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

Craving AbsolutionCraving Absolution

The Aces, Book 3

By Nicole Jacquelyn

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Synopsis

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

It isn’t romantic.

It may not even be classified as a friendship.

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

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

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

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

She’s his weakness.

He runs when things get hard.

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

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

Even if he has to fight her for it.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

5 Star Read

Top Pick

Michel’s Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Aces Series

Q & A with Nicole Jacquelyn

What inspired the The Aces MC series?

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

Will there be more books in The Aces MC series?

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

Who is your favorite character in the series?


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Aces MC Series

Craving Constellations

 

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

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

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Craving Redemption

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

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Author Bio:

 

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

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Craving Absolution

 

 

Release Day Launch + Review: The Hazards of Sex on the Beach

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We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Alyssa Rose Ivy’s THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH! THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH is a contemporary romance and is a part of Alyssa Rose Ivy’s Hazards Series.It is priced at just $.99 right now. This will last for a limited time only to celebrate the release! This book, y’all. Holy cow.

 

The Hazards of Sex on the Beach Cover

 Amazon | Nook | Itunes | Kobo | Google Play

Synopsis

One broken heart, one drink too many, one steamy night in the sand…

No one warns you about the dangers of drinking with a broken heart. At least no one warned me. I never imagined I’d fall for a musician, especially not one like Chase, but then again I never expected to have my heart broken into a million pieces by the frat guy I thought was the love of my life.

Sometimes it’s the rash decisions, like hooking up in the sand, that lead you to the best places—the kinds of places where it’s possible to let yourself fall in love again.

 Excerpt

He took a strand of my hair and studied it. “Is this your natural color?”

“Yes.”

He dropped the strand. “I’ve never dated a girl with blonde hair.”

“Well, you’re not dating me.”

He gently brushed his fingers down my bare arm. “No, but I want to kiss you.”

“Then kiss me.” I was used to pushy guys. The kind that knew what they wanted and took it.

“Okay.” He smiled before leaning in.

The kiss was hesitant at first, the kind of kiss that gets your whole body excited because you know there’s more to come. I waited—hoping he’d take it further. His hand slid just under the hem of my shirt, brushing against my skin. The touch was light, but it was still enough to get a response out of me. I moaned.

That must have been what he was waiting for. He deepened the kiss, pushing into my mouth with such force I was taken by surprise. I kissed him back, enjoying the sweet taste of his mouth, and the way his hand slowly inched its way up my stomach. Blazer moved from zero to sixty. I didn’t mind it. I moved onto his lap, welcoming the arm he put around me to pull me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

His hand moved higher, cupping my breast over my bra. I was drunk and hot, and so turned on I was going to lose it.

That’s when the door to the roof opened. The loud laughter of a group of girls pulled me half out of my lustful stupor.

“Want to go for a walk?” His question was asking something else entirely. I knew that when I answered with an enthusiastic yes.

Blazer held my hand as we made our way through the crowds. I looked briefly for Gabriella, but I didn’t see her. The normal Cara would have called her to tell her I was leaving with a random guy—but was Blazer random? We had chatted for hours already.

Before I could worry about it long, we were walking along the dark and nearly vacant beach. It was January on the South Carolina coast, and the crowds were months away.

“You never told me your name.” He said it as a statement as he led me further away from the party.

“Cara.”

“Hi, Cara. I’m Chase.”

I smiled. “Isn’t it a little late for introductions?” I stopped and turned toward the ocean.

“It’s never too late.” He drew something on my arm with his finger. The sensation felt good. I closed my eyes.

“You look so gorgeous. The moonlight, that look on your face.”

I opened my eyes and his face was inches from mine. “If you’ve never dated a blonde, does that mean you’ve never had sex with one?”

“Why? Are you looking to change that?” His eyes were lidded.

“I’d like to.” I slipped a finger into the waistband of his jeans.

“Should we go back to my hotel room, or do you have one?” He looked down. “I’m going to be honest here. I haven’t done this before.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re a virgin.” That would be just my luck.

He laughed. “No. Not saying that at all. I just don’t generally hook up with girls I’ve just met.”

“At least you know my name.”

“I do know your name, don’t I, Cara?”

Something happened to me when he said my name. I needed him. I reached up again, wrapping my arms around him. I crushed my lips into his.

We came up for air only after ending up horizontal on the sand. He laughed. “Or we can just pick things up right here.”

