June 30, 2016

Review: Shut Out



Title:  Shut Out
Author: Kelly Jamieson
Published: June 7, 2016, Loveswept 
Genre: Sports, Romance, NA


From the bestselling author of the Heller Brothers Hockey series comes the first novel of a new hockey romance series featuring a college team whose players are heating things up both on and off the ice.
 
The Bayard College hockey team isn’t where Jacob Flass thought he’d be a season ago. He was a rising star in the Canadian major junior league, cruising toward a spot on an NHL roster—until a single disastrous night on the town brought it all crashing down. Now he’s out of options, except for playing well, studying hard, and staying away from girls. He’s not supposed to be flirting with the hottest, sweetest chick he’s ever met. But how could he possibly stay away?
 
Skylar Lynwood knows that Jacob is out of her league. She’s just trying to go with the flow, which isn’t easy when six feet and four inches of total hockey hunkiness is making a play for her one moment, then giving her the cold shoulder the next. Skylar’s head tells her that this rugged athlete isn’t worth her time, but her body says something altogether different. Risking her heart for Jacob may be the craziest thing she’s ever done . . . but she won’t let him shut her out.



Buy Link:   Amazon US










4 hearts

This is the first book in a new series for Hockey Romance Pro Kelly Jamieson. I have enjoyed her previous books so I knew I had to see what she was bringing to this new series. 

Jacob Flass has an unfortunate misunderstanding on his Canadian team and gets let go. His only shot at the NHL will be if he plays college hockey somewhere. He moves to the US and becomes the perfect student athlete. Stays away from girls until one beauty turns his head and he can't get her out of his mind. 

Skylar is much more the wall flower than her party girl roommates. And when she does make an effort, she gets turned down by the hottest guy at the house party. Fate would bring her and Jacob back together over the weeks to come. I really liked that they became friends first. Given both their pasts, it was probably the only way they would work out together in the end. 

This book is very NA. It is the college scene with all the college drama and all the new adult angst. I typically don't mind this genre but it seemed to me that there were more than necessary "incidents" that caused some pretty cliche reactions--across all characters. I'm a little removed from this age group, so I found my self not terribly interested in what was going on around campus. 

I did enjoy the two leads. I am happy that they got their issues out on the table and were able to realized how much better they were together than apart. Overall, an ok read. Just not my cup of tea. 

*ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review.




Kelly Jamieson writes romances with heat that's sweet. Her writing has been described as “emotionally complex”, “sweet and satisfying” and “blisteringly sexy”. If she can stop herself from reading or writing, she loves to cook. She has shelves of cookbooks that she reads at length. She also enjoys gardening in the summer, and in the winter she likes to read gardening magazines and seed catalogues (there might be a theme here...) She also loves shopping, especially for clothes and shoes. But her family takes precedence over everything else (yes, even writing). She has two teenage children who are the best kids in the world, not that she’s biased, and a wonderful husband who does loads of laundry while she plays on the computer writing stories. She loves hearing from readers, so please visit her website at www.kellyjamieson.com

June 28, 2016

Review: Defending Hayden



Title: Defending Hayden
Author: LP Dover
Published:  June 28, 2016, Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary, Sports




The Carolina Cougars keep fighting for love as the Second Chances series from bestselling author L. P. Dover continues! In Defending Hayden, a damaged football star teams up with the only woman who can take the pain away.
 
No one’s tougher than Carolina Cougars linebacker Derek McLaughlin. But when a fatal car accident claims the life of his girlfriend, Derek finds himself caught in a destructive spiral of drugs, alcohol, and meaningless sex. But not even a string of one-night stands can ease the hurt. Football is all he has left. Then fate leads him back to the scene of the crash, and into the arms of a kind, gorgeous woman who sees past his faรงade to the man he once was . . . and can be again.

When a chance roadside encounter brings Derek into her life, veterinarian Hayden Hunter isn’t fooled by his bad attitude: All bark and no bite, he’s hiding a wounded heart beneath that gruff demeanor. And Hayden wants to be the one to kiss it all better. Soon they both find that a dose of passion is potent medicine. But when a hidden enemy lashes out at Hayden, Derek steps up to do what he does best: put his body on the line in the name of love.








4 hearts


On of the best things about this author is that she continues to share the love by having characters from previous books and previous series pop up in her other books. It's almost a challenge now for the reader, to try and guess who may know whom in the current mix of characters. It's like an ongoing epilogue and I LOVE it! 


Defending Hayden takes us back to the Carolina Cougars to tell the story of Derek. He is fighting both his body and his mind while trying to recover from the car accident that took his girlfriend away. The very last thing he thinks he needs or wants is to fall in love. What he doesn't plan on is helping veterinarian Hayden along the side of the road and falling for her. Both their pasts want to work against them being together, but Derek decides Hayden in worth defending. 

Loved to see some of the guys from the team again. Hayden attends some of the games so we get to see some football action as well. Great read once again from this author! 

*ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review.





New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.
 


Release Blitz: Hard to Serve







To protect and serve is all Detective Kyler Vance ever wanted to do, so when Internal Affairs investigates him as part of the new police commissioner’s bid to oust corruption, everything is on the line. Which makes meeting a smart, gorgeous submissive at an exclusive play club the perfect distraction… 

The director of the city’s hottest art gallery, Mia Breslin’s career is golden. Now if only she could find a man to dominate her nights and set her body—and her heart—on fire. When a scorching scene with a hard-bodied, brooding Dom at Blasphemy promises just that, Mia is lured to serve Kyler again and again.

As their relationship burns hotter, Kyler runs into Mia at work and learns that he’s been dominating the daughter of the hard-ass boss who has it in for him. Now Kyler must choose between life-long duty and forbidden desire before Mia finds another who’s not so hard to serve.
 

Join the Hard to Serve FB Party on June 28!






Excerpt:

So many readers asked for more stories in my bestselling Hard Ink series, and I’m so excited to be able to give you just that in my new, super sexy HARD TO SERVE! HARD TO SERVE is an edgy stand-alone love story about a Baltimore police detective whose red-hot BDSM relationship with a new submissive seems like the perfect distraction from a trumped-up investigation against him until he learns that the woman is his boss’s daughter. Talk about sparks flying! I had so much fun writing this book, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! And if you enjoy it, you might like to check out the whole Hard Ink series, now complete! Happy reading!


Mia found herself alone with a kinda pissed-off looking Master Kyler. He wore angry well. As in, the harshness of the set of his jaw and the tight press of his lips and the narrow cut of his eyes—they were all hot, especially coming from a Dom. But she didn’t understand it.
           
“Um. Hello, Sir,” she finally said when he didn’t say anything.
           
“Mia,” he said, his gaze raking over her. “You look absolutely stunning tonight.” His voice was like gravel, rough and strained.
           
“Thank you. Are you okay, Sir?” she asked.
           
He shook his head. “I don’t…I don’t know.”
           
“Do you want to sit and talk?” Mia asked, concern for him flooding her.
           
Suddenly, Kyler pinned her to the cool wall. He braced his hands on either side of her head, and he was erect against her belly. She wanted to drop into a crouch and take him into her mouth. “Do you want vulgar honesty or watered-down politeness?” he asked.

The promise of those words made her core clench with need. “Vulgar honesty.”

He nailed her with a blue-eyed stare. “I don’t want to sit and talk. I want to fuck. Hard. I want to be aggressive. Maybe I even want to be a little mean.”

Mia’s heart was suddenly a runaway train in her chest. Because, sign her up! She let out a shaky breath. “That sounds…like someone’s going to have a good night,” she managed.

Kyler dropped his head to her shoulder on a groan. He knocked his forehead against the bone there once, twice.

