For Your Literary Pleasure

Fuel the Fire - By Krista and Becca Ritchie Guest Post & Giveaway

2015-04-02T04:03:00.001-04:00

Calloway Sisters Series - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads

RELEASE DATE: April 3rd

Protect your family. At all costs.
It’d take the impossible to hurt Connor Cobalt, even for a moment.
Protect your family. At all costs.
At twenty-six, his narcissistic tendencies have made room for the people he loves.
Protect your family. At all costs.
And he loves Rose. But when his love is threatened, when his greatest dreams with her are compromised — what is the cost then?
Protect your family. At all costs.
Love will guide his choices.
For the first time in his life.

I've been on hiatus while I finished my Bachelor's Degree - spoiler alert: I got it! But what better way to come back to blogging than with my all time favourite literary couple Rose and Connor Cobalt. I'm so excited to have Krista and Becca Ritchie gracing my blog again with the added bonus of my idol Beyoncé! I hope you enjoy this post as much as I did, the songs are amazing but I'm biased...

BEYONCE SONGS THAT RESEMBLE THE ADDICTED CHARACTERS

It’s only appropriate that we compare the Addicted Characters to Beyonce songs during the Fuel the Fire tour, since Rose Calloway’s favorite singer is the one and only Beyonce. Let’s get it started:

ROSE CALLOWAY
***Flawless – ft. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Rose has worked extremely hard to get where she is in her career, and she is extremely proud of her success. But there always the outside voices (especially the media) criticizing her for not being maternal and her choices. This song talks about saying “screw you” to all the critics and haters and to embrace your successes and choices (whatever they may be) as a female. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s interlude is pro-feminism and inspiring. Rose approves.

CONNOR COBALT (COBALLOWAY)
Crazy in Love (2014 Remix)
Yes, this is the version that was on Fifty Shades of Grey. And it’s just a damn good song and even a better remix. It reminds us of Connor’s relationship with Rose. He doesn’t believe in love in Kiss the Sky, and often refers to it as a foolish endeavor. In Fuel the Fire, you’ll see him accepting love more and the complications that come with it. And yes, sometimes it makes him a little crazy and possibly even foolish. Plus, you know, this song is just pure sex ;)

LOREN HALE
Drunk in Love
Lyrics: I've been drinking, I've been drinking / I get filthy when that liquor get into me / I've been thinking, I've been thinking / Why can't I keep my fingers off it, baby?
This is really the epitome of Loren Hale. Not only with his addiction to alcohol but his co-depencey with Lily.

LILY CALLOWAY (LILO)
Superpower ft. Frank Ocean
This song talks about true love and how the unbreakable type of love is a superpower in itself. And yes, it took LiLo many years to realize this.

DAISY CALLOWAY
Pretty Hurts
Daisy spent much of her life as a model, constantly conforming to other people’s standards. She’d change her appearance to fit what the industry wanted or what her mom wanted. Never what she wanted. It took a toll on her, and left her with a bruised sense of identity. “Pretty Hurts” is the perfect song to resemble the youngest Calloway sister.

RYKE MEADOWS (RAISY)
XO
Ryke was probably the hardest to choose a Beyonce song for, but in the end, we chose a song that we think captures his relationship with Daisy. They’re both often compared to darkness and lightness, which this song evokes. There’s also a sense of urgency to the song, wanting to enjoy life and love because you don’t know what tomorrow brings. Ryke and Daisy are the ones of the group who really live by the carpe diem motto. Who live for today and not for tomorrow.

Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. Now in their early twenties, they write about other twenty-somethings navigating through life, college, and romance. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.

They are the New Adult authors of the Addicted series and Calloway Sisters spin-off series, and you can find them on almost every social media, frolicking around like wannabe unicorns.

$100 Amazon Gift Card

3 Signed Paperbacks of FUEL THE FIRE

Both giveaways are open internationally!

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This Man Confessed - By Jodi Ellen Malpas Review

2015-01-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

This Man Series - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads| Amazon | Kobo | Nook |

The Manor, the very place where their passionate love affair began, fills with guests on what should be the happiest day of Ava and Jesse's lives. She has accepted that she'll never tame the fierceness in Jesse-and she doesn't want to. Their love is profound, their connection powerful, but just when she thinks that she's finally gotten beneath his guarded exterior, more questions arise, leading Ava to believe that Jesse Ward may not be the man she thinks he is. He knows too well how to take her to a place beyond ecstasy . . . but will he also drive her to the brink of despair? It's time for this man to confess.

I haven't had to suffer through such dramatics since high school. Ava is still a pushover and can't be decisive. Jesse is still overbearing and tyrannical. It's not sexy, it's exasperating to read. I skim read pages 200 to 350 (out of 436) which thankfully kept me from being annoyed beyond belief. I just couldn't handle the exaggerated behaviors of both characters. Jesse treats Ava like a child and she acts like one! She SULKS and he counts to three if he doesn't get what he wants. They call make-up sex "making friends" and label their sexual encounters all kinds of ridiculous names. In all honesty I read this simply to find out where their story finishes and whether they grew out of their childish ways...

***SPOILERS***

The pregnancy was forced and Ava didn't want kids! But suddenly she's okay with staying at home and looking after the kids. Like all good women should, right Jesse? If it weren't for the fact Jesse makes a great Dad (no surprise there...) this book would be a one not one and a half stars.

***SPOILERS END***

The epilogue saved the book from being solely an exercise in managing my annoyance. While Malpas writes well, her characters give me heart burn.

One Kiss with a Rock Star - By Amber Lin & Shari Slade Review

2014-12-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

Half-Life Series - Book 2 | Add to Goodreads
| Buy at Amazon |

Half-Life bassist Krist Mellas is caught in a PR nightmare after his dirty sex video blew up online. His agent has the solution: a fake engagement with sultry pop princess Madeline Fox. Krist can’t think of anything worse than a charade with the bubblegum bombshell…except losing the band.
Madeline knows better than anyone what it means to live a lie in the spotlight. She’s determined to help Krist without ever letting him find out what it costs her—or about her girlhood crush on him. But after a smoking hot back alley encounter with him leaves her breathless, she can’t deny she wants the snarling bad-boy rocker.
In a world of glitter and diamonds where the kisses are fake but the climaxes are real, their facades start to crack. And the publicity storm may shatter them both.

Read the rest >>

This Girl Stripped - By Dawn Robertson Review

2014-12-07T03:13:00.000-05:00

Hers Series - Book 4 | Add to Goodreads
| Amazon |

My innocence was shattered one steamy October night, when I sold my soul to the devil to pay for a week in a dirty motel room.
Thinking I could rid myself of him, I fled the safety of the nomad lifestyle I had embraced my entire life for the security of a small upstate New York town, alongside my big sister Star.
What I never anticipated was a green eyed stranger that would steal my heart and never look back. And a dark eyed man on a motorcycle, who would teach me how to trust again. Both of them completely shattering every wall I ever put up to keep men out of my vulnerable world.
I am Paisley Bloom, and this is my devastating story.

I was slightly confused by this book. Having just read multiple books where the characters have suffered hugely traumatic experiences in order to recover, I was hoping for something different. I though this book would get to know an intelligent young woman who happened to strip for a living. Instead the novel is about a young woman who strips once, experiences a horrible trauma and her road to recovery. I felt like Robertson just gave Paisley horrible trauma to make her broken so the story could focus on "fixing" rather than development. There seemed no need to make Paisley suffer in order to give her character emotional depth. Why could we not have had her without the trauma? Paisley had such potential to be a strong character with her family and her background. Unfortunately because of this plot choice I found the story overly and unnecessarily dramatic. Not to mention the choices leading up to the situation were all out of character for Paisley.

Ignoring my obvious problem with that particular part of the story, "This Girl Stripped" flows nicely and is Robertson's typical style. If you enjoyed "Hers" you'll probably enjoy this installment to the series; I definitely read the story through to the end so it's got hooking potential. I was slightly thrown by the introduction of another character but was satisfied with Paisley's choice in the end. Not an all out favorite but a solid page turner. If you don't mind reading about a young woman overcoming trauma then you'll be okay with this book however, if you need a little more background to your drama this probably wont meet your expectations.

One Kiss with a Rock Star - By Amber Lin & Shari Slade New Release

2014-11-07T00:17:00.002-05:00

Half-Life Series - Book 2 | Add to Goodreads
| Buy at Amazon |

Half-Life bassist Krist Mellas is caught in a PR nightmare after his dirty sex video blew up online. His agent has the solution: a fake engagement with sultry pop princess Madeline Fox. Krist can’t think of anything worse than a charade with the bubblegum bombshell…except losing the band.
Madeline knows better than anyone what it means to live a lie in the spotlight. She’s determined to help Krist without ever letting him find out what it costs her—or about her girlhood crush on him. But after a smoking hot back alley encounter with him leaves her breathless, she can’t deny she wants the snarling bad-boy rocker.
In a world of glitter and diamonds where the kisses are fake but the climaxes are real, their facades start to crack. And the publicity storm may shatter them both.

Read the rest >>

Addicted After All - By Krista and Becca Ritchie Teaser and Giveaway

2014-10-30T05:00:00.000-04:00

Addicted Series - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads

RELEASE DATE: October 31st

Two addicts. One epic love story.
Prepare for the worst.
That’s what Lily and Lo try to do when Jonathan Hale schedules an “important” meeting. The problem: after being swept into the public eye and battling their addictions, they’re not sure what the worst is anymore.
In a sea of many changes—including Ryke & Daisy living with them—Lily realizes that the best part of her fluctuating hormones might just be the worst.

Her sex drive is out of control.
Loren knows that she’s insatiable, but he’s not giving up on her. She’s too much a part of him. And as he carries more and more responsibility, some of the people that he loves doubt his resolve.
In the conclusion to their love story, Lily & Lo stand side-by-side to fight, one last time, for their happily ever after.

**AUTHORS' NOTE**
Due to the 2-year gap between Addicted for Now (Addicted #2) and Addicted After All (Addicted #3), you must read Thrive (Addicted #2.5) or the Calloway Sisters spin-off series before reading Addicted After All.

Read the rest >>

Phantom Desire - By Houston Havens Spotlight

2014-09-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

It’s awesome to be here with you on your blog today. Thank you for having me. I hope to entertain and intrigue your viewers with my latest book in the Psychic Ménage Series.

Psychic Ménage Series - Book 2 | Goodreads

| Amazon | Createspace Print |

I can have sex with any woman I want. But I can love only one…that one is you.
Mind traveler Chandra Lamar is on the run, not only from her post-catastrophic dystopian government but from a past she can’t remember. A psychic vision pushes her to recall her purpose for being, but it’s a ghost that awakens her desires for a life she fears she’ll never have. Both push her to remember the past because it threatens what she wants in the now; the Nodin men.
Andonis Nodin battles to accept his failures. The heavy burden nearly breaks him when he can’t save a loved one from the grim reaper’s grip and questions his desire for Chandra, the woman he blames for the death around him.
Nikias finds true love with Chandra in his arms, but is desperate to stop her from seeking revenge on a mission he knows is a one way trip.
Ortello knows for them to recapture the love they once felt for each other, he must be willing to let her go. But overcoming his obsession to make Chandra his and his alone isn’t easy.
Will Chandra go through with the vengeance in her heart or give it up for love? Who is the powerful woman in her haunting visions and will those revealing apparitions crumble her world with the Nodin clan? Does Chandra find true love in the arms of the Nodin men or does her Phantom Desire forever own her heart?

He rolled her beneath him once again and smothered her neck, cheeks, and forehead with smooches before placing a lusty one on her lips. It was a kiss filled with an unearthly love, a kiss so intense it molded her in a mystical cocoon of gossamer energy, instantly drawing her thoughts to the passion they shared and a love that would forever and always be theirs.

His adoration consumed her mind, body, and soul; securing her in his glittery twilight world, giving her life with each driving force of his cock.

“Oh, yeees.” Unable to contain her own virile cravings, she gasped as the heat of their ardent passion returned. Moving her arms down from his neck she wrapped them around his broad shoulders, caging his muscled chest to her breasts for warmth as he stroked his large member into her again and again. Their passions consumed them like a wildfire. Every inch of her body hungered to feel as much of him pressed against her as she could. Only he could saturate this internal fire burning deep inside her frigid heart. She was desperate to feel alive again.

But haunting thoughts stalked her, lurking in the darkened alleyways of her mind. Brooding reflections threatened to rush to the forefront of her forgetful memory, threatening her well-being with exposure. She wasn’t the kind of woman who took well to threats, not even her own, but her gut warned what she couldn’t remember was unpleasant. Mentally, she was on the run to escape the uncertain skulking images and the large sage-violet eyes watching her.

Houston Havens retired from a successful modeling career and an adventurous jet-set lifestyle to set the world on fire with her erotic romance books. A tenacious Irish lass, she strives to entertain with seductive stories created from her decadent imagination and traces of a provocative lifestyle she may or may not admit to.

Her interest in the paranormal, fascination with quantum science, passion with myths, and the lure of her mysterious Celtic Irish-Druid bloodlines are combined with generally unknown truths, strange facts, and questionable fiction. Her novels reflect a mix of the past, present, and future, with sexy blends of futuristic science fiction, paranormal fantasy, western romance, and always love everlasting. An author of six romances, a seven book erotic romance series and numerous articles in literary magazines.

Stop by for a visit and leave a comment at http://houstonhavens.wordpress.com

Links:

Website: http://houstonhavensauthor.wix.com/houstonhavens

Blog: http://houstonhavens.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HoustonHavens

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HoustonHavens

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104340584560714468515/posts

Tumblr: http://houstonhavens.tumblr.com

Booklikes: http://authorhoustonhavens.booklikes.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/24819699-houston-havens

Newsletter signup:

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Amour Amour - By Krista and Becca Ritchie Cover Reveal

2014-08-14T23:52:00.002-04:00

Title: Amour Amour

Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Expected Publication Date: December 2014

Genre: New Adult Romance

Synopsis

Love is a circus

"Every day,” he says lowly, “I hold a person’s life in my hands. The circus is based one-hundred percent off of trust. I give it all to someone, and they give it all to me.”
The best aerial technique won’t land 21-year-old Thora James her dream role in Amour—a sexy new acrobatic show on the Vegas strip. Thora knows she’s out of her element the second she meets Amour’s leading performer. Confident, charming and devilishly captivating, 26-year-old Nikolai Kotova aggravatingly lives up to his nickname as the “God of Russia.”
When Thora unknowingly walks into the crosshairs of Nikolai’s after-show, her audition process begins way too soon. Unprofessional. That’s what Nik calls their “non-existent” relationship. It’s not like Thora can avoid him. For one, they may be partners in the future—acrobatic partners, that is. But getting closer to Nik means diving deeper into sin city and into his dizzying world.
Thora wants to perform with him, but when someone like Nikolai attracts the spotlight wherever he goes—Thora fears that she’s destined to be “just background” to his spellbinding show.

This sexy and exhilarating New Adult Romance can best be described as Cirque du Soleil meets the steamy, athletic romance of Center Stage. *standalone & no love triangles—recommended for readers 18+ for mature content*

AUTHOR INFO

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Pinterest

Giveaway

$15 Amazon Gift Card

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King Tomb - By Scarlett Dawn Cover Reveal

2014-07-25T06:30:00.000-04:00

From Scarlett Dawn comes the stunning, sexy, sensual, surprising, spell-binding conclusion to the bestselling first Forever Evermore trilogy.

RELEASE DATE: October 1st 2014

| Goodreads |

Queen Shifter, Lily Ruckler, has found solace in brutal warfare. Her bloodied fists and bared fangs fill the holes left in her memory, the blank spaces that leave her soul aching and empty. Her only pleasure is in blood; her only salvation is the relationship she has with her infant child, the baby of unknown origins who brings her solace and stability.

When Elder Harcourt summons Lily and her protector Antonio back to the United States, Lily thinks nothing unusual about the change of location. But a standard reconnaissance mission leaves her trapped inside King Zeller’s private quarters, and at his mercy. Surprise attraction rapidly turns to a battle of wills and an intense power struggle that leaves no clear victor but plenty of resentment.

They are not allowed to nurse their wounds. In order to win the war against the Commoners, the King Vampire and Queen Shifter must work together. It should be easy. The war is turning, the battle is deadly, and both Lily and Ezra love the cold cleanliness of combat. But their chance meeting has led to more than an unlikely alliance. Secrets have a way of surfacing, especially on a torn-up battlefield, and Lily and Ezra are about to re-learn all they cannot remember. If they can’t control their emotions and responses, it will be to their own ruin and the destruction of everything around them.

Scarlett Dawn is the author of the Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series, which include King Hall and King Cave.

She lives in the Midwest, where she loves to 'people watch' and daydream. She adores her music loud and her fries covered in cheese.

Scarlet Dawn's website: http://www.scarlettdawn.net

Thrive - By Krista and Becca Ritchie Guest Post & Giveaway

2014-07-12T06:00:00.000-04:00

Addicted Series - Book 2.5 | Add to Goodreads
Released July 18th

Two years will change them forever.
When rumors spread like wildfire—like having three-ways with her boyfriend’s rock climbing brother—Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much?
Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they’d see, demons they don’t know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn’t think they’d meet. Not this soon.
And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don’t hold onto each other, someone is going to drown.

A full-length New Adult Romance that bridges the gap between the second and third books. Thrive must be read before Addicted After All if you have not read the Calloway Sisters spin-off.

Our Favorite Friendships

Even though we’re twins and we both have equal ownership over the Addicted books, we also have different favorite characters and couples and friendships that we like to write. Today, we’re listing out our favorite friendships in the series.

KRISTA’s Favorites:

1. Lily Calloway & Ryke Meadows – I have so much fun writing these two together. I try, really hard, to sneak in more Lily and Ryke scenes (there are a few in THRIVE). Lily’s past is filled with one-night stands and Ryke is just as promiscuous, yet their personalities clash. Lily is shy and geeky. Ryke is an aggressive athlete. Putting them in a room together makes for lots of laughs, awkward moments, and awesome conversations. But deep down, they really have bonded over the course of the series, and not just because Lily is dating Ryke’s brother. They’re truly friends.

2. Loren Hale & Connor Cobalt – This is my favorite bromance to write. Neither of these guys had a “true” guy friend before they met one another. They are almost polar opposites, but they clicked pretty much from the beginning. Lots of manly flirting going on ;)

3. Lily Calloway & Rose Calloway – I love sister relationships. And these two have such a close friendship that just grows tighter as the series progresses. There’s lots of humor, trust, love, and compassion between these two.

BECCA’s Favorites:

1. Loren Hale & Connor Cobalt – Thrive shows the genesis of their friendship, and it’s one that has made this book so special to me. Lo is really self-loathing and sarcastic. Connor is extremely confident and witty. Together they play off of one another, but it’s Connor’s ability to empower Lo that makes this one of my favorite friendships that we’ve written.

2. Loren Hale & Rose Calloway – Where Krista inserts many Ryke & Lily scenes, I usually go crazy when Lo and Rose are in the same room. Their insult wars help lighten the books and sometimes it can go too far and darken scenes as well. They started out withstanding each other only for Lily, and in Thrive their “friendship” hits a few bumps.

3. Connor Cobalt & Ryke Meadows – I absolutely love their relationship in Kiss the Sky and then Hothouse Flower. Even though Connor wastes no opportunities to throw out digs about Ryke being aggressive, he has a deep respect for Ryke that’s shown in the spin-off series. And I love seeing Ryke recognize that and start to trust Connor more.

Honorable Mention: Loren Hale & Daisy Calloway – You’re probably scratching your heads, but they share a couple scenes in Thrive that really progresses their relationship out of “you’re my girlfriend’s little sister” zone and into something more protective and genuine.

Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins. They write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series. Connect with them via the links below:

Website: http://kbritchie.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbritchie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KBRitchie

Tumblr: http://kbmritchie.tumblr.com/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kbmritchie/

*Kindle Paperwhite

*3 Signed Paperbacks of THRIVE

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Ever Mine - By Eden Ashe Spotlight

2014-06-18T05:30:00.000-04:00

Novella | Add to Goodreads
| Amazon | NOOK |

Can a kidnapped fairy and a human find love despite all odds?

Nathan Alexander’s batty aunt has done it again. This time she’s sent him a rare plant he doesn’t want. Imagine his surprise when he finds a kidnapped fairy hidden within its leaves. As a man who heads a non-profit organization for abused women and children, Nathan makes it his mission to help her find her way home.

All her life Katenia was warned about the evilness of humans. Never was that proved more true than when she was kidnapped from her quiet valley home. Thrust into the human world, Katenia must fight her very instincts to trust Nathan if she ever hopes to return to her rightful place…and to her normal thumb-sized fairy form.

But with their lives in danger, finding home…and love…will be a journey worthy of a fairy tale.

“Nathan? Are you alright? You look like you’re contemplating ways to kill me.”

He opened his eyes and glared at her, even as he let out a shuddering laugh. “No, Katenia,” he gritted out through clenched teeth. “Killing you is not what is on my mind. I thought you said we would be a bad idea?”

“I did,” she said, her beautiful face screwing up in confusion. “Pair-bonding between us would never work. Sex, however…sex is a very good idea.”

Nathan nodded once, finally understanding. Ignoring the honking of the line of cars behind him, he rolled up one shirtsleeve and pinched his arm.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice worried.

He barked out a laugh when the pain did nothing to wake him from whatever dream he’d landed in. “Testing myself.”

“Oh.” She sighed. “I don’t know what that means.”

“I don’t, either, but considering I am not certifiable enough to have sex with a fairy, the only other logical conclusion is I’m dreaming.”

“Oh,” she repeated, still sounding confused. “Are you dreaming?”

He sighed and shook his head, accepting the facts laid out before him. “No. My whole world view has just been altered, but unfortunately, I am not dreaming.”

Convinced dragons have gotten a bad rep throughout time, and more than a little addicted to fairy tales and romance novels, Eden Ashe has decided to re-write history. In her version, the dragons are ancient warriors in tarnished armor, who not only deserve the girl in the end, but will fight forever for her.

Website: www.edenashe.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/EdenAshe
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eden.ashe.author
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7262875.Eden_Ashe

M10: Unlikely Beginnings - By Lola Dodge Cover Reveal

2014-06-16T07:31:00.001-04:00

M10: Unlikely Beginnings by Lola Dodge
Add to Goodreads
Publication date: December 2014
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

A vigilante. A warrior woman. A ballerina.
These ladies never pictured themselves as super heroes, but they’ve been called to serve—whether they want to or not.

This print anthology of superhero romance novellas arrives from Lola Dodge and Samhain Publishing in December 2014, compiling previous stories Ivory, Temptress and Belle Fury.

Lola Dodge was forged in the suburbs, tested in the retail wastelands and reborn as a romance writer after several strong cocktails. Armed with her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, she travels the world in search of story fodder and men with accents.

Author links:
http://www.loladodge.com/
https://twitter.com/Lola_Dodge
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5826088.Lola_Dodge

Hothouse Flower - By Krista and Becca Ritchie Review

2014-06-12T18:54:00.003-04:00

Calloway Sisters - Book 2 | Add to Goodreads

| Amazon | NOOK | Kobo |

Ryke Meadows, meet Daisy Calloway ... she’s all grown up.

Twenty-five-year-old Ryke Meadows knows he’s hard to love. With a billion-dollar inheritance, a track-star resume, and an alpha-male personality—he redefines the term likable asshole. But he’s not living to make friends. Or enemies. He just wants to free climb three of the toughest mountains in Yosemite without drama or interruption.

And then he receives a distressed call from a girl in Paris—a girl that he has never been allowed to have.

Daisy Calloway is eighteen. Finally. With her newfound independence, she can say goodbye to her overbearing mother and continue her modeling career. Next stop, Paris. Fashion Week begins with a bang, and Daisy uncovers the ugly reality of the industry. She wants to prove to her family that she can live on her own, but when everything spirals out of control, she turns to Ryke to keep her secrets.

As Daisy struggles to make sense of this new world and her freedom, she pushes the limits and fearlessly rides the edge. Ryke knows there’s deep hurt beneath every impulsive action. He must keep up with Daisy, and if he lets her go, her favorite motto—“live as if you’ll die today”—may just come true.

5 flaming hot, I'm going to die - I'm so overwhelmed stars out of 5 with Beyonce on top

I've been putting this off. I'm sorry.

Once again, Krista and Becca Ritchie have written a book that makes me sh*t scared to review. I am again struggling with how to convey how much I loved Hothouse Flower and why it is a must read. It's been such a struggle to write I finished this review, left it and came back to it months after reading the book multiple times. In fact, this review was literally an essay - over 2,000 words minimum when I finally gave it a rest. I guess my struggle stems from wanting people to read this review and understand EXACTLY why these books are so pervasive. I want to give Krista and Becca Ritchie a review that honors the beauty of the book and all the hard work they put into producing such literature. I want to write f*cking dissertations about this book and series.

The struggle I have with such a stunning winning streak of a series is my emotions no longer translate well into words - hell, into LETTERS. What I need to write and want to write could span PAGES not just a single screen. What is buzzing under my skin dying to burst forth... is too much to contain. Once again, I am given a book that tears my heart out, makes me laugh, entices my dreams for the future, that makes a social statement without being pompous, stimulates intellectual thought without academic jargon, sets a standard without explicitly stating it, that is more than just a "romance" and gives me so much EVERYTHING, I am left reeling.

Why is this important to tell you? Because way back when I read Addicted to You I recognized that I was reading a series that transcended "New Adult Romance" and to explain such perfection was impossible. For those of you that don't know, Addicted for You was the FIRST book in a series of FIVE so far (including spin-offs) and with every book I read, my statement becomes more and more justified. "My attempt below to explain the "why" is only that, an attempt, because I can only try to explain instead of simply writing - Read this fucking book because I can't write about perfection." Yet here I am again, using so many more words, trying to explain why Krista and Becca Ritchie are literary goddesses and why you should read this series. (Seriously, just fucking read it.)

This book was explosive.

Let me give you a second to read that again because if I were to choose a single word to describe this book in my incredibly verbose review that's it - EXPLOSIVE. Daisy and Ryke have been building sexual tension since the moment they both graced the pages of the Addicted series. They've never been a couple and we've never been inside their heads. Yet for FOUR books we have been getting their relationship foreplay so "Hothouse Flower" is almost literally a literary first time orgasm. No joke. I've never seen a book slogan more apt that this because HOLY SH*T, F**KING FINALLY! We all knew it was going to happen and when but the how of it was pure sexual inferno. Now I'm a solid Team Connor but Hothouse Flower had me pleading mind control. I am now a closet Team Ryke because the f*cker has straight up game, not to mention a heart of solid f*cking gold. Why am I cussing so much? Sentence enhancer (Spongebob reference y'all) - it gives my sentences more oomph and well... it's Ryke's favorite word.

Seeing inside Ryke's head was amazing. He struggles so much with his past decisions in addition to his current presence in Loren's life. While Ryke can come off as abrasive he is the sweetest and oddly, most vulnerable to the opinions of people he cares about. Ryke only wants everyone to be okay with or without him. Having been an "outsider" with demanding parents, he understands Daisy in way no one else can. He sees her as a person in her own right rather than in relation to others. His feminism is a huge plus and while he has more confidence than Loren, he suffers from a startling similar self doubt. While Ryke and Daisy finally having sex is a big thing what really makes this book more than a wham bam thank you ma'am, is the relationship dynamics between the three male characters.

We've seen a lot of the girls dynamics as well as the guys with the girls but solid Ryke, Loren and Connor time seals the ***Flawless rating on "Hothouse Flower." Ryke and Loren finally clear the air between them about their past - Loren's resentment towards Ryke's absence until now and Ryke's guilt for hating his unknown brother without knowing him. Their throw down had me in tears because it was a necessary evil in order to move the brothers relationship forward and it was done BEAUTIFULLY. I mean I cried for gods sake... I never cry. Especially not over two brothers having a heart to heart. Argh. I'm tearing up now.

Connor's role as a "leader" is solidified and we get a recognition of his mistakes in the Addicted narrative. When Ryke worries he's done more harm than good in the lives of Daisy and Loren, Connor is there to tell him how heroic his actions were and still are. Preach. For me, this was Connor recognizing that his actions in Addicted to You, when Connor and Ryke first meet Loren, were wrong. By acknowledging Ryke's push for Loren to become sober was heroic, Connor admits his lack of action was cowardly. For those of you who know Connor this is a HOLY SHIT moment. Ryke was willing to be the bad guy in Loren's life to make a positive change. Correction - is STILL willing to be the bad guy - all so that his brother can be motivated to get well. Connor has never said anything more right, Ryke is a f*cking hero.

I'm going to get emotional so bear with me. Krista and Becca Ritchie make me want to cry. Tears of absolute fucking happiness. In a time when good books are so hard to find their books stand out as fiction gold. They take their imaginary characters and weave real life into a story. They give us role models, survivors, assholes, bitches, the weak, the strong, self loathing, self respect, courage, kindness and love. They write books that refuse to be lowered to standards of empty fiction. They write with a message without presumption or arrogance. They write books that I've been waiting years for. Books with emotional depth and sexual tension that aren't high school students in immature young adult (nothing against you YA) and also aren't 30 year old women wondering how to bring the sexy back when their husbands are cheating bastards (Marian Keyes I love you but your characters are just too old!). To quote the infamous Goldilocks, KB Ritchie are "just right." I love these authors not blindly but because they CONTINUE to be just as perfect and amazing EVERY TIME and that kind of consistency deserves more than my vocabulary can convey. They are Beyoncé and...

Read it. I didn't spill much about Daisy and Ryke's relations because the surprise of it all is half the fun.

Krista & Becca Ritchie write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series. Connect with them on twitter and their website: kbritchie.com
Goodreads:
Krista: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056935.Krista_Ritchie
Becca: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2754148.Becca_Ritchie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KBRitchie
Website: http://kbritchie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KBRitchie
Tumblr: http://kbmritchie.tumblr.com/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kbmritchie/

Poison in the Blood - By Robyn Bachar Spotlight & Giveaway

2014-06-12T06:05:00.000-04:00

She is honey to his throat...but one sweet taste could part them forever... Bad Witch: The Emily Chronicles Banished from home while her husband adjusts to life as an immortal, blood-drinking chronicler, Emily Black is homesick, heartsick and struggling under the constant sensory barrage of a city drenched in ancient magic. When an old friend asks for her aid in solving a string of murders, she welcomes the distraction, despite the danger. Justine Dubois is grateful for a seer's help, and more understanding than anyone of Emily's plight. As a guardian, Justine commands respect; as a woman, her magic is considered inferior. Together, they are determined to prove their worth to London's magicians, starting with solving these murders-with maybe a bit of matchmaking on the side. Long before he met his soul mate, Michael Black made a commitment to join the Order of St. Jerome. He will live forever, forced to watch the woman he loves age and die. As Emily hunts the murderer, Michael struggles to protect her. But if he loses control of his hunger, the greatest threat to her safety could be Michael himself. Includes the introductory novella The Importance of Being Emily.

Normally stepping into a garden would soothe me, but we were still within London, where there was no comfort whatsoever. I looked up at the night sky and wished I were with Michael.

“You have the soul of an artist, Miss Rose. It is a rare gift.” Mr. Paris stroked my hand, and I tugged it free of his arm. I folded both hands before me primly and smiled.

“Again, that is very kind of you.”

“I consider myself a patron of the arts.”

“So you attend gatherings such as this often?” I asked.

“Of course. I am always on the lookout for new talent.”

“I see. Did you know Mrs. Harding?” I tried to examine his aura to determine his reaction, but his magic continued to be so overwhelming that my eyes watered. Mr. Paris must be unspeakably powerful, and I found myself both worried and intrigued. Perhaps he was a sorcerer? One who specialized in darkness?

“I did. Poor girl. What a terrible thing to have happened to her and her family… Tell me, are you working on a second collection of your work?” he asked, quickly changing the subject.

“I am, though I am afraid the subject matter is quite a bit darker.”

Mr. Paris smiled a predatory grin, and my pulse leapt with a thrill of fear. “I am not afraid of the dark, Miss Rose. Are you?”

He stepped closer, but I held my ground, studying him with a curious tilt to my head. “What are you?” I asked.

He blinked, startled. “I beg your pardon?”

“What sort of magic do you practice?” I clarified.

“Oh. I am a librarian, of course,” he replied, and I laughed, unable to help myself. “What’s so funny?”

“You are most certainly not a librarian. Do people truly believe that lie?”

The smile slid from Mr. Paris’s face as his expression hardened. He stepped forward and tried to grab my arm, but Miss Dubois was suddenly between us, a shining silver blur. With a snarl he turned and ran, and the guardian chased him out of the garden and into the street.

Uncertain of what to do, I followed. I stood hesitant at the garden gate, wondering which way they went. My vision shifted, and I followed Miss Dubois’s blazing footsteps. I paused next to a blur traced over the high brick wall of another garden. It was another magical doorway, rather like the one I had discovered near Mrs. Harding’s body outside the Undiscovered Country. Foolishly I raised my hand to touch it, despite knowing full well that doing so could trigger another vision, but a hand emerged from the brick wall and grabbed my wrist.

Overwhelmed with shock, I barely managed a strangled gasp as Mr. Paris stepped through the wall and glared down at me. “Who are you?” he demanded.

“You first.” My voice trembled, and Mr. Paris grinned. He tightened his grip and snapped several small bones in my wrist, and I screamed.

“Who are you?” he repeated.

Something bubbled up within me, a bright plume of prophetic magic that became my answer. “I am your end.” That time my voice did not tremble at all, but was filled with terrible certainty. I would cause Mr. Paris’s death, and I knew it with as much confidence as I knew the sun would rise in the morning.

Something in my gaze must have worried him, because he snarled. Scowling, he grabbed my forearm with both hands and twisted. The bone snapped like dry kindling, and I screamed again. Before he could torment me further Miss Dubois arrived and bashed him with a round silver shield. Mr. Paris vanished into thin air, and the guardian stood near me. One arm bore the shield, while in her other hand she held a sword. How cunning of her. I wanted a sword as well.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

My knees wobbled and began to buckle, but then two dark blurs streaked up to us, and I was suddenly swept from my feet and cradled close in Michael’s arms.

“Darling! What happened?” he asked.

“You caught me.” I blinked—however had he moved that fast? Simon sighed and shook his head at his student, and I sensed that Michael and I were both in for a scolding.

“Of course I did. I will always catch you. Are you all right?”

Robyn Bachar was born and raised in Berwyn, Illinois, and loves all things related to Chicago, from the Cubs to the pizza. It seemed only natural to combine it with her love of fantasy, and tell stories of witches and vampires in the Chicagoland area. As a gamer, Robyn has spent many hours rolling dice, playing rock-paper-scissors and slaying creatures in MMPORGs.

1 signed print copy of Poison in the Blood

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The Vixen Series - By J.E. & M. Keep Blitz

2014-06-02T11:22:00.002-04:00

The Vixen Series - Book 1 | Add to Goodreads

ISBN: 1499239165

Long retired from her life as an assassin, Anjasa amuses herself with seducing handsome, rich men in bars and living life one night at a time.

She's a rare woman, an elf among humans, a beauty among commoners, and she has no trouble getting the attention of those around her, but it's only a matter of time before she attracts the wrong kind of men. When she agrees to seduce one noble's cousin to steal his family fortune, she finds herself witness to mob violence and worse.

Yet she likes her men rough, doesn't she?

But quickly it gets out of hand, even for her. When he forces her to fulfil his sick needs, and then blackmails her to kill his cousin, she realizes her life hangs in the balance between the affairs of murderous men.

When she reaches her breaking point, Anjasa turns to someone even worse, someone more dangerous than she could imagine, in order to make it through the night. Someone strong, mysterious and deliciously inhuman.

The Vixen Series - Book 2 | Add to Goodreads

A cryptic warning from a beautiful man, a desperate need for her blood from her vampire lover, and Anjasa is forced out of her apathy.
For too long, she'd been hedonistic without purpose, and now the elven bombshell is getting her life back together. It's just too bad that the entire city is working to stop her.
When a gorgeous man warns her about what was to come, she shrugs it off. That is, until Jaral, her lover, warns her about their enemies, and she is forced to take the lead in protecting her new life or risk losing it all. Everything comes to a head as she seeks to balance opposing forces in a game of strategy she's only just beginning to play.
The Vixen Arises follows The Vixen Torn and the erotic action/adventure fantasy tales of Anjasa.

J.E. & M. Keep love to combine fantasy, scifi, horror, romance and mystery into exciting and titillating novels.

They are long term, loving partners in a very happy relationship and because of this, they love to torture their characters. Dark romance touches all of their stories in one way or another, from elicit trysts to forbidden love.

Some of their work contains dubious consent and erotic pain, so it's not for the faint of heart. Their stories are often called twisted and arousing -- at the same time.

All work is 18+, trigger warnings available on the second page of every book. If you want to hear about new releases, sign up for the newsletter!

Website: http://www.jmkeep.com
Newsletter: http://www.jmkeep.com/newsletter
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jmkeep
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jmkeep | http://twitter.com/jekeep

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Berman's Wolves - By Gretchen SB Spotlight

2014-04-24T14:19:00.005-04:00

| Add to Goodreads |

When a scientist runs an experiment on three separate college campuses that goes horribly wrong, several hundred students find their lives altered forever. They must learn to adapt to their new lives as Werewolves. Immediately after the incident a government program was put in place to keep track of these unwitting subjects. After a year the program falls apart as those in charge argue on how to proceed.

Without the programmers constantly looking over their shoulders the werewolves have now started to organize themselves. Creating their own hierarchy and alliances.

Jack is the Alpha of Pacific Northwest University's pack F. He thought the government had finally taken a step back and let him and the other Alphas run their packs. Recently, however, he has been hearing rumblings about the programmers wanting to reinstate the program. He thought they were just rumors until he finds out one of his pack is being threatened by several of the lab assistants that took part in the original experiment. Now Jack must scramble to find allies and hunt down those threatening his pack. The more he goes looking the bigger the plot becomes.

Lyra knew the Weres who jumped her were members of pack L, former lab assistants of Berman’s from Pacific Northwest University. They hadn’t tried to negotiate this time, but had simply jumped her as turned the corner on her way home from the off-leash dog park in her neighborhood.

As soon as she smelled her attackers approaching, she turned to Hazel and pretended to have lost her cell phone. Hazel hadn’t questioned it, just taken Fizgig’s leash from Lyra’s outstretched hand and continued walking to Lyra’s apartment.

Lyra double-timed it toward the park. She knew her attackers would follow. All she needed was enough distance between them and Hazel. Lyra loved Hazel like family, but the other woman was not a fighter. Hazel would try, but she would only be hurt or used against Lyra. It didn’t really help matters that Hazel and Lyra knew all of each other’s secrets. In Lyra’s case some of those secrets could get them killed.

Lyra knew leading the attackers away from Hazel and the dogs was her best and only option. As the outskirts of the forested trail closed in around her, Lyra spun and braced herself for the attack. She could smell the malicious intent like rotting meat rolling off of them. She had one advantage: they didn’t know how well she could fight. Growing up in a predominantly male social group, Lyra had honed her skills. They thought girls were weak. They would underestimate her. Lyra gave a small grin as the three Weres came into view around the bend.

Lyra posed as if she’d been off-guard and was helpless, widening her eyes and shrinking away in horror. The tallest guy headed toward her. Lyra counted, waiting until the last second when his arms stretched out to grab her. She roundhouse-kicked him in the head. The Were crumpled. Weres could take and dole out major damage and Lyra was stronger than most. The blow had landed perfectly, and he’d be out of commission for a few minutes.

The other two men didn’t make the same mistake; they rushed her. Lyra backed up. She needed more room than the thin nature trail provided. She was able to get one punch in to the guy on her left before the other man grabbed her.

Panic began to rise as a strong arm banded around her throat. Screaming to herself, she pushed the panic aside. She struggled to remember the course of action for this type of attack. Using the heel of her shoe, she stomped on her attacker’s foot. Inwardly she swore as she connected with a boot—she couldn’t do any damage that way. His arm tightened, and she knew he meant for her to lose consciousness. That would be bad. She felt the loss of breath acutely and Lyra knew she had maybe thirty seconds to get out of the hold before she was incapacitated.

She gave one swift kick behind her as she dug both her thumbs at her throat to relieve the pressure. Her kick hit true and her attacker cried out as her heel connected with groin.

She felt the man back up and she moved the opposite direction, scanning for the Were she’d punched in the stomach. She didn’t see him, not at first, but what she did see made her curse.

Gretchen happily lives in Seattle, Washington where she spends her time creating new characters and situations to put them in. She also enjoys cheering on her local sports teams, even though it sometimes seems they are allergic to winning.

Gretchen has spent most of her life in Washington state. She graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in History and a BA in Philosophy. Though there was a brief stint after college where she lived in Florida and worked for the mouse (Disney World). She loves that Washington provides a large range of activities, from Shakespeare in the park to rodeos.

She has had a love of reading and telling stories as far back as she, or anyone else, can remember. Currently, she loves to read the same genres she writes. She also loves exploring her home state. At the end of her adventures she unwinds by curling up on the couch, knitting while catching up TV shows via Netflix.

Website: http://www.gretchensb.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7398184.Gretchen_S_B_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gretchen-S-B/540293959350712
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GretchenSB

Nightmare Ink - By Marcella Burnard Spotlight & Giveaway

2014-04-21T22:54:00.000-04:00

Add to Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo | Nook |

With the needle of a tattoo gun, Isa Romanchzyk has the power to create and destroy. In her shop Nightmare Ink, Isa helps those in need by binding the powers embedded in their Live Ink—the magical tattoos that can enhance the life of the wearer, or end it. But binding tattoos has earned Isa the contempt of her fellow artists—including her former lover Daniel.
When a friend comes to the shop with a tattoo on the verge of killing him, Isa can’t turn him away. For the first time in years, she works Live Ink into someone’s skin—something she swore she’d never do again. But breaking her vow soon becomes the least of her problems.
Isa is horrified to discover her friend’s body in the shop, but the real nightmare begins when she’s abducted and inked against her will. Now, as she seeks retribution from the man who betrayed her, Isa must figure out how to bind her Living Tattoo before it consumes her completely...

Isa refused to let the multiple puncture wounds in her thigh paralyze her. Entirely. Especially not when Troy texted that someone wanted a flat ink tattoo from her.
She hobbled through the snow to Nightmare Ink.A tall, slender young man with neat black hair and dark eyes opened the shop door as if he’d been watching for her. He wore dress slacks, a crisp white shirt, and a navy sweater.“Ria,” Isa said. “You look—”“Like I belong in church with my grandmother?” he interrupted, smiling. “I will be shortly. Your coat. Allow me.”“Thank you.”As Ria took her jacket, Isa caught Troy Daschel, a flat ink artist leasing shop space from her, eyeing the pair of them from where he sat behind the reception desk. He rose and held out a hand. “Here. I’ll hang that up.”“Gracias.” Ria gave Troy her coat. “I understand you are injured, señora. I am sorry to hear this. You are well enough to do a tattoo for me?”
“It’s nothing serious,” Isa said. “Come on back. We’ll get the paperwork filled out . . .”“Already done,” Troy said over his shoulder as he hung her coat in the back hallway.“Have a seat,” Isa said, leading Ria around the reception desk to her station. “What are we doing?”He settled into the chair as she switched on her work light. His gaze on hers, Ria turned his face so the overhead lamp spotlighted his left cheekbone. The light caught the three ink teardrops tattooed there.“A fourth.”Isa’s heart bumped down her ribs to her toes.Teardrop tattoos were supposed to represent a tally of the murders the wearer had committed. It didn’t stop thug wannabes and stars promoting an image from getting teardrops inked on their faces.But Ria wasn’t a wannabe.Isa didn’t know what the young gang leader and his gang did in Ballard. Didn’t want to know. It was enough that Ria had been her first customer at Nightmare Ink. He came to her when he wanted tattoos. He brought his people suffering Ink Madness to her for binding.Still watching her, he put a hand in his pocket and brought forth a gold and onyx ring like the one he wore, like all of his people wore.“Emilio,” he said. “Tragic, senseless waste. Stupid. His funeral is in two hours.”Isa rubbed the heel of one hand up her forehead.“A quarter of the Seattle Police Department is inspecting my basement, Ria,” she whispered. “Do you really want to advertise the fact that you killed one of your own people with cops crawling all over?”His fist closed on the ring until his knuckles turned white. “Yes. I do. Think of the stories that will be told. Police watch while I get another tattoo for another tool that failed me. A powerful message to the rest of them. Do not tell me you won’t do it.”Refusing to work on Ria wouldn’t change anything. She turned on her tattoo machine and drew the iridescent black outline of a fourth teardrop into the skin over his cheekbone.As if she weren’t jabbing him repeatedly with needles, Ria didn’t move a muscle until she finished and handed him a mirror.“Bueno,” he said, inspecting the work. “I will go to the funeral with a warning label written by your hand. You save lives.”
He rose and walked away.Troy, working not four feet away from Isa’s station, shut off his tattoo machine and straightened.At the reception desk, Ria pulled a couple of folded bills out of a pocket, counted off three, and tossed them to the counter.Isa stood.With a glance back at her, he flicked something else to the countertop. It clinked, hollow and metallic as it hit and rolled.A bullet casing.

Marcella Burnard graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a degree in acting. She writes science fiction romance for Berkley Sensation.

Her first book, Enemy Within won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice award for Best Futuristic of 2010. The second book in the series, Enemy Games, released on May 3, 2011.

An erotica novella, Enemy Mine, set in the same world as the novels was released as an e-special edition by Berkley was released in April 2012. Emissary, a sword and sorcery short story released in the two volume Thunder on the Battlefield Anthology in the second half of 2013.

Website - http://www.marcellaburnard.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marcella-Burnard/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/marcellaburnard
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Marcella-Burnard/e/B003E75420
Blog - http://word-whores.blogspot.com/
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3409619.Marcella_Burnard
Tumblr - http://www.marcellaburnard.tumblr.com

5 ecopies Nightmare Ink by Marcella Burnard

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Fighting to Forget - By JB Salsbury Review

2014-04-18T00:47:00.000-04:00

Series - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads
| Amazon | Nook - Coming Soon |

Every fighter is drawn to the violence, the release that a perfect hit can bring. But very few are drawn to the pain. Rex Carter lives behind a wall of indifference. The demons from his childhood act as an anesthetic, keeping him distant from emotional connections. Only the ache from a knock to the jaw, the sting of a tattoo needle, or the heat from a piercing can jolt him back from the numbness. The fiery pain is all he can feel, and nothing compares to the burn. Or so he thought. Working in a Las Vegas bar isn't Georgia McIntyre's dream. But she hopes it'll be an end to the nightmare. She's watched him, followed him and kept tabs, all in preparation for this moment: to make amends and share the secret she’s been carrying since she was a kid. But she didn't count on the feelings that seeing him again would stir up, the vacant look in his stormy-blue eyes, and his perfect body now mutilated by ink and metal. And she knows why. She's lived his pain every single day, since the day he left. Changed by time, Rex doesn't remember the girl from his past. If only she could do the same. Will she get the absolution she's spent her life seeking? Or will he continue Fighting to Forget?

My god. Finally a book that lives up to the hype! After multiple run ins with books that were huge disappointments Salsbury delivers oomph with a side of oh la la. In other words, "Fighting to Forgot" pulls no punches on emotional content and story while still managing to have a believeable and beautiful romance. Yay! While I've often had issues with damaged characters the slightly out there story of Rex and Gia snatched me from the first chapter and I couldn't tear myself away. I was emotionally ripped apart but in the best way possible. Salsbury also refuses to slip into the "love changes all things instantly" trope that is another pet peeve of mine. Rex and Gia don't magically get better or become perfect through their love, Salsbury gives them struggles and therapy to help them out. I loved that the real life was kept with the romance because overly fantastical romantic storylines leave you with less of an emotional buy in. I was all in with this particular story.

Both characters are strong and weak in a way that only true human beings can be. I adore the inner strength of Gia to keep going when things were rough. I was hugely upset at where she ended up part way through and with her backstory completely understood how she got to that place. (Trying not to spoil it for y'all, so I'm sorry if I'm vague!) Rex obviously was struggling with a lot of bullshit from his life and he worked so hard to actively work to get better. I was in love with these two throughout the whole book. I understood every decision, even if it was the worst and I felt their pain like it was mine. Salsbury knows how to write characters and flesh them out perfectly. The last time I loved a book so much was by Krista and Becca Ritchie so it will come as no surprise that JB Salsbury is jumping straight on to my favourites list! I cannot wait to see where she takes us next. My final closing note is - JEEEZUS, where can I find all these handsome, funny and ridiculously guy-ish men!? I want a Rex, Blake or Slade.

JB Salsbury, USA Today Best Selling author of the Fighting series, lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page. Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing. Fighting for Flight, Fighting to Forgive, and Fighting to Forget are the first three novels in the MMA romance series. Fighting the Fall is due to be released in October 2014. For more information on the series or just to say hello, visit JB on her website, Facebook, or Goodreads page.

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Raising Chaos - By Elizabeth Corrigan Review & Giveaway

2014-04-17T00:48:00.000-04:00

When good fails, chaos rises to the challenge.

The daily life of a chaos demon is delightfully sinful—overindulging in Sri Lankan delicacies, trespassing on private beaches in Hawaii, and getting soused at the best angel bar on the planet. But when Bedlam learns that the archdemon Azrael has escaped from the Abyss in order to wreak vengeance against the person who sent her there—Bedlam’s best friend, Khet—he can’t sit idly by.

Only one relic possesses the power to kill Khet, who suffers immortality at Lucifer’s request: the mythical Spear of Destiny, which pierced Christ’s side at His crucifixion. Neither angel nor demon has seen the Spear in two thousand years, but Azrael claims to know its location. Bedlam has no choice but to interpret woefully outdated clues and race her to its ancient resting place.

His quest is made nearly impossible by the interference of a persnickety archivist, Keziel—his angelic ex—and a dedicated cult intent on keeping the Spear out of the wrong hands. But to Bedlam, “wrong” is just an arbitrary word, and there’s no way he’s letting Khet die without a fight.

Another solid Urban Fantasy novel from Corrigan. I was interested to see how she would swing the shift in narrator but we just a three person trade off. Keeping up with Cassie, as usual, who is struck by the departure of Gabriel and the inconsistency of Bedlam. We get to see into the mind of Bedlam and he lives up to his gift of chaos because keeping on track through his thoughts is impossible. I found his ability to converse with himself slightly annoying toward the end. However, his heart of gold shone through in his quest to save Cassie. Our final narrator is an angel called Siren who is the speaker of truth. I liked this new character much more than I thought. She was a slice of responsibility without Cassie's need to constantly help others. I adored her truth telling abilities even when they were slightly abrasive. Siren gave the story more order when Bedlam was a riot of random emotions and focuses.

I was sucked in from beginning to end and will definitely be continuing the series. I want to know if angels will ever be able to love without their tragic stories. Could Gabriel and Cassie ever be together? Will Bedlam be redeemed from his selfish one true love? This is truly a brilliant start to a series that could take us anywhere. The future is endless and if these past two books are anything to go off, it will be a marvelous ride.

Elizabeth Corrigan has degrees in English and psychology and has spent several years working as a data analyst in various branches of the healthcare industry. When she’s not hard at work on her next novel, Elizabeth enjoys singing, reading teen vampire novels, and making Sims of her characters.
She drinks more Diet Coke than is probably optimal for the human body and is pathologically afraid of bees. She lives in Maryland with two cats and a purple Smart Car.
Website: http://www.elizabethrcorrigan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Corrigan-Author/136090576538450
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ERCorrigan
Author Page Red Adept Publishing: http://redadeptpublishing.com/elizabeth-corrigan/

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Dark Souls Series - By Anne Hope Spotlight & Giveaway

2014-04-14T12:05:00.000-04:00

"Born to hunt and destroy...until the light of one soul reawakens his own."
Adrian knows he once possessed a soul, but it abandoned him the day he was murdered. The day he was reborn as a Rogue, shunned by humans and hunted by his own kind. By night he feeds the darkness inside him by finding and snuffing out corrupt souls, perfectly content to live as an outcast-until a random act of violence unites him with a woman who makes him feel.
Angelica Paxton believes everyone deserves a second chance. Even her rescuer, a mysterious stranger with hypnotic powers, an unsettling ability to invade her dreams, and a shocking secret. Much as her body wants to succumb to Adrian's seductive charms, she can't. Not without breaking his newly awakened heart.
Adrian swears to protect Angie from his kind, even if staying by her side means volunteering at the center where she works to reform the very souls he has vowed to crush. Even if it means abandoning the shadows for the light. Even if that light exposes the darkest threat he's ever faced. One from which he is powerless to save her...
Warning: This book contains flying subway cars, a woman in jeopardy, a relentless villain who'll stop at nothing to get what he wants, and a dark, sexy hero who could very well haunt your dreams and steal your heart.

The one man she wants is the one man destined to destroy her.

Sooner or later we all end up dead. Jace Cutler doesn’t have the luxury of staying that way. After receiving a fatal stab wound, he awakens in a hospital room in Portland, Oregon, with no memory and a big hole where his soul used to be. Worst of all is the glow. Everyone is surrounded by a strange white aura he hungers to possess, none more compelling than the one enveloping Dr. Lia Benson.

Lia has always been ruled by reason, refusing to put stock in such nebulous things as destiny. Until Jace dies in her arms, then miraculously comes back to life. Whenever he’s near, her soul responds and her body burns. And she’s consumed by odd dreams she’s convinced are Jace’s lost memories.

When Lia is kidnapped, Jace tracks her and discovers a shocking explanation for who—and what—he is. Something no longer human, a dark legacy that until now has lain dormant within him. Something that could destroy the one woman he’d sacrifice everything to protect.

"Save her life or save mankind. His choice could cost him his soul. "

For nearly two centuries, Marcus has been the Watchers most faithful soldier. Sworn to protect humanity, driven by an unrelenting compulsion to atone for past sins, he has rarely found a compelling reason to question his mission, let alone defy his leader.

His partner, Regan, is his exact opposite, an enigma he longs to solve. A free spirit and reckless to a fault, Regan acts first and thinks later. Her smart mouth and tender heart have fascinated Marcus for decades, but the Watchers strict vow of celibacy has forced him to ignore the sizzling attraction between them. Until now.

When Regan goes rogue to protect a very special little boy, Marcus is forced to make an impossible choice commit an act of treason or watch the woman he secretly loves die.

Hunted by enemies and allies alike, Regan and Marcus run for their lives, fighting to thwart an age-old prophecy and guard a boy whose destiny may very well be to destroy the world or save it.

A man she'd die for, a world she was born to defend... Only one can survive.

For twenty-five years, Adrian has mourned the loss of his soul mate, Angie. He's content to live as an outcast...until a series of abductions forces him out of seclusion and into the arms of the very woman he loved and lost. Angie's reincarnation, Emma.

Emma is on the run, hunted by soulless creatures whose one goal is to possess her soul. They have taken everything: her home, her identity, her mother. Left with no other choice, she must trust her fate to Adrian, the enigmatic stranger who comes to her rescue. An immortal being whose illicit touch makes her blood burn and awakens an inexplicable desire in her heart.

Emma follows Adrian to his isolated community in Arizona, where she is assailed by visions of a past life. As passion ignites and her enemies close in, Emma is drawn into a world where nothing is what it seems and where love could prove the greatest weakness of all.

Warning: Contains a dark, tortured hero, a hunted woman who can't remember loving him, a nasty villain hell-bent on destroying the world, and a timeless love story you won't soon forget.

Anne Hope lives in Montreal, Canada with her husband, two exhaustible kids, my cat and a school of shamelessly multiplying guppies. When she's not chairing the next PTA meeting or driving my little bundles of joy to school, gymnastics, karate, soccer practice and any other activity you can imagine, she's writing books. She's always had an overactive imagination. As a child, most of her days were spent creating characters and weaving stories together. When she was eight, she wrote her first book.

Anne began a journey into the riveting, cutthroat world of business. Earning a BComm from Concordia University and an MBA from McGill University, she landed a job as an account executive in a marketing agency. But as interesting as this field was, writing still called to her and she spent many hours penning my first contemporary romance, Beyond Earth and Sky, on the company computer.

Shortly after that, she left the marketing agency and became a product manager for Neutrogena, where she was responsible for marketing strategy as well as writing copy for magazine ads, packaging, press kits, and various promotional materials. Again, her passion for writing spilled into her work and she realized her dream of being an author would never see the light of day if she didn’t actually pursue it. So she quit my job and decided to learn everything she could about the publishing world.

In the following years, Anne wrote two contemporary romances—Tell Me No Lies and Where Dreams are Made (then entitled Finding Home)—both of which met with impressive success, placing in numerous Romance Writers of America (RWA) contests and receiving positive feedback from contest judges. Tell Me No Lies placed fourth in the RWA New England First Kiss Contest and second in the Ottawa RWA First Meet Contest, where it was commended for its voice, dialogue, descriptions and innovativeness.

Where Dreams Are Made was even more successful, placing first in the Ottawa First Meet Contest, second in the RWA San Francisco Heart to Heart Contest and was a finalist in the Barclay Sterling Awards Contest. Most exciting of all, Where Dreams Are Made was selected as a Golden Heart Finalist in the single title category.

Many years and several attempts later, her dream has finally become a reality. Where Dreams Are Made—the story of an impoverished woman on the brink of being forced into prostitution who falls in love with the scarred, reclusive toymaker she was hired to befriend—has been bought by Samhain and will be released both as an e-book and in print.

Website - http://annehope.com/index.html

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The Pleasure Room - By D.N. Simmons Review & Giveaway

2014-04-11T02:16:00.000-04:00

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Felicity Summers is an ambitious reporter who's trying to make a name for herself as a serious investigative journalist with the biggest newspaper in the city; the Chicago Word. When she catches wind of a rumor about the city's mayor that might just be the hottest story of the decade, she jumps at the opportunity to expose the corrupt mayor and derail his chances at winning a second term. All she has to do is infiltrate a private BDSM club to catch him in the act. Simple right? Well, maybe it would have been if not for the club's extremely dominant, gorgeous and charming owner, Sir Alistair Montgomery-Piers. He takes notice of her at one of the scenes and sees something in Felicity that he wants to her to explore. Alistair makes her an offer neither she nor her body can refuse. Can Felicity stay focused on her mission long enough to get the proof for her top secret story, or will Alistair completely take over her heart, mind, body and soul? Reader Advisory. This novel contains the following warnings: Adult Themes. Strong Sexual Situations. Lots of Foul Language. Hot, Naked Bodies. Sexy Accents. Lusty Toys That Make You Beg For More. And a Whole Lot of Other Naughty Things That Will Send Your Libido Into Overdrive... Are Your Ready To Unleash Your Desires?

Without further ado, she walked towards the back to the black door Gregory led her to before marked “Employees only”. She took her membership card and ran it through the card slot and the red light turned green and the door unlocked. She opened it and began making her trek up the two small flights of stairs. Once she reached the top, she parted the red velvet curtains, not sure what she was going to see this time around. She tried hard not to stand in the doorway like a deer caught in a set of headlights, but once again, her feet failed her. This time she didn't have Gregory to guide her and she felt like she was teetering on the edge of a panic attack. Two scenes were going on at the same time. Hanging from a leather swing contraption was a beautiful and very naked blonde woman. Both her legs were spread wide, ankles bound by the straps on the swing. Her wrist were handcuffed to the other end of the swing and she lay helpless, exposed for all to see, while her female Domme spanked her breast teasingly with a leather crop. The other scene was another spanking. A muscular man, almost the size of the bouncer who'd let her in, was bound to that cross-shaped contraption and his female mistress was tearing into him with a leather whip. Each contact to his skin left red welts that the crowd appeared to approve of.

“It's beautiful, isn't it?” a deep, caramel-smooth, British voice asked her from behind causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. So much for playing it cool.

Felicity turned around, ready to curse out whoever it was violating her personal space. But when her eyes trailed up his tall, powerfully built frame and locked on the jade-green gaze of the man before her, she lost her voice. His full, luscious lips parted in a killer smile that would make Don Juan envious. His jaw was strong and defined and made her want to run her fingers along the smooth lines. Everything about this man was sheer perfection. Never in her life had she seen a man so beautiful with such a presence, that it engulfed her. It frightened her and excited her. She immediately felt her nipples harden and the little things were betraying her through her bra and blouse. His eyes didn't miss the show, either. They glided down her body, taking in her appearance from head to toe, lingering only but a second at her breasts. Long enough for his lip to quirk up at the corner ever so slightly.

“W-what did you say?” was the only words Felicity could form at the moment. He ought to be grateful for that... or was it the other way around? she wondered.

“I said they're beautiful, aren't they?” he repeated. That same sensuous, crisp accent slicing through her mental barrier like a hot knife through butter.

Simmons writes BDSM magic. I was a little skeptical it was going to be another typical billionaire Dom books but there's a beautiful dynamic built between the main characters which sets it apart from other novels. Simmons is savvy on the BDSM front and allows a trustful relationship to develop from mutual attraction. I enjoyed the "discovery" aspect of the novel and it transitioned well into a slightly more experienced level of intimate play. Alistair was a flawless Dom who was blessedly lacking in the arrogant asshole persona that so often graces billionaire's in BDSM these days. He was equal parts firm as he was sweet. I liked that he laughed and didn't have some horrifying past that "made him the way he is." This, my friends, is how a writer can have a dominant male without making him a brooding douchebag. Kudos Simmons!

My only problems were with Felicity and the finale drama. Felicity was judgemental and she often made me cringe with her comments. Granted she sorted herself out and stopped being so closed minded but it definitely made her less likeable. She also came across as slightly naive and whingey when she didn't know what to do or what decision to make. God dammit woman where was the authoritative confidence you showed at the end. In regards to the finale drama, the relationship conflict wasn't a surprise but the last emotional panic seemed a little bit over dramatic.

Otherwise this is a wonderful BDSM read and definitely a high recommend. Think Cherise Sinclair - Masters of the Shadowlands series, Simmons is of a similar vein. Grab a copy and let me know what YOU think! :)

D.N. Simmons lives in Chicago IL., with a rambunctious German Shepherd that's too big for his own good and mischievous cat that she affectionately calls "Itty-bitty". She is highly acclaimed for her groundbreaking, fast-paced and engaging novels winning “Author of the Month” at Warrior of Words, “New Voice Of Today” at Romance Reviews and “Rising Star” at Love Romance and More.

She has been nominated at Love Romances and More, for “Best Book” of 2012 and “Best Paranormal Book” of 2012.

When she isn't writing, D.N. loves to read, listen to music, watch movies and TV and hang out with friends.

To learn more, and have the opportunity to speak with the author personally, please visit her official website at www.dnsimmons.com. D.N. is always interesting in meeting new and wonderful people.
Website: http://www.dnsimmons.com
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Raven's Blood - By Cassandra Lawson Spotlight & Giveaway

2014-04-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

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Following the death of her wood nymph mother at the hands of vampires, Raven worked hard to build a life for herself in one of the few remaining human settlements. Her life takes a frightening turn when she finds herself an unwilling guest in a vampire settlement, but things are not anything like she expected them to be. Still, she cannot help but feel that her attraction to the vampire leader is a betrayal to her mother’s memory and her human friends.

From the moment Connor first laid eyes on Raven she has thrown his entire world off-balance. In order to prove his strength as a leader, he has no choice but to take her up on her offer to trade her freedom for that of her human friends. Having begun his life as a slave, he has no interest in keeping the wood nymph captive. As a man, he has no desire to feel this overwhelming attraction to a woman who hates him and his kind.

As Raven spends more time with the vampires, her feelings for Connor grow even stronger and Connor finds that she may be the one thing he cannot live without. Unfortunately, a new danger emerges that could threaten the survival of vampires and humans alike. As Connor struggles to unravel the mystery of the attacks from a new species of vampire, a madman will go to any lengths to get Raven’s blood.

Connor was shocked when Raven took off. She skipped the overgrown trail and headed straight into the trees. He followed her, awed by her graceful movements. If he’d been human, he never would have been able to keep up with her. With each step she seemed to gain strength.

Connor finally caught her arm. “Slow down some, little nymph.”

“Why?” she asked with a radiant smile. “Are you having trouble keeping up with me?”

Connor stepped in closer to her body and leaned in until she was trapped against a tree by his much larger body. Her gasp made him smile. She had obviously noticed his erection pressed against her belly. “Vampires get excited by the chase,” he said. “It weakens my self-control.”

Her eyes widened. “I thought you said you didn’t want an unwilling partner.”

“I don’t,” he said. “That’s why I would have to lay you down on the ground and lick every inch of your sweet body until you begged me to take you.”

Her pulse quickened and Connor couldn’t resist the temptation to lean forward and run his tongue across it. That made him even harder and he hadn’t thought that was possible.

Damn, but she seemed to be considering letting him do it. The green tint to her cheeks deepened. Never in a million years would he have guessed that green tinted flesh would be a turn-on. This hadn’t happened before so he assumed it had something to do with her proximity to nature. He suddenly wondered if other parts of her body flushed green when she was excited. Damn, he really would love to strip her naked and find out.

Finally, she let out a shaky breath. “Sorry, I’ll move slower.”

He released her and adjusted his jeans. “We need to stop for a minute so I can get things under control,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” she said nervously. “I wasn’t trying to do that to you.”

“You never are,” he said mostly to himself.

Cassandra Lawson is an author and homeschooling mother of three from the San Francisco Bay area. She has always had a very active imagination and loves making up stories. When she is not writing she enjoys baking, spending time with her family, listening to music, or curling up with a good book.

Blog: http://cassandralawson.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7103612.Cassandra_Lawson

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Devil's Salvation - By Gemma James Review & Giveaway

2014-04-07T09:52:00.001-04:00

Devil's Kiss series - Book 4 | Add to Goodreads

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It's been a year since Kayla Sutton walked away from Gage Channing, the man who blackmailed her into sexual slavery. Now he's back, and so is Ian Kaplan, Kayla's one-time lover from her college days. Both men want her, but only one holds the power to make her submit—to her own dark desires and to the truth she still denies, even to herself.
But Gage's jealousy is his worst enemy, and when he thinks Kayla has chosen Ian, he sets in motion a drastic plan to claim what's his. Only Kayla never expects him to infiltrate her heart so effortlessly; and she never dreamed there would come a day when he wouldn't want her—when the mere sight of her turns him away in disgust.
He believes she’s committed the ultimate sin, but will she use his mistake to finally escape the cage of his obsession? Or will she do whatever it takes to make him see he can entrust his heart to her...just as she's already lost the core of her being to him?

My breath grew shallow, from arousal, from fear. Gage was good at that—eliciting strong emotions that contrasted so sharply, they knocked a person on their ass in total confusion. I shouldn’t want him. I should scream at him to get the hell out of my house and never come back. I should get a freaking restraining order.

As if the turmoil inside me didn’t exist, I set our omelets on the table and calmly took a seat across from him. “What did you mean by boundaries?” I stabbed a bite and shoved it in my mouth. Raising my eyes to his turned out to be a mistake. His hypnotic stare paralyzed me; I couldn’t look away if my life depended on it. I fell into the ocean of his gaze and almost missed the satisfied quirk of his lips. Almost.

“You know by now that a relationship with me won’t be your standard variety. You’ll have rules that govern your behavior.”

“My behavior?”

“Yes. I expect you to obey me.” He set his fork down and winced. “But last year I was cruel to you and that’s not how I normally treat a woman. Not even when they beg me to hurt them beyond what I’m comfortable with.”

“Then why?” I choked out. Everything he’d done hit me square in the chest, and his admission that he’d been exceptionally cruel hurt more than it should.

“I wanted to destroy what was his.” He lowered his head with a frown. At least he had the grace to look ashamed.

“Congratulations.” I let my fork drop, satisfied with the clatter it made. “You succeeded.”

“No, I didn’t. Your strength is both my frustration and my undoing. There’s nothing more irritating or sexier on a woman.” He took a bite, and his gaze veered up to mine. “And to clarify on what I mean by boundaries, we’ll set limits this time. You’ll have a safe word.”

“You’re talking as if we’re going to be together.”

“I’m not leaving here without you, Kayla.”

For this fourth installment, I feel like James uses this book as an opportunity to make Gage less of an a**hole and create a better understanding of his nasty motivations. At this point Gage is still whipping back and forth between caring nice guy and overbearing d*ckwad. We were left with Gage re-entering Kayla's life but no real reason why. I actually hated him throughout the first three books because of how horrible he was acting towards Kayla. Unfortunately in this book despite getting some of his past, Gage is STILL being horrible towards Kayla and possibly even more so than before! He keeps pushing Kayla to trust him with herself yet I totally understand why she doesn't. He has done nothing to earn that trust and on top of that their relationship started with blackmail... not the most conducive of situations no?

Kayla is probably just as annoying because she knows that at this point in the story Gage hasn't changed and yet because she's addicted to their sexy time she continues to return to him - bringing her daughter in their twisted romance no less. Kayla comes across as a protective mother and yet continues to make a selfish decision to stay with Gage despite being unsure whether he daughter would be wholly safe - not okay Kayla! Their relationship made me cringe because while I admit their chemistry is smoking hot, they were not in a point in their lives where they should have pursued or strong armed each other into doing. Ian, the absolute darling, is right in recognizing abusive behaviour because I struggle to see the love in their Dom/sub relationship...

Despite all of this I did enjoy reading the books because James writes really well! The sexy time scenes are explosive but the characters and how the book feels slightly rushed to get to some kind of "conclusion" stops Devil's Salvation from more than three stars. Give it a shot and let me know what you think - maybe I've just had enough of the misunderstood arrogant billionaire? Argh maybe.

The Devil's Kiss Trilogy (The first book)

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Gemma James (a pseudonym for Christina Jean Michaels) loves to explore the darker side of sex in her fiction. She's morbidly curious about anything dark and edgy and enjoys exploring the deviant side of human nature. Her stories have been described as being "not for the faint of heart."

She lives with her husband and their four children--three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone's attention.

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My Favorite Mistake - By Chelsea M. Cameron Review #COYER

2014-03-27T20:10:00.000-04:00

Two secrets. One bet. Who will break first?

Taylor Caldwell can't decide if she wants to kiss her new college roommate or punch him.

On the one hand, Hunter Zaccadelli is a handsome blue-eyed bundle of charm. On the other, he's a tattooed, guitar-playing bad boy. Maybe that's why Taylor's afraid of falling in love with him, or anyone else. She doesn't want to get burned, so she needs him gone before it's too late.

Hunter himself has been burned before, but Taylor's sexy laugh and refusal to let him get away with anything make her irresistible. Determined not to be kicked out of her life without a fight, Hunter proposes a bet: if she can convince him she either truly loves or hates him, he'll leave the apartment;and leave her alone.

But when the man behind Taylor's fear of giving up her heart resurfaces, she has to decide: trust Hunter with her greatest secret, or do everything in her power to win that bet and drive him away forever.

This cover is so misleading! When I see this cover I think adults, sexy time and maybe one night stand gone wrong? I do not think college students, virgin, charismatic goofball male and wooing. Now don't get me wrong this is a great cover it just doesn't suit the book and when I finished reading the book, the cover just seem wrong. My problem with this is "My Favorite Mistake" is actually a lot more light hearted than the cover suggests. I would go as far to say it is a Young Adult novel yet the cover screams adult sexy time book. So how on earth will this book reach an audience that will hugely appreciate it with a cover that confines it to the adult shelf? I don't know y'all....

Besides the cover drama this is lovely read. Hunter is a charismatic misbehavior which means he usually break rules or does things that irritate people but gets away with them because he's charming - sound familiar? We all know one. Taylor was amusing and Hunter sums her character up perfectly when he states he's never bored around her because she doesn't act the way he expects. Similarly I am fascinated by the equal parts terrified and fearless Taylor, who may or may not be more likely to punch a guy in the balls than smile. She is entertainment and a half.

Their relationship is a perfect example of how love and hate are two sides of the same coin. For half of the book Hunter is trying to get Taylor to like him and Taylor is trying to aggressively deny it by any means necessary - hence ball punching. Eventually they both admit to the attraction with Hunter turning into the cutest wooing romantic ever. *sigh*

Their hidden secrets were horrific events but the story focused more on the healing process of both characters rather than dwelling in a slightly dark depressive zone which I appreciated. I don't think Hunter and Taylor's relationship moved beyond the teenage love stage which was a little disappointing. It felt a lot like a coming of age relationship story rather than the emotional depth and development I've come to expect from New Adult. Still, I hugely enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it!

Fighting to Stay - By Kasey Millstead Review #COYER

2014-03-27T13:00:00.000-04:00

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“Never stay, Lacey. Promise me. Promise right now, that whenever things go bad in life, you will run. Never, ever stay.”

Lacey Monroe was used to running. When things got bad, when things got dangerous, when there was a chance that she would get hurt – physically or emotionally – she did what her momma said. She ran. She kept running, until she landed in Salt Rock, Alabama. She meets Roam Cooper, the Vice President of the Mayhem Motorcycle Club and for the first time in her life, Lacey considers staying…and then, right before her eyes, her world falls apart. And she runs again.

This is one of the sweeter biker romances. Lacey meets Roam through her best friend. It's lust at first sight - names not necessary. They stumble into a relationship or at least some semblance of a relationship before weird events targeted at Lacey throw them even closer together. Roam is a bad boy gentleman from the moment he meets Lacey - a weird mix of polite manners and wall banging sexy times.

Lacey's backstory is laid out at the start which gives us a better understanding of why she is the way she is. After the horrible trauma she's suffered at the hands of her parents it's no wonder when Lacey is faced with a difficult situation she over reacts. I wanted to bang my head in exasperation - why do so many female characters get written such ridiculous responses? - but with Lacey it makes sense that she runs because all she does is run. In fact I was waiting for the moment when she got too freaked out and ran, so it was slightly predictable.

Roam is such a Prince Charming. Prince Charming was a biker and had a pierced, ahem - well, let's just say Cinderella probably wouldn't have left at midnight. Overall, "Fighting to Stay" could have used a bit more development, I felt like the story went much too quickly and it was the bare minimum information. There could be so much more between the start and finish which could have bumped it from short, light and fluffy to wicked fabulous. Regardless, this is a wonderful story and Roam sounds like one gorgeous man - sparkling blue eyes, dimples and built - be still my heart. Grab a copy and give Roam a ride yourself, it's sexy time well worth a read.

Kasey Millstead is Mum to four children and lives in NSW, Australia. She is the #1 Bestselling author of the Down Under Cowboy Series.Fighting to Stay, Steele Investigations series and the soon to be released Illicit Desire. She likes reading and writing (obviously), drinking with my girls, baking, scrapbooking and dancing (again with her girls).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKaseyMillstead

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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7011930.Kasey_Millstead

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