Friday 30 January 2015

REVIEW - Impulse Control (Men of the Zodiac #1) by Amanda Usen

The Book
Release Date: 19 January 12015
Goodreads Link

Survivalist Russ Donovan is known on TV as the “Wildest Man In The World.” The last thing this headstrong Aries guy needs is to be wrangled into a cross-promotional TV special with a popular homemaker—even a sexy little thing like Susannah Stone. Besides, the Adirondacks in the dead of winter is no place for amateurs...especially a stubborn homemaker who's determined to show him up every chance she gets.

Susannah's a working single mom who knows plenty about roughing it. She can take anything this mountain man dishes out. Now Russ and Susannah are taking their competitive rivalry to new levels, and not even the canned beef stew is safe. Then Russ and Susannah's on-camera sparks turn into a sizzling off-camera romance, and their two conflicting worlds collide. Sure, major differences can turn chemistry red-hot...they also make compromise nearly impossible.

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

Both Russ Donovan and Susannah Stone are big TV personalities who have been told by their TV station that they are being thrown together to make a new programme where each will be put in the others environment to see how they cope.  Neither expect much from the other, however the chemistry between them sizzles.

Susannah is also a mum to a toddler and has come out of a marriage feeling very low about herself, but refuses to let the world see her as anything other than a survivor.  She makes the best out of everything, even if it means pushing her physical boundaries a little too far.

Susannah does not want to seem weak and Russ's complete opinion about her changes over the weekend, as does Susannah's about Russ.

The media attention gets in the way and they spend time apart until the next segment has to be filmed in her home, where Susannah tries him in the domesticated setting.  Russ shows a soft sweet side to himself along with some passion.

With a past that he can't let go of, Russ bails only to find that Susannah and her son occupy his mind constantly until he can  no longer stand being apart any longer.

A sweet yet fast read with a few naughty sections to ramp up the heat.

Thursday 29 January 2015

COVER REVEAL - Controlling Her Pleasure: Under his Command, Book #1 by Lili Valente

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Controlling Her Pleasure: Under his Command, Book #1
Lili Valente
Releasing February 16, 2015
Please go like Lili on Facebook to stay up to date on all things Lili!

Early Reviews
"Lili Valente writes white-hot, grab-your-lover, take-me now sex, and a story that demands the pages be turned." - Lauren Blakely

"I am willing to submit to Blake anytime. Lili Valente writes hot, hot, hot!" -Sawyer Bennett
 
* * Warning: This book features a big, tattooed, Dominant alpha male—give him your trust and he’ll command your pleasure. All. Night. Long.* *

Blake Roberts has everything he’s ever wanted—fame, money, and ownership of the hottest chain of tattoo parlors in the country. But he’s haunted by his first love, the matching tattoo they share a constant reminder of who he was before he learned how to control his emotions, his desire, and a woman’s pleasure.
He needs to purge her from his heart, and he’ll do whatever it takes to be free.
Erin Perry’s been burned by love and she’s not ready to put her body under a man’s control, let alone her heart. But then Blake shows up, the only man she ever truly loved. Blake is ruthlessly handsome, and seething commanding energy that has her aching to submit.
To be pleasured, tamed, owned, and put under His control.
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Lili Valente has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale. These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.

Lili loves to hear from her readers. 
You can reach her via email at lili.valente.romance@gmail.com.


LVTats

Tuesday 27 January 2015

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH - BLIND FAITH by Rebecca Zanetti

BLIND FAITH by Rebecca Zanetti (January 27, 2015; Forever Mass Market; $8.00)


A betrayal he couldn't forget . . . For Nate Dean, love is a four-letter word. As part of a secret black-ops military unit, he and his brothers were genetically engineered by the government to be ruthless soldiers with an expiration date. They were loyal only to one another . . . until Nate laid eyes on the woman who stole his heart and blew his world apart. Now, years later, his family is still paying the price for his mistake. But as time runs out, there's only one person who can save his family: the very woman Nate swore he'd never trust again.

A love she couldn't deny . . . 
The moment Audrey Madison spies Nate across a crowded ballroom, she can barely breathe. He's just as undeniably sexy as she remembers, yet there's an edge to him now that's as irresistible as it is dangerous. When he asks for her help, Audrey can't refuse. But she has secrets of her own--secrets that, if Nate ever discovers them, may cost them both their lives . . .
Buy Links:  Amazon  B&N  BAM  IndieBound  iBooks
Excerpt
“Let’s dance.” He turned her toward the dance floor.
She balked. “No.” God. She couldn’t dance with him, couldn’t be touched by him.
“Yes.” His hold slid down to the back of her elbow, and he ushered her toward where the orchestra was playing “I Will Wait for You” by Michel Legrand. The warmth in Nate’s touch flared her nerves to life in an erotic need she’d worked hard to overcome.
“Nate—”
“Shhh.”  He tightened his hold and drew her into an impressive erection.
She gasped, her face heating, her sex convulsing. Blinking, she glanced up in confusion to see if he was as affected as she was and stilled at the look in his eyes.
Furious. The man was truly furious. Even with the contacts masking his eyes, his anger shone bright.
She tried to step back and didn’t move. Yeah, she knew she’d hurt him when she’d ended their relationship, but after nearly five years, he shouldn’t still be so mad. He’d had freedom for five years, which was a hell of a lot better than she’d had. She’d had pain and fear and uncertainty. She blinked. “What is wrong with you?”
His impossibly hard jaw somehow hardened even more. “Oh, we’ll discuss that shortly.” Threat lived strongly in the calm words. “For now, we’re going to finish this dance. Then you’ll take the north exit and meet me in my car so we can talk.”
“If I don’t?” she asked quietly, wings fluttering through her abdomen.
His hold tightened imperceptibly. “I know where you live, I know your daily routine in working for Senator Nash, and I know where you go when you need time alone. You can’t hide, you can’t outrun me—and you know it.”
The hairs on the back of her neck rose. “How long have you been watching me?” More importantly, why hadn’t she noticed?
“A week.  Long enough to know the two apes toward the doorway are following you, too.  What’s up with that?”  His hold tightened just enough to show his strength.
She shrugged.  “They haven’t made a move, so I’m not worrying about it.”  Not true, and by the narrowing of Nate’s eyes, he could still smell a lie a mile away.  “The commander is having me followed.”
Nate’s jaw clenched.  “Why?”
“Dunno.”  They didn’t have time to discuss it.  “You should go now.”
“No.” He spun her, easily controlling their movements.
Her leg hitched, and she stumbled against him.
He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” None of his damn business, that was. “What do you want to talk about?”
His gaze narrowed, and he spun her again. She tripped again. Her damn leg didn’t move that way.  She glanced toward the doorway and the two soldiers watching her.  They’d straightened to alert stances.  Damn it.
“What’s wrong with your leg?” Nate asked, brows furrowing.
Oh, they were so not going into her injuries on the dance floor. “You almost sound like you care.” She threw his words back at him, gratified when his nostrils flared in irritation.
His gaze probed deep, wandering down her neck. He blinked several times, his chest moving with a harsh intake of breath. “I like your dress,” he rumbled, his voice a low whisper.
With his tight hold, she had no doubt the tops of her breasts were visible. “Nathan, don’t—”
“Don’t what?” His gaze rose to her lips. A light of a different sort filtered through his angry eyes. She knew that look. Her body heated and her thighs softened. His erection jumped against her, and she bit down a groan.
“One kiss, Audrey.”
Her eyes widened to let in more light. “No,” she breathed. One of his hands held hers, the other pressed against her back. Thank goodness. He couldn’t grab her and kiss her, no matter how appealing the thought. “Bad idea.”
“I know.” Nate didn’t need hands. His lips met hers so quickly, she never saw him move.
His mouth covered hers with no hesitancy, no question—as if he had every right to go deep. His tongue was savage and demanding, holding nothing back and accepting no evasion. He tasted of loneliness, anger, and lust. Hard, needy, demanding lust.
The men at the door were watching.
But her body didn’t care—instantly igniting instead of pushing away.  Her heart thundered in her ears, and she fell into his heat, uncaring of whether or not he caught her. He wrapped around her, his unyielding body holding her upright. He caressed her with his tongue, and she met him thrust for thrust, fierce pleasure lighting her on fire.
She forgot where they were, who they were, everything but the desperate need he created.
He broke the kiss, blatant male hunger crossing his face. His breath panted out even as he moved them in tune with the music.
She softened against him, allowing him to lead so she didn’t collapse. Her mind whirled, and she shook her head to regain reality. “Nathan, what do you want?” The question emerged as a breathless plea she couldn’t mask.
That quickly, all hints of desire slid from his face. His chin hardened. “Want? I want to know what happened to the child you were carrying five years ago when you ripped out my heart. Where’s my baby, Audrey?”

About the author:
New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner - only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She is a member of RWA, has won awards for her works throughout the industry, and has a journalism degree with a poly sci emphasis from Pepperdine University as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho. 

Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day-or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.
Social Media Links:  Website  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads
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Monday 26 January 2015

REVIEW - The Rules According to Gracie by Stefanie London

The Book
Release Date: 19 January 2015
Goodreads Link

A satisfying category romance novella from Entangled's Lovestruck imprint… 

Rule number one: don't fall for the wrong guy. 

Gracie Green has a shopping list for men. Career, financials, family...and a long list of rules to determine a guy's suitability. She's already disappointed her socialite mother once—now Gracie needs to find Mr. Perfect. Too bad she keeps getting distracted by her super-sexy, six-feet-of-tattooed-hotness friend, Des, who is so many shades of Mr. Wrong… 

Bar owner Des Chapman has vowed never again to get involved with society girls. Yet he's irresistibly drawn to Gracie—those lush curves, those lips, and her ridiculous ability to date the wrong guys. As Gracie's discouragement grows, Des realizes it's time to show her what she reallyneeds in a man—and it has nothing to do with a briefcase and generous bank account. He'll teach Gracie the Rules According To Des…even if it means breaking his rule in the process.

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

This is a quick, sweet and sexy read that takes you along on Gracie and Des's ride.

Gracie who so far has been unlucky in love with her lists is getting to the end of her tether and after each disastrous date she always talks to the restaurants owner Des about the latest failure.  they also spend their Monday to Wednesday lunch times just emailing each other about nothing in particular.

Their friendship changes and they both hurt each other leading to them both moping around until they are pushed back together by their siblings.

Both realise that what they have is special, and that perhaps, their love can conquer the divide between them.

Sunday 25 January 2015

REVIEW - Want Me (Dark Obsession #2) by Cynthia Eden

The Book
Release Date: 21 January 2014
Goodreads Link

She doesn’t play it safe…

Sophie Sarantos has a weakness for dangerous men. She doesn’t like safe lovers—she likes men with a wild, rough edge. But Sophie may have attracted a lover who is too dangerous, even for her. Someone is stalking Sophie, slipping into her home, watching her day and night. The stranger seems to know all of Sophie’s darkest secrets, secrets that should never be revealed.

Out of options, Sophie turns to ex-solider Lex Jensen for protection. Lex is part owner of VJS Protection, Inc., and Sophie hires him as her bodyguard. She thinks Lex is one of the “good guys” out there, but she couldn’t be more wrong. 

He doesn’t play at all…

Lex has his own secrets. Dark, deadly secrets. And as his feelings for Sophie grow, Lex knows that he is going to have to stop pretending to be a gentleman and, instead, he’ll have to show Sophie who he really is. A man trained to kill. A man too used to evil. A man who will take any risk…as long as he can claim Sophie.

Because there is one thing that Lex wants in this world…one person he desires above all others…Sophie. And no one will hurt her, not on his watch. 

Author's Note: WANT ME does not contain a cliff-hanger ending. It is a complete, stand-alone title.
 

My Opinion  4 STARS
**My thanks to NetGalley and Hocus Pocus Publishing Inc, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

So this book starts shortly after the first one ends and dives right into the action.

We met Sophie in book one as the talents DC lawyer who very much protects her clients and her friends, however now she is in danger and there is one man she goes to, Lex.

Both Lex and Sophie felt something for each other when they first met, but Sophie has her rules and has a reputation as being a bit if an ice queen.

The book really takes you on their journey and just when you think you can guess at who is the baddie, another twist happens and you think it could be someone else.  The baddie was kept well under wraps from the beginning and to be honest I loved that I couldn't get who it was before the big reveal.

Full of action, drama and lust as well as pent up feelings and emotions and three great friends who have a protection agency and each others backs with everything.

LOVED IT.

REVIEW - Watch Me (Dark Obsession #1) by Cynthia Eden

The Book
Release Date: 9 December 2014
Goodreads Link

Watch Me…The first book in New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden’s sexy new romantic suspense series…DARK OBSESSION.

He was hired to protect her.

Watching gorgeous Gwen Hawthorne wasn’t a hard job—but it certainly was tempting. Chance Valentine had tried to keep his distance from the sexy socialite for years, but when her father hired him to keep watch on her—as a twenty-four, seven bodyguard—Chance knew his control was about to be pushed to the limit.

He’d never wanted another woman the way he desired her. Hot. Intense. Consuming. Being so close to Gwen, Chance knew that he wouldn’t be able to resist her. So he gave into his need, her need, and he took them both to the edge of a dark and consuming desire.

But Chance soon realizes that he isn’t the only one watching Gwen. Someone else is out there, a stalker who won’t rest until Gwen is destroyed. Every day, every moment…Gwen is in danger. And Chance knows that if he can’t unmask the stalker, then he may just lose the only woman he has ever loved.


My Opinion  4 STARS
**My thanks to NetGalley and Hocus Pocus Publishing Inc, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Chance Valentine is a dark character who didn't have it easy growing up, then entered the army before doing Personal Security.  He has created a business with his three best friends after doing personal security for a wealthy man and his daughter.

Gwen was the daughter of the man Chance worked for and now her father has asked that he step in to save his daughter who has a stalker.  Chance who has always had a thing for Gwen steps u, but doesn't want the man's money.

There are a few times he with-holds the truth from Gwen, but they soon come out along with his passion for her and his loss of self control when he is with her.  Know one makes him feel the way she does.

There are certainly a good few times where Chance has to step in and save Gwens life, especially at the end where the stalker is revealed, and no, i had not guessed who it was.  It was a well guarded secret :)

A good read that had me turning page after page, and I am so glad that I already have the next book in the series to read.

Saturday 24 January 2015

REVIEW - Slowly We Trust (Fall and Rise #3) by Chelsea M. Cameron

The Book
Release Date: 24 April 2014
Goodreads Link

Audrey Valdez didn’t mean to fall for Will Anders. He isn’t her type. At all. But his goofy smile, Star Wars quotes and athletic body make it impossible. She's lived so long in the darkness and Will is like the sun. He makes her laugh more than she has in years and cares for her more than her own family. 

But there are things about Audrey that Will doesn't know, things he can't know. She tries to push him away, but he just ends up getting closer to her, and to her secret. Is the risk of losing him forever worth the chance a being with the only person she's ever loved who has loved her back?

My Opinion  3 STARS
This is the third book in the series and focuses on Audrey and Will, Lorries twin brother.

Although this novel wasn't as good as the previous two books, it was still good.

Will and Audrey are kinda together but Aid has this push him away pull him closer thing going on. She also has a secret which I had guessed early on and was not at all surprised when it was revealed.  

I felt sorry for Will with the way that Audrey was treating him, but they constant will they, won't they got annoying.

We meet another character in the book, Eddie. Audrey had known him from her previous school and we have to feel sorry for him with what landed in his lap after Audrey's revelation. It may have taken him a few days, but he really acted like a decent chap and I hope he gets a HEA.



Friday 23 January 2015

RELEASE BLITZ - Forever Now (Forever #1) by Elise Sax



Release Date: 29 November 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
When Tess's mother abandons her during her senior year at high school, she must find a way to keep the secret and survive until graduation. She's surprised when Cruz, her crush and an aspiring model, moves in to help. Tess has dreams of studying in Paris, France and becoming a writer...impossible dreams without money or family. But as Tess and Cruz's relationship grows closer, Cruz will do anything to make sure Tess's dreams come true. But at what price?

Forever Now is the first book in the Forever YA / NA trilogy about finding love, living dreams, and overcoming great odds.

Forever begins now. 


EXCERPT
I don’t know why I didn’t notice him before because he was the best looking boy I had ever seen. Not really a boy. A man. Maybe nineteen, I figured.  He had dark hair and eyes but light skin, and he was tall and muscular. He was beautiful, like a model, shining under the lights.
Perfect.
He shook my mother’s hand, and the three of them walked on the tiled floor further into the house without saying a word to me.
Invisible.

There. That’s the moment my life changed. No, I didn’t realize it, yet. I didn’t know that anything special had happened. I certainly didn’t know that Cruz would save my life, and I would save his—at least for a while. That we would love each other and our love would be dangerous.

Available from:

About the Author
Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before writing her first novel. She lives in Southern California with her two sons.

She loves to hear from her readers. Don’t hesitate to contact her at elisesax@gmail.com, and sign up for her newsletter at http://elisesax.com/mailing-list.php to get notifications of new releases and sales.

Author Links:

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Thursday 22 January 2015

REVIEW - Faster We Burn (Fall and Rise #2) by Chelsea M. Cameron

The Book
Release Date: 18 April 2013
Goodreads Link

**This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance and is suitable for ages 17 and up, due to language and scenes of sensuality**


Katie Hallman is done with douchebags. Done with guys who treat her like crap and leave her broken. But then Stryker Grant is there anyway. With his numerous piercings and bleached hair, he’s the polar opposite of all of her past relationships, which makes him the perfect candidate.

At first, Katie just sees him as a physical escape from her previous rocky relationship, and Stryker doesn’t seem to mind just being a distraction from Katie’s problems. But soon he’s getting under her skin, peeling back layers she’d rather keep covered. She tries to make it clear that she doesn’t want a relationship, but keeps breaking her own rules.

Then a tragedy sends Katie into the only arms that are there to catch her, and she’ll realize that she needs him more than she ever thought possible. But is she ready to let herself trust another guy with her already-battered heart? Or will she push him away to protect herself from getting hurt again?

My Opinion  4 STARS

This is the second book in the series and although it glosses quickly over what happened in book one, the majority of the events take place after book one has finished and we still get to see more of the characters from book one.

Although we never get an answer as to why she loves pink so much we do get to learn a lot more about Katie.  Unfortunately she is still dealing with the Zack issue, she has another family emergency and both her and Stryker have their 'relationship' to figure out.

Stryker is a secret softie and cares for Katie in a way that he has never done before with any of the other girls he has been with.  He is there when she needs her, and she turns up to be there when he needs someone.

It takes time but eventually they both help sort the other out until they both can't live without the other.  Both sides really being the other side of their soul and being the true person that the other needs.

It's a really good read, but slightly less good than the first book.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

RELEASE BLITZ (Review & Giveaway) - One night with her Roommate by Noelle Adams




The Book
Release Date: 19 January 2015
Ever since her former roommates deserted her, Meg has had to share an apartment with a lazy, obnoxious ass. He won’t pick up after himself, and he refuses to get a good job. Plus, he doesn’t always wear enough clothes—which is really a problem, because he’s hot.

Maybe he’s occasionally funny. And every now and then he can be sweet. But mostly                                he’s just annoying. It doesn’t matter how much he’s starting to flirt with her—Meg is going to resist. She’s way too smart to fall for a guy who never takes anything seriously.

But then everything changes in only one night…



Buy Links: Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  B&N  |  iBooks


EXCERPT

“What’s the matter?” East asked in a different tone. He was still studying her face, and he seemed to see a lot more than he should, despite his lazy insouciance.
“Nothing,” she snapped, annoyed mostly at herself for being bothered so much at the thought of moving out. Her eyes dipped down again to discover that he was a little more erect than he’d been before. In response to the hot flash she felt, she added, “Would you mind putting that thing away?” She waved in the general direction of his groin, carefully keeping her gaze from settling there again.
He glanced down, as if surprised. Then he gave her a hot grin. “Where would you like me to put it?”
“Put it behind a towel or something.”
“And have a little respect. He’s not an ‘it’, you know.”
She had to choke back a laugh at his exaggeratedly aggrieved tone. “It’s a ‘he,’ is it? Does he have a name?”
“Of course.” East glanced down at himself and then back up to her face. “His name is South.”
There was no way Meg could hide the ripple of laughter at this ironic tone. She could see that East was smiling, as if he was pleased he’d amused her so much.
“Well, would you please put South away? Normal people don’t parade around naked, you know.”
“You’re the one who barged in here.” He was still smiling, but he wrapped his towel around his waist, hiding the part in question.
“And I don’t even want to know what you were doing in here on your own with a hard-on.” To hide her embarrassment as it hit home that she was with East naked, she made her voice even dryer than normal.
He chuckled again. “I was thinking about you, of course. And then you came in wearing nothing but my t-shirt and messy hair, looking like a wet dream, so it’s like my fantasies came to life.”


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

A very fast-paced novella where house-mates become an item after one night; where both have been lusting over the other for the last three months and have been trying to ignore their rising feelings.


Meg is a smart women but she often lets her head rule her heart and therefore, although her body and her heart would love to get together with her flat-mate her head will not allow it.


East has no job, doesn't seem to take anything seriously and he is a slob.  Meg is sure he has a girlfriend and as her has been mostly absent during the nights assumes that East is staying over.


One night together however changes everything.  Meg especially gets a wake up call and see's more in East than first appeared, however as the morning comes her head interferes and things go downhill until East gets her on the right track.


Being a novella we can be assured of a happy ending and of well meaning friends who give a push in the right direction.



AUTHOR BIO
Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.

She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.

Author links: Goodreads  |  Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

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