Five Loves

ARC Review…Up to Me by Christi Barth

Up to Me releases tomorrow!

Synopsis:

Ella Mayhew’s always appreciated the beautiful view of Seneca Lake from the spa window of her family’s hotel. But the view improves dramatically when a hot stranger runs across the grounds—shirtless. He’s the first man to kickstart her hormones in the three years since she lost her parents, and she doesn’t even know his name.

Graydon Locke’s on his umpteenth undercover assignment. The routine’s always the same: assess a business, recommend it for closure, then roll out before anyone discovers his decisions impact hundreds of lives. He’s always believed nothing good comes out of small towns. Why would this one be different? Then he makes two classic rookie mistakes—falling for the sweet, sexy girl who owns the very business he’s on the verge of axing. And letting the town’s residents get involved in both his life, and his relationship with Ella.

Ella’s the best thing to ever happen to Gray, but he’s lied to her from the start. If he pulls the plug on Mayhew Manor, the entire town may crumble. Ella couldn’t save her parents, but it’s up to her to save their hotel. Even if that means turning her back on true love.

My review:

Up to Me is the first in a new series from author Christi Barth. A fan of Christi’s, I am always excited to get my hands on a new release from her and Up to Me was no exception. Now that I’ve finished it I give it my vote as my favorite Christi book yet. It was phenomenal!

Graydon Locke has made a living blending in and being observant. It’s his skill at excelling at these two things that has made his job as an undercover business analyst of sorts a successful one for him. Although if he’s being honest, it’s getting a bit old and as he arrives on his latest assignment, he starts to think this may not be for him anymore. Coming in, calculating the pros and cons of closing a business or keeping it open, and giving his report to the powers that be. The endless days of living in and out of hotel rooms are starting to get old. The latest business in need of assessment though gives him a breath of fresh air. A beautiful resort manor with an equally beautiful staff member that has his blood pumping and may be exactly what he needs to gain some new perspective. Too bad from the moment he meets Ella he has had to lie about his intentions here at the resort. He needed to stay undercover. It wouldn’t matter anyway because he wouldn’t be here long enough for the truth to come out….or would he?

Ella Mayhew loved it at the resort. It was her second home, after all. But beyond that she loved her small town, her loyal friends and all the typical locals that came with small town living. It’s that small town atmosphere that makes newcomers stand out like a sore thumb. The latest sore thumb is one delicious and welcomed attraction, however. Ella’s had a rough go of things since losing her parents a few years earlier and this handsome stranger has been the first guy to pique her interest in far too long. What could be a better or more welcomed distraction than a hot and steamy temporary fling with a delicious hottie? It was so unlike her, though…could she throw some caution to the wind and see where this could lead? He wouldn’t be here for very long so what could it hurt, right?

The delicious attraction between Graydon and Ella starts off pretty innocently enough but soon grows into so much more than either of them had bargained for and soon Graydon starts to think that his career omission when they first met may come back to bite him in the arse…because the longer he knows Ella the more apparent it becomes that there’s no way he could ever recommend closing the resort she loves so much. Even though his own future may depend on doing just that. Would they be able to make it past his original act of deceit? Would either of them be interested in going from temporary to permanent anyway?

As I sit here and type this review, I am immediately drawn back into my imagination and the world Christi has built for me in the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Oh, how I wish I could actually go there and visit right at this very moment! It’s been quite some time since I was drawn into a book world and felt so at home there. There are so many wonderful things author Barth has given this town to make it so rich and homey. The characters are well-developed and so enjoyable. Graydon and Ella have a fast connection but it didn’t feel rushed at all. Graydon is a true gentleman and wants to do right by Ella, despite the whole resort take-over undercover thing. He is patient and kind and brings Ella out of the shell she had crawled into after the death of her parents. Ella is strong all along but just needed a little push to believe it again and Graydon excelled at that push. Beyond the main couple of Ella and Graydon, are Ella’s friends and townspeople that make this book really stand out in my mind. Ella has an amazing support system in this town and it’s one she knows she’s extremely fortunate to have. There are so many quirks Christi gave this town that I fell in love with: the mailbox journal, the mayor’s dog, the annual resort party, the town bullies, the coffee flavors at the town’s diner, the obvious history everyone shares with each other…all of it. As I mentioned earlier, I wish I could go for a visit right this minute!

Up to Me was a real treat to read and I highly recommend it for a great summer beach read….or lounging by an upstate New York lake!

Thank you, Christi, for giving us Ella, Graydon and a whole town to love! I cannot WAIT to see what you have in store for us next!

Buy links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.

A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Azagoth by Larissa Ione…ARC Review

Synopsis:

Even in the fathomless depths of the underworld and the bleak chambers of a damaged heart, the bonds of love can heal…or destroy.

He holds the ability to annihilate souls in the palm of his hand. He commands the respect of the most dangerous of demons and the most powerful of angels. He can seduce and dominate any female he wants with a mere look. But for all Azagoth’s power, he’s bound by shackles of his own making, and only an angel with a secret holds the key to his release.

She’s an angel with the extraordinary ability to travel through time and space. An angel with a tormented past she can’t escape. And when Lilliana is sent to Azagoth’s underworld realm, she finds that her past isn’t all she can’t escape. For the irresistibly sexy fallen angel known as Azagoth is also known as the Grim Reaper, and when he claims a soul, it’s forever…

My review:

Azagoth is story number 10.5 in author Larissa Ione’s Demonica series as well as novella number 6 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series and one of the books I have been dying for this year. As always, Larissa didn’t disappoint. Azagoth was every bit of the tortured, sexy, bad boy I was looking forward to and Lilliana was his perfect match.

Fallen angel Azagoth is notorious for his dark and powerful ways, running the underworld, sorting souls, and being known otherwise as the Grim Reaper. But he wasn’t always this way. He had been an angel before and had once been on the sunny side, so to speak. After all these years in the darkness and with that darkness slowly seeping into his very bones, he yearns for more. But who in their right mind would come down to this dark and desolate realm to date him…the freaking Grim Reaper? No one. Unless he could work some magic and ask for a heavenly favor. They did owe him, after all. Getting someone to take over this realm wasn’t exactly a job angels had been lining up for and now he would use the sacrifice he made to his advantage by asking for a female he could spend eternity with. He wanted more than the “scratch an itch” kind of relationship. Of course he never expected the beautiful and feisty angel they sent him. Lilliana was like no one he had even encountered. She was strong-willed, smart, beautiful and unafraid of him. And he immediately wants her with a passion that defies logic. Could she learn to love a man like him? In a world like this?

