From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley comes an all new thrilling romantic suspense guaranteed to have pulses rise, and readers begging for more.
The Girl in the Mist releases January 4th and we have the drop dead gorgeous cover!
Renowned author Delphine Larue needs a haven. A crazed fan has gone over the deep end, and she’s not safe. Her security team has suggested a house by a lake. Secluded. Private. Far away. In a beautiful area of the Northwest close to the sleepy town of Misted Pines. It’s perfect. So perfect, Delphine has just moved in, and she’s thinking she’ll stay there forever.
Until she sees the girl in the mist.
After that, everything changes.
Delphine quickly learns that Misted Pines isn’t so sleepy. A little girl has gone missing, and the town is in the grips of terror and tragedy. The local sheriff isn’t up for the job. The citizens are up in arms. And as the case unfolds, the seedy underbelly of a quiet community is exposed, layer by layer.
But most importantly, girls are dying.
There seems to be only one man they trust to find out what’s happening.
Kristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland,
The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil and Honey series along with several standalone novels. She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over three million books.
Kristen’s novel, Law Man, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award for best Romantic Suspense. Her independently published title Hold On was nominated for RT Book Reviews best Independent Contemporary Romance and her traditionally published title Breathe was nominated for best Contemporary Romance. Kristen’s titles Motorcycle Man, The Will, Ride Steady (which won the Reader’s Choice award from Romance Reviews) and The Hookup all made the final rounds for Goodreads Choice Awards in the Romance category.
Connect with Kristen
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FyJg18 Facebook: https://bit.ly/3hl0A7e Instagram: https://bit.ly/33o8nfv Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ZtoKGz BookBub: https://bit.ly/3bYcTFl Twitter: https://bit.ly/35Kg6rh Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3mftcCt Website: https://www.kristenashley.net Stay up to date by subscribing to her mailing list: https://bit.ly/3mjJiLd
Arranged marriages weren't really a thing in this day and age, were they?
That’s what Beth Thompson thought until her father informed her she was destined for one. And to the last person on the planet Beth would want to marry—her father's right-hand man. Suave and debonair, Marcus may have her father fooled, but Beth saw the monster beneath the surface and wanted no part of that or him.
Too bad her father was the kind of man who got what he wanted at any cost. Giving his only daughter to someone of his choosing would keep a man at the helm and his precious company in the family.
However, Beth would be the master of her own destiny. And after stumbling across a want ad on an Alaskan website, she knew just what that destiny would be.
She couldn't be forced to marry if she were already someone else's wife.
This was a cute read! Polar Opposite was is part of the Polar Bear, Alaska series, which is a series of standalones by all different authors set in the same small town. This book was Beth and Joe's story. Beth is the daughter of a cold business man with some shady dealings who tries to force her to marry his right hand man/protege/smarmy jerk. Instead, Beth must find a way to escape the situation. She finds a website with classified ads and stumbles upon some ads of men seeking wives from a small town in Alaska where they are more men than women. From there she decides to answer an ad by Joe Bennett, because she likes the idea of possibly being Elizabeth Bennett. Joe is a very nice guy and they hit it off over email, with her eventually running away to meet him and get married in Alaska.
I enjoyed this story. The set up was original and I enjoyed the Alaskan setting. I liked this take on the the mail order bride trope. Joe and Beth were sweet together. I especially liked Joe and found him a fun, nice guy. Beth was a little on the too innocent side for my taste. Still, I was happy they got their HEA together. Overall, I did enjoy this an easy, low angst read. I will definitely check out the other books in this series. I look forward to more from Ms. Curtis in the future!
Samantha Young has revealed the cover for A Cosmic Kind of Love!
Releasing: August 30, 2022
Space is the last thing an event planner and an astronaut need in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.
