Five Loves

Rock Hard by Nalini Singh….Book Tour Stop, Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Meet Gabriel (sexy rugby player turned CEO) & Charlotte in this fantastic addition to the Rock Kiss Series!

NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Synopsis:

In New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh’s newest contemporary romance, passion ignites between a gorgeous, sinfully sexy man who built himself up from nothing and a shy woman who has a terrible secret in her past…

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and ruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

My Review:

Rock Hard is the second book in author Nalini Singh’s Rock Kiss Series, and sadly, the first in the series I have read. Yes, I know…I can’t believe it either. Where have I been that I have not scooped up this series yet? Clearly living under a rock. I must get my hands on the other book and novella in this series because after devouring Rock Hard, I am 100% hooked. I have loved Ms. Singh’s paranormal work and now The Rock Kiss series is my new obsession.

Charlotte Baird has been living one way for the past few years…in the shadows. She had always been a bit on the shy side but there were a few events in her life that lead her to hide these days. The loss of both of her parents coupled with the first relationship she ever had turning into something true nightmares are made of had helped make her want to blend in with the walls. If no one noticed her, she would be safe. If no one wanted to see her, she would be able to keep to herself and in turn, keep herself safe. The problem with that was there is always someone who is willing to take notice….and right now that happens to be the devastatingly handsome new CEO of her company. He figured out she had been doing the work of her superior in an effort to just keep her job and stay in the background. He figured out she had a brilliantly colorful mind underneath her drab and plain exterior. Never one to make waves, she had no clue how to react to the offer for a new position as his personal assistant. He had a previous reputation on the rugby field as one hell of a ferocious competitor and the current reputation as one hell of a competitor in the board room. She was more than afraid she would be no match for his personality and that he would chew her up and spit her out. She couldn’t have been more wrong…

Gabriel Bishop has always gotten what he wants. Always. He learned as a small boy that even the most destitute of situations can be changed for the better with a whole lot of determination and hard work. It’s that childhood that drives him to be the best. He had been the best in the pro rugby circuit and after a career ending injury he was now the best in the corporate business world. All that fame and fortune had made women an easy game. Well, for every woman except his new PA, Charlotte Baird. She was unlike anyone he had ever met. A puzzle he wanted to figure out. He had no idea the delight he would get in the flirtatious game he had now started with her…nor did he have any idea how much she would grow to mean to him. He knew how to keep his eye on the prize and work for his reward no matter how long it took. And he knew with Charlotte, it would take more time than he spent on any other woman in his life. He had no doubt she would be worth it…

What starts out as a pretty straight forward, and tense at times, working relationship quickly turns into a delicious power play between the predator and the prey. The greatest part with the back and forth between Charlotte and Gabriel is when the roles switch and the prey becomes the predator…owning every move the predator makes. And what a delicious dance it becomes…

I am in serious book hangover mode right now. I freaking loved everything about this book. Gabriel is a total dichotomy when it comes to his outward persona and the man he keeps hidden underneath the gruff exterior. From the very beginning he laid plans to win Charlotte. She had no idea and the way he presented it all to her as they bobbed and weaved in their flirtatious relationship was simply adorable. She had no idea he was planning for so long just to kiss her. Had no idea he was waiting for her to come around. He knew there had to be a reason she was so skittish and, bless that insanely patient man, he was willing to do what it took to gain her trust. If I can count the amount of times I swooned over that man, it has to be in the hundreds. Charlotte is unlike any heroine I’ve read. She is brave, accepting, determined, complex, and broken. I admired her tenacity in picking up the pieces of her broken life and just wanting a sense of normalcy. Luckily, she will have Gabriel to help her along the way. These two together are simply wonderful. Charlotte has a dry sense of humor and gives right back when Gabriel pushes. Gabriel, unused to that, takes it all in stride and plays along with her. I loved every single one of their interactions and their growing attraction and budding relationship was beautiful to read. There are many stumbles along the way, but because both Gabriel and Charlotte want things to work, I knew they could make great things happen. The amount of love I have for these two is HUGE!

Ms. Singh truly knocked my socks off. Her writing makes the characters real and relatable. We are along for the emotional ride with them and I loved it. Oh, and the chapter titles? The. Best. It was that bit of humor that brought lightness to the dark parts in this book and the balance was fantastic.

Hopefully I haven’t bored you to tears and that you’ve made it this far…because you really need to read this book. Thank you, Ms. Singh, for giving us Gabriel and Charlotte and all of the beauty their unique relationship is. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us next! (fingers crossed it includes Gabriel’s brothers….)

Excerpt:

Charlotte arrived at work at seven thirty the next morning to find Gabriel Bishop’s office door open, but no carnivorous predator inside. A fresh suit was hanging on the back of his door, however, which meant he’d been in already.

Deciding to catch up on e-mails that had come in overnight from international suppliers as well as stores involved in a stock take, she was typing a reply when a sweaty Gabriel arrived fifteen minutes later. He was dressed in black running shorts and a faded University of Auckland T-shirt that was currently sticking to his body.

She’d known he was in shape, but now she realized none of it was an illusion created by his well-cut suits. Okay, she’d already known that, but seeing his muscled body in the flesh was a whole different ball game. He was built like a tank, hard and powerful.

Each of his thighs was thicker than both of hers put together, his biceps toned, his shoulders appearing even wider than usual. Everything about him was big. Civilized clothing didn’t make him look better, she realized—it toned down his intense masculinity. Out of his suits, with the ink on the upper part of his left arm exposed, as well as that on his opposing thigh and…

Her skin hot and lower body clenching, she just nodded in response to his “Good morning.”

Disappearing into his office, he returned with his suit pants and a fresh shirt slung over his arm, along with a sports bag. “Push the meeting with Sales to nine, will you, Ms. Baird? I need to talk to HR about something before then.”

“Yes, sir,” Charlotte said almost soundlessly, but he was already gone, heading toward the employee shower one floor down.

The thigh tattoo went all the way around, the design intricate.

Heart rate a rapid stutter, Charlotte got up after he disappeared and decided to go grab him a coffee. He’d bought her one yesterday after all. She was just being nice. “Oh, shut up, Charlotte,” she muttered once she was in the elevator, and slumped her face into an upraised hand.

The truth was she was running away. Only for a few minutes, but that’s what this was: strategic retreat. Gabriel Bishop was overwhelming. Once, before she’d ever met him and under the influence of cocktails, she’d told Molly she wanted to rip off his shirt and sink her teeth into his pecs.

That desire hadn’t waned even now that she knew he was a T-Rex. Of course, the desire was all strictly in her imagination. The idea of actually handling him in real life? So impossible as to be laughable. Charlie-mouse was not about to play with a predator who could eat her alive and not even notice the bones. The good news was that she could admire him in relative safety—there was no chance in hell he’d ever notice her as a woman.

Getting the coffee from a nearby café, she took it back upstairs. He was in his office when she entered, the striped dark gray of his tie hanging around his neck and his damp hair roughly combed. The scent of clean, fresh soap over warm skin permeated the office. Shooting her a smile that turned him from gorgeous to flat-out devastating, he flipped up the collar of his white shirt to get the tie in place. “Thank you, Ms. Baird.”

Nodding, Charlotte escaped, though she really wanted to stay. She’d never realized how erotic it was to watch a man dress until this precise moment. And she shouldn’t be having these thoughts about her boss—especially since she couldn’t keep from quivering like a rabbit in his presence. Sometimes she just annoyed herself.

“Get to work,” she muttered and knuckled down.

Gabriel was fine for the first hour, but then he began barking orders even a six-armed woman with a split personality would have had trouble handling.

Finally, pushed to the edge, Charlotte snapped. “I’m going as fast as I can!” she yelled when he asked her for something a minute after he’d asked her to complete another task.

He scowled and held out a file. “This is a priority.”

Grabbing it from his hand, she said, “Fine,” and slapped it down on her desk.

It was over an hour later that he disappeared for ten minutes. When he returned, it was to put a small bakery box on her desk. “I think you need something to sweeten your mood today, Ms. Baird.”

What she needed was for the T-Rex who was her boss to stop snarling and growling, she thought as he returned to his office. Not opening the box until her curiosity had almost killed her, she found it held a slice of decadent chocolate cake with a white-chocolate ganache topped with curls of both white and milk chocolate. “I cannot be bribed with cake,” she muttered, eating a bite nonetheless.

Full two-chapter excerpt available on Nalini’s Website: http://nalinisingh.com/rockhard.php

The Rock Kiss Series

Rock Addiction (Book One) Rock Kiss Series

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | iTunes | Kobo

Rock Courtship (bk 1.5) A Rock Kiss Novel:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Rock Hard (Book Two) Rock Kiss Series:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

About the author:

NEW YORK TIMES AND USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series Nalini Singh usually writes about hot shapeshifters and dangerous angels. This time around, she decided to write about hot and wickedly tempting rock stars (and one gorgeous ex-rugby player). If you’re seeing a theme here, you’re not wrong.

Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing. If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Also, don’t forget to swing by the site to check out the special behind-the-scenes page for the Rock Kiss series, complete with photos of many of the locations used in the books.

STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wild Horses by B.J. Daniels…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

It took only one impusive moment on an empty two-lane highway to cost her everything.

A man’s responsible for his own prosperity—especially if he’s Cooper Burnett, the most determined cowboy in the West. No one knows what he sacrificed to claim a piece of Beartooth, Montana, for himself and his beautiful fiancée, Livie. No one knows what he’s willing to do for love…until a stranger’s twisted vendetta threatens the happy ending they should’ve had long ago.

One fateful mistake isn’t the only secret Livie Hamilton is keeping from her fiancé. Victimized during a treacherous blizzard by a man she thought she could trust, she’s pregnant…but unsure who the father is. With an unknown blackmailer threatening to expose her, she must confess to Cooper and trust he’ll still protect her. But when the truth falls into place, she may lose the only man she’s ever loved—or worse.

My review:

Wild Horses is the first book in author BJ Daniels’ The Montana Hamilton’s Series and kicks off this new series with one of the most suspenseful and amazing stories I’ve ever read. I loved every nail-biting second!

While this story primarily focuses on soon to be married senator’s daughter Livie Hamilton and cowboy and horse trainer Cooper Burnett, there is much more brewing in the small town of Beartooth, Montana.

Cooper never really believed he deserved the beautiful and kind senator’s daughter, Livie. Of course, she did everything she could to convince him otherwise. He was everything she wanted in a man and future husband. He was hard-working, handsome, caring, and loyal. But those niggling feelings were always in the back of his mind. Those feelings led to an argument one evening and Livie leaving the house angry, upset, and as it would turn out, head-on into a situation that would threaten their future together, lead to blackmail, and possibly even threaten the future of her father and his bid for president of the United States.

As is that wasn’t enough on the Hamilton’s family plate, the mother Livie and her sisters thought they lost 22 years ago shows up with no memory of the time she lost with them. Where had she been? Had she left them and never thought about them for all this time? Do they want to include her in their family again?

Being a wealthy and politically prevalent family, you would think they would be used to people looking for an angle to take advantage of them…or worse, letting jealousy spur plans to ruin them. To an extend, they were. But things have never gotten to this level and when it all comes entirely too close to home and involves old feelings of hatred and jealousy, no one is safe from the evil it brings.

