Category: Four Loves

On the Rocks by Kandi Steiner…Review & Excerpt

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On the Rocks by Kandi Steiner

Release Date: June 13, 2019

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On the Rocks, an all-new standalone contemporary romance by Kandi Steiner.

Noah Becker is nothing but trouble.

That’s what Mama told me when I was a kid, kicking his pew in church and giggling at the games we’d play. It’s what the town said when his father died and the Becker brothers went wild.

And it’s on repeat in my mind the day I walk into the whiskey distillery where he works to buy a wedding gift for my fiancé.

He’s trouble.

Dirty, sweaty, rude trouble.

No matter how many times I repeat it, I can’t escape Noah in our small Tennessee town. And the more I run into him, the more he infuriates me. Because he sees what no one else does.

He sees me—the real me.

The me I’m not sure I’m allowed to be.

I’m Ruby Grace Barnett, the mayor’s daughter. Soon to be a politician’s wife, just like Mama and Daddy always wanted. Soon to fulfill my family’s legacy, just like I always knew I would.

Until the boy everyone warned me about makes me question everything, like whether the wedding I’m planning is one I even want.

Everyone said Noah Becker was nothing but trouble.

If only I had listened.

A stand-alone, contemporary romance.

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Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2KfzmD4

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/OnTheRocks

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2Keav1w

Blog Tour.pngExcerpt:

I watched from the sidelines as Betty schooled Noah on the final dance scene from the classic movie — and one of her favorites. Noah, bless his heart, took it in stride. He held her hands, spun her gently, even went under water completely to give Betty some sort of “lift” that made her feel like Jennifer Grey.

That was when her smile was the largest — her eyes closed, face cast upward, arms out in the same iconic flight stance that the actress had done.

If I wasn’t laughing so hard, I might have cried at the sentiment.

After a dozen more run throughs, Betty called for a break, and the two of them swam up to the side of the pool where I sat. Betty took the lemonade I offered her, sipping and hollering across the pool at Mr. Buchanan — who was seated under the umbrellas. Noah rested his arms on the concrete edge, crossing them and resting his head on his forearm before he peered up at me through lashes still dripping with water.

His eyes were an endless blue, the light from the pool reflecting off them like a tropical dream.

“Enjoying your entertainment this afternoon, Miss. Barnett?”

I bit my lip against a smile. “Very much so, Mr. Becker. I never knew you were such a great dancer.”

“Oh, you should see me on the actual dance floor. I can two step and waltz and cha cha with the best of them. And don’t even get me started on what happens when ‘Watermelon Crawl’ comes on.”

“I’m sure it’s quite entertaining,” I mused, still dangling my feet in the cool water.

“When do I get to see your dance moves?”

I barked out a laugh at that. “Um, that would be approximately… never.”

“Never?” he asked, popping his head up off his arms with a look of injustice. “But you’ve seen all my moves, now. I show you mine, you show me yours. Isn’t that the deal?”

“I never agreed to that.”

He narrowed his eyes, running his forefinger and thumb over the stubble on his chin before he nodded. “I see…” Then, a wicked gleam came over those blue steel eyes, and before I could so much as scream, his hand wrapped around my wrist, tugging forward until I was off the ledge and under water.

I popped up instantly, not even able to open my eyes against the chlorine yet before I was swinging at him. “Noah!”

He laughed, catching my advances easily and pulling me into him. I blinked several times, shaking the drops from my eyes before I glared up at him.

“You jerk. Mama’s going to kill me for ruining my hair.”

“Mama will live,” he said, and then one arm wrapped around my waist, the other taking my hand in a leading position. “Now, let’s dance, little lady.”

With one pull of my hand and push of my hip, I spun away from him, reeling back in like a yo-yo and falling in line with his steps before I realized what was happening. Surprise ripped through me, brows shooting up to my hairline as he somehow managed to smoothly twirl me around that metaphorical dance floor even with water hitting us waist deep. My feet felt sluggish, the moves slower than if we were in boots on a hardwood floor, but somehow, that made it even more fun.

I laughed and laughed as he danced me around — until he had the bright idea to flip me like a swing dancer. I emerged from the water beating on his chest again, which just made him laugh harder. And when we were breathless, Noah tugged me to the side of the pool again.

“Thank you for the dance,” he said, both of us still breathing heavily as he wrapped his strong, rugged hands around my waist. For a moment, he just held them there, the rough pad of his thumbs smoothing over my exposed hip bones. My smile fell, chest still heaving as my eyes slipped to his lips.

I didn’t know why I looked at them.

I didn’t know why I couldn’t look away.

Noah swallowed, tightening his grip on my hips before he lowered in the water a little and helped push me back up onto the edge of the pool where I’d been seated before. Once I was steady, he released his hold on me, backing away with a distant look in his eyes that I couldn’t decipher before he tore them from me and looked at Betty, instead.

Kandi Steiner truly knows how to write angsty romance stories.On the Rocks is a sweet yet tension filled romance in a small country town in Tennessee.

Ruby Grace is the mayor’s daughter and has been raised in a politician’s world and expected to become a politician’s wife. She had no issues with this, she just didn’t anticipated in happening at 19 before she was able to fulfill her dreams. But she was still happily in love with her fiancé, and was returning home to plan her wedding that was in 6 weeks.

Noah Becker followed in his father’s footsteps and works for the local distillery. He knows the ins and outs of whiskey and is one the best at his job. When Ruby comes waltzing into his work one day, that annoying little girl that used to sit behind in the church pews has definitely grown up.

Kandi really knows how to build the unsuspecting sexual tension between people and make it come across so real and natural in her writing. I love that this story isn’t just about the blossoming romance between Noah and Ruby but it’s also about watching a young woman grow.

I can’t say enough about this book and what is portrays and how enjoyable it was to read. It is definitely a slow-burn romance, but it is oh-so worth it. While I did wish we could see how things panned out with Ruby’s ex-fiancé and her father, I felt the book ended in a sweet way.

Kandi leaves us knowing that Noah’s brothers will be getting books in the near future and I can easily see her sliding Noah and Ruby Grace in those books for small glimpses of where they are in life. Another fantastic story from Kandi Steiner.

 

 

About Kandi:

Kandi Steiner is a bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a diehard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys live music, traveling, anything heavy in carbs, beach days, movie marathons, craft beer, and sweet wine — not necessarily in that order.

Connect with Kandi:

Mailing List: bit.ly/NewsletterKS

Facebook: facebook.com/kandisteiner

Facebook Reader Group: (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandischasers

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kandisteiner

Twitter: twitter.com/kandisteiner

Pinterest: pinterest.com/kandicoffman

Website: www.kandisteiner.com

Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:

www.kandisteiner.com/events

Release Day Blitz…Sexy Filthy Boss by Piper Rayne

He’s the sexy alpha male in the corner office who goes through assistants faster than free donuts in the breakroom.