4 star read

 Tracey’s Review

When Cara and Chase met, there may have been some alcohol involved. Okay, a lot of alcohol. And maybe Cara was still trying to get over a cheating ex that had broken her heart. Because, why else would she get frisky with a guy that she didn’t know, hooking up and then running, without even telling him her last name or phone number? After all, she figured, she’d never see Chase again. If only life was that simple…

Alyssa Rose Ivy has done an entertaining job of taking this scenario and writing a story that shows how a chance encounter can turn into something much more. As the relationship between Cara and Chase grows and evolves, so do their characters. Cara finds strengths and interests that she didn’t know she had, and both she and Chance find that the right relationship allows each person to grow and shine, rather than conform to someone else’s idea of who they should be. I always enjoy Alyssa’s writing, both the stories and the characters. Besides Cara and Chase, all of the supporting cast had great personalities, and I found myself laughing out loud at the interactions between Cara and her friends. I look forward so the next book in the series (Alyssa, if you’re reading this, I’m hoping that Jade or Kyle will be next!).

Alyssa Rose Ivy- Author PhotoAlyssa Rose Ivy Bio:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Twitter | Author Goodreads | Pinterest | Website | THE HAZARDS OF SEX ON THE BEACH Goodreads | Facebook

 

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Promo Blitz + Giveaway: The Forest Bull by Terry Maggert

Promo Blitz Forest Bull 99Forest Bull

Synopsis

Three lovers. Two immortals. One mystery.

When Ring Hardigan isn’t making sandwiches for, and with, his two partners, Waleska and Risa (they’re cool like that), he’s got a busy schedule doing the dirty work of sending immortals to the ever after. Wally and Risa provide linguistics, logistics, and finding the right place for him and his knife.

A reclusive Baron from the timelost forests of Europe asks for their help—find a stolen collection of jewelry, and find the thief—his daughter Elizabeth, an immortal of purest evil who wants nothing less than control of Hell itself. With the help of a 2400 year old succubus hooker named Delphine, they might just live long enough to what is evil, who is human, and exactly who wants to reign in hell.

Excerpt

Beauty is indeed a good gift of God; but that the good may not think it a great good, God dispenses it even to the wicked. – Saint Augustine

France

Elizabeth stood with her elegant silhouette backlit by the city at night. One hand absently held an empty champagne flute; the other toyed with the heavy curtains that framed a view of the heart of Paris. Her brown eyes lingered over the city as she stretched her sculptured body in a feline motion that sent black hair falling down her snowy back in a silken rush. Over her shoulder, on the edge of the tangled bed, the girl dressed, pulling boots on her long legs. She was tall, young, and radiant, possibly Czech, a honey blonde in her late teens. Her looks were natural and fresh, but unfinished, where Elizabeth was a classic dark beauty with a commanding presence that only breeding and maturity could grant. Money could buy the appearance of wealth but not the assurance to wear it like a second skin. The girl’s beauty would command the eyes of men wherever she went, but Elizabeth’s would bend their will even as she entered a room. Even a fool could see that the blood of kings flowed in her veins. Standing in heels, the girl met Elizabeth’s height, eye to eye. Around the women, furniture of rich wood gleamed with the luster of wealth. Upholstery, flawless from disuse, covered the beautifully framed items that were tastefully scattered across the rooms. Each room of the suite spoke of money and taste. Even the single lamp that threw muted light from the corner was a model of understated style. The immediate area was in the disarray of harried intimacy. An empty wine bottle, berries on a bone china tray, and the scent of perfume and damp linen testified to the activity of the previous night. At least some Europeans still respected a Do Not Disturb sign, regardless of noise. The sign had also allowed them to sleep the day away, a dreamless sleep of joyous exhaustion. She looked at the girl, who now had her luggage near the door.

“Before you go, are you ready? Do you need anything?”

In the girl’s purse rested a first class ticket to Miami and credit cards, all with no limit. Elizabeth’s tone was light but warm. The girl reddened slightly from the remembrance of the previous week and the life that she was about to begin. She was also flushed from her internal struggle as her body began to change.

“No, I have everything. Thank you. Thank you a thousand times. This is . . . ,” she trailed off as Elizabeth gave the smallest of frowns.

“Something is missing. Here. This.” She held the girl’s hand and slipped a delicate ring on her finger. The diamond was framed on either side by a strange stone deeper than oxblood. Light swirls of silky color danced in the gems. The antique platinum setting was graceful and worn, like an heirloom.

“I cannot -,” the girl started.

Elizabeth shook her head slowly. “It was my daughter’s. Wear it, and, when you have a daughter you love, give it to her.”

To a girl of such youth and beauty, children were far away where she was going.

“But what if I have no daughter?” she asked. Elizabeth looked briefly at the window.

“Petra, your life will be one of gifts, giving. And receiving. Men will want you. They will try to own you. All of them, drunk with lust, an endless line of their eyes shining with greed,” Elizabeth gave a wintry smile. “You will appeal to their vanity even as they feed you. Savor it. There is no other feeling like it.”

She kissed the girl on the cheek in dismissal and turned to the champagne bottle settling in the silver urn. “Whether you want to or not, you will be a mother of sorts. Many daughters, I think. And when you find one who meets your mettle, you will give her the ring as a gift. In the meantime, the gift you will give is yourself.”

Buy Links

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes

Author Bio

terryBorn in 1968, I discovered fishing shortly after walking, a boon, considering I lived in South Florida. After a brief move to Kentucky, my family trekked back to the Sunshine State. I had the good fortune to attend high school in idyllic upstate New York, where I learned about a mythical substance known as “snow”. After two or three failed attempts at college, I bought a bar. That was fun because I love beer, but, then, I eventually met someone smarter than me (a common event), and, in this case, she married me and convinced me to go back to school–which I did, with enthusiasm. I earned a Master’s Degree in History and rediscovered my love for writing.

My novels explore dark fantasy, immortality, and the nature of love as we know it.
I live near Nashville, Tennessee, with the aforementioned wife, son, and herd, and, when I’m not writing, I teach history, grow wildly enthusiastic tomato plants, and restore my 1967 Mustang.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

Giveaway

Terry is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card + your choice of any of his e-books

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Review: The Other Side of Someday by Carey Heywood

the other side of someday

The Other Side of Someday

Carolina Days ~ Book 1

Carey Heywood

07801-goodreads-button

Synopsis

Falling in love?

 

Courtney Grayson has been there, done that.

 

Men, who needs them? Love wasn’t everything she thought it would be. This time around, she’s doing things differently. She hasn’t sworn off men for good; she just isn’t interested in settling. Trusting someone with her heart again? Someday, but not today.

Falling in love?

Sorry, Clay Bradshaw is not the guy for you.

He’s never been in love and he doesn’t see it happening. Hooking up can be fun, but more often than not, women are a distraction he doesn’t need. He’s a busy man, and doesn’t have time to date, let alone fall in love. Will someone ever change that? There’s always a chance, someday.

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and love may find them both on the other side of someday.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

5 Star Read

Michel’s Review

I loved The Other Side of Someday by Carey Heywood. It was a realistic love story most of us ordinary people experience. She showed how very real, ordinary people can have the fairytale forever love. It is all a matter of seeing the beauty of finding that one person that makes your beat to a new pace. Finding a person worthy of building a life with. A partner that will love you through the ups and downs, no matter what. I have to commend Carey for reminding us how important love is in our lives.

Courtney Grayson is having the worst day of her life. That day starts out with her fretting that she forgot to turn off the stove. The day spirals out of control from that point. She gets fired from her job, she has a flat tire in the pouring down rain, and when she goes to pay for the tire, her bank has rejected the card transaction. An act of kindness from the older mechanic that repaired her tire will send her on her way with aa better outlook. She feels like this act of kindness is the turning point in her day, that is, until she arrives home. She finds her fiancé of eight years in bed with another woman. Her day has gone from the worst day to the most devastating day of her life.

That devastating day and the one act of kindness will set Courtney Grayson on a new path in life. The path she was destined to take. A path that will teach her about herself and her deepest desires.  A path that will lead her to Clay Bradshaw.

She will find her inner strength, open her eyes to new possibilities, grow as an individual, and find the inner confidence she never knew she had. She will find a love that will respect her individuality, cherish her for who she is, and love her no matter what.

Clay Bradshaw is your ordinary average Joe. Sure he’s one of the sexiest men that Courtney has ever met. But sexy guys are a dime a dozen. What makes Clay special is that he is an ordinary guy, has an ordinary job, comes from a loving middle class family, and values all those precious things in his life.

Clay has never been in love or had a steady relationship. Once he gets to know Courtney he knows that she is the girl for him. He understands that she needs to heal from her past relationship. She needs to find herself again. He will be patient, bide his time, and show her that she can always depend on him. He will show her how much he values her as an individual. He will show her how important she is. He will give her his heart.

Courtney and Clay’s relationship is a slow and beautiful build. We see this couple go from flirty attraction to friendship. Their friendship moves onto dating. From dating to becoming a couple. Once they become a couple they build a beautiful life together.

The Other Side of Someday is a story that we all want to experience. I highly recommend this book.

Author Bio:

 

Carey HeywoodNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author with six books out and many more to come. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Ever the mild-mannered citizen, Carey spends her days working in the world of finance, and at night, she retreats into the lives of her fictional characters. Supporting her all the way are her husband, three sometimes-adorable children, and their nine-pound attack Yorkie.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

the other side of someday

 

Review: Vipers Run by Stephanie Tyler

Vipers Run

Vipers Run by Stephanie Tyler

Skull Creek Series ~ Book 1

07801-goodreads-button

Synopsis

The Vipers Motorcycle Club has strict rules for their brotherhood and the women who enter it. Now one Viper is about to find out how much trouble one woman can be…

Former Army Ranger Christian Cage Owens joined the Vipers Motorcycle Club for its sense of brotherhood. In return, he pledged to live outside the law, protecting club members and their families, as well as keeping other MCs out of Skulls Creek. But when Cage discovers that a rival MC—one Cage has an all too familiar past with—plans to push meth into his town, he calls an old Army buddy turned private investigator who’s helped the Vipers in the past. By doing so, Cage endangers both his friend and Calla Benson, a woman who works in the PI’s office. Now he’s made it his mission to track Calla down and do whatever it takes to protect her.

Thanks to the phone call with Cage, Calla knows she’s formed a deep connection to a dangerous man. She quickly discovers that although he may live by a different set of rules, Cage is an honorable man who wants to be more than her protector—if only she can accept his dangerous lifestyle. But Calla comes to Skulls Creek with her own set of secrets…secrets that threaten to tear her and Cage—and the Vipers MC—apart. As they put their newfound love to the ultimate test, Cage will risk everything he cares about to save her…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

5 Star Read

Michel’s Review

Stephanie Tyler has done it again. The queen of romantic suspense has started a new series that is going to have the readers hooked.

This new series is called Skulls Creek and book one is titled Viper’s Run. Not only does this new series have the suspense, thrilling action, alpha men, strong women, red hot sexual chemistry, and romance that we have come to expect from Stephanie Tyler. This series features bad boy bikers from the Vipers Motorcycle Club.

What begins as a simple phone call, a plea for help, a dying man, and a woman’s need to reach out turns into an intensely dangerous situation that has the characters thrust into world of danger.

Cage has gone rogue from the Viper MC club to protect the members from a rival club. When the situation turns dire, he calls Calla, his friend and employee for help. She drops everything to come to his aid and that puts her life in danger.

Calla has her own secrets and adding Cage’s problems to the fold only makes her stronger. When the two are fighting to survive they find something that makes the costs of their plight worth more than living. They have found love. Through the midst of this danger they will build a relationship that will rock your heart.

Stephanie Tyler delivers a high octane, fast paced story that is loaded with sexual tension, through the roof chemistry, and red hot romance. Viper’s Run is the perfect start to the new Skulls Creek series.

Read this book!

Author Bio:

 

Stephanie TylerNew York Times Bestselling author Stephanie Tyler writes what she loves to read – romantic suspense with military heroes for Bantam Dell. She lives in New York with her husband, her daughter and her weimaraner. She also writes paranormal erotic romance for Bantam Dell under the pen-name Sydney Croft.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Vipers Run

 

Review: In Your Corner by Sarah Castille – Redemption Series -Book 2

In Your Corner

 In Your Corner by Sarah Castille

Redemption Series ~ Book 2

07801-goodreads-button

Synopsis

A Publishers Weekly Best Summer Book 2014

“You have to go. I won’t be able to control myself. I’ve wanted you so bad for so long and after I’ve been in the cage…I can’t think straight.” He gives a guttural groan and his fist clenches on my hip.

Primitive. Primal. His need speaks to me. I tighten my grip on his neck and rock up to kiss him. He takes over. His kiss is hard and demanding.

“Mine.” His voice is raw, savage and for a moment I truly believe he may lose control.

He rules in the ring

Two years ago, Jake and Amanda were going hot and heavy. But when Jake wanted more, Amanda walked away. Jake immersed himself in mixed martial arts, living life on the edge. But that didn’t dull the pain of Amanda’s rejection-until a chance encounter throws them together.