Holy HELL! This book was amazing. Packed with mystery, murder, suspense, envy, greed, and high emotion, I was hooked. Add to that a cast of characters who had my guessing on the extent of their shadiness and I was kept on the edge of my seat from the very first chapter. Author Daniels did a phenomenal job with dropping breadcrumbs along the way that kept me satisfied but still hungry for more. I loved every angle that was introduced and was a nervous wreck for Cooper and Livie and wanted them to get the happily ever after they truly deserved. Adding to that was the sudden reappearance of this long-lost mother and blackmail letters coming from a mysterious man, and I was devouring pages to see what would happen next. I love experiencing a read with that impact!

Now, I can’t give anything away here in regards to how things end up for the entire Hamilton family and with so much packed into this book I certainly don’t want to ruin even one moment for a fellow reader, so you’ll have to grab a copy and see the outcome for yourself (insert evil laugh)

Thank you, Ms. Daniels, for taking this reader on one of the best roller-coaster rides I’ve read. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Five Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

B.J. DANIELS, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, wrote her first book after a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist and author of 37 published short stories. That first book, Odd Man Out, received a four and a half star review from Romantic Times magazine and went on to be nominated for Best Intrigue for that year. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense and numerous nominations and awards for best book. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and two springer spaniels, Spot and Jem. When she isn’t writing, she snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death and Romance Writers of America.

Praise for New York Times and USA Today bestselling author B.J. Daniels

“B.J. Daniels will absolutely move to the top of your list of must-read authors.” – Fresh Fiction on Mercy

“Daniels is truly an expert at Western romantic suspense.” –RT Book Reviews on Atonement

“Fans of Western romantic suspense will relish Daniels’ tale of clandestine love played out in a small town on the Great Plains.”–Booklist on Unforgiven

Romantic suspense that will keep readers guessing. If you like Longmire, this is the book for you.”
– RT Book Reviews on Forsaken

Need You For Keeps by Marina Adair….ARC Review & Giveaway

Need You For Keeps releases tomorrow, March 3!

Synopsis:

When it comes to caring for the furry residents of St. Helena, California, groomer and pet rescuer Shay Michaels can handle anything. Humans are another story, though especially Deputy Jonah Baudouin. He’s the town’s resident superhero: upright, uptight, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous, even when he’s investigating complaints about Shay’s beloved foster animals. And that spells danger for Shay, a free spirit who can’t risk trusting the wrong person again.

Jonah and Shay have been circling each other ever since she came to town, and he’s running out of reasons to “not” kiss her senseless. But this deputy is a straight shooter with his eye on the sheriff’s badge. He can’t afford to get involved with Shay, a chaos magnet with luscious curves who’s liable to turn his career and his life upside down. He enforces laws. She breaks them repeatedly. Keeping her out of trouble is becoming a full-time job and it’s one he hopes is never going to end.

My review:

Need You For Keeps is the sixth book in author Marina Adair’s St. Helena’s Vineyard Series, as well as the first in her new Heroes of St Helena Series. I have enjoyed the St. Helena gang since the very first book and it’s a series I grow to love with each new installment. This was no exception. I adored Jonah and Shay’s story and all of the humor, emotion, and heat that was written into the pages.

Hero to all homeless pets big and small, groomer and pet rescuer extraordinaire Shay Michaels is bound and determined to make sure any pet she saves finds a forever home. Like she had when she came to St. Helena. She had a rough go of things early on in life but the one constant for her was the pure and true love she gave and received from her furry friends. It’s what led her on her current path and to dreams of opening up a shelter in order to legitimately be able to foster them. She’s had her share of trouble with the wy she was running things now, mainly that she could never turn an animal away and having one too many is apparently frowned upon by St. Helena law. It wasn’t all bad getting into trouble however, when the man doling out the warnings was town deputy Jonah Baudouin. Sexy and confident, he always made her tummy flip-flop and boy, could she daydream about his handcuffs. But no way would they ever be a good match so she needed to wash those dreams right down the drain with the latest doggy shampoo…

Deputy Jonah Boudouin didn’t mind going on a call when it meant he got to see Shay. Yes, he hated having to tell her she was once again causing trouble, but he loved hearing her excuses and seeing what she would be attempting to do to get herself out of the latest issue. He knew she had a heart of gold and knew she never meant to break laws but the sexy spitfire just couldn’t help herself. He had to give her credit, she really goes for what she wants…even when it comes to raising funds for her rescues courtesy of a sexy photo shoot with local uniformed hotties. No, he declined her request for him to pose, because a man running for sheriff probably should keep his clothes on, but he really did hope she was able to realize her dreams. Speaking of dreams, she’s been the star of more than a few daydreams of his own but surely they would never be able to work. She was opposite him in every way possible…but some say that’s a good thing, right?

Two people who couldn’t be more opposite have one very important thing in common…their attraction for each other. Would they be able to take that old saying “opposites attract” and make it reality?

There is just something in the way that Marina writes that immediately takes the reader into her world. I have been reading this series since the beginning and I feel like I’m returning to a town I’ve lived in when I sit down to read a St. Helena book. The characters are charming and well-developed. The setting is described so perfectly that I can practically walk down Main Street and wave to the townspeople. I adore that in a book. Jonah had me hooked from the very first time he appears in the story. He’s controlled, loyal, sexy as all hell, and has a soft side he keeps hidden and made me swoon when he showed it. Shay is one of the best heroines I’ve read. She’s sassy, smart, and never afraid to go after what’s right for her furry family, even if it does mean bending the occasional law. I loved her tenacity when it came to her dreams of owning a pet rescue. Together, Shay and Jonah are delicious. They have a slow burn that got hotter and hotter with each interaction and I ate it up! Of course, I also got to see more of my favorite grandmother crew and as always, those ladies had me laughing my arse off one minute and tearing up at a beautiful gesture the next. I adore those women.
It bears repeating that Marina has such a special way of delivering a story and I will continue to look forward to reading more from the St. Helena gang!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

Giveaway:

I am so grateful to have the chance to give one lucky winner their choice of paperback, ebook, or audiobook of Need You For Keeps! Comment on this post to be entered to win (US entries only, please)

About the author:

Marina Adair is a #1 National best-selling author of romance novels. Along with the St. Helena Vineyard series, she is also the author of the upcoming Sugar, Georgia series and Tucker’s Crossing, part of the Sweet Plains series. She currently lives with her husband, daughter, and two neurotic cats in Northern California.

