The Angel’s Share by J.R. Ward….Book Excerpt and ARC reviews by Jilly & Courtney

by Jilly

The Angels’s Share releases TODAY!

Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward delivers the second novel in her Bourbon Kings series—a sweeping saga of a Southern dynasty struggling to maintain a façade of privilege and prosperity, while secrets and indiscretions threaten its very foundation…

In Charlemont, Kentucky, the Bradford family is the crème de la crème of high society—just like their exclusive brand of bourbon. And their complicated lives and vast estate are run by a discrete staff who inevitably become embroiled in their affairs. This is especially true now, when the apparent suicide of the family patriarch is starting to look more and more like murder…

No one is above suspicion—especially the eldest Bradford son, Edward. The bad blood between him and his father is known far and wide, and he is aware that he could be named a suspect. As the investigation into the death intensifies, he keeps himself busy at the bottom of a bottle—as well as with his former horse trainer’s daughter. Meanwhile, the family’s financial future lies in the perfectly manicured hands of a business rival, a woman who wants Edward all to herself.

Everything has consequences; everybody has secrets. And few can be trusted. Then, at the very brink of the family’s demise, someone thought lost to them forever returns to the fold. Maxwell Bradford has come home. But is he a savior…or the worst of all the sinners?

Jilly’s review:

The Angel’s Share is the second book in author J.R. Ward’s Bourbon Kings series and after becoming addicted to all the dysfunction and duplicity there is within this wealthy family’s walls with the first book, I was dying to get my hands on this next installment. Boy oh boy, it was just as juicy as I dreamed it would be.

Things have reached a bit of a fevered pitch for the Bradford family and big decisions are going to have to be made in this book. Life or death, love or loss, live in the past or move forward with the future kind of decisions. My heart was breaking for more than a few members of the bourbon royalty and I was hoping at least two of them got some sort of resolution and a bit of happiness in their otherwise bleak existence. Of course, when it comes to millions of dollars being at stake, family secrets perilously close to being thrown into the public spotlight, and the possibility of even more loss than some have already suffered, you can bet that there will be no lengths people are willing to go to to keep all of it quiet.

Of course, all of this juicy drama is written by an author I have loved for years. Ms. Ward’s writing is enchanting with rich description, multifaceted characters, and a complex and riveting plot that just gets better and better with each chapter. I love each and every character and love that I have no idea what is coming next while reading. The twists and turns within these pages are simply divine!

I also have to say, that the difference in writing between this series and Ms. Ward’s paranormal work is just so awesome. Both have a very different feel and style to them and both are just as addictive. Really, really well done.

Thank you, Ms. Ward, for another wonderful trip to Kentucky…I cannot wait to see what’s in store for this group next!

Five Loves

Courtney’s Review:

JR Ward does not let us down in the next installment of The Bourbon Kings. And wow, I don’t even know where to begin or how to process all that I just read. I am loving this series and just soaking it all up!!

Everyone expected this to be Edward’s book. However, every character is given their own time in this book. Bombs are dropped. Unexpected people show up and well, lots of shit hits the fan. Their are some growth in the characters and lots of maturing in this book.

And the unexpected plot twists everywhere just shake things up even more. My jaw dropped open a few times and had me going, “Ok, didn’t see that coming.” Ward’s writing draws you in and keeps you vested in the drama going on everywhere.

I love how Ward paints everything with her words. Not just in the details of her descriptions of her characters and the atmosphere – but how quickly she can take you from thinking one thing, to thinking something completely opposite or on a new level altogether.

I can’t wait to see where she takes the next book. I have no idea where this story is going and I’m itching to see what happens to who next and what else Ward throws at us to throw us off our chartered path.

FIVE LOVES

Excerpt:

Toyota trucks were not supposed to go seventy-five miles an hour. Especially when they were ten years old.

At least the driver was wide awake, even though it was four a.m.

Lizzie King had a death grip on the steering wheel, and her foot on the accelerator was actually catching floor as she headed for a rise in the highway.

She had woken up in her bed at her farmhouse alone. Ordinarily, that would have been the status quo, but not anymore, not now that Lane was back in her life. The wealthy playboy and the estate’s gardener had finally gotten their act together, love bonding two unlikelies closer and stronger than the molecules of a diamond.

And she was going to stand by him, no matter what the future held.

After all, it was so much easier to give up extraordinary wealth when you had never known it, never aspired to it—and especially when you had seen behind its glittering curtain to the sad, desolate desert on the far side of the glamour and prestige.

God, the stress Lane was under.

And so out of bed she had gotten. Down the creaking stairs she had gone. And all around her little house’s first floor she had wandered.

When Lizzie had looked outside, she’d discovered his car was missing, the Porsche he drove and parked beside the maple by her front porch nowhere to be seen. And as she had wondered why he had left without telling her, she had begun to worry.

Just a matter of nights since his father had killed himself, only a matter of days since William Baldwine’s body had been found on the far side of the Falls of the Ohio. And ever since then Lane’s face had had a faraway look, his mind churning always with the missing money, the divorce papers he had served on the rapacious Chantal, the status of the household bills, the precarious situation at the Bradford Bourbon Company, his brother Edward’s terrible physical condition, Miss Aurora’s illness.

But he hadn’t said a thing about any of it. His insomnia had been the only sign of the pressure, and that was what scared her. Lane always made an effort to be composed around her, asking her about her work in Easterly’s gardens, rubbing her bad shoulder, making her dinner, usually badly, but who cared. Ever since they had gotten the air cleared between them and had fully recommitted to their relationship, he had all but moved into her farmhouse—and as much as she loved having him with her, she had been waiting for the implosion to occur.

It would almost have been easier if he had been ranting and raving.

And now she feared that time had come—and some sixth sense made her terrified about where he had gone. Easterly, the Bradford Family Estate, was the first place she thought of. Or maybe the Old Site, where his family’s bourbon was still made and stored. Or perhaps Miss Aurora’s Baptist church?

Yes, Lizzie had tried him on his phone. And when the thing had rung on the table on his side of the bed, she hadn’t waited any longer after that. Clothes on. Keys in hand. Out to the truck.

No one else was on I-64 as she headed for the bridge to get across the river, and she kept the gas on even as she crested the hill and hit the decline to the river’s edge on the Indiana side. In response, her old truck picked up even more speed along with a death rattle that shook the wheel and the seat, but the damn Toyota was going to hold it together because she needed it to.

“Lane . . . where are you?”

God, all the times she had asked him how he was and he’d said, “Fine.” All those opportunities to talk that he hadn’t taken her up on. All the glances she’d shot him when he hadn’t been looking her way, all the time her monitoring for signs of cracking or strain. And yet there had been little to no emotion after that one moment they’d had together in the garden, that private, sacred moment when she had sought him out under the blooms of the fruit trees and told him that she’d gotten it wrong about him, that she had misjudged him, that she was prepared to make a pledge to him with the only thing she had: the deed to her farmhouse—which was exactly the kind of asset that could be sold to help pay for the lawyers’ fees as he fought to save his family.

Lane had held her, and told her he loved her—and refused her gift, explaining he was going to fix everything himself, that he was going to somehow find the stolen money, pay back the enormous debt, right the company, resurrect his family’s fortunes.

