Jilly

GIVEAWAY & EXCERPT….Locked by Maya Cross

Happy Monday everyone! After reading Locked by Maya Cross, and loving it, I am so happy to bring you an excerpt from Locked as well as a fantastic giveaway hosted by Maya herself! I also have an eCopy of Locked to give away in addition to Maya’s giveaway, YAY!

So, enjoy the excerpt and be sure to enter to win!

Synopsis:

Who is Sebastian Lock?

The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.

But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.

Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.

There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.

Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?

This is a 35,000 word novella, or about 120 pages. It contains light BDSM, including spanking, restraint, and anal play, and is intended for readers aged 18 and oveNote: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.

Lockout (The Alpha Group Book Two): Due May 2013
Unlocked (The Alpha Group Book Three): Due June/July 2013

Excerpt:

I sighed. “It’s stupid really. Remember when I said I’d explain my safe word?” He nodded. “Well, when I was running away that first night, it occurred to me that the situation bore some passing similarity to Cinderella. You know, shoes left behind at the ball and all that.”

He seemed to find this incredibly amusing. “I’m a little rusty with my fairy tales, but I don’t remember Cinderella being quite as sordid as that particular evening.”

“You mustn’t have been reading the right version.”

“Apparently not.” He grinned. “Well, that does explain why you were in such a hurry to leave. And here I was thinking you were embarrassed.”

I shook my head. “Nope. I just had to escape before pumpkin o’clock.”

Sliding closer, he wrapped his arms around my hips, locking my body against his. “So if you’re Cinderella, that makes me Prince Charming then?”

Whatever lingering frustration I’d felt instantly melted away. “I guess so,” I said, my voice suddenly fluttering. How the hell does he keep doing that to me?

“Well then, I believe that means that since I’ve returned your lost slippers, we’re meant to kiss now.”

I knew I should probably stop him. Someone could walk in at any moment. But as usual, I seemed to have no willpower where he was concerned. Craning his neck, he brought his mouth down to meet mine. The kiss was somehow firm and hungry, yet impossibly soft, and the warmth of it flowed through me. As our bodies rocked back against my desk, he reached up and ran one hand roughly through my hair, driving us together, as though someone might steal me away at any moment.

Some indeterminable time later, he broke away. “I do believe I should bring you things more often,” he said with a smile.

“I’m not sure I’d ever get much done if you did.” Glancing and the clock I winced. “Speaking of getting things done, you should probably go. As much as I don’t want to go back to this stuff, it’ll just be there tomorrow if I don’t do it today.”

I slipped out from under his arms and reached to open the door, but he followed behind me, catching my wrist in his hand and sliding up against me until my body was pressed into the wood. Trapped again.

“I’m sorry we don’t have more time,” he said, drawing his free hand softly down my hip. “I do like the idea of fucking you right here.”

I could feel his excitement jutting into my lower back like hot metal. Just a few inches lower and… Jesus Sophia, you’re at work for fuck’s sake.

“This is my office, Sebastian,” I said, trying to sound disapproving. I didn’t do a very good job.

Dropping his head down he brushed his lips gently across the curve of my neck. “Well, I guess that wouldn’t be proper,” he whispered. “We’ll just have to wait. Are you free tomorrow night?”

“I think so.”

“Good. Then come to the Royal Bay hotel, room four hundred, at eight o’clock.”

“Why?”

“You said you wanted to start learning more about what it is to submit, so tomorrow I’m going to show you. I think you’ll find the experience… eye opening.”

Below is the Rafflecopter for Maya’s giveaway and I will be picking a winner for an eCopy of Locked from the comment section on this post…so comment to enter to win!

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About the author:

Maya Cross is a writer who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a book store, she read a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. Her previous work spans many genres including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and she has now started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.

She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she’s writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.

The Alpha Group is her first attempt at erotic romance.

When she’s not writing, she’s playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.

She loves to hear from readers, so please feel free to follow her on any of her social media channels. And don’t forget to check out her website. You can sign up to her mailing list there, to hear about new releases and any promotional sales she might be running.

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Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event….Guest Post from Jennifer Probst & GIVEAWAY

Today is the grand finale of my Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event and to close up the fun, I have a fabulous guest post from the amazingly talented Jennifer Probst! SQUEEE! I also have a paperback set of all three books in her Marriage to a Billionaire Series to give away to one lucky winner! I hope you enjoy Jennifer’s post as much as I do and you can enter to win in the Rafflecopter below.

