ARC Review: ☆Among the Echoes☆ by @AlyMartinezAuth

August 19, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Title: Among the Echoes
Author: Aly Martinez
Publication Date: July 31, 2014
Genre: Erotic Suspense
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My name was Dr. Erica Hill. I was a victim, then a witness, and then I ceased to exist altogether.

I may still be breathing, but stripped of my identity, I have long since stopped living. I am invisible, and my life depends on my ability to stay in the shadows.

But he sees me.

Slate Andrews is the embodiment of everything I have been taught to avoid. He’s rich and famous, and one image of him with a woman would earn millions for any paparazzi lucky enough to snap it. He has vowed to protect me with his life, yet he exposes me with his every breath. I should be stronger and walk away. I should disappear. But I’m terrified he would come after me.

I’m on the run, determined not to take him down with me but absolutely unable to let him go.

My name is Riley Peterson…at least for today.

*Among The Echoes is a stand alone novel which contains material that may be offensive to some readers. Including sexual abuse, graphic language, and adult situations. Intended for readers 18+.*

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N

4 Stars

Our relationship was established on secrets and lies, but in the end it flourished through truths. Slate told me years ago that we all have scars, and our relationship is no different. It could have easily been ruined from the start, but he fought for me- even when I couldn’t fight for myself.

This was my first book by Aly Martines, and what gave me to push to read it? Would you look at me different if I told you it was the cover? What? You would? Well then it definitely wasn’t that? But I exaggerate, it was the combination of the cover and the first few sentences of the blurb.

My name was Dr. Erica Hill. I was a victim, then a witness, and then I ceased to exist altogether.


I may still be breathing, but stripped of my identity, I have long since stopped living. I am invisible, and my life depends on my ability to stay in the shadows.

Then I read the first couple of chapters and I. Was. Hooked. The story grips you by the throat with the very first line. Though the rest of the book is a bit more of a slow built. I was a little thrown off with the introduction of one of the characters when I realized he wasn’t the hero, but by the second half of the book I understood why he couldn’t have been.
Erica Hill is a survivor, but surviving that night came with a price; her identity. She’s no longer the woman she used to be, that woman is hidden behind a fearful and demure shell.

Slate Andrews is a celebrity in his own right. The heavyweight champion of the world in boxing, he’s looking to escape the flash and glamor of his daily life and just unwind as a nobody in a place where no one knows who he is…including his neighbor. She may come off as a little mouse, but behind her eyes he sees something more, and as he gets to know the woman more, he knows what he wants.

Erica is not typically a heroine that I enjoy reading about. Her experience has traumatized her, and understandably so after what she’s been through. She’s scared of her own shadow and even more scared of falling for the sinfully sexy and protective man next door. But every now and then there were bursts of her true personality and I’d find myself warming up to her more and more.

Slate was…well he was just everything. Aly Martinez has written a super protective hero without having him come across as an OTT caveman. She’s also written a hero that is a perfect mix of sweet with a sinfully sexy side of dirty talker. And I couldn’t help but love every single side of him.

The story is a slow build but a very engaging one. The author reveals the details to you bit by small bit throughout the story, and I personally really enjoyed that. While you may have plenty of questions in the beginning, I can tell you that every single one of them will be answered toward the end. I particularly liked the “twist” that was thrown in at the end there.
Aly Martinez definitely has a new fan in me after this book and I’m really looking forward to (view spoiler)[Leo’s (hide spoiler)] book next. He was such an amazing side character that I just can’t wait to read about him more in his own book.
**ARC courtesy of author in exchange of an honest review**

AuthorPhotoAlyMBorn and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in Chicago, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

Don’t forget to check out Aly’s Wrecked and Ruined series
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ARC Review: ☆Broken☆ by @_LaurenLayne

August 17, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Lauren Layne’s New Adult novel tells the story of a girl with secrets, a guy with scars, and a love that could save them both… or destroy them.

When Olivia Middleton abandons the glamour of Park Avenue for a remote, coastal town in Maine, everyone assumes she’s being the kind do-gooder she’s always been. But Olivia has a secret: helping an injured war veteran reenter society isn’t about charity—it’s about penance. Only, Olivia’s client isn’t the grateful elderly man she’s expecting. Instead, he’s a brooding twenty-four-year-old who has no intention of being Olivia’s path to redemption . . . and whose smoldering gaze and forbidden touch might be her undoing.

Paul Langdon doesn’t need a mirror to show him he’s no longer the hotshot quarterback he was before the war. He knows he’s ugly—inside and out. He’ll do anything to stay in self-imposed exile, even accept his father’s ultimatum that Paul tolerate the newest caretaker for three months or lose his inheritance. But Paul doesn’t count on the beautiful twenty-two-year-old who makes him long for things that he can never have. And the more she slips past his defenses, the more keeping his distance is impossible.

Now Paul and Olivia have to decide: Will they help each other heal? Or are they forever broken?

 Releasing: September 2, 2014
Pre-order:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble

4.5 Beauty and the Beast Stars


I almost want to laugh at how messed up we are.
Two completely shattered souls doing a weird approach-and-recoil dance around each other.

Remember Olivia from Isn’t She Lovely? She was Ethan’s ex girlfriend who broke his heart. Ring a bell? What started out with a lighthearted take on Pygmalion, now continues with an angsty and emotional take of Beauty and the Beast with Broken. This is the story of 2 damaged souls, Olivia and Paul. One is seeking penance while the other seeks oblivion. Can they heal each other without shattering their already broken pieces?

I wasn’t sure how I would like Olivia in her own book since saying that I liked her in Isn’t She Lovely would be an understatement. Lauren Layne certainly managed to redeem her in my eyes. With a deeper look into who she really is and the things that drive, you can tell that beneath the rich society girl is a also a girl that made a mistake and is looking for any way to redeem herself. She’s also running. Running from her daily life and her daily reminders of what she did and can no longer fix. So she takes a job in Maine caring for a war veteran. She just didn’t see Paul coming…

Paul is scarred and angry. He’s angry at the world, he’s angry at his life, and he’s angry at anyone that breaks his reclusive routine. So when his father announce that the new caretaker after the many before that he’s already run off is his last chance, he’s less than thrilled about it.

Ladies, let me just tell you, if you like your heroes to be colossal (and I mean COLOSSAL assholes) prepare to fall for Paul. Paul is the epitome of broken. He’s scarred inside and out, and his road to redemption is not a fast one. This is not someone that lays their eyes on Olivia and insto presto he’s smitten. Oh no. He was downright callous, but you still can’t help but fall for him. Your heart will hurt for him at the same time you will want to throttle the living daylights out of him and his treatment of Olivia.

The author gives the reader just the right amount of small tidbits and tiny morsels of the man that he can be, that will leave you almost torn between loving and hating him at the same time.

But don’t be fooled, because those few morsels are rare and few in between.


You want me?” he asks against my mouth. “You want my hands on you?”
Little alarm bells are going off in the back of my head. There’s no warmth in his words. No kindness, or even desire. He’s playing some sort of cruel game in which my body is definitely the playing board. And I’m a willing participant.

At times my head would be spinning between his rage and the small glimpses at the broken soul he hides beneath the cold and broken exterior.

Little by little Olivia begins to do what no other caretaker before her has accomplished; she begins to chip away at his walls. But will he let them down enough to let her into his heart?


Somewhere inside of me, a demon is telling me that I’m going to disappoint her. That I’m going to destroy her.

This book had a much more serious, emotional, and angsty undercurrent. And when I say angsty, I mean ANGSTY. But there’s also a small dose of steam to break it up

Soon followed by more angst.

What can I possibly tell you about this book other than it’s a must read? What else do you need? Read it and see for yourself. I know I for one cannot wait to see what this incredibly talented author has in store for the next book in the series. Dare I hope for Michael’s book next?

**ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

All quotes taken from the Advanced Reader Copy of book and may differ from the finished published version

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ARC Review: ☆Tempting Her Best Friend (What Happens in Vegas)☆ by @Gina_L_Maxwell

August 17, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

A satisfying contemporary romance from Entangled’s Lovestruck imprint…

Alyssa Miller is tired of waiting for her next-door neighbor to see her as more than just his best friend. Ready to let off some steam, she heads to Las Vegas for a romance book convention where, if she’s lucky, she’ll get down and dirty with one of the sexy cover models.

Dillon Alexander doesn’t do commitment—especially not where his best friend is concerned. She deserves a man who can give her the world, not damaged goods. But when he realizes Alyssa intends to have a one-night stand on her vacation, he hauls ass after her to make surehe’s the one to scratch her itch.

Neither of them expects their explosive chemistry to burn hotter than the lights on the strip, but with a little help from Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, a flamboyant matchmaker, and TSA, what happens in Vegas might not stay in Vegas…

Amazon / Barnes & Noble
4 What Happens in Vegas Stars

To love someone is to know fear. Gut-wrenching, soulcrushing fear. Fear that your love won’t always be enough. Fear that something terrible could rip them away from you. There are dozens, hundreds of scenarios, but they all come down to the same thing: when you love someone with all your heart, the scariest thing imaginable is having to live without them.

If you’re looking for an easy, romantic, steamy and cute read, you really can’t go wrong with this book. The friends to lover trope is a tried and true method, and never fails to bring on a smile to my face, especially when it’s written by the fabulous Gina Maxwell. Gina puts her own spin on falling for your best friend with a little bit of Vegas craziness thrown in, a masquerade ball and a sexy Tarzan. Curious?You’ll have to read it find out more 😉

But I can give you a spoiler free cliff’s notes…

Alyssa Miller has been in love for her best friend for years. Heck, they’re practically acting like a married couple considering they live next to each other and see each other on a daily basis. Oh, except without the sex… and the never ending line of women that frequent her neighbor’s apartment.

Alyssa would love for Dillon to see her as something other that his sexless best friend, but she’s giving up hope. Her libido has certainly had enough of it. Batteries will only get a girl so far.

Tired of her risk-free and boring life, Alyssa decides that a weekend at a Romance book convention is the key to solve her dry spell. A steamy night spent with a sexy cover model she’ll never have to see again after seems just the key. Too bad Dillon is not exactly on board with that idea…

Dillon Alexander has always had feelings for his best friend, but he’s not the commitment sort and he knows he’s not what a woman like her needs. But when the idea of Aly with another man brings out his inner caveman? Let’s say a man will go to great lengths to resolve a situation; like follow her to Vegas and propose that he be the man to scratch her itch…no complications or strings need apply

Then, in the privacy of her room, he’d give her exactly what she wanted: excitement, passion, and multiple orgasms. Batteries not required.

And when the man puts his plan into action? Well let’s just say Alyssa never stood a chance

So what happens?
What starts of as this

Turns into a whole lot of this

I loved the setting of Vegas and all the fabulous side characters that were introduced. While this wasn’t anything I haven’t really read before, it was entertaining from beginning to finish. A little cute, a little sexy, sometime a touch cheesy, but still wonderful. An angst light, fluffy and romantic read that will appeal to all lovers of contemporary romance.

I hope that Dillon’s twin will be getting a book next. This is just one of those light and easy reads that are perfect for in between reads or just when you need a cute and uplifting romance.

**ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review**

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ARC Review: ☆Tell Me Something Good☆ by Jamie Wesley

August 17, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

A satisfying category romance from Entangled’s brand new Lovestruck imprint…

Two radio show hosts. One show. Who will come out on top?

In a moment of restlessness, Tate Grayson sold his multimillion-dollar company and spun his love of sports into a radio talk show. Life, and love, is too short to take seriously—a fact he enjoys rubbing in uptight radio host Noelle Butler’s face.

After the death of her parents, a tragedy she blamed on herself, Noelle vowed to live a controlled, focused life. Now a psychologist, she channels her need for connection into her radio show. But when the arrogant sportscaster next door tells listeners men shouldn’t get married, she’s all too happy to yank the silver spoon out of his overprivileged mouth.

Their heated on-air arguments are a hit, but when the station director forces them to do a joint show for two weeks, Tate and Noelle object. They can’t stand each other, despite the attraction sizzling beneath every interaction. But if they can’t pull the struggling radio station back from the brink, they’ll lose their jobs. Or worse, their hearts.

3.5 Stars

She had commitment written all over her. For him, relationships were all about temporary fun. Women looking for a ring need not apply.

What happens when an uppity psychologist that gives love advice on the radio comes head to head with a structure hating sports talk show host? This book.

Noelle Butler and Tate Grayson couldn’t be more different. Noelle is a radio host for a love advice show. She lives her life in a neat and structured order, dreams of a love that her parents had, and gives love advice to the masses on her show. Her view on relationships? They need to have the 3 C’s

Cool, commitment, and communication. Are you cool with each other? Are you committed to each other and making the relationship work? Finally, are you respectfully communicating with each other about your feelings?

All is right with her world until Tate “The Great” Grayson, the sports talk host at the same radio station as her and commitment-phobe decides to call into her show and offer his views…

“My three C’s are chill, cling-off, and change.
Chill. Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Don’t let her fool you into thinking you can’t live without her because you can. Cling-off is kind of like bug repellent. Don’t let her cling. If you follow those two words, it makes change all the easier. When things get boring, bam, you’re off, your emotions unattached.”

They may butt heads when it comes to their views on relationships, but that doesn’t mean they’re not radio gold when they do it. So it’s only logical that their station director forces them to do a joint show for two weeks. A recipe for disaster or for the sparks between them to truly fly? Guess you’ll have to read to find out.

I enjoyed this book, but I can’t really tell you that I loved it. I think it was just a little too “sweet” for my personal tastes. It’s completely a case of it’s me not the book. This read like a really cute romantic comedy, but while I enjoyed it for the most part, I just didn’t fell that connection between Noelle and Tate. Their bickering was entertaining but felt more friendly than sexual for the most part…at least in the beginning. I’d definitely recommend this book for those readers that enjoy a sweet contemporary romance. Who knows, I am in the minority with my opinion, so you just may love it. The writing was great and I’ll happily read Jamie Wesley’s future books.

**ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange of an honest review**

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ARC Review: ☆Crave The Night (Midnight Breed, 12)☆ by @lara_adrian

August 16, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Born and raised to be an emotionless killing machine, Nathan is one of the most lethal Breed vampires in existence. A key member of the Order—an elite group of warriors charged with protecting both mortals and vampires—Nathan executes each mission with flawless precision and a total lack of mercy. Now he must pursue a powerful, hidden enemy. But Nathan’s hard discipline and training are no match for the fierce pull he feels toward a young woman he has no right to desire—a woman of wealth and high social standing who has long been promised to another Breed male, and who may also prove to be the key to rooting out Nathan’s elusive quarry.

Jordana lives a life of glittering privilege as a member of a prominent Breed family in Boston. Surrounded by fine things and fawning admirers, Jordana wants for nothing—until she crosses paths with a dark, intense warrior from the Order and finds herself swept into an impulsive, sizzling kiss that neither of them will forget. As much as she tries to deny her deep feelings for Nathan, Jordana cannot resist the craving to be near him, to break through his forbidding walls and see the man he truly is. But getting close to Nathan will thrust Jordana into a treacherous new world, forcing her to risk all she has and all she knows about herself and her past. And loving this seductive man could be the most dangerous temptation of all.

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Review
4 stars

She was stepping off that ledge tonight, falling too fast.
Falling too hard for a lethal, untouchable Breed male who’d promised her nothing.
She knew this, the same way she understood that if reality waited for her at the bottom of this mad leap, it was certain to break her.

12 books into a series, and Lara Adrian is still going strong. This was another fantastic addition in the Midnight Breed series and seems to just get better for me. If you’ve been following the series, than just like me you have been itching to finally get the story for Nathan who we first meet as the long lost son of Corinne who was raised as a Hunter until his rescue at 13 in Deeper Than Midnight.

He was the fighting dog, rescued from the squalor and violence of the betting puts and brought into a kind, loving home to live a better life.

Knowing what his childhood was like and seeing his seemingly cold and hard exterior, you just knew that the man’s book will be good. And the best part? It wasn’t just good. It was better.

He chased.
He conquered.
He destroyed.

This is man that’s been honed to be a killer. He was bred to be unfeeling and cold, feeling never even coming into the mix for him…until a beautiful blonde changed everything with a simple kiss…

He fed and fucked because he had to, but he did it on his terms. Always under his strict control, in order to retain the edge of the honed, unfeeling weapon he’d been born and raised, mercilessly trained to be.
Jordana Gates had broken all of his rules.

Even though Jordana first comes off like a very demure heroine, she’s not at all what she seems to be. I love that every heroine in this series is fierce in their own right, and this definitely comes out in the story in one hell of a twist.

Among the action and twists and turns that are on constant in this book, in the center is the love story between a man that’s been bred not to feel and a woman that’s determined to bring out his lost humanity.

Jordana Gates was off limits for many reasons, but most of all this: Because she was pure. She was innocent.
He wouldn’t be the one to take that from her.
He couldn’t take that from anyone, not the way his hungers ran.

There was never a dull moment throughout the entire story and I couldn’t bring myself to put it down. While all the old characters are back, we also get a little bit more on the new ones. While I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the series being taken into the future and the previous characters’ kids coming into the mix, I’m certainly sold on it now. It was a super smooth transition and I’m just as interested in the new characters as I was in the old….especially Rune and Carys who I’m hoping will get a book next.

But of course, my favorite part of this book was the building romance between Nathan and Jordana.

When I’m near him, it’s as though I’m standing naked in the middle of a raging storm. He makes me feel as if I’m on the steepest cliff, about to lose my footing. That if I step too close to him, I might never get back on solid ground.

And then there was the scorching hot sex…

This book had everything. I love the twist and the new additions of The Atlanteans into the mix. This was and continues to be one of my favorite PNR series, and I cannot wait to see what Lara Adrian has in store for us next.

She’d captivated him with a kiss. She’d challenged him, gentled him. Now she owned him.

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ARC Review: ☆Power Play☆ by Mallery Malone

August 16, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Raphael Jerroult a.k.a. the Crescent City Casanova, has fought his whole life—both in and out of the boxing ring. Watching his father suffer for years after his mother’s death, he’s resolved to envelop himself in a shell made of money, MMA matches, and a different woman every day. But when an old flame, and the only woman he’s ever truly let in, comes back in his life, Raphael can’t stop being distracted by the red-headed beauty with the curves that go on for days…

Macy Lovelace has no desire to start things up again with Raphael. Memories of the sweetest torture she’s ever known can’t make her forget that he’s not cut out for long-term love. But Macy’s the only girl who Raphael ever let in, the only girl who really knows his sexy, dangerous side. And with the Crescent City Casanova, the only way to keep up, is to be tied down…

Amazon / Barnes & Noble
3.5 Lovers Reunited Stars

This was much more than she remembered. He was much more than she remembered.

Don’t let the “billionaire” series title or the page count fool you, this book is much more that it seems to be at first glance. The cover whore in me simply couldn’t pass up that cover, and the dirty talking MMA fighter lover in me simply couldn’t pass up that synopsis. So I read it…and I’m so glad I did.

If you love the lovers reunited trope, you’ll really enjoy this one. While I can’t say that this was so unlike anything I’ve read before, it was a thoroughly entertaining, romantic, and steamy read from beginning to finish. Mallery Malone has managed to accomplish what I find quite rare, give a fully developed story with MCs that you will fall for from the beginning in just 90 short pages. Typically with short novellas I don’t connect with the characters since the pace is just too quick, but that wasn’t the case here. The story and character development was fantastic.

The sex was scorching hot but it wasn’t instant, which I appreciated as it gave me time to truly get invested in the characters and their love and backstory. The connection between Macy and Raffael was believable and even managed to pull at some of my heart strings.

If you’re looking for a short yet steamy novella with a lovers reunited trope, you can’t go wrong with this one. Perfect in-between books read, it had a little of everything. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book.

ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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ARC Review: ☆One Night of Sin☆ by @ElleKennedy

August 9, 2014 by · 3 Comments

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

Sometimes it’s good to be bad…

When it comes to sex, good girl Skyler Thompson always plays it safe, choosing stable and sedate over wild and thrilling. She doesn’t do one-night-stands, but one look at sinfully sexy Gage Holt and she’s willing to reconsider. He makes her want to be bad for once in her life, and she’s prepared to take what she wants.

Danger follows former MMA fighter Gage Holt like a shadow. Despite his successes as part owner of Sin, an exclusive nightclub in Boston, Gage can’t risk getting involved with a woman, especially one as sweet as Skyler. Still, he can’t resist a taste—and it’s so damn good he has to see her again.

As addicted as he is to her, Gage knows there’s no future for him and Skyler—not with his past lurking in the dark corners of an MMA cage. But Skylar’s tougher than she looks, and she’s ready to fight for her man.

Only $.99!!!

4 Sinfully Hot & dirty talking Stars


You say the filthiest things,” she moaned.
“That’s ’cause I’m a filthy boy. A very filthy boy that needs to be punished. So now ride me until I can’t see straight.”

Ha! See what I did there?

If you’re at all familiar with Elle Kennedy’s writing then you know that the woman can write some fucking HAWT books. And One Night of Sin? Sweet baby jebus! This book needs to come with a warning…and I mean A WARNING!

  • Book may cause sporadic ovary CUMbustion
  • Make sure you stock up on batteries or have your significant other on hand
  • Gage and his dirty mouth may give you a hot flash…or 30
  • Thinking about Gage and his dirty mouth may also make you impatient to wait if significant other isn’t on hand at the moment


Oh…there’s also a story somewhere in there. I swears! If I can only remember what that is now. Ahh yes, it’s all coming back to me now.

We have Gage Holt a former MMA fighter and current part owner of a club, and a verra bad boy. As far as first meetings go? He’s got that part covered…


That’s what you want, isn’t it? For me to fuck you right here, right now, against the wall. Isn’t that what you want, Skyler?”

Be reasonable, what woman can resist THAT? Certainly not Skyler Thompson, a good girl that’s always played it safe when it came to sex. So when on a bad date while at club Sin, she catches the eye of the sinfully sexy and tatted up Cage? Let’s just say she know exactly what she wants…and she really makes no qualms about going after it.

But luckily she’s forward without coming off as desperate or brash, which is typically my kryptonite with heroines.

The set up is not really unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Bad boy meets good girl. Boy isn’t looking for a commitment because he’s not “fit” to be in one. Boy and girl agree to some no string sex.


…we need to lay down a few ground rules.”
“What kind of rules?”
“Actually, there’s only one. This thing between us…it’ll be just sex. That’s all I can give you.”
“Fine, great, I’ll take six more orgasms.”

And since your offer sounds so tempting, Cage…

As far as the plot goes, it’s entertaining and the book reads very quick. Well…give or take a few “breaks”. Uhem.

I loved the set up for the 3 partners, all of who are former MMA fighters. This definitely was a hot little book in what looks to be a very promising and sinfully delicious series.

Did I also mention the hot sex?


Are all your fights usually so quick?”
Nope. I wanted it over fast so I could take you home and fuck you.

But don’t worry, it’s not just smut and zero story. If you’re looking for a scorching hot book with a dirty talking MMA fighter and a good girl gone bad? Looks like you’ve got your next read here 😉

**ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review**

But seriously guys, this is a STEAL for $.99. If you want a hot and steamy read with a hero that will quite literally melt the panties off of you, this is a must read. Huge rec from this dirty girl 😉

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ARC Review: ☆Temptation☆ by @RobinCovington

August 7, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
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Burn up the sheets one page at a time with Robin Covington and her sizzling romance, Temptation!!
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She needs to be good.
Five years ago, Kit Landry was homeless and alone at sixteen. Determined to ditch her crappy life, she moved to Nashville with only $200, her guitar, and a notebook full of songs. She hit it big as America’s country sweetheart, but a year of living like a rock star plus a stint in rehab has killed any good will she had with her label. The suits have ordered Kit to shape up or ship out of the limelight. The last thing she needs is a hot, sexy distraction with a sinful smile.
He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.
Max Butler is as far from a celebrity as you can get and he likes it that way. A Nashville firefighter, he’s living the single life with a revolving door of parties, friends, and a different woman in his bed every night. When his normal life suddenly collides with the girl on his favorite Rolling Stone cover, he sees the perfect chance to fulfill his ultimate fantasy and see just how bad Kit can be.
Sometimes bad is so very good.
With three weeks until Kit leaves for her big tour, Max promises to give her a break from being the good girl–no strings attached. But when hot days lead to sultry nights, the lines get blurred and suddenly three weeks of bad might not be good enough.
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Review
4 stars

I had thought the fire was dangerous, but I was wrong. Max was the thing I needed to worry about.
“You’re no angel,” I whispered.
“I’m glad you finally figured it out.”

I have yet to read a Robin Covington book I didn’t enjoy, and Temptation was no exception. Steamy, a little angsty, entertaining and satisfying; it was the perfect NA contemporary read.

Kit Landry is America’s country sweetheart.

The guitar was more important to me than any lover, our connection elemental, and I respected the hell out of it.

But she wasn’t always the good girl she is today. After her stint in rehab and her bad girl ways landing her in every gossip magazine, her label is threatening to drop her. To keep her career on the up and up, she needs to keep her image good and focus on her music. So now Kit must be the epitome of good, and to do that the last thing she needs is a bad boy that will test her every resolve.

Max Butler is a bad boy firefighter. He may risk his life running into burning buildings, but he has no interest in risking his heart to giving it to another woman…ever.

But a little no string, no commitment fun between the sheets with his own personal fantasy? Sign him up. So when he gets the opportunity to get close to Kit after rescuing her from a fire, he doesn’t think twice about it.

I went at her again like I was starving.
And I was famished. For her. It was the craziest thing I’d ever experienced, but I wasn’t going to let a little insanity stop me.

While the chemistry between them was nothing short of scorching,

both Kit and Max are gun shy when it comes to anything more. Max from being burned by a woman in his past, and Kit from another reason from her past.

I really loved that this was written in dual first person POV, but that’s usually my preference. This did have quite a bit of back and forth between Kit and Max. There was that element of ‘I want you, but I can’t’, but it wasn’t overdone or OTT in my opinion. I could have done without that additional “drama” at the 90% mark, but then again it DID fit the story so it didn’t bother me too much.

I liked both Kit and Max…well that’s a lie. I liked Kit but Max is what made my pervy little heart go all pitter patter with his deliciously sexy dirty talking ways. This author definitely knows her way around a sex scene. Damn.

If you’ve never read a Robin Covington book before, this is the perfect one to start with. I promise you’ll be going to her back list immediate after.

P.S.
My casting has been gratuitously stolen from the author’s inspiration behind Max and Kit 😉

About the AuthorRobin Covington, who NYT Best Selling authors, Robyn Carr and Carly Phillips, said was their new “auto-buy author”, writes sizzling hot contemporary and paranormal romance.

A Night of Southern Comfort, her best-selling debut novel was a 2012 finalist in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awards, earned 4.5 stars and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”. When she’s not exploring the theme of fooling around and falling in love, she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello.

Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington and Maryland Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today. You can find Robin on her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (@RobinCovington).

Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppy.

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Blog Tour & Review: ☆Buried☆ by @SelenaLaurence

August 6, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
BURIED by Selena Laurence
Blog Tour and Giveaway

Buried

Hiding from Love #3 
by Selena Laurence
Releases  August 4, 2014
* Stand Alone Novel *
Seven years ago, Juan Martinez lost everything—his only parent, his home, his life as he’d known it. Alone, lost, and desperate, he turned to the Reyes Hispanos—the RH—one of the most violent gangs in South Texas. But when you sell your soul to the devil, you pay a heavy price. Convicted of a drive-by shooting, Juan has served hard time. Finally out on parole, he wants to disappear—from the RH, from memories of all that he’s lost, and especially from the gorgeous woman who just showed up next door.

Beth Garcia grew up following after her older brother, David, and his best friend, Juan. She always dreamed of a day when she’d be old enough for Juan to look at her as someone other than David’s little sister. But he disappeared at seventeen, after his mother was deported, and Beth thought she’d lost him forever. When she finds him living at the halfway house next door, she knows he’s still the same guy inside. Determined to save him from himself and the RH, Beth sets out to prove that he didn’t commit the crime he was convicted of. But the path to absolution is dark, and even Beth may not be able to discover the real Juan.

Can a man with a damaged soul and a beautiful heart let a woman with fierce loyalty and unwavering love risk it all to save him? Or will his past bury them both this time?

4 Stars

I’m going to find Juan- the real Juan. I’m going to bring him back from the dark, deep place of pain and punishment he’s been living in. I know who he is. I’m going to remind him who he is, and then I’m going to make sure the world knows him too.

In my typical fashion of doing things back asswards, I went into this book without having read the previous 2 in this series. What? Don’t act like you’re surprised. What can I tell you after finishing it? 3 things.

1. The story goes to prove what a fantastic author Selena Laurence is
2. You can easily read this as a standalone
3. I will now be going back and reading the previous 2, not because I was lost in the story, but simply because I’m intrigued by the characters.

Juan Martinez has spent the past 7 years in hell. He’s lost his mother, his home, and life as he once knew it. Seeing no other alternative, he turned to the only option he thought was available to him; joining the Reyes Hispanos, one of the most violent gangs in his town of Texas. His life certainly hasn’t been easy, and he’s long since buried all his youthful dreams. The straight A student with dreams of a wife and a white picket fence has been replaced by the cold faced gangster that’s learned to hide everything he feels. After serving hard time for being convicted of a death in a drive-by shooting, Juan only wants one thing; to hide. To hide from his past, to hide from his present, and definitely to hide from the gang that is already breathing down his neck and wants him back into the fold. But all that changes when at his halfway house his past comes crashing into him in the form of Beth Garcia; his childhood best friend’s younger sister and the woman he’s always loved.

Beth still remembers the boy that Juan used to be, and she refuses to believe in the facade of the dangerous gangster he now presents. She doesn’t believe he’s guilty of the crime he was convicted for. She sees beyond the hard exterior to the broken soul of the man beneath. The man that she used to know, and the man that she is determined to find again.

I can’t give you any one word to describe this book, because it doesn’t fit into any particular box or genre that I can think of. It was emotional, heart wrenching, at times sexy, and poignant.

I loved the strength in both of these characters. With every piece of the puzzle of Juan’s past that gets revealed, you get further and further drawn into the story.

Juan for all his bad boy gangster ways was nothing like that with Beth. This was his childhood crush and the girl he always imagined himself being with. So while their connection is instantaneous when the reconnect these 7 years later, you can understand it given their history. Though their relationship is not an easy one with the chaos that surrounds them from Juan’s past life. There was action and quite a few nail biting moments that will keep you glued to the story from beginning to finish.

I also loved how Selena included Joss from A Lush Betrayal in the end here. It was so flawlessly done and just added to my enjoyment of the story to see the two worlds tied together.

**ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review**

The Hiding from Love series

Hidden 
(Nick & Lindsey)
** 99 cents **

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Camoflauged 
(Gabe & Alexis)
** FREE **

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Concealed 
(Gabe & Alexis)

Amazon  | B&N |  iTunes

Buried 
(Juan & Beth)

 Amazon | B&N  | iTunes

Selena Laurence is the Barnes and Noble Bestselling author of what she likes to call Edgy Contemporary Romance. Her books have been Amazon Top 10 bestsellers in multiple categories including Multicultural Romance, Hispanic Fiction, Urban Fiction, Military Romance, and Romantic Suspense. Her New Adult romance, Hidden, won the 2014 Reader’s Crown Award for Contemporary Romance of the year.

Selena lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and spends a hell of a lot of time at soccer games, on her laptop, and reading. She requires a Mocha Latte every day to function, keeps a goldendoodle at her feet most of the time, and has more kids than she or Mr. Laurence know what to do with.

Selena is also author of the Lush Series, a story of four high school friends who form the rock band Lush.  Take a ride with rock stars, men, brothers, and lovers, as Joss, Walsh, Mike, and Colin discover what it means to succeed, to fail, to hurt, and to love.

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ARC Review & Author Interview: ☆No Limits☆ by @lorilfoster

August 5, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

A surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he’s never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…
Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He’s also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she’s older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather’s legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette’s scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he’ll break all the rules to do it…

Releasing: August 26

Available for pre-order
Kindle / Nook / iTunes / BAM / 
Amz Paperback / B&N Paperback
4 Swoony Romance Stars

When need be, I can fight dirty, though usually I just fight for sport. But when it comes to you, I fight to win.

I’ve been a HUGE Lori Foster fan since reading her very first SBC Fighters book years ago. Ever since then, I’ve been stalking the poor author in hopes that’d she’d write another MMA series. Considering that she’s a big fan of sport and it’s very evident in her writing, it just makes it all the better. So when Cannon was first introduced in Getting Rowdy, I’ve been practically salivating at the thought of him getting his own book. I kid you not. Allow me to quote my own review

On a different note, I am absolutely DYING to get a book for Cannon. He was one of my favorite parts of this book. Please please please give us a book for him. Did I happen to mention that he’s a fighter? I would squeal like a teenage girl spotting Justin Bieber if Lori Foster gives us another series like her SBC Fighters with Cannon. Seriously, I’m not even embarrassed to admit that.

So when I began reading this book and realized that Cannon is THE Cannon, I had a little moment

The one thing that I’ve truly come to appreciate in Miss Foster’s books is the way she ties all her characters together flawlessly, even from earlier series. We got Rowdy, Logan, Reese, Dash…and even Havoc had a mention.

Having said that, you can definitely read this as a standalone, though I would recommend reading the novella Hard Knocks, just to get a better introduction to all the fighters. Now on to the review.

Cannon

If you’re looking for a sweet yet incredibly sexy, protective and possessive yet not OTT hero, you simply must meet Cannon.

Three years ago, Cannon rescued her and her grandfather from kidnappers. Yvette has always harbored a school girl crush on the sexy fighter, but then he walked away from her. She was too young, too needy, too vulnerable…or so she thought. But Cannon never forgot the beautiful girl with the green eyes, so when her grandfather’s passing and will gives him the opportunity to fix the wrongs of years’ past, he doesn’t think twice. He wants Yvette, and he’ll have her, but first he needs to convince her.

The one thing that I always liked about Cannon, even when he was a young man in the other series, he was always the sweet guy. He was the neighborhood protector, the nice guy, yet he still exuded that sexy and dangerous vibe without coming off like an asshole. I was so happy to see that didn’t change in his own book. He was still the swoony protector, and still the nice guy. While he hasn’t been a saint in the 3 years he hasn’t seen Yvette, he was dubbed “the Saint” in the SBC for a reason; he treats everyone, even his one night stands with kindness. This is not your stereotypical asshole fighter book hero.

Cannon loses no time at all in making his intentions clear to Yvette. His feelings for her haven’t changed, and if anything they’ve only intensified through the years.

Her impact on him was the same as three years ago when he’d first kissed her. She’d started an itch that had never gone away, and instead had grown to nearly consume him.

Yvette has always had feelings for Cannon, but she never thought he’d reciprocate it. But she’s not the same woman that she was when he rescued her. She’s older, wiser, and determined to fix her problems herself and not be seen as the vulnerable and needy girl used to be.

If you’re looking for some fighting action here, you won’t get it. This is very strictly a romance book with a hero that just happens to be a fighter. And honestly? I can’t complain in the least.

This was a slow burn and slower paced romance, meaning the author didn’t throw the MCs into bed at the very first opportunity. Not even close. The sexual chemistry and tension between them was palpable by the time they burned up the sheets together…and boy did they burn them up. But the sex wasn’t at the center of this book. The romance was. And the romance was perfection. Lori Foster was the author that first introduced me to contemporary romance, and all these books later she continues to remind me why she’s one of my go-to authors in the genre.

This book had a little bit of everything; romance, suspense, and some action. Even a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

Yvette was a character that in any other circumstance would bother me with her insecurities, but something about her just worked for me here. Sure I was frustrated with her a few times, but I also understood why she felt the way that she did, so I was able to look past it.

Then there were the side character; Armie, Denver, Stack, Vanity, Rissy, and Cherry. One future pairing has already been made clear, and let me just tell you I can already tell that that book will be SCORCHING. I can’t wait. I’m so happy that Lori has has written another MMA series, and can’t wait for more. This was the perfect book and couple to start off what promises to be another amazing series.

***ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest revew***

Interview with Lori Foster
Hi Lori! Thanks so much for being here on Dirty Girl Romance blog today. We are super thrilled to share with our readers your upcoming release,  No Limits, and your new Ultimate series. And of course my inner fangirl is squeeing like a teenager at a Justin Bieber concert with excitement here 🙂

But that’s enough about my inner fangirl, let’s talk Cannon!

   
DGR: We first meet Cannon as a young man in Getting Rowdy. Did you know then that you would be writing a book for him? (I have to admit my first thought when I read the book was, ‘please please start another series with him like your SBC Fighters series’. I was a big fan of that series, obviously.)
LF: Thank you so much! Many readers contacted me after Cannon’s appearance in the Love Undercover series. Seemed everyone, including me, liked him from the get-go. And yes, almost as soon as Cannon showed up on the page I knew he wanted his own book. Some characters are like that. I don’t know anything about them. I don’t even know they’re going to appear. Them poof –they show up, steal a scene, and convince me they need a book of their own.  🙂

DGR: I also know you’re a big fan of the MMA, does that make your writing process for this series more fun?

LF: Yes, definitely. It also makes it easier in some ways, more difficult in others. I have a lot of respect for these professional athletes and I want to do them justice while also romanticizing them and enhancing natural qualities enough to make them “book worthy” heroes. Because I love the sport, I feel familiar with it. But again, the realities of training and competing should never read like a how-to manual for a romance novel. So I have to gloss over some things, expound on others. Overall, my MMA series is about ripped, capable fighters falling in love and working through some suspense elements. NOT about actual fighting.

DGR: I personally loved Cannon’s combination of possessive and protective with super sweet. Can you tell the readers any more enticing details about his character? 



LF: Like many of my heroes, he’s a natural born protector. He has a sister he adores, a neighborhood he’s loyal to, and a wealth of honorable, sometimes quirky friends. I like to write characters that have some flaws, but I have to admit, Cannon doesn’t have many.  🙂

DGR: What was your favorite part to write for No Limits?

This is awful to admit, but my favorite part to write was Armie Jacobson. He’s a character who will end up with his own book, and from the first time he showed up, he was hilarious and outrageous and he’d say and do things that surprised me and had me grinning. He’s a perfect best friend for the very responsible Cannon, and I have a feeling readers will enjoy him as much as I have.

DGR: This is an over-asked question, I’m sure, but I still have to ask. Who would be your dream cast to play Cannon and Yvette?

LF: Well shoot. That’s always a toughie because while I love movies, I almost never remember the names of actors. Josh Duhamel is always a hottie, and he’s big enough to be Cannon, although maybe he’s a little older. Not sure. Mila Kunis has the right look for Yvette, if she could play a quieter, more reserved part.

DGR: There were many interesting side characters introduced; Armie, Denver, Stack, Vanity, Rissy, and Cherry. Any hints who’s up next and who’ll be the heroine to bring him to his knees?

LF: Yes! I’m almost done writing Denver’s story now. It’s titled HOLDING STRONG and should be out April/May 2015. Denver is one of the bigger fighters (in more ways than the obvious) and he’s a little more alpha, a little less laidback than Cannon. He and Cherry showed some attraction in NO LIMITS, and in their own book they finally get together, but also have some issues to work out. Denver sees her as the ultimate party girl, and since he’s pretty possessive, that bugs him a lot. Both of them also have troublesome pasts that have to be resolved.

DGR: Armie (dreamy sigh). He was so much fun to read as a character. I think I highlighted everything he ever said. When is his book and can you give us any more details about him to tide us over in the wait?

LF: See!? I loved Armie too. I think you’re going to love him even more in HOLDING STRONG. But I don’t see Armie getting his own book until… the end of the series. Sorry. Cannon is first, Denver is second. Stack will likely be third. That leaves Armie for last. But the good part is that we’ll get to see Armie playing in his secondary role for a while longer. 🙂
DGR: I love that you also included several characters from other series like Rowdy, Logan, and of course even my favorite, Havoc, got a mention. Are any of the boys from SBC Fighters series going to be making any more appearances in this series?

LF: They are! I had to get permission from previous publishers to include them, but everyone is on board so expect some cameos and some longer roles as the two SBC series mesh. You can expect to see Dean (Havoc) Conor from CAUSING HAVOC, and Simon (Sublime) Evans from SIMON SAYS, and maybe even some peeks from Jude Jamison, JUDE’S LAW. 🙂

DGR: Anything else you’d like to let the readers know about this No Limits and the Ultimate series?

LF: Readers can catch early “sneak preview” excerpts on my website – www.LoriFoster.com and can win fun goodies like T-shirts, mouse pads, key chains, etc… on my Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/LoriFoster

Thank you!

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