#DGRFave & Review: Crow by A. Zavarelli

September 6, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

CROW
Series: Boston Underground #1
Genre: Dark Romance, Mafia
Author: A. Zavarelli
Release Date: February 8, 2016

An Irish mobster. A missing friend. Two loyalties, ripping me apart.

I had a plan.

Get in, get my information, and get out. Easy, right?

Turns out, infiltrating the Irish mafia isn’t exactly what I thought it would be. I just wanted a soldier. Someone I could flirt with to get me in the door.

That’s when Lachlan Crow noticed me. Problem was, he wasn’t a soldier. No, he was next in line for the throne of the Irish underworld. And he was determined to hate me from the outset. My sob story about needing a job? Yeah, he wasn’t buying that either.

Too bad for him, I won’t let anyone get in the way of my mission.

Who cares if we have some kind of crazy chemistry? He’s the worst kind of wrong- and I would never in a million years be with a guy like him.

Because they took her from me, and I’m going to make them pay.

AMAZON

You live for the syndicate, you die for the syndicate.

FREAKING. LOVED. Where has this series been all my life?! Or rather, where have I been living that I’m only discovering it now?!

This book was EVERYTHING I love. Gritty, dark mafia romance with a seriously kick ass heroine and an anti-hero that’s just as delicious as he is dangerous.

But let’s start with the heroine, shall we?

I’m the daughter of Jack Wilder. A third generation Irish-American with champion’s blood running through my veins. I was raised on the streets of Southie, and I’m not afraid of anyone. I’ll take on every single one of those motherfuckers and I’ll do it with a smile on my face.

Mackenzie “Mack” grew up hard. After losing her underground boxer father to a brutal murder by the Russian mafia, she was left with nothing but her best friend Talia. The girls became everything to each other, sisters in everything but blood. So when Talia goes missing, Mack is determined to find her. She doesn’t buy the story that she simply left with her boyfriend. And when the cops and FBI won’t listed to her, she’s determined to do it herself…by going undercover at the strip club owned by one of the most ruthless mobs in Southie. This is what lands her in the crosshairs of Lachlan Crow.

Jaysus, woman,” he sighs. “Ye clean up your fecking mouth before I do it for you. You want to work for me ye better start acting like a lady.”
“I am a goddamn lady.” I grin.

The chemistry between these two is immediate. And what begins is a delicious game of cat and mouse, though at times you’ll wonder who the true cat is. While Crow is a force to be reckoned with and is as lethal as he is sexy, Mack is a force of her own. This is one tough chick and I loved her sass and balls to the walls attitude.

But it’s not long before lines begin to get blurred and Mack’s game is no longer a game. What happens when the man you believe holds your life is in hands is also a man you begin to crave beyond reason?

The sound of his pleasure and depravity jump starts my heart and explodes into my bloodstream. I’ve never felt anything like it before. Whatever it is, it’s ricocheting through my body, possessing me like a demon. My hands draw him closer, and the next thing I know, I’m kissing him back. Hard.

The story is downright addicting. It’s full of twists and turns and with a depraved sort of grit that kept me glued to the pages. It was violent, unapologetic, and spared no detail. And this girl? SALIVATING.

I’m not sure how this series has flown under my radar for so long, but I’m rectifying that mistake as we speak by binging on the rest of these amazing stories!

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Dark, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: , , ,

New Release & Jenn’s Review: Raw Heat by Cherrie Lynn

September 5, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

RAW HEAT
Series: Larson Brothers #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Cherrie Lynn
Release Date: September 5, 2017

The third book in the Larson Brothers series from New York Times bestselling author Cherrie Lynn is the sexiest installment yet!

Youngest Larson brother Damien has the luck of the devil. Fast talking and faster thinking, he owns a successful nightclub in Houston and runs an illegal poker room upstairs. After a troubled childhood, now nothing is out of Damien’s reach—except his accountant, Emma Haskell.

Emma has always been drawn to Damien’s dark intensity and the gleam in his eyes that promises more than she can possibly handle. But when her brother’s gambling threatens to destroy her family, Damien makes her an offer she’d be crazy to accept—but can’t refuse: her brother’s debts will be forgiven, and Emma belongs to him for thirty days.

In Damien’s world, he shows his angelic bookkeeper what it’s like to live with the devil. But Emma brings out a side in Damien he thought didn’t exist. Will the flames of lust scorch them both, or will this beauty tame the beast and give him something to fight for?

Raw Heat scorches with emotional intensity and smoldering passion that will leave readers spellbound!

AMAZON | iBOOKS

4.5 “Buy the shoes, eat the cake, fuck the guy” Stars!!!!!

I was all up in this book. Numbers. Poker. Nerd. Asshole. A perfect book recipe, and this book baked itself into my heart and into my pants.

à la Mode St. » fashion

“The idea, when it hatched, slithered from its shell in his mind, dark and slimy but irresistible. His best ideas usually made him feel like a dirty sonofabitch; that’s how he knew they were good ones. Suddenly nothing seemed impossible anymore. That sweet pink mouth could be his for the taking.”

à la Mode St. » fashionEmma is the nerdy accountant. Damien is her boss, and also a poker genius. When Emma’s brother gets caught up in some debt to Damien, Emma is willing to do anything to help him get out of it, and Damien takes full advantage. Damien wants Emma, and he is determined to get her, morals be damned. This alpha-hole goes down in the books because he is sooooo mean to her.

Damien. He is a tall glass of asshole, and I drank every last drop. His soul is black as night, and that’s how I like ‘em, ya’ll. He’s smooth. He’s sexy. He’s perfect. Of course, I loved how Emma started working her light into his darkness, but it wasn’t too fast, and he was still an asshole in the end. I loooooved that they had numbers in common. An accountant and poker genius?! Perfection! Damien likes it dirty dirty dirty. Oh yeah, I saw it coming too. This book has some BDSM touches to it, and that isn’t a spoiler.
à la Mode St. » fashion

“I’m the mean, selfish bastard who has you here. I’m the one taking advantage of the situation. Maybe if I had a kind bone in my body, I would send you back home and consider the deal done. But I’m not going to do that. It isn’t how I operate. So absolve yourself, and blame me. I promise you. I can take it.”

à la Mode St. » fashionI loved that we got Damien’s pov. It makes this book so much more worth it. The characters were all written so well, even the side characters. The plot was fantastic. It was basically perfection. Cherrie Lynn has always had a special place in my heart, and I’m so glad this book brought me back to her.

THE SERIES

RAW DEAL | RAW NEED | RAW HEAT

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Jenn’s 5 Star Review: Drifter by Janine Bosco ‏

September 1, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

DRIFTER
Series: Nomad #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic
Author: Janine Infante Bosco
Release Date: September 20, 2016

“Stryker”
I’m a drifter.
A man born to ride through this world alone.
There used to be a time when I thought I was the rescuing type. I enlisted in the Marines and made it my duty—I was going to save lives.
I was going to be a true American hero.
But God had another plan.
Or maybe Satan did.
For everything I touch finds mortality.
I’m no hero.
I’m nothing.
I’m a veteran biker, a former nomad who survived war only to live in hell.
Now I ride with the Satan’s Knights of Brooklyn and I’m drifting into a different kind of chaos.
The kind that revolves around a pretty girl with intoxicating green eyes.
A girl who has the power to turn me inside out.
A girl who doesn’t need anyone to rescue her because she’s her own savior.
Until she’s not.
But a man plagued by war and the devil inside him can never be her hero.

Gina Spinelli

Strong. Independent. Fierce.
They are the three things I strived to be.
But sometimes being successful can be lonely.
Sometimes a girl just wants to be a girl and have someone take care of her.
Maybe even love her.
Sometimes the strong become vulnerable.
Or worse, the victor becomes the victim.
Sometimes we lose control or in my case it’s stripped from you.
Defeated. Broken. Haunted.
They are the three things I have become.
In my darkest hour I admit defeat.
In my darkest hour I need one person.
I need him.
Stryker.

***NOTE:Contains explicit sexual situations, violence, sensitive subjects, offensive language, and mature topics. Recommended for age 18 years and up. ***

AMAZON

5,000 Stars!!!!!
1. I love this book with everything in me.
2. I love this author with everything in me.
3. I love the people. (These people are REAL. They exist. Leave me alone!)
4. I love the sex. (The dirty talk! Unf!)
5. I love the FEELS. (The ugly cry is waiting for you. But not in the whole book. I don’t like when the entire book is depressing.)

You know when someone tells you they didn’t enjoy one of your favorite books EVER?! Yeah, this is one of those books. I mean, everyone is entitled to their own opinion….Blah, Blah, Blah. But really, if you don’t like this book……
Gina is just a stock broker, and a woman with balls of steel. I love a feisty heroine. The meet-cute between her and Stryker over a pool table is delicious and had me grinning like an idiot the whole time. In fact, I was in the middle of Chick-Fil-A while my kids were playing in the indoor playground, and I bust out laughing. That’s right, Other Moms. I don’t watch my kids while they play. I read. I digress….
à la Mode St. » fashion

She isn’t the girl you nail down, she’s the one you watch fly, and if you’re lucky, you’re the bastard who gets to spread your wings alongside her.

à la Mode St. » fashionStryker. Jesus Christ. Stryke me with lightning right now because I will say the Lord’s name in vain in order to express my feelings about THIS MAN. In fact, I will thank The Lord in my prayers tonight for creating Janine Infante Bosco so she could write THIS MAN. Stryker is a drifter. He is a nomad of the Satan’s Knights MC, never feeling like he belongs anywhere. He suffers from PTSD from his time served as a Marine, and this is a big part of Stryker’s character. He find the Satan’s Knights, and this book also shows his journey of learning to depend on family.

The FIRE…..this book is scorching. And I am a picky bitch when it comes to the dirty talk. And Stryker delivered the dirty talk to my ears and put the tingles in my jingle. I just want Stryker to call me his “pretty girl,” ok? Is that too much to ask?!

The issues! Janine does not sugar coat. She brings up the issues. And I loved the way that she addressed them and delivered them. I was pretty much a SOBBING MESS. You probably have no idea what I’m saying right now because I can’t say too much without spoiling something (and I hate spoiling). Just know that JANINE CAN WRITE A DAMN BOOK.
What I loved most about this book (and what gets me every damn time I love a book), is the writing. Character development = Off the Charts. I felt attached to every single character. I usually don’t mind reading books out of order, but I regret it this time because most of these characters are from a previous series that I am dying to read now.