Good luck and a HUGE thank you to Jennifer for stopping by today!

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The Damaged Hero and Why I Love Him

When I create my hero for my series, the first thing I dream up about other than his gorgeous rock hard abs, piercing eyes, and fine a–, is the true crux of his journey.

His issues.

I adore issues. The more the better. Give me an alpha man, who’s been hurt, dragged through the mud, abused, and is afraid of trust, emotion and commitment, and you have me hooked.

Umm, I swear I’m a pretty happy person in my real life. And my husband has none of those problems. Swear.

But fiction is where the excitement and sex and truth is dragged out and exposed for a reader’s pleasure.

Bring it.

My marriage to a billionaire series started with my fantastic hero, Nick, in The Marriage Bargain. His parents screwed him up big time, so he struggled when struck by Alexa’s inner light, humor, and kindness. I loved slowly breaking down his walls and watching him discover he is able, and deserving, of love.

Michael stormed the pages of The Marriage Trap, less damaged than my usual heroes in order to let my heroine, Maggie take center stage. But this hot tempered, gorgeous Italian was going to claim his bride no matter how hard the path was. He struggles with his own family issues and is challenged to fight for something he believes in. I loved watching him come to that realization and taking my snarky heroine by storm.

Maximus was my older, elegant, James Bond type hero from The Marriage Mistake. His father left him when he was young, and he gives new meaning to the term commitment phobe. Of course, he never expected Michael’s younger sister to seductively pursue him, and make him squirm both physically and emotionally to claim something he’d never wanted before. Watching his journey left me breathless and wanting…more.

What’s next? Make way for my most damaged hero of all, Sawyer Wells from the upcoming The Marriage Merger. He’s so damaged he made me work even harder to try to heal his wounds and urge him believe in love. When I hook him up with the last Conte sister, Julietta, my workaholic, strong willed, successful CEO, literal sparks shall fly. It releases July 30th everywhere, and is up for preorder so claim your copy together.

Thanks to Jillian for having me here to summarize a bit of my series and give such a fab giveaway!!

Happy Reading!

You can pre-order your copy of The Marriage Merger from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

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Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event….Review: The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

Today is day three of my Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event and I couldn’t be more excited! On Friday, I have a special guest post from the amazing Jennifer Probst and have a set of paperback copies of her Marriage to a Billionaire Series to give away! Leading up to Friday I will be posting my reviews of the series….did I mention I’m SO EXCITED? Well, enjoy and here’s to a great event!

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Buy from Amazon ~ Buy form Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her.

Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed…

My Review:

The Marriage Mistake is the third in the Marriage to a Billionaire Series by Jennifer Probst, and stars Carina Conte and Max Gray. I didn’t think I could love a book couple more than I loved Alexa and Nick from the first in the series, but, damn, I was wrong….Max and Carina are a-freaking-mazing!

Carina Conte is in America and has begun her career in the U.S. branch of her family’s baking empire, La Dolce Maggie. She is finally putting years of schooling to work, and is ready to start a new life. She was always known as the emotional one in the family, bursting into tears at the drop of a hat and wearing her heart on her sleeve…especially when it came to her life-long-crush and close family friend, Max Gray. Carina was different now though. Grown up, even-tempered and ready to show the world the woman she had become. A great plan, until her brother, and owner of La Dolce Maggie, Michael, informs her she will be working directly under Max. Talk about putting the new and improved Carina to the test.

Max Gray has always been close with the Conte family and is as happy with the bakery’s success as if he were a Conte himself. After years of planning and tireless work, they were finally ready to take the dessert market by storm. Being an only child, Max was thankful to have Michael and his sisters in his life. So when Michael tells him Carina is to be his assistant, he is happy…until he sees Carina for the first time in three years. He cannot believe this is the same girl who followed him around with a schoolgirl crush that had never faded. This Carina was confident, poised and drop dead gorgeous…and he was in serious trouble of crossing a line that no family friend should dream of crossing.

