May 28, 2015

Review: Insatiable 2



Title: Insatiable, Book 2
Author: JD Hawkins
Published: May 18, 2015,  self pub
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic

4 hearts




Blurb

It was supposed to be simple: I teach her a crash course in pleasure. No commitment. No strings.
Now she’s found the perfect guy — and it’s not me. 

I should move on, but I need her. And I never back down from a fight. 

Now I've got one last lesson for her: 
I’m going to make her mine. 

Review


This novella continues the story of Jax and Lizzie from Insatiable 1.  Jax has coached Lizzie in the fine art of sensuality and seduction as per her request, only to have it backfire and Lizzie meets someone she wants to have a go with. 

Jax finds himself in unfamiliar territory.   He is used to women falling at him, having his pick of lovelies any day of the week.  His manwhore card is getting trumped by a spitfire named Lizzie and he finds himself completely without his mojo.  He continues to be cordial and polite to Lizzie while trying to rack his brain about how to make things right between them.  Of course he takes the sneaky way at first instead of being up front with Lizzie.  His advice on dating and keeping her man is priceless! 

This book is full of the quick wit and clean writing from book 1.  Being an inner geek myself, one of my favorite lines happens when Jax is showing Lizzie the mansion she can use for her charity event.

“It’s huge!  Even from the outside it doesn’t look this big!  It’s like a Tardis!”

Jax shoots me a knitted brow and a sideways glance.  “What’s a Tardis?”

“Dr. Who?”

Jax shakes his head.

“Ok, I get it,” I say, “you’re too cool for the reference.” 

(I may have even snorted at that interaction between the two!)

I liked that Jax becomes more human before our eyes.  He is still sexy as sin but does some self-reflection and becomes the man that Lizzie needs to make her heart complete.  Of course the reader understands that Jax has fallen in love with Lizzie but it takes him a bit of the book and some hilarious failed attempts with other women to have it hit home for him. 


My only complaint about book 1 was that it was so short.  This half is also short but helps to put the icing on the cake that is Jax and Lizzie.  Buy both books together.  You won’t want to wait to get into the second part.  Wonderful start for this new author!  Clean, crisp writing.  Nice balance of humor, inner dialogue, and steamy sex.  I look forward to his next endeavor!  

Review: Insatiable 1


About the Author



I'm a new erotic author from LA. I grew up in Southern California and now live with my wife in Venice.. I've also lived in NYC, India and Thailand. I love to travel and have been to Central America, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. I have a boring corporate day job where I cover people's asses for a living and am hoping to leave this world soon and make a living doing the thing I love - writing. I enjoy surfing and I'm also a martial artist, my other main passion, which I practice since the age of 5.

May 27, 2015

Midweek Obsession #5

In honor of all the Military heroes we remember this week----- Get obsessed over these gorgeous men in (and out) of uniform!  







                  Veteran Alex Minsky                                                             Veteran James Ramsey 





 Veteran Brad Ivanchan 



 




Old School Hotties,  WWII 


Photos courtesy of Michael Stokes Photography and Tumblr

Review: Off Base



Title:  Off Base
Author:  Tessa Bailey and Sophie Jordan
Published:  May 22, 2015, DCA, Inc
Genre: Contemporary, Military

       5 hearts



Blurb


New York Times bestselling authors Tessa Bailey and Sophie Jordan team up for a collaboration featuring two sexy contemporary romance novellas. 


OFF BASE: Kenna and Beck 
By Tessa Bailey 

A welcome home he never expected...and will never forget... 

When Kenna Sutton is tasked with driving home newly returned Beck “True Blue” Collier, she expects the strategic Army mastermind to be a pasty number cruncher. Never at a loss for words, Kenna is nonetheless rendered speechless by the gorgeous, inexperienced and tightly-wound Army major that lands in her passenger seat. Outraged by Beck’s lack of a welcome home after seven long years overseas, Kenna takes matters into her own hands, giving Beck something he’s only ever fantasized about in his bunk. 

Beck has never shied away from a test of will and Kenna gives new meaning to the word challenge. One problem? Kenna’s father is the lieutenant general presenting Beck with the Silver Star and Beck is determined to treat Kenna with the respect she deserves, even if her eyes beg Beck to act out his most secret desires with her. Desires he's always been told were the work of the devil. But how long can one lonely, starving man hope to resist the woman he craves? 

OFF BASE: Huntley and Cullen 
By Sophie Jordan 

Being a good girl has its drawbacks... 

Huntley Collier, an emergency room nurse and all-around do-gooder, is tired of living in the friend zone. Cullen Brooks was given the job of babysitting Huntley when her brother – his best friend – deployed. But their friendly coffeehouse hangouts and TV marathons leave her wanting more. When one crazy night leads to too many drinks and an explosion of long-denied lust, Huntley's dreams become a reality. And reality is one hot, wild place she never wants to leave. 

But only a good girl can bring down a bad boy... 

Known as Sullen Cullen around Black Rock, Cullen Brooks doesn’t have many friends, but Huntley is one of them … and despite his decidedly unfriendly fantasies of the curvy blonde, she is far too sweet for his darker tastes. Keeping his hands off is easier said than done, however, when demure, little Huntley responds to his touch like the wildcat he never expected...and can't stop pursuing, despite his better judgment. But when Cullen suddenly faces losing her, will this bad boy risk it all to keep his good girl? 



Review


So freaking HOT! 

This sweet collection of two short military themed stories will make you combust! Tessa Bailey and Sophie Jordan bring their A game with this book. The stories focus on the twins Beck and Huntley Collier. Beck is returning from duty overseas and Huntley is a nurse on the military base he is returning to. She has waited and worked at his home base for him to come home. 

Both siblings fight their attraction to their most obvious of soul mates. You know that never goes the way anyone wants. I loved Beck in all his virginally goodness. I loved how compassionate he is and how watching people for years has made it so that he can figure out Kenna in a heart beat. I REALLY loved his dirty talking,very non-virginal approach to getting Kenna all hot and bothered! Beck is BBF material! 

Sullen Cullen is a friend of the twins and supposed to watch over Huntley until Beck returns. If anything, Cullen fights his attraction to Huntley even harder once she lays her cards on the table. 

Both stories are full of extremely hot lovin! My favorite was Beck and Kenna. I would actually be excited to read a full length novel on these two. If you enjoy military tropes or even if you are just looking for a steamy love story, pick up this collection. 



About the Authors


Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn't writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

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

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

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


May 22, 2015

Review: When Darkness Ends


Title: When Darkness Ends
Author: Alexandra Ivy
Published: May 26, 2015, Zebra
Genre: Paranormal

4 Hearts




Blurb

The Guardians of Eternity are facing a final battle to save their world—but battles of the heart may be the most difficult to fight…

Cyn, the vampire clan chief of Ireland, is an unabashed hedonist whose beauty is surpassed only by his insatiable appetite for pleasure. It’s no wonder he’s furious when he’s transported from the magical land of the pureblooded feys to his desolate medieval castle—only to have his very existence thrown into a chaos that even he cannot charm his way out of…

Most women may be all but powerless against Cyn, but Fallon, a sharp-witted fairy princess, is less than beguiled by the silver-tongued vampire. She’s a serious soul with no time for the sort of games he plays—especially when they learn that someone is trying to close the veil that separates the dimensions. But seduction may prove the most powerful force of all, as attraction ignites between the unlikely pair even as worlds are colliding around them…




Review

This is the finale!  The last book in the Guardians of Eternity series by the fabulous Alexandra Ivy.  I will be so sad to part ways with this wonderful bunch of paranormals!

The story starts where the previous book left off.  Cyn, a vampire clan chief and Fallon, a Fae Princess have been zapped away from the land of the Fey.  The commission, who seems to always be meddling, has called upon the two of them to find the traitor in the midst.  Someone is trying to take out all of the demons and using the commission to do so.

Fallon takes her job seriously but is distracted by the handsome Cyn.  Cyn tries very hard to convince Fallon that he is the better man for her.  She is betrothed to another proclaims she cannot be with him.  The underlying sexual tension continues throughout the book.  It turns out, the Fey Prince is a twit and easily gives up on Fallon.  As promised, Cyn is a smoking hot, very talented vampire lover! 

Cyn and Fallon and many of the other Vamps and of course Levet take on this adventure.  In the end, everyone is safe and demon kind free of all oppression--- for now.  Rumor has it, we will see some of these characters pop up again in Ivy’s new paranormal series.  I can’t wait!

This was not my favorite book of the series but a fitting way to round things out.  Easily a quick pick for a re-read for me.  The banter between the women and Levet and overall male dislike of him are worth a read any day!  Ivy is also a master at writing tension filled romantic scenes.  If you haven’t read this series, get yourself caught up.  Wonderful paranormal romance series!



*I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley for an honest review. 



About the Author


I'm not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother's knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library. Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few. I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays. In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on. 

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

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





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May 21, 2015

Midweek Obsession #4

Love the black and white images with a pop of color!  What do you think?












Hot Guy in Training!  



All photos taken from Pinterest.  

