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Hunter by Night by Elisabeth Staab… Review & A visit from Lee

by Jilly

Hunter by Night releases June 3

Synopsis:

She wants out

Party girl Alexia Blackburn is only hanging around the vampire compound until her best friend—the queen—has her baby. After that, nothing is going to stop Alexia from getting back to daylight, safety, and feeling like a normal human being. But leaving the vampire world has one big catch…

He needs her to stay

Head of vampire security Lee Goram has hated and distrusted humans for centuries. Feeding on vampire blood has kept him strong…but now it’s killing him—and he’s horrified to discover that Alexia may hold the key to his cure. He’d rather die defending his king than admit his weakness, but time is running out for the great vampire warrior…

My review:

Hunter by Night is the third book in author Elisabeth Staab’s Chronicles of Yavn Series and the book I have been most looking forward to in the series after falling in love with Lee form the very first book. Well, I was not disappointed. This book was everything I had hoped for and more.

Alexia Blackburn is slowly losing her mind. Being the only human stuck in a house full of vampires with the constant threat of war from their enemies, the wizards, is just a tad bit taxing. Especially to someone like Alexia. Someone who has been on her own for as long as she can remember. Her childhood kind of sucked and the minute she got free she had been in charge of herself. So to be stuck here was driving her crazy. If it weren’t for her best friend’s pregnancy and impending delivery, she’d so be outta here. But she would stay, for her best friend. She’d be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t also staying for a certain royal guard vampire named Lee. Sure, he’s made it clear that he could never be with a human, but she knows there’s some sort of connection there. And if she was wrong? Fine. She’d be gone before she could let his rejections sting any more than they already have.

As head of security for the king and their community, vampire Lee Goram had a lot on his plate. Every day there were new threats emerging and with the uncertainty with the wizards, you could say his plate runneth over. Making matters worse was that the queen was due to give birth any week. Talk about a security nightmare. So he’s been blaming his chest pains on all of that stress. Certainly vampires didn’t get sick and die from something like that so he’d put it on the back burner until all of this wizard nonsense went away. Also adding to his stress was Alexia. That human was always trying to plead her case as to why she should be allowed to go out into the day, without any protection. Didn’t she know as the queen’s best friend she had a huge target on her back? But he knew she didn’t care. She had a stubborn streak a mile wide and was beyond independent. She wasn’t going to listen to him. Of course, his annoyance with her isn’t helping squash his underlying attraction to her. But he just kept coming back to that fact that she was a human. Surely he could never be with a human. But Lee has been known to be wrong a time or two and this may just be one of those times….

Tensions are higher than high within the mansion and the sexual tension between Lee and Alexia is adding a deliciously tense layer to the situation. Will they ever put all their differences aside and take a chance on the pull they feel between themselves?

Oh man how I loved this book. Lee is the quintessential stubborn alpha vampire with a deep-rooted disgust for human/vampire relationships. Alexia is just as stubborn and is also stronger than anyone could guess. She’s got a sharp tongue and a beautifully smart assed wit that I adored about her. She wasn’t going to let Lee push her around. She wasn’t going to let anyone push her around. The push and pull between them had started in the first book and reached a fevered pitch in the second book and left me dying for the ending to their story. Elisabeth gave them an ending they both needed and truly deserved. They pissed each other off at every turn, bantered constantly but the underlying level of care and concern for one another was so touching. Even if they didn’t want to admit what had developed between them as going from annoyance to one of love, I knew eventually they would. If for no other reason than even though they may be stubborn characters, they are also honest, and when the walls of defense crumble between them their honesty is amazing. Heartfelt and touching. I went from being pissed off to crying and then laughing with happy tears being shed. I love all the feels!

Also, there was a bit of closure for Siddoh and a few of the other members of the vampire clan we’ve met along the way. That was another gift to read.

Thank you, Elisabeth, for giving Lee and Alexia their happy ending. I loved every minute of it!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

And, as a special treat, I was so lucky to have Lee stop by with his take on loving a human…. (oh, how I freaking LOVE Lee!)

Okay, listen up…. people: I may not be old by the standards of my kind, but seven hundred years sure ain’t child’s play. I’ve trudged through a whole hell of a lot of history, fuck you very much. I’ve kicked my way through plagues, wars, and what have you, and I’ve seen the best and worst of humanity can do to itself. What it can do to my kind. So I hope you’ll understand if I don’t jump on the warm and fuzzy bandwagon about getting up close and personal with you folks. I drink the blood of vampires, I live among vampires, and if I have to brush up against the occasional person at the gas station once in awhile, I try not to get any of ‘em on me.

You know what I mean.

Shoulda known one day the gods or karma or whatthefuckever would nail me right between the eyes with that shit. No humans? How about living with one right down the hall. One small, stubborn, intensely aggravating and completely feminine human, who sways her hips when she’s stomping away from you. Yeah. Perfect. Damn me straight to hell.

Shoulda known, right? For all my love and loyalty to my kind, I mated first with a succubus hybrid, so that was my own damn fault. See, that one didn’t work out though, and I told myself I’d never get attached again. Not to someone of impure blood, maybe never to anyone.

Never say never.

Still, Alexia, she’s something. And being with a human, it’s forced me to learn some things I never expected I’d have to learn. Never wanted to. Never wanted to learn to use a blender, either, but I guess you roll with the times—and those protein shakes come in handy.

So today—because Jillian here is such a sweet gal, I’m sharing what I, Lee Goram, learned about loving a human. Buckle up, assholes.

They’re stronger than they look. With all of her five-foot-nothing and her barely a hundred pounds, I swear I could break Alexia if I so much as bump into her. Still, she’s more passionate than any female I’ve known, and get your mind out of the gutter, people. She holds her own, ‘s all I’m saying.
They’re not like vampires. All right. Don’t give me the “no shit,” and the eye rolling. Some things you take for granted after centuries of knowing it, okay? Their fertility cycles don’t run with the moon, so you can’t bank on that shit. And that “birth control” stuff? I’m not convinced that’s all it’s cracked up to be. Don’t even get me started on condoms. I don’t wanna put my dick in some kind of weird-assed rubber wrapper.
What is up with their undergarments? I’ll cop to it, I haven’t got this one figured. All I know is Alexia’s underwear barely passes as an eye patch and her brassieres could double as body armor. God help the man who rips it in half, is all I know. Been there, done that, got the lecture.
Sometimes they just don’t stay where you put ‘em. I mean, vampire females? I guess it’s not hard and fast, but centuries of tradition says you defer to your mate and your elders. Alexia, she doesn’t defer to anybody. I don’t know if that’s all human females, or only her, but it’s damned aggravating. She has a mind of her own, and she decides she’s gonna do what she’s gonna do, fuck what I say. Nobody has the brass ones not to heed my command. Most of the time, even our king listens to me. Still, it’s a sexy mind, full of wicked thoughts and sharp-tongued jabs, that hurt in an oddly pleasant way when they land. I can’t help it… I love them. Her. Maybe tradition’s not all it’s cracked-up to be.
That fucking sunlight thing. No getting around that problem. Not much of one, anyway. I found out there’s a thing you can do, but it ain’t worth doing unless you’re sure your woman is worth the pain. Alexia’s worth the pain. Alexia is worth everything. She loves the night, too, which kind of cuts both ways. Goes back to the problem of staying where I tell her to.
Fuck biology, after all. See, I got all up in my head about her humanity. Wanting to sleep with the woman was one thing. Living a life together, that’s an animal I didn’t have the magic powers to take down bare-handed. Why try to wrestle with the idea that I’ll only have to say goodbye again in a handful of years? Well, screw that selfish nonsense. For starters, anything worth having is worth having for any time at all. A lot, a little, whatever you can damn well get. And for finishers, it turns out if we look back at my first point, humans aren’t so wimpy as I thought. There’s a way around this biology BS after all. We’re gonna make it work. That human, she’s mine. Besides…
In the end, you love who you love. So fuck off, all of you.

(….I mean, really, how freaking great is he?!) Thanks, Lee, for stopping by! XO

Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the author:

Elisabeth Staab digs coffee, saucy stories, and sexy things that go bump in the night. Once, she ate dinner in a jail and liked it. She lives in the Washington DC area with her incredible family and does her best to juggle life while ignoring the laundry.

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

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One Night With a Cowboy by Elizabeth Otto…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

One night is never enough…

Jobless, broke, and struggling to support herself and her invalid mother, paramedic Sophie Miller doesn’t have time or energy for a relationship. Especially with her mother’s clock ticking down. So when the sexy cowboy she meets at a carnival proposes a no-strings, one-night stand, she’s all over it. Until her one-night stand shows up again and turns out to be everything she’s ever wanted.

Tucker Haywood has his hands full running Paint River Ranch and trying to deal with all the changes pulling the rug out from under him. His past has taught him it’s better to keep women at arm’s length, for their sake. Stubborn and temperamental, Tucker doesn’t have a clue how to deal with a city girl who’s scared of squirrels and dirt.

So when Sophie gets under his skin, he has to do whatever it takes to push her away. Even if it means losing the part of himself he never thought he’d find.

My review:

One Night With a Cowboy is the second book in author Elizabeth Otto’s Paint River Ranch series and after falling in love with the Haywood brothers in the first book, I was so anxious to get to Tucker’s story. Well, Elizabeth sure as hell gave this rugged cowboy one hell of story. I adored every second!

Sophie Miller really does have an overflowing plate these days and doesn’t know how much more she can take. City budget cuts have caused her to lose her job as a paramedic, her mother has taken a turn for the worse so she’s had to move to be closer, and the already strained relationship she has with her sister is only getting worse. Jobless and lacking any kind of support, emotionally or financially, Sophie is just about at her wits end. That all changes when she eyes the deliciously hot cowboy one night at the local fair. He is just the kind of temporary distraction she needs. Not one to normally go for a one-night stand, Sophie isn’t sure what draws her to him, only that she needs this. Anything to take her mind off of all of the negative in her life. And the denim wrapped, cowboy hat topped, tall drink of water is just that…a temporary distraction. Unfortunately with her mother getting worse, and with limited finances, Sophie finds herself staying longer than she expected in this town…and longer in her cowboy’s bed. Will she be able to leave when the time comes?

Tucker Haywood has learned a lot of lessons in his life. One of them being that he isn’t one for the long term relationship. His ex-fiancé will agree with him on that. He probably has his father to blame for his inability to love properly but looking at the happiness one of his brothers has found, he thinks instead that maybe it’s just him. Whatever the reason, he’s been happy with his one-night-love-‘em-an-leave-‘em mentality…up until he meets Sophie. What is supposed to be one night together turns into the desire for much more and Tucker soon realizes he’s in uncharted territory. And it scares him to death. He isn’t meant for this…love and commitment beyond the temporary. But every time he sees Sophie he realizes he’s only lying to himself. Tucker soon starts to wonder if he could be the man she deserves…and would she want him to be?

The hurdles Tucker and Sophie face are many…both as individuals and as a couple. They will have to face loss, unfamiliar emotions, and personal journeys that will either make or break their chances at a happy ever after together. Will they have what it takes to face what life throws at them?

I loved this book. I really, really, really, loved this book. I blame my puffy eyes today on this book. I cried, laughed, and my chest physically ached over this book. We met Tucker Haywood briefly in the first book in this series and I already knew he was a bit surly but sexy as hell. His father had royally screwed up Tucker’s emotions when he was a young boy when he decided to treat their mother like dirt and the boys just as badly. He had accepted his emotional lot in life and did the best he could…by keeping women at a distance and avoiding any kind of real relationship. He had tried it before and was proven right when he broke things off with his fiancé. Enter Sophie. This gal turns his whole world upside-down and it was magical to read. Sophie is strong with a touch of vulnerability that makes her such a real and believable character. She has so much weighing on her but never gives up. Her mother is dying, she doens’t have her father, and has a crap relationship with her only sibling, but always bucks up and keeps going. When she shows her emotion in this book it is earned and not some girly breakdown. It didn’t matter that neither Tucker nor Sophie wanted anything beyond their first night together…they had an unexplained pull that just kept getting stronger. Neither one wanted to admit there was something meaningful between them, and both of them were scared away when they contemplated the idea. There were a whole lot of tense moments between these two and I was so worried they wouldn’t see the forest for the trees, so to speak. That they wouldn’t be able to admit their feelings and they would miss out on their chance at happiness together. Luckily, Elizabeth knows how to write one hell of an ending. I was sobbing my eyes out for the last few chapters. It went from sad sobbing to big ‘ol happy tears of joy. I won’t give anything away but I will tell you that the covered bridge ending is one of my favorite endings of all time.

Oh, and the smoking hot heat and chemistry between Tucker and Sophie? From the very beginning is was on freaking fire. Amazing, intense and really well written.