I am now going to read ALL of Janine’s books every second that I can in between all the life going around me. I’m gonna go all crazy-bitch. I can feel it coming. Don’t botha me.

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Geri’s Review: Fallen Heir by Erin Watt

September 1, 2017 by ·

FALLEN HEIR
Series: The Royals #4
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Author: Erin Watt
Release Date: August 28th, 2017

These Royals will ruin you.

Easton Royal has it all: looks, money, intelligence.

His goal in life is to have as much fun as possible. He never thinks about the consequences because he doesn’t have to.

Until Hartley Wright appears, shaking up his easy life.

She’s the one girl who’s said no, despite being attracted to him. Easton can’t figure her out and that makes her all the more irresistible.

Hartley doesn’t want him. She says he needs to grow up.

She might be right.

Rivals. Rules. Regrets. For the first time in Easton’s life, wearing a Royal crown isn’t enough.

He’s about to learn that the higher you start, the harder you fall.

 

AMAZON | iBOOKS

You guys!

I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me.

I liked Fallen Heir and I enjoyed it but I just DIDN’T love it the way I did Paper Princess.

*cue my awkward face
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Before I go into the whys, let me tell you what I did enjoy about this book.

One. The writing as usual was impeccable and seamless. The way they write the dialogue and East’s POV is on point.

Two. I adored the secondary characters especially Pash and Bran. Pash is Easton’s best buddy and comic relief in the book. Brandon is the new guy in Astor Prep and his character is a breath of fresh air full of farts. Privileged Astor farts. I hope he doesn’t get screwed over by that crowd and lose his innocence too soon. He’s the perfect foil for Easton’s rich boy arrogance and privilege.

Three. The Easton-Ella dynamic. Boy, this one…I knew a few chapters in that something is up and I have my suspicions (which was proven to be right, by the way!) but I just like the way Erin Watt slowly unraveled that thread. It played out perfectly. And nope, I won’t spoil it for you. You have to read the book yourself. Trust me. It’s worth it.

Now for the so-so parts…

Easton. I know, I know. I loved him in PP. Maybe not as much as the other readers but I was interested to know what made him different from Reed and his other brothers. And I gotta say…he’s OK. I sympathized with his issues and feel for him but other times, he annoys the crap out of me.

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I’m SORRY but he does. The whole book is written in his POV and sometimes I wish I could take a break from it because he can be real douchebag.

I would’ve loved to get Hartley’s POV because I want to know what she sees in him. I want to see him through her eyes. I want to see what she thinks of him. I want to read her thoughts about Easton and whether or not he’s redeemable.

Like I said, I needed another POV, another lens through which I could see his character grow and change. Which brings me to my second so-so. Hartley.

I needed her POV. Did I say that already? Yes, I did.

I needed it to get to know her and relate with her. Without it, I’m kind of apathetic towards her. Aside from being the girl that Easton like, she’s…meh so far. I think that would change once we get her POV…maybe in the next book but for now. I’m not loving her but I’m also not hating her.

Now for the not-so-great part…I only have one issue, which is why I said I still enjoyed this book. But the main reason why I didn’t outright loved Fallen Heir is that it’s a little repetitive.

Okay, more than a little.

What I’m saying is for most of the book, about 70% of it, we get the same Easton-Hartley interaction which basically goes like this: Easton pursues, Hartley demurs and then acquiesce. Easton then does something stupid and Hartley gets hurt and pulls away. Easton gets wasted and does something even more idiotic things. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

Just when there’s progress in their interaction, you get pulled back into the very beginning and start all over again. One step forward, two steps back. It’s great for maybe one or two instances but after the second time, it became annoying and frustrating.

It wasn’t until the last 30% where the plot got tighter and we see breakthrough in Easton that the book really took off! Only to have the rug pulled out from under me with that wicked cliffhanger!!!

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But I ain’t even mad. I was just so happy that the story progressed beyond the Easton and Hartley drama. But OMG, that last scene is stressing me out.

The wait for the next book is gonna be brutal.

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Review: Destined To Crave by Setta Jay

August 31, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

DESTINED TO CRAVE
Series: Descended of Guardians #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotic
Author: Setta Jay
Release Date: August 30, 2017

Fate gave them love… then tore them apart.

This standalone novella is the first spin-off from the Guardians of the Realms world!

The descendant of two almighty Gods and a Guardian of Earth, Eirykr “Rykr” is born of immense power. Yet, no amount of strength or skill can save him from the curse that tore him away from his first and only love. Turned into a shadowy assassin, he wields the demons bound to his soul with the ruthlessness of a blade. For nearly a decade, he’s searched for the key to free himself, all the while watching over and dangerously craving the beautiful mate who believes she’s driven him away.

Lucy is a born protector, a trait of her Guardian lineage. When her greatest gift was torn from her, leaving a gaping hole in her soul, she refuses to allow a young Rykr, her known mate, to suffer the same dire consequences. Her fear forces her to make a haunting decision and with a grave threat she crushes him, demanding they part for a decade. Yet, as the years pass she can feel him watching her from the shadows, conjuring wild fantasies that make her ache for him to finally end their torment.

As time ticks toward the decade mark, dark forces rush to descend. Will Rykr’s secret and relentless need to protect Lucy condemn them to a hopeless destiny of constant craving? Or will Lucy bind them for all eternity, no matter the violent threat to her very soul?

Warning: This title contains dirty talk, bad language and erotically charged scenes meant to scorch your eReader.

AMAZON

Every night, she fantasized about the sexy male he’d turned into while mourning the loss of the mischievous boy she’d loved.

Oh YUM.

Setta Jay’s Guardians of the Realms series has been a guilty pleasure of mine for years. A well crafted, erotically charged PNR that hooked me from the first and kept me riveted until the end. When I saw she’ll be coming out with a spin-off series, I was thrilled. And now that I read it, I’m already craving more!

Destined To Crave is a short, but extremely satisfying novella that sets the scene for her brand new Descended of Guardians series which, you guessed it, features the kids of the couples from the previous books. We get a well crafted set up and intro to most of the characters and a main couple that will melt your e-reader with their sizzling chemistry.

This is also a great opportunity for new readers to discover this fantastic author, because while it doesn’t hurt to read the previous series, it’s certainly not necessary to enjoy this one. You get all the back stories and the characters are unique and don’t much piggy back of the stories of their parents.

Rykr and Lucy were amazing together. This book was hot, entertaining, and addicting. My only quibble is I wished for more, but that’s always my complaint with novellas from favorite authors. I’m hooked, line and sinker and can’t wait for more in this series! If you like erotic PNR, then you definitely want to check this one out!

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Review: Three Is A War by @pamgodwinbooks

August 30, 2017 by · 1 Comment

THREE IS A WAR
Series: Tangled Lies #3 (trilogy)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Pam Godwin
Release Date: August 29, 2017

Three means war.
Three sides vying for forever.

Cole.
My first love.
The bad boy with the dangerous smile and passionate temper draws attention like a lit fuse on dynamite. But his dark molten eyes spark only for me.

Trace.
My second chance.
Over six feet of Norse god in a tailored suit, he calculates every move and seizes my hungry breaths with an iron fist.

Me.
The free-spirited dancer, torn between two men with no resolution in sight.
I tried leaving, staying, refusing, and surrendering.
What options do I have left?

I love two men, and I do the only thing I can. I fight.

The TANGLED LIES series must be read in order.
One is a Promise
Two is a Lie
Three is a War

AMAZON

I fell in love with two men and lost myself. I’ll stay in love with one and find myself again.

Oh. my. heart.
Oh. my. god.
Oh. mylanta.
I have no idea how I survived this book. Did I survive this book?

*looks back at the empty bottles of wine standing on night stand*

I think I’m still in recovery here.

*goes back to rocking in the corner*

I don’t read love triangles. Not usually. My cold black heart can’t handle it. But when Pam Godwin writes a love triangle, I put on my big girl panties, suck it up, and stock up on all of the wine.

You shatter me,” he breathes against my lips. I hum with contentment. “We can fall apart together.”

Two books. Three hearts. It’s all been leading up to this nail biting, heart wrenching, rip your hair out, stress inducing, and completely unputdownable conclusion. Dani is left with an impossible decision; a choice between two men that own her heart equally.

Her first love. The man that first stole her heart and never gave it back when he left, leaving her in shatters.

This is your world.” He spreads his arms wide. “I just live in it. You own my heart, my every thought. You have the power to take whatever you want when you want it.”

And her new love. The man that picked up the shattered pieces and gave her hope and made her see that love never dies, it just takes the right person to bring it back to life.

Since the moment I saw you…” Trace squeezes my fingers. “I haven’t gone a day without thinking about you. No matter how much it hurts or how long it takes, I know that a lifetime with you is worth fighting for.”

An impossible decision.
Two men willing to fight for the chance to own the entirety of her heart.
A woman torn.
A reader driven to drink and sob hysterically while experiencing all of it along with the characters.

I cannot describe to you the emotional wringer this book put me through. Pam Godwin crafted a sensual, deeply emotional, intense, and heart wrenching story that captivates from the beginning and owns you throughout.

I was a card-holding member of #TeamTorn throughout the trilogy. I wasn’t sure who I was rooting for or what I wanted. My feelings were so up and down and back and forth, that I completely felt for everything that Dani was going through. And even though I didn’t have a favorite that I was rooting for, it didn’t stop me from having my heart broken all the same.

This wasn’t a story, this was an experience. A deeply emotional, stress inducing, anxiety causing experience. I was an absolute wreck for the entire last third of the book. I sobbed uncontrollably and didn’t think I’d survive it. And this is coming from someone that rarely feels emotional in books. But man oh man, did this one gut me.

Am I happy with the choice? I don’t know.
Am I satisfied with the conclusion? I don’t know.
I seriously don’t know how or what I feel. But what I do know is that Pam Godwin wrote her sadistic little heart out with this book.
Will it satisfy every reader? No. Will you be happy with how it all turns out? Maybe. But one thing is for sure, you will understand the why’s of everything completely. Pam did a phenomenal job with weaving emotions together of not only her characters but also her readers. This book was easily her best work yet. It ruined me but I have no regrets.

Yes, I’m an emotional wreck after finishing it and I likely won’t read another love triangle for a long damn while. My thoughts are still a jumbled mess and I honestly can’t decide what I think of the ending. But this trilogy owned me thoroughly and completely and I’m so glad that I got to experience it.

And now that you got some semblance of a coherent review out of me…

THE TRILOGY

ONE IS A PROMISE

One promise.
One forever.

