Tuesday, April 30, 2019

More Than Tempt You

MORE THAN TEMPT YOU BANNER.jpg
More Than Tempt You, an all-new, sexy standalone from New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black is available now!
05 MTTY eCover highres.jpg
I romanced her for revenge…but what if she’s not the enemy after all?
I’m Clint Holmes. I was an ambitious guy with a busy life and a growing business. Sure North Dakota wasn’t a tropical paradise, but I was happy enough—until tragedy struck. Now the only thing that matters is finding the person responsible and making her pay. But Bethany Banks is a Harvard-educated shark used to swallowing her enemies whole while playing dangerous corporate games. How can a blue-collar oil man like me possibly beat her?
The moment I lay eyes on my beautiful nemesis, the answer is obvious. I seduce her.
On Maui, where she’s fled, I get to know the man-eater who caused my family so much pain…only to find she’s not the brazen ballbuster I assumed. She’s skittish, secretive, vulnerable. For some reason, my instinct is to protect her. I can’t abandon my plan…but I can’t stop wanting her. Night after night, I pry her open with my touch until I’m drowning in our passion. Soon, I’m questioning everything, especially the fine line between love and hate. But when the past comes back to wreak vengeance and the truth explodes, can I prove that I’m more than tempted to love her forever?
MORE THAN TEMPT YOU-NA.jpg
Download your copy today!
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2sUZoAu
Excerpt:
“Can one of you keep an eye on Beth? She’s getting hit on a lot, which I told her to expect. But one creepy guy who was here last night is here again today. He seems awfully determined.” “The one in the loud Hawaiian shirt with the matching personality?” my buddy asks. “That one. He parked his ass in her station as soon as we opened. He’s been messing with her ever since.” “I’ll take care of it,” I chime in. First, when I bartended on the side in the past, I saw a lot of the girls struggle with dirtbags who refused to understand that no means no. Second, coming to her rescue will be a great way to meet Bethany and start gaining her trust. I refuse to think about how excited my libido is to spend time with her. “Thanks, Clint.” With that, Andy dismisses us. Ash and I file down the hall. My buddy laughs. “You in the role of Bethany’s protector. Oh, the irony…” “Hey, I’m not out to hurt her. I just want justice. I have no doubt she helped to swindle those people, so she deserves to pay as the law provides.” “Fair enough. But, um…she clearly flips your switch. How are you going to keep your paws off her?” Bethany Banks turning me on visually is fucking inconvenient. I’m sure that once I start talking to the woman, her personality will quickly turn me off. “I’ll work it out.” “Ready for the madhouse?” I follow Ash behind the bar. “Let’s do it.” It takes me less than ten minutes to learn the ropes. Then Ash introduces me to the other waitress on duty, Montana. She’s a sultry brunette with dark eyes, golden skin, and big tits. Honestly, she’s usually my speed in women. And yet as we’re chatting and she’s flirting, my gaze keeps straying to Bethany. What is it about her? She’s beautiful, but what else? Is it her aloofness? Maybe. I want to figure her out so I can understand why a brilliant woman, surely capable of making her own fortune, would help her father fleece people. The angry part of me wants to grasp how she managed not to get caught. Mostly, I fear the attraction is chemical and, regardless of what logic tells me, I want to nail her. When Montana jaunts off with a wink. Ash pulls me aside. “Are you that rusty? Montana would totally do you, and you blew her off.” I know, and the fact I’m not interested annoys me. “I’m not here for sex. Introduce me to ‘Beth’ and let’s get this farce going.” As we approach, she sets a beer down in front of a guy who’s fortyish in a Hawaiian shirt—like a lot of the tourists here. He eyes her with excruciating intensity. She meets his gaze with an arched brow raised. My gut tells me she’s not only not interested, but she’s silently rebuffing him. Mug delivered, Bethany turns to leave. The man grips her wrist hard, his muscles flexing, veins popping, knuckles white. When she winces and tries to wriggle free, he clamps tighter and stands, jerking her toward him. Fuck that. Even if Bethany Banks is guilty of a multitude of sins, she doesn’t deserve to be manhandled by this jerk against her will. I barge my way between them, shoving her behind me. “Do we have a problem here, sir?” Fury pinches his mouth. He narrows his eyes. “This has nothing to do with you. Butt out.” “You don’t have permission to maul the staff. I’m going to have to ask you to keep your hands to yourself or leave.” “Do you have your head so far up her twat that you don’t see she’s a fucking bitch?” The guy scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Yeah, and you deserve everything you get when she chews you up and spits you out.” With that, the asshole tosses down some money and starts to walk away. I’m furious. In part because he accused me of wanting her when I do. But mostly I’m pissed on Bethany’s behalf. “That was uncalled for. You’re not welcome back here unless you apologize to her.” He grits his teeth, upper lip curling up with contempt as he turns to Bethany. “Fine. A thousand apologies.” The douche doesn’t mean a word of that, and I want to pound his face. No, I’m not looking to become Bethany’s knight in shining armor. But this kind of guy always grates on my nerves because he thinks he can treat all women like trash, and the only thing that matters less than them are their feelings. I hate pricks like him. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything else right now without ramping up the incident, instigating a fight…and probably getting fired. Instead, once he leaves, I turn to Bethany. I’m pissed all over again when I see she’s gone tense, as if she’s trying to hold herself together, and sporting a big red handprint around her small wrist. “You okay?” She nods. It’s shaky at first, then she drags in a steadying breath. “Yeah. He might be the first to think he can demand something more than a drink. But like Andy said, he won’t be the last. I’ll get used to it. Thanks for stepping in. I’m Beth.” When she holds out her hand, I have to admit I’m impressed by her backbone. I’ve seen new waitresses shrink, cry, and ultimately quit when confronted with a customer that vile. Bethany simply picked herself up and now looks determined to carry on. “You’re welcome. I’m Clint. It’s my first day.” I shake her hand. We touch. Heat flares and rolls through me, instant and scorching. If I wanted to fuck her before, it’s nothing compared to the lust burning me now.
About Shayla:
SB-BioPage cropped v3.jpg
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than sixty novels. For nearly 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 eight 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.
Connect with Shayla:

