Excerpt Reveal : Neighbor Dearest by Penelope Ward

Neighbor Dearest

by Penelope Ward

Release Date:
August 15th, 2016

Genres:
Contemporary Romance

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Excerpt Reveal Hosted by:
TRSOR Promotions

Synopsis:

A STANDALONE NOVEL that does NOT need to be read in conjunction with any other book. 

From New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Ward, comes a sexy new STANDALONE novel. 

After getting dumped, the last thing I needed was to move next door to someone who reminded me of my ex-boyfriend, Elec. 

Damien was a hotter version of my ex. 

The neighbor I’d dubbed “Angry Artist” also had two massive dogs that kept me up with their barking. He wanted nothing to do with me. Or so I thought until one night I heard laughter coming through an apparent hole in my bedroom wall. 

Damien had been listening to all of my phone sessions with my therapist. 

The sexy artist next door now knew all of my deepest secrets and insecurities. 

We got to talking. 

He set me straight with tips to get over my breakup. 

He became a good friend, but Damien made it clear that he couldn’t be anything more. 

Problem was, I was falling hard for him anyway. And as much as he pushed me away, I knew he felt the same…because his heartbeat didn’t lie. 

I thought my heart had been broken by Elec, but it was alive and beating harder than ever for Damien. 

I just hoped he wouldn’t shatter it for good. 

Author's note – Neighbor Dearest is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Cover designer: Letitia Hasser, r.b.a designs 

Cover Model: James Joseph Pulido 

Cover Photography: Cory Stierley

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***Available for purchase on Amazon on release day. Receive an alert when it’s live on Amazon ***  

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Chapter Reveal:

You can read Chapter 1 of Neighbor Dearest HERE

Teasers:

  Other books from Penelope Ward: 

RoomHate 
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1WmdZLK 
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1PysqdM 
 iBooks: http://apple.co/1PgsvE7 
 Kobo: http://bit.ly/1POvSnW 
Nook: http://bit.ly/1PLGnSL  

Sins of Sevin 
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Qryeok 
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1YrHjDx 
iBooks: http://apple.co/1K8mzGg 
 B&N: http://bit.ly/1hTKAKE 
 kobo: http://bit.ly/1OaGY3D 

 

Cocky Bastard (co-written with Vi Keeland) 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1DW9XpB 

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1WwPzkC 

iBooks: http://apple.co/1J7vbN0 

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1UxCSUO 

B&N: http://bit.ly/1EjxNpY

Stuck-Up Suit (co-written with Vi Keeland)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1VK66ll  

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Qbwy57 

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1RJdUif 

B&N: http://bit.ly/1UC8wDC

Stepbrother Dearest 
Amazon  http://amzn.to/1mFNMeg 
 B&N: http://bit.ly/1taMFjG 
iBooks: http://bit.ly/YER0mT 
kobo: http://bit.ly/1fJaaBs 

 Gemini 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1vgk1SE 
B&N: http://bit.ly/1KfmLHD 
iBooks: http://apple.co/1QTaONj 
kobo: http://bit.ly/1BGJ2wu 

 Jake Undone (Jake #1) 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1dJrHBC 
B&N: http://bit.ly/1obAwJ6 
iBooks: http://apple.co/1fJayQ8 
kobo: http://bit.ly/1SPKl0M 

Jake Understood (Jake #2) 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1GFdves 
B&N: http://bit.ly/1FwJC0z 
iBooks: http://apple.co/1DQQwgC 
kobo: http://bit.ly/1LQ7Fvk  

My Skylar 
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1obOG2F 
B&N: http://bit.ly/SLO1qi 
iBooks: http://bit.ly/SLNOTR 
kobo: http://bit.ly/1kNrtAB 

About the Author:

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island. 

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Book Review: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

P.S. I Like You

By:
Kasie West

Release Date:
July 26, 2016

Publisher:
Scholastic

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Goodreads

Source:
ARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery? While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. 

When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart? 

From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.

