The Book Voyagers: blog tour

Hi beautiful readers! I'm back with another fun post for you all. This time around I'm part of the Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky blog tour with Cake Literary. I'm so very honored every time I take part of these tours because I absolutely adore every single book of theirs. Tristan Strong is part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Each new announced title they keep releasing gets better and better and when this was announced, I was just so excited for Kwame Mbalia. I'm ready to talk more about this title in my review below so if you want to know my thoughts about it, just head a bit down!

Title: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

Author: Kwame Mbalia

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents

Release date: October 15th, 2019

Pages: 496

Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s journal. Tristan chases after it-–is that a doll?-–and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American gods John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?

Add on Goodreads | Pre-order at Penguin Random House | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is one amazing novel. The fun I had while reading this book is out of this world. From the very start you get the feeling that something incredible is happening and that will move your world upside down. Tristan Strong is definitely one book you have to pick up if you love and enjoy fun, mythological, action-packed novels.

Tristan has been feeling kind-of ... not so well. After losing his first boxing match and losing his best friend in a bus accident, Tristan is not ready to spend a month on his grandparents' farm for a MONTH. Things start happening really early on, like Eddie's journal is shining with this green, bright glow and Tristan doesn't know what's going on. No one can see it, only him. And then when he arrives to the farm, the action starts. Every time you meet a new character, you get all these butterflies in the stomach. Kwame Mbalia is a master of telling this intricated story with so many layers, but he does it in a way that it feels so easy and fresh, and you're ready to have the time of your life. The story is flowing through the pages and every page you read, there is something new waiting for you that you won't expect.

I'm so happy this book is going to be released. Kids, teens, adults, we all need it. My heart keeps racing and I seriously want more from this. It's that excitement of meeting new characters to love, going on this wild journey that takes you places that you won't be able to imagine, and a protagonist that feels so much and doesn't know what to do with that, but this adventure will give him the answers.

Tristan Strong punches a whole in a tree and accidentally releases gods, monters and the adventure of his life. You won't be the same after reading this beautiful novel.

Kwame is a husband, father, writer, and pharmaceutical metrologist in that order. His debut middle-grade novel, TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY (October 15, 2019) is published by Rick Riordan Presents/Disney-Hyperion. A Howard University graduate and a Midwesterner now in North Carolina, he enjoys impromptu dance sessions and Cheezits.

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Hey beautiful readers! I hope you're having a wonderful day and that you're ready to get to this because I so am? I have been so ready to share with you this post the day Cake Literary asked me to host this lovely Q&A with author Karuna Riazi. I have been so excited because I love Karuna and her books and I simply wanted to share the love about this new title she has called The Battle. So let's not delay this and get to it, right?

Book: The Battle

Author: Karuna Riazi

Release date: August 27, 2019

Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books

The game begins again in this gripping follow-up to The Gauntlet that’s a futuristic Middle-Eastern Zathura meets Ready Player One!

Four years after the events of The Gauntlet, the evil game Architect is back with a new partner-in-crime—The MasterMind—and the pair aim to get revenge on the Mirza clan. Together, they’ve rebuilt Paheli into a slick, mind-bending world with floating skyscrapers, flying rickshaws run by robots, and a digital funicular rail that doesn’t always take you exactly where you want to go.

Twelve-year-old Ahmad Mirza struggles to make friends at his new middle school, but when he’s paired with his classmate Winnie for a project, he is determined to impress her and make his very first friend. At home while they’re hard at work, a gift from big sister Farah—who is away at her first year in college—arrives. It’s a high-tech game called The Battle of Blood and Iron, a cross between a video game and board game, complete with virtual reality goggles. He thinks his sister has solved his friend problem—all kids love games. He convinces Winnie to play, but as soon as they unbox the game, time freezes all over New York City.

With time standing still and people frozen, all of humankind is at stake as Ahmad and Winnie face off with the MasterMind and the Architect, hoping to beat them at their own game before the evil plotters expand Paheli and take over the entire world.

Add on Goodreads | Pre-order at Simon & Schuster | Amazon | IndieBound

The Book Voyagers: Hi Karuna! So happy to have you here and thank you for coming to my blog. Let’s talk about The Battle. Can you tell us a little bit more about this book? What can we expect and are there more dangers than in the first installment?

Karuna Riazi: Hi Sil! Such a pleasure to be on the blog! The Battle picks up a few years where The Gauntlet left off, and with a different Mirza as our protagonist: Ahmad, Farah's precocious younger brother who got sucked into Paheli previously. He's now a middle schooler himself and will face down the Architect and his new ally, The MasterMind, alongside his classmate (and, he hopes, friend) Winnie. You can expect a video game twist instead of the traditional board game, more scheming from the Architect and other cool things like flying rickshaws and holographic shops!

TBV: One of the things that I found fascinating in the blurb is that this new novel is more futuristic! The evil game Architect has a new partner in crime a.k.a. The MasterMind. And they rebuild Paheli with lots of new things like robots *chef kiss* Tell me a bit more about your inspiration for this book.

KR: Well, as you know, Jumanji was part of my original inspiration for The Gauntlet. Jumanji's sequel is Zathura, which - particularly if you are considering film canon - is more futuristic than Jumanji. We decided to go for video games as the futuristic aspect instead of outer space, and I went from there! (I'm a video game fan myself so this was a lot of fun for me.)

TBV: I love board games and as you said The Gauntlet is inspired by Jumanji. Which board games are your favorite now and which were your favorite when you were a kid? And if you had the chance, would you go into the game like Ahmad and Winnie?

KR: My favorite board games as a kid were Clue, and these two really educational ones (I was homeschooled). One was called Take Off, and it was dedicated to teaching geography, so you had a fleet of airplanes and you had to get them to a certain airport - if I recall correctly - before the opposing players' planes did. The other was Herd Your Horses - yes, I was a horse girl in middle school, down to the riding classes - and my sister and I used to carry it to our local stables for summer day camp so everyone could take a turn playing it. In terms of going into a game, I'm...a very anxious person. I think all of Alex's nerves in the first book were very autobiographical. I would spend most of my time in a game just like him: worrying, wondering if we'd made a huge mistake and freaking out over every little surprise. So I think I would honestly not want to go into a game!

TBV: Friendship is so important in your books. Can you tell me about the creation of these characters, Ahmad and Winnie, and how they form the perfect partnership?

KR: Of course, readers will be familiar with Ahmad from The Gauntlet - but, in the way authors often do with hindsight after the book is released, I realized that Ahmad was not given as much of a chance to show his inner spirit and character as his sister was. A lot of readers described him as bratty or difficult for no reason. So, in this book, once I knew he was going to be the protagonist, I wanted to show another side to him: the boy who wants what his sister has, good friends, but is not sure of how to do that or where to even begin. I wanted Ahmad to have a friend he deserved, even if he didn't know it: someone fun, and smart, and loyal, and also another kid of color who believes strongly in sticking together and facing the world together. I think Winnie is all that and more and I love her and hope that I've been able to do her justice and make her spirit shine as strongly as his. (I will also note that, even if he doesn't realize it yet, Ahmad has all those same characteristics, but he's less confident in them than Winnie is, which is why she's the perfect partner to draw it out of him!)

TBV: As a last question, I would love to know which books would you recommend reading for fans of your books!

KR: Hmm, this is a very good question. As a kid, I loved The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin and I still want to write a book with as much depth and mystery as that book - so readers, if you haven't, get on that! If you want to understand me as a person in general, read Ella Enchanted and Howl's Moving Castle because those titles are the reasons I write. In general within middle grade, I love my Cake sister Anna Meriano's Love Sugar Magic titles, Anne Ursu's middle grades (like, every single one of them) and anything by Mike Jung. I'm sure I'm forgetting people!

Karuna Riazi is a born and raised New Yorker, with a loving, large extended family and the rather trying experience of being the eldest sibling in her particular clan. She holds a BA in English Literature from Hofstra University, and is an online diversity advocate, blogger, and educator. She is a 2017 honoree on NBC Asian America's Redefining A-Z list, featuring up and coming talent within the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, and her work has been featured on Entertainment Weekly, Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, Book Riot and Teen Vogue, among others.

Karuna is fond of tea, Korean dramas, writing about tough girls forging their own paths toward their destinies, and baking new delectable treats for friends and family to relish. The Gauntlet (S&S/Salaam Reads, March 28, 2017) is her middle grade debut, with a forthcoming companion, The Battle.

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Hi, beautiful people! Sil here. I'm excited to be part of this virtual book tour for A TINY PIECE OF SOMETHING GREATER by Jude Sierra. Jude is one of my favorite authors and I hope many people pick up Jude's books! This little interview here will give you a great view inside Jude's head and her characters. Hope you enjoy.

Jude Sierra is a Latinx poet, author, academic and mother working toward her PhD in Writing and Rhetoric, looking at the intersections of Queer, Feminist and Pop Culture Studies. She also works as an LGBTQAI+ book reviewer for From Top to Bottom Reviews. Her novels include Hush, What it Takes, and Idlewild, a contemporary LGBT romance set in Detroit’s renaissance, which was named a Best Book of 2016 by Kirkus Reviews. Her most recent novel, A Tiny Piece of Something Greater was released in May of 2018.

