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Make It Sweet by Kristen Callihan is now live!

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Callihan comes a charming, emotional romance about redefining dreams and discovering unlikely love along the way.

Life for Emma isn't good. The world knows her as Princess Anya on Dark Castle, but then her character gets the axe--literally. The cherry on top is finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. She needs a break, and sanctuary comes in the form of Rosemont, a gorgeous estate in California promising rest and relaxation.

Then she meets the owner's equally gorgeous grandson, ex-hockey player and current recluse Lucian Osmond, and she sees her own pain and yearning reflected in his eyes.

He's charming when he wants to be but also secretive and gruff, with protective walls as thick as Emma's own. Despite a growing attraction, they avoid each other.

But then there's an impromptu nighttime skinny-dip, and Lucian's luscious homemade tarts and cream cakes start arriving at Emma's door, tempting her to taste life again...

In trying to stay apart, they only grow closer--and their broken pieces just might fit together and make them whole.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

US: https://amzn.to/2ZhkUzV

WW: http://mybook.to/miskristen

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3qic1ln

Review

4 Stars!

As soon as I read the blurb of Make It Sweet, I knew I had to read it. An ex hockey player that bakes amazing pastries? What’s not to love?! I love Kristen Callihan's books so I was super excited to read it. The good news is Make It Sweet didn’t disappoint.

Make It Sweet is a sweet entertaining contemporary romance that feels more like rom-com style than full of angst which isn’t a bad thing. We still see both Lucian and Emma go through some hard things that make them question their life now.

Emma is an actress who had a starring role in a popular TV show until the screenwriters suddenly cut her from the show leaving her feeling lost while Lucian (or Luc) is an ex hockey player that had to retire from the game suddenly because of a head injury who is now hiding at his grandmothers villa to lick his wounds and relax with some baking.

Hiding from the world, Lucian isn’t thrilled when he finds out that Emma is coming to stay at the Villa to figure out where she wants to go next, with both of them a little broken inside, they find an instant connection to each other that they both try to ignore. With their quick banter and spark of chemistry they are perfect for each other but still continue to fight their feelings and attraction to each other for most of the novel… this is definitely a slow burn romance.

I loved reading about their journey to accepting the love they both deserve with each other and I completely fell in love with the secondary characters. I loved Amelie and Sal and I definitely want a book about Brommy and Tate next!

If you’re looking for a sweet romance story with an entertaining plot and a meddling grandma this is the book for you!

*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own*

Meet Kristen

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she'd rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer's Choice awards.

Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine's Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. In 2015, Kristen received a RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance for her novel Evernight.

Kristen is a child of the 80s, which means she's worn neon skirts, black lace gloves, and combat boots although never all at once and can quote John Hughes movies with the best of them. A lifelong daydreamer, she finally realized the characters in her head needed a proper home and thus hit the keyboard. She believes falling in love is one of the headiest experiences a person can have, so naturally she writes romance. Her love of superheroes, action movies, and history led her to write historical paranormal novels. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and two children.

Connect with Kristen

Website | https://www.kristencallihan.com/

Goodreads | https://bit.ly/3bdFNRU

Amazon | https://amzn.to/2Zm20rx

Facebook | https://bit.ly/3u4gYAB

Facebook Group | https://bit.ly/3qlBzhv

Instagram | https://bit.ly/3pkYbgM

Twitter | https://bit.ly/3diyCdP

Bookbub | https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristen-callihan

First we were friends. Then we were roommates. Now I want more…

What can I say about Chess Copper? The woman is capable of bringing me to my knees. I know this about five minutes after getting naked for her.

No one is more surprised than me. The prickly photographer my team hired to shoot our annual charity calendar isn’t my usual type. She’s defense to my offense, a challenge at every turn. But when I’m with her, all the regrets and darkness goes away. She makes life fun.

I want to know Chess, be close to her. Which is a bad idea.

Chess is looking for a relationship. I’ve never given a woman more than one night. But when fate leaves Chess without a home, I step up and offer her mine. We’re roommates now. Friends without benefits. But it’s getting harder to keep our hands off each other. And the longer we live together the more I realize she’s becoming my everything.

Trick is… Now that I’ve made her believe I’m a bad bet, how do I convince her to give this player a true shot at forever?

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FINN

She sits quietly as I eat, and shakes her head when I offer her a sandwich section. Because I’m hungry, and because I don’t like the idea of her having to wait for me to eat, I wolf down my food. The brownie follows with a few, quick bites. Wiping my hands on a napkin, I set the plate and empty can on a side table, and then let out a contented sigh. “Thanks. I needed that.” Her smile is small and quick. “I should have fed you as soon as you got here.” “I’m good now.” Chess braces her hands on the seat and leans forward to watch her feet as we slowly rock the swing. Silence descends, thick and awkward, and for the first time in her presence, I’m at a loss for words. I don’t know this girl. Not really, and yet I’ve inserted myself into her life with a determination I usually reserve for winning games. Except I have no endgame here. I told her I want to be friends. But how does that work for us? Our friends and lives couldn’t be any more different. Parties for me are self-congratulatory events, filled with people whose one focus seems to be bolstering my ego, followed by me searching for a quick hookup. And my friends are all part of football in some way. We talk football or sports. It’s a narrow focus life, but it’s my comfort zone. That chafes too, knowing I live a life that seems wild and free to outsiders but is actually small and structured on the inside. The silence has stretched too long. I should go. But I don’t move. If I go, I know it will be the end of whatever this is. Embarrassment will have me avoiding seeking her out again. Likely, she’ll do the same. And that will be that. The knowledge sits like a stone on my chest. “I’m sorry about my friends,” Chess says. “They can be uncomfortably brazen.” “So can mine.” I shrug. “Your friends are…fun.” Her lips pull tight. “They can be. But they were definitely giving me—and by extension—you shit tonight.” She bites her bottom lip. “I don’t think they know what to make of you.” “So I wasn’t imagining things.” “’Fraid not.” The novel sensation of being a fish tossed into the wrong pond grows. I’ve taken away Chess’s fun by coming here, and I’m sorry for it. “I shouldn’t have asked you to come here,” Chess says in a low voice. She’s only echoing my thoughts but the stone sitting on my chest pushes harder against my ribs. Chess makes a small sound, as if she’s trying to laugh but can’t. “Parties suck when you arrive halfway through and don’t know anyone.” “I know you,” I point out quietly. She turns and the porch light illuminates her face. Green eyes met mine and hold, as a slow, true smile curls over her cherry lips. Something inside of me shifts and slides. I want to kiss Chester Copper. Haul her onto my lap and make out with her like we’re teenagers hiding out at our parents’ party. But that’s not what she invited me here for. “I wanted to see you,” she confesses in that husky morning voice that goes straight to my cock. She turns away and stares out into the darkness. “It’s weird, you know? But hanging out with you was so unexpected it kind of felt like I imagined the whole thing.” I know exactly what she means. My hand settles next to hers, close enough that our pinkies touch. That small point of contact sparks along my skin, makes me want to move closer. I hold steady because I don’t trust myself not to act. “I wanted to see you too,” I tell her. “It’s been a long fucking day.” I hadn’t planned to admit that, but it feels good to tell her. Chess eases back against the seat and then curls her fingers over mine with a light squeeze. The unexpected touch holds all my attention. It’s nothing more than a simple offer of comfort, and here I am twitching in my seat as if she’d cupped my dick instead. I’m in so much trouble here because this woman is getting to me in ways I don’t know how to navigate. But I don’t pull away. Not one fucking chance of that. Chess speaks, pulling me attention back to our conversation. “So tell me about it.” I can’t remember the last time anyone asked me to tell them about my day. Likely, no one ever has. So I do. And with every word that leaves my mouth, a little bit more of my stress eases. No, I don’t yet truly know Chess. And yes, our lives are different. But there’s no way I’m ending this. Because when it’s just her and me, everything else falls away. I’m not going to let myself forget that again.

REVIEW

4 stars

I love Kristen’s work so I’ve been eagerly waiting for this book and it didn’t disappoint me.

I really loved both Chess and Finn. They fit perfectly together and their banter was always hilarious. This story is sort of a slow burn, Finn and Chess don’t get together right away, they get to know each other before things start heating up. They start off as friends then roommates until they decide to give it a shot. I loved watching their friendship grow and how they came to mean so much to each other before they even decided to date.

There wasn’t heaps of angst in this book but there was just enough to keep everything interesting. There were a few tears shed and the right amount of sexiness when the anticipation was finally over, that had the chemistry flying off the pages. I couldn’t put this book down until I was finished.

The Game On series has been amazing and The Hot Shot didn’t take anything away from the series, it added another great story to the fold. If you love sports romances or just romance, in general, I highly suggest picking up this story and the rest in the series.

*ARC was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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Release Blitz & Review: Exposed by Kristen Callihan

Cover Reveal: Exposed by Kristen Callihan

Release Blitz & Review: Make It Sweet by Kristen Callihan

Release Blitz & Review: The Hot Shot by Kristen Callihan

What can I say about Chess Copper? The woman is capable of bringing me to my knees. I know this about five minutes after getting naked for her.

No one is more surprised than me. The prickly photographer my team hired to shoot our annual charity calendar isn’t my usual type. She’s defense to my offense, a challenge at every turn. But when I’m with her, all the regrets and darkness goes away. She makes life fun.

I want to know Chess, be close to her. Which is a bad idea.

Trick is… Now that I’ve made her believe I’m a bad bet, how do I convince her to give this player a true shot at forever?

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | KOBO | Paperback

FINN

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Cover Reveal: The Hot Shot by Kristen Callihan

BLURB

First we were friends. Then we were roommates. Now I want more…

What can I say about Chess Copper? The woman is capable of bringing me to my knees. I know this about five minutes after getting naked for her.

No one is more surprised than me. The prickly photographer my team hired to shoot our annual charity calendar isn’t my usual type. She’s defense to my offense, a challenge at every turn. But when I’m with her, all the regrets and darkness goes away. She makes life fun.

I want to know Chess, be close to her. Which is a bad idea.

Trick is… Now that I’ve made her believe I’m a bad bet, how do I convince her to give this player a true shot at forever?

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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