Category Archives: Contemp. Romance

Contemp. Romance, New Release, Part of a Series, Part of a Spin off series, Review, Uncategorized

#NewRelease, #Review, #Contemporary, Shouldn’t Have You (Fractured Connections Book 2) by Carrie Ann Ryan

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I’ve been many things in my life: daughter, friend, student, lover, wife…and now, widow. Getting past those labels and finding who I could be without them was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Then I became friends with Brendon Connolly. 
Every time I look at him, I see a past, I see a present, and I’m afraid if I look too hard, I’ll see a future.

~~~

I’ve known Harmony Wynham since before she got married. Before she lost everything. I didn’t know that one day she wouldn’t be just my friend but the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Only I don’t think that can happen. 
Not when every time she looks at me, she sees what she lost, and I can only see what I can’t overcome.
I love her, even though I shouldn’t. Somehow, we need to find a balance. 
Because if we don’t, walking away will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done—even if it’s the only thing I should do.
 I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book


Hope you have your tissues handy for this one folks because you will need them!  
Next up in our Fractured Connections group is Harmony and Brendon.
Harmony, at such a young age, has now  dealt with two huge losses; the sudden death of her husband and now the death of one of her best friends.  
Brendon and Harmony were friends in school, her husband was his business partner, and they are learning to be friends again.
Brendon is someone who did not have a great home life until Jack and Rose and even though he had a better life after those early years did a number on him.
Harmony has started dating again, much to her dismay, and is only happy with her dates when she talks to Brendon afterwards.
Brendon has secret feelings for Harmony but feels that he is not good enough for her for several reasons of which I will not go into because you gotta read the book!!! LOL!!! 
Both characters are very well written and makes you have tons of feelings for them.  I love the way they develop from friends to more than friends, its something for her that is just like “there you are, where have you been”. For him it was like “ I love her but she can do so much better,”  yes he had feeling for her but they didn’t come about until after the death of her husband
There is sooooo much to say about this book but I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone.  
Ryan has once again wrote a beautiful story grounded in real life.
If you know anything about Carrie Ann Ryan you know this one hit close to home, but as she says in the Author’s note this is not her story this is Harmony’s and I think  Harmony, Brendon and Moyer justice.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40183741-shouldn-t-have-you?ac=1&from_search=true


Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does. .

The Montgomery Ink World contains the following series, though each series is a stand alone and can be read in any order. Feel free to hop around:

The Montgomery Ink Series
The Gallagher Brothers Series
The Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Series
The Whiskey and Lies Series
The Fractured Connections Series
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series
The Less Than Series

Her Elements of Five Series is her Young Adult Romance series while her other series are all adult.

Her Talon Pack series is set in the same world as the Redwood Pack series, only 30 years later.

The Dante’s Circle, Holiday, Montana, and Branded Pack series are all individual series as well. (

https://www.facebook.com/CarrieAnnRyanAuthor

https://instagram.com/carrieannryanauthor/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5360266.Carrie_Ann_Ryan

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carrie-ann-ryan

Contemp. Romance, New Release, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR19 #NewRelease #Review – Sands of Time by H. D’Agostino

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Kaitlyn Hughes always wanted to run her own bakery. After attending culinary school in Paris, she began working under one of the best chefs in the business and fell in love. Life was perfect, or so she thought.
When her parents ask her to come home for the holidays, she decides to take a much-deserved vacation with support and encouragement of her boss.
Five years away does something to you. It messes with your memory and makes you believe that you don’t miss the things that you do. You don’t realize it until it’s too late.
When Kaitlyn unexpectedly runs into Eli Baker, the one she left behind, all bets are off. Promises are forgotten. What ifs roar to life, and what seemed like a dream soon becomes a nightmare.
Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? How much are you willing to give up for true love?

***Home for the Holidays is included in this book. This is the continuation of Eli and Kaitlyn’s story.***

Goodreads

Amazon

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Oh Eli!!  I have waited and waited for your book.  I loved getting to see the man whore FINALLY getting his girl.  Home for the Holidays was just a tease novella for me.

Kait and Eli have been through so much in the novella and now, the when the story picks up in this book, it just gets even harder for their HEA.  So many issues they have to deal with and overcome.

Kait and Eli need to rediscover who they once were and who they are now plus deal with the issues of her leaving and marrying another man.  Eli needs to tell Kait the truth about the man he was when she wasn’t around because those actions cause issue for them in the novel.

Eli makes huge grand gestures to prove to Kait he is the one for her and she is the one for him They both need to see the other for who the are and what they need to do to finally secure their happy life.

