Review & Excerpt: The Thing About Love by @juljames

April 18, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

THE THING ABOUT LOVE
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Julie James
Release Date: April 18, 2017

Two undercover FBI agents can hide who they are from everyone but each other in the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly One Summer.

FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a past. The former lawyer and cocky Army ranger clashed during their training at Quantico, gladly going their separate ways after graduating from the Academy. Six years later, the last thing either of them expects is to run into each other again–assigned to work as partners in a high-profile undercover sting.

For both of them, being paired with a former rival couldn’t come at a worse time. Recently divorced from a Hollywood producer and looking for a fresh start, Jessica is eager to prove herself at her new field office. And John is just one case away from his dream assignment to the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team. In order to nail a corrupt Florida politician, they’ll have to find a way to work as a team–a task that becomes even trickier when they’re forced to hole up at a romantic, beachfront resort as part of the investigation. Suddenly, the heat behind their nonstop sparring threatens to make the job a whole lot more complicated. . .

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Steeling himself, John turned around and smiled as Jessica approached. “Yes, Agent Harlow. How can I be of service?”In response to his dry tone, she threw him a glare so cold it could’ve frozen all nine circles of Dante’s Hell. Fittingly, just nine of the many places he would rather be than stuck working with her on this investigation.

“Look, I’m not thrilled about this, either.” Keeping her voice low, she came to a stop next to him at the elevator bank. “I thought you were supposed to be on the Hostage Rescue Team already.”

“And I thought you were supposed to be in L.A.”

There was a quick flash in her eyes before she shrugged off his question. “Change of plans.”

The elevator arrived at their floor, and they both stepped inside. She hit the button for the seventh floor, where the public corruption squad was located. Standing on the opposite side, he pressed the button for floor five.

They faced off as the doors shut. She folded her arms across her chest and studied him with those crystalline blue eyes that could so cleverly mask her emotions.

As he knew well.

“We’re going to have to figure this out,” she said. “We’re supposed to be business partners in this.”

Thank you, yes, being a professional, he was aware of that. He took a step closer. “It’s called “undercover” work, Harlow. If I can pretend to be a gun-buying, murder-for-hire thug, I think I can handle playing some rich investor-type who wants to skirt a few measly zoning laws.” Even a rich investor-type who was apparently masochistic enough to get in bed with the likes of her.

Professionally-speaking.

“Measly zoning laws?” she repeated.

Ooh, now he’d gone and pissed her off. How nice it was, really, that they could pick up like this, right where they’d left off.

She drew in closer, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. He was over a foot taller than her, although he noticed that she was heightening a bit with those expensive-looking three-inch heels she wore.

“Our target in this investigation is the mayor of the thirteenth largest city in the United States. That’s a pretty big deal in my book.” She gestured to his facial scruff and hair. “And while I appreciate that this . . . Sons of Anarchy motif you’ve got going might ingratiate yourself with the gun-buying, murder-for-hire, organized-crime thugs of the world, that’s not quite going to fly with this sting operation.”

“’Thirteenth largest city in the United States?’” he scoffed. “Just how many hours did you spend reviewing the case files last night?”

She smiled sweetly as the elevator arrived at her floor. “Enough to get the jump on you.”

Then the doors sprang open, and she gave him a friendly wave, once again stepping into the role of Ms. Congeniality. “So glad we got to catch up like this, Agent Shepherd. We’ll talk again soon.”

He watched her stride confidently down the hallway as the elevator doors closed between them.

Enough to get the jump on you.

Not for long, sweetheart.

Time for him to get cracking on that case file.

Nearly fifteen thousand special agents in the FBI, spread throughout the United States in fifty-six field offices, and she had to show up in Chicago for what was quite possibly his last undercover assignment. As his new partner.


God but I love this author. She writes stories that are funny, swoony, full of witty banter and humor, and they just keeps getting better and better! First of all, if you haven’t read anything by her yet, you need to rectify it immediately by reading her FBI/US Attorney series. One, because it’s AMAZING. And two, because you’ll definitely appreciate a few of the cameos in this book. But let’s get back to the matter at hand; all of the awesome that was this book.

So let’s see? We already know that enemies to lovers is my catnip, and no one seems to write it better than Julie James.

In response to his dry tone, she threw him a glare so cold it could’ve frozen all nine circles of Dante’s Hell. Fittingly, just nine of the many places he would rather be than stuck working with her on this investigation.


What makes it good is not just the humor interlaced flawlessly throughout the story, but the wit and sarcasm. Her characters are perfectly balanced and equals of each other. I love how James has a knack for writing incredibly endearing and strong female leads. They’re just the right amount of witty sarcasm and strength and Jessica Harlow was no exception. After her dedication to her job cost her her marriage, she’s looking to dive in further into her work and forget men. She doesn’t need them. She certainly doesn’t need an incredibly cocky, smart mouthed, Thor lookalike that made her months at Quantico training a living hell. Too bad it appears that he’s her new partner for an undercover sting and she’s stuck with him. He may know how to start a fire with two sticks and the ass end of a lightning bug, but he’s a royal pain in her butt and she won’t let him forget it. Digs and sarcasm galore, you guys!

John Shepher is on the track to make the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team. He has one final assignment before he finds out, and it may be the longest assignment of his life because his new partner is as equally infuriating as she is sexy. The sparks flew between them when they first met but a simply misunderstanding of intentions turned them into rivals. Now they’re older, at a different point in their lives, but the spark hasn’t diminished even a little.