 

My Thoughts:

P.S. I  Like You was such a fun and light-hearted read.  It was a great young adult novel, that I truly loved!  The main character, Lily, was well-developed and was given an authentic teen voice.  She was quirky, interesting, adorably awkward, had a great sense of humor, and a unique taste in clothes and music.  I especially enjoyed what a great sister she was to her little brothers, and how she was true to herself.

Lily loves music, and her favorite musicians are mostly obscure indie bands.  She has a passion for playing her guitar and writing song lyrics in her notebook, that she has on her at all times.  However, she lacks the confidence in her musical ability to share it with even her family or best friend.  Lily comes from a large, rambunctious, and colorful immediate family.  She is hard-pressed to get time to herself, and they drive her a bit crazy; but she is loved, and loves them in return.

When Lily is caught by her Chemistry teacher doodling in her notebook, he restricts her to only one loose leaf piece of paper per class period.  Lily ends up writing the beginning lyrics to a song that she can't get out of her head, on her desk.  She is surprised the next day, to find that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk.  Shortly after, Lily ends up with an anonymous pen pal, as they begin to exchange letters taped under the Chemistry desk.  

Writing to someone without knowing who they are is extremely freeing.  Pretty soon the pen pals are not only writing about their favorite music, which is a shared passion; but they are also exchanging more intimate information with one another as well.  Lily isn't sure if she wants to know who her pen pal is, because she fears that they will be disappointed if they learn who she is.    

Early on, I guessed who Lily's pen pal was, and couldn't wait to see how they would discover each other's identities in real life.  P.S. I Like You was a really fast-paced read, and perfect for teens that enjoy romance.  It didn't have any risqué content, and in fact, only contained some minor kissing.  As a parent, I think this would be a good choice for my tween or teen daughter.  As an adult, it took my back to my teenage years, and made me fill nostalgic.  I loved every moment of it!!!     

My Rating:

I give, P.S. I Like You, by Kasie West, 4.5 Light-Hearted, Laugh Aloud, Feel Good Stars!  I highly recommend this super fun and entertaining read!!!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Google Play | Kobo | BAM 

About Kasie West:

I love to write--too much. It's a sickness really. My novels out and available now are: PIVOT POINT, SPLIT SECOND, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND.

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Teaser Excerpt: Furious Rush by S.C. Stephens

Furious Rush
By: S.C Stephens

Release Date:
August 23, 2016

Publisher:
Forever 

Format:
Trade Paperback & eBook

Price:
$12.99 USD (TP)
$4.99 USD (eBook)

Add to
Goodreads

Book Summary:

The first in an emotion-fueled, New Adult series from the #1 bestselling author of the Thoughtless novels! 

Too fast, too furious—and way too hot to handle… 

Mackenzie Cox has a lot to prove. Daughter of a racing legend, she is eager to show the world that she has inherited her father's talent in the male-dominated sport of professional motorcycle racing. The last thing Kenzie needs is to be antagonized by her rival team's newest rider, Hayden Hayes. Plucked from the world of illegal street racing, Hayden immediately gets under Kenzie's skin. His insinuations that Kenzie is a spoiled princess who was handed her career fuels her desire to win, and much to her surprise, Kenzie soon learns she performs better when she's racing against Hayden. 

As Kenzie and Hayden push each other on the track, the electric energy between them off the track shifts into an intense—and strictly forbidden—attraction. The only rule between their two ultra-competitive teams is zero contact. Kenzie always does her best to play by the rules, but when her team slips into a financial crisis, she has no choice but to turn to Hayden for help. The tension simmers during their secret, late-night rendezvous, but Kenzie has too much to lose to give in to her desires. Especially when she begins to doubt that Hayden has completely left his street life behind... 

Teaser Excerpt:

     Honda Boy was holding his helmet under an arm while he flirted with the girls surrounding him. He was blond, with a short, shaggy hairstyle that probably took a lot more effort to create than it looked like. I could tell from the way the girls around him were tittering like teenagers that he was charming; with seemingly little effort on his part, he had all of them eating out of his hand. When a break in the crowd gave me a clear view of his face, I realized another thing: He was smokin’, someone-hold-on-to-my-ovaries- before-they-explode hot. 

