Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : Salvation by Robin Covington – Nashville Nights Series – Book 2

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Salvation

Salvation

Nashville Nights Series – Book 2

By Robin Covington

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Synopsis

Letting go never felt so good.

Carlisle Queen is dying and no one knows it.

Burying the pain of losing her friends and her professional swimming career in a terrorist attack, America’s former sweetheart dulls her pain with drugs, pills and parties. The bomb left her with more than nightmares; shrapnel is lodged in her back and inching closer to her spinal cord. When the doctors tell her paralysis is inevitable, she decides to take her own life rather than face a lifetime in a wheelchair.

Mateo Butler isn’t anyone’s hero.

Reeling from the death of his little sister and his own cowardice, he spends his nights partying and his days ignoring the medical school acceptance letters and his parents’ concerned phone calls. Just a couple of months from graduation, he’s facing a future filled with shame and regret. The last thing he needs is to meet the woman who compels him to be a better man.

Can they save each other?

When Carlisle and Mateo meet, the chemistry between them is combustible. They play, party and hide their true selves until one night turns their lust into something more…something real. As secrets are revealed and walls collapse, what they were and what they might become doesn’t matter as much as who they are together. When the choice comes down to life or death, can love be their salvation?

**A portion of the royalties from this book will be donated to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation**

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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Excerpt

His phone vibrates in his hand and we both look down at the screen. Zane has responded and Mateo quickly presses the screen, both of us relieved to move on from the awkwardness that was creeping into our night.

Zane’s sent a selfie, the stage with the current performers in the background of the picture. “Ariel! Glad you could make it even if you have to hang out with that loser. I’ll come find you after the show and rescue you.”

“He calls me Ariel?” I ask.

Mateo glances at me, his expression a little bit confused. “Yeah. You know the whole red hair and mermaid thing. The swimming¼” His words drift off when I don’t respond, his expression telling me that he’s worried about my taking offense. I let the silence drag out a little bit longer before I let him off the hook and smile. His obvious relief makes me laugh out loud.

“Newsflash braintrust, you two aren’t the first to think that up.” I gesture towards the phone. “Hand it over.”

I type onto the screen. “If we fuck, you’ll write a song about me. It will go viral. I will have to listen to it for the rest of my life. No thanks. Ariel.”

I hand the phone back to Mateo, noticing for the first time the dark expression on his face. Not anger. Something deeper. Carnal. Something that gets me wet and makes my body flash hot all over.

“I rescind my offer of a threesome. You know this, right?” Mateo pulls me in tight against him, his breath hot against my cheek. “There’s no fucking way I can share you with anybody. There would be bloodshed. Prison for me.” He punctuates the next few words with a series of small nips against the skin of my neck. “Very. Bad. Idea.”

“Well, then you better make my sacrifice worth it. ” I snake my hand backwards between us, touching as much of his hard abdomen and even harder crotch as I can from my awkward angle.

“You already know I’m worth it. I bet you’re already wet for me. Dying for it.” He keeps one arm looped around my waist ensuring that I stay where he wants me while the other wanders, skimming over my bare thighs and then inching up under the hem of my denim skirt to trace the bottom curve of an ass cheek. He groans against my ear. “Fuck, I love the fact that you hate underwear.”

I lick my lips. “I don’t like anything to get in between me and what I want.”

He laughs, the sound dark and sensual and the perfect thing to crank me up one notch higher.

“Well, you can’t have what you want right now.” The tips of his fingers trace the curve of my ass and I hold my breath as he makes a shallow dip into the wet, slick place between my legs. My body sags but he holds me in place in the right spot for him to make me crazy with that dirty mouth. “If you’re a good girl and enjoy Zane’s set, later tonight I’ll bury my cock in your pussy as deep as you want, for as long as you want, as often as you want. Sound good?”

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SBJ2015Favorite

5Star

Michel’s Review

Wow! Salvation by Robin Covington blew me away!  It is one of the most emotional books I have read in 2015.  This is a story of despair, hope, redemption, and unconditional love.  Both of the leading characters are emotionally damaged in very different ways but their inner turmoils collide in a life altering way.  They are faced with decisions that go beyond choosing each other as their one and only love.  They are forced to face mortality.  They are forced to chose life or death.  They are forced to face the fact that if they survive the grim reaper their lives are still going to be changed drastically.  They are facing very controversial decisions that are both right and wrong.  In the end the one thing that matters most in their lives is their love for one another.  Whether their time is limited or extended, their love is a once in a lifetime gift.

