Mimi Reads Romance

Lifelong Romance Reader. I love first kisses, second chances, and happily-ever-afters.   INSTAGRAM ORIGINAL POSTS

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New Release & Review: Second Shot with #76 by Piper Rayne

Second Shot with #76 by Piper Rayne is now live! 

My mom always said you don't get a second shot at making a first impression. I've remembered that my entire career. Especially since I'm one of the few black men who play professional hockey. I'm calculated and respectful in the way I speak to my coaches, the owners, and the media. I've never taken a risk... until her. I could blame it on the fact that for once I pushed away the pressure of my career for the ocean waves, the sand, and good times with my new teammates. But those are excuses because the minute I saw her at the airport, something lit up inside me and the best week of my life was spent with her in my bed. After our week in paradise, we said goodbye, exchanged phone numbers and both assumed that unless one of us was flying through the other's city on the opposite side of the country, our vacation fling was over. Then one night after practice I see her. She's here. In my city. Telling me she moved here for a job. If that's not fate tell me what is. I've never wanted a second shot more than I do this time, but she's determined to leave what we were on the island we left behind.

MY THOUGHTS: ⭐⭐⭐

I live for second chance romances...but the latest in the Hockey Hotties series fell short for me because the plot twist—despite being very obvious—was a major nope for me. I really liked Ande and Cory when they were introduced in a previous novella, and while it's not necessary to read it, I do think that if you want to go into this story liking these characters, it's worth it. Because from the get-go in this book, neither Cory nor Ande makes a good impression. I wish they'd had the spark in this book that they did in the novella. Instead, their was a lot of deception on Ande's part and I really disliked how she treated both Cory and her friend, Trevor. So why am I giving even 3 stars for this book? The answer is simple-its for the other characters in the series. I love how much page time the couples from previous books get, and I enjoy every their friendships. Whether it's karaoke, bowling night, or just talks in the locker room, I feel like I know the other players and their partners. The final pages of this book had me cheering for what I hope to be the next featured couple. The future of the Florida Fury is gonna' be fantastic!

 Download today on Kobo, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Amazon!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2W7UguO

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3sDw9An

Nook: https://bit.ly/3z1lOQZ

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3D37IBi

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2UygK7X

Audible: Coming Soon!

Goodreads:  https://bit.ly/2W31il4

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write "heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle" about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they're married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they're both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Connect with Piper Rayne

Website: www.PiperRayne.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15810938.Piper_Rayne

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Piper-Rayne/e/B01ND0R15R

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PiperRaynesUnicorns

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PiperRayneRocks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorpiperrayne

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/piper-rayne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorpiperrayne/_created/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PiperRayne?ref=shop_sugg

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/PiperRayne

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New Release & Review: The Reluctant Bride by Monica Murphy

The Reluctant Bride by Monica Murphy is now live! Everyone's for sale, including me. One moment I'm the forgotten daughter of one of the most wealthy families in the country, and the next I'm the blushing bride in an arranged marriage. My fate is sealed in my wedded union with a complete stranger. In public, Perry Constantine is the life of the party. Easygoing. Adored. In private, he's brooding. Dark. Angry. But so am I. It's a contest of wills to see who will break in the bedroom first, and while I try to remain strong, I find myself craving the very man I swore to hate. My husband.

MY THOUGHTS: ⭐⭐⭐

The Reluctant Bride is a super slow burn that ends in a cliffhanger just as the story is starting to take off. Now, I'm familiar with several of the stories in the Midnight Dynasty series. I knew to expect that this wouldn't wrap up in a single book, but I do wish we'd had more of the relationship building between Perry and Charlotte. Instead, it seemed like much of the books' focus was on their relationships with family. Charlotte is the lone girl in her family, and her worth is tied up in marrying her off in a business deal. Perry is a mama's boy, and while he's been a bit of a hell-raiser he's always eager to please his mom. She is insisting on his wedding to the Lancaster girl. I've liked Perry's character in other stories, and that is reinforced in this story. He's obviously torn between sacrificing his happiness for his family (his Mom, really) and wanting to lead his own life. I'm on the fence about Charlotte's character, because she was such a contradiction. She's supposed to be rebellious and worldly, but that's not how she comes off at all. Honestly, I didn't get why Perry would be interested in her at all. By the end of the book, the sparks were starting to fly and I was finally enjoying the arranged marriage trope, and then BAM-cliffhanger. Ugh. I knew it was coming and was still bummed about it. The Reluctant Bride is an easy read, but I do wish there had been more sparks on the page between Perry and Charlotte. I feel like their living arrangement was the perfect setup for those sparks, but it wasn't really utilized. Of course, I'll be grabbing book 2 as soon as it's available, because I'm completely hooked by the drama of these families!

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3F9rtHh Apple Books: https://apple.co/2XEeyNH Nook: https://bit.ly/3nOPnTs Kobo: https://bit.ly/3kp1Fj7 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3EZPSA5 Audible: Coming Soon! Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3zFrTnr

MEET MONICA MURPHY

Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance.

A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, son, their goofy dog, and three cats. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. Or reading. Or binge watching something.

