New Releases – Page 238 – Read-Love-Blog

Sex & the Single Vamp by Robin Covington…Release Day Event

From Robin:

Friends –

Sex & the Single Vamp is my first foray into writing paranormal romance and I can admit that it was a terrifying and exciting experience. I loved writing this book.

The world-building was a blast. When I started it, I had one question: What would the world look like if we knew that “Others” (vampires, werewolves, shifters, fey, and witches) really existed and had lived among us for centuries? Would we embrace these people and remember who they were (your neighbor, co-worker, doctor and pastor) or would we be afraid and turn our backs on them?

Weaving Cici and Deacon into world events (the American Revolution, the shootout at OK Corral, for example) was so much fun and I felt a little bit like the writer of Forrest Gump. LOL.

But the heart of this story is a passion between Cici and Deacon that 254 years and heartbreak can’t extinguish. These are two people who cannot be together but who just can’t leave each other alone and they always have each other’s back.

So when Cici’s life is threatened, Deacon will forget his own pain and do whatever it takes to save her¾even if it means telling the secret that will lose Cici forever.

Warning: This book contains a sexy, dominating vampire who always gets what he wants and an independent woman who won’t let a simple thing like immortality get in the way of her happiness. The author is not responsible for spontaneous combustion of the reader.

To celebrate my release, I’m giving away a $50 giftcard and 10 SWAG packs! Enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blurb:

Cici Trent, vampire and media darling, spends her days finding true love for humans and supernaturals (the “Others”) at her dating agency. But someone is trying to sabotage her business and she needs help. Unfortunately, the best man for the job is the one who broke her still beating heart two hundred fifty-four years ago.

Deacon is a patient vampire. He’s only loved one woman in over three hundred years— Cici— and she chose another. So when she shows up in his office asking for help, he finally has the chance to lay that demon to rest. He’ll help her, but for a price—a night in his bed.

Adrenaline, mischief, and a little late-night B&E light the passion that even a couple of lifetimes couldn’t put out. But Deacon has a secret and when Cici is suddenly mortal, his deception might be the only way restore her immortality. Can love bridge the gap between a heartbeat and forever?

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1dhe6oa

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1okzTwX

iBooks: http://bit.ly/NNw1ta

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

Allromance ebooks: http://bit.ly/1gdzhoy

Add it to your Goodreads shelf: http://bit.ly/1mQqVw3

Website book page with trailer, playlist and more: http://bit.ly/1okCOWy

Excerpt:

He let the silence fall between them as the tub filled, turning off the water when it hit the right level. He stood; his skin itched for him to get the hell out of there. He needed space. He needed to get some control over his emotions, his body.

“Water’s ready. Towels over in that basket. Stay as long as you want—the heater will maintain the temperature.”

Cici brushed past him, his body tingling where she touched him. He was hyper aware of her movements behind him, jerking slightly at the thump her high heels made when they hit the tile floor, groaning with the hiss of her minidress slithering over her skin and sliding to the floor. The swish of water as she climbed in; her sigh as she settled under the tumbling warmth. Fuck, he should leave. Where was that space he was thinking about earlier? He needed to get there.

Now.

“Come here.”

He froze. His body tensed as he willed it not to move. This was a bad idea.

“Deacon.”

He turned, her blue gaze clashing with his as steam rose around her, fl ushing her skin and making her auburn hair twist into curls that dragged and clung to her damp skin. He wanted to follow their path, licking and tasting, making her burn.

“Come here.”

He groaned. This was the time to leave. She’d want to talk and he couldn’t be trusted to keep the secrets he needed to keep for just a little while longer. One wrong slip to Cici and she’d bolt, vulnerable and too angry at him to pay attention to the danger.

“I’m…I can’t…too jacked up. My nerves are shot.”

“Your nerves are shot?” She huffed out a bitter laugh as she leaned back against the tub, eyes closed, the pale globes of her breasts breaking the surface of the water and putting her hard, pink nipples on display. “I almost got killed tonight and I need you here with me. Calm the beast and get your ass in here.”

Whoa. His cock hardened even more in the painful confines of his jeans. She was pissed and his sick, depraved mind got off on it. A new kink in his extensive arsenal.

“Look at you. You’re a goddess. Everything about you says don’t fuck with me.”

Her eyes opened, snapping to lock with his own. “Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m not.” And he wasn’t. She was vibrating with rage and he was afraid. Afraid that her demon would reach out and grab his and he wasn’t sure he could contain the chemical reaction. He swallowed hard, loving the small burst of pain that brought him down a little. “I’m not okay tonight, Cici. I’ll hurt you.”

“Tough shit. Get the beast under control.”

“But—”

“You won’t.”

She looked at him then and he could have resisted her if she’d been a demanding shrew, but the goddam vulnerability in her eyes killed him. On the surface she was a goddess. The huntress. Diana on a rampage, but her eyes gave it away. Not far below the surface was her shimmering, open, hurting core and he had to give in to that.

His guilt, his fear, his rage would have to wait.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Don’t punish me for this later.” He reached over his head, grabbing his shirt and yanking it off and throwing it on the floor. Within a matter of seconds his jeans and boots had joined it and he was naked, his cock jutting out from his body in full arousal.

Cici drank him in, her gaze following every line of his body from the top of his head to his feet and then resettled on his groin with a flash of blue around her pupils. Deacon groaned, wrapping his hand around his dick and stroking from root to tip as she watched him, turning him on more with that look than anyone’s touch had ever done.

Reviews:

“Sex & the Single Vamp is the perfect blend of dark and sexy.” #1 New York Times Bestseller, Jennifer Armentrout

“The world building is engaging, original, and all consuming and if you think you know what’s going to happen next…you don’t. Twists and turns abound. The characters practically walk off the sizzling pages and the romance between Deacon and Cici runs from intoxicatingly erotic to heartbreakingly tender. I was rooting for this supernatural couple from page one! Book boyfriend…thy name is Deacon. Sara Humphreys, Bestselling Author of UNCLAIMED

About the author:

Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello. You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.robincovingtonromance.com

Facebook Profile: http://on.fb.me/YSW9n3

Facebook Page: http://on.fb.me/1fCyWuQ

Twitter: @RobinCovington

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1c1Tm5u

Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/qjFcz

Tame Me by J. Kenner…ARC Review

Tame Me releases March 25

Pre-Order links:

Synopsis:

Aspiring actress Jamie Archer is on the run. From herself. From her wild child ways. From the screwed up life that she left behind in Los Angeles. And, most of all, from Ryan Hunter—the first man who has the potential to break through her defenses to see the dark fears and secrets she hides.

Stark International Security Chief Ryan Hunter knows only one thing for sure—he wants Jamie. Wants to hold her, make love to her, possess her, and claim her. Wants to do whatever it takes to make her his.

But after one night of bliss, Jamie bolts. And now it’s up to Ryan to not only bring her back, but to convince her that she’s running away from the best thing that ever happened to her—him

My review:

Tame Me is the first Blue Box Special in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series as well as the first story in author J. Kenner’s Stark International series, a spin-off of her Stark Trilogy. Talk about kicking off a series with a sexy and steamy bang. This novella was incredible!

