Review and Giveaway: Getting Rowdy by Lori Foster

Love Undercover Series:

Book 3:

Getting Rowdy: Rowdy Yates and Avery Mullins

Purchase on Amazon: Lori Foster – Getting Rowdy (Hqn)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Charismatic bar owner Rowdy Yates isn’t the kind of man women say no to. So when he approaches waitress Avery Mullins, he fully expects to get her number. However, the elusive beauty has her reasons for keeping her distance-including a past that might come back to haunt them both.

Avery spends her nights working for tips…and trying to forget the secret Rowdy is determined to unearth. But when history threatens to repeat itself, Avery grows to rely on Rowdy’s protective presence. As the sparks between them ignite, she will be forced to choose between the security she’s finally found…and the passion she’s always wanted.

Review:

Getting Rowdy by Lori Foster was an enjoyable ride of a book, I enjoyed it more than I expected too. I knew I liked Avery going into this book, she is a feisty character who wouldn’t let Rowdy treat her for less than she is worth. It was Rowdy I was concerned about, going into this book I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Sure he is a manwhore, I don’t have any problems with that, I enjoy a reformed manwhore story, I think it was more of as soon as Avery would let him down he’s go fishing in the same pond. Dude, Really?! You’re interested in a chick, like really interested but then go hit on chicks right in front of her. Eh, not cute. So I think that was my problem with Rowdy. In this book, while he starts off as still a manwhore we kind of get more reasoning behind it and while it is still not cute, he starts to prove that he is more than his man parts. I love how loyal he is to his sister and his friends. He might reluctantly be friends with cops but he will go out of his way to help any of them if they had need. He also shows he’s a freak’n bleeding heart where it comes to abused children, it’s quite touching actually. Rowdy ends up redeeming himself, at least to me. Avery, I liked coming into the book, as mentioned I wasn’t worried about her. She is feisty, take no shit kind of girl, but she wasn’t always that way. What surprised me is that Avery has a history of her own and not all of a good one. She comes from an affluent background but something happened that made her turn her back on all of money and society, she struck out on her own looking over her shoulder. When trouble comes, and it always comes, she is fiercely protective of Rowdy and cares for him as no one else has ever done. She rocks Rowdy to the core. She doesn’t do anything he expects her to do, leaving him off balance. Watching these two push and pull is highly entertaining.

The story is fast paced and pretty much has some sort of action throughout. Rowdy can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble. There are shoot outs, bar fights and other such things to keep you thoroughly entertained throughout the book. All the usual suspects also return, so you can catch up with some of the previous characters. I don’t think you will be disappointed with this installment of the Love Undercover Series, I know I wasn’t!

Rating:

*This copy was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

*This review can also be seen on Where the Night Kind Roam blog.

Now for the good stuff! I’m giving away a copy of this book! The rules: comment (and make sure to leave your email so we can contact you if you win) on this post about anything you want to be entered. It would be nice if you followed this blog on WP or “Liked” our Facebook page as well as Lori Fosters but it not required. This giveaway ends 11/03/2013

This is only open to US residents. Sorry friends, but international shipping can get expensive.

Review: Anna Campbell – A Rake’s Midnight Kiss

Sons of Sin Series:

Book 2:

A Rake’s Midnight Kiss: Sir Richard Harmsworth and Genevieve Barrett

Purchase on Amazon: Anna Campbell – A Rake’s Midnight Kiss (Sons of Sin)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

It Takes A Lady
Brilliant scholar Genevieve Barrett knows how to keep a secret. Her identity as the author of her father’s academic articles has always been her greatest deception—until a charming housebreaker tries to steal the mysterious Harmsworth Jewel from her. She doesn’t reveal that she recognizes her father’s devastatingly handsome new student as the thief himself. For Genevieve, this will be the most seductive secret of all…

To Catch A Thief
Sir Richard Harmsworth has been living a lie, maintaining a rakish façade to show society that he doesn’t care about his status as a bastard. Yet long haunted by his unknown father’s identity, Richard believes the Harmsworth Jewel will confirm his claim as the rightful heir. But when Richard sets out to seduce the bookworm who possesses the stone, he instead falls for its beautiful owner. But even as she steals Richard’s heart, Genevieve will be in greater danger than her coveted treasure…

Review:

A Rake’s Midnight Kiss by Anna Campbell is the second in the Sons of Sin Series which is about a group of three friends whose circumstances of birth are questionable. Richard may have had it worse than his two friends as his “father” was gone for 18 months when he was born and his mother never bowed down to the Ton. Born and raised in scandal. One night Richard determined that by obtaining a family jewel that had disappeared he would finally get the redemption that he so badly needed. Enter in Genevieve, by a strange twist she inherited Richards family jewel and she has refused to sell to him multiple times. He will stop at nothing to get his jewel, even if it means seducing the delectable Genevieve.

From the beginning I liked Richard, he is pretty hard not to like. He is affable, a bit rakish but a good guy underneath it all. He cares about his friends and would do anything for them. You feel his pain on how he grew up, you definitely understand the façade he has had to develop to deal with his birth circumstances. From the first he sets out to charm Genevieve, she’s a hard sell but he cracks her armor little by little. He definitely puts in the work; it very quickly becomes less about the jewel and more about the woman. As a character he grows and finds himself, consider him a late bloomer. Genevieve as a character I had trouble relating to for a while. She can come off as cold and hard to please. After a while she started to grow on me, she starts to thaw out a little bit. She has basically grown up with her own father ripping her off on a regular basis, that’s got to hurt. He doesn’t particularly care about her and her well being is not one of his priorities unless it directly affects him. So I get it. Richard does a pretty good job on getting her to lighten up little by little. So by the end of the book you even like her, if not love her.