Connect with Monica Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com Goodreads: http://bit.ly/MonicaMurphyGR Amazon: http://amzn.to/1YUl0Vm Facebook: http://bit.ly/MonicaMurphyFB

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/monicamurphyreadergroup/

Instagram: http://bit.ly/MonicaMurphyIG Twitter: http://bit.ly/MonicaMurphyTW Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2ZAthV1

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/msmonicamurphy/ Verve Romance: https://ververomance.com/app/monicamurphy Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@monicamurphyauthor

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New Release & Review-The Secret by Max Monroe

Mr. Hot Professor, the man I’m determined to resist, is challenging me to a competition—a playful, secret game, so to speak—where the winner takes all.

The Secret, an all-new hot as sin romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe, is available now!

Dear Fellow Bookworms,

I need your help.

I, Rachel Rose, am in quite the pickle with a hot-as-sin English Lit professor by the name of Ty Winslow, and I don’t know how to get out of it.

Let me break it down for you:

Girl meets Guy.

Girl gives Guy her underwear on a dare but nothing else identifying (like her name or number) because she plans to never see Guy again.

But Girl does see Guy again, in a very professional setting, where she is to be the Teaching Assistant to his Professor for an entire semester.

Girl would like to ignore all events of the past, but Guy is a whole list of tempting things that are hard to resist. (See below:)

#1: Insanely attractive.

#2: The most fun a girl could ever have.

#3: Successful and intelligent.

#4: He can quote Walt Whitman at the drop of a hat—which I’m sure you know is a dangerous thing for a literature-lover.

#5: Smooth with a capital S. He could charm the panties off a woman WITHOUT the help of a dare.

And now, Mr. Hot Professor, the man I’m determined to resist, is challenging me to a competition—a playful, secret game, so to speak—where the winner takes all.

My plan? Play the game long enough to win—long enough to walk away with the upper hand—without doing something stupid like falling in love.

It’s possible . . . right?

If you have any advice, please reach out to me soon—before it’s too late.

XOXO,

Rachel

My Thoughts: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Max Monroe was on my list of authors to read in 2022, so when I got a chance to read an early copy of The Secret I jumped on it. I'm patting past me on the back for making that choice. Also, I'm looking forward to binging the rest of the Winslow Brothers series, as well as the other books in the Max Monroe backlist. The Secret was a sizzling read, but also filled with tons of humor. Ty is a tenured English Lit professor, and his new TA just happens to be the daughter of the department head (also, his personal mentor). Sparks flew from their very first meeting, when Rachel made a lasting impression on the notorious playboy. What ensued was a fun back-and-forth of will they or won't they. Initially just an itch to be scratched, the relationship quickly became one that involved an obvious emotional attachment. The tension and pacing of the story were perfect, and I could not turn the pages quickly enough. The Winslow family members are an absolute riot of chaos, and I love them all madly! Rach's sister and sister-in-law were great—their early morning workout had me in absolute stitches. One of my favorite reads this year, The Secret is one I'm looking forward to reading again!

Read your copy today, exclusively on Amazon and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3G8qTtB

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

Add The Secret to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3g46Mm0

About Max Monroe

A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far. ​

Connect with Max Monroe

BookBub: http://bit.ly/3bJFJJh

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ReoxkK

Facebook: http://bit.ly/31XxggS

Instagram: http://bit.ly/39wuCkW

Stay up to date with Max Monroe by joining their mailing list today: http://bit.ly/2HzGmau

Website: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/

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New Release & Review: Sneaking Around With #34 -Piper Rayne

Sneaking Around With #34 by Piper Rayne is now live!

I have a reputation for being tight-lipped. You learn quick when you become a professional hockey player to be guarded with the media, so I've worked hard to cover up the mistakes of my youth. But when I'm traded to the Florida Fury, where my ex-best friend is the starting right wing, I'm forced to confront my past. Ford and I have a lot of history, especially when it comes to his little sister, Imogen. My heart still lurches in my chest when I see her. My hands want to reach out and touch her. My mouth wants to keep apologizing. She's the only woman who ever made me want more. But she's also the one who fell victim to my most regrettable decision. I'm not a believer in fate, but I must be back in her world for a reason. I've fought for everything I've gotten and I'm not backing down from what I know will be the best thing in my life.

MY THOUGHTS:

3.5 ⭐ This latest edition to Piper Rayne's Hockey Hotties series, Sneaking Around with #34, is a forced-proximity, second-chance romance. Many years ago, Imogen and Warner had it all-a sweet, young love and hopes and dreams for a future. One interaction changed all that, with Warner breaking both their hearts, and losing a valued friendship. I adored Warner and most of the other hockey players on the team. These guys are funny, charming, sweet, and yes-hot. The one that absolutely ticked me off was Ford. Straight talk-he was a jerk. He was a jerk for what he did to his best friend and sister when they were in high school, and he continued to be a jerk for 99.9% of this book. I thought he came across as a bully and really felt awful that he didn't seem to care that he was making his sister look like an incompetent fool at HER JOB! Honestly, he was written in a way that really made me dislike him, which was a little disheartening for this reader. Okay, that's out of the way...back to what I enjoyed. The scenes from the early years of Gen and Warner's relationship really helped to showcase their young love. I felt like the flashbacks were perfectly placed and never took away from the narrative of the current story. The relationship between Gen and Warner was definitely full of a lot of tension of the spicy variety, but I would have loved a little more of them dating. I feel like I got a bit of whiplash from the way it went from, "we'll just work this out of our systems" to "I love you" so quickly. That being said, this couple clearly still had it bad for one another and I absolutely was rooting for them to get back together. In the end, Gen and Warner had their chance to set Ford straight, although I do think they let him off way too easily. It makes sense though, that after so many years apart, they just wanted to focus on being happily in love every day for the rest of their lives.