Lilliana knew she was in big trouble with the heavens and when she makes a deal that could get her out of that trouble and possibly save her wings and ability to time travel, she figures how bad could it be? All she had to do was go into the underworld, hang out with the Grim Reaper, Azagoth, and last a few weeks. Easy peasy, right? She knows she is strong enough to endure the darkness but as soon as she gets to his realm, she knows she’s in trouble. She may be able to ignore all the creepy crawlies and the darkness down in the underworld but there’s only so long she will be able to ignore the fierce attraction she feels towards Azagoth. Luckily, his reputation for being a surly bad boy precedes him and he doesn’t disappoint, being miserable and demanding at every turn. Unfortunately, Lilliana soon realizes she likes the banter they have and finds herself craving his company more and more. Would she really want to stay here with him forever? Would he want her to if he ever found out the deal she made to save herself?

They say that love will always find a way, but never before has love had such a hard road to travel. Will Lilliana and Azagoth be able to meet love halfway and complete the journey?

When you read as much as I do, there are a few authors that reading their newest work it feels like coming home. Larissa is one of those authors for me and reading Azagoth was like coming home. Her writing style is stellar and she has an amazing talent with the tortured hero making the reader want to hate him but unable to ever do so. Azagoth was one of those heroes. He is dark and brooding but deep down just wants some version of happiness. And my God, I wanted it for him. Lilliana isn’t going to cower to his demands, which is something he is very much unaccustomed to. It pisses him off all while exciting and intriguing him. Lilliana is just as intrigued and excited with Azagoth when she sees how he has lived his life and how deliciously and darkly sexy he is. He was unlike anyone she had ever met and that would prove to be a big check in the “stay in the underworld forever” column.

Lilliana’s gift of time travel is an exceptional gift and gives Azagoth a sense of joy he hasn’t felt in far too long. Seeing the simple joy on his face when they travel to see a landscape he hasn’t seen in hundreds of years gives a gift right back to Lilliana and before they both realize it…they have stumbled into a relationship neither one had ever dreamed of finding. I really can’t think of an adjective to adequately explain just how beautiful Lilliana and Azagoth are together. You’ll just have to take my word on this…and buy this book. You will NOT be disappointed.

Thank you, Larissa, for being you and for writing such remarkable stories.

Five Loves

Buy links:

Kindle
Amazon paperback

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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One Night With a Cowboy by Elizabeth Otto…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

One night is never enough…

Jobless, broke, and struggling to support herself and her invalid mother, paramedic Sophie Miller doesn’t have time or energy for a relationship. Especially with her mother’s clock ticking down. So when the sexy cowboy she meets at a carnival proposes a no-strings, one-night stand, she’s all over it. Until her one-night stand shows up again and turns out to be everything she’s ever wanted.

Tucker Haywood has his hands full running Paint River Ranch and trying to deal with all the changes pulling the rug out from under him. His past has taught him it’s better to keep women at arm’s length, for their sake. Stubborn and temperamental, Tucker doesn’t have a clue how to deal with a city girl who’s scared of squirrels and dirt.

So when Sophie gets under his skin, he has to do whatever it takes to push her away. Even if it means losing the part of himself he never thought he’d find.

My review:

One Night With a Cowboy is the second book in author Elizabeth Otto’s Paint River Ranch series and after falling in love with the Haywood brothers in the first book, I was so anxious to get to Tucker’s story. Well, Elizabeth sure as hell gave this rugged cowboy one hell of story. I adored every second!

Sophie Miller really does have an overflowing plate these days and doesn’t know how much more she can take. City budget cuts have caused her to lose her job as a paramedic, her mother has taken a turn for the worse so she’s had to move to be closer, and the already strained relationship she has with her sister is only getting worse. Jobless and lacking any kind of support, emotionally or financially, Sophie is just about at her wits end. That all changes when she eyes the deliciously hot cowboy one night at the local fair. He is just the kind of temporary distraction she needs. Not one to normally go for a one-night stand, Sophie isn’t sure what draws her to him, only that she needs this. Anything to take her mind off of all of the negative in her life. And the denim wrapped, cowboy hat topped, tall drink of water is just that…a temporary distraction. Unfortunately with her mother getting worse, and with limited finances, Sophie finds herself staying longer than she expected in this town…and longer in her cowboy’s bed. Will she be able to leave when the time comes?

Tucker Haywood has learned a lot of lessons in his life. One of them being that he isn’t one for the long term relationship. His ex-fiancé will agree with him on that. He probably has his father to blame for his inability to love properly but looking at the happiness one of his brothers has found, he thinks instead that maybe it’s just him. Whatever the reason, he’s been happy with his one-night-love-‘em-an-leave-‘em mentality…up until he meets Sophie. What is supposed to be one night together turns into the desire for much more and Tucker soon realizes he’s in uncharted territory. And it scares him to death. He isn’t meant for this…love and commitment beyond the temporary. But every time he sees Sophie he realizes he’s only lying to himself. Tucker soon starts to wonder if he could be the man she deserves…and would she want him to be?

The hurdles Tucker and Sophie face are many…both as individuals and as a couple. They will have to face loss, unfamiliar emotions, and personal journeys that will either make or break their chances at a happy ever after together. Will they have what it takes to face what life throws at them?

I loved this book. I really, really, really, loved this book. I blame my puffy eyes today on this book. I cried, laughed, and my chest physically ached over this book. We met Tucker Haywood briefly in the first book in this series and I already knew he was a bit surly but sexy as hell. His father had royally screwed up Tucker’s emotions when he was a young boy when he decided to treat their mother like dirt and the boys just as badly. He had accepted his emotional lot in life and did the best he could…by keeping women at a distance and avoiding any kind of real relationship. He had tried it before and was proven right when he broke things off with his fiancé. Enter Sophie. This gal turns his whole world upside-down and it was magical to read. Sophie is strong with a touch of vulnerability that makes her such a real and believable character. She has so much weighing on her but never gives up. Her mother is dying, she doens’t have her father, and has a crap relationship with her only sibling, but always bucks up and keeps going. When she shows her emotion in this book it is earned and not some girly breakdown. It didn’t matter that neither Tucker nor Sophie wanted anything beyond their first night together…they had an unexplained pull that just kept getting stronger. Neither one wanted to admit there was something meaningful between them, and both of them were scared away when they contemplated the idea. There were a whole lot of tense moments between these two and I was so worried they wouldn’t see the forest for the trees, so to speak. That they wouldn’t be able to admit their feelings and they would miss out on their chance at happiness together. Luckily, Elizabeth knows how to write one hell of an ending. I was sobbing my eyes out for the last few chapters. It went from sad sobbing to big ‘ol happy tears of joy. I won’t give anything away but I will tell you that the covered bridge ending is one of my favorite endings of all time.

Oh, and the smoking hot heat and chemistry between Tucker and Sophie? From the very beginning is was on freaking fire. Amazing, intense and really well written.