And she had believed him.

She still did.

But ever since then? He had been both as warm and closed off as a space heater, physically present and completely disengaged at the same time.

Lizzie did not blame him in the slightest.

It was strangely terrifying, however.

Off in the distance, across the river, Charlemont’s business district glowed and twinkled, a false, earthbound galaxy that was a lovely lie, and the bridge that connected the two shores was still lit up in spring green and bright pink for Derby, a preppy rainbow to that promised land. The good news was that there was no traffic, so as soon as Lizzie was on the other side, she could take the River Road exit off the highway, shoot north to Easterly’s hill, and see if his car was parked in front of the mansion.

Then she didn’t know what she was going to do.

The newly constructed bridge had three lanes going in both directions, the concrete median separating east from west tall and broad for safety purposes. There were rows of white lights down the middle, and everything was shiny, not just from the illumination, but a lack of exposure to the elements. Construction had only finished in March, and the first lines of traffic had made the crossing in early April, cutting rush-hour delays down—

Up ahead, parked in what was actually the “slow” lane, was a vehicle that her brain recognized before her eyes properly focused on it.

Lane’s Porsche. It was Lane’s—

Lizzie nailed the brake pedal harder than she’d been pounding the accelerator, and the truck made the transition from full-force forward to full-on stop with the grace of a sofa falling out a second-story window: Everything shuddered and shook, on the verge of structural disintegration, and worse, there was barely any change in velocity, as if her Toyota had worked too hard to gain the speed and wasn’t going to let the momentum go without a fight—

There was a figure on the edge of the bridge. On the very farthest edge of the bridge. On the lip of the bridge over the deadly drop.

“Lane,” she screamed. “Lane!”

Her truck went into a spin, pirouetting such that she had to wrench her head around to keep him in her sights. And she jumped out before the Toyota came to a full stop, leaving the gearshift in neutral, the engine running, the door open in her wake.

“Lane! No! Lane!”

Lizzie pounded across the pavement and surmounted barriers that seemed flimsy, too flimsy, given the distance down to the river.

Lane jerked his head around—

And lost one hold of the rail behind him.

As his grip slipped, shock registered on his face, a flash of surprise . . . that was immediately replaced by horror.

When he fell off into nothing but air.

Lizzie’s mouth could not open wide enough to release her scream.

About the author:

J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times bestselling author with more than 15 million novels in print published in 25 different countries around the world. The books in her popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series have held the #1 spot on the New York Times hardcover, mass market, eBook, and combined print/eBook fiction bestseller lists and have debuted in the top 5 on the USA Today bestseller list. Prior to her writing career, Ward worked as a lawyer in Boston and spent many years as the Chief of Staff of one of Harvard’s world-renowned academic medical centers. Ward currently lives with her family in Kentucky where she has learned to enjoy and appreciate all things Southern. Connect with her online at www.jrward.com, Facebook.com/JRWardBooks, and Twitter.com/JRWard1.

Contemporary Romance Excerpt Five Loves July 2016

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The Secret Language of Stones by M.J. Rose…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

The Secret Language of Stones
by M.J. Rose

Publication Date: July 19, 2016
Atria Books
Hardcover & eBook; 320 Pages

Series: The Daughters of La Lune, Book Two
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis:

As World War I rages and the Romanov dynasty reaches its sudden, brutal end, a young jewelry maker discovers love, passion, and her own healing powers in this rich and romantic ghost story, the perfect follow-up to M.J. Rose’s “brilliantly crafted” (Providence Journal) novel The Witch of Painted Sorrows.

Nestled within Paris’s historic Palais Royal is a jewelry store unlike any other. La Fantasie Russie is owned by Pavel Orloff, protÈgÈ to the famous Faberge, and is known by the city’s fashion elite as the place to find the rarest of gemstones and the most unique designs. But war has transformed Paris from a city of style and romance to a place of fear and mourning. In the summer of 1918, places where lovers used to walk, widows now wander alone.

So it is from La Fantasie Russie’s workshop that young, ambitious Opaline Duplessi now spends her time making trench watches for soldiers at the front, as well as mourning jewelry for the mothers, wives, and lovers of those who have fallen. People say that Opaline’s creations are magical. But magic is a word Opaline would rather not use. The concept is too closely associated with her mother Sandrine, who practices the dark arts passed down from their ancestor La Lune, one of sixteenth century Paris’s most famous courtesans.

But Opaline does have a rare gift even she can’t deny, a form of lithomancy that allows her to translate the energy emanating from stones. Certain gemstones, combined with a personal item, such as a lock of hair, enable her to receive messages from beyond the grave. In her mind, she is no mystic, but merely a messenger, giving voice to soldiers who died before they were able to properly express themselves to loved ones. Until one day, one of these fallen soldiers communicates a message directly to her.

So begins a dangerous journey that will take Opaline into the darkest corners of wartime Paris and across the English Channel, where the exiled Romanov dowager empress is waiting to discover the fate of her family. Full of romance, seduction, and a love so powerful it reaches beyond the grave, The Secret Language of Stones is yet another “spellbindingly haunting” (Suspense magazine), “entrancing read that will long be savored” (Library Journal, starred review).

My Review:

The Secret Language of Stones is the second book in author M.J. Rose’s phenomenal The Daughter’s of La Lune series and after falling in love with the first book, I was eager to read this next installment. It’s at this point I tell you how difficult it’s going to be for me to adequately put into words just how much I loved this book and how deeply the story affected me. It was beyond anything I could imagine and holds a spot as one of my top five favorite reads ever.

Opaline’s journey was so incredibly touching and emotional from the very start. She’s a young woman born into a witch’s bloodline, gifted with the ability to speak to the fallen through gemstones. She has learned the art of jewelry making and has an admirable desire to help with the ongoing war by making the soldier’s watches suitable for the battlefield. It’s when doing that work that she learns to use her abilities to read stones to bring grieving mothers or wives or sisters some measure of peace and closure by making a talisman for the grieving family member. Where Opaline can speak one last time to the soldier who has passed on and deliver a final message.

It’s in doing that work where she crosses otherworldly paths with a soldier named Jean Luc. It’s at that moment Opaline’s life changes forever. It’s at that moment that this book went from an engaging read to an all-consuming one I simply could not put down.

Jean Luc had been a journalist before leaving for war and Opaline, along with having private spoken moments with his spirit, reads the weekly columns he wrote. We got to read them along side her and I cannot tell you just how achingly beautiful he wrote and how tender his words were. His entries are written to a fictitious love and he asks her to visit certain places and think of him. When Opaline goes to those sentimental locations it drew so many emotions from me. I was desperate for there to be some way for these two people to be together. I cried a lot of tears just basking in the words they shared and the moments they spent together, yet apart. I have to say, that measure of not knowing how there could possibly be a way for their relationship to work, but hoping beyond hope that there was, made this even more of an all-consuming read for me. Their interactions were so beautiful and touching but also laced with a bit of pain and sorrow. Now, I won’t ruin anything for you, but I will give you a bit of a hint and let you know that I don’t review a book that ends badly so while you will need a box of tissues to get through more than a few parts of this book, you will not be disappointed.

