New Release & Review: ★One To Save★ by Tia Louise

One to Save (One to Hold #6)
Author: Tia Louise
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 26, 2015

(Derek & Melissa)“I lost myself in the darkness of trying to protect you…”

Some threats come at you as friendly fire.Some threats take away everything.Family won’t let you go down without a fight.

The Secret isn’t as secure as Derek’s team originally thought it was, and a person on the inside of Alexander-Knight is set on exposing him, breaking him, and taking away all he holds dear.
Refusing to let anyone suffer for his crimes, Derek takes matters into his own hands. He’s exposed, he’s defenseless, but his friends are determined to save him.

A STAND-ALONE, ONE TO HOLD NOVEL. Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.


Inevitably, inexorably, as long as I lived on this planet, my future would lead to that moment in a small conference room in Baltimore when I got revenge.

One To Save is the continuation of Derek and Melissa’s story that we originally met in One to Hold. If you haven’t read that book yet, I’d really encourage you to do so along with One to Protect. You just wouldn’t have the same appreciation or understanding for these characters without having their entire back story. The author does bring the reader up to date about everything that happened with them without having it be redundant, but I’d still recommend reading it in order. Actually, I’d recommend reading the entire series in order because there is a story ARC between all the characters that continues throughout the series. While each book is technically a standalone, you would enjoy the stories so much more having read them in order. The characters from previous books always make an appearance, and it would help you to truly understand each individual character so much more. Slayde from One to Love makes an appearance here, and trust me when I tell you that you would have a much better understanding of what happens in this book having read his book, as well as Stuart from One to Leave. Read the series in order is basically what you should be taking away from this 😉


I lost myself in the darkness of trying to protect you…

Derek is dealing with the fallout of a decision he made in protecting Melissa, his now fiance. Although he’d do it all over again if he had to, it still doesn’t stop him from thinking about the repercussions. Keeping it from her is also a decision that he is agonizing over.

Their relationship wasn’t one built on sunshine and promises. They first met when he was hired by Melissa’s abusive husband hired him to follow her. But when he learned the full truth of her story, things changed. They’ve been through their share of trouble and have come out of it stronger. But this just may be the one secret that may shatter everything that they are once and for all.

It’s not just the repercussions from the event that threaten Derek. There is also someone that is determined to make him pay and take away everything that he holds dear.

This was a definite page turner of a book. I’m not typically a fan of reading about the same couple for longer than two books simply because the drama begins to feel manufactured. That was not the case here at all. This really was a very natural progression of events. Considering everything that has already happened, you can see that it was all coming to a head. Sure it packs a good punch of angst and emotion, but it fit their story. You can see why it happened the way it did and why they needed this book to really bring closure to their relationship.

Derek is everything I love about my alphas; fiercely protective, dirty talking, loving but with that added edge. I loved him. Melissa is the perfect counterpart to his rough edges. I really enjoyed seeing them go through their ups and downs, and especially their ups.

You get a lot more on the fallout of Stuart and Nikki’s story here. As much as I hated Nikki in Stuart’s book, I have to say she really grew on me here. Tia definitely has me intrigued enough to really want a book for her. Though I can’t say I’m too disappointed about the upcoming book’s characters. That epilogue was smokin’ hawt. Tia definitely knows how to hook you in with the way her books end. While she gives you the perfect HEA for the couple, she reels you right in with a hell of a tease for the next one. A fantastic new edition to the series. I cannot freaking wait for the next one!

Don’t Miss The Rest of The Series

One To Hold (One To Hold Book 1)
(Derek & Melissa)
One to Keep (One to Hold Book 2)
Patrick & Elaine
 One to Protect (One to Hold Book 3)
(Derek & Melissa)
 One to Love (One to Hold Book 4)
(Slayde & Kenny)

One to Leave (One to Hold Book 5)

(Stuart & Mariska)

Review: ★Going Long★ by Cari Quinn

Going Long (Boys of Fall)
Author: Cari Quinn
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 19, 2015

This time, he’ll need to hit all the right notes to win the woman he’s always loved…

Wade Bennett is used to coming in second to his seemingly perfect older brother. In high school, Colt was a star linebacker while Wade was the punter, an important job without all of the glory. When Charlene Martinez—the only girl Wade ever truly wanted—fell for Colt, Wade decided to take his chances with music and went on the road. Leaving behind his family, his best friend, Rafe, and Charlene, who had feelings for Wade she never allowed herself to feel.

Years in Nashville quickly hardened the dreamy guy who just wanted to sing and hang out with his dog. His success has given him more than enough money, even if he knows he’ll never be able to compete with his hometown hero big brother. But after Coach Carr’s heart attack, Wade comes home to help the man who helped him make the decision to chase his dreams all those years ago.

Now Wade wants to chase a new dream in his old hometown, especially since Charlene is single again after divorcing Colt. And Wade is no longer a boy unwilling to fight for what—and who—he needs.

Buy Links

This was either his worst idea or his best mistake. There was no way it could be anything but a disaster on some level.

I love Cari Quinn’s books. Whenever I’m in the mood for a romance that has a great story and manages to pack in the feels right along smoking hot sex, she’s my go to. The woman does angsty and does it well. But her straight contemporary are just as great. I haven’t read a book by her I haven’t loved yet, and this was no exception. I was intrigued the second I read the blurb. Childhood friends, unrequited romance, wanting your brother’s ex wife; consider me sold.

She’d told herself she’d never take a chance again, and she’d kept that promise. Only Wade made her want to break the rules. To test the boundaries.

The last place that Wade Bennett wants to come back to is the small town that he grew up in. Now a successful country star, he wasn’t always the star of the show. Growing up in the shadow of his older brother, he’s used to coming in second both on the football field and in love. When his brother started dating the girl that he fell in love with when he was just a small boy, he knew that he needed to leave. The fact that his brother later married her ensured that he also stayed away. But a call from his childhood best friend letting him know that their beloved high school football coach had a heart attack and needs them, he knows that he’s going to come back to help. He’s no longer the boy living in is brother’s shadow, and his childhood love is no longer married to his brother. If ever there was a time to make his move, this is it.

