Excerpt: Falling for the Groomsman by Diane Alberts

Falling for the Groomsman by Diane Alberts

June 9, 2014

BOOK SUMMARY:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

She’s the one that got away. He’s the one she can’t forget.

Photojournalist Christine Forsythe is ready to tackle her naughty little to-do list, and who better to tap for the job than a hot groomsman? But when she crashes into her best friend’s older brother, Christine realizes her list needs updating. And fast. Tyler Dresco took her virginity during the best night of her life, then bolted. Now that they’re trapped together at a destination wedding, she’s going to get her revenge.

Tyler has never forgiven himself for how completely he lost control all those years ago. Being in Christine’s arms had felt right…until he realized what he’d taken from her in the hallway of a cheap motel. And oh, how she’s making him pay for it now. The insatiable heat between them has only grown stronger, but every time things heat up, Christine walks away.

With every encounter, things go a little bit further until Christine’s caught in her own trap of seduction. And before their time’s up, Tyler’s not the only one wanting more…

Grab the rest of the Wedding Dare series!

• Dare to Resist by New York Times bestselling author Laura Kaye

• Baiting the Maid of Honor by New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey

• Seducing the Bridesmaid by New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert

•  Best Man with Benefits by USA TODAY bestselling author Samanthe Beck

Buy Links

Amazon -  http://amzn.to/1oKQxaJ

B&N - http://bit.ly/1kHt6us

Author Information

Diane Alberts is a multi-published, bestselling contemporary romance author with Entangled Publishing. She also writes New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling new adult books under the name Jen McLaughlin. She's hit the Top 100 lists on Amazon and Barnes and Noble numerous times with numerous titles. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency. 

Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn't until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author.  Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://dianealberts.com/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5081315.Diane_Alberts

Review: The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken

Title: The Wager
By: Rachel Van Dyken
Series: The Bet #2
My Copy: Ebook from Netgalley
BookWhisperer Rating:


THE WAGER

Lose a bet, lose your heart...

What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they've been thrown together in a wedding party. It's awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she'd always hoped he could be.
If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend's other best friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn't forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake's already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake's falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .

Hilarious! The Bet series is proving to be one hysterical series of stories. The Wager picks up immediately following the conclusion of The Bet. After the devastating ending for Jake in Bet be prepared for his time in the limelight. The upcoming wedding of Travis and Kacey is all set, and Jake is left to pick up the pieces of his heart. Jake will find that what he has been feeling may only shadow the real thing, and when faced with a determined Grandmother he may be forced to learn humility. This millionaire bad boy may have just met his match. Jake was a terror in book one the ultimate villain, but all the while it still broke my heart to see him shattered at the end. While this stories turn of events he eventually becomes grounded, and the genuine person is revealed. Leaving readers with yet another drool worthy Titus man. Be prepared because this will require fans to add one more book boyfriend to the list. I love every single person in this Titus family, and every time I get a chance at watching Grandma in action I end up almost peeing my pants. I was exceptionally pleased to see that while this story is overall Jake and Char, Travis and Kacey are not forgotten the second half of the story has chapters from these beloved characters that will add closure to their own stories. Rachel Van Dyken is a wonderfully talented author that knows how to create a powerful romance, while keeping it funny and interactive. The Wager was a thrilling and entertaining experience with yet another title from a author I have come to love. ~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

Alyssa Rose Ivy’s Dire Wolves Chronicles Series Cover Reveal

We have been dying to share the covers for Alyssa Rose Ivy's The Dire Wolves Chronicles: DIRE, DUSK, & DAWN!! The Dire Wolves Chronicles is a brand new New Adult paranormal romance series that you will want to add to your TBR pile ASAP! The Order of the books is: Dire, Dusk, Dawn,with DIRE publishing September 2014!!  

The covers are designed by Cover It Designs with photographs courtesy of CJC Photography.

Add it to your Goodreads now!

  About DIRE: Dire: The Dire Wolves Chronicles Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything. It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happens to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves. Be sure to look for the next books in the series DUSK & DAWN:   Alyssa Rose Ivy Bio: Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.         Links: Twitter Author Goodreads Pinterest Website DIRE: The Dire Wolves Chronicles Goodreads Facebook

Review: Harder by Robin York

Title: Harder
By: Robin York
Series: Caroline & West Part 2
My Copy: Ebook from Netgalley
BookWhisperer Rating:

Caroline still dreams about West. His warm skin, his taut muscles, his hand sliding down her stomach. Then she wakes up and she’s back to reality: West is gone. And before he left, he broke her heart.
 
