Blog Tour, Excerpt & Review: Dirty Filthy Fix by Laurelin Paige

DIRTY FILTHY FIX
Series: Fixed #5.5
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary
Author: Laurelin Paige
Release Date: November 21, 2017

I like sex. Kinky sex. The kinkier the better.

Every day, it’s all I think about as I serve coffee and hand out business agendas to men who have no idea I’m not the prim, proper girl they think I am.

With a day job as the secretary to one of New York’s most powerful men, Hudson Pierce, I have to keep my double life quiet. As long as I do, it’s not a problem.

Enter: Nathan Sinclair. Tall, dark and handsome doesn’t come close to describing how hot he is. And that’s with his clothes on. But after a dirty, filthy rendezvous, I accept that if we ever see each other again, he’ll walk right by my desk on his way to see my boss without recognizing me.

Only, that’s not what happens. Not the first time I see him after the party. Or the next time. Or the time after that. And as much as I try to stop it, my two worlds are crashing into each other, putting my job and my reputation at risk.

And all I can think about is Nathan Sinclair.

All I can think about is getting just one more dirty, filthy fix.

AMAZON

I wore satin that Saturday night, a long blue slip dress with slits up both sides. I never wore underwear to the parties. They were too much of an inconvenience, and the few times I had worn them, I’d just ended up giving them away as souvenirs. I liked nice lingerie. I preferred to keep most of it.

The shoes I wore—simple heels, easy to slip off—were also standard for an evening at the Open Door. But somehow I felt simultaneously more dressed up and more naked than I had in a long time. I left my hair down, and it fell long past my shoulders in dark, nearly black waves. It felt less like I was going to a weekly party and more like I was going on a date. A glamorous date.

It was a signal that I should not go.

But I went. Nothing could have kept me away.

I spent the beginning of the night as a voyeur, camped out on the settee watching as the Doms paraded their submissives around the room, entertaining everyone with their tricks and commands.
I had a few invitations to play from the regulars—Andrew, who’d shown up with a girl I’d never met before. Of course, Chuck Richard was there, wanting to fondle and stroke my skin. But I shooed them all away, feigning an introverted mood, when really I was just looking and waiting for one person in particular.

An hour went by. Then an hour and a half. After two hours, I kicked myself internally a bunch of times before realizing that I was in a place where people would gladly do that for me. So when Andrew suggested a game, an adult version of Spin-the-Bottle, I decided to join in.
An oddly shaped circle was created, some people choosing to sit on the floor, some on the furniture. I curled up with my knees to one side on the floor, and when I finished straightening my gown around me, I looked up to find that the man sitting on the ottoman across from me was Nathan.

And suddenly the room felt so much brighter than it had a few minutes before. Like there’d been too many plugs shoved into one outlet and finally someone had tugged one free, the power had surged, and the lights glowed.

Everyone disappeared around me and the only face I could see was his, handsome and rugged, his grin directed at me. His eyes lit up like they were the source of the glow, and they were the only things I could see.

Somehow I was sure I’d just broken one of my rules. I didn’t know which one, and I didn’t even care.

 

I was already addicted to his dirty, filthy ways.

Whatever you do, do not, I repeat, DO NOT read this book in public. Because holy sizzle of all of the fires, this one was downright incendiary.

Laurelin Paige has always been my go-to author for the unconventional, take-me-out-of-my-comfort-zone-but-in-the-best-way-possible-reads. And this story? It’s as unconventional as it gets. And boy do I respect this author that much more for having the confidence to write it. Dirty Filthy Fix combined an Eyes Wide Shut setting meet Laurelin Paige’s unique and kinky writing twists. And the end result? Dirty Filthy Brilliance.

If you’re expecting some sweet and hot tale of commitment avoiding girl meets the right boy that makes her swoon and change her entire life? FORGET ABOUT IT, snowflake. For reals. If that’s what you’re looking for, DO NOT read this book.

If you want a story of a woman that owns her sexuality, makes no excuses for her life and doesn’t feel remotely bad about it, Trish will be your spirit animal. As the secretary to Hudson Pierce, Trish is no stranger to handsome and rich CEOs and businessman lusting after her. She’s a beautiful woman, after all. But what they don’t know is that behind the prim and proper secretary is a dirty little secret. She serves them tea during the day, but may bring them to their knees at night.

Enter Nathan Sinclair. Rich, powerful, her boss’s business partner, and a man she can’t stop thinking about after his relentless and seductive pursuit.

Go home with me.”
My throat was dry, but I managed to stammer, “I can’t. I have rules.”
“Break them.”

And speaking of breaking rules, this novella certainly breaks all of the traditional ones. In the most sizzling and satisfying of ways.

This could have easily been a story that was overrun by sex and kink, and yet it wasn’t. This really speaks volumes of the author’s talent, that she can take filthy kinky sex like this and spin a captivating and hypnotizing tale of it without making it torrid or corny.

Dirty Filthy Fix proved once again why Laurelin Paige is a constant auto-buy for me. It was deliciously kinky, erotically charged, brilliantly written. It had just enough romance to satisfy delicate sensibilities without becoming disingenuous to the characters. And this reader? Loved every filthy page of it. My only complaint? I wish it was longer because I never wanted it to end!

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling Author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: Thirty Day Boyfriend by Whitney G

THIRTY DAY BOYFRIEND
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Whitney G
Release Date: November 2, 2017

I should’ve never agreed to this arrangement…

Thirty days ago, my boss—Mr. Wolf of Wall Street, came to me with an offer I couldn’t refuse: Sign my name on the dotted line and pretend to be his fiancée for one month. If I agreed, he would let me out of my employment contract with a “very generous” severance package.

The rules were pretty simple: No intimate kissing, no actual sex. Just pretend to love each other for the press, even though I’ve secretly wanted to knock that sexy smirk off his face since the first day we met.

I definitely didn’t need to think twice about this. I signed my name and started counting down the seconds to when I would never have to deal with his special brand of ass-holery again.

I only made it to one minute…

We argued the entire four-hour flight to his hometown, failed to make a convincing impression with the welcoming press, and right when I was about to knock that arrogant look off his face in real life? He purposely dropped his bath towel in front of me, distracting me with his nine-inch cock to “show me who the bigger person was” in our relationship. Then he gave me his trademark smirk once again and asked if I wanted to consummate our marriage.

Tragically, this is only day one.
We still have 29 more days to go…

AMAZON

Subject: The Deal
I think it would be in your best interest to accept my offer. I highly doubt the man you eventually marry will be as endowed as me…
—Nicholas


Rich, cocky, handsome as sin business mogul?
CHECK
Smart, sharp witted, beautiful and sassy PA?
CHECK
An enemies to lovers trope with Whitney G’s usual fun banter?
CHECK
Enough sexual tension to make anyone squirm in their chair?
CHECK, CHECK AND CHECK!!

Thirty Day Boyfriend was essentially like a longer version of Naughty Boss, but with enough differences to make it a unique standalone. Though if you read Naughty Boss and found yourself craving a story that is a tiny bit longer, this will hit the spot just right. It’s not exactly a full novel length, but it’s certainly enough to read in one sitting and walk away entirely satisfied.

The trope is a fun one. A brilliant law grad working as a PA for New York’s most demanding and richest businessman. After putting in three grueling years of early mornings, late nights, and never ending demands, she’s had it. But the problem is, he’s not going to let her go so easy.

This was a fun, sexy read full of banter and heat. Whitney never fails to deliver with a sexy alphahole and the smart mouthed and sassy heroine that brings him to his knees. It’s witty, humorous, and with just enough heat to make it the icing on the top and not overtaking the story. Thirty Day Boyfriend was a satisfying afternoon read that left a smile on my face.

Review: Perfect Pitch by Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott

PERFECT PITCH
Series: Found In Oblivion #5
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Author: Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott
Release Date: August 4, 2017

A lead singer, a professor, and another lead singer walk into a bedroom…

Molly McIntire loves her career as the lead singer of the band Warning Sign. Who she does not love?

The cocky, seductive lead singer of The Grunge, rockstar Luc Moreau, who through a series of misfortunate events ends up singing with her.

In her band. On her stage. Together.

It’s like getting naked, with a microphone between them. So is there any surprise they’re tempted to hate screw each other afterward?

But someone sees them with their tempers running hot. And open-minded Professor Ethan Haywood wants them both, in every dirty, decadent way. For a night or so much more.

Except he’s not the only one who’s watching them—and the band. Their every move is being monitored, and when the lights go out, not everyone will still be standing.

Suddenly it’s not just about falling into bed for Molly, Luc, and Ethan, but falling in love when everything they know and love is in danger.

Author’s note: This book contains mènage scenes, and while the men are always focused on the woman, they also focus on each other. With and without their clothes on.

Author’s note part deux: While the romantic relationship ends in a full HEA, there are ongoing events that will not be fully explained or resolved until the next book, Raw Rhythm.

AMAZON

A lead singer, a professor, and another lead singer walk into a bedroom…


I was honestly just going to end my review here. Because, c’mon! Sweet mother of ovaries, people. This book was so ridiculously hot, I still can’t even.

But beyond the hot cover and the ridiculously hotter set up, what truly sucked me in was the story. Being a longtime fan of all things Cari and Taryn, I love getting more of my Oblivion peeps in this spin off. And Jazz being one of my favorite heroines, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the story of her sister, Molly.

Molly is finally in a great place in her life. She’s the lead singer of a band, she has a great relationship with her once estranged sister, and she’s living on top of the world. Who needs a man to complicate things. Especially one impeccably dressed man that has a deliciously dirty mouth and a penchant for the kinky things in bed that she can’t seem to stay away from.

Professor Ethan Haywood is never lacking for a bed partner; male or female. But little Molly has been the star of his every fantasy lately and he knows he’ll stop at nothing to have her. Even if she thinks that they’re nothing but an itch to scratch. Another man coming into the picture should be a complication, but proves to be so much more.

Luc Moreau finds himself in a place he never hoped he’ll be back; rock bottom. Facing the potential boot from his band and his role as the lead singer is bad enough. But when a sexy little powerhouse blows into their recording studio and is convinced that she can sing him out of the water, he’s thrown for a loop. His attraction to her is inconvenient at best. But his pull to the man that already staked a claim on her, is even more so.

Thus begins a delicious game of sexual power plays and playing with fire. Luc and Molly have too much riding on their career to focus on anything besides it. But their connection proves to be too strong to resist. Where Ethan is open with his sexuality, Luc has been on the reserved side. But when Ethan calls him out on his urges, he can’t help but give in. What starts then is a whole lot of sexy.

Much in Cari and Taryn fashion, they leave us hanging at the end. The sadists. While the relationship is a resolved, there’s a terrible even that happens that leaves everything up in the air for the band. And I for one cannot wait to see how it all comes together in the next book.


THE SERIES

BEDDED BLISS | TRIPLE TROUBLE | DIRTY DUET | LOST LYRIC | PERFECT PITCH | RAW RHYTHM

New Release & Review: The Rivalry by Nikki Sloane

THE RIVALRY
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Author: Nikki Sloane
Release Date: November 21, 2017

This tight end is at the top of his game.

He’s good with his hands, even better with his sexy mouth, and the best at making me forget my own name.

His—ahem—stats are perfect.

But I can’t fall for him.

He might be everything I want, all rolled into a glorious package of gridiron god, but there’s one teeny-tiny problem.

The vile, loathsome team I’ve spent my entire life hating—my beloved school’s arch-rival?

This guy is their star player.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY 

I shouldn’t have gotten in his car, but his mouth had been too convincing. He was the devil. The seduction of his lips could make me do anything.

I have a confession to make. When I first first started reading this book, I thought I’d hate it. Put down that rotten tomato for a second, killer, and hear me out, mkay? What I mean is, I thought I’d find this whole rivalry thing trivial, juvenile, and kind of…well…cheesy. *cringes*
I’m sorry! I can be a judgmental a-hole. This is nothing new. *shrugs sheepishly* Admission is the first step, isn’t it? Quit judging meh!

But I digress. And I’m also happily eating my words…or is it thoughts? *scratches chin* Whatever the case may be, I have never been more happy to be wrong about judging a book by the first few chapters. Because The Rivalry was a fun and sexy ride that I enjoyed with a goofy smile on my face and a burn in my ovaries. Wait… That came out wrong. But you get my drift here, right?

This girl was electricity. It sparked across my skin, crackling and demanding more.

Two rivaling schools. Two die hard football fans. One undeniable connection.

You can pretty much say that Kayla came into the world predisposed to love football. Her father is a coach and her mom is a downright fanatic. Her being an opinionated, die hard football junky is in her blood. As the head cheerleader for Ohio State university, she literally eats, lives and breathes football. Men? Forget about it. Not many can tolerate her opinionated hassling ways. Until one sexy stranger at her friend’s wedding changes everything…

Every shudder he made and every pulse of him, I was the cause. I’d let this gridiron warrior conquer me, but I’d done it right back to him.

But what happens when Kayla finds out that the first man to put a sizzle in her ovaries also happens to be the tight end for her school’s biggest rival team?
Indeed, Scooby. Ruh roh indeed.

But no matter how much Kayla tries to fight it, the chemistry between them is simply too hot to walk away from. And when Jay sets his sights on the girl he wants, he’ll stop at nothing to have her. And no one is more determined than this tight end. Ha! See what I did there?

But I digress again.

Kayla could have easily been on the annoying side, but yet she was entirely endearing and fun. Though admittedly she did have her moments, she ultimately won me over in the end. And as for Jay? I’m pretty sure I was ready to pee proprietary circles around him. Can you even do that with a fictional character? Because I totally would! With just the right amount of secondary character personalities, fast paced plot, and sexual chemistry, this book was a total winner for me.

If you’re looking for a sizzling sports romance with plenty of witty banter, strong characters, enough sexual tension to set your kindle on fire, and even more sexy times to make sure that it turns to ash, welcome to your next read! But we warned, spontaneous lusting for football may be a side effect. Especially tight ends. *giggles*

Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. For eight years she worked for a design firm in that extremely tall, black, and tiered building in Chicago that went through an unfortunate name change during her time there. Now she lives in Kentucky and manages a team of graphic artists. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, is married with two sons, writes dirty books, and couldn’t be any happier.

Stalk Nikki:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

Geri’s Review: Holiday Wishes by Jill Shalvis

HOLIDAY WISHES
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #4.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: November 7, 2017

It’s Christmastime again in Heartbreaker Bay!

When Sean O’Riley shows up at the Hartford Bed & Breakfast for his older brother’s bachelor weekend, he’s just hoping to make it through the weekend.

What he’s not expecting is to come face to face with the woman he lost his virginity to a decade ago—a woman he’s never really forgotten.

The last time Lotti Hartford saw Sean, she told him she loved him while he said nothing. Now, ten years later, she’s just looking for a good time.

For once, she wants to be the wild and free one, and Sean – the good time guy – is the perfect candidate.

But as the weekend continues, Sean realizes that after a lifetime of being the hook-up king, he’s ready to find happily-ever-after, and he wants it with Lotti. But will she open her heart to him again?

As Christmas sweeps through the little B&B, he can only hope love and magic are in the air.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO 

What makes a perfect holiday read?

For one, it has to be sweet. Nothing says holiday novella than a sweet, satisfying romance that make your toes curl. Holiday Wishes has plenty of romance, and yes, it’s sweet and satisfying, just the way I like it.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Two, it has to be the right length. Look, holiday season often means, you’re pressed for time. You have to do a lot of shopping and cooking. And as much as you want to sit by the fire and read a fabulous 300+ page book for hours, you can’t. Not always. So a novella length book that packs in the romance in under 150 pages or so is a godsend.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Three. It features familiar characters you already love. Sean O’Riley has been a familiar figure in the Heartbreaker Bay series. He started out as Finn’s younger, troublemaker brother. But as the series goes on, Sean grew up and matured. He’s proven himself a good brother and a loyal friend so reading about him getting his woman made me happy. Especially with a heroine as lovely as Lottie. Jill Shalvis always writes interesting heroines. They’re complex, flawed but inside they’re just full of love and loyalty.

Plus, we get to see the gang again. Nothing makes a reader’s heart happy than to see the characters she loves happy and content. Like do you know of anyone who wants to see their fave characters sad and miserable? No!

And last but not the least, the thing that makes a book a perfect holiday read is its ability to give you the warm fuzzies.

Look. Don’t me make me come at you with a 1,000 page dissertation of what constitutes warm fuzzyiness. All i know is that YOU’LL KNOW IT WHEN YOU FEEL IT!!!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

And yes, this book gave me all the warm fuzzies down to my toes.

Any questions? None? Good. Go forth and enjoy this book! <3

 

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras with her family and far too many assorted quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental.

Look for Jill’s latest, LOST AND FOUND SISTERS on shelves and e-readers now, and get all her bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold.

Visit Jill’s website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

 

FACEBOOK WEBSITE | TWITTER | PINTEREST

 

Excerpt & Review: Prince Roman by CD Reiss

PRINCE ROMAN
Series: King Of Code #1.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: CD Reiss
Release Date: November 7, 2017

Rules for my new job:

1) Do not have sex with a man in the office (again).

2) Do not break Rule #1

I’m playing it cool, clean, and professional…until I meet Roman Bianchi.

He’s not an insecure nerd or an ego-hole like the other kings of Silicon Valley.

He’s charming and handsome.

He’s fun, funny, and smart.

He’s also in the office across the hall.

Two broken rules waiting to happen.

I can’t lose this job over some guy.

But Roman’s not just some guy. Under that suit and cocky smile, he’s a prince.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon AU

If Raven Crosby hadn’t picked up some hacking tips from QI4, I’d eat my shoe.She’d left as they were growing. Kept her stock options. That never happens. She was also still friendly with Taylor Harden, the hacker brain behind QI4’s quantum system.

I figured they’d parted on good terms. Maybe with something hanging over Taylor’s head.

My team ended up with a few folders on her. I told myself I was a lawyer. Collecting data on people was what I did for a living.

But this was different.

A week in, I was obsessed with her ebony hair and eyes. Lashes drawn on with black Sharpie. Her voice was hypnotic in meetings, and was only heard after long stretches of listening. The night before, she’d tipped her hand, showing me that she’d peeled the curtain back to get intel on me. I didn’t feel violated as much as vindicated. The attraction was mutual. She wouldn’t have done it for any other reason.

“I’ll be there at eight,” I said to my sister, Teagan. We had a dinner planned half an hour before, but I didn’t want to go. It wasn’t the rain that pounded on the windows. It wasn’t my sister. Teagan was fine, but the office was empty and Raven was right across the hall, working in the glow of a desk lamp.

“You better be,” she said. “I’m starving and I need to get drunk.”

“Get a head start at the bar.”

“I’m not going to sit at the end of the bar by myself with a drink. Do you even know what it’s like out there for a girl?”

I didn’t know firsthand, obviously, but I knew enough from her. Teagan was a career gamer and game designer. One of the best. She had a sweet, harmless face that made her approachable to even the most beta of betas. Regardless, even the betas tried to compete with her once they knew what she did. I was exhausted on her behalf.

Across the hall, Raven stood and clicked off her desk lamp.

“Leaving now,” I said, cutting the call. I grabbed my things and headed out, timing it perfectly so we met in the hall.

“Hi,” I said.

She nodded and gave me a non-committal smile. We spoke often, but never a word that didn’t have to do with the human resources software implementation and how it would protect Neuronet from liability.

“It’s raining,” I said. “You taking the elevator to the parking lot?”

The executive lot was underground, on the other side of campus. If you wanted to get there underground, without crossing the courtyard and getting rained on, you had to take the elevator.

“Yes.” She started down the hall and I followed.

“I’ll walk you.”

You are my ambition. You are my mountain to climb. You’re my only aspiration.”

Prince Roman was a quick, sexy, and entertaining read that I finished in one sitting. Though I’m as far from techie as possible and at times I thought the gamer details would lose me, the author managed to pull it off and keep me totally invested in the story. Admittedly, they weren’t my favorite parts, simply because a lot of it flew right over my head, but they didn’t bore me either.

My favorite part of the book were the strong main characters. I love females like Raven Crosby. Strong, independent, owning her sexuality and making no qualms about it. Here is a woman that’s at the top of her career and she keeps striving for more and she doesn’t want complications like a relationship to stand in her way. She’s all about the hot and quick interludes with men that mean nothing to her the next day. After a hot and heavy office affair just like that, she moves on to greener pastures swearing to herself that she’ll never complicate her life by sleeping with someone she works with. She doesn’t get hung up on the men or has awkward morning afters, but it’s still a complication. Add in her new company’s no fraternization rule and a sexy lawyer that tempts her to break every single one of her rules.

A forbidden affair with everything to lose. Two people that can’t get enough of each other, rules be damned. And a sizzling plot that ties it all together. Prince Roman was one deliciously satisfying read. Admittedly I totally misread the blurb, because I took the “prince” part literally. *shrugs*. I loved the way everything came together at the end. For a short read, it was still entirely satisfying.

C.D. Reiss is a USA Today bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets.

Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.

Critics have dubbed the books “poetic,” “literary,” and “hauntingly atmospheric,” which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she’s some sort of braggart who’s too good to chop a cord of wood.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

New Release & Review: Leap Of The Lion by Cherise Sinclair

LEAP OF THE LION 
Series: The Wild Hunt Legacy #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Cherise Sinclair
Release Date: November 14, 2017

She shifts for the first time on the day of her escape.

After a decade of captivity, Darcy MacCormac escapes the corrupt, clandestine organization called the Scythe, leaving family and friends behind. She must find a way to rescue them. Discovered by other shifters, the brand-new cougar gets two mentors. Blademage Gawain is an easy-going blacksmith with a steel-hard core. His brother Owen is a deadly warrior. Grumpy. Rude. And he doesn’t like her.

They aren’t the mates she’d dreamed of—they’re more.

Powerful, dominating Owen protects the clan—especially the weak—and the only remnant of an abused childhood is his avoidance of females. Now he has to mentor one? Although Gawain soon falls for the dauntless little cat, Owen knows better than to lose his head. But Darcy has a gift for repairing everything…including damaged hearts.

Love isn’t in her destiny.

In the brothers’ arms, Darcy finds safety. Comfort. And love. But however much she longs for a future with Owen and Gawain, her people need her. Somehow, she must find the courage and skills to save them, even if the attempt demands her life.

AMAZON

This was why a male lived. Why he fought. To win a female’s love and keep her safe. For this female—for Darcy—he would willingly fight the entire world.

Two things happened almost simultaneously after I finished this book. One, I was kicking myself for a good two hours for not discovering this series before now. And two, I immediately went and one clicked the rest of these books.

There’s just something so magical about Cherise Sinclair’s writing, that no matter what she writes, it never fails to grab you and suck you right into its world. And even though I started this series with book 4, I had no problem at all getting imbedded in the deeply descriptive and rich world of Sinclair’s shifters. Their language, their customs, their enemies, and their love life immediately caught my interest and kept me riveted to the pages until the end.

Darcy MacCormac is an incredible heroine. Here is a female that has seen and lived through atrocities at the hands of the evil Scythe organization during her ten years as their captive. She’s seen her friends suffer at the hands of their experiments, she’s seen friends die, and she’s left with scars both internal and external. Yet, none of that diminished her strength and will to live. So when she has the chance to escape, she grabs it, for the chance to ultimately come back and rescue the rest of the shifter females still imprisoned by the Scythe.

Her escape brings her straight into a world that she was born into but due to her imprisonment knows very little about. Owen and Gawain, two brothers that helped rescue her from being recaptured and whose only thing in common is their blood, are assigned to be her trainers. They’re to teach her to shift and control her abilities while keeping her safe and finding the Scythe compound.

Here are two men that couldn’t be more different. Suffering their own individual scars of their past and a selfish and abusive mother has left them scattered. Owen is a gruff, grumpy protector who believes all women to be inherent liars. Gawain is a sweetheart that even though has every reason to avoid love, deep down yearns for it. And in the middle of it all is a female that makes them realize that perhaps a future full of love and passion is not so foreign.

Leap of The Lion is full of so much emotion, it was almost painful at times. Everything that Owen suffered in his past and everything that Darcy has gone through give them a bond unlike any other. Darcy makes Owen see beyond his past and realize that not all women are the same. I loved the slow built passion between the two. And then with Gawain in the mix as well? FORGET ABOUT IT.

I mean, a female with not one but TWO life mates? Sign me up for that. But don’t think this is some gratuitous MFM non stop orgy. While the passion is definitely there, it’s a slow burn. There’s a lot of story that takes place, that admittedly I found slow at times. I understood the set up and the backstories needed to be told, but they did slow down the pace of the book considerably.

I loved the rest of the secondary characters and The Wild Hunt World. I really loved the romance, and I especially loved the story. There’s so much that happened here besides the romance, but the romance was definitely center stage. If you’re a fan of PNR, this is a series that simply must be read. I know I plan on going back and binging on it immediately.


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER


HOUR OF THE LION (FREE) | WINTER OF THE WOLF | EVENTIDE OF THE BEAR | LEAP OF THE LION

Review: Ruin You by M. O’Keefe

RUIN YOU
Series: The Debt #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: M. O’Keefe
Release Date: November 9, 2017

Simon

The only thing that stands in the way of my revenge is her.

The lying scheming daughter of the man who killed my parents. She has the secrets I need to bring down her father.

And I’ll do anything to get them. I will lie to her. Steal from her. Use her.

Ruin her.

It helps that our chemistry is explosive.

What I’m not expecting is for her to be so sweet. And so strong.

So…irresistible.

Penny

After so many years of lying and hiding, I finally have a place to call home. With people I can call a family. The Paintbrush Inn is my life now, and I won’t let anyone ruin it.

When sexy and world-weary Simon checks in to the Inn, I never expect him to glance my way. I’ve spent my whole life blending into the background. Being overlooked and ignored. It’s been helpful, even though it’s lonely. And he’s way out of my league.

But our attraction is powerful. Undeniable.

Dangerous.

Because I can’t let anyone close. If the secrets I keep were to be revealed, my whole life would be destroyed. But something about Simon makes me break all my own rules. I’m letting him in to my home, my body, my life, never expecting he has his own secrets.

His own lies.

When the truth comes out, we’ll both be ruined.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N

The problem with lies is belief. That’s how things fall apart in the end. When I stop believing the lies, it’s just a story. When I believe the lies, it’s as much truth as the actual truth.

I love all things Molly O’Keefe. It’s hard for me to even imagine that she used to write pure contemporary romance when the woman writes gritty, emotional stories like she was born for it. I devour her words.

When I first read Lost Without You, I was immediately hooked on the story of the foster siblings that faced a horror the likes of which no child ever should. After a decision to save one of their own from the clutches of an evil man lands them in a situation that they see no way out of, excepting the terms of a debt to a different sort of bad man doesn’t seem so bad. After all, the devil you know and all that. Tommy paid his debt, and now it’s Simon’s turn

Simon’s life takes a full circle when Bates comes knocking to settle his debt. It forces him to remember a name and a face of a person that he tried quite hard to forget over the years. A person with a tie to him like no other. A tie to his past, a woman that just may be the answer to a revenge that he’s been plotting since before he landed in a foster home. And nothing can stop him from getting the answer he seeks.

Happiness is a warning. A cloud covering the sun. A change in the soundtrack.

Ruin You, much like the previous book, is quite morose. It’s not a walk in the park and rainbows and butterflies. And while I highly recommend reading the previous two books first to form a better connection to the characters, you don’t need to in order to enjoy this one. The author gives plenty of background to ensure that the reader is never lost.

Desire is like fear, in a way. If you let it take over, it runs the whole ship. But if you ignore it, it’s simply an echo.

Penny has been living under the veil of carefully constructed lies for years. The lies are the only thing that keep her sane. But beyond that, they’re the only thing that keep her safe. No one can ever know the secrets that she guards. Because not only would they ruin her, but the repercussions run much deeper.

She’s never been so drawn to a man before as she is with Simon. He tests all of her careful control and peace that she’s gathered through the years. Can she trust this man to be who he says he is. Penny isn’t a bombshell. She prefers to stick to the shadows in her anonymity. She’s a masterful chef, but she doesn’t want the limelight to go along with it. She has a hard time understanding why a man that looks like Simon would be drawn to someone like her.

The connection between these two is palpable. The tension between them is almost unbearable. Molly O’Keefe writes one sizzling slow burn with this book, and I couldn’t get enough.

It’s the first time she’s touched me. My skin. And my body is suddenly consumed in flame.

The pacing was on the slower end. There’s a lot of build up and that takes time. And then the author finally takes pity on us with a little morsel on Bates that I had a feeling about from the very start. I seriously hope that the man will be getting a book of his own, because he steals the show every time he comes on the scene. There’s just something so alluring about the mysterious and dangerous criminal.

Ruin You was another great installment in The Debt series, and I already can’t wait for more.


PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Each title has a brand-new look!

Lost Without You (The Debt, #1)

Currently FREE for a limited time!

Amazon | B&N | iBooks

Where I Belong (The Debt, #2)

Purchase it now:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks

 
 Molly O’Keefe has always known she wanted to be a writer (except when she wanted to be a florist or a chef and the brief period of time when she considered being a cowgirl). And once she got her hands on some romances, she knew exactly what she wanted to write.

She published her first Harlequin romance at age 25 and hasn’t looked back. She loves exploring every character’s road towards happily ever after.

Originally from a small town outside of Chicago, she went to university in St. Louis where she met and fell in love with the editor of her school newspaper. They followed each other around the world for several years and finally got married and settled down in Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed their son into their family in 2006, and their daughter in 2008. When she’s not at the park or cleaning up the toy room, Molly is working hard on her next novel, trying to exercise, stalking Tina Fey on the internet and dreaming of the day she can finish a cup of coffee without interruption.


Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

New Release & Review: At Your Service by Lexi Blake

AT YOUR SERVICE
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #14.5, Topped #4
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary Romance
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: November 7, 2017

Juliana O’Neil’s promising future was burned away in the heat of battle. She had been an officer with a bright future in the military, but now she is struggling to survive. Her husband gone and her career in shambles, she finds a job at Top as a hostess and tries to put together the pieces of her life. The last thing she needs is any kind of male attention, but she can’t help but be amused at her neighbor and coworker’s lothario antics. Not that she would have anything to do with him, at least not for more than one night.

Javier Leones doesn’t understand monogamy. No woman could ever be enough for his endless libido, but he has to admit Juliana has his attention. For reasons he doesn’t fully understand, he can’t seem to get the gorgeous redhead with the sad eyes out of his head. After one scorching night together, he realizes he’ll never be able to get her out of his system. But with his reputation, he fears she’ll never see him as more than a one-night stand.

When their passions collide, these new lovers will be forced to confront Juliana’s past and come to terms with Javier’s present. Will they find their way or will this reservation be canceled at the last minute?

A Masters and Mercenaries: Topped Novel by Lexi Blake

AMAZON

If she wasn’t smart enough to get away from him, he would catch her and hold her and never let her go.

I adore, simply adore all thing Lexi Blake. Where her Masters and Mercenaries series is my all time favorite, her Topped series is my fix between the M&M releases. They never fail to bring me a little taste of my favorite world with a good dose of Big Tag and Chef Tag while introducing a slew of new and addicting characters.

I’ve been curious about Javier’s book for some time. As the unapologetic playboy of the Topped restaurant, this sexy chef never felt the need to bind himself to any one woman.

Hurricane Javier. He got in, got the job done, and walked away before it got too heavy. Sometimes that meant walking away before names were exchanged.

But lately Javi has found himself craving more. Looking at his happily settled down coworkers, he finds himself curious about a connection beyond just one night. And the woman that sparks his interest? His beautiful neighbor and coworker, Juliana. After she came to his rescue when his brother had another drunken episode since losing both of his legs in the military, he finds himself thinking of her more and more.

Juliana O’Neil is trying to get her life back after losing her dominant hand while serving overseas. Now I ask you, how often do you read about a female vet? Not often enough, I say, and mad props to Lexi Blake for pulling it off. Juliana is strong and competent, though still struggling with the loss of her promising military career and the inevitable though amicable loss of her marriage. Now working as a hostess at Top, she struggling to adjust to her life as it is while still wishing for the things she dreamed about before losing her hand.

She doesn’t believe that someone like Javi could ever give her what she needs. After all, he’s a womanizer that never held on to any one woman longer than one interlude. She doesn’t understand why she would be different, no matter how much Javi tries to convince her otherwise.

At Your Service was a sweet and sexy romance. I adored the way Javier was with Juliana, but even more, I loved the way that she fought for him right back. There’s an added suspense element that serves to spice things up a notch, but the romance was the ultimate ingredient that kept me riveted to the pages. I loved both of these characters and couldn’t get enough of them. There’s also an interesting new addition that I’m hoping we’ll see more of. Especially with the hints of who she has her eye on. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to rock myself in the corner until the release of the next Masters book.


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER


LUSCIOUS | JUST ONE TASTE | PERFECTLY PAIRED | AT YOUR SERVICE

Blog Tour, Excerpt, & Jenn’s Review: Darkest Temptation by Rachel Van Dyken

DARKEST TEMPTATION
Series: The Dark Ones Saga #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Release Date: October 31, 2017

I’m a werewolf King who chose to step down out of grief for my mate.

For centuries I’ve been alone, choosing to live a life of modesty despite the wealth surrounding me.

I deserve to be punished.

I crave things I have no business craving.

And it is manifesting itself in a way I’m terrified I won’t be able to control any longer.

Especially since she arrived.

Vampire. Orphan. Beaten beyond recognition.

My blood calls to her in a way that makes no sense.

I’m a wolf.

She’s a vampire.

The two don’t mate.

They barely tolerate one another.

All it takes is one slip of control on my part — one taste.

And I doom us all.

Then again, I never knew what is lurking inside has the power to balance good and evil.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO

The air around me thickened with a sweet-smelling fog. I inhaled and closed my eyes, allowing my baser instincts to take over.“Wolf.” She whispered my name.

I sniffed. The voice was not familiar. It was not my mate. It was… other.

“Wolf,” she beckoned again.

Branches crunched beneath my feet as I made my way closer to the sweet scent, closer to the warmth, closer to what I should have been running from.

I was already mated.

And yet — I was being pulled.

Like a siren’s song.

I hated sirens.

Every last one of them.

But only the strongest were male.

This — I sniffed the air again as ecstasy took over — this was no male.

This was all female.

The instinct to protect kicked in, forcing a surge of adrenaline through my limbs as I staggered toward the trees.

Green eyes blinked through the fog.

I stilled.

My breath caught.

Vampire.

I frowned, reaching for her.

“Kiss me, Wolf.”

Why was I tempted?

Why did I want to touch this being?

When every hair stood on end like she was foe not friend. When I had a mate back home that I loved more than life itself.

Confusion warred with disgust, and then the vampire stood on her tiptoes and pressed her cheek against mine, the way my people greeted.

But she was no wolf.

Her lips grazed the outside of my ear before she bit down onto my neck…

I jerked awake. Sweat pooled the bed like I’d just taken a shower.

And my mate, the one I was so convinced would be lying right next to me, was gone.

She’d been gone.

Over a hundred years.

And every year, like clockwork, on the anniversary of her death.

I saw my vampire.

She bit me.

And I woke up with a bruise on my neck as if it were real.

Why?! Why did I do this to myself….again?! This is the second time I’ve started in the middle of a Rachel Van Dyken series, only to be uber curious about the previous characters! Damn you, Rachel for reeling me into your series and making me go back and read all of the books before it. Ok, I actually mean Thank you, Rachel (*muah).


Biting is hot, right?! It’s not just me?! Ok, good. But I would say that I have a Vampire Standard. I’m a picky bitch when it comes to vampires, ok? But I am so glad Rachel wrote this series. I haven’t even read them all, but I know I will luuurve it, as soon as I’m done beating up my stubborn-self over not reading all of her books in order. Hopefully, I’ve learned my lesson by now (*wink). There are some things that I missed because I haven’t read the previous book. There are some things that confused me. This is my own fault. BUUUUT that didn’t stop me from completely devouring and enjoying this book.

Mason has been fighting himself for too long. He is both werewolf and vampire, but no one knows. Mason had a previous mate, a human. Although, he loved her, he always thought she was fragile and couldn’t completely be himself or let loose with his desires for fear of hurting her. Serenity is his MATE. They are destined to be together and have a history together that they don’t even know about. The longer they fight it, the worse it is for them to the point of physically hurting themselves. Stuck in a house together, they must face the inevitable, and when they finally give in…..Epic….Animal….Heat.


Yes, this book was fairly predictable, but what I loved most about this book was the characters and the alpha-banter between the guys. Rachel is one of the best writers of Alpha Male Bickering, which is totally a thing. Trust me.

I’m off to read all the previous books. (*rolls eyes at myself)

Start the Series Today

The Dark Ones

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Untouchable Darkness

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo 

Dark Surrender

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Facebook | Website | Newsletter | Instagram | TwitterAmazon | Goodreads | Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

%d bloggers like this: