Friday, August 31, 2018

Blog Tour+Review-Ten Reasons To Stay-Candace Knoebel




TEN REASONS TO STAY
Author: Candace Knoebel
Series: Risky Hearts Duet #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 30, 2018


Synopsis

One day a week—Thursdays—my husband and I could do whatever or whomever we pleased.

Protection was non-negotiable.

And no matter what, we had to be home by midnight.

Jack was the one who wanted an open marriage, but we were supposed to keep things simple. No strings. No commitments. It seemed so easy…until it wasn’t.

Devilishly handsome Cole Blackwater was only supposed to be a fling, but everything about him made me feel alive. Wanted. Seen. When I realized he was my husband’s boss, I should have broken things off right then…but I didn’t.

One day a week, I could pretend that I was his and he was mine…until Cole wanted more.

But how could I decide between the man I’d promised to love, honor, and cherish, and the man who tempted me to break every single vow I’d made?








Our Review:
Ten Reasons to Stay is the 1st book in The Risky Hearts Duet, a story that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and love.


This story pushes the boundaries for me, I wasn’t sure about how I would feel about the open marriage plot, being married for 9 years myself it was hard to comprehend what Jack was asking for and even harder for Corrine to agreeing to it.

This is the story of Corrine, Jack and Cole; Jack and Corrine have been married almost 10 years and now he wants an ‘Open Marriage’ something that Corrine is heartbroken and against but puts all her fears and emotions aside to hold onto her marriage. There are rules; protection is a must, Thursday’s are the only day and you must be home by Midnight. Corrine puts herself out there and actually meets a great guy who is happy to go along with the arrangements, Cole is happy with their 1 day a week fling he doesn’t have time for a relationship and doesn’t want one. When Thursday’s are not enough and the green headed monster appears Jack simply changes his mind. Will Corrine fight for her marriage or decide it is over?

Over the years Corrine has turned into the submissive in their relationship, letting Jack walk all over her dictating where they go and her life. When she finally finds her independence and confidence Jack wants to squash it down while Cole lifts her up. Cole is a strong alpha male, he knows what he wants and goes after it, realising that Corrine is his weak point he doesn’t care, he wants to take what she will give any way possible, putting his own heart on the line.

Corrine and Cole have this magnetic pull, they are dripping in sexual chemistry leaving me in a pool of lust waiting too see how much more swoon worthy he can be. Cole goes from the sexy eligible bachelor to the hot book boyfriend from one page to another.

I personally loved this book, this was definitely a different storyline to what I would normally read but Candance did an amazing job of making it tasteful and respectful to all parties involved. This is the first novel I have read of Candance’s and I am looking forward to reading 5 Reasons to Go, the conclusion of the duet.


Ratings;
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Heat: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Overall: 5/5








About the Author

Candace Knoebel is a hopeless romantic with an affinity for whiskey and good music. Her love of words began when she met the boy who lived in the cupboard under the stairs. She's a self-proclaimed Lost Girl. Words are her mirror.

With two completed series, her work ranges from  paranormal to contemporary, all centered heavily around romance. Currently she lives in Florida with her husband and two children, and has just completed her thirteenth novel, The Taste of Her Words.



