Book Review, Giveaway and Book Blitz: The Bastard Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon

The third installment to this AWESOME series is out tomorrow!! I've been a massive fan of Jessica Lemmon since the first book in this series (The Billionaire Bachelor) came out last year. Now all three of these books are stand-alones but your reading experience will be so much better if you read all of them! Plus ... take a look at these covers ... you're welcome ... 

Find the whole series on Goodreads!

Let's get to the good stuff ... and don't miss the giveaway at the bottom!!

Beauty and the Beastly Billionaire . . .
Eli Crane is one tough bastard. After an explosion left him injured and honorably discharged from the Marines, all he wants is to be left alone. Yet his brothers insist he take a greater role in the family business. They've hired him ten personal assistants-and Eli sent each one packing as fast as possible. But when beautiful number eleven walks through the door, Eli will do anything to make her stay.

Isabella Sawyer's employment agency can't afford to lose Eli Crane's business. Her plan: to personally take on the role of his PA, and secure her reputation with the wealthy elite in Chicago. But this beauty and her hot billionaire bad boy soon find themselves mixing business with pleasure in the most delicious ways. And passionate, stubborn Isabella won't rest until she tames this wicked beast . . .

Everyone loves a little sneak peek!!

Standing, she smoothed her hands down her pants and flipped her hair. She had planned to quietly finish her work and leave without seeing him again. No such luck. And no hiding that she was heading his way when her heels clicked along the concrete floor.

Well.

The kiss had happened. The button incident had happened. There was no taking it back. Regardless of how either of them felt about it, she was going to continue working here. So. She would deal with the here and now.

Since the sun was shining, Eli’s lair was welcome instead of foreboding. No fire cracked in the hearth today. Also unlike his usual, he wasn’t at his desk. He was at the printer.

“This yours?” He offered a sheet of paper.

“Yes.” She couldn’t keep from explaining. “Pressed the Print button by accident.”

“Mi printer es su printer.”

Isa accepted the document and Eli sank his hands into his jeans pockets, his forearms flexing with the movement.

“I wasn’t—”

“I shouldn’t—” they said at the same time.

He pursed his lips and she looked at her shoes. “Go ahead.” She was going to say, I wasn’t offended when you kissed me, but now that she’d had a millisecond to think it through, maybe she should pretend the kiss hadn’t happened. Which was . . . impossible. Standing this close to him, it’s all she could think about.

“I shouldn’t have ruined your shirt,” he said.

“I dared you to.”

“Why?” His eyebrows compressed along with his lips.

“Because you have accepted the role of beast, but I don’t believe that’s who you are.” She let her gaze linger on his face before tracking down his body. “And because I like a challenge.”

“Do you?” He took a wide step toward her.

She matched his move and took one step closer to him. “Yes. I don’t wilt easily.”

He threaded her hair between his fingers, a look of longing and hurt mingling in his eyes. “I was about to lie and say I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

Shivers climbed her spine as she remembered how firm his lips felt against hers. “Maybe . . . you shouldn’t have stopped.”

I've read quite a few books by Jessica Lemmon and they never cease to just amaze me. I've been lucky enough to read this entire series and not once, has Lemmon let me down! Her writing style is kind of flawless in my mind. The characters ALWAYS keep me entertained, the plot is ALWAYS captivating and I ALWAYS end up giving her books 5 (well deserved) stars. This one was no exception.

Of all three books, this one made me nervous to think about reading. The only reason for that was the main character, Eli. Eli was injured while he was with his Marines overseas. I just knew that this one would be tough to swallow at times because of the severity of his injuries, his feelings and just how Eli, as a character, was presented in previous books. This dude makes it very clear that he wants to be left alone. While it's never said (I don't believe ... I sped through this one), he's got a mad case of survivor's guilt and it completely consumes this poor man. I thought that I would have a difficult time connecting with Eli but he is ornery as hell and for some reason, I just love that! Plus, he's protective and dashingly handsome. Neither of those things is in any way bad.

Once again, Lemmon wrote some fantastic chemistry for Eli and Isabella. You're left just sitting on the edge of your seat, wishing and hoping that something would come from all of the pseudo/awkward flirting that was going on. I really want to say something else but I don't want to ruin it!!! It's goood. Trust me.

All in all, I think that this might be my favorite of the series. There was so much buildup about Eli in the previous two books that you really don't know what you're going to get when you crack the spine on this one. It is so much more than I had hoped it would be. It's a series that I'll think about in the future and I'll definitely read again. Lemmon is my author hero. This lady knows how to keep a reader entertained.

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Available: February 28th, 2017

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A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.

Contact the author here:

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Author Interview with Alison Bliss

Boy, do I have a treat for you today!! I started reading Alison Bliss books right before her first book hit the shelves and I've been a massive fan ever since. She has a way with characters that I've not experienced with other authors. Honestly, that is saying a lot because I've read I don't even know how many books at this point ... hundreds upon hundreds. Her characters just take hold of you and won't let go - they're hilarious and sweet and completely realistic. It also doesn't hurt that the leading men are ruggedly handsome and everything your dream guy wants to be. 

I was lucky enough to stumble upon Alison's release week blitz and I just couldn't miss an opportunity to ask her a few questions. It was difficult narrowing down what I thought inquiring minds would want to know and I ended up with a weirdly awesome combo of questions that Alison was gracious enough to answer.

Make sure you grab Size Matters and the books in the Tangled in Texas series (it's amazing, btw) then grab a cup of cocoa and sit down in your favorite reading spot because you're not going to want to put any of those books down any time soon!

QUESTION ONE

Little Miss Bookmark: What inspired you to write Size Matters?

Alison Bliss: There were so many things that inspired the idea for this book, but two stand out above the rest. Not only did I love the idea of writing about a heroine with body issues—one who I feel many women can relate to—but I also wanted to show that women aren’t the only ones who worry about their “size.”

QUESTION TWO

Little Miss Bookmark: You’ve got some steamy scenes in your books and your new book, Size Matters, is no exception … how do you feel about the people you know reading those naughty scenes?

Alison Bliss: I think it’s great! I wrote the words for people to read so it doesn’t matter to me whether the person reading it knows me or not. My mom and dad always read my work, including the sexy stuff, and if that doesn’t embarrass me, then I figure nothing ever will. But ask me this question again when my sons are old enough to read adult romance. My opinion might change by then.

QUESTION THREE

Little Miss Bookmark: If Size Matters could have a theme song, what would it be?

Alison Bliss: Jana Kramer’s “Love” would be a perfect theme song for Size Matters. The lyrics talk about all the things a person might believe in, all of which has to do with love.

QUESTION FOUR

Little Miss Bookmark: As a reader, I can become very attached or connected to characters, does the same happen to you as you're creating them?

Alison Bliss: It’s so hard to say goodbye to characters that we all love so much, no matter which side of the book you’re on. My characters live and breathe inside of me. I’ve been in their heads. I’ve been in their hearts. They belong to me in a way that they will never belong to anyone else. I know things about them that no one else knows. And to say goodbye to them breaks my heart each time. It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend. Luckily, there are always new characters around the corner waiting to console me.

QUESTION FIVE

Little Miss Bookmark: I saved the most important question for last: what would your perfect day of writing consist of? Get down to the nitty-gritty … are we talking bunny slippers, hot chocolate and some 80’s hair band music blaring in the background?

Alison Bliss: I wish I was one of those authors who are able to write while listening to music, but unfortunately, it’s too much of a distraction for me. I always end up singing off-key and dancing wildly in my chair. So I spend most of my writing days holed up in a quiet room, still in my pajamas or something equally comfortable, while sipping on a glass of ice cold sweet tea. On occasion, I may have a glass of wine while I’m writing, but I’m a lightweight so that usually ends up creating some interesting reading material.

 As the youngest of five girls, Alison Bliss has never turned down a challenge...or been called by the right name. Her writing career may have started out as a dare by one of her sisters, but Alison hasn't put her pen down since.

She grew up on a small island off the Texas Gulf Coast, where most of her childhood vacations consisted of camping or hunting trips to the deer lease. Although she'll always be a Texan at heart, Alison currently resides in the Midwest with her Iowa farm-boy husband and their two sons. With so much testosterone in her home, it's no wonder she writes "girl books."

She's an animal lover, a closet video game enthusiast, and believes the best way to know if someone is your soul mate is by canoeing with them because if you both make it back alive, it's obviously meant to be. Alison's an avid romance reader who enjoys penning the type of books she loves to read most: fun, steamy love stories with heart, heat, laughter, and usually a cowboy or two. As she calls it, "Romance...with a sense of humor."

 

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Primal Instinct by Tara Wyatt

I can't even begin to express how very excited I am to be a part of this Release Day Blitz! I first started reading Tara Wyatt when her first book (Necessary Risk) was getting read to hit shelves. Ever since then, I've been a massive supporter of Wyatt's. If I've spoken to you for even a millisecond about books, you've heard all about this bodyguard series. It's a must read. So grab a copy of Necessary Risk and Primal Instinct along with your favorite chilled beverage and then go sit by the pool. You can thank me later. 

Now keep reading this post so you can get to know your new series before you rush to your nearest bookstore (or Kindle app). You'll get a little taste of what Colt is all about. You'll be left wanting more ... just trust me.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Sweet, baby Jesus ... those arms ...

ROCK YOU ALL NIGHT LONG 

The first time he lays eyes on Taylor Ross in a bar, Colt Priestley does something few men would dare to do. He approaches the world-famous singer, shamelessly flirts with her, and gives her a night in his bed that neither of them will soon forget.

When Taylor's record label hires a bodyguard to keep tabs on the out-of-control rocker, she's less than thrilled to find it's her off-the-charts one-night stand who shows up for the job. She's terrified of letting herself fall for the damaged ex-Army Ranger, and she's determined to push him away. Yet every moment they're together simmers with tension. As the danger from an obsessed stalker mounts, Taylor and Colt are tempted to cross that line again-baring their hearts and souls as well as their bodies-and there's no telling how hot this song will get.

From his little table in the corner, Ronnie adjusted his glasses as he watched Taylor walk out of the bar, her fingers laced with those of the brute who’d intruded on them earlier. He finished the rest of his Coke and slammed the empty glass down. Possessive anger coupled with an almost blind- ing jealousy churned through him. It’d been hard to watch that interaction, and now she was leaving with him? He’d been much happier watching her while she’d been alone, even if she’d looked sad.

He knew he shouldn’t have gone over and talked to her, but he couldn’t help himself. He’d been warned, but no one knew what they were talking about. They didn’t see. They couldn’t see. He loved her, and she loved him. Soon, every- one would know, and everyone who’d called him crazy and obsessed and delusional would fucking see.

Ever since he’d first heard her sing, he’d known he was listening to the future mother of his children.

He dropped a five on the table and pushed his way out of the bar, getting in his car just in time to follow Taylor. He had to. He couldn’t let her go off alone with that brute, un-protected. And if she was going to betray him, he needed to know. He needed to see.

Because Taylor was his. Every part of her. Her gorgeous blond hair, those huge, blue eyes, the long, lean body. The incredible voice. The skilled hands. Her mind. Her soul. Her body.

She belonged to him.

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THE BODYGUARD SERIES

Necessary Risk, #1

Primal Instinct, #2

Chain Reaction, #3 (February 2017)

Tara Wyatt is a contemporary romance author who's been making up love stories ever since she fell head over heels for the Backstreet Boys almost twenty years ago. Winner of the Unpublished Winter Rose Award, Linda Howard Award of Excellence and the Heart of the West Award, Tara lives in Hamilton, Ontario with the cutest dog in the world and a husband that makes all of her heroes look like chumps.

