Genre/Tropes: Contemporary Romance with Suspense Elements/Protective Hero/Heroine in Danger/Circle of Friends
Blurb:
The first time I met Kalina Lawson, she nearly passed out. Being a firefighter, I couldn’t just walk back to my cabin. I stayed with her until I knew she was all right. But her warm and friendly company is refreshing, and I quickly become enamored with the stunning cabin manager. When danger and threats start kicking up around Kalina, my quick fishing trip with the guys turns into a mission to keep her safe.
I thought River Voss, the hot renter in the cabin next door, was just an extra work bonus. Living in the middle of the woods wasn’t always my dream. But the second I got the opportunity to run Tree Haven Cabin Rentals, I jumped on it. I couldn’t get away from the negativity of my hometown fast enough. At least I thought I was leaving it behind. With an enemy upping his game against me, my peaceful life in the woods is slipping out of my hands. And that hot new renter becomes the protective force I’ve never had.
Now I need River not only to help me save this business, but to save me too.
C.E. Johnson will bring your heart to the woods where you’ll fall in love with her characters! She writes contemporary romance with a side of suspense. Her stories are full of protective heroes, strong heroines in danger, collapsing walls, and redeeming love.
When not writing until all hours of the night, she loves to read stories that rip your heart out completely, then kindly place it back into your chest with a HEA.
She’s a dog lover, a coffee addict, and has dreams of owning a cabin in the woods someday.
She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two kids, and some spoiled rotten animals.
Lilah is back home after two weeks away from the big, bad beast that is New York City, and with Kane by her side. The minute the chopper touches down, her phone rings. It’s a local forensics tech who has been stalking her online, but then, she soon learns, so is half the city.
Seems an online forum has popped up to follow Lilah, her serial killer mentor, and her drug lord husband. Call Lilah irritated as Kane is no drug lord, despite the cartel’s wishes that he follow in his father’s footsteps, her mentor is dead, and no one knows but those who buried the body. She needs the attention to go away, and now.
The worst part, or maybe it’s the best is there’s yet another serial killer on the loose who’s mimicking horror movie killers. Now Lilah has someone to take her anger out on, and arrest, not kill, because good girls don’t kill. But then, who said Lilah was a good girl?
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones writes dark, edgy fiction including the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series and the upcoming, crime thriller The Poet. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland and Bad Mom’s) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned a multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a cat that talks too much, and a Golden Retriever who is afraid of trash bags.
New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando brings the sexy second installment to the Knights and Dragons series, where the line between good and bad decisions gets blurry…
Life is about choices. He had a history of making bad ones.
Ready for a New Start
United with her newly discovered half sister, Constance Wilder finally has a family. She should be happy, but she’s not. Instead, she’s even lonelier, which is why a one-night stand with a sexy biker is just what she needs. A few hours of wild sex won’t just bring her pleasure—it will help her forget.
A Series of Bad Choices
Rhett did what was necessary to step into his role as leader of the Wind Dragons MC, which included cutting ties with the woman he loved. He wouldn’t change it, but that doesn’t make it easier. Thankfully, the beautiful woman across the bar is a welcome distraction. He never expected her to light a spark inside him, leaving him wanting more.
Destined for Disaster
Constance falls hard for Rhett. Not only is she pretty sure he’s her soul mate, but he’s the one person she has connected to in a long time. But when it is revealed that Rhett is her sister’s ex, Constance is faced with losing her newly found family, making happily-ever-after seem damn near impossible.
Knights & Dragons MC Book 1: Decker’s Dilemma Book 2: Rhett Redeemed Book 3: Answering Atlas
He left her. Now she was back…with his son in tow.
Four years ago, he’d been a jerk with a wild side, a messed-up head, and a penchant for breaking hearts. But he’d been a special brand of jerk to Kim. Mostly because she was incredible. Smart, funny, beautiful. He’d seen a future with her, and that terrified him… So he’d broken things off. Cut ties, lost her number, and moved on before she could move on from him. But now she was back. Now she was back, and she wasn’t alone. His son was with her.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys.
She lives in Northern California. Connect with her in her Facebook group, the Fabinators or email her at elisefaberauthor@gmail.com. Connect with Elise!
Title: Baller Boss Series: Billionaire Bachelors Club #3 Author: Lila Monroe
Genre: Romantic Comedy Release Date: July 25, 2022
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Fake date. Real trouble. Fall for a new trope-tactic, fake dating rom-com series from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe!
Ex-pro athlete Austin Banks is cocky, charming, and the ultimate player… at least, that’s what I think when he makes me an offer I can’t refuse for my dream job. Except, it’s not technically me he’s offering it to…
Other Jennifer Walker is the bane of my existence. We may share a name (and a similar email address) but that’s where the similarities end. Other Jenn is bold, confident… and off having wild adventures on the other side of the world. So, she won’t mind if I borrow our identity back and prove I’ve got what it takes to have Main Character Energy, too. Right?
I figure I can put up with Austin’s playboy shenanigans long enough to level up my career, but I’m not expecting the sparks between us to be quite so sizzling, or for there to be a sweet, driven guy buried under all that charm. Soon, my one little white (not-quite) lie is spiraling, and I’m in way over my head (and out of my underwear).
Can I find a way out of this mistaken identity mix-up? And will Austin’s past keep us from scoring a home-run – on, and off the field? Find out in the hot and hilarious Billionaire Bachelors rom-com from Lila Monroe!
BILLIONAIRE BACHELORS SERIES:
1 Very Irresistible Playboy 2 Hot Stuff 3 Wild Card 4 Man Candy 5 Mr. Casanova 6 Best Man 7 Maverick Mogul 8 Renegade Roomie 9 Baller Boss 10 One-Week Wingman (2022) 11 Charming CEO
Combining her love of writing, sex and well-fitted suits, Lila Monroe wrote The Billionaire Bargain. Lila enjoys writing, as it gives her a flexible schedule to spend time with her kids and a wonderful excuse to avoid them. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, who strips out of his well-fitted suits nightly.
True North, an all-new mistaken-identity contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author JB Salsbury is coming August 8th, and we have your first look!
The North name is a heavy burden. Two things I learned young—the best way to keep my head on is to keep my head down, and… never fall in love.
But I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress.
Lillian came into my life swinging. Mistaking me for my abusive twin brother, she greets me with a swift kick to the balls and a busted lip. Then she really shakes up my world.
She needs her job, but she needs a break just as much. And nothing silences my demons as efficiently as playing the hero.
To protect her from my jerk twin—her boss—I take her on a business trip and quickly learn that she’s different. Blunt. Honest. Intriguingly strange. I’m transfixed, so when she unknowingly sinks a multimillion-dollar deal, I don’t speak up. Something my family won’t forgive.
Now, I have a choice to make. I can go against my own blood and burn the North legacy to the ground, or play it safe, commit to my self-imposed rules and predestined future. Choosing her would ruin my life as I know it, but I’m starting to wonder if a life without her is worth living.
Keep reading for your first look inside True North!
Lillian
An hour and a half later, we’re in the backseat of a minivan, trying to figure out how we’re going to smuggle a bag of double cheeseburgers and fries into the hotel without anyone seeing.
“Here, you take the fries and fill your pockets.” I hand him the containers of fries and pop a couple in my mouth in the process. “Oh, these are so good.”
“Stop eating them all.” He carefully slips the sleeve of fries into the inner pocket of his coat and then eyes me. “What about the burgers?”
Turns out, our meal at the restaurant was delicious. The meat was tender and juicy and full of flavor, but even after we ate blue corn cakes with elderberry syrup for dessert, we were still hungry. We also had two more drinks and a glass of dessert wine from the local winery, which may have directly contributed to our current situation.
Because the entire staff saw us eat in the restaurant, and we don’t want to insult anyone, we’re sneaking food back to our rooms.
I grab a burger and shove it into my clutch. Then I stuff another into my cleavage.
“You can’t do that. It’s too obvious,” Hudson says without looking at me. “Give it to me. I’ll tuck it under my arm.”
“Eww, I don’t want your armpit touching my burger.”
He shoves his hand out again. “Then it’ll be mine. Give it.”
“No, this works.” I pat the burger between my boobs. “Women do this all the time. Look. You can’t even tell.”
His gaze drops to my chest and then darts away. “Uh, yeah. You can.”
“It’s fine. I got this.”
“What do you mean women do this all time?”
I do a doubletake. Is he joking? “You didn’t know that women use their cleavage as a pocket?”
JB Salsbury, New York Times Best Selling author of The Fighting Series, lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day lost in a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles as stories claw away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.
Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to write her first novel.
Since 2013 she has published six bestselling novels in The Fighting Series and won a RONE Award.
Title: The Grumpy Billionaire Series: Eastport Bay Billionaires #7 Author: Tru Taylor
Genre: Sexy Small Town Romantic Comedy Release Date: July 25, 2022
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When we last saw each other eleven years ago, I would have bet everything I owned, would’ve bet my mother’s life that Reid Mancini loved me. I knew that because I loved him, too. Madly, passionately, with every fiber of my seventeen-year-old being.
And that was why I made sure after our high school graduation night I would never see him again.
So much for that plan.
My new TV reporting job is both good and bad. Good because it’s a great step up career-wise. Bad because it’s a little too close to home… and to him, the only guy who’s ever tempted me to let go and love someone.
Now my first love is all grown up with a full-grown man’s size and power and an oversized cocky attitude to match. With the world’s largest social media network to his name, he’s got all the fame and fortune he ever wanted and then some.
Oh, and he hates me.
Not that I can blame him.
He has no idea why I abandoned him so suddenly… or how often I still think of him. He won’t find out either—not if I have anything to do with it.
Everything would’ve been fine if he’d just stuck to his famously aloof no-talking-to-the-media policy. But no, he’s decided to give his first ever television interview. And he says he’ll talk only to me.
If I could turn him down without losing my job, I’d do it in a heartbeat. That’s how desperately I don’t want to be in the same room with him, talking one-on-one, on camera for God’s sake. But in TV news, ratings rule—and hot, hard-to-get billionaires are ratings gold.
So I have to spend a week with him getting the story. It’s the only way to keep my job.
I just hope I can keep my secrets in the process.
It’s only a week. I can do this. Seven days. Two ex-lovers. One last chance.
Now we’ll see exactly how much of a difference a decade can make… and how impossible it may be to leave the past behind.
THE GRUMPY BILLIONAIRE is a hot small-town romance take on Sleeping Beauty. It’s a standalone enemies to lovers, second chance romance filled with heart, heat, and grumpy billionaire romcom fun!
Award-winning author Tru Taylor writes small-town romance that’s hot and sunny (and a little bit funny.) She runs on Coke Zero and dark chocolate, lives for lunches with her girlfriends, and drives to the town beach several times a week to watch the sun set over the water.
She loves LOVE and will attempt to turn any show or movie she’s watching into a romance whether it is one or not. Star Wars? A romance. Lord of the Rings? Clearly a romance. The Expendables? Okay, well not even Tru can redeem that one.
When she’s not writing, Tru enjoys watching movies and reading books with happy endings, spending time with Mr. Tru and her two kids, and sneaking Hershey’s Kisses from the top shelf of the freezer throughout the day. (Top shelf because… two kids. Enough said.)
Tru is the author of the Eastport Bay small town rom com series and loves living in a small New England town where she’s surrounded every day by the beautiful coastal setting you see brought to life in her books.
The Trouble with Whiskey by Melissa Foster is now live!
From New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster comes The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch, a new small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horses—and people—a second chance. Buckle up for a wild ride in Hope Ridge, Colorado, as these big-hearted badasses and their sassy sisters wrangle in their forever loves. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and always a happily ever after.
She’s the only woman he’s ever loved, and the one he could never have… Years after losing one of their best friends to a dare gone wrong, Devlin “Dare” Whiskey continues to live up to his name, endlessly testing fate, while Billie Mancini buried the best parts of herself. Billie is beautiful and tough, and battling demons Dare has no idea exist. But Dare is done watching her pretend to be something she’s not and takes on his most important challenge yet—showing the woman he loves that some dares are worth the risk.
Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues. Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!
Title: Level Up Series: Reigns Brothers #2 Author: Kindle Alexander
Genre: M/M Romance Release Date: July 12, 2022
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Duncan “Ducky” Reigns, metalhead and hardcore gamer, has spent his life railing against the establishment. But now when he looks at himself in the mirror that’s not the person he sees. Though he and his brother have worked hard to create a successful multi-million-dollar company, he’s lost himself and his identity in the process.
Chad Reeves, successful in his own right, has achieved every goal he’s set for himself. But living up to the legacy of his uber-successful father feels like an impossible task. When the heavy burden of a lifelong secret begins to unravel, he’s forced to face the truth. He’s lacking in what matters the most and only one thing can make it right.
Sometimes a simple reboot is all it takes to realize the answers are right in front of you. A soul-searching trip to paradise changes everything for two best friends… if they are brave enough to follow their hearts and reach for the Level Up.
Level Up is a contemporary, new adult, MM Romance. A standalone story with characters moving forward from both Secret and Breakaway. If you enjoy what you read, email me your thoughts.
Amazon international number one bestselling and award-winning author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer who pens contemporary gay romance. Happily married, with too many children and dogs, and living in the suburbs of Dallas.
Usually, I aim to be funny. Humor is an important part of my life. I love to laugh, and it seems to be the thing I do in most situations (regardless of the situation), but jokes can be a tricky deal. I don’t want to offend anyone, and humor can offend. So instead, I’m going to tell you about Kindle.
I tragically lost my sixteen-year-old daughter to a drunk driver. She had just been home. It was early in the night, and I heard the accident happen. I’ll never forget that moment. The sirens were immediate and something inside me just knew. I left my house, drove straight to the accident on nothing more than instinct. I got to be there when my little girl died. Weirdly, I consider that a true gift from above. She didn’t have to be alone.
That time in my life was terrible. It’s everything you imagine times about a billion. I love that kid. I loved being her mother, and I loved watching her grow into this incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out. She was such a gift to me. To have her ripped away so suddenly broke me.
Her name was Kindle. Honest to goodness—it was her name, and she died a few weeks before Amazon announced their brand-new e-reader. She had no idea the Kindle was coming, and she would have finally gotten her name on something! Try finding a ruler with the name Kindle on it… Never happened.
Through the course of that crippling event, I was lucky enough to know my writing partner. I would have never gotten through those dark days without her unwavering support and guidance. There wasn’t a time she wasn’t there for me. For the first time in my life, I used the hand offered. I know, without question, I wouldn’t be here today without her. It takes a special person to stand beside someone at a time like that. I will love her forever. I could go on and on about the both of them, but I won’t and now you know a little more about us.
Could Hutton French and I actually be right for each other, or is it all just one big tease?
TEASE, an all new sizzling friends to lovers, fake engagement small town romantic comedy from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is now available!
I didn’t mean to say I was engaged to a hot billionaire–it just slipped out.
In my defense, I’d had a really bad haircut, a really strong drink, and I was trying to save face in front of the Mean Girl at my high school reunion.
Lucky for me, I happen to know a hot billionaire. Hutton French and I have been friends forever, and even though big social gatherings are not his thing, I called him from the coat closet and begged him for a favor–show up and play my fake fiancé for the night.
Except that word of our engagement spreads like wildfire. Our families are ecstatic. We’re front page news. My little food blog is launched into the stratosphere.
Of course, I offer to set the record straight right away, but Hutton wants to give it a little time–the phony engagement will keep his matrimony-mad mother and every matchmaking granny in town off his back.
He even suggests I move in with him to make the ruse more real.
And we don’t stop there.
We practice kissing. Undressing each other. Saying things–and doing things–we’d never dare if we weren’t pretending. Because it’s all for show, right? We’re just role-playing. Hutton doesn’t want a real relationship, and I don’t want to get hurt. But the more time we spend faking it, the more I start to wonder.
Could Hutton French and I actually be right for each other, or is it all just one big tease?
“Want something to drink? Whiskey or scotch?” “No, thanks. Mostly I just want to take these heels off.” “Leave them on.” I was already bending down to unbuckle one ankle strap. I looked up and saw him standing there with his glass in his hand. “What?” “Leave them on. And come over here.” I straightened up and took one tiny step. “On your hands and knees.” My breath caught. I could feel his eyes on me. Instantly I understood what this was, and even though I was a little nervous, I wanted to play along. I wanted to please him this way. The only problem was, I wasn’t entirely sure I could get to my knees in this tight dress. But I said a quick prayer and dropped to my knees on the carpet in one smooth motion. Thankfully, the dress material had some stretch, and the seams didn’t pop. “Good girl,” he said quietly, igniting a firestorm in my blood that surprised me. “Now come here.” My heart thrummed fast and loud as I lowered my palms to the floor and slowly closed the distance between us. I’d never done anything like this in my life—who am I right now?—but I liked the way it made me feel. Tempting. Seductive. Alluring. I’d never thought of myself that way before, but here and now, in this tight little black dress with the red satin heels, crawling toward a gorgeous, powerful man in a suit in our Manhattan hotel suite? My billionaire fake fiancé? It was easy to imagine I wasn’t myself at all. When I reached his feet, I sat back on my heels and looked up. Our eyes met. His lean, muscular silhouette looked imposing above me. Even that rebel lock of hair had been tamed into submission tonight. He took another sip of his drink and set the glass on the table. Pulled the chair at the head of the table aside. Loosened the knot in his tie. “Are you okay?” “Yes.” “If there’s a point tonight where you are not, you should tell me.” He slipped the tie from his collar. I swallowed hard. “Like a safe word?” His mouth hooked up on one side. His hand freed the top button of his shirt. “You already have a safe word?” “No,” I said quickly. “I’ve never needed one before.” “You do now.” He undid a second button. “So what will it be?” Of course, I couldn’t fucking think of anything, and I panicked. “Roy Kent,” I blurted. He cocked his head, his hand still on his shirt. “Who’s Roy Kent?” “Never mind. I’ll think of another one.” Do not say Oklahoma. Do not say bumblebee. I racked my brain for something else. “Romeo,” I said breathlessly. “That’s what I’ll say. Romeo.” He set his tie on the table and offered me a hand. Placing my palm in his, I rose to my feet. “Is anything going to hurt?” I asked, picturing whips, chains, ball gags, metal cuffs and clamps, shiny rubber gloves. “I don’t need to inflict pain to feel in control, if that’s what you’re asking.” “Okay. Should I—” But that was all I got out because he spun me around and clamped a hand over my mouth, pressing his body tight against my back.
I love this series so much. Melanie Harlow does the best leading men who have some kind of issue who you just want to hug and who have you rooting for them to find their happy ever after!!
Hutton French was one of these leading males. Social anxiety is a helluva thing and Ms Harlow wrote Hutton so well. Anxiety doesn’t have boundaries, affect certain people or care about your successes…. and it had a stronghold on Hutton. That he stepped out of his box for Felicity said a lot about his character and what she meant to him and I loved that making her happy made him happy. He was awesome!!
Felicity MacAllister is a sweetheart. Middle sister of three girls she feels like the odd one out, stresses about just about everything and can’t see herself in a relationship. There’s a lot these two have in common….. l adored Lissy. The gods, she blurted out things at the worst time and it wasn’t just little word vomits she had, no Felicity came up with some doozies!!! She liked Horton as he was, knew and accepted his limitations and was always supportive, she was exactly who and what he needed.
I loved the history these two had. The fact that they both knew they had someone in their corner – outwith family – who accepted them for who they were and would be there for them was really sweet. What started as a fake relationship became much more and I genuinely felt they were meant to be, even if it took them both a bit to get out of their own heads!
Seeing Hutton & Felicity realise what they wanted and going along for the journey that took them there was a great read. Catching up with the assorted family members from previous books in the series is always fun.
I’m looking forward to the next instalment of this series and cannot wait to find out more about Millie!!!!
About Melanie Harlow
USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like Ted, Lasso, Schitt’s Creek, and Fleabag. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the BELLAMY CREEK series, the CLOVERLEIGH FARMS series, the ONE & ONLY series, AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, and the FRENCHED series. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Book Loving Pixies 