Review: Stripped by Tara Wyatt

May 18, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

STRIPPED
Series: Blue HEAT #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tara Wyatt
Release Date: May 15, 2018

Detective Sawyer Matthews isn’t just having a bad day—he’s having the worst day. His hunt for the criminal who killed his team member has stalled and now… he’s got to play nice with his new, totally unwanted partner. It’s not that she isn’t qualified, or that he doesn’t like her—it’s because he knows what she looks like naked. So very, very naked.

Brooke Simmons finally landed her dream job working for H.E.A.T, an elite undercover detective squad, and she’s not giving up simply because she had a one-night-stand with her sullen—but undeniably sexy—new partner. They’ll just have to keep it professional. Easier said than done, considering their first case requires Sawyer to infiltrate a drug cartel operating out of a male strip show. Watching him do his best Magic Mike impression every night isn’t just hot—it’s torture.

Sawyer doesn’t need any distractions, yet his attraction to Brooke is explosive and he can’t resist going for round two. Or three. Or four. But as their investigation progresses and danger mounts, they’ll have to put their jobs, hearts, and lives on the line to fight… for each other, for survival, and for justice.

AMAZON

When a hot one night stand turns out to be your new partner for an elite crimefighting unit you’ve been waiting to get a spot on for your entire career? Awwwwwwwkward.

When a very bad date sends Brooke to lick her wounds at a local bar, she doesn’t expect to pass her night with a man that makes her stop thinking about everything. But she certainly doesn’t expect for this man to turn out to be her brand new partner at HEAT, and less than thrilled to see her again. After losing his best friend and partner on duty, Sawyer Matthews’s entire world becomes revenge and catching the criminal responsible for it. Being forced to work with another partner is bad enough, but when it’s a woman he’s fighting an undeniable attraction to? It’s even worse.

Now I’ll be honest, the whole undercover male stripper totally sold me. But this book was so much more than that. As a matter of fact, it was barely a blip on the radar of the entire story. So if you’re planning on reading it hoping it’ll be a whole lot of male stripper action a la Magic Mike, think again. I’m also admittedly not a fan of the MCs having sex so early in the book because often times I find I lose interest in their connection. Luckily that never happened here. There was enough of a slow burn following their initial hookup that kept me fully invested. Even though I wanted to kick Sawyer in the balls a whole lot of times. The man gives brooding and hardheaded a new meaning.

I enjoyed the secondary characters and the suspense part of the story. If I’m being truthful, that kept me more engaged than the romance for the majority of the book. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed Brooke and Sawyer together. But I also couldn’t help but feeling like something was missing for me that I couldn’t quite get my finger on.

Blue HEAT was definitely an exciting start to what looks to be a promising new series, and I for one am hooked. I’ll be on the lookout for book two, and also eagerly anticipating the book for a certain character that had the best hook for ever at the end of this book. I won’t spoiler it for you, but I will say I’m pretty much salivating for his story.

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#DGRFave & Review: Filthy Gods by R. Scarlett

May 17, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

 

 

 

FILTHY GODS
Series: American Gods #0.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: R. Scarlett
Release Date: May 15, 2018

Prelude in the American Gods series.

Young. Wealthy. Elite. Attractive. The gentlemen’s secret society at Yale was filled with them.

And Nathaniel Radcliffe, the bane of my existence, was one of them.

As the right hand of the American Gods, he was conceited and arrogant. A dangerously handsome man in a tailored custom suit and shiny black oxford loafers.

The classroom was our battlefield. We made a sport out of arguing and debating, ready to do anything in order to win over the other.

Deadly opponents, deadlier minds.

I’d sworn I’d never give him the upper hand, until…

The secret I’ve been hiding for the last three years?

He just discovered it… and now he has all the power.

*35k Novella

AMAZON

He was a mere man, I knew that, but he and his friends were treated like gods. It didn’t help they looked like it, too. Intimidating, perfect and deadly. 

What if Paper Princess and The In Crowd had a book baby? A sexy, thrilling, and addicting book baby that will captivate you from the very first page and have you hooked on a new series of bad boys? Well, my friends, that would be this book and it would be this series. Because holy mother of book crack was this good!

There was something holy and unholy about the boys. Sacred and sinful all at once. Bastards of Grace. Fame, wealth and power poured out of them. They were the things of legends and myths.

A group of men so rich and powerful they can only be known as American Gods? Sign me up! This is a prequel to what’s set to be an amazing new series from R. Scarlett. And while it was a novella, it was wholly satisfying. Surprisingly so. I’m not usually a reader that gravitates towards novellas, because they always leave me wanting more. And don’t get me wrong, this book left me craving, but craving the rest of the series. The novella itself was a complete story, perfectly paced, and entirely satisfying.

Juliette is barely making ends meet. As the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, she’s desperately hiding her humble past while trying to make a name for herself at Yale among the wealthy and the entitled. And at the top of the food chain are the American Gods. Nathaniel Radcliffe may not be one of those bad boys, but he’s in with them. He’s wealthy, connected, powerful, and her biggest rival in school. Used to his calculated and educated debates with her in class, it’s unnerving to be on the receiving end of it outside of school. Especially when she finds out that the country club that she works at is also one that his family owes. And his silence is going to cost her. They agree to a summer fling to work their unwanted lust out of their system, but nothing is ever quite so simple.

I felt like delicate glass in his powerful hands. I fought him—thrust for thrust, kiss for kiss, nip for nip, and he met me each time, working each other to a pleasure so intense, I feared it would end us both.

The novella introduces the reader to a secret society of men. Men that are powerful, broken but deadly. I was salivating at the mere mention of the American Gods and practically shaking to get my hands on their books. Because the set up? DELICIOUS.

As for this book? It was fantastic! I loved the instant and undeniable chemistry between Nathaniel and Juliette. I loved how Juliette’s strength and perseverance shined through even when she submitted to his powerful presence. The book helped set the scene but it also gave us a deliciously filthy story. If you’re like me and love your angst with plenty of power dynamics and drama, this is an absolute must read!

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Review & Excerpt: Worth The Risk by K. Bromberg

May 16, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

WORTH THE RISK
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: K. Bromberg
Release Date: May 15, 2018

From New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg comes a new, sexy standalone about taking chances and finding love when it’s least expected. Or wanted.

This whole contest was supposed to be easy. I know, I know. Famous last words.

It’s a long story, but I messed up at work. Big time. To earn back the trust of my boss, I promised to save one of our magazines. Yep. That Hot Dad contest you’ve seen advertised all over the place was my idea. And if I’m successful, if I’m able to increase our online readership, then I get a shot at my dream job.

But the one thing I never expected to happen, happened: Contestant number ten, Grayson Malone. Hello, Mr. Difficult. And did I mention sexy as hell?

Unfortunately he knows me. The old me, anyway. And while we might be older now, I remind him of before. Of the woman who broke his heart, who hardened him, and who left him alone to raise the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen.

But I don’t want a relationship. And I definitely don’t fall for single dads with baggage. Even ones with chiseled abs and killer smiles.

But he got to me. They got to me. Him and his son and their messy, crazy life. But I got to him too. I see the stolen glances. I feel the walls he built start to crumble. I recognize that there’s an unexpected beauty to the chaos in his life.

And now that the contest is about to end, we’re left to decide whether the last six months were just fun or if what we have is worth risking it all?

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO

But by the time I reach her, my blood boils with irrationality spurred on by too much alcohol.“Can I have a moment?” I ask as I walk up to her and grab her elbow, pushing her down the darkened hallway.

“What is your problem?” She hisses as she fights me every step of the way.

We get looks. I get looks. I don’t care because all I keep seeing is Vince’s hands on her arm. His eyes on her tits. His bullshit game I can spot a mile away.

I find the closest door down the hallway leading to the bathrooms, and it opens. I push her through it, barely noticing that it’s an office of sorts before the door is shut, her back is up against it, and my mouth is covering hers.

Take.

Goddammit. That’s my only thought as I fit my lips to hers and take out my anger on her mouth with tongue and teeth and every fucking lick and nip in between.

“What—”

“I’m so pissed at you.”

It’s all I say. It’s the only chance I give her to come up for air before my lips are back on hers. Before my tongue wars with hers. Before my body admits it would beg, borrow, and steal in order to taste every other part of her.

Groan.

I swallow the tiny sound she makes in our kiss as my hands hold her neck still and my lips wage an all-out assault. She hesitates—just a split second—before she reacts. Before her body bows into me, and her mouth argues back.

Fist.

Her hand in my shirt. Her other hand at the back of my neck as our bodies meet—pressed knee to chest. Her perfume in my nose. Her hair tickling my cheeks. The feel of her tits against my chest.

Give.

I can’t get enough.

I’m mad at her.

I want her.

I don’t want to want her.

Christ, do I want her.

“Gray.” A murmured protest.

I tear my lips from hers, shove off the door I have her pressed against, and stride to the other side of the room.

“You are . . . you just . . .” It’s as if I can barely breathe. Christ, I’m mad at you.”

She stands there, lips parted, chest heaving, and golden brown curls messed from my hands, but her eyes look hurt. A hurt I don’t want to see but can’t deny.

“Why?”

“You did this,” I accuse as I try to manage the anger that’s waging a war against my desire.

“Did what?” Her eyes narrow. Her hand goes to press against her chest.

“Made me want you.”

for CGFC

Grayson: I’ve been thinking about you all day.

I look down at the text and smile before turning my attention back to Rissa and our plans for how we’re going to end this round of voting and move on to the top five.

“So, I think we close it out and then maybe take the next week and announce one of the finalists each day. Give little tidbits about each of them, make readers like them more, just have fun with it.”

My phone beeps again with another text, and I bite back the new grin trying to form on my lips. Rissa only huffs, eyeing my phone with annoyance. “Sorry, let me turn my ringer off.”

And then I have to feign nonchalance when I look down at my phone and find another text.

Grayson: My dick is rock hard, and it’s you I’m imagining. It’s in my hand when I’d rather it be in your mouth with my fingers in your pussy, working you into a frenzy.

“Is everything okay?” Rissa asks, making me realize I must have made a noise when I read the text. “You look startled.”

I glance back at the text again and shake my head while every part of my body comes to life. “Yeah, it’s, uh, fine.”

“Your ringer.” Her brows are lifted as she glances to my phone and then back to me.

“My finger?” I squeak, thinking she saw the phone screen.

“Ringer. Sound on your phone.”

“Oh, yes . . . sorry.” Flustered, I fumble with my cell, and before I can even switch it off, another text alert pings.

Grayson: I want to bend you over and watch as my cock slides in and out of you.

“So back to next week . . .”

“Yes,” I swallow over the desire lodged in every place it should be and try not to glance at my phone as it vibrates again.

“Are you good with that plan?” Rissa asks as I shift in my seat to abate the sudden ache burning brighter than bright.

“Yes. Sure. I think that sounds like a great plan.”

Grayson: I want my cock buried so deep that you feel every damn inch of me.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, why?” My voice breaks like a prepubescent teenager.

Grayson: I want you to come so hard you have to bite the pillow.

“You look a little flushed. Are you coming down with something?”

Grayson: You always have a choice. Isn’t that what you said to me once? Make a choice, Sidney. Isn’t it time to head to lunch?

“I mean, yeah, maybe.” I pull at my collar some. “Maybe that’s why I feel so flushed all of a sudden.”

Grayson: Meet me on the backside of The Cottages. Room Six. Fifteen minutes.

“Either that,” she says as she stands and heads to the door, only turning back to give me a wink, “or you’re guilty as hell. Maybe you should go take care of that itch texting you . . . or take some Tylenol. Whichever one it is, I think you should take the afternoon off.”

Grayson: Choose me.

“Oh.” It’s the only thing I can think to say because my brain is otherwise occupied imagining Grayson following through on his promises.

“And, Sid?”

“Yeah?”

“I sure hope he’s every bit worth breaking the rules.” She winks. “It’s about damn time. Your secret is safe with me.”

You take risks every damn day in your job—you’ve made a name for yourself doing it—and yet, you won’t take a goddamn risk on me, will you?”

They say you save the best for last, and that’s precisely what K. Bromberg has done with the third Malone brother. Ever since I read Cuffed I’ve been itching to get my hands on his story. The broken hearted, closed off single father that’s there for everyone but has ultimately given up on love hit all of my check boxes. I knew his book would tug at every heart string, and I was not wrong.

It’s a bad sign when you want to fuck the person you have determined you hate. When you’re sitting outside her house second-guessing your reaction.

Grayson has been burned. Once upon a time he took a chance on love, only for the woman to turn out to be a selfish and entitled rich girl who left him and their son behind and never looked back. Now it’s just him and his boy, and he like that just fine. His brothers may have all found love, but his only love has been his son, and he intends to keep it that way. But things get a little complicated when his name ends up in the Hot Dad contest that brings a blast form his past to his door.

Sidney comes from a rich family but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know hard work. Her father ensures of it when he makes her work her way to the job of her dreams by saving a magazine that she really wants no part of. Used to the frills and thrills of the city, Sidney suddenly finds herself in small town America, working for a family magazine, and trying to convince a man that could save the magazine to participate in a contest he wants no part of.

I really liked Sidney. This is a woman that can own the mistakes of her past. She knows that she was the snooty in-crowd girl that didn’t pay much attention to the blue-collar boy Grayson of their high school past. But she’s not that girl anymore, no matter how much Grayson wants to continue to paint her with that tainted paintbrush. Grayson is convinced she’s just like his ex; rich, entitled, and out only for herself. So the chemistry brewing between them from the start? Extremely inconvenient.

I loved the slow burn and sexual tension. I’m all about the enemies to lovers trope and this book brought it in spades. The constant push and pull, the antagonistic arguments, the heated looks. All of it was utterly delicious to read. And when they finally give in to the sparks between them? Explosive!

I want you to make noise, Princess.” The tug of his teeth on my ear as his fingers tuck back in and curve against my G-spot. “I want you to scream.” A soft tug of my hair. “And I want to know you know who’s making you scream.”

As much as I wanted to hate Grayson for his treatment of Sidney at times, I simply couldn’t. This was a man with deep emotional scars, and it’s hard to let go of a past that colored so much of your future. Sidney, for her part, at times let him believe the worst of her, until of course, she didn’t. That had to have been my favorite part; watching her finally show him who she is. Watching her change and fall hard. Luke was just as adorable as he was in the other books, I loved that little boy to pieces. It was no wonder it took him no time at all to steal Sidney’s heart.

Worth The Risk is a heartwarming story of love in unexpected places. It was emotional and swoony. I loved watching both Gray and Sidney fall for each other and their fight for each other. It’s easily enjoyed as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the other two Malone brothers in Cuffed and Combust. But of course, single daddy rescue pilot Gray was definitely my favorite.

Who knew you were so dominant?” I tease. “You know what they say . . .” he says as he takes a few steps back from me. “No, what?”
“It’s always the quiet ones you have to worry about.”

Text Kbromberg to 77948 to stay up to date on all things, Driven movies and new releases!

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, Kristy has sold over one million copies of her books across sixteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by Passionflix with the first movie slated to release in the summer of 2018.

She is currently working on her Everyday Heroes trilogy. This series consists of three complete standalone novels—Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit (late spring 2018)—and is about three brothers who are emergency responders, the jobs that call to them, and the women who challenge them.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales: http://bit.ly/254MWtI

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads

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Review: HOT SEAL Redemption by Lynn Raye Harris

May 16, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

HOT SEAL Redemption
Series: HOT SEAL Team #5
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Release Date: May 15, 2018

Bailey Jones doesn’t know jack about babies, but she knows how much it sucks to have a deadbeat father. So when her sister drops off her newborn baby and then disappears, Bailey is ready and willing to confront anyone, including a six-foot-two, sexier-than-sin Navy SEAL sniper, and make him do his duty.

Alexei “Camel” Kamarov is not the sort of man to carelessly father a kid, but as the oldest of six, he does know a thing or two about babies. The firebrand on his doorstep might have mistakenly tagged him as the baby daddy, but Bailey is cute, and Alexei is more than willing to give her a hands-on class in Baby 101.

When a ruthless criminal comes looking for the missing sister–putting Bailey and the baby in danger–the situation escalates. Bringing them under his roof and enlisting his HOT teammates to help find Bailey’s sister are easy. But as Alexei and Bailey draw closer, passions erupt and feelings tangle.

That’s nothing compared to the danger lurking in the shadows–and the test that awaits them both. Bailey will need to give everything she’s got to redeem Alexei’s faith in love. And he’ll have to move heaven and earth to save her–before someone takes her away from him for good…

AMAZON

But what he didn’t understand was why he cared what she thought. Why it bothered him. Why he couldn’t get her out of his head no matter how he tried.


It’s official; Lynn Raye Harris is the queen of sexy romantic suspense. It just doesn’t get any better than the men of HOT, unless of course, it’s the SEALs. With the teaser of Alexei’s story in the previous book, I was already salivating for his story by the time I got my grabby little hands on this one. And it did NOT disappoint.

You really are a good guy, Alexei.”
He hesitated a moment. “No, I’m really not.” A chill slid down her spine at the coolness in his voice. “But I am right now.”

A knock on his door from a woman claiming that he’s the father of her sister’s newborn daughter is probably the last thing Alexei “Camel” Kamarov expects when he gets home from his recent mission. He’s convinced the kid can’t possibly be his, but there’s something about the woman’s tenacity and his inner gentleman that has him humoring her. She looks completely out of her element with the newborn, and being the oldest of six kids, he knows a thing or two. I swear, my ovaries melted a little every time I read just how amazing Alex was with the baby. *dreamy sigh*

Bailey was one of my favorite heroines in the series. This is a girl that grew up rough but didn’t let that beat her down. With deadbeat parents and a young sister, she was forced to do what she has to in order to survive and make ends meet, and she’s not apologetic about it. Yes, she’s a stripper. And yes, Alexei’s macho posturing over her interim job to get her through college rankles, but she’s not about to let anyone belittle her for her choices. Man but I loved her backbone and tenacity. She had so much fire and passion to her, it’s no wonder it didn’t take long for Alexei to give in to the passion that brews between them from the very first meeting.

There’s plenty of suspense with the mystery of just where her sister ran into and who exactly is after her. Of course there’s plenty of action and cameos from the rest of the HOT team as they step in to protect Bailey from the threat against her.

HOT SEAL Redemption was an action packed ride from beginning to finish, with a sizzling slow burn romance and characters that I couldn’t help but love. It was another fantastic addition to an addicting series, and as always I’m only left craving more.

THE SERIES

HOT SEAL | HOT SEAL Lover | HOT SEAL Rescue | HOT SEAL Bride | HOT SEAL Redemption

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Geri’s Review: Making Up by Lucy Parker

May 15, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

MAKING UP
Series: London Celebrities #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lucy Parker
Release Date: May 28, 2018

Author of Act Like It and Pretty Face Lucy Parker returns readers to the West End, where it’s fireworks onstage and off in a sexy enemies-to-lovers showdown.

Once upon a time, circus artist Trix Lane was the best around. Her spark vanished with her confidence, though, and reclaiming either has proved…difficult. So when the star of The Festival of Masks is nixed and Trix is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, it’s exactly the push she needs. But the joy over her sudden elevation in status is cut short by a new hire on the makeup team.

Leo Magasiva: disgraced wizard of special effects. He of the beautiful voice and impressive beard. Complete dickhead and—in an unexpected twist—an enragingly good kisser.

To Leo, something about Trix is…different. Lovely. Beautiful, even though the pint-size, pink-haired former bane of his existence still spends most of her waking hours working to annoy him. They’ve barely been able to spend two minutes together for years, and now he can’t get enough of her. On stage. At home. In his bed.

When it comes to commitment, Trix has been there, done that, never wants to do it again. Leo’s this close to the job of a lifetime, which would take him away from London—and from Trix. Their past is a constant barrier between them.

It seems hopeless.

Utterly impossible.

And yet…

AMAZON

 

Lucy Parker became an instant favorite after I fell in love with the first book of her London Celebrity series. She has never fails to deliver on the swoons and the great characters. The third book, Making Up, is no exception.

We’ve met Trix in Pretty Face. She’s a circus artist and Lily’s best friend who was in an abusive relationship with Dan. That abuse took a toll on Trix and the aftermath was even more heartbreaking. She lost confidence in herself and her talents, and just when it seems like her career and life are in the doldrums, an opportunity to take the lead role in the long running show she’s in dropped on lap right along with her old nemesis, Leo Magasiva.

We’ve also met Leo Magasiva briefly in Pretty Face. He’s a make up artist whose Holywood rise was derailed by an allergic reaction mishap. Now back in London, Leo joined Trix’s company as the head make up artist.

Can I just say how refreshing it is to read about a hero who is not a billionaire/Rockstar/biker/soldier but a makeup artist? I loved it. Plus, Leo Magasiva was just divine. Swoon-worthy, creative guy with a heart of gold. He’s the perfect man for Trix, and lord knows she needs someone trustworthy after Dan the snake oil man almost ruined her life.

It doesn’t have to be complicated, Trix.” It was the only thing he could say. It was also a total bloody lie. It was them. It was going to be completely fucking complicated.”

The chemistry between Trix and Leo just leaps off the page and their banter was amazing. Lucy Parker definitely knows how to write banter. The relationship between Trix and Leo was complicated from the start. They had history and they had personal issues to deal with on top of everything. I of course, adored it because I love me some complicated.

It was delightful going back to the London setting of this book. I wish more contemporary romances are set there just to break the monotony of American set romances. I loved that the London described in this book is filled with diverse characters and it felt lived in. London’s West End is in and on itself a main character in the book. And oh, this book was also damn funny. It’s not slapstick humor but the sarcastic, offbeat, and deadpan kind, which I personally prefer.

There’s a new character introduced in this book which I feel readers will either love or hate. I wasn’t sure about it myself but I think I love to read more about this character. Fingers crossed Lucy will have something plan because it’s going to get interesting to say the least.

We do not squee over anything to do with this man, ovaries. Rein in the hormones immediately.”

I enjoyed this book immensely. Although I’ll be the first one to say that it’s far from perfect. I had a bit of an issue with the pacing especially the middle. It was definitely slow during that part but it did pick up and finished strong. And that epilogue!! Loved it.

There is also a scene that might raise some discussion around consent. And after thinking about it and rereading that part again, I personally wasn’t bothered by it. I felt that something was already established between them. So I wasn’t bothered by it. I’m mentioning this, trying to be as vague as possible as to not spoil the book but I also feel that it’s a good point to discuss among readers.

Anyway, I still adored this book. Those little snags weren’t big enough to affect my overall enjoyment at all.

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Review: Disturbing His Peace by Tessa Bailey

May 12, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

DISTURBING HIS PEACE
Series: The Academy #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tessa Bailey
Release Date: April 24, 2018

She’s got probable cause to make her move . . .

Danika Silva can’t stand Lt. Greer Burns. Her roommate’s older brother may be sexy as hell, but he’s also a cold, unfeeling robot. She just wants to graduate and forget about her scowling superior. But when a dangerous mistake lands Danika on probation—under Greer’s watch—she’s forced to interact with the big, hulking jerk. Call him daily to check in? Done. Ride shotgun in his cruiser every night? Done. Try not to climb into his giant, muscular lap and kiss him? Umm…

Greer doesn’t let anything—or anyone—distract him from the job. Except lately, all he can think about is Danika. He’s wanted the beautiful, cocky recruit since the moment he saw her. But she’s reckless and unpredictable, and Greer is painfully aware of what can happen when an officer doesn’t follow the rules. Probation seemed like a good idea, but now Danika’s scent is in his car and he’s replayed her voicemails twenty times. Christ, he’s a goner.

Danika’s melting Greer’s stone-cold exterior one ride-along at a time. Being together could have serious consequences… but breaking a few rules never hurt anybody, right?

AMAZON

Greer is like a pair of distressed leather boots in a shop window. I can admire them and hate them a little for drawing my eye, but I’m definitely not supposed to try them on.

I’ve been itching for Greer and Danika’s story since the first book in the series. Something about their antagonistic relationship with a deep undercurrent of suppressed lust just got my engine roaring. I couldn’t wait to get my grabby little hands on this book and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

What if we get caught?”
“Then you’ll hide your pretty face in my neck while I show them my badge. And when they leave, you’ll keep fucking moving. You want to break the rules, baby? Let’s break them…Once I’m inside you, that’s where I’m staying. God himself couldn’t drag me off. Are we clear?”

Ummm…hot cop fantasy, anyone? Because dang!

Greer is Charlie’s broody older brother that we first meet in Disorderly Conduct. He’s also the lieutenant in charge of the police academy class that Danika is currently trying to finish. To say that their “relationship” gets off to a rocky start is an understatement. Greer’s rough and grumpy disposition certainly doesn’t win him any fans. The man is downright brutal on his cadets, and his past has made him prickly and closed off to everyone else. But Danika has a way of getting under his skin like no one else. And soon their unwilling attraction begins to brew to a degree of scorching that neither one of them can escape.

Danika is used to being the one with the answers. She’s the one coming to everyone’s rescue. But she doesn’t have an answer for the chemistry between her and the untouchable Greer. Their relationship is not quite forbidden, but it’s not one they want exposed either. Danika wants to be a great cop on her own merit. Greer wants nothing to do with relationships and entanglement. Yet somehow the undeniable chemistry between them begins to bring them both some consequences they never saw coming; like feelings.

I loved watching Greer fall harder and harder for Danika. Danika is such a sweet yet strong heroine. This is a woman that can kick some serious ass, but then also has this incredibly endearing hidden soft side. I loved watching Greer bring that out in her. And did I mention the dirty talk? Because holy ovaries, the dirty talk! It was delicious!

Disturbing His Peace was another sexy and entertaining installment in The Academy series, and the perfect book to end it with. It was fun, action packed, and hot enough to set fire to ovaries within a 100 block radius!

I’m fucking yours, you know that?” He drops hot, panting kisses beneath my ear. “I just want to be yours, Danika.”

THE SERIES

DISORDERLY CONDUCT | INDECENT EXPOSURE | DISTURBING HIS PEACE

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#DGRFave & Review: Bane by LJ Shen

May 9, 2018 by · 1 Comment

BANE
Series: Sinners of Saint #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: LJ Shen
Release Date: May 10, 2018

A COMPLETE standalone and a Sinners of Saint spin-off.

Bane
Naked surfer. Habitual pothead. A con, a liar, a thief and a fraud.
Last I heard, he was extorting the rich and screwing their wives for a living.
Which is why I’m more than a little surprised to find him at my threshold, looking for my friendship, my services, and most puzzling of all—looking humbled.
Thing is, I’m on a boycott. Literally—I cut boys from my life. Permanently.
Problem is, Bane is not a boy, he is all man, and I’m falling, crashing, drowning in his sweet, perfect lies.

Jesse Carter
Hot as hell, cold as ice.
I wasn’t aware of her existence until a fat, juicy deal landed in my lap.
She’s a part of it, a little plaything to kill some time.
She is collateral, a means to an end, and a side-bonus for striking a deal with her oil tycoon stepdad.
More than anything, Jesse Carter is a tough nut to crack.
Little does she know, I have the teeth for it.

AMAZON

We weren’t a boy and a girl. We were two lonely, fucked-up souls. It made wanting Bane in my life acceptable. I wanted him to fix me.

The queen of angst has done it once again. She’s given me a hero that I have fallen head over ovaries for, and I can’t stop thinking about. Bane is so different from the heroes we’re used to from LJ Shen, but he’s no less potent. He’s not the typical alpha-hole that she writes oh-so-well. But he’s also not quite a nice guy either. Bane is that somewhere in the middle, that gray zone of sex appeal and criminal. This book was EVERYTHING.

You’re poisoned. Sheltered. Yet, you’re no Snow White. Wanna know why?”
“Why?”
“Snow White waited for the prince. You’ll be the one saving yourself in this story.”

Jesse may have been one of my favorite LJ Shen heroines to date. This girl is so broken, yet her spirit shines through even through her shattered pieces. And I absolutely loved that Bane is one of the few people in her life that sees it. He sees beyond the frumpy clothes she tries to hide behind. He sees the fiery woman behind the disguise; a woman with scars but one that will fight with the ferocity of a tiger if ever cornered. Man but I loved their immediate chemistry and dynamic. This is a slow burn, and boy does Shen make you burn. She makes you crave every stolen look, every secret touch, every forbidden erotic moment. GAH. It was so freaking delicious.

He was cracking my heart with every touch, shattering it with every smile, and it didn’t make any sense, because how could he break something that was already broken?

Bane is not a nice guy, but he’s not quite a bad guy either. This is a man with many layers that are full of depth beyond what his bad boy appearance gives off. I was turning the pages well into the night, ravenous for another layer to be revealed. The tumultuous connection that he has to Jesse had me sitting at the edge of my seat just waiting for the other shoe to drop. You experience him unwillingly and unexpectedly fall for a girl that was supposed to be a tool in his arsenal. She was only supposed to be a pawn but soon began to turn into so much more.

I survived many things, but Roman Protsenko was probably not going to be one of them.

Bane was a delicious slow burn full of depth and emotion. It was a story of survival and finding love in the darkest most unexpected corner. It was angsty, sexy, and a page turner from beginning to finish.

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Review & Excerpt: Jock Row by Sara Ney

May 7, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

JOCK ROW
Series: Jock Hard #1
Genre: New Adult, Sports Romance
Author: Sara Ney
Release Date: May 3, 2018

Scarlett is always the sensible one: The sober driver. The planner. The one holding your hair back while you’re worshiping the porcelain gods.

Week-after-week, she visits Jock Row with her friends—the universities hottest party scene and breeding ground for student athletes. And if keeping her friends out of trouble, and guys out of their pants, was a sport, she’d be the star athlete.

Being a well known jock-blocker gets her noticed for all the wrong reasons; just like that, she’s banned from Jock Row. NO GUY WANTS A GIRL AROUND WHO KEEPS THEIR JOCK FRIENDS FROM GETTING LAID.

“Rowdy” Wade is the hot shot short-stop for the university’s baseball team—and the unlucky bastard who drew the short straw: keep little Miss Goody Two-Shoes out of the Baseball House.

But week-after-week Scarlett returns, determined to get inside.

AMAZON

Jesus Christ, she has a dimple in her damn cheek.I’m a sucker for those.

She shoots me a tentative smile, ass parked on the stoop, back propped against the wooden siding of the house.

It’s obvious that she’s blushing by the way she ducks her head, glancing down at the floor, the soft glow from the two busted lamps illuminate the crown of her head.

The porch lights are busted and rusty, needing their bulbs changed, one flickering—the other just about to burn out. It makes the entire place look like a goddamn Halloween fun-house, casting a weird glow on the girl’s smooth, pale skin.

And her pretty dimple.

Stop staring at it, dipshit.

I cast my glance at her outfit, doing my best to analyze her under the dim lights; she must have been sweaty inside the house; I got a good look at her before convincing her to follow me, but still study her as if seeing her for the first time.

Both of her boots are tucked under her legs, and she sits, cross-legged on the ground. Blows out a frustrated puff of air that translates into a billowing stream of steam.

“So.” She wraps her puffed sleeved arms around her knees, hugging them tight. Shivers. “Now what?”

Her prim ponytail is jaunty, bobbing when she tilts her head to gaze over at me.

“Now I babysit you.”

“Lovely. We can bond.”

I position my large body against the railing, giving it a gentle shake to make sure it’s sturdy before supporting all my weight on it. It’s solid and secure and is going to get real uncomfortable real fucking fast if I have to stand here all night.

The girl raises her brows at me. They appear black in this light; full and arched expertly. “Have you babysat anyone before?”

“No one I managed to keep alive,” I joke. “A few cousins my parents forced me to watch a few times; never would feed them but would occasionally throw out a dog bone so they wouldn’t get hungry.”

She smiles, dimple denting the smooth right side of her face. “Is that what you have planned for me?”

I raise my empty hands. “I’m fresh out of Scooby snacks. Guess we’ll both have to starve.”

“Sorry you have to sit out here.”

“Really?” I sound hopeful. “No one is forcing you to sit out here.”

Her light laugh is quiet. “Fine. I guess I’m not that sorry.” She bites down on her lower lip. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying your discomfort—just a little bit.”

“Gee, thanks.”

I’m an athlete—a champion. I play hard and jock harder, and these little games I’ve started with her? I’m playing to win.


I read this in one delicious sitting. Stayed up WAY past my bedtime to finish, and I don’t even care because it was SO FREAKING CUTE!! Such a fun start to what looks to be another addicting series from one of my favorite authors.

Jock Row introduces another New Adult sports series from Sara Ney, this time about baseball. We get the ball rolling *giggles* (sorry couldn’t help myself) with the story of Rowdy and Scarlett.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the sizzling slow burn of their romance. What starts as an unlikely friendship full of banter and laughs, soon begins to develop into something much deeper. When Rowdy is picked to kick Scarlett out of a party on Jock Row for being a bit of a cockblock to his friends, the last thing he expects is the immediate connection he forms with a girl wearing a bulky sweater and a mischievous grin. This was a deliciously character driven story and I think that’s what I enjoyed most about it. I loved the banter between these two and I’ll never think of Never Have I Ever without thinking of this couple.

Rowdy may be a jock, but he’s not an a-hole. He’s cocky, but rightfully so. He IS the captain of the baseball team and worked hard to get where he is. Scarlett was a breath of fresh air. She’s sassy and sharp witted and isn’t as boy crazy as her college friends even if Rowdy does make her keep showing up to a party she has no intention of going inside for. I seriously adored the way their connection formed. Watching their feelings develop and the chemistry between them go from sparks to incendiary proportions.

Jock Row was an adorably sweet and super cute romance full of laughs and sizzle. It had me glued to the pages from beginning to finish and totally head over heels for this couple by the end. If New Adult sports romance is your thing, this series is your new catnip!

Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte’s, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.

She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog.

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New Release, Review & Giveaway: Lead Me Home by AL Jackson

May 7, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

LEAD ME HOME
Series: Fight For Me #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: AL Jackson
Release Date: May 7, 2018

Fourteen years ago, my life changed forever.

My sister disappeared. That day I was selfish. That day I chose myself over her. And that day, I lost everything.

Including Nikki Walters.

She’s the girl I’ve loved my whole life. She’s gorgeous. Caring. Every single thing I’ve ever wanted but denied myself. She was my sister’s best friend, and I destroyed any chance of keeping her.

When her safety is threatened, I have a second chance to do the right thing. But as soon as she moves in, I want her in all the wrong ways.

All it takes is a brush of her hand, and I’m losing all control.

The fire between us is only burning hotter.

But neither of us saw what was coming.

And it just might be Nikki Walters who destroys me in the end.

The highly anticipated sexy, suspenseful stand-alone second-chance romance from NYT Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson.

AMAZON PAPERBACK | AMAZON EBOOK

Oliver Preston was armor and stone. Bitterness and venom.
Broken fragments. Shrapnel waiting to bust. He was the bullet that pierced right through the center of me.

AL Jackson sure knows how to sucker punch her readers with some feels. And while I felt like the entire series has been leading up to this conclusion for me, nothing could have prepared me for the potency of emotion it brought. Each book in the series focuses on a different couple, but I highly recommend reading the previous two books to truly appreciate this one to its fullest.


I had always belonged to Oliver Preston. The problem was, he’d never fully belonged to me. I owned his gazes. His protection. His regret.

Ever since you learn Ollie’s heartbreaking past, you’re left craving for this man to finally have some light in his life. Nikki Walters has been in love with Ollie for as long as she remembers. And he’s been her biggest heartache almost just as long. Lead Me Home details their full connection, starting from the time they were just children, leading up to the tragedy that changed both of their lives, and all the ways it ripped them apart in the aftermath.

He was an enigma. A veiled mystery. A cliffhanger waiting to be written

After years of heartache and hope, Nikki is done taking a chance on Oliver. She can’t settle for the little scraps of himself he has to give and she refuses to stop her life right along side his. Oliver is a shell of the person he once was, refusing to move on and blaming himself for the tragic disappearance of his sister and Nikki’s best friend. While the events of that night inevitably changed every person in their group of friends, no one took it harder than Ollie. And while he knows he has nothing left to give Nikki and she deserves more, when a mysterious threat appears, he knows he’ll stop at nothing to protect her. Even if it means being faced with their undeniable connection that has only grown through the years.

This girl was a wave getting ready to take me under. And I didn’t think she’d ever let me up for air.

This was definitely the most emotional book in the series for me, and it was most definitely my favorite. I adored Nikki and Ollie together. Even when Ollie was too blind to see what was right in front of him, he didn’t stop fighting for her. And I loved how solid and determined Nikki was when it came to him. She doesn’t take any of his bull, but she’s still there for him. She still cares. As you get a closer look at the potency of their connection, you fall harder and harder for them. I loved their push and pull. I loved their chemistry. I simply loved everything about this couple. Their light and their dark, their love and pain, their tragedy and happiness.

My whole life, all it took was a glance from you, and I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.” 

Lead Me Home was a poignant, emotional, and unforgettable story of loss and pain. It was a story of an undeniable love and heartbreak. It was beautiful and the writing was stunning. I love AL Jackson’s way with words. The woman’s writing is lyrical and almost poetic. I couldn’t imagine a more captivating conclusion for a series that has grabbed me from the very beginning.

THE SERIES

SHOW ME THE WAY | HUNT ME DOWN | FOLLOW ME BACK | LEAD ME HOME

Don’t miss the amazing giveaway going on to celebrate the LEAD ME HOME Release!! Grand prize includes signed SHOW ME THE WAY and FOLLOW ME BACK and the entire BLEEDING STARS SERIES Paperbacks!!

Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e42d6b41113/

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Review: Knotted by Pam Godwin

May 3, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

KNOTTED
Series: Trails of Sin #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Pam Godwin
Release Date: May 1, 2018

I try to forget her.
It’s impossible.

Growing up together, Conor and I shared all our firsts.
First love, first kiss, first…
Not all our firsts.

We were sixteen the night she was violently assaulted while I helplessly watched.
I’ll never forget the sounds of her suffering.
Or my inconsolable agony when she left Oklahoma.

Years later, she returns to honor our teenage pact.
Except the boy she loved is gone, replaced by a ruthless cattle rancher knotted with secrets.
She doesn’t know my dark cravings or the trails of sin that lead to her.

I don’t deserve her, but one truth remains.
She’s mine.

TRAILS OF SIN series (HEAs with no cliffhangers – must be read in order):
Knotted #1 – Jake and Conor
Buckled #2 – Jarret and Maybe
Booted #3 – Lorne and Raina

AMAZON

With a hand in my hair and the other on my hip, he bends me into his heat and sets fire to my world.

No matter what she writes, Pam Godwin never fails to bring her signature grit to the stories that make them simply unputdownable. When I saw she’ll be coming out with a brand new series revolving around kinky cowboys, I’m not even sure I took a moment to blink before adding these bad boys to my TBR. And while I should be used to her knack for knocking me on my ass with her brand of emotional grit, I still wasn’t quite prepared for what this story will bring.

I made her believe I let her go. God, if I only could. Nothing will stop me from watching over her, but I can’t have her. I’ll protect her with my life, but I must forget her.

Jake and Conor were childhood sweethearts. The best of friends with an undeniable connection that leads to an unforgettable love. Their fathers frown on their relationship, with Conor’s father forbidding it, but nothing could keep them apart. Along with Conor’s older brother, and Jake’s brother, they’re as thick as thieves. Until what should have been a nigh of stolen kisses and lost innocence turns into a thing of nightmares that irrevocably changes the course of all of their lives.

Forced to watch the love of his life brutally get her innocence stolen while he can do nothing about it breaks something inside Jake. When her father takes her away to Chicago, he knows the best thing he can do is let her go, even if she leaves with his heart and doesn’t know it. Their bond may be broken, their connection now ravaged, but the pact they form after the violence of their evening will never be forgotten.

Years later, Conor returns to the small to honor their pact, but nothing is the same. Jake isn’t the boy she remembers, and their teenage connection is in tethers from the choices he made over the years. But Jake is determined to right his wrongs, and he’s even more determined to protect Conor from a danger that she never even knew existed. He’s going to break through all her walls, even the one she’s built to protect around her heart.

Something clicks inside me, like a turning key. I’ve been wandering aimlessly, so lost and far away from myself. But I just found the door the leads me back. He’s the other half of me, and he holds the pieces that will make me whole again.

Knotted was a slow burn second chance romance with plenty of hidden danger and suspense to keep the reader glued to the pages. It would have easily been a 5 star for me if not for the way Conor’s therapy was handled. I struggled to wrap my mind around the fact that someone that gets brutally raped is able to heal at the hands of her lover that did nothing more than research her condition, as quickly as she did. Yes, Conor has her triggers, and yes it takes her a while to move past them with Jake. But I still found it difficult to suspend my disbelief enough to buy into her being able to move past them through Jake’s form of sexual and mental therapy. I could see it in the long run, maybe, but not as quickly as it happened here.

That aside, I absolutely devoured this story. I was desperate to turn the pages to learn more and more about the mysterious danger, and the Dallas sized drama with Conor and Jake’s families. There’s a delicious hook for Jake’s brother’s story here, but I’m downright salivating for Conor’s brother to get his book. I have a feeling his book will pack one heck of a punch.

Jake and Conor were sizzling together. And while I wanted to hate Jake for how he chose to drive Conor away, I also couldn’t help but understand his reasons behind it. I loved Conor’s strength even after everything she’s faced and forced to endure in her young life.

This is us, wild and incendiary, dancing in the open air like a campfire. Galloping through the pasture against the wind. Soaring over the ridge with falcon wings and marveling at the glory of our life together.

Knotted was a gritty and suspenseful read full of sizzle and mystery. It wasn’t Pam’s typical dark, but it was certainly no walk in the park either. I can’t wait for more in this series!

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