ARC Review: ★Nobody But You★ by Jill Shalvis

Review-Nobody but youNobody But You
Series: Cedar Ridge #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: March 29, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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SOMETIMES YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN…

After an overseas mission goes wrong, Army Special Forces officer Jacob Kincaid knows where he must go to make things right: back home to the tiny town of Cedar Ridge, Colorado. All he needs to scrub away his painful past is fresh mountain air, a lakeside cabin, and quiet solitude. But what he discovers is a gorgeous woman living on a boat at his dock.

Sophie Marren has nowhere else to go. She’s broke, intermittently seasick, and fighting a serious attraction to the brooding, dishy, I’m-too-sexy-for-myself guy who’s now claiming her dock. Something about Jacob’s dark intensity makes her want to tease—and tempt—him beyond measure. Neither one wants to give any ground . . . until they realize the only true home they have is with each other.

 

Buy LinksAMAZON | iBOOKS | B&NReview4.5 starsNobody but you-DGR

I’m not really into hurrying,” he said.
“What are you into?”
“Slow. Long. Hard. Hot. Dirty…” His teeth sank into her earlobe. “You still in?”


Sometimes a girl just needs a sweet, light and steamy romance with a quirky heroine and a broken but swoony heroine, and this book definitely delivered! It had the feels, the swoons, and the laughs. I enjoyed every single page of it!

Now I went into this a little backwards as I hadn’t read the previous two books in the Cedar Ridge series. That being said, I had absolutely no problems jumping right into the story and the book is easily read as a standalone. Though I do plan to rectify my mistake by going back and reading the other two books because I fell hard for the Kincaid siblings.

He’d been a lot of things in his lifetime: brother, son, friend, Army Special Forces officer. He was none of those things at the moment, though he intended to change that.

After years of being away, Army Special Forces officer Jacob Kincaid is back in the town of Cedar Ridge with the intent of making things right with his siblings and his mother. Fresh off a mission gone wrong overseas, he’s still dealing with the crippling grief and all the things that sent him packing overseas to escape in the first place. Jacob was such a great character. He’s broken and slightly broody, but at the same time he’s perfectly swoony. He was incredibly endearing and I loved how the author was able to get across his emotional wounds to the reader but yet he wasn’t an a-hole. He was just a regular man with issues. Nothing overboard, nothing crazy, and yet it worked oh so well.

Sophie Marren quite easily made this book for me. Here’s a woman that’s been married for years to the a-hole of the century. She gave up everything for him and yet after their divorce all she has to show for it is a boat she never wanted in the first place and a whole lot of justified bitterness. But she was such a breath of fresh air at the same time. While her marriage was anything but happy and she’s definitely bitter about how everything went down, she’s also incredibly quirky. I adored her sense of humor and the way she bantered with Jacob. When these two meet, the sparks fly right away and I simply couldn’t get enough of the two of them together.

They just made so much sense together and were this perfect combination of great banter and sizzling chemistry.

Nobody But You was everything I love about Contemporary Romance. It was written with feeling and packed in plenty of swoon and steam. The characters are incredibly endearing and I fell in love with all the secondary characters as well. This book is exactly why I’m such a big fan of Jill Shalvis. It’s just one of those feel good romances you’ll never want to put down. It will make you smile and it packs in just enough steam to make you pant. Simple romance perfection. I can’t recommend it enough!

ARC courtesy of publisher  in exchange for an honest review

Graphic is stock purchased and created by me for DGR blog. Please don’t share without permission


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER                                                                

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: ★Hooker★ by @BrookeBlaine1

Hooker tour bannerTitle: Hooker
Series: L.A. Liaisons, #2
Author: Brooke Blaine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 9, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

Hooker AMAZON

Whoever said singles were missing out by not finding true love and getting married before the age of thirty had never experienced the sheer pleasure of nightly romantic comedy viewings in their underwear while eating one of Licked’s famous Crazy Cat Lady sundaes. Because life just doesn’t get better than that.

At least, it doesn’t for Shayne Callahan. It didn’t take more than a handful of broken hearts after college to solidify that she was better at pairing up those around her than herself. As a matchmaker at the elite HLS—Hook, Line, & Sinker Matchmaking Company—in the City of Angels, she has a knack for finding the other halves of even the most eccentric clients:

Sugar daddy with a foot fetish? Gross, but no problem.
A severe case of nudophobia? Match made before lunch.

But even the most happily independent of women can find their best-laid plans screeching to a halt when they meet that guy. For Shayne, that guy comes in the form of boyishly handsome, suspender-lovin’, dimple-poppin’ Nate Ryan on a pantsless (we’ll get to that later) Metro ride.