Charlene Martinez may have married the older Bennett brother, but unbeknownst to them both she’s always been in love with Wade. Unfortunately Wade had always placed her firmly in the friend zone. Any hope that she may have had after one stolen kiss back in high school, shattered the very next day when Wade moved away. But now Wade is back, and no matter how hard she tries to resist, if the boy was tempting to her, the man is downright irresistible.

In a small town where everyone knows each others business, can these two keep the heat between them under wraps? Can they finally make things between them work? Guess you’ll have to read to find out.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved that Charlene actually had an amicable divorce and was so friendly with her ex husband. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel guilty about being with Wade, but Cari handled this plot line very well. Charlene and Wade definitely burned up the pages together. This author knows how to write one steamy as hell scene. I love books with the small town element, so of course this one really fit the bill for me. Between all the secondary characters and the story I never once found myself bored. I also loved how she managed to work in a guest appearance by Gray and Jaz from Twisted. That was a huge highlight of the book for me.

As much as I enjoyed it, it was also just missing a certain something to bring it up to a solid 4 stars for me. I can’t really place my finger on exactly what it was, but there was just a missing oomph. I loved the story and the characters, but at the same time I had no problems setting the book down. I wasn’t ever bored, but it just failed to grip me as much as Cari’s other books have. Nonetheless it was still a fantastic read and one I’d recommend to any lovers of contemporary romance. A perfect afternoon read with just the right amount of steam and story.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Review: ★Manwhore★ by @authorkatyevans

Manwhore (Manwhore #1)
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance
Author: Katy Evans
Release Date: March 24, 2015

Is it possible to expose Chicago’s hottest player—without getting played?

This is the story I’ve been waiting for all my life, and its name is Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint. Don’t be fooled by that last name though. There’s nothing holy about the man except the hell his parties raise. The hottest entrepreneur Chicago has ever known, he’s a man’s man with too much money to spend and too many women vying for his attention.

Mysterious. Privileged. Legendary. His entire life he’s been surrounded by the press as they dig for tidbits to see if his fairytale life is for real or all mirrors and social media lies. Since he hit the scene, his secrets have been his and his alone to keep. And that’s where I come in.

Assigned to investigate Saint and reveal his elusive personality, I’m determined to make him the story that will change my career.

But I never imagined he would change my life. Bit by bit, I start to wonder if I’m the one discovering him…or if he’s uncovering me.

What happens when the man they call Saint, makes you want to sin?

Buy Links

He’s not a man to give anyone more, and I’m not the kind of woman to change all of her life for the wild dream of love. But what if for one night, one night, I let myself spend it with him?

Now let’s be honest here, shall we? I didn’t even bother reading the blurb to this book before I decided I’d read it. Because that title alone? It had my name written all over it. So was it everything I had expected? Yes, and so much more. It wasn’t the typical rich playboy manwhore plot you’d expect to read. Surprisingly the characters and the story had so much more depth to them that I had ever expected.

Rachel just got the chance to write a story that can make her career and help the flailing magazine she writes for stay afloat. The subject? Only the man that seems to be on every news channel and magazine cover lately. An enigma that likes to do things in fours. Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint. He’s enigmatic, electric, consuming, and a mystery beneath the surface. No one knows what makes the man tick, or what makes him jump from one woman to the next within a blink of an eye. Luckily Rachel is single and seems to be just kiss type, and so she eagerly takes the assignment not knowing what she’s getting into or quite the effect that Saint will soon have one her.

Saint is the embodiment of luxurious and decadent and sin. He is Sin Itself and I feel like an absolute…virgin.

Under the guise of interviewing him for his new social media venture that just may overtake Facebook, Rachel tries to scratch beneath the surface of the man that no one truly seems to know beyond his two best friends.

I appreciated the way that the author truly built the chemistry between Rachel and Saint and didn’t just toss them into bed together straight away. Rachel is a woman of her career and her struggle with writing her unbiased story while fighting her growing feelings for the man that she can’t seem to get off of her mind was very clear.

Saint was so much more than he seems to be. Of course he’s a man used to getting what he wants, so when he pursues Rachel and doesn’t get the result he usually does, he’s intrigued.

I want you beneath me tonight, Rachel….Writhing…Panting. Wet.

Saint was so much more than his good looks and abundance of money. His character had a surprising amount of depth to him. You get a few bits and pieces about the whys of it here, but it’s just enough to scrape the surface.

I indulge in anything that I want. I’m not in the business of denying myself what I want. I’m not in the business of denying those around me of anything they want. I’m yours if you want me, Rachel.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book immensely. The connection between Rachel and Saint practically crackles with electricity and the burn was oh so sweet. I loved that the author really stretched it out and made Saint work for it. Rachel was a fantastic heroine too. Although young, she doesn’t have that typical immature naivety to her. The star of the book truly was Saint though. Everything about him is just so…GAH. His intensity almost jumps through the pages at you.

I also really loved all the secondary characters like Rachel’s best friends and Saint’s. Hopefully they’ll be getting a book of their own soon, especially Tahoe and Gina, because that set up is already delicious sounding.

I did find the second half of the book a touch too dragged out for me, but not immensely so. It never did lose my interest and I was fully invested into the story from beginning to finish. The ending gives you just enough to keep you begging for more and I for one cannot wait how it all concludes with the next book. Did that sound PC? (Because honestly, the ending left me a bit of a hair pulling and screaming mess, borderline stalking the author for any tidbits of the next book LOL)

Review: ★Protecting Fate★ by Katee Robert

Protecting Fate (Serve #6)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: March 17, 2015

He’ll keep her safe…but who will protect her from him?

Fixer Sara Reaver is in serious trouble. She’s stepped on the wrong toes, and now her uncle is sending her out of the city in an effort to keep her safe—and he’s assigning her a glorified babysitter. The last person she expects to show up is the gorgeous Z, or for him to tempt her and then reject her in the space of a single night. Twice. Now she’s out to prove to him just how good they’d fit up together in every way imaginable.

