Empi Baryeh's Blog, page 8

Spotlight: That Church Life by Teresa B. Now in Audio | #ThatChurchLife #TeresaB #HonMagPR

THAT CHURCH LIFE BY TERESA B. The Church Gal Crew is leading the way to Salvation at Mt. Zion Holiness Church. Feisty Natalia Freemon is the “head” of the crew. Rebellious and outspoken, she has no problems challenging the church status quo. Years later however, her loss of faith will tragically impact her life. 
Michelle Hanks, a country girl from a hardworking farm family is the peacemaker and “soul” of the crew. Although struggling with self-confidence she is wise beyond her years and can’t wait to escape the farm life and find success; even if it costs her soul.
Missy Jones, the “heart” of the crew, has the face of an angel and a voice sent from heaven. A pastor’s daughter raised in the church, Missy loves the ministry and her place in it. But the flesh is tempting, especially when it comes in the form of sexy church musician and Mt. Zion playboy Tommy. 
In spite of her dedication to the word, Missy falls hard for Tommy, and then falls out of favor with the church. Trapped in a cycle of relationship abuse, Missy’s world is falling apart until Beanie, a reformed stick-up man turned Evangelist, shows her real love. But when tragedy strikes, Missy is torn between the truth, that could jeopardize every-thing she loves, or a lie that could be her damnation.
These three best friends drift away from each other and the church but come back together through spiritual downfall, relationship crises, drug addiction, and even murder. Can the crew survive the drama involved in That Church Life?
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Teresa B. Howell is an Exceptional Children’s Director that has two Master Degrees in education and leadership. She has received numerous awards and accolades in her profession, dedicated to mentoring and teaching students within the school system. Teresa was born and raised in the church. She witnessed the good and the not so good while not only attending, but also serving in various capacities in different church organizations. Teresa decided in July 2015 to put her experiences and observations on paper, and her first novel That Church Life was born. She aspires to be more than just the average Christian Author, which can be noted in her writing style. Teresa’s literary path is inspired by her faith, family, and close friends. She currently lives in Durham, NC with her husband and children.CONNECT WITH TERESA B.AUTHOR SITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

New Release: Everything’s Better with Lisa by Lucy Eden | #EverythingsBetterWithLisa #EBWL #LucyEden #HonMagPR

EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH LISA BY LUCY EDEN Lisa Betancourt has been my neighbor for months, but I didn’t know she existed until the night she threatened me with a baseball bat. To be fair, I kinda had it coming. That was also the night my entire life changed—my biological mother passed away suddenly and mysteriously, leaving behind a surprise baby. The moment I laid eyes on CJ’s chubby face, I knew I would do anything for him. What I didn’t know was how to take care of him. Fortunately, Lisa turned out to be my salvation in more ways than one. She stepped in and changed everything. The more time I spend with her, the more I hope the change can be permanent. Unfortunately, the pressure at work and unraveling the mystery of my mother’s past makes me wonder how that could be possible…

Cole Simmons lives in the brownstone next to mine and was an insensitive jerk, or at least I thought he was until he got custody of his baby brother, who’s just as adorable as he is.  As the oldest child in a big family, I couldn’t resist stepping in to help when I realized my handsome neighbor was in over his head when it came to babies, though I’ve learned the hard way that handsome men can’t always be trusted. I moved to New York to start a new life, adjust to my new normal and heal from a bad divorce. Unfortunately, my heart didn’t get the memo, and the more time I spent with Cole and the impossibly sweet CJ, the more I start to wonder if my neighbor isn’t the only one in over his head…
This full-length novel can be read as a standalone but is the third book in the Everything’s Better series. You’ll see friends from Everything’s Better with You, Everything’s Better with Kimberly & Cherishing the Goddess. Cole & Lisa’s love story is chock full of Enemies to Lovers, Single Parent, Secret Baby (or two), Nanny (no power imbalance) & Fake Engagement goodness and is safe with NO cheating.
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EXCERPT“Lisa,” he whispered.