If you love sexy cowboys, smoking hot chemistry, and beautiful emotion, One Night With a Cowboy is the book for you. Trust me, you will love it as much as I did! Thank you, Elizabeth, for another amazing trip to the Paint River Ranch. I cannot WAIT for the next in this series!

Five Loves

Author Bio:

Elizabeth Otto grew up in a Wisconsin town the size of a postage stamp, where riding your horse to the grocery store, and skinny dipping after school were perfectly acceptable. No surprise that she writes about small communities and country boys. She’s the author of paranormal romance, and hot, emotional, contemporary romance, and has no guilt over frequently making her readers cry. When not writing, she works full-time as an Emergency Medical Technician for a rural ambulance service. Elizabeth lives with her very own country boy and their three children in, shockingly, a small Midwestern town.

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Girl Lost by Nazarea Andrews…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

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Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:

Northern was supposed to be a fresh start—a place where people didn’t know who I was or how I had spent years in and out of mental institutes. People didn’t know about my parents death or the island no one heard of. But when Peter sits next to me in lit class, I can’t stop the memories, and I don’t want to. He looks too much like the boy from the island, and despite my best intentions, coaxes my secrets from me.

He’s gorgeous, irresistible, a little mad, and completely lost—we are a pair of broken cogs in a world neither of us truly fits into. He is somehow gentle and fierce, heartbreaking in his devotion and savage in his defense.

When Belle, his best friend, shows up, pale and lovely and sick, Peter pulls away from me, a startling withdrawal. It’s a relationship that scares and confuses me. She is at times warm and friendly, and other times is violent and unpredictable.

Peter says that he wants me, but refuses to let himself get close. And there are secrets, surrounding both of us, that border on nightmares. As the memories close in, as Belle gets sicker and more violent, I’m torn between what is true and what I believe, and what this magical boy knows about my mysterious past.

My review:

Girl Lost, from what I understand, is a modern-day take on Peter Pan. Now, I will totally admit that I have never actually read Peter Pan and haven’t seen the movie since I was a kid…which left me feeling a bit lacking after finishing this book. However, I still really enjoyed it and was kept interested from start to finish.

Gwen Barrie has been trying to come to terms with the horrific event that took her parents’ lives and left her adrift at sea for weeks…alone. They say the memories she has of the Boy and some island are complete fabrications of her mind. A coping mechanism to deal with the emotional trauma. It’s what lead her into the mental institution. But Gwen can’t help but feel it was all very real. And now that she’s out of the institution and starting college, she is faced with the grown up version of her “imagined” Boy and the fear that maybe she really wasn’t insane after all. Maybe he was real and maybe he had come back for her. Of course, her brother, aunt, and psychiatrist disagree with her which means she should keep her distance from this possible manifestation of her imaginiary long-lost Boy. Easier said than done. Especially when he won’t take no for an answer and is beyond insistent that they become friends….which will most likely lead to more. And that’s what terrifies Gwen the most.

As I said earlier, I probably would have had more of a connection with Girl Lost if I had read Peter Pan but it was an interesting and suspense filled read nonetheless! Gwen pulled at my heartstrings from the very beginning and I wanted some sort of healing for her at the end. She was in this constant state of limbo in between the world of sanity and insanity. I felt awful that she was questioning her sanity at every turn. I was also fascinated with Peter and his remarkable likeness to the Boy she remembered from all those years ago. I was kept on the edge of my seat from the very start and was enthralled with Gwen’s tale. I won’t give too much else away because I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys!

All in all, Girl Lost was an interesting and fascinating read with plenty of twists and turns. Thank you, Nazarea, for another fabulous read!

Four Loves

About the author:

Nazarea 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.
You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Nazarea Andrews is agented, and all inquiries about rights should be directed to Michelle Johsnon of Inklings Literary.

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ARC Review….Dungeon Games by Lexi Blake

by Jilly

Dungeon Games releases tomorrow, May 13

Book links:

Kindle | Amazon Paperback | 1,001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

Obsessed

Derek Brighton has become one of Dallas’s finest detectives through a combination of discipline and obsession. Once he has a target in his sights, nothing can stop him. When he isn’t solving homicides, he applies the same intensity to his playtime at Sanctum, a secretive BDSM club. Unfortunately, no amount of beautiful submissives can fill the hole that one woman left in his heart.

Unhinged

Karina Mills has a reputation for being reckless, and her clients appreciate her results. As a private investigator, she pursues her cases with nothing holding her back. In her personal life, Karina yearns for something different. Playing at Sanctum has been a safe way to find peace, but the one Dom who could truly master her heart is out of reach.

Enflamed

On the hunt for a killer, Derek enters a shadowy underworld only to find the woman he aches for is working the same case. Karina is searching for a missing girl and won’t stop until she finds her. To get close to their prime suspect, they need to pose as a couple. But as their operation goes under the covers, unlikely partners become passionate lovers while the killer prepares to strike.

My review:

Dungeon Games is book number 6.5 in author Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series as well as novella number 5 in the 1,001 Dark Nights Series. The perfect balance of suspense and heat makes Dungeon Games a page turner from start to finish.

Private investigator Karina Mills has earned every ounce of her no-nonsense rep. She has learned to keep her personal demons at bay, suffered major loss, and hunted down the dredges of society, all while taking crap from no one. Now more than ever those skills will come in handy when she’s on the hunt for a serial killer. There have been murders hitting too close to home. The place she feels most at home. Her BDSM world. Now she will have to team up with Detective Derek Brighton to catch the person responsible. Figures. The one guy she has a love/hate relationship with is the guy she now has to play house with. Karina can only hope they catch the killer before things with Derek reach a level she isn’t sure she is ready to go to.

Detective Derek Brighton always gets his man. No matter what. And if that means he has to go undercover to catch a serial killer, so be it. However, going undercover with Karina threatens to undo him. The pull he feels to her is undeniable and the attraction is mutual…even if she tries to deny it. First task at hand will be getting a killer off the street and then he will get to work on Karina…

Yum. Yum. Yum. This novella was so delicious on so many levels. The heat between Karina and Derek was palpable from the very beginning. The push and pull was just perfect. Not too much and not too little. Both Derek and Karina are strong characters but each have a soft side that balances them out beautifully. For as alpha as Derek is, he has some lines in this book that melted my heart and the same goes for Karina. She’s bad assed but is vulnerable as well. Both are well rounded and compliment one another beautifully. Adding the murder investigation into the mix gave a fantastic facet to this story that truly made it the whole package. The ending was quite the shocker and I hadn’t seen it coming! Of course, that made me love Dungeon Games even more. That element of surprise was the icing on this delicious read.

