5- Star ARC Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

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Title: The Beautiful Ashes

Author: Jeaniene Frost

About The Beautiful Ashes

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.
Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

Buy Links
Amazon | BN

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Excerpt

“What is that?”
Adrian’s voice startled me. For a second, I was disoriented, the dream clinging to me as it always did. Yes, I was in a car, but I wasn’t the unknown woman driving away from her baby. That wasn’t real. The glare Adrian leveled at my chest was, though.
“Is that a mirror?” He sounded horrified.
I looked down. My locket was open, the mirrored side facing me. At some point while I was sleeping, I must’ve opened it. Adrian’s hand shot out, but this time, I was too fast for him.
“Don’t you dare,” I snapped, holding it out of his reach. “It’s the only picture I have of my sister after you left everything I own back at that hotel in Bennington!”
He lunged again, actually letting go of the steering wheel to reach the side of the car where I held it. With a sharp yank, he wrested the locket from my hands. I tried to snatch it back, but he shoved me into my seat with one hand, finally grabbing the steering wheel with the other.
“Are you crazy?” I shrieked. “You could’ve gotten us killed!” If this hadn’t been a lonely stretch of desert road, our careening into the next lane might’ve had permanent consequences.
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” was his chilling response. Then, still pinning me to my chair with that single hand, he held my locket up.
I gasped. Something dark poked out of the small mirror, like a snake made of blackest smoke. It disappeared when Adrian smashed the mirror against the steering wheel, but an eerie wind whistled through the car, ruffling my hair and stinging my nostrils with its acrid scent.
Adrian muttered a word in that unknown language, and I didn’t need a translator to tell me it was a curse.
“What was that?” My voice was hoarse.
He threw me a pitying glance, which frightened me even more. If he wasn’t angry, we must really be screwed.
His next words proved that. “Brace yourself, Ivy. You’re about to meet a demon.”

5 Star Read

Kelley’s Review

The Beautiful Ashes is a very unique story about love, trust, and betrayal.  Jeaniene Frost delivers a lot of angst along with a little bit of spice in this read.

Jeaniene takes a biblical story that just about everyone knows and puts her own spin on it.  Remember David and Goliath?  Imagine being sent into the demon realm as the last living Davidian to steal the sling shot that was used to kill Goliath.  Jeaniene takes an ordinary girl and makes her extraordinary.

Ivy is just your regular girl next door trying to track down her twin sister Jasmine that had been missing for a few weeks.  Her parents were trying to do the same when they had a terrible car accident and their lives were lost.  Ivy is more determined than ever to find her sister after the accident.  She had a bad feeling that something was not quite right.  She had always been able to see things that others did not.  She never spoke of it because people would think she was crazy.  She never would have guessed that her ability to do so would be the thing that she needed to find Jasmine.

Adrian is of Judas’s line and knows that his destiny includes the betrayal of the last Davidian.  He was raised in the demon realm and when he found out all that he was missing out on, he was angry.  He hated that demons has tricked him for so many years into believing that the human realm was just as bad as the demon one.  The one thing that everyone could trust about Adrian was his hatred of demons.

When fates collide and Adrian is sent on a misson to help a young girl named Ivy escape the demons that are following her, you can only imagine how distruaght he becomes when he finds out she is the last Davidian.  As time passes it only becomes harder as Adrian finds himself falling in love with her.  He knows deep down his destiny is to hurt her so all he can do is force himself to stay as far away  from her as he possibly can.

Fate really sucks sometimes because Ivy finds herself so drawn to Adrian too.  She begins to believe that there is no way that he can betray her when he shows up time and time again and saves her.  But, when the time comes and Adrian is put in a compromising position will he save Ivy or himself?

Jeaniene does an excellent job developing the characters in this story.  Ivy is smart and strong and readers will find that they can identify with her easily.  Adrian will steal your heart but also keep you wondering when the ball is going to be dropped.  If you like reads with a lot angst that keep you on the edge of your seat you will enjoy this read.  I really enjoyed the unique storyline that I could relate to being read the story of David and Goliath as a young child.  She really takes and puts an interesting twist on things and in the second book Ivy will be looking for a new weapon that is just as powerful as the sling shot. If you are looking for a new paranormal romance series this is it.  I am anxiously awaiting book two.

About Jeaniene Frost: 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAJeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, and the upcoming Broken Destiny series. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to twenty different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.
For information on Jeaniene’s books, reading the first 20% of each book free, book trailers, deleted scenes, creature mythology, and more, please visit: http://www.jeanienefrost.com

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Websit

6-Star ARC Review: Filthy Beautiful Lies by Kendall Ryan: Book 1

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Filthy Beautiful Lies Book 1

August 18, 2014

By Kendall Ryan

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 Synopsis

Book 1

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

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

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

Buy Links:  Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~  Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks

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Excerpt

She draws another deep breath and some of the tension in her posture falls away.

“Can I touch you?” I whisper against the skin at her neck.

She nods enthusiastically. “God, yes.”

6 Star Read

Kelley’s Review

Holy Crap! Wow! Just Wow! Bravo Kendall!

I have read quite a few Kendall Ryan books and have really enjoyed them but would I consider myself a huge fan? Not really. That has all changed with one sweet and yet sinfully sexy read. Hot damn! I am going to be counting the days until Filthy Beautiful Love comes out.

Sophie is an amazing heroine. She is kind, smart, and selfless. She does what she has to because she loves her sister.

Colton is damaged and is carrying a ton of baggage from his last relationship, but Sophie gives him hope that not all women are like his ex.

The only problem here is that Sophie was purchased and there is no reason to believe that Colton has any real feelings for her even though he has been very kind and generous to her. Sophie has no idea that she has given Colton the hope of something better. But when Colton’s past collides with his present all bets are off and anything he might have felt for Sophie may very well be destroyed.

Kendall does an outstanding job with developing the characters in this story. I fell in love with Sophie almost immediately. Her innocence is endearing and intoxicating at the same time. Colton is the most kind and gentle alpha male I have ever read. He changes who he is into something he thinks Sophie deserves. I love the way the way this was written from a dual POV and we get to see what Sophie and Colton are each feeling and thinking. Kendall drew me in from the moment Sophie stepped out in the stage. I am highly anticipating the conclusion to this story in just a little over a month. Until then, I am sure I will find myself day dreaming about the mysterious Colton and what he has hidden in his closet.

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Synopsis

Book 2

September 29, 2014

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

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

Buy Links:  Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble 

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Author Bio

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

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Top Pick

5-Star ARC Review: A View To A Thrill by Lexi Blake

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A View To A Thrill, Masters & Mercenaries Book 7, Coming August 19, 2014

A Spy without a Country

Simon Weston grew up royal in a place where aristocracy still mattered. Serving Queen and country meant everything to him, until MI6 marked him as damaged goods and he left his home in disgrace. Ian Taggart showed him a better way to serve his fellow man and introduced him to Sanctum, a place to pursue his passion for Dominance and submission. Topping beautiful subs was a lovely distraction until he met Chelsea, and becoming her Master turned into Simon’s most important mission.

A Woman without Hope

Chelsea Dennis grew up a pawn to the Russian mob. Her father’s violent lessons taught her that monsters lurked inside every man and they should never be trusted. Hiding in the shadows, she became something that even the monsters would fear—an information broker who exposed their dirty secrets and toppled their empires. Everything changed when Simon Weston crossed her path. Valiant and faithful, he was everything she needed—and a risk she couldn’t afford to take.

A Force too Strong to Resist

When dark forces from her past threaten her newfound family at Sanctum, Chelsea must turn to Simon, the one man she can trust with her darkest secrets. Their only chance to survive lies in a mystery even Chelsea has been unable to solve. As they race to uncover the truth and stay one step ahead of the assassins on their heels, they will discover a love too powerful to deny. But to stop a killer, Simon just might have to sacrifice himself…

Order A View To A Thrill 

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes

A View to A Thrill Teaser

Excerpt

 Chelsea looked at the bed that dominated the room. The only bed. Somehow she’d managed to find the shitty motel that didn’t have two queens. No. It was way worse. It was a single queen and there was no couch. And she was pretty sure the floor was covered in disease. “I think I should sleep somewhere else. We need to find another room.”

Blue eyes stared a hole through her. Somehow his eyes managed to be cold and hot given his mood. The color shifted, lighter, icier when he was angry. As warm as the Caribbean when he was happy.

They often seemed so cold when he looked at her. “Your contact said to meet here. We’re staying here.”

“He told me to meet him here. I’m sure they have another room, Weston. You don’t have to sit up all night.” Because there was no way they could share that bed. It was too small. He would take up all the space.

He locked the door and set down his duffel bag on the table. He shrugged out of his jacket because the man wore a three-piece suit on the run. She couldn’t help but stare at his broad shoulders and the way his dress shirt tapered down to perfectly pressed slacks. He tugged at the silver tie he was wearing, pulling it free and working the buttons at his throat until she could see the start of his truly impressive chest.

God, she hoped she wasn’t drooling.

The shoulder holster was the next to go in his inadvertent striptease. “You should get settled in. We have to be up early in the morning. I’ll take the side closest to the door.”

He couldn’t be serious. “Simon, there’s not enough room on that bed.”

He threw that gorgeous body down, making the springs squeak. “Of course there is, love. You Americans just like to take up an enormous amount of space. When I was a child, my brother and I slept in beds much smaller than this.”

“I’m not your brother, Simon.”

“I understand that fully. Believe me.”

She needed to take charge or she would make a complete fool of herself. “Look, Weston, you turned down my offer.”

He turned lazily, one hand coming up to balance his head. He looked like a pinup in a women’s magazine—all lean and predatory lines. She could see the write-up in her head. Simon likes tea, Scotch and eating subs for breakfast. His turn-offs include everything that comes out of Chelsea Dennis’s mouth. “Are you talking about your very charming offer to use my body to lose your virginity?”

She hadn’t put it like that. “You don’t want me. I get it. So let’s keep things simple. I hired you. I’m the boss. I’m going to see if I can rent the room next to this one and that can be yours.”

He didn’t move. He didn’t have to. She saw the way his eyes narrowed and then his voice came out, low and in that perfect upper-crust British accent that made her nipples hard. Her nipples were really stupid and she wished they didn’t like him so damn much. “You’re under a grave misapprehension, Chelsea. You are not my boss and you did not hire me. You came to me with a problem and I told you I would solve it. I believe I also mentioned that I was in charge and that was the only way I do this for you. So you will take off your clothes and you will get into this bed and you will sleep beside me tonight. I explained this to you when you signed the bloody contract. Do I need to explain what the word submissive means?”

Tears pricked her eyes. He was so damn unfair. She had to wonder if she would ever find a man who didn’t want to punish her. “You forced me to sign that contract.”

Now he moved, rolling to the side of the bed and getting to his feet with pure predatory grace. “I did nothing of the kind.”

He seemed very willing to revise history. She wasn’t about to let him forget. “If I hadn’t signed your contract, you would have let me die.”

He sighed, a long-suffering sound. “I certainly would not and if you think that’s true then you don’t know me at all. Perhaps I should do exactly what I should have done in the first place, what I would have done if you hadn’t signed the contract.”

That was worse than letting her die. “Please don’t call Ian.”

His shoulders weren’t so straight as he turned and stared at her. “You’re reckless, Chelsea. If I give up even a moment’s control, I’ll lose you and I can’t stand the thought of that. The only way to save you is to be your Master and the only Master you’ll accept is not the kind I want to be.”

“And what kind do you want to be?”

“Indulgent. Loving. Kind. I want a sub who obeys me in the field because she understands I would never let anyone hurt her. I want the play to just be play. I want a sub who trusts me with her body, who wants me and not just some faceless Dom who’ll work her over and then walk away. And I certainly don’t want to be a curiosity.”

She felt embarrassment flash through her system. If she could take back that first night’s utter idiocy she would. She should have known he wouldn’t want her. Not like that. “I get it. I got it when you turned me down the first time. I can get into bed with you because you won’t touch me.”

He was suddenly in her space. He’d moved so quickly she wasn’t sure how he’d gotten there. One minute there was a bed between them and the next she was backing up until she hit the wall because he was stalking her. She’d gone as far as she could go, but he kept coming. He loomed over her, using every one of his six feet two inches. “I’ve tried to be polite about this, but you don’t want that, do you? You don’t want me to be a gentleman about this. You want me to take you because then you’ll bloody well get it over with and you can put me in the same box with all the other men who hurt you and used you and cast you aside. I would be just one more villain who did something to you.”

“I never said that.”

“You don’t have to. I understand you, Chelsea. You can’t comprehend that, but I do. I understand you like no other man will. So I understand that I have to explain certain things to you.” He moved closer until his mouth hovered above hers, his heat sinking into her skin. “I’m going to tell you how this is going to go. We’ll get into that bed and I’m going to put my hands on you and I’m going to put my mouth on you. I’m going to taste you. I swear by the time you get out of that bed in the morning, you’re going to know what it feels like to come against my tongue. That screaming you heard as we walked in, you’re going to make that girl’s orgasm sound like the squeaking of a mouse. But the one thing you won’t get is my cock. You won’t get that because I’m not going to take your virginity because you’re curious. I’ll take it when you can’t think about anything but me. I’ll take it when you cry out my name and tell me there’s no other man you’ll ever love the way you love me. Then and only then will I take what belongs to me. Am I understood?”

She managed to nod.

He took a step back and she immediately missed his heat. His hands went to the buttons on his shirt. “Then take off those bloody clothes and get in bed.”

With shaking hands, she started to undress.

5 Star Read

If there was ever a series that needed to be made into a movie or television show it is the Masters and Mercenaries series by Lexi Blake.  The action, suspense, and intrigue will keep your knuckles white as you grip your e-reader eagerly anticipating what will happen next.  Lexi is masterfully writes a new genre I call James Bond BDSM.  Her heroes are sinfully sexy and hot alpha males and the women they fall for are strong, highly intelligent, and quick witted, and sexy as hell.  I absolutely adore the fact that Lexi’s heroines are not skinny but are full of luscious curves that their men can’t get enough of.

I have been eagerly awaiting Simon and Chelsea’s story since Love and Let Die.  Simon has been such a mystery to me and Lexi unveils so many things about him that I would have never expected he experienced in his past.  I was amazed at how much in common Chelsea and Simon share with each other.  All of Lexi’s books in this series can be read as a standalone, however I might suggest that you will enjoy this story much more if you pick up Love and Let Die first.  That is the first book that Chelsea and Charlotte are featured in.

Chelsea narrowly escaped the Russian Mob a few years back only to find herself captured by her most unlikely enemy.  Chelsea is very well known in the cyber community as the number one hacker.  She can hack into any security system and for a long time she caused major chaos to several agencies just for fun.  Unfortunately her ability to do this put a mark on her head and it seems that Simon may be the only man that can save her besides her brother-in-law that she adorably coins as Satan.

Simon has had it bad for Chelsea since the moment she sucker punched him.  He has wanted to be her Dom and to play with her at Sanctum, but for Chelsea BDSM is all about pain relief, not love, and definitely not sex.  Simon can see the emotional pain she is hiding because he knows it all too well.  He just needs her to submit to him so he can show her how good things can be and that he will love her and care for her like no one ever has.  Chelsea is stubborn.  She has always made it on her own and does not want any help.  The only reason she came to Simon is because she has nowhere else to go and well, he the sexiest man she has ever known so she is a little curious what Simon would be like as a lover.  When Chelsea approaches Simon with her problem he sees it as the perfect time to get what he has always wanted.  A BDSM contract with Chelsea one that includes things she would never let him give.  Will she take him up on his offer or will she drag her feet to Ian and Charlotte for help?

If you like a lot of sizzle with lots of action and suspense you will love A View to a Thrill by Lexi Blake.  This is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished it.  So get comfortable and enjoy this epic rollercoaster ride.

Surprise Novella Coming Soon!

Cherished

Cherished, A Masters and Mercenaries Novella, October 28, 2014

A doctor living a double life

By day, Dr. Will Daley is one of Dallas’s most eligible bachelors, but every night he dons his leathers as one of Sanctum’s most desired Doms. He’s sworn off looking for a long-term relationship but is captivated by the club’s newest member, Bridget Slaten, even though they couldn’t be more different. She comes from a world of privilege and he was raised in poverty. When he discovers she needs a date to her sister’s wedding, he makes certain he’s literally the only man for the job.

A woman no longer willing to live in the shadows

For most of her life, Bridget hid herself behind her laptop. She can write romantic, sensuous lives for her characters but not herself. Having Master Will as her date to the wedding is a thrilling prospect but he has a special request. He wants her to accept two weeks of his services as a Dom, a lover, and expert in BDSM, and that is an offer she can’t refuse. Their sexual chemistry is undeniable, but it’s in the tender moments that Bridget realizes she’s falling for a man who might never trust her with his heart.

A love strong enough to cherish

Together in paradise for a week, Will realizes he can’t imagine his life without Bridget.  As the wedding approaches, ghosts from their past come back to haunt them and threaten to ruin the peace they’ve found. With everything exposed, they will have to risk it all to claim the love that can set them both free.

PRE-ORDER:

eBook: Amazon | iTunes | Google

Print book: Amazon

Other Books in The Masters & Mercenaries Series

The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters & Mercenaries Book 1)

eBook: Amazon | Nook | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | All Romance

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

The Men In The Golden Cuffs (Masters & Mercenaries Book 2)

BUYAmazon | Nook | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | All Romance

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

A Dom Is Forever (Masters & Mercenaries Book 3)

BUYAmazon | Nook | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | All Romance

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

On Her Master’s Secret Service (Masters & Mercenaries Book 4)

BUYAmazon | Barnes&Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | All Romance

Print Book: Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Sanctum (Masters & Mercenaries Book 4.5)

BUYAll Romance | Amazon | B&N

Love And Let Die (Masters & Mercenaries Book 5)

BUY: Amazon | ARe | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords

Print Book: Amazon

Unconditional (Masters & Mercenaries Book 5.5)

e-Book: Amazon | Kobo | ARe | Smashwords | B&N | iTunes
Print book: Amazon

Dungeon Royale (Masters & Mercenaries Book 6)

eBook: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | ARe | Smashwords

Print Book: Amazon

1001 Dark Nights  (Masters & Mercenaries Book 6.5)

eBook: Amazon ~

Author Bio

Lexi Blake

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are four more books available in the series: Their Virgin’s Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess and Their Virgin Hostage. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Secretary, is coming to Amazon this April.

In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. The first five novels, The Dom Who Loved Me, The Men with the Golden Cuffs, A Dom is Forever, On Her Master’s Secret Service, and Love and Let Die are available now, along with a novella titled Sanctum. The sixth novel, Dungeon Royale, is coming in February of 2014 along with two new novellas, Unconditional, releasing in January of 2014 and Dungeon Games, coming in May of 2014.

In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The first two books, Steal the Light and Steal the Day are available now on Amazon. Book 3 in the series, Steal the Moon, is coming in January of 2014.

Sign up for Lexi’s FREE newsletter at http://lexiblake.net/contact.html#newsletter.

For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).

ARC Review: Secrets and Sins: Chayot: A Secrets and Sins Novel

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Secrets and Sins

Chayot: A Secrets and Sins Novel

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By Naima Simone

Synopsis:

A thrilling suspense from Entangled’s Ignite imprint…

Some sins refuse to let go.

Six months after concert pianist Aslyn Jericho survives an attack at the hands of an obsessed fan, she is still trying to resume a normal life, despite the paralyzing fears that have stolen her ability to play and perform. Enter her gorgeous and mysterious neighbor with news that threatens to send her spiraling back into her nightmares. Her stalker has returned. And he wants Aslyn.

Months after security specialist Chayot Gray’s darkest secret was exposed to the world, he’s struggling to cope with the fallout. Shame and guilt threaten to consume him, and he longs for the anonymous, numb existence he’s known for two decades. Then he discovers a masked figure lurking outside his neighbor’s home. The pain-filled shadows darkening Aslyn’s eyes call to him, and her loveliness stirs a desire he didn’t know existed. Now Chay must conquer his inner-demons in order to save her from a madman determined to finish the job he started…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

5 Star Read

Kelley’s Review

This read gripped me from the very beginning. I actually dreamt about Chayot Grey.

Aslyn Jericho is an amazing concert pianist that has survivied a terrible attack by a stalker and is trying to recover while hidden away Massachusetts. When a mysterious man shows up lurking around the condo she is staying in, it shakes her to the core. Luckly for Aslyn Jericho her sexy neighbor is the one and only Chayot Grey owner of Liberty Security Services.

The sparks fly immediately between Chay and Aslyn. Aslyn has never felt that sizzle when being around a man before and Chay seems to get her panties drenched with just one look. Chay is seriously attracted to Aslyn. He is a big fan of her music but knows that he is not the committment type and he believes that is what Aslyn deserves.

However, when Aslyn’s life is put in danger, and Chay is the only one who can protect her, all bets are off and Chayot finds himself falling hard and fast, but will it be all for naught? When Aslyn finds out the secret that Chay has kept burried for all of these years will she find him revolting or return the love that he desperately deserves.

Naima did a great job with character development and the plot twists and turns kept flipping the pages. This book is sinfully sexy with the just the right amount of suspense to keep you on your toes.

Author Bio:

naima simoneI was born the daughter of a sharecropper… Okay, maybe not. But I am the daughter of a pastor from whom I inherited my love of romance. The man can preach a mean Song of Solomon! (There’s that plug, Daddy! You can pay me later!)

Although my first book starred a cucumber named Fred, my first romance came several years later in the seventh grade, when I wrote myself as a heroine opposite Ralph Tresvant from New Edition. Through the power of my pen and imagination, Ralph took one look across a crowded stadium, met my dark, mysterious gaze, fell passionately in love, and serenaded me in front of millions of fans. Out of all the girls in the world, he chose me! And of course, we lived happily ever after–once we had the inevitable fight, aka black moment, and made up with a passionate declaration of love and fidelity. This same story reincarnated itself many times over the years: with Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, and as recently as last night, Vin Diesel.

Though the characters have changed, my love of love has endured. Shaping the lives of unique men and women who experience the first hungry bites of lust, the dizzying heights of passion, and the tender, healing heat of love–nothing compares to it. Except maybe discovering new material for love scenes with my husband, the head of Research & Development!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

secrets and sins

ARC Review: Taking It All by Maya Banks- The Surrender Trilogy-Book 3

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Taking It All 

The Surrender Trilogy- Book 3

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By Maya Banks

Synopsis

In her sensational Breathless Trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks tested the boundaries of desire. In her new trilogy, there’s only one thing left to do: cross them. And for a married couple taking steps to renew their marriage, the consequences of one single moment of inattention may come at a price the husband never expects…

Chessy and Tate have been married for several years. In the beginning, their relationship was everything she wanted. Passionate. All-consuming. She offered her submission freely and Tate cherished her gift with a tenderness that made her feel safe. Content. Wanted. Loved beyond all measure. But as the years have gone by, Tate has become more immersed in making his business a success, and Chessy has taken a back seat to his business obligations. Growing unhappy with the status of their once blissful marriage, Chessy knows that something has to give, or they stand to lose it all.