Of course, peppered in with the incredible budding relationship between Jean Luc and Opaline there are possible spies, family duplicity, and a search for hope within the Romanov dynasty. All of that added a wonderful and suspenseful layer to this story that I really enjoyed.

It would be remiss of me to end this review without paying respect to the immense talent Ms. Rose is. I read a lot of books in many different genres and in many different styles. I know that when I sit down with a book written by Ms. Rose it will be an experience, not just a book. I know I will feel what the characters feel, experience all of the sounds, tastes, and smells through the lush and rich descriptions in her writing. It is truly a gift and one I am so thankful Ms. Rose shares with us.

Thank you, Ms. Rose, for another stellar read. I will continue to look forward to more from The Sisters of La Lune and all the magic they share with us.

Five Loves

“A spellbinding ghost story that communicates the power of love and redemption through Rose’s extraordinary, magical lens.” (Alyson Richman, internationally bestselling author of The Lost Wife)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound

About the Author

M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother’s favorite books before she was allowed.

She is the author of more than a dozen novels, the co-president and founding board member of International Thriller Writers and the founder of the first marketing company for authors: AuthorBuzz.com. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. Visit her online at MJRose.com.

Connect with M.J. Rose on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Goodreads.

Sign up for M.J. Roseís newsletter and get information about new releases, free book downloads, contests, excerpts and more.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, July 12
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at The Mad Reviewer
Review at Peeking Between the Pages

Wednesday, July 13
Spotlight at Passages to the Past

Thursday, July 14
Spotlight at Teddy Rose Book Reviews

Friday, July 15
Review at A Dream within a Dream

Monday, July 18
Review at Oh, f or the Hook of a Book!

Tuesday, July 19
Review at First Impressions Reviews

Wednesday, July 20
Review at Laura’s Interests

Thursday, July 21
Review at Read Love Blog

Friday, July 22
Review at Nerd in New York
Spotlight at I Heart Reading

Monday, July 25
Review at Broken Teepee
Spotlight at Let Them Read Books

Tuesday, July 26
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession

Wednesday, July 27
Interview at First Impressions Reviews

Thursday, July 28
Review at Creating Herstory

Friday, July 29
Review at Beth’s Book Nook Blog

Monday, August 1
Review at The Book Junkie Reads

Tuesday, August 2
Interview at The Book Junkie Reads

Wednesday, August 3
Review at Diana’s Book Reviews

Thursday, August 4
Interview at Diana’s Book Reviews

Friday,August 5
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Spotlight at What Is That Book About

Monday, August 8
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Tuesday, August 9
Review at Worth Getting in Bed For

Wednesday, August 10
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews

Thursday, August 11
Review at Girls Just Reading

Friday, August 12
Review at Dianne Ascroft’s Blog

Monday, August 15
Review at Fangirls Ahead!

Tuesday, August 16
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Review at The True Book Addict

Blog Tour Five Loves Historical Fiction July 2016 Romance

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Filthy English by Ilsa Madden-Mills….Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

A smokin’ hot British player…

A jilted girl…

One night of mistaken identity…

★★ NOW LIVE★★

Amazon: http://amzn.to/29BzcT8

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29tOO7q

*A modern love story inspired by Romeo and Juliet*

Blurb

Two weeks before her wedding, Remi Montague’s fiancé drops her faster than a drunken sorority girl in stilettos. Armed with her best friend and a bottle of tequila, she hops a plane to London to drown her sorrows before fall semester begins at Whitman University.

She didn’t plan on attending a masquerade party.

She sure didn’t plan on waking up next to the British bad boy who broke her heart three years ago—the devastatingly handsome and naked Dax Blay. Furthermore, she has no clue how they acquired matching tattoos.

Once back at Whitman together, they endeavor to pretend they never had their night of unbridled passion in London.

But that’s damn hard to do when you live in the same house…

One night. Two damaged hearts. The passion of a lifetime.

My Review:

Filthy English is the second book in author Ilsa Madden-Mills’ English series and after reading the first book, Dirty English, I was dying to read this twin’s story. I mean who can resist sexy British twins? Not this girl!

This is the most recent in a bunch of second chance romances I’ve read and I have to say, this one was freaking fantastic. There is just something special about how this author writes her characters and from the very beginning when a jilted Remi falls into the lap of her ex-quickie-flame Dax, I was hooked. The chemistry between these two was scorching and jumped off of the pages. The banter between them was done so well and I loved the verbal foreplay. There was even a bit of humor, which added a nice layer to the story as a whole. I just loved reading these two and watching their relationship evolve from a not so great past into something pretty damn special.

Thank you, Ms. Mills, or another fabulous read!

Five Loves

Excerpt:

Without much thought except for comfort, instinctively I pressed myself against him, fitting into his arms as easy as breathing. He leaned against the brick wall of the neighboring building and wrapped me up, sensing my need to be grounded.

I don’t know how long we stood like that—maybe a minute, maybe five—but soon our breaths were in sync; the rise and fall of his chest in perfect accord with mine.

One of his hands traced down my spine and then up. He outlined my shoulder blades with his fingertips. His hands drifted to my hips then caressed back up to my hair, massaging my scalp.

But what had started as an innocent hug changed.

Fire licked my skin everywhere he touched. Of their own accord, my hands slid down to his waist and teased the line where his jeans rested on his hips. I went further, my fingers toying with the V at his hip until I felt him harden against me.

Lips brushed the top of my hair. “Remi . . . look at me,” he said, his voice raspy.

If you look up, you’re going to kiss him . . .

I tilted my head up and his mouth fused with mine in an instant.

Insistent. Wild. Hot. Yes! This is what I needed.

I groaned, and my hands rushed to his shoulders and dug in.

He was wrong—terribly wrong—for me, but it felt so right.

I felt wonderfully alive, revved up, as if I could crush a car with my bare hands, or push Dax against the wall and fuck him senseless. I recognized the feeling for what it was—an I almost-died-and-now-I-want-to-experience-life feeling.

“Wait,” he breathed as I ran my hand under his shirt. “It’s adrenaline. You’ve been through a trauma. You don’t really want this—”

“Shhh.” I lifted his shirt and kissed his chest, my tongue flicking over his nipple. “You taste like every good thing I’ve ever wanted.”

His taut restraint snapped, and he swayed into me. “God, I can’t tell you no.”

Book Trailer

Filthy English by Ilsa Madden-Mills from Bibliophile Productions on Vimeo.

Share link: https://vimeo.com/172284938

Catch up on Dirty English

A scarred fighter.

A girl with rules.

One night of unbridled passion.

Dirty English (English #1)

NOW ONLY $0.99

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1VMSen6

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1G7I4vq

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap.

She’s addicted to all things fantasy, including unicorns and sword-wielding heroes in books. Other fascinations include frothy coffee beverages, dark chocolate, Instagram, Ian Somerhalder (seriously hot), astronomy (she’s a Gemini), Sephora make-up, and tattoos.

She has a degree in English and a Master’s in Education.

