Five Loves

Risking It All by Tessa Bailey…ARC Review & Special Event Announcement

Risking It All releases Tuesday 1/27

Synopsis:

NYPD detective Seraphina Newsom will avenge her brother’s death at any cost. Even if it means insinuating herself into a rough, Brooklyn street gang and going so far undercover, she’s not sure she’ll be able to get out. Every minute she spends in their midst means the clock ticking down on her life, especially when she overhears something that could get her killed.

Bowen Driscol is the heir to a crime enterprise. He never asked for the job, but with his father behind bars, he has no choice but to step in and keep the operation running. But when the NYPD blackmails him with a piece of damning information in exchange for aiding an undercover cop, he finds himself on the other side of the law for the first time in his life.

Bowen knows the danger Sera is in, and keeping her safe trumps saving his own ass. The problem? She can’t know he’s on her side. And there’s the matter of the seriously inconvenient heat sparking between them that’s incinerating his resistance. But Sera only sees Bowen’s past, and men like him are the reason her brother is dead. If they’re to get out alive, he’ll have to risk exposing the man beneath, and hope to hell he doesn’t blow the whole operation in the process.

My review:

Risking It All is the first book in author Tessa Bailey’s Crossing the Line Series, a series that I have already fallen in love with when the prequel novella released a few months ago. I thought I had an idea of just how much I would love Bowen and his story…I was wrong. This book crushed all of my expectations and I loved it more than I ever could have imagined. It was freaking amazing.

Being an NYPD detective, Seraphina Newsom was used to being in some tough situations. But this current situation is proving to be the most dangerous and toughest yet. She’s deep undercover and quite possibly in over her head. That won’t stop her though. She’s as determined as ever to make the people responsible for her brother’s murder pay, and she will do it, no matter what the cost. She had planned on the danger. She had planned on the risk. What she hadn’t planned on was Bowen. And she sure as hell didn’t plan on all of the feelings his presence was bringing about in her. He was everything she shouldn’t want. He was on Team Bad while she personified Team Good. Of course none of that matters when she’s with him. She sees the man he is, underneath all of his gruff exterior layers, underneath his position in the crime world. She sees so much more…she sees that real man he is and, lord help her, she is falling hard and fast. Would a relationship between them with so many obstacles ever stand a chance?

The last thing Bowen Driscol ever thought he would be doing is helping the police. A guy like him only dealt with the police for one reason, and it surely wasn’t to play nice in the sandbox. But here he was, helping the NYPD on the down low. As if it wasn’t bad enough, he was stuck with a woman who rocked him to his core and threw him totally off-balance. A woman he shouldn’t even think about, let alone have the desire to be with her. She was everything pure and good, and we was everything opposite. Dirty and bad. He just prays that when this is all over, and his debt to the NYPD has been paid, he has the strength to walk away from Seraphina….because as it stands now, there was no way he wanted to ever let her go.

The odds are many and great against Seraphina and Bowen. They are opposites in every which way possible…but none of that matters. Not when the attraction and emotion shared between them has the ability to knock those odds right out of the picture. But in the trenches of the criminal underworld, none of that attraction and emotion will matter if one of them ends up dead…

I’m pretty sure I say this with every review I write about Tessa’s books, but holy hell, this gal just keeps getting better and better. I was so excited to get my hands on this book and start this new reading adventure and I was completely drawn into Bowen and Seraphim’s world from the very first chapter. There are so many things to love about this book.

I read a lot, so it’s easy for story lines and characters to get lost in the shuffle. That is NOT the case here. I truly felt like I was in this story. In my mind’s eye I could picture the places Bowen and Sera were in. I could picture what the characters looked like and the clothing they wore. I could feel the fluttering of emotions ranging from fear and tension to heat and passion. Truly, that is a gift. A gift that Tessa has given us with this story. Bowen reminds me of a Brooklyn version of James Dean. Smoking cigarettes, wearing that leather jacket with his rough-hewn good looks. But there’s a softer side to him that in a million years I never would have expected. It’s a side I don’t want to spoil by writing it here, because it’s a side you need to read for yourself. When Tessa reveals this beautiful hidden facet to his personality, I literally gasped and teared up. I never suspected it and it was just so damn good. Sera is a heroine I loved reading and an amazing compliment to Bowen. She is strong and determined. She’s smart and patient and kind. I loved her for loving Bowen the way she did. Together they are pure magic. The differences between them make for a combustible amount of fire and passion and it was delicious to read.

On top of all of that, we are introduced to the basis of this series…creative, somewhat rehabilitated, criminals working on the side of good. Freaking GENIUS. I have a feeling the other players in this game will be just as amazing to read as Bowen and Sera were. I know I sound like a broken record, but Tessa just keeps getting better!

If you are able to take away one thing from this long-winded review, it’s that you really need to grab a copy of this book. You will NOT be disappointed! Thank you, Tessa, for bringing us Bowen and Sera and for this amazing intro to a series I know I will adore!

Special Event:

Be sure to stop by the blog on Thursday, 1/29/15, for a very special event….

The Risking It All Location Photo Shoot!

Tessa traveled around to some of the locations mentioned in the book and took some amazing photos and wrote a bit about each one. How awesome is that?!

So be sure to stop by!

Book links:

Amazon | B&N | 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 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.

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Wicked Wolf by Carrie Ann Ryan…ARC Review

Wicked Wolf releases today!

Synopsis:

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

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

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

My review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | 1.001 Dark Nights

About the author:

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

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

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Sugar’s Twice As Sweet by Marina Adair…Review & Giveaway

Synopsis:

He’s trouble she doesn’t need . . .

Thanks to a cheating fiancé, Josephina Harrington’s perfect life just crashed and burned. Moving in with her overbearing parents is definitely not an option. No, she needs to prove she can make it on her own. And she will-by turning her great-aunt’s old plantation house into a destination getaway. She’s just not expecting her contractor to be so hands-on-and so totally irresistible.

