T & G Book Boutique: April 2016

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Cocky Bastard by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

He was someone who belonged in my wildest fantasies instead of a rest stop in the middle of Nebraska. A sexy, cocky, Australian named Chance was the last person I expected to run into on my cross-country drive. When my car broke down, we made a deal. Next thing I knew, we were traveling together, spending sexually-tense nights in hotels and taking unplanned detours.
My ordinary road trip turned into the adventure of a lifetime. It was all fun and games until things got intense. I wanted him, but Chance wouldn’t make a move. I thought he wanted me too, but something was holding him back.
I wasn’t supposed to fall for the cocky bastard, especially when I knew we’d be going our separate ways. All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

Amazon | Goodreads

Review

I have heard numerous amount of things about Cocky Bastard but I did not expect what I got. I was told by some of my book besties that I would enjoy this book. All they mentioned was something about a goat. I was intrigued right away since I own and love goats with a passion! It took me a while but I finally decided to pick it up and it was one of my best reads this year. I literally had tears coming out of my eyes with how funny this book was! I couldn’t control my laughter at times. I even had to put the book down sometimes. Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland I am in love with you both. Cocky Bastard was a remarkable read that had me on the edge of my seat. My heart was pounding with the amount of laughs this book pulled from me. You both are incredible!

This is the part where I usually give a little bit of a summary of the book but this time I am skipping it because I have way more things to talk about and it will be too long! So here I go.

Since the very beginning this book starts off with both Chance and Aubrey. It picks up right away and I love that about this book. It was amusing from the start. Chance is exactly what the title says; he’s a cocky bastard. I loved that it had a quick explanation and the tile matches this book perfectly. Chance is very cocky but by the end of this book he is everything you want in a man!

Chance is what I think of when I hear the words bad boy. From the get-go he had this aura about him that warned you to stay away but you ignore that and jump right on him. I mean how could you ignore that hunk?! He had me from the start. He had this cockiness, but this underlying sweetness that would seep out of him at times. It made him so loveable. As the story unfolded and I got more of these two characters I was rooting for them hard! I knew they were destined to be together. And the accent he had?! Ugh take me now! Incredibly sexy. But then things started to get intense. One day it’s the best day ever but then the following day everything shatters. I wanted to punch Chance where it hurts the most! Since the very beginning I was getting Aubrey’s POV so I hurt bad for her. But then bam, a twist. It was about half way when the story changes to Chance’s POV and I got it. I got everything. It made my heart hurt. Penelope and Vi created an amazing story. It was perfect and they knew what they were doing! I am extremely grateful that they wrote this book this way! It gave the story depth and so much more meaning this way.

Once the story changed POVs I wondered what happened to Aubrey. It was hard to ignore her because I wanted so badly to know what happened to her. Time had passed between the switch of POVs so it was a whiiiiile later! After this I began loving Chance again. He did everything right from this point forward and I was in love with him! He was sweet, gentle, and amazing.

Aubrey I freaking love you! I swear that Aubrey is me! Like how amazing is it that she has a goat and she walks it?! I died laughing because I walk my goat too! That’s when I knew we were soul mates. Ok, enough of that. The goat thing is better left unsaid! You have to experience it yourself in the book. Believe me it is much better that way. So at the beginning I loved Aubrey and what she was doing but then after the book moves forward and time skips by she wasn’t my favorite! I was rooting for Chance and she was being stubborn. I understood her reasons but I needed her to just LISTEN. Ahh! I wanted to shake her and talk to her so she would just hear Chance. But overall Aubrey was amazing. She has a nice heart.

I am telling you, READ this book. Get it and read it right now. It was one of those books that had me excited from start to end. I haven’t had a crush on a book like this for some time! It was the book to give you the perfect laugh and the heart stopping romance. A goat bound it all! Haha, not really but the goat is always important! Go read it! Seriously.

[Blog Tour] Loving You by Kelly Elliott

LOVING YOU

Love Wanted in Texas Book 5

By Kelly Elliott

Release Date: APRIL 19, 2016

In the long awaited conclusion to the Wanted, Broken, and Love Wanted in Texas series, New York Times bestselling author Kelly Elliott brings you a story filled with angst, cowboys, and fairytale love.

Taylor Atwood and Jase Morris finally found their way to one another. Life couldn’t have been more perfect for either one of them as they began to build a future together.

When tragedy strikes, Taylor’s perfect world is gone in an instant, leaving her with nothing but unanswered questions. Will she find the strength to go on, or will the idea of Jase possibly being gone forever prove to be more than Taylor can handle?

Facing life’s toughest situations, Taylor and Jase will both learn that nothing is stronger than family and true love.

Loving You is the sixth and final book in the Love Wanted in Texas series.

Goodreads | Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B & N

REVIEW

With each book in the Wanted Series and the books in the Love Wanted in Texas series Kelly Elliott has surprised me because each book got better and better. Loving You was Kelly Elliott's best writing to date. I am in awe of her right now! I adored and cherished Loving You with each word I read. I cried, laughed, broke down, smiled, cringed, sobbed, and loved. It was one of the most powerful reads I have experienced by her so far. I was completely devastated when I heard that this was going to be the last book. I have been a fan of Kelly ever since she first started her journey with her first book Wanted. I have stalked her ever since and each release I would preorder her books. I feel like I have been on this journey with her, but as a reader of course. It has been a powerful ride. I feel like I am rambling on and on but I NEED this review to do Loving You and Kelly Elliott justice.

Loving You is about Taylor and Jase. Taylor is the last of the girls to find love and this is her book. From the get go Taylor knew who she wanted. She knew the perfect guy except that he didn't want to hurt her. It has been this constant cat and mouse game which we have seen and it has been mentioned in the previous Love Wanted in Texas books. Jase is the guy that thinks he is not good enough for Taylor so he doesn't commit, but that doesn't mean he can stop talking and texting her. Jase has never loved or cared for anyone and no one makes him feel the emotions Taylor makes him feel. Can Jase finally accept the truth and admit to himself that he is in fact good enough for Taylor?

Oh, Taylor! You are so sweet and adorable. I knew you were a good girl from the start but you have that side to you that goes wild with Jase! I love it. Taylor is fierce when she needs to be and I love her for it. She has been pushed by her dad to do the things that please him but I am glad extremely glad she takes her life back into her own hands. I was incredibly happy with her in this book. I felt her emotions and went along for the ride with her! Jase made us both swoon.

Jase, had me wanting to punch him quite a few times in the beginning. I didn't understand his view of things! But when I wasn't mad, I was completely swooning for him. I adored him and I couldn't handle his sweetness sometimes. He was a complete gentlemen. I don't even know what else to say! He won me over. And what is even better is that he is Layton's son! I LOVE you Kelly Elliott for joining these series together. When I found out about this I was incredibly happy. I don't think there was a better way for you to end this series. You did AMAZING.

Loving you was everything and more than I thought it would be. Everything I needed was included in Loving You. I didn't know how much I needed the conclusion to this beautiful series. It makes me incredibly sad that I won't get more of these characters but I have never felt more complete! It was such a beautiful ending. Kelly Elliott nailed it! I literally dived into this story more than a week ago and I am still all emotional. Naturally I waited until the last minute because I couldn't express my feelings right away! I had to much too say but obviously I am still no better. I just LOVE all books by Kelly Elliott and really, you need to READ them NOW. I promise you will fall in love with the characters as much as I have.

EXCERPT

Her hand moved lightly across my back as she softly repeated the one thing no one had told me I could do.

“Taylor, let it out. Just cry and let it out.”

My emotions were beginning to mix together. I wasn’t sure if I was angry or sad. My throat and my chest ached. Looking at her, I shook my head. “He promised me, Libby. He promised me!” I shouted.

Standing, I began to pace across the room. “He was my everything and he’s gone. How am I supposed to go on? I can’t go on! Damn it, I don’t want to go on without him.” Tears began to stream down my face as Libby wiped hers away. “He’s gone and I feel so lost.” A sob escaped from my lips as Libby stood up. Holding my hand up to stop her, I shook my head. “I don’t know who to be angry with! If one more person tells me everything will be fine, I’m going to punch them!”

“Grace. We can use Grace for that,” Libby said.

My eyes widened in surprise as I let Libby’s words sink in. “I think Meagan would be the better choice. She used to steal my make-up all the time.”

Libby cracked a small grin. “It’s okay to be angry.”

My lips trembled. “I don’t know what I am, Lib. All I know is I feel so lost without him.”

Libby took me in her arms as we sank back to the bed.

I wasn’t sure how long Libby had stayed in Jase’s room with me. We sat on his bed in silence as I stared out into the darkness.

ABOUT KELLY ELLIOTT

Kelly Elliott is married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and dreams for some unknown reason...he claims it's because he loves her!

She’s also a mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone sending out what is sure to be another very important text message.

In her spare time she loves to sit in her small corner overlooking the Texas hill country and write.

One of her favorite things to do is go for hikes around her property with Gus....her chocolate lab and the other man in her life, and Rose, her golden retriever. When Kelly is not outside helping the hubby haul brush, move rocks or whatever fun chore he has in store for her that day, you’ll find her inside reading, writing or watching HGTV.

LINKS: Facebook | Twitter: @author_kelly Website | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

[Book Tour] Stuck-Up Suit by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Graham and Soraya’s highly anticipated romance is finally here in Stuck-Up Suit by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward!

NOW LIVE!

Add to Goodreads

It started out like any other morning on the train. Until I became mesmerized by the guy sitting across the aisle. He was barking at someone on his phone like he ruled the world. Who did the stuck-up suit think he was…God? Actually, he looked like a God. That was about it. When his stop came, he got up suddenly and left. So suddenly, he dropped his phone on the way out. I might have picked it up. I might have gone through all of his photos and called some of the numbers. I might have held onto the mystery man’s phone for days—until I finally conjured up the courage to return it. When I traipsed my ass across town to his fancy company, he refused to see me. So, I left the phone on the empty desk outside the arrogant jerk’s office. I might have also left behind a dirty picture on it first though. I didn’t expect him to text back. I didn’t expect our exchanges to be hot as hell. I didn’t expect to fall for him—all before we even met. The two of us couldn’t have been any more different. Yet, you know what they say about opposites. When we finally came face to face, we found out opposites sometimes do more than attract—we consumed each other. Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on. And I certainly wasn’t prepared for where I’d wind up when the ride was over. All good things must come to an end, right? Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

Excerpt

Outside of the restaurant, Graham’s black car was already curbside. He must have had it waiting and called the driver when I went to the restroom.

“If you’re not going to come home with me, I insist on at least giving you a ride home to your place.”

“The subway is right around the corner. I’m good.”

He shot me an annoyed glance. “Give a little, Soraya. It’s a ride home, not a ride on my cock. And I think you know by now that I’m not a serial killer.”

“You’re so crass.”

He put his hand on the small of my back and steered me to the waiting open car door. I didn’t put up a fight. Graham was right, I was being stubborn while he had pretty much agreed to anything I demanded. Something told me it was a rare occasion when the man was this flexible.

When we arrived at my apartment, Graham walked me to the door.

“When will I see you again?”

“Well, tomorrow is Saturday, so I suppose maybe Monday on the train.”

“Have dinner with me again tomorrow?”

“I have plans.”

His jaw flexed. “With whom?”

We embarked into a lengthy stare off. His gaze was hard. When neither of us gave for a few minutes, he grumbled Christ under his breath, and before I realized what was happening, my back was against the door, and his mouth was on mine.

He kissed me as if he wanted to eat me alive. Before releasing my mouth, he took my lower lip between his teeth and tugged. Hard. With his lips vibrating up against mine, he spoke. “Don’t push me to my limit, Soraya.”

“Why? What will happen?”

“I’ll push back. And I’m trying not to do that with you.”

He was being honest, and I realized I should appreciate that. “To my sister’s house. It’s my niece’s birthday party. That’s where I’m going tomorrow night.

He nodded. “Thank you.”

It took every bit of my willpower to go inside and shut the door behind me. I leaned my back against the door, unable to remember the last time I was so hot and bothered. Maybe not ever. His mouth was sinful; the thought of what he could do with that wicked tongue other places on my body kept me in a state of arousal that bordered on frenzied. But it was more than that. The way he was so dominating and controlling, yet exercised restraint to respect my wishes, was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. The man stimulated something that had been sleeping inside of me. I needed a glass of wine and an orgasm. Not necessarily in that order. If I was going be firm on my stance that we get to know each other and not have sex, then taking things into my own hands was absolutely essential.

In my bedroom, I stripped out of my clothes. I didn’t sleep naked every night, but tonight was definitely a bare evening. As I slipped into bed, my cell rang.

“Is phone sex on the table?” Graham’s voice was a needy rasp. Whatever cooling off my body had done since I left him on the other side of the door was instantly reheated. His voice could definitely speed things up for me. But…

“Sex is off the table. That should probably include all types of sex. Intercourse, oral, phone.”

He groaned. “Oral. God, I want to taste you. And feel that metal tongue ring on my cock. You have no idea how difficult it was to control myself tonight every time I caught a glimpse of that metal when you spoke. It’s like you’re taunting me with every word. What are you wearing, Soraya?”

That voice. I needed to record him saying What are you wearing, Soraya? So I could play it over and over again in a loop when I needed to satisfy my own needs. “I’m actually not wearing anything. I just got undressed and slipped into bed.”

“You sleep naked?”

“Sometimes.”

He actually growled. “Touch yourself.”

“I plan to. But I think I’m going to need both hands tonight. So I’m going to hang up first.”

“How long do you plan on driving me crazy, Soraya?”

“Good night, Graham.” I hung up without waiting for him to respond. Even though my body physically ached for the man, I wasn’t ready to open that door with him just yet. Although as I glided my hand down my body alone in my bed, the only thing I could think of was God, I wish it was his hand.

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card! To enter, sign up for Penelope & Vi’s mailing list. It’s one-click easy and you will automatically be entered! http://eepurl.com/brAPo9

Other books from Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

Cocky Bastard

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1DW9XpB

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1WwPzkC

iBooks: http://apple.co/1J7vbN0

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1UxCSUO

B&N: http://bit.ly/1EjxNpY

Meet Penelope Ward

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult/contemporary romance genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 9-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life. Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island. She is the author of RoomHate, which hit #2 on the New York Times Bestseller list and #1 on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list. Her novel, Stepbrother Dearest, also spent four consecutive weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. Other works include the New York Times bestseller Cocky Bastard (co-written with Vi Keeland), Sins of Sevin, My Skylar, Jake Undone, Jake Understood and Gemini.

Meet Vi Keeland

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn't change for the world. She is an attorney and a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today Bestselling author. Over the last three years, ten of her titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller lists and three on the New York Times Bestseller lists.

Title: The Sleeping Serpent

Authors : Luna Saint Claire & Virginia Bowen

As arousing as 50 Shades, twisted as Gone Girl, and tortured as Wuthering Heights

Immensely erotic and psychologically captivating, The Sleeping Serpent is the compelling story of a woman’s obsession with a spellbinding guru and the struggle to reclaim her life. At its heart, it is a painfully beautiful exposition of unconditional love that makes us question what we truly want.

Luna Saint Claire has a loving husband and an enviable career as a Hollywood costume designer. Still, something is gnawing at her. Bored with her conventional and circumscribed existence, she feels herself becoming invisible. When she meets Nico Romero, a charismatic yoga guru, his attentions awaken her passions and desires. Dangerous, but not in a way that scares her, he makes her feel as if anything is possible. Infatuated, she becomes entangled in Nico’s life as he uses his mesmerizing sexuality to manipulate everyone around him in his pursuit of women, wealth, and celebrity. Immensely erotic and psychologically captivating, The Sleeping Serpent is the compelling story of a woman’s obsession with a spellbinding guru and the struggle to reclaim her life. At its heart, it is a painfully beautiful exposition of unconditional love that makes us question what we truly want.

About Luna Saint Claire

Luna Saint Claire is a costume designer and author residing in Los Angeles with her husband, a philosophy professor. She loves blues rock and Indie music, often setting her Pandora station to Damien Rice. Her personal style can best be described as eclectic bohemian. Though she now enjoys running and yoga, she spent years of her youth in the ballet studio. Her part Native American heritage informs her work as a designer and influences her storytelling.