Yum. Yum. Yum. This book was delicious. Carina is a delightfully saucy gal who has started to unearth her confidence and is using it to her advantage. She is finally seeing herself in a different light and is ready to explore what being a woman is all about. She is spunky but also conflicted in her emotions on wanted so much more and not being 100% comfortable to go out a grab it. She was truly a character who is fascinating to read. Max is a gorgeous, sexy, confident, rich playboy who has dismissed Carina as being a kid for most of his life. I shook my head at how quickly he turned into protector mode when Carina decides to date. Men, ugh. I loved him and wanted to punch him equal amounts throughout this book. Together, they are a fantastic couple….even if it did take them a while to get there! They each have their own emotional issues to deal with before they can realize how perfect they are for each other. I want to say, I loved how the “marriage” part of the title played a part in this book…I was reading and reading and wondering when it was coming and then, BAM!, there it was. This also was my favorite marriage scenario of the series….that Mama Conte always has a trick up her sleeve.

I am hoping to see more of the Conte family in the future…we do have one more sister to get married off after all! Once again, I thank you, Jennifer, for an amazing story with yet another happily ever after!

Five Loves

About the author:

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. At twelve, I took a pen in hand and wrote my first love story. I haven’t stopped since. Those heroines taught me valuable lessons that served me well. I learned to keep my head up high and surge forward when I was afraid; I learned to demand respect in a relationship; I learned about compromise and dreams and independence. Those are the stories I want to write, and I can only hope I give back some of the joy I received over the years.

I live in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. I’ve traveled to many places but always seem to be drawn back to the mountains. I graduated with a business degree, worked for Mercy College, and now spend most days dedicated to my family and my characters. I’ve pursued many career paths such as travel agent, yoga teacher and insurance salesperson. I’ve wanted to be an airline pilot, a dancer, an archaeologist, and a vineyard owner. I have been all of the above through romance novels, and intend to explore many more.

One of my turning points in my career was when I joined Romance Writers of America and met the wonderful people in my local chapter, The Hudson Valley RWA. Through supportive critique sessions, I learned how to develop my raw skills to get a publishable manuscript. I discovered my tendency for wordy prologues and passive phrases that all new writers work through, and now try to help others on their journey.

My “leisure time” is spent writing, reading, and raising two active boys. I believe animals are the other children in this world, and enjoy spending time at the local animal shelter, where I got my first “baby” Bella, a shepherd hound mix who gets into as much trouble as my son! I rescued my second dog from an abusive home, a beagle, basset hound who is the peacemaker in the household.

I met the love of my life when I had finally given up on my own romantic journey. The first time he asked me out he promised to buy my book if he could buy me dinner. We had dinner and fell in love over sushi and haven’t been apart since. We married and settled into domestic bliss. That’s when I learned it wasn’t about happy endings. It was about happy beginnings.

Visit her website

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jenniferprobst

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Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event….Review: The Marriage Trap by Jennifer Probst

Today is day two of my Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event and I couldn’t be more excited! On Friday, I have a special guest post from the amazing Jennifer Probst and have a set of paperback copies of her Marriage to a Billionaire Series to give away! Leading up to Friday I will be posting my reviews of the series….did I mention I’m SO EXCITED? Well, enjoy and here’s to a great event!

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Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Italian billionaire seeks faux fiancée. Willing to agree to anything in return…

In order for his sister to marry, Italian billionaire Michael Conte has to find himself a bride – and fast! When he learns that photographer Maggie Ryan is going to be in Milan, Michael hatches a plan to introduce her to his family as his “fiancée.” Never mind that Maggie is confident, independent, and a control freak. Never mind that she’s everything he doesn’t want in a wife… and everything he wants in his bed!

Convinced that Michael is in love with her married gal pal, Maggie agrees to keep up the ruse if he’ll keep away from her friend. Besides, she’s not attracted to charming, ridiculously hot billionaires who drive her nuts. Once they’re in Italy, however, everything changes – and the sexual tension between Maggie and Michael goes from simmer to naked nuclear meltdown!

But have they found the perfect arrangement… or are they trapped in a make-believe marriage?

My Review:

The Marriage Trap is the second installment in Jennifer Probst’s Marriage to a Billionaire Series and a fabulous addition to the series! This book follows Maggie Ryan, Nick Ryan’s sister, and Michael Conte, the sexy and suave Italian businessman and best friend to Alexa Ryan, in a story filled with emotions that kept me on the edge of my seat through most of the book!

Maggie Ryan still doesn’t trust that the Rico Suave-ish Michael Conte isn’t in love with her sister-in-law, Alexa. She sees him at every damn family function these days. Not surprising she has suspicions about Michael seeing as how Maggie grew up with her brother, Nick, in a less-than-normal household where adultery and a lack of love and nurturing were the norms. Even though Michael has repeatedly denied such feelings, she can’t help but remember the disastrous blind date they had gone on a few months back where, at the end of the date, he looked her dead in the eye and told her it could never work. His love for Alexa had to be the reason. Not that she cared. Maggie was never interested in the long-term, where the risk of being hurt was a constant threat in her mind. A threat she will shield her brother and Alexa’s relationship from at any cost. So, when she has an opportunity to do a favor for Michael, and in turn have him in her debt, she knows exactly what to do to keep her family safe…and take Michael out of the picture for good.

Michael Conte can’t believe the mess he’s in now. After a frantic phone call from his one sister in Italy, he is now in the hot seat and being blamed for the reason she can’t marry her long-time love. As if he doesn’t have enough on his plate, with the grand opening of his family’s bakery here in the States, now he has to figure out how to solve this mess. You see, there’s this old tradition that says she can’t marry until he is married. The problem is, he isn’t even close to marrying. So now, with the threat of breaking up his sister’s relationship, he has to find a wife…now. Luckily, after overhearing Maggie Ryan talking about a business trip she has planned to Milan, he has an idea. Convince Maggie to be his fake wife, visit his family together on a little detour from her Milan trip, have them believe he is married, and, VOILA! Problem solved. Only somehow he knows, this is going to end up being anything but easy….especially when Maggie can’t stand him.

This book was emotion packed from the very first chapter and I loved it! Maggie is a tough, sassy, loyal and driven woman who hides a softer side that broke my heart. She is a wounded soul who deep down, just wants to be loved and feel wanted….two things she’s never felt as though she has been. She is a fierce protector of her family, which ironically, makes her so much like Michael. Michael is a fantastic character. He has every quality a gal could ask for. Successful, driven, loyal, fierce and of course, drop dead sexy! The tit-for-tat between Maggie and Michael is done so well! Their chemistry is amazing, even though they both want to deny it, which to me, makes it even better! But my favorite part of the whole book is the ending. Damn, does anyone write more romantic endings than Jennifer? Nope! So far, in each book in this series, the endings play out like a well-scripted movie in my head and are done beautifully! Freaking loved it! Plus, we got to see what Alexa and Nick have been up to…which of course, I loved.

And now…I’m on to The Marriage Mistake because I already can’t wait to see what happens with Carina and Max! Thank you, Jennifer, for another amazing read!

Four Loves

About the author:

Visit her website

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jenniferprobst

Subscribe to her newsletter!

Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event….Review: The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst

Today kicks of my Four Days of Marriage to a Billionaire Event and I couldn’t be more excited! On Friday, I have a special guest post from the amazing Jennifer Probst and have a set of paperback copies of her Marriage to a Billionaire Series to give away! Leading up to Friday I will be posting my reviews of the series….did I mention I’m SO EXCITED? Well, enjoy and here’s to a great event!

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Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

A marriage in name only…

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend’s older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?

Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

My Review:

The Marriage Trap is the first in the Marriage to a Billionaire Series by Jennifer Probst and a fantabulous start to a fantabulous series!

Alexa McKenzie cannot believe she is actually sitting in her living room with a bunch of mumbo-jumbo ingredients and a list of traits she wants in a man and is actually going to cast a love spell to have him delivered to her front door. Well, when you’ve lost all hope and are in need of a miracle to help save your family’s home, people do crazy things…like wish for a man who’s got 150 thousand dollars to spare, along with a few other requirements, of course. What has she got to lose…other than her heart?

Nicholas Ryan is so close to finally becoming the head of his family’s corporation…his life long dream. The only thing standing in his wife…or lack thereof. Figures. The last thing he wants is to get married, but now in order to inherit the company, he has to find a wife and quick. Fate seems to have a little something up her sleeve when a childhood friend happens to have come across some financial strain and needs money, fast. That, he could handle. Looks like a marriage of convenience just landed in his lap. She needs money and he needs a wife….

This was another one of those “I’ll just start this book and get back to my to-do list later….whoa! is it really two hours since I sat down and started reading?!”. I was hooked from start to finish. Nicholas, or Nick, started out as a cold-hearted soul and transformed into the kind of guy girls dream of. I mean, yes, he’s gorgeous and well-built and über wealthy, but his coolness and closed off emotions left lots to be desired. Enter: Alexa. Complete opposite of his emotion-free world, she brings exactly what he needs into his life…warmth, happiness, fun and love. They are a fantastic couple and had me rooting for them from the beginning. I wanted them to be more than an agreement on paper and damn, if the sexual tension wasn’t just delicious between them! YUM! This story was a great mix of humor, angst and emotion. And don’t even get me started on the ending…I cried my eyes out! Big, fat happy tears! *dreamy sigh*

If you’re looking for a fun and flirty read with lots of heat, then put this on your list! Just make sure you’ve finished your to-do list before you sit down to start! Thank you, Jennifer, for a great start to what’s sure to be a favorite series!

Five Loves

About the author:

Visit her website

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jenniferprobst

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Cover Reveal….Hunter by Night by Elisabeth Staab

I am beyond thrilled to bring you the cover for HUNTER BY NIGHT, the next up in Elisabeth Staab’s Chronicles of Yavn Series! After you check out all that yumminess, be sure to read the blurb and teaser….cannot wait for this release!

Hunter by Night

Lee protects his vampire race, and hates humans as much as the wizard enemies he kills. Just as he’s assessing new recruits to join the vampire king’s army, all hell breaks loose. The estate’s security system fails, wizards are heading their way, and human-hating Lee is stuck protecting Alexia, the queen’s human best friend. But as dangerous obstacles force Alexia and Lee closer, an undeniable attraction is revealed, and the two must find a way to compromise.

Pre-Order from Amazon ~ Pre-Order from Barnes & Noble

Teaser:

Alexia ignored the tremor that traveled from the place where their hands touched, along her arm and down her body, landing a quiver of want deep in her core. Any time now, it would be fan-fricking-tastic if her body could stop reacting to him like he’d been double-dipped in her favorite brand of pheromones.

She reached for her blue Jansport backpack, just next to the bedroom door. He made no move to let go or get out of her way, and she was forced to squeeze past his tree-trunk thigh in the process. She failed horribly at ignoring how frigging huge those legs of his were. How the V of her thighs brushed his leg when she passed, and how her body temperature climbed. Stop staring at his ass. “Right. Got everything ready to go, right here.” She cleared her throat.

“Great. I’ll drive,” he grumbled.

Did he realize, as he tugged her down the hall, that his fingers were still wrapped around her hand?

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the first two books in the seres:

King of Darkness

Synopsis: Isabel Anthony has lived a carefree existence masquerading as human, but when this party-girl meets the king of vampires, her world turns deep, dark, and dangerous double-quick. Thad Morgan is looking for the prophesied mate who will unlock his powers. But when he finally finds Isabel in a seedy nightclub, he thinks fate must have gotten it wrong.

Buy from: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo

Prince of Power

Synopsis: Wizards and vampires have been mortal enemies since the beginning. Now Anton, son of the Wizard Master, has one last chance to steal the unique powers of the vampire king’s beautiful sister, Tyra…and then kill her. But when he meets Tyra face-to-face, everything changes…

Tyra will stop at nothing to defeat the wizards, until Anton saves her life and she suddenly sees an opportunity she never could have imagined…

As the sparks ignite between them, together they could bring an end to the war that’s decimating their people, but only if they can find a way to trust each other…

Buy from: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

About the Author:

Elisabeth Staab still lives with her nose in a book and at least one foot in an imaginary world. She believes that all kinds of safe and sane love should be celebrated but she adores the fantasy-filled realm of paranormal romance the best. She lives in the Washington DC area

with her family and one big scaredy cat, where she loves to spend time with good friends, go dancing, collect wacky coffee mugs from which to drink her favorite beverage, and sing off-key in her kitchen (when she isn’t making characters fall in love, that is).

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Review….Locked by Maya Cross

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Synopsis:

Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?

*Contains light BDSM*

Note: This book is the first part of a trilogy that is designed to be read together, much like The Blackstone Affair. Sebastian and Sophia will get their happily ever after, but not until the last book.

Lockout: The Alpha Group Book Two – Due May 2013

Unlocked: The Alpha Group Book Three – Due June/July 2013

My Review:

Calling all Fifty Shades of Grey and Crossfire Series fans! If you’ve been looking for your next fix, this is the series for you! Talk about some serious YUM! This is the first in the Alpha Group Series by Maya Cross and kicked it off with a great start! I mean, just look at that cover!

