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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Review: ☆One Night of Scandal☆ by @ElleKennedy

September 8, 2014 by · 1 Comment

The wrong man never felt so right…


Ex-fighter Reed Miller has been secretly lusting over his best friend’s girl for months, but he refuses to jeopardize a friendship over a woman—especially one who doesn’t like him all that much. Now that Darcy’s on the market again, it’s even more imperative to stick to his strict hands-off policy. But the sizzling attraction between them is too powerful to ignore, and once he’s had a taste of her…all bets are off.

Darcy Grant is tired of walking the straight and narrow path. She’s on the hunt for passion, and there’s no denying Reed is just the man to give it to her. Although she has no interest in dating a bad boy, and certainly not her ex’s best friend, it’s impossible not to melt beneath Reed’s skillful touch. Now it’s just a matter of setting a few ground rules—and hoping her rule-breaking, sweet-talking bad boy agrees to follow them. But if she lets Reed into her bed, does she stand a chance of keeping him out of her heart?

Amazon / Barnes & Noble
See my review for book 1 in the series, One Night of Sin



4.25 Smokin’ HOT Stars


Reed Miller was a bad boy to the core. Apparently the guy possessed an anything-goes attitude when it came to sex. He also smoked cigarettes cursed like a sailor, and drove way too fast in that black Camaro of his.

I’d like to say that in my next life, I’d like to come back as a heroine in one of Elle Kennedy’s stories because sweet mother of sin do these bitches luck out. What? Don’t you judge me dammit! You go and meet Reed and tell me you wouldn’t want to jump his fictional bones. I’m serious when I tell you, move over, Darcy, because

I’m calling dibs all over this one. Lawd. Sorry, this is what happens when my ovaries decide to jump start my reviews. Now let’s get serious (ha! I’ll attempt it anyway) and move on to the review.

We first meet Reed as the broody and sexy part owner of the club Sin that he owns with his two buddies, AJ and Gage. Reed is a past MMA fighter and current manwhore. But don’t judge him too hard for his manwhoring ways, since that was his attempt at trying to work past his lust for his best friend’s girlfriend. I have to say that I was definitely skeptical before starting this book at how exactly Elle Kennedy would pull something like this off. In book 1 of the series, Darcy was dating (quite happily it seemed) Reed’s best friend and business partner, A.J.

So when Reed goes to a competitor’s club while on the search of the inside man that is pushing ecstasy at his club, he’s more than a little shocked to also see Darcy there…flirting with a man that’s NOT A.J.

I felt the chemistry between Darcy and Reed from the very beginning, so I couldn’t wait to see the sparks fly between them when they finally give into the lust that only seems to boil over when they’re around each other. Darcy is no longer dating AJ. Even though they made great friends, there was always something integral lacking between them. They were boring together and she wants an all consuming passion. A passion, it seems, that she only feels in the presence of a man that shows every evidence of disliking her. So when she finds out that Reed’s avoidance of her is only because he wants her just as much as she wants him, all bets are off.

But as much as she may want Reed, she knows that he’s not the relationship type, so she proposes they get whatever this is out of their system so they’re both able to move on. Too bad Reed isn’t just interested in a few nights between the sheets. That’s not to say he’s not going to make those nights count…


…and what if I don’t want to listen?”
“Then that would make you a bad girl, wouldn’t it? And do you want to know what I do to bad girls?” Reed dragged his own zipper down, the tick-tick-tick of metallic teeth being released echoing in the car. “I fuck them. I fuck them hard.”

But Reed wasn’t just a sweet talker. Nope. He certainly had the assets to…uhem…measure up with his mouth.


I think I’m in love with your dick,” she announced.
He croaked out a laugh. “That’s incredibly forward of you. At least buy him dinner first. I’m curious, though. What did it for you? The length? The girth?”

I think what she’s liking the entire package there, Reed

I gobbled this book right up. The chemistry between Reed and Darcy was absolutely scorching, the sex was even more so, and there was a great story to boot. Did I also mention Reed’s dirty mouth?


