RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Brave (A Wicked Saga #3)

Brave (A Wicked Saga #3), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date: December 11, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: new adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Ivy Morgan hasn't been feeling like herself lately. Not like anyone can blame her. After all, being held captive by a psychotic fae prince hell-bent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld is bound to leave some mental scars.

It’s more than that, though. Something dark and insidious is spreading throughout Ivy, more powerful than she could ever imagine... and it’s coming between her and the man she’s fallen deeply in love with, elite Order member Ren Owens.

Ren would do anything to keep Ivy safe. Anything. But when he makes a life altering choice for her, the fallout of his act has far reaching consequences that threaten to tear their lives apart. If Ivy is going to have any hope of surviving this, she must put aside the hurt and betrayal she feels, and work with not only those she loves, but with an enemy she would rather kill than ever trust. War is coming, and it soon becomes clear that what Ivy and Ren thought they knew about the Order, themselves, and even their enemies, has been nothing but a cluster of dangerous, deadly lies. Ivy knows she must be more than just brave to save those she loves--and, ultimately, to save herself.

Because behind every evil fae Prince, there’s a Queen…

I knew Brave would be a crazy awesome ride. After the emotional roller coaster that was Torn, I think everyone - both the fictional characters in this awesome fae-rich world and the readers who cried and bit their nails - was ready for Ivy and Ren to finally have the HEA that has seemed so elusive for them. And knowing Jen Armentrout like I do, I knew that Brave would deliver that in some way, shape or form. She's known to give her characters the happy ending we all want for them, but they always have to go through some serious trials along the way. That has never been more true than in this series. 

Brave picks up right where Torn left off. Ivy and Ren are resting up at the hidden "Hotel Good Fae" with Tink and the rest of the good Summer Court fae that helped them escape from the evil Winter Court Prince Drake. But, after all the horrible things Ivy suffered at his hands have left a lasting impression on her. She's not the same girl that once went to college by day and slayed evil fae by night. There's a new darkness and fear within her, and it's affecting everything - her strength, her sleep, and her relationship with Ren. 

My heart was in pieces for Ivy. She's suffering so much at the beginning of Brave, and she doesn't know how to deal with it. I wanted to shake her - to tell her to lean on Ren and Tink. But, I know it's not that easy, and that's never been more apparent than it is here. 

The first 40% or so of Brave is all about Ivy once again learning to find herself - to be brave in the face of so many things to fear. The last 60% of the book is all action. It's one near-death experience after another as Ivy, Ren, Tink and their friends try to find a way to stop Drake from fulfilling the prophecy. 

Just because we're pretty deep into the story doesn't mean that there isn't room to introduce new characters. One in particular proves to be vital to Ivy's survival. In addition to new characters, we also see some from the beginning pop up again. It's almost like Ivy and Ren come full circle, which seems fitting in the final book of this trilogy. 

I guess this is a good time to mention that it's not exactly going to be a trilogy. Certain events don't wrap up quite as neatly as I would've liked. Certain characters' futures are ambiguous. At first, those things bummed me out a little bit. Until I saw that 1,001 Dark Nights will publish a novella called The Prince that will take place in this world. And I am hoping that it will effectively wrap up all those loose ends that were bugging me. 

Brave is told entirely from Ivy's POV. It's not an accident that the cover features only her this time. Ren is a very prominent figure, and I promise if you were on the fence about him before, you will adore him by the end. But Brave is very much the story of Ivy finding herself again. It was emotional, exciting and sexy. It was awesome.

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. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Sure Thing

Sure Thing, by Jana Aston
Publish Date: October 10, 2017
Publisher: Rutherford Press
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Have you ever set out to have a one night stand with a sexy stranger? No? I’m the only one?Just kidding, I would never.
Ever. Not usually.

But then I figured, why not? My entire life I’ve been good and it’s gotten me nowhere. No job.
No apartment.
No boyfriend.

I’m owed a little fun, aren’t I? A reward for being good.Sure, a new pair of shoes would be more appropriate, but Mr. Sexy Stranger is more appealing. And when he speaks—in that British accent—it’s a done deal. Every American woman has a hot British guy fantasy. Well, most do. I haven't taken a poll or anything, but I’m pretty sure it’s a fact.

Except…
You know that saying about best-laid plans?
Good, because I don’t either, but I assume they go awry.Like my one night stand…

I've read everything Jana Aston has put out there, and if I've learned one thing about her, it's that she's got the cute awkward girl down PAT. But, she's also nailed the hot, rich, confident guy who gets to bring her out of her shell, so that's a win for all of us. 

Jana has written a lot of awkward girls, but I think Violet might win the prize. She's a girl who has a great degree and a good job until the day she was downsized. Now she has nothing but the love and couch of her extroverted twin sister Daisy. In a very grownup version of the twin switch, Violet takes Daisy's place as a tour guide on a week-long bus tour... and discovers her one-night stand who was supposed to remain a ONE NIGHT stand is one of her charges. 

And cue the awkward. 

And trust me - there's a ton of awkward. Which makes for a completely and utterly enjoyable read for me. Sadly, Violet's pain is definitely my gain. She tries so hard to keep Jennings at arms length, but the sexual tension between them is very real. She's kinda stuck in a big lie with this guy that she really likes, but doesn't want to like, and she can't escape for a week. 

Jennings is fascinated by this girl with secrets. She's strange and awkward and pretty and he had the most amazing night of his life with her. Now he just has to convince her that maybe he doesn't have to be a one-night stand. He's very persuasive, too. I mean, all he has to do is open his mouth and say anything. Violet has a thing for British accents (don't we all?). 

If you like rom-coms, you need to pick up Sure Thing. Violet's love of all things British and her efforts at using quintessential British words and phrases (which backfire almost always) are hilarious. The "com" is definitely there, but so is the "rom." Jennings and Violet are great together. They're complete opposites in so many ways, but their sexy times is off the charts hot and the affection that grows between them with each chapter will make you swoon. 

I'm hoping Jana will write a book about Daisy now, because this sister also has some secrets that I assumed we would discover in Sure Thing. We didn't, however, so now I want to know where Daisy was while Violet was leading her tour. Hopefully that story is coming up sooner rather than later. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: If There's No Tomorrow

If There's No Tomorrow, by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date: September 5, 2017
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: young adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Lena Wise is always looking forward to tomorrow, especially at the start of her senior year. She's ready to pack in as much friend time as possible, to finish college applications and to maybe let her childhood best friend Sebastian know how she really feels about him. For Lena, the upcoming year is going to be epic—one of opportunities and chances.

Until one choice, one moment, destroys everything.

Now Lena isn't looking forward to tomorrow. Not when friend time may never be the same. Not when college applications feel all but impossible. Not when Sebastian might never forgive her for what happened.

For what she let happen.

With the guilt growing each day, Lena knows that her only hope is to move on. But how can she move on when her and her friends' entire existences have been redefined? How can she move on when tomorrow isn't even guaranteed?

I had to psych myself up to read this one. Not because I was afraid I wouldn't like it. After reading The Problem With Forever, I knew that Jennifer Armentrout could do an emotional YA contemporary so well. No - it was the fact that I knew it would slay me, and I had to gear myself up for the tears. I mean, that description, right?? It sounds so ominous and unfortunate. It sounds like death is involved somehow, and knowing these are kids, any death in their young lives is going to be tragic. 

I was SO right.

But, despite the fact that I had the book in my hand for a few weeks before I actually started reading it, I did love it. Lena's a book fan who has a large circle of friends including three best girl friends and one best guy friend. She's a moderately good volleyball player, a good student and has a great mom (although, her dad is another story). She worries about all the typical things 17-year-old girls worry about - what college will she go to and what will she study? How could she have let that guy kiss her last month? And why does she have to have feelings for her best guy friend Sebastian? 

Then, one choice on one night changes her world in a tragic way. 

I think, for me, one of the things about this book that made it especially emotional is that everything that happens to Lena has happened to other teens in America countless times over. Perhaps not always with the same outcome, but kids grapple with the choices Lena faced, and I'm sure they make the same one. I want my daughter to read this book when she gets to high school, and I hope she makes some sort of connection with the characters and uses it as a reference if she finds herself in a similar situation. 

Never fear all you romance lovers out there - despite the deep and heavy subject matter, there is plenty of romance in If There's No Tomorrow to sink your teeth into. Things between Sebastian and Lena develop at such a great pace. The romance never seems to be thrown in there in a haphazard way, as romances sometimes seem when they're overshadowed by the larger story arc. Lena's way of dealing with what happened remains always at the forefront, and how her relationship with Sebastian develops is shaped because of that larger story arc. It's as it should be, even if it is incredibly frustrating to read at times. 

If There's No Tomorrow is told entire from Lena's POV. In some of Jen Armentrout's previous books, she's gone back later and posted on her website portions of her books written from the guy's POV. I would LOVE to get some of that here. There's no doubt that this is entirely Lena's journey, so it's only right that it be told all by her. But, there are some parts of the story, that I would've loved to have known what was going through Sebastian's head. That would be an amazing extra. 

I'm a huge Jen Armentrout fan. She's so versatile - able to write emotional YA contemporary one month and adult romantic suspense the next. And she does them all so very well. If There's No Tomorrow will gut you and frustrate you. It will make you cry and make you smile a little from time to time too. And it's one that will stay with you for a long time. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Disorderly Conduct (The Academy #1)

Disorderly Conduct (The Academy #1), by Tessa Bailey
Publish Date: August 29, 2017
Publisher: Avon
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone…

Police academy cadet Charlie Burns can’t believe his luck when the gorgeous blonde he meets in a bar murmurs those magic words: “Nothing serious, ’kay?” Mind-blowing, no-strings sex with Ever Carmichael—it’s the holy grail of hookups for a guy who’s too busy following in his law enforcement family’s footsteps to think about getting serious. Charlie’s all about casual…that is, until Ever calls it quits and his world tilts on its axis.

Ever knows that when you control the relationship game, you can’t get played. But for the first time, she wants more than short-term satisfaction. Step one: end her fling with commitment-phobic Charlie. Step two: sacrifice herself to the ruthless NYC dating scene. Yet everywhere she turns, there’s Charlie, being his ridiculously charming self. No online match or blind date compares to the criminally hot cop-in-training, but they’re over. Aren’t they?

If love is a four-letter-word, why does the idea of Ever seeing someone else tie Charlie up in knots? Now he’s desperate to win her back…and a little date sabotage never hurt anyone, right?

Disorderly Conduct has Tessa Bailey stamped all over it from the dirty talking NYC cop-in-training to the ball-busting chef that he can't seem to quit. Tessa has taken us back to the law-enforcing alpha males that she does so freaking well, and I've never been more happy about getting all up in a cop's business. 

Disorderly Conduct sort of flips the standard romance formula around a bit. Charlie and Ever make an instant connection in a bar and follow it up with an amazing night of no-strings sex. Both of them are total commitment-phobes and are perfectly happy with frantic quickies for a limited time only. But, then Ever's mother turns her life upside down when she gives her some words that convince her to try finding a lasting, loving relationship. No matter how much Ever likes Charlie, he's made it clear he's married to his job, and everyone else comes second. So, she calls an end to their fling so that she can find a nice, permanent man to settle down with. 

All that happens in the first 15% or so of the book. The stage is set as Ever creates an online dating persona in her attempts to find Mr. Right. And Charlie, for some inexplicable reason is determined to thwart her every attempt so that he can keep his favorite hook-up girl available whenever he wants her. Now I know - Charlie sounds like a total douche. But, the ways he goes about trying to convince Ever that a relationship - especially with the guys she's looking at - is not what she wants is kind of adorable. And the fact that he has no idea he's doing all this because he likes her more than just a one-month stand is frustratingly funny. 

Thankfully, we get to be in Charlie's head for half the book, so we can bear witness to the turmoil going on within him over his antics. He doesn't want to hurt her, but he doesn't want to leave her. He doesn't want to date her, but he doesn't want to stop sleeping with her. He doesn't want to get to know her, but when he learns things about her, he realizes he is fascinated by her. 

Ever is a tough-as-nails chick. She's starting a new catering business with her BFF and has left a long string of "just sex" relationships in her wake. It's all she knows. She can admit to herself that a real relationship with Charlie is really what she wants, but she also knows that he doesn't want that. She does the right thing and cuts him loose so that he can go be a lieutenant on the police force like his brother and his father, without the complications of a girlfriend. She's brave, and I loved that about her. 

Poor Charlie doesn't know what he wants. He thinks he knows, but all that changes when he meets Ever. And it takes him a good long time to get his head on straight and see what he really wants. Unfortunately, by that time, things have sort of gotten out of his control. So, of course, that's when it really gets interesting. 

We meet the side characters that will make up the books in the rest of The Academy series, and I'm already looking forward to reading all the HEAs of theses academy recruits. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW & EXCERPT: Inked Expressions (Montgomery Ink #7)

The Storm is here. Inked Expressions is out and I can't wait for you to read about the latest Montgomery to fall in love. Check out my review!

Inked Expressions (Montgomery Ink #7), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: June 6, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) The Montgomery Ink Series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues with the brother who keeps his secret and the one woman he shouldn’t want.

Everly Law married the love of her life and on the eve of giving birth to their twins, lost him in a tragic accident. Now she’s a single mother working overtime at her bookstore trying to make sure her boys have the life they deserve. Her life is busy enough without her adding dating a Montgomery. As past secrets come to light, she’ll need Storm more than ever—even if she doesn’t realize it.

Storm Montgomery has spent his life atoning for sins that only few know he’s committed. When he lost his best friend, he promised his widow that he’d always be there for her—even when she wanted nothing to do with him. But when a single touch ignites passions they’ve both buried deep inside, he’ll have to remember exactly who is in his arms and that taking chances might be far more dangerous than they bargained for.

Twins Storm and Wes Montgomery are the last two Montgomery siblings who haven't yet found love. To be fair, Storm has had a lot going on in his life for the last 20 years to really give love too much of a focus. He's had flings and most recently, Jillian has been his best friend with benefits. But, it's not the same as what his brothers and sisters have. 

Storm is a really conflicted man. He's been keeping this big secret from 20 years before that has affected every single thing he's done since then. I honestly don't know how Storm kept a secret that big from such a large, nosey family. Especially since it messed him up both physically and mentally. But, he did, and how it's starting to come to a head. Wes is sick of not knowing what's going on with the man he's the closest to in the entire world. And Storm's physical limitations are getting harder to hide. 

I get why Storm wanted to keep what happened from his family, but honestly the fact that he did was also very frustrating. This family has proved to be rock solid over and over again. It makes me crazy that he thinks that they would somehow judge him or shun him.

And then there's Everly. She lost her husband the night she gave birth to her twin boys. They're now three years old and have some pretty big health problems. It seems like Everly's life is all of a sudden falling apart. Her boys are ill, her livelihood goes up in smoke, she finds out a devastating secret about her husband's past, and someone is trying to kill her. In addition, her attraction to Storm, who was her dead husband's best friend, can't be contained anymore. This poor girl cannot catch a break. 

Things are very hot and cold between Everly and Storm for awhile. There's always this simmering sexual tension between them, but it isn't acted on until later in the book. It's definitely a slow burn - slower than in the other Montgomery Ink books. But, don't worry - there's plenty of other stuff going on while Storm and Everly figure their stuff out. 

In addition to Storm finding love, we get to catch up with all the Montgomery Ink couples that have formed so far (thank goodness for those big monthly family BBQs). We also get the set up for Wes' story, which looks like it's shaping up to be a great enemies to lovers story. 

Until then, we get to finally enjoy seeing Storm join the ranks of his brothers and sisters who found wedded bliss with their other halves. Inked Expressions was a really good addition to the Montgomery Ink series. 

Instead of heading home like he probably should, Storm went to Everly’s kitchen and got out a couple of mugs and packets for hot cocoa she kept around for the boys. This late, he knew Everly liked chocolate with extra marshmallows rather than coffee, and he wanted to get something warm in her before he left.

By the time she came into the kitchen, he had two steaming mugs of hot cocoa on the counter and a can of tomato soup on the stove. It sounded like a gross combination, but it was the only soup he could find that didn’t have pasta shapes.

“You didn’t have to do all of this,” Everly said, her arms wrapped around her middle.

“I know, but I wanted to.” He didn’t know what else to say, so he handed her a mug.

“Thank you.” She took the hot cocoa from him and wrapped her hands around the warm ceramic. “I don’t think I’m fully processing yet.”

“You don’t have to process yet. You need to get warm and get some sleep. You can deal with things and figure out what you need to do tomorrow.” He let out a breath. “I’m just so fucking sorry, Ev.”

She met his gaze, her eyes filling with tears. “I hate to cry. I hate it. And yet all I seem to be doing lately is crying.”

Storm cursed and set down his mug then pulled hers from her hands. He cupped her face, and she stiffened. “Your store just burned to the ground, and it looks like arson. Cry, Everly. That’s okay. You’re allowed to.”

She pressed her lips together, a single tear falling down her cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb, and her eyes widened. When she took a step back, he knew it was for the best.

Before he could say anything else, she frowned and picked up her purse from where she’d set it on the kitchen table. “There was a note.”

He froze. “A note?”

She pulled a piece of crumpled paper out of her bag. “I don’t know if I picked up the envelope since I just threw things in my bag as I ran out, but I got this letter today. It was addressed to Jackson, so it’s not connected to this I don’t think, but it’s still weird.”

She handed it over to Storm, and he frowned.

I’m still waiting.

“Huh. We should show this to the cops just in case.”

Everly blew out a breath. “I have no idea what I’m going to do.”

He set the note down on the table and pulled her close. “You don’t have to know yet. But I’m not letting you do it alone.” He’d promised himself he’d always be there for her, and yet he hadn’t been enough. He still wasn’t enough.

She wrapped her arms around his middle, and he slid his hand up and down her back, calming himself as much as her. When they pulled away from each other a few moments later, their faces were only a few short breaths apart.

Almost as if he were someone else, as if he didn’t know the consequences, he lowered his head, brushing his mouth along hers. She froze for the barest moment before pressing her lips against his, the pressure a sweet agony he couldn’t comprehend until it was too late.

When his tongue slid along the seam of her lips, she opened for him, their breaths mingling, their bodies pressed tightly together. He almost deepened the kiss until he realized what the fuck he was doing and pulled away, his body shaking.

“Fuck. I’m sorry, Ev. I’m so fucking sorry.”

She blinked up at him, confusion clear on her face.

He didn’t let her speak, didn’t let him say another thing. Instead, he brushed past her, trying to get himself under control and fled from her house.

He’d kissed his best friend’s wife.

His dead best friend’s wife.

There wasn’t a level in hell good enough for him. He’d burn, and he’d deserve it. And yet… and yet he knew he’d never forget the softness of her lips, the taste of her tongue.

Yeah, he would burn.

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

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RELEASE DAY EXCERPT & REVIEW: Sweet Rivalry

The wait is over - Sweet Rivalry is here today! Check out my review for this awesome addition to the Sweet Cheeks world.

Sweet Rivalry, by K. Bromberg
Publish Date: February 28, 2017
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) Ryder Rodgers had a plan. 

He was going to stride into the conference room, do the required song and dance over the next five days, and win the biggest contract of his career. But when he walked in and heard the voice of one of his competitors, all his plans were shot to hell.

Harper Denton. She was always on top. In college. First in their class. Always using every advantage to edge him out to win the coveted positions. The only one who could beat him. His academic rival. More like a constant thorn in his side. And his ego’s.

When he heard her voice, he was brought back to years before. To the bitter taste of being second best. But the woman who meets his gaze is nothing like the drab wallflower he used to know. Hell no. She was all woman now: curves, confidence, and staggering sex appeal. And no doubt, still brilliant.

The fact that she’s gorgeous and bright won’t distract him. This time, Ryder’s determined to be the one on top. But not if Harper can help it.

As expected, I blew through this novella set in the Sweet Cheeks world. Sweet Cheeks was one of my most favorite books in 2016, so to say I was highly awaiting the release of this add-on novella, was putting it mildly. 

We all got the impression in Sweet Cheeks that Saylor's meddling older brother Ryder had his own story to tell. His actually started thirteen years earlier in college when he finally stole a heated kiss with the girl who constantly challenged him in all his classes. And right after that, she ran out of the room, and he didn't see her again. Until the moment she walks into the room of other hot shot estimators and realizes that she's going to be his biggest competition for the bid of a new construction job. 

Harper has something to prove - not just to Ryder Robert - the boy who she had an immense crush on, but who infuriated her more than anyone else in college. She has to prove to the boys club that a woman can play in the deep end with them. And win. And the only one she sees as a threat to that is Ryder. 

Second-chance romances are one of my favorite tropes. Although they usually involve some sort of heartbreak (there's a reason they NEED a second chance, after all), I absolutely love reading about these two sifting through all their baggage and rediscovering who they are now and realizing there's even MORE to love. Sweet Rivalry is a great example of that. 

Thirteen years is a long time. Both Ryder and Harper have collected a lot of experiences in that time while on opposite ends of the country. I loved that they both acknowledged that, although they didn't exactly pine away for each other that whole time, they definitely didn't forget each other either. They both moved on with their careers and relationships, and now they are both back in the same city. 

My favorite part of the book is when they have this surprise meeting in a high-stress situation. Thanks to the dual POV, we know how much it affects each of them, and watching them try to hide that reaction is fun. And then begins the dance. You know - the one where they keep a close eye on each other but try to not make it obvious that they're keeping a close eye on each other? So awesome. 

One thing K. Bromberg does remarkably well in all her books is create sexual tension so thick that it takes on a life of its own. And then when it can't be contained anymore, it EXPLODES. So, I take what I said earlier back. When that happens - THAT is my favorite part of this book. 

Ryder and Harper's story was fantastic. It was over too quickly, with an ending that came a bit too soon for me. I also wanted more than just a off-hand mention of Saylor and Hayes (but, that one brief mention packed a punch!) - it would've been awesome to actually see them. But, I do realize that when you're limited to 120 pages, you gotta stick to the story at hand. 

I don't know if this is the last we'll see from the Sweet Cheeks world, but if it is, I'm so glad that K. Bromberg gave us this last HEA from this world that I've come to love so much. 

He takes a step toward me then hesitates, but before I can process anything else, his lips are on mine.

And not just on mine––not just a brush of lips against lips—but I’m talking all in. Hands on my cheeks, tongue licking between my lips, body pressed against mine, groan in the back of his throat, type of all in.

I don’t react at first. I’m stunned. Flabbergasted, my mind reeling from the anger to the surprise to now this without any warning at all.

This is Ryder.

My rival.

My supporter.

My crush.

The thoughts flicker that this is what I’ve wanted. But they soon shift to panic. To insecurity I don’t kiss well enough. That this is all a joke and I’m the butt of it.

But then I feel. Everything. All at once.

And I know this is real.

It’s like I can’t catch my breath and have too much air all at the same time.

My body is on fire. And not just from his touch but from that burn deep inside that feels like it’s exploding and imploding all at once.

So this is what it feels like to really be kissed.

It’s a fleeting thought before the sensations, the moment, the emotions, consume me whole.

His hands move my face to change the angle of the kiss. His fingertips on the line of my jaw singe my skin. His lips move expertly against mine, and all I can do is feel. All I can do is want.

Thinking isn’t an option.

The anger from before has morphed to want. The adrenaline has recharged with desire.

There is no rivalry.

There is no graduation ceremony tomorrow I’m missing to catch my flight.

There is no panic over if I’ll ever see him again.

It’s just him.

And me.

The scent of his cologne in my nose. The heat of his body against mine. The taste of hunger in his kiss.

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

She’s a mixture of most of her female characters: sassy, intelligent, stubborn, reserved, outgoing, driven, emotional, strong, and wears her heart on her sleeve. All of which she displays daily with her husband and three children where they live in Southern California.

On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Since then she has written The Driven Series (Driven, Fueled, Crashed, Raced, Aced), the standalone Driven Novels (Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, Hard Beat, and Down Shift), and a novella (UnRaveled). She is currently finishing up Sweet Cheeks a standalone novel out November 14th.

Her plans for 2017 include a sports romance duet (2 books: The Player, The Catch) and the Everyday Heroes series (3 books: Cuffed, Combust, and Cockpit). She’s also writing a novella for the 1,001 Dark Night series that will be out in February 2017.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author | Driven Group

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundle Nine

1001 Dark Nights is back with another fantastic bundle of novellas from a combination of well-known and possibly new-to-you authors. Check out my review of this Discovery Bundle...

1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundle #9, by Carrie Ann Ryan, Heather Graham, Jennifer Probst, Christopher Rice, Melanie Harlow and Lili Valente
Publish Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: Everafter Romance
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: various romance genres
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan Hailey Monroe knows the world isn’t always fair, but she’s picked herself up from the ashes before. Sloane Gordon lived through the worst kinds of hell yet the temptation next door sends him to another level. He’s kept his distance but when she comes to him with a proposition, he’ll do everything in his power to protect her.

BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham
When a family friend receives a message from the Blood Bayou killer—It's your turn to pay, blood on the bayou—he comes to Danni Cafferty for help. Cafferty and Quinn soon realize that a gruesome local history is being repeated. They find themselves in a fight to save not just a friend, but, perhaps, their very own lives.

SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst
Connor Dunkle knows what he wants in a woman, and it’s the three B’s. Beauty. Body. Boobs. Other women need not apply. Ella Blake is a single mom and a professor at the local Verily college. When sparks fly, neither of them are ready to face their true feelings, but will love teach them the ultimate lesson of all?

DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice
From New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice, comes a steamy, emotional tale of forbidden romance between a woman struggling to get her life on its feet and the gorgeous cowboy her father kept her from marrying years before.

SOME SORT OF HAPPY by Melanie Harlow
Skylar Nixon. She’s even more beautiful than I remember. Ten years ago she was an impossible dream, and now she’s right here in front of me, offering everything I ever wanted. But happiness never lasts, not for someone like me. 
Sebastian Pryce. He’s the most complicated, frustrating, beautiful man I’ve ever met, and my body craves his with a hunger I’ve never known. My heart is his completely. Why won’t he let me in?

MAGNIFICENT BASTARD by Lili Valente
Face it, ladies: love sucks and then you cry…while your ex rides off into the sunset banging your best friend. But why let a break-up end in tears when it can end with sweet revenge? Enter Magnificent Bastard Consulting and me, chief executive bastard. With the help of my virtual assistant, I’ve built an empire giving broken-hearted women the vengeance they deserve, while keeping myself far from the front lines of the heart. Until my virtual assistant shows up on my real doorstep for the first time, begging for a Magnificent Bastard intervention of her own.

These 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundles are absolutely perfect for when you find yourself in a reading rut. You know the authors and genres you prefer, and you mostly stick to them because they're sure things. But, sometimes you just need to change things up a bit, maybe with a different sub-genre that you haven't read much of, or perhaps a different writing style or POV. 

There's always one author in these bundles that hooks me, and it's usually one I'm very familiar with. In this case, that hook was Hidden Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan. It's the only novella from her Montgomery Ink series I haven't read yet, and it was everything I expected it to be. It was sexy and had plenty of feels in not a lot of pages. Carrie Ann Ryan's novellas give you a glimpse at the relationships forming around the main Montgomery family, which helps flesh out the full-length novels. 

Of the remaining five authors, only Jennifer Probst was one I've read before, and I've read none in the Searching For series, which Searching For Mine is a part of. That is the great thing about these Discovery Bundle novellas - even if you've never read the series that they belong to, in nearly every case, it's not necessary. You can still appreciate the story and the featured characters without knowing the backstory of the other couples they come in contact with. 

One caveat to this is that all of these stories have already been published separately. If a novella - like Hidden Ink - is in the middle of a series, chances are, by the time you read it in the Discovery Bundle, the series has already moved on with at least one other novel. The Montgomery Ink series actually has two additional novels out now, so I already knew that Hailey and Sloane were a couple. For me, it doesn't diminish the impact of going back and reading their story anyway, but I know for some, it would. 

The 1001 Dark Nights series has a core group of authors that regularly contribute novellas to the collection. These authors were asked to nominate additional authors to be added as "discovery authors," and each of the five bundles that will be released in 2017 will feature two of them. In Bundle Nine, we get books by Melanie Harlow, author of Frenched, and Lili Valente, author of the Bought by the Billionaire series. 

And, truly, Some sort of Happy and Magnificent Bastard are not novellas, but rather full-length novels. These two take up the last 51% of the bundle, which was completely awesome. It gave me a better taste of these two new-to-me authors' writing styles, and I really liked what I read. I've already added several books by both authors to my TBR.

The 1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundle Nine is a easy bet. It's less than six bucks, and for that you get two novels and four novellas. You seriously can't beat that. I encourage you to check out a bundle, and maybe slip a novella or two in between your regular full-length reads. You may just discover a new favorite!

About Carrie Ann Ryan:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Learn more about Carrie Ann Ryan --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter

About Heather Graham:
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham has always been an avid reader, from classics to sci-fi, mystery, horror, thriller, romance, and all kinds of non-fiction. She’s fairly certain that her mom’s deliciously crazy family–arriving in the US a bit before her birth from Ireland–gave her the love of storytelling. She started out in theater and commercials, but once her children began to arrive, she stayed home and gave writing a try. She’s incredibly grateful to be doing what she’s doing for a living. Heather belongs to MWA, RWA, Sisters in Crime, HWA, and ITW, and has the recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, a Silver Bullet for charitable works, and this year, she will receive the Thriller Master title from ITW. She has over 200 novels in print, and has been published in 22 languages.

Learn more about Heather Graham --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter

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

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

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012, and spent 26 weeks on the New York Times. Her work has been translated in over a dozen countries, sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a “romance phenom” by Kirkus Reviews.

She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team on her website.

Sign up for her newsletter for a chance to win a gift card each month and receive exclusive material and giveaways.

Learn more about Jennifer Probst --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter

About Christopher Rice:
After publishing four New York Times bestselling thrillers by the age of 30 and being declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive, award-winning writer Christopher Rice became the first author to make his erotic romance debut part of the 1,001 DARK NIGHTS series. THE FLAME: A Desire Exchange Novella kicked off a steamy new series set in New Orleans, featuring magical candles and a sexy new breed of supernatural beings, The Radiants, who are devoted to helping heroes and heroines realize their heart’s desire. THE FLAME earned accolades from some of the biggest names in erotic romance and was quickly followed up by THE SURRENDER GATE: A Desire Exchange Novel, available from Evil Eye Concepts as a Blue Box Special. Aside from authoring eight works of dark suspense, Christopher is also the co-host and executive producer of THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN, all the episodes of which can be downloaded at TheDinnerPartyShow.com and from iTunes. Make sure you’re subscribed to The Dinner Party Show’s You Tube channel to receive their newest content in 2016.

Learn more about Christopher Rice --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter

About Melanie Harlow:
USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow likes her heels high, her martini dry, and her history with the naughty bits left in. She’s the author of AFTER WE FALL, MAN CANDY, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series (contemporary romance), the FRENCHED series (contemporary romance) and the SPEAK EASY duet (historical romance). She writes from her home outside of Detroit, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and one insane rabbit.

Learn more about Melanie Harlow --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter

About Lili Valente:
USA Today bestselling author Lili Valente writes both naughty things and funny things (that are also naughty). She has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale.

These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.

Learn more about Lili Valente --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter

RELEASE DAY REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Out of Bounds

My one-click wonder strikes again with a fantastic quickie sports romance! Check out my review and a sexy excerpt from OUT OF BOUNDS, then enter the giveaway!

Out of Bounds, by Lauren Blakely
Publish Date: November 22, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) My career is finally looking up, and I'm leading a new pro team down the field every Sunday. No way will I mess with that. But when I meet the most stunning and captivating woman I've ever seen, I tell myself one night will have to be enough.

But it's not. And now I can't get her out of my mind. Even when I'm playing. Even when I need to focus. Even when I’m on the hottest streak of my life.

And it turns out, she's not just some random woman I met. She works for the team. My team.

***

I only have one goal this season--do my part as the team's lawyer to keep them out of trouble. Help rebuild their reputation on and off the field. There's no room for error and certainly no room for a secret tryst with a player . . . even if he's the quarterback.
Right?

Out of Bounds was an enormous amount of fun and such an easy read. Books like this, with tons of characters that are easy to love, are ones I save for a rainy day and no distractions. 

Drew is the QB for one of two pro football teams in LA. A chance, hot meeting with a gorgeous woman at the beach stays with him for days after, and it turns out to be the worst kind of torture when he's traded to the other LA football team, and finds the girl from the beach is his new team's lawyer. Both Dani and Drew don't want to mix business with pleasure - Drew because he needs his focus, and Dani because she doesn't want any more scandal to rock her team than what already has. But, what started on that beach proves to be really, REALLY hard to deny.

Both Drew and Dani were awesome. They both proved to be stand-up people who wanted to do right by their employers. And, I understand their reticence to get involved once they discover that they work for the same company. Thank goodness their chemistry was off the charts awesome, because it made for some really good reading. 

They fight it and fight it, and thank goodness, they both lose. Reference the aforementioned crazy amount of sexual chemistry and tension. If only giving into it was the end of things. 

Out of Bounds is short and sweet. It's sexy and romantic. It has just the right amount of sports action and relationship drama, even though it's only 150 pages. 

“Be on your best behavior, Drew,” he says, a teasing tone in his voice.

“I always am,” I reply, and the fact is, that’s true. Clean-cut is my nickname.

“And text if you’re done early.”

“If I’m done early, I’m having a date with my mattress.”

He groans. “You are the definition of no fun.”

I grin. “That’s me. That’s why Qwench wants me now. Because I know how to get a good night’s sleep and stay out of the line of fire.”

When I hang up, I step out of the car, hand the keys to the valet, and thank him. Then I head inside, where Stuart greets me in the room reserved for the event, claps me on the back, and introduces me to several people. A photographer snaps shots the whole time, and I play the role that’s hardly a role—the outgoing, non-trouble-making, peace-loving quarterback who doesn’t throw punches or raise fists, like others before me have.
Don’t smoke, don’t do drugs, don’t have unprotected sex, and I also don’t speed. Squeaky clean indeed. Not even a traffic ticket on the record, and certainly no knocked-up teenyboppers with mini Drews baking in their bellies.

Stuart introduces me to the red-haired, freckle-faced guy who heads up this charity. “And this is Drew Erickson. He’s our new starter. We’re thrilled to have him on the team, especially since he’s already active with many wonderful charitable endeavors,” Stuart says to the ginger-haired guy.

We exchange small talk for a few minutes, then Stuart drops a hand on my shoulder and tells me there’s someone else he wants me to meet. “I’d love to introduce you to a sharp-as-a-tack woman who makes sure I don’t fumble,” he says, then winks in case I didn’t realize he was making a joke.

I smile to let him know I got it—fumbling humor and all—then my smile turns into a ruler-straight line when I turn on my heels and see my surfer angel.

Holy shit. She’s hot as sin in a red skirt, white blouse, and black heels. She holds a drink. Her blond hair is twisted on her head. Damn. The smoking-hot look is almost enough to make me forget she blew me off. My dick, the traitorous bastard, has already come down with amnesia. The fucker wants her.

“This is Dani Paige. She’s an attorney for the team,” he says, and I attempt to school my expression as I come face-to-face with the woman who ditched me.

And all I want to do is toss her on my shoulder, stalk to the bathroom, slam the door, and ask her why the fuck she didn’t call. Then when she tells me it was because she was too busy getting off to thoughts of me, I’d kiss the hell out of her until she melted in my arms and begged me to take her. I’d happily oblige. Hoist her up, hook her legs around my hips, and fuck her against the wall until she comes harder than she ever has before.

Instead, I shake her free hand. “Pleasure to meet you.” Then I whisper, just for her. “Jaws.”

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US over three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1.5 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 twelve New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than seventy times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone hit romances like BIG ROCK, MISTER O, WELL HUNG, and THE SEXY ONE which were all instant New York Times Bestsellers. In January she'll release FULL PACKAGE, a standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter.

Learn more about Lauren --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads

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RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Sexy Lies and Rock & Roll

Sexy Lies and Rock & Roll, by Sawyer Bennett
Publish Date: November 14, 2016
Publisher: Big Dog Books, LLC
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) When you’re a rock god, fame and fortune are your two best friends, but they can be fickle bitches. Everyone wants a piece of me and I have no clue how to deal with it all. I’m being sued, pressured to sign contracts, and fending off rabid women who want to steal my virtue.

Well, not that I really have any virtue, but still… my life has turned completely bat-shit crazy.

That’s why I need Emma Peterson. She got me out of a bit of a jam once, and I know she can do it again. The only problem is that sweet, prim and totally straight-laced Emma doesn’t want anything to do with me. Not professionally, and certainly not personally. 

It’s not that I want her in that way. Let’s be realistic… it would take a crow bar of epic proportions to get her to spread those legs for me.

No, I only want her legal expertise and for her to make sense of my crazy world. It’s a good thing I have just the leverage to make her do my bidding, because her refusal is not an option.

Sawyer Bennett's books are always a sure thing for me. I know that, no matter what characters or plot she chooses, I'll get a dirty-talking alpha male, a heroine who can stand on her own two feet, and a completely fulfilling HEA. So far, Sawyer has given us books with hockey players, lawyers, writers, surfers and military vets, just to name a few. With Sexy Lies and Rock & Roll, she gives us a rock god to add to the list, and Evan Scott fulfilled all my dirty-talking alpha male needs.

We've seen this trope before - confident, sexy, rich guy takes an interest in the boring, introverted work-a-holic girl and vows to bring her out of her shell. Call it predictable, but man - it does it for me every single time. Evan is indeed all those things. He's the hottest new rock star out there, but he's also being plagued by some legal issues. One of his former band mates was recently murdered, and the others are suing him for royalties and copyright infringement. He needs a good lawyer, and Emma's spitfire of a boss (who we know from Sawyer Bennett's Friction series) taps her for the job. 

This takes Emma WAY far out of her comfort zone, which is buried deep in legalese and contracts so thick, it would take a year to read every word. She's not comfortable handling murder raps, copyright law or hotness personified. She's definitely not good with the rock and roll scene of sex, drugs, noise and groupies. And yet, she's backed into a corner by both Evan and her boss, and is forced to see it all through in order to get a position that better suits her. 

My favorite part about this book is how Evan pursued Emma. From the first time he met her, and they clashed, he was intrigued by her and wanted to know her better. But, he's a smart guy, and knew that she's not like the women he's used to. He had to give her a purpose to be with him, and slowly use his affections and attention to woo her. And wow - he is good at the wooing. He is patient and kind. But, not too patient and too kind - he pushes Emma when she needs it and doesn't back down. And when he turns that sexiness on her full blast and her panties melted off, I was right there with her.

Even wallflowers can fall victim to expert wooing. I was glad that Emma wasn't so uptight to not recognize her feelings for what they were. I was not, however, thrilled with her reaction to the main conflict in the book, at the dreaded 75-80% mark. I knew what was going to happen long before it did, and until that point, I had really liked Emma. But, her reaction was disappointing. I wanted her to be better than that. But, her reaction caused Evan to go back to the wooing, which is never a bad thing. And that satisfying HEA that I mentioned earlier? It's here in spades. 

Sawyer Bennett will continue to be of one my one-click favorites if she keeps writing books like this. And I have every confidence that she will. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 1001 Dark Nights Bundle Six

The next Discovery Bundle from 1001 Dark Nights is here, and it includes some pretty fantastic novellas. Check out my review...

1001 Dark Nights Discovery Bundle #6, by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Lorelei James, Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright, Donna Grant, Rebecca Yarros and Kennedy Layne
Publish Date: August 23, 2016
Publisher: Everyafter Romance
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: various romance genres
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) DREAM OF YOU: Abby Erickson isn t looking for a one-night stand, a relationship, or anything that involves any one-on-one time, but when she witnesses a shocking crime, she s thrust into the hands of the sexiest man she s ever seen Colton Anders. His job is to protect her, but with every look, every touch, and every simmering kiss, she s in danger of not only losing her life but her heart also. 

STRIPPED DOWN: From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lorelei James, a new steamy story of the Blacktop Cowboys... Never challenge a cowboy to a little naughty competition A flirty game of sexual truth or dare between best man, Wynton Grant, and maid of honor, Melissa Lockhart during their BFF s wedding reception results in a steamy hookup. But their plans for a one and done change when a family crisis leaves Wyn shorthanded at the Grant Ranch. Experienced horsewoman Mel volunteers to help out and gets way more than she bargained for living under the same roof as the sexy rancher. Playing house has never appealed to Wyn until now. But the feisty redhead is keeping secrets and Wyn s not above stripping her bare body and soul to get to the bottom of it. 

RAGE/KILLIAN: RAGE
Rage might be an aggressive Hunter by nature, but the gorgeous male has never had a problem charming the females. All except Lucie Gaudet. Of course, the lovely Geek is a born troublemaker, and it was no surprise to Rage when she was kicked out of the Wildlands. But now the Pantera need a first-class hacker to stop the potential destruction of their people. And it s up to Rage to convince Lucie to help. Can the two forget the past and their sizzling attraction to save the Pantera?

KILLIAN
Gorgeous, brutal, aggressive, and human, Killian O Roarke wants only two things: to get rid of the Pantera DNA he s been infected with, and get back to the field. But the decorated Army Ranger never bargained on meeting the woman the female of his dreams on his mission to the Wildlands. Rosalie lost her mate to a human, and now the Hunter despises them all. In fact, she thinks they re good for only one thing: barbeque. But this one she s guarding is testing her beliefs. He is proud and kind, and also knows the pain of loss. But in a time of war between their species, isn t any chance of love destined for destruction? 

DRAGON KING: Grace Clark has always done things safe. She s never colored outside of the law, but she has a book due and has found the perfect spot to break through her writer s block. Or so she thinks. Right up until Arian suddenly appears and tries to force her away from the mountain. Unaware of the war she just stumbled into, Grace doesn t just discover the perfect place to write, she finds Arian the most gorgeous, enticing, mysterious man she s ever met.

Arian is a Dragon King who has slept away centuries in his cave. Recently woken, he s about to leave his mountain to join his brethren in a war when he s alerted that someone has crossed onto Dreagan. He s ready to fight until he sees the woman. She s innocent and mortal and she sets his blood aflame. He recognizes the danger approaching her just as the dragon within him demands he claim her for his own.

IGNITE: In Legacy, Colorado, I buried my father alongside his elite Hotshot team. Ten years later, I’ve followed in his footsteps—fighting fires in the mountains of Alaska with my brother.
Amid the flames, nothing ignites me like Avery Claire. She’s stubborn, strong, sexy as hell, and my best friend. She also has no idea that I’m in love with her.

FATED IDENTITY: Grady Kenton relishes the long seductive weekends with Brienne Chaylse, the beautiful CIA liaison who understands his boundaries and accepts things the way he needs them to be. When Brienne’s identity as a CIA special agent is leaked to the media, she and Grady must race to discover whose betrayal runs deep while their true feelings emerge.

These Discovery Bundles from 1001 Dark Nights are very aptly named. Every time I read one, I discover a new-to-me author that I now can't wait to read more of. 

I chose to read Bundle Six mostly because of the two novellas by Jennifer Armentrout and Lorelei James. I'm now all caught up on Jen Armentrout's Wait For You series, and although I've only read the first book in Lorelei James' Blacktop Cowboys series, I am familiar with all of her other series. 

All the other authors were new to me, and I read some things I really loved. My personal favorite was Donna Grant's Dragon King. I love the premise of immortal dragon shape shifters who mate for life. I've added the first book in her Dark Kings series to my TBR already, and am looking forward to seeing how it all started. 

It's strange for me to love these bundles so much. Normally, I'm very much a stickler for reading series in order. But there's something fun about getting this tiny taste of a world. I know I won't know the characters or the other relationships that have obviously been formed in previous books. But, I'm okay with that. I get a glimpse of the world and the background info, which tells me a lot about the series as a whole and whether I will like it. 

And, as a bonus, I get a steamy romance condensed into 100 pages or less. Six times over. 

Bundle Six gives you a little bit of everything. You'll get a new adult contemporary romance, some adult contemporaries, a suspense story and a few paranormal romances. So, no matter your preferences, as long as you like your kissing books, you'll find something good to read here. 

About Jennifer L. Armentrout
#1 New York Times and #1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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About Lorelei James:
Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary erotic western romances set in the modern day Wild West and also contemporary erotic romances. Lorelei’s books have been nominated for and won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s choice Award, as well as the CAPA Award. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota with her family…and a whole closet full of cow girl boots.

From Lorelei: “Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.”

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About Alexandra Ivy:
Alexandra Ivy is a New York Times and USA Todaybestselling author. From Alexandra: “I’m not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother’s knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library.

Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few. I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays. In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on.

Years later (no, I’m not admitting how many) I’m still an avid reader, and my tastes are still as varied as they were in my youth, which I suppose helps to explain why I enjoy writing regency historicals under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy. For now that is enough to keep me busy, but who knows what the future might hold!

I do have a few other loves in my life besides reading and writing, the most important being my unbelievably patient husband, David, and my two sons, Chance and Alexander. Without their constant support and belief in me, I never could have been able to follow my dreams. They are truly my heroes.

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About Laura Wright:
Laura Wright is a New York Times and USA Todaybestselling author. From Laura: “Unlike many of my peers in the writing world, I wasn’t a writer or a reader until I left high school. During my youth I was into theater, song and dance, commercials and boys. I loved romance surely, but I had never read a romance novel until my late teens. With that said, I remember the day I did like it was a moment ago – my aunt gave me the Jude Deveraux novel, Knight in Shining Armor and I couldn’t put it down until the very last word. Then I went straight to the library and got another – then another until I’d read everything she’d ever written. After that, it was McNaught, Howard, Schone, Kleypas, and the Silhouette line, Desire. I instantly loved those emotional, sexy reads, so much so that I began to carve out ideas for my own stories, themes that were unique to me and moved me. In 1997 I enrolled in UCLA extension writing classes, met my mentor and critique partners and since have never stopped writing. I was committed then and I still am now; the need to tell my own romantic stories a full on obsession. My first manuscript was rejected, and though the second one was as well the editor who’d rejected it wanted to see something else from me. I had something (note to authors; always keep working, even after you’ve sent in a proposal) and sent it right away. The day I got the call telling me Desire wanted to buy Cinderella and the Playboy was the best day of my life. That is until I married my husband, and had my two beautiful children. But I must say, writing is much like motherhood – tough, grueling, surprising, delicious and for me, a dream come true.”

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About Donna Grant:
Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.

She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.

Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.

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About Rebecca Yarros:
Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She’s a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores.

When she’s not writing, she’s tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years. They finally can call Colorado home along with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog.Website ** Facebook ** Twitter


About Kennedy Layne:
“First and foremost, I love life. I love that I’m a wife, mother, daughter, sister…and a writer.

“I am one of the lucky women in this world who gets to do what makes them happy. As long as I have a cup of coffee (maybe two or three) and my laptop, the stories evolve themselves and I try to do them justice. I draw my inspiration from a retired Marine Master Sergeant that swept me off of my feet and has drawn me into a world that fulfills all of my deepest and darkest desires. Smoldering romance, military men, intrigue, with a little bit of kinky chili pepper (his recipe), fill my head and there is nothing more satisfying than making the hero and heroine fulfill their destinies.

“Thank you for having joined me on their journeys…”

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