Thursday, January 25, 2018

Are you ready for the Men of BAM?



Today we are sharing some teasers for BENTLEY, the first book in the Vested Interest series by Melanie Moreland. Bentley will be releasing on February 8th and it is up for pre-order now. Check out the teasers and buy links below.

The Vested Interest series will include 3 books: Bentley, Aiden, and Maddox.

You can pre-order Bentley now.

Follow Melanie's newsletter for exclusive details about the series.

--------------------------

MEET THE MEN OF VESTED INTEREST

Three young men meet in university and form a lifelong friendship.

Their pasts dictate the men they are, but their present shapes their future.

What happens when these men meet the one person they are destined to be with? Can they fight their feelings and walk away? Or will they each succumb and learn the sweet agony of love?

                             

Bentley (Vested Interest, #1) by Melanie Moreland

Coming February 8, 2018! Add it to Goodreads

Pre-order Now!

Amazon | iBooks, Kobo, and Nook

Blurb:

The leader of the group. He is uptight, formal, and cold. Rigid and set in his ways, always following the same path. Until the day, he stumbles upon her.

Emmy.

She brings with her spontaneity and light. The world she lives in is so different from his, yet he cannot control the draw to her. Nor can he explain the way she makes him feel.

Happy.

Protective.

Loved.


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Aiden (Vested Interest, #2) by Melanie Moreland

Coming May 2018! Add it to Goodreads

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Maddox (Vested Interest, #3) by Melanie Moreland

Coming August 2018! Add it to Goodreads

 

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Melanie Moreland - Bio:

New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.

While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys travelling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.

Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.

 
AUTHOR LINKS:

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter

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Thursday, January 11, 2018

I'm Throughly Charmed: Release Blitz & Review of Prince Charming by CD Reiss



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Prince Charming an all-new sexy standalone from New York Times bestselling author CD Reiss is LIVE.

Prince Charming by CD Reiss

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Release Date: January 4th, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Keaton Bridge is exactly the kind of guy a straight-arrow like Cassie doesn’t need.
For one thing, he’s a criminal—and she fights crime for a living. And being criminally handsome isn’t helping her say no, either. Everything about him screams trouble, from his British accent to his mysterious past.
And Cassie doesn’t do trouble.
Keaton’s got his own trouble. He’s trying to go legit, and an FBI agent hanging around is the last thing that will help his credibility. All it took was one night of passion to sear her into his skin. Now he can’t imagine living happily ever after without her.
All they have to do is walk away.
But neither of them ever walks away from danger.

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Read Today!


Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2i2MIFJ

My Review

This man - Keaton - so mysterious and felt so dangerous in King of Code. Give him a book? SIGN ME UP! After King of Code, I wasn't sure what to expect which is the best way to crack open a book.  KOC spoke to my inner geek that no other book has with the subtrope. To be honest, I didn't want to have this story appeal to my geek.  I wanted to leave KOC in its special box.

CD REISS DID NOT DISAPPOINT ME!

One subtrope I enjoy and don't get enough of: suspense/thriller. Reading Prince Charming checked off all the necessary boxes for this subtrope. I mean I really haven't enjoyed a story in this arena since Sugar Bowl series from Sawyer Bennett. CD Reiss' execution was perfect. I had no idea where we were going and how it was going to all pan out but it was a thrilling page turner.

Keaton presents as this secretive man. Who is he? Why is wanting to appear to go straight? Why is he risking it all for Cassie? GADS! I waiver for him between RUN and CLING tight.  There was just 'something about him'.  Yes, as vague as that sounds you connect with Keaton and want him to get everything all the while not really know why you do.  And Cassie. I love a strong heroine. This woman can bust balls with the best of them. She's not a whimpering, simpering heroine. Nope, she's got her own agenda and smart enough to get what she wants. But then her background is not lily white so now as a reader you aren't really sure who is the baddest possible bad guy at all.  But sincerely the kicker? It is Keaton and Cassie's connection that seals the deal for the reader. It's instant. It's hot. It's well-written characters how can't keep their hands off each other nor can the reader off the book.

Did I intrigue you? I hope so.

If you are a fan of CD Reiss' works, you will not be disappointed. She brings to life characters that are interesting and grip you into free-falling into their world. Do you need to read KOC? Interestingly , I say no. May you be disappointed? Perhaps. But the stories are independent in approach. If KOC was too technical, you'll find Prince Charming more intense thriller type that reminds me of her Corruption series. If you are wanting an introduction, this may be a good start to find yourself in love with the worlds CD Reiss creates. 5 out of 5 stars. 




Excerpt:


When his lips smash against mine my body is a split second ahead of my brain. It’s processed the list of dark net violence and thus completes a series of moves to bring down a frontal attack.

Even as I’m using his weight against him by holding his arm still while I swing him, letting his high center of gravity do all the work of stripping him of his balance, my mind processes the kiss. Because it was a kiss. A real soft-lipped-slightly-open-mouthed-I want-her-to-like-it kind of kiss.

By the time those nice thoughts register I’m slamming him up against the car. I’m a little disappointed that I can’t take back my counterattack. I would have let him kiss me a few more seconds before taking him down.

His eyes are open wide and the breath’s knocked out of him. The thump of his body against the car door fades into the night.

“Why did you do that?” I ask.

He looks at me as if I asked him why he pees standing up. Brows knotted. Arms out. Mouth half open as if he can’t contain the sheer number of answers he could give me right now.

“What?” He says it like whot and it’s endearing and haughty at the same time. Damnit. I should have taken that kiss and not gotten all black belt on him.

“Don’t sneak up on a girl like that.” I sound like a brat.

He straightens himself out, pulling his cuffs down and realigning his jacket.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just do a very impressive judo throw and tell you, out front, that I am going to kiss you. First, I am going to put my hands on your face, because I would like to feel your mouth move when I do it. Then I’m going to tilt my head to the right, so please, you should also tilt your head to the right.” He waits for me to nod, and when I do, he comes close to me and lowers his voice. “I’m going to wait a second once our lips touch, just to make sure we’re both appreciating this first contact. When I open my mouth a little, I want you to do the same. You need to accept my tongue in your mouth.” He puts his hands on my shoulders. “Is that enough of a warning?”

“What happens after that?”

“It’s unwritten.”

He moves his hands up to my jaw, laying his thumbs against my cheeks. He strokes them and I lean forward.

He kisses me just like he said he would. His tongue tastes like ice water, and his lips curve into the shape of mine. The adrenaline in my veins blends with something newer and warmer. He slides one hand back and tugs my hair which sends fluids and sensation and pleasure and all my attention between my legs. I push against him just so I can feel him resist. I need to fight him hard as I want him.

He’s rigid and yielding all at once, turning us around until I’m the one with my back against the car. I shove him away and he separates from me with a sharp intake of breath.

He doesn’t say a word, still holding me by a fistful of hair. The cold clouds of our breath mingle between us. He’s a predator, a criminal, and a mistake. But his jaw is tight and his nostrils flare when he breathes. He’s all those things and a bull charging for the red cape.

“Push me away again,” he says, finally, “and we’re done here. And I know for a fact that’s not what you want.”

I am the red cape, and I need to be yanked away as much as I need him to charge at me again and again.

When I want you to stop I’ll say so.”

I shove him again, and he smiles before laying a kiss on me. It’s not a kiss I fight. It’s a kiss I want. He pauses, pulling his mouth away as if giving me a second to tell him to stop, but I don’t. I don’t start pushing against him until our mouths are locked again. His hips grind into me. I feel his erection through our clothes.

I’m clutching his coat without any sense. I want to tear away every stitch of fabric. I push and pull with equal ferocity. I want to spread my legs but my coat’s too long. I want to punch him. I want that hard dick stretching me and I want it to hurt. My mind is wiped clean of everything but need. I don’t have a job or a career. I don’t have dreams built from childhood. I don’t have a name. I’m just a pillar of desire. I’m reduced to movement and hunger. I want his body inside mine. Nothing else.


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About the Author

CD Reiss is a New York Times bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn't pick up she's at the well hauling buckets. Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master's degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels. She's frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut which is flattering but hasn't ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood. If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.


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Connect with CD Reiss:

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Thursday, January 4, 2018

Cover Reveal Vested Interest: The Men of BAM are making me SWOON


Today we are sharing the next sexy, contemporary romance series coming from Melanie Moreland. The Vested Interest series will include 3 books: Bentley, Aiden, and Maddox. The first book, Bentley, will be releasing on February 8th. You can pre-order it now

Follow Melanie's newsletter for exclusive details about the series.

--------------------------

MEET THE MEN OF VESTED INTEREST

Three young men meet in university and form a lifelong friendship.

Their pasts dictate the men they are, but their present shapes their future.

What happens when these men meet the one person they are destined to be with? Can they fight their feelings and walk away? Or will they each succumb and learn the sweet agony of love?


Bentley (Vested Interest, #1) by Melanie Moreland

Coming February 8, 2018! Add it to Goodreads

Pre-order Now!

Blurb:

The leader of the group. He is uptight, formal, and cold. Rigid and set in his ways, always following the same path. Until the day, he stumbles upon her. 


Emmy. 

She brings with her spontaneity and light. The world she lives in is so different from his, yet he cannot control the draw to her. Nor can he explain the way she makes him feel. 


Happy. 

Protective. 

Loved.


-------------

 

Aiden (Vested Interest, #2) by Melanie Moreland

Coming May 2018! Add it to Goodreads

Blurb:

Haunted by memories of his past, Aiden plays the part of the happy-go-lucky friend. Always ready with a teasing smile or a joke, he is good at hiding his pain. Using his impressive physique as a shield, he keeps his past buried beneath his rugged exterior. Except, one woman sees through his façade. Her green eyes see too much, even as her body tempts him. Even as his heart yearns for her. 


Cami is determined to make him realize that he is worthy of being loved. He pushes her away at every turn, yet finds himself unable to keep her at arm’s length. Who will win this battle of love?


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Maddox (Vested Interest, #3) by Melanie Moreland

Coming August 2018! Add it to Goodreads

Blurb:

Brought up in chaos and fear, Maddox needs order and control to cope. His work fulfills him. It is all he needs. Because, unlike people, numbers never lie. Until Dee enters his life—and for the first time, his control is in jeopardy. She brings forth feelings he has denied himself his entire life, threatening his well-ordered world with foreign emotions. He wants to hold. Keep. Love. 


Damaged by her past, Dee cannot admit her feelings for him, fighting him at every turn. Is he strong enough to fight for what he wants? Can he prove to her that they would be perfect together?


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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Melanie Moreland - Bio:

New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of twenty-seven-plus years and their rescue cat Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys travelling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.  
AUTHOR LINKS:

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter

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Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Playing Favorites: My Favorite BuzzFeed Lists of 2017

"Maybe we could write a BuzzFeed List?"
"The kind that people randomly click on because of quirky title."
"This is brilliant!"
*runs off to investigate*


When this idea gave birth, it quickly became like an unstoppable toddler hyped up on Kool-Aid and Skittles.  The Brain Trust learned a lot from the very first list: what worked, how the list was perceived and what content made it fun. Now, we decide what list is next, bounce around title ideas, and then consult the book-friends.

We start each list with an In Search Of request with a general idea of theme and then turn our book-friends to scour their bookshelves for their top recommendations. What became apparent was the impassioned words as "why you should read this book".  That is the key element we add to the article.

Once all the recommendations are in, it is given to me to then compile, sort by publication date, and add in the punny. Then the other two members of the Brain Trust define the title, edit the punny and keep the theme focused. It would be one hot mess without them.

Yet, on a personal note, some of these lists do indeed mean more than others. As every parent is taught, you should never play favorites with your kids. Yep...I've never been good at following the rules. It's that 'meaning' that will have a piece in my heart always. And now, I'll share with you my personal favorites - in order of publication.

1.  Book Boyfriends: Single Dads That Make Us Swoon - DILF

How it all got started...

When this idea gave birth, it quickly became like an unstoppable toddler hyped up on Kool-Aid and Skittles. The Brain Trust learned a lot from the very first list: what worked, how the list was perceived and what content made it fun. This is our first list and will be always in my favorites pile just because it started this fun and whacky journey. Also, I pretty much insisted that the DILF stay in the title.

It was only going to be this 'one' list. However, we got positive feedback from our book-friends. We started throwing out other theme ideas. We haven't run out since. 



When you realize that people are actually reading what you write...

This list have us the first taste in true interactive commenting. It was shared like wild fire all over facebook groups.  The article had many comments at BuzzFeeds with readers sharing additional recommendations. With the passion of fans for the trope saw our share stats go over 1K and realized this was something worth continuing to write.  

On a personal note, this was the first article that I had a personal message from an author. Yep, I pretty much died and went to fangirl heaven over that. 

This also caught the attention of another blog where we partnered up to do a monthly installment  dedicated to Kindle Unlimited books. 



You like us. You really, really like us.

Each week we try to come up with something fun for book recommendations. This often will send our book-friends to recommend something that was published years before. What is old becomes new again. What our audience doesn't know is this starts out with 6 social seeds each week.  If this was a live plant, it would rival Jack's beanstalk. This was our first list to reach over 2K in 24 hours, go from the 6 original seeds to 73 more, and top over 10K social views in two weeks. Our dashboard stats showed it was shared in email newsletters and other social media that we had not seen before. Go Brain Trust!  

We received positive feedback from authors and readers. The Brain Trust is smart enough to know that not every list will get noticed (our poor cowboys) but, we don't do this for fame or money. It's for fun. But, like every human, we do love the pats on the back for doing a good job. 




Two reasons: GIFs and I went off the Baja

How this came about was I participated in a cover reveal for the series. Each day I posted the new cover and review on this blog. However when I posted for Necessary Restorations, a vision of The Way Were Were popped in my head. Everyone knows I'm all about finding the perfect gif for each BuzzFeed article. It suddenly became clear what I needed to do next. The Brain Trust knew I was up to something different for the week. But I kept it to myself until it was done and needed a second pair of eyes to edit the piece. But this was all me and nobody else.

Each summer I dedicate to one author that I will binge read their entire catalog. Embarrassingly, my favorite book pimp posted about Underneath It All being free in July and well... I already owned it... since December 2016. Well, as they say, the rest is history. It's hard for an author to write a series yet, keep the reader continually entertained, content fresh and eager for the next installment. Kate is brilliant at her craft and this has found a way to my coveted top spot for family series in my bookshelf. 



Each KU monthly installment goes like this: 
What's popular on TV this month? And can I tie romance stories to it?

The process then continues as: I pick a show. Reach out to my book-friends for recommendations on KU. Binge watch the TV show. Then turn on the punny and match TV to book characters. 

Now, sadly, I never watched QAF when it was out. But once I started I couldn't stop. I was invested in these character getting some kind of HEA. So it wasn't burden for sure. However...

When I started putting together my BEST OF THE BEST OF THE LIST, this was missing. And I was heartbroken. Not because of the time that the Brain Trust and I placed to create the list, but because truly it was the most fun I had writing a KU Korner article. Now, I knew from reading the agreement that BuzzFeed has the right to remove any community content for any reason. I've been careful to give full credit. It is anyone's guess why it is missing. 

But it now has a forever life on this blog.




I am a sucker for holiday romance stories and got an offer I couldn't refuse.

Seriously, who doesn't love a December holiday romance? You are pretty much guaranteed: HEA, low angst and some funny thrown in. After getting jostled by shoppers, splashed by cars, and wrapping paper cuts galore, you want to be entertained and smiling. So this list was a fun no-brainer to do. And we turned on the punny in the form of A Christmas Carole. 

Then I read an ARC, loved it and inquired to the author about when the cover reveal was scheduled. She said this was an unexpected release so no cover reveal planned. So, how about the Brain Trust do it for you? Needless to say, when an author trusts you to get it right, you cherish that honor. 



In closing, I did ask Brain One and Two about their favorites. They, as all good parents are trained, said all of them are their favorites. So, if you'd like to learn about their favorites I didn't list, there is a link to BuzzFeeds up in the navigation bar to check out. 

Thank you to everyone who reads our articles and gives us feedback. Keep it coming and we will keep preparing you with lists to fill your TBR for 2018. 

Happy and Joyful Reading Year!