I’m the assistant who was chosen to cover for his last fire.

The owner of the company is clear—hook the biggest client in our firm’s history and there’s a partnership for him and a promotion for me. Stipulation—we do it together.

It doesn’t take a tarot card-reading psychic to figure out where our story is headed… late nights, trips out of town, and more than a few awkward moments filled with sexual tension.

No worries though. I pride myself on my willpower. I can totally ignore his sexy grin, his rock-hard body and his dreamy brown eyes. I will not become the woman other women hate.

But it turns out that Enzo Mancini has a lot of layers and if I don’t stop peeling, I’m going to lose everything, including my dignity.


The title speaks for itself! Don’t miss this sexy OFFICE ROMANCE romantic comedy coming June 11th!
AVAILABLE NOW

 

“Please. Come on, Mr. Mancini.”
Even I notice how weird that sounds coming from her mouth now that
our working relationship has turned into more of a tenuous friendship. “Enzo.”
“If I call you Enzo, can I pay my share?” She bats her eyes a few
times.
I twist my lips, thinking about it. The taxi driver huffs, annoyed
that we’re holding him up. “Sure.”
“Please, Enzo?” she says, stressing both words.
The sound of her voice saying my name like that spurs images of
her naked on my bed, begging me to fuck her. Her back arched, her delectable
tits prominently on display with her legs spread. I shift in my seat to hide my
growing hard-on.
She drops the forty dollars onto my lap and opens the door,
leaving before I come back to myself. I lift the forty off my half chub,
concocting a plan to get this back to her without her knowing it.
Her voice rings in my head one more time. Please, Enzo?
I might as well admit defeat. Tonight my dreams will be filled
with me, Annie Stewart, and the word please.

 

Sexy Filthy Boss is the first book I have ever read by Piper Rayne. Hell, I had not even known it was two authors til I read their bio before reading this book. I am always the last one to the party, but I do eventually get there. LOL

Anyway – I enjoyed this story. It was a fairly quick read for me and I enjoyed the interactions between all the characters.

Sexy Filthy Boss is the start of a new series about three brothers who have no intention of ever settling down. We get to know a bit about each brother (and their sister) but the main focus is on Enzo and his goal of making partner at his marketing job.

Enzo has always been focused on attaining his goals and during his tenure at his job, it’s a known fact that he has difficulties keeping assistants. Annie has worked at the same firm as an assistant to another ad executive and has had front row seats to the revolving door of assistants that Enzo goes through. Until she is asked to help with him temporarily because of his high work loan and large client they are trying to bring on.

I really enjoyed the banter between Enzo and Annie. She is very fierce, strong-willed woman who has no problems letting others know where they go wrong. Enzo has never met a woman like Annie; he’s used them to doing his bidding and not standing up to him. But what shocks him more is her ability to quickly add insightful ideas to the ads and it’s something that he truly values.

What I really enjoyed about this book was how real it felt. I enjoyed that neither Annie nor Enzo acted on their feelings immediately and both were level-headed about everything. There was no insta-love vibe but more of mutual attraction growing into more as they got to know each other, both personally and professionally.

While the majority of this book was about the office romance, I enjoyed the secondary plot which is how women are treated differently in certain roles and jobs. These two authors did a great job of plotting this idea out and watching it unfold in this story.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and will be looking forward to the other two brothers’ books.

Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we’re not one author, we’re two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have “Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle” (okay…you caught us, that’s our tagline). A little about us… We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We’re both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We’re both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey….ARC Review & Excerpt

Waiting For Tom Hanks is out TOMORROW, June 11th!

 

Synopsis:

Can a romcom-obssessed romantic finally experience the meet-cute she always dreamed of or will reality never compare to fiction, in this charming debut adult novel from Kerry Winfrey.

Annie is twenty-seven years old, single, and obsessed with romantic comedies (she and her mother watched them religiously, before her mom died). Her dating life is limited by the expectations she’s formed from these movies. She is not as open to new experiences as she might be, because she’s waiting for her Tom Hanks–i.e., a guy she’ll find in the perfect, meet-cute romantic comedy way. When Annie does finally meet her perfect match, it’s not quite in the way she expected, and she’s forced to reckon with the walls she’s built around herself over the years.

My Review:

It’s the summertime!  School is out!  It’s vacation time!  Days of the beach and carefree fun! Or, if you’re like me, have a kid, and a job, that kind of summertime really doesn’t exist these days, amirite?

Well, before you get down and depressed about that, not to worry!  Do you know why?  Because this deliciously funny, quirky, entertaining, and heartwarming read has hit bookstores and it’s books like these that make any day feel like the sun is shining down on you and you’ve got a frosty tropical beverage in your hand.

Waiting For Tom Hanks is a romcom wrapped in a romcom with an ode to romcoms.  I promise, I haven’t been enjoying one of those frosty tropical beverages yet today, this really is exactly how I just described it….and it’s FAB!

From endearing characters looking for love, and some avoiding love, to so many pop culture iconic romcom mentions, you can’t help but love every bit of this story.  I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see this book become the next Netflix hit, like To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was.  Yep, I loved it that much.

So, whatever you’re doing this summer, pick up this book and enjoy the heck out of it!

Thank you, Ms. Winfrey, for this fab read and I’m already dying for Chloe’s book! (hint, hint, cough, cough, wink, wink)

 

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

 

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Excerpt:

I blink a few times, staring straight into Drew Danforth’s face. It’s like when you’re a kid and there’s a solar eclipse, and all the teachers are like, “Don’t look directly into the sun! You’ll destroy your retinas!” but there’s always that one kid (Johnny Berger, in our class) who can’t stop staring.

In this situation, I’m Johnny Berger. And I guess Drew Danforth is the sun.

“Are you okay?” he asks again, enunciating his words even more as if me understanding him is the problem. His brown eyes, I notice, are flecked with tiny bits of gold, which is something you can’t see when you watch him on TV. His hair is just as voluminous as it seems in pictures, but in person, I have the almost overwhelming urge to touch it, to reach out and pull on that one lock of hair that hangs over his forehead.

“She’s not responding.” He turns to Chloe. “Is something wrong?”

“She’s French,” Chloe says without missing a beat. “She only speaks French.”

“I’m not French,” I say, breaking my silence. Chloe and Drew’s heads swivel to look at me.

“I’m sorry about your coat,” I whisper, then I run toward Nick’s.

Chloe bursts in the door behind me, the bell jingling in her wake. “I’m not French?” she screeches. “Those are the first words you spoke to Drew Danforth? Really?”

