Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & #Giveaway: ★Nice Girls Don’t Ride★ by @roniloren

 
 NICE GIRLS DON’T RIDE
Author: Roni Loren
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult Romance
Release Date: April 21, 2015

Natalie Bourne thinks she has the perfect night planned for her twenty-first birthday. But when her car breaks down and her boyfriend bails on her, she’s left stranded in an auto shop dealing with a way too cocky, way too hot mechanic, who seems to be intent on pushing every button she has.Monroe Hawkins knows he shouldn’t be messing with a girl from the uppity private college. Especially when he can tell she sees him as the help. But he’s having trouble resisting the redhead with the smart mouth and the killer legs. So when Natalie’s night goes from bad to worse, there’s no way he’s letting her spend her birthday alone. He makes her a deal—he’ll take her home but not until the sun comes up.Ten hours, one motorcycle, and the city of Austin at their fingertips…things are about to take a major detour. And soon, there may be no U-turn in sight.

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ExcerptChapter One

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, dear…

I groan and lean back against the guardrail, shielding my eyes from the piercing sunlight. How exactly should I finish that?

Girl who currently smells like sweat and roadkill?

Girl about to go broke paying for this mess?

Girl whose boyfriend will not answer his goddamned phone?

My fingers move over the screen as I text Caleb again. Where r u???

I stare at my phone, willing a response out of it, but the screen goes black before there’s any answering ding. Caleb had warned me that he was going to be cutting it close for our date tonight. And I know his internship at the local campaign office sometimes runs late when they’re prepping for a rally, but he should be out by now.

My fingers move over the screen again. R U secretly Superman in ur off hours? Come on, u can tell me. If ur saving the world, I’ll understand.

Of course, there’s still no response. And now my neck is prickling with not just sweat but anxiety. What if something happened to him? What if he was in an accident? What if—?

I stop myself before the thoughts spiral, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. Cool it, Nat. But that little exercise only gets me a lungful of the dead skunk that’s roasting in the heat a few yards away from me on the side of the highway. Blech. I press my fingers over my mouth, fighting a wave of nausea.

I check the clock on my phone for what seems like the hundredth time. The roadside-assistance lady said they would contact a local garage and get me a tow right away. But it’s been over an hour, and the only cars that have passed by have either ignored me or sent catcalls flying my way. Because, of course, my piece-of-crap car had to break down when I’m all dressed up in a low-cut dress and heels for my birthday dinner. Yay for timing.

One guy had at least offered to help and had seemed nice enough, but I’ve seen how those horror movies end. Girl on the side of the road accepts help from a seemingly harmless stranger, only to have her organs carved out later that night. No, thanks.

A grinding of tires on gravel draws my attention upward. A black tow truck rolls past me on the road and pulls to the side, sending a cloud of dust in its wake. I keep my phone clutched in my hand, quickly check the can of Mace in my purse, and then push off the guardrail. The side of the truck says Billy’s Custom Cycles and Auto Repair. There’s a tattoo-style logo of a motorcycle on fire, and I know that it’s definitely not the name of the repair shop the roadside assistance service gave me. It had been some big chain—AutoPlus or something like that. A little shimmer of nerves goes through me and I stop where I am, my heels sinking into the gravel.

The front door of the tow truck opens and a tattooed arm appears before anything else. For some reason, my eyes lock onto pieces of the man instead of the whole—like I can’t handle the entire view quite yet, only snapshots. That muscular arm as the driver slides out of the truck. The worn black motorcycle boots that hit the ground. I force myself to look up, tracking along the faded jeans and fitted black T-shirt, until I collide with a dark blue gaze.

“Looks like you need a ride.”

The deep voice startles me for a second and snaps me back into the moment like a slingshot. Ping! Pay attention, Nat. Now is not the time to let my guard down. “No, thank you, I don’t. I already have another shop on the way.”

His gaze tracks over my dusty dress, slow and lazy like, before he lifts a dark brow. “How long have you been waiting? It’s pretty hot out here.”

The once-over makes me more than a little self-conscious. He can’t be all that much older than me, early twenties for sure, but something about him is intimidating as hell. “I don’t know. Not long. I’m sure they’ll be here any second.”

He crosses his arms over his chest and eyes my car, which has chosen this moment to start smoking from under the hood—as if it senses help in its midst and is crying out for it. “What shop is coming?”

I brush at the skirt of my dress, trying to give my nervous hands something to do. I don’t want to look worried or scared or show him that I’m melting in this brutal Texas heat. “AutoPlus, AutoMart . . .”

He scowls. “Autoland.”

“That’s it.”

“You might as well set up a tent then. They take forever to get to calls, and they’ll charge you twice as much as we would. Plus, they close at six. They’re just going to tow you in and then lock up for the night.”

“Says the guy who wants to make a buck on a girl stranded on the side of the road.”

The corner of his mouth lifts. “Hey, princess, I’m just trying to be a nice guy and get you to your”—he looks me up and down again—“sorority party on time. I get paid the same either way.”

Princess? Sorority party? My eyes narrow and I give him my own head-to-toe look, taking in the messy dark hair, the tattoos, the heavy boots, the finely shaped . . . I snatch the thought back before I can go there. “Look, Son of Anarchy, I appreciate the nice guy offer, but how do I even know you’re legit?”

He snorts. “You think I drive a tow truck around for fun? Call the number on the side of the truck if you want. But otherwise, I’ve got better stuff to do than stand here in the heat, smelling roadkill. Two minutes, princess. I’ll be in the truck. You want a tow and a ride? You get in. If not, good luck with Autoland.”

He turns to go, and I feel a little dart of panic at being left alone again—even if he’s not exactly the company I want. This isn’t the best part of Austin, and the sun is on its way down. “Wait, what’s your name? You know, so I can verify.”

He doesn’t turn around but calls back. “Monroe.”

I dial the number to the shop and, of course, they verify that Monroe works for them and is driving the truck today. The guy on the phone sounds amused by my questions. And his reaction makes me realize that I’m being paranoid, that my nerves are officially frayed, and it’s making me act like a bitch. I thank the guy on the phone, hang up, and take a steadying breath. This is going to be okay. Not everyone is out to take advantage. Some people actually do things to be helpful without ulterior motives.

My mother would laugh her ass off at that logic. Everybody’s got an agenda, Nattie.

I straighten the neckline of my dress, hike my purse up my shoulder, and walk over to the tow truck with as much dignity as I can muster for a sweaty girl in a dusty dress. Monroe hasn’t climbed back into the cab, but is instead leaning against the front bumper and watching the cars zoom by on the overpass up ahead. He doesn’t look my way. “Verified that I’m not a serial killer?”

“Verified that you work for Billy’s. The serial-killer part is yet to be determined.”

He smiles out at the horizon. “Want to check the backseat for weapons or body parts?”

“I have a feeling you’d be too sneaky to leave such obvious evidence lying around. And if you aren’t that clever, I’m going to be seriously disappointed in myself if I fall victim to a dumb serial killer.”

He chuckles and it changes his whole face, warming it. When he turns his head, his blue eyes meet mine and my stomach tightens a little. I do my best not to let my reaction show on my face. Last thing I need is him thinking that I’m interested in him. Because, of course, I’m not. I’m totally not. If there’s an opposite of my type, it’s this guy. And plus, I have Caleb. Cute, smart, on-his-way-to-big-things Caleb.