Ride me hard,” he ground out. “Take me straight to heaven, baby.”
“I love having sex with you, Reedford.”
“I’d be worried if you didn’t, considering my cock is buried inside of you right now.”

Oh I did? Sorry, I get easily distracted.

There was the side plot with the search for the drug dealer that added a small (and really, it was pretty small) element of suspense. I can’t say that it really peaked my interest and it did seem to wrap up fairly quick, but I was more focused on the romance so that barely even bothered me.

Elle Kennedy is definitely on my auto buy list since the first book in the series, and she only gets better with a full length novel. Lawd but this woman can write a steamy romance. I’ve been looking for another Brazen series along the lines of Tessa Bailey’s dirty talkin hot cops, and I have finally found that with dirty talking club owners and past MMA fighters. Does it get any better? I think not. I’m totally hooked on this series, and if you enjoy a steamy romance with great banter and some super HAWT sex, looks like you’ve found your next read.

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Blog Tour, Excerpt, Lisa Jayne’s Review & #Giveaway: ☆Rival☆ by @PenDouglas

September 7, 2014 by · 2 Comments
Title: Rival (Fall Away, #2)
Author: Penelope Douglas
Genre: NA | Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Tour Hosted by: As the Pages Turn
From the New Adult sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Until You

Madoc and Fallon. Two estranged teenagers playing games that push the boundaries between love and war…
She’s back.
For the three years she’s been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night.
I was stupid then, but now I’m ready to beat her at her own game…
I’m back.
Three years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he’s better than me.
But I won’t be scared away. Or pushed down. I’ll call his bluff and fight back. That’s what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he’ll never know how much he affects me….
Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Fallon and Tate

Reaching over, I turned my alarm clock to see it was only six in the morning. Tate threw her backpack on her bed and started yanking stuff out of drawers. She was still in the same clothes from last night. Usually when she spent the night at Jared’s, she came home freshly showered and dressed, ready for class. Right now, she looked rushed.

“What classes do you have today?” she asked, not looking at me as she darted around our room.

I swallowed the dryness from my mouth. “Um…Calc III and Sex and Scandal in Early Modern England.”

“Nice,” she teased in a deep voice.

“The last one is a gen. ed.,” I explained, embarrassed. “Why? What’s up?”

“Do you feel like skipping?” She stuffed clothes into her backpack and then turned to look at me. “Jax showed up at Jared’s dorm this morning. No one’s heard from Madoc. He’s not returning calls, texts, IMs….” She trailed off, hands on her hips.

“You haven’t talked to him at all lately?” I looked away, not wanting her to see the worry I was sure was on my face.

“Yeah, Jared and I let it go at first, because we thought Madoc needed his space, and we’ve all been so busy, but if Jax is worried, and Lucas probably hadn’t had contact, either, then it’s definitely past time to check it out.” She stopped, finally taking a breath.

She came over, tapping my leg and smiling. “So let’s go

FIVE STAR CROSSED STARS
“You reached me. When no one else ever has.”
description

It was love at first chapter when I first read the work of Penelope Douglas. Intrigued by it’s title and a newfound author I found myself falling for this authors debut writing style and since reading ‘Bully’ I’ve not once wanted to look back. This author brings something fresh to the ‘new adult’ genre of writing and it seems I’m not able to stop my admiration for her work. ‘Rival’ has been a long anticipated release and i can now admit that I was a little dubious with how this story would play out, but my doubts were unfounded, this novel was spectacular it had the right amount of grit and taboo without making it too dark or difficult to read and if there is one thing I can now be sure of is that Penelope Douglas has a wickedly sensual talent of making me fall straight into love with her story telling. With a hero to die for and a heroine with plenty of bite I could not have enjoyed my time spent with these characters any more than I did. My expectations have been blown away, ‘Rival’ is a novel not to be forgotten about and a book that I’m happy to say I loved.