Of course, relationships can never be easy. Before the destined lovers can ride off into the sunset, they must overcome a power-hungry and sexual-punning boss, a celebrity scandal and cover-up, and let’s not forget Shayne’s dreadful foot-in-mouth disease—with which there can never be a happily ever after.

Will fate throw Shayne a freakin’ bone? Or will she be destined to live out her life as sexy(ish), single(ish), and L.A.’s finest Hooker (upper)?

Buy Links

AMAZON US | AMAZON UKHooker Teaser 2 by Hang Le

Excerpt

“Hi,” I managed to say.
Nate nodded toward my legs. “Your pants are making me hungry.”Aaaand that was the point where I stopped breathing. Except to say, “What?”His eyes trailed down my body and rested on my thighs. Self-conscious, I looked down, almost sighing with relief when I realized my lower half was indeed covered this time, but that feeling went away pretty fucking fast when I saw the ice cream cones on my pajama pants practically flinging themselves at him.

Yes, I’d gone out in public in pajamas, so sue me. I hadn’t counted on running into…well, anybody.

“Oh. Oh yeah, um…I like ice cream,” I mumbled. “Especially from Licked, my friend Ryleigh’s store, although I have to say, her boozy shakes are unreal, especially the Make Me Quake Shake, which has these amazing pieces of those Ferrero Rocher balls in them, and they just give it the perfect amount of crunch so that you—” I stopped and took a breath when I noticed his grin getting wider. I swallowed and then said, “Not that I go there all the time or anything. Because I don’t. I mean, I’ve only been once or twice. You know…to taste test. Actually, I never eat sweets.”

He laughed then, and those penetrating eyes, tinged with more green than brown today, made their way up my body once more, pausing with what looked like amusement at my full hands. Then his gaze was on me and those dimples were out in full force.

“That’s too bad,” he said. “I’ve got a helluva sweet tooth.”

Wait…was he flirting with me? Was that a come-on? Or just stating a fact?

“Yeah, well, in that case your dentist probably hates you,” I said, readjusting the cold-ass meals in my arms. I’d be damned if I let those suckers go now. I’d tied my jacket around my waist, and my thin tank top would reveal a tit-bit more than I needed him to see.

He chuckled at that. Hmm. He had a nice chuckle. And a husky laugh. Both of which made my eyes zoom in on his throat. I wondered if it was as warm as it looked. He must’ve caught me staring, because he coughed, bringing my attention back to his face. His eyes were twinkling something wicked.

“You might be right about that,” he said. “Maybe I don’t like people telling me what to do. Or dictating what I can and can’t put in my mouth.”

My mouth dropped open, but I quickly snapped it shut. This guy was obviously a charmer, and after dealing with guys like him all day, the last thing I would do was fall prey to another arrogant playboy. Nope. Not me. Not gonna happen.

Hooker teaser 3 by Hang Le

Book Trailer 1

Review4.5 stars

There was only one thought on my mind as I watched him walk to his car and drive away. I was in trouble. Big, dirty, delicious trouble.

#HappyFeels

Brooke’s L.A. Liaisons series is my happy place. The books are guaranteed to put a smile on my face and make me feel like I’m frolicking through a field of rainbows and kittens. Too much? My point is, they’re the perfect feel good romances. They’re steamy, funny, fantastically developed and fabulously written. I’m hooked and I never want it to end!

I highly recommend reading this series in order since you really get a better feel for the girls’ friendship and get to know the characters before their books and it just heightens the enjoyment that much more. We met matchmaker extraordinaire, Shayne, in the previous book. Shane is the Aussie import of the group that works for a successful matchmaking company but unfortunately has a real c u next Tuesday for a boss. I was eager to get my hands on her story because 1. I love matchmaking plots and 2. I was hoping Shane would grow a spine and give as good as she gets when it comes to Val.

I can tell you I was beyond satisfied on both those ends.

I love how each book begins with a certain state of undress with the characters, and we get a bit of pantless action here since Shayne first lays her eyes on hottie, Nate, at a Pantless Metro Ride. A sexy man wearing suspenders and dimples would have caught my attention, too. I loved the added element of Nate being younger and yet he’s not your typical hero that you’d read. This is not a manwhore or a serial dater; this is a man that knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after and show his sensitive side.

Oh, Dimples, who would’ve thought that such a sentimental sap was underneath those sexy suspenders? Should I start taking you to chick flicks and forcing you to read love stories?”
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a good love story.”

I simply adored Nate and the way he pursued Shayne, even while Shayne was doing her utmost best to resist him.

While the romance was fabulous, what I’ve come to love the most about this series is the friendship that the girls have. It’s like this perfect rom-com where you have genuine friendships. There’s no backstabbing or cattiness, I can’t praise it enough for that. I love the friendship that they have and their banter. It reminds me of movies like The Sweetest Thing, which is still my go-to when I need a pick-me-up.

