Empi Baryeh's Blog, page 11

Book Tour: Brooks Family Series by Delaney Diamond | #SweetSensualPassionateRomance #BrooksFamilySeries #DelaneyDiamond #HonMagPR

SWEET. SENSUAL. PASSIONATE. ROMANCE.
A PASSIONATE LOVE
Simone Brooks and Cameron Bennett should not be together. She’s a wealthy socialite looking for a suitable husband. A man with the right pedigree and an economic status that matches her own. He’s part owner of the hottest nightclub in Atlanta with his siblings. Someone who loves cooking, the outdoors, and women, not necessarily in that order.

After one night together, their sizzling chemistry makes it difficult to stay away. Then comes the hard part—navigating their differences to salvage a relationship that, while it may be imperfect, overflows with love and passion.

This book was previously part of The Bennett Triplets series.
For a LIMITED TIME, get A PASSIONATE LOVE for only 99¢!
AVAILABLE ONAMAZON | B&N | APPLE | GOOGLE | KOBOADD ON GOODREADS
ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE BROOKS FAMILY SERIES PASSION REKINDLED
As far as Sylvie Johnson is concerned, her ex-husband used her and left her and she cannot stand the sight of him. Fifteen years after their divorce, her feelings haven’t changed. She wants nothing to do with him—no matter what her beating heart suggests.

Oscar Brooks has always assumed that his ex-wife hates him, but after an unplanned kiss, he’s not so sure. Why does she always have such a hostile response to his presence? Is it love, or is it hate? He’s determined to find out.This is a short story. ADD ON GOODREADS

DO OVER
She’s devoted to her daughters.
Years ago, when her cheating husband left, Ella Brooks realized how much she’d changed and wasn’t sure how to get back to the woman she used to be. When she meets Tyrone Evers, the last thing she’s looking for is another relationship, but it turns out that the police detective is just too tempting to resist.

He’s devoted to his job.
Tyrone meets Ella when he’s investigating a break-in at her home, but ends up paying more attention to the wealthy socialite’s case, and her, than normal. After his wife cheated on him, he’s not looking for romance, he’s not looking for commitment, and he’s definitely not looking for love. But you don’t have to be looking for any of those things for them to find you.

And when life gives you a second chance, do you take it or run for cover?
ADD ON GOODREADS


WILD THOUGHTS
He's an introvert. She's an extrovert.
He's celibate. She's...not.
What could possibly go wrong?

It started with a little white lie...
Lindsay Winthrop's weekly podcast on sex and dating has garnered thousands of listeners across the country, thanks to experience with a loving fiancé she's been with for years. Except, her husband-to-be doesn't exist, and now she's in a bind. With a book deal on the line, she has to find a man fast, and Malik Brooks might be just the man she's looking for.

If he knows what's good for him, he'll stay away from her...
A few years ago Malik gave up sex and now works hard as a metal sculptor. In doing so, he's created enough pieces to fill a gallery, and his vow of celibacy has kept him focused. When a major deal falls through, Lindsay makes him an offer he can't refuse, and all he has to do is pretend to be her fiancé. Sounds easy at first, but after one kiss, he wants more. Then things really get interesting.
ADD ON GOODREADS


TWO NIGHTS IN PARIS
Two nights. One undeniable attraction.

To prove to his mother that he can be responsible, Stephan Brooks takes a job at her firm and promises to be a better son. But one glimpse of Roselle Parker, her up-and-coming protégé, and all his good intentions disappear. All he has to do is conduct himself in a professional manner, but a trip to Paris with Roselle proves too big of a temptation.

Roselle knows Stephan Brooks is nothing but trouble. She’s heard the stories, and her brief contact with him confirms they’re all true. But two nights in Paris and her inhibitions crumble beneath his seductive touch. They plan to leave what happened in Paris, in Paris. But the best-laid plans often go awry.ADD ON GOODREADS GIVEAWAYEnter for your chance to win this incredible prize package from Delaney Diamond!signed copies of A Passionate Love, Do Over, Wild Thoughts, and Two Nights in ParisTwo Nights in Paris bookmarkreader's choice of $20 Paypal cash or $20 Amazon gift card or $20 Barnes & Noble gift card(Open to US and International entrants)CLICK TO ENTERBrooks Family Series giveaway EXCERPT (A PASSIONATE LOVE)One of his favorite things to do was go to the record store and browse the stacks. Not only did he find other enthusiasts with whom he talked shop, but many unknown artists in the vinyl age made great music. When the digital age came along, they didn’t all make the leap, and countless times he’d found hidden gems to add to his collection. “I’m not knocking your old records, but surely you’ve heard of music streaming services. They’re all the rage now,” she quipped.“Oh, so you got jokes.”“I’m just saying.” She shrugged with one shoulder and sent him a cute little smile before diving back into the collection. The way she angled her body over the crates made him tilt his head and imagine what he could do to her once he got her naked. “You’re a blues man. I see the old greats—B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson. Wow.” She continued flipping. “And names I don’t recognize. Do you only listen to blues?”“Mostly blues. Some old rock, disco, etcetera. Everything’s all mixed in,” Cameron replied, his gaze trailing down the curve in her spine, over her bottom, and lower to her shapely calves. “No cell phone. An old record player and records. You’re an old soul, Cameron Bennett.” He lifted his gaze to hers and laughed. “You say I’m an old soul. My family says I’m stubborn.”“Well, they know you better than I do. Are you stubborn?”“Pretty much. I like what I like, and I’m not easily distracted by every new and shiny thing.”“That’s a good trait to have,” she said quietly. “Mind if I put on one of the records?”“Not at all.”She pulled one of the disks from its sleeve and placed it on the turntable. The sound of an electric guitar crackled through the old speakers as “Rock Me Baby,” by B.B. King started. “That’s good music right there,” Cameron said.He left her and went into the kitchen, where steel dominated the decor. Light glinted off the steel appliances and steel built-in shelves that took the place of cabinets and exposed his collection of dishes.He set the last of the tiramisu on a plate, added a fork, and rejoined Simone in the living room. Her eyes lit up when she saw the dessert. “Where’s yours?” she asked. Chuckling, Cameron cut a slice with the fork. “There isn’t much left, so we’ll have to share.” He extended the fork and she pulled the scrumptious dessert between her full lips. His stomach tightened. “Mmm.” Cameron cut another slice and ate it. Over and over, he alternated by cutting a slice, extending it to her, and then cutting off a piece for himself to eat. All the while, King’s gravelly voice serenaded them with “Rock Me Baby.” When they finished the cake, Simone brushed a crumb from the corner of her mouth and licked her lips. He was two seconds away from ripping her clothes off. Watching her take slice after slice of cake between her red, parted lips had to be one of the most sensuous things he’d ever seen. She kept looking at him, as if waiting for something, and that’s when he realized she was waiting for him to make a move. As the album segued into the sultrier, edgier “Blue Shadows,” Cameron took Simone’s hand and drew her closer, barely managing to temper the urgency beating through his blood. “So how was it?” he asked.“Delicious,” she said softly, sounding a little breathless. “You were right, it was criminally good.” She licked her lips again, and this time he knew she’d done it on purpose. “But I have a feeling that tiramisu wasn’t the only reason you invited me here tonight.” One corner of Cameron’s mouth ticked upward. “I have a feeling you knew that when you accepted my invitation.”ABOUT DELANEY DIAMONDDelaney Diamond is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sweet, sensual, passionate romance novels, born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She reads romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, and a fair amount of nonfiction. When she’s not busy reading or writing, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes, dining at one of her favorite restaurants, or traveling to an interesting locale. To get sneak peeks, notices of sale prices, and find out about new releases, visit her website and join her mailing list. Enjoy free reads and the first chapter of all her novels at www.delaneydiamond.com.CONNECT WITH DELANEY DIAMONDAUTHOR SITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | NEWSLETTER | GOODREADS | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Prah, Constantine and Baryeh Reviews: Raining Men and Corpses: A Chinese Cozy Mystery (A Raina Sun Mystery Book 1) by Anne R. Tan | #PCBReviews

Happy Friday and welcome to another edition of Prah, Constantine and Baryeh Reviews (#PCBReviews). We went with a (Chinese) cosy mystery: Raining Men and Corpses (A Raina Sun Mystery Book 1) by Anne R. Tan.

