Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Under The Influence by L. B. Simmons

Under the Influence KINDLE
Under The Influence
By L. B. Simmons

Dalton,

I loved you once. A love I thought irrevocable. A love I mistakenly believed could transcend both time and circumstance. Under the influence of my dimwitted, naïve, traitorous heart, I became intoxicated with what I now know was simply a figment of my self-indulgent imagination. So drunk on the feeling, I couldn’t see what was right in front of my face. So foolishly enamored, I blindly followed my heart into the depths of an emotion that would ravage me.

Years later, I know now what I wish I knew then. I am stronger. Smarter. Tougher. I will not allow myself to be broken again.

I loved you.

I raged for you.

I wept for you.

And now, I’m letting you go.

Author’s Note: Under the Influence is the journey of two childhood friends that spans the course of five pivotal years in their lives. It is a story about their discovery of true friendship as it blossoms into first love, their experience of crucial sacrifice and ultimate betrayal, and their endurance of agonizing heartbreak on the way to finding lasting redemption.

 

Dalton POV:

All that remains is the orange in the sky and the sweet scent of the angel lying next to me. Nothing else.

We watch in silence as we always do until the sun finally sets, then both breathe out a long sigh before I turn to face her. “I have something for you. It’s not much, but I saw it and thought of you.”

Her eyes widen with excitement as an equally joyful smile spreads across her beautiful features. I reach into my pocket and pull out the item I spied just a couple of days ago, buying it as a gift for her birthday, but it turns out I really suck at surprises. Who knew?

Dangling the long strand of black beads in her face, an unexpected rush of anxiety races through my system. I’ve never given anyone anything. Ever. I find it extremely unnerving.

Her grin widens further as she extends her hand, uncurling her fingers and exposing her palm. I lower the bracelet and watch as it coils into her grasp. My eyes rise to meet hers and I swallow deeply, trying to rid the nerves constricting my throat. “It’s uh …They’re onyx—the beads. I read that they offer protection for the person who wears them. I just…”I clear my throat. “I wanted you to be protected even when I’m not around.”

Her smile is hindered as her teeth graze her bottom lip. I fight the urge to take that pouty lip in between mine, breaking my stare from her mouth and bringing it back to the bracelet before glancing back to her sky blue eyes.

She turns to fully face me, the bracelet still secure in her clenched hand. Her expression timid, she inquires, “Put it on me?”

I nod and slowly uncurl her grip, allowing my touch to linger on the soft pads of her fingers with each one drawn away. She shivers in response and I breathe a light chuckle through my nose, still amazed each time I elicit those involuntary reactions from her. Once the bracelet is pinched between my fingers, she turns her wrist and waits patiently as I hook the ends together. Releasing it, I watch as it slides gracefully along the skin of her arm to land across the bones of her wrist. My hand instinctively rises and my fingers trace its traveled path, raking over the bracelet as I clench her hand in mine and press a soft kiss in the center of her palm.

Her breath shudders before she whispers, “I love it, Dalton. It’s…perfect. Thank you.”

I feel my face warm with her compliment, so break my eyes away from her to focus on the stars. After a couple of moments of peace-filled silence, I inquire, “If you were a color, what color would you be?”

Taking her eyes away from the bracelet, she giggles and twists to look at me. “What color would I be?”

I nod. “Yeah…”I stall, stunned with my need for honesty. “It’s just, sometimes I feel like a chameleon, you know? Forced to change my colors based on where I am in my life.”

I release a weighted breath. “Lately it feels as though I change them so often, I’m nothing more than a fucked-up version of an impressionist painting.”

Glancing to the side, my heart lurches as she crinkles her nose in confusion, my absolute favorite of her expressions. My eyes linger the light scattering of freckles on the bridge of her nose before once again seeking comfort in the obscurity of the night sky. “To those far away, I project a solid, recognizable image. But in reality, I’m comprised of nothing but a series of angry, incoherent brush strokes in every color imaginable. Disjointed.”

I twist my neck and pin her with my stare. “Broken.”

Her mouth dips at the corners before she turns on her side and tucks her hands under her cheek, her blue eyes sincere. “Do you think Renoir and Monet didn’t know what they were doing? That they didn’t purposely place each stroke of their paintbrush in order to create their envisioned masterpiece?”

She tightens her gaze. “You are a work of art, Dalton. Your own masterpiece, regardless if you choose to acknowledge it or not. Every experience that paints your picture is a stroke made just for you. Each one of them is essential in order for you to grow, to learn, and to teach.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “You ask me what color I would be? Well, I would be every single color I could because to me, those colors are emotions. Feelings. And life would mean absolutely nothing without the many colors that surround us. The many … experiences we live through that propel us forward into the people we are meant to become.”

5Star
Michel’s Review
Once again L. B. Simmons has surprised me.  After reading the synopsis for Under The Influence, I had formulated an idea of what this book was going to be about.  When I dove into the story I quickly realized that this story was much more than I expected. It was a complete surprise!
One choice, one decision, one moment in time can forever change your life.  It can send your life into a new direction.  It can lead to new opportunities or it can hold you imprisoned in a world you didn’t understand.
Dalton made that choice.  He never knew that choice would keep him from the woman that is the light in his world.  He never knew that he needed someone when the sun set at the end of the day.  He never knew he could love.  He never knew what it felt like to be loved.  That one choice could destroy everything.
I am not going to say much more about the book because this is one each reader needs to experience themselves. The story is captivating, emotional, and fast paced.  L.B. Simmons has once again delivered a beautiful story of love and redemption.
I highly recommend  Under The Influence by L. B. Simmons
Make sure to sign-up HERE for L. B Simmons newsletter for exclusive teasers.

 

L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and
holds a degree in Biomedical Science.
She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years. She lives with her husband and three
daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets.

 

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Henry’s End by Julie A. Richman

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Henry’s End 

Release Date: May 11, 2015

By Julie A. Richman

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Synopsis

Dreams.

I used to have them—before the nightmares started.

I dreamed of nice guys, love…normalcy.

Things like reading the Sunday paper in bed with my

lover.

But who needs dreams when your reality is filled with a string of faceless dominating men in uniform? Men that pack a thick bulge and are only too happy to satisfy my deviant sexual cravings.

Me. That’s who.

 

And then HE walked through the door and shared with me, a total stranger, his intimate dream of love. Damn him for verbalizing every single detail of the dream I buried long ago.

And now I don’t know how I’m going to live without that dream.

Or him.

Buy: Amazon  / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Paperback: Amazon

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Excerpt

Holding eye contact with the man, meeting the challenge head on, Henry didn’t flinch. He wanted him to know that he was aware that he was being watched. The energy between the two was sharp and direct. There was no mistaking that contact had been made, and Henry could feel his stomach cramping with excitement, and his balls tightening with desire. This was a man he had dreamed about his whole life. He exuded absolute power. Envisioning him in uniform made Henry inexplicably ache even more.

Definitely a Marine, he thought. A lieutenant? A captain? This man gave orders and expected them to be followed. He commanded. Demanded. And received.

Turning away, Henry made his way through the crowd in search of the bathroom. Mostly he needed his air back and a moment to process what had transpired. He knew that wasn’t all in his head.

The man hadn’t just cruised him.

He’d claimed him.

Heading into the bathroom, the site of an open stall door felt like an immediate godsend and he needed to get behind it, alone. Quickly.

It happened so fast, he wasn’t quite sure how it occurred. Entering the stall, he turned to close the door but was propelled against the metal stall wall to his right, knocking the air out of him. He heard the muffled sound of the stall door latch being locked. The larger man pinned him with his body, his muscular chest pressing Henry flush against the cold metal. The cool smooth surface felt good against his hot, sunburned cheek. Henry could feel the man’s cock pressed against his ass crack on the outside of his bike shorts and wondered if the guy’s cock was still in his pants or not. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized the man had him in a loose choke hold. He didn’t feel fear, and somehow instinctually knew this guy wasn’t going to hurt him. He was establishing his control and position.

With lips next to Henry’s ear, his voice was little more than a growl. “Is that what you want? Little boys? Little boys that will never satisfy you? Is that what you want?” His sizable cock pressed harder against Henry’s ass. With his free hand, the man reached around to the front of Henry’s bike shorts and found exactly what he was looking for – a hard, excited cock. Giving it a squeeze through the slippery material of his bike shorts, Henry hardened immediately to the man’s touch. Continuing to fondle him through the thin fabric, while simultaneously pressing him from behind, the Marine hissed into Henry’s ear, “I asked you a question.”

Brain cells blown away by the physical assault both front and rear, for the life of him, Henry could not remember the man’s question and answered by pressing his junk harder into the guy’s hand, needing to feel possessed by his grasp. He did not disappoint Henry as he squeezed his balls tighter.

“You still want little boys?” he growled, his arm tightening around Henry’s neck.

The moment Henry felt the crook of his arm squeeze his neck, he began to pump himself into the man’s hand, “No. I don’t want little boys.”

“Then what is it you want?” The man had Henry by his cock and was pressing him firmly against his own hard-on, grinding harshly against his ass.

“I want you.”

“Good. And I don’t want you dancing with those boys. Do you understand that?”

Henry nodded his head, yes.

With his hand firmly encasing Henry’s privates, the Marine pressed the smaller man against him and continued to let Henry feel the pressure of his cock against his ass.

Henry leaned his weight back into him, eyes closed. There was nothing in the world except the guy’s hand kneading and pressing his balls. He wanted to stay in the moment forever. Submit to whatever the man wanted from him.

And then he was gone. Leaving Henry against the wall with a raging hard-on and a need to feel the Marine’s hands and cock again, hear his voice, low and raspy, in his ear. Without removing an article of clothing or coming, he had never had a sexual experience that excited him as much, and he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he would always remember the sublime feeling of being restrained by this man.

He wanted more.

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5Star

Michel’s Review

Julie A. Richman has written another fantastic book for the Needing Moore series.  Henry’s End is one of the most emotional MM romances I have read.  Julie gave the readers an honest insight about the gay community, their struggles, their triumphs, and their lifestyle.

Henry’s End features Henry Clarke.  Readers first met Henry in the first novel, Searching For Moore.  Henry Clarke was close friends with Mia and Schooner in college.  After Mia’s disappearance, Henry and Schooner became closer friends.  They became brothers by choice.  Like the previous books in the Needing Moore series, Henry’s story spans over a twenty year period.

The reader gets to experience Henry Clarke’s life journey.  It starts out watching a very optimistic young man embarking on his new adult life.  He is optimistic, free spirited, fun loving, and very openly gay.  His new job has placed him in an area that has a strong gay community.  A community that supports their members.  It is a dream come true for Henry.  Not only can he pursue his ambitions in his career as a pharmaceutical salesman but also the single life in a place where he belongs.

When he meets a sexy marine , his life is looking even brighter.  He has met a man that fulfills his desires and dreams.  Although they have to keep their relationship a secret because of the military, Henry is all in.  What evolves from this relationship will affect Henry’s life in so many ways.  It will mold him into the man he is now.  It will make him stronger.  It will define how he lives his life.

Henry will experience heartbreak, rebirth, lasting friendships, true love, and second chances.  One love will destroy him.  One love will complete him.  One love will be his happily ever after.

Julie has written another beautiful book about the journey in life.  Every experience a person has makes them into something more.  Her books are character driven and the reader instantly becomes connected with the leading characters.  The reader experiences the ups and downs, highs and lows, and tears and smiles.  Julie brings them all to life.

Read Henry’s End.  It will touch your heart.

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julie_richman_bioAuthor Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an award winning nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Needing Moore Box Set

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Needing Moore Box Set

 Amazon / Barnes & Noble / ITunes / Kobo

THE NEEDING MOORE SERIES – SEARCHING FOR MOORE, MOORE TO LOSE & MOORE THAN FOREVER + Bonus Chapters!

All three Bestselling, Top-Rated Books from The Needing Moore Series by USA Today Bestseller Julie A. Richman, PLUS never before seen BONUS CHAPTERS for each book.

SEARCHING FOR MOORE – Book 1

I lost the love of my life when she disappeared without even a goodbye.

It was the 80’s – there was no internet, no Google, no cell phones.

If you wanted to disappear, you could.

And she did.

She crushed my soul.

A friend just told me he saw her on Facebook.

And now I’m a keystroke away from asking her the question that’s haunted me for two decades.

“Why did you leave me?”

Two decades after she broke his heart, sexy entrepreneur Schooner Moore uncovers the truth and betrayal his life has been built on when he Facebook friend requests college love, Mia Silver. Determined to win Mia’s love once again, Schooner embarks on a life-altering journey that could cost him everything.

MOORE TO LOSE – Book 2

Continuing the fight for their happily ever after that began in Searching for Moore, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver struggle to overcome the ghosts and baggage they accumulated during their time apart.

Exploring the missing 24 years when they were separated, Moore to Lose follows Mia’s journey from heartbroken teen to kickass businesswoman to her emotional reunion with Schooner and the exploration of the love that was ripped from them.

But is their love really strong enough to overcome the damage of those missing 24 years or will they continue to be ripped apart by pasts that can’t be changed?

MOORE THAN FOREVER – Book 3

Is the love they always dreamed of enough?

Continuing the emotional journey of love and betrayal that began on a college campus in Searching for Moore and turned their worlds upside down in Moore to Lose, handsome, California entrepreneur Schooner Moore and sharp and sassy, New York advertising agency owner Mia Silver continue to be confronted with the harsh reality of the remnants from the lives they lived apart for 24 years.

Now, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver face the ultimate challenge – were they really meant to be together or will their pasts continue to tear them apart?

On the heels of the birth of their newborn son, Nathaniel, Schooner and Mia must decide if their love and loyalty to one another is strong enough to learn to grow together as a couple or if the life they always dreamed of sharing was better left as a teenage fantasy.

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Bad Son Rising

A Needing Moore Novel

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Giveaway

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZWEzM2I0MmM2MjI2N2EzNmQ1OTIxZTY4YzJlMjJjOjI=/?

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Happy Release + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Last Kiss by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick – The Hitman Series – Book 3

 

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The Hitman Series – Book 3

By Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick

Synopsis

From the bestselling authors of Last Hit and Last Breath comes the next dark and sensual tale in the Hitman series that crosses the line between danger and desire…

Naomi: When I was kidnapped I thought only of survival. I don’t thrive well in chaos. That’s why I gave my captors exactly what they wanted: my skill with computers. Making millions for a crime lord who kept me imprisoned in his basement compound kept my family safe. When he was taken out, I thought my ticket to freedom had arrived. Wrong. I traded one keeper for another. This time I’m in the hands of a scarred, dark, demanding Russian who happens to be the head of the Bratva, a Russian crime organization. He wants my brain and my body. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued, but I can’t be a prisoner forever…no matter how good he makes me feel.

Vasily: At a young age, I was taught that a man without power is a puppet for all. I’ve clawed—and killed—my way to the top so that it is my heel on their necks. But to unify the fractured organization into an undefeatable machine, I need a technological genius to help me steal one particular artifact. That she is breathtaking, determined, and vulnerable is making her more dangerous than all of my enemies combined. But only I can keep her safe from the world that she now inhabits. Soon, I must choose between Naomi and Bratva law. But with every day that passes, this becomes a more impossible choice.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks / Kobo

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Excerpt

“Do you wish for me to touch you?”

I nod, sucking in a breath when his thumb skates across my lower lip. I should be thinking GERMS BACTERIA CONJUNCTIVITIS HERPES SKIN CONTACT PATHOGENS but all I can focus on is how skittery and excited his touch makes me. My pulse jumps, and I realize that I’m as aroused now with him talking to me and touching me with his fingers as I was in the bathroom when I masturbated.

He pulls his hand away again, and I realize his other is gripping my shoulder, his arm wrapped around my back. I’m pulled against his chest, and I feel oddly secure here against him. Then, Vasily moves his fingers in the air again, as if to get my attention. I watch as his free hand now moves to my knee and firmly presses it back, nudging my legs apart.

And I’m helpless to protest. I want this. I want to know what’s going to happen when he touches me. I’m throbbing and aching with need, and my breath is coming as small, gasping little pants that are registering even in my distracted mind.

“Are you still unsettled?” he asks in a low voice.

“No,” I whisper, my tone matching his. “I’m aching.”

He groans softly, and then his hand glides up the inside of my thigh, the backs of his fingers skimming along my leg. Then, Vasily’s hand moves and he is cupping my pussy. He feels scorching hot against me, and just the sensation of his skin touching mine is making me anxious.

“You are very wet,” he rasps, and I notice curiously that his breathing is as rapid as my own. One of his fingers presses forward, parting the lips of my pussy and pushing in. “Very wet.”

“I can’t help it. It’s a natural reaction to stimuli, but I understand if it disturbs you—”

“I like it.” His voice is a guttural growl against my ear, and I shiver. I didn’t realize how close he’s pressed to me but I can feel his breath on my neck, and his head is canted toward mine, as if he is telling me secrets. “I like that your wetness is for me.”

“I don’t know if—” I begin to protest, but his finger taps against my clit, and I gasp, completely and utterly distracted by that quick touch. It feels . . . different to have a man do it for me. Very different. Intense. Raw. I grab his hand at the wrist and press my flesh against his fingers, asking for more.

“Tell me what you want, Naomi.”

“More.” I press his hand again, breathless, and my hips twitch. “Start with an even rhythm and circle the hood of my clit. Over time, speed up and increase the frequency of touches. You can change the pattern as you go but don’t let up until I come.”

He laughs again, and I stiffen, but then his finger begins to move against my clit, stroking it in tiny circles like I told him. “I like that you tell me exactly what you want, Naomi. There are no games with you.”

I’m confused at that. Isn’t that what he wants me to do? But then a second finger follows the first, and he’s rubbing wide circles around my clit, and adding an extra little stroke every now and then, and it feels like he’s taking my flesh between his fingers and just rubbing rubbing rubbing . . . And I love it.

“Just like that,” I tell him, closing my eyes and falling against his shoulder. I hold my knees open wider so he won’t stop touching me, and my hips begin to move, involuntarily following his fingers as he touches me.

“Do you like this?” His voice is rough, biting, and so close to my face.

I nod without opening my eyes, letting the sensations take over. “It feels much better when you do it,” I tell him, and cry out when one of his fingers dips lower and touches me . . . deeper. “What are you doing?”

“I am seeing if you like more touches.” His nose nuzzles against my face, and I press against him, seeming to need his caresses as much as I need his touch on my clitoris. “Are you frightened?”

“No, but I like the other touch better,” I tell him as his finger circles lower. “That one just makes me ache.”

“It makes your cunt ache to be filled,” he tells me. “Someday, you will let me fill it for you.”

I don’t reply; I don’t need to, because he circles a finger at the entrance to my core a moment longer, and then shifts his hand. My fingers graze over his, exploring—I feel too good to open my eyes and leave the sea of sensations—and I realize he’s now working my clit with his thumb. His finger presses deeper again, and I gasp when he sinks it into me.

I’m riding his hand.

He murmurs something in Russian and I feel his mouth press against my brow.

Then, as if he’s a car that’s changed gears, he begins to press his thumb against my clit rapidly. His speed is so fast that he practically feels as if he’s vibrating . . . and these motions carry down to the thick finger that’s buried deep inside me.

I’ve never experienced this double sensation before, and it’s overwhelming.

I bite my lip, and when that won’t hold my feelings inside, I burst into noisy gasps and my hands start clawing at him, at his shirt. I don’t know what I need, but this feels like too much. It’s overwhelming and twice as powerful as anything I’ve ever done to myself. “Stop, stop,” I breathe, even as I press my legs further apart and lift my hips against his hand.

“Vasily, stop. Vasily!”

“Keep saying my name like that, Naomi.”

“Vasily, please.” I pull at his shirt, practically butting my head against him as I writhe against his hand. “I need . . . something . . . more . . . not as fast. Too much!”

But he keeps twitching that intense thumb against my clit, stroking his finger inside me. He’s not stopping. If anything, he’s going faster.

And all of a sudden, my body can’t handle it anymore. I burst and a hard, choked noise rushes out of my throat, and my body clenches and I’m coming, coming, coming, endlessly coming.

I feel as if I’m being torn apart by pleasure so intense it’s making my toes curl even as the breath leaves my lungs. And all the while, I gasp like a dying fish and cling to his shirt.

Hypothesis? Destroyed.

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Michel’s Review

Wow…. Last Kiss blew me away!  I could not put this book down.  It consumed me from the first page until the very last word.  It is by far my favorite book in the outstanding Hitman series by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick.

The Last Kiss is one of the most uniquely intense books I have read.  Both of the main characters were not your normal hero and heroine.  They had their individual quirks that endeared them to my heart.  The mission they are set out to complete was not only impossible but a true test of who they are and what they could endure.  It subjected them both to circumstances that were outside of their personal comfort zones and pushed their limits.  Both of these characters were beautifully flawed.  Both characters are outside of the range of what most people would consider normal.  Both characters needed each other in ways that most people don’t.  They accepted each others flaws and celebrated them with admiration and respect.

Vasily Petrovich has been a member of the Bratva since he was a young boy.  He was accepted into the Petrovich family leader’s home as one of their own.  It was not without a price.  He has become desensitized to emotions, desensitized to pain, and does not seek out personal gratification.  As a young boy he has been trained as a soldier and warrior.  He was taught that nothing matters in his life except the welfare of the Bratva.  The Brava is the heart of Moscow.  They are the true rulers and their people look to them for their well being.  When Vasily allows his leader to be assassinated to ensure the future of Bratva, it leaves the Bratva without a true leader.  It is a position that he wants to step into.  He must gain the support and trust of the elders before he can step into this position.  He must find a way to eliminate Elana Petrovich’s influence on the Bratva.  He is tasked with the mission to find what is considered the heart of the Bratva.  He is tasked to find the long lost painting known as the Caravaggio.  This valuable painting was lost to the Bratva while Alex Petrovich was in power.  The Bratva wants it back.  Their rival factions also want the Caravaggio.  It is a true sign of power in Russia.  Both the Bratva and rival factions have put a high price on the Caravaggio.  If Vasily cannot obtain the Caravaggio he will pay a very high price.  A price much higher than the leadership of the Bratva.

Vasily is a very smart man.  He knows the task is next to impossible.  He has done his research and found the one person that can obtain the information he needs to get the Caravaggio back.  He needs the Emperor .  The Emperor is the hacking genius of the underworld.  The Emperor can obtain any kind of information.  The Emperor can destroy anyone with one click.  He has found the Emperor and he is going to kidnap him.

Naomi Hays is the Emperor .  She is not your ordinary hacker and cyber genius.  She is autistic.  She has Aspbergers Syndrome.  She is a high functioning Aspie but has a lot of limits and quirks.  When she is kidnapped by Vasily at first she is fearful.  After a small amount of time she is all in with helping Vasily locate the Caravaggio.  He is the first person to show her understanding, not question her behavior or quirks, and appreciates her pure genius mind.  He does not question her methods.  He gives her everything she needs and wants without a second thought.  He is the first man that she perked her interest.  He is a lot like her.  He stirs something that stimulates more than her mind.  She wants to find out what it is for scientific purposes.  Naomi is going to learn about desire, need, stimulation on all levels, and emotions.

Together Vasily and Naomi will embark on a dangerous hunt that will lead them into the hedonistic underworld sex clubs to the evil underworld in the Bratva.  They will venture all over Europe seeking the Caravaggio.  Along the way they will find something more valuable than the Caravaggio.  They will find the other half of themselves.  They will find the true meaning of love and acceptance.

Last Kiss was brilliant.  The authors handled every aspect of Aspbergers Syndrome with great respect and care.  They very meticulously highlighted the fact that people with Aspbergers are not mentally and socially impaired, they are just different.  Their brain works in a different kind of synchronicity than the average person.  They are beautiful minds.

The Last Kiss was fast paced, action packed, emotional, and sensual.  The plot was fresh and unique.  The writing was impeccable .

There are some taboo situations that are somewhat graphic.  These are handled with care and are not the main focus of the book.  These situations are a very revelant of the story and progression of the plot.

The Last Kiss by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick is a 6 Star book.  It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.  I would recommend series order.  Either way don’t miss this outstanding book.

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Hitman SeriesBanner81sy08gO35L._SL1500_Last Hit

Book 1

From two bestselling authors—the first in a deliciously bold new series that takes readers to the most dangerous edge of desire . . .

Nikolai: I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos. The stars on my knees, the marks on my fingers, the dagger in my neck, all spoke of danger. If you saw my eyes, it was the last vision you’d have. I have ever been the hunter, never the prey. With her, I am the mark and I am ready to lie down and let her capture me. Opening my small, scarred heart to her brings out my enemies. I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears.

Daisy: I’ve been sheltered from the outside world all my life. Home-schooled and farm-raised, I’m so naive that my best friend calls me Pollyanna. I like to believe the best about people. Nikolai is part of this new life, and he’s terrifying to me. Not because his eyes are cold or my friend warns me away from him, but because he’s the only man who has ever seen the real me beneath the awkwardness. With him, my heart is at risk . . . and also, my life.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

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Book 2

From the bestselling authors of Last Hit comes the next in the steamy series that explores the exquisite power of our darkest passions . . .

Regan: I never really knew what misery was until the day I was kidnapped and sold for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two months later, I’m at a brothel in Rio when I meet Daniel Hays. He says he’s here to save me, but can I trust him? All I know of him are his sarcastic retorts and his tendency to solve every dispute with his gun. He’s also the only safe thing in my world, and I know it’s wrong to fall in love with him, but I can’t seem to help myself. He says he’ll protect me until his last breath, but I don’t know if I should believe him or even if I can.

Daniel: For the last eighteen months, one goal has dictated every action I’ve taken. I’ve left the Army, turned paid hit man, and befriended criminals all across the globe to find my kidnapped sister. In every brothel I raid and every human trafficking truck I stop, I hope the next face I find is my sister’s. In a hidden brothel in Rio, I find Regan Porter, bruised but not broken, and still sane despite her weeks in captivity. I should leave her behind or send her home, because the last thing either of us needs right now is to get involved. But with every passing minute, I find I’m less able to let her go.

MATURE AUDIENCE

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

last hit reloadedLast Hit Reloaded

A Hitman Novella

Release Date: January 20, 2015

With their explosively sexy novels, the bestselling authors of Last Breath, Last Kiss, and Last Hit have proven themselves “a force to be reckoned with.”* Now comes an all-new to-die-for novella in their acclaimed Hitman series…
There was a time when Nick loved the fear he instilled in his enemies. His tattoos alone promised danger, but it was the look in his eyes that delivered on it. A contract killer since he was just a boy, Nick has now forged a new life—and a new identity—with the woman who followed him, captured him, and changed him.
He terrified Daisy. Once. But she couldn’t resist, and she ignored every warning. It paid off. Now she’s part of a new beginning, a fresh start in America helping him to leave behind a reckless and violent past as a professional killer. But the past is never easy to outrun, especially when so much of it thrives on revenge.
A new threat has emerged from the shadows, and now Nick and Daisy have no choice but to rely on Nick’s killer skills to protect them from everything they’ve tried so hard to escape.

Includes a bonus excerpt from Last Kiss.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

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Last Kiss

Book 3

Release Date: May 5, 2015

From the bestselling authors of Last Hit and Last Breath comes the next dark and sensual tale in the Hitman series that crosses the line between danger and desire…

Naomi: When I was kidnapped I thought only of survival. I don’t thrive well in chaos. That’s why I gave my captors exactly what they wanted: my skill with computers. Making millions for a crime lord who kept me imprisoned in his basement compound kept my family safe. When he was taken out, I thought my ticket to freedom had arrived. Wrong. I traded one keeper for another. This time I’m in the hands of a scarred, dark, demanding Russian who happens to be the head of the Bratva, a Russian crime organization. He wants my brain and my body. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued, but I can’t be a prisoner forever…no matter how good he makes me feel.

Vasily: At a young age, I was taught that a man without power is a puppet for all. I’ve clawed—and killed—my way to the top so that it is my heel on their necks. But to unify the fractured organization into an undefeatable machine, I need a technological genius to help me steal one particular artifact. That she is breathtaking, determined, and vulnerable is making her more dangerous than all of my enemies combined. But only I can keep her safe from the world that she now inhabits. Soon, I must choose between Naomi and Bratva law. But with every day that passes, this becomes a more impossible choice.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks / Kobo

_____________________________________________________________

About The Authors

jessica clare bio-2Jessica Clare is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who writes under three different names. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance.

She also has a third pen name (because why stop at two?). As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She lives in Texas with her husband, cats, and too many dust-bunnies. Jill spends her time writing, reading, writing, playing video games, and doing even more writing.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest
jen frederick bioJen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 

 

 GIVEAWAY
Signed set of Hitman Books
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last kiss

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Midnight Ride by Cat Johnson – Midnight Cowboys Series – Book 1

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Midnight Ride

Midnight Ride 

Midnight Cowboys Series – Book 1

By Cat Johnson

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Synopsis

One bucking bronco. . .

Oklahoma ranch hand Tyler Jenkins is too young, too sexy, and too damn wild to be tied down by any single woman–for more than a few steamy hours. . .

One hard-working widow. . .

Widowed rancher Janie Smithwick is too busy paying off her debts to play rodeo with a reckless young cowboy like Tyler–no matter how hot he gets her. . .

One midnight ride they’ll never forget. . .

As a rule, Janie should be dating a man her own age, like her handsome neighbor Rohn–not the twenty-four-year old ranch hand he employs. But once Tyler gets Janie alone–held tight in his arms, pressed against his hard muscled body, burning with desire–the widow realizes that some rules, like broncos, are meant to be broken. . .

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

4 Star

Tracey’s Review

When ranch hand and bronco rider Tyler Jenkins decides to hit the local bar for a good time, his plans do not include beating a hasty retreat to prevent bodily harm. And the last thing that young widow Janie Smithwick expects to find in the back of her pick-up while on a trip to the nearby lumberyard is a hot young cowboy in a state of undress. At first glance, these two have little in common, but they will quickly find out that opposites often attract.

There are plenty of books out there with older men and younger women making a love match, but I’ve not come across nearly as many where the woman is the older of the two. This alone made me excited to read Midnight Ride by Cat Johnson. Janie is no young unschooled girl, unfamiliar with the ways of the world. She has loved and lost, and is doing the best she can to carry on with her life. When Tyler literally comes crashing into her world, she sees a charming young guy and not a prospective lover. But for all his youth, Tyler knows a great thing when he sees it and sets about his pursuit of Janie with complete dedication. I mean, really, here is a hot, hard-working, big-hearted guy, smitten with her and unwilling to let her deny their connection based on their age difference. I found myself cheering Tyler on and alternately grinning and fanning myself as their relationship unfolded. And I really appreciated the way that Cat wrote the characters, especially Tyler, with more layers than we would expect. It was refreshing to see a younger man that knows what he wants and is unafraid to do what it takes to grab it. Janie was very relatable, feeling all of the things that a woman dating a young and attractive man would realistically deal with. With a great cast of supporting characters that made me laugh out loud at times, Midnight Ride was an absolutely enjoyable read, and I am looking forward to seeing more of these characters. I can’t wait to read Midnight Wrangler, Rohn’s story, and I happily recommend this new series, giving it 4+ sweet, sexy, feel-good stars.

________________

Author Bio:

Cat JohnsonNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Cat Johnson writes contemporary romance in genres including military and western. Known for her unique marketing and research techniques, she has sponsored pro bull riders, owns a collection of camouflage and western footwear for book signings, and a fair number of her consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living. For more visit CatJohnson.net

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 

Giveaway

3 Print Copies of Midnight Ride

Midnight Ride

Happy Release + Review : Fury by Fisher Amelie

Fury RWB Banner

 

We have been dying to bring you this Release Week Blitz for Fisher Amelie’s FURY! FURY is a New Adult Contemporary Romance and the third book in Fisher Amelie’s The Seven Deadly Series!! Grab your copy today and if you haven’t had a chance to read the entire series yet, get on it IMMEDIATELY!

 

Fury

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FURY Excerpt:

 

 

I was Free banner

 

FURY Synopsis:

Revenge is an euphoric thing. Trust me on this. Nothing compares to the release you get when you ruin someone’s life. When they’ve stolen important things. Things that didn’t belong to them. Things I revel in making them pay for.

What? Have I offended you? I’m not here to appeal to your delicate senses. I have no intention of placating your wishes or living within your personal belief system nor do I care if you hate me. And you will hate me. Because I’m a brutal, savage, cold-blooded murderer and I’m here for my revenge.

I’m Ethan Moonsong…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most sacrificing man to the most feared and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Check out the FURY Trailer!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx22kmwqGXo

4 Star

Michel’s Review

Wow!  Fury by Fisher Amelie was fantastic.  It was a deep thought provoking book.  It may readers think about right or wrong, good or bad, ethical or unethical, and what price one has to pay after they have made their choices.

Ethan Moonsong was deeply hurt when his high school sweetheart left him for another guy.  Rather than sucking it up and moving on, he is wallowing in his misery.  Drinking his sorrows away.  He is planning all sorts of violent revenge.  He has fallen down a very dark hole.  Luckily one person was persistent enough to pull him out of that hole and back into the land of the living.  Finley is the ray of sunshine Ethan needs in his life.  Her positive attitude, dedicated friendship, and her unique perspective on life leads Ethan on the path to healing and desiring more out of life.

Finley hated seeing her friend Ethan suffering.  She wants to help him to get back on track in life before she leaves  for a year of charity work in Vietnam.

Finley is secretive about her charity work.  Ethan realizes it is dangerous and follows her to Vietnam.  What unfolds in Vietnam will forever change both Ethan and Finley’s life.  Finley will learn how to deal with the fury that has been buried in her soul most of her life.  Ethan will unleash a fury that may cost him his soul.  Together they will have to learn not to let fury rule their lives and their future.  They have too much to lose.  They will lose each other and their love for one another.

Fury is a powerful story.  Read it!

 

And don’t miss the first two books in the Seven Deadly series!

 

Vain

VAIN

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Greed

GREED

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble

 

Author Photo2About Fisher Amelie:

Fisher Amelie resides in the South with her kick ace husband slash soul mate. She earned her first ‘mama’ patch in 2009. She also lives with her Weim, Jonah, and her Beta, Whale. All these living creatures keep the belly of her life full, sometimes to the point of gluttony, but she doesn’t mind all that much because life isn’t worth living if it isn’t entertaining, right?

Fisher is the author of The Seven Deadly Series, The Sleepless Series, and The Leaving Series, and was a semi-finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award.

 

 

Find Fisher on Amazon! ** Find Fisher on Barnes & Noble! ** Find Fisher on Facebook! ** Find Fisher on Twitter! ** Add FURY to your Goodreads! ** Find Fisher on YouTube! ** Find Fisher on her website!

 

Fury Teaser 2

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Cover Reveal: Drowning to Breath by A.L. Jackson

 

 

The danger in pretending is it becoming real…

Sebastian Stone, Sunder front man and guitarist with a rap sheet about ten miles long, escaped to Savannah, Georgia, to get away from the trouble he’d caused.

Not find more of it.

The moment he saw Shea Bentley, he saw beneath all her sweet and innocence to something that went deeper.

Their relationship was built on secrets; their love built on lies.

Sebastian never imagined how deep her secrets went.

When the past and present collide, Sebastian and Shea find themselves fighting for a future neither believed they deserved. Their passion is consuming and their need unending.

Now, holding the truth in his hands, Sebastian is faced with sacrificing everything he’s come to love to protect Shea and his family.

Two pasts intertwined.

Two lives bound.

Will their demons drown them or will Shea and Sebastian finally learn to breathe?

 

Drowning to Breathe

A Bleeding Stars Novel, Book 2

 

DTB.1

 

 

 

 

 

He wanted nothing at all…
Until he found she had everything to give…
Sunder lead singer and guitarist Sebastian Stone has
everything—fans, fame, and fortune. He also has a heart full of bitterness and
a reputation for a short-fused temper. But an outward reputation rarely reveals
the true man inside. Facing assault charges after trying to protect his younger
brother, Sebastian is sent to Savannah, Georgia to lie low until the dust
settles in L.A.
Shea Bentley is beautiful, kind, and hiding from the very
lifestyle Sebastian has always embraced.
When the mysterious, tattooed stranger begins hanging out at the
bar where she works, Shea is quick to recognize he is nothing but trouble, but
she’s helpless to the way her body lights up every time his intense gray eyes
tangle with hers.
They both soon find themselves drowning in a sea of desire and
passion that won’t let them up for air.
Sebastian knows firsthand secrets never die, and he’s not the only
one who’s hiding them.

Loving someone always comes with a price. But will it be Shea’s
past that costs them everything?

iBooks AMAZON Barnes & Noble

 

WIN A $25.00 GIFT CARD

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A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

Connect with A.L. Jackson online:www.aljacksonauthor.com

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!

 

Cover Reveal: Before That Night and His To Love by Violet Duke- Unfinished Love Series

We are very excited to share the first 2 covers to the BRAND NEW Unfinished Love series.
Each fighting for their second first chance at love.
Years be damned.
A compelling new series from New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke.

 

 


BeforeThatNight_FinalCover_5-12REV5Aedit_darker
BEFORE THAT NIGHT
(Unfinished Love, Book 1: Caine & Addison)

Before that night, Addison Millan had been just a college dropout secretly raising her two young siblings in a beat-up minivan she’d bought with her first semester’s tuition refund—the only money her addict mother hadn’t taken off with when she’d abandoned them the year prior.

Before that night, Caine Spencer had been just a rough, gruff cop sent to check out the phoned-in claims of suspected child neglect involving the same woman he’d met a month ago when she’d first served him the city’s worst diner coffee…which he’d been drinking daily ever since.

Before that night, Addison would never have thought the man she’d been fighting hard not to fall for—her only friend in her new shadow of a life—would be in a position to rip her family apart.

Before that night, Caine would never have believed any woman could make him fall head over heels, let alone make him feel so damn compelled to look the other way when it came to his job.

Then that one perfect night changed everything.

HistoLove_FinalCover_5-12REV5A_darker2

HIS TO LOVE
(Unfinished
Love, Book 2: Caine & Addison)

Seven years.

Seven damn years of wondering whether the woman was still alive…whether she’d spent the last two thousand five hundred fifty five days wondering if he was still alive.

Wondering whether that night was as burned into her memory as it was his.

Seven years having his heart tethered to Addison—and now she’s back. With even more reasons to run than she’d had then.

This time, Caine isn’t letting the gorgeous little flight risk out of his sight.

Regardless of how noble her reasons may be.

BEFORE THAT NIGHT (Book 1) chronicles the destiny-altering events that take place seven years prior to HIS TO LOVE (Book 2), Caine & Addison’s explosive story of love, sacrifice, and the lengths one will run—and chase—when their past threatens their future.

The UNFINISHED LOVE Series
Four Spencer brothers.
Each fighting for their second first chance at
love.
Years be damned.
A compelling new series from New York
Times
bestselling author Violet Duke.
(Caine & Addison) – Summer 2015
— Book 1: Before That Night
— Book 2: His to Love
(Gabe & Hannah) – Fall 2015
— Book 3: Before That Kiss
— Book 4: His to Hold
(Drew & Skylar) – Winter 2015
— Book 5: Before That Promise
— Book 6: His to Keep
(Max & Kennedy) – Spring 2016
— Book 7: Before That Chance
— Book 8: His to Protect

 

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Violet Duke is a
former professor of English Education who is ecstatic to now be on the other
side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romance novels. Her NYT and
USA Today bestselling books have been Top 10 bestsellers across the major
eretailers both in the US and internationally. When she’s not writing or
feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, Violet enjoys tackling reno projects
with her power tools, trying pretty much anything without reading the
directions first, and cooking ‘special edition’ dishes that laugh in the face
of recipes. A born and raised island girl, she spends her days getting into
creatively fun trouble in Hawai’i alongside her two cute kids (daughter Violet
& son Duke) and similarly adorable husband.
Find the latest on her books and fan giveaways at www.facebook.com/VioletDukeBooks

Spotlight + 5 Star Reviews…Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father and Jesus Freaks: The Prodigal by Andrea Randall

 

 

Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father (Jesus Freaks #1)
Add to Goodreads
Kennedy Sawyer is the valedictorian of her upper middle class, liberal high school.
Roland Abbot is the charismatic, attractive televangelist from New Life Church with a dark past and an illegitimate child.
Ignoring the cautions of her mother and the confusion of her Ivy League-bound friends, Kennedy enrolls at the conservative Christian Carter University where her sights are set on Roland Abbot—her birth father.
Kennedy’s intentions are to learn more about her father than the Bible. However, roommates who are quick to evangelize to strangers, an RA who seems to be hiding something, and friends in the most unlikely places challenge everything she’s ever held as true in the raging battle of us vs. them.

 

EXCERPT

Mom turns the car left and we pass through the gates of the main entrance to the university. Excitement triples inside me as I swallow the beauty of the grounds. I visited probably ten public and private universities between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, and nothing was as shiny as this campus. I can’t even believe it’s real grass, and I almost ask my mom to stop the car so I can touch it.

I grin as I plan one more gentle act of rebellion from the passenger seat of the car. Reaching forward, I press the “6” on the stereo, and suddenly the sounds of Casting Crowns— a wildly popular Christian band—fill the car. My mom’s eye-roll and turning down of the volume elicits a laugh from me.

She hastily pushes another button, and Boy George serenades us. I laugh harder, and she finally joins in.

“Kennedy,” she says in a moment of seriousness when the song ends. “I don’t understand how you’re being so calm about all of this. There isn’t even anything here you want to do.”

I lean my head back on the headrest. “No, Mom. There’s nothing here that you want me to do. I’m undecided, remember? Anyway, I don’t now why you’re being so insane. I’m an adult.” “These kids…” she starts in a wide-eyed whisper as if we’ve taken a detour onto another planet.

“Are people,” I cut in.

“Who can vote,” she snaps back. I ignore her. “They’re people with parents and high school diplomas and dreams for the future. Besides, they’ll probably be more afraid of me than I am of them.” I barely believe what I’m saying. Politics aside, the kids who enroll at Carter University are bona fide Jesus Freaks. Capital J. Capital F. I might be Christian as far as the outside world is concerned, but my fledgling knowledge of the Bible and sporadic church attendance won’t fly inside this lion’s den. Which is why I’m keeping it all a secret.

My knowledge of the Bible (which is slim) and my commitment to walking with Christ on a daily basis (I don’t even really know what that means) will be on silent lockdown while I acclimate to my new surroundings. Most importantly, though, no one—and I mean no one—will know that Roland Abbot is my birth father until I’m good and ready. Which might be never.

5Star

Robin’s Review

Andrea Randall is stepping outside of the box with her new Jesus Freaks series. Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father is completely different from anything I have ever read. My first thought was to classify this novel in the Christian fiction genre, but Randall confirmed that she considers her new series to be new adult. No matter the genre, she has taken a big risk in trying something different, and I absolutely applaud her!

Kennedy Sawyer is an incoming freshman at Carter University in Asheville. She is a liberal Episcopalian teenager from Connecticut who will be attending an extremely conservative, evangelical Christian university. Roland Abbot is the charismatic televangelist preacher from New Life Church, which sits on the edge of the Carter University campus. Roland is a superstar among evangelical preachers. And unbeknownst to anyone from Carter University, he is also Kennedy’s birth father. Although Kennedy could have had her pick of colleges, she chose to attend Carter University with hopes to learn more about Roland Abbot. Kennedy has done everything she can to prepare herself for what she knows will be a difficult transition; however, nothing can prepare her for what is to come during her freshman year.

As I began reading Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father, I knew this novel was going to be different. I think it is important to share with everyone who reads this review that I personally consider myself a Christian. I am familiar with many of the topics and issues that Kennedy faces when she arrives at Carter University. It was apparent Andrea Randall researched extensively for this novel. Her depth of knowledge, combined with her outstanding writing, has resulted in a fantastic novel, and I expect to see the same quality as the series progresses. Our protagonist faces some bigger than life issues with this story. Kennedy questions everything she understands about her own faith while navigating through her freshman year. She questions her own upbringing. Why would her birth father decide to give up his parental rights? She begins to see that things aren’t always black and white. Kennedy also has a couple of boys that she is attracted to. And because she has been raised differently than most students at Carter University, she struggles with normal teenage issues in a different way than her fellow students.

It was not hard for me to become invested in this story. Randall quickly engaged my interest. I appreciated reading about her characters and how they each added to the story. When I needed to take a break from reading, I looked forward to the moment that I could pick up my Kindle to continue. If you are intrigued by Jesus Freaks: Sins of the Father, I encourage you to consider reading it. Andrea Randall has earned a 5-star rating from me for this beautifully written novel!

Jesus Freaks: The Prodigal (Jesus Freaks #2)
Add to Goodreads
Buy from Amazon | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo
The morning after Kennedy Sawyer confirmed to the world that she is the daughter of internationally renowned televangelist Roland Abbot, she’s faced with a new challenge: What kind of daughter does she want to be to him? The sometimes kind, the title kind, or the all-in kind?
In the months following her decision, Kennedy is faced with sex, drugs, extended family, lying, threats, booze, strip clubs, and wavering faith among her family and friends.
Exploring how much honesty is too much, Kennedy pushes the boundaries of all of the relationships around her to see if God really lies somewhere beneath it all.
EXCERPT
 

I’ve never seen the inside of a strip club. Not on TV, the internet, or in magazines. And, certainly not in person. But, I guess the negative discussion surrounding places like this always led me to believe it would be kind of dark and smoky. Walking past men who look about the size of the trucks they drove here, I slide into a table in the back. “Coffee or coke?” A young woman who can’t be that much older than me—if she’s older than me at all—stands in front of me with her hip jutting out to once side, and her hand resting on it. Lifting my eyes, I’m forced to immediately lower them. She’s barely wearing anything. I swear I see more clothing at the public swimming pool. Spandex “shorts” show the sides of her butt, and her bra-looking top reveals her entire midsection, which is speckled with star and fairy tattoos. When I’m finally able to train my eyes on her face, I notice that she also has a large tattoo across her chest. Twisting thorns and vines with roses every other inch. “Coffee or coke?” she repeats. It seems, as she stands there trying not to look bored, that I feel more naked than she does. “Coke.” “You been here before?” Her eyes wrinkle at the sides in amusement. I stare back, unable to say anything. She snaps some gum between her teeth. “Thought so. I’ll be right back with your Coke, sweetie.” Before she turns around, I notice her name tag says “Destiny.” I run my hand over my face, trying to reason if that’s her real name, or not. If you worked in a place like this, would you want people calling you by your real name all day? Or, would you want to pretend. Use another name to make you feel like this was all just make-believe, and not your real life at all. As she walks away, shaking her hips, I spot matching angel wing tattoos on her shoulder blades. Cute. If anyone asked my dad’s name, I wonder, staring at my hands, did he give it? Did he tell them that he was happily married with two children at home? Would he preach the gospel to them as they dangled their breasts in his face? God, I hope not.
5Star
Robin’s Review

Andrea Randall continues her Jesus Freaks series with a second novel titled The Prodigal. Jesus Freaks isn’t a typical new adult series. It’s completely different and refreshing, and honestly, The Prodigal is just what I needed to read right now. Reading dark psychological thrillers can be very draining, and I have read quite a few of them lately. When I read The Prodigal? I found myself contemplative, introspective and relieved to be reading something more positive.

Kennedy Sawyer is in the midst of her first semester at Carter University in Asheville, North Carolina. Raised by her mother and stepfather in a liberal Episcopalian household, Kennedy decided to go to Carter University because she wanted the opportunity to get to know Roland Abbot, her biological father. The Prodigal is narrated from several different perspectives including Kennedy and Matt Wells. We are also able to enjoy perspectives from her friend Jonah and Roland Abbot.

The Prodigal picks up where Sins of the Father ended. Kennedy announces she is the biological daughter of Roland Abbot to the congregation of New Life Church. Roland is an internationally-known televangelist and the pastor of New Life Church, which sits adjacent to the conservative Christian school. Kennedy is forced to share her secret with the world to counter an accusation that she is having an affair with Roland. It’s an emotional moment for Kennedy, filled with tremendous support from her classmates and her biological father.

One of the more interesting aspects of The Prodigal is the focus on the relationships Kennedy has with her family and friends. Yes, Kennedy is slowly developing a personal relationship with God, but this part of the story feels completely natural for someone who is very new to a conservative Christian environment. She begins to understand there is a complicated and emotional history between her mother and Roland. Even her stepfather perceives there are some unresolved emotions between her biological parents.

Kennedy becomes a close friend to Matt Wells in The Prodigal. Matt’s father is a pastor who is suffering from burnout. She sees the tension that exists between father and son, but Matt is not willing to discuss what is happening. While Kennedy slowly grows closer to God, Matt seems to be pulling away. I found this juxtaposition between Matt and Kennedy to be extremely thought-provoking. It’s the most intriguing narrative of The Prodigal, in my opinion, and I look forward to learning how their story will be resolved.

I really like Kennedy Sawyer. She is smart. Even when Kennedy doubts herself, she is one step ahead of everybody else. Kennedy is a fierce character who is perceived as a threat by some people and a heroine to others. Her values change. Kennedy takes an honest look at what her life was like before she arrived at Carter University. She also considers how different her life would be if she went to a different college.

Jesus Freaks: The Prodigal is a beautifully-written novel.  Andrea Randall’s writing is crisp. It evokes interest. She grabbed my attention with appealing characters. I found myself wondering what I would do in situations the characters are facing.  I am honestly enjoying this series. I’ll admit Jesus Freaks has me considering my own spiritual health, even as I read a story that is entertaining. If you are open to reading something completely different in the new adult genre, I highly recommend the Jesus Freaks series and The Prodigal. My rating for The Prodigal is 5 stars!

AUTHOR PROFILE

 

I started writing poetry long before writing fiction. I firmly believe Poetry is a solid foundation for all other forms of writing. It taught me that a single word can make or break the world.
I write fiction because my characters have a story and they want me to tell it.
I hope you enjoy the pieces of my soul that I share with you.

 

 

 

ARC Review: The Gentleman Mentor by Kendall Ryan

gentmmentor
 The Gentleman Mentor
By Kendall Ryan
Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo
5da3b-goodreads
Fit, masculine, educated male, late-20’s.
Discreet and forthcoming.
Under my direction and guidance women learn seduction techniques, how to achieve climax with and
without a partner, explore physical gratification, and more.
Dominant, but don’t be scared, kitten, I’m not into pain.
Do not be misled. I am pure mischief. But I’m the best kind of trouble.
So, what do you say? Do you feel like being naughty?
If you’re ready to reach new levels of pleasure, contact me at @thedominantgentleman Serious inquires only.
4.5 Star

 Kelley’s Review

Sinfully sexy and scorching hot with a sprinke of BDSM….

I really wasn’t sure about this read.  I am a huge fan of Kendall’s work and the title kind of threw me for a loop.  What is a gentleman mentor?  The truth is I did not look at any teasers or promo of this book at all before I read it.  I was surprised to see that it was a BDSM story.  There are dominant men and then there are Doms.  I honestly feel that Kendall did a really execellent job dipping her pinky toe into the world of BDSM.  Hale is more of a dominant male than a traditional Dom.  The Gentleman Mentor is in no way a Shayla Black or Lexi Blake style BDSM read.  Lexi and Shayla write some serious Doms.  The Gentleman Mentor has light BDSM elements which make it the perfect read for someone who has never read a BDSM novel before or is not typically a fan of BDSM.  The BDSM scenes do not seriously come in to play until the end of the book.

Brielle is your typical nerdy girl next door.  She has had a long time crush on a friend and has not be able to express how she really feels so when she sees the ad for the gentleman mentor the puzzle pieces click into place and she knows he can help her.  She is hesitant in responding to the ad because hey this guy could be a psycho for all she knows.

Hale is a dominant male that likes working with women who have little or no experience when it comes to sex.  He sets up a contract with his clients and the main rule is that they are not to fall in love with him.  He keeps the number of sessions around five because in his experience more than five sessions can create emotional attachments and he was burned once and will not go there again.  This part of the story was a little too predictable for me and that is the only reason I gave this read 4.5 stars instead of 5.  Everyone knows that Brielle and Hale are going to fall in love.

The one thing I do love about the first book in any new series is the introduction of new characters.  I am really interested in reading the next book in this series because I found Reece to be very mysterious and can’t wait to see how his story shakes out.

If you like a fun, sexy romance with some light elements of BDSM sprinkled in you are sure to enjoy The Gentleman Mentor.

Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance novels, including Hard to Love, Unravel Me, Resisting Her and When I Break.

She’s a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss. She lives in Minneapolis with her adorable husband and two baby sons, and enjoys hiking, being active, and reading.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

 

 

Happy Release + Review: Exposed by Tracy Wolff – Ethan Frost Series – Book 3

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Exposed

Ethan Frost Series – Book 3

By Tracy Wolff

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Synopsis

Will Ethan Frost go too far for the woman he loves?

The moment Chloe Girard walked into my life, she exposed secrets and emotions I always thought were best kept buried.

She wants to move on, to ignore the past. But I can’t do that. Not when she still suffers. And not when the man who hurt her remains unscathed. So when I discover the perfect opportunity to make him pay for what he did to Chloe, I can’t walk away, no matter the consequences.

But there’s a fine line between justice and obsession. As I turn up old crimes and new lies, I know that I’m playing with fire—and risking the very foundations of our relationship.

My love for Chloe is absolute. I just hope it’s enough to save us both.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

4 Star

Michel’s Review

Exposed by Tracy Wolff is the latest installment in the Ethan Frost series.  It picks up right where Addicted left off.  It should not be read as a stand alone novel.  The series should be read in order for the reader to grasp the full impact of Ethan and Chloe’s story.

Ethan and Chloe’s relationship is progressing but is somewhat shaky.  Ethan can’t let go of  the revelations of Chloe’s past.  He is harboring guilt about his family’s part in Chloe’s past destruction, he is feeling guilt that he didn’t prevent it, and he is obsessed with getting retribution for Chloe.  This obsession is driving a wedge between them.  Chloe wants to let the past go and move forward in a positive and loving direction in their life together.

Ethan is plotting to destroy his brother Brandon for what he did to Chloe.  He is torn and conflicted because he loves his brother.  At the same time he hates him for what he did to only woman that has captured his heart.

Ethan will have some life changing choices to make.  In the end it may affect his future.  But karma has a way of lending a helping hand.

Exposed was a solid installment in the Ethan Frost series.  Tracy Wolff allowed her characters to grow as individuals as well as a couple.  She wasn’t afraid to test the relationship.  I loved how she incorporated characters from the Play Me series to make this book more credible and make more sense.  Tracy built a solid story that will keep readers intrigued with the outcome.  I look forward to the final outcome when Flawed releases on December 29, 2015.

The Ethan Frost Series

916VFwAe8kL._SL1500_Ruined – Book 1

He’s the last man Chloe Girard should love . . . but the first she ever could.

Ethan Frost is a visionary, a genius, every woman’s deepest, darkest fantasy—even mine. And, somehow, I am his.

He stole into my life like a dream. Turned my reality upside down and made my every desire come true—especially those I never knew I had. He demanded everything I had to give and gave me everything of himself in return.

But dreams don’t last forever, and ours is no exception. Because my nightmares are darker, and my wounds deeper, than I could ever reveal. And as much as Ethan wants to protect me, the secrets we share will only tear us apart.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

additeAddicted – Book 2

Ethan Frost returns in another breathtaking novel by Tracy Wolff—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Ruined—perfect for fans of Release Me and Bared to You.

As Chloe Girard discovers, there’s love . . . and then there’s addiction.

Ethan Frost is everything a woman could want in a man. He’s rich, gorgeous, powerful, one of the most eligible bachelors in the world.

But that’s not why I’m with him.

I love Ethan for all the things no one else gets to see: his innate kindness, his reckless spontaneity, his unwavering determination to use his brilliance for good. I love the way he looks at me, the way he touches me. The way he makes me forget the wreckage of my past and the twisted fear that still lives inside me.

But sometimes it terrifies me how much I crave him, how much I need him just to breathe. I always thought it would be my past that ruined us, but there’s a darkness in Ethan I never dreamed existed. Can we survive as his secrets surface—threatening to unravel us both?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

91kAMbaulxL._SL1500_Exposed – Book 3

Will Ethan Frost go too far for the woman he loves?

The moment Chloe Girard walked into my life, she exposed secrets and emotions I always thought were best kept buried.

She wants to move on, to ignore the past. But I can’t do that. Not when she still suffers. And not when the man who hurt her remains unscathed. So when I discover the perfect opportunity to make him pay for what he did to Chloe, I can’t walk away, no matter the consequences.

But there’s a fine line between justice and obsession. As I turn up old crimes and new lies, I know that I’m playing with fire—and risking the very foundations of our relationship.

My love for Chloe is absolute. I just hope it’s enough to save us both.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Author Bio:

tracy wolffTracy Wolff collects books, English degrees and lipsticks and has been known to forget where—and sometimes who—she is when immersed in a great novel. At six she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—and at seven she forayed into the wonderful world of girls lit with her first Judy Blume novel. By ten she’d read everything in the young adult and classics sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d found her life-long love. Now an English professor at her local community college, she writes romances that run the gamut from contemporary to paranormal to erotic suspense.

And for all of those who want the unedited version:
Tracy Wolff lives with four men, teaches writing to local college students and spends as much time as she can manage immersed in worlds of her own creation. Married to the alpha hero of her dreams for twelve years, she is the mother of three young sons who spend most of their time trying to make her as crazy as possible.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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