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.

Alleskelle’s Review

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. .•*

From the New Adult sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Until You

Madoc and Fallon. Two estranged teenagers playing games that push the boundaries between love and war…

She’s back.

For the three years she’s been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night.

I was stupid then, but now I’m ready to beat her at her own game…

I’m back.

Three years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he’s better than me.

But I won’t be scared away. Or pushed down. I’ll call his bluff and fight back. That’s what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he’ll never know how much he affects me….

Reaching over, I turned my alarm clock to see it was only six in the morning. Tate threw her backpack on her bed and started yanking stuff out of drawers. She was still in the same clothes from last night. Usually when she spent the night at Jared’s, she came home freshly showered and dressed, ready for class. Right now, she looked rushed.

“What classes do you have today?” she asked, not looking at me as she darted around our room.

I swallowed the dryness from my mouth. “Um…Calc III and Sex and Scandal in Early Modern England.”

“Nice,” she teased in a deep voice.

“The last one is a gen. ed.,” I explained, embarrassed. “Why? What’s up?”

“Do you feel like skipping?” She stuffed clothes into her backpack and then turned to look at me. “Jax showed up at Jared’s dorm this morning. No one’s heard from Madoc. He’s not returning calls, texts, IMs….” She trailed off, hands on her hips.

“You haven’t talked to him at all lately?” I looked away, not wanting her to see the worry I was sure was on my face.

“Yeah, Jared and I let it go at first, because we thought Madoc needed his space, and we’ve all been so busy, but if Jax is worried, and Lucas probably hadn’t had contact, either, then it’s definitely past time to check it out.” She stopped, finally taking a breath.

She came over, tapping my leg and smiling. “So let’s go

FIVE STAR CROSSED STARS

“You reached me. When no one else ever has.”

It was love at first chapter when I first read the work of Penelope Douglas. Intrigued by it’s title and a newfound author I found myself falling for this authors debut writing style and since reading ‘Bully’ I’ve not once wanted to look back. This author brings something fresh to the ‘new adult’ genre of writing and it seems I’m not able to stop my admiration for her work. ‘Rival’ has been a long anticipated release and i can now admit that I was a little dubious with how this story would play out, but my doubts were unfounded, this novel was spectacular it had the right amount of grit and taboo without making it too dark or difficult to read and if there is one thing I can now be sure of is that Penelope Douglas has a wickedly sensual talent of making me fall straight into love with her story telling. With a hero to die for and a heroine with plenty of bite I could not have enjoyed my time spent with these characters any more than I did. My expectations have been blown away, ‘Rival’ is a novel not to be forgotten about and a book that I’m happy to say I loved.

What’s it all about?
Madoc and Fallon are two star crossed lovers fighting against the pain and secrets of the past. Their connection was one that has stayed with them both and their obsession with each other doesn’t seem to want to end. One wants revenge, the other wants to beat its partner at it’s own game. They both need each other. But will games, hate, family connections and a dark past stop a love that was destined to be or will they both be able to fight beyond themselves. Follow this fall away novel and fall in love with rivals that can’t help but love to hate each other.

What did I love?
What was not to love? Gorgeous story telling, fantastic writing talent, characters that blew me away and a plot that stole my heart. Everything about this novel dramatically appealed to my reading tastes. I loved that this book was deliciously tempting and swayed on the side of taboo but never crossed over into the uncomfortable territory, instead it made my heart pound and the anticipation of what was to come was well played out by the author. I’ll always have a soft spot for a dual point of view in a novel especially one that provides the reader with an opportunity to get involved with the characters thoughts and feelings. I had a honest to goodness soft spot for both hero and heroine in this story and nothing appeals more than characters who profess to hate each other when in truth their love is just as evident. Madoc and Fallon were fantastic lead characters and in addition to falling for their love story I also fell for them as individuals and I adored them both equally as much. Sibling rivalry, falling unashamedly in lust, chemistry that can’t be rivalled (see what I did there?) and a story that will stay with me for some time to come ‘Rival’ is one of my favourites of 2014 and a book that deserves to be celebrated for all it’s deliciously dark romantic talent. Penelope Douglas has created a love to hate you story that has blown me away. For those readers that can’t help but be attracted to angry sex, broken characters and epic love stories that break you up and by the end fix you all up again then this book will be just what you need.

Final thoughts …
If you are a reader that has not yet read a Penelope Douglas novel and you enjoy all the drama of a new adult novel then I can only urge you to get yourself aquatinted with this authors work. As for those readers who are anxiously waiting to read ‘Rival’ I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. Mrs Douglas has outdone herself and provided a novel that had me glued to every chapter and has more than filled my need for an angst filled, love story fix. With plenty of story telling to keep you interested and characters that are as bold as this authors shining talent the only complaint I now have is that I’m now back in the queue waiting for the next release by this author. Predictably so, five star books are what I crave and from start to finish ‘Rival’ had that unforgettable quality stamped all over it, I have no regrets with my time spent here and I’m sure this book will find itself being re read over and over again. Until then I’ll be satisfying my addiction with reading my most favourite quotes and I’m looking forward to seeing other readers fall in love as much as I did. Enjoy … Kisses.

♦ Grab the rest of the series ♦ 

Bully (Fall Away, #1) 

Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Until You (Fall Away, #1.5)

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Penelope Douglas is a writer in Las Vegas. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she is the oldest of five children. Penelope attended the University of Northern Iowa, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, because her father told her to “just get the degree!” She then earned a Masters of Science in Education at Loyola University in New Orleans, because she hated Public Administration. One night, she got tipsy and told the bouncer at the bar where she worked that his son was hot, and three years later they were married. To the son, not the bouncer. They have spawn, but just one. A daughter named Aydan. Penelope loves sweets, The Originals, and she shops at Target almost daily.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Penelope is offering up the following prizes. The giveaways are international and ends at 11:59 PM CST 09/15/2014.

·         (2) $100 gift cards for either Amazon or B&N winners choice

·         (2) Signed paperbacks of Rival

·         (1) Signed set paperbacks of Bully, Until You and Rival

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Love isn’t supposed to be an addiction. It isn’t supposed to leave you bleeding.

Kona pushed, Keira pulled, and in their wake, they left behind destruction.

She sacrificed everything for him.

It wasn’t enough.

But the wounds of the past can never be completely forgotten and still the flame remains, slumbers between the pleasure of yesterday and the thought of what might have been.

Now, sixteen years later, Keira returns home to bury the mother who betrayed her, just as Kona tries to hold onto what remains of his NFL career with the New Orleans Steamers. Across the crowded bustle of a busy French Market, their paths collide, conjuring forgotten memories of a consuming touch, skin on skin, and the still smoldering fire that begs to be rekindled.

When Kona realizes the trifecta of betrayal—his, Keira’s and those lies told to keep them apart—his life is irrevocably changed and he once again takes Keira down with him into the fire that threatens to ignite them both.

I don’t want easy. I want the impossible. I want love so thick, I drown in it; it’s the only thing worth having.

I cannot tell you the last time I was this invested in a romance between two characters where it drowned out absolutely everything; reason, logic, life, EVERYTHING but the need to keep turning the pages to know what happens next. This story was everything to me. It was beautiful, tragic, emotional, and absolutely unputdownable. If you’re an angst whore like me, you will love this book, and even if you’re an angst avoider, this book will convert you. This had everything that I absolutely love in a story; an angsty love story between 2 incredibly endearing yet broken characters, a hate at first sight meeting that grows to love, and a lovers reunited story that’s so beautiful it’s unforgettable.

This is a story about young love and the mistakes that go along with it. A love so thick, it’s almost toxic. A love so devastating it’s impossible to forget. It’s a story of mistakes, regrets, forgiveness and redemption. It’s a story with two characters who feel everything as deep as it gets; love and anger. A story of two people that are different yet also so similar that they’re almost bad for one another, yet a love that’s so strong it’s undeniable. This book is a hidden gem that I can only describe to you in 3 short words: A MUST READ.

Told in 2 parts, it begins in present day, flashes back to retell the epic love that burned but never burned out 16 years ago, and then picks back up in present day. But before you find out how it ends, you need to know how it all began…

Kona, I get the feeling you might end up being my favorite mistake.

Keira Riley and Kona Hale were not a match made in heaven and they certainly didn’t even like each other at first sight. Keira is an 18 year old college student that’s felt a weight on her no child should ever feel; first the weight of her father’s sickness and addiction, and then the weight of her overbearing mother with little thought to Keira’s desires. She focuses on school and escapes in her music, until a chance meeting with the school’s resident manwhore and football golden boy changes her life irrevocably.

Kona Hale doesn’t do relationships or love, he does football. Living under a weight of his own to constantly prove his worth, he knows that his football career is the most important thing. He doesn’t give Keira a second glance until they’re put to work on a school project together and her fiery temper finally gets his notice.

That live wire was too damn tempting and he wanted to burn in her. He wanted to burn in her so bad.

Their love story was anything but an easy read, but it will grab you from beginning to end. The chemistry between them is so strong and fiery it practically leaps off the pages and grips you by the heart. They’re not perfect, they’re hot tempered and make terrible mistakes that hurts more often than not. But when it’s good, OH MY GAWD is it good.

She wanted this. Him. Her. Their touch, the magic in every brush of his fingers, the glide of his tongue, with her always. It was needy, desperate and she loved the white hot craving of him, of how her body reacted to him, how her heart hammered hard like an earthquake.

Their love burns hot, until the blaze becomes too much and burns them both in a devastating mistake that leaves both Kona and Keira shattered.

I couldn’t put this book down. I honestly don’t remember the last time I had such a visceral reaction to a story that I felt everything along with the characters. My enjoyment of the story drowned out everything that I would logically dislike anywhere else. The writing was in 3rd person POV told in present tense, which more often than not, doesn’t work for me. But the writing was so brilliant that I was able to completely disregard it. I didn’t care that my logical mind wanted a reason behind Kona’s mother spiteful and hateful behavior. I couldn’t find it in me to care about any slight imperfection beyond this beautifully tragic love story. It was THAT good.

The second half of the book gives you the more mature versions of Kona and Keira, who are now in completely different points of their life but fate finds them together again. It gives you a beautiful second chance love story that’s also perfectly imperfect.

You were mine and I never loved anything more. I never wanted anything or anyone like I wanted you. Like I still want you. My always, Keira. You’re still my always.

I finished this book on Tuesday and still can’t stop myself from thinking about it and it’s just one of those books that will stay with me. I simply cannot recommend it enough. After stalking the author I saw that Ransom’s book is next, and I’m waiting with bated breath to get my hands on his story.

And if my review hasn’t convinced you to give this book a try, let me reiterate it again, READ IT. You won’t be sorry. It’s a love story that will gut you at times, but not one you’ll soon be forgetting.

DGR: Can you introduce yourself to the readers that may have not yet discovered the awesome that is you? 😉

EB: Well, let’s see…I’m from southeast Louisiana, home of the BEST NFL team ever, the New Orleans Saints (WHO DAT?), I am married to a man I can’t stop kissing and I have three daughters who do their level best to keep my hair gray. I keep my hairdresser in cash, trust me. I’ve been writing professional for ten years (mostly scif and fantasy) and work in the Seventh Circle of Corporate Hell where I literally copy and paste for a living. It’s freakin thrilling, I’m telling ya. / sarcasm.

I published my first romance novel, CHASING SERENITY, last October after my friend Kele Moon told me to…she’s very bossy and I’ve loved it. THIN LOVE is my fourth novel and it’s not part of the Serenity series.

DGR:  Thin Love was such a beautiful and at times devastating story of love, mistakes, forgiveness and second chances. What inspired you to write this book?

EB: Oh girl. If you only knew. LOL I had this daydream about a guy staring at a girl he once loved across a crowd. Then came this kid who looked an awful lot like him and it all sort of fell into place after that. But a lot of the toxicity in the novel, the anger, the passion, comes from bad mistakes I’ve made, that my friends have made in the past. I mainly wanted to delve into the idea of toxic, dangerous love and find out if those kinds of relationships can ever be healthy.

DGR:  I know I definitely had a mental picture for Kona when I was reading (*cough* Jason Mamoa *cough*) Who would be your dream casting for Kona and Keira?

EB: Keira is sort of faceless to me. A bit of the girl next door, but Kona is and always will be Mr. The Rock, Dwayne Johnson.

DGR: Can you describe Thin Love for us in 5 words or less?

EB: Exhausting, Thrilling, Passionate, Insane, Always

DGR: Ransom was one of my favorite characters (after Keira and Kona of course). I believe you  mentioned that his book may be coming next? Any more you can tell us about it?

EB: Man, Ransom, that poor kid. He’s definitely not a normal teenager and I think that comes from Keira relying on him so much. Maybe that’s a bad thing, but really they sort of grew up together and that made him more mature, more logical than his peers. But since his parents were both insane as teenagers/young adults, he sort of inherited their anger. In his novel, you’ll see an older Ransom who has just gone through something devastating. He’ll be different, he’ll be even wiser, but you’ll definitely see him dealing with the same anger that only loves brings out. In the end, because of what he’s learned from his parents, you’ll see him growing even further and falling in love very, very deeply. (Read: He’s gonna have THE SEX…but don’t tell Keira)

DGR: What was your favorite part to write about this book?

EB: I don’t know if I can pinpoint one certain part that was my favorite. Writing this book was very cathartic for me. It allowed me to exorcise some very, very old demons. But I will tell you when I wrote that scene with Keira and Kona where she asks if he still loves her? Yeah. I stopped breathing there for a moment. Very proud of that scene.

DGR: And what about the hardest part for you to write?

EB: The accident. I didn’t want what happened to happen. I loved that character a lot and really didn’t want them to die. I fretted over that for a long time, even had a two hour brain storming session with my bestie about that death. In the end, the story demanded it. It had to happen. *kicks the ground*

DGR: What’s coming up next for you? Any upcoming releases we can anticipate?

EB: I’m working on the Keira/Kona wedding novella and the third book in my Serenity series, CLAIMING SERENITY which I think will be hilarious. After that is the final book in my Serenity series and then I’m spending a lot of time playing in Ransom’s world.

DGR: Anything you’d like to leave the readers with?

EB: I’d just like to thank everyone for the support. It’s been an overwhelming year and I am humbled by the love everyone has given to my books. *My cup runneth over*

“I own you. I have the piece of paper to prove it. It’s undeniable and unbreakable. You belong to me until you’ve paid off your debts.”

Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. Being the first born daughter, her life is forfeit to the first born son of the Hawks to pay for sins of ancestors past. The dark ages might have come and gone, but debts never leave. She has no choice in the matter.

She is no longer free.

Jethro Hawk receives Nila as an inheritance present on his twenty-ninth birthday. Her life is his until she’s paid off a debt that’s centuries old. He can do what he likes with her—nothing is out of bounds—she has to obey.

There are no rules. Only payments.

A modern day Dark Erotic Romance

Amazon / Amazon UK / Kobo / iTunes

5 The world was a dangerous place, but I was worse Stars

You live in a fairytale, princess, and I’m about to destroy it.

Holy mother of WOW. I have recently sworn off serials after one too many cliffys left me a ragey mess, but it’s Pepper Winters and there’s no way I was going to pass this one by and DAMN am I glad I didn’t. You know the thing that I’ve come to truly love about this author? The unpredictability of her writing. What I mean is, no one character is alike. If I didn’t know I was reading a Pepper Winters book, I don’t think I would have guessed it. Jethro Hawk is no Fox and he’s no Q. This is the ultimate anti-hero. He’s cold, he’s brutal, and there is no question after finishing this mind fuck of a book that I am truly and utterly hooked. Will I be waiting until all the books release to read the rest? Fuck no. I will be waiting and begging for any and all scraps that Pepper throws my way and reading these books THE DAY they come out. I don’t even care about the cliffys. It’s THAT good.

This had to be one of the best anti-heroes I’ve read to date. If you think that Jethro is cold and ruthless until he meets Nila and all of a sudden his uncontrollable lust for her makes him question everything he does to her…think again.

There was no compassion in his light-brown eyes. No sympathy or even guilt. How did he have the power to be so close to me- to grow hard wanting me- and know all along my fate?

Only a special person could do that. A person who wasn’t born of this world but brimstone and fire. From hell.

I spent the entire book waiting for a chink in his armor…good thing I didn’t hold my breath because there was none. Not in this book anyway. Don’t go into this expecting a romance. Eroticism? Hell yes. But you’ll find no romance here, not yet.

Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. What for? That will be the biggest question you have and keep you turning the pages with bated breath…only to find more questions. Nila is a famous designer that’s been sheltered her whole life growing up in a loving and affluent family. But all that changes the day a mysterious man with golden eyes comes for her.

Nila may be sheltered and inexperienced, but this is a heroine that has a hidden core of strength that only grows stronger and more pronounced as the story progresses.

I devoured this book. Although this is a serial, it’s a book length of 255 pages. And you know what? Not a sentence was wasted. The character development was phenomenal. Jethro Hawke is a hero you will love to hate. He equal parts terrified me and turned me on, which is no small feat to accomplish.

Coldness etched his gaze.

Aloofness whispered from his posture.

Calculation radiated from his every pore.

I’d never been so intimidated or so intimately challenged.

Unpredictable. Gritty. Erotic. Unputdownable. Filled with enough twists and turns this book will leave you questioning everything, never knowing up from down and right from wrong. Just as I thought I knew where the story was headed, I’d be thrown for another loop. Pepper Winters is truly an evil genius. Even the damn cliffy was fitting. I couldn’t imagine this book ending a different way. It was perfect (even if it did leave me an anxious mess for the next one). Now to wait 8-10 weeks for the next one just may kill me.

I would enjoy ruining Nila, because I liked breaking things. But not in a gruesome barbaric way. I liked to break them smoothly, gently, ruthlessly. I liked to think I transformed creatures from their present to their potential.

**ARC gifted to Dirty Girl Romance blog in exchange for an honest review**

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

Her Dark Erotica books include:

Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)

Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)

Her Grey Romance books include:

Destroyed

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As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it’s booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble.

Lena’s not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

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He always seemed so polished, so perfect, you could almost ignore the chaos and pain living inside of him.

I kid you not, this series only gets better with each new book. I had some high hopes for Jimmy’s story, and Kylie Scott not only managed to meet them but blow them out of the water.

See, here’s the thing. I have this thing for almost nonredeemable bad boy assholes. If they just happen to be almost nonredeemable rock star bad boy assholes? All the better. It’s a condition that I have recently diagnosed as AssholeLustitis. True story.

Enter Jimmy Ferris, the lead singer of Stage Dive, recovering addict, and all around giant dick (pun most definitely intended)

This was Jimmy is all his glory, rude as fuck and not a single social nicety to him.

Having scared off most of his assistants and outright refusing a sobriety companion, Jimmy needs someone. And his band mates think they have just the ticket to what he needs when they meet Lena. So they make her an offer she can’t refuse. Be Jimmy’s 24hr companion, live in his house, oh and earn pretty much double what she’s currently earning as an assistant to the band’s manager.

Lena is used to dealing with assholes. She’s sassy, quit witted, sharp-tongued and in 2 words? Fucking awesome. Her internal monologue had me laughing throughout the entire book.

I’m so tempted to just punch you in the junk right now and be done with it. I mean, it has to happen sooner or later, right?”

Whoops…sorry. Got carried away there. See the thing is, Lena was such a great heroine it was impossible not to root for her. The banter between the two was some of the best I’ve read. I’m talking laugh out loud funny. I’m talking wanting to reach through your kindle to fist bump her funny.

Do you actually expect me to jump around like an idiot?”
“It would amuse me.”
“Don’t make me kill you at this hour of the morning, Jimmy. It’s not civilized.”

Lena has no issues dealing with Jimmy’s broody, moody, and general assholness. Yes, assholness is not really a word, but work with me here. The problem begins when she starts to develop feelings for the asshole. And given her history with men? Well, let’s just say the cards are not exactly stacked in her favor.

I have in my time dated a cheater, a thief, a repressed homosexual, a foot fetishist, and various men who just wanted a chance to meet my sister.”
“Why’s the foot fetishist so bad?”
“Always with the strappy high heels. My toes were killing me.”

Jimmy knows he’s no good for anyone and certainly not worthy of anyone’s love. So he sets out to dissuade Lena of her crush and prove to her just how bad he is for her. Too bad he can’t stop the sizzling chemistry that brews between them.

Lena may be incredibly attracted to Jimmy, but that doesn’t mean she turns a blind eye to his more…let’s go with faults.

His smile, oh god his smile, I wanted to wipe it off his face with a pickaxe. I’d be gentle, you could trust me.

Ummmm…alrighty then

Let’s not forget about the rest of the band mates, because I loved catching up with all the guys. I actually think this is how I prefer Mal…in small doses…in someone else’s book. He was just full of great advise here.

Interesting. I’m going to tell you what I told Killer at puppy training today when he tried to mount a teacup poodle he’d only just met. If she means something to you, you gotta do the woo, son. You can’t just be trying to stick it in.

Or not. Maybe? Whatever. For Mal this was practically genius.

Kylie Scott did a phenomenal job in building an almost unbearable sexual tension. I’m talking the burn of all burns here. But it was perfect for the story. I really don’t think it would have been as good had they been thrown into bed together too soon. And when Jimmy finally gives in to the scorching hot chemistry between them? Let’s just say he REALLY doesn’t disappoint.

He ate me like a man deprived, starved.
He ate me like I was his favorite meal.
Vaguely related, apparently singers had excellent tongue control and strength. Bless them for that, many, many times over.

Right…I think I heard this in a song once too

So let’s sum it up here; gorgeous lead singer of a popular band, asshole with redeemable qualities, and then there are his OTHER qualities…

I stared at his cock, mesmerized. Even encased in rubber it remained a thing of true beauty. Had I any talent with a pen, I’d have written it poems. A haiku perhaps.
“Lena?”
I was hypnotized, helpless. Cock-struck.

It was a thing of beauty. Didn’t hurt that he happened to be packing quite the love sword, huh?

You lucky bitch.

Jimmy may be on the road to recovery and he does his best to get Lena to stay as his assistant, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fuck up. And when he does it? He certainly does it thoroughly.

Stupid Jimmy Ferris and his amazing mouth and penis. Who needed him? Not me, I could look after myself.
That’s why god invented vibrators, thank you very much. Masturbation was so much safer. My fingers never gave me this sort of trouble.

So why even put up with his shit?

Oh shut it, Jimmy. No one asked you. It’s true, but still.

Throw in Jimmy and David’s crazy mother, Jimmy’s issues, and Lena’s luck with men and you got yourself an addicting, unputdownable, laugh out loud, entertaining and sexy read. Kylie Scott truly has outdone herself with this book. It had everything and in just the right amount. The banter, the sexual chemistry, the sex, the story. EVERYTHING. And that little teaser at the end for Ben? Gah! I just may die a little waiting for his book to come out.

So if you’re looking for a sexy and funny rock star romance, you really need to look no further than this. Seriously. Read it. You’ll thank me for it. And I thank you

After a tragic incident in Afghanistan leaves Master Sergeant Nathan Ryker the only man standing in his tight-knit team, he spirals into an alcohol-and-sex induced escape. A call from his lifelong buddy pulls Ryker from the shadows with a request for help with his stunt company’s latest blockbuster. If Ryker can survive the next three weeks of leave and get back to his remaining men, he might just be all right. But a sexy woman who can take his mind off his trauma is too hard to resist, and when he hooks up with Renegades’ sultry, snarky office manager, his sanity takes a backseat to his first glimpse of a future he isn’t sure he deserves.

Still reeling from a bitter romantic betrayal, Rachel Hart wants nothing more than an uncomplicated hookup. So when the mysterious Nathan seduces her with a little dirty talk and one delicious kiss, Rachel drowns all her good sense in a Mandarin and soda and gives herself over to a night of sexual bliss. But her memories tarnish in the morning light when Rachel discovers his real identity and his link to Renegades. Her job and her friends are the only thing holding her life together, and she won’t be ruined by one sultry night with this damaged and dangerously sexy man.

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5 Best in the Series Stars

Ricochet was a negative theme in his life, one that caused way too much collateral damage…

I have been hooked with this series ever since I first read and absolutely loved Reckless. Now while the second book wasn’t quite as good due to a heroine that I wanted to punch in the throat more often than not, this book managed to completely blow it out of the water for me. I loved every page. It was sexy, it was emotional, it was beautiful, it was perfect.

Rachel Hart is used to seeing incredibly sexy men on a daily basis and not batting an eye lash. Being the assistant to the Renegades team is no small feat. She loved her job and she’s not looking to compromise that for any man. Actually, scratch that, she doesn’t want to get involved with any man period. One heartbreaking betrayal is enough to put her off of relationships for a long while. But a girl still has needs right?

Master Sergeant Nathan Ryker is a broken man. After a tragic incident on tour in Afghanistan leaves the sexy Ranger with living nightmares that haunt his every waking minute he attempts to drown them out the only way he knows how…alcohol and women. He’s not meant for relationships, but he can definitely offer one sultry night. When his long time friend and Renegade, Troy, asks for his explosions knowledge assistant on set of a major movie stunt, he grudgingly agrees and then he meets the woman that just may offer him the distraction he needs while he’s on leave for 3 weeks.

When she’s sent to pick up “Ryker” from the airport but after a few drinks at the bar she meets the mysterious and sexy “Nathan” instead, Rachel doesn’t give it a second thought. Too bad reality comes crashing down on her the very next day when she realizes the two men are one in the same, and her no mixing business with pleasure rule is suddenly blown to smithereens. Good thing Ryker is quite capable of handling the Ricochet. (ha! See what I did there?)

I don’t want complicated. I don’t want forever. I just want simple. No strings.

Oh I get you, Rachel, really, I do. Luckily Ryker is very much up (ahem) for the task, right?

I’m offering you exactly what you want. No-strings, no-shame, no-limits, no-complications, wicked-good sex. Complete with a agreed-upon end date, a vow of secrecy, and an eight-thousand-mile anti-stalking guarantee when it’s over.”

And when you put it like that, Ryker, I’m not sure about Rachel but

Rachel is no fool to pass up such a tempting offer. And tempting it is. How good is he, Rachel?

Jesus, that man really fucks. He’s focused, absorbed, almost…”
“Obsessed?” Rubi supplied in the same hushed tone.
“Totally. It’s enthralling. All encompassing. Like nothing else exists.” She sighed, letting the delicious memory wash through her. “Un-fucking-forgettable.”

Right then.

And Ryker, was it good for you?

Well of course you did. Rachel may be a nice and proper girl at work, but between the sheets she really lets loose. Not that I blame her. You are all kinds of delicious.

While the story definitely had it’s share of steam…and LAWD was it steamy, it was Nathan’s struggle with PTSD that truly captured my heart. I’m not even going to lie, there’s some parts that managed to bring a tear or two even to my cold and black little heart. Skye Jordan did an incredible job with painting a picture of a realistic and heartbreaking struggle of a man fighting some dark demons and his road to get better.

Rachel was possibly my favorite heroine in the series. She was the perfect match to Ryker. Once she got past her own struggles, she really came into her own.

I may not know what you’ve been through. I may not ever be able to understand the depth or extremity of the suffering you’ve seen or done, but I can see an open wound…

While I would have loved an epilogue, I don’t think I can come up with one complaint for this book and can’t wait for more from this author. I love that each book also gives us another peak into the loves of the previous couples, and it was great catching up with all of them here. Now I’ll just be sitting here and slowly dying in my wait for Troy’s book. It can’t get here soon enough 

☆ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review and a whole lot of squeeing…true story☆