Review: Sicko by Amo Jones

SICKO
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Amo Jones
Release Date: September 1, 2020

He was my foster brother.

He swore to protect me.

He failed.

They all failed.

I’m an open box of passé photographs, snapped in chaste daylight, but filtered in sepia. I’m the past that he tried to forget, and he was the future I needed. When he left six years ago, I screamed for him every night. But then it all stopped. My screams were suddenly muffled by cruelty, and further coaxed by pain.

But he has come back. He’s not the cute big brother I had a furtive crush on, or the bad boy, rich brat that I hated to love.

He’s the ruthless vice president of Wolf Pack MC, and he doesn’t answer to Royce Kane anymore.

He answers to Sicko.

 AMAZON

Heaven won’t take me, and Hell won’t welcome my demons back. I’ll be left in purgatory again, only this time for real.

This was one of my most anticipated September releases. The second I read the blurb to this book, I’ve been salivating for it. And I think this may have been my favorite Amo Jones book I’ve read to date. The woman sure knows how to write a kickass heroine and an antihero that will make your ovaries quiver. And this story brought that in spades.

Jade is one of the most fierce heroines I’ve ever read from Amo and I couldn’t get enough. We first meet Jade as a 15 year old girl, reeling with her budding feelings for her foster brother. Though there’s no ice factor here. The author did a phenomenal job layering their foundation with just enough chemistry when we first meet them that shows that Royce’s overprotective brother routine is so much more. Royce has been Jade’s everything, ever since she landed with Kane family as an infant. He’s her protector, her confidant, and her dirtiest secret in her mind. But just as she begins to come to terms that her feelings for him are no longer that of an innocent young girl, he disappears. And leaves her in hell.

It’s been four years since Royce left and now everything is different. Jade has been stuck in a hell that no one knows about. And when her foster brother makes a sudden reappearance, it turns her world upside down one more time. Royce is no longer the wild boy she knew. He’s darker at the edges and the VP of an MC. He also seems to almost hate her.

The chemistry between these two was incendiary. I couldn’t get enough of them. They were volatile and erotic and it hurt so good. They almost get off on tormenting the other in their own different ways. But both harbor secrets that can destroy everything.

What made this book all the more intriguing to me, was the author’s warning in the beginning of this book being DARK. Like spare no details sort of dark. So of course I began to brace myself from the very first page. Now perhaps I’m a bit desensitized when it comes to my dark reads, but while this book certainly skated on the edges of dark, it never fully plummeted into that icy water for me. I spent the entire book waiting for the other shoe to drop, and while it did, it wasn’t as dark as I expected. Now what it does touch on is a very relevant subject. One I have mad respect for the author having touched on. However, I also expected this to be a little darker than it was or what it promised to be.

Now don’t get me wrong, a walk in the park it was not. It was gritty, depraved, and with plenty of dark edges. I suppose I just expected a bit more.

That aside, I practically inhaled this book. There were so many twists and turns, and I love it when a book can manage to take me by surprise so completely. There’s so much that’s unraveled, that I’m desperately hoping this will be a series, or that we’ll at least get Wicked’s story. Because GAH.

Sicko and Jade’s relationship was anything but traditional. It’s full of turbulence, pain, and secrets. It was utterly delicious. Jones brought her A game when it came to creating their brand of emotional punishment, because DAMN. It hurt so good.

There were a few pieces that felt unresolved for me in the end, but they were pretty minor and felt insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Ultimately, I devoured this book and couldn’t put it down for even a second. If dark, dirty, and deliciously erotic romance is your crack, welcome to your next addiction. Jade and Sicko’s story will grab you by the throat from the beginning and own your heart at the end.

Amo Jones is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, totally winging this author thing (she’s probably doing it all wrong). She likes cake, loves wine, and her religion is magic (Slytherin). She’s a profound work-a-holic, but when she’s not writing, you can find her chilling with her kids & Husband at the nearest beach, with a cocktail in her hand.

 

New Zealand is not a state of Australia and rugby is the best sport ever played.

Connect w/Amo:

Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | Bookbub 

Review: Show Stopper by BJ Harvey

SHOW STOPPER
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Chicago First Responders #1
Author: BJ Harvey
Release Date: August 31, 2020

The first time they meet it’s by chance.

The second is surely a coincidence.

The third…it’s either destiny or he’s a stalker.

Renee Hamilton has a thing against men in uniform. In her experience, they play hard, lie harder. Marco Rossi has a thing for feisty brunette women with a backbone and a smart mouth, especially one in particular who’s playing hard to get.

She’s fiercely independent and wants better for herself.
He loves helping people so much it’s literally his job.

Worst case scenario, they crash and burn.

Lucky for Renee, Marco has a hose, he knows how to use it, and he happens to love putting out all kinds of fires; real or otherwise.
***
USA Today Bestselling Author BJ Harvey brings you Showstopper – Book 1 in a new spin-off to the Cook Brothers rom com series featuring Chicago first responders fighting the good fight and also finding love at the same time. Set in the same world as the Bliss, Game, and Cook Brothers series before it.

 AMAZON 

I always said I wanted a show stopper. Something tells me, I may have just found one.

Who is this person that just melted in a swooning pile of goo over a sweet and angst-free romance? I have no idea who this bitch is. I don’t know her. I’m seriously questioning my entire existence right now and I am not ok, okay?! I. Am. Not. OK.

You guys. This book. *happy wiggle* It was just so stinking cute.

Now if you know me or follow my reviews, you know I don’t gravitate towards sweet romances. But sometimes a girl just needs a good hit of sweet and steamy. And when that happens, who better than BJ Harvey to serve it up. Because let me just tell you, fellow angst whores, once you meet Marco Rossi, you’ll be converters too.

Do you come to ladies’ night and try to use your big muscles and suave moves often? Or maybe you just say “I’m a firefighter; I’ve got a big hose and I know how to use it’ and wait for women to swoon and fall at your feet?”
My lips curve into an amused smirk. “Would it work on you? Because my next move is to take them to the firehouse and show them my big truck. Then, if they’re really good, I’ll let them slide down my long fireman’s pole.”

