Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: ★Sebring★ by @KristenAshley68

BlogTour GraphicSebring
Series: Unfinished Hero #5
Genre: Erotic Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: January 11, 2015add-to-goodreads-button-2

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Nick Sebring has issues. Born feeling like an outsider in his own family, growing up under the shadow of a brother who could do anything, Nick isn’t that great of a guy. But when this culminates with Nick lashing out to hurt his brother through the woman he loves, Nick turns inward and makes some decisions about the man he intends to be.

And as he does this, he falls in love and truly learns the man that he’s grown to be.

When his love is murdered right before Nick’s eyes, Nick knows he has to avenge her. He knows how he’s going to avenge her. And he has no qualms using Olivia Shade to exact that vengeance.

Olivia Shade has grown up on the outside of her family too. Her problem is that they don’t want her outside. They want her all the way in, right under their thumbs. She pays the price for seeking escape and learns her lesson—she’ll never see a dawn where she wakes up free.

Then she meets Nick Sebring, and even as she fights it, the hope that died years ago starts to blossom. She can find love. She can have a man of her own. She can be happy. She can be free.

Olivia hopes while Nick schemes.

However, as Nick peels back the layers of all that is Olivia Shade, he finds something surprising. He understands its fragility. He falls in love with its beauty. He seeks to protect it.

But he forgets to protect his Livvie from one thing: Nick Sebring.

Buy LinksAMAZON | B&N | iBOOKS | KOBO

Excerpt

In the hotel room, Nick heard the knock at the door.He moved to it, looked out the peephole and felt the corners of his mouth hitch up when he saw her.

Fuck, those big green eyes, perfectly arched dark brows, the olive tint to her skin, the expert way she shaded under her cheekbones…

She was a coldhearted criminal but she was one that was very easy to look at.

And even easier to fuck.

He opened the door.

He was going to say something but he didn’t get the chance when her hand darted out and she caught him under his jaw, using it to push him in and around until his back hit wall.

She stared up at him, her hand wrapped around his jaw, her expression holding an emptiness that was so extreme it was almost like a void he could fall into and get lost forever.

He heard the door swish closed and latch.

Then she was up on her toes, her head moving toward his, those green eyes dropping to his mouth.

She didn’t get her lips to his before his tongue was out, as was hers, both of them colliding and tangling before her mouth slammed to his just as her body pushed in, pressing hard, forcing him tighter to the wall.

He shoved out. Gripping her wrist at his jaw, he yanked it down, twisting and slamming her against the wall, slanting his head to deepen an already deep kiss. Their tongues again clashing before he actually took her mouth.

But he took her mouth.

And like she’d done to his, he consumed it.

His fingers still around her wrist, he yanked it around his back, using his body to shove her tight to the wall, pressing his hardening cock against her stomach.

She arched, and moving quickly, whipped him around so his back was to the wall and she took over the kiss. Tearing her wrist from his hold, she curled her fingers around his throat just as she cupped his hardening crotch with her other hand.

Fucking hell, this woman was hot.

But he was done playing.

And he was done kissing.

Her mouth, that was.

He pushed her away. She struggled to regain control.

She lost this struggle when he caught her hand and dragged her down the short hall into the room.

She lost her footing when he gave her hand a strong tug and she fell into him with a soft gasp.

He let her hand go, caught her hips and threw her four feet onto the bed.

That got him another soft gasp which took his cock from hardening to rock-solid and throbbing.

He bent over her, holding her now intense green gaze, spanning her hips with his hands. Shoving backwards, he found the hook of her skirt, released it and pulled down the zipper.

He moved his fingers to curl them into the sides of her skirt’s waistband. With a vicious tug that took her hips and panties with it, he yanked off the skirt.

Chest to the bed, eyes to her cunt, the black curls neatly groomed with a precision that meant her wax technician was a master with possible OCD issues, they were also glistening with wet.

Having the tussle at the door, seeing the utter perfection of her pussy, smelling her, watching her legs part in invitation, her knees shifting up, Nick couldn’t have gone gentle if he’d wanted to.

Luckily he didn’t want to.

He bent his neck and devoured her.

Fuck, she tasted just as perfect as she looked.

As he fed, he felt her excitement ramp. Tasted it. Ate it. Gave her more. Consumed the result. Drove her to the edge.

And when he had her there, he stopped and moved over her.

Not surprisingly, she used both the pump she already had planted into the bed and the calf she had wrapped around him to flip him and then she was straddling him, pushing up, her hands already to his fly.

Normally, he would not allow this.

Her face flushed with need, her manner urgent, even desperate, all that surged through his blood, his gut, straight to his cock.

So he allowed this.

She tugged his pants down, grabbed his dick, guided it to her and took him home.

At the beauty of her sheathing him, he gritted his teeth against the urge to let go and release way too fucking early. Bucking his hips, he watched how much she liked taking him, her head thrown back, her shining, straight mass of silken black hair swaying.

Then she dropped forward into a hand in the bed by his side, locked eyes with him and rode him violently as he watched until she gave it to herself and she kept doing it until she forced it from him.

Fucking spectacular.

He came down buried inside her, his eyes opening to see her still resting in her hand in the bed, her body moving gently with her still-labored-but-evening breathing, her dark hair framing her oval face, her straight bangs brushing her lashes, her green eyes locked to his trying to brand him, make him hers.

No way in fuck that was happening.

But he’d take more of this.

A lot more.

That said, the woman was going to learn how to give up control.

Not surprisingly, without a word, she swung off his cock, moving immediately toward the side of the mattress.

Nick focused on pulling up his trousers, doing the fly and angling off the bed. By the time he was up and had turned his attention back to her, she was on her feet, facing him, arms twisted behind her to do up the skirt she’d put on.