When event planner Hallie Goodman receives party-inspiration material from the bride of her latest wedding project, the last thing she expects to find in the files are digital videos from Darcy's ex-boyfriend. Hallie knows it's wrong to keep watching these personal videos, but this guy is cute, funny, and an astronaut on the International Space Station to boot. She's only human. And it's not long until she starts sending e-mails and video diaries to his discontinued NASA address. Since they're bouncing back, there's no way anyone will ever be able to see them...right?
Christopher Ortiz is readjusting to life on earth and being constantly in the shadow of his deceased older brother. When a friend from NASA's IT department forwards him the e-mails and video messages Hallie has sent, he can't help but notice how much her sense of humor and pink hair make his heart race.
Separated by screens, Hallie and Chris are falling in love with each other, one transmission at a time. But can they make their star-crossed romance work when they each learn the other's baggage?
Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She's been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. Samantha writes adult contemporary and paranormal romance, YA urban fantasy and YA contemporary fiction and is currently published in 31 countries. She resides in Scotland.
Hundreds of women have tried to win Derek Hardiman over, but the only girl he’s loved is nowhere to be found… After ten years in the game Derek Hardiman has been crowned a football prodigy—but success came at the cost of his dorky high school sweetheart, Mara Temple. A decade after she left town, he still can’t imagine marrying someone who isn’t her.
Travelling for most of her twenties, Mara has returned home with a designer wardrobe, a sweet puppy and a new last name. What better to keep her surly ex-boyfriend from recognising her?
When Mara and Derek are thrown back into each other’s lives the obsession that began when they were teenagers returns in full force. Derek can hardly believe the goddess his once-awkward lover has become, and he’s determined win her back. But Mara is determined not to give into the hype surrounding her bachelor superstar ex. Unfortunately, Derek Hardiman has always lived up to the hype. After all, a girl only has one daddy…
Return All is a standalone second chance romance by the critically acclaimed romance author Eve Dangerfield.
This was a really good book! Return All is a second chance love story between high school sweethearts who were seperated when Derrick became a pro-rugby player, leaving Mara behind to deal with a rough time in their small hometown. Now years later, they meet again and everything has changed except for their intense connection to each other. Mara was very hurt by Derrick leaving her behind all those years ago and seeing him again brings up old wounds. But they cant stay away from each other and as they spend time together again, they realize how perfect for each other they are and how they really are meant to be together.
Return All was an enjoyable, easy read with some angst and a super sexy soulmate connection. I really liked Derrick and Mara. There is some Daddy relationship vibes, but it was not overdone or too much age play for me. The story was really good and the characters had lots of delicious layers and depth. I really liked Derrick and Mara's dynamic. Mara was a powerful, rich woman, but only with Derrick she was able to be herself and give up the power to him. I was really happy they got their HEA with each other as they both deserved to be happy.
Overall, I really enjoyed Return All. Derrick and Mara's story was sexy and addicting. I look forward to whatever Ms. Dangerfield comes up with next!
Homecoming King, an all-new holiday romcom from New York Times bestselling author Penny Reid is now live!
Rex “TW” McMurtry’s perpetual single-hood wouldn’t bother him so much if all his ex-girlfriends didn’t keep marrying the very next person they dated, especially when so many of those grooms are his closest friends. He may be a pro-football defensive end for the Chicago Squalls, but the press only wants to talk about how he’s always a groomsman and never a groom. Rex is sick of being the guy before the husband, and he’s most definitely sick of being the best man at all their weddings.
Bartender Abigail McNerny is the gal-pal, the wing-woman, the she-BFF. She’s dated. Once. And once was more than enough. Privy to all the sad stories of her customers, ‘contentment over commitment’ is her motto, and Abby is convinced no one on earth could ever entice her into a romantic relationship . . . except that one guy she’s loved since preschool.
The guy who just walked into her bar.
The guy who doesn’t recognize her.
The guy who is drunk and needs a ride home.
The guy who has a proposition she should definitely refuse.
