KISS ME books

Monday, August 19, 2019

The Body Painter by Pepper Winters

The Body Painter (Master of Trickery Duet, #1)

Pepper Winter’s The Body Painter tells a story of two people who were always meant to be together but are torn apart by difficult circumstances and secrets. I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting for this book. I enjoyed the story, even when the characters made me want to pull my hair out. I’m sure that fans of dark romance will most likely devour this book. The concept was unique and one that I have never seen done before. You don’t get a lot of stories where the hero is a tortured artist! Although I did like the book, there were parts of it that frustrated me.

"No words could describe our strange bond. No common sense could understand why I felt the way I did about him but wanted him to use me so completely."

Olin and Gil’s relationship felt off at times even though Pepper did a great job building up their past. I had a hard time understanding Gil’s motives and his treatment of Olin. He claims that he acted a certain way because he wanted to protect her and yet his cruel words and actions say otherwise. Yes, there were times I wanted to slap or punch him! I wanted Olin to stand up for herself and leave Gil. No woman deserved to be treated this way, soulmates or not. Their first time together was heartbreaking and I didn’t think it was romantic, which made me sad. Olin’s determination to save Gil, while admirable, confused me because she was barely keeping afloat in her own personal life.

I smiled even though my heart felt like shattering. "We're friends, too... even if you'd rather not be."

"You can't be friends with someone who doesn't deserve it... I don't deserve you, O. And you don't deserve to suffer. You need to leave. You need to obey because it's the only way I can keep you safe. Leave and never come back.... Promise me.

Nevertheless, there is no denying Olin and Gil both have an interesting and truly tragic backstory. I would love to know more about Olin’s dreams and her desires after her fatal accident. I want to see her move on and be happy—whether it's with Gil or not. I want to see Gil himself be happy instead of tortured and cruel. Gil is an intense and deeply dark character who is hiding some major secrets. I’m definitely interested in seeing how this story will end.

* This ARC was generously provided Pepper Winters for an honest review. *

Rating: ★★★★☆

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Release Blitz: The Body Painter by Pepper Winters

It’s LIVE! A brand new romance from Pepper Winters is AVAILABLE NOW!

Want a tortured hero? Want chapters oozing with chemistry? Want enough frustration to throw your kindle? Meet Gilbert Clark in THE BODY PAINTER.

He’s guaranteed to drive you nuts, make you swoon, and you’ll probably want to slap him.

The Body Painter (Master of Trickery #1) by Pepper Winters

Release Date: August 20, 2019

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2YWaNCT

iBooks: https://apple.co/2Hg3Gt6

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2VtSlj4

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Jfilbg

Nook: http://bit.ly/30nG66r

Goodreads: Here

“Must be slim, able to stand for long periods of time, and be impervious to the cold.”

The headline caught my attention.

“Hours are negotiable, pay is minimal, clothing absolutely forbidden.”

The second line piqued my curiosity.

“Able to hold your bladder and tongue, refrain from opinions or suggestions, and be the perfect living canvas.”

The third made me scowl.

“Other attributes required: non-ticklish, contortionist, and obedient. Must also enjoy being studied while naked in a crowd.”

The fourth made me shudder.

“Call or email ‘YOUR SKIN, HIS CANVAS’ if interested in applying.”

The final made my heart race. I should’ve kept scrolling past the advertisement. I should’ve applied for the boring receptionist job at minimum wage. I should’ve clicked on any other job where I got to keep my clothes on. But I didn’t. I applied. My interview is tomorrow…

Pepper Winters

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author

Author of Bestselling Titles: Monsters in the Dark Trilogy, Indebted Series, Pure Corruption Duology, Unseen Messages, Destroyed, Can't Touch This, Dollar Series, & Truth and Lies Duet, Ribbon Duet.

Ribbon Duet: The Boy & His Ribbon / The Girl & Her Ren

Dollar Series: Pennies / Dollars / Hundreds / Thousands / Millions

Monsters in the Dark: Tears of Tess | Quintessentially Q | Twisted Together | Je Suis a Toi

Destroyed

Standalone: Unseen Messages

Pure Corruption Series: Ruin & Rule | Sin & Suffer

Standalone: Can't Touch This

Truth & Lies Duet: Crown of Lies | Throne of Truth

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Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Blog Tour: Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans

Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans

Release Date: July 23, 2019

Million Dollar Marriage, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Katy Evans.

If someone had bet Nell a million dollars that she would be saying “I do” to a complete stranger on national television, she’d have called them crazy, but with her crushing student loan payments sending her deep into the red, she’s out of options. This should be nothing more than a business transaction—until she sets eyes on her groom, and everything changes.

The game is on the instant Luke spots Penelope “Nell” Carpenter. He’s out for the money, yes, but getting a little dirty with Nell doesn’t sound too bad either. Everyone knows he’s not the marrying kind, so it’s a good thing it’s just for show. God knows he’s the worst guy his pretty wife should pick for real.

They have nothing in common, but if they want the grand prize, they’ll have to beat out eight other couples. Proving that total opposites attract should be easy enough…as long as they don’t fall in love in the process.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2GSkbNv

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/MillionDollarMarriage

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2WTkFfm

Excerpt:

I’m going to lose my lunch. It’s the live finale the entire country has been waiting for. The arena is packed to the gills with reporters, cameras pointed at us. Flashbulbs go off, and my future seems to flash through my eyes with them. Everything depends on what will happen in the next hour. We could give our answer in a split second, but not now. I know the announcer will drag things out to the point of sheer madness. Recaps of poignant moments from the season, interviews with contestants, performances by “special celebrity guests” who are also fans of the show. It’s all meant to build up to the moment of truth. Every one of the people in this arena, every one of the thirteen million people watching at home—they’re all waiting on the edge of their seats with the same question. Will they . . . or won’t they? I wish to god we could just give our answer and be done. He’s so close, but he might as well be a million miles away. Our fingers entwined, he waves at the crowd cheering our names. His hand isn’t the least bit clammy. I manage a peek at him, his chiseled features, his relaxed smile, and my throat catches. No wonder the world is in love with him. No wonder he’s been the fan favorite since week one. This is it. The end. Or . . . I look over at him and say, “Luke . . . I’m not . . .” He shakes his head almost imperceptibly. “It’s okay,” he murmurs, his fingers stroking my palm. “Breathe, Penny. Just breathe.” So I do. But air is not the only thing I need to make me okay right now. We’ve been through so much, more than most couples will go through in entire lifetimes. And now we’re about to make the decision that will shape our future. To think, seven months ago, I didn’t even know Luke Cross. Three months ago, I despised him. But somewhere along the line, things changed. Somewhere along this crazy little adventure we’ve been having, played out on television for the entire world to see, I did what I told myself I’d never do. I don’t even know how it happened, but as I look back, it seems so inevitable. Like I couldn’t have stopped it, even if I’d tried. But just because it was meant to happen doesn’t mean it will last forever . . .

About Katy:

Katy Evans is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her debut REAL shot to the top of the bestselling lists in 2013 and since then 9 of her titles have been New York Times bestsellers. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages across the world.

Connect with Katy:

Email: katyevansauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansFB

Twitter: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansTW

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansGR

Instagram: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansIG

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansBB

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KpY9nR

Website: http://www.katyevans.net/

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/KatyEvansNews

Million Dollar Marriage by Katy Evans

Million Dollar Marriage (Million Dollar, #2)

Katy Evans' Million Dollar Marriage features Luke who we previously met in Million Dollar Devil and his heroine Penelope Carpenter or "Nell." If you love shows like The Bachelor and/or The Amazing Race, this book might be something up your alley. I enjoyed this one but it certainly wasn't my favorite. For those of you who have read Lizzy and James' book, Nell makes Lizzy look an angel in comparison. And oh boy, was Lizzy pretentious but at least she felt more compassionate towards James. Luke and Nell, on the other hand, have absolutely nothing in common except for their circumstances which prompted them to be on the show. Not only was she judgmental towards Luke and called him a "thug," I had issues with her personality and attitude. She simply wasn't nice or cooperative towards her "husband." And yes, they had to get married in this reality show.

Initially, I sympathized with Nell because of her wallflower status, book smart/intelligence, anti-social awkwardness, and quirky behavior but as the book progressed, I saw another side to her and it wasn't pretty. Similar to Lizzy, Nell was pretentious and frequently looked down on other people -- including Luke. At times, I questioned why Luke would ever be interested or attracted to her because they were polar opposites. As for Luke, I really liked his character -- even if he did seem like a jock with more muscles than brains most of the time. I couldn't help but think he was very different from the Luke we met in Million Dollar Devil who was quiet, serious, and protective of his friends. Anyway, it was really hard to see the "love" between Nell and Luke, especially one that would warrant them to pursue a relationship with each other after the show was over. Most of the time, it felt more like lust.

Nevertheless, I did really like the adventure and reality show aspect of this book. It was unique and I liked the fact that Nell and Luke were complete strangers and had to work together despite being very different from each other to win the game. Some parts were really funny like the time Nell was strapped in front of Luke and they had to go through a maze together while being chased by a "ghost." In the end, I did enjoy this book and if you're looking for a fast-paced book featuring characters that are complete opposites in a reality show type of setting then this book is for you!

* This ARC was generously provided Social Butterfly PR and Katy Evans for an honest review. *

Rating: ★★★☆☆