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VBB Weekly – 07.20.2015

This week was a slower reading week for me, I had a beta read and was busy working on some fun blog work that’s to come! I’m still seriously reeling over Fairytale Come Alive by Kristen Ashley!!! It’s the newest addition to my 6-star reads. ALL THE FEELS. I also finished and loved A Pound of Flesh by Sophie Jackson. I listened to the Audible version narrated by Grace Grant and it was fab-u-lous. I’ve been hearing that a lot of you have this book, but haven’t gotten to it yet… I’m telling you, bring that book up to the top of your TBR pile! The follow-up book, Love and Always, is coming August 3rd! And speaking of August, this week I’m starting my early August reads while I enjoy a short vacation with my family at the end of the week at the beach. Happy reading! ♥

Highlights

USA Today Love In Suspense Review: The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward
Exclusive Excerpt: Hollywood Witch Hunter by Valerie Tejeda
Exclusive Excerpt: Racing the Sun by Karina Halle
Exclusive Excerpt: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
New to pre-order: An Ember in the Ashes II by Sabaa Tahir!!! Loved the first book (read my review)
Summer Recommendations: Must-Reads in Every Category
Group Read: Our VBB Vixens reading group will be chatting exclusively with author Taylor Jenkins Reid TODAY at 6:30 pm CST/7:30 pm EST! We’ll be talking about Maybe In Another Life and we would love for you to join us!!! Enter your email address here and I’ll add you to our group!!!
Style Me Saturdays: Five Must-Haves from Kendra Scott’s newest Mystic Bazaar collection!

Cover Reveal: Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

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Release Recap

(Click cover to order)

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Releasing This Week

Caught in the Surf (novella) by Jasinda Wilder (Available Now)

Lani woke up one morning hungover, heartbroken, and stranded in a tropical paradise. She missed her plane and ran out of luck… and then she met Casey. Who happened to be a pilot with a airplane…not to mention tall, handsome, and exactly what she needs. Even though the last thing she planned on was getting naked in the sand…

Warning: this is one seriously hot little novella previously published in the Summer on Seeker’s Island anthology. It contains super-steamy insta-love between a giant sexy island hero and a short and curvy Hawaiian surfer chick. This story contains scorching, sandy sexy times guaranteed to heat you up, even if you read it on the beach.

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Vanguard by CJ Markusfeld (Available Now)

Sophie Swenda, a refugee aid expert, is accustomed to saving lives on a grand scale. It becomes more than a job when the person she needs to save is the man she loves.

Michael Nariovsky-Trent, a Baltic-born American doctor, vanished months ago after joining the resistance in the Soviet Republic. Sophie believes he’s trapped inside the fences and barbed wire of a sinister refugee camp, lost in a sea of freezing, starving prisoners of war.

Despite her long-ago failed romance with Michael, Sophie’s always believed their time would come – no matter how unlikely it seems to everyone around them. His blazing temper, her obstinacy, and their shared brilliance and competitiveness have made the road to love a rocky one. More than a decade after they separated, they’re too stubborn to forgive past mistakes … and still too in love to move on.

She embarks on a mission like no other before. Unless Sophie can find him, their long-delayed chance at love will be lost forever. With the world’s security forces deadlocked and the camp’s commander seeking vengeance, Sophie is on her own. She must bargain for the life of the man she loves – and everyone else in the camp – before the commander destroys them all.

Standalone suspense.

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Loving the White Liar by Kate Stewart (Available Now)

I met my true love when I was twenty-seven. He was handsome, charming, witty, and irresistible. Jayden Monroe came along when I was struggling with indecision and made things simple, turned monochrome into vivid color, and forever altered my perspective on life.

I was not naive enough to believe in happily ever after, but with Jayden, it seemed possible . . . until I realized something wasn’t quite right.

You see, I met a man who would be anyone I needed him to be, and after I found out that fact, I knew it would be impossible to walk away. His disorder, however, would change everything I ever thought about love and what it truly meant to accept someone for who they are.

This is not my sob story; this is his success story.

This is an ADHD love story and is for mature audiences only.

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Autumn Rising (Summer Remains) by Seth King (Available Now)

Autumn Mahal and Hank Basara know they should stay away from each other. Both recovering from the loss of a mutual friend, and each bearing scars of their own, they know their love would look like a worn cliché, a trite romance novel for teens, some crappy made-for-TV movie languishing on your great aunt’s DVR. But as summer gives way to September and flirtation leads to something deeper, they learn there are some types of love you cannot run from, no matter how hard you try to flee.

Hilarious, heartbreaking and hopeful, Autumn Rising is a novella about the happiness we ruin for ourselves, the truths we can’t hide with a filter, and that elusive and victorious moment when we let love rush in and carry us to the sky. In a world of constant TMI, prepare to feel a story worth sharing – a story that will stay with you long after the summer fades to autumn.

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Hollywood Witch Hunter by Valerie Tejeda (Available Now) – Read an excerpt

From the moment she first learned the truth about witches…she knew she was born to fight them.

Now, at sixteen, Iris is the lone girl on the Witch Hunters Special Ops Team.
But when Iris meets a boy named Arlo, he might just be the key to preventing an evil uprising in Southern California.
Together they’re ready to protect the human race at all costs. Because that’s what witch hunters do.

Welcome to Hollywood.

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Mine Would Be You by Danielle Jamie (Available Now)

Emelyn LaClaire was honored to be the Maid of Honor in her best friend’s wedding, but it came with a catch. She has to walk down the aisle with her ex fiancé, Lawson McCoy. He’s not just the Best Man; he’s also her best friend’s brother, and she’s loved him since she was eight years old.

Emelyn has avoided any kind of contact with Lawson since the day everything fell apart during her sophomore year at the University of Alabama. Now, after four years of avoiding him, she’s not just seeing him, she also has to walk down the aisle with him – the one man she dreamt of marrying almost all her life…

Lawson McCoy only has a single regret, and it’s throwing away the one thing that was good in his life. When his sister, Delilah, and her fiancé, Grayson, asked him to be the Best Man, it came with a stipulation. Do not in any way mess up their wedding. That’s easier said than done, especially when the one girl who would rather stick hot pokers in her eyes than look at him will be walking down the aisle beside him….

Standalone second chance romance.

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The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy Reichert (Jul 21) – Read an excerpt
★ VBB Recommendation ★

You’ve Got Mail meets How to Eat a Cupcake in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.

Read my review.

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Take the Fall by Marquita Valentine (Jul 21)

Fans of Abbi Glines and Katy Evans will adore Take the Fall, the first spinoff novel from Marquita Valentine’s New York Times bestselling Boys of the South series. In this emotional new romance, passions run hot as a rugged, brooding Marine rekindles an old flame.

As a teenager, Seth O’Connor went to jail for a crime he had nothing to do with. He took the fall to protect the girl he loved, but the cruel realities of prison hardened him. After doing his time, Seth shuts her out and enlists in the Marines—until his grandmother’s funeral forces him to come home and face Rowan Simmons once again. The woman she’s become puts all his high-school memories to shame, and Seth wants her more than ever. Can he be honest about why he denied her for so long?

After Seth pushed her away, Rowan swore that no man would ever hurt her again. But the boy who broke her heart has become a sexy Marine, capable of fulfilling her every desire—and now that he’s back in town, old feelings are simmering to a boil. Rowan wants to stay strong, even as her body surrenders to his expert touch. She only hopes that by taking him back, she can finally help heal the wounds that drove them apart.

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Damage Done by Amanda Panitch (Jul 21)

“Teen fans of Gillian Flynn and James Patterson will embrace Damage Done and clamor for more.” —Booklist

22 minutes separate Julia Vann’s before and after.

Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.

After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police.

Now that she’s Lucy Black, she’s able to begin again. And her fresh start has attracted the attention of one of the hottest guys in school, a boy who will do anything to protect her. But when someone much more dangerous also takes notice, Lucy’s forced to confront the dark secrets she thought were safely left behind.

One thing is clear: The damage done can never be erased. It’s only just beginning. . . .

In this deliciously twisted contemporary thriller, family can be a real killer. For fans of We Were Liars and readers who love unique multiple perspectives that leave clues like breadcrumbs until they reach the stunning conclusion.

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Pretending to be Erica by Michelle Painchaud (Jul 21)

We Were Liars meets Heist Society in a riveting debut!

Seventeen-year-old Violet’s entire life has revolved around one thing: becoming Erica Silverman, an heiress kidnapped at age five and never seen again. Violet’s father, the best con man in Las Vegas, has a plan, chilling in its very specific precision. Violet shares a blood type with Erica; soon, thanks to surgery and blackmail, she has the same face, body, and DNA. She knows every detail of the Silvermans’ lives, as well as the PTSD she will have to fake around them. And then, when the time is right, she “reappears”—Erica Silverman, brought home by some kind of miracle. But she is also Violet, and she has a job: Stay long enough to steal the Silverman Painting, an Old Master legendary in the Vegas crime world. Walking a razor’s edge, calculating every decision, not sure sometimes who she is or what she is doing it for, Violet is an unforgettable heroine, and Pretending to be Erica is a killer debut.

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Truth or Beard (#1, Winston Brothers) by Penny Reid by Amanda Dick (Jul 21)

Beards, brothers, and bikers! Oh my!
Identical twins Beau and Duane Winston might share the same devastatingly handsome face, but where Beau is outgoing and sociable, Duane is broody and reserved. This is why Jessica James, recent college graduate and perpetual level-headed good girl, has been in naïve and unhealthy infatuation with Beau Winston for most of her life. His friendly smiles make her tongue-tied and weak-kneed, and she’s never been able to move beyond her childhood crush. Whereas Duane and Jessica have always been adversaries. She can’t stand him, and she’s pretty sure he can’t stand the sight of her…

But after a case of mistaken identity, Jessica finds herself in a massive confusion kerfuffle. Jessica James has spent her whole life paralyzed by the fantasy of Beau and her assumptions of Duane’s disdain; therefore she’s unprepared for the reality that is Duane’s insatiable interest, as well as his hot hands and hot mouth and hotter looks. Not helping Jessica’s muddled mind and good girl sensibilities, Duane seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the local biker gang, the Iron Order.
Certainly, Beau’s magic spell is broken. Yet when Jessica finds herself drawn to the man who was always her adversary, now more dangerous than ever, how much of her level-head heart is she willing to risk?

First in a series, but each can be read as a standalone.

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The Reeducation of Savannah McGuire by Heidi McLaughlin (Jul 21)

Tyler King never forgot the blue-eyed, pig-tailed girl that lived on the ranch next door. So when he hears that she’s coming back for the summer, he can’t wait to reminisce about the good ole days. He soon finds out life in the Big City means a life with big ambitions and Tyler soon learns that Savannah has left the memories of small town living long behind her.

Savannah McGuire never thought she’d return to the ranch she once called home. Now she’s back and trying not to become attached to everything she’s missed by growing up in New York City. Determined to hate her surroundings, Tyler works to remind her of everything’s she’s missed. With her future planned out and a trip to Paris imminent, falling in love with Tyler King was the last thing she expected.

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Exposed by Brighton Walsh (Jul 21)

In this sexy, suspenseful New Adult novel, a young woman hiding from her criminal past is taken captive by her ex-boyfriend, the ultimate bad boy.

Evie is about to embark on the perfect life. Beautiful, poised, and engaged to a rising business star, she fits the part of trophy wife perfectly, except for one thing: her entire identity is a lie.

Five years ago she created a new identity for herself, but it all crashes back when something she witnessed years ago comes back to haunt her. Now she’s in danger of losing more than her social status.

Determined to protect the careful life she’s built for herself, Evie doesn’t want anything to do with Riley, the criminal for hire who broke her heart years ago. But Riley has other ideas. He’s never forgotten Evie, and to protect her, he steals her away. Hidden from the world, sparks begin to fly as old memories resurface and their passion reignites.

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Taming the Billionaire (#2, Billionaires and Bridesmaids) by Jessica Clare (Jul 21)

The New York Times bestselling author of The Billionaire and the Virgin returns with a tale of Shakespearean-style seduction…

Edie’s an overbearing cat behaviorist who’s not big on people. Magnus is a newly-rich game developer who likes to be in control. When the two of them meet at Gretchen and Hunter’s masquerade engagement party, the loathing is mutual. Unfortunately for them—and everyone else—they’re in the wedding party together and must deal with each other for the next few months.

But when Magnus’s younger brother falls for Edie’s sister, he begs for his brother’s help in concocting a plan to win her over. If Magnus can keep the prickly Edie occupied, his brother will have time to woo Edie’s sister. Of course, Magnus isn’t interested in the slightest, but Edie is…intriguing. And stubborn. And smart. And sexy. And they might have more in common than they thought.

Before long, it becomes a challenge between the two of them to see who will be tamed first. But how’s Edie going to react when she finds out that Magnus is using her? And how’s Magnus going to handle the fact that he’s fallen for a cat lady?

Reading Order: The Billionaire Takes A Bride | Taming the Billionaire

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Wild Nights (Vegas Nights) by Karen Erickson (Jul-15)

A guy of her own? She’s not holding her breath—until he steals it away.

Natalie’s girls-only weekend in Vegas is shot to hell, thanks to her friends ditching her for very sexy, very famous guys. Not that she blames them. She knows what lonely feels like. A nurse’s long hours leave little time for a social life.

Then she collides with and spills her drink all over a very fine, very exposed male chest. A chest belonging to Noah Wilde, lead singer for the infamous Wilde & Wicked rock band. Thankfully, he’s merely amused as she tries to take care of the mess she made.

Noah sure would like to make a mess of the gorgeous, petite lady with luminous blue eyes. There’s no resisting the urge to tempt her along for an adventurous night of gambling, drinking, eating, and sin.

But during the harsh light of day, Noah has a change of heart. Not about the fact he likes Natalie—a lot. He’s not sure he wants to drag this sweet lady through his sordid life. Even though sparing her could cost them both a chance at forever.

Warning: Contains a nurse who thought she knew all there was to know about anatomy, and a rock god who’s about to show her a few spots she missed. To say they both hit the jackpot would be an understatement.

Book 3 in the series.

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Stay with Me by Maya Banks (Jul 23)

Getting her back will be the toughest deal they’ve ever negotiated.

On the night of her fifth anniversary, Catherine Cullen-Wellesley intends to break the news to her two husbands. She’s pregnant with their child. It’ll be the perfect preamble to the vacation they’ve promised her: Two weeks on a Jamaican beach. No cell phones, no emails, no business. And she hopes that the news of her pregnancy—plus two weeks of reclaiming the closeness that had always been so much a part of their marriage—will help bridge the ever widening gap in their now distant relationship.

But when Logan and Rhys call off the trip for yet another business emergency—something that’s happening with more and more frequency all the time—and absolutely no mention of their anniversary dinner or that they’d stood her up yet again, Catherine faces some difficult truths. She hasn’t come first in her busy husbands’ lives in a long time. And she deserves better than what she’s been getting—or not getting—from the two men who vowed to love her and always put her first. So she packs her bags for her long-awaited vacation—alone. It’ll give her a chance to figure out what the hell she’s going to do with the rest of her life.

When Logan and Rhys come home to an empty house, they realize two things: One, they’ve been taking their precious wife for granted for far too long, and they now realize—perhaps too late—that she may well have finally had enough. Two, they’re not willing to just let her walk out of their lives without one hell of a fight and the chance to prove to her that nothing is more important to them than her love.

Winning her back will be the most difficult battle of their lives—more important than any business deal they’ve ever negotiated. One where they could lose everything that ever truly mattered to them. Their wife.

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