Dark Nights – Page 19 – Read-Love-Blog

Master Of Freedom by Cherise Sinclair….Excerpt Blog Tour Stop

About MASTER OF FREEDOM:

Detective Atticus Ware gave up his beloved Idaho to start again in the mountains of California, close to his imprisoned brother. He has a rewarding job and friends, but the experienced Dominant wants more than the Do-Me submissives who flock around him. He needs a woman who will give her heart as well as her body.   Virginia, “Gin,” is damn good at her challenging career as a prison psychologist. However, one problem inmate is mired in misery and unable to overcome his guilt at causing a friend’s death.  To clear her mind, she joins a friend’s kinky backpacking excursion, planning to hide in her tent during the evening BDSM pursuits. But Atticus lures her into the activities. She’s read about BDSM, but submission under the hands of a powerful Dom is beyond anything she’d imagined. She doesn’t trust men, doesn’t want a relationship, and yet…wants more from him.   Finally, Atticus has found the woman he wants in his life. In his bed. In his cuffs. But she’s not only his brother’s therapist, but also works in a prison. How can he tolerate his woman walking into danger every single blasted day?   Gin knows she has no future with Atticus Ware, but still, hope is rising in her heart.

Amazon Kindle ** Amazon Paperback

Excerpt:

There was a tap on the door. Before she could answer, Atticus stepped into the cabin.

“What are—” Gin tossed her book aside. “I do believe you’re in the wrong cabin. This one is mine.”

“I know, darlin’,” he said. “I came to find you.” His gaze swept over her, making her all too aware of the lowness of her décolletage. “Gorgeous nightie, pet, but you quit the evening a little early, didn’t you?”

“It seemed appropriate when everyone grew…occupied.”

As he crossed the room, everything about him was cowboy sexy. Those long legs, battered boots, black hat, and bucking-horse belt buckle.

He went down on his haunches beside the bed, putting their eyes at the same level, then took her hand. “Listen, Gin.” He grinned, his white teeth framed by the dark brown beard. “Isn’t that a harsh-sounding word for such a pretty woman?”

Oh, he shouldn’t smile at her. It was too distracting. And he’d called her pretty.

“Gin,” he said again. “You wanted to learn about BDSM. Came all the way here. True?”

Under his penetrating gaze, her chest turned as shivery as if she were inhaling tiny bubbles with each breath. Stop melting and think. She put a chill into her voice to remind him of proper decorum—which didn’t include cabin visits to a woman in her nightwear. “It may be true, but I do not believe my interests are your concern.”

An unexpected dimple appeared on his right cheek above his beard. “If you want to freeze me out, that accent of yours ruins the effect. It’s like listening to warm honey.”

She gave an exasperated sniff and tried to free her hand. “Go on back to your students, please.”

“All done with them. They’re Jake’s now,” he said. “The way I see it, I owe you a class for helping me earlier. Let’s go to the pavilion where you’ll have some backup, and I’ll give you a taste of what you missed.”

“No.” The word jumped right out, but…lacked any conviction whatsoever.

And oh, he could tell. He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. His intent blue gaze stayed on her face.

She mustn’t. Shouldn’t. Actual participation would be insane. Stupid. Foolhardy.

But he’d said they’d go to the pavilion. Kallie’d rescue her if needed. Kallie and Jake might be friends with Atticus, but neither would permit anything abusive.

She’d scolded the heroine in her book for cowardice. Was she any braver? If she wanted to learn about BDSM, what better opportunity would she have?

Only…he’d touch her.

How badly she wanted his hands on her was disconcerting. Her swallow was loud in the quiet cabin.

Amusement lit his eyes.

Despite her inner quivers, she gave him a nod.

“Let me hear a yes from you.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

About Cherise Sinclair:

Having to wear glasses in elementary school can scar a person for life. Dubbed a nerd at an early age, Cherise Sinclair has been trying to live up to the stereotype ever since. And what better way than being an author?   Known for writing deeply emotional stories, the USA Today Bestselling Author has penned sixteen erotic romance novels, most with a BDSM theme. (Please do not mention the phrase mommy porn in her presence.) Her awards range from a National Leather Award to a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nomination to a GoodReads BDSM group award for best author of the year. Called an “ascendant erotica queen” by Rolling Stone Magazine, Cherise spends her days writing, supervised by a sadistic calico cat.

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Master Of Freedom by Cherise Sinclair…Release Day Event

We are extremely excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Cherise Sinclair’s MASTER OF FREEDOM! MASTER OF FREEDOM is a Contemporary Erotic Romance novella in Cherise’s Mountain Masters Series! This is a 1001 Dark Nights novella so it is exclusively available as Amazon Kindle and Paperback!

Amazon Kindle ** Amazon Paperback

About MASTER OF FREEDOM:

Virginia, “Gin,” is damn good at her challenging career as a prison psychologist. However, one problem inmate is mired in misery and unable to overcome his guilt at causing a friend’s death.
To clear her mind, she joins a friend’s kinky backpacking excursion, planning to hide in her tent during the evening BDSM pursuits. But Atticus lures her into the activities. She’s read about BDSM, but submission under the hands of a powerful Dom is beyond anything she’d imagined. She doesn’t trust men, doesn’t want a relationship, and yet…wants more from him.

Finally, Atticus has found the woman he wants in his life. In his bed. In his cuffs. But she’s not only his brother’s therapist, but also works in a prison. How can he tolerate his woman walking into danger every single blasted day?

Gin knows she has no future with Atticus Ware, but still, hope is rising in her heart.

Excerpt:

“Virg called. There’s a prison riot in Yard A. But while that happened, a Hummer took out the fence in the minimum-security section. Several racist gang members—skinheads—were on yard work. Four grabbed a couple of the female staff and escaped.”

When Atticus’s hand stopped in midstroke, the mare nudged him chidingly. “What about Gin? Is she all right? Has anyone seen her?”

“Buddy,” Morgan’s gaze was stark. “She was kidnapped.”

“No.” The word came from his gut. Then he moved. Left the stall. Shut in the mare. “Lend me a car.” He could—

Morgan grabbed his shoulder and ducked the reflexive punch. “Hold, man. They had a Jeep. Abandoned it up around Banner Mountain. The trailhead there breaks into a shitload of small paths. Virgil wants us to mount up, take the Flint trail, and see if we can cut their tracks.”

Smelling trouble, Trigger came to sit at Atticus’s feet.

Despite the fear for Gin tearing through him, Atticus forced himself to pause. Think. Hummer for the fence. Must have had the Jeep waiting. All on yard work. That shouldn’t have been allowed. Had they planned the riot as a diversion? They probably had gun or drug money to blow on bribes. Everything pointed to a coordinated plan.

Well thought out. So they’d know roadblocks would be set up. “They’ll have gear from the car. And maps. Are probably making for a point where they can be picked up by car.”

Wyatt had swung into action. When home, the Mastersons assisted Search and Rescue; they kept packs ready to go.

“Ware, catch.” Saddlebags flew through the air.

Atticus caught the load. Yard A. Sawyer wasn’t in that one. Still… “Any word on my brother?”

“Virgil didn’t say anything.” Morgan was saddling his horse.

Stay safe, bro. Keep your head down. Atticus saddled Festus and turned his mind to the task. The fucking inmates were canny enough to set up a prison break. They had hostages. And they’d react like cornered rats if found.

Gin, hold on, sweetling.

Atticus only had his service weapon. We need more firepower. “Wyatt, we’re going to need rifles. Accurate ones.”

“On it, buddy.” Morgan ran for the house.

Time to go hunting.

About Cherise Sinclair:

Known for writing deeply emotional stories, the USA Today Bestselling Author has penned sixteen erotic romance novels, most with a BDSM theme. (Please do not mention the phrase mommy porn in her presence.) Her awards range from a National Leather Award to a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nomination to a GoodReads BDSM group award for best author of the year. Called an “ascendant erotica queen” by Rolling Stone Magazine, Cherise spends her days writing, supervised by a sadistic calico cat.

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Pinterest ** Author Goodreads ** Novel Goodreads

Master Of Freedom by Cherise Sinclair…ARC Review

Synopsis:

Detective Atticus Ware gave up Idaho to start again in the California mountains, close to his imprisoned brother. Although he’s found good friends, the experienced Dominant wants more than the “do me” submissives flocking around him. He needs a woman to give her heart as well as her body.

After Virginia Cunningham exhausts herself propping up a failing relationship, she accepts a social worker job far, far away in a California prison. Invited to observe BDSM classes on a wilderness camping trip, she’s shocked—her fiancé had insisted BDSM was a fabrication to sell books. But when Atticus lures her into participating, she learns submission under the hands of a powerful Dom is beyond anything she’d imagined. Nonetheless, she can’t permit a relationship—she’d just lose herself again.
Finally, Atticus has found the woman he wants in his life. In his bed. In his cuffs. Only she keeps backing away. Well…if he has to help a little counselor get her head on straight, he’s just the Dom for the job.

My Review:

Master Of Freedom is book number four in the 2015 1,001 Dark Nights lineup as well as book number five in author Cherise Sinclair’s Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series. Admittedly this is the first in the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven Series I’ve read and after finishing this novella, I will be adding the entire series to my to-read list. I loved every single word of this story. Every single minute I spent reading it. It was phenomenal.

New to town, Virginia Cunningham was thrilled to have met some new people. Especially the gals she was now chatting with. They were fun and interesting and had just informed her that the BDSM world she had only read about in her favorite books was, in fact, a very real thing, To say that piqued her interest would be an understatement. And they had just invited her along to the mountain retreat that hosted a BDSM getaway. Since moving to California and leaving her fiancée, and their relationship, in the dust, this was a welcome adventure. Something to explore. Yes, she liked her new position as a social worker in the prison system, and it was a departure from working with kids, a job she truly loved, but even that wasn’t enough. Right now, at this moment, what Gin realized she wanted more than anything was to give this trip a go. Head out with these women, meet their spouses, and see where this could lead. This could be just what the doctor ordered….

Detective Atticus Ware had noticed Gin immediately and was drawn to her. Clearly this was her first time being around the BDSM lifestyle and, as a Dom, that called to him on a different level. He wanted to teach her. Wanted to show her how amazing this world could be. He could tell she was curious, open to learning and experiencing, and right then he knew he would be the one to teach her. He was tired of the subs who didn’t really take things seriously. Tired of the fake. He wanted something real. Something meaningful. One that only a true D/s relationship can give. After meeting her that night, talking with her, and her willingness to submit to him, he knew Gin would fit him as comfortably as the ropes he loved so much fit in his hand.