     There was a perfect symmetry to his rugged features that made it seem unreal that he was standing just a few feet away from me. He should be plastered on a billboard somewhere, half-naked, selling overpriced cologne to men who wanted just a fraction of his sex appeal. As if he could feel my eyes on him, he turned his gaze my way. Our eyes met and locked, and I was helpless to turn away. There was something carnal about him, primal and dangerous. Exotic. I was instantly captivated, and I hated that I was. This guy was neck-deep in a world that twisted my stomach, a world that spat in the face of my sport. My career. 

     As his light-colored eyes bored holes into mine, one edge of his lip curved up in a devilish crooked grin that was both playful and promising. He was practically shouting, with just that one deadly smile, that he would satisfy my every desire, satiate every craving I could possibly have. My heart started thudding in my chest as sensations that had been dormant for far too long swirled to life in- side me. Luckily for me, the big man taking the guy’s bets clapped him on the shoulder, breaking our stare down. Once I was free of his steamy gaze, I instantly turned around so my back was to him. Jesus, was I breathing harder? Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. I was twenty-two, not twelve. 

     “Damn,” I heard Nikki say. “You were right. I should have bet on him from the get-go. I didn’t really get a good look at him before, but he is freaking hot!” 

     Inhaling a deep breath, I attempted to force my body back in line with my brain. “This guy is undefeated?” I asked Nikki. “Really?” She nodded in answer and I had to close my eyes for a second. A face like that with racing skills to boot? Jesus. 

     Clearing my throat, I nonchalantly asked, “What did you say his name was again?” I could at least label the guy in the fantasy I was surely going to have later. “Hayden... something. He’s been around for a while, from what I gathered.” 

     I risked a glance over my shoulder at... Hayden. He’d slipped his helmet on, thankfully, although his visor was popped up. The big guy taking bets had been joined by a skinny Hispanic guy who seemed to be giving Hayden instructions. Or maybe a pep talk. The little guy was acting out the race that was about to happen with his hands, complete with swerving and explosions. God, I hoped there weren’t going to be explosions. While he was going through his dramatic highlights, the big guy looped a camera over Hayden’s helmet. 

     When the two competitors were ready, they backed their motor- cycles onto the street. A cheer ripped up and down the sidewalk as the hopeful gamblers prepared for another round of racing. I didn’t want to feel anything but contempt for what I was witnessing, yet the energy of the spectators, the roar of the bikes—I couldn’t help the zing of excitement that raced up my spine. Against my will, my mouth twisted into a wide grin, and a yell of encouragement left my lips. Hayden’s helmet swiveled my way as he revved his engine. My pulse quickened as our eyes met. Then he winked at me and slammed his visor shut. 

     As the riders moved into position, Nikki grabbed my arm. “Come on. We can watch the action from the van.” 

     I had no idea what she was talking about. Before I could ask her, though, she yanked me toward a black van parked on the sidewalk. The back doors were open, and a giant monitor attached to a swinging metal arm was sticking out above the hovering crowd. The screen was split in two, each half showing the footage from one racer’s helmet cam. Hayden and his opponent were both looking straight ahead, and the dual feeds showed similar stretches of barren road. Looking down the street, I saw that the pair were stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. 

     Returning my eyes to the monitor, I found myself holding my breath as I waited for the signal to change colors. When it turned green and the bikes surged forward, I stepped closer to the van, like that would somehow release my pent-up energy. In unison, the crowd around me started hooting and hollering. Swept up in the moment, I bounced on my toes and prayed for speed. But after watching the screen for just a few seconds, I was struck with the harsh reality of the situation I was watching. This was no closed-off track with well-defined paths. This was down and dirty, anything goes, just get to the finish line first racing. 

     The bikes blew through red lights like they meant absolutely nothing. The streets were fairly empty at this early hour, but they blurred past the few vehicles on the road like they were standing still; they had to be going 100 miles per hour, easy. They dodged obstacles by hopping onto the sidewalk, they fishtailed around slick corners, and they came close to colliding with oncoming traffic more than once. 