Feeling her body tremble, he leaned down and reached between her legs, the words pouring out of him in a low, possessive growl. “I love when you’re on the edge like this. You’re so goddamn sweet. So mine.”

The chemistry between theses two was through the roof hot. What I especially loved was how balanced to each other they both were. John didn’t come charging in and unermine Jessica’s ability as an agent. She was fully capable and he knew it. They were perfect equals and that’s so rare to find in today’s romance.

As per usual James fashion there was plenty of sexual tension and humor to keep you glued to the pages. The Thing About Love was a laugh out loud, swoon till you melt, keep you turning the pages well into the night sort of read. I adored it. I simply adored it. I will never get enough of this author and I can’t recommend her enough if you love smart contemporary romance with swoony heroes and capable, strong heroines. It was perfection!

Okay,” he repeated. She knew that look. “You’re going to kiss me, aren’t you?” He pretended to consider this. “Well, with all the emotions flying around, it just feels … expected.”

MEET JULIE JAMES

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Review Blitz: Twist by Kylie Scott

April 14, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

TWIST
Series: Dive Bar, #2
Author: Kylie Scott
On Sale: April 11, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

 

From New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott comes the second sizzling stand-alone novel in the Dive Bar series!

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot bearded bartender Joe Collins only intends to log into his account and shut it down.

Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, fascinating, and pretty much everything he’s been looking for in a woman—except that she lives across the country.

Soon they’re emailing up a storm and telling each other their deepest, darkest secrets…except the one that really matters.

When Alex pays Joe a surprise visit, however, they both discover that when it comes to love, it’s always better with a twist.

 

 

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“Worst internet friend ever…”

When Joe Collins answered an email from a certain woman named Alex Parks using his brother’s dating profile, he never thought anything would come of it. And yet many months later, they’re still communicating and unbeknownst to him, she’s coming to Idaho to meet him in person. There’s one huge problem though. Alex thought she was talking to Eric, Joe’s brother who owned the profile. So imagine her surprise when she goes to Dive Bar and sees the guy she’s been pouring her heart out to, only to find out he doesn’t know her.

“Because the same as any man, women were entitled to a fuss-free sex life should they so choose. And it didn’t make us sluts, or whores, or any of the other nasty, misogynistic, double-standard bullshit that got thrown a woman’s way when she didn’t fit with the traditional ideals of who and what a female should be.”

There’s something about Kylie Scott’s heroines that really appeal to me, and Alex is no exception. She’s beautiful, funny, exasperating but also totally real and adorable. Her character just comes to life in these pages and I just enjoyed reading her thoughts no matter how crazy and sometimes exasperating it is.

But there’s more to like about Twist aside from Alex. I mean, hello? Joe Collins is H-O-T and good with his hands. Despite the initial douchecanoe move of letting Alex go on believing he’s someone else and totally flaking out on meeting her many times, he got his act together rather quickly.

“Because the same as any man, women were entitled to a fuss-free sex life should they so choose. And it didn’t make us sluts, or whores, or any of the other nasty, misogynistic, double-standard bullshit that got thrown a woman’s way when she didn’t fit with the traditional ideals of who and what a female should be.”

Despite Joe’s obvious enthusiasm for Alex’s company, their road to HEA hit some major bumps along the way. And I just loved it. I loved the drama, the unpredictability. I didn’t even mind it too much when these characters just became oblivious to logic because their feelings were involved. And there were a lot of FEELINGS…from Joe’s guilt to Alex’s jealousy to mine. Yes, mine. I wanted to step into the book and hit them both upside in the head. I felt like doing that sometimes. But ugh, I love their characters that it felt natural for me to root for them even though they annoyed me at one point because it was all worth it in the end.

My only teeny-tiny complaint is that Joe should have made the big gesture near the end!!! Although I understood where he’s coming from but still…

Anyway, that’s just a very minor blip to an another enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to more Dive Bar shenanigans in the future especially with Eric. Also, can we have a Pat and Nell novella? I really want to know more about them. We only get to see their story through other characters’ eyes. I want them to tell it themselves.

“No more hiding or denying, sticking to the sidelines of life. It was my time to step forward and be brave. When it came to Joe Collins, I was more than ready to say yes.”

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/

 

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Review: Twist by Kylie Scott

April 10, 2017 by ·

TWIST
Series: Dive Bar #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Author: Kylie Scott
Release Date: April 11, 2017

From New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott comes the second sizzling stand-alone novel in the Dive Bar series!

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot, bearded, bartender extraordinaire, Joe Collins, only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, friendly, and pretty much everything he’s been looking for in a woman. And in no time at all they’re emailing up a storm, telling each other their deepest darkest secrets… apart from the one that really matters.

And when it comes to love, serving it straight up works better than with a twist.

 

AMAZON | iBOOKS

My starved libido was well beyond the rough-and-tumble stage. No more hiding or denying, sticking to the sidelines of life. It was my time to step forward and be brave. When it came to Joe Collins, I was more than ready to say yes.