What’s it all about?
Madoc and Fallon are two star crossed lovers fighting against the pain and secrets of the past. Their connection was one that has stayed with them both and their obsession with each other doesn’t seem to want to end. One wants revenge, the other wants to beat its partner at it’s own game. They both need each other. But will games, hate, family connections and a dark past stop a love that was destined to be or will they both be able to fight beyond themselves. Follow this fall away novel and fall in love with rivals that can’t help but love to hate each other.

description

What did I love?
What was not to love? Gorgeous story telling, fantastic writing talent, characters that blew me away and a plot that stole my heart. Everything about this novel dramatically appealed to my reading tastes. I loved that this book was deliciously tempting and swayed on the side of taboo but never crossed over into the uncomfortable territory, instead it made my heart pound and the anticipation of what was to come was well played out by the author. I’ll always have a soft spot for a dual point of view in a novel especially one that provides the reader with an opportunity to get involved with the characters thoughts and feelings. I had a honest to goodness soft spot for both hero and heroine in this story and nothing appeals more than characters who profess to hate each other when in truth their love is just as evident. Madoc and Fallon were fantastic lead characters and in addition to falling for their love story I also fell for them as individuals and I adored them both equally as much. Sibling rivalry, falling unashamedly in lust, chemistry that can’t be rivalled (see what I did there?) and a story that will stay with me for some time to come ‘Rival’ is one of my favourites of 2014 and a book that deserves to be celebrated for all it’s deliciously dark romantic talent. Penelope Douglas has created a love to hate you story that has blown me away. For those readers that can’t help but be attracted to angry sex, broken characters and epic love stories that break you up and by the end fix you all up again then this book will be just what you need.

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Final thoughts …
If you are a reader that has not yet read a Penelope Douglas novel and you enjoy all the drama of a new adult novel then I can only urge you to get yourself aquatinted with this authors work. As for those readers who are anxiously waiting to read ‘Rival’ I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. Mrs Douglas has outdone herself and provided a novel that had me glued to every chapter and has more than filled my need for an angst filled, love story fix. With plenty of story telling to keep you interested and characters that are as bold as this authors shining talent the only complaint I now have is that I’m now back in the queue waiting for the next release by this author. Predictably so, five star books are what I crave and from start to finish ‘Rival’ had that unforgettable quality stamped all over it, I have no regrets with my time spent here and I’m sure this book will find itself being re read over and over again. Until then I’ll be satisfying my addiction with reading my most favourite quotes and I’m looking forward to seeing other readers fall in love as much as I did. Enjoy … Kisses.

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♦ Grab the rest of the series ♦ 
Bully (Fall Away, #1) 
Until You (Fall Away, #1.5)
Penelope Douglas is a writer in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she is the oldest of five children. Penelope attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, because her father told her to “just get the degree!” She then earned a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans, because she hated Public Administration. One night, she got tipsy and told the bouncer at the bar where she worked that his son was hot, and three years later they were married. To the son, not the bouncer. They have spawn, but just one. A daughter named Aydan. Penelope loves sweets, The Originals, and she shops at Target almost daily.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads
Penelope is offering up the following prizes. The giveaways are international and ends at 11:59 PM CST 09/15/2014.
·         (2) $100 gift cards for either Amazon or B&N winners choice
·         (2) Signed paperbacks of Rival
·         (1) Signed set paperbacks of Bully, Until You and Rival

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Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ☆Pieces of Autumn☆ by Mara Black

August 31, 2014 by · 1 Comment
Title: Pieces of Autumn
Author: Mara Black
Genre: Dark Romance 18 +
Publish Date: July 31, 2014
Publisher: Indie Published
Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

I wish I could tell you that I was stolen.

Kidnapped off the street in some third-world country, sold against my will, while a desperate family back home waited and prayed and talked about me on the news.

I wish I could tell you that, because then you might understand.