Meet Abby and Rex today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wwGoZj Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/HCKing Apple Books: https://apple.co/3kkKxdZ Nook: https://bit.ly/3HaU6pp Kobo: https://bit.ly/3H7Usx7 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3dK25MZ Smashwords: https://bit.ly/33rsEEK
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3BXRx6s
Review:
3.75 stars
***
This was a cute book! Homecoming King is the first book in the Three Kings series and is Rex and Abby's story. Rex and Abby were classmates in school from Elementary through High School. Abby had a big crush on him, but he didn't seem to know who she was. After high school, she had a rough time going through a divorce from a conman who landed her in jail and in debt. Now she is a bartender and artist, who is shocked when Rex walks into her bar. He is now a big time, kind of grumpy and silent, professional footbal player. He has a reputation in the press that every woman he dates ends up marrying the next guy she dates after him, wich has earned him the nickname Training Wheels. He hates this reputation. After her meets Abby again, likes her and sees he can trust her, he also sees the opportunity to hire her to marry him to get rid of his reputation. Abby is bitter over her past relationship and has resolved herself to never date again. But she likes Rex and wants to help him, plus she really needs the money to clear her mountainous debt. So she agrees, the two get married and romance ensues.
I actually really liked this book. It felt a little strange reading something by Ms. Reid that wasn't set in Green Valley and had a slightly different feel than the Winston Brother's series. Still, I liked this start to a new series. I enjoyed this story and it's originality. I liked Rex and Abby, especially that she was an artist and crafter. I did think the angst in the book was a little drawn out and the couple could have communicated better, especially the mysterious Rex. But overall, this was a really fun story and I can see lots of potential for other books in this series. I look forward to whatever Ms. Reid comes up with next!
Meet Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator/ publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.
Roman Whitaker is every girl’s best friend. An easy going nice guy, Rome is brilliant and funny. At the age of twenty-two, he’s moving out of his parents’ house for the first time and into off-campus housing with two complete strangers.
No more Mister “Playing it Safe.”
Rome may be wicked smart, but math and science will only get him so far, and they certainly won’t land him a first date with the girl of his dreams.
For that, he’ll get a little unwanted help from his friends—and meddling family members.
YOU NEVER FORGET A FRIENDLY FACE.
Lilly Howard is tired of being taken for granted. After breaking up with her philandering boyfriend, she’s giving up guys and learning to love herself again.
She’s sick of playing nice.
When she bumps into Rome, they become instant friends. When he asks her to be his fake girlfriend to keep his family off his back, she agrees—but only if he’ll return the favor…
Jock Romeo is the sixth book in the Jock Hard series and is Lilly and Roman's story. Lilly meets Roman on her first night at college when they are both hiding out from the crowd at a party. Roman is a studious, cute nerd who still lives at home. Lilly is a college cheerleader with a very pushy, stage-mom of a mother who forces her to do cheer, when she actually hates it and wishes she were an art major. The two meet and have a friendship-type connection but don't see each other again until a few years later. Roman finally decides to leave the nest and moves in with Lilly's best friend and her boyfriend. After they meet again, Lilly and Roman become friends and develop feelings, which leads to romance and a relationship.
I enjoyed this book in general. I did feelt like the story and characters really toed the line between YA and NA. Yes, there are some R rated moments, but only a few really quick ones. The romance and the characters thoughts felt very young to me. Not because they are immature characters, but because they are very inexperienced. I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the characters, nor love. I got "friends who started to like each other" vibes from them. Also, Roman is not a Romeo by any means and he's definitely not a jock. He is a cute nerd. I guess the Jock was supposed to be Lilly, because she's a college cheerleader, but she hated cheerleading and there are no actual cheering scenes on page, practice, games, etc. So I didn't feel like the title fit really. Still, I liked Lilly and Roman in general. They were nice people - timid, shy and sweet with each other. They both had to figure out how to communicate their feelings. I was happy they found a potential first love type relationship with each other. I liked that Lilly was a crafter too.