Blog Tour: Once Pure





Title: Once Pure
Author: Cecy Robson
Published:  May 19, 2015, Random House, LLC
Genre: Contemporary



Blurb

She bears the scars of the past. He blames himself for things he can’t control. Their defenses are up, but in Cecy Robson’s latest Shattered Past novel—perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and J. Lynn—true love lands a knockout punch.
 
Sofia Tres Santos remembers a time before her life went sour, before her innocence was ripped away, before she began punishing herself with risky behaviors and unworthy men. Now, at twenty, she just hopes she’s ready to rebuild some of what she lost. One way or another, it always comes back to her childhood friend and longtime crush, Killian O’Brien.
 
As strong as Killian is, Sofia has always been his one weakness. He knows Sofia has suffered and wants to ensure she’s never hurt again—not like before, and definitely not under his watch. When Sofia agrees to work at his mixed martial arts gym, Killian seizes the opportunity to help and protect the sweet girl he’s always cared for. And yet, as he trains Sofia to defend herself using his hard-hitting MMA techniques, he’s drawn to the vulnerable beauty in ways he never expected.
 
As Sofia grows stronger, she also grows brave enough to open herself up to love. And along the way, she challenges everything Killian believes to be true, showing him that no matter how much he dominates in the ring, the real battle is fought in the heart.





Excerpt

Killian poked his head into the office one afternoon. “One of the boys is going for a 
coffee run. You want a latte or whatever that shit’s called?”

I giggled. Killian knew only one type of coffee: black. And even that he didn’t drink. 

“No, I’m good.”

“How about lunch?” He gave me a one-shoulder shrug when I raised my brows. “I 
ordered you a steak from Geno’s in case you were hungry. It should be here soon.”

A cheesesteak from Geno’s? Killer yum. “I’d love one. Thank you.”


“I told them no peppers.” He smiled. “You never liked peppers, right?”


He remembered. “No. Not on steaks.” I reached for my money. “Let me give you a 
few bills.”


“Don’t. I got it.”

I watched him leave in time to hear his sister, Erin, better known as Wren, enter the 
gym. I hadn’t seen her since the winter, but I heard her thick Philly accent loud and 
clear. “Hey, Kill. Did you order cheese fries? I’m starvin’.”

“You just got here!” Kill called from the front.


“That don’t mean I ain’t starvin’.”


She strolled in, tossing her gym bag on the empty chair in front of me. “Hey, Sofe. 

How’s it going, kid?”


“I’m all right. You?”

“Shitty. I think I’m getting my period.” Her two braids hung like thick black rope 
against her breasts. She rummaged through her bag and stood with a huff when she 
didn’t find what she was looking for. “Hey, you got any tampons on you?”


I snagged my bag from the floor. “I’m not sure, let me look.”


“Thanks. This womanly shit blows, you know? But I suppose if it’s all a part of me
squeezing out a few puppies one day, it’s worth it, right?”


“Mmm.” I couldn’t squelch my smile. I liked Wren. While “dainty” and “girlie” would 
be the last words I’d use to describe her, she’d always been kind in spite of her 
tough-girl persona. As the only girl in a household of six boys, she hated pink, hated 
dolls, and hated lip gloss. The only things she liked were cars and kicking ass. I 
wondered if she realized how stunning she was. Traffic seemed to stop when she 
strutted down the street, but she never seemed to notice. Wren was just Wren. It 
was one of her many qualities that made her so endearing.

I passed her what I had.


“Thanks, Sofe.” She jerked her chin. “So Finn tells me you’re doing Kill.”


I think my jaw fell somewhere near my feet. “N-no. I’m not, I swear.”


She shrugged and tucked the tampon into the strap of her sports bra. “It’s nothing to 
be ashamed of. He’s a good kid—like you, you know?”


Help me, Jesus. “H-how’s it going down at the auto dealer?”


“Oh, it’s awesome. Sold more F-150s last week than those fucktard pricks I work 
with.” 

“Yeah?”


“Totally. You lookin’ for new wheels? I can get you a sweet deal. All last year’s 
models are going on sale in two weeks.” She held up two fingers for emphasis. “Two. 
Time’s tickin’, Sofe.”

“Ah, no. I can’t afford that now, but thanks.”

“All right.” She pointed at me. “You change your mind, you tell me. I watch out for 
those from the old neighborhood.”

“Thank you.”

Wren cocked her head as she took in the floral sundress I was wearing. She wore 
tight, tiny shorts that showed off her abs and long, muscular legs. The only skin I 
exposed was on my arms, face, and ankles. “You look real nice, Sofi. Too nice. You 
sure you’re not banging my brother?”

I buried my face in my hand. “Yes. I’m sure.”

“’Cause Finn said—and granted Finnie tends to exaggerate the truth—that Kill was 
all, like, into you. Then again, he has been since even before he got pubes.”

If Wren was trying to offer me a compliment it didn’t feel like one. “We’re not having 
sex,” I assured her. I squirmed when she continued to watch me. “So, what are you 
up to?”

“Teaching kickboxing and self-defense to a bunch of stay-at-home moms. Pissed me 
off, though, one came in all big and pregnant. I was like, yo, you can’t be coming in 
here all big and pregnant. You know that crazy-ass bitch with her crazy-ass 
hormones accused me of discriminatin’ against her?”

“Seriously?”


“Totally. And you know what happened?”


I shook my head.


“She broke her water.” Wren hooked a thumb behind her. “Right there on the mat 
next to the Octagon. Killian was all pissed and made me clean it up, can you believe 
that shit?”


I blinked back at her. “Ah, no.”


“Swear to God. Almost threw up doin’ it, too.”


Finn knocked on the door. “Wren. Your class is ready.” He frowned at her shoulder. 

“Why the hell do you have a tampon tucked in you bra?”


“I think I’m getting my monthly.”


“Oh.”


She tossed the tampon in her bag and headed out. At five feet eight she was just two
inches shorter than Finn. Both had been the runts of the O’Brien clan. She clapped 
her hands together as a group of women gathered along the wall where a row of 
heavy bags were lined up. “Hey, listen up, ladies. Youz were all pathetic last time. 
Don’t be pathetic. It don’t pay to be pathetic when some asshole with a knife comes 
after you—”

A little boy about six ran out from nowhere, jetting in circles around Wren. She 
grabbed him by the collar of his T-shirt. “Hey. You see me talkin’ here?”

The kid nodded.


“You see me teaching a class?”

He nodded again.


“Then what the hell are you doing?”


The kid blinked up at her. “I got ADHD,” he answered.


“No one here gives a shit, kid.” She glanced up. “Who does this kid belong to?”

A woman in very unforgiving spandex tossed her bag against the wall and kicked off 
her sneakers. “Sorry, Wren. My ma couldn’t take him so I had to bring him to class. 
Sauron, get your ass over here.”

The kid resumed his circle sprints around Wren the minute she released him. 

“Sauron?” Wren asked. “You seriously named your kid Sauron, Gloria? Do you 
wonder why he’s fucked up?”

Gloria threw up her hands. “Don’t get me started. It was my ex’s idea. Sauron! Get 
over here before I take away your iPad!”

Wren rolled her eyes. “Christ,” she spat. “Okay, ladies, twenty kicks—ten each 
leg—let’s go. Sauron, you grab a bag, too.”

Sauron pointed to himself. “Me?”

“Yeah. With a name like you got you’re gonna get your ass kicked. Might as well 
learn to defend yourself. Let’s go, ladies, come on!”


About the Author



CECY (pronounced Sessy) ROBSON is the Penguin Random House New Adult author of Once Perfect, Once Loved, and Once Pure, and the award-winning author of the Weird Girls Urban Fantasy Romance series. A self-proclaimed professional napper, Cecy counts among her talents a jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and a knack for breaking into song despite her family's vehement protests. A writer, registered nurse, and mother living in the South, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy characters in her head by telling their stories. 

Connect with Cecy online at www.cecyrobson.comtwitter.com/cecyrobson or facebook.com/Cecy.Robson.Autho

May 18, 2015

Release Launch: Craving Lucy





Blurb

One kiss can change everything…
I wished I’d known that before I’d kissed my best friend.
Things are different now. We can’t go back. I’m not even sure I want to go back. I guess the question is….

What happens now?




PURCHASE LINKS: Craving Lucy $0.99







About the Author


The USA Today bestseller hated school and reading until her aunt handed over her first romance novel at the age of twelve, as crazy aunts tend to do. It gave her a passion for the written word that has only increased over the years.  Started writing her own novellas at the age of sixteen, forcing her sister to be her one woman fan club. Now she has a few more fans and a lot more passion for writing. Reese: A Safe Haven Novella was her first Indie published book. The Rocker That Holds Me changed the tables and kicked off The Rocker… series featuring the sinfully delicious members of Demon’s Wings. The Rocker… Series has since expanded to OtherWorld with Axton Cage and his band members. Terri Anne lives in Virginia with her husband, their three children, and a loveable Olde English Bulldog



AUTHOR MEDIA LINKS:
Website: Terriannebrowning.com

May 15, 2015

Review: Taking the Heat



Title: Taking the Heat
Author: SD Hildreth
Published: 3-23-15, Eralde Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotica

       5 Hearts




Blurb

Cambio Todelli is a former Marine.
He is also Italian, muscular, and simply gorgeous.
He is a walking aphrodisiac with a romantic heart, a caring soul, and an extremely short fuse.
When he saved me from a certain trip to prison one day, I knew he was "Toad", the Sergeant at Arms for the Selected Sinners MC, I could read the patches on his cut...

But I had no idea he was broken.

Sydney Shephard has no family, no home, and no job.
She is homeless, penniless, an orphan, and living in her car...
Despite everything being against her, she's the happiest woman I've ever seen.
And the most beautiful.
The day I pulled her out of a bad situation, she got a second chance in life.
Now I want a chance at her.


But she only does relationships, and I don't do relationships.

Stand-Alone, HEA, No cheating. Selected Sinners MC Romance Book II.

*NOTE TO READERS* This book is a stand-alone love story and the second book of a series. No other book is required to tell THIS tale. It does contain explicit language, sexual situations, and the intricacies of being in an Outlaw Motorcycle Club. All sexual partners in this MC Erotic Romance are over the age of 18. Stand alone love story. HEA. No cliff hanger.


Review

Yes!  So happy this second book in the Selected Sinners MC series held more true to an MC book.  Book 1 was ok. I liked it.  It just didn’t have an MC feel to it.   Book 2—had me crying within the first few pages, dammit!  From there, we got to see the meaning of brotherhood, MC rules-written and understood, violence, sex, and back history on prominent members.  I am totally on board to ride this series out now.  Thank you Scott for letting us see more of what it means to be a Sinner.

Toad, or Cambio Todelli, is a broken man.  He is a veteran, suffering from PTSD, and emotionally detached from everything.  Inside he struggles with survivor guilt.  It moves him to do heroic and kind acts while still keeping his tough guy image.  He feels violence is acceptable if deserved.  For a long time he has not felt worthy of anything good for himself. 

“Both of us acted not for reward or recognition, but out of a natural desire to be kind.”

Then he meets Sydney.  Also with a traumatic past but much more willing to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I admire her stamina to improve her situation no matter how small the steps or how tiny the change.  Toad helps her to get back on her feet again.  They become friends and slowly reveal bits of themselves. 

Sydney: “You know,  …. If you have two broken cars, or two broken toys, you can take the two broken objects and make one working one?  Like use the pieces from one to fix the other? ……. Well, …… as individuals, we’re both broken.  I think together, maybe we’ll make a complete, unbroken us.”

Toad: “It makes sense.  You know, what you said a second ago,” I paused and raised my hand to my chin. 
               
 “Unbreak me, Sydney.”

Together, Sydney and Toad begin to heal.  It was easy to feel the love growing between these two.  Wonderful main characters.  I was thrilled to see the guys from the author’s MMA series show up in this book.  Awesome to catch up with Ripp and Dekk and A-Train!  Also loved Toad’s BFF, Otis.  A great friend and quite the character.  Cannot wait to see his book! 



This can be read as a stand alone.  Be sure to check out other books by this author.  You will be blown away by his diversity in subject matter! 






About the Author



Scott Hildreth is a very analytical sort who bases his beliefs on statistics he compiles in his head. Often going as long as a month without so much as a single sip of water, he drinks coffee as if it were the lifeblood of his writing. 

Scott fears flying, clowns, and amusement park rides. Tall and lean with a cleanly shaven head and covered in tattoos, he doesn’t blend in well. After reading his writings, this makes perfect sense. His vibrant characters, backstories, and plots, although always relatable, generally stand out as much as he does. 


Willing to discuss matters at length most people shy away from, Scott’s writing has revolved around such subjects as domestic abuse, suicide, alcoholism, drug abuse, cancer, divorce, homosexuality, religion, and lack thereof. 


Born in San Diego, California, Scott now calls Wichita, Kansas his home. He is a proud father, and lives devoted to the love of his life, Jessica. When he isn’t writing, he may be found on his motorcycle or in a local coffee house. 

Scott's novels include Broken People,
Undefeated, Unstoppable, Unleashed, Unbroken, Baby Girl - Ruined, Baby Girl -
Owned, Baby Girl - Loved, To the Depths of Hell, The Alpha-Bet, Finding Parker,
Karter, Confessions of a Smut Author, When It All Began: A Jessie Jayne Novella,
Making the Cut: Selected Sinners MC Book I, Taking the Heat: Selected Sinners
Book II 
and now his newly released Threefold.