RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Tough Enough (Tall, Dark and Dangerous #2)

Tough Enough (Tall, Dark and Dangerous #2), by M. Leighton
Publish Date: November 3, 2015
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) There was a time when I had everything–a wonderful family, a bright future. Love. But all that was taken away in a single night, torn from me like flesh from bone. Since then, I’ve hidden away in my second-choice job as a makeup artist. But I prefer it that way, actually. I’m comfortable in the shadows, where no one can see my scars.

Kiefer Rogan literally took my breath away the moment I met him. MMA champion-turned-actor, notorious playboy, charming to a fault—he’s everything I vowed to avoid.

But he just wouldn’t stop until I opened up and let him in. Maybe I should’ve tried harder to resist him. Maybe I shouldn’t have fallen in love with him. Because I, of all people, know that everyone has secrets. Scars. And that they’re usually ugly and painful and destructive to the people we love most.

I just never guessed that they could be deadly, too.

M. Leighton has written another incredible addition to her new Tall, Dark and Dangerous series. Tough Enough had a different feel and flavor to it than Strong Enough (Tall, Dark and Dangerous #1). Where Strong Enough was dark and suspenseful, Tough Enough was more light and hopeful. That didn't make book 2 any less impactful. On the contrary - I loved Katie and her flaws. And, of course, I LOVED Rogan and his... well, everything, really.

Katie and Rogan meet when he was tapped to star in a new television series and Katie is his makeup artist. Kiefer Rogan is hot. Like, H-O-T. And, he's used to women fawning over him and falling over themselves to talk to him. Of course men like him are always so intrigued by women who could care less about them, right?

That's definitely Katie. She's been scarred both on the outside and the inside, and after being kicked down so many times, she's just done. She has no interest in forming any more emotional attachments, especially with men. Even though Rogan gets to her. More than she's comfortable with.

My gut told me he would be trouble. I just never expected him to be this kind of trouble. No one affects me this way anymore. No one. It's been safer for me that no one has. And I liked it that way. Because this isn't safe.

Katie never planned for Rogan. She was just trying to lay low and stay hidden from the ones who ruined her life. Keep her scars hidden from anyone who might see them. It's interesting that she's a makeup artist - one trained to hide others' scars so well, and yet, she still struggles to keep her own under wraps. She sees herself as worthless and unimportant, and she can't understand at all why Rogan even gives her the time of day. Katie made me so sad at times - she was so alone, even in a room of people.

"Maybe he thinks I'm a challenge because I didn't fall at his feet. I don't know, but whatever it is, it won't take him long to realize that I'm not a challenge. I'm nothing. I'm not worth his interest. His time. His attention. I'm nothing special. When he sees that, he'll move on."

But, Rogan - he has charm oozing out of every beautiful pore. Through some well timed coffee deliveries and cries for help with his lines, Rogan is able to draw Katie out of her shell enough for her to share her story - and her scars - with him. For all of Rogan's roguish ways, he takes the trust she places in him very seriously. It only solidifies what he's feeling for her and his fierce need to protect her.

"Let me bring you back to life," he whispers brushing his lips over mine in a kiss even softer than his words. "Inch by inch, day by day, touch by touch."

As it turns out, Katie has developed a strong need to protect Rogan as well, which she discovers when her past comes back to threaten both her and the potential future she was trying to carve out with Rogan. Katie finds that she's willing to sacrifice anything to keep him safe. And, isn't that a nice change of pace?

I absolutely loved Katie and Rogan together. They were like two sides to the same coin. Individually, they had lives, but they weren't really living like they wanted to be. Together, they found the most amazing chemistry and vibrancy in life. I loved so much that Tough Enough was told in dual POV. Rogan's chapters were my absolute favorite. His fascination with Katie in the beginning was adorable, and later when his feelings went beyond fascination, I loved seeing Rogan go into full on protection mode.

We did hear briefly from Jasper, but there wasn't much that was said about the conspiracy plot that was introduced in book 1. Tough Enough was completely focused on the relationship between Katie and Rogan, so I wonder if we'll get back to the super suspenseful stuff in book 3, Brave Enough. Either way, there was enough drama, suspense and intrigue in Tough Enough to keep me on the edge of my seat, and enough heat between Katie and Rogan to keep me happily panting from page to page. Hell - that right there is most definitely worth the price of admission.

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Strong Enough (Tall. Dark and Dangerous #1)

Strong Enough (Tall, Dark and Dangerous #1), by M. Leighton
Publish Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: paperback, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) How would I describe myself? Well, I’m Muse Harper. I’m a twenty-something painter who loves red wine, quirky movies, and men with a fatal flaw. But that was before I met Jasper King. He became my fatal flaw. Eight months ago, I had a choice to make—abandon everything I’ve ever known to protect my family, or stay and risk someone getting hurt. I chose the former. My plan was working just fine until I found out my father had gone missing.

That’s when I met Jasper. A bounty hunter with the eyes of a tiger and the nose of a bloodhound, he was supposed to help me find my father. What I didn’t know was that meeting him was no accident. Hunting people isn’t all that Jasper does. And helping me was only part of his plan. I just wish I’d found out sooner, before my heart got involved. But even then, I don’t know if I’d have done things differently.

Now, I have another choice to make—trust the man that I’m falling in love with and hope that he’ll do the right thing, or run as far away from him as I can get.

Holy crap. This book - it did things to me. As it turns out, I ended up buddy reading it with my good friend Val from Stuck In Books. There is nothing more fun than a good buddy read, especially when your texts back and forth are filled with lots of "OMG!"s and "I can't believe this just happened." and "Just wait til you get to page 74 - hubba hubba!" And, there was a lot of that going on between us while we read Strong Enough. 

Muse is a strong woman. She needs to find her father, and so she hires bounty hunter Jasper King to help her find him. Jasper has his own agenda, which he wants to keep hidden with every passing mile. No matter how many times he tells himself that Muse is just a job, he can't make himself believe it. For her part, Muse knows that Jasper is a dangerous man, and that she doesn't belong with him. But, no matter how many times Jasper confirms this, it doesn't change the fact that she wants him. 

He's wrong for me in practically every possible way. He's aloof and stoic, he's a veritable drifter with a dangerous job, he's vague and barely even friendly. He all but admitted to being only one-night-stand material. I mean, could he be a worse fit for me?

It was easy to tell that Jasper was a dangerous man. It was obvious from the prologue, which takes place when he's only a child, that this is how this man would grow up. That prologue - wow. It was so hard to read. Be prepared - it's rough. But, it's important in many ways to the story. It shows us where Jasper came from, both literally and figuratively. It helps explain why he is who he is now. And, it explains why he pushes Muse away again and again and again. 

Muse is the embodiment of life. She lives it to the fullest. She's full of vibrancy and joy and sorrow and pain and happiness. She is everything that Jasper is not. This man's life has hardened him to the point where he's convinced himself that things like feelings only get in the way of what needs to be done. But, around Muse, he has no choice but to let them out of the small corner of his heart that he's long since stuffed them. 

Feelings are what happen when you're alive. They're what make life worth living, good or bad. It's pain that makes pleasure so poignant. It's tears that make laughter so valuable. It's hate that makes love so important. And for this man, this gorgeous, strong, enigmatic man, maybe I could be the difference between them all.

After about half the book has gone by, it becomes clear that there is so much more going on than what you originally thought. There's a deep, dark plot in place that was set in motion by persons unknown, and it seems that no one's life is safe - not Muse's dad or Muse and Jasper themselves. There were twists and turns in the plot that gave me whiplash. I loved it - I love being surprised. All those OMG moments I mentioned earlier happened in the second half of the book, and it seems like they all came one after the other. 

Muse and Jasper had some amazing chemistry. It was there from the very moment they laid eyes on each other. Jasper spent the whole time trying not to fall in love with her. How could he not, though, when she lives so unapologetically? It ends up becoming a problem for him, though, because he starts to see how things could be different, when in reality, there is no getting out of what he does. It's an impossible situation, and my heart broke for the guy. 

"I'm just saying that a woman like you could make a man start thinking that things could be different, that life could be different. He could find himself in trouble if he's not careful."

My heart broke for Muse too. These two were destined to be together, yet nothing goes their way so that they can. It really did seem hopeless. 

The ending was perfect, though. And, we were introduced to several other strong, enigmatic, gorgeous men toward the end that I think will show up in later books in this series. Goodness, I hope so anyway. Because, if all the books in this new series are like Strong Enough, that can only be a good thing. And, the overall mystery that was introduced here was not solved. There will be plenty for these other guys to do.

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Pocketful of Sand

It's here, and OMG you guys - POCKETFUL OF SAND is incredible! Check out my review, and then enter the equally incredible giveaway from M. Leighton!

Pocketful of Sand, by M. Leighton
Publish Date: March 15, 2015
Publisher: self-published
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

(From Goodreads) “She’s beauty for my ashes. And I’m hope for her heartache.”—Cole Danzer.

I don’t know what makes a great love story. Is it that instant attraction when boy meets girl? The passionate kisses and the fairy-tale ending? Or is it a lifetime of tragedy, paid in advance, for a few stolen moments of pure bliss? The pain and the suffering that, in the end, you can say are worth it for having found the missing piece of your soul?

The answer is: I don’t know. I don’t know what makes a great love story. I only know what makes my love story. I only know that finding Cole when I did, when Emmy and I were running from a nightmare, was the only thing that saved me. That saved us. He was more broken than I was, but somehow we took each other’s shattered pieces and made a whole. If that is what makes a great love story, if that is what makes an epic romance, then mine…ours is the greatest of them all.

Michelle Leighton does it again with POCKETFUL OF SAND. This story... holy cow. It was absolutely heartbreaking. But, there was this thread of hope wound tightly through every page and every interaction between the characters. I caught that thread and followed it through all the hard stuff to the end.

Cole is a loner in a small town in Maine. He doesn't interact with anyone in the town, and his rugged good looks combined with the mystique make him a popular topic of conversation and a target of single women. Eden and her 6-year-old daughter Emmy come to town with just as many secrets and an equally strong aversion to strangers. Despite their desire to remain separate and single, neither Cole nor Eden can stay away from each other. The weight of their secrets can be crushing though, and it's up to them to decide to whether sharing them is worth it. 

It's apparent from the very beginning that the secrets that Eden and Cole each have are not your typical, run-of-the-mill new adult book secrets. The nature of them is not known immediately, but you catch glimpses here and there that slowly shed light on their situations. I guessed Cole's secret pretty early on. And, it absolutely broke my heart. He's been suffering from a severe and crushing loss for a long time, and he just can't get past it. The ways in which he honors that loss are poignant and sweet and so, so sad. It also explains a lot about why he's so anti-social.

Eden's secret, however, was mind-blowing. And absolutely infuriating. I wanted some justice for her and her little girl in the worst way. Through little clues throughout the beginning of the book, you can guess at some of what happened to her, but I promise you, when the whole story is revealed, you will need a friend to rage and rant and scream to. Because, her reality is so much worse that what my mind had conjured up. 

Eden and Cole were so amazing together. It wasn't easy for them to come together since they were both still recovering from the demons from their pasts. And, Eden had Emmy to think about too. Starting a new relationship with a daughter adds a whole additional layer of complication. I loved how both Cole and Eden were with Emmy, though. 

The ending of their story was incredibly satisfying as we saw both Eden and Cole reveal their secrets to one another and then beat the crap out of them for good. It was a hard battle, but their love for one another gave them strength. 

I have to give big props to Michelle Leighton for thinking outside the box with Pocketful of Sand. She puts a completely different and unique twist on the ending so that a door is opened for a second book. I can't tell you too much more without giving it all away, but rest assured, you will be surprised and intrigued. I'm very much looking forward to the second book so that I can find out more. 

 
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RELEASE DAY: Pocketful of Sand

M. Leighton is an incredible author, and today she adds to her expanding list of incredible books with the release of POCKETFUL OF SAND. This book will affect you in some big ways. I can't wait for everyone to read it.

Pocketful of Sand, by M. Leighton
Publish Date: March 15, 2015
Publisher: self-published
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

(From Goodreads) “She’s beauty for my ashes. And I’m hope for her heartache.”—Cole Danzer.

I don’t know what makes a great love story. Is it that instant attraction when boy meets girl? The passionate kisses and the fairy-tale ending? Or is it a lifetime of tragedy, paid in advance, for a few stolen moments of pure bliss? The pain and the suffering that, in the end, you can say are worth it for having found the missing piece of your soul?

The answer is: I don’t know. I don’t know what makes a great love story. I only know what makes my love story. I only know that finding Cole when I did, when Emmy and I were running from a nightmare, was the only thing that saved me. That saved us. He was more broken than I was, but somehow we took each other’s shattered pieces and made a whole. If that is what makes a great love story, if that is what makes an epic romance, then mine…ours is the greatest of them all.

Check back here on Wednesday for my review and an awesome Pocketful of Sand giveaway!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M. Leighton is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Website: www.mleightonbooks.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mleightonbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MLeightonAuthor

RELEASE DAY EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: All Things Pretty (Pretty #3)

OMG - I am SO in love with M. Leighton's Pretty series! Sig captured my interest back in the first book, and now he gets to take center stage. Read on for an excerpt from All Things Pretty, and then enter the giveaway! Happy book birthday, M. Leighton!

All Things Pretty (Pretty #3), by M. Leighton
Published September 29, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon

(Synopsis) Pretending to be something they’re not, afraid to trust anyone completely, destined to tear each other apart– this is the story of unlikely love and unbearable consequences.

Sig Locke is a cop. He was raised by a cop and all his brothers are cops. He bleeds blue, believes in right and wrong, and sees in black and white, never in shades of gray.

But that was before he met Tommi.

Tommi, with her long legs and bright green eyes, she captured Sig’s interest from the moment he saw her. Even after he discovered who she was–the girlfriend of a drug dealer, the beauty behind a criminal–he still found her utterly irresistible. What Sig doesn’t know, however, is that she has a secret even a cop can’t uncover.

Tommi Lawrence hasn’t had an easy life, and it only got more complicated the day she met Sig. She learned long ago that she can’t trust anyone. Her gut tells her that Sig is no exception, her heart tells her that he is. But that was before she found out his real identity.

Can love be forged in a fire of lies? Or will the truth destroy them both?

Excerpt
 

“I did. Thank you. This was so good for him.”

“And you.”

“And me,” she concedes.

“You can be the real you around me anytime.  I won’t tell a soul.”

“So you prefer this?”

“Oh, hell yeah!  I don’t need glamorous. Or proper.”

“I’m not proper.”

“You forget that I heard your…expressiveness that day on the side of the road.  And it didn’t consist of ‘darn’ or ‘golly gee’.  But I haven’t heard anything like that come out of your mouth since then.”

“Ladies aren’t supposed to talk that way, according to Lance.”

“I don’t want a lady. I want a woman.  One who knows her own mind. One who wears what she’s comfortable in, one who says what she’s thinking.”  I take a step closer. I can’t help myself. Her scent draws me in.  Even covered in mud, she smells like sexy sunshine.  “I want the woman who kisses like she’s on fire and makes me feel like I’m the only one who can put her out.”

“Sig,” she begins.

I break in to cut her off.  I know her objections.  And I know how much I don’t want to hear them.  “I’m just being honest.  I’m not even touching you.”

Her eyes are glued to mine, a damn near irresistible gravity pulling us together.  “It’s not like you can anyway.  I mean, we’re in public.  With my little brother.  What could you possibly touch?”

I reach down and smear my hand in mud.  With her eyes locked on mine, I reach between us and flatten my palm on her chest, right over her heart.  “This.  I’d touch this.”

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, M. Leighton finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days M. Leighton enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

A note from M. Leighton: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

Giveaway

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REVIEW: There's Wild, Then There's You (The Wild Ones #3)

There's Wild, Then There's You (The Wild Ones #3), by M. Leighton
To Be Published June 3, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: e-ARC, obtained from the publisher
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Violet Wilson is a wallflower. Shy, serious, and accident-prone, she’s got a bad habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The night she’s forced to pose with her friend might just be the worst time of all—that’s when she meets Jet Blevins. She knows better than to get involved with someone like him, but he touches her in ways she never expected, never wanted before.

On the outside, Jet is a typical rocker, an arrogant lead guitarist who unapologetically lives a wild lifestyle. But on the inside, he’s battling demons and using the stage to escape the troubles of his past and the addictions of his present. Until the night he sees Violet standing at the back of the room. She brings his life into focus. She knows his secrets. She’s the girl he can’t forget, and the one thing he craves more than his addiction.

But can they ever hope to have a future when their very foundation is nothing but lies?

Between all of M. Leighton's "Wild" men to date - Trick, Jake and Jet - Jet from There's Wild, Then There's You, is by far my favorite, and he's also the worst of the lot. How does she do that?

Volet is a helper. She feels the need to help anyone who needs it, no matter if that means she has no time for herself or just to go out and have fun once in awhile. It's in this capacity that she finds herself at a sex addicts meeting to support her BFF who fails to show up. In a fit of desperation, Violet tells the group she is a recovered sex addict. She captures the attention of Jet Blevins, lead singer and guitarist for a local rock band. He asks her to be his sponsor, and in true Violet fashion, she agrees, even though it's under false pretenses. Jet and Violet grow closer and closer, while sharing more and more of their lives with each other. But, they're both withholding facts about that initial sex addicts meeting that could destroy their budding love before it really gets going.

I had a love/hate relationship with Violet. On one hand, her giving nature was respectable and admirable. She's a social worker, so she's used to fixing other people's problems. Her dad has a drinking problem, her BFF has issues (don't get me started), and then when Jet approaches her about sponsoring him, she agrees to that as well. She doesn't go out, doesn't know how to have fun. After awhile, I realized she's sort of pathetic. She constantly sacrifices of herself so that others can be lifted up, and each time, she loses a little bit more of herself. The fact that she doesn't realize this makes me nuts.

I think that's why I loved Jet so much. He was the one person that got Vi out of her own head and caused her to do things out of character - which was exactly what she needed. He wasn't willing to overlook their attraction to each other, despite meeting at a sex addicts meeting. He's got some balls, I'll say that much.

But, the more we see of these two beyond what they allow everyone else to see, the more I was endeared to both of them. Violet's rocky relationship wtih her dad and her nonexistant one with her mother is really very sad and has colored her views on love and relationships. Jet's dad has lots of money, but no time or attention for his son. His mom isn't happy with the way Jet is leading his life - drinking, sex, rock-and-roll - so, she doesn't want him spending time with his impressionable younger brothers, and that hurts him immensely. He doesn't think of himself as worthy of someone else's love because to date no one has deemed him worthy. It's pretty sad, actually.

It becomes evident early on that Jet is harboring a secret that he doesn't want Violet to know about. We all know what Vi's secret is (that she's not really a sex addict), but Jet's we could only speculate on. I have to say, I was WAY off on this one. I love being surprised. And, when I found out what his secret was, I thought it was both better and worse than it could've been. But, yet - it is pretty damaging, especially the way that Vi finds out.

The best part of There's Wild, Then There's You is how Jet and Violet both help the other without even realizing they're doing it. They encourage and uplift and care about each other in subtle ways that make a big impression. It's told in dual POV, and includes M. Leighton's typical extra spicy moments that I just love so much.

Although there is no mention of Trick and Cami from The Wild Ones, we do see what's happened with Jake and Laney from Some Like It Wild (The Wild Ones #2), which I was very thankful for.

If you haven't started M. Leighton's Wild Ones series, yet, you really need to. These bad boys are the best.

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH: There's Wild, Then There's You (The Wild Ones #3)

OMG - it's HEEEEERE! There's Wild, Then There's You by M. Leighton is in stores today, and I can't wait for everyone to meet Jet and Violet. Their story is sweet and sexy and so captivating.

There's Wild, Then There's You (The Wild Ones #3), by M. Leighton
Published June 3, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes and Noble

(From Goodreads) Violet Wilson is a wallflower. Shy, serious, and accident-prone, she’s got a bad habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The night she’s forced to pose with her friend might just be the worst time of all—that’s when she meets Jet Blevins. She knows better than to get involved with someone like him, but he touches her in ways she never expected, never wanted before.

On the outside, Jet is a typical rocker, an arrogant lead guitarist who unapologetically lives a wild lifestyle. But on the inside, he’s battling demons and using the stage to escape the troubles of his past and the addictions of his present. Until the night he sees Violet standing at the back of the room. She brings his life into focus. She knows his secrets. She’s the girl he can’t forget, and the one thing he craves more than his addiction.

But can they ever hope to have a future when their very foundation is nothing but lies? 

Excerpt

There’s a burn behind my eyes as I slide behind the wheel of my car. I knew there was a good chance she wouldn’t even talk to me, hear me out. And, although she did, I can see that she can’t forgive me. At least not now. Just the thought of her never forgiving me is what’s making my gut churn, my heart ache, and my eyes burn. It’s eating me up inside, not being with her, thinking that I’ll never be with her.

But what are my choices? I can’t really see that I have any. I’ve told her the facts, apologized to her, and asked for her forgiveness. Even told her that I loved her in a roundabout way. But none of it mattered. I didn’t know if it would. I had hoped, but I knew it was a long shot.

Now, I should just walk away. She’s made her choice, and I ought to respect it.

Only I can’t.

I can’t live with her choice. I can’t live with her unforgiveness. I can’t live without her.

So what the hell am I supposed to do?

That question rings through my head all the way back to my father’s place in Summerton where I have to go to pick up some stuff I’d left there.

It’s when I pull into the driveway, thinking of Violet when I see the place where she was dropping off her dad that day, that I realize there is something I can do. I can love her from a distance. I can do things for her, make her life better and happier, without her ever having to know. But I’ll know. I’ll know that, somewhere, she’s smiling and feeling a little happier, and that I might’ve had a small hand in it.

And as long as I can make her happy, make her life better (even without me in it), that’ll have to be enough.

About the Author

M. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies.  She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books.  When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.  

For more about M. Leighton, visit her website at www.MLeightonBooks.blogspot.com or follow her on Twitter@mleightonbooks.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Some Like It Wild (The Wild Ones #2)

Some Like It Wild (The Wild Ones #2), by M. Leighton
To Be Published March 4, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: e-book, provided by the publisher
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) How far will a good girl go for the bad boy she loves?

Laney Holt is a preacher’s daughter. A good girl. Her only goal was to get married, have babies, and live happily ever after, just like her parents. Only that didn’t happen. The two people closest to her betrayed her, and Laney’s dreams came crashing down. Now she’s left with an empty space she doesn’t know how to fill. Until she meets Jake Theopolis, a daredevil with a death wish who has heartbreaker written all over him.

Jake has no interest in thinking beyond the here and now. All he wants out of life is the next rush, the next “feel-good” thing to keep his mind off the pain of his past. His latest rush? Showing Laney there’s more to life than being a good girl—and that going bad can be so much fun. Her only concern now is how she can ever hope to satisfy the wild side of a boy like Jake. She’s looking forward to trying. And so is Jake.

After finishing Some Like It Wild, I really wanted a bottle of peach wine. And a Jake Theopolis to go with it. 

Jake has come home from his adrenaline seeking wandering to take care of his family's peach farm in the wake of his father's untimely death. When the insurance adjuster arrives to start cataloging the property, Jake recognizes her as a girl from his past that he had a brief encounter with. Turns out, she is Laney Holt, the local preacher's daughter. She's just out of a serious relationship that ended badly and really wanting to break out of the mold her parents put her in. And Jake may just be the person to help her do that. 

This is your typical wild-boy-tames-timid-girl story, written with the atypical M. Leighton flair. I love how she can do that - take what should be the same old, same old plot and write it so that it seems like I'm reading it for the first time. 

Jake is absolutely delicious. He's a bad boy who is a fireman and runs a peach farm on the side. How delightful is that? He loves thrills and living life on the edge. He especially loves a challenge. These transient, no-attachments guys are one of my favorites, because when "that girl" comes along - the one that makes him start to see life in a new way - the change in him is remarkable and so very fulfilling. Some Like It Wild was a great example of this. 

Characters like Laney - sheltered, conservative, inexperienced - walk a very fine line. If they are too pious, they can come across as overly judgmental and bitchy. If they give up their conservative ways too easily, the story isn't believable. Thank goodness, M. Leighton managed that line like a pro. Laney was presented as a character who allows her parents to run her life, yet she's never really wanted it that way. When she catches her BFF in bed with her boyfriend, it gives her the perfect excuse to start breaking the mold. 

There was just the right amount of drama and angst without it being too over-the-top. Laney has the appropriate amount of confrontations with her horrible parents, the fulfilling showdown with her jerkface ex, and the obligatory breakdown of communication with Jake. The building up of their relationship was so fun to read as Jake tries to teach Laney to let go and live life to its fullest. I was completely sucked in all the way until the explosive ending. 

Some Like It Wild is told from both Laney's and Jake's POV, which of course, I love. It was wonderfully steamy (this IS M. Leighton, after all) and completely romantic. I can't wait to see what comes next in this awesome series.

About the Author

M. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies.  She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books.  When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.  

For more about M. Leighton, visit her website at www.MLeightonBooks.blogspot.com or follow her on Twitter@mleightonbooks.

Giveaway

For one U.S. resident, I am offering a print copy of Some Like It Wild (The Wild Ones #2), by M. Leighton. 

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - All The Pretty Poses (Pretty #2)

I LOVE Michelle Leighton and her hot, sexy stories. So, I am positively thrilled to help her and Inkslinger PR introduce her newest book, ALL THE PRETTY POSES (Pretty #2) to you! Check out my review, and then enter to win one of two $250 Visa gift cards! Don't forget to visit the other tour stops for more information on this awesome book!

All The Pretty Poses (Pretty #2), by M. Leighton
To Be Published January 26, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) He never wanted to be a hero…until she needed him to be.

Strength…
It took Kennedy Moore years to put her life back together after Reese Spencer shattered it. But she did. Now, years later, strong and independent, she is in pursuit of a single dream—to dance with the Altman American Dance Theater. Unfortunately, Kennedy is learning that a girl from nowhere with no money and no contacts might never be able to reach her goal.

That is, until Reese reappears, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Kennedy just can’t refuse. In exchange for working on his yacht for a few short weeks, he’ll get her an audition with the famous dance troupe. All Kennedy has to do is keep her head down, work hard and resist Reese. That sounds easy enough, right?

Weakness…
Reese doesn’t want to make it easy for Kennedy. Seeing her again has started a fire in his blood—an unwelcome one. It took him years to forget about her before, so this time he has a plan. It’s simple: Get Kennedy on his yacht, seduce her, get her out of his system, move on with his life. That sounds easy enough, right?
But the one thing Reese didn’t plan for was Kennedy herself—a girl so strong yet so broken, she makes him want to rescue her, to take care of her. To save her. Even if he has to save her from himself.

Holy smokes. If you think you've met your book boyfriend match, you haven't met Reese Spencer yet. I don't know how M. Leighton does it time and time again. She is the expert author goddess when it comes to creating men that will make you swoon and make all your pretty parts tingle. Speaking of pretty...

In All The Pretty Poses, we delve into the fast and lonely life of Reese Spencer, whom we met superficially in All The Pretty Lies (Pretty #1). He is ridiculously rich, and besides his brother Hemi, doesn't have any personal attachments. At least not since his teenage girlfriend Kennedy, whom he left high and dry 14 years earlier. Imagine Reese's shock when he realizes Kennedy is a dancer in one of his clubs. He recognizes a golden opportunity to get her back and invites her to work on his yacht for three months. Kennedy is determined to guard her heart this time, but Reese's offer is too good to refuse. 

Reese is everything I love in a fictional man whore. He's cold and abrasive and a little pretentious. He owns a string of strip clubs, for crying out loud. He uses women for a few minutes of distraction before moving on to the next thing on his to-do list. He's really not the kind of guy who's easy to like.

I know I could walk up to any one of them and, within ten minutes, leave with them. I wouldn't even have to tell them who I am. It's just one of the many gifts I possess. I'm not arrogant about it. It's just fact. I have something they want. And they have something I want. For the night anyway.

Which is what makes Reese's transformation so much fun to read. Just the sight of Kennedy throws him into an unfamiliar tailspin. He tries to maintain control of the situation, but he soon figures out that this girl who he gave his heart to so long ago still owns it. 

Kennedy is a total ball buster, and I love her for it. Reese broke her heart badly, and she needs to make sure he doesn't do it again. But she also needs to follow her dream of being a dancer and Reese is willing to make it possible if she is willing to work for him on his boat for three months. Kennedy doesn't make it easy for Reese to get close to her again, and for good reason. 

This story about what tore these two apart so long ago and what it takes to put them back together again was so incredible. The sexual tension between Kennedy and Reese made me completely crazy. And there were some ca-razy secrets that I never saw coming. This is more than a story about two lovers who broke up and reunited by chance years later. SO much more. 

Kennedy's story absolutely broke my heart. She endured so much more than the reader even thought possible. The entire book, the surface is barely scratched with her, so that when her whole story - and not just what happened with Reese - comes out, I found myself reeling from all the revelations. 

But, this is when Reese's rehabilitation becomes very obvious. He becomes everything that Kennedy always needed him to be. 

"I've made millions, I've dined with diplomats, I've had the very best of everything in life, but I've never felt happy, really happy, until you told me you'd work on my boat. And every moment since then has been the best of my existence."

All The Pretty Poses is told in dual POV - my favorite! Reese's head was such a fun place to be. Especially once he realized that he didn't have the situation with Kennedy as well in hand as he thought he did. When she started getting under his skin and they started getting under each others' skin - literally - the signature heat we've all come to know, love and expect from M. Leighton comes out in full force. This book is a scorcher in all the best ways. 

I sincerely hope that M. Leighton continues to write about these incredibly strong, brave, and sometimes idiotic, men. Because I love them so much. 

About the Author

M. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies.  She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books.  When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.  

For more about M. Leighton, visit her website at www.MLeightonBooks.blogspot.com or follow her on Twitter@mleightonbooks.

Giveaway

What’s up for grabs? 2 - $250 Visa Gift Cards

How do I enter? Via the Rafflecopter posted here and on each participating site, you may:

• Like the M. Leighton, Author Facebook page (5 points, can only do once)
• Follow @mleightonbooks on Twitter (5 points, can only do once)
• Share the giveaway graphic on Twitter along with one reason that you’re excited to meet Reese (10 points, can do once per day)
• Tag three different friends in the comments under the graphic on the M. Leighton Author Facebook page with one reason you’re excited to meet Reese (10 points, can do once per day)

Details! The giveaway begins at 12:00 am EST on January 14, 2014 and ends at 12:00 am EST on February 3, 2014.  Winners will be randomly selected by 5:00 pm EST on February 5, 2014.  For a complete list of rules, please see the “Rules” section of the Rafflecopter. 

  
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NEW ADULT MONDAYS: All The Pretty Lies (Pretty #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

All the Pretty Lies (Pretty #1), by M. Leighton
Published November 11, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) “Live, no regrets”

Her…
Sloane Locke has led a sheltered life. However, with a history like hers, she can understand why her brothers and her father want so much to protect her. She has gone along with it for twenty long years, but those days are over. For the girl who never makes promises, Sloane has made a pact with herself that things will change on her twenty-first birthday. So when the clock strikes midnight, Sloane strikes out to spread her wings and break a few rules.

Him…
In addition to inking skin, Hemi Spencer possesses many talents. Controlling himself has never been one of them. It’s never had to be. He’s lived a life of indulgence for as long as he can remember. Right up until tragedy struck. Now, he’s nothing but controlled. He’s a man on a mission, one who will let nothing and no one stand in his way.

Them…
Nothing in their lives could’ve prepared Sloane and Hemi for what they’d find in each other—distraction and obsession, love and possession. But the one thing they can’t find is a future. Neither one has been totally honest. And they’ll soon learn that the devil is in the details. In the details and in the lies.
How far will two people go to live in the now when the now is all they’ve got?

It's been awhile since I read a book by Michelle Leighton. Too long. I had forgotten how very much I enjoy them. All the Pretty Lies was no exception. The chemistry between Hemi and Sloane was sooooo hot. The slow burn between them was done perfectly. There was a lot to love about this book.  

Sloane has been sheltered her entire life by her father and three brothers - all cops. When she turns 21, she's decided she's had enough, and her first act of rebellion is getting a tattoo. But, when she walks into Hemi's tattoo shop, her goals become realigned. Hemi affects her in ways she never even imagined. He provides her with infinite inspiration for her art. And, for Hemi, Sloane presents as a means to an end. At least, at first...

In this first book in M. Leighton's new Pretty series, she presents we readers with plenty of new fodder for our book boyfriend dreams. There's Sloane's three brothers, Steven, Scout and Sig as well as Hemi and his brother Reese. Thank you, Michelle. 

So, Hemi is the first of these incredible guys we get to see in action. And, whoa. his actions made me tingly. I loved his dedication to his family, first and foremost. All of his motivation for most everything he does throughout the course of the book is for his brother Reese and his deceased brother, Ollie. No matter the decisions or mistakes he makes (and, yeah, he makes some mistakes that made me want to clobber him), his intentions were pure. 

Sloane, poor thing, has had a rough go of it. After her mother dies of leukemia, she's left alone with her father and three brothers who have vowed to protect her and shelter her from all the bad things. Admirable, but so stifling. For awhile, I was really angry at Sloane's family. They were completely unreasonable and seemed very self-serving. But, there is a point where you see that their motivations are also pure, like Hemi's. Despite the mistakes THEY make as well. 

And, in the middle of it all is this fledgling relationship between these two creative people. Sloane is trying to find a way to make her artistic talent work for her. Hemi offers to apprentice her, and tattooing becomes something that Sloane realizes she's not only good at but something she loves to do. And, something she loves to do with Hemi. 

Because these two have chemistry. Holy crap on a cracker, do they ever. It's not insta-love, exactly. More like, insta-attraction. Insta-lust. Insta-iwanttodoyourighthererightnow. Of course, it grows into more than that. And that's when things get real and the past catches up to both of them. The developing relationship between Hemi and Sloane was so fun to read and so dramatic. You just knew that both of them had secrets they were keeping from the other, and they both come out around the same time. And, from that second, I swear, NOTHING was tearing me away from this book. 

"You are my hope. You are the promise of my future. Without you, I have only regret. Nothing good. Or colorful. Or beautiful. Just death and sadness. You brought me to life, Sloane, and I don't ever want to be apart from you."

All the Pretty Lies is told in dual POV, so we have the opportunity to get inside both Sloane's and Hemi's heads. I've made no secret about the fact that dual POVs are my favorite. I hate being left out of a good secret, so I love knowing what's going on before the characters do. Of course, sometimes it has that train wreck effect, like in this case. You just know something bad is going to happen when it all comes out, and yet, instead of stopping or skipping ahead, I just couldn't put it down. The other thing that kept me glued to the pages was M. Leighton's signature scorching heat. It's here in spades. Again - thank you, Michelle.

The second Pretty book, All the Pretty Poses, is about Reese. The third is as-yet-untitled, and it's about Sig. Based on what I saw in All the Pretty Lies, this series is gonna be AMAZING.

NEW ADULT MONDAYS: Down To You (Bad Boys #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

Down To You (Bad Boys #1), by M. Leighton
Published September 21, 2012
Publisher:  Smashwords
Format: e-book - I own
Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not. Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white. But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.

Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her. Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them. Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire. She wants them both. And they want her. How will she ever choose between them?

Have you ever read a book and seen it playing out in your head like a movie, rather than reading the words like a book? Maybe I'm not describing what I mean very well. It's like, as you read the words, you can hear the background music (whether it be light or playful or sinister or sexy), see the sets clear as day, picture the actors as they go through the scene... like a movie in your head. I think Down To You was one of the clearest mind movies I've ever pictured. 

It really does have all the makings of a great silver screen picture. You have your quiet girl - Olivia - who is keeping her head down and just trying to get through life without attracting attention. Especially the wrong (or what she perceives as wrong) kind of attention. She has a mean girl for a roommate, an "aw shucks" kind of dad, and a wicked witch of a mother. 

Then she meets Cash - the aforementioned wrong kind of guy - and instantly wants him. But, then she meets his twin brother Nash, who is exactly the kind of guy she should be with, but doesn't seem to elicit the same kind of spark that Cash does. Both guys are obviously into her in a big way. Which one should she choose - the right guy for the wrong reason or the wrong guy for the right reason?

Throw in an upscale bar, a sheep farm, a college campus and the mob, and you have yourself one helluva movie! Are you seeing it like I'm seeing it? 

This was the first book I've ever read by M. Leighton, and I really loved it. There were so many atypical aspects to Down To You that made this book so special. You get the feel from pretty early on that not everything is as it seems, but Leighton's pacing and character development help draw out the big reveal in just the right way so that I didn't see the big WHAAA??? moment coming until it almost smacked me in the face. I love it when that happens! 

The chemistry between Olivia and both boys was palpable and totally believable. The way Olivia got on every last one of my nerves was totally believable too. I mean, she was stringing along two amazing guys - I found myself yelling at her more than once.  And, the end was awesome. The big reveal, Olivia's choice and the results from both all happen in rapid succession. It made me want more and more. 

Luckily, there's two more books in the series -  Up To Me (Bad Boys #2) and Everything For Us (Bad Boys #3), which is due out in September of this year. So, "more" we shall have.