Tate loves his wife. Has always loved her. Providing for her has always been his number-one priority. But lately she’s seemed unhappy, and he’s worried. Worried enough that he arranges for a night together that he hopes will reignite the fire that once burned like an inferno between them.

But a business call at the wrong time threatens everything. Chessy’s safety, his concentration, his wife’s faith in him as her husband—a man sworn to love and protect her above all else. Gutted with the realization that he’s going to lose her—has already lost her—he readies for the fight of his life. Whatever it takes, he’ll get her back, show her that nothing is more important than her love. And that if she’ll allow him to prove himself one more time, he’ll take it all. Everything. But he’ll give back far more: Himself. His undying love.

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Kelley’s Review

3 Stars

I was really excited to get the opportunity to review this book. There had been so much chatter about this series and I was excited to see how this book stood up as a standalone read and as the last book in the series. I am a huge fan of Maya Banks and love the KGI Series as well as the Breathless Trilogy.

Tate and Chessy have basically fallen into a routine where they barely see each other anymore and the love and excitement of their marriage has all but withered and died. Tate is starting his own business and is putting all of his blood, sweat, tears, and time into it and has seriously neglected his husbandly duties. Chessy is a housewife who is miserable because her husband never comes home from work to time with her. She wants to start a family and feels very alone with Tate being constantly at work.

Unfortunately this book just did not do it for me. I felt like Tate and Chessy’s relationship was very immature. That may be because I read a lot of BDSM novels. I just really love the dominant and submissive relationship dynamic. The idea of a man truly loving and caring for a woman so much that he is in-tune with her every want, need, and desire is quite intriguing to me. Tate would have never fallen out of tune with Chessy for such a long period of time if they were in a true D/S relationship. She also would not go whining to her friends and their spouses about it without one of them saying something to Tate at least once in two years. Chessy finally lays it all on the line and tells him how she feels and he tries to plan an amazing weekend for them only to walk out during an extremely intimate moment to take a phone call. I so wanted to love this book and it just killed me to see a D/S scene get so completely out of control because of an event that would have never ever happened. How Chessy could ever find a way to forgive Tate after that was really inconceivable for me.

For those of you that have adored this series there is a happily ever after I assure you. You also get to see a happily ever after for Kylie and Jensen as well. Even though Taking It All was not my cup of tea, I still love Maya Banks and look forward to seeing what she has in store for us next.

Author Bio:
&nbsp: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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taking it all

Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Review: All for This by Lexi Ryan

All for This cover

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**ALL FOR THIS is book three in the Here and Now series. It is not a stand-alone and it’s intended to be read after LOST IN ME and FALL TO YOU.**

What if you would never remember the day you made the most important decision of your life?

That’s what they’re telling me about the day of my accident—the day I put on Max’s ring and chose him over Nate. I’m counting on the wisdom behind a decision I don’t remember making.

Max is amazing—sexy, sweet, and kind. I was starting to believe happily-ever-after might be in my future after all. Then the unthinkable happened and my world imploded. If I’m going to make this work with Max, I need my missing memories, or at least answers from about those five days before my accident.

But what does my future hold if those answers aren’t anything like I imagined?

Here and Now Series FB banner Revised AllForThisLost in Me (Book One) – FREE

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Fall to You (Book Two)

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All for This (Book Three)

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Excerpt

**SPOILER ALERT!** The following excerpt from ALL FOR THIS by its very nature contains spoilers for the first two books in the Here and Now series, LOST IN ME and FALL TO YOU. If you hate spoilers and haven’t read the first two books, don’t read any further.

Hanna

“Where’s Hanna?” I know the voice, and an unwelcome thrill dances up my spine as Nate pushes into my kitchen and stalks toward me.

“Customers aren’t allowed back here,” Liz says behind him.

“Don’t do it,” he says, and those dark, broody eyes are all over me like he’s trying to take me in, memorize me.

I take a deep breath and look to my sister. “You should probably go.” Then I turn to Nate. “Don’t do what?”

“Um…” Liz looks Nate up and down. “Are you sure? Because I can stay to protect you. Or…try.” God bless her, she’s standing behind Nate with her hands on her hips, ready to swing on my behalf.

“Why don’t you give us a minute?”

She narrows her eyes at Nate. “Hurt her and I’ll cut off your balls in your sleep.” Then she pushes out of the kitchen, the door swinging wildly behind her.

“Don’t move in with him,” Nate says.

“What are you talking about?” I ask.

“I thought you said you weren’t moving forward with Max until after the babies were born. Don’t you think moving in is moving forward?”

“I don’t know where you get your information, but I’m not moving in with him.”

“You’re not?”

I shake my head. “He asked me to, and I said no.”

He must have been expecting a fight, because his shoulders relax and he drags a hand through his hair. “Thank you.”

I toss my wash cloth into the sink. “Is that all?”

“No.” He lifts his eyes to mine. “I need to apologize.”

“For what?”

“For this.”

In two long strides, he closes the space between us and presses his mouth to mine. His lips are hot and hungry as his tongue sweeps inside—coaxing and demanding all at once. And it’s so good. So sweet and easy and safe that, for a breath, I forget how wrong it is. I’m back in the hotel in St. Louis, finding myself in the fire between us. For a breath, I forget that I’m wearing Max’s ring.

I shove at his shoulder and push him away. “Don’t do that again.” My stomach squeezes, and my heart is so battered and beaten that it’s unrecognizable.

 

Nate

 

Her eyes flash with anger, disappointment, and heat. “Do you think you can win me with a kiss? Did you think I’m so fickle that your mouth on mine is enough to convince me to break Max’s heart?”

I step forward, blocking her between me and the counter as I lower my mouth to her ear. “I thought maybe you needed a reminder.”

“What do you want from me? You want me to admit that I want you? You know I do. You want me to tell you I’m still in love with you? It’s true.”

My heart swells and hammers at her words. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel worthy of Hanna’s love, but that doesn’t change that I want it, need it like I need air.

“Isn’t that enough? Is it like this with him? When he’s whispering in your ear, does your body hum with need? We both know I could kiss you again and make you forget him. I could kiss you until you wanted me so badly you climbed onto that counter and let me touch you everywhere, let me do anything I wanted with your body.”

“You won’t,” she says, her voice shaking slightly.

“Are you so sure?”

“You won’t,” she repeats, “because I’m asking you not to. You won’t because you’re too good not to respect that.”

“I don’t want to be good,” I growl. I step back so I can see her face—her parted lips, her smoky eyes. “I want you.”

“I’m taken.”

“What happened?” I ask, scanning her face, trying to read her shielding expression. “Between when I left LA and when I came back to New Hope, what happened to make you take him back?”

She’s silent for a minute, and I wonder if she’s going to tell me the truth. “I found out he bought me the bakery—that all my worries and insecurities about our relationship were totally unfounded.”

“I’ll buy you a hundred bakeries.”

“But I don’t want a hundred bakeries. I only want this one.”

In New Hope. I close my eyes because I can’t deny that geography still stands between us.

“Please don’t kiss me again.”

“What if you ask me to?”

She swallows. “I won’t ask.”

All for This Teaser 2

6 Star Read

Top Pick

Kelley’s Review

This series gripped me from the very beginning.  The premise that you wake up one day to find out you have everything you ever wanted, but don’t know how you got it is very intriguing.  Lexi Ryan does an excellent job unveiling Hanna’s memories as she begins to remember the events that led her to make certain decisions.  This series is a must read.  I completely identified with Hanna from the beginning.  The fact that she battled her weight and tried to stay out of the spotlight tugged at a my heartstrings as I can relate to those things.  She really is the most humble and kind heroine that I have ever read.  She does what is best for others and not necessarily what is best for herself.  Even as she has to choose which man she is going to give her heart to, she does her best not to hurt the other as much as possible.

