Review & Excerpt Tour ~ CAN'T HARDLY BREATHE by Gena Showalter
Thursday, August 31, 2017
From New York Times Bestselling author Gena Showalter, comes the next standalone romance in the Original Heartbreakers Series—CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE!
Order your copy today!
CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with an irresistible Original Heartbreakers story about a woman who’s never felt desired and the man who wants her more than air to breathe…
Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis’s past is full of memories she’d rather forget. But there’s one she can’t seem to shake—her longstanding crush on former Army Ranger Daniel Porter. Now that the sexy bad boy has started using her inn as his personal playground, she should kick him out…but his every heated glance makes her want to join him instead.
Daniel returned to Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma to care for his ailing father and burn off a little steam with no strings attached. Though he craves the curvy Dorothea night and day, he’s as marred by his past as she is by hers. The more he desires her, the more he fears losing her.
But every sizzling encounter leaves him desperate for more, and soon Daniel must make a choice: take a chance on love or walk away forever.
Preorder CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE here!
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I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a curvy
girl myself I understand the insecurities that Thea has. I love how every
chance he gets Daniel reiterates how beautiful she is. He’s the type of man you
want. The kind that rises you up instead of puts you down.
The story pulled me in with a slow sweet burn. It was fun
and flirty with a little mix of angst. You’ll laugh and might even cry but in
the end your heart will be full of happiness.
This can definitely be read as a stand-alone as this was my
first book in the series. But I know I won’t want to miss anymore.
EXCERPT
Daniel, having served multiple tours of duty, had come back a
hero.
His life had meaning, hers didn’t. He and two of his friends had
started a security company right here in Strawberry Valley. He took care of his
ailing father, and in his free time he dated a plethora of city girls.
Dorothea knew about the girls because he’d stayed at the inn
every time a date had ended…successfully.
Her flush returned full force as she considered the other five
rooms he’d wrecked since his return…all the pleasure he’d been having…all the
pleasure she wished she could experience.
Not with him, of course. With someone she liked and respected.
Someone who liked and respected her, too, despite the fact that she was still
too round for society’s unhealthy standards, a lot too freckled and trapped in
a dead-end job.
Daniel Porter would never qualify.
Dorothea found him attractive, yes, but to her, appearance
would never outshine personality.
My man must be my equal. She
had a lot of love to give. She’d even grown to like herself…kind of. Maybe.
Fine, she was trying to like herself.
Avoiding Daniel’s gaze, she said, “No, you stay. I’ll go.” Words
her mother had drilled into her shouted inside her head: the customer comes
first. “I’ll finish your room later.” She rolled the vacuum toward her
cart.
“You live here, right?” he asked. “You own the inn?”
“I… Yes.” Technically she lived in the attic. The more rooms she
had available for guests, the more money she would make. At least in theory.
Money was the
number one reason she cleaned the pigsties herself, rather than hiring a maid.
She was saving her pennies to turn every plain, ordinary room
into a themed paradise. Then Strawberry Valley residents would happily pay to
stay just for fun.
Again, in theory.
So far she’d decided on six themes. (1) Four seasons—the
weather, not the hotel chain. (2) An enchanted forest. (3) A techno dance club.
(4) The underwater world of Atlantis. (5) A royal palace. And (6) an inner
sanctum, aka a superhero’s wet dream.
Also up for consideration? A beach hut, an igloo, an insane
asylum for her more daring patrons and a desert oasis.
With twenty-three rooms in total, she needed other ideas fast.
And more money. A lot more money.
Maybe, when the transformations were completed, the feeling of
accomplishment would finally chase away her anger and bitterness. Maybe she
would feel alive. Happy.
“If any part of your stay was subpar,” she said, “I will
personally—”
“No, everything has been great.” He looked over his shoulder and
winked at her. “Just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to get into trouble
with the boss.”
Every pulse point in her body leaped with excitement. He’d
winked at her. Her!
I think you’re perfect just the way you are.
Red alert! She would not read more into his words than
he’d intended. Not this time. He was a flirt, plain and simple. Always had
been, apparently always would be.
“Why would I get in trouble?” she asked.
“For not finishing the room.”
Oh. Right.
“Well, as long as you plan to come back to the inn, I won’t fire myself. Not
because I’m desperate to see you or anything,” she added in a rush.
“I’m not.” Dang it! “I mean, I’m always glad to see you here. I mean, I just
want your money.” Okay. Enough!
He laughed, his amber eyes twinkling.
Air caught in her throat and sizzled. He had the sexiest laugh
on the planet. His entire face softened. He pulsed with new life; fresh and
vibrant, he was the epitome of spring.
Then he frowned, as if he couldn’t believe he’d found humor in,
well, anything.
Her brow furrowed with confusion. Why the doom and gloom?
“In that case,” he said, his tone flat, “I think I’ll stay
another night.”
“Really?” She licked her lips. “What about your girlfriend?”
He stiffened. “She isn’t my—”
“No, don’t tell me. I’m sorry I asked. Your love life isn’t my
business.”
“I live in Strawberry Valley. My love life is everyone’s
business.”
His wry tone made her chuckle, and he stiffened all over again.
Great. What had she done wrong this time?
“I’ll be alone tonight,” he said, looking anywhere but at her.
“Apparently I hover over my dad when I’m home, so he’s asked for another night
off. But I swear to you, this room will be clean in the morning.”
She snorted. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Doubting Dottie.” A pause,
then, “Would you like a cup of coffee before you go?”
“Oh, uh, no, thank you.” While she no longer
viewed Daniel through the wounded eyes of high school betrayal— he’d been a nice boy doing a nice thing for a vulnerable girl in
desperate need of a white knight—she’d endured too much heartbreak over the
years to risk getting to know him better and reigniting her crush.
Look at the way she’d reacted to him already.
He appeared…disappointed? No, of course not. A trick of the
light, surely. “Well. See you around, Daniel.”
“Yeah. See you around, Dottie.” He returned his attention to
his toiletry bag, dismissing her.
Irritation had her snapping, “My name is Dorothea.”
Gena Showalter’s CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:
August 21st
Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog – Excerpt
Obsessed by books – Review
once upon a romance blog – Review
Scandalous Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
The Book Maven – Review & Excerpt
August 22nd
Alpha Book Club – Review
Beware Of The Reader – Review & Excerpt
Evermore Books – Review & Excerpt
Melena`s Reviews – Review & Excerpt
The Romance Rebels – Review & Excerpt
August 23rd
Booknerd1107 – Review
East Coast Book Chicks – Review & Excerpt
Reads & Reviews – Review
Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt
Under The Covers Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
August 24th
Lynn's Romance Enthusiasm – Review & Excerpt
Rainy Days and Pajamas – Excerpt
Read. Eat. Love. – Review & Excerpt
Reese's Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Shannonbookishlife – Review & Excerpt
August 25th
A geordielass honest blog on reviews – Review
Never without a book in hand – Review & Excerpt
Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt
Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt
August 26th
Brittany's Book Blog – Excerpt
Kayns Book – Review
Ramblings From This Chick – Excerpt
The Lovely Books – Review & Excerpt
With Love for Books – Review & Excerpt
August 27th
From the TBR Pile – Review & Excerpt
Kdrbck – Review & Excerpt
Living in Our Own Story – Review
Nessa's Book Reviews – Excerpt
August 28th
Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt
My Nook, Books & More – Excerpt
Read-Love-Blog – Review
The Book Reading Gals – Review & Excerpt
August 30th
As The Book Ends – Review & Excerpt
Nerdy Dirty and Flirty – Review & Excerpt
Red Cheeks Reads – Review & Excerpt
Smut Book Junkie Reviews – Review & Excerpt
August 31st
Embrace the Romance – Review & Excerpt
Milky Way of Books – Review & Excerpt
Once Upon a Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Straight Shootin' Book Reviews – Review
Two Girls with Books – Review
September 1st
BJ's Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Books and Things Blog – Review & Excerpt
Foxylutely Books – Review & Excerpt
Somewhere Lost in Books – Review & Excerpt
September 2nd
A Fortress of Books – Excerpt
Nicole's Book Musings – Excerpt
The bookworms obsession – Review
What Is That Book About – Excerpt
September 3rd
a crazy vermonters book reviews – Review
Bad boys and bedtime stories book blog – Review & Excerpt
Bloggin' With M. Brennan – Review
Francoise's Reading Corner – Review & Excerpt
Susan’s Books I Like – Excerpt
September 4th
All Things Dark & Dirty – Review & Excerpt
Lover of Big Books Cannot Lie – Review & Excerpt
Rantings of a Reading Addict – Review & Excerpt
September 5th
Escape Inside the Pages – Review & Excerpt
Reading Escape Reviews – Review
Taylor Fenner's Bookish World – Review & Excerpt
The Sassy Bookster – Excerpt
September 6th
Romancing the Readers – Review
Travels N Reads – Review & Excerpt
Sassy Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
September 7th
JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Review & Excerpt
Lina's Reviews: A Book Blog – Review
Sofia Loves Books – Review
Wrapped Up In Reading – Review & Excerpt
September 8th
Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt
Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Dirty Girl Romance – Review
