REVIEW - Aftershock by Jill Shalvis

The Book
Release Date: 1 November 2007
Goodreads Link

DESPERATE TIMES… 

If it hadn't been for the earthquake, Amber Riggs would never have made love to a perfect stranger. And no doubt about it, fire inspector Dax McCall was perfect. Who else could have taught her the meaning of passion at a time like that? 

Still, when Amber ran into him a year later she wasn't sure how he'd react. To her…or their three-month-old baby. She hadn't meant to keep the news from Dax, but he'd been out of town, and she'd been sort of relieved. After all, how do you tell the perfect man he has a perfect baby girl with a woman he doesn't know from Eve?

My Opinion  3 STARS
The first part of this book that focused on both Dax and Amber before they were rescued from the crumbling building were good.  We had a very protective Dax, keeping Amber safe and helping to keep her calm even as aftershocks kept bringing more of the building down over their heads.

The second part, well, it needed a bit more character development.

Dax was a wonderfully sweet and sensitive man who really wore his heart on his sleeve and had a very tender side.  Amber on the other hand was cold and stand-offish and really needed more work for us to really understand what made her like she is.  We needed more internal dialogue as to her emotions and her thinking process and she constantly felt like a cold character pushing Dax away until the end.

I doubt any man would have put up with her hot and cold personality for that long.

I could however have done with an epilogue as the issues with Ambers father were never really resolved and the issue was not properly closed.

A sweet story none the less.

REVIEW - Dear Stranger by Elise K. Ackers

The Book
Release Date: 1 January 2014
Goodreads Link

A beautiful love letter to the most troublesome of holidays...

Soft-hearted Reese Ahearn is single for Valentine’s Day. Again. But that’s not going to stop her from spreading the holiday’s sentiment on the streets of Melbourne with short, sweet, anonymous love letters, left for strangers to find. 

The last thing she expects, however, is a reply…

My Opinion  3 STARS
At just 21 pages this novella really is a short read based around Valentine's day in Melbourne, however there is nothing that really makes you feel that this is based in Melbourne.

It's a really sweet story about a Valentine dateless woman who likes to leave letters to those who do not have a Valentine's to share with, hoping to send them some love.

Ian is one such finder of a letter that she leaves behind her in a coffee shop and is so taken with her kindness that makes his day, he decides to reply and hand her the note in person.

Its a bit of whimsy for the Valentine's holiday short enough to read in your lunch hour.

REVIEW - Mai Tai For Two (Tropical Trysts #1) by Delphine Dryden

The Book
Release Date: 1 May 2014
Goodreads Link

Julie’s Hawaiian Vacay Itinerary!

You and your “work husband” have just won an all-expenses-paid vacation in Oahu.  Now the fun begins…

1.Get lei’d. (With flowers, obvi.)
2.Settle into your gorgeous ocean-side cabin. Contemplate living in Hawaii forever.
3.Become overwhelmed with hideous unexplained jealousy when your bestie decides to make sexy moves on your work-husband, Alan.
4.Dismiss jealousy. After all, you’re not interested in Alan “that” way… are you?
5.Avoid joyous dancing when bestie’s ex arrives, and sweeps her off her feet—leaving Alan completely and totally available.
6.Now you're alone with Alan. Alone. In paradise. Take a deep breath, have a mai tai—or two—and (gulp!) make your move. Be classy.
7."Accidentally" let Alan peek under your grass skirt.
8.Take off grass skirt.
9. Do Incredibly Naughty And Sexy Things everywhere.
10.And do not think about what happens when you and your work husband go back to reality...

My Opinion  4 STARS
This is another friends to lovers story where both have had feelings for each other for years but not done or said anything about it to the other.

Both work in the other and, with the amount of times that they have been each others plus one, they have been named as work husband and wife.

After having won tickets to Hawaii and are able to take a plus one, Julie takes her best friend Amanda, and after offering his tickets to his parents who decline, Alan ends up going by himself.

However even on the first day things take a dramatic turn.  Amanda who has been flirting with Alan finds her ex-fiance has turned up to win her back leaving Julie and Alan together alone in paradise.

