Four Loves

Cherished by You by Steph Nuss….Review Blog Tour Stop

Title: Cherished by You (Love in the City #4)

Author: Steph Nuss

Release Date: Oct 7, 2015

Find on Goodreads

“Move in with me,” he said.

Being cherished is how Tessa Wilder always imagined falling in love. But for years, she’s always gone for the wrong guys. Now that she’s fallen for one of the good ones, she fears rejection.

“I can’t,” she replied.

Justin Jameson quit looking for a woman after being used so many times for his brains. A bit of an introvert and completely oblivious to women’s advances, he can’t even see that his friend cherishes everything about him.

When Tessa needs a place to stay, Justin’s the first to offer her a room. Hearts are opened; feelings are ventured. They’ll finally know what it’s like to be cherished in the city until one moment threatens the relationship they’ve built.

“I can’t lose you.”

My Review:

Cherished by You is the fourth book in author Steph Nuss’ Love in the City Series, a series I have really enjoyed form the very beginning. This latest installment was no exception and once again Ms. Nuss has written a book I thoroughly enjoyed!

First, I want to mention that you don’t have to read every story in this series, as they are meant to be standalone books, but I love them all so I vote “yes” to reading them all!

I loved so many things about this story. Tessa is a strong gal. She is protective of her little brother after a horrible childhood, and not deterred on bad past experiences and is hopeful to one day find love. I really admire her strength. Justin is swoon-worthy. He is smart, romantic, and although weary of women due to too many users from his past, also still hopeful of love. Together, after being friends for quite some time and ending up moving in together, things go from friend-zone to deliciously hot and emotional and I loved every minute of it! I always love a good hidden crush/friends to lovers story and this was one of the best ones out there!

This is one of those hidden gems series that I always look forward to reading more of and will recommend to anyone looking for a well-rounded story with lots of emotion, romance, and a great cast of characters. Thank you, Steph, for another great addition to the Love in the City Series!

J signature

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

“I can’t believe you agreed to live with a woman,” Cash said, sitting down on the couch in my living room with a beer in his hand.

It was Saturday afternoon, and most of the gang was over at my place, waiting for Tessa and her brother to arrive so we could help move all of her stuff in. Maverick and Harper were at home with their baby girl, Seghen, and Paige had a work function with a client.

I really couldn’t believe it either. I’d never had a roommate before who wasn’t some sort of family member, but I knew I didn’t want Tessa living in some dilapidated hole in Grand Concourse again. Just hearing her talk about growing up there pissed me off.

“Living with a woman isn’t so bad,” Carter stated proudly, with his arm slung over Elly’s shoulder. “They make the place smell good. They’re nice to look at.”

“They cook,” Fletcher added, rubbing Bayler’s thigh. They weren’t living together yet, but they stayed together enough that he enjoyed the benefits of Bayler’s excellent cooking skills.

“Not all of them cook,” Carter retorted, nodding his head toward his wife.

“Hey!” Elly exclaimed, smacking him in the stomach. “I’m cooking your baby right now.”

The room filled with laughter as I paced over to the window and looked down at the sidewalk. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure whether or not Tessa would like living with me. I’d had the place cleaned twice this week in anticipation of her arrival.

“But Tessa loves cooking,” Elly continued, smiling up at me. “You can finally stop eating out every night.”

I scoffed, glancing over my shoulder at her. “I don’t eat out every night.”

Bayler laughed. “All you have in your fridge are takeout boxes and condiments.”

“And beer!” Carter said, clinking his bottle with Fletcher’s.

“Ladies,” Fletcher stated, shaking his head at the women. “Jameson has the necessities. Lay off him.”

“Tessa is going to freak when she sees the fridge,” Elly said, laughing along with Bayler.

I turned to face the gang as anxiety tumbled in my stomach. “What do you mean? Why would she freak out?”

“Because Tessa enjoys cooking,” Bayler explained.

“Yeah,” Elly said, nodding. “She’s used to having a stocked kitchen, especially since she’s cooked for her and her brother most of her life.”

Now I felt bad about not going grocery shopping. The truth was, I did order takeout often, only because it was easier than attempting to cook a meal. I’d grown up with either a maid cooking for me or my grandma, but no matter how many times Janice Jameson tried to teach me how to cook, the meal never turned out the way she made it.

“You guys can go grocery shopping later,” Cash said, running through the television channels. “That way she can pick out whatever the hell she wants.”

“Maybe she’ll even teach you how to cook,” Elly teased, nudging my arm.

“Yeah,” Bayler continued, pointing her beer bottle at me. “Every guy should know how to cook. Women love a home-cooked meal they don’t have to make themselves.”

“I’m not trying to find a woman,” I stated, furrowing my brows.

The gang laughed at my candid response, despite the fact that it was true. I’d practically given up on finding a good woman during my college years. The girls I seemed to attract back then only wanted my help passing a class. The only date I’d been on since was a few years ago when my grandma set me up with her neighbor, Elly. The chemistry wasn’t there, so we became friends instead, which was perfectly fine with me. She was still in love with Carter, and I’d been a loner most of my life. When Carter moved back to New York, he and Elly started dating, and I gained another friend. Our group of friends continued to grow after that with the addition of Carter’s sisters, Harper and Bayler, falling for two of our own, Maverick and Fletcher.

“I call bullshit, Justin,” Bayler exclaimed, rolling her eyes. She leaned into Fletcher’s side and rested her feet up on the coffee table.

The laughter quickly died down at her blunt retort.

“Excuse me?” I asked, deflecting my surprise.

“All men are predisposed to think with their penises,” she explained, entertaining everyone with her words. “I don’t care how much of a genius you are; you’re still a man, which means that brain of yours down south is focused on sex just like every other man’s.”

Laughter grew louder around me as I stared her down, the smile spreading wide across my face. We got a kick out of giving each other a hard time, and I enjoyed dishing it out just as much as everyone else. Leaning down next to her ear, I said, “No, Bayler, what I meant was, I don’t have to try to find a woman.”

She nearly spit out her beer as she smacked me on the arm and laughed. “See! Just like every other guy! I knew you had a dick in there somewhere, Jameson.”

“Is this the part where I tell you I know how to use it, too?” I asked sarcastically, laughing along with her.

A knock on the door sounded before she could reply, so I walked over to answer it. Opening the door, I found Tessa and a younger guy standing behind her, with three suitcases resting at their sides and a duffle bag slung across his body. She wore an old pair of ripped jeans and a hoodie. Her long brown hair was knotted on top of her head, but it was her light blue-gray eyes smiling back at me that caught my attention the most.

“Hey,” I said, grabbing one of the rollers. “Come on in.”

“Thanks,” she said, crossing the threshold into my apartment.

The Love in the City series is about a group of friends looking for love in New York City. Each book is about a different couple, so they can be read as standalones. The stories are told from both the female and male point of views, and they all end in happily ever afters, no cliffhangers here! Finally, all the book covers are different colors to represent a certain awareness or cause that is referenced in each book. Grab the first book in the series, Wanted By You, for FREE today!

Wanted by You | Fantasized by You | Pleasured by You

Steph Nuss was born and raised in rural Kansas, where she currently resides with her black Labrador son named Gunner. She grew up with a passion for reading and writing. When she’s not immersed into the land of fiction, she enjoys listening to music that came before her time, watching movies and reruns of her favorite shows, and hanging out with her family and friends. She also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology that she’ll never use…unless she’s profiling her characters of course.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Forced Submission Bundle by Alexa Riley…Review

Forced Submission Bundle (Books 1-3) by Alexa Riley

Synopsis:

Taking What’s Mine
Alone at night in the middle of nowhere. The town sheriff pulls me over. I should be safe.
I’m not.
Nothing could have prepared me for what he had planned. And my darkest desires should have remained a secret. But it seems he knows everything about me.
I’m his now, and only I will do.

Taking What’s Ours
You can’t tease two alpha men like Hudson and Ridge and not expect consequences, not when you’ve become their every obsession.
They have a target…but their one obstacle has long legs, thick curves, and a mouth made for sin.
They do everything together, and Charlotte is no exception. She tempted them…and now they’ve come to collect. Together.
Can they take what they want and still stick to the plan? Five feet, seven inches of lush addiction says no.

Taking What’s Hers
We’ve all been that girl.
Maybe you did a little social media stalking to check him out. Maybe you just drove by his house to see if he was home. Maybe you took it a step further and followed him once or twice.
We’ve all gone a little crazy over a guy before.
I went a little crazy. That’s how Archer Ware ended up tied to the bed. I should probably feel bad about it, and maybe once I get what I want, I will. But right now he’s mine, and that’s all I care about.
This isn’t the forced submission story you’re used to. Valentina will stop at nothing to have the man she wants, and Archer can only take what she gives.

Warning: Obsession beyond control. These books contain situations involving forced submission and dubious consent. Nothing can stop them from having what they feel is theirs. These themes are triggers for some, but sweet candy for others. If you’re willing to hold off judgement until the last page, the ending is worth it, I promise.

My Review:

Read that last line of the warning again. Go ahead, I’ll wait. *waits* Okay, I can’t stress enough that if you hold off judgement until the end of the first book, everything will be okay. This bundle is erotica. Taboo erotica. As a book lover, I don’t judge what people like to read. I just finished a very witty, erudite, and charming Regency historical romance yesterday. Today? I’m reading taboo erotica that Amazon probably lists with keywords such as forced submission, breeder, and rape fantasy. And good God it was hot. Each of these stories has explicit, graphic sex scenes. If you shy away from naughty words that begin with the letter “c”, this author isn’t for you.

I’m going to give you some very brief thoughts about each of these stories (short novellas) but I won’t say too much so as not to spoil anything. Those of you that are on the fence about reading forced submission and want the spoiler to see if it makes it more palatable can email me at readloveblog@gmail.com and Jillian will forward your emails to me. Or, hell, you can email me directly at tardif68@gmail.com. And for those that are already comfortable with this material? Read these books!

Taking What’s Mine made me almost immediately uncomfortable, but I couldn’t stop reading because I was enjoying it. Which is actually pretty funny because that’s exactly what is happening to Rose after the town sheriff pulls her over on a deserted country road. He knows all the dirty things Rose wants to experience, things only she and her diary should know, and he’s not going to let her go until they’ve done them all. It took a couple of days. A couple of very hot days.

Taking What’s Ours might have been my favorite of the bunch. It was a bit of a taboo erotica thriller. This one is a ménage with one sexy doctor and two very big, very sexually starved prisoners. They’ve spent months putting a plan into action that involves getting the warden of the prison really pissed off at them and they use the pretty doctor in the infirmary as a means to an end. The doctor is in, people!

Taking What’s Hers was the most fun story in the bundle. Valentina is an intern to a billionaire. She becomes obsessed with him and wants to have his baby. She goes to very great lengths to get him tied to a bed so she can get what she wants. Oh, and she’s a virgin. So we have a crazy, stalker, virgin girl trapping her boss so he can impregnate her. She’s nuts, but in an oddly cute way.

Final thoughts–I guess I’m into taboo.

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon | Goodreads

About the author:

I’m Alexa Riley! Mom, wife, and business woman by day and smut writer by night. I specialize in the Dirty Date Night reading. I wrote my first book, Owning Her Innocence, because well, I just couldn’t find any daddy books to my liking. So I sat down and just started writing, bringing the fantasies I find myself often dancing to in the dark of night to life, one page at a time.

Alexa Riley is my alter ego. I can’t let the other soccer moms know what I’m up to or the guys at work for that matter. Little do they know that they’ve got nothing on my dirty talk.

I’m here to give you a quick fix of filthy dirty smut. Got a few hours to kill? Then I’m what you’re looking for.

Ransom Canyon by Jodi Thomas…Blog Tour Stop & Review

RANSOM CANYON

By New York Times Bestselling Author

Jodi Thomas

Synopsis:

Rancher Staten Kirkland, the last descendant of Ransom Canyon’s founding father, is rugged and practical to the last. No one knows that when his troubling memories threaten to overwhelm him he runs to lovely, reclusive Quinn O’Grady—or that she has her own secret that no one living knows.

Young Lucas Reyes has his eye on the prize—college, and the chance to become something more than a ranch hand’s son. But one night, one wrong decision, will set his life on a course even he hadn’t imagined.

Yancy Grey is running hard from his troubled past. He doesn’t plan to stick around Ransom Canyon, just to stay long enough to learn the town’s weaknesses and how to use them for personal gain. Only Yancy, a common criminal since he was old enough to reach a car’s pedals, isn’t prepared for what he encounters.
In this dramatic new series, the lives, loves and ambitions of four families will converge, set against a landscape that can be as unforgiving as it is beautiful, where passion, property and pride are worth fighting—and even dying—for.

My Review:

Ransom Canyon is the first book in author Jodi Thomas’ new series bearing the same name and the first work of this author that I’ve read. With three very different story lines in one very small and quaint town, I fell in love with this book and will undoubtedly be reading the books that follow. It was awesome.

Ms. Thomas does such a wonderful job pulling the reader into these three story lines and keeps the reader hooked through the chapters. I loved each different character and what they were all going through at the same point in time. It made things so interesting to read and kept me wondering what was going to happen in the end to these small town folks headed on different paths. The characters were all interesting and I connected with each one. There was a ton of emotion and a good deal of suspense when it came to where more than a few characters were headed and where their futures would lie. I loved that about this book and loved that I was worried and hopeful they would all find their own versions of a happy ending. Ms. Thomas painted a beautiful picture with each page and I loved all of it.

If you’re looking for a great read with rich characters and a small town feel, this is a book for you. Thank you. Ms. Thomas, for an amazing story and a series I look forward to reading more of!

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A fifth-generation Texan, JODI THOMAS sets the majority of her novels in her home state. With a degree in Family Studies, Thomas is a marriage and family counselor by education, a background that enables her to write about family dynamics. Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Thomas enjoys interacting with students on the West Texas A & M University campus, where she currently serves as Writer in Residence. When not working on a novel or inspiring students to pursue a writing career, Thomas enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, renovating a historic home they bought in Amarillo, and “checking up” on their two grown sons.

Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers…Blog Tour Stop & Review

About Accidents of Marriage

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Washington Square Press; Reprint edition (June 9, 2015)

For Madeline Illica, the love of her husband Ben was her greatest blessing and biggest curse. Brilliant and charming, Ben could turn into a raging bull when crossedóand despite her training as a social worker Maddy never knew what would cross him. When Ben was in a conciliatory mood, they worked on techniques for communication and anger management, but on the day of the accident, nothing seemed to help.

Accidents of Marriage holds readers from the first page to the last.

“This novel’s unsparing look at emotional abuse and its devastating consequences gives it gravity and bite, while a glimpse into a physically damaged mind both surprises and fascinates.”—People Magazine

“A complex, captivating tale.”—Boston Globe

“A deft exploration of the borders of abuse and the aftermath of tragedy, the triumphs and disappointments of recovery, and the possibilities of faith and forgiveness.”—Star Tribune

“Unputdownable and unforgettable. I just loved it—and I’ll now read everything Randy Susan Meyers writes.”—Liane Moriarty, NYT bestselling author of The Husband’s Secret

My review:

Accidents of Marriage is the newest work from author Randy Susan Meyers and the first of her work that I’ve read. What I will say right off the bat is if you’re looking for a feel good, happy ending read, this is not that book for you. That being said, I really loved this book regardless and I have a feeling this story and these characters will stay with me for quite some time.

Maddy and Ben are a married couple with three children. Both career people, they have to balance a lot on a daily basis. One of those things is Ben’s temper that regularly rises beyond a reasonable level. All of the daily things that seem so annoying or frustrating like laundry and school lunches seem unimportant after a terrible car accident leaves Maddy in a coma and eventually navigation a long and frustrating recovery. It’s that terrible accident that gives Ben some much needed perspective. Unfortunately it comes a tad bit too late.

My heart broke for this family. It broke for their broken marriage and the children left in the wake. It broke for Maddy and her injuries. It broke for Ben who I am still really pulling for and have hopes that one day we will get an update that he and Maddy were able to work things out. Even though this was a sad story, it was also relatable in some ways. Life is hard. Marriage is hard. Parenthood is hard. We all let these things get to us and lead us to be upset at times. Saying things we don’t mean in the heat of anger or frustration. But the thing this book remind me was that no matter what, love and life are precious and should be treated as such. It reminded me that it can all change in the blink of an eye and that we should be grateful for the things we have and let the trivial things go. Take time to appreciate our loved ones because you never know what tomorrow may hold…for that I am beyond grateful that I read this book.

So again I say, if you’re looking for a happily ever ever this is not a book for you. But if you’re looking for an emotional and poignant read with a message that shouldn’t be ignored, pick this story up. I know many of you will enjoy this book as much as I did. Thank you, Ms. Meyers, for a moving tale.

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

About Randy Susan Meyers

The drama of Randy Susan Meyersí novels is informed by her work with families impacted by emotional and family violence.

Her newest novel,†Accidents of Marriage, examines the slippery definitions of†emotional abuse and explores tragic circumstances forcing a family to challenge the dynamics that have long-defined them.

Randy is a founding member of Beyond The Margins, a site dedicated to the craft of writing and the business of publishing, and coauthored the guide,†What To Do Before Your Book Launch, with writer M.J. Rose.††She lives in Boston with her husband, where she teaches at Grub Street Writerís Center.

Find out more about Randy at her website, and connect with her on Facebook,†Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Demon of Mine by Rayna Vause….Review and Excerpt

Book Blurb:

Climbing the corporate ladder can be hell….

As a collections demon, Zavier grants his “clients” one wish in exchange for their souls. His job sucks, but once you make a deal with Corporate South, they own you. The trouble is, Zavier’s not a very good collections demon, with his tendencies to spurn authority and find loopholes to help deserving clients out of their contracts. He’s under scrutiny from the head of his department, who would quite literally like to see him burn. He just needs to close a simple deal to get upper management off his back. Instead, he meets Ryan.

Ryan is desperately searching for a way to save his dying sister. He doesn’t believe in magic and demons, but he’s out of options. Zavier’s not what he expects in a demon, and even more unexpected is the strong sense of familiarity—very intimate familiarity.

While trying to free Ryan from his contract, Zavier discovers secrets unscrupulous even by South standards. Exposing them could cost Zavier everything, but it might be Ryan’s only hope.

My Review:

Demon of Mine is the first book in author Rayna Vause’s new Hell, Inc. Series and pulled me into a deliciously dark and sexy world of demons and long-lost love. It was remarkable!

Would you do whatever means necessary to save a loved one? Anything? Would you sell you soul to make sure that loved one lived happy and healthy days? Ryan would….and he did just that. But he never thought selling his should would lead him not only into a world of demand, heaven, and hell, but also into a world of love from another lifetime. Talk about a surreal experience. But indeed, Ryan found himself right in that very situation with a demon and supposed former love, Zavier. Now he just had to figure out what to do with all of it…

Xavier never thought he’d see the love of his life – or former life as it stands – again. Nad yet, here he was, granting a wish to that very man and curing all sorts of fates for putting him in this situation. Surely the afterlife couldn’t be that cruel…surely there had to be a way for them to have another chance at love. He sure as hell hoped so…

To say the odds are stacked against these two would be a gross understatement. But maybe, just maybe, with a little faith and some help from the powers that be, love can reign once again.

I adored this story! It was such a fresh and exciting take on paranormal and gave me the excitement back I once had for this genre. Ms. Vause not only gave a fresh spin on heaven and hell, but gave such depth to the two main characters that I couldn’t do anything but devour this book and every word that was written. Beyond all of that, Ms. Vause delivered such a wonderful and emotional love story that was beautiful and sexy. I was so worried for these two and wanting nothing more than for them to find their happily ever after. At times, it seemed like an impossibility but I never gave up…and neither did Ms, Vause.

As I said earlier, I devoured this story and I’m so excited to see what the series has in store for us in the future! I highly recommend this book to both paranormal and M/M fans alike. You won’t be disappointed!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Excerpt:

Ryan’s heart hammered as he made his way through town heading for home. He clenched the steering wheel in a strangle grip. Tension knotted his shoulders with each block that passed.

“Why me? How did I end up with a ticket to ride on the crazy train?”

“You made a deal with Corporate South, that’s how.”

“Shit!” Ryan slammed on the brakes, his heart leaping into his throat as he caught a glimpse of Zavier in his peripheral vision. A chorus of horns and squealing tires blared behind him.

“Are you trying to get me killed?” He fought to settle his adrenaline-saturated system as he eased his car into a curbside parking spot. Slamming the car into park, he whipped his head toward Zavier. “How the hell did you get into my car?”

Zavier waggled his phone. “This baby can get me in almost anywhere, and once I’ve got your number…” He smiled.

Ryan stared at the phone, then dropped his chin to his chest. “You’ve got me LoJacked. Great. I should’ve known.”

Zavier shrugged. “Look, I’m not stalking you—”

“Hah!”

“I’m not, and I don’t want to scare you either. I just want to talk to you. Get to know you again. You can’t understand what it means to me, finding you, and I really wish you’d stop running from me.”

“I’m not running. I’m trying to get some distance so I can think.”

Zavier raised a brow. “And that’s not running how?”

“Give me a break. You’ve thrown a lot at me in a short amount of time. I think I’m entitled to freak out.”

“Please. Stop making excuses. If you’d stay put and listen for five damn minutes, maybe you’d actually get some answers.”

Ryan shifted his gaze away from Zavier. He watched pedestrians making their way down the sidewalks of Main Street. He rested his forehead against the steering wheel. “Someone like Jason, he’d handle this better. He’s always believed in the outrageous. To me, you’re the stuff of books and movies.”

When Zavier spoke, his words were quiet. “You’re not the only one who’s been thrown by this.”

Ryan looked up, and Zavier’s intense brown gaze locked on his.

“The love of my life. The man I became a demon for is somehow sitting right next to me. I’m looking into his green eyes. That’s huge. When I shook your hand, our life together came back to me. All the memories, all the emotions, they burst through the barrier South put in my head and returned in an amazing and terrifying flood.” Zavier reached out, hesitated, then balled his hand into a fist and laid it in his lap.

A lump formed in Ryan’s throat. Something deep inside yearned for that touch.

“I’ve been a miserable bastard for so long, and now I know why. I want that life back. I want to hold you and never let go, but if I tried I know you’d—well you wouldn’t be receptive.” Zavier’s voice broke.

The raw need in the sound punched Ryan in the gut. He squeezed his eyes shut, shielding himself from the hope and longing rolling off Zavier. He cracked the window, needing air. Too many emotions filled his little Prius, suffocating him.

“Question. Is it me you want to hold, or the ghost of lovers past?”

“What?”

Ryan glanced at Zavier. “I won’t be someone else. Not for you, not for anyone. Every time you touch me, it feels like I’m being shoved out of my body and someone else is taking hold. I am not cool with being body snatched.”

Direct link to the book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25790592-demon-of-mine

Buy Links:

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

B&N: http://bit.ly/1hRGYZY

Kobo:http://bit.ly/1KcDVGS |

Dreamspinner Press: http://bit.ly/1UJgrfC

All Romance eBooks:http://bit.ly/1MsRTWG

Giveaway:

Link to Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b4c0001d178

Author Bio:

Rayna Vause loves to craft romances that mix a little action, a little adventure, and, often, a touch of the paranormal. She’s voracious reader and a perpetual student. Rayna has collected more degrees and certifications then she cares to admit and eventually she’ll probably earn a few more just because. She is a proud geek who injects a little bit of her geeky, tech obsessed soul into every story she writes.

When Rayna isn’t busy make up stories, she’s likely indulging her love of video games. Why? Because playing through the action, adventure, and romance in a role playing game is as good as reading a romance novel and is sometimes great inspiration for her writing. She’s a martial artist having studied American Kenpo Karate. She is also a Disney fanatic of epic proportions.

Rayna is a member of RWA, RRW, and a founding member of Liberty States Fiction Writers. She lives in southern NJ, just a bit outside of Philadelphia and shares a home with a cat who thinks she’s royalty.

Find Rayna on the Web:

Website – http://raynavause.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/raynavauseauthor

Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rayna_Vause

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1519982.Rayna_Vause

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/raynavause/

Tough Love by Lori Foster…Blog Tour Stop & Review

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Review & Excerpt Tour for Lori Foster’s TOUGH LOVE! TOUGH LOVE is the next novel in her Ultimate Series published by Harlequin HQN. This amazing book releases on August 25^th! If you haven’t before, make sure you grab the other books in this fantastic series today!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble **iBooks ** Kobo ** GooglePlay ** Booksamillion

TOUGH LOVE Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule

August 17^th

A girl and her books – Review

books chocolate and lipgloss – Review

An Aussie Girls WILD Book Addiction! – Excerpt

Books, Coffee & Passion – Excerpt

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

NightWolf Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Talk Books to Me – Review & Excerpt

August 18^th

Romance Bytes – Excerpt

The Bookworms Obsession – Review

Indy Book Fairy – Excerpt

Romance Reviews and More – Review & Excerpt

Mythical Books – Excerpt

Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt

August 19^th

Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt

Best Book Boyfriends – Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

Tome Tender – Review

Red Cheeks Reads – Review & Excerpt

I Heart YA Books – Excerpt
From the TBR Pile – Review & Excerpt

August 20^th

A Bookish Escape – Review & Excerpt

Riverina Romantics – Excerpt

Author Groupies – Review

Pages Abound – Review & Excerpt

2 Greek Girls Reading – Excerpt

BookWorm221 – Review & Excerpt

Romancing the Readers – Excerpt

August 21^st

grownupfangirl – Excerpt

Friends Till The End Book Blog – Excerpt

Those Crazy Book Chicks – Review & Excerpt

Life With Two Boys – Excerpt

stories and swag – Review

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

August 22^nd

Books, Booze, and BDSM – Excerpt

Wicked Babes Blog Reviews – Review

naughty Book Eden – Excerpt

The Book Review – Review & Excerpt

Nose Stuck in a Book – Excerpt

The Smut-Brarians – Review & Excerpt

Making it Happen – Review & Excerpt

August 23^rd

Cruising Susan Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Ashleyz Wonderland – Excerpt

YOLOFORALIVING – Review & Excerpt

mommas secret book obsession – Excerpt

Books and Warpaint – Review & Excerpt

August 24^th

Will Read for Feels – Excerpt

Wild and Dirty Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Becky on Books – Excerpt

Book Munchies – Review & Excerpt

Vera is Reading – Excerpt

Jen’s Reading Obsession – Review & Excerpt

BJ’s Reviews – Excerpt

August 25^th

Naomi’s Reading Palace (Previously – Nomi’s Paranormal Palace) – Review

SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews – Excerpt

Alleskelle Blogs – Review & Excerpt

Boundless Book Reviews – Excerpt

Obsessed With Myshelf – Review

Books Like Breathing – Review

August 26^th

Oh My Growing TBR – Review & Excerpt

Stormy Day Reading Books – Review & Excerpt

Between The Lines – Review

Sultry, Steamy Reading – Review

I Bookin’ Love To Read – Review & Excerpt

Short and Sassy Book Blurbs – Review

BBF BookBoyfriends – Review & Excerpt

August 27^th

KT Book reviews – Excerpt

PBC – Review

Kimmy Loves to Read – Excerpt

The Book Maven – Review

This Mom Loves Alphas – Excerpt

August 28^th

Talking Books Blog – Excerpt

Fic Central – Review

Coast to Coast Book Besties – Review & Excerpt

Caroline Jane Reads – Excerpt

The Book rogue – Review

mignonmykel : reviews – Review & Excerpt

J&J’s Southern Spice Blog – Excerpt

August 29^th

G&T Indie Café – Excerpt

My YA NA Book Obession – Review & Excerpt

Love, Laughter and Happily Ever Afters – Excerpt

alpha book club – Review & Excerpt

Naughty Moms’ Story Time – Excerpt

Read-Love-Blog – Review

Romantic Reads and Such – Excerpt

August 30^th

JB’s Book Obsession Blog – Excerpt

Books Need TLC – Review

Margie’s Must Reads – Excerpt

Renee Entress’s Blog – Review & Excerpt

Rock ‘n’ Romance – Excerpt

Books and Friendz – Review & Excerpt

Sexy Bibliophiles – Review

TOUGH LOVE is part of the Ultimate series. Check out all the books in the Ultimate series today!

Hard Knocks

No Limits

Holding Strong

Tough Love

Fighting Dirty

About TOUGH LOVE:

She’s playing hard to get…to win the MMA fighter of her ultimate fantasies in a sultry new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster

Vanity Baker loves a good, clean match, but she’s not above playing a little dirty. She’s wanted Stack “The Wolf” Hannigan from day one. Seems as though the best way to corral the famously commitment-phobic fighter is to insist on keeping it casual. And her plan works—deliciously well—until Stack’s past steps out of the shadows.

Stack learned early to stay free of attachments. But with sexy, forthright Vanity, he’s the one always left wanting more. Then his troublemaking family comes back into the picture, threatening everything Stack cares about—Vanity included. Suddenly he realizes they’re much more than friends with benefits. He’s ready to go to the mat for her…but will it be in time to protect the woman who’s tamed him for good?

My review:

Tough Love is the third book in author Lori Foster’s Ultimate series; a series I have loved from the beginning. I was so excited for this latest installment and to visit with my favorite group of fighters and once again, Ms. Foster delivered a sexy and exciting read. I loved it!

After Vanity makes Stack an offer he can’t refuse, these two set out on a mission to get hot and heavy between the sheets. Sure, Vanity was hoping for much more than that, but she would take what Stack was wiling to give. She only hoped in the end, it would be his heart.

I loved everything about this story. I love this entire group of fighters and their love interests. I love the community Ms. Foster has built and being able to get pulled in from start to finish. One of my favorite aspects of this book, however, was Vanity herself. She is a breath of fresh air in the land of predictable heroines. She is honest and open. She is always saying exactly what she thinks and how she feels and I really appreciated those characteristics. She questions things and looks at life with a freshness that I really enjoyed. Stack was also an immensely enjoyable character. He is protective of his friends and family and has a huge heart. He’s sexy and gruff at times and I loved when he would get all alpha male. They really make a wonderful pair and the heat and chemistry between them was off the charts hot.
Of course, as with the other books in this series, we are given a big helping of drama and I love that as well. Ms. Foster always delivers a plot that is exciting and, at times, pretty suspenseful. Never over the top and always brings this group even closer together and always enjoyable.

Ms. Foster once again delivered a story I devoured and left me excited to see what’s next for this amazing group. Thank you for a fantastic read!

Four Loves

Praise for TOUGH LOVE:

“Foster brings her signature blend of heat and sweet to her addictive third Ultimate martial arts contemporary. Foster ably tosses out red herrings and also seamlessly lays the foundation for the next book in this series. This luscious tale will appeal to Foster’s legion of fans and attract new ones—even those who aren’t fans of professional fighting.”– Publishers Weekly

About Lori Foster:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS PINTEREST ** YOU TUBE

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The Sisters Club by Lauren Baratz-Logsted…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

Four women have little in common other than where they live and the joyous complications of having sisters. Cindy waits for her own life to begin as she sees her sister going in and out of hospitals. Lise has made the boldest move of her life, even as her sister spends every day putting herself at risk to improve the lives of others. Diana is an ocean apart from her sister, but worries that her marriage is the relationship separated by the most distance. Sylvia has lost her twin sister to breast cancer, a disease that runs in the family, and fears that she will die without having ever really lived.

When Diana places an ad in the local newsletter, Cindy, Lise, and Sylvia show up thinking they are joining a book club, but what they discover is something far deeper and more profound than any of them ever imagined.

With wit, charm, and pathos, this mesmerizing tale of sisters, both born and built, enthralls on every page.

My Review:

The Sister’s Club is the newest work from author Lauren Baratz-Logsted and I absolutely loved it.

It’s a story about four very different women in need of a connection and friendship who all come together and form that bond with each other. It’s a story about love and loss. A story about overcoming obstacles and continuing to have hope. These four woman are all going through their own struggles and in these unconventional friendships they find the strength they need to overcome them. Body image issues, an abusive relationship, going after a dream, and wanting to find love are all things these women go through and it was so touching to read. I enjoyed every page and was pulling for these woman from the very beginning to realize their dreams and goals and find their happy places.

Ms.Baratz-Logsted gave me a wonderful escape for a day and in the end, even I felt I was a part of The Sisters Club. Thank you, Ms.Baratz-Logsted, for writing these women’s stories…I truly enjoyed it!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

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Buy Links:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-sisters-club/id992260995?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D6

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-sisters-club-1?utm_source=linkshare_us&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=linkshare_us&siteID=7W0jeRqnKFU-B8uK.av_BlfSq4S9QZ4qxg

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sisters-club-lauren-baratz-logsted/1121400006?ean=2940151446143&itm=1&usri=the%20sisters%20club&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-7W0jeRqnKFU-_-10:1

http://www.diversionbooks.com/ebooks/sisters-club

Lauren Baratz-Logsted Bio:

Lauren Baratz-Logsted is the author of over 25 books for adults, teens (including The Twin’s Daughter and Little Women and Me0, and children (The Sisters 8, a nine-book series she created with her husband and daughter). Before becoming an author, Lauren was an independent bookseller, freelance editor, Publishers Weekly reviewer, sort-of librarian and window washer. She lives with her family in Danbury, CT. Visit her at www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com or follow her @LaurenBaratzL on Twitter.

Links:

www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com

twitter.com/LaurenBaratzL

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27212.Lauren_Baratz_Logsted

https://www.facebook.com/lauren.baratzlogsted

End Of Summer Blog Tour Stop: Back to You by Lauren Dane Review & Giveaway

Synopsis:

Former model Kelly Hurley has finally put the ashes of the past behind her. After a passionate but turbulent marriage to rock star Vaughan Hurley that ended in heartbreak and divorce, Kelly rebuilt her life in Portland, where she settled so their two young daughters could be close to their father. Just not so close Kelly couldn’t truly make her own way without interference from the man who shattered her heart. Now Kelly’s finally ready to move on, and she’s planning to marry another man.

But not if Vaughan has anything to say about it.

Vaughan knows he was a fool all those years ago. A young, selfish—and prideful—fool. Even as he buried himself in the fast, decadent rock star lifestyle, he could never drown out the memory of Kelly’s beauty and love. Or the sweet, searing heat whenever they touched. For years, he’s had to deal with the pain of seeing her only because of their daughters, but it was never enough. Now Vaughan must prove that he’s the only man Kelly needs, before he loses her for good. And there’s only one way to do it….

My review:

Back To You is the third book in author Lauren Dane’s Hurley Boys Series and admittedly, the first in the series I have read. That being said, I didn’t feel lost at all so I totally vote this as a book you can read as a standalone but I will certainly be going back and reading the other Hurley boys…because YUM!

This is really a wonderful story of second chance and realizing you don’t know what you’ve let go of until it’s gone. There was so much realistic emotion in this book and I really appreciated the very grown-up issues Kelly and Vaughn face. Kids, a broken marriage, moving on, letting go of hurtful pasts, former in-laws, not being able to get over a love….most of us can relate to at least one of those things, if not more. Of course those issues bring out a ton of emotion and there is plenty that Vaughn has done to Kelly in the past 8+ years that has led them to where they are today. That being said, all of that emotion also leads to a ton of heat between them and oh my, it was pretty delicious!

I also loved the whole cast of characters involved in this book…which leads me to believe the rest of the series is just as enjoyable when it comes to that aspect!

Thank you, Ms. Dane for a wonderful read! You’ve gained a new fan!

Four Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We also ask that all participating bloggers include this copy somewhere on their blog posts:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Purchase or acceptance of a product offer does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes opens 8/3/2015 at 12:01 AM (EDT) and closes 9/1/2015 at 11:59 PM (EDT). Enter online athttps://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/82ae250c9/. Open to legal residents of the U.S. and Canada who have reached the age of majority or older. Void where prohibited by law. Void in Quebec. One (1) prize available to be won consisting of: one (1) print copy of each of Back to You by Lauren Dane, Finding Glory by Sara Arden, Taking the Heat by Vitoria Dahl,Can’t Fight This Feeling by Christie Ridgway, and Second Chance with the Billionaire by Janice Maynard; one (1) e-book copy of Riding Dirty by Jill Sorensen; one (1) Harlequin tote bag; and a Fifty dollar ($50.00 USD) VISA gift card (Total ARV: $92.00 USD). Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Full details and Official Rules available online at https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/82ae250c9/. Sponsor: Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

About the author:

The story goes like this – While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about “giving that writing thing a serious go” to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back.

Today Lauren is a New York Times bestselling author of over fifty novels and novellas across several genres.

Visit Lauren on the web at www.laurendane.com
E-mail laurendane@laurendane.com
Blog www.laurendane.com/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurendane
You can write to her at: PO BOX 45175, Seattle, WA 98145

End of Summer Blog Tour TOUR STOPS:

Monday, August 3rd: Reading Reality – Lauren Dane guest post, “Hurley Family Summer Itinerary“
Monday, August 3rd: Reading Reality – review – Back to You
Wednesday, August 5th: The Sassy Bookster – Janice Maynard guest post, “Sock it To Me Cake“
Wednesday, August 5th: The Sassy Bookster – review – Second Chance With The Billionaire
Friday, August 7th: The Bookish and the Romantic – Sara Arden guest post, “Lemonade,” and review – Finding Glory
Friday, August 7th: The Sassy Bookster – review – Finding Glory
Monday, August 10th: A Chick Who Reads – Christie Ridgway guest post, “Summer Crushes“
Monday, August 10th: Romance Novels for the Beach – review of Taking the Heat
Wednesday, August 12th: Urban Girl Reader – Victoria Dahl guest post, “Summer Adventure“
Wednesday, August 12th: The Sassy Bookster – review – Taking the Heat
Friday, August 14th: From the TBR Pile – Back to You excerpt
Friday, August 14th: The Sassy Bookster – review – Back to You
Monday, August 17th: Mignon Mykel {Reviews} – Jill Sorenson guest post, “A Sexy End-of-Summer Bucket List“
Wednesday, August 19th: Snowdrop Dreams – Janice Maynard guest post, “Summer Vacation“
Friday, August 21st: The Romance Dish – Sara Arden guest post. “True Story of Summer Love“
Friday, August 21st: Read Love Blog – review – Back to You
Monday, August 24th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – Christie Ridgway guest post, “Romantic Summer Dates“
Monday, August 24th: The Sassy Bookster – review – Can’t Fight This Feeling
Tuesday, August 25th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – review – Can’t Fight This Feeling
Wednesday, August 26th: Read Love Blog – Victoria Dahl guest post, “Summer Fling Cocktail Recipe“
Thursday, August 27th: A Chick Who Reads – reviews of Finding Glory, Can’t Fight This Feeling, Taking the Heat
Friday, August 28th: Romance Novels for the Beach – Jill Sorenson guest post, “Virtual Motorcycle Road Trip“
Friday, August 28th: The Sassy Bookster – review – Riding Dirty
Sunday, August 30th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – review – Finding Glory
Date TBD: Mignon Mykel {Reviews} – reviews of all 6

Lone Rider by B.J. Daniels…Blog Tour Stop & Review

LONE RIDER
by B.J. Daniels

Synopsis:

A cowgirl at heart, Bo Hamilton does her best thinking in wide-open spaces. So when money goes missing from the family foundation, Bo rides into the Crazy Mountains to figure things out. But a killer hiding among the sawtooth ridges takes her captive and isn’t planning on ever letting her go.

Bo’s disappearance gets folks thinking she’s the guilty one who’s run off with the money, but Jace Calder would bet his ranch that she’s innocent. Not that he has any reason to trust the beautiful, spoiled senator’s daughter. Still, Jace is going after Bo and bringing her home to face the truth. But in the wild, rugged Crazy Mountains, he finds Bo at the mercy of a suspected murderer. Jace is her only hope, and he’s about to find out what they’re both made of.

My review:

Lone Rider is book two in author B.J. Daniels’ Montana Hamilton’s Series and after moving the first in the series, I was so anxious to read this book. Well, from start to finish is was an action packed thrill ride I won’t soon forget!

This installment follows a few story lines. Bo Hamilton’s horrid tale of dealing with a potential thief in her non-profit organization and sudden abduction while spending time in the monotonous near her home which leads to her former fiancée, Jace, coming to find her is the main story. We also have the continued tale of Bo’s mother having resurfaced after her apparent death 22 years earlier and having amnesia, forgetting the last 22 years. Also, there is the continued drama with Bo’s presidential candidate father and (I have a feeling EVIL) stepmother. There are two other smaller story lines that, I believe, set us up for more to come from this amazing series.

Now, you’re probably thinking this seems like a whole lot crammed into one book but I can assure you, it was phenomenal. I loved every aspect of this book and have grown so attached to Bo and her family at this point. I was so worried for her being held in those mountains with such an insane and unstable person. I was white knuckled reading my e-reader! Luckily, Jace is one hell of a hero and, without giving too much away, holds up his end of the bargain to go find Bo and bring her home. I also have some MAJOR suspicions with the (evil) stepmom and have a feeling she’s involved in a whole lot of the nefarious deeds happening in this series. I can’t WAIT to see what happens next!

I think I should mention that while this book could be read as a stand-alone, I think you would probably gain more from reading the first in the series before diving into this one. I mean, it’s only one book! And that was also an amazing read by the way (yes, I did stalk poor B.J. on twitter while reading that one with continued updates….I couldn’t help myself!)

And I MUST give a mention to the very last scene in this book. Jace really earns some MAJOR romance points for that one! Totally movie worthy if you ask me.

All in all, this was a great romantic suspense and this will be a series I continue to look forward to. Thank you, Ms. Daniels, for another amazing read!

Four Loves

About the author:

BJ Daniels, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, wrote her first book after a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist and author of 37 published short stories. That first book, Odd Man Out, received a four and a half star review from Romantic Times magazine and went on to be nominated for Best Intrigue for that year. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense and numerous nominations and awards for best book. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and two springer spaniels, Spot and Jem. When she isn’t writing, she snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death and Romance Writers of America.

Exposing The Heiress by Jennifer Apodaca…..Book Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

This Marine will protect her at all costs…
When wealthy heiress Alyssa Brooks finds out her stepfather has been paying her fiancé to marry her, she’s humiliated and betrayed. She quickly breaks the engagement, only to be blackmailed by her nowex-fiancé, who threatens both Alyssa and the son she gave up for adoption. With nowhere to go, she turns to the one man she can trust.
Former Marine sniper Hunter Reece’s lethal skills could save Alyssa’s life. But his little sister’s best friend has turned into a woman, who is an irresistible mix of secrets and sexiness. And while Hunter can trust himself to protect her, he can’t trust himself to keep his attraction hidden…or even pretend to be the man that Alyssa remembers.
Because the only way to keep the lovely heiress safe is to become the one thing he knows she could never love…a killer.

My review:

Exposing the Heiress is book number three in author Jennifer Apodaca’s Once A Marine series. When I stared this book I had no idea it was part of a series and now that I’ve finished it, I will certainly be reading the others in the series. I loved this book!

I love friends to lovers stories, romantic suspense, and stories with a damaged hero. This fell into all of those categories and was packed with heat, emotion, and tons of suspense. Two childhood friends who went in very different directions end up together in a suspenseful situation and soon realize the attraction they both felt, but thought to have been one-sided, was in fact very much a mutual one.

The wealthy and successful Alyssa is being stalked by her now ex-fiancee and is some serious danger. The damaged and multifaceted ex-Marine sniper Hunter is her savior. Together they are positively delicious. Hunter is strong, determined, broken from the war and is clawing his way back to normal. I loved everything about him. He has a soft side we get to see about halfway in and I adored it. He is also very intense and dirty talks like a champ. Total yum! Alyssa is also strong and a tough cookie when it comes to dealing with the man threatening her very existence. The suspense aspect of this book had me on the edge of my seat and I was so worried for these two amazing characters!

Overall this book has it all and I highly recommend! And as soon as I finish typing this, I will be heading over to buy the other two in the series. Thank you, Ms. Apodaca, for a wonderful read!

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

Award winning author Jennifer Apodaca grew up in Southern California and met her very own hero at the dog pound. She worked there, he came in on business, and it was puppy love. They married and had three wonderful sons.

While her husband worked on his master’s degree, Jen did the mom thing by day and went to college at night with the intention of pursuing a marketing degree. But her true passion was writing. With time at a premium, she had to make a choice.

Choosing writing, and with the full support of her husband, she poured herself into her dream. A mere eight years later, she published her first book DATING CAN BE MURDER. In her career, Jen has written a fun and sexy mystery series and a variety of contemporary romances. Taking the pen name of Jennifer Lyon, she also created a dark, sizzling paranormal series, and most recently, The Plus One Chronicles, an emotional and sexy adult contemporary series.

Jen has achieved many of her dreams except for attaining a self-cleaning house, a latte delivery service, and finding the holy grail of nonfattening wine and chocolate. She can live with those disappointments as long as she can keep writing the stories she loves to share with readers.

For More Information
Visit Jennifer’s website.

Before & After by Nazarea Andrews…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Summary:

Rike and Peyton fell in love in college.

A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, covered in ink and crooning in a bar is the last person a straight laced girl with a art major should fall for, but his rough edges made her jagged, alive, shaving away the coddled southern princess and revealing a soul wild and brilliant.

They fell in love, despite her family and his past and all the reasons why it wouldn’t work–and with their best friends, they made a life. Everyone was supposed to live happily ever after.
They, more than anyone, knows that life doesn’t go according to plan.

Rike and Peyton fell in love in college. A boy with a guitar, and a poet’s heart, and a girl with freckles dusted over her nose, a perfect fucking fairy tale.

But what happens when the fairy tale doesn’t fall apart–but is forgotten?

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25657969-before-after

My Review:

Consider my reluctance about New Adult romance cured. Before & After by Nazarea Andrews made me a believer. Was there over-the-top angst like I feared? Yes. Did I care? Not one little bit. Did it feature characters in their college years who this *cough*late 40s*cough* reviewer was afraid wouldn’t appeal to her? Yes, but I totally loved them. Read on and see why.

Riker (Rike if you’re in his very small, very intimate inner circle) is your typical bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks with a sexy beard and tattoos that hides a painful past. Yet, he’s also far from typical. Sure he’s in a band, but he writes amazing songs that make your heart grow three sizes. And the author includes the songs in the book. Which I loved that she did that! Oh, and he writes poetry that makes you smile and wish they were for you. The author includes these poems throughout the book, before each “After” chapter. Which I loved that she did that!

Before & After is told in alternating points of view. “Before” is told through Rike and “After” is told through our heroine, Peyton. Perhaps you’re gleaning on to the fact that something big happens? It does. An ill-timed accident lands Peyton and her best friend, Lindsay, in the hospital with life-altering injuries. Lindsay is coupled with Rike’s best friend–brother, more like, in all ways but biology–and bandmate, Scot. They’re all best friends together and share practically everything. When Peyton wakes up she doesn’t remember anything about her and Riker. Nothing. Not the all-consuming love they share, the crazy hot sex, the songs—NONE OF IT. She doesn’t remember Lindsay or Scot. She doesn’t remember the accident. Everything but her difficult childhood and right up until she met Rike. *heart breaks*

Andrews deftly brings the reader along the journey that Peyton and Rike begin to regain what they’d lost. As I said, the story is told in alternating points of view, but it’s also done with alternating before (the accident) and after (the accident) chapters. It’s a very clever and interesting way to piece them back together and slowly reveal all the things Peyton forgot. There were a few things I would have like fleshed out more, such as Peyton’s parents. We’re supposed to believe that they’re bad for her, but I don’t think the author fully made that case. There’s also a very interesting dynamic between two couples that wasn’t as developed as I’d liked, and unless Lindsay and Scot are getting their own book (Yes, please!), they were a bit of a cliffhanger.

The sex scenes were H-O-T – Hot! I mean they were scorching. Rike is really, really, REALLY into Peyton. Consumed with her, but not in a controlling, stalkerish way. He can be bossy in bed (*swoon*) but he’s not an alpha-hole. When Peyton needs space he gives it to her. He knows when to push and when not to. He’ll be your next book boyfriend.

Four Loves

GIVEAWAY:
Win a silver Ampersand necklace and a signed copy of BEFORE & AFTER.

CODE:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

LINK:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/726d2572242/

BUY LINKS:
Amazon: bit.ly/BeforeANDAfter
B&N: bit.ly/1OQxWam
Kobo: bit.ly/1D94gnL
Inktera: bit.ly/1MtT5Ii

Nazarea Andrews’ Bio:

Nazarea Andrews (N to almost everyone) is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. Which means she writes everything from zombies and dystopia to contemporary love stories. When not writing, she can most often be found driving her kids to practice and burning dinner while she reads, or binging watching TV shows on Netflix. N loves chocolate, wine, and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, spoiled cat and overgrown dog. She is the author of World Without End series, Neverland Found, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. Stop by her twitter (@NazareaAndrews) and tell her what fantastic book she should read next.

Author Links:

Site – http://www.nazareaandrews.com/
Blog – http://www.nazarea-andrews.blogspot.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/NazareaAndrews
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nazarea-Andrews/43623123516
Street Team – https://www.facebook.com/groups/427502530700422/
Newsletter – http://eepurl.com/MtHwj

My Review:

Four Loves

Four Loves

Book links:

Synopsis:

My Review:

Four Loves

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About Accidents of Marriage

My review:

Four-and-a-Half Loves

About Randy Susan Meyers

Book Blurb:

My Review:

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Excerpt:

Giveaway:

TOUGH LOVE is part of the Ultimate series. Check out all the books in the Ultimate series today!

My review:

Four Loves

WEBSITE ** FACEBOOK ** TWITTER ** GOODREADS ** PINTEREST ** YOU TUBE

Synopsis:

My Review:

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

Book Links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

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Summary:

My Review:

Four Loves

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