🌟BLOG TOUR!🌟 The Stars in Her Eyes by C.M. Albert {REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!}

The Stars in Her Eyes by C.M. Albert

Release Date: March 26th 2019 by FlowerWork Press

Series: Love in LA Quartet #1

Pages: 287

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Reverse Harem, Romance

Love in LA just got a whole lot hotter! 

One woman. Three men. Some things are best kept secret. 

When Creslyn Knight auditions for the role of a life time, she never expects three things: 
1. To know the casting director—intimately. 
2. To be insanely attracted to the three stand-in actors at the audition. 
3. That she’d soon be putting her morals to the test when her resolve weakens. 

Acting is in Creslyn’s blood, and she’s focused her sights on one thing: landing the role of a lifetime. But she’s always been told that everything comes at a cost. The casting director names his when he tells her she must make him believe she can surrender to a harem of men, or he can’t justify giving her the lead role. 

Determined to prove him wrong and show him she can tap into a passion that deep, Creslyn throws herself into rehearsals. But the fine line between script and reality soon starts to blur, leading her and three men into unchartered territory. The only problem? She has a jealous roommate, a disgruntled mother, and a string of paparazzi hot on her trail, making Creslyn question the cost of everything. 

In a world where some things are best kept secret, is the price of fame too high when it comes to the heart? 

The Stars in Her Eyes is book one of the Love in LA Quartet and is a new adult, steamy contemporary romance reverse harem LOVE STORY that can be read as a stand-alone or as an introduction to the series. All the heat you've come to expect with a reverse harem, AND a storyline worthy of a contemporary romance love story. Finally, the best of both worlds!

Only 2.99 for a limited time!

Amazon

My Review:

Having read and liked another book by the author before, I was definitely intrigued with her new Love in LA Quartet series. From the synopsis to the cover, The Stars in Her Eyes had me hooked and it don’t disappoint at all. In this particular story we get to meet Creslyn Knight, an actress who is auditioning for the role of a life time in the leading role for a post-apocalyptic reverse-harem spin on Shakespeare’s play The Two Gentleman of Verona. But things don’t go the way she plans the minute she finds out that she knows the casting director, intimately. He questions her ability to take on such a role and she is set to prove him wrong. When she meets her stand-in actors, everything flies out the door the minute she lays eyes on three very sexy men. From then on out what starts out as rehearsing turns into steamy sexy scenes between them and Creslyn starts to wonder if she might just be feeling something for her three guys. But there are hurlers that she must face first before she can have her happily ever after, like facing her jealous roommate and mom, and a secret that could change her future forever.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was full of ups and downs. The characters were unique and interesting to follow. Creslyn is a strong heroine who has one goal and she is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish it and when she has three guys after her everything starts to change. She begins to see things differently and she becomes stronger. With that comes three very sexy guys: Knox (who is a bit older than the rest but highly successful), Matias the surfer and River the musician. All have very distinct personalities, but make Creslyn feel loved and cherished to matter what. It’s clear that they all have pasts, but as the four start to spend more time together, the more they begin to reveal their true selfs and that’s what I liked the most. Now I was pleasantly surprised with the ending of the story, it was full of twists and turns that had me rooting for the characters in the end. I do wish the author could have given us more details about certain things, but it all still nicely and I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. :)

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**

My Rating:

AUTHOR BIO:

USA Today Best Selling Author C.M. Albert writes heartwarming romances that are both “sexy and flirty, sweet and dirty!” Her writing infuses a healthy blend of humor, inspiration, and high-heat romance. She’s a sucker for a good villain but is a die-hard believer in everlasting love. In her spare time, she and her husband wrangle their two kids and enjoy spending time outdoors. When not writing or kid wrangling, C.M. Albert is also a Certified Medical Reiki Master, chocolate chip cookie aficionado, kindness ambassador, and seeker of naps.

