Release Day Review : Switch Bidder: a Jock Hard novella by Sara Ney

Switch Bidder
by Sara Ney 

Release Date:y June 27th, 2019

Novella – Standalone 

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Source:
eARC received in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:

Piper has been crushing on Ryder Williams for years.. 

What better chance to make her move on him than when he’s sacrificing himself on an auction block for a squealing mass of fans at a charity event? Too bad she’d rather hide in the bathroom than raise her paddel; what girl actually bids on a guy who doesn’t know she exists? 

Not. Piper. 

But that's what friends are for... 

One meddling best friend, and an overpriced bid later, and Ryder Willams is Piper's for the taking. Too bad that she has no intention of collecting on his debt. 

Too bad Ryder is determined to find out why. 

NOTE: Switch Bidder is a SHORT #JockHard Novella, at 10,000 words. Aka: Short Novella.

Jock Hard Series on Goodreads:

Review of Switch Hitter HERE
Review of Jock Row HERE
Review of Jock Hard HERE

Purchase Links Switch Bidder:
Amazon US | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Review:

If you have never read anything by Sara Ney, Switch Bidder is the perfect novella to give you a little peek at how phenomenal this author is. Novellas in my opinion are great to discover new authors and Sara Ney is an author that you ABSOLUTELY need on your TBR list! Her writing style is captivating and her stories linger with you for days after you turned the last page.

Piper Davenport is about to step out of her comfort zone. She has been crushing on Ryder Williams for four awkward years. Things get interesting between Piper and Ryder because of an auction that her best friend won for her. Piper's world is about to be turned upside down and Ryder is right by her side for this rollercoaster ride. 

Switch Bidder is the second novella in the Jock Hard Series and it can be read as a standalone. This was a super quick read that left a smile on my lips.  Piper and Ryder are a fantastic duo and I had fun following their little journey. Even if this was a quick novella, I loved how I connected immediately with both of these characters. I really enjoyed my reading escape and I highly recommend this book and the entire Jock Hard Series by Sara Ney. You will not be disappointed!

About the Author:

Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British. 

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Book Spotlight: Love in the Afternoon by Karen Hawkins

Love In The Afternoon
A Dove Pond eNovella

By:
Karen Hawkins

Publisher:
Gallery Books

Release Date:
June 17, 2019

eBook-Price: $1.99

ISBN:
9781982105587

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Book Synopsis:

A woman with a legendary green thumb, a man living in an emotional desert, and a small boy unable to connect with others. Can the three of them, with a little help from the charmed town of Dove Pond (and a pesky ghost), turn a nightmare into a fairytale and forge their own happily ever after? 

Young widow Sofia Rodriquez has just accepted the position of greenhouse manager for Ava Dove’s booming herbal tea business. Sofia is delighted to have found a job that will make use of her gardening skills and allow her to spend time with her son, Noah, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s. Adding to her joy is the charming farmhouse she’s renting on the edge of Dove Pond.



The only cloud on Sofia’s horizon is her next door neighbor, Jake, whose yard is a thorny jungle worthy of Sleeping Beauty. Soon enough, Sofia discovers that Jake himself is just as thorny and unpleasant as his yard.



After his fiancé left him, work-from-home IT whiz and game developer Jake Klaine has gone from Prince Charming to complete hermit. But Jake isn’t really alone; he’s living with a ghost: a (formerly) hairy man named Doyle who’s a fan of bad puns and who refuses to leave Jake’s bathtub. This is nothing new for Jake, as he’s been talking to ghosts since he was a boy. He finds real people harder to deal with, like the kid next door who won’t stop bugging him about the new game he’s developing.



Sofia and Jake know all too well that life isn’t a game. They’ve both lost the person they loved most. But under the watchful eye of the ghostly Doyle and Sofia’s new friend Ava, who has abilities of her own, Jake and Sofia decide to take a chance and let in an outsider. Soon they discover that, with a little magic, even the thorniest walls are no match for the innocent trust of a lonely child and the fierce determination of a woman wielding a razor-sharp pruner and a heart big enough to make even the most stubborn flower bloom. 

Book Excerpt:

Sofia had never met anyone like her new boss, Ava Dove. Ava’s herbal tea business might be growing at an astounding rate but it was Ava’s knowledge of plants that intrigued Sofia. Ava spoke of the plants as if they were people, saying things like “Mint loves sunshine and Bach.” And “Rosemary may seem like a stiff, unyielding sort of plant, but she has a big heart.” If someone had heard Sofia saying anything like that, they would have called her crazy, but for some reason, when Ava said it, it made perfect sense. 

And no one could say Ava didn’t know her plants. The greenhouses were filled with fat, happy, leafy plants. And when she walked down the aisles, it seemed as if the plants reached for her, wanting her attention. 

It was weird, and yet so satisfyingly wonderful that Sofia found herself just accepting the fact that Ava loved her plants and they loved her back. If only all facets of life were that perfect and simple. In the meantime, Sofia was happy to learn what she could from her new boss and her wonderful greenhouses. The fresh scents made Sofia want to fill her lungs over and over, and the calmness of the space gave her the peace she’d been searching for since The Very Bad Day, while the flexible hours let her spend time with her son, Noah, whenever she wanted. This really is the perfect job. 

When her cousin Juana had first suggested Sofia and Noah move from hot and crowded Orlando to quiet and peaceful Dove Pond, Sofia had been hesitant. At the time, she’d been in the middle of a messy, unresolved, painful divorce, and moving would have only complicated things. But Juana had persisted, which wasn’t surprising. Juana’s husband, Tony, said she didn’t know the word no, didn’t want to, and refused to hear it. So when Juana had repeatedly explained why Dove Pond was so perfect for Sofia, how the special education program at the elementary school Noah would be attending was amazing, the community welcoming and friendly, and the town itself “magical,” Sofia had found herself listening. And when the time had come, Sofia hadn’t thought twice—she’d packed up her and Noah’s things and moved here. 

Of course she didn’t believe in magic, but she had to admit that so far, despite its slightly worn-out air, Dove Pond was casting a spell over her. She’d desperately needed peace and a place to get away, where she and Noah could heal and start fresh, and Dove Pond had delivered that and more. In fact, the second she’d put her foot outside her car and onto the pavement of Dove Pond’s historic downtown area, she’d felt as if she’d come home. 

At first glance, the little town had seemed like every other small town in North Carolina, with two-story redbrick buildings lining an awning-festooned main street, charming tree-lined avenues with an impressive collection of large Queen Anne–style houses, and people more interested in the corn crop than in the sorry state of affairs in DC. But Dove Pond held surprises around every corner—treasures, really—each one a blessing for Sofia and Noah. And the first treasure had been Ava.

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond series is a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors for her to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible. To find out more about Karen, check in with her at Facebook.com/KarenHawkinsWriter, @KarenHawkinsAuthor on Instagram, and at her website, KarenHawkins.com.

Book Review: Diamond Fire (Hidden Legacy 3.5) by Ilona Andrews

Diamond Fire
Hidden Legacy #3.5
By: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Avon
Published: Nov. 6, 2018
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Source: Purchase

Book Synopsis:

Nevada Frida Baylor and Connor Ander Rogan cordially invite you to join their wedding celebration. Summoning, weather manipulation, and other magical activities strictly forbidden. 

Catalina Baylor is looking forward to wearing her maid of honor dress and watching her older sister walk down the aisle. Then the wedding planner gets escorted off the premises, the bride’s priceless tiara disappears, and Rogan's extensive family overruns his mother’s home. Someone is cheating, someone is lying, and someone is plotting murder. 

To make this wedding happen, Catalina will have to do the thing she fears most: use her magic. But she’s a Baylor and there’s nothing she wouldn't do for her sister's happiness. Nevada will have her fairy tale wedding, even if Catalina has to tear the mansion apart brick by brick to get it done.

My Thoughts:

Diamond Fire was a great little novella.  It is told from Catalina Baylor's perspective and is meant to transition readers from Nevada's trilogy to her younger sister's trilogy.  It manages to do this and so much more!

Catalina is Nevada's maid of honor.  She loves her sister dearly and ends up taking over wedding planner responsibilities after Nevada ends up firing two wedding planner's in a row.  Connor Rogan's large extended family fly in to stay with Mrs. Rogan for the wedding, and wreck havoc with the drama filled chaos that they manage to bring with them!

Catalina wants her sister to have a beautiful wedding, and doesn't want to bring her any anxiety or stress.   Leading the charge, she works together with younger sister Arabella, and their cousins Bern and Leroy to get things done.  

