Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & #Giveaway: ✩Light Her Fire✩ by @SamantheBeck1

October 24, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

He’ll show this good girl the thrill of being bad…

Good girl Melody Merritt is ready to be bad. Fresh out of an unsatisfying ten-year engagement to the town golden boy, she’s determined to make up for lost time. And who better to burn her sterling reputation to the ground than Bluelick’s sinfully sexy new fire chief whose wicked gaze promises complete and utter domination? Yes, please.

Corrupting the prim and proper Little Miss Bluelick is the most action Josh Bradley’s seen since he transferred from Cincinnati to fast-track his career. He won’t let anything or anyone—not even the delectable Melody Merritt—trap him in this Kentucky-fried Mayberry, but when their searing chemistry yields an unexpected result, he realizes he’s started a blaze that’s completely beyond his control…

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“Oh, sweet mercy, don’t—”

“Don’t what? Torture you until you think you’re going to die where you stand? How do you think I feel every single time I look at you? When you come into Jiffy Java, fiddle with the top button of your blouse while you decide between an iced coffee or a sweet tea, all I want to do is tear your shirt open, shove your bra out of my way, and feast on your breasts. How do you think I feel when you lean on the bar at Rawley’s, talking to your friends while I drive myself insane wondering what you’ve got on under your good-girl dress? Tortured doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

Those diabolical fingers made a circling motion, and Melody’s knees threatened to buckle. “How shameless of me. I’m terribly”—oh, there he went again with the fingers—“sorry.” She wasn’t. Not in the least.

“You will be, because I can’t let behavior like yours go unpunished.”

She closed her eyes and a pathetically small scenario of erotic punishments paraded through her head. Waves of hot and cold washed over her. It was all she could do to find her voice, and keep it even while she asked, “What did you have in mind?”

“When I get you alone the first thing I’m going to do is give you a pillow.”

Uh-oh. She didn’t know the pillow game. “A pillow?” she asked, and immediately wondered if she’d just given Josh a big hint of exactly how tame her sex life had been up until tonight.

“Yeah. Because once I get started, you’ll need something to bury your face in so nobody hears you pleading with me to let you come. Does that answer your question?”

Why yes. Yes it did. So much so, for a moment she could only nod. “A-and then?”

“At that point, I’m going to tongue-whip your clit until you don’t care if the whole fucking town hears you begging. Then, if you ask nicely, I will guide my very eager cock into you”—he rocked his hips again for emphasis, coaxing another moan out of her—“and give us both the relief we’re after. Are you ready, Miss Bluelick?”

4.5 Josh Bradley Can Light My Fire Anytime Stars

You okay?”

“I’m not sure. I think I just had an out-of-body experience.”

“That’s funny, ’cause I just had an in-your-body experience.”

Now where do I find me a dirty talking Fire Chief to put it out? Because I know the dirty talking Fire Chief that caused the fire to begin with. Josh Bradley. Pervy dreamy sigh But I digress…

If you’re looking for a sexy romance that will make you laugh, make you pant, and make you swoon, you need not look further than THIS book. I had a goofy smile on my face the entire time reading it…well, except for those times that I was having the uncomfortable hot flashes and happy place tingles. And LAWD did Josh make my happy place tingle. The dirty talking delicious man that he was.

At that point, I’m going to tongue-whip your clit until you don’t care if the whole fucking town hears you begging. Then, if you ask nicely, I will guide my very eager cock into you-” he rocked his hips again for emphasis, coaxing another moan out of her-“and give us both the relief we’re after. Are you ready, Miss Bluelick?””

Well I don’t know about Melody…but as for me?

Melody Merritt is a good girl. A good girl that has been with her highschool sweetheart for 10 years, was engaged and planning their lives together…until said sweetheart confessed he’s gay.

It’s true. And the worst part about it? Her ex is still one of her best friends and isn’t ready to come out to the entire town, so she covers for him by allowing everyone to think that it didn’t work out because his sexual flavors were a touch too spicy for the good girl. But Melody is tired of being good. She wants a taste of being bad is like, and she wants it with a man that sizzles with passion for her. And why not let that be her town’s newest fire chief, Josh? If going by the sizzling looks he sends her, she’s pretty sure his mind is in the same gutter that hers is currently in.

The looks he sent her warned there would be no respectful wooing- only a short, ruthless chase, her inevitable surrender, and then…please God…complete and utter domination.

Josh, Josh, Josh. What can I tell you about Josh? The man was HOT. Scorching hot.

He’s been lusting after proper Miss Bluelick since he first laid eyes on her. He just didn’t think that Melody could handle his, shall we say, rougher edges? Josh likes things hot, hard, and dirty in the bedroom. So color him surprised when he finds out the town’s good girl doesn’t flinch away when he lets out that side of himself.

I can’t help it. I’m dying. You have no idea.”
“I do. I know exactly what you’re going through, and I have the cure right here. You think you’re ready for my cock? Ask nicely, and I’ll give you everything you need. I’ll fill you so completely you won’t remember what it’s like to feel restless and empty.

Everything that came out of this man’s mouth was just…GAH

But it wasn’t just sizzling hot chemistry and dirty talk. There was also a great story filled with humor that kept me smiling the entire time. I don’t think I have one bad thing to say about this book. I loved the romance between Melody and Josh. Even though things start off pretty spicy with them straight off the bat, it never lessens their chemistry. Samanthe Beck still managed to instill just the right amount of sexual tension into the book to keep you satisfied.

I went into this book without having read the first one in the series (which I was told the main couple was originally introduced in), but I never felt loss. I will, however, be going back and reading that book now because…well why the hell not? I love Samanthe’s writing and I also liked the follow up to the characters from the previous book. I’m also grateful that there were no spoilers of their relationship, so I can go back and read it without feeling like I know something I shouldn’t. Now I’m really looking forward for more from this series and this fabulous author.

Wine lover, sleep fanatic, and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy contemporary romance novels, Samanthe Beck lives in Malibu, California, with her long-suffering but extremely adorable husband and their elementary-aged turbo-son. Throw in a furry ninja named Kitty and Bebe the trash talking Chihuahua and you get the whole, chaotic picture.
When not clinging to sanity by her fingernails or dreaming up fun, fan-your-cheeks sexy ways to get her characters to happily-ever-afters, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with Ambien.
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$25.00 Amazon Gift Card, a rare print copy of Private Practice, and a Skull Bracelet – International

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Pre-Oder Tour, Excerpt & Review: ✩The Darkest Touch ✩ by @genashowalter

October 24, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes the long-awaited story of Torin, the most dangerous Lord of the Underworld yet…

Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease.

Torin’s every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeley Cael. The Red Queen.

When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean the end for her, but resisting her is the hardest battle he’s ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can’t win.

Amazon / B&N / iTunes / Kobo

Did you know?

If we reach 15,000 pre-orders for The Darkest Touch before the November 25th release date, Gena Showalter will:
  • Post a never before seen excerpt from The Darkest Touch 
  • Select one winner for a Swarovksi Two-Tone Crystal Butterfly Pendant Necklace
  • Select winners for 1 of 10 signed posters of the Darkest Touch cover, just in time for Christmas.

To enter The Darkest Touch Pre-Order Campaign, visit http://members. genashowalter.com/page/the- darkest-touch for details.

They would be a couple, she decided. Touch— pleasure—had been denied her for far too long. A fact his presence had never allowed her to forget. He’d had other girlfriends so he knew how to handle a romantic relationship. They could do this, could make this work. And they would be vigilant, cautious, never courting danger.

All she had to do was get him to agree.

There was no better time to try. “I’m dirty,” she announced. “Absolutely filthy, and I’m going to take a bath.”

“Good for you.” So mocking.

So unaware of his coming fall.

“Be a dear and help me remove my dress,” she said.

A strangled sound left him. “It has no ties, no zipper. You tug it on and off.”“Well, good news, then. As strong as you are, you  shouldn’t  have any problems.”

His gaze swept over her and heated. He licked his lips, as if he could already taste her. “What game are you playing, princess?”“Does it matter?”“Yes. And why the hell are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m a hero. I’m not a hero. I ’m a villain.”

Did he not realize that only made her want him more? “Well, be a good little villain and help me out of my dress.”

“No.” His tone dovetailed into guttural as he added, “I’m not going near you.”

He’s definitely tempted. How thin was his control? “Very well. I’ll near you.” Hips swaying, she closed

The distance between them. She reached out.

He jerked away only to return—closer.

She wrapped her fingers around his wrists and guided his hands to her hips.

He resisted. At first.

“Relax, warrior. We’re protected by our clothes.”

His fingers clenched around her and held on tight. Did he think she would float away like a forgotten balloon?

“What’s…next?” he gritted.

Not exactly surrender, but close enough.

She leaned forward, careful as her breath fanned over his ear. “All you need to do is feel good.”

“I can do that.” He tugged her against him. Suddenly they were flush, the softest parts of her cradling the hardest parts of him. A growl rose from low in his chest as if, in this stolen moment, he’d regressed into little more than an animal.“I’m doing it right now.”

The pleasure…thoughts of being careful evaporated like mist. “Would you like to do more?”“More. Yes.” His lips parted as he fought for breath. Eyes glazing with a wildness he’d never seen from any- one other than condemned prisoners, he squeezed her hard enough to bruise. “I’m going to take more, and you’re going to like it.”
To be denied forever what I crave most…

YEARS. Years, I’ve been waiting for Torin’s book. I’ve been sitting in anxious anticipation from book one just waiting to get his story. But see, here’s the thing…in the past year, I’ve also been dreading it a little too. Why? Because the last few releases from this author have left something to be desired for me. They just haven’t quite been the same, with that signature Gena spark missing. So I was extremely nervous that one of my most anticipated books EVER just may turn out to be the biggest disappointment. And you know what? I shouldn’t have been worried. Gena has officially got her awesome back with this book. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING that I have loved about her books in the past; the snark, the humor, the sexy romance, all of it is back here.

Just so you know, I’ve eaten warriors like you for breakfast.”
“Well, did you spit or swallow? Never mind. Don’t answer. Your sexual kinkiness has no bearing on this situation. I’d appreciate it if you focus.”

After escaping Cronus’s prison, Torin is attempting to find his way back…but he’s not alone. Following him and intent on exacting her revenge for her fallen friend is his previous prison neighbor, Keeley Cael. The Red Queen.

Now let’s stop for a minute here and talk about Keeley. I think I just may have found my favorite heroine in the series after Anya. Spoiler alert: she’s freaking AWESOME! Wow. I just knew that the woman to bring down the big, bad and reclusive warrior will have to be fierce, and holy hell but she was.

She also just happens to be possibly the most powerful heroine in the series. Period. But that wasn’t even my favorite part of the book. Nope. My favorite part was the banter between her and Torin. Keeley is determined to get vengeance. Having been betrayed by pretty much every man in her life, including her father, she doesn’t exactly trust easily. But yet…something about Torin calls to her, almost soothes her. Or maybe it’s just his fabulous ass?

I’m going to do it. I’m going to hit you with a blast of power, and you’re going to writhe in the worst pain of your life. Nothing will ease you.”
“Great.” Then, when she hesitated, he had the gall to add, “I’m waiting.”
“You should be running.”
“Why? Do you want to stare at my ass?”

Torin was everything I thought he would be and then more, in his own book. Throughout the series, you don’t get to see Torin in action too much. Due to the demon he carries, he limits his exposure to others as much as possible, and you’d typically find him behind a computer screen. So I was so happy to get that fierce side of Torin the warrior in this book. Well that and his humor and snark, because let’s be honest, what’s a Gena Showalter book without that, right?

Now I bet you’re all sitting there and wondering the same thing I have been wondering; how in the hell is Gena going to give Torin his HEA if he can’t touch anyone without his demon infecting them with a fatal disease? Is the book going to be completely sexless? Are they going to dream-diddle each other? Do they talkthrough masturbate? WHAT?

What? Was it just me then? Right. Carrying on. Well worry not, because this book was definitely sexy in its own right. The sexual chemistry between Torin and Keeley alone burned up the pages. But Gena definitely throws plenty of satisfying scenes your way too… of the sexy-time variety 😉

How does that happen without Torin making Keeley sick and killing her? Guess you’ll just have to read and find out.