I want to clarify that while it was a light-hearted and easy read, it was not even a little cheesy. Which is always my fear when reading romance like this and why I gravitate to all of the angst. It was full of depth and wonderful characters and set the foundation for a fantastic series that I’m already craving my next hit of.

Renee is exactly the kind of heroine I love to read about it. She’s a take no prisoners professional. Independent to a fault and she don’t need no man, okay? She’s got some baggage from her previous relationship but she also doesn’t let it define her. She’s focused on her career and never sees Marco coming.

Marco is….*swoon*. GOD. This man was sheer perfection. He knows what he wants and he goes after it. He’s a gentleman. He’s a sweet talker that means what he says and says what he means and I couldn’t get enough of his woo. And ladies, his woo game is STRONG.

This was a cute, sweet and steamy read that I devoured in one sitting. It has just the right splash of conflict to keep things interesting and full of swoon and romance that will put a smile on your face and keep it there.

Review: The Truest Thing by Samantha Young

The Truest Thing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Hart’s Boardwalk #4
Author: Samantha Young
Release Date: August 18, 2020

Nine years ago, Emery Saunders moved to Hartwell to start her life over as a bookstore owner. Her inability to trust people made it hard for her to find a place in the small community until Jessica Lawson moved to town and befriended the shy beauty.
But there was one person in Hartwell who tried to befriend Emery long before Jessica arrived…

Jack Devlin has his secrets. One of them is that he fell hard for Emery the moment she appeared in Hartwell. Another is that his father blackmailed him into covering up a dark family tragedy. It forced Jack to sever his relationships to protect the people he cared about. Yet, staying away from Emery has not been easy throughout the years and he hasn’t always succeeded. When Jack’s mixed signals hurt Emery once again, she puts him out of her heart for good.
Until the Devlin family secret is finally revealed, freeing Jack from his father’s machinations. What Jack wants more than anything is to repair his relationships, starting with Emery.

However, Emery isn’t ready to forgive and Jack’s not ready to give up.
And when the town’s latest scandal ties Jack and Emery together, Jack is not above using their new reality to prove to Emery once and for all that their love is worthy of the legend of Hart’s Boardwalk.

 AMAZON 

She was pure temptation. He couldn’t have her. But, fuck, did he want her.

I adore all things Samantha Young and I’ve absolutely adored her Hart’s Boardwalk series. But while I did ultimately enjoy this one, it certainly wasn’t my favorite in the series.

Jack and Emery’s story is not an easy one. It spans years and is riddled with dark secrets, betrayal, and pain. Emery was a character I wasn’t sure that I’d love at first. She’s painfully shy, timid, and blushes with a stiff wind. But there’s just something about her that you can’t help but click with. She’s a very complex character with so many layers that get peeled back with each new chapter.

The second she sets foot in the small town and locks eyes with Jack, they have an indescribable connection. She’s a young girl with plenty of secrets who struggles to make connections but with more years that she spends in the charming small town, the more that changes. She makes friends. She forms strong connection with the town and the people. But her connection with Jack only gets more and more complicated.

Jack is a tortured characters with some dark secrets in his past and some debilitating demons in his present. And while I liked him at first, that connection began to wane as the story progressed. While I understood (somewhat) the reasons for some of the decisions he made, I also hated them. I hated them so much that I had a hard time moving past them and struggled with how Emery could. Even though Emery does make him work for it in the end, some of these betrayals were almost too much for me. Their constant back and forth, I want her but I can’t have her also became too much. It wore me out. There’s just so much drama on top of drama happening here, that the relationship issues with these two became too much for me.

I feel conflicted because while I did have issues, I also enjoyed it. I loved Emery, and even though Jack wasn’t perfect, he did have his incredible moments too. His feelings for Emery were so deep and there was so much emotion packed into this. I just could have done without some of the decisions with women he made. Le sigh.

While it wasn’t my favorite in the series, it was still an enjoyable read. I do adore this series and look forward to more.

Review: Unholy Union by Natasha Knight

Unholy Union
Genre: Dark Romance, Mafia
Series: Unholy Union Duet #1
Author: Natasha Knight
Release Date: August 25,2020

Circumstance put Cristina on my path.

Fate bound her to me.

Cristina and I share a common past.

A single night that changed the course of our lives.

She asked me if I was a monster the night I met her.

I am.

She’s about to learn I’m her monster.

Because the countdown that began eight years ago has ended. Her time is up.

On the stroke of midnight, she’s mine.

Unholy Union contains the prologue Unholy: The Beginning

 AMAZON | B&N | KOBO | iBOOKS

COMING SOON

#2 Unholy Intent – Releasing September 15

AMAZON | NOOK | KOBO | iBOOKS

When you run, I will come after you. I will always come after you. You belong to me now, Cristina. For better or for worse.”

Oh.
My.
GOD.

I need the next book immediately!!!! My ovaries shall not survive it! I’m a sucker for a good anti-hero, and no one writes them quite like Natasha Knight. As a matter of fact, Damian Di Santo may be my favorite antihero I’ve read from her to date! This man was SHIVER inducing.

The pacing of this story was PERFECTION. It gives just enough chemistry to make the progression believable all the while maintaining the dangerous and dark notes of Damian and Christina’s relationship.

Christina is only a child when she first gets in Damian’s crosshairs. A bloody revenge, secrets and promises bring them back together years later on her eighteenth birthday. I loved that even thought Christina is so young and has the naiveté to go with it, she’s not a pushover. She’s a fighter. She’s not reckless but she’s also not a doormat. She’s an incredible balance of fierce and vulnerable. As for Damian? GAH. This man. I loved him. He’s lethal, cunning, and oozes danger and sexuality. Christina can’t accept that she was promised to Damian in a deal that cost her family everything. She’ll fight him with everything she is. But there’s so much more at play here. There’s dark secrets and dangerous plot twists lurking at every turn and I was so here for it.

