Review ~ Fleeting Moments by Bella Jewel

Book Description:

**New Standalone Romance** 

One single moment changes everything 

In one breath, you can have it all 

A split-second later, it can all disappear 

Vanished forever 

That was me 

I had it all 

Then in a cruel twist of fate, it was taken from me 

A beautiful life gone in a flash 

But he was there 

He was there to pick me up when I fell 

To protect me 

My savior. My rock. 

He was just a stranger 

Just a selfless stranger with a face I'll never forget 

Can't forget 

Won't forget 

And like everything else, he just disappeared 

As if he never existed 

I have to find him 

I need to find him 

He has to know that he saved me 

He has to know that in that one fleeting moment, he was all I could see 

**This book contains adult themes**

Buy Links:

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/29Zm3ES

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29ZlScB

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 3 stars

“Life is a lie, Lucy girl. Deal with it.”

This was one of those books that had the potential to be a great book. Fleeting Moments had that element of mystery running through it, with some suspense and of course romance. Bella Jewel has created an intricate plot where for once I wanted more. With the amount of plotlines that were being juggled all at once I feel that the story would have benefitted from being expanded upon in certain areas so that the reader didn’t get too lost or detached from the story that was unfolding. But from the first page I was hooked, I couldn’t wait to read every page and find out if everything was as it seemed.

“Life is a series of fleeting moments. Moments that pass you by – sometimes without recognition. We let moments define us and other times we let them destroy us. Those moments can be small, or they can be momentous.”

Lucy was a woman that idolised her husband, but as time went on she felt as if she was a bit part in his world as he was forever putting work before her. She was lonely, felt abandoned and now being pregnant felt more and more alone. They had tried for a long time for a baby and Lucy was hoping that maybe this would give her husband, Gerard an incentive to spend more time at home, but alas no.

Having been let down once again, Lucy attends the game on her own. The game that Gerard had bought tickets for to surprise her, but once again he has to leave because of work. An event at the game changes the course of Lucy’s life and as she retells what happened, no-one believes her, including Gerard. Is Lucy going mad?

The stranger that saved Lucy was Hunter and he was an extremely welcome addition to this story. He was an enigma, a man that left no trace and was only around in fleeting moments. Was he a man that Lucy had imagined or did Hunter truly exist? The mystery surrounding Hunter is ramped up from the time they meet at the stadium and the intensity only builds the more and more this story continues.

“A fleeting moment. You go as fast as you came. Just a moment I can’t hang on to. Please let me hang on.”

I will say that Lucy and Gerard’s reactions and actions towards one another after the accident was a little hard to swallow. I can see both sides to the story but considering the picture already painted I would have thought that their past would have had a greater impact on their future. Gerard’s sister needed euthanasia and was one woman that I badly wanted to beat the ever loving hell out of. But as the age old saying goes, blood is thicker than water, I just wish that Gerard grew a backbone and put his sister in her place.

Lucy became a character that was hard to tolerate after the accident. While I empathised and sympathised with her situation in the beginning, the more she opened her mouth the more I was begging her to keep it shut. Sometimes silence says a thousand words and Lucy would have done well to heed that saying rather than get herself into situations and conversations that needn’t have happened.

“My moments defined me.

They took so much and yet returned the same.

They destroyed me.

But mostly, they created me.”

But that is the beauty of reading, characters react in these ways to give us entertainment and Lucy was certainly that. But the more you read you did see a totally different side to Lucy and while I saw this as the author trying to redeem her in the reader’s eyes, for me it was too little too late.

Hunter, whether real or not, really made this book for me. Trying to see the man behind the mask was intriguing in itself. I was desperate for his story and while we got little snippets it was never enough, I would have loved his POV at times especially when he opened up to the more sensitive and vulnerable side to his character. He was a man I was desperate to understand.

“He makes me feel okay again. Like the strongest drug, like the most beautiful lie.”

Overall, this was an intriguing read and as I said above, one where I desperately wanted a little more. It was a quick read and for something as plot driven as this one another fifty plus pages would have made a huge difference. A great, quick read none the less though.

Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway ~ Ball Peen Hammer by Lauren Rowe

Ready the Pickles, Keane Morgan is finally here!

Meet Keane in this STANDALONE romantic comedy! 

(No Prior reading required)

Book Description:

Keane Morgan wouldn’t return any of my calls or texts, and I was pissed as hell about it. I didn’t want to drive from Seattle to L.A. with the guy any more than he wanted to drive with me, but I had no frickin’ choice in the matter--at least, not if I wanted to use his brother Dax’s coveted parking spot at UCLA. 

Okay, so it turned out Keane was objectively gorgeous, and, fine, pretty funny, too. But did he have to be so damned in love with himself? I mean, jeez, the cocky way he flashed those dimples was just so orchestrated. And, honestly, what kind of guy uses the phrase “baby doll” with a straight face? Oh, that’s right: the kind of guy who’s a male stripper. 

Yup, the cocky jerk turned out to be Seattle’s answer to Magic Mike, a stripper known as “Ball Peen Hammer”--which meant Keane Morgan was emphatically not the kind of guy I’d ever fall for. 

Not. At. All.

No freakin’ way.

Well, until Keane convinced me to fall for him, that is. 

Which I did.

Hard.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29k2ruJ

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29kfnMe

iBooks: http://apple.co/2aisFfT

Nook: http://bit.ly/2a9KfDc

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2alSfU0

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4.5 stars

***ARC received for an honest review***

“Still livin’ the dream, dolin’ out fantasies to the horny ladies one lap dance at a time.”