Sophia Pearce and her girlfriends are enjoying a rare night out filled with silly girl talk and more than a few cocktails. These are the kind of nights that an over worked, under appreciated young attorney like her needs every now and then. Their last stop of the night puts them in a dive bar that upon closer inspection, is hiding something….why would there be a very official looking body guard on guard at a door at the back of the building of a freaking dive bar? Never one to shy away from making a drunken fool of herself, Sophia is determined to see what’s behind that door *cue Mission Impossible theme*

Sebastian Lock is enjoying his company’s exclusive party in the privacy of the secret part of a cheesy bar when he sees Sophia standing at the bar. One look and he knows he has to approach her. He’s young, handsome and successful and certain she won’t be able to resist his charms….imagine his surprise when that’s exactly what she does.

I really enjoyed this story! Sophia is the kind of gal I’d want to hang out with. She’s spunky, confident, funny, and has a good head on her shoulders. She had me laughing out loud at some of her comments and I appreciate that she isn’t a pushover like a lot of female characters are. Sebastian is one hell of a mysterious character! I’d like to say I know more about him than what he looks like and that he sure knows how to flaunt his sexual prowess, but I don’t…and honestly I’m ok with that! It makes things that much more interesting. The chemistry between Sophia and Sebastian is well written…with a push and pull between them that provides a great build up of sexual tension. This was a great first installment to a series and even with a HUGE cliffhanger at the end, I definitely recommend. As for the warning of BDSM, yes, there is a scene at the end that is definitely worthy of that classification and will definitely please all the Fifty fans out there!

I am looking forward to more from this series! Thank you, Maya, for a fantastic and yummy read!

Four Loves

ARC Review….Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker

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Synopsis:

He’s Gone Rogue

Ex-Navy SEAL Rock Babineaux’s job is to get information, and he’s one of the best in the business. Until something goes horribly wrong and he’s being hunted by his own government. Even his best friends at the covert special-ops organization Black Knights Inc. aren’t sure they can trust him. He thinks he can outrun them all, but his former partner—a curvy bombshell who knows just how to drive him wild—refuses to cut him loose.

She Won’t Back Down

Vanessa Cordova hasn’t been the team’s communication specialist
very long, but she knows how to read people—no way is Rock guilty of murder. And she’ll go to hell and back to help him prove it. Sure, the sexy Cajun has his secrets, but there’s no one in the world she’d rather have by her side in a tight spot. Which is good, because they’re about to get very tight…

My Review:

Thrill Ride is the fourth book in Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knights Incorporated Series and admittedly, the first in the series that I have read. I’m so glad I came across this title on NetGalley because I am now a big fan of the Black Knights and will be downloading the rest of the series as soon as I finish this review!

Vanessa Cordova is in the middle of the jungle looking for Rock, the now-named rogue operator and member of Black Knights Incorporated. She, along with the rest of the knights, is convinced that there is no way Rock could have done the things he is accused of. She knows the delicious Cajun isn’t capable of cold-hearted murder and is determined to clear his name, even if that means sweating her ass of in the God forsaken jungle looking for him.

Rock knows his days are limited and it’s only a matter of time before the powers that be, a.k.a the U.S. Government, comes for him and ends his life. He’s been hiding out for what seems like forever trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out why he is taking the fall for murders he never committed. But, not knowing the head man in charge of the hush-hush operation he’d worked on for years, is coming back to bite him in the ass. Even if he found out the connection to the murder victims, and figured out why he was being hunted down and held responsible, who would he go to? Who would he tell? Now, he’s shocked to find Vanessa, a member of BKI, in his jungle. She’s here to help clear his name. But he’s not willing to risk her life, or any of his BKI family…and that’s what the stakes are…life and death.

This story was incredible! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. Julie Ann Walker weaved a who-done-it with a sexy romance that had me loving every minute of this story. Rock is an amazingly tough, honorable, loyal and sexy Cajun that had me drooling when he spoke his French-Cajun and whose fierce need to protect his brothers and sisters in arms made me love him even more. Vanessa is amazing. Her tenacity and fierce determination to prove Rock’s innocence was so admirable. She knows the kind of man Rock is and won’t allow him to push her help away. The mystery surrounding Rock and the project that he had worked on in secret for years, had me guessing the entire book. Julie Ann did such a great job at delivering juicy morsels of clues throughout the book. I was dying to know what was coming next! Talk about a thriller! She had me on the edge of my seat up until the very last pages. Of course, I won’t give you any spoilers, but I will tell you that a project and cover-up of this magnitude took some pretty important people and damn, what a “WHOA” moment it ended up being. I must say the ending to this suspense is one I didn’t see coming and really enjoyed.

As I said earlier, I will be gobbling up the other books in the BKI series and will surely be keeping tabs on what’s coming next for this amazing group of kick-ass modern day warriors. Thank you Ms. Walker, for an amazing, suspenseful, exciting and sexy read!

Four Loves

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy for an honest review.

New Review….Lover at Last by J.R. Ward

I am honored to have enlisted the help of my dear friend, Selene, for this review. We originally met, years ago, from our mutual love of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and have become closer than I could have ever imagined. I am so lucky to have her in my life as a friend and now, as a guest reviewer. If you, like me, are as big a fan of the Brotherhood, I know you will enjoy this review as much as have. Thank you, Selene….I heart you big time sistermine! *mild spoiler below*

Synopsis:

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions… but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together… finally become one.

Selene’s Review:

Amazing.

UH-MAZING!!!!!!!!

It’s been a really long time since I’ve read a book twice in succession and it is no surprise that it was this one. Lover At Last delivered far beyond its promises. Everything a novel requires to make it a complete success was present here – drama, comedy, action, and, above all, romance. It was extremely rare that my attention ever strayed from the story while reading J.R. Ward’s latest and, in my opinion, one of the greatest.

Blaylock and Qhuinn, the main characters, have been tip-toeing around their feelings for each other for some years now. This has led the audience to much heartbreak and an overwhelming feeling of frustration, something that’s all too familiar to this pair… up until now.

The scorch factor between these two was off the charts! And that was before they started their physical relationship. Their history of repressed feelings created such a thick atmosphere around them – a feeling that the reader will unequivocally share. But that first time when they came together… WOW. Ward did such a good job with their first love scene. It was exactly how you would expect two very male characters with a long history, tremendous attraction, and even stronger love for each other to come together; it was hot, sweet, and incredibly touching. It became very clear towards the end of this book that the only thing keeping them apart was Qhuinn’s dishonesty and shame with himself. It took Blay to show him that in order for them to finally come together. As far as the proposal scene goes, I simply have no words. There was crying involved. Very ugly, went through a whole box of Kleenex, swelling of the eyes for days kind of crying. But they were definitely happy tears! The ending could not have been more perfect for the couple. And the feeding scene with Selena? FORGET IT. That sequence has been bookmarked many times over by yours truly.

Other stories were continued and new characters introduced in Lover At Last. And in traditional J.R. Ward-style, they raised many more questions and peaked quite a bit of interest. The Shadow brothers Trez and iAm are now living at the Brotherhood compound. And with Trez’s growing attraction to the Chosen Selena and the little problem of him already being promised to another, it should provide a great story in the future. Xcor and Layla’s story continues and it makes me wonder how and if these two will ever be together. Such a sad situation for them. And lastly, there is Assail and his love interest Sola (Marisol). These two are already lighting up the pages with their heat and I’m very much looking forward to their story.

Overall, the book was everything I wanted. The only thing I thought was missing was the interaction between Blay and Qhuinn and John Matthew. I may be a little biased as John is my favorite character of the series, but these three have been as tight as friends get since they were all introduced and I would have like to see his reaction to his two best friends finally getting together and Qhuinn being inducted into the Brotherhood (which was also a scene that caused some ugly crying). Perhaps the author will have more of this in the future. One can only hope!

Five Loves

Cover Reveal….Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye

SQUEEE! So happy to be a part of the cover reveal for HARD AS IT GETS, part of a new series by New York Times Bestselling Author Laura Kaye!

Blurb:

Tall, dark, and lethal…

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey’s tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome-pure catnip to a very jaded Nick. He’s left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander’s daughter. Loyalty won’t let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn’t expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge…

Now THAT is some serious YUM!

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About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Swagalicious Giveaway

So, as some of you know, I was at the Liberty States Create Something Magical Writers Convention last weekend and had a BLAST! I ended up coming home with some awesome swag (goodies and BOOKS!) and was able to hang out with some amazing people….including the awesome Elisabeth Staab!

Well, Elisabeth was kind enough to add to the swag with some fabulous signed goodies and to sweeten the deal, I’m adding an eCopy of her book, King of Darkness, book one in her Chronicles of Yavn Series! That’s some serious swag….and I’m gonna give it away to TWO lucky winners!

All you have to do to enter is in the Rafflecopter below…so get to it and good luck!

xo ~Jillian

a Rafflecopter giveaway