Atticus and Gin start off on a journey of self discovery that builds into a bond that neither one had expected, but both had longed for. But before they can revel in their new bond, things are put to the test and Atticus and Gin will find themselves not in a fight for a relationship, nut instead a fight for Gin’s life…

I had the chance to interview Ms. Sinclair about this book and one of the questions I asked was if she ever found it difficult to write the beautiful combination of emotion that goes into a true D/s relationship. I asked that particular question because, in my opinion, she is one of the best there is when it comes to that. This novella was no exception. The trust and bond that builds between Atticus and Gin is painted in beautiful brushstrokes of love and patience. Curiosity and understanding. Respect and adoration. This wasn’t a bumbling and immature fumble through BDSM, this was journey that I enjoyed every minute of. Gin is an amazing gal who is honest with herself and isn’t afraid to give her trust over to Atticus, especially in the very beginning stages. I loved that about her. Atticus is patient and easy to trust. Easy to talk to. He’s also sexy as hell with a delicious Alpha streak that had me swooning. I absolutely loved them together. The heat and passion were palpable and jumped off the pages. Totally delectable! Of course, they both have their own issues to work through before they can truly give themselves to one another, but it just made me love them even more. I couldn’t get enough of them and I was so sad I read their story as fast as I did.

Now, I have to add a little bit about the suspense element to this story. Holy hell, talk about one hell of an ending! I can’t give anything away but I will tell you that I was reading the last few pages wide-eyed and with sweaty palms. Don’t worry though….Ms. Sinclair ended things just perfectly!

I also have to mention that Atticus’ brother, Sawyer, has a part in this story and I really hope we get to see more of him! I loved him almost as much as I loved Atticus *dreamy sigh*.

Thank you. Ms. Sinclair, for once again writing one a story that combines a ton of heat, raw emotion, and a healthy dose of suspense that had me devouring every word written on the pages. I will be anxiously awaiting more (and crossing my finger, hoping for Sawyer!).

Five Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | 1,001 Dark Nights

About the author:

Having to wear glasses in elementary school can scar a person for life.

Dubbed a nerd at an early age, Cherise Sinclair has been trying to live up to the stereotype ever since. And what better way than being an author?

Cherise lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Their two fledglings have left the nest recently to try their wings and hopefully will fly high and strong. The “ascendant erotica queen” (Rolling Stone Magazine) now spends her days writing with occasional supervision from a sadistic calico cat.

Visit Cherise Sinclair’s website and follow her on:

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Easy With You by Kristen Proby…Review & Excerpt Tour

About EASY WITH YOU:

Nothing has ever come easy for Lila Bailey. She’s fought for every good thing in her life during every day of her thirty-one years. Aside from that one night with an impossible to deny stranger a year ago, Lila is the epitome of responsible.

Steadfast. Strong.

She’s pulled herself out of the train wreck of her childhood, proud to be a professor at Tulane University and laying down roots in a city she’s grown to love. But when some of her female students are viciously murdered, Lila’s shaken to the core and unsure of whom she can trust in New Orleans. When the police detective assigned to the murder case comes to investigate, she’s even more surprised to find herself staring into the eyes of the man that made her toes curl last year.

In an attempt to move on from the tragic loss of his wife, Asher Smith moved his daughter and himself to a new city, ready for a fresh start. A damn fine police lieutenant, but new to the New Orleans force, Asher has a lot to prove to his colleagues and himself.

With a murderer terrorizing the Tulane University campus, Asher finds himself toe-to-toe with the one woman that haunts his dreams. His hands, his lips, his body know her as intimately as he’s ever known anyone. As he learns her mind and heart as well, Asher wants nothing more than to keep her safe, in his bed, and in his and his daughter’s lives for the long haul.

But when Lila becomes the target, can Asher save her in time, or will he lose another woman he loves?

Order Links:

Amazon Kindle ** Amazon Print

Excerpt:

“You have very pretty hair,” Lila tells Casey, who preens from the compliment.

“It’s just like my mom’s,” Casey says innocently, and the stab to my heart is immediate. It’s lessened with time, thankfully, but in these simple moments, it catches me off guard. “It’s really curly. And red.” She wrinkles her nose.

“That explains it,” Lila says, looking at me with surprised eyes. “I was expecting you to have dark hair like your daddy.”

“Nope. I got the red.” Casey sighs. “And the freckles.”

“You know, my best friend has red hair and freckles, and she’s just as gorgeous as you are.”

Casey smiles up at me, then back at Lila. “Cool.”

“So what are our plans for the rest of the day? Surely you don’t intend to try to entertain me all day.” Lila takes a sip of her water, watching me over the rim.

“I do intend to entertain you all day. And don’t call me Shirley.”

Lila laughs, a happy, loud laugh that makes my stomach clench. She tosses her hair over one shoulder and shakes her head at me. “You’re silly.”

“He’s really silly,” Casey agrees and claps her hands as our pancakes and bacon are served. “But he’s handsome. Don’t you think?”

“She’s really subtle,” I inform Lila dryly. She simply pours maple syrup on her pancakes, so much that I wince and then chuckle at her. “Do you want some pancakes with your syrup?”