Brooke Blaine certainly knows how to give good romance and she delivers it flawlessly. She also sets up quite a story for Paige and Richard aka “Dick”. I for one can’t wait for Pita and Dick.

If you’re looking for a light romance to put a smile on your face and a chest full of swoons, you need to be adding this one to your TBR like yesterday!

About the Author
BrookeBlaineLogoYou could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her ‘quiet time.’ Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas.

She is the author of the international bestselling romantic comedy series, L.A. Liaisons (“Licked” and “Hooker), as well as Flash Point and The Desperate Man series. The latter, co-authored with Ella Frank, has scarred her conservative Southern family for life, bless their hearts.

If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find – just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for ten years.

Newsletter | Website | Facebook | Brooke’s Facebook Group | Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest


DON’T MISS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE L.A. LIAISONS SERIES!

Licked (L.A. Liaisons, #1)

Licked Cover

Amazon US | Amazon UK

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Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: Sparrow by @lj_shen

Review-SparrowSparrow
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: L.J. Shen
Release Date: March 8, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

27263454

Troy Brennan

Every Southie in Boston knows that name. The son of a dead mobster. The heart-throb with steel-blue eyes. “The Fixer” who can make or break you in this city.

Oh, and my new husband.

Sparrow Raynes 

That’s me. No one seemed to remember my name up until he barged into my life.
But then he caged me.
Kidnapped me.
And killed every chance I had to run away from the place where we grew up.
Put simply, Troy Brennan clipped my wings.

I have dreams, big ones, but I doubt he’ll ever let me chase them. I have no idea why he decided to take me as his wife. But I do know this: pissing off this man will not do me any good. At all.

Sparrow is a standalone, full-length novel. It contains graphic violence and adult situations some may find offensive.

Buy LinksAMAZON

Excerpt

“What do you do for a living?” I asked, more proof of how little I knew my husband.“Money,” he answered. “I make it.”

“What do you do for this money?” I pressed.

“I have a grocery store, a restaurant and a few private poker joints. Your dad is a bouncer in one of them. You know this shit.”

“The grocery store in Dorchester was losing money even before it opened. The poker joints are small and people always owe you money. That’s not how you pay for a Maserati and a penthouse the size of a football field.”

He arched an eyebrow, giving me a slow once-over with those frosty baby-blues. “She’s sharp, too.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I croaked.

“There’s one thing I do know, and it keeps me from spilling my shit in your ears—you hate my guts, Red.”

“I don’t hate your guts.” It took all the effort in the world to say it. Because I did. I hated Troy Brennan for marrying me, caging me, owning me and chaining me to his grim life and destiny for no reason other than because he could.

“Anyone ever told you that you’re a terrible liar?” His nostrils flared, but he kept his cool. He jerked me closer, wrapping his hand around the nape of my neck, his breath falling on my face with a whisper. “You wear the truth on your sleeve.”

I tiptoed my hand up to his face, my heart picking up speed as I stroked his bruise. Ballsy move, but I was afraid of him. Afraid that his frustration with me would swell and that he’d send me off back to the bedroom.

Fear is a prison, and in prison you played by different rules to survive.

Troy’s eyes narrowed on mine skeptically. The epitome of ruthless, his lips turned into a challenging smirk. “Prove you don’t hate me.”

And I did. I leaned up and pressed my lips against his softly.

I kissed him.

I kissed the husband I hated so much. Against reason, against logic, against everything my heart was telling me.

I kissed him because I wanted something from him. A job. A chance at happiness. Some freedom.

He fisted the hem of my nightshirt and in two big steps shoved me to the nearest wall, slamming me against it. My back felt the impact, and I arched to soothe the pain trickling down my spine. It felt different than the usual ache of flesh hitting concrete. Made my body buzz with something unfamiliar. Desire bit at my insides, and just like that, I got lost in his touch again.

His lips searched for mine angrily as he took one of my thighs and wrapped it around his waist, lifting me off the floor, only him and the wall supporting my weight. His erection pulsated beneath the fabric of his suit pants, and I resisted the instinct to grind against him. I lifted my arms to touch his smooth hair, running my hands down his slick mane.

He was a cheater.

A criminal.

A murderer.

And I was…fascinated.

Review4.5 starsSparrow-DGR

My father had sinned. But I was to be punished.

Sparrow Raynes grew up the daughter of a drunken father who happened to work for one of the most feared men in the Boston underground. But now that man is dead, and his son who’s known to be even more ruthless is to be her husband…and she has no idea why other than it’s been arranged and her father agreed to it. So she’ll do it, but she won’t like it. In her eyes it’ll be a marriage in name only because no way can she give her heart to the devil with the steel-blue eyes that’s known as The Fixer. He’s ruthless, he’s cold-blooded, but she refused to cower from him like even the most deadly of the deadly underground seem to…
Sparrow-DGR2Troy Brennan doesn’t hold any allegiances to anyone. His father may have been top dog in the Irish mob, but he’s dead now. There’s a reason Troy is know as The Fixer. He’s the one the rich and powerful call on to “fix” things. He’s infamous in the Boston underground for his ruthlessness and just as feared. But now he’s stuck marrying a girl he wants nothing to do with out of an obligation that she’s doesn’t know of. But the woman that he thought is a demure tomboy has a whole lot more spark to her that begin to slowly change the way he wants things to be…

Love and hate are similar in a lot of ways.”
“Is there a way to love you away from me?”
“No, but you could hate-fuck me all you want.”

Sparrow was exactly the kind of gritty anti-hero that I needed. L.J. Shen was not afraid to stick true to her characters and pulled no punches to do so, and I respect the hell out of her for this. Yes, Troy did some things that may not sit right with some readers, but for this reader, I loved to hate it. See I love when an author takes risks to stay true to the characters and that was definitely the case here. This is no insta lust, insta-love, or insta-anything. Troy and Sparrow’s connection formed over time and it felt authentic because of that. Considering how Troy is and where he came from, I wouldn’t have bought it any other way.

I’m saying if I can’t eat it, fuck it or kill it I have no interest in it.”

It was entertaining as hell to watch Sparrow really come into her own throughout the story. She has a backbone to begin with, but I just loved watching her give as good as she gets and she just gets stronger with the progression of the story. What was even better was that she wasn’t stupid. She doesn’t instigate or make silly decisions out of spite, she’s smart about it, which is a refreshing change of pace. She doesn’t want to like her husband, but watching him unknowingly get under her skin and grow on her was so entertaining to read. As for their chemistry? That was though the roof hot!

My monster, my capturer, my corrupter. My lover.

L.J. spared no detail to make her story gritty and real. It was action packed, super sexy, and filled with twists and turns. It was enough to keep me at the edge of my seat the whole time and eagerly turning the pages to see what will happen next. The romance was sizzling hot and together with the plot it all came together perfectly.

…the rumor is you like it kinky.”
“I like it interesting…
I like it delicious…
I like rough…
But most of all, I like it with you.”

My only minor quibble with the book was that it went a little much and too creative with the analogies at times. But that was such a minor thing compared to everything that I loved about it that I barely batted an eyelash at it.

The story was quick paced and kept me reading well into the night. I couldn’t seem to put it down until I finished. It’s not often when an author can surprise me with a hell of a twist but boy this one did! I loved every page of it.

This was my first book by this author, but I can say with utmost certainty that it will definitely not be my last. L.J. Shen clearly has a talent to write one hell of a punch with her romances and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. If you’re looking for an anti-hero read with a great heroine to boot and a believable romance, you need to be one-clicking this one right meow.

Graphic is stock purchased and created by me for DGR blog. Please don’t share without permission



About the Author

L.J. Shen is a former entertainment and music journalist and your average typical girl. She enjoys the simple things in life, like coffee, wine, traveling, spending time with her family and internet-stalking Chris Hemsworth.

She lives in Northern California with her husband, son and chubby cat and spends her days reading and her nights writing.

She is 29, lived in three continents, speaks three languages and thinks bras should be outlawed.

Feel free to contact her on Twitter and Facebook:

Giveaway

If you follow me on Facebook or Goodreads, then you already know how much I’ve been gushing about this book! I loved the absolute fuck out of it. I’m a reader that gravitates towards the dark and gritty and this one sure as hell brought it! I’m so excited to be able to spotlight this book on the blog today! But not only that, LJ Shen has been generous enough to donate a SIGNED PAPERBACK for the occasion! So I’m hosting a giveaway for that and one lucky US dirty bird will win this pretteh! Make sure to scroll to the bottom of post for the giveaway link 😉

ENTER HERE for a chance to win a SIGNED PAPERBACK of SPARROW!

 

Review & Giveaway: ★Sinner’s Creed★ by @authorkimjones

Review-Sinner's CreedSINNER’S CREED
Series: Sinner’s Creed #1
Genre: MC, Erotic
Author: Kim Jones
Release Date: March 1, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

61+0Yy-iBiL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_

First in a new series—welcome to the Sinner’s Creed Motorcycle Club, where hard bodies and hot leather are made for each other, and love gone wrong is the most irresistible of all…
 
“I was the demon-possessed monster and she was the innocent, naïve angel. But none of that matters. She asks, I give and right now, I’ll kill anyone who tries to stop me from giving this woman what she wants—me.” 

Dirk lives in the shadows—performing hits, maintaining order, and upholding the no-holds-barred legacy of the Sinner’s Creed Motorcycle Club. A nomad with a restless spirit and a cold heart, the open road is his world. One of the few constants in his life: his desire for the one woman who has consumed his thoughts for years.

Saylor Samson grew up far from the harshness of Dirk’s world. But ever since she was seventeen she’s been drawn to this dark and mysterious man who always seemed to show up just when she needed him.

After years of fated encounters, he’s back. This time he’s taking her. This time she’s ready for the ride. But just when the darkness in Dirk’s life begins to fade, Saylor reveals a secret that puts them both to the ultimate test. Now, Dirk has to make a decision: submit to his destiny with the MC, or choose his own.

Buy LinksAMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS

Review4.5 starsSinner's Creed-DGR

I was the predator and she was the prey. I was the shark and she was the bait. I was the demon-possessed monster and she was the innocent, naive angel.

Have you ever read a book that touched you on such a visceral level you almost felt like you were living it along with the characters. Where you felt every emotion, every painful revelation, every bruise and emotional scar? A book that gutted you and at the same time you can’t stop thinking about? A book that you just know will stay with you for a long while yet? Sinner’s Creed was that book to me.

Sinner’s Creed is unlike any other MC romance I’ve read in a long time, if ever. And that’s saying a lot considering just how many books I’ve read in this genre. It’s a gritty, unapologetic and violent. It’s authentic and emotion and real. It’s absolutely fucking gut wrenching. Kim Jones brought her A-game with this one and you can feel it on every page. I have a feeling this will be the book I compare all other MC books to. Is it a romance? At its core, yes. But it’s so much more than that….

What sets it apart is it’s told entirely in Dirk’s POV. The readers will get a front row seat into the mind of a truly broken man…and learn to love him for it.

This is a 1 percent MC. These are men who are trained to hurt, trained to endure hurt, and trained to kill. But only a few can compete with the best. And I’m the best. I’m the best at hurting, enduring, and killing. I’m the man they fear because I have nothing to lose, and they know that.

Dirk is a nomad National for Sinner’s Creed MC. He’s the shadow that you don’t see coming, and only see right before your final breath. He’s a third generation, and the MC life is all he knows. He grew up with violence and blood. The club is his life and his salvation. He rides for it, he kills for it, and he knows that eventually he’ll die for it. But then a blonde beauty rocks his world to its very core.

Every man has a purpose. I always thought mine was with the MC. Now I know the real purpose of my existence. To be anything Saylor Samson wants me to be.

Their connection is instantaneous, and yet it also worked for me when normally I’d struggle with something that quick. But being inside Dirk’s head really helped. Have you ever tried to show love to a dog that’s been abused his whole life and trained only to kill? They don’t know what to do with that affection. They equal parts fear it and yearn for it. That’s exactly what happened with Dirk. This is a man who hasn’t known an ounce of kindness or affection is entire life, yet Saylor understands him in a way no other ever has. She accepts him for everything he is and falls for him anyway. But can a man that’s the death dealer for an MC hold on to something so beautiful and fragile?

Who did I want more? Her of the club? I couldn’t live a life where they both existed. It wasn’t possible.

Saylor was a difficult character for me to truly grasp at first. Her behavior doesn’t quite make sense at first. She comes across as almost too accepting of Dirk, considering they barely know each other when they get together. But let me tell you, there’s a very good reason for it and once you find it out, all those puzzle pieces fit together.

You’ll never have to worry about me feeling like this for anybody else, because there will never be anybody else. If what I feel for you is love, then you are what love is. And it doesn’t exist if you don’t.

Dirk and Saylor’s relationship may have started off from 60 right away, but there was always something so fateful about it. I was totally buying what the author was selling and man oh man but she sold their love to me. I felt it to my very core. It could have been cheesy or OTT, but it never was. It was beautiful, and real, and authentic. I was eating it up with a spoon and loving every second of it.

I feel her love piercing my heart back together. I feel her body that moves in sexy sways in my arms. And I feel her soul. A soul that God didn’t need to shine any mercy on. Because this one, this one was made perfect.

But don’t think this is a lovely romance, because it’s not. Kim Jones truly throws the reader into the underbelly of the MC life and spares no detail. It’s violent, gritty, and unapologetic. It felt authentic and real as hell.