     I turned to Nikki with shock clear on my face. “This is insane! Someone’s going to get hurt. Maybe killed!” 

     Nikki’s face was pure elation as she watched the screens. Her expression changed as my words sunk in, then she looked at me like I had a foot sticking out of my head. I supposed it was odd to hear that type of statement coming from someone who routinely hovered around the 150 mark on the speedometer while riding, but that was a completely different kind of environment. Believe it or not, what I did was safe, relatively speaking. Millions of dollars were spent to make it that way. This was not safe. At all. 

     “They’re breaking every traffic law there is,” I added, feeling like a giant stick in the mud. Someone needed to be the voice of reason here, though, because everyone was clearly out of their ever loving minds. 

     Nikki smirked at my comment. “It’s a race, Kenzie. They can’t exactly drive cautiously. Why do you think this happens so late at night?” 

     “Because it’s illegal,” I deadpanned. I got a couple of odd looks from the crowd after saying that, including a particularly nasty glare from Hayden’s bet collector. Maybe this wasn’t the best place to be talking about the law. Shutting my mouth, I quickly refocused on the screen. 

     Just as I noticed a familiar section of street come into view on the monitor, one side of the screen started wobbling, then the camera showed asphalt, sparks, spinning scenery, and a rapidly approaching telephone pole. The crowd around me hushed as it became clear that Hayden’s competition wasn’t going to finish this race. I heard Hayden’s bike rounding the corner seconds later, then Nikki was once again pulling me along like a rag doll. She shoved us into a good position to see the finish line right as Hayden’s Honda whizzed past. He was alone. Cheers erupted mixed with a few groans from the people who’d bet on the other guy. 

     Just as I was wondering if anyone was going to go check on the Ninja rider, Nikki grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me with uncontainable joy. “We won, Kenzie! We frickin’ won!” 

     “Great,” I said, clenching my teeth so I wouldn’t bite my tongue. 

      Releasing me, Nikki let out a squeal of excitement. “I just made enough money to pay you back and cover my loss. See, aren’t you glad you came?” 

     I narrowed my eyes into poisonous daggers that would hopefully drill some sense into her. “I hate you,” I murmured. Nikki held a hand over her heart. “I know by hate you mean love, and I love you too, Kenzie. Now let’s collect my winnings and go home so you can rest up. Big year this year!” 

     I opened my mouth to scold her with some biting remark about how I’d wanted to leave ages ago, but she turned on her heel and left me there, gaping. Just as I was forcing the muscles in my jaw to relax enough to contract, Hayden pulled up next to where I was standing on the sidewalk. It felt like the world suddenly shifted into slow motion as I turned my head to look at him. 

    He was still hunched over his bike, hands on the grip and throttle; the only indication that he was looking at me was the direction of his dark helmet. Then, like some freaking Prince Charming in a fairy tale, he slowly removed his helmet and tucked it under his arm. I swear the air around me condensed as his tilted smile came into view. Jesus Christ, this guy was sex on a stick. 

     Reaching up, he roughly ran a hand through his sweaty dirty- blond hair. The short, sexy shag he’d had going on earlier was destroyed from the helmet, but somehow after just a few scruffs of his hand, the carefree style was back to utter perfection. I kind of wanted to mess it up again, run my hands through the strands, grab a handful and clench it tight while I outlined those incredibly kissable lips with my tongue. 

     Whoa. No. I didn’t want that. 

     His penetrating gaze studied my face for a moment. There was something there in his eyes that I couldn’t quite grasp. Interest, sure, but almost... sadness too. Then he smiled, and the look vanished so fast, I was sure I’d imagined it. “Haven’t seen you here before,” he said, his voice low and easy, like he hadn’t just risked his life. “I hope you bet on me. It would be a shame to see someone as beautiful as you... lose.” 

     His grin turned suggestive, and warning signs started flashing in front of my eyes. Danger! Do not proceed! Rocky road ahead! Turn back now! The warnings flared even brighter when he stood from his motorcycle and began approaching me. 

