Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ★Chasing River★ by K.A.Tucker

CR Review Tour Banner_edited-1 CHASING RIVER is a Suspenseful Romance novel, and the third novel in K.A. Tucker’s Burying Water Series, published by Atria books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster. CHASING RIVER is set to be released July 7, 2015! If you haven’t already, be sure to grab BURYING WATER and BECOMING RAIN, the first two books in this thrilling series!!

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Armed with two years’ worth of savings and the need to experience life outside the bubble of her Oregon small town, twenty-five-year old Amber Welles is prepared for anything. Except dying in Dublin. Had it not been for the bravery of a stranger, she might have. But he takes off before she has the chance to offer her gratitude.

Twenty-four-year-old River Delaney is rattled. No one was supposed to get hurt. But then that American tourist showed up. He couldn’t let her die, but he also couldn’t risk being identified at the scene—so, he ran. Back to his everyday life of running his family’s pub. Only, everyday life is getting more and more complicated, thanks to his brother, Aengus, and his criminal associations. When the American girl tracks River down, he quickly realizes how much he likes her, how wrong she is for him. And how dangerous it is to have her around. Chasing her off would be the smart move.

Maybe it’s because he saved her life, or maybe it’s because he’s completely different from everything she’s left behind, but Amber finds herself chasing after River Delaney. Amber isn’t the kind of girl to chase after anyone.

And River isn’t the kind of guy she’d want to catch.

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Review

3.5 stars

Chasing River-DGR


So…Where’d you meet this guy?”
“At the park one day. He kind of…ran into me.”
“Sounds romantic.”
“It was, in a way.” If pipe bombs could be called romantic.


I’m not sure why I didn’t realize from reading the synopsis that Amber Welles is the twin sister of Jesse Welles from Burying Water. Although I was hoping this book would have one of the 2 characters that were introduced in the previous one, I have to say I was excited when realized out who Amber was. Always the good girl to her troublemaking twin brother, I couldn’t wait to find out what her story will bring. I have to say,
while I enjoyed this book, comparing to the first two it was probably my least favorite in the series. That’s not to say it wasn’t good, because it really was. I adore KA Tucker’s writing style and her ability to bring her words to life. With the previous two books being in Oregon, it was a great change of pace to get the beauty of Ireland in this one.

Amber Welles is coming off a break up. She’s always been the good girl, the good daughter, popular girl and all around perfect. She has a great job as a nurse, she has great friends (or so she thinks), but she’s yearning for more. So she makes herself a bucket travel lists and sets off for sights unseen. But when she gets lost in Dublin, a run in with a guy with piercing green eyes leaves her rattled in more ways than one.

River Delaney has been on the wrong side of the law before, mostly thanks to his criminal older brother and his ties to the IRA. He’s not looking to be caught there again. When he follows his recently out of prison brother and catches him laying a pipe bomb in the middle of St. Stephen’s Green, he’s not exactly shocked. But when he sees a lost American tourist about to run right into the bomb’s path, he knows he has to do something. So he saves her and takes off before he can be tied to anything.

Amber can’t seem to get the man that saved her life out of her mind and when she’s able to track him down to his family’s pub, she knows that she needs to get to know him. He affects her like no other man has in her life. He’s also the exact opposite of any man she’s ever dated, and yet she’s inexplicably drawn to him.

Although I wasn’t sure what to expect from Amber with her good girl thought process, she really pleasantly surprised me. I really enjoyed her character and the way she chased River even though it wasn’t in her comfort zone. River was a hero that I liked straight away. He’s sweet and caring but with a little edge to him. I loved the relationship he had with his brother Rowen. Though I was shocked at the development between Ivy and Rowen. (Wonder if this book is the last we’ve seen of him?)

So why not more stars? I felt that for the type of reader I am there was a little too much concentration on history and suspense than the romance. While that may work very well for other readers, I found it added a certain disconnect for me. Don’t get me wrong, it was interesting to read about but not something I would typically turn to, if that even makes sense. This series isn’t too heavy on the romance and it’s not the HEA endings I usually like. It’s suspenseful and gives the reader a very satisfying HFN. I just found the previous two books to be a little more enjoyable. The Burying Water series isn’t heavy on romance or steam. If I had to rate the steam on a scale of 1-10, I’d say it’s a 3. That’s not why I read this series, though. It offers something different from the usual mainstream romance you’d find. It has suspense and mystery with the added element of romance. I just felt a slight disconnect with this one for reason I can’t quite put my finger one. That being said, I’d definitely recommend this book for fans of the series.

I like that while the characters are interconnected, the books can easily be read as standalones. So if you haven’t read the previous two books, you wouldn’t be even a little lost jumping right into this one. I would recommend the other two books simply because they were fantastic and it does give the reader a better understanding of some of the secondary characters that make an appearance.

ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
47891_ChasingRiver_QuoteCards_3And don’t forget BURYING WATER and BECOMING RAIN, the first two books in this thrilling series…

Burying Water

BURYING WATER

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Becoming Rain

BECOMING RAIN

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About the Author

Author PhotoBorn in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

 

 

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Spotlight & #Giveaway: ★Wicked White★ by Michelle A. Valentine

Title: Wicked White 
Author: Michelle A. Valentine
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 23, 2015

After his mother dies, rock star Ace White—lead singer of the red-hot band Wicked White—is done with the celebrity game. The phony people, the meaningless one-night stands: he doesn’t want any of it anymore. Quitting in the middle of a sold-out tour, Ace sets out to find some place—any place—where he can be alone.

Aspiring singer Iris Easton’s life has never been easy. First, her mother walked out on her when she was a kid. Now she’s buried in debt, weeks after losing her beloved grandmother. When a mysterious and sexy new guy moves in next door, Iris can’t help but be drawn to his soulful gaze. She can tell there’s something from his past haunting him—something he’s not telling her.

Just as Ace starts falling for Iris, the media go on a worldwide hunt to find the missing rocker. Will true love conquer all, or will the truth be the very thing that tears the couple apart?

