Read-Love-Blog

Exchange of Fire by P.A. DePaul…Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

by Jilly

Series: SBG

Book: Exchange of Fire, SBG #1

Published: Aug 19, 2014

Publisher: Penguin Intermix

Format: ebook

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Faking her death was easy, living with her past is harder, but nothing is more dangerous than falling in love…

Sandra Walsh was a deadly sniper for the Sweet Briar Group, a covert agency with assassins for hire, until her last mission went horribly wrong, accidentally killing an innocent girl. Knowing she’s a danger to her team, Sandra goes off the grid, becoming a Shade—an agent declared dead but secretly hiding among the living. She intends to honor her vow never to pull another trigger or have contact with the spy world again. Until she meets Casper Grady…

Grady is a former Marine with a troubled past and a debt to pay. His life mission has gone from protecting the nation to helping local children and their families. The moment he meets Sandra, he knows there’s more to her than meets the eye, but he can’t help but be drawn to the mysterious femme fatale. And when Sandra’s past suddenly catches up to her, Grady is determined to protect her at all costs, no matter how dark and dangerous her secrets are.

As the danger increases, so does their intense attraction. But when they’re forced to choose between each other and the people they’ve sworn to protect, their growing love might not be enough to keep them together—or alive…

Exclusive excerpt:

From the author:

Thank you so much for spending some time with me today! I just wanted to give a quick introduction of myself before we get to the fun part…the excerpt! My name is P.A. DePaul and I’m the author of the Romantic Suspense, SBG series. Exchange of Fire, SBG #1 introduces a clandestine Black Ops team working for SweetBriar Group (AKA SBG), a corporation the rest of the world believes is an environmental company. I truly appreciate you stopping by and I look forward to chatting with you. If you have any questions or just want to say hi, please feel free to comment! 🙂

In this excerpt, our hero, Casper Grady, and Talon, a teammate of Wraith (heroine) in Delta Squad are at it again. Grady has suspected from the moment he met Talon that the man is in love with Wraith. It’s rankled Grady something fierce and even though he currently has no claim on Wraith, he can’t help but stick it to Talon. Prior to this scene, Grady and Wraith, with the help of Delta Squad, just thwarted another assassination attempt.

Excerpt:

Talon dropped a backpack by the corner as well as a few other items they must have gotten from the assassin. “Car’s already in a prime spot to be picked up by the police.” He took his wet hat off and tossed it by the backpack. “We stripped it and wiped it down. Disposed of the trash in the woods too.”

“Dry clothes are still in the truck,” Magician said, thumbing toward the garage.

Grady swallowed the last of his beer and held it up. “Talon, make yourself useful and grab another one for me since you’re headed that way.”

“I look like a barmaid to you?”

Grady smirked. “You look like a lot of things to me, but, hey, if you want to call yourself a woman and chase after men, who am I to judge?” He plunked the bottle down and smiled at Talon’s clenched fists. “Fugly or not, I’m sure you can find a guy—”

Talon leapt but got jammed back by Romeo.

Cappy gripped Grady’s shoulder, and he sucked in a breath at the pain. Glass buried in farther. “Knock it off, both of you,” Cappy ordered, his tone drill-sergeant sharp.

Grady continued to hold Talon’s stare, refusing to be the first to back down.

The prick narrowed his eyes and opened his stance as if to invite Grady to launch himself this time.

“I said knock it off,” Cappy barked. “That’s an order.”

The bastard lifted his chin and mouthed, Later. Grady nodded and the prick looked away.

Purchase Links

About the Author

P.A. DePaul is a multi-genre romance author including paranormal fantasy and romantic suspense. She originally hails from Carroll County and Baltimore County, Maryland, but also lived in Macon and Warner Robins, Georgia. She currently resides in a beautiful community just outside Philadelphia. Exchange of Fire is the first novel in the SBG series with the second novel, Shadow of Doubt, releasing April 2015

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

The Giveaway!

PA is offering a tour wide giveaway of 5– $10 Amazon or B&N gift cards (winner’s choice) plus 4 e-copies of Exchange of Fire (sent via Netgalley). Just check out today’s post, leave a comment, and then fill out the giveaway widget!

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Follow the Tour!