I promise that between the seriously laugh out loud banter

My inability to rile you is maddening.”
“I’ll yell at you if it’ll make you feel better.”
That perked her up, saying, “That would be extremely helpful, thank you.”
“How dare you bare your arms in public! You’re damn right it makes you a tease. It gives a man ideas. Makes him think you’re good at carrying heavy boxes- which just happens to be HIS job! It’s humiliating is what it is.”

And all the side characters; you will not be bored for a minute of the book. The secondary story here was absolutely amazing. (I won’t tell you who it was, but I can tell you that I am now utterly DYING for their book because OMG that plot twist)

Did I happen to mention that we get a lot more of Baden here too? YES

So in short, was this book everything I had hoped it would be? Hell no! It was better! What used to be one of my favorite PNR series is now right back to my auto-buy list and I cannot wait for the next installment.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

Gena Showalter is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose books have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines, as well as Entertainment Weekly. Her novel Red Handed has been optioned by Sony Television. Critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories,” while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise.” Her mix of humor, danger and wickedly hot sex provides wildly sensual page-turners sure to enthrall.
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Blog Tour, Review & #Giveaway: ☆Burying Water☆ by @KathleenATucker

October 15, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

BURYING WATER is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel, published by Simon & Schuster and it will blow. You. Away! 

Burying WaterThe top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

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4.5 Stars

And the truth pushed to the surface.

Like water, buried.

If you’ve read the Ten Tiny Breaths series, this book is NOTHING like that, but in the absolutely best possible way. I knew after only finishing the prologue that this was going to be one of those books that will leave me glued to the pages and devouring every word. And you know what? I was not even a little wrong. Burying Water is the perfect example of the incredible talent of K.A. Tucker as an author. She has take bits and pieces and flashbacks and has expertly woven it all together in a story that is captivating, suspenseful, and emotionally gripping. In short? I loved it.

Now I don’t believe in fairy tales. Or at least, not in the happily-ever-afters that Disney brainwashed us all with.”

Left for dead after a brutal attack that she is lucky to barely survive, “Jane Doe” wakes up with zero recollection of who she is and no memory of her past.

Short of a blurry flashback and a tattoo on her pelvis, she struggles with resurfacing her memories and wondering if she will even survive getting them back.

What if all those little bits that make up me get lost, overshadowed by one dark memory? My last memory, the one that made me want to forget everything else in the first place. Will I be able to escape the kind of damage that experience can cause?

Taken in by the reclusive old woman that lives on the nearby horse farm, Jane renames herself “Water” and begins to rebuild her life. She may not remember anything from her past, but a persistent feeling of familiarity whenever she catches the eye of Jesse, the mysterious man with the dark penetrating eyes that watches her from afar. Does she know him? Or does she simply wish she did?

Burying Water is told in constant flashbacks from past and present. The one thing that I truly loved is that the author separates the POVs in each one; with the past told only in Jesse’s POV and the present being told in Water’s. This was so intricately woven together that it actually made the story that much better. I am not usually a fan of constant flashbacks, but in the case here it was absolutely perfect.

Jesse is a character that you will fall for right away. You won’t be able to help yourself. With every small bit that the author trickle feeds you regarding his past you will fall for him more and more.

Her breathing evens out, her heart beasts steadily against my side.
I absorb all of it.
As I fall fast and hard.

I really don’t want to give you any more detail, as you simply must experience it for yourself and it’s best to go into it as blind as you can. But what I can tell you is that this was a beautiful story or resilience and quiet strength. It’s a tragic and emotionally gripping romance about two people that shouldn’t have come together, and yet they did.

What do you want? Right now, from me,” he whispers against my mouth.
I swallow against my ball of nerves. “I don’t want to be afraid.”

It’s also an amazing story with an undercurrent of suspense that will leave you completely unable to set it down until the last page.

The mind, it can be a deceitful thing.
But it is no match for the heart.

If you’re a fan of this author, I highly recommend this book. And if you haven’t yet read anything by her, I guarantee you’ll become a fan after reading this one.

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


Author Photo

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader, and currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

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Review: ☆Unforgiven☆ by @ElizabethFinn77

October 12, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

A mistake made long ago . . .


Pain buried so deep . . .


When Bailey Trent returns home to her small Ozark mountain town after being away for nearly six years, she is prepared to face the ghosts of her past. It does not mean she’s prepared to come face to face with the cruelest of those memories.


Darren Cory’s life is a shell of what it once was, and when he’s forced to look at the cause of his agony over and over, hatred rises to further blacken his days. But hating Bailey also destroys him, forcing him to become someone he doesn’t recognize or want to be.


Can Darren find a way to move past the pain and forgive the woman he once cared so much for before his anger consumes them both? Or will he drag them both into the hell of an unforgiven past?

Amazon / Barnes & Noble


5 Forgiveness Starts


You don’t fall in love with the person responsible for your greatest loss. And God help you if you do.

Emotional. Gripping. Captivating. Heartbreaking. Unforgettable.
This book gutted me. It absolutely devastated me. Broke me into a million pieces only to put them back together in the end. If you’re looking for an emotionally gripping, erotic, and absolutely unforgettable read…THIS. BOOK. READ IT

This is, hands down, bar none, my absolute favorite book by Elizabeth Finn. And considering I’ve pretty much loved all her books, that’s really saying something.


Hatred was a one-way street with them, and it flowed directly from him to her.

It’s not often where I read a book that in just a few short paragraphs manages to enrapture me, twist itself around my heart, and leave me turning the pages all night completely incapable of putting it down. That’s what Darren and Bailey’s story did to me.

Was it an easy, light read? FUCK NO. Prepare for a book that will reach inside and rip your heart out through your throat. Good lord. It will make you rage, it will make you cry, it will make you scream, and it will do all that through a story of forgiveness and second chances unlike you’ve ever read before.


This was her hell. Being trapped in a room with a reminder of who she used to be, a reminder of everything she lost, a reminder of everything she destroyed.

Once decision. One choice. That’s all it takes to change everything. And that’s what happened to Bailey six years ago. A decision with a devastating result that she continues paying for to this day. Now six years later, she’s back in the town that houses her darkest demons and memories to help her mother after the death of her father, and comes face to face with the flesh and blood reminder her of her greatest mistake.