1. Tell us something no one else knows about your characters.

Reid very badly does and has always wanted to go to college, but so deeply internalized this idea that he was too behind, too fucked up, and a general mess that it isn’t until he’s on the road to wellness that he realizes how easily story we tell ourselves is true (or that we think others have told us is true) can quickly become a fact. It’s a story he’s told himself and that others have told him so often, he won’t even begin to untangle how he really feels about it for a long time.

I think we can tell from Tiny that Joaquim loves having younger divers in his classes. Where the boys are at the end of the book—happy, together, but unsure of where they will go next—is just the start of a turning point for Joaquim as he begins to evaluate the sustainability of his wandering and free spirited approach to the future. A part of this evaluation is the beginning of some serious thought about what he might want to do some day down the road—and although it’ll be a while before he really unlocks this, I can definitely tell you that working with children is a big part of it.

2. Do you have pictures that you use for your characters? Can you share them with us?

I do! I will say that Joaquim was so hard to find, I felt like there was a team of people trying to find the perfect J for us: eventually the wonderful Julian Winters and my fellow book blogger Annie found me the closest match. Joaquim has shorter hair but otherwise this particular male model is A+

Conversely, is so much this boy that I can’t even handle my feelings over how 100% Reid he is.

3. Did you learn anything from this book and what was it?

I learned a lot about how far into painful emotions I’m willing to go, for one. Which sounds weird, but there were plenty of times when I felt like I was gutting myself writing Reid. But it felt really important and very true and necessary to making this book as realistic and honest as possible.

I think I also learned more about my relationship with romantic gestures, oddly enough. Reid and Joaquim are by far the most romantic couple I’ve written: they do such lovely sweet things for each other and go on really romantic dates. I didn’t realize I’d never really explored that sort of dynamic in depth before and it was really fulfilling to write, once I let myself go there. In real life I’d be super uncomfortable with the level of romance these two share, because I have a very hard time expressing deep feelings in particular ways. I knew that this applied to me when it came to painful emotions, but hadn’t realized quite how much I protect myself from letting people in across the board. It’s a strange and interesting thing to learn about yourself when you write romance novels!

4. What do you think makes your book stand out from the crowd?

On a most basic level, I’ll say that I’ve never seen a book about a character with cyclothemia, although I’m sure they are out there. I’d never even heard of cyclothemia until I was over 30—having known about it I might have been saved or saved myself tremendous suffering in silence.

Tiny is a love story, and I enjoyed writing it so much; but in some ways, it’s almost like this book is half a love story and half a coming of age. I read a lot of romance that broaches difficult topics, but I tried very, very hard to stay away from the idea that love would cure or fix Reid in any way. The love story enriches his life and Joaquim’s life, and Reid’s mental illness complicates their new relationship as they learn to communicate and navigate each other and their stories. I knew when writing Tiny that some parts of it would be hard enough to read that some people wouldn’t be able to pick it up or finish it. That’s a hard thing to come to terms with ahead of time. But by the same token, there was no other way for me to do justice by the story and the message and the characters. I needed this book to be its best, most honest self, both for myself and for readers.

5. say it takes a community to write a book: tell us about the community that helped you with this book.

I dedicated my book to a group of women who were instrumental in my wellness and recovery after I had a mental breakdown. For over a year, every week, our meetings were what I looked forward to, a touchstone for my wellness, a ballast. These women and the relationships we had made a huge difference in my ability to forgive myself. They helped me learn how to draw and stay true to boundaries I needed to create in toxic relationships. They helped me understand that my responsibility to my survival and happiness were of utmost importance in my life, and that if I found happiness, I would be my best self for my family and friends. A Tiny Piece of Something Greater would never have happened without them. I needed a certain perspective and distance from some topics in the book in order to get as close to them as I did (which probably makes no sense, but is true). They were a huge part of that journey for me.

So far as the writing of the book goes, I was super indebted to my sensitivity readers—Taylor Brooke, Julian Winters and Min (from Min and her Books Blog)—who offered tremendous help and support in large part because they believed in me and the story. I had such personal and honest moments with all three about various aspects of the book that I couldn’t imagine this process without them. Annie, my co-book blogger read every sentence of this book from the first draft. She literally read along as I wrote it during NaNo. When you’re doubting if you can or should do a thing, it helps to have a cheerleader like Annie. I had other wonderful friends who shared stories with me, read snippets of difficult parts (I don’t want to name names if they don’t want them), who gave me feedback on if certain parts rang true, etc. Despite the fact that I wrote this from a POV within these experiences, in no way are my experiences monolithic. I’m super grateful to everyone who gave me feedback and cheered me on and supported this book as I wrote it.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Smashwords | Interlude Press | The Ripped Bodice

Special offer: the ebook will be 50% off on Kindle November 12-18.