Be sure to check out all of the stops! Read fun,new content at each stop plus learn extra ways to enter the giveaway! For the main event page please visit… this page.

Blog Tour Excerpt January 2015

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Harlequin Romance January “Me Time” Blog Tour: Movie Star Cast post for Kathleen Eagle’s book NEVER TRUST A COWBOY

by Jilly

I am beyond excited to be a part of The Harlequin Romance January “Me Time” Blog Tour!
Throughout this month I will have a few fun features and one review that all tie into a Harlequin Romance title. How much fun is that?

Today’s post is:

Movie Star Cast post for Kathleen Eagle’s book

NEVER TRUST A COWBOY

About the book:

The last thing harried Lila Flynn needed was another cowboy to deal with, but new hire Del Fox was different than most sweet-talking wranglers. The hard worker had a gentle touch and eyes that spoke of a past he didn’t share. Lila soon found her hardened heart softening, frightening her more than any other hurdles she was facing.

Del’s assignment in Short Straw, South Dakota, was meant to be fast and simple. Falling for Lila Flynn, however, had complicated everything. If he did his job right it would mean destroying everything Lila had worked for. He’d given her every reason never to trust him with her heart, but when all was said and done, would she trust their love enough to give them a second chance?

Movie Star Cast:

As you’re reading a juicy romance novel, it’s difficult not to picture your favorite sexy celebrities in the characters’ roles and we’re sure you’ve wondered who the author might cast if the novel were to hit the silver screen.

New York Times bestselling author Kathleen Eagle puts this question to rest for her latest romance, NEVER TRUST A COWBOY. See her picks below…

If I were casting Never Trust a Cowboy, Del Fox would be played by Scott Eastwood, who looks great on a horse and has his father Clint’s chiseled face. I figure he’s born to play a cowboy.

Scarlett Johansson would play Lila Flynn. Scarlett started her career in a movie about a girl who loved horses, and she plays strong, sassy, vulnerable characters beautifully.

KATHLEEN EAGLE published her first book, a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award winner, with Silhouette Books in 1984. Since then she has published more than 40 books, including historical and contemporary, series and single title, earning her nearly every award in the industry. Her books have consistently appeared on regional and national bestseller lists, including the USA Today list and the New York Times extended bestseller list.Born in Virginia and raised “on the road” as an Air Force brat, Eagle earned degrees from Mount Holyoke College and Northern State University. She taught at Standing Rock High School in North Dakota for 17 years. She continues to teach writing at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

Blog Tour January 2015 Me Time Blog Tour

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

by Jilly

Title: Claiming Serenity (Seeking Serenity, #3)

Author: Eden Butler

Genre: NA | Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 22, 2014

Synopsis

Synopsis:

She left glitter in his AC vents. He put green dye in her conditioner.

She buttered his bathroom floor, and he kidnapped her precious puppy.

Layla Mullens hates Donovan Donley. His crude language, his wide shoulders, his crystal blue eyes…she hates that she can’t stop herself…from kissing him or landing in his bed.

And Donovan Donley wants nothing more than to knock Layla off her princess pedestal. He hates her stuck up attitude and her soft, tempting lips. He especially hates that her father is his coach.

But he’s fine with their arrangement—act horrible to each other during the day, attack each other naked at night. It works.

But one night changes everything. When Layla doesn’t show, and Donovan’s cold bed stays empty, the lies he tells himself to keep Layla out of his mind aren’t enough to keep him from missing her. And needing her. Something he promised himself would never happen.

The white flags in their prank war have been lowered but their high stakes battle has just begun.

My Review:

Claiming Serenity is book number three in author Eden Butler’s Seeking Serenity Series, a series I have loved from the very beginning. This book is Layla and Donovan’s story…a relationship that has been quite intense since we first met them. This was a wonderful friends-to-lovers story and had an ending that had me crying big fat happy tears.Layla and Donovan have had an intense relationship for years….and not necessarily intense in a good way. They were like oil and water. Never mixing well and always settling in separate parts. Constantly in a prank war and always spewing insults at each other. No two people couldn’t stand each other more. Until one night that all changed…thanks in part to some tequila and those high emotions always between them. Once they crossed the line and ended up spending the night together, there was no going back. It seemed as though the emotion they share has changed and gone from hatred to something quite the opposite. But no matter what had happened between them, no way could they let their friends know. They would never hear the end of it. So keeping things on the down-low was the best way. Keep up appearances during the day, insults flowing, and then turn that passion into so much more behind closed doors. It was going well until things chanced…drastically. Now Layla and Donovan are faced with a serious situation.. A situation that would test their relationship and what side they would come out on….the lovers version of Layla and Donovan or the enemies version of Layla and Donovan…

Talk about one hell of a ride! This book was packed with ups and downs and even a few sideways. Layla and Donovan’s relationship was intense form the very start but you could always feel a little something more lurking beneath the surface and we finally got to see them in a completely different light. And oh my, what a sexy and hot light that is! These two take the fiery passion they put towards pranking and brought it into the bedroom and the result is a delicious mix of sexy and intense!

Now, I binge read most of this book in one sitting and stopped for the night at around 75%. I picked it up the next morning while I was on the treadmill. Bad. Idea. The last few chapters of this book had me all sorts of choked up and crying. It was amazing, and packed with so many emotions and I loved it….but it didn’t mix well for trying to breathe while exercising. Man, I loved the last 25% of this book. It was honest and real and really well done.

I don’t really recommend reading this book if you haven’t read the first two, for the simple fact that you’ll miss out on all of the build up if Layla and Donovan’s relationship and probably won’t be able to appreciate how far they come in this book.

Overall I was so pleased with how things ended up for these two characters and I can’t wait to see what author Butler has in store for us next (hopefully Sayo!!). Thank you, Ms. Butler, for one hell of a read!

Four Loves

“You’re disgusting,” she told him, but her voice carried no venom.

“And you’re a complete and utter bitch.”

She wanted to hit him. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted Donovan to do something, anything but glare at her the way he was. And then, before she could think which she wanted more, Layla got her wish.

His mouth was controlling, consuming, teeth against her bottom lip, opening her up to the invasion of his tongue. It was warm, thick and she felt it all over her body, with every thrust of his mouth on hers, with how tight his fingers pulled and squeezed her ass. Donovan wasn’t gentle, wasn’t sweet. This wasn’t a kiss that was meant to be tender. This was a full bodied, take control kiss and Layla had no idea why she wasn’t resisting, why she liked it so much. But she didn’t resist, and she did like it, so much. Too damn much.

She moved her hand, curling her fingers into his t-shirt, let a low, soft moan work up her throat and she didn’t think about how much she hated him, how surely, kissing Donovan should repulse her, that the idea of Donovan doing anything remotely sexual had always repulsed her—hadn’t it? —but his tongue battled against hers, obliterating her thought. Caught in the fray, Donovan pushed his hands into Layla’s ass and that deliciously hard erection pressed against her. Layla was lost.

For a moment.

Her thoughts were warring, scattered telling her how stupid she was being, reminding her that she had a backbone, that she hated, hated Donovan and no matter how incredible his mouth and hands felt, she could pull away from him. Any minute now.

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords

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.

♡♡ Follow the Blog Tour ♡♡

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Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Four Loves January 2015 New Adult

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The Curvy Girls Club by Michele Gorman…Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Where Confidence is the New Black. Fed up with always struggling to lose weight, best friends Katie, Ellie, Pixie and Jane start a social club where size doesn’t matter. It soon grows into London’s most popular club – a place to have fun instead of counting carbs – and the women find their lives changing in ways they never imagined. But outside the club, life isn’t as rosy.

My Review:

The Curvy Girls Club is the second work of author Michele Gorman’s work that I’ve read and was an enjoyable read with likable characters, relatable experiences and circumstances I’m sure most women, including myself, have experienced.

Friends through their issues with weight, Katie, Ellie, Pixie, and Jane come together after deciding that instead of trying to fix what they think is wrong with themselves, they should embrace who they are and celebrate their diverse sizes. It’s this decision that leads them to create The Curvy Girls Club, a club where women (and some men) can try different things like salsa dancing and theater while putting their insecurities aside, even if for one evening. Wildly successful, the ladies are thrilled….until other issues in their separate lives threaten to derail their friendships and the very reasons they came together in the first place.

The things I really enjoyed about this book were the relatable moments each of these women experience. Feeling down on yourself because your jeans don’t fit, having a crush on a man you know will never reciprocate your feelings, being stuck in a relationship you don’t know how to end, always thinking the grass is greener on the other side…just to name a few. This story is really about embracing who you are, not just on the outside, but the person you are deep down and sometimes may be afraid to let out. I felt for these women at times and cheered them on at other times. I also wanted to shake them a time or two while reading…but overall it was a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you, Michele, for another fun read!

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Amazon UK
Amazon US

About The Author

Michele Gorman is the USA Today best-selling author of eight books, including Bella Summer Takes a Chance and The Expat Diaries (Single in the City) series. Her first book, Single in the City, debuted at number 8 in The Bookseller’s Fiction Heatseekers bestseller chart. She is also a founding member of the publishing collective, Notting Hill Press, and has published upmarket commercial fiction under the pen name Jamie Scott. Born and raised in the US, Michele has lived in London for 16 years. She is very fond of naps, ice cream and Richard Curtis films but objects to spiders and the word “portion”.

January 2015 Literary Fiction Three Loves

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A Taste of Merlot by Heather Heyford…Book Spotlight

by Jilly

A Taste of Merlot synopsis:

Raise your glass and join Heather Heyford as she pours a second serving in her series following these headstrong wine heiresses in their quest to strike out on their own…

Merlot St. Pierre is struggling to break free from her family name. Her college classmates whisper behind her back that her passion for jewelry design is little more than a hobby, since she’ll always have her father’s fortune. But Meri is determined to prove them wrong, and with the help of a handsome jewelry buyer, she just may taste her first sip of success—as long as she can hide who she really is…

Mark Newman’s family owns a chain of high-end jewelry stores, and he’s working hard to get out from under his aunt’s thumb and prove he has a good eye and a head for business. He’s certain Meri’s designs could be the next big thing, but he’ll have to convince her that she can use her famous last name to her advantage. As their business partnership takes root, an attraction begins to flourish—but they’ll both find that love, like wine, takes time to perfect…

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Tour Schedule:

January 5

Book featured at 3 Partners in Shopping

January 6

Book featured at Review From Here

January 7

Book featured at The Dark Phantom

January 8

Book featured at What is That Book About

January 9

Book featured at Lisa Loves Books

January 12

Book reviewed at Acting Balanced

January 13

Book reviewed at I’m Shelf-ish

January 14

Book featured at Read-Love-Blog

January 15

Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner

January 16

Book featured at Talking Books Blog

Book featured at The Writer’s Life

Heather Heyford Bio:

Born in the Northeast, Heather Heyford learned to walk and talk in Texas, and then moved to England.(“Ya’ll want some scones?”) While in Europe, Heather was forced by her cruel parents to spend Saturdays in the leopard vinyl back seat of their Peugeot, motoring from one medieval pile to the next for the lame purpose of ‘learning something.’ What she soon learned was how to allay the boredom by stashing a Cosmo under the seat. Now a recovering teacher, Heather writes love stories, feeds hardboiled eggs to suburban foxes, and makes art in the Mid-Atlantic. She is represented by the Nancy Yost Literary Agency (NYLA, @nyliterary) in New York City.

Links

Website http://www.heatherheyford.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/heatherheyford1

Twitter https://twitter.com/heatherheyford

Book Spotlight January 2015

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Cover Reveal…Hard To Be Good by Laura Kaye

by Jilly

Laura Kaye’s dark romantic suspense series, The Hard Ink Series, keeps readers on the edge of their seat. Today, we are thrilled to share with you the cover for the upcoming novella, HARD TO BE GOOD. But that’s not all we have! Check out the cover for the next novel in the series, HARD TO LET GO. We can’t wait for you to get your hands on the next two Hard Ink men, Jeremy and Beckett. Without further ado…

Check out the beautiful cover for HARD TO BE GOOD!

ABOUT HARD TO BE GOOD:

Hard Ink Tattoo owner Jeremy Rixey has taken on his brother’s stateside fight against the forces that nearly killed Nick and his Special Forces team a year before. Now, Jeremy’s whole world has been turned upside down—not the least of which by a brilliant, quiet blond man who tempts Jeremy to settle down for the first time ever.

Recent kidnapping victim Charlie Merritt has always been better with computers than people, so when he’s drawn into the SF team’s investigation of his army colonel father’s corruption, he’s surprised to find acceptance and friendship—especially since his father never accepted who Charlie was. Even more surprising is the heated tension Charlie feels with sexy, tattooed Jeremy, Charlie’s opposite in almost every way.

With tragedy and chaos all around them, temptation flashes hot, and Jeremy and Charlie can’t help but wonder why they’re trying so hard to be good…

Hard to Be Good on Goodreads

And don’t miss the cover for HARD TO LET GO!

ABOUT HARD TO LET GO:

Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Beckett Murda hates to dwell on the past. But his investigation into the ambush that killed half his Special Forces team and ended his Army career gives him little choice. Just when his team learns how powerful their enemies are, hard-ass Beckett encounters his biggest complication yet—a seductive, feisty Katherine Rixey.

A tough, stubborn prosecutor, Kat visits her brothers’ Hard Ink Tattoo shop following a bad break-up—and finds herself staring down the barrel of a stranger’s gun. Beckett is hard-bodied and sexy as hell, but he’s also the most infuriating man ever. Worse, Kat’s brothers are at war with the criminals her office is investigating. When Kat joins the fight, she lands straight in Beckett’s sights . . . and in his arms. Not to mention their enemies’ crosshairs. Now Beckett and Kat must set aside their differences to work together, because the only thing sweeter than justice is finding love and never letting go.

Hard to Let Go on Goodreads

Start at the beginning with the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To

Hard to Come By

And for a limited time only, you can grab HARD TO COME BY on sale for just half-price!

Praise for the Hard Ink Series:

For Hard As You Can:

“TOP PICK! There is a sinister and desperate edge to this tale that will keep readers glued to their seats. Kaye has dark romantic suspense nailed!” ~ RT Book Reviews Magazine

“Hard As You Can is another five star read. The characters Ms. Kaye has created are wonderfully broken and the drama is gritty, but the burgeoning romance and the tight-knitted relationship of the team leaves you with a sense of redemption. A must read series!” ~San Francisco Book Review

For Hard As It Gets:

“Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!” ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward
“Sizzling romance… The intriguing tattoo parlor and military background will appeal to fans of Suzanne Brockmann and Lindsay McKenna.” ~Publishers Weekly Review

“Kaye’s depiction of sexual tension and her sex scenes are masterful and this will appeal to fans of Maya Banks’ KGI and Julia Ann Walker’s Black Knight’s series.” ~Booklist

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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Hard to Be Good on Goodreads

Hard to Let Go on Goodreads

Cover Reveal January 2015

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Naughty Little Wishes by Nina Crespo….Book Spotlight

by Jilly

Title: Naughty Little
Wishes

Author: Nina Crespo

Release Date: January 5, 2015

Genre: A sexy category
romance novella from Entangled’s Brazen imprint

Blurb:

There’s nothing personal stylist Tabitha Drake loves more than pissing off uptight military contractor Andrew Bode. Unfortunately, the infuriating—and incredibly sexy—stylist is Drew’s ticket to a major account. The only way to get what he wants is to agree to Tab’s terms: a style makeover. However, Drew has a few terms of his own, most of which involve her naked in his bed. But neither of them are prepared for what happens when their lust-fueled hostility turns into something altogether unexpected…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Authors Bio:

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions — the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Curiosity about people and places, including what’s beyond the stars, fuels her writer’s imagination. This wellspring of inspiration allows Nina to create sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales, which she hopes will feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after.

Author’s Links:

Website: http://ninacrespo.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NinaCrespo21

Purchase Link:

AMAZON

Blog Tour Book Spotlight January 2015

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Find Me in Darkness by Julie Kenner…Release Day Event

by Jilly

Are you ready to get to know Malcom? FIND ME IN DARKNESS by Julie Kenner releases today and you can get your hands on it for just .99c!

About FIND ME IN DARKNESS

A doomed woman. A dangerous and mysterious man. And an epic passion that cannot be denied…

From the first moment I saw Malcolm, I felt his power shudder through me. Lithe and powerful, dark and controlling, he cast a spell over me that I didn’t understand, but to which I willingly surrendered.

One touch and I melted. One glance into his storm-swept eyes and I was lost. One kiss, and I was bound.

But sometimes passion can burn too hot, and it would take all of our strength for Mal and I to survive the fire that raged between us…

Read the first chapter here – http://bit.ly/FindMeInDarknessCh1

Find Me In Darkness – Part 1
Amazon http://bit.ly/FindMeInDarkness

Find Me In Pleasure – Part 2 – Jan 20th
Amazon http://bit.ly/FindMeInPleasure

Find Me in Passion – Part 3 – Jan 27th
Amazon http://bit.ly/FinhttpdMeInPassion

***

And be sure not to miss the first novella in this exciting and sexy series by Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner), Caress of Darkness, a 1001 Dark Nights novella.

***NOTE TO READERS*** Each of the 1001 Dark Nights novellas stands alone. (Caress of Darkness and the 2015 release, Caress of Pleasure.) The Find Me books are a true trilogy spanning Mal and Christina’s romance and are meant to be read in order.

Amazon

About Julie Kenner

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

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

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

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

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January 2015 Release Day Event

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Wicked Wolf by Carrie Ann Ryan…ARC Review

by Jilly

Wicked Wolf releases today!

Synopsis:

The war between the Redwood Pack and the Centrals is one of wolf legend. Gina Eaton lost both of her parents when a member of their Pack betrayed them. Adopted by the Alpha of the Pack as a child, Gina grew up within the royal family to become an enforcer and protector of her den. She’s always known fate can be a tricky and deceitful entity, but when she finds the one man that could be her mate, she might throw caution to the wind and follow the path set out for her, rather than forging one of her own.

Quinn Weston’s mate walked out on him five years ago, severing their bond in the most brutal fashion. She not only left him a shattered shadow of himself, but their newborn son as well. Now, as the lieutenant of the Talon Pack’s Alpha, he puts his whole being into two things: the safety of his Pack and his son.

When the two Alphas put Gina and Quinn together to find a way to ensure their treaties remain strong, fate has a plan of its own. Neither knows what will come of the Pack’s alliance, let alone one between the two of them. The past paved their paths in blood and heartache, but it will take the strength of a promise and iron will to find their future.

My review:

Wicked Wolf is book number eight in author Carrie Ann Ryan’s Redwood Pack series as well as the first in the 2015 1,001 Dark Nights Novella line-up. I have read only one other of author Ryan’s work and after enjoying it tremendously, and being a huge fan of the 1,001 Dark Nights series, I was excited to read this novella. Well, I wasn’t disappointed and now have another series I will be following. This story was fantastic.

Members of different packs, both Gina and Quinn have suffered their own heartache and loss separately. Gina having lost both of her parents and Quinn having lost his mate, they weren’t strangers to feeling great pain. It’s that former pain that leads them both a bit leery of forming future relationships. But fate, that fickle gal, always has a plan and soon Gina and Quinn find themselves in quite a situation. After being asked to work together to make sure the treaty between the packs remains strong and only continues to grow, they soon find they may actually be fated mates. Ordinarily that would be great news, but Quinn isn’t able to let go of the painful loss from years earlier. Enter fate agin. Soon Quinn is faced with yet another possible loss and it’s a loss only Gina can help prevent. The loss of his son. Lucky for Quinn, Gina won’t let that happen and before he realizes it, the bond he once feared is the bond he now craves. The problem is, Quinn hadn’t exactly welcomed Gina with open arms in the beginning and now that he wanted her, she may not want him.

With so much at stake for both packs, and now for both Quinn and Gina personally, will the bond they are meant to form grow into a truly loving relationship?

From the very first few pages, the pull between Quinn and Gina was palpable. Nether wanted to acknowledge it at first, but there was no denying what was happening between them and it was amazing to read. I loved the push and pull of emotions and I loved being inside of each characters head and to read their inner monologue. It gave us a real feel for their emotions. Oh, and the chemistry between them once things heat up? Beyond smoking hot!

On top of the amazing characters, I love how Carrie Ann keeps the pack dynamics true to how wolves interact in nature. I once visited a wolf sanctuary close to my home and I was so fascinated with the mannerisms of the Alphas and their packs. It is truly an amazing dynamic and that they all communicate without words is almost magical. Carrie Ann wrote her characters in such a way that it was easy to lose yourself in the paranormal wolf world and, even if for just a moment, believe that somewhere out there a world like this could truly exist. That, to me, is a gift.

I will be looking forward to reading more of this series as well as going into Ms. Ryan’s backlist to enjoy more of the Redwood Pack. Thank you, Ms. Ryan, for a magical and fantastic read!

Five Loves

Book links:

Amazon | 1.001 Dark Nights

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

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Dark Nights Five Loves January 2015 Paranormal

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One Sinful Night in Sao Paulo by Amber Belldene….ARC Review

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Cassie Wilson has traveled to Brazil for her brother’s wedding; yet she’s the one with cold feet. She’s all set to begin seminary, but she’s sick and tired of being treated like a saint, especially by the best man. What she really needs is one sexy night with him to ease her jitters and give her a taste of normal life.

Adam Forrester crashed and burned at his dream job, screwing up all his hopes for a better life. Now he’s moved home to start over, but first he must confront the irresistible Cass, apologize for whatever happened on that drunken night he can’t remember, and make damn sure it doesn’t happen again. Only she has other plans.

He has typecast her as the good girl in his heart. Can she force him to see her as a real woman, desires and all?

My review:

I have been a fan of Amber Belldene for quite some time. I adore her paranormal work and was so excited to see she dove into the contemporary romance world. I was even more excited when I started reading and realized I would adore this contemporary story as much as Ms. Belldene’s paranormal work. This story was hot, sexy, sweet, and enjoyable from start to finish!

Cassie Wilson would honestly rather be anywhere but here. Sure, Brazil was amazing and beautiful and she was here for her brother’s wedding, another plus, but she would be stuck spending time with him….Adam. Her brother’s best friend. The guy she had had a crush on for as long as she could remember. The guy who treated her like Miss Goodie Two-Shoes. The guy she came so close to spending a dream night with years earlier. A dream night that never happened. She would never forget the crushing hurt she felt when he put the brakes on after they started to get hot and heavy. The embarrassment and the anger she felt really hadn’t dissipated but neither had the attraction she felt when she was around him. Adding the stress of her upcoming journey into seminary, and it was all adding up to too much. Maybe she could let loose and enjoy herself? Maybe she could enjoy Adam and his company? Maybe she convince him to give her one more chance at that dream night?

Adam Forrester was lost. The dream life he thought he wanted, and he had built, was crumbling around him and he didn’t have a clue what he wanted to do next. All he knew was that things in his life were going to change. After he came back from his best friend’s wedding in Brazil, things were going to get better. They had to. He would enjoy this time in this amazing place, enjoy his friend, and maybe even enjoy seeing Cassie. Of course that is if she had forgiven him for a disastrous night years earlier. He wasn’t good enough for her back then. Hell, he wasn’t good enough for her now either. It didn’t take away that he was so drawn to her. She was unlike anyone he’s ever known. Bright, calming, smart, funny, beautiful. He knew he screwed things up with her and he was willing to do what he needed to do to make things right. Could he make it through this trip and be able to keep his hands to himself? Act like the gentleman she deserved to be friends with?

With so much going on in both of their lives, so many emotions and new plans on their horizons, will Cassie and Adam be able to push it all aside and for one night enjoy the attraction that has been between them for years…but never amounted to anything?

From start to finish, this book was fabulous. Not only did author Belldene write a sexy story full of emotion, but it also educated me a bit in the life Cassie would be leading when she joined seminary. That aspect really brought an extra layer to the storyline and I really enjoyed it. It was different, fresh, and interesting. Another reason this story was so great was the back story between Cassie and Adam was so relatable. I mean how many of us had a crush on the older boy when we were in high school? *raises hand* I know I have! I loved that they were given a second chance in taking things to the next level. Even if it was supposed to be for only one night. Both characters were pretty amazing as well. Cassie is strong and determined with an amazing outlook on things. Even though Adam is a bit lost at the moment, he is also a great character. He’s loyal and caring with a soft side to him that had me swooning.

Ms. Belldene wrote some amazingly beautiful moments into this story that touched me immensely. I can’t spoil anything for you but there were a few moments between Adam and Cassie that touched my heart. My favorite part, however, was when Cassie visited with Father Ricardo that had me crying…truly a beautiful moment.