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🌟BLOG TOUR!🌟 Charmed Empire by Brooke Ellis {REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!}

Charmed Empire by Brooke Ellis

Release Date: March 4th 2019 by Brooke Ellis

Series: Empire Series Book 1

Pages: 244

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

A simple key-ring charm throws an empire into chaos. 

Their 24-hour holiday romance began at the Statue of Liberty, the key-ring charm he gave her is a constant reminder. 

Ten years later Adeline returns to New York to find, unexpectedly, re-kindled lust and love. Turmoil follows as his powerful mother barges into their lives. 

A violent act causes tensions to explode at a high-profile fund-raiser, where love and marriages are threatened as secrets from long-ago have a very public climax. 

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

My Review:

In her debut novel, Charmed Empire, Brooke Ellis explores the relationship between two individuals who have different backgrounds, but their thirst for sucesss in the city that never sleeps is what ultimately brings them together while they fall madly in love in the process.

At the beginning of the story we get to meet Adeline Carey, an eighteen-year old girl from Australia who has been in New York city for the past couple of months. She has been staying with a family friend, Reggie, while she works for her at an art gallery. With the hopes of saving enough money, Adeline hasn’t seen a lot of the city and on her last day she decides to go the Statue of Liberty. That is when she unexpectedly meets a charming guy who introduces himself as Mitch Morris. He is undoubtedly the best looking guy she’s ever met and Adeline wants to get to know him better even though she knows that she’ll be leaving the next day. What starts with them exploring the statue to him gifting her a key-ring charm to remind her of the trip, everything changes for them after that. It would take ten years later to reunite in an expected way and rekindle old feelings that could potentially bring an empire into chaos.

Mitchell Morris has it all, the looks and wealth to get just about anything he could possibly want. At eighteen he knew what his future was going to be like, but he wasn’t expecting to meet her. Adeline Carey brought him a new light to his life and although they only spend a day together, he knew she was the one for him. With her back Australia and him in New York, he was able to focus on what mattered to him at the time, creating an empire of his own. Ten years would go by until he stumbled across her again back in New York and this time he will do anything in his power to make her his.

I loved the overall idea of this book, there seemed to be a lot of thought that went to it, but it could have been executed a lot better. The characters were great and with different backgrounds we do get to see different perspectives. Which leads me to the writing in this book, it felt all over the place and there were times when I couldn’t connect with Adeline. What I also didn’t like as much was how rushed it felt, both in their relationship as well as in some aspects of the book. I wish the author could have elaborated in some scenes, but it all ties nicely at the end. There are some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and that is what lead me to wanting to read it until the very end. All in all, the book was good and if you like a quick “instant love” type of book, then I would suggest giving it a try. I’m looking forward to reading more from the author in the future. :)

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**

My Rating:

About the Author:

Spending most of her life in Sydney, Australia, before moving back to her hometown of Brisbane, Brooke worked as a chef in many a steamy hot kitchen. Which provided the perfect segue into writing equally steamy hot contemporary romance books. Letting her imagination run wild, she set out writing her first novel in 2017, which turned into a second and third in 2018.

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🌟 REVIEW! 🌟 Filthy Riches by Lauren Landish

***REVIEW***

Filthy Riches by Lauren Landish

Release Date: March 5th 2019

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Suspense

A pretend relationship.
A deadly game.
One misstep, and it could mean both of our lives.

I’m just a girl, with dreams too big, and hopes verging on hopeless.
I never planned to become his.

Nathan Stone.
Fiercely handsome. Powerful. The pull between us borders on primal.
I need to be careful. He’s a dangerous man with even more dangerous enemies.

He took a big gamble, lying to protect me.
Now his future is on the line as much as mine, and we have to keep up this charade.
Make it look convincing. 

But when his lips touch mine, I taste only truth.
When he pulls me into his arms, it feels like forever. 

It can’t just be the ruse and the danger of getting caught.
My heart says this is real . . .
And I’ll follow him to the ends of the Earth to prove it.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Amazon

My Review:

Not having read any other books by the author before, I didn’t know what to expect before reading Filthy Riches. Needless to say, it completely blew me away! From the cover to the intriguing synopsis, the story had me hooked from the beginning to end.