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Hey you beautiful people! How are you doing today? I hope you are all well and ready to read this amazing piece I got for you today. As you might know Talia Hibbert just recently published Untouchable and it truly is the best thing ever. Guess who is here to share the book love? The one and only Hannah Kabbah, the heroine from this book! She's here to share with us her five real life lipstick shades from Untouchable. Are you all ready?

Title: Untouchable

Author: Talia Hibbert

Series: Ravenswood #2

Release date: August 11th, 2018

What happens when a bad boy becomes a man?

Nate Davis didn’t plan on returning to his hateful hometown. But then, he didn’t plan on being widowed in his twenties, or on his mother getting sick, either. Turns out, life doesn’t give a f$*k about plans.

Hannah Kabbah thought her career in childcare was over. After all, no-one wants a woman with a criminal damage conviction watching their kids. But when her high school crush returns to Ravenswood with two kids in tow, she gets the second chance she never dreamed of.

She also gets to know Nate – the real Nate. The one whose stony exterior hides aching vulnerability. Who makes her smile when she wants to fall apart. Who is way, way more than the bad boy persona he earned so long ago, and way too noble to ever sleep with the nanny.

So it’s a good thing she’s completely over that teenage crush, right?

Please note: this book contains discussion and depiction of depression and anxiety that may trigger certain audiences

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Hi guys! I’m Hannah, lipstick aficionado and author of The Kabbah Code. Thanks for having me on The Book Voyagers, Sil! Today I’m going to talk about some of the lipstick I wear in Untouchable by Talia Hibbert.

I’m used to blogging—but not about makeup, and definitely not about a romance novel starring, you know, me. I’m trying not to think too hard about that last part, actually. It’s all rather mortifying.

But makeup is easy to think about, because it makes me smile. Untouchable, the book I star in, describes a few of my different lipstick shades—mostly from Nate’s perspective, because he notices that sort of thing. He looks at my mouth a lot. It’s cute, but don’t tell him I said that.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share the brands and shade names of my favourite lipstick so you can try them too. But bear in mind: lipstick looks waaaaay different on various skin tones! Always check the images of swatches and models before purchasing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ended up with a ‘nude’ lipstick that has me looking casket-ready. Sigh.

And, with that last warning, let’s begin!

1. Beauty Bakerie’s Lip Whip in Take Me For Pomegranate

In Chapter One, Nate and I met again for the first time in a bloody century. It was all a bit hectic—I’m was fleeing the scene of a marshmallow crime, he was trying to stop his kids eating flowers—but he took the time to notice that my lipstick is “fuchsia”. He has a good eye. Must be a photography thing.

I was actually wearing a Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip in the shade Take Me For Pomegranate. It’s the most long-wearing matte lipstick formula ever (quote me, I feel very passionately about this) and the shades are fun, too.

2. Maybelline’s Superstay 24hr Matte Ink in Heroine

In Chapter Five, Nate was supposed to be watching how I interacted with the kids, but he was actually just looking at my mouth again. Okay, no, that’s not fair; he is an excellent and highly concerned dad. He was definitely watching me with the kids, but he was watching my mouth at the same time. Multitasking!

Anyway, the point is, Nate thought my lips were “red and orange, like she’d painted her mouth with pure heat”. He’s kind of poetic sometimes.

I was wearing Maybelline’s Superstay 24hr Matte Ink in Heroine—which is appropriate! This formula is very matte, but it’s soft and comfortable in a way most liquid lipsticks aren’t. It has staying power too! A rare and winning combo.

3. Fenty Beauty’s Mattemoiselle in Candy Venom

In Chapter Eight, I briefly suspected Nate of minor criminal activity. You really can’t blame me; he was a total demon when we were teenagers. I’m pretty sure everyone expected him to end up as some major crime lord. I, for one, am very happy that he grew into a devoted (if stressed-out) dad instead.

While I was busy talking too much, Nate decided that my mouth was “deep rose… like a flower blooming over and over again”. Cute.