Lexi leaves each book on a cliff-hanger until you get to book three which is Here and Now.  At this point it is time for Hanna to choose either Max or Nate.  After reading Fall to You I felt like I would be ok with either man being Hanna’s happily ever after.  When I started reading All for This I really began to struggle with whether or not I wanted to see Hanna with Max or Nate.  Max sacrifices so much and puts his heart out there and is willing to do whatever it takes to win Hanna’s heart.  I truly fell head over heels in love with Max even more than I was before after seeing him be such a sweet and doting father to Claire.

Nate Crane is holy hotness and he is the match that strikes the fire in Hanna’s body and soul.  The chemistry between the two of them is scorching hot.  I was not entirely convinced that Nate was the right man for Hanna.  It took me reading to the very end of this read to accept the choice Hanna made and say to myself that she made the right one.  That to me is what makes this read so different from any other series I have read.  Here we are the last book in the series and this should be a no brainer but it is not.  There is so much complexity in the choice that Hanna has to make.  Does she want to leave New Hope?  Would Nate move to New Hope but then resent her because he could not be with Colin?  Would Max be truly ok with Nate being a part of Hanna’s life if they were to be together, knowing that she still loves Nate?

Lexi weaves a tantalizing tale that keeps you turning the pages.  This is a series that you will not be able to put the kindle down for so make sure it is fully charged when you start reading Lost In Me because you will not be able to wait to read Fall to You and All for This.  Bravo Lexi Ryan for creating a 6-star series that will remain at the top of my list of recommendations for years to come.

About the Author

lexi ryanOnce a college English professor, I now write full-time. I live in rural Indiana, where, when I’m not writing, I get to hang out with my husband and two kids–a six-year-old boy and a two-year-old hellion, er, girl. Not surprisingly, reading and writing remain my favorite activities, though both come in bits and pieces these days, not the big hunks of time I enjoyed before I had children. When I’m feeling virtuous, I like to go running (I use that word liberally. I’m really, really slow) or do yoga. Don’t worry, I’m always careful to balance out such activities with a hearty serving of ice cream or a chocolate martini.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

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Blog Tour + 5-Star Review + Giveaway: Claiming Kara by Caitlyn O’Leary

claiming kara

Synopsis

Five years ago, Kara Johansen met and fell in love with brothers Ben and Quinn Shotbrook while on vacation with her fire fighter brothers in Sitka, Alaska.They planned to marry, when tragedy struck the Shotbrook family, leaving the brothers to care for their mother and younger brothers again. They sent Kara back home to Fate Harbor, Washington, promising that one day they would reunite. Years later, Kara has made the decision that she wants to marry and start a family of her own. She has put away her dreams of ever being with Ben and Quinn and instead focuses on men who are available to her here and now. Her meddling brothers inform Ben and Quinn of her plans. The brothers Shotbrook rush to Fate Harbor to do whatever it takes to reclaim the woman they never stopped loving. Has too much changed between them to save their love?

Buy Claiming Kara on Amazon!

Excerpt

“No, she needs to listen to me. You both do.” Quinn’s voice was implacable. He pushed Kara’s thighs up so that her knees were almost on either side of her breasts. “Hold her,” he commanded his brother. Ben reached down and grasped her legs behind the knees, keeping her open for Quinn’s perusal. She gasped as she looked down, seeing the top of her sex splayed wide with Quinn so big and imposing leaning over her, looking directly into her eyes. “You will listen to me, little one.  I refuse to hurt you.” He set the condom to the side and swiped his fingers through her wet sex, pulsing with need even more than when Ben’s cock was deep in her mouth. Then she felt him enter her, and it was much more than before. Where before he had used maybe two of his sizeable fingers to stroke inside her, he now had to be using three, and she arched up in welcome. Then he pulled them out, taking more of her silky essence with him. Then he pushed more fingers in again, and she winced at the burn.

“It hurts, doesn’t it, Kara?” He demanded an answer. All she could do was nod her head yes.

Finally she gasped out, “It hurts good, Quinn.” She saw his relieved smile. He continued to pump in and out, until finally she was pushing upward to meet the rhythm of his entry, glorying in the sense of fullness, in the connection with this man. She saw his amber eyes glitter as they watched her intently, assessing her body’s reaction. He took his fingers out to suck them in his mouth, and she shuddered, watching him relish her flavor as his face flushed.

They’d been right to blindfold her. She was now experiencing every sense, and it was amazing. She watched as he picked up the condom, and ripped it open with his intensely white teeth. As he sheathed his cock, she tried to reach forward to touch him, but Ben’s grip kept her in place.

“Next time, Kara,” Ben soothed. “We want to make you feel good. Let Quinn do this.” She watched and felt as the broad head of his cock, so much more than his fingers, snuggled at her needy entrance.

“Oh, my God, can you see this, Ben?” Quinn looked up with a stunned expression, including his brother in this most intimate moment. Ben bent forward over her head, getting a better view. She gave a huff of dissatisfaction that she couldn’t see what they were seeing.

“She’s incredible, brother,” Ben said in a strained voice. Then Kara felt the liquid push just trying to breach the tight muscle of her opening, and she couldn’t help but flinch at the discomfort. Quinn looked deep into her eyes. He felt the resistance of her body, and knew that his girth had to be causing some pain.

“Help her, Ben,” Quinn instructed, while he held still. Ben kept hold of her left leg but gently lowered her right leg, and then his fingers were hovering over her engorged clit, and just one touch had her gasping in reaction. As if he understood that anything more than a featherlike touch would be too much for her swollen bud, he softly caressed her, causing sparks to emanate from that one spot to her entrance, relaxing her and allowing Quinn to slide deeper, until the head was buried inside her, filling her. It was wonderful. She felt the heat and power of the man, and she thrust up, needing him deeper. Again, he looked carefully into her eyes, gauging her ability to accept more. When he determined that with Ben’s ministrations, and her own longing, he could continue, he sank further, until she felt him nestle against her womb.

“Yes, Quinn,” she wailed. “Nothing has ever felt this good.” Ben took his fingers away and she grabbed his wrist, trying to hold him, but he easily moved his fingers to his mouth and sucked them clean, savoring her essence and wetting the digits even further. Then he put them back to where she so desperately needed them and pressed and circled even harder, and that’s when Quinn started a slow pull out, followed by a faster thrust in, once again tapping softly against the mouth of her womb, causing her to spasm in delight. He continued, faster and faster.

“Harder and faster, both of you, harder and faster.” She was thrashing her head. She felt the slight flicker of childhood firework sparklers, and they were building to firecrackers popping off as she whimpered with excitement.  Then she felt a roman candle going off, and finally she screamed as the deafening grand finale came and the night sky exploded into showers of color.

5 Star Read

Kelley’s Review

Have you ever gone too far to protect someone that you love?

Claiming Kara is a heartwrenchingly beautiufl love story that is sinfully sexy.  Kara is a brilliant character in that she is smart, tough, and goes all in with her heart when she truly loves someone.  Ben and Quinn should have been thanking their lucky stars to have a woman like Kara even consider being the tip of their triad.  Instead Quinn pushes her away in order to keep her safe and Ben lets him do it.  They seriously underestimate how strong Kara is and what she can handle.  These men are strong fishermen.  It is what they do and Kara knew that their jobs were dangerous when she entered a relationship with them.

The men in this story are scorching hot alpha manly men with rough hands and soft hearts.  I fell in love with Ben first becasue he really loves Kara for who she is.  I really enjoyed seeing Quinn fall hard and fast and being scared to death.  Caitlyn really did an excellent job of developing the characters and making them stronger as the story progresses.