“Maybe.” She winks at me and turns her attention back to Casey. “Yes, your daddy is handsome.”

“And he’s smart. And he has a good job. And he can fix things.”

“Really?” Lila takes a bite of her bacon and leans in like Casey is about to tell her all of life’s secrets. “What can he fix?”

I watch Casey, also interested to hear what it is, exactly, that I can fix.

A Message from Kristen Proby:

Dear readers,

As you know, the With Me In Seattle series came to a close earlier this month with the eighth and final installment, FOREVER WITH ME. I’ve been steadfast in my decision that there would be no further stories from the series, no spin-offs, nothing more. In my mind, it was complete.

And I still feel that the Montgomery/Williams families are complete, and I maintain that I’m happy with their happy-ever-afters.

But, I’ve also heard you when you’ve said that Asher, Matt Montgomery’s partner in TIED WITH ME, deserves to have a happily ever after for himself and his daughter Casey. So, when the lovely ladies from 1001 Dark Nights asked me to participate in their wonderful project, I thought long and hard about whose story it should be about. Seattle is finished, and I’ve moved on to New Orleans for the new Boudreaux Series… And then it occurred to me: why not do both, and offer a companion novella to each of the series?

And so, because you, the reader, has been so insistent that you want to see Asher and Casey find their perfect person, I’m excited to introduce you to EASY WITH YOU. I think you’re going to love Asher and Lila’s love story this spring…

Happy Reading,
Kristen Proby

ABOUT KRISTEN PROBY:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

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Easy With You by Kristen Proby…ARC Review

Easy With You releases 3/24

Book Links:

Amazon | 1,001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

Steadfast. Strong.

But when Lila becomes the target, can Asher save her in time, or will he lose another woman he loves?

My Review:

Easy With You is book number 8.5 in author Kristen Proby’s With Me In Seattle Series, as well as story number 3 in the 1,001 Dark Nights 2015 line-up, and serves up on hell of a crossover between author Proby’s Seattle series and her new Boudreaux series. I loved every sexy and thrilling minute of this story.

Lila and Asher meet when she falls, literally, into his lap on a flight and while the attraction was there, neither one of them thought to take it to the next level by getting a phone number. Fate fixes that when they run into each other again at a bar one evening. Realizing that this second chance meeting isn’t one to be ignored, they take advantage of it and spend one hot, delicious, sexy night together. But still, no phone numbers exchanged. They both knew it was better that way. Asher was a single father now and he needed to focus on his daughter and his work. He didn’t want to form any kind of bond with a woman that could one day come back to hurt him. Like the bond he once had with his wife. The wife that was now gone. Lila had her reasons as well for wanting to focus on her work and life, most of which were courtesy of a less than stealer childhood.

Soon enough, though, fate plays her hand again and puts these two together when there’s a serial killer on the loose at Lila’s university. She had no idea Asher had moved to her town and was now heading up the case. She had no idea how seeing him again would affect her. The same can be said for Asher. This case brings out a protective side in him that he can’t ignore. He would do whatever needed to be done to keep Lila safe.

With their attraction still just as heated as it was the last time they saw one another, and the added emotion with danger lurking just out of sight, things between Lila and Asher will reach a fevered pitch in the most delicious of ways.

Oh, my. From start to finish, this novella had me glued to the pages. Asher is take-charge and protective. He truly shines as a single father and he had me swooning too many times to count. I loved how he loves his daughter. Lila is strong and determined with a good level head when it came to knowing when to take the protection Asher was offering. Nothing annoys me more than a heroine that just won’t listen to reason and Lila was the complete opposite. Together they are a beautiful match and really burn up the sheets *fans self*.

The combination of suspense, heat, and stellar characters was simply fabulous. It was also a combination that was perfectly balanced. There wasn’t too much or too little of one of the layers and I really appreciated that. I have found a lot of romantic suspense stories tend to lean towards the lighter side when it comes to the sex and it leaves me feeling a bit let down. Not this one. Oh, not even a little bit…the sexy scenes in this novella were delectable.

Thank you Kristen, for a fantastic read! I hope we see more of your romantic suspense in the future because you rocked it!!

Five Loves

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

When Irish Eyes Are Haunting by Heather Graham….Release Day Event

We are absolutely ecstatic about this Release Day Launch for Heather Graham’s WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING! WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING is an Adult Paranormal Romance novella in Heather’s Krewe of Hunters Series! Be sure to grab your copy today!

Amazon Kindle Amazon Paperback**

About IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING:

Devin Lyle and Craig Rockwell are back, this time to a haunted castle in Ireland where a banshee may have gone wild—or maybe there’s a much more rational explanation—one that involves a disgruntled heir, murder, and mayhem, all with that sexy light touch Heather Graham has turned into her trademark style.

Excerpt:

“You’re right; we’ve just arrived,” Rocky told Devin softly, his words bringing her back from her thoughts. They were both seated cross-legged on the soft, rich green grass of the lawn area that surrounded the pit and the grating. Rocky took her hands, his eyes on Gary across the rising yellow flames of the fire between them. “And,” he added, lowering his voice still further, “this is an excellent way for me to begin, to understand the lay of the land, so to speak.” He hugged her more tightly to him, as if he was aware of the chill she’d felt earlier when looking up at the walls.

He was aware, of course. He was Rocky, intuitive—and much better at this than she, much more experienced.

“So then tonight,” Gary announced, “eh, you’ve learned about the Tuatha Dé Danann, the great race of Irish supernatural kings and queens, gods and goddesses, if you will, those of the distant past, revered ’til the coming of Christianity! Ye’ve learned of Dearg-Due—an Irish female vampire known long before Bram Stoker—an Irishman, I might add—created Dracula. We’ve talked about our Irish headless horseman—the Dullahan. Many more, and of course, those well-known, our leprechauns and our banshees! I’m now Gary the Ghost, signing off, wishing you sweet dreams—and reminding you, of course, that gratuities are not at all necessary, but deeply appreciated.”

“There’s a man worthy of gratuities,” Rocky said, coming to his feet and reaching down a hand to help Devin up to hers. He pulled her into his arms. “Love it here. So far, it’s a great honeymoon,” he told her, green eyes dancing.

“I’ll make it up to you,” Devin promised.

Rocky laughed. “I mean it—I love it. Who gets to stay in the haunted master’s suite of a family-owned castle? Sit beneath a crystal moon and hear old-fashioned storytelling in such atmospheric conditions? Then again, who gets to bathe in a great old claw-foot tub like the one up in our room? Okay, maybe they have those other places, but it’s pretty cool looking, don’t you think?”

Devin grinned. “Definitely. Yes, we’ll put that on the evening’s agenda.”

About Heather Graham:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell’s Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette’s Shadows, and for Harlequin’s mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.

Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children’s charity. She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards from Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.

Heather loves travel and anything having to do with the water, and is a certified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.

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When Irish Eyes Are Haunted by Heather Graham….ARC Review

When Irish Eyes Are Haunting releases February 24

Book Links:

Amazon | 1,001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

My Review:

When Irish Eyes Are Haunting is story number 14.5 in author Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunter Series as well as the second release in this year’s 1,001 Dark Nights collection. I am a huge fan of the Krewe of Hunters and was thrilled to read more of one of my favorite couples thus far; Devin and Craig. Like a warm visit with old friends, this story was immensely enjoyable and filled with mystery and folk-lore. I loved it!

Newlyweds, and Krewe of Hunter members, Devin Lyle and Craig Rockwell should be enjoying the beautiful rolling hills of Ireland on their honeymoon. Instead, they are here for an untimely death in Devin’s family which leads to quite an investigation involving the tale of a banshee and her wail. Could that be responsible for her relative’s death? Now, if anyone could believe in such a tale, it’s Devin and Rocky and their ghost-seeing abilities, but they also know there is most likely something else behind this mystery. Could it be someone was looking to kill off the rightful heirs to the family castle and estate and claim it as their own? Certainly a ghostly apparition wouldn’t gain from material possessions. Putting their honeymoon romance on hold a bit, Devin and Rocky start off on a mission to solve this deadly mystery…banshees or not.

As only author Heather Graham can do, this story was weaved with mystery and supernatural lore that had me glued to every page from start to finish. Devin and Rocky arrive in Ireland and the reader is immediately taken into their world, with breathtaking descriptions of the castle and surrounding land, I felt as though I was in the story with them. Along with that, the characters are rich and intriguing. From Gary the ghost tour guide, to Devin’s family members, these characters were entertaining and enjoyable. Of course, the mystery surrounding the castle was fantastic. The introduction of a prophecy had me wondering if there was a curse on the land and the family or if there was nothing supernatural at work at all, just a greedy person wanting what they felt they deserved. Now, I won’t give anything away but be prepared for a thrilling ride and quite a twist at the end!

A suspenseful paranormal murder mystery with a dash of romance, When Irish Eyes Are Haunting is a must read for fans of all different genres and I highly recommend. Thank you, Ms. Graham, for another wonderful visit with the Krewe of Hunters gang!

Five Loves

About the author:

Heather Graham New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Heather Graham, majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare. She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages. She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times and more. Heather has also become the proud recipient of the Silver Bullet from Thriller Writers. Heather has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, Mystery Book Club, People and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including Today, Entertainment Tonight and local television. The Unseen, The Unholy, The Unspoken and the Uninvited are available now. Let the Dead Sleep will be released in March, 2013. The Night is Watching, The Night is Alive and The Night is Forever will be released in Jne, August and October.

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The Surrender Gate by Christopher Rice…ARC Review

The Surrender Gate releases tomorrow!

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice’s first foray into erotic romance, The Flame, earned accolades from some of the genre’s most beloved authors. “Sensual, passionate and intelligent,” wrote Lexi Blake, “it’s everything an erotic romance should be.” J. Kenner called it “absolutely delicious,” Cherise Sinclair hailed it as “beautifully lyrical” and Loreli James announced, “I look forward to reading more!” Now, Christopher returns you to the world first introduced in The Flame with an all new novel of The Desire Exchange…

Emily Blaine’s life is about to change. Arthur Benoit, the kindly multi-millionaire who has acted as her surrogate father for years, has just told her he’s leaving her his entire estate, and he only has a few months to live. Soon Emily will go from being a restaurant manager with a useless English degree to the one of the richest and most powerful women in New Orleans. There’s just one price. Arthur has written a letter to his estranged son Ryan he hopes will mend the rift between them, and he wants Emily to deliver the letter before it’s too late. But finding Ryan won’t be easy. He’s been missing for years. He was recently linked to a mysterious organization called The Desire Exchange. But is The Desire Exchange just an urban legend? Or are the rumors true? Is it truly a secret club where the wealthy can live out their most private sexual fantasies?

