Friday, July 25, 2025

Book Blitz with Excerpt + Giveaway: Wicked Ambition: The Lost Treasure by Patti O'Shea @XpressoTours

Wicked Ambition: The Lost Treasure by Patti O'Shea
Series: The Paladin League #7
Publication date: July 21st, 2025

Synopsis:
Ayla Desmond never takes risks, but when she senses her twin is in trouble, she boards a plane to Puerto Jardin--a country teetering on the edge of chaos. As a Public Relations specialist at the Paladin League, she's used to spin, not bullets. But this mission plunges her into a deadly game where trust is scarce and danger is everywhere.

Special Forces Sgt. Oziah "Wizard" West is the king of one-night stands, but he hasn't been able to forget the last woman he hooked up with, a mysterious blonde who slipped away from his hotel room. When she spots her in Puerto Jardin, he knows there will be trouble. Oz rushes to her side, determined to keep her safe.

Ayla wants nothing to do with Oz. He's a mistake she'd rather forget, but circumstances force them together. Surrounded by mercenaries and stalked by mobsters who believe she holds the key to a hidden treasure, she has no choice but to rely on the enigmatic stranger who ignited her passion. As danger escalates, so do their feelings, and then a positive pregnancy test changes everything.

Now, Oz risks not only his heart but also his life to protect Ayla and their unborn child. Can they survive the treacherous game they're caught in, or will their love become the ultimate casualty?

Wicked Ambition is a stand-alone romance with a HEA. There are references to events that happened in earlier books, but it's not necessary to read them to enjoy this story.

Indulge in a protective Special Forces hero and a heroine who is a fish-out-of-water, but will do whatever it takes to save her sister. This romantic suspense story features a one-night stand, an unexpected pregnancy, and a second chance romance.


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Excerpt
Gripping her suitcase handle tighter, she did as her rescuer instructed.

She was the practical twin. Everyone told her that. The smartest thing to do was to follow orders. The relief she felt when she had him between her and the gang was intense, and she had to blink back tears again. They might not be out of trouble yet, but she couldn't dismiss the sense of safety that filled her, knowing she had his protection.

It wasn't his size, although he was big. A few inches over six feet with broad shoulders and lots of muscle. A lot of muscle. He seemed like a bulwark against danger. No, what had her feeling secure was she knew she could trust him.

She already had once before.

Ayla waited for him to tell her they were leaving, but it didn't come. She peeked around his big body. If they tried to walk away, those men would be on them before they made it to the other side of the street. Terror returned. What could one man do against a dozen?

Her protector spoke in a lazy, bored voice. "Do you really want to start a war? The city is filled with mercs with nothing to do. You attack me or my wife, and they suddenly have revenge to keep them occupied. Mercenaries don't allow anyone to take out one of their own."

It took a few seconds for her to translate his Spanish into English, but Ayla must have gotten something wrong. Mercenaries?

"Do you think we're afraid of a mercenary?" one of the gang sneered.

"One? No, but you won't be facing one. You'll be facing dozens."

"They care only for money, not for friendship."

Her protector shrugged. "You know better. Allowing an attack to go unchallenged puts more mercenaries at risk. The answer will be swift and brutal retaliation. You and the rest of your buddies won't live to see mass on Sunday."

Division brewed among the gang members.

The camouflage pants and shirt her rescuer was wearing finally registered. She'd been focused on the guns when she'd rushed toward him, but if she remembered correctly, he'd been wearing the shirt open over an olive green T-shirt. Military attire. Mercenary attire?

He couldn't be a mercenary. He must be claiming to be one to get them safely out of here. That had to be what was happening.

There was more muttering from the gang, and Ayla leaned to check out what was going on. One man was murmuring to the leader. She couldn't make out the words, but the scowl suggested the asshat in charge didn't like the message. More rumbling and then a sharp nod.

"Killing you isn't worth the effort, not for some scrawny woman."

Ayla stiffened. Scrawny? She went to the gym every day. She could do half an hour on the elliptical while scrolling on her phone. That leader wouldn't be able to do that.

The gang started breaking up, leaving in smaller groups of two or three. They remained standing in the street until the leader finally walked away. He was the last one.

"Let's go, chicken woman," her rescuer said.

Her brows went up. "Chicken woman?"

"That's what the dude called you." His lips quirked.

"I thought he said scrawny."

That got her a shrug. "Either way, we need to move in case he changes his mind and returns with reinforcements. Come on, Pollita." He holstered his guns.

"Little chicken?"

He moved her hand off the telescoping handle of her suitcase, lowered it, and then reached for the grip. Lifting her bag, he headed across the street toward a cafe. Ayla followed him, not willing to give up the safety his presence gave her. "Little chicken?"