. . . but everything she wants

Bad-boy golf champion Brett McGraw figured his hometown of Sugar, Georgia was the perfect place to lay low and get his life back up to par. The leggy blonde with a pint-sized pup is the kind of sweet ‘n sassy trouble he never saw coming. She doesn’t know a nut from a bolt and before long, he’s renovating her house . . . as she steals his heart. Can he convince Josephina that his womanizing ways are in the past and he’s ready for forever?

My review:

Sugar’s Twice As Sweet is the first book in author Marina Adair’s Sugar, Georgia Series and as a big fan of Marina and her writing, I was so excited to read this latest work. In true Marina fashion, this book was simply wonderful…choc full of emotion, amazing characters, sass, and wit, I loved every second of this story.

The last thing Josephina Harrington ever imagined she would be doing at this point in her life was staring at her late great-aunt’s old plantation home and actually thinking of tackling a project this big. But she had no choice. It was her last option at this point. Ever since being dumped by her arrogant ex-fiancé she knew it was now or never. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. No way would she move in with her parents and she really wanted to prove, more to herself than anyone, that she could do something amazing…all on her own. Turning this old plantation into an upscale-with-a-down-home-charm inn was a dream she wanted to see become a reality and when she embraced her great-aunt’s outlook on life, she knew she could do it. What she didn’t need right now was any sort of distraction, and her neighbor Brett McGraw was a distraction waiting to happen. Sure he was all sexy and southern charm, but she needed to stay away from men and focus on her new life. Good thing she had one hell of a workload in front of her to keep her mind off of the sexy golf pro showing up at her doorstep at every turn. Only problem was she really needed some help and eventually his neighborly offers start to wear down her resistance. Would she be able to pull of a project of this magnitude? With’s Brett’s help? More importantly, would she ever want to risk heartache again?

After the media debacle he was in now, golf star Brett McGraw needed to lay low. He needed to stay out of the public eye and out of the arms of star-struck women and that’s what led him back home to Sugar, Georgia. He would stay here, help out with a few organizations, and keep out of the public eye for a few months until things blew over and the next big tour started. That was the plan, anyway. All of that “stay out of the arms of women” talk goes out the window when Josephina comes back into town. Suddenly Brett can’t remember why swearing off women was a good thing. Of course it would figure that the only girl he had eyes for now couldn’t be bothered with him. Figures. Now he had to up his game and actually try…something he wasn’t accustomed to. But something happens along the way…Brett actually starts to grow some serious feelings for the girl he remembered from his childhood. The girl he could see had been hurt and wanted to make a fresh start. Would he be a part of that fresh start? Goodness, he really hoped so.

With a wounded heart and so much turmoil in both of their lives, Josephina and Brett seem to find solace in each other’s company. When things start to heat up and an undeniable attraction starts to blossom, will what they’ve found be able to whether the storm of Brett’s former playboy ways, Josephina’s broken heart, and a few hidden truths?

I have been reading Marina Adair’s work for a few years now and I have enjoyed all of her books…but this, hands down, is my favorite so far. There was so much to love about this story. We are introduced to Josephina at her lowest moment, right after the break up of her engagement, and it was so amazing to read her journey from broken-hearted to determined businesswoman. She stumbles along the way, and second-guesses herself as the enormity of this undertaking starts to show, but she doesn’t give up. I loved that about her. Her tenacity and pride are amazing. Even when things get pretty horrible for her, she picks herself up and keeps going. Brett is also an amazing character with a loyalty to his family and his roots that had me melting. Sure, he’s a ladies man, but he’s got a huge heart and is just waiting for the right woman to give it to. Oh, and his southern charm? Swoon-worthy!

Another one of my absolute favorite aspects of this story are Hattie and her band of misfit grannies. Brett‘s grandmother and her friends are absolute hilarious and added an amazing facet to this already wonderful story. I would love to have a Hattie in my life!

Again, there is so much to love about this book. The town’s description and making me feel like I was there, the secondary characters I can’t wait to read more about, the push and pull between Brett and Josephina, the laughs that ensue along the way, the heartwarming connection between Brett and Josephina…from start to finish I loved it all.

Ms. Adair is an author all romance lovers should have on their to-read list. She tells one hell of a romantic and emotional story each and every time and always delivers many a contented sighs throughout. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Sugar, Georgia gang!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Giveaway:

In addition to this tour-wide giveaway, I have an autographed paperback copy of Sugar’s Twice As Sweet to give away to one lucky winner! To exert that giveaway, comment on this blog post!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Every author can identify the exact moment of inception, when the skies parted, the heavens sang, and a divine being came forth, anointing them one of the chosen, blessed to spend the rest of eternity weaving stories of ‘ever after’ for mass consumption.

For me, it wasn’t so much a moment, but an intervention. Sophomore year, my fellow Blockheads sat me down and explained that I had an addiction. I was a NKOTB–A-holic. Afraid of becoming enablers, they refused to listen to another one of my never-ending stories about our passionate intrigues with Jordan, Joe, Jon, Danny, and Donnie. What they didn’t understand was that New Kids on the Block wasn’t my obsession—they were my current romance-medium of choice. Twenty years later, my romance addiction is a hard, bodice-ripping, half-dozen books per week. When I’m not reading it or watching it, I am writing it—or workshopping it—or editing it—or strategizing how my hands to get more of it. In 2010, I realized I was closer to menopause than prom and got serious about my career, writing my way toward a post-graduate degree in creative writing (in the off chance that the first one didn’t stick) and becoming a published romance author.

January of 2012, I sold my first novel, TUCKER’S CROSSING, to Kensington Books and The St. Helena Vineyard series to Montlake Romance. KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, the first in the series is a National Bestseller and #1 Romance Series bestseller. SUMMER IN NAPA releases May 14, 2013 and AUTUMN AT THE VINEYARD releases October 2013. In 2014 the first in the Sugar Series, BUT SUGAR’S TWICE AS SWEET, will release from Grand Central’s Forever line. I live with my husband, daughter and three neurotic cats in Northern California.

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Review…Eyes Turned Skyward by Rebecca Yarros

Synopsis:

Since her sister’s death, twenty-year-old Paisley Donovan, who shares her sister’s heart condition, is treated like delicate glass by her parents. But nothing will stop her from completing her Bucket List—even if it kills her. And it almost does, until Jagger Bateman pulls her from the ocean and breathes more than air into her lungs—he sets her soul on fire.

