Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: ★The Fall Up★ by @AlyMartinezAuth

the fall up book tourThe Fall Up
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Aly Martinez
Release Date: October 26, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

the fall up cover ebook

I wanted to jump.

He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up.

Buy-Links10Amazon / iBooks / Kobo 

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Review5 starsThe Fall Up- Dirty Girl Romance

My career was soaring while, personally, I was plummeting. Every single day felt like a terrifying free fall in no particular direction. I was stuck in the middle with no way up- or down.

It’s not secret that I love all things Aly Martinez. The woman can do no wrong in my eyes. Between her emotional stories, captivating multi-dimensional characters, and incredible romances, I will never get enough of her books. But this one? This wonderful, beautiful, unforgettable book? She simply outdid herself with this one. It’s not often where I’ll read about a hero that’s neither a manwhore or an asshole, and fall completely head over heels in love. But that’s precisely what happened here. Sam Rivers may very well be one of my favorite heroes this year.
The fall Up teaser 3-DGRThe Fall Up is wonderfully swoony romance about two broken souls that find each other at the worst and best times of their lives and help each other heal. It was as emotional as it was romantic and I couldn’t bear to put it down for even a second. There was no crazy drama. No overwhelming angst. No unnecessary twists. Just a beautiful romance about healing, forgiveness, and an imperfectly perfect love. It was interspersed with just the right amount of humor to make it one of my favorite books from this year.

Have you considered that maybe I’m the one who’s in over her head here?”
“Excellent point. I’m going to need you to try really hard to keep it together, Levee. You haven’t even seen my six-pack and huge cock, yet.”
“You brought beer and chicken?”

Levee Williams is a famous pop star that seemingly has it all. Yet every night she’s been finding herself on top of the Golden Gate Bridge…contemplating. Buried by grief from her past and trying to live with it has been systematically sending her deeper down into a dark spiral that she ultimately doesn’t see a way out from.
The Fall Up teaser 4-DGRBut then on one of the darker days of her life, she meets a man that changes everything for her; Sam Rivers. Sam is a sexy, tattooed stranger with some dark secrets of his own. But in his dark times he manages to bring Levee on her fall down…back up. Together they were absolute perfection.
The Fall Up teaser1-DGRThe man also happens to have piercings in the most delicious of places. But that’s neither here nor there.

Between the secondary characters, the swoony and sexy romance, and the captivating writing, I fell completely in love with this story. Both Sam and Levee have issues of their own but I loved the way that they dealt with them. There’s no silly misunderstandings. I can’t say enough about this couple and the way that the author wrote them. It was perfect. Just. Perfect. One of my favorite things about The Fall Up was one of the secondary characters, Henry. The banter between him and Levee never failed to put a goofy grin on my face. I couldn’t get enough of him.

This is so not fair. Why would you flaunt this fine specimen of a straight man in front of me and not even let me nibble. Do you not love me at all?” He pouted.
“No one is nibbling anything,” Sam quickly added.
Henry winked. “Yet.”
“Jesus, I need a cigarette.”
“Oh, me too. Let’s go outside,” Henry agreed…
“Don’t you dare! First of all, you don’t smoke. Second of all, Sam is completely off-limits to you.”
“You’re so selfish,” he whined….”Maybe if you quit your bitching, we could watch him walk away together. His ass is insane.”

And the best news is that Aly will be giving Henry the book that he so rightfully deserves. As charismatic as he was as a secondary character, I can’t wait to see what he’ll have to offer in his own book.

If you’ve read any of this author’s books, then you already know how fantastic she is. But if you haven’t? This is the perfect standalone to start with.


About the Author

aly martinezBorn and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

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DGR’s Ultimate List of Fighters

DGR-Ultimate list of Fighters

Let’s talk fighters for a hot second here, shall we? I love them. And the grittier and more emotional, the better. If you follow my reviews, you already know that I don’t do flowery, sweet, or insta-lovey, so you won’t find those books on my list. What you will find is a list of all my favorites. These are all books that I’ve read and loved. I’ll make sure to note some of the books that I’ve beed recommended but haven’t had a chance to read yet towards the end. And as always, I’d love to hear from you all in comments; which are your favorite, any I missed that I should read? Don’t be shy. I love discovering new books and making new book friends.

But now, without further ado, let’s get to my list, shall we?


It wouldn’t be a fighter list with Travis fucking Maddox. This is the book that started it all for me. Sure it was at a time where my pervi factor wasn’t quite as…uhem…strong, and lower steam level didn’t bother me much. But even then, I’ve reread this book at least 5 times. Maybe it’s the angst? Truth be told, I’ve attempted the other books in this series, but nothing beats this one. Nothing. If you want to keep liking Abby, I’d suggest perhaps giving Walking Disaster a pass. But then, I tend to be picky with these things. This was the book that really started my addiction. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try 😉

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Remington Tate. *pervy shiver*

The man. The legend. The dirty talker. The sex god.  Suffice it to say, my ovaries liked this book verra much. Remy is every ounce the alpha male that I absolutely love to read about.

Now there were a couple follow up novels to this couple, but for me, nothing beat the original.

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She has seven rules. He has seven days to break them.

Oh yeah. Gina Maxwell outdid herself with this fabulous book. You have District Attorney Vanessa MacGregor, who lives her life by structured rules. Then you have Jackson “Jax” Maris who’s focused on surfing, training, and fighting…and breaking every single one of Vanessa’s rules. If that’s not a recipe for delicious sexual chemistry, I don’t know what is.

There’s three books total in this series, and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them. But nothing beats Rules of Entanglement for me. It was easily my favorite of the three.

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Seducing Cinderella
Fighting for Love #1

Also in the series

Fighting for Irish
Fighting for Love #3

Back In Black (SBC Fighters #5) by Lori Foster

A hot- headed sports club president and a take no prisoners, sassy PR expert. Put them together when Gillian is sent to work on Drew’s image and tone down his cussing and misogynistic ways and watch sparks fly!

I’m a huge fan of Lori Foster, but this is by far one of my favorite series by her. I’ve loved every single book in this series, but Back In Black was my favorite. It also had the biggest alpha-holish hero. Clearly you’re shocked right about now that I loved it, right? You know I love me the alpha holes. But Drew sure changes his tune not long into things. Gillian can be highly persuasive.

Now this book does have some mixed reviews, so it’s all subjective to tastes. I personally really enjoyed it when I read it when it first released.

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Also in the series

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Causing Havoc
SBC Fighters, Book 1

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Simon Says
SBC Fighters, Book 2

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Hard To Handle
SBC Fighters, Book 3

Worth noting, there is a fourth book in this series, My Man Michael. I’m not including it in my list simply because it was a bit of a dud for me. I love all things Lori Foster, but this one was sadly a miss. If you’re reading order OCD, no worries because each book is easily read as a standalone and you’d have no problems skipping over book 4 and jumping right into book 5 if so chose. I’ve read books 1, 2, and 3 and loved them all!

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Don’t let the size of this book fool you. At 132 pages this one packs a hell of a punch. Pun most definitely intended. It’s a little taboo and a whole lot dirty.

You have an underground fighter with a kink for rape fantasy role play. Don’t let this intimidate you because in true Cara McKenna fashion this is done very well, and as tastefully as a highly erotic romance can be. It’s deliciously naughty kind of read that you finish in one sitting. Big rec from this particular pervert 😉

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Womanizer—check. 
Cocky—check. 
Dangerous—checkmate.

This is book 3 in Elizabeth Reyes’s New Adult Romance series, 5th Street, but it’s easily read as a standalone. I’ve skipped around with this series, and I have to say this book was by far my favorite.

I’m not typically a fan of extremely shy, too innocent to believe and awkward heroines. But Charlee turned out to be so much more. While she is shy, she has a backbone, and does show it at the opportune time. Also, turns out, she has quite an uhem…freaky side to her. She really gave new meaning to the adage that it’s the quiet ones that you gotta worry about.

Hector is as Alpha as they come. He is protective, possessive, and jealous. So basically he ticks off all my particular boxes LOL

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Well angst me, why don’t you, Mandi Beck and then hit me over the head with a cliffhanger like a two by four. This uber sexy debut novel definitely caught my eye with the cover. What? It’s a hot cover dammit!

Deacon “The Hitman” Love was every inch the OTT alpha male that I adore. There may have been times that I wanted to slap the heroine with my kindle, but she managed to warm me up towards her by the end. Luckily for you all, book 2 and the conclusion of Deacon and Frankie’s story is already out (LOVE BURNS), so no worries of cliffys that may spike your blood pressure 😉

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Friends to lovers fans will definitely enjoy this second installment from Abbi’s Love to the Extreme series. If you haven’t read book 1, you can still read this one as each book is perfectly enjoyed as a standalone.

Julie Rogers has been in love with Tommy “Lightning” Sparks since she was 10 years old. But she knows that nothing will ever come of those feelings, since all Tommy sees her as is a sister. Their lives are too different, but that doesn’t stop her from still having feelings for him.

When Tommy loses not only his Middleweight champion title along with his professional MMA career, but his home goes down in flames, he turns to his best friend, Julie. Living together, all of a sudden Tommy starts to see that he might see Julie as something other than just his best friend…

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Also in the series

Extreme Love
Love to the Extreme #1

Winning Love
Love to the Extreme #3

I’m woman enough to admit that what initially drew me to this book was the cover. Shallow of me? Perhaps. But is it so wrong that I just want to lick it? I think not. Then I read this: tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and my inner dirty girl was all “READTHISRIGHTTHISSECOND” What can I say, she’s a demanding one.

This was the first book in Vi’s Worth The Fight series and was utterly delicious. Nico Hunter was absolute perfection. If you like steamy romance with MMA fighters and sassy heroines, this is definitely a must read!

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Also in the series

Worth The Chance
MMA Fighter #2

Worth Forgiving
MMA Fighter #3

I was highly anticipating Liv and Vinny’s story in book 2, and can say it was very much worth the wait for me. Ha! See what I did there? While book 3 wasn’t my favorite in the series, it was still an enjoyable read.

Knock Out (Billionaire's Club: New Orleans #1) by Mallery Malone

“I want you, Renata. I want you under me in my bed, above me on this weight bench, beside me in the sauna. I want to know if you still taste as sweet as I remember, if you still whimper when I fill you, or if you’ll pull my hair like you used to do when I buried my face between those thighs. I want you every way I can have you."

He is all about pleasure. His. His woman’s. Incredible, unrelenting, mind-blowing pleasure.

Heavy weight champion, Sebastian Delacroix knows how to handle pain.

But when he has a woman beneath him, in his bed, her softness in his hands, it’s all about hot, unforgettable satisfaction and all the ways he can take it and give it.

No one walks away from him…Except one woman: Renata Giordano. And now she’s back. Strong, sexy, irresistible Renata.

This time, she will not escape.

Sebastian is coming for her and he’ll fight as dirty as he has to.

She will be his.


If that synopsis doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about this sexy novella, I’m not sure what else I can tell you. Oh did I mention Renata is also a fighter? Yeah. It’s like that! I’ve loved the rest of this series as well, but this book was the only one that featured a fighter

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Having never read anything by this author, this was a total impulse read for me based on nothing more than the cover. Look, we’ve already covered the fact that I’m a total cover whore, so let’s not focus on that, mkay? Moving on…

While I can’t say that this book blew me away, it did provide for a light and sexy afternoon read.  Kyran, the hero, was just the right amount of jaded and brooding that I typically like. Add into that mix his habit of bare knuckle fighting in the ring to relieve stress and I’m on Alpha cloud 9. It was a bit of been there, read that, but still an enjoyable read.

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Ovaries, meet your next smutty indulgence. Fight For Me definitely has the sexy smut to match that unbelievably hot cover. But it’s not mindless smut either, there’s a good story in there too.

The heroine is grieving a tragedy that she blames herself for. Ryder has always wanted her but knew he wasn’t good enough for her until fate brings them together. Did I mention that Ryder is a heavyweight MMA champion with a penchant for dirty talk? Oh yeah. There’s some cheesy lines in here that I could have done without, but that aside, I enjoyed this one verra much.

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Considering how much I loved Lori Foster’s SBC Fighters series, I was thrilled to see her coming out with a new fighter series.

If you’re looking for a fighter romance but swoony is more your speed and you’d prefer a nice guy, No Limits is the perfect read. It was slower paced that I’m used to, but I still loved it.

Cannon was actually first introduced Getting Rowdy Love Undercover series and he happened to be my favorite part of that book. So when I realized the Cannon in No Limits will be THAT Cannon, I may have peed a little in excitement. I love Lori’s writing and her swoony heroes, and this was no exception.

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Also in the series

Holding Strong
Ultimate #2

Tough Love
Ultimate #3

Fighting Dirty
Ultimate #4

I’m behind on this series, so I haven’t had the chance to read the next 2 books just yet. But they’re all sitting pretty on my kindle waiting for me. Book 4, Fighting Dirty, is one of my anticipated releases since the hero is one I fell completely in lust with in No Limits. This book will be releasing on February 23, 2016

Crossing the Line (Battered Hearts #3) by Kele Moon

"Every story had an innocent beginning, even theirs, and Tabitha found herself wishing she had a chance to go back and relive it one more time, because she didn't want to let go any more than Wyatt did.."

An unforgettable second chance romance, a one in a million kind of love, tragedy, redemption and healing. All of this in one phenomenal, incredibly written, richly developed and emotional book. I loved this book. Absolutely everything about this book.

Wyatt Conner has loved Tabitha since 3rd grade. What started innocent and pure, soon grew into a more intense love over time as they both grew into young adults. Their growing romance through the years was one of my favorite things about this book. It was absolutely beautiful. There was no internal drama or angst (though plenty of it from outside forces). Wyatt was absolutely perfect. He was protective and sweet, and yet he also had an undercurrent of finely leashed violence when it came to protecting Tabitha. It truly added to his appeal, since it was just that added element that kept him from being too perfect. Tragedy rips them apart only to reunite them years later.

Wyatt isn’t technically a fighter, he’s a sheriff, but with a fighting past. This entire series was absolutely fantastic and one I can’t recommend enough. Though the spin off (which I’ll get to in a bit) was my ALL TIME FAVORITE.

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Also in the series

Defying the Odds
Battered Hearts #1

Star Crossed
Battered Hearts #2

I highly recommend reading these books in order. They keep getting better and better with each one, with Wyatt and Romeo being my favorite. I highly recommend all three.

Among the Echoes (Wrecked and Ruined #2.5) by Aly Martinez

"Our relationship was established on secrets and lies, but in the end it flourished through truths. Slate told me years ago that we all have scars, and our relationship is no different. It could have easily been ruined from the start, but he fought for me- even when I couldn't fight for myself."

A famous heavyweight boxer and a woman that’s running for her life. Just that link reels you in, doesn’t it?

Don’t let the .5 fool you, this is a full length, stand alone novel. As a matter of fact, it’s basically a standalone. The reason for the half number is that it ties into Aly’s Wrecked and Ruined series. But not from the previous two books. Among the Shadows introduces a secondary character, Leo, that is the hero of Wrecked and Ruined book 3, Broken Course. This book is the perfect set up for him and his heroine.

Having said that, you can easily AtS without reading the previous two books (though I highly recommend you read them anyway simply because they’re great).

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If you’ve read any Pepper Winters book then you already know this woman writes some dark romance. Deliciously dark romance. Destroyed is what Pepper called her Grey Romance. Now don’t get confused, there will be no fluffy kitties or butterflies here. This book will absolutely gut you and make even the coldest blackest cry ugly cry. But it’s not as brutal as her Dark stuff. Mostly.

This is also a complete standalone. So if you’ve wanted to dip your toes into dark but your ovaries still shrivel up in fear about dark romance, consider this your starting point.

Destroyed was simply unforgettable. A tortured hero, a woman that’s complicated but not broken, and the secrets that may cause them to lose everything is what makes this book an unputdownable read. Incredible writing, gripping story, multi-dimensional characters and enough feels to be absolutely heart wrenching. Prepare yourself for an ugly cry, because it will gut you. But I promise that it will hurt so good!

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I first discovered Cari Quinn though her sexy Brazen Romances. But this woman absolutely blew me away with her gritty writing in Shadowboxer (which FYI you can grab for FREE on amazon right now!)

After devouring Shadowboxer I knew I was hooked on this series. It’s gritty, sexy, emotional, basically ticks off every check box I have for my favorite romances. Now it’s fair to mention that it’s not for everyone, and certainly not for the faint of heart. But if you like your stories on the grittier side, you NEED to read this.

On The Ropes continues the story of the two secondary characters that were introduced in Shadowboxer. Giovanni, the bad boy sure to steal your heart, and Carly Anderson, the younger sister of the heroine from Shadowboxer.

This book had everything! Action, suspense, mafia, angst and grit, and enough sexual chemistry to set every ovary on fire within a 10 mi radius.

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Also in the series

Shadowboxer (FREE)
Tapped Out, #1

Body Shot (FREE on AMZ)
Tapped Out, #1.2

Takedown
Tapped Out, #1.5

Sneak Attack
Tapped Out, #2

The feels! Oh the feels! This incredible friends-to-lovers romance is still one of my all time favorite books, not to mention fighter romances. Oh my god, it was just so beautiful.

The three Page brothers will steal your hearts and wrap them around their fingers. Each broken in their own way, none more so than Till Page. Till is the oldest brother and the one that’s been raising his younger brothers when he was just a child himself because their deadbeat parents couldn’t care less, Till is no stranger to responsibility. He’s always been a fighter, but now he can do it to support his family. There’s just one problem, his hearing is slowly going. The one constant in his life is  Eliza Reynolds. Through ups and downs, and there’s plenty of downs, these two stand by each other. It’s not an easy love, it’s not a perfect love, but it’s an unforgettable one!

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Also in the series

Don’t miss my second favorite book in the series, FIGHTING SHADOWS, the middle brother’s Flint’s book. This was just as good as the first book and best read in order. You’d enjoy it much more reading it after Fighting Silence.

Hands down. Bar none. My absolute favorite fighter romance book. Period.

Nothing past, present or current has come to equal the amazingness that was The Slayer for me. I’m a huge fan of Kele Moon as it is. But this book? I’m moving to pure stalker status.

Gut wrenchingly emotional, gritty and action packed, sensually erotic, and absolutely unforgettable. Untamed Hearts is the spin-off of Kele’s Battered Hearts series. The heroes are more anti-heroes bad boys but with hearts of gold. I highly recommend reading the Battered Hearts series first to really appreciate the Untamed Hearts as most characters first made an appearance in BH.

The Slayer is the story of Chuito ‘The Slayer’ Garcia, and it was Kele’s most emotional book yet. I loved it to absolute pieces. And trust me, this book is worth every penny, especially coming in at a length of 495 pages and not a page goes to waste. If there’s one book out of my entire list that I insist you read, let it be this one. This is one author I wish more people knew about because her talent deserves every one-click. I’m practically vibrating in anticipation of the next release!

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Since I regularly update this list, here’s a few memorable recent reads I had that are perfect additions to this list

Raw Deal (Larson Brothers #1)

We have to take solace wherever we can find it, he’d said, and somehow, by some divine intervention or alignment of the stars or whatever the hell else determined their destinies…he was her solace.

Raw Deal is aptly titled because it certainly left me feeling raw. Raw with so much feeling, my heart near burst at the overwhelming emotion of it all. It was beautifully written, gripping, and poignant. It was a painful sort of beauty. A phenomenal story of love in the unlikeliest of places.

 I adored everything about this book. EVERYTHING. I think I was sniffling though the entire thing. I couldn’t stop. I’m beyond excited for this brand new series from one of my favorite authors.


SWEET VICTORY (MMA Fighters #4)

 

God, had any woman ever tasted so good, felt so perfect, so soft and strong and absofuckinglutely amazing? No way. At least none that he’d had. Sophie Caldwell left them so far in her dust that new rating systems would have to be invented. One through ten was a joke.

Sweet Victory was a deliciously satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite series. It was sexy and sweet. It was entertaining and scorching hot. It was everything I’ve come to expect from this author and exactly what made me a fan of hers to begin with.


 

Becoming a Legend (Kavanagh Legends #3)

“I want every single string, kitty. I want your heart.”

How have I not read anything by this author before? What is wrong with me? Why am I starting this series with book 3? Well, at least I know the answer to the third question there, and that’s because I like to do things back-asswards more often than not. As for the other two? I have no clue and I’m kicking myself for the mistake thoroughly because I seriously enjoyed this book.

As a reader that typically goes for the alphaholes and manwhores, it was a refreshing change of pace to get a nice guy. Kane Kavanagh has had the hots of his brother’s girlfriend’s best friend for some time and all he’s gotten in return is her snark and disinterest. But Kane is not the playboy and bad boy that he may come across as at first. Sure he’s focused on his professional fighting career, but he’s also loyal, sweet, and when the man sets his eyes on his goal, he’ll stop at nothing to get it…and what he wants is Nora. Nora has been trying to resist Kane for months, but when she finally gets to see the man beneath the sex appeal and show, she realizes that there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye.


So that's it for my ultimate list...as far as I've read anyway.
Below, are some of the fighter romances I've been recommended and have on my TBR. I'd love to hear from you if any of you read any of these. Loved it, hated it, tell me everything!

Review: ★Seduction Game★ by @Pamela_Clare

Review- Seduction GameSeduction Game
Series: I-Team #7
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Pamela Clare
Release Date: October 20, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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The acclaimed author of Striking Distance returns with more danger, intrigue, and I-Team action…

CIA officer Nick Andris wants revenge. His last mission failed after a Georgian arms smuggler killed his lover. He’s been tailing a woman for three weeks hoping she will lead him to his target. But there’s a problem with the intel. Holly Elise Bradshaw is nothing more than an entertainment writer with a love for sex and designer clothes. Clearly someone at Langley made a mistake . . .

When Holly finds herself in trouble, the only weapons at her disposal are her brains and her body. But they won’t be enough to handle the man who’s following her. He’s going to turn her world upside-down.

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iBooks


Review5 starsSeduction Game- DGR

He forgot he didn’t really want to kiss her, because, oh, hell yes, he did. He forgot his mission, the entire reason he was here. He forgot everything but the feel and taste and scent of her…

You know when you spend months (or years) waiting for a book for a certain character that you build up in your head and you start to think that no way will the actual book live up to the expectations you built up? But then you read it and not only does it meet each and every single one of your expectations but it blows it out of the water? That was what Seduction Game was for me. This book was everything I’ve come to love about this author’s writing and even more so about this series. I’ve been a huge fan of the I-Team since I first read Extreme Exposure years ago. Holly was a character that we first met in that book too and we’ve spent 6 books being teased with waiting for the sexy man-eater to meet her match. Holly was always the fun loving, though slightly even shallow and flirty one. She liked her men rich and her stilettos expensive. As the entertainment columnist for the paper along with the rest of the I-Team, she’s always come off almost…vapid. I had no idea what her book will bring but I knew I had to read it all the same.

Well let me just tell you, this was nothing I expected and everything I loved. Do yourself a favor and don’t read many reviews on this book before diving in. The blurb gives just the right amount of information to hook you and you don’t want more than that. As a matter of fact, go in absolutely blind, just like I did, and prepare yourself for one hell of a ride.

He wanted her- and she wanted him dead.

CIA officer Nick Andris has been in limbo ever since the tragic mission that he lost his lover in. The only thing that’s been driving him since is his need for revenge against the man that cost him everything. Now he’s so close he can almost taste it, and the woman that his superiors have told him may hold the answers is nothing more than a flighty blonde with a taste for rich men and fancy clothes.

Holly has always been the free spirit. A date with a rich man that wants to shower her with gifts is nothing new for her. But then one night changes everything and throws her in the kind of danger that she doesn’t know how to get out of. And the only man that can help her just may be the one responsible.

I believed every word you said. You were the best time I’d ever had- until you became the worst time I’ve ever had.

