Review: Chasing Bliss by Lexi Blake

April 24, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

CHASING BLISS
Series: Nights In Bliss #7
Genre: Erotic Romance, Menage, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: April 23, 2019

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Gemma Wells came to Bliss, Colorado, after a scandal cost her everything. Utterly lost, she’s built walls so high, she thinks no one can get through them. She’s done with love and friendship and all matters of the heart.

Jesse McCann and Cade Sinclair have floated through life, enjoying the world around them, but not becoming a part of it. One look at the pretty attorney and Jesse realizes he’s found a reason to stay put. Cade is crazy about her, but his dark past keeps him at arm’s length. He wants her, but he’s sure he doesn’t deserve her.

But a secret from Gemma’s past threatens to wreck their futures. Her fiancé is back and brings danger with him. Time is running out. Jesse and Cade have to melt this Ice Queen’s heart or she might not leave Bliss alive.

AMAZON

The one who hugged me is Jesse McCann, and he’s apparently a bit of a pervert. The one who’s running away is the man formerly known as Bare-Chested Ape Man. His real name is Cade. Sinclair, I think. Apparently he likes to be naked. Like a lot. This place is weird.”
Naomi grinned. “This place is awesome. So you’re being pursued by a nudist and a Dom?”

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this series is my crack. A guilty pleasure read that always leaves me satisfied with just the right amount of action and suspense drizzled around an enticingly sexy MFM romance. The fictional town of Bliss makes for a charming background filled with quirky and vivid secondary characters that I’ll never get enough of.

After meeting Cade and Jesse in the previous book, I was more than ready for their story. Two sexy mechanics? Bring it on, I say. Of course, in true series fashion, one of them will ultimately be the damaged one and the other be pushing forward for love. And while it may sound formulaic, it never gets old for me. Cade is the standoffish one to Jesse’s lighter side. Though Jesse definitely has his own frustrating quirks himself. And while admittedly I got tired of Cade’s constant push back, I liked the way that Jesse’s easy going demeanor balanced out the dynamic.

Gemma is a heroine that was impossible not to like for me. The woman hides a soft heart beneath a brash and snarky exterior. And yes, this may be because I found her to be my spirit animal, but i just couldn’t help but find her endearing. This is a woman that’s been through a lot and life hardened her edges. She’s slow to trust and she has no problem putting someone in their place. It takes a lot for Jesse to find get to that delicate center she hides so well. And when Cade discovers that she’s not quite the ball buster big city chick that she comes across as, he can’t seem to stay away from her.

I loved the way Gemma gave them both hell and I definitely loved the way they both worked for her in their own right. While I did get frustrated with each of them at some points in the story, I still couldn’t get enough. The action and suspense was perfectly paced and of course I loved more glimpses of my poor broken Michael. I can’t wait for his book! As for this one, it was another fantastic addition to one addicting series!

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New Release & Review: Black List by Lynn Raye Harris

April 23, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

BLACK LIST
Series: Black’s Bandits #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Release Date: April 23, 2019

Jace Kaiser is a man without a country, without connection. His only loyalty is to the group who saved him, and the man who leads them. 
Until her…

The assignment should have been easy. Capture a deadly assassin and take her to HQ. But flawed intel leads to disaster, and Jace abducts a beautiful art appraiser instead. Intrigued by her courage, he’s drawn to her in ways he can’t explain. Dr. Madeline Cole stood up to him, fought for her identity, and never backed down. She’s the kind of woman he could fall for if it wasn’t so dangerous–for her.

Then Maddy is targeted for elimination because she’s the sole person who can identify the mysterious female assassin–and the only thing standing between her and certain death is the sexy mercenary who swears he’ll die before he lets anything happen to her. As the passion between them ignites, it seems clear that keeping Maddy safe has become the most important assignment of Jace’s life.

Even then, protecting her might not be enough–because Jace has secrets that could destroy them both. And someone is determined to unmask them all…

AMAZON

I’m not safe,” he told her. Growled at her, really. “Don’t you know what this is, Maddy?”
She licked her lips. Shook her pretty head. Her eyes were wide. Not scared, but slightly shocked. She didn’t speak.
“It’s a seduction,” he told her. “I want you beneath me. On top of me. Surrounding me. I’ve never even kissed you, and I want you so badly my knees are weak with it.”

Well hot diggity damn! Looks like I’ve got myself another smokin’ hot spinoff to obsess over. See what I did there? HOT series? HOT Spinoff? Ha! I crack myself up sometimes. Quit judging me! It was funny in my head. But I digress.

If you’ve been a devoted Ian Black addict like me, you’ll be practically wetting yourself with excitement over this brand new series. Because we finally get a series for those covert mercenaries that we’ve seen make appearances in so many HOT books. And let me tell you, friends, they’re even hotter than I thought!

The first book brings us the story of the mysterious Jace Kaiser. The man is clouded in mystery like his boss. And if the prologue was anything to go by, you knew you were in for one hell of a ride with his story. A case of mistaken identity when hunting down a dangerous and lethal target, leads Jace down a path he never expected. I mean, it’s not everyday that you essentially kidnap a woman that you think is a lethal assassin only to discover she’s exactly who she says she is. And who she is tempts you like no other. Maddy was a bit too sweet for my tastes at times, but she balanced Jace’s edges nicely. Admittedly, I had a little bit of a hard time connecting to her because I like my heroines with a bit more of an edge, but this is totally a personal bias. Ultimately I loved her and Jace together.

But what REALLY stole the show for me here was the intro to one secondary character that I knew right away would be my catnip. And at the end of the book, I discovered I was not wrong. Holy hot damn! If they end up with who I think they end up with, I’m already salivating for that book. And if you were craving more Ian Black, not only do you get him here, but you even get a peek into his head with a few chapters in his POV. Suffice it to say, this reader was on book cloud 9! I can’t wait for more in this series!

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Review: Praying For Rain by BB Easton

April 11, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

PRAYING FOR RAIN
Series: Praying For Rain #1
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Author: BB Easton
Release Date: April 11, 2019

“None of this matters, and we’re all going to die.”

With only three days left until the predicted apocalypse, the small town of Franklin Springs, Georgia, has become a wasteland of abandoned cars, abandoned homes, abandoned businesses, and abandoned people. People like Rainbow Williams.

Rain isn’t afraid of dying. In fact, she’s looking forward to it. If she can just outrun her pain until April 23, she’ll never have to feel it at all.

Wes Parker has survived every horrible thing this life has thrown at him with nothing more than his resourcefulness and disarming good looks. Why should the end of the world be any different? All he needs are some basic supplies, shelter, and a sucker willing to help him out, which is exactly what he finds when he returns to his hometown of Franklin Springs.

As society crumbles, dangers mount, and secrets refuse to stay buried, two lost souls are thrust together in a twist of fate—one who will do anything to survive and one who can’t wait to die.

Perhaps, together, they can learn how to live.

Before their time runs out.

AMAZON

I’ve finally found what I’ve been missing my whole life, and if I keep it, it will kill me.
No wonder Rain was wearing a black hoodie when I met her.
She’s the fifth fucking horseman of the apocalypse.

Have you ever read a book where the story unravels like a movie reel before your eyes? Because the entire time I was reading Praying For Rain, I could have sworn that I was inside of it. The world building, the mystery, the characters, the totally riveting story line all combined to suck you ride into the story and keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time!

Dystopian is not a genre that I would typically gravitate towards, but when a trusted book friend tells you that a book is a must read, you read the damn book. And if you’re sitting there and thinking on wether or not to take the plunge, I’ll tell you that you NEED TO READ THIS DAMN BOOK!

Rain presses up onto her toes at the same moment that I dive for her parted lips, and our mouths collide like the train wreck that we are.

What would the world turn into if everyone knew they only have days to live? What if everyone was having extremely vivid nightmares that foreshadows the end of days on April 23rd? Nightmares that shows the world burning to the ground and a mysterious entity that’s the cause of it all. Pure chaos and pandemonium would ensue, bringing out the very worst of humanity.

That’s the backdrop of the story in Praying For Rain. Sound delicious? Because it really was. The book introduces Rain, a young woman with secrets and some clearly deep seated issues. Rain has made her peace with the fact that she won’t survive April 23rd. She’s just trying to make the best of the days she has left and numb her pain and memories with anything she can. A chance encounter introduces her to Wes, a man that’s determined to survive. What first starts as a mutually selfish partnership, soon begins to turn into something more.

Wes and Rain were incredibly multi-layered characters. Deeply flawed and broken almost beyond repair, they both have some issues. But as the layers begin to unravel, you begin to see the why’s of it and become more and more invested in these characters and their survival.

While there’s plenty of world building taking place, it’s still very much a character driven story. The first half is somewhat slow paced and it picks up in the second half that leaves you with your jaw on the floor at the end.

This was my first BB Easton book and I now know it will certainly not be my last. I can’t wait for the continuation of this trilogy and see how it all ends.

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Review: Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

April 10, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

MEET CUTE
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Helena Hunting
Release Date: April 9, 2019

Talk about an embarrassing introduction. On her first day of law school, Kailyn ran – quite literally – into the actor she crushed on as a teenager, ending with him sprawled on top of her. Mortified to discover the Daxton Hughes was also a student in her class, her embarrassment over their meet-cute quickly turned into a friendship she never expected. Of course, she never saw his betrayal coming either…

Now, eight years later, Dax is in her office asking for legal advice. Despite her anger, Kailyn can’t help feeling sorry for the devastated man who just became sole guardian to his thirteen-year-old sister. But when her boss gets wind of Kailyn’s new celebrity client, there’s even more at stake than Dax’s custody issues: if she gets Dax to work at their firm, she’ll be promoted to partner.

The more time Kailyn spends with Dax and his sister, the more she starts to feel like a family, and the more she realizes the chemistry they had all those years ago is as fresh as ever. But will they be able to forgive the mistakes of the past, or will one betrayal lead to another?

AMAZON

she seems to have a pretty serious hate-on for me. That rivalry used to amp me up back then, and apparently it still does.

So full disclosure; I’m not sure why, but after reading the blurb and seeing the ADORABLE cover, I was expecting a steamy, laugh out loud rom-com. This book was not quite that. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While it wasn’t quite what I expected, I still fell in love with this story and these characters.

This was an incredibly sweet, character-driven, heartfelt romance. And while it had it’s humorous moments, mostly it managed to tug at every heart string for me.

When Kailyn first met Daxton Hughes, she almost had a fangirl heart attach. It’s not every day that a girl gets to meet the teenage star of her dreams from her favorite TV Show. But this Dax is fully grown and happens to be at the same law school she’s at. So of course she makes a total fool of herself in a way that will make you giggle and feel for her at the same time. But then something happens to turn her fangirling infatuation to hate when Dax betrays her. She never expects to see him again. And then he walks into her law office years later to set up a trust with his parents for his younger sister.

The story takes a bit of a morose turn after the meet cute. The author does such a phenomenal job with the character development. Dax is a hero that’s impossible not to love. There’s just something so incredibly endearing and approachable about him. He’s not your stereotypical cocky lawyer. He’s sweet with this undercurrent of vulnerability that you simply can’t help but fall for. His relationship with his sister is sure to tug every heart string. I absolutely loved her as the secondary character.

Kailyn is not the fumbling fangirl that Dax first met in college. She hates him and he doesn’t know why. There’s plenty of great banter between these two. but mainly its Kailyn giving him hell and Dax taking it all with a smile and charm. The romance is a slow build with plenty of chemistry to keep you completely invested in the characters. I seriously couldn’t get enough of these two. I loved how Kailyn slowly begins to see a side of Dax that she didn’t realize was there. A sweet, vulnerable and endearing side that he shows to her in the way he cares for his sister and even pursues her.

This was a slower paced story with plenty of feels and just a touch of sizzle, and this reader loved every page of it!

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Review: I Want You Back by Lorelei James

April 2, 2019 by · 2 Comments

I WANT YOU BACK
Series: Want You #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lorelei James
Release Date: April 2, 2019

New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James kicks-off her Want You Series with a Lund family cousin hot enough to melt the ice and mend a broken heart.

Former NHL star Jaxson Lund has returned to the Twin Cities, but he’s at loose ends, unsure if he belongs at Lund Industries, or where he stands with Lucy, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Mimi. Despite the signs she’d like to leave him in the penalty box, the attraction burning between them reinforces his determination to prove that he deserves a second chance…

Lucy Quade is in a good place with a steady job, a nice apartment, and a well-adjusted daughter, which is why she’s hesitant when Jax insists on co-parenting. It’s not that Lucy doesn’t trust Jax…she’s just unconvinced he can handle multiple responsibilities when he’s been singularly focused on playing hockey. But when issues arise with Mimi, Lucy’s shocked at how levelheaded and paternal he acts, giving her a glimpse of the Jax she used to know, the sexy, sweet man she fell for years ago.

Once Lucy lets her guard down, Jax goes all in to show her how good they are together, but will their past remain too large an obstacle to ever overcome?

AMAZON

Kissing Jaxson Lund wasn’t something I could ever forget.

I’ve read a lot of second chance romance; it IS my jam after all. But rarely does one stick out in my memory the way this one did. I was thinking about it days after finishing. I Want You Back is a refreshingly different take on the second-chance romance trope. It’s emotional, raw, and unapologetically real. It doesn’t sugar coat or spare feelings. It takes the reader on an emotional ride with all the bumps along the way. It’s a slow burn sort of read with plenty of chemistry and a dash of angst. I seriously enjoyed this one!

Jaxson Lund is one of the best imperfect characters I’ve read in a while. A retired professional hockey player that allowed his sports reputation to get the best of him, Jax is no stranger to failure. What I loved about him the most is that he wasn’t afraid to take accountability for all the things he did wrong. Here’s a man that’s a recovering alcoholic that lost the love of his life because he betrayed her in the worst way possible. He’s a man that’s trying to right all of his wrongs; including becoming a staple in his daughter’s life when he was more of a memory to her as she was growing up due to his hockey career.

I absolutely loved the way that he fought to get back into his ex’s good graces. But what I really loved the most, is the fact that Lucy wasn’t perfect herself. This was a shockingly realistic look at what happens when two people love each other beyond reason but their pasts mold them into an inevitable conclusion. The story is told in alternating flashbacks of past to present, telling the reader how they got together and what led to their inevitable implosion. Lucy is woman with plenty of issues of her own; including trust issues that are formed by her childhood. Issues that only get reinforced when her and Jaxson break.

There’s no unnecessary drama or added issues in this book to convolute what’s already happening. It’s just two broken people that are slowly working on putting their pieces back together. Their journey back to each other is not paved in sunshine and butterflies, but it’s also not unnecessarily angsty either. I really loved the way that the author handled a lot of the issues in this book. James doesn’t try to sugarcoat the repercussions of Jax’s mistakes and addiction. You get an incredibly realistic look at the results of his hard living. This may come as a shock for some people. I’ll admit that I have NEVER read a book where the author went there but boy do I love that she did. And no I won’t tell you what that was, but I will say that I’m still thinking about it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfectly paced and emotional slow burn. I wished that we got flashbacks a little further and truly experience the break between Lucy and Jax, but at the same time I understand why the author chose not to quite go there. If you’re looking for something just a little different, then you definitely need to check this one out. I can’t wait for the rest of the series. There’s a certain Lund sibling whose book I’m already salivating for.

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Review: Dangerous Beauty by J.T. Geissinger

March 27, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

DANGEROUS BEAUTY
Series: Dangerous Beauty #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Release Date: March 26, 2019

A beautiful fugitive. A hot bodyguard. A high-stakes game of temptation.

For Nasir, former Special Ops military man and bodyguard, his new job seems like an easy-money gig: trail a Russian mobster’s runaway wife in Mexico, enjoy the sun, observe, and report. Just one rule: don’t get too close. But it’s all Naz can do not to watch the alluring dancer’s every move. A closer look is irresistible—especially when she’s in trouble.

Evalina escaped to the island getaway to live an untraceable life—as far away from the past as she can get. But Eva can’t ignore the dark, muscled stud who rescues her from a drug gang. He says he’s an ex-cop on vacation. When providence throws them together time and again, Eva thinks it’s all a beautiful coincidence. Now she’s giving in to a strange new sensation: trust.

But Naz has a mission to accomplish and a secret to keep. Eva has her share of secrets, too. And as the heat flares between them, Naz knows that trust could become the most dangerous impulse of all.

***Part one of a three part series.***

AMAZON

I’m under a spell. She’s cast a spell on me with her sweet smile and her even sweeter mouth, and I’m done for.

From the very first page, the story of Naz and Evalina had absolutely captivated me. A woman on the run and the man sent to Cozumel, Mexico to keep an eye on her for her mobster husband. A dangerous attraction and a love that can cost them everything, this slow burn romance kept me riveted to the pages.

The very second Eva appeared on the pages, I was fascinated with her. This is a woman that has clearly been to hell, and she has no desire to go back.

Survival is simply the art of suffering gracefully when we’re up against forces out of our control. I lost my fear of dying because I expected it every minute of every day. Tomorrows only exist in our minds.

This is a woman that lived through her worst nightmare and has the scars to show for it. On the run for her life, she’s come to Cozumel to live a life under the radar. But then an alluring stranger saves her life and there’s just something about him that she can’t stop thinking about.

Why is your heart hammering, Naz?” “Because you’re crack and I’m an addict.”

Naz is all alpha with a heart of gold. This is a man that puts his life on the line for a living, but now he’s supposed to have an easy assignment; keep an eye on a mobster’s errant run away wife. But nothing is what it seems, and it doesn’t take long for Naz to realize that his assignment is not at all what he thought. And he’ll stop at nothing to protect the woman that he couldn’t help but fall for, even if it costs him everything.

As much as I love a grumpy alpha that fights his feelings with everything he’s got, Naz’s easy affection and fierce protectiveness of Eva made my heart melt. I loved the way that he was with her. This is a man that doesn’t try to go after a woman while holding on to his secrets, and I really liked that about him. He wanted to be with Eva without the pretense of who they thought the other was, and there’s a lot of secrets to unearth between the two of them.

After a moment of shock, I manage, “What are we doing?”
“Badasses like to spoon before a nap, sweetheart.” He presses a soft kiss to the nape of my neck.
“Oh. I wasn’t aware.”

I loved the delicious slow burn between Eva and him. The chemistry was downright incendiary, so by the time they finally give into it, I thought I would explode myself.

There are some subject matters in this book that may be a bit of a trigger for some, so just go in knowing that it does run on the slightly darker side with Eva’s past. The woman is a fighter, though. I loved the way she protects Naz in her own right. There’s this core of strength to her that you can’t help but respect. This is not a woman that runs from her demons, but she faces them head on.

There’s plenty of action along the way and a cameo from my favorite duo Connor and Tabby, from Wicked Sexy. I will never have enough of these two.

Dangerous Beauty is the first book in a trilogy and I’m downright salivating for book two. I adore all things JT Geissinger, and she managed to deliver yet another heart pounding, suspenseful and sizzling read that will keep readers glued to the pages from begging to end.

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Review & Excerpt: Kiss And Break Up by Ella Fields

March 13, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

KISS AND BREAK UP
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Ella Fields
Release Date: March 8, 2019

Dashiell Thane wasn’t a nice guy.

He was an abrasive, demanding, conniving, intolerable brat.

Yet somehow, we’d been best friends our whole lives.

Until our senior year when I finally decided to dip my toes into the dating pool.

 

All it took was one kiss for jealousy, lies, and betrayal to sweep in and propel us heart first into dizzying, hostile depths.

 

You’re not supposed to kiss your best friend.

You’re definitely not supposed to kiss your best friend while you’re dating someone else.

And the absolute worst thing you could do is fall for your best friend.

Unless, of course, you want to ruin everything.

FREE in KU

AMAZON KINDLE | AMAZON PAPERBACK 

I fell to the bed just as a thump hit the exterior of the house, and Dash launched himself through the window.“Can you ever land gracefully?” Or you know, use the front door. For as long as we’d lived here, he’d snuck in. At first, it was due to being unsure whether my mom would still want us hanging out, but it didn’t take her long to figure out what he was doing.

She didn’t care. When I’d shaken like a mouse cornered in a kitchen, she’d smiled and told me she’d never stop us from being friends. Yet the window always remained unlocked.

Dash kicked off his boots, and they hit the aging floor with two bangs. “I’m all man, baby. Not a fucking cat.”

Hearing him say that reminded me of why he was here. I sprang to my feet, hurtling out into the hall and into the bathroom.

“What are you doing?”

Too busy gargling mouthwash, I didn’t answer and spat it into the sink as he appeared in the weathered mirror behind me.

“Seriously?” he asked. “You burp in my face after eating garlic pizza, so this is just fucking dumb.”

“You burped in my face first.” I put the cap back on the bottle, not meeting his gaze. I couldn’t. I headed back inside the safety of my room.

But I had to wonder, as I heard Dash gargling mouthwash too, if it would be considered safe again after this. Would this ruin everything by making it awkward?

“Dash,” I said, wringing my hands as I paced the floor of my room. “We probably shouldn’t be doing this. What if––”

“What if it’s awesome and you fall madly in love with me? Well, we already know I don’t do commitment.”

A tiny laugh skittered out. “No, what if it gets awkward? I don’t want anything to change.”

He took me by the shoulders in the middle of my rainbow knitted rug and leveled me with his vibrant eyes. “We’ve done some pretty awkward shit, so what’s a little mouth to mouth going to change?”

I nodded, exhaling slowly, then I frowned. “Why are you doing this? I mean, I know why I want to, but you? What do you even get out of it?”

He grinned. “You might be my best friend, but I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to stick my tongue down your throat.” He tipped a muscled shoulder. “Let’s just say you’ll be killing that curiosity.”

“You’ve always wondered?”

“I’ve got eyes, Freckles. And I don’t need my glasses to appreciate the sight of something beautiful.”

I blinked. “Wow. That was actually really swe––”

“Shut your inexperienced mouth and kiss me.”

I was still laughing when he grabbed my face, and then I squeaked as the world changed color, and his lips lowered over mine.

My heart became a trumpet, blaring in my ears at the first touch of his lips.

I pulled away, startled and still laughing. “Oh, my God.”

Dash’s hands were warm on my face. “That good? They barely even touched.”

“No,” I choked out, pushing his hands away. “It’s just … a little weird.”

“Weird?” His brows scrunched. “We’ve barely even begun.”

I blew out a shaky breath, unable to look at him as my hands flapped at my sides. I stared at his white shirt, looking at where the cotton met his tanned skin. “I don’t know, Dash.”

“Wanna try again?”

I looked at him then, at the eager glint in his blue eyes. “It’s not weird for you?”

He chewed his bottom lip which was a little fatter than the top. And it’d just been touching mine. Oh, how crazy. “Maybe a smidgen. I can just picture Margot Robbie, and I’ll be good.”

I froze. “Margot Robbie?”

He gestured to my hair. “The blonde hair helps.”

“Jesus.” I swiped my hands down my face. “This is dumb. Let’s just forget it.”

He stood there a moment, glancing around my room. “Why don’t you imagine someone? That guy from the Thor movie. You like him.”

“Chris Hemsworth?”

“Yeah. Imagine him.” Then he grinned, waggling his brows. “Pucker up, baby.”

“You didn’t just say that.” I laughed, plopping down on the edge of my bed.

“Whatever. Are we trying again or what?”

The thought of Byron and that mischievous twinkle in his green eyes, the way he’d wasted no time moving in to kiss me … yeah. I needed to do this.

“Okay.” I shook out my hands, bouncing a little on the bed. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Dash’s lips thinned. “This isn’t a cross meet. We’re only swapping germs.”

“You just had to say that, didn’t you?” My pep had officially vanished.

Dash tugged me off the bed. “Close your eyes and relax.”

I tried, but I was as stiff as a board when his mouth met mine again. He tasted like spearmint and cigarettes, but his hands were gentle as one held my chin and the other glided through my hair to the back of my head. Slowly, with the soft press of his lips on mine and the gentle exploration of their shape, my limbs loosened.

“Open,” he whispered, his voice threaded, rougher.

I did, expecting the invasion of his tongue, but the velvet feel of it only traced the inner edges of my mouth.

Out of all the things I’d expected to feel when he’d suggested this crazy idea, it wasn’t relaxed, and it certainly wasn’t the buzzing sensation currently warming my insides.

“This isn’t so bad,” I said when he pulled back, my voice a low exhalation.

“Good. Now repeat the same to me.” My eyes were about to spring open, but he growled. “Keep them closed. Don’t think, just do and feel.”

Drawing in a quick breath through my nose, I found his stubble-coated cheeks with my hands and lifted myself on my toes. I tried to do the same thing he did to me, but my tongue plunged deeper, meeting the warm softness of his. I licked it, stroking cautiously until I heard him hum, the sound vibrating up his throat and causing our lips to mash together.

His hands became firmer around my head, his tongue greedier, sweeping inside my mouth before my teeth found purchase on his plump bottom lip, and pulled.

He groaned, and it had me staggering back, my heart racing and my breath an unsteady, embarrassing sound.

Dash swallowed, then cleared his throat as he shifted on his feet. His eyes met mine, and I looked away, down to where my mint green toes were curling over the abrasive fabric of my rug.

Awkward. This was so awkward, and I prayed we hadn’t just made a huge mistake.

“So that’s how it’s done.” He grabbed the TV remote and plopped onto my bed. “Got any popcorn?”

I shook my head. “Wait, that’s um, it?”

He started flicking through Netflix. “Well, yeah. Not much else to it. We can practice again before your date if you want, but I’m fucking starving, and we need to re-watch the last season of GoT before the new one is out.”

“Oh, yeah,” I said, remembering I’d promised him that weeks ago. Hungry myself, I stepped outside, then scowled at him from the doorway. “Don’t put your socks near my pillow.”

He grumbled but shifted and moved over to the other side of the bed.

Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Yours, but apparently, it’s taking some time for you to get the memo.”

If you follow my reviews, then it’s no secret that I’m a sucker for angst. So then it really should be no surprise that I am obsessed with all things Ella Fields. The woman can write angst like no one’s business, and she’s not afraid to go there. She’s not afraid to write raw, unapologetically real, and truly broken characters and make her readers fall head over heels in love with them each and every time!

So when I saw she’s coming out with a brand new NA romance, I jumped on it like a sugar addict at a cake factory. Yes I know that’s not a phrase, but just go with me here.

The queen of angst strikes again with Kiss and Break Up and she knocked it straight out of the park! She hit the home run of angst! I’m talking teenage angst overload here, people!!! And. It. Was. Delicious.

Dash and Peggy have known each other since they were in diapers. And they’ve been best friends since Dash essentially decided it so and practically bullied Peggy into it. She’s never had a choice in the matter, but it’s not like she minds. The guy may be rude, crude, and completely tone deaf when it comes to proprietary, but he’s her best friend. Through thick and thin. And their senior year of high school definitely brings a change in their comfortable dynamic.

Peggy is a bit of a late bloomer. But with her braces off and a new haircut, suddenly she begins to see her own appeal. And with that appeal, she wants to experience dating like all girls her age have already done. But when a cute boy asks her out, she realizes that her inexperience is a crutch that she needs to get rid off. And in comes her knight in tarnished armor, Dash, with an offer she can’t refuse; practice with him.

Now, suddenly, the lines get blurred. Years of friendship begin to get lost behind repressed feelings, unexpected connections, and a bit of unrequited love. In a word? ANGST!!! All of the sweet, delicious angst.

Dash is a character that you will love to hate and hate to love. He’s far from perfect and he makes plenty of mistakes. As hard as you want to hate him for the decisions he makes sometimes, you also can’t help but fall for him anyway. Peggy was the perfect balance for him. She accepts him in all his imperfect glory, but she also doesn’t take any of his shit. I loved the dynamic of the guy pining after the girl who takes a while to truly understand her feelings for him. It’s a refreshing change of pace.

There’s several secondary characters that are introduced, that I’m practically salivating for a book for. The set up for their books is utterly delicious. I have zero chill with getting my grubby little hands on their stories.

As for this one? I DEVOURED it. I’m talking binge read, people! Binge. Read. I loved every maddening, frustrating, and emotional page of it. I couldn’t set it down for even a second. It was infuriating and completely unputdownable. It was everything I’ve come to expect from the immensely talented Emma Fields, and so much more! A huge rec for all my fellow angst lovers! My one quibble was I wished for a little more development and character fleshing out. I didn’t have an issue connecting with either Dash or Peggy, but I did feel like I was getting to know them on more of a surface level rather than a true deep dive.

 

Ella Fields is a mother and wife who lives in the land Down Under. While her kids are in school, you might find her talking about her characters and books to her two cats. She’s a notorious chocolate and notebook hoarder who enjoys creating hard-won happily ever afters.

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Review & Giveaway: Heart Of The Devil by Meghan March

March 12, 2019 by · 2 Comments

DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
Series: The Forge Trilogy #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Meghan March
Release Date: March 12, 2019

From New York Times bestselling author Meghan March comes the stunning conclusion to the Forge Trilogy. In this final volume, ruthless billionaire Jericho Forge faces his toughest challenge. To emerge victorious, he’ll have to give up the one thing he’s never offered a woman—his heart.

It started as a game. She was nothing but my pawn.

But I was quick to see the error in my ways, and now she is everything I never knew I needed.

The value of a woman like India Baptiste is beyond measure.

But the problem with being a man like me? I’ve already screwed this up, and there’s no guarantee India will take me on for one last bet.

I’ll do whatever I have to do. Drop to my knees and offer her the only thing I have left. The one thing that’s only ever been hers—the heart of the devil.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | B&N | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

Jericho Forge doesn’t have a single clue what it’s like to be the center of someone’s world. He’s about to find out.

The pulse pounding trilogy conclusion is here and in true Meghan March fashion, it goes out with a bang!

The Forge Trilogy is like a good piece of chocolate, you can’t have just one. And three books is just enough to hook, reel, sinker! This has easily been two of my most favorite characters from March to date.

She’s a siren, and I’m the sailor she’s trying to lure in. I’ve never wrecked a ship, but she could tempt me to do anything.

There is nothing more satisfying to watch than a man that’s ultimately a fortress of hidden feelings fall hard for a woman he never saw coming. Indie was supposed to be a chess piece in the ultimate game of revenge for him. Just another pawn in an intricate and dangerous game with some very dangerous players. Pun most certainly intended.

Indie is definitely one of my most favorite heroines March has ever written. I love a heroine that has an effortless sort of strength to her. This is a woman that is ready and willing to fight for what she wants, and I loved getting to watch her show Forge exactly why he fell for her in this book.

There’s plenty of action and even more plot twists that will keep you riveted to the pages from beginning to end. If ever there was a binge read, this book was it. A delicious conclusion to a perfectly paced and scintillating trilogy that’s going straight to my favorites list. My only quibble is a certain revelation in the end. While it totally caught me unaware, I found it just a little lackluster. I don’t know why. I suppose I had it built up in my head, and it worked against me here. So it is very well a case of me here. But that VERY small quibble aside, this book was the perfect conclusion and it’s become one of my favorite trilogies from this author.

Making the jump from corporate lawyer to romance author was a leap of faith that New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Meghan March will never regret. With over thirty titles published, she has sold millions of books in nearly a dozen languages to fellow romance-lovers around the world. A nomad at heart, she can currently be found in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, living her happily ever after with her real-life alpha hero.

You can find her online at: MeghanMarch.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Review: Pure Bliss by Lexi Blake

March 5, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

PURE BLISS
Series: Nights In Bliss #6
Genre: Erotic Romance, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: March 5, 2019

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

The town of Bliss, Colorado, offered Hope McLean a second chance at life, a gift she cherishes every day. Her past was dominated by dark secrets and regret, most of which centered on a man named Christian Grady. All of that was behind her now, years of horror distilled down into the occasional nightmare or a random feeling of being watched. Surrounded by new friends, she tried hard to leave the past where it belonged—in the rearview mirror.

Raised together, James Glen and Noah Bennett were the best of friends. They dreamed of growing up in Bliss, finding love, and settling down to share their lives on the Circle G ranch. James would manage the day-to-day operations of the ranch while Noah served the town as the resident veterinarian. Everything was perfectly planned out, until a woman came between them and their future shattered. Noah left Bliss for New York City and James was left to struggle to keep the Circle G alive on his own.

Noah returns to Bliss on a mission to rebuild his life. When he sees Hope, he knows his return home was meant to be. Hope’s kindness shines like a beacon calling him to her. Unfortunately, he isn’t the only man interested in Hope. James is also interested in the beautiful girl with a mysterious past. He can’t be forced to choose between the woman of his dreams and his best friend again.

As romance begins to bloom, a dark specter from Hope’s past returns to claim her. To save Hope, and themselves, James and Noah will have to rebuild the relationship they lost and fight for their future with Hope together.

AMAZON

She’s going to learn her place.” Hope gasped, an irritated sound. “And where is that?”
“Between us, baby,” James said, taking over where Noah had left off. “Always between us.”

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this series is one of my favorite guilty pleasure reads. It packs emotion with sizzling hot MFM romance, wonderfully broken and multi-layered characters, and a perfectly paced suspenseful underlayer to make for one page-turner of a read!

James has been a character that I’ve been curious about since he first made an appearance in the series. I loved the fact that James himself was the son of a triad family dynamic. Sharing is pretty much in his blood. And while Noah isn’t his brother by blood, their fathers shared their stepmother, and showed them that a happy relationship with three people is possible. Noah and James are brothers in all ways that count. That is until a woman comes between them and severs a bond that they thought was unbreakable.

Years later, James is still not over the wound his brother’s leaving left. None of his relationships have been more than a night spent between the sheets. Which is also why he’s been avoiding Hope, because he knows without even trying, that she’d be so much more. But when a promise to keep her safe puts him fully in his crosshairs, he knows he can’t stay away. Then the sudden reappearance of his brother throws everything for a loop, especially when he seems to want Hope as much as he does.

I really loved Noah, even more than James at times. This man had his heart and trust broken by a gold digger, and yet he doesn’t let that color his future. He still believes in love and happily ever after, and while his ex wife left a stain, she didn’t ruin him. I adored him for this. James is definitely the cynical one in this relationship. I loved the push and pull he and Noah have with Hope. They truly fought like two siblings only could over a desired possession. But Hope was having none of it. I loved that she gave as good as she got. She’s not afraid to put either brother in his place.

There’s the added layer of suspense with Hope’s past and the mystery of what happened. I couldn’t wait to unravel all of her secrets and to see what happened to make her run so fast and hide.

Pure Bliss was everything I’ve come to expect from Lexi Blake; sexy, suspenseful, emotional, and a total page turner. I can’t wait for more in this series!

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Review: Overture by Skye Warren

February 19, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

OVERTURE
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Forbidden
Author: Skye Warren
Release Date: February 19, 2019

Forbidden fruit never tasted this sweet…

The world knows Samantha Brooks as the violin prodigy. She guards her secret truth—the desire she harbors for her guardian.

Liam North got custody of her six years ago. She’s all grown up now, but he still treats her like a child. No matter how much he wants her.

No matter how bad he aches for one taste.

Her sweet overtures break down the ex-soldier’s defenses, but there’s more at stake than her body. Every touch, every kiss, every night. The closer she gets, the more exposed his darkest secret.

She’s one step away from finding out what happened the night she lost her family. One step away from leaving him forever.

OVERTURE is the first novel in a brand new series from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren.

AMAZON

It’s an exquisite torture, wrong on every level, and I never want it to end.

An underage music prodigy, her fierce protector, taboo romance, and a sweet sizzle of a slow born that’s expertly crafted made Overture one delicious page turner!

I love the sweet torture of a good slow burn, and this book definitely delivered on that front. It sets the stage for what I could already tell is going to be one epic romance. The heroine is a musical prodigy on the cusp of her eighteenth birthday and desperately in love with her legal guardian. Samantha has never been what society would consider normal. Her violin has been her closest companion and all she knows. She lives and breathes for her music. I was almost a little afraid that I’d get frustrated by her because she’s so sheltered, but there’s something so fierce about her that I just loved. Yes, she’s young. Yes, she’s inexperienced. But she’s certainly not sheltered, no matter how much Liam tries. This is a girl that lived a hard life and never truly felt the warmth of a parent’s love. She knows abandonment and pain. She also knows what she wants, and that’s Liam.

I’m the one who made the overture. He’s the one who will retreat.

Liam is everything I love in Skye’s heroes; he’s fiercely protective, broody and broken. And while he’s not related to Sam by blood, their age difference alone is reason enough to keep his hands off of her. No matter how much he yearns otherwise. There’s such a deliciously torturous back and forth dance of seduction and retreat that these two go through and I couldn’t get enough of it. Liam fights his feelings for Sam with everything he’s got. He’s a soldier first and her protector. He can’t imagine a world where he can be her lover. He’s to broken to offer her his heart. And he doesn’t want to hold her back from her potential.

If you’re looking to dip your toes in the taboo genre without totaling immersing yourself in the waters, this is the perfect book! I love a good forbidden romance, but this one is like a three on a ten scale. I wanted that taste of forbidden and that slightly uncomfortable feeling of rooting for something oh so wrong. The romance here didn’t quite feel like that. Perhaps because it WAS such a slow burn that it allows the reader to truly understand both of these characters and get comfortable with their differences. I can’t help but wish it was a touch more taboo-ish, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

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