Blamed by Edie Harris…ARC Review

Blamed releases today!

Book links:

Synopsis:

Born into a long line of spies, sanctioned killers and covert weapons developers, Beth Faraday carried out her first hit-for-hire when she was still a teenager.

That part of her life—the American spy royalty part—ended one year ago, with a job gone wrong in Afghanistan. The collateral damage she caused with a single shot was unfathomable and, for Beth, unforgivable. She’s worked hard to build a new life for herself, far away from the family business.

But someone, somewhere, hasn’t forgotten what Beth did in Kabul. And they want revenge.

As the Faraday clan bands together to defend Beth and protect their legacy, Beth is forced to flee her new home with the unlikeliest of allies—MI6 agent Raleigh Vick, the only man she’s ever loved. And the one she thought she’d killed in the desert.

My Review:

Blamed is the first book in author Edie Harris’ Blood Money Series, and the first of her work that I have read. It was fantastic. With action and suspense at every turn, I was kept on the edge of my seat from the very beginning to the end.

Ok, I don’t want to ruin any aspect of this story, and there are a whole lot of things revealed along the way, so bear with me…

Beth Faraday has recently retired from her life as a sniper and from her family’s business. She couldn’t get over her last mission and the lives that were lost that day. Specifically the man she had been meeting throughout the years during her cross-continent missions and the man she had fallen in love with years earlier. He was a spy and had always been around wherever she had traveled to and over the years they had many rendezvous. She lived for those moments and now because of one missed minute, he was gone. Or so she thought. She was shocked to find out that not only was he alive, but he was here, in her city. He was also there with a warning: her life was in danger. Someone had put a hit out on her and he was supposed to be the one to carry it out. Only he could never have gone through with it and now he was going to use the knowledge he had of the hit to keep her safe. Of course, in the world of spies, snipers, and duplicity at every turn, that would be easier said than done.

Along the way, Beth’s trust in the people she hold closest is put to the test and it proves to almost costs her her life.

Talk about a thrill ride! From start to finish, this story was written with twists and turns that were well thought out and made the reader question every character, right alongside Beth. I was so worried for her and was leery as to whom she should trust to keep her safe. I wanted her lover to be that person, but I kept wondering if he could really be dependable. Beth is a wonderfully strong character you couldn’t help but love from the very start. She had been born into a life of controlled violence and international covert missions, never knowing anything different, but wanting more than just death and destruction. She was a smart gal with a loyalty to her family I loved. Speaking of which, the other characters in this story, specifically her brothers, were equally as amazing. Well developed characters with multi-faceted personalities that were great to read. The whole package!

Again, I don’t want to give too much away, so I will just say that if you love suspense and action sprinkled with some heat, this is a book for you! Thank you, Edie, for a fantastic read!

Four Loves

About the author:

Edie Harris studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Iowa and Grinnell College. She fills her days with writing and editing contract proposals, but her nights belong to the world of romance fiction. Edie lives and works in Chicago and is represented by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency.

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Mercy by B.J. Daniels…Blog Tour Stop: Review & Excerpt

Synopsis:

The hunt for a killer leads to a battle between justice and desire…

For U.S. marshal Rourke Kincaid, there’s the law…and then there’s his law. When the two don’t agree, he always trusts his instincts. A killing spree has gripped the Northwest, showing a strange connection that only he sees, and now the old rules of justice no longer apply. Forced to turn rogue, he goes deep undercover to track his mysterious female suspect to a quiet, unassuming café in the wild, isolated mountains of Beartooth, Montana.

But encountering Callie Westfield complicates his mission in ways he never expected. As suspicious as she seems, her fragile beauty and sexy charm get to Rourke. Then the gory crimes begin anew. With his heart suddenly at war with his instincts, he has only two options. Either turn Callie over to the law, or put everything—including his badge and his life—on the line to protect her.

My review:

Mercy is the fifth book in author B.J. Daniels’ Beartooth, Montana Series and admittedly the first book of her that I have read. I had no trouble reading it as a standalone novel. Well, after this intense and surreptitious rollercoaster ride, I have added Ms. Daniels to my go-to author list. This book was incredible!

You could say that U.S. marshal Rourke Kincaid has gone off the grid. He’s gone rogue, so to speak, and is using his suspension from the force to dig deeper into a possible serial killer case that has been bothering him since he laid eyes on the cold case file. More specifically, the woman in three separate crime scene photos. When he meets up with his former partner to discuss this feelings, she doesn’t agree with him at first and says the woman could just be one of those weird murder junkies that heads to any nearby crime scene…but he can’t shake his hunch that there’s more to this woman.

That hunch leads him into a small town on the hunt for the woman in the photos. When he finds her he never suspected the complicated and twisted road he would be lead down. More murders begin as he starts to dig deeper into the mysterious woman’s past and the stakes are extremely high to solve this mystery before anyone else gets hurt…including the Callie, the woman he came to find and now is developing feelings for. As the trail winds and the clues start pointing to a suspect, Rourke never suspected who is ultimately responsible for the murders and it will rock his very foundation.

Where to begin? Author Daniels has written one of the most well thought out and delivered thrilling murder mysteries that I’ve ever read. The mystery surrounding not only the murders, but also the woman Rourke is looking for, was woven into a tale I am in awe over. There’s a broken past with a young unwed mother, the gift of second sight, horrible stories of a home for troubled youth and the woman who ran it, and a psychotic killer hell bent on some sort of revenge. Ms. Daniels did a superb job of dropping subtle hints along the way while never giving away too much which lead to an ending that had me reading while in open-mouthed shock. This was one of those stories that you’re never quite sure whom to trust. You never know what’s going to happen on the next page. It is utterly unpredictable. Simply amazing, in my opinion.

I will warn you that there were parts of this book that were pretty scary to read, but I love that. Ms. Daniel’s description of the old and dilapidated home for girls, and the tales of what went on while it was open, were beyond creepy but a necessary evil in creating the story as a whole.

Another aspect I enjoyed was the relationship between Rourke and Callie. It was a bright spot in an otherwise dark situation for both of them. (of course as I was reading I was still unsure if Callie was someone I could trust not to be the killer…and my lips are sealed as to if it was her or not mwahaha)

If you’re looking for a book that will have you on the edge of your seat, this needs to be on your list. Thank you, Ms. Daniels, for one hell of a read and for putting up with my incessant tweets as I was reading! You’re too awesome!

