Rina Gray returns with IT'S BEEN YOU, an all new Crush on You novel from Crimson Publishing. When the opportunity to land a lucrative deal and promotion results in a friendly competition that then erupts into an all-out battle of desire, Tiana Holliday and Nathaniel Lawson will straddle the line between love and war in this steamy must read Fall title releasing November 7, 2016!

About It’s Been You:

Title: It’s Been You

Author: Rina Gray

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Release Date: November 7, 2016

Series: Crush On You

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 9781507202180

Marketing manager Tiana Holliday just landed her dream job at an award-winning agency in New York City. There’s just one problem: cocky playboy Nathaniel Lawson, her old grad school nemesis, is her new officemate.

As the firm’s rising star, Nathan never had to compete for prime clients until all-work and no-play Tiana strutted into his workspace. When an opportunity arises to manage a lucrative sports car account and nab a big promotion, he challenges her to a wager: Loser does the winner’s bidding for one month. But their friendly little competition suddenly threatens to erupt into an all-out battle of desire.

As they straddle the line between love and war, they just might discover that challenging each other outside the boardroom is even more satisfying than advertised.

Add to your TBR list: Goodreads

Available: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes | BAM! | Google Play

Excerpt:

The crowd screamed and clapped. A few rows behind Tiana, someone started a chant for the Beast. Clapping, she chanted with the crowd. The announcer waved a hand in the air and gripped the mic with his other one. “Unanimously voted to win all four rounds and still undefeated, I give you,” he walked to the corner and raised Nathan’s arm in the air, “the Beaaaaaassst!”

Tiana jumped and clapped as he stepped away and waved his arms in victory to the crowd. This isn’t so bad.

“Tiana wants to have a dozen babies with you, Beast!” Mel screamed at the top of her lungs.

Before Tiana could renounce her Martin Luther King philosophy of nonviolence and sock her former friend in her arm, Nathan turned to face them.

A flicker of heat, and a big dose of danger burned in his gaze. A jolt of energy zapped and electrified her. Every particle and cell in her body awakened, liquefied, and then sizzled. His lips tipped at the corners into a lazy smile.

“I’ll have your babies, too!” someone yelled from the crowd. His gaze stayed fixed on her face. His dark eyes broadcasted, “I’ve seen you naked and I like it,” to anyone who cared to see. Clenching her legs together, she quivered. Nathan gave her a cocky-ass smile as if he knew he was the cause of the mini-explosions firing within her.

A ring girl stepped into the octagon, sashayed up to Nathan, and leaned in for a kiss. Tiana jerked away from their intimate moment and held her breath for a second before looking back. Much like his fight, he ducked the woman’s advances, hopped on the stool in his boxing corner, and jumped over the ropes surrounding the ring. Landing with the ease of a panther, he stalked toward Tiana.

Mel nudged her and whispered, “Brace yourself.” Taking her friend’s wise advice, she breathed deep. Her eyes filled with him. A tall, dark, sexy, and sweaty vision. This man—this sexy beast—wanted her. Only her.

“Peaches,” he growled as he snatched off his gloves and tossed them carelessly on the floor. Closing the distance between them, he wrapped one hand around her waist and cupped her face with the other. His hard, unrelenting eyes continued to broadcast a message. No going back. His tongue swiped her mouth, as if testing the waters, followed by firm, warm lips. He commanded surrender, obedience, and absolutely no negotiations. She clung to him knowing his kiss had changed everything.

Her heart slammed and knocked against her chest, and her knees buckled. She was … Damn it, am I swooning? Like a well-practiced, swashbuckling pirate, his arms snaked around her waist as he drew her body into his. Wetness pooled and flooded her lacy Vicky Secrets. Nathan had just KO’ed her va-jay-jay.

Copyright © 2016 by Rina Gray

It's Been You by Rina Gray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book # 2, in the Crush On You series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader enjoyment and understanding, I recommend reading the series in order.

Tiana & Nathan went to college together and competed there. Now, working for the same employer, the old rivalry is back. If only they could resist being attracted to one another...

Nathan thought she had deceived him in the past. Now he wants to teach her to have fun and maybe gain trust between them. It is time to put the swords down, and maybe take up kissing.

This series just keeps getting better! This story was so hard to put down. The chemistry is sizzling hot and the banter is light and fun. Really an enjoyable read.


***This ARC copy was given by Netgalley and its publisher, in exchange for an honest review only.

View all my reviews

About Rina Gray:

Rina Gray is one of the newest African American romance writers on the rise. She is also a digital marketing professional who discovered her love of writing in 2012. Writing has always been Rina’s passion, though initially, she tried to deny it. In college she served as the copy editor for the entertainment magazine and newspaper. During her tenure, she had the opportunity to interview various talented entertainers including Chris Rock and the cast from Reno-911.

Rina has always been an avid reader, sneaking to read her mother’s books she had no business reading i.e. Stephen King’s The Stand, It, and Anne Rice’s various vampire series. As a pre-teen, she received a load of romance novels from a family friend and from that point on, she devoured any book related to romance or horror. When she’s not writing, she can be found with her head stuck in a book, kickboxing, or dominating game night with friends and family. Rina resides in Atlanta with her husband.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29292/?

This is book # 2, in the Crush On You series.  This book can be read as a standalone novel.  For reader enjoyment and understanding, I recommend reading the series in order.

Tiana & Nathan went to college together and competed there.  Now, working for the same employer, the old rivalry is back.  If only they could resist being attracted to one another...

Nathan thought she had deceived him in the past.  Now he wants to teach her to have fun and maybe gain trust between them.  It is time to put the swords down, and maybe take up kissing.

This series just keeps getting better!  This story was so hard to put down.  The chemistry is sizzling hot and the banter is light and fun.  Really an enjoyable read.  I give this book a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This ARC copy was given by Netgalley and its publisher, in exchange for an honest review only.

Synopsis:

Jesse Sullivan isn’t afraid of any thing, any man, or any bull. But when he decides to take a chance and carve out a life outside his rodeo career, he feels like he’s walking on shaky ground. In typical Jesse style, he jumps at a chance to purchase Main Street Gallery, a Boise tradition in the art world.

Taylor DeMarco has two goals for the next year. Getting the gallery on sound financial ground to prove to her parents that she can keep her grandfather's legacy alive is the first one. Moving out of the house and into her own condo by the Boise River is the second. When she finds her folks are selling the gallery to Jesse, she vows to stop the sale, no holds barred.

When sparks fly between Jesse and Taylor, family gets in the way of reason, and they have to decide what is more important, their desires or keeping Main Street Gallery open and successful.

My thoughts:

This was a good read… Not the best but by far not the worst.

I did enjoy the story and thought it was a great idea. I liked that Jesse was not just a bull rider and that it took up his whole life. That he had other interests than the riding.

Though Taylor seemed to have only the art for her.

Most of the book took part in the art world, though we have Jesse and his very close family and the bull riding, it seemed to be more with Taylor, Jesse and the Gallery.

While I enjoyed the book for the most part I thought that it all seemed a bit rushed with them.

I just thought it was bit fast how everyone told her after one time how much Jesse is in love with her and how they are so great together. That was just a bit forced for me, at least in my opinion.

Also I have not read any of the other book so I wasn't familiar with most people but for me in this book, they all seemed a bit flat. They could have used some more depth to them. But, maybe that was because I was not familiar with the previous books and some were in those.

All in all I thought it was a good read.

I rate it at 3★ 

*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Available NOW

Barclay Publicity is thrilled to share with you the newest cover in Elley Arden’s sexy sports romance series, CROSSING LINES, Cleveland Clash #2!

CROSSING LINES releases on May 25, 2015 and is the much anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed RUNNING INTERFERENCE, book 1 in the Cleveland Clash series. Pre-order you copy today!

Amazon | iBooks | Google Play | Goodreads

About CROSSING LINES:

Party girl and standout wide receiver Jillian Bell sees no problem with her "no rules" lifestyle as long as she's scoring on the field. But her sexy new offensive coordinator doesn't see it that way.

Former marine turned successful restaurateur Carter Howl agreed to whip his father's undisciplined women's full-tackle football team into shape out of guilt. But the job comes with more trouble than he bargained for thanks to one spitfire of a wide receiver who challenges his every play.

When Jillian's little sister begs her to come back to their small-minded hometown and be on her best behavior at a family event, she unexpectedly enlists prim and proper Carter to help her keep her cool. But two days and one pretend engagement later, this straight-laced former soldier is doing all sorts of things he normally wouldn't. Is the wrong girl the right girl for him?

Sensuality Level: Sensual

About Elley Arden:

Elley Arden is a born and bred Pennsylvanian who has lived as far west as Utah and as far north as Wisconsin. She drinks wine like it’s water (a slight exaggeration), prefers a night at the ballpark to a night on the town, and believes almond English toffee is the key to happiness.

Charming characters. Emotional stories. Sexy romance.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

In The Bull Rider’s Keeper by Lynn Cahoon, Jesse Sullivan loves the rodeo life and is not afraid of any bulls nor any man. There is one thing he is afraid of though, to try and fail at something outside of the rodeo. But when his art teacher gives him the opportunity to buy the Main Street Gallery, he jumps at the chance.

Taylor DeMarco has two goals to meet within a year, to get the gallery in a stable financial ground so she can prove to her parents that she can carry on with her grandfather’s legacy, and to finally move out and into her own condo. Only when her mother informs her that they have decided to sell the gallery, she cannot help feeling betrayed. Good thing that the sale is not final yet, and she will do everything she can to prevent it. But her mother had her reasons for selling the gallery, if only Taylor will stop and listen. Read More...