I consider myself an avid reader of menage romance and for the most part in my experience with menage stories sometimes the plot is weak and the story is alll about the sex. Caitlyn O’Leary knocked my socks off with this read.  This story takes you on many twists and turns and I find myself really identifying with Kara.  Where some heroines flip flop about their feelings, Kara puts her foot down and I appreciated that.  I would have stood beside her as friend because she had every right to be angry with her men.

If you like Lexi Blake/Sophie Oak menage romance you will find that Caitlyn O’Leary is a writer that you will really enjoy.  I can’t wait to see what Caitlyn has in store for us next.

Author Interview

DID I ALWAYS WANT TO BE A WRITER?

The idea of being an author has always been a something too out of reach.  I focused on climbing the corporate ladder instead.  When I got this job doing project management where I could telecommute….Well, why not take that time I would normally be in the car and see if I had what it takes to actually be a writer.  After all, reading 500 books a year costs quite a pretty penny!!!  LOL  😉

WHY WRITE A SERIES?  WHY WRITE FATE HARBOR?

Out of all the books that I read, I love it when an author will give me a series.  When a really good book ends, but then I realize I will have an opportunity to dip back into that world, I am SO happy.  So that’s what made me decide to write a series.  As to why I wanted to base my series in Fate Harbor, Washington, well I LOVE the Pacific Northwest.  The people and landscape are so diverse and welcoming.  I grew up there, and I’m always so happy to be welcomed home when I go for visits.  The only two things I might not accurately portray in my books is just how many MFM relationships there are, and how often it DOESN’T rain.  LOL  (People, to be as green and pretty as it is, it rains….A LOT!)

WHICH HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE BOOK TO WRITE?

I love them all.  Claiming Kara has a lot of my family in it.  I’m the oldest of five children, and we meddle in one another’s lives a lot.  So it is definitely near and dear to my heart.  Trusting Chance is nearest and dearest because it is the first book I have ever written.  Part of the reason I wrote Trusting Chance was to show that you could build a family even if it isn’t through blood.  That people care for one another, that they really can support and love one another.  Also, I wanted to show that even if bad things happen in childhood, that you can heal and grow from it, and become a strong person because of it.

WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN TO WRITE EROTICA?

Erotica is sensuality.  It is something that makes me squirm in my seat and get hot and bothered.  It revs me up so that when I see my husband I’m ready to grab him and rip his clothes off.  My readers often tell me the same thing.  They definitely enjoy my stories and they relate to the characters.  When they think about the characters, they agonize over the situations that they go through and in some cases readers have actually been moved to tears on their behalf.  But when it comes to the sex scenes, many claim that that a good “hot flash” would provide them with blessed relief from the steam generated by my characters channeling their passions.

I used to read the old style romances.  You remember—the ones where the sex scenes were done behind closed doors, and the reader was not privy to them.  But to tell you the truth, I wasn’t satisfied with them.  I’m a caring, empathetic person, so I wanted to know that the heroine was sexually satisfied.  After all, she’d usually gone through hell and back to be with her lover.  Was he worth it?  Inquiring minds want to know!!!

As a writer, however, one of the things I want to do is show my readers how my characters could learn and grow to overcome personal obstacles and become better people.  I wanted to show real life situations in which people solved their problems to claim real life rewards.  Why wouldn’t I want to discuss how a woman could bring pleasure to a man performing oral sex?  Why wouldn’t I want to I want to say it was healthy and right for a woman to expect a man to return the favor?  Sex is a wonderful part of life and should be celebrated.  I want to show that to women.  That said,it also wouldn’t hurt if the men in our lives read these books.

GOOFY STUFF ABOUT CAITLYN THAT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED AND I’VE ACTUALLY ANSWERED.

Boxers or briefs?  Well, I like the boxer briefs, but my husband goes commando, so I’ve found I like that best.

Tall, Blonde and Muscular or Taller, Dark and Handsome…..Hubby is number #2, so I need version #1 for a good menage….Hubby keeps saying no.

What’s your favorite sport?  Love watching basketball, these days my favorite game to play is probably golf.  Sometimes I graduate from putt putt to an actual course.

What’s your favorite swear word?  “The Eff Word” it has many uses, it can be used as a noun, a pronoun, an adjective, a verb, an adverb, etc., etc. etc.

What’s your favorite food?  Froot Loops, like the Eff Word it has many uses, it can be used as breakfast, lunch, dinner, an afternoon snack, a midnightsnack, etc. etc.

What was your worst vacation?  A 9 day family road trip, five kids ages 5-14, over 100 degree heat, no air conditioning in the family station wagon.  The highlight was visiting a copper mine in Utah.

What was your best job?  My company sent me over to Brussels for almost a year to help set up Belgacom Yellow Pages.  It was great!

What has been your best inspiration lately?  Navy Seals from San Diego have actually commandeered the swimming pool at my community complex a couple of Saturdays, so I couldn’t swim my laps.  I was initially pissed off.  HOW STUPID WAS THAT?!  I then sat down and enjoyed the show.

From my 3 books, one of my favorite excerpt is really one between Chance Reynolds and Sam Booth.  So often the men have to help one another and depend on one another.  Their friendship is critical to this kind of story.

Chance leaned back on the dock, admiring how clear the day was now that the clouds had disbursed. “Did you ever consider the possibility that you might have an inferiority complex? That somehow your parents fucked you over into believing you weren’t worthy of anything good? So whenever something bad happens, you blow it out of proportion and let it justify your underlying belief system?”

“Jesus, Chance, are you planning on putting out a shingle? I already have a shrink.” Sam took a long pull from his beer and reached for another.

“Nope. I just figure it’s time I said my piece, because this is important, and I want it to work. You and Josie fit because you both come from the same fucked-up childhoods. You can really relate to one another, and help one another. I fit, because I can lighten the mood. You both need me. Not to mention the fact that neither of us is going to let the other one have her to himself.”

“There is that. You try to take her away from me, and they’ll never find your body,” Sam said in a pretty serious tone that made Chance laugh.

“You could try, brother. You could try,” he said, still laughing.

Sam looked over at him, and realized it might not be as easy to take down Chance as he would like to think. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve thought about why I have a glass-half-empty outlook,” Sam admitted.

“No, you don’t have that at all. You always see the good in others. You see the good in a lot of different situations. But when it comes to yourself, you have a broken mirror. You, son, don’t think you are good, nor do you think you deserve anything good.” Chance paused, letting his words sink in. “Do you want Josie?”

“I’ve had Josie,” Sam said with a great deal of satisfaction.

“Do you want Josie for the long haul?” Chance asked. Sam took another swig from his beer, trying to picture his very long life without Josie in it.

“Yeah, I want her. But I don’t know how I can do it.”

caitlyn teaser

Author Bio

caitlynI write the Fate Harbor series for Siren. Fate Harbor is based on the Pacific Northwest town where I grew up, and filled with the same kind of quirky, loving people I remember.

My books are filled with men and women who aren’t perfect. They have problems, issues, angst, but every single one of them are good people who are deserving of love, (and steamy ménage sex.)

On May 23rd 2014, USA Today Recommended “Protecting Olivia” in their Hot New Romance Books. “Protecting Olivia” is book number two in the Fate Harbor Series.
I hope you’ll take your time to explore the site, check out the books and excerpts and sign up for the newsletter. You can also send me comments. I would LOVE to hear whose story your think should be next.

Facebook ~ E-mail ~ Twitter ~ Website

Giveaway

Caitlyn is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card

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Blog Tour: The Break-In by Aidee Ladnier

Breakin[The]LG

The Break-in by Aidee Ladnier
Busted Labs: Book Two

Synopsis

Ten years ago, roboticist Forbes Pohle received a visit from time-traveler Oliver Lennox. “Wait for me,” Oliver said. Now a decade has come and gone, and Oliver has returned. However, Forbes never dreamed Oliver would reappear as the point man for a gang of technology thieves breaking into his lab. He finds the younger Oliver just as sexy and even more annoying; still, he must convince him their happily-ever-after is meant to be—but he only has the time it takes his robotic cat Jeepers to thwart the thieves to do it. After waiting so long, he could lose everything in the span of seconds.

The Break-In is a stand alone HEA

Buy Links

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5 Quirky Things About Aidee

by Aidee Ladnier

I write about quirky characters because that’s what I know. I’m a pretty quirky individual myself. Here are a few things you might not know about me.

I’ve designed my own shoes

literaryshoes

I really, really like shoes–not high heels—flats. A friend made the mistake of telling me about a company that lets you design your own shoes. Sure enough, they had lots of heels and one template for flats. I immediately started tinkering and then ordered my author shoes. Here they are! Words are so pretty, aren’t they?

I’ve sent a ping pong ball into space.

pingpong

JP Aerospace, a volunteer DIY space program was raising funds to send ping pong ball sized science projects by elementary school children up to the edge of space in 2012. As a lover of all things science and science fiction, I gave money to the cause. In thanks, they let me put a ping pong ball in with those of the children. I ran my own ping pong ball sized experiment and got the thrill of seeing the video that included my experiment coasting in space among the stars. Here’s a picture of my ping pong ball before it went up to space. Which leads to my next quirky fact…

I fold so many origami cranes that I use them as packing material when I mail boxes

It all started when my computer began running slow at work. I would have to reboot often and I found I could make two origami cranes in the time it took my computer to restart. Then I began folding cranes in meetings to keep my hands busy so my brain could stay engaged (think of it like doodling with folded paper). Now it’s a crutch. Whenever I’m stressed, I fold a bird.

Whenever I’m worried, another crane appears. I have to say, my Christmas gifts to my family are enjoyed as much for the crane packing material as they are for the gifts.

One of my poems inspired an indie pop song by the band Correatown

As a thank you for supporting her album on Kickstarter, Angela Correa offered to write a song for me. She asked what I’d like to provide as inspiration and I gave her a love poem that I wrote for my husband. The song that resulted was beautiful and I gave it to him as an anniversary gift that year. If you’d like to hear Distillery by Correatown, you can do so by going here: http://aideemoi.tumblr.com/post/26007891265/you-know-several-years-ago-i-was-divorced-over-a

socksI have an extensive collection of silly socks

There’s really no excuse for the socks I own. They are all colors of the rainbow, some have animals on them, some have strange shapes, all are fun. It’s wonderful to wake up not sure you’re ready to face the day and then put on some goofy socks. It changes everything around.

Of course there are other quirky things about me that didn’t make it into this list–several of them are listed in my bio, in fact. I’m of the opinion that adventures are everywhere. You just have to recognize them. So may the quirk be with you and remember, have fun today.

Aidee’s Love of Robots 10 Minute Video (she really loves robots)

The Forbes and Oliver Playlist for The Break-in

I have to admit when I’m looking for songs to fill a playlist for a story, they have to meet one of two criteria:

The lyrics have to match what a character is feeling

The song has to capture the mood of a scene

That said, here are the songs I chose for this story and why. If you’re interested, I created the playlist on YouTube so you can listen to the whole set here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaf-IXveR9pUKgijDcluQcrnjwxiYpGz2

Moving On by Needtobreathe

I think this song captures Forbes at the start of the story. He’s waiting for his lover to reappear when their stars align but is contemplating moving on. It encompasses that kind of sad but inevitable feeling that you might be waiting for nothing.

Mission Impossible Theme

Okay, I know this is a pretty cheesy pick, but I am dead certain that Wilson, the self-appointed leader of the technology thieves, insisted that this music be played in the van on the way over to Forbes’s lab. Oliver was lucky he drove his own motorcycle to the scene, because they would have come to blows over the endless repetition of this song.

99 Problems by Hugo

I know the Jay-z version is more famous, but I love the almost folky sound of this song. This is Oliver’s song as things start to go south. He’s suddenly on the wrong side of both Forbes and the gang of thieves he’s working for.

Take On Me by A-ha

Shameless 80s guilty pleasure music. THE BREAK-IN is set in the near future, so I’m going to say Forbes has it in his music library because his parents listened to it.

Ruler of My Heart by Irma Thomas

I love the soulful sound of Irma Thomas. This is definitely a Forbes song. He’s waited so long for his lover to return and when he does, it’s not at all in the way he expects.

Jeepers Creepers by Frank Sinatra

I had to include this song. It’s Jeepers’s song! The little cat robot embodies this quirky little ditty. He probably plays it in the house whenever Forbes leaves—which could explain why he was so grumpy that Forbes blew off the blind date at the beginning of the story.

Do It Alone by Sugarcult

Forbes would understand this song. He doesn’t want to be alone anymore. He’s willing to beg Oliver to stay.

With you by Natalie Walker

The lyric “Love takes time and time is on our side” is perfect for THE BREAK-IN. Forbes definitely found his life changed by Oliver and as a result his love didn’t fade despite time and circumstance. It’s a sappy song but those are okay sometimes.

Life Less Ordinary by Carbon Leaf

This song embodies Forbes and Oliver’s relationship. They are somehow a lot less ordinary together and together they will have an extraordinary life.

Little Wonders by Rob Thomas

This song is for the end of the story. The hardest part is over for both Forbes and Oliver. The twist and turns of fate have left them exhausted and time has fallen away. It’s definitely the heart that really matters in the end.

All Will Be Well by Gabe Dixon

This song is my song. As the author, I want to tell my characters that all will be well but only time will tell. There are a few more Forbes and Oliver stories to come.

5 Star Read

Kelley’s Review

Aidee Ladnier captured my heart with this little novella. The love that Forbes shows for Oliver is breathtakingly beautiful.

Forbes met Oliver once upon a time and fell in love. When Oliver left him it would have destroyed him except that, Oliver promised to return to him in the future. Forbes knew that when Oliver returned he would be a younger version of the man he fell in love with, but never in his wildest dreams would he have expected the young man who broke into his lab.

“I’ve got to make a living. I’ve got other people who depend on me, and a part-time job at the Quickie Mart isn’t gonna cut it.” – Oliver

Oliver is young and scared but he has a job to do. His mission is to steal Forbes’s most recent invention and he has to complete his mission no matter what the cost so he can get paid. He desperately needs the money to keep him and those that rely on him alive. When Forbes starts talking about meeting him in the past Oliver does not believe him.

This is the point in the story when I cried. Oliver just had to believe Forbes. He could not just walk away could he?

I am really looking forward to the next book in this series. Great job Aidee. You had me at m2.

Author Bio

AideeNOH8Aidee Ladnier began writing fiction at twelve years old but took a hiatus to be a magician’s assistant, ride in hot air balloons, produce independent movies, collect interesting shoes, and amass a secret file with the CIA. A lover of genre fiction, it has been a lifelong dream of Aidee’s to write both romance and erotica with a little science fiction, fantasy, mystery, or the paranormal thrown in to add a zing.
Visit her at http://aideeladnier.com or on some of her favorite social media sites:

Twitter ~ Tumblr ~ Pinterest ~ Facebook

BEST GIVEAWAY EVAH!!!

$25 Amazon Gift Card + Prize Candle (Could contain a prize up to $5,000) + Serious Swag and Yes the Kitty is a USB Drive

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ARC Review: Fiancée For Hire by Tawna Fenskee

fiancee for hire

Synopsis

Former Marine MacArthur Patton has made a small fortune on top-secret government contracts and black-ops missions, but his new assignment involves something more dangerous—marriage.

Well, fake marriage anyway.

To keep weapons out of the hands of terrorists, Mac has to secure a fiancée. A sweet, demure, compliant fiancée to serve as his arm candy for a few weeks while he completes the covert arms deal in Mexico. His sister claims to know just the woman, and sends her best friend to play the role.

“Sweet” and “demure” aren’t in Kelli Landers’s repertoire. A badass veterinarian who neuters big dogs and bigger men on a regular basis, she can’t wait to bring Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Detached to his knees. Her longtime crush on the commitment-phobe makes her plan to seduce him even sweeter.

Love wasn’t part of the plan, but the deeper Mac and Kelli fall into their ruse, the more danger they attract, until more than just their hearts are on the line…

5 Star Read

Kelley’s Review

Fiancée  For Hire is fun, flirty, and full of sizzle.

Have you ever read a book and once you were finished decided to read it again?  That is what I did with Fiancée  For Hire.  I adored this book.  It was hysterically funny and yet the chemistry between Mac and Kelli was sizzling hot.  Of course I am going to love this book because the heroine is named Kelli even if Tawna spelled it wrong.  Ha!  I promise that you will be hooked by the end of chapter one.

Kelli is an amazingly talented Veterinarian.  Several papers published about her mad skills as a Vet.  When her best friend Sheri approaches her about acting as her brother Mac’s fiancee Kelli thinks she has lost her mind.  Sheri knows that Kelli has had a secret crush on Mac since they were kids.  The more she thinks about this crazy scheme of Sheri’s the more she considers going through with it.  There is a chance she could finally act on her crush and possibility build a spay and neuter clinic to deal with a very large and well know feral cat colony that resides in Todos Santos.

“So Mac is expecting sweet, calm, and pliable fiancée?

Sheri nodded. “And instead we send him you.”

Kelli gave her most angelic smile and sliced off the cat’s testicles.

“I’m in.”

Mac knows that he needs a fiancee if he is going to pull off the arms deal he has been working on.  Why?  Because Mac was a bit of a bad boy and might have messed around with Pedro Zapata’s wife.  The deal would probably go a lot smoother if Zapata believed that Mac no longer had feelings for his bride.  My favorite part of this book is the witty banter between the characters.  It kept me turning the pages to see what kind of bomb Kelli was going to drop on him next.

“What can you tell me about the mission?”

She said the word with air quotes, a detail Mac found both endearing and irritating.  “Have you heard the name Pedro Ubano Tujillo Zapata?” he asked carefully.

“No.  Though I appreciate the fact that his initials spell PUTZ.”

“You’ll want to refrain from pointing that out if you meet him.”

The chemistry between Mac and Kelli was off the charts hot.  Kelly is the mistress of seduction when she teases Mac while trying to pick out a cocktail dress for for dinner with Zapata.  When they finally give in to their urges albeit after she repairs a prolapsed penis on a lizard in Zapata’s bathroom, it is scorching hot.  Get ready for some new panties ladies.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one that enjoys romantic comedy with a little sizzle.  Tawna Fenske delivers a great read once again!

ARC provided by Entangled

You need to grab this read while it is only $.99 cents!!!  It will go up to $3.79 shortly. This is a steal!!!

Buy Links

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes

tawna pic 2Author Bio

Tawna Fenske traveled a career path that took her from newspaper reporter to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek to PR manager for her city’s tourism bureau. An avid globetrotter and social media fiend, Tawna is the author of the popular blog, Don’t Pet Me, I’m Writing, and a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her fiancée in Bend, Oregon, where she’ll invent any excuse to hike, bike, snowshoe, float the river, or sip wine on her back deck.

She’s published several romantic comedies with Sourcebooks, including Making Waves and Believe it or Not, as well as the interactive fiction caper, Getting Dumped, with Coliloquy and the novella Eat, Play, Lust, with Entangled Publishing. Her newest release with Entangled Brazen, Marine for Hire, blends steamy romance with heartwarming humor.

Tawna’s quirky brand of comedy and romance has won praises from RT Book Reviews, which nominated Making Waves for Contemporary Romance of the Year, and from the Chicago Tribune, which noted, “Fenske’s wildly inventive plot & wonderfully quirky characters provide the perfect literary antidote to any romance reader’s summer reading doldrums.”

Bar Hop + 5-Star Review + Giveaway: One More Night by Lauren Blakely

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Bar Hop Schedule:

July 9-The SubClub Books

July 10-Give Me Books Blog

July 11-Reviews by Tammy & Kim

July 12-The Book Enthusiast

July 13-A Book Whore’s Obsession

July 14-Two Book Pushers

July 15-Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews

July 16-Natasha is a Book Junkie

July 17-Schmexy Girl Book Blog

July 18-Vilma’s Book Blog

 Juliastoptencocktails

One More Night

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About ONE MORE NIGHT:

Your presence is requested for another installment in the tale of Julia and Clay, two red-hot lovers. Come inside their world of passion and suspense once more for a deliciously erotic and heart-poundingly dangerous story of pearls, handcuffs, thieves, mobsters, poker and pleasure in the city of sin…

Happy endings don’t come easily. They’re hard-won and Clay Nichols is going to have to keep earning his…

Now living together in New York with her debt safely paid off, sexy bartender Julia Bell and hot-as-hell entertainment lawyer Clay thought their future was clear sailing.
But life doesn’t work that way and the fiery lovers run into a slew of new challenges as Clay tries to put a ring on it. Trouble looms in every corner–trouble from clients, trouble with timing, and, most of all, trouble from her past returns on their trip to Vegas. A dangerous man who knows much more about Julia than he should surfaces in Sin City where they’re supposed to be enjoying a weekend getaway. Following her in the casino, watching her every move at the pool, targeting her as she plays poker.

Too bad Clay is called away repeatedly, leaving Julia alone in a sprawling hotel full of dark corners, back rooms, and unsavory characters. Can Clay save her from danger one more time, and then finally get down on one knee? Or will he be too late for the woman he adores?

Read on in ONE MORE NIGHT, a new novel in the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights series packed with more sex, more dirty talk and more danger. And per your request, the recipe for Julia’s award-winning cocktail, the Purple Snow Globe, has finally been revealed in this ebook!

5 Star Read

Kelley’s Review

One More Night takes you on a sinfully sexy and suspenseful joyride through Sin City as Clay and Julia try to escape their troubles and take some time off. It seems that Julia will never be able to escape her past when it creeps up on her in Vegas when she least expects it.  While Clay’s rocks her rescue Macgyver style, he may have taken things a bit too far.  This time he will need Julia to rescue him back if there is any chance at a happily ever after.

Lauren took an amazing trilogy with a very happy ending and one-upped it.  She did something many authors struggle with and did it well.  She gave us another chapter, but not just a bunch of the same, she did something different and gave us a whole new adventure.  She also kept the characters true to who they were and always will be.  After reading One More Night I have fallen in love with Clay and Julia all over again.  I am so glad that Lauren listened to the voices in her head and gave us this amazing read.

One More Night is fun and fast and full of suspense.  There are some seriously sexy scenes that will melt your panties for sure.  If you are looking for a sexy adventure in the city that never sleeps pick up One More Night. It is truly an unforgettable adventure.

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And don’t miss the prequel novella, FIRST NIGHT, and the full-length novels, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT and AFTER THIS NIGHT, in the Seductive Nights Series!

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FIRST NIGHT ** NIGHT AFTER NIGHT ** AFTER THIS NIGHT

 

Author PhotoAbout Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In UsPretending He’s MinePlaying With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

 

 Giveaway

Lauren is giving away One Night at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas ($300 value)

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Links:

Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ AFTER THIS NIGHT Goodreads ~ Lauren Bl