More Than Tempt You

MTTY - RB banner.jpg
More Than Tempt You, an all-new, sexy standalone from New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black is available now!
05 MTTY eCover highres.jpg
I romanced her for revenge…but what if she’s not the enemy after all?
I’m Clint Holmes. I was an ambitious guy with a busy life and a growing business. Sure North Dakota wasn’t a tropical paradise, but I was happy enough—until tragedy struck. Now the only thing that matters is finding the person responsible and making her pay. But Bethany Banks is a Harvard-educated shark used to swallowing her enemies whole while playing dangerous corporate games. How can a blue-collar oil man like me possibly beat her?
The moment I lay eyes on my beautiful nemesis, the answer is obvious. I seduce her.
On Maui, where she’s fled, I get to know the man-eater who caused my family so much pain…only to find she’s not the brazen ballbuster I assumed. She’s skittish, secretive, vulnerable. For some reason, my instinct is to protect her. I can’t abandon my plan…but I can’t stop wanting her. Night after night, I pry her open with my touch until I’m drowning in our passion. Soon, I’m questioning everything, especially the fine line between love and hate. But when the past comes back to wreak vengeance and the truth explodes, can I prove that I’m more than tempted to love her forever?
MORE THAN TEMPT YOU-NA.jpg
Download your copy today!
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2sUZoAu
About Shayla:
SB-BioPage cropped v3.jpg
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than sixty novels. For nearly 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 eight 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.
Connect with Shayla:

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Dangerous Magic Announcement

DM-BANNER.jpg
Dangerous Magic, an all-new cozy mystery from New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart writing as Evie Hart, is coming May 16th!
PAPERBACKCOVER-1.jpg
It’s not every day you have to return to your hometown to bind your borderline-poltergeist grandmother to the family property.
Unfortunately, today is that day for Avery Thorn.
All Avery wants is to report the binding to the Witch Council so she can fulfill her obligation, but finding a dead body and the Head of the Council on the brink of death isn’t in her plan.
Especially when she’s pegged as the number one suspect.
Now, it’s down to Avery and her cousins—and her sassy feline familiar—to figure out who tried to murder the Head of the Council. Magically bound to find the culprit, the last thing she needs is the new detective getting under her toes.
Unfortunately for her, she finds herself colliding with the hot cop more than she wants. And since her familiar hates him, it’s not always pleasant.
New magic and a devastating tragedy threaten to derail their investigations—but not quite as much as the person who isn’t happy they’re involved…
DANGEROUS MAGIC - NEW
Sign up here to join the release tour for Dangerous Magic: https://forms.gle/CQpiQsoAzDQWsLWp8
About Evie
Evie Hart is the cozy mystery writing alter-ego of New York Times bestselling author, Emma Hart.
Evie was born when her love of paranormal cozy mysteries jumped from her Kindle to the page. The Haven Lake Mystery series is her first foray into the paranormal cozy world and begins with DANGEROUS MAGIC.
Connect with Evie
Stay up to date with Evie by joining her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/2Gw3Jkg
Join Eve’s Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2vigSbl

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Junk Mail Review Stop


Junk Mail, a hilariously sexy standalone by New York Times bestselling author is live and available everywhere.


It all started with a sexy selfie. 🍆

A deliciously naughty, tell-everyone-you-know read!

About Junk Mail

It all started with a sexy selfie.

Texted to the wrong number.

Oops.

Not my finest moment—but I have nothing to be ashamed of.