It’s official. Kylie Scott has another winning series. And here I thought nothing will ever beat her Stage Dive series. Well, move over Mal, because I have another blonde beast that I’m crushing on. He’s big, he’s bearded, he’s broody, and he makes my ovaries sing. Joe. *Happy sigh*

His golden mane flowed down over his wide shoulders, a beard covering the bottom half of his face. I guess it kept him warm in the winter, but seriously. Who needed that much hair?

With her signature witty banter and humor, Kylie Scott delvers another swoony and addicting read that will have readers hooked from cover to cover. Just when I thought I loved Vaughan, in comes Joe with his silent intensity and beard, and totally wins me over. Alex Parks fared no better. She was a goner at first sarcasm.

Alex has never had a serious relationship. As a matter of fact, just the thought of commitment gives her hives. Boyfriend? No thanks. They’ll only lie and betray you. A hot one night stand to scratch an itch? Sign her up! But then she meets a man on a dating site that makes her rethink her stance. She’s never met him, but their email exchanges are more intimate then she’s ever been with any other. When he stop responding to her emails, she figures why not surprise him…only to get the surprise of a lifetime. Because, Eric, the man she thought she was talking with, has no idea who she is. And the man that she’s actually been spilling her guts to is his brother, Joe.

What begins as a trade of snark and sarcasm, soon turns into an unlikely friendship, that soon turns into something much more and something neither of them expected.

Joe, the man formerly known as just my friend, was some kind of fucking sex god.

Joe was such a refreshing change of pace. This is not a player or a cocky alphahole. This man exudes stability and dependability. He’s sweet, supportive, hard working, and he knows exactly how to break down all of Alex’s walls. He does it so unassumingly too, that she never sees it coming.

Kylie Scott created such multilayered characters with these two. I adored Alex and all her quirks. She wasn’t perfect and she knew her faults, but she owned them. I loved her friendship with her best friend and the way they had each other’s back. I also loved Joe’s quiet intensity. He wasn’t a man of many words, but the few that he did have were always meaningful and they never failed to affect Alex on every level.

Butterflies didn’t cover it. There were pterodactyls inside my stomach, swooping and screeching and flying around. Not even they, however, could compete with the throbbing ache in my pussy.

Twist is a story that isn’t all wit, humor and steam. There’s also an serious undercurrent to it that I absolutely adored. It dips into acceptance and strength and perserverence. It really delves deep into embracing our differences and moving past the cruelty of others. It was such an emotional part of the book for me to read and I seriously love that Kylie wove that into the story.

As for the romance? Well you already know that I loved it. I also loved catching up with the rest of the gang. If it’s possible, I can dare say that even Eric is starting to grow on me. Which is good, considering his book is next. I can’t wait to meet the woman that will bring this manwhore to his knees.

I’m also willing to beg for a book for Nell. Not that the part we got for her wasn’t satisfying, but I’d seriously kill for more.

But ultimate, Twist was another winner for me. I loved it just as much as the first book and can’t recommend it enough for readers that love their romance with a splash of witty humor.

Once my guard was down, due to complete and utter exhaustion, Joe had cuddled me. It was terrible, disgusting. Fingers caressing me, lips pressing soft kisses to my shoulder and the back of my neck. Normally I’d never allow it, but it felt so good.

START THE SERIES WITH DIRTY!AMAZON | GOODREADS | MY REVIEW

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New Release & Review: Incentive by @pamgodwinbooks

March 23, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

INCENTIVE
Series: Infidelity World
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: Pam Godwin
Release Date: March 23, 2017

Desperate men do desperate things.

When Decker Gabrielli hits rock bottom, he accepts a job as a hired companion at Infidelity.

Surrendering a year of his life to a woman he’s never met might be the worst idea ever. But money, prestige, and sex are powerful incentives. That is, until the job becomes more than a contractual agreement.

Hard limits are breached, panties are shredded, and rules are broken.

In the end, his secret to getting ahead is…her.

AMAZON

He’s a feeling I’ve never felt. An emotion without limits. An agreement that doesn’t expire. He’s the only place I want to be.

Whether it’s a suspenseful dark romance or an erotically charged contemporary romance, Pam Godwin never disappoints with delivering one unputdownable read. Incentive was a deeply emotional, poignant, and absolutely, positively toe curling. It was a delicious combination of feeling and eroticism with characters that will claw their way into your heart and stay there. Like every other book I’ve read by this incredibly talented author, it won’t be one I ever forget. I admire her skill in creating unique, broken and endearing characters that are unlike any I’ve read before.

Whatever your incentive is—”
“You.” I shove my face in hers. “Your smile. Your body. Rigorous, mutually-pleasurable, savage sex. You are my incentive.”

What would you do when you’re at the end of your rope and staring at rock bottom without a hope to claw your way back up? Would you be desperate enough to agree to a contract giving a year of your life to a person you haven’t met if the price is high enough? Decker Gabrielli never thought he’d be agreeing to a a laughable proposal that would tie him to a faceless and nameless woman for a year. But after losing everything and finding himself slinging drinks at a hole in the wall bar, his last straw is getting fired for turning down his boss’s sexual advances. When a bar patron offers him a way out, he wants to say no, but the incentive proves to be too much to deny. Then he realizes that the one that owns his contract is not some desperate woman seeking attention she couldn’t find elsewhere but a stunning creature with a closet full of baggage that brings out all his protective instincts. He wants her immediately. She challenges him, she makes him chase her, and she intrigues him enough to want to break down all her walls and fight for her heart.

