Blog Tour with Giveaway and Review: Twice Bitten by Lynsay Sands

Thrilling, witty, and oh-so-sexy, Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau novel brings together a beautiful Immortal and the man who is her destiny…

For someone who’s been around for over a hundred and forty years, immortal Elspeth Argeneau hasn’t done a whole lot of living. Now that she’s moved away from her controlling mother, she’s tracking down rogue vampires and enjoying some overdue freedom. A fling would be fun. A life mate can wait. Yet to Elspeth’s surprise, her landlady’s hot grandson checks both boxes.

Wyatt fell instantly in love with Elspeth four years ago. He’s stunned to run into her again, especially as she has no memory of him. Then again, there are a lot of things about Elspeth that don’t make sense, like the miraculous speed with which her wounds heal. And the chemistry that transforms every touch into an explosion of desire. But with mysterious “accidents” besieging Elspeth, the ex-Special Forces soldier appoints himself her bodyguard. But time is running out to uncover the truth about her enemies—and rediscover the man determined to love her for eternity.

Each book in this series can be read as a standalone story.

About the Book

Twice Bitten

by Lynsay Sands

Series: Argeneau #27

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Avon Books

Publication Date: March 27, 2018

Amazon  |  Avon Romance  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Google Play  |  iBooks

EXCERPT:


“Wyatt?” she said, surprised at how breathless her voice was.
She was panting, Elspeth realized. The man hadn’t even touched her and she was panting like an overheated dog . . . or a horny one.
“I’m sorry,” Wyatt growled, and turned away to quickly search the room, and then spotting the bath towel over the towel rack, he grabbed it and turned back to offer it to her.
Elspeth reached for it, but froze when their hands touched. For a minute, they just remained like that, both silent and still as shockwaves rolled through them, and then Wyatt cleared his throat. His voice was husky as he said, “I know you’re not ready for a life mate, and I-“
That was as far as he got before Elspeth finished taking the towel from him, let it drop to the floor, and reached for him instead.

Tour Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the release of TWICE BITTEN, we’re giving away five paperback copies of A QUICK BITE, the first installment in the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to US shipping addresses only. Five winners will each receive a paperback copy of A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands.  This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance.  Giveaway ends 4/6/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address.  Duplicates will be deleted. 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

About Lynsay Sands

LYNSAY SANDS is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She’s been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there’s occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus. Please visit her on the web at http://www.lynsaysands.net.

Author Links

    

This promotion is brought to you by Pure Textuality PR.

REVIEW

Twice Bitten by Lynsay Sands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I first started exploring the paranormal genre years ago, Lynsay Sands' Argeneau series is one of the first I discovered. (We're on book twenty seven, guys. This series is no joke.) You would think after all of this time taking a hiatus from the long continuing storyline, there would be some confusion. I admit, I was wondering if that issue would arise here. If you're like me and want to return to the Argeneau world, don't hesitate. Ms. Sands did a wonderful job integrating me back into recent events, and refreshing me about her immortals without affecting my interest in the central plot. 

I liked the fact that the immortal in this scenario was the female. It's not exactly uncommon, but more often, it's the other way around. Elspeth Argeneau was strong, level-headed, and intelligent with a sense of humor to boot. She's a heroine that I really enjoyed getting to know. Over hundred and forty years old, she's considered young in comparison to the other ancient family members like her mother. But even in her "youth" she's way past the time when she should be leaving the nest and struggling for her own independence. That's exactly what she did when she moved from England to Canada...or perhaps a more apt description would be escaped to Canada.

Elspeth has been nothing short of enslaved by her mother for more than a century. Think about the most controlling and overbearing parent you know, then multiply that by a million. Add mind control, and incredible power and influence? You have Martine. After tragically losing her husband and children centuries before, she took the role of protective mother to a whole new, scary level.

Heaving a sigh, Elspeth shook her head. Honestly, having a mother who could read your mind was a real pain. It made for extremely well-behaved and miserable children.

Her free will had been taken away for years, her ability to choose her own path. Just when she was attempting to spread her wings and finally fly, her mother shows up with the intent to drag her home. You'd better believe that she wasn't just going to fall in line and go meekly. Elspeth sets out to outsmart her, and hold onto her new life and freedom.

Wyatt MacKay is the landlady's grandson who's visiting her in the downstairs apartment. When Elspeth comes face to face with the ex-special forces man for the first time, she finds him attractive, but had more important matters weighing on her mind. The same couldn't be said for Wyatt, who seemed to be at a loss for words and struggling to contain his shock. Searching for something in her eyes that doesn't seem to be there. There's more to this brooding man than meets the eye...but then again she has a few secrets of her own. I loved Wyatt for her almost immediately. He had a calmness, and a strong and capable presence about him without being "alpha" or bossy. His one weakness was the power this woman had to leave him breathless without even trying.

