BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Escape (Getaway #3)

Escape (Getaway #3), by Jay Crownover
Publish Date: January 30, 2018
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Everything inside of him is screaming that he needs to run, he needs to go, he needs to escape.

Lane Warner is used to being overshadowed and overlooked.

After all, he’s the youngest brother and the most laid back one in the family. He’s the one known for going with the flow and not making waves, even when things seem to be at their worst.

Very few things in life have had the ability to rile Lane up and get under his skin. At the top of that list is his childhood friend Brynn Fox…no…Brynn Warner. The fact that they share a last name was the one thing that has the power to light him up and spin him out of control like no other. There was no calm, cool and collected when it comes to all the reasons why Brynn had to become part of his family.

It’s slowly killing him to keep wanting what he can’t have, so Lane sees only one way to stop himself from doing something they’ll both regret…he has to leave.

Everything inside of her is calling out to find him, to follow, to bring him home.

Brynn Warner is used to being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

After all, she’s the daughter of an unrepentant gold-digger who never once blinked at being the cause of her daughter’s pain and suffering.

Very few things in her life have ever brought happiness and a sense of security. At the very top of that list is Lane Warner. She has unwaveringly loved the youngest Warner since the first minute she laid eyes on him. He was everything Brynn ever wanted and everything she knew she could never have.

Sometimes the right choice is the one that hurts the most and Brynn’s had to make a few that felt like they might be the end of her.

When Lane takes off, one thing is clear, the only choice Brynn has is to go after him.She’s going to bring her wayward cowboy home….whatever it takes.

I'm not ready to leave the Warner Ranch! Witnessing Cy, Sutton and Lane battle the elements and bad guys and sordid pasts to come out on the other side with their other halves and their HEAs has been awesome. While Cy and Sutton had to battle literal bad men in order to be together, Lane and Brynn's barriers to their HEA were much more complicated and difficult to overcome. 

Lane and Brynn were once as close as BFFs could be until her home life forced her, Lane and Lane's father to make drastic choices and decisions. The result of those decisions destroyed their friendship and complicated their feelings for each other. Ten years passed, and things between them have finally come to a head. They either need to sort out their pasts and get over old hurts or call it quits for good. 

This has been a long time coming. Its been clear since book 1 that Lane and Brynn had something strong and complicated between them. The great thing is, we find out in Escape that Lane and Brynn have never even kissed each other, much less done anything else. Their feelings are so strong, and are based solely on experiences, proximity and affection. I loved that about them. There was no lust or physicality getting in the way - it was pure love between them. Which made how far apart they were in the beginning so much sadder. 

About three-quarters of Escape doesn't take place on the Warner Ranch. Lane and Brynn decide to take a road trip from California back to Wyoming, and they definitely take the long way. Being alone in Lane's truck for that long, meant they had tons of time to talk. And that was what they needed so badly. Those conversations were difficult and sad, but also cathartic and therapeutic. It gave them time to reset and clear up the past. 

Of course, Lane and Brynn can't have an easy time to rediscover their love for one another. Like both his brothers before him, Lane ends up thrust in the middle of a seriously bad situation headed up by some seriously bad guys. It just wouldn't be a Getaway book without that, now would it? Lane and Brynn, along with the help of some of their friends, go from Sacramento to Las Vegas to Denver and along the way have to dodge bullets and run for their lives. They also meet someone new who desperately needs help only they can provide.

Through it all, though, Lane and Brynn finally cut through all the BS that has plagued them for so long. When these two are together, they are TIGHT. I love this couple so much. Brynn never wanted to settle for anything less than the best, and because she held out for the best, that's what she's expecting from Lane. And Lane is finally in a place to give it to her. And Lane's best is impressive. 

Jay Crownover included a few little surprises from some of her other series in Escape. When the gang hits Denver, they meet up with a character from her Marked Men series. And the new character that comes into play early in the book happens to be from The Point. It was awesome how she wove those other two series into this one so seamlessly. 

Although that appears to be the end of the Getaway series for now, the very end of Escape created a huge loose end that I, for one, very desperately want to see tied up. So, hopefully Jay will feel compelled to write at least one more book in this awesome world. Because I would love another chance to check in with the three Warner brothers and their women. 

Brynn

For the first time in days, it felt like my world was set back to rights.

Everything was crooked and off center the minute Lane walked out of the house in Wyoming and disappeared. I couldn’t think straight. Every step I took was wobbly and unsteady. From the moment I opened my eyes, to the second I fell into a fitful sleep at night, it was like I saw things through a grainy black and white filter. There was no color in any of my days when Lane was gone. There was no joy or light. There was only a massive void where I knew I should be able to feel my heart hurting and my soul suffering, the way they always did when it came to the youngest Warner, but when he left there was nothing.

I thought I knew what it felt like to have everything inside of me freeze and shatter. When word came that Lane had been shot while trying to protect his niece from a madman hell-bent on destroying everything that was important to Sutton, I was sure I would never be able to breathe or feel again. That icy pain, that frigid fear had nothing on the numbness that followed when Lane walked out the door seconds after Jack dropped to his knee. At that moment, I knew I was supposed to focus on the man asking me to share his life with him, the one who wanted me for me, and not because he was driven by some chivalrous need to save me from my messed up family and tumultuous home life.

But I hadn’t been focused on Jack. All I could see was the resignation and regret flashing through Lane’s pale blue eyes. We were both reliving the moment another man had asked me to marry him. Only that time, Lane hadn’t been able to escape the outcome. He’d been reminded of it for years, every waking moment when I’d technically held the title of his stepmom. I was something neither one of us could get away from no matter how hard we tried. It was amazing how much one little yes could change everything.

Now that he was standing in front of me, looking much thinner and more haggard than he had even when he came home from the hospital, I finally felt like I could inhale again. Everything that was fuzzy and blurred around the edges pulled back into sharp focus. I could look at the sky behind his tousled head and see that it was the same stormy blue as his eyes. I could also focus on the lines of tension and stress radiating out of the corners of those eyes and the bruised, dark hollows underneath them. Without him, nothing felt like it mattered. There was no home. There was no peace of mind. There was no safety and security.

When he was close, the littlest things felt hugely important and essential. The twitch of his lips into a wry grin spread warmth that chased away the emptiness for the first time in what felt like forever. The heat radiating off of his long, lean body made my heart kick back to life. When his arms wrapped around me for a seriously overdue hug, I finally felt alive. Finally felt something other than the echoing loneliness and hollowness that consumed me the minute he turned his back on me. Even with Daye trapped between us, I still felt a tingle at every single spot where his body touched mine.

“It’s so good to see you.” I meant it with every fiber of my being. Looking at him, even as worn and as drawn as he appeared, settled something deep inside of me.

Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.

Website: http://www.jaycrownover.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJayCrownover?ref=hl
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JayCrownover
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Crownover

RELEASE DAY: The Upside of Being Single

Emma Hart's THE UPSIDE TO BEING SINGLE is live!

The Upside to Being Single, by Emma Hart
Publish Date: January 30, 2018
Publisher: self-published
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

(Synopsis) If anyone asks, I knew better than to flash my boobs for Mardi Gras beads.

I still don’t know why I did it.

Maybe it was the dare from my two best friends.

Maybe it was the guys on the balcony saying they’d throw Fireball shots with the beads.

Or maybe it was the quiet guy in the corner of that same balcony with piercing gray eyes, wavy dark hair, and a smile so tempting I wanted to climb up there and lick it off his face.

Maybe it was because I never thought I’d see them again.

Not that it matters. Not today.

Because the hotel I manage was finally bought—and the guy who walks in and introduces himself as my new boss is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Silent.

There are many upsides to being single.

Your new boss knowing what your boobs look like?

Not one of them.

“I just—I don’t get it.” I threw myself onto the sofa and almost sent the box of donuts flying onto the floor.
Thankfully, Peyton was quicker than the box. She grabbed it and sat back, hugging it to herself. “First, watch the donuts. I got the last two pink sprinkles, and I’m partial to them.” She stroked the top of the box. “Second, what don’t you get? How he doesn’t care about your boobs? I don’t care about them either.”
“You’re not supposed to care about my boobs. You’re a woman, for a start.”
“I care about your boobs,” Chloe interrupted, tucking her blond hair behind her ear. “I think you have great boobs. Bra or no bra.”
“Usually no bra,” Peyton added.
“I’m not afraid to throw something at you,” I warned her. “This is awkward.”
“Ugh! Get over yourself, Melanie!” Peyton snapped her fingers. “You are a grown woman. He is a grown man. He saw your tits. So what? Steven Lawrence saw your tits five times in junior year.”
I snatched a donut from the box. Don’t tell my hips. “We were dating! It’s entirely different!”
Chloe delicately picked up a white-iced donut before saying, “She’s right. It is different, Peyt. They were dating, and Jacob is her boss. You can’t expect her to just get over that. It is partly your fault.”
“It’s just as much your fault,” Peyton reminded her, then looked at me and nodded toward Chloe. “Drunky smurf over here shook her Tic-Tacs like she was in front of a bachelor party leaving a curry house.”
I choked on my laughter. “That’s not the point. You got us drunk. It’s almost entirely your fault.”
“Look, sunshine,” she said, tearing a bite of donut off the ring so her words were muffled. “I didn’t grab your shirt and whip it up like a two-dollar hooker on overtime. You did that, so grow a pair and take responsibility for your actions.”
“You sound like you don’t want to take responsibility for yours.”
“Hey. You’re big girls. You can refuse cocktails.”
Chloe and I shared a glance. “Refuse cocktails?” she said. “I don’t understand.”
“You have us mixed up with your other friends,” I continued. “But, wait. You don’t have other friends.”
“I have plenty of friends,” Peyt said.
“Friends without penises. Or benefits.”
She paused. “We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about your hot boss who knows what your tits look like.”
“You’re not helping.”
“I’m not trying to help. I’m trying to slap your size-eight ass into reality, you idiot.”
“Slap mine into reality and I’m putting yours on a catapult. Right into the middle of the gulf.” I tore my donut in two and gave her boobs a pointed look. “I always wondered if silicone would float.”

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

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

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

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RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Moonlight Sins (de Vincent #1)

Moonlight Sins (de Vincent #1), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date: January 30, 2018
Publisher: AvonBooks
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) Julia Hughes has always played it safe until she learned a very painful lesson. Now Julia’s starting over with a job in the Louisiana bayou—and a scorching encounter with a stranger, only to discover he’s Lucian de Vincent... her new employer. The de Vincent brothers share a massive fortune and a dark reputation. Julia cares for their troubled sister, but a menacing presence in the mansion—and the ever-present temptation of Lucian—prove dangerously distracting.

Lucian’s grandmother claimed de Vincent men fall in love once—and hard. Apparently, it’s Lucian’s turn. Julia’s compassionate care of his twin makes Lucian want to lay himself bare. But some secrets are better for Julia not to know.

The recent “suicide” of Lucian’s father is the latest in a string of deaths on the estate. Someone is eliminating the de Vincents. And the best way to get to Lucian may be through Julia...

Ten Things You Can Expect From Moonlight Sins

1. Three Hot Brothers

Moonlight Sins centers around the de Vincent clan, which admittedly, by the time we join the story, has dwindled to only a handful. But, it does include the three de Vincent brothers - Lucian, Gabriel and Devlin. All three are super hot, super rich, and super complicated. They even have foreboding nicknames - Lucifer, Demon and Devil. Charming, right? Each brother seems to be messed up by their family, and it's manifesting in different ways. But, you can be sure that, if a de Vincent is present, there will be smoldering broodiness. 

2. A Kick Ass Setting

Once again, Jen Armentrout has brought us to NOLA as a setting for one of her books. But, this time, we're not in NOLA proper. We're in the legit bayou. Complete with antebellum house, Spanish moss and humid nights. I love books set in interesting places - it makes them even more intriguing. Speaking of the house... 

3. A Creepy House

The majority of the book takes place in the de Vincent mansion, an old, southern-style home with widow walks, columns and secret passageways. And people use those secret passageways to their advantage many times during Moonlight Sins. 

4. A Brave Girl

Julia is a nurse hired by the de Vincents to take care of their comatose sister. She's out on her own for the first time and is determined to take charge of her own life for a change. The de Vincents are domineering and scary, and Julia is not a bit happy with Lucian who first met her under false pretenses. She does her job well and asks questions when she needs answers. And she's careful, but not afraid to go after what she wants when she recognizes it. 

5. A Mean Girl

Devlin's fiancee is a pretentious, snooty socialite, and I promise you'll get so mad at Devlin for being with her every time she's present. 

6. A Slow Burn

It's clear from the beginning that Lucian and Julia have crazy amounts of chemistry, but thanks to a bad choice made by Lucian in the beginning, Julia fights it for a long time. And good for her, too. I'd be so flaming pissed if I was in her shoes. But, when they're living together and helping to care for the same person, it's inevitable that her walls will fall and they give in to all that heat. 

7. A Hot Romance

Lucian might be a enigmatic, cagy bastard, but when he falls for Julia, he falls HARD. He is so protective of her and so taken with her, it's impossible not to fall in love with him too. There was no hope at all for Julia. Especially when he puts the moves on her. And this man has MOVES.

8. A Dysfunctional Family with a Mysterious Past

The brothers' family is seriously messed up. There's a "curse" that affects any woman the men in their family fall in love with. Their mother died a tragic death. Their father died under mysterious circumstances, Their sister is catatonic after having been missing for ten years. Their uncle is a controlling jerk. And the brothers themselves aren't super warm and fuzzy with each other. It's a complicated history that has affected their presents. 

9. A Mystery to Solve

Where has Lucian's sister been all this time? Is she really sick? How did the brothers' father die? Is the curse real? There are many mysteries to uncover within the pages of Moonlight Sins, and for the most part, by the end, you have your answers. At least some of them. There's some questions left unanswered, and some new ones created that will take us into Gabe's book next. 

10. An Exciting Beginning to A New Series

Moonlight Sins pulls bits of lots of stuff I love about Jen Armentrout's books and brings them into one book. There's heat and heart and a mystery to solve. There's an epic romance and a complex family. I'm excited to see where it goes next.