Unfortunately, a rare and priceless family heirloom tiara has gone missing, and Mrs. Rogan has asked her to find it, so that Nevada can wear it down the aisle, as previous generations in the family have done.  To top it off, a murder plot has been discovered, and Catalina is determined to take the villain down, and keep everyone safe.  She is overwhelmed with so much responsibility on her shoulders, but if anyone can handle it, she can.

I enjoyed learning more about Catalina in this novella.  She learns that she is stronger than she realizes, and I was proud of the character growth that she underwent.  Also, it was an opportunity to get a little more Arabella and Leroy as well.  I felt like I got to know the Baylor's even better, and I love how there is so much love and loyalty between these family members.  They have each other's back, and even though they can drive one another crazy from time to time, (like any large family,) they would not hesitate to protect and defend each other, no matter the cost!

Catalina is forced to use her powers as a Siren, and we see her becoming stronger, as she experiments, and pushes herself to streamline and use her abilities with finesse.  We get our HEA, (for Nevada and Rogan,) and the story is left open-ended in a way where we know that Catalina is capable of so much more than she even knows, and with the right training and practice, I can't wait to learn about all of the things she is magically capable of, and how powerful she will become.  As an aside, we also get a glimpse of Catalina's loneliness, and I am looking forward to her finding her person.

I am ready, and really excited to continue my journey in the Hidden Legacy Series, with Catalina's first full length novel, Sapphire Flames!

Hidden Legacy Series:

My Review

My Review

My Review

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | TBD

About the Author:

"Ilona Andrews" is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.) They have co-authored two New York Times and USA Today bestselling series—the urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and the romantic urban fantasy of The Edge—and are working on the next volumes for both. They live in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

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Release Day Launch: Eli's Triumph (Reapers MC #6.7) by Joanna Wylde

Eli's Triumph
Reapers MC #6.7

By:
Joanna Wylde

Release Date:
May 7, 2019

Publisher:
Evil Eye Concepts

Add to:
Goodreads

Book Summary:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanna Wylde comes a new story in her Reapers MC series… 

Peaches Taylor spent the last seven years slinging drinks and dodging drunks at the Starkwood Saloon. Some might call it a dead end job, but to her it was an investment—another six months, and she’d have enough money to buy the place. 

Life would've been perfect if Eli hadn’t come home.

Eli King is ready to settle down. He stood by his brothers when they needed him, paying the price for their freedom with his own. Now it’s time to claim his reward—the Starkwood Saloon. He’s got the cash to buy the bar, the skills to run it, and just one person standing between him and his dream: Peaches Taylor. 

She’s been driving him crazy since they were kids, and not in the good way. When she was six, she shoved a spider down his pants. When he was ten, he locked her in a closet overnight. Then she hot-wired his car at seventeen, and things got ugly… 

They’re adults now, and the Starkwood isn’t a toy to fight over—it’s the hill they’ll die on. No prisoners. No compromises. No mercy. 

Peaches Taylor and Eli King are going to war. 

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

 

Reapers MC Series Reviews:
Reapers Legacy Here
Devil's Game Here
Reapers Stand Here
Reapers Fall Here
Reapers Fire Here
Shade's Lady Here
Rome's Chance Here

  

Learn more about the Reapers MC Series

Add to Your Goodreads TBR

Book Trailer:

Embedded:

My Thoughts:

Every time I get a new Reapers MC book on my kindle, it's like a kid being told that they get to skip school, and go to Disneyland for the day!  I have mad love for the Reapers MC Series, and every single book in this series is excellent!  Right before I even began reading Eli's Triumph, I thought about how excited I was to read it, but at the same time how I really wanted to savor it, because I knew I'd be sad once it ended!

Eli King has just spent five years in prison for a murder he didn't commit.  Instead, he took the fall, out of the love and loyalty he has for the Reapers MC.  Now that he's out early, Eli's looking forward to owning and running, the Starkwood Saloon, which he was promised, by his Uncle Gus and fellow Reapers.  

