The Billionaire’s Fake Fiance by Annika Martin

 

 

TBFF_ebook_amazon_kobo_ibooksBack in high school, I would go to the local Woolworth’s and buy up all the Harlequin Presents. I was a sucker for their romance novels featuring millionaires and beautiful heroines— despite the fact many of the love stories were dysfunctional and toxic. Time marches on. I got older, a lot older, and romances now feature billionaires.  I no longer have an appetite for romance novels featuring billionaires. I never was a big fan of Cinderella, and most of these stories are newer, sexier versions of Cinderella.

But I am going to read everything Annika Martin writes.  She never fails to entertain. She has written three standalones, yet connected romantic comedies featuring billionaires. The first two, Most Eligible Billionaire and The Billionaire’s Wake-Up-Call Girl, were laugh-out funny. I recall scenes and chuckle. With the Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée, Annika Martin entertains us with a mystery as well as romance and humor.

Rex O’Rourke is a self-made billionaire (all the best billionaires are). To keep an important client, he must join the client and her wealthy family on their mega yacht. Socializing with old money wealthy on their mega yacht is Rex’s version of hell. He would instead be working. Even more unfortunate, to quail the entirely true rumors about Rex’s never date the same model/actress twice lifestyle, Rex’s assistant made up a story about a fiancée. Now Rex had to spend two weeks on a yacht with a fake fiancée. Of course, Rex’s greatest fear is the gorgeous fake fiancée will throw herself at him. (Gorgeous women throwing themselves at you is one of the downsides of being a hot billionaire. And you think you have problems.)

So, Rex describes the one woman that he would never be tempted by…bubbly, loves soap operas, impoverished, colorful hairstreaks, loves Hello Kitty, and turns pop songs into ditties about her pet. Rex might be oblivious that he is describing Tabitha, his hairdresser, but his assistant recognized her immediately.

Tabitha is in high demand as a mobile stylist in New York City. She has a waiting list of clients. But she must rest her wrist for six weeks or risk more severe consequences. The resulting loss of income had her worried. So, the offer to be a fake fiancée is tempting. So, despite her dislike of dishonesty, she agrees to the job.

The job requires a makeover. She has a dull, expensive wardrobe suitable for a yacht vacation. Her colorful hairstreaks are covered up. But no makeover can change the irrepressible force that is Tabitha. Due to her expansive knowledge of soap operas, Tabitha knows that the newly discovered, long lost nephew of the wealthy client is an imposter! She sets out to uncover the fraud. This behavior does not please Rex, who does not want to upset his client.

Rex just wants to work in his cabin. But he cannot ignore Tabitha and her wild soap opera conspiracies.  And maybe, just maybe, Tabitha is not everything Rex hates and despises.

The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée is a delightful read. It has lots of humor and sexy romance. If I had to describe Martin’s writing in one word, it would be joy-filled. So, take time for yourself and indulge in some joy.

Creative: Michele Catalano

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Model: Thiago

Meet the Author:

Annika Martin loves fun, dirty stories, hot heroes, and wild, dramatic everything. She enjoys hanging out in Minneapolis coffee shops with her writer husband, and also likes birdwatching at her bird feeder alongside her two stunningly photogenic cats, especially when she should be writing. She’s heavy into running, music, saving the planet, taking long baths, and consuming chocolate suckers. She’s worked a surprisingly large number of waitressing jobs, and has also worked in a plastics factory and the advertising trenches; her garden is total bee-friendly madness and her most unfavorite word is nosh or possibly fob. A NYT bestselling author, she has also written as RITA award-winning author Carolyn Crane.

Connect with Annika:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnikaMartinBooks
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AnnikaMartinFabulousGang/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Annika_Martin
Stay up to date with Annika by joining her mailing list: http://www.annikamartinbooks.com/newletter/

February Just Got Hot!!!!

 

The Rich Boy - POTheRichBoy EBOOKKylie Scott has a new romance coming out this month. I am ecstatic. I can always depend on Ms. Scott to write an absorbing, sexy, funny romance.  I will read anything she writes.  I am not alone. All three of my daughters love her books. One month, my book club read her YA novel, Trust, with our own teenage daughters. We all loved it. One mom reported the book reminded her daughter how much she loved reading.

Author-Kylie-Scott  Kylie Scott, author extraordinaire

From the Social Butterfly press release:

“The Rich Boy, an all-new, not-to-be missed standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott is releasing March 9th, and we have the stunning and drop-dead sexy cover!
I’m the type of girl who’s given up on fairy tales. So when Beck – the hot new busboy at work – starts flirting with me, I know better than to get my hopes up. Happily ever afters aren’t for the average. I learned that the hard way.