As a writer, Marina is devoted to giving her readers contemporary romance where the towns are small, the personalities large, and the romance explosive. She also loves to interact with readers and you can catch her on Twitter or visit her on Facebook.

Review…Call Sign Karma by Jamie Rae

Synopsis:

Love in the no-fly zone…

Distraught over the loss of her brother in a fighter jet accident, Tinklee Pinkerton decides to follow in his footsteps and prove the tragedy wasn’t his fault. But when she’s chosen as the first woman to fly the Air Force’s F-35, her plan for a life that revolves around work is thrown off course by a handsome, mysterious stranger…

Thanks to Locke’s seductive British accent, sweet nature, and one too many beers, Tink is soon inspired to throw caution to the wind and herself into his arms. She thinks maybe love can heal after all—until she discovers Locke is her superior officer. Tink has no problem risking her life in the air, but with everything on the line, is she brave enough to risk her heart on the ground?

My review:

Call Sign Karma is the debut work from author Jamie Rae and it knocked my freaking socks off. I was glued to Tink’s story. GLUED! Tinklee is a total badass and her story had me laughing, crying, heart pounding, and falling in love with all of the characters in this book.

Tinklee Pinkerton has recently been chosen to be the very first woman pilot to fly the Air Force’s F-35. She should be thrilled, and she is, but overshadowing all of that excitement is the crushing loss of her older brother she feels every minute of every day since his accident. The accident that took his life happened when he was flying…the exact jet she was now learning to fly. Some may say she was crazy to even think about doing this but she was on a mission to set the record straight and get the official cause of her brother’s death changed from “pilot error” to “aircraft malfunction”. She knew deep down in her heart of hearts that her brother wouldn’t have made mistake that catastrophic. She refused to believe it especially since he had mentioned to her father that there was a problem with the air flow in the jet. Oh, yeah, making matters worse? Her father is an Air Force veteran and now in politics and pushing for this very jet to be put into major service. Talk about on hell of a situation. Oh, but it’s about to get even worse. She runs into a sexy Brit on the beach when she was on the verge of a meltdown and spends an unforgettable night of passion with him. Locke. Why is this a bad thing? Because Locke turns out to be her instructor…

With so much on her plate, and knowing damn well having a relationship with an instructor was a one way ticket out of the program, it’s going to be damn hard to focus on the task at hand. Especially when the pull and attraction between her and Locke burns brighter and stronger every hour they spend together. Man, karma really was a bitch when it came to Tink.

*deep breath* Ok. I am going to try to do my best not to babble through this part of the review because, damn, I loved this book! Tink is one of the coolest chicks I’ve read, and I’ve read a lot of books. She broke my heart so many times when she recounted the death of her brother and then brought me right back up when she got into the cockpit and flew her arse off. In a guy’s world, she shined bold and bright. The emotion that author Rae wrote in Tink is unbelievably amazing. Every time Tink got choked up, or was nervous, or scared, I could feel it. Truly, I felt a part of her. It was amazing. On top of Tink being such a strong character, Locke was one hell of a match for her. He was both kind and understanding as well as tough as nails. Oh, and sexy as hell. Together they are a brilliant match and the push and pull involving rules, regulations, strong emotions, and lust was a delicious combination.

Now, I have to give a special mention to my other favorite part of this story….Ash. Ash is special forces and pops into Tink’s life when she’s in the middle of trying to stay away from Locke. He also stole my heart and there are so many times I wasn’t sure who I wanted Tink to end up with! It was like Edward and Jacob all over again and I was so torn. Now, I will say that the ending was just perfect. I can’t give anything away, but I will say that you should have more than a few tissues handy for the last chapter or so. Man, I was a sobbed out mess when I was finished! But, you know I love that form a book.

Whew! Ok, I hope I didn’t bore you or ramble on too much. All I have to say is if you loved Top Gun (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?!) this is a book you should read. Hot, emotional, and thrilling, I loved it all! Thank you, Jamie, for an amazing read. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

JAMIE RAE is a New Adult and Young Adult author. She writes with one goal in mind–to create stories with a positive message that will stay with the reader long after they’ve finished reading.

Jamie is an avid reader and loves discovering stories with a great hook, though she will not eat, sleep, or speak until she reaches the end. The Harry Potter years weren’t pretty!! Convinced that her Hogwarts letter was lost in the mail, she keeps a watchful eye for owls hoping her children will have better luck!

In her other life, Jamie Rae enjoys creating smiles that will last a lifetime as an orthodontist and keeps her heart overflowing with love as a mother of three. She has perfected the art of nomadic living as a military spouse and Air Force veteran. Jamie has a passion for critters of all shapes and sizes and you can often find her sneaking them into her own home or volunteering for rescues.

Dream~Write~Inspire

Website | Twitter

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:

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.

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.

Blog | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Driven By Fate by Tessa Bailey…ARC Review

Driven By Fate releases today!

Synopsis:

The first rule is obey… and she already broke it.

Francesca “Frankie” De Luca always pays her debts. Even when it means stepping inside Serve, the sensuous Manhattan club that caters to particular adult desires. For Frankie, it’s a taste of something she’s always wanted—and never received. Until a sharply dressed Brit orders her into his room, and instructs her to undress before delivering the carnal punishment she so desperately needs…

She wasn’t the woman Porter Evans was expecting. Not this wild thing with the pale, silvery eyes. And such cheek. But she violates Porter’s strict rules of control. Temptation is a dangerous thing indeed. Yet everything about Frankie cries out for schooling about the tantalizing interplay of pleasure and pain. So Porter offers Frankie a deal she can’t refuse—and the only thing she owes him is submission…

My review:

Driven By Fate is the fifth book in the Serve Series, the third in the series written by author Tessa Bailey, and focuses on Frankie and Porter. We’ve briefly met these two in the earlier books and I have been dying to dig into their story. Well, I can say that it was worth the wait and lived up to all of the delicious expectations I had.

If there’s one word people would use to describe Frankie DeLuca it would probably be formidable. Not meant in a negative sense, but in a sense that she always worked for what she had. She was strong and determined and didn’t take crap from anyone. She had her dreams ahead of her and will do whatever it takes to see those dreams come to fruition. Those dreams included owning a business that would cater to women and get them from place to place without the fear of becoming a victim after a girls night out…a cab company with all cabs driven by women.

Being in the taxi business she understood the misgivings women had sometimes and she wanted to do something about it. She was tough as nails and can handle most men, but there were plenty of women who were the complete opposite. She saw opportunity there. Now she just needed the funds to get the business off the ground. That should be her sole focus right now, not the sexy Brit she had a chance encounter with. Now he seems to be the only thing she can focus on. Him and his dominating ways. She had never taken orders from anyone, but with him she felt she wanted to and that scared the hell out of her. She wanted him with a need that defied anything she’d ever known. And he wanted her as well. So much so that he offers her a chance to realize her dreams…investing in her cab company.

Most of you know I’m a huge fan of Tessa’s work and always look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. She never ceases to amaze me. This book was no exception. Frankie and Porter’s story had a different feel than most of her other books and it was sublime. Frankie is tough and sharp and is just figuring out who she is. That includes being dominated in the bedroom. That, obviously, is at odds with the face she puts on for the rest of the world. She’s used to being the only woman in a man’s field and is ok with it…but the hardness she’s had to gain over the years gets tiring at times. Sometimes she just wants to let go. That’s where Porter comes in. Oh, my, Porter. Steely, dominating, sexy, Porter. He is just as indomitable as Frankie but in a way that compliments her beautifully. Two hard-headed people, used to working hard and getting their way, fighting for the upper hand in their encounters can only add up to some combustible and heated moments. And oh, yes, it does. It adds up to heat that only Tessa Bailey can write.

Of course, both Porter and Frankie find a softer side that only shines for one another and it was so amazing. It was beautiful to see the change in both of them and to see their relationship blossom into so much more than just sex. The ending of this story had me crying sappy tears and made me love Porter even more *dreamy sigh*

Once again, Tessa Bailey delivers sensuous heat, delicious dirty talk, and raw emotion with Driven By Fate. Thank you, Tessa, for yet another amazing read!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

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 Brooklyn, New York with her husband of seven years and three-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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Hero By Night by Sara Jane Stone…Blog Tour Stop and Review

Synopsis:

He was nobody’s hero until he landed in the wrong bed…

Armed with a golden retriever and a concealed weapons permit, Lena Clark is fighting for normal. She served her country, but the experience left her emotionally numb and estranged from her career-military family. Staying in Independence Falls seems like the first step to reclaiming her life until the town playboy stumbles into her bed…

Chad Summers is living his dream—helicopter logging by day and slipping between the sheets with Mrs. Right Now by night. Until his wild nights threaten his day job, leaving Chad with a choice: prove he can settle down or kiss his dream goodbye. But when he ends up in the wrong bed, the one woman in Independence Falls he can’t touch offers a tempting proposition. Chad is ready and willing to give in to the primal desire to make Lena his at night—on one condition. By day, they pretend their relationship is real.

But their connection extends beyond the bedroom, threatening to turn their sham into reality if Chad can prove he’s the hero Lena needs night and day… forever.

My review:

Hero By Night is the third book in author Sara Jane Stone’s Independence Falls Series, a series I have loved since book one. Well, this book is absolutely, undeniably, my favorite in the series thus far. I loved it so freaking much!

Former Army officer Lena Clark is used to fighting. She’s survived tours overseas in a war zone and saved lives while doing it. What she wasn’t used to fighting was for a sense of normal. Whatever that was. Normal is something she hasn’t felt in a really long time and she is starting to think she may never feel it again. Sure, she’s made strides in overcoming her PTSD, thanks in part to her golden retriever, Hero, but she still had a long ways to go. And she had no idea how to get there. She has left behind her family, her now ex-husband, her Army career, all of it, just to get her sense of normalcy back. That search led here to Independence Falls. She was grateful to be here and have some new friends and a chance at a fresh start. She didn’t feel pressured here, mainly because she didn’t really know anyone. That seemed to help. Then things change again and she’s not sure if it’s for the better or the worse. She met Chad Summers. Chad the woman pleasing, playboy helicopter pilot. Chad who awakened all sorts of long forgotten feelings in her. Maybe she should grab those feelings with both hands and hold on for the ride? Maybe this was a shot at trying to be normal? At this point she was willing to give anything a try….she just hoped Chad was on board.

Chad Summers was royally screwed..and not in the way he was used to. His lady-loving ways are proving to be responsible for a reputation that is keeping him grounded…and that was something he couldn’t handle. Heli-logging was all he had ever wanted to do and now that his dream was being jeopardized, all because people thought he was too cheeky and irresponsible. He had never given any reason to not trust him while he was flying but apparently his nighttime extracurricular activities were rubbing off on his professional life. Lucky for him fate seems to be on his side when he falls into bed with the wrong girl…literally. What started out as a misunderstanding turns into a chance at making things right with the powers that be, getting him back up in the sky, and getting to spend time with a beautiful woman in bed. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for starters, the fact that a fake relationship threatens to turn very real and may scare Lena away leaves Chad shaking in his boots. Can he help her with her PTSD all while convincing her they have found something real in a charade? God he sure as hell hoped so…

Between PTSD, career and family pressures, and an agreement for a temporary situation, Lena and Chad sure do seem to have the odds stacked against them. Will they be able to let their feelings turn from one of lust to love? Will they find true happiness amidst a false facade?

When I say that this is my favorite book in author Stone’s series, I can’t help that that’s an understatement. Instead, I should say that this is one of my fave books of any series, really. There was just so much to love. From start to finish I fell in love with both characters, and their situation, more and more with each page I read. No, it wasn’t all flowers and butterflies. In fact, there were many raw and gritty moments, but I think that’s what made me love it more. Chad is one of the most caring and honest book guys I’ve read. He just gets it. He gets people on a level that makes him stand out. I loved him or wanting to help Lena and for understanding her, for giving her the space she needed, for giving her support and love. Lena is equally amazing and damn, she broke my heart. I can’t imagine what she’s going through. Image having your whole life turned upside-down and not knowing, or having control, over emotions and reactions to things. It’s totally foreign to me but not to anyone suffering with PTSD. That is what made this book so real. We read her struggle and in the way it’s written it makes it the most understandable out of any heroine with PTSD I’ve read. Lena, by all accounts, is just a woman. A woman like any woman I know, including myself. Sure, she’s had a distinguished career in the Army and has saved many lives but the fact that she is written in such a relatable way made my appreciate this story on a whole different level. Truly amazing.

Of course the chemistry and passion shared between Lena and Chad is freaking off the charts and had me cheering for a long-term relationship from the start. These two sure as hell burn up the sheets! Total yum factor!

On top of all of that, we get to see more of our other fave couples from Independence Falls and Josh, the injured brother that I am totally in love with. I cannot wait to get to his story one day!

I always feel like I bore you guys with my sometimes long-winded reviews, but I just can’t help it when I love a book this much! Thank you, Ms. Stone, for giving us Lena and Chad and a book I will be swooning over for quite some time.

Five Loves

Links to Buy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google | Kobo

Other books by Sara Jane Stone:

Full Exposure

No touching allowed …

After serving her country, Georgia Trulane craves adventure—and sex. She’s set her sights on her brother’s best friend—now her boss, since she took a temporary job as his nephew’s live-in nanny. Only problem? Eric refuses to touch her. That doesn’t stop Georgia from seducing him. But an earth-shattering encounter leaves her fully exposed, body and soul.

Eric has a long list of reasons to steer clear of the woman he has wanted for as long as he can remember. For one, he refuses to be her next thrill ride. When he claims her, it will be for good. But the attraction is undeniable, and the more they fight it, the stronger it pulls. But will it be enough to conquer their obstacles?

Caught in the Act

Falling for his rivals’ little sister could cost him everything …

For Liam Trulane, failure is not an option. He is determined to win a place in Katie Summers’ life before she leaves Independence Falls for good. But first, he needs to make amends for the last time they got down and dirty.

Only problem?

His professional success hinges on striking a deal to buy Katie’s family business. And after Liam’s relationship with their Katie went south years ago, the Summers brothers are more enemy than friend. If both parties agree to set the past aside, they can reach an understanding. But when Katie welcomes him back into her bed, Liam risks everything to make her his.

After Liam betrayed her trust, Katie Summers will do anything to keep him from walking away with the family business. She decides to seduce him, knowing that when her brothers find out, they will back off from the deal. And she’ll finally have her revenge. But when her plan spirals out of control, Katie learns that payback may come at too high a price …

Author Bio

After several years on the other side of the publishing industry, Sara Jane Stone bid goodbye to her sales career to pursue her dream—writing romance novels. Sara Jane currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her very supportive real-life hero, two lively young children and a lazy Burmese cat. Visit her online at www.sarajanestone.com or find her on Facebook at Sara Jane Stone.

Facebook | Twitter | Website

Giveaway

Two Signed Sets of Caught in the Act and Full Exposure along with a $10 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Fire Me Up by Kimberly Kincaid…ARC Review & Excerpt

Fire Me Up releases TODAY!

Be sure to stop by Kimberly’s Facebook page for info on a FABULOUS $100 Gift Card giveaway she’s hosting with 3Tracy Brogan, Catherine Bybee and Jennifer Probst!

Synopsis:

If You Can’t Stand The Heat…

Teagan O’Malley can handle a crisis. She’s a paramedic, it’s her job. But she never expected to land in the kitchen of her father’s pub, with no notice, no cash, and no room for error. The kitchen is not her favorite place. Lucky for her, she just scraped a bad-boy chef off the pavement after a motorcycle accident—and something about him says he can turn up the heat in more ways than one.

Adrian Holt has had a rough few years, and he’s not eager to get tangled up in anything more complicated than a good risotto. But with a broken arm and a head full of bad memories, he needs a challenge to keep him sane. Teagan’s dare-me attitude and smoldering mess of a bar are just what the doctor ordered. And the two of them together might cook up some even better medicine…

Excerpt:

“You are stuck with me in here, Red.”

For a second, Teagan couldn’t move, couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. But then she dropped her eyes to Adrian’s finger, still hot on her lips. She reached up to wrap her hand around his, moving it from her mouth as she stepped in close enough to erase any daylight between them.

“Did you just shush me so you could say your piece?”

Adrian paused, his body going rigid against hers even though his gaze didn’t waver. “I guess I did.”

“Mmm.” Teagan pressed up on her toes, relishing the taste of his shock as she brushed her mouth over his. “I’ll let you slide exactly once, but if you make a habit of it, you will be sorry.”

He drew back, but only enough to pin her with a wide-eyed stare. “You’re going to let me help you?”

Something that had no name loosened in her chest, and she felt her body slowly unwind against the strength of his frame as she tucked herself into his left side. Suddenly, it didn’t matter that the words bubbling up from inside her were ones that would normally scare her to death. Right now, for the first time since she’d walked into the Double Shot to find her father half-passed out behind the bar, Teagan wasn’t scared at all.