Mercenary Z Loreto hates protection jobs, but he’s willing to make an exception for his best friend’s little sister. The only problem is she calls up things he’s been doing his damnedest to keep under wraps for the last seven years. But when she pushes him too far, it all comes rushing to the fore, and the fact she’s willing to submit to his every desire only makes the loss of control sweeter.

Sara and Z have a boatload of issues between them, but they’re sure they can make things work if they take it one day at a time… Right up until things spiral beyond their control. Now Z’s playing for keeps in a big way, and Sara’s got to decide if a chance at true happiness is worth the risk of repeating history.

Review4 stars

If there was one woman on this earth off limits, it was Little Sara Reaver. And she was the one woman he wanted more than his next breath.

Ever since we first met Sara Reaver as the smart mouthed best friend of Ridley and younger sister of Garrett and Will in Mistaken by Fate, I just knew her story will have to be a good one. With two overprotective Dom brothers; 1 in the military, and 1 a successful business owner, Sara is no pushover herself. She’s a fixer and there’s no job that she can’t get done…until she pushes too far and her uncle sends her away with a protection detail no less.

Sara, much like her two brothers, has been scarred by her mother’s abrupt departure from her life. She’s not looking for a happily ever after any time soon, but she’s certainly not willing to give up her orgasms in the meantime either. This is a woman that owns her sexuality without any qualms. I actually really enjoyed that about her. Usually there’s a fine line for me between brazen and brash, but Sara was always on the right line of things for me. She’s smart mouthed and knows what she wants. She also isn’t shy about going after what she wants. And when she goes to Serve to enjoy her last night of “freedom” and comes face to face with her ‘protection detail’, a night with a Dom to pacify her needs just won’t do. The dark and broody Z enthralls her. And the fact that he seems to thwart her advances intrigues her.

Z was definitely one sexy sexy man. A true military man, and he likes control both in the field and in the bedroom. While the gorgeous blonde certainly calls to the Dom in him, the fact that she’s his charge and his friend’s younger sister puts a big hands-off sign on her. But there’s only so long that Z can control his urges for, especially when Sara makes it her mission to seduce him.

This was another super sexy addition to the Serve series and one I definitely enjoyed quite a bit. The pace of Sara and Z’s relationship seemed almost unrealistically quick, but then again, it is what it is. It did have a great epilogue which was the perfect cherry on the cake. I found this to be a little less BDSM-y (yes, I’m making that a word) than the last book, but no less hot. Fans of the series will definitely enjoy this one.

Don’t miss the rest of this sizzling hot series!

Owned by Fate (Serve #1)
Exposed by Fate (Serve #2)

Mistaken by Fate (Serve #3)
Betting on Fate (Serve #4)
Driven by Fate (Serve #5)

Release Blitz, Review & #Giveaway: ★When I Fall★ by @AuthorJDaniels

 
Title: When I Fall
Series: Alabama Summer #3
Author: J Daniels
Release Date: March 17, 2015

From NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author, J. DanielsBook three in the Alabama Summer series.

For the past nine years, I’ve kept my heart as far away from my dick as possible.

Those two can’t be anywhere near each other. They don’t play nice, and one of them undoubtedly winds up getting hurt.

Not my dick. My dick is good.

The women I take home know exactly what they’re getting from me—sex. Nothing more. At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. The sweet brunette from Kentucky I set my sights on tonight shouldn’t have been any different. I had her right where I wanted her. Where I needed her. But when my past comes walking into McGill’s pub, the woman in my arms decides to take things to a whole new level, putting me into a situation I never saw coming.

My heart is about to get fucked. My dick can sit this one out.

*** Warning: This book is recommended for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and explicit sexual content. When I Fall can be read as a standalone novel.

Buy Links
$2.99 release special
Amazon US / Amazon UK / B&N / Kobo / iBooks  

Review

5 stars

I don’t know how she does it, but she manages to look this perfect blend of innocent and I’m-about-to-fuck-your-world-up.

You know what I love when finding a new author? When that author never sticks to a formula and shows growth with every book she writes. I also love that she has her signature voice in her characters, but every book is refreshingly different, entertaining, and oh so sexy. To say that I was anxiously anticipating Reed’s book would be a major understatement. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was to love it as much as I did.

I loved Reed as a secondary character in All I Want. If you follow my reviews or know me at all then you know just how much I love me the manwhores. And Reed? He’s the manwhore king.

This is just sex, and the only thing this chick needs to know is how I fuck, not why I fuck the way I do. I’m not getting personal. My dick is. End of discussion.

5 years ago, a relationship gone wrong twisted Reed’s world on it’s axis. The last thing he wants to do is dive back into the clutches of love and have his heart torn to shreds again. He will never allow himself to be that pathetic and vulnerable.

Beth has never had anyone in her life to rely on. When her alcoholic mother dies, she’s left homeless and without any family. Loneliness and desperation makes people do things that they’re not proud of, and Beth has definitely been through her share of bad memories. So when she learns that her mother has a sister that she knew nothing about that’s willing to take her in, she’s absolutely thrilled. She picks up her meager belongings, mainly her beloved Kindle, and moves to Alabama.

Given Reed’s sexual proclivities and just how absolutely sweet Beth was, I wasn’t sure how the author would pull off their connection at first. But I should have known better than to doubt the brilliance of J. Daniels, because not only does she pull it off, she does so effortlessly.

I absolutely LOVED the way that Beth and Reed meet and how their relationship develops. These two have absolutely sizzling chemistry from their very first shared look. Then there’s Reed’s absolutely filthy mouth, and who the hell can resist that?

My mouth goes dry, but luckily, the image he just put into my head makes me salivate instantly.
Me.
Bent over the table.
Him.
Doing the bending.
My chest shudders on an exhale.

I’m usually a reader that enjoys the tough and sassy heroines, so it was shocking to me just how much I loved Beth since she was neither one of those things. Well, I can’t say she wasn’t tough, she did survive most things that would turn others into someone bitter and angry at the world. She was like a ray of sunshine; always seeking the positive, caring, and so sweet she’d make sugar melt. But it was never in a naive way, not really. She was just incredibly endearing. And watching someone like that bring the town’s infamous manwhore to his knees? Well it just made it THAT much more satisfying.

This isn’t fucking. Not this. I can’t stop looking at her. I can’t tell her how wet my dick is. I can’t ask her to suck me while I finger her ass.
I don’t want to stop.
I don’t want to come.
I don’t want anything but her.
I’ve never been this terrified.

Considering just how much I love me my dirty talkers, it’s not too hard to see why Reed was my favorite character in the series, is it?

I want to watch those perfect fucking lips wrap around around my cock, sucking me while you finger yourself. I want you bent over, spread out on the floor, tied to the bed while I’m fucking you raw.

Right then.

I devoured this book in practically one sitting. I honestly can’t tell you one thing I didn’t enjoy about it. I love how each new book in the series gives us a continuation of the previous couples. It was so great getting those extra moments with Luke and Tessa, and Mia and Ben. This book had everything; humor, a fantastic and heartfelt story, a dirty talking hero that will melt all panties within a 20 mi radius, and a beautiful romance. I loved it! Fans of the series will definitely enjoy this book. And if you haven’t discovered this fantastic author yet, I couldn’t recommend a better book. While you’d best enjoy reading this series in order, since you’d have a better appreciation for the characters, you may still easily read it as a standalone. I’ve been a fan of this author since her Sweet Possession series, but after this book she’s going straight to my auto-buy list.


Hope is a funny thing. Even when you think you have none, it refuses to lied down quietly. In the darkest moments of my life, I’ve always had hope..

Available Now

Alabama Summer (book 1)
Alabama Summer (book 2)
(On sale for $1.99)
Amazon US / UK / B&N / Kobo / iTunes

About the Author

J. Daniels was born and raised in Maryland.After putting her kids to bed, she escapes into her cheeky world where some of her characters kiss, and some of them do a lot more than kiss.

She is an avid reader and enjoys everything from unconventional romance to fantasy novels.

Facebook / Twitter / TSU / Goodreads /

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

Yours Tonight (Reign #1)
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance
Author: Joya Ryan
Release Date: March 5, 2015

For fans of JC Reed, J Lynn, Jodi Ellen Malpas and Jessica Clare comes an all-consuming, raw and powerful love story that will leave you breathless and wanting more

He will give her everything she’s ever wanted . . .

Jack Powell’s confidence is matched only by his intensity. The darkness in him comes from years of secrets and memories he’d rather forget. Lana has an exotic innocence that draws him in and Jack wants a taste of her. She’s a light in the darkness of his world – and she needs help, which he agrees to.

The only rule? He makes the rules.

Lana gives up her control, letting Jack take her body however he needs, while she works her way into his heart. But Jack’s past catches up to them and Lana finds herself wrapped up in a scheme that will expose every secret she’s worked so hard to keep. She clung to Jack once when her world was crashing down, but this time, she loves him. She’ll continue to reach for him – her only fear is if he’ll reach back, or go on his way, taking her soul with him . . .

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

Buy Links

You know why I like control?” he said with venom in his voice. “Because, without it, little girls like you would get scared off.”
“I’m not scared of you,” I breathed.

Having read Joya Ryan’s Brazen series and absolutely loving it, I jumped on the chance to read this new trilogy by her. This book was definitely very different from her other series, and if I’m being honest, very different from what I expected…and not at all in a bad way. It’s an erotic, all-consuming, and emotional start to what looks to be an extremely intriguing trilogy that I am absolutely dying to see how it all comes together.

I wished for the thousandth time that I could just be someone else. Somebody braver. Somebody who mattered.

Lana is hoping to make associate at her father’s firm; a father that doesn’t seem to give her the time of date since his recent new marriage. She yearns for her father’s affection, but more than that she yearns for his understanding and acceptance.

When she allows her friend to talk her into a blind date that doesn’t end up showing up, she finds herself stranded at a bar. And when someone from her past that continues to haunt every waking minute of her present walks into the same bar, Lana is trapped. Not knowing where to run or hide and absolutely terrified, she finds herself enraptured by a pair of dark eyes and the enigmatic man that seems to affect her every living cell…

Those dark depths were drinking in everything I was, like he could see straight to the soul of me…

One of my very favorite things about this book had to have been Jack’s completely intensity. The author does such an amazing job building that aspect that the pages practically vibrate with the undercurrent of everything that he is. And everything that is, is very much intense
The connection between them is pretty instantaneous and crackling with electricity. While typically I’m not a fan of the instal-anything, in the case here, it just worked.

He didn’t stop. Didn’t let up. Just took me. And I felt his power- wanted to drink it down like a potion, in hopes that maybe I would walk away with some myself.

Lana is a broken and damaged character in every sense of the word. But then at the same time there is also that’s very endearing about her. You can’t help but feel for her and what she’s been through. Her father and step-family are absolutely atrocious. At times I couldn’t even understand how a father could be so callous and cold towards his own daughter. It was maddening to read.

While the relationship between Lana and Jack is one that burns hot pretty much right away, I equal parts loved it and yet always found myself questioning certain aspects. Jack is intense in and out of the bedroom, and he is one swoon worthy hero…

The world around me seemed to close in until I was dying to have just a moment with him- to share in the same space, the same breath.
HE’S MY CATALYST.

But at the same time, I found myself questioning their quick connection, especially given Lana’s past. I just couldn’t connect to how someone that’s been through what she has would be willing to lose almost every inhibition with a man that she barely knows. But then again, the author did an incredible job with showing the reader the intensity of their connection. At times I almost found myself feeling like I was inside Lana’s head and can see how she would get so wrapped up in a man like Jack.

You agree to be with me and give me what I want, which is you. To fuck, to hold, to pleasure. I won’t be gentle or soft or relaxed. I will expect you to obey and respond to me. I want your trust and I want your body and you will enjoy it.”

There is one element of the story that I certainly didn’t expect, or better yet (view spoiler)[ the addition of another man (hide spoiler)] This is a ploy spoiler, though you can read about it in the synopsis of book 2, but I’ll spoiler tag it anyway. (view spoiler)[There is a secondary love interest for Lana that appears in the book. While Yours Tonight focuses mostly on Lana and Jack’s relationship, this character is most definitely very clearly in the background. I didn’t know what to make of this. Is it the making of a love triangle? I wouldn’t classify this book as one but it’s definitely leading up to that for the next book. (hide spoiler)] The shocking thing is that as much as I HATE reading about something like that usually, I’m actually invested so much in the story that I’m very curious to see it play out. (view spoiler)[Though to be honest, unless this other person gets a love interest of their own or it becomes some sort of menage relationship, I just can’t see myself being happy with how it resolves. (hide spoiler)] But I definitely can’t wait to see how it all resolves.

About the Author

brit author 0041  (1)National and international bestselling author Joya Ryan is the author of the Shattered Series (Break Me Slowly, Possess Me Slowly and Capture Me Slowly), the Sweet Torment Series (Breathe You In, Only You), and The Chasing Love Series (Chasing Trouble, Chasing Temptation, Chasing Desire).

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

 

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Release Blitz & Review: ★Pocketful of Sand★ by @mleightonbooks

A story of heartbreak, loss, redemption and second chances: Pocketful of Sand from New York Times bestselling author M. Leighton

Pocketful-of-Sand250“She’s beauty for my ashes. And I’m hope for her heartache.”—Cole Danzer

I don’t know what makes a great love story. Is it that instant attraction when boy meets girl? The passionate kisses and the fairy-tale ending? Or is it a lifetime of tragedy, paid in advance, for a few stolen moments of pure bliss? The pain and the suffering that, in the end, you can say are worth it for having found the missing piece of your soul?

The answer is: I don’t know. I don’t know what makes a great love story. I only know what makes my love story. I only know that finding Cole when I did, when Emmy and I were running from a nightmare, was the only thing that saved me. That saved us. He was more broken than I was, but somehow we took each other’s shattered pieces and made a whole. If that is what makes a great love story, if that is what makes an epic romance, then mine…ours is the greatest of them all.

Contains material that some may find disturbing. Not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy Links
Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Google Play

Review

5 stars

 

He was more broken than I was, but somehow we took each other’s shattered pieces and made a whole.

I don’t know what it is about this book that touched me on such a viscaral level, but I still can’t stop thinking about this story or the ending. I’ve read other books by this author and I already knew she could write, but this book just blew the other ones out of the water. It was THAT good. Emotional, gripping, and unforgettable story of second chances and redemption, this is one story I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

Eden is running from a past that still haunts her. Together with her young daughter they finally find the peace they’re looking for in a small town on a cabin on the beach. Eden isn’t looking for a man in her life. All she wants is stability; stability for her and especially for her daughter. But when they stumble onto a handsome stranger silently building a sandcastle on the beach, Eden and Emmy are both inexplicably drawn to him. Eden doesn’t know what it is about the silent and brooding man. Maybe she recognizes his inner turmoil and pain in his eyes? Or maybe it’s just a connection that can’t be explained with simple chemistry. Whatever the reason may be, she finds her eyes gravitate to him at every chance…

He’s capturing me.
And I’m captured.
He wants me.
And I’m all his.
And I love it. I love it all. More than I ever thought I could.

At being just 23 years old, you would think that Eden would be yet another cliche early 20’s character. But she was so much more than that. Maybe it’s the mother in me that connect with her so much and seeing how much she loved and protected her daughter? She just always had this quiet and unassuming strength to her that was incredibly endearing.

Now Cole….oh my poor broken Cole.

You make me feel all sorts of things. Too many things. Things I never wanted to feel. But you just wouldn’t stop. You just. Wouldn’t. Stop.

This is a man that you just know has some deep pain. A pain that can only stem from a loss that’s so great, the wounds from it will never heal. And he doesn’t want it to either. He welcomes the pain, the heartache. That’s his atonement for being the cause of his loss.

I loved seeing the relationship slowly develop between these two broken souls. They’re both struggling with their own demons, but together they help heal each other’s wounds. While it is a slow burn, this story was completely unputdownable for me. I just couldn’t get enough of both these characters. While you get bits and pieces of Cole’s painful past right away, Eden’s doesn’t fully come out until the end and boy does it pack a punch.

I loved how the author aged to weave together an incredible intricate story of loss and survival along with a touching and emotional romance.

His lips. I knew they’d taste like heaven. And they do. They’re the perfect mixture of firm and soft, and they move over one with a power I always knew him capable of. It prowls in him, just beneath the surface, like a caged animal. Right now, the animal is barely contained.

I really wish I can give you more than that, but it would just take away from the story. This is just one of those books that you would best enjoy going into absolutely blind. This was a very solid 4 star read until that ending. That ending? It brought it up to a 5 star for me for the uniqueness alone. It completely caught me off guard and I found it simply perfect for the book. If you’re looking for a unique romance unlike most you’ve read lately that will capture your heart and make you cry tears of joy and pain right along with the characters, this is a book that NEEDS to be on your TBR. I cannot recommend it enough.

PoS-MLeighton-LaunchMeme3

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M. Leighton is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

 

★Ask Me Nicely★ by Amy Andrews

Ask Me Nicely 
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Amy Andrews
Release Date: March 3, 2015

She craves what only he can give her. But he’s not giving in without a fight… Veterinarian Sal Kennedy’s lost her mojo and is desperate to get it back. In fact, as the anniversary of the tragedy that destroyed her life looms large, she’ll do anything to erase the painful memories, including overdoing the tequila and making a pass at the most annoyingly inappropriate man on the planet.

Fellow veterinarian Doyle Jackson is her flatmate and her employee and therefore strictly off-limits. Unfortunately, Doyle knows how to bring the goods and make her mojo sit up and beg. Doyle is only too happy to oblige Sal in her hour of need, but then she demands more, and she’s perfectly happy playing dirty to get it. He wants more, too—more than just sex, that is, and it’s something Sal’s not willing to give.

