Review, Author Interview & #Giveaway: ★Sustained★ by @EmmaChse

Spotlight Sustained

If you follow me on social media, then you may have already seen me gushing and raving about Jake and this absolutely FABULOUS book. Whenever I need sexy romance and laugh out loud scenes, Emma Chase is my go-to and she hasn’t let me down yet. But this book? Oh I think I may have my favorite one by her yet with Sustained. Drew from Tangled may be my number one still, but Jake Becker is now standing right there alongside with him. If this book isn’t on your TBRs, it NEEDS to be. Trust me on this. You’ll thank me for it after 😉

I’m super excited to have the awesome Emma Chase on the blog today answering all my (intrusive) but still totally fun questions. And don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a paperback copy of Sustained (US/CAN residents)


About The Book SUSTAINED
Series: Legal Briefs #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Emma Chase
Release Date: August 25, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

24352282

Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled series, returns with the second installment of the Legal Briefs series!

A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will get you off. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy & Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and am knee deep in a damn compost pit.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, and defend her…and the kids.

And that—that, I know how to do.

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N /iBooks  / BAM  / IndieBound  / Google


Emma Chase interview

DGR: Can we start out with having you introduce yourself?
 
EC:  Hi, I’m Emma Chase, author of the Tangled Series and the Legal Briefs Series. I live in New Jersey with my highly entertaining husband, two brilliant kids and two badly behaving dogs, whom I love to the moon and back (all of them – not just the dogs). 
DGR: You have written some of my favorite male POV books, hands down. How are you able to channel the male perspective as well as you do?
EC: Thank you! Growing up with a rowdy, raunchy group of boys as my best friends probably had a lot to do with it. Their voices, all their opinions and advice are definitely running around in my head. But there’s also a freedom for me, in writing from the male POV. And I think that’s because my guy characters have such confidence – so much swagger – that they believe pretty much no matter what they say or do, readers are going to love them anyway. So in their voices, there’s no self-doubt, very little indecision. That makes for some very fun writing.
DGR: Let’s talk Sustained. I don’t know if you remember, but I met you at a Vegas signing (I was the chatty redhead LOL). And when you talked about Sustained with the passion that you had for it, I swear right then and there that was going to be my next read. Clearly this book holds a special place in your heart, can you tell us about it?
EC:  Yes – I actually do remember you! Sustained is definitely very special to me – for a few reasons. There’s something so heartwarming about Jake and Chelsea, an amazing mix of strength and vulnerability – it’s beautiful to see their journey, to watch them find their place with each other. And the kids are just so fun and entertaining – I knew even before I wrote it that much of the humor would come from the kids (my own children are two of the funniest people I know). 
I think another reason Sustained is so dear to me, if I’m being honest, is, for a long time I never thought I’d be able to write something as special as Tangled. I’ve loved all my stories, but there was something different and so entertaining about that first book. And I was okay with it possibly being the best thing I’d ever write. But then Sustained came along and though they are different stories – it has that same special quality to it – that same feeling of a book that will make readers really happy and characters that will stay with them in the best kind of way long after they finish.
It’s rewarding to read reviews that feel this is my best work – to know that I’m improving in my craft and able to give readers fun, sexy stories that are just as good as the book that made them start reading my work in the first place.  
DGR:  What was your favorite part about writing Sustained? And don’t say everything, because that’s all I loved about it and couldn’t pick. I’ll put you on the spot though LOL
EC: Haha! You took my answer! I really did love every scene, lol! But beyond that, I loved the experience of writing these characters, of watching them grow, change, find themselves and their place with each other. They deserved each other, they deserved that happiness, so much! And because I adored them, writing Sustained was a beautiful journey to take.  
DGR:  If you had to describe Jake Becker in 5 words or less, what would they be?
EC: Honorable, gorgeous, protective, shrewd, loving 
DGR:  I think one of my favorite parts about this book were the kids and then Jake’s relationship with them. I think I actually cried myself laughing at the One Direction concert scene. Did you have any inspiration for the kids when you were writing them?
 
EC: Yes! So much of my own children’s energy and humor went into the McQuaid’s personalities. And so many hilarious memories (things I can laugh about now, that I didn’t laugh about then) of moments with my kids growing up inspired Jake’s interactions with the kids. The way he talks to them, treats them with respect and honesty but also gentleness was such a joy to write.
DGR: Do you have a favorite scene in Sustained? 
EC: My favorite scene is when Jake and Chelsea are in bed, having a deep, revealing talk. There’s something so moving about that scene for me – and it’s a pivotal moment for Jake and Chelsea. I also love the scene when Jake and the kids are waiting for Chelsea to get home and kind of ambush her when she does.
DGR: Any little teasers you can give us to whet the reader’s appetite for Jake?
EC: Does this work?
Chelsea is drawing. Me. 
“Am I gonna have to pay you a dime, Jack?” My voice is gravelly with sleep and sex.
She smiles. And it’s beautiful. “This one is on the house, Rose.” 
Yeah. Time to remind her I’m definitely not a Rose. I throw back the covers, sit up, swing around to sit on the edge of the bed, feet on the floor. I lower my hand, wrap it around my dick, and bring him back to life with just a few rough strokes. And Chelsea’s drawing suddenly stops short. 
“I’ve never done an X-rated sketch. Are you auditioning to be my first?” she asks lightly. 
“I wasn’t sure what the focus of the piece would be. I wanted to make sure it’s to scale.” 
“That’s so helpful of you.” 
“How about you? You in a helpful mood?”
DGR: Jake’s friend Brent is up next. Any hints about what we can expect for his book? 
EC: What’s great about this series is each of the guys have very distinct personalities. Stanton is the southern charmer, Jake is the more serious protector, and Brent is definitely the carefree playboy. There’s a lot of quick banter, sexy sexual-tension, and clever arguing in Brent’s story – he and Kennedy argue really well. Theirs is a story about first crushes and second chance love that’s light and pure fun! 
DGR:  Anything you’d like to add to leave the readers with?
EC: Just that I’m super excited for everyone to read Jake and Chelsea’s story. It’s very special to me and I hope it will be just as special to all of you!