She thought I was no better, and I quote, than the knuckle-dragging douche-bags she was never dating again.

It was a stupid dare from a girl I’d met online, but since she’d given me a fake number, I didn’t feel bad that my interests were suddenly focused elsewhere—on the fiery and sharp-tongued, Peyton that I found myself sparring with over text for the rest of the evening.

The following day, my case of mistaken identity came back to bite me in the banana.

When I strolled into the office, I was introduced to Peyton as the new client I needed to win over. The Peyton , in case you're not tracking.

And let’s just say she had my full attention.

Brains? Check.

Beauty? Oh yeah.

And the best part? She hated me on sight.

Dear God, do I love a challenge.


Let the games begin.

Buy Now

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Google Play | Audio

Add to Goodreads

 
This book was great! I was laughing pretty much the entire book. The writing was spot on and realistic and the characters entranced you with their story. Kendall Ryan has another fantastic book on her hands and I highly recommend reading it.

About Kendall Ryan

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than three dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than 70 times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons. Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras. Subscribe to the newsletter: www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter/

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Junk Mail Release Day Blitz


Junk Mail, a hilariously sexy standalone by New York Times bestselling author is live and available everywhere.


It all started with a sexy selfie. 🍆

A deliciously naughty, tell-everyone-you-know read!

About Junk Mail

It all started with a sexy selfie.

Texted to the wrong number.

Oops.

Not my finest moment—but I have nothing to be ashamed of.

She thought I was no better, and I quote, than the knuckle-dragging douche-bags she was never dating again.

It was a stupid dare from a girl I’d met online, but since she’d given me a fake number, I didn’t feel bad that my interests were suddenly focused elsewhere—on the fiery and sharp-tongued, Peyton that I found myself sparring with over text for the rest of the evening.

The following day, my case of mistaken identity came back to bite me in the banana.

When I strolled into the office, I was introduced to Peyton as the new client I needed to win over. The Peyton , in case you're not tracking.

And let’s just say she had my full attention.

Brains? Check.

Beauty? Oh yeah.

And the best part? She hated me on sight.

Dear God, do I love a challenge.


Let the games begin.

Buy Now

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Google Play | Audio

Add to Goodreads

 

About Kendall Ryan

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than three dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than 70 times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine. She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons. Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras. Subscribe to the newsletter: www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter/

Monday, April 22, 2019

That Forever Girl Cover Reveal

USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn’s second book in the Getting Lucky series brings heart, humor, and heat back to Port Snow. There are two little words every small-town man dreads: She’s back. Harper Sanders, the girl who was supposed to be my forever, has returned to Port Snow, Maine, for good—and she’s bringing back memories of our shared past. We once had a bright future together, but when tragedy struck, I threw it all away and pushed her out of my life. People in our small town think I’m cursed, but I know better. I did it all to myself. And now she’s creating a life of her own in the place where we first fell in love. I can’t fight my feelings for her—or the strong attraction that keeps pulling us together. But after all this time, can she forgive the past and fall in love with me all over again? Everyone hopes to find that forever girl…I just hope I haven’t lost mine for good. COMING AUGUST 27TH!!! THAT FOREVER GIRL Pre order your copy here: https://amzn.to/2Xefh2c ABOUT THE AUTHOR: USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book. M_Quinn_photo Facebook | Follow on Goodreads | Website | Amazon Author Page | Instagram | Follow on BookBub

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Junk Mail Excerpt Reveal






JUNK MAIL
By Kendall Ryan
Release Day: April 23


About the Book
It all started with a sexy selfie.

Texted to the wrong number.

Oops.

Not my finest moment—but I have nothing to be ashamed of.

She thought I was no better, and I quote, than the knuckle-dragging douche-bags she was never dating again.

It was a stupid dare from a girl I’d met online, but since she’d given me a fake number, I didn’t feel bad that my interests were suddenly focused elsewhere—on the fiery and sharp-tongued, Peyton that I found myself sparring with over text for the rest of the evening.

The following day, my case of mistaken identity came back to bite me in the banana.

When I strolled into the office, I was introduced to Peyton as the new client I needed to win over. The Peyton , in case you're not tracking.

And let’s just say she had my full attention.

Brains? Check.

Beauty? Oh yeah.

And the best part? She hated me on sight.

Dear God, do I love a challenge.

Let the games begin.


Excerpt: “Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of this, shall we?”

Nuts?
Seriously, Hanson? Of all the words in the English language, you choose nuts?
But hey, on the plus side, she hasn’t seen the boys, just their leader.
Even so, I need to keep this meeting above the belt, including my own damn thoughts. I offer Peyton another apologetic smile. Time to get this deal back on track.
“Want to tell me more about your company?”
“I do. I really do.”
Her tone shifts instantly when she mentions her business, making me even more keen to hear her pitch.
I smile. A perfect, professional smile, as I cross my legs and fold my hands in my lap. I’m a motherfucking gentleman, not a junk-shot-sending caveman. “I want to hear all about it, Peyton.”
The only way to get past this mixup is to focus on business.
Not on her pretty face.
Not on those gorgeous eyes.
And definitely not on that dark hair I want to wrap around my fist and yank on it hard.
Four fucking months . . . that’s what’s wrong with my libido. It’s not operating in its normal overdrive. No, today, it’s at fucking warp speed. This is what happens when your own hand becomes your closest companion.

  

About Kendall Ryan

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than three dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 2.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world.
Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than 70 times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.

She lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras.

Subscriber to the newsletter: http://www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter/






Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Breaking Without You Blog Tour

About BREAKING WITHOUT YOU

Available April 16, 2019
From NYT bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan, comes a brand new series where second chances don’t come often, and overcoming an unexpected loss means breaking everything you knew.
I fell for Cameron Connolly at the wrong time. And when he left, I thought my life was over. But then, after the worst happened, I truly understood what that phrase meant. Now, he’s not ready for a second chance, and I’m not offering one. Though given that our families have been forced together after losing one of our own, I know there’s no turning back. Not this time. Not again. Not when it comes to Cameron.
~~
I never wanted to hurt Violet Knight, but there were reasons I had to leave all those years ago—not that she'd believe me if I told her what they were. I not only left her, I also left my foster brothers. Honestly, I didn’t want to come back to Denver to help run my father’s failing brewery. But when it comes to my brothers, I know I’ll find a way to make it work. Perhaps I’ll even earn Violet’s forgiveness and face the connection we both thought long forgotten in the process. Because I wanted her then, but now I know I need her. I just hope she needs me.

Get your hands on BREAKING WITHOUT YOU:

Add BREAKING WITHOUT YOU to your Goodreads shelves!
 

My thoughts: I knew this book was going to be hard to read because of how emotional it was. The series name, Fractured Connections, described the relationship between the main characters perfectly. The book opened in such a way that I was almost tearing up, and I knew it would only grow from there. The emotions that Carrie Ann Ryan is able to convey with words blows me away. She can bring me to tears at the drop of a hat and then remind me why life is worth living in the next paragraph. Violet and Cameron's story is one that I highly recommend reading, but know that it is a deeply emotional story that will break you a little bit. 

About Carrie Ann Ryan

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Just A Taste Release Day Launch

Today we have the release blitz for Just a Taste by Shannyn Schroeder! I am so excited to share this sexy new romance with you—check out the release festivities and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: Just a Taste

Author: Shannyn Schroeder

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: O’Leary’s, Book 4

About JUST A TASTE:

Grief has brought them together again—will love open the door to their future? When it’s an O’Leary in the picture, finding out is just part of the adventure…   Carmen Delgado is left reeling when her father dies. Taking care of him has been her sole purpose for so long, she’s forgotten what it’s like to have dreams of her own. And with steady, sexy Liam O’Leary inheriting a share in her dad’s successful food truck, Carmen is suddenly free to explore her life’s possibilities. She never expected Liam to provide the kind of temptation she’s not sure she can resist…     A talented chef, Liam O’Leary has been itching to open his own restaurant for years—and the death of his mentor is a reminder that time passes too quickly. Gus’s Taco Taxi isn’t exactly what he dreamed of, but he can’t desert Gus’s daughter. Working side by side is an unexpected pleasure—and grownup Carmen is alluring in all new ways. Is love on the menu—or will old fears and insecurities drive them apart?

Get Your Copy Today:

Kindle | Nook | Apple | Kobo

Exclusive Excerpt:

He entered the house and looked around. People packed the entire living room. He stood still for a moment, allowing the air of the room to warm him. He studied the faces and realized he didn’t know anyone. No one approached him, but many looked in his direction with open interest. Then he spotted Carmen. She bustled around, taking plates and delivering coffee to older men and women around the room. He crossed to her and followed until she went into the kitchen. He waited in the doorway. The kitchen was empty of guests. She put the dishes in the sink and then braced her arms on the counter and released a breath that shuddered through her. Guilt poked at him. He was interrupting a private moment and he should leave, but his feet wouldn’t listen. He cleared his throat. “Carmen?” She straightened slowly before turning to face him. A slow smile formed on her face. “Liam.” He hadn’t been sure she would remember him. “How are you holding up?” She lifted her shoulders in answer. The question was dumb. That was one of the worst parts of dealing with people after his father had died. The dumb questions from people. “Here.” He held the flowers out to her. “I know it doesn’t help or ease the pain in any way, but I couldn’t come here empty-handed.” “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” She took the vase from him and looked for a free space on the counter. The entire kitchen table and the length of the counter held trays and bowls of food. The smells made his mouth water even though he wasn’t hungry. “Can I get you something to eat?” she offered after she stashed the flowers in the corner near the refrigerator. “No. Can I help with some of this? Do something for you? You look like you have your hands full with all of your guests.” He removed his jacket and hung it on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, prepared to help. She blinked a couple of times. “Uh… In all honesty, I’ll probably end up throwing most of this out. There’s just too much.” She turned in a circle. “Coffee. I need to make more.” Liam moved forward. The girl looked dead on her feet. How could her family not see this? He pulled a chair out from the table. “Sit. I’ll make it.” “No, it’s okay.” “Carmen, sit down. Take a break and relax for a minute.” While not harsh, his tone was firm and she sat. He remembered when Gus’s wife, Inez, died and the house had been filled like this. Gus loved having the family here, but Carmen had hidden in the kitchen, overwhelmed. Liam had joined her then too. He moved around the kitchen making coffee and then washed the dishes that were in the sink. “You don’t have to do that, Liam.” “I know. I like to feel useful. And I don’t think anyone in your family wants to chat me up.” He rinsed a dish and put it in the drain. “I came here to see you, Carmen. I don’t know anyone else. Your dad was my friend.” He heard her hiccupping breath. When he turned, he expected to see her crying, but she just stared off at nothing. Drying his hands quickly, he squatted in front of her. “What do you need, Carmen? I watched you run around here, taking care of everyone. What can I do for you?” Her focus shifted until her eyes met his. So much sadness. He wanted to wrap her in a tight hug, but they had never had that kind of relationship. They’d had a teasing, laughing one with minimal contact. And that had been years ago. “Could you take the coffee into the living room? I just need a few minutes.” He patted her knee before rising. “Take all the time you need.”

About Shannyn Schroeder:

Shannyn Schroeder is the author of the O’Leary series and the For Your Love series, contemporary romances centered around large Irish-American families in Chicago and the Hot & Nerdy series about nerdy friends finding love. Look for her new series – The Dating Challenge in 2019. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing, she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies.  

Connect with Shannyn:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Book + Main Bites

 

Monday, April 15, 2019

My Best Friend's Mardi Gras Wedding

BBFMW - BT banner.jpg

My Best Friend’s Mardi Gras Wedding, an all-new sexy standalone in the Boys of the Bayou series from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!

MyBestFriendsMardiGrasWedding300
Josh Landry is one of the hottest bartenders in New Orleans. He’s shown many a female tourist that things are definitely big and easy down here.
And he’s now been celibate for a year. Because he finally met her.
Yes, her. The One.
But, after nothing more than a hot goodnight kiss and a promise to meet up again next year if they’re both still interested, she went home to Iowa.
It’s been a long year.
But now it’s Mardi Gras again and he’s ready for his happily ever after.
If she shows up.
***
Oh, she shows up. For her best friend’s wedding.
But Tori is a terrible bridesmaid because all she can think about is her knight-in-shining-Mardi-Gras-beads from last year.
Well, and because she accidentally lays a hot kiss on her BFF.
Aka, the groom.
Unfortunately, no one believes that it was a case of mistaken identity. So, now she has to convince everyone she has no intention of ruining the wedding. She’s going to need a crazy-about-her boyfriend ASAP. Even if he’s just faking it.
Well there’s only one other person she knows in Louisiana...
Josh is all in. In fact, he’s thrilled. And he’s not faking anything.
But the groom isn’t faking his sudden case of cold feet either.
And now Tori might have a choice to make.
BBFMW - AN
Download your copy today!
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2TXbuo0
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2WWEVIT
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2BRrdPo
My thoughts: Tori was a great person! I loved how she handled one heck of a sticky situation (which I was able to predict based on the jealousy of the bride). Josh was a fantastic guy. He fell for Tori hard and fast, and when she wasn't sure about him, he waited for a year for her. He knew what he wanted and once these two reconnected their chemistry ignited. This book had plenty of humor and I loved reading it. I devoured this story in less than 24 hours and am eagerly awaiting the next in this series. 

Excerpt:

Thirty minutes earlier, two blocks away… Tori was supposed to be the Best Man. If she was, she would be having drinks at some place called Trahan’s right now. Tori didn’t even care what they served there, only that it would be off Bourbon Street. And she’d be talking to Andrew and his friends. And not babysitting Paisley and her friends. All of whom made Tori want to stab her eardrums with the tiny colored plastic swords that were skewered through the pineapple chunks at the top of their drinks. Correction—all of whom made her feel like someone was stabbing her eardrums with tiny plastic swords. The subjects of their conversations were bad enough—how could anyone talk this much about shoes?—but the talking also never stopped. And then there was the giggling. And the squealing. Holy shit, the squealing. It got louder and more frequent the more of the icy, pink and green drinks the girls consumed. Andrew owed her big time. It was interesting that the guy from out of town was celebrating off Bourbon, while the girl who had grown up in New Orleans was the one getting shit-faced on the infamous party street. Paisley struck Tori as more the mint-juleps-on-the-front-porch type than the doing-shots-and-flashing-her-boobs-for-beads type. But she’d become that second type tonight. On Tori’s watch. Thanks, Andrew. At least he was going to be the one dealing with Paisley’s puking later. And her hangover tomorrow. Tori couldn’t imagine the Southern princess hungover. Yikes. Tori took a tiny sip of the pink concoction she held. And grimaced. She was a beer girl, when she drank at all. This was, obviously, meant to be consumed quickly and after several other drinks. But this was one of those places on Bourbon. It had the neon-on-steroids lights, the crowds of people, the overpriced-but-loaded-with-liquor drinks in collectible glasses that you’d never want to see again after spending the early morning hours kneeling next to the toilet. What the hell were they doing here? Paisley was a rich girl. Classy. A loud, screeching squeal went up from the herd of girls standing a few feet away and Tori rolled her eyes. Classy-ish. Apparently Paisley didn’t go out partying like this with her friends on a regular basis, and the rum and lights and festive atmosphere were getting to her. And, of course, the fact that people kept pinning dollar bills to her chest. It was a tradition, apparently, that if you saw a bride during her bachelorette party in the Quarter, you pinned money to the little clip she wore on her shirt. Or, in Paisley’s case, the very low-cut, tightly fit, strapless dress she wore. Oh, and then there were the masks. The masks were such a huge part of Mardi Gras that Paisley’s girlfriends had insisted they all wear them tonight. They were meant to obscure your identity and make it easier to just let go and revel in everything crazy and sinful. Paisley’s was a bright pink, glittery thing that matched her dress—including the sequins—and covered everything but her mouth. No one would know she was the daughter of Robert Darbonne, the past and very beloved Mayor of New Orleans and a current United States Senator. It was the main reason that Paisley’s father had agreed to let her take the bachelorette party down to Bourbon tonight. Her mother thought a tasteful cocktail party would be more appropriate. So they were doing that. Too. Tomorrow night. But Paisley’s bridesmaids—minus Tori—had insisted on taking her to Bourbon for a traditional bachelorette party. For better or worse. Paisley had grown up in the Garden District of New Orleans in a real, honest-to-God mansion on St. Charles Street, the only child of her politician father and nationally renowned neurosurgeon mother. Paisley was a princess. At least as far as Tori could tell. She dressed the part with lots of designer labels and flashy styles. She certainly acted the part too, making lots of demands and clearly expecting people to ask “how high” even before she said to jump. She was the most spoiled person Tori had ever met. And she was marrying Tori’s best friend, Andrew. In four days. Tori was in New Orleans, a part of the bridal party for a woman she barely knew and didn’t like, for an entire week-long wedding extravaganza. And the Darbonne family didn’t do “nontraditional” things like letting a woman be the groom’s first attendant. So Tori was the ninth bridesmaid—the last bridesmaid—standing up on Paisley’s side of the aisle. Tori took a bigger drink of the strawberry slush in her hand—and instantly regretted it—as Paisley stuck her chest out for a group of guys to pin bills to her dress and give her congratulations. Though “congratulations” really sounded a lot like “how about I make you wish you were staying single.” Tori wished Paisley was staying single. That was for sure. Not that anyone—especially Andrew—knew that. As far as he knew, Tori was happy for him and his bride-to-be. That was mostly thanks to the fact that Tori and Andrew didn’t often see each other in person. He’d been living in Louisiana and she’d been in Iowa for the past six years. Tori sighed as she thought about how things had changed between them. That was why she’d been so happy that he’d wanted her to be a part of his wedding. “You’re my oldest friend, Tori. You know me in a way no one else does. Of course you need to be a part of my wedding.” Those words were why she’d said yes to standing up at a wedding she didn’t really want to happen. She didn’t have a lot of close friends and none like Andrew, who she’d known since kindergarten and who had always liked her in spite of her weirdness. She missed him. Andrew had grown up next door to her, literally, and she couldn’t remember a time when she’d gone more than a day without talking to him even when they were both at Iowa State. It wasn’t until he’d gone to law school at Tulane that they started to talk less. She’d been in vet school, so they’d both been working hard and the time between phone calls had stretched, sometimes to a couple of weeks at a time. But it had been