Caleb, who won’t answer his goddamned phone.

Monroe pushes himself off the bumper. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult, princess, but I’ll take it you’re going to ride with me.”

“Yes. But only because I can’t handle the dead-skunk smell for another minute.”

“I’m preferable to skunk guts? The flattery just rolls off you, doesn’t it?”

The jab lands squarely. I press my fingers to the space between my eyes and rub. “Sorry. I’m really not trying to be a bitch.”

“It just comes natural, then?”

My eyes snap open and I’m ready to hurl an insult back, but I find him wearing a playful grin and clamp my lips shut.

He angles a thumb toward the truck. “Get in . . .”

“Natalie,” I supply.

“Natalie. And kick the A/C on. Getting your car hooked up is gonna take a few minutes. You may want to call someone for a ride, too, because there’s no guarantee we can get this fixed tonight. I’m assuming you have plans.”

I glance down at my outfit, suddenly self-conscious about the sexy getup. It’s not my typical style, but tonight was supposed to be special, and I had wanted to knock Caleb on his butt. He’s been so wrapped up in work and school lately that I’ve felt a little like furniture. So I borrowed my roommate’s dress with its plunging neckline and treated myself to the new risqué lingerie I’m wearing beneath. I’m not exactly Ms. Vixen normally, so Caleb would’ve never seen it coming. Now it’s all a waste.

“I have a date with my boyfriend,” I say to Monroe.

“Right. So, he can pick you up?”

“He’s not answering his phone. But I’m sure I’ll get him soon.”

Monroe makes some noncommittal noise and nods. “I’m going to get to work. You go and cool off. There’s bottled water in the ice chest in the backseat.”

“Thanks.”

Before getting in the truck, I find myself watching Monroe walk back toward my car. He’s easily over six feet tall but doesn’t move in that awkward, hunched way that most of the taller guys on campus move. There’s an easy confidence to him, like he’s fully grown into his body and taken ownership—a man’s walk. My eyes follow him as he pops the hood of my car and leans over. The hem of his shirt lifts as he bends, exposing a strip of tanned, muscular lower back. I find myself wondering what it would feel like beneath my fingers and if he has any more ink hidden under there . . . I force my eyes away.

What the hell is wrong with me? I don’t have random illicit thoughts about complete strangers. Especially not strangers who have tattoos and call me princess.

I shake my head and pull open the door on the passenger side. Maybe I have heatstroke or something.

I lay my head back against the seat and close my eyes. But all I can see is the image of my new mechanic pulling his shirt all the way off, sweat dripping off him, me putting my hands . . .

I sit straight up.

Yep, definitely heatstroke. Has to be.

Review
3.5 stars

Never have I been so bold. I don’t make first moves. I’ve been the nice girl behind closed doors just like I have been in the rest of my life. But right now, all I want is a whole lot of bad.

I barely bothered to read the blurb when I saw this title. I’m a huge fan of Roni Loren’s, so what the woman writes, I’ll read. This was definitely very different from anything that I’ve read from her in the past. It’s not BDSM or angsty. It’s a light, steamy and quick NA romance that it just perfect for a quick afternoon read. This is not a long book (under 100 pages I think), but it still packs a steamy punch and I loved the story. Typically with short novellas I find it hard to truly get invested in the characters or their romance, but that wasn’t the case here. Sure I wish it was a little longer simply because I enjoyed it, but it was the perfect length for what it was.

Remember, birthdays are like trips to Vegas. Whatever happens doesn’t go on your permanent record.”

So you’re broken down on a deserted road, on your 21st birthday, in suffocating heat. You call a tow truck company but they may take over 2 hours to reach you. You have a fancy restaurant booked for a date with your boyfriend and no way to get there. Oh and your boyfriend is completely unreachable. What’s a girl to do? That’s precisely the predicament that Natalie Bourne finds herself in. But then a tatted up and sexy stranger proves to be her savior and biggest temptation. Natalie is the stereotypical good girl. Her childhood and drunk of a mother ensured that she keep herself in line…a very narrow one. She does what she’s told, she doesn’t make a scene, she dates the nice boys. Basically the exact opposite of the girl that would be interested in the bad boy mechanic that pulls over on the side of the road to help her out.

Monroe Hawkins is not into uptight and rich sorority girls, and Natalie absolutely screams uppity with her appearance. But there’s also something about her that tempts him. As circumstances put them together and Natalie finds her inner bad girl, the attraction between them soon proves too much to ignore.

Because when Monroe braces his arms alongside me and holds my gaze while he moves inside me, I feel like this is bigger than a hookup. This is what sex is supposed to me like. Not just a whole-body experience, but a whole mind one.

Don’t worry, Natalie’s douchebag of a boyfriend isn’t in the picture long and there’s absolutely no cheating or love triangles. This is a super light but steamy read that’s sure to hit the spot for any lovers of NA.

I loved the chemistry between Natalie and Monroe and seeing more and more of Natalie’s true personality coming out with Monroe’s presence. It was fantastic. I read this in one sitting and loved every page. So why not 5 stars? Well, as great as it wasn’t anything that blew me away. It was an entertaining albeit a fairly forgettable read. But definitely one I’d highly recommend.

About the Author

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

Places to find Roni Loren:

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Review: ★Bulletproof Weeks★ by Taryn Elliot

Bulletproof Weeks (When You’re Gone #2)
Author: Taryn Elliott
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance (trilogy)
Release Date: Jan 13, 2015
Being a famous rock star for almost two decades means putting his life on display. But for the last two years Logan King has dealt with the uglier side of fame. When his stalker escalates to issuing veiled threats against the first woman he’s allowed in his life, Logan locks down and shuts Izzy out. His stalker isn’t just anyone—she’s as famous as he is with a financial reach that makes her infinitely more treacherous.Falling for Logan King wasn’t part of Isabella Grace’s plans and their spectacular public breakup didn’t make it easy to move on. Whispers and pitying looks from people in her small town send her fleeing from the first place that finally feels like home. Her solace becomes her travel for work, but the niggling sense that someone is watching her follows her from city to city. When she begins to unravel the secrets that surround the man she still loves, she discovers her personal security detail and demands answers. And they all point to Logan.

Letting him back into her life comes with many more challenges–and rewards–than she could’ve ever dreamed. But loving a man like Logan comes at a dangerous cost. One that has a lasting effect that could echo into all their tomorrows.

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3.5 stars

It didn’t seem fair that a week could do that much damage to her. That his touch had become a phantom tattoo with all the permanence that entailed.

Can you lose your heart to someone after spending just one week with them? One incredibly passionate, unforgettable week is all it took for Isabella to fall head over heels for the broody rockstar, Logan. What is it about Logan that made her fall as hard as she did?

That may have been it. But really it was his all encompassing presence that completely drew her in. But then he shattered her heart when he left her. But what Izzy doesn’t know, is it broke Logan even more to do it. In order to protect her from his deranged stalker that fancies herself in love with him, he had to sever all ties with her. That doesn’t mean he’s let her go…not in his heart and definitely not from his mind.

It’s been six months since that whirlwind week they spent together. Izzy is getting more and more successful business and tries to loose herself in the constant travel. When she notices someone watching her and figures out that Logan hasn’t stopped thinking of her either, she’s determined not to let him run anymore. Especially when she figures out the depth of his feelings.

He lived for the pain and the pleasure. And in the dark, where there was nothing but a tiny line of firelight in his room, he loved her with all that he had and finally felt alive.

As she slowly begins to unravel his secrets and Logan begins to open up to her more and more, the imminent danger draws near until it finally hits with a strike so devastating, you’ll never see it coming. All I know is thank gawd that i have book 3 already because if I had to wait for it after that cliffhanger, I’m pretty sure I may have cut a bitch. True story.

Bulletproof Weeks was just as sexy as book one, but for me it also fell into that middle-book-of-a-trilogy-itis syndrome. What I mean is, there were certain parts of it that felts stretched out and slow going for me. I tend to prefer my stories with just a little more meat, which is why for some reason this happens to me with pretty much any middle book of a trilogy that I read. But that just may be my book ADD kicking in too.

While I want to say that it could have been done in 2 books, I can also see why their story needed this one. It was like the calm before the storm. It gave the reader a little more depth into both characters and to truly get invested in their romance. It may have been slow paced and stretched out at times, but let me tell you, that cliffhanger will leave you begging for the next book. Guaranteed.

READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

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Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ★Silver Bastard★ by @joannawylde

Silver Bastard (Silver Valley #1)
Author: Joanna Wylde
Release Date: April 7, 2015

First in the new Silver Valley series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reapers Motorcycle Club Novels.Fourteen months. For fourteen months, Puck Redhouse sat in a cell and kept his mouth shut, protecting the Silver Bastards MC from their enemies. Then he was free and it was time for his reward–full membership in the club, along with a party to celebrate. That’s when he saw Becca Jones for the first time and set everything in motion. Before the night ended he’d violated his parole and stolen her away from everything she knew.

Five years. It was five years ago that Puck destroyed Becca and saved her all in one night. She’s been terrified of him ever since, but she’s even more terrified of the monsters he still protects her from… But Becca refuses to let fear control her. She’s living her life and moving forward, until she gets a phone call from the past she can’t ignore. She has to go back, and there’s only one man she can trust to go with her–the ex-con biker who rescued her once before.Puck will help her again, but this time it’ll be on his terms. No more lies, no more tears, and no more holding back what he really wants…

ExcerptIgnoring him, I settled back on my stool and surveyed the room. We sat in Becca’s section, and what I saw wasn’t making me happy. I knew she was a good waitress, but she’d just started here and it showed. Not only had she fucked up several orders, she didn’t quite seem to get the rhythm of the bar. That wasn’t my problem, though.

My problem was that despite these fuckups, nobody seemed to mind. I had a nasty suspicion this was due to her perky tits, friendly smile, and tight little ass that seriously just needed a bite taken right out of it.

She really, really needed to get a new job—every man in the place wanted her. Including me. Especially me. I hated them. All of them. I shifted uncomfortably, because just like every time I shared a room with her, my pants had gotten tight.

Torture. Becca was just so fucking fine on every level, and not just her looks. There was something about the way she carried herself . . . I couldn’t put my finger on it. Like she was dancing through life to some song nobody else could hear. Never met another woman like her—she wasn’t just sexy, she was a survivor and I admired that.

She’d grown up so much since the first time I’d met her. Bigger boobs, a nice fullness to her ass that was nowhere close to fat but would be perfect to hold tight while I fucked her. Her lips had plumped, too, and over the years she’d gained a sparkle in her eyes that turned her from pretty to 100 percent spectacular.

Not to mention how she’d tasted.

Nearly blew in my pants when I’d taken that mouth. Just the memory got me hard. Make that harder. Fucking basket case.

When I’d pulled up to find her sitting outside with Collins, a thousand murder scenarios ran through my mind. And yeah, I know I covered that already, but if anything ever deserved empha- sis, this was it. Collins needed to die. I didn’t care how nice he was. After that I’d throw Becca on the back of my bike and make a run for the hills . . .

Okay, so there were a few problems with the plan, the top one being she hated me. Or she should—I’d certainly given her cause. Boonie nudged me.

“Did I mention you’re pathetic? You want her, take her. Other- wise let it go because you’re an embarrassment to all men in general and to the Silver Bastards in particular.”

Review
4 stars

The man was my personal North Atlantic iceberg, lurking under the cold waters, just waiting to shred me wide open.
Fucking biker.

Ladies and ovaries, prepare to meet the bane of your existence (I’ll explain) and the object of your upcoming pervy dreams, Puck Redhouse. So why bane of existence? Because I honestly thought that my poor ovaries would die a slow and painful death by sexual frustration for a good 60% of this book. But damn, what a way to go. Joanna knows how to give good sexual tension. OH MY GAWD, the sexual tension! It burned with the fire of a thousand venereal diseases, I tells ya. Not that I know what that feels like, but I’d guess it would be like that. Just saying. Moving on…

Do not think for one minute that I’m the kind of guy who does the right thing. That’s not my style. I’m the guy who does what he wants when he wants, and trust me when I say I didn’t do nearly enough to you that night to get out out of my system.”

Five years ago, Puck saved Becca Jones and destroyed her all at once. It was the night that irrevocably changed everything for both Puck and Becca. For Puck, it was a night that gave him an angel after months of hell inside a jail cell, only to turn into something that can put him right back into it. And for Becca, it gave her a taste of something she never expected but with devastating consequences. But it was also the night of her salvation.

Now Becca is a different person five years later. She’s older, working on her career, has an amazing best friend. But the memory of the rough biker still continues to equal terrify and tempt her. Puck and Becca don’t cross paths much and have barely seen each other over 5 years, but she’s always known his there. Beck’s history makes her weary of bikers and the MC, and even though the Silver Bastards are nothing like what she grew up in, they still scare her. Worst of all is the scowling man with the burning brown eyes that continues to have a visceral reaction to.

I’m not your friend, Becca. I’ve never been your friend and I never will be. I can be the man that fucks you and owns you, or I can be the man who keeps an eye on you…”

Even though the chemistry between her Puck is so palpable it practically crackles with electricity, both Puck and Becca are determined to stay away from each other. Puck out of atonement from the past and knowing that Becca is too good for the likes of him, and Becca because she’s determined to stay as far away from the biker life as she can and not turn into her mother who is the worst kind of MC whore.

Puck is definitely no sunshine and rainbows kind of biker. He makes no apologies for who he is and what he does. His life is all about his brothers and his MC. He has no interest of allowing a woman into his life and screwing any of it up. The relationships between him and Becca is definitely not an easy or smooth road. Puck is certainly not celibate when they’re not together, and he doesn’t make an effort to hide that. But when he sets his sights on Becca, he knows that he won’t settle for anything less than everything.

Becca is extremely stubborn and is determined to not get her heart involved. She says some very vicious and unthoughtful things to Puck at times that had me wanting to slap her. But as frustrating as they were at times, I found them to be a perfect balance for each other.

All I felt was him, all I wanted was him. In me, on me, surrounding me.

Even though this focuses on Silver Bastard’s territory, we do get a peak at all our favorite characters from Joanna’s other series. There’s Picnic, Horse and of course Painter. Let me just tell you, if you were anxious for Painter’s story before, this book will have you absolutely dying for it. Puck and Painter formed an extremely tight bond while they served time together. Painter is not the biker I remembered from The Reapers. He’s a little more rough, a little more hard, and all the more tempting. I’m salivating, SALIVATING for his book dammit! That little tease of him we get in this book was pure torture.