Five Loves

Excerpt:

Rourke breathed in the sweet, mysterious scent of Callie Westfield as his mouth took possession of hers again.
She moaned, sending his already pounding heart drumming harder. He wanted this woman, wanted to get under her skin, wanted to know her intimately. He knew how dangerous it was. He didn’t care. She’dbeen a mystery to him for too long. Now she was in his arms, her mouth opening invitingly to his, her breath mingling with his, her tongue—
Callie suddenly pulled back, her gaze locking with his again. He was breathing hard. He didn’t want to let go of her.
She took a breath, her cheeks f lushed. Her arms moved from around his neck. She pressed her palms against the front of his shirt—but she didn’t push him away, and he didn’t loosen his hold on her, afraid if he did she would slip away.
He watched her catch her breath, her dark eyes search- ing his face before her gaze locked again with his.
“Tell me I’m not wrong about you,” she whispered. “Tell me I’m wrong about you,” he wanted to plead, but instead he said, “I guess that depends on what
you’re thinking about me right now.”
Her smile was slow, her eyes bright with moonlight and desire. “That you’re going to break my heart.”
“I hope not. I sure don’t want to.”
She cocked her head, studying him. “You don’t know how much I wish I could read your thoughts right now.” “You would be disappointed. I don’t think much with you in my arms, and when you’re kissing me, my only thought is your mouth.” The truth of that made him smile. He certainly wasn’t thinking like a U.S. marshal. He could hear Laura’s warning. Don’t get too close. He realized he could have just kissed his first
serial killer.
“Have you had your heart broken before?” he asked, curious as both a man and a marshal.
Callie pushed back gently, still studying him. He loosened his hold, and she slipped from his arms, turn-ing her back to him. He took a deep breath, mentally kicking himself for spoiling the moment. He let the breath out slowly as she picked up her empty beer bot- tle and glass.
“That was probably a mistake,” she said, her back to him.
“If you’re talking about that kiss, nope, that was definitely not a mistake.”
She turned to look at him, eyes narrowing. “And if
I was talking about something else?”
He wanted to say that only time would tell. Instead, he joked, “The mistake was stopping kissing. But then, maybe it wasn’t.”
She smiled. “I’ll bite. Why not?”
“Because if we hadn’t stopped, you would have wanted to make love in the moonlight by the lake.”
Callie laughed. “Is that right?” “I’m certain of it.”
“What about you?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
“Oh, I think you could have persuaded me, but I
prefer to wait until the third date—not the first.”
She chuckled. “You’re considering this a first date?” He grinned and rubbed his thumb slowly along his
lower lip. “First kiss. First date, don’t you think?” Shaking her head, she smiled at him. She had a
great smile. Sometimes it even reached her eyes. “Think you can sleep now?” he asked.
She nodded slowly. Was that disappointment or re- lief he saw in her eyes?
“Good, then you don’t mind if I follow you as far as town,” he said, taking her glass and bottle from herand picking up his own. “I would hate to see you run into Carson Grant again tonight.”laura couldn’t Sleep. Like a scene out of a Poe tale, she could hear the trunk under her bed calling to her. Giving up fighting it any longer, she climbed out of bed and dragged out the trunk.
She realized she had no choice but to open it. She had to see what was inside. Her fingers trembled as she pulled out the key to the padlock, and then in a fit of terror, she shot to her feet to pace back and forth. Her mind listed all the reasons she should have de- stroyed the contents.
Reaching for her phone, she started to call her psy- chiatrist, but stopped herself. She knew what he’d say. The same thing he had been saying all along. She had to face her past, shine light on those dark holes of blank memory from her childhood and face her fears.
She stopped pacing to stare at the trunk. Why hadn’t she burned everything like she’d planned? Because she had to know all of it. Her mother had saved it for her. Saved it for this moment when she came face-to- face with her past.
Wasn’t it possible there would be something in the trunk that would prove Callie was the killer?
If she had any hope of saving Rourke…
But she feared it was too late. “No, it won’t be too late until he finds himself tied to a bed and a knife to his throat,” she said to the empty room.
Her mother had hidden this trunk in the basement. Locked it so no one else could see what was inside. Maybe especially her sister, Catherine?
That thought made her head hurt. She saw the clockby the bed. She didn’t have any more time. If there was something in that trunk…
Moving to it, she fished the key to the padlock back out of her pocket and bent down to insert it into the lock. It snapped open, feeling icy cold beneath her fin- gers. Removing the lock, she told herself it wasn’t too late. She could still burn the contents.
She thought of Rourke and felt a weight on her chest that made it hard to breathe.
With a curse, she reached down and grabbed the edge of the trunk lid and lifted it. The old metal creaked, re- minding her of her mother’s wheelchair. For just a mo- ment, she saw the pillow in her hand, the spot of blood on it, the blood on her mother’s lip… .
Laura threw off the disturbing image as she looked down into the trunk at the jumble of papers. Off to one side of the loose papers, she spotted what at first looked like a book.
With trembling fingers, she picked it up. A diary. Her mother had kept a diary? She opened it to the first page, her fingers trembling.
In her mother’s handwriting was Westfield 1987–88.when rourke reached town after following Callie back, he parked on the main drag in front of the café. Originally he’d planned to just make sure she got in- side her apartment without any trouble.
But after parking, he decided to walk the perimeter to be certain Carson wasn’t hiding in the dark like he had been earlier lying in wait for her.
As Rourke made his loop around the café, he was surprised to find that Callie had gone up to her apart- ment, turned on the lights and then come back down.She was waiting for him at the bottom of her outside stairs.
Moonlight played on her face, making her dark eyes bright. Her hair, which she’d had pulled back earlier, now framed her face, the raven locks against her pale skin. She couldn’t have looked more beautiful. Or more desirable. He felt a tremor inside him like nothing he’d ever felt before. Red f lag warnings were going off like fireworks in his head.
She smiled, and the moment he stepped to her, all he could think about was kissing her again. His mouth took hers hungrily, the kiss all passion and need as he pulled her into his arms. Lifting her off her feet, he pressed her against the side of the building. He could feel the soft curves of her body, the heat she radiated warming the October night.
Neither of them must have heard the vehicle approach- ing. Before they knew it, they were caught in blinding- bright headlights. Ducking back into the shadow of the building, they burst into nervous laughter, desire spark- ing like fireflies between them.
“Third date, huh?” Callie said, sounding as breath- less as he felt.
The light glowing in her apartment just yards away drew him like a moth to a f lame. He knew how dan- gerous this could be, and yet…
“I suppose we could consider this our second date,” he said, his voice husky with desire. “Maybe if I left and came back…”
She laughed and gave him a playful push. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, cowboy.”
“Go out with me tomorrow night. Dinner in Big
Timber. Say yes.”Callie took only a moment to consider. “Yes,” she said, then raced up the stairs, stopping at the top to look back at him before disappearing inside.
He watched her go, asking himself if he hadn’t just made a date with a serial killer.