“Iris…that was amazing. You’ve got so much talent,” I praise.

Her green eyes light up with excitement like a child’s do on Christmas morning. “You really think so? You’re not just saying that?”

“No. I never bullshit about music. You’ve definitely got the chops for Broadway, it’s just…” I hesitate, not wanting to hurt her feelings, but I know that in order for her to get better, she has to be told what she’s doing wrong.

She lays her hand on my forearm. “Please, tell me. I can take it. Promise.”

I stand beside her, so close that my chest nearly touches her shoulder. I’m itching to touch her, but I won’t do it without permission. “May I touch you?”

She draws in a ragged breath and then nods. “Yes.”

I curl the fingers of my right hand around her right shoulder and pull back a little so that her posture is perpendicular to the floor. At this angle, I can’t help but notice her heaving chest and how her perky tits move in sync with each breath she takes.

I slide my left hand against her toned stomach and my pinkie grazes the warm patch of skin that’s exposed between her T-shirt and the waistband of her jeans.

Our contact is fucking electric, and my own breathing picks up speed as I attempt to fight back the arousal I feel for her boiling beneath my surface.

“Everything about you is magnetic,” I whisper in her ear, and she shivers at the words. “Don’t be afraid to open your eyes and watch your audience enjoy you. Be confident and project. Let go.”

I let go of her shoulder, and move to face her before pressing the repeat button on the machine. As the intro of the song plays, I say, “Do it again, but this time I want you to look at me.”

This time when she opens her mouth to sing, when she begins to tip her head down, I slide my index finger under her chin and angle her head so that she’s forced to peer into my eyes.

Her words are just barely above a whisper, so I slip my hand back on her abdomen and say, “Project–from here. Sing it like you mean it.”

It’s like lightening strikes this beautiful woman in my arms as she sings to me without fear. The words of the song come out effortlessly, and her voice could rival any of the greatest female vocalists of all time.

She’s that damn stunning.

I nod approvingly and smile. “Yes!”

With that little bit of encouragement, she shocks me even more when she pushes herself to hit notes that are above and beyond what she reached the first time.

Only on the last lyric does she close her eyes while she holds the note there until the music stops. She releases a contented sigh as soon as the music ends, and when her beautiful eyes meet mine again, they swirl with emotion.

Completely blown away, I fumble with the words to tell her just how impressed I am. “Iris, that was–”

Without warning, she throws her arms around my neck and crushes her lips against mine. I know kissing her back is wrong, but I’ll be damned if I don’t want her so badly at this point that I can’t stop myself from giving in. I’ve been so good with restraining myself when it comes to Iris, because protecting her from the chaos that I’ll bring her is what’s always been on the forefront of my mind.

Her fingers thrust into my hair, and I reach down and curl my hands around her thighs before hoisting her into the air. Instinctively she wraps her legs around my waist, and I thread one of my hands into her tousled curls while the other is busy cupping that perfect ass of hers.

“I’ve wanted you since you walked into my trailer,” she breathes against my lips.

A thrill shoots through me at her admission of how long she’s wanted me. “You’ve been driving me out of my mind from the moment I first saw you.”

“Then take me.”

Michelle A. Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Rock the Heart. Wicked White is the first novel in her Wicked White romance series. She attended college as a drafting and design major, but her love of people soon persuaded her to join the nursing field. It wasn’t until after the birth of her son that she began her love affair with romance novels, and she hasn’t looked back since. When she’s not writing, she feeds her music addiction, dabbles in party planning, and expresses herself by working with arts and crafts. She currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, son, and two beloved dogs.

 

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Blog Tour, Excerpt & #Giveaway: ★Sweet The Sin★ by Claire Kent

Sweet the Sin
Author: Claire Kent
Release Date: July 7, 2015
Loveswept

In the first novel in USA Today bestselling author Claire Kent’s deeply sensual story of love, lust, and deception, a woman searching for the truth discovers that she’s sleeping with the enemy.

Portrait artist Kelly Watson keeps her relationships simple and steamy, with no strings attached. She’s had a hard time trusting other people since she was a child, when her father was murdered for trying to blow the whistle on corporate corruption. Nearly twenty years later, Kelly finds herself in the arms of a seductive stranger—the very same man who may have ordered her father’s death. And even as she plays him, using hot sex as a means to revenge, Kelly is tormented by one question: Is she committing the ultimate betrayal?

Caleb Marshall has spent decades forging a high-powered career, rejecting intimacy for the convenience of fast women and cheap thrills. But Kelly intrigues him, pushing commitment buttons he didn’t know he had. Still, something is wrong. Despite their physical and emotional chemistry, Caleb feels the fear inside of her. Now the only way to keep her safe is coming clean, before secrets and lies destroy their connection—no matter how deep, intense, and addictive it may be.

“Pet portraits?” the man asked skeptically, with that same smug laughter in his eyes.

“What’s your point?”

“Nothing. You’re just that type, aren’t you?”

“What type?”

“Pet portrait artist. At one with the universe. Lover of flowers and trees and all furry creatures. Filling the world with pretty objects and warm fuzzies. I bet they call you Blossom, don’t they?” His tone was bone dry, as if far above such sentiment.

He probably was. She could tell even from their brief interaction that he was too intelligent, too experienced, too competent to have patience with anything trite or saccharine.

She liked that about him. Despite her intentionally bohemian appearance just now, she was as far as possible from those feelings herself.

“You don’t know me at all,” she said, pleased at the cool aloofness of her tone.

It just made him smile. When his dog lay down with the Frisbee, panting blissfully, the man started walking toward him, evidently expecting Kelly to fall in step with him. “I know a little about you. I know you paint pet portraits. I know you’re wearing vegan sandals and are reluctant to cut your hair. And I know you have on your bracelet various charms of dogs, cats, birds, and flowers.” He arched his eyebrows. “I think I’ve got a pretty clear sense of you.”