I was wearing Fenty Beauty’s Mattemoiselle lipstick in Candy Venom, which has got to be the greatest shade name known to man. The lipstick itself is fantastic, too. It isn’t long-wearing or kiss-proof (not that we were kissing! Would I ever?!) but it’s very comfortable and looks velvety on the lips.

4. Colourpop’s Ultra Matte Lip in Cloudscape

Candy Venom isn’t the only lipstick I wore in Chapter Eight, because variety is the spice of life. Or at least, it is when it comes to small, controllable things like makeup. I prefer safe thrills, except for when I accidentally don’t.

Later in the chapter, Nate decided to touch my “earthy” nude lipstick, “staining the pad of his thumb cinnamon”. Please don’t ask why he touched my mouth. The lipstick is far more important.

I was wearing Colourpop’s Ultra Matte Lip in Cloudscape, which is a dramatic shade on some people, but nice and subtle on me. The formula is decent, as long as you don’t apply too many layers! You have to be practiced and precise. Applying lipstick is one of my mundane superpowers, but if you’re not used to it, I recommend practice.

5. Milani Matte Lip Creme in Craze

Chapter Twelve contained the single most flattering description of me ever. Nate thought that I was “an avenging angel with ladybird-printed kitchen scissors, fire-engine-red lipstick and a mean stare”. I mean, the ladybird scissors don’t exactly fit the mood, but in the interests of realism, he kind of had to mention them.

I was wearing is Milani’s Matte Lip Creme in Craze, which is an… interesting shade name. Anyway, I have to warn you guys—this formula sucks. If you put your mouth on… ah, anything, that thing will be covered in lip prints. Just FYI.

That’s not all of the lipstick I wear in Untouchable, but let’s call this a collection of greatest hits, shall we?

I hope you guys find this post useful. Lipstick is one of the tiny good habits I’ve formed over the course of my life—good because I love that small splash of colour, and the satisfaction of collecting different shades, and the action of pampering myself. Even when it’s hard to feel anything at all, I put my lipstick on and feel connected to myself.

Plus, it’s fun to look cute. So go forth and paint your face!

Competition time! In honour of the Untouchable Blog Tour, Talia is offering one lucky winner the chance to receive e-copies of the Ravenswood books, PLUS a $25 Amazon gift card. Comment below (and include your social media handle) for the chance to win. (Full terms and conditions can be found on Talia’s website.)

Talia Hibbert is a writer and educator from the U.K., by way of both the West Indies and West Africa. She wrote her first romance aged 12, and was promptly scolded by a teacher because her story of love in the jungle wasn't 'proper'.

Since then, Talia's stories have improved in quality and hugely increased in heat. She now writes steamy, diverse romance set in the U.K., and while her work still isn't proper, it is a lot of fun. She self-publishes via Nixon House, and is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary.

Contact: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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Hey beautiful people! How are you doing today? Right now as I'm writing this post, it's raining and my dad just wanted to grill some steaks outside so I have no clue what the result would be after. I hope it stops soon. But in the meantime I thought it best to start writing and drafting this fabulous new post I got just for you.

Author Layla Reyne, you might know her from may books she has published before, has a new book out. It's called IMPERIAL STOUT, a romance thriller with a heist and the first book in a new series, I believe. It sounds fascinating and hope you all are ready to pick it up when it comes out. Today I bright you an exclusive post written by the author herself Layla Reyne. Hope you all enjoy.

Imperial Stout

Author: Layla Reyne

Series: Trouble Brewing #1

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): Ebook/Audio – July 23, 2018; Print – July 31, 2019

Length (Print & Ebook): 272 pages

Subgenre: M/M Romantic Suspense

Layla Reyne spins off from her pulse-pounding Agents Irish and Whiskey books with Imperial Stout, the first installment in the Trouble Brewing series.

It’s a good thing assistant US attorney Dominic Price co-owns a brewery. He could use a cold one. Nic’s star witness has just been kidnapped, his joint operation with the FBI is in jeopardy, his father’s shady past is catching up with him and the hot new special agent in San Francisco is the kind of distraction best handled with a stiff drink.

Kidnap and rescue expert Cameron Byrne has his own ideas about how to handle Nic, but his skills are currently needed elsewhere. The by-the-book FBI agent goes deep undercover as a member of an infamous heist crew in order to save Nic’s witness, break up the crew and close the case before anyone else gets hurt. Nic in particular.

Things heat up when Cam falls for Nic, and the witness falls for Cam. As the crew’s suspicions grow, Cam must decide how far he’s willing to go—and how far into his own dark past he’s willing to dive—to get everyone out alive.

Order it: Amazon | UBL | Carina

For the Love of Adults

A post by Layla Reyne

Spinning off from Agents Irish and Whiskey, Assistant US Attorney Dominic Price and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Cameron Byrne get their own trilogy, Trouble Brewing, kicking off with IMPERIAL STOUT, an action-packed heist thriller. As much as I loved writing my new adult swimmers in Changing Lanes, it was refreshing to get back to mature characters in this new series. At 35 and 45, respectively, Cam and Nic are seasoned professionals, the best of the best at their jobs, and they’re also men who know what they want, namely each other. There’s no coyness about that, or with each other, and while Book 1 sees them getting together, the series as a whole focuses on these two making it work as a couple. This subtle shift is often one of my favorite things about romances with more mature characters. Here are just a few of my tops:

Risky Business by LA Witt and Cari Z – Andreas is a veteran detective, Darren a seven-year beat cop who recently made detective. Both men know who they are and what they like and are refreshingly honest with each other, not beating around the bush too much, to the extent it even surprises Andreas at little. It was delightful surprise for me as the reader too!

The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara – Everything about this book is fresh—the unique spin on the shifter trope, the world-building, and the thirtysomething leads. Both have seen things, both have been through tough experiences, and both are wary to trust, for good reasons, but when they do get on the same page, they’re well matched personally and professionally.

Hush by Tal Bauer – I could have easily put The Executive Office series here too. The wealth of knowledge, maturity and experience all Tal’s characters exhibit is wonderful and only adds to these complex stories of justice and intrigue. In Hush, Tom and Mike are still learning about themselves, and how/if they can make a relationship work given their jobs, but it’s an important connection they both know to value and work hard to preserve.

A Seditious Affair by KJ Charles – Dom and Silas are a Romancelandia favorite for good reason. The government official and the Radical bookseller—two people very set in their ways, on very opposite paths—and yet Silas is the only person who can give Dom what he needs. An unlikely friendship and romance blooms as a result. They know the risks, and they still take them, because each has finally found their perfect match and will do whatever it takes to make it work.

Giveaway

Win a signed set of paperbacks from Layla Reyne: Imperial Stout and Blended Whiskey! Winners in the USA will receive paperback copies of the prizes; winners from outside the contiguous USA, will receive Amazon gift card of equivalent value. Enter here:

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Author Layla Reyne was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart pounding romance. When she’s not writing stories to excite her readers, she downloads too many books, watches too much television, and cooks too much food with her scientist husband, much to the delight of their smushed-face, leftover-loving dogs. Layla is a member of Romance Writers of America and its Kiss of Death and Rainbow Romance Writers chapters. She was a 2016 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist in Romantic Suspense.

Connect with Layla Reyne:

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Hi lovely people. I bring you today another review written by me. I am happy to say that my blogger's block is finally coming to an end. I have been written more and more in the blog and hosting guest posts and blog tours/cover reveals. I feel good and I feel like I could write more in it this month.

This book review is for the book Pretending He's Mine by Mia Sosa, the new book and sequel of Acting on Impulse, released last year. That book was one of my favorite that year and this series continues to grow in my heart. But I'll let you all know why in my review, so hope you enjoy the reading!

Pretending He's Mine

by Mia Sosa

Series: Love on Cue

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Release: April 10th, 2018

For Hollywood agent Julian Hart, representing his best friend—megastar Carter Williamson—means it’s nearly impossible to keep his personal life and career separate. To make matters worse, Carter’s younger sister has been starring in Julian’s wildest fantasies more often than he’d care to admit. He knows she’s off-limits, but when Ashley shows up on his doorstep, needing a place to crash… suddenly his greatest temptation is sleeping down the hall.

Free-spirited Ashley Williamson doesn’t do commitment. Jobs, apartments, men… why let herself be tied down? But she’s had a crush on her older brother’s best friend for years and she’s committed to making Julian want her, one towel-clad midnight encounter at a time. But just as things start heating up, their steamy flirtation is interrupted by Carter’s east coast wedding. Ashley has no desire to go home and face her reputation as the family disappointment. But living with—dare she say dating?—a successful, sexy film agent could give them something else to talk about.

Julian can’t believe he agreed to fake a relationship with the one woman he can never have. And it’s going to take more than a little willpower to remember it's all pretend. Or is it?

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Pretending He's Mine made my insides swoon! Mia Sosa continues to write a pretty fantastic and fun series. The follow-up to Acting on Impulse didn't disappoint for me.

In this book there is Ashley and there is Julian. Ashley is Carter's little sister and Julian is his agent and best friend. Everything gets a little bit complicated when Ashley starts living with Julian because she doesn't have anywhere else to go! The forced proximity is real in this book, I tell you all. She even has her room just besides his own. They have a little bit of tension going into the novel but it really all gets more intense throughout Pretending He's Mine. They start to live with one another! So it's obvious one starts to see many things about the other one.

Their chemistry is the fire emoji times a million. It's going to make you melt with no chance to get back up but you have to, to finish the novel because it's so worth it! It's an enchanting book with fun events and returning characters as well. It has humor and love at the center of it all. It also has family and one thing I really loved is Tori and Ashley getting closer and also with Eva! My favorite trio being wild together is my favorite.

I adored every second of this novel and cannot wait for Eva and Anthony's time to shiiiiine. I want more books in this series, it's so fabulous and it's great to see behind-the-scenes in actors's lives! Or agents! Or stunt doubles! Mia Sosa wrote a very beautiful book that will leave you wanting for so much more.

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Mia Sosa was born and raised in New York City. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications and met her own romance hero (spoiler alert: she married him). Mia once dreamed of being a professional singer, but practical considerations (read: the need to generate income) led her to take the law school admissions test instead.

A graduate of Yale Law School, Mia practiced First Amendment and media law in the nation’s capital for ten years before returning to her creative roots. Now she spends most of her days writing contemporary romances about smart women and the complicated men who love them. Mia lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters and will forever be on the hunt for the perfect karaoke bar.

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Hey beautiful people. Today is my tour stop for the Her Perfect Affair by Priscilla Oliveras blog tour/release week blitz. I'm so excited to share a light and support this fabulous title and the amazing author who is Priscilla.

Rosa Fernandez isn’t impulsive, but she’s had a long-time crush on dreamy Jeremy Taylor and it’s time to take action. When their situation gets complicated, all they’ve worked for seems threatened. Can forever really grow from just-one- night? Find out in this sweet friends become lovers title releasing March 27 from Kensington Publishing.

Title: Her Perfect Affair
Author: Priscilla Oliveras
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 27, 2018
Publisher: Zebra Shout - Kensington Publishing
Series: Matched to Perfection
Format: Digital eBook / Print
Digital ISBN: B073NNQR5S
Print ISBN: 9781420144291

The Fernandez sisters have always had big dreams, and the talent and drive to pursue them. And in this sunny, spicy new series, each one will discover that success is that much sweeter when love follows . . .

Rosa Fernandez doesn’t act on impulse—she’s the responsible one, planning her career with precision, finally landing a job as the librarian at conservative Queen of Peace Academy, confining her strongest emotions to her secret poetry journal. But she’s been harboring a secret crush on dreamy Jeremy Taylor, and after one dance with him at her sister’s wedding, Rosa longs to let loose for the first time. She deserves some fun, after all. So what if she doesn’t have a shot with Jeremy, not with his wealthy pedigree and high profile lifestyle. But one dance leads to one kiss, and soon Rosa is head-over- heels . . .

The adopted son of a prominent Chicago lawyer, Jeremy has a lot to live up to—especially with his birth father in prison—the perfect example of a bad example. With a big promotion and a move to Japan in the works, Jeremy is worlds away from settling down. But sweet, steady Rosa is a temptation he doesn’t want to deny himself, at least for now. Yet when their simple fling turns complicated, everything they’ve both worked for is threatened—except the red-hot intimacy they’ve found together. Can forever really grow from just-for- now?

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Want to read an excerpt?

“Buen provecho,” the old man murmured.

She gave him a shy smile of thanks as she reached for the proffered champagne flute, then sidled away from the bar.

Jeremy fell into step alongside her and her heart rate blipped with glee.

“What did he say when he handed you your drink?” he asked. “Good something, right?”

She nodded, remembering Jeremy’s recent decision to start learning Spanish. “Literally it means, ‘enjoy your meal,’ but in this sense, it’s more like, ‘enjoy.’”

“Well then”—leaning closer to her, he clinked his flute against hers—“buen pro-pro—”

“Provecho,” she finished, her belly flip-flopping at his chagrined smile.

They walked a few more steps before she worked up the courage to ask, “So, um, where’s your date?”

The tall blonde who’d been his plus-one was the epitome of old money and high class, a glaring reminder that Jeremy came from a wealthy, established Chicago family. Rosa, on the other hand, came from a small town on the Island, her parents having transplanted from Puerto Rico to the Humboldt Park area of Chicago when they were first married, then later to Oakton in the suburbs.

She and Jeremy, not to mention his date, weren’t quite the same pedigree.

“Cecile?”