If you love sexy cowboys, smoking hot chemistry, and beautiful emotion, One Night With a Cowboy is the book for you. Trust me, you will love it as much as I did! Thank you, Elizabeth, for another amazing trip to the Paint River Ranch. I cannot WAIT for the next in this series!

Five Loves

Author Bio:

Elizabeth Otto grew up in a Wisconsin town the size of a postage stamp, where riding your horse to the grocery store, and skinny dipping after school were perfectly acceptable. No surprise that she writes about small communities and country boys. She’s the author of paranormal romance, and hot, emotional, contemporary romance, and has no guilt over frequently making her readers cry. When not writing, she works full-time as an Emergency Medical Technician for a rural ambulance service. Elizabeth lives with her very own country boy and their three children in, shockingly, a small Midwestern town.

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Dare to Resist by Laura Kaye…Review Tour Stop

This Review Tour for Laura Kaye’s DARE TO RESIST is awesome!! DARE TO RESIST is the prequel novella to Laura’s Wedding Dare Series and is being published by Entangled Publishing.

DARE TO RESIST is the prequel novella to the sexy wedding event of the year! The Wedding Dare Series brings together five New York Times bestselling authors, one sizzling story of how the bride and groom fell in love, and four super sexy tales of bridesmaids who hope to get lucky in lust—or maybe even love—at their friend’s wedding. Here’s the story that starts it all!

Review Tour Schedule

May 13

Little Read Riding Hood

Cocktails and Books

Make My Day Book Club

Hesperia Loves Books

Talking Books Blog

Books Books& More Books

May 14

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club

May 15

Made For You Book Reviews

Bittersweet Book Love

May 16

My Favorite Things

Madison Says

The Romance Evangelist

Book Lovin’ Mamas

Read-Love-Blog

The Geekery Book Review

Reading Between the Wines

Romantic Reads and Such

Dare to Resist Excerpt

By Laura Kaye

Damn she had a smart mouth on her. So many things he’d like to do to temporarily cure her of that. Andnow he knew she’d enjoy them, too. “Kady, I just meant—”

She huffed, stoking both the flames of his aggression and his arousal. “I got it.”

He fisted his hands. “No, you fucking don’t, because you won’t stop talking long enough for me to explain myself.”

She blanched. “Well, do it. What do you want to say?”

Here it was. Moment of truth time. Fucking finally. “Three years ago—”

“Colton, I don’t want to talk about ancient—”

He was on her in a flash. One hand over her mouth, the other cradling the back of her head so that he didn’t hurt her when he shoved her against the closet door. He held her there with the weight of his own body, his legs on the outsides of hers effectively boxing her in. “It’s not your turn to talk. Understand?”

Eyes wide, nostrils flaring, Kady searched his eyes and finally nodded. He could almost feel the questions rolling off of her.

“Three years ago,” he said again, arching a brow, “I pulled back from what we started for a couple of reasons. Same reasons why I pulled away again yesterday when I wanted to kiss you. But this book…this book makes me wonder if maybe one of those reasons isn’t as relevant as I originally thought.” He heaved a breath and leaned his forehead against hers, bringing them eye to eye. “The guy in your book? I’m that guy,” he said, putting it in terms he hoped she’d understand.

A shiver ran over her body. Against his chest, her nipples went hard.

Holy hell. Did his declaration just turn her on?

Her pupils were dilating. Right there was his answer. His cock went from hard to downright torture.

“You get what I’m saying?” he asked. A small nod. “I get off on being rough. Because I like and respect you, and because you’re my best friend’s little sister—”

Her brows furrowed.

He pressed his hand more firmly against her mouth and nailed her with a stare. “I get it. After our talk yesterday, that’s not how I see you. But it is how Tyler sees you. How he’ll always see you. Big brothers are genetically programmed to be protective of younger sisters no matter their age. Trust me. I know from firsthand experience. So I’ve backed off because I didn’t want to scare you or offend you with what I want, and I certainly didn’t want to piss Tyler off, either.”

Her fingers pulled softly at the hand covering her mouth, a gentle plea. He removed his hand immediately. “Can I say something now?” she asked quietly.

When had Kady Dresco ever asked for permission to speak around him? But he’d exerted a little dominance over her, and she’d responded with submissiveness. Probably wasn’t even aware she’d done it. A dark satisfaction heated his blood and further hardened his cock. “Go ahead.”

DARE TO RESIST Synopsis:

Trapped and tempted, this battle of wills rages all night long…

Kady Dresco and Colton Brooks click on a level that defies logic. There are only two problems. One, he’s her older brother’s irritating best friend, and two, they’re bidding on the same military security services contract.

When the competition heats up, Colton is torn between wanting to strangle Kady (and her annoying brilliance) and kissing her into submission. Which is a bad idea for a million reasons, because Kady’s submission is exactly what he craves. Being trapped in a tiny motel room with the object of his darkest fantasies will require every ounce of his restraint.

Kady doesn’t want his restraint, but Colton knows better. She deserves love, marriage, and a white picket fence—three things Colton can’t give her. But her proximity and the memory of their steamy near-miss three years ago slowly destroys his resolve. And he’s not sure how much longer he can keep his hands off…or his heart closed.

My review:

Dare to Resist kicks off the Wedding Dare Series written by some of my favorite authors and with Laura being one of them, I was so excited for this book and let me say….what an amazing series kick off this was. Holy hotness!

Computer guru Kady Dresco has got some stiff competition when it comes to bidding on one of the biggest contracts of her career. Colton Brooks. She’s known him almost her entire life and has never been able to shake the attraction she’s had for him, which of course isn’t making this whole bidding for the same contract thing any easier. And now, after a huge storm cancels all travel plans to get home, they are stuck together in the last motel room in the area. She’s used to keeping her feelings for him under wraps for years so one night in a motel room should be fine…right? Easier said than done….especially when she starts to think her one sided attraction may not be one sided any more.

Colton Brooks can’t believe his luck. It’s bad enough he’s up against Kady for the contract he’d love to get for his company, but now Mother Nature has them stuck together for the night. There was always something about Kady that drew him in, but she’s his best friend’s little sister and was off limits. Sure, she isn’t little any more, but it still didn’t mean he could entertain the idea of being with someone like Kady. She’d surely run for the hills if she knew what turned him on and that made staying away from her a little easier. But when he finds out she may actually be willing to try things his way, his hopes are raised. Could he possibly have a chance with the girl he’s been drawn to for too many years to count?

Despite knowing each other for years, and having a shared secret mutual attraction, there was never a good time for Colton and Kady to get together until the fates intervene. Things are bound to heat up between this two when they both face what they’ve been hiding for each other for far too long.