Stuck In Books – Excerpt
Shannon's Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
September 9th
ContemporaryCween – Review & Excerpt
G & T's Indie Café – Excerpt
Jax's Book Magic – Excerpt
Ms. Me28 – Review & Excerpt
Relentless Romance – Review & Excerpt
About Gena Showalter: Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series--Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles--and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she's appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black--if you ask her about it, she'll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated in multiple languages. She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfans
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
It's not secret that the Corps Security and Hope Town crew are close to my heart. Not only did they begin it all, but they've continued to steal my soul since book 1. Because of this, I couldn't be more excited that some of my favorite authors in the world have joined in to give them a new and exciting breath. With them and these new stories, we get to jump back in with some of our favorite cast and crew. You never really know what you'll get, but one things certain, you'll be within the world we all know and love while enjoying a little sexiness from their own worlds. It's got me so excited, I can't handle it! I hope you all enjoy this next step with the new Kindle Worlds branch; Corps Security in Hope Town COMING SEPTEMBER 26!
Love, Harper
JB Salsbury – Fighting For Honor
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author JB Salsbury brings her Fighting series to Harper Sloan’s Hope Town in this Kindle Worlds exclusive, Fighting for Honor.
UFL fighter Caleb hasn’t been to Hope Town since he was eighteen. His next big fight takes place in Atlanta and the serene lakefront home from his childhood is the perfect place to train without distractions.
Until he stumbles downstairs to find a woman in his house. He’s met her before, and he’s never forgotten.
Honor was raised by her grandfather, Crazy Colonel Cartwright. Ostracized at a young age she was an outcast. Combined with her awkward personality and she became the local bully’s favorite plaything.
Honor and Caleb come face-to-face and feelings from fourteen years ago come rushing back—not all of them good.
She prefers to remain unknown, but she’s seen in public with the world’s most talked about fighter and thrust into a national spotlight that catches the attention of her childhood tormentors.
And they aren’t finished with her yet.
Felicia Lynn: How To Breathe
I can’t go back to the man I was any more than I can forget the memories locked inside me. Few men qualified for the mission and even fewer were willing to accept the required life sentence. Counting the days, good and bad, I exist as the world keeps spinning.
There’s a price to pay for a life with a greater purpose, but the healing of time is a damn liar. I’m supposed to be a dead man, and the silence couldn’t be more deafening. Even though I could never look back, I thought I’d taken enough out of that life to carry me forward. The success of the mission was meant to give the tragedy of my life meaning, but I’ve been stuck in this wreckage of my past . . . until now.
One look into her eyes disarms me. These walls I’ve built shouldn’t break on their own, but they crumble whenever she’s near. I’ve spent years waiting for a reason to breathe again, and now that I have her within reach, I’m not sure I can keep her. Is it possible to find both the missing piece of my soul and the remedy to my healing in one set of bright green eyes?
JM Walker: For You
Brogan Tapp tries to be strong. Guilt and fear that the man she loves will fall within himself and not know how to find his way out, haunts her.
Coby Porter vows not to let the demons in his mind take over. He plans a trip to save his relationship, once and for all.
Hope Town, Georgia is the saving grace for their love, before the nightmares consume them both.
SR Watson – Deliverance
Bleu Loren
My life has never been my own. I've always been a rule follower—the obedient girl who always did what she was told. I played the part given to me and got engaged to the man my parents set me up with. He was supposed to be my Prince Charming. He promised me a happily ever after, only he delivered a nightmare instead. Now I'm on the run. No money. No plan. Just freedom. How ironic is it that my desperate escape lands me in a place called Hope Town? I lost hope a long time ago.
Beau Rivers Lair
I'm a manwhore. It's a known fact and exactly how I like it. I make my own rules and live without expectations. Returning to Hope Town to help the woman who raised me with her restaurant meant my past was here to greet me, but I refuse to allow the mirage of possibilities to engulf me a second time around. I don't believe in love or fairy-tale endings. There's lust, and there's screwing. I don't have time for anyone or anything outside of these two principles. There is no hope for me. Accept it or not ... you've been warned!
Somethin’ Bad by Cat Mason
Tequila can make a woman do somethin’ stupid.
Somethin’ bad…
After celebrating my birthday with my best friends turns into the most embarrassing night of my life, the last thing I expected was to see him walk into my bakery. The sexy smile on his face lets me know that he has no intention of letting me off the hook either. He doesn’t want an apology or an explanation.
He wants me.
The way Matt Hudson crashes into my life and bosses me around as if he has known me all my life is frustrating. What’s even worse is the power he has to bring me to my knees with the flash of one his panty-melting smiles. He steals my control without even trying.
Makes me want.
Makes me need.
Even when my life begins to unravel right before my eyes, there is a part of me hoping that the man my friends have dubbed Hunk P.D. may be something good to come out of all my heartache.
The entire Corps Security series is together for a limited time box set.
Years after the Marines brought them together, the men of Corps Security are together again.
These six novels follow their lives as they take a chance at love. Can love truly conquer all?
From broken souls to broken hearts, they all will find out if they'll get their second chance at happily ever afters and that love really is worth fighting for.
**Warning**
These books are intended for a mature reading audience and aren't suitable for younger readers. There are some mild scenes of abuse that happen outside of the relationship of the H/h in some of the books.
Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand.
Excerpt Reveal & Giveaway ~ In The Crease by Toni Aleo
Jensen Monroe is a unicorn. As handsome as any model, as polite as can be, a goalie of unmatched skill, and the best friend anyone could ask for. But he longs for a particular special someone to make his life complete. He’s been in love with Wren since he was a teenager, but as his best friend’s sister, she’s always been off-limits.
Wren Lemiere has prided herself on being a love ’em and leave ’em girl her whole life. She’s all about equal opportunity in the battle of the sexes. Why should guys like her brother and his best friends get to be the only ones allowed to play the dating game? One wrong move, however, and she finds herself in violation of her own rules.
In need of a fake husband and baby daddy for her unexpected bundle of joy, Wren finally accepts Jensen is the logical one to ask for help. Except he has a counteroffer…one with so many strings attached, they may just find themselves wrapped up in ties that bind. Forever.
Wren Lemiere has prided herself on being a love ’em and leave ’em girl her whole life. She’s all about equal opportunity in the battle of the sexes. Why should guys like her brother and his best friends get to be the only ones allowed to play the dating game? One wrong move, however, and she finds herself in violation of her own rules.
In need of a fake husband and baby daddy for her unexpected bundle of joy, Wren finally accepts Jensen is the logical one to ask for help. Except he has a counteroffer…one with so many strings attached, they may just find themselves wrapped up in ties that bind. Forever.
Dr. Richards laughed as Wren giggled. “Everything is good. Come on up,” he said, helping Wren up before he patted her back. “But we need to discuss something.”
Her expression turned worried as she met his gaze. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine, but looking over your chart, you had quite the weight gain from last time. Fourteen pounds.”
Her face flushed as she held his gaze. “Baby weight?”
“Some, but not all. Healthy weight gain is about twenty pounds, and you’ve gained thirty.”
She shrugged. “Taco weight?”
He smiled, patting her back. “Are you exercising?”
She nodded. “I walk to the fridge?”
“I’ll take that as a no,” he said, marking his chart. Why did she feel like he was scolding her? “You need to get a little more active, and I’m sure your husband won’t mind doing that with you.”
Wren couldn’t look at Jensen, she was so embarrassed, but still, she said, “Of course.”
“And maybe instead of all the tacos, we have a taco salad?”
She glared. “You’re ruining my life, doctor guy.”
He smiled before he winked. “Just a suggestion.”
“Duly noted.”
“Good. So have a good trip,” he said with a grin before sliding out of the room with only a wave and “see ya next time.”
“Well, that sucked,” she muttered, scooting to the end of the table and getting off. Still unable to look at Jensen, she went to pull her shirt down, but she jumped in surprise when Jensen’s hands stopped her. When she looked up, he was staring at her, his eyes dark as he took her belly in his hands. Bending down, his very large body took up most of the room as he went to his knees before kissing her belly. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she watched him.
“Hey, you, we need to back off the tacos, okay?”
She laughed as he kissed her once more before standing and taking her face in his hands. “And you are fucking sexy, okay? Those numbers mean nothing, except that we’re going to go for walks in the mornings this whole trip.”
Her eyes started to cloud with tears as she nodded. “Okay.”
“Don’t let that bother you, okay?”
“Okay.”
“We’re good.”
She nodded. “We are.”
“And I like the name Liam.”
“Liam?” she asked as he slowly brought her shirt down over her belly. “I don’t know about Liam.”
“I like it, but can I tell you what I don’t like?”
Her brow rose. “What?”
“That doctor.”
She laughed. “What? He’s nice!”
“He’s too hot to be touching you, and I’m man enough to say that. We need to switch.”
She laughed hard, and he took her hand in his as she reached for her purse. “I know you’re not jealous.”
He gave her a dry look. “Beyond.”
“What! No, you’re not!”
“I am,” he admitted, shaking his head. “Does he stick his hands inside of you a lot?”
She sputtered. “Many times.”
“Bullshit. I hate him.”
“You’re silly!”
“I was boiling, sitting there as he touched you. I wanted to deck him.”
“You did not!”
“I did.”
“Like that would bother you.”
He set her with a look that swirled so much desire and the dirtiest thoughts imaginable inside of her. Pulling her against him, he looked deep into her eyes, his mouth barely away from hers as he whispered, “It bothers me just knowing that men look at you.”
“Jensen,” she gasped, her lips curving. “Stop lying to me.”
“I’m not. You’re mine, woman, and that’s that.”
Her expression turned worried as she met his gaze. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine, but looking over your chart, you had quite the weight gain from last time. Fourteen pounds.”
Her face flushed as she held his gaze. “Baby weight?”
“Some, but not all. Healthy weight gain is about twenty pounds, and you’ve gained thirty.”
She shrugged. “Taco weight?”
He smiled, patting her back. “Are you exercising?”
She nodded. “I walk to the fridge?”
“I’ll take that as a no,” he said, marking his chart. Why did she feel like he was scolding her? “You need to get a little more active, and I’m sure your husband won’t mind doing that with you.”
Wren couldn’t look at Jensen, she was so embarrassed, but still, she said, “Of course.”
“And maybe instead of all the tacos, we have a taco salad?”
She glared. “You’re ruining my life, doctor guy.”
He smiled before he winked. “Just a suggestion.”
“Duly noted.”
“Good. So have a good trip,” he said with a grin before sliding out of the room with only a wave and “see ya next time.”
“Well, that sucked,” she muttered, scooting to the end of the table and getting off. Still unable to look at Jensen, she went to pull her shirt down, but she jumped in surprise when Jensen’s hands stopped her. When she looked up, he was staring at her, his eyes dark as he took her belly in his hands. Bending down, his very large body took up most of the room as he went to his knees before kissing her belly. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she watched him.
“Hey, you, we need to back off the tacos, okay?”
She laughed as he kissed her once more before standing and taking her face in his hands. “And you are fucking sexy, okay? Those numbers mean nothing, except that we’re going to go for walks in the mornings this whole trip.”
Her eyes started to cloud with tears as she nodded. “Okay.”
“Don’t let that bother you, okay?”
“Okay.”
“We’re good.”
She nodded. “We are.”
“And I like the name Liam.”
“Liam?” she asked as he slowly brought her shirt down over her belly. “I don’t know about Liam.”
“I like it, but can I tell you what I don’t like?”
Her brow rose. “What?”
“That doctor.”
She laughed. “What? He’s nice!”
“He’s too hot to be touching you, and I’m man enough to say that. We need to switch.”
She laughed hard, and he took her hand in his as she reached for her purse. “I know you’re not jealous.”
He gave her a dry look. “Beyond.”
“What! No, you’re not!”
“I am,” he admitted, shaking his head. “Does he stick his hands inside of you a lot?”
She sputtered. “Many times.”
“Bullshit. I hate him.”
“You’re silly!”
“I was boiling, sitting there as he touched you. I wanted to deck him.”
“You did not!”
“I did.”
“Like that would bother you.”
He set her with a look that swirled so much desire and the dirtiest thoughts imaginable inside of her. Pulling her against him, he looked deep into her eyes, his mouth barely away from hers as he whispered, “It bothers me just knowing that men look at you.”
“Jensen,” she gasped, her lips curving. “Stop lying to me.”
“I’m not. You’re mine, woman, and that’s that.”
$25 Amazon Gift Card
My name is Toni Aleo and I’m a total dork.
I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic.
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.
I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life… probably Belle.
… and did I mention I love hockey?
I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic.
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.
I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life… probably Belle.
… and did I mention I love hockey?
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