Here's the blurb:
When it rains, it pours … and this amateur sleuth may be in over her head.

Graduate student Raina Sun is trying to keep her head above water as the bills roll in when her dashing college adviser cons her out of several months of rent. Her quest to retrieve the money sets in motion a streak of even worse luck.

First, she stumbles on her advisor's dead body and becomes a suspect in his murder. Next, the only man she's ever loved reappears as the lead detective to the case. Raina's having trouble interpreting his signals--does he want to reignite their passion, or just stay close to his prime suspect?

Her life careens further out of control when her grandma shows up at Raina's postage-stamp-sized apartment, dragging a red suitcase and trouble of her own. As Raina summons her sleuthing skills, she discovers that when it comes to murder, there may be no place for an amateur.

For readers who like cozy mysteries, quirky characters, and a dash of humor.

Come on in, the water's fine--get your copy of Raining Men and Corpses today!

MY REVIEW
This book had me at Chinese cozy mystery. I really wanted to find out what the difference was. It turns out not a lot. The main character is Chinese-American and therefore there are some references to that, but the story itself is quite universal.

This turned out to be a slow read for me. Raina had a lot going on without having to poke her nose into a murder case, which brought some excitement into her mundane life. There was also sub-plot with an inheritance which added some personal conflict. Her ex showing up as the lead investigator got my attention. Frankly, the promise of romance is really what kept me going.

However, although the mystery got resolved, the romantic element remained a loose end. The sub-plot also went unresolved, although given that this is book one of a series, it would probably unfold over the course of the entire series.

There was a cast of secondary characters that added some interesting bits, but there wasn't enough on most of them for a reader to really connect with them. The exception was Raina's grandmother who was funny and easily the most interesting character in the story.

Overall, I'd say read this if you're into cosy mysteries and don't mind slow-burn stories.

As always, don't forget to check out reviews of this book by my review partners, Nana Prah and Cathrina Constantine.

#Review: Hurricane Crimes (Disaster Crimes #1) by Chrys Fey

I received a free audiobook of Hurricane Crimes, making it my first ever audiobook download! (I know, I know). Listening to the book instead of reading it was interesting, and I'll be sharing my thoughts in a future post.  BLURB After her car breaks down, Beth Kennedy is forced to stay in Florida, the target of Hurricane Sabrina. She stocks up supplies, boards up windows, and hunkers down to wait out the storm, but her plan unravels when she witnesses a car accident. Risking her life, she braves the winds to save the driver. Just when she believes they are safe, she finds out the man she saved could possibly be more dangerous than the severe weather.
Donovan Goldwyn only wanted to hide from the police, but the hurricane shoved his car into a tree. Now he's trapped with a beautiful woman while the evidence that can prove his innocence to a brutal crime is out there for anyone to find.
As Hurricane Sabrina wreaks havoc, Beth has no other choice but to trust Donovan to stay alive. But will she survive, or will she become another hurricane crime?

MY REVIEW
This is a novella that introduces us to Beth Kennedy and Donovan Goldwyn who meet during a Hurricaine. She's stuck in her home because her car broke down and he wraps his car around a tree in front of her house.
This is a very short story that spans a period of twenty-four to forty-eight hours. A lot is packed into that time as Beth and Donovan try to weather the storm as well as the tension when Beth finds out Donovan is a murder suspect. There were a few places that made me laugh, especially when Beth asks Donovan how many fingers she's holding up.On the plus side, I discovered the entire Disaster Crimes series is about Beth and Donovan, so I guess that's the author's way to showing us that they are truly meant to be. This is the second book by Chrys Fey that I've read. Although the first was not fiction, both books showcase her writing skill. I'll definitely check out book 2 of this series, which is a full length.

#Review: Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan | #HoopsSeries #KennedyRyan

I decided to read this story after reading Hook Shot (book 3 of the series). I actually ended up buying both the ebook and the audiobook, because I wanted to be able to continue the story even if I wasn't in a situation to read the ebook (like when I was driving).