Jagger is enrolled in the country’s toughest flight school. He’s wickedly hot, reckless, and perfect for a girl looking to live life to the fullest. Except that Paisley is the commanding general’s daughter, and her boyfriend is Jagger’s biggest rival. Now Paisley must decide just how much to risk for a guy who makes her heart pound a little too hard.

They’re flying through dangerous territory—and one wrong move could make them crash and burn…

My review:

Eyes Turned Skyward is the second book from author Rebecca Yarros, and follows Full Measures…a book I completely adored. I was beyond lucky to get an early copy of this book and let me just say, it is unbelievably amazing. I loved, loved, loved, it. Ignored every daily responsibility and devoured it in one sitting.

Paisley wasn’t her sister. She wasn’t as fragile as everyone treated her. She wasn’t going to die young, like her sister had. If she could just convince her parents that she knew, deep down inside, she would be ok. Despite sharing the same heart condition that had killed her sister years earlier, Paisley had a plan and would live to see her later years. She wasn’t breakable. It was that philosophy that brought her to the beach one day and almost ended her life. Not because she was being reckless, but because some idiot was…and threw her into the ocean despite her pleas that she couldn’t swim. Luckily Jagger was there and he saved her life. Jagger, the handsome and sexy stranger she had been admiring just a little while earlier. Jagger, who would end up saving her a few more times as their story is written. Jagger, who could give her a life she never could have imagained…if she only gives him the chance.

Student pilot Jagger wasn’t one to do long term. He was fast and furious and lived life to the fullest. He had plenty of admiration from women and didn’t mind the attention. But it was Paisley’s attention he craved. After saving her that day on the beach, he knew it would take a lot to get her out of his system. Not even the fact that she turns out to be his commander general’s daughter or his biggest flight school competition’s girlfriend could make him back off. He couldn’t know that he may lose her before they even get a start. He couldn’t know that his life was about to be turned upside-down by this amazing woman. With so much at stake, his flight career, his standing with his commanding general, his future, would Paisley be worth the risk of all of it? He sure as hell felt with a bone deep certainty she was. Now he just had to convince her.

The odds are stacked against Paisley and Jagger from the word “go” but despite all of the negatives, the positives seem to win out…at least for a little bit. Will they truly get a chance at a happily ever after? For more than just a few months?

I’m pretty sure I mentioned this already, but it bears repeating: I loved this book. There was just so much to love. Jagger, Paisley, their situation, their relationship, even their struggles…it was all amazing. Rebecca Yarros has an amazing way of getting the reader invested in her characters and feeling all of their emotions. The good, the bad, and the heart wrenching. Jagger is one of my favorite book guys. He’s loyal, sexy, kind, caring, and has a larger than life personality. You can’t help but adore him. Paisley is equally amazing. She stumbles along the way and wants to remain the prim and proper girl her parents raised, but also wants to live her life without being treated like a piece of glass. She just wants to live like she has no expiration date.

The push and pull between Jagger and Paisley is fantastic and really fit their situation. Jagger had his dream career at stake and Paisley had her parents and long-term boyfriend to deal with. They couldn’t just jump right into things and all of that made it even more special when they finally could. Of course, I was a nervous wreck for these two and between Paisley’s heart and problems with Jagger and her boyfriend, I was so worried things wouldn’t work out. I won’t give anything away, but I will warn you to have an entire box of tissues at the ready. Yes, an entire box. Don’t worry though, Rebecca has yet to let me down yet and gives an ending that is totally movie worthy!

This is a must read for all romance fans. It’s packed with emotion and passion and is the embodiment of a well-rounded story with well-written characters. Thank you, Rebecca, for yet another amazing read. I can’t wait to see what you have in store in the future for your fans!

Five Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About the author:

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She’s a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores.

When she’s not writing, she’s tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years, and they’re currently stationed in Upstate NY with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog, but she would always rather be home in Colorado.

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Revenant by Larissa Ione…ARC Review

Revenant releases December 16

HELL HATH NO FURY . . .

For five thousand years, Revenant believed he was alone in the world, a fallen angel beyond any redemption. Now he finds he has a twin brother who had all the light and love Revenant was denied. Caught in a tug of war between Heaven and Hell, he must weigh his thirst for revenge against his desire for a mysterious female named Blaspheme—a female whose very origins could deliver him into salvation . . . or destruction.

LIKE AN ANGEL SCORNED

Blaspheme has a deadly secret: she’s the forbidden offspring of an angel and a fallen angel. Hunted by both heavenly and satanic forces, she has survived only by laying low and trusting no one. When Revenant claims he can save them both, how can she possibly believe him? But the powerful angel is persistence incarnate and for Blaspheme, there’s no place she can hide in Heaven or Hell where he won’t find her . .

My review:

Revenant is the sixth book in author Larissa Ione’s Lords of Deliverance series as well as the eleventh book in her Demonica series and I’m sad to say the last book in both. I am a huge fan of author Ione’s work and reading this book was indeed bittersweet. It was a fantastic finale and I adore every minute of it.

I will say that if you haven’t at least read the preceding book, Reaver, I don’t recommend reading Revenant as I’m pretty sure you will be a bit lost. That being said, the entire series is phenomenal and I highly recommend.

Fallen angel and underworld bad ass, Revenant, had been raised alone in a world of death and cruelty. After the death of his mother when he was younger he knew he would truly be alone for the rest of his life and had lived with that weighing on his chest his entire life. Until now. After having his memories restored he found out he had a brother…and not just a brother but a twin. As if that wasn’t enough to reconcile he finds out who his twin is and he couldn’t be more opposite from Revenant. Adding to all of this confusion is the turmoil with Satan and Lucifer’s impending rebirth which meant a whole lot of trouble for all worlds, good and bad. Of course, it was fitting that he would meet a woman who would capture his attention like no other woman ever had before. It was all too much to take at once and Revenant must soon decide whom he can trust and what side of the team good vs. evil he must play for. Could a fallen angel ever have hopes for redemption and some kind of happiness? After all he had gone through in his life, didn’t he deserve it?

Underworld General doctor Blaspheme knew her time was running out. As the forbidden love child of an angel and fallen angel, she had been shrouded in a false identity her entire life to keep her true nature hidden…and that shroud was slowly disappearing. When it was gone, she didn’t stand the chance of survival and that thought terrified her. Now, with time running out and growing desperate, she finds she must rely on Revenant to help her. Revenant, the fallen angel she was both attracted to and unsure of. He had the power to end her or save her and never having gotten close to anyone before, both of those options had Blaspheme weary. Could she trust him to save her? Would he want to after finding out what she was?

With so much tension building between good and evil and the impending rebirth of Lucifer, due any day now, it’s insane to think now would be the chance for Blaspheme and Revenant to find a connection. Even more insane would be to think they would find love. But isn’t that always how things work? When you least expect it?

Once again Larissa brings the reader into a complex and fantastic world with great odds, tons of sarcastic wit, and characters we all have grown to love. Reading Revenant’s childhood was positively crushing. My heart broke for the little boy who grew up in agony and suffering and had grown into a man who, despite all of that, still had the desire to be accepted and loved. Blaspheme is amazing and since meeting her I have been dying to read more. She’s caring, loyal, and has some zingers in this book that had me totally loving her. I was so worried for her and her situation as it truly seemed hopeless. Of course, once you’re part of the UG family, they won’t ever let you down and it was so amazing to see Eidolon, Wraith, and the whole gang do their best to help solve this major problem. Speaking of which, the problems they are facing are huge and I was worried sick that there wouldn’t be a way to get out of it. Now I won’t give anything away but let me say that when the Horsemen and Demonica crew all come together don’t doubt that there’s a way.

Thank you, Larissa, for giving us all of these characters and their stories. Each one of them holds a special place in my heart and they are books I will continue to recommend and re-read at every opportunity. As sad as I am to see it all come to a close, I have no doubt we will see them again one day and I am excited to see what you have in store for us next!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About the author:

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

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Caress of Darkness by Julie Kenner….ARC Review

Synopsis:

From the first moment I saw him, I knew that Rainer Engel was like no other man. Dangerously sexy and darkly mysterious, he both enticed me and terrified me.

I wanted to run–to fight against the heat that was building between us–but there was nowhere to go. I needed his help as much as I needed his touch. And so help me, I knew that I would do anything he asked in order to have both.

But even as our passion burned hot, the secrets in Raine’s past reached out to destroy us … and we would both have to make the greatest sacrifice to find a love that would last forever.

My review:

Caress of Darkness is the twelfth book in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series as well as the debut work in Julie Kenner’s new series, Dark Pleasures. I was intrigued when I read the synopsis for this story and by the end of the first chapter I was completely captivated. I tried desperately to read slowly and savor the story but alas I couldn’t, and I devoured it in one sitting. It was exceptional.

Successful assistant district attorney Callie Sinclair is at her ailing father’s antique shop, trying to sort through the finances and merchandise while trying to keep her emotions in order over her father’s illness when a sexy, tattooed, imposing stranger enters. And acts like quite an ass. Both startling her and having a less than pleasant reaction to her presence in her father’s shop. It wasn’t exactly how she wanted to start the day. After his rude arrival, and a few marginally more pleasant exchanges, her feelings of anger and annoyance are quickly replaced with feelings of curiosity and, strangely, attraction. There was something about this man who called to her on a deeper level and after chatting for a little bit more, and learning of his business dealings with her father, she feels at ease. Maybe there was something to this connection she was feeling? She would certainly get the chance to explore it further when they both can’t deny the attraction. The attraction that may turn out to be a reincarnation of a long-lost love. Could fate have given two once mated souls a second chance at a happy ever?

Ranier Engel was more than a little bit disappointed when he entered the antique shop and learned the item he was searching for hadn’t been found. That disappointment was soon replaced with a feeling he never thought he would feel again after losing his mate. But here he was, starting at this beautiful woman and thinking he must have her. He couldn’t explain it to her, yet, but eventually she would learn what he was and that he has been alive for thousands of years and had a bond with her that spanned those years. Would she be able to accept what he would eventually need to explain to her? He prayed she would…he couldn’t lose her again.

I have read a lot of paranormal over the years and when I first delved into the genre, I found a few key authors that still hold a place in my heart. They gave me the love of paranormal. It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a new paranormal romance that grabbed me like those original authors had. That’s not to say I haven’t read great books, but there is something different about those first stories. I hadn’t been able to recapture that feeling…until this novella.

Maybe it’s the way Ms. Kenner describes Raine in the first few pages. Maybe it’s the way she wrote the deep, soul-bound attraction or how strong of a heroine Callie is. More than likely it’s the combination of all of that but I can tell you, whatever that magic combination is, she has captured it and wrote it into these pages. Raine is all alpha but with a softer side that had me swooning. He’s a protector. A man who wants to comfort his love. Stop her from ever feeling hurt. Callie is strong and independent. She’s understanding and knows herself well. I enjoy those character traits immensely. The heat and fiery passion between them is intense and hotter than hot.

Above all of that, what Raine is, under his human façade, is new and fresh. It’s exciting and something I haven’t read but is intriguing and well thought out. Also being introduced to characters I’m sure we will se more of throughout this series has me beyond excited.

Truly, this is the start of a series I am certain I will adore. Thank you, Ms. Kenner, for rekindling my love of the genre in writing this phenomenal story.

Five Loves

Book Links:

Kindle | Paperback | 1,001 Dark nights

About the author:

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

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

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

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

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Falling for the Enemy by Samantha Beck…Book Tour & Review

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

Caught between a rock and a rock-hard body…

Salon owner Virginia Boca has declared herself celibate…at least until she wins the election for mayor of Bluelick, Kentucky. No hot men. No sex. And her plan to play the good girl might have worked—if the mysterious, hard-bodied stranger she’s seen around town hadn’t pulled her from the street and saved her life. The least Ginny can do is offer her savior a free haircut.

But when an innocent haircut turns into hours of wickedly hot sex, former Navy SEAL Shaun Buchanan knows his plan to keep a low profile is shot. Especially once Ginny finds out he’s the current mayor’s son. With her reputation and the election on the line, Ginny seems determined to keep their nightly sexcapades a secret, but Shaun’s not willing to stay in the shadows forever…

My review:

Falling for the Enemy is the third book in author Samantha Beck’s Private Pleasures series. This is a series I have loved for the beginning written by an author I adore but I must say, Falling for the Enemy is by far my favorite of Ms. Beck’s work yet. Oh my yum, this book was packed with passion, emotion, and even a bit of mystery and suspense. I loved every smoldering second of this story.

Ginny Boca has had enough. She’s got enough on her plate with being the owner of her town’s beauty shop and deciding to run for mayor that she surely doesn’t need the aggravation of sex or men. She was tired of having bad relations with the same men and was swearing off sex, at least until the election was over. Of course there was one man she would consider making the exception for…if her ever spoke to her that is. The dangerously sexy and handsome stranger she affectionately nicknamed Wolverine had been in her sights since he showed up a few weeks ago. She soon realized he was out of the question because he acted like a ghost, appearing and disappearing in town without even a wave of hello. But there was something about him, the way he carried himself that told Ginny he was something special. Sort of unluckily, they would finally get their chance to meet what he jumps in and saves her from almost getting run over while crossing the street. Ginny realizes at that moment that he is even better up close than she ever imagined and she has to do something to repay his selfless act. Coincidence that he seems to be in need of a haircut, no? Bingo…

Former Navy SEAL Shaun Buchanan was only back in his hometown for as long as it took to figure out what he was going to do next. His life. His career. He had no clue. What he did know was that being back and seeing the beautiful beauty shop owner on a daily basis was something he was becoming to count on. Look forward to. Even if she didn’t know who he was, or that he could tell she had fire and spirit second to none, he coveted the glimpses he caught of her. When he saves her from what could have been an awful accident, touching her in real life proves to be better than he imagined. And when she wants to repay him for being her knight in camo armor, he doesn’t want to accept. He wasn’t ready for personal relationships and getting to know her. He was happy with his self-imposed isolation and it seemed to be working in dealing with his lingering pain from his last SEAL mission. But keeping his manner about him, he knew he had to say yes to the haircut she offered. The question is, would he be able to walk out of her shop when she was done?

Having lusted after one another from afar for weeks adds so much heat to the chance-meeting fate has given Shaun and Ginny. There’s no denying their attraction and need to sate the desire flowing between them and luckily they both realize it would be ridiculous not to act on it and after a few days, their connection is growing to something more than just sex. Will what they’ve found be strong enough to stand the test of town gossip and a mayoral campaign?

I sat down to start this book; only having about an hour to read at that time, and quickly realized I needed to change my plans for the day. No way was I putting this book down. And I didn’t. From the very beginning there was something about Shaun (aka Wolverine) that had me hooked. He was the strong, silent newcomer that had a way about him that just drew me in…as it did Ginny. Of course that was only a peek into what Shaun has to offer. He’s kind and patient. Struggling with his demons alone and my heart broke for him. He’s loyal and strong and truly a man’s man. Oh, and he is 100% alpha in and out of the bedroom….totally delicious! Ginny is also amazing. She’s got a good head on her shoulders and has a way with people that makes her honest and extremely likeable. She’s a fantastic match for Shaun in so many ways and the fire and passion they share was off the freaking charts! Adding to these two amazing characters is the drama of someone trying to sabotage Ginny’s bid for mayor and this book is the total package.

Scandal, mystery, emotion, passion, and beyond sexy, Falling for the Enemy is a book all romance loves should pick up. Thank you, Ms. Beck, for one of my favorite reads this season!

Five Loves

Purchase links:

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

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1xmAS7T

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

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1tbYOF0

Excerpt: (heat warning!)

She cupped his balls at the same time she stroked him, stopping just shy of the flare of his head. “So, you’re touching yourself, and thinking of me, and…”

His head dropped back of its own accord, and his breath quickened. “I’d dream of you kneeling between my legs, opening your mouth, and letting me fuck you like that until I was the only thing you’d taste for the rest of your life.”

While they both watched, liquid beaded at the head of his cock and trembled there. He shivered when she used the pad of her thumb to swipe it, pressing down hard enough to explore the small opening. Then she brought her thumb to her mouth and licked it clean.

Eyes locked on him, she gripped his thighs, spreading them slightly, and brought her mouth so close her breath ruffled the hair around the base of his cock. “Could I trouble you to do the honors?”

Hell yes. He gripped his shaft and guided it to her lips. She opened her mouth, fully prepared to take him in, but he delayed their gratification by tracing his tip along her upper lip. “You have the softest lips, Virginia. Even before I ever kissed you, I knew they’d feel amazing.” He dragged his tip along her lower lip and couldn’t hold back a groan.

She chased him with her tongue, wetting her lips in the process. “Having them sealed around you is going to feel even better.”

He placed his hand on the top of her head, spearing his fingers through her hair. “Don’t rush me. This is my dream, remember?”

“I remember everything. Tell me what comes next.”

Why he wanted to torture himself he couldn’t say, but he wanted to savor this. “Kiss it…just the tip. With those plush lips of yours. No tongue, yet.”

She wet her lips again, puckered them, and rubbed them over the tip he held out for her. Somehow he managed to keep his eyes open, even though they wanted to roll back in his head. Then she parted her lips to take him deeper.

“Not yet,” he ground out, still hoping against hope to make this last more than three seconds.

“I can’t wait. I want to cradle the weight of you in my mouth. I want to hear you beg as I take you in.” She tightened her hold on his thighs and aimed a plaintive look at him.

“Sweet Virginia, you’ve got me so worked up I can’t trust myself. If you let me in your mouth, I’m going to own it. I’ve been fantasizing about this too long to sit by like a gentleman while you have your fun.”

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Wine lover, sleep fanatic, and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy contemporary romance novels, Samanthe Beck lives in Malibu, California, with her long-suffering but extremely adorable husband and their elementary-aged turbo-son. Throw in a furry ninja named Kitty and Bebe the trash talking Chihuahua and you get the whole, chaotic picture.