One look and I knew Cole was mine. My dark rebel in leather. My powerhouse of passion, devastating smiles, and impulsiveness.
When his job sends him overseas, he promises to return to me.
A promise that’s destroyed in the most irrevocable way.

Two years later, an arrogant suit invades my heartbroken loneliness.

Clean-cut and stern, Trace is everything Cole wasn’t.
At first, he’s a job that will rescue my dance company. But as he intrudes on my life, our hostile relationship evolves.
He knows I’m still in love with Cole, but his dedication is my undoing.

Then a catastrophic moment changes everything.

Promises resurface.
Lies entangle.
And an impossible choice shatters my world.

I love two men, and I can only have one.

TWO IS A LIE

Two lies.

Two men who don’t share.

I never stopped loving Cole. Not when he left me. Not when he disappeared for three years. Not when he crashed back into my life in a violent explosion of testosterone and fury.

His sudden reappearance questions everything I thought I knew, including how I came to love another man.

Trace is an intoxicating breeze of seduction over ice. My rock. My second chance at forever.

And he’s committed to annihilating the competition.

The battle that ensues wrenches me back and forth between them.

Fighting and fucking.

Resisting and submitting.

Together, they entangle me in a web of lies, rivalry, and desire that weaves as deeply as their devotion to me.

I love two men, and if I can only have one, I choose none.

THREE IS A WAR

Three means war.

Three sides vying for forever.

Cole.

My first love.

The bad boy with the dangerous smile and passionate temper draws attention like a lit fuse on dynamite. But his dark molten eyes spark only for me.

Trace.

My second chance.

Over six feet of Norse god in a tailored suit, he calculates every move and seizes my hungry breaths with an iron fist.

Me.

The free-spirited dancer, torn between two men with no resolution in sight.

I tried leaving, staying, refusing, and surrendering.

What options do I have left?  

I love two men, and I do the only thing I can. I fight

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

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

E-mail → pamgodwinauthor@gmail.com

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

Other books by Pam Godwin

Deliver Series:

http://pamgodwin.com/book/deliver/

DELIVER | VANQUISH | DISCLAIM

 

Trilogy of Eve Series:

http://pamgodwin.com/book/trilogyofeve/

DEAD OF EVE (#1) | HEART OF EVE (#1.5) | BLOOD OF EVE (#2) | DAWN OF EVE (#3)

 

Stand-alones:

DARK NOTES

DIRTY TIES

BENEATH THE BURN

INCENTIVE

1 Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Erotic Rom · Tagged With: , , ,

#DGRFave Review: Ghosted by @JMDarhower

August 27, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

GHOSTED
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: J.M. Darhower
Release Date: August 24, 2017

He’s a troubled young actor, Hollywood’s newest heartthrob, struggling with fame as the star of the latest superhero franchise. Through scandal after scandal, addiction on top of addiction, a flurry of paparazzi hunt him as he fights to conquer his demons.

She’s a single mother, assistant manager at a grocery store, existing in monotony with her five-year-old daughter. Every day when she goes to work, lurid tabloids surround her, the face of a notorious bad boy haunting her from their covers.

A man and a woman, living vastly different lives, but that wasn’t always the case. Once, they were just a boy and a girl who bonded over comic books and fell in love unexpectedly.

When Kennedy Garfield met Jonathan Cunningham back in high school, she knew he had all the makings of a tragic hero. With stars in his eyes, and her heart on her sleeve, the pair ran away together to follow their dreams.

But dreams, sometimes, turn into nightmares.

Now, years later, the only thing they share is a daughter—one who has no idea her father plays her favorite superhero. But Jonathan is desperate to make amends, and at the top of his list is the woman who gave up everything for him and the little girl he hasn’t yet met.

AMAZON

Never make someone else the main character in your own story.”

EVERYTHING. This book was EVERYTHING. All of the things. Of the angsty, second chance romance feels variety.

You know when you see a book on your feed and find yourself wondering if it’s really worth all of the hype? I can tell you with total conviction, that this book is. It’s a huge step away from Darhower’s other books, pure contemporary, and downright magical.

He’s an actor. His talent comes natural. He’s never had to work very hard at it. He can switch moods in a moment, change scenes in an instant, flip the script without anybody even realizing it’s happening. It’s hard to tell if he’s just playing a character or if you can trust that he means things.

So what is it about this story that enraptured me so completely? Aside from the multi-layered characters that are full of depth and you can’t help but fall for immediately, it was the writing. The way that this second chance romance unravels and the way the author gives the reader the POV from the past? Pure literary magic.

You don’t know this, but that girl? As she stands there, staring at you, seeing the light in your eyes and feeling so much love in her heart, she would’ve done anything you asked. Anything. She would’ve climbed any mountain and dug any hole. She would’ve lied, cheated, and stolen. That girl would’ve promised you forever. As long as you love her, for as long as you care, she’s yours.

A troubled young actor, struggling with newfound sobriety and righting the wrongs of his past. A heart-broken, hardworking single mother with a spine of steel that was left in his rearview mirror as he chased his dream and got lost in a haze of alcohol and drugs. An adorable baby girl that brings the two of them a full circle. This was a powerful, incredibly realistic, and emotional story of second chances. Jonathan is not a perfect hero. He’s nowhere close to it. You want to hate him for his mistakes, but as you learn the story through the eyes of the woman that loved him and get his POV in the present, you get to see a man that’s determined to pay for his mistakes and make them right. He’s a man that never stopped loving the girl from his past and the woman that never truly left his present. He’s a man that knows that if she gives him just one more chance, though he doesn’t deserve it, he won’t squander it, and he’ll do anything to convince her that he’s worth the risk.

To me, she was the center of the universe, the sunlight that burned so bright, but she writes herself in the shadows, secondary in her own life. Instead, she made me the hero, the center of this alternate universe she invented around her.

Once burned, twice shy. Kennedy gave up everything once for the man she loved to chase his dreams, and now six years later, she’s still picking up the pieces that he left in his wake. It’s impossible not to immediately love this character. There’s this endearing vulnerability to go along with her spine of steel and determination to make a life for herself and her daughter that you have a tremendous amount of respect for. She struggles with trying to let go of her past and move on from the man that will always hold a piece of her heart.

I’m playing with fire, like I don’t remember how much it hurts to get burned, but from here, where I’m standing, all I can seem to feel is the warmth.

Ghosted is perfectly paced, phenomenally written, and completely enrapturing. It was full of emotion and a beautiful romance that’ll stay with me for a long, long time.

But love is only as strong as the people who fuel it. And you? You’re Superman, thinking Kryptonite makes you invincible. And the woman you love? She… can’t keep pretending any of this is normal. She can’t keep writing this as if somewhere along the way the plotline will fix itself. She can’t keep acting as if this isn’t her story.

 

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Geri’s Review: Ready to Run by Lauren Layne

August 26, 2017 by ·

READY TO RUN
Series: I Do, I Don’t #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lauren Layne
Release Date: August 22nd 2017

The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride in this addictive romance novel about a reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show.

Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: Luke Elliott, a playboy firefighter who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person. It’s not Manhattan but at least the locals in Lucky Hollow seem friendly . . . except for Luke, who’s more intense—and way hotter—than the slick womanizer Jordan expected.

Eager to put the past behind him, Luke has zero intention of following this gorgeous, fast-talking city girl back to New York. But before he can send her packing, Jordan’s everywhere: at his favorite bar, the county fair, even his exes’ book club. Annoyingly, everyone in Lucky Hollow seems to like her—and deep down, she’s starting to grow on him too. But the more he fights her constant pestering, the more Luke finds himself wishing that Jordan would kick off her high heels and make herself comfortable in his arms.

AMAZON | iBOOKS

You can always count on Lauren Layne to deliver a well-written and heartfelt romance between two very different people.

In this Runaway Bride meets The Bachelor love fest, Lauren Layne ventured into something she’s never quite done before–a small town romance. And I dig it.

Jordan Carpenter is a producer of a new show called Jilted. Jilted is basically The Bachelor for runaway grooms. She’s tasked to rope in Luke Elliot as the first runaway groom to be featured in the show. The problem is Luke isn’t interested in being a reality star or letting the whole world into why he jilted those bride, not once but three times.

So Jordan decided to go to Lucky Hollow to convince Luke herself and she not only found the prospective groom reluctant, he also doesn’t think highly of her and her “city” ways. She found herself attracted to Luke which complicates things. And Lauren Layne didn’t shy away from writing complications. It’s why I enjoyed this book so much.

At first I wasn’t quite sure whether I actually like Jordan or not. And I was afraid that she was going to constantly harp on the city versus small town cliches too much. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case because Jordan was a much more complex character than I initially pegged her to be. Her backstory is quite heartbreaking which totally surprised me.

The chemistry between two characters was fantastic. The romance took time to develop which was plus because the journey to get to that place was enjoyable. I loved Jordan’s interaction with Luke’s friends and the people of Lucky Hollow.

There were some things to nitpick. Most notably Simon AKA Jordan’s very gay, very flamboyant best friend. And the ending was also very rushed. There was a sweet epilogue though so it wasn’t a complete disappointment.

Overall, this is typical Lauren Layne. Meaning, it’s lighthearted and fun but with enough emotional heft to make it thoroughly satisfying.

 

· Filed Under: A-Z, All Reviews ·

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Review: Love Another Day by Lexi Blake

August 25, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

LOVE ANOTHER DAY
Series: Masters & Mercenaries #14
Genre: Romantic Suspense, BDSM
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: August 21, 2017

A man born to protect

After a major loss, Brody Carter found a home with the London office of McKay-Taggart. A former soldier, he believes his job is to take the bullets and follow orders. He’s happy to take on the job of protecting Dr. Stephanie Gibson while the team uses her clinic in Sierra Leone to bring down an international criminal. What he never expected was that the young doctor would prove to be the woman of his dreams. She’s beautiful, smart, and reckless. Over and over he watches her risk her life to save others. One night of pure passion leads him to realize that he can’t risk his heart again. When the mission ends, Brody walks away, unwilling to lose another person he loves.

A woman driven to heal

Stephanie’s tragic past taught her to live for today. Everything she’s done in the last fifteen years has been to make up for her mistakes. Offering medical care in war-torn regions gives her the purpose she needs to carry on. When she meets her gorgeous Aussie protector, she knows she’s in too deep, but nothing can stop her from falling head over heels in love. But after one amazing night together, Brody walks away and never looks back. Stephanie is left behind…but not alone.