Here's the blurb:

FORBIDDEN LOVE SET IN THE EXPLOSIVE WORLD OF THE NBA...
.
Think you know what it's like being a baller's girl?
You don't.
My fairy tale is upside down.
A happily never after.
I kissed the prince and he turned into a fraud.
I was a fool, and his love - fool's gold.


Now there's a new player in the game, August West.
One of the NBA's brightest stars.
Fine. Forbidden.
He wants me. I want him.
But my past, my fraudulent prince, just won't let me go.

*Contains domestic/sexual abuse not involving the hero. Read reviews for guidance.

MY REVIEW

August and Iris meet a day before one of the most important games of August's career. They hit it off like a house on fire. However, Iris has a boyfriend and so they part ways and life happens.

This is a story that's going to be very difficult for many readers as it not only addresses the issue of domestic abuse, but actually shows it on the page. The only reason I kept going on was the knowledge that this story had a happy ending. I am not the biggest fan of stories that start with the main characters in a relationship with their soon-to-be-ex, which is the case here. Over half of Long Shot shows Iris in a relationship with her abusive boyfriend who puts her through some very gruesome stuff. More importantly, the story shows how it could happen to anyone and how hard it can be to just 'walk away'.

It doesn't help that August and Iris' boyfriend are bitter rivals on and off the court. Despite their love being forbidden for more than half the story, every scene between Iris and August is so sweet and precious. Their brief interactions are full of emotions, you can't help but root for them. Every time her boyfriend hit her, I just wanted August to show up and save the day.

It takes a while, but Iris and August finally find their way to each other. As I said before, I kept hoping August would swoop in a save the day. He did, but not in the way I had expected. I appreciated the end where Iris is able to find strength within herself. Sometimes, prince charming needs to be strong for his queen.

This is a very well told story that doesn't shy away from the reality abuse many women face in their daily lives and the little things that we all do to make victims feel like they are alone. As much as this story is about love, it is also about survival and redemption. 

If you're looking for a simple boy-meets-girl story, this is not for you. This story will take you through an emotional roller coaster, but, for me, the ending was worth the journey. And have you seen that cover?

For my review of book 3, Hook Shot, go HERE.

#BookReview: Can't Escape Love by Alyssa Cole

BLURB
Regina Hobbs is nerdy by nature, businesswoman by nurture. She's finally taking her pop culture-centered media enterprise, Girls with Glasses, to the next level, but the stress is forcing her to face a familiar supervillain: insomnia. The only thing that helps her sleep when things get this bad is the deep, soothing voice of puzzle-obsessed live streamer Gustave Nguyen. The problem? His archive has been deleted.

Gus has been tasked with creating an escape room themed around a romance anime…except he knows nothing about romance or anime. Then mega-nerd and anime expert Reggie comes calling, and they make a trade: his voice for her knowledge. But when their online friendship has IRL chemistry, will they be able to escape love?


MY REVIEW
Reggie is battling with a case of insomnia which is messing with her work. She can't have that so she decides to take care of it, and the only fail-safe cure is the soothing voice of a man she met online. I wondered why she didn't just take a pill, since nothing was said in the story about allergies or anything, but hey it's fiction. Anyway, Reggie's sister is able to track down the voice, whose name turns out to be Gustave (Gus). As it turns out, Gus has also not been able to forget about Reggie. Their interaction is quite sweet and had me smiling quite a bit as I read.

Reggie is a very strong female, who despite (or maybe because of) being wheelchair bound, is determined not to give off any weakness vibes. There were a few times I had to role my eyes, but I guess she had a reason for being constantly on her guard. 

Gustave has autism, which makes him quite observant and very intuitive. He is quick to note Reggie's need to not ask for help etc. Together, they make a cute couple. 

Being that this is a novella, not much happens beyond them meeting and getting together. Gus happens to be working on a project for which he needs Reggie's knowledge. Given how pivotal that was to their romance, I expected a bit more closure there. 

To be honest some of my favourite parts were where scenes in this story overlaps with scenes from A Duke By Default (Reggie's sister, Portia's story). In fact, at one point, I went back to A Duke By Default to re-read that scene. This story also gave Reggie's side of the relationship with her sister. (PS. you do not have to have read A Duke By Default to enjoy Can' Escape Love).