Overall, I liked Jock Romeo, but didn't completely love it. Still, I do recommend this book to readers who like college romance and sweet, first love stories.
Meet Sara Ney
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced lattes, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
My name is Jake Sheppard and I’m ambivalent about Christmas and the Christmas-themed town I grew up in. But when I find out my late uncle left me an old barn and acres of land, the decision to return home to build my dream golf course is an easy one. Imagine my surprise when I arrive and find out I have a squatter.An incredibly sexy squatter, with wavy blonde hair, green eyes, a free spirit… and a herd of goats.Lexi hates my guts. Apparently evicting a non-paying non-tenant and her goats weeks before Christmas is grounds for war.Except Lexi’s version of war includes flinging her clothing at me and, as it turns out, I might be in way over my head with this girl…
The Bachelor on the Shelf, Book 6
My name is Carter Sheppard and I actually like Christmas and my Christmas-themed hometown of Reindeer Falls. In fact, when I learn I have to return home in order to collect an inheritance—my uncle’s dog—it puts life into perspective for me.Sure, playing professional baseball is great. But it won’t last forever and every player needs a long-term game plan.And I just found mine. Wrapped up in the feisty, bespectacled package of the town librarian.Unfortunately, she thinks I’m a player in all aspects of the word, but I’ve got a plan to win her over. Starting with a fake engagement…Warning: Christmas in Reindeer Falls is more naughty than nice. These stories are over-the-top festive with merrily-ever-afters guaranteed. Novella length for quick holiday binge reading. Enjoy!
Check out my reviews for the books in this collection!
Jana Aston likes cats, big coffee cups and books about billionaires who deflower virgins. She wrote her debut novel while fielding customer service calls about electrical bills, and she's ever grateful for the fictional gynecologist in Wrong that readers embraced so much she was able to make working in her pajamas a reality. Jana’s novels have appeared on the NYT, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists, some multiple times. She likes multiples.
Beard in Hiding, the USA Today bestselling companion novel to the Winston Brothers and Solving for Pies series is LIVE! Penny Reid delivers a heartfelt romantic comedy about two lost souls who find love in the most unexpected way.
Propositioning the Iron Wraiths’ money man seemed like a good idea at the time…
Diane Donner—recently divorced pillar of polite society—is craving danger. She’s tired of playing it safe and she knows just the sexy criminal motorcycle man to proposition for a good time. Problem is, she doesn’t actually know his name.
Jason “Repo” Doe never takes risks. So when the queen of local commerce walks into his club, looking to get risky and frisky, Jason knows the smartest thing to do is save himself a headache while saving the new divorcee from her worst impulses.
But then one thing leads to another, and the memory of just-one-night doesn’t feel like enough.
Theirs is a story with no future, because how can a dangerous criminal win (and keep) a queen?
‘Beard In Hiding’ is book #4.5 in the Winston Brothers series, is a full length contemporary romantic comedy about two lost souls in their 40s, and is a companion novel to the Winston Brothers and Solving for Pie series.
If you want to get the full immersive Green Valley world experience, I recommend reading ‘Truth or Beard,’ ‘Beard Science,’ ‘Engagement and Espionage,’ and ‘Marriage and Murder’ beforehand. ‘Beard In Hiding’ contains spoilers for these four books (in specific).
“Fine.” She lifted her chin. “I want someone to court me.”
And there it was. I continued staring at her, counting the seconds as they ticked by. Why she couldn’t just say, I don’t want you, you’re not good enough for me, I had no idea. Did she think I needed to be let down gently?
Well, now. That would be a first.
“I want dinners and flowers,” she went on. “And picnics and romantic gestures. I don’t want to constantly be making excuses for someone, for their lack of ability or skill or generosity.”
I deadened the needlingly ache behind my ribcage, suffocated thoughts and desires long abandoned. “Diane. You don’t need to say anything else.”