     When he was directly in front of me, so close that I could smell the subtle spicy aroma of his cologne, my heart was hammering so hard, I was positive he could hear it, positive he could see my T-shirt lifting and releasing like a frantic hummingbird was hiding under the fabric. What the hell was he doing to me? Was I nervous or excited? Because the sensation was so similar to both, I honestly couldn’t tell. 

     Extending a hand, he smoothly said, “Name’s Hayden. Hayden Hayes.” I was just about to lift my hand and touch him—my fingers even twitched in response—when he added, “And what should I call you, sweetheart?”

     Sweetheart? With those two simple syllables he had just dumped a bucket of ice water over my head and killed any fantasy I might have had about him. I lived, worked, and breathed in a world where men looked at me like I was a second-class citizen. To prove my worth, I had to work harder, longer, and with everything I had inside me, all the fucking time. I felt like he’d just tried to take all of that hard work away from me with that one demeaning word. 

    “Leaving,” I said, walking away.

Preorder the Book:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks 
 Google Play | IndieBound | Kobo | BAM

About S.C. Stephens:

S. C. Stephens is a #1 bestselling author who spends her every free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family. She and her two children reside in the Pacific Northwest.

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It's a virtual-party!!! Please join S.C. Stephens (and some pretty awesome authors) on Facebook for a pre-release celebration of Furious Rush on August 22nd! There will be prizes! There will be fun!

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Book Spotlight : It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

It Ends With Us
by Colleen Hoover

Release Date:
August 2nd, 2016

Publisher:
Atria Books

Source:
Publisher

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Synopsis:

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most. 

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. 

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. 

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened. 

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

  

My Thoughts:

It Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover, was a powerful, thoroughly gripping, and emotional journey of a read.  This story was gritty, raw, and filled with angst.  It truly was Colleen Hoover at her best!

One of the reasons that I loved this book so much was the mazing cast of characters.  Lily, Atlas, and Ryle were so real to me, that they came to life within the pages of this book.  The essence of all three of them shone through brilliantly, and revealed amazing qualities, as well as amazing human flaws.  Ms. Hoover did a brilliant job of showing us that people and situations are not black and white, but rather many shades of gray.  

I connected with Lily's character right away, and as she went through life's ups and downs; I was right alongside her, feeling happiness, joy, anger, pain, love, and loss.  I revered her strong spirit, endless courage, and beautiful heart.  She grew up in a dysfunctional family, with a father that abused her mother, and that anger, and bitterness shaped her in many ways.  Atlas was her first love, and as I read Lily's journal entries, I fell in love with him too.  Ryle was an ambitious, and hard-working up and coming neurosurgeon, who had a lot of baggage.  I also fell in love with him alongside Lily.

It Ends With Us doesn't contain a love triangle.  I want to make that clear.  However, both Atlas and Ryle play a significant role in the story, and were phenomenal characters.  Ryle's sister, Alyssa, was one of my favorite characters as well.  She was an excellent best friend to Lily.  Warm-hearted, supportive, and fun is how I would classify her.

It Ends With Us, is a story about breaking destructive patterns, and learning how to look at a situation from a different perspective.  We cannot judge another person, until we have walked in their shoes.  It is about life lessons, love, pain, and reaching down inside of yourself to find the strength to heal and be resilient despite life's circumstances.

There were plenty of tender moments, butterfly-inducing moments, cringe-worthy moments, as well as powerful and inspiring moments.  One thing is for certain; this book is a need-to-read!  I couldn't put it down, and had to keep reading; no matter what!  I will shamelessly admit, I kept sneaking in bits of reading at my mom's birthday dinner, as well as moments during my daughter's therapy, and every moment in-between.  This story should come with a warning label, "Do not begin reading, unless you have no other responsibilities to attend to."  

My Rating:

I give, It Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover, 5 Falling in Love, Teary-Eyed, Addictive-Read Filled Stars!  Read this book as soon as possible; It's a guaranteed favorite!!!

Purchase At:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google | IndieBound | Kobo | BAM

About Colleen Hoover:

I write because I need to. 
I review because I want to. 
I pay taxes because I have to. 

If you want to follow me, my username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com 

Founder of www.thebookwormbox.com

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