I DEVOURED this book, y’all. Couldn’t stop reading for even a second. It was everything I love in a dark romance and I’m absolutely desperate for the conclusion!

USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance, Natasha Knight specializes in dark, tortured heroes. Happily-Ever-Afters are almost always guaranteed, but she likes to put her characters through hell to get them there. She’s evil like that.

 

Connect with Natasha:

Website: http://natasha-knight.com

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/29Cb7vD

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kg2fRX

Facebook: http://bit.ly/29q3s4b

Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2xvnZO5

Newsletter: http://natasha-knight.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashaknight13

 

Review: Sweet Mercy by Nina West

SWEET MERCY
Genre: Erotic Romance, Mafia
Series: Dirty Empire #1
Author: Nina West
Release Date: March 27, 2019

From internationally bestselling author K.A. Tucker, writing as Nina West, comes the dark and steamy Dirty Empire trilogy.

One visit to my father in prison—convicted for a murder he didn’t commit—and I’ve attracted the attention of the last man I’d ever want knowing that I exist.

Gabriel Easton.

Son of an infamous crime boss. Deplorable womanizer. Scoundrel to the core.

Worse, he has figured out how desperate I am to protect my father from brutality behind bars. He has the power to grant that protection, and he has offered it … for a price.

Me.

I am to become a “guest” in his mansion, to live with him until he tires of having me around.
I’ll do anything for my father, including agree to Gabriel’s cruel game. But I won’t comply with his every whim and wish.

Not when he taunts me with that ruthless spark in his cold blue eyes.

Not when he requires that I share his bedroom at night.

Unfortunately for me, I think my loathing for him is what he’s enjoying most.

That’s fine. By the time I’m through with him, he’ll be crying my name.

Mercy.

 AMAZON 

My name on this woman’s lips will be my downfall.

First of all, if we’re friends and you’ve read this book and didn’t scream at me that I need to read it immediately? Yeah. I’m reevaluating our friendship. You are no friend of mine. Because if you were and you read this, then you’d know that this was so much my catnip, I’d want to name both of my ovaries Gabriel.
This is book one in one of the most addictive trilogies I’ve read in a long time. And I’m not a reader that gravitates to trilogies? But having devoured this book in one sitting, I can already confirm that book two is giving me the same vibes.

Gabriel is the ultimate bad boy. The man is the son of an infamous gangster whose mere name makes grown men quake. He and his brother have lived a life of debauchery and no expense spared but don’t exactly what to be in their father’s shadow.

Gabriel is also used to getting any woman he wants to fall at his knees at the snap of a sexy finger.

Mercy has had her entire world turned upside down when her father gets sent to prison for the murder of a man that attacked her. She’s desperate to get him out and fight his unfair conviction. Especially since his life is in constant danger. Gabriel lays his sights on the beauty while visiting his own father and is determined to have her. But he doesn’t exactly make a convincing argument when he offers his protection in exchange for her dropping to her knees.

Now if you’re not a fan of alphaholes, you won’t like this. But if you’re like me and like them mean and extra cocky, prepare for ovary explosion, friends. Because Gabriel is all of the things. And I think what makes this as good as it was was watching his fall for Mercy. Mercy may be a good girl, but she takes no sh*t and isn’t afraid to put Gabriel in his place and makes him work for it. The sexual tension is UNREAL You can practically taste their chemistry.

I devoured and I mean DEVOURED this book. It was deliciously dirty and completely addictive.

Review: The Pool Boy by Nikki Sloane

THE POOL BOY
Genre: Erotic Romance
Series: Nashville Neighborhood #2
Author: Nikki Sloane
Release Date: August 11, 2020


Nothing says happy birthday like catching your husband in a compromising position with his boss.

His male boss.

Why, hello, midlife crisis. I’m starting over, but this time I’m doing it right. Or at least I’m doing what I want.

Taking the day off from work to hang out poolside? Yup. Do I leave the swimsuit in my house? Sure.

Does my very hot, twenty-something pool boy happen to catch me naked? Oh, yeah, he does. And he likes what he sees… a lot.

My best friend keeps telling me to have a fling and get back out there. But I’m not so sure she meant for me to do it with her son.

 AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

If he had a flavor, it was just like his music. Sinfully rich and hot.

Every now and then a girl just wants a fun and smutty romance with a dash of taboo/forbidden mixed in. And whenever I’m craving this, Nikki Sloane is my no-brainer go-to. The woman can write a steamy erotica like no other. But she’ll also infuse it with a fun story and plenty of feels to make it immensely satisfying.

Now I’m going to admit something to you and I’m prepared for the judgy looks I’ll get. *whispers* I have a double standard. *grins sheepishly* What? I own it. I know I do. Because while I love me a good age gap romance with an older man, I don’t particularly gravitate towards the reverse. I know, I know. It’s not a bias I have in life. But for some reason, I do have it in books. Which is ridiculous, now that I think about it, because some of my favorite age gaps have been with a younger guy. Huh. I’m having an epiphany here. But I digress. What I’m trying to say here, is it’s not my go to, but if Nikki writes it? I’m all over it.

I devoured Erika and Troy’s book. Beyond the age gap, there’s also a big dash of forbidden, because Troy just happens to be Erika’s best friend’s son.
Erika is a recent divorce still dealing with discovering her husband’s long term affair…with his male boss.
I know! The plot twists! Craziness. But I digress again.

Troy is Erika’s best friend’s son and also her pool boy. Troy has also been harboring a huge crush on his mom’s friend for years. When he stumbles upon Erika sunbathing at her pool topless, well, let’s just say his reaction is not easy to hide. And seeing her best friend’s son all grown up staring at her with some very adult lust in his eyes? Well let’s just say Erika has an epiphany of her own. Thus begins their incredibly hot but also forbidden affair. And I was SO HERE FOR IT.

