Read-Love-Blog

Release Day Event…Long For Me by Shiloh Walker

by Jilly

Award-winning author, Shiloh Walker, is back with a HOT new series that’ll leave you yearning for more!

Happy release day to Shiloh Walker; LONG FOR ME is here!

LONG FOR ME is the third and final novella in the Secrets and Shadows series that introduces readers to the Bell siblings and sets the stage for the highly anticipated mass market print release of DEEPER THAN NEED, book one in the Secrets and Shadows series coming from St. Martin’s Paperbacks on June 3, 2014!

Find out more about Secrets and Shadows in this exclusive interview with Shiloh Walker!

About LONG FOR ME:

In Long for Me by Shiloh Walker, Christina Bell remembers what it was like to be part of a loving family. The youngest of the Bell children, she simply cannot believe that her dad, or anyone else she loves, had a hand in her mother’s disappearance. She’s looking forward to moving on and spending more time with her sexy best friend, Guy Miller, who she is starting to see in a whole new light.Their attraction sizzling and love deepening, Christina feels confident in her life and ability to handle what comes her way…But when Nichole’s body is found—and the mystery of her death slowly reveals itself—Christina is left not knowing who to trust. What if Guy, her one true desire, proves to be her biggest danger?

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Excerpt:

The roughed-out log cabin wasn’t much. Perched on the edge of the Ohio River, nearly an hour away from Madison, it was Guy’s personal retreat. He came to fish or just get the hell away from people.

Too bad, she thought, kicking a leg over her bike and staring up at the cabin. Some people might have enjoyed the picturesque drive out here. It had just given her more time to brood, steam, and work herself up. She was probably as close to exploding as she’d been in a good long time.

The door swung open and she found herself staring at the very object of her wrath.

Guy, in the flesh.

Her heartbeat kicked up and she had to swallow the spit that had suddenly pooled in her mouth.

The very, very nice flesh. Curling her hands into fists, she used the bite of her nails into her palms to help get centered. It wasn’t much, but every little bit helped, she figured.

He’d just walked out.

After that night together, after him telling her how he didn’t want her to regret it and how he thought about her—okay, he thought about her naked, or her ass, whatever.

He’d kinda made her think . . . crazy things.

Then he ignored her.

He’d gone three days, completely ignoring her.

That slow burn of lust settled in her belly—it was a familiar ache, something she’d gotten used to ignoring when it came to him. She needed him for a friend more than she needed him for a lover.

Or so she’d thought.

But then they’d had that night—it had been as amazing as the first night and she needed him like she needed air and he’d just walked away.

She jutted her chin up as he continued to watch her.

Then he turned around and walked back into the cabin.

The door remained open.

Oh, hell. She was just going to have to kick his ass.

Shiloh’s giving away some awesome things leading up to the release of DEEPER THAN NEED, book one in Secrets and Shadows!

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a Coach purse, signed copies of Shiloh’s books, and an Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card worth $20!

(Due to shipping and insurance, this giveaway is open to US only)

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About DEEPER THAN NEED:

Time heals all wounds.

Eager to put a dark, troubled past behind her, Trinity Ewing buys an old house that will make the perfect refuge for her and her young son once renovations are complete. The last thing on her mind is finding someone new…but the contractor she’s hired is an irresistible distraction—and Trinity can’t help but fantasize about all the business they could be doing behind closed doors.

So does one man’s touch.

Noah Benningfield thought he’d put his demons behind him. But the moment he lays eyes on Trinity, the temptation he feels is too powerful to deny. Soon the attraction between them explodes into something neither of them could have imagined. But their desire will be put to the test when a shocking local murder has them dodging danger at every turn. Can the beautiful and damaged Trinity trust someone like Noah, whose own past is as haunted as her own? The only thing she knows for sure is that she can’t live without a man who makes her feel this good—over and over again…in Deeper Than Need by Shiloh Walker.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes Bookstore

About BURN FOR ME:

Scarred long ago by the disappearance of his mother, Nichole, Tate Bell aches to spend his days and nights with Ali Holmes, a woman he’s loved for years. But while Ali’s heart pines to be with Tate, her head has reservations…

Ali knows that Tate has never forgiven his father for the fight he had with Nichole right before she left the house—and was never heard from again. Ali thinks that Tate’s unresolved anger is a force to be reckoned with…even though the heat that blazes between them is undeniable. Now both Tate and Ali are left to wonder: Can love really conquer all? Get lost in a world of secrets and shadows in Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes Bookstore

About BREAK FOR ME:

Jensen Bell had twelve happy years before her mother disappeared and her whole world went to pieces. Since then, she’s become a cop—one who takes great pride in her work, and in helping keep others safe. The saving grace in her own life has been Dean West, the only man who can make her burn with desire and help her through her burdens. But when a shocking discovery turns her life upside-down, even being wrapped in Dean’s arms might not be enough to keep her out of harm’s way, in Break for Me by Shiloh Walker.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes Bookstore

About Shiloh Walker:

Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid… she fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more…ah… serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, but most all anything romantic. Once upon a time, she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She also writes under the pen name J. C. Daniels.

Connect with Shiloh at her Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

May 2014 Release Day Event

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ARC Review….Dungeon Games by Lexi Blake

by Jilly

Dungeon Games releases tomorrow, May 13

Book links:

Kindle | Amazon Paperback | 1,001 Dark Nights

Synopsis:

Obsessed

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

Unhinged

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

Enflamed

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

My review:

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

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

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

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

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

Five Loves

About the author:

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

website | Facebook | Twitter

Erotic Five Loves May 2014 New Releases New Reviews

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Settling Ashes by Diana Gardin…ARC Review

by Jilly

Settling Ashes releases May 15

Settling ashes cover

Synopsis:

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

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

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

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

My review:

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you, Diana, for another amazing read!

Four Loves

About the author:

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

Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Website

Four Loves May 2014 New Adult New Reviews

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Release Day Event….Dare to Resist by Laura Kaye

by Jilly

We are thrilled to tell you that Laura Kaye’s DARE TO RESIST is now available!! DARE TO RESIST is being published by Entangled Publishing, and only $.99 right now!!

DARE TO RESIST is the prequel novella to the sexy wedding event of the year! The Wedding Dare Series brings together five New York Times bestselling authors, one sizzling story of how the bride and groom fell in love, and four super sexy tales of bridesmaids who hope to get lucky in lust—or maybe even love—at their friend’s wedding. Here’s the story that starts it all!

DARE TO RESIST Synopsis:

Dare to Resist

By New York Times Bestselling Author Laura Kaye

May 12, 2014

Trapped and tempted, this battle of wills rages all night long…

KadyDresco and Colton Brooks click on a level that defies logic. There are only two problems. One, he’s her older brother’s irritating best friend, and two, they’re bidding on the same military security services contract.

When the competition heats up, Colton is torn between wanting to strangle Kady (and her annoying brilliance) and kissing her into submission. Which is a bad idea for a million reasons, because Kady’s submission is exactly what he craves. Being trapped in a tiny motel room with the object of his darkest fantasies will require every ounce of his restraint.

Kady doesn’t want his restraint, but Colton knows better. She deserves love, marriage, and a white picket fence—three things Colton can’t give her. But her proximity and the memory of their steamy near-miss three years ago slowly destroys his resolve. And he’s not sure how much longer he can keep his hands off…or his heart closed.

Dare to Resist on Goodreads

About the Wedding Dare Series:

When four bridesmaids dare one another to find lust—or maybe even love—at the destination wedding event of the year, the groomsmen don’t stand a chance. But little do the women know, the men are onto their game, and sparks will fly alongside the bouquet.

Four bridesmaids. Four groomsmen.

Four New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling authors. Long-carried torches, sizzling new attractions, and forbidden conquests will ensure a wedding never to be forgotten.

Tessa Bailey, Baiting the Maid of Honor

Diane Alberts, Falling for the Groomsmen

Katee Robert, Seducing the Bridesmaid

Samanthe Beck, Best Man with Benefits

Coming June 9!

All Wedding Dare Series Books on Goodreads

Laura Kaye Bio:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. 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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

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May 2014 New Releases Release Day Event

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Release Day Event…Tempting the Bodyguard by J. Lynn

by Jilly

We are extremely excited to celebrate the release of J. Lynn’s TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD!!! TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD is an Adult category romance novel being published by Entangled Publishing’s Brazen imprint and is a part of Jennifer’s Gamble Brothers Series!

TEMPTING THE BODYGUARD 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…

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn Bio:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY 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.

Website Twitter Facebook ** Jennifer L. ArmentroutGoodreads

Novel Goodreads ** J.LynnGoodreads

May 2014 New Releases Release Day Event

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

by Jilly

Synopsis:

Reaching for sunlight…

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

Lost in shadows…

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

Sometimes love isn’t enough…

My review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five Loves

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY:

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

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Buy Links

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

About the author:

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

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

Website ~ Facebook Fan Page ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

April 2104 Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Five Loves New Reviews

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

by Jilly

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

She’s a challenge he can’t resist.

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

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

My review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three-and-a-Half Loves

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

About the author:

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

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

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour New Releases New Reviews Three Loves

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Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren…ARC Review & GIVEAWAY

by Jilly

Sweet Filthy Boy releases May 13

Book links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Amazon UK

Synopsis:

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

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

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

My review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five Loves

Giveaway:

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About the authors:

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

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

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

You can follow their shenanigans at:

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

Giveaway New Releases New Reviews

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

by Jilly

Synopsis:

A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

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

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

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

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

My review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five Loves

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Entangled

Entangled Brazen:

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

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Author Bio:

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

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

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

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

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Blog Tour Contemporary Romance Five Loves May 2014 New Reviews

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Cover Reveal…Hard to Come By by Laura Kaye

by Jilly

We are extremely excited to bring you the cover reveal for Laura Kaye’s HARD TO COME BY! Published by Avon Impulse, an imprint of HarperCollins, HARD TO COME BY is a thrilling Romantic Suspense novel in Laura’s Hard Ink Series. It is the third full-length novel in the series and is due to be released on November 25th!!

ABOUT HARD TO COME BY:

Caught between desire and loyalty…

Derek DiMarzio would do anything for the members of his disgraced Special Forces team—sacrifice his body, help a former teammate with a covert operation to restore their honor, and even go behind enemy lines. He just never expected to want the beautiful woman he found there.

When a sexy stranger asks questions about her brother, Emilie Garza is torn between loyalty to the brother she once idolized and fear of the war-changed man he’s become. Derek’s easy smile and quiet strength tempt Emilie to open up, igniting the desire between them and leading Derek to crave a woman he shouldn’t trust.

As the team’s investigation reveals how powerful their enemies are, Derek and Emilie must prove where their loyalties lie before hearts are broken and lives are lost. Because love is too hard to come by to let slip away…

Pre-Order at Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes

Hard to Come By on Goodreads

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Hold On To(8/19/14)

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.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

Hard to Hold On To on Goodreads

Hard to Come By on Goodreads

Cover Reveal May 2014

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

by Jilly

Synopsis:

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

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

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

My review:

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

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

Ok, here goes….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy at Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

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

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Giveaways:

There are TWO fabulous giveaways happening with this tour!

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

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

Book Promotion & Review

Excerpt:

Shiloh’s giving away some awesome things leading up to the release of DEEPER THAN NEED, book one in Secrets and Shadows!

Dungeon Games releases tomorrow, May 13

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My review:

Five Loves

Settling Ashes releases May 15

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Four Loves

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Jennifer L. ArmentroutGoodreads

Novel Goodreads ** J.LynnGoodreads

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Five Loves

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Three-and-a-Half Loves

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Sweet Filthy Boy releases May 13

Book links:

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My review:

Five Loves

Giveaway:

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My review:

Five Loves

Synopsis:

My review:

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