Now for my sensitive soul reader friends, please keep in mind that this story has a non-traditional HEA. Now as a reader, I strongly avoid those because man but they gut me. Yet the way everything concludes here just fit. It stayed true to the characters and their story and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I can tell you that I spent the entire last 30% of this book a hysterical and blubbering mess. I could barely read the pages though the constant stream of tears. But god it made me feel. It was such an authentic ending to such an incredible story that I loved it all the more for that. I recommend this book to any lovers of MC romance. Take a chance on this book, and I think you’ll fall for Dirk and Saylor just as hard as I did. I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store, because if this book is anything to go by, I already know I’ll be in for one hell of a ride. Pun most definitely intended.

You’re late.”
“I’m Dirk.”
“I’m Saylor.”
“I know.”

Graphic is stock purchased and created by me for DGR blog. Please don’t share without permission
Giveaway

Want to win a paperback or an e-book of Sinner’s Creed? I’m giving away a copy on my FB page HERE

New Release & Review: ★The Heart of It★ by @MollyOKwrites

Review-THoITHE HEART OF IT
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella
Author: Molly O’Keefe
Release Date: February 29, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

TheHeartOfIt-v5

On the outside rich and successful Gabe Paterson has everything.

No one would guess the ghosts from his past are tearing him apart.

Desperate, he reaches out to Elena – a resilient call girl, with her own childhood scars – for help.

In their moments of honesty, the two forge the most surprising relationship of their lives.

But will they be brave enough to make it into something more?

Buy LinksAMAZON 

The Heart of It Graphic 3

Review4.5 starsThe heart of it-DGR

He was a bag of lies and half-truths and she was without counterfeit. There could have been a hundred women sitting at this bar and he would have only seen her and the brilliant truth of her.

Can you write a heartfelt and poignant story full of steam and emotion in under 70 pages? If you’re Molly O’Keefe not only can you, but you do it effortlessly. The Heart of It is a must read for any fans of this author. It’s captivating and erotic; full of feeling and emotion. It’s short but satisfying and yet still left me craving more; not because it was lacking, but because I just didn’t want it to end. I don’t believe I’ve ever rated a novella so highly in all my reading experience. Not only am I rating it for the wonderful story, but the mere fact that the author managed to pack in as much development and emotion as she did in these few short pages.

The characters are so well developed they practically leap from the pages. Considering the subject matter it touches on, I was blown away at just how much this author accomplished with just 67 pages. It’s a beautiful story of healing. A story of meeting that one person that finally changes everything. Elena and Gabe couldn’t be more different. Heck, they practically live on opposite ends of the world for all the differences between them. A high class escort and a successful author of children’s books that’s haunted by the demons of his past share an experience together that irrevocably changes them both.

Miss O’Keefe does an incredible job laying the foundation of a truly broken man for the readers. Gabe is no perfect in any means even while he may live the picture perfect life on the outside. He’s a man with a past that won’t let go of his present. He’s a man that hopes to find some solace in the arms of a beautiful escort if only for one night. I loved how endearing his imperfections came across. You can’t help but fall for him and want to heal all his emotional scars. He was this gentle giant that was just perfectly imperfect. Elena has scars of her own from the past, but she’s a heroine I connected with right away. She’s strong in an understated way. She doesn’t flaunt herself, but she owns her sexuality. Both of these characters were simply refreshing in their originality.

What a wonderful treat the author has written for her fans. I only wish it was longer.

If you haven’t read anything by Molly O’Keefe yet, but enjoy novellas by Cara McKenna and Anne Calhoun, this is an author you’ll want to check out. Trust me on that.

New Release & Review: ★Divided★ by @ivystoneauthor

Review-DividedDIVIDED
Series: Unguarded #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 22, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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We were strangers.
Two people on different paths that were never meant to cross.

He saved me.
I ruined her.
We had no control.
We were powerless against fate. 
It wasn’t wrong, it wasn’t right, but it was real.
Ours was a toxic love. So lethal it was destined to ruin us both, and it did. In the end, everything went wrong for all the right reasons. 
Our lives divided. But our love would be infinite.

A forbidden crush.
A destructive romance.
A fierce love.

Roamyn & Alison
An Unguarded Novel

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Review4.5 starsDivided teaser-DGR

 

He wasn’t supposed to show up on that bridge.
He wasn’t supposed to fill me with a slither of hope, for more, for different. But he did.

When I read Exposed last year, I knew two things immediately:
1. I found myself a new author to read
and
2. I desperately needed Ali and Roamyn’s story

The set up for their book sounded utterly delicious, in a super angsty and tortured way. Clearly this couple had a backstory that I needed to know about.

He fought for the both of us. He pulled away. I pushed back. We’re a mess. Reckless. Beautiful. Destructive. And I’ve never wanted anything more in my life.

Ali is not the typical heroine you’d find in books. She’s a tortured soul; a drug addict, a stripper, a woman that put her sister through hell and back in the first book. You know that there must be a good reason for her to have become the woman that she is now, and that is the story that Divided gives you.

This book takes you back all the way to the beginning. To the night that changed Ali irrevocably. To the night that is the sole reason for who she is today. Her backstory was utterly gut wrenching and heart breaking. I wasn’t sure from reading the first book and seeing Ali’s behavior if I’d connect with her as a heroine. I knew I was curious about her as a secondary character, but was she a strong enough character to hold her place as the heroine of the story. I can safely tell you that she was and more…

You’re not lost. You just haven’t found yourself yet.

Roamyn is twelve years older than Ali. But what her sister and Roamyn’s best friend don’t know, is their history goes back years. He first met her when she was just a broken little girl. But that meeting, that one fateful night, changed the course of both their lives.
Divided 2-DGRRoamyn and Ali’s story is not an easy one. It’s filled with heartbreak and pain. It’s angsty and gritty. It’s basically everything I love in my romance and Ivy Stone serves it up brilliantly.

Roamyn is not a perfect man. He struggles with his connection to Ali, and the age difference is just a small reason why. Their relationship is a slow burn built up over several years. But when these two finally do get together? They’re combustible!

Seven fucking years.” He breathes out through each thrust…
“You’re worth every excruciating second of the wait.”

While Divided focuses on a different couple from the first book and their HEA, do yourself a favor and read the series in order. While the author does a fantastic job giving you the backstory along with any details you may have missed without having it sound redundant, it helps to read Exposed first. It gives you the bones of the backstory of Ali and her sister. I highly recommend you read that first.

As for Divided? I loved it just as much as the first book. It had just that right amount of angst and grit that I come to crave in my books. If you’re looking for a gritty and sexy romance with imperfect characters that are simply perfect together, you’ve found your next read.


DON’T MISS BOOK ONE IN THIS AMAZING SERIES! 51sOKD9PKHL._SX311_BO1,204,203,200_GOODREADS | MY REVIEW | AMAZON

New Release & Review: ★Fade Into You★ by @TracyWolff

Review-Fade Into YouFade into You
Series: Shaken Dirty #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Tracy Wolff
Release Date: February 15, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

She’s one addiction he can’t resist.

Wyatt Jennings has been called a lot of things by the media. Bad-boy rocker. Intense drummer. Addict.

Finally out of rehab and desperate for a fresh start, Wyatt rejoins his mega-platinum rock band Shaken Dirty as they prepare for their world tour. But Wyatt’s demons are never far behind, always nipping at his heels for one. More. Fix.

Enter Poppy Germaine, the band’s new social media consultant. A beautiful bombshell who somehow manages to get underneath Wyatt’s skin, Poppy’s an addiction Wyatt can get behind. And even though she’s with the label—and therefore off-limits—he craves her. Needs her.

Except Poppy isn’t actually a social media consultant. She’s the daughter of the label’s CEO, sent undercover to babysit Wyatt and keep him from falling off the wagon again. Proving herself to her father is Poppy’s only goal—until she finds herself in Wyatt’s bed. But if Wyatt discovers the truth, it could send him spiraling all over again…

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Review: ★Taking The Score★ by @KittyMeader

Review-Taking The ScoreTaking the Score
Series: Tall, Dark, and Texan #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kate Meader
Release Date: February 15, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…

His office temptation is now his full-blown fantasy…

Paying down her sister’s debts has left personal assistant Emma Strickland with little more than the thrift store suit on her back. And as if the suckfest couldn’t get worse, she’s forced to get a second job as a waitress to support herself and her cat. At a strip club. Her uptight, sexy-as-hell boss Brody Kane can never find out.

Texas property tycoon Brody Kane hired Emma for her spreadsheet skills, but her prim and proper demeanor sealed the deal. There’s no room in his life for a sexy distraction…and yet, he can’t stop lusting after the delicious Ms. Strickland.

But then he takes an important client to a Chicago strip club and gets the worst lap dance in adult entertainment history. From Emma.

Now that he knows his office good girl has a naughty streak, Brody makes it his mission to uncover her secrets, one illicit, over-the-desk encounter at a time. But Emma is hiding more than her side job, and her final secret could end up destroying them both.

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Review: ★Taking Fire★ by Cindy Gerard

Review-Taking FireTaking Fire
Series: One-Eyed Jacks #4
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Cindy Gerard
Release Date: February 23, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Betrayal. Retribution. Redemption?

Six years ago, tough-as-nails military contractor Bobby Taggart met the woman of his dreams in war-torn Kabul—a sexy, whip-smart war correspondent who approached him at a local bar, took him to bed, made him fall in love…and then mysteriously disappeared. In her wake, the terrorist leader he’d been mining for valuable intel was assassinated—then Bobby discovered his phone had been bugged. And he’s pretty damn sure he’s been played for a fool.

Now, a covert security mission for the U.S. Embassy in Oman unexpectedly reunites him with Talia Levine, the woman who betrayed him and broke his heart. And there’s one more secret she hasn’t told him—one that will change his world. But as the heat of anger mixes with a still-simmering passion, dangerous forces close in, their sights set on Talia. Trust is the only way they will survive—but with their lives in the balance, can Bobby risk trusting her again?

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New Release & Review: ★Hot Protector★ by @LynnRayeHarris

Review-HPHOT PROTECTOR
Series: A Hostile Operations Team #10
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 19, 2016add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Sometimes the forbidden is impossible to resist…

Special Ops soldier Chase “Fiddler” Daniels is just back from a dangerous mission overseas. He needs sleep and sex—and not necessarily in that order. When Sophie Nash arrives on his doorstep, he doesn’t recognize the stepsister he hasn’t seen in ten years. And when she spins a tale involving a Russian billionaire and secret files, he doesn’t believe her. Until someone firebombs his apartment with them inside…

Now they’re on the run, and grown-up Sophie is more compelling than he ever thought possible. But she’s off-limits, and Chase won’t cross that boundary—or will he?

Sophie Nash only wants life to return to normal. Get the files she mailed to Paris and find out what’s in them. Stop Grigori Androv from hurting anyone else. Live and let live. Except the stakes are high in this game of cat and mouse, and there’s no assurance she’s going to come out on top. Maybe that’s why she can’t quite resist Chase’s alpha magnetism.

Or why she finds herself falling for her very hot, very lethal—very forbidden—protector…

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AMAZONReview4.5 starsHot Protector-DGR

Oh God,” she gasped…
“Oh Chase will do.”

There’s two things I’m guaranteed when I pick up another book in this fantastic series:
(1) I’m going to read it in one sitting
(2) I’m going to love every single page of it.
No really. I’m not even kidding. Ten books into the series and Lynn continues to not only maintain the mark, but exceed it with every turn. They keep getting hotter and hotter and the story lines get better and better. There’s a reason I say this series is my crack and I hope it never ends!

…you’d better be prepared- because I’m not tame, or safe- and I won’t stay within the lines.

Chase “Fiddler” Daniels has always been a great secondary character but I couldn’t wait for him to get his own book. He surely didn’t disappoint. Admittedly I was a little afraid about the whole step siblings thing, but the way that the author handled it was perfect. They obviously don’t live together, and Chase isn’t close to his father (Sophie’s step father). There’s a clear separation. And them both being adults definitely helps quite a bit.

The story itself was addictingly good. Sophie gets herself into some hot water when she realizes that the man that she was dating may be tied to Russian organized crime. To make matters even more dangerous, when she runs from him she takes something of his with her. Something that he’s willing to kill to get back. Police aren’t an option for Sophie when the man hunting her may have leverage over them, so there’s only one man she can think that will help her; Chase.

The last person Chase expected to see on his doorstep is the step sister that he hasn’t seen in over ten years. Having severed all ties with his father, he wants nothing to do with that family and that includes Sophie. But when he sees the imminent danger she’s in, he knows that he’ll do anything to protect her. He just has to make sure that he protects his heart too because the more time he spends with Sophie, the more he realizes that she draws him in in a way that he can’t deny for long.

He didn’t care if he left a mark. Hell, he wanted to leave a mark. He wanted to brand her as his for as long as he felt like this.
However long that might be.

Hot Protector 2 @DGRHot Protector was another hit. I love that Lynn is beginning to add a secondary story going with Mendez and she’s able to do that by flawlessly weaving it into the story. I also loved getting another little taste of Ian Black. I cannot wait for his book to finally come out, but I’ll take whatever scraps the author throws my way in the meantime.

This series is everything I love about Romantic Suspense. It’s an action-packed ride fused together with sizzling hot romance. It’s thrilling and erotically charged and my absolute go-to when I want a guaranteed enjoyable read and I can’t wait for more!

Each book is easily read as a standalone, so don’t be intimidated by the amount of books. However, I strongly recommend reading it in order since the entire series is fantastic!

Graphics are stock purchased and created by me for DGR blog. Please don’t share without permission

READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

Read the series in order!

Book 1: Hot Pursuit

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Book 2: Hot Mess

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Book 2: Hot Mess

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Book 4: Dangerously Hot

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Book 4: Dangerously Hot

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Book 6: Hot Rebel

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Book 6: Hot Rebel

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Book 8: Hot & Bothered

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Book 9: Hot SEAL

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Book 10: Hot Protector

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