Then There Was You, an all-new second chance romance from New York Times bestselling author Claire Contreras is LIVE!
Love and the right timing were two things I didn’t believe in.
Love is about walking to the edge of the cliff and taking the leap together. Timing was never on our side. My first mistake was hooking up with my best friend. My second came years later, when we met again, and I fell for her. My third was letting her go, because I had to. Because a love like this wasn’t built to withstand the winds coming in our direction.
Claire Contreras is a New York Times Best Selling Author. Her books range from romantic suspense to contemporary romance and are currently translated in seven different languages. She lives in Miami, Fl with her husband, two adorable boys, three bulldogs, and two stray cats that she refuses to admit are hers (even though they live on her porch, she named them, and continues to feed them). When she’s not writing, she’s usually lost in a book.
Cake, an all-new romantic and hilarious standalone from USA Today bestselling author Carmen Jenner is LIVE!
Poppy Porter’s ex is getting married … to her ex-best friend. To land her dream job of partner in the most prestigious firm on the Upper East Side, Poppy must now pull double shifts as their wedding planner and maid of honor. And the icing on a truly craptastic cake? Leo Nass. Handsome, infuriating, womanizer, and … the best man. Despite their longstanding loathing, Poppy doesn’t see Leo coming. Literally.
One ruined cake.
One archnemesis.
One hour to save the wedding.
Can they put their hatred aside long enough to save Poppy’s job and Bridezilla’s head from exploding?
Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA Today and international bestselling author.
Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU, 2015.
A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore makeup addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.
A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?
1. Don’t stalk your father’s best friend online. 2. Don’t talk to him via Messenger. 3. Definitely don’t go to his house. 4. And whatever you do, don’t tell him you’re still in love.
I am so happy that I was able to read the second book in this series and let me tell you- A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!! The first book Max Henry wrote, Desire, was good but Regret is amazing! Seriously, I devoured this book in two days. That being said it is a series but I do think that you could possibly read it as a standalone since you will get the idea that Belle is not supposed to be with her dad’s best friend, Zeus. I know, I know, dad’s best friend? Don’t worry because while he is older than Belle, he is also younger than John (Belle’s dad).
Now let me get to the nitty gritty of it- Zeus-ummmm hello- a man down on luck but trying so hard to better himself. The way he loves Belle, ugh, just put butterflies in my stomach! He is such a great book boyfriend ladies. I love him even more in Regret. It is a forbidden romance that neither one of them are quite sure they want to get tangled up in again. Plus, Belle has been gone for three years in another country. Things have changed but the love they have for each other is so hard to deny! It is as if Max Henry gave her all in this book and it shows. She writes, “It’s everything; how our love is viewed and persecuted by those who don’t understand it, the struggles we face, the adversity. He is the serpent, and I am the dove”. That right there ladies and gentlemen explains what this book is about and it is such a great read!
About the Author
For as long as she can remember, Max has always had a love of the macabre and thought provoking side to life.
Which probably stands to reason why each of her books takes the reader on an emotional journey that not only promises twists, turns, and suspense, but a heart-wrenching journey where her motto holds true:
Love never comes easy.
When she’s not lost in an alternate world – fuelled by coffee and the odd sneaky bowl of chocolate (preferably M&Ms) – she spends her days as a wife to a dedicated husband, mother to two rambunctious boys, and an obsessive petrolhead enjoying the muscle on display at the local car shows.
Lost in the shadows of a tragedy that stripped Aurora June of everything she once loved, she’s back in the small town of Balsam Grove, North Carolina, ready to face all she’s kept locked away for seven years. Or so she thinks.
As one of the victims of a string of mysterious disappearances in the small, picturesque Appalachian Mountain town, darkness has become her home—her safe blanket when the world reveals its true colors. But as the walls of darkness start to move in on her, she knows the only way to free herself from her past is to face it, head-on. She just needs to figure out how.