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

B.J. DANIELS, a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, wrote her first book after a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist and author of 37 published short stories. That first book, ODD MAN OUT, received a 4 ½ star review from Romantic Times magazine and went on to be nominated for Best Intrigue for that year. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award for romantic suspense and numerous nominations and awards for best book. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and two Springer Spaniels, Spot and Jem. When she isn’t writing, she snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Thriller Writers, Kiss of Death and Romance Writers of America.

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No Limits by Lori Foster…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

A surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he’s never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He’s also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she’s older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather’s legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette’s scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he’ll break all the rules to do it…

My review:

No Limits is the first book in author Lori Foster’s Ultimate series and starts with Cannon, a character we met in her Love Undercover series. Let’s just say I fell in love with Cannon immediately and was eagerly waiting for his book….and it was everything I had hoped for and more!

MMA fighter Cannon Colter’s fighting career started early on in life…out on the streets. He was the one always trying to keep the scum off his streets and away from his neighbors. He was the vigilante with a sense of honor and respect. Add that to being handsome and having a killer physique and the ladies loved him as much as the bad guys hated him. Yvette was one of those ladies. He had always had an eye for her but at the time she was too young. Legal, but young. Making matters worse was she and her grandfather had been the victim of a sickening crime, which Cannon had helped rescue them from, and didn’t that just add to the reasons why the timing wasn’t right. That was three years ago and even now with a successful fighting career, great reputation in his community and plans for growing his community center, he still thought of her. Fate always has a way of working things to her advantage and suddenly Yvette is back in town because of her grandfather’s death and as Cannon sits in the attorney’s office being read his will, he realizes he will soon be spending an awful lot of time with the woman who has haunted his memories for the past three years. Cannon wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away this time…

Steeling herself for the return to the town she both loved and hated, Yvette Sweeney was filled with mixed emotions. She had grown in the three years since she had left. Being the victim of a crime tended to do that to a gal. Sure she was worried about how seeing her old home and town would affect her but if she’s being honest, she was more unsettled with seeing Cannon again. She had always held a flame for him and she had worked hard on herself since leaving to make herself a stronger woman. Someone he wouldn’t have to worry about and fret over like he had before she left. She wasn’t the scared girl she was before. The question was, would it make a difference? It was time to face the music, head home, get her grandfather’s affairs in order and hopefully leave with her heart intact.

With so much history between them, would the time apart prove to be something of good or did it damage the friendship and attraction they both felt back then?

Oh man, if I didn’t already love Cannon from the pervious books, I sure as hell would love him now. This book was fantastic. Yvette has really changed from the last time we saw her and she has turned into one hell of a strong woman. She’s got her head held high and has tried to turn what happened to her into something to learn from. She was a very admirable character to read and I enjoyed her a whole lot. Now, as for Cannon, what can I say? He is the ultimate protector with a fierce loyalty to the people he holds close. Yvette being one of them. I loved everything about him. He has a quiet danger lurking underneath his handsome exterior and people know not to mess with him. He gets results, more often than not, just by eluding to the damage he is capable of….which comes in handy more than a few times in this book. Someone isn’t happy with Yvette being back in town and even though she wants to prove that she can handle whatever comes her way, he refuses to let her do it alone. Problem is, the dangers keep mounting. Which leads me to the other facet of this story that I loved: the mystery behind the threats. There were more than a few people it could have been and I was really kept guessing until the very end. When we found out who it was I was shocked. Never saw THAT suspect coming. I love that “whoa” moment! Really well done.

Now, I can’t go without mentioning Cannon’s friends and fellow fighters we meet in this story. They are all fantastic with big personalities that I am looking forward to reading in future installments in this series.

This is a book that has it all…mystery, emotions, tons of heat, and great characters and I highly recommend it. Thank you, Ms. Foster, for a phenomenal read!

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

About the author:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

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Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy: A Deputy Laney Briggs Novella by Jodi Linton…Review

A thrilling suspense from Entangled’s Ignite imprint…

Synopsis:

Some cowboys are worth getting dirty for.

In her latest adventure, sassy Deputy Laney Briggs discovers the local high school football coach passed out under the stadium bleachers wearing nothing but a smile…and his wife’s lingerie.

Things really start to get wild when she runs into the smoking hot Federal Marshal, Colt Larsen, snooping around the Granger’s house. Quicker than a cold snap comes and goes in Texas, Laney finds herself up to her eyeballs in a case involving a ruthless motorcycle gang, a Mexican drug cartel, a kidnapping, and a shoot-out to rival the O.K. Corral.

In over their heads, Laney calls in the big guns—her very own Texas Ranger, Gunner Wilson, who’s ready to fulfill every last one of her desires. But as things heat up between them, the stakes get higher than ever, and Gunner’s help may not be enough for Laney to get out alive…

My Review:

Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy: A Deputy Laney Briggs Novella is the latest in author Jodi Linton’s Deputy Laney Briggs Series and packs a whole lot of mystery and heat into a quick read. I enjoyed it!

There’s never a dull moment in Deputy Laney Briggs’ life and finding the high school football coach passed out drunk in women’s lingerie in the football stadium, you could say it was just another day for her. Of course, this discovery only leads to another bigger mystery when the coach’s wife is nowhere to be found and a sexy Federal Marshall shows up looking for that very same missing wife…who just happens to have a few aliases. For such a small town, there sure was an overabundance of drama. Now Deputy Briggs finds herself working alongside this sexy and pain in the ass Federal Marshall all while missing her handsome Texas Ranger, Gunner Wilson, and wishing for a dull moment or two. But if we know Laney, we know that surely won’t be happening any time soon.

From start to finish this story kept packing a punch. There was never a dull moment when it came to unraveling the mystery of the coach’s wife and why she had the interest of the Federal Marshall’s office. It definitely ended up not being any of the scenarios I was leading to in my imagination while reading. Laney sure had her hands full with her less than savory section of her town, the Marshall, her co-workers, and her sexy Texas Ranger. Of course Laney brought her usual no-nonsense attitude and colorful language, which I adore about her. There was also plenty of heat packed into the scenes with her and Gunner. They are one hot couple!

Over all, this was a great, action packed, quick read that fans of Deputy Briggs would surely enjoy. Thank you, Jodi, for a great read!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

About the author:

Jodi Linton lives and works in Texas, with her husband and two kids. She can be found cozied up to the computer escaping into a quirky world of tall tales, sexy, tight jean wearing cowboys, and a protagonist with a sharp-tongue quick enough to hang any man out to dry. She writes the Deputy Laney Briggs Series.

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WHATCHA GONNA DO WITH A COWBOY, August 18,2014.

Mean Streak by Sandra Brown….Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.

While police suspect Jeff of “instant divorce,” Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won’t even tell her his name. She’s determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.

Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can’t turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law.

As her husband’s deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer.

My review:

Mean Streak is the newest novel from author Sandra Brown and a novel I was beyond lucky to have read early. I was intrigued from the synopsis and by the end of the book I was completely in love with every single aspect of this story. Amazing doesn’t even begin to do it justice.

Pediatrician Emory Charbonneau’s love for long distance running has been a bone of contention in her marriage for quite some time now but that won’t deter her from heading off a hundred miles into the mountains on a training run. In fact, it’s just the weekend break she needs to take a breather from the latest argument she had with her husband. Things were looking more and more bleak in her marriage and she would deal with it…when she got back. Unfortunately that wouldn’t be on Sunday as she had planned. Emory sets off on her run and wakes in a small cabin with a gash on her head, a headache from hell, and a stranger taking care of her. Her immediate reaction is one of fear and confusion but almost as quickly as those feelings settle in she senses this stranger wouldn’t hurt her and with bad weather rolling in and no way to contact her husband or friends, she would be stuck with him for a day or two. Hopefully her second set of emotions ring true and this stranger won’t be putting her in danger while she recovers a bit and tries to figure out how she ended up in this situation in the first place. Was she attacked? By this man? Did she fall? By the time her stay in the mountain cabin is over she will be warring with too many emotions to name and will have to reconcile with the fact that maybe the people she has trusted aren’t the ones she should and maybe this stranger was….

You all know I read. A lot. And every once in a while a book comes along that touches me on a different level and when it happens it’s magic. This was one of those books. While there are a few things I can’t give away, I can tell you that this is without a doubt a book you need to have in your library. Emory’s story starts off with quite a bang and doesn’t let up until the very end. There were so many twists and turns and questions along the way and it all had me glued to this book. Emory’s husband was suspect from the start and I didn’t know if he was the one behind her accident or even if it was an accident. Ms. Brown did an amazing job with giving the reader warring emotions when it came to him. There was also the stranger to consider. Emory’s savior…or was he? I will tell you that from the time we meet him you just know the story behind him is going to be emotional…good or bad, it was going to be rough. He is one of the most memorable and incredible characters I’ve ever read. No, he doesn’t speak a whole lot. No, we don’t know his name until the last few chapters. No, we don’t find out his story until the very end but that didn’t make one bit of difference. His actions and mannerisms said more than words. He is rigid and tough, living simply but has a soft side he shows only a few times in this story. But still we are left to wonder if he’s dangerous or if he’s one of the good guys. We are lead to believe from the hints he gives of himself that he isn’t exactly one of the good guys but it didn’t matter to me…I loved him anyway.

Of course, while Emory is in the woods, her husband and friends are looking for her and that leads to more than a few revelations that had me gasping audibly more than a few times. I can’t give anything away but be ready for a heaping spoonful of “I never saw THAT coming”!

Just trust me when I say this is a book you need to read. Suspense, mystery, and high emotion are just a few of the facets that make Mean Streak one of the best books I have ever read. Thank you, Ms. Brown, for a phenomenal story that will stay with me for a very long time.

Five Loves

About the author:

Sandra Brown is the author of sixty-three New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE (2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL(2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006),CHILL FACTOR (2005), and WHITE HOT (2004).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-four languages.

A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English.

She is much in demand as a speaker and guest television hostess. Her episode on truTV’s Murder by the Book premiered the series in 2008. She appeared in 2010 on Investigation Discovery’s new series, Hardcover Mysteries.

In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University where she and her husband Michael Brown, have instituted the ELF, a scholarship annually awarded to a student pursuing a fiction writing career. In 2008, she was named Thriller Master, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2011 she and four colleagues went on a week-long USO tour to Afghanistan, meeting with service members on numerous bases.

Sandra is the past president of the Mystery Writers of America in 2012. She lives in Arlington, Texas, with her husband, Michael Brown.

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Midnight Vengeance by Lisa Marie Rice…Review

Synopsis:

Morton “Jacko” Jackman isn’t afraid of anything. He’s a former Navy SEAL sniper, and he’s been in more firefights than most people have had hot meals. Lauren Dare scares the crap out of him.

Gorgeous, talented and refined, she’s the type of woman who could never be interested in a roughneck like him. So he’s loved her fiercely in secret, taken her art classes, and kept a watchful but comfortable distance. Until now.

Lauren had finally found a home in Portland, far from her real identity, far from the memories of her mother’s death, and outside the reaches of the drugged-out psycho who’s already tried to kill her twice. One tiny misstep—a single photograph—has shattered it all. She has no choice but to run again, but this time she’ll give herself a proper farewell: one night with Jacko.

Their highly charged emotional encounter changes everything. In Jacko’s arms there cannot be fear, there can only be pleasure. Anyone wishing her harm will have to pass through him, and Jacko is a hard man to kill.

My review:

Midnight Vengeance is book number 4 in author Lisa Marie Rice’s Midnight series and admittedly the first in the series I have read. Well, I’m hooked and will be grabbing the first three in the series because this book was fabulous. Pulse-pounding, smoking hot and full of suspense, Midnight Vengeance is a win all around!

Artist Lauren Dare loves her home, her town, her friends, her artwork, all of it. Unfortunately, she has to leave it all behind. Lauren has been on the run from an extremely dangerous and deadly man for years now and after having her picture taken at her art event last night, she knows her time here is up. She is heartbroken to have to leave her life behind, again, but loves her friends too much to ever put them in danger. And danger is exactly what they will be in if the man looking for her comes here. But she still has one night left here and she decides at the last second to take a chance with the man she has secretly been pining after for months….Jacko. The strong, silent, and dangerously handsome man in her group of friends and the unlikely student in her art class. For one night she could give in and give herself over to the attraction she had been hiding. Hopefully Jacko will give her this last piece of happiness before her life on the run takes over once again…

Former SEAL Morton “Jacko” Jackman has been through more than a few tough situations in his life. Being a SEAL tended to do that to a person. Now he worked in high-profile security and still nothing seemed to scare him sensless like Lauren Dare did. It seems like whenever he was near her, he turned into a different person and lost all his ability to remain calm, cool, and collected. He loved it though. She was unlike anyone he had ever met and he admired so much about her. He wanted nothing more than to take things to the next level with her but surely there was no way a refined woman like her would want a rough and tumble guy like him. Things have a way of working out though and when he is tasked with taking her home early from one of her art events he is certain of two things… One, something is very wrong and he picked up on it the minute her picture was taken and she turned as pale as a ghost and two, there was no mistaking her intentions when they pulled into her driveway. She wanted him and he would gladly take her…and maybe after he would get to the bottom of what had her scared senseless.