There’s a lot that happens in this book that made it for one entertaining read. It was a steady pace full of action, a little suspense, and a whole lot of hot biker lovin’.

Becca Jones might be my property in the eyes of the club, but the reality was that she owned me and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it.

I also loved the inclusion of a secondary plot here. The second Rourk first appeared on the scene, i was completely fascinated with him. But then Joanna went and added that bonus epilogue and OH MY GAWD. Worst sort of tease ever! If Rourk and Shane don’t get a book soon, I’m pretty sure I’d cut a bitch. I’m not even kidding.

Silver Bastard was definitely another winner from Miss Wylde, and I can’t wait for more of the Silver Bastards. While this is a spin-off series and can be read a standalone, The Reapers do make an appearance here. If you haven’t yet read Joanna’s other series, I strongly recommend you do. Especially if you want to get the back story before Painter’s book will be released.

About the Author

Joanna Wylde is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Reapers Motorcycle Club series. She currently lives in Idaho.

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Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ★Deep★ by @KylieScottbooks

Author: Kylie Scott
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 31, 2015

Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She’s his best friend’s little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he’s not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he’s always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible…but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

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Excerpt

“C’mon. How have you been, really? What’s been going on with you?” he pushed. I frowned at him and he frowned right back. “Liz, please.”

I groaned in defeat. “All right, I suck.”

“Why do you suck?”

“So very many reasons.” I pushed my hair back from my face—no more hiding. “Pregnancy sucks. It’s natural, my ass. I finally stop throwing up, but I’m tired all the time. Giving up coffee was horrendous. None of my clothes fit right because of these stupid breasts, and they ache constantly. I have to pee like every thirty seconds, and then to top it off, I cry every time the Healthy Hound ad comes on. It’s ridiculous”

Little wrinkles appeared either side of his nose. “You cry at a dog food ad?”

“Yes. The puppies jump all over each other to get to their mother and it’s just so beautiful, with their cute little tails wagging and everything.”

He just stared at me.

“I know its psycho, Ben. Believe me, I’m well aware of this.”

“Hey, it’s fine.” He covered a smile with his hand. Too late, the bastard.

“You try dealing with all these hormones going apeshit. Crap. Apeshoot.”

“Apeshoot?”

“I’m trying not to swear,” I explained. “You want the first word our child comes out with to be something bad?”

“No. Gotcha.” The man was incredibly bad at hiding a grin. “No swearing.”

Review
4 stars

 

 

So I’d been knocked up by a rock star. Big deal.

 

Nothing can ruin a dinner party quicker than a random pregnancy announcement…especially when it’s yours…and the guy that knocked you up is the sexy bearded bassist for a rock band that also happens to be a commitment phobe. Oh and said pregnancy is the result of one stolen night together that really wasn’t supposed to happen and said bassist hasn’t talked to you since. Suffice it to say that Lizzy Rollins is having one hell of a week.

Also, wow, if this was the result of having great sex then I was so never going there again. Not even for mediocre sex. Nothing. I might even rule out masturbation, just in case. You couldn’t be too careful. Random attack sperm could be anywhere, just waiting to get a girl in trouble.

 

Got your attention now, don’t I? Good 🙂

I’ve been a huge fan of this series since the very first book. Whenever I need a feel good, lighthearted, sexy and laugh out loud rockstar romance, this has been my go-to. Every book has been unique in it’s own right, and I just knew that Ben’s story was going to be a good one ever since we first met him in Lick. If you’ve read Lick, you don’t get the best impression of him there. I gotta warn you, he will have even bigger dick moments in this book. But boy oh boy you will also find yourself falling hard for the bearded sex machine right along Lizzy.

Dreamy dark eyes pinned me in place, owning me. He licked his lips. Every time he did that my hormones erupted into the song of joy, a full orchestra plus heavenly choir accompanying. The whole shebang. It was ridiculous.

While the situation in this book and the back and forth between Lizzy and Ben may have driven me crazy in any other book, the saving grace here is the laugh out loud humor. I couldn’t get enough of Lizzy’s inner monologue. Between Mal’s random appearances and the rest of the Stage Dive crew, it was non-stop fun. Ultimately I have to say it was really Lizzy that stole the show here though.

Goodness, did he look angry. Between the beard and the expression on his face, he looked downright barbaric. He might as well be dressed in furs and carrying a spear, presenting me with the boar he’d caught for dinner. Ah, good old-fashioned Stone Age romance.

 

Lizzy is Anne’s younger sister, and ever since she met Ben through her relationship with Mal, Lizzy has been enraptured with him. But Ben also knows that Lizzy is hands off for him. Not only did he get warned off by Mal, he’s not the relationship type and knows he can’t give her what she wants. But that doesn’t stop Lizzy’s feelings or her pursuing of him. What begins as innocent texting soon begins to turn into something much more. Until one night where they both throw caution to the wind and finally give into the inevitable.

Unfortunately for Lizzy, Ben seems to have some super sperm. So what should have been one night comes with much bigger repercussions. Now they’re forced to deal with a pregnancy, a rock star that never sees himself getting married, raging pregnancy hormones, and did I mention the raging pregnancy hormones?

A wounded heart was apparently no competition for an overeager vagina. The urge for sperm made no sense. I already had a baby on board. My tart, attention-seeking nipples stood out loud and proud beneath my top, just begging for his lips. The situation between my legs wasn’t any better.

 

I can’t tell you how much I loved the banter between Lizzy and pretty much every other character including Ben. Even though I did find myself wanting to reach through my kindle and beat the neanderthal with a blunt object at times, Lizzy’s inner thoughts really lightened that up. The chemistry between her and Ben was electric. I couldn’t get enough of it.

Without comment he sat up, grabbing the back of his button-down shirt and pulling it over his head. His chest was so pretty. So hard and big and stuff, it made my IQ drop to my shoe size. Everything about him did. The bearded sex machine turned me into a stuttering fool. Sad but true.

 

This was such a bittersweet book for me to read because as much as I enjoyed it, I was so sad to see it come to an end. I really hope that Kylie will give us a spin-off and hopefully we won’t be seeing the last of Vaughn.

This was a sexy, laugh-out-loud, and entertaining as all get out romance. I definitely recommend it for all fans of rockstar romance.

If you loved the rest of this series, than you are definitely going to love this one. I’d highly recommend reading the series in order to truly appreciate all the characters and really enjoy it, though you could read it as a standalone.

Stage Dive Series Reading Order

Lick (Book One)
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1LQBlbE
Play (Book Two)
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1EDFuqc
Lead (Book Three)
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1N35Jgb
Deep (Book Four)
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1CT657M

About the Author

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Kylie is represented by Amy Tannenbaum at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, New York.

Stalk Kylie Scott: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Review: ★Before Jamaica Lane★ by Samantha Young

Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 7, 2014
One simple lesson in seduction between two friends can turn into so much more…
Despite her outgoing demeanor, Olivia is painfully insecure around the opposite sex—usually, she can’t get up the nerve to approach guys she’s interested in. But moving to Edinburgh has given her a new start, and, after she develops a crush on a sexy postgrad, she decides it’s time to push past her fears and go after what she wants.Nate Sawyer is a gorgeous player who never commits, but to his close friends, he’s as loyal as they come. So when Olivia turns to him with her relationship woes, he offers to instruct her in the art of flirting and to help her become more sexually confident.