EXCERPT

“YOU HAVE A BOARD MEETING later today, and also dinner with the mayor tonight,” Bianca said, trailing me out of the office. The vanilla scent of her perfume wafted around me as she tried to keep in line with my steps. “I already sent for your dry cleaning. It will be hung up by the time you return home.” She stopped, which in turn caused me to pause and lift an eyebrow.
“What is it?”
She was frantically scrolling through her iPad.
“B?”
“Nothing. Just had to make sure your spot was reserved for tonight.”
The pleased expression on her face made me smile. Bianca was my lifeline. She’d been with me since the beginning, always by my side, picking up every piece I dropped. And never in all that time did the lines between boss and employee ever blur. I had too much respect for her to pursue anything, and she had a fiancĂ© at home that would probably gut me if I ever tried.
“Thank you, B. Please, send it to my calendar.” I was already running late.
By the time I made it, Dennis was sitting at our usual table where we met once a week to eat and catch up. He’d taken me under his wing when I first came to the city, working under him fresh out of college. He was a rounded man with white hair. A soft smile that could easily be mistaken for a pushover. Those who knew him, though, knew better. He might have been kind, but he was the devil when it came to making deals.
I couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment our relationship changed from business to family. Maybe it was after my parents passed. Those were the darkest moments of my life. Moments I still woke up drenched in sweat from. He’d been there with me through it all. Helped me make the hardest decisions a child never wanted to have to make.
He and his wife couldn’t have kids. Maybe it was out of pity, but they took me in and sort of claimed me as their own after that.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said as I sat, setting my briefcase beside me. A spread of pretzels and cheese was already on the table, alongside our favorite beers.
“No worries. I’m just an old man with little time left on his hands, but who’s counting?”
I flattened my smile. He loved to goad me.
His chuckle was warm as he reached for a pretzel. “How’s business?”
I took a sip from my beer, the foamy chill welcomed down my throat. Summers in New York were brutal for men like me who ran on the hotter side. Any cold beverage was a blessing.
“The usual. You? Any new deals?”
His eyes twinkled. “I’d have to shoot you if I told you.”
I flashed a grin. “That’s what I love to hear, Dennis. A sure sign I need to get my people to dig a little deeper because you and I both know once I figure out who you’re in bed with, they’ll be taken right out from under you.”
He gave a bark of laughter, clutching his stomach. He loved the competition as much as I did, and our companies were at the top of them all, trying to one up each other.
“You know it’s true. I learned from the best.”
“Oh, my boy. This old bastard still has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Just you wait.”
“I’m counting on it,” I said seriously. Dennis wasn’t in the best condition health wise. Just as he went big with his business deals, he did the same with booze and good food.
We spent the next hour bullshitting, before I had to head out for my board meeting. Every day it was the same. Meetings. Phone calls. Paper work. Deals. More meetings. My life was orderly. Predictable. Dull.
Most days, I didn’t mind it. There was enough thrill in making deals that it kept things interesting, but I found myself growing bored lately. Maybe that was why I’d used Tinder more often than not. Searching for the next fix that chased away the loneliness.
After the day was over, I rode the elevator down to the lobby, about to head out to meet the mayor. My nose was stuck in my phone when the elevator doors opened.
And there she was.
Corinne.
Her big, chocolate-colored eyes were wide when they landed on me. She was wearing a one-piece bathing suit, a towel wrapped around her waist. Her dark hair was slicked back, droplets of water dripping from the ends, curving over the sweet swell of her breasts. She must have just come from the pool.
Damn, she was beautiful. Achingly so.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, every muscle in her body tense as she wrapped her arms around herself.
I chuckled. Tucked my phone into my pocket. “I live here.”
“Oh. Right. Sorry.” She fidgeted, refusing to give me another dose of those puppy eyes.
The doors began to close, so I reached out, holding them open for her.
“Sorry,” she said again as she moved to the other side of the tiny cubicle. I knew I should get out. Leave. But I couldn’t make my feet move. My entire day… hell… my whole week had been dull. She was bright, bringing color back to the world.
“What floor?” I asked as we sort of just stood there.
“Sorry… umm… eighteen.”
I knew that. I just liked hearing her speak. The curve of her words. The way her tongue pressed against the roof of her mouth. How her lips took on different shapes.
“You say sorry a lot,” I observed.
The side of her cheek brightened with pink. With the cold distance between us, no one would guess that I’d gotten her off. That she wanted to do the same for me. It made me smile to myself.
She risked a small glance in my direction. “Sorry.”
I was grinning. “You know… you shouldn’t apologize for being you.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear. Managed somewhat of a smile. “It’s just a nervous habit.”
I couldn’t stop watching her. She was cute in a quirky way. Judging her tiny frame, no one would suspect the fire brewing within her, desperately waiting for someone to breathe life into.
 “Are you enjoying the building?” I asked, trying to break the ice.
Her gaze stared straight ahead. “It’s nice.”
“How about the view? The condo has the best view of Central Park.”
“I like it.”
There was a charge building in the air, buzzing between us. I was afraid of what would happen should we touch.
“So you… you like to swim?” I asked, staring at the goose bumps building along her skin. “I do, too. Usually try to do laps on the weekends. It’s refr—”
She spun so fast on me that I tensed up. “I want to repay you. For the other night, I mean. I’m available on Thursday… if you are.”
A smirk broke out on my face, spreading like a vine. She was awkwardly forward. There was something refreshing in it. An inexperienced assertion that was begging for a chance to learn.
“Next time, you should try looking me in the eyes.” I paused as her face reddened, loving every bit of control I had over her. She was like a gazelle, waiting for me to sink my teeth into her. “And… I’m not in the habit of sleeping with my employee’s wives.”
“Oh, I… um… I’m sorry.” She was flustered, turning her body away from me.
I meant what I said, but there was something about Corinne I couldn’t ignore. Something I’d never tasted before.
The doors opened to her floor. She stepped out, not bothering with goodbye.
Just before the doors closed, I said, “How about dinner at my place? Meet me here. Thursday. Eight PM. We can talk.”
She swiveled, slightly shocked, and nodded as the doors closed.




Release+Reviews-Hot Heir-Pippa Grant



RELEASE BLITZ
Title: Hot Heir
Author: Pippa Grant
Genre: Sexy Romantic Comedy
Release Date: August 31, 2018

BLURB

If I had to pick a bride of convenience, my first choice would NOT be Peach Maloney.
My fiftieth choice would NOT be Peach.
Top spot on my list of occupational hazards? Yes. 
Royal pain in the ass?  Yes.
A bride of convenience? No.
But I’ve unexpectedly gone from royal bodyguard to monarch, having inherited a crown that was stolen from my family long before my birth. The kicker of this unexpected royal gift? In order to take the throne I must find a wife.
Have I mentioned Peach would NOT have been my hundredth choice?
But I’ve no other options, and she needs a favor that my new position can fulfill quite nicely. So we’ve agreed to play the doting newlyweds out in public.
In private, though, our rules are simple:
No touching.
No talking.
And certainly no sex.
I should have known better than to marry a rule-breaking pain in the arse.




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OUR REVIEWS

“Marriage of convince, or is it? 5 stars”


Viktor has always liked Peach, he thinks she’s crazy, but he likes teasing her for a lack of a better term. Viktor is loyal to his Prince and enjoys his job. Then his past comes calling. It’s his time to step up, but there’s one condition he needs to fulfill before taking on his new life. He needs a wife.
Peach is a free spirit. A free spirit who is now trying to contain her younger sister and her antics. Its making her life a little…difficult. While trying to get custody of her sister the judge demands one thing before he will give her custody, she has to be married. When she finds out the stuffy body guard needs a wife it sounds like the perfect solution. What she didn’t expect was to find there is much more to the man then she ever thought possible.
These two have mastered the art of circling each other. The antics are comical. Hot Heir has all the usual Grant humor we have come to know. The secondary characters were also great and really rounded out the story.
Plot-5/5
Characters-5/5
Heat-5/5
Writing style-5/5
Overall-5/5


After having the pleasure of reading and reviewing Ms. Grant's Rockaway Bride, I was in love with her work! I was excited to find another book to enjoy, and was not disappointed. Hot Heir is a stand alone, but integrated characters and from other books; You aren't lost not having read them...just sad to find more books for your “To Read” pile.

This amazing plot gives us two characters who are not only opposites, but press each others buttons, rub each other wrong, and take joy in all those things. But when it comes down to it, they also support each other and despite being thrown into desperate and life changing situations they make it work.

Vicktor and Peach. Papaya and Grace. Manning, Zeus, Atlas. Ya'all, my brain can't even with the hilarious names in this book! Vicktor is an uptight and rigid royal security bodyguard. Peach is the friend of his royal protectee's wife. Their culture clash figures prominently as a type of character as well, proving Alabama and a small kingdom in Europe are very different. But Peach and her family problems collide with Vicktor and his newly emerged “old” family problems. They find a way to work together to solve both problems. But along the way their family and royal issues, along with personalty conflicts work against their happily ever after. But Vicktor is a determined, chivalrous, studly man who struggles to find his place in life, love and with his new wife. Peach is a “bless your heart” saying Southern lady, in charge of her younger sister, strong and smart and in need of a help mate in her life. They were both so fantastically written. I had a blast reading these characters!

Within the first few interactions, you can tell these two are the hate to love each other characters, and once they manage to get past that hate and spit-fire, the love and spice will heat things up to a whole new level. So despite the delays, trust issues, and demolition...they light each other up! The author has an amazing way of writing her character's dialogue that gives such depth to the characters and brings each situation such depth... “It seems I'm acquiring a stress-induced erection. There can be no other explanation, as nothing about this situation is remotely inspiring.” “Dimples are dangerous. I can pass on the six-packs and the tattoos, but the dimples...I think I just ovulated.”

You just never knew where this book would take you. The twists and turns kept you guessing in the most exciting ways! So fast paced and full of fun Southern charm along with European royalty. It sucks you in and makes you snort in laughter so many times. Though I did have a hard time wrapping my brain around characters named Peach and Papaya (why? Just why ya'all?!). Once again, Pippa Grant has written a romance novel that readers can lose themselves in. And while you're sad when the book ends, the happily ever after is comforting, as is knowing there are related books we can read about some of the characters you met along the way.

Conclusion - Recap how you felt about the book. Will you read other books by this author? Would you recommend this book to others? Final thoughts on book.
I'm a sucker for royal romance books, even more when it blends royalty and a “commoner.” And this book provides such a fantastic dichotomy of both with strong characters working through so many issues that, while on a different scale perhaps, are those that any reader deals with. Traditions, itinerant family, doing the best for your family, and making a positive lasting impact on those around you. Reading this book made me think about ways I could do better for those around me. And a little bit for a royal body guard with to die for dimples. :)

Star Ratings:
Plot = 5/5
Characters = 5/5 
Heat = 5/5 
Writing Style = 5/5
Overall Rating = 5/5







AUTHOR BIO

Pippa Grant is a stay-at-home mom and housewife who loves to escape into sexy, funny stories way more than she likes perpetually cleaning toothpaste out of sinks and off toilet handles. When she’s not reading, writing, sleeping, or trying to prepare her adorable demon spawn to be productive members of society, she’s fantasizing about chocolate chip cookies.


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