Now this isn’t your typical romance story, it’s so much more when it intertwines four individuals who don’t know each other but end up getting caught in a dangerous game that involves a very powerful Russian gangster, treasure hunting and lots of twists to keep you guessing.

At the age of thirty Nathan Stone inherited a billion-dollar jewelry empire without wanting it in the first place. He is not a businessman, but a soldier used to being in war, full of adrenaline, adventure and action. Then something happened to his father and his world turned upside down. It was then that the things that he knew to be true, suddenly weren’t, and his father’s business, both true and dark was revealed. With absolute no experience when it comes to running a billion-dollar global corporation, Nathan had to go through a time when everyone in the industry thought he wasn’t going to make it work, but he did. He managed to make the company a success, but even with all the money in world, nothing compares to getting revenge for his father’s murder and will not stop until he finds out who did it even if it takes him on an adventure of a lifetime.

Emma Daniels knows what it’s like to want for nothing, as the daughter of a very wealthy family she is used to the luxury and expectations that come with being wealthy. But when she majored in Ancient Civilizations, he dad thought it was a useless degree and was devastated when she refused to follow with the family footsteps. It was her love for ancient cultures that ultimately lead her to acting and being cut off from the family. But when Emma gets her first role in an off-Broadway production, her excitement doesn’t last long when her sister Claire, an FBI agent, shows up asking for her help. All Emma is given is a name and simple facts about a dangerous man known as Nathan Stone and she is ready to help. What follows is a series of events that will lead her to uncover secrets, go on a treasure hun and most of all find true love.

Carly Edwards grew up with Emma as the two attended private schools together, debutante balls and enjoyed lots of wealth. She knew how fortunate she was, but she wanted more for herself and it is one day that she decided to follow her dreams. Now backpacking across Europe, Carly finds herself entertaining people and when she gets to Italy she feels at home. She is able to meet great people that help her along the way, but it’s one day that she stumbles across two man arguing and one getting knocked out that she finally sees the man who attacked the other and Carly is left speechless. He tells Carly to not say anything, which should have shocked her but instead left her intrigued about the handsome stranger. The sad yet murderous look in his eyes leave her with questions than she would like, but she is willing to get him to trust her to truly help him out. Little did know that she was about to step into a war of sorts and that Emma would also be involved.

Kyle has one thing in his mind and that is getting revenge on the murder of his fiancé and unborn child. As an ex-military he knows combat and how to strategize his attack. But when he finds out who the killer is he ready to leave everything behind and Carly shows up. He never intended to love anyone ever again, but Carly has shown him a new view in life and he doesn’t know what to do. It is when he finds out that the killer could be closer than he think he is ready to protect Carly with his life before it’s too late.

There is so much to this story that I enjoyed, from the character development of all the characters to the overall concept of the story. There is a true beginning, a climax and an ending that will leave you satisfied with the book. All of the characters have their own pasts, but they are brought together in a way that wasn’t forceful but clever. I’m not always a fan of books that feature more than your typical main couple, but this one is the exception to that since it was well thought out. Each couple has their own struggles and sizzling moments. Although the story leans more towards Nathan and Emma, we do get a lot of Kyle and Carly. I do wish the author could have added more details at the end of the story about them, I’m still happy with how things ended. We also get to meet Nathan’s younger brother, Caleb Stone and Emma’s sister, Claire. They are both secondary characters that brought so much to the story and I wish the author can write their story next. The twists in this story are clever and the ending will leave you swooning for the characters. I would highly recommend reading this book and I cannot wait to read more from the author in the future. :)

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**

My Rating: 5+

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🌟BLOG TOUR:🌟 All of Me by A.L. Jackson {REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!}

All of Me by A.L. Jackson

Release Date: December 3rd 2018

Series: Confessions of the Heart #2

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

A stand-alone forbidden romance...

People call me callous. Arrogant. Ruthless. 
I call myself tenacious. 
One of the most powerful attorneys in Charleston, I don’t let anyone or anything stand in my way.
Until a chance encounter changes everything.

One glance.
One touch.
One night.
It only leaves me wanting more.

But Grace is off limits. Most people would even say forbidden.
Everyone knows an attorney can’t sleep with his client. 
Too bad I already did. 

And even with the threat of losing everything, I don’t know if I can stop myself from having her again...

Amazon, Paperback, Audible

My Review:

Ever since reading More of You, I couldn’t wait to read All of Me and it didn’t disappoint at all. A.L. Jackson haw once again managed to deliver a truly heartwarming story about second chances at life and love. 

At the beginning of the story we get to meet Ian Jacobs, he is at a gala that his firm is throwing for charity. Having worked closely with the partners at the Millstrom, Garcia & Grant firm he knows exactly what to do to gain their favor and stay on top. But he feels that he should be in charge and wants the power all to himself. Ian will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants or so he thinks. It’s at the gala that he sees a beautiful stranger and all he wants to do is make her his. Yet, after spending a short time together she backs away and runs telling him that she can’t be with him. He can see that she is heartbroken and vulnerable so when she runs away from him he can’t help but to chase after her. Ian knows that he is not capable of having a relationship, not when he has a whole different future ahead of him but Grace has made a mark on him and he can’t seem to get her out of his head. That is until she shows up at his office asking for him that everything in his life is about to change forever.

Grace Dearborne holds a massive weight on her shoulders, one that she can’t seem to let go no matter how much she tries. Her future has been threatened as well as the ones she loves the must and she is not going to stop until she is safe again. She had only one thing in mind when she attended the gala and that was to find a powerful attorney to fight a powerful empire. Yet, things turned out differently when she meets Ian. He is very handsome man who can make her forget her worries and he seems trustworthy enough to let him in. But that’s exactly what she can’t do and she runs away hoping to never see him again. That is until destiny brings them back together and she asks him to help her fight a battle that could potentially damage his career forever. Needless to say, when they start to spend time together the more close they get and she has to figure out if a relationship with him is worth it or not.

I absolutely loved reading All of Me, it was a well thought out story and written story from beginning to end. The characters go through ups and downs as they discover if they are truly meant to be with each other. Ian is your typical bad boy who has the money and looks to get just about anyone that he wants but his ultimately goal is to make partner at the firm. He doesn’t care for anything else until he meets Grace. She is a hair stylist who is making ends meet in order to support her family. But she holds a secret, one that could change her future with Ian. She knows that he is her only choice when she finds out that he is an attorney and when he decides to help her everything changes between them. That is until she finds out what Ian’s secret is that she wants to protect him as well. It’s evident that both of the characters have secrets of their own, but together they are unstoppable as long as they are together. 

Although the story is part of a series, it is fine to read it on its own or after reading the first book. Some of the old characters do appear in this book, but the story is understandable without having read the first book. I cannot say enough good things about this story and the ending was everything. There is so much to this story that I enjoyed (not wanting to spoil it too much!). It’s a story worth checking out as well as the first story in the series. You will not regret it! :)

***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.***

My Rating:

A.L. Jackson

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, and FIGHT FOR ME novels. Grab A.L. Jackson’s latest novel, ALL OF ME, the second stand-alone novel in her brand-new CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART series.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson - Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

Newsletter, Facebook, Reader Group, Amazon, Bookbub, Twitter/Instagram: @aljacksonauthor

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🌟BLOG TOUR:🌟 Cash by Cassia Leo {REVIEW + EXCERPT}

Cash by Cassia Leo

Release Date: November 19th 2018

Series: Power Players #4

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

From New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo comes a scorching hot romance about overwhelming passion, dangerous bets, and family loyalty.

Kara needs fast cash to pay her ailing father’s gambling debts. Dealing blackjack at the Billionaire Club is her lucky break. Until a scorching hot one-night-stand with bad boy oil tycoon Cash Westbrook turns into a million-dollar bet. Cash agrees to pay her father’s debts…if Kara pretends to be his fiancée.

Kara agrees to Cash’s terms, but she doesn’t expect to find herself falling for him. And when it comes to love, all bets are off.

Purchase: Universal Link

My Review:

Not having read any other books by the author before, I didn’t know what to expect before reading Cash. Needless to say, I was impressed with the overall story it definitely kept me reading non-stop until the very end.

From the synopsis, we know that Kara Langley needs money and fast. Ever since her dad was diagnosed with lung cancer she has been over her head with hospital bills and on top of that she is also paying his previous debts. That is exactly how the story begins, with Kara getting interviewed to work at a very exclusive club in Las Vegas, the Billionaire Club. It is the only casino of its class in the strip and a very hard place to get a job at. With her connections she is able to get the interview, but almost doesn’t get the job because of who her dad is. All the casinos have decided to banned him from entering them and since Kara is his daughter she is finding it difficult to get a job. But it’s her blackjack skills that get her the job, after all she learned from the best and she is ready to work. That is until her dad’s previous employer shows up at the casino ready to make a conversation with her only to discover that they both seem to have an instant connection to each other. Which ultimately leads them to an adventure that would change their lives forever.

Cash Westbrook has everything, at twenty-seven he is the Executive Vice President of Westbrook Oil and that makes him a very well-known billionaire in Last Vegas. But it’s his notorious playboy ways that always get him in trouble and he needs to fix his reputation or he’ll get kicked out of the company. He is a very handsome and charming man that could get just about anyone, but in order to fix his reputation he needs to find a pretend fiancee to charm the board of directors at a weekend event. Cash wasn’t expecting to feel a pull towards Kara at the casino when they met, but he can’t get her out of his head and he needs to make a move before it’s too late. Neither of them realized that by meeting each other it would change the course of their lives and as they go through ups and downs they will have to decide if fighting for their relationship is worth it or not.

I loved reading Cash. It’s truly a book filled with twists and turns from beginning to end. Cash is the perfect guy for Kara, he is sweet and caring. He knows that Kara holds secrets of her own when they first meet and yet he is willing to give her the space that she needs in order to gain her trust. On the other hand, Kara is a total badass with her blackjack skills and she is totally perfect for Cash. They truly balance each other out and their chemistry is sizzling from the start. Although I enjoyed reading the story, there were times when I felt that the author rushed the story or skip on events. The ending felt a bit rushed for me, but the epilogue totally made up for it. I cannot wait to read more from Cassia Leo in the future and I definitely recommend checking this book out! :)

***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.***

My Rating:

{EXCERPT}

This is the third time I’ve unsuccessfully tried to get the fingerprint scanner to read my thumbprint. It’s hard trying to keep my finger steady when there are eight vodka tonics in my bloodstream and five slender fingers curled around my cock.

“Hurry up,” she slurs, tightening her grip. “I want your huge cock inside me.”

My fingers slide clumsily over the scanner again, and I silently curse myself for telling my bodyguards to wait downstairs. “Just turn around and I’ll fuck you right here.”

She giggles as she turns around and lifts the back of her sheer white mini-dress, which is soaked through from the wet bikini she’s wearing underneath. “Be my guest,” she says, looking back at me with a lazy grin.

Her ass is round and smooth, with an odd sparkle to it, like she used some kind of tanning creme with shimmer in it. Turning away from the front door of my penthouse to face her, I lose my balance and nearly tip over as I reach out to smack it. She howls with laughter as she places her hand on the wall so she doesn’t fall over.

“I’ll fuck that ass six ways from Sunday,” I say, grabbing her hips to steady myself.

I slide my hand into the back of her bikini bottoms and smile as I drag my finger forward through her moisture.

“Damn, baby. You’re wetter than a fucking tsunami.”

“Fuck me, Cash,” she begs, her voice sounding more whiny than sexy.

Not that I care. The girl has an ass like Scarlett Johansson and a face like Natalie Portman. This is the first time I’ve seen her at one of my best buddy Dean’s pool parties. This means she’s either a newbie on the scene or a Vegas tourist. Either way, she’s expendable. I don’t even remember her name. I can fuck her tonight and I won’t have to worry about ever seeing her again.

She continues to giggle as I slide my finger out of her slick pussy, then she lets out a loud hiccup. “Oops!”

I chuckle as I push her wet bikini bottoms down to reveal her creamy cheeks. “Fasten your seatbelt, because I’m about to ride you like a fucking roller coaster.”

“Just…fuck me already.” She’s slurring again.

I blink my eyes a few times when her two ass cheeks turns into four. Then I reach into my back pocket. Fuck. Where are my condoms? I turn away from her and stare at the shiny steel elevator doors. Should I go down and ask one of my bodyguards for a condom? Or should I just ask them to come up and let me into my apartment, where I have a whole fucking drawer full of them?

I shake my head. Nah, I’ll just try to open the door again. I’ll get it right this time.

When I turn around again, the hottie with the ass is on her knees. She dry heaves a couple of times into the corner of the vestibule. Then she spews milky white vomit all over the dark-gray carpet. The girl’s heaving body disappears as my mind is whisked away to a dark California beach.

* * *

The waves crash like thunder behind me. The moonlight casts a ghostly silver sheen over the water and the coarse sand. The sharp, briny smell of seaweed stings my nostrils as I press the heels of my palms into her chest, but she doesn’t respond. Doesn’t open her eyes. Doesn’t breathe.

Pinching her nose, I slide my other hand under her neck and lift up gently to tilt her head back. Her brown hair fans out over the sand as I blow into her mouth. I can taste the cloying rum on her lips as I blast four more puffs of air into her mouth, and the beach begins to spin underneath me. I hold my hands out in front of me, as if this will stop the spinning. Then, I realize I have to keep trying to save her.

No! I should call 911.

I hastily pull my phone out of my pocket and dial the number, then I close my eyes so I don’t throw up.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“My girlfriend is ODing. I think she’s dying! You need to hurry! We’re at… Oh, shit! Where are we?”

“Sir, what’s your name and what’s your girlfriend’s name? And what did she take?”

“Cash. Cash Westbrook. My girlfriend is Vanessa Allen. The actress. She—Oh, God. She took suboxone. I think she only took one.”

I turn around to see if there are any signs sticking out of the sand or near the parking lot, something to tell me the name of the beach we’re on. But the sudden movement makes the Earth tilt and I fall over onto the sand.

“What dosage did she take, sir?”

“Fuck, I don’t know!”

“Sir, I need you to calm down and tell me where you are.”

“Oh, fuck,” I whisper, my heart racing as I stumble to my feet, my sneakers sinking into the sand as I try to get a better look toward the road. “I’m near Newport—wait! Corona del Mar! I remember now. We’re in Corona del Mar. Near the south end. Hurry. Please hurry.”

“Sir, help is on the way. Are you also intoxicated?”

“Yes,” I reply, and I can’t fight back the tears anymore. “I took 120 milligrams of oxy…and a few beers.”

“Sir, can you tell me if Vanessa is breathing?”

I fall to my knees, brushing her hair out of her face as I look into her wide, glossy brown eyes. “Her pupils are gone. Oh, fuck. Is she dead?”

“Cash, are her lips blue or are they a normal color?”

“They’re blue. Please hurry!”




* * *




The memory disintegrates into chaos. Hector—my six-foot-three-inch, 290-pound bodyguard—has my arms locked behind my back as I struggle to break free.

“Get off me!” I roar. “What is he doing to her?”

My other bodyguard, Dex, is hunched over the girl lying at my front door. The girl I was about to fuck.

“Cash, calm the fuck down!” Hector slams me chest-first against the wall.

The force momentarily knocks the breath from my lungs, but my body is coursing with adrenaline now. I’m not ready to give up. I can’t give up. Not this time.

I throw my head back and a sharp pain slices through the back of my head. The distinct crunch of my skull meeting Hector’s nose spurs me on.

“You motherfucker!” he roars, letting me go and spewing nasally curse words as he reaches for his broken, bloody nose.

As soon as he releases his hold on me, I rush Dex, sending him headfirst into the front door handle. He topples over and the smudge of blood on the stainless steel snaps me out of my rage. What the fuck am I doing?

Hector snaps his arms around my chest and wrenches me backward and slams me onto the ground, securing my hands behind my back just as the elevator doors slide open. A team of two paramedics and two policemen enter the vestibule with a gurney. The medics head straight for the girl.

A policeman with a gut that hangs three inches below his belt buckle approaches Hector and me with his hand on his holster. “What’s going on here?”

“She passed out,” Hector replies, his voice nasally and still taut with tension as he continues to fight to restrain me. “We were trying to wake her up.”

“Wha—?” The sound of her voice, weak and disoriented, is like fucking music to my ears, and my limbs go completely limp.

“Why are you restraining him and why is that other guy passed out cold over there?” the officer asks.

Hector can feel I’ve given up, and he quickly lets go of my arms. Getting to his feet, he holds a hand out to help me up, but I don’t take it. I stand on my own, fairly sober now.

“Can you tell me your name?” one of the medics asks the girl.

“Rosie,” she mumbles, and I sigh with relief now that I know her name and she’s awake. “I’m gonna throw up,” she continues as she turns her head and spews all over the other medic’s pant leg.

“You’re awake,” I say as they wheel her past me on the gurney.

She flashes me a loose grin. “I’m not done with you,” she slurs.

I try not to laugh as she makes the universal signal for a blowjob with her fist and her tongue pressed against the inside of her cheek. She’s not so bad. Maybe I won’t ignore her next time I see her at Dean’s.

“What have you two been drinking? Or smoking or snorting?” The other officer with the blond hair and mustache asks.

“I’m swear I’m fine!” Rosie whines as they wheel her into the elevator.

“Officer?” Dex’s deep voice startles me. His eyebrow is cocked at me as he holds a handkerchief on the top of his smooth bald head. “I think she clearly had too much to drink, but there was nothing illegal going on here.”

“What happened to your head?” the blond officer asks.

“I slipped in her vomit,” Dex replies, handing the handkerchief to Hector so he can use it on his nose.

“And your nose?” the fat officer asks. “You slip and fall, too? Bump into a door, maybe?”

“Caught an elbow at a party.”

Fatty doesn’t look too impressed with this lie, but there’s nothing he can do about it. They subject me to a half-hearted interrogation about what Rosie and I were drinking at the pool party—I don’t know what she was drinking, Officer. I only met her about ten minutes before we left together—Then they get in touch with the medics to make sure she’s still conscious before they roll their eyes and disappear into the elevator.

My stomach goes sour as I realize Hector and Dex just lied to two officers of the law for me, to protect me from the consequences of my own recklessness. And it’s not the first time they’ve done it. In fact, I can’t even count the number of times they’ve smoothed things over for me with the authorities. And how many times has David Nichols, the head press officer at Westbrook Oil, fielded questions about my latest scandal?

The tabloid headlines flash in my mind: CASH’S FLING RUSHED TO HOSPITAL AFTER OVERDOSE SCARE… Just like all the headlines from the past two years: CASH AND TARA’S SECRET ABORTION… CASH’S WILD WEEKEND IN CABO… CASH’S JOYRIDE ENDS IN DUI… VANESSA ALLEN DEAD.

My dad’s words echo in my head: No, you can’t get rid of your bodyguards, Cash. They’re there to protect you from yourself.

Maybe it’s time I started protecting them from me.

CASSIA’S AUTHOR BIO

New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time re-watching Game of Thrones and Sex and the City. When she’s not binge watching, she’s usually enjoying the Oregon rain with a hot cup of coffee and a book.

