New Reviews – Page 120 – Read-Love-Blog

ARC Review….A Matchless Romance by Christi Barth

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

Enticing Interlude by Michelle Mankin….Review & Blog Tour Stop

Make sure to check out the TEASER & enter the GIVEAWAY below for some Rockin’ prizes!

Now Available

Come join our Facebook Release Day & Blog Tour Event

Title: Enticing Interlude ~ Series: Tempest Series # 2

Genre ~ New Adult

To the talented vocalist Justin Jones, love is merely a game that he plays by his own rules.

But to Bridget Dubois, love and heartache are one and the same.

Broken too many times before, the delicate beauty keeps her emotions carefully concealed. Bridget has her own set of rigid rules when it comes to men. She prefers to avoid them altogether, especially dangerously seductive auburn haired emerald eyed players like Justin.

But the new lead singer of the rising rock band Tempest doesn’t like to be ignored. Justin is used to getting what he wants, and now he’s set his sights on Bridget.

Suddenly, it’s no longer a game.

What do you do when the one you can’t have turns out to be the one you can’t live without?

As the pressure builds, will it temper them or will it shatter them both like fragile crystal?

*Each book in the Tempest series focuses on a different band member so technically they could be read alone, BUT would be much more enjoyable if read in order because of character back stories & continuing story lines*

A portion of proceeds from this book go to Covenant House. http://www.covenanthouse.org/ They have a helping hand for single mother’s program that acknowledges that being a good mom is one of the toughest jobs in the world but also one of the most important. The program offers free on-site day care so moms can complete their education or hold down a job.

“It would be so much easier with someone else to rely on.”—Bridget Dubois

Review:

Enticing Interlude is the second book in author Michelle Mankin’s Tempest series and admittedly the first of her work that I have read. Both enjoyable and entertaining, this was a great read.

Single mom Bridget Dubois has recently lost the only family member she could ever count on and now faced with picking up the pieces has decided to start over in a new city. Thanks to a good friend she met in rehab, she has a place to stay until she can get her bearings in her new hometown. She has been hurt by too many people in the past and is beyond thankful to have found a true friend in Lace. It’s through her friendship that she meets Justin Jones, the talented and sexy musician and new front man of the rock band Tempest. After her less than stellar track record with men, Justin is a risk she isn’t willing to take. But trying to keep her distance gets really hard when Justin proves to be incredibly kind and sweet to both her and her son. Would she have the strength to stay away? More importantly, would she have the strength to give a relationship with Justin a chance?

Things are going really well for Justin Jones these days and after seeing the beautiful blond living with his friend Lace, things just got even better. He’s landed one of the most coveted positions in music, has finally managed to get his relationship with his family better than it ever has been and now after meeting Bridget starts to think in terms of a real relationship. Sure, it may seem fast but there’s just something special about her that he can’t ignore. After getting to know her better, he knows she’s been hurt in the past and Justin is determined to prove he won’t be one of the people to let her down. Her or her son. Justin wants to be in it for the long haul. Will she let him?

Together Justin and Bridget have a whole lot to work on as far as letting go of the past and moving forward together but with a little bit of luck and a whole lot of determination, they truly have a shot at a happily ever after.

The story of Justin and Bridget started out slow and steady and kept building at a terrific pace. I think that is one of my favorite things about this book. It was believable. Bridget’s guard is up and rightfully so. She isn’t going to just jump into things because she finds Justin attractive and attentive to her and her son. She’s got a smart head on her shoulders and I appreciated that. One of my other favorite things about this book was the relationship between Bridget and her son. Having a son of my own, I really enjoyed reading the interactions between mom and son. He’s an adorable and smart little boy and Bridget knows how lucky she is to have him. Justin is kind and patient, which is at total odds with his perceived bad boy rocker persona. I loved that about him. He was willing to wait for Bridget to learn to trust him and did everything in his power to make that decision an easy one for her. Together they make a great couple and family.

There were also a few side plots that were really interesting and added another layer to this love story.

All in all, I think this is a story all romance fans will enjoy! Thank you, Michelle, for a great read!

Four Loves

I got up, tagged last night’s jeans from the floor, and hastily pulled them on.

I found the remaining pieces of her scattered clothing and threw them at her.