For about the first quarter of the book I had troubles getting into the story, it was a bit on the slow side. After about 25% it starts to pick up and I found myself really getting into the story We get some betrayal, thefts, passion and a case of opposites attract. Our two characters develop a lot over the course of the book both together as well as apart. Anna Campbell remains one of my favorite historical authors. She writes very well, her characters are fully developed, her stories passionate as well as humorous. I will definitely be looking out for the next book in this series!

Rating:

This copy was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.

*This review can also be seen on http://paranormalromancenovel.com

Blog Tour and Giveaway: THE INSIDE OUT TRILOGY by Lisa Renee Jones

SERIES SPOTLIGHT INFO: THE INSIDE OUT TRILOGY

IF I WERE YOU

Inside Out, Book 1

Available at: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | ARe

The steamy first installment in the Inside Out erotic romance trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones, in the bestselling tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

When Sara McMillan finds a stack of journals in a storage unit, she’s shocked and enthralled by the erotic life the writer led. Unable to stop reading, she vicariously lives out dark fantasies through Rebecca, the writer—until the terrifying final entry.

Certain something sinister has happened, Sara sets out to discover the facts, immersing herself in Rebecca’s life. Soon she’s working at the art gallery Rebecca worked at and meeting Rebecca’s friends. Finding herself drawn to two dangerously sexy men, the manager of the gallery and a famed artist, Sara realizes she’s going down the same path Rebecca took. But with the promise of her dark needs being met by a man with confident good looks and a desire for control, she’s not sure anything else matters. Just the burn for more.

BEING ME

Inside Out, Book 2

Available at: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | ARe

The sexy second installment in the Inside Out erotic romance trilogy, following If I Were You—in the seductive tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Fascinated by the dark fantasies in the journals she’s discovered, and the two men who have now found a place in her life, Sara McMillan finds herself torn between her new life and her past. Now, more than ever, Sara identifies with the missing journal writer, Rebecca, and is certain that something sinister has happened.

In the arms of the sexy, tormented artist Chris Merit, Sara seeks answers about Rebecca and ends up discovering things about herself she never knew existed. Chris forces Sara to reconsider who she is and what she truly wants from life, but his dark desires threaten to tear them apart. Her boss, Mark Compton, offers her the shelter to understand just what those needs mean to her, and what they might have meant to Rebecca—but can she trust him to lead her to a final conclusion to Rebecca’s story?

REVEALING US

Inside Out, Book 3

Available at: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

The third and final installment in the sexy Inside Out erotic romance trilogy—in the seductive tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

You’ve discovered Rebecca’s secrets. You’ve discovered Sara’s secrets. Now Sara will discover “his” deepest, darkest secrets…but will those secrets bind them together—or tear them apart?

Meet Lisa Renée

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT TRILOGY which has sold to more than ten countries for translation with negotiations in process for more, and has now been optioned by STARZ Network for a cable television show, to be produced by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland).

Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 30 books with publishers such as Simon and Schuster, Avon, Kensington, Harlequin, NAL, Berkley and Elloras Cave, as well as crafting a successful indie career. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.

Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her through her website and she is active on twitter and Facebook daily.

Connect with Lisa:

Website:  http://www.lisareneejones.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaReneeJones

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaReneeJones?fref=ts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/73977.Lisa_Renee_Jones

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Lisa is giving away an autographed copy of IF I WERE YOU, a Red Tote & Swag to one lucky winner at the end of the tour.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

REVEALING US TOUR SCHEDULE:

9/01- Under the Covers

http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/

9/01- Shayna Renee’s Spicy Reads

http://shaynareneesspicyreads.blogspot.com/

9/02- KT Book Reviews

http://ktbookreviews.blogspot.com/

9/03- Sweet & Spicy Tales

http://taylormadefiction.blogspot.com/

9/03- A Cauldron of Books

http://www.acauldronofbooks.info/

9/04- Miscellaneous Thoughts of A Bookaholic

http://miscellaneousthoughtsofabookaholic.blogspot.com/

9/05- Sassy Book Lovers

http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

9/06- Book Nerd

http://booknerdash.blogspot.com/

9/06- Smoldering Heat

http://smolderingheat.wordpress.com/

9/07- Live, Read & Breathe

http://livereadbreathe.blogspot.com/

9/08- Inner Goddess

http://www.innergoddessforum.com/

9/08- Romance Junkies

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

9/09- Just Contemporary Romance

http://www.justcontemporaryromance.com/

9/10- Bookin’ It Reviews

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

9/11- Swept Away by Romance

http://www.sweptawaybyromance.com/

9/12- Schmexy Girl

http://www.schmexygirlbookblog.com/

9/12- Night Owl Reviews

http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Revealing-Us-by-Lisa-Renee-Jones

9/13- Let’s Get Romantical

https://romancenovelreview.wordpress.com/

9/14- Delphina Reads Too Much

http://delphinareadstoomuch.com/

9/15- Cocktails and Books

http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

9/15- Saucy & Sinful

http://saucyandsinfulblog.blogspot.com/

9/16- Scandalicious Book Reviews

http://www.scandaliciousbookreviews.com/

9/17- Tome Tender

http://tometender.blogspot.com/

9/18- Wicked Readings by Tawania

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

9/19- The Reading Cafe

http://www.thereadingcafe.com/

9/20- Liezel’s Book Blog

http://www.liezelsbookblog.net/

9/20- Redheaded Bookworm

http://redheaded-bookworm.blogspot.com/

9/21- The Boyfriend Bookmark

http://theboyfriendbookmark.com/

9/21- Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.com/

9/22- Reading Between the Wines

http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com/

9/23- Love Between the Sheets

http://www.readlovelust.com/

9/24- United by Books

http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

9/25- Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews

http://literalhottiesnaughtybookreviews.blogspot.com/

9/26- My Secret Romance

http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/

9/27- Offbeat Vagabond

http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/

9/27- Books-n-Kisses

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

9/28- You Gotta Read Reviews

http://yougottaread.com/

9/28- Brynna Curry’s In Shadows Blog

http://www.brynnacurry.com/

9/29- Proserpine Craving Books

http://proserpinecravedfor.blogspot.com/

9/30- Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

9/30- Reader Girls

http://www.readergirlsblog.com/

 

Review: Revealing Us by Lisa Renee Jones

Inside Out Series:

Book 3:

Revealing Us:

Purchase on Amazon: Lisa Renee Jones – Revealing Us (Inside Out Trilogy)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

You’ve discovered Rebecca’s secrets. You’ve discovered Sara’s secrets. Now Sara will discover “his” deepest, darkest secrets…but will those secrets bind them together–or tear them apart?

Review:

Guest Review: By Tina

So we reach the anticipated end of this trilogy… Or do we? What was supposed to be the finale of this series turns out to just be the middle. As readers we were looking forward to the conclusion of this series and getting the answers that have been outstanding from previous books. By the end of REVEALING US what we have are few answers and more questions. I am a bit disappointed that they have decided to unnecessarily drag this series out for a couple of more books. This is not the first series that was supposed to be a trilogy but whomever decided that for some reason the series needed to be extended past its original life.

As with the second book in this series I was a bit underwhelmed with this book. The first half of the book was pretty slow and not much happened. It makes me think that they are thinking of ways to drag this out over a couple of more books, so what we get is a slow beginning and an inconclusive ending. Even the sexy times lacked the intensity from the first books and was actually pretty vanilla. We have been leading up to the big reveal of Chris’s “big secret” thinking it’s something really bad, but even that isn’t nearly as big of a deal as it is made out to be. It’s kind of like an “ahh that’s it?” moment.

What we do get in this book and what I am really looking forward to is Ella and this new mysterious good/bad guy. Were they lovers? What happened? All these intriguing new possibilities and what looks like is going to be a spin off. Some of the most interest parts of this book were this side story. I am really looking forward to seeing where this story goes.

Overall, I am a bit disappointed that we don’t get the conclusion that we thought we were going to get and that the series was extended with more questions and less answers. While the first half was on the slow side the last 20% did pick up and set us up for the next book in the series and for the Ella spin off.

Rating:

*This title was provided through Edelweiss for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.

*This review can also be viewed at paranormalromancenovel.com

Review: Blue By You by Rachel Gibson

Blue By You: Kasper Pennington and Blue Butler

Purchase on Amazon: Rachel Gibson – Blue By You

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Rachel Gibson, the New York Times bestselling author of Crazy On You and Rescue Me, once again shows that there’s nothing quite like a man in uniform!

They say you never forget your first time, but there’s nothing Blue Butler and Kasper Pennington would rather forget than their brief but fiery teenage love affair. Yeah, it was hot while it lasted, but then he went off to join the Marines, leaving Blue in New Orleans. She’s tried to block him from her mind for good, but nothing can really erase the feeling she had when she was with him.

And now he’s got the nerve to return—leaner, meaner, and strong enough to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless. Blue’s a successful businesswoman now, with no time to figure out what went wrong all those years ago. But Kasper knows she’s the one woman for him … and now he’s got to prove it to her all over again.

Review:

Blue By You by Rachel Gibson is another hit in the Rachel Gibson collection. It is no secret, that I adore Rachel Gibson, she is one of my favorite authors because every time I pick up a Rachel Gibson novel, I know I am going to laugh and it’s going to be a heartwarming tale. Blue By You is no exception to this rule. For the first time by Rachel Gibson we are taken to the Louisiana New Orleans area, which I really fell in love with. True to RG style, she gives us a small town that is quirky and fun. The rival families is quite fun and I loved how they joked about their ancestors.

Kasper (loving the name) and Blue had one night together 20 something years ago and now they meet again and the attraction comes back just as strong as it was when they first met. Blue is rightfully pissed about how Kasper hit it and quit it all those years ago, I mean a girl always remembers her first. Kasper is determined to make up for his Houdini act, he is finally ready for the feelings that Blue inspires. He has his work cut out for him, but he is a man determined to get what he wants and he sets out to put in work. I quite enjoyed Blue and her non-conformance attitude; we opened with Blue drinking on her front porch while everyone else was at church. It had my chuckling on the inside. She also doesn’t give into Kasper too quickly; she does make Kasper work a little.

In this novella we flash from the present to the past and back to the present, which for me worked for this book. It gave us the history between Kasper and Blue, which was needed. The past and present plotlines were seamlessly plotted out. There was plenty of humor to keep you chuckling throughout the book. My biggest and really only issue with this book was it was too short; it really needed to be a bit longer for it to really develop. I truly hope that we get more books in this setting. I really enjoyed this setting and hope we get to visit it again.

Rating:

*This book was provided to me through Edelweiss for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

*This review can also be seen at paranormalromancenovel.com

Giveaway: K.M. Scott – Crash Into Me

Readers Giveaway Rafflecopter Link Below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What would you give up for everything?

Tristan Stone was powerful, commanding, sex incarnate. And he wore it all so well. From the moment his mesmerizing gaze met mine, I had no choice but surrender to everything he was. His power. His decadence. His passion. He was all I never knew I needed.

He wanted to possess me, and I wanted to be his everything. All I had to do was accept what he offered. But everything has a price.

The world he gave me fulfilled my wildest dreams, but would that be enough when the past crashed into the present?

Excerpt for Crash Into Me:

He slid the tie from my neck and undid all his work. “Now you show me what you learned.” I attempted to take the tie from his hand, but he pulled it away and whispered, “On me. Turn around and sit toward me.” Nervous fear shot through me as I stood up, and I hoped I’d be able to turn around without my legs giving out. The dress I wore only fell to the middle of my thighs, so when I straddled him, it was likely to ride up so far my panties would show. I didn’t care about that so much as him knowing that I was already dripping wet just from sitting there pressed up against him. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and climbed on top of his lap. He stared into my eyes, unnerving me, but something held me firm in his gaze. His hard cock pressed against the front of his pants and my damp panties. There was no way he didn’t know how excited he’d made me. I took the tie from his hand and slid it around his strong neck, even as my fingers trembled at the feel of him underneath them. Trying to hide my ignorance of my task, I wrapped the wide end of the tie around the narrow end, but it was no use. I didn’t know what came next. Dropping the two ends of silk, I looked down to avoid his gaze. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to do this.” “You didn’t listen when I told you how to?” he asked in a voice that was as seductive as it was stern. Shaking my head, I continued to look down at the untied ends of the blue fabric laying against his shirt. “I couldn’t. You were so close, and it was impossible to pay attention to what you were saying.” He slid his hands down my back and cupped my ass to pull me into him, grinding my soaked panties into the thin fabric separating his cock from me. Kneading my flesh through my dress, he whispered near my mouth, “I love how honest you are, Nina. It makes me want to be honest with you.” I wasn’t sure how to answer, but it didn’t matter. As my head swum from the sensations he’d created in me, he pressed his mouth to mine and kissed me. His lips were soft yet demanding, and I eagerly kissed him back, seeking a release of that sweet ache, but his kiss only increased the feeling, making me want more. He nudged his hips off the couch, sliding his cock over my sensitive clit, and I couldn’t stop myself from moaning into his mouth. I didn’t want him to think he had this effect on me so soon, but I was powerless. I wanted him so badly at that moment, I would have done anything to keep his hands on my body.

Facebook Release Party:

We also hope you’ll join the fun at the Crash Into Me Release Party on Facebook Wednesday, August 28 from 6-10 pm. There will be giveaways and fun, and we’d love to see you there! FB Crash Into Me Release Party https://www.facebook.com/events/1378631029029090/

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Crash-Into-Heart-Stone-ebook/dp/B00ERLYNF6/

Barnes & Noble Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crash-into-me-km-scott/1116336223?ean=2940045184601

 

My review of Crash Into Me

5 Romanticals 🙂

I am going to try to do this book justice in this review. It’s hard to actually put into words how much I LOVED this book. I really adored this book with a passion.
So first off let me say it was very well written. The story line was fun and interesting. It keeps you hooked from page one.
K.M. Scott gives you contemporary romance at its finest.
Tristan is a hunk of a man. A hottie. He owns a chain of very successful hotels. He is very dominate but he also has a side of him that is so sweet. He made the story so inviting for me.
Nina is a beautiful woman coming into her own. Her attitude is great even with the past she had. I really loved her character and could relate to her. For me Nina felt real especially with her past and insecurities.
Tristan and Nina meet one night. What would you give up for everything? This story will pull you in and leave you breathless and wanting more.. much more..
It’s like K.M. took all my fantasies and brought them alive in this book.
The sex is erotic and sensual. I was fanning myself and saying Oh MY!! Oh MY!! hahaha
Oh yes, be prepared for the best ending ever!
All in all this book was a HIT! I can’t wait for the next one in this series…

Review: Beyond Pain by Kit Rocha

Beyond Series:

Book 3:

Beyond Pain: Bren and Six

Purchase on Amazon: Kit Rocha – Beyond Pain (Beyond, Book Three)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

A woman with no future…

Live fast, die young–anything else is a fantasy for Six. She’s endured the worst the sectors had to throw at her, but falling in with Dallas O’Kane’s Sector Four gang lands her in a whole new world of danger. They’re completely open about everything, including their sexuality–but she hasn’t survived this long by making herself vulnerable. Especially not to men as dominant as Brendan Donnelly.

A man without a past…

Bren is a killer, trained in Eden and thrown to the sectors. His one outlet is pain, in the cage and in the bedroom, and emotion is a luxury he can’t afford–until he meets Six. Protecting her soothes him, but it isn’t enough. Her hunger for touch sparks a journey of erotic discovery where anything goes–voyeurism, flogging, rough sex. He has only one rule: he won’t share her.

In Bren’s arms, Six is finally free to let go. But his obsession with the man who made him a monster could destroy the fragile connection they’ve forged, and cost him the one thing that makes him feel human–her love.

Review:

BEYOND PAIN by Kit Rocha is one of my favorite books so far this year. To say that I am obsessed with this series and the men and women of O’Kane clan is an understatement. I first read BEYOND SHAME on a whim; I mean come on you just got to see what dystopian erotica is all about. I have to admit I was quite intrigued by the concept. After BEYOND SHAME it was the characters that stuck with me for a while, making me go back and re-read the book. I ended up loving it even more the 2^nd time around. Since then, I have been quite obsessed. Kit Rocha cannot pump out books from this series fast enough for my liking. The women of Sector Four are survivors and tough, they might start the book doubting themselves due to circumstances but you can bet by the end of the book, they bring the tough O’Kane men to their knees. The O’Kane men, man o’ man are you in for a sexy treat, whether you are into the more showy of the men (Ace), the obvious leader (Dallas) or the more undercover bad asses (Cruz and Bren) there is an O’Kane for you! Or you can be like Annie from over at Under the Covers Book Blog and claim all of the O’Kane men for yourself! Lol

For me, I’m more a fan of the undercover bad ass. The person that stays in the shadows and takes care of any business at hand. From the start I was intrigued by Bren, he is Dallas’s shadow. He came from nothing, made his way to the elite guard and was then betrayed by his leader; which brought him to the Sectors. He’s been with Dallas from pretty much the beginning, and would do anything for Dallas which is why his revenge against the one that betrayed him has been on the back burner but not forgotten. Bren is the KING of the cage, pretty much unbeatable, trained to kill; it’s what he knows and what he’s good at. His love of pain doesn’t certainly doesn’t hinder his success in and out of the cage. Bren is a masochist, but don’t mistake him for a submissive because he is all dominate male! He says it best in this line. “I like pain, not submission. I’m in charge, sweetness, or it won’t work.” I thought the pain would pay a larger part in this book, although it is mentioned and does play a part it is minimal; however, his dominate tendencies are front and center. The minute this dominate male tucked a beaten Six in the back of his car he’s felt protective of her. He is determined to bring life back to Six. Little by little he earns her trust and finally gets her into his bed. But with his revenge so very close after so many years he may lose himself to it, or even worse he may lose Six, because he is blinded by something that may not seem so important if he no longer has the one thing that has come to mean more to him then his own life. What I liked about Bren, besides all of his badassness is he doesn’t really fight his feeling for Sex, he knows that he wants her and patiently goes about getting her. He knows she’s damaged and is willing to put in the work to help her put the pieces of herself back together again and then make her stronger. He never tells her she can’t do something, he even helps her obtain it.

When we meet Six in BEYOND SHAME she is beaten into a bloody pulp. She is beyond damaged, she is shattered, both mentally and physically. She doesn’t understand how things work in Sector Four, she is used to a whole different regime where the men take what they want, and abuse is the norm. She doesn’t know what to do with herself in Sector Four, for now she is working in the bar but she still feels like an outsider. When Bren needs her help she eagerly steps up, not only does this bring her closer to Bren, but it manages to make her feel more like one of the O’Kanes. I have a proud momma moment when she steps into the Cage and has the opportunity to beat the shit out of one of the men that just stood by and watched her get abused over and over again. And when I say, beat the shit out of, I mean she really beat his ass! You go girl! Little by little she finds herself worth again. The O’Kanes have a way of taking the damaged and making them stronger in the end in their own way and Six is no exception to this trend. She ends up finding her place with or without Bren.

In BEYOND PAIN more so than the other books of this series has stronger world building. We spend more time building up the world and more importantly some of the O’Kanes. We are introduced to a couple of new characters and build upon some of the others. We are building a strong foundation for future books especially BEYOND JEALOUSLY which will be the next full length book in this series, which I cannot wait for! I think with the world building we do lose a little of the intensity of the first two books, but it’s minimal as I still freak’n loved this book! One thing you can count on with this series is some seriously creative sex scenes. There are lots of one offs but I’ve come to notice that there is one scene that is THE SCENE and you know it when you get to it. Annie and I were telling Sarah from feelingfictional.com that when she got to the scene we were talking about it she would know it. And sure enough, when she got to it, she knew exactly what we were talking about. Lol It was truly creative and HOT HOT HOT! There was this other scene that I had wished we had gotten the end of, there was build up and bam, we are somewhere else. Damn you Kit Rocha for that tease! Guess they will just have to make it up to us in BEYOND JEALOUSLY.

Rating:

*This review can also be viewed on http://paranormalromancenovel.com

Review: Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich

Hard Feelings Series:

Book 2:

Feel the Rush: Meagan Mitchell and Reed Porter

Purchase on Amazon.com: Feel the Rush: A Hard Feelings Novel (InterMix)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

The New York Times bestselling author of The Valentine’s Arrangement continues her sizzling series with a new novel of a plan that goes awry—in the arms of a soldier…

Picking the wrong men is a talent Meagan Mitchell has perfected. She’s sweet, confident, beautiful—and single. With her thirtieth birthday sneaking up on her, she needs a new plan. No more Mr. Wrongs or Mr. Bads, it’s time to find Mr. Safe…

Army Captain, Reed Porter, lives for the thrill—he’s an Airborne Jumpmaster with a rush addiction. He’s sexy and playful, and he quickly tempts Meagan with his rich Southern drawl and sinful looks. But slowing down and settling down are not in his agenda, making him exactly the type of man Meagan wants to avoid…

As their undeniable attraction heats up, Meagan has to decide if she’s willing to risk everything on a chance at love with a reckless charmer. Is she brave enough to bet her future—and her heart—on Mr. Thrill? Or will Reed finally learn that the feeling of a safe landing is just as addicting as the rush of the fall?

Review:

What a great story! I read the first book in the series and really liked it, but I got to say this one was better! I had loved Ronnie’s hard ass attitude but adored Meagan soft heart. We met Meagan in the Valentines Arrangement, she was Kale’s friends with benie’s before he found Ronnie. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of her coming into this book, but I found she was a pleasant surprise. She has a great sense of humor, she’s that kind of quiet one that out of nowhere cracks a smart ass comment and has everyone laughing. That’s almost my favorite kind of humor because you never quite see it coming. Romantically, her dating life has been a disaster. She is coming up on the big 3-0 and always thought she would be married with kids by the time she was 30. To escape a bad dating pattern she picks up and moves when her best friend Eva (who I also loved btw) came up on orders. Only, she falls right into the arms of her very first one night stand, Reed Porter, only its 8 years later and he doesn’t recognize her. This time Meagan is determined to break the pattern and to not sleep with the irresistible Reed. But Reed has other plans for her.

Reed is our adrenaline junky! Meagan nicknamed him Mr. Thrill and it fits. He will do anything for a rush, and right now chasing Meagan is giving him a rush of a lifetime, but he’s not a forever type of guy. Meagan has made it clear what she is looking for, but Reed wants to give it a go anyway. Although Reed comes off as a fun loving guy, he has demons of his own. There is a reason he doesn’t form many lasting attachments. When you lose the other part of your soul it leaves a pretty lasting impact. Reed leads on a fun pursuit of Meagan and it is definitely fun to read, the push and pull between these two strong willed characters is entertaining. I didn’t want to put the book down and when I did I couldn’t wait to pick it back up to see what these two get themselves into next. Ultimately I saw the general outcome coming, yet not. Kelsie Leverich definitely threw a wrench in what I thought was going to happen. I have to admit it brought a tear to my eye and I’m sure it will bring others to a full out ugly cry. But this made me love Meagan and Reed all that much more. Ultimately Reed has to decide if his adrenaline filled lifestyle is worth his happiness whether he thinks he deserves it or not.

This was a fun entertaining ride which was enhanced by the side characters. I loved each and every one of them! And I am looking forward to each and every one of their books! So yeah, Kelsie Leverich, Im going to need you to get on these books ASAP!

Rating:

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

*This review can also be seen on http://paranormalromancenovel.com .

*And on a side note, I met the lovely Kelsie Leverich at the Naughty Mafia Las Vegas signing and she is a super sweetheart!

ARC Review: Jessica Sorensen – Breaking Nova

Nova Series:

Book 1:

Breaking Nova: Nova Reed and Quinton Carter

 

Expected publication: September 3rd 2013

Purchase on Amazon:  Jessica Sorensen – Breaking Nova

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

Nova Reed used to have dreams-of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she’s getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next . . . until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.

Quinton once got a second chance at life-but he doesn’t want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he’s done, what he’s lost. He’s sworn to never allow happiness into his life . . . but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he’s too damaged to get close to her, yet she’s the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

Review:

Jessica Sorensen has quickly climbed the list to one of my favorite authors. She creates such in depth emotional characters. From the very prolog we are taken on one of the most emotional books I have read in a while. I swear I was almost crying from the prolog, I mean seriously who gets emotionally attached to the characters from a prolog, but it is IMPACTFUL!

Both Nova and Quinton about break my heart, the sadness and loss they both carry around just tears at your heart. Nova and Quinton are both characters that will pull at your heart strings and you’ll remember long after you’ve finished the book. In fact I’ve been thinking about these two since I finished the book about a week ago. While I was reading the book I didn’t want it to end, I saw the ending approaching and I was dreading it.

I’m not going to say a whole lot happens in this book, because not a ton does. This story is about the characters and their emotional journeys. Nova lost her dad at a young age, she was there when his heart gave out, that stayed with her. When she met Landon her new neighbor, he quickly became her best friend and then later her boyfriend. When he left her too, what was left of her heart was shattered and man can you feel it. Her pain is palpable, when she gets to college, things get a little better but come crashing around her when she goes home for the summer. At home, everything is too raw and fresh and she starts on a downward spiral.

Quinton, his pain if possible is worse than Nova’s. A year ago, he was a good guy with ambition and a drive to do well, he wanted to be an artist and to marry his girlfriend Lexi. **spoiler** Then an accident happened that killed Lexi, his cousin and…him… only Quinton was able to be revived. **end spoiler** Since that fateful night, Quinton has been doing his best to forget life and to slowly drown himself in alcohol and weed. The angst, oh the angst.. so good is this angst…

I’m not usually all about the angst, but with this book it was so very good. Nova and Quinton find in each other kindred spirits. Both are carrying around so much loss and heartbreak, as each spirals further out of control in each other they find some peace, but the guilt they carry around may destroy them both. Through the entire book you want these two to find the peace they both so desperately need. Nova and Quinton take you on this emotional rollercoaster that will have you in tears or close to it. There are certain aspects of this book that I really identified with. **spoiler** having lost three friends from suicide I could really identify with the thoughts that swirled around in Nova’s head when it came to Landon. The thoughts of were there signs? Was there something you could have done to save them? Why didn’t they love everyone enough to stay? **end spoiler**

The only thing I didn’t adore was the constant references to smoking, it gets to the point, where you are like ok, I get it, they are all pot heads. LOL! At times it was over emphasized but the rest is so good, I could live with it. When you pick up this book and you definitely should, make sure you have your Kleenex handy!

Rating:

 

*This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review, no other compensation was provided.

*You can also view this review on http://paranormalromancenovel.com 

There is this song that reminds me so much of Quinton. Its by Stone Sour – Bother. I don’t usually include video clips but in this case it is so perfect I can’t resist.

 

 

 

Book Tour, Guest Post and GIVEAWAY: SEDUCED – Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott

Thanks so much for having us, Dawn and Amanda. I’m here to talk about the guys from the band Oblivion, aka the series Lost in Oblivion written by myself and Cari Quinn. We met five years ago and one of the first things that brought us together…well, besides Nora Roberts LOL…was music. We both LOVE music, so it was only natural that it would end up being the facilitator to our first published series together.

And like the guys we write about, we got a little rebellious about how we went about writing this series. Our Introductory story is a true-blue set up. It showcases the best and worst of our characters in the hopes that you—the reader—will be intrigued enough to want to know more.

But beyond that, the book is about the romance/relationship of the band as a whole. We didn’t want to bog down book 1 with so much of the band creation process. It would have taken away from the romance aspect of the books. We really wanted a good foundation before people read the individual stories.

It does make for a different sort of book. Some will like it, some will be indifferent, and some will hate it. I think that’s the best part of the self-publishing game. If we tried to sell this to an editor we’d get a serious side-eye about it. But here and now we were able to take a chance on a story we needed to tell. And that story is made up of quite the diverse set of people.

We have Simon…the narcissist. On the outside he looks like a good-time Charlie, a boy that’s never grown up. But if you dig a little deeper you’ll see that he’s values his friends and the band much more than it seems.

Then there’s Deacon…the peacemaker. His one job has always been to hold everyone together. Through the addictions, the breakups, the laughter, and the fights…Deacon is their one constant.

Gray…the wildcard. He’s nearly silent in all but his music. He’s a new addition to the band and in love with Jazz, their new drummer. They came as a package deal. Gray is locked up in his own demons based on a shared past between himself and Jazz. They come into the band with enough baggage for six people

Then there’s Nick…the born musician and co-founder of the band that locks his talent in a cage. He hides crippling stage fright under anger and sarcasm. The band is his life—seriously. He can’t live without it.

And finally…Jazz. She is the temptress, the confidante, the glue, and the lynchpin. Her effervescent personality brings life and joy to the group, but she also brings conflict and pain. Two men fall for her, but only one truly owns her heart.

I did mention diverse when it came to the members of Oblivion. Just wait until you see who we match them up with in their individual stories. 😉

TOUR GIVEAWAY:
One lucky winner that follows the tour will receive the following prizes:

Sterling Silver earrings (attached jpg)
$10 GC to iTunes
$15 GC to Starbucks
paperback of Seduced.
paperback of Cari Quinn’s Unveil Me: http://www.amazon.com/Unveil-Me-Cari-Quinn/dp/1419969080

Please click on the LINK below to enter the TOUR GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Host GIveaway:

To enter to win a eBook of SEDUCED please leave a comment with your email address ( format: seduced (at) letsgetromantical (dot) com )

SERIES SPOTLIGHT – LOST IN OBLIVION

SEDUCED

A PREQUEL to the NA rock star series Lost In Oblivion.

AVAILABLE NOW:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | All Romance eBooks

Warning: get ready for a testosterone overload. The guys are in the driver’s seat in Seduced – and the ride’s gonna rock.
Twenty-three year old Nick Crandall has one focus in his life: Oblivion, the band he formed with his best friend Simon Kagan. With gigs coming up and the band members lacking focus after losing their drummer to rehab, they’re out of ideas. Until Oblivion’s bassist, Deacon McCoy, poses a surprising suggestion.

Bring in someone new. Two someones.

One You Tube video gone viral later, Oblivion is poised on the brink of stardom. With their new hot drummer chick — who comes in a package deal with a talented guitarist who happens to be head over pick in unrequited love with her – it seems like everything’s falling into place. Or will the band Nick and Simon have fought to keep together disintegrate before their eyes?
Four guys & one woman + more success than they ever bargained for = trouble, of the sexiest kind.

Get Seduced by this novel-length introduction to the band Oblivion. This preview occurs before the four forthcoming books about each of the band members. Sometimes getting lost means finding yourself…

Add to your Goodreads Shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17454336-seduced

LOST IN OBLIVION Website: http://www.lostinoblivion.com

ROCKED

Book 1 in the NA rock star series, Lost in Oblivion
Coming in September

Onstage he’s Demon, the unsurpassable bassist.

Offstage he’s the Peacemaker, the mastermind who keeps his volatile band from imploding.

Opening for their idols on their first ever tour, Oblivion is living the dream. That dream becomes a nightmare when Oblivion draws more attention than the headliner and egos clash. Frustrated at being shoved out of his mediator role by their new manager, Deacon McCoy loses himself in brutal workouts only coming up for air long enough to refuel—and that means hunting down the catering truck at odd hours.
Especially the deliciously cute chef who excites his taste buds as much as his body.

The child of roadie parents, Harper Pruitt has heard every pickup line twice. To her, musicians are one step above the scraps on her cutting board. All she wants is to get enough experience to run her own catering company, but Deacon and his bottomless and surprisingly gourmet stomach is too tempting to resist. Before long, she finds herself wanting to experiment with him outside the kitchen.
When Harper sees that Deacon’s sense of responsibility is doing him serious damage, she realizes he’s far from the typical rock star. But as the band’s fame grows, she wonders if she can love a man who doesn’t know how to let anyone in—even her.

You met Deacon McCoy in SEDUCED, now you can watch just how far a big man can fall.

Add to your Goodreads Shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18140422-rocked

LOST IN OBLIVION Website: http://www.lostinoblivion.com

BIO: Cari Quinn

USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn wrote her first story—a bible parable—in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. Now she gets to pen sexy romances for a living and routinely counts her lucky stars. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she can usually be found watching men’s college basketball, playing her music way too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

Website: http://cariquinn.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cariquinn

FB: https://www.facebook.com/cari.quinn.1

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CariQuinnAuthor

Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott’s FB Group – Word Wenches Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/346424552124487/

BIO: Taryn Elliott

I’m from the great state of New York–upstate NY, thank you very much. My family consists of a brother who takes care of keeping the snarky side of me alive and a dog that is more spoiled child than mutt. My writer-friends are the glue that keeps my crazy ideas more in the sane category, and my non-writerly friends are the reason I’m not a complete hermit. I can’t go a day without laughing and I truly do fall in love with each and every one of my leading men as I write their book. Music is life and every story has its own soundtrack.

Website: http://www.tarynelliott.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TarynElliottFic

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TarynElliottFic

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/TarynElliottAuthor

Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott’s FB Group – Word Wenches Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/346424552124487/

Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliot’s SEDUCED Blog Tour

July. 28 – August 31

7/28- Miscellaneous Thoughts of A Bookaholic

http://miscellaneousthoughtsofabookaholic.blogspot.com/

7/28- KT Book Reviews

http://ktbookreviews.blogspot.com/

7/29- Scorching Book Reviews

http://scorchingbookreviews.blogspot.com/

7/30- Reading Between the Wines

http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com/

7/31- United by Books

http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

8/01- Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

8/02- Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com//

8/03- Ramblings from This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

8/04- Kelly P’s Blog

http://kellyatx.blogspot.com/

8/05- Inside the Pages of A Book

http://www.insidethepagesofabook.blogspot.com/

8/06- Mama’s Reading Break

http://www.mamasreadingbreak.blogspot.com/

8/07- Why I Can’t Stop Reading

http://whyicantstopreading.wordpress.com/

8/08- Scandalicious Book Reviews

http://www.scandaliciousbookreviews.com/

8/09- True Story Book Blog

http://truestorybookblog.com/

8/10- Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews

http://literalhottiesnaughtybookreviews.blogspot.com/

8/11- Mythical Books

http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/

8/12- Books, Books and More Books

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

8/13- Babbling About Books

http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/

8/13- The Reading Cafe

http://thereadingcafe.com/

8/14- Sassy Book Reviews

http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

8/15- Mad Hatter Reads

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

8/16- Lily Element

http://lilyelement.blogspot.com/

8/17- Manga Maniac Café

http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/

8/18- CS Maxwell Blog

http://www.csmaxwell.blogspot.com/

8/19- Wicked Readings by Tawania

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

8/19- Let’s Get Romantical

http://goodromancenovel.blogspot.com/

8/20- Bibliophile Mystery

http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.com/

8/21- Salacious Reads

http://www.salaciousreads.com/

8/22- Inner Goddess

http://www.innergoddessforum.com/

8/23- Books-N-Kisses

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

8/24- Cocktails and Books

http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

8/24- Salacious Reads

http://www.salaciousreads.com/

8/25- Literal Addiction

http://www.literaladdiction.com/

8/26- Romance Junkies

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

8/27- Flirting with Romance

http://flirtingwithromance.blogspot.com/

8/28- Dalene’s Book Reviews

http://www.dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

8/29- My Secret Romance

http://www.mysecretromancebookreviews.com/

8/30- Toot’s Books Reviews

http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com/

8/31- Close Encounters with the Night Kind

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

8/31- Reader Girls

http://www.readergirlsblog.com/