“Uh-huh. Is she your . . . ?” Rosa let her voice trail off, wondering what his response might be.

“Family friend. I mean, we dated years ago, but decided we’re better as friends.”

Rosa breathed a soft sigh of relief.

“Anyway, she ditched me a while ago.” Jeremy brushed it off like his date leaving him behind didn’t bother him. “Her parents are hosting a charity event over on Michigan Avenue and she wanted to put in an appearance.”

“You didn’t want to go?”

“And miss this fun?” He jutted his chin out at the people dancing to a well-known merengue hit. Couples packed the floor, some more seasoned and coordinated than others, but all having a great time.

They reached an empty table and Jeremy pulled out a chair for her.

“I haven’t seen you out there,” he said. “How come?”

He sat down to join her, his muscular thigh inadvertently brushing against hers. Tingles of awareness danced a cha-cha down her leg.

“Um, well.” Hyper-attuned to his nearness, it took Rosa a second to find her words. “This is more Yazmine and Lilí’s scene. I guess I tend to be a much better party planner than a partygoer.”

“I wouldn’t necessarily say that.” Jeremy’s lips quirked as he slid her a teasing glance. “I seem to recall you play a mean game of charades.”

Rosa laughed, remembering Lilí’s birthday this past spring. It’d been their first family celebration since Papi’s death, so Lilí had kept it an intimate affair at home with the three sisters; Tomás; his six-year- old daughter, Maria; Jeremy; and a few other close friends.

She and Jeremy had wound up on the same charades team. That night, they’d been on a similar wavelength or something, quickly guessing each other’s clues before anyone else.

Lilí had cried foul play.

Yaz had dubbed them the dynamic duo.

Rosa had soaked up the shared moment, their uncanny connection. Later, she’d composed a few verses about it in her private poetry journal.

“By the way, Yaz mentioned how you stepped in to help so she wouldn’t stress as much today. Everything turned out great.” The pleasure in his bright smile, directed right at her, made Rosa’s pulse skip.

She ducked her head, embarrassed by his praise. “It wasn’t that much.”

“Right,” Jeremy answered, his tone dripping with disbelief.

She peeked at him from under her lashes. At some point in the evening, he’d shed his suit jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms. As always, she was drawn by his ruffled dark blond hair and square jaw. But even more so by his friendly eyes and the easy camaraderie they shared.

He took a swig of his champagne, eyeing her over the rim.

What did he see when he looked at her?

Other books in the Matched to Perfection series:

His Perfect Partner

Ad executive Tomás Garcia shouldn't even be thinking about his daughter's alluring dance teacher, Yazmine Fernandez. Burned by a shattering divorce, he's laser-focused on his career and giving his young daughter, Maria, the secure home she deserves. Plus, he's certain that with her talent, Yaz will be leaving Chicago and heading back to Broadway as soon as she can. But Yaz's generous spirit and caring concern are sparking a desire Tomás can't resist and doesn't want to let go . . .

For Yaz, good-looking workaholics like Tomás simply can't be part of her life ever again. She owes it to herself to get back her confidence and fulfill the dreams her papa could not. She's glad to spend time with Maria and taste the family life she feels she can never have. And she's sure that she and Tomás can keep their attraction under control because there's so much at stake. But each unexpected intimacy, each self- revelation, makes the fire between them grow hotter with every step and every risk to their hearts

Now a double finalist for the 2018 RWA RITA Award -- Best First Book and Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length categories!

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ON SALE for $0.99 at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Giveaway!

Priscilla is offering one (1) lucky Grand Prize winner a prize pack containing a $50 Amazon Gift Card, an XL shirt featuring the book cover, a Spanish fan with Priscilla’s website, and a coffee mug and coaster with Priscilla’s logo.

Two (2) Runner-Up winners will receive an eCopy of His Perfect Partner (Matched to Perfection #1)!

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter: a Rafflecopter giveaway

PRISCILLA OLIVERAS writes sweet contemporary romance with a Latinx flavor. Proud of her Puerto Rican-Mexican heritage, she strives to bring authenticity to her novels by sharing her Latinx culture with readers.

Her debut release, His Perfect Partner, and the second book in her Matched to Perfection series, Her Perfect Affair, both earned Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Since earning an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, she serves as English adjunct faculty at her local college and teaches an on- line course titled “Romance Writing” for ed2go. Priscilla is a sports fan, a beach lover, a half-marathon runner and a consummate traveler who often practices the art of napping in her backyard hammock.

To follow along on her fun-filled and hectic life, visit her on the web at http://prisoliveras.com/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prisoliveras or on Twitter via @prisoliveras.

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