Upon arrival, Aurora isn’t expecting her first collision to be with the boy she left all those years ago. The boy who betrayed her trust with no regrets. The boy who is no longer a boy, but a man with the same stormy eyes that swept her into his current before she ever learned to swim.
She’d thought he was safe. He’d thought their path was mapped out. Turns out neither of them was ready for the crash at the bottom of the cascade.
K.K. Allen is an award-winning author and Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences graduate from the University of Washington who writes heartfelt and inspirational Contemporary Romance stories mainly about “Capturing the Edge of Innocence.” K.K. currently resides in central Florida, works full time as a Digital Producer for a leading online educational institution, and is the mother to a ridiculously handsome little dude who owns her heart.
K.K.’s publishing journey began in June 2014 with the YA Contemporary Fantasy trilogy, The Summer Solstice. In 2016, K.K. published her first Contemporary Romance, Up in the Treehouse, which went on to win the Romantic Times 2016 Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best New Adult Book of the Year. With K.K.’s love for inspirational and coming of age stories involving heartfelt narratives and honest emotions, you can be assured to always be surprised by what K.K. releases next.
A hot and hilarious new standalone from New York Times bestseller Kendall Ryan.
We met in a trapped elevator.
Emmett was on his way to work, sophisticated and handsome in his tailored suit and tie.
I was on my way to the sperm bank. Awkward, right?
At thirty-five, my life hadn’t taken the path I thought it would and I was tired of waiting—I wanted a baby. And I was ready to take matters into my own hands to make it happen.
After our ill-fated elevator encounter, Emmett insisted on taking me to dinner—he also insisted on something else—that I ditch my plan involving a turkey baster and let him do the job. He would be my baby daddy. He was a wealthy and powerful CEO with little interest in diapers or playdates. And since he didn’t want kids, I’d be on my own once his bun was in my oven, free to go my own way.
But once his baby was inside me, it was like a switch had been flipped, and I got a whole lot more than I ever bargained for.
This full-length standalone contains a hot, swoonworthy hero, lots of playful banter and some hot baby-making ! Enjoy.
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.
From USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Kincaid comes CROSSING PROMISES, the third standalone title in the Cross Creek series, releasing March 5th! A series filled with rugged, salt of the earth heroes who happen to be brothers, and strong family dynamics. Each standalone novel is filled with heart, humor, and heat. Order your copies of the Cross Creek series today!
For Owen Cross, the only thing that matters more than family is farming. As the oldest Cross brother, the land is his legacy, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make Cross Creek a success—including hiring local widow Cate McAllister to manage the bookkeeping tasks that are growing in his office like weeds. Cate’s as pragmatic as she is pretty, and she rattles his hard-fought composure at every turn.
Cate had known a lot of things about her husband before he died three years ago in a car accident, but how much debt he’d gotten them into wasn’t one of them. She needs her job at Cross Creek, even if her boss is both gruff and gorgeous. But Owen’s a family man, through and through, and the last thing Cate is interested in is anything—or anyone—with strings attached.
As Owen and Cate join forces to right the farm, they discover there’s more to the other than the surfaces shows, and that passion can be found in unexpected places. Can Cate heal from the loss of one family to gain the love of her life? Or will the past prove too much for the promise of the future?
Cate dragged a hand through her hair, her gaze moving over the boxes in disbelief. “Let me see if I’ve got this right. You don’t do any of your bookkeeping online. At all?”
“We do. Just not a lot of it,” he amended. The Cross men lived to work the land, not the ledgers. Sure, their current system was a little time consuming, but it wasn’t totally ineffective. Cross Creek had been running on it for decades. “We have software right here on the computer.” He paused to pull up the program they used for much of their bookkeeping before adding, “It’s just that none of us are great at using it.”
“So I see,” Cate said after a quick perusal over his shoulder.
Irritation splashed through Owen’s chest. “Our books aren’t that bad.”
The parting of her lips said she was primed and ready to take him to the mat on that count, and damn it, he really didn’t have time to argue with her. “Look, I know it’s going to take some work to get things running smoothly in here.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than that,” she murmured with a shake of her head, and just like that, Owen’s patience redlined.
“Can you do it, or should I find someone else?”
Once again, his words came out gruffer than planned. But before he could even think of cooking up an apology, Cate’s arms had snapped across the front of her sweater dress to form a don’t-mess-with-me knot that was far, far more of a turn-on than it had a right to be.
“That’s what you hired me for, isn’t it? To manage your books effectively?”
“Yes,” Owen answered carefully, still caught between the desire to be annoyed, the desire to apologize, and, well, just plain desire.
“Well, then. Since I have my work cut out for me with a chainsaw, I suppose I should get to it,” Cate said.
After a quick internal debate, Owen nodded. Brash or not, he needed her. More than he cared to admit. “Okay, then.”
She answered by way of pushing up her sleeves and sliding an elastic from her wrist to secure her hair in a knot at the crown of her head. Even with the more casual edge, the powder-blue dress still hugged her curves, her calves flexing and releasing as she moved from one stack of boxes to the next in her heels, and he cleared his throat.
“Just so you know, we’re pretty casual around here. You don’t have to look nice.”
Cate’s cheeks flushed a shade of pink that, while highly pretty, didn’t bode well for him in the mending-fences department. “Good to know,” she said, and holy hell, why did his mouth refuse to cooperate with his brain around this woman?
“Not that you don’t look, uh. Fine like that. All I meant was, you don’t have to get dressed up. Jeans are okay.”
She stared down at the toes of her shiny black shoes, but only for a split second before meeting his stare with her own. “Got it, Casanova. Is that all?”
For just a heartbeat, Owen was tempted to say no, to dig deep into his Neanderthal brain for the right words to tell her she actually looked fucking beautiful. To surrender to the hot demands coming from both his chest and his cock, and cross the room to impulsively kiss her sexy, sassy mouth.
But this was Cate McAllister. His buddy Brian’s widow. He shouldn’t think she was pretty. He shouldn’t wonder if the skin on her shoulders bore the same provocative dusting of freckles as the neck she’d just put on display. And he damn sure shouldn’t be turned on like floodlights at the fire in her eyes that he’d never quite seen before, but seemed to somehow fit her perfectly.
So, he simply said, “Yes. That’s all,” and walked out of the room.
The one word that comes to mind is enduring when I have to explain what I thought about this book. Cate McAllister is not only living with the horrible loss of her husband and daughter but also is struggling in life in general. This girl simply cannot get a win! Cate is not someone screaming “Save Me” and she is certainly not looking for sympathy or even pity. As a mom and wife, this is something I could not imagine and my heart literally went out to Cate. I have to say this is why I love Kimberly Kincaid’s writing so much- she gives you a touch of slap in your face reality and it’s not always the glamorous parts of life in her books.
Owen Cross lives and breathes his family’s farm. He is so focused on the success of this farm that he has yet to find love like his other brothers. Don’t worry because Cate finds her way into his life slowly. This is when things heat up my friends! I mean come on how can you not love a hot guy in a flannel taking care on a farm! Their romance is not fast paced and at times I questioned if Cate would be the one to capture Owen’s heart. It is nice to see a romance written as it would naturally progress in “real life”.
At first, Cate was a little bit of a struggle for me to like. I hate to say it but it might be that she cooked away her problems instead of speaking about them. Silly yes but true. I had pictured Owen with someone who was bold “in your face” type in the previous books as well. After reading more of Owen, I realized that Owen would never like the “in your face” type. He would never relate or even like a girl who was a type A personality. They truly balanced each other out. You know that couple in books where they are the put together couple with wise words of advice? Cate and Owen are that couple.
Without giving away the ending, this is a story full of love, family and sometimes sorrow….really a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It can be read as a standalone but it makes for a better read if you read the previous two.
And don’t miss the first two standalone titles in the Cross Creek series, CROSSING HEARTS and CROSSING THE LINE!
Hunter Cross has no regrets. Having left his football prospects behind the day he graduated high school, he’s happy to carry out his legacy on his family’s farm in the foothills of the Shenandoah. But when a shoulder injury puts him face-to-face with the high school sweetheart who abandoned town—and him—twelve years ago, Hunter’s simple life gets a lot more complicated.
Emerson Montgomery has secrets. Refusing to divulge why she left her job as a hotshot physical therapist for a pro football team, she struggles to readjust to life in the hometown she left behind. The more time she spends with Hunter, the more Emerson finds herself wanting to trust him with the diagnosis of MS that has turned her world upside down.
But revealing secrets comes with a price. Can Hunter and Emerson rekindle their past love? Or will the realities of the present—and the trust that goes with them—burn that bridge for good?
Cocky farmer Eli Cross plays twice as hard as he works. When his latest stunt drums up a heap of negative PR for the family farm, he grudgingly agrees to play host to an ambitious New York City photographer. Her feature on Cross Creek could be just the ticket to show the country what the Cross brothers do best…which is more problem than solution for Eli.
Scarlett Edwards-Stewart has photographed everything from end zones to war zones. She’s confident she can ace this one little story to help her best friend’s failing magazine. At least, she would be if her super-sexy host wasn’t so tight lipped. But the more Scarlett works with Eli, the more she discovers that he’s not who he seems. Can his secret bring them closer together? Or will it be the very thing that tears them apart?
Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today best-selling author and a 2015 RWA RITA® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.
I was just a typical
girl, living a typical life. Nothing was out of the ordinary until tragedy
threw me into a turnstile I couldn’t see my way out of. That was, until him.
I never could’ve
imagined my heart falling the way it did. Hard, fast, and with unbounding beauty.
The only problem?
He was off limits.
Forbidden.
But he became my
everything, and I became his, so we risked it all. It was only a matter of time
until I realized that our risk came with unimaginable consequences.
My name is Camellia
Hale and his is David Andrews, and this is our love story.
I feel like I am hitting some sort of book slump because I keep finding myself in the minority on books where everyone else is loving them. It’s sort of frustrating because I feel like I am missing something. LOL But it is what it is.
Secret Lucidity was a good book. I enjoyed it. But I wasn’t “wow’d” by it like other readers. It was another right down the middle enjoyable read. Secret Lucidity was a slow burn romance for me. I was hoping to get more angst but I still didn’t mind the overall story. It’s a forbidden student/teacher romance and I just felt that there wasn’t a huge build up for that drama.
Cam is going through a very traumatic moment in her life when David comes in to her life. She never expected him or for things to go the way they did. I did like how Ms. Blair had the romance between Cam and David move forward and play out. I will say that I personally felt that in the beginning it almost felt like she relied on David because he filled the role the one person she just lost. However, it felt natural for them and nothing felt forced after things became open between the two of them.
There were certain moments where things was glazed over too. I understand that certain parts are import to the overall story, but if you aren’t going to clarify certain parts in a scene, then don’t mention them at all because it sort of leaves things open and the whole story doesn’t feel complete.
The secondary characters were definitely a needed part of this story. They helped add the drama to the situation and kept the story interesting. Cam’s mother was a piece of work but I felt her actions were glazed over the most and wanted a bit more from that aspect.
Overall, I did enjoy the story. I did want more angst and drama added in the overall story because it just felt like slow burn romance with some bits of angst here and there.
Teaser Video
Author Bio
New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling author, E.K.
Blair, takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her books. Blair
tends to drift towards love stories that are deeply layered with emotional
angst. Give her a character and she will dig into their core to find what lies
beneath.
Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks
in peace and spending time with her friends and family. She’s a thinker, an artist,
a wife, a mom, and everything in between.
My name is Katie Beller, but the world, as of late, knows me as Bailey Swan, the love guru behind my bestselling book.
Want the shortened version? Here it is:
Love was stupid.
A fake. A farce
Love was broken.
Women everywhere were eating up my advice and fighting back against fake love. My book started a relationship revolution. And I stood by my story.
Until I met Charlie Bates.
When I throw all my own rules and advice out the window after a week-long rendezvous, I start to wonder just how real my words were. Maybe love might be just a little more complicated than I thought.
Maybe I’m the one who’s love broken.
Abby McCarthy – “If you want to swoon, laugh, smile, and even blush, pick up this romcom!”
Dawn, Two Unruly Girls – “I was HOOKED.”
Next Chapter Book Blog – “Five trillion heart wrenching amaze-balls stars!!!”
Creative designer, mother, wife, writer, part time superhero…
J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer by day and superhero by night. When she’s not trying to save the world one happy ending at a time, she enjoys the snuggles of her family and three doxies. With her love for romance, and head full of book boyfriends, she was inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own story to life.
J.D. Hollyfield lives in the Midwest, and is currently at work on blowing the minds of readers, with the additions of her new books and series, along with her charm, humor and HEA’s.
We are thrilled to be bringing you Jodie Larson’s FORBIDDEN LYRICS, the third standalone in her Lightning Strikes rockstar series. Fans of contemporary romance are not going to want to miss this one–be sure to grab your copy today!
About FORBIDDEN LYRICS
Falling in love with your best friend’s sister is never a good idea. Getting caught kissing her, that’s even worse.
I watched Lizzie Donovan grow up – from pigtails and scraped knees to pouty lips and lush curves.
It wasn’t until one night nine years ago in the front seat of her car, with her lips on mine, that I realized what I was feeling was far more than friendship.
Of course, I felt her brother’s wicked left hook shortly after.
One promise was all it took to push her away.
Not anymore.
This is my chance.
I have three months to convince her that she’s the song in my heart and we’re more than just forbidden lyrics.
Add FORBIDDEN LYRICS to your Goodreads shelf here!
Grab your copy of FORBIDDEN LYRICS on Amazon today!
The house lights dim, leaving the whole place practically in darkness. A hush falls over the crowd as if the lack of light was in control of their voices. Pretty sure we’re the only table that knows what’s about to happen.
The steady beat of a drum, counting out a punishing rhythm break through the silence. A bass guitar joins in, followed closely by two more guitars. It’s a pattern I’ve heard all my life. Each instrument getting its turn to take the spotlight before coming together as a whole.
A spotlight cuts through the darkness and every girl in the room loses their mind before rushing the stage. Flashes from cell phones compete against the swirling lights illuminating the dance floor. The four of them stand there, perfectly comfortable in their surroundings, taking command of the area. Kade winds at the girls in front while Myles struts his stuff along the right side of the stage. You can barely see Pax’s head above the drum set, but every once in a while, you sneak a glimpse of his smile.
But that’s not what I’m focusing on. No, I’m drawn to the one standing off to the side, keeping a constant rhythm and not drawing as much attention to himself. Damn. If I thought Breck looked good sitting on a bar stool, he looks a million times better with a spotlight shining directly on him.
“Oh, hello Jodie Larson!” is exactly what I said while ready this book. As a first-time reader of her books, I am hooked!!! Forbidden Lyrics is the third book in the Lighting Strikes series and I have already downloaded the first two! I have got to know more about these characters! I did get a great understanding of the other bandmates so Forbidden Lyrics can be a read as a standalone.
I loved, loved, loved the hot tension between Brecken and Lizzie! I love that he has had a thing for her for years. I mean any romance that is forbidden is so fun to read. Larson did a great job at hooking me into their forbidden romance right from the start. I could see the love Brecken had for Lizzie from the start of this one and could not wait to see him get his girl. The sneaking around and the passion between them was so fun to read as well! As a bonus, I adore that Myles is Lizzie’s big brother because he is someone I would be afraid to tell I loved his band member.
Anyone wanting a romance book with some fun and sneaky around that is written to capture your attention, needs this book! Seriously this is a great series to start when all our good shows are not on T.V.! I cannot wait to read them!!
Don’t miss the other LIGHTNING STRIKES books!
SERENADING THE SHADOWS
No one should have their life planned out at the age of three. Yet that’s exactly what happened to Adrienne Carmichael. Paving the way as the “piano prodigy” was all her parents wanted…Only she didn’t.
All she wished for was to be normal, to be a regular teenager and everything that came with it—including the decisions that would shape her life.
Wish granted.
Ten years later, scarred and broken, she knows that being alone isn’t everything she imagined. The piano is finally everything, except nobody will ever hear her play again.
All that changes when a sexy-as-sin rock god blows into her life. Tall and tattooed with jet-black hair and a dangerous bad boy smile…he’s every girl’s fantasy.
To her, he’s a distraction, yet Kade Evans is everything she shouldn’t want.
Instinct tells her to run, but she can’t get him out of her mind.
But may, just maybe he can be the one to pull her from the shadows before the darkness swallows her…for good.
And it’s easy to see why. Being the lead guitarist for the country’s hottest band, Lightning Strikes, has them practically jumping into my bed and walking out the door just as quick. Which is perfect for me. Emotions complicate things, and I don’t do complicated.
Not anymore.
Sure, I was in love once, and it was great. Then it was gone. That’s when I vowed never again. Life is better without empty, broken promises.
After five years of hard work, sacrifices, and determination, everything I’ve ever wanted is in my grasp: a successful career, touring city after city and being accountable to no one.
Then she starts appearing in the crowds. The girl I once loved, and who walked away.
Only, Tatum Mitchell wasn’t just any girl; she was my girl.
Will she be the wedge that drives the last part of my heart away, or will she break down the walls I’ve built. We’re connected through the lyrics of our heart and the notes of our past, but is that enough?
Jodie Larson is a wife and mother to four beautiful girls, making their home in northern Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior. When she isn’t running around to various activities or working her regular job, you can find her sitting in her favorite spot reading her new favorite book or camped out somewhere quiet trying to write her next manuscript. She’s addicted to reading (just ask her kids or husband) and loves talking books even more so with her friends. She’s also a lover of all things romance and happily ever afters, whether in movies or in books, as shown in her extensive collection of both.
Kayla Summers was an elite CIA double agent, working inside China’s deadly MSS. Now, she works for McKay-Taggart London, but the Agency isn’t quite done with her. Spy master Ezra Fain needs her help on a mission that would send her into Hollywood’s glamorous and dangerous party scene. Intrigued by the mission and the movie star hunk she will be shadowing, she eagerly agrees. When she finds herself in his bed, she realizes she’s not only risking her life, but her heart.
A leading man who doesn’t do romance
Joshua Hunt is a legend of the silver screen. As Hollywood’s highest paid actor, he’s the man everyone wants to be, or be with, but something is missing. After being betrayed more than once, the only romance Josh believes in anymore is on the pages of his scripts. He keeps his relationships transactional, and that’s how he likes it, until he meets his new bodyguard. She was supposed to keep him safe, and satisfied when necessary, but now he’s realizing he may never be able to get enough of her.
An ending neither could have expected
Protecting Joshua started off as a mission, until it suddenly felt like her calling. When the true reason the CIA wanted her for this assignment is revealed, Kayla will have to choose between serving her country or saving the love of her life.
Her eyes came up, a flash of recognition there. “Yes?”
“Are you going to sign the contract or do you have more questions?”
She picked up the pen sitting on top of the contracts that would bind the two of them together for the next six months. They would reevaluate the relationship at that point in time, but for the next six months, she was his. His bodyguard. His submissive.
Bought and properly paid for. He would take care of her and she would give him what he needed.
She signed with a flourish and sat back, a gleam of curiosity in her eyes.
He was curious, too, and there was zero reason to not satisfy their curiosity. Hard and soft limits had been gone over. They would find their communication style as they went along. But first she should understand that he was in control.
“Come sit on my lap.”
She didn’t hesitate. She stood and turned, shifting so she could maneuver her way onto his lap.
Her weight came down on him and he wrapped an arm around her waist. Damn but she made him feel big. He’d seen her take out a man twice her size, but sitting here in his lap she felt small and vulnerable, and fuck but that did it for him.
He slid a hand along her knee, letting himself indulge in the silky-smooth feel of her skin against his palm. “Did you do as I asked?”
He was well aware his voice had gone husky, deeper than normal.
“Yes, Joshua.” She squirmed the tiniest bit, as though trying to find a comfortable position. It might be difficult for her because she was sitting right on his cock, and it was harder and thicker than he could ever remember it being.
“How can I trust you?” This was all part of the game he loved. Here he could let go and play out the darker of his impulses—to control, to take, to possess.
See. Want. Have.
“You’ll have to check,” she replied. “Though shouldn’t we go inside?”
He reached out and picked up his cell with his free hand, pushing one number and connecting to the security room. He put them on speaker. She needed to understand what she was up against in order for the game to be fair. “Landon?”
“This is Burke,” the deep voice replied. “Shane’s on patrol. What can I do for you?”
“Burke, I would like to fuck my submissive on the third-floor balcony. Is anyone watching us? Can you see any cameras pointed our way?”
A low, masculine chuckle came across the line. “No, Mr. Hunt. And given the angle relative to the beach, you should enjoy your evening without worry. The only peepers I would worry about would be your next-door neighbor, and Jared is out for the night.”
“I wouldn’t care if he wasn’t. Keep up the good work.” He hung up and his hand tightened. “I would prefer when we’re playing that you don’t question me like that. I know where I want to fuck you. I know when I want to fuck you, and I’m in charge. If I want you in the middle of a crowded freeway, your only response is a yes or a no. Not to question me.”
She seemed to relax back against him, as though she was giving up the struggle and choosing to submit. “Yes, Joshua. Yes, I understand, and yes to the sex. Please.”
He liked the breathy please and loved how she squirmed. Still, he wasn’t absolutely sure she’d obeyed him, and he was a man who required proof. He slid his hand up her thigh. “Spread your legs for me.”
Her knees fell apart, and he could feel the heat from her core. He slipped a hand up until he made contact with her softest skin. No panties. Nothing but wet heat waiting for him, and it was obvious the play had cranked her up, too. His free hand eased one button on her shirt free, and then another and another until he could move in like a soldier conquering territory. No bra. Her breasts were like the rest of her. Soft and delicate. One nipple rolled against his palm, hardening then and there.
“I can see you’ve been an obedient sub,” he said, his mouth against her ear. “You need to stay that way or there will be punishment. I’m not a sadist, Kayla. I truly don’t get off on your pain, but I will give it to you if you need it. I am a disciplinarian. I gain satisfaction from your obedience. In exchange, I’ll show you how good it can be to obey me.”
I can’t believe this is the last book in this series – Yes, I know it’s book 15 but damnit I love this series so much. However, I am so excited that we have spinoff series coming about the lost boys and I am soooo looking forward to that.
So I had a hard time rating this book – I kept flipping between 3 and 4, so my overall is 3.5 but I leaned more towards 4 because I only had one issue and I didn’t feel that is bad enough to push the book to a 3.
Nobody Does It Better is Kayla’s book. She’s the last of crew and has spent the majority of her years as a double agent with MSS. She’s lived her life playing a role so her new assignment is nothing new to her – submissive bodyguard to one Hollywood’s biggest stars. Oh yea……
Josh Hunt has a wicked and dark past that he has tried to leave behind him. It’s left him bitter about love. But he has come to realize that the world of BDSM is his calling and one thing he can always rely on. And he now finds himself in need of someone to not only become his submissive but also be able to keep things strict and professional and be his bodyguard.
Lexi does sexy and suspenseful like no one else. She has this perfect mix of intensity with both the BDSM elements and the suspense/action going on. You find yourself get sucked into the story and just breezing through the pages needing to know what happens next. It’s that intensity that she just rocks at.
I may not have loved this one as much as others – there was ALOT going on that it was hard to keep track – but I still really enjoyed it. This may have been the last in the series, but she did a great job of transitioning us to the spin off series The Lost Boys. So as sad as I am to have to say goodbye to this series, she has me eager to start the next one.
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
Genre: Contemporary/New Adult Romance Release Date: February 22, 2018
Blurb
He was
an artist. She was his muse.To everyone in town, Abel Adams was the devil’s spawn, a boy who never should
have been born. A monster.To twelve year-old Evie Hart, he was just a boy with golden hair, soft t-shirts
and a camera. A boy who loved taking her picture and sneaking her chocolates
before dinner. A boy who made her feel special.Despite her family’s warnings, she loved him in secret for six years. They met
in empty classrooms and kissed in darkened church closets. Until they couldn’t.Until the time came to choose between love and family, and Evie chose Abel.Because their love was worth the risk. Their love was the stuff of legend.But the thing about legends is that they are cautionary tales. They are made of
choices and mistakes. And for Abel and Evie, the artist and the muse, those
mistakes come in the form of lights, camera, sex.
NOTE: This is NOT a paranormal or a priest romance.
It’s rare, if not possibly a first, that we’ve posted a review where the rating wasn’t 3 stars or higher. But I chose to share my review because while I find myself warring between a 2 or 3 star review, I still want fellow readers to see where I struggled to enjoy this book where others loved it. And even though this book didn’t wow me, I want others to still give this book a read.
I requested to review this book because I not only saw all the raving about it, but I also read great reviews about this author in particular. Gods and Monsters is the first book I have read from Saffron and to be honest, for all the amazing reviews about her, I was let down with this book.
I am right down the middle for this book. And because I had such high hopes, this book just deflated even more for me. I am definitely in the minority on this one and I am fine with that. This is just my opinion and how I was left feeling after reading this book. A three star rating in my opinion is still a decent book to read. But I will be honest, I struggled rating this one – so I settled for an overall rating of 2.5 stars.
The first part of this book started off brilliantly and I could see why people rated this book so high. Hell, after the first part, I was rating this book a 5 star read. I loved the story line, loved the characters and how everything was coming together.
The second part totally killed the vibes I was feeling in the first half and left me wanting more. No, more isn’t the right word. It left me a bit dry despite all the damn sex going on. I found myself stopping a lot while reading the second half and truly not giving a shit how this ended, I really didn’t. However, I pushed forward and did finish the book.
While I did not care for how the story played itself out, that’s not the reason for my rating. I won’t rate a book because I didn’t like that the author went a different route than what I wanted. My rating is because the book lost it’s mojo and excitement for me. I no longer felt vested in the characters and no longer cared what happened to them. And for me that just took the book from 5 stars to somewhere between 2 and 3 stars.
Overall, I did enjoy this author’s writing style and will give her other books a look. This book wasn’t my fave but I’d still urge anyone to give it a go. Many others enjoyed this book,I sadly wasn’t one if them. I am hoping that Sky and Duke are given their own book and that I will read.
Writer
of bad romances. Aspiring Lana Del Rey of the Book World. Saffron is a big believer in love (obviously). She believes in happily ever
after, the butterflies and the tingling. But she also believes in edgy, rough
and gutsy kind of love. She believes in pushing the boundaries, darker
(sometimes morally ambiguous) emotions and imperfections.The kind of love she writes about is flawed just like her characters. And she
hopes by the end of it, you’ll come to root for them just as much as she does.
Because love, no matter where it comes from, is always pure and beautiful.She is represented by Meire Dias of Bookcase Agency
A hot and hilarious new standalone from New York Times bestseller Kendall Ryan.
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen titles, Kendall Ryan has sold over 1.5 million books and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than three dozen times. Ryan has been featured in such publications as USA Today, Newsweek, and InTouch Magazine.
About Kimberly Kincaid:
About FORBIDDEN LYRICS
About JODIE LARSON
A spy who specializes in seduction
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