Ever since I discovered Lauren Rowe with her fantastic series “The Club” I have been an addict. From the first read and every read thereafter I have gelled with her writing and though for some it is over the top, for me, it ticks my boxes. I love the cute romance, her sense of humour albeit in the gutter at times always has me laughing and in stitches and in this book her wit and comedic genius rules in spades. Yes, it can be a little childish, yes the dialogue is hilarious but our Peenie is a little bit like Peter Pan, he is the boy that never grew up, but in Ball Peen Hammer he comes a long, long way.

“He’s Daffy Duck trapped inside Prince Charming’s body. Quite an entertaining combination, I must admit. He’s like watching my own private reality TV show.”

Keane “Ball Peen Hammer” Morgan is a male stripper, definitely think Magic Mike. He is the epitome of beautiful and stunningly handsome and he knows it. Yes, he is a tad immature, he is cocky, a touch arrogant but this man has a huge heart and a heart of gold. He is naturally hilarious, couldn’t be serious if he tried, lives life to the max but when he loves, he loves hard and it has never happened before, but then, he had never met Maddy Milliken.

“…I’ll never hate you as long as I live.”

Maddy Milliken is my kind of woman; she was totally “adorbsicles” as our Peenie lovingly names her. While quiet and unassuming on first appearances, when this girl gets her confidence mojo she can battle with the best of them. She is quick smart, her sense of humour is fabulous and she takes no crap, especially from Keane. While these two didn’t hit it off straight away, once these two embark on their road trip, all bets are off. Maddy was a budding film maker and documentaries were her speciality. Embarking on a new adventure to film school a road trip is in order and her over protective sister makes her take a chaperone…our Keanie Peenie!

“My middle name is “Put Your Fucking Shirt On, Keane Elijah Fucking Morgan,”” I say. Keane laughs uproariously.

“God, you’re adorbsicles, Maddy, just like Zander said you’d be.”

“And you’re annoy-sicles.”

These two just made one and other, so well suited, their banter was infectious and they put each other at ease. They believed in each other, they fed off each other and their chemistry, platonic and sexual was off the charts. Lauren Rowe really delivered on the character connection and you just could not help but fall in love with these two and champion them along. While Keane at first glances is not lacking in anything he needs his time outs where he just shuts himself off from the rest of the world, it is this that really shows us his vulnerable side and for all his bravado and charisma it was great to get this glimpse of him. It showed the reader that he was in fact real and was in fact a little intimidated of the route that his job had taken him.

“You’ve unleashed me, baby. I’m brand new.”

I laughed hard and I laughed long with this one. My heart was just bursting with love for these two. I’m sure that Lauren Rowe must have been a dude in a past life because Keane was too real, his vocabulary consisted of fun, filth or “Nietzsche,” and his friendship with his best mate, Zander would have anyone in hysterics. These two together made many a laugh out loud moment…think the tune of Old McDonald…some weed… “Dick-pic to a chick-chick, everywhere a dick-pic. Here a dick, there a pic, everywhere a dick-pic…E-I-E-I-O.” You had to be there… but it was the little things that made you laugh so hard yet underneath was a beautiful love story for two people that were complete opposites yet were the yin to the yang, the tea to the biscuits, the ice cream to shark week… they just went.

“Okay, confession? I don’t actually know who Nietzsche is. All I know is he’s the guy I’m supposed to name-drop whenever I wanna sound super smart.”

So, if you want a good laugh, I can highly recommend this, it’s an easy read, a comforting read, a turn that frown upside down read. Keanie Peanie is too infectious and Maddy Miliken, as I said is just “adorbsicles.” Another hit for Lauren Rowe.

“And that right there is why I love you the most.”

Excerpt:

As they exchange information, I make my way to the end of my aisle and loop into theirs, not taking my eyes off Baby Face the whole time. Shit. This dude’s hunting Maddy so hard, it’s making my blood boil. Jesus, he’s going full-throttle rifle on Maddy’s ass right now, completely foregoing his crossbow altogether.

When I reach the two of them in the middle of their aisle, I shuffle past the dude and stand next to Maddy, shoulder to shoulder, and then, on a sudden impulse, put my arm around her shoulders and squeeze her tight, making her wobble in place at the unexpected jolt to her balance. “Hey, sis,” I say, squeezing her like a rag doll. “You totally fell down on your candy-acquiring duties.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” She subtly wiggles out of my grasp. “Brian and I got into this hilarious argument about the best candy bar of all- time, and—”

“And I’m totally right,” Brian says, cutting her off, and they both chuckle at some inside joke.

“No, I’m totally right,” Maddy corrects.

Brian smiles at her. “I’ll actually be down in L.A. in a month. How ’bout I call you then?”

“Great.”

“Nice to meet you, man,” Brian says, looking at me. He nods but doesn’t put out his hand.

I nod back.

Brian strolls away, buys a Snickers bar and a can of Red Bull, and leaves with a little wave to Maddy.

The minute he’s out the door, Maddy takes a giant step away from me, her face etched with annoyance. “What was that?” she asks.

“What?”


“That weird thing you just did?”


“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


Maddy puts on an exaggerated scowl, like she’s Hulk Hogan eying an opponent. “’Hey, Brian,’” she says in a low voice, clearly intending to imitate me but sounding more like Arnold Schwarzenegger imitating Maddy imitating me. “’I’m Maddy Milliken’s bodyguard and I’m going to beat you the hell up now,’” she adds.

