Jennifer’s Review: Between Here And The Horizon by @_callie_hart

review-between-here-and-the-horizonBETWEEN HERE AND THE HORIZON
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Callie Hart
Release Date: October 18, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

between-here-and-the-horizon

“You think you know me. You think you want to know me. But trust me, Miss Lang. Pursuing me will be the worst mistake you ever make. I’m broken beyond repair…

…and I take great pleasure in breaking everyone else around me.”

Ophelia Lang needs money, and she needs it bad. Her parent’s restaurant is going under, and ever since she lost her job teaching third grade elementary, scraping enough cash together to pay the bills has proven almost impossible. Her parents are on the brink of losing their home. The vultures are circling overhead. So when Ophelia is offered an interview for a well-paid private tutoring gig in New York, how can she possibly say no?

Ronan Fletcher is far from the overweight, balding businessman Ophelia expected him to be. He’s young, handsome, and wealthy beyond all reason. He’s also perhaps the coldest, rudest person she’s ever met, and has a mean streak in him a mile and a half wide. A hundred grand is a lot of money, however, and if tolerating his frosty temperament, his erratic mood swings and whatever else he throws at her means she’ll get paid, then that is what Ophelia will do.

Her new boss is keeping secrets, though. Awful, terrible secrets.

The ghosts of Ronan Fletcher’s past are about to turn Ophelia’s future upside down, and she can’t even see it coming.

Note: Between Here and The Horizon is a brand new standalone contemporary romance novel from USA Today bestselling author, Callie HartBetween Here and the Horizon does contain some scenes of violence and sexual content, and so is directed at audience 18+

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR4.5 stars

Please excuse me as I make sure my heart is no longer in pieces……
20886221The way this story builds up is nothing but true perfection. You fall in love with each word they say to each other. Out of hatred or out of love, it doesn’t matter. You are enthralled in this journey with them wondering what the hell is really going on sometimes, as if you are missing something and just waiting for it to happen.
à la Mode St. » fashion

He was a man posseded. I was a woman lost. Together, we were two halves of something fragile and delicate, beautiful in its complexity.”

à la Mode St. » fashionSully & Lang:
20886222-_sy540_Nothing is better than two people hating each other and avoiding each other in every way just to find themselves in each others company far to much and learning their inner workings even though they find each other insufferable….It’s seriously the BEST!!!!

Sully is pretty much the biggest jerk you will ever meet. So of course you are going to love him. You can’t help yourself. At one point I literally looked ahead to see when we was coming back into the picture because I just wanted to read about him again(NO I did NOT skip ahead, I just had to know when I could read about his hotness again!)
à la Mode St. » fashion

I needed him. I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anybody, and I couldn’t wait any longer.

à la Mode St. » fashionLang. Whew. I just lover her. She wasn’t anything specactular. She wasn’t the heroine that made a great impression or was submissive. She was just Lang. And all the little pieces that made her up, made her a character that was worth while! When I was reading her POV it was like we were sitting down for tea and she was just telling me her story. Lang is beautiful.
à la Mode St. » fashion

We breathed as one, our bodies mirroring each other as we finally came back into ourselves.

à la Mode St. » fashionWords cannot express the love I now hold and cherish for this book. I find Callie Harts writing so deep that it tears me open, rips my heart out and then puts me back together. I love that she writes a story, where the people are so real that I find myself thinking about them days later wondering what they are doing and if they are fighting or fucking. It is not just about the romance. She captures my heart with the story. She wins me every time, and this book is just another explain of her expertise and skills!

Jennifer’s Review: Too Hot To Handle by @mstessabailey

too-hot-to-handle-reviewTOO HOT TO HANDLE
Series: Romancing the Clarksons #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: May 17, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

p.txt

When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble…

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn’t seen in years. When rescue shows up—six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle—Rita’s pretty certain she’s gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he’s about to be sorely tempted. There’s something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn’t just for tonight—he’s forever.

 

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS

Review4.5 stars

4.25 Tessa-has-a-waaaay-about-her Stars!!!!!

I don’t know what it is….but I know that I can’t live without her.

Her men are so classic, almost iconic, and I can’t help but love them. Her brain is classically dirty. She is able to capture these moments and write them so well that I feel like I’m right there.
à la Mode St. » fashion

A man who woke up, stretched his flexing biceps over his head, scrubbed a hand down his abs, and grinned before getting up to drink coffee naked in his kitchen. Because why spend one unnecessary moment dressed? And speaking of clothes, the warmth coming off his tucked-in flannel shirt rivaled the sun. She would bet anything that if she sniffed the material curing around his shoulder it would remind her of snuggling into pajamas fresh from the dryer.

à la Mode St. » fashionAs I was reading this book, I finally figured out one of the many reasons why I love her writing so much. She is an artist at writing similes and metaphors. They are always the most eloquent or poetic, but they make me understand EXACTLY what that character is thinking or feeling. Most of the time, I smile and highlight them, and that’s why I love her books so much….because of all the smiling. I truly believe that Tessa Bailey is underestimated because she is a powerful writer, so I don’t underestimate her at all. She can write anything, and I’ll read it. She emotes, but it’s not always elegant. It’s raw and blue-collar and makes me FEEL ALL THE FEELS!!! Tessa, I would read your grocery lists.
à la Mode St. » fashion

Promises dug like tiny tractors in his gut, excavating vital components of what impulse directed him to say, leaving messes behind.