Jamie Archer has decided it was time for a new plan. Her current situation wasn’t working for her anymore and she really needed a change. She was tired of not being happy with the girl looking back at her in the mirror. She wanted to ditch her sex-as-a-temporary-fix-for-a-permanent-problem ways. She wanted to mean more to herself and find out who she truly was. The first step in her plan was leaving L.A. and heading back home to Texas. With her mind made up and just about ready to set out on the road there was on thing that she hated thinking about leaving behind. Ryan. Deliciously sexy, he was the only man she had wanted, but never acted upon. Now he’s the one thing keeping her on the fence as to whether she should leave or stay.

Ryan Hunter has watched Jamie for quite some time now. He knows her habits, her ways, her inner fire…he knows her. He also knows he wants her with a desperation that he has never felt toward any woman before. The only problem was she wasn’t used to keeping a guy around past a romp or two between the sheets. And if there was one thing Ryan was sure of, it was that he took her to his bed, he would be staying around. For a very long time. Now, he just had to convince her to stay. Not just here in L.A., but with him.

Ryan and Jamie have an undeniable chemistry and one that cannot be ignored…with a little bit of convincing; Ryan just may be the only “plan” Jamie needs.

Dear all things hot and holy…this story was scorching! I devoured it in one sitting and was so sad I read it that fast. I will definitely need to go back for a re-read. The heat between Ryan and Jamie is blazing and builds at a delicious and delectable pace. Ryan is 100% alpha and makes no bones about telling Jamie exactly what he wants from her and hot damn, it is wonderfully detailed and beyond super sexy. I admired Jamie and her quest to find out more about herself. She is also a witty and sassy gal, which I loved. She gave Ryan quite a run for his money and the chase was indeed a whole lot of the fun. Together they make a scrumptious pair and totally balance one another out both in the bedroom and out. Hard and soft, stubborn and yielding…they really are a beautifully equalized couple.

Thank you, Julie for one hell of a steamy and sexy read! I can’t wait to see what the Stark International Series has in store for us.

Five Loves

About the author (from the author website):

As Julie Kenner, I’ve written in multiple genres, including romance, young adult, urban fantasy and paranormal mommy lit (have you met Kate from my Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series?).

As J.K. Beck, I write dark, sexy, gritty paranormal romantic suspense that USA Today raves is a “hot, alluring fantasy ride.”

Finally, I write emotionally charged erotic romance as J. Kenner. Book 1 & 2 of the Stark Trilogy, Release Me, and Claim Me, are New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. Book 3,Complete Me, is coming soon!

(The complete Julie Kenner/J.K. Beck/J. Kenner booklist is here.)

In other words, my stories cross all sorts of genres–paranormal mommy lit, dark and gritty paranormal romances, steamy erotica, edge-of-your-seat suspense, contemporary romances, demon-filled urban fantasy, young adult novels, and more (even screenplays!)

Make yourself at home on the site, and if you don’t find what you’re looking for, drop me a line at juliekenner@gmail.com

Here’s an official bio (scroll down for the unofficial one!):

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Sex on the Beach Blog Tour Stop & Reviews

Welcome to my stop on the Sex on the Beach Blog Tour!

I have two reviews to share with you all as well as information on the tour wide giveaway…

thanks for stopping by!

A note from the authors:

Dear Reader,

Prepare yourself for Sex on the Beach, a trilogy featuring BETWEEN US (Jen McLaughlin), BEYOND ME (Jennifer Probst), and BEFORE YOU (Jenna Bennett). Three separate novellas. Three different authors. One literary world. Read them all, or just read one. It’s up to you! No matter which route you choose, these standalone novellas are sure to satisfy your need for sizzling romance and an emotion packed story.

GOODREADS LINKS:

BEFORE YOU ~ BETWEEN US ~ BEYOND ME

Book links:

Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis:

I’m just a girl…

I’m a famous country star who’s spent her life cultivating a good girl persona to avoid bad press, but I’ve reached my limit. I’m going away for spring break with my two best friends from college, and we’ve vowed to spend the vacation seeking out fun in the sun—along with some hot, no-strings-attached sex. The only thing I needed was the perfect guy, and then I met Austin Murphy. He might be totally wrong for me, but the tattooed bad boy is hard to resist. When I’m in his arms, everything just feels right.

And I’m just a guy…

I’m just a bartender who lives in Key West, stuck in an endless cycle of boredom. But then Mackenzie Forbes, America’s Sweetheart herself, comes up to me and looks at me with those bright green eyes…and everything changes. She acts like she’s just a normal girl and I’m just a normal guy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My past isn’t pretty, you know. I did what I had to do to survive, and she’d run if she learned the truth about my darkness. But with her, I’m finally realizing what it’s like to be alive. To laugh, live, and be happy.

All good things must come to an end…

My review:

Between Us by Jen McLaughlin is the second novella in the Sex on the Beach Series. Being a huge fan of Jen’s I was SO excited to get my hands on this novella. Well, Jen has done it again! I adored this book!

Country music superstar sweetheart Mackenzie Forbes just wants to have a normal girls weekend with her two best gal pals. Lay around, drinking cocktails and meeting guys. Shuck the good girl image she is known for and just be free. Of course, being in the spotlight, she knows this is pretty hard to do without going unnoticed. But so far so good! Mackenzie seems to be flying under the radar and luckily it doesn’t seem that the sexy bartender she has taken notice of realizes who she is. After talking with him and making plans to meet up, she is fairly certain her anonymity has remained, which is a huge relief. Because there’s something about this guy that she really likes. He’s different from anyone else she’s ever met and Mackenzie would love to get to know him better….without her fame getting in the way.

Key West bartender Austin Murphy can’t believe his eyes. Is Mackenzie Forbes really sitting as his bar? She clearly doesn’t think he recognizes her and clearly she doesn’t want to be recognized. Far be it from Austin to deny her that. He knows what it’s like to want to be someone else. After all, it’s why he moved here in the first place. But he can’t deny the attraction between them and he sure can’t say no when she says she wants to spend some of her vacation weith him. What would she say if she knew the dark things about his past? Would she change her mind about him? God, he hoped not. She’s the best thing that has walked into his life and he would hate to give her up.

The dance Mackenzie and Austin are swaying to is slow and sensual with plenty of heat but there’s also the issue of trust lying just below the surface. Will Mackenzie trust Austin with her true identity? Will Austin trust Mackenzie with his past? Will a weekend be enough for either of them to quench the thirst they have for one another?

Oh man, I loved this story. Jen does such an amazing job with her book guys. Austin is the quintessential bad-boy on the outside/good-guy on the inside and I absolutely adored him. Mackenzie has been stifled by her life in the spotlight and craves the normalcy of a young woman. Both wanting to escape their lives for even a day, both Austin and Mackenzie find solace in each other’s company…as well as plenty of heat. The sexual tension between them is smoldering and absolutely delicious! Then, learning more about Austin’s past, I loved him even more. Of course there was a big mess they have to deal with and it’s the test of their very new relationship….I won’t give anything away but I will say that I was so happy with how it ended. *dreamy sigh* Simply perfect!

Thank you, Jen, for yet another amazing, romantic, sexy, yummy read!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis:

CAN FUN IN THE SUN TURN INTO LASTING LOVE?