He held her gaze.

“We got all night, Olivia,” he informed her.

Not even a hint of a response to him calling her the name she hadn’t given him.

Then again, he knew she knew him; she’d make it her business.

She also knew he’d do the same with her, even before he sat next to her the night before.

Her expression might not have changed but his words spurred her to action, this being walking his way.

She stopped. Her eyes still on his, she lifted a hand and touched his chest lightly with just the pad of her middle finger.

It lasted half a second.

Then she dropped her hand, turned and walked away.

He heard the door close behind her and he couldn’t stop his smile.

Fuck yes, a seriously cool customer.

And the hottest fuck he’d had in his life.

Review4.5 starsSebring-DGR

Back in the day, Nick Sebring had been known as the incompetent, unprincipled wastrel younger brother of a successful man.
He was no longer any of that.
What he was was a dark horse.

Nick Sebring. *pause for dirty thoughts* After first meeting him as Knight’s younger brother with a slew of issues in Knight, I knew I wanted his story. See I have this things for the screwed up ones, and Nick was the furthest from perfect as it gets. He had a thing for his brother’s woman, a slight drug problem, and that’s not touching on the other things he dabbled in. But it’s been years since Knight, and Nick is no longer the young boy with issues he once was. He’s all man now, but he’s definitely not without issues. They’re just different now.

The instant I caught sight of him, I froze.
He was tall.
His eyes were the color of the ocean.
And he made me believe that I could want something, take it and HAVE it.
Own it.
Keep it.

I never doubted for even a second that the amazing Kristen Ashley would be able to redeem Nick and boy did she! She did so flawlessly. The fact that the book takes place years after the events of Knight certainly helped. In those years, Nick has grown, he’s changed, and he also suffered a loss the likes of which he never healed from. Now all he wants is vengeance. Vengeance on the man who was an integral part in setting things in motion that led to one of the most devastating nights of his life. He’ll do anything, he’ll kill anyone that gets in his way, and he’s use any means at his disposal without regret. The best means to get to the head of a notorious crime family? Through the daughter that helps run his empire…

Mysterious pussy could also just be a mystery.
And Nick was now drowning in the mystery of Olivia Shade.
Which meant he had no choice but to solve it so he could surface.
And maybe survive.

Olivia Shade is the black sheep of her family. Her father, the head of a crime syndicate is certifiable, and her sister is ruthless. Olivia doesn’t want this life for herself, but she also doesn’t see a way out. The only way to escape is death, a lesson that was painfully taught to her years ago. It’s a lesson she’ll never forget and she carries the remnants of it to this day.

Olivia knows who Nick is. How could she not? But can she trust that his interest in her is genuine? Can she really have the sort of happy she’s always yearned for? Or will it all go down in flames…
Sebring-@DGR teaserSebring was the final book in Kristen Ashley’s Unfinished Hero and it certainly concludes with a bang. Nick was everything I’d hoped he would be and so much more. He’s sex on a stick and let’s just say the man’s kinks really did it for me.

Sebring,” I gasped.
“Come,” he ordered.
My entire body started trembling.
“Fucking COME,” he growled.
Shuddering under him, I came.
Spectacularly.

I loved everything about this book; the set up, the characters, the romance. Olivia is a heroine that’s impossible not to love. The things she’s been through, and finding out the true depth of them, you begin to yearn for her HEA just as much as she does. And as for Nick? *swoon*
Sebring teaser @DGRSebring was action packed, quick-paced erotic perfection. Every new page was more delicious than the last. It offers a KA kind of grit which just works. It’s not as dark as most other anti-heroes books you’ll find, but it has enough of an edge to satisfy both readers that crave the super gritty and those that just want to dabble in it and dip a toe in the genre. You will absolutely devour this book. It’s impossible not to.

All I can say, is Nick Sebring was worth every minute of the wait. The perfect conclusion to one of my favorite series. My only complaint is that now it’s over.
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Blog Tour, Review, Author Q&A & Giveaway: ★Walk Through Fire★ by Kristen Ashley

Walk-Through-Fire-Blog-TourWalk Through Fire
Series: Chaos, #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance, MC
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: October 27, 2015add-to-goodreads-button3

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The flame never dies . . . 

Millie Cross knows what it’s like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn’t be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie’s chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can’t ignore. And this time, she won’t let him ride off . . .

Bad boy Logan “High” Judd has seen his share of troubles with the law. Yet it was a beautiful woman who broke him. After ending a loveless marriage, High is shocked when his true love walks back into his life. Millie is still gorgeous, but she’s just a ghost of her former self. High’s intrigued at the change, but her betrayal cut him deep-and he doesn’t want to get burned again. As High sinks into meting out vengeance for Millie’s betrayal, he’ll break all over again when he realizes just how Millie walked through fire for her man . . .

Buy LinksAmazon / B&N / iBooks  / GooglePlay / Kobo / BAM

Excerpt

I beeped the locks and had a hand to the handle when I heard, “Lookin’ for me?”When that deep, coarse voice came at me through the dark, my body became paralyzed, my eyes glued to my hand on the handle.

Then it kept coming at me.

“Bitch, followed you the last forty-five minutes. Reb got in touch. Told me you hit Scruff’s.” On the next, the voice was nearer. “You’re lookin’ for me. So tell me what the fuck you want so you can quit lookin’ and I can quit lookin’ at you.” Slowly, I turned, my head going back automatically because I felt him close and I knew what close to Logan meant.

I was five-seven.
He was six-one.

He towered over me, or at least that’s what it always felt like because he wasn’t only tall, he was also a big guy with a big presence.