But how can I be expected to resist a man who can quote Austen, loves making me laugh, and seems to be everything hot and good in this world?

Only there’s so much more to him than that.

Billionaire playboy? Check.
Troubled soul? Check.
The owner of my heart, the man I’ve moved halfway across the country to be with, who’s laying the world at my feet in order to convince me to never leave? Check. Check. Check.

But nobody does complicated like the one percent.

This is not your everyday rags-to-riches, knight-in-shining armor whisking the poor girl off her feet kind of story. No, this is much messier.

The Rich Boy - PO
Pre-order you copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2O54ogZ
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2O3wB80
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/RichBoy
Nook: http://bit.ly/38Igu7K
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3aLkJBe
Google Play: http://bit.ly/3aJlVVX
Add THE RICH BOY to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2sv6LlG

Be notified FIRST when The Rich Boy is live: http://bit.ly/2TOOivT

Cover Designed by Hang Le
Photography by Michelle Lancaster Photographer
Model: Chase Mattson

About Kylie
Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.”

Connect with Kylie
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XujcZh
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2GngiQq
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OiXx3I
Twitter: http://bit.ly/391pjJM
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2EUrx11
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Imusk3
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2S7cc32
Book+Main Bites: http://bit.ly/2ETz5RQ
Stay up to date with Kylie by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/2TOOivT
Website: https://kyliescott.com/

Broken Knight

 

 

“Everyone needs to read this book. ”

Photo Jun 22, 4 45 13 AM

I have been seriously neglecting this blog. I will be posting some reviews in the near future, including one for Broken Knight.  It is sitting on my kindle, demanding to be read.

 

– Harloe Rae, USA Today bestselling author.

 

 

Broken Knight, an all new standalone about first loves, betrayal and loss from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is available now!

 

 

Not all love stories are written the same way. Ours had torn chapters, missing paragraphs, and a bittersweet ending.

 

Luna Rexroth is everyone’s favorite wallflower.

Sweet.

Caring.

Charitable.

Quiet.

Fake.

Underneath the meek, tomboy exterior everyone loves (yet pities) is a girl who knows exactly what, and who, she wants—namely, the boy from the treehouse who taught her how to curse in sign language.

Who taught her how to laugh.

To live.

To love.

 

Knight Cole is everyone’s favorite football hero.

Gorgeous.

Athletic.

Rugged.

Popular.

Liar.

This daredevil hell-raiser could knock you up with his gaze alone, but he only has eyes for the girl across the street: Luna.

But Luna is not who she used to be. She doesn’t need his protection anymore.

When life throws a curveball at All Saints’ golden boy, he’s forced to realize not all knights are heroes.

Sometimes, the greatest love stories flourish in tragedy.

 

 

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

$2.99 for a Limited Time Only

Amazon: https://amzn.to/31NUvca

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/BrokenKnight

 

 

Pre-order the Audio edition now

(Available 8/25)

Amazon Audible: https://amzn.to/2HdgKQH

Amazon Audible WorldWide: http://mybook.to/BrokenKnightAudio

 

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

 

Excerpt:

 

Right now I wanted to just be here in silence with my best friend. And somehow, I don’t know how, but Luna sensed it. So we sat there for what felt like two hours but was probably a lot less, until I opened my eyes again. Her eyes were closed, too. I watched her for a while.

When she opened her eyes, it felt like she took something away from me.

“Let’s jump,” she said.

“I’m quite fond of my limbs, Moonshine.”

“Stop being such a big baby.”

“Big, quarterback baby who just finished a football season in one piece and would like to keep all his body parts intact.”

She crawled out of the treehouse and settled on the branch. It was thick, but I doubted it could carry my muscular ass for more than a few seconds before snapping. I rolled my eyes and settled next to her. She slipped her hand in mine.

“Three, two, one.”

It was a short, sweet way down.

 

 

About LJ Shen

L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 Best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.

 

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

 

 

Connect with L.J. Shen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorljshen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lj_shen

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorljshen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorljshen/

Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list:

http://bit.ly/2umcYPg

Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/

 

Sleeping Beauty? Romeo and Juliet? The Kiss Thief by L.J. Shen Is A Sexy Romance Full of Evocative References to Classic Themes.

The Kiss Thief took me by surprise. This is partly due to my mistaken belief that it was a historical romance. It is not. It is set firmly in the 21st Century. But there is definitely a Romeo and Juliet vibe with the sweet, first love between Francesca Rossi and Angelo Bandini. Like Romeo and Juliet, this story begins with a masquerade. Francesca is a sleeping beauty. Sheltered and controlled by her mafia father, she is a good, obedient Catholic school girl, waiting for her first kiss.