What really happened? I walked to my fate with my eyes wide open. But before you say I deserved whatever happened to me, you should know. I was desperate. I was alone. I was afraid for my life. You would have done the same thing.

I thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse.

But then, I woke up in darkness, unable to move. There was only one thing I was sure of: I wasn’t alone anymore.

And then I heard HIS voice…

Amazon / Barnes & Noble
3.5 Stars

Whatever you think you’re doing, stop. I’m not your fucking knight in tarnished armor. I’m not a broken man with a heart of gold. I’m pure fucking evil, and you made the choice to shackle yourself to me.

I had a hard time rating this book. While I found the writing to be phenomenal, it wasn’t quite what I expected and it wasn’t nearly as dark as I thought it would be. As a debut novel, the author has definitely captured my interest and I will be reading any and all of her future books. There were some parts that didn’t really make sense to me or I wished were different, but despite all that I did enjoy the story. It was different from anything I’ve read, and that alone was enough keep me reading to see how it will end. Don’t go in expecting something quick paced or incredibly dark. It’s neither. It’s a slower paced story with dark elements, but I just wouldn’t classify it as dark. Perhaps readers that want to be eased into the dark romance genre would want to start with this book, as I feel it would be perfect for that. Those that have read books by Pepper Winters, Lily White, Lili St. Germain, M.S. Willis, or the likes will not be quite as impressed by the “darkness” of the plot. Also, this is not set in present time. It’s set in futuristic world where food and water are sparse, money means nothing, and the only power to be had is influence. Influence which is mainly in the hands of the criminals and the corrupted.

This will be a SPOILER FREE review, and I would advise to go into this book blind. Do not read reviews as there are some details that while they aren’t big spoilers, they’re best to find out as you go along.

Autumn is living on borrowed time. She’s running from someone that wants her dead, starving and alone, she’s desperate. Seeing no other alternative, she sells herself to what she feels is the lesser of the evils. An organization that is known as Stoker. She may not know much about them, but she does know that they sell women and she may or may not be better off with her new master. But knowing the fate she’s running from, she takes the chance, and is given to a man she comes to know as Tate. But will he be her salvation or her ruin?

I’m not going to give you any more about Tate. The author trickle feeds you information about him throughout the story, and it’s best that you know next to nothing going in. His alter ego of The Viper was something that I struggled with, though. He has conversations with The Viper at times, and it always threw me. It’s like he had a dual personality…yet they were one in the same. It was strange.

Now I love a good anti-hero, but I struggled to see Tate as one. I’m not sure what it was exactly, but his constant power struggle with The Viper and his back and forth with Autumn left me seeing him as more of a broken man than a truly dark one. But there were times where that darkness in him did come out, and I gobbled it right up.

This girl had the audacity, the sheer fucking balls to assume that I was a human being. That I could be trusted to treat her with a modicum of dignity.

It’s obvious he has a story, and I really enjoyed the way that it was revealed bit by little bit. I suppose I just wanted something a little more from him. (But hey, that could just be me.)

Autumn’s character I struggled with a bit as well. She was so up and down, it was hard to keep track. I didn’t understand her almost instant “attraction” to Tate (view spoiler)[and the part where she heard his voice before meeting him really had me scratching my head (hide spoiler)]. But I did really like that she wasn’t a weak heroine. While she may have been out on her luck, she did her a core of strength that at times was subtle and at times really prevailed.

Her fierceness, the intelligence in her eyes, the way she met me eye to eye, no matter what the circumstances. She could kneel, she could bow, but she was never broken. She couldn’t be broken.

The romance aspect is something that I really liked. Despite the quick connection that Autumn had to Tate, it was still a very slow build. I couldn’t imagine it being any other way.

Though don’t expect smooth sailing anywhere in the story with the relationship between these two…

This girl was going to be the death of me. But at least I could enjoy the journey on my descent into hell.

I wanted a little bit more from the ending, but again, that may have been just me. (view spoiler)[Unless I missed something, what happened with Birdy? I wished there was more information given about the time when Tate was gone (hide spoiler)]. There were some things that wrapped up too neatly and almost too quickly.

But everything aside, I did like it quite a bit. The author definitely has an incredible talent, and I look forward to see what else she has in store. If this was her debut novel, I can only imagine how good her future books will be. So give it a try, I can tell you it will be different from anything you’ve read lately.

This is written in dual First Person POV

**ARC gifted to Dirty Girl Romance blog in exchange for an honest review**

Mara Black is a connoisseur of love that lurks in the shadows .
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Book Spotlight & #Giveaway: ☆The Hook Up☆ by @Kris10Callihan

August 30, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Title: The Hook Up
Author: Kristen Callihan
Release Date: September 8, 2014
Genre: New Adult
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

Pre-order on Amazon

My mother once told me that the most important moment in my life wouldn’t be when I won the National Championship or even the Super Bowl. It would be when I fell in love.

Life, she insisted, is how you live it and who you live it with, not what you do to make a living. Given that she told me this when I was sixteen, I basically rolled my eyes and worked on practicing my pass fakes.

But my mother was insistent.

“You’ll see, Drew. One day, love will creep up and smack you upside the head. Then you’ll understand.”

My mom, it turns out, was wrong in one regard. 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.

And while I’d be happy to tell my mom that she was right about that, she’s dead. A fact that hurts even more now that I’ve been struck down. More like shot down. Cut off at the knees. Totally fucked. Whatever you want to call this disaster. Because the object of my affection hates me.

I am man enough to acknowledge that the cluster fuck that is my current love life is entirely my fault. I wasn’t prepared for Anna Jones.

I still cringe at the memory of when I first laid eyes on her at the beginning of the semester. Being late for class, I’d rushed to a seat in the back row, and was trying to remain unnoticed. I can’t go anywhere on campus without getting attention. And though it sounds like an awesome thing, it gets tiring.

When the roll call reached the back row, a soft voice, rich and thick as maple syrup, slid over me.

“Anna Jones.”

Just her name. That was all she’d said. It was like a hot finger stroking down my spine. My head snapped up. And there she was, so fucking pretty that I couldn’t think straight. I might as well have been sacked.

Breathless, my head ringing, I could only gape. I’m not going to say it was love at first sight. No, it was more like oh, hell-yes-please, I’ll have that. With a helping of right-the-fuck-now on the side.

Thinking maybe I was overtired and simply overreacting to something that wasn’t really there, I stared at Anna Jones and tried to make sense of my extreme reaction.

As if feeling my gaze, she’d turned, and fucking hell… Her eyes were wide, almost cat-like, with the corners tilting up just a bit. At first, those eyes appeared brown, but they were really bottle green. And so clear. And annoyed. She glared at me. I didn’t care. One word was playing a loop in my head: mine.

I don’t remember the rest of the class. I watched Anna Jones like a condemned man getting his last view of the setting sun. While she tried to ignore me. Admirably.

The second class ended I shot up, and so did she. We nearly collided in the middle of the aisle. And then it all fell to shit.

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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Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ☆Worth Forgiving☆ by Vi Keeland

August 28, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Cover designed by Romcon.com
Model: Jamie Dominic
Photographer: Jamie Dominic Photography
Genre: A New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance novel
RELEASE DATE: August 21st 2014

They say men like a lady in the living room and a whore in the bedroom. I never knew the sentiment was reciprocal. Until I met Jax Knight. A gentleman in public, a commanding, dirty talking rogue in the bedroom.

Daughter of legendary fighter “The Saint,” Lily St. Claire knows firsthand how fighters can be. As the owner of a chain of MMA gyms, she’s no stranger to aggressive, dominating, and possessive men. That’s why she’s always kept her distance. But the day Jax Knight walks through her door she’s captivated by his charm. Stunningly handsome, well mannered, Ivy League educated, and confident, he shatters all the preconceived notions she’d come to think were true about men who trained to fight.

But falling for someone so soon after her breakup wasn’t something she’d planned on. And definitely not something her ex plans to allow.

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3.5 it’s all about Jax Stars

There’s only two choices with a man. Forgive him or forget him. If you can’t do the latter, then you need to forgive him because he’s already stolen your heart.

I knew I would love Jax the second he was first introduced in Worth the Chance. And you know what? I was so right. This man was EVERYTHING.

Suit clad rich business man by day, dirty talking MMA fighter by night. And when I mean dirty talker, I mean dirty talker. This man could melt the panties of a nun. I mean Oh. My. Gawd.

Tell me what you thought I meant.”
“You know what I thought you meant.”
“Yes. But I want to hear you say it.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to hear you talk dirty to me.”

He was sweet and protective, sexy and dirty, and rang every single one of my bells. I loved him.

I’ve really enjoyed the previous 2 books in the series with Vince’s book being my favorite. Unfortunately I found this one to be the weakest in the series. Thank goodness for Jax because he’s the one thing that truly made the book for me.

I wanted to love Lily, and in the beginning I almost did. The daughter of legendary fighter “The Saint” and the current owner of the chain of MMA gyms he once started, she comes across as a little broken and gun shy when it comes to relationships.

But hell, given her recent ex boyfriend, who can blame the girl.
Oh. I can. Because why would this girl maintain a “friendship” with an ex that not only crosses any boundary she puts up, she actually fears him…and with good reason. Caden was psycho! And I mean PSYCHO. The man was utterly diranged with some serious anger management issues.

I spent most of the book waiting for her to really come into her own (read: grow a pair) and put him in his place. Welp, that never really happened.

At times I understood her struggle, especially being in the emotional place she was in and with the recent grief of losing her father so unexpectedly

For almost a year I’ve walked around numb, filled with an emptiness I never thought would be filled.

But as the book progressed my patience with her wore thin.

Luckily there was Jax. If you’re on the fence about reading this book, it’s worth it just for him. Trust me. And this is coming from someone that can’t easily overlook a weak heroine.

I want to be there to catch you if you fall from now on, Angel.

While this may not have been my favorite book in the series, I do think that Jax was my favorite hero.

Given everything it was still looking to be a very solid 4 star read for me…up until the “conflict” of the story happened. Of all the stupid, pig headed, idiotic things. I have never had a bigger urge to reach through my Kindle and shake (read: bitch slap) some sense into a character. I won’t spoiler what happened for you, but I will say that I simply couldn’t believe it. For Lily to believe who she did and what she did, it didn’t make sense for me. And maybe even if it did warrant such a reaction, the extent to which she took it, didn’t.

And I wanted her to be the one doing it. Scratch that, I wanted her to flat out grovel. Instead we get Jax being the one that’s “worth forgiving.” I almost didn’t feel like she deserved him in the end after everything he does for her.

But then Vi Keeland gives us that epilogue. And my anger with Lily somewhat (not fully) dissipated. It was such a perfect way to end this series, I just couldn’t ask for anything better.

So all in all, I did genuinely enjoy this book minus a few things, of course. Would I recommend reading it? Absolutely. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t want to mix Jax. And hey, it may not frustrate you as much as it did me. It was sweet, sexy, and of course the sex was scorching. I may not have loved it, but I definitely liked it a whole heck of a lot.

ARC gifted to Dirty Girl Romance blog in exchange for an honest review

MMA Series Reading Order

Worth the Fight (Book One)
It didn’t matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same.

Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she’s been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it’s boring…and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.

Then Nico walks into Elle’s office and everything changes…for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.

***Author’s note*** THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

ONLY $.99 FOR A LIMITED TIME
Worth the Chance (Book Two)

Meet Liv Michaels

It may have been seven years, but I’d know him anywhere. Sure, he’s grown, filled out in all the right places, but his captivating blue eyes and cocky grin are exactly the way I remember. Even though I’d much rather forget.

Liv Michaels is almost there. She’s smart, determined and weeks away from landing the job she’s dreamed about for years. Time healed old wounds, even her broken heart from the devastation of being crushed by her first love.

Meet Vince Stone

Women love a fighter, especially a good one. Lucky for me, I’m damn good. But there’s one woman that isn’t interested. Not again, anyway.

Vince ‘The Invincible’ Stone is every woman’s fantasy…strong, sexy, confident and completely in control. Growing up surrounded by chaos, he’s learned never to get too attached. Love will drag you down. He adores women, treats them well, puts their own needs before his own…for the night anyway. With the biggest fight of his life coming up, his focus should be on training.

When fate brings Vince & Liv back together again, there’s no denying the chemistry is still there. But can Vince erase the old scars their past left behind? Or will Liv hurt him instead?

***Author’s note*** THIS IS A STAND-ALONE NOVEL. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the 18.

Additional Books by Vi Keeland

                                     

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!

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Release Week Blitz, Review & #Giveaway: ☆Vanquish☆ by Pam Godwin

August 27, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Warning: Graphic sex and violence. Age 18+ only

It is recommended to read after Deliver, but it can be read as a stand-alone.

Her life is like a prison cell.
A self-made, to-hell-with-the-free-world existence that locks from the inside.
Stop judging. Her agoraphobia doesn’t define her. It simply keeps her safe.

He belongs in a prison cell.
The 6×8, make-me-your-bitch variety that locks from the outside.
But he’s free. To hunt. To take. To break.
And he just found a sexy new toy.

Capturing her is the easy part. Her fucked-up mind, however, makes him question everything he does next.

But he’s a determined bastard. If all goes his way, this will hurt like hell.

Buy LinksAmazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA  | B&N  | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes 

ExcerptHe stalked toward her, mirroring the tilt of her head, knees and shoulders loose, and his gaze holding her prisoner. A breath away, he paused, soaking in the subtleties of her tipped-up chin, parting lips, and glossy but resolute eyes. 

With the next breath, he launched, hands on her jaw, fingers spread around the back of her head.
 
His elbows dropped, shoulders raised, and he yanked her to him, lifting her on tiptoes, guiding her mouth, taking it. His grip twisted through her hair as he drew in her upper lip and shoved her against the fridge, following her with the weight of his body.
 
The kiss went fucking wild, their lips mashing in a frantic battle. His tongue plunged her mouth, attacking, thrusting in and out, possessing her movements, owning her. Breath for breath, lick after lick, he ate at her mouth, tasting, devouring.
 
He dropped his hands to her breasts, squeezing ruthlessly as he rolled his cock against her cunt.
 
His tongue tingled, his skin burned, and his head swam. God, she was a drug, and he was so fucking high.
 
She gripped his biceps, bit at his lips, and threw her arms over his shoulders, her fingers scratching the fuck out his back. He shuddered, loving it, but he was in control.
 
Reaching back, he grabbed her wrists and slammed them above her head. Their bodies ground together, his forearms pressing hers to the fridge, their tongues dancing and clashing. Chest-to-chest, hips fused together, he flexed his ass, dry humping her like a horny teenager.
 
Jesus, fuck, he didn’t care. He wanted her.
 
He leaned back to study her face and found strong smoldering eyes, sharp breaths, and swollen wet lips. Whatever she saw in his expression made her mouth chase his and her fingers curl around his hands. They kissed endlessly, fueling the fire and pushing his control long past the point of discomfort before pulling back and starting all over again.
 
When he broke the kiss with a hand on her jaw, they panted as one, mouths open and so close their bottom lips brushed. She peered at him through lowered lashes, and he stared back in awe. What trembled between them wasn’t an if? Or even a how hard? Those were foregone. The question they shared was simple.
Ready?
Review-DGR4.5 stars

He was a cold-hearted fuck with an appetite for blood, come, and tears. And he had the perfect girl to feed it.

Can you take a cold, sadistic, and practically nonredeemable hero and not only feel for him but completely fall for him by the end of the book?
YES

Can you take a heroine that’s so fucked up and insecure but make her come across as fierce and give her an inner core of strength that manages to shine through even during her darkest hours?
YES

Can you take a relationship that by all intents and purposes begins as something that should be a horror story but make you understand it, feel it, and completely turn it around into something brighter by the end of the story?
FUCK.YES.

For those of you that are curious if you can read this book if you haven’t read Deliver
YES

That’s exactly what I did. As much as I adore Pam Godwin’s writing, I knew based on some details I’d gleaned from the first book that it just wasn’t my cuppa, so I decided to pass on it. But when I saw the cover read the blurb for this book? I knew this was not a book I’d be passing up in a million years. See I have this thing for the anti-heroes and the assholes. As in, the more fucked up they are, the more I love them. Messed up? Maybe. But fuck me if Van didn’t fit my requirement to the T.

He was a kidnapper, a rapist, and she ached to be repulsed by him, just to prove she was sane, but she could’t. And she wasn’t. His scarred beauty radiated seduction and danger, a deadly combination.

Now most people would probably spend the first half of this book conflicted. You’ll want to hate Van for what he does, or maybe you WILL hate Van for everything he does. Me? I gobbled it up like the starved little pervert that I am.

From the very beginning the author gives you little tidbits of insight of who Van really is; his childhood, his past, his scars…both internal and external. As a matter of fact she gives you just enough to make you almost feel for him in the first half. I was afraid that his almost obsession with Liv would make it so that Amber would feel more like his consolation prize. But luckily that’s not at all how it was. As a matter of fact, I though the author pulled this off flawlessly.

Vanquish begins immediately where Deliver took off; Van being shot by Liv but surviving. But just because Liv has a new life now, doesn’t mean that Van has let her go. Stalking is what he does best, so that’s what he does. He lurks in the shadows, watching her house and her new life with her new boyfriend all while plotting on how to get close to her to get what he wants; information. In his stalking under the shadows of what he thinks is an abandoned house, he inadvertently stumbles onto the owner and who he decides will be his new victim, Amber.

Now Amber was a character I was afraid I would hate at first. How would I sum her up? Fucked the fuck up. That probably does it. Yep.

She’s agoraphobic, OCD, with an eating disorder and self esteem issues to boot. Bitch got issues is what I’m trying to tell you here. But beneath all her problems, she had this understated strength and an almost fierceness to her. Sounds strange doesn’t it? But it’s very true. And as the story progresses, more and more of her personality shines through and you simply can’t help but like her. Van was definitely not immune either

My mother named me Van Quiso. You’ll refer to me as Master.

The first half of this book is no light read. Van is one sadistic and cruel fuck, and that certainly doesn’t go away the second he lays eyes on Amber. While you may get small peeks into the damaged soul of a boy that lurks beneath the scary and cold exterior, he doesn’t exactly endear you with his actions toward Amber.

But that’s also the thing that I liked. Pam Godwin managed to take one fucked up hero and make his transition into someone more endearing and softer in a believable way. It didn’t happen in the blink of an eye, and I appreciated that because that would have completely killed the book for me. His road to redemption was a slow and painful one. Considering his background, history and parentage, I couldn’t envision this any other way.

His journey to redemption was slow, but believable and oh so satisfying when it came. The author truly makes you understand the damaged child beneath the cruel man. As much as you want to hate him for his actions, you can’t help but also feel for him at the same time. At least I know I did.

Fuck him, but he wanted to be her security, her anchor, her fucking everything. Not as her captor but as her lover.

I absolutely loved the epilogue. What a perfect way to end the book. If you’re a fan of dark romance, this is not to be missed.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

 

Other Books by Pam Godwin
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