A high-powered lawyer, Amanda was a no-strings-attached kind of girl. But two years after her breakup with Jake, she still hasn’t found anyone who gets her heart pumping the way he did. And then he shows up in her boardroom, hot as sin and needing help…

But can he rule her heart?

Jake is darker, sexier, and impossible to resist. As their chemistry builds, Amanda’s not sure if she can stay in control, or if she’s finally willing to let him claim her body and soul.

Redemption Series:

Against the Ropes

In Your Corner

Full Contact (forthcoming April 2015)

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

4 star read

Michel’s Review

In Your Corner is the second book in the Redemption series. Sarah Castille came back fighting with this addition in the Redemption series.

I had trouble with the first book in the series and did not give it a good review. This bothered me because I have read other books by this author that were good. I wanted to give this series another try because I just felt like the author deserved it. I can say, she won this match with a knock out! Kudo’s to Sarah Castille for proving this series was worth the fight.

As I said, this book came back fighting and won the round. Jake and Amanda had a past relationship that ended badly in the first book of this series. Amanda did quite a number on Jake and left the readers hating her guts. Jake was such a great guy, it was hard to understand why Amanda did what she did.

In Your Corner gives the readers more insight to Jake and Amanda’s previous relationship. We get a better understanding of Amanda once we know her history. She had an ugly family background, trust issues, emotional immaturity, and she was looking for love (the wrong kind) in all the wrong places. When she was showed the right kind of love and affection from Jake she just didn’t know how to accept it. She couldn’t handle the real thing. So rather than try to learn to accept all she was offered, all she deserved, she reacted the only way she knew how, she messed up their relationship.

Jake is a good man. He takes his life in stride. He takes on more burdens than he should, adds tons of stress to his life. One of those things is Amanda. When she walks back into his life, the intensity of his feelings cannot be denied.

There is a lot of healing and learning before these two can move forward. Once Amanda learns to let go of her heart and Jake learns to love Amanda the way she needs to be loved, their relationship sizzles. The sizzling sexual chemistry, the hot alpha and sexy bombshell burn up the sheets.

This book was a really good read. It went beyond my expectations. The characters grabbed my heart and held my interest. The secondary characters and their contributions to the story made this book even better. I am happy that I gave this series another chance.

Author Bio:

sarah castilleNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha males and the women who tame them. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and travelled abroad before trading in her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home in shadow of the Rocky Mountains.

Sarah loves to connect with readers. Sign up for her newsletter to hear about new releases:

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In Your Corner

Review: Straddling The Line by Jaci Burton – Play By Play Series – Book 8

straddling the line

Straddling The Line by Jaci Burton

Play By Play Series ~ Book 8

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Synopsis

Trevor Shay has it all—a successful football and baseball career, and any woman he wants. But when he finds out his college mentor’s daughter is in trouble, he drops everything to come to her aid.

Haven Briscoe has finally landed a dream job as a sportscaster for a major network. But she hasn’t been able to move past the recent death of her beloved father, and it’s affecting her career. A plum assignment following the daily life of sports superstar Trevor Shay might be just the inspiration she needs…

Trevor will do anything to spark life back into Haven, including letting her into every aspect of his world. The chemistry between them flames higher than one of Trevor’s home runs and faster than his dashes to the end zone. But as they grow closer, Haven stumbles onto Trevor’s closely guarded secret, one he’s hidden his entire life. And despite his protests, now it’s Haven’s turn to put everything on hold to help Trevor. Will he let her in and trust her with a secret that could blow his professional and personal world apart?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Michel’s Review

2.5 Stars

Straddling The Line is the eighth book in Jaci Burton’s red hot Play By Play series. I love this series. I love books that are based upon the professional athletic scene. But Straddling The Line fell short on the scoring.

Straddling The Line features Trevor Shay. Trevor is a dual professional athlete. He plays baseball for the St. Louis Rivers and football for Tampa. He is juggling to professional careers and trying to stay on top of his game. When the death of his suriggate dorm father brings him back into the Briscoe family fold at surrogate mother’s request, he finds that he may be adding one more thing to his list. That is Haven Briscoe.

Haven has struggled after her father’s death. She gave up a successful job in New York as a sport’s journalist to go home to Dallas. Being around Trevor again, her secret crush in college, has her reeling. But she can’t seem to get out of her funk. Trevor knows just how to get her kick started.

Trevor sets up a full tell all expose with the network with the condition that Haven is to be the interviewer. He is hoping that this will bring Haven back into the fold and back into her game.

This tell all interview ends up to be much more than Trevor and Haven planned. This lengthy interview will reveal secrets, expose feelings, and build a relationship neither anticipated. Their chemistry will escalate from hot to a scorching passionate burn.

 While I love Jaci Burton and the Play By Play series, Straddling The Line just did not work for me. I felt the scenes were rushed, the chemistry between the characters pushed, the story was rushed and did not flow well. The ending and epilogue were rushed and abbreviated. The characters just did not get under my skin. I found that I was forcing myself to finish this book.

Author Bio:

Jaci BurtonJaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 60 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline, she can usually be found trying to convince her husband to remodel some room or another in their house (she blames HGTV for this). She loves gardening, sports, casinos and getting lost in a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.

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straddling the line

 

Review: Jack and Djinn by Jasinda Wilder – The Houri Legends -Book 1

Jack and Djinn

Jack and Djinn 

Book 1 in The Houri Legends

By Jasinda Wilder

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Synopsis

Miriam’s life is a hot mess. Ben won’t let her go and she knows she can’t take anymore. She simply will not and cannot withstand another insult, another drunken rage, another blow. But she has nowhere to go, no one to help her.

One night, Ben’s alcohol-fueled abuse explodes hotter than it ever has before, and Miriam isn’t sure she’ll survive it this time.

Then Miriam meets Jack. Sweet, handsome, brave, and totally unafraid of the strange and often scary things that have begun happening whenever Miriam’s emotions run high.

As things between Miriam and Jack heat up, so does Ben’s jealous rage, as well as the mysterious fire that seems to burn hotter and hotter inside Miriam. She quickly discovers two things: one, that she has a lot more power and strength hidden within herself than she’d ever imagined, and two, that Jack’s gentle, unwavering love can heal a lifetime of wounds and scars.

Will they survive to explore all that could be between them?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

 

5 Star Read

Michel’s Review

Jasinda Wilder stepped out of her comfort zone and dove into the paranormal genre. She added her own special flare to make this book come alive. She chose an unusual paranormal character based on ancient Arabic legends, added a contemporary life to the character, allowed her to grow as a person as well as a paranormal entity, and gave her a chance at love that will last beyond a lifetime. Not only did Jasinda create a unique character with paranormal elements, she also tackled some very heavy and disturbing issues, added a high element of suspense, gave us a little Irish magic, and managed to give us a romantic book that evolve around paranormal chaos. To combine all these elements into one book is impressive. What is even more impressive was that she made all these elements work and wrote a story that was effortless to read and kept me captivated from beginning to end. She added enough intrigue at the ending that made the readers want more of this series.

Jasinda is one of the most gifted writers I have read. Her stories flow with ease. The reader becomes immersed into her fictional worlds and becomes captivated with every word. Her characters are very real people with very real strengths and flaws. The romance she adds to every book is heartfelt, sensual, and steamy. She challenges her writing skills with every book and does not let herself get “boxed in” to writing one type of story. That is a big plus in the competitive world of publishing where the market is saturated with so many books. This is what makes Jasinda Wilder the huge success she is today. This is what makes Jasinda one of my favorite writers.

Jack and Djinn started out with an interesting scene that drew me in immediately. It starts with two homicide detectives at a crime scene investigating a badly charred body. They have never seen a body this badly burned. What is so weird about the crime scene is the lack of evidence of a fire or accelerants. There is blood at the scene that clearly does not belong to the victim. The detectives are baffled.

Detective Carson Hale is the lead investigator to this unsolved murder. Once the body is identified as Ben Wade, Carson begins to unravel the events that lead up to the demise of the victim. As he searches for pieces of the puzzle to solve this crime, the story of Miriam and Jack begins.

Two people brought together from an horrific abusive situation. Two people finding love in a world where their lives are at stake. Two people finding their magic through their love for one another. Two people doing everything they can to survive so that they can hold onto their love and future.

As the story unfolds through the eyes of Detective Carson Hale, the reader will be immersed into a world of intrigue and suspense. And when the Detective finally solves the case not only will he be astonished, he will become a very integral part of the Houri Legends. I cannot wait for the next book.

Jack and Djinn is captivating magical book.

Author Bio:

Jasinda WilderNEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, WALL STREET JOURNAL and international bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. Her bestselling titles include ALPHA, STRIPPED, WOUNDED, and the #1 Amazon and international bestseller FALLING INTO YOU.  You can find her on her farm in Northern Michigan with her husband, author Jack Wilder, her five children and menagerie of animals.

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Jack and Djinn

 

Review: Come To Me Softly by A. L. Jackson- Closer To You Series- Book 2

come to me softly

Come To Softly

By A. L. Jackson

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Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Come to Me Quietly comes a scorching new adult romance in the Closer to You series.

A second chance at life…

A second chance at love…

Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed?

To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

 

4 star read

Michel’s Review

Come To Me Softly is the sequel to Come To Me Quietly by A. L. Jackson. Come To Me Softly picks up where Come To Me Quietly left off. In fact it picks up the morning after.  This is not a stand alone novel.  Come To Me Quietly must be read first.

Jared is still broken but has come to accept that he is important in Aly’s life. Although he still does not feel worthy of Aly’s love, he is willing to accept it and try to build a relationship that can help him move on from the past.

As these two build their relationship, the reader gets to see the importance of their connected pasts, how much they mean to each other, and learning how to love. It is learning to face your mistakes, learning to forgive yourself, learning to forgive others, and opening your heart to all possibilities.

Author Bio:

 

A. L. JacksonA.L. Jackson 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 beautiful children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

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come to me softly

 

This book is a beautiful emotional journey. Jared and Aly will find peace, but best of all, they find their happily ever after.

A. L. Jackson is a powerful writer. The reader experiences every word on the page. The characters, the emotions, and their story come across as very real. Another book well done, another conclusion very satisfying.

Review: When Day Breaks by Maya Banks – KGI Series – Book 9

when day breaks

When Day Breaks

By Maya Banks

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Synopsis

THE ALL-NEW KGI NOVEL BY NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELING AUTHOR AUTHOR MAYA BANKS

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business. Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background. Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t…

Eden is said to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. Her face has graced countless magazines and her body has sold millions of dollars of clothing. But her fame and beauty has earned her more than she ever imagined. Evil is stalking her, determined to extinguish the ethereal beauty forever.

Swanson or “Swanny” as his teammates call him is always up for the next mission. He came back from Afghanistan wounded and scarred. Hardly the kind of man who even belongs in the same room with Eden. And yet there’s something about the quiet beauty that stirs his blood and makes him dream of the impossible. Because Beauty loving the Beast only happens in fairy tales and KGI doesn’t deal in fairy tales. Ever.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Michel’s Review

2.5 Stars

I have been a huge fan of the KGI series by Maya Banks. I have been reading this series since the first book was published a few years ago. It is one of my go to series. I am pre ordering the next book the moment it is available. I have become very invested in the Kelly Group International. They are alpha men, strong women, a mission, a sizzling romance, and overall family saga. It is hot romantic suspense at it’s best.

Sadly to say, When Day Breaks, book 9 in the KGI series just did not live up to the excellent standards as the previous books in this series set.

The other books in this series have all had a strong romantic suspense element in the plots. When Day Breaks fell short. It lacked action, edge of the seat suspense, and was predictable. It also lacked the strong family feeling of unity. Although the other Kelly members were present, the reader just did not feel that “support” that has been so strongly present in the other books. I think this is because Maya was focusing on Swanny’s wounded soul. And yes while this was important, it is also important to see how the Kelly family brought him into the fold and gave him a place to belong. We just did not feel that in this book.

Overall I really love Swanny’s character. He is a wounded soul with scars on the inside as well as outside. He is a caring man with a lot to give others.

Swanny is paired up with Eden, a super model. I did not care much for her character. Her entire character is based off her looks, how others reacted to her looks, preconceive notions about models, and how her persona was more than that. It was hard to get past that and see how she really fell for the entire person that Swanny is.

I think Maya wanted to show that looks don’t make a difference, that beauty can love the beast, and that there is more to every person under the surface. And while she did that, she lost the focus of the romance, sexual chemistry, plot, and action that we have come to expect in the KGI books.

I am still completely invested in the KGI series. I still love Swanny. I was just hoping that his book would be the best in the series. But we still have Joe’s story to come. I am looking forward to it.

Author Bio:

 

maya banksMaya Banks lives in Texas with her husband, three children and assortment of pets. When she’s not writing, she can be found hunting, fishing or playing poker.

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when day breaks