When she’s not pecking away on her computer, she shops for cool magnets, paints old furniture, and eats her weight in sushi.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

You can stalk her on her website as well as get signed books: http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorilsamaddenmills?pnref=lhc

IG: https://instagram.com/ilsamaddenmills/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilsamaddenmills

Ilsa Madden-Mills’ other books:

VERY BAD THINGS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RH9CJY

iBooks: http://apple.co/1gl5Yaj

BN: http://bit.ly/1bOyH2g

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1D0BVw5

VERY WICKED BEGINNINGS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1K5NvX8

VERY WICKED THINGS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NvRIr5

iBooks: http://apple.co/1mVS3Wo

BN: http://bit.ly/1mT1cDB

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1C9EZt3

VERY TWISTED THINGS

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1cvvkkh

iBooks: http://apple.co/1eN7Clh

BN: http://bit.ly/1KK0ljh

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1BHcK4R

GIVEAWAY

Signed Paperback of Dirty & Filthy English

$50 Amazon Gift Card (One Winner)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDk5NjRmMDM5ZDM4YTBjYWM0YzAyYzM0NGI2ODRhOjg2Nw==/?

Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Five Loves

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Hard to Serve by Laura Kaye…ARC Review

by Jilly

Hard to Serve releases TOMORROW!

Synopsis:

To protect and serve is all Detective Kyler Vance ever wanted to do, so when Internal Affairs investigates him as part of the new police commissioner’s bid to oust corruption, everything is on the line. Which makes meeting a smart, gorgeous submissive at an exclusive play club the perfect distraction…

The director of the city’s hottest art gallery, Mia Breslin’s career is golden. Now if only she could find a man to dominate her nights and set her body—and her heart—on fire. When a scorching scene with a hard-bodied, brooding Dom at Blasphemy promises just that, Mia is lured to serve Kyler again and again.

As their relationship burns hotter, Kyler runs into Mia at work and learns that he’s been dominating the daughter of the hard-ass boss who has it in for him. Now Kyler must choose between life-long duty and forbidden desire before Mia finds another who’s not so hard to serve.

My Review:

Hard to Serve is novella number eleven in the 2016 1,001 Dark Nights lineup as well as part of author Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink series. Being a ginormous fan of Ms. Kaye’s work, I was dying for this novella. Well, I’ve got two words for you: Holy. Hotness. This story was of the charts sexy, hot, delicious, sweet… so many things! I loved it.

I’ve gotta start out by telling you that I’ve read everything Laura Kaye has written. Every time she has a new release I end up saying it’s my favorite of hers at that moment. The thing is about this author is that she just keeps…getting…better. Hard to Serve is just another shining example of that. The relationship between Kyler and Mia was intense but also tender. The attraction is immediate and there wasn’t one second where I doubted there were two people better suited for one another than Kyler and Mia. I love Kyler’s take charge attitude and his alpha male deliciousness but most of all I loved the soft side he shows with Mia. Speaking of Mia, man how I love this gal! She is vulnerable when it comes to her current situation and wanting to experience the lifestyle but she’s strong and knows what she wants and has determination that I truly admire. Together these two are amazing and had me glued to each page and hanging on every word. I also loved the added tension when it comes to Mia’s father being Kyler’s boss. Talk about throwing a wrench into things! Not to worry though, because if there’s one thing Laura Kaye does so darn well it’s getting a couple back on track and giving them one hell of an ending. I can’t even tell you how many happy teaser I was shedding while reading this ending. It was INCREDIBLE! Truly beyond incredible!

I also have to mention how flipping excited I am about the start of the series involving the club introduced in this book, Blasphemy. It’s one of the coolest and most interesting ideas out there and I’m so excited! I know I will be devouring it.

Thank you, Ms. Kaye, for a super sexy, scorchingly hot, incredible read that kept me glued to the pages!

Five Loves

Buy on Amazon

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Join the Hard to Serve FB Party on June 28!

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today bestseller Laura Kaye is the author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Laura grew up amid family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Laura is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Maryland Romance Writers, and she is past president of the RWA-Contemporary Romance Writers.

Visit Laura Kaye’s website and follow her on:

Contemporary Romance Dark Nights Five Loves

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Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige…ARC Review

by Jilly

Last Kiss by Laurelin Paige is out TODAY!

Series: First and Last #2
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense/ Contemporary Romance

“Visceral, enticing, shining with white lies and dark truths, seductive twists and turns, and a love that takes your breath away.” – Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author

Synopsis:

A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE FILLED WITH DARK DESIRES AND DANGEROUS SECRETS…

Emily Wayborn has made a decision.

She might not fully trust handsome and deadly Reeve Sallis, but he is the one person that gives her what she needs. With Reeve she can finally be herself. Submitting to him is the only thing keeping her grounded as the rest of her life falls apart. But the hotelier is a master at keeping secrets and as she continues her quest for answers someone is making sure she doesn’t find them.

Time is running out and she is questioning everything she thought she knew about friendship and love. She must now make an impossible choice that will determine if she will survive with her heart…or at all.

My review:

Last Kiss is the final part in author Laurelin Paige’s First and Last duet and after being left hanging on the edge of my seat since finishing the first book, First Touch, I was chomping at the bit for this conclusion. Well, it was worth every freaking second of wait. This book was simply phenomenal.

Two things – first: You really need to read First Touch before this book. You will be totally lost if you don’t. Second: I don’t do spoilers so I am going to try my best to deliver this review without ruining even the tiniest detail for you!

I was left with a pit in my stomach after finishing First Touch and was so worried for the situation Emily and Reeve were in. Every time I thought about it I got anxious. Even months later after finishing the book. There was so much with this couple that I just loved and I wanted nothing but a happy ending for them. Luckily this book picks up right were book one left off and I dove right in.

Emily and Reeve are beyond intense and delve into some dark moments in their journey but they brought out feelings in my that I can’t say I’ve ever felt for two fictional characters before. It’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs, highs and lows, good and bad and I ate it up like a decadent dessert. There were so many elements to their story…suspicions, betrayal, high emotions, suspense, and mystery. Last Touch was decidedly more emotional than First Kiss and it was fitting in a way that made so much sense. All of these highs and lows lead to the beauty of truth, love, and the peace that comes with it. And of course, the heat and chemistry between them is done so damn well and is so deliciously sublime.

As I sit here and try to type out just how amazing this First and Last reading journey had been, I find as though I’m at loss. It’s truly something you just have to experience for yourself and I can guarantee it will be unlike anything you’ve ever read. Yes, it’s THAT good. Laurelin Paige is a freaking master and I seriously bow down to her ability to pull emotions and feelings out of this sometimes jaded reader. It’s when books like this come along that I get a slap back into the reality of just how amazing the escapes of reading can be. Thank you, Ms. Paige, for one hell of a ride!

Five Loves

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About Laurelin:

NY Times & USA Today Bestselling author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender.

Contemporary Romance Five Loves June 2016 Suspense

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Unchained by Elisabeth Naughton…ARC Review

by Jilly

Amazon | Paperback

Synopsis:

PROMETHEUS – One of the keenest Titans to ever walk the earth. Until, that is, his weakness for the human race resulted in his imprisonment.