Spring break in Key West with my besties was supposed to be casual fun. But I never expected to meet James Hunt. Sex and frolic? Yes! A relationship? No. But his hot blue eyes and confident manner drew me in. And when he let me see the man behind the mask, I fell hard, foolishly believing there could be a future for us. Of course I never considered our relationship might be based on lies…or that his betrayal could rock my foundation and make me question everything I believed in…

OR WILL A LIFE BUILT ON LIES RUIN EVERYTHING?

The moment I saw Quinn I knew I had to have her. She hooked me with her cool eyes and don’t touch me attitude. I had it all, money, social status, and looks. I could get any girl I wanted…until her. When my friends challenged me with a bet to get her into bed by the end of the week, I couldn’t pass it up. But sex wasn’t supposed to turn into love. She wasn’t supposed to change me, push me, and make me want more for myself. She wasn’t supposed to wreck me in all ways. And now, if I can’t turn my lies into truth, I just might lose her forever…

My review:

Beyond Me is a novella in the Sex on the Beach Series and being a big Jennifer Probst fan, I was so excited to get my hands on this story. Jennifer didn’t let me down. This story was just perfect!

On Spring Break in Key West with her two BFF’s, Quinn must venture out and meet a guy. Why, you ask? It was the deal her and her girlfriends had made. They wouldn’t be spending a ton of girl time together. They needed to branch out and get some action. Some guy action. It’s this deal that leads her to a house party at a gorgeous and sprawling mansion. After being there only a short time, Quinn isn’t too impressed with what’s going on. Scantily clad drunken girls and Ken doll perfect frat guys. SO not her thing. All that changes when she meets James Hunt. He seems to be different than all these guys here and she immediately takes to him. It doesn’t take long for Quinn to decide James should be the guy she throws caution to the wind with and enjoy a fling with….too bad she finds herself wanting more with him by the end of their trip. Forget the problem of the trip ending. The bigger problem, Quinn soon finds out, is James wasn’t exactly honest with her from the very beginning. Could his dishonesty ruin any chance for a long-term relationship?

James Hunt was used to throwing the parties at his parents house on Spring Break. He was used to the girls and the booze and all the annoying nonsense that came with it. And he was over all of it. But he couldn’t be annoyed tonight. Now when he sees Quinn. She’s unlike any other girl at this party and he instantly knows he must have her and after spending even a little bit of time with her, he was sure of it. Of course his friends take that as a chance to offer up a challenge to get her in bed before the weekend was up. Just to shut them up, James accepts. Quinn would never find out anyway, right? The more time James spends with Quinn he sure hopes she doesn’t because he’s fallen hard and fast for her. But even if she did find out about some stupid bet, she would surely know his feelings for her were true and very real….right? Or could that one stupid bet risk it all?

Two people from opposite ends of the social status spectrum turn out to be a perfect match when it comes to matters of the heart. Will they be able to overlook all of the silly mistakes that lead up to the present and give what they’ve found a chance?

I simply adored this book. In true Jennifer fashion, she gives the reader two fantastic characters with an undeniable attraction that built beautifully throughout the story. Of course, the whole matter of the bet had me a nervous wreck and I was so worried for Quinn and James because I really REALLY wanted things to work between them. James, despite coming from loads of money, was a broken soul and I wanted to give him a great big hug when he let his true feelings about his childhood show and how he feels about his parents spill out. Quinn was so amazing and strong. She has been dealt a tough hand in life but is determined to make the best of things. Their differences balanced out and I loved them as a couple. I won’t give anything away as far as the bet and the ending but I will say this: the thing I love most about Jennifer’s writing is her ability to write an amazing ending. Chick-flick-movie-worthy type of endings, I tell you. And this was no exception.

Thank you, Jennifer, for a sexy and loving story!

Five Loves

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author links:

JENNIFER PROBST
Website:  www.jenniferprobst.com
Facebook Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage
Twitter:   https://twitter.com/jenniferprobst
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst

JEN MCLAUGHLIN
Website: http://dianealberts.com/
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin

JENNA BENNETT
Website:  www.jennabennett.com
Facebook Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenna-Bennett-Jennie-Bentley/192400104127600
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Bennett_Jenna
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1549070.Jenna_Bennett

Captured in Surrender by Liliana Hart ebook GIVEAWAY

Happy Weekend!

To start your weekend off right, I have FIVE kindle copies of Liliana Hart’s CAPTURED IN SURRENDER to give away! (if you don’t have a kindle, not to worry! You can download free Kindle reading apps HERE)

Enter to win in the rafflceopter below…the contest runs through midnight next Sunday and winners will be announced Monday, March 24.

Thanks for stopping by!

I also had the pleasure of interviewing Liliana for the 1,001 Dark Nights newsletter….here is a peek:

I love that all of your books have suspense in them. What are some of your favorite suspense films and have any inspired you to write?

I am a complete and total movie buff. It’s one of my favorite ways to let my brain recharge between books, so movies are definitely an inspiration to my books. All of the Mission Impossible movies, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, James Bond, The Last Crusade, all of the Jason Bourne movies, and pretty much anything that has lots of explosions and great fight scenes. Or Angelina Jolie. She kicks ass.

You currently write a few different series…how hard is it to keep track of what’s going to happen next in each series?

Oh, man. It’s getting harder and harder to keep them all straightened out, but it also helps that they’re all so different. I’m a mega-spazz when it comes to writing, which is why I have to change things up and write such different series. It keeps things fresh for me so I don’t get bored and I think it keeps it fresh for readers too.

Hmm, what’s going to happen next in each series? That’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one <g>. I get a lot of emails asking this exact question, because as you know, I like to leave my readers wanting more at the end of each book.

Everyone is waiting to see what happens with Shane MacKenzie in my MacKenzie series. I can tell you with absolute certainty that you’ll probably cry a little at his story. But I think you’re going to really like his heroine too, and you’ll be just as relieved as I am for him to finally get his happily-ever-after in SCORCH. That’s really all I can tell you <g>.

I also left Addison Holmes in a bit of a pickle with the whole pregnancy test thing. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen in WHISKEY, YOU’RE THE DEVIL, because what fun would that be? Just know it will be a wild ride.

As far as the J.J. Graves Series, I can tell you that J.J. and Jack will be getting married in DOWN AND DIRTY. But they’ll be solving a doozy of a crime while trying to get down the aisle.

Your steamy scenes in Captured in Surrender are pretty amazing and delicious. What do you think the hardest part of writing a great sex scene is?

Should I admit that I love writing the sex scenes and they come pretty easy? No pun intended <g>. I’d say in general the hardest part of the sex scenes are making sure it’s not just body parts involved, but also emotions and dialogue. I think that’s what makes my sex scenes different. I love for my H/h to talk during sex.

Lane and Nayaare a great pair and I loved their story. What made you choose them for your novella?

Well, sometimes people just pop into my head for no reason. Naya was one of those people, and I couldn’t get rid of her. But at the same time I wasn’t sure what book she belonged in. (I’m seriously amazed every day that men in white coats don’t try to have me committed, because I know that sounds crazy). I also figured she’d be a great fit in the MacKenzie universe, but I knew she wasn’t the heroine for any of the MacKenzies. But I thought she’d be perfect for one of their friends, so Lane Greyson was born and they hit it off immediately in my head.

Lane and Nayaalso make one hell of a bad-guy-ass-kicking team. Will we see more of them in the MacKenzie Series?

