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Review: Tamed by Emma Chase

tamed

 

Tamed 

Tangled Series Book 3

By Emma Chase

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Synopsis

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: girl meets player, they fall in love, player changes his ways.

It’s a good story. But it’s not our story. Ours is a lot more colorful.

When I met Dee I knew right away that she was special. When she met me, she thought I was anything but special—I was exactly like every other guy who’d screwed her over and let her down. It took some time to convince her otherwise, but turns out I can make a convincing argument when sex is at stake.

You might know where this story’s headed. But the best part isn’t where we ended up.

It’s how we got there.

TAMED goes back in time to the Tangled days. But this time around, it’s not Drew dishing out the advice and opinions—it’s his best friend Matthew, who of course is dealing with Dee Dee.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

5 Star Read

Robin’s Review

Kudos to Emma Chase for writing another outstanding romantic comedy! Tamed is the third novel of her popular Tangled series, with events occurring simultaneous to the events of Tangled. This time, Matthew Fisher shares his own great wisdom with readers on dating and relationships. He works as an investment banker at the same firm as his best friend, Drew Evans. Although Matthew is not quite as colorful in his narration as Drew Evans, his knowledge on dating, women and other subjects is definitely entertaining and quite humorous!

Matthew thought he was doing just fine until he was introduced to the wild and beautiful Delores Warren by his coworker, Kate Brooks. Dee is spirited. Bold. Intelligent. Brutally honest. A rocket scientist who dresses like a stripper to throw people off their game. A chemist who has a “nice rack” – and Matthew just happens to be a “boob man.” With his curiosity and libido both being piqued, Matthew begs Kate for a hook-up. Although Kate agrees to his request, she warns Matthew that Dee doesn’t do complicated or relationships – which sounds just perfect to him.

Matthew finds Dee interesting. Challenging. Fascinating. She holds his attention. Really, Matthew has no chance. Want a night on the town dancing? Great! In the mood for a one-night stand? No problem! Just don’t ask Dee for more than she is able to give. Having been hurt too many times by the men in her life, Dee Warren avoids emotions and commitment at all costs. Matthew thinks he can spend quality time with Dee Warren without becoming attached. After all, he is a player! Why not pick up a copy of Tamed to see how this situation unfolds?

What do I think? I absolutely love Emma Chase’s writing style! Her writing is really funny. Witty, laugh out loud funny! Her novels tend to be written from a first person point of view, with her main character dishing out plenty of advice to readers about dating, relationships and general life experiences. Emma Chase does a fantastic job of pulling off a male point of view. She just seems to understand how men are wired – how they think. Something I truly enjoyed about Tamed is that we are able to experience the events of Tangled from Matthew Fisher’s point of view – to see what transpired between Drew and Kate from a different perspective. I also have to mention that the chemistry between Dee and Matthew was scorching hot! Although Tamed is not my favorite novel of this series – that honor goes to Drew Evans and Tangled – I am adding it to my list of favorites for 2014. Emma Chase has earned a solid 4.5 star rating from this reviewer for Tamed!

Author Bio:

emma chaseBy day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she toils away the hours bringing her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

Some of Emma’s favorite quotes from Tangled –

“You are making me crazy!”
”Crazy like you want to rip my shirt off again?”
”No – crazy like the itch of a yeast infection that won’t go away!”

“And I will be damned if Kate Brooks is going to walk her ass in here and take that away from me. No matter how fine of an ass it may be.”

“Words are cheap. Actions win wars. Actions heal wounds.”

“It makes me want to kiss her and strangle her at the same time. I’ve never been into S&M. But I’m beginning to see its benefits.”

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

tamed

ARC Review: How I Became Lotus Raine…the porn star by Erika Ashby

Lotus Raine cover

 

How I Became Lotus Raine…the porn star

by Ericka Ashby

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Synopsis

I refused to work my way up the company ladder by sexually favoring my sleazy boss. I was beginning to lose hope. Until one day, he surprised me with an assignment that would literally rock my world.

I never imagined my first assignment being my last. But Brent Nichols worked his way inside every way possible, unlocking something within me.

Becoming a porn star was never part of the plan. Neither was changing my name.

Everyone else knows me as Lucy Rogers, but you can call me Lotus Raine.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

5 Star Read

Michel’s Review

When I first saw the cover reveal and title of this book I was intrigued. I didn’t know what to expect. I figured that this would be a typical erotica romance where good girl goes wild, owns her sexuality, and fully embraces her needs.

How I became Lotus Raine…the porn star was not what I expected at all. It was so much more than an erotica romance. It was an expose of one woman’s journey that changed courses and opened new doors.

Lucy Rogers is one of those heroines that we all want to be. She has a strong sense of self and enough imagination that allows her to explore her horizons. She is well educated, dedicated to her work, loyal to her friends, and has a clear goal about her future in the literary world. She is very competent in her job but is over looked for the “better” interviews & research work because of inner office brown nosing. She refuses to stoop to that level. When she accidentally lets an inner thought slip during the weekly meeting it lands her the most challenging research assignment she has ever had. She is to live with a legendary porn star for one week. Her assignment is not to get to know the real person behind the stardom. Her assignment is to learn the industry, learn how a porn star prepares for the role, how they live the role, and anything else concerning the industry. It sounds like an interesting challenge. Lucy is not interested in the personal aspect of the man behind the legendary sex God image. That is until she meets Brent Nichols.

The instant lust attraction that Lucy feels towards Brent shocks her. She has never had this strong of an attraction and acted upon it. But one week will change everything. It will change how Lucy views herself . It will change how she looks upon sex, relationships, and love.

Brent Nichols has opened a new world for Lucy’s eyes. He has opened a door that was slammed shut at a very young age. But Lucy isn’t the only one that has eye opening experiences. Brent’s world will be changed as well.

This book is so much more than erotica. Sure there are toe curling, red-hot, sensual scenes that will have you fanning yourself. The characters chemistry is explosive. But what makes this book is the characters themselves and their journey of self discovery. The developement of a real lasting relationship. Learning to let go and learning to live life to the fullest.

Lucy Rogers embraced everything she thought she was. Lotus Raine embraces everything with a passion.

I loved how this story was written. It is written as an interview with Lotus Raine. As Lucy/ Lotus tells her story the readers will be enraptured.

Erika Ashby has out done herself. How I Became Lotus Raine…the porn star is a 5 Star Book.

Author Bio:

 

erika ashbyBeing born an “Army Brat”, Erika Ashby has been residing in Oklahoma the last 10 years finally putting an end to the nomad tendencies she had grown accustomed to. She’s a happily married woman who has 5 kids between her and her husband. She has an insane passion for music and embraces her Inner Groupie any chance she has. It wasn’t until the age of 29 that she realized she also had a hidden passion for reading; before then she claimed to have hated it. Six months after unlocking that deep desire she never knew she held, she turned the key to another chapter of her life which has become the desire to write. And the rest is still history in the making.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Lotus Raine cover

Release Blitz: Corrupted by Alicia Taylor and Natalie Townson

Synopsis 

I am going to marry a monster.
He is my everything.
He manipulates people for fun. He takes over their lives, consuming 
them. He dominates and crushes, ruling them, claiming their souls. No 
one can survive the games of Damon Hunt.Before now. Before me.

I am Ella Knight. I am corrupted. My sister was a victim of Damon’s games. It’s my turn to play now.

Damon Hunt has been my sole focus, my everything for three years, 
since my sister’s death. I’ll manipulate him. I’ll take over his life, 
consuming and crushing him. I am going to take away his soul. Damon Hunt
 will not survive my games. I will win.

I hope.

Add to Goodreads

 Excerpt 
“Ella,”
 he rasps. “You’re gonna fuckin’ kill me. Sweet Jesus, baby.” He closes 
the distance between us in two strides. When he’s close enough, his 
hands grip on my hips and pull me into him. Our bodies clash, my blood 
ignites. 
Need washes through me. Damon’s scent envelopes me, he smells pure male.
 My chest heaves as I look up into his eyes, my breasts brushing against
 his chest with every inhale.
“I can see everything, beauty. Every fucking thing. The rounded globes 
of your perfect arse, the mound of your pussy, the dimples at the back 
of your knees.” His hands move down to grip my arse cheeks. He squeezes 
roughly before pulling me into his hard cock. I moan as the move hits 
the perfect spot. “God, I need to keep you.”
Sweeter Excerpt 
“Morning,”
 he whispers into my neck as he nuzzles. I gasp at the soft stroke of 
his tongue on my neck. “I can smell you. I’ll have your scent stuck in 
my head all day. I need a taste.” He sucks my earlobe into his mouth as 
he nibbles me. “Just one taste. I have to have one taste.” The huskiness
 of his desire filled voice makes my knees weak. I melt into his body, 
letting the feelings he’s evoking within me take over.
Purchase Links 
Author Bio’s

Alicia
Taylor is 28, lives in Derbyshire in the UK with her husband and two
step-daughters.
Corrupted
is her debut novel which she cowrites with Natalie Townson. This is book one in
the Manipulation Trilogy.
Her
love of reading led to blogging which led to this – dipping her toes in the
indie author pool.


Connect with Alicia



Natalie
Townson is 31, a mother of one beautiful little boy and lives in Gloucester in
the UK with her Husband.
Corrupted
is her debut novel that is a book one of the manipulation trilogy, that she co
writes with Alicia Taylor. She is currently working on book two of the series
which is nearly complete.




Connect With Natalie



Facebook  | Twitteror you can like our facebook page Author Alicia Taylor & Natalie Townson

Cover Reveal: Filthy Beautiful Lies Book 1 by Kendall Ryan

Book 1 praise

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Filthy Beautiful Lies Book 1

August 18, 2014

By Kendall Ryan

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 Synopsis

Book 1

I have no idea why she auctioned off her virginity for a cool mill. Regardless, I’m now the proud new owner of a perfectly intact hymen. A lot of good that will do me. I have certain tastes, certain sexual proclivities. My cock is a bit more discriminatory than most. And training a virgin takes finesse and patience – both of which I lack.

Sophie Evans has been backed into a corner. With her sister’s life hanging in the balance, the only choice is to claw her way out, even if that means selling her virginity to the highest bidder at an exclusive erotic club. When Colton Drake takes her home, she quickly learns nothing is as it seems with this beautifully troubled man. Being with him poses challenges she never expected, and pushes her to want things she never anticipated.

A sinfully seductive erotic romance where everything has a price and the cost of love is the highest of all from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Kendall Ryan.

Synopsis

Book 2

September 29, 2014

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I never expected to watch Sophie walk away. She was mine. She just didn’t know it yet. New goal: Seal the deal and rock her world so thoroughly she never wanted to leave again.

Highly sexual and emotionally charged, Filthy Beautiful Love is the provocative conclusion to Filthy Beautiful Lies.

FBL series teaser with dates

Author Bio

kendall ryanKendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the contemporary romance novels HARD TO LOVE, RESISTING HER, UNRAVEL ME and MAKE ME YOURS.

She’s a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss! She lives in Minneapolis with an adorable husband and two naughty puppies, one of which may be part monkey.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Cover Reveal: Burying Water by K. A. Tucker

Burying Water

Add BURYING WATER on Goodreads!

 

About BURYING WATER:

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

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

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

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

Pre-Order BURYING WATER Now!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes

 

In Her Wake cover (1)

You can read Chapters 1-4 of BURYING WATER in the back of IN HER WAKE, the Ten Tiny Breaths prequel novella from Trent’s POV! IN HER WAKE is out September 1st. Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes

 

Author Photo

About K.A. Tucker:

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

 

 

 

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads ** YouTube ** Pinterest ** Instagram

 

Cover Reveal: Beneath It All by T. Madison

Beneath It All Front Cover_FINAL

 

Release Day: September 24, 2014

Beneath It All

By T. Madison

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Synopsis

You.
Have.
Breast.
Cancer.

I wasn’t prepared to hear those words. Neither was my loving husband, family or friends. And none of us were prepared for what life had in store after they were spoken.

I should have seen the signs all around me. I should have paid attention to the people who supposedly loved me, the people who I’d always trusted. But I was blind to what was going on. The effects on my flourishing career, passionate marriage and carefree lifestyle would be insurmountable.

It was time to take control of my life and the overwhelming chaos. Time to make the choices that were right for me. Right for my future. The future I hadn’t planned on.

My life didn’t stop when I heard those four little words…it was only just beginning.

Teaser #4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author
10505603_341909139290587_2877301357558786730_nHappily married and the mother of two, Tori has spent the last seven years in the non-profit world making a difference in lives of others. She is an avid reader, lover of life and a breast cancer survivor.

Writing a book was never on her radar. After a challenge from a friend to write 1,500 words the story came to life and a new opportunity to make a difference was born. Beneath It All is her debut novel and she is currently working on a second book.

“If this story can touch the life of just one woman, then I succeeded.”

Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Email

Beneath It All Front Cover_FINAL

ARC Review: Forever Sheltered by Deanna Roy- Forever Series Book 3

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Forever Sheltered

Forever Series-Book 3

By Deanna Roy

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Synopsis:

The newest book in the bestselling Forever Series is out – Forever Sheltered!

Tina would rather sew up her girl parts with dental floss than go on a second date with a man. She’s been dumped enough to know not to get attached.

So how DOES she end up half-naked in Surgical Suite B with Dr. Darion?

Dr. Darion has a lot to hide. His baby sister is the only family he has left, and he’s not leaving her treatment to some incompetent hack.

But now he’s breaking every hospital rule imaginable. He lied about his sister so he can manage her care, and now he’s banging the art therapy teacher between patient rounds like a fraternity boy at a keg party.

But Dr. Darion and Tina have one thing going for them – a fierce passion for each other that just might obliterate all their doubts, and solve all their problems.

Forever Sheltered includes many favorite characters from Forever Innocent and Forever Loved, as well as the much-anticipated wedding of Gavin and Corabelle.

It is a standalone HEA that does not require reading any other parts of the Forever series.

Excerpt:

The voice that came from the door was like an icy blast. “Do you have any more personal questions that are completely out of line for your relationship with my patient?”

I whipped around. Dr. Darion stood in the door, glowering like a gargoyle.

“I—I was just asking about a song Cynthia performed for me yesterday.”

His eyes narrowed. I wondered what I possibly saw in him before, because now he was clearly the biggest jerk in the universe.

He snatched my arm and dragged me from the room.

I tried to wrench free as he moved us down the hall. “What is going ON with you?” I asked.

“Hush,” he said.

We turned down a narrow corridor, and he buzzed us through a door with his ID. I had never been in this part of the hospital and tried to figure out where we were. The back side of ICU, maybe.

He shouldered open a door marked Surgical Suite B. The room was dim and empty. Boxes were stacked along one wall, and it had an unused smell to it, stuffy and antiseptic. A pair of gurneys were pushed together next to a line of cabinets.

“What is this about?” I asked, jerking my arm out of his grasp.

“Why were you in Cynthia’s room asking questions?”

“Why are you dragging me through the hospital like a lunatic?”

We were only inches apart, me defiantly on my toes to try to eliminate the advantage of his height.

“You have no business questioning my patients or their family.”

Oh, I wanted to punch him. My hand curled into a fist. “You are an awful man, Darion Marks.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed up, then down, like he had swallowed something nasty. “I’m sorry I dragged you down here,” he said.

I shoved at his chest. “Sorry? You just embarrassed the hell out of me! No telling who saw that.”

I pushed him again. I was really in a fury. “Are you TRYING to get me fired?”

The contact between us sparked, like a match being lit. I forgot why I was mad. He was so freaking close. He wore cologne, just a hint of it. He smelled like heaven. My heart sped up. Crap.

I tried to think how to get out of this. I needed to just walk away. We were alone in a dark room.

Shoot. I could already tell my body was getting ahead of my head. It was calculating distance. Seeing how far I could push this man. How close I could get.

Remembering how long it had been since my last tryst with anybody.

I would have to do the one-and-done with Dr. Darion after all.

I leaned in, just to see what he would do.

WHEW! See what happens in Surgical Suite B in Forever Sheltered by USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

The Forever Series:

 

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????“Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again.”

Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.

Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.

When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????The much-anticipated sequel to the Top 10 bestselling new adult romance Forever Innocent.

“How do I tell the woman I love that I fathered a son with a prostitute?”

After four long years of separation, Gavin has finally reunited with his childhood love Corabelle. She’s forgiven him for leaving her during the funeral of their seven-day-old baby, and also for where he ended up — in Mexico to get a vasectomy.

But a message from Rosa, a prostitute he met the day of his surgery, brings his life to a crashing halt. She claims Gavin has fathered a son, now three years old and living with her cousin in Ensenada. He doesn’t know if he can trust Rosa, who never mentioned the boy before, or if his delicate reconciliation with Corabelle can withstand the shock if it is true.

Corabelle believes their future together is the right thing despite their past. But when she learns of this other child, the one thing she lost long ago and might never have again with Gavin, Corabelle’s faith that her life will ever follow her old dream is shattered. To make things right for Gavin and his son, she just might have to let go of the only person she always believed would be her forever love.

Forever Loved is the heart-wrenching conclusion to Gavin and Corabelle’s passionate story.
HEA. 276 print pages.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

5 Star Read

Michel’s Review

Wow! If you haven’t read the Forever Series by Deanna Roy then you need to put these books on your to be read list. Deanna Roy writes a powerful story that comes from the heart. Her stories are realistic, emotional, thought provoking, and romantic. Her characters come to life. Their story will jump off the pages and grab your heart. The writing is flawless. Her subject matter is very well researched. Not only do readers experience the emotions of the characters , they also get an insight into the medical world (in layman terms). She writes the story from alternate POV’s and gives each character, whether they are the main character or a secondary character, a very strong voice.

Forever Sheltered can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

The readers met Tina in the previous books. She was a public speaker for suicide awareness. She was offered a job at the hospital as an Art teacher for the patients. They wanted to install a program that would be therapy for long term patients. Art is a means of self expression and Tina has an intimate understanding of the therapeutic effects using art.

Through her group sessions, she meets Dr. Darion Marks. Dr. Marks has requested that Tina do a special favor for one of his young patients.

Tina recognizes a wounded soul that has hidden layers and secrets. She is also very attracted to the handsome Doctor. She also recognizes that this handsome doctor could be the one that can bring down all the walls she has built to protect herself from her past. She cannot date him.

But the laws of attraction don’t always follow the rules. These two are drawn to each other.

Dr. Darion Marks has his own secrets. He is treating his baby sister. He is breaking every rule to keep her alive. He could lose his career because of it. He will do anything to keep her alive. When he meets Tina, she adds another clog to the wheel in his self destruction. Not only is he jeopardizing his career with his sister, he is jeopardizing it by fraternizing with Tina.

These two can’t stay away from each other. Together they are the perfect medicine for two wounded souls. Together they will discover that “healing” comes in many different ways.

Forever Sheltered is a powerful story that will engage your heart. Make an appointment to visit Dr. Darion Marks and Tina for your next reading therapy. They have a cure for the hopeless romantic.

Author Bio:

Deanna RoyDeanna Roy is the USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction.

She is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She has several books on the subject, including her bestseller FOREVER INNOCENT, a romance about a couple whose baby is taken off life support at seven days old.

She has run the website PregnancyLoss.Info for fifteen years, including many large spin-off support groups both online and in person.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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ARC Review: No Regrets by Claire Kent

no regrets

No Regrets

By Claire Kent

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Synopsis

On my last birthday, I made one vow for the year. Live with no regrets. Eleven months have passed, though, and nothing has changed. I still sleep alone, spend my life working, and never move out of my comfort zone.

Then the loss of my dog throws my whole life out of orbit, and I end up in bed with a very hot and slightly-too-young veterinarian, who has recently made a vow of his own. Live with no strings. Josh is more than happy to help me with the list of things I’ve been afraid to try. Semi-public sex. Spanking. Anal sex. He’s a willing partner for everything I’ve wondered about, as long as I don’t demand more.

He’s serious about his no-strings philosophy. As serious as I am about living with no regrets. I can’t help but fall for him, even though I know better. So my biggest regret might be a broken heart.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

 

Tracey’s Review

2.5 Stars

Leslie has made herself a promise to live her life with no regrets. And while her life is not bad, nothing significant has changed in the year since she made her vow to herself. But when Leslie loses Polly, her dog and best friend, she is devastated, and left unable to move beyond her depression.

Josh Bennett has faced some dark times, but has left them behind to come home and become a vet. He and Leslie meet when she brings Polly to his office, and again later after Polly’s death. They’re attracted to each other, but Josh is only interested in a sexual relationship, with no strings attached. In the interest of living with ‘no regrets,’ Leslie agrees to his rules, and they begin a casual, yet extremely passionate, affair.

I had a hard time with this book. The nature of Leslie’s and Josh’s relationship, while not my cup of tea, was not the issue. The characters themselves often came across as oddly formal with each other, even as they were as close as two people can be, and the language that they used during their trysts was both stilted and slangy at the same time. I just had a really hard time getting into their interactions, and understanding how they sustained being together. As well, some of the scenes were far too graphic in nature than the situation warranted, in my opinion, and not erotic at all. I have seen the same sort of scenarios in other books in this genre presented in ways that added to, rather than detracted from, the moment.

I always want to like a book that I’m reading, and hate not to finish once I’ve started. I did make it to the end of ‘No Regrets,’ and the story and the characters did redeem themselves a bit, but this one just missed the mark for me, and I can only give it 2.5 stars.

Author Bio:

 

Claire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. She has a PhD in British literature and, when she’s not writing, she teaches English at the university level.

She also writes romance novels under the penname Noelle Adams.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

no regrets

Review: Finding Jordie by H.J. Harley

Finding Jordie

Finding Jordie

Jordan Spagnato Series-Book 1

By H.J. Harley

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Synopsis

A widow of eight years, Jordie is devoted to her daughter and knows how to protect her own heart… until Nathan Harper lends a hand when she’s punched by a drunkard being forcefully removed from her NYC East Village bar.

Nathan is fascinated by the sassy bar owner, who doesn’t recognize him from the Silver Screen and who appears more interested in conversation than sex.

But when shared words spark mutual passion, the menacing phone calls begin, and a stalker, who will stop at nothing to have Jordie, turns his crosshairs on Nathan.

THE JORDAN SPAGNATO SERIES, in order

Finding Jordie

Finding Nathan

Finding Rachel

Buy- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

5 Star Read

Michel’s Review

Don’t you just love it when you stumble on a new author and good book?

While I was attending The Tennessee Valley Author Event , a very well known author pulled me aside. She said, “There is a book I want you to read. I want you to promise not to look at the cover. Just read the book. It’s very good.”

How could I not read this book? My curiosity was piqued.

When I opened this book, I tried very hard not to look at the cover. From the very first paragraph I was drawn into the book. I could not put this book down. This book has everything a reader looks for in a good book. The story is fast paced, loaded with humor, full of red-hot chemistry and sexual tension, romantic, and hair raising suspense. And as a bonus the author created delightful, quirky characters that wiggle their way into your heart the moment they are introduced.

When I finished this book I was very satisfied with the time I had invested in it. I was heading straight to Amazon to one click the second book in this series. Finding Jordie did not end on a cliffhanger that forced me to buy the next book. I just wanted more of these characters and more of their happily ever after story.

Jordie Spagnato is a strong woman. She is a business woman, tough bar owner, single mother, and widow. She keeps her friends close to heart and loves fiercely. She has learned to be tough when necessary, compassionate towards others, insightful to people’s needs, and gives her heart in full measures. She doesn’t let the past drag her down. She moves forward in life and makes the best of it. When she meets Nathan Harper her world she created for herself is tilted on it’s axis. Before she knows what has hit her, she is head over heels in love with the sexiest man she ever met. When she finds out that man is the hottest Hollywood star, it doesn’t change her opinion of him.

Nathan Harper is enthralled with Jordie Spagnato. She looks at him as a man and not a superstar. She treats him like she treats her friends and loved ones. How could he not fall in love with her?

Just as they are about to take the next step in their relationship a nasty stalker makes his presence known. The danger is just beginning. The suspense will escalate and keep you on the edge of your seat.

This book had every element I look for in a book. It is well written and fast paced. H.J. Harley is a new author that is going to make her mark in the romance world.

Read this book!

Author Bio:

 

H.J. HarleyI grew up in Bricktown New Jersey, less than an hour away from New York City. As a teenager and my early twenties, I loved hanging out in the glamor of NYC. I was a “City Brat” so it was pretty hard for me when I packed up all my crap and three cats in 2005, for a life changing road trip and moved to California. I travelled around the country until I met my other half in 2005.

After serving twelve years in the Air Force, the man of my dreams ended his military career and we moved to Georgia six years ago. Since then, we’ve settled down in Leesburg GA, and had our first child.

No place has ever come close to replacing the magic of New York City in my mind. So when I decided to try this romance writing gig out, naturally I set my first book, ‘Finding Jordie’ there.

I enjoy reading, and spending  time with my family. Reality shows are my guilty pleasure. I’m a sucker for romantic comedies and Robert Pattinson. I am a pro at goofing off, I talk with my hands, (I’m Italian!)  I drink way too much coffee, and get too little sleep. Oh, and I have a thing for Jackie-O sized sunglasses. I have four furry kids and most importantly, I have a beautiful daughter. I’m always striving to be the best Mom possible.

I’m very passionate about the things I love, that’s why I was outraged when they cancelled SMASH and Southland! It should be considered to be a small miracle if you ever get to see a serious or pic of me posing all nice and pretty…yeah, I’m not that girl. I’m a spontaneous goof and believe the best things in life come naturally. Yes, that includes random no make-up selfies during a 2:00a.m. writing marathon.

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Finding Jordie

Release Day Blitz: Craving Absolution by Nicole Jacquelyn -The Aces MC Book 3

Craving AbsolutionCraving Absolution

The Aces, Book 3

By Nicole Jacquelyn

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Synopsis

Farrah Miller and Cody “Casper” Butler have a longstanding relationship that both refuse to discuss.

It isn’t romantic.

It may not even be classified as a friendship.

Casper’s been saving Farrah from herself for longer than he’d care to admit, watching silently as she drowned herself in alcohol and bad decisions. Then when she finally got her act together, he left. He told himself he was giving her time to sort herself out. He tried to give her space.

But getting shot in the chest can change a man’s perspective, and Casper’s done waiting.

When he shows up on her doorstep one night, everything changes.

He’s the man who’s seen her at her very worst.

She’s his weakness.

He runs when things get hard.

She never lets anyone see below the surface and is terrified of being abandoned.

Casper knows it’s a long shot, that there’s a good chance she’ll never drop her guard for him- but he has to try. Because a life with Farrah is exactly what he wants…

Even if he has to fight her for it.

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5 Star Read

Top Pick

Michel’s Review

I have been dying for Craving Absolution to release. Nicole Jacquelyn’s Aces MC series has made my 2014 Favorite Reads list. I cannot praise this series enough.

With the market being saturated with Biker themed series, ranging from bad boy bikers, bikers undercover, bikers down under, and lifer bikers, I have to say The Aces MC is at the tops. It is a portrayal of a club compiled of members from various walks in life that have banned together as a family. They live by their own codes, laws, and rules. They love just as fiercely as their commitments to the club. They will give their lives, serve time, turn their backs on those who betray the club, and leave their old lives behind to live by the code. In return they will be embraced by a dedicated family that will have their backs at all times.

At times they will have to hurt the ones they love the most for the for the club. There will be times that they will have to sacrifice their own personal desires for the club. It is not an easy life.

Craving Absolution is the third book in this series. We met Casper, the new prospect for the club in the first book of this series. He is young, quiet, and a bit mysterious. He can move throughout various situations like a ghost. Thus, the nickname Casper.

In the second book we get to see who Casper was before joining The Aces MC club. He was a young man with a brilliant future. He was away at a prestigious school in the east. His academic success had gained him scholarships that would eventually land him a full scholarship to Yale. When his parents are brutally murdered by a gang with a vendetta, his life is forever changed.

At the age of fifteen he has a first hand experience with the brutality of the harsh and violent world. Through his older sister Callie he is introduced to the Aces MC club and her best friend Farrah. He will witness another world he never knew existed. He will seize the opportunity to join the Aces to get retribution for the deaths of his parents. He will find a world that is a better fit for him than the perfect world at Yale. He will find the one woman that can complete him. The life he chose, the woman he claimed will be the most challenging and satisfying endeavor he will ever take. There will be good, bad, violence, love, friendship, danger, diabolical enemies, and a support system that will have his back at all times. Cody will embrace this life and he will do everything in his power to capture Farrah’s heart.

We met Farrah in the second book of this series. She is Callie’s best friend. They met in high school and become sisters by choice. Farrah has had a very rough life. Her mother is a drug addict and former club whore. She is the illegitimate child of the president of the Aces. He has abandoned her and left her to survive in the horrific word in which her mother lives. Not only has she suffered abuse from her mother, she has witnessed the violent world that comes with the members of the Aces. Her boyfriend is brutally gunned down right on her doorstep. She has watched Callie suffer from the enemies of the Aces. She has a very bitter attitude towards the Aces and everything they stand for. The one person that has always showed her pure kindness and respect has now joined with the Aces. Can she give her heart to Cody knowing that their life will be ruled by the very club that has done nothing but break her?

Craving Absolution has lived up to the high standards that the first two books in this series has set. I was addicted from page one and could not put it down. There were so many surprises, underlying plots, emotional scenes, and pure love scenes. This book played on every emotion. Nicole Jacquelyn is a talented writer that has created a world that is unforgettable.

I cannot wait for more from this author and this series!

I highly recommend this series. It is on my 2014 Favorite Reads list.

The Aces Series

Q & A with Nicole Jacquelyn

What inspired the The Aces MC series?

I don’t know that there was any one thing that inspired the series. It started out as just one story—and even that started out as a really abstract idea. What if a woman on the run from her abusive husband ran straight to safety… with the bad guys. It was intriguing, and it wouldn’t let me go. So I sat down one day and started writing in between wiping my kids’ asses and doing massive amounts of school work. I honest to God never thought that it would get as big as it did. I just wanted to do it, just get my story down and have someone, anyone read it. After I’d finished Craving Constellations, I knew that I wasn’t done. Grease and Casper needed their stories… so I kept writing, and you guys kept reading. Pretty freaking cool. 

Will there be more books in The Aces MC series?

Well… yes. But maybe not for a while. I’ve been saying that this is a trilogy, because that’s what it feels like. BUT, Poet’s story is already in my head… and so is another couple’s that I’m not going to detail here, but once you’ve read the book, you’ll know who I’m talking about.

Who is your favorite character in the series?


This is hard to answer, it’s like picking a favorite child! But truthfully…

It’s Gram. Always Gram. She’s very very similar to my own Gram that I lost a few years ago, and she was my favorite real person.

Do you have any other new books or series in the works?

Yep! I’ve got a new series that’s in the early stages. I’m writing in a little notebook about all these different characters and how they’re connected. They’re foster kids, from two different families. Good families. Solid ones. And years after they all go their separate ways, military, college, work, they start trickling back into their hometown.

Tell us about your writing techniques, habits, and inspirations.

Hmmm… Well, I write at night mostly. It’s the only time that the house is quiet for longer than a few minutes- and I need the silence. I listen to music while I write, but only after I’m about 50% done with the story, because I feel like I need the first half to learn the characters’ voices before I can cloud my head with any external stuff. I drink RedBull Red like water (That stuff is amazing). I sleep about 3-4 hours a night when I’m working, and if the story isn’t flowing, I take a step back until it is, which makes it hard to work on a timeline!

I’m inspired by all sorts of stuff—reading, hanging with my kids, driving, showering, ironing my hair. It happens at the weirdest moments, and I don’t know how many times I’ve been so lost in my head that I’ve missed the turn for my kids’ school.

 

The Aces MC Series

Craving Constellations

 

craving constellationsHow could someone make decision after decision attempting to get away from their past and somehow end up right back where they started?
When Brenna decided to leave the only life she’d ever known, she swore she’d never go back. Now, five years later, she’s running from her clean-cut husband straight back to the motorcycle club that raised her… and the man she left behind.
She left with a secret, and the truth will soon break her carefully constructed life wide open.

Warning: This book contains graphic sex and language, domestic abuse, and the loss of a child. It is meant for mature audiences.

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Craving Redemption

Asa and Callie had nothing in common. He was an Ace, raised in the club and loyal to it above all else. She was a high school student with braces on her teeth and a narrow view of the world.
They should have never crossed paths.
But when Callie decides to defy her parents, and Asa goes on an errand for the club, their lives collide. He saves her, and she mesmerizes him.
They part believing they’ll never see each other again.
Neither could have predicted the chain of events they’d put in motion.
Now the two have to navigate the dark waters of a relationship built on tragedy and need without drowning in guilt for things outside their control.
How do you love someone when the worst decision of your life was the reason you met them?
Warning: This book contains graphic language, sex and violence. It is meant for mature audiences.

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Author Bio:

 

Nicole Jacqueyn1Nicole Jacquelyn is the mom of two little girls and a full time college student. She hasn’t watched television in well over a year, she still does things that drive her mother crazy, and she loves to read. At eight years old, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she told people she wanted to be a mom. When she was twelve her answer changed- to author. By the time she was eighteen, when people asked her what she wanted to do with her life, she told them she really wanted to be a writer- but the odds of that happening were so slim that she’d get her business degree “just to be safe”. Her dreams stayed constant. First she became a mom, then she went to college, and during her senior year- with one daughter in first grade and the other in preschool, she sat down and wrote a story.

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Craving Absolution