Laynee is hollywood royalty. But beneath the gorgeous exterior are dark secrets that she’s buried deep and won’t allow anyone to find. A contract for a relationship may be a cold way of doing things, but it’s the only thing guaranteed to protect her heart and her past. A man contractually obligated to be with her with no risk of something deeper. But the last thing she saw coming was a man like Decker.

The petrified excitement he instills in me makes my thighs wet. The deep confidence in his timbre tempts me to beg to be used and owned. His mere presence urges me to rush toward the same snare that has caught me again and again.

Set in Aleatha Romig’s Infidelity world, this sizzling erotic romance brought the perfect blend of feels and sexy in a way that only Pam can deliver.

Both of these characters are broken in their own way, but together they find the sort of healing neither thought themselves capable of. It was sizzling hot, it was deeply emotional, and it was all too satisfying. I devoured this book from cover to cover and loved every page. If you’ve been wanting to try this author but was hesitant to start with her darker books, this is the perfect one to dip your toes in with. But don’t think it’s a walk in the park either. It will have you squirming in places. Decker is a man that will make ovaries quiver with his presence alone. And when he opens that dirty mouth of his? FORGET ABOUT IT! So. Good.

He tastes like recklessness, smells like leather and testosterone, and feels like a whipping storm of passion. I’ve never been with a man so emotionally and vehemently expressive with his body.

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Review: Black Sheep (Dark Desires book 2) by @ZCoxBooks

March 17, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

BLACK SHEEP
Series: Dark Desires #2
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: Zara Cox
Release Date: March 14, 2017

In a family of cold-hearted black sheep, 
I, Axel Rutherford, am the blackest.

My father has hated me since the day I was born. The feeling was mutual. In the shady underworld that was my legacy, Cleo McCarthy became my light. She was beautiful, passionate, and my whole world. So naturally my father had to destroy us. First he sent me away. Next he claimed Cleo as his own. But now I’ve returned, and nothing will stop me from taking back everything that is rightfully mine.

He was the love of my life – when my life was still my own.

We were young enough to believe we would last forever, Axel and I. But neither of us realized how cruel life – and our families – could be. Now I’m trapped in a gilded cage: desired by Axel, who must never know the full truth, and controlled by his father, who would sooner see me dead than free. And I wouldn’t even care, except that it’s no longer only my life at stake

AMAZON | iBOOKS

In a family of cold-hearted black sheep, I, Axel Rutherford, am the blackest. Abundantly despised by my three brothers, actively hated by my father. She was the golden princess. Put on earth to test every single one of my hardened edges. And I happily burned away every last one for her.

If I said that I was an insta-fan of this author after I finished I, Porn Star, this book solidified it. Damn. Just damn. Zara Cox knows how to weave one complex and erotic tale that’s equally spine tingling and toe curling. It’s addicting and twisty and downright intense.

Her eyes tell me she hates me. Her body beckons me with the promise of transcendental lust.

If you like a good second chance romance with a healthy dose of hate lust mixed in to blur the edges, all wrapped in a story with dark undertones and enough twists and suspense to keep you glued to the pages from start to finish, you’ve found your next read.

Whatever twisted roles fate may have chosen to star us in, the savage power of our mutual feelings for each other will never diminish.

Being born to a cruel and abusive father intent on hardening his sons enough to help run his mafia empire has hardened Axel. He’s the black sheep of the family, the son that wants nothing of his father; not his name and not his infamy in the dark underbelly of organized crime. He dreams of escaping the life with the only person that makes his heart beat and gives him hope. But that hope gets ripped away from him with a jarring betrayal that now years later still continues to haunt him. Losing everything and the one person he always thought he could trust is enough to change a man and change the course of his life forever. Now Axel lives and breathes vengeance. His father will pay, and if the woman that’s now back in his life after costing him everything is the pawn that he’ll have to use in this brutal game, so be it.

Once upon a time, when my addled state didn’t know better, I stupidly believed the phenomenon of our gazes connecting had the power to stop the world from spinning. That view has altered significantly.

As a young girl, Cleo loved Axel with everything she was worth. He was her everything…until he wasn’t. Forced back into his orbit by an arrangement in which she’s nothing but a puppet on a string of a cruel master that dangles the one thing she wants in exchange for her cooperation isn’t what she wants, but she’ll do it. Even if it forces her to own up that while she hates the man he is now and doesn’t see a remainder of the boy she once loved in him, the carnal effect his mere presence has on her hasn’t changed even a little.

You may have condemned my decayed soul and closed your heart to me, but in some respects, nothing has changed. Your body will always sing the perfect tune for me.”

Black Sheep delivers on another twisty story full of betrayal and revenge. Zara Cox is truly a master of her craft and I’m absolutely captivated by her writing style and the characters she creates. I couldn’t put this book down for even a second. I walked the edge between hating and loving Axel. But between all the secrets and twists that kept unearthing, my mind was too busy spinning to focus on any singular emotion.

She never needed a gentle knight in shining armor. So I become her marauder.

Axel was perfection. He was a dirty talking, angsty, domineering and deliciously sexy perfection. My heart broke for him and what he’d been through. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for all the secrets to finally get revealed so the puzzle pieces can click together. And let me just tell you, when they did? Mind. Blowing. Yet another addicting installment in what’s now become a favorite series of mine. I absolutely can’t wait for more!