But there are more romances tropes in which to delight. This story has a forced marriage, a plot for revenge, and an obsessive love. There is even a nosy housekeeper, who knows everything ala Rebecca. There are several betrayals. This story had few surprises, but it did provide a delightful, fresh twist on old themes.

Two men want Francesca, her childhood friend and first love, Angelo, and Senator Wolfe Keaton. Senator Wolfe Keaton drags this story into the dark romance realm. Unlike Angelo, Wolfe is far older and more jaded than Francesca. His feelings for Francesca are not sweet. Yet neither rival could be described as a villain.

This book has all the sizzle and sexual tension that a reader can expect from Ms. Shen. Her characters will evolve. The only criticism I have is Shen’s failure to develop a sense of place for Chicago. It is a minor complaint. But as a former Chicagoan, I was disappointed by such a bland description of the city that works. But as I said, this is a minor complaint. Otherwise, this is a satisfying romance.

 

 

Dirty Headlines-Another Teaser

L.J. Shen’s latest novel is out September 7, 2018. Here is yet another teaser.

Every day in the newsroom is a battle.

Every night in his bed, war.

But it’s my heart at stake, and I fear I’ll be raising the white flag.

 

Dirty Headlines, an all-new sexy, enemies-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen is coming September 7th and we have a sexy new teaser just for you!

 

Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2GuCKIB

 

To be notified when DIRTY HEADLINES is live, sign up here: http://bit.ly/2ASd8mA

DH 5 never fallen inlove

Smile, there is a new Kylie Scott novel

Good-Idea-count-5

 

Rush to your local bookstore or e-book retailer. Kylie Scott has a new novel releasing today. I have been an ardent fan since reading Dirty, the first of her Dive Bar series. Quickly, I read through her backlist, including her zombie apocalypse erotica.  Her YA novel, Trust, ensnared my three adult daughters into her book magic.  Ms. Scott simply cannot write fast enough for me. I already have my e-copy and I am waiting for the print to arrive.

“Addictive like all Kylie Scott books, you’ll swoon, laugh, ache, put your life on hold, and compulsively read until the wee hours of the night—only to reread the whole thing the next morning. Perfection!” – Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author

Returning home for her father’s wedding was never going to be easy for Adele. If being sent away at eighteen hadn’t been bad enough, the mess she left behind when she made a pass at her dad’s business partner sure was.

Fifteen years older than her, Pete had been her crush for as long as she could remember. But she’d misread the situation—confusing friendliness for undying love. Awkward. Add her father to the misunderstanding, and Pete was left with a broken nose and a business on the edge of ruin. The man had to be just as glad as everyone else when she left town.

Seven years later, things are different. Adele is no longer a kid, but a fully grown adult more than capable of getting through the wedding and being polite. But all it takes is seeing him again to bring back those old feelings.

Sometimes first loves are the truest.

 

 

 

LINKS

 

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38582063-it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2L13jmj

AMAZON UK: https://amzn.to/2kuHPmA

AMAZON AU: https://amzn.to/2LyXq18

iBooks: https://apple.co/2GVwAfX

B&N: https://bit.ly/2ktQWUT

KOBO: https://bit.ly/2J7Bb3Q

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/

Links:

FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/kyliescottwriter/

FACEBOOK FAN GROUP:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/599197093487040/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KylieScottbooks

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kylie_scott_books/

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6476625.Kylie_Scott

 

 

EXCERPT

“Did you enjoy the wedding?” he asked.

“W-what?”

The man stood much closer than necessary. “The wedding. It was nice, right?”

“Sure.”

Faint strains of music carried from across the road. It seemed worlds away. He downed a mouthful of scotch, gaze never leaving my face. All I could smell was the single malt, his cologne, and the slight scent of salt on his skin. After all, it’d been a hot night and he’d been dancing in the suit. He wasn’t happy; I knew the signs well enough. The tension in his jawline and the look in his eyes. All heated and intense.

“So you’ve been sitting in the dark, drinking and brooding, huh?” I asked. “That sounds constructive.”

“What did Leona have to say?”

I laughed. “Oh, hell no. I’m not getting caught in the middle of you two again. Why don’t you try settling your issues like normal people and actually talk to one another?”

“You have such a clever mouth, Adele.” He cocked his head. “Always got an answer, don’t you?”

“Enjoy your scotch, Pete.” I turned away. “I’m going to bed.”

“What’s the rush?” Strong fingers wrapped around my arm, not gripping me hard, just enough to hold me in place.

“I’ve spent enough time tonight in the company of a drunken asshole, thank you.” I smiled.

His return smile was lopsided. “You’re angry.”

“I’m tired.”

“You’re angry and tired. Me too,” he said. “Less so on the tired, though. Actually, I’m wide the fuck awake.”

“Good for you.”

He finished off his drink, then reached past me, setting the empty glass on the kitchen counter. “Keep me company.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” he asked, expression full of false interest. “Thought you’d love the chance to tell me off some more.”

I looked away. “We’re done here.”

“No, we’re not.”

“Yes, we are.” I pulled my arm out of his grasp. “We’re finished, Pete. Our friendship or whatever the hell it is these days . . . It’s over, kaput, the end. Took me seven years, but tonight I finally wised up.”

“That so?”

“Yep,” I said. “I refuse to keep feeling this way about you. It’s such a stupid waste.”

His gaze narrowed.

“You know, I even have a plan.”

“What might that be?”

“In the morning, I’m going to go home and fuck every available man I meet until one of them does it for me.” My smile felt jagged and horrible. It couldn’t have been pretty so see. “And then I won’t think about you anymore.”

His fingers curled into tight fists. Nice to know I wasn’t the only one affected. I put my hand on his chest, getting up in his face. Two could play the invading-personal-space game, for fun and intimidation. As if I would back down.

kyliescottimage

The Billionaire’s Wake-Up-Call Girl

Annika Martin can write. As Carolyn Crane, she has written romantic suspense and paranormal suspense. As Annika Martin, she has written dark romance, funny erotic romance, and romantic comedy. I enjoy reading it all, but her rom-com novels are especially delightful. She has a deft, light-hearted writing style. I read certain lines and laugh out loud. I am convinced that the author was chortling as she wrote those lines. Ms. Martin’s writing is joyful. In this contemporary romance, Lizzie desperately needs a hiring bonus at her new job. Her ex-boyfriend stole her money and left her in debt to loan sharks. Unfortunately, her position in creating a social media presence is hampered by the CEO, who doesn’t want the company to be sociable. Her immediate supervisor soon dumps an unpleasant task on her. Find a new wake up service for the CEO. Unfortunately, his reputation precedes him and even the last ditch effort to hire a Canadian company fails. So Lizzie becomes his wake up service. But the CEO is intrigued by her his wake-up call girl and wants to find her. This book is funny. It is also flaming hot. Martin takes some old tropes, some especially hated by me, and twist them into something new and fresh. I have been counting the days for this book to be published, and I finished reading it within hours of it arriving on my kindle. Now I am jonesing for more from Ms. Martin. Read this book. It will brighten your day. Below is a picture of Ms. Martin. Now that is a woman you want to spend the day drinking margaritas with.

To Wilde to Wed by Eloisa James

Georgette Heyer was my introduction to romance novels, so I established a high standard for romance from the start. As a teen, my favorite Heyer was Devil’s Cub with the wicked Lord Vidal in his silks and wig shooting highwaymen. I loved the Georgian era with men in their wigs, frock coats, and high heels. A man dressed in silk maintaining his masculine confidence is enticing.

With her Georgian novel, To Wilde To Wed, Ms. James created a hero in Lord North just as captivating as Lord Vidal. Lord North was introduced in Wilde In Love, Lord North had been the stiffly formal gentleman dressed in the height of fashion. However, the cruel jilting by his fiance changed his priorities. Now two years later, he is returning home from army service in America. To find his former fiance and a child rumored to be his living in the family seat. But the messy, maladroit nanny is far different from the fashionable beauty to whom he had been engaged.

Miss Diana Belgrave had felt like a fraud during her engagement. She was not future duchess material.  Her mother was the driving force behind the picture perfect society beauty that captured the eye of Lord North.  The broken engagement saved both Lord North and herself much unhappiness, but she regretted the manner in which she ended the engagement.

Thus begins an enchanting romance. There are wit and humor. There is a delicious scene involving Lord North and his valet, which was reminiscent of a scene in The Devil’s Cub. However, Ms. James created a much more comical scene involving a pair of saffron pantaloons. Admittedly Ms. Heyer could generate a lot of sexual tension with a kiss, she did not write erotic scenes. Happily, Ms. James has provided with robustly sexual interactions between the hero and heroine. This book was a pleasure to read from beginning to end. Fortunately, Ms. James is not done with the Wilde family. There is a third book coming in July, and I already have it on pre-order.

To Wilde To Wed

 

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Social media has been buzzing about this book for months. Indeed, the buzz has been so loud, it might have come from a locust swarm of biblical proportions. So, of course, it could not possibly live up to its promise?

Yes, it could. The Kiss Quotient lives up to its reputation. It is scorching hot erotic while telling a sweet love story. It features the hottest Beta hero ever in Michael Phan.  It honestly portrays the difficulties of the heroine and her Asperger’s.

The heroine, Stella, has difficulties with relationships. Her three sexual experiences had been ghastly. So she decides to find someone to teach her how to be good at sex. She finds Michael Phan, an escort to wealthy, older women. Michael is beautiful, and he is good at sex, very good at sex.

Michael is also kind and sensitive. Stella knows that Michael is the only person she want’s as her sex teacher. Despite his reluctance to develop a relationship with a client, Michael cannot turn Stella down. But both Michael and Stella have insecurities and secrets. Stella does not want Michael to know about her autism. Yet Michael’s insecurities might be the undoing of their relationship.

The author calls this novel a Pretty Woman reversal, but Pretty Woman didn’t have the depth and emotion of this novel.  Ms. Hoang sells herself short with the comparison. This story is much more romantic and sexier than Pretty Woman. kissquotient

RT Convention 2018 Reno, Nevada

Rosé, anyone?

For decades, I have wanted to attend an RT Convention. There were always reasons why I couldn’t go. When I saw the convention would be in Reno, Nevada, just a ten-hour drive from my home, I had to attend.  Happily, my friend, Meridith Allen Conners was willing to accompany me on the trip.

The convention was amazing. It was held at the Peppermill Resort. When we arrived Tuesday morning, our room wasn’t ready.  Of course, just as I got out of the car in Reno, I spilled tea all over my capris. But soon I was having too much fun to care. While waiting for our room, we registered and received our bag of books and fun items. There was a social gathering held by Brenda Novak. There were roulette table and other games. After receiving more free books (this will be a recurring theme), Meredith and I wondered over to the Frazzle table. Frazzle is a dice game. The lovely Patricia joined us and was able to educate us all on the rules. Soon we were groaning and cheering each other on. Apparently, we were having too much fun. Others gathered, including two handsome cover models (This will be a recurring theme, these two gentlemen were everywhere I went. They may have been stalking me.) As others gathered, we urged them to join the fun. Newbie, Cyndee Martin of Lehi, Utah won the game! I mean that literally, she won the physical game.

After this gathering, our room was ready. Meredith and I went to our palatial room.  The Peppermill Resort was an incredible bargain. We had a refrigerator in our room, which we stuffed with snacks. Our bathroom had a whirlpool tub, two sinks, a separate shower, and granite. We took time to change and then we were off to the Indie Soiree.

At the soiree, we met indie authors. The authors would give us raffle tickets to win various prizes. Meredith was insistent that we go up to a gorgeous man and ask about his book. Stuart Reardon is a beautiful man. He is a former Rugby player, who now works as a cover model and author. Since Meredith was rendered speechless by his masculine beauty, I did all the talking. Sadly, I understood only a little of his responses. It was noisy, and he has a delicious accent. Also, at the Soiree, I ran into a fellow member of the Old School Romance Book Club, Eva Moore. I also ran into soon to be a good friend, Cyndee Martin, also a member of the OSRBC. Eva invited me to her hotel room for a wine tasting later that night. The soiree ended with the winning raffle tickets being drawn. I won Kathern LeVegue’s basket. (Winning things will be a recurring theme.) It contained books, chocolates, bath bombs, wine glasses, wine, and a kindle. Oh yes, there was a tiara.

I had just enough time to stash my basket in the hotel room. It was time for Cinema Craptastique. Hosted by Cherry Adair and Damon Suede, Tere Michaels and Paige Tyler, it was a blast. Cherry Adair is a gorgeous, vivacious redhead, who should be the heroine in a romance novel. Damon is energetic and fun. He is so much fun. The movie was Wolves starring Jason Momoa and Lucas Till. The movie was wonderfully awful, and Damon kept us in stitches with his commentary. Then the worst happened. The film stopped and would not start again. No fear. Damon Suede came to the rescue. He acted out the rest of the movie. There is no doubt his version was far superior. Laughing out loud, the audience ate cracker jacks and movie candy. Meredith won her first prize during the movie. We are on a roll.

The evening ended with a wine tasting party in Eva Morgan’s hotel room. Eva is the hostess with the mostess. (Partying in Eva’s room will be a recurring theme.) We all sampled a variety of Rosé. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

I did not take enough pictures. Below are the beautiful Stuart Reardon and myself, the funny and talented Damon Suede, and Meridith Allen Conners and myself.