But Doyle is in this for the long haul now, and he’s prepared to fight even dirtier to get what he wants. Even if that means they both keep losing all their clothes in the process…

Buy Links

Review

2.5 stars


Either kill each other or just get naked and do the wild thing already. You’re scaring the animals.”

As much as I loved No More Mr. Nice Guy, I was really looking forward to Mack’s sister and Josie’s best friend getting her own book. She was such a fun and sassy secondary character in their book that she just HAD to be even better in her own one, right? Sadly that wasn’t the case here


There was something very broken about Sal Kennedy…

I am all for a heroine that owns her sexuality and makes no bones about it. Unfortunately there is that very delicate line between owning it and being brash, and for me, Sal kind of crossed that line. She was just too much in her own book. Clearly she’s hiding a deep rooted issue that causes her to be as detached as she is with men now.


She kissed like the devil, she came like a nymphomaniac who’d been celibate for a decade, and she shattered like a little girl who’d lost her best friend.

I think because the reader wasn’t privy to what her issues are until the last 15% of the book it made it really difficult to connect to Sal. I spent most of the book frustrated with her constant back and forth with Doyle. Especially since Doyle was such a nice guy and extremely tolerant and understanding of Sal’s behavior.
While Sal has no problem sleeping around, Doyle doesn’t want to be just another one-night stand. Living with Sal, he’s come to know her routine and he’s not enabling it. Of course he wants to have sex with her, but he just wants one thing first; a date.

Sal is having none of it. With over five years of using no strings sex as her form of therapy, she’s not looking to get tied down. But ever since the sexy vet moved into her apartment, he’s also seemed to have stolen her orgasms. Easy fix to that, right? Just have HIM give them to her. If only he didn’t want that damn date…


Fine. Let’s do it your way, then. Let’s go on a bloody date. Satisfied?”
“Ah…you want to try that again? NICELY?”
Sal almost chocked. “I beg your pardon?”
“Ask me nicely.”
“You want me to ask you nicely?”
“Sure. A guy likes to feel like he’s being romanced.”

While I get that the author wanted to leave the reason for Sal’s detachment for the big reveal towards the end, unfortunately it had a backfiring effect for me. This could have been a great emotional and sexy read, and it turned into an exercise in frustration. I never connected and Sal, and Doyle, no matter how sexy he was, just kind of fizzled out in the background of all her “issues”. I’m still a fan of this author and look forward to her next installment of this series. Sadly this book just didn’t quite do it for me.

Blog Tour, #Giveaway & @alleskelle’s Review: ★Hearts of Fire★ by @LHCosway

Hearts of Fire (Hearts #2)
Author: L.H. Cosway
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 9, 2015

The Circus Spektakulär is proud to present Jack McCabe: Fire-breather, knife-thrower, risk-taker. My house burned down when I was just a boy, robbing me of both my parents.

Now I breathe fire, eat the poison that almost killed me.

Crowds come to see me night after night. Men for the spectacle, women for the thrill. I’m an oddity to be stared at and desired. With each flame I spit, I risk my life.

I wear scars on my body that will never go away, but the scars inside my head are far more difficult to overlook.

My brother doesn’t know me, and if I have it my way he never will.

Life was going exactly the way I’d planned until Lille came along. She wanted to run away with the circus, have an adventure, but this world was never meant for her.

I try to keep her safe, because she doesn’t know the dangers that are out here on the road. She doesn’t know the monsters that lurk behind the bright lights of the ring. In truth, I could be considered one of them.

We were fashioned from different cloths, never intended to mix. So I watch her. I try not to touch, even when her eyes invite me.

Join us in the Spiegeltent and let us give you a show. Allow my Lille to draw a picture for you in paint and sweat and skin.

The truest love is always the hardest to let in.

This is a standalone romance that tells the story of Jack McCabe, Jay Fields’ long lost, presumed dead brother. It is not necessary to have read Six of Hearts in order to enjoy Hearts of Fire.

Buy Links
Excerpt

Jack didn’t even announce that he was starting when he stood at least ten feet away from me, flipped a knife in his hand, caught it, then lunged with his whole body and flung the knife right at my head. I squeezed my eyes shut, and a hollow thud sounded at my ear where the knife had, thankfully, hit the board. Sounds of nervous excitement and clapping came from the audience as Jack continued his assault on me. He moved his body with the kind of skill that only comes from obsessive practice.

Adrenaline drowned me, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

A small squeak of fright escaped me when he threw a knife at my hip and it barely missed. In fact, I could feel the hard edge of the steel pressing against me. I was surprised it hadn’t cut into the fabric of my coat. Jack prowled around the stage, gaze on me, calculating his next throw. Everywhere his eyes looked, I felt positively laid bare. Molested by disinterest.

I might as well have been a sack of potatoes for all the care he showed as to whether or not he might cut me. Deciding I couldn’t take any more, I kept my eyes closed until it was over and all six knives had been thrown.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

When I finally opened my eyes, Jack was standing before me, unbuckling the belt that held me in place. I didn’t move even after I’d been released, still trying to come to terms with the terror I’d just endured. All of a sudden, Jack McCabe was more scary than sexy.

“That was a close one,” he said as he pulled out the knife that had landed just below my ear. I glanced to the side to see a tiny lock of my hair fall to the stage floor. Oh, my God.

“You cut off my hair,” I gasped.

“Only a small bit. Don’t worry — I didn’t leave a bald patch.” He chuckled darkly.

I didn’t know what to say, but I was momentarily appalled at how cavalierly he was taking all this.

“I could sue you,” I said, and then instantly grimaced. I sounded like my mother. It was only hair, after all.

He leaned in, and I thought I saw him bare his teeth for a second. “Go ahead, pumpkin.”

Alleskelle’s Review

 

5 Stars

I can’t recall a time when I’ve been more giddy with anticipation than waiting for Hearts of Fire to come out.
What I can’t recall even more is a time where I felt as giddy as the day L.H. Cosway proposed me to read her new novel back in January.
To be honest, I went with the normal reaction whenever you’re given your favorite special treat. Gluttony. Yes, I devoured Hearts of Fire in one night.
I couldn’t stop reading about Lille’s discoveries, and see through her eyes the magic happening at Circus Spektakulär. Better yet, I couldn’t stop festering on L.H. Cosway magical world.

This story is a contemporary romance. But it really felt like I stepped in a fantasy realm from page one. This author does this to me, chances are you’ll feel the same. She always comes up with singular settings, unique driven characters and a storyline that invites creativity. You can’t stop your mind from wandering on its own.

It’s no wonder I wanted to recreate what it felt like to read that story. Maybe I went a bit overboard with the visuals… A tad.
Not so long ago I was assisting a Circus show and all I had in mind was Jack and Lille. I expected Jack to make his entrance on the “manège” and mesmerize me with his flames and his dexterity with knives.

A few days prior to writing this review, I discovered the playlist L.H. Cosway created to go along with her book. She did that before with Killer Queen, and it really enhanced the experience when reading the story. The sounds and music chosen by the author are really going great with every chapter, so much so that I decided to finally try to write review, and maybe pull some quotes out of the book. Little did I know I would end up re-reading the whole book, forgetting all about what pushed me to open the book again. Oh yes, the quotes! Well, I had to go pick them a little later…

The story…
Hearts of Fire is set not long after the story that unraveled in Six of Hearts. In Six of Hearts, we get to met Jay Fields, mysterious, cocky and charming illusionist with a dark past. We learned he lost his brother early on in a tragic fire accident…
Hearts of Fire, as you would understand is the story of Jack McCabe, the long lost brother we thought dead in Six of Hearts…
It is told in the first person point of view, by Lille, young and earnest to extend her life experience heroine.
(Hearts of Fire is a stand alone novel, however, I would recommend to read Six of Hearts as well, it adds a little to know about Jay and Matilda, and well, just so you know, Six of Hearts was a very entertaining and sexy read!)

I loved Lille, yes she was naïve but spontaneous, eager to see more than the future her mother already chose for her. Lille is an artist. As an artist, the worst she can suffer from is seclusion of her talent, her creativity.
One night Lille, acts on an impulse, following that wild streak she has deep down inside of her and decides to follow the magic beholden by Circus Spektakulär.

I felt like I was walking through a dream. Who makes an offer to some random girl to join their circus? It was crazy and I was happily drowning in the madness.

She has this list of new and exciting things she vows to accomplish on her journey, and her embarkation on Circus Spektakulär surely will provide for new experiences and surprises.
I didn’t like her from the start, maybe due to her young age, but I quickly warmed up to her, her empathy and open mind made it up for her lack of experience in life.

And there is Jack McCabe, of course. His character is definitely the one I preferred in the book. Fierce, strong, lonesome and mysterious character, I was surprised to discover his sweet side and vulnerabilities.

The romance really follows a slow pace, with both Jack and Lille a little wary of each other in spite of their mutual attraction and interest. Sexual tension was at its fullest, naturally crafted, nothing seems forced or fake between those two.

When I shut them though, all I could see was Jack’s whiskey eyes from earlier, staring at my mouth and giving me grandiose notions that he might actually have wanted to kiss me.

I also love witnessing the quiet development of their friendship toward something more… Jack being a guy, has a one track mind, and I loved the playful banter between them.

“I like your hair.”
 “Thanks.”
 His voice got low and quiet when he leaned in and spoke into my ear, “I like your pussy, too.”
 “Jack,” I gasped.
 “It likes me back.”
 “You’re crazy.”

To see Jack’s character through Lille’s eyes was a wonder. He was just magnificent. She was obviously mesmerized and I loved how she was really trying to stay away from him, but like a moth to a flame couldn’t fight enough the attraction.

Jack is a mountain of a man, he first strikes as an intimidating guy, but really is the sweetest and protective person. He had it rough growing up, more than rough, the things we learnt about him just broke my heart. But he incontestably made it through and as a result, is very cautious to open himself to anyone.

He moved closer, eating up my space…and just stared at me.
And man, could he stare. I felt like he was telling me a silent story and it was captivating.

Lille is going to pass through his walls eventually, and when those two give in… The so very much built sexual tension… Oh my stars…

Jack had a really filthy mouth, he could be so blunt asking and saying what he wanted… What I liked is that it never felt forced or “fake”.

“I wonder if we hadn’t been interrupted yesterday, would I have been able to make you come like that?”
I swallowed deeply and glanced at him. His eyes held a thousand dark, carnal promises and I felt completely lost, had no idea how to respond. He made a noise that sounded a lot like a growl then as he came and knelt before me, his hands cupping my knees and spreading my thighs apart so that he could get between them. Next he began running his hands up and down my thighs; they were so much warmer than the afternoon sun and I was suddenly melting. “Do you come sweetly, Lille? Do you shake? Do you moan and beg for release?”

And our fire eater has a kink… I was scared at first it would turn into something creepy, but quite honestly it became a real turn on…
The sex scenes, be prepared, are scalding hot, there was not warning for them, but L.H. Cosway delivered here her hottest scenes so far… There was something so raw yet so tender in their lovemaking… The perfect combination!

Story continues, with some mystery relative to strange accidents happening within the circus members, Jack and Jay will eventually be reunited, not without pain, but the reunion between them was so touching…

If you read Six of Hearts already, you’ll love even more the reconciliation between the McCabe/Fields brothers, and will appreciate to see more of Jay and Matilda in Hearts of Fire!

To conclude, this was a really an unexpected enchanting and captivating journey with the Circus Spektakulär, I loved every secondary characters, Marina, Winnie and Antonio, Lola, Violet, and King. Oh L.H. Cosway did good with him. You can’t stop but be curious about what happened to him in the past. I can’t wait to read his story!

What we have here is a wonderful second chance in life tale, a slow enemies to lovers romance, a hint of mystery, all wrapped up in a whimsical atmosphere only L.H. Cosway knows how to create.
I simply loved it!

Wonder Woman, mesmerized, over.

_____—_____—_____—_____—_____—_____—

❤️ I LOVED IT!!!! This is staying on my 2015 favorites shelf! ❤️

DON’T MISS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES

Six of Hearts
Amazon / Smashwords / B&N / Kobo / iBooks
About the Author

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

 

Giveaway
The author is giving away (open internatonally):

 

1st prize: Hearts of Fire tote bag
Signed copy of Six of Hearts
Signed copy of Hearts of Fire
Hearts of Fire pocket mirror
2nd prize: Signed copy of Hearts of Fire
Hearts of Fire pocket mirror

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: ★This Heart Of Mine★ by @Brenda_Novak

This Heart of Mine (Whiskey Creek #8)
Author: Brenda Novak
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit
Length: 400 pages
Release Date: March 31, 2015

First love. Second chance?
As the daughter of a hoarder, Phoenix Fuller had a tough childhood. So when the handsome, popular Riley Stinson became her boyfriend in high school, she finally felt as though she had something to be proud of. Phoenix was desperate not to lose him—especially once she found out she was pregnant. Yes, she might have acted a bit obsessive when he broke up with her. But she did not run down the girl he started dating next!
Unfortunately, there was no way to prove her innocence. Now, after serving her time in prison, Phoenix has been released. All she wants to do is return to Whiskey Creek and get to know her son. But Jacob’s father isn’t exactly welcoming.
Riley doesn’t trust Phoenix, doesn’t want her in Jacob’s life. He is, however, ready to find someone to love. And he wants a good mother for his son. He has no idea that he’s about to find both—if they can forgive the mistakes in their past…

Buy Links
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Review

5 stars

She’d wanted him so badly seventeen years ago. And now that he wanted her, regardless of what anyone said, she wouldn’t come near him.

This book. This wonderfully written, poignant, emotional and beautiful book. This Heart Of Mine reminded me exactly what made me fall in love with contemporary romance in the first place. I cannot believe that I am just not discovering this fantastic author and 8 books into a series no less. And I’m sure some of my OCD friends are twitching right now over the fact that I started with book 8 in a series. But breathe easy, concerned friends, because this book was easily read as a standalone and I am not planning on going back and reading the 7 books that came before it.

Phoenix Fuller grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. A daughter to an overweight hoarder, she’s never had an easy life, so when handsome and popular Riley Stinson becomes her boyfriend, she thought her life was finally starting to look up…until he broke up with her. Being young and having no support, she didn’t know how to deal with her heartbreak. Her extreme behavior after the breakup led her to be incarcerated for a crime she was innocent of simply because she was the most likely suspect.

Now after spending the past 17 years in prison, Phoenix is back to the small town of Whiskey Creek with a new outlook on life. She wants to help take care of her mother and she wants to get to know her son, a son she had with the boy that stole her heart all those years ago and then ripped it to shreds.

Don’t let your pride stand between you and the things you need, Phoenix.”
“Pride? All I have left is my self-respect. You want to take that away, too?”

I think that Phoenix was probably one of the best heroines I have read in quite a long while. You would think that going through what she’s gone through, she’d be angry at the world, cynical and bitter. But she was none of those things. She had this charmingly unassuming quality to her that made her both vulnerable and yet strong. She’s broken in a way that she no longer believes herself worthy of love or kindness of others. She’s accepted that about herself and she doesn’t blame anyone or holds any animosity towards the people that have done her wrong. She simply takes it for what it is and tries to live her life and provide for her son even if his father isn’t exactly welcoming and she has to live on her last cents just so she can go to bed at night knowing that she gave something to him.

Riley is still trying to set his feelings in order now that Phoenix is back. He loved her when he was 18, but he was too immature to truly recognize it for what it was and not give into the pressure of his family about being too good for the town’s trailer trash. The unanswered questions still burn between Riley and Phoenix, as well as the lack of closure for their failed relationship makes for some angst. The author did such an incredible job writing these two characters that you can’t help but feel every emotion they feel. Riley is definitely a man that feels guilt and he doesn’t know what to do with it. He knows that he’s one of the many that has wronged Phoenix, but as much as he wants to right it he also knows he may never get her forgiveness. This was just so incredibly palpable the story practically vibrated with it. I can’t even begin to describe in words all the feels that this book brought out in me.

It’s not fair, I know. I don’t understand why everything went the way it did. But since you came home it feels…it feels as if you’re what I’ve been waiting for.

Phoenix was by all accounts a heroine that I probably would have hated in any other book. Her insecurities and her experiences truly made for a broken woman, and yet…she wasn’t. There was always just something so endearing about her that you can’t help but have your heart break for her and everything that she’s been through.

I fell in love with Riley and Phoenix, and even more so with their son Jake. This was not the typical teenager that you’d expect to read about. He was wise beyond his years, so down to earth and kind. I just adored him and how he was always this part that kind of filled in the holes between Riley and Phoenix and made them whole. I loved all the secondary characters as well.

While this book wasn’t very steamy, I never even found myself missing it. I loved the story so much that I think anything more than what it had would have been too much. The budding relationship between Riley and Phoenix was realistic. Brenda Novak did a great job building it around everything that they’ve been through and giving both their experiences justice without taking anything away.

I’m happy to do all the fighting, for both of us. But I have to have YOU on my side. I have to know I’m fighting for something I can actually win.”

My only minor complaint is how a few things wrapped up. I guess I wanted apologies and repercussions. But at the same time, it was realistic and played true to the story and the characters. So as much as I would have loved to have something…more, I understood why it was the way it was. I also would have loved an extended epilogue, but again, the ending was satisfying enough that I didn’t focus on that too much.

The mere fact that I was so thoroughly engrossed in the story I couldn’t bear to put it down for even a second. If that’s not a 5 star read, I don’t know what is. If you’re a fan of chick lit, second chance romance, and amazingly written characters with a poignant story, this book is an absolute must read. I can’t recommend it enough.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

%d bloggers like this: