RELEASE WEEK REVIEW: Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16)

Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16), by Lexi Blake
Publish Date: April 10, 2018
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult suspense/contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Remy Guidry doesn’t do relationships. He tried the marriage thing once, back in Louisiana, and learned the hard way that all he really needs in life is a cold beer, some good friends, and the occasional hookup. His job as a bodyguard with McKay-Taggart gives him purpose and lovely perks, like access to Sanctum. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman with stars in her eyes and babies in her future. 

Lisa Daley’s life is finally going in the right direction. She has finally graduated from college after years of putting herself through school. She’s got a new job at an accounting firm and she’s finished her Sanctum training. Finally on her own and having fun, her life seems pretty perfect. Except she’s lonely and the one man she wants won’t give her a second look.

There is one other little glitch. Apparently, her new firm is really a front for the mob and now they want her dead. Assassins can really ruin a fun girls’ night out. Suddenly strapped to the very same six-foot-five-inch hunk of a bodyguard who makes her heart pound, Lisa can’t decide if this situation is a blessing or a curse.

As the mob closes in, Remy takes his tempting new charge back to the safest place he knows—his home in the bayou. Surrounded by his past, he can’t help wondering if Lisa is his future. To answer that question, he just has to keep her alive.

A few books ago in the Masters and Mercenaries series, McKay Taggert set up a bodyguard - a.k.a. close cover - division and staffed it with several talented, sexy men. We've met all these men, peripherally at least, in previous books and novellas in the series. This was all a well-planned set-up for Lexi's Masters and Mercenaries crossover collection that she worked on with Larissa Ione, Corinne Michaels, J. Kenner, Carly Phillips and Susan Stoker. Each author took a guy (and a McKay Taggert admin) and wrote an awesome book about them. Close Cover is Lexi's contribution and follows team leader Remy Guidry.

Remy is hired by the Daley siblings (whom we've met in several different novellas) to protect their youngest sister Lisa from a mob boss whose crimes she discovered while working as an accountant for his company. Lisa and Remy have a history - she propositioned him at Sanctum and he flat out turned her down. Remy's attraction to Lisa is off the charts, which is why he rebuffed her - he's not planning on staying in Dallas, and he knew she might make him want to.

Close Cover is an awesome second chance story. While Lisa is, at first, not happy that Remy is her new neighbor, he quickly convinces her that they can use their proximity to burn off this chemistry between them before he leaves in a month.

When will these boys learn? I know girls get together and talk about all the details in their relationships, but honestly - the men could do with some of the same. Because, if they did, perhaps Remy would've known that lying to Lisa about the reason he is suddenly front and center in her life again - especially after sleeping together - was absolutely not the correct course of action. As many of his counterparts have discovered in the past. 

Close Cover features all the delicious danger and espionage that we have come to expect from a M & M book. When it's clear that Lisa is in grave danger, Remy's cover is blown and he's forced to take her with him to his hometown in the Louisiana bayou. The tension between Lisa and Remy - both sexual and anger-fueled - that carries on for quite awhile added the perfect amount of angst to the story. I also loved the change in scenery for part of the book. Remy's hometown is full of colorful and interesting characters, and watching Remy and Lisa settle in there was fun.

The prologue and the epilogue prove that the other stories in this crossover collection have been happening simultaneously, which means there's no real order in which to read them. I think you'll be able to appreciate each one individually and together as a group. While Close Cover is the only one in the collection that I've read so far, it's most definitely not going to stay that way. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Nobody Does It Better (Masters and Mercenaries #15)

Nobody Does It Better (Masters & Mercenaries #15), by Lexi Blake
Publish Date: February 20, 2018
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) A spy who specializes in seduction 
Kayla Summers was an elite CIA double agent, working inside China’s deadly MSS. Now, she works for McKay-Taggart London, but the Agency isn’t quite done with her. Spy master Ezra Fain needs her help on a mission that would send her into Hollywood’s glamorous and dangerous party scene. Intrigued by the mission and the movie star hunk she will be shadowing, she eagerly agrees. When she finds herself in his bed, she realizes she’s not only risking her life, but her heart.

A leading man who doesn’t do romance

Joshua Hunt is a legend of the silver screen. As Hollywood’s highest paid actor, he’s the man everyone wants to be, or be with, but something is missing. After being betrayed more than once, the only romance Josh believes in anymore is on the pages of his scripts. He keeps his relationships transactional, and that’s how he likes it, until he meets his new bodyguard. She was supposed to keep him safe, and satisfied when necessary, but now he’s realizing he may never be able to get enough of her.

An ending neither could have expected

Protecting Joshua started off as a mission, until it suddenly felt like her calling. When the true reason the CIA wanted her for this assignment is revealed, Kayla will have to choose between serving her country or saving the love of her life.

Nobody Does It Better spells the end of an era. The Masters & Mercenaries series is officially over with this book, so Lexi Blake is sending it off in style - with a Hollywood star, bold and brash Kayla Summers and several series crossovers. 

Kayla is sent to California to be the bodyguard for movie star Joshua Hunt. She's also going to be his submissive - talk about perks of the job. But, someone is gunning for Josh, and it's Kayla's job to make sure they can't get to him. In addition to Kay's commitment to McKay Taggart, she's also being used by the CIA to try and get to the bottom of Josh's seeming ties to a Mexican drug lord. 

Kay's cool with her job until she starts to have real feelings for the reclusive and private actor. He's surprisingly deep and sensitive, and incredibly good in bed. He's harboring a painful past and is not used to trusting another soul, but yet he seems to trust Kayla. And she's lying to him. 

I have to be honest - Kayla Summers hasn't always been my most favorite member of the team. She's super bubbly and seriously goofy - almost too much so. She's never seemed to have a very deep or serious moment, so it was hard to take her character seriously. All that changed in Nobody Does It Better. We get a glimpse into Kay's complicated past and how she came to be in the spy business. It's a sad and tragic story, and after hearing it, you think that perhaps most of the time, she's overcompensating. 

Josh's story is even worse though. It's impossible to not feel for this man who seems to have no one in his life he can truly love and trust. How lonely he must be. Truthfully, he and Kay make a great couple. He seems to temper her wild side and she seems to bring him out of his shell a bit. And, of course, their D/s relationship is one of perfection. They're perfectly suited. 

There's two main stories going on in Josh's world - his blackmailer and the Mexican drug lord. Kay has to protect him from both threats while keeping the fact that she's working an angle with the CIA a secret. It's a tough job, and one she starts to question as the days go by. 

Nobody Does It Better included almost every element that I love most about the Masters and Mercenaries series. There was tons of danger and mystery and intrigue. There's a lot of spy games and subterfuge. There's super hot kinky sex between two compelling characters. The only part that was missing for me was Sanctum. Or even The Garden. There's mention of Josh's club, The Reef, but he and Kayla never really play there. 

I also missed the usual team - Ian, Liam, Alex, Adam, Jake... a few of them make brief appearances, but Kayla was kinda on her own in this book. It's mainly because, Lexi is leading us into a few new spin-offs that will feature characters we really got a chance to know better in this book (but aren't totally new to us). And I do get that. It was done well, and I'm definitely looking forward to their stories. But, I still missed my MT crew. 

Stay tuned for lots more coming from the M&M world. I'm so happy that I don't have to say goodbye to Kayla, Ian and the rest of them for good. I have a feeling they'll continue popping up in Lexi's other series and in the upcoming spin-offs. Until then, I can say that this was a great send-off to an absolutely amazing series. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: At Your Service (Masters & Mercenaries #14.5)

At Your Service (Masters & Mercenaries #14.5), by Lexi Blake
Publish Date: November 14, 2017
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult contemporary suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Juliana O’Neil’s promising future was burned away in the heat of battle. She had been an officer with a bright future in the military, but now she is struggling to survive. Her husband gone and her career in shambles, she finds a job at Top as a hostess and tries to put together the pieces of her life. The last thing she needs is any kind of male attention, but she can’t help but be amused at her neighbor and coworker’s lothario antics. Not that she would have anything to do with him, at least not for more than one night. 

Javier Leones doesn’t understand monogamy. No woman could ever be enough for his endless libido, but he has to admit Juliana has his attention. For reasons he doesn’t fully understand, he can’t seem to get the gorgeous redhead with the sad eyes out of his head. After one scorching night together, he realizes he’ll never be able to get her out of his system. But with his reputation, he fears she’ll never see him as more than a one-night stand.

When their passions collide, these new lovers will be forced to confront Juliana’s past and come to terms with Javier’s present. Will they find their way or will this reservation be canceled at the last minute?

Sweet, talented, manwhore Javier has been on the periphery of the McKay Taggart clan for awhile now. He's Sean Taggart's right hand chef at Top and a new Master at Sanctum. But, recent events have him wanting to become a one-woman man. Only problem is, you spend so long bouncing from one casual fling to the next, and it's hard to find anyone to take you seriously. 

And then there's Juliana. Once upon a time she had it all, and then she joined the military and lost her hand. Now, she is divorced, alienated from the only family she has and unable to do the one thing she loves the most. 

I think Javier's fall from womanizerdom came from a few places. He's seen three of his besties at Top fall in love in recent months, and he gets to see the great relationship that Sean and Grace have all the time. Javier is ready for his turn to find a woman to share his happiness and his burdens with. And taking care of his brother is a new and frustrating burden in his life. 

It was so nice to witness Javier in a vulnerable position for a change. He's always been so confident and charming every other time we've seen him. But, watching his older brother hit rock bottom and realizing he's missing out on a meaningful relationship has turned him into this contemplative guy that's a little out of character. I really liked it on him, though. His vulnerability goes through the roof when he sets his sights on his neighbor Juliana and she tries to turn him into a one-night stand.

Seeing the tables turn on Javier was fun for a minute, but it quickly became pretty frustrating. It was clear he was serious about Juliana and wanted her to take him seriously too, and when she didn't, I felt really badly for Javier and really angry at this girl who was obviously making a huge mistake. 

As Javier and Juliana navigate the choppy relationship waters, we still get some time in with some of our favorite MT and Top couples. And, of course, there's a play party or two that happen. 

Topped is such a fun spin-off addition to the MT world. I love that these relationships happen amid the backdrop of a working restaurant. It doesn't hold the same intrigue, suspense and danger as the M&M series, but there's enough of it to let you know that you're still in the same world. And, of course, the sexy times don't quit. Lexi Blake is so, SO good at writing about relationships with big hurdles, so when the couples overcome them, it's incredibly satisfying. 

REVIEW: Rule Breaker (Rules of Engagement #1)

Rule Breaker (Rules of Engagement #1), by Sienna Snow
Publish Date: November 1, 2016
Publisher: Forever Romance
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult crime/suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) She controls a technology empire. He controls her.

At just twenty-eight years old, Arya Rey has become queen of the tech world. While she is highly respected as a philanthropist and fearless businesswoman, no one would suspect that beneath her controlled exterior simmers a private passion. A desire never spoken of in Boston’s elite social circles. A need for submission, for satisfaction, for the kind of exquisite pleasure that can only be provided by one man . . . her billionaire ex-lover Maxwell Dane.

It’s been five years since Max and Arya last met. Five years that they’ve longed for the feel of each other’s skin. Max always takes what he wants, and he wants Arya back. But it’s more than the memory of her broken heart that makes her resist. During their time apart, Arya has collected secrets of her own. She can give Max her body, but can she give him the truth?

I love getting sucked down the rabbit hole of a new-to-me author. It was like that for me with Sienna Snow. Rule Breaker was suspenseful and glitzy and so super sexy, and as soon as I was done, I had to read more. And not just because it was obvious that the story arc introduced here wasn't over yet, but because I found myself fully invested in the characters that were introduced.

The characters in the Rules of Engagement series are not your typical 20- and 30-somethings. They are all rich. Like, CRAZY rich. Billionaire with a B rich. And they're all brilliant, too. But, Rule Breaker drives home the point that, even though our main characters are beautiful and rich and smart, that does not mean that they can't still be idiots and do dumb things when it comes to love and relationships.

Rule Breaker is a second-chance love story. Arya and Max had a very intense relationship five years earlier until Max ended things abruptly and broke Arya's heart. Arya threw herself into her tech and security work and between she and her two best friends, she hid herself away from Max in an attempt to forget. Five years later, Arya and her friend Milla's company was just merged with another company in a billion-dollar deal - and the company it is now intertwined with is Max's. He's spent this time planning how to get her back, and it's time to set his plan in action. 

Max is absolutely a force of nature. He is determined and possessive and alpha to the millionth degree. And dominant doesn't even cover it. In ALL ways. Initially, when I learned of his and Arya's back story, I was totally in favor of Arya blowing him off forever. Or at least making him grovel. A lot. But, Max isn't the groveling type, so I remained firmly in Arya's corner for a long time as she continued to try and deny that she still loved him. 

But, Max does apologize. And through his actions, he won me over. Completely. Yes, he's overbearing and steamrolls Arya half the time, but his motivation was clear. Everything he did was done out of love and concern for Arya. And Arya definitely deserved his concern, since she has some really dangerous people after her for what's inside her brain. 

The ending is scary and suspenseful and exciting. And, although Arya's and Max's story of getting together reaches a conclusion in Rule Breaker, it's clear that the danger isn't over - it just gets transferred to her BFF and business partner Milla. 

Arya, Max, Milla, Lex, Carmen and Thomas are all compelling characters with so much story to tell. In addition to the romantic suspense, there's also a very rich BDSM thread woven in (Max also owns a BDSM club - I mean, what billionaire wouldn't?). Rule Breaker has a little bit of everything to thrill a wide variety of romance lovers. Be prepared for an exciting and steamy ride. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Love Another Day (Masters and Mercenaries #14)

Love Another Day (Masters and Mercenaries #14), by Lexi Blake
Publish Date: August 22, 2017
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and InkslingerPR
Genre: adult crime/suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) A man born to protect 

After a major loss, Brody Carter found a home with the London office of McKay-Taggart. A former soldier, he believes his job is to take the bullets and follow orders. He’s happy to take on the job of protecting Dr. Stephanie Gibson while the team uses her clinic in Sierra Leone to bring down an international criminal. What he never expected was that the young doctor would prove to be the woman of his dreams. She’s beautiful, smart, and reckless. Over and over he watches her risk her life to save others. One night of pure passion leads him to realize that he can’t risk his heart again. When the mission ends, Brody walks away, unwilling to lose another person he loves.

A woman driven to heal

Stephanie’s tragic past taught her to live for today. Everything she’s done in the last fifteen years has been to make up for her mistakes. Offering medical care in war-torn regions gives her the purpose she needs to carry on. When she meets her gorgeous Aussie protector, she knows she’s in too deep, but nothing can stop her from falling head over heels in love. But after one amazing night together, Brody walks away and never looks back. Stephanie is left behind…but not alone.

A secret that will change both their lives

A year later, Stephanie runs afoul of an evil mercenary who vows to kill her for failing to save his son. She runs to the only people she trusts, Liam and Avery O’Donnell. She hasn’t come alone and her secret will bring her former lover across the world to protect her. From Liberia to Dallas to Australia’s outback, Brody will do whatever it takes to protect Stephanie from the man who wants to kill her, but it might be her own personal demons that could destroy them both.

I was really looking forward to reading Love Another Day, because Brody has always tripped my trigger. Steph was a bit tiresome at times, but on the whole, this was a fantastic addition to this dangerously sexy series.

At the beginning of the book, I was totally on Team Steph. Brody did what she asked and gave her one amazing night together. But, when she became pregnant and tried calling and emailing and texting him, Brody never responded. It wasn't that he didn't get her messages - he did. He just chose to ignore them for... reasons. But, he never stopped thinking about her. 

So, when word gets to him that Steph is in danger and has asked McKay-Taggert for help protecting her, he immediately leaves London and comes to Texas to take on the task personally. And, of course, he discovers a surprise in the form of his infant son Nate when he arrives. 

I love how, in the M&M series, Lexi Blake always finds a way to weave in levity into the constant dangerous situations and the seriously heavy sexual tension. The grief that Adam, Ian and the rest of the team give Brody over Steph's new "companion" is absolutely hilarious and perfectly timed. And Ian's unique way of dealing with both his employees and his enemies is always good for a smile and a laugh. And all of that is much needed. Because outside of those moments, it is literally one dangerous or lusty moment after another. 

Although Brody wasn't my favorite person in the beginning, the way he was with his son and the way he constantly tried to make up for his mistakes with Steph very quickly won me to his side. But, it's like, the more awesome Brody because, the more irritating Steph got. Because of a tragic event in her past, she's always felt this overwhelming need to atone, but it's never enough. She has a seriously huge martyr complex, and now that she has a son and a man who loves her, that made me ridiculously angry. And not just me. 

Brody and Steph have this great connection. I felt like Love Another Day brought us back to the series' BDSM roots. There was a lot more of that type of exploration and play in here that seems to have been missing from recent books. And Brody was a great master. But, despite that, Brody still gets angry with Steph when all she wants to do is sacrifice herself in some noble way. It's got to be exhausting for him to keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't do something stupid. It's not good for trust-building in a new relationship, for sure. So, while the sex is phenomenal, everything else is constantly up in the air.

The new recruits that Ian has brought on board will surely give us plenty of new fodder for the M&M series. After all - there are 26 Bond movies, so there are lots more titles out there to choose from. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & EXCERPT: Revenge (Lawless #3)

The Lawless series is now complete with REVENGE, and what an incredible story it turned out to be. Check out my review of Revenge and an excerpt from the book!

Revenge (Lawless #3), by Lexi Blake
Publish Date: June 20, 2017
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) When Drew Lawless discovers a fatal flaw in his plan to avenge his parents’ deaths, he turns to the one woman he'd promised he wouldn't touch. He offers her a deal, one that will bring her into his investigation, his life, and his bed. 

Investigative reporter Shelby Gates never dreamed how twisted the case would become—or how fascinated she would be with Drew. Every day they spend together binds them. And every night brings her closer to realizing he might be the man for her.

As Drew's feelings for Shelby grow, so does the danger. From the streets of Dallas to Austin’s high-tech business world, Drew and Shelby play a game begun twenty years before—a game they will win, or die trying.

We've been leading up to the conclusion and resolution of the Lawless siblings' story for three books now. Each book has brought about a new surprise and a new twist that has led up to this. And it's fitting that Drew - the glue that has held his family together all these years - is the one who has held out the longest in their fight for... revenge. 

Drew and Shelby have clashed in previous books due to her profession as an investigative reporter and her penchant to dig up the secrets about his family that he'd rather stay buried. Now, Drew has decided he needs her to do her investigative thing to help him finish things once and for all, but to get her to agree to help him requires him to lie, lie, lie. And he wants her to lie a little too. 

If Drew wants to keep his investigating in the dark from his siblings, he needs Shelby's presence in his life to be explained in some other way. Why not pretend they're dating? Because that has never gone wrong before (reference Riley's attempts to do the same thing in Ruthless). 

My feelings about Drew were very conflicted. He genuinely likes Shelby. He's hoping to keep her as his after everything is all said and done, but he acknowledges that his underhanded techniques may turn her against him for good. But, Drew is so singularly focused on bringing down the person who killed his dad, he's willing to take the risk. It's infuriating because Shelby quickly grows to trust him, and Drew keeps hiding things from her. 

Although a huge surprise and game changer was revealed at the end of Satisfaction (Lawless #2), there's still room for more of them. The hits keep coming, and when everything is finally revealed, it's a crazy picture. Drew's quest for justice and revenge leaves some debris in his wake, and as one would expect, his house of cards he built around Shelby come crashing down because of it. 

There were parts of Revenge that were a little slower than I would've liked, but those parts were short and sparse. As in the other books in this series, Revenge is told in dual POV and comes complete with lots of heat and heart. I'm sad to say goodbye to the Lawless siblings, but the epilogue in Revenge made it a little easier to do so. It's been a crazy, dangerous, awesome trip.  

Shelby brushed her lips against his, her whole body seeming to come to life. His lips were soft, his hands tight. He was enveloping her and she was completely defenseless against him.

She wrapped her arms around him as the kiss deepened, and suddenly she didn’t want to play it safe anymore. She’d been in her shell for so long and she wanted to come out of it, wanted to feel again. She dragged her tongue over his lower lip, and it seemed to awaken the beast in Drew.

He took over, the kiss going from sweet to carnal in an instant. His mouth opened, tongue sliding over hers and dominating with strength and a sensuality she’d never come across before. He kissed her long and hard, his hands molding to the curves of her body. Over and over again his tongue danced with hers. Never before had a kiss seemed so effortless. It was like they’d been kissing forever.

For a man who claimed he was socially awkward, he sure could kiss like a god.

It was getting out of hand, but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered except getting more of him. She could feel his cock under her, hardening, lengthening, getting ready for what it was meant to do. He could ease her back against the table, pull off her jeans and panties. It would be incendiary, like a rocket going off, an explosion she couldn’t contain. She could feel herself getting soft and wet and ready for him, as though her body had recognized its natural mate and wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“See, I told you we have chemistry.” His words rumbled along her lips.

She couldn’t argue with him. The world around them seemed hazy and unreal. There was nothing except his touch and scent and the sight of his eyes looking at her like he could eat her up. She knew she should stop him, knew it was getting out of control, but she couldn’t find the will. It had been so damn long since she wanted something she could actually have.

She wanted him.

Shelby let her fingers sink into his hair, drawing him back down. Breakfast could wait. She needed more of him.

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog int eh world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

RELEASE WEEK REVIEW & EXCERPT: 72 Hours

72 Hours, by Bella Jewel
Publish Date: April 4, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH. 
It’s all part of his sick game. A game he’s been planning for an entire decade. Now everything is perfect: One woman and one man have been selected. They used to be a couple—and they can no longer stand one another. They are the perfect victims. He doesn’t intend for the game to be easy. He wants to push them to the brink of insanity, to make his hunt real. . .

A DESIRE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. . .
The couple has been captured and dumped into a massive wooded area. There’s only one rule in this fatal game: They will have 72 hours to find a way out before the sadistic serial killer begins his hunt . . .But what he never could have expected was the explosive passion that ignites between the two ex-lovers—one that makes them strong. Fierce. And determined to do whatever it takes to escape—and to survive. . .

Bella Jewel's 72 HOURS is an incredible story. It's like this crazy awesome Hunger Games-esque romantic suspense thrill ride that I couldn't put down. It was my first Bella Jewel book, and after it, I was already looking up what else I could read that she has written.

In 72 Hours, we quickly learn that Lara and Noah had been a very close couple until they had a falling out and separated for three months. Now, they're back in the same city and Noah is dogging Lara, trying to get her to talk to him. It's not looking good at all for them getting back together when they're both kidnapped and dumped in the middle of a dense forest with a note saying they have 72 hours before their kidnapper comes after them. And he plans to stalk them. And kill them. Slowly. 

So, Lara and Noah, who now both still love each other and can't stand one another all at the same time, are forced to work together to try and stay alive. Noah is a big, strong, capable guy. But, Lara has become a fragile shell of the forceful girl she was before her grandmother died in front of her. And this new Lara is not dealing with the stress of the situation well. 

Lara's transformation was inspiring. First, she has to get past her issues with Noah. It was her that finally opened up the lines of communication, and it served them well. She also had to learn to dig deep and get over her insecurities in order to do her part to save them. We always know that Noah can handle this situation the best, and he does. But, it's Lara who surprised me in all the best ways. 

72 Hours is a pretty frightening book. The things this sicko does to Noah and Lara are pretty awful. There are plenty of very bad injuries and dead bodies in this book. There are tense moments and tearful breakdowns - not one moment of the time they spend in the forest is easy. 

Most of the book is told from Lara's POV. There are a few snippets here and there from the killer's POV and a very short part at a key moment at the end from Noah's - but nearly all of it is from Lara's. Despite the harrowing circumstances, Lara and Noah still find a few moments to reconnect and rekindle their love. There's some sexy times, and although it doesn't seem like they would fit, they didn't seem wrenched into the story line with a crow bar either. 

The ending was completely satisfying and made me want more from these two. 72 Hours was a really quick read for me, and I enjoyed every minute. 

Turns out, you can achieve a lot in seventy-two hours. Doesn't seem like much - after all, it's only three days - but when you're counting on keeping every single future beat of your heart and every breath that graces your lungs, it suddenly becomes everything you have.

“Lara, can you please put my mug under the coffee machine and press start before you go for your run?” Rachel calls out.

“Already done,” I call softly, leaning down to lace up my shoes.

Rachel took me in after Noah and I broke up and I moved out. I do as much as I can to help her out, including making sure she’s got hot coffee every morning before I go out. She saved my ass. It’s the least I can do.

“You’re a gem.” So I’ve been told.

“I’ll be back in an hour.”

I grab my water bottle and move to the front door, checking that I’ve got my phone before heading out. The weather is warm in Orlando today, a soft breeze trickling through the trees.

After pulling my long chestnut hair into a pony- tail, I step out onto the path in front of my apartment and put my earbuds in, starting my usual morning jog. I move down two blocks and then cross a road to a local park. It has a path running beside it that goes into some thick forest before coming out close to downtown.

My one hour of peace each day.

I sing softly to the music, pounding harder and faster as my body warms up. Crossing the road, I move past the park and into the trees. The weather instantly cools without the warmth of the sun breaking through, and it dries up some of the sweat forming on my brow. I think about Noah and how much it hurt to see him at the bar last night, let alone with another woman.

Will it ever stop hurting?

A hand taps my shoulder and I scream, spin- ning around to see Noah standing behind me, sweat running down and soaking the front of his tank. I press a hand to my heart, studying him, then pull out my earbuds. Only he would find a way to be on his run at the same time I’m on mine. Can’t this man just leave me alone? “What are you doing here, Noah?”

“I recently moved into an apartment in the area and was jogging when I saw you. I see you still enjoy running?”

“Why did you move into this area?” He shrugs. “I liked it.”

This is too much. “Why now?”

“For a while I was traveling for work. I volun- teered to train some other recruits. Considering you wouldn’t talk to me, I needed a distraction.” He shrugs again. “Now I have a little time on my hands and it felt like time to relocate.”

I take a step back, my mind reeling. “I want to finish my run,” I say. “And you’re going to leave me alone.”

“Lara, come on,” he sighs. “Let’s talk about this.”

I take a drink from my bottle, ignoring his pleading. My eyes focus on anything but him.

“Are you seriously still doing this?” he grunts. “I’ve been tryin’ to call you for months with little success. You ignored me without a word and you’re really not going to give me five minutes to explain?” “Explain what?” I ask, crossing my arms. “The fact that I walked in and found you with a woman on your lap in your office?”

He jerks, and his face grows tight with frustra- tion. “You read it wrong.”

“I can’t imagine how,” I mumble.

He uses the back of his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow. It takes all my inner strength not to stare at his big, muscled form. Mostly to avoid remembering how good it felt to be tucked into his arms, how secure and safe he could make me feel. He just had that way. He made me feel like nothing in the world could ever touch me when I was in his arms. And then he took that all away in one moment. The only feeling of safety I had left was gone in an instant.

“Is Noah in?” I smile to the young girl sitting at the front desk of the firehouse.

“Yeah, he’s in his office.” “Mind if I go through?” “No, go for it.”

I walk down the hall, heading toward Noah’s office. I thought I’d bring him lunch, spend some time with him. Things have been rough in the last few months, and he’s been by my side through it all. He’s seen me at my worst and picked me up when I fell. After Nan died, I have felt like noth- ing is enough, like I’m not enough. I feel like I’m not being the girlfriend he deserves. He deserves me to try, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m trying.

I open the door and step in, opening my mouth to greet him when I see her. She’s on his lap, long blond hair flowing around her back, pretty as can be. The kind of woman that looks like his per- fect fit. She’s kissing him. Their mouths, connected, touching—it’s all I see before my vision blurs, tears clouding it. I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. I stumble back, gasping for air.

How could he do this to me?

I already know how. Because I’m an emotional, broken woman who got her nanna killed because she couldn’t control her loud mouth. Then I be- came this weak, pathetic mess who spends most days crying and trying to figure out who I should be and who I am now. Of course he’s with another woman. Why the hell wouldn’t he be? This is ex- actly what I deserve.

I turn and leave, but not before I hear Noah call out my name.

I run, tears flowing down my cheeks. “Lara!” he calls. “Lara, wait!”

He catches me at the door, hand curling around my upper arm. He spins me around but I shove at his chest, causing him to stumble backward.

“Don’t touch me!” I scream. “Don’t touch me.” “Lara, it isn’t—”

“Get away from me.”

I turn and keep going, darting straight across the road. I reach the park and drop to my knees, sobbing with agony, and pain, and regret. Maybe this is my karma. Maybe this is the universe’s way of punishing me for what happened with my nanna. Or maybe, just maybe, Noah is better off without me.

Of course he is. I’m worth nothing.

“Lara, fuck, how could you throw it all away? We were together over two years.”

His question brings me back to the present. “Seriously?” I ask, eyes wide with shock. “You think I’m the one who threw it away?”

God, if only he knew how much it meant to me. I wanted to marry this man, to have kids with him, to be with him for the rest of my life. Walk- ing in and seeing him with another woman ripped my heart out. It sent my whole world crashing down. Leaving him was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure in my life. How he could think it meant nothing is beyond me. He was the one who hurt me.

He grunts. “Yet you won’t talk to me, you just broke it off and ran.”

I flinch. “It was what I had to do.”

He shakes his head, jaw tight. “God, you’re a pain in the ass.”

That hurts. He’s acting as if all this is my fault, when it was he who cheated on me.

“I don’t need to listen to this, Noah. I don’t deserve it.”

“That’s just the thing,” he yells. “You’re not lis- tening. You’re refusing to listen.”

The familiar sting of anger bubbles in my chest, but I push it down. Be calm. Don’t react. It isn’t worth getting upset over. “I don’t want to hear your excuses.”

He makes a frustrated noise in his throat.

I shake my head. I can’t listen to any more of this. I can’t take any more of this. “I have to go.” I turn my back to him and start walking away.

“Fuck, Lara,” he barks. “Let me talk to you.”

I pick up into a jog and disappear out the other side of the trees, but not before I hear his angry curse. I run until I’m out of breath, but I could swear he’s still behind me. I stop and turn every now and then, glancing into the trees, but nobody is there. Yet it feels as though someone is. He’s probably following me—he’s protective like that, always wanting to know I’m safe. He doesn’t need to worry anymore—I’m no longer his burden.

BELLA JEWEL is a USA Today bestselling author of over 18 e-books, including the popular Alphas Heart eOriginal series with St. Martin's Press. She lives in North Queensland where she's working on her next novel.

EARLY REVIEW: Till Death

Till Death, by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date: February 28, 2017
Publisher: William Morrow
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult romantic suspense
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.

First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.

But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.

Till Death is nothing like any other book by Jennifer L. Armentrout that I've ever read before, but absolutely no less incredible. The suspense, the mystery, the romance - all are ramped up and on full display for the entirety of the story. I love the characters Jennifer has created here - they're real and they're striking. And they're all going to stay with me for a long while. 

Sasha Keaton is the girl who lived. No - this isn't THAT story. A decade ago, She's the only one who survived The Groom - a serial killer that also ended up dead at the end of the ordeal. But, the damage to Sasha's psyche was done. Although she had a mother, friends and a budding relationship with an amazing guy, she left West Virginia for Atlanta. But, now her mother needs her help with the family business, so Sasha's coming home.

Her mother and friends are thrilled that she's home, but none is more happy than that boy she was dating before being kidnapped. Cole Landis has lived his life, having become a local cop and having other relationships, but he never forgot Sasha, and now that she's back, he's determined to embrace this second chance with her. But, when women start turning up dead like the first time, and Sasha appears to be on his list once again. But, this time, she has people to lean on and Cole to help take care of her. 

I promise you - Till Death will grab you, freak you out, give you all the warm fuzzies, and then let you go with the biggest book hangover ever. 

At its heart, Till Death is an epic second chance love story. Sasha and Cole had a real shot at a relationship before she was kidnapped, and then she left town and it seemed she would never return. Cole had always regretted not being able to protect Sasha from The Groom, but he never had an opportunity to make things right again. Now that Sasha's back, Cole institutes a full-court press to get her back. 

It's so obvious that their connection hasn't faded even with time and distance. Jen Armentrout is so incredibly good at creating couples with this crazy chemistry. At the heart of whatever she writes is always an epic love story. And yes, the arc in this book is all about The Groom and who he is and who he might kill next. But, the push and pull between Sasha and Cole and their rediscovery of each other and Sasha's rediscovery of herself - with Cole's help - is the real magic here. 

When we talked, we never ran out of things to say, and when he kissed me? I still remember how crazy he made me feel with just a kiss, as if lighting every cell in my body on fire. Being with Cole had made me feel like I was on the edge of a cliff, more than willing to fall off. I'd never felt anything like that again. Not even a smidgen.

Till Death is told almost entirely from Sasha's POV. There are a few flashbacks that help explain what happened to her ten years earlier at the hand of The Groom, but most of it is told in present day. We do get a few snippets from The Groom's POV, which just upped the creepy factor to delicious heights. They were the perfect addition - it wasn't too much, but rather just the right amount to keep me completely engaged. 

Although there's a certain heaviness to Till Death that we don't usually see in Jen Armentrout's books, she also gives us some levity in the form of interactions between Sasha and her two BFFs and, especially, the progression of her newly rekindled relationship with Cole. Those moments of tenderness, sweetness, and most certainly sexiness, were blended with the mystery and suspense to make the perfect story designed to keep you on the edge of your seat and swooning from extreme feels. I absolutely loved everything about Till Death.  

REVIEW: Forsaken (Deep Connection #1)

Forsaken (Deep Connection #1), by Sierra Kincade
Publish Date: October 18, 2016
Publisher: Intermix
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult contemporary/suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Marsella Talent has been on the run for two years, ever since her father thrust a ledger into her hands and told her to run from the police swarming their family restaurant. Now, with the cops and her father’s men desperate to get their hands on the book, she knows she can never go home.

Jake never thought he’d see Marsella again, not after he helped her escape the night of the sting operation targeting her father, August Talent. So when he stumbles upon a mysterious woman named Cassie, the spitting image of Marsella, he knows he has to gain her trust to finally make up for the mistake he made years ago.

Only the closer he gets to her, the more irresistible he finds her. And soon he realizes he’ll have to make a choice—prove his loyalty by getting back the ledger, or save the woman that he’s growing to love...

Sierra Kincade is back doing what she does best - writing sexy, suspenseful stories that leave you on the edge of your seat and hot under the collar. 

Forsaken was dark and dangerous and, of course, incredibly sexy and romantic. How could it not be with a hero like Jake at the helm? A series of bad decisions and years of research have finally led him to a diner in the middle of nowhere where he has, at long last, found the elusive Marsella Talent, daughter of crime lord August Talent, and owner of a ledger that details her father's sketchy business deals. Jake's plan is simple (yeah, right) - grab the ledger by any means necessary and hand it over to the right people so he can start feeling a little good about himself again. And he has to do it before other super bad men get to it - and Marsella - first.

But, when faced with Marsella again for the first time in two years, Jake's plans go a bit awry. He wasn't prepared for how strong she was or how beautiful or how smart and resilient. Or how much she desperately needed a connection with someone again. And, luckily, Jake isn't a man too proud to admit when it's time for him to alter his plan a bit if it means protecting a woman who quickly comes to mean more to him than his reputation.

"If you need something, I'll do it. If you tell me to stop, we're done. Just because you give me some power, doesn't mean I'm going to use it against you. I'm just going to hold it until you take it back."

I can't imagine what kind of person I'd be if I had gone through what Marsella had. From the first chapter, I wanted nothing but the worst punishment for nearly all her family. Her father and sister are awful human beings, and they both treat Marsella like such crap. It's obvious that Marsella is the "good girl" in the family - the one who trusts too easily and loves too much. And she's taken advantage of because of that. Her family has ruined her ability to trust others, so be assured that Jake has to work very, very hard to gain it for himself. 

Then, Marsella spends years running, hiding and keeping to herself. She's afraid of going back because she doesn't want to be implicated in her father's crimes. But, she doesn't want to stay put because she's only living half a life in the shadows. She's stuck, and it takes Jake all but forcing her hand to get her to make a move in one direction or the other. 

Two things I can count on when it comes to Sierra Kincade - a good, suspenseful mystery and lots of steamy, sexy times. Forsaken does not disappoint in either area. Jake and Marsella are great together, with tons of chemistry and history and tension that make for crazy hot times together. And the mystery is pretty awesome too, with twists and turns that will blow your mind. 

Although Jake's and Marsella's story isn't quite over, book 2 - Forgotten - will cut from them to Marsella's brother Cole to tell the events of what happens next. I love this approach, and the fact that it involves two of the most intriguing side characters in Forsaken - Cole and MacKenzie. Bring it on. 

REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: The Sapphire Heist (Jewel #2)

Today is a Lauren Blakely love-fest! I have the review plus an excerpt of her second Jewel series book, SAPPHIRE HEIST, and then a double cover reveal for two books coming up that look... ABS-olutely awesome. But, first, back to Steph, Jake and the Cayman Islands...

The Sapphire Heist (Jewel #2), by Lauren Blakely
Publish Date: August 16, 2016
Publisher: Mountlake Romance
Format: ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Keep your lover close and your enemy closer…

After giving in to a fiery night of passion, island adventurer Steph Anderson and bounty hunter Jake Harlowe are back to square one. With millions in stolen jewels at stake, it’s hard for Steph not to question her new partner’s true motives—no matter how sexy he might be. Jake is hungry for more of Steph, but he can sense her growing mistrust, which only fuels his own doubts. Worse, there’s undeniable evidence that someone else is now after the jewels—and that they are both in real danger.

Fighting against their magnetic attraction is a distraction these two can’t afford. In order to survive, they’ll have to pull off one more heist—and trust each other with something even more precious than jewels: their hearts.

When we last saw Steph, she was having a crisis of faith in her new partner and lover. Just when she had decided to open up her battered heart to Jake, it appears that he has used that gift to his advantage. And that really hurts her.

But, there's no denying he's good at his job. And, Steph really needs to know once and for all if her step-father is a bad guy or not. So, she decides to stick with him and use his skills like he used her, and when the case of the missing sapphires is solved, she can get rid of him. If wishes were fishes...

Despite the relationship questions, Steph and Jake still make a great team, which I loved. Just because Steph is convinced that Jake is playing her doesn't remove the sexual tension and heat between them. It's still there, which goes so well with the suspense and intrigue surrounding the stolen sapphires. It's tension-filled on all sides, which only meant that there was no way I could put it down until I was done.

The setting of the Cayman Islands, together with Steph's profession as a eco-tour guide and dive instructor is so cool. It made me want to go there. And it made me want to kiss sting rays.

As Steph and Jake work together to figure out who stole the jewels and where they put them, they learn more about each other. Jake learned about Steph's mom and her lack of funds at home, thus fueling Steph's desire to talk her step-dad into helping or copping to stealing. Steph learned about Jake's dedication to his family, which is why he does his job so well.

Sapphire Heist was so much fun. It was a suspenseful and mysterious and super sexy. The ending was fantastic, too. I can't wait for Lauren Blakely to take another turn at romantic suspense!

This woman drove him wild. She was a pistol, a fiery, sexy, determined, tenacious woman who made him crazy, and who he wanted fiercely at the same damn time. “Do you want to try that whole thing again? Like you were doing in your room. Take off my shirt, and strip off my shorts, and pull off my boxers?”
Her lips quirked up. “I didn’t get to the boxers.”

“I know,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Damn shame. Because I like it when you touch me. I like it when you take my clothes off and run your hands all over me. Do you like it when I do that to you?”

She nodded. “So much. So incredibly much,” she said, her voice breathy.

He backed her up against the railing, pressing his pelvis to her and caging her in with his arms. “Are you sure?”

He ground his hips against her, letting her feel the full length of his arousal.

Her breath came fast. “So sure,” she said, wrapping her arms around his lower back and tugging him close. “I want to finish what we were starting in the room.”

He laughed loudly and deeply. “Oh Steph. We barely got started. We hardly got started at all.”

She grabbed his shirt. “Can we please just fuck it out now?”

He cracked up at her question, at the sexy desperation in her voice. “Fuck it out?”

She nodded. “Yes. Your anger. Our mistrust. My doubt. Can we just once and for all fuck it out and let it go?”

He clasped her cheeks in his hands. “I can’t think of a damn thing I’d rather do now than fuck it out. Besides, it’s impossible for me to think straight and properly plan the next phase of Project Diamond unless you put your hands on the railing, bend over, and raise your skirt for me.”

Her eyes lit up, sparkling with a naughty kind of excitement. “Then please allow me to help you think straight.”

He laced a hand through her hair, yanked her close, and planted a hot, searing kiss on her delicious lips. She melted under his touch, and he loved it. Loved the way she responded.

As he kissed her, he lowered a hand to her leg and inched his fingers up the warm skin of her thighs, quickly finding what he wanted—the wet scrap of fabric between her legs. She was so damn turned on, just like he was. He groaned as he kissed her, his bones vibrating with lust as he ran his fingers against the evidence of her desire. He tugged off her underwear, broke the kiss, and spun her around.

Covering her back with his chest, he wrapped her hair in his hand and tugged gently. She gasped and arched her ass higher. Yup. That was his answer. She liked a little rough play. He brought his mouth to her ear. “Do you like it hard? Do you like it rough? Do you like it angry?”

She turned her head to look at him. “With you, so far I like everything.”

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that's full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With ten New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than fifty times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone romantic comedies like BIG ROCK and MISTER O, which were both instant New York Times Bestsellers. In the fall she'll release WELL HUNG, another romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

Links:
Website: http://www.laurenblakely.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenBlakely3
Newsletter: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter/
Lauren Blakely Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860216.Lauren_Blakely

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Hell Breaks Loose (Devil's Rock #2)

After the end of All Chained Up, I knew the wait for Hell Breaks Loose would be... well... hell. But, it's finally here, and trust me. You don't want to pass this one up. Read on for my review and don't forget to enter the giveaway for a finished copy of Hell Breaks Loose (US Only)!

Hell Breaks Loose (Devil's Rock #2), by Sophie Jordan
Publish Date: July 26, 2016
Publisher: Avon Books
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Hell hath no hunger like a man let out of a cage . . .

Shy and awkward, First Daughter Grace Reeves has always done what she’s told. Tired of taking orders, she escapes her security detail for a rare moment of peace. Except her worst nightmare comes to life when a ruthless gang of criminals abducts her. Her only choice is to place her trust in Reid Allister, an escaped convict whose piercing gaze awakens something deep inside her. Reid is nothing like her other captors.

He’s tougher, smarter…and one blistering look from him makes her hotter than any man ever has.

Reid spent years plotting escape and revenge . . .years without a woman in his bed. For this hardened felon, Grace Reeves isn’t just out of his league—she’s from another planet, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting her. Escaping Devil’s Rock was tough, but resisting this woman could be the end of him. For a man with nothing to lose, protecting her . . . claiming her as his own, becomes more necessary than his next breath.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about a book in which a hero is an escaped convict who was originally put in jail for murder. How can you love a character like that? He would have to be, like, the SUPER anti-hero. You would think that after All Chained Up I would trust that Sophie Jordan wouldn't steer me wrong. Because by the end of Hell Breaks Loose - heck, by the 25% mark - I was totally in love with Reid Allister.

Reid is being driven by reasons I can totally understand. And, Reid's expectations are not unrealistic. He's not gunning for Mexico or Canada. He knows that he won't go undetected forever, and he's okay with that as long as he checks the boxes on his to-do list first.

I got a vague impression from All Chained Up that Reid was inherently a good guy - that he had a code that he lives by. And, I was right. So, when he meets up with his former crew of guys and discovers that they've kidnapped the president's daughter, his protective instincts are kicked into high gear, and that code starts to drive his actions.

I would've been disappointed in Sophie Jordan if she would've had Reid and Grace fall into bed together right off the bat. If you think about it from Grace's perspective she doesn't know Reid from any of the other meth-heads that took her. Not to mention, he's bigger and scarier looking than the rest of them. She might be able to appreciate his good looks from a purely female perspective, but this man stands between her and her freedom, so sleeping with him is not on her agenda. And thank goodness for that, because if it had been, my opinion of the book would've dropped. It's just not realistic for any girl to do that, no matter how hot her captor is.

So, no. Grace and Reid have a rough go of it for a long while. Besides the situation in which they presently find themselves, they're also struggling with other things - Grace's feelings of neglect and inadequacy and Reid's bleak outlook on the rest of his life, not to mention the fact that his plans have gone sideways in a huge way. It doesn't have the best foundation on which to start any type of relationship. Or, perhaps it's actually a way for two people to get closer faster than under normal situations.

Hell Breaks Loose is a fast-paced, exciting story about coming to terms with mistakes you've made and being okay with the person you've become on the other side. It's about the length that people will go to for those that they care about. And that everyone can be redeemed.

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.

Learn more about Sophie --> Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen #3)

I absolutely love The Perfect Gentlemen series by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake. It's suspenseful, sexy and action-packed. And it's finally here! Check out my review, then go check it out for yourself.

Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen #3), by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
Publish Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult suspense romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) The New York Times bestselling authors of the Masters of Ménage series present the third scintillating novel featuring the privileged, wealthy, wild men of Creighton Academy—the Perfect Gentlemen.

Years ago, Naval officer Dax Spencer and NCIS agent Holland Kirk indulged in a steamy affair—until she betrayed him in the wake of his father’s death. Dax tried to put her behind him with a payback of his own. But he never forgot Holland…

Now, as Dax and his fellow Perfect Gentlemen unravel a web of lies, he discovers his family’s tragedy is part of a much larger conspiracy. Soon, all clues point him back to New Orleans…where Holland waits, protecting her deadly secret and holding a torch for the only man she’s ever loved.

Once reunited, they can’t fight the passion flaring hot and wild. But something sinister lurks around every corner, from the elegance of the Garden district to the beauty of the bayou. Dax and Holland may find their way back to each other—if they survive...

The Perfect Gentlemen series by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake is completely captivating. These five men – these “Perfect Gentlemen” – and the women who round them out are some of the most compelling characters I’ve met in suspenseful romance. They are so very far from perfect, and yet they wear the hero moniker well. None of the three books out so far in this series has disappointed, and in fact, the further down the rabbit hole we get, the better the books.

Big Easy Temptation lent an especially emotional aspect to the story’s building blocks. We’re still trying to find out who killed the sixth member of the group – Maddox – and how that all ties in to the current president and Perfect Gentleman, Zack. In this third book, though, we see the lengths a son will go to in order to clear his family name. More than that, though, we see how far a woman in love will go in order to protect her man.

In Big Easy Temptation, many more layers to the overarching conspiracy are revealed. Some questions are answered. Many others are asked in their place. But, the part of the puzzle that’s worked on in this book has a personal tie to Dax, the Perfect Gentleman who is the Naval officer. Dax’s father was disgraced, when a scandal was revealed and he committed suicide in its wake. Heartbroken and determined to get to the bottom of a situation that makes no sense to him, Dax turns to a woman he can’t get out of his mind for help – NCIS prosecutor Holland Kirk.

Nearly half of this book occurs in the past – three years in the past, to be exact. We know in the beginning that Dax and Holland fell in love. We know they were working on clearing his dad’s name together. And we know that they bitterly broke up and that Dax has neither forgiven her or forgotten her. And, now he needs her help again. So, we spend most of the first half of the book rehashing their backstory so that the story in the present makes more sense.

At first I just wanted to get to the NOW, so I didn’t want to be bothered by so much THEN. But, after a chapter or two, I was very glad that the authors did things this way. That backstory is absolutely vital to what’s happening in the present. And, it added so much feeling and understanding as to why Holland and Dax broke up and why they both are still so torn up about it after so much time has passed.

I loved Dax from the moment I met him in book 1. I loved him so much more in this book. He has so much love for his mother and his sister. He doesn’t want to clear his father’s name to pave an easier way for him in his career – he wants to do it so that his loved ones can breathe easier and be content with their memories. He’s compassionate and protective and so loving toward the women in his life.

But Holland- just, WOW. I don’t think I’ve ever met a stronger female character. She fell in love and made a hard choice – the hardest choice ever. But, for her, it was the only choice in order to protect the people SHE loved. And then she lived with that for a very long time. I love that she didn’t make Dax’s road to redemption easy – he had A LOT to apologize for. I also love that she didn’t wait too long before she admitted that there was no way she would turn him away for good.

As has been the case with every other Perfect Gentleman novel, Big Easy Temptation was action-packed and full of many nail-biting moments. The closer we get to Zack’s story and the final book in the series, the more dangerous things seem to get. The wait in between books is such delicious torture, but one I will gladly endure since I want answers as much as these characters do.

ABOUT SHAYLA BLACK:

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Visit Shayla’s website: http://shaylablack.com/

Visit Shayla on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaylaBlackAuthor/?fref=ts

Visit her Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Shayla-Black/e/B001IOFJQM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1451315186&sr=8-2-ent


ABOUT LEXI BLAKE:

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are six more books available in the series: Their Virgin's Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, Their Virgin Secretary, and Their Virgin Mistress.

In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. The first nine novels, The Dom Who Loved Me, The Men with the Golden Cuffs, A Dom is Forever, On Her Master's Secret Service, Love and Let Die, Dungeon Royale, A View to a Thrill, You Only Love Twice, and Master No are available now, along with the novellas Sanctum, Unconditional, Dungeon Games, Cherished, Luscious, Adored, and Just One Taste. The tenth novel, From Sanctum with Love, is coming February 23, 2016, along with a new novella, Devoted, on April 12, 2016.

In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The full series, Steal the Light, Steal the Day, Steal the Moon, Steal the Sun, and Steal the Night, are available now on Amazon. The first two books in a spin-off of the series, Ripper and Addict, were released in 2015. Look for Sleeper, the next book in the spin-off series, to be released in Fall of 2016.

Lexi again collaborated with Shayla Black in a new series The Perfect Gentlemen. The first book, Scandal Never Sleeps, is now available. Book two, Seduction in Session, will release on January 5, 2016, followed by book three, Big Easy Temptation, on May 3, 2016.

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For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net) .