“Yeah, Superman,” she said, wrapping her arms around the broad expanse of Adrian’s shoulders and holding on tight. “I’m going to let you help me.”

My review:

Fire Me Up is the fourth book in author Kimberly Kincaid’s Pine Mountain Series, a series that I have loved reading from the very beginning. To say that I was dying to read Adrian’s book would be a gross understatement and let me just say…this book was so worth the wait! Adrian is everything I had hoped for and more and this story was deliciously amazing. My favorite of the series so far!

Teagan O’Malley and Adrian Holt meet in, let’s just say, less than ideal circumstances. After getting into a bit of an accident, Teagan is the paramedic who is able to talk Adrian into getting the treatment he needs and even with his surly demeanor, Teagan can’t help but be drawn to him. As it happens, the feeling is mutual and Adrian is immediately taken with Teagan as well.

Thinking their chance meetings just that, a one-time chance meeting, they both go their separate ways….until fate has a different idea.

Adrian ends up being sidelined from his beloved kitchen with his injury and, as luck would have it, Teagan’s father’s pub is in a bit of a pickle that he may just be able to help with. With an offer Teagan can’t afford to refuse, and with the chance at giving Adrian something to take his mind off of the mess his life had become recently, they decide that working together may just be with the doctor ordered….for both of them. Of course, they both agree to keep things on a professional level, even though the attraction between them and pull toward one another is undeniable. It’s a funny thing about the best laid plans and what happens to them and before long the attraction becomes too strong to deny.

But with so much baggage in both their pasts as well as their future, will they be willing to take a chance on exploring the feelings they share for one another? Will the recipe of Adrian and Teagan cook up to just an appetizer or will it prove to yield something that will feed both of their hearts’ appetite for love?

Man, I just loved this book. Kimberly gets better and better with each installment in this series and Fire Me Up is proof of that. Adrian and Teagan are both complex and interesting characters with rich and somewhat difficult pasts that make them a pair that I adored reading. Adrian is all rough and gruff on the exterior, with delicious tattoos and a bad boy persona that was at such odds with the magic he creates in the kitchen. That combination is what had me falling in love with him and wanting nothing more than for him to have his happy ending. Teagan is equally amazing, with an admirable loyalty to her father and the business he’s built. She is determined and strong and is exactly the person Adrian needs in his life. When they come together, it is freaking delicious. I’m talking chocolate marshmallow fudge cupcake delicious. The heat and fire between them is palpable and the kitchen/home-made gnocchi scene will go down as one of the most memorable sexy scenes I’ve ever read. Seriously. Damn, the things Adrian is capable of had me swooning.

Adding to this story is a bit of suspense and some trouble Teagan’s father has gotten into and it added a whole other amazing layer. I really enjoyed that aspect and thought it added that extra something. I also loved seeing my fave characters for the other books in the series and was reminded of just why this is a series I will continue to recommend.

Thank you Kimberly, for yet another amazing visit to Pine Mountain. I cannot WAIT to see what you have cooking up for us next!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

About the author:

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Her digital Line series is all about the hot cops and sexy chefs of Brentsville, New York. She is also the author of the Pine Mountain series, which follows small town singles as they find big-time love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters. Visit her any time at www.kimberlykincaid.com or come check her out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kimberly.kincaid1) and Twitter (@kimberlykincaid).

Falling For Jillian by Kristen Proby…ARC Review

Falling For Jillian releases tomorrow, 1/27

Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby comes the third romance in the Love Under the Big Sky series, featuring a veteran struggling with PTSD and the one woman who can help him recover—and learn to love again.

Jillian thought she was a city girl through and through; the fast cars, high fashion, and glamour—she loves it all. But when her ex tells her he’s having a baby with his new wife (after Jillian struggled for years to get pregnant), she hightails it back to Montana to cry on the shoulder of her best friend, Cara.

But in truth, Jillian would rather be comforted by someone else…specifically Zach, Cara’s brother-in-law. Zach is a veteran of the Iraq War who came back to the family ranch to raise his preteen son after the boy’s mother took off. He’s struggling to re-establish a relationship with his son, and warding off the demons of PTSD, which still haunt him. The last thing he needs is bold, brassy Jillian…but why can’t he keep his hands off her?

My Review:

Falling For Jillian is the third book in author Kristen Proby’s Love Under The Big Sky Series. I have loved this series from the very beginning and have been so looking forward to this book after meeting Zach briefly in the first story in the series. Well, it was everything I had hoped for and more. Zach and Jillian’s story is amazing!

With her wounded heart in tow, Jillian heads back to her hometown to start her life fresh. She needed to be where the people she loved most were. Her brother was here, her best friend as well. Her ex-husband had really done a number on her emotions after ditching her and finding happiness, and now a baby, in another woman’s arms. It was a mystery as to why she couldn’t give him the baby he clearly wanted, and that still hurt. But she’s determined to build her happiness back up again, and being in her hometown would help. Catching glimpses of the sexy veteran she spent one hot night with last summer is a bit of a help, too. He wasn’t interested, or so he says, but she can’t help but think there’s still something between them. Something that goes beyond just the one night they shared. It definitely ranked high on the list of things to work on while she was home…

Zach was finally getting settled back here, home on his family’s ranch, raising his son, and being back on U.S. soil. Sure, he still had a heap of emotional issues when it came to his wicked ex-wife and his PTSD issues, but all things considered, life was pretty decent. It would be even better if he could figure out what was going on with Jillian. He was all tied up in knots around her, especially after the night they spent together on the 4th of July. But he wasn’t what she needed. His baggage had baggage and she has a whole heap of her own issues to deal with. She wouldn’t want him. Or would she? He just can’t shake her or the feelings she ignites in him. Maybe it was time he put his past in his past where it belongs and give things a chance with Jillian…

Both being hurt terribly in the past by their significant others is sure to shape what happens between them, but in that pain these two wounded hearts have a chance at love again. However, when fate throws a wrench in their newly blossoming relationship, will they prove once and for all that they are ready to embrace the amazing relationship they’ve formed?