Oh. My. Yum. This book was absofreakingloutely amazing. The heat factor was off the charts and with two amazing characters, Dare to Resist may be one of my favorite Laura Kaye works. Colton is a bit of a damaged hero and is wrapped in one handsome, kind, charming package. Kady is strong and honest with a dash of spitfire attitude that makes her a great character to read. The two of them together make one hell of a great match. I think one of the things I liked best about them is that having known one another for so long, we got to skip all of the early parts of relationship building and get right to the hot stuff….and oh my was it HOT! I mean really, really, hot. There’s also a lot of honesty between Kady and Colton, which made for a great pace of the story. There wasn’t a whole lot of game playing between them and being able to cut to the chase was pretty amazing.

I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the rest of the series! Thank you, Laura, for another amazing read!

Five Loves

Dare to Resist on Goodreads

About the Wedding Dare Series:

When four bridesmaids dare one another to find lust—or maybe even love—at the destination wedding event of the year, the groomsmen don’t stand a chance. But little do the women know, the men are onto their game, and sparks will fly alongside the bouquet.

Four bridesmaids. Four groomsmen.

Four New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Long-carried torches, sizzling new attractions, and forbidden conquests will ensure a wedding never to be forgotten.

Tessa Bailey, Baiting the Maid of Honor

Diane Alberts, Falling for the Groomsmen

Katee Robert, Seducing the Bridesmaid

Samanthe Beck, Best Man with Benefits

Coming June 9!

All Wedding Dare Series Books on Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Laura Kaye Bio:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen 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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ARC Review….Dungeon Games by Lexi Blake

Dungeon Games releases tomorrow, May 13

Book links:

Kindle | Amazon Paperback | 1,001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

Obsessed

Derek Brighton has become one of Dallas’s finest detectives through a combination of discipline and obsession. Once he has a target in his sights, nothing can stop him. When he isn’t solving homicides, he applies the same intensity to his playtime at Sanctum, a secretive BDSM club. Unfortunately, no amount of beautiful submissives can fill the hole that one woman left in his heart.

Unhinged

Karina Mills has a reputation for being reckless, and her clients appreciate her results. As a private investigator, she pursues her cases with nothing holding her back. In her personal life, Karina yearns for something different. Playing at Sanctum has been a safe way to find peace, but the one Dom who could truly master her heart is out of reach.

Enflamed

On the hunt for a killer, Derek enters a shadowy underworld only to find the woman he aches for is working the same case. Karina is searching for a missing girl and won’t stop until she finds her. To get close to their prime suspect, they need to pose as a couple. But as their operation goes under the covers, unlikely partners become passionate lovers while the killer prepares to strike.

My review:

Dungeon Games is book number 6.5 in author Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series as well as novella number 5 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series. The perfect balance of suspense and heat makes Dungeon Games a page turner from start to finish.

Private investigator Karina Mills has earned every ounce of her no-nonsense rep. She has learned to keep her personal demons at bay, suffered major loss, and hunted down the dredges of society, all while taking crap from no one. Now more than ever those skills will come in handy when she’s on the hunt for a serial killer. There have been murders hitting too close to home. The place she feels most at home. Her BDSM world. Now she will have to team up with Detective Derek Brighton to catch the person responsible. Figures. The one guy she has a love/hate relationship with is the guy she now has to play house with. Karina can only hope they catch the killer before things with Derek reach a level she isn’t sure she is ready to go to.

Detective Derek Brighton always gets his man. No matter what. And if that means he has to go undercover to catch a serial killer, so be it. However, going undercover with Karina threatens to undo him. The pull he feels to her is undeniable and the attraction is mutual…even if she tries to deny it. First task at hand will be getting a killer off the street and then he will get to work on Karina…

Yum. Yum. Yum. This novella was so delicious on so many levels. The heat between Karina and Derek was palpable from the very beginning. The push and pull was just perfect. Not too much and not too little. Both Derek and Karina are strong characters but each have a soft side that balances them out beautifully. For as alpha as Derek is, he has some lines in this book that melted my heart and the same goes for Karina. She’s bad assed but is vulnerable as well. Both are well rounded and compliment one another beautifully. Adding the murder investigation into the mix gave a fantastic facet to this story that truly made it the whole package. The ending was quite the shocker and I hadn’t seen it coming! Of course, that made me love Dungeon Games even more. That element of surprise was the icing on this delicious read.

Thank you, Lexi, for strong characters, plenty of smoking heat, and a suspense packed story!

Five Loves

About the author:

Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. She began writing at a young age concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. Lexi believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome or foursome may seem.

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Out of Mind by Jen McLaughlin…Blog Tour top & Review

Synopsis:

Reaching for sunlight…

Finn survived the ambush and came home to me, but in his head, the battle is still raging. He’s falling apart and I’m trying my best to pick up the pieces of him, to find the us we used to be. I love him as much as I ever did, but love isn’t enough to fix this. I thought telling my father about our relationship would be the hardest thing we’d ever have to face. I was wrong.

Lost in shadows…

All I wanted was to be worthy of Carrie. One mission, just one, and I’d be able to give her the future she deserved. Then everything went wrong, leaving me tainted and broken. Carrie wants me to be who I was, but all that’s left is what they made of me. I’m no good for her. No good for anyone like this. I have to figure out how to move forward. Alone.

Sometimes love isn’t enough…

My review:

*dreamy sigh* Out Of Mind is the last book in author Jen McLaughlin’s Out Of Line Series and if I’m being honest, I am so sad to see this series end. But, in the same token, this was as perfect an ending as I could have ever imagined for Finn and Carrie!

If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, I really wouldn’t read any more of this review until you do! Seriously.

Finn is finally back home. He may be broken, but he’s home. It’s been an agonizing wait for Carrie just to be able to see that he was, in fact, ok. But is he? OK?

All of the undercurrents of unworthiness Finn had felt before he left to go overseas will resurface with a vengeance when he returns home…less than whole. Sure, the outward appearance says he’s whole but deep down he knows he’s not. His memories begin to torment him and he has no idea how to handle all of it. All of the past, all of the future, all of the “what ifs” and “should have beens”. He tries to rationalize that he can overcome anything with Carrie by his side. Soon enough though, he has doubts. Will their relationship stand the test of stress and loss?

From relief one minute to confusion and pain the next, Carrie isn’t sure which way is up anymore. Yes, she’s beyond happy to have Finn home and safe. Yes, she will do anything she can to help him recover. No, she isn’t sure she’s enough to help him fight his inner demons. And damn if that doesn’t kill her inside. Surely the love they share is enough to fight even the darkest times, right? Carrie isn’t so sure anymore…

This journey is what matters most. This journey is what will define Carrie and Finn’s relationship and truly test the love they share. This journey is what will make or break them…

If you know me and my history with this series, you know I adore Finn. So much so that I got a tattoo in his honor. There’s just something about this surfer Marine that I have loved from the very beginning. It’s that love that made this book so damn hard for me to read. Finn is a mess. He’s mentally and physically broken and I wanted nothing more than for him to be whole again. This was really rough to read. The emotions were high and intense. I think what hit home most was that real veterans go through this every damn day and I hope they have their own versions of Carrie to help them through their darkest hours. Of course Carrie was amazing. She stood by Finn and never gave up. Even when she really wanted to, deep down she never truly gave up on him. Thank God for Carrie. He may have pushed her away, but Finn knew deep down that he needed her….eventually. I can’t give away too much of the story because there are a few spoilers but know this: you will need a whole lot of tissues and you will LOVE the way the book ends. Trust me!

Again I say that I’m sad to see this series end but I know Jen will have some fabulous works for us in the future and I can’t wait to read them!

Thank you, Jen, for Finn and Carrie and the entire Out of Line Series.

Five Loves

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY:

Jen is giving away a FINN necklace and a signed set of the OUT OF LINE series. US Only.

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Buy Links

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1lqa3cw
B&N – http://bit.ly/1mSkmpP

About the author:

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website ~ Facebook Fan Page ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

His to Keep by Katee Robert…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

He’s always wanted her. Now’s his chance to claim what’s his.

School teacher Marceline Bellini gave up everything—men, sex, anything resembling a social life—to raise her young daughter. To be the perfect parent. But when she attends an engagement party in her standard stick-in-the-mud mode, her friends begin plying Marcy with shots. Just enough to convince her that a little fun doesn’t sound like a bad idea… and having some naughty fun is an even better one.

Like finding herself deliciously pressed against a dark alley wall by the very familiar and very hot body of her best friend’s older brother.

After years of waiting in painful silence, police officer Aaron Robinson finally has Marcy’s attention. And man, does he have it. But nothing could have prepared either of them for the rush of fiery lust between them. So he’ll just have to convince Marcy he’s for real. And that a rainy, lust-fuelled romp is the first step to a lifetime of completely imperfect happiness…

My review:

His to Keep is story number 1.5 in author Katee Robert’s Out of Uniform Series and oh…my….yum. I couldn’t put this book down. The heat and chemistry were apparent form the very first chapter and only got better and better from there.

Marcy Bellini would much rather be at home, on her couch, with her daughter watching a princess movie than hanging in this bar. She wasn’t exactly the going out type anymore and that suited her just fine. What didn’t suit her just fine is when she finally starts to loosen up, and possibly dance with a handsome guy, Aaron Robinson stepping in and chasing her dance partner away. Sure, she and Aaron had known each other since they were practically kids, and sure she had an undying school girl crush on him, but he never thought of her “that way” and didn’t have any right to tell her that dance dude wasn’t right for her. So to say she was shocked when he suggested HE was the one for her, would be understatement of the year. Not wanting to second guess what he said, she decides to act on her slightly buzzed impulses and make Aaron put his money where his mouth was and show her why he was right for her. Marcy soon realizes she’s in way over her head with Aaron….

Aaron Robinson had waited entirely too long for a chance with Marcy Bellini. He has wanted her for as long as he could remember but it was never the right time to act on it. Now, while she flirts with some dude at this bar, he has never been surer that THIS is the right time. It was time to act on it. He had no way to know Marcy would be beyond what he could have dreamed of that night…or that she would kick him to the curb the next day. But Aaron was a persistent man and always gets what he wants in the end. And he wanted Marcy. For the long haul.

With so many years of friendship between them, Marcy and Aaron have the luxury of skipping all the new dating small talk and formalities and can get right to the good stuff…and oh my, is it good!

This book rocked. The fact that we were able to jump right into this section of Aaron and Marcy’s life was like skipping the long and boring meal and heading right for dessert. Sometimes, you just want the damn dessert. The chemistry between these two was instantly recognizable and there was just enough push and pull between them. Aaron and Marcy both went for what they wanted, when they wanted it and both were pretty honest characters. Sure, there was a bit of conflict but it was just enough to round out their story perfectly. Aaron is deliciously alpha and had waited long enough or Marcy. The predator after his prey…only his prey was just as predatory which was a bit of a surprise to him a real treat to read. Marcy is quite the feisty one when she lets herself go and it was in beautiful contrast to the mom and teacher she also is. Together they are combustible and I loved every minute of it! Oh, and the ending? Simply freaking picture-perfect!

If you’re looking for a sweet and sexy read with plenty of heat, get His to Keep on your list! Thank you, Katee, for one hell of a story.

Five Loves

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Entangled

Entangled Brazen:

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

Twitter: @BrazenBooks Steals and Deals

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Author Bio:

Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at age twelve she discovered romance novels and never looked back.

Though she dabbled in writing, life got in the way—as it often does—and she spent a few years traveling, living in both Philadelphia and Germany. In between traveling and raising her two wee ones, she had the crazy idea that she’d like to write a book and try to get published.

Her first novel was an epic fantasy that, God willing, will never see the light of day. From there, she dabbled in YA and horror, before finally finding speculative romance. Because, really, who wouldn’t want to write entire books about the smoking-hot relationships between two people?

She now spends her time—when not lost in Far Reach worlds—playing imaginary games with her wee ones, writing, ogling men, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

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East of Ecstasy by Laura Kaye…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

Annalise Fallston made peace with postponing her big-city dreams to care for her ill father, but lately she’s been filled with a restlessness not even her beloved painting dispels. Worse, the colors don’t speak to her as they always have, and all her efforts produce dark, foreboding images of a dangerous man and a terrifying future.

Devlin Eston, black-souled son of the evil Anemoi Eurus, is the only one who can thwart his father’s plan to overthrow the Supreme God of Wind and Storms. But first, Dev must master the unstable powers he’s been given. Distrusted and shunned by his own divine family, he never expected to find kindness and passion in the arms of a mortal.

But Devlin’s love puts Annalise in the path of a catastrophic storm, and in the final Armageddon showdown between the Anemoi and Eurus, sacrifices will be made, hearts broken, and lives changed forever…or lost.

My review:

East of Ecstasy is the fourth and final installment in author Laura Kaye’s Hearts of the Anemoi Series, which is one of my favorite paranormal series to date. I am terribly sad to see the end of this series but the happiness I feel with the way the series ended far outweighs the sadness. This book was incredible.

Before I begin my sure-to-be-long-winded review, I will say that if you haven’t read the entire series, I don’t think you should jump right into East of Ecstasy…if for no other reason than the relationships that have been built throughout the series really shine in this book and I would hate for anyone to miss out on truly feeling the emotions associated with having gone on the journey with these characters since the first book, North of Need.

Ok, here goes….

Artist and painter Annalise (Anna) Fallston was used to seeing the beauty in things. Even in the most bleak of circumstances, she could usually find something of beauty to carry her through. She had lost her mother and brother years ago and had been the sole caregiver to her ailing father for a few years now but even in all of that, she could find beauty in her memories of when her father was whole and healthy and when her family was all still alive. She could even find a bright spot in being colorblind…because when she painted, she could somehow see the colors. But finding the good was really getting tough to do lately. She was getting more and more tired and had been having these unexplained urges to paint certain scenes. Dark scenes. And when the man from those dark scenes shows up in her studio one night, she truly believes she’s finally lost her grip on reality and the stress has taken over. He’s real though, and after he informs her he isn’t going anywhere because he needs her help and after she panics a bit, she decides that maybe there really is a reason behind the frantic urges to paint the scenes. Maybe there’s more to her ability to see colors when she paints, but not any other time. Maybe she’s meant to help this darkly handsome stranger. Time to do what Anna does best ….jump in with both feet and look for the positive in this strange situation.

Devin Eston isn’t exactly in good standing with the rest of the Anemoi and he didn’t blame them. Not when his insane and manically power hungry father had done his best to make Devlin look like he was responsible for so much death and destruction. Growing up knowing only pain and torture, Devin could say he was used to the feelings of hatred and anger. Those were the only things he’d ever known. But now, with the storm raging between his evil father and the Anemoi he realizes he’s had enough. He can’t let more death and destruction happen. No more blood on his hands and no more sins to atone for. He would help destroy his father once and for all. Trouble was, it was a whole lot easier said than done. Deviln still hadn’t figured out how to leash and wield the tremendous amount of power within him and he had no one who would believe he wanted to end his father. Until he meets Anna. He had no idea that sneaking into an old barn for shelter would lead him to the one person he may be able to count on and who may be able to help him and the Anemoi. Now, if Devlin could only believe he was worthy of that help.

With things between Devlin, Eurus and the Anemoi coming to this final conflict, where lives will be lost, bonds will be forged and family will be strengthened, Devlin will finally have a chance to prove he isn’t anything like his father….and he will need Anna every step of the way.

If you follow me on twitter, you may have caught the convo I had with Laura Kaye after finishing this book. If you didn’t I will recap it simply by saying that I was an emotional wreck while reading this story….of course I loved every minute.

I have loved this series since Owen’s book and cried my ever-loving eyes out on a flight home last year reading South of Surrender. I was dying to get to this book. Well, I’m actually at a loss for how to describe how much I loved Devlin’s story. Devlin has been painted as one of the bad guys since the beginning and I pretty much hated him…until we got a teeny peek at some goodness within him in the last book. And that did it. I wanted to believe he could be saved and that he wasn’t Team Evil after all. Devlin is broken and hurt and had been tortured and abused all at the hands of his father. He was forced to live a life he wanted no part of and had major trust issues because of it. He didn’t believe himself worthy of any kindness and when he shied away from Anna in the beginning, I cried. He was the battered puppy that had grown into a fearful but powerful animal. He carried so much guilt over his father’s actions and it broke my heart. He so needed someone like Anna. She is strong and giving and willing to help Devlin get over his personal demons. She is a brilliant match for him and they make a beautifully balanced couple. There were more than a few moments shared between them that were beautiful and touching and it was a gift to read.

Beyond their growing relationship there is the fight with Eurus that has risen to a fevered pitch. Of course, that means we got to see the entire cast: Owen, Megan, Zeph, Ella, Chrys, Laney…and a few more that I can’t mention because I don’t want to ruin anything for you. The situations are intense and highly emotional but it’s one of the things I admire most about Laura’s writing. She has that gift to make the reader feel everything. Case in point: me sobbing uncontrollably during a scene with Owen and Megan. That scene is the most touching scene I have ever read….in any book….ever. And it will stay with me for years to come. (of course, I’m crying while typing just thinking of it!)

If you take one thing away from this admittedly long-winded review I hope it’s how much I loved this entire series. I recommend this for any romance fans, paranormal or otherwise. Thank you, Laura, for the Hearts of the Anemoi. You will continue to be one of my go-to authors and I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us next. Oh, and Team Boreas!

Buy at Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Catch up on the whole series with the Hearts of the Anemoi box set featuring the first three books: North of Need, West of Want, South of Surrender!

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Giveaways:

There are TWO fabulous giveaways happening with this tour!

~ The first is a set of four signed books (each book in the Heart of Anemoi Series) and swag in a basket. (enter in the rafflecopter)

~ The second is for a tote bag and swag, open to international, and based on blog comments – Please comment on this blog post to enter to win and have include your email addresses to enter.

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About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. 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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Finding Serenity by Eden Butler….Blog Tour Stop & Review

Title: Finding Serenity

Series: Seeking Serenity series, Book #2

Author: Eden Butler

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 7, 2014

Tour Organized by: As the Pages Turn

Synopsis:

Mollie Malone’s mom skipped out on her. Her biker dad, always loose and easy with the law, still was able to make her feel loved, and to keep her safe. But thirteen years ago, when his luck finally ran out and he landed in prison, Mollie found herself a new family – a group of friends in the sleepy little college town of Cavanagh, Tennessee, where now they all attend the local university. These girls know about the rotten roots of her family tree but accept her anyway, and the bond between them is so strong and supportive that Mollie is finally able to see past graduation to a future that is bright and secure.

But sometimes the past doesn’t stay buried.

Suddenly, inexplicably, there’s a shadow behind every step Mollie takes. Someone is lurking in that shadow, threatening not only Mollie, but also the new family she has claimed for herself.

And it isn’t just the past that has Mollie’s life in upheaval. Hunky former Marine Vaughn Winchester – who Mollie really would like to get to know much better – thinks Mollie is just a kid; he’s made it clear she wouldn’t ever be able to understand the demons haunting him. But if that’s what he believes, then why does he keep sticking his nose in her business? And if he thinks she’s such a kid, why does he keep trying to kiss her?

Vaughn’s mind games are frustrating, especially since Mollie knows enough about secrets to be convinced that there’s something he isn’t telling her, something he’s so far been able to keep hidden. But when that secret is revealed, Mollie is forced into a situation that tests her loyalty and threatens even her closest friendships – just when the shadow of her past returns, and she’s going to need them the most.

My review:

Finding Serenity is the second book in author Eden Butler’s Seeking Serenity Series and after reading, well, more like devouring, the first in the series I was so excited to read Mollie and Vaughn’s story and I loved it. Loved, loved, loved it.

Mollie Malone didn’t have what you’d call a normal childhood. There were no white picket fences or tea parties with pretty dresses. She grew up in the hard biker lifestyle without her mother and a dad who taught her the importance of knowing how to fight and to be able to save yourself out of any situation. Other girls may have hated it, but not Mollie. She loved her life. Sure it had been hard at times but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. She loved her dad…which made him landing in prison really tough for her. Still Mollie wouldn’t trade her life for another’s. She had made three great friends that were like sisters to her. Of course it was one of these friends that led her to meet Vaughn. The king of mixed signals and former Marine who she couldn’t stop thinking about no matter how hard she tried. Just Mollie’s luck that things in her life and enemies of her father would start to surface and she would end up relying on Vaughn for help and protection. There was no way she could get him out of her head now. Not being in his company day in and day out. Man, she was so screwed…

Vaughn Winchester knows very well that he should be staying away from Mollie. He knows he shouldn’t even be entertaining the notion of having any kind of relationship with her other than to make sure she was safe. But damn if he can’t help himself. Wanting any kind of relationship only brings him back to his past and reminds him of all the reasons he doesn’t deserve a second chance at love. He would do well to remind himself of that. Easier said than done. Especially when his latest mission includes being glued to Mollie’s side 24 hours a day until the threats can be identified and eliminated. Man, he was so screwed….

Each with their own wounded pasts; Vaughn and Mollie are thrown together with tensions mounting and emotions high. Will they be able to realize they deserve a bit of happiness in this dark time? The bigger question is, will they realize they can find that happiness in each other.

Well, Eden has done it again. This book was freaking amazing from start to finish. Mollie Malone is one of the toughest and most real and honest characters I’ve read in quite some time. She’s had a pretty rough life but has always made the best of things. Sure, she doesn’t really have a sunny disposition but that’s what makes her real. She is not one to sugar coat things. She says it like it is and on more than one occasion during this book her words were so very touching to me. The world isn’t a nice place a lot of the time and no one knows it better than Mollie. She’s smart mouthed, witty, sarcastic and tough but she is also the true meaning of loyal and loves big when she decides a person is worthy of it. I adore that girl. Vaughn is her perfect match in the sense that he’s also seen and been through his own share of hellish situations and reading them broke my heart. I totally understood why he was closed off and why he wanted to deny his growing feelings for Mollie. He’s the ultimate protector and wants nothing more than to keep Mollie safe. Of course the sparks fly when Mollie doesn’t believe she needs any help keeping safe and oh my, those sparks are amazingly hot. The tension between them is palpable and the attraction is undeniable. It’s push and pull at it’s best with Mollie and Vaughn. Of course adding to all of this is the suspense of the unidentified threat to Mollie and trying to figure out who is responsible. Eden wrote that aspect of the story beautifully and we were really kept guessing through the entire book.

Add to that more than a few twists and turns along the way and Finding Serenity was the total package for me.

Oh, and getting to see the whole gang again was the icing on the cake! Declan, Autumn, Sayo and the rest of the crew are always there to support Mollie and each other.

I will be adding this book to my list of recommendations to anyone who asks me what they should read next and will be anxiously awaiting to see what Eden has in store next!

Five Loves

Amazon:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Serenity-Seeking-Eden-Butler-ebook/dp/B00JIIUGB8http://amzn.com/B00FUQ6580

Amazon UK:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Serenity-Seeking-Eden-Butler-ebook/dp/B00JIIUGB8

Barnes & Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-serenity-eden-butler/1119126792

Kobo:http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/finding-serenity

Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/426704

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20636475-finding-serenity

Giveaway:

Giveaway is international and ends at 11:59 PM CST 04/28/2014. Eden is offering up the following prizes:

(5) eBook copies of either Chasing Serenity, Behind the Pitch or Finding Serenity (Winner’s choice)

(1) Signed set of the series – Chasing Serenity, Behind the Pitch or Finding Serenity

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Author Bio:

Eden Butler is an editor and writer of New Adult Romance and SciFi and Fantasy novels and the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum. Her debut novel, a New Adult, Contemporary (no cliffie) Romance, “Chasing Serenity” launched in October 2013 and quickly became an Amazon bestseller.

When she’s not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque ancestor, Eden edits, reads and spends way too much time watching rugby, Doctor Who and New Orleans Saints football.

She is currently living under teenage rule alongside her husband in southeast Louisiana.

Please send help.

Author Contact Info:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/eden.butler.10

Twitter:https://twitter.com/EdenButler_

Blog:http://edenbutlerwrites.wordpress.com/

GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/21011324-eden-butler

Pinterest:http://www.pinterest.com/edenbutlerwrite/

Tumblr:http://edenbutlerwrites.tumblr.com/

Good Girls Don’t Date Rock Stars by Codi Gary…blog Tour Stop & Review

Title: Good Girls Don’t Date Rock Stars

Author: Codi Gary

Genre: Contemporary Adult Romance

Publish Date: April 22, 2014

Publisher: Avon Impulse an Imprint of HarperCollins

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

~ Book Synopsis ~

Gemma Carlson didn’t plan on waking up married.

She also didn’t count on running into her old flame—and her son’s father-turned-country-rock star—Travis Bowers, followed by a night of drunken dares. Apparently one of those involved a ring on her finger and a vow…neither of which she intends to keep. Now with a hangover from hell, this good-girl-gone-bad knows there’s just one thing to do: run.

Travis has been all over the world, but Gemma has never been far from his thoughts. So when he had the chance to catch up over a few drinks, he didn’t hesitate. Of course he didn’t expect it would lead to marriage, or a runaway bride! Travis finally has a second chance and doesn’t plan on losing Gemma again—or the son he didn’t know he had. He proposes—albeit belatedly—a date. Or rather, a few. If they can make this marriage work by starting over, he stays. If not…

Gemma’s not interested; she’s got a son to protect and a heart to heal. But having Travis around could make both a little easier. Still, good girls don’t date rock stars…right?

My review:

Good Girls Don’t Date Rock Stars is the second book in author Codi Gary’s Rock Canyon Romance series and the first in the series I have read. I know there are a lot of rock star books out these days but I have to say, this one was different. This story held a whole lot of heart and I absolutely loved it from start to finish.

Single mom Gemma was enjoying every second of her weekend away in Las Vegas. She was here for a romance book convention of sorts and had been having an amazing time. Sure, she missed her son like crazy, but getting away in the past 9 years since he’d been born wasn’t an option to she was going to savor every second of this trip. The last thing she ever expected was running into Travis. The country rock star god who also happened to be her ex high-school boyfriend….and father of her son. The even bigger problem was that he had no idea he even had a son. She shouldn’t be worried though. She would just go along with the pleasantries, say her goodbye, and go back to living without him. He, of course, had other plans and she’d never been good at saying no to Travis. Agreeing to a night out didn’t seem like a terrible idea but when she wakes up the next morning, in Travis’ bed, wearing a wedding ring, she knew she should never should have said yes. In a blind panic, Gemma leaves Travis in Vegas and heads home. Back to her son and her normal life. Imagine her surprise when Travis shows up at her front door….to give their marriage a real shot. What. A. Mess.

Gemma had never been far from Travis’ thoughts. Even all these years later he knew he let “the one” slip away and now that he had gotten a second chance, there was no way he would let her go. Even if she did give him a “Dear John” letter and his ring back. He had been prepared for the fight to convince her that they were meant to be. He wasn’t prepared to find out he had a son. With Gemma. That she never told him about. He was also unprepared for the immense feelings of hurt and betrayal he now harbored toward her or the instant love her felt for his son. He had come to save his marriage. Now he was here to become the father his son had never known. Would he ever be able to forgive Gemma and could they ever be a real family?

The obstacles Gemma and Travis have to overcome are great and many but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about reading a great book, is that where there’s even a bit of will, there’s a way. And this book surely didn’t disappoint!

Oh, how I loved this book. I said earlier that it was different than all of the other rock star books I have read lately and I meant it. The rock star part was really secondary to the journey Gemma and Travis had gone on and the road that lay ahead. This was one hell of an emotional read and Cori did a kick ass job at getting me to feel the emotion in both points of view. I understood why Gemma didn’t tell Travis she had been pregnant. Travis had a pretty sad childhood and his talent was his ticket to a better life. She didn’t want to be the one to hold him back from that and end up resenting her one day. On the flip side, I really felt for Travis and I hurt for him and the betrayal he felt and I was angry right along with him at Gemma. It was really a push and pull of emotion and I think it’s a huge talent that a writer be able to get the reader to feel that. I was cheering these two on from the beginning and really, really wanted them to have a happy ever after. There were a lot of times I didn’t think they would and I was a worried mess! I won’t ruin it for you, but know that I wouldn’t recommend a book that ended badly and I totally DO recommend this book. (so you can take that as a hint!)

Thank you, Cori, for an amazing and emotional book. I will absolutely be keeping up with this series and can’t wait to see what you have in store for us!

Add to Goodreads:

Purchase Links

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Excerpt from GOOD GIRLS DON’T DATE ROCK STARS by Codi Gary

How many glasses of champagne did I have last night?

Gemma Carlson groaned, gritting her teeth against the stabbing pain that seemed to be spreading through her brain. She didn’t want to open her eyes, afraid of what she would find. Right now she was only sure of two things. One, her head hurt like a son of a bitch and two, she was very, very naked.

Prying open her right eye, she tried to focus on her surroundings, but instead of seeing intricate, golden wallpaper, she found the walls were now light colored. A couch sat in the corner of the room, though her room had had a tiny office chair and desk. The landscape on the wall was new, too.

She opened both eyes, blinking rapidly at the dryness, and realized she had no idea where she was.

Which meant she obviously wasn’t in her hotel room.

A light snore behind her caught her attention and she stiffened, turning her head slowly to look at her bedmate. She sucked in a breath at the sight of dark curls and a broad back, the only things visible above the heavy comforter.

What have I done?

Sitting up, she swallowed down the rolling nausea and fought the splitting headache, catching her face in her hands. And then she felt it. Something cool and metal on her finger. Something that definitely shouldn’t be there.

Pulling her hands back, she stared at the large three-stone diamond ring on her left index finger and froze.

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About the Author

An obsessive bookworm, Codi Gary likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family

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Dash of Peril by Lori Foster…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

A no-nonsense female cop reluctantly teams up with the one man who makes her lose control in a deliciously sensual new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret “Margo” Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is 6’4″ of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own.

Beneath Margo’s tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he’ll have to prove he’s all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter.

My review:

Dash of Peril is the fourth book in author Lori Foster’s Love Undercover series. I was so excited to get to Dash’s story and oh my, this by far was to hottest book of the series to date and I loved it!

Lieutenant Margaret “Margo” Peterson is used to down playing the fact that she’s a woman. She has worked damn hard to get her position as lieutenant and being a bit hard assed came with the territory. She had more to prove as a female and her fellow officers respected that about her. But sometimes being a woman had its advantages and right now, working on the type of case she was currently, was one of those times. She was on the hunt for the people responsible for repeat crimes involving the drugging and raping of innocent women. She realizes she is getting closer when she’s almost killed…most likely by the people she’s trying to catch. Now she’s injured and pissed. Pissed at the dirt bags responsible but also because she finds herself in need of help while recovering and getting that help from Dash. She has been desperately trying to ignore her attraction toward him and his advances toward her but now with him in her house, staying with her night after night, she realizes it may be a losing battle. Surely he would go running for the hills if he ever learned what she liked in the bedroom…right? It didn’t matter though because she wouldn’t let things get that far. Or would she?

Dash Riske has had a thing for Margo for far too long and now she needs his help. Even if she won’t admit it. There was no way he would let her stay alone to recuperate. Not with her life on the line. He knew she was tough as nails and was more than capable of taking care of herself, hell, it was one of the things he loved about her, but he wasn’t going to leave her to face this debacle alone. And maybe, just maybe, this would be the opportunity he’s been needing to prove that they could be great together. This could be the chance to get her to open up to him and let her walls down and to let him in. He wanted that so damn badly he could taste it. She’s everything he wanted. Smart, tough, ballsy, and no-nonsense all wrapped up in a beautiful package with a killer body. One thing was for sure: when Dash had his eye on something, he got it. And he would get Margo. She was the ultimate prize for him.

Dash and Margo go through a boatload of drama which brings them closer than either one of them could have imagined. When all is said and done though, will what they’ve found in each other be enough to take a chance on? For the long haul?

I will say it again, this book was insanely hot! The chemistry between Dash and Margo is scorching and their personalities play beautifully off of one another with so much heat and intensity that I was practically panting while reading. Margo is a tough gal. She’s had to be and I totally get why she has a really hard time letting her hair down, so to speak. But underneath her tough exterior is a woman. It’s hard for her to almost lead two separate lives. The tough lieutenant vs the woman she is…and what she wants when she’s with a man. But leave it to Dash to figure her out. He’s had her number from the very first chapter and there was no way she was going to escape that man. He’s smoking hot, caring, attentive and knows exactly what she needs. And when he gives it to her? Oh my yum. Of course beyond all the steamy hot time spent together, they are working on solving one hell of a crime and if there’s one thing Lori does so well, it’s write suspenseful nail-biting moments. There was also a bit of a shocker at the end when they figure out who is really behind the drugs and rapes. My lips are sealed but be ready for a “whoa” moment!

And of course another thing to love about this book is seeing the rest of the gang: Rowdy, Cannon, Reese, Logan…and did I mention Cannon? I do love me some Cannon and I am DYING for his book!

Overall, Lori Foster fans will love this latest installment and if you aren’t a Lori fan yet, get your hands on a copy of Dash of Peril. You won’t be disappointed!

Five Loves

About the author:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. She also received the Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy and Contemporary Romance.
Lori believes it is important to give back to the community as much as possible, so she routinely arranges events among authors and readers to gather donations for various organizations.

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