Review: Punished by Samantha Stone – Crescent City Creatures Series – Book 1

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Punished 

Crescent City Creatures – Book 1

NA / YA Paranormal

Buy: Amazon

By Samantha Stone

Synopsis

Mary just wants to get away from her boss, but quitting her job would leave her and her sister homeless. Raphael is a criminal living with the never-ending guilt of the crimes he committed centuries ago. Punished brings them together in a romance filled with lore, laugher, and love. Samantha Stone is pleased to present Book 1 of her new paranormal romance series, Crescent City Creatures.

Raphael Saar is an exiled werewolf, a convict on the direct path to a death sentence—for a crime he didn’t commit. He doesn’t care, so long as he can end the human trafficking ring kidnapping women across New Orleans.

Recovering from a horrific tragedy, one particularly bad day for Mary Newman has stretched into months. A nanny for a wealthy family in New Orleans, she can’t understand why she’s being constantly humiliated by her boss until the night she learns that he’s not human—and neither is she.

Only Raphael can save her from the monster feeding from her misery, but will Mary be able to stop his execution?

Punished teams up werewolves, banshees, a wompus cat and a haint in order to rid New Orleans of a group of immortals determined to hurt the city’s women and kill Raphael’s pack.

Content Notes: Spicy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense, Shifters, Wolves, Other Weres, Magic, Ghosts

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Lis’ Review

Samantha Stone is a new author with a new voice in paranormal fiction. This is her debut novel, and what a story it tells. Mary Newman is the heroine, forced to take a job as nanny to a wealthy family whose only ray of sunshine is their little daughter. Mary has a sister Leila who doesn’t speak for reasons known only to her. Mary thinks it has to do with her witnessing the deaths of their parents but Leila refuses to discuss it. Ever since that death, Mary has been the caretaker for her sister and this nanny job provides a settled place for them to live as well as a full scholarship for her sister to attend university. However, as Mary realizes, nothing comes without a price.

Raphael is a werewolf who’s been banished to a pack in New Orleans for crimes against humanity – literally. Weres are not allowed to harm humans, and Raphael’s punishment stems from killing two humans over 500 years ago. But in present day NOLA he uncovers a human trafficking ring which targets young females and he is determined to save them and eliminate the ring. Which brings him to Thump (which in my opinion is the best name I’ve seen lately for a dance club), a nightclub in the heart of the French Quarter, where he meets Mary and Leila.

We soon learn how Mary gets caught up in the human trafficking ring, and about her unusual ability to avoid being taken prisoner by her wicked boss, the villain in this book. Richard is the epitome of the eeew factor for a villain. Slimy doesn’t even begin to describe this guy. Fortunately, Mary and Raphael team up to combat the evil that Richard is part of, a group of river dolphin shapeshifters known as botos or encantados.

It takes a pack of werewolves, a banshee, a panther shifter and a haint – I really loved Wish, a secondary character so interesting I hope he gets his own story some day – to discover the importance of working together, of forming a family-type bond that strengthens them in order to bring down the trafficking ring and expose the insider who enables the whole thing to prosper in the first place. In this book, the streets of New Orleans are packed with otherworldly creatures who actually try to protect the humans around them.

The author obviously researched her mythology and gives us a decent explanation of the creatures we meet. The book is a good debut, the author telling a good story with interesting characters. I longed for a little more depth of emotion and more seamless transitions, but realizing this is a first novel, I’m sure that will come in future books. The genre is NA, which fits, and might even be suitable for mature YA readers.

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About this author 
I write these tales of long swords, hot heroes, and warrior women. My nine Celtic/ Paranormal/ Romance books are set mainly in the dark ages and ancient times. I also write Steampunk/Romances under the name of Maeve Alpin.

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Cover Reveal: Remembering Everly by J. L. Berg

With the release of FORGETTING AUGUST just around the corner (quite literally – it releases December 1st!), we’re thrilled to be able to share a look at the gorgeous cover of REMEMBERING EVERLY, the second and final book in the Lost & Found duet.

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(Click the cover to view the full size image.)

Isn’t it absolutely stunning? We’re in love with these covers – and the books! Find out more about them below.

 

Here’s a note for you from J.L. Berg!

Dear Readers,

I am SO excited to share the second and final cover of the Lost & Found series with you! This cover captures the tone of Remembering Everly perfectly. Fear, desire and so much conflict and tension between Everly and August. I can’t wait for you to read the thrilling conclusion to this beautiful duet!

– J.L. Berg

Berg_Forgetting August_E-BookAbout FORGETTING AUGUST

She can forgive, but can she forget?
Some days, Everly still thinks she sees him. In the food court at the mall, or in a car speeding past as the light changes. It only lasts a second, but when it happens, she slips back to a time when she was ruled-and nearly ruined-by August Kincaid. And it doesn’t matter that she’s moved on, that she’s about to marry another man. In those moments the only thing she can do to regain control is take a deep breath and remind herself that August can’t hurt her-because he’s in a coma. Except that he’s not anymore.

August is awake. With no memories, he sets out to solve the mystery of his lost life. He unearths a photograph of a beautiful redhead named Everly and knows instinctively that she’s the key. But when he finds her, the August she describes is more monster than man.

Tortured by the thought of having hurt her, August wants only to become the man Everly deserves. As the new August emerges, Everly glimpses the person she first fell in love with. But can she trust that this August is real? When the final secret of their shared past is revealed, one of them will make a choice that changes their future forever . . .

FORGETTING AUGUST releases December 1st. Add it to Goodreads here!

Preorder FORGETTING AUGUST: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | GooglePlay | Kobo | BAM

About REMEMBERING EVERLY

After a stunning cliffhanger ending in Forgetting August, USA Today bestselling author J.L. Berg delivers the happily ever after that fans have been waiting for in the sequel, REMEMBERING EVERLY, on sale March 1.

He’s forgotten his past, but it hasn’t forgotten him. After losing two years of his life trapped in a coma, August Kincaid will do anything to win back the love of his life. But his past threatens to destroy his second chance at happiness, it’s Everly who is in danger of paying for his crimes.

Add it to Goodreads here!

Preorder REMEMBERING EVERLY: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | BAM

Join us for the FORGETTING AUGUST Release Party!

Forever Romance and J.L. Berg invite readers to join them for a Facebook party on December 9 from 7 – 10 PM EST to celebrate FORGETTING AUGUST, on sale December 1. In addition to fun guests and giveaways, there will be a great discussion about the book as J.L. Berg takes fan questions. RSVP here.

About J.L. Berg

Author J.L. Berg is a California native living in the South. She is the author of the self-pubbed Ready series, which has sold over 100,000 copies. Married to her high school sweetheart. She and her husband have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose stuck in a romance book, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : Forget Me Not Anthology by Tammy Falkner & Guest Authors : Charity Supporting Alzheimer’s & Brain Health

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Forget Me Not Anthology

Remembering Those We Have Lost

A Charity Supporting Alzheimer’s & Brain Health

By Tammy Falkner, Jane Charles, Ava Stone, Marquita Valentine,Lexi Eddings, L. J. Charles, Andris Bear, Caren Crane, Jerrica Knight Catania, and Diane Franks

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

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Synopsis

10 artists auditioning for a shot at working with the Reed Brothers
10 skins, each with a story to tell
10 perfect tattoos so they’ll never forget
A little bit of healing
A whole lot of heart

An anthology of ten short stories by ten different authors who are donating 100% of the proceeds to benefit Alzheimer’s and brain health. Join Tammy Falkner, Jane Charles, Ava Stone, Marquita Valentine, Lexi Eddings, Lj Charles, Andris Bear, Jerrica Knight-Catania, Caren Crane and Diane Franks to help combat this terrible disease.
Tammy Falkner: Always, April- You probably love to hate her. She’s the woman who broke Matt’s heart and inspired that awesome letter in MMM. But whatever happened to her? Find out about the crazy dream that made her ditch her unfaithful husband in Scotland, and let’s give her some closure, shall we? (Matt has a pretty big cameo in this one!)

Andris Bear: Inked – The only thing officer Brent Copeland wants when he enters Reeds’ is some fresh ink to honor his fallen partner. But when he comes face to face with Honor Sloan, a hellcat he arrested six months ago, he must confront the mistakes of his past if he is to have any chance at a future.

Jane Charles: Rattled – She enters the tattoo shop with an envelope full of memories and a heart filled with longing. What she leaves with is more than she dreamed of, and it just might be the first step to healing the wounds of the past.

LJ Charles: Burned – Fred’s agony over past mistakes is so overwhelming he craves a reminder of them—one that will be burned into his flesh forever. Little does he know the past is about to explode into present-day reality.

Ava Stone: Hold Me Tight – Film student Seth Elliott can hardly believe his luck when Molly Wolfe, a pretty face from his past, stumbles into the Reeds’ looking for a tattoo to remember her brother. Finding her after so many years is even better than any of the classic movies he loves so much.

Lexi Eddings – Coldwater Blues – Michael Evans is the poster boy for trouble on two legs. After losing the one person who ever believed he’d amount to anything, he hitches his way across country to the Big Apple, convinced he can outrun the mistakes that forced him to leave his hometown. But as his dear Gran always said, “Wherever you go, Mike, there you are…”

Jerrica Knight Catania: The Knot – Ethan Masters never imagined he’d go for a girl with a tattoo, but when he learns the story behind Madison Kennedy’s mysterious design, all he wants to do is take care of her. But Madison is still struggling with great loss in her life, and is terrified of getting close to anyone ever again, especially someone as perfect as Ethan Masters.

Marquita Valentine: Skin Deep – After one reckless night ends in tragedy, Scottish rugby player Maddox Stuart turned his back on his former life, leaving everything behind, but when the girl he left behind ends up as his client in the Reed Brother’s shop, Maddox is forced to face his demons.

Caren Crane: Lakewood Confidential – Tondra is struggling for attention on the New York art scene when a chance to ink notorious hip-hop legend Lakewood lands in her desperate hands. The reclusive rapper shares a part of his history he’s never told anyone, forcing Tondra to choose between ensuring her own success and safeguarding Lakewood’s secrets.

Diane Franks: The Test of Time – He’s not the man he used to be. She’s desperate to find a way to bring him back to her. She needs a tattoo to help her remember. She needs a tattoo so he won’t forget.

5Star

Michel’s Review

Tammy Falkner and friends have compiled this emotional anthology to honor those we have lost to Alzheimers, Brain Injuries, and Brain Health.  It is a tribute to the family members and loved ones lost within themselves. It’s a reminder that they still remain in our hearts forever.

Forget Me Not Anthology is based around the Reed Tattoo Shop and their reality television show.  Ten tattoo artist are vying for a permanent position with the Reeds.  Each artist is presented with a challenge and paired up with a new client.  The artist are challenged to create a personal tattoo for their client in an allotted amount of time in front of the camera. Each client has a story that they want inked on their skin.  It is the artist job to listen and create a design that will pay tribute to the story they are told.  At the end of the contest the Reeds will select the next new artist to join their team.

Ten authors created heartrending emotional stories that were phenomenal considering the each story was novella length.  It’s hard to deliver a compelling story with such short page space and word usage.  Each author did a superb job gave the reader an emotional ride.  Some of the characters are based off of characters in their own series or created specifically for this series.  Each character comes to life and their stories capture your heart.  There were a few that left me an emotional wreck and a stack of used tissues.

Each author had a snippet of one of the Reeds in the story but they were only supporting characters to overall setting of the story.  I will say that each author captured their personality and their compassionate hearts.

My favorite stories were by LJ Charles- Burned, Jane Charles-Rattled, and Diane Franks-The Test of Time.  These stories were gut wrenching and had me in tears.  The tattoos they received were a glorious tribute to those they had loved and lost.

Buy this book… not only will you get 10 fantastic stories… you are also supporting a great cause.

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Book Tour and 5 Star Review: Perfectly Imperfect by Harper Sloan

perfectly imperfect book tour

 

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Perfectly Imperfect 

By Harper Sloan

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes 

Synopsis

Mirror, mirror … who’s the fairest of them all?

I still cringe when I hear that line. A fairy tale that had girls pretending they were the fairest, the most beautiful, and the most entitled. A fairy tale most couldn’t grow out of turned my haunted childhood memories into a living nightmare. Girls who grew up believing that pile of garbage became the meanest of all ‘mean girls.’

And those mean girls were right – it was a line meant for all the beautiful people in the world – and I knew the answer would never be me.

The women with long legs, flat stomachs, and perfect chests.

The type of women Kane Masters gravitated toward.

Well, that’s definitely not Willow Tate.

No. That will never be me.

Because I’m completely imperfect.

And … I hate myself.

I have no idea what Kane could possibly see in someone like me when he could have them.

perfectly imperfect teaser

5Star

Michel’s Review

Perfectly Imperfect by Harper Sloan is the best book she has written.  Although it is a romance themed book it is also an inspirational book.  Harper Sloan bared her soul in this beautiful story of a woman that had very low self esteem.  We all have insecurities and are harsher on ourselves than most people see on the surface.  Harper dug deep and put these inadequate feelings into words and created a story I think we all can relate to.

We are all shaped and molded by our childhood.  Our childhood experience shapes our perceptions of ourselves and how we perceive others.  As adults we know we are in charge of our own destinies but it’s hard to let go of what has been ingrained into our souls from an early age.  It can take life changing events or one little word or action to change our destiny and take us on a new path.  A new path that changes the way we perceive ourselves.  A door that opens our hearts and allows us to love ourselves just as we are.

Willow has had a low self image all of her life.  She has settled for what she perceived would make others happy rather than making herself happy.  She has settled for a demeaning job.  She has settled with a verbally abusive husband.  She has lost herself until the day her husband cheated on her with her younger, perfect sister.  That day was the beginning for Willow Tate.  It was a long hard journey that led her to finding the once in a lifetime love and learning to love herself.  She has become the strong dynamic woman she was meant to be.

Kane always saw the Willow Tate that was hidden beneath the surface.  He saw her beautiful soul.  He will do everything in his power to earn her trust, love, and acceptance.  He will show her everyday how wonderful and beautiful she is inside and out.

Willow and Kane have found each other.  Willow has become a strong, confident woman but can she compete with Kane’s past?  A past that could destroy their relationship and beat her down once again?

Read Perfectly Imperfect by Harper Sloan.  It will change the way you look in the mirror.

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About Harper Sloan

harperHarper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the house they dubbed ‘Estrogen Ocean’, much to her husbands chagrin. Harper has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her favorite kind of hero–the super alpha kind!

Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect way to just relax. It didn’t take long before a head full of very demanding alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.

told.Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Holiday Deal from Harper Collins Publisher : Asa by Jay Crownover – Marked Men Series – Book 6

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Asa

Marked Men Series – Book 6

By Jay Crownover

Release Date : April 21, 2015

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Synopsis

Jay Crownover’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with the much anticipated story of southern charmer and certified criminal Asa Cross.

Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

Buy ~ Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

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5Star

Michel’s Review

Asa is the bittersweet end of the Marked Men Series by Jay Crownover.  Although it is the ending of the series it is also the beginning of Asa Cross.  It is his time to grasp a new life and earn the trust and loyalty of those he loves.  It’s his chance to prove he can be an honorable man worthy of love.

We met Asa in the second book of the Marked Men series.  He was not a good man. He was a criminal, a con man, a liar, and a thief.  Everyone he came in contact with he screwed over, including his only family, his sister Ayden.  Throughout the series we have watched Asa reach rock bottom and claw his way out of the gutter.  In a near death experience that left him physically incapacitated became the turning point in his life.  His sister Ayden and her friends took Asa in, showed him the true meaning of friendship, and taught him how to become a decent human being.  Rome saw a broken soul that needed mending, it just took a little trust.  Now Royal is seeing a man she could love forever.

An ex con and a cop.  It shouldn’t work but it does.  Royal sees the good in Asa.  She respects the man he has become.  Asa sees the damaged little girl in Royal and gives her the acceptance she has always craved.

Asa was a beautiful ending for the Marked Men series.  It truly portrayed the true meaning of love, friendship, and respect.

Although the Marked Men series has ended there is still more to come from our favorite characters in the new series, The Saints of Denver, which will feature new friends and fellow artist.  I can’t wait.

Read the Marked Men Series by Jay Crownover.  It is one of my all time favorite series!

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Jay CrownoverAbout Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series. She will also be introducing the dark and sexy world of The Point in a new series this summer starting with ROWDY. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she’ll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

Website ** Blog ** Facebook ** Twitter

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Teaser Tuesday: I’ll Be There by Samantha Chase – The Montgomery Series – Book 6

 

I’LL BE THERE
Montgomery Brother’s #6
Samantha Chase
Releasing Dec 1st, 2015
Sourcebooks Casablanca
 
Book #6 in New York Times and USA
Today 
bestselling author Samantha Chase’s popular Montgomery series

This
Montgomery Has a Head for Business


Working for Zach Montgomery is
challenging on many levels-coming from a wealthy and powerful family, he lives
by his own rules and doesn’t answer to anyone. But Gabriella Martine has no
intention of backing down. She’s used to handling stubborn men, and it doesn’t
hurt that Zach is smart, charismatic…and gorgeous.
And a Heart for Adventure

Zach’s perfect world is turned
upside down when a climbing accident leaves him broken, angry, and maddeningly
dependent. In his slow quest for recovery, Gabriella is always there to
help…but as Zach comes to see his beautiful assistant in a new light, he is
forced to re-evaluate what it really means to be a man worthy of Gabriella’s
love.
 
Pre-Order Today

Reaching across the table, Zach took one of Gabriella’s hands in his and just marveled at how soft it was. He always wondered what her skin felt like and now that he knew, he wanted to feel more. “Don’t leave me. Please.”

Her blue eyes filled with tears and she used her free hand to quickly wipe them away before they fell and then studied their hands on the table. “Zach,” she said softly, “we’ve been over this.”

“I know, I know,” he replied just as softly. “I need another chance, Gabriella. I need a chance to make things right.” He looked up, his gaze meeting hers. “I need you.”

Deciding to be bold, he turned her hand over and twined their fingers together and gently squeezed. He was surprised she didn’t pull away and thought maybe—just maybe—they were making progress. “I know I can’t erase the things I’ve said and done, but if you’ll give me one more chance, Gabs, I promise not to screw up. If I do anything to upset you, you can walk away. Hell, you can slap me in the face, kick me in the shin or throw something heavy at me and I’ll take it. I just…I can’t do this without you.”

Her eyes never left their joined hands.

“I don’t want to do this without you,” he said quietly.

“I’m afraid to…believe you.” He barely heard her words, they were uttered so softly.

Everything inside of him clenched with pain. His always confident, ever-efficient assistant was now distrusting and uncertain—because of him. “I don’t know what to say to make you believe me. Tell me. Tell me what I need to do. Anything. Anything you need from me to gain your confidence, and I’ll do it.”

She looked up at him. “It’s not that easy. Every day I walked into the office, I gave you another chance. Every time you berated me or made me feel like I screwed up and I came back, I gave you another chance. From my standpoint, you’ve had two years’ worth of second chances. I think I’ve been more than generous.”

His other hand reached out to cup her hand in both of his. “I know you have and you have no idea how much I appreciated it.” She looked at him with disbelief. “It’s true! I know I never said it but every morning you were there, I was thankful. Every time you walked into my office, I was thankful. Please. I’m begging here, Gabs.”

New York Times and USA Today
Bestseller/contemporary romance writer
Samantha Chase
released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011.
Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time,
writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her
students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up
through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing
dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she’s not working on a new
story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many
games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband
of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
 
Haven’t Started the Series?
WAIT FOR ME/TRUST IN ME 
are now available in a duo!
 
 

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Fighting Dirty by Sidney Halston – Worth The Fight Series – Book 5

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Fighting Dirty

Worth The Fight Series – Book 5

By Sidney Halston

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

If you love the MMA romances of Vi Kreeland and Kendall Ryan, Sidney Halston’s Worth the Fight series will knock your socks off! In Fighting Dirty, a geek-chic cage fighter proves that appearances can be deceiving . . . and oh-so-tempting.

With his preppy clothes and horn-rimmed glasses, Enzo Silva is the last dude anyone expects to find in a mixed martial arts gym. A wealthy Brazilian banker who never had to fight for anything, Enzo’s stuck in the amateur circuit—but he burns to make the pros. Maybe that explains the heat he feels whenever he’s around Jamie Lynn Calhoun. The pint-size, magenta-haired bartender with the Texas drawl is everything he’s not . . . and everything he craves.

Tough as nails and independent to a fault, Jamie Lynn—JL to her friends—works hard to pay her bills and keep life simple. Enzo is doing his best to complicate that. Even though she likes to bust his balls, he’s got some kind of a nerdy-hot vibe that makes JL wonder if she might finally be able to let her guard down. It might do the boy some good to spend some time in her world, where blood, sweat, and victory are as sweet as the first taste of real love.

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Michel’s Review

Sidney Halston has added another knock out to the Worth The Fight Series.  Sexy Brazilian businessman, Enzo Silva, is gearing up for the fight of his life.  This time the fight is taking place outside of the ring.  It’s a lockdown match and there are no rules.  He wants Jamie Lynn Calhoun and he is going to win her heart.

Jamie Lynn, JL to her friends, marches to her own beat.  She is a carefree spirit that will not be pinned down.  She has learned the hard way to live life to the fullest and grasp every moment.  She makes no apologies for who she is.

Enzo moved to the Florida after an ugly divorce.  Although he was born rich and entitled ;he has worked very hard to become the businessman he is today.   He came from a wealthy background and  has learned that monetary riches do not define the person you are.  He has lived in a structured, loveless life with high expectations.  For once he is taking control of his life and pursuing his own personal dreams.  He wants to become a professional fighter and his cousin’s gym, WTF is the perfect place to pursue his goals. His move to Florida has been a very good thing for him.  He has made new friends that have made his life better and he has met the woman of his dreams.  A woman that would not be accepted in his former world but stirs his soul.

Enzo and JL have been playing the cat and mouse game for a year.  When he finally convinces JL to go out with him they are both in for a great surprise.  There is more to their relationship than steamy hot chemistry.  They will learn that they have more in common than they thought.  They will learn that loving someone is a choice.  A choice that can make them both happier people.

Once they have fallen head over heels in love their pasts come back to haunt them in the worst possible way.  Enzo will have to choose between his family and career.  JL will have to choose forgiveness and acceptance of the mother that never cared.  Enzo’s business dealings may take away the one dream the JL has always held close to her heart. They will have to remember that love is a choice.

Sidney Halston delivered another fantastic romance that is Worth The Fight.  Enzo is Fighting Dirty for the woman he loves. Read this book … it will not disappoint!

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The Worth The Fight Series

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In her Loveswept debut, Sidney Halston turns up the heat as a sexy cage fighter shows a former bookworm how delicious a few rounds between the sheets can be.

For Chrissy Martin, returning to her Florida hometown always seems to bring bad luck. The day starts with a breakup text, followed by a jailhouse phone call from her troublemaker brother. Now a routine traffic stop has ended with her accidentally punching an officer . . . in a delicate place. Then Chrissy realizes that the hot cop on the receiving end of her right hook is none other than the man from her teenage fantasies.

Jack Daniels knows how to take a hit. After all, when he’s not chasing reckless drivers, he’s kicking ass in a mixed martial arts ring. So what takes his breath away isn’t the low blow, but the woman who dealt it: a gorgeous knockout with legs Jack wouldn’t mind being pinned under—who just so happens to be his best friend’s nerdy little sister, all grown up. Soon their instant chemistry leads to a sizzling affair, but Jack and Chrissy are fighting an uphill battle if they want to make love last beyond the final bell.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

81sTFaX0+CL._SL1500_Full Contact – Book 2

Sidney Halston returns to steamy Tarpon Springs, Florida, where a hell-raising bad boy prepares to get down and dirty for the woman he loves.

How could she have been so stupid? When Jessica Cross decides to give her violently jealous boyfriend—the otherwise influential and charming Dennis Stavros—a second chance, she very nearly becomes a statistic. After weeks of healing from a broken rib and collapsed lung, and with Dennis behind bars, Jessica finally feels ready to come out of hiding. But will she ever be able to take a chance on love again with someone new?

Mixed martial arts fighter Slade Martin knows he has a bad reputation. Hell, he’s probably earned it. So it won’t be easy to convince beautiful, vulnerable Jessica that she can trust him—that from the moment she walked into his life, she’s been the only one he’s wanted. Powerful and confident, Slade knows he can honor his vow to protect Jessica body and soul. Winning her heart will be another matter . . . but a woman like Jessica is worth the fight.

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Below The Belt – Book 3

Once one of the most sought-after names on the mixed martial arts circuit, Antonio “Scarface” Marino watched his career go down for the count as he chased skirts and made tabloid headlines. Now he’s finally making a comeback, and it’s all thanks to Francesca Silva, a Brazilian bombshell as tough as any of her fighters. But who’s the real Francesca: the trash-talking trainer who rides him hard, or the vulnerable woman who blushes at his touch?

Francesca went to the mat to sign Tony because she believes he still has the potential to bring big success to her gym—if she can keep his head in the cage and out of her personal life. After a short-lived marriage soured her on love, a one-night stand is all she can handle. Now Tony’s kisses are stirring up complicated feelings—especially when he agrees to face her ex in the ring. Francesca’s used to freezing guys out. But Tony’s tempting her to give in to the heat.

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Laid Out – Book 4

Perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and Cecy Robson, Sidney Halston’s scorching new MMA romance proves there are no holds barred when it comes to seduction.

As an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command.

Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true—but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.

 

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61JPt15WGfL._SX373_BO1,204,203,200_Fighting Dirty – Book 5

If you love the MMA romances of Vi Kreeland and Kendall Ryan, Sidney Halston’s Worth the Fight series will knock your socks off! In Fighting Dirty, a geek-chic cage fighter proves that appearances can be deceiving . . . and oh-so-tempting.

With his preppy clothes and horn-rimmed glasses, Enzo Silva is the last dude anyone expects to find in a mixed martial arts gym. A wealthy Brazilian banker who never had to fight for anything, Enzo’s stuck in the amateur circuit—but he burns to make the pros. Maybe that explains the heat he feels whenever he’s around Jamie Lynn Calhoun. The pint-size, magenta-haired bartender with the Texas drawl is everything he’s not . . . and everything he craves.

Tough as nails and independent to a fault, Jamie Lynn—JL to her friends—works hard to pay her bills and keep life simple. Enzo is doing his best to complicate that. Even though she likes to bust his balls, he’s got some kind of a nerdy-hot vibe that makes JL wonder if she might finally be able to let her guard down. It might do the boy some good to spend some time in her world, where blood, sweat, and victory are as sweet as the first taste of real love.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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Sidney Halston

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It” Nike, and that’s exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote Seeing Red, among four other novels currently in the works, including the sequel to Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal and she fell in love with writing.

Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading… She’s a reader first and a writer second.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Happy Release + Review: His New Jam by Shannyn Schroeder

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His New Jam

Hot & Nerdy Series – Book 5

By Shannyn Schroeder

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Synopsis

Sydney Peters can’t wait to finally drop the cymbals in marching band and devote time to her true love: drums. With the semester coming to a close, she’s blocking out the cacophony during practice, especially sax serenades from Hunter Reed. But when Hunter offers her a paid gig as a drummer in his band, Sydney quickly changes her tune. The two favor different styles, but they make beautiful music together…in more ways than one.

Hunter is fascinated by Sydney’s distant allure. He might be a ladies’ man on campus, but the sarcastic cymbalist is impervious to his advances. When Hunter sees how passionate Sydney is behind the drums, he orchestrates a plan to find out if she kisses like she plays. What he doesn’t anticipate, however, is falling so hard. But will the repercussions of his past crash down on his chance at something real?

3 Star

Michel’s Review

If you are looking for a steamy new adult romance that has a low amount of angst and a ton of steam, His New Jam by Shannyn Schroeder is this kind of book.  It is the fifth book in the Hot & Nerdy series and can be read as a stand alone novel.

Although this series theme is about nerds finding their happily ever after, this book kind of ran off course.  I couldn’t understand how either of these characters was a nerd.  Was it because they were in the college marching band?  My opinion was they were musicians pursuing their passion for music.  The whole marching band concept of the story was delivered in a negative way that left a really bad impression of what marching band is all about.  The musicians in marching bands are some of the most dedicated, fun loving people that have a passion for music, a great sense of team work, and a fun loving spirit. They are the back bone of school spirit.  They are the dedicated cheerleaders, crowd pleasers, and performers that put in more practice time than most football players do. They do it because they love it.  They do it because they are members of a great team. This book made it look like it was tedious and the worst part of being a musician. That just seemed insulting. Musicians are some of the coolest people around…even if they are in a marching band.

As for the romantic aspect of the story, it had a solid plot.  The characters had an abundance of chemistry and an abundance of steamy moments.  It was a fast paced story that was easy to get caught up in once you got past the negativity of the marching band and the hero’s supposedly manwhore flaws.  I never really saw him as a manwhore, he was more of a fun, flirty type of guy that made everyone’s day better.  As for the heroine, she had a huge chip on her shoulder but once she let her guard down she was likable.

Overall His New Jam by Shannyn Schroeder was a predictable but still a good romance.

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Author Bio

shannyn schroederShannyn is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids.

Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood.

After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?

So she did. And she hasn’t looked back since.

She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Release Blitz + Review : Daring Her Love by Melissa Foster – A Bradens Novella

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We are thrilled to bring you the Review/Excerpt Tour for DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster! DARING HER LOVE is a novella in the world of her Love in Bloom: The Bradens Series, brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. It is due to be released on November 24, 2015! Grab your copy of this sexy novella today!

 

 

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eBook ** Paperback

 

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About DARING HER LOVE:

This BRADEN novella features Kat Martin, Brianna Heart’s best friend from HEARTS AT PLAY (The Bradens, #6) with appearances from the hot, wealthy, and wickedly naughty Bradens you know and love.

In DARING HER LOVE…

Kat Martin knows what she wants in a man—someone stable and adoring, definitely not the type of guy who sleeps around. After all, Kat rarely does the wrong thing—until she meets seductively enticing Eric James, and suddenly wrong has never felt so right.

When it comes to his career, race-car driver Eric James is intense, obsessive, and passionate, but when it comes to sex, there’s only one kind—daring, unbridled, and no-strings-attached.

One stormy night, a delayed flight and the dangerous allure of the unknown leads Kat to throw caution to the wind, and she indulges in a rendezvous that she vows to immediately forget—but the secret tryst stirs something possessive in Eric, and forgetting is not an option.

 

 

A white sports car navigating the winding curves of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. This car is designed and modelled by myself. Very high resolution 3D render composite. All markings are ficticious

4.5 Star

Tracey’s Review

So, a guy walks into a bar…

Tired of the way she’s been living, and wanting to make some changes, Kat Martin is leaving her old life behind. On her way to Colorado, and stranded in an airport bar, Kat is just passing time until she can catch a flight. Until Eric walks in.

Eric James, race car driver, and, oh, my good Lord, one heck of a delicious man, is on his way to Colorado, too. Meeting Kat provides a diversion too good to pass up, if only he can get her to agree.

DARING HER LOVE, Melissa Foster’s offering in the 1001 Dark Nights novella series, is sweet, sexy, and, like the amuse bouche that it is, leaves the reader wanting more, more, more. Engaging from start to finish, I could not have enjoyed this Braden family novella more. Kat is down to earth and real, dealing with issues that most of us can relate to in terms of relationships, what she’s settled for, and what she is not willing to settle for anymore. She is in touch with her needs, and sees very quickly that Eric is a risk well worth taking. Eric is not just the bad boy that Kat has pegged him as. He’s also sweet, sexy, and unwilling to let Kat walk away and pretend that their encounter never happened.

I would love to see more of Eric and Kat, so, Melissa, if you’re listening, yeah, get on that! 4.5 hot, sweet, please give us more stars for DARING HER LOVE. Add it to your TBR; you’ll be hooked, too.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

Melissa Foster - author picAbout Melissa Foster:

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She is the author of the award-winning Love in Bloom series featuring the Snow Sisters, The Bradens, The Remingtons, The Ryders, and Seaside Summers. She writes sexy contemporary romance with sinfully sexy, wealthy, and fiercely loyal heroes, and smart, sassy, and sensual heroines. Her Wild Boys After Dark series is hot enough to burn up the sheets.

Melissa has a wicked chocolate addiction, and she loves to name her characters after readers. She welcomes invitations to Skype with book clubs and reader groups.

Visit Melissa Foster’s website and follow her on:

 

Facebook ** Twitter

 

Daring Her Love - Available Now

 

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For Our Historical Book Junkies…Release Blitz + Excerpt + Giveaway: My Lady Gloriana by Sylvia Halliday

 
Enter to Win a 
Print Copy of MY LADY GLORIANA
 
MY LADY GLORIANA
Sylvia Halliday 
Releasing Nov 24th, 2015
Diversion
In
this twist on the Pygmalion story, a duke makes a wager that he can bed the
uncouth Lady Gloriana. But the bet takes on a life of its own…
The year is 1725. Lady Gloriana
Baniard is a beautiful fish out of water. Brought up on the mean streets of
London, she is a brash, blunt, obscene force of nature. But thanks to a brief
marriage to a disgraced aristocrat, she is forced to live with his noble family
and endure the humiliating process of learning to be a lady. Rebelling, she
runs away to Yorkshire, where she intends to be a blacksmith, a skill at which
she excels. She knows she’ll need a manservant to front for her. When John
Thorne appears, she hires him, stirred as much by his irresistible attraction
as by his strength.
John Haviland, Duke of Thorneleigh,
is an arrogant, indolent gambler and womanizer. Having seen Gloriana just once,
he yearns to make her his own. When he learns she has run away from her family,
he makes a wild bet with his wastrel companions―he will find the lady and bed
her. Disguised as a humble servant, he becomes her assistant, learning the
blacksmith trade. The clash of wills between these two proud people creates
more sparks than a blacksmith’s anvil, as Gloriana learns to be a lady, Thorne
learns humility―and desire deepens to love.
 
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(John Haviland, duke of Thorneleigh, has gone for a midnight walk in the country.)

 

The night was more glorious than he would have imagined. The sweet scents of new grass and spring flowers filled the air with their delicate perfume, soothing his troubled soul. Impulsively, he rolled up his sleeves, then laughed and pulled off his shirt completely. He half-expected to hear the voice of his long-ago nursemaid, chiding him for common behavior that didn’t suit the heir to an ancient dukedom. Gentlemen didn’t go around half-clothed.

 

“Rest in peace, Nurse,” he murmured, recalling her with tenderness. He’d stripped naked many a time since those days—and for far less innocent reasons. It was a mild night. Maybe he’d further scandalize Nurse’s memory by going for a swim.

 

He felt young, adventurous, free—yet strangely sad and melancholy. What had happened to the carefree lad he once had been? What had turned him into this idle dissolute? Surely there was a moment he had missed—a turning point that might have taken him in a different, more satisfying direction.

 

No. Tonight, with the earth wrapped in silvery moonlight, was for magic. He felt as though something extraordinary was about to happen. Something that would change his life, lead him to a path more splendid and glittering than the moon-dappled one he now followed.

 

He pulled off his shoes and stockings and stripped off his breeches. The sensual night air caressed his nakedness like a harlot’s hand; he felt a quivering and stirring in his groin. He suddenly ached for a woman. But not a clumsy slattern, like the innkeeper’s wife. Nor even a perfumed beauty who strolled St. James’s Park by day and slept on satin sheets by night. He wanted a goddess, as magical and lovely as this moon-kissed midnight.

 

He heard the soft whinny of a horse, the gentle thud of hoofs upon packed earth. The sounds seemed to be coming from the far end of the clearing. He shrank back against the tree trunk, concealing his naked body, and waited. The woman galloped onto the sand, magnificent upon her horse—a vision of perfection that took his breath away.

 

 
Award-winning author Sylvia Halliday’s first historical novel,
written as Ena Halliday, was chosen by Pocket Books to launch their Tapestry
line. She subsequently wrote for Popular Library/Warner and Harlequin
Historicals under the pen name of Louisa Rawlings, the name of her maternal
great-grandmother. She has written for Kensington/Zebra under the pseudonym of
Sylvia Halliday. She has published 14 historical romances. Her FOREVER WILD
earned 5 stars from RT Book Reviews and Affaire de Coeur, and was a RITA
finalist for the Romance Writers of America. Her latest offerings, published by
Diversion Books, are MARIELLE (The French Maiden Series, #1), LYSETTE (The
French Maiden Series, #2), DELPHINE (The French Maiden Series, #3), DREAMS SO
FLEETING, GOLD AS THE MORNING SUN, THE RING, and SUMMER DARKNESS, WINTER LIGHT.
FOREVER WILD, STOLEN SPRING, and PROMISE OF SUMMER, written by her as Louisa
Rawlings, are available from Samhain Publishing.