A secret that will change both their lives

A year later, Stephanie runs afoul of an evil mercenary who vows to kill her for failing to save his son. She runs to the only people she trusts, Liam and Avery O’Donnell. She hasn’t come alone and her secret will bring her former lover across the world to protect her. From Liberia to Dallas to Australia’s outback, Brody will do whatever it takes to protect Stephanie from the man who wants to kill her, but it might be her own personal demons that could destroy them both.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | GOOGLE PLAY | B&N

The door slammed and she suddenly found herself with her back against it. Brody crowded in, taking up all the space and staring down at her. His body brushed hers and she found both her wrists captured in one of his. He dragged them over her head, forcing her chest to come out, breasts skimming along his body. “I shouldn’t do this.”Tough chick was winning. Steph let her take over. It was surely better than the desperate girl who lived inside her. She kept asking for love and affection and getting swatted away. This was the next best thing, possibly the only thing she would ever get. “Then don’t. Let me go and I won’t bother you again.”

“No, you’ll go find Ezra Fain and bother him,” Brody said on a growl.

“Somehow, I don’t think he’ll find me a bother.” She’d barely spoken two words to the man, but she wasn’t going to admit it. It was better to let Brody think she wasn’t a love-starved girl.

“He won’t fucking find you anything at all. If you’re determined to not sleep alone tonight, you can damn well do it with me.” His mouth came down on hers and every inch of her skin came alive. His kiss was overwhelming, hungry. There was no slow meshing of mouths. He took her, his tongue surging inside and dominating her own. He let go of her hands and started to explore her body. His hands were on her hips when he came up for air. “I’m leaving in the morning. I’m going back to London and I can’t come back.”

She’d known that would probably be his answer. She’d known he wouldn’t want to stay and she couldn’t leave.

“One night. That’s all I want.” It was all she could have. It had been foolish to think it could be any different.

His mouth came down on hers again and she let herself get swept away. One night and her life would go back to normal. One night and then she would be alone again. His hands started to roam over her and she tried to forget all the reasons why this was a bad idea.

He stepped back, his entire body set in hard lines. He strode over to the bed and sat down. “Take off the gown. It’s pretty, but I want to see you.”

She hesitated, all her insecurities coming to the forefront. Somehow, she’d thought he would simply take her. “Let me get the lights.”

He was back in her space again, his hand wrapping around her wrist. “I didn’t say turn off the lights. I said take off the gown. How am I going to see you if you turn off the lights?”

“Brody,” she began.

He was having none of it. “You got on your knees in front of me and you said you knew what you were offering me. The first thing you were offering me was obedience. The second was your body. You’re giving me neither right now.”

His voice had gone midnight dark and something about the tone made her soften. He was right. She did know what she’d offered him and now she was trying to have it all her way.

There was nothing wrong with her body. It was feminine and she was healthy. What was she afraid of? “All right.”

He let go of her wrist and sat back down, looking like a damn king waiting on his concubine’s performance. For all his “I’m nothing but a grunt” talk, the man could be incredibly arrogant, and damn if she didn’t find it sexy as hell.

Something about that voice let her know that everything was going to be fine. He was past the point of rejection. He was in and that meant he would play her Dom for the night. He would take care of her. She was as safe with him in the bedroom as she’d been in the field.

At least she was safe for the night. In the morning she would be in a world of hurt, but she wasn’t thinking past tonight.

I want that connection. I want to feel you, and not only in a physical way. This isn’t playing. Playing is a silly word for what I want from you.”
“What word would you use?”
“Everything. I want everything.”

Have you ever read a series that you hope never ends. Like it could have 34355 books and you’ll still crave more? Yeah. This series is that for me. Not only does my addiction to it increase with each new book and new character that gets introduced, I find myself more and more invested. These characters have become like friends to me. I root for them. I hurt for them. And I will never get enough of them.

Dr. Stephanie Gibson was first introduced in A Dom is Forever and my interest in her story has been increasing ever since. As a teenager, an accident due to unfortunate and naive negligence changed her life forever. She’s been paying penance ever since and punishing herself trying to pay things forward. She gained a dear friend out of the woman that she felt should hate her for the accident but family of her own is not something she’s had since that fateful day.

When Brody Carter and his team showed up at her clinic at Sierra Leone, she found herself falling quickly for the broody Aussie. On his last day there, she makes a decision to finally act on her feelings, even knowing he won’t want anything beyond the one night. Brody doesn’t feel he’s good enough for her, even while in her head, she feels it’s the exact opposite. But their one passionate night together comes with a lasting surprise, when Steph finds herself pregnant and her messages to Brody go unanswered. She got the message from the man loud and clear, but when her life and her son’s life is threatened, she finds herself on the doorstep of Liam O’Donnell and back in Brody’s world.

The tension between them is so thick you could cut it with a knife. I needed Brody to redeem himself for the radio silence act he pulled on Steph. I needed him to step up and be a man. I wanted him to grovel, to work for it, to need her forgiveness, and man oh man did I get it. And then some!

He thought briefly about putting the baby in his crib and trying to get a bit of work done, but it felt better to sit, to rock with his son in his arms. For the first time in forever, he knew what peace meant.

While Brody finally sees the light and realizes he needs to fight for Steph, his battle certainly isn’t an easy one. With a dangerous enemy hunting for his woman and her determination to continue to punish herself for her past, it’s not easy to prove just how great they could be together. But it sure made for an entertaining read.

I wanted to be annoyed with Steph and her constant martyr mentality, but I simply couldn’t. Lexi Blake did an amazing job with character development and you can’t help but understand her and feel for her at the same time. To know that you’re the cause of two innocent lives is not easy to get over, no matter how many years passed and whether or not it was a horrible accident. Steph lives with those demons every day. It’s the reason she became a doctor and fights to save lives.

There’s a lot that happens in this book, but the romance is always at the front and center, and it. is. SIZZLING.

It’s going be long and slow and I’m going to know every single inch of this beautiful body like it’s a map I need to memorize. I’ll be able to close my eyes and know how many kisses it takes to get from your mouth to your nipple to your sweet belly to that pussy I’m going to eat like a starving man.”

I loved these two together and I loved how they fight for each other even when they fight with each other.

Of course it wouldn’t be a Lexi Blake book without the rest of the gang and a whole bunch of fun from my favorite, Ian.

You can’t fix someone. That’s not what love does. Love can make a person want to fix himself. That’s the key.” He frowned at his wife. “I said love. I want to vomit.”

Love Another Day was another high octane ride; full of action and suspense that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. I just finished it and I already can’t wait for the next book. I’m an addict when it comes to this series and I can’t recommend it enough if you like your romantic suspense with some sizzling BDSM romance.

THE SERIES

THE DOM WHO LOVED ME | THE MEN WITH THE GOLDEN CUFFS | A DOM IS FOREVER | ON HER MASTER’S SECRET SERVICE | LOVE AND LET DIE | DUNGEON ROYALE | A VIEW TO THRILL | YOU ONLY LOVE TWICE | MASTER NO | FROM SANCTUM WITH LOVE | DOMINANCE NEVER DIES | SUBMISSION IS NOT ENOUGH | FOR HIS EYES ONLY | LOVE ANOTHER DAY

 

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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Lana & Jenn Review: Thrill Seeker by Taryn Quinn

August 24, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

THRILL SEEKER
Series: Sinful In Seattle #1
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Taryn Quinn
Release Date: August 15, 2017

He saved me…

I wasn’t paying attention that night after work. I was just in a hurry to get to my car.
But someone was watching.
A stranger waited in the shadows, and he tried to hurt me. But another man also came out of the darkness, ready to defend me.
I serve billionaire Max Chapel his dinner every evening.
He’s powerful. Mysterious. And just as dangerous, but in a much different way.

He destroyed me…

But is it destruction if I asked him, the man who’d saved me, to tear my clothes? To take me roughly while the fear and helplessness still raged inside my belly?

He made me whole again…

Not just physically, but emotionally. He unlocked a side of me I never knew existed. But he knows.
He practically owns this whole town.

Now he wants to own me.

Author’s note: If you like sweet love scenes, this isn’t the story for you. Max and Georgia learn they like dangerous games. And they want more of them.

Author’s note part deux: Thrill Seeker is a 19K novella that ends on a cliffhanger, and there are two more parts to come of this story.

AMAZON
LANA’S REVIEW

I wanted her laid out and bare. I wanted to grip her hair as I took her from behind. I wanted to leave bite marks on that glorious ass that swung with each brisk step across the courtyard to my favorite table. I wanted to lick her from clit to ass and own it all.
Oh no, my wants were not the hero kind.

Sweet.
Baby.
Jesus.

This book should come with an additional warning: Do NOT read in public. For the love of ovaries! For just 19k words, this quickie novella packed a heck of a punch. Wowza!

Sassy restaurant hostess meets millionaire playboy and sparks don’t just fly, they explode. Yes, this is short, but it’s surprisingly satisfying and serves to whet the appetite for more deliciousness to come. And considering the sexy games these two allude to? I’m not sure I’ll survive the next two books.

As for that cliffhanger? Let’s just say the authors were getting a 12 AM death threat though messenger when I finished. But it’s nothing they didn’t expect. These two sadists know full well what they were doing when they teased the readers with what’s to come. And having a pretty good idea of what it is (it just happens to be a HUGE fave of mine), I’m pretty sure I’d part with an ovary to get my hands on book two IMMEDIATELY!

And authors, if you’re reading this review, if I don’t have book two in my grabby little hands in the next 3 months…

Just kidding!
*whispers*
I’m not kidding.

JENN’S REVIEW

Marshmallows.

Chocolate bars.

Graham Crackers.

Yep, I’m about to roast it up because this book was FIRE and I want S’MORE!!!!

smores GIF
Too cheesy???
Georgia has been eyeing Max for a while. She is the hostess of a restaurant that Max frequents, and they continue to dance around each other. They don’t know that they want each other…..BAD. When something happens to bring them together, they cannot resist each other. Things, clothes, body parts…..GET…HOT….FAST. And they like it rough, y’all….*giggles like a giddy school girl.
tv dancing jimmy fallon tv show tonight show GIFI gorged myself on this book, and I’m not ashamed. I loved every second of this shortie. Of course it wasn’t long enough, but I would go back and reread it already.

I’m sad to say that I had no idea there was a cliffy and I have to wait for the next one, but that did not affect my view of this book because it’s THAT good.

As for you, Taryn Quinn….

the sandlot sandlot killing me smalls GIF

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