Five Loves

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.

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

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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

Buy links:

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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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Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren…ARC Review

Dirty Rowdy Thing release TOMORROW, 11\4!

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Synopsis:

Despite their rowdy hookups, Harlow and Finn don’t even like each other . . . which would explain why their marriage lasted only twelve hours. He needs to be in charge and takes whatever he wants. She lives by the Want-something-done? Do-it-yourself mantra. Maybe she’s too similar to the rugged fisherman—or just what he needs. Book 2 of the Wild Seasons series.

My Review:

Dirty Rowdy Thing is the second book in author Christina Lauren’s Wild Seasons Series and oh, my….I freaking LOVED it. Love, loved, loved.

Harlow really can’t believe her luck. Not only is she coming off of a disappointing night of completely forgetful sex, but of all the people in the entire world she didn’t want to see standing behind her in Starbucks was Finn. The ex-husband she had sworn off months earlier. Fate really must have it out for her…because as much as she wanted to hate his guts, she couldn’t help be still be so attracted to him that it hurt. They were like oil and water and never mixed well…except for in the bedroom. But she knew how it would end up if she got back together with him, even for a night, so she’d throw up her best defenses, throw him some snark, and be on her way. Of course that didn’t work out how she planned, like it always went when it came to Finn and she finds herself spending entirely too much time with him while he was in town. She couldn’t resist him the first time they met and now that she knows exactly what he has to offer, it didn’t matter that he annoyed the hell out of her, she still wanted him. Damn the sexy fisherman. She was so screwed…

Ok, so I’m a HUGE fan of Christina Lauren and their books. I feel like with each new release, I replace my favorite in the series and I say “THIS is my fave!” and Dirty Rowdy Thing is no exception. THIS really is my fave in the series (so far lol!). Oh my all things sexy and good in the world, Finn and Harlow are insanely hot together. Like, light the pages on fire and fan yourself with an air-conditioned fan kind of hot. Finn is sex on a stick with a low-key personality and a whole lot of panty dropping attitude. I don’t blame Harlow one minute for being totally tongue-tied and hot and bothered when it came to him. Harlow is an equally awesome character. She is a total spitfire and had me laughing out loud too many times to count. I mean the first few pages alone had me barking out laughs like no other! But beyond Finn and Harlow being likable on their own, they were pure magic together. Despite butting heads on a constant basis, and having a killer sarcastic banter, they are so meant for one another and make one hell of a match. The amount of emotion that grows between them is so beautiful and I was praying for them to make it work for good this time around. Now, I won’t ruin anything for you but I will say this: the ending is totally movie worthy! It was freaking perfect and I was a bit choked up. I have a serious love for Finn and Harlow!

I mean what can I say? You just gotta go out and get this book! Whether you’re already a fan of Christina Lauren’s work or have never read them before, this is a MUST for your library. Thank you Christina and Lauren for yet another fave in the series for me! You gals keep out doing yourselves and I will continue to devour anything you put out!

Five Loves

About the authors:

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced seven New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 23 languages.

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The Mistress Experiment by Elizabeth Otto…ARC Review

The Mistress Experiment releases November 5

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

“A gentleman would get to know you patiently, intimately, before demanding anything of your body. Tonight, I’m not going to be a gentleman.”

For wealthy British surgeon Isaac Kimball, being the good guy comes naturally. Caring for Chicago’s poorest fills his days and keeps his other side—the dark one that craves sensuality and control—at bay. When Isaac is prevented from saving a charity he loves, an acquaintance offers him a proposition: transform a woman from the streets into a sophisticated mistress who can pass in London high society, in exchange for the charity’s salvation. A ridiculous suggestion until he realizes he knows the perfect woman—one with an understated sexuality and sharp wit that continually tempt his control.

Mila DePardo counts the days until she can get off the streets and put her criminal past behind her. When Dr. Kimball offers her a ticket out of hell and into the glitter of London society, lying about her identity is easy. Until the chemistry between them starts to crack her no-sex rule, and the pleasure of Isaac’s touch changes everything she thought she wanted.

When the truth starts to unravel and Isaac’s own secrets come to play, Mila’s will and belief in herself is put to the test. She might win the mistress experiment, but can she survive him?

My Review:

The Mistress Experiment is the newest novel from author Elizabeth Otto. Being a fan of Elizabeth’s other work, I was excited to read an early copy of this story and let me say, this book is fantastic!

Mila DePardo has had what you could say has been a pretty awful life. Alcoholic mother, prostitute sister, no money, stealing to be able to live, skirting the poverty line…yes, it’s been rough. Despite all of that, she always tried to keep her chin up and knew some day things would get better. They simply had to. One of the only positive things in her life was volunteering at the local hospital. It was there she was able to get glimpses of the nephew that had been taken away and put into a stable home. He was being treated for an illness and she lived to get those stolen moments with him. It was also where she met Dr. Isaac Kimball. The sexy British surgeon that all the ladies on staff drooled over…herself included. But he was so different from her and was so beyond out of her league that it was ridiculous. Or was he? She never in a million years expected the offer he approached her with. It was an offer to change her life. An offer that would help the volunteer program she worked for. An offer to help her nephew. An offer that after much deliberation she knew she would be stupid to turn down.

Dr. Isaac Kimball was used to living the life of privilege. He was from a wealthy family and had never wanted for a thing. He was also generous and was at a complete loss when the volunteer charity that worked at his hospital was in danger of shutting down from a lack of funding. Even more frustrating was that they wouldn’t take a large donation from him personally for a “conflict of interest”. Enter the seemingly ridiculous bet from his cousin: take a woman from a lower social status and prove that money didn’t matter…a Cinderella of sorts. At first Isaac balked at the idea but then he remembered Mila. The beautiful and dedicated volunteer that would be crushed if her program were dissolved. He knew very little about her but he guessed she had a rough life and he knew she would be perfect for this bet. Was he actually considering going through with this? In the end it would be a win-win for everyone, right? Mila gets to be pampered and live a decadent life for a time, the charity gets a huge donation, and Isaac wins the bet. What’s to lose? Only his heart…

What starts out a an innocent situation turns into heated moments and unyielding lust between Mila and Isaac. Would they have what it takes to shut down the differences between them and give love a chance?

Wow. I loved this book. It was a modern take on the classic fairy tale of Cinderella and it was amazing. Isaac and Mila are two very different people on the outside but soon find out they have more in common then they ever suspected. The chemistry between them was delicious. But the almost impossible spot the bet had put them in would threaten to crush all the feelings that are developing between them and I was so worried for both of them. I love Isaac and I loved how he made Mila feel. Mila was also an amazing character with a resolve of steel and I admired her positive outlook despite her horrible station in life. Adding more to this story was the differences between American and British culture and the views on men keeping mistresses. Poor Mila had no idea what life would be like as a bona fide mistress, and to be honest, neither did I! It was quite eye-opening and very interesting. I think author Otto did a fantastic job of explaining the lifestyle to the reader and working it into the effect it had on Isaac and Mila’s relationship. There was just so much to love about his book. By the end, I was really hoping they would be able to keep their relationship past the end of the bet and while I won’t give any spoilers away, I will say the ending was just perfect.

With rich characters, fantastic chemistry, an impossible situation, and a fairy tale feel, this book is a must for all romance lovers. Thank you, Elizabeth, for a wonderful story! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for the rest this series.

Five Loves

About the author:

Elizabeth writes steamy contemporary and paranormal romance by day, and works as an Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate by night. The night shift provides never-ending fodder for plots, characters and story lines! When not creating characters or saving lives, she wrangles three demonic children and tends to her heirloom garden in the beautiful Midwest.

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Need You Now by Lisa Renee Jones…ARC Review

Need You Now releases tomorrow!

Book links:

Amazon | 1,001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

Life is hard. Life leaves you beaten, broken…alone. Then one day, a stranger touches your hand and you feel something intense, unforgettable, but yet, you want to forget. You need to forget. It’s safer than believing in things you’ve decided don’t exist. You know all about shattered promises and lost hope. You know them so much better than you know this excited, warm, wonderful feeling, and it scares you. He scares you, but he also makes you feel alive again. He makes you realize you haven’t really been living. You’re surviving and you fear he’s the one who’ll make you forget how to keep doing it. But what if he’s the one who changes everything?

My Review:

Need You Now is the first in a new series from author Lisa Renee Jones as well as novella number 11 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series. This novella gave a wonderful introduction to this new series and has me hooked and wanting more!

Out for a night of celebration in honor of her best friend’s birthday, Danny expected to have a few drinks and head home to get ready for another day at work the next day. She’s been hard at work for a small and posh hotel chain, biding her time before she has enough funds for med school and it seems that it’s just around the corner for her to be able to realize her dream of becoming a doctor. She never expected to meet a sexy and irresistible stranger in the bar and certainly never expected to come so close to one night of passion with that stranger. But it had almost happened, and was completely out of character for her. Danny had made it home before she did something she regretted that night, though, and before Danny can figure out why this attraction had been so fierce and sudden, she seems him the next day at the hotel. To make things even more complicated, she finds out who he is and that she will be working with him in trying to turn things around for the hotel chain. She was in so much trouble when it came to this sexy man and her attraction to him. Will she have the strength to ignore this passion? The better question is: will she want to?

Holy yum, Batman. This novella packs a TON of delicious heat and attraction and I loved it. Danny is a really enjoyable character with many facets to her personality. She’s strong and loyal with a good sense of what she wants out of life and her future. Jensen is smoking hot. He’s take charge and no-nonsense. He’s all alpha and I loved reading the scenes between him and Danny. There was also another layer to this story in the struggle of the hotel Danny works for and Jensen’s role in the future of the company. There is a bit of mystery surrounding him and that just added even more to love with this novella. Need You Now is the perfect book to spend an evening curled up on the couch with and truly is a great into to Lisa Renee Jones’ new series. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Thank you, Lisa Renee, for a phenomenal and sexy tale!

Five Loves

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT SERIES, and is now in development by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland, Austin Powers, MustLisa-Renee-Jones-Headshot-275 Love Dogs) for cable TV. In addition, her Tall, Dark and Deadly series and The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series, both spent several months on a combination of the NY Times and USA Today and USA Today lists.
Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 40 books translated around the world. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.
Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on twitter and facebook daily.

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Exposed By Fate by Tessa Bailey…ARC Review

Exposed By Fate releases today

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

He’ll train her to lure another man. She’ll lure him instead.

When interior designer Eliza Ballas accompanies a friend to New York’s premier BDSM club, she’s taken aback by the sheer want that overruns her body—especially when a sexy Brit assumes Eliza is adept at dark, sensual arts. If she’s going to play, she’ll need an erotic education, and she knows just the man to teach her how to submit…

Oliver Preston isn’t one to turn down pleasure, but Eliza’s his sister’s best friend, and he’s torn between a sense of duty and his rock-hard need to find out if she tastes as delicious as he’s dreamed. Unable to handle thought of another man owning her body, he draws Eliza deep into his world of exquisite pain and pleasure. He has three lessons to instruct her. Three lessons to drive them both to the brink of ecstasy. And three lessons before he must give her to another man…if he doesn’t lose himself first.

My review:

Exposed By Fate is the second book in author Tessa Bailey’s Serve series and follows Oliver Preston and Eliza Ballas, and let me just say…Tessa does it again. This book was insanely amazing.

Eliza Ballas had no idea she would be affected this way. When she stepped foot into New York’s hottest BDSM club, never in a million years did she think it would awaken some hidden desire within her. But that’s exactly what happened. It was almost at that same moment that she realized she was in away over her head and had no idea what this lifestyle truly involved. She needed a tutor of sorts. And fast. She was just about to dive head first into the scene with a sexy stranger when she realized she needed someone with expertise to show her the ropes (pun intended). What Eliza never suspected was that her best friend’s older brother, Oliver, would end up offering his know-how and volunteer to give her a few lessons. If she weren’t so completely caught off guard by his offer, and totally turned on, she would probably be laughing. Sure, she had been attracted to him since they first met years earlier but he thought of her as his sister’s best friend. Nothing more. Oh, Eliza couldn’t be more wrong about that and before she will realize it this teacher/student relationship will reach a whole new level…

Oliver Preston felt the surge of fierce protectiveness and ownership when he saw Eliza sidling up to one of Serve’s regulars and he new there was no way he would let her walk into a scene she knew nothing about. She was too precious to him. She is sister’s best friend, and the woman he’s lusted after for too long to remember. He was known as a carefree playboy to all of his friends and family, so she wouldn’t look too deep into things if he offered her some help in the BDSM department. He would aim to keep things unattached and strictly physical, but he knew the minute he dragged her out of the club that he would most likely fail and his attachment to her would no doubt grow. She could be the one to tame him and his playboy ways…if only she knew it.

What starts out as an innocent agreement for casual sex turns into something neither Oliver nor Eliza ever expected: a relationship they both wanted with a desire that was intense and all-consuming. Will they be able to admit their feelings for each other and make things permanent?

I said earlier that Tessa had done it again with this book. That isn’t true. There isn’t one character of hers that is like the others; so to say “she did it again” is almost an insult. With each book, Tessa gives us characters with depth and amazing facets and no two are alike. Characters that come alive from the pages. Oliver and Eliza were no exception. Oliver made his way into my heart from the very start of this book. On the outside, he is confident and sexy. Charming the ladies at every turn. On the inside, however, he has deep-seated feelings of inadequacy when it comes to his family and how they feel about him. He doesn’t feel like anyone takes him seriously and that he’s just known for being a charmer. And that hurts him deeply. But he’s always quick with a smile to make him, and others around him feel better, so he learned to shake off those feelings and push them down. That broke my heart and I simply loved him. Eliza is also amazing. She’s not afraid to live and she’s made her way in the world on her own terms. She’s strong and talented with a big heart. I loved her with Oliver. The chemistry between them is off the charts and they heat up the pages from the very beginning. Beyond that, though, they emotions that come out from both Eliza and Oliver really make this story special and beautiful to read. Oliver found what he never knew he was looking for and Eliza found what she had always wanted. It was truly an amazing journey for both of them.

So, whether you’re already a Tessa Bailey fan, or this is the first you’re hearing of her, get this book on your list. You will not be disappointed.

Before I go, I have to give a big thank you to Tessa for dedicating such an amazing story to me. I really have no words. So HHF and SBS and love ya, lady! (and that puts me at my feels quota for the month!)

Five Loves

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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Light Her Fire by Samanthe Beck…Book Blitz Stop & Review

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

He’ll show this good girl the thrill of being bad…

Good girl Melody Merritt is ready to be bad. Fresh out of an unsatisfying ten-year engagement to the town golden boy, she’s determined to make up for lost time. And who better to burn her sterling reputation to the ground than Bluelick’s sinfully sexy new fire chief whose wicked gaze promises complete and utter domination? Yes, please.

Corrupting the prim and proper Little Miss Bluelick is the most action Josh Bradley’s seen since he transferred from Cincinnati to fast-track his career. He won’t let anything or anyone—not even the delectable Melody Merritt—trap him in this Kentucky-fried Mayberry, but when their searing chemistry yields an unexpected result, he realizes he’s started a blaze that’s completely beyond his control…

My review:

Light Her Fire is the second work in author Samanthe Beck’s Private Practice series and can be read as a standalone. I always love Ms. Beck’s work and this was certainly no exception. This book was, well, on fire!

Former Miss Bluelick, all-American, and Southern charming Melody Merritt was ready to shed her good girl reputation and throw some caution to the wind. She was over the breakup of her ten-year engagement and was tired of everyone in her small town feeling sorry for her. She was ready to live life and do it with a smoking hot guy…enter Chief Bradley. He was her town’s new fire chief, thankfully single, and plenty sexy. It was time to grab life with both hands and he looked like just the guy to do it with. Hopefully he is on board because she was so ready to experience all that he could offer…

Josh Bradley didn’t love too much about this small town living. He was a city guy and missed it. However, if he’s being honest, there was one thing he liked about this small town and her name was Melody. She was all buttoned-up and Southern charm and he wanted nothing more than to dirty up her proper ways with some smoking hot action. But surely a good girl like Melody wouldn’t want things his way. She wouldn’t want to get down and dirty with him….or would she?

This may be a sleepy, small town but Melody and Josh sure do find a way to heat up the place. But they aren’t the only ones heating things up. There’s a curious spike in small fires since Josh got to town and he has a sneaking suspicion there’s a firebug loose in Bluelick. Hopefully Josh can figure that out before someone gets hurt…

Oh man…this book was hot, hot, HOT! From the very beginning, there is a delicious amount of chemistry between Melody and Josh and it just got hotter with each encounter. I think I may have actually blushed a few times while reading and for sure fanned myself more than once. Melody really took a chance when she approached Josh at the start and I was so glad she didn’t back down. She knew what she wanted and consequences be dammed, she went after it. She is a fabulous character to read and I enjoyed her immensely. Josh is hot, sexy, naughty, and just perfect. He knows exactly how to take care of a woman, both inside and outside of the bedroom. He’s also a true professional and sticks to his guns when the small town mentality doesn’t want to believe there was a criminal in their midst.

That leads me to another aspect besides the amazing heat that I loved about this story…the suspense. Author Beck did a fantastic job by adding that layer to this story. Peppering in the arson mystery between the hot and sexy moments really made this story the whole package.

Also, one of the greatest things about Ms. Beck is her ability to give characters amazing depth. Josh hanging out with Melody’s nieces, Melody getting tips from her ex-fiancé, Melody and Josh’s interaction with the townspeople, all of those little scenes, and others like it throughout the book, gave these characters a real life quality that I adored.

If you like a ton of panty melting heat with a dash of mystery and a sprinkle of suspense, this is a book you need to get on your shelf. Thank you, Ms. Beck, for yet another amazing read!

Five Loves

Excerpt:

“Oh, sweet mercy, don’t—”

“Don’t what? Torture you until you think you’re going to die where you stand? How do you think I feel every single time I look at you? When you come into Jiffy Java, fiddle with the top button of your blouse while you decide between an iced coffee or a sweet tea, all I want to do is tear your shirt open, shove your bra out of my way, and feast on your breasts. How do you think I feel when you lean on the bar at Rawley’s, talking to your friends while I drive myself insane wondering what you’ve got on under your good-girl dress? Tortured doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

Those diabolical fingers made a circling motion, and Melody’s knees threatened to buckle. “How shameless of me. I’m terribly”—oh, there he went again with the fingers—“sorry.” She wasn’t. Not in the least.

“You will be, because I can’t let behavior like yours go unpunished.”

She closed her eyes and a pathetically small scenario of erotic punishments paraded through her head. Waves of hot and cold washed over her. It was all she could do to find her voice, and keep it even while she asked, “What did you have in mind?”

“When I get you alone the first thing I’m going to do is give you a pillow.”

Uh-oh. She didn’t know the pillow game. “A pillow?” she asked, and immediately wondered if she’d just given Josh a big hint of exactly how tame her sex life had been up until tonight.

“Yeah. Because once I get started, you’ll need something to bury your face in so nobody hears you pleading with me to let you come. Does that answer your question?”

Why yes. Yes it did. So much so, for a moment she could only nod. “A-and then?”

“At that point, I’m going to tongue-whip your clit until you don’t care if the whole fucking town hears you begging. Then, if you ask nicely, I will guide my very eager cock into you”—he rocked his hips again for emphasis, coaxing another moan out of her—“and give us both the relief we’re after. Are you ready, Miss Bluelick?”

Book links:

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

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1qln72w

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

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1sJprW0

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About the author:

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