It was as if his need to hurt her was an addiction he couldn’t deny. But his need to see her and be near her in some way was becoming just as compelling as his anger.

Darren. Wow. Talk about your love/hate emotions towards a character.

I wanted to hate him so much for everything that he puts Bailey through…and yet…I was utterly incapable of it. My heart broke for him, I couldn’t help but feel his inner struggle to hate the woman that he once loved. The story is told in four parts with dual POVs. It’s poignantly written with flashbacks from past to present in the first part that allows the reader to really understand the choices and decisions that led to that one fateful night when everything broke.


I never wanted to hate you. Not ever. You did this.

I appreciated that the author did not stretch out the truth of what happened 6 years ago throughout the entire book. Everything gets revealed in the first part, leaving the rest of the book for the reader to really get invested in Darren and Bailey’s struggle for forgiveness and love.

I won’t lie, there will be parts where you’ll want to reach through your kindle and choke the ever loving sanity out of Darren for some of the things that he does and says to Bailey. He really struggles with his feelings for her, this delicate dance he has between love and hate; something he struggles with for the majority of the book.


I want…I want so much to hate you. Do you know what that’s like? Do you have any idea what it’s like to see you, smell you, be near you again, feel your skin? Can you imagine what it is to hate someone so much, and yet…You destroyed everything.”

But he will also give you glimpses inside the broken soul of a man that is still recovering from a devastating loss and WANTS to forgive…he’s just unable to.


He closed his eyes again, settling in beside her warm body, and he imagined it. Loving her.

I also absolutely loved Bailey’s quiet and understated strength. While she had every reason to be an emotional damsel in distress, she never was. She was such an amazing and endearing heroines. Her struggle with the past and present and loving the one man that she can never have was heartbreaking. My favorite heroine of Elizabeth Finn’s. Period.

The wringer of emotion that this book put me through was exhausting. I don’t think I’d be capable of ever reading it again…and yet…it’s also a story that will forever stay with me.

Darren and Bailey’s road to forgiveness was not a smooth or an easy one. Nor was it a quick one.


Forgiveness isn’t an emotion. It’s an action, and it’s a choice. It’s the choice to no let the past affect how you feel.

God but I loved it. It may have left me an ugly crying mess at times, but it was worth it. If you’re worried about a HEA, don’t be. You’ll get one here. An amazingly emotional one.


You don’t love me.’
“I. Love. You.’
“No! You used to love me.’
“I love you still. I love you again. I just love you. I’ve always loved you.”

(hide spoiler)]
But I can also understand how a second book is needed here, so I am so excited that we’ll be getting one next month. I can’t recommend this story enough, but just prepare yourself. This book will grab your heart, run it over with a Mack truck, back up and run it over again. But it will heal it in the end. Just make sure you have tissues and booze on standby for the ride.

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@alleskelle Reviews: ✩Beauty and the Mustache✩ by @ReidRomance

October 4, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston: 1) She has six brothers and they all have beards, 2) She is a reader, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Former beauty queen, Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her Amazon kindle one-click addiction. However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous— local Game Warden, reclusive mountain man, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions— or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands— to himself. Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.

This is a full-length novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the fourth book in the ‘Knitting in the City’ series.

Amazon US / Amazon FR / B&N


Alleskelle’s Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I must begin this review by apologizing to Penny Reid.
For I received this arc in august and I read it not too long after it landed on my kindle app. Unfortunately, or quite the contrary actually, this book struck me deeply emotionally and I wasn’t expecting it. I was in a fragile space at the time, personally, due to family matters and the subject treated in your book was both linked to this and my personal situation in regard of (highlight to view spoiler)[cancer. (hide spoiler)]cancer(end Spoiler)
So I read the book, I inhaled it, voraciously consumed it in a few hours. I was so enthralled by it all, I felt a vast array of feelings, good, bad, but when it was over I felt dumbstruck by it all. I cried a lot at certain times, but I laughed ten times more.
Now thinking about it, I realize I felt overwhelmed by this story, both the romance and the Winston family. So overpowered that I needed to distance myself from it.

Not to discourage or scare any potential reader, Penny Reid writes quirky romances, and Beauty and The Mustache doesn’t waive to the rule. It was sweet, lively, fun, goofy, entertaining, endearingly so.

“Why are heroines in romantic novels—despite their cleanliness and enviable lifestyles—so unlikeable? It’s like they’ve been hit with a vanilla ninny stick, devoid of personality and blind to the gift before them. They’re doomed to wander in ignorance until the last thirty pages of the book. By then I’m usually actively rooting against a happy ending, because the fantastical fictional men deserve better.”

But it wasn’t just a romantic comedy, no this was even better, I think it was just the perfect romance novel. A story about family, friends, regrets, love, with just the right amount of heartache, grief and pain.

If you are a fan of romances, look no further, you have your next read right here.

Looking for some bossy no nonsense alpha male? Meet Drew Runous, ladies.

An alpha male is not quite what you are looking for? I can’t hear you… A romantic and caring lover you say? Then meet… Drew Runous!

Oh, you’re an historical romance fan? No, I’m sorry I don’t have any Jamie Fraser right now, I heard the lad is spoken for by millions of women anyway. But in the same category, may I interest you in… Drew Runous?

Oh I’m sorry, you were saying you want to swoon over a man every words? Ladies, I present you… Drew Runous!

Yes, Drew Runous is all that an even more. Penny Reid might have created the man of all my dreams here. ( sorry, Swissman if you come to read this, mon ange. Or please take lessons in poetry.) Can you imagine all that in one package? Penny did! And she is just that awesome that she decided to share that with us!


“I finally figured out what kind of handsome he was. He was fiction-handsome. Like, romance novel handsome. But not the clean cut (billionaire) alpha male or even the tattooed (billionaire) bad boy archetype.
He was the bodice ripper, Scottish highlander or Viking conqueror, historical romance kind; an unshaven, lion wrestling, mountain man recluse, toss you over his shoulder and plunder your goodies kind of handsome. He was both scary and swoony. I wanted to braid his beard. I also wanted to run away.”

