COVER REVEAL: Wicked Envy (Wicked Horse Vegas #3)

I am so in love with Sawyer Bennett's newest sexy series, The Wicked Horse Vegas. And the third book is coming out soon. Check out the cover of WICKED ENVY...

Wicked Envy (Wicked Horse Vegas #3), by Sawyer Bennett
Publish Date: October 27, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: iBooks | Barnes & Noble

(Synopsis) The best of friends.

Two men. One woman.

A sinful playground called The Wicked Horse.

Entrepreneur turned millionaire, Dane Hawthorne, has been known to get his kicks at The Wicked Horse Vegas, and he has no shortage of beautiful women waiting for a shot at him. Driven to succeed, no matter if he’s in the boardroom or the bedroom, Dane never backs down from a challenge.

Avril Carrigan isn’t the type of woman to take risks in her personal life but after a broken heart and too much liquid courage, Avril decides to best way to get over one man, is to get under another. Looking to experience all the debauchery she’s heard about from her best friend and business partner, Dane, she requests one thing of him—take her to The Wicked Horse.

The request seems simple. One friend helping another in her time of need. But now that they’ve crossed the threshold, things aren’t as easy as they once seemed. Not only is Dane looking at Avril in a new light, but so is their other business partner and best friend, Andrew Collings. As Dane’s envy blooms, he wonders if he made the right decision when he agreed to show Avril his wicked world.

What happens when the lines of friendship are blurred and boundaries are crossed? Will their relationships survive or will jealousy tear them all apart?

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BOOKBUB | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | INSTAGRAM

COVER REVEAL: Lust (Vegas Nights #2)

I very recently read SIN, which is the first book in Emma Hart's new Vegas Nights series. And it was spectacular. Now, book 2 - LUST - is coming out in just a few short weeks, and if this cover is any indication, it will be even better than book 1.

Lust (Vegas Nights #2), by Emma Hart
Publish Date: September 12, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

(Synopsis) Detective Adrian Potter had a lot to answer for. I didn’t care that he was tasked with shutting down the city’s most prolific hookers.

I cared that he was stopping me from providing for my daughter.

He didn’t care.

Not at all.

Until I broke down in the backseat of his car… And he let me go.

Adrian was a single parent, too. He knew how hard I had it. At least, he thought he did.

He had a job. He had people who cared. He didn’t know just how lucky he was.

My name is Perrie Fox.

I was a whore of the highest value.

Until Detective Adrian Potter.

Until the tattooed, redemption-seeking detective entered my life, looking for his fairytale.

The cop and the hooker.

Happily ever fucking never.

You’ve met one Fox sibling.

Now meet the other…

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies—usually wine—and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy—unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

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BLOG TOUR: Hope Restored (Gallagher Brothers #3)

Read on for my review of Carrie Ann Ryan's final Gallaher Brothers book - HOPE RESTORED.

Hope Restored (Gallagher Brothers #3), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: July 25, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) The Gallagher Brothers series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan concludes with the final brother who thought he had everything to look forward to, and the one woman who can handle him.

Life isn’t worth living if you don’t fight to live. That’s what Murphy Gallagher learned at a young age when cancer ravaged his body not once, but twice. Over the course of his survival, he lost his parents and his childhood, but he’s been healthy for years and has become a man he hopes his family is proud of. But when his world tilts on its axis yet again, he’ll have to learn what it means to fight not only the unknown but also his attraction to his best friend.

Tessa Stone works hard and plays harder. She’s spent her life trying to figure out who she is in the present rather than looking back. Yet when she’s forced into close proximity with Murphy, she’ll have to not only be his rock but learn how to relax enough to maybe let him be hers, as well. But seduction doesn’t stop when the world seems to, and close encounters of the naked kind might just be the first step in something much more complicated than either of them bargained for. Life, though, is for living, after all.

It seems fitting that Murphy Gallagher's story was saved for last. We've known about him and his two previous successful battles with cancer since before the Gallagher Brothers series started (Murphy's brother Jake mentioned it in his book in the Montgomery Ink series). He's stood by while his three brothers found their soul mates and started families. He's had the hardest road of all of them, and yet he's always been the most positive. I've been wanting him to find a good woman since the very beginning.

Hope Restored is one of those special books where I absolutely adored both main characters the whole way through the book. Murphy is hit with some news that rocks his world pretty early in the book. It's impossible not to root for this awesome guy. His attitude is admirable. He leans on his family and friends for love and strength and encouragement and advice. And when the chance for love comes his way, he opens his heart to it instead of fighting it. Well... mostly. Because it's always fun when they resist just a little bit. The fall is totally worth it. 

Tessa and Murphy are adorable as BFFs. They always have this underlying sexual tension and flirty banter going back and forth that tell you that all the sexual things they say to each other in jest have a ring of truth to them. But neither of them are willing to risk the friendship for a roll in the hay. That is, until circumstances cause them to start living together. Being in such close quarters together with Murphy's new struggles causes that sexual tension to snap, and oh my. It's just the best thing ever when that happens. Because these two are just SO good together.

I love how close the Gallaghers are to one another. They don't always agree with the things they do, but they love each other fiercely and support each other unerringly. The girls that they love become best friends and the whole group of them rally when both Murphy and Tessa need them. No matter what awful thing might be happening to one of them, this family dynamic always adds hope to the mix, and Carrie Ann Ryan is awesome for doing that.

I'm hoping we might still catch glimpses of the Gallagher brothers and their wives in the Montgomery Ink series, thanks to Jake, Maya and Border. Because I need to keep tabs on this incredible family.

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: All or Nothing at All (Billionaire Builders #3)

All or Nothing at All (Billionaire Builders #3), by Jennifer Probst
Publish Date: July 25, 2017
Publisher: Gallery Books
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3 STARS

(Synopsis) Tristan Pierce left the family business to carve out a life of his own, but never forgot his passionate affair with the much younger, inexperienced Sydney Green, or the hurtful break-up that tore him apart. When he’s forced to return home and face his past, will he be able to carve out a future, or will lies ruin his second chance at love? 

Sydney Green loved Tristan her entire life, but when he left, he took not only her heart, but her trust with him. Now that they’re together again, it’s time they both face the biggest secret of all….

I love Jennifer Probst, and I have thoroughly enjoyed her Billionaire Builders series. I'm sad to see it end, particularly on this note. See, I've been looking forward to Tristan's story since the beginning. He's always been so buttoned up and proper. I just knew that, of the three brothers, he'd be the most filthy when behind closed doors. And I was right. Too bad he ended up being such a jerk.

Interestingly enough, Sydney surprised me just as much as Tristan did. Through the first two books, I always liked her and how good of a mom she was to her 5-year-old daughter Becca. She is the office manager for Pierce Brothers construction, and she's really good at her job. In All or Nothing at All, she takes the initiative to make incredible strides in her career, and I was cheering her every step of the way. 

However, when I found out that Sydney had known that Tristan was Becca's father since the moment she found out she was pregnant and never told him, I lost all respect for her. The secret baby trope might be some people's cup of tea, but it's definitely not mine. Except in extreme circumstances, fathers should always be given the choice to be a good dad. If they squander that choice, then more power to the single mother. But, he can't make that choice without knowing he has a kid in the first place. 

I appreciate that Sydney made the choice when she was pregnant not to tell Tristan about the baby. I understand her reasons - I just don't agree with them. But, that's an aside. Tristan has been back in town for more than a year and has made it clear he's home to stay. Sydney had that entire time to tell him that Becca is his, but she chose not to. That's not a character I can get behind. 

So, I spent the first half of the book championing Tristan and hoping he found out he was a dad soon. Except, when he does find out, his reaction is so far away from what I knew about him as a character so far, it was genuinely upsetting. He is ruthless, cold and so mean to Sydney and goes so far as to blackmail her into marrying him so that Becca had the illusion of "family." How completely messed up is that? 

He has resolved that he could never love someone who has screwed him over so thoroughly, yet, he is okay with getting his rocks off with her and forcing her to sleep in the same bed as him so that Becca doesn't suspect they are anything but a picture-perfect family. And the strong Sydney from the beginning is nowhere to be found. She goes along with the possibility that she will never be loved in her life, that her body will be used to slake a need and that she will be lying to her daughter forever. 

There were a few shining moments in All or Nothing at All. Tristan as a dad was a complete delight. I loved catching up with Caleb, Dalton, Blake and their women. And the ending was really sweet. Also, this IS Jennifer Probst, so the writing is awesome and the pace was perfect. I just didn't care for the story so much. And I think a lot of it is just personal taste. Those who love the secret baby trope will love this book, and if that's you, I encourage you to check this one out. 

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

Website: www.jenniferprobst.com
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RELEASE DAY FOR: 1001 Dark Nights Bundle 10

You know how much I love these 1001 Dark Nights bundles, and the new bundle 10 is really special, because in addition to containing novellas from four truly amazing authors (and personal favorites of mine), it also includes two novels from two of 1001 Dark Nights' Discover Authors - Sierra Simone and Jenna Jacob.

1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundle #10, by Tessa Bailey, Lexi Blake, Larissa Ione, Laurelin Paige, Jenna Jacob and Sierra Simone
Publish Date: July 25, 2017
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Inc.
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: various romance genres
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) ROUGH RHYTHM: A Made In Jersey Novella by Tessa Bailey Band manager James Brandon never expected to find the satisfaction he’d been chasing, let alone stumble upon it in some sleezy Hollywood meat market. Yet the girl’s quiet pride spoke to him from across the bar. But after losing the grip on his dark desires that one fateful night, James has spent the last four years atoning for letting her down. Rock band drummer Lita Regina has had enough of James’s guilt. She wants the explosive man she met that night in Hollywood. And she’ll stop at nothing to revive him.

DEVOTED: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella by Lexi Blake
Amy Slaten has devoted her life to Slaten Industries. After ousting her corrupt father and taking over the CEO role, she thought she could relax and enjoy taking her company to the next level. But an old business rivalry rears its ugly head. When Flynn Adler realizes the woman he’s falling for is none other than the CEO of the firm he needs to take down, he has to make a choice. Does he take care of the woman he’s falling in love with or the business he’s worked a lifetime to build?

Z: A Demonica Novella by Larissa Ione
Zhubaal has spent decades searching for the angel he loved and lost nearly a century ago. Not even her death can keep him from trying to find her. But as time passes, he’s losing hope… As an emim, Vex has always felt like a second-class citizen. But if she manages to secure a deal with the Grim Reaper she will have earned her place in the world. The only obstacle in the way of her plan is a sexy hardass called Z. Soon it becomes clear that they have a powerful connection rooted in the past…

FALLING UNDER YOU: A Fixed Trilogy Novella by Laurelin Paige
Norma Anders has always prided herself on her intelligence and determination. She climbed out of poverty, put herself through school and is now a chief financial advisor at Pierce Industries. She’s certainly a woman who won’t be topped. Not in business anyway. But she’s pretty sure she’d like to be topped in the bedroom. Unfortunately most men see independence and ambition in a woman and they run. Then the most unlikely candidate steps up. Boyd, her much-too-young and oh-so-hot assistant surprises her one night with bold suggestions and an authoritative demeanor he’s never shown her in the office.

CRAVING HIS COMMAND: A Doms of Genesis Novella by Jenna Jacob
Mercy O’Connor—known as Symoné at Club Genesis—craves the chance to experience true surrender. The only problem is, she’s set her sights on sexy, commanding Sir Justice, who studies her with his dissecting, arousing stare…but never offers to show her his ropes. If Kellan Graham let himself believe in love at first sight, Symoné would own his heart. After having his life ripped apart, he’s spent years inventing ways to resist simple lust, but each time this beautiful submissive turns her pleading eyes to him, she ignites a complicated conflagration of desire Kellan can’t fight.

AMERICAN QUEEN by Sierra Simone
It starts with a stolen kiss under an English sky, and it ends with a walk down the aisle. It starts with the President sending his best friend to woo me on his behalf, and it ends with my heart split in two. It starts with buried secrets and dangerous desires…and ends with the three of us bound together with a hateful love sharper than any barbed wire.

I must confess - I had already read four out of the six stories contained in this bundle before I received my ARC to review. I'm already a huge Tessa Bailey, Lexi Blake, Laurelin Paige and Sierra Simone fan, so their stories were already read and loved by me - some quite awhile ago. 

The best way to approach these bundles is to select one that includes at least one story by an author you already know and love. But, don't just read that one story! The whole point of the discovery bundles is to discover new-to-you authors (see what they did there?). I found that, for the most part, you don't need to have read the stories that came before these to appreciate them for what they are - sexy, romantic escapes of all sorts that give you all the feels. 

This bundle is particularly sexy, and it comes at you in all forms. American Queen features a stunning triad. Craving His Command involves a sex club. Falling Under You has a man who is very dominant at night while working in a more submissive role during the day. Z is for you PNR lovers. Devoted has action and suspense along with tons of sexy chemistry. And Rough Rhythm introduces us to a couple who likes their sexy times with an edge of danger. There is literally something for everyone here. 

As a result of this Discovery Bundle, I'm already looking into more books by Jenna Jacob. I had never heard of her before now, and I liked what I saw in Craving His Command. I'm ready for the next Discovery Bundle so that I can keep discovering new-to-me authors to love. 

REVIEW: Chasing Destiny (Silver Tip Pack #2)

Chasing Destiny (Silver Tip Pack #2), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: July 21, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult m/m paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Almost dying during a pack uprising has a way of shaking things up. I’m no longer Mr. Laid Back now that there’s an itch under my skin I can’t scratch.

On a volunteer mission that goes beyond the walls of our compound, we enter the territory of a pack long thought dead, and find ourselves on the business end of their spears.

What I’m not prepared for is what I find within their walls—The one shifter I never thought I’d see alive, the one I’d mourned twice, the one I’d always loved. He is alive, and if I have anything to do with it, he’ll stay that way. But he’s got secrets, and exposing them could lead us to an enemy worse than the bloodthirsty undead shifters wanting to kill us all…

You guys... this book had me at hello. If you've read any of Megan Erickson's books, you know how she can bring the feels, and she does that in Chasing Destiny TIMES TEN. There is so much shifter goodness in this book... but before I gush any further, I have to tell you that there be spoilers ahead. It's impossible to write about this book without giving away something kind of huge. So, if spoilers aren't your thing, you can stop reading after I tell you these three things:

1. I liked it better than Daring Fate. And I loved Daring Fate.

2. ALL THE SEXY TIMES.

3. Bay is my new favorite. He is mine. Well, after his mate, he's mine. You've been notified. 

Okay - carry on if you don't care about reading important deets. 

So, in addition to Chasing Destiny being super sexy and wonderful, it was full of a bunch of really powerful (and AWESOME) surprises. Bay travels to Reese's former pack to see if they really are trying to rebuild. He proves to be very good at diplomatic relations, and earns their good graces, but while on their land, he finds a shifter he thought was twice dead - his long lost love, Nash. 

From the very beginning, I could tell something was off about Nash. There was a big secret he was keeping, and as he, Bay and a small group of shifters from both packs ready to return to Silver Tip land, the big secret he's been keeping seems to become another character in the book. It's huge and you just KNOW it's going to be game-changing. And you find yourself praying that it won't destroy both Bay and Nash so soon after they found each other again. 

Man, when these two men see each other again, my feels had feels. To see someone you love that you thought dead living and breathing had to be a kick in the teeth for Bay. But, seriously, when Nash's secrets came out, the tears really started. 

The knowledge of where Nash has been all this time also brings with it the knowledge of a new enemy, and once again, the Silver Tip pack needs to fight, but this time, not against the creepy undead Noweres. There's plenty of action in Chasing Destiny, complete with an epic battle at the end. It has absolutely everything a paranormal romance lover could want.

And even after surprising us with Nash's return, and something new that could change the lives of werewolves and weres everywhere, Megan Erickson decides we need one more surprise before she ends the book. It was a wonderful one and I am now looking forward to the third book in this series even more just to see how this final development is going.

Speaking of, there's a lot of Dare and Reese in the second half of Chasing Destiny, so you get to catch up with them and see how they're getting along, as well as G and June and Selene and Hans. Chasing Destiny is a dual POV book, although you don't get Nash's POV until a little later than you normally would in a book with two narrators. It's understandable, though, and it works perfectly, along with everything else in this book. At the end, I was so ridiculously happy and totally pumped for the third book. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Eyes On You (Blasphemy #2.5)

Eyes On You (Blasphemy #2.5), by Laura Kaye
Publish Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Inc.
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) She wants to explore her true desires, and he wants to watch…

When a sexy stranger asks Wolf Henrikson to rescue her from a bad date, he never expected to want the woman for himself. But their playful conversation turns into a scorching one-night stand that reveals the shy beauty gets off on the idea of being seen, even if she’s a little scared of it, too. And Wolf loves to watch.

In the wake of discovering her fiancé’s infidelity, florist Olivia Foster never expected to find someone who not only understood her wildest, darkest fantasies, but would bring them to life. As Wolf introduces her to his world at the play club, Blasphemy, Liv finds herself tempted to explore submission and exhibitionism with the hard-bodied Dom even as she’s scared to trust again.

But Wolf is a master of getting what he wants—and he’s got his eyes set on her…

Eyes On You is proof that sometimes even the absolute worst date in history can end up being the best thing that's ever happened to you. 

Liv is on the worst date EVER (seriously) when Wolf - who got stood up by his date - saves the day and later lights a fire in her that can't be extinguished. After being made to feel like her desire to watch and to be watched is deviant and wrong and disgusting by her ex-fiance, Liv had buried that part of her. But, meeting Wolf, a man who gets off on the exact same things, completely changes her outlook on sex and intimacy and even love. 

Wolf is a really cool hero. He, along with Isaac, works IT at Blasphemy along with his other Master duties. He's very likable. He's nice and pleasant and dominant in a very non-scary way. From the moment he meets Liv, he's protective of her and wants to help her and shield her from all the bad things. How could you not love that quality in a man?

Liv is in a good place, but Wolf reminds her that things could be better. He makes it okay for her to express her exhibitionist and voyeur desires. And, as the story moves on, he introduces her to the club scene and his friends. I loved that she developed friendships with the other women we've already met in the previous Blasphemy stories. It gave us a good excuse to check up on them and see how they're doing. 

We also met Master Alex, and I have to say, I'm intrigued. I'm hoping he gets the next book in this series. 

Eyes On You is a novella. Therefore, there is a bit of instalove here. Liv and Wolf spend one weekend together, and that's it for them. They know they've found their match, although it takes them a bit longer than that to admit it out loud. But, honestly, given that it's a novella and the story has to move faster than usual, the instalove didn't bother me. I was happy to see this connection forged so quickly. I was happy that there were absolutely no games played between them - no secrets, open communication - it was very refreshing. 

I love Laura Kaye's stories, and Eyes On You was no different. The characters were honest, the sex was hot and the ending was gratifying. 

About Laura Kaye: Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty book in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink, Raven Riders, and Blasphemy series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Sin (Vegas Nights #1)

Another Emma Hart homerun. I dare you to not fall completely in love with Damien Fox...

Sin (Vegas Nights #1), by Emma Hart
Publish Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Damien Fox lived up to his name.Cunning, sly, and dangerous, fifty percent of Vegas’ strip clubs were his.
Whatever he wanted, money, attention, women, he got.
And now he wanted to buy my bar, no matter the cost.
I wanted him to go to hell on a first-class ticket.
He played a dirty game, and I followed his rules. I let him think he would win.
Despite our differences, it was clear to see that we were no more than two broken hearts colliding in the darkness.
Closed off, sexy, and holding a pain that would crush a lesser man, he was the ultimate sin.
One I couldn’t deny myself, even though I knew better than to trust a fox...

Okay book lovers. Check this out. I'm about to tell you something about Sin that will make you want to read it immediately. Ready?

The main character owns... A BOOK-THEMED BAR. IN LAS VEGAS. *mic drop*

Actually, books play a big part in Sin, and I loved that Emma Hart made it that way. Dahlia's parents had a great love of books, so when they opened a bar in Vegas together, they called it The Scarlet Letter (SO brilliant) and made books the star. There's even a secret reading system that I loved learning about. This bar and it's book-loving owner are music for my soul. 

And then, of course, there's Damien Fox. In the beginning, he's incredibly infuriating and arrogant as he tries to strong-arm Dahlia into selling the bar to him. She very recently lost her father, and given that the bar was his along with her also deceased mother, it made me really angry at Damien that he seemingly didn't care one bit about any of that. He was willing to do whatever he had to in order to get Dahlia to sell. 

Thankful, Dahlia is an incredibly strong and independent woman. She can admit that Damien makes her knees weak and her panties catch fire, but when it comes to her bar, nothing he can say or do will sway her. I absolutely LOVED Dahlia for this.

I needed to be prepared for who this man really was because my gut was telling me I hadn't scratched the surface of Damien Fox.

Damien's frost starts to thaw with every new interaction with the fiery Dahlia. But, that's also a bit of an issue for him, since a family tragedy of his own has caused him to eschew things like emotions and love and compassion. He's afraid that when Dahlia finds out about what happened to his family that she won't want to be with him anymore, and being around her is the only light he knows.

He was Heaven and Hell and all the sins in between.

I've not read many Emma Hart books, but with every new one I get my hands on, her placement on my all-time favorites list moves higher and higher. She is an incredible writer, with a knack for brilliant, snarky humor. Her books are always incredibly sexy, totally engrossing, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. One of my favorite parts in Sin is when Damien gets his hands on an erotic book Dahlia is reading, and he starts reading it aloud. Emma Hart managed to poke a little fun at her own profession, while keeping it respectful and so freaking hilarious!

I'm already dying to get my hands on the next Vegas Nights book, since we've now met one half of the duo in that book. I can't wait to see what Emma Hart will give us next.

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies—usually wine—and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy—unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

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REVIEW: Marriage Claws

Marriage Claws, by Paige Cuccaro
Publish Date: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Swerve
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3 STARS

(Synopsis) There are two things Kate Affetto will do anything to protect: the younger brother she's raised ever since their father walked out, and the small diner she's managed to start from nothing in New York City. Things might not always be easy, but at least she gets to call all the shots and follow her own heart. That is until Jack Pensione, irritatingly gorgeous billionaire playboy and CEO/heir to the family empire shows up at her diner with an ultimatum: find $3 million to purchase the space, or vacate so it can be turned into condos.

But Kate isn't going down without a fight. So when Jack offers a third option—marry him, and he'll gift her the space—she agrees, knowing it'll save the life she's built for herself and her brother, and that the marriage will be over practically before it's begun. After all, it's not as if she actually likes Jack, or as if he's actually attracted her at all... Little does she know he's also a werewolf, that he's vying to be the alpha of his pack, and that her problems are just getting started.

I love a good shifter romance. The men are always super alpha (of course), which means they need a strong woman to stand up to them. In the beginning of Marriage Claws, I got the feeling that this type of power couple was exactly what I was getting. Kate is ballsy and determined and passionate about the people and things she loves. Jack is domineering and rich and persuasive when he's after something he wants. And Kate is a means to an end for him, so he's after her and won't give up until she's his.

I loved the idea of this story. And, it even started out strong. Kate was a great heroine. I loved her diner and its group of quirky staff. I liked how Kate cared about them and how they backed her up. I really liked Jack as well - he was the perfect blend of aloof and interested. And the constant wolf-isms that he kept dropping was kinda funny, since Kate didn't know what he was for awhile.

But, I dunno - at some point in the story, it just started to fizzle. Jack went from being this interesting, charismatic guy to kind of an asshole and treating Kate like crap. And Kate went from being this strong, independent woman to putting up with Jack's attitude for far too long. In addition, the pace of the story just seemed off, starting around halfway through. It started to feel rushed and I wanted a lot more details and backstory and world building than what I got. As other side characters were introduced and Kate started interacting with them, I felt like we needed more reasons for why they were doing and saying certain things, and without all that, all of them fell very flat.

While Kate's and Jack's connection started off strong, it too disappeared about halfway through the book. So, when Jack started acting like a jerk, I really wanted Kate to just kick him to the curb and find someone else. Of course, that doesn't happen, but it made their eventual togetherness seem fake and a little disappointing.

So, I'm kinda bummed. I feel like this author has a lot of potential, but this book just isn't quite there yet.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & EXCERPT: Trust

Oh Kylie Scott... the things you do to my heart...

Trust, by Kylie Scott
Publish Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: young adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) After being held hostage during a robbery at the local convenience store, seventeen-year-old Edie finds her attitude about life shattered. Unwilling to put up with the snobbery and bullying at her private school, she enrolls at the local public high school, crossing paths with John. The boy who risked his life to save hers.

While Edie’s beginning to run wild, however, John’s just starting to settle down. After years of partying and dealing drugs with his older brother, he’s going straight—getting to class on time, and thinking about the future.

An unlikely bond grows between the two as John keeps Edie out of trouble and helps her broaden her horizons. But when he helps her out with another first—losing her virginity—their friendship gets complicated.

Meanwhile, Edie and John are pulled back into the dangerous world they narrowly escaped. They were lucky to survive the first time, but this time they have more to lose—each other.

The fact that Trust is Kylie Scott's turn at YA contemporary shouldn't discourage you in any way from reading it, especially if you're a fan of her new adult and adult works. Because all the elements that make her books the amazing reads that they are are present - the characters just happen to be teenagers in high school. There's humor and snark and depth and a lot of emotion packed into this powerful story.

At its core, Trust is a pretty heavy book. The first two chapters will make you gnaw off all your fingernails. After the convenience store that she is shopping in is held up and she is taken hostage, high school senior Edie comes away a changed girl. Likewise, the boy who was also in the store with her, John, can point to this event as a game changer in his life. 

The most interesting thing about Trust is exactly HOW each of these kids' lives were changed by this traumatic event. While Edie was always the quiet good girl, her new lease on life has given her a YOLO outlook, and she starts to run wild. John has a reputation as his school's resident hot bad boy, and after the hold up, he starts to reevaluate the direction in which his life is going and makes steps to get back on the right path.

As Edie and John deal with the aftermath of the hold up in their own ways, they are also drawn to one another because there's no one else who can understand what they went through better. At first, they are friends - they text when they have nightmares and need to talk, they study together and they give each other rides when needed. But, eventually their feelings for each other change. 

I love that Kylie Scott made Edie an atypical heroine. She was quiet, overweight and marched to the beat of her own drum. Although under normal circumstances, one would think that a hottie like John wouldn't normally be drawn to a girl like Edie, I think their shared traumatic experience allowed them both to cut through any preconceived notions and societal bullshit so that they could see each other's hearts. And that's what they fell in love with.

Trust is most definitely in the "mature YA" category. It has its share of bad language and yes, Edie loses her virginity to John, and their times together are not exactly fade-to-black moments. But, honestly, I think this was a pretty realistic look at life as an 18-year-old senior in high school. There's f-bombs and bad language and sex with your boyfriend and mean girls. And Kylie captured all this perfectly and wrapped it up in a story about how one pivotal event can change the course of your life.

“You were going to give it up to Duncan Dickerson?” he sneered. “Are you serious?”

I halted, staring at him. This was not good. “How do you know about that?”

“Anders overheard you and Hang talking.”

“Bastard.”

“Well?” he demanded, acting all authoritarian. Idiot.

“To be fair, I didn’t know his last name was Dickerson,” I said. “That’s unfortunate. Though, I wasn’t actually planning on marrying him, so . . .”

“Not funny.”

I shrugged.

“You barely know the guy.”

“Um, yeah. None of your concern. We’re not talking about this.” How mortifying! My face burned bright. People should just gather around and cook s’mores. “I appreciate that we’re friends. You mean a lot to me. But this is going to have to fall under definitely none of your damn business, so go away please.”

“We’re talking about it.” He advanced a step.

“No we are not.” And I retreated.

“You were going to let a complete stranger touch you.” Advance.

Retreat. “People do it all the time. You do it all the time.”

“But you don’t,” he said, taking the final step, backing me up against the side of his car and getting all in my face. “Edie, this is your first time we’re talking about. Isn’t it?”

“Yes, and it’s going to be messy and painful and probably horribly embarrassing and I just want it over and done with.” I tried to meet his eyes but failed, settling for a spot on his right shoulder. “You’re not a girl; you wouldn’t understand. Also, last time I checked, you’re not the gatekeeper of my hymen, John Cole. So back the fuck off.”

He said nothing.

Deep, calming breaths. “Look, someday I’ll meet someone I really like and we’ll have a deep and meaningful relationship and go at it like bunnies. But I don’t want to be the dumb virgin in that scenario.”

He slowly shook his head.

“Also, I do not want to die a virgin.”

“What? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Hey, you and I both know death can occur at any time.”

“This is crazy.”

“I’m seeing a therapist!” I told his shoulder. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m a little bit messed up these days. It’s hard for me to trust people. That’s not going to change anytime soon.”

He screwed up his face at me. “Wha—”

“I’m just trying to be practical.”

“Well, you’re being ridiculous. None of this makes sense.”

“It does to me.”

Again, he said nothing.

In fact, he said nothing for so long that I finally looked him in the eye. The anger had left him, replaced by an emotion I didn’t recognize. Worst of all, he still smelled like summer. A little sweat and the open night air, everything I loved. Liked. I meant liked.

“What?” I said, finally.

He let loose a breath. “I’ll do it."

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/

Links:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/kyliescottwriter/
FACEBOOK FAN GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/599197093487040/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KylieScottbooks
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kylie_scott_books/
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6476625.Kylie_Scott

AVAILABLE NOW: Beautiful Mistake

The first time I met Caine West was in a bar. 

He noticed me looking his way and mistakenly read my scowling as checking him out. 

When he attempted to talk to me, I set him straight—telling him what I thought of his lying, cheating, egomaniacal ass. 

You see, the gorgeous jerk had wined and dined my best friend--smooth talking her into his bed, all along failing to mention that he was married. 

He deserved every bit of my tongue-lashing and more for what he'd done. 

Especially when that lazy smile graced his perfect face in response to my rant. 

Only it turned out, the man I'd just told off wasn't the right guy. 

Oops. My mistake. 

Embarrassed, I slunk out without an apology. 

I was never going to see the handsome stranger again anyway, right? 

That’s what I thought…until I walked into class the next morning. 

Well, hello Professor West, I’m your new teaching assistant. 

I’ll be working under you…figuratively speaking. 

Although the literal interpretation might not be such a bad thing—working under Professor West. This was going to be interesting… 

ADD TO GOODREADS

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Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author. With more than 1.5 million books sold, her titles have appeared in over eighty Bestseller lists and are currently translated in sixteen languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six. 

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Beneath These Lies (Beneath #5)

Beneath These Lies (Beneath #5), by Meghan March
Publish Date: March 15, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Look, but don’t touch…she might as well wear a neon sign that says it. It just makes me want her more.

She might be above me in every way, but I still want her under me.

I’ve got no business touching her rich-girl skin, but that won’t stop me from stealing a taste. Because rules were meant to be broken—especially when the prize is so fine.

In a world where nothing is as it seems, what's buried beneath these lies?

Meghan March's Beneath series is getting ready to close in a few weeks with the seventh and final book. It's a good excuse for me to get all caught up so that I can read it as soon as it comes out. Because, the main character in that last book played a pivotal role in Beneath These Lies, and I now want this person to get that elusive HEA so badly, I can taste it. 

But, back to the present. I've thoroughly enjoyed every book in Meghan March's Beneath series. They all take place in New Orleans, and I can honestly say, it's one of my favorite cities in which to set a book. Nevermind that I've never been there before - it seems like such a rich and vibrant place, and that truly comes to life in the Beneath series. 

The setting is only one small reason why I love these books so much. The main reason is, of course, the characters. Meghan writes the alphaest of males. All her heroes have been strong, capable, protective, and flawed in some important way or another. And lucky us - in Beneath These Lies, we get TWO of them. On one hand you have police detective Rhett Hennessey - a truly good man whose position on the force is tainted somewhat due to the actions of his deceased brother. And on the other hand you have Rix - the leader of the most powerful NOLA gang, a drug dealer and an all around shady character. You'd think Valentina's choice would be easy. 

Fortunately for Rix, Valentina needs him in order to secure the safety of someone she's close to. That means, he can spend time with her, talk with her, and get close to her, all in the name of giving "updates." Valentina, being the wonderfully strong heroine that she is, doesn't make it easy on him. I mean, he IS a notorious gang-banger, after all. 

The love triangle (that really isn't much of a triangle at all, since it was obvious - at least to me - who Valentina would end up with from square one), the sticky situation in which Valentina's friend finds herself, and the big twist that I knew was coming, but still loved when it happened all make for an incredible read. Beneath These Lies was dangerous and suspenseful and super sexy. 

If I'm going to be honest, there's one more reason why I've been loving the Beneath series. Well, two more reasons, really - Andy Arndt and Sebastian York. The power couple of romance books has narrated every book in this series, and like all the other books they've read together, their performance is superb. I've done every book in this series in audio format specifically because of the narrators, and I will finish out the series the same way. They are just so good together as they read their dual POV parts and make the characters come to life. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Jilted (Love Hurts #2)

OMG, this book. JILTED was so freaking good! If you haven't gotten this book yet, you really need to fix that now.

Jilted (Love Hurts #2), by Sawyer Bennett
Publish Date: July 11, 2017
Publisher: Loveswept
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Eden Goodnight went to Los Angeles to make it big, not to be publicly humiliated by her cheating fiancé at a red-carpet premiere. But when Eden returns to her hometown to put the scandal behind her, she can barely find a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Turns out the locals are worse than the paparazzi, and they all think she’s turned into a spoiled brat. But in a strange twist of fate, the one person who seems to understand what Eden’s going through is Cooper Mayfield . . . the boy she left behind.

Small-town charm is no match for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. At least that’s what Coop’s been telling himself all these years. As Eden’s old flame—and the landscaper for her family’s historic home—Coop feels some responsibility for getting her out of her funk. But as soon as he sees that million-dollar smile, he’s a goner. Soon they’re making out like teenagers again. But when a life-changing role falls into Eden’s lap, Coop just hopes she doesn’t give up on a love that’s meant to be.

The famous rich guy/regular girl trope is one of my absolute favorites of all time. Only to now be replaced by the famous rich girl/regular guy trope. Jilted evoked all those deliciously warm fuzzy feelings we all got when we saw the movie Notting Hill for the first time where the big movie star falls hard for the normal guy. But what made Jilted even better was the fact that this famous woman and regular guy were in love many years before. And that would happen to also be another of my favorite tropes. Honestly, there was a 100% certainty that I was going to love this book. 

Eden is such an amazing heroine. She's the movie star who never quite gave in to all the Hollywood bullshit. Despite her money and fame, she's still got heart. And when it gets broken, she returns home to her small hometown in Georgia to take a breather. And when she's met with a less-than-welcoming town, she still stays and tries to get to the bottom of things. And then tries to fix them. Eden is strong and confident and absolutely not a push-over. And I loved that about her.

But, her reaction to Cooper is the best part of all. He's the boy she loved and left and he's living in her house. Cooper was over her, but when Eden shows up again, it doesn't take long for him to start feeling things for her again. Especially when both of them realize that some long-held perceptions of each other are totally wrong. When the mysteries are debunked and the misconceptions cleared up, though, they're left in a difficult position. It's obvious they still love each other, but Eden's life in California and Cooper's life in Georgia are about as different as night and day. 

It's no secret that Sawyer Bennett is one of my most favorite authors of all time. There's only one other author that I've read more books by. After putting 32 of Sawyer's books under my belt, you'd think the magic would start to wan. But, it seems like her stories just get better and better. And, I'm REALLY loving her Love Hurts series. I like how the books are sort of related with their subject matter, but they're not in any way tied together with characters or locations. I love the dual POVs and the sexy, steamy sex. The women are strong and the men are protective. I'm already ready for the next one.

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

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REVIEW: All You Need (Need You #3)

All You Need (Need You #3), by Lorelei James
Publish Date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) PR agent Annika Lund can spin any disaster into a win. But revamping the reputation of a notorious Swedish hockey player will take every trick in her arsenal, especially when his agent insists that convincing everyone he’s no longer a playboy is top priority. And that it requires a sham relationship—with Annika playing the part of loving girlfriend.

On fire in the rink and in the bedroom, Axl Hammerquist couldn’t care less about being anyone’s golden boy. So when his agent forces him to play nice with a new publicist, he takes satisfaction in being as much of a pain as possible. But the more time he spends getting to know Annika, the more Axl starts to think that being Mr. Nice Guy might be worth it if it gets him the girl...

My favorite so far in Lorelei James' Need You series, All You Need was a fun and sexy enemies to friends to lovers story that checked all my boxes.

We met Swedish D-man Axl in book two, and it was obvious he was fond of the ladies. VERY fond of them. His continued fondness has created a bit of a PR nightmare for him and his agent, so they hire PR guru Annika Lund, sister to Brady (from book one) and Walker (from book two), to spruce up his image. After her first attempts fall flat, Axl's agent suggests an extreme measure - have Annika pretend she's his girlfriend. 

There's a lot of deception in All You Need. Axl and Annika lie to the entire world about their relationship. Axl lies to his teammates and to Annika about his ability to speak English. And all this lying made a really good story. I found myself holding my breath through most of the book, waiting for those moments when the truth would come out and wondering how Axl and Annika would handle it. 

I loved the natural progression of their relationship. Axl and Annika truly don't like each other in the beginning. He thinks she's shallow and she thinks he's a pig. But, when they're forced to spend time together and converse, they both discover that there's a lot more depth to both of them than what meets the eye. I liked that they formed a friendship first. Certainly there was a physical attraction there from the beginning. But, their physical relationship didn't start until they had a degree of trust in each other. So, that was perfect.

Very little goes smoothly for these two, which just sort of makes it even better. Their entire relationship is complicated and inconvenient. Which just makes their times together and their inevitable HEA that much sweeter. I liked that we saw some more from Brady and Walker and got to catch up on where they are in their relationships. We also got a lead-in to Jensen's story, and based on what I read, it sounds like it's going to be amazing. Judging by how each book in this series has just gotten better and better, I have no doubts.