Oh. My. God. This book. It was absolutely fantastic! It kept me up all night reading, unable to put it down for even a second. Filled with espionage, nail-biting suspense and action, unpredictable twists and turns, and enough sensual heat to set your kindle on fire, Seduction Game was Pamela Clare at her very best and easily one of my favorite books in the series. My number one spot is still reserved for Hunt from Unlawful Contact, but damn if this didn’t come close.
Seduction Game teaser-DGRWhat’s most shocking is that Holly is quite possibly my favorite heroine in the series and who would have thought that would ever happen?

Simply put, I loved this book. It was emotional, sexy, action-packed perfection. Even brought a tear or two for me at the end. There was absolutely nothing about it that I didn’t love. Nothing. It was worth every single second of the wait. It was devastating for me to read the author’s note at the end and everything that she’s been through since first trying to start Seduction Game. And I’m filled with awe that she managed to pull off such an amazing book in the midst of all that. Bravo to you, Miss Clare.

If you haven’t read this series yet, you’re seriously missing out. This is one of my favorite romantic suspense and I’ve read my fair share. You’d appreciate Holly’s story much more reading the series in order. However, having said that, you can also easily read this as a standalone much like the rest of the books in this series. I love how the author manages to to please faithful readers without making any detail redundant while also allowing new readers to discover her work without ever being confused. I never want this series to end.

ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

Extreme Exposure
I-Team #1

159767

Heaven Can Wait
I-Team #1.5

Heaven Can Wait

Hard Evidence
I-Team #2

478652

Unlawful Contact
I-Team #3

2771105

Naked Edge
I-Team #4

3711152

Breaking Point
I-Team #5

9314304

Skin Deep
I-Team #5.5

13552225

Amazon 

First Strike (prequel)
I-Team #5.9

18301112

Amazon (FREE)

Striking Distance
I-Team #6

15704285

Soul Deep
I-Team #6.5

25720866

Seduction Game
I-Team #7

25497194

#NewRelease & Review: ★Playing With Fire★ by Kate Meader

Review- PWFPlaying with Fire
Series: Hot in Chicago #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kate Meader
Release Date: September 29, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

25111048

From popular romance author Kate Meader comes the second novel in Hot in Chicago, a brand-new, sizzling series that follows a group of firefighting foster siblings and their blazing hot love interests!

As the only female firefighter at Engine Co. 6, Alexandra Dempsey gets it from all sides: the male coworkers who think she can’t do the job, the wives and girlfriends who see her as a threat to their firefighter men, and her overprotective foster brothers who want to shelter their baby sister at all costs. So when she single-handedly saves the life of Eli Cooper, Chicago’s devastatingly handsome mayor, she assumes the respect she’s longed for will finally come her way. But it seems Mr. Mayor has other ideas…

Eli Cooper’s mayoral ratings are plummeting, his chances at reelection dead in the water. When a sexy, curvaceous firefighter gives him the kiss of life, she does more than bring him back to the land of the living—she also breathes vitality into his campaign. Riding the wave of their feel-good story might prop up Eli’s flagging political fortunes, but the sizzling attraction between them can go nowhere; he’s her boss, and there are rules that must be obeyed. But you know what they say about rules: they’re made to be broken…

Buy-Links9Amazon / iBooks / B&N

Review5 starsPlaying With Fire-DGR

I despise you right now, Cooper.”
“Coming through loud and clear.”
“I may punch you, bite you, crush your nuts between my thighs. It’s going to be the best hate sex I’VE ever had. And YOUR survival is not my first concern.”

Kate Meader is an author that first hit my radar with her seriously delicious Even the Score. I fell in love with her witty writing and knew she’d be going straight to my auto buy list. When I saw that she has this series set in my hometown of Chicago with foster siblings that are all firefighters, well, suffice it to say reading it was a no brainer.

Smart, fun, sharp-witted and oh so sexy, Playing With Fire was addictingly good from beginning to end. As a matter of fact, I never wanted it to end. I was hooked from the first chapter and knew I had myself a winner and I was not even a little wrong. Kate Meader gives some of the best hate-lust I have ever read, and that’s saying a lot considering this is my all time favorite trope.

He’s so damn dominant. I don’t think I should be sleeping with a guy who dresses chauvinism up with chivalry.”

Alexandra Dempsey is used to always having to prove her worth. Her foster siblings and father are all fire fighter royalty that constantly try to shelter her, and if that’s not enough, getting criticism about her ability as a firefighter from the mayor of Chicago certainly doesn’t help. Eli Cooper is chauvinistic, domineering, and too sexy for his own good. So what if one look from him makes her nether regions pulse, she hates him…right?
PwF teaser-DGREli is no stranger to fighting for what he wants. A past marine, he’s no stranger to doing battle. But the battle of wits between him and the sassy fire fighter may be his biggest battle yet. With his mayoral ratings plummeting right around election, he makes Alexandra an offer she can’t refuse. And if they can finally have a reason to give into the fiery passion that’s burning between them, it’s a win win right? Even at the cost of a few deceitful lies…

I will fuck the ever-loving smart-assery out of you, Alexandra…
I’m going to fuck you so good, the only word on your lips will be my name. The only answer to every question will be my name. Now say it.”

I loved these two together. Who doesn’t love a sassy and sharp-witted heroine and a hero with a dominating streak in the bedroom? Rhetorical question, obviously, because I couldn’t get enough of them.
PwF teaser 2-DGRThere was not one dull moment in this book. It would send me from laughing out loud one moment to lusting after Eli the next.

Should I be jealous of my dog?”
“You might have Hollywood looks, dubious charm, great hair, and a giant penis, Eli Cooper, but that puppy of yours is the real selling point.”

The chemistry between these two characters was absolutely perfect. It was this fantastic mix of snarky and sexy. Alexandra “Sexy Lexi” was exactly the kind of heroine I love to read about. She’s strong but with just the right amount of that endearing vulnerability. Eli with his brooding intensity was the icing on the cake.

I’ve lied and cheated to make you mine, but I never promised to play fair. How I feel about you isn’t noble or pure, it just is. In this crazy, fucked-up life I lead, you are my one constant.

I’m hooked. Totally and completely hooked on Kate’s writing and this fantastic series. I’m already salivating for the next installment like a junky waiting for a fix. I recommend this book to any fans of contemporary romance. It’s not to be missed. If you haven’t yet discovered this fabulous author yet, you are really missing out.

READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

New Release, Review & #Giveaway: ★Beneath These Scars★ by @Meghan_March

Beneath These Scars Series: Beneath #4 Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance Author: Meghan March Release Date: September 22, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

BTS Amazon

I’m the guy you love to hate.

In every story in my life, I seem to end up playing the villain—and I’ve got the scars to prove it.

That role works fine for me, because I’m sure as hell not anyone’s hero.

I run my life and my empire with an iron fist—until she knocks my tightly controlled world off its axis.

She’s nobody’s damsel in distress, but I can’t help but want to save her anyway.

I guess we’re about to find out if there’s a hero buried … beneath these scars.

Buy-Links6Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / iBooksBTS-teaser-6Excerpt

Chapter 1

Lucas

SWEAT DRIPPED INTO MY EYES as I bounced on the balls of my feet. Someone had to be calling out how much time was left in this round soon. My pride was on the line, and there was no way I would hand it over to Con Leahy. He’d already gotten the girl, and I wasn’t about to let him humiliate me in the ring in this piece-of-shit New Orleans gym too. My muscles burned, but that was nothing compared to the heat of victory—or the sting of defeat.

What had started out as a boxing lesson had quickly transformed into an all-out brawl for dominance and respect. Only you would pay a million dollars to get your ass kicked, Titan. The voice in my head mocked me as I bobbed and weaved. But I hadn’t paid a million to get my ass kicked. I’d done it because that night at the charity auction I’d been drunk, pissed off, and determined to prove a point—he might’ve gotten the girl, but I was still the one with the power. I got a sick sense of satisfaction that every time Con bought something for his gym and these kids, he had to think of me.

I swung with another right hook. The blow connected with Con’s jaw and snapped his head to the side. Yeah. That’s right. But my mental cheer came a moment too soon, and pain exploded in my left side. Shit, that’s going to hurt tomorrow. I stumbled back but threw myself forward again, shooting out my fist with an uppercut that knocked Con back a step. This was how it had gone for the last several minutes—trading punches and circling each other. There was no love lost in this ring, that was for damn sure, and I was ready for this to be over. I would walk out of here with every bit of the respect I was owed. Fuck anyone who thought otherwise. Con moved toward me and the circling started again. The cheers and chants from the crowd surrounding the ring in the old warehouse gym seemed to grow every time I glanced beyond the ropes.

A flash of blond hair caught my eye as I stepped left and Con shifted to the right. Vanessa. She threw her head back and laughed at something said by her redheaded friend, Elle. I turned my attention back to the man in front of me, but my focus wandered again when a huskier, sexier laugh echoed through the room. My eyes strayed from Con for a second too long as I tried to track down the source of the laughter. Pain burst through my jaw, catching me by surprise, and I stumbled back into the ropes. Using their momentum, I shoved off to the side, my pride stinging from my momentary lapse in concentration. Embarrassed and now thoroughly pissed off, I surged forward and attacked. One punch. That was all I landed before the bell rang, signaling the end of the round and my very expensive “lesson.” I pushed off Con, and my knee might have slipped as I stepped back . . . and caught him directly in the balls. It was probably an accident. I huffed out a chuckle, but Con didn’t share my humor.

“Goddamn it!” he roared. “Are you fucking serious?” It was like stabbing a bull with a matador’s sword, but I was ready for him. I jumped out of the way as Con charged, and shifted into a defensive stance when he swung.

“Should’ve expected a cheap shot from you, motherfucker.” Unrestrained anger flashed over his face as every shred of coaching mentality fled, along with that smug superiority he’d been giving me. GoodYou aren’t better than me, Leahy. I could buy and sell you a hundred times over. He might’ve gotten the girl, but I wasn’t going to let him get away with her clean. I wanted blood.

“Should’ve expected you to strut around this ring like a fucking cock of the walk,” I shot back. Con feinted and swung again, but I’d been studying his movements. I bobbed and weaved, and got the hell out of the way. I threw my own punch as soon as I had a clean shot. It landed just below Con’s left eye, splitting the skin over his cheekbone and sending blood spattering everywhere. The taste of victory was sweet.

“First blood,” I said under my breath. Apparently my words weren’t quiet enough because Con’s head snapped up and he glared at me with disgust, as if I needed to be put down like a rabid animal. “This ain’t a fuckin’ duel, you piece of shit.”

“It sure isn’t a friendly competition either.”

“Paid a million to get that cheap shot in, didn’t you?” My lips twisted into a mocking smile.

“I sure didn’t pay a million to have you show me up.” Con dropped his hands and shook his head. “Just when I thought you weren’t a complete fucking asshole.”

“You were wrong,” I replied, turning for the ropes. Con’s fists lifted and before I could react, one connected with my cheekbone. The instantaneous gush of blood told me I’d have a scar to match his, but it didn’t matter. One more scar wouldn’t hurt my banged-up face. I roared as I charged, but I didn’t get the chance to retaliate. Shouts filled the room, and beefy arms wrapped around my body, holding me back.

“You’re not half bad when you’re not being a shady rich prick,” Lord’s voice said in my ear. I lunged toward Con, but Lord’s grip only tightened.

“Get your goddamn hands off me,” I growled at him. Leaning closer to my ear, he lowered his voice.

“When you calm the hell down and realize you’re making an ass of yourself in front of a bunch of kids and women.” I glanced out to the crowd and read disgust on so many faces, including Vanessa’s. Like it mattered what a single goddamn person in this gym thought of me. I could buy and sell them all. Lord was still holding me back when Con came toward us. He yanked his gloves off and wiped at the blood still dripping from the gash on his face.

“You’re also not half bad when you’re paying attention—and when you’re not throwing a knee into my nuts. But I think you’ve overstayed your welcome.” I jerked at the arms trapping me. “Call off your dog, and I’m gone.”

“You ever want another round, it’s gonna cost you two million next time,” Con said. “For another chance to make you bleed? I’d pay even more.” Con nodded to his brother, and Lord let me go. The crowd had already started to disperse. The only person in the building who probably didn’t want to run me down in the parking lot was my COO, and arguably my friend, Ryder Colson. And he was nowhere to be seen. Instead of Colson, I saw a group of women moving toward the door—Vanessa Frost in her white cotton dress, Elle Snyder in her yellow retro number, and two others I didn’t know. One looked familiar with tanned skin the color of honey, her hair in dark waves, and a curvy body displayed by a funky teal dress with hot-pink polka dots. She hooked her hands on her hips, and that husky laugh echoed through the room again. Apparently she was the one who had distracted me in the ring. My eyes didn’t move from her to take in the fourth woman. Colson came up beside me.

“Who knew there’d be so many hot pieces of ass in this shit warehouse?” I turned toward him.

“Give any of them a shot, and you’ll probably find yourself bleeding on the floor.” Ryder shrugged off my comment.

“Go get your shit. I’ll wait.” He was gone before I could tell him he didn’t need to wait around for me. But then again, he was my only ally in a building full of people who undoubtedly would have preferred to see me KO’d on the floor of the ring. Just one more place I’d never be welcome. Good thing I didn’t give a fuck. I’d showed up, gone toe-to-toe with Con, and had taken back a piece of my pride. That was enough. For today. I was already thinking of hiring a trainer as I went for my bag.

BTS-teaser-9 Review4.5 starsBTS-DGR

…she didn’t have to like me to fuck me; she just had to want me more than she hated me.

I became an instant fan of Meghan March when I first read Beneath These Chains earlier this year. Her writing, her alphas, the super sexy romance, the story, everything about her book just…worked for me. Now while I did feel like I was missing a bit of a backstory here since Lucas was first introduced in Beneath This Ink and I haven’t read that yet, that never once diminished my enjoyment. Meghan does a fantastic job giving readers that backstory so the book can be easily enjoyed as a standalone. BTS teaser-DGRLucas. Fucking. Titan. Just that name alone gives me shivers. I mean, the man is as intense as he is hated, and for good reason too. Lucas hasn’t exactly been making friends in his determination for success. He has no problem using people or playing dirty and that’s certainly amassed his share of enemies. But Lucas isn’t a man that cares about that…until he meets the woman that tempts him beyond reason…and turns him down flat.

I held his stare, not wanting him to see how easily my body responded to him. “Never gonna happen.” “For every time you tell me never, I’m going to make you beg longer to come the next time I have you.”

Yve Santos is determined to stand on her own two feet. She’s no one’s mistress or kept woman. The last thing she needs in her life is an entitled billionaire, even if the asshole is sexier than sin. She wants nothing to do with him, and tells him that often. Unfortunately her words lack conviction when said asshole also turns her own body traitor on her and turns her on with just his broody stare and husky voice alone. BTC teaser-DGRSo basically we have delicious hate lust, an asshole billionaire, and a sassy, smart mouthed heroine that isn’t shy about putting him in his place…and I loved it. It was like this book was custom written just for me. Truth be told, nothing revs my engine more than enemies to lovers trope, add in an underlaying of sexual chemistry strong enough to level a building and I’m putty in your hands. I absolutely devoured this book. DEVOURED it, I tells ya!

He consumed me. With every thrust and retreat, he unraveled me.

But it’s also so much more than billionaire meets sassy but down on her luck heroine. There’s a very solid story that weaves flawlessly with the romance to make this one unputdownable read. While it’s clear that Lucas has his secrets, Yve has her own, and they may just be deadly. Can she let Lucas in enough to save her or will they crash and burn with their fiery passion? Guess you’ll have to read to find that out. You didn’t expect me to tell you that, did you? What I can tell you is that these books seem to get better and better for me. I loved everything about it; the characters, the romance, the writing, and the oh sweet baby jebus scorching hot sex. What? I never claimed to be virtuous here and the sex was that hot. All growly and hatey and everything. DELICIOUS. If you haven’t read this series yet, I strongly recommend you do. While you can just as easy read this book as a standalone, I think it’d be best enjoyed read in series order. Besides, if the last 2 heroes I read by Meghan March are anything to go by, Con and Simon are sure to be just as hot. Trust me on this, this is a series you need to read.

No one makes it through life without scars. It’s impossible. But they’re not signs of shame; they’re badges of honor showing that you fought and survived


About the Author

meghan march headshot

Meghan March is the author of contemporary and erotic romance novels. Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads


Catch Up on the Beneath Series

Beneath This Mask (Beneath #1) Beneath This Mask

He loves me, and he doesn’t even know my real name. The limelight that follows him could expose everything I’m hiding. But even knowing the risks, I can’t force myself to stay away. I’m going to break his heart, but mine will shatter right along with it. Will we lose it all when I reveal what’s beneath this mask?

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / iBooks / Google Play / Kobo


Beneath This Ink (Beneath #2) Beneath This Ink

I’ve always known she was too good for me, but that never stopped me from wanting her. And then I finally had her for one night. A night I don’t remember. I figured I’d blown my shot. But now she’s walked back into my life, and this time, I have the upper hand. I want my second chance. Will she be able to see the man beneath this ink?

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Beneath These Chains (Beneath #3) 9780990404842

I was raised on the streets, so I know things are rarely as simple as they appear—especially this rich girl showing up at my pawnshop demanding a job. She’s the most tempting thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ll be damned if I can make her leave. Shit just got complicated … but when it comes to her—I want complicated. We’re both fighting our own demons, and our only chance at a future is to let go of the past. But will we be strong enough to break free from beneath these chains?

Amazon / B&N / Kobo /iBooks 


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Release Blitz, Review & #Giveaway: ★Sweet Obsession★ by J. Daniels

RB Banner
Title: Sweet Obsession
Series: Sweet Addiction #3
Author: J Daniels
Genre: Contemporary/Erotic Romance
Release Date: September 22, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

 Sweet Obsession Ebook Cover

***Author’s note*** Sweet Obsession can be read as a standalone novel.

Everyone knows Brooke Wicks loves to have a good time. She’s not interested in getting serious, settling down, or limiting herself to one man. So when she meets the sexy, irresistible Mason King, she sees another opportunity to let loose and go wild. But the gorgeous Aussie isn’t interested in just a quick fling with Brooke, and if she wants to get into his bed, she’s going to have to do it on his terms.

Loving fast and hard has always been Mason’s philosophy. He doesn’t want a meaningless connection, he wants it all, and he wants it with Brooke. When she makes her one desire known—to hit it and quit it—Mason wages a plan to ensure Brooke keeps coming back for more. Or so he hopes.

Getting her attention was the easy part. Keeping it might be damn near impossible.

Sweet Obsession is where the Sweet Addiction series meets the Alabama Summer series.

Buy Links
Review
4.5 stars
Sweet Obsession -DGR

With a strangled cry, we fall, words and moans blending into the night. It’s hot and filthy, and so profoundly intimate…

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with all things J. Daniels (see what I did there?) and for damn good reason too. The woman never fails to serve up a hero that is guaranteed to make me pant and drool over. Ever since Mason was first introduced in All I Want, I’ve been obsessively stalking patiently waiting for his book. Can you blame me? He’s a sex on a stick Aussie, yeah?
SO teaser- Dirty Girl RomanceNow here’s the thing, I’m one of those, what do you call it? Heroine haters. Yep. I’m a picky bitch when it comes to them and I’m not sorry. So when J gave me a heroine with no sexual inhibitions that has no qualms about getting what she wants and makes no excuses or apologies for it? Oh I am beyond sold. In a world of virgins, Brooke was a breath of fresh air.

When was your last actual boyfriend, Brooke? College?”
“High school…I played the field in college. Literally. I think I was one defender short of bedding the entire lacrosse team.

Between her inner monologue and banter with Joey, Billy and Dylan, Sweet Obsession brought some major LOLs which is what I’ve come to associate with this author. She just has this perfect combination of sweet and sexy with laugh out loud funny. I can’t get enough of it.
Sweet Obsession teaser-Dirty Girl RomanceBrooke is not about the boyfriend thing. She’s gets what she needs and she moves on, until a certain yoga instructor sets up a studio across from the bakery she works at and tilts her world upside down.

Mason isn’t about playing the field. He moved all the way to Chicago to follow his dream of owning his yoga studio and he doesn’t want a meaningless one night stand. When a gorgeous brunette unashamedly flirts with him, he knows he wants her….but on his terms. He wants a connection and a relationship and he’ll settle for nothing else and so he sets about doing just that. What follows is some of the most painful sexual frustration that I have ever felt in my life. I’m talking blue ovaries kind of pain here, people! But man did it hurt so good. I love the way the author stayed true to her characters and their relationship by really making that sexual tension burn. She didn’t throw them into bed together right away and I thoroughly appreciated it. I loved watching Mason slowly and systematically break down all of Brooke’s barriers and carefully constructed walls. It was utterly delicious, even if I did feel like my poor ovaries may combust in the process. It was certainly worth the wait.

I want to absorb him, every flavor of Mason. His sweetness and his ferocity. The gentle planes and sharp, savage angles of his passion.

SO teaser 3- Dirty Girl RomanceI loved pretty much everything about this book. And J saves a special treat for Sweet Addiction fans at the end that you’ll MORE than appreciate. It was like the cherry on top. So good.

What I’ve come to love about her writing is her consistency. Her book ALWAYS deliver on their deliciously sexy promise AND they only get better with each new book. It’s not often you’ll read an author whose craft actually gets better and you can see the growth with every book. Having read her entire backlist, I can truly attest to that. The woman rocks my socks.

My only minor quibble is I did wish for a little more explanation on Brooke’s commitment phobia. While I can understand her hit ’em and quit ’em policy, it seemed like there should be a reason that the mere thought of a relationship and utter of the word ‘boyfriend’ sends her to the local liquor store in a panic would need some sort of reason. But that’s just me being the picky bitch that I am. Perhaps that would have also better explained the major conflict at the end as well. As it was I felt it kind of came out of left field for me; considering that Mason knew exactly how Brooke was when he started pursuing her. So his reaction seemed almost out of character.But that was mainly a blimp on the perfection of the book as a whole, so I barely batted an eyelash at it.

I enjoyed the absolute fuck out of this book. I couldn’t put it down. It made me laugh, it made me swoon, and as always it left me wanting even more. If you haven’t discovered this fabulous author yet, she needs to be on your must read. Sweet Obsession is a book you don’t want to miss 😉


 

SWEET ADDICTION SERIES

ALABAMA SUMMER SERIES

About the Author

J. 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.

Giveaway

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Review: ★Kaleidoscope Hearts★ by Claire Contreras

Review- KH Kaleidoscope Hearts
Series: Hearts #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Claire Contreras
Release Date: January 20, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

23545800

He was my older brother’s best friend.
He was never supposed to be mine.
I thought we would get it out of our system and move on.

One of us did.
One of us left.

Now he’s back, looking at me like he wants to devour me. And all those feelings I’d turned into anger are brewing into something else, something that terrifies me.
He broke my heart last time.
This time he’ll obliterate it.

 

 

 


 

Buy-Links9Amazon / iBooks

Review4.5 starsKH- Dirty Girl Romance

Love is beautiful, shattering, moving, haunting. Love is everything.

This beautifully written and emotional book is everything that I love about second chance romance. Everything. I’m not sure where I’ve been that I’m only discovering this fantastic author and this series now, but boy am I glad that it’s finally on my radar. Everything about this book worked for me; the writing, the secondary characters, the story, the romance, and most especially the H/h. Simply put, I adored it.

Does he make your heart race like I do?
Does he make you feel like you can’t breathe sometimes?”

Oliver has always been Estelle’s older brother’s best friend…until a kiss changed everything. They had a few stolen moments together and then everything changed when Oliver walked away. Estelle may have moved on and got engaged to someone else, but she never got over Oliver.
KH teaser- Dirty Girl RomanceA lot has happened with Estelle since that fateful night with Oliver, she met someone else and fell in love…only to lose him to a tragic accident later. After a year of mourning, Estelle is back in the town she grew up in and living with her brother, and Oliver is now determined to right the mistake of their past.

Your simplicity is maddening. Everything about you drives me crazy.

I loved the alternating flashbacks from past to present in both their POVs. It truly allows the reader to be fully engrossed in their story and fall for both them just as hard. The writing is beautiful and flawless and it gripped me from the first chapter alone. I simply couldn’t put this book down.
KH teaser 2- Dirty Girl RomanceI appreciated how the author managed to show the difference between Estelle’s love for Oliver and her deceased fiance without downplaying what she had with him. That’s no easy feat in my opinion. It’s clear that Estelle loved her fiance but Oliver was always her one. Nothing was ever undermined or belittled. It just flowed.

Shattered or not, if you look carefully enough, you’ll find something beautiful in them, and all beautiful things are a little broken.

If you’re looking for a touching and beautiful second chance romance, this series is an absolute must read. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to dive straight into Paper Hearts because after meeting both Jensen and Mia in this one, I’m practically salivating for their story.

Mini Review: ★Paper Hearts★ by Claire Contreras

Review- Paper HeartsPaper Hearts
Series: Hearts #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Claire Contreras
Release Date: September 9, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

25284952

I lost her.

No, I didn’t lose her. I threw her away.

She was my best friend.

I was never supposed to fall in love with her.

I was careless.

She was heartbroken.

I was doing fine until she came back into my life and reminded me what love was supposed to feel like.

When it’s all said and done, she may not want to stay, but this time I’m going to do everything in my power to not let her go.

Buy LinksAmazon / iBooks

Review5 stars

Look, I’m not going to give you a full review here simply because (1) I’m lazy and (2) there’s already so many great reviews that sum up this amazing book perfectly.

What I can tell you is that this was one of my favorite second chance romances I’ve read all year. It was deliciously angsty, heart-breakingly emotional, sexy, sweet and everything in between. Poignantly written, emotionally charged perfection. Truly. See here’s the thing, I’m not a fan of romances where the hero has a child from the other woman and I have yet to read a book where that’s worked for me…until this one. I adored Jensen. Their journey to a HEA was not easy but filled with so many emotions, it brought tears to my eyes with the sheer beauty of it. Torn Hearts shattered me and Paper Hearts slowly put me back together again. I don’t think I’ve loved a hero so much since…well…ever. The things that this man does and says are so swoon worthy, they’re beyond words.

If you’re a fan of second chance romance, this book is not to be missed. Period. Maybe once I get over my feels I can come back and write it the review it deserves, but for now, this is what you get 🙂

Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ★Hold On★ by @KristenAshley68

HOLD ON BlogTour Graphic Hold On
Series: The ‘Burg #6
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: September 1, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

25664796-3

Since she was young, Cher Rivers knew she was not the kind of girl who got what she wanted. A girl who could hope. A girl who could dream. She knew a happily ever after just wasn’t in the cards for her.

In love for years with the last bastion of the ‘burg’s eligible bachelors, Garrett Merrick, Cher worked hard at making him laugh. Being one of the guys. Having him in her life the only way she could. All this knowing he was in love with another woman.

The Merrick Family is known for loving deep. So when Cecelia Merrick was murdered, it marked the Merricks in a way none of them recovered. Both Cecelia’s children found love. Both turned their backs on it. But Garrett “Merry” Merrick knew in his soul the woman he divorced years ago was the one for him.

Until the night when Cher took Garrett’s back and things changed. The Merrick family loves deep. They also protect fiercely. And with his eyes finally open, Garrett sees the woman who truly is for him and he goes after her.

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Excerpt

Through this, my leg hit an end table and I adjusted. We cleared the couch, I shifted again too soon, both my calves hit the coffee table, and my ass went down on it.

I looked up. Cell flat to the table, I braced my hands to push up, but Merry was there, chin in his throat, eyes on me, and when he spoke again, his mind was clearly on my location.

“Tried to get your mouth on me more than once when we tore at each other up last Friday, but I was in the mood to use mine. Lookin’ forward to learnin’ what you can do with yours, but like I said, baby, right now, don’t got the time.”

My only response that he couldn’t twist was to glare at him, which was what I did.

“But got time before I go for a kiss,” Merry informed me.

“Only kiss I’ll give you is tellin’ you to kiss off,” I informed him.

“Who knew warm brown eyes like the ones you got could spark that kind of fire,” he muttered as if he wasn’t even talking to me.

“Step back,” I demanded.

“No,” he denied.

I continued to glare up at him, then I realized I was not the kind of woman who sat on her ass, glaring up at a man towering over her and pinning her in. So I stood, which put me smack in Merry’s space, my breasts brushing against his abs and up his chest on my way.

They kept brushing when he didn’t move back, but I didn’t attempt escape, even to get away from the shafts of electricity this all caused at my nipples, shafts that headed south.

I glared at him from closer.

He stared into my eyes, his gaze moving down to my mouth then back up as one side of his lips curved.

He was getting off on this.

I didn’t get that and I didn’t want to get that.

I wanted this done.

“In the mood to play, Officer?” I whispered.

“Told you, sweetheart, don’t got the time.”

I shook my head but held his gaze. “Not what I mean. Single mom, all alone. Switch out her storms. Offer info to help her out of a jam. Been a while since I was in the know about these things, so tell me, what’s the price for all that? You mentioned a blowjob. You got stamina, but I got talent. Balance that out, I’m thinkin’ it’ll take more than the usual ten, fifteen minutes. We’ll give it twenty. So I can manage my time, is there more?”

I wasn’t even done talking before I learned his eyes could spark fire too.

I also learned he was in the mood to play, that being, playing me at my own game.

And doing it better.

He dipped his face close, his voice low. “Storms get me the blowjob, brown eyes. I get the intel you need, that buys me sinkin’ deep in wet pussy.”

I felt my nipples get harder at the same time something else happened to me that, if he was of a mind to take his payoff right then, he’d get what he wanted.

I hid this reaction and asked, “You want this all in one go, or you wanna spread payback out for a while?”

“Keep plenty of time open, Cher. I intend to earn a fuckuva lot more and draw it out collecting.”

I nodded, still keeping a lock on his eyes. “I get it. Girl like me, only payback expected for me to be able to give.”

That didn’t get me fire.

That got me ice.

“I hear you talk down about yourself one more time, Cher, shit will get extreme.”

That made me ice over.

“Do not hand me that crap, Merry. You come into my home and got no problem talkin’ about wet pussy right to my face tells me the woman you know me to be.”

He dipped his face even closer, to the point it felt like if I blinked, my lashes would sweep his in a butterfly kiss.

“Do not hand me your shit, Cher,” he growled. “That hang-up is yours, not mine. And how I know that is I made you come just finger fuckin’ you and talkin’ dirty in your ear, and it was the talk and not what my fingers were doin’ that took you there. I like that, a woman who can let go and let me give her that without gettin’ uptight and closin’ down on me. You liked it too, a fuckuva lot more than me. So don’t stand there handin’ me your shit when I know you’re wet for me now and I haven’t fuckin’ touched you.”

I refused to reply to that because he was right and I had no intention of confirming that information.

But it was then he hit me with a verbal blow, the intensity of which, not in my whole shitty-ass life I’d ever received.

“Christ, if I didn’t know you were worth it, I’d walk out the door and this would be done—all we got, over.”

I could stand.

I could stare.

But I couldn’t breathe.

Merry could.

He could also speak.

“Hope like fuck no one takes off with those storms while I’m gone. You think they will, move ’em into garage and leave the key under the mat. I’m switchin’ ’em out, Cher. I come back tonight and they’re done, I’ll find you, and I won’t be collectin’. I’ll be dishin’ it out, but you won’t get it until you beg for it and do that shit for a really long time.”

His words were lost on me.

I continued to stand.

I continued to stare.

But my lungs had started burning.

If I didn’t know you were worth it…

“When’s Ethan’s next sleepover?” Merry bit out.

“Friday,” I whispered. “But his friend’s comin’ here.”

“Fuck,” Merry clipped. “Find a time, babe. You don’t, payback’ll stack up and I’ll have to take personal days and hole up in a hotel with you for a week. And there’s not a doubt that stick-up-her-ass church lady your ex tied his shit to won’t appreciate you bein’ gone from your kid for a weeklong fuckathon.”

That was kind of funny as well as hot.

I still said nothing.

Merry fell silent and stared at me.

Then he dealt the second biggest verbal blow I’d ever received in my life.

“Christ, you’re pretty, even standin’ there plotting my murder.”

After that, he lifted a hand, grabbed me gentle but firm at my neck, yanked me up so my mouth hit his hard but brief, then he let me go.

“Later, babe,” he said, strolling to my door. He stopped in it, turned to me, and bid his farewell by saying, “You touch those storms only to put them in the garage.”

He closed the door on that.

I stood where he left me.

If I didn’t know you were worth it…

What was I worth?

What was I worth to Merry?

Review5 starsHold On-Burg 6- DirtyGirlRomance

It happens. For people like us, baby. It happens, eventually. Just as long as we hold on.

What an incredibly bittersweet book this was for me to read. I first discovered this amazing series back in 2012 when I read For You. And I’ve been wanting and slowly dying for Merry’s book ever since. He’s been through a hell of a lot throughout the entire series and all of it finally truly coming to a head in Golden Trail. I had always assumed when I read those books that he would end up with his ex, but after finishing Hold On, I can’t be happier with the direction that the fabulous Kristen Ashley took it. I adored absolutely every single page.
Hold On teaser2- Dirty Girl RomanceNow if you’ve read the entire series, I’m sure there one huge question on your minds which I’d like to answer for you right now. Yes, Cher’s boobs are indeed real. Alright then. Moving on…

The only thing I know is, what’s at the end of the road we’re on is unknown. Along the way, I break through that fortress you’ve built around you and manage to extract your head from your ass, it’ll be worth the trip.

If there’s one thing I learned is that expectations are the bane of my existence. i built them up so high for some characters, only to be let down. But I can honestly tell you that Merry was everything I had hoped he would be and so much more. As a matter of fact, I’d go so far as to say that he’s not my second favorite in this series right after Joe. That’s high praise, people, because it simply doesn’t get any better than Joe. I loved everything about this man; his stubbornness, his protectiveness, his possessiveness, and his all around KA alpha male-ness. *swoon*

The romance between him and Cher is a slow build filled with plenty of bumps along the way, but when both the MCs are as endearing as these two, I didn’t even mind the bumps. Sure they have their moments where you want to knock some sense into them, but at the same time they stay true to themselves so it’s hard to judge.

Cher is one of those KA heroines that was impossible not to like. To be honest, I didn’t feel one way or another for her throughout the series. I wasn’t sure what to make of her. She’s a wild child and I was almost afraid she’d be borderline brash in her own book, but that was simply not the case. Kristen Ashley managed to endear her to readers so completely, you can’t imagine not liking her. She’s an amazing mother and while she has her hangups with men for very good reasons, she’s not a doormat. This is a woman that has her own breed of strength and she uses it to go to bat for her family. I loved that about her. I also loved how vulnerable she was when it came to Merry.
Hold On teaser- Dirty Girl RomanceBeing a victim of that psycho Danny, she certainly has her demons and emotional scars a’plenty. That doesn’t simply disappear when her and Merry get together. But watching her heal Merry’s wounds for him in turn to heal hers was easily one of my favorite things about this book.

Need you to get this, Cher. I wanna kiss you. But right now, I wanna kiss you because you’re standin’ in my arms, lookin’ up at me the way you’re lookin’ up at me. I definitely wanna kiss the girl who loves to make me laugh. And I wanna kiss the girl who put that dress on for me. I also wanna kiss you because after I kiss you, I’m gonna take you to my bed and I’m gonna fuck you. But you need to know, in this instant, I wanna kiss you because you’re the girl you are right now, the way you are right now, lookin’ up at me.”

You know how I was sure I had a 5 star read on my hands? I didn’t skim even one page. Not. A. One. Not any of the descriptions of the clothes, the furniture, the rooms, the clouds in the sky, nothing. I was enthralled in the characters and their romance from beginning to end and absolutely devoured every page.

I cannot picture a better book to end this amazing series with. If you were slightly disappointed with Frankie and Benny’s book like I was, this book will more than make up for it. Trust me. If you’re thinking of reading this as a standalone, don’t. I mean, you can definitely do so, but you’ll be missing out on the development of both these characters’ stories and why would you want to do that anyway?

That brings me to my final point: The epilogue. Hands down. Bar none. THE best epilogue KA has ever written. Period. And I’ve read practically her entire backlist so me saying that says a lot. I cried like a lunatic. Tears of joy. It was so incredibly perfect. Beautiful. Emotional. Ugh. Just…GAH. The most wonderful way to close the final pages on the characters I’ve slowly fallen in love with through the years. It was that perfect cherry on top and I simply adored it.


Giveaway
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Flashback Friday with Linda Howard

FBF-After The Night

You know that whole adage about not judging a book by its cover? Well this is the perfect example of that. This cover may not look like much, but inside is one of the most memorable and incredible books ever written. If you’ve met Gray Rouillard than you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. My reading binge first started with PNR and then short after moved on to Romantic Suspense and then to Contemporary Romance. Linda Howard was THE first contemporary romance author I read, and this was my first book by her. To say that I then binged on all her other titles would probably be a mild understatement. But this book? This book had, hands down, one of my favorite asshole heroes to date. Period.

He was a strong, healthy young man, with a sex drive that had shown no signs of slacking off since his middle teens. it was a persistent burning in his guts, a hungry ache in his balls. He was lucky enough to be able to get women to ease that hunger, and cynical enough to realize that his family’s money added to his sexual success.

There’s one scene in this book that stands out in particular to me because holy sex scene batman! I’ll tell you this, it involves a porch, a column, and one of the hottest standing sex scenes evah!

I want to fuck you,” he muttered indistinctly, the sound low and harsh as he hoisted her a bit, adjusting her position. “Let me in. Now.

I love a book that gives great banter, and the hate lust thing that was happening here? *Pervy dreamy sigh* One of my very favorites. Faith grew up as the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks that’s always been in love with the rich and unattainable Gray. Twelve years ago her life was shattered by him, but now she’s back to right the wrongs even if that means coming back to the town that shunned her. To say that Gray is less than happy to see her would be an understatement, but the chemistry between them is absolutely scorching from the very first meeting. This is no insta-love story, but gawd did it have some of the best sexual chemistry and banter I’ve read in a while.

Danger glittered in those dark eyes, and before she knew it, he was right in front of her again, almost playfully pinching her chin. “You’re a ballsy little babe, aren’t you? Maybe too ballsy for your own good. Don’t take me on in a fight, sweet thing, because you’ll get hurt.


 

Her opinion of him wasn’t very high, he thought wryly.
Hell, why should it be? On a steamy summer night twelve years ago, he had ground her into the dirt. After that night, she probably thought of him as the devil incarnate.


I first read AFTER THE NIGHT back in 2011, and to this day it’s probably still one of my most re-read romances. I must have read it at least 5 times in the years since. It’s my go-to when I need a guaranteed winner and a good dose of alphahole.

You haven’t listened to my… suggestions yet.”
“I don’t intend to, either. Go back to your table and leave me alone.”
“I’d planned on doing the first.” He stood and trailed a long forefinger down her cheek. “There’s no way in hell I’ll do the last.”

About The BookAFTER THE NIGHT
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Linda Howard
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FAITH DEVLIN:

A poor, outcast child in Prescott, Louisiana, she’d always adored the town’s golden boy from afar. But he called her white trash that sultry Southern night when his rich, respected father disappeared, along with her pretty Mom. Now Faith wanted to hate Gray Rouillard…not to feel a powerful surge of desire. But she couldn’t quench her passion, any more than she could hide the truth about the past she had waited so long to unravel.

GRAY ROUILLARD:

Even when he raised hell, he did it with style. Reckless, charming, and backed by Rouillard money, Gray controlled the town of Prescott — and Devlin was a name he never wanted to hear again. But when he gazed at Faith Devlin, all he saw was a swirl of tangled sheets and her silken flesh beneath him. To care for her was impossible, unthinkable…because Gray Rouillard planned to use all his power to ruin

 

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Have you read After the Night? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below 🙂
Or just tell me about some of your favorite alphahole heroes and books

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