Then, out of the blue, West calls in crisis. A tragedy has hit his family—a family that’s already a fractured mess. Caroline knows what she has to do. Without discussion, without stopping to think, she’s on a plane, flying to his side to support him in any way he needs.
 
They’re together again, but things are totally different. West looks edgy, angry at the world. Caroline doesn’t fit in. She should be back in Iowa, finalizing her civil suit against the ex-boyfriend who posted their explicit pictures on a revenge porn website. But here she is. Deeply into West, wrapped up in him, in love with him. Still. 
 
They fought the odds once. Losing each other was hard. But finding their way back to each other couldn’t be harder.

As if Deeper didn't just blow everyone mind here we go yet again. Harder proved to be just about everything that I hoped for and more. Caroline and West continue their adventure in love. With every obstacle and reward this roller coaster includes the exact same thrilling and captivating story line that absorbed me into the debut. The heartache at the conclusion of Deeper was nothing compared to the punch that Harder has hidden in it's pages. This roller coaster is complete with it's twists and turns, occasionally throwing you in reverse, only to spin and continue full speed ahead faster than ever before. The complexity and detail creates a story that could virtually run on reel. Not a moment of this story leaves you perplexed or uncertain, because the details are so complete readers will know the characters inside and out. Robin York is amazingly talented, and one of my favorites. This series has been an absolute pleasure, and always leaves me ready for more. The Carolyn and West series is one that will walk you through the innocent start of falling in love, and carry you through dark and damaged side of unstoppable devotion and true love no matter the cost. Harder is powerful and intense leaving me question the validity in saying that it is entertaining; I think overpowering and consumed would be far better description of the story that I just had the pleasure of reading and experiencing. ~BookWhisperer Reviewer Jax~

Cover Reveal: Falling Away by Penelope Douglas

Title: Falling Away (Fall Away, #3)

Author: Penelope Douglas

Genre: New Adult Romance

Release Date: January 6, 2015

Synopsis

Jaxon is the guy she’s supposed to avoid. 

K.C. is the girl he won’t let get away....

K. C. Carter has always followed the rules—until this year, when a mistake leaves her the talk of her college campus and her carefully arranged life comes crashing to a halt. Now she’s stuck in her small hometown for the summer to complete her court-ordered community service, and to make matters worse, trouble is living right next door.

Jaxon Trent is the worst kind of temptation and exactly what K.C. was supposed to stay away from in high school. But he never forgot her. She was the one girl who wouldn’t give him the time of day and the only one to ever say no. Fate has brought K.C. back into his life—except what he thought was a great twist of luck turns out to be too close for comfort. As they grow closer, he discovers that convincing K.C. to get out from her mother’s shadow is hard, but revealing the darkest parts of his soul is nearly impossible.…

♥Pre-Order Falling Away♥

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♥Falling Away - Teaser♥

(unedited, subject to change prior publication)

“You’re afraid of yourself,” he said flatly. “Not me.”

And then he backed up, looking down at me." And that’s why you’re gutless, K.C." All the softness from his voice was now gone. “Now I have to shower, and you need to leave.”

And he turned around and strode for the men’s locker room.

I shook my head.

He was wrong. I wasn't gutless. Why did he keep saying that?

I sniffled and cleared my throat, standing tall. “Maybe I just don’t want you,” I blurted out and damn near smiled when he spun around, looking surprised. “Maybe I just don’t want you, Jax. Did you ever consider there might be one woman in this world that doesn’t pant after you?”

And I breathed out a small laugh as I spun around and headed for the door.

But before I even reached the handle, an arm circled my waist, yanking me back into a warm body, and I gasped just as my hair was swiped to the side and a hot mouth was on my neck.

Everything fell apart. My knees buckled, but he held me tight as my eyes closed, and my neck fell to the side, inviting him in.

Oh, my God!

It felt so good. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t pull away. I couldn’t stop him. His mouth was like hot water pouring over me, creating a blanket of heat. His teeth grazed my skin, rough but not hard, and he slid his lips and teeth over the sensitive area under my ear, and I wasn’t sure if he was kissing me or getting ready to eat me.

