April 2013 – Read-Love-Blog

Cover Reveal & Giveaway…His Risk to Take by Tessa Bailey

I am thrilled to bring you the cover reveal of Tessa Bailey’s latest: His Risk to Take.

Talk about a DELISH cover!

Also, Entangled is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card…yay! Enter to win in the Rafflecopter below!

His Risk to Take releases May 13

Synopsis:

The greater the risk, the hotter the reward?

Homicide cop Troy Bennett had a reputation on the Chicago PD for being fearless and in control?until the night his daredevil partner is killed during a raid. From that moment on, he swears he’ll never again be responsible for the loss of a loved one. To escape his demons, Troy transfers to the NYPD, bringing him up close and personal with Ruby Elliott, a beautiful, street-savvy pool hustler.

Reckless and stubbornly independent, Ruby embodies everything Troy’s avoiding, but when she walks into O’Hanlon’s Pub and blows his carefully laid plans to hell, Troy knows he has to have her, risks be damned. But there’s a connection between Ruby’s shadowed past and a case Troy’s working involving a notorious Brooklyn felon, throwing her safety into jeopardy. Confronted with his biggest fear, will Troy push Ruby away to keep her safe or fight to keep her in his arms where she belongs?

Pre-order His Risk to Take at Amazon and Barnes & Noble TODAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review…Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas

Famously Engaged releases May 13

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancé.

Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he’s forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling “first date”, but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake’s figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he’s afraid he’s not going to be able to give her up either.

Now it’s up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.

Review:

This is the first work from Robyn Thomas that I have read and was honored to have received a copy of Famously Engaged from the publisher asking for an honest review. I am happy to say that it was a really enjoyable story!

Beth Carlisle is in one hell of an emotional rut after the recent death of her mother and is alone with her memories in her mother’s home and in desperate need of a hand to hold to help her through this awful time. Sure, she has her best friend…but he also happens to be her ex-husband and he is currently planning his wedding and surely doesn’t need to be here with her, drowning alongside her in her sorrows. What she needs is a distraction to keep the sadness at bay….what bigger distraction then a gorgeous rock star showing up on your door step explaining that he’s your new fiancé? Yep, that’ll do it!

Jake Olsen has had enough of hearing his sister’s soon-to-be-husband, Brad, talk incessantly about his ex-wife and is convinced Brad is still in love with her. He will not allow his sister to marry a man who can’t get an ex-wife out of his life. Sure, they say it’s just because they are best friends and as close as family, even after the divorce. But Jake can’t shake that something isn’t right and after seeing pictures of the ex-wife, and seeing how beautiful she is, he will do everything in his power to keep them apart until his sister is married. Enter: the fake fiancé plan.

Together, Jake and Beth are stuck in a hopeless situation thanks to the silly fake fiancé plan and now they are in danger of falling for one another…this could turn out to be anything but fake and everything very real.

This was a cute modern-day Cinderella story that had all the ups and downs of a fairy tale. Jake and Beth are in a ridiculous circumstance together, but it ends up being exactly what they both need. Fate clearly had a plan for these two characters. Beth needs someone to hold her up and give her a reason to keep going now that her beloved mother has passed and Jake, as it turns out, is very good at that role. What I liked best about this story was the way both Jake and Beth ended up filling the voids in one another’s lives even though neither one of them originally set out to do so.

I enjoyed this story and read it in a little over a day…it was a light and interesting read that had a fantastic happily ever after that we love best about fairy tales! Thank you, Robyn, for a great story and thanks to Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Review…Lover Undercover by Samanthe Beck

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Lover Undercover COVER

Synopsis:

He’s undercover. She’s in over her head.

Yoga instructor Kylie Roberts is the good twin. Or she was—until an accident prevents her sister from dancing at a posh Hollywood “men’s club,” and Kylie has to step into her twin’s sexy stilettos to make rent. But nothing could’ve prepared Kylie for the dead body in the club’s parking lot, a killer who only targets her clients, or the ridiculously hot detective assigned to the case. Too bad he thinks she’s her sister, because Kylie’s willing to volunteer for an intimate, full-body strip search.