For thousands of years, Prometheus’s only certainty was his daily torture at Zeus’s hand. Now, unchained by the Eternal Guardians, he spends his days in solitude, trying to forget the past. He’s vowed no allegiance in the war between mortal and immortal, but when a beautiful maiden seeks him out and begs for his help, he’s once again powerless to say no. Soon, Prometheus is drawn into the very conflict he swore to avoid, and, to save the maiden’s life, he must choose sides. But she has a secret of her own, and if Prometheus doesn’t discover what she’s hiding in time, the world won’t simply find itself embroiled in a battle between good and evil, it will fall in total domination to Prometheus’s greatest enemy.

My Review:

Unchained is the newest work from author Elisabeth Naughton as well as novella number 10 in the 2016 1,001 Dark Nights line-up. I always love a new read from Ms. Naughton and was so excited to get Prometheus’ story. It was all that I had hoped for and more! Packed with emotion, heat, and even some suspense and action, I loved it!

Oh, how my heart was breaking for Prometheus from the very first page! The torture and hell he experienced for far too long to count was over but it didn’t diminish the damage done to him. It haunted him and the memories were never too far away from his thoughts. He was truly just existing…until Circe appears and turns his life upside-down. She was mysterious, intriguing, and down right stunning and he knew he had to have her. The heat and attraction between them was delectable and scorched my e-reader. All the while I was a nervous wreck for these two and what was going to happen as the story progressed. I wanted a happy ending for them like I wanted my next breath! Circe had to keep her secret. Prometheus was trying to figure out what it was and how he could help her. Talk about a tense situation. Now, I won’t ruin anything for you but I will say that Ms. Naughton delivered one heck of an ending that had me cheering and swooning at the same time. It was just perfect!

Unchained is another shining example of the talent that is Elisabeth Naughton. I know both new and die-hard fans will adore Promethus’ story as much as I did.

Five Loves

ABOUT ELISABETH NAUGHTON:

Elisabeth Naughton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. From Elisabeth: “I was never one of those people who knew they wanted to be an author at the age of six. I didn’t have imaginary friends. I didn’t write stories in my journal or entertain my relatives by firelight after Thanksgiving dinner. For the most part, I was just a normal, everyday kid. I liked to read, but I wasn’t exceptional at it. And when my teachers complimented me on my writing abilities, I brushed them off. I did, however, always have a penchant for the unique and absurd. And as my mother told me all throughout my childhood, I should have been an actress—I was a drama queen before my time.Visit Elisabeth Naughton’s website.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Author Goodreads | Novella Goodreads

Dark Nights Five Loves June 2016

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East of Redemption by Molly Lee…Release Day Event & Review

by Jilly

Release Date: June 8, 2016

Photo & Cover Design: Regina Wamba / MaeIDesign and Photography

Models: Noah Duncan & Lauren Schmidt

Synopsis

Easton Wells has spent years burying his guilt by digging up some of the world’s most renowned treasures while surviving the dangerous terrains in which they’re located—all captured for television. When his producers threaten to axe the show, he has no choice but to turn to the last person he still trusts—the girl he left behind.

Rain Walker has made a name for herself documenting wild and endangered animals, and the last voice she expects to hear while shooting in South Africa is Easton’s. He’s more gorgeous than she remembers, but the pain in her heart is as fresh as ever. They’d once planned on spending the rest of their lives together, but after her father’s tragic death while on expedition in Israel with him, Easton bailed on their future together without an explanation. It’s been nine years, and yet the intense love they shared seems only a moment ago.

When he asks her to film his latest treasure hunt, Rain wants to turn him down instantly. But when he explains it’s to the same cave that swallowed her father, she can’t say no. She wants to experience the last place her father was alive, and she’s beyond curious about what happened to the boy she used to love.

They’ve got two weeks to locate a treasure that’s been lost for centuries, or Easton will lose the one thing in his life he’s come to depend on. As their old passion is reignited—and dark secrets uncovered—they face the extreme terrain of the mountain range that threatens them at every turn. As more than the wildlife and sharp drop-offs tries to kill them, Rain starts to question if the legendary treasure they seek—the same one her father had died trying to unearth—is truly meant to be found, or if some things, including their feelings for each other, are better left buried.

My Review:

East of Redemption is the second book in author Molly Lee’s Love on the Edge series and the first in the series I’ve read. After reading this book you can guarantee I will be diving right into the first book because I absolutely LOVED this book and Ms. Lee’s writing. With two amazing characters, adventure, and tons of emotion, I was hooked from the very first page.

This book kicked off with an intense, pulse-pounding, and extremely emotional scene that immediately grabbed me and I knew this story was going to be unlike anything I’ve read. This read like an Indiana Jones adventure with heated romance and intense emotions and it was spectacular.

Easton and Rain are two complex and wonderful characters with a shared love of the treasures the world has to offer. With Easton, it was artifacts and history and with Rain it was the beauty in wildlife. Their shared past gave them a connection that even tragedy couldn’t break. Sure, it may have driven them apart for more than a few years, but the moment they were back together the connection they share was palpable and I wanted nothing but a happy ending for these two (I won’t give anything away, but I will tell you that Ms. Lee delivered one of the best endings I’ve read. Talk about totally swoon-worthy!). I loved both of these characters so much. Easton broke my heart with the guilt he held over the years and how things had ended between him and Rain. I loved his determination to excel in his field and to honor Rain and her family. Rain was equally amazing with a tenacity I just adored. She knows who she is and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, especially to Easton now that she has the chance! Together they are captivating, adventurous, loving, and very real. I loved reading as their connection mended and how their future together became brighter and brighter.

Oh, and the treasure hunting adventure these two are on added a fantastic layer to this story! It was intense and exciting and I felt like I was right alongside of them as they made their way through rough terrain, avoided dangerous animals, and dodged thieves looking to take their treasure. It was an amazing ride from start to finish!

I’m so unbelievably thrilled I found this author. Molly Lee holds the newest spot on my auto-buy list and I know you will all love her writing as much as I do.

Thank you, Ms. Lee, for a fantastic read! I can’t wait to see what’s in store next!

Five Loves

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1OcfDRx

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1U6lcju

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$50 Amazon Gift Card & Signed paperback of East of Redemption

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About the Author:

Molly Lee is an author, editor, and mentor best known from Pitch Wars, a program that connects promising writers to established authors in the community. She writes NA contemporary and YA urban fantasy with strong heroines who are unafraid to challenge their male counterparts, yet still vulnerable enough to have love sneak up on them. Throw in high-octane action or any kind of supernatural element and she’ll be hooked. A military spouse with two children and one stubborn english bulldog, Molly enjoys watching storms from the back porch of her Midwest home and digging for treasures at local antique shops.

Connect with Molly

Newsletter Signup Link: http://eepurl.com/8uco5

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MollyElizabethLeeAuthor/?fref=ts

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/434107490133398/

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14975678.Molly_E_Lee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MollyELee

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyelizabethlee/

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1YDe7rE

Contemporary Romance Five Loves June 2016

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Charged by Jay Crownover…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

From New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover comes CHARGED, the latest in her sexy The Saints of Denver Series, releasing May 24th! Known for her strong heroines and alpha males, you won’t know what hit you as you read Avett and Quaid’s story. Keep reading for more about the Leagle Eagle and Avett and order your copy today.