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3y5qTXk

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3CYL1Ot

Nook: https://bit.ly/2Uv9wkX

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3ggulbu

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3ghFDwp

Audible: Coming Soon!

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3sx0voa

MEET PIPER RAYNE:

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write "heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle" about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they're married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they're both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Connect with Piper Rayne

Website: www.PiperRayne.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15810938.Piper_Rayne

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Piper-Rayne/e/B01ND0R15R

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PiperRaynesUnicorns

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PiperRayneRocks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorpiperrayne

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/piper-rayne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorpiperrayne/_created/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PiperRayne?ref=shop_sugg

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/PiperRayne

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Cover Reveal-Offside with #55 by Piper Rayne

Piper Rayne has revealed the cover for Offside with #55!

Releasing: May 31, 2022

Cover Design: Hang Le

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

The last thing any professional hockey player wants is to be the old man in the game. The guy who doesn't know when it's time to retire. Still, I can't bear the thought of leaving the game. This past year I've reflected on all my regrets, and I told myself that once I retire it'll be the time to settle down and start a family. But this is where it gets tricky. I think I've found her--my Mrs. Although she'll deny our connection to anyone who asks. We've been sleeping together casually and since I'm still playing hockey, I've let her get what she wants--me--whenever she wants. After being told my career as a player is over, the owner of Florida Fury grants me a shot to stay in the game. A coaching position I didn't know I wanted until it was offered. The catch? He's also passing the family business down to his daughter. Who's his daughter? The woman who's been in and out of my bed for the past year. Which means the woman I intend to make my wife is now my new boss.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3z5AKhk

Apple Books: https://apple.co/37ZiHND

Nook: https://bit.ly/3j1JO0W

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3z1sdMl

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3mgNmyp

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3CZYxl4

MEET PIPER RAYNE:

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling Author duo who write "heartwarming humor with a side of sizzle" about families, whether that be blood or found. They both have e-readers full of one-clickable books, they're married to husbands who drive them to drink, and they're both chauffeurs to their kids. Most of all, they love hot heroes and quirky heroines who make them laugh, and they hope you do, too!

Connect with Piper Rayne

Website: www.PiperRayne.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15810938.Piper_Rayne

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Piper-Rayne/e/B01ND0R15R

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PiperRaynesUnicorns

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PiperRayneRocks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorpiperrayne

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/piper-rayne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorpiperrayne/_created/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PiperRayne?ref=shop_sugg

Verve: https://bookandmainbites.com/PiperRayne

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New Release & Review: Playing with Fire by Skye Jordan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tucker I learned young that women don't stay. Luckily, no-strings hookups work perfectly for me, and as a firefighter, I have no problem finding women. But losing a victim to the river in a flash flood, left me not only shaken, but changed. Playing fast and loose doesn't work for me anymore, but when Lacey walks into the bar and buddy bets me I can't get her into bed without telling her I'm a firefighter, I stupidly take it. Only that lie by omission comes back to bite me in the ass because one sizzling night later, I want something I've never wanted before—more. Lacey I'm only back in the states for a friend’s wedding, which means avoiding my overbearing parents. I’m a photographer base overseas, but my parents see my career as worthless. And after almost losing everything to a domineering ex, I'm all about independence. Hooking up with the hot bartender seems like the perfect beginning to a ten-day visit, but one night with Tucker Medina has me weak-kneed and wickedly satisfied. Until I learn he not only lied about who he was, he made a bet on getting me into bed. When I hear my parents put my twin brother on a 72 hr hold at a local psychiatric facility, Tucker comes to my rescue. And it doesn't take long to realize there's more between us than some good sex. A lot more. But it's hard to imagine this working when his life is here and mine is on the other side of the globe.

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B09MR4YN92&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_A0GZE85K7D3ENDMY8372

MY THOUGHTS:

Playing with Fire absolutely played on all of my emotions! I've been waiting for the playboy, Tucker, to fall since the very first book and I am so thrilled that he found such an amazing partner. From their very first interaction, the chemistry between Lacey and Tucker is white hot! The intimate connection was immediately recognizable, and I just knew that there was no way these two would be able to stay apart. They both had a lot of baggage to work through, and concessions to make, but ultimately they were meant to be. The supporting cast of characters-the brotherhood of the fire department and their spouses-is one of the reasons I love this series so much. I really love the way they navigate the difficult moments in life—from dysfunctional families, to mental health or drug issues, to grief and loss. Every instance, while gut wrenching, is so emotionally authentic. A true testament to Skye Jordan's writing talents! Fans of these books will be thrilled to see Natalie, Cole, Isabel, and Logan are frequently on page and that they're still living and loving well. This whole firehouse family makes my heart happy and I'm desperately hoping we'll see more of these characters.

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New Release & Review-The Proposal Playbook by Samantha Chase ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Proposal Playbook by Samantha Chase is now live!