“What are you talking about?” I say, chuckling.

Maddy pauses, assessing me, and finally shrugs. “Nothing. I guess I imagined it.”

“Imaged what?”

“Your weird... I dunno... vibe.”


“Oh, well, yeah. I was worried about you.”


“Worried about me? I was standing in a minimart, buying candy. Pretty low-risk activity, I’d say.”


“Uh, you absolutely were not standing in a minimart, buying candy—you totally fell down on that job, dude. You were standing in a minimart, getting picked up by a douche. And second of all—”

“What?”

Shit. What the fuck am I doing? I’ve got to stop this shit right now. “Don’t get riled up, baby doll,” I say in my most soothing voice. “All I’m saying is you took so damned long in here, I started thinking maybe the store was getting robbed or you’d fallen into the toilet or something.”

Maddy twists her mouth. “Brian didn’t seem the least bit douchey to me.”

I shrug.
“What gave you the impression he’s a douche?”


“Just a figure of speech. So are you gonna do the job I hired you to do or not?” I motion to the candy rack. “‘Cause based on your performance thus far, you’re totally fired.”

“And I wasn’t getting ‘picked up,’” Maddy says, her tone full of indignation. “Brian’s brother goes to UCLA. Can’t I talk to a helpful, nice guy without it being some sort of a sleazy pick-up?”

“Sure you can. However, in this instance, you were talking to a helpful, nice guy who was picking you up so he can bone the living fuck outta ya.”

“Keane.” Maddy’s cheeks burst with color. “Don’t say that. Oh my god. You’re insane. Brian was just being helpful, that’s all.”

“Yeah, so he can bone the living fuck outta ya.”

“Stop saying that. Please. It’s offensive and absolutely not true. This topic of conversation is officially over.”

About the Author:

USA Today and internationally bestselling author Lauren Rowe lives in San Diego, California, where, in addition to writing books, she performs with her dance/party band at events all over Southern California, writes songs, takes embarrassing snapshots of her ever-patient Boston terrier, Buster, spends time with her wonderful family, and narrates audiobooks. Much to Lauren’s thrill, her books have been translated all over the world in multiple languages and hit multiple domestic and international bestseller lists. With enticing characters, enthralling situations and a general love of romantic fiction, Lauren has created a world of her own, full of wit and sensual desire.

Giveaway:

Signed Paperback of Ball Peen Hammer
  a Rafflecopter giveaway
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDk5NjRmMDM5ZDM4YTBjYWM0YzAyYzM0NGI2ODRhOjg3Ng==/?

Friday Frights ~ PNR Review ~ Alpha Bear Detective by Zoe Chant

Book Description:

A brave woman in deadly danger + a bear shifter police detective who will protect her with his life + a frightening foe = one thrilling romance! 

Curvy Maria Hernandez loves her job as the personal assistant to a politician fighting for human-shifter equality... Until an assassination attempt turns her life upside down. Her boss, State Senator and sparrow shifter Laura Davis, comes under fire—literally—from the hate group Humans Against Shifters. Maria is a witness and more than willing to testify. But she'll need serious protection to make it to the witness stand alive. 

Alpha bear shifter Detective Levi Hale left his small shifter community to carry out his duty to protect and serve. He's always protected everyone equally. But when he saves Maria’s life, he realizes that he's found the one person he’ll defend above anyone else. 

Levi and Maria’s attraction can’t be denied, but police rules forbid Levi from acting on it until the case is over. Can he resist their overwhelming passion? And can he keep Maria safe from her deadly enemies? 

Alpha Bear Detective is a sizzling hot, standalone BBW bear shifter romance. No cliffhangers!

Buy Links:

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/2aBg4XX

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2aeF1Vh

Our Review:

Reviewed by Shirley ~ 4.5 stars

This delightful book starts with a bang and ends on a hot sizzle. It is about the strong sexual attraction which quickly forms between a human and a bear shifter who meet in very difficult circumstances.

Maria Hernandez is the P.A. for Senator Laura Davis. Maria works long and hard beside the Senator whom she likes and believes in very much. The Senator is a sparrow shifter and is a strong advocate for human-shifter equality but not everyone shares their views, especially an extremely volatile group who call themselves the Human Against Shifters.

It was through a confrontation with these people that Maria meets a certain, very sexy Detective, who also happens to be a bear shifter. When Maria actually takes notice of Detective Hale after everything settles down her first thought was Detective Tall, Dark, and Handsome but seeing she was anti men at this moment in time she has to keep telling herself she was NOT going to pursue this immediate attraction she is feeling towards him. The same mutual attraction was being felt by Levi. He was totally bowled over by her looks and curves and he thought she was absolutely gorgeous and she brought out his inner protectiveness to the fore big time and he knew he had to protect her at all costs.

The attraction between these two burns hot and spontaneous, taking them both by surprise. Even though they knew it was wrong to follow it through while they were both in the middle of an investigation they just couldn't help themselves. And when the first time they found themselves alone the temperature soared and it was like two magnets being pulled together.

“Before he could apply any rational thoughts to the situation, he was leaning in. She was warm and sweet beneath his mouth, and his hand moved up from her shoulder to cup her cheek and tilt her head so he could taste her more thoroughly.”

For a short story it packs a lot in it. There is violence and deceit which surrounds our two main characters, bringing them into dangerous situations which they bravely fight through but the hot, steamy lovemaking which neither of them can deny runs strong.

“It felt like they'd created their own little pocket of desire, here in this strange kitchen - their own world, a world that smelled like sex and want, this heated space between them that no one else would ever know.”

This is a book with a great story, passionate love scenes and has interesting characters which will keep the reader turning the pages. A really good and enjoyable read.

Blog Tour & Review ~ Wicked Mafia Prince (A Dangerous Royals Romance #2) by Annika Martin

The most violent Dragusha brother...in a standalone romance HEA!

Book Description:

The most violent Dragusha brother...in a standalone romance HEA!

Viktor

You were the love of my life.

Beautiful and radiant.

Then you betrayed our mafiya family—the only family we ever knew.

Grief-stricken, I did the honor killing.

Quick and vicious.

Your heart no longer beating. Mine ripped to shreds.

When I discovered you were innocent, I was destroyed. 

Now, years later—somehow, impossibly—there you are, alive.

The nun who prays and never shows her face.

Trapped on the other side of a webcam.

How can it be?

They think I’m obsessed. Imagining ghosts.

But I’ll always know you.

I'll always know my Tanechka.

Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30884689-wicked-mafia-prince

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2ahOzBo

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2anpxiD

iBooks: http://apple.co/2a4zdyS 

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2a4zaTx

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4.5 stars

***ARC received for an honest review***

“It starts with the stare. Ends in blood…”

Annika Martin delivers once again with Viktor’s story. While each book centres around one particular brother the continuing storyline throughout this series has me totally hooked. I love a good Mafia romance and with three extremely different and intriguing brothers this series is certainly a winner in my eyes.

In Dark Mafia Prince Viktor was the quiet one, he had that air of silent but deadly about him, was a man of few words and seemed more reactionary than a plotter and schemer, but that was where his brother, Aleksio levelled the playing field. While Aleksio could fight with the best of them, he had the head on his shoulders while Viktor was more the brawn and this certainly becomes apparent in Wicked Mafia Prince.

Viktor keeps himself to himself but those closest to him know that he is the way he is due to the loss of his long-time girlfriend, Tanechka. Viktor had to make the hardest decision of his life when it became apparent that the one person he thought he could trust with his life betrayed him. Tanechka was a turn coat and committed the ultimate betrayal. She was a trained assassin too, she was Viktor’s partner in crime, best friend, confidante and the love of his life. Having to kill Tanechka, killed a part of Viktor too and the guilt has been all-consuming ever since.

“I’m the man who will keep you from your god until you remember you’re a devil.”

So when Viktor thinks he sees Tanechka on a live feed on a human trafficking site, his friends are quick to dismiss it as a guilt induced ghost, but has Tanechka really come back from the dead?

Annika Martin once again delivers a story that has you constantly on the edge of your seat. With the hunt for Kiro continuing and the Mafia families still competing for supremacy will the brothers rise against what is turning out to be a formidable opponent?

I loved that we really got to see Viktor as a person rather than an assassin, his guilt with regards to the woman he loved and lost was palpable and his hurt bled off every page. Recounting their relationship through flashbacks tugged at every heart string, especially knowing how their story ended. Their bond was impenetrable; their love was endless but trust once broken in their line of work was always certainly a death sentence.

“It’s true – everything in my world changed when I met Tanechka. She showed me somebody could love me. And then she betrayed me, betrayed the gang. Or seemed to. I felt so wild when I thought she’d turned traitor…yet deep down it felt inevitable, too. I didn’t know she was innocent. And I killed her.”

Lazarus is still their deadly foe and while the hunt for Kiro is still open ended the net is closing in. I had to chuckle at Lazarus’s newest leadership guru, this gave some light entertainment in what was an intense read.

Annika Martin, I cannot wait for Savage Mafia Prince, this series has certainly become one of my favourite Mafia reads and I cannot wait to read the conclusion to the brother’s story. Kiro is definitely a character we know absolutely nothing about but the little background we have is certainly going to lead to another tense and intriguing read. Bring on October!!

Also Available:

Book One: Dark Mafia Prince

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/292HyTz

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/28ZcHH4

iBooks: http://apple.co/28WBWJe

Google: http://bit.ly/2962PLk

Available for Pre-Order:

Book Three: Savage Mafia Prince

Pre-Order Links:

Release Date: October 11th

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2a2Rr0E

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2a7GFb7

About the Author:

Annika Martin is a NYT bestselling author who enjoys writing dirty stories about dangerous criminals! She loves helping animals and kicking snow clumps off the bottom of cars around the streets of Minneapolis, and in her spare time she writes as the RITA award-winning author Carolyn Crane.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://annikamartinbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnikaMartinBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Annika_Martin

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/28Q3zVb

Dirty Quote Newsletter: http://tinyletter.com/AnnikaMartin

Excerpt Reveal ~ The First Taste by Jessica Hawkins

The First Taste by Jessica Hawkins

Series: Slip of the Tongue #2

Release Date: August 4th, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Description:

Andrew Beckwith has already devoted his life to one girl—and as far as he’s concerned, she’s all he needs. The rough-around-the-edges bad boy left his reckless ways behind six years ago when his daughter Bell was born. To the female population’s dismay, he’s unapologetically single. When Bell’s mother walked out on them years ago, he vowed never to let another woman close enough to hurt them again.

Amelia Van Ecken isn’t just another woman. She’s an independent, smart, and savvy businesswoman who doesn’t have time for sex, much less love. In the midst of a drawn-out, bitter divorce, all she wants is to bury herself in work. But when sharp-tongued Amelia and stubborn Andrew cross paths, sparks fly—and burn. Two things are obvious in an instant: they want each other, and they’re from different worlds. It’s the perfect formula for an off-the-charts one-night stand. After all, it’s not as if opposites ever attract.

The First Taste, a standalone spin-off of the Slip of the Tongue.

Excerpt:

“What’re your plans tonight?”

She scoffs. “It’s Friday night. What aren’t my plans? I have drinks with friends in an hour, then a late dinner, and who knows after that.”

“Cancel them.”

She gapes at me. “Cancel my plans? Why would I?”

“Come out with me. Sadie says there’s a place around here with great pizza.”

She laughs, tilting her head and exposing the smooth column of her throat. “First, I don’t eat carbs, so there’s no way you’re getting me to do anything with the promise of pizza. Second, I just told you—I don’t date.”

“And neither do I.”

“Then why are you asking me out?” she asks.

“Because despite what you may think, I am a gentleman, and it’s only good manners to buy you dinner first.”

“First?” she asks, wrinkling her nose. “What’s second?”

We stare at each other. I let her figure it out on her own. It’s rare to meet a woman like me, someone who truly has no interest in finding a partner. I’ve heard that claim from enough girls to know when they’re bullshitting me, and unless Amelia is a Grade-A con artist, she definitely isn’t looking to get serious.

When she understands, the wrinkles on her forehead ease, and she parts her lips. I answer with a knowing smile. Suggesting sex within half an hour of meeting someone might normally get me slapped, but I get the feeling Amelia appreciates a more direct approach.

“I don’t date,” I say, “but I’m still a man with eyes.”

She makes no secret of looking me up and down. “You’re not my type either,” she warns. “I like men who carry a briefcase and see a barber regularly.”

I run my hand through my black hair, which I know is too long. “How’s that working out for you?”

She narrows her eyes. “Fine. Perfect.”

“I have some tattoos too,” I say. “And ride a motorcycle. Since that’s normally how I get most girls, I suppose those are turn-offs for you.”

“They are,” she says immediately, straightening her shoulders. “I’ve never understood the appeal of a bad boy.”

“Then tonight, we’re a match made in heaven, aren’t we? It shouldn’t be hard for either of us to say goodbye afterward.”

She bats her eyelashes a few times, not because she’s flirting but because she’s thinking. Considering. Which means it’s basically a done deal. I’ve never gotten this far with a girl only to have her walk away. “Why even bother with dinner?” she asks.

I take a moment to study her, her shoulder-length, perfectly coifed blonde hair. Her defined red lips that look like a heart when pursed, which is often. Yeah, based on the fact that I’m noticing details—something I try not to do anymore—I know I’m feeling her tonight. Most guys would jump at the opportunity to skip the small talk, but that doesn’t really appeal to me. I like women, always have. Just because Shana fucked me in the head doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate them. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend time around them—just so long’s it’s surface stuff.

I don’t want to scare her off by suggesting I might want to have a conversation with her, so I just shrug. “Because I’m starving.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Indulge me then. I need my energy.”

“For what?” she asks.

I arch an eyebrow at her. I’ll definitely need my energy for a night with her.

She reads my expression and her cheeks redden. “Oh.”

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31121852-the-first-taste?from_search=true

About the Author:

Jessica Hawkins grew up between the purple mountains and under the endless sun of Palm Springs, California. She studied international business at Arizona State University and has also lived in Costa Rica and New York City. To her, the most intriguing fiction is forbidden, and that’s what you’ll find in her stories. Currently, she resides wherever her head lands, which is often the unexpected (but warm) keyboard of her trusty MacBook.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicahawkinsauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6889902.Jessica_Hawkins

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jess_hawk

Website: http://www.jessicahawkins.net

Cover Reveal ~ Author Anonymous by EK Blair

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS: A True Story told through the voice of E.K. Blair

(a non-series STAND-ALONE book)

Genre: Romance/Drama/Non-Fiction

Release Date: August 29, 2016

Book Description:

A TRUE STORY told through the voice of New York Times Bestselling Author, E.K. Blair.

She’s an author.

She’s a mother.

She’s a wife.

She’s a fraud. 

A woman marked and bound by her own deceit, this is the astounding tale of how one choice knocked her world from its axis forcing her to battle through a year of scandal and betrayal, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. 

This is an intoxicatingly risqué stand-alone true story tangled in lust, heartbreak, and contrition.

Pre-Order Links:

iBooks Pre-Order: http://apple.co/2968UKD

Amazon Live Alert:  http://bit.ly/28VuVdM

Join E.K.'s Thunderclap: http://thndr.me/nXMb5C

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/24rMaH1

Cover Reveal ~ Entrapment (Infidelity #4) by Aleatha Romig

ENTRAPMENT 

Infidelity Book 4

By Aleatha Romig

Release Day September 13, 2016

Book Description:

"The snare is set—leaving, friendships, lives, and futures dangling in the balance"

ENTRAPMENT continues the epic new romantic suspense series INFIDELITY, featuring Lennox "Nox" Demetri, Alexandria "Charli" Collins, the Montagues, and the Demetris. 

The thrills, heat, and suspense continue to add up...

One chance meeting

plus...