The epilogue made my heart happy. We get some loose ends tied up and more of the HEA is told.  It was a really sweet 2nd or even 3rd chance love story between soul mates.

 

Heather D’Agostino is an avid reader turned Bestselling Author of the Contemporary Romance Series The Broken Series, The Shattered Series, The Second Chances Series, The Cook Brothers Series, and Romantic Suspense series The Witness Series.

She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics.

She currently lives in Central New York with her husband, two children, two dogs, and three cats. When she’s not writing she can usually be found at the dance studio, soccer field, or one of the many other places that she plays ‘Supermom’.

 

Coming of Age, Contemp. Romance, NA, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR19 #ThrowbackReview #SeriesStarter #FreeKU #99P – Shattered, Shattered Book #1 by H. D’Agostino

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Shattered by Heather D'Agostino

Ever wonder what it’s like to have it all? Leah Carmichael didn’t. She had the world at her fingertips in the form of a dream. Everything thing she could ever want was in her grasp.

At what cost are you willing to have this life? Would you give up the life you have to pursue it? Your family? Friends? What about the one who holds your heart?

What if something comes along and takes it all away? Would you survive the devastation? What happens when you realize you gave up everything you had to have it all taken away in a moment? Will it leave you broken? Or will it shatter you?

Goodreads

I received this complementary copy from the author .

WOW!! and UGH!! The anxiety I felt over this couple was pretty thick and intense. Leah and Nick were childhood sweethearts. Nick gave up alot of option in his life to stay and be with Leah in hopes of them being together forever. Leah on the other hand, ran the first chance she had to train for the US Olympic team. Do you blame her? NO but she didnt think to talk to Nick before making the choices. She presumed her would just follow her…guess what? He didn’t.

Fast Forward 5 years and Leah’s life is a mess. She isn’t an Olympic athlete anymore, her mom is sick and she is back home….afraid of seeing HIM!! Well lemme tell ya when they see each other the chemistry was THICK and sizzling. I was glad Nick and Leah didn’t fight the attraction very long but sad that Leah kept pushing the amazing man away when she needed to lean on him during some tragedy….Sigh…have I mentioned Nick IS the perfect ALPHA MALE!!??

So all is going well when Nick gets the chance to move and make something big for THEM but all Leah sees is he is leaving her. I have to admit I loved her best friend Avery calling her out abouthow bad it sucks to be left behind…Karma right? Well Leah is ready to work on it with Nick and she ………………………………………oh snap you think I am gonna tell??? Heck no!! You gotta read this lettle gem yourself!! Trust me you will be a mess after.

Heather D’Agostino is an avid reader turned Bestselling Author of the Contemporary Romance Series The Broken Series, The Shattered Series, The Second Chances Series, The Cook Brothers Series, and Romantic Suspense series The Witness Series.

She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics.

She currently lives in Central New York with her husband, two children, two dogs, and three cats. When she’s not writing she can usually be found at the dance studio, soccer field, or one of the many other places that she plays ‘Supermom’.

You can follow her here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/H.DAgostino.Author

Twitter: @hdagostino001

Website: http://hdagostinobooks.weebly.com

Reader Group/ Street Team on Facebook:
Heather’s Hotties: https://www.facebook.com/groups/877863252256341/

Contemp. Romance, New Release

#NewRelease #review #Debut #NewAuthor- Getting Hot with the Scot (Sometimes in Love #1) by Melonie Johnson

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Getting Hot with the Scot (Sometimes in Love, #1)

“Playful, passionate, and positively unputdownable!”—New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren

IT’S TIME TO FLIRT WITH A MAN IN A KILT 

Cassie Crow, a pop-culture reporter for a TV talk show, is focused on becoming a “serious” journalist. But when she stumbles into a kilted Highlander with a killer accent, Cassie decides that taking one night off from work and spending it with a sexy Scot couldn’t hurt. . .

Logan Reid has built a career on his charm, hosting a series of off-the-wall hijinks on the Web. But when the Scottish prankster meets the all-American, equal parts intelligent and irresistible Cassie, Logan realizes that one night of fun won’t be enough. Could it be that this career-focused, commitment-phobic couple is finally ready to take a chance at true and lasting love?

“Witty, sexy, and oh-so-fun. . .Melonie Johnson is an addictive new voice in contemporary romance.” —New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker

Goodreads

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

I met this author at a book con.  She told me all about her soon to be releases so when I saw them available, I grabbed them.  I had no clue except she was absolutely friendly and kind to chat with.

Imagine my shock and delight when I see this book is about a hottie in a kilt….uhm YES PLEASE!!!

This story is super funny, sweet, and one that I am so happy to have grabbed of Netgalley.  I will say since this is the first book in the series, there was a bit of “world” building getting to know the characters and all that jazz but stick with it because the story is great!!

This story is about Cassie and a couple friends who take a trip.  All Cassie want is to have a wild one-night stand, but her box of condoms is still full……BOOO!!  Cassie soon finds herself sidetracked with a certain kilt wearing hottie named Logan.  Logan is all “full steam ahead” on helping her use as many condoms as possible before her trip is over.  *Snicker*

Cassie is a bit of a serious chick.  She so when Logan asks her to help him with some pranks she kinda flips out.   Relax girl!!  It’s all good!!  LOL

I enjoyed the story so much and can’t wait to read the next book I the series.

 

A Star Wars junkie and Shakespeare groupie who quotes both Yoda and the Bard with equal aplomb, award-winning author Melonie Johnson—aka #thewritinglush—is a two-time RWA Golden Heart® finalist who loves dark coffee, cheap wine, and expensive beer. And margaritas. And mimosas. And mules. Basically any cocktail that starts with the letter m. She met her future husband in that most romantic of places—the mall—when they were teenagers working in stores across the hall from each other. Today, they live happily ever after in the magical land midway between Chicago and Milwaukee with their two redhead daughters, a dog that’s more like a small horse, and a pair of hermit crabs. After earning her Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago, Melonie taught high school English and Theatre in the northern Chicago suburbs for several years. Now she writes smart and funny contemporary romance and moonlights as an audiobook narrator under the pseudonym, Evelyn Eibhlin.

Visit her at meloniejohnson.com and find her on Twitter and Instagram at @MelonieJohnson.

 

Contemp. Romance, Part of a Series, Writers on the River Attending Author

#AttendingAuthor #WOTR19 #SeriesStarter Forever Kinda Love-Clara Stone

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The day Carrigan lost her mother, she gained a new best friend. But she never expected the charming boy-next-door from the wealthy family to become anything other than her confidant and strength. Ten years later, Heath’s become exactly that—more.

But Ace can’t give in to her secret crush, can’t let herself feel what it’s like to be loved by him in return. Not when her entire future is at risk. Not when she houses an unexpected, deadly secret that could destroy it all.

The thing is, Heath Lovelly isn’t one to be kept in the dark. And shouldn’t you live life to the fullest, even as that life runs out?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43603271-forever-kinda-love?ac=1&from_search=true

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Kinda-Love-Interconnected-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B00MPVIJE6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2QBBIZMMEYW7R&keywords=clara+stone&qid=1554425813&s=gateway&sprefix=Clara+stone%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-4

When your 8 years old you never figured you will find your best friend in a hospital the day that tragedy struck her life. For Ace and Heath that is what happens fate brought them together and from that point on they were best friends, but when Heath released that his feelings for Ace are more then just as friends that when his life gets a litter more tricky. This is an amazing story of how fate will bring two people together and give them a hell of a ride.

Review by Twinsie Dee

 

Clara Stone writes YA/NA Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance stories and is a complete sucker for sweet, memorable kisses. She strongly believes that true love conquers EVERYTHING, along with a tub of Ice cream! 

When she isn’t reading or writing or dancing, much to the embarrassment of her husband and two kids, she’s probably watching Supernatural and The Walking Dead. So, if she sounds like your cup of syrup to your pancakes (or waffles… no favorites here), then give her a “Follow” to any number of social media kingdoms she’s built and stay updated of her upcoming releases, book sales, and book recommendations! 

 

Contemp. Romance, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Review, Sci Fi, Standalone, Sweet Romance, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR19 – #Review – Insure This by Shyla Colt

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Insure This

 

Overworked, unappreciated, and disenchanted, insurance agent Pepper Miller is stuck in a rut. When her manager offers her a challenging claim, an alien abduction case she needs to disprove in order to gain her dream job—complete with an office and a management title—she’s eager to rise to the occasion. Booking her trip to the tiny, southern town, she expects an easy win. What she finds is anything but that.
Lost time, handsome book shop owners, and the car rental from hell push her to reexamine her life. Alien abduction victim Orson Bussey is everything she could have wanted in a man. Too bad he’s off limits. As the universe itself pushes them together in a number of hilarious and cringe-worthy events, she’s forced to decide what’s truly important in life.

 

Goodreads

 

Fun, sassy, and quick read! Pepper is an insurance adjuster and she has just been told she needs to go to investigate an alien abduction claim. What the hell?! She thinks this is a hoax and believes she will be able to sweep this under the rug and get back home to a promotion. What she doesn’t expect is to find that her mark is the handsome bookstore owner, Orson. She is befriended by his grandfather, who has been abducted before too. She is invited to a meeting to discuss other “strange” happenings that could be alien related. As she spends more time in this small town and continues to run into Orson she can’t deny the pull between the two. This is such a funky, quick and quirky read that kept me smiling throughout the entire story. This is one that will keep you shaking your head with a wonderful HEA! Cute and Fun!!!

 

Amazon

 

Shyla Colt

Contemp. Romance, Friends to Lovers, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR19 #Throwback #Review – Until I Fall by Lyssa Layne

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  • Single mom Jordan Glastetter doesn’t know how she’d survive without her best friend, Abram Tomko. He’s the father her son never knew and he’s the rock she’s always leaned on. When Abram’s father suffers a heart attack, it’s Abram’s turn to depend on Jordan, finally seeing her as the woman she’s become and not the little girl he grew up with. Will they risk their friendship for a chance at love?

I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Oh man where do I begin!!?? Lyssa, sister!! Abram was such a hot mess in Robbie and Jordan’s book I was really wondering how you could fix him but fix him you sure did!
Jordan and Abram have known each other all their lives. Jordan falls in love and married Robbie who is Abram’s bestie/wing man. As soon as their life picks up and moves forward, Robbie is killed in the military. This story picks p 5 years after his death. Their story is the prequal to this story.
Jordan is a dedicated mom, rancher, friend and is slowly freaking out that the feelings she has for her best friend, Abram, are slipping into the “more than friends” category.
Abram has watched Jordan every day her entire life but when situations change, and he comes back after helping his sister, his eyes open to the woman she has become. He soon realizes he can’t live with out her in his life. PERIOD.
The couple are essentially raising her son as THEIR son. They are starting to realize there is a lot more going on then just best friends…which everyone else sees but they are both to dumb to see until their world is shook when Pop, Abram’s Father, has a heart attack. The thought of losing his pushes them both into re-evaluating things.
Now of course love can’t come easy with the two for them. They are dealing with her fears of finally moving on past her dead husband of 5 years. They are dealing with other people being interested in the pair plus the fear of what if this doesn’t work. There were times I wanted to smack Jordan upside the head and shake her senseless for thinking less of Abram’s feelings for her. Then toward the end of the story I was gonna nut check Abram for being such a jackass over something that happened with Jordan…sigh…but mainly I loved the journey these two take!!
Amazon
Goodreads

Lyssa Layne is first, and foremost, the proud momma to her precious daughter, AR. In addition to working full-time and being a mommy to AR, she is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, a runner, blogger, and an infertility survivor.

Having watched one too many medical dramas and being inspired by author Rachelle Ayala, who introduced her to the world of indie writing, Lyssa decided to try her hand at writing a romance story. Her attempt turned into the Burning Lovesick series. You can find Lyssa’s own interests throughout her stories although all stories are fictional.
Contemp. Romance, New Release

#Review #NewRelease – Repeat by Kylie Scott

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Repeat

From New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott comes an irresistible new romance.

When a vicious attack leaves 25-year-old Clementine Johns with no memory, she’s forced to start over. Now she has to figure out who she was and why she made the choices she did – which includes leaving the supposed love of her life, tattoo artist Ed Larsen, only a month before.

Ed can hardly believe it when his ex shows up at his tattoo parlor with no memory of their past, asking about the breakup that nearly destroyed him. The last thing he needs is more heartache, but he can’t seem to let her go again. Should they walk away for good, or does their love deserve a repeat performance?

Goodreads

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Wow! What a book!  I think as Kylie steps away from her Stage Dive series, more people are falling in love with her depth of writing and abilities.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved the series but seeing her write this and the others she has released since shows her amazing skills.  She is hitting different subject matters and knocking it out of the ball part.

This book is amazing in that you wonder how would you be able to deal with SEEING the person who destroyed you yet doesn’t remember?  Could you still hold that grudge?  Could you forgive and move past it with this “new person”?  I don’t know how I would react to be honest!!

This is what Ed is dealing with.  Clem was that person to him.  She was mugged causing amnesia so she forgot everything.  She can’t be left alone and so he comes to help her sister care for her.  He is having a difficult time because he hates her and loves her but is confused by what to do for THIS Clem.  This is not his Clem and yet it is!!!

What I loved was seeing the couple get on and over what happened in the past.  They are able to fall in love again but not really again because it’s a new Clem and a changed Ed.  It loved this 2nd chance love story.

New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author – Kylie is a long time fan of love stories, rock n roll, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia, she reads, writes, and never dithers around on the internet.

You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kyliescott.com/

 

Contemp. Romance, Novella, Review, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR19 – #Review – Meant to Be: a Perfect Fit short story by Alison Bliss

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Meant to Be: a Perfect Fit short story

 

Alison Bliss returns with a novella in her popular Perfect Fit series. These laugh-out-loud romantic comedies feature curvaceous heroines finding love and convincing us that confident and sexy comes in all shapes and sizes.

“Fans of Jennifer Weiner will enjoy Bliss.”
—Booklist

Sidney Larson always thought dark-haired, blue-eyed Brett Carmichael was sinfully sexy, to say nothing of the muscular mechanic’s talent with his hands. But Sidney so didn’t have time for Brett’s overbearing tendencies when they were together so she broke things off. Now a chance encounter brings Brett back into her life, and Sidney can’t help but notice intriguing changes in her ex. So what’s stopping her from revisiting their scorching-hot chemistry?

Since Sidney dumped him, Brett’s made major life adjustments, thanks to therapy and a long, hard look at himself. Sure, he’s still intense but he knows how to focus his energy on his career, not on trying to control a fantastic woman like Sidney. Brett finds the sweet, generous brunette more seductive than ever, but now that he’s finally worthy of her, will she be willing to give him a second chance?

 

Goodreads

 

Cute and hilarious quick read! I have not read the series but was able to appreciate the story completely. Brett and Sidney were in a relationship but Brett was very overbearing and Sidney had to break it off. Brett has been trying to work through his “issues” and has a business proposition come up that could be really good for him. On his way he “runs” into Sidney and he feels the sparks fly….but so does she. It has been almost a year and they have gone to great lengths to avoid each other. As they story goes on they get to know each other again and realize that love is love and maybe they were meant to be. The story is cute and lovely. It’s very relate-able to its readers and if you give it a try you won’t be able to help but love them.

 

Amazon

BookBub

 

Alison Bliss

Alison Bliss is a best-selling, award-winning author of humorous, contemporary romances. A born and raised Texan, she currently resides in the Midwest with her husband, two kids, and their dogs. As the youngest of five girls, she has never turned down a challenge or been called by the right name. Alison believes the best way to find out if someone is your soul mate is by canoeing with them because if you both make it back alive, it’s obviously meant to be. She writes the type of books she loves to read most: fun, steamy love stories with heart, heat, and laughter. Something she likes to call, “Romance…with a sense of humor.”

To learn more about Alison Bliss, visit her website at www.AuthorAlisonBliss.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter to keep up with her latest book news or connect with her on social media.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/AuthorAlisonBliss
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AlisonBliss2
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/AlisonBliss
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/AlisonBliss2
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AlisonBliss

 

 

Contemp. Romance, New Release, Novella, Part of a Series, Review

#NewRelease #Review #MontgomeryInk Inked By Numbers: A Colorado Springs Bonus Romance by Carrie Ann Ryan

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Kaylee knows art, friendship, and love. And because she’s known love, she wants nothing to do with it ever again. She likes her life just the way it is. Her art and her Brushes with Lushes classes keep her sane and happy.

Landon spends his days with numbers and financial spreadsheets. At night, he just wants to relax, but the only way he can do that is with a woman. But these days, not just any woman will do.

Kaylee and Landon do an excellent job of dancing around each other, but no matter how much desire burns between them or their own personal hang-ups, they’ll need to make a choice: life as they know it, or a life that could be so much more.

 I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book

Ok my friends, for those of you who don’t know Kaylee and Landon have been circling around each other for a year.  They’re friends and have helped the Colorado Springs gang get their head together when need be and this little story gives us the why on the circling.  It is a sweet and lovely story of two friends realizing the relationship they thought they didn’t want, they truly did and didn’t consciously know it.

You also get to see a bit of their family life and learn what makes them ticked.  The artist and the money man, you wouldn’t think that they’d fit together but they truly do and it’s beautiful to see.  It’s a beautiful thing when two friends find love, its even more beautiful when they find it with each other.

Goodreads

Amazon

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

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