🎶 I still remember when my fingers finally let you go.
When I lost the right to hold you,
The right to claim you,
The right to call you mine.
You're close, and so far,
I lost the right to call you mine.
If only I could kiss you once,
One last time before I become the ghost of your past. 🎶

Call You Mine by Claudia Burgoa

Standalone - The Baker's Creek Billionaire Brothers #4
Release - February 2, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance/friends-to-lovers (although advertised as a romcom)
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 2.5 out of 5 (a couple of vague scenes)
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 367 pages
Publisher - Indie

I’ve been best friends with Beacon since we were kids. We shared everything, even our first kiss.

Now that we’re adults, Beacon’s been cockblocking me on my quest to find Mr. Right. No matter how hard I try to find love, he’s always getting in the way.

My shy, awkward exterior doesn’t help. After all, Beacon’s the cool one, not me—I play the cello at Carnegie Hall, and he’s a heartthrob.

The famous frontman of the band Too Far From Grace. Every woman wants him, every guy...either wants to be like him or wants him too.

I decide to play devil’s advocate, and hire Beacon to teach me the dating ropes. Maybe if we work together, we can find me a guy we both approve of.

Except, moving to Baker’s Creek to work on this experiment isn’t working the way I planned. Seems like he’s doing everything to convince me that I don’t need a man. After all, I have him.

Friends their whole lives, Beacon and Grace are living in constant denial about their love for one another. They're just friends, right? And yet, everything they do, they do for the other. They way they feel, no one else can evoke those emotions. While Beacon knows that Grace is his person, she's extremely slow on the uptake.

He's a famous rock star. She's a renowned cellist. They understand each other in ways that are often unspoken. Their relationship was one to be envied and I enjoyed their moments together. Call You Mine is a story about beautiful music, friendship, family and love. There are many secrets and games of wit, but the romance touched every page.

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Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pAkmkc
Nook: https://bit.ly/3pu1qTP
iBooks: https://apple.co/3t6OFB2
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3iYkzLo

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author.

She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children.

She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she’s the ruler of the house. She’s only partially right.

When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At night, she likes to binge-watch shows with her equally geeky husband.

Ball Peen Hammer by Lauren Rowe

Standalone - Morgan Brothers #3
Release - July 25, 2016
Genre - Romantic Comedy/friends-to-lovers
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through KU
Length - 384 pages
Publisher - SoCoRo Publishing

Keane Morgan wouldn’t return any of my calls or texts, and I was pissed as hell about it. I didn’t want to drive from Seattle to L.A. with the guy any more than he wanted to drive with me, but I had no frickin’ choice in the matter--at least, not if I wanted to use his brother Dax’s coveted parking spot at UCLA.

Okay, so it turned out Keane was objectively gorgeous, and, fine, pretty funny, too. But did he have to be so damned in love with himself? I mean, jeez, the cocky way he flashed those dimples was just so orchestrated. And, honestly, what kind of guy uses the phrase “baby doll” with a straight face? Oh, that’s right: the kind of guy who’s a male stripper.

Yup, the cocky jerk turned out to be Seattle’s answer to Magic Mike, a stripper known as “Ball Peen Hammer”--which meant Keane Morgan was emphatically not the kind of guy I’d ever fall for.

Not. At. All.

No freakin’ way.

Well, until Keane convinced me to fall for him, that is.

Which I did.

Hard.

I went into this story with some pretty high expectations. I was prepared to laugh and laugh and laugh until my belly hurt... and that's exactly what I got! Keane Morgan is ridonkulous!! His ways, his attitude, his wit, his charm, his looks, his everything made me giggle, snort and swoon.

Maddie is starting over in a new city. Moving in with her sister is going to help her accomplish all of her goals. She just has to survive the road trip with Keane to get there. As hilarious as Keane was, I loved how, for the most part, Maddie was able to keep up with his antics. They were able to click so fast (thanks to the author for that) and there was barely any wasted moments.

The romance was a slow build but I think it was better for it. The author did a wonderful job of developing the characters and their connection to each other. I do wish more time was spent on these two as a couple, but I can't always get what I want. There were times that the hilarity overshadowed what was being created, but I was so busy chuckling that all was forgiven.

"... my left ovary just popped out an egg, and I'm not even mid-cycle."

Ball Peen Hammer is a hysterically funny romance featuring a beautiful, oblivious girl and a gorgeous, arrogant, class clown of a boy. He's hilarious, she's adorbsicles. He's not her type. She's not his. Or so they think. One shared road trip later... If you love to laugh really hard (and a lot) while falling in love with amazing characters - can I be an honorary member of the Morgan family? - this book... no this series... is for you!

Available on Amazon and FREE with Kindle Unlimited - https://amzn.to/3qXQwq6

As they exchange information, I make my way to the end of my aisle and loop into theirs, not taking my eyes off Baby Face the whole time. Shit. This dude’s hunting Maddy so hard, it’s making my blood boil. Jesus, he’s going full-throttle rifle on Maddy’s ass right now, completely foregoing his crossbow altogether.
When I reach the two of them in the middle of their aisle, I shuffle past the dude and stand next to Maddy, shoulder to shoulder, and then, on a sudden impulse, put my arm around her shoulders and squeeze her tight, making her wobble in place at the unexpected jolt to her balance. “Hey, sis,” I say, squeezing her like a rag doll. “You totally fell down on your candy-acquiring duties.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” She subtly wiggles out of my grasp. “Brian and I got into this hilarious argument about the best candy bar of all- time, and—”
“And I’m totally right,” Brian says, cutting her off, and they both chuckle at some inside joke.
“No, I’m totally right,” Maddy corrects.
Brian smiles at her. “I’ll actually be down in L.A. in a month. How ’bout I call you then?”
“Great.”
“Nice to meet you, man,” Brian says, looking at me. He nods but doesn’t put out his hand.
I nod back.
Brian strolls away, buys a Snickers bar and a can of Red Bull, and leaves with a little wave to Maddy.
The minute he’s out the door, Maddy takes a giant step away from me, her face etched with annoyance. “What was that?” she asks.
“What?”
“That weird thing you just did?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Maddy puts on an exaggerated scowl, like she’s Hulk Hogan eying an opponent. “’Hey, Brian,’” she says in a low voice, clearly intending to imitate me but sounding more like Arnold Schwarzenegger imitating Maddy imitating me. “’I’m Maddy Milliken’s bodyguard and I’m going to beat you the hell up now,’” she adds.
“What are you talking about?” I say, chuckling.
Maddy pauses, assessing me, and finally shrugs. “Nothing. I guess I imagined it.”
“Imaged what?”
“Your weird… I dunno… vibe.”
“Oh, well, yeah. I was worried about you.”
“Worried about me? I was standing in a minimart, buying candy. Pretty low-risk activity, I’d say.”
“Uh, you absolutely were not standing in a minimart, buying candy—you totally fell down on that job, dude. You were standing in a minimart, getting picked up by a douche. And second of all—”
“What?”
Shit. What the fuck am I doing? I’ve got to stop this shit right now. “Don’t get riled up, baby doll,” I say in my most soothing voice. “All I’m saying is you took so damned long in here, I started thinking maybe the store was getting robbed or you’d fallen into the toilet or something.”
Maddy twists her mouth. “Brian didn’t seem the least bit douchey to me.”
I shrug.“What gave you the impression he’s a douche?”
“Just a figure of speech. So are you gonna do the job I hired you to do or not?” I motion to the candy rack. “‘Cause based on your performance thus far, you’re totally fired.”
“And I wasn’t getting ‘picked up,’” Maddy says, her tone full of indignation. “Brian’s brother goes to UCLA. Can’t I talk to a helpful, nice guy without it being some sort of a sleazy pick-up?”
“Sure you can. However, in this instance, you were talking to a helpful, nice guy who was picking you up so he can bone the living fuck outta ya.”
“Keane.” Maddy’s cheeks burst with color. “Don’t say that. Oh my god. You’re insane. Brian was just being helpful, that’s all.”
“Yeah, so he can bone the living fuck outta ya.”
“Stop saying that. Please. It’s offensive and absolutely not true. This topic of conversation is officially over.”

USA Today and Internationally bestselling author Lauren Rowe lives in San Diego, California, where, in addition to writing books, she performs with her dance/party band at events all over Southern California, writes songs, trains her new puppy, Ruthie and spends time with her wonderful family, and narrates audiobooks.

Why does he hate me? And, at the same time, why do I fascinate him? Conversely, why do I seem to have a pull toward him?

The Revelation of Light and Dark by Sawyer Bennett

Chronicles of the Stone Veil #1
Release - February 9, 2021
Genre - Urban Fantasy
Dual POV - Finley 1st person/Carrick 3rd person (his pov was sparse)
Heat - none
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 252 pages
Publisher - Big Dog Books, LLC

I always knew I was different.

From a young age, my mind has been plagued with things only I could see. Some hauntingly beautiful, others completely terrifying. Never knowing if these visions were real or just hallucinations, I learned how to lock them down and ignore them. I learned to take solace in the relative anonymity of city life and find peace in the rainy days my city of Seattle is known for.

But just when I think my life is getting on track and my dreams are achievable, a moment of weakness causes me to learn a hard and fast lesson.

My entire existence has been a lie.

Now I’m faced with a new reality that’s as implausible as it is fantastical. Filled with realms and veils, light and dark, fae and daemons, gods and angels—things I don’t understand but am forced to acknowledge. It doesn’t help that the man teaching me about my unique gifts is the gorgeously handsome Carrick Byrne, one of Seattle’s richest and most powerful men. He intimidates, annoys, and intrigues me all at the same time. I don’t trust him and yet there’s no one else to help me.

No longer certain who to put my faith in, what to believe, or how I fit into it all, one revelation is clear…

The world as I know it will never be the same again.

The Revelation of Light and Dark is book one of the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series and is best enjoyed if read in series order.


What is with that cliffy??? I need A Discovery of Secrets and Fate in my hands pronto!!

Finley is a woman with a particular set of skills - she can see beyond the veil. What does that even mean? Well, she seems to be the only human who can see past the glamour of the fae. Light fae, dark fae and daemons alike aren't safe from her unearthly talents. But what is she to do with them? And how does Carrick factor into everything? He seems to be the only one who has an inkling of what is going on with her. Is he helping her for altruistic reasons or is something bigger at play?

As the first volume in the Chronicles of the Veil series, The Revelation of Light and Dark was steeped in mystery and magic. From the creatures that exist among us to the worlds created around us, I am now left more questions than answers. And Carrick? He's got to be the biggest mystery of all. His enigmatic character leaves with the impression of confidence, arrogance, competence, honor and determination. I am so infinitely intrigued by this man and I'm looking forward to learning all there is to know about him.

Sawyer Bennett has created such an engrossing introduction to this new series and I'm absolutely hooked!

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My other thoughts (the ones I won't include in my review) are hidden in a spoiler below. Just some rants and frustrations...

Show/hide spoiler

Amazon * Nook * Kobo * Apple * Google

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

Happy Weekend! As I try to do every week, I've put together a list (scoured Amazon) of the latest sales and freebies. Again, all books are under $2 and really it doesn't get any better than that. I hope something here inspires you! 💙💙 Please Note: this list may be missing some (I only recommend authors I've actually read or plan to read) and it's obviously not in any particular order. For more sales & freebies (because they might still be on sale or free), CLICK HERE and Happy Hunting!

Stolen by Alison Aimes

Standalone
Release - June 1, 2020
Genre - SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 340 pages
Publisher - Orchid Publishing

He’s a half-Martian Warlord. Savage, dominant, and dangerous—and now he’s on the hunt. For her.

Deception is a way of life for desperate thief Aurora Blake. Her sole purpose is to snatch enough jewels to escape her vicious stepfather, the powerful head of the corrupt Earther Corporation.

And the fierce Warlord she frames for her crimes? He's the last complication she needs.

She never expects to cross his path. Or to burn so hot after watching from the shadows as his rough commands bring exquisite pleasure to another female.

But Aurora's expectations don't matter when the Warlord wants her for himself. He won't stop until he's claimed her as his obedient mate.

Can she survive whatever he has in store once he discovers she's stolen far more than his barbarian heart?

Stolen is a sexy, standalone Alien Alpha Romance full of danger, betrayal, love, and the kind of epic steam that will have you flipping the pages fast!

Amazon * Nook * Kobo * iBooks

I can obey too, DaKar! I can so freaking obey!!

The year is 9094 and what is left of Earth is unrecognizable. After many wars, all that's left of what we call home is protected by a dome. The people of Earth are divided - the Élithe and the others. DaKar was the son of a powerful member of the council that rules over everyone. He was also half-Martian, seen and treated as an Outer World freak. He was abused and tormented for his half blood, surrounded by monsters who believed themselves somehow above him. Years later, after returning to his true home and becoming the man he was always meant to be, he arrives back on Earth to take his inheritance and finally shake things up in the oppressive culture that was propagated by the wealthy.

A chance 'meeting' when he was just a boy created a connection between DaKar and Aurora. She was Élithe and supposed to be untouchable. But DaKar isn't one for rules and Aurora can't deny what is quickly growing between them. However, she has a secret she cannot tell. When DaKar's honor is called into question, the one person he would never suspect is also the person responsible for his predicament. However, there is more at work here and I loved all of the moving parts the author introduced.

While I'm not the biggest fan of how this story reached its climax or its ending, I enjoyed the journey to get there. It was so much fun to watch all of the minor characters go about their business, gossiping, griping, and generally being pains in the behind. I was also entertained by everything about DaKar and his experiences, both as a boy and as a man. I loved the way his mind worked and I would have been happy to spend more time with him. Aurora wasn't very impressive. I get that her being a liar and a thief were meant to feature heavily in the plot, but she didn't do herself any favors.

After being introduced to this author's work with Ruthless King, I'm making it my mission to read all of her books!

Alison Aimes is the award-winning author of the sexy sci-fi romance series the Condemned as well as the sizzling contemporary romance Billionaire Bad Boys collection. A sci-fi fanatic with a PhD in Modern history, she’s an all-over-the-map kind of woman with a love for dramatic stories and great books, no matter the era. Now, she’s creating her own stories full of intrigue and passion, but always with a happy-ever-after ending. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two kids, and dog. When not in front of the computer, she can be found hanging with family and friends, hiking, trying to turn herself into a pretzel through yoga, listening to a fabulous TED talk, or, last but not least, sitting on the couch imagining her characters’ next great adventures.