One sexy, possessive alpha and one spunky, determined heroine 

plus...

One week of uncontainable, unbridled passion

plus...

One impulsive decision 

times...

Two declarations of love

divided by... 

The sum of intertwining pasts, lies, and broken rules 

equals...

ENTRAPMENT

"Infidelity - it isn't what you think"

Don't miss this latest novel in the Infidelity series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig. The classic twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions will have readers on the edge of their seats, discovering answers that continue to pose questions. Be ready to swoon one minute and scream the next. 

Have you been Aleatha'd?

ENTRAPMENT is the fourth of five full-length novels in the INFIDELITY series: Betrayal, Cunning, Deception, Entrapment, and Fidelity.

*This series does not advocate nor does it condone cheating.

Pre-Order Links:

iBooks: http://apple.co/1iq1L6W

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aJJtLx

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2aaWQZr

About the Author:

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of nearly thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha's twisted style with an increase in heat. 

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romance with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK will be published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Browne & Miller Literary Associates. 

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AleathaRomig

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Aleatha-Romig/e/B009SYSSE4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1411064039&sr=1-1

Blogspot: http://aleatharomig.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5131072.Aleatha_Romig

Instagram: http://instagram.com/aleatharomig 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AleathaRomig @aleatharomig 

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BETRAYAL

One week. No future. No past. No more.

Alexandria Collins has one week to live carefree—no ghosts of her past or pressures of her future haunting her. Reinventing herself as "Charli," she is knocked off her feet by a sexy, mysterious man who brings her pleasure like she never imagined. With her heart at stake, she forgets that decisions made in the dark of night reappear in the bright light of day.

"Some of my tastes are unique. They aren’t for everyone. I understand that.”

Lennox "Nox" Demetri is wealthy, confident, and decisive—he knows what he wants. From the first time he sees Charli at an exclusive resort, he knows he wants her. Although he is usually the one to make the rules, together they agree on one: 

One week. No more.

When betrayal comes from those closest to Alexandria, she must decide how far she is willing to go to survive. Choices are not always easy, especially when they involve the heart, body, and soul. After all, Infidelity is a business, and some rules are meant to be broken.

"Is it really cheating if you're doing it to yourself?"

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants, and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions, this new epic dark romance will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next. Have you been Aleatha'd? 

BETRAYAL is a full-length novel and the first of five in the INFIDELITY series.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1MwVxyj

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1NvVNt8

B&N: http://bit.ly/1L7o4Z5

iBooks: http://apple.co/1LGqUBE

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1L9xgMA

CUNNING

"He owns you. Whatever he tells you to do you do".

One year. No future. A past that won't go away.

Lennox "Nox" Demetri broke his own rule by making a deal. It may not have been directly with the devil, but that doesn't mean Satan himself isn't watching. Was it fate that brought Charli into his life and his bed? What will happen when rules are broken and secrets are revealed?

"New rules...my rules."

Alex "Charli" Collins found pleasure with Nox like she'd never known. That was before she knew his last name. Now that Infidelity is involved and the rules have changed, what will result when real life and fantasy collide? 

Is it really cheating if you're doing it to yourself?

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions, the depth of this new, epic dark romance reaches new levels and will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next. 

Have you been Aleatha'd?

CUNNING is a full-length novel, 360 pages, and the second of five books in the INFIDELITY series.

Infidelity - it isn't what you think.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1Q4UCYf

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1RPg9p6

iBooks: http://apple.co/1LGqX0o

B&N: http://bit.ly/1R8AMf5

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/cunning-2

DECEPTION

DECEPTION, book THREE of FIVE in Aleatha Romig's INFIDELITY series.

"Infidelity - it isn't what you think"

It all began in Del Mar, a chance meeting with a single rule--one week only.

Or did it?

Lennox ‘Nox’ Demetri and Alexandria ‘Charli’ Collins had every intention of following it but rules are made to be broken. In CUNNING they are reunited with Nox setting down new rules for the game and Charli having no choice but to follow them. 

Now, once again, the game has changed. Nox and Charli’s hot sensual encounter has grown into something more but it is threatened with secrets and regrets. Is it their love and intense sexual chemistry that’s pushing them together or something darker, a puppetmaster behind the scenes pulling the strings on their love affair? 

Shadowy villains lurk around each corner and everyone is suspect as Nox’s and Charli's pasts collide with the present and threaten to compel them back to their predestined fates. 

Can deals brokered in the past be negated by something as pure as love and as steamy as the attraction shared by Nox and Charli? Or was it all a deception—starting with that very first meeting?

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists and turns, the depth of this epic romantic suspense continues to reach new levels as past and present intertwine. The Infidelity series will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next. 

Have you been Aleatha'd?

DECEPTION is a full-length novel, over 300 pages, and the third of five books in the INFIDELITY series - It isn't what you think!

(This series is not about nor does it advocate or condone cheating)

Buy Links:

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/1MlQGlk

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Shli6O

iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/deception/id1041354802?mt=11&at=1l3vw9b

Excerpt Reveal ~ Midnight Soul (Fantasyland #5) by Kristen Ashley

      

MIDNIGHT SOUL is coming! Being released on August 15th, this amazing fantasy takes place in our world and a parallel universe where fantasies are true…but perhaps not all you would expect. MIDNIGHT SOUL is the highly anticipated finale to Kristen Ashley’s bestselling Fantasyland Series. As a special treat the first books in the series are on sale for a limited time only, including the first book in the series, WILDEST DREAMS, for just $.99! Pre-order this amazing novel today, and be sure to check out the exclusive excerpt below!

Book Description:

Against his will, Noctorno Hawthorne, an undercover vice cop, finds himself embroiled in magic, mayhem and parallel universes. Too late, he meets an amazing woman only to find she’s destined for his identical twin in another world.

And things aren’t going real great there.

Noc is recruited to help save that world.

What he doesn’t know is his destined love resides there.

FrankaDrakkar wears a mask. A mask she never takes off to protect herself in a world of malice, intrigue and danger.

When Franka meets Noc and he discovers her secrets, convinced she carries a midnight soul, having shielded herself from forming bonds with anyone, she struggles with accepting his tenderness and care.

When Noc meets Franka, over wine and whiskey, her mask slips and Noc knows it’s her—only her—and he has to find a way to get her to come home with him.

And then make her want to stay.

Preorder MIDNIGHT SOUL here!

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2aefkoX

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2aJOO5P

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2adjhae

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2auZQiY

iBooks: http://apple.co/2av16Td

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2a4id9f

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

Excerpt:

Franka 

“You need to leave,” I declared.

His brows drew together a moment before his expression showed clearly that comprehension had dawned.

Sadly, comprehension might have dawned but he didn’t leave.

He crouched by the bed and offered in a soft voice, “You need me to carry you to the other room so you can have a bit of privacy?”

Dear goddess.

He thought I needed a chamber pot.

But…

What was happening to my face?

Dear goddess!

The heat I felt in my cheeks could be nothing other than me blushing.

I didn’t blush. I’d never blushed. Not even when I’d set about seducing my first lover at age sixteen.

I needed to be quit of this man as soon as possible.

“No…I…do…not,” I bit out.

“Sure?” he asked kindly.

“I need you to leave, Noctorno,” I used his full name in an effort to irritate, something that worked if the flare in his eyes was any indication, “so Josette can prepare me. We’re away to Kristian’s this morning.”

Another drawing of his brows before he asked, “What?”

“After my toilette, Josette and I are to my sleigh so we can begin our journey to my brother’s home.”

His eyes got bigger as his mouth inquired peculiarly, “Are you high?”

“No,” I answered his ridiculous question unnecessarily, “Indeed, I’m low. As you can see since I’m lying abed.”

For a second he just stared at me.

Then he threw his head back and burst into loud, deep, beautiful laughter.

I wanted to throw something at him.

Unfortunately, in my current position, this was not an option open to me.

“I fail to see what’s amusing,” I noted.

He controlled his mirth only to mutter, “I’ll explain it later.” He went on more distinctly, “Frannie, you’re not goin’ to your brother’s today. Or tomorrow. Or until you’re fit. Then, maybe Valentine will spirit you there, or whatever the fuck that’s called. But for the foreseeable future, your ass is in that bed and you’re resting so you can heal.”

Well!

Who did he think he was, telling me what I would or would not do?

“As you’ve determined,” I began, “this is not the first time I’ve been in this condition so I do believe that I know best what I’m capable of and…”

I stopped speaking because he came slightly out of his crouch so he could put his face into my face and he was no longer looking mirthful.

He was looking angry.

Very angry.

“That was when you had no one lookin’ out for you but that’s not the case anymore. So this is how it’s gonna be,” he announced.

He then, to my shock, irritation and outrage, announced how it was going to be.

Like he had the right to tell me how it was going to be!

And Don’t Miss the First Books in the Fantasyland Series-On Sale Now!

WILDEST DREAMS

THE GOLDEN DYNASTY

FANTASTICAL

BROKEN DOVE

About the Author:

About Kristen Ashley: Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning. Nothing’s changed. Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better. 

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * NEWSLETTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

Blog Tour, Review, Excerpt & Giveaway ~ Burn (The Duplicity Duet #2) by Elisabeth Grace

Are you ready for more Marco? 

The conclusion to the Duplicity Duet is NOW LIVE! 

ON SALE for $2.99 RELEASE WEEK!

Book Description:

One word.

Two letters.

But those two letters changed everything.

It was impossible to predict the impact I would have on the life of the only woman I'd ever truly loved. No way to know that I would result in her ruin.

I’d suffer for eternity with the knowledge that it was me who brought devastation to her doorstep.

Though I deserved the anguish I felt, to see her suffer was unacceptable.

I would fix this.

Somehow I would prove to her that I wasn't the monster she thought I was.

Even if it meant becoming a monster in order to make that happen.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29ENmUx

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29N04yL

iBooks: http://apple.co/29xiG7y

Nook: http://bit.ly/29GcRmG

Kobo: http://bit.ly/29z5hLe

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4.5 stars

***ARC received for an honest review***

“…sometimes dreams don’t come in the form you thought they would. It doesn’t make them any less amazing. The universe just knew what you needed better than you did.”

Elisabeth Grace is evil, oh yes, this quiet unassuming author has a mean streak and it is long and wide. Elisabeth Grace certainly put my emotions through the proverbial wringer with Burn, so much so that I cannot really say anything about the story at all, everything is a spoiler.

After the ending of Hook, I was hooked. It has pained me to wait, but patiently I did and once Burn turned up on my kindle I had to dive in…earlier than I should have, but reading lists are made to be broken…right??