He's a former Navy SEAL from the school of hard knocks. She's a cheery wedding planner writing a guide to happily ever afters. Who knew cupid's arrow could come in the form of a five-pound bag of flour? When Daisy Sinclair gleefully offers to help her brother come up with the perfect proposal, she has no idea how time-consuming the project will become. Or, how it would make her the target of mockery from one rather grumpy former SEAL. Xander thinks he's got her all figured out. She is determined to prove him wrong. Just because she's more cheer than sneer doesn't give him the right to pass judgment on her. As the son of a woman who walked away from her family, Xander Madden believes he's destined to follow in her footsteps. Which makes Daisy's ridiculously chipper ramblings about the wonders of love all the more irritating. Still, there's something about her that he can't ignore. Although... he probably should, considering every time he opens his mouth, he says the wrong thing. Just when Xander thinks he can avoid the trappings of her sunny disposition, Daisy smacks him with a five-pound bag of flour and suddenly she's all he can think about. The pair have nothing in common except an undeniable attraction. Is a future for them possible when Daisy's looking for forever and Xander can't even commit to tomorrow?

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EdTjT4

Apple Books: https://apple.co/318ytGs

Nook: https://bit.ly/3DaDAT6

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3pcuC2Z

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2ZFj1Rj

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/31TorJj

My thoughts:

Daisy, the newest member of the Meet Me at the Altar team, loves her new job and friends, but she's feeling a little jaded about what she perceives to be a lack of real romance. When she tries to help her brother plan the most romantic proposal, she enlists some help. Enter Xander and his grumpy, no romance, overbearing self. Sparks fly, of course, but why?! Neither understands the attraction, but it's there. As Daisy and Xander work to get this out of their system, they come to learn that maybe they've both got a bit of baggage that they need to cut loose. What follows is a sweet story of a man that learns to give in to his heart, and a woman that learns to appreciate that gift. *There were some absolute laugh-out loud moments in this book! I will never look at a bag of flour the same way.

*There were a few detractors that kept this from being a five star read for me. One was a bigger issue-the idea that Xander wasn't worth Daisy's time just because he didn't do serious relationships. I'm glad his friends ultimately pointed out that Xander WAS a good guy, but it seemed like they came down hard on his playboy lifestyle for too much of the book.

*My other issue was the military timeline. It was mentioned more than once that the three men involved in Seal Security had retired after 15 years in the service. This is not a thing. If they were "retired" at 15 years, it would have been due to a career ending injury of some sort. No such injuries requiring retirement were ever mentioned. So.... I realize this is a minor issue, but as a military dependent it's something that pulled me out of the story each time—and I never like to be pulled out of a story due to something that could be cleared up with a few minutes of fact checking.

MEET SAMANTHA:

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that's hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than seventy titles under her belt - including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017! She's a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80's rock. When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene...oh, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Connect with Samantha

Website: https://www.chasing-romance.com/

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Review: Million-Dollar Mix-Up by Jessica Lemmon

3.5 ⭐ There are only a handful of authors I will read in the category romance genre, but Jessica Lemmon is near the top of the list—for good reason! What I loved about Million-Dollar Mix-Up: •A snowed in romance and oops, there's just one bed! Admittedly, I had to suspend my disbelief for a that this big "cabin" had guest rooms with no furniture, but it worked. Snow, cozy fireplace snuggles with lots of blankets, and spicy hot tub scenes during a snowstorm. Yes, please. I'd like more! •Kendall is a career driven woman that doesn't apologize for chasing her dreams. Loved her determination! •The commercial-holy smokes! Why were those *almost kisses* the hottest scene in the book! •Max gives good grovel. I am totally on board with his reasons for being upset, but I also really enjoyed that in the end he was like, *Whatever it takes to get her back*. Major swoon! CW: death of a sibling (prior to current storyline)

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B0987QZNJ2&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_WXP7HNTE9ECG27TF5PN8

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New Release & Review-River of Shadows by Karina Halle

In order to save my father, I have to marry the God of Death.

River of Shadows by Karina Halle is now live!

River of Shadows is an adult dark fantasy romance based on Finnish mythology and the underworld of Tuonela. When 24-year old Hanna Heikkinen's estranged father dies, she reluctantly makes the trip to Northern Finland for his funeral. Being in the enchanting land of ice and snow feels miles away from Hanna's busy life back in Los Angeles, especially under the complicated circumstances. But when Hanna discovers that her father's body is missing, that's when things really get weird. A mysterious man, Rasmus, tells Hanna the truth: her father was a powerful shaman who went into Tuonela, the Realm of the Dead, in order to barter for more life, and has been held captive by Tuoni, the God of Death. The only way her father can be freed is if she travels with Rasmus into the mythical underworld to rescue him. Willing to do anything to have a second-chance with her father, Hanna accompanies Rasmus into the dark and bloody realm, traveling via the River of Shadows, stalked by dangerous creatures, monsters, and the living dead, until they finally come into the haunted kingdom ruled by Death and his family. Only for her to be captured and held prisoner by the God of Death himself. Turns out Death is intrigued by Hanna's beauty and fierceness and makes a bargain with her. If she marries him, and spends an eternity in the Realm of the Dead as his wife, he'll set her father free. But even the most noble sacrifices come with hidden costs, and Hanna's might involve the most unexpected of all things: her heart.

MY THOUGHTS:

River of Shadows landed on my Want to Read list as soon as I learned it would be a dark fantasy version of the Finnish God of Death. While I enjoyed the story, I didn't get the level of dark fantasy that'd I'd been expecting. The setup and intro were my favorite parts of the story. Hannah's first interactions with shamans and the City of Death were my favorite parts of the story. I loved how dark and gritty the story seemed at that point. From there, the book very much took on a tone of the classic Beauty & the Beast story, complete with an amazing library, and lost that dark edge. There was a lot of humor, which I was surprised by, but enjoyed. What didn't work for me in this story were the modern pop culture references and language. It pulled me out of the fantasy time and time again, which was disappointing. Ultimately, I am fascinated by the God of Death and his family. While this book wasn't everything I was hoping for, I am hooked enough to want to know more about the threats facing their rule, and what will become of the City of Death.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rX99wj

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/RiverOfShadows

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3EasO0D

MEET KARINA:

Karina Halle is a former travel writer, music journalist & screenwriter, and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of over 55 bestselling novels, ranging from horror and suspense to contemporary romance. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, and her adopted pitbull Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Root Literary Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster, Hachette & Montlake. Her work has been translated and published in 20 languages.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

Connect with Karina

Website: https://authorkarinahalle.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031.Karina_Halle

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

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/912577838806567/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalBlonde

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karina-halle

[mimireadsromance]

New Release & Review-Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne is now live!

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Central Park Pact comes a reverse My Fair Lady for the modern era about a pampered and privileged Manhattan socialite who must teach an unpolished and denim-loving nobody from the Louisiana Bayou how to fit in with the upper crust of New York City. Violet Townsend has always been a people pleaser. Raised in the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan, she always says the right things, wears the right clothes, and never rocks the boat. Violet would do anything for the people closest to her, especially her beloved grandmother. So when she asks Violet to teach the newly-discovered grandson of her friend how to fit in with New York City's elite, Violet immediately agrees. Her goal? To get Cain Stone ready to take his place as heir to his family company...but to say he's not exactly an eager student is an understatement. Born and raised in rural Louisiana and now making his own way in New Orleans, Cain Stone is only playing along for the paycheck at the end. He has no use for the grandmother he didn't know existed and no patience for the uppity Violet's attempts to turn him into a suit-wearing, museum-attending gentleman. But somewhere amidst antagonistic dinner parties and tortured tux fittings, Cain and Violet come to a begrudging understanding--and the uptight Violet realizes she's not the only one doing the teaching. As she and Cain begin to find mutual respect for one another (and maybe even something more), Violet learns that blindly following society's rules doesn't lead to happiness...and that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.

My Thoughts: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cover to cover. That's how I read LL's newest contemporary romance, Made in Manhattan. IMHO, noone writes big-city contemporary romance the way Lauren Layne does. The story is a love letter to NY, to romance, and to the readers that love happily ever afters. I loved the play on My Fair Lady, with the grumpy hero being the one that gets the makeover from the sunshine socialite. As always, New York is a central character in the story, but this time we also get to experience a little of New Orleans, which was such a nice addition! Everything about this book was magic-the banter, the romance, the journeys of self discovery, the secondary characters that provided both insight and humor (everyone needs a bff like Ashley), and sweet Coco/Toto. If I could rate this book higher than five stars, I absolutely would. This story and these characters are ones that I will enjoy revisiting often.

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3klTwMm

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3kpiWZz

Nook: https://bit.ly/3zsQTwx

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3Cz6E7b

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3kpj6QF

Audible: https://adbl.co/34Qa5Lf

Narrated by: Sura Siu

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ZjFz9P

Meet Lauren

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of romantic fiction. Her books have sold millions of copies, been translated into more than a dozen languages. Lauren has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Glamour, The Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She lives with her high school sweetheart in New York City.

Connect with Lauren

Website: https://laurenlayne.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Layne/e/B00ESEWKBG

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lauren-layne

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6969772.Lauren_Layne

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

Other: https://laurenlayne.circle.so/home

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NEW RELEASE & REVIEW-Playing Dirty in Alaska by Samanthe Beck

Playing Dirty In Alaska by Samanthe Beck is now live!

Bush pilot Bridget Shanahan runs from responsibility like a child runs from a dentist appointment, but when her brother leaves the family’s airfield in her hands, she knows it’s time to step up and behave like a Responsible Adult ™. So of course that’s when Archer Ellison III blows into her tiny town of Captivity, Alaska, every inch the hot-as-hell mistake that most definitely belongs in her past. Been there, done that, and didn’t even get to keep the commemorative sweatshirt

Archer has only ever had two goals. Now that he’s built his own empire outside his father’s company, he can move on to goal #2—winning back the one who got away by whatever means necessary. He knows it won’t be easy. Bridget Shanahan is older, wiser, more self-assured, and jaw-droppingly stunning…and doing everything she can to pretend the scorching chemistry between them doesn’t exist.

But fate is on his side. After an impulsive bet that would have sent Archer packing goes awry, Bridget is officially stuck with him. Which is really inconvenient, since falling for Archer again is the least responsible thing she could do.

MY THOUGHTS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Playing Dirty in Alaska gets five enthusiastic stars from this reader! I loved how Archer and Bridget found their way back to each other. I love the town of Captivity and it's residents and hope that there will be many, many more books to come. Archer and Bridget's story hit all the high points of the very best second chance romances for me. From the very first interaction, they lit up the page with their chemistry and great banter. Archer's determination to prove that Bridget was his number one priority—and his willingness to accept that he needed to make amends for not prioritizing her four years prior—is what makes him one of my favorite types of heroes. He's got a goal to win back his place in Bridget's heart and he will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I definitely swooned over his level of commitment to his plan. Bridget's a heroine you'll root for from page one. She's smart, she's always up for a challenge, and her loyalty and love for her friends and family are abundant. Given her recent grief, and the stress of working to cover the family business, it's understandable that her walls—where Archer is concerned—are thick and wide. Bridget's cautious, but she's not petty. She accepts Archer's help—knowing he has an ulterior motive—and is willing to see how things play out so long as it's at her choosing. The romance between this couple was satisfyingly sweet and sexy. I adored their banter just as much as I loved their quiet moments together. The ending...sigh. I had tears in my eyes and felt as though my heart might jump right out of my chest. It was so perfect. I'm really looking forward to seeing this couple again in the next book of the series.

Download today!

Amazon: http://mybook.to/pdiasb

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3CgrqaT

Nook: https://bit.ly/3CuM9YZ

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2YOdnMh

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Dlbm9c

MEET SAMANTHE BECK:

Wine lover, sleep fanatic, and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of sexy contemporary romance novels, Samanthe Beck lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her long-suffering husband, Charles, and their turbo-son, Hud. Throw in a furry ninja assassin named Gander, a few hundred Nerf blasters, one electric guitar, (with amp!), and...well...you get the picture. When not dreaming up fun, fan-your-cheeks ways to get her characters to happy-ever-after, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with ASMR podcasts.

Connect with Samanthe

Website | www.samanthebeck.com

Goodreads | https://bit.ly/3xlia4i

Amazon | https://amzn.to/3at1mhX

Facebook | https://bit.ly/3ejaTZP

Instagram | https://bit.ly/32ubAtM

Twitter | https://bit.ly/3gxjRp0

Bookbub | https://bit.ly/3sxkem8

Newsletter | https://bit.ly/3eYNBJo

[mimireadsromance]

🎉 Happy New Year 🎉 Dusting off the planner supplies & getting back in the habit of using a book journal this year. Today I'm working on my challenge spreads. Pictured: Sweatpants and Spice Challenge by @theshelfiechronicles I'll also be adding the Tackle My TBR challenge by @kimberlyfayereads , the Buzzword challenge by @booksandlala , the A to Z challenge, a Rainbow challenge, and the Read Your Shelf challenge by The Shelfie Chronicles. How do you track your reading—print or digital? Are you doing any reading challenges this year? #SweatpantsAndSpiceChallenge #MimiReads2022🎀💌 #BookJournal #CoffeePlanRead☕📓📚 #ErinCondren (at Converse, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYPavvZPhxr/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mimireadsromance]

New Release & Review: Billions-A Constantine Boxed Set

Billions: A Constantine Boxed Set by K Webster, M. O'Keefe, & Becker Gray is now live!

"Brilliant storytelling packed with a powerful emotional punch, it's been years since I've been so invested in a book. Erotic romance at its finest!" -#1NYT Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken A controlling billionaire with the maid... The dangerous fixer with an heiress... The hottest boy in school with a bookish girl... BILLIONS contains three full length novels! Meet the powerful Constantine family in this breathtaking boxed set from three talented authors. "M. O'Keefe brings her A-game in this sexy, complicated romance where you're left questioning if everything you thought was true while dying to get your hands on the next book!" - New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DUgeC4

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3BWcYFR

Nook: https://bit.ly/3lX1bl0

Kobo: https://bit.ly/30HSEKE

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3vr2g7O

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3E9uMyS

MY THOUGHTS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This boxed set has a little something for everyone that loves their romance on the slightly darker side. First, in Stroke of Midnight, we get an age-gap relationship with a man that doesn't just want to dominate, but humiliate the younger woman that has captured his attention. Winston Constantine runs the empire his father built and seems cold and untouchable. Ash Elliott, fresh from high school and desperate for funds to pay for college, strikes a deal with Win, even knowing that doing so is going to destroy her. This story was a bit of a "plot, what plot" book for me—lots of steam but not much else. UNTIL the last couple of chapters. Ash is in trouble. For that matter, so is Winston Constantine. She's determined to save him, but at what cost to herself? Since the book ends on a major cliffhanger, I don't know yet...but I've already one-clicked the next book to find out! Next up is Ruined, by M. O'Keefe. This book (which also ends on a cliffhanger as it's part of a trilogy about the couple) is my favorite of the boxed set. It's a story I've read before and it was no hardship to read it again. I love Ronan and Poppy and am completely invested in the level of chaos that is happening in the first book. The short and sweet of it is that she's survived an abusive marriage, only to find out she's somehow a pawn in the war between the Constantines and the Morellis. She doesn't know if she can trust Ronan, but she's undeniably drawn to him. The trilogy is so good! Lastly, there's an angsty high-school romance—Wicked Idol, by author Becker Grey—between Keaton Constantine and Iris Briggs. He's a member of the Hellfire Club at the prep school where Iris' father just became headmaster. I started the story expecting a bully romance, but Keaton isn't really much of a bully. He says some cruel things, and does some pretty stupid stuff (par for the course for this type of character), but ultimately he's just a boy that is need of love. This one is a complete story and is part of a series so if this type story is your jam you'll find more books with the characters you come to know as you read about Keaton and Iris. I was pleasantly surprised by how the characters and world of these books connected and plan to read more in each author's series.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Meet Molly O'Keefe

Molly O'Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write. She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn't looked back. She loves exploring every character's road towards happily ever after. Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she's not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption. Dishing It Out, her last Harlequin Flipside won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for best Flipside in 2005. Her Superromance Baby Makes Three won the RT Reviewer's Choice for best Superromance in 2006. L-length Her novella, "The Christmas Eve Promise" in The Night Before Christmas won the RITA in 2009. And her full length contemporary romance CRAZY THING CALLED LOVE won the RITA in 2013.

Connect with Molly

Website: https://www.molly-okeefe.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/223845.Molly_O_Keefe

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Molly-OKeefe/e/B001H9Q534

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MollyOKwrites

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/molly-o-keefe

Meet K. Webster

K Webster is a USA Today Bestselling author. Her titles have claimed many bestseller tags in numerous categories, are translated in multiple languages, and have been adapted into audiobooks. She lives in ""Tornado Alley"" with her husband, two children, and her baby dog named Blue. When she's not writing, she's reading, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and researching aliens.

You can easily find K Webster on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads!

Can't find a certain book? Maybe it's too hot for Amazon! Don't worry because titles like Bad Bad Bad, This is War, Baby, The Wild, and Hale can all be found for sale on K's website in both ebook and paperback format.

Connect with K Webster

Website: https://authorkwebster.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7741564.K_Webster

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/K-Webster/e/B00JOJ86CW

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/krazyforkwebstersbooks/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-webster

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bawebstergal/boards/

Meet Becker Gray

Becker Gray is the brainchild of two best friends who love rich boys in peacoats. The Hellfire Club is their first series together.

Connect with Becker

Website: https://www.beckergray.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20591486.Becker_Gray

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Becker-Gray/e/B08HZKSMM9

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

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/becker-gray

[mimireadsromance]

New Release & Review: His for the Holidays by Samantha Chase

His for the Holidays by Samantha Chase is now live!

What better way to unwind from the stress of a family Thanksgiving, than escaping with an armload of Christmas cookies? Hannah Christy was eager to head home and devour her treats in solitude, while doing some prep work for the promotion she was vying for. Those plans came to a screeching halt... along with the elevator.... trapping her inside with her sexy neighbor. After being trapped with his match-making family over Thanksgiving, getting stuck in an elevator was a welcome reprieve for Gage Lawson. If it was up to him, he would gladly stay stranded well into the new year. Especially since his neighbor has a whole treasure trove of ideas on how to pass the time. The best Christmas cookies he's ever tasted. Delicious spiced wine. Fun getting-to-know-you games. It's the most holiday merriment he's had in a long while. Somewhere in the midst of it all, Gage comes up with the perfect plan. A fake romance to help make both their family get-togethers more jolly! To his surprise, Hannah agrees to be his for the holidays. Yet with the mistletoe in full bloom, and her on his arm, Gage soon realizes their little Christmas show isn't enough. He wants her for real... and forever. Roast the chestnuts and hang the stockings, Gage has a plan! With the help of the 55 and over residents, magical flurries, and a never-ending supply of hot cocoa with extra marshmallows, he's determined to show Hannah that Christmas is the most wonderful time of year to fall in love.

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BuAJ6Z

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3DDIoRt

Nook: https://bit.ly/3jTUs9W

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3pXvBpU

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3IJA6eH

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3GRDIu

MY THOUGHTS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stuck elevators, family traditions, and not-so-fake dating! Gage Lawson is dreading going home for the holidays. He loves his family, but his mother and sisters are determined to help him settle down. Then fate intervenes, and he's trapped on an elevator for hours with his beautiful neighbor. A few hours, and a game of truth or dare later, and the idea of a fake girlfriend suddenly seems like a great idea. But is it really fake dating?! There's an instant connection between Hannah and Gage, and when her professional life takes a hit, she decides to be his for the holidays! Samantha Chase delivered a lovely romance that focused on family, acceptance, and healthy boundaries. I loved all the ways that Gage and Hannah connected-from Christmas movie watching to participating in family traditions, all the little moments and conversations showed that this couple could work through anything. Most importantly, they were content with the little moments-waffles and homemade cookies, snowglobes and pj's. What mattered most was that their hearts found each other!

MEET SAMANTHA:

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that's hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than seventy titles under her belt - including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017! She's a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80's rock. When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene...oh, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Connect with Samantha

Website: https://www.chasing-romance.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1250276.Samantha_Chase

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1R1Ey8Z

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1034673493228089

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaChase3

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthachasebooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/samantha-chase

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/samanthachase31/_saved/

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/SamanthaChaseRomance

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I had a great book mail day! First, my @bookofthemonth box arrived! 1. The Holiday Swap by @maggieknoxauthor is my December selection. 2. How cute are these stickers included in this month's BOTM box?! 3. Malibu Rising by @tjenkinsreid is my 2021 Book of the Year selection. So looking forward to catching up on all my reading this month! (at Converse, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXFN0bSsbaV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mimireadsromance]

COVER REVEAL-The Proposal Playbook by Samantha Chase

Samantha Chase has revealed the cover for The Proposal Playbook!

Releasing: February 1, 2022

Cover designer: Kari March of Kari March Designs

He's a former Navy SEAL from the school of hard knocks. She's a cheery wedding planner writing a guide to happily ever afters. Who knew cupid's arrow could come in the form of a five-pound bag of flour? When Daisy Sinclair gleefully offers to help her brother come up with the perfect proposal, she has no idea how time-consuming the project will become. Or, how it would make her the target of mockery from one rather grumpy former SEAL. Xander thinks he's got her all figured out. She is determined to prove him wrong. Just because she's more cheer than sneer doesn't give him the right to pass judgment on her. As the son of a woman who walked away from her family, Xander Madden believes he's destined to follow in her footsteps. Which makes Daisy's ridiculously chipper ramblings about the wonders of love all the more irritating. Still, there's something about her that he can't ignore. Although... he probably should, considering every time he opens his mouth, he says the wrong thing. Just when Xander thinks he can avoid the trappings of her sunny disposition, Daisy smacks him with a five-pound bag of flower and suddenly she's all he can think about. The pair have nothing in common except an undeniable attraction. Is a future for them possible when Daisy's looking for forever and Xander can't even commit to tomorrow?

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EdTjT4

Apple Books: https://apple.co/318ytGs

Nook: https://bit.ly/3DaDAT6

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3pcuC2Z

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2ZFj1Rj

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/31TorJj

MEET SAMANTHA CHASE

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that's hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than seventy titles under her belt - including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017! She's a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80's rock. When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene...oh, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Connect with Samantha

Website: https://www.chasing-romance.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1250276.Samantha_Chase

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1R1Ey8Z

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1034673493228089

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamanthaChase3

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthachasebooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/samantha-chase

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/samanthachase31/_saved/

Verve: https://ververomance.com/app/SamanthaChaseRomance

[mimireadsromance]

New Release & Review-The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese, 1 December 2021

The Mistletoe Motive, a Kobo Original by Chloe Liese is now live!

From the author of THE BERGMAN BROTHERS series comes a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers holiday romance, perfect for fans of THE HATING GAME and YOU'VE GOT MAIL. He loathes the holidays. She loves them. She's full of festive cheer. He's brimming with Bah, Humbugs. Besides unreasonably seasonable names, the only thing Jonathan Frost and Gabriella Di Natale have in common is a healthy dose of mutual contempt. Well, that and the same place of employment at the city's most beloved independent bookstore, Bailey's Bookshop. But when the store's owners confess its dire financial state, Jonathan and Gabby discover another unfortunate commonality: the imminent threat of unemployment. With the Baileys' requests to minimize expenses, win new customers, and make record sales dancing in their heads, Jonathan and Gabby conclude--barring a financial Christmas miracle--one of them will soon be cut from the payroll. Neither are willing to step down from their position, so they strike a bargain: whoever has more sales in December gets to stay on in the new year; the loser will resign. With a lifetime's worth of festive tricks up her sleeve, Gabby should easily outsell her nemesis, except the unreadable Mr. Frost's every move seems purely designed to throw her off her game. As if that wasn't bad enough, Gabby's deceptive ex won't quit pursuing her, and her anonymous online friend suggests they take a break. Worst of all, as the pressure mounts to save the bookshop and her job, Gabby meets a new, tender side of Jonathan. Is this the same man she's called her cold-hearted enemy? Maybe he's got a motive she just can't figure out--or maybe Jonathan Frost isn't as chilly as she once thought. Maybe Jonathan and Gabby already know--and love--each other in ways they never thought possible.

This is an #OwnVoices story for its portrayal of autism by an autistic author.

Download today on Kobo!

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3BqPV4X

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3k4sJUo

Coming soon to the Libby app!

MY THOUGHTS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If I had a dream list of things I'd want in a holiday story, The Mistletoe Motive would have checked every box. It's like Chloe Liese tapped into the mind of this romance reader and delivered the perfect Christmas gift! From the moment Gabby first declared, " I hate him. He is the prickly holly leaf in the Frasier fur garland of my life.", this reader just KNEW that this book was going to be a lot of fun. Gabby and Johnathon are such wonderful characters and their animosity towards each other was so obviously about misunderstood feelings that I was darn near gleeful about seeing these two fall. The Bailey's Bookshop was a terrific setting and helped to really flesh out the difference between these two characters. Gabby is pure Joy and Merriment, and Mr. Frost is all analysis and Bah Humbug. The one thing they do have in common is a real love for the bookstore where they work, and a love for the books that they read. I now want to read all the bookstore romances, so please feel free to share recs if you have them! Here are just a few of the things I loved about this particular book: * Grumpy/Sunshine - He's Mr. Frost and she LOVES Christmas *Own Voices - fantastic autism rep / demisexual heroine/ honest conversations about living with long-term medical conditions (Type 1 Diabetes) /discussion of childhood issues that impact a person's feelings towards the holidays / recognition of an ex's manipulations *Workplace romance - but make it angsty because they've decided to compete for the same position after the holidays *Super sweet—but still a little steamy—holiday romance with a little extra something that I won't spoil. But this rom-com loving reader's heart did a happy little dance from the first moment this something extra was introduced to the story. Just so swoony! This was one of those stories that played out in my mind like a movie, which doesn't happen often. It confirmed for me that I was absolutely justified in starting a Kobo subscription just to have this book. I even purchased the audiobook version, and thoroughly enjoyed Erin Mallon's narration (and the epilogue narrated by Jacob Morgan). Chloe Liese proved, once again, that her spot on my auto-buy author list is absolutely secure!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Chloe writes romances reflecting her belief that everyone deserves a love story. Her stories pack a punch of heat, heart, and humor, and often feature characters who are neurodivergent like herself. When not dreaming up her next book, Chloe spends her time wandering in nature, playing soccer, and most happily at home with her family and mischievous cats.

Connect with Chloe

Website: https://chloeliese.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18859163.Chloe_Liese

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chloe-Liese/e/B07PH1Y8TR

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chloe_liese

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chloe_liese

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/chloe-liese