This story was so much more than just hot sex. Even though it was hot. I mean, smoking hot. SCORCHING. But really, there was so much more to it. I loved the way that Erika fought for Troy’s dreams even when his own parents didn’t see them. Troy was absolutely delicious. He’s sweet and caring and he’s all in with Erika. He’s not a stereotypical 20 year old playboy. He knows what he wants and he doesn’t need years of playing the field to know that it’s Erika and he could care less about their twenty year age difference. I absolutely loved the two of them together.

This was such a fun, quick paced read that I devoured in one hot Sunday afternoon and finished with a smile on my face. It was the perfect steamy read to get my mind off of all the crazy happening in our world right now. I also immediately went and purchased book one in this series to read about the good Dr and his son’s ex girlfriend. Because Yum. If you’re looking for a super steamy but wonderfully developed and immensely satisfying erotic romance, this is definitely a must read.

USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. For eight years she worked for a design firm in that extremely tall, black, and tiered building in Chicago that went through an unfortunate name change during her time there.

 

Now she lives in Kentucky, is married and has two sons. She is a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA© Finalist, a Passionate Plume winner, a two-time HOLT Medallion finalist, and couldn’t be any happier that people enjoy reading her sexy words.

Connect with Nikki

Amazon | FacebookTwitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Goodreads | Joining her mailing list

Review: Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting

KISS MY CUPCAKE
Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomCom
Author: Helena Hunting
Release Date: August 11, 2020

As two neighborhood shop owners battle for business, they prove opposites attract in this outrageously funny romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of Meet Cute.

Blaire Calloway has planned every Instagram-worthy moment of her cupcake and cocktails shop launch down to the tiniest detail. What she didn’t plan on? Ronan Knight and his old-school sports bar next door opening on the very same day. He may be super swoony, but Blaire hasn’t spent years obsessing over buttercream and bourbon to have him ruin her chance at success.

From axe throwing (his place) to frosting contests (hers), Blaire and Ronan are constantly trying to one-up each other in a battle to win new customers. But with every clash, there’s also an undeniable chemistry. When an even bigger threat to their business comes to town, they’re forced to call a temporary time-out on their own war and work together. And the more time Blaire spends getting to know the real Ronan, the more she wonders if it’s possible to have her cupcake and eat it too.

 AMAZON

What’re you doing?”
“I want to see what I’m dealing with.”
“You can touch him, he doesn’t bite.”
“Him?” She peeks up, her expression amused. “Does he have a name?”
I scoff. “Of course not.” I call him The Sword of Destiny in my head, though.

I finished this good with a ridiculous craving of cupcakes and a goofy grin on my face. This was just so stinking cute, y’all. SO CUTE. This was opposites attract perfection with a splash of enemies to lovers and all the feels.

You may have started the war, but I’ll be the one taking you down, one sweet treat at a time.”

What happens when a sexy and tatted lumberjack meets a sassy and fiery baker with a penchant for retro fashion and insults. Basically, this was a recipe for amazing from the very first page.

Blaire is intent on making her boozy bakery a success. Combining sweet treats with fun drinks is her thing, much to the dismay of her very kooky but gourmet family. She’s intent to prove to them that she can make it on her own and without their financial help. But then she gets a new work neighbor that turns everything upside down. Ronan runs the bar next door and his renovations have been giving Blaire grief. So suffice it to say their first meeting isn’t exactly cordial. The chemistry between these two was EVERYTHING. And I seriously mean everything. You can literally see the sparks fly between them each time they go head to head.

At first they’re business rivals, each trying to one up the other when they’re not trading barbs and insults with a strong undercurrent of sexual tension. Then an unlikely friendship forms. I seriously loved the two of them together. Blaire has the kookiest family that made for some highly entertaining secondary characters. She’s also fun and fiery with a temper but a caring heart. I simply adored her. I cannot tell you how much I loved Ronan. He was perfection covered in tattoos. He’s sweet and loyal and I loved the relationship he has with his grandfather.

The romance here was a delicious slow burn that I couldn’t get enough of. I was eagerly turning the pages just waiting for that moment when Ronan and Blaire finally give into the chemistry between them. And when they finally did? YOWZA. Perfection.

If you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted romcom with a delicious sizzle and plenty of feels, look no further!

New & Upcoming Releases: August 9-13

New releases coming at ya this week!


AVAILABLE NOW


THE ALIEN’S SAVIOR by Ella Maven

“I’ll do anything to make sure she’s safe. Even from me.”

Naomi: All my life, I’ve been protected. First by my older brother, and now by a crew of women on a strange alien planet who insist on protecting my virtue. Who cares about virtue? I have to make the most of this situation, and if that means shacking up with a big blue guy, I’m not opposed. So when I find that the very alien who I’m convinced is my mate has gone off on a reckless mission, I risk it all to bring him back myself.

Gar: Anger doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel when a fragile female puts herself in harm’s way for me. And not just any female—of course she’s the one I can’t resist. But I don’t deserve her, and I’ll never bind her to my doomed destiny. Except now she’s in danger, and if it’s the last thing I do in my cursed life, I’ll make sure she’s safe. Even from me.

The Alien’s Savior is a full-length Sci-Fi Romance novel featuring a brave heroine who thinks the stigma around the Big V is dumb, and a tortured hero who wants what he thinks he can’t have.


DROWNING IN STARS by Debra Anastasia

… he walked a tightrope five stories up just to hold my hand.

Gaze: I moved into the building next to Pixie when I was eleven. She blew bubbles through my window.

I shot my Nerf gun through hers.

We both had secrets, but one of us was fated to get hurt.

I wanted it to be me. Pixie: When I was afraid of the dark, he would shine a light in my window.

We shared our popsicles and I taught him how to get a good swing on the playground.

I never imagined I’d have to decide who got to live and who didn’t. I chose him –and he could never know.

She walked a tightrope five stories up just to save my life…


RELEASING AUGUST 11


KISS MY CUPCAKE by Helena Hunting

As two neighborhood shop owners battle for business, they prove opposites attract in this outrageously funny romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of Meet Cute.

Blaire Calloway has planned every Instagram-worthy moment of her cupcake and cocktails shop launch down to the tiniest detail. What she didn’t plan on? Ronan Knight and his old-school sports bar next door opening on the very same day. He may be super swoony, but Blaire hasn’t spent years obsessing over buttercream and bourbon to have him ruin her chance at success.

From axe throwing (his place) to frosting contests (hers), Blaire and Ronan are constantly trying to one-up each other in a battle to win new customers. But with every clash, there’s also an undeniable chemistry. When an even bigger threat to their business comes to town, they’re forced to call a temporary time-out on their own war and work together. And the more time Blaire spends getting to know the real Ronan, the more she wonders if it’s possible to have her cupcake and eat it too.


VIXEN by Rebecca Zanetti

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti comes a new story in her Dark Protectors/Rebels series…

Tabi Rusko has a simple to-do list: Rob a bank, steal a recording, set up a lucrative factory, and survive the assassins on her tail. Sure, she’s a demoness with the cunning and instincts that come with her species, but she’s always spent more time exploring than training, and her fighting skills are okay at best. One sexy man, a human cop no less, is responsible for her being stuck in a small hick town and forced into a human anger-management group that’s crazier than her. To make matters worse, his dangerous blue eyes and hard body leave her breathless and ready to rumble, and his overbearing attitude is a challenge a demoness can’t refuse.

Evan O’Connell just wants to enjoy his time out of the military by policing a small town and hopefully pulling cats from trees and helping old ladies cross the street before he succumbs to the disease plaguing him. The last thing he needs is a stunning, too sexy, pain in the butt blonde casing his bank and causing a ruckus everywhere she goes. There’s something different about her that he can’t figure out, and when she offers him immortality in exchange for her freedom, he discovers that isn’t enough. One touch of her, a whirlwind beyond his imagination, and he wants the Vixen to be his forever, as soon as he takes care of the centuries old killers on her tail.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**


ANY DAY NOW by Lani Lynn Vale

Amelia loves her good friend, Avery. So much so that she agrees to do the stupidest thing ever.

A stranger photo shoot.

You know the type. The photographer takes photos of two individuals. Two individuals that, until that day, have never met in their life.

The moment she shows up at the photo shoot, she knows that she made a terrible decision.

Why? Because the total stranger about to be in an intimate photo shoot with her is the hottest thing that’s ever walked the streets of Kilgore, Texas. If not the entire US of A.

***

Adam wasn’t sure why the hell he agreed to something so stupid.

Call it temporary lapse of sanity.

When the photographer who shot his photo for the Kilgore Police Department’s benefit calendar asked him for a favor, he couldn’t say no. Not without looking like a jerk seeing as it was benefiting the Fallen Officer Foundation that he played a rather large part in.

Whatever it was that made him agree, he quickly realizes that it’s not worth it. Not when he walks into the studio and sees the massive bed with blood-red sheets dominating the middle of the room.

So uncomfortable he is at the sight, he’s about to head straight out the door and not look back when she walks in.
Amelia steals his breath away with just one glance, and all of a sudden, getting this stranger into his arms with his mouth on hers sounds like the best idea ever.


HE OWNS MY HEART by Evie Drae

2019 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist in Contemporary Romance

2018 Romance Writers of America® Heart-to-Heart 1st Place Winner in Erotic Romance

2018 Romance Writers of America® Gateway to the Best 2nd Place Winner in Single Title/Contemporary Series

 

Only true love can free a captive heart.

Landon Jenks, retired four-time Golden Glove-winning shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, is lonely, heartbroken, and in need of simple human contact. Trapped in the sticky fine print of an ironclad contract that forbids him from revealing his very-much-single status until the season finale of his reality show airs, he calls an elite male escort service that caters to the rich and desperate.

Accustomed to servicing his often less than savory clients at more upscale locales, twenty-six-year-old Toby Carmichael is surprised when his handler sends him to a run-down motel off I-55. But “surprise” doesn’t come close to describing the shock that rocks his system when a delightful stuttering mess covered in tattoos and nearly ten years his senior stumbles into the room—and right into his heart.

For the first time since Toby was forced into the life of prostitution, a kiss sparks a desire that has nothing to do with money and everything to do with genuine chemistry and the faintest beginnings of something so much more. But Toby’s dark past and troubled present make it impossible to see a future with Landon. And when the truth comes to light, a horrified and helpless Landon is determined to save Toby at all costs.

Content Warnings: This book addresses some heavy and difficult topics, so please click “Look Inside” to see the potential trigger/content warnings. Your mental health and safety is always the number one priority.


A DATE TO PLAY FORE by LP Dover & Heidi McLaughlin

New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Heidi McLaughlin and L.P. Dover come together for a sexy new series that delivers romance for every season!

Tee up for the long drive, it’s golf season!

After winning the U.S. Open, Greyson Jennings couldn’t help but take playful jabs at the expense of his prime competition, Bryan Nelson. His snarky claims during the press junction may have burned off like fog on the green, if a week later they hadn’t found themselves at the same golf resort.

Hungry for a little payback, Bryan challenges Greyson to a grudge match: Grey and his best friend versus Bryan and his sister, Leah. Turns out, Leah is a ringer with a swing—and curves—that turn Grey’s thoughts to a hole in one of another kind.

Unfortunately, Leah’s opinion of him has been formed by the many stories Bryan has shared. That may hurt this golfer’s handicap, but he’s nowhere near ready to give up. It’s game on as Leah agrees to meet Grey on the green and go head to head with the hole as the goal.

Can Greyson prove there’s more to him than an impressive club and a carefully crafted bad boy persona? Or will the sting of Leah’s rejection leave him in need of some alone time and a good ball washer?


TRUTH by Cassie James

“Truth or dare?”

Four years ago, an innocent game led a group of friends into the woods for a night of debauchery.

Two weeks later, one of them was dead.