It’s a task Emily can’t undertake alone. But there’s only one man qualified to help her, her gorgeous and confident best friend, Jonathan Claiborne. She’s suspected Jonathan of working as a high-priced escort for months now, and she’s willing to bet that while giving pleasure to some of the most powerful men in New Orleans, Jonathan has uncovered some possible leads to The Desire Exchange—and to Ryan Benoit. But Emily’s attempt to uncover Jonathan’s secret life lands the two of them in hot water. Literally. In order to escape the clutches of one of Jonathan’s most powerful and dangerous clients, they’re forced to act on long buried desires—for each other.

When Emily’s mission turns into an undercover operation, Jonathan insists on going with her. He also insists they continue to explore their impossible, reckless passion for each other. Enter Marcus Dylan, the hard-charging ex-NAVY Seal Arthur has hired to keep Emily safe. But Marcus has been hired for another reason. He, too, has a burning passion for Emily, a passion that might keep Emily from being distracted and confused by a best friend who claims he might be able to go straight just for her. But Marcus is as rough and controlling as Jonathan is sensual and reckless. As Emily searches for a place where the rich turn their fantasies into reality, she will be forced to decide which one of her own long-ignored fantasies should become her reality. But as Emily, Jonathan, and Marcus draw closer to The Desire Exchange itself, they find their destination isn’t just shrouded in mystery, but in magic as well.

My review:

The Surrender Gate is the first novel in The Desire Exchange series by author Christopher Rice, the second release for 1,001 Dark Nights this year, and follows the world introduced to us in The Flame. Where The Flame was a delicious amuse-bouche, The Surrender Gate is a wonderfully prepared first course. I devoured it on one sitting and was completely drawn in by the relationships between the characters and the promise of a peek into a secretive supernatural world. It was amazing.

In a short amount of time, Emily Blane’s life has gone from relatively normal to anything but. The best friend she thought she knew had a whole secret side to his life, they’ve shared a night she never thought would happen, and she’s been thrown into a world she never thought imaginable while undercover and looking for her father figure’s long lost son. A secret world where nothing is as it seems. Where people are asked to open up and speak their deepest desires. A world that very few people knew of and a world that Emily couldn’t believe was actually trying to become a part of. Luckily her best friend was with her along the way, also undercover, and trying to breach the secret walls of this society of sorts. She also had another person on her side…Marcus. The guard tasked with keeping her safe by the man she considered a father.

As if all of that wasn’t enough to fill a girl’s plate, she finds herself growing seriously attracted to Marcus and soon she realized the feelings are mutual. But this wasn’t the time nor place to start any kind of relationship…not when she isn’t even sure she will get out of this mess alive.

Navigating the next few weeks will certainly be a test for Emily. She will experience emotions and pleasure like never before and will question her resolve more than once during this experience. Does she have to strength to endure it? Something tells her that having Marcus there with her for every step of the way she can…

Truly amazing. I am a huge fan of Christopher Rice’s work and have read his thriller work but, by far, my favorite of his writing is in this erotic suspense genre. Mr. Rice has such a beautiful and tantalizing way with words that truly bring the reader into every moment and allow you to feel the emotions alongside of the characters. This story has so many wonderful elements. There is the taste of paranormal with The Desire Exchange itself, the sexiness of the bedroom scenes, and the mystery of what has happened in the disappearance of a young man. But, hands down, my favorite part of this story is the ever-changing and evolving of the relationships between Emily, her best friend, and Marcus. What starts out one way, ends in a different direction, and the beauty of Mr. Rice’s writing is that I never once was unhappy or unsatisfied with how things were going. Relationships are complicated and messy at times in real life, and we delve into that head-on a few times within the story. I loved how real it felt. It was amazing to read and to accompany these characters on their journey.

I love that this book can cross so many genre lines and appeal to many different readers. I highly recommend it to fans of suspense, romance, paranormal, and of course, erotic romance. Thank you, Mr. Rice, for a beautiful and sensual story. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | 1.001 Dark Nights

About the author:

By the age of 30, Christopher Rice had published four New York Times bestselling thrillers, received a Lambda Literary Award and been declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive. His latest novel is THE HEAVENS RISE, a supernatural thriller about a young woman who is exposed to a mysterious parasite in the Louisiana swamp that gives her the power to control minds and unleash living nightmares. THE HEAVENS RISE is currently a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel. Together with his best friend, bestselling novelist Eric Shaw Quinn, Christopher recently launched his own Internet radio show. An outrageous and irreverent comedy variety program, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN streams 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at TheDinnerPartyShow.com, with new live episodes premiering Sunday evenings at 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific.

Christopher’s first novel, A DENSITY OF SOULS, was published when he was just 22. The controversial bestseller was greeted with a landslide of media attention, much of it due the fact that Rice’s mother is a legendary vampire chronicler who shares his last name. He served as a contributing columnist to The Advocate for many years and his additional criticisms and witticisms have been featured in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon.com and his own Facebook page, which currently hails over 100,000 subscribers. The members of the InsightOut Book Club selected his novel BLIND FALL as one of the best novels of 2008, and his noir thriller LIGHT BEFORE DAY was hailed as a “book of the year” by mega-best selling thriller novelist (and Jack Reacher creator), Lee Child. His short fiction has been featured in the anthologies Thriller and Los Angeles Noir. He recently served on the board of directors of the West Hollywood Library Fund, which was instrumental in securing private funds to build a brand new state-of-the-art library in the heart of the city he now calls home.

website | Twitter | Facebook | The Dinner Party Show

Wicked Wolf by Carrie Ann Ryan Ebook Giveaway

Happy Thursday!

I have THREE kindle copies of Carrie Ann Ryan’s WICKED WOLF to give away! (if you don’t have a kindle, not to worry! You can download free Kindle reading apps HERE – This is actually how I read my kindle books, through the app)
Enter to win in the rafflceopter below…the contest runs through midnight Monday and winners will be announced Tuesday, January 27.

Thanks for stopping by!

I also had the pleasure of interviewing Carrie Ann for the 1,001 Dark Nights Monthly Newsletter.

Here is a snippet:

The chemistry between Gina and Quinn in Wicked Wolf is fantastic and I loved their story! What made you choose them for your 1,001 Dark Nights novella?

Thank you so much for saying that! Gina and Quinn surprised me how much they burned up the pages as I wrote them. As for how I chose them, you actually have Liz Berry to thank for that. The two of us were talking about the future of the Redwood Pack and where 1,001 would take the series. You see, the first arc of the series ended with Fighting Fate, however the series isn’t over yet.

I knew that the book right after Wicked Wolf would be 30 years in the future and start my Talon Pack series spin off, but I didn’t want to jump too far ahead. Instead, I jumped 15 years and low and behold, I knew who I wanted to write about. Gina was adopted into the Jamenson family during the course of the series and was the perfect age to find her mate. Since she was a Redwood Pack wolf I knew I wanted to write about her finding love with a Talon to bridge my two series. It was fun!

You have a few different series and have worlds set in both paranormal and contemporary romance. Do you find going between the two challenging?

Yes and no. My Montgomery Ink series is my only contemporary series so far and luckily I have been able to turn off the vast world building and focus on the world building that comes with finding out how a character fits into a world we already live in. With my 4 -5 paranormal series (Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, Dante’s Circle, Holiday Montana and Branded Packs series), I get to jump outside the box and fit in the parameters I set for myself. It’s all about balancing that with my characters. Each way I feel like I write sexy stories with characters you could be friends with.

Who have been some of your favorite characters to write?

Oh my! That’s such a tough question. I think Dante from Tangled Innocence (A Dante’s Circle Novel) since he’s a dragon, Maddox from Shattered Emotions (A Redwood Pack Novel) because he was so emotionally broken that I got to see how he put himself together again, and Gina from Wicked Wolf is up there because she’s a kick-ass heroine! She doesn’t take crap from anyone but will totally sacrifice everything in her own life to help others.

You are another author who is fantastic on social media. Do you find it challenging to keep in touch with fans and get all of your writing done?

Well thank you! I try. And as for social media, it’s all about balance. I set goals for myself writing and admin wise and then I try to talk to readers daily. I also know how to turn off the Internet and focus since everything is so shiny there! But I do love talking to readers about not only my books but about books I read as well. It makes all of this so much more worth it.

You can read the entire interview HERE

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About 1,001 Dark Nights:

1001 Dark Nights is a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning. Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features 12 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution. In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Wicked Wolf by Carrie Ann Ryan…ARC Review

Wicked Wolf releases today!

Synopsis:

The war between the Redwood Pack and the Centrals is one of wolf legend. Gina Eaton lost both of her parents when a member of their Pack betrayed them. Adopted by the Alpha of the Pack as a child, Gina grew up within the royal family to become an enforcer and protector of her den. She’s always known fate can be a tricky and deceitful entity, but when she finds the one man that could be her mate, she might throw caution to the wind and follow the path set out for her, rather than forging one of her own.

Quinn Weston’s mate walked out on him five years ago, severing their bond in the most brutal fashion. She not only left him a shattered shadow of himself, but their newborn son as well. Now, as the lieutenant of the Talon Pack’s Alpha, he puts his whole being into two things: the safety of his Pack and his son.

When the two Alphas put Gina and Quinn together to find a way to ensure their treaties remain strong, fate has a plan of its own. Neither knows what will come of the Pack’s alliance, let alone one between the two of them. The past paved their paths in blood and heartache, but it will take the strength of a promise and iron will to find their future.

My review:

Wicked Wolf is book number eight in author Carrie Ann Ryan’s Redwood Pack series as well as the first in the 2015 1,001 Dark Nights Novella line-up. I have read only one other of author Ryan’s work and after enjoying it tremendously, and being a huge fan of the 1,001 Dark Nights series, I was excited to read this novella. Well, I wasn’t disappointed and now have another series I will be following. This story was fantastic.