It’s possible. I never know who’s going to show up when I start writing a MacKenzie book. They pretty much do and say what they want.

How much fun is it to work with police for you book research? Have there been any intense moments?

I love, love, love getting to do research for my books, and I’ve met a lot of great people who do very intense and dangerous jobs, and my respect for them is at the highest possible level. Many of them have also become good friends. I’ve gotten to do some pretty incredible things in the name of research, and these guys are greatat getting the adrenaline going whether in a dangerous situation or not. I love going to the range and shooting, but I also really enjoy sitting around a table with a bunch of cops and just listening to them talk. Most of my characters come from real life people.

You can find the entire interview HERE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About 1,001 Dark Nights:

1001 Dark Nights is a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning.

Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features 12 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.

In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution.

In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest

About the author:

Liliana Hart spent five years teaching music in the public education system. She molded America’s youth, busted kids for smoking pot in the restrooms, and broke up illicit affairs behind the stage on a regular basis. She finally decided to hang up her hat and let someone else have all the fun. (Liliana’s Addison Holmes Mystery Series, about a small town teacher who gets into a whole lot of trouble, is somewhat autobiographical, but she won’t confess to which parts).

Liliana began reading romance novels with all her new found free time, and when she ran out of things to read, she decided to write her own novels. The result was a 150,000 word thriller—a dazzling adventure—where the heroine was a thirty-year-old virgin assassin (Yes, you read that right). She couldn’t imagine why people weren’t knocking down her door to read it, but she persevered and began writing a second book. She finally got the hang of things, and eventually learned that losing one’s virginity wasn’t all that romantic after all. All of her books involve some kind of suspense (she just can’t help herself), laughter, and a lot of steamy sex.

Since self-publishing in June of 2011, she’s sold more than 2 million ebooks all over the world, hit both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and been nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. Liliana is addicted to reading, kickboxing, and Bones. She lives in a big, rambling house in Texas with a couple of cats to keep her company. She loves to get emails from readers.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

Review….Turn Up the Heat by Kimberly Kincaid

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

“It’s not you.”

There are only so many times a girl can hear those words before she believes that it is, in fact, very much her. Unexpectedly jilted by her locally famous boyfriend and haunted by a boss who makes Attila the Hun look like a lap dog, Bellamy Blake does what any self-respecting girl in her shoes would do. She rounds up her two best girlfriends and makes plans to get the hell out of Dodge.

But Bellamy’s escape plan takes a nose dive on the side of rural route 164 when her transmission self-destructs, leaving her in the middle of a cell phone dead zone with nothing but her wits. Oh, and Shane Griffin, the hottest mechanic who’s ever checked under her hood.

Yet this small-town man isn’t all he seems. Can Shane and Bellamy prove that sometimes the most unlikely ingredients make the most deliciously sexy mix?

My Review:

Turn Up the Heat is the first book in author Kimberly’ Kincaid’s new Pine Mountain Series and being a huge fan of Kimberly’s I was SO excited about this book. And, yep! It was deliciously fantastic!

Bellamy Blake has had a really, really, REALLY crappy week. First, she finds out her newscaster boyfriend is moving to California without her (in essence dumping her) and now her car has decided to call it quits on the way to a girl’s weekend in the mountains leaving her to walk a few miles in the middle of nowhere to find help because of course there’s no cell service. Harumph. Oh, and add Bellamy’s horrid boss into the mix and yeah, it’s been a really crappy week. Just when she thinks it can’t get worse, she has to deal with a less-than-warm-and-fuzzy mechanic. Yes, he’s ruggedly sexy and built like a dream, but his charm is seriously lacking. Unfortunately for Bellamy he isn’t un-charming enough to keep from making appearances in her mind and when she and her girlfriends run into him at the local dive bar, she can’t help but feel an attraction between them. And neither can he. Could a fling with a smoking hot grease monkey be just what the doctor ordered to erase the memories of this past week?

Shane Griffin did not need to get involved with a girl from the city. For far too many reasons to count and too many reasons he is trying to leave behind. Even though she was stunning and held a fire within her that had her giving as good as he gave, he shouldn’t be thinking about her. But hell, that’ was easier said than done. Especially when she seems to be everywhere he goes. First the market and now here at the bar. He wouldn’t have much luck staying away from her at this rate. The more frightening thought is that he didn’t exactly want to stay away from her. Yep, he was screwed…

What starts out as a tit-for-tat verbal fencing kind of relationship between Bellamy and Shane soon turns into a smoking hot attraction that refuses to burn out. An attraction that will pull them together and turn a weekend fling into the promise of so much more. Bellamy is soon questioning what truly makes her happy and may want to take a leap while Shane is questioning if he should tell Bellamy the truth of who he is. Can two people who seem to be such opposites turn out to be more alike than they could have imagined?

Oh man, I loved this story! Kimberly writes such an amazing balance between sweet and spicy that I found myself devouring this book and wanting seconds! Shane is sex on a grease stained, flannel clad stick. He is a little gruff to start but yields deliciously as the story progresses. He’s smart and skilled and has a big heart, even if he doesn’t like to admit it. He is hiding something for most of the book and that added even more to the mystery of him and I loved that aspect of it. (my lips are sealed as to what that secret is!) Bellamy is a real spitfire. She has some witty lines that had me wanting to high five her through the pages. She really needs the karmic universe to cut her a break and although she doesn’t realize it yet, being stuck in Pine Mountain with Shane is exactly that break. I loved these two together and the smexy scenes are delicious. Really freaking delicious! Oh, and the ending? It could not be more amazing and perfect and sweet and sexy and, well, awesome!

And of course, I can’t write this review without mentioning Bellamy’s girlfirneds. They are such a fun and entertaining support system. I would go away with these gals any time!

If you love a steamy romance with wonderfully written characters, this is a book for you! Thank you, Kimberly, for giving us Bellamy and Shane. I cannot wait for more from Pine Mountian!

Four Loves

About the author:

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 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ARC Review…Captured in Surrender by Liliana Hart

Captured in Surrender cover

Book links:

Kindle ~ Amazon paperback ~ Goodreads ~ 1001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

This is a story about one of Cooper’s deputies so is a story that is very loosely connected to the MacKenzies, but is a standalone and can be read separate from the series.

Bounty Hunter Naya Blade never thought she’d step foot in Surrender, Montana again. Especially since there was a warrant out for her arrest. But when her skip ends up in the normally peaceful town, she has no choice but to go after him to claim her reward. Even at the cost of running into the cop that makes her blood run hot and her sense of self-preservation run cold.

Deputy Lane Greyson wants to see Naya in handcuffs, but he’d much prefer them attached to his bed instead of in a cold jail cell. She drove him crazy once before and then drove right out of town, leaving havoc in her wake. He’s determined to help her hunt down the bad guy so he can claim his own bounty—her.

My review:

Captured in Surrender is a novella by Liliana Hart and is the third novella in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series as well as connected to her MacKenzies Series. I have read, and loved, a few of Liliana’s other works and was so excited to read this novella. Well, from start to finish this story was deliciously fantastic!

Hot on the trail of her latest fugitive, bounty hunter Naya Blade can’t believe her luck and that’s she ended up back in Surrender. A town she never wanted to see again. Sure, the whole bar fight and trouble her brother had gotten her involved in and subsequent arrest warrant had something to do with it, but the bigger problem was Lane Greyson. Lane, the hot, sexy, strong and silent Sheriff’s Deputy. The fling she had with him last time she was in this town had stayed with her far too long. Longer than it should have and it scared the hell out of her. She couldn’t afford to get involved with a guy, especially a guy who had the potential to steal her heart…like Lane did.

Deputy Lane Greyson can’t believe she is back. He couldn’t get Naya out of his mind since her last whirlwind visit to Surrender and now that she was back, he knew he was in trouble. There was no way he would let her get away again. She was the second good thing he’s been able to find since leaving the army. The first being the town of Surrender itself. First order of business though was to get her arrest warrant taken care of and while he had her in handcuffs he planned on showing her exactly how much she’s affected him since she left…

Both hurt by loss in their pasts will end up bringing Lane and Naya closer than they had thought possible and will solidify their attraction…but will it be enough to build a real relationship on?

Holy yum, Batman! This novella was beyond smoking hot! The sexual tension between Lane and Naya was palpable from their very first encounter in this story and just got better (and hotter) from there. Lane has been somewhat of a loner and lives a very simple life in Surrender but wants Naya with a passion that I could feel and I loved that about him. He isn’t going to let her get away and the convincing he does to get her to stay is pretty amazing. Naya is a strong gal with a take no prisoners attitude but she’s not too stubborn to realize that Lane is pretty special. They end up working really well together in more ways then one and I really enjoyed their story! Oh, and did I mention it was SMOKING HOT? Man, the jail cell scene has me fanning myself while I’m typing this….

So, if you’re looking for strong characters with some action and plenty of heat, this is a story for you! Liliana fans will love this addition and if you haven’t read any of her work, this is a great place to get a taste! Thank you, Liliana, for an amazing story!

Five Loves

liliana teaser 4 final

About the author:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

Wanted By You by Steph Nuss….Blog Tour Stop & Review

Steph Nuss and Bandit Publishing are excited to share with you the RELEASE of “Wanted by You” by Steph Nuss. Make sure to check out the preview on itunes, add to your Goodreads, pick up your copy and enter the GIVEAWAY below for SIGNED PAPERBACKS and Amazon & iTunes GIFT CARDS! Don’t forget to join us at the Release Day and Blog Tour Event starting on February 27th – join by clicking the below link.

NOW AVAILABLE!

Synopsis:

Carter was captivated by Ellyson Evans the moment he laid eyes on her, but she was the one girl who didn’t beg for his attention.

He wanted her.

Ellyson vowed to never fall in love, because love can destroy you, but then she met Carter Jennings.

She wanted him.

Unwilling to risk their comfortable friendship, neither confessed their desires.

Losing touch after college, a chance meeting reconnects them.

They want each other.

But love in the city is never quite that easy.

My Review:

Wanted By You is the debut novel from author Steph Nuss and the first in her Love in the City Series. Wow…what a kick ass debut. I loved this book!

Carter and Ellyson met the very first day of their college career and became fast and close friends. But that’s all they ever were. Close friends. Oh, not because they didn’t have feelings that went beyond that because they both did. They both also had reasons for never acting upon those feelings and so it stayed in the ‘friend zone” for them. Soon college would be over and Carter had to head home to Texas to help his family’s business and they lost touch. Fast forward to five years later….

Carter Jennings can’t believe he’s finally back in New York and has landed a fabulous job as an English professor at his college alma matter. Of course being back here reminds him of Ellyson and has him wondering even more what she is doing these days and where she is. He can’t believe he let her slip away from him five years ago. He knew now without a doubt that she was the one woman for him. Now that he’s getting his life together back in NY, he knows his next mission is to tack her down. Little did he know that he wouldn’t have to look too far…

Psychologist Ellyson Evans has made her dreams come true after graduation by opening her own practice and doing what she’s dreamed of. Mental health and helping others. She loved being able to stay in New York and stay close to her dad. After losing her mom to cancer when she was younger, he was her only family and she wouldn’t dream of leaving. Not even to move to Texas. Not that Carter had asked her anything like that when he left. Elly was the one who secretly pined for Carter, not the other way around. She still missed him every day, even five years later. Turns out she wouldn’t have to miss him much more when she runs into him while visiting a professor friend and immediately knows she won’t let him get away twice.

Fate clearly had a plan for Carter and Elly and brought them back together at just the right time. It may have taken five years, but now they were both ready to admit their feelings and give love a try. But would it be enough to get past old fears?

Oh my, how I loved this book! I read it on my flight home from vacation and the poor man in front of me had to deal with my giggling, dreamy sighs and ugly tears….but I couldn’t help it! Carter and Elly’s story is just so good! I loved getting to read when they met and how close they became but what I loved more was that they went their separate ways and came back older and wiser. They were able to grow together as well as apart and when they were ultimately reunited, they were ready to admit they both held feelings that went much deeper than friends. Carter is just so amazing. He is sexy, smart, caring, and will do anything for Elly. He practically does. He had me in a puddle of lovey-dovey goo by the end of this book. Seriously, he may be one of the most perfect guys ever. He’s there for Elly when she needs him most (no spoilers but I will say she goes through some serious things and will really need him!) and I loved him even more for that. Elly is a great match for Carter. She is smart, beautiful, confident, and kind. She is also afraid. Afraid of loving and losing…the way she lost her mother. Luckily for her, Carter isn’t one to back away when the road gets rough.

The ending to this book was simply perfect and had me crying happy tears and grinning a big goofy grin. Oh, how I loved it!

There’s also a fabulous cast of characters in Carter and Elly’s friends. I can’t wait to read more of this series!

Thank you, Steph, for a fabulous book and for giving us Carter and Elly!

Four Loves

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

Website: http://stephnuss.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/StephNussAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephNuss13

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7392900.Steph_Nuss

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/StephNuss13/

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Hard As You Can by Laura Kaye…Release Day Event & Review

Happy Release Day to Laura Kaye and Hard As You Can!

I’ve got tons of goodies to share today including an excerpt, my review and a Q&A with Laura! I’ve also got info on Laura’s fabulous giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by and ENJOY!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he’s shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister’s sake, Crystal can’t get too close. Until her job and Shane’s mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed.

Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn’t want him to uncover. Too bad. He’s exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can—and never let go.

My review:

Hard As You Can is the second book in Laura Kaye’s Hard Ink Series. Being a huge fan of Laura’s work and this series, I was so excited to read this second installment…and it did not disappoint! Filled with action, emotion, intensity, and suspense, this book is a WIN!

Knee deep in a mission to answer some haunting questions, former Army medic Shane McCallan is working with the men he never thought he’d have the honor of doing so again. After half of his Special Forces until had been killed in a horrific ambush, the surviving members had pretty much gone their separate ways after returning from overseas. But his brothers in arms were never far from Shane’s mind. Now, they were trying to put the pieces of an act of betrayal together and figure out just what happened to their unit in the desert that day. Their first not-exactly-legal mission has come to and end but has left more questions. With hopes of finding the answers, Shane keeps thinking about the strip-club waitress who helped him and his team the night of the daring rescue they pulled off. If she hadn’t helped them, who knows what the outcome may have been. But that’s not the only reason Shane keeps thinking about her. She was beautiful and held a certain something that Shane knew was special. She didn’t belong in the dangerous world he and his buddies were up against. Little did he know just how right he would be and just how much that waitress would need the lifeline he gives her.

Cocktail waitress Crystal Dean has been pushed to her limits so many times that she isn’t sure she even has them anymore. But she only has eight more months of living this hell. The hell of working in this strip club, of being a thug’s girlfriend, and of paying off her father’s debt to one of the most dangerous gang’s in Baltimore. In eight short months, her sister will have graduated from college and they can start over in a new town, with new identities and really live life the way it was meant to be for two young women. The only problem now was the handsome grey-eyed stranger who kept coming back into her life and threatened to make her bad situation much worse. She had helped him when he and his men came in to rescue the poor guy being kept in the basement of the club and she sure as hell never thought she’d see him again. But he keeps coming back. To the club and to her apartment and she finds herself taking chances with him that she knows are potentially deadly for her and her sister. But there is something so good and honest about him that makes Crystal want more out of this hellish life she’s living. Maybe he can help her and she can get out sooner. Crystal has never wanted anything more. Could Shane be her savior? Could he be more?

The odds against Shane and Crystal are stacked a mile high and the dangers are severe but they won’t prove too great to defeat hope. Hope for a new life, hope for love, hope for becoming whole again. Both Shane and Crystal need those things more than ever and together they can accomplish them….but at what cost?

This book rocked. There was so much packed into the pages that I was excited and anxious for every chapter and to see what would happen next. Shane is delectable. He is charming and kind with a confidence most would envy. But under all of that, he has a huge heart and has his own painful past that has made him hold the ones he loves even closer. He is persistent in his pursuit of Crystal because he knows she’s in trouble and he knows she’s an anomaly in this world of crime and corruption. He can feel her attraction to him and he vows to get her out of this hell. His honor is immeasurable and I adored reading him. Crystal is in an awful spot and really could use someone to trust. She has been through so much all while showing a brave face to the world. I was so happy Shane found her. She proved to be an immensely strong woman and I was pulling for her and Shane to get together. Did they? Well, I won’t spoil anything for you but I will say this…..the sexual tension between them builds beautifully and ends in a most delicious way.

Of course, the heart of the story is the unraveling of the mystery surrounding Shane’s former unit’s commander and his betrayal of them. Laura is doing an amazing job of building this aspect of the story and I can’t wait to see how it all progresses as the series continues!

Thank you, Laura, for another kick ass Hard Ink book!

Four Loves

Excerpt:

Today, I’m excited to share Shane and Crystal’s first kiss! Don’t you love first kiss scenes? Gah! I so do. *grins* Here we go:

“Tell me not to,” Shane said, his voice a raw scrape.

“I can’t,” Crystal whispered in a shaky voice. “I don’t want to.”

Shane’s body took over then, all urgent need and basic instinct. The rest of the world be damned. He pulled her in and kissed her, his lips devouring, his tongue exploring deep. Nothing held back. Nothing denied. Not even as her lips reawakened the sting from the cut on his lip. Totally worth it.

Crystal’s arms came up around him. She trembled against him, and Shane wasn’t sure if it was caused by adrenaline or fear. Unable to tolerate the thought that she might feel forced, he eased off.

She moaned and held him tighter, like his retreat had made something snap within her. Their kisses deepened, and her body moved against his, sinuously, maddeningly, desperately.

They tasted one another again and again, giving in to the heat that had sparked between them from the moment Crystal had collided with him at Confessions. Little nips and bites of lips and teeth warred with long, sensual strokes of tongue that stole his breath and made him instantly hard. The sting in his lip, the throb of his GSW, the aches from Nick’s asskicking, every bit of it faded away—no, her touch made it all go away.

The few times they’d spoken, Crystal had most often been guarded, tentative, fearful. Just as she’d been when he first kissed her. But, now, she was revealing a passionate woman who could be fearless, giving and receiving openly and without hesitation. Christ, the thought that this fierceness was the real Crystal slayed him because it meant she was burying and denying her true self, not because she wanted to, but because she had to.

No, because someone forced her to.

The thought reminded him of the bruises on her arm. Shane had known this woman for three days, and twice in that time she’d been hurt by another man. And both as a consequence for things Shane had done.

A crack of thunder echoed from the heavens, making Crystal jump and gasp into his mouth.

“I’ve got you,” he rasped around a kiss.

Part of him wanted to say more, to tell her he had her and he’d keep her safe. But he couldn’t make himself give up her heat, her sweetness, her obvious hunger—for him.

So he made her a silent promise instead.

Never again, Crystal. He’ll never hurt you again. Not on my watch.

Because Shane McCallan had made a mistake like that once. And, as bad as his sister’s disappearance had been, something’s happening to Crystal would actually be worse because Shane knew it was coming. The one break he’d ever given himself over Molly was that he’d had no way to know she’d be abducted. Didn’t excuse the role he played in allowing it to happen, but he couldn’t have known. But with Crystal, while he might not know when or how this Bruno asshole would strike out to do the ultimate damage, it was all but a done deal at this point. Always was with guys like him. And Shane would go to the grave before he let it happen, before he failed another female for whom he cared.

Because he did care. Made no damn sense given how long he’d known her. And the timing was beyond piss-poor. But there it was all the same.

So that’s Shane and Crystal starting to give in to what they feel for one another – I hope you enjoyed! Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!

~Laura

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

Q & A with Laura:

HARD AS YOU CAN is your second book in the “Hard Ink” series (after USA Today bestseller, HARD AS IT GETS). What can readers look forward to?

Readers can look forward to tons of sexy alpha male goodness, awesome bromance between the Hard Ink men, more antics from the Hard Ink puppy, and another great love story between Shane and Crystal. But readers should also be ready for a book that is darker, more intense, and more emotional. This book pushed me to emotional places that were tough as a writer, and might be tough for readers, too. But I think that just makes the payoff at the end so much sweeter!

Describe Shane and Crystal. What are their best traits? What are their weaknesses?

Shane and Crystal are such an amazing couple to me. They’re each exactly what the other needs. Shane’s best traits are his protectiveness, his fundamental kindness, and his soul-deep loyalty (his southern accent and humor are also right up there!). His biggest weakness for sure is a tragedy from the past for which he blames himself—and it’s something that continues to motivate him in Hard As You Can. Crystal’s best traits are her courage, protectiveness, and selflessness—she’s willing to do anything to keep her younger sister safe. Her biggest weakness is also that selflessness, because the sacrifices she’s required to make are getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?

When a woman in trouble assists an ex-soldier’s covert mission to regain his team’s stolen honor, he finds a new mission to save her, too

What are you most excited about with this second book release?

I’m really excited to take readers deeper into these awesome characters and into the mystery behind the Hard Ink team’s ambush and discharge!

What books are you reading right now?

I’m almost done with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander (yes, I’m very late to the party but OMG JAMIE FRASER!!!). And I’ve recently devoured and loved Juliana Stone’s Offsides and Shelly Thacker’s time-travel historical romance, Forever His.

What can fans of your “Hard Ink” series look forward to next?

There will be two more Hard Ink books in 2014!

Hard to Hold on To – August 2014

Hard to Come By – November 2014

Read an Extended Excerpt of Book 1, Hard As It Gets

Buy Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Giveaway:

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About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

ARC Review….Theirs to Cherish by Shayla Black

Theirs to Cherish releases March 4

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

The perfect place for a woman on the run to disappear…

Accused of a horrific murder she didn’t commit, former heiress Callie Ward has been a fugitive since she was sixteen—until she found the perfect hideout, Club Dominion. The only problem is she’s fallen for the club’s Master, Mitchell Thorpe, who keeps her at arm’s length. Little does she know that his reasons for not getting involved have everything to do with his wounded heart…and his consuming desire for her.

To live out her wildest fantasies…

Enter Sean Kirkpatrick, a Dom who’s recently come to Dominion and taken a pointed interest in Callie. Hoping to make Thorpe jealous, she submits to Sean one shuddering sigh at a time. It isn’t long before she realizes she’s falling for him too. But the tender lover who’s slowly seducing her body and earning her trust isn’t who he claims…

And to fall in love.

When emotions collide and truths are exposed, Sean is willing to risk all to keep Callie from slipping through his fingers. But he’s not the only man looking to stake a claim. Now Callie is torn between Sean and Thorpe, and though she’s unsure whom she can trust, she’ll have to surrender her body and soul to both—if she wants to elude a killer…

My Review:

Theirs to Cherish is the 8^th installment in author Shayla Black’s Wicked Lovers Series and can absolutely be read as a stand alone. Talk about a delicious thriller! This book was sexy, sensual, and mysterious all rolled into a delectable package. I adored it!

Callie Ward knows she’s been stationary too long. She’s been on the run since she was 16 after her seeing her family brutally murdered and almost becoming a victim herself. She’s also been unjustly accused of the brutal crime. It’s that mystery killer she’s been running from for years now. She’s been at Club Dominion for four years and fears the feelings she has developed for not only her Dom, but also the club’s master, will be her downfall. Callie has fallen, hard…for both men. Sean the sexy Scottish Dom and Thorpe, the club master. Both men have been kind to her over the years and they make her feel safe. Almost like feeling at home. To her, those feelings are practically as terrifying as a killer stalking her from the shadows. Deciding to flee Club Dominion was one of the hardest choices she’s ever had to make. Leaving the people you love is never easy. But Callie has no idea that these two men love her just as much and will do anything to protect her. They refuse to let her shoulder this mess on her own and with their help she may be able to live her real life again. But will she be able to live it with just one of these amazing, caring, sexy guys? Hopefully she won’t have to choose.

As if all of that wasn’t enough to deal with, the plaguing mystery of her family’s murders will come to light once more and Callie with Sean and Thorpe’s help, she may finally get the answers she needs. Hopefully without anyone else getting hurt or killed.

Wow. This book was fantastic. Callie’s life has been filled with heartache. She lost her entire family and has been on her own. She’s finally found a home within the walls of a BDSM club and went from loving no one to loving two very different, but equally desirable, men. I don’t blame her one bit for being torn. I don’t think I would have been able to choose between the two. Sean is smart, strong, understanding, kind, and ridiculously sexy. Thorpe is all of those things and more. He’s experienced and more dominant than Sean and holds the power to rein her in in a way she’s never known. It would be like asking someone to choose between two decadent desserts….who could?! I won’t say what Callie’s choice ended up being but I will say that the ending made me very happy.

Oh, and the mystery surrounding the murders? Wow. Shayla did an amazing job of weaving the who-done-it through the entire story and had me on the edge of my seat up until the very end. Really well done!

Fans of The Wicked Lovers Series will love this latest steamy installment and if you haven’t tried the series yet, I highly recommend you do! Thank you, Shayla, for a truly enjoyable read.

Four Loves

About the author:

Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 40 sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances produced via traditional, small press, independent, and audio publishing. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Shayla’s books have been translated in about a dozen languages. She has also received or been nominated for The Passionate Plume, The Holt Medallion, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the National Reader’s Choice Awards. RT Bookclub has twice nominated her for Best Erotic Romance of the year, as well as awarded her several Top Picks, and a KISS Hero Award.

A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every new book.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2) by Heidi Joy Tretheway…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Welcome to my stop on the Tyler& Stella by Heidi Joy Tretheway Blog Tour!

Thanks for stopping by and please enjoy my review!

Book links:

Kindle | B&N | Print via Amazon | Createspace

Synopsis:

Stella Ramsey always says bad boys can’t break your heart. They don’t call, don’t cuddle and don’t send flowers—but what do you expect? For Stella, no strings means no regrets.

When the biggest story of her fledgling career as a music journalist nearly ruins her relationship with her best friend, Stella has one chance to redeem herself. Tyler Walsh could be that chance.

Stella promises the bassist for the rock band Tattoo Thief anything in exchange for behind-the-scenes access. But Tyler doesn’t want anything. He wants everything—and that’s more than Stella is prepared to give.

When Tyler’s explosive secret thrusts Stella into the media spotlight, she must choose between the selling the story and telling the truth—and exposing the truth about herself as well.

Tyler & Stella (Tattoo Thief #2) is a sizzling story of lust, lies, and sacrifice, revealing how much love can forgive.

My review:

Tyler & Stella is the second book in author Heidi Joy Trethway’s Tattoo Thief Series and the first in the series I have read. Well, after reading this book I have added this series as one I will be looking forward to more from. I freaking loved this book!

Anxiously looking for a way to further her music journalism career, Stella Ramsey knows she is holding that very thing in the palm of her hand. Literally. But she also knows that if she leaks what she has, she won’t just be reporting an über exclusive piece on hot rock band Tattoo Thief, she will be risking losing her best friend and her best friend’s trust. Without really thinking her actions through, she leaks it anyway and regrets it immediately. Now Stella finds herself having to gain her friend’s trust back. She also has to get more stories on Tattoo Thief, which means she’s going to have to gain their trust back as well. Enter Tyler Walsh. As Tattoo Thief’s hot and sexy bassist he steps in and gives her a chance to fix things while giving her material for a story. Tyler seems to good to be true but Stella knows all about the bad boy rocker types. The thing is, Tyler keeps surprising her. He turns out to be unlike any preconceived notion she had about him and that becomes dangerous. Dangerous because Stella doesn’t do the whole nice guy thing. She’s used to dysfunction and hurt. It’s all she’s known when it comes to guys. Could Tyler be the one to change her mind? The better question is, would Stella ever feel worthy of a guy like Tyler?

Rock star bassist Tyler Walsh has learned the hard way that he’s got to keep his guard up. He went from awkward teen to gorgeous and sexy rock star in such a short amount of time that he still isn’t used to all the attention that comes along with it. It was hard believing a girl wanted him for him and not just his fame and face. Then came Stella. She was sort of a mess when they met and he knew he could help her. He wanted to help her. The problem was he had to keep her at arm’s length until he got to know her better. Tyler finds himself hoping beyond hope that Stella could see past all the hype and into who he really is. He was willing to give her everything if she could do just that.

The attraction and chemistry between Tyler and Stella is positively delicious and they both feel it. But with old trust issues and constantly being in the spotlight, will they be able to find something true and real in a world of hype and tabloids?

*Dreamy sigh* Oh, how I loved this book. From the very beginning the story grabbed me and I was kept in its hold until the very end. I devoured it in 24 hours and loved every minute. Stella is kind of a mess. She drinks too much and hurt her best friend. She’s got a messed up past that has cut her deep emotionally and in turn has made her self-worth take a nosedive. But I loved her. She is raw, gritty and fresh at the same time. She wasn’t the flawless heroine that every guy drools over and I truly enjoyed that facet of her as a character. As for Tyler, all I can say is: yes, please! Talk about the complete opposite of the rock god persona. He is so amazing. He’s the good guy in a bad boy role. He’s kind and warm and has a huge heart. He’s got his share of secrets that he holds close to his vest and rightfully so. He treats Stella with such care both physically and emotionally and I absolutely fell in love with him. He is one of those book guys that I will hold future book guys up to for quite some time. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this story so much was that Stella and Tyler’s roles were almost reversed. She was the one in need of love and kindness and he was the one who had so much love to give. The build up of heat between them was perfect. It was ever-present but acting on it was something that took time and when it finally happened it was sublime.

The secrets that both Stella and Tyler are keeping are two pretty big doozies and I let out a huge “whoa” when one of Tyler’s was revealed. Never saw it coming throughout the whole book. I love being shocked like that!

Overall if you love a good guy saving a damsel in distress with a modern rock and roll twist, this is a book for you! Thank you, Heidi Joy, for an amazing story! I can’t wait to see what’s next for Tattoo Thief!

Five Loves

About the author:

Heidi Joy lives in Happy Valley off Sunnyside Road. She swears she did not make that up.

Heidi’s obsessed with storytelling. Her career includes marketing, journalism, and a delicious few years as a food columnist. Media passes took her backstage with several rock bands, where she learned that sometimes a wardrobe malfunction is exactly what the rock star intends.

You’ll most often find Heidi Joy with her husband and two small kids cooking, fishing, exploring the Northwest, and building epic forts in their living room.

She loves to hear from readers via messages at facebook.com/author.heidi.

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Worth the Chance by Vi Keeland…Review & Tour

Book links:

Amazon | Kobo | Itunes | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Meet Liv Michaels

It may have been seven years, but I’d know him anywhere. Sure, he’s grown, filled out in all the right places, but his captivating blue eyes and cocky grin are exactly the way I remember. Even though I’d much rather forget.

Liv Michaels is almost there. She’s smart, determined and weeks away from landing the job she’s dreamed about for years. Time healed old wounds, even her broken heart from the devastation of being crushed by her first love.

Meet Vince Stone

Women love a fighter, especially a good one. Lucky for me, I’m damn good. But there’s one woman that isn’t interested. Not again, anyway.

Vince ‘The Invincible’ Stone is every woman’s fantasy…strong, sexy, confident and completely in control. Growing up surrounded by chaos, he’s learned never to get too attached. Love will drag you down. He adores women, treats them well, puts their own needs before his own…for the night anyway. With the biggest fight of his life coming up, his focus should be on training.

When fate brings Vince & Liv back together again, there’s no denying the chemistry is still there. But can Vince erase the old scars their past left behind? Or will Liv hurt him instead?

My review:

Worth the Chance is the second book in author Vi Keeland’s MMA Fighter Series and follows Worth the Fight, a book I simply adored. I was beyond excited for this book and I have to say…it was freaking amazing.

Vince Stone, or Vinny as some people know him, has got a chip on his shoulder a mile wide and the fight to back it up. He’s as skilled an MMA fighter as all of the best and he knows it. He’s had a pretty crappy life and fighting in the ring has saved him from a pretty bleak fate. The ring and Nico. Nico, the only father figure he’s ever known. His mother is a drug addict and has been less than worthless his whole life. He’s finally got his life somewhat together with a killer fight record, a whole lot of success with the ladies, teaching some classes at the gym, and keeping out of trouble. Besides his fighting, he’s only ever had one other bright spot in his life. A girl who helped tutor him in high school. A girl he fell in love with seven years earlier. A girl he knew deserved better than him…so he left her without a reason or a backward glance. A girl he’s regretted not having a chance with. A girl who just walked into one of his classes. Could fate finally be smiling down on him and be giving him a second chance? Does he truly deserve it?

Just about to land her dream job as a reporter for one of the biggest newspapers around, Liv Michaels has one more assignment before the final decision is made and she hopefully goes from intern to official reporter. Of course the last person she expected to see when walking into the gym for her assignment was Vinny. And of course HE was the one she was supposed to interview for her last big assignment. She wasn’t the same young and awkward girl anymore. Hopefully he wouldn’t recognize her. She sure as hell wasn’t ready to face the memories of the pain his rejection had caused her seven years earlier. She thought they had something between them back then but now, hindsight being 20/20 and all, she realizes there was no way the deliciously sexy fighter could have shared her feelings back then. Now she just needed to get through this class and get the hell out, unnoticed. Liv should have known it wouldn’t be that easy and trying to remember why it is she’s supposed to hate Vinny isn’t proving to be easy either. Not when he’s looking at her like she’s dessert. She couldn’t resist him back then and she her resolve to resist him now is looking pretty shaky too.

The history between Liv and Vinny proves to be a blessing and a curse for them. A blessing because the whole “get to know you better’ phase is out the window and a curse because all the old feelings of hurt surface almost killing their chance at a reconciliation. Luckily Vinny is one hell of a persistent guy and is used to getting his way….and his way is having Liv in his life. Permanently.

Oh my. You’ll have to give me a minute here. Just remembering this book while writing this review is enough to have me swooning and getting totally distracted. I LOVED this book. Yes, LOVED, in shouty caps. Vinny is the guy from the wrong side of the tracks, trying his hardest to just stay out of trouble with a huge heart buried deep down beneath a gruff (and gorgeous) exterior. He broke my heart more than once. He takes care of his junkie mother, even though he knows there’s no hope for her. He hangs onto the memory of his dead war hero father by wearing his dad’s dog tags and even though he has a tough time showing it, loves Nico and Elle. He’s harder on himself than anyone else and his belief that he wasn’t good enough for Liv back in high school killed me. God, I love him! Liv is one hell of a perfect match for Vinny. She’s been hurt by him in the past and is wary to start anything up again with him. Thankfully she gives him another chance. She is smart and sassy and takes Vinny on toe-to-toe and I loved every minute. They are hot and beyond sexy together. He needs to dominate their intimacy and she gives in willingly and it works so delectably well. YUM!

So yes, Liv and Vinny are freaking amazing but besides that, Vi throws a huge twist in toward the end and I literally said “HOLY HELL” when I read it. My lips are sealed, but I have to say, the added element to their story made me a nervous wreck and left me emotional and crying when I got to the end. Of course, I love that and it made Liv and Vinny’s story even better and their ending even sweeter.

Ms. Keeland is an author I know we will be seeing great things from because damn, that woman can write! I enjoyed every minute of this book. I never felt something was missing or was rushed or went too slow. The characters are well developed and interesting and I was invested in them from the first chapter. Oh, how I love that feeling!

Thank you, Vi, for another hot, sexy, raw, emotional, and gripping story. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Five Loves

Giveaway:

(8) Sets of “Bookchick glasses” and 5 custom wine charms, one of each of Vi Keeland’s book covers – International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

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

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