Friday 31 October 2014

Friday Frights ~ PNR reviews ~ Not Quite Dead (A NightHunter Novel) by Stephanie Rowe

Reviewed by Shirley ~ 4.5 Stars

This book is totally different from the normal vampire stories that I have read. It is showing a different slant altogether.

It has Eric Hunter, a man who is more, graceful but lethal with sexual innuendo topping everything else. He is out to find his twin brother Tristan who has been missing for a couple of years and has finally found a concrete lead. This is where Jordyn Leahy comes in. In the past Tristan has helped Jordyn and so Eric has called on her to see if she could help him as he was in her old neck of the woods, because of the help that Tristan had done for her she couldn't find it in herself to refuse Eric’s call for help.

Eric had been attracted to Jordyn when he first met her when she was with Tristan and meeting her again now he has found that attraction has not gone away. Treating her with his normal sexual banter it can get quite funny between these two with Jordyn not wanting anything to do with Eric. As far as Jordyn is concerned she is only there to help him find Tristan but Eric being Eric just can’t help himself.

The story is not only about them and does have its scary side and you see exactly what these two have to face in the Louisiana Bayou with evil vampires popping up, betrayals when you least expect them and surprises galore but there is the undercurrent of love as well.

The attraction between Eric and Jordyn does start to build and when he does get to kiss Jordyn even he was surprised how much it affected him

“With a low rumble, he angled his head and deepened the kiss. What had been hot and desperate a moment ago, took on an entirely new level of intensity. He couldn't touch enough of her, his hands roaming her lower back, her hips, and the curve of her butt. Her arms were wrapped so tightly around his neck it was as if she would never let him go. The heat burning between them was electric, pouring off them in batches of steam that made the humid, sweaty night even more intoxicating.”

And as for Jordyn she was not totally un moved by Eric getting to know him more and seeing another side of this deep but fiercely loyal man.

“God, yes, she wanted this man. This arrogant, beautiful, tormented man with secrets so terrible she'd seen them in his eyes.”

She found herself being drawn more and more to this enigmatic but sometimes endearing man.

I haven't been able to say too much about this really great story as I do not want to spoil it for others but I have to say this is a must read for you all to enjoy. Ms Rowe an unusual but really great book.

Thursday 30 October 2014

Blog Tour ~ Excerpt & Giveaway ~ Baby, It's Cold Outside Anthology ~ 5 Erotic Romance novellas by 5 bestselling authors


Book Description:
Outside it may be frosty, so turn the heat way up with these stories of desire!

Can a determined woman executive and a playboy billionaire survive being stranded together in a snowstorm? Jennifer Probst depicts an encounter almost too hot to handle…

Drew and Kate play an encore to Tangled in this sexy take on a “Christmas Carol” by Emma Chase. When a Christmas Eve argument condemns Drew to a troubled night, three dream women teach him that no gift could be more tantalizing than Kate…

With Kristen Proby, ski slopes are quite delightful. Grace Douglas is sure she’ll never learn to ski, but instructor Jacob Baxter could teach her lessons of a different kind…

Can a southern California transplant survive Montana’s deep snows? Melody Anne, author of the bestselling Andersons series, melts the icy drifts completely away with the heat between sexy Hawk Winchester and brand-new teacher Natalie Duncan…

What could be hotter than a firefighter? Kate Meader shows how hot it can get as Beck Rivera and heiress-turned-tattoo-artist Darcy Cochrane discover that nothing ignites holiday flames like rekindling a lost love…
 
Excerpt:

“Safe in His Arms” by Melody Anne in BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE

Way too much eggnog!

The party was over and her head was beyond fuzzy, but Natalie walked about the nearly empty firehouse with the other volunteers who’d offered to stay for cleanup. She wasn’t capable of doing much to help them, but she could at least say she was trying to help.

After a couple of dances with Hawk, the two of them had been separated, so here she was, trying to decide whether to go home alone or to wait him out. She knew she would rather wait, but on the other hand, she didn’t want to seem desperate. The alcohol was messing with her rational mind.

Music was playing softly over the speakers, smooth country tunes, mellow, relaxing. She felt her eyes grow heavy, and she spread herself out on the front of the nearest fire engine. The step was wide enough for her to get just a little rest.

No one would notice if she lay down for just a moment . . .

Before she knew it, she was asleep.

###

“See ya later, chief!”

Hawk watched as the last people trickled from the fire station. They’d done such a great job of cleaning, it didn’t even look like there’d been a party. Good. He liked it when things were all in order. He valued a job well done. Only one problem remained.

He’d been separated from Natalie too soon. He hadn’t been ready for their night to end, and he still wasn’t. And now as he turned out the lights and did his final walkthrough of the station, he felt an odd emptiness settle inside him.

It was ludicrous. Hawk didn’t need to be around a woman to find fulfillment. He didn’t have to have companionship. But in the space of a couple of weeks, he’d found himself counting down the hours until he got to see Natalie again. The highlight of his day was when he walked into that gym and found her there, speaking with the children, smiling, gifting them with her laughter.

This was so far beyond anything he’d ever experienced before that he couldn’t even identify what exactly he was feeling. One thing he knew for sure, though—he wasn’t going to wait until Monday to see her again.

He couldn’t. He had to see her. Tonight.

Walking around the front of his line of fire engines, Hawk stopped in his tracks.

“What happened?” Natalie’s voice came out huskily as she began sitting up on the front bumper of the fire engine before him.

So Hawk didn’t have to go anywhere to find Natalie.

She was within grasping distance. At the sight of her sleepy eyes and tousled hair, he could think only of taking her, right now.

“Everyone’s gone,” he said, his voice a low growl.

Her eyes widened, and then, even under the dim lights, he could see the change in her expression. She knew what came next. They both did.

Buy Links:

Simon & Schuster: http://bit.ly/1DoJCK9
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1zNaze4
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1teqHkg
iTunes: http://bit.ly/1v8Kw9q
BAM: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781476783833
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781476783833
 
About The Authors:
 
 
Jennifer Probst’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels, novellas, and ebooks include the acclaimed Marriage to a Billionaire series, as well as Searching for Someday and Searching for Perfect. She lives in upstate New York. Visit her at www.jenniferprobst.com.
 
Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Tangles, Twisted, Tamed, and Tied. She lives in a small town in rural New Jersey with her husband and children. Follow Emma on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her at www.emmachase.net.
Kristen Proby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Loving Cara and Seducing Lauren, as well as the popular With Me in Seattle series. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at kristenproby.com.
Melody Anne is the New York Times bestselling author of the indie published Billionaire Bachelors series, the Baby for the Billionaire series, and the Surrender series, and she has a new series coming soon from Pocket Books. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at www.melodyanne.com.
Kate Meader is the author of the sexy new series Hot in Chicago, coming soon from Pocket Books. When not writing she works in an academic library in Chicago. Visit her at www.katemeader.com.
 
GIVEAWAY:

Wednesday 29 October 2014

We have a surprise guest on the blog tonight!!

Our first EVER author take over by the lovely Kahlen Aymes. Kahlen wow'd us with the Remembrance Trilogy and is now making us all hot under the collar with the After Dark series. Kahlen will be here for 8pm-9pm CST, which is 9pm-10pm EST, 1am-2am for our UK followers and night owls!! Please give Kahlen a huge Romance Cover welcome!!


Giveaway Winner Announced ~ Signed Copy of Grounded (Up in the Air 3) by R.K. Lilley

Earlier this month to celebrate the release of Mr Beautiful, book four in R.K. Lilley's Up in the Air series, we gave you the opportunity to win a signed copy of the third book in the series, Grounded.


 The winner, picked via random.org, was
 
Holly Luft-Highsmith
 
Congratulations Holly!
You have 48 hours to claim your prize by emailing us at theromancecover@gmail.com and providing us with your postal address.
 
 

Giveaway Reminder ~ 2 x Kindle Fire HD 6 and 2 x $50 Amazon GC

Just a reminder that we've teamed up with the brilliant blogs below to bring you a Big Book Bloggers Giveaway!
 
1 Big Giveaway, 2 Big Winners!


For your chance to win enter the Rafflecopter below

Tuesday 28 October 2014

Release Blitz ~ Review & Giveaway ~ Songbird Freed by Lisa Edward Release

 
Book Description:

My name is Tara O’Connell, and I’ve always believed we control our own fate. That life is a journey with many roads, and the choices we make can shape our future.

Life has presented me with two paths and I’ve chosen one.

Was it right? Did I make the best decision?

After the uncertainty of the last twelve months, my destiny is now crystal-clear to me. I have a man I love more than words can express, a thriving business, and the best friends anyone could ask for. But just when I thought I could put the turmoil of my past behind me and move on, a life-changing phone call has rocked me to the core and turned my life upside-down once more.

To make matters worse, influences outside my control have taken hold and are shattering my perfect world.

But some things are worth fighting for.
Dreams can come true and I’ll do everything in my power to make them happen. But dreams can also be smashed into tiny pieces, and no matter how hard we fight or how hard we wish for something to be, sometimes with the hand we’ve been dealt, we can never win.
 
Reviewed by Donna ~ 4.5 Stars

“If you love someone, set her free. If she comes back she is yours, if she doesn’t, fight like hell for her.”