 

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Giveaway, Blog Tour & Book Review: Leave A Mark by Stephanie Fournet

I am so thrilled to be able to bring this tour to you guys! I can't wait to introduce the book to you and I hope that you find it as captivating as I did. Make sure you enter the giveaway at the bottom of the page and then click the banner at the top to take you to all of the blogs on the tour!

Dyed, pierced, and covered in tattoos, Wren Blanchard is the exact opposite of everything Dr. Lee Hawthorne thought he wanted.

His residency is almost finished. With the perfect job, the beautiful house, and the polished girlfriend, he knows he should be happy, yet he isn't.

But once Wren lands in his ER with her sharp tongue and artist’s soul, she leaves a mark on him that just won’t fade.

Wren knows the good doctor is way out of her league. To people like him, she's a circus freak. Besides, she's not the type to get hung up on guys, especially ones with midnight blue eyes—ones who know all about antiques, crack bad jokes, and love Joss Whedon.

No. She doesn't need that.

After all, she has friends, a psychotic cat, and a promising career as one of the best tattoo artists in town. And it’s enough.

Really, it is.

Or it would be if Lee weren’t there every time she turned around.

One kiss seals their fate.

Their attraction is undeniable--but Wren’s past is full of ghosts. Is their bond strong enough for a solid future? Or will their new relationship crumble beneath the weight of all she carries?

This is the first book that I've read by Stephanie Fournet but it WILL NOT be the last. I don't know what I was expecting with this one but it blew all of my expectations out of the water. I don't think that I've read a book that touched me so deeply in a long time. It's not just a romance novel. It's so much more than that. Leave A Mark is a book about sometimes life being so terrible and horrific that when something good happens, you just can't believe it.

The main characters, Wren and Lee, were unlike any characters I've read in a long time. I've always said that I love a perfectly flawed character and they don't come more flawed than the leading lady, Wren. She has some serious demons in her past and while I don't want to share what those demons of abuse are (because who likes it when surprises are spoiled), I will tell you that it turned my stomach to read what she had gone through. I try not to pick up books that are in any way associated with abuse because I just can't handle it but I'm glad that I took a chance on Leave A Mark. The story is more than just that abuse. Anyway, Wren was that perfectly flawed character. You're able to be with her as she relives what has happened and while she tries to free herself from the figurative prison she's voluntarily put herself into. And then Lee. Wonderful, Lee. He was the perfect hero in this story. I don't think that he could have been created in any other way and been as effective as Wren's counterpart. I fell in love with him quite quickly and I anxiously awaited each page he was on. 

The story was completely heart wrenching. It really ran me through the wringer, emotion wise. I would cry and laugh and smile and swoon ... it was the perfect combination of all human emotions. You'll find yourself rooting for the characters and just hoping that things will work out. Because they just have to. This has to end happily, doesn't it? Well, I won't tell you how it ends or how it begins for that matter. Just know this ... Fournet is an author to watch. She's one that you'll want to keep up with for a long time. There's just so much more that I want to share but I can't. I can't ruin that for you. 

I know that I'll remember this book for a long time. It's one that I'll be telling everyone I know about. Everyone needs to read this book to realize how very strong we can be. I wish that Leave A Mark was twice as long as it is because this is one book that I had a hard time putting down. You need to read it. It comes out on April 28th, go ahead and preorder it. You can thank me on the 29th. 

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Available: April 28th, 2016

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Stephanie Fournet, author of Fall Semester, Legacy, and Butterfly Ginger, lives in Lafayette, Louisiana—not far from the Saint Streets where her novels are set. She shares her home with her husband John and her daughter Hannah, their needy dogs Gladys and Mabel, and an immortal blue finch named Baby Blue. When she isn’t writing romance novels, she is usually helping students get into college or running. She loves hearing from fans, so look for her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and stephaniefournet.com.

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