The friendly education in seduction soon grows into an intense and hot romance. But then Nate’s past and commitment issues rear their ugly heads, and Olivia is left broken-hearted. When Nate realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he will have to work harder than he ever has before to entice his best friend into falling back in love with him—or he may lose her forever…

Lines were being blurred, and other lines were actually being crossed. There were a whole lot of lines and none of them were of a solid consistency.

I only have one question after finishing this book: WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! I have no idea why I didn’t continue with this series after reading On Dublin Street when it just came out. I’ll blame my mile long TBR. But after hearing all about Nate from gushing GR friends, I figured it was way past time we get introduced. I was a little bit hesitant starting this since I read On Dublin Street such a long time ago, I remember a sum total of nothing from it. Oh and I kinda sorta mighta skipped book 2. (What? I’m a rebel like that) But I digress. My fear was since I couldn’t remember any of the secondary characters introduced in ODS that I’d feel lost jumping straight into book 3. And while it took a bit for me to get everyone straight, I never did find myself confused. I was totally enraptured in this wonderful book in just a few paragraphs.

Olivia, even though she’s not my preferred type of heroine, was easily one of my favorite characters I’ve read in a while. She’s so quirky in her nerdiness that her insecurities never bothered me. As a matter of fact, I found absolutely everything about her endearing, especially her insecurities. After losing her mother to cancer, Olivia moved to live with her father in Scotland. Having been taking care of her ailing mother, Olivia never really had a chance to experience the things that most teenagers do; going on dates, fooling around. So despite her outgoing and quirky personality, the second she’s around a guy she’s attracted to, she gets shy and absolutely tongue-tied. Meeting Nate when she first moved to Scotland, she would have been just as shy around him, had he not immediately put her directly in the friend zone. Now they’re the best of friends. So who else can Liv come to to help her get over her shyness with men so that she can catch the eye of a super cute graduate student she meets in the Library where she works?

Nate is the biggest manwhore of the group. His gorgeous looks and charismatic personality guarantee that never spends the night alone. But Liv gets something that the women don’t get… his true self. So when she comes to him for help, he knows that he’ll help her. If the constant zing of attraction that runs between them is any indication, it certainly won’t be a chore either.

Liv?” his brows creased. “Just say it.”
It rushed out in a burst of geek. “It’s size is a little problematic because despite my tendency to ramble, my mouth is pretty small and it won’t all fit in it and I have a gag reflex that might be a problem so I don’t know how-”
“Liv-” Nate was choking on laughter. “Take a deep breath.”

OK…so maybe it won’t be all serious either.

I have to say how much I loved Liv and her personality. Her nerdy sayings, her and Nate’s movie nights and “would you rather” games were so adorable. I honestly couldn’t get enough of it. Also, it’s so refreshing to read about a shy and awkward with the opposite sex girl that isn’t a virgin. And despite her insecurites, Liv was anything but weak. This is a woman that had no fear speaking her mind and standing up for what she wants and is right.

Then there was the electric connection between her and Nate that only continued to get hotter and hotter with each new “lesson”

God…Nate…”
“That’s right, babe…
I’m taking you straight to heaven.”
“Heaven. Hell,” I panted, my fingers raking the wall. “Who cares as long as I ride there on an orgasm.”

Nate is not the simple manwhore that he appears. Having had an experience in his teenage years that have forever put him off of love, he has reasons for his sleeping around. And for once in my reading history, I thought they were ones that make sense. Nate was just this perfect combination of sexy and adorable. The way that he’s with Liv makes you completely fall in love with him.

Does this feel like I don’t want you?”
I reared against him, silently begging for more. “No.” I shook my head, and then arched back as he thrust into me. Just like that, Nate began to screw the mortification right out of me.

There was also the sex. Did I mention the sex? Because oh my god, the sex.

Even though you know right away where these lessons will lead, it was still fun as hell watching both Liv and Nate fall for each other. Liv being strong and accepting of it, while Nate? Not so much. I wanted to throttle him for the way he handles everything. And then I wanted to hug Liv for not being the pushover that she could have been and standing up for herself…no matter how stubborn she may have been about it later. This was one of the best grovels I’ve read in a long time. It was, in a word, perfection.

You’re not ready to hear this yet,” he concluded. “But I do need you to know that I’m going to fight for you. I’m not making the mistake of walking away from you again. The only man in your future is me, Liv. The only kids in your future are mine.

If you’re a fan of the friends to lovers trope, this book is simply a must read. Don’t be an idiot like me and keep pushing off reading it. Drop whatever you’re doing right now, and read it immediately. Trust me. You won’t be sorry.

#NewRelease & Review: ★Tool★ by @SabrinaPaigeRom

Tool: A Stepbrother Romance (A Step Brother Romance #2)
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Sabrina Paige
Release Date: April 7, 2015
I call him “Tool” because he’s a dick.Gaige O’Neal is nicknamed “Tool” because of what he’s packing. Rumor is, he’s well equipped.I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had the pleasure.

He’s a cocky, entitled, insufferable a**hole who’s as reckless with women as he is with that stupid motorcycle he races.

He’s also my stepbrother. Lucky me.

It’s been four years since I’ve seen him. Four years since he’s made me so frustrated I could scream. Four years since he’s given me that look, the one that makes me instantly wet.

So it’s just f**ing fitting that the first time I see him in four years, he’s buried beneath three scantily clad blondes.

Now I’m stuck here under the same roof with him while he recovers from a racing injury. An injury that clearly hasn’t affected the use of his tool.

The problem is, as much as I despise him, I just can’t help myself. I want to find out what kind of tool he’s working with.

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Review
4 stars

 

Motorcycle racer, womanizer, asshole extraordinaire. Four years ago, he was the bane of my existence. And my best friend, my confidant, my first love.
My stepbrother.

So here’s the deal, I’m not a fan of the stepbrother romance thing…at least I don’t go seeking it out. I like the taboo as much as the next pervert reader, but the stepbrother thing doesn’t really do it for me. That is, unless Sabrina Paige writes it. A few months ago I read Prick, my first book by her, and I was absolutely hooked. After finishing Tool, I can tell you that this is just one of those guilty pleasures authors for me. Her books are super smutty but with a great story too. Because let’s be honest, even us perverts romance connoisseurs want a story to go with our smut.

If you haven’t yet read Prick, I highly recommend you get right on that. Pun most definitely intended. But if you haven’t, no worries, because you can very easily read Tool as a standalone. Now onto the review…

Gaige O’Neal is nicknamed “Tool”. A very appropriate nickname too, considering what he’s packing if you catch my drift. And if you’re slow on the uptake, the man has a giant

OK? Great! moving on.

Delaney has spent four years away at college. Mainly she took the opportunity to run from her feelings for her exasperatingly sexy stepbrother. But now she’s back and looking to start working at her father’s company, which also lands her on babysitting ‘handling’ duty with her stepbrother, a professional motorcycle racer. She gets to travel with him to Japan to negotiate the company’s sponsorship deal. Too bad that all those feelings she ran from four years ago have not gone away in the least and Gaige is just as determined to get in her pants now as he was then.


I didn’t come back here to restart something with you, Gaige.”
“You and I are the fucking definition of unfinished.”

Now being a HUGE lover of the hate/lust thing, I gobbled this book right up. Delaney and Gaige are absolutely sizzling together. The snark, the banter, the sexual tension. Gaige is a cocky asshole and Delaney is a good girl with no small amount of sass. The sexual tension between them practically sizzles. I thought my ovaries would just about explode until they finally got together. It hurt, I tells ya. But in the most delicious of ways. Now a good 50% of this book is super hawt sex.

And you sure as hell won’t find me complaining. A lot of times I find that a lot of sex can dilute the story, but that wasn’t the case here. While it was super hot and smutty, I was always engaged in the story too.


Manwhore- check. Past history with him- check. Professional relationship- check. Stepbrother- double fucking check.

It was fantastically smutty!

If you’re looking for a super hot read and haven’t read anything by this author yet, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for. Trust me, your ovaries will thank me 😉

Don’t miss the first book in the series!

#NewRelease & Review: ★Once Upon a Dare★ by Jennifer Bonds

 Once Upon a Dare
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jennifer Bonds
Release Date: April 7, 2015

Advertising guru Olivia Masterson is all work and no play. But on the eve of earning her dream promotion, her best friend dares her to drop her ice queen façade for one night and seduce a sexy stranger.

Olivia’s worked her ass off to get where she is—why the hell not?Cole Bennett never thought he’d run into his feisty one-night stand at the office, furious that he stole her promotion. No matter how hard she tries to ice him out, they can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves…or their clothes on.
Olivia’s talented—maybe even more than Cole—so when his dropped hints to the boss net her a promotion of her own, he’s ready to celebrate…until she accuses him of fueling office rumors that she slept her way to the top. She wants to earn her own way? Fine. So what the hell does a guy have to do to permanently melt an ice queen?

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Review

3.5 stars


I kind of hate you sometimes.”
“If that’s code for ‘I want to fuck you until I can’t walk straight’, then I kind of hate you, too.”

If you’re looking for a light and easy read with a super sexy office romance, looks like you’ve found your next book. What a fantastic debut novel from Jennifer Bonds. I never know what I’m going into with a new to me author, but in the case here I was very pleasantly surprised.

Advertising guru Olivia Masterson is all work and no play.

Ain’t that the truth. The woman is as straitlaced as they come. The previous pageant queen has spent her entire career proving her worth and that it’s not her looks that got her the job. She lives and breathes her job. Known in the office as the ice queen, she doesn’t have time for the distractions of the male variety. But a girl’s got needs. So when her best friend issues her a dare to sleep with a stranger from the bar, she decides to go for it. Specifically since the super sexy stranger at the bar has been eyeing her.

Cole Bennett is back in New York for a new job. But when a blonde beauty that he’s had his eyes on approaches him with an enticing offer, who is he to resist? He’s only a man.


When I see something I want, I find a way to make it mine. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to share.

Unfortunately, what starts and supposed to end as just a sizzling one night stand, turns into something more. When Olivia sneaks out of Cole’s hotel room at night only to bump into him at her office the next day, she’s shocked. She’s even more shocked when she realizes that he also got the promotion that she’s been fighting to prove herself for months for. Now they have fireworks between them of the not so sexual variety. But that’s not to say that the super hot chemistry they seem to share disappears. If anything it just burns even hotter.


A fucking dare, huh?
Sweetheart, it may have started that way, but in case you haven’t noticed, we can’t be in the same room without ripping each other’s clothes off, so why keep fighting it?”

Jennifer Bonds certainly knows how to write one smoking hot sex scenes. Cole and Olivia definitely burn up the pages together. They have this hate-lust thing going on and it’s absolutely delicious.


She was smart and sexy, the kind of woman you couldn’t let go of once you’d had a taste. He was only human, for fuck’s sake, and they had unfinished business.

Olivia is sassy and even a bit of a ball-buster, which I liked. She definitely gives as good as she gets. Though at certain parts I found her to be a little exasperating with how hard she was on Cole.

This was a quick and steamy afternoon read that I highly enjoyed. The ending was a little cheesetastic, but fitting for the story. I’m definitely looking forward to more from this author.

Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ★Yours Completely★ by @JoyaRyanAuthor

Yours Completely (Reign #2)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Joya Ryan
Release Date: April 2, 2015

For fans of J Lynn, Jodi Ellen Malpas and Sylvia Day comes Yours Completely, an all-consuming, raw and powerful love story . ..

Lana Case knows what it feels like to be tossed aside – first by her family and then by the man she naively believed was her true love. But when Jack leaves, reconfirming that she isn’t worthy of love, her world shatters. The last person Lana thought to find refuge in is an adrenaline-junky firefighter, let alone Jack’s best friend. Yet Callum Malone’s easy-going, playboy persona is just what she needs.

When Lana finds herself the target of a stalker who isn’t going away, Callum not only welcomes her into his home, but also into his bed. Unable to deny the chemistry between them, Lana gives in and after a night of fiery passion discovers what it finally feels like to not only be cherished – but safe. Lana and Callum are falling fast, knowing they’re both far out of their depth. And then Jack returns to claim the woman he left behind . . .

Addictive and unforgettable, Lana’s story will seduce, surprise and stay with you. A brand new romance by the #1 Bestselling author of Break Me Slowly, the Reign series is an emotional roller coaster you’ll want to keep riding forever.

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Review

4.5 stars

What do you see when you look at me?”
“I see my next mistake.”

Wow. I’m honestly shocked at how incredibly much I enjoyed this book. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the previous book too. But something about this one managed to suck me in so completely, I read the entire thing in one sitting. Let me address one major key point here first: I am NOT a reader that likes love triangles. They send me into a stabby and ragey mess that takes me weeks to wade through. I don’t touch them with a ten foot pole. If love triangles were a vagina, I wouldn’t fuck it with someone else’s dick. Are you seeing what I’m getting at here? I don’t do them. Period. Unless they’re written like they are here. Would I categorize this as a love triangle? Yes and no. Are there two love interests for the heroine? Yes. Are they both present in her life at the same time? No. And you know what, I think that’s what I loved. Miss Ryan allowed the reader to truly get to know each man, Jack and Callum, individually in their own books without relationship crossover and angst. She made you feel exactly what Lana is feeling for each man and understand the depths of it, without making it feel one is getting the short end of the stick. These two men were two halves of a whole and such complex characters, that you can’t help but be drawn to both of them in their own right.

In the previous book Lana Case fell fast and hard for the mysterious and enigmatic Jack. When Jack leaves her after finding out the full depth of her history with her father and stepbrother, she’s devastated. He leaves her picking up the pieces of her hear, unsure whether she’ll ever be able to piece herself together. The last man that she expects to come back into her life is the sexy firefighter and Jack’s best friend, Callum, who she shared one intense kiss with in the previous book.

I know Jack hurt you, and yes, he’s my best friend. I know what’s ahead of me when it comes to you, and it’s not going to be easy. If you want to hide, I can’t help with that or allow it. But if you want to run? Fight? Feel something? That’s my department all day long.”

While the book is told entirely in Lana’s POV, you can see through her eyes exactly what Cal wants and feels.

You want a place to hide? That was Jack. And you’re right. He’s gone. But I’m the place you can run to. I’m also the one you run from…So go ahead and run, Kitten. But don’t think I won’t catch you.”

Cal is so different from Jack and yet the same. He may not have that all encompassing intensity to him, he definitely has a few demons of his own. He’s a man that has no desire for anything longer than a night with a woman, and yet he’s enraptured by Lana. He doesn’t try to take Jack’s place and he doesn’t want her to move on; he knows she never will. Jack had too much of her heart. But he does want her to move. He wants her to move to him, he’ll help her pick up the pieces. All he wants in return is the place Lana still has in her heart.

I loved how natural the progression of their relationship and feelings for each other went. You never feel like Lana is trying to replace Jack with Cal. Nor do you get the feeling that Cal is some sort of substitute. They may be best friends, but they’re also very different men. Cal is by no means anything less than alpha, but his corners are slightly smoother than Jack. He’s calmer. But that certainly doesn’t mean the man is any less intense in the bedroom.

I kissed him, soft and slow, so contradictory to the way he was taking me. Fast and hard and completely.

I spent the entire book waiting for that other shoe to drop, because you just know that Callum is keeping something from Lana. There’s also the continued threat from Lana’s psychotic step-brother. As much as I hated her father in the first book, I loathed him in this one. The added element of suspense with whoever is trying to hurt Lana only made for a more interesting read. The romance between Cal and Lana was center stage at all times though…

…I was falling hard for the man that seemed to have a way with picking me up and carrying me when I needed him the most.”

Then came that damn cliffhanger. Holy mother of GAH but does this author know how to leave you begging for more. Holy shit!

I am absolutely dying to see how everything resolves in the 3rd book. If you haven’t read this amazing author yet, you need to give this a try. I’m completely sucked in!

Don’t miss the first book in the Reign trilogy

About the Author

National and international bestselling author Joya Ryan is the author of the Shattered Series (Break Me Slowly, Possess Me Slowly and Capture Me Slowly), the Sweet Torment Series (Breathe You In, Only You), and The Chasing Love Series (Chasing Trouble, Chasing Temptation, Chasing Desire).

Passionate about both cooking and dancing (despite not being too skilled at the latter), she loves spending time at home color coding things. She resides in California with her husband and her two sons. Visit Joya Ryan online

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Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ★Total Surrender★ by @RebeccaZanetti

Total Surrender
Sin Brothers # 4
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 31, 2015; Forever Mass Market
A fight he must win . . .

Piper Oliver knows she can’t trust him. They warned her that the tall, dark, and sexy black-ops soldier Jory Dean would try to win her over with his steel-gray eyes and deadly charm, but she won’t be conned by this man they call a traitor. All she has to do is figure out the science necessary to save his life, and she’s done. Something isn’t adding up, though, and she won’t rest until she uncovers the truth-even if it’s buried in his deep, dangerous kiss.
A passion she can’t resist . . .

Jory will do anything to reunite with and save his brothers-even kidnap the gorgeous woman who’s working to deactivate the deadly chip in their spines. But the forces determined to destroy his family won’t let them go so easily. Keeping Piper alive is more than he bargained for-and so is his burning desire for her. But with every second bringing him closer to certain death, can he afford to lose himself in her hot and willing embrace?
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Excerpt

If she screamed, they were screwed.

Jory pivoted and put her against the wall, covering her mouth with his before she could let out a sound.

Warmth and woman. An electric shock flared his entire nervous system alive. Soft and sweet, she breathed in as he pressed against her. He’d meant to subdue her, to throw her off balance, but shock ricocheted through him.

Need compelled him. He shot both hands into her hair, tilting her head so he could go deeper. So fucking deep he could get lost.

The second he tasted her, all cinnamon and woman, hunger slaked him. Devastating in its intensity, a demand he couldn’t deny. Her smooth, velvety lips softened under his, and for once, he lost himself.

Strands of her silky hair caressed his hands as he held her jaw, nearly lifting her up to meet his mouth. There was nothing but getting . . . more.

She stilled against him, her mouth parting. He swept his tongue against hers, taking in a primitive claim too powerful to deny.

Her gasp mingled with his low groan. She pressed harder against him, her mouth curving under his, and he forgot . . .everything. Who he was, where they were, the fire and danger. Only the woman against him, warm and willing, sweet and sexy, filled his mind.

He clasped her tight, forgetting any gentleness. Any seduction, any mission. Only this woman and this moment mattered. Letting go of himself, he allowed the creature inside, the one so rarely let loose, to take over. To push deep, to demand more. To take.

And give everything.

His mouth overtook hers, memorizing every groove, every small nuance. His free hand gripped her butt, hauling her up against his steel-hard erection. Heat from her core nearly dropped him to his knees. Pain and sparking pleasure flared along his skin, and he deepened the kiss, tightening his hold.

He needed to get inside her. Now.

A siren trilled on the lower street, and he jerked his head free.

Danger.

She blinked, her eyes the green of a rain-filled meadow. Desire burned there, hot and bright. Somehow sweet.

Possessiveness gripped him with a chokehold. One kiss. One kiss and she’d changed him. He had to get her out of the parking lot before guns fired again.

That quickly, realization crossed her face. Then shock, as she tried to take a step back. Her hands rose and shoved against his chest.

Denial gripped him to be quickly quashed with cold, hard training. So he grabbed her wrists and hauled her closer, his face lowering to hers. He wiped away any expression and shoved down all emotion. “Those men don’t care who they shoot. They’re scrambling and might kill you—or innocent bystanders.” He spoke low, commanding.

She blinked, her mouth opening but no sound coming out.

“If you fight me, they’ll find us, and they might shoot. Collateral damage doesn’t mean a thing to them.”

She shook her head and looked around.

He pulled her closer and lowered his voice to pure, no‑bullshit command. “We’re getting in that four-door Jeep, and we’re leaving here quietly. Your only choice is alert or unconscious? Decide now.” He let conviction ring in his tone. If he believed he could knock her out, then she’d believe it, too.

No fucking way could he knock her out. Scaring her held little appeal, but he didn’t have a choice if they were to both live through the night.

She quickly nodded. Gulping air, she relaxed her body as two teenagers giggled while walking by.

He knew full well she agreed to keep bystanders safe and not because the kiss had changed anything for her. She had no reason to trust him, and she’d never really know him. Why that pierced his chest with the cleanness of a sharpened dagger, he’d figure out later. For now, they had to run.

Review

4.5 stars

There was a demand in the way he touched her, in the way he kissed. One she should run the hell away from, if she had any sense of self-preservation. The sexy soldier wanted everything she had to give, and she knew better.

It’s been almost a year since I finished Blind Faith and not once in my months of waiting has my anticipation for this book even slightly diminished. If anything, with every month I came closer to finally getting my hands on Jory’s story I just got more and more excited. So with anticipation like that, a girl builds up some high hopes that would be practically impossible to live up to, right? Well, maybe if you’re anyone BUT Rebecca Zanetti it may have been. But she managed to finish off the series with a hell of a punch that will only leave you begging for more. In short, I loved it!

What are you doing?”
“Picking up your challenge.” Smooth as silk, his lips brushed her cheek. “Didn’t you think I would?”
“No…I, ah, didn’t.”
“That was your first mistake.” His voice rumbled so close to her ear, the tenor vibrated just under her skin. Oddly, soft, and intriguingly gentle.
“Wh-What was my second?”
“I’m hoping you make that soon.”

Jory Dean is the youngest Dean brother that has been thought dead by his brothers after they saw a video of him being shot in the chest. Although almost two years have passed, even when his brothers were fighting for their own lives, they never forgot him or stop digging into the events that led up to his death. This all came to a head in the last book where finally a video surfaced that show the possibility that the shots that went through Jory’s chest may not have been fatal.

Unbeknownst to his 3 brothers, Jory spent the last 2 years in a coma inside the very military facility that they had escaped from all those years ago. Back in the evil grasp of the commander, Jory spends his days locked in a cell while a beautiful computer hacker attempts to save his life by accessing the kill chip that’s embedded in his spine that has been damaged in his shooting.

Piper Oliver is a talented young hacker. Working for a facility that she believes does good, she’s attempting to do the job she’s been hired for while a man with gray eyes and an intense presence seems to steal her every thought. It soon becomes clear that everything that Piper had once believed may not quite be as black and white as she thought. The enemy that she believes she’s fighting against may just be her only ally and the one person she believed had her best interest at heart just may be the biggest threat to her life.

All intelligence and masculinity rolled up into an explosive package.
The possibility of that explosion, of that detonation, had been hinted in him since the beginning.
She knew, without a doubt, that was the exact characteristic of his that attracted her. She wanted to detonate with him.
God help them both.

Total Surrender was an explosive, action-packed and super sexy final installment in the series. Piper and Jory burned up the pages together. What starts as the bantering between two enemies soon begins to turn into something so much more. When Jory provides Piper with more and more proof that he’s telling the truth, Piper knows that she has no other choice but to help the man that she’s slowly but surely finds herself falling for.

A week with a Dean brother is like a year with anybody else. You know. With the shooting, the espionage, the fighting for their lives.

I loved the reunion between the brothers that has been 4 books in the making. There was not one dull moment in the entire book. It was an entertaining, non-stop ride from beginning to end.

I loved getting more of the other 3 couples from the series. It was so great getting their own final pieces of HEA at the end of the book. Of course it’s not all cut and dry, and Miss Zanetti definitely leaves just enough room for a possible (or I’m hoping) spin-off. While she gives you just enough answers and conclusion to satisfy, she also gives you that much more question to whet your appetite for more. I really hope to see a spin-off series with secondary characters that were introduced here. I won’t tell you who, since it’ll spoil the experience, but let’s just say the set up is absolutely perfect.

While Total Surrender is perfectly written so you’d be able to enjoy it as a standalone, I’d highly recommend reading this series in order to truly appreciate the story and all the characters.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She is a member of RWA, has won awards for her works throughout the industry, and has a journalism degree with a poly sci emphasis from Pepperdine University as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho.

Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day-or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.

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Review: ★The Closer You Come★ by Gena Showalter

The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers #1)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Gena Showalter
Release Date: March 31, 2015

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past. And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. But model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty…

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been responsible. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and fun-deprived. Until Jase comes along. He is dangerous, stunningly protective, breathtakingly sexy and as tempting as sin, and the passion sizzling between them is undeniable. But can it melt her resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what they both need.

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Review
2.5 stars


Once wasn’t going to be enough. He realized that now. He wanted her countless times in countless ways. Underneath him. On top of him. Beside him…

When I saw that Gena was coming out with a brand new contemporary romance series, I was thrilled! I loved Catch a Mate and I’ve been dying for her to write more in this genre. Having read both of her PNR series, I already knew I love the snarky and humor characters she creates and the synopsis sounded right up my alley. Three bad boys, one small town, a guaranteed recipe for enjoyment, right? Well…kind of.

Unfortunately the book managed to start off on the wrong foot with me. See I’m one of those ridiculously picky readers that when something bothers me enough in the very beginning, it will set the tone for the entire book. It’s terrible really, but something I can’t change. And the fact that when Brook Lynn first meets Jase is when she walks in on him as he’s getting dressed after sleeping with her sister?

Yeah, not exactly the best way to start. Now it’s very clear that he’s not interested in Brook Lynn’s sister from the beginning and their night together was anything but spellbinding, but still. I just kept thinking in my head, ‘her sister? really?’. Suffice to say that I had a tough time moving on from that.

I’m a big fan of the small town settings in books, and this was definitely no exception. Strawberry Valley had this really endearing quality to it that I really loved. Brook Lynn was also a fantastic heroine. She grew up in the small souther town, and it’s all she’s ever known. Having lost her parents at a young age and then a conman uncle leaving them broke and alone, she’s come to rely on herself. With a dream of one day owning the town’s small jewelry store, Brook Lynn works her butt off on two jobs, trying to support herself and her party loving sister. This brings me to another thing that didn’t quire work for me; Jessie Kay. I’m pretty sure I spent the majority of the book wanting to hit her in both ovaries. Her constant irresponsible behavior constantly leaves Brook Lynn paying the price, while she’s off either partying or sleeping with another man. It does give the reader a little insight later on about the why’s of her behavior, but it just wasn’t enough for me. That, along with her penchant for the word “dude” pretty much made me want to throttle her. The girl straight up drove me batty.

Now Jase was a character I was equal intrigued with and slightly put off (see my sleeping with the sister comment above). Intrigued, because this is clearly a tortured man. Having spent the last 9 years in prison because he also covered for his 2 best friends has left him with plenty of scars; externally and even more internal. He’s no longer the young boy that he went to prison as. He’s harder, more jaded, but he’s trying to move on. A gorgeous and bubbly blonde that tempts him beyond reason is the very last thing he needs.


Feel nothing. Want nothing. Need nothing.

But there’s just something about Brook Lynn that draws him in, and the chemistry between them soon proves too strong to resist.

As much as I loved Jase and Brook Lynn together, there was always something that nagged me about them too. There was the ghost of sister’s past. Then there was the annoying overuse of the “angel” endearment. But that aside I was really enjoying this book still. It had a little of Gena’s signature snark and humor, or what I’ve come to refer to as Gena-isms. Though at times you can definitely see a little of a mix between her contemporary and PNR voice. I doubt this is something most would spot unless you’ve read her other work. Or maybe I was just nitpicking since I was already starting on the wrong foot? I’m not sure. But I can’t say that it still wasn’t good.

What ultimately ruined it for me was the last 30%. Until then, I found the book to be moving at a fairly slow pace. It wasn’t boring by any means, but just slow. Then the last 30% you get one drama after another. First with [su_spoiler title=”Click to view spoiler” style=”fancy” icon=”chevron”]Jase’s ex girlfriend showing up together with the daughter he never knew.[/su_spoiler] Say what? Maybe it was just me, but I really felt the book could have done without that. It added nothing to the story for me. Then there was a whole different drama that actually fit the story. But the combination of the two in the last 30%? Meh. It just felt too much.

I thought Strawberry Valley had become my home,” he said. “But it’s you, You are my home, angel. You’re where I’ve put down roots.

I really wanted to love this book, but sadly it was just OK.

On a positive note, I absolutely loved Jase’s two best friends; West and Beck. Beck with his manwhorish ways and hilarious come-ons completely sucked me in. I can’t wait for his book, especially after getting that small peak into the heroine that will be bringing him to his knees. The polar opposites definitely have all the ingredients for an amazing read. I also really loved the broken and tortured West. As much as I want to read his book, I am a little afraid since it looks like he’s going to be with Jessie Kay. Hopefully the girl will do a 180 in the next book and manage to endear me to her, because that certainly didn’t happen in this book.

This was a light contemporary romance with quite a bit of steam, and quite a bit of cheese. While I could have done with less cheese and the last 30%, I’m definitely hooked on the series and can’t wait to see what the next book brings.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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