He left short but deep kisses across my neck, at the base, and under my ear. His tongue flicked my ear lobe right before his other hand reached around and turned my chin to him.

And then his mouth was on mine. I moaned and gasped, probably sounding like I was in pain, but I couldn’t help it. The tornado between my legs made my skin tingle.

Jax’s tongue found mine, and I groaned into his mouth, inhaling his scent that reminded me of summer. Of sweet cotton candy on a Ferris Wheel and cool water on hot skin.

The heat, the wetness, the taste, everything was hard and fast as his lips worked mine.

Keeping the same arm around my waist, his other hand left my face and dove straight under my skirt and into my panties.

“Oh,” I whimpered a muffled groan into his mouth that still held me hostage. What was he doing? I needed to stop this!

But my eyes fluttered as his smooth fingers dipped into my center, swirling the wetness already there around my clit.

And then his mouth left mine, and he yanked me up off my feet and growled in my ear.

“You’re so wet for me, K.C.” His voice was hard and threatening. “You're gutless, helpless, and a fucking liar, too.”

And then he dropped me on my ass, and I fell to the mats, shaking with confusion.

All I heard behind me was a door open and close, and I knew I was alone.

Bringing a shaky hand to my mouth, I sucked in air like it was going out of style. “Holy shit,” I whispered.

© Penelope Douglas, Falling Away

♥Buy books 1 & 2 of the series♥

 

Bully (Fall Away, #1)

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♦♦♦♦

Until You (Fall Away, #1.5)

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♥Pre-order RIVAL♥

Coming August 26, 2014

Rival (Fall Away, #3)

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♥About Penelope♥

Penelope Douglas is a writer and teacher in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she is the oldest of five children. Penelope attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, because her father told her to "just get the degree!" She then earned a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans, because she hated Public Administration. One night, she got tipsy and told the bouncer at the bar where she worked that his son was hot, and three years later they were married. To the son, not the bouncer. They have spawn, but just one. A daughter named Aydan. Penelope loves sweets, the show Sons of Anarchy, and she shops at Target almost daily.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • Goodreads

♥Giveaway♥

(1) $50 gift card or (5) $10 gift card. Winners choice of either Amazon or B&N card. Open internationally.

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Review: Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

Title: The Beautiful Ashes
By: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Broken Destiny #1
My Copy: Ebook from Netgalley
BookWhisperer Rating:


In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate. 

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her. 

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

Beautiful Ashes is a new story with the same masterfully crafted adventure that I have come to love and expect from every single one of Jeaniene Frosts Titles. I have been beside myself waiting for a chance at this debuting story line. I was definitely not disappointed, and while it is nothing like the beloved story of Cat and Bones. It does have the same captivating romance and adventure all wrapped into one thrilling ride that will blind you until it drops you at the very last page. The ultimate battle of light and dark is a great concept that has allowed Frost to build this mysterious new world. It is a large and expansive concept that will allow for a whole lot of new direction options. Honestly, I did not see many similarities to Frost style in this novel until the very end. Looking back I can see her signature style in the strong and determined female leads, but also in the dedicated and self sacrificing alpha men. Otherwise, nothing I encountered offered any sort of comparison, and I am completely in awe at her ability to create something so original. Jeaniene Frost is truly one of the most talented authors I have ever encountered. She is the real deal, and with every story her abilities and talents raise the bar for every other writer . 

Better When He's Bad Promo

 

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD by Jay Crownover! BETTER WHEN HE'S BAD is the first novel in her Welcome to the Point Series published by William Morrow, and imprint of HarperCollins. This book, and the series to come, is one you don't want to miss!!

   

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About BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover returns with a heart-stopping new series… Welcome to the Point. There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who’s bad . . . meet Shane Baxter. Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn’t just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he’s the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there’s a new player in the game, and she’s much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way. Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She’s always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con The Point has ever produced. Bax terrifies her, awakening feelings she never thought she’d have for a guy like him. But it doesn’t take Dovie long to realize . . . some boys are just better when they’re bad.   EXCERPT: I let out the breath I was holding and took another step closer to her. The water was splashing on the sleeve of my shirt as I reached up to grab both of her cheeks in my palms. “Are you scared of me?” It was the start of the questions I had asked her what felt like a lifetime ago. Her answer didn’t change, but this time when she answered, she was holding back a smile that made my heart hurt. “Terrified, but I kind of like it now.” “Do you trust me?” My voice broke. I had never really trusted anyone but Race and now there was her and my brother and just all kinds of new things making my life so much more complicated and undeniably fuller. “With my life. I trust all the parts of you, Bax. You need to know that.” “You going to go to bed with me?” That made her outright laugh and she reached up to curl her hands around my wrists. “As often as I can and anyplace in between when the mood strikes.” The rest of the blood racing around my system went solidly south. I dropped my forehead so it was resting on hers and the water from the showerhead was cascading down around us. I was making a mess, but I didn’t care because I had her, and she was my home. “Do you love me?” The words sounded so foreign, but so right, when I was saying them to her. She brushed her full lips across mine and the last three months without her faded away. “Do you want me to lie to you or tell you the truth?” I smiled against her mouth and kissed her back twice as hard as she had kissed me. “Lie to me.” She reached up and put her arms around my neck and took a step back, dragging me all the way into the shower stall with her. The water was lukewarm at best, and it made me shiver. So did the fact that she started to impatiently pull the tail of my shirt up over my head. A task made increasingly difficult considering I was now soaked head to toe and the material was clinging to me. “Of course not. You’re the last person in the world I could love.” GIVEAWAY: There is an international giveaway. It includes 5 prizes for 5 individual winners! 1st $100 Amazon gift card and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner 2nd $50 Amazon gift card and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner 3rd $25 Amazon gift card and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner 4th BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD swag and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner 5th BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD swag and a signed BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD for 1 winner

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About Jay Crownover: Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series. She will also be introducing the dark and sexy world of The Point in a new series this summer starting with Better When He’s Bad. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.        

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Review: Breaking Away by Toni Aleo

Title: Breaking Away
By: Toni Aleo
Series: The Assassins Series #5
My Copy: Amazon.com
BookWhisperer's Rating: 

BREAKING AWAY is a story of loss, healing, and love… where unexpected turns and heartache lead to passion.

To Nashville Assassins’ leading scoring center Phillip Anderson, playing hockey has always been easy… as natural as breathing. His life is no different. That’s until his world is turned upside down by the death of his sister. While mourning his loss, Phillip has to find a way to make his very angry sixteen-year-old niece, Claire, happy. Now, as her guardian, he discovers the only thing that seems to heal her lonely heart is dance class. But what he didn’t count on was the attraction he’d feel towards her drop-dead sexy dance teacher.

For Reese Allen, dancing has always been part of her soul. After having her heart broken in New York, she comes home with the determination to make her dance studio one of the best in Tennessee and succeeds. When she sees Claire dance for the first time, she knows the girl is bound for greatness and takes the troubled teen under her wing. Using dance as therapy, she suddenly finds herself bound to the young woman… and her hot-as-sin uncle.

However, Phillip and Reese are happy in their single lives. It’s simple. They do what they want, who they want, and how they want, but from the moment they meet, the attraction is undeniable. Soon, they are more than willing to spend just one night tangled in the sheets. But, one night turns into two, and two turns into three, until they find themselves in a repeated dance of “One Last Time” that has the potential to be something more… if only Reese and Claire allow it.

Can Phillip find a way to thaw the hearts of both the women in his life, or will he be forever trying to break them away from their pasts?

I just can’t get enough of this series!  It’s like a little slice of happiness every time a new book comes out.  Each story from this series has been wonderful and Breaking Away was exactly that, wonderful.

Phillip is such an amazing character.  In the first few chapters, you find him searching for his niece, Claire, who has basically ran away and he makes the decision that he will now take full responsibility for raising her.  But raising her isn’t as easy as he hoped it would be and has to rely on one of Reese’s sisters to watch her while he is away at his games.  This gives Reese a chance to meet Claire and realizes that she is a fantastic dancer and since Reese owns a dance studio, there couldn’t be a better pairing in friendship between Reese and Claire.  However, friendship is not what Phillip wants from Reese once he finally gets to know her.  He wants so much more than Reese is willing to give.

This story isn’t all about Phillip and Reese and how specular they are together, even when Reese won’t admit it; this story has more behind it than lust and love.  As a reader, you get to read about the hell-like childhood that Phillip was raised in and what Claire suffered through while growing up under her mother’s house.  You also get to see a glimpse of why Reese is so adamant to stay just friends with benefits over starting a relationship with Phillip. 

If you have enjoyed the other books in this series, I have no doubt that you will enjoy this one as well.