Review

5 stars
Sustained- Dirty Girl Romance

 

A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.

No one, and I mean no one gives male POV quite like Emma Chase. The woman is the queen of male POVs and nothing beats her. While Drew from Tangled is still my number one, Jake is now right there alongside with him. I want to tell you that I liked this book, but that’d be an outright lie. Because I didn’t just like it. I fucking loved it. Hard.
Sustained teaser-DirtyGirlRomanceI had the immense pleasure to meet Emma at an author signing earlier last month, and hearing her talk about this book alone let me know that I’m in for a heck of a treat. Why? Because when an author is clearly so passionate about a character and book that her entire face lights up when she talks about it, you just know that it will be transferred to the writing. And you know what? It’s so true. The writing and the characters practically leap off the pages at you. The romance, the MCs, the secondary characters, the story, the kids, EVERYTHING about this book just did it for me. It was absolutely fabulous.

You don’t have to be an asshole.”
I shrug. “I don’t HAVE to be…it’s just easier that way.”

Yep. That’d be Jake and he’s one of those. You know the type I’m talking about. The womanizing, successful types that thinks that relationships are for suckers. But then again you also know what they say about “the bigger they are.” And when Jake falls, he definitely falls hard.
Jake was a character that I fell for hard in just the first chapter. The man is a successful defense attorney but there’s just something so sardonic about him that he endears you to him straightaway.

Criminal defense really isn’t so different from proctology. In both fields, it’s one asshole after another.

He’s the asshole at work and outside of it and he’s just fine with that. But then a chance meeting with a woman tilts his entire world on it’s axis, especially when the woman’s six orphaned nieces and nephews steal his heart right along with her. I have to say that Jake’s “manny” relationship with those kids absolutely melted my heart. It was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. His banter with them never failed to put a goofy smile on my face. I honestly couldn’t get enough of it.

Riley, boys your age….are really not worth your time. They’re selfish and stupid. It’s not their fault; they’re just programmed that way- but they’re still a lost cause. I think you should stay away from all of them until you’re at least…twenty-five. Or…have you considered being a lesbian?”

The romance, while almost secondary to the story, was perfectly balanced with it though. I’m not sure if that makes sense but it does in my head. What I mean is, it wasn’t ALL romance, but there was just the right amount of it to bring this book from good to absolutely fantastic. There’s nothing better for me than to watch the “asshole” fall and fall heard for a woman when he least expects it, and watching Jake fall for Chelsea was perfection.

Now I’m going to make you come. And it’s going to be ever bit as fucking good for me as it is for you. Probably better.”

Don’t get me wrong, both Chelsea and Jake are far from perfect and I wanted to shake them for their stupidity more than a few times. But at the same time it just worked. I adored these two together. It wasn’t instant and I loved the burn of their sexual chemistry until they finally ignited together.
Sustained-DGRSustained was just one of those laugh-out-loud, feel good romances that I never wanted to end. It was funny, and sweet, and oh so sexy. It reminded me exactly why I fell in love with Emma Chase’s writing and heroes to begin with. In a word, it was perfect. It was everything I’ve come to expect from this incredibly talented writer and yet so much more. I loved the absolute hell out of it. I can’t recommend this book enough. You will fall in love with Jake, you will absolutely fall head over heels for the kids, and you’ll adore Jake and Chelsea together. It’s simply impossible not to. Now I’m anxiously awaiting Brent’s book in Appealed.
Giveaway

Enter to win a paperback copy of Sustained HERE

Review: ★Hard To Fight★ by Bella Jewel

Review- Hard To Fight HARD TO FIGHT
Series: Alpha’s Heart #1
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance
Author: Bella Jewel
Release Date: August 11, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

image003

Grace is a bounty hunter who wants to be taken seriously, but her boss refuses to believe that a woman can bring down a dangerous criminal. She finally gets a chance to prove herself when she’s given the case of a lifetime: capture Raide Knox and bring him to justice.

Raide is a dangerous fugitive on the run…and the sexiest man Grace has ever met. Catching Raide won’t be easy. He’s not the kind of man to go down without a fight. Raide is more intense and frustrating than any man she’s ever had to deal with, and the instantaneous attraction that sparks between them is undeniable. One thing is for sure…it’s going to be a case they will never forget.

**Hard To Fight is a full-length standalone romance with a HEA**

 

Buy LinksAmazon

Review1.5 Stars

I tried to like this book, really, I did. But the plot had more holes in it than a dead guy from The Godfather. I loved the premise of it, unfortunately when I finished, that was also the only thing about it I liked. For once it wasn’t the hot cover the sucked me in (what? Like that hasn’t happened to you? Judge not, my judgey friend, judge not), but the synopsis. I love me a badass heroine and it doesn’t get any more badass than a female bounty hunter. Unfortunately for me, there was absolutely nothing badass about Grace. The only thing that she managed to do is annoy the ever loving hell out of me.

See Grace is supposed to be sassy. You know she’s sassy because she reminds you of it every other bloody paragraph. Nothing like subtlety to drive the point home, right? Sorry Grace, but I think you missed your ship to sassy land, and took a detour there somewhere
So Grace here is a bounty hunter but her boss won’t give her the big cases because she’s a woman and women are weak and blah blah blah
Finally her big break comes in the shape of big bad and uber sexy Raide, who she happened to have met the night before finding out he’s a fugitive and shared some snarky sexual banter with. Raide is wanted for aggravated assault and suspected murder. Grace needs to prove herself so while being on a team of bounty hunters, she’s going to go after him herself because…badass. But since Raide is all big and bad she can’t bring him in physically. So what’s a girl to do? Seduce him, of course. That’s a sure way to prove to your boss and team that you’re a woman to be reckoned with.
Anyway the rest of the book goes something along the lines of this…

I need to seduce him, but oh my, how do I do that when he doesn’t seem interested? I know, I’ll stalk him! He goes to a club, I’ll go to that club. He goes to a coffee shop, I’ll go to that coffee shop. He goes to a gun shop, I’ll go to that gun shop…because badass!
What’s that? He notices me every single time I follow him because subtlety and subterfuge isn’t my strong suit? No worries, because I’ll just use my sassy to get me out of it!

Hi there, handsome.”
“You following me?”
“I like coffee.”
“We done playin’ games long enough for you to have one with me?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just here having coffee. What are these games you speak of?”

Subtle, real subtle there, 007.

Hmm..this seduction business isn’t going well. I need to stalk him some more. What’s that? HE followed me home twice and I didn’t notice it? No worries! I’m still badass. Operation seduction is still on. But I have my limits, there will be no kissing. Damn, I just made out with him! No worries, operation seduction is still on. But I have my limits, there will be no sex. Damn, I just had sex with him. But I think he’s innocent. I still need to bring him in though.

Blah blah blah other stuff happens blah blah.

I think I’m falling for him. But now I really believe he’s innocent. Screw my job and proving myself, nothing beats good sex. I’ve known him for a whole month, he’s worth it! What’s that? We’re in danger and being held captive while Raide is severely wounded? What should we do? I know! Have sex!
I mean for fuck’s sake! Don’t even get me started on the fact that Raide’s endearment for her was “lady”. And all I can hear in my head as I was reading it was “hey laaaaddyyyy!”. Or the fact that after a month of knowing each other she tries to get him to give up his revenge (view spoiler) because it’s selfish of him to continue with it knowing he’s putting himself in danger and she’s in his life. All the while she STILL hasn’t come clean with him about her motives.
Then there was an additional random POV toward the end and then everything was wrapped up in a pretty little bow to rival a disney fairytale. Suffice it to say this book did not work for me in any way. The characters were flat and I really didn’t feel there was much character or relationship development. It was all just meh.

Will I read other books in this series? Maybe? This could have been a total fluke since I’ve read and enjoyed a few other titles by this author. Unfortunately Hard To Fight was a book I actually had to push myself to finish and then was kicking myself for not DNFing it at 25% as I had originally wanted to. Ah well. You lose some, you win some. I suggest you read it and see what you think. Different strokes for different folks and all that jazz.

Review: ★Undesired Lust★ by Eden Summers

Review Undesired LustUndesired Lust (Mason Lynch)
Series: Reckless Beat Series #3
Author: Eden Summers
Genre: Contemporary Rockstar Romance
add-to-goodreads-button3

They used to be the perfect team.

Two years ago, songstress Sidney Higgins ruined her life by sleeping with not one, but two of the famous Reckless Beat men, Mason Lynch and Sean Taiden. Their night of intimate celebration turned into a worldwide sensation when the video Mason vowed to keep private was uploaded to the internet, destroying her squeaky-clean reputation and turning the orld against her. Now she’s broken and left without hope, trying to find the one thing that can get her back on her feet.

A mistake neither one of them is willing to forgive.

When the sex tape went viral and his best friends held him accountable, Mason bore the stigma of asshole with pride. Now, bitterness has destroyed him, driving away his muse and making him worthless in the industry he loves. There’s only one option left to reclaim his creativity, but that would mean collaborating with a woman who wants to castrate him with a plastic knife.

A palpable chemistry even hate can’t diminish.

Forced to work together, neither one of them is prepared for the undesired lust which immediately takes hold. The lies fade away, exposing the truth; however, it also awakens a threat from their past. The person responsible for tearing them apart is back to ensure they don’t rekindle a spark. With their safety in the balance, Sidney and Mason need to determine what they’re willing to risk to reclaim a relationship they wish they’d never lost.

Buy Links
Review
3.5 stars
Undesired Lust-DirtyGirlRomance

The guilt at destroying her was nothing to his need to have her. She was an obsession. An addiction.

A musical collaboration that wins a grammy serves for a night of celebration. The pull between Reckless Beat’s front man, Mason Lynch and Sidney Higgins has always been there. One night of celebration and alcohol leads to a sizzling threesome between Signey, Mason, and Mason’s best friend and Reckless Beat’s drummer, Sean Taiden. But then a video recorded on Mason’s phone meant to capture the moment to forever remember in private gets leaked, it ruins everything and completely shatters Sidney. She lost everything; her career, her self-worth, and the man she thought she trusted.

Two years later, Mason is still paying the price for what everyone had assumed were his actions. Having completely lost his muse and the respect for his band mates that were quick to think the worst of him, he’s lost…and desperate. So when his band’s manager offers to bring back Sidney, he jumps at the chance, even though he knows she still can’t stand the sight of him. What happens when two people that have two years worth of damage and a never diminished chemistry? Well, let’s just say the books is very appropriately titled.

The damage faded away. There were no more lies, no humiliation, no lack of hope for the future. The slate was clean, her heart was full, and she would cling to the thrill of being alive again, until she had no choice but to return to reality.

I’ve had this series on my radar for what feels like ages and the promise of some sweet delicious angst in this one finally sealed the deal for me to read it. Jumping into book three without reading the first two books, however, feels like I’ve done this series a disservice, and may explain my slight disconnect throughout the story. While I never felt confused or lost, it does feel like I missed out on the history behind the band. But this is a mistake I plan on rectifying immediately by going back and reading the rest of the series. Eden Summers is a new to me author but one that I know I’m not going to hesitate to read in the future. I highly enjoyed her writing style and Undersired Lust was a perfect blend of steamy romance with a dash of angst.

I did see the twist at the end coming pretty much from the very first page, so that did diminish thing a bit for me. I also found myself growing a little bored through parts of the story where I found I could easily pause the book and get back to it later. Mason and Sidney together were angsty perfection. Though there were parts where I wanted to shake Sidney were her blindness and failure to see certain things that I felt were pretty obvious. The biggest highlight of the book for me, besides Mason of course, was Sean. my heart absolutely broke for him. It helped set the stage for his book perfectly (ha! see what I did there?), and I can’t wait for him to get his HEA in the next book which luckily is already out. All in all, Reckless Beat is a series that I will definitely be hooked to from now on, but perhaps I should have started from the beginning and not book 3. If sexy and angsty rock star romance is your thing, this is a series you need to have on your TBR.


 Other Books in the Reckless Beat Series   

Blind Attraction
(Reckless Beat #1)

51ZxAgdQjzL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

Passionate Addiction (Reckless Beat #2)

5135FKM-1vL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

Reckless Weekend
(Reckless Beat #2.5)

51jxq9d05mL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

Sultry Groove
(Reckless Beat #4)

51ciClkWP9L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

Reckless Rendezvous (Reckless Beat #4.5)—> Coming Soon

Release Blitz & #Giveaway: ★Where We Belong★ by J. Daniels

RB Banner  Where We Belong
Series: Alabama Summer #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: J Daniels
Release Date: August 21, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

ecover WWB

From NY Times and USA Today bestselling author, J. Daniels, an Alabama Summer series novella.

Ben and Mia Kelly can’t seem to catch a break.

Grueling night shift and opposing schedules have left the passionate couple geared up and ready for some much needed alone time. There’s only one thing standing in their way.

Parenthood.

With two curious boys who have mastered the art of cock-blocking roaming the house, Ben and Mia, sexually frustrated beyond reason, quickly resort to surprise sexcapades and naughty little trysts whenever and however they can get them.

Who said anything about keeping things legal?

Assume the position. Things are about to heat up in the south.

Warning: This book is recommended for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and explicit sexual content.

Buy-Links10Only $.99

Amazon US / Amazon UKTeaser 3

Review4 starsWhere We Belong-Dirty Girl Romance

My mind loves Ben. My heart loves Be. My body loves Ben. He’s the warmth in my blood. The roar of my pulse.

First of all, if you’re reading this as a standalone, how dare you?! If you haven’t yet met Officer Ben “OMG Nine Inches” Kelly in Where I Belong, you read right this second! Right now, you hears me?! FFS! LOL! But if you want to seriously miss out, you can also read this as a standalone. But why would you? I’d highly recommend reading the whole series in order so you may truly appreciate all the secondary characters that make an appearance here like; Tessa and Luke, Reed and Beth, CJ and Riley.

You know when you create the perfect cake and it’s already multi-layered and filled with yummy deliciousness? But then you go and add this even better icing ON TOP of the cake and it just makes everything that much better? That’s what Where We Belong was to Where I Belong. It was the perfect extended epilogue that I was craving when I finished Where I Belong. There was no drama, unnecessary angst, stupid miscommunication, NOTHING of that sort.
WWB teaser- Dirty Girl RomanceWhere We Belong gave the reader a wonderfully realistic relationship progression for a couple that still can’t get enough of each other and I can’t get enough of. While Reed is still my number one in this series, Officer Ben Kelly is certainly no hardship…with his nine inches and all…to read about. I adore him and Mia together, I adore their cute little cockblockers…erm…kids, and I adore the relationships they have with their friends.

We choose to believe what we want to believe. I choose Ben. He is my truth.

While there was no drama here, there was a hell of a lot of sexual frustration. I swear to gawd, I actually wanted to message J. Daniels to let her know my ovaries were going on strike if Ben didn’t finally give Mia the D. It hurt, people! Hurt so bad! They’d get so close to doing it and then BAM! Interruption. I swear it made me question having a second kid myself because I felt their pain so bad LOL! It was as hilarious as it was frustrating. I was also glad to see the closure to Ben and Angie that I felt missing in the first book. I was happy to see that the author addressed that here.

If you’ve been wanting a peek at CJ’s story, J gives a hell of a teaser here. And by hell of a teaser, I mean it felt like that masochist dangles a carrot in front of rabid fucking bunnies! I am foaming at the mouth for his book and this only served as making me even more crazed for it.

I can’t recommend this book enough for fans of this series. Think of it as that bonus extended epilogue for a fantastic fucking couple.


ALSO AVAILABLE

#1 Where I BelongWhere I Belong Cover US:  http://amzn.to/1PCI4nK
UK:  http://amzn.to/1JjsTKC
B&N:  http://bit.ly/1s5s8vT
KOBO:  http://bit.ly/14aFaok
iBOOKS:  http://bit.ly/1HuAoBa

#2 All I WantAll I Want CoverUS:  http://amzn.to/1PCI4UE
UK:  http://amzn.to/1E5mjvG
B&N:  http://bit.ly/1A86GO3
KOBO:  http://bit.ly/1wyreud
iBOOKS:  http://bit.ly/1thofGv 

#3 When I FallWhen I Fall CoverUS:  http://amzn.to/1PCI7jd
UK:  http://amzn.to/1JjsXtV
B&N:  http://bit.ly/1Blwd3D
KOBO:  http://bit.ly/1PAzHJn
iBOOKS:  http://apple.co/1BI6ZBB


About the AuthorJ. Daniels is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Addiction series, and the Alabama Summer series. She loves curling up with a good book, drinking a ridiculous amount of coffee, and writing stories her children will never read.

J grew up in Baltimore and resides in Maryland with her family.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads

 Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser 2

Review: ★Deeper Than Dreams★ by @jesstopper

Review- Deeper Than Dreams DEEPER THAN DREAMS
Series: Love & Steel #1.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jessica Topper
Release Date: August 18, 2015add-to-goodreads-button31

25537670

Will wedding bells rock out for Louder Than Love’s most beloved couple in this Love and Steel novella?

Falling in love with rock star Adrian “Digger” Graves was a dream come true for former librarian Kat Lewis. But with a little help from friends and family—including Kat’s adorable daughter, Abbey—Adrian has planned an evening and a proposal beyond her wildest dreams.

The night before, Kat witnessed the triumphant reunion of Adrian’s rock band at Madison Square Garden. Tonight, he will escort her to the elegant, ultra-exclusive Library Lion’s benefit. It seems like a fairytale, but even fairytales have a deeper, darker side. When old habits return to tempt her knight in shining heavy metal armor, will Kat’s happily ever after come crashing back to reality?

THIS IS AN EPILOGUE NOVELLA THAT PICKS UP THE DAY AFTER LOUDER THAN LOVE ENDS. This novella is intended to be read after Louder Than Love.

Buy LinksPre-Order
Amazon / iBooks

Review

5 stars

DeeperThanDreams-DirtyGirlRomance

 

Adrian Graves, did you go and write me a heavy metal love song?”
“Well now, maybe I did.”
“I thought if love was going to appear in your music, it had to be doomed, damned, or deadly.”
“I’ve learned since that love runs much deeper than that. Deeper than dreams. And if I’ve made even one of your dreams come true tonight, then I am a better man for it.”

Last year I read a book and fell hard for a fictional couple. I swooned, I sighed, and I fell irrevocably in love with Jessica Topper’s incredible writing. Louder Than Love was one of those romances that was just so wonderfully real. I don’t even know how to describe it better than that. It wasn’t angsty, filled with crazy drama, manwhoring rockstars, or anything of the sort. It had two characters each struggling with moving on from their past finding love together. It was perfection.
Deeper Than Dreams teaser- DirtyGirlRomanceI simply adored that book. Now I’m not a reader that typically enjoys follow up novellas for a couple that I loved. Why? Because more often that not, that novella will do something to mess with the couple’s HEA, it will throw in some miscommunication or drama, anything just to justify them getting additional story. But I didn’t think twice before jumping at the chance to read this novella because I already knew it would be nothing of the sort. And you know what? I wasn’t even a little bit wrong.

No one else can take a couple you already loved and then make you fall in love with them even more than you already were in less than 100 pages. But that’s exactly what happened here. This was the perfect epilogue novella for Kat and Adrian. I downright cried happy tears at the end of it. What amazed me even more was the feelings that it was able to bring out in me. It’s not common that you’d read a novella and by the end of it feel like you read a whole book with the amount of emotions it was able to wring from you.
Deeper Than Dreams teaser2-DirtyGirlRomance
This is not meant to be read as a standalone, and you absolutely need to read Louder Than Love before this. And if you read and loved Louder Than Love like I did, then this epilogue novella is an absolute must read. I couldn’t think of a better conclusion to one of my most beloved couples.

Jessica Topper also gives readers a lot more Rick if you’ve been curious about him, along with a teaser for his book that will leave you anxious to get your hands on his book in September. I absolutely cannot wait.

Deeper Than Dreams was one of those perfect treats that’s like the icing on an already fantastically delicious cake. Emotional, lovely, captivating, it was everything I’ve already come to expect from this author and more. I simply cannot recommend it enough.


Don’t miss the book that started it all!

19168012

In this powerful debut novel, a young librarian grieves the loss of her husband…and discovers a love that defies classification.

It’s been over three years since a train accident made a widow of Katrina Lewis, sending her and her young daughter Abbey back to the suburban town of her youth…the only place that still makes sense. Lauder Lake is the perfect place to hide and heal.

Recluse rocker Adrian “Digger” Graves survived the implosion of his music career, but his muse has long lain dormant. Until Kat hires him to play at her library—not on the basis of his hard rock credentials but rather, because of the obscure kids’ TV jingle he wrote years ago. In a case of mistaken identity, Adrian stumbles into the lives of Kat and her comically lovable daughter.

Using tattoos as a timeline, Adrian unfurls his life for Kat. But as the courtship intensifies, it’s unclear whose past looms larger: the widow’s or the rocker’s. Will their demons ever rest, or will they break these soul mates apart?

Buy LinksAmazon

READ MY FULL 5 STAR REVIEW


And don’t miss Rick’s story in the upcoming Softer Than Steel

24829885

LOVE & STEEL #2
From the author of Deeper than Dreams and the Much “I Do” About Nothing novels, a story that proves that you have to find yourself before you can find love…

As rock star “Riff Rotten”, Rick Rottenberg has enjoyed all the perks that fame can offer, especially now that he’s reunited with his former band mate, Adrian “Digger” Graves. But despite his success, Rick is a mess. Still reeling from the death of his wife years ago and terrified his demons will end his career, he agrees to seek help for his anxiety.

Burned by a musician in the past, Sidra Sullivan has closed her heart to love. So when Rick walks into her yoga studio, she wants nothing to do with him–until the bad boy shows an unexpected soft side.

As Sidra and Rick work through their painful pasts, they realize just how strongly opposites can attract. But when a crisis threatens the delicate balance they’ve forged, they’ll discover if their love is strong enough to weather another storm or just too broken to survive…

INCLUDES A PREVIEW OF THE FIRST LOVE & STEEL NOVEL: LOUDER THAN LOVE

Buy LinksPre-Order (Releasing September 15, 2015)

AMAZON

Review: ★Flirting With Disaster★ by Victoria Dahl

Review Flirting With Disaster FLIRTING WITH DISASTER
Series: Jackson: Girl’s Night Out #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Victoria Dahl
Release Date: January 27, 2015add-to-goodreads-button31

22571911

There’s no hiding from sizzling chemistry…

Artist Isabelle West has good reasons for preferring a solitary life. Tucked away in a cabin in the woods, she has everything she needs . . . except a red-hot love life. That is, until a hard-bodied U.S. marshal threatens to unearth secrets she’s spent years protecting. But giving in to the sparks flying between them can only lead to one thing…disaster.

Tom Duncan lives by the letter of the law. But no one has tempted him—or confused him—more than free-spirited Isabelle, who arouses his suspicion and his desire. As their connection grows, and their nights get hotter, they find their wild attraction might shake everything he stands for—and expose everything she has to hide.

 

Buy Links

Amazon / iBooks

Review

3.5 stars

 

I love Victoria Dahl’s writing. Her heroines are just the right dose of assertive and her heroes are always just the right dose of sexy and sweet. The set up for Flirting With Disaster sounded absolutely fabulous, and while I enjoyed it for the most part, it also failed to really fully grab me.

Isabelle West was a difficult heroine for me to truly warm up to at first. Being the loner that she is and comes off to be, it’s hard to imagine ever liking her. However, as the author began to peel the layers to get down tot he true reason for her solitary ways, she begins to grow on you. I also appreciate a heroine that owns her sexuality and knows what she likes and never feels bad about it. This is a woman that’s just find with pleasure for the sake of pleasure. She doesn’t overthink it and she doesn’t look down on herself for it. It’s difficult to find in today’s mainstream romance and I really enjoyed that aspect of Isabelle’s personality.

U.S. Marshall Tom Duncan is a hero that you’ll fall for right away. This is not a manwhore or player or asshole. Which is just another thing to appreciate about Dahl’s heroes. They have this realness quality to them. There’s no overdose of angst or back and forth. The conflict in this story comes from the past that Isabelle is hiding that may now be coming back to haunt her and Tom’s determination to find out what it is and help her through it.

Flirting With Disaster was a lovely slow build kind of romance with a dose of suspense. Unfortunately it just didn’t grab me as much as the previous 2 books in this series have. I found myself losing interest and easily setting the book down several times. As a result this dragged a little and it took me considerably longer to finish that it normally would. I found the addiction of the other secondary characters to be slightly distracting considering nothing ever really came from their presence in the story, if that makes sense.

A good addition to the series, but not my favorite. I’m certainly looking forward to the next one since I enjoy this series and the set up for Veronica’s book sounds pretty damn delicious.


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

Review: ★Playing for Her Heart★ by Megan Erickson

Review Playing for Her Heart Playing for Her Heart
Series: Gamers #2
Author: Megan Erickson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 11, 2015add-to-goodreads-button31

25912544

Grant Osprey just had the hottest sex of his life. Sure, they were both in costume, and yes, it was anonymous, but he never expected her to bolt in the middle of the night without so much as a good bye, let alone exchanging numbers. Or names. All he’s left with are her panties and some seriously X-rated memories…until he meets his business partner’s little sister.

Only Chloe Talley isn’t the bold, sexy vixen he remembers. And she wants nothing to do with him.

Cosplay is Chloe’s only chance to leave her boring, socially awkward world behind. To forget that she’s failing at life and can’t be with anyone, let alone a single-father like Grant. But the raw hunger between them is undeniable. With him, she can be a misbehaving maid. A sexy call girl for hire. Each scene pushes Chloe beyond her strict boundaries, until Grant demands the one character she can’t play.

Buy-Links10Amazon / iBooks / B&N

Review

3.5 stars

He wanted to leave breadcrumbs in their wake to show him the way back. Although something told him, after this night, he might never find his way back to the way things were.

Having absolutely loved Changing His Game, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Grant’s book. Something about single dads never fails to draw me right in and Grant’s joking and easy-going personality just added to the intrigue. Then there’s that sexy nerd appeal of the cosplay (which I never imagined I’d enjoy). Did I happen to mention that Grant also happens to be a very dirty boy? Because that man certainly knows how to get things done in the bedroom.

God, that tongue. What more could he do with that thing? She wondered if he practiced knotting cherry stems. Or maybe he’d worked up to something stronger and could bend paperclips with it.

I loved Grant’s character, but unfortunately there was always a little something missing for me in this book to bring it to a solid four stars. It’s a fun and sexy read, don’t get me wrong, just wasn’t as good as the first book for me. Now that may very well be because I’m not a reader that enjoys the mousy kind of heroines, and Chloe, besides her penchant for role-playing (and not just of the cosplay variety) was a mostly forgettable heroine. Aside from that, I never fully developed a connection for Grant and Chloe together. They definitely burn up the sheets together, but I wanted something more. It almost felt like their connection was solidly based on just sex and then had a sudden turn around to something deeper towards the end. It just didn’t feel like a natural transition for me, I suppose.

But where Chloe didn’t garner much interest for me, her brother Ethan drew me in like a beacon. I love me those broken and broody heroes and man oh man but Ethan fit the bill. I’m absolutely salivating for his book.

I definitely recommend this book for fans of this series. While I may have enjoyed it less than the first book, I still enjoyed it. A perfectly sexy contemporary romance to spend an afternoon with. I’m highly looking forward to the next book.


DON’T MISS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE GAMERS SERIES

25055090Goodreads / Kindle 

Review: ★Blackmailed by the Hero★ by Julie Patrick

Review BbtH Blackmailed By The Hero
Series: Gone Hollywood #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Julie Particka
Release Date: August 11, 2015add-to-goodreads-button31

25944705

The wrong bed. The wrong guy. 

Party planner Vicky Stone is on a post-divorce mission. Not only does she intend to land her dream promotion, she’s going to indulge in a night of hot hook-up sex. Preferably with the hunky actor she just met at a work function, no-fraternization rules be damned. Fortunately, his drunken directions included a right that should have been a left, landing her in bed with her brother’s extra-hot, extra-off-limits best friend instead of the unemployment line.

And, oh, he feels good. Too good.

Bad boy Dante Palladino’s forbidden fantasies are about to come true…until Vicky realizes who she’s feeling up. And to find out she risked her job for sex with some loser? Not on his watch. Dante throws down the ultimate, albeit self-serving, blackmail. Vicky will date him-and only him-and her secret will be safe. But Vicky swore never to fall for another guy who could break her heart…and Dante’s on course to do just that.

Buy LinksAmazon / iBooks / B&N

Review

3 stars

BbtH-DirtyGirlRomance

I want you, Vicky Stone. I’ve wanted you for five years, and I sure as hell want you to know I thought you were worth the wait.”

First let me preface my review by saying that my lower rating had nothing to do with the book not being wonderful; it was a sweet and sexy romance. It has everything to do with my own personal preference. So please don’t let my rating deter. Three stars, after all, means that I did enjoy it overall, just a few things kept it from being a 4 or 5 star.

Vicky Stone is Evan Stone’s sister from Tempting Her Fake Fiancé. But if you haven’t read that book, don’t worry, because you can easily read this one as a standalone. If you’re looking for a sweet brother’s best friend romance sort of thing, this will definitely fit the bill. But don’t let the title or the synopsis deceive you, because to be quite frank, I didn’t really find Dante to be a bad boy in any sense of the word. Perhaps that’s what kept this at a solid three stars for me; different expectations.

Dante Palladino has had feelings for Vicky as long as he’s known her. Starting his career as a wrestling superstar and moving towards movies now hasn’t exactly meant he’s been a saint when it comes to women. But this is not the bad boy you might be expecting. Sure he’s pierced in all the right places (and I mean THE RIGHT places) but for me that was as “bad” as he got. What he was, was a nice guy that made that evident from the very beginning. His motivation is honorable, even if his means aren’t the best.

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but it was also missing a certain something for me too. An oompf of sorts. It just didn’t have that Brazen feeling. I felt like I was reading a Lovestruck or maybe even an indulgence. Oh fine! It was just too “nice” for me. God! I feel dirty just writing that, but it’s the truth. I needed a little more from this. The conflict at the end felt forced and contrived just to keep pushing the plot, though the resolution of it was sweet. But again, this was a definite case of it’s me and not the book. It was simply just too sweet for my tastes. There. I said it.

If you enjoyed the first book in this series, you’re sure to enjoy this one. My favorite part of the story was Vicky’s best friend, Jade. So I’m really hoping her book will be next. I’m still a fan of this series, it was just that this book simply didn’t wow me. It just was. Not great, not bad, and not anything I’d go back to, but still a fun read.