Detective Trevor McCade needs Kylie’s help. His plan is to pose as a regular customer and draw out the killer. It means long nights undercover, and long dances where Kylie’s body tempts him with sensual promises. Dances that leave them both wanting more. But despite Kylie’s hidden identity and the danger lurking in the shadows, it’s only a matter of time before Kylie and Trevor take this undercover operation under the covers…

My Review:

This is the first book of Samanthe Beck that I have read and after finishing, I happily say she has a new fan. This story was delish!

Kylie Roberts has been known as the responsible twin her whole life. Always doing the right thing and always helping the saucy twin, Stacy, out when she was in a jam….even if that means pretending to be that saucy twin. Now, as Kylie finds herself standing on stage at a strip club getting ready to perform (after her saucy stripper sister broke her leg) she’s kind of wondering if is time “helping” her sister out has gone just a tad too far. This is way out of her comfort zone and way opposite of her nice and calm yoga instructor norm. Even worse is when she has to perform for the handsome stranger her gaze has been drawn to since she walked out from behind the curtain.

Trevor McCade can’t say he minds this part of detective work. Take away the fact that he’s trying to track down a cold-blooded killer, and he could actually almost enjoy himself watching the beautiful blonde dancing half-naked on stage in front of him. But he’s not here for a good time. He’s here to pose as a club regular, hopefully luring in, and ultimately catching the person responsible for two murders that took place here in the club parking lot….and he’s going to need the beautiful blonde dancer currently captivating him to help.

Together Trevor and Kylie will have to play parts neither one of them are comfortable with, especially because Trevor doesn’t know Kylie is already playing the part of her sister, Stacy. Catching a killer has never had such high stakes especially when an unexpected attraction, and love, become factors. Will they be able to solve the mystery and make something good come of these twisted roles they are both playing?

Well, I can add this book to my list of books I devoured in 24 hours! I absolutely loved it. From start to finish there wasn’t a dull moment. Between the murder mystery who-done-it and the sexual tension between Kylie and Trevor, I was glued to the pages the moment I opened the book. Trevor is delicious. The sexy and confident detective is done perfectly and he wears it well. He’s soft when it’s needed and delectably hard when the moment requires. Talk about the perfect balance. He is a character I will lust after for quite some time. Kylie, while strong and determined, is equally scared and unsure. She was written very real with real life feelings and worries. I appreciated her strengths and flaws. The chemistry they have together is beyond hot! Dear God…their first hot scene together had me fanning myself and trying not to drool on my e-reader. Total yumminess! Kylie and Trevor are a truly fantastic book couple. I was so pleased with how things turned out for them and the epilogue was freaking AMAZING! I actually “aww”ed out loud and earned more than a few funny looks from the people sitting around me!

If you’re looking for a fun and sexy mystery, then add this to your TBR list….you won’t be disappointed! Thank you, Samanthe, for a drool-worthy and truly enjoyable read! I look forward to reading more of your work!

*a copy of this book was provided by the publisher for an honest review

Four-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

Beach bum, book junkie, and award winning author of sexy contemporary romances, Samanthe recently signed with Entangled Publishing to write three novels for their Brazen line!

Sam was transfixed from an early age with any tale featuring a handsome prince, a great dress, and, of course, the all-important kiss, and eventually aspired to write her own happily-ever-afters. Naturally, she became a lawyer. The legal world heaved a sigh of relief a few years ago when Samanthe retired from law to take the plunge as a writer.

When not living the glamorous life of a romance author (i.e., chained to her computer), Samanthe keeps busy with the care and feeding of her extremely patient prince-charming of a husband, a not-so-patient ball of energy known as their son, a furry ninja named Kitty, and Bebe, the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. Their love, support, and willingness to eat Pizza Hut three or more times a week enables Samanthe to pursue her literary dreams.

website ~ twitter ~ Facebook

ARC Review….Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Midnight Secrets releases April 30, 2013

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy form Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

On a hot southern night, with a storm on the horizon, a family is shattered. Three beautiful daughters—Savannah, Samantha, and Sabrina Wilde—go on with their lives, each significantly changed, as they bear the memory of the murder-suicide that killed their parents. For years, they have stayed away from Midnight, Alabama. Until Midnight calls them home.

Savannah is the first one back, when a grueling case in Nashville leads the young prosecutor to seek shelter in the quiet of the once grand Wilde mansion. But when she finds letters casting doubt on her family’s dark, shameful past, she realizes that peace in Midnight is a shallow façade and sinister secrets lurk beneath the surface. Zach Tanner, once the town’s bad boy, is now the new police chief and still has a wild hold over her. Zach can feel it, too, but he hurt Savannah once. As teenagers, they broke every rule together. Now it’s his job to keep her safe, even though he isn’t sure who her enemies are—or which ones might be his own.

My Review:

This is the first book in the Wildfire Series by Ella Grace. I was lucky to receive this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review and here is my overall opinion: I. Loved. This. Book.

Savannah and her sisters are well-known in their small town of Midnight, Alabama. Not only are they part of the wealthiest family in Midnight and beautiful triplets, but also they are the girls whose parents died when they were 10 of a murder-suicide. Besides their loving grandfather, who has been raising them for the last 8 years, they’ve always had one another. Not many things are as strong as the bond between sisters.

Small-town-bad-boy Zach has awed Savannah since the minute she first laid eyes on him as a young teenager. Now, after literally saving her life at the worst senior prom a gal could have, she decides to act on her attraction. Zach can’t imagine how one of the Wilde sisters could possibly see anything in him. He’s been the town labeled riff-raff since he was a kid. His mother has an even worse reputation than he does. To see Savannah looking at him like he was so much more than the poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks is something he could have never have dreamed of. How had he gotten so lucky? Zach had planned to leave for the military around the same time Savannah was leaving for college and summer fling they have been enjoying ignites a spark in both of their hearts that no amount distance could snuff out. They were determined to make it work. Turns out the distance wouldn’t be the problem for them….it was the broken trust and hidden secrets that would keep them apart for the next ten years. Funny that secrets and broken trust would be the very things that bring them back together years later.

Savannah, back in Midnight dealing with her family’s affairs after her grandfather dies, can’t stop running into the man who shattered her heart when she was 18. Of course Zach would end up as Chief of Police in Midnight. Ironic, really…protecting the citizens of a town who were always quick to put him down. She had shored up her defenses and refused to dwell on what could have been had he kept his promises all those years ago….but those defenses don’t stand a chance when she sees him again.

Zach knew Savannah was coming back to town. Gossip flows like sweet tea in Midnight. He hoped he would have a chance to explain, and apologize, for breaking her heart all those years ago. Turns out he’d not only have the chance to apologize, but he’d also have the chance to save her life…again.

Ok….I said it in the very first paragraph of this looong review, and I’m going to say it again: I. Loved. This. Book! I couldn’t put it down. I wolfed it down in a little over 24 hours. Zach absolutely KILLED me. His childhood story had me bawling and my heart breaking for him. He is truly the epitome of a book hero. The guy with a bad rap who overcomes all obstacles to turn opinions around and show people just how honorable and kind he really is, and always has been. Not to mention, Zach is freaking delectably handsome with a body to drool over! Savannah has lost her way along her personal journey. The young and innocent girl we meet in the beginning had become cold and indifferent. Luckily she was willing to try to get back to her less cynical roots. The chemistry between Zach and Savannah is pure perfection. They are one of my favorite book couples. I think one of the things I liked most was Savannah and Zach’s willingness to admit their faults and try their best to forgive and move forward. They both realized their love wasn’t something to let go of. *dreamy sigh*

Add in a murder conspiracy and mystery to solve and this book was fan-friggin-tastic!

I will be (not-so) patiently waiting to see what the next books in the Wildfire Series holds for us! I am hooked! Thank you Ms. Grace, for giving me one of my new favorite series.

Five Loves

Guest Review….Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley

Happy Monday!

Motorcycle Man is a story I just finished and was a recommended to me by a dear friend, and up and coming author, Phoebe Chase. (you can find out more about Phoebe at the bottom of this post)

I loved, loved, loved Motorcycle Man…five loves to be exact! I was so thankful for the recommendation that I asked Phoebe to write a guest review for Read-Love-Blog and she was sweet enough to do so! YAY! So, without further adieu…Phoebe Chase’s review of Motorcycle Man:

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Stuck in a colorless world, Tyra Masters decides to chuck her old life and starts searching for something. She doesn’t know what it is until she meets her dream man. The goateed, tattooed, muscled, gravelly voiced motorcycle man who plies her with tequila and gives her the best sex of her life. But she knows it isn’t the tequila and sex talking. He’s it. He’s who she’s been daydreaming about since she could remember.