Amazon ** iBooks ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo

About CHARGED:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the second installment in the Saints of Denver series featuring a bad girl and a by the book attorney who could be her salvation…or her ruin.

Avett Walker and Quaid Jackson’s worlds have no reason to collide. Ever. Quaid is a high powered criminal attorney as slick as he is handsome. Avett is a pink-haired troublemaker with a bad attitude and a history of picking the wrong men.

When Avett lands in a sea of hot water because of one terrible mistake, the only person who can get her out of it is the insanely sexy lawyer. The last thing on earth she wants to do is rely on the no-nonsense attorney who thinks of her as nothing more than a nuisance. He literally has her fate in his hands. Yet there is something about him that makes her want to convince him to loosen his tie and have a little fun…with her.

Quaid never takes on clients like the impulsive young woman with a Technicolor dye job. She could stand to learn a hard lesson or two, but something about her guileless hazel eyes intrigues him. Still, he’s determined to keep their relationship strictly business. But doing so is becoming more impossible with each day he spends with her.

As they work side-by-side, they’ll have to figure out a way to get along and keep their hands off each other—because the chemistry between them is beyond charged.

My Review:

Charged is the third title in author Jay Crownover’s Saint of Denver series and after falling in love with this characters from the first novella, I knew this was going to be an amazing series. Well, if ever my initial feeling was dead on it was after reading this book. Oh. My. God. I hate being cliché but if ever there was a time to do it, it’s now, and with this phrase: ALL THE FEELS!

Man, I loved this book…

So here’s the thing with these two characters: they’re kind of a mess. It doesn’t matter that Quaid seems like the most together male ever to walk the streets of Denver. It makes zero difference that his outer appearance is totally GQ worthy and his apartment could be in Architectural Digest. Because deep down, he’s a mess. He doesn’t want to admit it, and if it weren’t for Avett finding her way into his life, he may never have. He would have kept up appearances, thinking that was what made him happy and successful in life…and on the inside be miserable. Lucky for him, even if he didn’t think so at first, Avett was tossed into his life and got under his skin.

It’s at this point in the review I have to quote Ms. Crownover and say, “like recognizes like”, because they didn’t know it at first but Avett and Quaid have so much in common. The difference is Avett’s hot mess is both on the inside and the outside. She knows she’s a mess. She accepts it. She’s resigned to it and thinks it’s just her lot in life. Granted she doesn’t deserve it, but it’s hard to keep getting back up when you just get knocked back down again.

Avett and Quaid are both opposite and similar in so many ways. To see them wrestle with the idea that they can see themselves in one another, but not want to admit it since they are, for all intents and purposes polar opposites, was one of the most incredible and emotional struggles I’ve ever read. It’s also so real and relatable. It’s really damn hard to come to terms with who you are sometimes. Sometimes you don’t want to look at your younger years and, in essence, the disasters that made you who you are right at this very moment. But the thing is, it never goes away and the sooner you can accept and embrace all the good, bad, and ugly life has delivered the sooner you can just be. And THAT right there is the one message Ms. Crownover delivered with Avett and Quaid’s story that will stick with me long after I’ve finished this book. A personal motto of mine is: “face it, embrace it, and erase it”, and while it’s hard to do, sometimes it’s exactly what needs to be done.

Of course, the chemistry and heat between these two is also off the CHARTS smoking hot but again I have to say, the emotional connection was written so damn well between Avett and Quaid and it totally knocked my socks off.

Even if you’ve never ever picked up a book by Jay Crownover, this is a book you need to read. I know you’ll love this story as much as I did!

Thank you, Jay, for giving us Avett and Quaid. They’re a couple I won’t soon forget.

Five Loves

And don’t miss the first titles in The Saints of Denver Series!

LEVELED

BUILT

About Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point, and the Saints of Denverseries. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she’ll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

Website Blog Facebook ** Twitter

CHARGED Goodreads ** Jay Crownover Goodreads

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CHARGED Review & Excerpt Tour

May 16^th

Ramblings From This Chick – Review & Excerpt

BJ’ S Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

2 Girls & Their Kindles – Review & Excerpt

She Hearts Books – Review & Excerpt

Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

BookWorm221 – Review & Excerpt

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt

Three Little Birds Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Gemma Reads Too Much – Review & Excerpt

Easy For Keeps by Kristen Proby…ARC Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Adam Spencer loves women. All women. Every shape and size, regardless of hair or eye color, religion or race, he simply enjoys them all. Meeting more than his fair share as the manager and head bartender of The Odyssey, a hot spot in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Adam’s comfortable with his lifestyle, and sees no reason to change it. A wife and kids, plus the white picket fence are not in the cards for this confirmed bachelor. Until a beautiful woman, and her sweet princess, literally knock him on his ass.

Sarah Cox has just moved to New Orleans, having accepted a position as a social worker specializing in at-risk women and children. It’s a demanding, sometimes dangerous job, but Sarah is no shy wallflower. She can handle just about anything that comes at her, even the attentions of one sexy Adam Spencer. Just because he’s charmed her daughter, making her think of magical kingdoms with happily ever after, doesn’t mean that Sarah believes in fairy tales. But the more time she spends with the enchanting man, the more he begins to sway her into believing in forever.

Even so, when Sarah’s job becomes more dangerous than any of them bargained for, will she be ripped from Adam’s life forever?

My Review:

Easy For Keeps is part of author Kristen Proby’s Boudreaux series as well as the ninth release in the 2016 1,001 Dark Nights line-up. I always look forward to another release from this author and oh, how I just adored this novella! I couldn’t put it down and loved every minute of this super sexy and sweet story!

The thing I love about Ms. Proby’s writing is that it is such a smooth and enjoyable read. Every. Darn. Time. You can sit down with a Kristen Proby book and become immersed immediately, losing track of time and just enjoy the story. Easy For Keeps was exactly that kind of story. I loved Adam and loved his healthy appetite of women. He wasn’t a cocky womanizer though. He’s a good guy with a big heart and a loyalty I loved. When he met Sarah, I loved his response to her. I think I said something like “oh, Adam, you have met your match!” when I read their meeting in the grocery store! She is no-nonsense and is such an amazing and strong woman and mother. I thought it was such a great surprise that Adam fell for a single mother. It’s not often single moms are highlighted and I really appreciated Ms. Proby writing such a kick ass mom character. I can imagine it must be hard to write a woman and be able to show both sides to being a mother…sure Sarah has to deal with all the things parenting brings but at the end of the day, she’s a woman and still wants to feel sexy and loved by a man. Ms. Proby nailed those two sides of Sarah and I freaking loved it. Together these two are seriously BEYOND smoking hot! This may be one of my favorite couples of Ms. Proby’s thus far!

Another aspect of this book I loved was the bit of action and suspense that was added in when it came to Sarah’s career and the dangers she faces. It was done really well and I was gripping my e-reader with white knuckles, waiting to see what happened. Talk about a pulse-pounding few pages! It really added a great layer to an emotional and sexy story.

Whether you’re a long time Kristen Proby reader or this is the first of her work you pick up, I know you will love Adam and Sarah as much as I did!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | 1,001 Dark Nights

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.

Contemporary Romance Dark Nights Five Loves

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Too Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey…ARC Review

by Jilly

Too Hot to Handle releases tomorrow, 5/17!

Synopsis:

When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble . . .

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn’t seen in years. When rescue shows up—six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle—Rita’s pretty certain she’s gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he’s about to be sorely tempted. There’s something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn’t just for tonight—he’s forever.

My Review:

Too Hot to Handle is the first book in a new series by one of my fave authors of all time: Tessa Bailey. You know, I always get a little nervous excitement when an author I love starts a new series. I mean, what if the dynamic between the characters that I’ve grown to love over other series isn’t the same or what if the chemistry between the hero and heroine isn’t as hot an all-consuming? I now know that I should never worry about that when it come to Tessa Bailey. This book was freaking amazing and kicks off a series I am already dying for more of.

Since you can get a synopsis of what this book is all about above, I’ll dive right into what I loved about this story…

First off, I’m the oldest of four and I certainly know my fair share of sibling dysfunction, and we are all considered close by sibling standards. But sometimes time and life and feelings get in the way and you end up not really knowing the people you shared life and a home with for too many years to count. On that level alone I connected deeply with this story. But going beyond that, I loved the two main characters in this book: Rita and Jasper. Two strangers almost destined to meet. Each running away from their pasts and looking for a new start, but not really knowing how to get one, or even if they deserve it. They are both at a crossroads: Jasper looking to shed his reputation as a ladies man and aiming to be a serious business owner and Rita looking to just find direction in her life, whether it be in the kitchen doing what she’s trained to do or finding something entirely different. Both of them just want to be happy and content and at peace for once. Comfortable in their own skin, if you will. Fate really knew what she was doing when she put these two on a collision course and I couldn’t have loved their story any more if I tried. From start to finish their relationship is a journey of self discovery and learning how amazing the connection they’ve found is. Oh, there are stumbles along the way, but it just reinforced how amazing they are together. When one of them stumbles, the other person is there to pick them up, wipe off the dirt, and start again. Truly, they are an amazing couple.

Now, onto the rest of the Clarkson crew. I can’t get enough! They’re all different colors making up the same rainbow and each painted with their own shade of screwed up and I am in love with each one of them. As I said earlier, this is a series I am DYING for more of!

I also have to give mention of how amazing Miriam, the Clarkson sibling’s mother, is. She may not be with them in the physical sense any longer, but her journal and the thoughts she shares with all of them had me sobbing like a complete loon and I loved it. The legacy and gift she is leaving with them is incredible (and yes, I’m crying again just thinking about it).

Just when I think I know Tessa’s writing style like the back of my hand she goes and switches things up a bit and it makes me appreciate her stellar writing skill that much more. Make no mistake, her signature heat and dirty talk is still there but there’s a different feel to this book that I just loved. It’s like with each new series she dreams up, there’s an individual feel and I am blown away anew.

Thank you, Tessa, for this amazing kick-off to another must read series of mine!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

About the author:

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Visit her website for more info

Contemporary Romance Five Loves May 2016

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Big Easy Temptation by Shayla Black & Lexi Blake…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Big Easy Temptation

Perfect Gentlemen Book 3

By Shayla Black and Lexi Blake

Coming May 3, 2016

Print ISBN 978-0425275344

Synopsis:

The New York Times bestselling authors of the Masters of Ménage series present the third scintillating novel featuring the privileged, wealthy, wild men of Creighton Academy—the Perfect Gentlemen.

Years ago, Naval officer Dax Spencer and NCIS agent Holland Kirk indulged in a steamy affair—until she betrayed him in the wake of his father’s death. Dax tried to put her behind him with a payback of his own. But he never forgot Holland…

Now, as Dax and his fellow Perfect Gentlemen unravel a web of lies, he discovers his family’s tragedy is part of a much larger conspiracy. Soon, all clues point him back to New Orleans…where Holland waits, protecting her deadly secret and holding a torch for the only man she’s ever loved.

Once reunited, they can’t fight the passion flaring hot and wild. But something sinister lurks around every corner, from the elegance of the Garden district to the beauty of the bayou. Dax and Holland may find their way back to each other—if they survive…

My Review:

Big Easy Temptation is the third book in the Perfect Gentlemen Series by the amazing writing duo of Shayla Black and Lexi Blake. This series has captivated me from the very beginning, not only because it has one hell of a plot that keeps getting thicker and thicker with each book but also because this group of characters is phenomenal.

This story starts out a few years earlier than the present and follows Dax and Holland as they go from long-time friends to lovers. They end up coming back together after a few years apart to help clear Dax’s father’s name in a horrible sex scandal and prove not only that he was innocent, but that he didn’t take his own life as everyone had believed. They were really making headway with the investigation and things were about to turn serious with their relationship. So serious that they were headed for the next step and possibly hearing wedding bells when everything goes wrong…thanks to a certain group of Russians. Needless to say things ended pretty badly between Dax and Holland and both had been suffering since. Fast forward to today. Three years had passed and while some things had changed, some had stayed very much the same. Close friends had been killed, Dax’s father’s name had never been cleared, and Holland and Dax were both still in love with each other. It’s because of those first two reasons they were facing each other again today. Dax had new info and was more certain than ever there was a conspiracy brewing and his father’s death had only been the beginning. Can they work together to get one step closer to taking down the Russians? Can they find love again? More importantly, will they survive to do either?

Let me first start by saying: if you haven’t read the first two in the series, you really need to. So much has happened that leads to this point and you won’t want to miss one second.

This series. This SERIES! Man, I just can’t get enough! This series, to me, reads like a movie with each book focusing on a different couple, but all following one storyline. It’s like I can picture all of this going on at the same time and going between the couples in scenes in my head. I’m not sure if that even makes any sense but I just can’t even explain how awesome it all is. In this installment we really get to read more of the characters background and how they were before Mad’s death and all hell started breaking loose. I loved getting to know more of who Mad was. I loved seeing the bond all TPG had with each other. Their dynamic is such an amazing one. It makes me even more sad that Mad is gone now (btw I’m still holding out hope he’s still alive and in hiding somewhere!). More pieces of the puzzle are starting to come into place with this latest installment and things are getting really interesting. With more being revealed, like relationships between a few of their parents, I was kept on the edge of my seat right up until the very end. In fact, I’m still on the edge of my seat because things still aren’t fully resolved…which I love. This story shows duplicity at it’s best! I seriously don’t want this series to end!

I was so happy to see more of Lara, Connor, and Freddie, too. They are all such a great group and Lara and Connor may be my fave couple still. I love those two together! Freddie is also amazing and his quirkiness is just the best. I also have to say there were more than a few funny moments that Ms. Black and Ms. Blake deliver through this book that had me laughing when I didn’t think possible. (Mad getting caught up in the curtains and Dax’s mom with the shotgun were two I can still laugh about while I type this!).