okay. Mostly. They had texting and Snapchat and Skype. Until he’d met Paisley. She’d swept him off his feet. A political science major, Andrew knew all about Paisley’s father, and the promise of a dinner with the famous, mostly-beloved Louisiana politician who they’d been courting to run for President—yes, of the United States—had been more than enough to get Andrew wrapped around Paisley’s dainty, perfectly manicured finger. He hadn’t come back from that first dinner as the Andrew Tori knew. “Oh my God, Paisley!” Jenna, one of Paisley’s bridesmaids, exclaimed as she finished her drink. “This is the most fun ever!” Tori felt her eye twitching. The girls were loving this because of the attention they were getting. Tori guessed that bachelorette parties always got a lot of attention from the men on Bourbon. Where else could you find entire herds of young, beautiful, tipsy women who were out for nothing but a good time? Oh yeah, pretty much anywhere else in New Orleans on any other day of any other week. Tori almost took another sip of her drink, but then remembered that she hated everything about the slushy pink mix of…whatever. She lowered it and sighed as she watched Paisley look at her phone, grin widely, and then show it to her friends. Andrew had just texted her a photo of him making a kissy face. What the hell had happened to Tori’s best friend? Paisley was exactly the opposite of everything Tori would have expected Andrew to fall for. She spent more time on her hair than Tori spent going from waking up to walking out the door. Paisley had studied early childhood development in college but had no intention of teaching. Or working with kids at all. She was clearly trained and intent on being a politician’s wife. And, maybe worst of all—no, definitely worst of all—Paisley didn’t like animals. She said she was allergic to both dogs and cats, but Tori thought it was really more that she was a terrible person. Tori again lifted her glass, thought for a second about just chugging it so she’d at least have some liquor in her system, opened her mouth, and then thought better of it. She lowered the glass again. Dammit, she wanted a beer. She never thought people were terrible. She didn’t like every person she’d ever met, of course, but mostly she gave people the benefit of the doubt and…avoided them as much as possible. Animals really were superior to people, in almost every sense, and spending her days taking care of everything from cats to cows, and even one alpaca, made Tori exceedingly happy. She watched Paisley’s friends gather around her for a selfie. They didn’t ask her to join in and she had no desire to. She knew that Paisley was putting up with her because of Andrew. No, scratch that. She knew that Paisley absolutely did not want her here. Why Andrew had told Tori that, she had no idea. Why he thought that she and Paisley should hang out tonight, she had no idea. Didn’t Andrew know Tori better than this? The two women had absolutely nothing—other than Andrew, she supposed—in common. That had been painfully clear when Tori had come to visit Andrew for Mardi Gras last year. Things had been tense and cool between the women, and Tori had ended up spending a lot of time alone while Paisley monopolized Andrew as if they didn’t see each other every single day. Of course, that had led Tori to Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday last March, which had led her to Bourbon O, the bar five blocks from where she was right now, which had led her to Josh Landry. So she should probably be grateful to Paisley. Tori sighed again, but happily—maybe wistfully—this time. Tonight was Mardi Gras. The night. The only night she really cared about being in New Orleans. The night she was supposed to meet Josh Landry back at Bourbon O. If she wanted to. If he wanted to. If they were still thinking of each other. And dammit, she wanted to. She was definitely still thinking of him, and when Andrew had announced that he and Paisley were getting married the weekend after Mardi Gras and asked her to come, Tori had immediately decided to come for the festival and stay for the week-long extravaganza that was going to be Paisley Darbonne’s wedding. Not Andrew and Paisley’s wedding. This thing was all about the bride. Most women had one day. Maybe a weekend. Not Princess Paisley. The week before the wedding was filled with activities and meals and tours all designed to make the wedding in her hometown into something of a destination wedding for all of the Iowa guests. Tori hadn’t gotten to New Orleans until today, but she would have waited and shown up on Friday if it wasn’t for Josh Landry. And now she was five blocks away from the place they’d agreed to meet up. Just the fact that Josh had suggested this had been making her heart pound for nearly a year. Whenever she thought of it, anyway. It wasn’t like she thought about him constantly. Just once or twice. Every day. But this kind of stuff didn’t happen in her life. Her life was very…normal. Other than the occasional set of bovine twins or an injured mare, there were very few dramatic flares in Tori’s life. So what the hell was she doing even thinking about running down Bourbon Street to the bar where she’d first met Josh? They’d only spent about six hours together total and that hadn’t even been all at once. She’d sat across the bar from him as he worked for two nights. The first had only been for about an hour. The second had been for five hours. Five hours that had flown by. They’d only talked. And laughed. But, as she was leaving each night, he’d come after her. And kissed her. The best kisses of her life. Seriously. They were easily the best four out of the twenty-three she’d had. And then he’d asked her to come back a year later. After two nights of just talking. And four amazing kisses. That had all been enough to get him to ask her to come back. That was just…wow. And she was right here, after all. On Bourbon Street. On Mardi Gras. She could just pop in and see if he was there. He was maybe even