All in all this book was fantastic and I highly recommend. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Belldene has in store for us next!

Four Loves

Book links:

Amazon | B&N

About the author:

Amber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book. As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.
Amber is an Episcopal Priest and student of religion. She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths. Some people think it is strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to her, because the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire. She lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco.

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Contemporary Romance Four Loves January 2015

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Cover Reveal…Love M.D. by Rebecca Rohman

by Jilly

★ Cover Reveal – Love M.D. by Rebecca Rohman
Due To Be Released In February 2015

As an accomplished interior designer in San Francisco’s Bay Area, Zoë Jenkins is used to transforming empty spaces into masterpieces. She leaves little square footage in her personal life for anything outside of her thriving business and a renewed relationship with her twin brother. After a decade spent ripped apart by circumstance and an entire ocean’s distance, she depends on no one but him. Until a sexy surgeon walks into her life.

Although Zoë can’t deny her attraction to the charming and benevolent Morgan Drake, he’s on her mental list of everything she should avoid. Past experience taught Zoë that dating clients compromises business. Add a not-yet-dissolved marriage to the mix and Doctor Hottie is definitely Doctor Off-limits.

Dr. Morgan Drake is surprised at the undeniable chemistry he feels when he’s in the same room as Zoë. The strikingly beautiful and solitary designer he hired to fill his new-start, new-city home makes it abundantly clear there will never be anything between them. But twelve years of medical school breeds persistence. He sets out to persuade the pants off Zoë Jenkins and show her what her empty spaces are missing.

Intense passion and amazing sex have a way of masking secrets—secrets that unravel a dangerous web of drugs, fraud and corruption that turn Zoë’s quiet spaces into a world where nothing is as it seems. With her life on the line, the good doctor responsible for her fiercest betrayal might just be the only one worthy of her finest interior masterpiece—this time, of her heart.

★ Love M.D. Excerpt

Morgan laughs and swims towards me. “You’re not too mad at me are you, Baby?” he asks with that stupid boyish grin of his. I hate to admit it, but I absolutely love the sexy way baby just rolls off his lips.

“I suppose… maybe just a little.”

“Good, because I’d hate this little incident to stop you from going out with me again.”

“Well if you’re trying to make an impression on a woman, I would advise you not to pursue this course of action in the future.”

“Not any woman-you,” he says, circling me in his arms.

I wrap my arms around his neck. “You’re trying to sweep me off my feet?”

He chuckles. “I hate to break it to you, but I think I just did.”

He leans forward, kissing me lightly on my neck then cheek and finally my lips. Returning his deep kiss, I taste him. A hint of citrus from the Chablis we enjoyed lingers behind.
He caresses my form, and raises my dress to my hip, enabling me to wrap my legs around his hard, rugged body. I’ve been so eager to be touched by him. And as our tongues are in this rapturous dance, the feel of his hands skimming over my breasts, then my hips and down to my ass leave me wanting more.

★ Visit Rebecca Rohman’s Facebook page today where she’ll be sharing teasers from Love M.D. and giving away some fun prizes throughout the day.

Rebecca Rohman – https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRohman1
Love M.D. – https://www.facebook.com/LoveM.D.5

Cover Reveal January 2015

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Book Promotion & Review

Exclusive excerpt:

Movie Star Cast post for Kathleen Eagle’s book

NEVER TRUST A COWBOY

About the book:

Movie Star Cast:

Synopsis:

My Review:

Four Loves

Synopsis:

My Review:

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Book links:

Check out the beautiful cover for HARD TO BE GOOD!

And don’t miss the cover for HARD TO LET GO!

And for a limited time only, you can grab HARD TO COME BY on sale for just half-price!

Are you ready to get to know Malcom? FIND ME IN DARKNESS by Julie Kenner releases today and you can get your hands on it for just .99c!

About FIND ME IN DARKNESS

About Julie Kenner

Wicked Wolf releases today!

Synopsis:

My review:

Five Loves

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

Book links:

★ Cover Reveal – Love M.D. by Rebecca Rohman Due To Be Released In February 2015

★ Love M.D. Excerpt

★ Cover Reveal – Love M.D. by Rebecca Rohman
Due To Be Released In February 2015