Four Loves « Read-Love-Blog

The Girls Of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery…Review Blog Tour Stop

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there’s a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband, who quit his job to write a screenplay she’s never seen. He won’t even help take care of their son, leaving Nicole to run the house and work full-time at her Mischief Bay Pilates studio. Can she say enough is enough without losing the man she loves?

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg rose to become vice president in her firm, but she wonders now whether she made the right choice. An exciting new relationship with a great guy convinces her that it might not be too late—until he drops a bombshell that has her questioning whether she can have it all. And if she can, does she want it?

Although Pam Eiland has a beautiful house and a husband she adores, she feels… restless. She wonders who a stay-at-home mom becomes after the kids are grown. Finding sexy new ways to surprise her husband brings the heat and the humor back to their marriage, but when unexpected change turns her life upside down, she’ll have to redefine herself. Again.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, three very different women will discover that friends can become family, and that life is richer with sisters at your side.

My review:

The Girls Of Mischief Bay is the first book in author Susan Mallery’s newest series and being a fan of Susan’s work I was excited to read this first installment. It was a wonderful and touching story that I enjoyed from beginning to end.

Three woman, at different points in the lives, form a friendship over Pilates and we experience all that they are going through as if we were a part of their little group.

Nicole is married with a young son and a business to run. She is suddenly thrown for a loop when her husband decides on a career change…without consulting her. Now she is trying to juggle way too much while holding it all together and trying to remember what loving her husband was like.

Happily married Pam has a loving husband and grown children and really has not one thing to be unhappy about…but unhappiness can’t keep from creeping in. She knows it’s ridiculous and that she has a life people would envy but the sense of stagnancy is a constant itch.

Successful CFO Shannon has worked damn hard to get to where she is in a man’s man business world and while she loves what she does and is exactly where she wants to be professionally, she can’t help but wonder at what cost? After too many blind dates and failed relationships to count, she starts to wonder if climbing the corporate ladder was the right move.

Together, through their ups and downs, these ladies will forge a bond that only women can…

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much was that these gals and their situations were so darn relatable. Personally, I can relate to all of these woman and the feelings they are experiencing in one way or another. I know the ups and downs that marriage, career choices, and parenthood can carry and reading it all in black and white, regardless if these are fictional women, made me realize how amazing women are and how important friendships are in getting through life. I laughed with these women and I cried with them and I ended this book feeling connected with all of them.

I look forward to the next installment and to see what author Mallery has in store for us next!

Four Loves

Purchase Links

Individual links to purchase sites:

About the author:

With more than 25 million books sold worldwide, New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery is known for creating characters who feel as real as the folks next door, and for putting them into emotional, often funny situations readers recognize from their own lives. Susan’s books have made Booklist’s Top 10 Romances list in four out of five consecutive years. RT Book Reviews says, “When it comes to heartfelt contemporary romance, Mallery is in a class by herself.” With her popular, ongoing Fool’s Gold series, Susan has reached new heights on the bestsellers lists and has won the hearts of countless new fans.

Susan grew up in southern California, moved so many times that her friends stopped writing her address in pen, and now has settled in Seattle with her husband and the most delightfully spoiled little dog who ever lived. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com

Goodreads | Author’s website | Facebook | Twitter

Blog Tour February 2015 Four Loves

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Heartsick by Caitlin Sinead…ARC Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Quinn is looking forward to her senior year at Poe University. She has big plans to hang out with her best friend, flirt with a cute boy-genius, party at her favorite dive bar, and figure out what she¹s going to do after graduation with her not-so-useful art major. But that’s before she meets Luke, a hot townie who’s moved back home to help take care of his dying sister. And it’s before a weird epidemic sweeps across campus, mysteriously turning people’s eyes purple.
Is it an odd side effect from a new party drug?

Is it a rogue virus developed in a campus lab?

Is it the mark of the devil?

Tensions heat up as more people become infected. Soon the town starts blaming the university and the student religious group becomes frighteningly aggressive in their accusations. Quinn and Luke are caught in the middle, a place that becomes further complicated when an on-campus tragedy reveals Luke to be more than the happy-go-lucky boy-next-door Quinn had believed him to be.

My review:

Heartsick is the debut work from author Caitlin Sinead and is a page-turner from start to finish.

College senior Quinn is happy to be starting her senior year. Poe University is a small school in an even smaller town and though at times the locals and the students don’t mix well, for the most part it’s a great location. Things are of to the normal beginning of the year start when it gets weird around campus. People’s eyes had started turning purple. As if that wasn’t weird enough, there were other abilities being noticed too. Like the ability to heal faster, for one. Now everyone was trying to get to the bottom of things, including Quinn’s newest beau. Would they all be able to survive this weird epidemic?

Now, this was a mystery from the very beginning and I am a no-spoiler type of gal so I’m going to do my best not to give anything away in his review.  I really loved a lot of aspects of this story. Quinn’s sense of humor and descriptions of things (like how her boyfriend, Luke, laughs) were two of my favorite things about this book. Another thing I loved was the pacing and introduction of more and more mystery. I was really kept guessing about a lot while reading and I like that in a story. Especially if it’s done well, which it was in Heartsick. From what was causing this purple eyed sickness to what Luke did for a living, we were given bits and pieces throughout the book that all add up in the end and it was a real keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat read. There were also more than a few twists I hadn’t seen coming and that added even more to this book. Add to all of that a dash of romance with Quinn and Luke and it was rounded out beautifully.

Mystery, suspense, romance, and action, Heartsick is a fantastic debut! I look forward to seeing what author Sinead has in store for us next.

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author: (from Goodreads)

I am represented by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger, Inc. and my debut novel, Heartsick, will be published by Carina Press in 2015. My writing has appeared (or is forthcoming) in multiple publications including The Alarmist, The Binnacle, Crunchable, Jersey Devil Press, and Northern Virginia Magazine. I earned a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University in 2011 and have also studied writing at the College of William and Mary and Yale University. I currently work as an editorial manager and continue to keep an eye out for good stories.

February 2015 Four Loves New Adult

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Thirty Days To Win His Wife by Andrea Laurence…Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Even with a baby on the way, Amelia’s holding out for the perfect husband. Tyler has thirty days to prove he’s the one.

Best friends Tyler Dixon and Amelia Kennedy eloped to Vegas on a whim. But before they can deal with their quickie divorce, she confesses: she’s pregnant. Now there’s no way Tyler will agree to go their separate ways. He wants them to stay married, raise their child together, share a house—and a bed.

Yet Amelia has always dreamed of a perfect marriage…and she doesn’t think this self-made millionaire is lifetime material despite their friendship. She’s given him just one month to prove her wrong…

My review:

Thirty Days To Win His Wife is the second book in author Andrea Laurence’s Brides and Belles series and follows Amelia and Tyler as they try to make the best of a slightly awkward situation. They got married on a drunken night in Vegas, and despite the fact that they’ve been best friends for years, this is certainly not the way things were supposed to go. I loved this friends to lovers story!

Amelia had always dreamed of the perfect husband, fairytale wedding, and the all-around happily ever after. Never once did she picture her best friend Tyler in that role. But now he was, and on top of all of that, she was pregnant. She also never dreamed his reaction to that news would be to try to make this marriage the real deal by staying together. Was that even a real possibility? Did she want it to be? What a mess.

Tyler was used to working hard to get what he wants in life and he had a successful career to show for it. Lacking, however, was his love life. He had his heart-broken years earlier when his fiancée left him after saying he put work before her. Now, after his high school class reunion, he finds himself married to his best friend and expecting a child together. Being stuck in this situation has him realizing one thing: he wanted this. He wanted to have it all. A wife, a child, a real life. Would Amelia agree to give it a try? Or would she rather chalk this experience up to a drunken night gone wrong and settle with him as a co-parent. God, he really hoped she would give him a chance.

I loved this story. Amelia and Tyler were a couple I enjoyed from start to finish and their transition from friends to lovers was a truly enjoyable one. Neither one of them was thrilled to be in the position they were in, married and a baby on the way, but both of them were willing to give it a shot. Of course, it wasn’t a smooth road and the bumps along the way had me worried these two wouldn’t make it. Now, I’m not one for spoilers so I can’t give anything away but I will say that the ending had me crying big happy tears!

All in all, this was a great romance with a lot of emotion and heart. If you have a few hours to sit and relax with a good book, this should be on your list. Thank you, Andrea, for another great read!

Four Loves

About the author:

Andrea Laurence has been a lover of reading and writing stories since she learned to read at a young age. She always dreamed of seeing her work in print and is thrilled to finally be able to share her special blend of sensuality and dry, sarcastic humor with the world. A dedicated West Coast girl transplanted into the Deep South, she’s working on her own “happily ever after” with her boyfriend and their collection of animals including a Siberian Husky that sheds like nobody’s business.

Contemporary Romance February 2015 Four Loves

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Throb by Vi Keeland….Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

The rules:

No dating.
No sex outside of the game.
No disclosing the terms of the contract.

Rules were made to be broken, right?

Eight weeks ago I signed a contract. One that seemed like a good idea at the time. A handsome bachelor, luxury accommodations, and a chance to win a prize my family desperately needed. There were some rules though. Lots of them actually. Follow the script, no dating, sex, or disclosing the terms of the deal. After my self-imposed moratorium on men the last year, it wouldn’t be hard to live up to my end of the bargain…so I thought. Until I realized the deal I’d made was with the devil…and I was in love with his dirty-talking brother.

My review:

Throb is the newest work from author Vi Keeland, an author I adore, and introduces quite an interesting storyline that had me hooked form the very beginning.

Kate has just entered the world of reality TV…well let’s use the term “reality” a bit loosely here and say it’s more of a slightly scripted show. She had every intention of enduring the eight weeks she was contacted for and was hoping to walk away with the grand prize. A great deal of money that would help not only her, but her struggling family, get out of debt her late gambler father had left behind for them to deal with. Eight weeks was all it would take. Not a hard sacrifice, really. Except the contract she signed was very specific in that she wouldn’t be allowed to date, and of course as luck would have it, fate chooses NOW to drop Cooper into her life. Cooper, the brother of the show’s director and the one person who could ruin her chances at a stress free financial future.

Kate may give ignoring Cooper’s advances a good try, but in the end he proves too tempting to ignore and they begin a steamy fling. Hopefully she and Cooper will be able to keep this relationship on the down low because she’s pretty certain the director and Cooper don’t have the best brotherly relationship and this would surely be the end of her stint on reality tv if it got out.
I really really really enjoyed the idea behind this book. I thought it was fresh and different and I loved the whole idea of the reality TV show. Kate was a really interesting gal and had so many great facets to her personality. She was caring and loyal, kicked ass in card games, and is so damn determined to turn her poor hand in life around. Cooper was equally enjoyable and had me swooning more than a few times. He goes after what he wants in life but always appreciates the little things. He has plenty of money and power but doesn’t act like a pompous ass and I loved that about him. Together they are a fabulous couple. Their chemistry is off the charts and the little relationship quirks they develop during this story was so adorable! I also want to give a mention to Kate’s roommate and best friend. She was a freaking trip and had me laughing my are off more than once! I am hoping she gets her own book because I would love to read more of her.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with plenty of heat and a great spin on romance. I look forward to reading more in this series and thank you, Vi, for yet another read I loved!

Four Loves

Available at:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BgqIUD

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1CsRg9d

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zk882K

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1x5c3P8

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

Add to your Goodreads TBR list ➜ http://bit.ly/1sjTmR7

About the author:

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

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

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Blog Tour Contemporary Romance February 2015 Four Loves

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Snowed In With Her Ex by Andrea Laurence….Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Trapped in a cabin with the man who makes her want what she shouldn’t have…

Wedding photographer Briana Harper never expected to run into her ex at an engagement shoot! And when a blizzard strands them…alone…in a remote mountain cabin, she knows she’s in trouble. She’s never forgotten Ian Lawson, but none of the reasons they broke up have changed. He’s still a workaholic. And now he’s an engaged workaholic!

But Ian is also still a man who knows what he wants. And what he wants is Briana. Untangling the lies of his current engagement leaves him free to…indulge. Yet proving he’s changed may be this music mogul’s toughest negotiation yet…

My review:

Snowed in With Her Ex is the first work of author Andrea Laurence that I’ve read and will certainly not be my last! This book was fantastic. Sweet, romantic, sexy, all of the above. I loved it!

If things could get worse, Briana Harper didn’t know how. She was on location for an engagement photo shoot, which wasn’t the bad part, it was the groom-to-be that she had issue with. Her ex. The ex she had never gotten over, even nine years later. But he clearly had moved on and was now a successful music mogul, engaged, and soon to be a father. Still, that wasn’t the terrible part. The terrible part is that before his fiancée could even make it to their mountain cabin location, a major snowstorm sweeps in and strands Briana and the ex…together. Let’s just hope she can leave the past where it belonged…in the past. That would prove to be easier said than done…

Ian Lawson should be over the moon. He had a successful career, a beautiful fiancée, and a baby on the way. Life was good. If only he could get rid of the nagging feelings that were always right below the surface. The feeling that something was off with his fiancée. The feelings that he knew she didn’t love him, but his status instead. If he was being honest, he wasn’t exactly in love with her, either. What a mess. Now, being stuck here with the woman who broke his heart years earlier, all of those feelings were amplified and he couldn’t help but wonder how different his life would be with someone like Briana by his side, instead of the woman he was supposed to marry.

It seems as though Fate and Mother Nature teamed up to bring these two long-lost loves back together and make things right between them. Besides being stuck in the same house for a few days, some devastating news comes to light and proves the feelings Ian was feeling weren’t so far off….in fact, in reality, things were way worse. When the storm passes, will Briana and Ian have more reasons to rekindle their love than reasons to stay away from each other?

This was the prefect read for a cold, winter day. The history and passion that Ian and Briana had shared was pretty incredible and I loved the situation they were stuck in! They were honest-to-goodness stranded with no contact with the outside world for a bit. Being able to do little more than spend time with one another, they are almost forced to talk about all the things left unsaid all those years earlier. It was fantastic. And once they get all of the words out of the way? Let the heat begin! Now, before you think that Ian is a dog and is cheating on his pregnant fiancé, let me assure you that is not the case. I can’t give anything away bit just know that by the end of this book, I was not a fan of that woman and a huge fan of Briana.

This was the perfect winter romance with plenty of emotion and a few twists that mix together to make up a perfect story to spend an afternoon with. I loved it from start to finish and recommend to any romance fan.

Thank you, Andrea, for a fabulous read!

Four Loves

About the author:

Website

Contemporary Romance Four Loves January 2015

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Ryder: American Treasure by Nick Pengelley…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Fast-paced, edgy, and action-packed, the perfect read for anyone who loves the novels of Steve Berry or James Rollins, Ryder: American Treasure marks the return of Ayesha Ryder, a woman digging into history’s most dangerous secrets—and hiding some of her own.

During of the War of 1812, British troops ransacked the White House and made off with valuables that were never returned. Two centuries later, a British curator finds a vital clue to the long-vanished loot. Within hours, the curator is assassinated—and Ayesha Ryder, a Palestinian-born antiquities expert, is expertly framed for his murder.

Who could be behind such a conspiracy? And why do they want Ryder out of the way? To find out, she picks up a trail leading from a mysterious nineteenth-century letter to the upcoming presidential election. As Ryder dodges killers in the shadow of hidden alliances, sexual blackmail, and international power plays, she finds that all roads lead to the Middle East, where a fragile peace agreement threatens to unravel . . . and another mystery begs to be discovered.

Ryder’s rarefied academic career and her violent past are about to collide. And her only hope of survival is to confront a powerful secret agent who has been waiting for one thing: the chance to kill Ayesha Ryder with his own two hands.

My Review:

Ryder: American Treasure is the second book from author Nick Pengelley and after enjoying Ryder’s first adventure, I was looking forward to jumping into this next installment.

Well, my thirst for reading adventure was quenched with this thrill-a-minute read. This book was also decidedly more sexy than the first book and I was happy to see that layer added to the action and duplicity. I think that by added that element, author Pengelley has a great chance that this story will win over some romantic suspense fans. It was pretty fantastic!

Ayesha Ryder finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when a British museum curator is found murdered. She is being framed by some of the most powerful and dangerous people to date, and with time running out and the threats growing every second, she finds herself on the run. Can’t a girl catch a break? All she wants to be able to do is continue her search for the mysterious Ark of the Covenant, and yet here she is, on another hunt for a long-lost item that could not only clear her, but put the guilty party and their accomplices behind bars. Easier said than done when this latest predicament crosses both U.S. and British governments and some very high-profile members. Would Ryder make it out alive this time?

I believe I had mentioned, after reading the first Ryder story, that she reminds me of a Lara Croft meets Indiana Jones type character, and this latest installment only solidified that amazing combination. This book was a thrill a minute with twists and turns in every chapter. There are some serious lies and deceit being peddled by some serious political players. There’s a lot at stake for more than one of these players and I was worried that this may end up being too big a problem for Ryder to fix. But, she’s kick ass so she certainly holds her own when faced with unimaginable odds.

Beyond a wonderful heroine, this book is packed with rich history and I enjoyed that aspect immensely. Of course, I was thrilled to see my other favorite cast member, Lady Madrigal, who is still sipping on martinis and being one hell of a dame. I adore that woman!

If you’re fan of mystery and suspense with a dash of sexiness, Ryder: American Treasure is a book you should get on your list! Thank you, Mr. Pengelley, for another fantastic adventure!

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $25 gift card to the eBook Retailer of the winner’s choice + a copy of RYDER, the first book in the series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

lives in Toronto, Canada with his family. He has had a varied career as a law librarian and law professor (specializing in international commercial arbitration) in Australia, Canada and the U.K. He has also worked as an analyst for a major Canadian NGO that focuses on the culture and politics of the Middle East, a field about which he is passionate. He is currently a consultant on Australasian law.

Nick cites many influences on his writing. Readers of “Ryder” will not be surprised that authors like H. Rider Haggard, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, John Buchan and Peter O’Donnell figure prominently. He is a fan of the ripping yarns of the inter-war years – by writers such as Sapper, Dornford Yates, Edgar Wallace and Leslie Charteris.

His more modern favourites include Umberto Eco (particularly “The Name of the Rose”), Alan Furst, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman and Elizabeth Kostova (“The Historian”). Nicholas reads a “book or so” a week (and is horrified to think that, if he lives to be 200, he may only get to read 10,000). These days, although he still reads fiction, he is mainly interested in modern European and Middle Eastern history, and biography, having discovered some years ago that truth really is stranger than fiction. He lists his heroes, literary adventurers all, as Winston Churchill, T.E. Lawrence, Gertrude Bell and Teddy Roosevelt.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Nick Pengelley’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Tuesday, January 13th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Tuesday, January 13th: Bell, Book & Candle
Wednesday, January 14th: Book Nerd
Thursday, January 15th: Queen of All She Reads
Monday, January 19th: Omnimystery News – author guest post
Monday, January 19th: Reading Reality
Tuesday, January 20th: Vic’s Media Room
Tuesday, January 20th: 2 Kids and Tired
Wednesday, January 21st: Reading to Distraction
Thursday, January 22nd: Joyfully Retired
Monday, January 26th: Dwell in Possibility
Tuesday, January 27th: Read-Love-Blog
Tuesday, January 27th: Words by Webb
Monday, February 2nd: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Wednesday, February 4th: ImaginativeMinds*
Thursday, February 5th: From the TBR Pile
Monday, February 9th: Brooke Blogs
Tuesday, February 10th: A Fantastical Librarian

Blog Tour Four Loves January 2015 Suspense

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Claiming Serenity by Eden Butler….Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Title: Claiming Serenity (Seeking Serenity, #3)

Author: Eden Butler

Genre: NA | Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 22, 2014

Synopsis

Synopsis:

She left glitter in his AC vents. He put green dye in her conditioner.

She buttered his bathroom floor, and he kidnapped her precious puppy.

Layla Mullens hates Donovan Donley. His crude language, his wide shoulders, his crystal blue eyes…she hates that she can’t stop herself…from kissing him or landing in his bed.

And Donovan Donley wants nothing more than to knock Layla off her princess pedestal. He hates her stuck up attitude and her soft, tempting lips. He especially hates that her father is his coach.

But he’s fine with their arrangement—act horrible to each other during the day, attack each other naked at night. It works.

But one night changes everything. When Layla doesn’t show, and Donovan’s cold bed stays empty, the lies he tells himself to keep Layla out of his mind aren’t enough to keep him from missing her. And needing her. Something he promised himself would never happen.

The white flags in their prank war have been lowered but their high stakes battle has just begun.

My Review:

Claiming Serenity is book number three in author Eden Butler’s Seeking Serenity Series, a series I have loved from the very beginning. This book is Layla and Donovan’s story…a relationship that has been quite intense since we first met them. This was a wonderful friends-to-lovers story and had an ending that had me crying big fat happy tears.Layla and Donovan have had an intense relationship for years….and not necessarily intense in a good way. They were like oil and water. Never mixing well and always settling in separate parts. Constantly in a prank war and always spewing insults at each other. No two people couldn’t stand each other more. Until one night that all changed…thanks in part to some tequila and those high emotions always between them. Once they crossed the line and ended up spending the night together, there was no going back. It seemed as though the emotion they share has changed and gone from hatred to something quite the opposite. But no matter what had happened between them, no way could they let their friends know. They would never hear the end of it. So keeping things on the down-low was the best way. Keep up appearances during the day, insults flowing, and then turn that passion into so much more behind closed doors. It was going well until things chanced…drastically. Now Layla and Donovan are faced with a serious situation.. A situation that would test their relationship and what side they would come out on….the lovers version of Layla and Donovan or the enemies version of Layla and Donovan…

Talk about one hell of a ride! This book was packed with ups and downs and even a few sideways. Layla and Donovan’s relationship was intense form the very start but you could always feel a little something more lurking beneath the surface and we finally got to see them in a completely different light. And oh my, what a sexy and hot light that is! These two take the fiery passion they put towards pranking and brought it into the bedroom and the result is a delicious mix of sexy and intense!

Now, I binge read most of this book in one sitting and stopped for the night at around 75%. I picked it up the next morning while I was on the treadmill. Bad. Idea. The last few chapters of this book had me all sorts of choked up and crying. It was amazing, and packed with so many emotions and I loved it….but it didn’t mix well for trying to breathe while exercising. Man, I loved the last 25% of this book. It was honest and real and really well done.

I don’t really recommend reading this book if you haven’t read the first two, for the simple fact that you’ll miss out on all of the build up if Layla and Donovan’s relationship and probably won’t be able to appreciate how far they come in this book.

Overall I was so pleased with how things ended up for these two characters and I can’t wait to see what author Butler has in store for us next (hopefully Sayo!!). Thank you, Ms. Butler, for one hell of a read!

Four Loves

“You’re disgusting,” she told him, but her voice carried no venom.

“And you’re a complete and utter bitch.”

She wanted to hit him. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted Donovan to do something, anything but glare at her the way he was. And then, before she could think which she wanted more, Layla got her wish.

His mouth was controlling, consuming, teeth against her bottom lip, opening her up to the invasion of his tongue. It was warm, thick and she felt it all over her body, with every thrust of his mouth on hers, with how tight his fingers pulled and squeezed her ass. Donovan wasn’t gentle, wasn’t sweet. This wasn’t a kiss that was meant to be tender. This was a full bodied, take control kiss and Layla had no idea why she wasn’t resisting, why she liked it so much. But she didn’t resist, and she did like it, so much. Too damn much.

She moved her hand, curling her fingers into his t-shirt, let a low, soft moan work up her throat and she didn’t think about how much she hated him, how surely, kissing Donovan should repulse her, that the idea of Donovan doing anything remotely sexual had always repulsed her—hadn’t it? —but his tongue battled against hers, obliterating her thought. Caught in the fray, Donovan pushed his hands into Layla’s ass and that deliciously hard erection pressed against her. Layla was lost.

For a moment.

Her thoughts were warring, scattered telling her how stupid she was being, reminding her that she had a backbone, that she hated, hated Donovan and no matter how incredible his mouth and hands felt, she could pull away from him. Any minute now.

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords

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

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

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

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Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Four Loves January 2015 New Adult

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One Sinful Night in Sao Paulo by Amber Belldene….ARC Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Cassie Wilson has traveled to Brazil for her brother’s wedding; yet she’s the one with cold feet. She’s all set to begin seminary, but she’s sick and tired of being treated like a saint, especially by the best man. What she really needs is one sexy night with him to ease her jitters and give her a taste of normal life.

Adam Forrester crashed and burned at his dream job, screwing up all his hopes for a better life. Now he’s moved home to start over, but first he must confront the irresistible Cass, apologize for whatever happened on that drunken night he can’t remember, and make damn sure it doesn’t happen again. Only she has other plans.

He has typecast her as the good girl in his heart. Can she force him to see her as a real woman, desires and all?

My review:

I have been a fan of Amber Belldene for quite some time. I adore her paranormal work and was so excited to see she dove into the contemporary romance world. I was even more excited when I started reading and realized I would adore this contemporary story as much as Ms. Belldene’s paranormal work. This story was hot, sexy, sweet, and enjoyable from start to finish!

Cassie Wilson would honestly rather be anywhere but here. Sure, Brazil was amazing and beautiful and she was here for her brother’s wedding, another plus, but she would be stuck spending time with him….Adam. Her brother’s best friend. The guy she had had a crush on for as long as she could remember. The guy who treated her like Miss Goodie Two-Shoes. The guy she came so close to spending a dream night with years earlier. A dream night that never happened. She would never forget the crushing hurt she felt when he put the brakes on after they started to get hot and heavy. The embarrassment and the anger she felt really hadn’t dissipated but neither had the attraction she felt when she was around him. Adding the stress of her upcoming journey into seminary, and it was all adding up to too much. Maybe she could let loose and enjoy herself? Maybe she could enjoy Adam and his company? Maybe she convince him to give her one more chance at that dream night?

Adam Forrester was lost. The dream life he thought he wanted, and he had built, was crumbling around him and he didn’t have a clue what he wanted to do next. All he knew was that things in his life were going to change. After he came back from his best friend’s wedding in Brazil, things were going to get better. They had to. He would enjoy this time in this amazing place, enjoy his friend, and maybe even enjoy seeing Cassie. Of course that is if she had forgiven him for a disastrous night years earlier. He wasn’t good enough for her back then. Hell, he wasn’t good enough for her now either. It didn’t take away that he was so drawn to her. She was unlike anyone he’s ever known. Bright, calming, smart, funny, beautiful. He knew he screwed things up with her and he was willing to do what he needed to do to make things right. Could he make it through this trip and be able to keep his hands to himself? Act like the gentleman she deserved to be friends with?

With so much going on in both of their lives, so many emotions and new plans on their horizons, will Cassie and Adam be able to push it all aside and for one night enjoy the attraction that has been between them for years…but never amounted to anything?

From start to finish, this book was fabulous. Not only did author Belldene write a sexy story full of emotion, but it also educated me a bit in the life Cassie would be leading when she joined seminary. That aspect really brought an extra layer to the storyline and I really enjoyed it. It was different, fresh, and interesting. Another reason this story was so great was the back story between Cassie and Adam was so relatable. I mean how many of us had a crush on the older boy when we were in high school? *raises hand* I know I have! I loved that they were given a second chance in taking things to the next level. Even if it was supposed to be for only one night. Both characters were pretty amazing as well. Cassie is strong and determined with an amazing outlook on things. Even though Adam is a bit lost at the moment, he is also a great character. He’s loyal and caring with a soft side to him that had me swooning.

Ms. Belldene wrote some amazingly beautiful moments into this story that touched me immensely. I can’t spoil anything for you but there were a few moments between Adam and Cassie that touched my heart. My favorite part, however, was when Cassie visited with Father Ricardo that had me crying…truly a beautiful moment.

All in all this book was fantastic and I highly recommend. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Belldene has in store for us next!

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

Amber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book. As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.
Amber is an Episcopal Priest and student of religion. She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths. Some people think it is strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to her, because the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire. She lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Contemporary Romance Four Loves January 2015

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Review…Wanting Forever by Diana Gardin

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Sometimes the one thing you want is exactly what you can’t have.

For Sam Waters, it’s Aston Hopewell. Talk about a girl out of his league. But he’s just a hired hand, happy to keep his head down and work hard on her father’s ranch. With a warrant out for his arrest, he can’t afford trouble.

Everyone thinks Aston’s life is perfect, but she knows the truth: nothing is as it seems. The only one who gets that is Sam. He understands her in a way no one ever has. But even he won’t tell her everything-until the night that changes their destiny forever . . .

My review:

Wanting Forever is the newest work from author Diana Gardin and the first in a new series. After enjoying her other works, I was excited to read this book and it was fantastic.

Having to leave his hometown, family, and girlfriend behind, Sam Waters is trying to make a new life for himself. He hadn’t really had much of a choice and is trying to make the most of it. Luckily, he found a decent job as a ranch hand to a wealthy family who also gave him a place to live and he had been thankful. He knew it wouldn’t be forever but it was a great temporary gig. Of course he starts to have second thoughts about it being temporary when he meets Aston. She’s the daughter of the family he works for and, despite being opposite him in many ways, becomes a good friend. Soon that friendship starts to grow into something more and he can’t deny the attraction to this amazing woman. Unfortunately having a girlfriend at home complicated that attraction.

Fate has a way of stepping in when you least expect it though, and Sam suddenly finds himself not as a ranch hand but working for Aston’s family’s company and “temporary” starts to feel like “permanent”. Still, Sam can’t fathom leaving his girlfriend. The one he gave everything up for. Would the distance prove to be the breaking point in their relationship? Would Sam’s attraction to Aston? Again fate will step in and lead Sam in a direction he never expected…but truly desires.

This was a read I couldn’t put down. It was interesting, a bit mysterious, and plenty heated. I was torn from the very beginning on if I wanted Sam to stay with Aston’s family or head back to his hometown. I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to remain faithful to his long distance girlfriend or give Aston a chance. For me, feeling a jumble of emotions like that, is the mark of a great story. The characters were well developed and I couldn’t help but fall in love with not just Sam and Aston, but the supporting cast of characters. I won’t give anything away as far as what happens between Sam, Aston, and the girlfriend, but I will say that it ended exactly how I wanted it to!

Thank you, Diana, for an emotional, remarkable, and captivating read. I can’t wait to see what you have for us next!

Four Loves

Book Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the author:

I’m a Virginia girl living In South Carolina, and my beloved home in the South is the backdrop for all of my novels. I adore writing about Southern girls and boys finding their way in and out of love. I’m married to the love of my life, and we have two fabulous/crazy children and an equally crazy boxer doggie. Life is a fun roller-coaster, and I wouldn’t trade it! Now that I’m a stay-at-home-mom and have recently added author to my list of things to do, I’m busy ALL THE TIME!

My first book Color Blind, is a young adult contemporary Romance. The first series I wrote is The Ashes series, and both books are currently available, new adult contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense: Out Of The Ashes and Settling Ashes. All three books are self-published.

My newest series is called The Nelson Island series and the first book, Wanting Forever, is due out Oct. 7, 2014 from Grand Central Publishing/Forever Yours.

I love to hear from readers, it’s what keeps me going! Please tweet me @DianaLynnGardin My Facebook page is www.facebook.com/authordianagardin Or find my blog posts and more book info at www.dianagardin.com

Contemporary Romance December 2014 Four Loves

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Full Blaze by M.L. Buchan….Blog Tour Stop, Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

by Jilly

Synopsis:

When Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark rescues wildfire photographer Cal Jackson from a raging burnover, she doesn’t know she’s bringing aboard a firebrand. Cal is quickly recruited for MHA’s covert operations that reach far beyond the flames. Together Jeannie and Cal are assigned to an overseas operation with a lot more at risk than burning trees. And they’ll need all the skill, love, and trust they can muster if they’re going to survive the heat of this jungle battle.

My review:

Full Blaze is the third book in author M.L. Buchman’s Firehawks Series and the first in this series that I’ve read. I’m a huge fan of Mr. Buchman’s work from his Night Stalker Series and was so excited to get my hands on an early copy of Full Blaze and in true M.L. fashion, this book was thrilling, suspenseful, and super sexy. I loved it!

Female Aussie pilot Jeannie Clark had more than a few choice words for the photographer she was currently rescuing in the middle of her battle against a raging wildfire. Almost as soon as he is in her chopper, one of those choice words was: sexy. But no matter how good-looking he was, it didn’t take away her annoyance at having to pluck him for the fire’s grasp. Even more annoying to her was when she found out he wasn’t just a photog, but also a red card-carrying firebrand. Since her team needed all the help they could get with this fire, it looked like he would be sticking around. A distraction she really didn’t need, especially since on top of being sexy he was also kind and funny and was wearing down her annoyance as fast as the fire was eating up acres. If she didn’t keep her distance she knew her annoyance would grow to attraction and at this moment in time, she had a job to do. So when the head of their operation teams him up with her, to fly with her and use his expertise, she knows she’s so screwed.

Fate couldn’t have intervened better than she did the moment Cal realized he had been rescued…not only at the last second, but by a beautiful Australian pilot. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was beauty and grace and was one hell of a pilot. He had never seen anything like her and damn if he didn’t want to get to know her better. Now, after his rescue, they were teamed up and Cal sure hoped it was both on and off the mission. He felt a kinship with this group of people and hadn’t realized how much his life had been missing until her met Jeannie and this amazing group of pilots. Could he ever have the chance to be a part of their team? And Jeannie’s life?

Risking life and limb leads to a connection both Jeannie and Cal never could have dreamed they’d find. But with such a dangerous profession, will they be able to survive fires and dangerous missions in order to make a relationship work.

One of the things I like best about author Buchman’s writing is that it’s not as fluffy as some romantic suspense novels can be. I tend to find his writing enjoyable for that reason. His heroines are always tough as nails and inspiring to read. His heroes realize their partners are strong and independent and let the ladies in their lives be the tough chicks they are and I adore that about them. Even the guys know not to mess with their gals! Cal and Jeannie were no exception. Cal has had a rough life and he broke my heart when he opened up about his childhood. But I knew that past helped shape him into the man he was in this story. Kind, loyal, intuitive. Jeannie has had to bust her chops to get where she is today and her tenacity was admirable beyond measure. Together they make a couple that give and takes and balances out beautifully.

Another reason I loved this story was we got to see two of my favorite characters from the Night Stalker series and it was so great to read more of them!

Thank you, Mr. Buchman, for yet another pulse-pounding and sexy read! Keep them coming!

Four Loves

Excerpt:

Cal enjoyed the ride as they flew high over Santa Barbara, the Pacific Ocean stretching out to fill the horizon as they approached it. Jeannie had left him feeling immensely mellow. He’d never been with anyone who responded to him with such heat, nor offered it right back. And usually heat left him simply greedy for more. Jeannie doused the fires in him just as effectively as she did with her chopper, as if she’d somehow washed his insides clean as well.

Tell her, you idiot.

“You’re an incredible woman, Jeannie Clark of the dark-red hair.” He watched her as she checked something on her instrument panel, then adjusted their heading, ushc a tiny shift that he knew it was a delaying tactic. It was okay, he could wait. There were only the two of them and a breathtaking morning light aboard Jeannie’s Firehawk.

“Why?”

“Let’s see. Chronological or order of importance?”

“Give me a break, Hotshot.”

“Not a chance, Helitack. I could start by enumerating your womanly curves and just how much I enjoyed them last night.”

“And this morning.”

“Reverse chronological, then since we’re covering last night.”

She puttered and turned to glare at him.

“Watch your heading, Helitack,” he ordered her, though she hadn’t wiggled off her flight path in the slightest.

She continued to glare for a long moment before abruptly laughing and turning back forward.

Damn! Why were both of his cameras in the bag? That laugh had lit her up brighter than the morning sun. It was the first time he’d heard it up close rather than across half a camp, and it transformed her from merely incredible to downright magnificent. What in the hell was he doing presuming to even be aboard this woman’s chopper? He had no more qualifications to be here than… Cut it out, Cal. She invited you. That’s enough. Enough for now, anyway.

Goodreads Link

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21898360-full-blaze

Buy Links

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1sN7FgS

Barnes and Noble – http://bit.ly/1x1zWpt

iBooks – http://bit.ly/1utZIBH

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Biography

M.L. Buchman has over 25 novels in print. His military romantic suspense books have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR “Top 5 of the year” and Booklist “Top 10 of the Year.” In addition to romance, he also writes contemporaries, thrillers, and fantasy and science fiction.

In among his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world.

He is now a full-time writer, living on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife. He is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing at www.mlbuchman.com.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://www.matthewlieberbuchman.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/M_L_Buchman

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mlbuchman

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mlbuchman

Blog Tour December 2014 Four Loves Romantic Suspense

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Forgotten Promises by Elle Brooks…Book Tour & Review

by Jilly

–

Saying “I Promise” is the easiest thing to do, its just two tiny words.

No one warned me of the weight they hold, that they not only have the power

to make something, to give hope, or show devotion.

They can destroy everything, cause so much hurt, ruin lives.

Every promise holds a toll, if I had known what mine would cost me,

I would have walked away.

Now I have to pay the price, watch the consequences of my actions unfold. Witnessing someone I love crumble after breaking my oath

isn’t the hardest thing I’ve endured,

it’s being forgotten by the one person that I could never forget.

BUY Links

Amazon Kobo

Barnes and Nobles

Ibooks

My review:

Forgotten Promises is the second book in author Elle Brooks’ Promises series and should only be read if you’ve read the first in the series, Promises Hurt. I say that because this book is the aftermath of a terrible accident that happened in Promises Hurt and it really sets the stage for the emotion and turmoil the two main characters have to endure.

I adored Promises Hurt and was dying to get my hands on this latest installment to see what the future held for Ethan and Blair. I was a crying, sobbing, snotty mess after the ending of the first book and was so nervous to even pick up my e-reader and start reading Forgotten Promises! Now, I don’t want to be too spoliery, but I will give you a hint as to what Blair and Ethan have to go through…it’s hiding in plain sight in the book’s title. FORGOTTEN Promises (that’s all I will say that could equate to a spoiler).

In book one, we watch the beautiful relationship between Blair and Ethan, a pretty unlikely couple, grow into something amazing. I loved Ethan and Blair, both separately as characters and together as a couple. Now, in this second book, they have to pick up the pieces of that relationship and see if they can mend what’s been broken.

This book was packed with emotion and turmoil. Anger and love. Mistrust and uncertainty. I was a nervous wreck reading most of it and was so worried things wouldn’t be the same for Blair and Ethan and that they wouldn’t be able to get back to a good place. My heart broke for Ethan and the struggles he is going through after the accident and I went through too many tissues to count. Poor Blair also had to go through her own hell in trying to help Ethan heal but not really knowing how. There was a moment towards the end that I thought I wouldn’t make but trust me when I say in the end, all of the stumbles were worth it in creating an even stronger foundation for Ethan and Blair.

Thank you, Elle, for giving Ethan and Blair their happy ending and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Four Loves

About the Author

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I wasn’t planning on falling for Ethan Jamison, hell I wasn’t planning on our paths ever crossing. He’s the most popular guy at school and a complete player. Me; I’m the perpetual good girl, trying to carry out one last request. But when you make a promise, how far do you go to see it through?

~ Blair

It’s a running joke that I’m a terrible liar, if only people knew the truth. My whole life has been spent making excuses and deflecting questions. I was pretty good at it until Blair Thomas entered my world. She saw through the mask that everyone is so willing to accept. She makes me want to tell her all my secrets, but can she promise to keep them?

~ Ethan