à la Mode St. » fashion20703796The 4 Clarkson siblings are on a road trip to fulfill their mother’s wish for them. They are not close siblings so there is automatically tension between them. When the car breaks down, of course Jasper is riding by on his sexy motorcycle. Tess is the queen of insta-lust, alpha-male, dirty-talker who wants his woman.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”Play offense,” he demanded in her ear. “Push down into it. Fuck yourself up against it. I’ll help you get where you need to go, beautiful. You answered the door begging for something bad from me. So that’s what I’m giving you. You and this sweet, neglected pussy. Now fuck your vibrator.”

à la Mode St. » fashionMy Jasper: (without the cig)

Jasper Ellis was a twenty-ounce hanger steak with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. 

 :

My Rita:

 :
Jasper is the owner of the Liquor Hole (get it!), the local bar. He is a reformed playboy trying to be good and responsible now, but his reputation precedes him. As he starts to pursue Rita, he can’t escape the playboy stigma.

Rita is a little black sheep of the family. She is a chef who tried to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but felt like she was never able to measure up. I loved watching her transform her strength and how Jasper helped her get there. Jasper and Rita think they only have a day together until the car is fixed. Well, due to some unexpected events each day (I love all of this), they end up getting a few more days together, enough time for the 4 siblings to help Jasper open his new restaurant.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”….stop stealing my breath when I’m trying to catch it.”
“No.” He pressed their foreheads together. “I don’t want you to catch it. I want it to stay lost and I want to be the man who steals it. All day, every day. Forever. Stay with me right here.”

à la Mode St. » fashion20703797I fell in love….with this whole family! I feel like I already have a clear picture of who each sibling is, but I know Tessa is going to pull out so much more in each book. I cannot wait to learn more about every single one of them. If you like series that involve brothers and sisters and FEELS, then you will love this book. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is different than Tessa’s other series, and I can’t wait to jump into Aaron’s book.

One word….BELMONT. And Sage! Gah! Of course, Tessa is saving his book for last! But I know I will enjoy the journey.


ROMANCING THE CLARKSONS SERIES

TOO HOT TO HANDLE | TOO WILD TO TAME |
TOO HARD TO FORGET
(releasing 4/27/17)

Review: HOT SEAL Rescue by @LynnRayeHarris

hot-seal-rescue-reviewHOT SEAL Rescue
Series: Hot SEAL Team #3
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Release Date: September 27, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

hotsealrescue

From New York Times bestselling author Lynn Raye Harris comes the next explosive story in the HOT SEAL Team series!

Navy SEAL Cody “Cowboy” McCormick is in Las Vegas for a little R & R before his friend’s wedding when a beautiful blonde jams a gun in his side and abducts him from a casino in broad daylight. He could stop her, but he plays along because he’s intrigued—plus he’s convinced she’s in danger.

CIA agent Miranda Lockwood’s life is on the line when an undercover operation goes wrong. Little does she know when she sashays up to the biggest, baddest looking dude in the casino lobby that she’s kidnapping a Navy SEAL—or that she’ll be unable to resist his charm when he turns up the heat.

When the CIA labels her a rogue agent, Miranda’s faith in everything she believes in is shaken to the core. Cody’s the only one she can trust to help her find the traitor in the agency. But even though she’s forced to betray him, she can’t get over the SEAL who made her feel safe in his arms. Miranda will have to fight harder than she’s ever fought for anything if she wants his forgiveness—but Cody’s not in a forgiving mood in spite of the sparks that still fly when he’s forced to team up with her again.

When disaster strikes and they’re caught in the line of fire, Cody will do everything in his power to keep them both alive. Because if he doesn’t, he’ll never get to hold Miranda close again…

Buy-Links10PRE-ORDER
AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N


Review4.5 starshot-seal-rescue-dgr-teaser

She was his for the taking. And he was going to take her. Every which way he wanted, damn her. Every which way that made her beg him for more. And then he was going to walk away and never think about her again.

Cody “Cowboy” McCormick.
Sorry. Quick pervy thought intermission….

And I’m back!

Lynn Raye Harris is filled with magic. MAGIC I tells ya! How else would it be possible for the woman to keep coming up with these sexy military heroes that are hotter than the last? I’ve devoured her Hostile Operations Team series and she’s got another huge winner with the spin-off, HOT Seal Team.

If you haven’t read the HOT series yet, no worries, you can easily read this series first and enjoy each book as a standalone. That being said, I highly recommend each book in both this series and HOT, so you won’t want want to miss it.

Harris has a knack for writing strong, kick-ass heroines, and Miranda Jane is certainly no exception. A CIA agent that’s undercover to bring to justice the man that killed her mentor, she finds herself in hot water when her identity is compromised. So what’s a girl to do? Kidnap the nearest badass looking man in the Vegas hotel lobby at gun point, of course. Unbeknownst to her, the man she thinks is not just badass looking, but really IS a badass. Navy SEAL Cody knows he can disarm the woman that’s holding a gun to him in seconds, but his curiosity gets the best of him when he sees the desperation shadow in her eyes. What begins is a whole lot of awesome!

Miranda Jane wasn’t delicate or useless. She was beautiful and lethal. And sexier than fuck, damn her.

I love that Harris is always able to combine amazing story telling, with heart pounding suspense and wrap it around an extremely sexy and satisfying romance. And boy was this sexy! I loved me some cowboy Cody. Cody is easy going and first to laugh, but he’s so intense with Miranda. I couldn’t get enough of it. Miranda was the perfect combination of vulnerable and strong. No one writes an awesome heroine quite like this author.

Why had he gotten to her? He was just a man she’d abducted in a casino so she could escape Victor Conti. A random stranger- and now he was in her system so deep she didn’t think she’d ever get him out.

Hot Seal Rescue was another huge winner for me. Each time I finish a book by Lynn Raye Harris, I say to myself that it can’t possibly get any better, and then I read the next book and it always does! I love the new SEAL additions to the HOT boys and I’m already salivating for the next installment in what’s now become one of my favorite series by an author that’s my go-to when I need a guaranteed unputdownable read that’s equal parts entertaining and sexy, with plenty of action in and out of the bedroom!


HOT SEAL (Hot SEAL Team #1)
GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW

HOT SEAL Lover (HOT SEAL Team #2)
GOODREADS | AMAZON | MY REVIEW

Review: Bedded Bliss by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott

Bedded Bliss-DGR ReviewBEDDED BLISS
Series: Found in Oblivion #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Authors: Cari Quinn, Taryn Elliott
Release Date: August 22, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Bedded Bliss by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…
until someone ends up married.
Michael Shawcross is living the dream, opening up for his idols, Oblivion, on his band Warning Sign’s first tour. Until an overzealous fan goes too far and his hard-partying ways catch up to him in the form of an ultimatum from his manager, Lila Crandall.

Clean up your image—or else.

Single mom Chloe Adams is in Vegas for a rare girls’ night out. She wasn’t ever supposed to be attracted to another rockstar. In fact, she’s in rockstar rehab, and the cure for her addiction definitely isn’t a sexy, smart-assed guitarist with wicked fingers.

She never expects to accidentally end up his wife. Or to have her new husband suddenly decide that she’s the solution to all his problems. And surprise…he’s happy to show his appreciation in a number of interesting, inventive ways.

Pretending their marriage is real might just be the hottest proposition she’s ever been given.

But what happens when a lie becomes the truth?

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | KOBOReview-DGR4.5 starsBedded Bliss-DGR teaser

The moment he touched her, something happened between them. Something bigger than she could name. And she hated it as much as she craved it.

I’ve been a huge fan of both these authors since I was first introduced to their boys of Oblivion in Rocked. There’s just something about the rockstars that they write that do it for me. Each and every single time. And each and every single time I think to myself that it can’t get any better than THIS man, and then they introduce us to their next rocker. Well I can say with utmost certainty that Bedded Bliss may very well be one of my favorite books they’ve written to date. It had EVERYTHING I love in a romance; a swoony hero, a sassy heroine, a delicious slow burn romance, angst and emotion, all wrapped around a story that will keep you reading well into the night.

She stood out for him like a jewel, glittering so brightly that even the dazzling array of lights that shimmered at the edges of his vision couldn’t compete.

If you’ve read the Lost in Oblivion series , then you’ll definitely appreciate this book a LOT more since all your favorites will appear. And if you haven’t, you can easily start with this one and not be lost. This is a spin-off from the Lost in Oblivion series, and as such, there are plenty of references and cameos that amy be lost on you if you haven’t read the series yet. I think fans of that series will love this one even more because we get more time with all our favorites *cough* Nick *cough*

The daughter of a crackwhore mother and an alcoholic father had not been an ideal start in life.

Chloe Adams hasn’t exactly had it easy in life. If you’ve read Lost in Oblivion, then her dead fiancé will definitely sound familiar to you. Snake caused plenty of trouble for Oblivion before his drug overdose. Suing your former bandmates has definitely left an impression. And being his fiancee and mother of his child certainly left a stigma on Chloe. She’s in rockstar therapy. She wants a nice, stable man in her life, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to date. Her adorable son Axl is her main concern, and she works 3 jobs to make sure she’s able to do that.

But then one trip to Las Vegas to let loose a little with her friends turns into something more when she meets Michael Shawcross, the guitarist for Warning Sign, and exactly the sort of man she’s sworn to avoid.

Backstage pass, hell. He’d give her a bedroom pass, then tie her to his headboard right through the next morning.

Michael is living the dream opening up for bands like Oblivion. His band is not big time yet, but they’re definitely getting there. And his constant presence in the tabloids due to an overzealous and engaged woman isn’t high up on his priorities anymore. He craves something more and the second he lays eyes on Chloe, it all comes into crystal clear focus. They may have history together, but he’s never seen her as the wild and free woman that dances at his concert, and he knows nothing can keep him away from getting her.

I’m going to kiss you.”
“Where?” she murmured, and he groaned.
“Let’s start with right here.” He tapped his thumb against her lips and they parted for him, dark red and slickly wet.

This was a deliciously slow building romance, which is just how I like it. I love that slow burn. It hurts so good. And Cari and Taryn definitely made it burn here…until it exploded…and then it gets even better!

This book had everything! It was sexy, emotional, angsty, and with just the right amount of humor to make for the perfect feel-good read.

How are you still hard.”
“Young and studly,” he said with a grunt. “And making you come is my Zen place.”
“Zen away,” she said and dug her ankles into his butt.

There was some tension added from outside elements of their relationship, like Lila and Michael’s father and their past, but it all just worked here. I loved the way Michael pursued Chloe. It should have been insta-love and cheesy, but yet it was perfect! Such is the magic of these two authors.

I loved the set up of all the new band members and I already know I need Mal’s book in my life. If rockstars are your thing and you like them angsty AND steamy, then you, my friend, have found yourself a new series to obsess over. I sure as hell did!


UP NEXT!

triple troubleGOODREADS | AMAZON

RELEASING NOVEMBER 18. 2016

Change Of Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn

Review-Change of HeartCHANGE OF HEART
Series: Unbreak My Heart #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Nicole Jacquelyn
Release Date: September 6, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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They’ve spent their lives pushing each other away, but what will happen when they need each other most?

Anita Martin doesn’t expect much from life. Growing up on the street, bouncing from one foster home to another, she learned to rely only on herself. Even after she finally found a loving family to take her in, she was still an outsider-something Abraham, one of the family’s older sons, never let her forget.

Abraham Evans doesn’t know how Ani always manages to get under his skin, only that’s she’s been doing it since they were teens. She is-and always has been-undeniably gorgeous. But he’s never met anyone as pissed off at the world as Ani.

For fifteen years, Ani and Bram have agreed on exactly one thing: they can’t stand each other-until one night when their anger gives way to passion. Yet even as Ani and Bram begin to secretly seek comfort in one another’s arms, they remain emotionally worlds apart. When Ani’s life takes a dramatic turn and she realizes she needs more than Bram can give, their fragile, no-strings relationship unravels. One way or another, Ani is determined to survive. But when Bram finally admits his true feelings, he may discover Ani has moved on without him . . .

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBOReview-DGR4.5 starschange of heart-DGR teaser

You’re such a fucking pain in the ass,” Bram gasped, pressing against me as he kissed me hard. “Maybe if I just keep your mouth occupied…”
“Shut up,” I bitched, letting go of his back with one hand so I could grip his hair.

There’s something about this series that is entirely too addicting for me. I’m not even kidding; I’ll start the book, blink, and the next thing I know, I’m done. I devoured Unbreak My Heart in one sitting, and I’m thrilled to have a repeat offender with Change of Heart. Nicole Jacquelyn has brought her A game and delivers yet another sensual and angsty romance that will hit the readers straight in the feels. I’m talking make you rage then lust then rage all over again, only to make you swoon like a victorian maiden at the end. I tell you, it just doesn’t get better than this. And you all know that I love me some angst. And with that, this series has become my go-to must read.

I couldn’t tell if I should be dancing a jig or crying into a beer over the fact that I’d just had the best sex of my life in the back of a Toyota 4Runner with my foster sister.

As long time foster siblings, Ani and Bram’s relationship has been antagonistic at best. It’s a mixture of subtle lust covered by layers of snark, sarcasm and insults to the point where you’re just waiting for that final insult before they tear each other’s clothes off.

I loved Ani’s snarky spitfire ways. This is a girl that hides her insecurities well behind her smart mouth, and so you can’t help but feel for her. Bram can be a straight out asshole to her, but beneath his thinly veiled insults, there’s an insecurity he desperately tries to keep hidden.

I have to admit that while I absolutely loved Bram and his protective big brother act in Unbreak My Heart, I couldn’t wait for the man to be brought to his knees by a woman. He talks a big game, but you know what they say about those. Bram is stubborn, thick headed, and doesn’t think twice before throwing insults. But where in the first book you felt like you wanted to throttle Shane, Bram didn’t quite reach that level of douchebagery. There was always something so questioningly endearing to him. You want to hate him for some of the decisions he makes, and yet for some inexplicable reason, you just can’t.

For less than an hour, I’d forgotten what a bitch she was, but within minutes of getting her off, I remembered exactly why I couldn’t stand her.”

While there’s quite a bit of back and forth between these two, it wasn’t as dramatic as the first book. The angst is well balanced and the tension slowly develops and slowly dissipates. There are even bouts of well placed humor to ease some of the angst and does so flawlessly.

Stop,” he blurted, his gaze roaming up and down my nakedness. “I think I’m having an out-of-body experience.”
“Shut up.”
“You’re bringing me sandwiches. Naked. You might be the perfect woman.”
“These sandwiches are mine, fuckface. Feed yourself,” I replied as I climbed onto the bed.
“And the fantasy is gone,” he replied sadly.”

This was an amazing addition to what’s now become one of my favorite series. I’m already twitching for more and can only hope that Trevor will be next. Sure it packs quite a few heavy punches to the feels, but that’s exactly what I’ve come to love about these books…and the angst, of course. Can’t forget angst. Did I mention I love me some angst?

If you loved the first book, you’ll definitely love this one. And if you were over-angsted in the first book, then you might enjoy this one more. Basically, what I’m getting at here is you NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.


UNBREAK MY HEART (UNBREAK MY HEART #1) – My Review

Jennifer’s Review: A Scot In The Dark by Sarah MacLean

A Scot In the Dark-Review
A SCOT IN THE DARK
Series: Scandal & Scoundrel #2
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Sarah MacLean
Release Date: August 30, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

a scot in the dark

Lonesome Lily Turned Scandalous Siren

Miss Lillian Hargrove has lived much of her life alone in a gilded cage, longing for love and companionship. When an artist offers her pretty promises and begs her to pose for a scandalous portrait, Lily doesn’t hesitate…until the lying libertine leaves her in disgrace. With the painting now public, Lily has no choice but to turn to the one man who might save her from ruin.

Highland Devil turned Halfhearted Duke

The Duke of Warnick loathes all things English, none more so than the aristocracy. It does not matter that the imposing Scotsman has inherited one of the most venerable dukedoms in Britain—he wants nothing to do with it, especially when he discovers that the unwanted title comes with a troublesome ward, one who is far too old and far too beautiful to be his problem.

Tartan Comes to Town

Warnick arrives in London with a single goal: get the chit married and see her become someone else’s problem, then return to a normal, quiet life in Scotland. It’s the perfect plan, until Lily declares she’ll only marry for love…and the Scot finds that there is one thing in England he likes far too much…

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR4.5 stars

This book basically consisted of gleeful giggles while slapping my kindle on my knees.

And dreaming about Scottish knees. And drooling over Scottish knees. Why oh why do men wear pants when they could be wearing kilts?! I mean, it’s a reasonable request….from most women (and some men). The Scots know what they’re doing to us, right?! Killing us with their sexy knees!

When all else fails, a real man says… | 12 Reasons Women Love Men in Kilts: à la Mode St. » fashion

Her gaze traveled to the edge of the fabric, drinking in the curves and dips of his knees. She swallowed, the act a challenge, wondering how it was she’d never noticed the precise shape of a knee.

à la Mode St. » fashionMy Alec:

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My Lillian:

.:
Alec is a ALL Scot and hates all things English. Except her. Alec is basically a Scottish PMB (Pouty Man Bear – see Tessa Bailey’s book Worked Up for more information). He is huge, everywhere. He’s a big, brawny beast. But he’s a little sensitive about it because he has been used by women in the past and believes that he is not worthy. This is a central part of the story because it keeps him from accepting Lily’s feelings for him. Alec inherits a Dukedom after a long list of Dukes suddenly die, and Lily is part of that inheritance. She was a ward of one of the previous Dukes, so she has been passed along and forgotten by many.

Lily is known to be a true beauty of England. She begins as a naïve character, but she is jilted at the start of the story and becomes jaded. She ends up accepting that she will be lonely her entire life because of this incident. She has been forgotten and lives alone. BUT she turns out to be the strong one in this book. Alec might by huge, but Lily is a beast in her own right! She is a fighter, and I loved her. Where Alec was weak (emotionally), Lily was strong. Both Alec and Lily just want to run away from everything, but they don’t realize that they could find their escape in each other. They each spend time actually running from each other, but they always seem to come back to each other.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”I will give you everything you want, mo chridhe. Everything you need,” he promised, the words dark and low and filled with the accent he worked so hard to keep at bay with her. “I will show you heaven. But only if you let me watch you find it. That is my price.”

à la Mode St. » fashionKnees. You get to know Alec’s knees in this book. Every inch. They are discussed several times, and it wasn’t even enough for me. I didn’t know I could have a love of knees until I met Alec. Some might relate Alec to Jamie from Outlander with the whole Scottish-sexy-knee-thing going on, but I wouldn’t know because I’m an idiot for not watching Outlander yet! Damn, I need some more Scottish knees in my life!
Also from celtic cowgirl on facebook...: à la Mode St. » fashion

For something so silly, the plaid was tremendously flattering. Though, truthfully, Lily thought that it was possibly likely that a flour sack would be flattering to Alec.

The man had empirically lovely legs.

Not that she’d given much thought to men’s legs in her life. Until Alec. Now, every time she saw him in his plaid, she thought far too much about men’s legs.

It was terribly inappropriate.

à la Mode St. » fashionI am such a loser for not reading ALL of Sarah MacLean’s books. Seriously. What have I been doing all my life when I should have been reading her books. Ok, I have read 3 of her books counting this one, but she has so many that I have not read, and I’m a loser for it. My goal is to not be a loser, so I will be reading all of her books.


SCANDAL & SCOUNDREL SERIES

The Rogue Not Taken (Scandal & Scoundrel, #1) 
GOODREADS | AMAZON

A Scot in the Dark (Scandal & Scoundrel #2) 
GOODREADS | AMAZON

The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel, #3) – April 25, 2017
GOOREADS | AMAZON

New Release Review: Ruthless by @authorlexiblake

Review-RuthlessRUTHLESS
Series: Lawless #1
Genre: Contemporary Suspence
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: August 9. 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Ruthless_CVF

The first in a sexy contemporary romance series featuring the Lawless siblings—from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake.

The Lawless siblings are bound by vengeance. Riley, Drew, Brandon, and Mia believe the CEO of StratCast orchestrated their parents’ murder twenty years ago to steal their father’s software program. And there’s only one way Riley can find some solid evidence…

Heir to the StratCast legacy, Ellie Stratton hires a new attorney to handle a delicate business matter—and she’s shocked by her attraction to him. Over the course of a few weeks, Riley becomes her lover, her friend, her everything. But when her life is threatened, Ellie discovers that Riley is more obsessed with settling an old score than in the love she thought they were building. And Riley must choose between a revenge he’s prepared for all his life and the woman he’s sure he can’t live without..

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR4.5 starsRuthless-DGR Teaser

You tempt me like no other woman ever has. I don’t understand you and I might never, but I’m going to know you, Ellie Stratton. I’m going to know what makes you smile and what makes you scream out my name.”

I don’t know how this woman does it, but she manages to write books that do it for me. Every. Single. Time. Being a huge fan of her Masters & Mercenaries series, I’ve been salivating for more of the mysterious Lawless siblings ever since we first met Mia and Drew in From Sanctum with Love. I mean, c’mon, a mysterious, brooding billionaire software genius and his 3 siblings that are hell bent on exacting revenge on the people they believe responsible for their parents murder twenty years ago? Yes, please, and thank you!

Ruthless is the first book in the sexy and intriguing series. For those that haven’t read Blake’s Masters & Mercenaries series, don’t worry, you won’t be lost. But for those that have read Mia’s book, Dominance Never Dies, you’ll certainly appreciate the cameos here. I know I sure did. But I digress.

So what does this book have? EVERYTHING.

Revenge plot? Check!
Epic grovel? Check!
Lots of sexy times? Check!
Well developed characters and plot? Check and check!
Suspense? Check!
Perfect Saturday night read? You bet your tuhis!

Riley is the middle brother. He barely remembers the night that took their parents, but he knows that his father didn’t kill himself. Ever since that night, everything they’ve done has been a systematic step closer to their revenge. Now they have their sights set on the StratCast and the CEO, Phillip Stratton and his partner, who may be two of the three people they suspect to be behind their parents’ murder. Unfortunately, Phillip Stratton is now dead, and his daughter is now running the company. Hiring Riley as the company attorney to oversee the corporate buy out from her father’s partner seemed like a great idea to Ellie. But what she doesn’t know, is his interest runs much deeper than a mere paycheck.

It might be wrong. It might be completely unprofessional, but she was going to have him. She was going to sink herself into an affair with him and not worry about the consequences. For once in her life, she was going to do something wild, something for herself.

I loved absolutely everything about this book; the pacing, the character development, and it certainly wasn’t without plenty of unpredictable twists to spice things up. In true Lexi Blake fashion, there was plenty of intrigue and suspense thrown in to perfectly balance the story.

Ellie starts off as a bit of a wallflower, but man, she really comes into her own towards the second part of the book. While their romance feels instant, it is established through weeks of working together. Ellie definitely doesn’t give into the brewing sexual chemistry between them with ease. She thinks things through and I really appreciated that. I also absolutely loved Riley. He’s not quite as singleminded in his revenge plan as his older brother. He knows a good thing when he has it and he knows he wants Ellie for much more than a carefully constructed revenge plan.

This book also had one of the most delicious grovels I’ve read in a really long time. I’m talking SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS levels here. Like half the book sort of delicious!

But it was also so much more than just a romance. All of the secondary characters are carefully plotted and perfectly developed. Everything and I’m talking everything is effortlessly fleshed out. Even the villains of the story are incredibly well developed, which only hooks you that much more. I loved getting glimpses of Bran and Drew and I seriously can’t wait for their books.

Ruthless was everything I could want in a story. It was filled with intrigue and suspense, and enough sizzle to set your kindle on fire. I’m utterly hooked and I can’t wait for more of these Lawless siblings. With the little peek we get of Bran’s story here, I already know it will be just as good as Riley’s, if not better. This author can do absolutely no wrong in my mind. If you haven’t read anything by her yet, you’re seriously missing out, and Ruthless will be the perfect book to start with!


PRE-ORDER SATISFACTION
Book 2 in the Lawless series and Bran’s story
Releasing January 3, 201751+ycqvKqDL

Jennifer’s Review: Stormswept by @SabrinaJeffries

Stormswept-reviewSTORMSWEPT
Series: Wales #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Release Date: June 28, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

stormswept

New York Times bestseller Sabrina Jeffries reignites a daring love affair in this intriguing tale of desire and deception—originally written as Deborah Martin and newly revised for today’s audience.

The first wedding night that Lady Juliana St. Albans spent with the dark and daring Rhys Vaughan was intoxicating, the heady culmination of her new husband’s driving hunger and her own awakened sensuality. When he mysteriously disappeared the next morning, she waited for him in hope and desperation. And when he was finally proclaimed dead in a shipwreck, she bitterly mourned the loss of her love.

The second wedding night that Juliana spent with Rhys Vaughan was six years later, after he returned to claim her just as she was about to wed another. This Rhys was different—bolder, harder, and convinced that she’d betrayed him. Only their blazing passion remains from their years apart. But is it enough to light their way through the maze of mystery, menace, and mistrust—to the love they once shared and would have to find again?

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKSReview-DGR4.5 stars

…how did one comfort a wounded beast who bit anyone who ventured near?

My Rhys:

Daniel Ditomasso Witches of East End What is this show?? Why don't I know about him?!:

My Juliana:

♡ DanaMichele #coupon code nicesup123 gets 25% off at www.Provestra.com and www.Skinception.com:

Part 1:

This book is in 2 parts. The first part is ALL THE SWOONS. It is the beginning of the relationship between Rhys and Juliana. It is a little bit of a romeo-and-juliet story. Juliana is the daughter of a nobleman, the man who stole Rhys’s birthright and home. Rhys and Juliana both share a love of all things Welsh, determined to keep the language and culture alive. I really enjoyed the Welsh poetry in this book.

Rhys and Juliana fall in love, but they cannot be together, so they run away to marry in secret. Juliana’s brother (I want to slaughter him!) lies to both Juliana and Rhys to pull them apart and sends Rhys away to the military. He is forever changed.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”I’ve heard life of a man-of-war is horrible.”

“Aye,” he clipped out. “And after a while you start to hate anyone and anything that put you there.”

Her anger had dimmed, but the hurt burned even brighter. “Even your ‘true love’?”

He closed his eyes against the accusation in her voice. “Especially your true love, if you think she betrayed you.”

à la Mode St. » fashionPart 2:
The 2nd part of this book is 6 years later, when Rhys comes back to regain his birthright, home, and wife. His experience in the military was not a good one at all, so he is hardened on the inside an out. I loved this darker side of him. He is determined to punish Juliana for “lying” to him, but there is a constant struggle inside himself to believe her and love her.
à la Mode St. » fashion

”But the truth is, I simply refuse to give you the pleasure of being free of me.”

To his surprise, she met his gaze boldly. “That works both ways, dear husband. I may not be free, but neither are you.”
……
He stared into her flashing eyes, wondering if she’d always been this stubborn. Or this achingly beautiful.

“Then it’s hell we’ll be headed for, Juliana. Because this time you won’t escape our marriage.”

à la Mode St. » fashionThe ANGST in this book! DELICIOUS! I am usually not a fan of all the angst. I don’t mind emotional books, but I prefer humor in the midst of all the emotion. This book had me sinking in all the FEELS.

This book is a constant struggle of trust. Rhys continuously struggles to trust Juliana from the beginning all the way to the end, and it is heart-breaking. I felt so much from Juliana as she tries to get her husband to trust her over and over again. Juliana has a spine of steel and the biggest heart for her true love.

I loved the supporting characters in this book too. They was an additional love story that makes the book all the more sweeter and perfect.

Review: Blood To Dust by L.J. Shen

blood to dust-reviewBLOOD TO DUST
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: L.J. Shen
Release Date: July 17, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

blood to dust
His name is Beat, and I should hate him.

Bound, blindfolded and bruised, I’m tied in his basement, waiting for the men who stripped me from clothes and humanity to collect his debt to them. Me.

His name is Nate and I should hate him, but I don’t.

I’m not supposed to know his real name, even worse, I’m not supposed to care. He is nothing to me but means to an end. The plan is simple: break free, collect the pieces of my broken soul, kill the bastards and run away.

His name is Nathaniel Thomas Vela, and I’ve never seen his face, though I hear that it’s beautiful.

Behind the rugged and handsome exterior, there’s a quiet murderer, a killer who thinks guns are for pussies and ends people with his bare hands.

His name doesn’t matter, neither does his face, but what does matter is my heart. And right now, sadly, it’s his.

Blood to Dust is a standalone, full-length novel. It contains graphic violence and adult situations some may find offensive.

Buy LinksAMAZONReview-DGR4.5 starsBlood To Dust-DGR teaser

I look like the perfect victim. Scared. Beautiful. Innocent…Though, I’m anything but the latter.

Well slap my ass and call me Sally, what in the ever hell did I just read?
This.
Book.
Was.
Brilliant!

OK. OK. Allow me to get my thoughts together here
*deep breath*
*another deep breath*

Holy hell, people!

I already knew after reading Sparrow that L.J. Shen was a talented author, but after reading this book? She blew everything I thought I knew away! The woman is a genius. Everything, from the characters, the writing style, the chapter formation, the story, all of it I can describe in two words; brilliantly intense.

I’m picky with my dark romance. Some of it has become entirely formulaic for me; bad guy meets somewhat naive girl, some mundane detail, plot twist for shock value, and BAM! HEA! This book? This book was nothing like that. Not even close. It was unpredictable, violent, brutal, dark and twisted. You won’t have a book hangover after, you’ll have PTSD and you’ll love every depraved moment of it!

She’s hurt and broken in her own, fancy-ass country club way. And I’m hurt and broken in my own, broke-ass ghetto way.

Any other woman that finds herself bloodied, tied and locked in a dark basement waiting on certain death at the hands of men intent on collecting their debt from her, may be shaken. But not Prescott. Every minute in her captivity is another minute for her to plot and scheme and plan her escape. Because she will escape. Even if she has to use her unwilling captor to do it…

She’s going to ruin me…and I’m going to let her.

Beat is a nameless, faceless man in a mask. He’s a man that owes a debt himself. He’s the man with a price on his head and his own survival as his main concern. A prissy little princess tied up in his basement for some unknown debt of her own shouldn’t concern him. Yet there’s something about her that calls to his primal side and tempts his inner beast…

She’s aiming straight for my fucking heart, this chick. Shot after shot in the dark.
And sooner or later, I know, even in the pitch black, she’s going to hit her target.”

Blood To Dust-DGRThe story packs a hell of a one two punch. It’s deliciously dirty and anxiety inducing gritty. The characters are incredibly well developed, multi-layered, and impossible not to like. Prescott was one kick-ass chick. She’s a survivor and she never stops fighting. She maintains an almost morbid sense of humor even during the most dire of times which gives her this incredibly endearing quality.

As for Nate Vela aka “Beat”? Oh man. Man oh man. I loved him! I loved his inner struggle in protecting himself or doing the right thing. I loved his inner struggle in his attraction to Prescott. There was so much depth to him that you can’t help but connect with right away.

The chemistry between the two of them was deliciously depraved. This is no cookie cutter romance. Nate Vela is one vile, dirty, dirty man and I loved him for it. Both of them are survivors in their own right, and together they’re a force to be reckoned with. It was perfectly balanced with two incredibly strong characters and for this reader it was perfection! There’s nothing better for me than a heroine that can save herself, and Prescott was no damsel in distress.

There were parts of it that I spent laughing. There were parts of it I spent with a knot in my stomach and hands shaking. It was unlike anything I’ve read and I loved every twisted part of it!

I love her like a slave, I kneel in front of her like a subject, I crawl back to her at night like a drunk and I worship her like a believer. She’s my truth, my lie, my storm and my peace.

There was one particular detail at the end that confused me a little because I don’t remember it being explained. It could have been something I overlooked, but after re-reading the part several times, I’m still not sure. I’m not expecting everything wrapped in a pretty little bow, but given the detail was a pivotal one that set the plot in motion, I suppose I just wanted slightly more explanation on it. But that’s just one minor quibble in what was a truly amazing book, so I really can’t bother myself to complain about it much. If you’re looking for a dark read with strong characters and an unpredictable plot, READ THIS BOOK.

Review: ★Steadfast★ by @SarinaBowen

Steadfast-ReviewSTEADFAST
Series: The True North #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Sarina Bowen
Release Date: July 12, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Steadfast-Amazon

She’s the only one who ever loved him—and the only one he can never have.

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there’s no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.

For Sophie Haines, coming face to face with the man who broke her heart is gut-wrenching. Suddenly, he’s everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never turn up volunteer in the church kitchen.

She knows it’s foolish to yearn for the man who returned all the heartsick letters she wrote him in prison. But the looks he sends her now speak volumes.

No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie’s police chief father. But it’s a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&NReview-DGR4.5 starsSteadfast-DGR teaser

When I was seventeen, I thought Jude was sent to me from heaven. When I was eighteen, I let him take me there. When I was nineteen, he broke both my heart and my family.

From the very second that Jude was introduced in Bittersweet, I knew that I needed his book. There’s just something about the broken and tortured heroes, and it doesn’t get more tortured than the man who let his addiction take away not only his freedom but the love of his life. Three years ago, Jude made a mistake that cost him everything. He’s always been able to hide his drug addiction from his beloved Sophie, but when he crashes into a tree and sent to prison for the death of his car’s passenger, all his darkest secrets tear wide open. Now after serving three years, the last place Jude wants to come back to is the town where everyone knows him as an ex-con, but there’s not much choice for him while he gets back on his feet again. So back to his father’s house he goes to work in his auto-shop and hopefully save up enough to get himself a second chance elsewhere.

My name is Jude Nickel, and I am an addict. Also, I’m a big fucking idiot.

Sophie Haines was the love of his life. Letting her go was the hardest thing he’s ever done, but she was always too good for him and meant for greater things. He expects Sophie to be living her dream on Broadway and not stuck with her life in shambles in their small town with a mother that’s a shell of a person and an abusive, jaded father.

It’s inevitable that they run into each other and the love that neither of them ever forgot or got over soon brews to the surface once more.

We’d ended up exactly where I hadn’t wanted us to land, slotting ourselves right into position in both my bed and my memory.

Steadfast packed quite an emotional punch. I loved the realism with which Sarina wrote Jude. This is not a man that suddenly forgets he’s an addict once he detoxed. His struggle is daily and your heart breaks for him experiencing all of it with him. His love for Sophie was easily one of my favorite things about this book. It’s just so unwavering and pure. His inner struggle of loving her but knowing he can’t be with her was heart-wrenching.

The first time I ever kissed Sophie was in a car in the rain. That kiss had made my blood surge with lust and hope. But this one made me ache with impossible longing.

But reading how supportive Sophie was with everything about him and his past made it that much better. Sophie was an amazing heroine. She’s been through so much herself and her family life leaves something to be desired, but you truly understand what draws her to Jude and why she never really blamed him for what happened three years ago.

An addiction is when you can’t keep away from something that’s bad for you. Maybe Jude was a drug addict, but I was a Jude addict.

I absolutely loved the two of them together. The story is highly emotional, angsty and with a touch of forbidden. It broke my heart and melted it. It shattered me into a million pieces and then slowly put me back together.

You own me. You always have.”
“Even when you’re not perfect, you’re still mine.”

The love between Sophie and Jude was a palpable thing. I couldn’t get enough of them. It was beautiful in a tragic way. My heart was aching reading their road to a second chance together. I’ve been a huge fan of all things Sarina Bowen for a while now, but Steadfast put her on a whole different level to me. It was easily one of my favorite second chance romances I’ve read in a long while and certainly the most memorable. It was beautiful and emotional. It was everything I had hoped it would be and so, SO much more.


TRUE NORTH SERIES

BITTERSWEET (True North #1)
GOODREADS | AMAZON

STEADFAST (True North #2)
GOODREADS | AMAZON

KEEPSAKE (True North #3) – releasing October 2016
GOODREADS 

 

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