Of course after being flirted with by another man, this is where three years of pent up emotions turn Julie and Alan's first night of the holiday into what they believe at first to be a holiday fling.

Both struggle a little with the changes, their emotions and their own heads clouding their judgement, but eventually they both realise that this is a forever thing and that they have been wooing each other since the beginning without knowing it.

A fantastic short beach read.

REVIEW - Tempting Her Best Friend (What Happens In Vegas #1) by Gina L. Maxwell

The Book
Release Date: 11 August 2014
Goodreads Link

A satisfying contemporary romance from Entangled’s Lovestruck imprint…

Alyssa Miller is tired of waiting for her next-door neighbor to see her as more than just his best friend. Ready to let off some steam, she heads to Las Vegas for a romance book convention where, if she's lucky, she’ll get down and dirty with one of the sexy cover models.

Dillon Alexander doesn’t do commitment—especially not where his best friend is concerned. She deserves a man who can give her the world, not damaged goods. But when he realizes Alyssa intends to have a one-night stand on her vacation, he hauls ass after her to make sure he’s the one to scratch her itch.

Neither of them expects their explosive chemistry to burn hotter than the lights on the strip, but with a little help from Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, a flamboyant matchmaker, and TSA, what happens in Vegas might not stayin Vegas…

My Opinion  4 STARS
This is a very quick and easy read as the author has a writing style that seems to work for me.

ITs was funny, full of lust and had some seriously hot scenes once Dillion had in mind what he wanted.  He could put on the hot alpha mask and really wear it.

I loved Trent as a character, very sweet and thoughtful and helped someone he didn't know just because she looked miserable.

The best friends from childhood to the hottest of lovers and married worked for me due to their current living conditions and their very close friendship.  They acted like a married couple without the sex for years.

Dillon and Alyssa made a very lovely couple, and after their hiccups, you know that they are going to be a wonderful couple.

REVIEW - Sleeping with the Boss (Anderson Brothers #1) by Marissa Clarke

The Book
Release Date: 11 August 2014
Goodreads Link

A satisfying category romance from Entangled’s brand new Lovestruck imprint…

Seducing the enemy has never been so tempting…

For the last five years, bookish Claire Williams has been living for the dying. Now that her stint as caretaker is over, she’s off to see the world. She needs quick cash first, so a temp job at Anderson Auctions seems perfect, especially with the unexpected benefits, including the hottest man she’s ever laid eyes—or hands—on. 

Former Marine William Anderson has been burned one time too many. His military training makes him the perfect man to flush out the spy undercutting his family business, but no amount of training can prepare him for the kind of undercover work he’ll have to do when the sexy new temp is implicated. Desire lands them in bed…but duty may cost him his heart.

My Opinion  4 STARS
This book had two very funny characters that really seemed to come alive in the others presence as they played off of each other.

The only thing that was annoying was the almost instant insta-love.

Will Anderson may have been hurt by his previous finance, but with Claire he seemed very at easy from the start and acted more like a teenager rather than the hurt man that came back from Afghanistan.

Claire is a very sweet girl that has put her family ahead of her for years and now finds herself on the cusp of fulfilling her dreams of travelling after having been left a serious amount of cash by her grandparents.

The who-did-it part of the investigation fell very short with me as I guessed instantly who the person in the naughty corner was and was therefore not at all surprised as to who it was and the reasons they had for doing it.

Its a sweet story, but the mystery part let it down somewhat, but I can't wait to read the stories for Michael and Chance.

REVIEW - Mine To Take (Nine Circles #1) by Jackie Ashenden

The Book
Release Date: 25 November 2014
Goodreads Link

First in a brand new series featuring the members of the Nine Circles Club—friends bound together by power, secrets, need…and the love they will find and stop at nothing to keep.　

Passion always comes at a price.

Gabriel Woolf is unstoppable. A ruthless businessman, he has perfected the art of revenge. Ever since his mother’s death, Gabriel has harbored only one wish: To take down the man who ruined their lives. But all bets are off when he meets his father’s step-daughter, Honor St. James. Beautiful and innocent, she is everything Gabriel never knew he wanted—and now there’s no turning back...

Is her desire worth the risk?

Honor wasn’t born yesterday. She knows that Gabriel is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, willing to cross any line to get what he wants…herself included. But Gabriel’s passion for Honor—in spite of her connection to the man he hates the most—cannot be denied…and the feeling is utterly mutual. Can Gabriel be trusted? The only thing she knows for sure is how he makes her feel. And she can’t keep herself from coming back to him, over and over again…

My Opinion  5 STARS

**Copy Provided by Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an honest review**

A brilliant start to this new series from the author.

The book packs a punch with damaged characters, characters that are much stronger than they think they are, strong friendships and blossoming relationships that come from lust to full out love.

This is certainly a series in which I will greatly anticipate the coming of the next book in the series.

BLOG TOUR (Excerpt & Giveaway) - After Forever by Julie Johnstone

SYNOPSIS

A year after her husband’s tragic death, all Lady Julianna Barrows wants is to be left alone and forget that most of her heart went with him when he passed. Instead, she finds herself the subject of many a matchmaking scheme and lurid offer to ease her widowhood, as well as save her fading fortune. Desperate to avoid having to remarry, she takes on a position as a tutor, only to discover that the man she’s helping unexpectedly stirs her heart and passion. Nash Wolverton boxed his way out of the London slums and into immense wealth, but he couldn’t care less about Society’s approval. Except he has his by-blow daughter’s future to consider. To ensure her acceptance into Society, he’ll endure anything―including procuring a tutor to transform him into a gentleman so he can secure a suitable, boring wife. Yet what he wants changes the moment he hires Julianna. She may be a lady, but she’s far from tedious. Bold and compassionate, she is nothing like the women of the ton. Suddenly, she’s elicited a simmering desire in him, and even a longing to love and be loved that he always thought out of his reach. Knowing what he planned to settle for can now never be enough, he vows to win her love. But as the walls she’s built begin to crumble, Julianna’s fears threaten to tear them apart and she alone must decide if protecting her heart trumps breaking Nash’s.

Buy After Forever on Amazon

Add After Forever to Goodreads

EXCERPT

He met Julianna’s worried gaze and smiled. Was she worried for him? That was a first. No, wait. It was a second. She had been anxious for him that night at the ball, as well. Every part of him wanted to learn more about this delicate creature standing before him. Like how she happened to be here. He’d bet his fortune she’d never willingly admit her secrets. 

“I suppose you’re here to seduce me,” he said, forcing a serious, contemplative tone. 

Her lovely mouth parted. “What?” 

“I have to tell you, I’m not one to be easily seduced.” He dropped his voice low, teasing. “But for you I’ll make an exception.” 

“How very generous of you,” she replied with a smirk, high color rising on her sculpted cheekbones.

He purposely yanked his clothes into a semblance of order before catching her gaze once again. He stilled his hands and narrowed his gaze. “Should I be concerned about your dogged pursuing of me? You’re not cracked are you?” 

“I’m beginning to wonder,” she grumbled, forcing him to press his lips together to keep from smiling.

She shoved her hair over her shoulders. “Rest assured I’m not doggedly pursuing you.” 

“How disappointing.” He allowed the truth of his feelings to shimmer at the surface for a moment before lightening his tone. “And here I thought I must have so intrigued you at the ball that you investigated me, learned where I had my country home, and made your way here with your daughter all in the hope of encountering me and trying to talk me into marrying you.” 

The color on her cheeks deepened and spread, rather alluringly, to her chest. Her gaze darted away for a moment before settling back on him. “Actually, I did come here in search of you, though not with marriage in mind.” 

He lifted his brows slowly, even as his blood raced through his veins. He really should not keep teasing her, but it was impossible to resist. “I like how you think, Lady Barrows.” 

Her brows furrowed together before her eyes widened. “I’m not thinking of you like that at all. I don’t even see you in that way. More like a dog in need of training.” 

“Your flattery is rather lethal,” he chided playfully, enjoying the rapid reddening of her lovely skin. 

She pressed her hands to her cheeks while a smile played at her lips. 

“You’re muddling my thoughts.” 

“Dogs can have that effect.” 

“Do be serious.” 

“Do you want me to be a good boy and sit?” 

“No, roll over and play dead,” she said straight-faced. 

He couldn’t stop the bark of laughter that escaped him. 

She grinned in return. “What I meant to say before you befuddled me was, I did come here to find you, but―” 

“Ah, ah, ah.” He wiggled his finger at her. “I find when women insert the word but into their sentences nothing pleasant follows for the man.” 

“Do try and listen.” 

“I am.” His repressed laughter vibrated his words. 

“Are you always this way?” she asked with a laugh. 

“What way is that?” He loved how her eyes twinkled when she smiled.  

“Do you always show so much affection to your daughter and banter so lightheartedly with ladies you barely know?” 

He quirked his mouth as if he were lost temporarily in deep thought. “I do always show an enormous amount of affection to my daughter. I grew up without the benefit of knowing whether my mother or father loved me, and I never want my daughter to doubt my love. And as for bantering with ladies I don’t know, I know you.” That husky sound had crept back into his tone. Something about this woman did that to him. 

Her eyes grew wide so that he could see that gold flecked the green. 

“What is it you think you know about me, Mr. Wolverton?” “Call me Nash.” He wanted to hear his name from her lips. He couldn’t say precisely why―it was another gut desire―and one he’d never experienced. 

She shook her head. “I couldn’t possibly.” 

“You could possibly.” He leaned close as if to whisper a secret. “I’ve just given you leave to do so.” 

“It’s not proper,” she said, her pink tongue darting out to lick her full lips. 

He had a brief image of taking her mouth with his and slipping his tongue inside her warm, beckoning caverns. He had no doubt she’d be sweeter than honey. “Are you always proper, Julianna?” 

Her hand fluttered to her neck. “Yes. I’m rather boring that way. Are you always this improper?” 

“I’m afraid so. I’m rather exciting that way.” He slid one finger down her bare, silken arm from the crook of her elbow all the way to her small hand. Taking her slender, cool fingertips in his he lifted them to his lips, telling himself he shouldn’t and knowing he damn well would anyway. He pressed a kiss to the edge of her fingers, the contact of his lips to her flesh making him ache painfully. 


  ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julie Johnstone is a best-selling author of Regency Romance and the author of a new urban fantasy/paranormal romance book. She’s been a voracious reader of books since she was a young girl. Her mother would tell you that as a child Julie had a rich fantasy life made up of many different make believe friends. As an adult, Julie is one of the lucky few who can say she is living the dream by working with her passion of creating worlds from her imagination. When Julie is not writing she is chasing her two precocious children around, cooking, reading or exercising. Julie loves to hear from her readers. You can send her an email at juliejohnstoneauthor@gmail.com or find her at www.juliejohnstoneauthor.com, or on Facebook at authorjuliejohnstone and juliejohnstoneauthor or at twitter @juliejohnstone.

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REVIEW - Living in Sin (Living In... #2) by Jackie Ashenden

The Book
Release Date: 18 November 2014
Goodreads

Her temptation...his salvation

At twenty, Lily Andrews has already lived a lifetime. Her battle with leukemia put her three years behind her ballet career, and now that the grueling treatment is behind her, she’s eager to put her dancing shoes back on—literally and figuratively.
One man has been her personal light at the end of her tunnel, the one man she’s sure will help her rekindle her passion for life. Kahu Winter. And she’ll let nothing stand in the way of having him—not even Kahu himself. 

When Kahu catches Lily sneaking into his club, the desire in her eyes tells him it’s more than a delayed act of youthful rebellion. Her lively spirit calls to him, but Kahu is too cynical, too jaded, too broken for a sweet young thing like her.
But Lily won’t take no for answer so he’ll make her a deal: She’s got one month to seduce him and after that, he’s moving on—figuratively and literally.
There’s just one thing he forgot to keep out of her reach. His heart…

Warning: This book contains a hot older man in need of some anti-cynicism pills, a snarky younger woman who’s going to get past his defenses and make him beg, more forbidden lust, and naked ballet dancing. Advanced WTFery for experienced users only.

My Opinion  5 STARS
**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Samhain Publishing for an honest review**

20 year old Lilly is a girl on a mission is this book, and her mission is to seduce the man that has intrigued her since she was a little girl as she want to know what passion is.

We met 39 year old Kahu in the first book.  He is a very jaded man with many issues and has created a massive wall to keep everybody out.  Even to a degree his friends.

Many feelings are expressed through the book and when they eventually get to it, the sex is explosive and that one night changes both  of them.

Its another book that looks a taboo subjects, but gives them a new life in a way that you can't help and fall in love with the characters and believe that they are so right for each other.

Can't wait for the next book.

REVIEW - The Movie Star's Red Hot Holiday Fling by Christine Glover

The Book
Release Date: 24 November 2014
Goodreads Link

Determined to qualify for the fire department's grueling physical, former marine Jessie Sullivan never gives up, despite the pins in her leg. The last thing she needs is a tall, incredibly hot action movie star sharing her gym...and who makes her want to trade in her reps for some sexy physical activity. Of the naked kind.

Blake Johnston is more than just a Big Screen Sex Machine, and he's willing to prove it. Especially to a spirited and sexy ex-marine like Jessie. But when a harmless dare leads to sizzling fireworks, Jessie and Blake's workout ends up generating some serious heat between the sheets. And it's more than Jessie could have imagined. Much, much more.

But flings don't last forever. And in two weeks, Jessie will have to say goodbye to her red-hot Christmas fantasy... 

My Opinion  4 STARS
**My thanks to NetGalley and EntangledPublishing LLC, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is a fairly quick novella to read, but the great thing about it is that it is the woman who is the wounded Marine and not the man.  There are not enough of these role reversals in my opinion which makes the read that little bit better.

Jessie is a sassy young woman released from the Marine on medical grounds, yet a year later is still struggling to get over her survivors grief and get on with her life, even if she feels that in order to still serve her country she has to be a fire-fighter.

Blake, a top movie star who has practically been adopted by Jessie's mother is at the family hotel for his sisters wedding and had agreed with Jessie's mother to help Jessie however he can.

A challenge is set between them in the gym, however their sessions end up getting them closer and Blake finds his way through her barriers and bringing her back to life.  

This book gives you lust, laughter and puts a smile on your face.

REVIEW - Love Me to Death (Underveil #1) by Marissa Clarke

The Book
Release Date: 28 October 2014
Goodreads Link

Medical research scientist Elena Arcos has always lived her life under the radar, which is not easy to do when you live with the craziest woman in the world. But eccentric Aunt Uza is a picnic compared to the other people who enter her orderly life after she is shot in a convenience store robbery.

Elena finds herself rocketed from comfortable predictability to supernatural insanity courtesy of her own private angel of death who happens to have the sexiest accent on earth and a body to match. Her death angel is convinced she’s some kind of freaky half vampire thing and that her deceased dad was the real deal: a blood sucking monster. 

Yeah, right. She’ll play along, but then she doesn’t have much choice seeing how as the guy claims to be some immortal law enforcer and has taken her prisoner.

* * *

Nikolai Itzov had expected to fight the urge to torture the progeny of his father’s murderer, but he’d never anticipated battling the urge to kiss her her.

As a Slayer, an elite law enforcer descended from Azrael himself, his charge from the Underveil General is clear: Kill her or die. He has been told she is one of them--an Undead. Nothing but a parasite to be destroyed. But he has been told wrong. 

Nikolai and Elena find themselves in a life and death battle to stop a plot designed to lift the Underveil and enslave humans. 

With her analytical mind and his centuries of training and experience, they might be able to foil the plot with their lives and maybe their hearts intact. But in order to succeed, he must help her become the very thing he hates the most: an Undead.

My Opinion  5 STARS
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This books packs a lot in with the paranormal genre with many different species portrayed in the book.

I loved that at first our MC Elena freaked out with everything she found out, but eventually came to terms with how fast her life had turned around after having been shot.

Nikolai is your typical alpha male who is used to everyone, women included doing as he says due to his position as a Slayer.  Unfortunately the dirty mouthed, sexy  alpha gets much more than he bargained for when he meets Elena.

Elena after overcoming her initial fright and after having met the lovely Stefan begins to more and more show her opinion and say what she thinks back to Nikolai.

Aunt Uza is a fabulously man crazy woman, I loved it when she was in a scene eying up the man candy and flirting with them all.

I really look forward to hearing who will be next in the series as this is a wonderfully written book.

REVIEW - Diamonds and Dust (Lonesome Point, Texas #3) by Jessie Evans

The Book
Release Date: 30 November 2014
Goodreads Link

A sexy second chance romance from NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Jessie Evans.

The home run neither of them expected…

Pike Sherman is a legend in Lonesome Point, a hometown boy who made it to the big leagues. Literally. Professional baseball acquired one hell of a pitching arm and its latest celebrity bad boy when the gifted Pike was drafted seven years ago. Pike’s broken heart came along for the ride, too, but he kept that private, and since leaving Lonesome Point has kept his distance from his hometown. But when Pike’s little sister, Mia, begs him to be the Dude of Honor at her wedding, he can’t refuse. He takes advantage of a break in the season and returns home to find himself thrown together with the one woman he never wanted to see again.

Tulsi Hearst is on the verge of losing her Equine Therapy business, and letting down all the kids she’s come to love. After a mix-up with the grant board, she needs to concentrate on finding more funding, not dealing with Pike Sherman, the boy she sacrificed so much for, and the one person she’s ever lied to. And what a lie it is… Pike would hate her if he found out. She knows she should stay far away from the brooding man her summer love has become, but Tulsi can’t resist a slow dance with the only boy who ever made her blood rush.

After just a few days back in Lonesome Point, Pike can’t imagine life without the girl he left behind, but when Tulsi’s secret is revealed, his heart is broken all over again. The only thing worse than losing Tulsi, is losing six years with the daughter he didn’t know he had. 

My Opinion  5 STARS
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

I must admit that I find it hard to find anything about this series that I don't like.  Each book keeps getting better and better and we get to see a little more about previous characters, keeping them alive with their stories along with our new characters.  But this can be read as a stand alone story.

I think we had all pretty much guessed from book two what was going to happen with Pike and Tulsi and who Clementine's father really was.  That part was a no brainer.

The best bit was seeing both Pike and Tusli reconnect and finding that their past only made them think of how the past no longer really mattered as they both still really loved each other and had never gotten over the other.

We have a few surprises, an accident and a wedding, along with some sweet moments between Pike and Tulsi.

Mia really shows how much of a friend she is to Tulsi and that she can forgive very easily and we get introduced to one of the main characters for the next book, Tulsi's big sister Reece.  From the sounds of it, she's going to be a bit of a fire-cracker.

I'm really loving this series.

REVIEW - Baby, It's Cold Outside (Tangled #4.5) by Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Melody Anne, Kate Meader

The Book
Release Date: 28 October 2014
Goodreads Link

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling indie authors Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Melody Anne, and debut author Kate Meader come together to write a sizzling romance anthology. 

Outside it may be frosty, so turn the heat way up with these stories of desire!

Can a determined woman executive and a playboy billionaire survive being stranded together in a snowstorm? Jennifer Probst depicts an encounter almost too hot to handle...

Drew and Kate play an encore to Tangled in this sexy take on a "Christmas Carol" by Emma Chase. When a Christmas Eve argument condemns Drew to a troubled night, three dream women teach him that no gift could be more tantalizing than Kate...

With Kristen Proby, ski slopes are quite delightful. Grace Douglas is sure she'll never learn to ski, but instructor Jacob Baxter could teach her lessons of a different kind...

Can a southern California transplant survive Montana's deep snows? Melody Anne, author of the bestselling Andersons series, melts the icy drifts completely away with the heat between sexy Hawk Winchester and brand-new teacher Natalie Duncan...

What could be hotter than a firefighter? Kate Meader shows how, as Beck Rivera and heiress-turned-tattoo-artist Lucy Cochrane discover, nothing ignites holiday flames like rekindling a lost love... 

My Opinion  5 STARS
**My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Threshold Pocket Books for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This one hot anthology of holiday cheer all wrapped up and waiting to set your unwitting self on fire.

We have a few novella's for series that are currently in the works, however if you have not read any of the series, I found it helped for background info, but was not necessary to follow the novella's.

A few of the stories have a happy ever after second time round, or a realisation that they are headed down the wrong path, others have a fiery passion that seems to leap from the first sighting of their new lust/love interest.

Either way, it is the perfect book to read in front of a roaring fire whether it is raining, snowing or blowing the leaves off the trees.

REVIEW - Claimed (True Alpha #6) by Alisa Woods

The Book
Release Date: 21 October 2014
Goodreads Link

New Adult Paranormal Romance serial - FULL SEASON available for Pre-Order (releases 10/28)! 

Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.


Mia has found her way free of the dark wolves, but what price will her friends pay? And will she finally be able to find a place among their packs? 

Claimed (True Alpha 6) is 65 pages or 16,000 words. It’s the final of six episodes in the True Alpha serial. 

My Opinion  3 STARS
This was an action packed ending that paced in quite a bit.

Lucas continues to do everything he can to save Mia, but ends up hurt and bleeding out.  But what he really wants to do is claim her for his own.

Mia has many male shifters after her but all she wants is for Lucas to claim her and finally he overcomes his demons and takes what he truly wants.  Mia

SPOTLIGHT - The Mortal One by Shannon Bell

The Book
Release Date: 9 December 2013
Goodreads Link

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you went looking for vampires? What if you secretly believed they existed? Dylan decides to go on a vacation of a lifetime in order to find herself. She begins in Romania, contemplating the existence of vampires and quickly realizes that she was wrong. Once she ends up in Florence, however, she is confronted with an immortal, Nico. She must be marked if she wants to live because she learned the truth of vampires. Nico catches her and her heart by surprise. The Mortal One is a whirlwind romance amidst vampire politics. Dylan must be marked for her safety, yet she is trying to be claimed by another vampire, thus making her time in Florence very complicated for her. She tests the bounds of her relationship with a vampire and tries to create a life for herself as the mortal one. The main setting of the book is Florence, Italy, where Dylan is in love with the history of the city.

Author Bio:

Shannon Bell grew up in Florida and has always dreamed about vampires - and still secretly hopes they exist. She is married to someone who tolerates her crazy story-telling about Romania and has a daughter she hopes will have the same enthusiasm for vampires when she grows up that her mommy does.

Shannon has a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from the University of Central Florida as well as an online degree in vampirology and lycanthropy. She is a full-time writer and currently hard at work on her next novel.

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Release Blitz (Excerpt & Giveaway) - One Kiss with a Rock Star (Half-Life #2) by Amber Lin & Shari Slade

The Book
Release Date: 6 November 2014
Genres: Erotica, Romance
Goodreads Link

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.

WARNING: This book contains a scorching threesome, a dirty talking pop princess, and a surly rocker who hits all the right notes.

BUY LINKS:  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Excerpt

Watch the wings.

He couldn't miss them. She was naked but for feathers and glitter. Untouchable. Two grips ushered her along the catwalk and affixed her harness to a rig in the rafters. Krist was only a few feet off the ground on his platform, but he still felt unsteady. She was so high.

An assistant counted down, and the director shouted, “Action!”

The army of dancers below writhed to the thumping bass line of the guide track, feet pounding the floor, but Krist only had eyes for Madeline. She lifted her arms above her head like the ballerina in a little girl’s jewelry box, stepped off the ledge, and twirled down, singing.

“I break my own wings.”

The power in her vocals, the edge behind the lyric, knocked him more off balance. He'd expected her to lip sync. He'd expected her to fucking suck.

“I am falling. I am falling. Lift me up.”

All the dancers below lifted their hands in unison and swayed like the collective force of their will would boost her higher. Cheesy pop bullshit, but something about it worked. He didn’t want to admit it, but she had…something. She could fucking sing.

Her descent slowed. If he stretched, he could just reach her perfectly manicured toe. Almost time.

His whole body tensed as a camera swung in his direction. He grimaced and gripped the railing when the platform beneath him, mounted on what looked like a cherry-picker truck, shifted closer to Madeline. The cameraman gave him a thumbs-up. He must look sufficiently demonic.

Now. He reached for her, grabbing her by the waist, the only part of her body unadorned, and pulled her close. One breath and he was overcome by her scent. Spicy cotton candy. Unexpected and strangely perfect. A second breath and he prepared to do his damned job, to mash his lips against hers and fling her back to her adoring throng. It was only skin. It didn’t mean anything.

Her eyes flashed mischief. Hi, she mouthed and hooked her legs around his hips.

He froze. The producer hadn’t mentioned grinding in the rundown earlier. She shimmied against him, and his traitorous cock responded. Do the job you came to do.

Before he could, she bent her head and stole the kiss he’d been hired to deliver. He couldn't help but gasp, and then her tongue, warm and electric, invaded his mouth. Chai. 

Could an angel corrupt a devil?

“I am falling. I am falling.” The guide track looped in the background, distorted by Auto-Tune, hardly recognizable as the sultry voice he'd just heard.

It was too much. The wet heat, her teeth grazing his bottom lip, and the way she rocked against his crotch. It hurt to touch her, just like the devil was supposed to react. He pushed, but she only held on tighter, digging her heels into his ass, twisting his hair in her fingers. Sparks of pleasure-pain skittered under his skin. She’d chosen him.

He didn’t want to want her. Wanting was a one-way ticket to disappointment.

She raked her fingers down his back, teasing the sliver of skin between his shirt and belt, and pressed her mouth to his ear. He shivered.

“Work with me.” She nipped him.

He could work. And if his body responded? Well, it was only biology. The hard-on straining against his zipper was as manufactured and packaged as the Dream Angel in his arms.

He lost himself in the pull and sway, forgot the crowd of people, the camera, the job. Forgot everything but the taste of her, the feel of her tight muscles under his palms, the tickle of feathers floating free. 

He kissed her back, violent and hard, reclaiming what she'd taken: his choice. Her body softened, melted around him. She moaned, giving in, an unexpected surrender. He hadn’t missed the power she wielded over the whole production, a queen bee to her hive. But here she was gasping and shuddering in his arms, the rapid pulse against his chest like wings beating against glass. He ran his tongue along hers, savoring the honey and spice.

A sound came from the sides, an urgent whisper. They wanted him to stop. He even felt her lurch away, tugged by mechanical means, but he held tighter. They’d have to tear her away. They’d have to hurt her to do it. For one brief moment, he wasn’t letting go. Skin to skin, mouth to mouth. Heat to heat, and they’d both flown too close to the sun.

The music stopped.

He pulled back, breaking the kiss, but not the connection burning between them. “Why me?”

She blinked, hazy with lust. “Because you're the demon.”

That's my motivation. “No, why did you want me for this set. I know you did.”

He needed her to say it out loud. Because you owe me. Then he could be done. Then this could be filed away as one more task completed, one more favor repaid. Then he could ignore the sweet ache he felt at the thought of letting her go.

Author Bios

Amber Lin writes edgy romance with damaged hearts, redemptive love, and a steamy ever after. Her debut novel, Giving It Up, received The Romance Review’s Top Pick, Night Owl Top Pick, and 5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies. RT Book Reviews gave it 4.5 stars, calling it “truly extraordinary.” Since then, she has gone on to write erotic, contemporary, and historical romances.

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Shari Slade is a snarky optimist. A would-be academic with big dreams and very little means. When she isn’t toiling away in the non-profit sector, she’s writing gritty stories about identity and people who make terrible choices in the name of love (or lust). Somehow, it all works out in the end. If she had a patronus it would be a platypus.

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Author Links:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

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