“Yes, Cole?” I blinked up at him and took a step closer, his hand still resting on mine.
“I wanna kiss you. Can I kiss you?” he asked.


I giggled causing him to pull away.
I’d never been asked for a kiss before. It was adorable, silly but also somehow incredibly sexy.
“What?” he asked. I could see the look of apprehension on his face.
“Are you as good at seducing as you are at apologizing?” I reached up and stroked his cheek. I was suddenly wide awake. I swore I meant to say kissing but the word seducing came out instead. I would have been happy with a kiss but seduction sounded so much better. I couldn’t remember how long it had been since I’d been seduced.
“I’m very good at seducing.” He scooped me under my thighs and lifted me onto the kitchen island like I was a doll, making his lips more accessible. “I’m a little out of practice.” He swept my hair over my shoulder, exposing my neck, and gently pressing his lips to the soft skin below my ear. I moaned, though I wasn’t sure I meant to and Cole’s body, at least one part of his body, responded. 
“Good,” I sighed. “I’m a little out practice, too.” I wrapped my legs around his waist and pressed my body into his. He was rock hard and I found myself was grinding my hips into his erection. The fact that we were both wearing thin pajamas made me feel every contour of his dick and I was flashing back to my thoughts upon seeing him earlier today pushing the stroller. Why were men with babies so fucking sexy?
 He kissed his way down my neck and gently lowered me onto the countertop until I was fully reclining with my hair hanging over the other side. He lifted the hem of my shirt and pressed his lips into my soft belly and swirled his tongue into and her around my navel. 
His head traveled below my belly button and I gasped.
“Cole, what are you doing?” I asked as his lips traveled to places no one’s lips had been before.
“I told you I wanted to kiss you.” He shot me a mischievous smile and slowly stroked the skin under the elastic of my pajama pants, soothing the indentation marks of the waistband. “I didn’t say where I wanted to kiss you.”
“Oh,” I whispered. “I thought you meant…” I trailed off and tucked my bottom lip between my teeth. He smiled, leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. Then he planted a kiss on my nose, then my cheek before tenderly sucking my earlobe between his teeth and nibbling. I moaned again. 
“Well, now that you know what I meant, do you want me to stop?” he whispered in my ear. My body was pulsating heat in a current that traveled up and down my arms before settled in place where Cole was eager to visit.
“No,” I half sighed, half moaned while shaking my head, causing his lips to brush the shell of my ear. “Don’t stop.”
“Good.” He let out a soft chuckle and began to make his way down my body, again hooking his fingers into the waistband of my pajamas and my panties, slowly pulling them over my thighs, ghosting a kiss or a lick on every inch of newly revealed flesh. “Because I’m just getting started.”




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ABOUT LUCY EDEN Lucy Eden is the nom de plume of an romance obsessed author who writes the kind of romance she loves to read. She’s a sucker for alphas with a soft gooey center, over the top romantic gestures, strong & smart MCs, humor, love at first sight (or pretty damn close), happily ever afters & of course, dirty & steamy love scenes.

When Lucy isn’t writing, she’s busy reading—or listening to—every book she can get her hands on— romance or otherwise.
She lives & loves in New York with her husband, two children, a turtle & a Yorkshire Terrier.









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Audiobook Spotlight: Finding Kennedy by Jacinta Howard

FINDING KENNEDY BY JACINTA HOWARD When Kennedy James unexpectedly shows up at her grandma’s house in Tyler, Texas, no one knows what to make of her arrival—including her. The only thing Kennedy does know is that something in her life has to change, and it needs to happen right now. She’s been numb for much too long.

Then she meets Travis Broussard, the perceptively cool guitarist of the indie soul band, The Prototype. The timing couldn’t be worse, but their attraction is instant, magnetic, and at times overwhelming, causing Kennedy to question if it’s possible to feel too much.
As Kennedy attempts to embark on a new path, she finds herself at a crossroads. But if she chooses to follow her heart, is she prepared to deal with what she might find?
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the audiobook of Finding Kennedy from Jacinta HowardCLICK HERE






ABOUT JACINTA HOWARD
A longtime culture and music journalist and lifelong music lover, Jacinta Howard lives in the Atlanta area. For years, she worked as a writer and editor, covering entertainment, art and culture. She is the author of new adult, women's fiction, and contemporary romance, and her work often explores the sometimes uncomfortable intricacies of relationships, human folly, healing, and the bumps we experience along the road to true intimacy. A USA TODAY HEA Blog Must-Read Author and a two-time RONE Award nominee, her happy place is hanging with her family and listening to jamming music, preferably while reading on a beach somewhere. Visit her at jacintahoward.com.






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New Release: Unwrapping Hanie by Empi Baryeh | #UnwrappingHanie #EmpiBaryeh #HonmagPR

New Release: The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan | #AllTheKingsMen #TheRebelKing @HonmagPR

THE REBEL KING BY KENNEDY RYANThe Rebel King, the stunning, beautiful conclusion to the All The King’s Men Duet, from USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Ryan, is available now! Get ready for a binge read! 
Ambition. Revenge. Love.
RITA® Award-winning author Kennedy Ryan delivers the gripping conclusion to the All the King’s Men Duet.
Raised to resist. Bred to fight. Survival is in my blood and surrender is never an option.
Though surrender is what Maxim Cade demanded of my body and heart, I had other plans. We were fast-burning fascination and combustible chemistry, but the man I trusted with everything was a trickster. A thief who stole my love. If what we had was a lie, why did it feel so real? The man I swore to hate will have it all, and wants me at his side. But power is a game, and we’re the pawns and players.
Facing insurmountable odds, will we win the world, or will we lose it all?


Start the duet with THE KINGMAKER today! 
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Download your copy of THE REBEL KING today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited! AMAZON | AMAZON WORLDWIDE | AMAZON PAPERBACK
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THE KINGMAKER is available on audio!
Listen to an audio sample from The Kingmaker

Receive an email as soon as THE REBEL KING is available on audio!

ABOUT KENNEDY RYAN
USA Today bestseller, RITA® Award Winner and Top 25 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes about women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts.
She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine and Frolic, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Atlanta Autism families, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for families living with autism.

CONNECT WITH KENNEDYWEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON | PINTEREST | NEVER MISS A RELEASE! FOLLOW ON BOOKBUB | NEW RELEASE TEXT | READER GROUP | BOOK + MAIN | NEWSLETTER

#BookReview: The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

Blurb
-"I'd do anything to keep her."

Power. Passion. Betrayal.

Rita Award-winning author Kennedy Ryan delivers the epic first installment of the All the King's Men Duet.

Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition.

In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.

My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I'm determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and will do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.

And neither will I.

My Review
The Kingmaker is part one of a duet telling the story of Lennix Moon Hunter and Maxim Kingsman Cane. This is the fourth book from this author that I have read, and my expectations were very high and I was not disappointed.

I enjoyed the glimpse into Native American cultural practices, some of which were so similar to the African culture. The author takes the pains to show the reader the Native American experience, which some readers might deem to be more detailed than necessary, but I understand why the author would have felt the need to shed that much light on it. 

The cliffhanger wasn't the one I expected, although I still think what I expected will happen in the concluding section.

If you like the TV series Scandal (The Fixer, to South African readers), then you'll love this.

I received an ARC of this book. My review is given voluntarily.

Available in Audiobook: The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan | #TheKingmaker #AllTheKingsMen #KennedyRyan #HonMagPR

THE KINGMAKER BY KENNEDY RYAN
Power. Passion. Betrayal.
RITA® Award-winning author Kennedy Ryan delivers the epic first installment of the All the King’s Men Duet.

Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.

My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I’m determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and would do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.
And neither will I.


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ABOUT KENNEDY RYAN
A RITA® Award Winner and Top 25 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts.
She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Atlanta families living with Autism, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for families living with autism. 
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | READER GROUP | AMAZON | BOOKBUB | BOOK + MAIN | NEWSLETTER

New Release: The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan | #TheKingmaker #TheRebelKing #AllTheKingsMen #KennedyRyan #HonMagPR

THE KINGMAKER BY KENNEDY RYANPower. Passion. Betrayal.

RITA® Award-winning author Kennedy Ryan delivers the epic first installment of the All the King’s Men Duet.
Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.
My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I’m determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and would do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.
And neither will I.
 AVAILABLE ON
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ADD TO GOODREADS
DONT FORGET TO PREORDER THE REBEL KING, BOOK 2
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ABOUT KENNEDY RYAN
A RITA® Award Winner and Top 25 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts.
She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Atlanta families living with Autism, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for families living with autism. 

#Review: Team Player Anthology | #SportsRomance

Blurb:
Our love of hot jocks is never-ending.
Muscular football players. Passionate tennis pros. Sexy soccer stars. All sorts of alpha hotties, on the field and off.
Have no fear! The team is back again, and this time...it's thicker. You'll get your sports romance fix with brand-new stories from eleven bestselling authors.
Need one last summer fix? Dive into this anthology.
*This anthology contains original, never-before-seen stories by the following authors: Mandi Beck, Ella Fox, Teagan Hunter, Ilsa Madden-Mills, Sara Ney, Rochelle Paige, Meghan Quinn, Charleigh Rose, Kennedy Ryan, Emma Scott, and Kate Stewart. We still aren’t responsible for melted devices.

Stories Included:
Arena Lights by Mandi Beck
End Goal by Ella Fox
A Slice of Love by Teagan Hunter
Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills
The Teaching Hours by Sara Ney
Body Heat by Rochelle Paige
The Strike Out by Meghan Quinn
Guys Like You by Charleigh Rose
Fast Break by Kennedy Ryan
Love Game by Emma Scott
Fair Catch by Kate Stewart


MY REVIEW
Before I get into the nitty-gritty of my review, I must say that I normally don't read anthologies and sports romances. However, one of my recent auto-read authors was part of this book, so I decided to venture, and I'm definitely glad I did. The talent and diverse plots and characters in this book were a delight to explore.

Read on to for my mini review of each novella in the book.

Fair Catch by Kate Stewart (The Guy in the Middle)Despite bad first meeting, friendship and love grow between Harper and Lance. Harper has a secret ( a surprise I didn't see coming), which threatens to tear them apart. The love story is sweet, the sex hot. Both mains are solid characters and I rooted for them to have a happy ending. The keeps a relatively easy pace all throughout. Ms Stewart's writing is enjoyable. The story appears to be a spin-off from an ongoing series, and ends with a cliffhanger, the continuation of which is embedded in a January 2020 release. That didn't make me happy, but it is what it is.My rating: 4 stars
Arena Lights by Mandi BeckThis story is full of humour as it tells the story of Maeve and Benny's forbidden romance. It's a sweet college/first-love romance, that reminded me of what it was like to fall in love as a new adult. My favourite character, though, was Maeve's twin sister, Millie, who I hope has a story of her own. She was a hoot!
My rating: 4.75 stars

Body Heat by Rochelle PaigeI enjoyed this story. Though a short read, it felt complete. I enjoyed the switch in the traditional roles with the heroine being the bodyguard. The hero was more than up to the task of being her perfect match. I totally guessed the baddie (very proud of myself)
Rating: 4.5 stars

Guys Like You by Charleigh RoseThis college romance tells the story of Halston and Zach who hook up at a frat party. Funny and unfortunate events happen afterwards, which draw them closer. Both Halston and Zach come with some amount of baggage, but they find comfort in each other. The sex is hot, the romance is strong and believable.
My rating: 4 stars
Fast Break by Kennedy RyanFrom a distance, Ean, a former baller turned coach, has admired Quinn, an amputee athlete for years. He's followed her impressive journey of rising above a tragedy that could have broken her. Ean is the kind of man who doesn't waste time playing games. He pursues Quinn with a determination that you can't help but admire and fall for. The story gets very emotional at some point as the two find healing in each other. A truly enjoyable read.
My rating: 5 stars

End Goal by Ella FoxThis enemies to friends/lovers story starts off ten years in the past when the hero and heroine are in high school. Something happens that makes the heroine hate and avoid the hero. Skip to the present, the heroine needs a job and the perfect one has just been offered by the hero. It was a sweet romance, and the author did a good job of making it emotional where it counts. However, I didn't like the time jumps. The first leap of ten years is fine but a second time jump robs the reader of seeing more of the hero and heroine on the page before they fall into each other's arms again. However, because they had history, it was easy to buy into their HEA.
My rating: 4.5 stars

The Teaching Hours by Sara NeyThe main thing I thought while reading this one is "different". Neither the hero nor the heroine is your usual "nice" or exemplary person. The hero is known to be a douche and the heroine is no better. The beginning was a tad slow for me, but things pick up a little after the third chapter. I didn't connect too much with the main characters, but it could be just me. That said, by the time I finished the story, I was in no doubt about them being suited to each other.
My rating: 4 stars

A Slice of Love by Teagan HunterJonas returns to his hometown after an injury and reunites with Frankie four years after he broke her heart. She hates his guts and he's lived with regret all this time. Some clever matchmaking forces them to confront their feelings as well as the past. This was one of my favourites in the book. Frankie and Jonas had an oh-so-cute friendship/forbidden romance in high school and their newfound romance was really sweet.
Rating: 5 stars

Love Game by Emma ScottSikai, a pro tennis player, is known as much for his amazing talent and his epic meltdowns on the court. Now at risk of being kicked out of the game for good, his well-meaning agent decides to intervene by hiring an energy healer to help him deal with his personal demons. Daisy, the energy healer, has her own demons. I loved Kai and Daisy a lot. It was clear that they were good for each other. Even though Kai did an idiotic thing towards the end, it was in line with his character, which also made him real. Because in real life people don't change overnight. Being better is an everyday decision. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and wish it had been longer.
Rating: 5 stars

The Strike Out by Meghan Quinn (Holt's Story)Harmony hates ballers. Holt is a baller. Get it? They meet when she has to serve him and his buddies at the diner where she works and she doesn't hide her feelings. Anyway, Holt is intrigued and sets out to change her mind about ballers - well, him in particular. A book hasn't made me laugh as hard as this one did. Holt is an ass, but he's so funny and Harmony digs his kind of crazy. Honestly, she stood no chance. I loved her best friend, whom I hope will get a story of her own. Great read. The story is only a beginning, but the end is very satisfying. I look forward to more of Holt and Harmony's romance.
My rating: 5 stars
Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Ava survives a sexual assault at a kegger. Though it doesn't happen on the page, Ava is returning to that school for the first time since the incident (so this might be triggering for some readers). She's paired on a school project with the most unlikely person - Knox, the captain of the football team. He is painted as a bad guy in his first scene and I kind of hoped he was the hero of the story. Turns out he was! Ava's bravery and sheer determination makes her a lovable character. Knox, captain of the football team, and head alpha male turns out to be a surprise. This was definitely my favourite story in the book and I'm glad it came last.
My rating: 5 stars

#CoverReveal: Unwrapping Hanie by Empi Baryeh | #EroticRomance #Holidays #Christmas

UNWRAPPING HANIERelease Date: November 19th Genre: Contemporary RomanceHeat Level: SteamyCover Designer: Jaycee DeLorenzo, Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2J5bdwF




Blurb:
Hanie Morrision has either completely lost her mind, or she’s finally taken charge of her love life when she starts a liaison with a man she meets online. Their friendship fast becomes more, and she’s having the best (cyber) sex of her life.
When her internet lover decides to travel halfway across the world to see her, she must make a decision of her own—book a one-way ticket back to reality or risk her heart and find love one orgasm at a time.
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