What an amazing end to a fantastic trilogy, one that I have loved from the very start. This book is action packed from first to last page and a very fitting end for this bunch of friends and predominantly Tara, Cole and Riley.

This book continues from Songbird Caged where we found out that Riley was alive. What would this mean for Tara and Cole’s fledgling romance? After reading Songbird I was staunch #teamriley, there was no deviating from it, but after reading Songbird Caged even I had to admit that Tara and Cole were a better fit. These two had so much in common, they were soul mates, and they had that deep all-consuming love that others could only be envious about. Their connection was so strong and their chemistry palpable and at the end of Songbird Caged I was happy and distraught. Happy that Riley was alive but also distraught as I feared what trouble this would cause for Tara and Cole.

I have to admit I admired Tara in this book, she confronts the situation head on, does not leave anyone hanging or confused, and she makes her decision quickly and stands by it, no matter the consequences. The scenes surrounding her talking to the one who was not chosen totally and utterly destroyed me. I was in floods of tears. This is what happens when you love both characters in a book, but that is testament to the author that she can evoke that kind of emotion out of you in the first place. It is Lisa Edward’s words that allow you to have that connection to both men. They are both fantastic men in their own right but there can only be one winner and you desperately do not want to see the other one get hurt, but alas, it was inevitable.

“Oh, babe. I love that you want me, because I know you want all of me. The good, the bad and the rock-hard.”

Tara still has a lot to contend with, Riley’s brother is still making appearances, making everyone live in fear and Cole’s “fiancĂ©e” is still on the periphery making her presence more than felt. In this book you really feel for Cole, he is put in such a position by his family and you will him to grow the balls he needs to cut himself free and actually go for what he wants, not what everyone else thinks he needs to do.

After recuperating Riley decides to stay in the field and once again there are scenes here that evoked a plethora of emotions out of me. I was enraged (you will know when you get there) and I was devastated (again you will know when you get there) and I will say that Lisa is EVIL! But these scenes are touching for so many reasons. I felt everything, the raw emotion that poured off the pages had me in tears, you felt every word of pain, every word of anguish, and just every word hit you right in the heart. But this part of the book was a much needed necessity and I was glad that it happened but I would have preferred if something else did not happen as it just caused more drama and I felt that these three had already suffered enough.

“We all have scars, Riley. Yours are just on the outside, so they’re more visible. It’s just proof that we have lived and endured.”

I really cannot go into details and I have tried to be as vague as possible as I do not want to spoil this for anyone, but for those that have followed this story, it is a fantastic ending. I am not ready to part with this group in a hurry and they are a “family” that will stay in my heart for a very long time. There are a lot of characters that can still be explored and I am hoping that Lisa will continue to write about them so that we can continue to catch up and see how each and every one of their lives is evolving. Tara may have got her ending but there is still a bunch of them that need one too.

“The past is in the past, remember? We both made mistakes, but we’re here, we’re together, and I’ll fight for what I want and protect what I love, and that’s you babe. Always has been, always will be.”
 
Buy Links:
 
 
 About the Author:

While Lisa Edward has called Melbourne Australia home for her entire life, she has lived and worked in England, and travelled through most parts of Europe and the United States. She loves nothing more than spending time with her husband and beautiful daughter, or curling up into the early hours of the morning with a great novel. By day, Lisa works in the analytical IT field, so relishes the opportunity to foster her creative side through writing. Her deep appreciation for literature was nurtured from a young age, being taught to respect books and get lost in their stories. She enjoys reading honest and realistic novels that are relatable, thought provoking and leave a lasting impression. She can’t write without music playing, using the emotions from different songs to invoke that of her characters. Lisa takes inspiration from her own life experiences, the people around her and those she has met in her travels.
www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaEdward
www.goodreads.com/LisaEdward

Other Books in the Series

Book 1: Songbird
 

Book 2: Songbird Caged
 

Amazon US- http://amzn.to/1qU3YUt
Amazon UK- http://amzn.to/1rE6bar
Amazon CA- http://amzn.to/1opaaEf
Amazon AU- http://bit.ly/YCTySI
Smashwords- http://bit.ly/1vmYfgi

Giveaway:
 

Monday 27 October 2014

Review ~ Beholden (Belonging #2) by Corinne Michaels

Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 Stars

**ARC received for honest review**

“People make mistakes, mistakes don’t make the people."

Well, I have cried like a baby reading this book, Corinne Michaels certainly ripped my heart out, stomped on it, cut it up into little tiny pieces and then slowly but surely put it back together again. I love an emotional read, they are my favourites and Corinne certainly delivered on that front, I was decimated but I also had a lot of laughs and smiles.

After the cliffy we were left with in Beloved, Corinne takes no prisoners with the prologue that this book begins with, she truly goes for the jugular…so taken aback was I that I had to read it again just to make sure that I hadn’t read it wrong. All I can say is, what a start!!

Jackson and Catherine were a couple with issues, we knew this and finally Catherine realises what she wants and who she wants and that is Jackson. When Catherine sets her mind to something she is like a dog with a bone and I was hoping that Jackson was ready for the onslaught that was Catherine. Jackson needed this though, he needed her to take the initiative and I was so glad she did. I love this couple and was rooting for them from the start. You know that the course of true love never runs smooth and despite some omissions I was championing Jackson throughout this book.

“I love you, Catherine. I would walk through fire for you,” Jackson says and my heart stops.
I turn and look at him. “You wouldn’t have had to. I would’ve put out the flames before they reached you. Instead you managed to burn me yourself.”


Jackson is a man with a lot of weight on his shoulders, even though it really needn’t be weighing him down. In his line of work there is always going to be deaths, but each death Jackson takes personally and bears the weight and burden. He is so conflicted at times. He feels undeserving and just feels that anyone that matters leaves him, so he tries to protect himself. The intense feelings that he has for Catherine, at times scares him, but he also realises that despite what he tries to tell himself, he needs her just as much.

We have ups and downs, secrets have a habit of getting a voice and coming out into the open with devastating consequences for these two. This time it is Catherine that does the walking and is also Jackson’s turn to do the pursuing. He comes to realise that him and Catherine were meant to be together, they cannot live without each other, despite the world trying to intervene and tell them otherwise. He know needs to make her see that he is the one, despite their flaws.

“Despite the rough seas, we discovered our calm waters.”

The growth in Corinne’s writing is evident throughout this book. The story was compelling and I couldn’t put it down, I had to read in one sitting. I had run the gamut of emotions and was a snotty, puffy eyed mess, but I knew that I had read a really good book. The intensity of their chemistry radiated off the page, I felt more for Jackson I must admit. I felt that all-consuming love he had for Catherine, I felt his pain and his insecurities, I just connected with him a whole lot more. I felt for him on so many levels, when he hurt I hurt, I just wanted to give him a huge hug. Catherine and her abandonment issues had me a little cross at times but I did understand and had to give her the benefit of the doubt, even if she was putting my Jackson through the mill in the process.

This was a great sequel and ending for these two. From the prologue to the epilogue you will be hooked. You will feel, you will laugh, you will cry, you will love, you will hate, you will get angry, but you will also be happy. Yes this plethora of emotions is just the tip of the ice berg for this journey that you are about to embark on, but one thing is for sure, you will know it was good, like really really good.

“Love is messy and life sucks.”
 
Buy Link:

Blog Tour ~ Promo ~ Beholden (The Belonging Duet 2) by Corinne Michaels

 
Title: Beholden (Book Two in the Belonging Duet)
Author: Corinne Michaels
Release Date: October 22, 2014

Book Description:
 
Catherine Pope got a second chance at love, only to have it ripped away—again. She should’ve known better.

But she dared to hope.

She refuses to let fate take the reins this time. Catherine decides she’s going to fight.

Jackson Cole risked it all. 

He thought this time would be different.

With his loyalties pulling him in two directions—it’s time to make a choice…his past or his future.

Will they be beholden to their fears or will they both fight against their demons and finally find the love they both long for?
 
Add to Goodreads
 
Play List:
 

 
Buy Links:
 

Beloved (Book One in the Belonging Duet)

Book Description:
 
Not enough.

Catherine Pope has never been enough. Every man she has ever loved abandoned her—from her father to her fiancĂ©. She finally accepted the fact she would never be enough to hold any man’s heart and soul.

Then Catherine met Jackson Cole.

When her world literally collided with the sexy former Navy SEAL, everything she always believed is turned upside down and left scattered. He made her feel alive and desirable, consumed her with fierceness and loyalty—which completely unnerved her. Jackson got her in a way no one ever had, giving him the power to destroy her. 

If she breaks down and gives him what’s left of her battered heart—will he protect it? Or will Catherine become an irrelevant part of yet another man’s life? 

Will she get the one thing that has always evaded her – to finally be someone’s beloved?
 
Links:



 
About the Author:
 
Corinne is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.


Giveaway:



Sunday 26 October 2014

Review ~ Her Favorite Mistake (Windy City Romance #1) by Barbara Lohr

Reviewed by Donna ~ 3.5 Stars
 
**ARC received for honest Review**

Vanessa runs the family business “Randall’s Whipped Cream Cakes,” on the outside she may seem the consummate professional but in reality she is rapidly unravelling. She feels totally out of control of her life and she doesn’t like it. With her grandfather’s ailing health and her sisters ongoing battle with Leukaemia and also add into the mix that she is a single mum of a three year old, her stress levels are at an all-time high. To top it all off she has financial problems, medical bills are expensive so Vanessa needs to find a quick fix and soon before their home and livelihood come crashing down right around their ears.