“I dated a lot of women before you. It was a different girl in every port kind of a deal. But none of them even touched my heart, while you flat-out owned it before I even kissed you,”

Elspeth struggles to come to terms with the fact that her independence could be threatened in more ways than one. She's not in any way, shape or form looking for a life mate, but that doesn't stop fate from intervening when we least expect it. On top of that, mysterious "accidents" keep piling up, and the tension is mounting with the rogue hunters who are already dealing with their own mess. With her extensive family and a very protective Wyatt standing as bodyguard, they race to find the person responsible as the attacks gain momentum. I enjoyed this little mystery, and the moments of suspense thrown in, though I could have perhaps done with a little bit less of them. The book dragged a shade in the middle, and I feel like the emotional punch could have been stronger between the main couple. But overall, I found Twice Bitten to be quite the refreshing and entertaining read.

If you're looking for a paranormal book that has plenty of action with a little mystery thrown in, pick this one up. It could be just what you're in the mood for. I'll be keeping my eye on the series in the hopes that G.G. eventually gets his own full length story!

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Review: The Last King by Katee Robert

Title: The Last King 

Series: The Kings #1

Author: Katee Robert

Release date: April 3, 2018

Rating: 4.5 stars

SYNOPSIS

Ultra wealthy and super powerful, the King family is like royalty in Texas. But who will keep the throne? New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert introduces a red-hot new series.

THE MAN SHE HATES TO LOVE
Beckett King just inherited his father's fortune, his company-and all his enemies. If he's going to stay on top, he needs someone he can trust beside him. And though they've been rivals for years, there's no one he trusts more than Samara Mallick.

The rebel. That's how Samara has always thought of Beckett. And he's absolutely living up to his unpredictable ways when he strides into her office and asks for help. She can't help wondering if it's a legit request or just a ploy to get her into bed. Not that she'd mind either one. After all, she likes to live on the edge too.

But soon the threats to the King empire are mounting, and the two find family secrets darker than they ever imagined and dangerous enough to get them both killed.

Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pyTqEc

B&N: https://bit.ly/2G3ySKa

iBooks: https://apple.co/2pC0xez

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2FVKuDd

About the Author

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee.

Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it 'a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension." When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Follow her: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube

REVIEW

The Last King by Katee Robert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my fifth book by Katee Robert, and my favorite by far. I'm really glad that I got in on this series from book one, because she has sufficiently teased the next book enough to make me eager to continue on. The plot was set up with some real meat to it, enough to warrant a long overarching storyline in the following installments. Ms. Robert has proven at this point that she can write in any genre. Whether it's mafia, a non-romance thriller, or straight contemporary, she always creates living, breathing, three-dimensional characters that effortlessly hook us.

If you like the enemies to lovers trope, this is the book for you. Samara and Beckett are adversaries in the oil industry they both work in, and there's certainly no love lost between them. Beckett King is the head of his family's dynasty, Morningstar Enterprises. Samara works for Kingdom corp, and reports directly to Beckett's estranged aunt, Lydia King.

From chapter one, when these two were in the same room together, sparks would fly with a vengeance. More often than not, Beckett was the victor in their bidding wars, and that caused considerable aggression and resentment from Samara. She's a fiercely competitive woman, and not especially fond of losing. I didn't really see any animosity coming from Beckett, he just looked at her as someone that he not only shouldn't, but couldn't associate with. Her loyalty to his viper of an aunt told him that getting mixed up with her could prove to be a grievous mistake. That didn't stop his attraction from blazing out of control and tempting him to cross lines that shouldn't be crossed.

Samara is equally attracted, but her will to become a success and further her career is a force to be reckoned with. Her ambition and drive was probably her best and worst feature all at the same time. While I thought it admirable that she wanted to honor her mother's sacrifices and avoid repeating her mistakes...she took things way too far. In fact, this was the one aspect of the story that didn't fully work for me, and it affected my final rating.

Let me start out by saying that I completely understood where she was coming from to put her career first, and her inability to trust Beckett. She had daddy issues a mile wide, and self-esteem issues because of her poor upbringing. Her goal to reach the highest rung in the corporate ladder meant safety and security-so putting her faith in a rich and powerful man like her father would be foolhardy. However, she stubbornly clung to this mindset, even when logically the truth should have slapped her in the face.

    Samara didn’t make choices with her heart. She couldn’t afford to. She might not have achieved the level of ice-queen persona that Lydia cultivated, but what she had was better than nothing. In this industry, a thin skin might as well be an invitation for a knife in the back.

Beckett King was a wonderful hero. I never once questioned his motives or actions in the grand scheme of things. He may have played a little dirty at one point, but his conscience caused some unrest when the situation forced his hand. This is a guy who genuinely cares for those around him, most especially the well being of the employees in his company. After just losing his father, loneliness hits him hard, and he yearns for someone he can trust and depend on. She may not have been that for him in the beginning, but he was determined to find a crack in Samara's armor and get through her defenses. Samara's attempts to keep him at arms length is no match for his dogged persistence.

     He’d blasted through every boundary she’d thrown in place between them, and now she felt like she was wandering in an endless fog without a signpost in sight.

As Beckett insinuated himself into her heart, danger escalated as they worked to uncover the truth behind his father's death, and the mysterious change to his will. There was never really any doubt as to who masterminded things, but there was a question of who would be hurt in the crossfire when weapons were drawn.

I absolutely loved Beckett from beginning to end, but Samara was an acquired taste. She started out with a lot of sharp edges, but eventually softened and achieved the character growth that she needed.
If you're looking for a new series to follow, this could be a good bet for you. I'm excited to continue on with Journey and Frank's book, The Fearless King, which is due to be released next February. Frank is one of those mysterious and powerful characters that you want to know more about. It promises to be an exciting addition to the series.

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Review: Nothing But Sky by Amy Trueblood

Title: Nothing But Sky

Series: Standalone

Author: Amy Trueblood

Release date: March 27, 2018

Rating: 4.5 stars

SYNOPSIS

Grace Lafferty only feels alive when she's dangling 500 feet above ground. As a post-World War I wing walker, Grace is determined to get to the World Aviation Expo, proving her team’s worth against flashier competitors and earning a coveted Hollywood contract.

No one’s ever questioned Grace’s ambition until Henry Patton, a mechanic with plenty of scars from the battlefield, joins her barnstorming team. With each new death-defying trick, Henry pushes Grace to consider her reasons for being a daredevil. Annoyed with Henry’s constant interference, and her growing attraction to him, Grace continues to test the powers of the sky.

After one of her risky maneuvers saves a pilot’s life, a Hollywood studio offers Grace a chance to perform at the Expo. She jumps at the opportunity to secure her future. But when a stunt goes wrong, Grace must decide whether Henry, and her life, are worth risking for one final trick.

Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2HXL3bZ

B&N: https://bit.ly/2HVOIHm

IndieBound: https://bit.ly/2ub8Vaj

About the Author

A devotee of reading and writing from a very young age, Amy Trueblood grew up surrounded by books. As the youngest of five children, she spent most of her time trying to find a quiet place to curl up with her favorite stories. After stints working in entertainment and advertising, she began writing her first manuscript and never looked back.

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REVIEW

Barnstormer Grace Lafferty was everything I could want in a heroine and more. She redefines the limits and roles of women in post-WW1 America with her inspiring strength and perseverance. One of her best qualities was her tenacity in the face of adversity. She had to work twice as hard just to be taken seriously in her male-dominated field, yet she was always the one encouraging everyone to never give up. Even her own uncle doubted her abilities to pull off the death-defying stunts that she performed in The Soaring Eagles' show. Though honestly, you couldn't really blame the man for being protective of his niece. His heart was in the right place, and he only wanted to do right by her and her parents.

   No one knows the evils of war more than the men who’ve faced them.

Henry Patton is a talented mechanic and veteran of the Great War who's struggling to acclimate himself to civilian life. Injured and suffering from PTSD, he's a bit growly and prickly with Grace during their first meet. First impressions were not the greatest, and it set them on the wrong footing early on. What I loved about Henry was his respect and chivalry towards her even when they were at odds with one another. There was an old-fashioned wholesomeness in how they interacted that really transported me to another time. Ms. Trueblood's skill in setting the scene created such a realistic narrative. Her detail was impeccable: the music, clothing and hairstyles, speech patterns, and current events. It gave an authenticity to Nothing But Sky that readers look for in historical fiction. But I digress...back to our handsome fella Henry.

He was gallant. Supportive of Grace's aspirations. He hopes to own his own garage one day, and isn't afraid of working hard to get there. Taking a job for Grace's uncle is the first step in making his dream become a reality. My heart went out to sweet Henry for the emotional conflict he was going through. The battlefield had left an indelible mark on him, and there was a certain amount of shame that came with that. Henry eventually connected with the survivor in her; and respected her all the more because of it. It was only one of the things they found to have in common.

    “You said before that you thought I was brave, but after what happened to your family I believe you’re the one who is truly brave.” “Let’s not call it bravery. Perhaps we can think about it as pure survival.” “The will to live,” he added quietly.

Grace may be just eighteen, but she's already experienced enough tragedy and heartache for a lifetime. Being up in the air and soaring through the clouds is the one place where she's at peace. It's a place that feels like home after losing the only home she'd ever known. Now her one ambition in life is to make it to the World Aviation Expo in Chicago, where she'll compete for a coveted Hollywood contract. It means security for herself and the entire team. Without it, her future in barnstorming may end before it really started. Bad luck begins to plague the group, and after a horrible accident up in the air, Grace must learn to put her own

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this refreshing and feel-good story. The romance was quite nice, but it wasn't at the forefront of the story, which I was on board with. Grace and Henry had a gradual progression from friendship that felt really natural and solid. It took some time to get there, but when they did, they had some beautifully poignant moments. They both accepted each other just as they were and supported each other as equal partners. They were one of the sweetest couples I've read in quite a while.

    “Tell me the truth, Grace. Can I ever be enough for you?” Our lips hovered only inches apart. Our breaths synchronized in perfect time. “You already are.”

This is the kind of YA story that we need more of. A book with a positive message and empowering themes for women. Highly recommended!

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Make a Date With Harlequin: Prince edition

Make a Date With Harlequin!

Last year Harlequin sent two Harlequin Heroes, a Cowboy and a Viking, on real-life dates. The unsuspecting public couldn’t get enough… and their hilarious reactions were captured with hidden cameras! Remember this? Or how about this? By popular demand, they’ve sent 2 more heroes on dates—a Highlander and a Prince.

Harlequin Website | Twitter | Facebook

An enchanting prince goes on an ordinary date. Find out what happens!

Featured Novel

Title: Castiglione’s Pregnant Princess

Author: Lynne Graham

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 20, 2018

Series: Vows for Billionaires #2

Publisher: Harlequin Books - Presents

ISBN: 9781335419248

Expecting royal twins can only mean one thing…

She must wear the Castiglione crown!

Royal responsibility has been drummed into Prince Vitale since childhood—but his hunger for Jazmine crushes all sense of restraint. Her unexpected pregnancy revelation leaves Vitale no choice—he knows what he must do. A temporary marriage will legitimize their twins, but when the fire between them fails to burn out, he has to wonder…could Jazz be his permanent princess?

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Available at: Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

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Make a Date with Harlequin - Highlander

Earlier this month Harlequin asked the question “What happens when a tartan-clad Highlander goes on a real-life date?” Find out in their Make a Date with Harlequin - Highlander video which released March 6th!

Featured Novel

Title: Forbidden Night with the Highlander
Author: Michelle Willingham
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: January 16, 2018
Series: Warriors of the Night #2
Publisher: Harlequin Books
ISBN: 9781335522603

The handsome Highlander who seduced her…

…is the very man she must marry!

In this Warriors of the Night story, Lianna MacKinnon seeks to avoid her betrothal to a Norman lord by giving herself to an intriguing stranger. But afterward, she discovers her sensual lover is none other than Rhys de Laurent—her betrothed—in disguise! They’ve already had their wedding night… Now there’s no escaping their marriage vows!

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Available at: Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

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Escape to your happy place when you #MakeaDateWithHarlequin!

Whether you need an escape from your hectic day, or have some unexpected time to yourself—you can count on Harlequin Series for great romance reads whenever and wherever you are. From inspirational romance to heart-racing suspense, sweet or steamy sagas, Harlequin has whatever you’re looking for.

Not sure what you’re into? Sample from 16 series for FREE at TryHarlequin.com and find the one—or ones—that are right for you!

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Release Blitz: Tandem by Jennifer Ryder

Title: Tandem

Author: Jennifer Ryder

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 20, 2018

Blurb

Kyle Kingston-Moore has a reputation.

Adrenaline seeker. Commitment-phobe. Gigolo of the skies.

He’s worked tirelessly to make a success out of Sensational Skydives, on occasion providing extra services to deliver the ultimate jump experience. The adrenaline helps him forget the loneliness and the gaping hole left in his heart. When the rush wears off, he’s on the hunt again—a vicious circle of avoidance.

Kalani Hart knows all about avoidance.

Wide-open spaces. Social situations. Uncontrolled environments.

For years, fear has crippled Kalani’s attempts to lead a normal life after a random attack that tore her family apart. Finally, Kalani is on her way to recovery. She knows she needs to face her nightmares, but taking the plunge is easier said than done. When her therapist challenges her to take on skydiving, item number one on her bucket list, Kalani has to decide if she’s truly ready to take charge of her life.

Will one tandem jump with Kyle be the key to Kalani getting her life back, or will they both find themselves stranded in a place where their hearts decide what happens next?

When the adrenaline is this high, anything can happen.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Author Bio

Jennifer Ryder is a bestselling author of the Spark Series and Surfers Way Series. She loves to write about boys on dirt bikes, detectives and strong females who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want.

Living on a rural property in New South Wales, Australia, she enjoys the best of city and country. Her loving husband is ever willing to provide inspiration, and her two young cherubs, and sheep that don't see fences as barriers, keep life more than interesting. 

Author Links

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