Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Hell Or High Water by Julie Ann Walker – Deep Six Series – Book 1

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Hell Or High Water

Deep Six Series – Book 1

By Julie Ann Walker

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Synopsis

A brand new romantic suspense series from the author of the New York Times bestselling Black Knights, Inc. series, THE DEEP SIX features six former SEALS on super-secret black ops, and feisty heroines who know how to handle both lethal weapons and alpha men.

Only two things could make former Navy SEAL Leo Anderson return to the world of weapons and warfare. First, a capsule of chemical weapons lost on the ocean floor, and second, a plea for assistance from the one woman he can’t seem to forget-CIA Agent Olivia Mortier.

Now, working together to race against the clock and a deadly terrorist faction, Leo and Olivia must find the missing capsule, all the while battling the intense desire burning between them. If they can survive, can their growing attraction become more than just a momentary flare?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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5StarSun

Michel’s Review

Ready for a great new series?  Ready for six smoking hot retired Navy Seals?  Want to search for treasures in the deep deep sea?  Looking for an action packed adventure that keeps you glued to the pages?  If you said yes to all of these you are in for a treat with the new Deep Six series by Julie Ann Walker.

The book starts out with the lore of the Santa Cristina’s wreck in the 1600’s.  It was one of the wealthiest cargos lost at sea during a hurricane.  Treasure hunters have been searching for the lost treasure for centuries.

Leo “the lion” Anderson and five crazy assed Seals waved their farewells to the Navy in order to join the quest  for high seas adventure and untold riches.  After fifteen years of service and a tremendous loss they are ready to embrace their new adventurous life.  They have invested their life savings and future hopes on finding this lost treasure.  Treasure hunting is not cheap.  The ship, the equipment, and the cost of operating this equipment has depleted most of their funds.  Their investment and research has to pay off soon or they are going to lose it all.  As we all know Seals are resilient.  They can survive the worst of conditions and succeed.  Finding the Santa Cristina is another impossible mission that they plan to execute with complete success.

When CIA agent Olvia Mortier approaches them with a bag full of cash and a basically easy mission it’s a no brainer for them.  All they have to do is retrieve a “lost ” package in the deep sea for the CIA.  They have been trained for this type of retrieval and the risk seem very low.  They have worked with Olivia in the past and know that she is on the level and a good agent.

What starts out as an easy retrieval will turn into a FUBAR mission.  In one day’s time, they will lose their ship, battle terrorist, rescue an heiress,expose a mole in the CIA, and save the world.  Yup… easy mission.

Olivia and Leo flirted with an attraction when they worked on a previous mission in Syria.  That mission is the reason why Leo’s team resigned from the Navy to pursue civilian life.  He has not forgot the beautiful agent that touched his soul.  When she shows up offering a load of cash he not only sees the money but also sees the opportunity to settle some unfinished business with Olivia in the sexiest way.

Olivia has questioned her career choices since her assignment in Syria.  Some harsh truths about who she was and what she wanted out of life surfaced after that mission.  She was weighing the losses and the gains, as well as her role in it all.  She has not forgotten the sexy Seal that made her desire more from life than being a good agent.  Seeing Leo again may help her put her life in perspective.

Not only are they going on an adventure in the high seas.  They are going to find the greatest treasure of all.  They are going to find love.

Hell Or High Water was a great debut for the Deep Six series.  We were introduced to six very sexy retired Seals.  Each of these men has very unique personalities and stories.  We were introduced to a sexy heiress, a sassy CIA agent, and a nutty professor.  Together all of these unique characters are going to come together and search for the lost treasure from the Santa Cristina.  Along the way they are going to find other adventures that are going to keep the reader glued to the pages.  I can’t wait for the next adventure of the Deep Six.

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Author Bio:

julie ann walkerJulie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of award-winning romantic suspense. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award, been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award. Her latest release was named a Top Ten Romance of 2014 by Booklist. Her books have been described as “alpha, edgy, and downright hot.” Most days you can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : Maybe Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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Maybe In Another Life

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Release Date : July 7, 2015

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Synopsis

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college, but on the heels of a disastrous breakup, she has finally returned to her hometown of Los Angeles. To celebrate her first night back, her best friend, Gabby, takes Hannah out to a bar—where she meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

It’s just past midnight when Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. Ethan quickly offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay.

Hannah hesitates.

What happens if she leaves with Gabby?

What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into surprisingly different stories with far-reaching consequences for Hannah and the people around her, raising questions like: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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5StarSun

Robin’s Review

I have a few questions for you to consider. Do you believe our future is directed by destiny? Does fate drive the steering wheel of our lives? Have you ever considered the consequences of your own decisions? Where would you be if you had chosen to attend another college? What would your life be like if you had chosen a different career? Would you be married to the same person? Taylor Jenkins Reid demonstrates how one simple decision can impact our future in her newest novel titled Maybe in Another Life.

Hannah Martin has never found a place she could call home. It hasn’t been a conscious decision for her to move around so much, but Hannah gets a feeling she’s not where she belongs. Hannah is now twenty-nine-years-old. She has no career to speak of. She’s floated from place to place, working jobs as a waitress. She’s been in several dead-end relationships. She has no idea what she wants to do with her life. It’s been over a decade since Hannah left Los Angeles to go to college, and now she is returning to the city where she was raised to start over.

Her closest friend, Gabby, plans an evening out with several of their old friends from high school. This includes Ethan Hanover, who was Hannah’s boyfriend during high school. Hannah and Ethan have stayed in touch over the years, but she has always felt the two of them have unfinished business. As the evening comes to an end, Hannah realizes she has a decision to make. If she doesn’t want to rush things with Ethan, she can take a conservative approach with him and go home with Gabby. Or she can choose to stay out late with Ethan and see where the evening takes the two of them. With this decision, the novel splits into side by side scenarios, so we are able to see the consequences each choice.

The first few chapters of the novel are full of background information about our protagonist. We learn about her family. Friends. Old boyfriends. We see how Hannah has come to be where she is in life, and what we learn in these chapters is relevant to the plot of each scenario. When you reach the point of Hannah’s decision, the story really takes off! Reid alternates between the two stories by chapter. I found myself looking forward to each new chapter, wondering what would happen next for Hannah.

It was hard for me to put this book down while I was reading. When life seemed to get in the way, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up. I connected with many of the characters in this novel. I love the deep friendship between Hannah and Gabby. I believe soulmates can be friends. It almost feels like they are soulmates, and I wonder if anyone else will sense this too? I felt so many different emotions while I was reading. I was sad. I had tears. I laughed. I felt nervous. And when I finished reading Maybe in Another Life, I had a smile on my face.

Both scenarios are truly enjoyable, but the outcomes are very different. We are able to see how one choice can change so much in Hannah’s life. Is this really destiny or fate? Or is this the consequences of a choice? This is the premise of the entire novel. Maybe in Another Life is my first novel written by author Taylor Jenkins Reid. Every so often, I choose to read a novel in the women’s fiction genre, and I am extremely happy that I chose to read this 5-star novel! I’m looking forward to reading more novels written by Taylor Jenkins Reid in the future. Maybe in Another Life is added to my list of 2015 favorites!

 

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Author Bio

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. Her first novel, Forever, Interrupted, was named one of the “11 Debuts We Love” by Kirkus Reviews. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Rabbit.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Fighting To Breathe by Aurora Rose Reynolds – Shooting Stars Series – Book 1

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Fighting To Breath

Shooting Stars Series – Book 1

By Aurora Rose Reynolds

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Synopsis:

Lea Lamb and Austin Wolf were young when they fell in love. They never imagined the future could hold anything other than together-forever.

When Lea’s father dies in a tragic fishing accident, she’s crushed under the weight of her grief and catches a glimpse of another type of future, one she knows she’s not strong enough to face.

Austin is angry. For the past fifteen years, he’s believed the woman he loved with every ounce of his soul left him without so much as a backwards glance.

When Lea unexpectedly returns to their hometown, all the years of heartache inside Austin bubbles to the surface and presents itself as blinding rage.

Faced with the truth about the past, a newly discovered secret, these former lovers will learn that if they want to have any chance at the future they’d given up on all those years ago, they will have to rescue one another from drowning in pain so debilitating it will leave them both fighting to breathe.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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Excerpt

“CAN WE STOP by the liquor store on the way to dinner?” Mom asks from the passenger seat of my car.

“Should you be drinking?” I frown then turn onto the main road—well, really the only road in town.

“What’s it going to do, kill me?” she jokes, making me inhale a sharp breath. “Honey,” she says quietly, and I look at her briefly, wondering how the hell she can be so casual about this. “I’m dying. When it will happen, only the good Lord knows, but it is happening, and there is nothing you or I can do about it. I have made my peace with it, and I want you to do the same.” She reaches over to pat my thigh.

“Make peace with it?” I repeat, shaking my head in disbelief.

“Yes, make peace with it. If you think about it, I’m lucky. I know I’m going to die. I know that sooner rather than later God is going to come take me home, and when he does, I will be ready. I will have had a chance to say goodbye to the people I care about and right any wrongs I’ve caused. I’m lucky, honey.”

“What about me?” I wring my hands on the steering wheel, feeling my chest get tight as I fight back tears.

“I love you, honey. I loved you before you were even a sparkle in my eye, and I will always be with you. I know this isn’t easy for you. I know there are going to be a lot of tears shed, but we’re lucky, honey.”

I press my lips together to keep from saying something I might regret. I’m not lucky; in fact, I’m unlucky to the tenth power. How many people have I lost, how many people do I have to loose before it’s enough.

“Oh look! Sheryl!” She yells, pulling me from my thoughts as she reaches over, pressing the horn on my steering wheel while her other hand shoots across me so she can wave out my window. Looking to where she’s waving my heart begins to beat wildly

against my ribcage when I see not Sheryl, but Austin walking into one of the many bars that litter Main Street, only it’s not just Austin—it’s him and a woman with her arm wrapped around the back of his waist as he holds the door open for her.

Even from the distance separating us, my lungs compress at the beauty that is him. The years have been good to him. His hair is still shaggy, only now a little lighter; his face is tan and covered in a beard that makes his crystal blue eyes stand out even more. My eyes travel from his face to his torso, which is covered in a dark green thermal that shows off the muscles of his arms, chest, and tapered waist, then down to his denim-covered thighs. When my gaze sweeps back up, his eyes are on me, and I see them crinkle in confusion then realization that soon turns into anger.

“You missed the liquor store,” my mom complains as I speed up.

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5StarSun

Michel’s Review

There are certain authors that each reader puts on their personal favorites list because they seem to touch the reader on a personal level.  Whether it be the characters, the series, the writing style, or the entertainment value, the author finds a way into the reader’s heart.  For me Aurora Rose Reynolds is one of those authors.  I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of her books.  Her unique writing style and larger than life characters always touch me.  I instantly connect with the characters, become  personally involved with their lives, and devour their stories.  I always finish an Aurora Rose Reynolds book with a big smile and a great sense of the warm & fuzzies.

Fighting To Breath is the first book in her new Shooting Stars series.  This series is based around a small fishing town in Alaska.  The small town dynamics and unique characters come to life and jump off the pages.  They are ordinary people dedicated to their families and their community.

Lea and Austin were childhood friends and high school sweethearts.  They had planned the perfect life together.  He was going to join the family fishing business.  She was going to be by his side as his wife and partner.  Two weeks before graduation and one fatal accident changes both of their futures.  Lea’s father is killed in a fishing accident.  Lea does not want that kind of future any longer.  Rather than marry Austin, she fleas with the vow to never return to Cordova.  But life has a way of disrupting the best laid plans.

Fifteen years later and one bad marriage under her belt, Lea is forced to return home to Cordova.  Her mother is terminally ill.  She is returning home to spend time with her mother and make peace with the past.  Where she will go from there is a mystery.  She is no longer the girl she once was.  She no longer has starry eyed dreams, visions of true love, and ideals of grandeur.  She is fighting to breath.  She is struggling with the reality of losing her mother, her only living family.

Austin Wolf never forgave Lea Lamb for leaving Cordova without an explanation.  He couldn’t understand how she could turn her back on their love.  He couldn’t understand how she could easily move on with her life without regret or remorse.  He couldn’t believe that she would turn her back on his love.  His love died the day she left town.  Now she’s back and he hates her with a passion.

Fifteen years is a long time.  Both Lea and Austin have changed drastically.  Their lives have gone in very different directions.  Cordova is a very small community.  It is inevitable that their paths are going to cross.  They are going to either make peace or make Lea’s time with her mother miserable.  The choice is theirs.  They may have changed but beneath it all they are still the same boy and girl that loved each other deeply.

Lea will have to face her fears and accept their realities.  Austin will have to let go of his hatred and see the real Lea.  Both have been hurt and destroyed by secrets that kept them apart for fifteen years.  They have been fighting to breath all those years.  Maybe now they can clear the air and finally take a deep breath and live the lives they were meant to live.

Fighting To Breath was the most emotional book Aurora Rose Reynolds has written.  She touched upon so many emotions, fears, and insecurities that we all have.  She showed how love, in any form, is our greatest gift.  Ordinary people became extraordinary once they opened their hearts.

I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.  I am looking forward to the next book in the Shooting Stars series.

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aurora new bioAurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who’s husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She’s married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it’s beauty.

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Blog Tour + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Beautiful Little Fool by K.K. Hendon

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Beautiful Little Fool

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By K.K. Hendin

Synopsis

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Eighty seven billion dollars.

One dead New York business mogul.

No heirs.

No wives.

No relatives.

Eighty seven billion dollars.

Not hers yet.

He doesn’t deserve them.

He doesn’t know what to do with them.

She does.

She always has.

Eighty seven billion dollars.

He’s overwhelmed.

She’s prepared.

That will should have had her name.

Not his.

Eighty seven billion dollars.

His looks are a bonus.

Her looks are her weapon.

He’s fighting a losing battle against his heart.

He doesn’t know it yet.

Eighty seven billion dollars.

She gets everything she wants.

He’s what she wants.

Love has nothing to do with it.

To get to where you’re going, sometimes you need to step on a few people to get there.

Good thing her heels are sharp.

Buy: Amazon / ITunes / Kobo

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5StarSun

Michel’s Review

Beautiful Little Fool by K.K. Hendon is one of those books that you are either going to like or hate.  It is not a romance.  It is more of a dark thriller or psychological thriller.  When I finished the book I questioning what I had just read.  I didn’t particularly enjoy the book but at the same time I could not put it down.  It was like driving past a horrific accident and fighting the impulse to look. Rather than turning away you ended up staring with morbid curiosity. I had to ponder on this story for a few days before I could formulate my thoughts to write a spoiler free review.

Beautiful Little Fool is masterfully written.  The author wove a very complex plot that was meticulously executed.  The twists and turns will keep the reader guessing.  The final revelations will be a complete shock.  The characters are well developed and play their roles to perfection.

It was very hard to like the main characters in this book.  Neither one had qualities that a reader could invest in.  On the other hand, their story was fascinating.

Ellis Carrington, the hero was the unlucky guy that was born under the wrong star.  Nothing could of changed his destiny.  He went from being an ordinary guy to a ruthless billionaire within moments when he inherited 87 billion dollars from Harold Feingold.  The power and money affected him and changed his character.  He suddenly had money and power.  The only thing left to conquer was Cedar Reynolds, the most desirable woman in New York City.

Cedar Reynolds is the Queen of New York City.  She is rich, smart,powerful, and exceptionally beautiful.  She was  billionaire Harold Feingold’s protege.  She should of inherited his empire and 87 billion dollars.  Now she will do anything to acquire this money.  Even sacrificing herself to Ellis Carrington.  After all she is Cedar Reynolds, the woman everyone wants to be.

The story begins with Harold Feingold passing away and the mystery of who will be heir to his empire.  No one knows what his last will and testament contain.  The one thing for certain is his last wishes will be carried out to perfection.  He is still the most powerful man even from the grave.  His power has no limits.

This book shocked me.  Even though it was not my cup of tea, it was a very good book. If you are looking for a romance, this is not the book for you.  If you are looking for a book where there is redemption, this is not the book for you.  If you are looking for a book to mess with your mind and twist your thoughts, read this book.  This is a psychological thriller that was written with perfection.

 

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Author Bio:

 

KK Hendin’s real life ambition is to become a pink fluffy unicorn who dances with rainbows. But the schooling for that is all sorts of complicated, so until that gets sorted out, she’ll just write. Preferably things with angst and love. And things that require chocolate. She’s the author of the NA contemporaries HEART BREATHS and ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG.

THIS MUCH SPACE is the second book in her new series, TWELVE BEATS IN A BAR.

KK spends way too much time on Twitter (where she can be found as @kkhendin), and rambles on occasion over at www.kkhendinwrites.blogspot.com.

 Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a NYC Alex and Ani bracelet, a signed copy of BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOL, and a NY Coffee Mug. US Only. 2 additional winners will receive a backlist title by KK Hendin.

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Blog Tour + 5 Star Review: On My Knees by J. Kenner – A Stark Novel

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Jackson Steele and Sylvia Brooks continue to thrill in the second novel of a scintillating, emotionally charged new trilogy that returns to the world of J. Kenner’s beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me.

I never thought I’d lose control, but his desire took me right to the edge.

Powerful, ambitious, and devastatingly sexy, Jackson Steele was unlike any other man I’d ever known. He went after what he wanted with his whole mind, body, and soul—and I was the woman in his sights. One touch and I surrendered, one night together and I was undone.