However, when Eli was away, there were no guarantees that he would make it out of prison anytime soon.  So unbeknownst to him, Uncle Gus, made arrangements with Peaches Taylor to own and run the saloon.  Peaches never knew about the prior arrangement made between Gus and Eli.  When she finds out that Gus is no longer selling her the Saloon that she has been busting her butt to run the last several years, (and is selling it to Eli instead,) she is shocked, devastated, and livid!  She blames Eli for stealing her dream right out from under her.  Peaches and Eli have had a love/hate dynamic between them since they were small children.  Eli wants the saloon, and the girl! He knows that Peaches is the one for him, but can he convince her of that?

I loved Eli and Peaches' story!  No matter how hard Peaches tried to push him away, they would always find their way back to each other; as if by a strong magnetic pull!  These two came in to each others lives when Peaches was just five, and Eli, seven years old.  Ms. Wylde did a great job of giving us their dual perspectives, and glimpses in to their long history, by flashing between the past and present.  

As the reader, I loved being privy to everything that happened behind the scenes.  Through these flashbacks, we see that Peaches and Eli have always had a complex relationship.  Peaches was jealous of Eli as a child, but also drawn to him.  Eli was protective of Peaches, always watching out for her, and loved pushing her buttons, and igniting her fierce and fiery temper!  These two were loyal to one another, and their chemistry was off the charts!  

Eli and Peaches drove each other crazy, but also cared so deeply for one another.  This made for an entertaining, fast-paced romance, with so much build-up, that I was dying for these two to get together!  There were also sweet elements to the story, in the way that Eli and Peaches were loyal and protective towards one another, and always their for each other.  We get quick glimpses of a few characters from the Reapers MC series, but the focus is on Eli and Peaches.  You can definitely read this story as a standalone.  If you want an off the charts sexy, entertaining and riveting MC read, look no further!

Book Teasers:

Book Excerpt:

“Eli?” she asked, sounding confused. “Why are we talking about Eli?”

“He’s been watching me.” 

“Um, I think he’s just drinking a beer,” Megan said. “Maybe checking out your boobs a little, but that’s nothing new.”

Hmm… It couldn’t possibly be that simple, but it did give me an idea. Maybe it was time to create a diversion. I shifted my shoulders, expanding my chest. 

Disappointingly, his eyes stayed on mine.

 “Someday I’m gonna own this bar, and firing his ass is the first thing I’ll do.” 

Megan giggled. “That sounded sort of super-villain-ish. Do you have a lair? I wish I had a lair…” 

I blinked, caught off guard. I hadn’t realized that I’d said the words out loud. Eli smirked at me, gloating because he’d just won our little pissing contest. Dammit!

 “I can’t believe I wrote to him in prison,” I told her, turning my back on the bikers. “Never should’ve been nice to him. He probably thinks that, deep down inside, we’re friends or something. We’re never going to be friends.”

 “Didn’t he give you a ride home after work last night?” she asked, her voice light.

 “Gus made him,” I snapped. 

 “And did Gus make him hug you the other day?” 

 “He caught me and gave me a noogie. And it hurt, too. It’s not a hug if it leaves bruises.” 

 “He left bruises?” Megan asked, startled. Shit. I might be able to justify a rumor about him not being able to get it up, but telling her that he’d hurt me for real…yeah, that probably crossed a line. 

 “No,” I admitted. “That was an exaggeration. But he’s still pure evil, so don’t fall for his shit. Or sleep with him. Every time a waitress sleeps with him, she ends up quitting without notice. Then I have to cover their shifts.” 

 Megan nodded, looking a little uncomfortable. “Okay, then… Um, I think I’ll go check the bathrooms. Make sure there’s no ugly surprises before things start getting busy.” 

“Great idea,” I told her, and she scuttled off. Then I reached for a washcloth because I had lemon juice to clean up. Then I’d have to go back over there and check on them. See if they wanted more… Eli would, I could already tell. Not because he was big on drinking, though. 

 He just wouldn’t be able to resist an opportunity to order me around.

Purchase At:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

About the Author:

Joanna Wylde started her writing career in journalism, working in two daily newspapers as both a reporter and editor. Her career has included many different jobs, from managing a homeless shelter to running her own freelance writing business, where she took on projects ranging from fundraising to ghostwriting for academics. During 2012 she got her first Kindle reader as a gift and discovered the indie writing revolution taking place online. Not long afterward she started cutting back her client list to work on Reaper’s Property, her breakout book. It was published in January 2013, marking the beginning of a new career writing fiction. 

Joanna lives in the mountains of northern Idaho with her family.

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