DON’T MISS BOOK ONE IN THE GONE HOLLYWOOD SERIES

23280534Goodreads / Kindle

Review: ★Afternoon Delight★ by Anne Calhoun

Review Afternoon Delight Afternoon Delight
Series: Irresistible #1
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance
Author: Anne Calhoun
Release Date: September 16, 2014add-to-goodreads-button31

23207386

“Anne Calhoun’s romances define the erotic”* and now the national bestselling author of Uncommon Passion serves up a delicious new novella of savory food and hungry men—and one woman’s challenge to get creative with each…

Sarah McCall, food truck co-owner and recent Manhattan transplant, savors each moment of her new job—whether it’s refining the truck’s menu, learning the city, or spending afternoons in bed with the hot paramedic who’s fast becoming her favorite customer.

 

 

 

 

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iBooks

[Read more…]

Review: ★Strong Enough★ by M. Leighton

Review Strong EnoughStrong Enough
Series: Tall, Dark, and Dangerous #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: M. Leighton
Release Date: August 4, 2015add-to-goodreads-button31

24504661

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Bad Boys novels comes the first in a dark, sexy contemporary trilogy.

Is she strong enough to trust the most dangerous man she’s ever met? And is he strong enough to let her?

How would I describe myself? Well, I’m Muse Harper. I’m a twenty-something painter who loves red wine, quirky movies, and men with a fatal flaw. But that was before I met Jasper King. He became my fatal flaw. Eight months ago, I had a choice to make—abandon everything I’ve ever known to protect my family, or stay and risk someone getting hurt. I chose the former. My plan was working just fine until I found out my father had gone missing.

That’s when I met Jasper. A bounty hunter with the eyes of a tiger and the nose of a bloodhound, he was supposed to help me find my father. What I didn’t know was that meeting him was no accident. Hunting people isn’t all that Jasper does. And helping me was only part of his plan. I just wish I’d found out sooner, before my heart got involved. But even then, I don’t know if I’d have done things differently.

Now, I have another choice to make—trust the man that I’m falling in love with and hope that he’ll do the right thing, or run as far away from him as I can get.

Buy LinksAmazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google Play

Review

4 starsStrong Enough- DirtyGirlRomance

I want her bad. But even when that happens, it will be with the knowledge of what’s to come, of how I’ll betray her. What kind of person could do that?
A monster, that’s who.
And I’m that monster.

If the prologue here doesn’t grip you by the throat and suck you right in, we’re not reading the same book, because HOLY SHIT! Talk about your attention grabber. M. Leighton really doesn’t pull any punches and I knew I was in for a page turner from the first chapter alone. Intense, gritty, erotic, with a dash of mystery and suspense, Strong Enough is the beginning of what’s bound to be yet another winner from this talented author.

He doesn’t have to say a word, doesn’t have to move a muscle to exude confidence and capability. And danger. Lots and lots of danger.

Muse Harper left her life to protect someone she loves, but now with her father gone missing, she’s desperate for answers and bounty hunter, Jasper King, may be able to help her with the answers she needs. There’s just one problem; he’s not who he is and has his own agenda that poses a much bigger threat to Muse than the disappearance of her father.

I’m probably the worst thing in the world for you. The worst thing that would feel like the best.

Strong Enough1-DirtyGirlRomanceThe reader is left to assume Jasper’s history and you’re definitely in the dark about his agenda through most of the book, which just serves to make him even more intense than he already is. Jasper was the perfect enigma. He’s deliciously sexy while exuding a raw danger, all wrapped up in muscled tattooed perfection. The man was pure sex on a stick. The chemistry between him and Muse is instant and burns so hot, the pages practically sizzle with it. Jasper knows that he’s deceiving Muse, he may be helping her find her father, but his end game is not one that she expects. The more he gets to know the woman, the more ridden he is with guilt about his inevitable betrayal. Wanting her is not a question, allowing himself to have her is the ultimate taboo.

The kiss is different from his first. That one said wanting me was an inconvenient truth. This one says having me is an inevitability.

While Jasper was a character I fell for right away, Muse took a while to warm up to for me. She’s just a touch away from being almost too naive. She definitely dangles on the very fine edge of it and there’s things she does and says that made me want to shake her. It’s like the woman has absolutely zero self preservation instinct. Jasper may fight his attraction to Muse, but Muse certainly knows what she wants and she’s not as willing to deny herself. She also wants more than she knows Jasper will be able to give her, but that doesn’t stop her from craving.

How do you think love is supposed to work? How does it work for you?”
“It holds you captive, whether you want it to or not. It never lets you go, no matter how much you want to be set free.”

Strong Enough 2-DirtyGirlRomanceAs much as Muse may have frustrated me in parts of the story, I absolutely loved the two of them together. It’s this push pull that exists between them that just makes things even more erotic that they already are. It’s like you’re privy to something that Muse doesn’t know yet and you’re still rooting for Jasper who for all intents and purposes may very well be the bad guy.

I trust my tongue into her pussy. I thrust my finger into her ass. I penetrate her, body and soul, until she pours out for me like she’s making a sacrifice to the god of war. And I drink her in. Her acquiescence, her surrender, her acceptance, I drink it all in.

Fans of her other books will appreciate the appearance of a certain couple here that made me a little giddy to read about; Cash and Olivia. There’s also the introduction of a few secondary characters that I’m already desperate to read about.

The ending gives you just enough to satisfy while also leaving you practically salivating for the next book. An MMA fighter that’s also special ops? Are you freaking kidding me. I don’t think I’d survive the wait. If you’re looking for an erotic romance with just the right amount of edge, Strong Enough is certainly that. The title of this series is quite appropriate, and that’s exactly what you’ll get. I simply can’t wait for more.

Sarò sempre pensare a te.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

%d bloggers like this: