Five Loves

Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren…ARC Review

Dirty Rowdy Thing release TOMORROW, 11\4!

Book links:

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!

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.

Website | Christina Twitter | Lauren Twitter | Facebook

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.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

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:

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

Left Behind by Vi Keeland & Dylan Scott…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

Two stories so deeply intertwined, you’ll think you know how they intersect…but you’ll be wrong….

Zack Martin

The day I met Emily Bennett my whole world changed. Sure, we were just kids, but I was old enough to know my life would never be the same. She was my best friend. My destiny. My fate. I wasn’t wrong…I just didn’t know how twisted fate could be.

Nikki Fallon

After the death of my mother, moving from my dark and dreary trailer park to sunny California, I was focused on one thing – finding a sister I’d only just learned existed. Falling in love with him wasn’t part of the plan. But he filled a void I never knew was possible to fill. He had to be my fate. My destiny. Until the day I finally found out who my sister was…and how twisted fate could be.

My review:

Left Behind is a joint work from authors Vi Keeland and Dylan Scott. I am a huge fan of Ms. Keeland’s and was looking forward to this book and to be introduced to author Scott. Well, this story completely blew me away. It was truly amazing and may be one of the best NA books I’ve ever read.

Nikki Fallon has had a rough life. Now, however, may be the toughest it’s ever been. Her mother, after battling mental illness among other things, has passed away and now without any other family, Nikki is faced with life alone. That all changes when she reads a letter her mother left her and finds out she actually does have family. A part of her family she never knew about. It’s that discovery that leads her to a new life in California…and on a mission to find her sister. Along the way she meets Zack and things start to look up for her. Just when Nikki starts to think she may have the life she’s always dreamed of, a shocking discovery will threaten to ruin everything good she’s come to cherish. Including her relationship with Zack.

Zack Martin had it all. He was the high school quarterback, dating Emily, the cheerleading captain, had great friends and an even better family. Sure, he noticed things with Emily had changed and maybe she wasn’t the same girl she had been when they met back when they were kids but that didn’t matter. He loved her. He would always love her. Right? Just as he wonders if maybe their lives are headed in a different direction, fate steps in and crushes any dream he had of a future with Emily and throws him into a tailspin. Life as he knew would never be the same again…and it won’t be for quite some time. Until he meets Nikki. Could she be the ray of sunshine he desperately needs in the darkness that now consumes his life? Would fate give him a second chance at happiness?

Separately, both Nikki and Zack have suffered through loss but together they will be able to heal from it. They’ve found solace in each other and forge a bond through their sadness….hopefully when fate decides to throw yet another challenge their way, they can rely on their love for one another to get through.

I’ve found that a lot of the new adult books I read don’t have much meat to them. They focus a lot on the back and forth in the relationship between the hero and heroine and don’t have a substantial plot behind it. Well, Left Behind is NOT one of those new adult books. There is one main aspect to this story that I cannot give away, because it would ruin the entire experience, so I’ll do my best to explain why I loved it so much while leaving that part out.

This story is written with amazing foreshadowing and a ton of emotion. The beginning of the story gives us Nikki’s and Zack’s life apart. We learn all about them before they meet and I think it’s one aspect I loved most. Then, when they finally do meet and start on their journey together, we can appreciate it that much more. Nikki is a strong gal with a big heart and true understanding of dark times. Zack is in one of those dark times and really needed someone like Nikki to bring him back to life, so to speak. I loved them together. Loved, loved, loved. As for the foreshadowing, Nikki’s search for her sister leaves little clues along the way as to what may happen and when we finally reach the conclusion of her search and I was in emotional turmoil…as were the characters. The situation was written, and played out, so damn well and made this story so much more than a typical new adult book. Oh, and the epilogue? So amazingly perfect.

Left Behind is a book I highly recommend to anyone who loves a bit of mystery, tons of emotion, and lots of heart. I really hope these authors get together again and give us another amazing book. Thank you Vi and Dylan!

Five Loves

Available at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1w9RZsI

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

iTunes –http://bit.ly/1q28KyN

Kobo – http://bit.ly/1peODgS

Google Play – http://bit.ly/1vbD7aL

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22438116-left-behind

Want to read the first few chapters? Sign up for Vi’s mailing list now and get a sneak peek! http://eepurl.com/0ABfr

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About the authors: Vi Keeland Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Dylan Scott Dylan Scott is a New York trial attorney, wife and mother of four. She believes her job as a trial attorney is a subcategory to the field of entertainment more than law. With a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature she believed teaching English was a destined career choice until she realized her life long talent of “argument” could actually be her job. A recent, fairly boring, midlife crisis resulted in a brief stint as a middle school English teacher which confirmed that she wasn’t ready to give up the law. Dylan has also taught legal courses at the college level and worked with at-risk inner city youth in the roles of mentor and coach. She is co-author Vi Keeland’s biggest fan.

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Tempted By Midnight by Lara Adrian…ARC Review

Tempted By Midnight releases October 14, 2014

Book links:

Amazon | Paperback | 1,001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

Once, they lived in secret alongside mankind. Now, emerged from the shadows, the Breed faces enemies on both sides—human and vampire alike. No one knows that better than Lazaro Archer, one of the eldest, most powerful of his kind. His beloved Breedmate and family massacred by a madman twenty years ago, Lazaro refuses to open his heart again.

Sworn to his duty as the leader of the Order’s command center in Italy, the last thing the hardened warrior wants is to be tasked with the rescue and safekeeping of an innocent woman in need of his protection. But when a covert mission takes a deadly wrong turn, Lazaro finds himself in the unlikely role of hero with a familiar, intriguing beauty he should not desire, but cannot resist.

Melena Walsh has never forgotten the dashing Breed male who saved her life as a child. But the chivalrous hero of her past is in hard contrast to the embittered, dangerous man on whom her safety now depends. And with an unwanted—yet undeniable—desire igniting between them, Melena fears that Lazaro’s protection may come at the price of her heart.

My review:

Tempted By Midnight is story number 12.5 in Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed Series as well as novella number 10 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series. I am always thrilled to read a new story from Lara Adrian and head back into the Breed world and this novella was spectacular. Packed with emotion, heat, and action, I devoured it in one sitting and loved every second.

Leader of the Order’s Italian command center, Lazaro Archer was used to sensing threats and eliminating them. It was his sole focus, especially now that his family had been taken from him in a horrific manner years before. Preparing for an important meeting with political members with the hopes of ending the strife between the Breed, vampires, and humans, he thought he knew all the players intended on coming to the meeting…and then he saw her. The intriguing and beautiful red-head that shouldn’t be here. Melena. But here she was and his reaction, and attraction, to her was almost immediate. He remembered her from almost another lifetime ago, and remembered saving her from an untimely demise when she fell into an icy lake when she was much younger. She was grown now, and with beauty and brains to spare, he shouldn’t wonder why he was attracted to her. But could he really forget all that he had lost in the past? His family? There wasn’t too much time to ponder more on that night because as fate would have it, he would have to rescue her once again before the evening came to an end…

Melena Walsh would never forget Lazaro Archer. He had saved her life and she will be eternally grateful for that. Now she was here with him and wanted nothing more than to thank him for what he had done all those years earlier. She also would love to be able to ease some of the pain she still saw in his eyes. He had been hardened since she last saw him and after losing his family it was no wonder. But the pull she felt when she saw him was much more than wanting to ease his pain…it was a longing for more. Maybe she would have the chance to rescue him this time…from the sadness and pain that lingered.

Before either one of them can contemplate their attraction, they are met with a terrible situation and thrown together, having to rely on each other to stay alive. And with that, their attraction only grows stronger and into something much more meaningful. Could this be fate’s way of giving Lazaro a second chance at love?

I loved, loved, loved this story. Lara put so much heart into the pages and so much emotion that I was drawn in from the very first page. I loved that Lazaro and Melena had a history and that she understood what he had gone through with the loss of his family. Melena never tried to forget the past, in fact she wanted Lazaro to accept it and move on with his life…a feat he had been unable to do until now. She was exactly what he needed and even though it took a while for him to realize it, she pushed him to realize she was right. He deserved a chance at happiness again and Melena was that chance. It was beautiful to read and I wanted nothing more than for these two to have their happy ending. Of course, my lips are sealed as to if they got it!

Adding another layer to this story was the conflict between the Breed, fellow vampires, and the humans and the trouble all the sides are facing. Also, we got to see a few familiar faces along the way, which was a real treat, and met some new ones that I can’t wait to read more of!

Thank you, Ms. Adrian, for a yet another phenomenal story!

Five Loves

About the author:

LARA ADRIAN is a New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author with nearly 4 million books in print and digital worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books have been named among Amazon’s Top Ten Romances of the Year, and have also been nominated by readers multiple times as finalists for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance of the Year. Reviewers have called Lara’s books “addictively readable” (Chicago Tribune), “extraordinary” (Fresh Fiction), “strikingly original” (Booklist), and “one of the best vampire series on the market” (Romantic Times).

Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.

With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England, where she is working on her next novel. Visit Lara’s website and sign up for new release announcements at http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews

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Review…Stirring Up Trouble by Kimberly Kincaid

Synopsis:

Sloane Russo’s turned a decade of crazy jobs and whimsical travel into a career writing steamy novels set in exotic places. Trouble is, Sloane’s flat broke now—and she can’t channel sun-drenched beaches in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The only fast cash in town comes with some seriously distracting temptation: Gavin Carmichael, hot, handsome and oh-so-hard-headed.

Gavin isn’t the impulsive Don Juan of Sloane’s novels. He’s raising his thirteen-year-old half-sister, and he’s pretty sure he’s supposed to act like he’s never heard of fun. Sloane is way too sexy and irresponsible to be his idea of a good tutor for Bree, but the unpredictable anti-nanny may be irresistible as well.

My review:

Stirring Up Trouble is the third book in author Kimberly Kincaid’s Pine Mountain Series. This is a series I have loved since the very beginning and was so excited to get my hands on Sloane’s story and let me say…this series just keeps getting better and better. This book was fantastic!

Romance writer Sloane Russo has always lived by the seat of her pants. Trying out new things, going on new adventures, never slowing down long enough to grow bored and that’s how she liked it. Now, her family didn’t like it, per se, and thought she should be settling down and making babies, but it was her life and she loved it. And it was those adventures that lead her to her successful writing career. Her travels to exotic places gave her inspiration and the material to spark her imagination and get her creative juices flowing. Only problem now was that she had used up her travel experiences and was all dried up in the inspiration department. She was also died up in the finances department. Making matters worse was that her publisher wanted a new exotic book, and fast. There was no way she could fly to a far off destination on her good looks and the dust bunnies in her bank account. Leave it to fate to have a way of intervening and dropping a job practically right into her lap. A temporary babysitting job for Gavin, her best friend’s restaurant manager’s, thirteen-year-old sister. Not exactly a dream job, but a job nonetheless. She just had to stick it out for a few weeks, hop on a flight, and write a book. That becomes easier said than done when Sloane soon starts falling for Gavin. Could she ever dream of staying in one place long enough to start a real life? With Gavin, she thinks it just may be possible.

Restaurant manager, Gavin Carmichael really didn’t need any more complications in his life. He lost his mother to cancer, relocated, and now was responsible for his little sister. He couldn’t believe he now lost his sitter for a few weeks. Things start to look up, marginally, when he meets Sloane and she agrees to help him and Bree out. She isn’t exactly his first choice as a sitter for his sister, but she was an adult and could surely supervise. Hopefully. It turns out she is more than capable and in more ways than one and he is soon smitten with all that Sloane is and all that she has become to mean to him and Bree. It scares him to death that she self-admittedly doesn’t do the permanent and never stayed in one place for the long-term but he wants noting more to convince her that he and Bree were worth it. Would he succeed in getting the free spirit to put down roots? God, he really hoped so…

This book focuses on Sloane and Gavin (and Bree) and it was the total package from the very first chapter. Sloane is one of the best heroine’s I’ve read. She’s witty and snarky and matter of fact and I loved everything about her. She doesn’t really do the soft and fluffy and I adore her for it. She cuts to the chase and tells it like it is and even though she doesn’t think she’s the settling down type, deep down she really is. She’s just waiting for the right reason to settle down for. Enter Gavin. The astute professional who is navigating the father-figure role as best as he can. He is handsome and responsible and just wants his life, and his sister’s life, to be ok. What he really needed is an outsider’s point of view to help with his sister and that’s where Sloane shines. Truly opposites, Gavin and Sloane were a gem of an unlikely match that completely belongs together, even if they didn’t want to believe it at first. The attraction and chemistry between them smolders at first and quickly grows into a burning heat… It. Was. Delicious. I loved watching the relationship evolve for all of them (Sloane, Gavin and Bree) and seeing it bloom into something so very special. I cried my eyes out more than once while reading and the loss of Gavin and Bree’s mother brought a touching aspect to this story.

As I said in the beginning of this review, the Pine Mountain Series is a series that just gets better and better with each book. Yes, you can read any of them as a stand-alone, but the effect as a whole is just so amazing that I vote for reading them all.

Kimberly Kincaid is one of those hidden author gems. She always writes a beautiful story with well-developed characters, great dialogue, interesting and engaging story lines, and plenty of beautifully written heated scenes. If you haven’t picked up one of her book yet, what are you waiting for?

Thank you, Kimberly, for another wonderful addition to the Pine Mountain crew! I can’t wait to read Aidan’s story….

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

About the author:
Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance novels that split the difference between sexy and sweet, taking the traditional idea of boy-meets-girl and infusing it with a sassy magic all her own. She believes in fiery yet flawed characters destined for a crash-course in falling in love– usually the hard way– and injects her trademark humor as well as poignant touches into her writing to create her stories.

Kimberly’s writing journey has led down some bumpy roads (that first manuscript is under the bed, where it is very likely to stay), but there has been some fresh pavement too (her second manuscript earned her very first contest final, and landed the fantastic Maureen Walters at the Curtis Brown Literary Agency). One thing is certain — the wild ride of being a writer is a lot richer in both its ups and downs because of friends and readers along the path.

When Kimberly’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to eclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. She resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Places to find Kimberly Kincaid:

Site: http://www.kimberlykincaid.com

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

Twitter:https://twitter.com/kimberlykincaid

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938229.Kimberly_Kincaid

Owned by Fate by Tessa Bailey…ARC Review and Giveaway

Owned by Fate releases 9/29

Synopsis:

Her mind rejects his world. But her body knows its master.

Journalist Caroline Preston arrives at Serve, New York City’s hottest BDSM club, with one goal—to hate it. If her brother wasn’t trying to turn the family’s respectable financial magazine into a publication that features “lifestyle” pieces for the wealthy and adventurous, she wouldn’t even be there, trying to write an article about a world she doesn’t understand. But then she sees him.

Jonah Briggs doesn’t leave his post for just anyone. As the owner of the club, his sole purpose is to ensure that his clientele get everything they need, but when he sees Caroline, his only thought is what he wants—to dominate the sexy little reporter and give the most exquisite pleasure she’s ever experienced.

Caroline has no intention of entering that particular lion’s den—not with her family’s reputation at stake—no matter how dark, sexy, and complex the lion in question may be. But with every encounter, she craves more, and with every slide of his lips, she realizes Jonah might just be the man to break down all her defenses…if she’ll let him.

My review:

Owned by Fate is the newest work from author Tessa Bailey. Being a huge fan of hers, I was over the moon to get an early copy of this book and as I sit here now typing this review I hope I can do it justice, because this is one of the best books I’ve read. Not just of Tessa’s, but of every book I’ve read.

Caroline Preston is in a bit of a sticky situation. She’s sitting in a BDSM club contemplating on how she will use this experience to save her family’s financial magazine and in turn keep her brother from making it into some guidebook of fun and interesting things to do for the rich and bored. She would rather be anywhere but here. This was a lifestyle she didn’t understand and, after her research she did that afternoon, doesn’t want to understand. But that attitude starts to shift the minute she meets him. Jonah. The handsome, sexually charged man standing next to her and looking at her like he was a starving man and she was his next meal. It didn’t matter, though, because not even sexy as sin Jonah could change her mind and her attitude towards the BDSM lifestyle. Or could he…

As owner of the most popular BDSM club in NYC, Jonah Briggs has certainly seen his share of gorgeous women walk through his doors…but none like the one sitting at his bar right now. It’s that woman that compels him to leave his seat in front of the club’s monitoring screens and wade through the crowd to get to her. He’s pretty sure he’s lost his mind, and the looks from the club’s regular patrons says he just may have. But Jonah always gets what he wants… and right now he wants her.

They are complete opposites. Caroline looks down on the BDSM world and Jonah thrives on it, both personally and financially. Two completely different views. But here’s the thing, sometimes attraction defies the boundaries you’re certain you would never cross….and when you take that chance and cross that line, it turns out to be the best decision you’ve ever made.

So here’s the thing. I was a bit tired of reading BDSM and in a funk. I had gone through a similar funk with paranormal. I really needed a palate cleansing. I figured it would come after I read Owned By Fate, since it is technically BDSM. Well, I should have known better. Tessa always puts her spin on anything she writes and it’s a thing of beauty. This was unlike any BDSM book I’ve read. It was refreshing in a way to have a heroine so dead set against the lifestyle and her refusal to acknowledge it’s something she would ever dabble in was also a bit of a new viewpoint. But because her research put her in very close contact with Jonah, she realizes too late that relenting may be in her near future. She didn’t want him to change her mind. She didn’t want to like it when he treated her like a sub….but damn if she did. And it scares the crap out of her. Jonah is also unlike any Dom I’ve read. He is a paradox in many ways and has so many facets to his personality. He is charming and endearing all while having his alpha male tendencies lying just underneath the surface. Dear God, he had me panting at some of the things he said to Caroline. He’s feels like he could be a real person, somewhere out there in the world. He feels attainable and so unlike the male characters in a lot of other erotic novels out there. He prefers the subway to a limo. He smells like candy instead of expensive cologne. He’s honest and understanding. He’s just….amazing.

Yes, of course the heat and passion are off the charts but in true Tessa fashion, she added that something extra to this story and that’s what made it so special. Caroline’s internal struggle with her feelings for Jonah warring with her insecurities in finding she liked aspects of the lifestyle she wanted to hate. Jonah understanding it and vowing to let her go since he couldn’t give up his club and lifestyle and didn’t want Caroline to resent him for turning her onto something she couldn’t accept. My God, there were a few chapters where my chest physically ached for them and I was sobbing my eyes out. I was so worried there was no answer for them and they would and up having to suffer apart. I suffered right along with them, by the way, and have the puffy, cried-out-eyes today to prove it. Now I won’t ruin the ending for you but I will say this: It. Was. Perfect.

There’s also another part to Jonah’s story but I don’t want to mention it here because I don’t want to ruin it….but it made me love him even more and you will love him more for it, too.

So, I hope I did my job here as a reviewer and that Owned By Fate is now on your list. You won’t be disappointed! Thank you Tessa, for giving me an emotional and beautiful reading journey (and don’t tell Matt, but Jonah is now my fave Tessa man!)

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Giveaway:

We have a gorgeously naughty handmade black leather, studded heart garter (that Jonah would die for) to give away to one lucky winner.

Enter to win in the rafflecopter below.

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About the author:

Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

Connect with Tessa:

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Chained by Night by Larissa Ione…ARC Review

Chained by Night releases September 30, 2014

Synopsis:

THE FUTURE OF HIS TRIBE

Leader of the vampire clan MoonBound, Hunter will do what he must to save his people from extinction—or worse, a torturous eternity as vampire slaves and subjects of human experimentation. To keep his enemies at bay, he has agreed to mate a rival clan leader’s daughter in return for peace between the clans and an ally in the looming war with the humans.

THE LOVER OF HIS SOUL

But survival comes at a price. First, Hunter must break an ancient curse by successfully negotiating three deadly tests. Then he must resist the searing passions of the gorgeous vampire warrior he despises but is bound to mate. Will Hunter stay true to his word? Or will he risk everything for the woman he really loves: the vampire seductress’s identical twin sister?

My Review:

Chained by Night is the second book in author Larissa Ione’s MoonBound Clan Vampire Series and being a huge fan, I was beyond excited to read this book. Well, Larissa has done it again. This book was incredible and I was unable to put it down. Hunter has officially been added to my list of vamps I adore…

MoonBound Clan Chief, Hunter, always has his clan’s best interest at heart and will always do what is necessary to make sure they thrive. Even with the war raging on between vampires and humans, he has faith in his people and leads them the best way he knows how. It’s that leadership role that has led him to his upcoming mating with a rival clan’s daughter. It certainly wasn’t an ideal situation but it was the only one that would keep the precarious peace that held between his clan and this particular rival clan. So a chief does what a chief must. Only soon after meeting his future mate, Rasha, he realizes that he isn’t sure he can spend eternity with this vampire. She was a total unkind bitch and wanted to rule in a way he promised himself he never would. Making matters worse was that he had met her identical twin sister. A twin sister who embodied all of the traits he looked for in a mate. She was the complete opposite of her sister in every way, with their shared looks being the only similarity between them. But fate was fickle that way and with no other foreseeable option, Hunter resides to the fact that the wretched witch twin will have be his mate. Only sometimes, fate manages to pull through. Hunter is faced with a few options that may make his situation less bleak. The choices are difficult and many and there are more than a few times he isn’t sure which road he should travel but he has faith that in the end he will be able to have it all. A clan that was safe and happy, a mate that he truly loved, and a chance at peace….the only question is, at what cost will it all come? And how much blood will be shed?

As you already know, I adore Larissa and her writing. She writes the damaged hero like no one else and brings so much emotion to a story that it seeps from the pages into the reader’s heart. And she did it again in this story, but unlike most of her books, the damaged hero wasn’t a hero at all…but instead, a heroine. Aylin. Hunter’s arranged mate, Rasha’s, twin sister. There is a whole lot going on in the background of this story with the war between vampires and humans but this book was mainly centered on Hunter’s journey with these two women and his warring emotions. He has a great responsibility to his clan and mating with Rasha is best for all of them but he just can’t shake the feeling that it’s just not right. After spending only a short amount of time with both women he knows Aylin is the woman for him and the journey he takes to make her his mate was phenomenal. I won’t go into too much detail about the story itself, because there are more than a few things revealed along the way that make a huge difference to the series and I don’t want to ruin it for you, but I will say that Hunter and Aylin now have a place in my heart.

Aylin’s life up until this point has been positively wretched and it broke my heart. But her resolve and spirit through even the worst of times was truly beautiful and admirable beyond measure. She tops my list of favorite heroines. Hunter was just as fantastic. He is a great leader with a remarkable ability to remain true to himself as well as doing what’s best for the clan. It’s what has earned the respect of all of his warriors. Their journey was spectacular and filled with pulse pounding moments and adversity at almost every turn…both physically and emotionally. The challenges they face were freaking intense but also solidified their strength as a couple. Truly incredible to read!

On top of all of that, we meet a new character in this book that I am DYING to see more of. He is a true Larissa character in the sense that he’s supposed to be a bad guy (a REALLY bad guy) but shows bits of a softer side and sense of humor that Larissa writes so well into characters. Seriously, I loved this guy!

All in all, this book had everything I love in a story. Well developed relationships, tons of emotion, action, rich characters, intensity, great world building, and a good amount of heat. I highly recommend Chained by Night and cannot wait for the next installment. Thank you, Larissa, for yet another stellar read!

Five Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

PREORDER CHAINED BY NIGHT
AND SAVOR YOUR TASTY TREAT ON 9/30!
Book II of The MoonBound Clan Vampires series

“Ione’s second MoonBound Vampires paranormal deftly uses a mixture of complex rivalries, primal violence, and sex to portray a society in which frequent vampire enslavement provokes a civil-rights dispute…Ione’s characters are relatable and sympathetic both because of and despite their id-drenched setting, and Ione’s flavor of vampirism produces a fascinating mixture of authoritarianism, atavism, and compassionate humanity that works on multiple levels.”;
—;Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW August 25th

“Ione has created a fascinating vampire world steeped in Native American traditions and lore and developed a path to happiness for Hunter and Aylin that is fraught with potent and poignant internal and external conflicts. The action-packed plot and creative worldbuilding keep us enthralled; the romance and sexual tension keep us emotionally invested.”;
—;Kirkus Reviews August 28th online, Sept. 15th print

“Major talent Ione is back with the second installment in her gritty new MoonBound Clan Vampire series, where vampires live under the threat of enslavement and torture by humans. Ione’s vampire world is made up of sometimes warring clans who fight against each other as well as humans. Uniting the clans may be the vampires’ best hope for survival in the upcoming war with humans. With so much at stake, these excellent character relationships are fraught with intense and conflicting emotions. Hang on tight, as this is one exciting and dangerous world!”;
—Romantic Times ****1/2 HOT

________________

BOUND TO BE UP ALL NIGHT WITH
THROW BACK THURSDAY’S BOUND BY NIGHT!

Book I of The MoonBound Clan Vampire series

“Bound by Night was a fantastic start to this very promising new series…;
a very tasty treat from a must be read author. Happy reading everybody…you’re bound to love it.”;
—Night Owl Reviews for Bound by Night

“The exceptionally entertaining Ione kicks off a sexy new vampire series…;
Ione does what she does best: deliver paranormal romance with a sexy and dangerous bite!”;
—RT Book Reviews ****HOT Review for Bound by Night

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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Ignited by J. Kenner…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

He promised to take me as far as I could go—and I wanted to go to the edge.

My whole life has been a cover, a con, a lie. I was born into the grift, raised on the thrill of playing someone I’m not. As a rule, I never let anyone get too close—until Cole August makes it impossible for me to stay away.

Cole is tough, sexy, and intensely loyal, yet his secrets are dark and his scars run deep. Not many women can handle his past, or the truth behind his fierce demands. But something about him beckons me—and our desire is a game I must play.

I know he’s dangerous, that even his touch is trouble, but what is passion without a little risk?

Ignited is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

My review:

Ignited is the third book in author J. Kenner’s Most Wanted Series and focuses on the oh-so-sexy Cole and the strong, spitfire Katrina. From the very beginning the sexual tension was palpable and it just kept getting better as I read. Adding some intensity to the story is some trouble with Katrina’s father, adding more to love with this story.

Cole’s rough and incredibly heartbreaking childhood has played the biggest role in who he is today…and sometimes it’s a person he wishes he wasn’t. It’s because of that person that he vows to keep Katrina at a distance and only allow himself to admire her from afar. These days, though, it’t getting harder and harder and he fears it’s only a matter of time before he searches her out. When she tells him, in no uncertain terms, that she wants to take things further with him, he realizes he has a choice to make. Push her away or allow her a peek at the real him that only a few people have ever really seen…and risk losing her.

Katrina is comfortable when she’s faking it. When she’s running a con or playing a role. Finding a mark, pulling a con, and moving on to the next job. The problem now is that she’s finding likes her life right now. She likes having real friends and a place to call home. A real home. She also liked Cole…a whole lot more than she probably should. All of those factors lead to her decision to put down roots, buy a home, and stay. It also lead her to take a chance on Cole and see if there would ever be a chance at something more for them. She never expected he would put up such a fight and try to convince her he was all wrong for her when anyone could see it was quite the opposite. They could be great together and he should know she wouldn’t give him up without a fight.

Just when Katrina thinks she’s her path is set, her father shows up with a huge problem. A problem she wasn’t sure how to handle. A problem she knew only one person to go to help for. Cole. Now Katrina is not only in a fight for a chance at a relationship but in a fight to save her father’s life.

As I mentioned earlier, this story was fantastic. From scorching heat to raw emotion and then to a twisted situation with some pretty unsavory characters, this book really had it all. I loved Cole and Katrina, both separately as well as a couple. Cole’s sad past turned him into the guarded man he is today and hearing his story broke my heart. He is this sexy, dominating man with a soft heart and a way about him that pulled me in. He is very much a paradox and it shows when he goes from painting a beautiful painting to threatening to tear a man limb from limb and meaning every word. I think it’s those personality extremes that made him so enjoyable to read. Katrina was also amazing. She wanted Cole and wouldn’t let him turn away from her. She knew she would be opening up a pandora’s box with him, so to speak, but she was made of tougher things and was in it for the long haul. She saw through to the man Cole really was and she knew it was something special. A rare and damaged beauty and one she wanted nothing more than to hold and cherish. Their chemistry was undeniable and intense. It was passionate and beautiful to watch unfold. Julie did a fabulous job building the fire between them. But beyond that, Cole is so fiercely protective and when he promises to help Katrina with the issue with her father it added yet another amazing facet to his character. I was actually a nervous wreck reading the last few chapters and was so worried for Cole and Katrina….but don’t you worry, Julie gave them a perfect ending!

If you love heat, intensity and a wealth of emotions, Ignited is a book for you! Thank you, Julie, for a phenomenal story and a great addito to the Most Wanted Series.

Five Loves

Add it to your Goodreads list here!

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About J. KENNER 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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Dirty Rowdy Thing release TOMORROW, 11\4!

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My Review:

Five Loves

The Mistress Experiment releases November 5

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My Review:

Five Loves

Need You Now releases tomorrow!

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My Review:

Five Loves

Exposed By Fate releases today

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Five Loves

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Five Loves

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Available at:

Tempted By Midnight releases October 14, 2014

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My review:

Five Loves

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My review:

Five Loves

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Owned by Fate releases 9/29

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My review:

Five Loves

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Chained by Night releases September 30, 2014

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My Review:

Five Loves

Book Links:

PREORDER CHAINED BY NIGHT AND SAVOR YOUR TASTY TREAT ON 9/30! Book II of The MoonBound Clan Vampires series

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BOUND TO BE UP ALL NIGHT WITH THROW BACK THURSDAY’S BOUND BY NIGHT!

Book I of The MoonBound Clan Vampire series

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

PREORDER CHAINED BY NIGHT
AND SAVOR YOUR TASTY TREAT ON 9/30!
Book II of The MoonBound Clan Vampires series

BOUND TO BE UP ALL NIGHT WITH
THROW BACK THURSDAY’S BOUND BY NIGHT!