This is a great story for readers looking for some diversity. Not only does it feature people of color, but also brings in various conditions and disabilities which remind us that everyone can and deserves to find love. Precisely, because of this, I hope Ms Cole considers doing something like this for a full-length novel where she can fully explore the characters and plot.

This is a quick read, a sweet romance that you can enjoy on the go. Just go in with the mindset that this is a short story!

SPOTLIGHT: Dawsk by Erhu Kome Yellow | #Dawsk #ErhuKomeYellow #LoveAfricaPress #HonMagPR

A demon hunter, a witch incarnate and a shape-shifter; a messed up trio in an even messier love triangle. Hardworking nurse Simisola Oladeji is unlucky in love. When reclusive billionaire Aiden Essien walks into her life, she knows there will be no future with him and even more so when she stumbles upon his bloodthirsty secret.
She is safer reuniting with her long-lost boyfriend Femi, surely? Caught between the two, trouble is never far away as she discovers some disturbing truths about her past life. A dark force is rising and the messy trio is going to have to fight, together, to save lives. AVAILABLE ON:LOVE AFRICA PRESS | AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | AMAZON AU | OKADABOOKS | B&N | KOBO | SMASHWORDSEXCERPT

From the east, the wind rose and whipped the trees, bending the branches and leaves. Dark clouds hovered over the Meje clan gathered in the forest clearing. The powers of the spirits they evoked with resonant voices surged in their midst.

The air reeked of a foul presence. Gusts of wind screamed, making the animals scamper in fright.

The hunters of Ori clan remained still and silent, hidden in the long grass, undeterred by the bloodcurdling sounds.

They had waited for this moment all their lives. This mission was the reason they existed, the reason they had been fiercely trained for years. 

As devout worshippers of Yemaja, the earth goddess had imbued them with the strength to rid the earth of the abomination that tarnished her order.

The demon hunters with their bodies painted black and white, the symbol of impending war, had in their hands, daggers with long thick horns for handles.

These daggers had been forged from the rocks in the hidden cave beneath Yemaja's waterfall—the only weapons capable of slaying the beasts short of taking their heads off from their bodies, which proved to be an almost impossible task.

The hunters waited for the opportune moment to strike, their bodies primed for action, eager for the victory to come.  

The Meje clan folk held hands firmly by the edge of the lake and chanted after their leader whose head was adorned with cowries and raffia palm.

ADD TO GOODREADS

ABOUT ERHU KOME YELLOW Erhu Kome Yellow is an urhobo author of fantastical stories where gods, mythological creatures and magic come together. 
She has been shortlisted for the Syncity Anthology prize, the Quramo writers prize and featured in Blaud Magazine. Dawsk is her first book, and is currently the Creative Freelance Writers Book of the year. CONNECT WITH ERHU KOME YELLOWFACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

NEW RELEASE: Love At First Sound by Amaka Azie | #LoveAtFirstSound #AmakaAzie #LoveAfricaPress #HonMagPR

LOVE AT FIRST SOUND BY AMAKA AZIE
Heartbroken Emem moves away to start again. Can sexy younger Yomi rebuild her heart? Heartbroken after discovering her fiancé’s double life, Emem Akpan ends the relationship and moves into an apartment at the other end of Lagos, determined to get her life back on track with no more diversions.
However, a massive dose of distraction bumps into her in the form of Yomi, a sexy younger man who has set his sights on her and will stop at nothing to get her attention. 
Yomi Oladipo has always harboured a crush on Sasha, the anchor of his favourite radio show …. who happens to be none other than Emem, his new downstairs neighbour. Enthralled, he wants to get to know her better, but just when she decides to give them a chance, a troubling secret about her shatters his heart.
After experiencing a savage betrayal by someone he once trusted, will Yomi be able to overcome Emem's devastating revelation? AVAILABLE ON:AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | AMAZON AU | AMAZON DE | LOVE AFRICA PRESS | KOBO | B&N | SMASHWORDS | WATERSTONES | EXCLUSIVE BOOKS | BOOK DEPOSITORYEXCERPT

“He seems like a friendly sort of neighbour,” Natalie mumbled, snagging back her attention. “And even if he is a fuck boy, so what? You may not even be his type. Did he toast you? He could have been interested in me. Or neither of us.”