“I don’t?” Her features brightened and she approached the arm of the couch. “You understand what I mean?”
“Yes. You mean you don’t want me.” And that was fine, and it made sense, and I wasn’t going to dwell on it, and now I needed to go.
“What?” she snapped, her head tilting to the side like she needed to inspect me from a different angle. “No! No, you irritating man. Did I say that? That’s not at all what I’m saying.”
“Then what do you mean?” I glanced over her head toward the room’s exit, impatient to leave. I didn’t belong here, and I’d rather be stranded outside in a snowstorm than accept any more of her charity.
“I mean, I want you.”
My eyes cut back to hers and as I waited for the but—because there was always a but—I ignored the tightness seizing my lungs, the hope.
When she kept on looking at me, as though expecting a reaction, I prompted, “But?”
“But nothing.” She placed her hands on her hips, her tone salty, impatient.
What? “There’s always a ‘but.’”
“Fine. Yes. Okay. There is a ‘but.’” Her eyes moved like she might roll them, but stopped when they reached the ceiling. “I want you. But . . . only if you want me the same way.”
I stared at her and that’s all I could do because I was so damn confused.
Meanwhile, she peaked at me, nibbling her bottom lip, looking so goddamn gorgeous in her little nighty.
“Do you . . . want me?” The uncertainty in her voice, the vulnerability, hit low in my stomach.
“Pardon?” I choked out because, was hers a real question? How could she not know how much I wanted her? Hadn’t I just kissed the hell out of her? Hadn’t her breast just filled my palm? Hadn’t I just literally said the words, I want you?
Her tongue flicked out to lick her lips and she stepped fully around the couch, her eyes huge. “I’ve been in a lonely, one-sided romance before. I don’t want that. I want something deep, something meaningful for both people involved. I’m not saying we have to get married. Lord knows, I’ve had enough of marriage to last a lifetime. I don’t think I’ll ever get married again. What I’m talking about is something real, authentic, passionate, but also—above all else—loving. Because what I’ve never had, what I’ve never known, is that.”
“I . . . don’t understand.”
Diane took a deep breath and then said loudly, “I want a relationship,” like the words were a painful confession and the only way she could speak it out loud was by shouting them.
I stared at her for a moment longer before finally asking, “With who?”
Her lips twitched. “With you.”
What? “With me.”
“Yes. But a real one, not just—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—not just sex.”
I barely heard a word she’d said, instead repeating, “With me,” again because the idea was absurd. A relationship with me? Is she crazy?
“Yes. With you. As I’ve said.”
“But . . . Why?”
“What do you mean why?” She frowned. It was severe. “Have you met you?”
Review:3.75 stars*** This was a good book. Beard in Hiding is Diane (Jennifer Winston's mother) and Repo/Jason (Jessica Winston's secret biological father)'s book. We got a glimpse of Diane and Jason's story from Jennifer's perspective in the first two books in the Solving for Pie series. This book now tells their relationship story from their own perspective. It was great to read their side of the story and see how they came to be together.
This was a good story and an easy read. It helped clear up some of the intricacies of the mystery in Marriage and Murder. Diane, a conservative business owner, and Jason, in the Iron Wrath motorcycle club, came off as complete opposites but were not really as different inside as they first thought. I thought they were really good together and for each other. I didn't feel a ton of chemistry between them, but I did feel their love. There is a lot of focus on Diane getting herself and her sexuality back after her divorce. Also, the book is focused on Diane and Jason's relationship progression, with the events from the Solving with Pie series going on in the background for most of the book, until everything comes to a head near the end. I was happy they got an HEA with each other, but I did want more closure on the murder situation. Hopefully that will come in the next Solving for Pie book.
Overall, I did enjoy Beard in Hiding and was happy for Jason and Diane. I would have loved an epilogue with a glimpse into their future. Still, I was happy to read their story and that Ms. Reid chose to give it to us. I look forward to more of whatever she comes up with in the future.
About Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.
