Review: ☆Take Down☆ by @MalleryMalone

September 20, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Powerful. Dominant, Unforgettable. He commands submission at all costs.

Cage fighter, Gabriel Devereaux, a man of barely leashed power, is known as the Bayou Beast.

There is one woman he will do anything , pay any amount to possess.

Karina Armistead, has come a long way from the innocent girl Gabriel used to know. An internationally known singer, she can have anything she wants. But everything tells her that getting involved with the Bayou Beast may leave her wrecked beyond repair.

Little does Karina Armistead know, but Gabriel has decided that she will be his.

He will destroy anything or anyone who stands in his way.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble
3.75 Stars


Back then he’d been her Gabriel, an angel who’d fallen just for her. Now he was the Bayou Beast, the ultimate fighter, the savvy entrepreneur, a predator with a barely banked rage burning in his eyes.

Even though I’ve recently grown an aversion to any book that contains the word ‘millionaire’ or ‘billionaire’ in the title, I can’t pass this series up. It’s a guilty pleasure for me. A short, well written, quick paced and sexy read that never fails to deliver. I love that each book has it’s own version of ‘lovers reunited’ trope, the heroines are fantastic, and the heroes are melt your panties off sexy. It just works for me. I’ve been waiting to finally get the story behind the broody and enigmatic Gabriel, or as he’s better known, the Bayou Beast. Gabriel may get his name from his fame as a cage fighter, but really it’s more for his penchant for illegal and underground no-holds-barred fights.


These days, only when facing possible death did he come close to feeling alive.

Women aren’t even on his radar unless it’s for a a night spent between the sheets…at least not until the one woman from his past that he never forgot comes back into his life.

Karina Armistead is an international sensation as a famous singer. In town for a charity auction that is near and dear to her heart. She’s no longer that innocent girl that Gabriel knew and then left, taking her heart with him. But that doesn’t mean Gabriel is prepared to let her go now, even if it means dropping a few million for a date with her for an auction.

The chemistry between Karina and Gabriel comes back to the blazing one that they shared over 10 years ago, only this time, Gabriel isn’t prepared to let her go.

I really liked this one, though book 2 is still my favorite in the series. I found some of the suspense/drama that went down towards the end to be just a little too OTT. Other then that, I enjoyed everything. I love that even though this is on the shorter end, Mallery Malone still gives the reader that burn of anticipation and doesn’t just throw the MCs into bed together right away. The plot is well developed, the chemistry is sizzling, and even though it’s a novella, it’s still a highly satisfying read. Most of the time when I read a novella the length is what keeps me from truly developing a real connection to the characters, but that’s never been the case for me with this series. Ms. Malone never fails to get the reader invested in the MCs and their romance. So if you’re looking for a quick and sexy read, definitely give this one a shot. While a part of a series, each book can easily be read as a standalone.


Don’t miss the rest of the series!

Knock Out (Billionaire’s Club: New Orleans #1)
Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Power Play (Billionaire’s Club: New Orleans #2)
My Review / Amazon / B&N



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Review: ☆Clinging to Rapture☆ by Megan D. Martin

September 20, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

“I let you walk away, Julia. I let you go, but I can still take you back if I want.”
Four months ago I ran away. I left him behind. The man who stalked me, took control of my body, and claimed he loved me.

Now he’s returned. Like dripping razor blades, he has slashed his way back into my life. But everything is different.

He doesn’t want me anymore.

I expected him to come back, to be sorry. I even planned to forgive him. I should have known that he would discard me like everyone else in my life. But I’m going to change that.

My billionaire stalker has come to say goodbye…only this time I plan to keep him.

Amazon

3.75 Stars


I let you walk away, Julia. I let you go, but I can still take you back if I want.

Well…hell. I devoured this book and yet I’m still left feeling…conflicted. There were parts I loved, parts that shocked me, and then there were parts that I just still don’t know how I feel about.

The ending of book 1 left me feeling unsure about Cole and his obsession with Julia. When all the cards were on the table and the truth was out, I was shocked as shit. Can an obsession that deep that leads you to stalk a woman for 2 years in your compulsive desire to have her ever lead to anything real? That was the one question I wanted an answer to in book 2, and you know what? I got it…mostly.


She’s going to destroy me. And there is nothing I could do to stop it.

Don’t expect this to be anything close to what the first book was like, because you’ll be grossly disappointed. I found this to be more story and character driven, and it sure as fuck was grittier. It definitely wasn’t as erotic as the first, but that didn’t really bother me in the least.

Clinging to Rapture is told in alternating flashbacks of past and present. It takes you back to that day 2 years ago that began an obsession that’s only burned hotter with each step that Cole got closer to Julia. The present begins with 4 months after Julia has left Cole after learning the truth behind how and why they met. She’s now barely making ends meet by working at a rundown gas station left only with memories that run hot and cold of her past life. The last person she expects to walk into the doors when she’s working is Cole…actually scratch that. Let’s make that Cole and his spawn of satan fiance.

No really. I mean what in the ever loving fuck? We go from one extreme of Cole being obsessed with Julia…to him being engaged to the bitch that he left the second Julia came on his radar 2 years ago. Seriously? SERIOUSLY?! Oh, did I mention that his men are still following Julia? Yeah.

And as much as Julia knows she should feel otherwise and tries to fight it, her feelings for Cole are a lot stronger than what she ever expected.


Cole made me weak. I seemed to be powerless when it came to him.

Readers that don’t enjoy constant flashbacks, may not like this one. Luckily, I wasn’t one of them. That actually worked for me. Big time. I needed that explanation and back story that I felt was missing in book 1. I gobbled up every little morsel of Cole’s past that Megan D. Martin threw my way. He went from an erotic enigma, to a very real, and a very broken man, with an obviously dark past.

His struggle with his obsession with Julia and trying to let her go was palpable. And he almost does it, until her life is in danger and everything else ceases to be of importance.

Now the suspense part of the book was crazy. It will leave you thinking you know who’s behind it, only to have you question it again a chapter later. Is it Julia’s psycho ex? Cole even more psycho fiance? Or Cole’s beyond psycho mother? I don’t fucking know! But I do know that some of the twists that the author throws at you left me in a disturbed state of WTF. (but that’s a good thing)

So why not 5 stars? A few things really. I don’t fully understand or connect to Cole’s reasons for going back to the fiance that he’s obviously no longer in love with and is just plain batshit cray. He constantly allowed her to degrade Julia where all I wanted him to do was kick her bitch on wheels ass out of his house. Also, considering his relationship with his mother, I just didn’t buy into his reasoning of doing anything for her. But perhaps that’s something that will be better explained in the 3rd book.

The cliffhanger here was not as bad as it was in the first book, but certainly still present. While the relationship between Cole and Julia is mostly established again, there’s still the death threat that is looming over them both. All I know? I need the 3rd book like fucking YESTERDAY! Gah.


And don’t miss the first book in the trilogy

My Review / Amazon

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Review: ☆Mine to Have☆ by @cynthiaeden

September 18, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden continues her sexy “Mine” romantic suspense series with…MINE TO HAVE.

Is he a hero…or the villain?

When Elizabeth Ward sees Saxon Black rushing into the backroom of The Blade—a low end bar in Miami—she isn’t sure if he’s there to save the day…or just to raise some hell. But she’s being held hostage, and he’s her best hope of survival. Within minutes, she’s away from the jerks with the guns and riding fast and hard on the back of Saxon’s motorcycle.

Death stalks them.

Saxon has been working undercover for far too long. When he finds sexy Elizabeth—with a gun to her head—he knows he will do anything to keep her safe. But once he gets her away from her abductors, the threat to her isn’t over. Someone has put a price on Elizabeth’s head, and if Saxon can’t keep her safe from the danger stalking her, then she’ll be dead.

Their lives are both on the line.

As their enemies close in, Elizabeth and Saxon must go on the run. And the longer they are together, the hotter their attraction for one another seems to burn. Saxon vows not to let anyone hurt her, no matter what he has to do, because he’s falling fast for Elizabeth. He’ll stop the killers on her trail, and then he’ll have her. Forever.

 
Amazon / Barnes & Noble
4.25 Stars


You’re in my blood, sweetheart, and I can’t get out out. I want you, more that I’ve ever wanted anything.”

No one writes a sexy, keep you on the edge of your seat and action filled romantic suspense quite like Cynthia Eden. She’s become my go-to author when I want a sensual story with a possessive hero, a likeable heroine, and a plot that is guaranteed to suck me in from the very first page. I haven’t read a book by hers I haven’t loved yet, and this was no exception.

If you remember Jasmine Bennett’s 2 highly over protective brothers that were first introduced in Mine to Crave, you get to know them both much better here…starting with the dark and mysterious Saxon Black.

Saxon has been deep undercover for so long, he almost struggles to remember himself who he is. Forced to work too long with the criminal dregs of society, all he wants is to be done with it and finally live the life that he’s been dreaming about. But before he can do that, he accepts one small job as a favor to his brother, Victor. Little does he know that that job will change everything for him when he comes face to face with a green eyed beauty that’s in a world of trouble.


She was the one thing he’d found that he would fight for. No matter what.

Elizabeth Ward has no idea why she was grabbed off the streets and is now facing the barrel of a gun, tied to a chair in a seedy Miami bar. So when a dangerous looking stranger suddenly kicks down the door and rescues her from her captors, she’s not sure if he may be even more dangerous himself. One thing she does know is that his raw magnetism draws to her for a reason that she can’t begin to understand. When she finds out that he’s one of the good guys and her life is in even more danger than she originally thought, she has no other choice but to trust him with her life.

Saxon wants a lot more than her trust though…


You need to remember,” he told her, staring straight into her eyes, “I’m not some safe guy you can play around with while you’re biding your time until you get to return to your real life. When I said I wanted you more than breath, I meant it.” His gaze glittered.
“Next time, I’ll take you instead of that breath.”

Know what I love the most about Cynthia Eden’s writing? The unpredictability of it. Even when you know who the bad guy is somewhat early, she’ll still manage to throw in a twist that you will never see coming…and keep them coming until the very end. Mine to Have will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing yet never knowing what’s to come until the last page.

While the connection between Saxon and Elizabeth is fairly quick, there’s no insta-anything here…not really. The sexual chemistry between them, like any other couple from Eden’s writing, is palpable and explosive. Saxon is possessive and protective. Elizabeth is smart and caring with an understated core of strength that I really enjoyed. Saxon and Elizabeth together is just all sorts of hot.

The suspense and action is non-stop and made for one unputdownable read. If you’re a fan of Eden’s writing, you really don’t want to miss this book. And if you’ve never read her before, I highly suggest you get acquainted. While this book is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone, but I’d strongly recommend reading all the books in the series simply because they’re fantastic.

I’m really hoping we will get Victor’s book next because the set up for that here has me itching to get my hands on his story. It’s bound to be a verra interesting one.

Don’t miss the rest of the MINE series

(Free on Amazon at time of posting)
My Review/ Amazon / B&N
My Review / Amazon / B&N
My Review / Amazon / B&N
My Review / Amazon / B&N
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Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & #Giveaway: ☆Run☆ by Eve Vaughn

September 16, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

The Hunter…

 Dare O’Shaughnessy had the world in the palm of his hand. A man known and feared for his ruthlessness, his word was law. The last word he ever expected to hear was no. Until he met her.

The Prey…

Aya Smith despised the ruling class who looked down on hardworking people like her. Sick of being treated unfairly by laws that protect the wealthy and punish the poor, she takes a stand but soon realizes, she might have crossed the wrong man.

The Game…


Created as a government program to assist in the repopulation of the country when an untested drug wipes out millions of women, The Run eventually evolves into something much more sinister. Now played for the amusement of the super rich, women down on their luck find themselves the prizes of sadistic masters.

Aya is forced to volunteer for The Run, and Dare, the most sadistic of all, places her in his crosshairs.She will belong to him, body and soul. But when he catches her will she succumb to his mastery, or will he find more trouble than he bargained for?

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Aya took a deep breath as she made her way to the bar being careful not to look directly in the direction of the jerk supreme. As she poured his drink, she was tempted to spit in it. With each move she made, Aya could feel his heated gaze on her. She wasn’t naive about men like him. They acted like they owned everything they saw. He was toying with them and threatening their livelihood because he could.

She used as much time as she dared to fix his drink before walking toward him, still refusing to make eye contact. Aya forced herself not to slam the glass down in front of him. “Will that be all, sir?” she asked through gritted teeth while she kept her gaze planted on her feet.

“Look at me.”

Aya didn’t want to stare into eyes so deep a green they were almost hypnotizing. They were her favorite shade and she resented the hell out of him for that. Thoughts of her uncle forced her to comply. Slowly, she raised her head until she met his gaze full on. That cruel smirk curved his lips.

“If there’s nothing else, I need to see to the needs of the other customers.”

“I was under the impression from the proprietor that you don’t deal with customers. Which one of you is lying?”

She bit the inside of her lip to hold back an angry retort.

The bastard had the nerve to chuckle. “No need to answer. I can see he was just protecting what’s his. I can’t say I blame him. What are you to him?”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“Fair enough.” He picked up his drink and took a sip all while his gaze roamed the bar. After placing the glass down, the smirk returned. “How much do you think a place like this would cost if someone wanted to invest for the purposes of tearing it down and rebuilding?”

The blood pounded in her head and she dug her nails into her palms. “He’s my uncle.”

He nodded in seeming approval. “Have a seat, Aya.”

She didn’t like how he used her name as if he had the right but she complied. “Look Mr. O’Shaughnessy, I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but we don’t want any trouble. We’re sorry if you haven’t found the service to your satisfaction but we just want to be left alone. Please.”

“You seem like an intelligent woman. I would have thought it was fairly obvious what I wanted.”

She folded her hands in her lap and clinched them tightly together to keep herself from trembling. This couldn’t be happening. There had to be a way she could get herself out of this. She opted to play dumb. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I think you do. In fact, I know you do. So, let’s not play games. You can make this really easy on yourself. You and your uncle will be taken care of for as long as I want you. And when I no longer do, you’ll be well compensated. You’ll be under my protection.”

She fought back the urge to attack him. The arrogant son of a bitch. “And what if I don’t make things easy on myself?”

“I don’t think you want to know. But the end result will be the same. I will have you.”

3.5 Stars


It didn’t matter how attractive he was. Dare O’SHaughnessy was the devil and he was looking for his due. Her.

This was very different from anything I’ve read in the past, but in a good way. Highly entertaining and very erotic, I pretty much finished this in one sitting. While I can’t say that everything about this book worked for me, I certainly liked it enough that I’m looking forward to the next book, The Auction. I had a tough time rating this since there were a few quibbles I had that kept it from being a solid 4 star read, but ultimately I did enjoy it quite a bit. Let me break it down for you the best I can.

The set up
Run is set in a futuristic world where the only thing that rules is money. When a Derugulaition act was put into place years ago, it allowed any and all government to be obsolete and for the rich and powerful corporations to become a law onto themselves with free reign to run their business as they see fit. The fallout was incredible, as was the death poll. When a large pharmaceutical company released a vaccine for breast cancer that wasn’t properly tested, the end result was a drug that ultimately wiped out half the female population and causing the women to become almost as valuable as currency. The poor, or the Dregs of the society are struggling to survive where the rich and powerful are corrupt and money is the only thing that holds power. The gap between the rich and the poor is extreme and there’s no rules to govern anything. Thus also formed The Run; an event that started out as a government program for men to find wives, but really it’s just a legalized hunt where the men that can afford to buy in will hunt for their potential “mates”. Women participate in this due to having no other choice and trying to keep their families affloat. Men participate to basically add to their harem. These women are often brutalized, tortured, and at times don’t survive their new masters. The owner of the run is the enigmatic Dare.

When Dare notices Aya (a Dreg for all intents and purposes) and she rebuffs his advances, his brutal and punishing nature insists that she pay. So he puts to work a chain of events that eventually leave Aya no other choice but to participate in the Run where Dare has every intention of catching her.

What worked
The set up. I liked the world building and the premise of the story, it was very unique and unlike anything I’ve read in the past.
Dare was a hero you will love to hate and Aya is a heroine that you will root for.

The sex. It was damn hot.

The secondary characters. I’m hoping that Macy and Foster will be making an appearance in The Auction. Their story is one I was very intrigued with, especially poor Macy and what she went through.

What didn’t work for me
I felt a lot of the times that I was being told the story as opposed to shown. There were things that were almost redundantly described. I like to be led to my own conclusion about characters and situations most times, especially when there’s a certain dark element to the book, and that just wasn’t the case here. I felt like I was told what to think, what to see, and everything the characters feel.

The initial attraction
I didn’t quite get it. Dare sees a glimpse of Aya being arrested, barely enough to catch her features, and he’s compelled to track her down after that at the bar she works and proceeds to systematically tear her life apart because he NEEDS to have her.

Aya’s strong will
While a lot of the time that was the one thing I really loved about her character, it also really worked against her in other parts. If you know that the rich always win, and Dare is as rich and powerful as they come, why would you proceed to not only turn him down but do it in a way that’s guaranteed to piss him off. Would you really throw a drink in the face of someone that just threatened your business and livelihood and actually has the means to carry through with it?

Dare’s personality change
It just wasn’t believable to me. For someone that grew up like he did, and has pretty much been a cold and ruthless bastard for the better part of his life, it was almost like a switch was flipped and then he does a complete 180. It was just too sudden for my tastes, and I just couldn’t really connect to it.

Overall thoughts
Minus those few things, I really did enjoy this one. If you like futuristic romances with a darker edge, definitely give this one a try. It’s quick paced, erotic, and the set up is very unique. The set up for The Auction has certainly peeked my interest, and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store with the next book.


USA Today Bestselling Author Eve Vaughn has always enjoyed creating characters and stories from an early age. As a child she was always getting into mischief, so when she lost her television privileges (which was often), writing was her outlet. Her stories have gotten quite a bit spicier since then! When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, Eve is reading, baking, traveling or kicking butt in 80’s trivia. She loves hearing from her readers. She can be contacted through her website at: www.evevaughn.com.
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Review: ☆The Rules Regarding Gray☆ by @ElizabethFinn77

September 13, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Gracelynn is drowning in an existence that fails to fulfill her. A ballerina by trade, she’s devoted her life to the stage, sacrificing adventure for discipline. When her boyfriend gives her permission to want what she’s not supposed to want, can she walk away? Or will she leap?Jasper isn’t a man with many boundaries, and “sharing” a woman with his best friend is hardly a new endeavor. But the moment he meets Gracelynn he realizes she’s different. She leaves him feeling alive in a way he’s not used to, and for the first time in his life, he understands what it means to be wanted… Cherished… And he needs more…

But there are rules—rules that forbid Jasper from truly having her. As forbidden desire spirals out of control, Jasper has to decide if he’s willing to fight for something that doesn’t truly belong to him. His best friend doesn’t deserve her, but is Jasper strong enough to believe he does?

Buy Links

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Review4 stars

I want to do something I’m not supposed to do. I want to want something I’m not supposed to want. I want to make the mistake I’m not supposed to make.

I’ll be the first to admit that the second I even get a whiff of a love triangle in a book

So when I first read the blurb here, I was a little scared. I don’t do love triangles…well aside from a very few exceptions. And if you’re anything like me? You’ll want to read this book. While a love triangle is implied with the “sharing”, it’s not really one. Gray’s boyfriend is a douchebag of epic proportions from the very first page, so there’s never really any doubt about who to root for. It’s very clear they’re not meant to be together. Now usually my biggest pet peeve when 3 people are involved is the heroine dilly dallying with a decision; stringing one along because she just can’t make up her mind while having an angst fest with the other man. I didn’t find that to be the case here either. Grace was clear about what she’s going to do fairly quick, and I understood why it took her the time that it did…though not always liking it. There were a few certain circumstances that prevent her from cutting Ian loose right away, and while I wish it happened quicker, I didn’t mind the pacing of it.

Gracelynn is a prima ballerina that’s devoted her life to her career and making sure she lives her life on the straight and narrow; disciplined. She’s been dating Ian for a few months, and things seem to be going well…until he makes a proposal that changes everything.

I want you to fuck Jas.

Yes, Ian is nothing if not eloquent.
How does a girl turn a proposal like that down? Well, easily actually. Gray is obviously insulted by it at first, as is Jasper. But neither can deny their uncontrollable attraction to one another, even though Gray is nothing like Jasper’s usual type. Deciding to finally let go of her tightly held rules, Gray decides to take the risk if only to know what it may be like and to experience the undercurrent of passion that seems to run between her and Jas. But of course the ever eloquent Ian also has some rules.

You don’t touch her. Not her tits, not her face, certainly not her pussy. You keep your mouth off her and your fingers out of her. And she will not be sucking your cock either. I’m reserving every part of her for myself except for one very small, tight hole.

He’s a real peach, isn’t he? See what I mean about this not really a being a love triangle since you’ll pretty much want to jock punch him from the very first chapter?

After one night of forbidden pleasure, it soon becomes clear that there’s something beyond just lust between Gray and Jas. But their guilt of betraying Jasper’s best friend and Gray’s boyfriend, Ian, is a constant presence between them.

 Jasper truly stole the show for me with this book. He was such an incredibly endearing character, I just couldn’t get enough of him. I loved how Elizabeth portrayed him as a strong yet ultimately broken man, and allowed him to let his emotions through while keeping him as alpha as it gets.

Say yes.”
“Yes”, she breathed out.
“Say you understand exactly what we’re doing. No rules, Gray. That means I’m going to fuck you however the hell I want and tell your boyfriend to eat shit while I’m stretching that sweet pussy of yours.”

This was an erotic and emotional read that will tug at your heart strings and make you fall for Jasper just as hard as I did. Gray, while I can’t say was my favorite heroine, was still a great one. If you’re concerned there may be cheating, don’t be. Ian pretty much gives the the go ahead, though Jas and Gray do still suffer from a healthy amount of guilt about it. I understood Gray’s struggle even though I did wish she would become a little more assertive with Ian. I did love how supportive she was of Jasper and I absolutely loved the two of them together.

I guess real closeness comes when you find that person that can…break the hold your darkness sometimes has on you. They can liberate you.

My one complaint? The way that Gray and Jasper chose to “handle” Ian at the end. Their “revenge” read more like a juvenile prank more so than what two grown adults would decide to do. I would almost rather they did nothing than what they did. It felt a little random and a lot childish to me. But hey, that may just be me. I wanted to castrate Ian after the 2nd chapter, and I suppose that may have been a touch too excessive for this book LOL. I hope that Ian continues to be surrounded in pussy….really….

Of the furry and feline variety that is. Lawd but I hated him. I wasn’t sure who I hated more in this book, Ian or Jasper’s dad. Both were strong contenders for douchebag of the year. But I digress…

If you’re a fan of Elizabeth Finn, this is a book you’re not going to want to miss. It was emotional, erotic, at times a little painful to read, but ultimately a beautiful love story that began as a bit of forbidden fruit. I also adored the epilogue, the perfect way to end things with a glimpse into their future…

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Review: ☆The Hook Up☆ by @Kris10Callihan

September 13, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she’s shut him down. Completely.

That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It’s a good thing Drew knows all about winning.

All’s fair in love and football…Game on
4.5 Stars


Love, when it came for me, did not creep. No, it walked up to me, bold as you please, you know, just in case I wasn’t paying attention. It did, however, slap me upside my head.

If you’re looking for your next NA Romance that’s guaranteed to make you swoon, make you sweat, and make you smile, then you have definitely found your next read. Kristen Callihan is a new to me author, but will now be gracing my auto-buy shelf because she weaved a story that technically should have been ‘been there, read that’, yet managed to suck me in so thoroughly that I couldn’t bring myself to put it down.

Now if you’re a half-assed blurb reader and occasionally make assumptions like me, you probably read this:

The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love.

and just assumed that this was referring to another man-whoring hero as opposed to the heroine. No? That was just me then? Well…this is awkward. But I digress…

Meet Anna Jones

Anna just wants to finish college and figure out what she wants to do with her life. She’s not looking for a relationship, and she tends to have a type…of the poetic and emo variety. So when the school’s football golden child and resident playboy starts sending her the lusty eyes, she wants none of it…or so she tells herself.

Meet Drew Baylor

Star quarterback, and the hot commodity on campus that can have any girl he wants without even trying…except Anna. Inexplicably drawn to the prickly redhead, Drew finds himself tongue tied and blushing whenever their cross path, and it certainly doesn’t help that Anna never spares any feelings to cut him down at the knees. He’s not her type, he gets it, he just can’t seem to stay away from her.

But chemistry like the one they have, can only be denied for so long, and when something burns that hot it’s bound to explode eventually, right?

What first begins as a scorching hot hookup, soon begins to develop into something so much more, something that Anna is not ready to face.


He’s slowly carving his name into my heart. And it hurts.

The author did an amazing job building a sexual and emotional tension and chemistry that is so palpable you can almost taste it. It’s not often when I’ll pick up a book where the MCs are going at it pretty much straight away, but that sexual tension continues to not only remain but build between them. The writing was that good.

Drew was such an endearing character, I fell for him straight off the bat. He wasn’t perfect, and he wasn’t at all what he seemed. He was not the asshole playboy that Anna assumes he was, he’s sweet and charming and at times his emotional struggles never failed to pull at every heart string I had.

Anna was a different story. This is a girl that due to her dysfunctional family dynamic avoids relationships as a rule…especially with guys like Drew. Throughout much of the book she attempts to keep him at arm’s length and with a very clear ‘hook up only’ label. But before she knows it, she begins to see the man beneath her initial assumptions, and she can’t help but start to fall for him.


Dizziness swamps me. There is no up or down, just Drew. I want to sink into him, drown in his touch.

I was not expecting this book to be as hot as it was, but the sex was never too much. The chemistry between Drew and Anna was absolutely sizzling, and the best part? It was like that every time they get together.


His mouth crashes into mine on the next breath. And my body goes supernova. His tongues slides deep, his lips bruise, and it feels so good that I moan behind it all. It’s always like this. I can’t get enough of him.

Their path to a real relationship was not easy and not without struggle, and I just gobbled it up. Luckily all of the emotion and angst was fitting and there was no manufactured drama that ever took away from the story. By the second half I was so invested in their relationship, I couldn’t bring myself to put the book down.

This is definitely a book I would recommend to any fans of the NA genre, and a series I can’t wait to continue with. Really looking forward to Gray’s book next. But don’t just take my word for it, read this book and find out for yourself what all the fuss is about. You won’t regret it, I promise.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee, and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

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Cover Reveal & #Giveaway: ☆Ricochet☆ by @KeriLake

September 12, 2014 by · 1 Comment
RICOCHET
Adult Contemporary Romance – Standalone
Expected Release Date: Spring 2015
Image credit: Specular
The only sure way to destroy a man is to take what he cannot live without.

Three years ago, I had everything.
A beautiful wife.
A son.
A reason for living.
Until a ruthless task force, assembled under Mayor Michael Culling, with a brutal strategy to make the streets of Detroit ‘safe’, ripped away everything I loved in a deadly hunt called The Culling.
They tried to kill me, too. I wish they had. Now I’m cursed by the memories of that night, and the words I whispered to my dying wife.
A promise—to avenge the wrong and set it right.
I’m no longer Nick Ryder. I’m a masked vigilante. Faceless. Loveless. Fearless. A man with nothing left to lose—one who’s seen the dark and violent truth behind the city’s flawless veneer.
Michael Culling doesn’t know who I am. Or what I want. All he knows is that I’ve kidnapped his beautiful wife.
An eye for an eye—isn’t that how the saying goes? And Aubree Culling is the perfect pawn to destroy him.
If she doesn’t destroy me first.

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Blog Tour, Excerpt & #Giveaway: ☆Savaged☆ by @NacoleStayton

September 11, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Title: Savaged
Author: Nacole Stayton
Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+
Publication Date: September 12, 2014
Cover Design: Sommer Stein
Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

The twist of a knife shredded Niko Kincaid’s world all around him, leaving him with two choices—accept his fate and die, or fight to live.

He chose to fight, but the aftermath became a daily reminder, carved into his once flawless flesh.

Despite years of self-imposed solitude, Niko hungers for companionship and suffers from an aching loneliness that the darkness cannot satisfy. He temporarily soothes his pain with women, hired women, whose only purpose is to service him. Easy.

He didn’t expect a complication like Cambree Evans, but desperation corrupts even the most innocent.

When emotions blend with lust, will Cambree’s softness and ability to look past Niko’s flaws be the one thing that releases him from his own personal hell?

Will the monster in the dark prove that his savaged heart is worth saving?

“I’m not scared of you,” Cambree’s voice is fragile and shaky when she finally speaks. “I’m scared of the dark.”
The admission almost brings me to my knees. I’ve never known someone to be so honest, especially in my home, where I control everything right down to the temperature, the mood, the lighting. She is not frightened because she is about to screw a complete stranger. She is simply scared of the dark like a child. Yet the thought of her being so forthcoming doesn’t irk me, it makes me feel normal, if only for a few seconds.
“I cannot help you there, Miss Evans. You see…I am the darkness. With me you have to accept that and move on. If that isn’t something you can become accustomed to, then I am afraid our business deal has ended before we gave it a chance to really blossom.”
 My movement makes a creaking sound as I step forward on the hardwood floor. I can hear her breathing growing more erratic as I near. The smell of jasmine fills my nostrils. The scent is heavenly. “If you want to leave, you know where the door is.” I hope she doesn’t want to flee my presence already.
Unlike my new guest, my eyes are used to the dark. Where she fights to see me, I can see her silhouette perfectly and I use it to my advantage to drink her up. Cambree stays mute, her body swaying back and forth, her feet firmly glued to the floor.
“I don’t understand why you have the lights off. That wasn’t explained to me,” Cambree probes.
“I assume that you read our agreement very carefully?” I ask, taking another step in her direction, wondering why she is wondering such imprudent things.
“Yes. Yes, I did. But never once did it mention anything about the lights.”
My voice now exasperated drifts like fog in the air. “I hired you under the pretense that you while you’re here, with me, under my roof, you play by my rules. Rule number one, I like the lights off. I understand now, that you are frightened of the dark, and I do not wish for you to be afraid. Next time, I give you my word to try and be more accommodating to your fears. Now, shall we?”

Nacole Stayton is the Amazon Bestselling author of The Upside of Letting Go, as well as other new adult and contemporary romance titles, including A Graceful Mess and In the Lyrics. She is twenty-something years young and currently resides in the Bluegrass State where she spends her days working at a local hospital in the billing department and nights writing vigorously on her current novel. She has a passion for helping others and wears her University of Kentucky gear proudly. While her husband loves all things outdoors, Nacole enjoys the finer things in life, like getting pedicures while reading on her Kindle. She is passionate about her faith, family, and The Vampire Diaries.

$50.00 Gift Card and 2 Signed Copies (Three Winners)
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Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: #StealingHisheart by @DianeAlberts

September 8, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
This is the 2nd book in the Shillings Agency series. Be sure to check out the contest below and enter to win a paperback of TEMPORARILY YOURS (Shillings Agency #1) and a $20 gift card.
ShH_500

A sexy category romance from Entangled publishing’s Brazen imprint…

Shillings Agency employee Jake Forsythe is not happy to discover that the thief who he has to track down is none other than his ex-partner from his past. Now he’s forced to blackmail her into submission…or throw her in jail.

Tara Harris steals from the rich and corrupted, returning objects to their rightful owners one case at a time. When Jake shows up in her life, at first, she’s thrilled. But then when she finds out that she has to help the man she stole from or go to jail…it’s the choice between two evils.

These two can’t deny the burning passion between them, but when push comes to shove, they’ll have to lay their hearts and their lives on the line.

 

Buy Links
Review
4 stars

I know you want me. Know you want to feel me moving inside of you, making you come so many times you lose count. I know you want me to dominate you. Take you. Fuck you. Own you.

Well slap my ass and fuck me sideways but Diane Alberts/Jen McLaughlin knows how to write one sinfully hot hero. Good lawd. You want a dominant hero with a filthy mouth then you NEED to meet Jake Forsythe. Did I also happen to mention the tats? Because that’s just the icing on top of the alpha cake here…

Jake is a security expert at Shillings Agency hired to lure a thief that managed to infiltrate a safe for one of the agency’s clients. There’s just one problem; the thief happens to be his childhood friend, almost lover, and constant temptation Tara Harris.

Get the code. Get rid of the girl. Simple.

Not quite, Jake. Not quite.

Tara is a thief. Hired by clients that are looking to reclaim their rightful property, she steals from the rich and corrupted. Call her a thief with a code of honor. The last person she expects to see while on a new op is her childhood friend and the man that almost took her virginity and then walked out of her life over eight years ago. And now he’s back…and blackmailing her into helping him. Combination for disaster or reigniting an old flame? How about a little of both?

Tara was sassy and smart mouthed, but I wished she made Jake work for things a little harder. Especially when he would royally fuck up (and boy did he), she let him off too easy in my opinion.

Jake is broody and domineering with a bit of kink thrown in.

When I fuck a woman, she needs to play by my rules. She needs to obey me. You’re not that woman.

Did I mention broody?

No one could have saved me because I didn’t need saving in the first place.”
“What about now?” she whispered.
“Now I’m beyond hope. Nothing can save me. Not even you.”

While I felt for him, I also felt like he was a straight up ass to Tara during the first half. Their first time? I wanted to jock punch him for how he handled it after.

While the dominating during sex was mostly hot, at times it didn’t quite work for me. The thing of it is, there’s a fine line between making a hero be dominant without having him be Dominant. You feel me? What I mean is, there’s a fine line of skating around the BDSM genre. I understand this is not a BDSM romance, but Jake had Dom-like kinks, sadly he didn’t quite come off as a Dom. More like a hot asshole with a control fetish. I felt that the lines were crossed for me a few times, and I really wasn’t a big fan of that.

He does soften up a little towards the second half…until his royal fuck up at the end. But no worries, because there’s also a verra nice grovel. The grovel most certainly won me over. Tara finally did what I wished she’d done more of throughout the rest of the book, she made him work for it. Hard.

But all that aside, let’s talk about Gordon (another character that was introduced here) for a hot second here. We have sexy, tattoos, mysterious and broken. Oh and when I stalked the author down she also said he’s a very very bad boy. Ummmm….SOLD! Cannot wait for his book.

About the Author
DianeA
Diane Alberts is a multi-published, bestselling contemporary romance author with Entangled Publishing. She also writes New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling new adult books under the name Jen McLaughlin. She’s hit the Top 100 lists on Amazon and Barnes and Noble numerous times with numerous titles. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.
Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.
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Review: ☆Chasing Trouble☆ by @JoyaRyanAuthor

September 8, 2014 by · Leave a Comment


Bad boys are the best kind of trouble… Kindergarten teacher Jenna Justice has lived her life by the book—right school, right career, right image. Too bad the townsfolk of Diamond, Kansas, have a hard time forgetting that she wasn’t born on the right side of the tracks. The only way J.J. can land her dream job is to keep her wild side buried and her reputation clean. But when she finds herself in another town, one without prying eyes, she allows herself one fantasy-filled night with her best friend’s bad boy brother.

Professional bull rider Colt McCade is grounded for the summer with an injury. After their sizzling night together, he finds himself wanting to pick up where he and the prim and not-so-proper Ms. Justice left off. Problem is, she isn’t interested in his idea of “healing,” which involves ice cubes and a whole lot of heavy breathing. But the closer he gets, the more he sees that his fast-and-loose reputation could cost her the job of her dreams. He wants to do the right thing, but walking away from her could cost him everything…

Buy Links
Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Review

4.5 stars

Take me, Colt.”
“Anything you want, sugar. But you’re gonna have to hold on tight, because this rodeo is just getting started.”

OK Joya Ryan, fess up woman! Inquiring minds want to know; where have you been all my life and why am I only finding the awesome that is your writing now? Hmm? Fine, fine, likely that’s my fault but definitely one I am rectifying after this book by auto-buying every future book in this series. It’s that good. Seriously.

 Sign me up for some scandal please, every night, a few times a night. Because, ladies, let me tell you, Colt is one deliciously sexy bad boy bull rider. Lawd but the man did it for me. I’m talking down to the point of how he wore his ball cap and then flipped the bill backwards right before taking the heroine against the tree. I ask you, how HOT is that? Rhetorical question really, so moving on.

Jenna Justice or JJ has grown up with the weight of her mother’s reputation on her shoulders. Living in a small town has a way of putting a girl’s every move under a microscope, and being a kindergarten teacher puts her under even more scrutiny. So she lives her life on the straight and narrow, a proper, no scandal wanting girl. Too bad her best friend’s brother is a constant temptation, especially now that he’s back in town while healing from a rodeo injury.

He was her knight in a shiny pickup, and the feelings he stirrer went far beyond platonic.

Colt is not known as the Rodeo Romeo for nothing. He’s not exactly a relationship type, more of a one night of sweaty bodies between the sheets type. So color him surprised when the one woman that tempts him is also the one woman that is the exact opposite of what he usually wants. JJ is the forever type, and he just doesn’t have forever in him. But he can certainly give them what they both want while he’s still in town…

He plunged into her over and over. The look in his eyes, the praise in his kiss- Jenna felt him all the way to her bones. She was in over her head, but it was too late now. And God help her, she didn’t want to go back.

Everything about this book worked for me, the story, all the secondary characters, and especially Colt and JJ. You feel the chemistry between them right away, and it only burns hotter as the story progressed. I love a romance that can grab me and keep me invested in the characters beyond the hot sex. And let me tell you, the sex? Was damn hot.

Colt wants JJ but doesn’t think he’s made for relationships. JJ wants Colt but is afraid she’s not good enough being the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Plus, let’s not forget the scandal that it may cause her if someone finds out about her affair. Her job just may be on the line. I truly felt for both of them and was rooting for them from beginning to end. The progression of Colt’s feeling from lust into something more was believable and oh so satisfying

Joya Ryan wrote a scorching hot romance that’s sexy, a little sweet, and a whole lot addicting. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next. I already stalked her down to confirm that Penny and Bass’s story is next and I for one am itching for that book in all my pervy anticipation. ESPECIALLY after the little previews we get into their personalities in this book.

If you’re looking for a new author to add to your auto-buy list, you’ve found her. This was book was a the perfect beginning to what looks to be a fun and sexy series.

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