Vanessa and her sister enter a reality TV show, in the UK it is called “Dragon’s Den” but in this book it is called “Eye of The Tiger.” You have to go in front of a panel of wealthy individuals who are business owners themselves and pitch your company in the vain attempt of getting them to invest. Vanessa needed the investment to expand so that they could increase their revenue and in turn aid their ailing finances. Vanessa and her sister get accepted onto the show, but when it comes to their pitch Vanessa freezes, she recognises one of the “Tigers” and it is none other than her “Favorite Mistake,” a one night stand that she had in Vegas four years earlier, one that she ran out on in the early hours of the morning…after all, that is what one night stands are all about, right?

Alex has never ever gotten over the one night stand that ran out on him in the wee hours of the morning. She has haunted him for years and now he cannot believe that she is standing right in front of him. She is still just as intriguing as she was back then, so Alex does what he needs to do to keep her in his sights…he invests and this is where the story really kicks off.

There is no denying their attraction but Vanessa has secrets and once these secrets come out, you just know that it will not bode well. Alex was such a charming character, you couldn’t help but like him and he proves to everyone that he is a changed man. Maybe it is Vanessa or maybe he has just grown up a bit. These two have great chemistry, I could guess where the story was going and I was correct but that didn’t affect my enjoyment at all. This was a cute romantic read that leaves you with the warm and fuzzies once you have finished.

Saturday 25 October 2014

Review ~ Rellik by Teresa Mummert

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4.5 Stars

**ARC received for honest review **

“Rellik Bentley is to die for.”

To say I have been eagerly awaiting this book is a severe understatement… Cover Lust – check, KILLER title – check, You Really Want to Read Me Now Blurb – check. So with all that checked I have been salivating and let me tell you, it was well worth the wait!

Just the name Rellik has you wondering, who is this man? What has he done to warrant a name like that?...it draws you in as does the character. Rellik is a musician and song writer, his lyrics are emotional and heart felt all inter-laced with that rock group twist. He is a bit of an enigma, dark and brooding, secretive, but is extremely fearless and as we find out extremely protective and I would say totally and utterly misunderstood. He has a heart of gold underneath those layers which are in themselves a disguise, a suit of armour that protects him, he has lived a life already that has only brought him pain and now he is adamant that he will never feel that way again. Until…

“…music for us was an escape. It was the blood that oozed from the wound.”

Ella is also another character who is multi layered. These two are so alike it is scary, she comes across as ballsy and fearless but you can tell that underneath all the bravado there is a woman with a story to tell. You can tell that she has had it rough and is still having it rough, but she is proud and doesn’t want any help or interference. She has a mission and that mission is answers and revenge. There is only one person who can answer those questions but she cannot find him despite all the searching.

Rellik and Ella’s paths cross in a dark alley and Rellik soon becomes Ella’s knight in shining armour, Ella for once having to admit she needs help. Rellik is taken aback by Ella, haunted by his past when he looks at her, but she reignites something in him, something he has not felt in a very long time and something that he vowed to never feel again. Despite trying to ignore those feelings Rellik cannot help but be drawn to Ella and finds himself walking her home to keep her safe. 

“So if you want to play the victim with me, Ella, I will f**ing make you one.”

This is one killer friendship, but one intense mutual attraction. These two are not relationship material but together these two sizzle, both shocked by just how fervid their chemistry is. Once unleashed and their reservations relinquished these two make sparks fly.

“The bond we shared ran deeper than secrets. If I was the butterfly, he was the storm, the justice that would wash away my past so I could start again. We’d finish this together, heal each other.”

Both of these have their secrets but secrets have a way of finding a voice and it is when this voice is heard that their troubles really start. From strangers to friends/lovers in a matter of days, what happens when their pasts are revealed and all is not as it seems. Well, you get one extremely riveting story that you will not want to put down.

Teresa Mummert has created a spider’s web with these two but who is the spider and who is the fly? This is a book full of passion, lust, revenge, love, hate, it is dark, it is raw, it ain’t pretty but it is original, consuming, gritty and suspenseful. It will keep you on your toes, rooting for this Bonnie and Clyde’esque couple. These two have no fear, together they are formidable, but will this be a match made in heaven or a match made in hell?

“She was playing cat and mouse with a mother**king lion.”

All I can say is a loved it, all of it, the two main characters totally got to me, they deserved each other and you cannot help but root for them from the start. The other band members are so intriguing; I want to know more about them, their pasts are going to be colourful and their futures, no doubt even brighter. Given the circumstances under which their band was formed, you know that there is a lot more meat on these bones. This may be the first book but I really hope it won’t be the last for this group of misfits. Alone they were nothing, together they are formidable. Fantastic story, was so worth the wait and the cover and title are perfect and extremely fitting.

“I averted my gaze to my own cup of dirt on my desk. No emerald leaves grew like they had from the others. It was a bad seed, just like me.”

Friday 24 October 2014

Giveaway ~ 2 x Kindle Fire HD 6 and 2 x $50 Amazon GC

We've teamed up with the brilliant blogs below to bring you a Big Book Bloggers Giveaway!
 
1 Big Giveaway, 2 Big Winners!


For your chance to win enter the Rafflecopter below

Friday Frights ~ PNR ~ Blood Deep (Blackthorn Series) by Lindsay J Pryor

Reviewed by Shirley ~ 5 Stars

**ARC received for honest review **

This is Book 4 in this oh so brilliant Blackthorn Series. Ms Pryor has done it again with this blistering series, seeing all the different sides that make up the complex place call Blackthorne.

In this book the story is about Jessie and Eden. It’s set in the human ex convict part called The Circus. Part of it is run by a vicious and cruel man by the name of Pummel who has had Jessie a prisoner for many years. Although she has certain freedom she is a prisoner all the same having to do Pummels bidding except for one thing he couldn't ask of her much to his frustration.

The story starts with the meeting between Jessie and the one very good looking man called Eden. Jessie comes to Eden’s aid when he was set upon by one of the roving gangs of cons that roams the streets.

Jessie had been watching it from a distance and up to the point when she felt she needed to step in Eden had been holding his own managing to dispatch some single handed until one of them brought out a knife and stabbed him twice in the side, knowing a third would be fatal Jessie killed the man and the rest that were left standing.

While Eden was unconscious Jessie managed to hide him and tend to his wounds, giving him something to sedate him until she could get back to check up on him. Before she left, when looking at him laying there she couldn't help feeling some sort of recognition though which was strange.

Next day Jessie managed to avoid Pummel and get back to Eden. When waking him she told him to get away as far as possible. Even though he had a spectacular amount of con numbers running up his arm telling the world what a bad boy he is, she left him with this advice thinking she wouldn't see him again.

To Jessie’s horror instead of taking her advice Eden shows up in Pummels office. Hoping against hope that he doesn't say anything about their meeting all she could do was watch what happened between him and Pummel. Thankfully nothing was said and although suspicious Pummel seemed to be charmed by Eden to the point of letting him stay for the night and even offering Tatum, a devious and cunning woman who worked with Pummel to spend the night with him, much to Jessie’s chagrin leaving her
feeling jealous.

Eden meanwhile knew he had to go along with this suggestion of Pummels if he was to be accepted managing to catch Jessie’s eye before leaving the room letting her know they had unfinished business between them.

Jessie had come to realize that it was Eden that she had seen in the visions that she had just started having and was baffled as to why. But just thinking about him gave her feelings that she couldn't deny, having not felt anything like it before if the warmth in her lower abdomen was anything to go by.

Pummel’s hold on Jessie was absolute, but somehow Jessie had to find out what Eden was up to.
Managing to meet him in secret she found herself, after talking to him, not knowing what she wanted to do, he could so easily get her harmed but then it was taken out of her hands.

“She knew she could of shoved him backwards, struck him on the side of the head with a blow from her elbow. She could have stamped hard on his groin, before kicking him clean in the face, knocking him out cold if the force of the blow didn't kill him outright. But as his thumb continued to circle the most sensitive, most responsive part of her sex, as his middle finger found its way through her wetness to ease just a little way inside her, she instead clamped her eyes shut, felt herself fall back against him despite her sustained grip on the pool table. Never had she been touched so intimately.”

Their growing attraction to each other was strong but they both knew it was suicide to let it be known. If Pummel even got an idea of it, it would be a death sentence to Eden that was for sure. As for Eden he hated having to do the things he had to do to waylay suspicion, especially in front of Jessie.

And it was painful for Jessie to watch, but they did manage to get some stolen moments

“The moment his lips brushed her inner thigh, she flinched. She could feel him smiling as his kisses and nips teased her skin - kisses that moved higher and higher up her right thigh as his right hand did the same up the inside of her left. But instead of feeling his fingers against her sex as she expected, she gasped in delight as she felt his mouth.”

Although Jessie was still an enigma to him and he kept telling himself not to get involved he just couldn't help himself.

With everything that was going on around them.

The forces playing against them.

With trust having to be earned not given.

And the darkness Jessie had foreseen in her visions.

The viciousness that was The Circus that they had to fight against to keep alive and their growing attraction for each other makes this book a book you cannot put down until you reach the end.

Ms Pryor a really great read, and a real deserving 5 stars from me.

Thursday 23 October 2014

Review ~ Alex (Cold Fury Hockey 1) by Sawyer Bennett

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 Stars

“I’m so afraid of hurting you that I think it’s safe to say my heart is definitely involved.”


Wow, I seriously need to read more hockey books, I totally loved it.

Alex is a total douche, or at least that is the persona that radiates off him and he does nothing to sway anyone’s opinion. He is an ass to his team mates, his friends and his family, he keeps himself to himself, no small talk, and he even has little time for his fans. In fact they have named him MVP, this is not Most Valuable Player either…but Most Valuable Prick. Alex has a deep hatred for hockey, so why does he play? Hockey reminds him of his past and it is not pretty, but because all his time and effort was channelled into hockey it is the only thing he is good at and he is really, really good, so he has little choice but to continue with a career he hates.

The management at his team are sick and tired of his antics and attitude so they send him on “community service,” they deemed it time that he changed the public’s opinion of him and actually tried to ingratiate himself with the fans and his team mates, else, be fired! It is while on community service that he meets Sutton, who is an over worked, under paid drugs counsellor.

Sutton has had a crap life too, but unlike Alex, she made something out of nothing. She did not let her past define her, she made her past work for her and as used her experience as a child to get to the place that she is at today. She is a beautiful character inside and out and you cannot help but love her. She has sass and attitude and can stand up for herself, Alex doesn’t know what has hit him.

Alex, poor Alex, he didn’t stand a chance…not used to being knocked back he has to work for this and for the first time in his life, this is something he wants and he wants it badly. Now it is up to him to pull out the charm and try and win the girl. These two do have obstacles. The course of true love never running smooth and there are a lot of outside interferences that these two need to overcome, but their biggest problem is Alex and his past.

“God, I missed you.” Those four words tipped me over the edge and I pretty much f**king kissed my soul goodbye. I know I’m probably still destined to screw things up with Sutton but I’ve decided, until then, my soul is her b***h.”

Sutton has to use all of her experience as a counsellor in this relationship and to see the change in Alex as their relationship progresses was beautiful to watch. Finally we get to see the real Alex and unfortunately hear about the past that has made him the man that he is today.

“Thank you…for taking the time to try to get to know me. And I think maybe for getting me when I’m not sure I even get myself.”

In summary I loved this one, I loved the characters, I loved the writing style and I cannot wait to read more in this series, I understand Garrett is up next and I loved him in this one. The ending was fantastic, you will know when you get there, I could picture the scene, the crowd, everything, it was perfection!!
 
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Wednesday 22 October 2014

Review ~ Ruin (Songs of Corruption #2) by CD Reiss

Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 stars

“She was going to be the death of me, and I was suicidal. I would kill for her, or I’d be killed by her, but no matter what, someone was getting anointed in oil and put in a pine box . God willing, it would be me and not her.”

OMG!! What have I just read!! I have to say that Ruin has been the best CD Reiss book I have read. I was totally smitten after Spin but I am now totally RUINED after Ruin. Capo has taken over my heart and my head.

Antonio “Capo” Spinelli…how can I describe him to do him justice…he is gorgeous, he is sexy as hell, he is fiercely protective, he is one hot alpha, he talks and f**ks dirty, he is one badass but he is my Capo. He oozes sex appeal, he leaves puddles where he walks and poor Theresa did not stand a chance with our Mafia man. But and this is a big BUT…he didn’t stand a chance either. These two were destined to be together and even He thought so too. The chemistry between these two is palpable, my kindle could have literally combusted with the words that I was reading, these two are unmistakably perfect for each other, and they say opposites attract but these two were fused, they were one. The intense sexual chemistry that these two exuded was inferno hot, but not only that, their emotional connection was intense, stunningly powerful and virtually indestructible.

“He was erect in less than a minute, and when he carried me to the bedroom, I fell into a suit of armor.”

Theresa… their back grounds could never have been more different. Coming from money and a super-rich family with connections, she would never have wanted for anything. She was as straight laced as they came until she met her Capo. There was no brain washing going on here, she went into this with her eyes wide open. She knew the risks and she was willing to shed her Miss Perfect title and do whatever was needed to keep her and her Capo together. This was one of those unconditional loves, it was pure, it was raw, it should have been toxic, but it wasn’t, it was just beautiful.

The change in Theresa in Ruin is huge, long gone is our number crunching DA’s fiancĂ©e…in Ruin we have a woman fit to be Mafioso’s wife. She shows a cunning side, she is a planner, fiercely loyal, fiercely protective and fiercely devoted. She was willing to go to the dark side for her Capo, things that could have never been undone, but things that showed just how dedicated and trustworthy she was and this did not go unnoticed by Antonio.

She was my hope, that woman, standing so straight as she crossed the street. She could rule the world. She already ruled me.”

Antonio was forever fighting inner demons and outside factions, he did not want his Contessa sullied, he wanted to keep her pure and clean, keep her on the periphery. Antonio was unprepared for what a fire cracker he had unleashed, with every turn she surprised him. Her determination, her grit and her faith in him and them as a couple was unwavering, she was in it for the long haul and no matter what he did or said, her Capo was her future and she was never going to stand in the shadows, she was going to stand by his side.

“I love you. You are my only, my one and only. And if I have to turn my life upside down, or go to hell to be with you, so be it.” “That’s not to be undertaken lightly.” “It never was. Never,”

I cannot convey into words how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the writing style is phenomenal. So beautifully and descriptively written you felt that you were there, I was living the life, and the pages swallowed me whole and transported me into the life of Capo and Contessa. CD Reiss’s words are so powerful that you cannot help but be swept away in her prose, the emotions, the suspense, the intrigue, the fear, living on the edge dreading the next word in case it is not what you want to hear. I felt like the characters were tangible, I just needed to put a hand in, I could almost smell and taste, so vivid and descriptive were her words. I lived and breathed this book and I didn’t want it to end. Totally and utterly consuming, but totally and utterly perfect.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series; these two still have a long way to go and a lot to overcome. I have no fear when it comes to these two though, so strong are they as a unit that I feel in my heart of hearts that they can do it. These two are survivors as long as they have each other, apart they are targets, they are vulnerable; if separated these two cannot function, so strong is their connection and their constant need for each other.

“My destiny is to destroy.” “Maybe I was destined to be destroyed.”

CD Reiss, I take my hat off to you, I have loved every word and I cannot wait for more.

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Release Day Promo ~ Insidious (Tales from the Dark Side) by Aleatha Romig

Aleatha Romig's Insidious RDL Banner

Title: Insidious (Tales From The Dark Side)
Author: Aleatha Romig
Genre: Dark, Erotic Thriller
Cover Design: Melissa Ringuette
Release Date: Oct 21st 2014

Book Description:
 
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 **Due to the dark and explicit nature of this book, it is recommended for mature audiences only. **

Dark desires…Deadly secrets…Devious deceptions…Nothing is exactly as it seems in INSIDIOUS, the new erotic thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author ALEATHA ROMIG!

When a powerful man is willing to risk everything for his own satisfaction, only one woman can beat him at his own game: his wife. Or so she thinks…

“Let’s start with you calling me Stewart. Formalities seem unnecessary.”

Stewart Harrington is rich, gorgeous, and one of the most powerful men in Miami. He always gets what he wants. Anything is available to him for the right price.

Even me.

Being the wife of a mogul comes with all the perks, but being Mrs. Stewart Harrington comes with a few special requirements. I’ve learned to keep a part of myself locked away as my husband watches me submit to his needs. But the more he demands of me, the more beguiled he becomes and that’s to my advantage. So I keep fulfilling his fantasies and following his rules because he doesn’t know that what he’s playing is really my game. And winning is everything, right?

INSIDIOUS is a stand-alone novel and the first Tales from the Dark Side title by ALEATHA ROMIG.
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Teaser:

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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. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of twenty-eight years, they've raised three children. 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 with her family and friends. Her pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

 INSIDIOUS is Aleatha's seventh novel. It is her first time to delve into the world of erotic thrillers. The Consequences Series, her first series has been categorized as psychological thriller and dark romance. With INSIDIOUS, Aleatha took the twists and turns of CONSEQUENCES and turned up the heat.

 CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was released August 2011, by Xlibris Publishing. Then in October of 2012, Ms. Romig re-released CONSEQUENCES as an indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30, 2012, and CONVICTED, the third in the series, was released October 8, 2013. Unexpectedly, the fourth book of the Consequences series came to life with REVEALED: THE MISSING YEARS. It is the fourth full-length novel in the series. It explores the years in CONVICTED that previously were only mentioned, as well as a complete character glossary and timeline. REVEALED was released May 20, 2014.

 INSIDIOUS, the first released book from TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE will be released October 21, 2014. TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE will be a series of standalone, dark, erotic thrillers guaranteed to take you on a wild, hot, and dark ride. Each novel in the series will be independent of the next. The characters from one book will never be revisited. Instead, Aleatha leaves it up to her readers to imagine how each story will end while remembering that it is the journey that is the most fun.

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

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