Falling in Deeper by Shalya Black….Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

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FALLING IN DEEPER

A Wicked Lovers Novel

By Shayla Black

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: July 5, 2016

Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC

 

A tragic past threatens to destroy a passionate future in this dangerously sexy new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Wicked for You.

After a violent tragedy nearly destroyed her, Lily Taylor ran away, changed her name, and started over. When her deadly nemesis resurfaces to eliminate his loose end, she turns to the last man she should trust—a stranger with a history of violence and an intoxicating sexuality she can’t refuse…

Though strong-armed into locating Lily to help put away a drug lord, ex-con Stone Sutter isn’t anyone’s snitch. When he finds the terrified beauty, he vows to keep her safe—but he isn’t sure he has the strength to shield her from his own desires.

As an unquenchable fire sparks between them, Lily’s tormentor stalks ever closer, and she must overcome her darkest fear to survive. Can she trust the bond she and Stone have formed as they’re falling in deeper?

 

BUY LINKS

Kindle http://amzn.to/1LJi4Hl

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iBooks http://shayla.link/FID-iBooks

Kobo http://shayla.link/FID-Kobo

GooglePlay http://shayla.link/FID-GoogleP

AmazonPrint http://amzn.to/1GRqyqm

AmazonUKPrint http://amzn.to/1MeaOPJ

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EXCERPT

“Oh, fuck. You’re so beautiful. You need this now, don’t you? Yeah,” he agreed when she nodded frantically. “Let it take you under. Let me hear you scream.”

Lily couldn’t think of anything she wanted more. As she circled her hyperaware nerve endings again, her body jerked. Desire surged. When Stone bent to take her nipple in his mouth, she clasped the back of his head and anchored him to her. Not that he’d do anything except help her drown. But this time nothing would be sweeter.

He dragged a hand up to her other nipple and tangled his fingers with her own. Together, they manipulated the tip of that breast while he sucked the other hard and scraped the very tip with his teeth.

Sensations mounted again. She felt like a vessel filling up with blood, with need, with an imminent explosion. It was right there . . .

Her legs shook. Her hips jerked. She whimpered, strained for it. She tasted need.

But she couldn’t seem to fall over the sweetly sharp edge.

Lily pressed harder against her clit, narrowing her circles, focusing on just how good this was going to be. The seconds ticked off in her head, slowly becoming minutes. The exquisite need was its own form of hell, and she couldn’t seem to escape.

The torture dragged on, and she saw no way out. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling defeat begin to creep in.

Stone sprang into action, popping her nipple from between his lips and grazing her ear with his lips. “You got this, baby. Focus on my voice and close your eyes. Yeah, I know that’s hard, but I’ve got you.”

Oddly, she already believed that.

“Picture yourself naked and me standing over you, stroking my cock. You know I’m going to tell you how sexy you are and how much I want you. Imagine that I’d fall to my knees between those pretty thighs. When you hold your arms open to me, I’ll go right into them. Then I’m going to kiss you, touch every lush, tingling curve of your body, and when you’re begging, that’s when I’ll slide inside you. Deep. That’s when I’ll stroke you slowly and thoroughly and make you claw my back as you come.”

As he spoke, her desire and racing blood clashed, merged. Everything inside her roared to a screaming crescendo. The wall she’d been slamming into, preventing her from falling over, disintegrated. She envisioned exactly what Stone told her to picture. She saw herself being not just perfectly able but eager to lie back and welcome him inside her as he gave her mind-blowing pleasure and she surrendered herself completely.

 

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ABOUT SHAYLA BLACK:

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Always be in the loop and sign up for Shayla’s FREE Newsletter: http://shayla.link/nwsltr

Visit Shayla’s website: http://shaylablack.com/

Visit Shayla on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaylaBlackAuthor/

Visit her Amazon Author Page: http://shayla.link/AmazonFollow

 

Until We Touch by Susan Mallery…Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

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UNTIL WE TOUCH

By Susan Mallery

NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author

After a family tragedy, former football hero Jack McGarry keeps the world at arm’s length— a challenge now that his PR firm has moved to neighborly Fool’s Gold, California. Larissa Owens knows where she stands—Jack sees her as just another one of the guys. No matter what her heart wishes, Jack’s her boss, not her boyfriend. But then Larissa’s big secret is revealed—by her mother!

When Jack discovers the truth about Larissa’s feelings, her touch suddenly becomes tantalizing, and he’s not sure he wants to resist. But if he gives in to desire, heartache is sure to follow. Friendship or true love—will Jack go for the ultimate play?

 

Excerpt:

Jack hadn’t known how Larissa was going to react when he told her what her mom said, but he’d guessed it would be a show. She didn’t disappoint. Her face went from red to white and back to red. Her mouth opened and closed. With her jaw tightly clenched, she muttered something like, “I’m going to kill her,” but he couldn’t be sure.

Nancy Owens’ words had hit him like a linebacker. Larissa in love with him? Impossible. For one thing, she knew him better than anyone except Taryn and to know him was to understand he was all flash and no substance. For another, he needed her. Love meant a relationship and having a relationship meant she would eventually leave. No. There was no way Larissa could be in love with him.

But he’d been unable to shake the words and had realized he had to get the truth from the only person who actually knew.

Larissa drew in a breath. “I don’t love you. We’re friends. I like working for you and the charity work is terrific and I know you have my back, but I’m not in love with you.”

Relief eased the tension in Jack’s always aching right shoulder. He kept his expression neutral.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yes. Positive.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m pretty hot. I could understand you having a thing for me. You’ve seen me naked. Now that I think about it, your reaction is inevitable.” He sighed. “You love me. Admit it.”

Larissa’s mouth twitched. “Jack, you’re not all that.”

“But I am. Remember that fan who had my face tattooed on her breast? And the one who begged me to father her child? And the woman in Pittsburgh who wanted me to lick her—”

Larissa rested her arms on the desk and dropped her head to her arms. “Stop. You have to stop.”

“Stronger women than you have been unable to resist my charms.”

“In your dreams.”

“No. Apparently in yours.”

She looked at him then, her blue eyes wide, her mouth smiling. “I give.”

“In the end, they all do.”

The smile faded. “I’m sorry about my mother. She shouldn’t have said that. I swear, I am not, nor will I ever be in love with you. I love my job and you’re a big part of that. But we’re friends, right? That’s better. Besides, you have terrible taste in your ‘let’s end this now’ gifts.”

“Which is why I let you buy them.” He hesitated a second. “We’re good?”

“The best.” Her smile returned.

The last of his worry faded. This was the Larissa he knew. All funny and earnest. Hair pulled back in a ponytail and not a speck of make-up on her face. She wore yoga pants and T-shirts and always had some cause to discuss with him. She believed the world was worth saving and he didn’t mind if she used his money to try. They made a good team. He didn’t want to have to do without her and having her love him… Well, that would have changed everything.

 

Buy Links:

 Amazon   |  B&N  |  Kobo 
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Praise for USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author Susan Mallery

“Mallery’s prose is luscious and provocative.”

—Publishers Weekly

 

“Romance novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.”

—Booklist

 

“Susan Mallery is one of my favorites.”

 

—#1 New York Times bestselling author

Debbie Macomber

 

“Both smile and tear inducing. Mallery is one of a kind.”

—RT Book Reviews

 

“Susan Mallery’s small town of Fool’s Gold always offers romance and fun.”

—BookPage

 

 

 

 

SusanMallery_photoSUSAN MALLERY is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that define their lives. She has published more than 100 romance and women’s fiction novels beginning with two books the same month when she was just out of college. Susan has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and went on to get a master’s in writing popular fiction and has extensively studied story structure in screenwriting courses. Her goal, always, is to give readers a story that will move them, populated with characters who feel like real people. Born and raised in California, Susan now lives with her family in Seattle, where she survives the dreary days of winter with the help of a “happy lamp” and plenty of coffee.

 

 

 

 

 

ARC Review…Up to Me by Christi Barth

Up to Me releases tomorrow!

Up to Me COVER

 

Synopsis:

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

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

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

 

My review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5LovesRLB

Five Loves

 

Buy links:

 Amazon   |  B&N 

About the author:

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

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

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

Website  ~  Goodreads  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

 

 

 

Cover Reveal…Thin Love by Eden Butler

Title: Thin Love
Author: Eden Butler
Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance crossover
Release Date: Mid to Late July 2014
Cover Designed by: Steven Novak @ Novak Illustration
Synopsis
 
Love isn’t supposed to be an addiction. It isn’t supposed to leave you bleeding. 
 
Kona pushed, Keira pulled, and in their wake, they left behind destruction. 
 
She sacrificed everything for him. 
 
It wasn’t enough. 
 
But the wounds of the past can never be completely forgotten and still the flame remains, slumbers between the pleasure of yesterday and the thought of what might have been. 
 
Now, sixteen years later, Keira returns home to bury the mother who betrayed her, just as Kona tries to hold onto what remains of his NFL career with the New Orleans Steamers. Across the crowded bustle of a busy French Market, their paths collide, conjuring forgotten memories of a consuming touch, skin on skin, and the still smoldering fire that begs to be rekindled. 
 
When Kona realizes the trifecta of betrayal—his, Keira’s and those lies told to keep them apart—his life is irrevocably changed and he once again takes Keira down with him into the fire that threatens to ignite them both.
Thin Love – Excerpt



She doesn’t stop him when he kisses her. She lets herself take in the heat of his massive body, lets it work over her skin. She inhales him—his scent, the hot rub of his tongue against hers, along her bottom lip. At first, she thinks she won’t react; that she’ll push back the sensation, ignore how sweet he tastes, how hard he feels against her. But then he holds her arms, leans into her until her back rests against the brick wall behind her and Keira is lost.



Kona still makes low groans in his throat when he kisses her; still has the softest lips, the most demanding, wide tongue.



She can’t help herself. He’s an addiction, her favorite drug. She wants a hit. She wants a million hits of him.



Her hands work up his arms, his immense shoulders and his groaning deepens, becomes a growl of pleasure when she returns his attentions. Their mouths aren’t frantic, but they do match each other. He pushes, she pulls, like always, like habit, and it is a delicious drugging dance; one she didn’t know she’d missed.



She feels the swift lick of disappointment when Kona pulls back, but it disappears with his fingers holding her face and the tips smoothing just over her cheekbones.



“My dirty little rascal,” he says, but he doesn’t return her smile, seems struck by how close they are standing, how easy this has been, to fall back into old habits. It was returning…their reactions to one another were primal, instinctual. Un-fucking-avoidable.



The song ends, but Kona hasn’t stopped examining her face. His breath is still hot and panting over her cheeks. It would be easy, so fucking easy, to let him consume her. Every touch is a recall of all the dangerous, desperate emotions Kona sparked in her. Every look dulls her memory, makes her forget how he hurt her, how he broke the promises he swore he’d always keep.



Kona leans in again, somehow moving closer, another hit that will edge her toward overdose and she stops him. The rational part of Keira’s mind pushes back the sensation of his touch and the embers are extinguished.



“Wait.”



He pauses, but doesn’t move away from her, doesn’t move his fingers from her skin.



“Wildcat, come on.”



“What are we doing?” Keira knows that expression. It hasn’t changed in sixteen years. Kona’s face is calm, but he frowns, forehead wrinkling in his agitation and Keira stops another attempt of his lips against her mouth. She pushes him back, palm flat against that tempting chest. “How’d this happen?”



Kona’s shoulders sag and finally, her skin is free of his touch.



“Memory lane,” he says.



“That’s a dangerous place.”



“If you say so.”



“I can’t do this with you.” She takes a breath. “I can’t ever do this with you again.”



His anger isn’t quick, not the instant snap of frustration she’d always known from him, but there is no humor on his face and despite her small rejection, he hasn’t moved his arms from the brick behind her. “Why the hell not?”



“I told you. We were not good together. I can’t…” Another slow breath and Keira tries to calm, to ignore the sweet scent of his skin. “I won’t be like that again.”



Too easy, she thinks, reminding herself how effortlessly Kona consumes her. Moth to flame, eager to die in the fire. She hated who she was with him, most days. She hated that she forgot good sense, any smidgeon of reason when he was around her. She didn’t like who she’d been at eighteen and it was that girl, that unbalanced, obsessed girl, that Keira had been running from all these years. She wouldn’t let that girl return, not now, not even for Kona.



When she slips out of the cage of his impossibly large arms, Kona reacts, old habits flirting to the surface. He grabs her arm and for a quick second, Keira feels her teenage self return. His fingers are hot on her bicep, licking heat, anger, passion, through her limbs and Keira fears the sensation, hates that she loves it so much, that she’d missed it more than she wants to admit.



Just like that, she’s ready to react, to fight and it takes all Keira’s strength to repress that inclination. “Don’t…”And at her small warning, Kona jerks back, hands up as though she burned him. “You see what I mean? Three weeks and it’s starting already.”



“I’m sorry.” Keira thinks that he might be telling the truth. He fans his fingers through his hair, eyes rounded as though he can’t believe how he’d reacted. “Please,” Kona says, taking a tentative step forward, voice easy, calm. “Don’t leave.”



She doesn’t want to see that expression on his face; the one that tells her he’s different, that his overwhelming presence is no longer dangerous. He’d fooled her once. He won’t get a second chance. A quick shake of her head and Keira turns away from him, tries to focuses on a plane above shooting away from the city, wishing she was on it. Kona’s breath warms her neck and Keira cringes at how much she’d missed this—him, her, the heat, the passion and it is like refusing the best high she’s ever had. She wants it so desperately, wants to forget all his sins just for a moment, just for one small taste of how good he made her body feel. “If I don’t walk away right now, I’m going to kiss you again.”



Kona’s low voice is heady, firm and Keira has to tighten her eyes closed when his fingertip slides down her spine. “I want you to.”



“I can’t. We…no, we can’t.”



“You’re scared,” he says, mouth hot against her neck.



“I’m petrified.” Despite herself, Keira leans back, lets Kona wrap his hands around her waist.



“I would never hurt you. You know I’d never touch you, not like that.”



No, he never had. Not once. She’d slapped him and punched him because she was angry, because they were twisted, because they both got off on it. But Kona had never returned the favor. His wounds cut deeeper.



“You’re no good for me. You were never good for me.” Keira turns, takes a step back so she can look at his face, so she can see how determined he is to change her mind. “I was a crazy person with you. Obsessed. I can’t relive the past.”



“I’m not the same person.” Kona pulls her forward, gripping her waist in his too large hands until their bodies are flush, until Keira can feel the hard, delicious planes of his chest and the corded muscles of his thighs. She knows he won’t hurt her. She knows he won’t let her go. Kona takes her face again, moving her chin so she’s forced to look at him. “You’re not the same, Wildcat and that was a long time ago.”



And then Keira lets that girl sneak to the surface. She lets her take Kona’s mouth, pull his shirt so that her tongue licks against a wide expanse of tempting, copper skin. She lets that girl enjoy Kona’s mouth, his hands, the way he feels hard, demanding against her, until the night darkens, deepens and her rejection, though halfhearted, comes again.



Kona stops pushing, stops demanding and before he leaves Keira out on that balcony, he reminds her why she’d loved him in the first place. He reminds her why she should love him again.



“I only know one thing—no one sets my skin on fire like you do. No one. Not one person has ever made me feel like I’m alive like you. That hasn’t changed, not in sixteen years.
Don’t try to pretend it isn’t the same for you.”



©Copyright Eden Butler 2014

About Eden
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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Read-Love-Blog’s Cowboy Summer…..Intro & Review of Long Hard Ride by Lorelei James

Cowboy Summer

Happy Sunday and welcome to Read-Love-Blog’s Summer of Cowboys!  I am SO happy to have my dear friend and guest reviewer, Selene, here every Sunday for some cowboy loving fun! She will be stopping by each week with a new review from Lorelei James’s Rough Rider Series….totally delish! Enjoy! 

A Summer of Cowboys

by Selene Ramirez

 

Fifteen books, two anthologies, one short story…

…and one very happy rider. GIDDY UP!!!

Almost two years ago now, a few friends of mine suggested I read the first title of Lorelei James’s Rough Riders series. Having never picked up a romance novel of the cowboy persuasion, I thought I’d give it a whip, er, I mean, whirl. Personally, I never understood the appeal of a man in Wranglers, a flannel shirt, and a cowboy hat. Boy howdy did these books change my opinion on that!

Now that I’ve exhausted all the cowboy references I know, onward to the purpose of this narrative; a summer of cowboys. My dear friend Jillian, blogger extraordinaire, loves to post reviews from the serious reader. That’s me. And I’m seriously in love, lust, whatever you want to call it, with the McKay men, protagonists of the Rough Riders series. Jillian will be posting my reviews of all the books and stories of this series so we can persuade you to pick up these scorching titles and make your hot summer even hotter.

 

Ok, y’all. Let’s shut up and ride…

 

Selene reviews book #1

Long Hard Ride

LongHardRideCOVER

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  Goodreads

Synopsis:

…One lucky woman…three sexy cowboys…she’s in for the ride of her life!..

Channing Kinkaid itches for a change; a wild western adventure with an untamed man. Determined to shed her inhibitions and embrace the steamier, seamier side of life, she sets her sights on hooking up with a real chaps-and-spurs-wearing cowboy.

Enter Colby McKay—bull rider, saddle bronc buster and calf roper. From the moment he sets lust-filled eyes on the sweet and fiery Channing, he knows he’s found the woman who’s up to the challenge of cutting loose. What rough and rowdy cowboy could resist a no-holds-barred sexual romp with a sassy young thing starring as his personal buckle bunny?

Intrigued by Channing’s bold proposition of horsing around on the road, Colby impulsively sweetens the deal; sexual escapades not only in his bed, but in the bedrolls of his rodeo traveling partners, Trevor and Edgard.

Although Channing’s secretly longed to be the sole focus of more than one man’s passions, Colby’s demand for complete submission behind closed doors will test her willful nature.

Can Channing give up total control? Especially when not all is as it seems with the sexy trio? Or will the cowboys have to break out the bullropes and piggin’ string to break in this headstrong filly?

 

Selene’s Review:

Holey sheets and pillows, Batman! The sex was SCORCHING HOT!!!

After reading this little ditty, it’s no wonder why the novel was categorized as erotic and not just romance. Fortunately for us readers, this was a win-win all around!

From the get go, I definitely had my reservations about the female protagonist Channing Kinkaid, what with her enormous rack, killer body, and hunger for a man sandwich that our male lead Colby McKay was more than happy to provide, along with hot studs Trevor Glanzer and Edgard Mancuso. How can someone like that be relatable or even interesting beyond the scope of being the recipient of some smokin’ sex? But by the end of the book, I found my doubts were completely pointless; Channing is an incredibly charming character with a big brain and an even bigger heart. Honestly, I loved her just as much as her sexy counterpart.

Colby McKay, tall, dark, beyond handsome and with some piercing icy blue eyes, is easily one of the better fantasies ever written on a page. He gave Channing exactly what she wanted – unattainably hot sex and plenty of it. And he did this even when his feelings for her grew deeper and his instinctual possessiveness became an issue for them. Add to that his competency with everything rodeo and you have the perfect man.

Secondary characters Trevor Glanzer and Edgard Mancuso added a sizzling factor to an already boiling hot scene. Not only that, but they added mystery and a very rare element. Whereas Trevor and Colby are easily the best of friends, sharing everything together…and I do mean everything…Trevor and Edgard are something else entirely. And when their true relationship is revealed, it produced, in my opinion, one of the hottest scenes in the entire series. Also, Trevor and Edgard’s good treatment of Channing made these two even more appealing, if that’s even possible.

I’d definitely read some erotica and romance before these books, but I have to admit that James is one of the few authors out there that within the span a few chapters can make what seems to be a shallow or extraneous character become something much more and with layers, depth. Her main characters compliment each other so perfectly and her writing style makes it so you forget you’re even reading and more like you are experiencing everything happening in the story.

This first book in what has quickly become one of my favorite series of all time will always hold a special place in my heart…and other areas.

*All books in series were bought by the reviewer through Amazon.

4andahalflovesFour-and-a-Half Loves

 

From author website:

A bit about me: When I’m not squirreled away behind my laptop writing fun, sexy, contemporary erotic romances set in the modern day Wild West, I can be found reading everything under the sun, practicing yoga until I’m a pretzel, shootin’ my .22, watching the Professional Bull Riders tour on Versus, and running a kid’s taxi service, all in the guise of avoiding housework and rustlin’ up vittles.

Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.

 

 

Cover Reveal…Golden Dunes of Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

I am honored and so excited to bring you the cover of GOLDEN DUNES OF RENHALA by Amy Joy Lutchen!

Golden Dunes cover art

Synopsis:

How do you live with a secret so dark and so deeply woven into your being that it threatens to smother your very existence, with no known way out? Use it to your advantage.

Kailey Rooke, karmelean, and now a possibly unethical karma-for-hire, has spent the past year jumping from project to project, without any real hope for salvation. With repercussions from her actions at every turn, she discovers that as time goes on, she loses a bit more of herself to that which feeds on her anguish, that which is thriving inside her own body.

When a new contract to find a missing girl arises, Kailey attempts to put her past and its associated problems on the back burner, but she soon finds out that treachery and deceit lie shortly ahead in Golden Dunes, only giving face to new problems, with one leading right back to her childhood past.

She struggles to complete her contract as her own life teeters on a fulcrum, constantly tipping according to karma’s whim. How long will she keep her balance? Which way will she fall?

 

About the author:

Was born in Chicago and slept in a dresser drawer for the first few weeks of my life, marking me as a future claustrophobe.

I studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (man I grew up quick), where I became a number, but decided it was a good number.

I write with plenty of snacks in hand, making sure they are not in multiples of three. That number makes me nervous.

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Blog Tour & Review….This Love by Nazarea Andrews

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I am so happy to be a part of the Blog Tour for THIS LOVE by Nazarea Andrews! 

Hope you enjoy my review and thanks for stopping by!

This Love COVER

Buy from Amazon   ~  Buy from Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

She wants a summer job and a ride to a wedding.

He wants an assistant and a distraction from the mess life his had become.

They didn’t know they needed each other.

Avery Emili needs two grand. Two grand and a plane ticket–her sister is counting on her to get to Jamaica for her wedding. But the semester is over, and tutoring college freshman and high school students has dried up until the fall.

Atticus Grimes needs help–the messy split with his wife left the twenty-eight year old professor scrambling to keep things together as the semester winds down. Now he’s got a research grant he has to actually do research for and all he wants to do is drown himself in a tall bottle of bourbon.

When Avery sees his ad for an assistant, all she’s thinking is a summer job. But as they spend time together, in the office and out, both of them begin to realize something is there. Something that can’t happen–he’s a professor and she’s a student. And both of them have histories, pasts that won’t let go. Can two broken people pulled apart by expectations find a way to be whole?

 

My Review:

This Love is the first work I’ve read from author Nazarea Andrews and is the first in her University of Branton Series.  Well, she’s got a new fan in this blogger.  I devoured this book….it was famtastic!

Avery Emili needs two things during this summer break at college….she needs to make some good money for a plane ticket to get to her sister’s wedding and she needs a reason not to go home for summer break.  Easier said than done when the college town you live in turns into a ghost town during the summer months.  So when she finds an add for a research assistant in her area of study, she thinks she’s found the perfect job….until she sees who she will be working for.  A deliciously handsome young professor complete with perfectly mussed dark hair and tattoos peeking out from his dress shirt.  Surley she would be able to keep her mind out of the gutter and keep things professional….right?

Atticus Grimes looks around at the mess of paperwork, files, pizza boxes and realizes he’s desperately in need of some help. His lif has been turned upsidedown after he left his marriage and his work is suffering now, too.  He’s relied on help from his best friend, which apparently included a Craigslist add for a research assistant he had no clue was placed.  Unfortunately, as he sits across from a beautiful and charming applicant, he can’t be upset about the surprise ad.  He’s gotta get focused on getting stuff back on track…he has a feeling this applicant may be exactly what he needs, in more ways than one.

Atticus and Avery both have there own versions of a painful past and in need of healing.  Little do they know that they just may be able to find that in each other.

So, I started this book on a Friday night and was finished by Saturday afternoon.  Yes, it was that good.  It was flirty and fun and emotional and perfectly balanced.  Atticus, or shall I call him Professer Hottiepants, is delectable.  He is smart, sexy, playful and broken, all of which makes for a great book guy.  Avery is equally smart, playful, beautiful and also broken.  Together they just work.  Really, really well. They play off of one another beautifully and build such exquisite sexual tension.  The scenes between them are emotional and damn sexy…really well done *fans self* totally yummy.  This is one of those books that pulls you in from the very beginning and doesn’t let up until the last page.

I cannot wait for this book to release so all of you can grab yourself a copy, settle in by the pool or on the beach, and enjoy some quality time with Professor Hottiepants and Avery! Thank you, Ms. Andrews, for an amazing story!  I am really looking forward to more of the University of Branton Series! *cough, Dane, cough*

5LovesRLBFive Loves

 

About the author:

photo-11Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate 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, and overgrown dog.

 Facebook   ~   Twitter.

 

 

ARC Review….Love at High Tide by Christi Barth

Love at High Tide releases July 8

Love at High Tide COVER

Buy from Amazon  ~  Buy from Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis:

Darcy Trent is lucky Cooper Hudson is on hand to sweep her off her feet—literally—when she nearly drowns while swimming in the ocean. But life-saving aside, Mr. Perfect’s timing stinks: Darcy’s career is about to take her to the complete opposite side of the Atlantic. Still, a little summer loving with the tall, blond and sexy former cop is far too tempting to pass up.

When his plans to enter the Secret Service went south thanks to a bum knee, Coop retreated to the family beach house to mull his future. Romance is the last thing on his mind, until he fishes a curvy brunette out of the sea. Now, spending time in Darcy’s arms seems like the ideal distraction, even if it is just for a week.

But with Darcy’s departure date fast approaching and their careers on the line, can they realize in time that their beach fling might become the real thing?

 

My Review:

Love at High Tide by Christi Barth is the perfect start to your summer reading list.  What better way to start off your beach reads than with a cute, fun and entertaining story that takes place on the beach? Perfect!

Darcy Trent is enjoying some R&R with her BFF on the beach in Ocean City, Md. She has a lot on her plate and has a big decision to make regarding her career and whether to use all of her schooling and degrees studying cultures and tribes in Africa, or to find a way to let her overachieving parents down gently and choose another path.  Luckily, Trina, her best friend, is on her new career path…which this month is self-training to become a private investigator.  If anything it will be the welcomed distraction Darcy needs.  Another welcomed distraction is the gorgeous, hunky stranger who rescues her from a near drowning disaster in the ocean.  Looks like this may end up being the perfect hot and steamy beach vacation.

Trying to shake off the rejection from the secret service, thanks to his injured knee, Cooper Hudson is here at his family’s beach house looking to make heads or tails of his future in law enforcement.  He’s not ready to go back to his old department just yet with the sting of rejection still lingering.  Some time in the sand sounds just about perfect and the beautiful brunette he pulls out of the surf draws him in with a sudden attraction he knows he needs to investigate further.  But with his meddling family always calling to check up on him, he hopes he will be able to get to know her without his phone ruining the moment.  When his cousin, Brad, decides to show up and stay for a few days, he just about loses his cool until he realizes that Darcy’s friend and his cousin seem to be hitting it off as well.  Could the fates finally be on his side?

This story was so fun and entertaining, I couldn’t put it down! Darcy and Trina are hilarious together…going off on an amateur private investigating sting and just being entertaining gals. From wigs to Russian mobsters, these two were just too much fun.  Cooper is delish.  He is the ultimate rule following, knight in shining armor and has a heart of gold.  He is a hero any gal would love. Darcy and Cooper together are sizzling.  They know their time is limited, being it a beach fling, and they don’t waste time with a lot of fluff.  Their sexy banter back and forth was done really, really well.  I was so pleased with how much was packed into a story of 183 pages….really well done! It had action, humor, tugged on the heartstrings and had plenty of heat! Oh, and I’m curious to see if we see more of Trina and Brad in the future because I think they would make a fantastic couple!

Thank you, Christi, for a great kick-off to beach read season!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

 

4LovesRLBFour Loves

About the author:

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

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

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

 Website  ~  Goodreads  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter

 

Rina’s Quick Audio Bytes ~ Audiobook Reviews in Short: Blood Cross: Jane Yellowrock Book 2 By Faith Hunter

Quick Audio Bytes

Blood Cross COVER

 

Blood Cross: Jane Yellowrock Book 2

By Faith Hunter

Narrated by Khristine Hvam

Story: 4 stars

Performance: 4 stars

Overall: 4 stars

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Duration: 14 HRS 48 MINS

Jane Yellowrock is a rogue vampire hunter for hire. When her contract is extended after successfully taking down a rogue like no other, Jane is forced into vigilance when the blood master of New Orleans, Leo Pellissier puts a price on her head. Unexpected alliances are forged after three humans are kidnapped, two being the children of Jane’s dear friend, Molly. Thrust into dangerous territory, Jane must uncover ancient secrets the local vampires are willing to kill in order to keep hidden, before time runs out.

Blood Cross took a little bit longer to pick up steam when compared to the first Jane Yellowrock book, Skinwalker. However, once the major conflict comes to fruition, the story unfolds in brilliant fashion. I absolutely loved the creative spin on vampire lore; A first and refreshing twist. There is a bit of a love triangle, but not the central theme.

Blood Cross is a fast paced thrill ride to the very end. Khristine Hvam is a perfect match for Jane and a huge driving force behind the story. This is shaping up to be a very interesting series and definitely worth checking out if you enjoy urban fantasy. Blood Cross is the second book in the Jane Yellowrock series and should be read in order.

    ~ Rina

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway…Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey

officerofflimits-blogtour

Happy Tuesday! As you may know, I am a huge fan of Tessa Bailey so I am super excited to be a part of the Officer Off Limits Blog Tour!

Tessa was kind enough to stop by for a guest post today and I can’t wait for you to read what she has to say about the always delicious alpha male hero.  

Also, I’m giving away an eCopy of OFFICER OFF LIMITS to one lucky reader!  Enter to win in the rafflecopter below. 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy! 

Officer Off Limits Cover

Book links:

Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo 

Synopsis:

His need to possess her is non-negotiable.

Story Brooks’ fiancé just called off their wedding two weeks before the happy day. As if that isn’t bad enough, her semi-estranged father, an infamous NYPD hostage negotiator, has suffered a heart attack. Not wanting to examine her lack of emotion over the broken engagement, she hops on a plane to reconnect with her father before it’s too late.

Playboy hostage negotiator Daniel Chase has never, not once, been refused by a woman, so when a debate over hospital snack foods with a delectable kindergarten teacher ends in flat-out rejection, he makes it his mission to seduce her. His only obstacle? She’s the daughter of his mentor who implicitly forbade Daniel from pursuing her.

Despite her father’s warnings and Daniel’s troubled past, Daniel and Story can’t resist their intense attraction to one another. But when the reason for her fiancé’s abrupt wedding cancellation comes to light, can Story and Daniel’s already forbidden relationship survive?

 

Guest Post:

What Makes an Alpha Male so Alluring to a Gal?

“The simple answer is DNA. Hear me out.

Women can pretty much do anything. I realized this right around the time I gave birth to another human being. I was lying there thinking, oh my god, I could conquer France right now if I so desired. And still fit in an hour of Pilates. I’m like, a freaking warrior and I had no idea. As times have changed and women have moved into positions of power (I’m not just talking about in the corporate world, I’m talking about everywhere, even at home), we’ve been conditioned to meet men halfway. Pick the restaurants, pay half the check and find your own damn way home. All this on top of acting like you cringe in the face of commitment just so homeboy doesn’t freak out and make a break for it before your main course arrives. That’s if you’re lucky enough for him to spring for dinner.

So…this is what we wanted right? To be equal in all things, including love? Yes and no. In the workplace or when making household decisions, we obviously deserve to have a voice that counts. But when it comes to the dynamic in our relationships (this is where the DNA comes in) we, as women, have a built-in mechanism that…hmmm…wouldn’t mind a man taking care of us a little. Even just for an hour in bed. It’s not something that should make us ashamed or feel inadequate. It should increase our feeling of power because we’re ultimately being revered. Cherished. Yay, us.

My best friends, twenty-something girls trying to navigate the dating scene here in New York, have such a difficult time figuring out what a man wants from them. These guys flirt like crazy, then don’t ask them out, leaving the ball in the woman’s court. For once, wouldn’t it be nice to have a man tell you exactly what he’s thinking? Where the hell he wants the evening to go? Mystery is overrated, in my opinion.

Enter my heroes

They are alpha males that say very bad things. Things maybe the heroine didn’t realize she wanted to hear all along. She should be offended, but instead she’s turned on. A man who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to voice that desire is sexy as all get-out. That is why alpha males appeal to women. It eliminates the guesswork and throws in a whole lot of sexy excitement.”

 

Enter to win an eCopy of OFFICER OFF LIMITS here and for more stops, and more fun, on the Blog Tour, click HERE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

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

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ARC Review…The Officer and the Secret by Jeanette Murray

The Officer and the Secret releases July 2

The Officer & the Secret COVER

Buy from Amazon  ~  Buy from Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis:

After a rougher than expected deployment, Captain Dwayne Robertson craves the sense of normalcy that his friends can bring him. But when he returns home, there’s an unexpected, but pleasant, twist in the mix—Veronica Gibson. As he struggles to adjust to daily life again, Dwayne craves Veronica and the peace she brings him. But Veronica isn’t without faults. Dwayne hates lies, and Veronica’s entire past is a well-guarded mystery. When the completely unexpected happens, they both realize it’s time to lay their cards on the table and hope they’re ready for love.

 

My Review:

The Officer and the Secret is the third book in Jeanette Murray’s Semper Fi Series and like the other two in this series, this book was fantastic!

Dwayne Robertson is back from deployment and is more than happy to be home.  He’s happy to see his friends and get back into the normal, every day life here in the States.  He’s also happy to finally meet the girl who had unexpectedly given him a lifeline to cling to when he was away.  Even though he and Veronica had only spoken to a few times on skype, she has made such an impact on him and he needs to explore more of his feelings for her and see if they can build on what they have.  But this deployment had been rougher than expected and Dwayne isn’t having such an easy time getting back into things.  He may need Veronica and her lifeline more than he thought….

Veronica Gibson is finally feeling more and more like a normal woman in today’s times.  She had lived a very sheltered life, to put it mildly, and has had some struggles with adjusting to the way life was lived in these current times.  Fortunately she has her cousin, Skye, and her new friends to help her learn how to be a modern woman…and with that comes dating.  Not fully knowing if she’s ready to jump into the dating pool just yet, she is sure of one thing…the attraction she feels toward the big, handsome southern Marine just back from deployment. Nervous and unsure of how to handle those feelings, she realizes quickly that she may be in over her head.  But she also realizes Dwayne may need her help with his reentry into life here and they just may have more in common than she ever imagined.

Together Dwayne and Veronica have somewhat similar issues with life at the moment, and they find their mutual attraction has become very strong and very real.  Just when they think they’re on the right track to starting a relationship and have taken steps that were controlled, well though out & responsible WHAM! life throws them a curve ball.  Will they be able to handle the newest obstacle?

This is one of my favorite series and I was eagerly waiting for Dwayne’s story and I was so happy with how it all played out!  Dwayne is a big ol southern teddy bear with a huge heart.  He’s loyal and strong….all wrapped into a deliciously handsome package.  He knows how to make the gals swoon with his sweeter than sugar accent but also knows when to take things slowly and give space that is sometimes needed.  Veronica, although still working through her own issues, knows what she wants out of life and is willing to learn how to get it.  She learns that taking risks is all a part of life and sometimes those risks reap great rewards.  It was really great to see her grow and turn into an amazing woman by the end of the book. Dwayne and Veronica as a couple are a great match, totally balancing each other out and willing to lean on one another when they needed it.  That being said, they sure do have their share of struggles in this book, but it made the ending all the sweeter!!  And as always, it is great to see the characters form the first two books in the series…Tim and Skye and Madison and Jeremy.  They really are a dynamic group and I sure hope we get to see more from them!

Thank you, Jeanette, for another kick ass addition to the Semper Fi Series!

4andahalflovesFour-and-aHalf Loves

 

About the author:

Kat (or Jeanette!) spends her days surrounded by hunky alpha men…at least in her imagination. In real life, she’s a wife and a mother, keeping tabs on her husband of six years, her three year old daughter and the family dog, a lovable (but completely stupid) Goldendoodle. Hang around long enough and you’re guaranteed to hear at least one or two stories about these three.

What’s with the two names? Great question. Kat (or Jeanette) writes for a few different publishers. And due to the timing of some releases, two names just seemed like the right option. But Jeanette (or Kat!) can assure you, no matter which pen name you’re reading, you’re going to get sexy contemporary love.

If you want to stay in the know on when my books are coming out, sign up for my newsletter below! I never spam my readers, I love you all too much. But I’ll keep you up to date when new releases are coming out so you’re never caught unaware!

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