When not clinging to sanity by her fingernails or dreaming up fun, fan-your-cheeks sexy ways to get her characters to happily-ever-afters, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with Ambien.

Connect:

Site: http://www.samanthebeck.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamantheBeckWriter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamantheBeck1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6943520.Samanthe_Beck

Hard To Come By by Laura Kaye….Blog Tour Stop & ARC Review

About HARD TO COME BY:

Caught between desire and loyalty…

Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team—sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.

When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he’s become. Derek’s easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn’t trust.

As the team’s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away…

My review:

Hard To Come By is the third book in author Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink Series, a series I have loved from the very beginning. While I love every character in this series, I have to say, Marz and this book are my absolute favorite in the series so far. There is something about this wounded warrior and his very unlikely love interest that pulled me in from the very first chapter and didn’t let go until the very last page. It was phenomenal!

(I do want to make note that I vote reading the series as a whole before digging into this book. The back story and plot are becoming more involved with each book and I would hate for you to miss something…it’s just too good!)

A team of former special forces operators has been working tirelessly on getting to the bottom of the mystery that got them all kicked out of the army and half of their team killed. It’s this situation that has led them to Emilie Garza’s front door.

Her brother was involved somehow in a drug smuggling mess that was plaguing their city and their lives. She had no idea, however. The team had to get to her and hopefully get some answers. This leads Emilie and Derek Marza to cross paths and set off an immediate, and somewhat forbidden, attraction. What started out as a play to get Emilie away from her house so some of the guys can check it out and see if it held any clues to her brother’s whereabouts, turned into a dinner date and opened up all sorts of feelings between Emilie and Derek. Talk about bad timing. Making matters worse was they the team did in fact find some things and they knew Emilie’s brother was a ticking time bomb and she wasn’t safe. Another date later, Derek was a jumble of emotions. Emilie was going to have to know the truth about her brother soon. And the truth about why she and Derek had met in the first place. How was Derek supposed to let her know he had been lying to her from the second they met? Would she ever forgive him? He had to tell her, and soon…because things with her brother and the other dangers were getting worse by the minute. Would she ever be able to overlook his lies? He really hoped so…she ended up becoming a bright spot in his life and he didn’t want to let her go.

Man. I loved this book. While the story line continues and grows with each book, each installment in the series primarily follows one couple. Derek (aka Marz) and Emilie are the main focus in this book and I loved them together from the word “go”.

On paper, they aren’t a good match. She is the sister of one of Marz’s current enemies. Never a good way to start out. But Marz being Marz, he always looks for the good in a situation and immediately finds it in Emilie. She isn’t involved with her brother’s indiscretions and he knows it with deep certainty. One of his best qualities is always looking at the silver lining. He’s one of the most memorable characters I’ve read and stands out in my mind thanks in part to his character and outlook on life. He’s loyal and smart. Never lets life get him down, despite having lost his leg in the battle that killed half of his former teammates. Always trying to lighten the mood and help carry his friend’s emotional burdens. He has a beautiful soul and he will always be a favorite of mine. Emilie is a perfect match for him. Deeply understanding and equally loyal, she stands up for what’s right even if it may hurt her brother and her family. She’s full of integrity and heart and doesn’t flinch when Marz shows her his physical weakness. They had fate on their side when they met, for sure.

As far as the rest of the story, there were three huge “WHOA” moments that I can’t give away but I will tell you that I cried when I read two and cheered for the third. The story took a turn I didn’t see coming and it’s one that I’m glad it did. There may be hope for redemption of these amazing soldiers in the eyes of the government and I couldn’t be happier! But my lips are sealed…

Laura has done it again with Hard To Come By. Packed with emotion, suspense, action, and well-developed characters, this book is the whole package. I cannot WAIT to continue on with this series and see where the Hard Ink gang is going to end up. Thank you, Laura, for a fantastic book!

Five Loves

Hard to Come By on Goodreads

Pre-order or purchase before December 2, and get awesome bonus content!

Praise for Hard to Come By:

“Rough sex and explosive fights power Kaye’s third Hard Ink novel, a thrilling adventure that feels more like an action movie with a romantic subplot than a typical contemporary romance. New readers will head straight for Kaye’s backlist after powering through this installment.” ~Publishers Weekly Starred Review

 ”TOP PICK! If you’re looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you.” ~RT Book Reviews Magazine

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To

Giveaway:

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

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Follow the rest of the tour:

November 20

Deluged with Books Café-Excerpt No BS Book Reviews-Excerpt The Brunette Bookworm-Excerpt Angie and Jessica’s Dreamy Reads-Review Love Affair with an EReader-Review Love Drug Book Blog-Review

November 21

Booklovers for Life-Excerpt Friends Til The End Book Blog-Excerpt What I’m Reading-Review Chris Book Blog Emporium-Review Kelsey’s Corner Time-Review Typical Distractions-Review

November 22

Dr. Pepper Diva-Excerpt Fandomly Bookish-Excerpt Sisters of Sass-Excerpt Hot Guys in Books-Review Red Hot + Blue Reads-Review Turn the Page-Review

November 23

Book Lovin Mamas-Review RhiReading-Excerpt Rumpled Sheets Blog-Excerpt Becky on Books-Review The Geekery Book Review-Review Truly Simply Pink-Review

November 24

Garden of REden-Excerpt Twin Sisters Rockin Book Reviews-Review Chelle’s Book Reports-Excerpt Cris Conquers-Review Mignon Mykel: Reviews-Review Read-Love-Blog-Review Talking Books Blog-Review

November 25

Riverina Romantics-Excerpt Snoopy Doos Book Reviews-Excerpt The Book Whisperer-Review Wicked Reads-Excerpt Fangs Wands and Fairy Dust-Review My Favorite Things-Review

November 26

Made for You Book Reviews-Review Alexandria’s Book Blog-Excerpt Nette’s Bookshelf Reviews-Excerpt Romance Reads to Love-Excerpt Always YA at Heart-Review Reviews by Tammy & Kim-Review The Bookish and the Romantic-Review

November 27

The To Be Read List-Review Book Lovers Obsession-Excerpt Kate George-Excerpt Those Crazy Book Chicks-Excerpt Nose Stuck in a Book-Review Sofia Loves Books-Review

November 28

Booklover Sue-Excerpt Nancy Romance Reads-Excerpt Fire and Ice Book Reviews-Excerpt Inner Goddess-Review Jodie’s WINE List-Review Sweet Spot Book Blog-Review

November 29

Naughty Book Eden-Excerpt All in a Book-Excerpt Ramblings From This Chick-Excerpt Book Nook Nuts-Review Renee Entress’s Blog-Review Sassy Divas Book Blog-Review

All I Want for Christmas is You by Jessica Scott…Review

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

An all new novella about a woman who came back from war changed and the man who loves her enough not to let her go.

All Major Patrick MacLean wanted was Christmas with the woman and child who were his family in everything but name. But Captain Samantha Egan has come back from the war a different woman than the one who left – and she doesn’t know if she can love him anymore.

But neither of them counted on the determination of a little girl they both call daughter and if Natalie has her wish, her parents may have no idea what’s coming for them. It’s going to take Christmas miracle to bring these two wounded warriors back from the edge of a broken heart.

My review:

All I Want for Christmas is You is the newest work from author Jessica Scott and admittedly the first of her work I have read. Well, Ms. Scott now has a new fan in this blogger. This story was fantastic. Full of emotion and hope, I loved every minute.

Captain Samantha Egan was home. She was safe, back in the states from her last deployment; she knew she should be happy and relieved to have made it back in one piece. But she wasn’t happy and to be honest, didn’t feel like she was in one piece. Her best friend had been killed on their last deployment and it haunted Sam every minute. She didn’t know how to let it go. How to live life again. How to love the man in her life, the one who had always been her rock. She just didn’t know how to feel anything but the pain and uncertainty and it was ruining everything good she had known. Taking her daughter and leaving Patrick seemed the only thing she could do at the moment. Maybe the distance would help. She didn’t want to let Patrick go but she knew he deserved a woman who was whole and not shattered by war. She should also know that Patrick would fight for her and the love they share…

This novella delves into the depths of PTSD and all of the emotion that comes along with it. Poor Sam lost her best friend and had no idea how to cope. She is numb and broken and hates that she just can’t shake it off and make things right again. I felt so terrible for her and wanted her to get the help she needed, whether she wanted to admit she needed it or not. Lucky for her she’s got Patrick. He is truly an amazing man and partner. He is patient and kind but knows he’s not going down without a fight. A fight to keep Sam and her daughter in his life. He knew that Sam would be ok, after getting help, and he knew he would be there for her every step of the way. There were more than a few tear jerking moments in his story and there was always a spark of hope. That hope was a thing of beauty. Even in the darkest of despair, there is always the change to make things better and not lose hope that you can be whole again.

Don’t ever give up. Never lose hope. Important messages that Jessica did a wonderful job of reminding us all of.

Thank you, Ms. Scott, for a touching and beautiful story. I look forward to reading more of your work!

Five Loves

About the author:

USA TODAY Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She’s written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and is currently a company commander stationed at Fort Hood.

Most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012

Website | Twitter

The Flame by Christopher Rice….ARC Review

The Flame releases Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Book links:

Amazon | 1.001 Dark Nights

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR CHRISTOPHER RICE PRESENTS HIS FIRST WORK OF EROTIC ROMANCE.

IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT…

Cassidy Burke has the best of both worlds, a driven and successful husband and a wild, impulsive best friend. But after a decadent Mardi Gras party, Cassidy finds both men pulling away from her. Did the three of them awaken secret desires during a split-second of alcohol-fueled passion? Or is Mardi Gras a time when rules are meant to be broken without consequence?

Only one thing is for certain—the chill that’s descended over her marriage, and her most important friendship, will soon turn into a deep freeze if she doesn’t do something. And soon.

LIGHT THIS FLAME AT THE SCENE OF YOUR GREATEST PASSION AND ALL YOUR DESIRES WILL BE YOURS.

The invitation stares out at her from the window of a French Quarter boutique. The store’s owner claims to have no knowledge of the strange candle. But Cassidy can’t resist its intoxicating scent or the challenge written across its label in elegant cursive. With the strike of a match and one tiny flame, she will call forth a supernatural being with the ultimate power—the power to unchain the heart, the power to remove the fear that stands between a person and their truest desires.

My review:

The Flame is the first installment in a new series from author Christopher Rice as well as novella number 11 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series. I am a new fan to Mr. Rice’s work and was so excited to read his first dip into the erotic pond and I can tell you, this story was beyond spectacular. Sexy, emotional, intriguing, and magical..it was all of that and more.

Cassidy Burke still can’t wrap her mind around the unexpected and erotic experience she shared with her husband and her best friend the other night at a Mardi Gras party. If she’s being honest, it’s more that she can’t get the sense of rightness over the exchange out of her mind. It also scared her half to death. All of these new feelings unearthed because of their kiss are new and, in a way, disarming. All she can keep coming back to, however, is how right it felt between them. Still trying to shake her feelings, she finds herself drawn to and entering a unique shop in the French Quarter. It’s in that store that she finds a candle that reminds her of the delicious scent of both her husband and best friend. It called to her in a way she couldn’t explained and after getting a very cryptic set of instructions from the shop owner, she leaves with the candle and a deep, hidden, hope that maybe what she is feeling also exists within her husband and best friend. Could there be a way they can all be as one? Armed with a candle and a her magical instructions, she was determined to find out…

Amazing. This story is truly amazing. Mr. Rice writes with such vivid detail and rich description that the reader is completely immersed in his world from the very first page. I could smell the decadent smells, picture the surroundings and sights, feel the turmoil within Cassidy and her uncertainty with the situation as well as her determination to explore it further. Her connection to both of the men in her life is strong and beautiful and I wanted desperately for there to be a way for the three of them to have a relationship. Together. I think I wanted it to work so badly because Mr. Rice did such a fantastic job at conveying the importance of the bond they all share. The deep ties and strong emotions when it came to their ties was done so beautifully. It’s those ties that make the heat between Cassidy, Andrew, and Shane so delectable. This is by far, one of the hottest novellas I’ve read and the bedroom scenes are done with heat and beauty…a combination that I think is hard to find these days, especially in a ménage. Sexy, smoking hot, beautifully described…totally delicious! I am so happy author Rice decided to delve into the world of erotic romance and I know this is the start of something amazing. I can’t wait to see where The Desire Exchange takes us!

Thank you, Mr. Rice, for a phenomenal story filled with magic, beauty, and delectable heat!

Five Loves

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

Baby, It’s Cold Outside by Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Melody Anne & Kate Meader…Blog Tour Stop & Review

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling indie authors Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Melody Anne, and debut author Kate Meader come together to write a sizzling romance anthology.

Outside it may be frosty, so turn the heat way up with these stories of desire!

Can a determined woman executive and a playboy billionaire survive being stranded together in a snowstorm? Jennifer Probst depicts an encounter almost too hot to handle…

My review:

Being a huge fan of Jennifer Probst, I was thrilled to see her in this anthology. In true Jennifer fashion, this story was full of romance and heat. The backstory between the two main characters really dictated the speed of how things heated up between them and I couldn’t have been happier with how it did! They had known each other through college and had been fighting the passion between them for years. They haven’t seen each other for ten years and now they’ve been set up on a blind date with each other. Of course neither one believes they could be the perfect match but fate had a different idea and soon they realize the fiery passion that had ignited years earlier had continued to burn. Add being stuck inside with a snowstorm raging outside and they have no choice but to act on all that attraction. A delicious story with two amazing characters makes this yet another fabulous story from Ms. Probst!

Drew and Kate play an encore to Tangled in this sexy take on a “Christmas Carol” by Emma Chase. When a Christmas Eve argument condemns Drew to a troubled night, three dream women teach him that no gift could be more tantalizing than Kate…

My review:

Two words: Drew Evans. I mean can Emma Chase write a bad story? Nope! I have loved her writing since the very first time we met Drew in Tangled and always love reading more of him and Kate. This was no exception. With his signature snark and sex appeal, Drew wins again in this new take on A Christmas Carol. Drew may have lost site of what’s important to him and his family, but with three visits on Christmas Eve, he is reminded pretty quickly that Kate and James are what matter most. Of course there’s also plenty of heat in this tale and it made me love it even more. Emma, you are amazing and with one of the freshest voices out there, I will continue to look forward to your work!

With Kristen Proby, ski slopes are quite delightful. Grace Douglas is sure she’ll never learn to ski, but instructor Jacob Baxter could teach her lessons of a different kind…

My review:

Well, hello sexy ski instructor. This story was really charming and smoking hot! Grace is funny and beyond clumsy, which only adds to her charm. She has the ability to laugh at life and not take things too seriously, which makes for the ease of a weekend fling with her hot ski instructor quite manageable. Speaking of the sexy ski instructor, Jacob is quite the package. He’s smart, sexy, athletic, and knows how to please a gal. But he isn’t a player…quite the opposite, in fact. Together they are smoking hot and I really enjoyed their story!

Can a southern California transplant survive Montana’s deep snows? Melody Anne, author of the bestselling Andersons series, melts the icy drifts completely away with the heat between sexy Hawk Winchester and brand-new teacher Natalie Duncan…

My review:

This is the first of author Melody Anne’s work that I have read and after this, I can say I’m a fan! The new teacher in Small Town, USA meets up with one of the most eligible bachelors and the heat between them is undeniable. Hawk Winchester is sex on a brooding stick and it doesn’t hurt that he’s the town’s fire chief and volunteers with the school. I mean, does it get any better? Natalie is a strong gal and has many goals she wants to achieve before settling down and rightfully so. She had a pretty rough childhood and vows never to be put into that situation again. Fortunately for her, Hawk is the kind of guy to make sure she is always safe and taken care of. Oh, and the ending of this story? Totally movie worthy and I loved it!

What could be hotter than a firefighter? Kate Meader shows how hot it can get as Beck Rivera and heiress-turned-tattoo-artist Darcy Cochrane discover that nothing ignites holiday flames like rekindling a lost love…

My review:

Oh, my. This story by author Kate Meader totally blew me away. For being a novella, there was the prefect amount of heat and emotion packed into these pages and I loved every second of it. Darcy Cochrane had her heart crushed years earlier when her boyfriend dumped her and told her he wasn’t good enough for her or her wealthy family. She understood where he was coming from, he was a street kid adopted by a good family but still had plenty of issues and was trying to learn to stay out of trouble. But no matter what, he would always be a blue-collar guy, going into firefighting and certainly not good enough for the upper class she came from. So he thought. It was that breakup that lead Darcy on the path to become the woman she was today. A successful tattoo artist, who had travelled the world. Of course that went against all that her family wanted her to be. Feeling she never belonged in that life anyway, she didn’t care one bit. What she did care about were the feelings her ex ignited within her when she sees him while back in town. He was even sexier than he was back then and lord help her, she was in so much trouble when it came to him. Can they recapture the passion they had when they were younger? Could she make him understand she never cared what his background was? This story was off the charts sexy and hot. I loved the backstory between the characters and how it affected their current situation. It was completely fantastic and also this novella had an ending that was totally movie worthy!

Five Loves

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About The Authors:

Jennifer Probst’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels, novellas, and ebooks include the acclaimed Marriage to a Billionaire series, as well as Searching for Someday and Searching for Perfect. She lives in upstate New York.

Visit her at www.jenniferprobst.com.

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Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Tangles, Twisted, Tamed, and Tied. She lives in a small town in rural New Jersey with her husband and children. Follow Emma on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her at www.emmachase.net.

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Kristen Proby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Loving Cara and Seducing Lauren, as well as the popular With Me in Seattle series. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at kristenproby.com.

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Melody Anne is the New York Times bestselling author of the indie published Billionaire Bachelors series, the Baby for the Billionaire series, and the Surrender series, and she has a new series coming soon from Pocket Books. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at www.melodyanne.com.

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Kate Meader is the author of the sexy new series Hot in Chicago, coming soon from Pocket Books. When not writing she works in an academic library in Chicago. Visit her at www.katemeader.com.

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