Blog Tour: Search for Harmony by Kelly Elliott

From New York Times bestselling author Kelly Elliott comes the gut-wrenching story of a love that transcends all odds—and transforms the deepest pain into the brightest hope.

Firefighter and first responder Preston Ward thought he had grown immune to the job’s emotional burns. But when he goes out on a particularly tragic call, he realizes that some scenes are too devastating to forget. And yet, if it weren’t for that terrible night, he never would have met the woman who makes him want to risk his heart.

More than once, Harmony Banks has watched her perfectly ordered world torn apart by fate. Now she’s finding out that what she lost wasn’t as perfect as she thought—and it’s tearing her apart. The only thing that keeps her going is the kindness of a stranger: the firefighter who saved her life the night everything changed.

Preston isn’t like the men who have come before. For one thing, he’s far more genuine. And the love Harmony feels growing between them is almost too intense for her wounded soul. But if she and Preston can push past heartbreak, they’ll find that something incredible awaits in each other’s arms.

Searching for Harmony is available for purchase:

So this book starts in an absolutely heartbreaking way. I wasn't sure what direction this was going but it started off really sad. At first I wasn't so sure about Preston or Harmony. I felt like they got together really fast all things considered...but then the story developed, as did the characters. Harmony has been through so much more than someone should have at her age. She's been put through the wringer more than anyone should be. Preston, at first, just seems like a lost soul. He's in a relationship that isn't doing much for him, yet he sticks around out of habit. I actually questioned his character in the beginning of the book. At times, it felt like there was too much emphasis put on how horrible Harmony's parents were and how bitchy Sherry was to Preston. I think the author could have focussed more on Preston and Harmony in that regards. That all being said, the more everything developed, the more I could see that, really, truly, Preston and Harmony helped each other heal and move on in their own way. Their bittersweet story somewhat makes up for the mass amounts of angst and drama that the cast of supporting characters brings to the table. 

Excerpt

“Hey, Harmony! How is it going?”

Spinning around, I plastered a fake smile on my face. I was so exhausted. Even attempting to act happy was a feat in itself.

Mitchel walked up and his smile faded the moment he looked into my eyes. “Hey, Mitchel. Is um . . . is Preston working today?”

Mitchel’s face tightened as he looked at me. “Are you okay, Harmony?”

My eyes stung with the threat of tears. Nothing had been okay since three weeks ago when Preston walked out of my condo after holding me all night long. Or the look on his face when he saw me with my boss at that restaurant.

“I just need to talk to—” my voice cracked and I hated how vulnerable I was feeling. So tired. I’m just so tired.

“Harmony?”

Closing my eyes, I let his voice penetrate my body before opening them again and seeing him. 

Preston.

Mitchel stepped out of the way and Preston stood there in front of me. Pressing my lips together tightly, I fought like hell not to be attracted to him. His brown hair was a mess and I could guess why. He couldn’t keep his damn hands out of his hair. His eyes looked so tired and sad. It was as if I was looking into a mirror.

Without saying a word, I walked up to him and threw myself into his body. Preston’s arms quickly wrapped me up and I felt like I could breathe for the first time in weeks.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

My body sagged as he held me up. Hearing him call me baby was more than I could take. I wasn’t sure how long I could keep fighting the intense pull Preston had on me.

“Preston,” I sobbed into his chest.

Pulling back, Preston placed his hands on the sides of my face and brushed his thumbs across my cheeks. “Harmony, what happened?” Preston’s chest was heaving and my heart felt full knowing he was so concerned about me.

“I . . . need . . . you. This is crazy . . . but I need—” My voice cracked and I buried my face into his chest as I said, “Preston, please take me home. Please.”

Not two seconds later I was in his arms as he carried me to his car. Setting me down, I dropped my head back against his seat. I didn’t dare look at him for fear I would spill my heart out about my feelings for him.

No. I just need to sleep. Then I can think clearly.

Hot breath touched my neck as I sucked in a breath of air. “Harmony, I need to grab my stuff. I’ll be right back, baby.”

Nodding, I tried to memorize the sound of my name coming off his lips.

About the Author

 Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings. Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Without You, and Unconditional Love, to name just a few.

Kelly has been passionate about writing since she was fifteen. After years of filling journals with stories, she finally followed her dream and published her first novel, Wanted, in November of 2012.

Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family. She is down to earth and very in touch with her readers, both on social media and at signings.

To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.

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Release Day Launch: Love's Learning Curve by Felicia Lynn

College, for most girls, comes with a rite of passage to make mistakes, to live fearlessly, and to experience the real world while not under a microscope. Most girls don’t have to worry about having their every move scrutinized, criticized, and worst of all, publicized. As the only child of the governor of South Carolina and potential US Presidential candidate, Charlotte Maryland Baker is not granted the luxury of the typical college experience.

Tyler Stone lives for baseball and everything that comes with it. The only place he feels he matters is on the pitching mound, and his stats prove he’s an exceptional player. Without the distraction of dating or making friends, he can concentrate on the one thing that makes him feel complete – Baseball.

Opposites attract, or so they say, but what WILL happen when these two opposites collide?

Love's Learning Curve is available for purchase:

About the Author

Felicia Lynn, author of The Heartstrings Series, is a transplanted Florida girl, born and raised, who lives just north of Atlanta, GA. She spends most of her days holed up in a cozy chair with her laptop, writing about the characters that live in her head. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her hanging out with her family and friends or interacting with her readers and fellow book lovers on social media! She loves traveling, reading, live music, baseball, good food and great company.

Felicia writes contemporary romance and co-wrote The List, a mystery/suspense book she collaborated on with professional poker player, Chris Bell. Look for more to come from those two soon.

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Blog Tour: Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst

Hot on the heels of her beloved Marriage to a Billionaire novels, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst nails it with the first in an all-new sexy romance series featuring red-hot contractor siblings who give the Property Brothers a run for their money!

Ever the responsible eldest brother, Caleb Pierce started working for his father’s luxury contracting business at a young age, dreaming of one day sitting in the boss’s chair. But his father’s will throws a wrench in his plans by stipulating that Caleb share control of the family business with his two estranged brothers.

Things only get more complicated when demanding high-end home designer Morgan hires Caleb to build her a customized dream house that matches her specifications to a T—or she’ll use her powerful connections to poison the Pierce brothers’ reputation. Not one to ignore a challenge, Caleb vows to get the job done—if only he can stop getting distracted by his new client’s perfect…amenities.

But there’s more to icy Morgan than meets the eye. And Caleb’s not the only one who knows how to use a stud-finder. In fact, Morgan is pretty sure she’s found hers—and he looks quite enticing in a hard hat. As sparks fly between Morgan and Caleb despite his best intentions not to mix business and pleasure, will she finally warm up and help him lay the foundation for everlasting love?

Everywhere and Every Way is available for purchase:

Having read a couple of other series by Jennifer Probst, I was excited to start this new one by her. Boy, Jennifer does not disappoint. In an all encompassing statement: Everywhere and Every Way delivers the same intricate and beautiful storytelling I've come to expect from Jennifer. The characters are well developed, an entire web of secondary characters (ones I expect will play a larger role in later books) is introduced. The storyline isn't very superficial, there are many layers to both Caleb and Morgan's stories. As their stories unfolded, I found myself feeling more and more for Caleb. Morgan, I've got an on-again/off-again love for!

This first book sets up the rest of the series with one hell of a wrench--Caleb Pierce's dad passes away and has stipulated in his will that Caleb is to work with his two estranged brothers for a year (and turn a profit!) or lose everything he's worked for. Yep. How's that for some conflict? Enter Morgan, a project manager/interior designer to the celebrity world. She pulls some dirty moves to secure the Pierce Brothers to work on her newest contract. Needless to say, the tension lays the ground for some awesome chemistry between Caleb and Morgan as they work hand in hand for six months to deliver the best of both their abilities. If you're looking for a book chalk full of chemistry, emotion and heart-warming moments, you'll really enjoy Everywhere and Every Way. I can't wait for the rest of the series (ie Dalton and Tristan's stories)!!

About the Author

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

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Cowboy Resurrection by Mia Hopkins

Ball-busting businesswoman meets no-holds-barred cowboy. He’s gonna need a longer rope.

Marketing hotshot Monica Kaur has put her big-city life on hold to help bail out her brother’s failing business. Now she’s got three months to plan and promote a rodeo, the first her tiny hometown has ever seen.

To ensure the rodeo’s success, Monica enlists a local hero, a rancher’s son who’s made a name for himself on the bull-riding circuit. Problem? She can’t stop daydreaming about the cocky bastard—and all the things she longs to do to him out behind the chutes.

Professional bullfighter Dean MacKinnon is home helping his family while his father fights cancer. Haunted by bad memories, jaded by love, Dean finds escape in a no-strings-attached go-round with brainy, sexy Monica, whose close-knit Sikh-American family would sooner run him out of town than see her with a notorious rodeo romeo.

In private, Monica and Dean play as hard as they work. But as the rodeo draws near, that clean break they promised each other is getting more and more hung up in the rigging.

Warning: Contains rope play, motel nooners, a blue-eyed charmer with a taste for kink, and a brown-eyed princess with a taste for cowboys.

I got suckered in by the promise of hot tale of angsty cowboy. There was definitely one of those but Monica and Dean didn't do too much for me. Maybe because there was very little backstory and connection between the two. They seemed to meet when Monica comes home to plan a rodeo in her hometown, and then jump into bed together (too) soon after they meet. It follows a similar pattern to the first book in Hopkins' Cowboy Cocktail series. So there's a lot of sex, all different sorts and all the places you can think of but the romantic intensity is a  bit lacking for me since there's little rapport to be built with either character. The issue of interracial relations is a big theme of the book but I found that it was identified and then solved without much conflict. It gave the book a bit of depth but I think it could have been woven in a bit better.