Read-Love-Blog

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:

February 2014 New Releases New Reviews Release Day Event

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.

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ARC Review….Theirs to Cherish by Shayla Black

by Jilly

Theirs to Cherish releases March 4

Book links:

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

Blog Tour February 2014 New Releases New Reviews

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

by Jilly

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.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Tyler & Stella Goodreads

Worth the Chance by Vi Keeland…Review & Tour

by Jilly

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

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!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros….ARC Review & Giveaway

by Jilly

The Darkest Joy releases February 18th

Book links:

Synopsis:

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

Twenty year-old Brooke Starr has escaped the aftermath of a brutal tragedy by abandoning her music studies and moving north to take a summer position as a part-time deck hand on a deep-sea fishing boat. When her survivor’s guilt becomes unbearable, Brooke realizes there’s only one thing she can do to finally erase the pain.

Deep sea fisherman, Chance Taylor, has just wrapped his guitar set at the local saloon when he sees the silhouette of a young woman in repose, the full moon highlighting her shadow as she plummets from a pier too high for diving… into water too cold to survive. Without thinking, he plunges in after her, saving Brooke from drowning.

As Chance works to save her from her own emotional fragility, Brooke finally begins to learn how to save herself. But when their chemistry begins to consume them, Brooke withdraws. She’s determined to be the master of her own destiny… until the past catches up with her in a cataclysmic plan so dark, so final… it threatens their love and their very lives.

My review:

The Darkest Joy is the newest work from author Marata Eros. This story pulled me in from the very first chapter and kept hold until the amazing ending.

Gifted and talented young pianist Brooke Starr is dealing with more grief than possibly imaginable. Her entire family has been brutally murdered and she is left with no one. It’s because of this loss that she decides to give up everything and head to her late aunt’s cabin in Alaska and try to make sense of things. Try to overcome the unimaginable pain and grief. Of course that is easier said than done and she finds herself slipping deeper into a dark depression. She has found work on a fishing charter as a deck hand and hopes that is the distraction she needs. It’s there that she meets Chance Taylor, the owner of the charter. Chance will prove to be more than a boss when he saves her from her lowest point and starts to breathe life back into her broken soul.

Chance Taylor has lived his life for the sea. It’s where he feels most at home and at peace. In small town Alaska, there isn’t much more to life and that is ok with him. Being a single guy, he didn’t need the hassle of love and relationships and loved the freedom the ocean gave him. That all changes when he meets the new deck hand he hired. Sure he knew it was a girl, but he never expected the broken and fragile beauty that walks into his office. There is a pain within her he can sense…and relate to. He had no idea when he first met her that her pain would affect them both and end up bringing them together and finally give Brooke a chance to heal.

Together, Brooke and Chance make their way through the choppy waters of grief and pain and find a safe haven from the storm in one another’s arms. But there’s still one problem lingering….her family’s unsolved murder and an investigation into a similar murder. Will the nightmare for Brooke ever come to an end?

This book started out with heartbreak and slowly grew into something beautiful. It was gut-wrenching to read Brooke’s attempt at healing and moving on. She is such a lost soul. I admired her attempt to pick up the pieces and find solace in Alaska. For a young woman, she had immense strength. I also admired her willingness to embrace life again after the death of her family. Yes, there were many dark moments and she didn’t have a whole lot of hope in the beginning of the story but she eventually snapped out of it and it wanted to hug her! Chance is amazing. He’s strong and understanding with an insight into Brooke’s heart that had me swooning. They work so well together and create a beautiful match.

Oh, and I can’t forget to mention the suspense of the murder investigation! We knew there was a possible serial killer out there but were really kept guessing until the very end. Ms. Eros did such a fabulous job with not giving out too many details and letting the reader draw their own ideas….until about the last 20 pages. Then puzzle pieces really start to fall into place and it was a huge “whoa” moment when we learn the killer’s identity. Really well done!

Overall, I really enjoyed all of the different emotional layers within this story and recommend to all you romance and mystery fans! Thank you, Marata, for a wonderful read!

Four Loves

Giveaway:

February 2014 Giveaway New Releases New Reviews

About the author:

My name is Tamara Rose Blodgett and I write dark romantic erotica and new adult dark romantic suspense under the pen name Marata Eros, and new adult dark fantasy under my real name.

Reader feedback is important and I take it very seriously. I check my email each day. All questions about my dark erotica and romance should be directed to the above email address.

*As an aside, I just wanted to comment that: I am writing what I love to read. I enjoy dark paranormal and edgy romantic erotica with suspense and intrigue.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

2 Comments »

ARC Review….A Matchless Romance by Christi Barth

by Jilly

A Matchless Romance releases February 17

Book links:

Synopsis:

Tabitha Bell is the face of Chicago’s premiere matchmaking service. At least, she hopes it will be someday, once business really takes off. What she needs is more clients, so when she meets a sexy gamer in need of help, it’s the perfect opportunity.

His discomfort talking to women almost cost Drew Watson his job. He’d be happy holed up in his office, designing blockbuster video games, but his boss considers talking to investors a nonnegotiable requirement. Who better than a matchmaker to teach him how to be comfortable around the opposite sex? Trouble is, Drew wants to get more than comfortable with Tabitha, while she’s determined to keep their relationship all business.

Soon Tabitha learns that beneath the geek-chic hoodie lies six feet of sexy physique–and the more time she spends with Drew, the more she appreciates his brainy brand of charm. Will she succumb to his sweet-but-nerdy charm offensive or will it be game over before he can win her heart?

My review:

A Matchless Romance is the final work in author Christi Barth’s Aisle Bound Series, and if I had to vote on my favorite book in the series, this would be it. Oh, how I adored this story!

Video game designer Drew Watson and matchmaker Tabitha Bell meet by running into each other, quite literally, and forge a quick and unlikely friendship and business relationship.

You see, Drew doesn’t have what you would call great social skills and it has almost cost him his biggest career move and almost killed his dream of his newest game hitting mainstream blockbuster status. Enter Tabitha. After almost being run over by Drew, and after a quick chat, Tabitha thinks she may be the one person capable of helping him with his social cluelessness. He wasn’t awkward, per se, just totally clueless. Saying the first thing that came to mind and lacking a filter. Tabitha thought his personality was refreshing, but the big wigs in his company? Not so much. Drew ends up hiring her, not for her match making skills, but to smooth out his rough edges and get him out into the social scene. And always up for a challenge, Tabitha goes for it. She doesn’t really think this will be too hard considering Drew is completely gorgeous with a delicious tall and athletic build and a geeky charm about him that totally works well on him. But the rules in her matchmaking business are pretty strict about dating the clients…so her drool worthy client is off-limits. However, we all know the saying that some rules were meant to be broken…

Where to begin? There were so many little things that I loved in this story. All those little pieces added to the big picture and made up one hell of a great read! Drew is so freaking adorable and deliciously handsome. His geekiness cup overfloweth and it made him an incredibly endearing character. I wanted to hug him too many times to count over some of his dorky antics. But besides his adorable nerdiness, he’s an amazing athlete and has a brilliant mind. Can we say triple threat? Hell yes! The most lovable thing about him though is that he has no clue what a catch he is and just sees himself as a video game nerd. Don’t you just love that type of guy? I know I do! Tabitha was a colorful and spirited character with an interesting past and such confidence. She’s an amazing judge of character and nailed Drew and his quirks from the very first day. The chemistry between them is almost instant and builds beautifully…of course I can’t spoil anything for you so that’s as far as I can go!

Oh, and the ending? In typical Christi fashion, she wrote an ending so fitting and perfect for Drew and Tabitha. Honestly, it was one of the best endings ever! I get a big goofy grin just thinking about it.

We also catch up with the rest of the Aisle Bound crew and it was beautiful and bittersweet. I couldn’t be happier for all of the couples and where their futures are headed.

Thank you, Christi, for a fabulous ending to a series I have truly enjoyed. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Five Loves

About the author:

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

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

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

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Prince of Blood and Steel by Nazarea Andrews & AJ Elmore…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Book links:

Synopsis:

Seth Morgan has returned home after two years spent building an alliance that will take his family’s crime syndicate to a new level in New York City’s black collar society. He expects a warm welcome as heir of the Morgan empire. He hopes to finally marry Nicolette, the woman he’s loved his whole life.

What he finds is a different world, one where his family’s legacy is in ruins. His big brother, Caleb, has changed into someone cold and bitter, plotting to overthrow their patriarch. And Nicolette, daughter of the criminal banking industry, has left the family entirely.

When a vicious misunderstanding leaves Caleb dead, Seth is left reeling. Desperate for truth, Seth is forced to turn to his only remaining cousin, Emma, for support. As he tries to mend his relationship with Nicolette, he begins a search for answers that will take him from the dirty streets to the highest reaches of their illicit empire.

Torn between the desire to protect those who mean the most to him, and a need to learn more about Caleb’s death, he grows distant to protect them. As each secret surfaces, he realizes that the only way to restore his family is to take his place at its head, and fully embrace the brutal way they live.

My review:

Prince of Blood and Steel is the collaborative work between authors Nazarea Andrews and AJ Elmore. I have been a fan of Nazarea’s other works and was really looking forward to what was in store with this book. It was different than what I am used to from her, but every bit as good!

Prince of Blood and Steel follows the young rising royalty in New York City’s world of organized crime and all of the deceit, bloodshed, pain, and corruption that comes with it.

The ability to trust never comes easy to the members of organized crime and Seth Morgan was no exception. He has just returned to New York City and is slated to rejoin the ranks in his family’s lucrative and illegal lifestyle and believes his brother Caleb is someone he can trust. He was proven wrong faster than a New York minute and his brother is murdered for that broken trust. Faced with being the sole heir to the crime world throne, Seth finds the number of trustworthy people dwindling down. He knows he can count on his cousin, Emma, and is hoping he can win back the trust of his one true love, Nicolette. But what about everyone else he’s supposed to trust? His uncle, his aunt, his father’s former right-hand man? Will Seth find out the hard way who he can’t trustTrying to navigate through the darkest and dirtiest organized crime has to offer, Seth will unearth many truths and will learn the hard way that sometimes people can smile the biggest while they are stabbing you in the back and that the saying “hold your friends close and your enemies closer” really does have worth.

This book really has it all. Crime, corruption, deception, greed, and plenty of evil but it also has heart and shows how strong some bonds can become. It played out like a movie while I was reading with young Hollywood owning all the starring roles. Seth is a tortured and confused mess without a direction and wanting no part of the responsibilities thrust into his hands. He’s young and isn’t prepared for the chaos that crime life is. He has no idea who he can trust and leans on the two women he thinks he can….Nicolette and Emma. What I will say about those two gals is that I wasn’t sold that either one of them would be a wise choice for Seth to be able to trust until almost the last quarter of the book. Well played, Nazarea and AJ. I was so worried for Seth and was really pulling for him to take control of all of his swirling emotions and take control. Now, you know I’m not going to give anything away here but trust me when I say, the ending climactic scene had me reading wide-eyes and white-knuckled and yelping a big “HELL YES!” when it was over.

If you’re a fan of The Soprano’s and movies like Cruel Intentions, then this is a book you really need to pick up! Fast paced with twists and turns and plenty of characters that keeps you guessing, there wasn’t a dull moment to be had. Thank you Nazarea and AJ for teaming up for one hell of a read!

Four Loves

Giveaway:

Blog Tour February 2014 New Releases New Reviews

About the authors:

AJ and Nazarea became friends in a writers group. Drawn together by a love of fictional bad boys and good wine, they are best kept several states apart but rack up a ton of emails and text messages arguing plot points.

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Site – http://www.nazareaandrews.com/
Blog – http://www.nazarea-andrews.blogspot.com/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/NazareaAndrews
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nazarea-Andrews/43623123516

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/MtHwj

Aj has seven tattoos, two dogs, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She enjoys live music, and a diverse range of writing styles and genres. She has been writing creatively and therapeutically since childhood. She also supports artist collaboration and cross-media projects. She is an advocate of experience as inspiration. She lives and works in southern West Virginia as a bartender novelist.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aj-Elmore-author-muse/329812783118
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissVish

One Week by Elisabeth Staab…Review, TWO Signed Book Giveaways & Blog Tour Stop

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on Elisabeth Staab’s ONE WEEK Blog Tour! I have some exciting goodies to give away including a SIGNED paperback copy of One Week! (enter in the rafflecopter below)

Thanks for stoping by and enjoy!

One Week

(HaleStorm Series, bk #1)

By Elisabeth Staab

Synopsis:

HE HAS A LEGACY TO SAVE…

Michael Hale’s company is in jeopardy. In the wake of his father’s death and transitioning to CEO, projects are circling the drain and that may cost him everything. Come to find out, the consultant hired to fix things is the “one who got away” many years ago. This time he’s playing for keeps, and he intends to win.

SHE SHOULD NEVER SAY NEVER…

Elise Jackson swore she wouldn’t come near Michael Hale again. He sucker punched her professionally, and he broke her heart. Still, a job’s a job, and they can both be adults. But high emotion and late nights working lead to passion neither of them can deny.

They have one week. Can the two of them pull Michael’s company out of the fire and heal their old wounds?

My review:

One Week is the debut in author Elisabeth Staab’s newest series, HaleStorm. I have been a fan of Elisabeth’s for quite some time now and was so excited for One Week and yep, Elisabeth rocked it again! This book was fantastic!

Elise Jackson still can’t believe she agreed to take this assignment and has in turn agreed to put herself in the path of the man the broke her heart five years earlier. Michael Hale. With a little bit of luck she can avoid the man she had interned for all those years ago, get in, do her job, and get out with her heart intact. What Elise didn’t know is that would be nearly impossible considering he was now the CEO. She was a professional now and not that unsure intern, however, and she was determined to remain unaffected by his presence and show him exactly what he let walk out his doors five years earlier.

Michael Hale has just realized he’s in way over his head. Not only regarding his new title of CEO of a potentially drowning company, but also with the fiery redhead he thought he would never see again. Elise has haunted his memory since she finished her internship with his company….only now? Now she outshined all of those memories with her confidence and delicious sex appeal. He felt terrible about how things ended back then. She is here to help his company for one week, which meant he had one week to make things right with her and apologize for being a complete jackass. And maybe, have another chance with her.

With as much work as they have on their plate, Michael and Elise should be plenty busy with little time left for rekindling an old flame….but with a bit of luck and a whole lot of coffee, anything is possible.

If you follow me on twitter, you will probably know that I was hooked on this book from the very first chapter. I knew this book would be great, because Elisabeth is pretty freaking great…and it lived up to every ounce of expectation I had. Elise had her heart crushed by Michael and she totally used that experience to her advantage and has used it to shape the beautiful and smart businesswoman she is today. She’s got wit and brains and a wickedly funny sense of humor. Honestly, I was laughing out loud at some of the zingers that came out of her mouth! Michael has really learned a lot in the past few months. He had no choice but to grow up and take charge of his father’s company. He’s got so much on his plate, not just professionally but personally, and I really felt bad for the guy at times. Luckily he didn’t have so much on his plate that he couldn’t turn on the charm and try to woo Elise. Damn, that man can woo. The chemistry between them is instant and intense. I loved their backstory because it added to the intensity of their attraction. There was also a bit of mystery involved in the company and it really added a fantastic layer to the story. Oh, and there were more than a few surprises along the way which lead to a “whoa” ending!

I highly recommend One Week to all my fellow contemporary romance lovers. Thank you, Elisabeth, for a delicious start to a series I can’t wait to read more of!

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“I should have looked for you.” He wrapped his arms
around her and groaned aloud at the warmth and softness of her skin against
his. The rough texture of her nipples against his chest, the dampness of her
hair on his shoulder. “Just touching you makes me crazy. My God, Elise. I
should have known. Fuck, I did know, and I ignored it. I’m so goddamned
stupid.”

“You’re not stupid.”

“I am stupid.” Michael
gripped her hips—fucking luscious, curvy hips—and ran his hands up that amazing
hourglass arc in her waist and over her shoulders, reveling in the magic of
Elise’s hands giving him the same treatment. “I’m stupid because I thought I
could push you away all those years ago and I’d forget and find someone else
who turned me on as much as your hand bumping my knee under a cubicle desk.
Christ, I tried to tell myself it was all innocent, but I lived for every
second.”

“Oh my God.” Elise’s eyes flew wide, her cheeks flushed
in the low light of her bedroom. “I had no idea.”

“You must have, if you
gathered up the nerve to kiss me.” He bent her back, one hand braced between
her shoulders, the other gripping her ass, trailing kisses along her jaw. Their
only-for-tonight agreement be damned, already he didn’t want to let her go.

“I hoped.” She gripped his
shoulders, smiling. “If I’m being honest, all that accidentally bumping your
knee wasn’t so much an accident.”

Read-Love-Blog Giveaway:

Signed paperback copy of ONE WEEK by Elisabeth Staab and signed swag!

(US & Canada entries only please)

About the Author

Elisabeth Staab still lives with her nose in a book and at least one foot in an imaginary world. She believes that all kinds of safe and sane love should be celebrated but she adores the fantasy-filled realm of paranormal romance the best. She lives in the Washington DC area with her family and one big scaredy cat, where she loves to spend time with good friends, go dancing, collect wacky coffee mugs from which to drink her favorite beverage, and sing off-key in her kitchen (when she isn’t making characters fall in love, that is).

You can stalk her, I mean find her at

Tour-Wide Giveaway

One winner will receive a signed paperback, a tote bag, some swag, and a Starbucks gift card

Blog Tour February 2014 Giveaway New Releases New Reviews Uncategorized

Presented by

3 Comments »

Brazen’s newest releases from Tawna Fenske, Tessa Bailey & Jen McLaughlin!

by Jilly

If you like your heroes hot, the sex hotter, and a swoon-worthy romance to swoop in and save your happily ever after, Brazen has the story for you. Sinfully sexy soldiers. Alpha cops who demand control. Sweet guys with a naughty side in the bedroom. At Brazen, they’ve got the hero destined to melt your… heart. Visit the Entangled website, the Brazen Blog, follow them on Twitter, Like their Facebook page, and follow them on Pinterest.

Introducing Brazen’s Feb 3rd releases:

She thought she’d sworn off military men for good…

Find out More!

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Amazon B&N Kobo iTunes

He wants her.

All of her.

Find out More!

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Amazon B&N Kobo iTunes

This soldier’s the perfect hoax if she doesn’t fall for him first.

Find out More!

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Amazon B&N Kobo iTunes

Event:

Join the The Boys of Brazen Military Bash on 2/10 from 7-10pm EST. Four fabulous Brazen authors (and their men!) will read steamy scenes from each other’s Military Hero books. As an additional treat, several other Brazen authors will be stopping by to help celebrate the hunky heroes of the military.
Throughout the event authors will be asking readers questions and giving away prizes. Hope to see you there!

February 2014 New Releases Release Day Event

2 Comments »

High-Heeled Wonder by Avery Flynn…Review & Guest Post

by Jilly

Book links:

amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

“When a fashionista and her bodyguard get tangled up together, watch out for sizzling sex and surprising plot twists.” New York Times best seller Rebecca York

Synopsis:

Sylvie Bissette may be one of Harbor City’s youngest glitterati, but only her best friends know her most closely guarded secret. She’s the woman behind The High-Heeled Wonder, a must-read blog for fashionistas everywhere. Gossip, fashion advice, exposés. Too bad some people can’t take a little criticism. When an Internet troll discovers her secret identity and escalates from stalking her to threatening her life, Sylvie turns to security expert Tony Falcon for help. The investigator from the other side of the tracks is the olive oil to her Evian water and aggravates her to no end, but it’s not just her temper he’s inciting…

Tony Falcon wouldn’t know a kitten heel from a tabby cat, but since most of the bad guys he tracks down aren’t wearing stilettos, it’s never been a problem…until he meets Sylvie. When a murder investigation leads him to the same place Sylvie works, he realizes the feisty fashionista may be his best chance at catching the criminals who killed his best friend. It all leads back to the cutthroat fashion world. But solving that case means going after the people Sylvie cares about, and soon his attraction for her—and the danger she’s in—has him wondering if solving the case is worth hurting the woman he can’t stop fantasizing about…

When Sylvie’s almost run over in broad daylight, Tony goes undercover as her boyfriend to infiltrate the close-knit fashion community. And when they discover Sylvie’s stalker may be linked to Tony’s own investigation, what started as a simple plan to find his friend’s killers turns into a hot bed of secrets and revelations. In a world full of overblown egos and dog-eat-dog ambition, Tony and Sylvie must work together to find her revenge-obsessed stalker before Sylvie ends up with a literal knife in the back.

My Review:

High-Heeled Wonder is A Killer Style Novel from author Avery Flynn and packs a one-two punch with a mystery and romance all rolled into a stylish package.

Fashion blogger extraordinaire Sylvie Bissette is content living her life behind the anonymity of the High-Heeled Wonder façade. A façade she has turned into an über successful fashion and style blog. That all changes when she starts receiving death threats and nasty emails telling her to shut down her site. Sylvie brushes them off but her dads aren’t as forgiving and hire personal security…without her blessing or her knowledge. When the situation enters more dangerous territory, and her anonymity is blown, Sylvie and her new bodyguard play the role of boyfriend and girlfriend in an attempt to get to the bottom of all of this. Annoyed at first, Sylvie soon changes her tune and starts to fall for the handsome ex-cop turned security buff.

Tony Falcon has been working on an important unsolved mystery and is closer to finding answers then he’s ever been. The investigation mingles with his role as personal security for Sylvie Bissette and suddenly Tony is more focused on not crossing client/sex lines than the task at hand. He has more on his plate than ever before and is determined to bring a killer to justice and safety to Sylvie. What he wasn’t planning on was falling in love with Sylvie along the way.

This book had so much goodness packed into the pages! Avery gave us heat, mystery, fashion, emotion, and action. Sylvie is a modern day gal used to living behind her blog and isn’t too thrilled with being in the spotlight, let alone a negative spotlight. And having to rely on a distractingly handsome bodyguard isn’t helping matters. She is a jumble of emotion most of the book and I was pulling for her to fix this mess and get back to her life…oh and of course I was hoping Tony would be a new addition! Tony is also a jumble of emotion being worried about Sylvie and trying to get to the bottom of a murder investigation that means so much to him. He’s hot and sexy and can cook! Hello!? Total package. The mystery surrounding the threats and identity leak kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end and was really well done. My lips are sealed, but I will tell you it was a “whoa” moment for sure!

One more special thing I loved about this book: Avery added a fashion related quote to the beginning of each chapter and I thought it really gave a little something extra to this book. I really loved that!

Thank you, Avery, for a fashionably sexy book!

Four Loves

Guest post:

Oh Tony!

Tony Falcon, the hero in High-Heeled Wonder, is a hot Italian private investigator/former vice detective with an over developed protective instinct, a banged-up heart and the ability to make pasta sauce from scratch. He is so delish.

Tony, like most of my heroes, shares some qualities with the Fab Mr. Flynn. Please don’t tell Mr. Flynn, his ego is big enough as it is. 🙂 But Tony has some hardcore baggage, a vendetta to carry out and justice to deliver after his partner was murdered during an undercover vice sting operation.

I spent ten years working as a police reporter and the vice officers were always my favorite to deal with. By virtue of their jobs, they’re fast on their feet with a quip, a plan and devious thoughts. Just what I love in a hero—a smartass alpha hero who is as good with a quip as he is with his *ahem* other God-given talents

And if you’re trying to put a face and a six pack with description of Tony, check out my High-Heeled Wonder pinterest board (http://www.pinterest.com/averyflynnbooks/high-heeled-wonder/). It’s okay. Go look. You know you want to. I’ll be waiting right here.

*Files nails.*

*Shops online for shoes.*

*Peruses hot dudes on Pinterest.*

You’re back? Whew. Hey. Right there. By the corner of your mouth. There’s just a little bit of drool. Okay. You got it. Don’t worry, we’re in the circle of trust. I’ll never tell.

Okay, now that we’ve got you set to rights, go enter the High-Heeled Wonder Shoes, Swag and Books Extravaganza Giveaway for your chance to win a $100 DSW Shoes gift certificate, books from Entangled Ignite authors releasing in January (Avery Flynn, High-Heeled Wonder; Jody Wallace, Angeli; Julie Rowe, Molly Gets Her Man; Caridad Pineiro and Cathy Perkins, Love International Style box set) and more!

~Thanks so much for stopping by, Avery! xo Jillian

Giveaway:

About the author:

Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name.

Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Find out more about Avery on her website, follow her onTwitter and Pinterest, like her on her Facebook page or friend her on her Facebook profile. She’s also on Goodreadsand BookLikes.

Join her street team, The Flynnbots, and receive special sneak peeks, prizes and early access to her latest releases!

Also, if you figure out how to send Oreos through the Internet, she’ll be your best friend for life.

Staking His Claim by Tessa Bailey….Review

by Jilly

Happy Release Day to Tessa Bailey and STAKING HIS CLAIM!

…..and stay tuned for a very special Tessa Bailey themed Valentine’s Day with all of her delicious men and a fabulous giveaway!

Book links:

Synopsis:

He wants her. All of her.

NYPD sniper Matt Donovan is in Hell. Instead of driving his best friend’s little sister home from college, he’s stuck with her roommate—a fresh-faced ray-of-sunshine with a body that makes grown men weep. There’s no way he’ll allow himself to taint the little vixen, no matter how hard she tries to tempt him, so he resigns himself to the longest—and hardest—drive of his life.

Matt’s obvious attraction suits grad student Lucy Mason just fine. She had no idea her brother’s best friend was so deliciously hot. Knowing he’d never have his wicked way with his buddy’s sister, she lies about her identity and seduces him. But Matt’s no fumbling college boy. His desires run deep—and dark—and he wants to teach Lucy what wicked really means.

Matt’s demanding appetites only make Lucy want more. But when her cover’s blown, he’s furious—even as his hunger for her becomes insatiable. Matt can’t trust anyone, least of all himself. And he knows all too well that darkness always destroys the light…

My review:

Staking His Claim is the fifth, and sadly the final, book in author Tessa Bailey’s Line of Duty Series. This is a series I had fallen in love with from the very first book. I was beyond lucky to read an early copy of this last installment and I have to say….Tessa ended it with one of the best books in the series.

Finally finished with grad school, Lucy Mason is ready to get on with her life and enjoy some time off with her brother and her family before diving into career life. Being thought of a nuisance by her older brother too many times to count, she was on a mission to prove him wrong by being a grown-up and helping him out and returning the favor of helping her though grad school. Of course, this would require one last favor from him….asking his fellow NYPD buddy, Matt, to give her and her roommate a ride from school back home. Easy peasy, right? Not exactly. Her roomie bails and when Matt walks into the coffee shop to pick her up she finds herself in way over her head in lust with one of the most delicious guys she’s ever laid eyes on. Oh, one last problem? She kinda tells Matt she’s Sasha, her roommate. No way she’d stand a chance with him if he knew she was his buddy’s kid sister. And Lucy really, really wanted a chance. A little whit lie never hurt anyone, right?

NYPD sniper Matt Donovan wasn’t too keen on the idea of driving his buddy’s kid sister and her roommate the four hours back home. Scratch that, Matt wasn’t too keen being stuck with only the roommate for the four-hour drive back home. Fresh-faced and full of life, the minute he saw her his inner demons came to life crawling inside his head and filling him with all sorts of visions he knew he shouldn’t be having. He was used to keeping everyone at arm’s length and it would be smart is he kept her there as well. Far away from him. But even the strongest willpower can crumble….and damn if she is chipping away at his from her very first hello. He didn’t stand a chance and figuring one night wouldn’t kill either of them, he gives in….and not long after finds out she isn’t Sasha. She’s Lucy….his buddy’s kid sister and is beyond off limits. Not only because of who her brother is but because of who Matt is and the darkness he hides.

The beauty of a broken soul is that there is always the room to heal. It’s in taking that first step and letting someone help mend the hurt and heal the pain. Matt being resigned to his feelings that he would never be good enough for anyone and Lucy seeing right through to the heart of him and showing him just how much he matters. Matt needing to take and Lucy willing to give….emotional beauty in all it’s essence.

As I sit here and write this review I can’t help but get a little teary eyed. Tessa has given us some of the most delicious alpha males ever written and some of the most amazing gals for those men. I’m sad to see this series end. But if the series had to end, this was the book to end it on.

Matt has been the quiet guy in the shadows and we haven’t heard much from him. We kind of got a hint that there’s a story with him but didn’t get much else. I think the most he’d ever spoken was in Brent’s book and the minute he spoke I knew I would love him. His story is a gut-wrenching one. He’s broken and tortured and sees himself as unworthy of someone like Lucy. He’s lived thorough war and has been hurt by the ones he’s loved most. He hasn’t had much to be hopeful for…until he met Lucy. Lucy who is bright and fun and full of life. Lucy who makes him want to be a better man even with the knowledge that he will always have his dark desires. Lucy who is willing to be who and what he needs when he needs it most. Lucy who isn’t afraid of him and treats him like a man and not like a monster. The push and pull between them is tangible. She’s the forbidden fruit and knowing he will be damned, Matt takes a bite anyway, and is instantly addicted. He can’t believe that Lucy could be feeling the same way for him. Matt has some lines in this book that ripped my heart out but to see the affect Lucy has on him and to see him smile more each chapter was truly a gift to read. I desperately wanted Matt to get his happy ending because no one deserves it more. (my lips are sealed, of course…no spoilers here!)

This is definitely the darkest book in the series and in true Tessa fashion, she freaking nailed it. The passion, the anger, the angst, the emotion, the heat….she nailed all of it. Oh and the ending? I went from crying to laughing to cry-laughing and back to crying…but finished with a huge goofy grin plastered on my face.

Tessa, thank you for giving us Matt and Lucy. Thank you for giving us the Line of Duty Series. Thank you for being you! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in the future…because I know damned well it will be amazing!

Five Loves

About the author:

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

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