The bracelet was stupid, but her clients always liked it, and her hair was indeed very long, hanging down to the small of her back. But this arrogant man couldn’t be more wrong.

He might be eerily observant, but he knew nothing.

“Is that right?” she replied, giving him arched eyebrows in response. “You might be surprised about me. But there’s no way I’d be surprised about you. I’d know your type in my sleep.”

“Blossom, you could know my type in your sleep, if you asked nicely.”

She felt another tingle of excitement at the sexiness of his tone but ignored it. “You wear a suit to work every day, don’t you?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Nothing. It’s just your type. You’re one of those guys who wears a business suit like armor—going through the world as if the nameplate on your office entitles you to whatever you want. As if your bank account makes you superior.”

The words weren’t particularly gentle, but he looked interested rather than offended. “What makes you think I have anything impressive in my bank account?”

“Please. I know roughly how much that watch you’re wearing costs.”

Because of the Watsons, her adoptive parents, Kelly was in good shape financially, but she didn’t own anything except her car that cost as much as the watch he was wearing.

“And I bet you’re wondering why would I spend money on something so superficial when I could be donating it to all the homeless animals in the world?” Again, he was teasing in that intimate way, as if he really did know her.

“I’m not like that,” she told him, speaking only the truth.

“Sure you aren’t.” He flashed her a grin. “What happened to your client, anyway?”

Kelly had actually forgotten about her client, so absorbed in the conversation had she been. She gave a little jerk and turned back to scan the park, focusing on the entrance, but there was no sign of another man with a German shepherd. “I think I’ve been stood up. It happens sometimes.”

Just then, her phone chirped with another text, so she reached in to pull it out of her bag. “Maybe that’s him.”

When she focused on the screen, she realized it wasn’t her client. Are you sure? I’d make it worth your while. Promise.

She sighed. Jesse. Why the hell wouldn’t he just give up?

“Not your client,” the man beside her said.

She glanced up. “How do you know?”

“I’m pretty good at reading expressions. Who is it? Your boyfriend being annoying?”

He was actually quite close. Impressive, given that they were strangers. “No. Just a guy who won’t take no for an answer.”

“He has my sympathy.”

She sucked in a breath. “Why should he have your sympathy?”

He had that smug, heated amusement in his eyes again. “To get a taste of a hot little thing like you—and then get the door slammed in his face? Can’t help but feel sorry for him.”

“I didn’t slam the door in his face. I was nothing but honest with him. He’s the idiot who ignored what I told him and keeps bumbling on toward something he already knows he can’t have.”

The man chuckled and reached out to run his fingers gently down a long strand of her hair. “It doesn’t matter what you tell him, blossom. You’ve got this gorgeous, untouched sweetness about you. It’s like a promise and a challenge.”

Her whole body went hot at the texture of his words, at the tension and power she could feel in his hand, his shoulders, his gaze.

She knew what he was referring to. She’d been born with clear creamy skin, pink cheeks, big blue eyes, and a heart-shaped face that gave the impression of innocence. There was no way she could dress that would change her natural look, even though she’d desperately tried when she was younger.

“Don’t assume the way I look is the way I really am,” she said, her pulse starting to throb in her wrists and her throat. She knew how to recognize the look in this guy’s eyes.

He wanted her.

And despite his smug superiority—or maybe because of it—she wanted him too.

Claire Kent has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. She has a PhD in British literature and, when she’s not writing, teaches English at the university level. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Noelle Adams.

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Ebook copies of:
·       CLAIMED by Stacey Kennedy
·       MY OBSESSION by Cassie Ryan
·       DEEP AUTUMN HEAT by Elisabeth Barrett
·       TAKE THE FALL by Marquita Valentine
·       YOUR TO KEEP by Serena Bell
·       SWEET THE SIN by Claire Kent

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Release Blitz & #Giveaway: ★SAY IT SEXY★ & ★SAY IT STRONG★ by @virnadepaul

Join New York Times Bestselling Author Virna DePaul as she enters the NEW ADULT world with her brand new series, SAY YOU LOVE ME! DePaul cannot wait to share the first two books with you! SAY IT SEXY and SAY IT STRONG release June 22, 2015. SAY IT SEXY brings the reader into the world of television as the love story of Heartthrob Garrick and Good Girl Gwen unfolds! SAY IT STRONG introduces us to the world of Rock N’ Roll as Bad Boy Liam and Sweet Cellist Gwen learn the meaning of Love.
in the Say You Love Me series, starring a group of male friends—hot young Hollywood heroes and hard-partying rock band bad boys—each on the verge of meeting the girl of his dreams.
SAY IT SEXY 
Say You Love Me #1
Author: VirnaDePaul

This life I’m relishing—the women, booze, and parties—won’t last forever. But while it does, I’ll take it all in with no regrets. Pleasure stands paramount. When I party, I forget all the trash that’s happened in the past. It’s the same when I’m acting, when I become someone else, someone not afraid to feel or make others feel. It’s what I live for: The next party. The next role. The next girl.

That’s my life. That’s the way I want it to be.

Except now I’ve met Gwen…

Garrick Maze, young Hollywood’s hottest bad boy, just landed the male lead in a new network television series. Known for indulging in wild parties, casual hook ups, and fast cars, he spends his days on set and his nights on the town. Love’s the last thing on his mind, especially when it comes to his ice queen female lead. Gwendolyn Vickers intends to be America’s next celebrity sweetheart and that means keeping her public image pristine. The last thing she needs is to be linked to trouble-making heartthrob Garrick Maze. But he’s shamelessly flirty and sexy as sin. Her body craves him. Soon, so does her heart.

When secrets from the past clash with the bright lights of fame, Gwen realizes there’s more to Garrick than washboard abs and sex appeal. He’ll prove that when it comes to mixing mind-blowing pleasure with true love, he’s not about to let her down.

I’ve seen and done it all—sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, and then some. I’ve made the cover of Rolling Stone. I’ve won Best Rock Performance at the Grammy’s. I’m living a life of fame, wild tours, crazy money, and insanely hot women. But the one woman I can’t get is prim and proper cellist, Abby Chan—gorgeous, natural, talented as all sin. The first time we met, I knew we would be something special. She’s not convinced, but I am.

Now I’m going to prove she’s all the woman a wild man like me will ever need…

Liam Collier, sexy and enigmatic frontman for Point Break, the world’s hottest rock band, is at the top of his game. With two songs in the Billboard Top 10, he’s a rock-and-roll bad boy, known for his trademark falsetto as well as his proclivity for partying and hooking up with gorgeous women. For Liam, falling in love was something he figured would happen far off in the future—not on the first day of his first world tour. And not with his super sexy but extremely reserved background cellist.

With a Master of Music degree from Juilliard School of Music, Abby Chan is on the road to becoming a cellist for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. But to pay back her expensive education, first she has to travel another kind of road—a gig playing cello for the North American leg of a garish rock band’s world tour. She’d expected hard work and long hours, but what she never expected was the intensity of her reactions to Liam Collier. He’s sweet. He’s hot. And despite being surrounded by roadies and the world’s most beautiful women, he’s set his sights on her.

When classical music meets rock and prim propriety meets a carefree attitude, Abby and Liam venture outside their comfort zones. What they discover is that living wild is the perfect preparation for flying high—on love.

Virna DePaul  is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of steamy, suspenseful fiction.  Whether it’s vampires, a Para-Ops team, hot cops or swoon-worthy identical twin brothers, her stories center around  complex individuals willing to overcome incredible odds for love. 

Bedding The Wrong Brother  is a #1 Bestselling Contemporary Romance, and is followed by  Bedding The Bad Boy. Her PNR series with Random House launched on April 1, 2014 with Turned.  She loves to hear from readers at www.virnadepaul.com


Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ★Up In Smoke★ by Tessa Bailey

up in smoke blog tour
Up in Smoke 
Author: Tessa Bailey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 23, 2015

Never start a fire you can’t control…

Connor Bannon is supposed to be dead. Dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs, he’s spent the last two years working as a street enforcer in Brooklyn for his cousin’s crime ring. Through a twist of fate, he’s now in Chicago, working undercover to bust criminals. But when a cute little arsonist joins the team-all combat boots, tiny jean shorts, and hot-pink hair-Connor’s notorious iron control slips.

Erin “she’s getting away” O’Dea knows two things. She hates authority. And… Nope, that’s it. When she’s forced to operate on the “right” side of the law, her fear of being confined and controlled blazes to the surface. The last thing she expects is a control freak like Connor to soothe her when she needs it most. Worse, something behind the sexy ex-soldier’s eyes ignites a dangerous inferno of desire. One that invites Erin to play with fire. And one that could get them both killed…

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As if her thoughts had made him appear, Connor strode into the courthouse. Her pulse started beating double time, her stomach muscles tightening. Good Lord, the man was a fucking panty dropper. She’d only been away from him for a few hours and it felt like years since she’d experienced his presence. In jeans and a fitted gray T-shirt that molded to his muscles like her hands itched to do, he personified confidence and authority. Hot, rugged male. His gaze connected with hers immediately and darkened. She thought back to that morning when he’d dressed in the early morning light, his abs flexing as he pulled the shirt over his head. His erection barely contained by his boxers. She’d never been one to beg for anything, but she’d been seconds from offering him her mouth. Pleading for the privilege of sucking him off.

Conner shook his head at her with a sexy half smile on his face, as if he could read her thoughts across the room. He stopped at the metal detector and walked through after the security guard beckoned him forward. When the woman grabbed her wand and instructed him to raise his hands in the air, something ugly reared its head deep inside her. The detector hadn’t even beeped. There was no reason for the personal service. When the woman smiled at Connor and ran a hand down her ponytail, Erin propelled herself forward, boots echoing on the polished marble.

Erin hissed as she drew even with the guard. “If you’re done feeling up my boyfriend, I’d love a turn. We were in a rush this morning.”

The guard dropped the wand, letting it dangle near her thigh. “Did you just hiss at me?”

Erin hissed again.

“Okay.” Connor stepped between them, winking down at her. “We should go. Don’t want to keep the clerk waiting.”

Appreciation spread in her belly like honey. He hadn’t chided her for her behavior or apologized to the woman on her behalf. Instead he’d given the impression they were on their way to get married, appeasing her jealousy in one fell swoop. “That’s right.” She sauntered toward the elevator. “There’s vows to be exchanged. Rings to put on fingers. Shit like that.”

She glanced behind her to find Connor staring at her ass as she walked, so she put a little swing in her hips and savored his groan. Damn. She’d definitely never had this much fun at a courthouse.

A moment later, she and Connor stepped into an empty elevator. She hit the button for the top floor even though the clerk was on the first, and leaned back against the wall, looking up at him through her eyelashes. “How was your morning, baby? Was it worth leaving me in bed, all hot and bothered for you?”

“Fuck no, it wasn’t.” He crooked a big finger at her. “Climb on up here.”

You might escape everywhere else, but you can’t escape this. Me. I’m where you LIVE.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Tessa Bailey books are my ovary happy place. They’re pure guilty pleasure, dirty-talking-alpha-overload, awesome entertainment goodness. I’ll never get enough of her stories or her dirty talking heroes. Ever. Each book offers something unique while still delivering the signature dirty talk punch straight to the ovaries. I absolutely love it!

Ever since we first met Connor in Risking it All I’ve been chomping at the bit to get my hands on his story. What’s better than a bad boy criminal hiding a golden heart? Rhetorical question, clearly. Although this is the second book in the series, it’s also easily read as a standalone. However, I’d strongly recommend reading it in order since it will help you understand Connor and the backstory a little more.

At the end of Risking It All we saw a new police task force being formed by non-other than Derek from Protecting What’s His with the savvy criminals turned good guys. So what happens when you put a dishonorably discharged SEAL turned criminal and a pyromaniac with claustrophobia in the same room together?

Enough sexual chemistry to power a high rise in Chicago is what! The sparks fly immediately between these two. Erin is a sassy and smart mouthed little powerhouse that grabs the attention of the broody Connor when she first struts into the room. She may have her share of issues and they may be a mile long, but the woman has enough sass to overshadow that and give the illusion of a much stronger person than she really is on the inside.

Things between these two start off hot and heavy from the very beginning and they only get better as more time passes. And when I say better, I mean dirtier. So much dirtier.

Pet yourself, Erin. That’s what I would do. I’d stroke your pussy with my fingers through that silk. Nice and gentle. I’d give it a soft kiss and apologize for the fact that I’m about to destroy it.

And you surely won’t find this girl complaining.

Beyond anything else, this book was HAWT with a capital H. Connor and Erin absolutely burned up the pages together. I couldn’t get enough of them.

There were also a couple of other secondary characters that were introduced that also caught my attention right away. The master of disguises; Austin, and the super hacker; Polly. I love the idea of criminals turned right side of the law. It just gives this extra delicious spin on things that I enjoyed very much.

As for Connor and Erin? I loved them together. My only complaint was the big case of insta-lust. These two get together right off the bat and just get more hot and heavy. I like my books to have that little burn of sexual tension before the couple go at it. But hell, these two were so hot together, I could barely even find it in me to care.

I will kill for this pussy. Kill for the right to continue ownership of it. No if you understand how serious I am…
Now fuck me like you mean it.

The story was quick paced and entertaining; I read it in practically one sitting. As was the case with every other series this woman has written, I’m completely hooked on Crossing the Line and cannot wait for more. I hear Austin’s book is next, and if the teaser for it in this book is enough to go by, I can already tell it’s going to be a good one. Another winner from the super fabulous Tessa Bailey and a must read!

Thank you for your interest in my books! I’m Tessa and I live in the crazy, loud, overcrowded borough of Brooklyn, New York. I love it here. This city is a constant source of inspiration, which is why I’ve decided to set my most recent books in the Line of Duty Series here. I moved to New York when I was eighteen, the day after I graduated high school. Threw my suitcase in the back of a Chevrolet Cavalier and drove across the country to find my adventure. I’m still finding it, little by little.​Thank you for being a part of it.

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Cover Reveal & #Giveaway: ★The Espionage Effect★ by Kat and Stone Bastion

Media The Espionage Effect Cover

Release Date: July 14th, 2015
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Cover Designer: Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations
Do you like romance a little more erotic, edgy, darker, filled with action-adventure, toned with mystery, complete with a twist…or two?

If so…

Be sure to preorder your copy today!

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THE ESPIONAGE EFFECT is a standalone, full-length, action-adventure romance filled with plenty of the sexual tension, deep emotion, and scorching scenes the Bastions are known for.

This sexy action-adventure romance releases July 14th!

Synopsis

When desire sets you free…control is a matter of perception.

I’m Devin Hill.

Darkness taints my soul.

I’m suffocating. Drowning.

The sweet promise of air? Pure illusion.

Tested as a genius at age seven, I hide my emotions, become what they expect…bury my secrets. At nineteen, I trudge toward a predestined path, blinders on, heart safeguarded.

Until I dare to be wild.

Until Alec Marquez crashes into my world.

Until all that follows redefines everything I’ve ever known.

What happens when you stumble into a world of spies…and discover you belong there?

Teaser Pic The Espionage Effect - Sensual Kiss

Excerpt
“Do you remember their love?” An odd question, even to my ears, but I needed to know.

He didn’t reply right away, only briefly paused, then continued typing.

I didn’t release the photograph. Didn’t turn around. Entranced to a level I couldn’t resist or deny, I remained rooted to the spot on his bamboo office floor, clinging to a fragment of someone else’s joyous life, stuck in my admiration for those who’d been able to defy the choking darkness of the world for its breath of light.

The keyboard clicking ended entirely. But I barely noticed.

My heart pounded in my ears as I gripped the frame, thumbs slipped into place on the perfect silver surface. My fingerprints might as well have marred the perfect picture. Its image marked me. Indelibly.

How had one two-dimensional image branded my heart so fast?

On a shaky exhale, it hit me. It hadn’t. The delicate aging photograph hadn’t been the one thing, it had been the last thing, the proverbial straw on the camel’s back—the catalyst to the fractures spider-webbing through an armored façade I’d so carefully constructed finally shattering apart, blowing to dust the once impenetrable fortress walls I’d imprisoned myself within.

“I remember.” His voice slid over my senses, warm and soft. His heat came up behind me, wrapping around me as his strong hands ran down my arms, then covered my hands as they still clutched the frame.

For the first time in my life, I finally stood without my armor. Terrified, yet convinced I needed to take the leap of faith even if I died from the fall, I leaned back into his strength.

And he held me. As I began to shake, gripped the frame tighter for fear of dropping it, he simply held me.

“Their laughter is the greatest memory; I can still hear its echo in my head, feel its presence in the middle of the night.”

An aching pang thumped from behind my ribcage. That he would be lonely in the darkness too, seek the memory of what he’d once had to lull him to sleep.

I’d done the opposite. “I can’t remember mine.” My voice croaked. Hands trembling uncontrollably, I clattered the bottom metal corners of the frame down onto the perfectly polished surface before I dropped it. “Their love, I mean.” I sucked in a ragged breath as my arms drew against my middle. I hugged myself, trying to hold in the pain that I’d never let myself feel.

His arms followed, covering mine. A cramp burned at the base of my throat, and I closed my eyes, pinching back hot tears, afraid of losing myself to the scathing onslaught of feelings. As my breathing grew shallow, Alec tightened his hold, wordlessly providing his protection from the unseen threat.

Teaser Pic The Espionage Effect - Sculpted Back

Teaser Pic The Espionage Effect - Passion on Bed

Teaser Pic The Espionage Effect - Blindfold

 

 

About the Author

Shoe and Boot PhotoKat Bastion won several awards for her bestselling debut novel Forged in Dreams and Magick.

Kat and Stone Bastion’s bestselling first novel No Weddings and the No Weddings series were named Best of 2014 by multiple romance review blogs.

When not defining love and redemption through scribed words, they enjoy spending their time mountain biking and hiking in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

Be sure to follow Kat & Stone’s social media pages to keep informed:
Facebook | TalkToTheShoe Blog | Kat’s Twitter | Stone’s Twitter

 P.S. ~ Have you joined their new-release list?

One lucky subscriber will win an eBook of their choice from their backlist AND a $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card each time they send out a preorder or new-release announcement.

Sign up for their Email Subscription list here: http://www.katbastion.com/email-subscription/

(They solemnly promise to email only a handful of times a year to announce preorders and new releases.)

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#NewRelease Spotlight, Review & #GIVEAWAY: ★Shattered by You★ by @nashodarose

 It’s no secret that I absolutely LOVE all things Nashoda Rose. Heck, I practically sing the woman’s praises every single time I finish a new book by her. Why? Because with each new book she just continues to blow me away with her incredible characters, their heart wrenching stories and heart melting romances. Shattered By You is a bit different from anything she’s written before. It’s not the dark and angsty that readers that are familiar with her work would expect from her. This was more contemporary romance with a friends to lovers trope that broke my heart and melted it all at the same time. It’s packed full of feels and while it’s not the super steamy erotic romance that Nashoda has written for previous books in this series, it still has it’s side of sexy. I absolutely loved this book and it’s not often my picky self gets a a five star read. So when I do, of course I have to share it with you all.

Make sure you check out the excerpt below along with my 5 star review and don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of 2 ebooks of Shattered By You or a signed paperback of Shattered by You.

Shattered by You 
Series: Tear Asunder #3
Author: Nashoda Rose
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 22, 2015

What started out as a deal quickly became a friendship that conquered monsters.
I killed, but I escaped hell. Emotionless. Disconnected. Cold. A mannequin. It’s what I’d become in order to survive the years held in captivity. I was able to endure the abuse and devastating loss as long as I remained detached.

But he wouldn’t let me.

Crisis, the bass guitarist in my brother’s rock band, Tear Asunder. He’s cocky, rude, a total man-whore. But the rock star has far more beneath the surface of his inked skin, and he’s determined to make me laugh again.

He made me a “deal”, but really, it was blackmail.His terms were simple. Until his playful honesty became the building blocks to something unexpected. Something strong enough to pull me from the eye of the storm.

Because even though I escaped years of abuse, it didn’t mean I was free.

For mature audiences only. 

Shattered by You is written as a standalone, however, it is recommended you read Book 1 and 2 in the Tear Asunder series.

Words: 98,000

This is a Contemporary Romance.

I settled her against the wall, a ways down from the room, then rested one hand above her head the other lightly on her hip. “We’re headed to Avalanche. You want to come with us or we can drop you off at home?” Then I added, “Or stay here?”

“I swore to never drink, but they tasted good, not like the beer.”

I half-smiled. She was cute tipsy with her cheeks flushed and her voice softer, sexier.
She reached up and touched me right between my eyes, the pad of her finger caressing back and forth. “The crease is there. You only get that when you’re worried about something.” My breath stalled. “And when you’re angry, your voice gets all gravelly and deep.” I closed my eyes a second and swallowed. Her finger trailed down my nose off the tip to my lips and it took everything, I mean everything, I had to not draw her finger into my mouth. “I love it when you sing. I can’t figure out which is better, when you sing or laugh. Because when you laugh, it makes my chest all warm and tingly. It’s nice.”

She rested her head against the wall, arm lowering to her side. Oh, fuck. I was putty, fuckin’ melted putty that was a puddle on the floor at her feet.

“You flirted with me today. At school.”

It took me a second to answer because fuck if she wasn’t the most stunning woman I’d ever seen and I was crawling back up from the puddle. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

I couldn’t very well tell her because I wanted to fuck her so badly my cock hurt. So instead, I said, “Things need to change between us.”

By her frown, she didn’t get what I was saying and probably wouldn’t remember any of this in the morning.

“We’re friends.”

“Yeah, baby.”

“I like when you call me that.” She sighed then bit her lip. “I probably shouldn’t say that. It’s safer as friends.”

Fuck no. No, it wasn’t safer. Safer would be making her mine and kissing her, then scooping her up in my arms, taking her home and putting her in my bed, and then waking up to her in the morning. Kite was right. If we went home together, I’d fuck her if she’d let me. “Yeah. Whatever you want, Haven.”

Because that was what it came down to. What she wanted.

I’d been good. Fuck, I’d been an angel, but the angel was losing its fight against the devil who wanted to kiss her. Take her. Make her mine. But I was determined that she had to come to me. Her past was too screwed up to have it any other way. She may not have told me what happened, but we all knew it was really fuckin’ bad.

She was looking at me with parted lips, eyes a little droopy and if I pressed in a little closer, our lips would touch. Her warm breath drifted across my face like a sweet caress and I automatically leaned in closer.

Her breath hitched.

I felt it. Heard it.

“What’s your real name?”

“Vincent.”

We all know the definition of shattered: to break into pieces; to weaken, destroy; to damage, as by breaking or crushing.
But my story isn’t about being shattered.
It’s about surviving the pieces.

Every single time I think Nashoda Rose can’t possibly top the last book I read by her, she goes and blows me away. Her writing is poignant, sensual, and emotional; which make her books completely unputdownable. With each new book I read by her, the woman proves just how talented she is as an author because none of her characters sound the same. She gives you her signature writing style without giving you that feeling of “I’ve read this before with a different character name.” Her characters and their stories are so full of depth and I have to say that Crisis and Haven’s story was probably the most emotional one that I’ve read from her to date. Their story broke my heart and melded it back together piece by devastating piece. It’s quite a bit different from her other books because there’s no dark or grit (besides Haven’s memories). It’s an incredibly emotional romance that while isn’t heavy on the steam, it still gives the reader just enough to satisfy. I absolutely loved it.

If you haven’t yet read Overwhelmed by You, I highly recommend you do. While you may read it as a standalone, you will enjoy it much more read in order. Some story arcs get carried over in the next books and it will help truly understand each character’s background but in this case; Haven’s

Haven is Ream’s twin sister that he long thought died from a drug overdose. What he never knew was the hell that Haven lived through at the hands of monsters. Forced to surrender her body and her mind, lost to the haze of drugs that were forced on her; Haven was a shell of the girl that Ream once knew. Now back in his life after rescuing him from his own hell by killing the woman that was the cause of it all, Ream hopes that he’ll soon get his twin back, but that woman is gone. She’s too damaged; drowning in the demons of her past and the nightmares of what she’s survived.

My past would never have me again. Conquer. Destroy. Bleed the memories.

Crisis has always been the most lighthearted member of Tear Asunder. He’s had a happy upbringing with 2 amazing parents that adopted Ream at 17. He’s never suffered for female attention and he’s never denied himself a meaningless night spent between the thighs of a band groupie. But then a pair of haunted eyes change him and his life completely. He wants Haven but he knows he has to work for it. He knows she’s damaged but he doesn’t know the extent of it…no one does. But he’s willing to put in the work, even if it takes him months.

Don’t want to fuck a girl so damaged she can’t breathe without hurting.” He lowered his voice and it went all husky. “What I want is to help her learn to laugh again. And I want her trust.”

I adored Crisis in this book. While he may have come off as the unrepentant manwhore and jokester in the previous two books, there’s so much more to him. He systematically begins to wear down all of Haven’t walls. He’ll be her friend first if that’s what it takes; he’ll be there for her. He knows that they need that foundation before anything else because of her history.

Crisis was like a leech that kept sucking the blood out of me, but it wasn’t blood. It was my coldness. It was as if he was the heater turned on high and I was the block of ice that was slowly melting.

Don’t get me wrong, while this book was more emotional than erotic; Crisis definitely still had his edge. He was a dirty talking bad boy who at his core was also an incredible man.

The romance element while very much predominant throughout the entire book is a slow build. I loved that Nashoda stayed true to both of these characters and didn’t make things happen in a few weeks. It took them months to get to where they are and the reader gets to experience every devastating memory of the past and each swoon worthy memory of their present.

You didn’t break, Haven. Your pieces may have scattered, but they didn’t break.

I honestly think this may have been Nashoda’s best book to date.

Don’t get me wrong, while this may have been a touch less on the steam then the previous books in this series, that doesn’t mean it was any less hot.

Vincent. Please.”
His voice vibrated against me and I swear it was why he spoke. “Please won’t work this time, Ice. Melting is a slow process.

When these two finally get together, they burn up the pages.

But their road there was also a believable one. It wasn’t easy and filled with many bumps but the one constant that remained through it was Crisis. Did I mention just how much I adore him? Haven was an amazing heroine. For everything that she’s been through (and nothing will prepare you for just how devastating her past is) she still has this core of strength. Her pieces may be a little more broken than most, but she’s determined to put them back together again.

I don’t think I can name one thing I didn’t love about this book. Crisis and Haven’t story was everything I’d hoped it would be and yet so much more. Then there was also a peak into Kite, and holy mother of ovaries does Nashoda know how to tease you with a future character because GAH! A piercing (I’ll let you imagination full in where), a penchant for the kinky and rough sex, and perhaps even a Dominant streak? Oh mama! Sign me the hell on. I’m calling dibs now. I NEED his book.

If you haven’t read this incredible series yet, I can’t recommend it enough. The boys of Tear Asunder will ruin you for all other men, that much I can guaran-fuckin’-tee you. Trust.



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Spotlight & #Giveaway: ★Dogs Of Fire★ by @piper_davenport

If you’re not familiar with this author yet, now’s your chance. Piper Davenport has 3 sexy books in her Dogs of Fire (MC romance) series with the 4th one releasing end of June! Read the sexy excerpts and don’t forget to enter the GIVEAWAY below for a chance to win a SIGNED paperback ARC of Road To Passion, or any (1) ebook from Piper’s backlist (winner’s choice)

THE DOGS OF FIRE SERIES

Road to Passion 
Author: Piper Davenport
Releasing: June 30, 2015

Logan ‘Mack’ Reed loves women. Really loves women. He’s an equal opportunity player, happy to oblige just about anyone looking for a good time, but when a beautiful red-headed pixie walks into his club, he finds himself unable to think of anyone but her.Darien Aherne and her sister have lost both of their parents, but create a comfortable life for themselves. Darien, however, is sheltered and overly curious, which is a dangerous combination. When Darien breaks away from the protective bubble her sister has created, she finds herself falling for a man who could break her.

When the chance of a lifetime pulls Darien into a provocative world she has no experience in, will she trust Mack enough to tell him all of her secrets?

Will he be able to protect her, even from herself?

 READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

Road to Desire (Dogs of Fire MC #1)

Danielle Harris is the daughter of an overprotective police chief and has led a sheltered life. As a kindergarten teacher, she’s as far removed from the world of Harleys and bikers as you could get, but when she’s rescued by the sexy and dangerous Austin Carver, her life is changed forever.

Although Austin ‘Booker’ Carver is enamored by the innocent Dani, he tries to keep the police chief’s daughter at arm’s length. But when a threat is made from an unexpected source, he finds himself falling hard and fast for the only woman who can tame his wild heart.Will Booker be able to find the source of the threat before it’s too late?

Will Dani finally give her heart to a man who’s everything she’s been warned about?


Road to Redemption (Dogs of Fire MC #2)

Alex ‘Hawk’ James has a sordid and violent past, one that, in part, leaves him the single father of a little girl. His only solace is the world he’s made within the Dogs of Fire Motorcycle Club.

Payton Williams has everything under control. Her neat little world is as she has made it and she’s happy with the life she’s leading. But when a chance encounter with a gorgeous biker upends her tidy plans, she finds herself confronting things she’d been happy to gloss over… until now.

Will Hawk and Payton’s different worlds collide in chaos, or will they come together and heal the wounds of the past?

Will a threat from someone out of Hawk’s past destroy the trust he and Payton are building?

 

Road to Absolution (Dogs of Fire MC #3)


Carter ‘Ace’ Quinn has spent his life running from the rage caused by a broken heart. After several tours in the Air Force, and continued missions as a para-jumper, he spends his down time within the Dogs of Fire Motorcycle Club.

Cassidy Dennis is living with a choice she made years ago that lost her the love of her life but gained her something more precious. However, she misses her best friend and longs for the love they’d been building.

When a chance meeting brings the two together, will they put aside their hurts and forgive each other?

Will the jealousies of outsiders force the two apart?

Find Piper on:


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Spotlight & #Giveaway: ★ Show Me How★ by Anna Brooks

It’s always great when I’m able to spotlight an author that some may not be familiar yet and Anna Brooks had first caught my eye when she released Make Me Forget. She just recently released her second book in the It’s Kind Of Personal series and I’m so excited to be able to have her on the blog today. Read below for an excerpt from Show me How and don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win an ebook of both Show Me How and Make Me Forget!

Show Me How 
Author: Anna Brooks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 19, 2015

One choice can ruin everything…


When a stop at a shady motel puts Brandon Parker face to face with his best friend, Mary, for the first time in over a decade, he almost didn’t believe it. He’d never stopped searching for her, but even a career in law enforcement couldn’t help him find a woman who wanted to stay invisible.


When Mary Benson ran away at eighteen, she did it with good reason. A man was in the hospital because of her, and the people she loved were in danger. She had to leave to keep them safe. Mary’s guilt was her consolation. She’d lived with her decisions and accepted the hand dealt to her.

But Brandon was about to shuffle the deck in a way she never expected. One thing was for sure, he thought she’d be happy to see him… and he’d never been more wrong about anything in his life.

“Fuck,” he whispers. Unbuckling his seat belt, he turns to me. “I don’t know what the hell to do here, Mary. I don’t want to scare you away, but I don’t want to let you out of my sight. Part of me wants to lock you in a room and fuck the guilt right out of you. And the other wants to throw you over my knee and punish you for what you put me through. And yet another part wants to pull you over to me right now and watch as you ride me. But I’m afraid if I do any or all of those things, I’ll fuck up any chance I have to keep you.”

His rough words shock me for a second, but then I realize what he’s really saying.

“I’m not leaving.”

I reach up, grab the back of his head, and pull him toward me. His fingers brush a few stray hairs off my face and he leans down to press his lips on my forehead. My eyes close and my hand tightens on his head. Any touch from him makes me crazy; it consumes me. All the years of trying to remember don’t do it justice. Open mouth kisses trail down, and he kisses my bottom lip, then my top, before pulling back and resting his forehead on mine.

DON’T MISS THE FIRST BOOK IN THIS SERIES

One lie can destroy everything…

After enduring years of manipulation and an immeasurable amount of loss, Charlotte Kelly makes one last ditch effort to change her life and try to find happiness again. She knows she’ll see him when she moves back to Wisconsin. She’s planning on it, the connection she still feels to him after all these years is undeniable. But one lie tore them apart years ago, and she’s afraid some mistakes can’t be forgiven.


Travis Parker doesn’t like liars. When he was younger, lies burned him in a bad way. It only took one summer with Charlotte’s innocence to know that she was it for him. When he thought he finally had something to look forward to, one misguided lie shattered everything he believed. Now, Char’s back, but she’s not the same girl he once knew.

Show Me How and Make Me Forget ebooks
Ebooks will be sent directly to winner’s kindle

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Cover Reveal & #Giveaway: ★Reclaim Me★ by @AnnMarie_Walker and @Amy_KRogers.

Coming Soon to Your E-Reader…..
The Highly Anticipated conclusion of the Chasing Fire Series
RECLAIM ME
Series: Chasing Fire #3
Authors: Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers
Release Date: October 21st, 2015
Berkley Intermix

As the heart-pounding Chasing Fire trilogy concludes, a dangerous entanglement leaves Hudson and Allie wondering how much they’re willing to risk for the love they can’t live without…

There’s almost nothing Alessandra Sinclair wouldn’t do for Hudson Chase. He was her first love, and she’s determined that he’ll be her last. But when the terrible truth Hudson has been hiding comes to light, Allie finds herself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a man from her past who’s determined to use what he knows to ruin Hudson. Now, the only way to save the man she loves may be to lose him forever…

Hudson has always known that the secrets he keeps could be his downfall, but he never expected them to put Allie’s life in danger as well. It’s time for him to come clean–before everything he’s ever wanted is destroyed…

Includes previews of REMIND ME and RELEASE ME, the first two books of the Chasing Fire trilogy.

Praise for the Chasing Fire trilogy

“Exceptional… Seriously sexy and sinfully steamy. Can’t wait for more from this writing duo!”–New York Times bestselling author Tara Sue Me

“Walker and Rogers strike the perfect balance between blistering physical desire and heartfelt connections…”–RT Book Review


Pre-Order Now

Though thousands of miles apart, Ann Marie Walker and Amy K. Rogers are in constant contact, plotting story lines and chatting about their love of alpha males, lemon drop martinis and British supermodel, David Gandy. You can find them on twitter as @AnnMarie_Walker and @Amy_KRogers. 
Amy K. Rogers
Ann Marie Walker

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Releasing July 21st, 2015
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