Now, Natalie Adams wants nothing more than to forget what happened that night—and everything that happened after.

It’s easier said than done when a very public misstep lands her back at Banner-Hill, a place she swore she’d never step foot in again.

And she’s not the only one that’s back.

Logan and Killian are just down the hall, reminding her of everything she’d rather forget. Taunting her with everything they once had.

At Banner-Hill, the wealthy fight their demons—or indulge them.

Natalie Adams plans to do both.

This book is a dark RH romance with material that may be difficult for some readers. Please see the author’s note at the front of this book for more details.


NO OFFENSE by Meg Cabot

New York Times-bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a charming romance between a children’s librarian and the town sheriff in the second book in the Little Bridge Island series.

Welcome to Little Bridge, one of the smallest, most beautiful islands in the Florida Keys, home to sandy white beaches, salt-rimmed margaritas, and stunning sunsets—a place where nothing goes under the radar and love has a way of sneaking up when least expected…

A broken engagement only gave Molly Montgomery additional incentive to follow her dream job from the Colorado Rockies to the Florida Keys. Now, as Little Bridge Island Public Library’s head of children’s services, Molly hopes the messiest thing in her life will be her sticky-note covered desk. But fate—in the form of a newborn left in the restroom—has other ideas. So does the sheriff who comes to investigate the “abandonment”.  When John Hartwell folds all six-feet-three of himself into a tiny chair and insists that whoever left the baby is a criminal, Molly begs to differ and asks what he’s doing about the Island’s real crime wave (if thefts of items from homes that have been left unlocked could be called that). Not the best of starts, but the man’s arrogance is almost as distracting as his blue eyes. Almost…

John would be pretty irritated if one of his deputies had a desk as disorderly as Molly’s. Good thing she doesn’t work for him, considering how attracted he is to her. Molly’s lilting librarian voice makes even the saltiest remarks go down sweeter, which is bad as long as she’s a witness but might be good once the case is solved—provided he hasn’t gotten on her last nerve by then. Recently divorced, John has been having trouble adjusting to single life as well as single parenthood. But something in Molly’s beautiful smile gives John hope that his old life on Little Bridge might suddenly hold new promise—if only they can get over their differences.

Clever, hilarious, and fun, No Offense will tug at readers’ heartstrings and make them fall in love with Little Bridge Island and its unique characters once again.


LEO by Jay McLean

One single summer changed them forever, and one moment of devastating silence destroyed it all.

Growing up with six siblings, Leo Preston has always struggled to find his voice.
While his brothers are loud, greedy, and somewhat obnoxious, Leo is forever the quiet one.
The thinker.
The listener.
He watches his life pass by as an outsider in his own world, absent and alone.
Lost.
Until he finds her.

For Leo, Mia Kovács is like a prize, a gift wrapped in passion and devotion.
And she’s his—his very own secret he doesn’t have to share.
Together, they can overcome anything…
heartache and destruction, guilt and regret.

Mia gives Leo everything he didn’t know he needed,
including her fragile heart.
The only thing she doesn’t give him…
are secrets of her own.


KING OF SOULS by L.A. Cotton

He’ll fight for her. He’ll die for her… but is love enough to save them?

From bestselling author L A Cotton comes the highly anticipated conclusion to Nicco and Arianne’s duet

Arianne Capizola is living a lie.

Angry. Abandoned. Afraid.

She’d rather spend her days locked away on her father’s estate than with the guy who stole her innocence: her fiancé.

Niccolò Marchetti is living a nightmare.

Broken. Banished. Betrayed.

He’d do anything to save the girl he loves, even if it means paying the ultimate price.

As the truth surrounding their legacies begins to unravel, everything they thought they knew shatters. But Nicco will do anything to protect the girl who taught him how to love, and she will risk it all to save the guy who stole her heart.

The clock is ticking as old and new enemies close in.

Only this time, their love might not be enough to save them.

*King of Souls in the second book in Nicco and Ari’s duet. Due to mature content that some readers may find distressing, this book is recommended for readers 18+


THE POOL BOY by Nikki Sloane

Nothing says happy birthday like catching your husband in a compromising position with his boss.

His male boss.

Why, hello, midlife crisis. I’m starting over, but this time I’m doing it right. Or at least I’m doing what I want.

Taking the day off from work to hang out poolside? Yup. Do I leave the swimsuit in my house? Sure.

Does my very hot, twenty-something pool boy happen to catch me naked? Oh, yeah, he does. And he likes what he sees… a lot.

My best friend keeps telling me to have a fling and get back out there. But I’m not so sure she meant for me to do it with her son.


RELEASING AUGUST 13


SWEET AND WILD by Carmen Jenner

Head down south to Winchester Wild Ranch where the nights are steamy, the cowboys are smokin’, and it’s always a wild ride.

A heartfelt, second chance, small-town romance from USA Today bestselling author Carmen Jenner.

Twelve years ago, Lemon Winchester traded her cowgirl boots for Manolos and fled Red River Canyon for New York without so much as a glance in her rearview.

When tragedy strikes, Lemon returns to Winchester Wild Ranch, back to the little town she left so many years ago, back to the house that holds too many memories, and back to her overbearing, madcap family.

But not everyone is happy to see her.

Colton Hayes has worked Winchester land since he was old enough to ride a horse. For as long as he can remember, his future only ever involved one person—Lemon Winchester—his best friend’s little sister. But it’s hard to marry the girl next door when she runs off in the middle of the night without so much as a goodbye.

She’s back and he’s bitter.

They once shared a love capable of scalding even the most brutal Texas summer, but the ranch is no longer big enough for them both, especially when those old feelings begin to resurface.

Lemon is every bit as infuriating as the day he fell in love with her, but Colt knows better than anyone that you can’t rope in Winchester wild. That woman will be the death of him … assuming her brothers don’t kill him first.


A MOMENT LIKE YOU by Claudia Burgoa

USA Today Bestselling author Claudia Burgoa presents a witty, funny & heartfelt billionaire, enemies-to-lovers romance.

I hate my boss. He’s the devil in disguise—but I just can’t seem to stay away.

When my employer Henry Alderidge is set to claim a large inheritance from his deceased father, he drags me along with him—because he needs his assistant. I have no choice but to move across the country with Satan’s bastard and stay with him for over a year in order to pay for my mother’s debts.

Henry drags me to a small town where everyone knows your business and to a family that’s more broken than close. The Alderidge brothers are handsome, arrogant, and sinful.

They’re also too much to handle.

Henry’s dad lost his mind before he died, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I don’t know how I’ll survive for eighteen months with this man.

Except you should never judge a book by its cover. And Henry Alderidge has more hiding beneath the surface than I ever thought possible…

The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers series is a romantic comedy saga packed with the perfect mix of angst, tears, and laughs. If you like strong heroines & alpha males, steamy romances and witty love stories, this series is for you!


THE ENEMY by Kelsey Clayton

Kensington Bradwell doesn’t get told no often.
Not when he built an empire from the ground up.
Not when he became the most powerful man in North Haven.
And definitely not when he met my mother.

A picture-perfect relationship,
a happy family,
and twenty years of marriage–
all thrown away for a man with no morals.

Tearing him down won’t be easy,
but I won’t stop until his empire is in flames.
For my sister. For my father. For me.
I need to find a way to break him,

Lucky for me, the answer just fell into my lap.
Daddy’s little princess may be innocent in all of this,
but Lennon’s about to get caught in the crossfire of revenge.
THE ENEMY is a standalone and part of the Haven Grace Prep series


NEEDING YOU CLOSE by Kennedy Fox

I never expected to see my first love again after he left me twelve years ago. Though I’ve moved on, working with Tyler is no easy task—especially when he focuses his bedroom eyes on me. Flirting with the past is like playing with fire, and considering I’m engaged, I’m bound to get burned.

When the man I promised to marry reveals he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, I run to the safety of Tyler’s strong arms. As we grow closer, so do our feelings. Threats and ultimatums are made, and the revelation of the truth is enough to bring me to my knees. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my family, even if it means shredding my heart.

Too dangerous, too unpredictable, too risky to handle alone—we need each other now more than ever.

After our world nearly collapses, there’s nothing left to do but take it back. Tyler and I team up to destroy the people who are determined to ruin our second chance at a happily ever after. Though our love is undeniable, I just hope it’s enough. We’ll fight until the end to be together—regardless of who tries to get in our way.

NEEDING YOU CLOSE is a slow-burn, angsty romance wrapped up in an intense love story. It’s book 2 in the Tyler & Gemma duet and must be read in order.


TROUBLEMAKER by Kayley Loring

TO: Alex Vega
FROM: Emilia Stiles

SUBJECT: Hello

Dear Mr. Vega,

I felt it necessary to follow up on today’s meeting, since we weren’t able to speak candidly in front of your son.

I was shocked to discover that you are Ryder’s dad. Given that your ex-wife will be out of the country for a while and you are currently his primary caregiver, I’m sure you understand why we need to establish boundaries and etiquette. I think it would be best if we just pretend that we met in person for the first time today.

Your son is a very bright (flirtatious and talkative) student and since his education is a top priority for both of us, I hope I can count on you to respectfully refrain from grinning at me, using that sexy tone of voice, and undressing me with your annoyingly beautiful brown eyes if we should happen to interact with each other again in the future.

Thanks so much,
Miss Stiles

TO: Emilia Stiles
FROM: Alex Vega

SUBJECT: Re: Well, hello again…

Dear Miss Stiles,

Great to hear from you. My son’s education is indeed a top priority. As such, I respectfully agree to refrain from doing all of the aforementioned things.

However, I can’t promise to stop thinking about that kiss at the bar this summer. I’ve been thinking about it for the past month. It’s interesting how humorless and uptight you are about my son’s totally awesome personality, given that I have personally witnessed just how flirtatious and talkative you yourself can be when mildly intoxicated.

You’re so welcome,
Alex

P.S. I volunteered to be a chaperone for your next field trip. See you then.

#DGRFave & Review: Exodus by Kate Stewart

EXODUS
Genre: Contemporary Romance (maybe. I don’t even know. My brain hurts, OK?!)
Series: Ravenhood Duet #2
Author: Kate Stewart
Release Date: July 28, 2020

Can you live a lie?

It’s a ghost town, this place that haunts me, the one that made me.

It’s clear to me that I’ll never outgrow Triple Falls or outlive the time I spent here.

I can still feel them all, my boys of summer.

Even when I’d sensed the danger, I gave in.

I didn’t heed a single warning. I let my sickness, my love, both rule and ruin me. I played my part, eyes wide open, tempting fate until it delivered.

There was never going to be an escape.

All of us are to blame for what happened. All of us serving our own sentences. We were careless and reckless, thinking our youth made us indestructible, exempt from our sins, and it cost us all.

I’m done pretending I didn’t leave the largest part of me between these hills and valleys, between the sea of trees that hold my secrets.

It’s the reason I’m back. To make peace with my fate.

And if I can’t grieve enough to cure myself in my time here, I’ll remain sick. That will be my curse.

But it’s time to confess, to myself more so than any other, that I’d hindered my chances because of the way I was built, and because of the men who built me.

At this point, I just want to make peace with who I am, no matter what ending I get.

Because I can no longer live a lie.

 AMAZON

Once upon a time, I was a lonely girl who met a lonely king, and we both suffered from too much pride and oh, how the reckless have fallen.

Do you see that crazy person staring blankly at the wall while clutching a bottle of wine and babbling to herself? Great. Now mind your business because she is NOT OK. She is me. OK? Alright? I am not ok. How do you even go on after this duet? How do you read anything else after it? How do you gather the remnants of sanity long enough to write a coherent review? You don’t! So don’t be expecting anything like that here, because you won’t get it. What you will get is incoherent babbling in bouts of full body sobbing and maniacal laughter. In that exact order. I said mind your business! I feel like I’ve just been hit by a mac truck of feels.

How do I even describe this duet to you? Soul shattering. All encompassing. Heart wrenching. Erotic. Utterly unforgettable. PHENOMENAL.

He didn’t want to feel anything, and instead, he felt everything. We’ve just ruined ourselves with our hate for the other.

Full disclosure, I must have spent a good 60% of this book hysterically sobbing. Like to the point of full body shakes when my husband finally looked at me like I’ve gone and lost it completely. And you know what? He was not wrong. God damn but Stewart can write. The woman can wring emotion out of her readers like nobody’s business but she seriously hit it out of the ballpark with this story.

Let’s talk about Cecelia for a second, because as many may judge her, I loved her. It’s not often you read about such a sex positive heroine that owns her desire and what she wants and I loved her for it. She’s a fighter and she’s magnificent in her fight. This is a woman that doesn’t take things lying down and isn’t afraid to rage and fight for what she wants.

Now as for the rest of it, you’ll get nothing. Absolutely nothing from me. Because this is just one of those books that you need to experience totally blind. I thought I was a pretty open minded reader, but this story took me so far out of my comfort zone, I was lost at sea. Drifting in an ocean of emotion so potent, I could practically taste it. But that’s also what I loved about this story. The fact that it was unlike anything else I’d ever read. It was one of those books that I will never forget. Ever. And this is coming from someone that barely remembers what she had for breakfast. Puny memory here, people.

Do yourself a favor and go in blind. Don’t seek out spoilers. Don’t read in depth reviews. Just trust me on this.

Is it an easy read? Not even a little. But what I appreciate about Kate Stewart’s raw talent is nothing was for shock value. There’s hints throughout the very first pages of what’s to come and the story unravels like the most enrapturing mystery. It was gritty and all encompassing. This book owned me. Cold black heart and soul. It will be a book I’ll be singing the praises of for years to come. It will be the book I recommend to anyone and everyone. It will be a book I will never, ever forget. It’s one of my top reads of the year. Magical. All encompassing. Unique. A one of a kind experience that broke me and put me back together again. INCREDIBLE.

Review: Inked In Lies by Giana Darling

INKED IN LIES
Genre: MC Romance, Contemporary
Series: Fallen Men #5
Author: Giana Darling
Release Date: July 31https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50256015-inked-in-lies?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=DabMWCzZCp&rank=1, 2020

He moved in next door.

Handsome as sin, older in a way that meant forbidden.

He had tattoos on his hands and wickedness tucked in his grin.

I was a goner as girl to a man they called Casanova for a reason. He would never love me, at least not the way I needed him to.

I tried to move on. But I couldn’t turn my back on him or The Fallen MC.

So when they needed me most, I offered the only thing of value I could use to help them.

My body.

And when helping them meant putting my life on the line, Nova had to decide just how much he was willing to do to get me out alive.

A standalone romance in The Fallen Men series.

 AMAZON

He was it. My dream man wrapped up in a sinful package. And he was still completely and utterly forbidden.

I’m a sucker for unrequited love tropes and gritty MC and this book was the best of both worlds.

She was mine. And I was hers in the way a wolf is owned by his moon, elementally, fuckin’ irrevocably.

Nova and Lila’s story was not an easy one. It was full of angst, frustration, and pain. They first meet when Lila is only a little girl and Nova quickly becomes her everything. His family becoming Lila’s escape when all she’s known in her young life have been liars and criminals. Lila’s childhood is anything but pretty or easy. It’s full of loss, pain, and lies. But what starts as a bit of hero worship soon bleeds into something so much more as Lila grows older.

Nova is the pretty playboy of the Fallen Men. He’s quick to smile and isn’t above using his good looks to get what he wants. He’s perfectly content spending each night with a different woman and has no illusions that he would ever want more. But not all is as it seems with Nova. He’s a true wolf in sheep’s clothing. His easy smile hides some very dark demons. Lila has always been like a foster sister to him but there’s also something more that pulses between them when she gets older. He knows he can’t be what he wants and he pushes her away, cruelly and bluntly. Theirs is a dance of push and pull that will drive you to the brink of madness at times, but it hurts so good!

There’s so much that happens in this book; secrets unravel with so many twists and turns, it will leave your head reeling. The romance is gritty, frustrating, and oh so delicious. Lila, even if she does forgive Nova too easily in parts, is still a force to be reckoned with and I really loved her fire. Nova was impossible not to love, even when you wanted to hate him. His decisions in parts had me wanting to shake him and rip my hair out. But there’s just something so addictive about this man.
hight=”50″ width=”50″ />Loving someone shouldn’t be contingent on them returning that affection. Loving someone existed apart from reciprocation.

I loved the story and the gritty feels of it. Lived for it. But it was missing some polish. There were some minor continuity and timeline issues. There were also some very minor characterization issues. For example, 17 year old Nova sounded exactly like 30 year old Nova biker, which wasn’t a huge thing in the grand scheme of things, but still noticeable. The other thing was all the fallen men sound the same. same intonations, same turn of phrases and lack of constants. Don’t get me wrong, the biker speak is great, and I loved the Kristen Ashley feel of it in parts. But in the same breath, it was tough to read when it was also in their inner monologues. Like I would have to re-read sentences 3 times before it finally clicked what they were saying. Sorry, y’all, I simply couldn’t shut off my picky brain long enough to look past it. Le sigh. This series has a very strong KA feel to it, which I love. But the lack of constants and the blurring of words like “all of the” for: “alla the brothers” or “you think you can handle alla that” became a bit grating for me.

Clearly I still really enjoyed the book so please take my nitpicking with a grain of salt. Because it’s just that; nitpicking. The story was great and I devoured it. After Welcome to the Dark Side it has now become my second favorite book in the series. If you love gritty MC, it’s definitely not to be missed. Giana is a talented author that can weave an addictive tale full of twists and turns that will have you glued to the pages.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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