Emem paused. That was true. The man hadn’t come onto her. He’d actually addressed them both. Except … she glanced at him again, and their eyes met and held. Her heart jumped, and blood rushed to her head. The intensity reflected in his dark eyes made her feel dizzy.

Nope, he hadn’t come onto her. But there was something in his eyes when he’d looked at her earlier that had made her feel exposed. As soon as he’d stepped out of the house, he’d narrowed his attention on her as if he knew her, recognised her. Strange, but she’d felt like he knew her deepest secrets.

Flustered, she looked away. But not before she noticed the slow grin that spread across his remarkably handsome face, and the spark of excitement that registered in his eyes. She had awakened something in him. A connection—maybe. Lust—most likely. Whatever it was, it unnerved her. 

ADD TO GOODREADSPLAYLISTMusic Amaka listened to while writing Love At First Sound1.    Brian Adams: Inside Out.·      This track helped me get over a writers-block midway during the manuscript. 2.    P-Square: Do Me.·      Helped me navigate through the first Love scene. 3.    Toni Braxton: You’re Making Me High.·      This song was the inspiration for the second love scene.4.    Brandy: Almost Doesn’t Count.·      I used the lyrics of this ballad to mirror Emem’s emotional turmoil following her devastating heartbreak.5.    Nearer My God to Thee: ·      The instrumental jazz rendition of this hymn always gives me inspiration.

ABOUT AMAKA AZIE Amaka Azie writes romance fiction set in tropical West Africa. She explores the beauty and intricacies of the continent in her sweet and sensual love stories.
Born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa, she developed a passion for reading at the age of twelve. Her interest in writing began in secondary school when she joined the press club, and her active imagination has captured the interests of many. 
Apart from getting lost in creating fascinating fictional characters, Amaka enjoys reading, painting and travelling with her family.
She lives in the United Kingdom with her husband and daughters and where she also practices as a part-time family doctor.
Amaka was named one of the Most Influential Authors Under Forty by the Nigerian Writers Awards (NWA) for the years 2017 and 2018. CONNECT WITH AMAKA AZIEAUTHOR SITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

My Hero gets the talk from his Dad | Most Eligible Bachelor by @empibaryeh | #FathersDay #LAPLoveNotes

Happy Father's Day! In commemoration of the day, I'm sharing a snippet from my debut novel Most Eligible Bachelor, which features a conversation between my hero and his father. This happens to be a scene that one of my readers really liked, so I hope you enjoy the snippet.


BLURB

Magazine columnist Chantelle Sah doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day—not since her fiancé’s betrayal three years ago. After botching her first assignment as a feature writer, she’s more than willing to put in a hard day’s work this Valentine’s Day; even if it means going on a date with gorgeous construction Tycoon, Lord McKenzie, and opening herself to an onslaught of all things love.

When Lord—his given name, not a title—sets his sights on Chantelle, it isn’t just work he has on his mind. But even he couldn’t have predicted the magnetic attraction between them when they meet, nor the evening ending with more than an interview. Now he has to convince Chantelle that their one-night stand wasn’t a mistake. Can he win her love without revealing a secret from their night of passion, which could prove fatal for both their hearts?

“I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

Brave words, considering she’d walked out of his life. At least, that was what she thought, but he intended to convince her to take him back.

Mr. McKenzie came to sit down again. “It’s the right thing to do.”

“I’m not doing it because it’s the right thing.” Confessing his feelings seemed to take a load off his shoulders. He wanted to rush out and yell it to the world, but for now he’d have to settle for an audience of one. “I love her.”

“She’s a lovely young woman, but,” Mr. McKenzie said, cautiously. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life, Papa.”

“Son, marriage and babies are very different from bachelorhood. Your life isn’t yours anymore. Your family has to come before you every time.”

Great. Thirty-three years old and he was getting “the talk.”

I hope you enjoyed the read. Leave me a comment. While you're here, please share a 'dad' story.



WHAT ARE LOVE NOTES?
#LAPLoveNotes is a weekly event where writers share six lines from their work-in-progress or published stories.

If you're a writer, and want to join in the fun, add your post URL HERE . Remember to use the hashtag #LAPLoveNotes in your post.​

This event is open to non-LAP authors as well as non-LAP published stories.
​

SPOTLIGHT: The Fire God by Michele Sims | #TheFireGodTour #MicheleSims #HonMagPR

BLURB

Miles Moore is obsessed with fire. He can’t help it—it’s in his genes. He’s also the famous performer Ari, an international hip-hop sensation. There are some negatives that come with fame—death threats and life on the road among them—but there’s also a lot of good: fast cars, fast women, international travel, and more money than he can handle. When Bella Wahlberg joins his team as the chief of marketing, she seems like the antithesis of what he’s looking for, so much so that Miles dubs her Belsa the Ice Queen. 
It would be unprofessional for them to get together, but more than that, she’s unavailable—and deathly afraid of fire. But as they prepare for The Fire God Tour, Miles can tell something is changing. Is he ready to commit himself to one woman? Can fire and ice come together?




AVAILABLE ONAMAZON


ABOUT MICHELE SIMSMichele Sims is the "author-ego" of Deanna McNeil, MD, and creator of the Moore Family Saga and the Fire God Series. She loves writing hot love stories and women's fiction with multidimensional characters in multigenerational families. She is the recipient of the 2018 RSJ Aspiring Author Award and first runner up in the Introvert Press Poetry Contest for February 2018. She is a member of the LRWA, in Charleston, SC, and the From The Heart Romance Writers’ online group.

She lives in South Carolina with her husband who has been her soulmate and greatest cheerleader. She is the proud mother of two adult sons and the auntie to many loved ones. When she's not writing, she's trying to remember the importance of exercise, travelling, listening to different genres of music, and observing the wonders of life on this marvelous planet.
CONNECT WITH MICHELE SIMS
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#Review: Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Reluctant Royals #2.5) by Alyssa Cole

BLURB While her boss the prince was busy wooing his betrothed, Likotsi had her own love affair after swiping right on a dating app. But her romance had ended in heartbreak, and now, back in NYC again, she’s determined to rediscover her joy—so of course she runs into the woman who broke her heart.When Likotsi and Fabiola meet again on a stalled subway train months later, Fab asks for just one cup of tea. Likotsi, hoping to know why she was unceremoniously dumped, agrees. Tea and food soon leads to them exploring the city together, and their past, with Fab slowly revealing why she let Likotsi go, and both of them wondering if they can turn this second chance into a happily ever after.MY REVIEWI was thrilled to discover Likotsi had her own story, since she was my favourite character in A Princess in Theory. In that, we learn she met someone, fell in love and had her heart broken. (PS. You don't need to have read A Princess in Theory to understand or enjoy this, but you'll probably enjoy this more if you've already met Likotsi in book 1) Once Ghosted Twice Shy sort of picks up from there. Likotsi is back in NYC and has a systematic plan to help her forget about the woman who broke her heart - Fabiola (Fab). Here plans get altered when she runs into the very person she'd trying to forget. Through their journey of rediscovery, we learn about the events from their first meeting and the reason behind their break-up. Fab turned out to be a fun character, whose personality complemented Likotsi's well.The story is told in two parts, switching between their first meeting "last Spring" (told in Fab's POV) and their present meeting in "Winter" (told in Likotsi's POV). Some readers might find this confusing or off-putting, but I thought it was a good way of showing what transpired before and how Likosti could have had her heart broken by someone she spent just a few days with - especially for those who read A Princess in Theory. I'd love to see more of them in their HEA in future books in the series.As an African, one thing I've enjoyed about the series so far (with this book and A Princess in Theory) is that it isn't the Africans being 'rescued' as is often the case with books featuring African characters. An interesting piece of trivia I've learnt is that the cover models are a real-life couple. How cute is that!When it comes to diversity, this book represents strongly, being an f/f romance between two WOC with one MC being bi-sexual. The story also deals with real-life issues facing immigrants in America as represented by Fab whose family are Haitian-American. This is my first f/f romance read (ever), and I have to admit I bought it mainly because it was part of the reluctant royals series. So I feel I should say this to fans of the series, who aren't necessarily readers of f/f romance: don't skip this one just because it's f/f.I give this one 3.75 starsI purchased my copy of this book from Amazon.