I want to roar with rage. I want to fuck until I explode into a million pieces. This is what she does to me. What she’s always done.

Each book in the Dark Desires series is a standalone in an interconnecting world. So if you’ve read the first book, you’ll appreciate Quinn’s cameo in this one 🙂

DON’T MISS THE FIST BOOK IN THIS SIZZLING SERIES!

BEAUTIFUL LIAR (Previously published as I, Porn Star)

I may be Quinn Blackwood, occasional user of prescribed meds to keep the demons in check, who moonlights as Q, porn star to an exclusive few who pay millions for my work. And I may be an unhinged asshole with serious daddy issues. But no one said I wasn’t a giver.

PURCHASE | READ MY REVIEW

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Review: Beautiful Liar by @ZCoxBooks

March 11, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

BEAUTIFUL LIAR (Previously published as I, Porn Star)
Series: Dark Desires, #1
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: Zara Cox
Release Date: September 13, 2016

“An exotically filthy, devastatingly beautiful story that will captivate and tease you long after the book is finished.” -Audrey Carlan, New York Times bestselling author
Previously published as I, Porn Star.

People call me many things: CEO, billionaire, bastard. Q.

I love women. I love sex. I love money. I love hot, wild nights with no promise of a future, because a future is one thing I don’t have. I’m twenty-eight years old. I won’t live to see thirty, and I don’t care. Or I didn’t, until her.

Nobody plans for a life like this. Some of us just end up here.

They call me Lucky, though luck has never been on my side. Before I met Q, my life was a big, twisted mess. Never enough money, never anyone to trust. No way out. With Q, the shame and fear disappear. Instead I feel pure pleasure, and that’s something I’ve never had before. But if what I’ve just learned is true, we’d better enjoy every second together while we can…before our time runs out.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

The hate, the vengeance and sex are instruments that oil my existence and keep my compass true.

HOLY. SHIT.

I did NOT see this book coming. I’m so happy it got a title and cover change because the old one didn’t do it justice AT ALL. I’m serious. If you think this is yet another run of the mill smut filled romance read, think again. The writing. The story. It was hauntingly captivating. I’m absolutely blown away and got myself a new author to stalk.

I may be Quinn Blackwood, occasional user of prescribed meds to keep the demons in check, who moonlights as Q, porn star to an exclusive few who pay millions for my work. And I may be an unhinged asshole with serious daddy issues. But no one said I wasn’t a giver.

Q is a man of wealth and power. He’s a man skirting the fine edge of revenge and depravity and he makes no excuses or apologies. Every single move is calculated to achieve his end goal. His revenge. To right a wrong of years past, to punish those responsible, even if he doesn’t survive to bask in the glory of the fallout. It’s not time to make his most calculated move yet. Everything he’s been doing has been leading up to this…his grand plan. And the key to it is a woman with haunted eyes and a closet full of skeletons who may be hiding more baggage then even him. Lucky.

I want to take a scalpel to all her secrets, bleed them and soil my hands with the viscera. I also want to fuck her until her body gives out. Right in this moment, I’m not sure what I want more.

The writing in this story is absolute perfection. It’s haunting and lyrical. The characters are so well developed, they practically have an energy that you can feel through the pages. The sheer power of Q’s presence is enough to captivate even the most cynical reader.

Quinn Blackwood’s eyes are soulless pools. Staring into them is like staring into a bottomless abyss in the middle of a post-apocalyptic nightmare.

Every word has a purpose. Every description leading to a new revelation. It was dark and hypnotic. Erotic and captivating. I was glued to every single page, practically salivating for more.

While Q was an erotic enigma full of sex appeal and secrets, Lucky was an interesting blend of cracked glass about to shatter but with a hidden steel reinforcement. This is a woman that survived her own hell and will do anything to escape it…even sell her body and her dignity for a million dollars.

We’re caught in a cycle of wrath and cruelty and sex. He’s unleashed his darkness, and I’m the sex-hypnotized recipient of all of it. Even after he roars his climax, he keeps going, keeps flaying me.

A voice cleverly disguised by state of the art technology and a face hidden behind a steel mask is all she sees of Q. The rest is a veil of blindfolds, mind games, and sex so mind-blowing that she struggles to hold on to the fact that none of it is real…and it doesn’t take long for the lines to begin to blur… for both of them.

God, I want to fuck you till you break. I may not be the right person to put you back together, but I want to do it anyway.”

This story is so much more than a romance. It’s a story of survival and revenge. It’s a sizzling romance wrapped around a captivating mystery. It’s a splash of dark and suspense. And while the book is long, the pacing was perfect.

If you’re looking for a new author to check out and a read that’s totally different from the norm, this is the one book I can’t recommend enough. Zara Cox now has a forever fan in this girl. I will gleefully pick up anything this woman writes. No questions asked. She’s a talent that I wish I discovered sooner and am kicking myself for not reading this book when it first hit my radar. But better late then never, if you ask me.

Maybe my cracks aren’t so bad. Maybe the chasm isn’t as deep as I thought. Maybe she’ll take the leap with me. Maybe with her, I’ll survive the fall. Maybe she’ll even save me. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe…it’s too late.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to immediately dive into book 2!

Pre-Order BLACK SHEEP, book 2 in this sizzling series releasing March 14!

In a family of cold-hearted black sheep, 

I, Axel Rutherford, am the blackest.
My father has hated me since the day I was born. The feeling was mutual. In the shady underworld that was my legacy, Cleo McCarthy became my light. She was beautiful, passionate, and my whole world. So naturally my father had to destroy us. First he sent me away. Next he claimed Cleo as his own. But now I’ve returned, and nothing will stop me from taking back everything that is rightfully mine.

He was the love of my life – when my life was still my own.
We were young enough to believe we would last forever, Axel and I. But neither of us realized how cruel life – and our families – could be. Now I’m trapped in a gilded cage: desired by Axel, who must never know the full truth, and controlled by his father, who would sooner see me dead than free. And I wouldn’t even care, except that it’s no longer only my life at stake.

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Jennifer’s Review & Giveaway: Every Little Thing by @AuthorSamYoung

March 10, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

EVERY LITTLE THING
Series: Hart’s Boardwalk #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Samantha Young
Release Date: March 7, 2017

Hartwell, Delaware—the perfect place to get away from it all, and find what you never knew you needed…

Bailey Hartwell has many reasons to feel content—her successful business, a close circle of friends, and her steady boyfriend…even if their romance feels staid after ten years without a serious commitment. The only challenge in her life comes in the form of sexy businessman Vaughn Tremaine. She thinks the ex-New Yorker acts superior and that he considers her a small-town nobody. But when Bailey’s blindsided by a betrayal, she’s shocked to discover Vaughn is actually a decent guy.

Vaughn admires Bailey’s free spirit, independence, and loyalty. As his passion for her has grown, his antagonism toward her has only worsened. Every little thing Bailey does seduces him. But when Vaughn’s painful emotional past makes him walk away in fear he will hurt her, it opens an old wound in Bailey, and she uncharacteristically retreats.

Once Vaughn begins to realize he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he has no choice but to fight like he’s never fought before to convince Bailey that the love they’ve found together only comes around once in a lifetime.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

What is it about Samantha Young’s books??!!! What is it that keeps me coming back for more? I’m usually not a fan of small-town books, but this series has me hooked to this little town and these characters.
à la Mode St. » fashion

One ice, one fire, but both stubborn as hell.

à la Mode St. » fashionVaugh is the suit who strolled into the small town and built a giant hotel. And Bailey is the Princess of the small town who hates everything he stands for. We see the animosity between these two in the first book and continues, deliciously, into their book.

Bailey is the owner of the inn on the boardwalk. She is the glue that helps keep the town running. I love this small town where everyone knows everyone (even though I would hate to live somewhere like this in real life. Lol). I love the side characters and group of girls (it’s very similar to a Kristen Ashley posse. Love).

In the first book, Bailey has a long-term boyfriend (which is why I didn’t think Vaughn would end up with her), but he cheats on her at the beginning of this book in the worst way. After a scare at her inn, Vaughn comes to her rescue, they have a connection, and things LIGHT UP!!! The sparks fly and it…is…on like donkey kong. Oh, god. The sex in this book is scorching. When Vaughn takes control, Jennifer, I mean, Bailey combusts.

Vaughn pushes her away for good reason. He knows he is a player and his heart has been broken in the past. He eventually finds his way back, and I love that Bailey is so strong that she doesn’t let him stay away for long. They can’t stay away from each other. The boardwalk brings them back together. I love this whole magical, legendary story of this boardwalk that I can get lost in.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”Fuck me, Vaughn.” The raw plea fell easily, naturally from my lips. He gave me an arrogant grin. “In my own time.”

à la Mode St. » fashionSamantha, stop teasing me with Emery’s story! She is basically me wrapped up in a character. I need her life, her story, her book, her man! Who is it gonna be?! Gimme.

DON’T MISS BOOK 1 IN THE HART’S BOARDWALK SERIES

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Blog Tour & Review: Throne of Truth by Pepper Winters

March 8, 2017 by ·

Throne of Truth
Series: Truth & Lies Duet #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Pepper Winters
Release Date: February 28, 2017

TWO YEARS

Since my life changed for the second time and not necessarily for the better. Two years since I traded prison bars for streets and hunted a runaway who I’d met in an alley.

TWO DAYS

Since I forgot how to lie, woke to fists, and chased after the girl who’d been stolen from me.

TWO HOURS

To save her, rescue her, keep my lies intact. She looks at me full of hate. I look at her full of confession.

TWO MINUTES

For our relationship to switch from mutual dislike to floundering with unknowns. I’ve hurt her. Now, she’s hurt me. I guess we’re even.

TWO SECONDS

For her to listen, to see, to finally know who I am. The answer comes with hardship. The answer isn’t what she wants to hear.

TWO BREATHS

For me to walk out the door.

TWO HEARTBEATS

For it all to be over.

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Start the series with Crown of Lies!

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On Audio:

Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Her apology echoed in my ears. Her tears glistened in memory. I’d hurt her, but she’d hurt me. And now, I was here, and she was there, and there was no way to fix what was broken.

Talk about your gripping conclusions. WOW. I did NOT see this book coming at all. Full of twists and revelations that will leave your head reeling, Throne of Truth was the much anticipated conclusion that definitely lived up to the promise of the first book! This duet was Pepper Winters at her finest and exactly why she’s an auto-buy for me when it comes to dark romance. The woman can write one twisty and emotional tale that’s as gritty as it is sexy.

To her, I would’ve been an adventure, nothing more. To me, she was untouchable, something I could never have.

Starting immediately where Crown of Lies left off, we’re thrown right back to the world of Elle and Penn and the fall out from all the truths that Penn has been holding back.

I don’t want to give you much of the story because it will ruin the first book for you. I’d highly recommend not reading many reviews for this book if you haven’t read the first. Trust me when I tell you that you’ll want the full effect of the twist and turns of this romance.

Throne of Truth gives us the full story of Penn. Who he is, what he’s been hiding, and why. Where Crown Of Lies was gritty and erotic, Throne of Truth is an angsty slow burn. I must have flew through the pages with lightning speed, absolutely riveted, and dying to know all his secrets. And boy does the man have some secrets. Elle’s eyes are wide open here, and she finally sees the man that’s both broken her and freed her for who he really is…and what he truly means to her.

How did I ever believe I could walk away from him? How did one truth delete so many lies and make everything seem inconsequential now he was back in my life?

These two were sizzling together. Pepper truly gives that slow burn of romance here, which is funny considering that these two were hot and heavy already. But, man, I loved that she pulled it off so flawlessly.

Let go and let me see you. Cry for me. Scream for me.” His voice slipped into volcanic ash. “Beg for me.”

My only quibble is I wished that the conclusion was a little more fleshed out. I’d have loved to see the chain of events rather then reading the wrap up. But that aside, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Pepper certainly doesn’t disappoint with this emotionally charged conclusion. I devoured it in one day. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down for even a second. And my sleep deprived self can’t find it in me to be even a little sorry.

His fingers wrapped around my throat as he angled my head, taking me past the realms of sanity and into chaos with his kiss. It hurt. It broke. It freed. It destroyed.

Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today International Bestseller.

After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. With 19 books currently published, she has hit the bestseller charts twenty-six times in three years.

Pepper is a Hybrid Author of both Traditional and Self-published work. Her Pure Corruption Series was released by Grand Central, Hachette.

Her books have garnered foreign interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages, including already released titles in Italian and Turkish. Audio Books for her entire back-list will be available in 2017.

Connect with the Author:

Facebook

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Twitter: @PepperWinters

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https://pepperwinters.com

 

 

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Blog Tours, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: ,

Review: The Wing Man by Natasha Anders

March 5, 2017 by ·

THE WING MAN
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Natasha Anders
Release Date: March 7, 2017

She was supposed to be his one-night distraction. But their attraction is undeniable.

Introverted Daisy McGregor is used to being a wallflower, but what she lacks in style, she makes up for with an acerbic wit, a passion for life, and a deep devotion to her family. So she’ll suffer through her sister Dahlia’s bachelorette party and accept the cloud of pity for going stag to the wedding.

Out at the pub, sexy bad boy Mason Carlisle is a reluctant wingman tasked with entertaining Daisy while his brother flirts with her oldest sister, Daffodil. When the plan fails and Mason’s true intent is revealed, he feels intense guilt—and a sensual spark of desire for the unlikeliest of women.

Daisy decides to use this unfortunate encounter to her advantage: to make it up to her, Mason will be another kind of wingman, playing the role of her boyfriend and wedding date. Will their ruse unravel completely—or will Mason and Daisy’s undeniable attraction ignite a scorching love affair that knows no rules?

AMAZON 

he couldn’t bring himself to let her go. He didn’t think he would ever have the strength to let her go. He fell asleep resigned to that fact.

I have a confession to make; having first fallen in love with Natasha Anders’s signature brand of angst and delicious alphahole heroes back when I read The Unwanted Wife, I didn’t even bother to read the blurb to this book. I already knew I’d like it. I didn’t care what it was about. Having now finished, I’ll say two things; it was nothing like what I’ve come to be used to from this author, and I adored every page of it.

The Wingman was a quirky and swoony perfection. It reminded me all over again why I love romance. It was sweet and funny, quirky and sexy, it was nothing I expected and I’d read it all over again in a heartbeat!

Take a look at all of you, and then take a look at all of me.”
She rolled her eyes, and his jaw clenched. “I’ve been looking at you for the last half an hour, and up until this very moment, I saw a smart, funny, entertaining woman with whom I wanted to spend more time,” he said, his voice so low she barely heard him over the crowd and the music. “That was before the self-pity, though.”
“Self-pity? I was being realistic.”
“Fine, don’t go out with me!”
“Fine! I will go out with you,” she rejoined, and he looked completely confused. “Wait, what?”

If you’re a fan of the quirky heroine, you’ll fall in love with Daisy McGregor. With two stunning sisters, Daisy is used to being “the other one”. The smart one. The one with the personality. She’s a wallflower, and she’s just fine with it. When she suddenly gets the attention of one of the most handsome men she’s ever met, she almost doesn’t believe.

Mason was the bad boy from her youth that every girl wanted to have for one night. Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, his family is nothing like the wealthy and entitled kids at their school. Now Mason is back to the small town he couldn’t wait to get away from, but he’s not the same boy that left it. He’s made something of himself. The last thing he wants is a woman. He’s had his fill of bad experiences and he’s not eager to dip back into that pool. So when his brother begs for him to entertain that “other” McGreggor sister so he can hit on the older one, he figures what’s a little conversation. He just doesn’t expect for quirky and unassuming Daisy to grab his attention so thoroughly.

I have to say just how much I love the way that Natasha wrote Daisy’s character. She was so adorably quirky. She’s not the stunner, she’s not a perfect size two, and she doesn’t want to be. She’s a bombshell in her own right, but it takes the right man to make her see that. What I truly appreciated was that she never changed. She didn’t feel like she needs to lose weight or be a different person. She just slowly discovered who she is and became more confident. It was such a sweet pleasure watching her come into her throughout the book. This wasn’t an insta lust sort of romance. It was a slow build, yet it was so believable. With every new piece that Mason discovers about Daisy, he falls for her more and more.

Mason certainly had his moments where I wanted to shake him a little, but ultimately he stole my heart with his sweet persistence. He really won Daisy over. I loved that he never tried to change her. It just took him a while to see her full appeal. And when this man falls? Oh boy does he fall!

What do you see when you look at me, Mason?” Mason ran a shaky hand over his head and lifted his eyes to hers, hoping she could see everything he wanted to say in them, hoping she understood, even if he made a mess of his reply. “Everything,” he grated out. “I see my whole fucking world, Daisy. I see all my days, my weeks, and my years. Every season of my life. All spent with you. I see everything I want, need, and desire all wrapped up in you.”

All of the swoons!!!

If you’re looking for an alphahole, you won’t find it here. There’s no enemies to lovers, hate lust thing going on. Mason Carlisle was ALL man. A caring, loving, protective man. Daisy McGregor was a quirky and adorable hot mess. I adored these two. Simply adored.

I hope there’s more to come with these characters. There’s a certain older McGregor sister that I’m hoping to get her HEA next. If you’re craving a different read from the usual angst filled romance, you can’t go wrong with this one. It may be angst light (compared to Natasha’s usual) but it’s no less satisfying.

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: ,

Review & Giveaway: Accidentally On Purpose by Jill Shalvis

February 11, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
Series: Heartbreaker Bay, #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: January 24, 2017

There’s no such thing as a little in love…

Elle Wheaten’s priorities: friends, career, and kick-ass shoes. Then there’s the muscular wall of stubbornness that’s security expert Archer Hunt—who comes before everything else. No point in telling Mr. “Feels-Free Zone” that, though. Elle will just see other men until she gets over Archer . . . which should only take a lifetime . . .

There’s no such thing as a little in lust…

Archer’s wanted the best for Elle ever since he sacrificed his law-enforcement career to save her. But now that she’s earned happiness and success, Archer just wants Elle 24/7. Their chemistry could start the next San Francisco Earthquake, and Archer doesn’t want to be responsible for the damage. The alternative? Watch her go out with guys who aren’t him . . .

There is such a thing as…

As far as Archer’s concerned, nobody is good enough for Elle. But when he sets out to prove it by sabotaging her dates, she gets mad—and things get hot as hell. Now Archer has a new mission: prove to Elle that her perfect man has been here all along…

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

What is it with us?” she murmured.
He laughed softly. “How is that a funny question?”
“Because I try very hard to always know what I’m doing,” he said. “But I’m winging it here, Elle. I have no idea what we’re doing but one thing I’m sure as hell not doing is walking away from you. Not ever again.”

Swoon. Swoon. SWOON. ALL OF THE SWOONS!

I adore Jill Shalvis books. Simply adore them. She never fails to deliver an amazing romance with some of the most endearing characters I’ve read and bundle it all together around an addictingly swoony story that will put a smile on your face and keep it there.

As soon as I met Elle and Archer in Sweet Little Lies, I knew I wanted their book. Their antagonistic ways sucked me in right from the beginning. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a good hate lust and the unresolved tension between these two is downright sizzling. It’s clear they have a troubled history but you never know what it is…until this book that is. Knowing all those details now just made it that much more satisfying. I can wholeheartedly say it was so very much worth the wait.

Archer is a past cop turned security specialist that has lost none of his edge. He’s hard, deadly when crossed, and take charge alpha all around. So why does one stunning beauty manage to rattle him every single time he hears the click of her stilettos?

Elle was as fantastic of a heroine as I imagined she’d be. She’s strong, take no bullshit, focused on her career and doesn’t need a relationship or a man to make her happy. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not a man eater or prickly and brash. She’s simply comfortable with who she is and in her own skin. I loved that about her. It’s wonderful to get a woman that’s strong in all the right ways and yet still has enough softness to her to make her endearing.

Elle has secretly always wanted Archer but she never imagined that the chemistry between them would be as scorching as it is when Archer finally gives into the inevitable.

And can I just say how PERFECT Archer was? Because, oh my god! This. Man.

Shh,” he said gently and crouched down to her level. “Just me. Scoot.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re having bad dreams. I’ll beat them off for you.”
“How?”
“I’ll hold you tight and not let anything get you.”

GAH!

I loved these two together. Absolutely loved them. Everything about this book was fantastic; the main couple, the secondary characters, the story, the romance. EVERYTHING. I love the easy camaraderie all these friends have together. When they all get together, it’s always a recipe for goofy grins.

If you love swoony and steamy contemporary romance, read ANY Jill Shalvis book. But if you’re like me and have already read her entire backlist, than this new series from her is simply addicting. I already can’t wait for more.

THE HEARTBREAKER BAY SERIES

SWEET LITTLE LIES (My Review | Purchase)
THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE (My Review | Purchase)

 

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