“Well then, why did you tell him I was French?” I shout, ignoring the curious stares of everyone working on their laptops and the calming melody of whatever Nick put on to replace the Doobies.

“I don’t know!” She throws her hands in the air. “You weren’t talking, so I thought I’d give you an interesting backstory!”

I put my hands over my face. “This is ridiculous.”

“No,” Chloe says, grabbing me by the shoulders. “This is your meet-cute, and now you need to go back out there and find him and say something that isn’t a negation of your Frenchness or an apology for destroying his probably very expensive coat.”

“Meet what?”

Nick stares at us from behind the counter, a dishtowel in his hand.

“A meet-cute,” Chloe stands up straight, shoulders back, as if she’s delivering a Romantic Comedy 101 lecture to Nick and his patrons, “is the quirky, adorable, cute way the hero and heroine of a romantic comedy meet.”

Everyone stares at her blankly.

“Or hero and hero. Or heroine and heroine. Not to be heteronormative,” she clarifies.

“Like how me and Martha met at her wedding,” Gary says.

Chloe thinks about it. “I don’t know that I would necessarily call that one a meet-cute, but sure, Gary.”

“Did you just make that up?” Nick asks, arms crossed.

I shake my head. “No. It’s a thing.”

“Watch a romantic comedy, dude,” Tobin says.

Nick rolls his eyes.

“Anyway,” Chloe continues, “Annie straight up ran into Drew Danforth and spilled a cup of coffee all over his coat, which is, like, the cutest of meets.”

“That doesn’t sound very cute,” Nick says skeptically, rubbing the scruff on his chin. “Was it still hot?”

“Scalding,” I say, sinking into my chair and resting my head on the table.

“Sounds like a meet painful,” says Gary, and a few people laugh.

“Thanks,” I mutter. “I’m so glad you all find my embarrassment entertaining.”

“Annie!” Chloe sits down across from me as a customer walks in and the rest of the shop stops paying attention to us. “This isn’t embarrassing. This is merely a story I’ll tell in my toast at your wedding to Drew.”

I lift my head to look at her. “I hate to break this to you, but I don’t think he’s my Tom Hanks. I think he’s just a famous guy with a possible third-degree burn on his chest. And now my first day on set is going to be super awkward because I accidentally assaulted the lead actor with a beverage.”

Chloe’s about to say something, but then a song starts and she closes her mouth, looking up toward the speakers. “I swear to God, I told Nick not to play any more Bon Iver. It makes people look up their exes on Instagram, not buy coffee. I’m gonna go put on some Hall and Oates.”

As she walks away, I rest my head on the table again. As if it wasn’t embarrassing enough to have my uncle get me a job on set, now I have to deal with this.

 

About the author:

Kerry Winfrey grew up in Bellville, Ohio, where she spent most of her time reading inappropriate books at the library. Not much has changed. Kerry writes for HelloGiggles and blogs at welcometoladyville.com. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, their son, and their dog, Merlin. You can find her on Twitter @KerryAnn.

Release Blitz & Review….The Second Coming by Carrie Aarons

Today we are celebrating the release of a sports romance, standalone title by Carrie Aarons. THE SECOND COMING is live now and available to read for FREE in KindleUnlimited. It is the first book in the Rogue Academy series! Follow Carrie for exclusive updates about the series.

 

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The Second Coming by Carrie Aarons

Available Now | Rogue Academy, #1

Read it for FREE in KindleUnlimited: mybook.to/TheSecondComingAMZ

Book Blurb:

They call him the second coming.
Of honor for British football.
Of God in an athlete’s body.
Of every English woman’s fantasy.

Jude Davies is my country’s prodigy on the pitch. More famous than the nobility in Buckingham Palace, he and his merry band of scoundrels rule the Rogue Football Academy and the London nightlife scene alike.

And now, he’s aiming his well-honed set of skills directly at me. His devilish charm is lethal, but with the tragic hand life has dealt me, distractions like him aren’t an option.

Plus, we’re only playing a game. One of convenience, where he needs me to save his reputation, and I need his money to save the one person I love.

Until he wraps me around that immoral finger.
Until I crave that reckless, wild high he provides.
Until I hope for a future that will never happen.

That’s the thing about going toe-to-toe with the next football legend. He’s faster, stronger, and will destroy me every time.

 

Add the book to Goodreads

Read it for FREE in KindleUnlimited: mybook.to/TheSecondComingAMZ

The Second Coming is the start of Carrie Aarons’ sports series and she starts it off right.

I enjoyed reading this book and getting to know these characters. Carrie does a great job of setting up the series well but also not taking away from the main two characters and their story being told.

Jude Davies is the next football legend. While he may be a great player on the pitch, he and his friends (and fellow team members) tend to find themselves causing problems, whether intentional or not. None of them are ever in need of finding a lady and they make no apologies for the wild ways.

Aria’s life revolves around one thing – being the sole income earner for her household and taking care of things. It’s not something that she complains about but it is a lot for someone her age to take on. But she does it with grace and compassion. She knows that her life does not need any distractions and tends to keep her head down.

I love that both Jude and Aria are more alike than they realize. However, they still keep the other on their toes as they get to know one another. I love their interactions and banter. While there were a few things that did bother me as I was reading, the overall vibe was still amazing.

Carrie gives us a great blend of romance with the just the right amount of humor. One thing that Carrie exceeds well at is never undermining her characters and making them act like twits when issues arise. There was one area that I felt Aria could have reacted better, I love that Jude was the one to call her out on it and fix it as soon as he could.

Overall, The Second Coming was a really good read and nice start to this series. Carrie did a good job of setting up the next book in the midst of this one so I am quite excited to read about Kingston and Poppy.

————————-

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Author of romance novels such as Red Card and Privileged, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. A former journalist, she prefers the stories she dreams up, and the yoga pant dress code, much better.

When she isn’t writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in the suburbs of New Jersey with her husband, daughter and dog.

 

FIND CARRIE AARONS:

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InkSlinger Blogger Final

Release Day Blitz & Review….disgraceful by Autumn Grey

 

Title: Disgraceful
Series: Grace Trilogy #2
Author: Autumn Grey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 17, 2019

 

Blurb
I knew falling for him was wrong. I did it anyway, his half smiles and blue eyes pulling me deeper.  Blue eyes that made me soar. He wasn’t mine to keep, though. And like all good and rare things, it came to an end.
Then he strolls into my life, armed with
dimples and gray eyes. Gray eyes that ground me. He smashes through my
defenses, stealing what is left of my heart.
Now my heart is a war zone, past and present battling for my forever.
They say lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. I call bullshit on that theory.

 

Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited

Autumn Grey, you really know how to keep people dangling off the edge with this trilogy.