Jackson and I had secrets, dark pieces of our pasts that threatened to swallow us both. We couldn’t outrun our demons, or the people trying to tear us apart. But in our passion we found salvation, and in each other’s arms we found release.

I was scared to trust Jackson fully, to finally let go. Yet no matter the dangers that lay ahead, I knew I was his—and now that we’ve laid claim, there’s no more holding back.

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Michel’s Review

Wow! J. Kenner knocked it out of the park with the second book in the Stark International trilogy. This trilogy is by far my favorite in the Stark Series.

On My Knees by J. Kenner is the second book in the Stark International Trilogy. It should not be read as a stand alone novel. It is the sequel to Say My Name. This trilogy features Jackson Steele, a world renowned architect, and Sylvia Brooks, Damien Stark’s PA & Project Manager for the Cortez Resort Project.

Jackson and Sylvia have a history that ended badly when Sylvia chose to leave Jackson without explanation five years earlier. She not only broke her own heart but also left Jackson broken. When she asked that he not contact her in the future he respected her wishes, not only for self preservation but because he loved her that much. Five years of harboring a broken heart has left Jackson bitter. When the opportunity to work with the Stark Corporation presents itself he sees this as an opportunity to get revenge on Sylvia and Damien Stark. What starts out as a quest for revenge turns into a quest for love and redemption. Jackson is finally getting answers for why Sylvia left him and he finds he loves her even deeper than he thought. As far as his revenge on Damien Stark, it is a whole different animal altogether. It’s much more complicated than a business deal gone wrong. But for Sylvia, he is willing to put aside his hatred towards Damien and work on the project. This project ends up being more than he expected. It is an architect’s dream.

That is pretty much how Say My Name ended. Both Jackson and Sylvia are trying to make their relationship work. They have revealed some of their secrets and looked past the old hurts in their relationship.

On My Knees picks up where Say My Name left off. The Cortez project is beginning to come to life. Everything is running smoothly until Jackson gets arrested for attacking the movie producer Robert Cabot Reed. The result is Damien Stark firing him from the project. Damien’s reasons are much deeper than the arrest. Jackson revealed one of his dark secrets that infuriated Damien.

It would seem like this would put a huge kink in Sylvia and Jackson’s relationship but it does just the opposite. Even though their careers are colliding ,their relationship is much more important to them. They become even closer by talking things out, rationalizing their problems, and finding solutions to control their personal needs. They handled their weaknesses and pressure points by trusting and depending on one another.

Eventually Jackson is brought back on the Cortez Resort project but there are still problems that could keep this project from getting off the ground. The media has run with Jackson and Sylvia’s connection to the producer of a movie that Jackson wants killed. He hasn’t revealed his reasons but it is quite clear they are valid. Sylvia is trying to survive the dark past that Robert Cabot Reed caused. Damien Stark is being a complete dickhead. It seems like he is gunning for Jackson because of the secret he revealed. Still Jackson and Sylvia’s relationship is staying true and strong until Damien reveals a secret that could tear them apart. At the same time something underhanded is going on at Stark Industries. Someone is sabotaging the Cortez Project and it looks like it may be coming from within.

I could not put this book down. It really pulled the reader into the story and gave the reader more insight on who the characters really were. Sylvia is a strong woman with integrity. Jackson may be caring around a lot of secrets but all of his intentions are good and pure. He always puts Sylvia first. He is an honorable man and shows much more character strength than Damien Stark. I couldn’t help falling head over heels for Jackson Steele. As for Damien Stark, I was really beginning to hate the man , but he wouldn’t be where he is in the world if he was any other way (his story will change the readers view of him). I loved how J. Kenner let readers see the other side of Damien Stark and not let his powerful personality overshadow this trilogy.

The cliffhanger ending in this book leaves the readers stunned.  Not only is Jackson and Sylvia’s relationship being tested but fate may end their future together.  Their lives are a mess.  How it will unravel is going to be another rocky ride for all the characters involved in this story.

J. Kenner has done a magnificent job with this trilogy thus far . It is able to stand apart from the first three books in the Stark Series. These characters shine. Their story is captivating. She didn’t let the characters from the previous books overshadow the leading characters in this part of the series. They have a fresh voice and unique story. I can’t wait for the final book , Under My Skin, releasing September 1, 2015,

I am team Jackson Steele!

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J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.

Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swopn for him.” A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).

Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries.

In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

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5+ Star Review and 2015 Favorite : Sloth by Ella James – A Sinful Secrets Novel

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Sloth

A Sinful Secrets Novel

By Ella James

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Synopsis

 

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She writes me back.

I didn’t expect that.

She tells me she’s a lover of chicken pizza and video games, a hot sorority girl with the nickname Sloth. She wants to know something about me in return. She says I owe her.

This is how she saves my life. She doesn’t even know it. We’ve never even seen each other. But I need a reason. Just one reason to continue. She becomes mine.

The anonymity is good. She doesn’t need to know me, but I need her kindness. We both live our lives: a letter here, a post card there. For three years, I escape my demons. And then one day I’m pulled back in.

I’ve resigned myself to what I know is coming. Until the girl I’m spanking gives her safe word: Sloth.

And then the lie I’m living starts to unravel.

Sloth is a 500-page, 150,000-word stand alone novel with many twists, one huge, awful secret, and a non-cliffhanger ending.

Sloth is a love story. It’s also a dark mystery, so if you’re sad, you should probably read another book. This one is real, and hard. Not that kind of hard. (That kind of hard, too). Consider yourself warned.

*Amended to add: I’m being told by readers that you shouldn’t read another book. Read this one anyway.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Part of the fun of reading this book is trying to guess the big secret. Please try to avoid unmarked spoilers in reviews and review headlines, so others will be able to enjoy the read.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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“What do you need?” He’s deadly serious. If I wasn’t already on edge, I would be now. My skin tingles. My heart pounds. My clit throbs.

I leave my shirt on the bed—a necessary sacrifice, I’ve decided—and slide off the mattress. I close the distance between the two of us with one stride and press my palms against his chest. “I want to suck your dick first, Kellan. Feel you in my mouth. That’s how I’ll really know if this is worth it for me.”

I can see the surprise on his face. The arousal in his eyes. He nods once. “Come with me.”

He pulls me over to the wing-backed chair and sinks down into it. He unfastens his pants and tugs them down, revealing an enormous, straining cock. I give myself a minute to behold its perfect shape and thick, outlandish size. To appreciate the nice, big balls that hang beneath it.

I think, if I liked him, I would definitely enjoy getting him off.

“Kneel,” he orders.

With a hungry smile, I do.

“Put your mouth around me, and I’ll tell you how I like it done.” So bossy. I kind of like that, given what I’m setting up here. Boss me around, baby. You just tell me how you like it.

I decide to tease him a little first. I try to wrap my fingers around him, and of course, he’s too thick. I encircle his shaft, just under the plump head, and feel him jerk a little. Damn, that’s hot. I run my hands up and down him, heady at the softness of his warm skin over the stiff erection.

I can feel him take a deep breath as I explore him with my hands. The trick here is to be gentle: a light touch as I roam under his balls—he makes a delicious, throaty sound—and travel up his shaft, where I rub my thumb under the rim of his head, right there where it meets the underside of his shaft. I don’t know what this little hot spot is called, but when I stroke it softly, guys go crazy.

Like right now. I feel his thighs tense as he blows his breath out. His hands tighten on my shoulders as I trace my fingertip around the rim of his head. I grip him with my other hand and start to pump… He grunts, hands clenching.

“Fuck…”

I pump his shaft and lick him there—one soft, slow lap at that sweet little indention on the underside of his head. He moans, and it’s too soon to give him more. Instead I trail around the rim again, exquisitely soft and light…a tease, designed to make him brainless.

And it works. He lifts his hips. “Oh fuckkk.” He squeezes my shoulders hard enough to hurt. I twirl my tongue under his head…and open wide…and close my lips around him. Fuck, he’s big. I-can-barely-fit-my-lips-around-him big.

I don’t have room to twirl my tongue around him, so instead I use my lips—rubbing them just underneath the rim of his head, which is pushed against my tongue.

I feel him inhale. Exhale. His legs are shaking. “More.” He shifts a little, and I’m surprised to find he’s holding back. He wants to slam that big dick down my throat—I know he does—but he’s trying to be polite. The effort costs him, clearly. One big hand tunnels into my hair and tightens, pulling harshly as I stroke his shaft and suction my mouth around his head.

He groans. My eyes flick to his face, finding it rapt and tense.

“Your throat,” he moans. “Suck me…down into your throat.”

I cup one hand under his balls and keep pumping his cock. I’m gripping harder now, stroking faster. As I roll his full sac in my hand, his hips tremble. I hum a little, just to be a tease.

His eyes flip open. He looks wasted. Drugged. “Deeper,” he growls.

I suck my cheeks in around him, easing him carefully deeper as he wraps his hand around my head. My eyes begin to water. He’s so big and thick. I’ve got his head completely in my mouth now, and I can feel the pressure at the back of my tongue. To truly take him in, I’ll have to open wide and gobble down his cock.

I take him deeper, looking up at him as saliva floods my mouth. His eyes are heavy-lidded…almost shut, long lashes tipped down. I can see some color in his cheeks that wasn’t there before. His perfect lips are slightly parted.

I take still of him and feel his legs spread wider. Fuck, they’re muscular. I stroke my fingers over his sac, and his cock rewards me with a soft throb I can feel against my cheeks.

Oh yeah. He really wants this.

Deeper and I’m almost gagging. I taste something salty. His fingers stroke my scalp.

He moans and shudders. I’m deep-throating him. Go me!

I shut my eyes and focus on relaxing my throat, while one of my hands grips his hard hip. The other strokes his balls, which pull taut as he settles deep in my throat. Tears slide down my cheeks as I swallow against his length and suck my mouth tightly around his base, until he’s thrusting those granite-carved hips; making me gag around his huge girth; rocking into my throat as he pants and flexes his legs and I suck air in through my nose.

I look up at him once more. He’s beautiful. Perfection, really, even more so as he comes undone. His cock is so responsive. Swelling when I suction my cheeks around the base of him, leaking salty precum when I suck and swallow deeper.

His fingers quiver in my hair and he starts snarling…talking dirty. Calling me his fucking whore, his cock-tease, slut, even as he slumps back in the chair, more swollen-cock-that-needs-to-come than guy.

His body trembles as I give the best blow job I’ve ever given. “’M…gonna make that pussy…pay for this,” he pants. He grasps my breast and pushes further down my throat.

So aroused… I’m surprised to find that even I feel hot and bothered.

So it’s a shame what I’m going to do. What I must do, to ensure my safe departure, and also to get some insurance: a way to invalidate his story if he tries to set me up.

I swallow one more time against his thick head—something all men seem to love—and focus my mouth around the base of him. I taste another drip of pre-cum. His hands, now threaded through my hair, curl into fists as he thrusts into my throat. He groans loudly. Grunts. I feel a flash of sheer lust, imagining his huge dick in my pussy. Damn, he’s close. I’m close. I realize with a bolt of shock that I am wet and throbbing too.

And then, as I suck my cheeks in hard and grasp his sac, his hips buck; he spurts like a fountain down my throat. His body shudders mightily, and I marvel at the moisture that’s pooled in between my thighs. I’ve never enjoyed giving blow jobs, but this was something else.

I stare down at him as I stand up. His eyes are closed, his head leaned back against the chair.

But his legs are wide open—cock still mostly hard, his balls hanging without a care.

His eyes peek open too, right then, confirming my hunch that Kellan Walsh is not someone who relaxes for long. His gaze connects with mine. I grin.

And then, before he or I can speak, before another proposition can be made or another kinky phrase exchanged, I ram my knee between his legs.

I hear him grunt, but I am on the move, grabbing my shirt and shoes and darting out the door, dashing down the hall and down the stairs. Down the stairs and to my car. I hit the driver’s side so hard it hurts my ribs. I hoist myself over the door and fumble with my keys. I’m cranking the car before I catch my breath, gassing it as my head spins.

I glance behind me, half expecting to see his Sexcalade bouncing down the dirt drive after me. Half expecting to see him in my back seat.

But…nothing.

Nothing as I leave his dirt road.

Nothing as I pull over to put my shirt and shoes on.

Nothing on the drive home.

Nothing as I contemplate if he was really what he said. If he really wanted what he said, or if he was simply playing me.

Nothing as I shower, study, slip into my bed.

And then my phone lights up.

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Sloth5Star

2015FAVORITESLOTH

Michel’s Review

This is going to be a spoiler free review.  I cannot in good conscience name the characters or tell a bit about their story.  This is a book that each reader should experience for themselves.

Several months ago a the Sloth blog tour came across my desk.  After reading the synopsis for the Sloth serial romance I knew that this was something that Smut Book Junkie Reviews would want to be a part of.  The blog tour kept getting delayed and finally cancelled because the author, Ella James, could not meet the deadline.  The reason behind the cancellation was valid, the story morphed into something more.  It took on a whole new life that consumed Ella.  The characters and their story hijacked her life until they had their final word.  Several months later Sloth was finished.  It was no longer a serial romance.  It was a lengthy full length novel that Ella poured her heart and soul into.  The result was astounding.  Every reader that has picked up this book has become consumed with this book.  I personally read this book in one sitting.  I could not tear myself away from this story until I read the last word.

Through the social media chatter I have read so many things concerning this book.  One of the many things are readers are assuming that this is a BDSM romance novel.  They are putting it into the Fifty Shades of Grey arena.  This is not the case for this book.  We don’t have the tortured abused billionaire or the naive innocent girl that he wants to consume.  This is a story of two very strong people finding each other and trying to control their own circumstances in their world.  Some of their circumstances are beyond their control and every time one of them begins to try to control it the tentacles grow and get further out of their reach.  The solutions that are reached in that quest for control are sinful, shattering, and will leave permanent scars.  These scars are their burdens as well as their trophies.

What begins as an anonymous exchange of letters evolves into a completely different exchange for both of the characters.  Their accidental meeting  leads into a bizarre business partnership to a hedonistic sexual relationship.  The relationship once again evolves into that once in a lifetime kind of love, a love that is forbidden because of their life circumstances.

This book is completely unpredictable.  The twists and turns keep the reader guessing at the true nature of the characters relationship, their true intentions, and final resolutions.  It is not only an erotic reading experience but also a highly emotional reading experience.  The impact of this story will leave the reader feeling like they experienced the complete journey with both of the characters.

Ella James took great care writing this story.  She researched the factual realities and processes and gave the reader a clear insight of the realities that affect their world.  She also took great care with the emotional reactions and had the reader experiencing each emotion.  She raised moral questions that each person could ponder upon and never come up with a clear cut answer.  She wrote a beautiful emotional love story that will not be forgotten by the reader.

By the end of this book the reader will feel so many emotions.  They will ponder many of the passages.  They will question different choices made by the  characters and their motivations.  The good thing is that Ella created a Sloth support group and discussion page on FB.

Ella James did the readers a great service by delaying this story.  By turning this book into a full length novel rather than a serial gave the reader a very gratifying reading experience.  I am so happy that she listened to her inner voice and allowed these characters to take over her life.

Sloth is a fantastic book that you don’t want to miss!

Join the Sloth discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1591666264454188/

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About

About Ella James

Ella James is a USA Today bestselling author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, http://www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.

Ella is represented by Rebecca Friedman of the Hill Nadell Literary Agency.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

sloth

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Insider by Olivia Cunning – Exodus End World Tour Series – Book 1

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Insider

Exodus End World Tour Series – Book 1

An Erotic Rock Star Romance

By Olivia Cunning

85a58-goodreads

Synopsis

Toni wants to be an insider.
Logan just wants inside her.

She’s finally ready to rock…
Toni Nichols set aside her dreams to raise her little sister, but now she’s reaching for the stars as the creator of a revolutionary interactive biography about Exodus End. She’s on tour with the rock band to immerse herself in their world, but how will she ever gain the trust of four veteran superstars who’ve been burned by the media before? Nobody said this was going to be easy. Then again, good things can come in hard packages.

He’s always ready to roll…
Adrenaline junkie Logan Schmidt lives for the rush of playing his bass guitar before thousands of screaming fans. When he’s not performing onstage or in the bedroom, he’s looking for his next thrill in extreme sports. So why does a sweet, innocent journalist get his heart pumping and capture his full attention? Is Toni the real deal or just digging up dirt on his band? Logan’s eager to rock Toni’s world and roll her in the sack, but when she starts to get too close to his heart, she takes her insider look to a place he may never be willing to go.

 

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

exodusend

5StarSun

Michel’s Review

Are you ready to ROCK?

Exodus End is on World Tour!  Before we rocked to Jake Weathers and The Mighty Storm, Kellan Kyle and the D-Bags, or the Stage Dive guys, Olivia Cunning rocked our world with the Sinners On Tour series, and the One Night with Soul Regret series.  She is the queen of rock star romance and really knows how to deliver a rocking story.  Her bad boy rockers make some of our other favorite rockers look like wannabe’s ( just kidding!).  The newest series, Exodus End World Tour is going to have every reader in their kindle mosh pit rocking out to these mega metal super stars.  Every reader is going to walk away being a crazed Exodus End groupie.  Our panties are going to be flying and our boobs are going to be aching to be signed by one of these rocking bad boys.

Olivia Cunning fans have been waiting a long time for the Exodus World Tour Series.  We met some of the members of this mega metal band in the Sinners on Tour series.  Their super stardom has intrigued the readers.  If you are new to Olivia Cunning books or rock star romance, this is the perfect book to start the show.  Get ready for a delicious rocking good read.

Logan Schmidt is the bad boy womanizer of Exodus End.  He may only be the bass player but his rhythm in the bedroom is legendary.  He can get a woman out of her panties in moments.  He’s an adrenaline junkie that thrives on jumping out of airplanes, riding extreme motocross, and bungie jumping.  He has no fear until it comes to relationships.  He has never been in a committed relationship or wanted a steady girl.  When he meets the nerdy journalist that is going to be writing an interactive book on Exodus End all bets are off.  He is suddenly wanting more than her panties in his pocket.  He has become possessive and addicted to the lovely Toni Nichols.  She looks nothing like his usual playmates and has a heart of gold.  When the other band members recognize her outstanding traits he is on the warpath.   She is his woman and his woman alone.

Toni Nichols has stepped out of her comfort zone and sheltered world into the hedonistic inferno of Exodus End.  Logan Schmidt has swept in and corrupted her virtuous world.  What a great way to go up in flames and live in sin.  This sexy bassist has captured her attention, stoked her body, and maybe even stole her heart.  She’s not there to lose her virginity or her heart.  She has to prove that she is a worthy journalist that can get the job done.

One month on the Exodus End tour bus.  One month in Logan Schmidts bed.  One month of sex, sin, fun, and friendship will change Toni’s entire outlook on life.  She will make friends and take on a lover.  She will see the world through different eyes.

Just as she is finding her confidence and making a success of her work, the world will sweep in and destroy everything she has worked so hard to obtain.  Everyone will walk away hurt and betrayed.  All of their careers may be destroyed.

Exodus End will survive, they always have.  Toni may not.

Insider is guaranteed to rock your soul.  The story goes far beyond your typical rock star romance.  Logan is not a tortured soul.  He has a few blips and secrets he has survived.  His crazy nature and lack of filters has kept him a very balanced person.  Toni has lived with heartache and nurtured her entire family.  She has never had anything special for herself.  Her life has never had the kind of balance she desperately needs.  Olivia Cunning created some remarkable characters that will touch your heart.  Their story will touch your soul.  You will fall in love with the entire line up in Exodus End and their lives.

Don’t miss the show.  Insider is the meet & greet for a great new series.

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About Olivia Cunning

olivia cunningCombining her love for romantic fiction and rock ‘n roll, Olivia Cunning writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians. Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She’s been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction — first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own. Growing up as the daughter of a career soldier, she’s lived all over the country and overseas. She recently moved to Galveston, Texas.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

insider

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Power Play by Tiffany Snow – Risky Business Series – Book 1

power play

Power Play

Riskey Business Series – Book One

By Tiffany Snow

Synopsis

THIS KIND OF BUSINESS CAN ONLY BE PERSONAL

Sage Reese lives for her job. More precisely, she lives for her debonair boss, Parker Andersen. Sage handles everything for Parker, even as she fantasizes about the one thing that isn’t in her job description: him. But when a high-stakes account crosses the line from shady to deadly, a tough cop starts giving Sage the attention she wishes Parker would . . .

Detective Dean Ryker couldn’t be more different from Parker. While Parker wears expensive suits like a second skin and drives a BMW, Ryker’s uniform is leather jackets and jeans . . . and his ride of choice is a Harley. While Parker’s sexiness is a reserved, slow burn, Ryker is completely upfront about what-and who-he’s after. And Sage tops his list.

Now, as Ryker digs deeper into the dark side of Parker’s business, Sage finds herself caught between two men: the one she’s always wanted-and the one who makes her feel wanted like never before . . .

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

5StarSun

Michel’s Review

Tiffany Snow has another power house success releasing.  Power Play is the first book in the highly dramatic and intense new Risky Business series.  This book is loaded with intrigue, suspense, drama, and unpredictable twists and turns.  I was glued to the pages and read this book in one sitting.

Two hot former best friends that lost their friendship over a woman.  A woman that took her own life rather than come between friends. Dean Ryker and Parker Anderson are once again tied together and entwined with another woman, Sage Reese.  This time the stakes are high and the deal isn’t clear cut.  There are other sanctions playing with their lives.  A Russian banker that is on Ryker’s radar and interested in Parker’s investment expertise.  In the middle is Sage Reese, Parker’s PA.  She is beginning to question her unrequited feelings, Parker’s business ethics, and Ryker’s suspicions.

Sage will have to choose between her sexy boss and the intensely sexy police detective.  Sage is no pushover and has all kinds of questions of her own concerning both men.  She deserves her happily ever after and only one of these men can win her heart.

Is their past history going to repeat itself or are three going to go up in flames?

At the moment I am rooting for Dean Ryker.  But as we all know with Tiffany Snow’s brilliance and masterful writing  could change our opinion in the drop of a hat.  She definately has more twist and turns before the story unfolds.  I can’t wait for the next book, Playing Dirty.  I am sure we are in for some big surprises.

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About Tiffany Snow

TiffanySnowI love to stick with characters over a series of books when I read, which is the same way I write. My first series – THE KATHLEEN TURNER SERIES – includes five books, two companion novels, and features a love triangle. My new series, coming from Montlake Romance December 16, 2014, is the TANGLED IVY TRILOGY, beginning with IN HIS SHADOW.
As for me, I’ve been reading romance novels since I was way too young to read such things, have an unhealthy obsession for all things Doctor Who, prefer Pepsi to Coke and Absolut to both, think men who drink girly cocktails are wusses, have learned to never stop believing in my beloved St. Louis Cardinals, and can recite the entire scripts of When Harry Met Sally and Apollo 13. George Washington is cool, Bon Jovi still rocks the house, and Bruce Willis is the ultimate alpha-male hero. Most of all, romance never, ever gets old.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

power play

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Forged In Fire by Jessica Scott – Homefront Series – Book 3

forged in fire

Forged In Fire

Homefront Series – Book 3

By Jessica Scott

85a58-goodreads

Synopsis

From USA Today bestselling author Jessica Scott, book three in her all new Homefront Series.

A warrior focused on war…

Captain Sal Bello wants nothing more than to train his men for their upcoming deployment. But life at home is far more complicated for many of his men. And Sal doesn’t know how to stop the unraveling within his formation.

A warrior tested by combat…

First Sergeant Holly Washington has been baptized by fire and come out steel. She knows how to lead soldiers in combat and bring them safely home.

As these two warriors clash over what it means to be a leader at home and at war, they’ll cross the line between officer and enlisted. And the fallout could be more than either of them are prepared to face.

 

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

5StarSunMichel’s Review

Forged In Fire by Jessica Scott is the final book in the Homefront series.  Once again she has written another heart felt story about today’s modern army and the officers employed by the Army.  These men and women have dedicated their lives and careers to their country.  Their jobs go beyond being a soldier and warrior.  They probably have the most difficult kind of job in the management field.  Their jobs are beyond battle plans and war strategies.  They are managing people.  People that come from all walks of life and experiences.  Not only are they dealing with their individual personalities, they have to make these people come together and work as one unit.  They also have to deal with issues that most work organizations don’t have to deal with.  There is drug abuse, alcohol abuse, domestic problems, and psychological problems including PTSD.  There is a trail of paperwork that they have to document for each soldier.  They have to keep their i’s dotted and t’s crossed.  They have to do this in triplicate for legality purposes.  At the same time they have to prepare these individuals for the warfront or get them out of the Army.

Throughout the Homefront series and the Coming Home series, Jessica Scott has approached different issues in today’s Army.  She does not shy away from the truths or sugar coat the ugly realities.  At the same time she brings two unlikely people together to find love.  It makes their world a bit brighter and easier to cope with.  It gives these people a home life that makes all of their sacrifices worth it.

Forged In Fire brings a war hardened Captain and dedicated First Sergeant together.  They have both experienced the ugly side of war.  They have both experienced some ugly issues on the home front.  The difference is on how they choose to cope and how they deal with their unit.  When a serious case of domestic abuse and a secretive love triangle begin to disrupt their unit they will have to band together to find the truth.  They will have to weigh their moral stance against their military stance.  They may lose good soldiers with war experience or they may end up with soldiers that can’t handle the warfront any better than the home front.

I really liked this installment of the Homefront Series.  Not only did Jessica Scott deliver strong solid characters, she allowed them both to have vulnerabilities.  She also emphasized that life is not black and white, every coin has another side, and every road has a curve.  Once again she gave the reader a fantastic book that was educational, romantic, and interesting.  A soldier doesn’t have to be a warrior all the time.  A soldier is an ordinary man or woman with ordinary feelings.

Well done Jessica Scott.

 Forged In Fire can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.  I highly recommend this book and series.

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About Jessica Scott

Jessica Scott1USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She’s also written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and has had the honor of serving as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.

Most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012. Learn More at http://www.jessicascott.net

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

forged in fire

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley – Chaos Series – Book 3

Ride Steady

Ride Steady

The Chaos Series – Book 3

A Biker MC Romance

By Kristen Ashley

85a58-goodreads

Synopsis

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 . . .

 

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

5StarSun

Michel’s Review

At long last, The Chaos MC is back!  It has been too long since readers have had a visit from their favorite Bikers and their posse of leading ladies, not to mention their badass friends in the  Denver area.  This time Joker is riding lead and has his Butterfly in the bitch seat.

Carson Steele, aka Joker, has finally found a place where he belongs.  He has found a family when he joined the Chaos MC.  He is the strong silent type that keeps his feelings close to his chin.  He appreciates every moment of his new life.  He has never looked back since he walked away from his abusive home in high school.  He moved forward and gained job skills that make him highly revered in the custom car build industry.  He never forgot the kindness of his old neighbors and the one girl in high school that was beyond his reach.  They are the only bright spots in his past.  He obtained his nickname because of his quiet and serious personality.  The Chaos MC has embraced this man and made him a part of their family.  They are good people.

When he stops to help a stranded woman with a baby on the side of the highway, he is in for more than being a helpful citizen.  He is going to find the piece of his past that he never thought that he could have in his life.  He has found Carissa Teodoro once again.  This time he is one the right side of the tracks and has the financial backing to become part of Carissa’s world.  The only difference is that Carissa is not the same girl he knew and desired in high school.  Her life circumstances have fallen into the world he walked away from.  The only difference is that Carissa still looks at life through rose colored glasses and sees rainbows on every corner.  She wears butterflies and comes bearing pie.  How can a guy turn his back on butterflies and pie, not to mention a beautiful sexy woman.

When the Chaos MC, their lovely ladies, and Elvira’s posse see the butterflies and pie, they are determined to help this couple along.  They will interfere, play matchmaker, and embrace Carissa into their fold.

Carissa is coming out of nasty marriage that has left her destitute.  When her new friends start helping out in her life as well as Joker taking care of her, she is more than grateful.  She is thankful that this family has embraced her and her baby boy.  Now if she can keep her nasty ex in his place and hang onto custody all will be right with the world.

At the same time the Chaos MC is dealing with a problem gang that is invading their territory.  It could mean war.  Should they be adding another woman into their fold when war is inevitable?

Will Carissa realize that Joker is the boy she knew long ago.  Will she still want the man who was a pathetic boy from her past?

Carissa and Joker will both have to face truths about their past and present.  They will have to come to terms with their life and make amends with their past.  Together they will find the life they both have always wanted.

Once again Kristen Ashley has written a book I could not put down.  She included all of our favorite characters from previous series and allowed them to meddle in Carissa and Joker’s life.  She brought the magic back that only she can deliver in her books.  Once again I finished this book with a big smile and heart full of joy.

Read this book…it is guaranteed to bring sunshine,rainbows, and butterflies to your heart. As for the pie…well you will just have to get your own.

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Author Bio:

 

kristen ashleyKristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

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