Lauren never would have thought Jacko would have picked up on her plan to flee…then again she should have known better. Now he just has to convince her to stay and trust that he will keep her safe at any cost. Easier said than done when you’re dealing with a crazed madman. Could Lauren finally have a shot at a normal life and love with Jacko?

Talk about one hell of a ride! From the very first chapter we are treated to the mystery surrounding Lauren and her past. Once the secret is out, we realized just why she’s been running and why she wants to protect the friends she’s made by fleeing again. Enter Jacko. That man is one hell of a rock and is just who Lauren needs by her side. He’s deadly and dangerous all while being caring and warm when it comes to Lauren. He is a total softie when it comes to her and he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Lauren is strong and smart and has a whole lot on her plate that she’s been dealing with alone for years. I was so glad Jacko foiled her plan to go back on the run. Their chemistry is intense and smoking hot and with the whole opposites attract thing going for them, it’s totally delicious. In the meantime we have a different plot forming in the way of another threat to Lauren’s safety and that aspect of the story kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. We knew about the crazed drug dealing step cousin but this second threat was a real surprise and may have threatened Lauren’s safety more. Talk about a nail biter! Oh, and the lead into the next installment in this series at the end was amazing and really well done. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Thank you, Lisa Marie, for one hell of a smoking hot suspense. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Four Loves

About the author:

Lisa Marie Rice is eternally 30 years old and will never age. She is tall and willowy and beautiful. Men drop at her feet like ripe pears. She has won every major book prize in the world. She is a black belt with advanced degrees in archaeology, nuclear physics, and Tibetan literature. She is a concert pianist. Did I mention her Nobel Prize? Of course, Lisa Marie Rice is a virtual woman who exists only at the keyboard when writing erotic romance. She disappears when the monitor winks off.

Praise for Lisa Marie Rice

“Lisa Marie Rice is an auto-buy author for me. She never disappoints! Her books are comfort reads that I re-read time and time again. Hands down she is one of my favorite authors.”

– NYT bestselling author Maya Banks

“Heart of Danger is a deeply compelling read that shows what miracles love can accomplish when least expected…a marvelous concept.”

–Fresh Fiction

“The right blend of romance and pulse-pounding thrills makes this a riveting story. Rice creates strong characters that develop and grow…Sensual sex scenes, action, suspense and some unpredictable twists keep the pages turning.”

–RT Book Reviews

“Ms. Rice weaves a fast-paced story that captivates and mesmerizes. She hooked me at the first few pages. I love the way she creates a great plot and dynamite characters.”

–Coffee Time Romance on Dangerous Secrets

ARC Review….Extreme Measures by Elisabeth Naughton

Extreme Measures releases July 8

Synopsis:

Being prepared for any scenario is the trademark of any good CIA operative, and Eve Wolfe is one of the best. But when her latest mission literally explodes in her face, she wakes up labeled a traitor and—even more surprising—in the custody of elite Aegis Security operative and ex-lover Zane Archer. Although she still secretly has feelings for Zane, he’s now demanding the one thing that she can’t give him: the truth.

When he caught her breaking the rules years ago, Zane let Eve walk away without an explanation. Now someone has not only sabotaged Aegis but also turned an American city into a war zone, and all signs point to Eve. Zane needs answers that can come only from Eve’s still-tempting lips, and he finally has the elusive operative right where he wants her—at his mercy.

My review:

Extreme Measures is the first book in author Elisabeth Naughton’s newest series, The Aegis Security Series, and kicks it off with a pulse pounding and page turning start!

CIA operative Eve Wolfe is used to having to get into different roles…after all her job relies on it. But one role she never would have expected herself in was one of prisoner. When she finds herself chained to a bed and in the hands of the man she had loved and lost, Zane Archer, she knows this isn’t going to go well. He believed her a traitor, and without being able to explain otherwise, she knows she’s in trouble. He’s looking for answers that she just can’t give him. The last mission they worked on together had ended terribly for him and he thinks she had something to do with it. Can she convince him she never would have done the things he’s accusing her of before it’s too late?

Aegis Security agent Zane Archer will never forget the act of betrayal that ruined his last mission, killed people, and almost killed him. Now, he finally has the chance to get to the bottom of it, thanks to getting his hands on Eve. Eve, the woman he once loved and the same woman he believed was responsible for that act of betrayal. Unfortunately having Eve in his grasp leads to the realization that there are much bigger forces at work here and the danger he’s facing is greater than he ever imagined. Now Aegis is at risk and so is an entire town. Will he and Eve have to work together again to find out who is behind it all? Will he ever be able to trust her again in order to do just that?

Emotions run high from the very beginning between Eve and Zane and with so much more at stake than either of them had imagined will they be able to put their past aside to get to the bottom of a plot bound to destroy not only them, but the very foundations of what they believe in?

Talk about one hell of a ride! From the very start, Zane and Eve’s story is an intense one. Secret missions, acts of duplicity, kidnapping, threats on their lives, and tons of undying lust between them add up to one hell of a combustible combination. I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire book and wasn’t sure who either Eve or Zane could trust. Even until the very end, things were unclear as to who was on team good and who was on team bad. I really enjoy that in a story! Oh, and the chemistry between Eve and Zane? Whoa. Talk about delicious. There is so much love and hate that you know from the very beginning things are going to be intense between them and it’s only a matter of time before they stop resisting the urge to get their hands on one another. When they finally give in it is scorching!

All in all, if you love high action and unbeatable chemistry, this is a book for you. Thank you, Elisabeth, for one hell of a ride!

Four Loves

Buy links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

Bestselling Author Elisabeth Naughton writes full time from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children. Her books have appeared on every major bestsellers list, including the New York Times, the USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Digital Book World and IndieReader, and have been nominated for numerous awards such as the prestigious RITA® awards by Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, The Golden Leaf and the Golden Heart. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ballpark or dreaming up new and exciting adventures. Visit her website at www.ElisabethNaughton.com to learn more about her books.

This Year’s Black by Avery Flynn….Blog Tour Stop & Review

Synopsis:

A fighter since birth, Allegra “Ryder” Falcon would rather trade in her all-black wardrobe for head-to-toe hot pink than let anyone ever see the cracks in her tough exterior. But one night with a stranger changes everything.

Devin Harris may have given up his MMA fighting dreams for high fashion, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t always in control. So when someone embezzles millions under his watch, he isn’t going to let the private investigator working the case go it alone—even if she is the woman who blew him away in bed and then blew him off.

Just when it seems like it couldn’t get any hotter between Ryder and Devin, the case takes them to a tropical paradise where the danger increases. From the catwalk to the pineapple fields, they have to work together to track down the missing millions before the thief finds—and kills—them.

My review:

This Year’s Black is the second book in author Avery Flynn’s Killer Style series and follows High Heeled Wonder. Like the perfect sweater you love to pair with your favorite worn skinny jeans and pumps, This Year’s Black is a total must in your book wardrobe!

Growing up with all boys, Allegra “Ryder” Falcon is used to having to fight for what she wants. She’s never shied away from a challenge and her biggest one yet is placed in her lap when her brother, and owner of the security firm she’s an investigator with, finally gives her her own case. One she can run exactly how she wants. Of course when she sees who she’ll be working with, run is exactly what she wants to do. Out the door to be exact. One night with a delicious ex-MMA fighter has left her off-kilter and after swearing off relationships for a year, and ignoring his phone calls for too many weeks to count, it would figure that he’s the one she’s set to help with this investigation. What are the odds? Fate must have been wearing her fat day jeans when she threw this mess together. Ryder has no choice but to try her best to ignore the attraction she’s been ignoring since that one hot and steamy night and get all her focus on this case. Too much was at stake. Of course that was all easier said than done when they have to leave the country to go after their suspect. Too much time spent together in too small a space and one thing is bound to lead to another.

Former MMA fighter turned fashion mogul Devin Harris knows there’s a thief in his company and he knows he’s gotta put an end to it. Especially before the impending merger is set to happen because if he didn’t, there would be no merger. He has too many regrets from his past and won’t allow this company to fall because some greedy employee can’t keep her fingers out of the till. Never in a million years did he think the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about since she left his bed would be the one to help save him. Now he not only has a chance to save the company, but also a chance to win Ryder. She wouldn’t end up being a regret he would have to live with. With a little bit of luck, she would be in his life long after this investigation ends. If they both survive it….

The attraction Ryder is trying to ignore is exactly what Devin will count on to revive the passion they shared that one night. In the midst of death threats, catching a thief, and kicking bad guy ass, will they be able to find something strong and meaningful?

Oh man, I loved this book! Ryder is a strong and confident woman with more than a few hidden soft spots. She’s got a rough and tough personality but knows what her weaknesses are…one being the gorgeous Devin. Knowing she has too much to prove to her family, she tries her best to ignore him and keep him at arm’s length. Ha! With Devin’s persistent ways, she doesn’t stand a chance. That man knows exactly what he’s up against and he may have had many fights in the ring, but he realizes Ryder may be his toughest fight yet. The chemistry and passion between these two is as hot as those red-heeled stilettos we all love. Delicious. The back and forth between them was really well done. Just enough without being too much or not enough.

Of course, all the while the hunt for the embezzler added an intense layer to this story and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was quite a chase for these two and I was worried more than once someone would get seriously hurt. Luckily, Ryder and Devin both have some serious ass-kicking moves.

Over all, this book has it all. Passion, heat, danger, mystery and action all wrapped up in a stylish package. Thank you, Avery, for yet another fantastic read!

Four Loves

Purchase links:

Amazon:http://amzn.to/1sZp1XG

Barnes & Noble:http://bit.ly/1gU3GiJ

Kobo:http://bit.ly/1oWZ51d

iTunes:http://bit.ly/1pgSwEi

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $500 Gift Card for Hyatt Hotels

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author: Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name. Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Places to find Avery Flynn:

Site: http://averyflynn.com/

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

Twitter:https://twitter.com/AveryFlynn

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/AveryFlynn

The Token (Volumes 1-3) by Marata Eros…Blog Tour Stop & Review

The Token Synopsis:

From New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Marata Eros~

Three volumes ***Limited time only*** A savings of $6!

The Token Series revolves around heroine Faren Mitchell and self-made billionaire hero Jared “Mick” McKenna. The two literally collide when Mick accidentally runs into Faren while riding his Harley. A mix of chemistry, tragedy, murder and unrequited love transpire in a series of six, dark installments….

The Token 1

Synopsis:

Twenty-two year old Faren Mitchell hears the two words that change her abbreviated life forever. They’re so final Faren decides she has nothing to lose by seizing every remaining moment of what life has to offer.

Until Faren collides with a motorcycle ridden by billionaire Jared McKenna.

Even the dark secret of her past and catharsis as a physical therapist can’t save Faren from the sexual spiral that waits for her in the arms of a man who commits to no one. When circumstances force her to get a second job as an exotic dancer, Faren never imagines how close that choice will bring her to the brink of a new reality she is unequipped to handle.

My review:

Intense. That’s the one word I would use to describe the beginning of Fallon’s story and ultimately the beginning of the series. At 22 years old, Faren was never expecting to be given an expiration date on her life. But that’s exactly what has happened. In a moment of blind panic and fear for what’s to come, she flees her doctor’s office and the horrible outlook she’s been given and is slammed into by a motorcycle. At the time she has no way of knowing it was being driven by young and gorgeous billionaire Jared McKenna but she will soon find out. And when she does? The game changes. Despite knowing she has very limited time left, she can’t help but fall into Jared and all his delicious sexual presence.

She also finds herself in a time crunch in regards to helping pay for ill her mother’s care. How much more could a 22-year-old girl handle? It’s this crunch that leads her into a life she never wanted to be in but one that was necessary.

What would Jared think if he knew she had turned to exotic dancing to help pay her bills? She would hate to find out….

This opening installment has the perfect amount of heat and suspense. Jared, aka Mick, is mysterious and a bit rough around the edges for a man in his station in life which leads you to believe there’s one hell of a story behind him. Faren is so incredibly strong for a 22-year-old and I have admired her from the first page. Incredible start.

We are left wanting more but not left hanging. I truly appreciate that in a serial series!

The Token 2

Synopsis:

Faren Mitchell keeps the secret of her second job from the one man who could see her through some of the darkest moments of her life. She doesn’t want Jared “Mick” McKenna for the billions he’s amassed, but for the one thing she’s never given any man: her innocence.

Mick’s guilt over the injury he inflicted fuels the beginnings of something more; a sexual consumption of each other that neither were anticipating. When Faren’s actions don’t match her words, Mick suspicions are raised. His feelings turn to ones of protection after Faren is mugged and he can’t reconcile his desire for her with the reality they now find themselves in.

As Faren’s bucket list grows, so does the danger that surrounds the choices she’s made. Can she take what she needs from Mick and also secure her mother’s life? Or will the truth she has weaved between the lies doom them both?

My review:

Heated is the word I would use to describe this second installment. What started out as an accidental meeting between Faren and Jared, aka Mick, is slowly turning into a full-blown scorching attraction between them. But they both have their secrets to keep. Mick and his background and how he came to be one of the “other half” and Faren and her less than savory second job. It wasn’t the dancing that was less than savory, it was the private parties she’d decided to take on to earn even more money, faster. Deep down though, Faren knows no matter what she does for a second job, she is pure and still untouched. It’s that knowledge that keeps her from losing her mind when she was doing lap dances on strangers.

Still, though, every time she sees Mick she wants to come clean. She ultimately knows better and knows he wouldn’t be so understanding of that. Why did she have to be falling for him so hard and so fast? Considering the time she has left, maybe it was a good thing this is how it was going…

To make matters worse a nightmare from her past shows up and threatens to take what little time she has left from her. Of course, this is just another secret Faren doesn’t want Mick to find out about. But she’s been handing this for years and she wasn’t going to give up now. She could handle this latest obstacle and hopefully end it once and for all. Of course Mick wants to help but keeping the true situation to herself is better for both of them…so she thinks.

Whoa. The heat and sexual attraction between Mick and Faren is positively delicious and reaching a fevered pitch in this second installment. But besides the heat, there is plenty of emotion for the reader to feel. That anxious feeling Faren is going to going to be found out by Mick and what his reaction will be had me biting my nails while reading. But, I love that feeling!

Fantastic second installment!

The Token 3

Synopsis:

Faren collapses, narrowly escaping discovery upon hearing traumatic news delivered by Thorn. When Thorn becomes her uneasy accomplice in the deception of Mick, Faren decides she needs to come clean with the truth. Shelving her pride might be the last thing she wants to do, but as facts and actions continue to contradict one another, her hands become tied in the lies she creates to survive.

Faren only needs one last lap dance to erase the final debt that hangs over her mother’s head like a cloud of doom. But when Ronnie Bunce circles closer to Faren and threatens the last sanctuary she possesses, circumstances unravel to reveal lies that run deeper than she knew.

Can Faren and Mick consummate their passion before her deceit is discovered? Or will the last dance be the ultimate loss?

My review:

Gut-wrenching perfectly describes this third installment of The Token.

Faren is so close to having all of her mom’s care paid up and she only needs to do this one last gig and she can quit the life she’s hated leading. Mick still hadn’t found out about these “events’ and hopefully she could just keep it on the down low for one more night. Things were heating up and getting serious between them and her feelings were growing for this amazing and complex man and she didn’t want to ruin it. Of course, her deteriorating health would have to come up, but not yet. She would enjoy what she’s found with Mick until she absolutely HAD to tell him.

There was still a threat out there to her safety but she was feeling more and more confident that all of that would work out, too. All of that changes when she sees Mick…at her last “event”. She knows in an instant that he is crushed and she knows things have been ruined. The question is, is it beyond repair?

Oh my…the ending of this installment killed me. I was crushed for both Faren and Mick and am, at this very moment, worried sick for the future of their relationship. I immediately bought the rest of the series and will be devouring them this weekend to see what the fates have in store for Faren and Mick. Both deserve a happy ending and I am praying Mick can forgive Faren for what she’s had to do to survive these past few months.

The Token volumes 1-3

Four-and-a-Half Loves

Buy link:

Amazon

The Token 4

Faren doesn’t think her heart can break any further until Mick discovers her sullied secret in the worst way possible.

Faren picks up the shattered remnants of her emotions and moves forward with a desperate plan to win Mick back that doesn’t involve one penny of his billions. When Faren sees what remains of her life coming together with a synchronicity she can only dream of, the unexpected happens with Jay–and she must play a razor’s edge of deception once again.

Can she tie this final loose end and receive the money from that aborted last dance before the countdown of debt has expired? Will a dirty cop and the long arm of Ronnie Bunce conspire to ruin the fragile bond she’s created with Mick? Or will the concessions Faren’s made along the way shatter the dark joy she has been given ….

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Token 5

Jay puts pressure on Faren for more than she’s willing to give. With the discovery of a deeper secret than she can keep to herself, Faren commits to lying no more. Though the goal of her mother’s debt has been absolved and she is safe from transport, Faren struggles with concerns over her long term care.

When Mick finds out the absolute truth, the dynamic of their relationship changes to include something she never expected to have: hope.

How long can Faren keep those at bay that wish to destroy the fragile happiness between Mick and Faren? Will blackmail be successful in ruining the one thing Faren’s decided she wants even more than her own life?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Token 6

From the NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author, Marata Eros

Faren is blown away about the dual revelation of her health. A different threat against her mother remains, while Mick and Faren execute caution with the excavation of the past. Neither want Thorn to suffer for something he’s not responsible for.

The lesson taught to Ronnie Bunce didn’t stick and he has connections that even Mick’s monetary status can’t silence. When its discovered the players on the chessboard have been closing in for a checkmate against Faren and Mick, Farenuses whatever’s at hand to save the one she cares about the most.

Will the gauntlet Faren rushes through put everything she cares about to the test? Does this final danger erase the seeds of the truth she’s finally come to terms with—or will the larger threat irrevocably damage her most precious treasure?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Marata Eros (a pseudonym for Tamara Rose Blodgett), is the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband

Review…Tempting the Bodyguard by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

He can protect her from everyone except himself.

Alana Gore is in danger. A take-no-prisoners publicist, her way with people has made her more than a few enemies over the years, but a creepy stalker is an entirely different matter. She needs a bodyguard, and the only man she can ask is not only ridiculously hot, but reputed to have taste for women that goes beyond adventurous.

Chandler Gamble has one rule: don’t protect anyone you want to screw. But with Alana, he’s caught between his job and his increasingly hard libido. On one hand, Alana needs his help. On the other, Chandler wants nothing more than to take the hot volcano of a woman in hand. To make her writhe in pleasure, until she’s at his complete mercy.

She needs protection. He needs satisfaction. And the moment the line is crossed, all hell will break loose..

My review:

Tempting the Bodyguard is book number three in author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Gamble Brothers Series and is packed with suspense, emotion and delicious heat!

Publicist Alana Gore is used to not exactly being high on people’s favorite list. Her take no prisoners attitude when it came to handling her career and clients hasn’t earned her whole lot of friends. She was used to that. But when she starts receiving actual threats and finds herself in danger at the hands of a crazed stalker, she realizes things have gone to a whole new level and she’s scared. Realizing she needs help, she turns to the only person she knows is capable of keeping her safe….Chandler Gamble. He’s also the last one she wants to ask for help. Now she just needs to ignore his ruggedly handsome looks, hot body and sexy advances and she’ll be ok. Easier said than done when it comes to Chandler….

Bodyguard Chandler Gamble can’t believe Alana Gore is asking him for help. Never in a million years would he have thought the hard assed Alana would ask anyone for assistance with anything, especially from him. When he hears what’s been going on with her stalker, however, he knows immediately this is serious. Of course it isn’t serious enough to kill the lust he feels for this hard-edged, understated beauty. Hopefully he can stop thinking with the head in his pants long enough to figure out who is putting Alana’s life in danger and then maybe with a bit of luck, he can convince her along the way to admit the undeniable chemistry between them.

The tensions are high from the very beginning and as time ticks by the threats become more dangerous….but so does the heat between Alana and Chandler. Will they be able to find something good in this bad situation?

Oh my yum. Talk about some serious heat going on between Alana and Chandler. From the very beginning, their attraction was undeniable and the fact that Alana didn’t want to admit it made things even more delicious. Chandler has his work cut out for him, not only with finding the stalker, but also with getting Alana into his bed. That man does some pretty hot persuading and is damn persistent. I loved reading their interactions. They are a great mix of give and take, hard and soft, push and pull. There was plenty of action mixed in with the heat, which added a great element to this story. I was really kept guessing as to the identity of the stalker until the very end adding another great layer to this book.

Thank you, Jennifer, for Tempting the Bodyguard and all of the Gamble Brothers! I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us next!

Four Loves

About the author:

# 1 New York Times and International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Jennifer would love to hear from you. If you have questions about any of her books, would like to set up an interview, book signing, etc, please use the email address below. Please check out each book/series individual page for more information about each title and the FAQ section.
For rights information on any of her titles, please contact Kevan Lyon from Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
If you are requesting an ARC please contact the publisher of that book.
To contact Jennifer directly, please email: jenniferlarmentrout@live.com

Facebook | Twitter | Website

Dash of Peril by Lori Foster…Blog Tour Stop & Review

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

A no-nonsense female cop reluctantly teams up with the one man who makes her lose control in a deliciously sensual new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret “Margo” Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is 6’4″ of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own.

Beneath Margo’s tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he’ll have to prove he’s all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter.

My review:

Dash of Peril is the fourth book in author Lori Foster’s Love Undercover series. I was so excited to get to Dash’s story and oh my, this by far was to hottest book of the series to date and I loved it!

Lieutenant Margaret “Margo” Peterson is used to down playing the fact that she’s a woman. She has worked damn hard to get her position as lieutenant and being a bit hard assed came with the territory. She had more to prove as a female and her fellow officers respected that about her. But sometimes being a woman had its advantages and right now, working on the type of case she was currently, was one of those times. She was on the hunt for the people responsible for repeat crimes involving the drugging and raping of innocent women. She realizes she is getting closer when she’s almost killed…most likely by the people she’s trying to catch. Now she’s injured and pissed. Pissed at the dirt bags responsible but also because she finds herself in need of help while recovering and getting that help from Dash. She has been desperately trying to ignore her attraction toward him and his advances toward her but now with him in her house, staying with her night after night, she realizes it may be a losing battle. Surely he would go running for the hills if he ever learned what she liked in the bedroom…right? It didn’t matter though because she wouldn’t let things get that far. Or would she?

Dash Riske has had a thing for Margo for far too long and now she needs his help. Even if she won’t admit it. There was no way he would let her stay alone to recuperate. Not with her life on the line. He knew she was tough as nails and was more than capable of taking care of herself, hell, it was one of the things he loved about her, but he wasn’t going to leave her to face this debacle alone. And maybe, just maybe, this would be the opportunity he’s been needing to prove that they could be great together. This could be the chance to get her to open up to him and let her walls down and to let him in. He wanted that so damn badly he could taste it. She’s everything he wanted. Smart, tough, ballsy, and no-nonsense all wrapped up in a beautiful package with a killer body. One thing was for sure: when Dash had his eye on something, he got it. And he would get Margo. She was the ultimate prize for him.

Dash and Margo go through a boatload of drama which brings them closer than either one of them could have imagined. When all is said and done though, will what they’ve found in each other be enough to take a chance on? For the long haul?

I will say it again, this book was insanely hot! The chemistry between Dash and Margo is scorching and their personalities play beautifully off of one another with so much heat and intensity that I was practically panting while reading. Margo is a tough gal. She’s had to be and I totally get why she has a really hard time letting her hair down, so to speak. But underneath her tough exterior is a woman. It’s hard for her to almost lead two separate lives. The tough lieutenant vs the woman she is…and what she wants when she’s with a man. But leave it to Dash to figure her out. He’s had her number from the very first chapter and there was no way she was going to escape that man. He’s smoking hot, caring, attentive and knows exactly what she needs. And when he gives it to her? Oh my yum. Of course beyond all the steamy hot time spent together, they are working on solving one hell of a crime and if there’s one thing Lori does so well, it’s write suspenseful nail-biting moments. There was also a bit of a shocker at the end when they figure out who is really behind the drugs and rapes. My lips are sealed but be ready for a “whoa” moment!

And of course another thing to love about this book is seeing the rest of the gang: Rowdy, Cannon, Reese, Logan…and did I mention Cannon? I do love me some Cannon and I am DYING for his book!

Overall, Lori Foster fans will love this latest installment and if you aren’t a Lori fan yet, get your hands on a copy of Dash of Peril. You won’t be disappointed!

Five Loves

About the author:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. She also received the Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy and Contemporary Romance.
Lori believes it is important to give back to the community as much as possible, so she routinely arranges events among authors and readers to gather donations for various organizations.

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