Until he makes it clear she isn’t who he’s looking for.

Tyra slinks away from his bed, humiliated. The problem is, he’s her new boss. She just may or may not have forgotten to tell him that part.

Kane “Tack” Allen has a rule. He doesn’t employ someone he’s slept with. And he lets Tyra know that in his motorcycle man way. Tyra fights for her job and wins it using sass and a technicality. Tack challenges her that if she hits his bed one more time, she loses her job.

Tyra is determined to keep her job and keep away from Tack. But she makes a big mistake. During their head-to-heads, she lets it all hang out and shows Tack she is who he’s looking for. And Tack has had a good woman slip through his fingers, he’s not about to let that happen again.

Although Tack colors Tyra’s world with a vibrancy that’s blinding, being with him means she has to live in his Motorcycle Club world. Full on, no holds barred. And since Tack’s world, not to mention Tack, is a little scary, Tyra isn’t so sure.

It’s Tack’s job to convince her.

Phoebe’s Review:

Motorcycle Man is the last in the Dream Man series by Kristen Ashley but can be read as a standalone. And I suggest you do just that if ridiculously hot bikers and fun, wild stories are your thing.

Ashley takes a rough and tumble biker, Tack, and makes you love him, faults and all. In the first quarter of the story, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. Tack was a dick. He bends Tyra’s will to his through scare tactics and intimidation. I was almost ready to give up when the author introduced Tack’s children and a kick ass storyline with the Russian mob. I continued reading and eventually Tack’s faults were shown for what they were: human nature. What turned it around for me was how real this couple felt. Tack says hurtful things when he’s mad; Tyra wants to bail. Tack says something that in his mind is crystal clear; Tyra hears something completely different and internalizes her feelings, keeping Tack in the dark, and keeps trying to bail. Once this pattern was established something struck me – it felt like my life (but on a much less interesting scale, of course.) Communication between men and women is a minefield. And until a couple learns to talk things out and make sure what they’re saying is what the other is hearing, misunderstandings will happen. It was a joy to watch these two get to that place. This is the first book in a long time where I had actual heartache watching them struggle to stay together.

Motorcycle Man sets a blistering pace. If it isn’t crazy hot sex it’s a rollercoaster thrill ride with Russian mobsters and crazy ex-wives and a great cast of supporting characters. You’ll love Aunt Bette!

This was the first book by Ashley that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.

Five Loves

About Phoebe:

Phoebe Chase sneaks in writing during the daylight hours while wasting away in a cubicle and then again after the sun has set at home, the gecko has been fed, and the children put to bed. She hopes to fight her way out of the cubicle one story at at time.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

email Phoebe: phoebe.chase.writes@gmail.com

In Stone by Louise D. Gornall…eBook & Kindle fire GIVEAWAY

To celebrate her upcoming release, Louise is giving away an ecopy of IN STONE and a Kindle Fire to one lucky reader! One runner-up will also win an ecopy of IN STONE. UK and US residents are eligible to win the Kindle Fire. If you live outside the UK or US and your name is drawn, you will receive an Amazon gift card valued at £160 (GBP) instead. The winners will be announced July 29. Good luck!

Synopsis:

Beau Bailey is suffering from a post break-up meltdown when she happens across a knife in her local park and takes it home. Less than a week later the new boy in school has her trapped in an alley; he’s sprouted horns and is going to kill Beau unless she hands over the knife.

Until Eighteenth century gargoyle, Jack, shows up and saves her.

Jack has woken from a century long slumber to tell Beau that she’s accidentally been drafted into a power struggle between two immortal races; Demons and Gargoyles. The knife she picked up is the only one in existence capable of killing immortals and they’ll tear the world apart to get it back. To draw the warring immortals away from her home, Beau decides to go with Jack to Bulgaria in search of the mind-bending realm known as the Underworld, a place where they’ll hopefully be able to destroy the knife and prevent all hell from breaking loose. That is providing they can outrun the demons that are chasing them.

Enter the giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Louise is a graduate of Garstang Community Academy, currently studying for a BA (Hons) in English language and literature with special emphasis on creative writing. YA aficionado. Brit bird. Film nerd. Identical twin. Junk food enthusiast. Rumoured pink Power Ranger. Zombie apocalypse 2012 survivor. Avid collector of book boyfriends.

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

ARC Review….Kill Shot by Liliana Hart

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from iTunes ~ Buy from Kobo

Releases April 30

Synopsis:

Grace Meredith is the CIA’s most deadly assassin. Too bad she’s gone off the grid and become a mercenary for hire. After the death of her daughter by a sniper’s bullet, Grace can no longer stomach the demands of agency life or keep herself from blaming the only man she’s ever loved. Her mind and body are fragile, and she knows she’s just a step away from breaking down completely.

Gabe Brennan hold’s the weight of the world on his shoulders. As one of the most brilliant black ops agents the CIA has ever employed, he knows it’s no one’s fault but his own that his child was gunned down in cold blood. He might not have been able to save his daughter, but he’s determined to save his wife. He only has to find her first.

Sexual tension crackles between Gabe and Grace from the moment they’re reunited, but between the man who is hunting them, a secret that’s been buried for eighty years, and a turbulent past—the odds are stacked against them.

My Review:

Kill Shot is the first in the Collective Series by Liliana Hart and WHOA! Talk about an action packed, hot and heavy suspenseful thriller from start to finish!

Grace Meredith is a gun for hire and trying to put her past far behind her. She had been one of the best assassin’s the CIA had ever seen, but that was her old life. A life she thought was perfect until it all came shattering down with the death of her daughter. Now where there once was joy, is just pain and determination for revenge….revenge against the terrorist that took her happiness away. With her target in her sights she is one step closer to her goal. The last thing she needs is a distraction in the form of a former fellow team member and ex-husband she left behind two years ago along with her shattered past.

Gabe Brennan is a ghost within the CIA. He’s been a black ops agent, and a ruthless one at that, for as long as he can remember. His life has always been about completing missions and he had been happy doing that with his wife by his side. But that was in the past. Now, there’s a gaping hole in his life since his daughter was murdered and wife walked out of his life two years ago. Now, his latest mission is to get Grace back, and act on her thirst for revenge, helping her take down the terrorist scum that took their child’s life. Easier said than done since Grace blames him and his role in the CIA for their daughter’s death. Convincing her to join him on his latest op may turn out to be his toughest mission yet.

Wow. Just wow. This book was amazing. From the very first chapter the personalities of Grace and Gabe were brilliantly developed. Grace is a tough as nails, no-nonsense, kick ass professional but as we got to see, had a softer side that as a woman reader, and mother, could identify with. A talent that Liliana brought to the character that is, in my opinion, difficult to do. Sometimes with a tougher female character, it’s hard to give a good mix of emotion to make her seem real. Grace, I think, represents that perfect balance. Gabe is the ultimate alpha male hero we all love. He is larger than life and can do anything. He also loves his wife, and that right there, is the finishing touch to a great hero! The chemistry between the two alternates between heart breaking and scorching hot. Because of their history, it was easy to jump into the hotter scenes. We bypassed the “meet and fall in love” time frame and it really worked for this story line. Grace and Gabe are a beautifully matched and complimentary couple.

The “mission” in this story is really, really well done. There were so many pieces of the puzzle that each fell into place at the perfect moments throughout the story. I didn’t feel like there were any boring moments! I don’t want to go into too much detail, but I will say if you love twists and turns with a lot of villains and possible outcomes, this is a story for you!

I am truly looking forward to seeing more from this series and from the characters on Grace and Gabe’s team we have been introduced to! Thank you, Liliana, for a wonderfully written, suspense filled, steamy thriller!

Five Loves

Cover Reveal….Gravity by Dannika Dark

I am thrilled to be a part of Dannika Dark’s cover reveal for Gravity, the latest in her Mageri Series. Enjoy the sneak peek book blurb as well as find out more about Dannika and the entire Mageri Series!

Book Blurb:

He twirled a lock of my dark hair between his fingers, bringing the soft tendril to his nose as he drew in a deep breath.

“Do I still smell like lemon cake?” I asked. My fingers wandered along the tight muscles on his arms, sliding underneath the sleeves of his light grey T-shirt.

He suddenly crouched low and ran his nose along the length of my body—close and inviting. God, I loved it when he did that.

Smelled me.

What a strange thing to love about a man. The gesture felt erotic and the tiny hairs on my arms would stand up. With each inhale, his soft purr rumbled and I pulled his face close to mine, planting a soft kiss on his warm cheek. He caged me with arms that had once climbed a thirty-foot tree with blinding speed to rescue me—his agile body leaping from branch to branch as he held me tightly to him.

“Put your mouth on mine, Little Raven. I’m ready for a taste of lemon cake,” he said in a deep and tumbling voice.

“Maybe I’m not so sweet,” I whispered, wetting my lower lip with a sweep of my tongue.

Logan’s eyes followed every movement, and he licked his lips in response. “I want your mouth… on my mouth. Do it, or else I’ll have to find something else to kiss.”

Be sure to check out the other books in Dannika’s Mageri Series:

Sterling (Mageri Series, #1)

Zoë Merrick lived a less than ordinary life, until late one night, she was brutally attacked and left for dead.

A man named Adam spotted her running down the road covered in blood, and took her under his wing. Zoë didn’t just survive that night – she underwent a physical transformation and acquired strange new abilities. Severed from her old life, her frustration grows as she tries to comprehend what’s happening to her.

Serendipity leads her to Justus. He’s handsome, arrogant, and not entirely human. Zoë learns the truth about what she is, and just how dangerous their world is for a young Mage. The only way she will understand her power is by putting her trust in this man, and accepting the protection he offers.

When her immortal freedom is threatened by the one man who has a right to claim her, Zoë learns the price of freedom…and the value of loyalty.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Twist (Mageri Series, #2)

Months after moving to the mysterious city of Cognito, Silver is developing her gifts as a Mage, and learning how to live under new laws. Forced to give up her old life, she must now live in secret among the humans. She finally has hope of leading an ordinary life . . . until Logan Cross walks into it.

Their chance meeting leads her close to discovering the identity of the nameless Mage who once stole her light and discovered the unique power she possesses. That knowledge poses an unimaginable threat to Silver, fueling her search to find out who he is, before he finds her first.

Lives are at stake. Truths are revealed. And an unexpected passion ignites.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Impulse (Mageri Series, #3)

Almost one year ago, a Mage attacked Silver and changed the course of her destiny.
Immortals exist, and now she is one of them.

Within the dark and supernatural city of Cognito, Silver is living under the watchful eye of her Ghuardian and dating her mortal enemy. Neither man can protect her from a dark secret, one buried within the contents of a box. As rival factions struggle to gain control, she finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old feud that threatens to drive a wedge between her and Logan Cross, the man who intends to seduce her.

In an explosive turn of events, one life is saved and another is forever altered. Can Silver trust those around her, or are they hiding a dark secret of their own?

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Down in Texas, there’s a woman who drinks copious amounts of vitamin water placed precariously close to her laptop. Yeah, I know. I’ve got a drinking problem. Hi, I’m Danni.

When I’m not writing (which is all the time), I’m listening to obscure music, watching movies, reading, discovering new ways to humiliate myself bowling, and burning up my laptop battery on the internet. I live with a cat who thinks she is a dog, or a goat (she eats plastic, so I’m not sure which).

Some people count sheep when they have insomnia. Since I was little, I used to make up stories in my head in a futile attempt to bore myself to sleep. The problem was, I’d get so wrapped up in my “head stories” that I would continue them through the following nights, changing it up each time to make it more exciting. Eventually, I started writing my ideas down more and more, creating short stories which evolved into poetry.

Lots and lots of poetry. It’s almost embarrassing that I have an entire box loaded with spiral notebooks filled with furious, heartfelt, and blushing words. Apparently, I had a lot to say.

Another one of my hobbies is digital art. I designed all my book covers.

I am finally doing what I have always wanted to: giving my characters a pulse through publishing. I write adult urban fantasy romance, but I don’t like labels. I let the story tell itself, and color outside the lines. I am not a YA author, but I think it’s pretty great that there are so many books available to teens in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal. These are the future readers!

The work that goes behind self publishing is hard work, I won’t lie. On top of my regular day job: I write, edit, format, create cover art, and market.

But it’s what I love to do, and someday, I’m going to be doing this full time.

Website/Blog ~ Twitter ~ FB Author Page ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Frisky Friday featuring Ginger and Derek from Protecting What’s His by Tessa Bailey

Well hello yumminess…..It’s my very first Frisky Friday post and I just had to pick one of my recent fave frisky moments to pop this cherry!

Here is a super hot and steamy scene featuring Ginger and Derek from Tessa Bailey’s Protecting What’s His! Enjoy and try not to drool on your keyboard….

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Derek pulled into a spot outside the building and Ginger hopped out, intending to bolt inside her apartment and savor the fact that she’d finally gotten in the last word. She made it up the stairs, down the quiet hallway, and to her apartment door before she felt him come up behind her. Suddenly, the keys were snatched from her hand. She spun around in time to see Derek drop them into his pocket.

Her mouth fell open at his audacity. “What are you doing?”

“You can have them back in a minute.”

Derek’s gravelly tone called several other things into focus. The slight flush of his cheekbones, his roughened breathing, the overwhelming nearness of his hard body. Her back arched against the door, an unconscious move that drew his gaze downward, to where her breasts pressed snugly inside her halter top.

I want him to look at me.

The realization shook her and she swallowed as he took a step closer, her throat suddenly dry. “I thought I told you you needed to work for it.”

He leaned down, and his big hands came to rest on either side of her head, mouth stopping a mere inch away from hers. “I think we have two different definitions of what working for it means.”

“Oh? What’s your definition?”

“Do you want to me to tell you?” He brushed his lips along the underside of her jaw. “Or show you?”

The blistering contact of his mouth on her skin sent shock waves coursing through her system. Since meeting, she and Derek had shared two sexually charged encounters, but this moment marked the first time he’d touched her and the effect was like a drug straight to her brain. Her head fell back, inviting him to kiss her in the sensitive spot again, but he remained still, waiting for her answer.

She lifted her head and looked him in the eye. “Show me.”

His mouth came down on hers, hard and hungry. The initial contact proved so potent, they both had to pause for a shuddering breath. When she slid her hands up to his shoulders and dug her nails in his flesh, he groaned and lifted her against the door. Desperate to get closer, Ginger’s legs came up to circle his waist, and she moaned when Derek pushed against her with his hips, holding her backside in place with rough hands. She broke contact with his mouth, gasping at the hardness pressing against her damp shorts.

“Did you enjoy putting on that little show for me behind the bar?”

One hand left her bottom to travel up, over her hip and rib cage, stopping just under her right breast, eyes piercing hers with a silent question. Oh, God. She nodded, and when his palm slid up and over her breast, squeezing gently, her eyelids fluttered closed at the excess of sensations. She could feel him watching her, weighing her every reaction as he ran his thumb back and forth across her hard nipple. The arousal she’d experienced earlier tonight while Derek watched her work exploded with added intensity. A whimper escaped her lips. A sharp ache pulsed between her thighs.

“I asked you a question. Did you enjoy it?”

Derek’s words deepened the ache beating within her to a painful level. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than for him to whip off her shorts and panties to take her hard and fast against the door. She licked her lips. “Yes.”

His eyes flared. “Was your performance for me alone or every man with a goddamn pair of eyes?”

He expected her to talk when his mouth was moving to her neck, sucking the sensitive spot underneath her ear? Expert lips traced a path down to her collarbone and back up, and he bit the tender area with a low growl.

“Is it all a tease or do you ever let them take you home?”

Ginger rolled her head to the side, begging for his lips to return to her neck. The hand plastered to her ass kneaded relentlessly, keeping her moving against his erection with intensifying friction. If he would just let her move her hips a little, she would come, even with her shorts on, but his hand and hips controlled her every action. She made a sound of frustration.

His breath rasped out harshly against her ear, punctuated by each thrust that pinned her to the shaking door. Knowing she affected him so powerfully in return made her dizzy. When his mouth found hers once more, she bit his lower lip then licked it, meeting his eyes under heavy lids. He responded by devouring her mouth on a loud groan, sucking her tongue until she writhed against him.

When Derek abruptly ceased his calculated torture, Ginger protested, seeking his mouth once more. He resisted.

Levering her against the door, he ran skilled hands down her thighs and hooked his arms under her knees, pulling them up until they almost reached his shoulders. Then his hips pressed in and upward. Hitting her right where she needed it. Ginger’s head fell back against the door.

“Derek.”

“Answer me.” She couldn’t remember the question. Her breath raced through her lips. Release hovered just within her reach. “No! I don’t go home with any of them. Ever.”

Her sincere answer appeared to calm him somewhat, but then he stepped back, dropped her legs and let her slide down his body. They both groaned at the contact. Ginger wanted to cry with frustration and nearly did so, but then the reality of their situation hit her full force. She’d been two seconds from letting a near-stranger screw her in a public hallway. Although this type of reckless behavior was out of character for her, it eerily reminded her of something. Someone.

Her mother.

Bitter anger and shame swept through her. Pushing against Derek’s chest, she let him see the full force of her fury. “And after that performance, what the hell makes you any different from the drunken assholes at the bar? You’re exactly like them. The only difference is I had the bad fortune of moving next door to you.”

His momentary calm evaporated and he backed her once more against the door, grasping her chin in his hand. “The difference is, you don’t want any of those men to fuck you. But you want me to fuck you very badly. Don’t you, Ginger?”

“No.”

Laughing darkly, one big hand dropped between her legs. He palmed her mound and squeezed, then ran two seeking fingers along the seam of her shorts where the telltale wetness gave her away.

“Liar.”

“I hate you.” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Would you like me to prove what a liar you are?”

“No, I’d like you to give me my keys so I can get the hell away from you.” She snatched the keys from his outstretched hand and unlocked the door. Once inside, she threw the deadbolt and leaned back against the door, breathing heavily through her nose.

About the author:

Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

Visit her website or follow Tessa on Twitter @mstessabailey

Review….Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Buy from Amazon ~ Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Can you love someone too much?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. But just when he thinks he is invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Beautiful Disaster, Abby had her say. Now it’s time to see the story through Travis’s eyes.

My Review:

Walking Disaster is the follow-up to Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Disaster and is in essence the same story, but told in Travis’ point of view. To say that I had been looking forward to this book would be a ginormous understatement. Beautiful Disaster is one of my all-time favorite stories and after hearing that Jamie was writing it from Travis’ eyes, I couldn’t wait for Walking Disaster to release….*dreamy sigh* it was everything I had hoped for and more.

If you haven’t read Beautiful Disaster, I suggest you do before reading this book. I don’t think you will truly appreciate the emotional roller coaster if you skip over it and start with this book.

This story was the white knuckled, high emotion, crazy intense read I had hoped it would be coming from Travis. From the very beginning I was completely hooked and was a sobbing mess from the prologue alone. Reading about the gut wrenching experience of Travis losing his mother at such a young age, though a child’s eyes, was truly amazing. It gave the reader such an insight into Travis and how he has become who he is today…intense, all or nothing, fierce and protective. If it was at all possible, this book made me love him even more. I cannot even explain how amazing it was to see the world through Travis’ eyes.

And now, let me get to my absolute FAVORITE part….the freaking epilogue. I have dubbed Jamie the Queen of Epilogues. This was the most amazing epilogue in the history of all epilogues. Ever. To be able to see Travis and Abby later on down the road was a gift I will cherish forever. I think I have probably re-read it twenty times since finishing the book. It was just perfect. Truly perfect.

This book will go on my bookshelf next to Beautiful Disaster and will be a book I will go back to time and again, because Abby and Travis are a book couple I truly adore. I am hoping (and praying and dreaming and begging) for more from Jamie and the Maddox family! Thank you Jamie, for giving us Travis…cause damn, he’s just too freaking amazing!!

Five Loves

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!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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