"Relax, I know you're not a scrawny chicken woman. I remember everything that that night."


PATTI O'SHEA's passions are writing, airplanes and traveling. Fortunately, she's been able to enjoy all three. After receiving a degree in advertising copywriting, she took a job with a major U.S. airline and now works in 757 Engineering. Besides teaching her about the planes she loves, it's given her an opportunity to travel to places like Australia, Papua New Guinea and Canada's Yukon Territory.

Writing, though, remains her primary love. Patti created her first romance when she was in junior high school and has been hooked ever since. She should have figured out she was a writer years earlier, however, since her dolls had such involved lives, complete with goals, motivation and conflict.







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Thursday, July 24, 2025

Review: Dolly by Measha Stone

Dolly by Measha Stone
Publication date: March 17th, 2020
Pages: 238
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:
He's promised me sunlight.
Hope for a better future.
Freedom from this horror.
A life that doesn't end in a dark cellar.

But we're trapped together.
Forced to live for the worst kind of people.
Desperate to survive for each other.

I crave his touch with every breath I take.
My heart aches for him.
He's my hope for survival.
The man I want a future with.
I can have it all again, if only I trust him.
Even if that's the only thing I can't do.


Available at:



Review:
There are some situations when going into a book blind can seriously make you wonder about the level of your sanity. I found this book on TikTok in a recommendations video for pitch black romance. That is all I knew going into it. I chose to keep the mystery alive so that I could judge the book from simply what was written on the pages and not whatever intriguing synopsis may be thrown out there to entice others in. I was not prepared for this book. I have learned to be able to stomach a whole lot of terrible stuff when reading books that tend to push the boundaries of the normal romance reader. This one obliterates that line in the sand and creates a jaggedly sharp macabre story of human trafficking, child abuse, and vigilante justice and I am unsure how I feel about it.

Dolly was a beaten down and broken plaything that was ready to give up at any moment until her Kendoll arrived. She found her strength through him because he never stopped fighting. This girl was so afraid of going against her captive's wishes that even with the taste of freedom she couldn't stomach her own name. She remained Dolly. And Ken remained Ken out of affection for her. I never would have pictured Ken turning out the way he did with what I read from his introduction into the story. He surprised me and it was nice to see he was a little bit nutty just like Dolly. They complimented each other well.

The drawbacks of the story were how simple everything seemed. Don't get me wrong, I was concocting all manner of theories running through the book trying to solve the puzzle before the main characters did. All of my bright ideas seemed to not be what the author chose. Instead it felt very generic. Of course, it was incredibly sad what was happening in his trafficking circle but it felt the big mystery that was touched on throughout the book was nothing more than the obvious answer that it arrived at. I was disappointed that the plot was so anticlimactic. Add in the copious grammar and spelling errors I ran into and it was a tough one for me to sit back and say, "yeah, I'm glad I read that." Instead I say, "eh, I didn't hate it." Not enough to avoid the author's other work at the very least. I would have just liked a bit more of the plot and a little less of the cheap shock value ploys when it came to the violent and sexual scenes.



Sunday, July 20, 2025

Release Blitz: Heartstrings Unplugged by Adina D. Grey @GreyAdina @EJBookPromos

Heartstrings Unplugged by Adina D. Grey
Series: Darkest Symphony Rock Band #5
Publication date: July 18th, 2025
Cover Designer: Taylor Dawn from Sweet 15 Design

Synopsis:
Charles's guitar is his constant, the one thing that's never let him down--unlike love. His music is his refuge, but every strum of the strings is a bittersweet reminder of how Jennifer left him in the dust. He's all about the rockstar life until a single, life-altering phone call brings back all the fear and pain he's tried to mute. A secret revealed, pure and life-changing, threatens to upend his world. Fatherhood is the last encore he ever expected, and Charlie's not sure he's ready for the spotlight it brings.

Chloe's got her eyes set on the future, LA is the canvas for her dreams, and she's coloring it with hard work and college victories. But her gig managing a rock band's frontman adds an unexpected shade to her plan, especially when Charlie, steps into the picture. He's the embodiment of every melody she's ever loved, and when he needs help, Chloe's there with open arms--and a heart that's all in. Yet, in the shadows of their growing connection, she harbors a truth that eats at her. Time is ticking, and her secret could shatter everything. Will Chloe's revelation be the chord that harmonizes their lives, or will it be the note that silences their song?


Available at:



ADINA D. GREY is a USA Today and International Bestselling author. She was born and raised in Italy, it's no surprise she has a huge addiction to coffee, dogs, and books.

Her book addiction and passion for travelling led her into the creative world of words where she writes, blogs, and beta reads. Her writing covers various sub genres and tropes but she's a sucker for a HEA, this is a cliffhanger free zone, or maybe not.

When she's not writing or reading you can find her entertaining her toddler and husband, and enjoying family life.

Make sure to follow her on her socials to stay up to date with all her projects.



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Saturday, July 19, 2025

Book Blitz with Excerpt + Teasers + Giveaway: The Forged Empire by Samantha Gillespie @XpressoTours

The Forged Empire by Samantha Gillespie
Series: The Kingdom Within #3
Publication date: July 15th, 2025

Synopsis:
She married a prince. She loved a soldier.
Now she must decide what she's willing to sacrifice to save them all.

As the specter of war looms, Meredith Ethan, and Connor are thrust into a final, desperate struggle for freedom. With Stonefall reclaimed and the plague's grip finally broken, they must now race to forge new alliances before Theros--the ruthless King of Talos--brings his twisted vision of an empire to life.

But Theros's ambitions run deeper than conquest--and Meredith is at the heart of his plans.

As betrayals mount and loyalties are tested, she finds herself caught between the prince she married and the soldier she never forgot.

And beneath the weight of destiny, Meredith must decide who she truly is: a queen who must learn to believe in her own strength... or a pawn in a game she can no longer control.

In a war where survival means sacrifice, the price of freedom may be everything.

The final battle is here. And only one legacy will endure.


Available at:


Excerpt
A tremor starts in my hands again, subtle but insistent. I clench my fists, willing it to stop.

"My lady?" Anabella appears near the foot of the staircase, her wide eyes fixed on me, worry plain in her gaze.

My pulse pounds harder in my ears, and the air feels thick, suffocating. A bead of sweat traces a line down my temple, and I lift a trembling hand to brush it away. The motion betrays me. My uncle's eyes narrow, alarm darkening his expression.

"You're quite pale," he remarks, his voice softer now but no less authoritative. "Sit down before you fall."

"I'm fine," I say, gritting my teeth. "It's just a dizzy spell--"

The room wavers, and a sharp pain lances through my temple. I dig my nails into the carved wood of a nearby table, struggling to stay upright. Voices fade into a muffled roar behind the pounding in my ears. My legs threaten to buckle, yet I take a step forward... feeling as if the crown itself is dragging me down.

"Meredith!" Anabella cries out, her fear breaking through decorum. She rushes forward, but someone stops her--a hand grabbing her arm, likely my uncle's.

"No one is to approach her!" The command explodes from my uncle's throat like a war cry, freezing everyone mid-step. "She was inoculated this morning--she could be infected!"

Infected.

Understanding dawns like poison spreading through my veins. They think the inoculation failed. They think I'm a walking plague, a vector of death.

Am I?

My knees buckle as the implications cascade through my mind. The room warps and tilts, faces stretching into grotesque masks of fear and revulsion.

"Please, let me help her!" Anabella's voice cracks with desperation, cutting through the growing pandemonium. "She's fainting--she needs--"

My uncle stops her. "Stay where you are, woman, or I'll have you restrained!"

I struggle to form reassurances, denials, anything. But my tongue lies thick and useless in my mouth. The marble floor begins its inexorable rise to meet me, my legs folding like paper beneath my weight. Colors bleed together, the world smearing into an impressionist nightmare.

"Get the physician! Now!" My uncle's bellow seems to come from very far away, echoing down a tunnel of gathering darkness.

I'm falling--but suddenly strong arms encircle me, crushing me against a chest that thunders with someone else's racing heartbeat. The scent of leather and pine fills my fading senses, achingly familiar.

"Get away from her!" the duke roars. "You fool--you're putting yourself at risk! Guards, pull him back!" 

"Try it." Connor's voice is a low growl. "See what happens."

The threat hangs in the air, electric with promise. Even through my fading consciousness, I feel the tension ratchet higher, guards hesitating as the challenge in his tone.

Through the narrow slits of my barely-open eyes, I see Connor's face swimming above me, those midnight-blue eyes fierce with determination. His jaw is set in stone, daring anyone to test him. His lips move urgently, forming words that reach me only as distant whispers, lost in the roaring tide of unconsciousness. 

The last thing I register is his arms tightening around me, unyielding as iron, before the darkness swallows me whole.





SAMANTHA GILLESPIE writes the kind of romantasy novels she loves to read: stories packed with forbidden love, slow-burn tension, and just enough angst to keep you up way past your bedtime.

She lives in Houston with her husband and their ever-expanding menagerie--cats who've crowned themselves royalty, a dog with strong opinions about the weather, and chickens whose sole mission is acquiring treats and destroying the yard. When she's not breaking hearts through fiction, she thrives on copious amounts of coffee, sharp wit, and the delicious tears of her devoted readers.







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