Members of different packs, both Gina and Quinn have suffered their own heartache and loss separately. Gina having lost both of her parents and Quinn having lost his mate, they weren’t strangers to feeling great pain. It’s that former pain that leads them both a bit leery of forming future relationships. But fate, that fickle gal, always has a plan and soon Gina and Quinn find themselves in quite a situation. After being asked to work together to make sure the treaty between the packs remains strong and only continues to grow, they soon find they may actually be fated mates. Ordinarily that would be great news, but Quinn isn’t able to let go of the painful loss from years earlier. Enter fate agin. Soon Quinn is faced with yet another possible loss and it’s a loss only Gina can help prevent. The loss of his son. Lucky for Quinn, Gina won’t let that happen and before he realizes it, the bond he once feared is the bond he now craves. The problem is, Quinn hadn’t exactly welcomed Gina with open arms in the beginning and now that he wanted her, she may not want him.

With so much at stake for both packs, and now for both Quinn and Gina personally, will the bond they are meant to form grow into a truly loving relationship?

From the very first few pages, the pull between Quinn and Gina was palpable. Nether wanted to acknowledge it at first, but there was no denying what was happening between them and it was amazing to read. I loved the push and pull of emotions and I loved being inside of each characters head and to read their inner monologue. It gave us a real feel for their emotions. Oh, and the chemistry between them once things heat up? Beyond smoking hot!

On top of the amazing characters, I love how Carrie Ann keeps the pack dynamics true to how wolves interact in nature. I once visited a wolf sanctuary close to my home and I was so fascinated with the mannerisms of the Alphas and their packs. It is truly an amazing dynamic and that they all communicate without words is almost magical. Carrie Ann wrote her characters in such a way that it was easy to lose yourself in the paranormal wolf world and, even if for just a moment, believe that somewhere out there a world like this could truly exist. That, to me, is a gift.

I will be looking forward to reading more of this series as well as going into Ms. Ryan’s backlist to enjoy more of the Redwood Pack. Thank you, Ms. Ryan, for a magical and fantastic read!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | 1.001 Dark Nights

About the author:

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Caress of Darkness by Julie Kenner eBook Giveaway

Happy Tuesday!

I have five kindle copies of Julie Kenner’s Caress of Darkness to give away! (if you don’t have a kindle, not to worry! You can download free Kindle reading apps HERE)

Enter to win in the rafflecopter below…the contest runs through midnight Sunday and winners will be announced Monday, December 22 .

Thanks for stopping by!

I also had the pleasure of interviewing Julie for the 1,001 Dark Nights Monthly Newsletter.

Here is a snippet:

I have to tell you, I absolutely adored Caress of Darkness and it grabbed me from the very beginning. This novella kicks off a new paranormal series for you and has an interesting hero. I would love to know your inspiration behind it and his abilities.

Thank you!! I’m thrilled you enjoyed Caress of Darkness, because I am totally in love with this series … and these heroes!

As for inspiration, in a way, it was self-inspired, LOL! I absolutely love the erotic romances that I’m writing as J. Kenner. The characters, the stories, the drama, the heat. And I have always loved writing paranormal, which I’ve written throughout my entire writing career (both light and dark paranormal). So I wanted to create a paranormal series with heroes as sexy, commanding, enigmatic (and, yes, dangerous) as the Stark, Stark International, and Most Wanted heroes. But I also wanted to add a paranormal flair. But how? I don’t recall exactly how I came up with the immortal concept (too many viewings of Highlander, perhaps) but it was the idea of the phoenix fire that truly got my creative juices flowing.

Speaking of the new series, do you already have an idea of how many books it will be?

Honestly, it depends on how readers respond. The series is set up to have quite a few books … and I am dying to write all of them. Right now, I have plans for Raine’s story (Caress of Darkness), Mal’s story (Find Me in Darkness, Find Me in Pleasure, Find Me in Passion), and Dante’s story (Caress of Pleasure, the next 1001 Dark Nights novella).

If readers respond to the series the way I hope they will, then there are several more stories after that featuring other heroes that readers will meet in both Caress of Darkness and in the Find Me trilogy.

Which is a long way of saying five books minimum, but the world is big and vibrant enough to fill over a dozen stories, and I hope to do just that!

Your recent releases have been primarily erotic romance, are you exited to get back into the paranormal world?

I am! I love paranormal stories—they’re larger than life and get my imagination flowing. The possibilities are truly endless. And the truth is, I was weaned on paranormal and SciFi books and television. So in a lot of ways, paranormal is my comfort zone.

There have been a lot of paranormal books made into movies. Do you have a favorite adaptation?

I’m going to have to go back to the classics on this one, because I think Rosemary’s Baby is one of the best book adaptations ever (paranormal or not!).

You can read the entire interview HERE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About 1,001 Dark Nights:

1001 Dark Nights is a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning. Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution. In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

About the author:

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

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Synopsis:

My Review:

Five Loves

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About EASY WITH YOU:

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Excerpt:

A Message from Kristen Proby:

Easy With You releases 3/24

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Synopsis:

My Review:

Five Loves

We are absolutely ecstatic about this Release Day Launch for Heather Graham’s WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING! WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING is an Adult Paranormal Romance novella in Heather’s Krewe of Hunters Series! Be sure to grab your copy today!

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When Irish Eyes Are Haunting releases February 24

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Synopsis:

My Review:

Five Loves

The Surrender Gate releases tomorrow!

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Happy Thursday!

Wicked Wolf releases today!

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Happy Tuesday!

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