Overall, this is a series I recommend with the highest of recommendations! I cannot get enough of this group and the tangled web they are trying to get unweave in search of the truth. I’m a nervous wreck for all of them and will be anxiously waiting for the next installment. Thank you, Ms. Black and Ms. Blake for another kick ass read!

Five Loves

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Excerpt

“I’m going to kiss you now and I won’t stop unless you tell me to.”

“I won’t say a word,” she breathed.

He lifted his free hand to her hair, sliding out the elastic band holding the low ponytail she typically wore. He gripped the strands. “Soft as silk. Just like you.”

“I’m not soft, Dax.” She didn’t want him to think she was like the other women he’d been with. They likely had been sweet, feminine creatures. Holland couldn’t afford to be.

“Yes, you are. You can be strong and soft and silky all at the same time. That’s who you are and one of the reasons I find you interesting. I want to know every single facet of Holland Kirk. I want to be the man you explore with, experiment with, be true with.”

She had the feeling he wasn’t merely talking about sex. This was why she’d always hesitated. Dax wanted all of her, even the parts of herself she’d shut down and hidden and told herself didn’t matter. He wouldn’t accept anything less than the whole of her soul.

But if he gave her back the whole of his, wasn’t that worth it? If they were both vulnerable, they could learn to trust.

She leaned in and his lips finally met hers. Slow and steady. He took her mouth like a man indulging in decadence, as though knowing they would share the pleasure of sex made him willing to stretch this moment out to something rich and sinful.

Gently, he fisted a hand in her hair, lighting up her scalp with sensation as he took her lips more fully, clasping her body against his own. She softened, giving in to the demand of his mouth, his hands. And when his tongue slid over her lower lip, demanding entry, she couldn’t stop herself from flowering open for him.

Dax pulled her up and onto his lap. She clasped her arms around his neck, bringing him closer. She could feel his erection pressing against her, thick and hard. So big. She couldn’t help but wriggle a little, trying to get closer to him.

His arms tightened on her. “Stop it, sweetheart, or we’re going to have a problem. I want this to last. After waiting this long, I want to savor tonight.”

But she was already on the edge, dying for him to be on top of her, inside of her. “We should go to my bedroom.”

“We should set some ground rules first,” he growled against her neck. “Holland, I’m crazy about you, but you’re going to let me control sex. I’m not foolish enough to think I could control anything else in our relationship but I need you to let me handle this.”

“Why does anyone have to be in control?” She’d always been in the power position with the men in her bed. Ceding it to Dax both excited and scared her.

“Because, as you pointed out, I have more experience. And I’m wired to take control. We’re not going to go at it like two teenagers. Not this first time. Maybe later, when I know exactly how to touch you to get you hot.” Heat melted his dark eyes like chocolate. “But right now I have to figure out how to handle you, how to steer you the right way.”

“I’m not a boat, Captain.”

“Aren’t you?” He brushed a big hand over one of her breasts, cupping her flesh in his broad palm and making her gasp. “Everything that’s worth doing is worth doing right. Making love to you is definitely worth my best effort. See, this little nipple is begging for attention.” He dragged his thumb across the sensitive bud so slowly she bit her lip to hold in a moan. “Take off your shirt and your bra so I can give it the proper attention.”

His voice had dropped an octave and gone velvety. Holland found herself obeying him. Her fingers shook as she reached for the buttons of her shirt, twisting each and releasing it before moving to the next. She didn’t leave the comfort of his lap, but he sat back like a king watching the show, mentally undressing her with those eyes. There was something a bit forbidden about baring herself while his erection pressed so intimately against her.

Holland unfastened the last button and let her shirt fall away before she unhooked the front clasp of her bra. Her breasts were nothing special. She hit the gym three or four times a week to stay in shape. She considered herself more athletic than sexy, but the way Dax’s breath hitched and he affixed his stare to her bare mounds, as if he’d never seen anything sexier, made her rethink all that.

He dragged his heated palm down the valley between her breasts. “Sweetheart . . . I always knew you would be gorgeous without all those clothes. So beautiful.”

Until him, she hadn’t felt that way. Her body had been a tool to use in service of her job, a way to move about each day. When she’d had sex, she preferred to go to the bedroom, get the deed done, and get to sleep. Her few longer-term boyfriends hadn’t seemed to mind, but she got the feeling Dax would take exception to that routine.

With him, it meant far more to her than a rote activity, too.

He kissed her again, their tongues tangling as he explored her breasts, caressing her nipples, plying them with his touch. Fire licked through her system. She could feel herself getting wet and ready.

“Lean back for me. I’ll hold you and keep you safe.” His words rumbled over the sensitive flesh of her neck as he gently leaned her back, resting her over his arm until she arched and thrust her chest up to him like an offering.

“Yes, these little pearls need affection.” He tongued one, laving and sucking it.

She had to bite her lip to hold in a cry. She’d never thought her nipples were particularly sensitive, but that was because they’d never experienced Dax’s clever mouth.

She heard herself whimper as he sucked one bud deeper between his lips. He didn’t satisfy himself with a little lick, a short few seconds of suckling. Not Captain Dax Spencer. He indulged. He reveled. He caressed her with his tongue, tracing her areola before he sucked the tip back into his mouth and gave her the bare edge of his teeth. A tiny bite of pain flared before he soothed the bud with a soft laving. Her body balled into an ache, her sex throbbed as he shifted his attention to her left breast and gave it the same loving treatment.

“I want to kiss and lick and taste every inch of you, Holland. Do you know how long I’ve waited to be here? Years. Fuck, sweetheart, even before I met you, I dreamed about you. I’ve always known you’re the one woman who could make me feel, make me want forever.” He nuzzled her, the stubble of his hard jaw gently abrading her skin. “Stand up and take off your pants. I don’t want anything to stop me from touching you.”

ABOUT SHAYLA BLACK:

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Visit Shayla’s website: http://shaylablack.com/

Visit Shayla on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaylaBlackAuthor/?fref=ts

Visit her Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Shayla-Black/e/B001IOFJQM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1451315186&sr=8-2-ent

ABOUT LEXI BLAKE:

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are six more books available in the series: Their Virgin’s Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, Their Virgin Secretary, and Their Virgin Mistress.

In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. The first nine novels, The Dom Who Loved Me, The Men with the Golden Cuffs, A Dom is Forever, On Her Master’s Secret Service, Love and Let Die, Dungeon Royale, A View to a Thrill, You Only Love Twice, and Master No are available now, along with the novellas Sanctum, Unconditional, Dungeon Games, Cherished, Luscious, Adored, and Just One Taste. The tenth novel, From Sanctum with Love, is coming February 23, 2016, along with a new novella, Devoted, on April 12, 2016.

In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The full series, Steal the Light, Steal the Day, Steal the Moon, Steal the Sun, and Steal the Night, are available now on Amazon. The first two books in a spin-off of the series, Ripper and Addict, were released in 2015. Look for Sleeper, the next book in the spin-off series, to be released in Fall of 2016.

Lexi again collaborated with Shayla Black in a new series The Perfect Gentlemen. The first book, Scandal Never Sleeps, is now available. Book two, Seduction in Session, will release on January 5, 2016, followed by book three, Big Easy Temptation, on May 3, 2016.

For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net) .

Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Five Loves May 2016

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