Once again, she delivered a superb heroine! Ashley Winston, is just everything I wish for a lead female character to be. She was kind, passionate, feisty, caring, strong, independent, assertive, smart, fun. I kid you not, she was all this in that cute little package that is Ashley Winston.

Beauty And The Mustache is undoubtedly my favorite of the Knitting in the City series. I loved all the previous couples, their stories, they were all unique characters and I never felt like I was reading the same story twice. What made Beauty And The Mustache particular is how close to home it hit me. I could relate to some things, to Ashley relationship with her family, and maybe that’s what made this book so much more than just a romance comedy to me. You get to experience a large display of feelings and love of all forms.
I positively think that any reader will find a personal connection to Ashley and Drew’ story.

About the story…

After 8 years of leaving her own life in Chicago where she is working as a pediatric nurse, Ashley is coming back to Tennessee, due to a disturbing phone call. She needs to check on her family.

Although she kept a permanent contact with her Mom over the phone all these years, circumstances made her estranged to her 6 brothers for a long period.
Her decision to leave home in part due to her brothers behavior, she expects to find back 6 obnoxious bearded men.

“I don’t care which of you hillbilly, disease infested, flea bitten, cattywampus-heads are in here making this ruckus, but you will stop right this instant!”

On her first day back in her childhood home, Ashley is woken up by an irritating and loud noise, reckoning one of her brothers to be the origin of the morning racket. But she’s unexpectedly confronted to a wall of a man, the reason of her rude awakening. (Yes, I wouldn’t mind being woken up by this sight either. Come on over my house with your morning racket, Drew Runous. A.N.Y.T.I.M.E.)

“Gray-blue eyes, almost silver, held mine in a vice grip of anger and surprise. I felt an electric bolt, like I’d been tazered in the stomach. Other than a very slight shadow of wonder, he wore an expression that would have made a thunderstorm proud.


As well, he was so ruggedly sexy I’m sure my mouth fell open to protest the unfairness of his existence. Luckily, no sound emerged. I was too busy oscillating between stunned, mortified, and turned on.
This man was definitely not one of my brothers.”

Left flabbergasted by the news about her mom’s condition, she is bewildered to observe her brothers acting like grown, caring and mature adults. They all changed for the best, and the sad purpose of her presence back home is the perfect opportunity to reacquaint with her brothers.

I screamed.
He screamed.
My hands flew to my face.
He cursed.
I heard a thud and I turned away. I was now fully, and mortifyingly, awake.
“Shit, Ash. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Sorry, sorry, sorry—I should have knocked.”
“Nah… I should have locked the door. It’s just that everyone knows Tuesday mornings are my slot.”
I shook my head, my hands over my face, my back to my younger brother. “Your slot? What do you mean, your slot?”
“It’s my private time in the tub, you know, to get my rub on

The dynamic of the Winston’s family was caring a good part of the entertaining factor in BaTM! The banter issued by living in a house full of bearded men was to die for! Hilarious situations, dialogues as well as lovely demonstration of feelings. I wish I had my own Winston brothers.
Their mom was a hoot, too! I wouldn’t expect less from the woman who gave birth to Billy, Cletus, Jethro, Duane and Beauford and Roscoe.

“What I wanted to do was hide in my room with my latest novel and escape into a world without bearded, masturbating hillbillies.”

As it was the case in every Knitting in the series novels, you’ll get to experience the awesome that is Ashley’s support group. Her close friends, her knitting group, they are crazy. The good kind of crazy, occasioning more than one uncontrollable fit of laughter. So if Beauty And The Mustache is your first book in the series, you’ll be introduced with her woman posse, and have enough time to familiarize with Janie, Elizabeth, Sandra and their men, Quinn, Nico and Alex.

“You’re off your rocker and Janie is nuts. You’re both cracked nuts.”
“I would have brought a life-sized cut-out of Charlie Hunnam, but this one,” Sandra indicated to Elizabeth with her head, “thought it would be awkward.”

And then there’s Drew. Drew, quiet, caring, helping, supporting, admiring, giving, longing, staring, writing.


I could try to describe how wonderful, fascinating and appealing Drew Runous was, but I would fail, miserably.
My words would fail to do his character justice. The only and appropriate way to appreciate Drew’s qualities would be to read HIM. Penny Reid did here what very few authors can do, she created a man, not a dream man really, but someone tangible, someone who can be just for you to reach, a man whom even in a book commands the atmosphere in a room just by his presence. A man whose stare is as compelling as his words. A man whose words I can guarantee you, will be your undoing. Be very scared of Drew Runous, for he might become your absolute fantasy.

Ash,
Your sheets, still a white pile on the table, know that envy keeps me from washing them. You left an impression, deep creases where you lay your head, where they cradled your body. It was only three days, but they memorized your scent, they carry it even in their stillness.
Were they too gentle? Was their touch too light? Do you remember how it felt when they held you? Or did you never commit it to memory?
Was I too gentle? Was my touch too light? Do you remember how it felt when I held you? Or did you never commit it to memory?
– Drew

I’m not going to say much more about the story, as usual I don’t want to spoil all the fun, but I would HIGHLY recommend you to check Penny’s bright and wonderful world, she is a singular being, Miss Reid.

Wonder Woman, over.

`*•. ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. .•*

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Review: ✩Crossing the Line✩ by @Kele_Moon

October 3, 2014 by · Leave a Comment


Wyatt Conner is a hard man. A sixth generation sheriff in his hometown of Garnet. A former MMA fighter. His life is about following the rules and making sure everyone else in Garnet follows them too.Before life hurt him, Wyatt was different. Love had once blinded him to his upbringing and made him defiant against anyone who tried to separate him from the girl he loved. He easily broke laws to ensure her safety.

When she left it destroyed him.

Now she’s back.

Tabitha knew coming home was a mistake, but family obligation demanded it. She wasn’t expecting to run smack into the love of her life the same day she returned.

Despite the danger, Tabitha is powerless against the wild rush of desire that explodes between them the moment she finds herself in Wyatt’s arms again. She needs a second chance too, but she can’t risk Wyatt finally discovering the real reason she left.

Even for another taste of true love.

Tabitha knows her haunted past will destroy both of them if Wyatt finds out. What she suffered through was too terrible and it’s the one thing that will have him crossing the line for revenge.

Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Review5 stars

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.

Oh dear GAWD, this book! This wonderful, emotional, heart breaking and heart warming book. I can’t tell you why I waited this long to read it considering that I read the first two when they first came out. But all I know is that I absolutely loved it. It broke my heart at times, but then it mended it in the most beautiful way possible.

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

Wyatt made everything golden. Life was beautiful around him, and she loved him for it. 

Tabitha has not had an easy life. Between her alcoholic mother and drug addict and abusive brother, she hasn’t been a stranger to hunger, fear, and tears. But through all this, she has one light at the end of the tunnel, her protector and the boy that’s always stood by her, Wyatt.

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.

Tabitha was an incredible heroine as well. She was protective and loyal in her own right. Growing up the way that she did, she still managed to hang on to her sanity and have a meaningful relationship. She always had this understated layer of strength that I absolutely loved. Some of the things that she was forced to endure gutted me, and yet she always came out on the other end without the ‘woe is me’ mentality. And her love for Wyatt always persevered above anything else…until the very end

Somewhere along the way, Wyatt Conner had been imprinted on her soul. The threads that tied them together were unbreakable and bone deep. No matter how desperately she tried to untangle herself from him, somehow it just ended up pulling them tighter together.

She knows that her mother and wrong-side-of-the-law brother will never allow her to date the infamous son of the sheriff, but try as she might, she can only avoid Wyatt’s sweet yet persistent advances for so long. She knows she may not be good for him, but she’ll at least be good to him.

I love you, Tab.”
“I know.” She leaned down and kissed the place directly over his heart that was beating hard and fast. “But you shouldn’t.”

The story begins in the present, and then takes you back to the beginning to show the reader where and how everything began for Wyatt and Tabitha. It was an absolutely perfect progression, even though the story primarily is told in the past (It was a little over 60%).

Kele Moon painted such a beautiful and yet heartbreaking story of love that only grew through the years and even though it had every reason to, never fizzled out.

The odds were clearly stacked against them from the beginning, and you spend the entire time reading about their past just waiting for that other shoe to drop. I was equal parts anticipating it to see how it all plays out, and dreading it because I loved them together so much. Neither of these characters were perfect and yet they were absolutely perfect together.

Prepare yourself for an overload of feels, because their story will hit you right in the feelers

I love Kele Moon’s writing, and this book does an incredible job showing how talented of an author she is. It was perfect. It was emotional, it was beautiful, and it was erotic

He wanted to claim her. Own her, Leave his mark on her. He’d always known he loved her, but until now he hadn’t understood just how desperately he wanted to push her down on the bed and fuck her until he went blind from the pleasure of it.

The one minor quibble for me was at times the dialogue really grated on my nerves. The ‘ya’s’, ‘aint’s’, and constant use of ‘fella’ didn’t work for me. But luckily everything else was so fantastic, that it overshadowed the one small quible that I had.

If you haven’t yet read this author, this is a must read. The entire series is. And having read The Viper before this book, I appreciated the ending even more. You clever, clever girl, Kele.


Don’t miss the first 2 books in the Battered Hearts series!

    

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Review: ☆No More Mr. Nice Guy☆ by @AmyAndrewsbooks

September 29, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
 

He’s done playing the nice guy…Newly single school counselor Josie Butler just made herself a Sexy To-Do list (featuring Bad Boys only). To her mortification, her best friend’s gorgeous older brother Mack finds it…and laughs. But when Josie goes looking for some sexy fun, Mack’s nice guy side turns all hot bad-assery, and suddenly she’s pinned against an alley wall. Hottest. Sex. Ever.

Veterinarian Mack Kennedy can’t believe Josie wants to ditch her sweet, girl-next-door lifestyle. Even worse, that she’d consider doing it with anyone but him. When she leaves for London they’ll go back to being ‘just friends’ but until then, he’s going to show her just how bad nice guys can be.

And it’s the perfect plan, as long as no one finds out… and no one falls in love.

Buy Links
Review
4.5 stars

He was going to hell for this. Guys-who-screw-their-little-sister’s-best-friends hell.

If you’re looking for a whole new and sexy spin on a trope that’s been done countless times but still an old time favorite? This is definitely the book for you. Yes you get the brother hooks up with his little sister’s best friend thing…and yet, it was also so much more.
Josie Butler is a good girl. Having just gotten out of long term relationship that had all the excitement of watching paint grow, and just as much passion, she decides that now is the time to add a little excitement to her life. Considering she leaves for London in two weeks, it gives her the perfect opportunity. First things? No more nice, safe, and boring guys. Nope! She needs passion, excitement, she needs a bad boy….she also needs a to-do list to keep track of this.

Gotta be organized when embracing your bad girl side, right? So imagine her surprise when her best friend’s older brother and nice guy, Mack, notices her list the night after.

Mack Kennedy is a nice guy. Considering his ex cheated on him with a bad boy because he was just too “nice” for her, it’s not exactly a title he holds dear. But when he finds Josie’s list, suddenly he stops seeing the sweet girl next door and his sister’s best friend. All of a sudden she’s a woman…with breasts…that his lower half is suddenly very happy to get to know better.

His belly clenched tight, his heart thundered in his chest, and he could hear Barry White playing in his head.
Barry goddamn White.
Sal’s words echoed around inside his head.
You need to get back on the bike, Mack.
And Barry said, Oh yeah, baby.

When he calls Josie’s bluff on the list, she’s more than happy to prove him wrong. And when he realizes this, all of a sudden his inner bad boy and caveman come roaring to life.

Thus begins their agreement. Mack needs to get back on the horse, so to speak, and he’ll happily help Josie check (almost) every item off her check list and when Josie is off to London, they’ll go back to being friends.

Hold on to my shoulders.”
“Wh-what? Why?”
“Because I’m about to number ten you, and at some stage you WILL lose the ability to hold yourself upright.

Mack may be a nice guy, but let me tell you, when he embraces his inner bad boy? Oh but he does it right.

I want you hot and wet and naked. I want you crying out my name when you come, and I want to be deep inside you when you do.”

This book was positively SIZZLING. The chemistry between Mack and Josie was scorching. It was also funny and sweet and everything I absolutely love in my romances.

…she bit down on her lip to stop the whimper as her senses infused with the smell of Mack.
Without a doubt, she’d put Oliver Twist to shame tonight.

If you’re looking for a new author to love, a heroine to root for, and a hero to pant over, this is the book for you.

I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck. And I want to do it all over again.”

I absolutely loved this book. Amy Andrews caught me completely by surprise. While this was my first book by her, it certainly will not be my last. I really hope that she turns this into a series and gives us Sal’s book next. A sexy romance that I enjoyed from beginning to end.

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Review: ☆Watch Me Fall☆ by Nora Flite

September 25, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Pain, abuse, brutality. That was my life. I struggled and stressed; cried until I forgot what tears were. But I worked hard. I clawed to the peak.
And then I lost everything.
Most people would have shattered.
I’m not most people.
My dreams are gone, but that’s fine. I could have lived this tiny, broken life. I could have suffered in silence.
Until I met her: Noel.
God, she’s so alive. She makes me ACHE and I just…
I can’t ignore her.
So I won’t.
Noel thinks she can handle me. Survive me.
If she knew the truth—could see into my mind—she’d smarten up and run.
I’m so lucky she doesn’t have a clue.

–Author’s Note– This is a dark romance novel, it contains themes of violence and mature situations that could make readers uncomfortable.

Amazon (Only $.99 right now)


3.5 Stars

Pain doesn’t scare me. It lures me in.

When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I needed it in my life. I am a sucker for all things dark, and this one sounded right up my pervy little alley. Then I read the first chapter and I. Was. Hooked. The first half of the book I was completely engrossed in the story.

The world wasn’t fair. No, worse than unfair. It was cruel and cold.

Carter grew up the hard way. Constantly drowning under the pressure to be the best from his parents, who love their drugs more than their own son, he knows that pain will be his consequence. Ballet is his escape, it’s what he loves, and he works his ass off for it. Until one night when everything changes, when the mistakes of his parents catch up with him in a devastating hit that changes his life and his plans for a career in ballet forever. It is also the night that Carter finally loses his control on his darker side; a side that has been brewing throughout his entire childhood. A side that he did his damnedest to keep hidden and at bay. It’s dark and violent and when he gives it free reign, there’s no more going back.


Inside of me, curled around and swimming in my warm blood, there was a creature as awful and deadly as cyanide.

When his dream of attending the elite ballet school of his dream is shattered, he gets offered a semblance of hope from one of his instructors. So he accepts the offer to teach at a ballet school in Paris. It may not be what he wants, but what other choice does he have. And that’s where he meets her…


Noel Addison was twisting in my mind, sinking into the cracks of my brain. The only thing in my life I’d obsessed about like this was dancing.

After losing her mother to cancer, Noel only wants one thing; to attend the ballet school that her mother has such fond memories of. A talented ballerina, she has her choice of schools, and even though this one may not be the best, it’s a piece of her mother that she needs in the dark time after her passing.

Automatically catching the eye of the dark and broody instructor, Carter, her skill stands out. After all, the school is slowly dying and is the choice for those dancers that simply couldn’t make it anywhere else. Carter notices her skills right away, and he’s drawn to them and to the beautiful woman…but he knows that he is too dark for her. Too bad she tempts him until all reason fades away.


My ability to control myself was waning. She was a harsh ice storm, grinding way at my granite and polishing into infinity.

Their attraction is undeniable, though Carter attempts to fight it. The author did a great job of building a slow mounting sexual tension until the moment when it all combusts and let me tell you…when it does? It was SCORCHING.


Noel didn’t taste like cherries or sugar. This woman was gun powder and arsenic.

Watch Me Fall dances on the edge of darkness, though it never fully fell into it completely.

There are some dark elements; rough sex, erotic asphyxiation, and a domineering hero. But I felt it could have really grown from that into something much more. As a matter of fact I kept waiting for it.

Yes, the sex was scorching hot and at times almost borderline violent in it’s need. Unfortunately, Carter was a character I kept wanting to fully understand yet never truly did.

While I got his dark and violent urges from his past, it didn’t fully translate into his present. Maybe what was missing was a little more development in that part for me to really get invested in him as a hero? He constantly talks about his inner monster, but it just wasn’t something I connected to. I honestly can’t pinpoint what it was exactly, but it just didn’t quite work for me.

I also struggled to full understand Noel’s attraction to the pain and that side of Carter. Maybe she was just a masochist? I dunno. For whatever reason, while I felt the chemistry between them, I never really connected to the “romance” aspect of it.

All that said, this still was a solid 4 star read. I really loved the Nora’s writing style, she truly has a gift for weaving her words together beautifully. The best part? No naive and innocent virgins were to be found anywhere in this book. Unfortunately the ending felt rushed and it just all resolved so quickly and nicely that it didn’t match the rest of the book. I needed more from that. The epilogue was great, but it was like Carter flipped a complete 180 with his personality to me. Maybe it was just me, as I do tend to be extremely picky with my dark reads.


You have no idea what too far is! God, did no one teach you to be scared of monsters?”
“I was taught not to run from the things I want.”

I can’t say I would classify this as a dark romance, it was more gray for me. If you’re looking to dabble in the genre but scared of fully diving in, this may be the perfect book for you to start with. Fans of dark romance may not find it as intense as the blurb implies. Though it was still a highly enjoyable read, and I would definitely recommend it.

ARC very generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: ☆Take Down☆ by @MalleryMalone

September 20, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Powerful. Dominant, Unforgettable. He commands submission at all costs.

Cage fighter, Gabriel Devereaux, a man of barely leashed power, is known as the Bayou Beast.

There is one woman he will do anything , pay any amount to possess.

Karina Armistead, has come a long way from the innocent girl Gabriel used to know. An internationally known singer, she can have anything she wants. But everything tells her that getting involved with the Bayou Beast may leave her wrecked beyond repair.

Little does Karina Armistead know, but Gabriel has decided that she will be his.

He will destroy anything or anyone who stands in his way.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble
3.75 Stars


Back then he’d been her Gabriel, an angel who’d fallen just for her. Now he was the Bayou Beast, the ultimate fighter, the savvy entrepreneur, a predator with a barely banked rage burning in his eyes.

Even though I’ve recently grown an aversion to any book that contains the word ‘millionaire’ or ‘billionaire’ in the title, I can’t pass this series up. It’s a guilty pleasure for me. A short, well written, quick paced and sexy read that never fails to deliver. I love that each book has it’s own version of ‘lovers reunited’ trope, the heroines are fantastic, and the heroes are melt your panties off sexy. It just works for me. I’ve been waiting to finally get the story behind the broody and enigmatic Gabriel, or as he’s better known, the Bayou Beast. Gabriel may get his name from his fame as a cage fighter, but really it’s more for his penchant for illegal and underground no-holds-barred fights.


These days, only when facing possible death did he come close to feeling alive.

Women aren’t even on his radar unless it’s for a a night spent between the sheets…at least not until the one woman from his past that he never forgot comes back into his life.

Karina Armistead is an international sensation as a famous singer. In town for a charity auction that is near and dear to her heart. She’s no longer that innocent girl that Gabriel knew and then left, taking her heart with him. But that doesn’t mean Gabriel is prepared to let her go now, even if it means dropping a few million for a date with her for an auction.

The chemistry between Karina and Gabriel comes back to the blazing one that they shared over 10 years ago, only this time, Gabriel isn’t prepared to let her go.

I really liked this one, though book 2 is still my favorite in the series. I found some of the suspense/drama that went down towards the end to be just a little too OTT. Other then that, I enjoyed everything. I love that even though this is on the shorter end, Mallery Malone still gives the reader that burn of anticipation and doesn’t just throw the MCs into bed together right away. The plot is well developed, the chemistry is sizzling, and even though it’s a novella, it’s still a highly satisfying read. Most of the time when I read a novella the length is what keeps me from truly developing a real connection to the characters, but that’s never been the case for me with this series. Ms. Malone never fails to get the reader invested in the MCs and their romance. So if you’re looking for a quick and sexy read, definitely give this one a shot. While a part of a series, each book can easily be read as a standalone.


Don’t miss the rest of the series!

Knock Out (Billionaire’s Club: New Orleans #1)
Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Power Play (Billionaire’s Club: New Orleans #2)
My Review / Amazon / B&N



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Review: ☆Clinging to Rapture☆ by Megan D. Martin

September 20, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

“I let you walk away, Julia. I let you go, but I can still take you back if I want.”
Four months ago I ran away. I left him behind. The man who stalked me, took control of my body, and claimed he loved me.

Now he’s returned. Like dripping razor blades, he has slashed his way back into my life. But everything is different.

He doesn’t want me anymore.

I expected him to come back, to be sorry. I even planned to forgive him. I should have known that he would discard me like everyone else in my life. But I’m going to change that.

My billionaire stalker has come to say goodbye…only this time I plan to keep him.

Amazon

3.75 Stars


I let you walk away, Julia. I let you go, but I can still take you back if I want.

Well…hell. I devoured this book and yet I’m still left feeling…conflicted. There were parts I loved, parts that shocked me, and then there were parts that I just still don’t know how I feel about.

The ending of book 1 left me feeling unsure about Cole and his obsession with Julia. When all the cards were on the table and the truth was out, I was shocked as shit. Can an obsession that deep that leads you to stalk a woman for 2 years in your compulsive desire to have her ever lead to anything real? That was the one question I wanted an answer to in book 2, and you know what? I got it…mostly.


She’s going to destroy me. And there is nothing I could do to stop it.

Don’t expect this to be anything close to what the first book was like, because you’ll be grossly disappointed. I found this to be more story and character driven, and it sure as fuck was grittier. It definitely wasn’t as erotic as the first, but that didn’t really bother me in the least.

Clinging to Rapture is told in alternating flashbacks of past and present. It takes you back to that day 2 years ago that began an obsession that’s only burned hotter with each step that Cole got closer to Julia. The present begins with 4 months after Julia has left Cole after learning the truth behind how and why they met. She’s now barely making ends meet by working at a rundown gas station left only with memories that run hot and cold of her past life. The last person she expects to walk into the doors when she’s working is Cole…actually scratch that. Let’s make that Cole and his spawn of satan fiance.

No really. I mean what in the ever loving fuck? We go from one extreme of Cole being obsessed with Julia…to him being engaged to the bitch that he left the second Julia came on his radar 2 years ago. Seriously? SERIOUSLY?! Oh, did I mention that his men are still following Julia? Yeah.

And as much as Julia knows she should feel otherwise and tries to fight it, her feelings for Cole are a lot stronger than what she ever expected.


Cole made me weak. I seemed to be powerless when it came to him.

Readers that don’t enjoy constant flashbacks, may not like this one. Luckily, I wasn’t one of them. That actually worked for me. Big time. I needed that explanation and back story that I felt was missing in book 1. I gobbled up every little morsel of Cole’s past that Megan D. Martin threw my way. He went from an erotic enigma, to a very real, and a very broken man, with an obviously dark past.

His struggle with his obsession with Julia and trying to let her go was palpable. And he almost does it, until her life is in danger and everything else ceases to be of importance.

Now the suspense part of the book was crazy. It will leave you thinking you know who’s behind it, only to have you question it again a chapter later. Is it Julia’s psycho ex? Cole even more psycho fiance? Or Cole’s beyond psycho mother? I don’t fucking know! But I do know that some of the twists that the author throws at you left me in a disturbed state of WTF. (but that’s a good thing)

So why not 5 stars? A few things really. I don’t fully understand or connect to Cole’s reasons for going back to the fiance that he’s obviously no longer in love with and is just plain batshit cray. He constantly allowed her to degrade Julia where all I wanted him to do was kick her bitch on wheels ass out of his house. Also, considering his relationship with his mother, I just didn’t buy into his reasoning of doing anything for her. But perhaps that’s something that will be better explained in the 3rd book.

The cliffhanger here was not as bad as it was in the first book, but certainly still present. While the relationship between Cole and Julia is mostly established again, there’s still the death threat that is looming over them both. All I know? I need the 3rd book like fucking YESTERDAY! Gah.


And don’t miss the first book in the trilogy

My Review / Amazon

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