Disgraceful picks up where desolate ended and Autumn keeps on this emotional roller coaster ride.

Grace has chosen to walk away Sol, even though it hurts them both. She knows what they were doing was wrong, regardless of how much they love one another. I applaud her for making such a tough decision, but it was necessary for them both.

This book is very much Grace’s book. Even though we get POVs from Sol, this book was all about Grace and her growth (or sometimes lack thereof).

For anyone reading further – there are some elements that will tick some readers off. Grace is torn between loving two men. Her actions are those of someone who is conflicted, confused and trying to make the right decisions. I know some readers hate love triangles, so if you are one of them, take precautions when reading this book. However, I feel that Autumn handles this brilliantly and truly doesn’t make light of any of the decisions that her characters make.

Autumn has me completely sucked into this story. While I may not be thrilled with the decisions on these characters and they sometimes give me whiplash with their ping pong ways, it’s those crazy-haired choices that make this book all the more angsty and entertaining.

I love that this book is told from each character’s POV. Autumn adds another layer to this story with adding Levi to the story. I am probably in the minority but I really want to see Grace and Levi together, I really do. It’s not that I don’t think Sol is right for her, but I think their place in each other’s lives was to be each other’s first love and that’s all.

Disgraceful leaves us dangling from the edge once again. I definitely saw this ending coming before Autumn brought us there, but I wasn’t upset by that or letdown. I’ve just read enough books to have an idea of where things are heading. Regardless, I am still anxious to see what happens in absolution.

Also Available
99c for a limited time!!
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
ALSO AVAILABLE IN AUDIO
Author Bio
Autumn enjoys writing angsty romance, featuring flawed and quirky characters and hard-won happy ever afters. When she’s not working as a nurse assistant, you’ll find her behind keyboard writing stories, or curled up on the couch with a book. Her work has been featured in USA Today’s Happy Ever After.


She lives with her two children and one fur baby, enjoys good wine and binge-watching TV shows whenever she can.

Author Links

 

 

Giveaway

Release Day Blitz & Review…Sloth by Giana Darling

Idle hands are the best tools for the devil’s work.

I am Rush Dempsey.

I am Sloth.

 

SLOTH BY GIANA DARLING

AN ELITE SEVEN IS LIVE!

 

I don’t give a fuck.
Not about money or fame, beauty or power. I’ve had all those things since birth, and trust me, they’re a fucking snooze.
I don’t give a fuck about anyone, not even myself.
Until my father proves evil can exist in the most holy of places.
For the first time ever, something like interest stirs in my soul.
He wants me to enroll at St. Augustine.
Join The Elite.
Court the virginal daughter of Archbishop Savoie.
Prove that I’m worth the family name?
I’ll do it all.
And I’ll do it so well, no one will know what’s coming.
People are so quick to underestimate the wicked and lazy.
They forget idle hands are the best tools for the devil’s work.
I am Rush Dempsey.
I am Sloth.

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Amazon CA | Amazon AU

 

 

 

The Elite Seven

7 AUTHORS.
7 STORIES.
7 DEADLY SINS.

 

Since 1942, The Elite Seven Society have created and guided influential leaders, molding the country into something better. This society was birthed by Malcolm Benedict, II who wanted more for Americans. More wealth. More influence. More power. Some leaders have the skills, but not the influence, and that simply wasn’t fair according to Mr. Benedict. He invested his own money and time to construct a society that bred the best of the best, year after year.

But to be the best, you must be ruthless.

Good leaders make sacrifices. Sometimes the sacrifices are hard, but the rewards are plentiful. Mr. Benedict made sure to indulge these leaders with their utmost desires. A devout Catholic himself, he designed a society that rewarded his leaders with the sins that were frowned upon. If they were giving up love and happiness and joy for the betterment of the country, they deserved something in its stead.

Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust.

Choosing leaders for this society means that it takes intense focus. Only seven are to be selected, and the investments and time are showered upon the new seven chosen every four years. The predecessors of each group of seven choose people who fit the sin that will mold them into who they are needed to be in the future—what America needs them to be. This is after a detailed study of many potential candidates. The university’s acting dean behaves as a liaison for the society bringing the college applicants to the predecessors so that the selection may begin. The society members who are going out will bring forth a candidate that the society votes on and approves.

After they are chosen, the initiates are given a token and an invitation to initiation. The initiation will be a test to their character and ability to do what’s right for the betterment of the society. Once the initiates pass their test, they are discreetly branded with the mark of the society and are groomed through challenges during the course of their elite education to breed them into the influential people they were meant to be.

Once in The Elite Seven, there is no getting out. The money and power are their rewards. Should they choose to stray or break the rules, the society strips them of everything. Anything they once had will be removed. Opportunities will never arise. They will no longer have the support of the society. To this day, there have been no known occurrences of anyone from the society having to be banished. This elite group of people is what every young man and woman aspire to be a part of. While the group is a secret society, they are whispered about amongst the privileged folks in the country. Anyone who is anyone knows of the group and secretly hopes it’s their son or daughter who is selected, for good fortune is showered on the family for decades to come.

Lust: NOW LIVE

I was born with wealth, athletic ability, and looks that could melt the panties off a nun.
I had a clear path to success.
Until fate dealt me a cruel blow, leaving me empty and in need of purpose.
My only focus now is to become part of The Elite—a secret society in one of the most prestigious colleges in the world.
But everything comes at a price, and with The Elite, you have to earn your place.
Lucky for me, being sinful is in my DNA.
The only obstacle to full initiation is my task: seduce the un-seducible, the forbidden, and lure her with the sins of the flesh.
Easy for a man like me…in theory.
She started as my task, but what happens when the lines between lust and love blur, and the need for power rages war with the need for her?
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak—they’re for The Elite.
This is my life, my chance, my legacy.
I am Rhett Masters.
I am Lust.

Purchase LUST by Ker Dukey NOW
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Pride: NOW LIVE!

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.

But who said the devil was a he?

In my world, she was out to cause havoc on all our lives.

She’ll use the one thing I care most about to control me—force me into her Elite world, filled with sin, deceit, and power. And under her spell, I’ll lead a sinister brotherhood of seven at one of the most prestigious universities in New Orleans.

Seven tasks set forth by the devil herself, promising nothing less than the forbidden fruit of power. What they don’t understand is it will all end in bloodshed and regret.

They call me the alpha. The one in charge. The one with pride bigger than any task I could be given. And my pride won’t let me be anywhere but at the top of the food chain until she gives me what I truly want.

My task is Meghan Thorne.

She’s too pure for me to touch, too good for me to ruin—and the only thing standing in my way to freedom.

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite.

As they say, pride comes before the fall.

I am Mason Blackwell.

I am Pride.

Purchase PRIDE By J.D Hollyfield NOW
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Wrath: NOW LIVE

I’m a motherless son to a father who hates me. Fury has lived and breathed in my black heart for so long, it’s a part of my soul now. The only thing that’s ever mattered to me is protecting my twin sister, Sabella, from my father’s temper.

So when the chance to join a secret society presents itself, there’s no question I’ll do whatever it takes to become a member and earn my place in the ranks of only the most Elite.

With a taste for the deviant, I’m drawn to the darkest of desires, and no one ever leaves my bed unscathed.
My task: seduce Patience Noelle, St. Augustine’s sweetheart and the mayor’s beloved daughter—then break her heart.

Sinning is what I live for, and deviance is my passion. Failing has never been an option.

But what happens when my sin becomes my curse—when destroying the only woman I’ve ever wanted is my key to protecting my sister?
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite.

This isn’t just my chance, it’s my legacy and reckoning.
I am Samuel Gunner.
I am WRATH

Purchase WRATH by Claire C. Riley
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Envy: NOW LIVE

It was temptation that broke the sinner.

People say I have everything.
They’re wrong.
I may have looks, money, and privilege, but I don’t have the one thing that really matters, the one thing I crave: a woman with eyes only for me.
I’m searching for my woman—one who will fall to her knees because I’m her king. She’ll wear the crown of my tarnished name, and long for me when I’m not near. And when I am close, she’ll be naked across my lap, feeling the sting of my palm across her milky skin.
You could say I’m a sinner because I’d do anything to have the perfect woman—compliant to my every need and whim—and I’m envious of every couple who walks around naive to the luxury they have.

That’s why I joined The Elite, the most prestigious brotherhood in the south.
It’s the one place that will give me what I cannot have.
Only…the task assigned to me is too much for my jealous eyes.
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak…they’re for The Elite.
Those who envy have no peace.
My name is Sabastian Westbrook.
I am Envy.

Purchase ENVY by M.N Forgy
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Gluttony: NOW LIVE!

My life has been served to me on a gold platter to be devoured by my silver spoon.

Money, money, and more money. It’s the backbone of the Goddard name. I’m the only son, so it’s all mine for the taking.

But sometimes money isn’t enough. I always want more, yet nothing seems to satisfy me.

My father has made sure I become a part of The Elite Seven. Where most candidates are chosen, I was given my place. Everything comes at a price, though. Luckily, I can afford any price—no one has more money than God.

The Elite Seven have their initiations. My assignment is personal and beneath me: steal a car and send a warning. It’ll hurt my best friend in the process, but we both made a pact going into this. There’s no line we won’t cross.

My task makes an ugly turn and I nearly take a life. Such a small, unimportant person—someone no one would even notice was gone. She’s a problem my money and power can easily sweep under the rug.

It’s what my father wants. It’s what my brothers want. But when she finally opens those big, innocent brown eyes, I realize I’ve found what I’ve been searching for my entire life. I don’t want my little problem to disappear…I want to keep her.

Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak—they’re for The Elite.

Money is my legacy, but I want something money can’t buy.
I am Baxter Samuel Goddard V.
I am Gluttony.

Purchase GLUTTONY by K. Webster
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SLOTH: NOW LIVE!

I don’t give a fuck.
Not about money or fame, beauty or power. I’ve had all those things since birth, and trust me, they’re a fucking snooze.
I don’t give a fuck about anyone, not even myself.
Until my father proves evil can exist in the most holy of places. For the first time ever, something like interest stirs in my soul.
He wants me to enroll at St. Augustine.
Join The Elite.
Court the virginal daughter of Archbishop Savoie.
Prove to him I’m worth the family name.
I’ll do it all.
And I’ll do it so well, no one will know what’s coming. People are so quick to underestimate the wicked and lazy.
They forget idle hands are the best tools for the devil’s work.
I am Rush Dempsey.
I am Sloth.

Purchase Sloth by Giana Darling
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GREED: Releasing May 20th

I’m hungry.
My greed is insatiable.
I’m a slave to the need. The drive for more. For everything.
Once I decide I want something, the greed for it consumes me.
I want answers.
I want justice.
I want vengeance.
I want HER.

My best friend and his sister—the girl I vowed could trust in me and whom I would always protect—dropped off the map two years ago. My own father pledged assurances that they’d been living a life they deserved.

Lies. Lies. Lies.
Hell hath no fury like a man who has no fucks to give and a mission to fulfill his promise.

I may be a greedy sonofabitch, but I’m also a loyal one. Cross me or my brothers, and I’ll come for your throat. And my teeth are razor sharp.

When I discover the corruption running deep within my own bloodline, I take a stand to right the wrongs. I had no idea their darkness would lead me to the light—to her.

The Lust I have for her will keep me grounded.
The Wrath for those who betrayed us will ignite the fight inside me.
And the Greed for victory will consume our enemies in a tidal wave of Hell’s fury.

They say the three gates of Hell are Lust, Wrath, and Greed.
Well, open up, motherfuckers…Daddy’s home.
I am Micah Dixon.
I am Greed.

GREED By Ker Dukey & K.Webster

 

Beautiful Ever After by Georgia Cates….Release Day Blitz & Review

 

Beautiful Ever After (Beautiful Illusions Duet #2) by Georgia Cates
Release Date: May 7th

 

THE DUET IS COMPLETE!!
BUY BEAUTIFUL EVER AFTER (BOOK 2) TODAY!!
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EIGHTY-ONE NIGHTS (BOOK 1)
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Blurb:
Everything in my life has changed.
This woman, my paid companion, has turned my world upside down
… while making it right for the first time ever.

We were brought together by need.
Hers was money.
Mine was companionship. And sex.

Caitriona Louden gave me the girlfriend experience.
All of it.
And now she’s gone.

I’m not supposed to miss her.
I’m not supposed to love her.
But I do. Both.

Our contract expired, and she walked away.
Now my world is falling apart without her in it.
Because she is my everything.

A fairy-tale romance.
It’s ours to have.
And this woman I’ve come to love so dearly is my beautiful ever after.

 

Excerpt:
I open my office door and the woman is sitting in one of the chairs facing my desk. My eyes are drawn to the back of her long straight blond hair and my first thought is that it’s Cora. But then I remember that Cora’s hair isn’t that long. Or platinum blond.

“My apologies, Miss Morata. I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Being made to wait implies that your time is more important than mine. And I assure you that my time is very important. And expensive. Ask any of my clients and they’ll tell you so.”

Her accent is strange. Is she faking a Scottish burr?

“I assure you I’m not under the impression that your time is less important than mine or anyone else’s.” I come around the chair and offer my hand. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaint—.”

Green-brown hazel eyes. Long lashes. Nose adorned with a few scattered freckles.

Perfect. Red. Lips.

My wife.

My wife wearing a platinum blond wig?

 

Beautiful Ever After is the conclusion to Beautiful Illusions and definitely an amazing duet.

Georgia gives the reader a note on she came to create this duet; unless you are a huge Georgia Cates fan, it will be like you are reading a whole new idea, which technically you are. But I appreciate her honesty and love that she did not hide anything from readers.

On to the book –

Beautiful Ever After gives us the answers we craved from book one and delivers us the HEA we knew was coming.  However, Hutch and Lou don’t get their HEA easily.

Georgia delivers the angst and drama along with the sexy scenes in this books.  Many readers will be grateful that Georgia doesn’t keeps us on edge about these two reuniting and boy do they reunite – HOT DAMN!!

But nothing can be that easy – we still have Blair to contend with and she wants her own HEA.  While I enjoyed how things turned out, I was hoping this area of things was a bit more angsty or dramatic.  As much as Blair has been plotting, I expected things to be more drawn out.  Regardless, I still enjoyed it but something I thought we would get more from.

Altogether, this was a great ending to the duet and Georgia delivered it beautifully.  For someone that is not a fan of insta-loves or quick romances, I truly loved this one because it never once felt that way.  Bravo Georgia!!

 

 

 

 

About the Author:
Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her music and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Connect w/Georgia:
Website: http://www.georgiacates.com/
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No Feelings Involved by Siobhan Davis….Review

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Can this skeptical player let down his guard long enough to let love into his life, or is this forbidden romance a train wreck in the making?

No Feelings Involved, an all-new brother’s best friend standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis is available now!

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Ryan James doesn’t believe in love.

It’s a truth he learned early in life. A truth he carried with him into adulthood. He broke his golden rule one time, but Myndi trampled all over his heart, cementing his belief that love is a lie and not worth the effort.

Now he’s returned to his cynical views and promiscuous lifestyle, racking up more notches on his bedpost than he can count.

Until Summer Petersen comes crashing into his world, threatening to knock down his walls with her tempting body and sunny, sweet personality.

Summer is determined to lose her V-card before she starts freshman year of college, and the hot, older guy with the cute dimples, dazzling smile, and rippling biceps is just the man for the job. Ryan doesn’t take much persuading, and he rocks her world, giving her a night to remember.

When they walk away, there’s an unspoken agreement it was a one-time thing. Ryan doesn’t do feelings, and Summer doesn’t want to be tied down at eighteen.

But when she moves into her brother Austin’s apartment, she’s shocked to discover her new roomie is the guy who recently popped her cherry.

Ryan can’t believe he slept with Austin’s baby sister, and if he finds out, he’ll literally kill him. Keeping their hook up a secret is nonnegotiable. Keeping his thoughts, and his hands, off Summer, less so. Because the longer he’s around her, the more he finds himself catching feelings for the gorgeous brunette.

Summer doesn’t want to care for her older brother’s best friend, but Ryan makes her feel things she’s never felt before, and she’s slowly falling under his spell.

Embarking on an illicit affair behind Austin’s back has train wreck written all over it, but provided they keep their feelings in check, they can end this before he ever finds out.

It’s not like either of them is in love.

Right?

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Siobhan Davis, easily and quickly became a go-to author for me after I read her Kennedy Boys series two years ago and I have read every book she has released since then. I love her writing style, her characters, her ability to write in various genres without shying away from difficult and heart-wrenching topics.

No Feelings Involved is a complete standalone, although characters from another book do appear in this one. However, I had not realized that until I was reading this and it dawned on me when I recognized their names – neither book is tied together and both can truly be read as complete standalones (no overlapping stories or underlying plot that even connects the two books).

No Feelings Involved is definitely one of her more sweet and romantic reads without lots of drama. While I am not a fan of sweet, sugary books without a bit of suspense or drama added in, I was wholly vested in this book from start to finish (hell, I read in one day).

I truly enjoyed Summer. She’s a very strong and independent woman who has to hold her ground with 3 older, overbearing brothers her whole life. I love her family’s outlook on life and that they hold nothing back, speak their minds and don’t hold grudges against one another – I love their family dynamics.

Ryan also comes from a very loving and strong family, however he tends to keep to himself and has a hard time believing in love. You can tell he’s had a few bad moments in life that gave him this view point since he’s surrounded by great values.

I love how Ryan and Summer meet; I enjoy their story and how their lives intertwine by fate or sheer luck (depends on how you see it). Siobhan does a great job of keeping this story very real and authentic. Nothing is truly over the top dramatic and it feels as though this is something you could truly see happening in real life.

I really enjoyed this book a lot, despite not being a fan of sweet, sugary romances without the suspense and drama added in. Just goes to show you that with great writing and amazing characters, you can easily win over any reader.

 

Excerpt:

I’m munching my way through the bowl of popcorn when Summer and the cute little guy return. “I’m Iron Man!” he proclaims in a gruff voice, puffing out his chest behind his costume and bounding into the room, displaying impressive arrogance like a true mini Tony Stark.

“And I’m Black Widow,” Summer announces, in an assertive tone, striding into the room behind him in a figure-hugging black jumpsuit, holding two toy swords in her hands. She stands confidently beside my nephew, the two of them projecting superhero status, and I can’t contain my laughter.

“You dare to laugh at me?” She quirks a brow. When Billy flips up his Iron Man mask, exchanging a devilish look with Summer, I’m on instant alert.

“What’s going on?” I question with clear caution in my tone.

“Billy and I made a new rule,” Summer says, winking at my nephew as a wicked smile graces her mouth. “You can only watch the movie if you’re wearing a costume.” She throws something at me. “You’re up, champ. Go get dressed.”

I inspect the flimsy red and blue silky material with trepidation, my mouth curling in disgust. “Oh, hell to the no.”

“That’s a bad word, Uncle Ryan,” Billy says, wagging his finger at me. “Now be Spiderman, or I’ll tell Mom you were cussing again.”

The little blackmailing shit.

Still, I can’t keep the smile off my face. There isn’t much I won’t do for my nephew, it seems, as I saunter out of the room with the offending costume in hand, subtly spanking Summer on the ass as I pass by her.

“What the actual fuck?” I question out loud to myself a few minutes later, all tangled up in the too-tight costume. How the fuck does Slate fit into this thing? I tug on the material, trying to stretch it out so it reaches my wrists and my ankles and isn’t molded to my dick like a tight layer of foreskin. That’s assuming it’s Slater’s because right now I’m questioning if this suit is even adult sized.

Little beads of sweat dot my brow as I finally get the damn thing on. I look in the mirror, laughing at the state of myself squeezed into the minuscule costume, deciding that Summer owes me at least a blow job for this.

The instant I step foot in the living room, shouting “I am Spiderman,” because hey, when in Rome and all that shit, the room erupts in an explosion of laughter, and you’d swear there were twenty people in the room not two. Or one point five if you consider Billy’s still a kid.

Summer drops to her knees, tears pouring out of her eyes, and she can’t stop laughing long enough to speak. Billy is running around the room, giggling and squealing.

“Hey, it was your great idea,” I say, strolling over to the couch and plopping down on it. The material scrunches up at my thighs, almost giving me a wedgie, and I squirm on the couch trying to get comfortable. Summer shrieks, almost convulsing with laughter, before jumping up and dashing out of the room. “Was it something I said?” I joke with Billy, and he giggles, snuggling up on the couch with me and snatching the popcorn.

I’m still cursing the damn costume a couple minutes later when Summer returns wearing a Wonder Woman outfit this time. If I thought the crotch of my Spiderman costume was tight before, it’s nothing on how strained it is now I’m sporting the biggest boner known to man. Discreetly, I pull the throw off the back of the couch, covering my nether regions before Billy notices the giant bulge in my tighter than tight pants.

“Are you trying to kill me, woman?” I ask as Summer flops down on the other side of me. “Death by giant erection,” I whisper in her ear, and she splutters, holding up a hand, trying to compose herself long enough to speak.

“Stop!” She titters, clutching her stomach as if she’s in pain. “I’ve already had to change once because I peed my pants.”

I just stare at her, and she cracks up in laughter again. “You seriously peed your pants?” I inquire, fighting a bout of laughter myself.

She punches me in the arm, but it’s a feeble effort, and I barely feel a twinge. “It’s your fault.” She looks over me, snorting with laughter. “How the hell did you even get that thing on?”

“It wasn’t without challenge, trust me.” I wink at her, and she rests her head on my shoulder, her light laughter warming my insides.

“You look totally fuckable in that costume,” I whisper in her ear. “I want you to wear it later when you’re riding me.”

“Do you think that’s why Gabby and Slater have so many costumes upstairs? Do they play superhero in the bedroom?” she whispers, waggling her brows suggestively as my stomach sours.

My insides shrivel at the thought, and I scowl at her. “Thanks a bunch for that lovely visual of my sister. Now, I have a renewed urge to punch my brother-in-law in the face.” I know Gabby and Slate usually dress up to go trick or treating with Billy at Halloween, and I’m sticking to that story as the most logical explanation.

Because, otherwise, I’m likely to land one on Slate the second he steps foot in the door.

©Siobhan Davis 2019

About Siobhan:

USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult romantic fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling Kennedy Boys, Saven, and True Calling series’.

Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.

She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.

Connect with Siobhan:

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Subscribe to romance newsletter: http://smarturl.it/KennedyBoysList

Amazon Author Page: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisAmazon

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BookBub Author Page: http://smarturl.it/SiobhanDavisBookbub

Pretty Reckless by L.J. Shen….Review

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Pretty Reckless, an all-new standalone high school, bully romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is available now!

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We were supposed to be best friends

But turned out to be worst enemies…

Penn

They say revenge is a dish best served cold.

I’d had four years to stew on what Daria Followhill did to me, and now my heart is completely iced.

I took her first kiss.

She took the only thing I loved.

I was poor.

She was rich.

The good thing about circumstances? They can change. Fast.

Now, I’m her parents’ latest shiny project.

Her housemate. Her tormentor. The captain of the rival football team she hates so much.

Yeah, baby girl, say it—I’m your foster brother.

There’s a price to pay for ruining the only good thing in my life, and she’s about to shell out some serious tears.

Daria Followhill thinks she is THE queen. I’m about to prove to her that she’s nothing but a spoiled princess.

Daria

Everyone loves a good-old, unapologetic punk.

But being a bitch? Oh, you get slammed for every snarky comment, cynical eye roll, and foot you put in your adversaries’ way.

The thing about stiletto heels is that they make a hell of a dent when you walk all over the people who try to hurt you.

In Penn Scully’s case, I pierced his heart until he bled out, then left it in a trash can on a bright summer day.

Four years ago, he asked me to save all of my firsts for him.

Now he lives across the hall, and there’s nothing I want more than to be his last everything.

His parting words when he gave me his heart were that nothing in this world is free.

Now? Now he is making me pay.

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Pretty Reckless is the first book in LJ Shen’s All Saints High series. Each book is a standalone but I have a feeling they will be best read in order.

Shen definitely delivers the angst and drama in this YA book – however, when I saw YA, it’s more reading for NA than YA at least older YA due to the scenes and maturity of these characters. I forgot sometimes how old these characters due to their mannerisms or how they spoke to their elders (something I did have an issue with).

The plot of this book is quite intriguing and I enjoyed how Shen played everything out. There is ALOT of drama and angst in this book and that’s due to the characters and their lifestyles. While at times their mannerisms and actions annoyed me, it also helped show how these characters felt they could act a certain way.

Overall, the book is very intriguing and the characters entertaining. These are the types of books that I love getting lost in because they are so entertaining. If you can handle a very dramatic and characters with the egos the size of the sun, then this book is perfect. Aside from the small issue of the mannerisms and the whole principal situation (didn’t find it necessary), the book is really good and I highly recommend it.

Excerpt:

“I don’t want you transferring into my school,” I hiss out. Melody would gladly file a transfer request, and Principal Prichard would salivate over the chance to snatch him up for our football team.

“That won’t be a problem. You guys suck so much ass, you have shit-breath.”

“Still smells better than poverty. You’re poor, right? Your sister was just bullshitting about being rich.”

When someone hits me with a stick, I run over them with a tank. I’m so mean to him I want to throw up. I hate this part of being me. The striking harder at all costs part.

“Just to make things clear.” I put the brush down, batting my lashes. “You’re not my step-sibling, foster brother, or a part of the family. You’re a stray dog. Last of the litter, most unlikely to be adopted, and a charity case.”

Penn takes a step toward me, and my heart is fighting its way out of my ribcage. The closer he gets, the more I realize that my heart might succeed. Penn’s eyes remind me of a snake’s. Mesmerizing, but inhuman altogether. They weren’t like that before.

His scent messes with my head. I want to reach out and caress his face. Kiss his wounds better. Beg for forgiveness. Curse him. Push him away. Cry on his shoulder for what we’ve done. For how it ended. For what we became afterwards, because I’m full of crap and he is totally empty.

We ruined ourselves the day of our first kiss.

Penn looks down at me. Time stops. It feels like the world is losing gravity, falling into a bottomless depth in space when he clasps my chin with his thumb and finger, lifting my head up. I can’t breathe. I’m not sure I want to, either. My towel drops to the floor with a thud, even though I secured it over my chest. I realize that he tugged at it intentionally. I’m naked. My body, my soul, my heart. All my walls are down. Somewhere in my head, a red alarm blasts and my inhibitions are getting armed, ready to fight back. I’m trying to decode his expression. He is amused, irritated, and…playful? The mixture of emotions doesn’t make any sense.

“Mess with me, Followhill, and I will ruin you.”

“Not if I ruin you first.”

About LJ Shen:

L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.

Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets people’s’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.

She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.

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Every Last Breath by Juno Rushdan…Review Tour Stop

 

Synopsis:

48 hours
2 covert operatives
1 chance to get it right

Maddox Kinkade is an expert at managing the impossible. Tasked with neutralizing a lethal bioweapon, she turns to the one person capable of helping her stop the threat of pandemic in time: the love of her life, back from the dead and mad as hell at her supposed betrayal. Recruiting Cole to save millions of lives may be harder than resisting the attraction still burning between them, but Maddox will do whatever it takes…even if it destroys her.

When Maddox crashes back into Cole Matthews’ life, he wants to fight back. He wants to hate her. But the crisis is too strong to ignore, and soon the two former lovers find themselves working side-by-side in a breakneck race to stop a world-class killer with a secret that could end everything.

 

My Review:

Every Last Breath is the first in a new series from author Juno Rushdan and the first of her work I’ve read.  Well, after being on the edge of my seat reading since I first picked up this book, I can assure you I’ll be following the rest of this series.  This book was awesome!

There was so much I loved about this book.  To start, Maddox is one amazing kick-ass heroine with a past that shaped who she is today.  It’s a past laced with heartbreak and loss and a past that haunts her every day. I loved her.  Cole has an equally messy past that, we find early on, intertwines with Maddox’s in a family drama way that I couldn’t way to dive into.  It was deliciously messy and scandalous and added a layer to their current reunion that broke my heart.  Together, the sexual tension between them filled the pages and made the dangerous task at hand even more tense.  Oh man, how I loved all of it!

Adding to these two dynamic characters is a whole cast of super-secret special ops badasses I have no doubt we’ll be seeing more of all of them as the series continues.

Filled with twists, turns, action, smoldering sexual tension, and one helluva cast of characters, this story was incredible from start to finish. Thank you, Ms. Rushdan, for a fabulous read! I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

 

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Goodreads

 

About the author:

Juno is a former Military Intelligence Officer who writes romantic thrillers with sizzle, pulse-pounding suspense, and plenty of action. Her stories are about strong heroes and gutsy heroines fighting for their lives as well as their happily-ever-after. Expect an intense emotional journey and a thrill ride to keep you turning the pages.

A native New Yorker, she currently lives in the Washington, DC area with her patient husband, two vivacious kids, and a spoiled rescue dog. Juno loves hanging out with readers and anyone friendly over a great glass of wine.

Find out more on here website

 

Release Day Blitz & Review….Sin & Discipline by Lily White

Title: Sin & Discipline
Author: Lily White
Genre: Taboo Romance
Release Date: April 24, 2019
Lennon Carter first saw my face with his hand around my throat.
 
Shock widened his eyes, starbursts of anger for what I’d done. That moment should have been the last of us; our beginning and end. Fate, it seems, had other plans.
 
A dedicated musician, Lennon would become my mentor, my shadow, my protector and nightmare.
 
We were two discordant notes that somehow blended with perfect harmony.
Challenged to become a pianist as talented as him, I became Lennon’s SIN, while he became my DISCIPLINE.



Sin & Discipline is another amazing standalone book from Lil White and she doesn’t let her readers down at all.

Lennon Carter is musician dedicated to his craft and is well-known for the music he creates. He’s returned to his old stomping grounds as a teacher for a music program that will aware a scholarship to an exemplary and prestigious music school.

Amelia is one of the 100 students who will be auditioning for the scholarship and is placed under Lennon’s teachings. However, their initial meeting was not quite what she anticipated.

Lily White does a great job of taking a delicate story line and not blowing it completely out of proportion and overdramatizing. I love how things come to fruition, blend and work out. There is no unnecessary drama and she holds true to the characters’ maturity.

While there is a mild taboo, it’s nothing outrageous and I think many readers won’t be appalled by it. There is quite a few blazing hot scenes with a smide touch of BDSM/Erotica – I would describe it as a good peak at what could be. I love that some scenes Lily plays out while other scenes, she leaves it your imagination and I find that sometimes even hotter.

Overall, I was truly engaged in this story from start to finish. I enjoyed the underlying suspense that blended well with the taboo and sexy scenes. While the ending felt slightly rushed and a bit abrupt, sometimes it’s just better to leave as is and allow the reader to imagine what they want for the couples future.

“Who are you, Amelia Dillon?”
Confusion flooded me. “What?”
It bothered me how my question came out more as a startled squeak than a word.
He grinned, just the corner of his lips curling with lazy satisfaction. Reaching out with his free hand, he trapped my chin between his fingers, holding my gaze to his without concern that I hadn’t invited the touch. Electricity sparked where his skin met mine, my head dizzy, my breath as uneven as my heartbeat.
“Who are you?”
My heart was in my throat, beating staccato so hard that I swore I was a few seconds from passing out. “I don’t-“
The gentle tone of his voice was at odds with his question. “Are you the shitty little thief hiding in a hoodie and baggy jeans? Or are you a musician who demands respect based on her talent and discipline?”
He was enjoying this moment far too much, the truth of his amusement written in the line of his lips, the sleepy look in his blue eyes. It only frightened me more.
“I’m a musician,” I whispered.
Mr. Carter leaned forward and I panicked, my eyes locked to his lips. He shouldn’t have been this close to me. There had to be rules against this. He didn’t seem to care.
I wasn’t a girl to be pushed around or controlled. Yet, in his presence, I stilled in place, unable to find the willpower to fight or move away.
Breath hot against my cheek, he whispered, “I don’t think you are. I think a musician would know better than to risk her hands acting like a stupid hoodrat that robs people. I think a musician knows better than to question the man who will be judging her performance. I think-“
My lips parted on a tremulous breath.
“-you didn’t believe me when I warned you I would spank your ass red if I ever caught you doing something so stupid again.”
There was no question about it; I was three seconds away from passing out.
He knew it and I knew it, his blue eyes locked to mine when he warned, “You should know that threat extends to you questioning me in class as well.”

 

Lily White is a romance writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. She is most known for her Masters Series, Target This, Wishing Well, and Asylum. In addition to dark romance Lily writes contemporary romance, taboo romance, and psychological thrillers. Lily enjoys stretching her writing muscles by continuing to challenge herself with each book she publishes.

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