I thought I had it all worked out, this was one of those books where I was constantly thinking and rethinking trying to come up with plot lines, trying to foresee just trying to clamour any grain of sand I could to get the ending I was desperate for. But and this is a huge BUT, Elisabeth Grace makes us wait, takes us on a rollercoaster of a ride, rips you apart and slowly but surely gives you stitch by stitch to painfully put your decimated heart back together again. She was brutal.

“…I’m going to start with the person who pulled the trigger. Then I’ll deal with the person who was pulling the strings.”

Elisabeth Grace takes a route I never foresaw and was painful to read, but desperate times call for desperate measures and the love of a mother has no beginning and definitely no end. Grief is extremely painful and brutal, it can mar your common sense that can ultimately lead to rash and dangerous decisions and there were plenty in this book. My heart broke so many times, not just for the grief that Emily was overcome by but also Marco’s grief at not only losing the boy he considered a son but also the love of his life. I admired Marco’s tenacity and his “never give up” attitude that ultimately made this conclusion. He was an amazing book boyfriend and plenty of hearts will be enamoured by the man that Marco becomes in Burn.

“…the revenge you seek may very well be your destruction.”

This book was a thrilling climax in a totally enthralling series from Elisabeth Grace. Suspenseful, vengeful, emotional, believable no matter how hard it was to read, but love prevails. Wars are fought, life is lost but belief is the strongest weapon. Totally captivating, inherently addictive, I totally loved this duet and can highly recommend it.

“A life for a life.”

Excerpt:

Then the door swung open and there he was. For a brief moment I was taken by his handsome features—his olive skin and pronounced jaw, the sparkle in his dark eyes, his perfect, straight nose. More than anything, it was the pull that remained between us that surprised me. Like I was a planet still circling his sun.

There was a moment when we locked eyes that the gravity of all that had happened wasn’t weighing heavy between us, and it almost caused me to stumble back.

Then, after the moment of intimacy had passed, I was sure I saw dread slip over his expression. I wasn’t going to stay put and find out though. 

I wouldn’t be standing on his doorstep begging for whatever scraps of information he deemed worthy of casting my way. No, I was here to demand what he, at the very least, owed me, and I wouldn’t leave until he gave it to me.

“We need to talk.” I pushed past him, careful not to make contact, and bolted down the hallway toward the living room.

“Emily, this isn’t a good time.” Marco’s footsteps followed quickly behind me.

“I don’t care. Put aside whatever it is you’re doing. I want answers.”

I came to an abrupt stop when I stepped into the living/dining area and found Alexa sprawled across the couch like she was a feast ready to be enjoyed.

Her blouse was half unbuttoned, her legs draped over the cushions, causing her skirt to ride up a bit on her thighs, and her lips slightly swollen. Her lipstick had been rubbed off her mouth and onto her skin. She wore a saccharine smile that I wanted to rip off her face.

I crossed my arms over my chest and turned back to Marco. “Oh, I see. Well, pardon me for interrupting.” There was no disguising the venom in my voice.

His tortured gazed darted from me to her and back a few times before he schooled his features and responded. “Can we have this conversation some other time?” he asked, his voice neutral.

“Marco, who’s this?” Alexa purred from behind me.

I spun to address her with a fake smile on my face. “I’m Emily. We met at the art show a few months ago when I was there with Marco. Back when we were still fucking. You can call me Brandi, though.” I turned to lock gazes with him before finishing. “Everyone who knows me intimately does.”

His fists clenched at his sides and his jaw tightened. Good. Some small part of me was pleased that I was still able to elicit a reaction like that from him.

I swung my attention back to the blonde on the couch. “I’m sorry to swing by unannounced like this and interrupt what was obviously going to be a good time for you both. I just need a few minutes with Marco, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”

Alexa’s eyes narrowed on me for a moment, and though she was playing nice with me—probably for Marco’s benefit—it was clear she wasn’t pleased with the interruption.

“Perhaps I should go,” she said.

“No!” Marco said, whip fast. “Emily should be the one to leave.”

Not going to lie.

That stung.

A lot.

No matter that everything between Marco and I had been based on lies, the fact that I was so easily tossed aside smarted.

“I’m not going anywhere until we speak.” I leveled him with a gaze that told him I was serious.

“Why don’t you use my bathroom to freshen up, Alexa? It’s that way through my bedroom.” He pointed toward the room that we’d spent many a night in. “I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

A victorious smile crept across her face, and her gaze swung to me as she rose from the couch. She brushed her fingers across Marco’s chest as she passed him. “Don’t be too long.”

He nodded but didn’t spare her a glance as she passed, his gaze still fixed on me.As soon as the bedroom door closed, I spoke. “Sorry to interrupt your play time, Marco, but you owe me some answers and I’m ready to collect.”

Haven’t met Marco Valenti yet, Now is your chance!

Hook (Book One) ~ 99c

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Nsrt9q

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/230uWxD

iBooks: http://apple.co/2a6UJ4C

Nook: http://bit.ly/2a190PF

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2acipqg

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling author, Elisabeth Grace, has a soft spot for romance novels with happily ever afters and a hot spot for alpha males! She currently lives outside Toronto, Canada with her hubby and two small children. Life is busy, but never to busy for a good story and to share her love of reading and writing with others.

Website: http://elisabeth-grace.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElisabethGraceAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/1ElisabethGrace

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorelisabethgrace/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276641.Elisabeth_Grace

Giveaway:

Win a Signed Paperback of Hook/Burn

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