working tonight. “Victoria!” She cringed as Paisley called to her across the bar. Paisley refused to call her Tori, no matter how many times Tori told her to. “Yes?” “You have to go and stall Andrew, okay?” It wasn’t a big place. Why did the girl think she needed to yell like that? Tori moved around the group of people between her and the perky blonde socialite with the hope that if she was standing closer to her, Paisley would lower her voice a little. “Stall him?” Tori asked. “Yeah, the girls and I are heading to the Hustler store,” Paisley said. Loudly. “But we’re supposed to meet them in like ten minutes. I need a little more time.” She winked from behind her pink sequined mask with the tiny bit of tulle attached like a veil to one corner. Well, helping Paisley pick out sex toys or lingerie for her and Andrew was not on Tori’s To-Do list tonight and hell yes, she’d love an excuse to meet up with the guys somewhere besides the craziness of Bourbon Street. She’d enjoyed it last year. It had been a part of the whole I’m-so-not-in-Iowa-anymore whirlwind she’d experienced. But Paisley had insisted that Andrew needed to attend her grandmother’s family dinner. Family only. Left out and pissed off that she’d nearly had to sell a kidney to afford her hotel room on Canal Street, Tori had stubbornly headed to the French Quarter on her own. It was freaking Mardi Gras. She wasn’t going to sit in her hotel room alone. But as soon as she’d stepped out onto the crazy, loud, crowded, holy-crap-there’s-nothing-in-Iowa-like-this street, she’d had a mini panic attack. It wasn’t safe. What the hell was she doing? So she’d ducked into the first place that had no neon in its windows. Bourbon O. She’d taken a seat at the bar and ordered a drink as she pulled her phone out to search for a local taxi company. Then she’d looked up and met Josh Landry’s gaze. He’d grinned at her. And she’d put her phone away. And now, here she was in New Orleans on Mardi Gras again…and irritated on Bourbon because of Paisley again. But if she went and found Josh, he’d make her grateful for the turn of events all over again. She couldn’t help that thought. Her trip to New Orleans had turned out to be amazing last time. Maybe it could be again. “I will definitely go find Andrew,” Tori said, setting her glass down and pulling her phone out to find out where Andrew was. “Oh, they’re on their way to Bourbon O,” Paisley said. “It’s just up the street.” Tori lifted her head and stared at her. She would have had Paisley repeat the name of the bar if the other girl wasn’t completely incapable of talking softly. Tori had not misheard her. Andrew was on his way to the very place Tori wanted to be. “Great. I’ll meet them there.” She tucked her phone into her back jeans pocket, her heart thundering. This was a great chance for a little time with her best friend. She’d come in that morning and had been promptly caught up in getting settled at the plantation—of course Paisley was having her wedding at a plantation—and then heading for Bourbon. Tori and Andrew hadn’t had any alone time just to talk in over a year. Even when they got on the phone together, Paisley was there in the background. So yeah, she and Andrew needed some time alone to catch up and talk. And, yes, Tori needed to hear and see in his eyes that he really wanted to marry Paisley. But she was going to be meeting him at Bourbon O. Where Josh Landry might be working behind the bar. And if he was, and she walked in, he’d think she was there for him. And she would be. She definitely would be. Would he be happy to see her? Shocked? Would he remember her? Suddenly her stomach plummeted down to somewhere around her pinky toe. Why had it never occurred to her that Josh might not even remember her? But that was very possible. The guy met hundreds of people every single weekend. And the guy was obviously a player. What were the chances she was the only out-of-towner that he’d charmed and laughed with? How many times had he used that suggestion to send a woman off with a soft smile and thoughts of how romantic and amazing he was? But dammit…now she couldn’t not go to Bourbon O. Andrew would be there. And even if Paisley hadn’t sent Tori to meet him, she wanted the chance for a few minutes alone with him. In the chaotic sea of people on Bourbon Street. “How long do you think it will take Andrew to get to Bourbon O?” Tori asked Paisley. She shrugged. “Trahan’s is several blocks over, and with this crowd? It could be a while.” She giggled. “But getting up to Hustler is going to take us some time too.” Okay, so it might take Andrew a while. Whereas Tori was just five blocks away. Sure, she’d have to get through the crowd too, but she had a few blocks head start. Which meant, she could pop in there, see if Josh was working, see if he recognized her and if he acted thrilled…or like a serial killer stalker had just shown up…and then duck back out if it was the latter. She could catch Andrew on the sidewalk and talk him into another bar instead. With a deep breath, she stepped out onto the sidewalk and started down Bourbon without another glance at Paisley. It was slow going for sure. Tori scowled as she jerked back to avoid a guy’s elbow and a set of beads flying from somewhere overhead. Then she was hit right in the cheek with a strand of pink beads the color of Paisley’s dress and mask tonight. Tori frowned up at the balcony full of drunk frat guys. No, she wasn’t going to show them her boobs. Or anyone else her boobs. Unless it was Josh Landry.
About Erin Nicholas
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as she’s been reading them. To date, she’s written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as “toe-curling,” “enchanting,” “steamy,” and “fun.” She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters. Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be “shocked” by the sex scenes in her books). ErinNicholas
Connect with Erin
Stay up to date with Erin by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2Gj56oC