And right then, it felt like that, especially since his big presence was an angry one.
His face was in shadows, I could barely see it
.

But I could feel him.
And I could smell him.
God, I could smell him.

He didn’t wear cologne or aftershave. His scent was all his. And I remembered lying in our bed holding his pillow to me, my face shoved into the sheets, taking him in after I’d made him walk away.
His scent hadn’t changed. Not even a nuance.

Smelling it without warning felt like walking unsuspecting into the street and having a truck slam into you. And that feeling was so strong it was a wonder my body didn’t go careening through the trucks and bikes, slamming into them, shattering every bone.

He moved forward so he was in my space, the smell strengthened and my body tightened to guard against it.
“Woman, after all this time, whatever shit you gotta hand me, fuckin’ do it,” he ordered irately. “You got two seconds to spit it the fuck out. You don’t, you won’t get another chance, and you know I’ll make it that way. So this is your only shot. Take it or get in your fuckin’ car and get your ass outta my world.”

I stared into the shadows of his face, wishing with everything that I could see it.
Apparently, I did this for two seconds because Logan bit out, “Right. See nothin’s changed. Weak. Now get your ass . . .” he dipped his face to mine, “gone.”

And when he did, I got up on my toes and kissed him.

It was totally crazy.

But I also totally couldn’t help it.

He smelled so fucking good.

And he was Logan.

Close. Right there. His face in mine.

He jerked away, muttering a disgusted, “What the fuck?”

But the words or their tone didn’t penetrate.

I smelled him and I’d had a taste.

I was gone.

I lifted both hands to either side of his head, yanked him down to me, and went back in, going for it, giving it my all. Even when his fingers clenched painfully into my hips pushing them back to set me away,

I held on tighter and shoved my tongue between his lips.

It touched his, just that, just a touch, and then I cried out into his mouth when I found my back slammed into my SUV.

But it wasn’t his way to get me to let him go.

No.

His head slanted and he forced my tongue out of his mouth when his invaded mine.
And that was when I was gone.

I was already gone but right then there was nothing to me.

Nothing at all.

Except my hands on Logan’s head, his body pressing mine into my car, his smell all around us, his tongue plundering my mouth, all this exploding fire everywhere.

He drove a hand into my hair, twisting it, the pain bristling over my scalp and I cried out into his mouth again even as I arched deeper, pressed closer, willing, like it had always been, to give it all because he was Logan, he got it all.

But also because I knew I’d get it back a hundredfold.

He swayed us forward so his other arm could lock across my back and he kept at my mouth as I rolled way up on my toes, pushing deep, wrapping my arms around his neck, consumed by the kiss and not giving that first fuck.

I was ready to ride it out.

No, I needed to ride it out.

No matter where it went.

He broke away and that was when my hand went into his hair, fisting tight in protest.

“That what you want?” he growled, his voice lower, the abrasion physical, and I shivered with delight.

I wasn’t entirely certain of the question but I answered a breathy, “Yes.”

“That’s what you want,” he repeated, a statement this time, seeking confirmation.

“Yes, Logan.”

He let me go but took my hand, his skin rough against my fingers. The feel of it back after all these years washed through me and I fancied I remembered every time, in quick succession, from the first night we met to the night before I broke it off when he’d taken my hand and guided me somewhere.

Lost in it like I’d always been lost in it, I followed blindly.

Attached to Logan, I’d go anywhere.

Even if we were walking through fire.

Q&A with KA1.    What scene from WALK THROUGH FIRE was the hardest to write?

High yelling at Zadie. I understood his emotion. It hurt for me, how he had to struggle to keep his cool in front of his girls…and how he failed. I felt his panic, his impatience, his frustration.

High’s a pushover daddy. He adores his girls (to a fault). Dealing with the issues of Millie being in their lives, he could control and strategize how he was going to finesse that situation even when something happened earlier in the book to spark his temper.

But must not forget, High is a member of a motorcycle club. They live in a different world. A member’s reaction to what happened to Millie will be primal…and roundly understood by everyone in their circle. Except two little girls. High had to leash that, an almost impossible task for him, thus some came through. I knew it pained him deeply because it pained me writing it. 

2.    What can you tell us about High and Millie that we won’t find in the book?

High’s fighting a losing battle. Millie might embrace a house where there are coasters in only one room, and the woman can make a mess, but in the end, she’s still tidy (and so is Cleo, Zadie…not so much).

3.    Finish this sentence: My hero will always…

Be nearly viciously protective, of his heroine, his children, his friends, his family.

4.    What’s next for you?

I actually haven’t quite decided. We’re getting my independently published books in print. There’s a lot of work involved around that and I’ve been traveling quite a bit this summer but home for a good stretch and nesting. It’s been a week since I finished SEBRING, the last in the Unfinished Heroes series (this book coming out in January). And now that week is done and I’m done with nesting! I’m itching to write another book.

I’m really feeling the pull of the mountains so I suspect it’ll be Deke, the next in the Colorado Mountain series. His heroine has hit me strong in the heart. So I’ll be wanting to deal with that!


Review4 starsWTF

I gave you up, walking through fire to do it but I did…
I did it in the end. I gave you everything.

It’s been a long while since I’ve read a book that touched me on such a visceral level. I don’t cry in books. Maybe I have a cold black heart, maybe I don’t have a soul, I dunno, it just doesn’t happen mkay. But here? I was a mess. A wreck. Absolutely and utterly pathetic. Sniveling, ugly crying, uncontrollably emotional wreck. In case you’re still not with me, basically I spent the first half of this book in this particular state:
My husband came home from work and caught me reading it, and after taking in my ugly crying state freaked out thinking someone died. True story. Basically, the moral of this story is do NOT read this book in public unless you want people to think there’s something seriously wrong with you. This book will tug at every heart string you have and rip it to smithereens. I’m not even kidding. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I though it was just a fluke at first, so I went back to re-read a few key parts and nope! I was a wreck all over again.

My life had been interrupted and I’d never restarted it.

One of my favorite tropes is a second chance romance and Walk Through Fire delivers on the promise of it beautifully. While I had no recollection of High from the other books in this series, I have to say he’s probably one of the most memorable I’ve read from Chaos. The story of him and Millie was beautifully tragic. But twenty years apart changed them both. While Millie went on to live her life, she never truly lived it, not without High. And High has spent the last 20 years trying to forget she exists and hating her. Something that he reminds her of vividly when he does finally set his eyes on her again.

If you call me a bitch one more time, High, I swear to God, you’re regret it.”
“What you gonna do? Suck my dick clean off?”
“God, you’re an asshole.”
“Bet I get you on your knees and I get my cock in you, one end or the other, you’ll stop thinkin’ that.”

That gif basically sums up my feelings for High and the rest of Chaos for the first half of this book. High is a royal asshole to Millie when he sees her again. She broke his heart all those years ago and he’s not about to let her forget it. She walked out on him and Chaos, and now that she seems to want the chance to explain, he’ll use the opportunity to switch the roles from twenty years ago.

To say that the first half of this book was intense would be a major understatement. It was raw, painful, heart-wrenchingly good. I couldn’t set the book down for even a minute. I wanted to hate High and yet I couldn’t. I was going crazy trying to figure out the secret of why Millie did what she did those years ago. I wanted them to finally talk instead of lashing out at each other even though there was something utterly delicious in their viciousness.

I’m done walking through fire for you, High…
I’m done not because I’m done but because there’s nothing left of me to burn. You have it all. You’ve always had it all! I gave up everything so you can have it all! Please! God! Leave me to my nothing.

I was afraid that I wouldn’t like Millie when I originally read the first chapter of this book as a preview in Ride Steady. She came across as weak and slightly whiny. Boy was I pleasantly surprised by her in Walk Through Fire. This woman is a survivor and she certainly gave as good as she got, and let me tell you, she got plenty.

The first half of this book was easily a 5+ star. There’s a very clear change of pace between the first half and the second half, and for me, that transition was what ultimately brought my rating down slightly. As intense as the first half was, the second half was almost….boring compared to it. That’s not to say that it was boring, but it was just such a sudden change from one to the other, that I found myself wishing for something more. But it still all came together wonderfully.

All my favorite secondary characters make an appearance and there were plenty of great moments to go along with the emotional ones.

There were only a few words in the Vocabulary of Badass but each one had a number of meanings. They included beautiful, Christ, fuck, Jesus, and shit.
But the one used the most was babe.

I’d say this book divides into two halves, the first half finds Millie and High together after 20 years apart and dealing out pain to each other while attempting to deal with a love that clearly never died. The second half focuses on their rebuilding their lives together. While I had some quibbles with the book as a whole, anything that can put me through the emotional ringer like that is worthy of at least 4 stars. Quibbles or not. I haven’t had a reaction like this to a book in….ever. Seriously.

Kristen Ashley books and alphas are an addiction for me. This is probably one of the most emotional books I’ve read by her to date. So if you’re prepared for one hell of an ugly cry, step inside the world of Chaos and enjoy.


About the Author

Kristen AshleyKristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy-Links10 Amazon / B&N / iBooks

Excerpt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Step back,” I demanded.

“No,” he denied.

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

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

I glared at him from closer.

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

He was getting off on this.

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

I wanted this done.

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

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

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

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

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

And doing it better.

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

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

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

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

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

That didn’t get me fire.

That got me ice.

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

That made me ice over.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I could stand.

I could stare.

But I couldn’t breathe.

Merry could.

He could also speak.

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

His words were lost on me.

I continued to stand.

I continued to stare.

But my lungs had started burning.

If I didn’t know you were worth it…

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

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

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

That was kind of funny as well as hot.

I still said nothing.

Merry fell silent and stared at me.

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

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

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

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

He closed the door on that.

I stood where he left me.

If I didn’t know you were worth it…

What was I worth?

What was I worth to Merry?

Review5 starsHold On-Burg 6- DirtyGirlRomance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Giveaway
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#NewRelease & Review: ★Ride Steady★ by Kristen Ashley

Ride Steady 
Series: Chaos #3
Author: Kristen Ashley
Genre: Contemporary, MC Romance
Release Date: June 30, 2015

The ride of her life . . . 

Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy—until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa’s pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . .

In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he’s the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa’s acting, it’s clear she’s falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker’s secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa—or ride away forever…

Joke, your story to tell when you wanna tell it. Your story to keep if you don’t ever wanna tell. Thought you had secrets. Way you’re holding’ back with this girl, think I’m wrong. You don’t have secrets. You got demons.

Motorcycle Man was the book that first introduced me into the world of MC romance and I’ve been hooked ever since. I LOVED that book and when I found out that KA will be writing a spin off of that book with her Chaos series, I was beyond thrilled. While the first two books in this series were good, I can safely say that this one was definitely the best in the series so far and also my favorite. Carson “Joker” Steele and Carissa “Carrie” Teodoro absolutely stole my heart. Maybe it’s because it gave me that soul mates love and second chance vibe? Whatever the reason, it just worked for me

Now look, don’t go into this book expecting something different. Most of Kristen Ashley’s characters sound absolutely the same with the monosyllabic heroes and the heroines that may be 25 but sound like they’re going on 40 with their ‘honeys’ and the ‘sweethearts’. But while it may not offer anything new in that respect, what it does have is that vintage KA vibe. You know what I’m talking about. It will have descriptions galore, it will have the hero that can answer practically any question with “babe”, and it will have an incredible love story.

You good?” he asked.
I swallowed. Then I nodded.
“Wanna be better?”
I pressed a hand to his chest and breathed, “Yes.”

Joker first met Carrie as Carson Steele when they were both in high school. Carrie was the beautiful, sweet and popular cheerleader while he was the boy from the wrong side of the tracks with an abusive asshole for a father. Unfortunately his plan of waiting it out till he graduates didn’t work and Carson decided to put everything behind him when his father’s abuse proves to be too much; including the beautiful girl that will always have his heart. He wants her to have the beautiful life she deserves and a man like him definitely can’t give her that.

Gotta get where I’m going’.”
It killed him, but that was his response.
This was because she was not his to have.
She was golden. Nothing beat her. She smiled through pain and made you believe it.

But life never works out according to plan and seven years later find both Joker and Carrie at places they never thought they’d be; Joker with his brothers and Chaos family, and Carrie as a divorce and single mom. When she’s stranded on the side of a road with a flat tire, fate brings these two together again. But while Joker recognizes Carrie right away, he’s changed quite a bit from the boy she once knew and though there’s something familiar about him, Carrie doesn’t recognize him.

I’m not sure what it was about this, but both of these characters just worked for me. Carrie has been through so much in her life; lost her sister when she was young, her husband left her for another woman while she was still pregnant, and she’s barely able to make ends meet. But through all that she still maintains the woman that she’s always been; nurturing, caring, sweet and she’s an amazing mother. Joker was a grouchy and brooding biker for the first quarter of the story and fights the connection between them. his demons from his past run deep and he doesn’t want to taint Carrie with them. But when Carrie’s ex makes life harder for her, Joker knows that he’ll do everything in his power to give her the sweet she deserves.

I lay under him, breathing heavily, clasped to him like I never wanted to let him go (and thinking I actually didn’t), glorying in the feel of his filling me, watching with what could be nothing but utter glee as the shudders of his orgasm shifted through his powerful body as the fragments of the glory of mine whispered though mine.

Joker is definitely up there with my favorite KA heroes. Something about this man was just so devastatingly perfect. The way he steps up to the plate with both Carrie and her baby son will make you swoon. Guaranteed.

I think I might be falling in love with you…”
“Then quit thinkin’, Carrie, because I know I’m fallin’ for you.

While I can’t say that the story was super quick paced, it wasn’t the slow drag either. There’s a little bit of suspense thrown in with cameos from some KA favorites of the past; Luke, Knight, Lee, Hank, and so much more. At the heart of it, it was a heart warming romance that had just as much sexy as it had of the swoons.

The one thing I’ve come to love from KA’s alphas is the way they take care of what’s theirs and Joker was definitely no exception.

I’m in love with your ex-wife…
I’ve loved her since high school, man. She means everything to me. You gotta drag her down, that’ll suck, but I’ll pick her back up. You gotta rip her apart, I’ll fuckin’ hate watchin’ it, but I’ll put her back together. Do what you gotta do to make you feel like you got the bigger dick. But know this, in the end, it’s gonna be her and me.

I haven’t enjoyed a recent KA release this much since Soaring and even that pales in comparison to this one. If you’re looking for some vintage KA vibes this is one book you need to pick up. There’s also a sneak peek into the next book at the end and that left me practically salivating for High’s story. Even though I was hoping for Rush’s book, I’ll take High after that set up. He already caught my interest here as a secondary character so I cannot wait to see what his story brings.

 


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

(Click directly on image for Amazon buy link)
Own the Wind (Chaos #1)
Fire Inside (Chaos #2)

Paperback Release Day & #Giveaway: ★Kaleidoscope★ by @KristenAshley68

Today is the release day for the paperback edition of Kaleidoscope! Kaleidoscope is book 6 in Kristen Ashley’s Colorado Man series.
KALEIDOSCOPE by Kristen Ashley 
(December 16, 2014; Forever Mass Market; $7.00)

When old friends become new lovers…anything can happen.

Sexy, gifted, and loyal, PI Jacob Decker is a tall, cool drink of perfection who had Emmanuelle Holmes at “hello.” His relationship with Emme’s best friend kept them apart for years, but things have changed. Now that a case has brought him to Gnaw Bone, Colorado, the road is wide open for Emme and Deck to explore something hotter and deeper than Emme dreamed possible. So why is she sabotaging the best thing that’s ever happened to her?

It isn’t easy to catch Deck off guard, but Emme does just that when she walks back into his life after nine long years. The curvy brunette had her charms back in the day, but now she’s a bona fide knockout . . . and she wants to rekindle their friendship. Deck, however, wants more. Emme’s always been the one; she excites Deck’s body and mind like no other woman can. But a dark chapter from Emme’s past overshadows their future together. Now only Deck can help her turn the page-if she’ll let him . . .


I dropped my leg so I was sitting cross-legged in the couch and leaned into him. “Honey, you remember everything so I don’t have to remind you I haven’t seen you in nine years. I dig it that we reconnected and I love having you back.” I again threw an arm out, this time toward him and back to me. “This is great. You and me spending time together, shooting the breeze. I missed that. And I get it that friends make gestures, but this is too much.”

His eyes warmed during this speech and he took his arms from the couch, bent his legs, leaned into them, and me, and put his elbows to his knees, never releasing my eyes.

“Baby, I want you warm and liquid. The first bein’ physically, the second bein’ financially. You stop payin’ so much for heat, you’ll have more money for the rest of the shit you gotta do.”

This made sense.

But he’d again called me “baby.”

And I needed to address that.

So I asked, “What is that?”

His head cocked and his eyebrows drew together. “What’s what?”

I drew in breath and on the exhale, stated, “You calling me baby.” Then I went on quickly, “Not that I don’t like it. It’s sweet. It’s just not…” I hesitated, “us.”

Something happened to his eyes, his face, his whole big body and that something made me brace at the same time it made my heartbeat escalate.

“You know what it is,” he said softly.

I didn’t.

“I don’t,” I shared.

His eyes stayed locked to mine and I knew him relatively well, or I used to. But even if we hadn’t been separated for years, I still would not have been forewarned to the fact he was about to blow my mind.

“Before, we had Elsbeth between us. My head was fucked about that, about her, and it took almost a decade to get it unfucked. Lookin’ back, havin’ you back, I now know and I reckon you know, that’s the way it was. She was between us. She knew it too. And she didn’t like it. But it didn’t matter. My head was fucked so I couldn’t see clear of her and not doin’ that, I didn’t see you.”

I knew my lips had parted. I also knew my eyes got big. And last, I had no clue what to say.

So I said nothing.

“Now she isn’t between us,” he finished.

It was then I knew what the “baby” business was.

I just had no idea how to react to it because I never considered it. He was beautiful. He was kind. He was smart. He was funny and interesting and affectionate.

But he was my best friend’s boyfriend.

That didn’t mean my mind didn’t go there in vague ways, not stupid enough to wish for something I could never have, just silently covetous of what Elsbeth had. And, because of all that he was and that Elsbeth had it, in the end, infuriated she threw it away. Angry enough to end an important friendship because of it.

Sitting there, all that was Jacob, and all that being spectacular sitting across from me, holding my eyes, I finally understood that the reason I was angry at my friend was because, in throwing Jacob away, she took him away from me.

And now I had him back, but also, he was saying I’d always had him a different way, we just didn’t go there and he was going to take us there.

Yes. I had no clue what to say but my body had a clue how to feel. Warm and there were a lot more tingles.

“Jacob—” I started on a whisper.

But he interrupted again.

“You saw me, asked me out to dinner that same night, no fuckin’ around. Since then, you’ve called twice for no reason except to connect, and, baby, before you freak that I noticed that and what it said, I’ll tell you, I’m fuckin’ glad you did and I’m also fuckin’ glad about what it said. The boyfriend you were on the fence about, you got off the fence in less than twenty-four hours after seein’ me again and decided to get shot of his ass. And you didn’t waste any time gettin’ me right where I am tonight. That is not friends reconnecting. You know it. So do I.”

“I—”

“Don’t deny it.”

I shut my mouth.


Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up.  And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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Review: ☆The Will☆ by Kristen Ashley

Early in her life, Josephine Malone learned the hard way that there was only one person she could love and trust: her grandmother, Lydia Malone. Out of necessity, unconsciously and very successfully, Josephine donned a disguise to keep all others at bay. She led a globetrotting lifestyle on the fringes of the fashion and music elite, but she kept herself distant. 

While Josephine was trotting the globe, retired boxer Jake Spear was living in the same small town as Lydia. There was nothing disguised about Jake. Including the fact he made a habit of making very bad decisions about who to give his love. 

But for Josephine and Jake, there was one person who adored them. One person who knew how to lead them to happiness. And one person who was intent on doing it. 

Even if she had to do it as her final wish on this earth. 

5 KA has her magic back Stars


It’s never too late to reach for happiness and no matter what life has done to you, it’s never too late to find it.

Oh yes!
God yes!
Fuck yes!

KA got her mojo back with this book. If I needed any further proof that the past releases lost the KA touch because of her publisher, this book was it. It was everything that I’ve been missing in her published books lately. And I do mean every-fucking-thing.

Who else but Kristen Ashley can take a heroine that talks like she’s a Victorian maiden and not only make it so it doesn’t irritate the living crap out of you, but actually endears her to you? No really? I ask you?

Well, yes I can. Because it was fantastic!

Miss Ashley takes a prim and proper heroine that by all intents and purposes conducts herself like she has a stick up her ass the size of a palm tree and makes you love her. Josie was everything I love in a heroine and even some things that I’d normally hate…yet loved here. Here you have a heroine that shows up in a town and it’s like the woman has a catnip pussy…uhem. All she has to do is breathe and she draws men to her like a bitch in heat.

Normally, this would drive me batty. Here, I couldn’t get enough. Such is the magic of KA.

Who else but KA can give you a hero that’s equal parts sweet, slightly assholish, a dash domineering, a whole lot of jealous, with a twist of melt your panties dirty talker?

Oh and make him a sexy as sin former boxer and an amazing single father in his late 40s?

Who else but KA can give you a beautiful love story with the perfect burn of sexual tension all to explode in the most erotic way when they finally give into the inevitable?

Don’t believe me? Just wait till that halfway mark and see for yourself what I mean.

And finally, who else but KA can give you an ending and an epilogue that will leave you an ugly crying, sniveling, kindle hugging in the middle of your room mess?

In case you’re curious, those are rhetorical questions, because the answer to all those is NO ONE. Absolutely, positively NO ONE but Kristen Ashley.

I adored this book. I tried stretching it out as much as possible and yet couldn’t find myself to put it down. I fell in love with Jake, I fell in love with his kids, I fell in love with the quirky Josie, and I completely and utterly fell in love with the story.

I won’t give you a sum up of the book or what it’s about since you can get the main gist of it from the book blurb. Giving you anything else will be an injustice to the KA reading experience. What I will tell you is that if you’re anything like me and found her last few releases to be somewhat shy of lackluster, this will bring you out of that funk.

I know that I will only be sticking to her self-pubs from now on because she has definitely not lost her touch, it’s simply been getting edited out by her publisher. And now I will be on pins and needles in pervy anticipation of Frankie and Benny’s book.

Miss Ashley, I only have one thing to tell you after finishing this

Review: ★Broken Dove★ by Kristen Ashley

Far too young, Apollo Ulfr lost Ilsa, his wife, the love of his life and the mother of his two children. The grief of her loss does not settle in his soul, it solders to it. But when he discovers there is a parallel universe where his wife may have a twin, he feels there’s hope and sets about bringing her to his world so he can have her back.

But Ilsa Ulfr of our world is married to the parallel universe’s twin, Pol, who is not a good man. Not in any way. She’s on the run from him and the last thing she wants is to be transported to a fantastical world and be forced to take his side as his wife, even if he is not Pol. And Apollo finds the broken, bitter Ilsa nothing like his beloved and he further wants nothing to do with her.

But darkness is looming and evil is amassing. Apollo must protect his land and keep his family safe, including the new Ilsa.
Review-DGR4.5 stars
All my life, I’ve never been happy. So I never imagined even being that way. Until now.

Now THAT is what a Kristen Ashley book is supposed to be like. Are you taking notes Forever? Because you should.

Know everything that you love about KA books? Oh you know what I’m talking about; the descriptiveness, the sexual tension, the super hot Alphas, the sassy and quirky heroines, the action, the steam, the writing, the inability to put it down even though it’s crazy long. Ringing a bell? Yea, that. All of which have been missing in her recent releases through her publisher for me.

I was ready to give up after Kaleidoscope ended up being a 2 star read for me. I began to think that maybe one of my all time favorite authors may be starting to lose her touch. Then I read this book, and I realized it truly is her publisher that seems to be dimming my enjoyment of her books for me.

I loved it. While The Golden Dynasty continues to be my favorite book in this series, this book still hit the spot.

For those that are like me and have been anticipating this book hoping it lives up to the promise, rest easy, kick back, and be ready to enjoy KA at her finest.

Maddie, look at me and listen.
“Come closer,” I begged.
“I need to gag you and tie you to the bed,” he declared.
Oh God.
Awesome
“Yes,” I breathed, pressing closer to him again.

Got your attention now, didn’t I? Good.

So what can I tell you about Apollo?

8127919._SX540_Seems to sum it up quite nicely. He was the perfect combination of asshole, sweet, possessive, protective, dirty talking sex on a stick.

The one thing that I’ve grown to love in Kristen Ashley books is that level of hate/sexual tensions between the hero in heroine tend to have in the beginning. It was no smooth sailing for these two, not even close.
Apollo is still getting over the death of his wife. Ilsa is running from a past she never wants to repeat. Together they had to work through quite a bit to find their common ground.

Ilsa was such a great heroine. She was quirky, funny, endearing, and just a little bit broken.

When Apollo finally gets his head out of his ass and begins to work on their relationship…well let’s just say he did it WELL.

Why not 5 stars then? Well, I wasn’t as enthralled with this book as I was with Golden Dynasty. It was still fantastic, don’t get me wrong. Just not quite 5 star material.

Would I re-read it? Maybe…certain parts MOST DEFINITELY.

I can’t wait to get my greedy little hands on Pol’s book now. And I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more of KA’s self published awesomeness.

ARC Review: Jagged by Kristen Ashley

Jagged (Colorado Mountain, #5)Jagged by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars







Book Synopsis

An old flame rekindled . . .
Zara Cinders always knew Ham Reece was the one, but he wasn’t interested in settling down. When she found someone who was, Ham walked out of her life. Three years later, Zara’s lost her business, her marriage, and she’s barely getting by in a tiny apartment on the wrong side of the tracks. As soon as Ham hears about Zara’s plight, he’s on her doorstep offering her a lifeline. Now, it will take every ounce of will power she possesses to resist all that he offers.

Ham was always a traveling man, never one to settle down in one town, with one woman, for more time than absolutely necessary. But Ham’s faced his own demons, and he’s learned a lot. About himself, and about the life he knows he’s meant to live. So when he hears that Zara’s having a rough time, he wants to be the one to help. In fact, he wants to do more than that for Zara. A lot more. But first, he must prove to Zara that he’s a changed man.

My Review

3.5 Why am I craving ham all of a sudden stars

I’d walked away from the love of my life. And he let me.

“Cookie, pay attention. I’m gonna give you everything.”

 
See that fidgety crazy person twitching away in that gif? Well that’s me right now (well, minus the penis and the cartoonish look; but you get the idea). Why am I like this? Because this is my least favorite kind of review to write; a book I neither loved nor hated. It was just OK.

I’ll be honest, when I saw that Graham will be getting a book next, I wasn’t exactly crazy excited

Don’t get me wrong, I will read anything that Kristen Ashley writes. I mean the woman can probably smear poop on a page and I’d buy it. I’m THAT much of a fan. Maybe it’s because I’ve been dying to finally get Frankie and Benny’s book so any book that gets priority before them is going to upset me? I dunno. But the point is, I really went into this book with zero expectations, except for the fact that it’s a KA book and that is enough for me.

So what did I think? Well Therein lies the rub, I’m not really sure what I though. I didn’t love it, nor did I hate it. There were things that I liked, and then again things that I didn’t. So let’s start with the good.

What I liked

Graham Reece. It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for the assholes. So of course at Graham’s first asshole speech to Zara, my first thought was

I swear, my happy place would get a tingle at his every scowl, growl, and general assholishness. Then he would have these incredibly sweet moments, and I just loved him all the more. Plus this description of him just sealed the deal for me.

Yeesh, didn’t know a bear matin’ with a human could create somethin’ that divine but there it is. Proof.”

The steam. No one can write a love scene quite like KA. And let me tell you, when Graham got down to business…he got it done.

What I didn’t like

The friggin nicknames. I am all for endearments, I love them, they’re cute, sweet and just add to the mood. But when I’m reading a book, or more specifically a love scene, the last damn thing I wanna be thinking about at the same time is food. So explain to me, why every single time I would crave cookies or honey glazed ham. Seriously. I’ve read a lot of different nicknames in book, some bad, some good, some plain awful. But I’m pretty sure that takes the cake. No pun intended…well maybe a little.

The man’s name is Graham Reece, and he goes by Reece to his friends. Why not stick with that? Why in the hell would Zara call him Ham? Does that instill sexy thoughts for you? So safe to say that this nickname did NOT work for me.

So what did Graham call Zara? Well, I guess we are sticking to food groups because she was Cookie. Now maybe if Graham had a different nickname, then I wouldn’t have batted an eyelash at Zara’s…but as it was, all I could think of every time I read it was

Don’t ask me why. I’m weird like that. But I guess I felt that Zara got the short end of the stick on the endearment department considering that Graham called Feb “Beautiful”. ‘Cookie’ just sort of paled in comparison for me with that.

I feel like people going into this book with great expectations will not really enjoy it as much. It did not feel like a typical Kristen Ashley book, or at least not to me. I went into it expecting nothing, so I did enjoy it. Aside from the few aforementioned things. I’ve seen a few reviews touch on the fact that the past few KA books have been shorter in length. I don’t really have an issue with this. Yes, they are shorter in comparison to some of the books she released when she self-published, but she’s releasing books at an amazing pace. So I have zero complaints. Plus it had KA’s amazing epilogues, which I have come to absolutely love.

Did I like it? Yes. I got my KA fix, although a slightly watered down one. Will I be re-reading it? Probably not.

So I believe I’m done with my rant here. I’m off to stalk Kristen Ashley’s website for more updates on Frankie and Benny’s book. I’m pretty sure I’d be willing to part with an ovary at this point to get their book sometime soon. And I thank you.

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

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Review: The Gamble (Colorado Mountain #1) by Kristen Ashley

The Gamble (Colorado Mountain, #1)The Gamble by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Please stop saying you’re sorry before I hit you stars







“You lose anyone, there’s no replacing them. What you need to get is that’s precious. You get to keep that. You don’t want to replace it. That doesn’t mean you can’t find something else just as good.”

Welcome to Gnaw Bone, Colorado.

I’m not sure why I spent my time searching through pictures to find my perfect Max and Nina, where really, I could have just gone with

(Did I just age myself?)

I love, and I mean LOVE Kristen Ashley books. I have no idea how I managed to read every book in the Colorado Man series BUT this one. Really. I’m still trying to figure that out. Obviously I’ve been a bad bad girl, and Max need to punish me…thoroughly…

But I digress. After reading a few of KA’s recent books, my first thought when I started reading The Gamble? THIS! This is KA at her finest. Damn but I missed her. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed her recent books, but it always felt a little off. So it was so great to get my KA fix with Max and Nina. What did I love the most about The Gamble?

Max

The man was perfect! No seriously friggin perfect! He said things like this

Learned some things in my life, Duchess, one of the most important, you find a good woman, you take care of her.”
“Please.”
“This happens between us, Duchess, I’d take care of you.”
“Don’t.”
“Die doin’ it,” he vowed.

He was growly and possessive and I just wanted to lick him! What? It’s this thing I get with growly and possessive heroes. You don’t? Huh. But then there was Nina

Now I know I tend to have a short fuse when it comes to irritating heroines…but FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT’S HOLY she worked my last damn nerve. Here we have a 36 year old woman, a professional lawyer, and most of the time she acts like a teenager. Yes she was sassy when it came to standing up for herself and I liked that. But when it came to Max? GAH!

I mean here we have a situation that can easily be resolved by talking it through. Max is willing to talk it out with her. Max even pretty much begs to talk things out with her. Yet every single time instead of talking it out, she just jumps to her own stupid conclusions. The other times she stews on it, gets mad and takes it out on Max, or just runs.

Here you have this amazing, sexy, growling man that for some god unknown reason wants your crazy ass. Yet all you do is give him shit, more shit, and then dish up shit some more. I ask you

Though to be fair, I would have been fine with all that. If I could give Nina just one handy dandy little thing.

Please, for the sake of my sanity, Nina, look up the word “sorry”. I’m sure there will be something in there. It felt like most of her vocabularly when it came to Max consisted of: “I’m sorry”, “Um”, and “Uh”. GAH!

The story itself was fantastic. I loved the mystery, suspense, and full out drama. All the side characters and their stories were great too. I love how KA can include a few side character plots without it getting muddy or confusing. The who-done-it ending caught me by complete and utter surprise. I did not see it coming at all.

Then there was the epilogue. *GUSHING* No one and I mean NO ONE can write an epilogue quite like KA. And this one was no exception. Nina was definitely not a favorite heroine of mine, but luckily the book was still THAT good that I was able to more or less tolerate her. So that is all the heroine bashing you will be getting from me. And I thank you

Though now I’m feeling the sudden urge to re-read this entire amazing series. *dreamy sigh*

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Jagged by Kristen Ashley

Jagged (Colorado Mountain, #5)Jagged by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Why am I craving ham all of a sudden stars


I’d walked away from the love of my life. And he let me.

“Cookie, pay attention. I’m gonna give you everything.”

Full review to come closer to the November release date.

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

Jagged is set to be released on November 5th, 2013

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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