Thank you, Lexi, for strong characters, plenty of smoking heat, and a suspense packed story!

Five Loves

About the author:

Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. She began writing at a young age concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. Lexi believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome or foursome may seem.

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Settling Ashes by Diana Gardin…ARC Review

by Jilly

Settling Ashes releases May 15

Settling ashes cover

Synopsis:

He broke her heart, she’s missing the largest piece of the puzzle…

Paige Hill is no stranger to physical pain, but the ache that plagues her heart is an entirely new kind of hurt. She left Rutherford to escape it, but did she make a huge mistake? Her ex-boyfriend Beau, who scooped up the broken pieces of Paige like he never got the chance in their past, doesn’t think so. He wants her to stay…

Clay Forbes can’t eat, can’t sleep, and can’t fight the murder charge that hangs like a guillotine over his head. None of it matters if Paige won’t forgive him. He’ll do anything to find her and bring her home.

But how safe will that home be when the two are finally reunited? It seems the death of Hannah Davis is definitely unfinished business in their small college town, and someone is still on a mission to keep Clay and Paige apart…this time forever.

My review:

Settling Ashes is the second book in author Diana Gardin’s The Ashes Series and one could say the second part of Paige and Clay’s story, picking up where Out of the Ashes left off.

With the betrayal of her boyfriend still fresh in her mind, Paige Hill has turned to her ex-boyfriend, Beau, to help her escape her college town and all of the pain and confusion that comes along with that once safe haven. She still couldn’t believe Clay had been caught in his ex’s bed especially after the torment the ex had caused Paige since she had started dating Clay. Making matters worse is that Clay’s ex had been murdered right after Clay spent the night there and he was the prime suspect. It was just too much for Paige to handle. Being back in Beau’s company felt safe and comforting and she needed that. If only Beau could see the situation for what it was and not a chance for them to get back together. Paige knows she has to go back and face Clay and resolve their issues whether it means they can work it out and stay together or go their separate ways isn’t exactly clear yet. And of course there’s the matter of the murder investigation. How much could one girl have to deal with in her lifetime?

Clay Forbes was certain of three things: he didn’t kill his ex or sleep with her and he needed to get Paige back. With Paige back, he could handle the investigation and all of the stress that came with it. But he needed her back. He needed to prove to her that he would never hurt her like that and that no two people had ever meant to be together as much as they are. When she shows back up at campus he had never felt more relieved. He wasn’t relieved, however, that she brought her ex back with her. He wasn’t stupid enough to think she had gotten back together with him, but he knew he had a fight on his hands. A fight for Paige and her heart…and his freedom. Deep down Clay knows it will all work out in the end and Paige would be by his side.

Between a murder investigation, battered trust, and high emotions, Clay and Paige have one hell of a rough road ahead of them. Will they find out who actually killed Clay’s ex? Will the love they’ve found be enough to ride out the storm?

I was so happy to get to the conclusion of Clay and Paige’s turmoil with this book. I had been so anxious since finishing the last book and was so worried for these two. Throw in the murder mystery and this book has it all. Clay is a man on a mission and he won’t go down without fighting for Paige. He knows it’s going to take a lot to get her just to sit down and listen to him and his side of the story but he also knows he’s innocent…of the murder and the infidelity. Now, if he could just get her to listen. Paige is such a strong character already and now to have to deal with this? Most gals would be running for the hills for good. But one of the things I love most about Paige is her ability to look at things at different angles and is open to talking and working things out. Thankfully, with the support system of friends they have, Clay and Paige are able to get through the rough waters and back to a good place. Of course, it still doesn’t help that there’s a murderer out there. Talk about a “whoa” moment when the killer is revealed! Never saw that coming a mile away! Oh, and the ending of this book? So freaking perfect! I was a giggling and crying mess! Loved it.

Thank you, Diana, for another amazing read!

Four Loves

About the author:

Books are my passion. Whether I’m writing them or reading them, they have always been a big part of my life. As an adult who just entered my thirties, I realize that it’s something I can’t live without, and what I really want to do for a living every day. It’s, for me, the job that doesn’t feel like work. So now, I’m proudly able to say that I’m a crazy wife, a worrywart mama of two, and a passionate writer. Love this life!

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Out of Mind by Jen McLaughlin…Blog Tour top & Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Reaching for sunlight…

Finn survived the ambush and came home to me, but in his head, the battle is still raging. He’s falling apart and I’m trying my best to pick up the pieces of him, to find the us we used to be. I love him as much as I ever did, but love isn’t enough to fix this. I thought telling my father about our relationship would be the hardest thing we’d ever have to face. I was wrong.

Lost in shadows…

All I wanted was to be worthy of Carrie. One mission, just one, and I’d be able to give her the future she deserved. Then everything went wrong, leaving me tainted and broken. Carrie wants me to be who I was, but all that’s left is what they made of me. I’m no good for her. No good for anyone like this. I have to figure out how to move forward. Alone.

Sometimes love isn’t enough…

My review:

*dreamy sigh* Out Of Mind is the last book in author Jen McLaughlin’s Out Of Line Series and if I’m being honest, I am so sad to see this series end. But, in the same token, this was as perfect an ending as I could have ever imagined for Finn and Carrie!

If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, I really wouldn’t read any more of this review until you do! Seriously.

Finn is finally back home. He may be broken, but he’s home. It’s been an agonizing wait for Carrie just to be able to see that he was, in fact, ok. But is he? OK?

All of the undercurrents of unworthiness Finn had felt before he left to go overseas will resurface with a vengeance when he returns home…less than whole. Sure, the outward appearance says he’s whole but deep down he knows he’s not. His memories begin to torment him and he has no idea how to handle all of it. All of the past, all of the future, all of the “what ifs” and “should have beens”. He tries to rationalize that he can overcome anything with Carrie by his side. Soon enough though, he has doubts. Will their relationship stand the test of stress and loss?

From relief one minute to confusion and pain the next, Carrie isn’t sure which way is up anymore. Yes, she’s beyond happy to have Finn home and safe. Yes, she will do anything she can to help him recover. No, she isn’t sure she’s enough to help him fight his inner demons. And damn if that doesn’t kill her inside. Surely the love they share is enough to fight even the darkest times, right? Carrie isn’t so sure anymore…

This journey is what matters most. This journey is what will define Carrie and Finn’s relationship and truly test the love they share. This journey is what will make or break them…

If you know me and my history with this series, you know I adore Finn. So much so that I got a tattoo in his honor. There’s just something about this surfer Marine that I have loved from the very beginning. It’s that love that made this book so damn hard for me to read. Finn is a mess. He’s mentally and physically broken and I wanted nothing more than for him to be whole again. This was really rough to read. The emotions were high and intense. I think what hit home most was that real veterans go through this every damn day and I hope they have their own versions of Carrie to help them through their darkest hours. Of course Carrie was amazing. She stood by Finn and never gave up. Even when she really wanted to, deep down she never truly gave up on him. Thank God for Carrie. He may have pushed her away, but Finn knew deep down that he needed her….eventually. I can’t give away too much of the story because there are a few spoilers but know this: you will need a whole lot of tissues and you will LOVE the way the book ends. Trust me!

Again I say that I’m sad to see this series end but I know Jen will have some fabulous works for us in the future and I can’t wait to read them!

Thank you, Jen, for Finn and Carrie and the entire Out of Line Series.

Five Loves

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY:

Jen is giving away a FINN necklace and a signed set of the OUT OF LINE series. US Only.

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Buy Links

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1lqa3cw
B&N – http://bit.ly/1mSkmpP

About the author:

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website ~ Facebook Fan Page ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

April 2104 Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Five Loves New Reviews

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Out of Control by Nina Croft….Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

She’s a challenge he can’t resist.

Hollywood heartthrob Zachary Hunter loves women—as long as they don’t want more than a little fun in the bedroom. When his most recent movie stirs up the wrong kind of attention, the kind that includes an attempt on his life, he hires a friend’s company to locate the threat. The pint-sized redhead assigned to protect him isn’t what he expects—or wants. Worse, he can’t take his eyes off of her.

After ten years in the army, Danielle Sinclair knows how to handle men. With a new security gig to pass the time until she’s cleared to return to the military, she figures her sexy new client will be easy to manage. And then he opens his gorgeous mouth, and she can’t decide whether to kiss him or kill him. His sex appeal may tempt her into his bed, but his sexist attitude is unbearable, and she’s going to make him eat every single word…

My review:

Out of Control is the second book in author Nina Croft’s Babysitting a Billionaire Series and was a delicious follow up to the debut, Losing Control.

Writer Zach Hunter was used to lots of attention. It came with his profession and he never minded it. Especially of the female persuasion. But when the attention turns threatening and he is need of protection, he never would have imagined it would come in such a tiny package….Dani. He knows almost immediately that she’s unlike any woman he’s known and damn if that doesn’t up the ante for him. Dani proves that the pull of the forbidden fruit is alive and well and Zach soon realizes he could be willing to give up his playboy ways to be with someone like her. Now, if he could just figure out the whole death threat thing. Oh, and get Dani to agree to give him a chance…

Biding her time until she is cleared for active military duty, Dani Sinclair figures helping her friends with some personal security assignments would be a pretty great distraction. Also a pretty good distraction was the piece of man-candy she is set to protect. Too bad his playboy and womanizing ways were more of a turn off than his looks were a turn on. Fortunately Dani has been wrong only a few times in her life and her initial reaction toward Zach is one of those times. But sleeping with the client was totally off limits….right?

After their initial meeting, Zach and Dani start out looking for a temporary fling with the little time they have together. Which was great considering they both had very different plans for their future. Dani was headed back into the army and Zach was living it up in L.A. But their hearts have a different idea and may override any pervious plans when their time together is set to end…

Nina nails the sexy, sassy and smoking hot with Out of Control. The heat between Zach and Dani is delicious and the push and pull is fantastic. Add to that their very different personalities and their different positions in life and the whole opposites attracting thing was perfect. Dani is a strong gal with a sad upbringing that only made her strength more apparent. Zach is confident and sexy with a naughty boy edge that I really enjoyed.

And getting to see our fave characters from the first book was another really enjoyable aspect of this story.

All in all, if you’re looking for a quick and steamy read get Out of Control on your list. Thank you, Nina, for another fantastic book!

*reviewer note: Just wanted to mention that while Zach is, in fact, a Hollywood Heartthrob of sorts, he is actually writes books in the story. I noticed a bit of a discrepancy between the synopsis and the book and wanted to make a note.

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the author:

I grew up in the north of England, and after training as an accountant, I spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left me with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. I then spent a number of years mixing travel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but have now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds.

I share the farm with my husband, four dogs, three cats, a horse, two goats, a three-legged Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, and a handful of chickens. It’s a perfect place to indulge my two great passions, reading and writing.

I write lots of different things, but mainly paranormal and science-fiction, usually with a strong element of romance.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour New Releases New Reviews Three Loves

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Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren…ARC Review & GIVEAWAY

by Jilly

Sweet Filthy Boy releases May 13

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Amazon UK

Synopsis:

One-night stands are supposed to be with someone convenient, or wickedly persuasive, or regrettable. They aren’t supposed to be with someone like him.

But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just…play.

When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away.

My review:

Sweet Filthy Boy is the first book in a brand new series from author Christina Lauren (aka: the dynamic duo of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings). I have been a fan of these authors since their debut and didn’t think I could love them more after the finale of their last series, Beautiful Player…well, I was wrong. Sweet Filthy Boy was insanely amazing and as much as I would love to write the phrase “buy this book” fifty times in a row as my review, I will spare you from that.

Quick note: there’s a pretty significant event that happens early on and plays a BIG part in Ansel and Mia’s story that I won’t give away in my review (you know I don’t do spoilers) but just know that I am leaving something great out.

Former ballerina Mia Holland has just graduated college and is headed to sin city with her two best friends for a weekend away. A last hoorah of sorts. Once the fall comes, she’s headed to Boston for grad school and she knows this will probably be one of the last weekends of freedom before real life begins. Mia has already been through some rough times in life and is beyond thankful to be where she is today and, of course, is looking forward to the future but is also mourning the loss of her dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Life really sucked some times. However, the current view she has of the gorgeous guy across the bar totally doesn’t suck. Unfortunately, Mia isn’t a one-night stand kind of gal… but when the night is over and she finds out the handsome stranger is staying across the hall from her, Mia decides maybe fate is trying to intervene here. What’s the worst that could happen? A few drinks with this adorable, French accented cutie can’t hurt….right?

Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t exactly stay in Vegas. When their trip is over, not wanting to go home and face her hand-me-down future, and having met Ansel, Mia decides to throw caution to the wind. She decides to take this last summer and spend it with Ansel. In France. Hopefully the few weeks she has will scratch her itch and give her a lifetime of memories to talk about when she was old and grey. She has every intention of heading back to the US after her time is up. But you know what they say about the best intentions, right?

What starts out as a quick fling for Ansel and Mia quickly turns into so much more. Will they be able to let go when Mia’s time in France concludes?

Sometimes, when I’m reading a book that I really love, I get almost to the end, like a hundred pages away from finishing, and I just stop reading. I put the book down and I don’t want to pick it back up. Touch it or look at it. Why? Because I don’t want it to end. It won’t matter that I have 10 other books waiting for me to begin reading. It won’t matter that I have a review deadline. I just can’t bring myself to end it. This was one of those books.

Oh, how I just adored Ansel! He was exactly the embodiment of the title…a sweet and filthy boy. He is smart, kind, caring, impulsive, full of joy and happiness and has the art of dirty talk down pat. He lives life to the fullest and puts his all into everything. He went from melting my heart with his sweet and beautiful words to making my pulse race and my cheeks flame with his dirty talk. That dichotomy in his personality was so delicious and made him a character I will never forget. Mia was just as amazing. I mean, she packed up and went to a country she had never been to, knew no one and didn’t speak the language. I envied her that! Together Mia and Ansel are an amazing couple. They went through an uncomfortable and awkward stage that I know anyone who’s ever been in a relationship will be able to relate to. Especially if you’ve moved in together! Fortunately both Mia and Ansel want to try their best and make the most of the time they have. And oh how they do….

Of course, the ending had me a nervous, emotional, crying mess and I was so worried for these two! Don’t worry though. These authors know how to write some amazing endings and this was no exception. I was laughing and crying and loved each and every second of it!

So, I spared you from the fifty “buy this book”s in a row but really….buy this book. You will not be disappointed! Thank you, Christina and Lauren, for yet another truly awesome book!

Five Loves

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the authors:

Yes, there are two of us! Lauren (on the left) and Christina (on the right) have been writing all kinds of stories together since 2009. Separated by the pesky state of Nevada, these co-author besties talk several times a day, agree that Ruby Pumps is the best nail polish color ever, and would, if given the choice, spend all day staring at the ocean from the San Clemente pier.

Lauren Billings Christina Hobbs
Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, bestie to a shoe-stealer, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.

Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. Married to the cutest boy in school, she has a thirteen year old daughter, is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter, and also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.

You can follow their shenanigans at:

@lolashoes (Lauren) & @seeCwrite (Christina) on Twitter. On Tumblr! where we post kissing gifs and writerly stuff and Wattpad for short stories and sneak peeks!

Giveaway New Releases New Reviews

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His to Keep by Katee Robert…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

He’s always wanted her. Now’s his chance to claim what’s his.

School teacher Marceline Bellini gave up everything—men, sex, anything resembling a social life—to raise her young daughter. To be the perfect parent. But when she attends an engagement party in her standard stick-in-the-mud mode, her friends begin plying Marcy with shots. Just enough to convince her that a little fun doesn’t sound like a bad idea… and having some naughty fun is an even better one.

Like finding herself deliciously pressed against a dark alley wall by the very familiar and very hot body of her best friend’s older brother.

After years of waiting in painful silence, police officer Aaron Robinson finally has Marcy’s attention. And man, does he have it. But nothing could have prepared either of them for the rush of fiery lust between them. So he’ll just have to convince Marcy he’s for real. And that a rainy, lust-fuelled romp is the first step to a lifetime of completely imperfect happiness…

My review:

His to Keep is story number 1.5 in author Katee Robert’s Out of Uniform Series and oh…my….yum. I couldn’t put this book down. The heat and chemistry were apparent form the very first chapter and only got better and better from there.

Marcy Bellini would much rather be at home, on her couch, with her daughter watching a princess movie than hanging in this bar. She wasn’t exactly the going out type anymore and that suited her just fine. What didn’t suit her just fine is when she finally starts to loosen up, and possibly dance with a handsome guy, Aaron Robinson stepping in and chasing her dance partner away. Sure, she and Aaron had known each other since they were practically kids, and sure she had an undying school girl crush on him, but he never thought of her “that way” and didn’t have any right to tell her that dance dude wasn’t right for her. So to say she was shocked when he suggested HE was the one for her, would be understatement of the year. Not wanting to second guess what he said, she decides to act on her slightly buzzed impulses and make Aaron put his money where his mouth was and show her why he was right for her. Marcy soon realizes she’s in way over her head with Aaron….

Aaron Robinson had waited entirely too long for a chance with Marcy Bellini. He has wanted her for as long as he could remember but it was never the right time to act on it. Now, while she flirts with some dude at this bar, he has never been surer that THIS is the right time. It was time to act on it. He had no way to know Marcy would be beyond what he could have dreamed of that night…or that she would kick him to the curb the next day. But Aaron was a persistent man and always gets what he wants in the end. And he wanted Marcy. For the long haul.

With so many years of friendship between them, Marcy and Aaron have the luxury of skipping all the new dating small talk and formalities and can get right to the good stuff…and oh my, is it good!

This book rocked. The fact that we were able to jump right into this section of Aaron and Marcy’s life was like skipping the long and boring meal and heading right for dessert. Sometimes, you just want the damn dessert. The chemistry between these two was instantly recognizable and there was just enough push and pull between them. Aaron and Marcy both went for what they wanted, when they wanted it and both were pretty honest characters. Sure, there was a bit of conflict but it was just enough to round out their story perfectly. Aaron is deliciously alpha and had waited long enough or Marcy. The predator after his prey…only his prey was just as predatory which was a bit of a surprise to him a real treat to read. Marcy is quite the feisty one when she lets herself go and it was in beautiful contrast to the mom and teacher she also is. Together they are combustible and I loved every minute of it! Oh, and the ending? Simply freaking picture-perfect!

If you’re looking for a sweet and sexy read with plenty of heat, get His to Keep on your list! Thank you, Katee, for one hell of a story.

Five Loves

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Entangled

Entangled Brazen:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrazenBooks

Twitter: @BrazenBooks Steals and Deals

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Author Bio:

Katee Robert learned to tell stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her favorites then were the rather epic adventures of The Three Bears, but at age twelve she discovered romance novels and never looked back.

Though she dabbled in writing, life got in the way—as it often does—and she spent a few years traveling, living in both Philadelphia and Germany. In between traveling and raising her two wee ones, she had the crazy idea that she’d like to write a book and try to get published.

Her first novel was an epic fantasy that, God willing, will never see the light of day. From there, she dabbled in YA and horror, before finally finding speculative romance. Because, really, who wouldn’t want to write entire books about the smoking-hot relationships between two people?

She now spends her time—when not lost in Far Reach worlds—playing imaginary games with her wee ones, writing, ogling men, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Five Loves May 2014 New Reviews

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East of Ecstasy by Laura Kaye…Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Annalise Fallston made peace with postponing her big-city dreams to care for her ill father, but lately she’s been filled with a restlessness not even her beloved painting dispels. Worse, the colors don’t speak to her as they always have, and all her efforts produce dark, foreboding images of a dangerous man and a terrifying future.

Devlin Eston, black-souled son of the evil Anemoi Eurus, is the only one who can thwart his father’s plan to overthrow the Supreme God of Wind and Storms. But first, Dev must master the unstable powers he’s been given. Distrusted and shunned by his own divine family, he never expected to find kindness and passion in the arms of a mortal.

But Devlin’s love puts Annalise in the path of a catastrophic storm, and in the final Armageddon showdown between the Anemoi and Eurus, sacrifices will be made, hearts broken, and lives changed forever…or lost.

My review:

East of Ecstasy is the fourth and final installment in author Laura Kaye’s Hearts of the Anemoi Series, which is one of my favorite paranormal series to date. I am terribly sad to see the end of this series but the happiness I feel with the way the series ended far outweighs the sadness. This book was incredible.

Before I begin my sure-to-be-long-winded review, I will say that if you haven’t read the entire series, I don’t think you should jump right into East of Ecstasy…if for no other reason than the relationships that have been built throughout the series really shine in this book and I would hate for anyone to miss out on truly feeling the emotions associated with having gone on the journey with these characters since the first book, North of Need.

Ok, here goes….

Artist and painter Annalise (Anna) Fallston was used to seeing the beauty in things. Even in the most bleak of circumstances, she could usually find something of beauty to carry her through. She had lost her mother and brother years ago and had been the sole caregiver to her ailing father for a few years now but even in all of that, she could find beauty in her memories of when her father was whole and healthy and when her family was all still alive. She could even find a bright spot in being colorblind…because when she painted, she could somehow see the colors. But finding the good was really getting tough to do lately. She was getting more and more tired and had been having these unexplained urges to paint certain scenes. Dark scenes. And when the man from those dark scenes shows up in her studio one night, she truly believes she’s finally lost her grip on reality and the stress has taken over. He’s real though, and after he informs her he isn’t going anywhere because he needs her help and after she panics a bit, she decides that maybe there really is a reason behind the frantic urges to paint the scenes. Maybe there’s more to her ability to see colors when she paints, but not any other time. Maybe she’s meant to help this darkly handsome stranger. Time to do what Anna does best ….jump in with both feet and look for the positive in this strange situation.

Devin Eston isn’t exactly in good standing with the rest of the Anemoi and he didn’t blame them. Not when his insane and manically power hungry father had done his best to make Devlin look like he was responsible for so much death and destruction. Growing up knowing only pain and torture, Devin could say he was used to the feelings of hatred and anger. Those were the only things he’d ever known. But now, with the storm raging between his evil father and the Anemoi he realizes he’s had enough. He can’t let more death and destruction happen. No more blood on his hands and no more sins to atone for. He would help destroy his father once and for all. Trouble was, it was a whole lot easier said than done. Deviln still hadn’t figured out how to leash and wield the tremendous amount of power within him and he had no one who would believe he wanted to end his father. Until he meets Anna. He had no idea that sneaking into an old barn for shelter would lead him to the one person he may be able to count on and who may be able to help him and the Anemoi. Now, if Devlin could only believe he was worthy of that help.

With things between Devlin, Eurus and the Anemoi coming to this final conflict, where lives will be lost, bonds will be forged and family will be strengthened, Devlin will finally have a chance to prove he isn’t anything like his father….and he will need Anna every step of the way.

If you follow me on twitter, you may have caught the convo I had with Laura Kaye after finishing this book. If you didn’t I will recap it simply by saying that I was an emotional wreck while reading this story….of course I loved every minute.

I have loved this series since Owen’s book and cried my ever-loving eyes out on a flight home last year reading South of Surrender. I was dying to get to this book. Well, I’m actually at a loss for how to describe how much I loved Devlin’s story. Devlin has been painted as one of the bad guys since the beginning and I pretty much hated him…until we got a teeny peek at some goodness within him in the last book. And that did it. I wanted to believe he could be saved and that he wasn’t Team Evil after all. Devlin is broken and hurt and had been tortured and abused all at the hands of his father. He was forced to live a life he wanted no part of and had major trust issues because of it. He didn’t believe himself worthy of any kindness and when he shied away from Anna in the beginning, I cried. He was the battered puppy that had grown into a fearful but powerful animal. He carried so much guilt over his father’s actions and it broke my heart. He so needed someone like Anna. She is strong and giving and willing to help Devlin get over his personal demons. She is a brilliant match for him and they make a beautifully balanced couple. There were more than a few moments shared between them that were beautiful and touching and it was a gift to read.

Beyond their growing relationship there is the fight with Eurus that has risen to a fevered pitch. Of course, that means we got to see the entire cast: Owen, Megan, Zeph, Ella, Chrys, Laney…and a few more that I can’t mention because I don’t want to ruin anything for you. The situations are intense and highly emotional but it’s one of the things I admire most about Laura’s writing. She has that gift to make the reader feel everything. Case in point: me sobbing uncontrollably during a scene with Owen and Megan. That scene is the most touching scene I have ever read….in any book….ever. And it will stay with me for years to come. (of course, I’m crying while typing just thinking of it!)

If you take one thing away from this admittedly long-winded review I hope it’s how much I loved this entire series. I recommend this for any romance fans, paranormal or otherwise. Thank you, Laura, for the Hearts of the Anemoi. You will continue to be one of my go-to authors and I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us next. Oh, and Team Boreas!

Buy at Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Catch up on the whole series with the Hearts of the Anemoi box set featuring the first three books: North of Need, West of Want, South of Surrender!

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Giveaways:

There are TWO fabulous giveaways happening with this tour!

~ The first is a set of four signed books (each book in the Heart of Anemoi Series) and swag in a basket. (enter in the rafflecopter)

~ The second is for a tote bag and swag, open to international, and based on blog comments – Please comment on this blog post to enter to win and have include your email addresses to enter.

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About Laura Kaye:

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

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Blog Tour Five Loves New Releases New Reviews Paranormal

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Finding Serenity by Eden Butler….Blog Tour Stop & Review

by Jilly

Title: Finding Serenity

Series: Seeking Serenity series, Book #2

Author: Eden Butler

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 7, 2014

Tour Organized by: As the Pages Turn

Synopsis:

Mollie Malone’s mom skipped out on her. Her biker dad, always loose and easy with the law, still was able to make her feel loved, and to keep her safe. But thirteen years ago, when his luck finally ran out and he landed in prison, Mollie found herself a new family – a group of friends in the sleepy little college town of Cavanagh, Tennessee, where now they all attend the local university. These girls know about the rotten roots of her family tree but accept her anyway, and the bond between them is so strong and supportive that Mollie is finally able to see past graduation to a future that is bright and secure.

But sometimes the past doesn’t stay buried.

Suddenly, inexplicably, there’s a shadow behind every step Mollie takes. Someone is lurking in that shadow, threatening not only Mollie, but also the new family she has claimed for herself.

And it isn’t just the past that has Mollie’s life in upheaval. Hunky former Marine Vaughn Winchester – who Mollie really would like to get to know much better – thinks Mollie is just a kid; he’s made it clear she wouldn’t ever be able to understand the demons haunting him. But if that’s what he believes, then why does he keep sticking his nose in her business? And if he thinks she’s such a kid, why does he keep trying to kiss her?

Vaughn’s mind games are frustrating, especially since Mollie knows enough about secrets to be convinced that there’s something he isn’t telling her, something he’s so far been able to keep hidden. But when that secret is revealed, Mollie is forced into a situation that tests her loyalty and threatens even her closest friendships – just when the shadow of her past returns, and she’s going to need them the most.

My review:

Finding Serenity is the second book in author Eden Butler’s Seeking Serenity Series and after reading, well, more like devouring, the first in the series I was so excited to read Mollie and Vaughn’s story and I loved it. Loved, loved, loved it.

Mollie Malone didn’t have what you’d call a normal childhood. There were no white picket fences or tea parties with pretty dresses. She grew up in the hard biker lifestyle without her mother and a dad who taught her the importance of knowing how to fight and to be able to save yourself out of any situation. Other girls may have hated it, but not Mollie. She loved her life. Sure it had been hard at times but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. She loved her dad…which made him landing in prison really tough for her. Still Mollie wouldn’t trade her life for another’s. She had made three great friends that were like sisters to her. Of course it was one of these friends that led her to meet Vaughn. The king of mixed signals and former Marine who she couldn’t stop thinking about no matter how hard she tried. Just Mollie’s luck that things in her life and enemies of her father would start to surface and she would end up relying on Vaughn for help and protection. There was no way she could get him out of her head now. Not being in his company day in and day out. Man, she was so screwed…

Vaughn Winchester knows very well that he should be staying away from Mollie. He knows he shouldn’t even be entertaining the notion of having any kind of relationship with her other than to make sure she was safe. But damn if he can’t help himself. Wanting any kind of relationship only brings him back to his past and reminds him of all the reasons he doesn’t deserve a second chance at love. He would do well to remind himself of that. Easier said than done. Especially when his latest mission includes being glued to Mollie’s side 24 hours a day until the threats can be identified and eliminated. Man, he was so screwed….

Each with their own wounded pasts; Vaughn and Mollie are thrown together with tensions mounting and emotions high. Will they be able to realize they deserve a bit of happiness in this dark time? The bigger question is, will they realize they can find that happiness in each other.

Well, Eden has done it again. This book was freaking amazing from start to finish. Mollie Malone is one of the toughest and most real and honest characters I’ve read in quite some time. She’s had a pretty rough life but has always made the best of things. Sure, she doesn’t really have a sunny disposition but that’s what makes her real. She is not one to sugar coat things. She says it like it is and on more than one occasion during this book her words were so very touching to me. The world isn’t a nice place a lot of the time and no one knows it better than Mollie. She’s smart mouthed, witty, sarcastic and tough but she is also the true meaning of loyal and loves big when she decides a person is worthy of it. I adore that girl. Vaughn is her perfect match in the sense that he’s also seen and been through his own share of hellish situations and reading them broke my heart. I totally understood why he was closed off and why he wanted to deny his growing feelings for Mollie. He’s the ultimate protector and wants nothing more than to keep Mollie safe. Of course the sparks fly when Mollie doesn’t believe she needs any help keeping safe and oh my, those sparks are amazingly hot. The tension between them is palpable and the attraction is undeniable. It’s push and pull at it’s best with Mollie and Vaughn. Of course adding to all of this is the suspense of the unidentified threat to Mollie and trying to figure out who is responsible. Eden wrote that aspect of the story beautifully and we were really kept guessing through the entire book.

Add to that more than a few twists and turns along the way and Finding Serenity was the total package for me.

Oh, and getting to see the whole gang again was the icing on the cake! Declan, Autumn, Sayo and the rest of the crew are always there to support Mollie and each other.

I will be adding this book to my list of recommendations to anyone who asks me what they should read next and will be anxiously awaiting to see what Eden has in store next!

Five Loves

Amazon:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Serenity-Seeking-Eden-Butler-ebook/dp/B00JIIUGB8http://amzn.com/B00FUQ6580

Amazon UK:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Serenity-Seeking-Eden-Butler-ebook/dp/B00JIIUGB8

Barnes & Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-serenity-eden-butler/1119126792

Kobo:http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/finding-serenity

Smashwords:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/426704

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20636475-finding-serenity

Giveaway:

Giveaway is international and ends at 11:59 PM CST 04/28/2014. Eden is offering up the following prizes:

(5) eBook copies of either Chasing Serenity, Behind the Pitch or Finding Serenity (Winner’s choice)

(1) Signed set of the series – Chasing Serenity, Behind the Pitch or Finding Serenity

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio:

Eden Butler is an editor and writer of New Adult Romance and SciFi and Fantasy novels and the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum. Her debut novel, a New Adult, Contemporary (no cliffie) Romance, “Chasing Serenity” launched in October 2013 and quickly became an Amazon bestseller.

When she’s not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque ancestor, Eden edits, reads and spends way too much time watching rugby, Doctor Who and New Orleans Saints football.

She is currently living under teenage rule alongside her husband in southeast Louisiana.

Please send help.

Author Contact Info:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/eden.butler.10

Twitter:https://twitter.com/EdenButler_

Blog:http://edenbutlerwrites.wordpress.com/

GoodReads:http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/21011324-eden-butler

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

Tumblr:http://edenbutlerwrites.tumblr.com/

April 2014 Blog Tour Five Loves New Adult New Reviews

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