Carlisle Queen is living life with a deadline.  She was an Olympic champion and international competitor.  When a terrorist attack destroys her life she no longer has the same kind of drive she once had.  Her injuries from the bombing have left her beyond broken.  She is living in constant pain and the knowledge that her injuries are going to eventually kill her.  Her only hope for survival is a very risky surgery that could leave her completely paralyzed.  She is not even a candidate for the surgery at this time.  She has seen every specialist there is to see.  Her prognosis is not looking good.  She also has very strong feelings about the surgery.  She does not want to go through life in a wheel chair.  She has consciously chosen to take her own life when her health and pain can no longer be managed.  With this resolution, she is living life on the edge.  She manages her pain with pills and drugs.  She has random hookups.  She limits her friendships and relationships because she knows she is a ticking time bomb.

On the surface Mateo Butler is the perfect guy.  He is drop dead gorgeous, has a great personality, and is extremely intelligent. He has a bright future and has been accepted into medical school.  He is the guy that every girl wants.  His confidence and charming personality has earned him quite a reputation with the ladies.  He is a genuinely good guy.  Beneath the surface he has his own demons.  He is haunted by his sister’s death.  He turned his back on his sister when she chose to take her own life rather than fight the disease that was taking her life.  He could not forgive her for actions.  He regrets turning his back on her and now he can’t make it right.  He’s not sure if he really wants to become a doctor.  He is beginning to think that it may have been his sister’s dream and not his.  He is at crossroads on what direction he is going to take after college graduation.

When Mateo and Carlisle meet it is instant attraction.  What starts out as a one night stand hook up turns into a solid friendship.  The friendship leads them both into a sizzling hot relationship that neither of them wanted or expected.  But the heart wants what it needs.  In many ways their relationship is perfect.  They enjoy each other’s company, they are extremely compatible, they bring out the best in each other, and their sexual relationship is sizzling hot.  The only problem is that they are both keeping their secrets close.  They are hiding the demons that chase them.  When reality smacks them in the face they will have to face choices that most couples will never have to face.  Can their love survive these choices?

Salvation was an incredible story.  It was gut wrenching and emotional.  At the same time it showed how important it is to share your love with someone.  It showed how important it is to live life to the fullest no matter what lays ahead.

Read this book!

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The Nashville Night Series

91FFKhp8wdL._SL1500_Temptation – Book 1

She needs to be good.

At sixteen, Kit ditched her crappy life and moved to Nashville with only $200, her guitar, and a notebook full of songs. She hit it big, but five years of living like a rock star plus a stint in rehab has killed any good will she had with her label. The suits have ordered Kit to shape up or ship out of the limelight. The last thing she needs is a hot, sexy distraction with a sinful smile.

He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.

Max Butler is as far from a celebrity as you can get and he likes it that way. A Nashville firefighter, he’s living the single life with a revolving door of parties, friends, and a different woman in his bed every night. When his normal life suddenly collides with the girl on his favorite Rolling Stone cover, he sees the perfect chance to fulfill his ultimate fantasy and see just how bad Kit can be.

Sometimes bad is so very good.

With three weeks until Kit leaves for her big tour, Max promises to give her a break from being the good girl–no strings attached. But when hot days lead to sultry nights, the lines get blurred and suddenly three weeks of bad might not be good enough.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

SalvationSalvation – Book 2

Letting go never felt so good.

Carlisle Queen is dying and no one knows it.

Burying the pain of losing her friends and her professional swimming career in a terrorist attack, America’s former sweetheart dulls her pain with drugs, pills and parties. The bomb left her with more than nightmares; shrapnel is lodged in her back and inching closer to her spinal cord. When the doctors tell her paralysis is inevitable, she decides to take her own life rather than face a lifetime in a wheelchair.

Mateo Butler isn’t anyone’s hero.

Reeling from the death of his little sister and his own cowardice, he spends his nights partying and his days ignoring the medical school acceptance letters and his parents’ concerned phone calls. Just a couple of months from graduation, he’s facing a future filled with shame and regret. The last thing he needs is to meet the woman who compels him to be a better man.

Can they save each other?

When Carlisle and Mateo meet, the chemistry between them is combustible. They play, party and hide their true selves until one night turns their lust into something more…something real. As secrets are revealed and walls collapse, what they were and what they might become doesn’t matter as much as who they are together. When the choice comes down to life or death, can love be their salvation?

**A portion of the royalties from this book will be donated to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation**

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

redemptionRedemption – Book 3

Release Date: June 15, 2015

Holding on never felt so good.

Emory Cabell is leaving the lies behind her.

Finding out that you’re the half-sister to America’s country music queen is game changer. Determined to meet the sibling she never knew and compelled to pursue the music career she’s always wanted, Emory leaves her small town and heads to Nashville. Thrown by the bustle of Music City and the cutthroat dealing of the business, she finds unexpected shelter in a musical partnership with country music’s notorious bad boy.

Zane Wyatt has his eyes set on the prize.

Known as a man who never stays the night, Zane is reliable only when it comes to his music. Years of paying his dues has gained him the coveted lead guitarist spot on the hottest music tour of the year. Hoping this gig will lead to his own recording contract, he agrees to write a few songs with Emory but he’s blown away by the sexual chemistry sizzling between them and leveled by his feelings for this quiet woman with the beautiful soul.

Can love be more than just a line in a song?

Darkness and light…they should not work. But one night in her bed proves they’re hotter than the number one single they wrote together. Things get complicated when the spotlight sheds light on all of Zane’s past sins and Emory struggles with trusting him with her heart. When the sought after recording contract stipulates they remain a duet, it threatens everything Zane has worked towards and challenges everything he thought he knew about himself. With his life at a crossroads, will he choose the music or the future with a woman whose love might just be his redemption?

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes 

 

About Robin Covington

5812874Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. A Night of Southern Comfort, her debut novel was nominated for the RT Book Reviewers Choice Awards for Small Press and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”

When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Dean winchester. You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!

Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children (they get it from her, of course!) and her beloved furbabies.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Salvation

5 Star Review: Retribution by Katie Reus

retribution

Retribution 

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense

By Katie Reus

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Synopsis

She sees brief glimpses of the future…

Nika and Alena Brennan will do anything to kill a vicious Russian crime boss and they’re using his only son to get to him. Yet when the time comes to execute their plan, psychic Nika hesitates due to an unexpected entanglement with sexy security expert Declan Gallagher. When her sister is kidnapped and all their carefully laid plans go awry, Nika must depend on Declan and her mortal enemy’s son to get her sister back.

He invades her dreams and teases her with sensual pleasures…

As a dream walker, Declan is capable of seeing anyone’s innermost thoughts as they sleep. With Nika, however, he finds himself playing a deadly, seductive game. He knows she’s not who she says she is and he’s determined to find out the real reason she’s in Miami before she gets herself or someone else killed.

Time is running out…

Nika’s window of opportunity is closing to save her sister and find a way to protect their secrets without landing them both in jail. With innocent lives at stake, Nika must decide if the retribution she’s waited a lifetime for is worth losing the man who has won her heart.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

5Star

Michel’s Review

If you are looking for a fast paced, high octane romantic suspense book mixed with a hint of the paranormal, Retribution is the book you want to pick up.  Both of the leading characters have physic kind of gifts.  How they use they gifts will have the reader chilled to the bone one moment and fanning themselves the next moment.

Nika and Alena Brennan are on a mission.  They are out for retribution for their parents deaths when they were young children.  Although they witnessed the murders, they have been in protective custody most of their lives.  Their identities have changed.  Their history has been changed.  One has developed a physic gift.  Now the sisters are out for revenge.  They will use their brains, their knowledge of the spy world, and the physic gifts to kill the three men that ruined their lives. Two down and one to go.  They are after the Russian crime boss that is responsible for it all.  They will use his son and his connections to complete their final execution.  One sister is completely driven and the other sister is trying to protect her.

Declan Gallagher has been secretly hired by the FBI director to stop the Brennan sisters from their final murder.  If these sisters murder this man the FBI will lose vital information on world wide  organizations known for drug trafficking, illegal gun trade, and human trafficking.  Declan has to go undercover and protect the son that has been targeted as a means to their intended victim.  Declan has a special gift.  He has the ability to enter peoples dreams and obtain information.  He will use his ability to stop the Brennan sisters.

When Declan and Nika meet in the dream world the sexual sparks ignite.  Their erotic encounters are sizzling hot.  They can communicate with their bodies in their dreams.  What Declan didn’t count on was how powerful Nika’s physic abilities are.  No one should remember when he invades their dreams.  Nika not only remembers their encounters, she questions his motivations and abilities.

The mission the Brennan sisters embarked on will change.  Their lives will be the ones in danger.  There are traitors in the midst of them.  There are unseen enemies.  There are opportunities to find something better in life than revenge.  There are new ways to use their talents.  If they can stay alive long enough to find out what direction their lives should go.

I could not put this book down.  The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat.  The erotic dreams between Nika and Declan had me swooning.  The build up of their relationship and revelations kept me guessing.  Their physic gifts had me in awe.

Read Retribution.  It will not disappoint!

______________________________________

About Katie Reus

katie reusKatie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, & IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

retribution

5 Star Review : Overruled by Emma Chase – The Legal Briefs Series – Book 1

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Overruled

The Legal Briefs Series – Book 1

By Emma Chase

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Synopsis

Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled series, returns with the first installment of the Legal Briefs series!

A Washington, DC, defense attorney, Stanton Shaw keeps his head cool, his questions sharp, and his arguments irrefutable. They don’t call him the Jury Charmer for nothing—with his southern drawl, disarming smile, and captivating green eyes, he’s a hard man to say no to. Men want to be him, and women want to be thoroughly cross examined by him.

Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.

Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart, the mother of his beloved ten-year-old daughter. Jenny is getting married—to someone who isn’t him.

That’s definitely not part of the plan.

***

Sofia Santos is a city-raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.

But when Stanton, her “friend with mind-blowing benefits,” begs her for help, she finds herself out of her element, out of her depth, and obviously out of her mind. Because she agrees to go with him to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Mississippi, to do all she can to help Stanton win back the woman he loves. Her head tells her she’s crazy…and her heart says something else entirely.

What happens when you mix a one-stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage, and a gun-toting Nana?

The Bourbon flows, passions rise, and even the best-laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo / ITunes

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5Star

Michel’s Review

Overruled by Emma Chase is the first book in the Legal Briefs series.  Once again Emma Chase has delivered a fun ,sexy romance that will keep the readers glued to the pages.  The quirky characters, the southern charm, and fumbled romantic expectations are guaranteed to keep readers laughing out loud.

Stanton Shaw is a successful upcoming defense attorney.  He is working at one of Washington D.C. s most prestigious law firms.  He’s on fast track to making partner.  His life is quite different from his simple southern roots in Sunshine, Mississippi.

Stanton couldn’t wait to get out of Sunshine.  Although he was the star football player and offered a full ride at Ole Miss, he chose a different route.  He accepted a full scholarship to Columbia in New York.  But there is a hiccup in his plans.  His cheerleader girlfriend , Jenny is pregnant.  He is about to become a father before he graduates from high school.

Both Jenny and Stanton realize that Stanton needs to go to Columbia for their future.  She is going to stay home in Sunshine and attend nursing school while he gets his degree in pre law.

What starts out as a temporary separation turns into more of a permanent one.  Ten years later, one law degree later, and a different city has put Stanton Shaw on a different path in life.  He is still planning on returning to Jenny to spend the rest of his life, just not at this time.  He still has to make partner.  He still has things to accomplish before he can pursue his life with Jenny.  When he gets a wedding invitation everything changes.  He has been invited to Jenny’s wedding in Sunshine, MS.  It looks like he is going to lose his lifetime love.  Stanton is finally going home and claiming his woman.

Stanton and Jenny had an open relationship.  When he was home in Sunshine she was exclusively his.  While he was away they were both free to date.  Stanton has become involved in a friends with benefits relationship with his co council, Sophia Santos.  Sophia is beautiful, brilliant, and the very definition of red hot sexy.  She is his confidant and helps keep him focused.  He is going to need Sophia with him to help win Jenny back.  She will keep him on track, keep him from going off the deep end, and keep him focused on the prize.  She has to go with him to Sunshine.

Once Stanton and Sophia hit the Sunshine city limits ( or should I say the one red light in town) the adventure begins.  From the gun toting Nana on the front porch aiming at Stanton’s balls to the new age free love older brother that seems to frequently lose his clothes, Sunshine is at it’s finest.  Everyone is ready for a wedding.  Who will be the groom?  A tractor race may decide the outcome.

Meanwhile Sophia is learning that she may fit into the Sunshine community.  She also realizes that she wants to fit into Stanton Shaw’s heart.  How can she help him land the bride when she wants to capture his heart?  A tractor race won’t do the trick.  It’s going to take a tornado to make Stanton sit up and take notice.

You can take Stanton Shaw out of Sunshine, MS. but you can’t take Sunshine out of Stanton Shaw.  He may be able to charm the jurors but can he use his southern charm to win the case of a lifetime? Can he win the woman he was meant to love for the rest of his life?

Stanton Shaw has been Overruled.

Emma Chase delivered another fantastic book.  I cannot wait to read the next two books in the Legal Briefs series.

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The Legal Briefs Series

81++jUz94ML._SL1500_Overruled – Book 1

Buy: Amazon

A Washington, DC, defense attorney, Stanton Shaw keeps his head cool, his questions sharp, and his arguments irrefutable. They don’t call him the Jury Charmer for nothing—with his southern drawl, disarming smile, and captivating green eyes, he’s a hard man to say no to. Men want to be him, and women want to be thoroughly cross examined by him.

Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.

Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart, the mother of his beloved ten-year-old daughter. Jenny is getting married—to someone who isn’t him.

That’s definitely not part of the plan.

***

Sofia Santos is a city-raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.

But when Stanton, her “friend with mind-blowing benefits,” begs her for help, she finds herself out of her element, out of her depth, and obviously out of her mind. Because she agrees to go with him to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Mississippi, to do all she can to help Stanton win back the woman he loves. Her head tells her she’s crazy…and her heart says something else entirely.

What happens when you mix a one-stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage, and a gun-toting Nana?

The Bourbon flows, passions rise, and even the best-laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.

 

sustained2Sustained – Book Two

Coming August 25, 2015

Pre-Order: Amazon

A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will get you off. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy & Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and am knee deep in a damn compost pit.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, and defend her…and the kids.

And that—that, I know how to do.

 

appealed3Appealed – Book Three

Coming November 17, 2015

Pre- Order : Amazon

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate—and prized—parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Louboutins.

When Kennedy looks at Brent, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue–worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school in order to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell for her.

But she’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore—she’s a Washington, DC, prosecutor with a long winning streak. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case, and Kennedy thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own.

But things aren’t exactly working out the way she planned. Brent has his sights set on Kennedy, and every fiery exchange only makes him want her more—and makes her wonder if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. In the end, they may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court.

 

Author Bio:

emma chaseBy day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she toils away the hours bringing her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

overruled

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

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

Dalton,

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

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

I loved you.

I raged for you.

I wept for you.

And now, I’m letting you go.

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

 

Dalton POV:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5Star

Tracey’s Review

Dalton Greer and Spencer Locke have been best friends since they were very young, seeing in each other a safe place, the other half to each other. But Dalton is hiding the truth of his life from Spencer, a life that will ultimately bring devastation and division in its wake, and will test the love that has grown between them.

What makes a book a 5-star read for me? It has to grab me from the minute I start reading, to be a read that I can’t put down, that keeps me from doing anything else until I finish. And it will be the book that evokes emotion, that brings out all of the feels, running the gamut from joy to tears to angst. Under the Influence has all of this and more.

OMGoodness, L.B. Simmons, you’ve gone and done it. Nine percent into this book, and I was crying. You had me for the duration, and I had only made it through the first couple of chapters. I was hooked on Spencer’s and Dalton’s story from the very beginning, and it just never stopped. Both Dalton and Spencer have experienced the worst that life has to offer a child, and so find themselves irrevocably drawn to each other. But while Spencer has been able to move forward, Dalton has hardened himself, not allowing himself to love anyone.

“I find myself utterly fascinated, awestruck even, that there are people actually capable of truly loving someone without wondering when and how they will be betrayed. However, the knowledge of their existence also saddens me because the cold reality is, I will never know that type of love.”

Dalton breaks my heart. Capable of so much more than he has allowed his circumstance to dictate, he has closed himself off from feeling anything for anyone, except for Spencer, and for his friend, Rat. Just as he allows himself to admit his feelings for Spencer, he is faced with the ultimate loss, a loss that will completely alter the course of his, and Spencer’s, life. And Spencer shines, just beautifully exemplifies what true love is all about, in accepting Dalton, with all of his flaws, and loving him, perhaps more, because of them.

Under the Influence is ultimately a story about facing our demons and emerging stronger on the other side. L.B. Simmons has done an amazing job of crafting a book filled with characters that are flawed, yet redeemable, capable of love even when they don’t realize it, and stronger than the sum of their fears. This is absolutely one of the best books that I have read this year, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Filled with joy, pain, intrigue, and a healthy dose of passion, Under the Influence gets 5+ ‘I can’t put this book down to save my life’ stars from me. Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR.

5Star

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

 

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

 

Happy Release + Review: Fair Game by Monica Murphy- The Rule Series – Book 1

ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND fans…you are going to LOVE this new series by Monica Murphy! Check out the covers and the FAIR GAME excerpt below!

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Fair Game

The Rule Series – Book 1

Release Date: May 12, 2015

By Monica Murphy

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Pre Order: Amazon 

Synopsis

FAIR GAME (The Rules Series, Book 1) May 12, 2015

Bad enough Jade Frost’s boyfriend drags her to a boring poker game. Even worse that he actually threw her into the betting pot during an intense round…and lost. Talk about the perfect excuse for Jade to make him her ex-boyfriend.

 

Now she supposedly belongs to the ultra rich, extremely gorgeous Shep Prescott. He could have anything he wants yet he seems to be in hot pursuit of her. No matter how rude, how snarky, how impossible she acts, it doesn’t stop him. More like her horrible behavior seems to make him want her more.

 

When she finds herself starting to fall for him, Jade’s confused. There’s more to Shep than the carefree rich charmer he portrays. He has secrets. And she wants to discover them, no matter how ugly they might be…

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

FairGameTeaser1

Excerpt 

“What are you doing?” she asks, sounding the tiniest bit breathless.

“Making sure you’re not injured,” I answer, proud of how under control I sound. Inside, I’m chaos. My heart is thumping hard against my chest and my breathing’s accelerated. I grip her knee, and realize my hand is fucking shaking.

“I think you’re trying to get your hand up my skirt.” Leave it to Bitch Face to call me out. I can’t help but find her straightforwardness attractive. No girl is ever straightforward with me. They’re always coy. Playing games and flirting and never asking for what they really want. They always defer to me.

After awhile, that gets pretty damn boring.

“Maybe I am,” I say, moving my hand to rest on top of her knee.

Her lips curve into the smallest smile and seeing it feels like a victory. As if I’ve just won an extra difficult battle and that tiny curve of her lush lips is my prize. “You’re pretty determined, aren’t you?”

She’s not pushing me away. I need to take this moment. Seize this fucking moment and make it mine. Make her mine. At least for tonight. Her scent is making my head spin and just touching her knee has got me sporting wood. “I’m always determined.”

“Determined to piss me off?”

I chuckle and her smile grows. “Am I doing a good job?”

“You’re an expert at making me mad.”

“I think we’re having a moment,” I tell her. “A bonding moment.”

She looks the slightest bit horrified. “No. Way. That is the last thing I want to do.”

I raise my eyebrows, let my hand slide up a bare inch more. Then another. I’m so close to getting under that skirt, it’s not even funny. “You don’t like me very much, do you?”

“You don’t like me either. You call me Bitch Face.”

“You introduced yourself to me as Bitch Face.”

She tilts her head, all that wavy red hair tumbling over her shoulder. My fingers itch to touch it. “I did, didn’t I?”

“Yeah. I thought it was an unusual name…” I let my voice drift and she smiles once more.

“Says the man with an unusual name.”

“I told you it’s an old family name.”

“As a last name, not as a first.” She makes a little face. “It’s not very sexy.”

“You don’t think?” Interesting.

“I can’t imagine shouting out your name in the throes of passion.” Her cheeks go the faintest pink. That she’s even thinking like this gives me a secret thrill.

Forbidden. Unknown. This is the last girl I should consider getting naked with.

“Throes of passion?” I ask. “Someone’s been reading too many romance novels.”

“You know what I mean.” She waves a hand, dismissing her words.

“I don’t.” I pull the innocent act, which she isn’t falling for but it’s still fun. “What are you talking about exactly?”

“You’re not going to make me explain, are you?”

“I would love for you to explain. Or maybe I should help you.” I crawl my fingers up her thigh, playing with the frayed hem of her denim skirt. “Are you talking about…having sex?”

She nods, her cheeks blazing up. Hmm, she’s extra pretty when she blushes.

“And that moment…when we’re fucking…and you’re so damn close.” I lean in and inhale deep, my eyes almost falling shut as I absorb her scent, her warmth and that flush in her cheeks, the way her breathing quickens. “So fucking close as I push deep inside you. You don’t think it would be sexy to yell out my name just as I make you come?”

“N-no.” She shakes her head, that single word coming out as a squeak.

“Really.” I give in and settle my cheek next to hers, nuzzle her ear with my nose before I whisper, “Because by the time I have you coming, I’m fairly certain you’ll be crying out my name and begging me please.”

“You’re a real arrogant prick, aren’t you?”

I pull back from her the slightest bit, a little shocked. The girl doesn’t mince words. “Merely confident in my abilities.” I cup the back of her head, thread my fingers in the silky soft waves of her hair. I’d love to wrap her hair around my fist and tug her head back right before I kiss her…

“Proud of your manwhore status?”

“I can’t help it if the ladies flock to me.”

She rests her hand on my chest and gives me a gentle shove. “I’m not flocking to you.”

“Even after all that talk about coming and with my hand up your skirt?”

Jade looks down with a sharp gasp, dropping her hand to mine and shoving it out from beneath her skirt. “What are you doing?”

“I thought it was obvious.” When she says nothing, only glares at me, I continue. “I was going to kiss you and hopefully get you off with my fingers.”

Her mouth drops open. Instead of looking aroused, she looks…pissed. Vaguely horrified. “You’re disgusting.”

I lean back. Move way, way back though I’m not getting off the bed. Not yet. I still have a chance.

Or then again, maybe I don’t.

FairGameTeaser6

 4 StarMichel’s Review

For fans of Monica Murphy and her new adult books the new Rule series is the ticket.  Monica Murphy is going to have another smashing hit series.

The Rule series features some filthy rich bad boy college students running from commitment, responsibility, and love.  They have no clue that cupid is going to shoot his arrow and bring these bad boys down.

First on deck is Shep Prescott.  Shep Prescott has quite a reputation as a player and ladies man.  He is the unattainable guy that every woman wants.  He’s filthy rich, super cool, and drop dead gorgeous.  Not to mention that he has a bad side to him.  He is known for his illegal gambling house, wild parties, and bad boy antics.  He is a seasoned poker player and always wins when the stakes are high.

When Shep has the opportunity to make an unreasonable bet he is balls to the wall.  He has put up a $50,000 marker for the chance to win his opponent’s girlfriend.  The snarky, smart mouthed, gorgeous redhead seems like quite the prize.  Plus he caught her cheating and cuing her boyfriend.  No one pulls anything over on Shep Prescott.

Jade Frost is pissed.  Her stupid boyfriend bet her in a poker game.  He fell for Shep Prescott’s bogus bet without one thought of the consequences.  Now she no longer has said boyfriend and the school’s biggest player thinks she is his prize.  He has another think coming as far as Jade is concerned.  She is going to make the rules.  Game On!

Jade is on the run.  Shep is on the chase.  The stakes are high.  They both may lose their hearts.

Both Jade and Shep will find there is a lot more to life than a game of poker.  They are going to learn the true meaning of love.

Monica Murphy has started another fantastic series.  I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

ITD Amazon

In The Dark

The Rule Series – Book 2

Release Date: August 25, 2015

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By Monica Murphy

Synopsis

 

IN THE DARK (Book 2) August 25, 2015

Stuck spending the summer with his screwed up family, Gabriel Walker is bored out of his mind and looking for an adventure. And he seems to find it with the hot girl who lives next door. The attraction between them is instant. Electric. Soon they’re spending every stolen minute together. Talk about the perfect summer fling…

 

Lucy isn’t what she seems. She doesn’t live next door—she’s the maid who’s been hired to house sit for the summer while the family goes on a worldwide vacation. If Gabe wants to believe she’s a spoiled rich girl looking for some fun, she can go along with that. After the summer, she’ll never see him again.

 

They don’t count on running into each other at college. Now Lucy must keep up the pretense of being a rich girl—and it’s exhausting. She knows she’s falling in love with Gabe and she’s scared he feels the same. Will he still care about her when he discovers the truth?

SP Amazon

 

Slow Play

The Rule Series – Book 3

Release Date: November 3, 2015

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By Monica Murphy

Synopsis

SLOW PLAY (Book 3) November 3, 2015

Newly broke girl Alexandria Asher just wants to live a normal life. After her parents are sent to prison on embezzlement charges, she enrolls in college under her mother’s maiden name and tries her best to pretend she’s someone else.

 

Tristan Chadwick is everything Alex is trying to avoid. A seemingly egotistical, lazy, rich jerk, she dumps her beer on his head when he comes on to her one night at a party. This only spurs Tristan into action. He loves nothing more than a challenge. And the beautiful Alex is exactly the type of challenge that intrigues him.

 

Despite her reluctance, Alex finds herself quickly involved with Tristan. Underneath that playboy exterior is a good guy, a sweet and sexy guy who she is undoubtedly falling for. What they both don’t realize is the actions of Alex’s parents are the reason for so much tragedy in Tristan’s family. And when Tristan discovers who Alex and her family really is, can he forgive and forget?
______________________________________________________________________________

CMP_Edit-8-2I write books. I have the best job ever. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Writer of new adult contemporary romance-ish stuff. Published with Avon and Bantam. Mom and wife. Native Californian.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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

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

Dalton,

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

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

I loved you.

I raged for you.

I wept for you.

And now, I’m letting you go.

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

 

Dalton POV:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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last kiss it's liveLast Kiss

The Hitman Series – Book 3

By Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick

Synopsis

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

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

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

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks / Kobo

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last kiss teaser 1

Excerpt

“Do you wish for me to touch you?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Tell me what you want, Naomi.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I’m riding his hand.

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

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

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

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

“Vasily, stop. Vasily!”

“Keep saying my name like that, Naomi.”

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

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

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

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

Hypothesis? Destroyed.

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Michel’s Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Hitman SeriesBanner81sy08gO35L._SL1500_Last Hit

Book 1

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

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

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

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

81fMWFwNjWL._SL1500_Last Breath

Book 2

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

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

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

MATURE AUDIENCE

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last hit reloadedLast Hit Reloaded

A Hitman Novella

Release Date: January 20, 2015

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

Includes a bonus excerpt from Last Kiss.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

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Last Kiss

Book 3

Release Date: May 5, 2015

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

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

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

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks / Kobo

_____________________________________________________________

About The Authors

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

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

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 

 

 GIVEAWAY
Signed set of Hitman Books
Apple Watch Sport

a Rafflecopter giveaway

last kiss

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

TVTMidnightRide-CatJohnson

Midnight Ride

Midnight Ride 

Midnight Cowboys Series – Book 1

By Cat Johnson

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Synopsis

One bucking bronco. . .

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

One hard-working widow. . .

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

One midnight ride they’ll never forget. . .

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

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4 Star

Tracey’s Review

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

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

________________

Author Bio:

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

 

Giveaway

3 Print Copies of Midnight Ride

Midnight Ride

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

 

 

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

 

EXCERPT

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

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

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

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

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

“Are people,” I cut in.

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

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

5Star

Robin’s Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AUTHOR PROFILE

 

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

 

 

 

ARC Review: The Gentleman Mentor by Kendall Ryan

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

 Kelley’s Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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