Sign the books, and get out. Same story, different day. What he didn’t count on was Laney George, who happens to be the star of his somewhat fictional tale. She broke his heart years ago, and he’d gone a bit mad. Okay, maybe a lot mad––and he put everything in his book, never imagining it would be a world-wide best seller.
Now that he’s seen her again, he wants answers. But it isn’t just her that draws him in. It’s the town, something is happening and for the first time in years…he can write again. If only he could convince the woman who hates him most to start a new chapter in their story.
Exclusive Excerpt:
Adam frowned as he studied the green wall in the airport restaurant. The strands of ivy had strange lines of yellow running through them, making them seem dead and lifeless. He reached out a hand and touched a leaf, then recoiled. Plastic. No wonder he didn’t like it. He pulled out some bills to pay for his coffee and got to his feet. A few weeks ago, he didn’t even know what a green wall was, yet now every time he saw one, all he could think of was Laney, her mouth pursed in concentration as she’d woven leaves and branches into the large metal frame.
And she could use a chainsaw.
So hot.
He walked through the busy terminal to catch his flight. He’d ended up having to stay two nights in New York and
spent most of the time wishing he was back in St. Clair. At least they’d raised double the money from last year’s event, and soon he’d be boarding his flight.
Eight hours later, Adam pulled his rental car up to the Belles and climbed out. The St. Clair breeze was fresh and warm and loosened the knots in his shoulders. All he wanted to do was wrap himself around Laney, drinking in her warmth. He’d called her from the airport, but it had gone straight to her messages. He paused and frowned.
They didn’t usually catch up until after six, but it had been two days. Besides, it must be six o’clock somewhere in the world.
The closed sign hung on the door, but she’d given him a key last week. He climbed the stairs two at a time and reached the top as she walked past holding a tray of hot drinks. Her hair was pulled back off her face and hung over one shoulder, leaving her neck exposed. Heat seared through him, and he went to cross the threshold.
Then she turned, and her entire body froze, knuckles turning white as she gripped the tray. Her mouth had taken on a horrified shape, as if he’d just walked across an entire garden bed of flowers. Adam stiffened in response. Not quite the homecoming he’d been expecting.
“Where did you say the other jar of olives was?” a voice called out from somewhere in the apartment. Jessica? Oh, hell. His rising heat faded as Laney’s eyes locked with his, her gaze pleading. Begging him to stay hidden.
“Don’t tell her. She’s already finished one jar today,” Brett’s voice chimed in from somewhere in the room.
Laney’s hands shook as the color drained from her face, and Adam numbly took a step back down the stairs. Some of the tension in her jaw lessened, and she gave him a pained smile before hurrying into the other room, where her guests were obviously waiting. A dismissal.
He rubbed his jaw as steel spikes jabbed at his gut. Had he been imagining that this thing they had was more than just a fling? Had he spent the last two days wanting to be with someone who didn’t want to be with him? A familiar wave of humiliation and anger swept through him. What I want doesn’t seem to matter.
The sound of their laughing voices chased him as he stalked back to his own apartment. Nothing like a reality check to remind him that, despite how well everything seemed to be going, Simon was still there.
I’m competing with a ghost.
That was why she hadn’t told anyone about their previous relationship. Why she didn’t want anyone to know about this one. His legs twitched, and he considered going for a jog, but to do so he’d have to leave the apartment and risk bumping into Laney and her in-laws again. Risk seeing the horror in her eyes at almost having her secret exposed.
Beer was the next best thing. He grabbed a can from the fridge.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
Once in a Blue Moon is my first read by Amanda Ashby and even though it’s the second book in the Belles of St. Clair series I didn’t feel like I needed to have started at the beginning, but I’ll definitely be checking out this author’s backlist.
I LOVED this read. Second chance romances are a favourite of mine and Laney and Adam made for entertaining reading.
The dynamics between this pair were well written. Laney’s reluctance to see her ex again and her worry about her life changing due to his appearance (and the hype surrounding his book) were understandable and believable.
Adam was still holding on to his grudge even though life had changed for both of them and I was a bit peeved with him when I found out what his issue was… talk about thinking about himself and not talking to Laney…. In saying that I also felt heart sorry for him when we found out about the crumbling of his marriage and I have to say, given their history, I don’t know that I could have stayed in touch and had a relationship with my ex the way he did.
Laney’s friend/sister in law Jessica was a bit of a buzz kill for me at times. Laney has been widowed for several years now and she’s entitled to live again and move on, but it felt like she was expected to live a solitary life thinking about her husband!
This was a really sweet book, It had humour, tears, attraction and heat. I liked that the main characters are a little older and therefore, personally, I found them more relatable and we cannot forget Violet, the awesome little rescue dog who loves having her nails painted!
A solid 4.5* and most definitely recommended.
About the Author:
Amanda Ashby was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand where she writes romance, young adult and middle grade books. She also owns far too many vintage tablecloths and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging the furniture.
She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age. Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.
Connect with the Author:
Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
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RELEASE CELEBRATION – Wicked as Sin (One-Mile & Brea: part one) by Shayla Black
He’s ruthless. She’s off-limits. But he’s just met his one weakness… Now nothing will stop him from making her his.
Pierce “One-Mile” Walker has always kept his heart under wraps and his head behind his sniper’s scope. Nothing about buttoned-up Brea Bell should appeal to him. But after a single glance at the pretty preacher’s daughter, he doesn’t care that his past is less than shiny, that he gets paid to end lives…or that she’s his teammate’s woman. He’ll do whatever it takes to steal her heart.
Brea has always been a dutiful daughter and a good girl…until she meets the dangerous warrior. He’s everything she shouldn’t want, especially after her best friend introduces her to his fellow operative as his girlfriend—to protect her from Pierce. But he’s a forbidden temptation she’s finding impossible to resist.
Then fate strikes, forcing Brea to beg Pierce to help solve a crisis. But his skills come at a price. When her innocent flirtations run headlong into his obsession, they cross the line into a passion so fiery she can’t say no. Soon, his past rears its head and a vendetta calls his name in a mission gone horribly wrong. Will he survive to fight his way back to the woman who claimed his soul?
APPLE BOOKS I BARNES & NOBLE I AMAZON US
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly than eighty novels. For over twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eleven years.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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