“Get dressed and get out.” Succinct and decisive.

I didn’t make the slightest attempt to soften my words.

Her lips thinned. “Turn around while I put them on.”

“Babe, I’ve already seen everything you got. And believe me when I say I’m not interested in having a do over.”

“F**k you,” she huffed.

I resisted the urge to remind her that she already had.

Several times.

MICHELLE MANKIN is the author of the Black Cat Records series of novels. Romance with subtext. For many years she worked in the insurance industry as an underwriter. Somehow, the boredom didn’t kill her but the hour and hours of looking at facts and figures provided ample time for her mind to wander. Black Cat Records in Vancouver provides the central backdrop for all of Michelle’s current novels. Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock ‘n roll industry. Things take a bit of a darker, edgier, once upon a turn with the Tempest series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there. When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back. BRUTAL STRENGTH SERIES: Love Evolution Love Revolution Love Resolution TEMPEST SERIES: Irresistible Refrain.

Connect with Michelle Mankin on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Mankin/233503403414065

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleMankin

On her website: http://www.michellemankin.com/

Irresistible Refrain – Tempest Series (Book #1)

Genre: New Adult

Two years ago everything changed for the remaining members of the Seattle rock band Tempest.

Two years is a long time.

Too long to keep on remembering.

Not nearly long enough to forget.

In trouble with nowhere else to go songstress Lace Lowell seeks refuge with the band during their stop in New York City. It’s a risky move for her because they are both there, two impossibly good looking men whose lives are inseparably entwined with hers. One who bruised her heart and one who smashed it into pieces.

Warren “War” Jinkins, the mercurial lead singer of Tempest, has always had a thing for Lace. But then again so does his best friend and band mate.

Bryan “Bullet” Jackson, the sinfully handsome tat-sleeved lead guitarist, has a bad boy reputation befitting his nickname. For the past two years Bullet’s had a rule with the groupies: one time, never twice, leave ‘em satisfied, but always leave ‘em.

Two guys, one woman, and a host of dark secrets all together within the tight confines of a tour bus as the group travels cross country.

Can the past be forgotten and buried?

Will friendships prevail?

Or will the three of them succumb to seductive impulses too addictive to resist?

** Irresistible Refrain is a gritty rock and roll tale intended for mature readers seventeen and up. Contains sexual situations, strong language, and drug use. **

Brutal Strength series:

Love Evolution:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/KZoJS4

B&N: http://bit.ly/1j25xkP

Love Revolution:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1aeXf43

B&N: http://amzn.to/1aeXf43

Love Resolution:

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

B&N: http://bit.ly/1cZkZ8T

“ultimate rocker pack” IR+ EI paperback with Black Cat Records tattoo, a BS and Tempest concert bracelet, and a Tempest lanyard with a piece of souloftherose.com rocker jewelry and concert bracelet and GNR & other band stickers.

“grand groupie pack” IR+ EI paperback with Black Cat Records tattoo, a BS and Tempest concert bracelet, and a Tempest lanyard and an Aerosmith moto inspired black jacket with zip off sleeves & a Black Cat Records luggage tag.

An e-pack with both IR + EI

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

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

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:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

ARC Review….Crimson Twilight by Heather Graham

Crimson Twilight releases February 11

Book links:

Amazon Kindle ~ Amazon Paperback ~ Goodreads ~ 1001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

It’s a happy time for Sloan Trent and Jane Everett. What could be happier than the event of their wedding? Their Krewe friends will all be there, and the event will take place in a medieval castle transported brick by brick to the New England coast. Everyone is festive and thrilled . . . until the priest turns up dead just hours before the nuptials.

Jane and Sloan must find the truth behind the man and the murder—the secrets of the living and the dead—before they find themselves bound for eternity—not in wedded bliss but in the darkness of an historical wrong and their own brutal deaths.

My review:

Crimson Twilight is the second novella in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series as well as part of Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunter series. This novella is packed with suspense from the very first page and I loved it!

What starts out as a wedding trip filled with friends, joy and happy times ahead for Sloan and Jane quickly turns into anything but. The priest scheduled to perform their ceremony winds up dead at the bottom of the castle staircase and their dreams of wedded bliss are postponed as a murder investigation begins. But, like all things involving the Krewes, this is anything but a routine investigation. Talk of castle ghosts and wedding curses will turn this situation into a who-done-it involving the living and the dead.

Don’t let this story being novella length fool you…the amount of mystery and suspense packed into these pages was divine. From the very beginning we are treated to a murder mystery involving ghosts of an unlucky couple set to wed in this very castle many years ago, who unfortunately never got the chance. I wasn’t sure what to believe. Could an apparition really be responsible for murder? Could it be a member of the castle staff? With so many possibilities, I was kept on the edge of my seat until the very end. Sloan and Jane work so well together both as investigators and as a couple. Their tender moments amidst the murder inquiry were a bright spot in the darkness. Also woven into the mystery is the beautiful love story of John and Elizabeth. The ghostly couple who never got the chance to wed. Their story added another layer to Crimson Twilight that I truly enjoyed.

Overall, this was a truly entertaining and enjoyable read with an exciting and thrilling ending. Thank you, Heather, for a fantastic read!

Five Loves

About the author:

Heather Graham New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Heather Graham, majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare. She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages. She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times and more. Heather has also become the proud recipient of the Silver Bullet from Thriller Writers. Heather has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, Mystery Book Club, People and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including Today, Entertainment Tonight and local television. The Unseen, The Unholy, The Unspoken and the Uninvited are available now. Let the Dead Sleep will be released in March, 2013. The Night is Watching, The Night is Alive and The Night is Forever will be released in Jne, August and October.

Blog ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

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

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)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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Presented by

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

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:

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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

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:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

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.

Connect with Tessa:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Lifers by Jane Harvey-Berrick….ARC Review

Lifers releases February 7

Lifers Print-FOR WEB

Book links:

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

After eight years in prison, twenty-four year old Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.

Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn’t changed since he was carted off to juvie all those years ago. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn’t even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.

Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can distance erase the memories that haunt him? Trapped in the prison of his own mind Jordan wonders if the pain of living will ever subside?

Torrey Delaney is new in town and certainly doesn’t behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex is the talk of the town. Add that to her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman, and the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.

As friendship forms, is it possible for two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey’s walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, will they find their place in the world? Can they struggle against the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?

Is love a life sentence?

Due to scenes of a sexual nature, not recommended for under 18.

My review:

Lifers is the newest work from author Jane Harvey-Berrick, an author I always look forward to reading. As I sit here with my tear-puffed eyes and type this review, I know it’s safe to say that Jane has once again rocked my world. This book is simply incredible.

Escaping a miserable, failed relationship and unhappy life in Boston, Torrey Delaney winds up in small town Texas and living with her reverend mother who she hasn’t talked to in years. You could say she went from bad to worse. That all changes when she meets Jordan. He walks into the diner she’s been working at and immediately Torrey senses something about him. She never expected the reaction of every person in the diner that morning. Reactions of contempt and hate toward him. Clearly there was s story there but she wouldn’t get the chance to ask him…at least on that day. To Torrey’s surprise the mystery man shows up at her mom’s house and begins handyman work. Clearly fate had a plan and Torrey was bound and determined to get to know this beautiful and clearly hurting man. But like an abused puppy, she had to earn that trust. Luckily she had all the time in the world…

Jordan Kane has finally ended his 8-year prison term and is now faced with life on the outside. He’s on parole, which will limit almost anything he could do, but at least he was out of that cinderblock hell. Unfortunately nothing could ever free him from the prison of his own mind. A place that was far worse than a jail cell. He expected the horrible treatment he was receiving from his neighbors, his parents, and the whole damn town. He was an ex-con with no plans for a future and most likely not deserving of one. What he wasn’t expecting was the treatment from the reverend’s beautiful and amazing daughter. She saw him as a person and not a damaged piece of trash. He knew he didn’t deserve it, but damn, how he longed for it. Surely she would treat him just like everyone else did when she found out his truth…but maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t.

What starts out as a much-needed friendship for both Jordan and Torrey turns into something much deeper and it’s that relationship that will be tested. Tested not only by the past, but also tested by the potential of a future together.

Every author has a certain character they write well. A type of character that remains with a reader long after the book has been read. For Ms. Harvey-Berrick, that type of character is the broken and damaged hero. My God, does she write them so well. I started this book and knew immediately I had to clear my calendar until I finished it. No way could I put this book down. And here I am, 24 hours after starting it, writing my review. This book was amazing. I don’t know if “amazing” can truly sum it up. Emotionally gut wrenching, poignant, touching, beautiful, full of hope and promise, yes…all of those things. Jordan is like a broken and battered puppy. He’s got a huge heart and has been paying for a horrible accident that happened when he was 16. Now 24, he may be out of jail, but he will never forgive himself for what happened just as no one else in town or in his family will. He truly believes he deserves all of the horrible treatment he’s been receiving and he’s stuck in this town until his parole ends. He broke my heart. Ripped it out, stomped on it and smooshed it in the dirt. I wanted nothing more than to heal this amazing boy. Then, in walks Torrey. Thank God for that girl! First off, she is a spitfire with a dirty mouth and full of life. I adore her. She had me laughing too many times to count and she was exactly what Jordan needed. Their relationship started out with Torrey busting through the walls Jordan has built up around himself and before long, the tables turn and it was Jordan’s turn to bust through her emotional walls. To see the transformation in Jordan as the book went on was a thing of beauty. All thanks to Torrey. On the flip side, I wanted to kick Jordan’s parents’ asses along with the other townspeople and their hideous treatment of him. But like yin and yang, there was a balance with a few of the townspeople who believed in Jordan and helped him live again.

I honestly went through a box of tissues reading this book. My chest physically aching for Jordan and his story while I was reading. I can’t remember the last time I wanted a happy ever after for a character so badly. This beautiful broken boy was just so deserving of one! Of course I can’t tell you if it happens but if you know me, you know I don’t recommend books that end poorly.

I’m certain I will be in a serious book hangover over Jordan and Torrey for a long time. I will always recommend Jane’s books and this is no exception. Get it on your list. Get some tissues and experience Lifers for yourself. It is so unbelievably worth it. Thank you, Ms. Harvey-Berrick, for yet another stellar read!

Five Loves

About the author:

I love to write.

Out of the crowd of voices in my head, I love to thread together their thoughts and tell the kind of stories that I want to read.

I’ve written my whole life, in one form or other, but it’s only since I started writing adult/new adult books that everything finally made sense.

I’ve lived in the metropolis and now I live in a small village by the sea. Inspiration comes from unexpected places and often when I’m walking my dog.

I hope my stories make you laugh and cry, and feel every emotion in between, because then I guess it’s job done.

Without you, there’s no me. Thanks for reading. jhb x

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Concealed by Victoria Michaels…Review & Blog Tour Stop

Title:Concealed (Hidden #1)

Author:Victoria Michaels

Genre:Romantic Suspense 18+

Publication Date:December 10, 2013

Publisher:Crazy-Bee Press

Event Organized by:Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis:

Life has been complicated for Sydney Ross. Desperate for a new start, she leaves home but, during her travels, witnesses something that will forever alter the path of her life. On the run for the last six years, Sydney finds herself living the life of a nomad until she one day stumbles into a small town and hopes she’s finally found a place to put down roots. With a good job in a local diner and, for the first time ever, friends who feel like family, things start looking up for Sydney. The biggest shock of all is catching the eye of the town’s most eligible bachelor, the sexy sheriff, Wade Jenkins.

Sparks fly between them, and it’s not long before Sydney believes Elton, Missouri could be the home she’s always wished for. But Sydney’s past and her secrets have a way of catching up with her. When a brutal murder shakes the small town, Sydney is terrified that the countdown has begun on her time in Elton.

Have the shadows from her past found her again? The people who mean the most want her to stay, but that would put everyone, including her daughter, at risk. Can Sydney put her faith in Wade or will she keep running from a danger that even she doesn’t fully understand?

My review:

Concealed is the first book in author Victoria Michaels’ Hidden series and a title I actually stumbled upon after a blog tour invite and it is truly a hidden gem and am SO glad I found it. I absolutely loved this book. Loved, loved, LOVED!

Sydney Ross has been on the run and looking over her shoulder for six years now and hasn’t ever had a moment to felt at home. That was until she cam here, to Elton Missouri. She has finally found somewhere where she can picture herself staying for the long term. People who treat her like family and that have embraced her. Her job at the local diner has given her friends she knows she would be able to count on when the chips are down. Her job has also given her the treat of seeing the sexy sheriff, Wade Jenkins, each and every day. Man, what Sydney wouldn’t do for a chance with a guy like him. She knows it’s safer for both of them to stay away from him but when the whole town points out that he has been coming to the diner for her, not just her pie, she starts to wonder if it could possibly work between them. Maybe she could finally leave her past in the past and get a chance to enjoy Wade and all he has to offer. After making her decision and just when things really heat up between them, her past comes slamming into her present with a murder and a clear message that she was in serious trouble. Would she ask the town of Elton, Wade, and her friends to risk everything to help her or would she pack up and run? Never has the decision been harder and never had so much been at stake.

Ok, so there’s a big giant piece of this story that I cannot give away in this review and one that the whole story hinges upon….one that makes this story so freaking amazingly good. Sydney left home at a young age and hasn’t looked back since. She hasn’t been able to. She’s a determined and strong willed gal with a smart head on her shoulders and a huge heart. I admired the steps she has taken to keep herself safe and somewhat happy. I was a nervous wreck for this poor gal for almost the entire book and felt as if I was right there next to her, looking over my shoulder as well. Luckily, she has sheriff Wade. Delicious, sexy, brooding, loyal sheriff Wade. I’ve read a whole lot of book guys and he ranks up there with my favorite. There is just something about him that had me swooning from the very beginning. He ends up being even more amazing than I could have imagined and the very end of this book had my crying happy tears.

The rest of the cast of characters is just as fantastic. The kind and caring diner owners, the feisty neighbor, Sydney’s best friend….all of them played an important role and I so wish this was a town I wish I could go and visit.

The mystery surrounding Sydney is quite a doozy and I haven’t read anything like it before. It made this story intense, emotional and nerve wracking and when I got to the end, oh so satisfying. Concealed is a story that will be staying with me for quite some time, it was that good.

Thank you, Ms. Michaels, for an amazing story. I will be eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this series!

Five Loves

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Purchase Links: Amazon |Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Createspace

About the Author

Victoria Michaels is a wife and mother of many who lives her life in what seems like a constant state of motion. Kids’ sports, meetings, homework and general family fun take up twenty-seven hours of her day. In her thirty seconds of free time, Victoria likes to read, write and travel the country with her husband.

She most enjoys writing about love and laughter, two things that are central to her everyday life. If you would like to know more about what’s coming next from Victoria, please check back at victoriamichaels.net for updates, news and sneak peeks of future releases.

Connect with the Author: Twitter | Facebook |Website | Goodreads

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Be Mine Forever by Marina Adair…ARC Review & Signed paperback giveaway

Happy Wednesday!

I am so happy to be able to bring you my review for Marina Adair’s Be Mine Forever as well as have a signed paperback copy to give away to one lucky winner!

Enter in the rafflecopter below…. thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

For Trey DeLuca, the idea of settling down was entirely unsettling. As VP of sales for his family’s wine company, he’s never in any one city ? or with any one woman ? for long, which is how he likes it. But when family obligations keep him temporarily grounded in his hometown, he finds the perfect distraction. She’s sweet, gorgeous, and sexy as hell?only her life screams commitment. Between raising her son and struggling to keep her dance school afloat, Sara Reed has her hands full. Dance students she needs ? a steamy tangled sheets cha-cha with a self-admitted commitment-phobe? Not going to happen. But sparks fly as the town prepares for a big Valentine’s Day gala, and Trey strikes a deal with Sara?he?ll ?manny-up? and watch her son in exchange for ballroom lessons. With love quickstepping ever closer, Sara needs to teach this playboy some new steps or risk losing him ? and her heart? forever.

My review:

Be Mine Forever is the fourth book in author Marina Adair’s St. Helena Vineyard Series, a series that I have loved from the first book. Well, I may love each book in the series but this book so far is my absolute favorite of the series! Trey and Sara are quite amazing.

Trey DeLuca has been lured back to St. Helena thanks in part by his sneaky grandmother and now that he was back, he couldn’t wait to leave again. He wasn’t the kind of guy to put down roots, which made him the perfect DeLuca brother for the VP of sales job. Always on the go and never on one place for too long which is just how Trey liked it. Of course that makes being stuck in St. Helena for a few weeks even harder. He knew he couldn’t let his grandmother down but he also knew staying here and seeing how happily married his brothers are, with growing families, would be hard. So now he’s here, and making matters worse, has been roped into dancing at the Valentine’s Day Gala with his grandmother and finds himself signed up for dance lessons. Could it get any worse? For Trey, no. Things seem to be looking up, however, when he meets his dance teacher, Sara. Ok, so maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stay around and hopefully spend some time with one of the newest, and sexiest, residents of St. Helena.

Single mom Sara Reed has recently decided that she would attempt to get back into the dating pool. Yes, it would be slightly terrifying, but she owed it to herself to try to live life again. Running her dance school and taking care of her son takes up almost all of her time these days but if love came along, she wouldn’t shy away from it. Fate seems to be listening and practically drops the youngest, and most delicious and available DeLuca, into her lap. With a little help from some of St. Helena’s oldest matchmakers, it seems that they are working alongside fate to give Sara a second chance at love. Is she really ready? For that matter, is Trey?

Sara and Trey were walking down different paths in life but end up meeting at a crossroads along the way. Even with two different ideas on what the future holds for them, they will try to travel down a new path together….hopefully they won’t get lost along the way.

I am so mad at myself for finishing this book so quickly! I couldn’t help myself though! It was like eating a big, delicious piece of cake and savoring each bite until you realize you ate the whole piece and it was gone. Trey is by far the cheekiest and most playful of the DeLuca boys if I do say so myself. He likes woman and has honed his flirting and skills of seduction over the years. Sara is in his sights and damn, if he didn’t work his magic. He was in for a bit of a rude awakening though when she kind of gave him the cold shoulder! That didn’t stop his efforts though…thankfully. He’s persistent, that Trey. He also has a huge heart and is sweet and caring and amazing with kids and *dreamy sigh* the list could go on for miles. What he needs though is someone to tame him and Sara is just the gal for the job. Just being herself is enough to draw Trey in. She gives him a run for his money and is slow to let her guard down. Her past is a sad one and she is right in having some hesitations with Trey and relationships. Luckily he’s not one to back down and she’s willing to take a chance on him. They so amazing together and I cried my eyes out at the amazing ending!

Oh, and of course, we get to see our favorite St. Helena grandmothers and the entire DeLuca clan including kids and wives. I loved every interaction with the brothers and Trey with his sisters-in-law and nieces was just totally swoon-worthy!

So now I enter my book hangover phase and I will be missing Trey and Sara, going back to re-read my favorite parts and anxiously waiting for more from my favorite wine country town. Thank you, Marina, for a fabulous, sexy and devour-able read!

Five Loves

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About the author:

Every author can identify the exact moment of inception, when the skies parted, the heavens sang, and a divine being came forth, anointing them one of the chosen, blessed to spend the rest of eternity weaving stories of ‘ever after’ for mass consumption.

For me, it wasn’t so much a moment, but an intervention.

Sophomore year, my fellow Blockheads sat me down and explained that I had an addiction. I was a NKOTB–A-holic. Afraid of becoming enablers, they refused to listen to another one of my never-ending stories about our passionate intrigues with Jordan, Joe, Jon, Danny, and Donnie. What they didn’t understand was that New Kids on the Block wasn’t my obsession—they were my current romance-medium of choice.

Twenty years later, my romance addiction is a hard, bodice-ripping, half-dozen books per week. When I’m not reading it or watching it, I am writing it—or workshopping it—or editing it—or strategizing how my hands to get more of it.

In 2010, I realized I was closer to menopause than prom and got serious about my career, writing my way toward a post-graduate degree in creative writing (in the off chance that the first one didn’t stick) and becoming a published romance author.

January of 2012, I sold my first novel, TUCKER’S CROSSING, to Kensington Books and The St. Helena Vineyard series to Montlake Romance. KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, the first in the series is a National Bestseller and #1 Romance Series bestseller. SUMMER IN NAPA releases May 14, 2013 and AUTUMN AT THE VINEYARD releases October 2013. In 2014 the first in the Sugar Series, BUT SUGAR’S TWICE AS SWEET, will release from Grand Central’s Forever line.