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🌟BLOG TOUR:🌟 The Billionaire's Sham Girlfriend by Leslie North {REVIEW}

The Billionaire's Sham Girlfriend by Leslie North

Release Date: November 8th 2018

Series: The Beaumont Brothers Series  #1

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

Gregor Beaumont is in a world of hurt that all the charm in his gorgeous, well-toned body can’t fix. His late grandfather, God rest his soul, wanted to make sure Gregor and his two playboy brothers settle down. He had the brilliant idea of buying up a huge share of the brothers’ engine company and using that as incentive for each brother to find Mrs. Right. Settle down or lose the company to a competitor. Well, that’s just not happening to Gregor, not when life’s so good at the moment. Gregor likes racing fast cars and seducing fast women, and not necessarily in that order. Settle down? Not a chance. Gregor has his own brilliant idea: find some wholesome and desperate girl to pretend to be his girlfriend. No harm. No foul. Unless things start getting a little bit too real.

Kara Alerby knows she’s a sucker for blues eyes and a great smile, so when Gregor comes into her theater wanting to hire her to act the part of his adoring girlfriend, she’s already got her defenses on high alert. But Kara’s a practical girl, and Gregor’s offering a boatload of money that would go a long way toward making her dream of creating a fine arts school for gifted kids a reality. She can ignore his smiles, his charisma, and his kiss-me mouth if it means she’ll get her school. All she has to do is remind herself, every second of every day they’re together, that it’s all make believe—even when it doesn’t always feel that way. 

When Greg’s love of racing puts his life in jeopardy, Kara isn’t ready to watch another person die in front of her like her father did. And Greg isn’t about to stop doing the one thing that makes life worth living. The two are on a collision course, one that could break them apart forever if they don’t change directions…

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My Review:

The Billionaire’s Sham Girlfriend is a quick romantic read that will leave you wanting for more. At the beginning of the story we are introduced to Kara Alerby, a theater teacher who is all too happy to start her first session of summer improv. She loves what she does, but when she gets the news that the theater has been put on sale she is ready to do just about anything in order to save it. But she having bad luck, which soon ends the minute a sexy new student joins her class. He seemed all too preoccupied with his phone that she doesn’t see him right away, but when she picks him to create a scene with her she finally gets to fully see him and she is immediately taken by him. 

Gregor Beaumont attended the improv class for the sole purpose of hiring an actress to pose as his girlfriend and later wife in order to comply to his grandfather’s will. But the minute he sees Kara, he is immediately attracted to her and wants to get to know her more. As the face of B3 Motors, he co-owns the company with his two brothers who have been put in the same position as him, to find a wife in a short amount of time in order to keep their company. This has put tremendous pressure on Gregor and he is willing to do anything and everything in order to keep the company. It is after Kara agrees to his proposition that everything changes for them right away. He no longer wants to fake his relationship with her and wants to make things official. Yet, their pasts are what it’s keeping them from moving forward and they must deal with them first if they want to have a future together.

I really enjoyed reading this story, although the idea is not completely unique, the author was able to put her own little spin to it at the beginning. Their first interaction was fun to read, the character truly connected from the start and it was sizzling after that. I do have to say that the story felt a bit rushed for me. There were times when I felt that the author skipped some parts and felt a bit unresolved at the end. I’m really interested to read the rest of Gregor’s brother’s stories, the next book sounds very promising. I would recommend reading this story if you’re looking for something quick and romantic to read. :)

***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.***

My Rating: 3.5/5

AUTHOR BIO:

Leslie North is the pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women’s contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.

The truth of the matter is she loves her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her normal, day-to-day persona! Her bestselling books focus on strong characters and particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha male. Inspired after years of travel, her stories are set all over the world, from the tough streets of Russia to the beautiful beaches of the middle east.

Leslie fell in love with romance when she first picked up a scrappy, dog-eared romance book from her local library. She began writing soon after and the rest, as they say, was history. She now lives in a cozy cottage on the British coast and enjoys taking long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.

She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her via e-mail: leslie@leslienorthbooks.com.

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