“Did I say the wrong thing?” she asked. Because he was totally confusing her.

“That’s the thing, Mia. I don’t know.” He lifted his gaze to hers again.

“How can I help?” she asked.

For a moment, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, and when he opened them, it was like he’d centered himself and made some kind of resolution. “Are you game for what I just described?” He fingered the chunky silver-and-gold choker she wore around her neck.
           
Heat swept over her, her body already answering, already preparing. “Yes, Sir. I am.”
           
He gave a tight nod and backed up a step. “Let me show you the room I have in mind.” Taking her hand, he led her down the long hallway that shot off the side of the nave. She wasn’t sure if this was still part of the church building or something else, but she didn’t have long to wonder before Kyler stopped at a door and keyed in a code.
           
Lights came on as the door opened, and Kyler guided her inside with his hand at the small of her back.
           
Just the room’s theme turned Mia on. Concrete floor. Cinder-block walls with peeling paint. Light thrown from bare light bulbs surrounded by little cages. An iron cot bed with only a white fitted sheet. Rusted metal cabinet at the side that undoubtedly held a variety of toys and supplies. It looked like a basement or a warehouse—a place where a woman in a beautiful cocktail dress had no business being. A role started taking shape in her mind.
           
“Do you see where my head is tonight, Mia?” Master Kyler asked, his body almost rigid with tension.
           
God, she was going to enjoy helping him work out whatever had him so wound up. “Yes, Sir."


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Announcing a New Erotic Romance Series from Laura Kaye…

BLASPHEMY - the club first introduced in Hard to Serve

From the ruins of an abandoned church comes Baltimore’s hottest and most exclusive BDSM club. Twelve Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

Bound to Submit is coming September 13, 2016

PRE-ORDER BOUND TO SUBMIT:

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2613CTk ; paperback to come
B&N: (link available closer to release)
IBOOKS: https://goo.gl/e1hfGB
KOBO: https://goo.gl/23nMNv



Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Release Blitz: Wicked Ride

New Release from Sawyer Bennett

Wicked Ride (Wicked Horse, Book #4) is available now! The fourth release in The Wicked Horse series, Wicked Ride can be read as a standalone.





I think this woman may be the death of me. A dire prediction, but probably true.
Probably true because she’s not mine to have and I’ll probably take her, even at the risk to my own safety. So many men slobbering to get a taste of her and only one, sweet, virginal girl to go around.
That’s right.
She’s a virgin.
Looking like a porcelain china doll that would break if not handled carefully. But I also know she’s stronger than she looks.
She’s a contradiction.
She’s most likely my downfall.
Like I said, she’ll probably be the death of me, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.

**Warning: this book has sex in it. Lots of sex. Dirty sex. The Wicked Horse Series is a bit different than what Sawyer Bennett normally writes. While you’ll still enjoy fabulous characters, a suspenseful story, some witty banter and an epic romance, there’s just… a lot of sex. You’ve been warned.


Get Wicked Ride now!

#SaveAHorseRideACowboy #WickedHorse #AvailableNow







Bennett_photo_2014Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Mary’s strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.



Connect with Sawyer:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bennettbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BennettBooks
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sawyerbennett123/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Sawyer_Bennett

Sign up for Sawyer’s newsletter:
http://sawyerbennett.com/signup/


Cover Reveal: ONE



Releases July 28th 2016

Synopsis
Lake Jones is a cover girl for cutting-edge prosthetic legs, a binge-watcher of Netflix, known to spy on her neighbor through her door’s peephole, and fond of laser games with her hairless cat. She’s also a bit sexually-frustrated.

Until …

God bestows a breath of mercy upon her in the form of Minnesota’s NFL starting quarterback. But this gift is no stranger. Lake met Cage Monaghan three years earlier.

It was one day.
One moment.
One kiss that resurrected her dreams of finding love.

His dimpled smile distracts from his imperfections, which include: a love for country music, fishing, and a feline-hating girlfriend.

When life finally gives them their chance, it’s a humorous and heart-wrenching journey to find their place in the world.

"We would be Cage and Lake. We would be unpredictable. We would be reckless. We would give normality the middle finger.”

***This book is a standalone. However, it is HIGHLY recommended that any readers who have not, but may consider, reading the Jack & Jill Series, do so before reading this book. It contains spoilers to Jack & Jill.
Excerpt
“Wow. Nice basement. Or shrine. It really is more of a shrine.”

Cage laughed, taking our luggage into the bedroom. My eyes remained glued to the wall.

 “I’m glad you see the humor in it so I won’t feel so bad when I say, ‘Oh. My. God.’ I mean, common sense tells me there has to be a wall behind all these posters and photos, but without that common sense it really does look like the posters and photos are the wall.” I stepped closer, inspecting the non-existent spacing between the frames.

            Cage in high school.
            Cage in college.
            Cage with Minnesota.
            Cage receiving award after award.
            Cage.
            Cage.
            Cage.

            “My mom is my number one fan.”
            “No shit. I’d considered taking on the role myself, but clearly I’m way out of my league.”
            He swept my hair off to one side and kissed my neck, pressing his body to my back. “Have I told you today how beautiful you are?”
            “No. N-not yet.” I closed my eyes as his hands slid under my shirt, finding their way to my breasts.
“You are. You’re so damn beautiful in every way.”
            His touch made me crazy. The ending of my cycle made me horny. The combination of both made me not care where we were. I turned in his arms. My grin screamed come hither.
            “Couch, Monaghan.”
            He quirked a brow.
            “Don’t make me say it again.”
            He smirked, taking several steps back before flopping onto the enormous brown sectional. I grabbed one of his tennis shoes and pulled it off and then the other. His socks followed suit.
            “Can you feel it, Monaghan? You’re getting ready to score again. What if your off-season record surpasses your regular-season record?” I “shrugged off my shirt.
            His gaze dropped to my chest. “I love when you talk my language.”
            I slipped off my shoe. Each item of clothing got tossed in a different direction for theatrics.
            My favorite dimples came out, approving of my strip tease.
            “Mind if I lose the leg?” I asked.
            He shook his head. There really were no words to describe how his lack of any sort of reaction made me feel.
            Not one flinch.
            Not one nervous glance at my leg.
            Not one second of hesitation.
            It was as if I asked whether we could listen to music while having sex. Cage didn’t see my disability. He found every version of me sexy. I found my heart hurting from the fear that someday he would look at me and think “Holy, shit! You’re missing part of your leg.”
 With equal flair, I tossed my leg over the back of the couch and straddled his waist in just my black bra and panties.
            “I think we can be honest with each other, Monaghan, so I’m going to let you in on a little female secret.”
            He tore his eyes from my breasts and met my gaze.
            “By the end of a woman’s cycle or period as you don’t like to call it…” he rolled his eyes “…we are horny, as in, there is probably a twenty-four to forty-eight hour gap where you could fuck a woman senseless and she’d still beg for more.”
            His Adam’s apple bobbed, swallowing that little nugget of information. “Shit! I brought you to my mom’s house during your fuck-me-senseless time.”
            I shrugged, reaching behind me and unfastening my bra which got tossed over the couch as well. “Rookie mistake, Monaghan. Now … the real question is…” I wet my lips while unfastening his jeans “…what part of my body is going to give you your first orgasm tonight?” ”

            “Jesus, Lake …” His breath caught just as I finished pulling down his zipper.


June 27, 2016

Release Blitz: Pieces

Introducing Toni Aleo's highly anticipated debut Paranormal Romance novel, PIECES. This radiant, powerful + magical love story takes you into a new world where anything is possible; where an underground society in NYC will make you question everything you thought you ever knew.
Dare to venture into... THE WORKS.
NOW AVAILABLE


Download Here




In New York City, an underground society of supernatural beings exists, hidden among everyday humans. They don't know of our activities or any of our secrets.
The districts of the Works are made up of vampires, wolves, shifters, witches, and I'm in the fifth and arguably most important district, the Patchwork. My father is the leader of our group, and he oversees all of the other factions.
As his only daughter, that makes me the princess of it all. Cool, right? Actually...no.

Sure, I live in a mansion and money isn't an object, but that doesn't matter because I can't leave. I have a guard who follows me around 24/7. My father and three older brothers treat me like I'm a fragile piece of glass, never allowed to take an independent step or make any decisions on my own.
It's beyond frustrating--especially since my father essentially runs my life.
He says what I do, when I do it, how I do it, and all that jazz. He tests his formulas and new techniques on me. I'm a walking science experiment.
I hate it. 
I hate my life here.

But then he comes along: Killian.

He's just some vampire...or so I thought.

But you'll have to read my story to find out what I mean. To know my secrets.

Until then, though, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rebekah von Stein.
And I'm a descendant of Dr. Frankenstein.

Welcome to the Works.



BOOK COVER PHOTOGRAPHY + DESIGN || REGINA WAMBA
EDITING || LISA A. HOLLETT
MARKETING + DESIGN + SOCIAL MEDIA || KELLIE GUNDERMAN

Reviews

"Wow! Toni Aleo is the queen of hockey romance but now she writes paranormal flawlessly. Is there anything she can’t write? I think not. She weaved this new world of witches, wolves, vampires and Dr. Frankenstein’s descendants, that had me hooked from the very first page. It was a fresh new story that I devoured in one sitting. This story was filled with suspense, mystery and romance. It had me on edge wanting, no, needing to know what would happen next." - GoodReads Review \\ Jill M \\ Embrace The Romance

"Okay, so what the hell? I didn't see that coming. I mean, really, the queen of hockey writing about vampires, werewolves and Dr. Frankenstein's descendants? Let me be a little sceptical. And after I read it, let me apologize for it. This book was a fresh wave. I devoured it. It took me only one night to finish it because this story didn't let me go. I'm sitting here trying to put together the pieces - not funny - but I can't. I want to read more books like this one. Just keep it up, Toni!" - GoodReads Review \\ Becca

"I loved this book it was phenomenal.I could not put it down for anything. I help my breath for most of it and still didn't fully exhale when it was over! The end was left with a bit of a cliffhanger and it has me wanted so much more!" - GoodReads Review \\ Ash \\ Morning Books and Coffee






Paranormal is my go to first love of Romance books so add in a super hot Hockey Romance writer and I'm on it!  Thrilled to see Toni Aleo venture out to a new genre.  And hold on because she NAILS this! 

I love books that give me all the beasties.  In Pieces we see Shifters, Vampires, Witches, Frankenstein's descendants and Wolves. There is mention of humans but we don't come across any in this story.  After getting the lay of the world, I really felt this was almost dystopian in nature.  Things have evolved over time.  The supernatural is living among the humans but still keep to themselves.  Each faction has a leader, but Rebekah's father is the ruler over all.  And he has secrets running miles deep! 

So many secrets in this book, in fact, I can't share much more with you.  Rebekah, despite being pieced together, is a typical young adult--, rebellious, prone to swoon, emotional, trying to be independent.  Her heart has been broken but she is trying to live her life as best as her overprotective brother's will allow.  The secondary characters absolutely made this book--the prisoners, the brothers. ex-boyfriends, Rebekah's uncle--all made for a very rich story. 

Killian is also a mystery.  The banter between he and Becca is so flirty.  The two of them are connected at the soul level.   I sense a change coming in the WORKS and these two are going to be the catalyst.  

Fantastic start for a new series.  LOVE what Toni is doing int he paranormal world!  Bring me more!!! 

*ARC received for an honest review. 


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