I live with my husband, daughter and three neurotic cats in Northern California.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

ARC Review….Blood Reunited by Amber Belldene

Blood Reunited releases 1/28

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Book Three in the Blood Vine Series.

Brooding vampire halfling and biologist Bel Maras is determined to create a cure for the wasting disease that plagues his vampire family. His work becomes essential as the Hunters intensify their global and bloody campaign. When Bel’s cure fails, only his ancient and estranged godmother Uta Ilirije can help. But seeing the ice-cold Uta reveals something shocking–she is his bonded mate.

She may be a dangerous warrior, but Uta feels her failures acutely. She has been unable to protect her kind from Hunters, and vampires are dying out. Worse, she tied Bel to her long ago in an accident of blood, then abandoned him for his own good–a choice he has never forgiven. Many days, she is convinced Bel and the vampires would be better off if she just walked into the sun.

Biology has fated them to be mates. Now these old enemies must overcome their past to save the vampires and come to peace with the bond they never chose.

My review:

Blood Reunited is the third and final installment of author Amber Belldene’s Blood Vine Series, a series that I have loved from the very beginning. As sad as I am to see the end to this series I must say that I am equally happy with how it did end. It was absolutely perfect.

Blood Reunited picks up where the second book, Blood Entangled, left off and to say things are a mess for the Kastle Estate Winery would be a gross understatement. The situation with the Hunters and the wasting disease are at the most dire points and things have never looked bleaker.

But vampire Halfling, Bel, still has hope that he can cure the wasting disease and in turn save the vampire race. He has been working non-stop on in his lab and believes he’s isolated what makes the wine so important. He also believes he’s figured out the same thing about the Hunter blood. It’s all right there, practically in his grasp but alas, it keeps eluding him. To throw another monkey wrench into things, Uta is at the winery. Uta, Bel’s childhood friend, one of the oldest vampires in existence, and his blood mate. As if he needed this kind of distraction. Her presence has awoken a need in him he has never felt before and also has brought back all his childhood feelings of hurt when she pushed him away all those years ago. He still had no idea why she sent him away when he needed her most after his mother’s suicide and he certainly didn’t have time to worry about it now. He needed to focus on his work and saving vampires. Easier said than done.

Vampire Uta Ilirije has stayed away from Bel for as long as she could. Now, being forced to head to his family’s winery with the council so they could work on saving the vampires and stopping the Hunters, she would be forced to see him…and ignite the blood bond. A blood bond she had formed by accident. No matter what the circumstances though, she loved Bel. Always had. And seeing his distaste for her was crushing her. But she was a warrior and would do what it took to stop this war with the Hunters and in the end she hoped one day Bel could forgive her. Dare she hope along with his forgiveness he could learn to love her?

Adding to this storyline was Ethan Bennett and his new plaything, Gwen. Whoa, talk about one effed up relationship! Amber did one hell of a job portraying them as the uncaring, soulless fiends they are…or shall I say were.

We also learned more about the vampire race and their ancient relationship with the Hunters. Seeing all the pieces fit into place was pretty amazing and again, Amber did one hell of a job weaving their historic tale throughout the series with the culmination in Blood Reunited.

While reading this story the saying “it’s going to get worse before it can get better” kept rolling around in my head…because never had it been truer. Things with the Maras clan and the winery are a devastated mess and I was heartbroken for all they had to endure. Bel and Uta go through so much in terms of emotion and rehashing their personal history. Bel being stubborn and angry while Uta is broken and tired of feeling all the guilt she has carried over their blood bond. All of that being said, it made the ending ever sweeter. I had such a sense of contentment when I read “The End” and I finished this book with a smile. You know I won’t give anything away so you’ll have to red it for yourself to find out.

Amber, thank you for one of the most amazing series endings I have ever had the pleasure of reading and for giving us the Blood Vine Series. All you vampire lovers out there really need to read this series…you won’t be disappointed!

Five Loves

About the author:

authorphoto-2 Amber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book. As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.

Amber is an Episcopal Priest and student of religion. She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths. Some people think it is strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to her, because the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire. She lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco

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