This. Book. Was. Amazing. My heart had been hurting for Zach and all he had gone through in his past, which we had only gotten a small glimpse of in the previous books. Well, my heart broke when we got to read the whole history. I felt so many emotions for him and wanted nothing more than for him to find the missing piece of himself and have a happy ending, He is loyal and kind with a protective streak a mile wide and has a ton of alpha traits that had my swooning, He’s an amazing son and earning the same title as a dad. Jillian is an equally amazing character. She has a huge heart and relates with so many people on so many different levels. She is a gal I would love to be friends with. Together, even with their overload of past pain, Jillian and Zach are freaking delicious. The heat and passion between them melts the pages and I loved every second of their moments together. There were also some pretty heavy parts in this book that had me sobbing my eyes out. So, be sure you have some tissues handy. Like, a whole box. I was texting a friend who had just finished it and she had to keep assuring my that all would end well. Now, I won’t spoil anything, but you know I won’t rec a book that doesn’t end well so don’t worry too much!

Overall this may be my favorite book of Ms. Proby’s yet. It was packed with raw emotion, tender moments, relatable characters, and a whole lot of heat. Thank you, Kristen, for giving us Zach and Jillian!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

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.

Links:

Website | Twitter: @handbagjunkie | Facebook | Author Goodreads | FALLING FOR JILLIAN Goodreads

Beyond Limits by Laura Griffin….Arc Review

Beyond Limits releases Tuesday 1/27

Synopsis:

An FBI agent and a Navy SEAL race against time in New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin’s newest Tracers novel. “Griffin delivers the goods!” (Publishers Weekly)

FBI agent Elizabeth LeBlanc is still caught in the aftermath of her last big case when she runs into the one man from her past who is sure to rock her equilibrium even more. Navy SEAL Derek Vaughn is back home from a harrowing rescue mission in which he found evidence of a secret terror cell on US soil. Elizabeth knows he’ll do anything to unravel the plot—including seducing her for information. And despite the risks involved, she’s tempted to let him. Together with the forensics experts at the Delphi Center, Derek and Elizabeth are closing in on the truth, but it may not be fast enough to avert a devastating attack…

Following in the bestselling tradition of the Tracers series, including Exposed, Scorched, and Twisted, Beyond Limits pulls out all the stops with Griffin’s most gripping thriller yet

My review:

Beyond Limits is the 8th book in author Laura Griffin’s Tracers Series and sadly the first of her work that I’ve read. I say sadly because this book was positively amazing and I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to discover Ms. Griffin and her work. I loved everything about this book and it was a thrill ride from start to finish!

FBI Agent Elizabeth LeBlanc hadn’t expected to see him again. After all, she had spent almost a year trying to get him out of her head. She should have known there was no way to dismiss the memory of the sexy and imposing SEAL Derek Vaughn that easily. And of course, fate being the fickle thing she was, the case she was now working on would have to be one that he and his team had just been a part of overseas. If she thought she had been able to erase the effect he had on her, she was sadly mistaken. Everything about him set her senses aflame and now she would have to start the Derek Protection Program steps all over again. If only it were that easy. Derek was not one to be dismissed and he certainly wasn’t one to not act on a hunch when he saw one. Even if it did put his life and career on the line. Now they were working together, albeit way off the books, to stop a terrorist attack on home soil. An attack that involved the people he had just dealt with overseas and the people she was dealing with back on home turf. She knew she only had a thin veil of resolve left when he started bringing up the reasons they should be together. She barely made away with her heart intact last time. Would she have the strength to keep him at arm’s length again? Does she want to? With more than her heart on the line, there is too much on her plate. Derek is making his feelings clear while they search for the threat that could hurt far too many people. It wasn’t just her hurt she had to worry about.

Would they be able to take down the threat before it was too late? Would they take their attraction to the next level if given the chance? With far too much at stake and so many reasons a relationship between them wouldn’t work, would they decide to give their feelings and attraction a chance?

Holy hell! This book was one of the best romantic suspense stories I have ever read. Hands down. The story line and plot were amazing. Just enough technical lingo to make it feel entirely real but not overwhelming that I was bogged down with the details. The characters were just as amazing as the storyline. Elizabeth is a strong woman with good reason to want to keep her heart protected. She knew how SEALS worked, knew the risks they took and knew she couldn’t handle the thought of loving and losing Derek. I don’t blame her in the least, either. But eventually his charm wears her down (I mean how could it NOT?) and she is totally thrown off her axis. Derek is one of the most amazing characters I’ve read. He is smart, resourceful, funny, kind, and has a soft side to him that had me swooning. Together they make one hell of a team and the push and pull, both professionally and personally, was pretty damn terrific to read.

This book, in my opinion, could be made into a movie tomorrow and become a huge hit. The terrorist plot was amazing with twists and turns I never suspected and the romance was beautiful and touching. Hands down, a book I will immediately be recommending to any romantic suspense fan.

Thank you, Ms. Griffin, for giving me a new series to follow and love. I can’t wait for the next installment!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of writing romantic suspense. Her books have won numerous awards, including a RITA Award (Whisper of Warning) and a Daphne du Maurier Award (Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin where she is working on her next book.

Synopsis:

My Review:

Five Loves

Excerpt:

The Rock Kiss Series

Giveaway:

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book Links:

Need You For Keeps releases tomorrow, March 3!

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Giveaway:

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

When Irish Eyes Are Haunting releases February 24

Book Links:

Synopsis:

My Review:

Five Loves

Driven By Fate releases today!

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

The Surrender Gate releases tomorrow!

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Fire Me Up releases TODAY!

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Falling For Jillian releases tomorrow, 1/27

Synopsis:

My Review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Beyond Limits releases Tuesday 1/27 Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Beyond Limits releases Tuesday 1/27

Synopsis: