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Blog Tour and Review: On My Knees by J. Kenner

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The next part in Jackson and Sylvia’s story is available now – grab ON MY KNEES by J. Kenner today to get your hands on more of Jackson Steele!

onmykneesAbout ON MY KNEES

Jackson Steele and Sylvia Brooks continue to thrill in the second novel of a scintillating, emotionally charged new trilogy that returns to the world of J. Kenner’s beloved Stark novels:Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me.

I never thought I’d lose control, but his desire took me right to the edge.

Powerful, ambitious, and devastatingly sexy, Jackson Steele was unlike any other man I’d ever known. He went after what he wanted with his whole mind, body, and soul—and I was the woman in his sights. One touch and I surrendered, one night together and I was undone.

Jackson and I had secrets, dark pieces of our pasts that threatened to swallow us both. We couldn’t outrun our demons, or the people trying to tear us apart. But in our passion we found salvation, and in each other’s arms we found release.

I was scared to trust Jackson fully, to finally let go. Yet no matter the dangers that lay ahead, I knew I was his—and now that we’ve laid claim, there’s no more holding back.

On My Knees is intended for mature audiences.

Read the first chapter of ON MY KNEES here!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

Find out more about the first book, SAY MY NAME: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

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REVIEW:

The second in the Jackson Steele trilogy, Kenner once again grabs a hold of your thoughts and shakes the feels out of you. Secrets abound. Truths are exposed. Vulnerabilities are laid bare. Lots and lots of hot tie-me-up sex is had. Basically, I’m floating in an ocean of Jackson Steele paradise.

Do I care that this cliffhanger and storyline is slightly reminiscent of Damien and Nikki’s story? no. nope. all the no.
But you might, so I thought I’d let you know that I’ve been tinged with waves of nostalgia and doused with a bit of de ja vu while reading this.

SINCE I DON’T CARE, I will tell you that I’m just about as in love with Jackson as I am with Damien. These are two brothers I wouldn’t fuck with (or wait, yes I would). Jackson pulls you to his side immediately. While he’s keeping secrets from Sylvia [AND ME], you also know that he is totally in love with Sylvia and willing to do anything to protect her. This type of steadfast loyalty had me dropping to my knees screaming ‘yes, sir’ faster than you can say ‘good girl’. Jackson knows that he’s been provided the precious gift of Sylvia’s submission, and he doesn’t intend to abuse it.

Of course, he does fuck up. But hey – equal opportunity over here – Sylvia’s not a ball of perfection herself. She’s forced to examine her own demons that are creeping up from her past. She’s a bit more giving with her secrets than Jackson, but she’s not exactly rushing to open up old wounds and split herself open while sharing her darkest memories. While the two of them endeavor to hide the darkest parts of themselves – for self preservation, I believe, more than anything else – the world doesn’t wish for that to happen and it all comes spilling out into the light.

I love that Jackson and Sylvia are stronger together than they are apart. J. Kenner writes a love story that, while not without internal strife, has you pulling for the characters to take on the world together. Jackson and Sylvia are a perfect balance to the other: Jackson seeks to control and Sylvia seeks to choose to give up control. These scenes are filled with sensual promise and teasing in ways that I haven’t read before – it’s hot, intimate, and a little kinky. YES, PLEASE. Their sexual appetite is extremely healthy, and I was more than happy to sit back and let them explore all of the aspects of their newfound relationship. Carry on.

Damien and Nikki are all over this story [I fangirled in the privacy of my own home] and you meet new characters – some of whom I’m pretty sure have shady things in the works. This second in the trilogy keeps you on the edge of pleasure and captures your interest with the threat of exposure. I’m already counting down the moments until book 3 is released!

I give this ALL THE STARS.

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]

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EXCERPT

“I need you to tell me, baby. How should I touch you to get you there? Tell me what you want. Tell me what turns you on.”

My cheeks burn, which is ridiculous considering how open I am to him at this moment. But I can’t help it.

“Tell me,” he says, stepping closer. “Or have none of it.”
My eyes cut to him. “Cruel, Mr. Steele?”
“I can be. Or I can be very, very kind.” As he speaks, he moves his fingertip over my body. Literally over it, by about two inches. So that while I can imagine his touch, I do not get to experience it. Even so, it seems to me like he is leaving a trail of heat in his wake.

All that does, though, is drive home how much I will be missing if he doesn’t touch me for real.

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About J. Kenner

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures.

Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries.

J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Review: Cement Heart by Beth Ehemann

Author: Beth Ehemann

Book: Cement Heart

tl;dr recommendation: It’s emotionally jarring, romantically epic, and completely perfect.

Book Summary:

Lawrence Finkle, known simply to his die-hard Minnesota Wild fans as Viper, isn’t used to hearing the word no. He lives his whole life just a little on the reckless side. After all, life is just one big game, right?

Wrong.

When what was supposed to be an innocent bet goes horribly wrong, he’s left to deal with the aftermath—and the guilt. In an effort to make things right the best way he can, he ends up falling for the one person on the planet he never should have.

The old saying goes that two wrongs don’t make a right . . . or do they?

Longer Review:

My friends know me. They really really know me. I was informed I had to read this book after gushing about a similar plotline in another book. I’m either really predictable or I have friends with good taste. I CHOOSE THE LATTER. The combination of a man-whore hockey player with a tragic love story screamed for my attention. I was sucked into this book from the first chapter and could have demolished it in one sitting but for the fact that I needed to function the next day.

I had zero desire to put this one down and the kindle kept calling to me with its sad little brown case asking to be opened. I was engulfed into Viper’s life. His pain and torment over losing his best friend – the WAY that it happened – god, I could feel the loss. I found it super refreshing to read something amazing from a mostly male POV. I definitely had tears trickling down my face every so often while my heart turned to mush.

I absolutely adored the interaction between Viper and, well, pretty much everyone. His Gam is perhaps the coolest old lady on earth. I need to be her when I am 90. Mark my words. I will be a whisky-drinking, ice-cube throwing old coot who still talks about cocks and sex. BRING IT ON. Gam knows how to put him in his place and I was dying to be invited to her house for her infamous dinners.

Besides his budding relationship with Michelle, the greatest parts of this book are when Viper spends time with Matthew, Michelle & Mike’s son. Don’t tell my mother, but my uterus started aching a bit. They were SO ADORABLE together. It tugged at every heartstring I have.

As for the Michelle / Viper relationship…It couldn’t be written any better. It’s flawless. Really. From the morning texts to Lasagnagate, the anticipation builds and builds between them in a completely natural way. It’s emotionally jarring, romantically epic, and completely perfect.

This is romance at its purest – finding love from the worst of situations. I loved this immensely. All the stars!!!!

Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Book: Outlander (Outlander #1)

Other Books in Series:

Dragonfly In Amber (Outlander #2)
Voyager (Outlander #3)
Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4)
The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5)
A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6)
An Echo in the Bone (Outlander #7)
Written in My Heart’s Own Blood (Outlander #8)
Untitled – Book 9

Link to buy all 8 books here

tl;dr recommendation: Reading about Jamie had me close to buying my husband a kilt and begging him to learn gaelic.

Book Summary:

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord…1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Longer Review:

OH GOD I loved this book. It’s such an amazing epic romance at its heart that I hate myself for waiting this long to read it. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a predisposition against both historical novels and time travel novels – but this book breaks the mold. It’s something different…it’s timeless. Which is really no surprise since it was first published in 1991 and is still relevant.

Outlander easily broke through my preconceived notions, drug me through the dirty underbelly of the eighteenth century highlands and lifted me with hope that I never thought I’d have for characters I never knew I’d love. Diana writes with such ease that I’m shocked she didn’t have to transport back in time in order to convey this story so eloquently. While the overarching romance story held me fast to the pages, the story has something for everyone: danger, suspense, betrayal, and war. People have argued over what genre to place this book in, but that argument is wasted. I place this in the genre of ‘Good Shit’. period.

Claire is strong and sassy, witty and beguiling. She’s found herself in a shit position. While she knows that she should probably get back to her husband in her time, once she’s wed to Jamie and begins to build her life in this time, her heart and desires are divided. The question becomes, how much of her heart belongs to Jamie and how much to Frank – which future does she want to pursue? Of course, there’s also the issues of her maybe being an English spy and BlackJack Randall (who is her first husband’s ancestor) being a massive asshole, to the point that I’m not sure she could even see Frank’s face again without fearing he was BlackJack.

Jamie. Oh Jamie Fraser. Reading about Jamie had me close to buying my husband a kilt and begging him to learn gaelic. I’m going to share a few of my favorite lines – if this doesn’t entice you to buy the book, you clearly don’t love romance, I’m not sure why you’re reading this blog and you have no soul:

“If I were a horse, I’d let him ride me anywhere”           [Oh YES, PLEASE]

“I am your master…and you’re mine. Seems I canna possess your soul without losing my own.”

“I didna mean to hurt ye. But I do want to be in you, to stay in you, so deep. I want to leave the feel of me deep inside ye with my seed. I want to hold ye so and stay wi’ you ’til dawn, and leave you sleeping and go, with the shapes of you warm in my hands.”

“My heart has been yours since first I saw ye, and you’ve held my soul and body between your two hands here, and kept them safe.”

“I mean to hear ye groan like that again. And to moan and sob, even though you dinna wish to, for ye canna help it. I mean to make you sigh as though your heart would break, and scream with the wanting, and at last to cry out in my arms, and I shall know that I’ve served ye well.”

*SWOON*

Go fan yourself. Get your temperature back under control. Or wait – don’t. Go buy the book.

This book is a commitment. but one well worth taking. Especially for all seven inches of Jamie that swings with such easy access under that delicious kilt. *winks*

(it’s also only $2 for like 1000 pages. COME ON. That’s practically free).

I’m suffering from a ridiculous book hangover & I’m now planning my life around reading the rest of this series. This book gets a million stars. #MustRead

Review: Garrett by Sawyer Bennett

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Book: Garrett (Cold Fury Hockey #2)

Other books in series:

Alex (Cold Fury Hockey #1)
Zack (Cold Fury Hockey #3) – OUT NOW!!
Ryker (Cold Fury Hockey #4)

tl;dr recommendation:  I can’t say it any simpler: READ THIS BOOK.

Book Summary:

Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.

Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.

Longer Review:

I can’t say it any simpler: READ THIS BOOK.

Each of these is a standalone.You’ll find out a few things about the other characters, but you can go forth & read away!

I have so much love for Garrett. He’s a book boyfriend who will keep you up way past your bedtime – and he’s so worth it. I love a reformed manwhore. Perhaps because I married one? Who knows, but whatever the reason, Garrett is my ideal former manwhore: he falls hard, he falls fast, and he refuses to let go. He’s a huge, massive rock of delicious muscle, but when it comes to Olivia, he turns to complete mush. Garrett didn’t even know that he was looking for her, but when he finds Olivia, he knows this is more than anything he’s ever experienced before. Everything about her is just, more.

Olivia is sweet, funny, and can hold her own. Her creative side made her incredibly loveable and interesting – It gave her depth as a character that felt real. She doesn’t let Garrett get away with anything, she respects his career, and she’s basically perfect. Except she’s sick. Like, really sick. Should she really be starting something NOW? When she might not make it?

I loved their relationship. They fit so perfectly together – and I mean that in every possible way. It starts quickly and with secrets, but brutal honesty soon takes hold. Olivia soon questions whether they can handle the deep parts of their new relationship. Ahhhh, I love them.

Garrett and Olivia’s story had me tearing up and tearing through the pages. This is emotionally charged shit. Even though I saw what was coming, I didn’t predict how it was all going to shake out and I absolutely loved that. Sawyer creates an experience for the reader that is pretty rare to find…it’s like she knows the exact formula that makes my heart expand and my eyes water. THIS BOOK. I swear.

#MustRead #FiveStars

Blog Tour & Review: Back Stage by T. Gephart

Title: Back Stage
Series: Power Station #3
Author: T. Gephart
 Release Date: June 8, 2015

Links to Buy

AMAZON US / UK / AU

iBOOKS / B&N / KOBO

Blurb:

Rock Star? Angie Morelli was not one. Growing up next to Power Station’s drummer didn’t guarantee a taste of the limelight, unless you count catcalls at low paying gigs in seedy bars and second-rate venues. She was okay with that; working her ass off at her dad’s mechanic shop during the day meant she could live her dream at night. She didn’t need Power Station waltzing back into her life, Jason Irwin had done enough damage the first time. Could she let go of her hurt for a chance of hitting the big time?

A one-night stand right before Jason Irwin left for his big break was no big deal. Except it wasn’t just any girl— it was Angie, Troy’s hot but young and inexperienced neighbor. It should never have happened, so best he pretend like it didn’t. Ten years later he remembered exactly why he went down that road. She was even hotter and she was also pissed as hell. Sounded like the perfect combination to invite on their world tour.The road was not the place for history. It was bound to get ugly.

Book Three of the Power Station Series.
 Review:

I AM IN LOVE. These books and these men. FUCK. This book had me scream-singing Taylor Swift, shaking my ass and grinning like a lunatic. Jason and Angie are so imperfectly perfect I’m a little speechless.

Let’s back up a second. Jason and Angie actually know each other from before Jase was famous. She’s neighbors with Troy Harris and she met Jase when he came to live with Troy and his family the summer before Power Station really took off. And Angie fell in love with him. She had just turned eighteen, and people can say what they want, but she really fell in love with him.

She thought she was living the dream when he finally made a move on her birthday. Until it became a nightmare and he left her holding the remains of her heart. ASSHOLE. In can you weren’t sure of where I stood on that particular event, his actions were those of a complete asshole. Don’t worry, Angie’s right on board with me.

But then the book makes us question….is he really? We get a chance to find out because when Angie’s band goes on tour with Power Station the two of them are forced to interact. Angie is also forced to deal with all of the emotions that she’s been hiding under the layers of tattoos and resting bitch face. I loved her. She’s strong, independent, hilarious & snarky. She’s not your typical heroine, but knowing Ash and Megs from the first two novels I wasn’t surprised. T. Gephart knows how to write a strong and funny woman who doesn’t take shit.

The verbal sparring and Angie’s hate venom made me smile even when the characters were glaring. This book takes hate fucking and spins it on its head. There’s plenty of hate fucking, hall fucking, bed fucking and even *gasp* making love going on to satisfy you.

You think you know what’s happening and why Jason is the way he is BUT YOU’RE WRONG. I was genuinely surprised when the truth came spewing out and Angie’s reaction was even better. This isn’t some stupid rocker romance – this is an epic love story that will have you flipping the pages and falling in love.

I think I’m crying a little that there aren’t going to be any more Power Station novels. Its like my favorite band is breaking up. I’m like a 14 year old girl who just found out that Zayn left One Direction. I’ll try to get my emotions under control, but until then, I suggest you read this series about my favorite band of book boyfriends. #seewhatididthere #MustRead

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]

Also Available
99c FOR A LIMITED TIME
AMAZON US / UK / AU

AMAZON US / UK / AU

iBOOKS / B&N / KOBO

Excerpt

“Hey what about Angie Morelli?” Troy rubbed his hand through his mohawk, the mess of crap he called hair. Angie Morelli.

Yep, just saying her name was enough to send a chill up my spine. It had been ten years, and still not long enough. Her long, black hair and dark-brown eyes, something that had taken a while to wipe from my mind. That body. Yeah, I still remembered every curve. So freaking sweet, too. Unfortunately it wasn’t only her attributes that I remembered, one of my biggest asshole moments was also front and center getting the trip down memory lane. So you would have to understand why I didn’t immediately start doing backflips and welcoming her. The idea was to avoid the drama, not to give it top freaking billing.

“Dude, no. No fucking way,” Dan chimed in, his words echoing exactly what was rattling around in my head.

Thank you, douchebag. An Angie reunion was bad news. There had to be someone else. Hey, was Charlie Manson out of prison yet? I mean if we were thinking up bad ideas to take on tour, we might as well put them all on the table.

“She’s still playing?” James tipped his head toward Troy, taking way more interest in the topic than I would have liked. The itch to shut the conversation down danced with the need to keep my mouth shut. Delicate act. Wasn’t sure which one was going to win. Honestly, it was going to be trouble either way.

“Sure is. Lexi is trying to sign her band, Black Addiction; saw them last week at a club in Brooklyn. She said they packed the house.” Troy threw some more weight behind the cause. The conversation continued around me, even as the mother of all headaches took up residence in my frontal lobe.

“I saw her stuff on You Tube, they’re tight.” Alex nodded, the bastard not having any idea on what he was signing us up for, and I wasn’t going to be neon-signing it for him either.

“C’mon! Angie?” Dan rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in disgust. “Troy, did you snort some of Wade’s nose candy before he left? She doesn’t have the chops for a stadium. Besides, she hates us.”

Had to admit, this was one time where I was happy for Dan to be running his mouth. Giving him a round of applause would have been too conspicuous, so I kept it on the down low, but I was a hundred percent behind his stance. The fact it wasn’t me who was leading the anti-Angie movement was a fucking bonus.

“No, she hates you.” Troy smirked. The Dan v Angie battles common knowledge.

“No, she fucking hates Jase, too.”

The motherfucker had to go there. He couldn’t have left it with his own reasons for not wanting her around. He had to go ahead and drag me into it.

“Hate is a pretty strong word, let’s go with a strong dislike.” I eased back into the chair knowing well enough that it wasn’t going to be the last on the topic I was going to have to volunteer. Fucking Dan.

“Dan I understand, but why you, Jase?” Troy’s raised eyebrow proving he had no idea what had happened between me and his sexy, barely legal neighbor before we’d hit the big time.

At least Dan had managed to keep a lid on it for longer than I’d ever imagined; I’d always had my suspicions that he’d spilled one time or another, but seems to be those concerns were unfounded. Who knew he had it in him. In the end, the violence was still happening. I’d just make sure I didn’t punch him above the neck, keep the SOB pretty for the fans.

“Long story.” Well at least it wasn’t a total lie. “Let’s just say I’m not her favorite person and move on, shall we.” The less I said about the subject the better. Besides, it was fucking years ago. Why the hell were we dredging it all up now?

“I heard she has a voodoo doll of you.” Dan stretched out his arms, anchoring them behind his head, his grin splitting off the side of his face. “Tell me, asswipe, do you feel any stabbing pain in your cock?”

Author Bio:

T Gephart is an indie author from Melbourne, Australia.T’s approach to life has been somewhat unconventional. Rather than going to University, she jumped on a plane to Los Angeles, USA in search of adventure. While this first trip left her somewhat underwhelmed and largely depleted of funds it fueled her appetite for travel and life experience.

With a rather eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history, T struggled to find her niche in the world.

While on a subsequent trip the United States in 1999, T met and married her husband. Their whirlwind courtship and interesting impromptu convenience store wedding set the tone for their life together, which is anything but ordinary. They have lived in Louisiana, Guam and Australia and have traveled extensively throughout the US. T has two beautiful young children and one four legged child, Woodley, the wonder dog.

An avid reader, T became increasingly frustrated by the lack of strong female characters in the books she was reading. She wanted to read about a woman she could identify with, someone strong, independent and confident and who didn’t lack femininity. Out of this need, she decided to pen her first book, A Twist of Fate. T set herself the challenge to write something that was interesting, compelling and yet easy enough to read that was still enjoyable. Pulling from her own past “colorful” experiences and the amazing personalities she has surrounded herself with, she had no shortage of inspiration. With a strong slant on erotic fiction, her core characters are empowered women who don’t have to sacrifice their femininity. She enjoyed the process so much that when it was over she couldn’t let it go.

T loves to travel, laugh and surround herself with colorful characters. This inevitably spills into her writing and makes for an interesting journey – she is well and truly enjoying the ride!

Based on her life experiences, T has plenty of material for her books and has a wealth of ideas to keep you all enthralled.

 Author Links:

Review: Sweet Ache by K. Bromberg

Author: K. Bromberg

Book: Sweet Ache (Driven #6)

Other books in series:

trilogy:
Driven (Driven #1)
Fueled (Driven #2)
Crashed (Driven #3)
Raced (Driven #4, companion to trilogy from Colton’s POV)

Read my review of the trilogy here

Slow Burn (Driven #5) – standalone / my review is here
Hard Beat (Driven #7) – standalone

tl;dr recommendation: This book will pluck at your heartstrings and have you begging your spouse to learn an instrument…

Book Summary:

The New York Times bestselling author of Slow Burn turns up the heat when a sexy bet turns into so much more…

Hawkin Play, the bad boy rock star with a good guy heart, has lived a lifetime of cleaning up after his twin brother’s mistakes. Hunter’s most recent screw-up could land Hawke in jail and risk the band’s future. Hawke agrees to guest lecture at a local college to stay in the judge’s good graces—and a bet with his bandmate to seduce his sexy teaching assistant is icing on the cake.

Quinlan Westin is harder to bed than Hawke imagined. She knows his type and is determined to avoid the rocker at all costs—even if their attraction runs deeper than simple lust.

Just as Hawke might finally be winning over the girl, his brother has other plans. When Hunter realizes his twin finally has a weakness, he’ll stop at nothing to take advantage…

Longer Review:

GOOD LORD. This book will pluck at your heartstrings and have you begging your spouse to learn an instrument…

K. Bromberg writes emotion and she writes it damn well. There’s plenty of angst, but it wasn’t the kind I was expecting. It’s less ‘back-and-forth’ between Quin & Hawke and more ‘holy-shit-Hawke’s-life-is-a-mess’ drama. Banter is spoken. Bets are made. Hearts are put on the line.

The banter is phenomenal, by the way. If sharp tongues and quick wit turn you on, then your panties will be off within the first three chapters. Even though Quin is for all intents and purposes a semi-celebrity herself, she’s incredibly likeable. She working her ass off to get a career she wants – and one she wants to earn- and she’s having terrible luck dating. Pretty much, she’s normal. She doesn’t get caught up in the celebrity of Hawke, because it takes a lot more than that to impress her. Don’t worry – Hawke has more. Oh hell yes he does.

Hawkin and Quin are both incredibly headstrong and neither of them are willing to back down from the other, even when discord is the only sound that’s playing. While their relationship goes through highs and lows, when it finally crescendos it’s EVERYTHING.

I really loved the storyline here. This easily could have been a story about a bad-boy rocker who is an asshole and flits around until he decides on loving someone. BUT THAT’S NOT THIS BOOK. There’s actual deep emotion here. Hawke is going through some serious shit. He’s struggling to figure out how to write the lyrics to the next chapter in his life, and he’s hitting a wall. He’s desperate to overcome his past, but is terrified to move on from it.

My mind keeps replaying certain scenes on a constant loop – and I not complaining. If you’ve read the Driven Trilogy, you know that sex on Sex is perhaps the most revered sex scene in that series – GET READY, PEOPLE – rocker definitely beats racer. That guitar scene. THAT GUITAR SCENE. *passes out*

Oh. Also.
You need to know that Kellan Kyle [& others!] are in this book.
You needed to know that.
Scream your face off. I did.
My fandoms collided and I haven’t been the same since.

Kristy writes with intense ferocity. Sweet Ache is passionate, emotional and achingly hot. As per usual, she creates perfect one-liners that are scattered throughout the book, connected to the characters and imprinted on the reader. Do you want to know how to write contemporary romance? LIKE THIS. DO IT LIKE THIS.

five stars.

Review: Protect Her – 9 by Ivy Sinclair

Author: Ivy Sinclair

Book: Protect Her – part 9

Other books in series:

Protect Her: 1
Protect Her: 2
Protect Her: 3
Protect Her: 4
Protect Her: 5
Protect Her: 6
Protect Her: 7
Protect Her: 8

THEY ARE TOTALLY FUCKING WORTH IT, FYI.

If you want to just go balls out – purchase the box set of 1-3 here & the box set of 4-6 here.

tl;dr recommendation: my favorite paranormal romance is back! NOW WITH MORE SEX & ROMANCE!

Book Summary:

I made a blind deal because I felt like I had no choice. Everything has changed now, and I need to know what’s going to happen next. The ones who have the answers are the ones I trust the least. I have Paige by my side, but she’s hiding a secret from me too.

The angels brought us somewhere that they swear is safe. They told me we’ll have time to rest and plan, which God knows Paige and I both need. I’m not sure how many more surprises I can take before I explode. I plan to take full advantage of this breather to give Paige the first date that she always wanted. Those small but important things remind me of what it felt like to be human.

So, of course, fate decides to throw me another curveball in the form of someone from my past. And the meantime, we still have a Goddess, a demon official, and half of the archangel council on our asses. There is no such place as a “safe place” for us anymore.

This is starting to become just another day at the office.

Review:

I adore this series. Every single installment sucks me back into the world where necromancers are normal, archangels may not always be good, and a goddess is trying to suck the life out of Paige. I don’t usually fall for paranormal romance, but this series just DOES IT for me.

We find out more about why Bruno so badly wants information on Riley’s father & there’s a bit of a confrontation *to put it lightly* that made me squee with excitement. However, no matter how they protect themselves now, the truth remains that unless Riley and Paige find a way to stop Eva from entering Paige’s body and taking her over, that she will be lost to Riley. Forever.

And we can’t have that now that Riley & Paige are finally together the way that I want them. Things are a little different now that Paige has Riley’s mark and I loved her passing thought that she’s going to find a way to mark him [although, girl, I think you already have where it counts]. This installment is so much more romantic than the last (Ivy promised it would be & she definitely delivered) and I could feel their souls connecting through the pages.

Ivy leaves us with a ridiculously crazy cliffhanger, AS PER USUAL, and now I’m left begging for installment 10. I am completely invested in this series. LOVE IT.

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]

Review: Shuttergirl by C.D. Reiss

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Are you ready for a different kind of love story?

Meet Michael & Laine in this Hollywood themed second chance romance by CD Reiss!

NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1RXBv1n

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1FlYvSs

Barnes & Noble – http://bit.ly/1d3hzub

iBooks – http://apple.co/1KS8bUC

Kobo – http://bit.ly/1bBO020

ShutterGirl Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u2QJM0key0&feature=youtu.be

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Book Summary:

ONE movie star on the cusp of greatness
ONE broken girl who touched him
TEN years to forget her
A MILLION stories in Hollywood
———–
I am not hurt.

I don’t need a second chance with him, or a life I thought I had.

While he was out forgetting me to become a movie star, I was building a career out of nothing. A career as a paparazzi, but a career. For a foster kid who bounced around every home in Los Angeles, that wasn’t easy.

This camera is all I have.

He’s nothing to me. Every time I take his picture and sell it, I remind myself that I did it all without him or his approval, his cinnamon smell or his clear green eyes. He lights up the screen like a celestial body, but he’s nothing but a paycheck to me.

He can throw my camera off a balcony, and nothing has to change. We can stay king and queen of the same city, and different worlds.

Except this is Hollywood, and here, anything can happen.

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Review:

This is C.D. Reiss’ first standalone contemporary romance and I’m already itching for more. My grabby hands are on high alert.

This book is completely beautifully written, engaging, romantic, sexual. endearing and alluring. I COULD CONTINUE. After I finished I fangirled, gushed and smiled so goddamned wide. C.D. gives us another peek into that genius brain of hers and I am once again in love with the result. I’ll read anything she writes. Not because of loyalty, but because I prefer to read fantastic books and she excels at writing them. The words are strung together as if it’s effortless. It’s funny, smart, and witty. It’s perfection.

I was hooked on this one from the beginning. Laine and Michael are amazing characters who are written so you feel like you know them. Laine’s a paparazza. She’s worked her ass off to obtain the highest acclaim in her chosen field and she owns LA. She gets all of the tips – she’s there before the celebrities even know something’s going down. She’s damn good at her job and she knows it. She’s unapologetic, strong, and yet not invasive.

She and Michael actually know each other – they went to the same school for a short period of time back when Laine was fifteen…nothing happened, and yet EVERYTHING happened. Their interaction then fuels their interaction now. Michael’s an A-list celebrity. Obviously, therein lies the problem. When Laine and Michael reconnect, Laine is forced to choose between her life as she knows it, or the future she doesn’t.

Not only does Laine go through some life changes, but Michael does as well. I adored Michael as he began to let loose a bit. His world has been turned upside down but he doesn’t want to return to the life he knew before Laine. He may be the only person who can really see Laine behind the lens.

This book is full of steamy sex and sweet moments. There’s a bit of danger, a bit of drama and a whole of hotness. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]

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Excerpt:

I stroked his hair, waist deep in peace, all worry gone for the moment, and floating in no more than an ocean of gratitude. I must have been more vulnerable than I realized, or he’d reopened some wound with his kindness, because though my sweet reverie stayed, as the minutes passed, a layer of need fitted itself on top of it.

I needed to tell him, if not the details, the outlines of who I was.

“I want you to know,” I whispered, starting somewhere small, then everything I didn’t want to say spilled out. “I have stuff. I’ve never been to jail, but you know, it’s stuff, and it’s ugly, and it scares me. Because, I mean, you’re so perfect, and I’m… I’m just a mess. I’m not whole. I’m a bunch of pieces of a person I cobbled together.” My eyes got wet when I thought of the comparisons between us and that picture in my silverware drawer. “So if you have to move on when you realize that, I’ll understand. You have an image, and if anyone understands protecting a career, it’s me. I mean, I’ll be mad, don’t get that wrong, but also.” I swallowed and blinked, shifting my head so he wouldn’t feel the tear on his forehead. “I won’t blame you.”

I waited for an answer. Anything. A change in position or a word on any subject. The weather. Sports. Something. But all he did was breathe.

I smiled so wide, tears fell into my mouth. He was sleeping.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

cdreiss

CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets.

Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did embed TV story structure in her head well enough for her to take a big risk on a TV series structured erotic series called Songs of Submission. It’s about a kinky billionaire hung up on his ex-wife, an ingenue singer with a wisecracking mouth; art, music and sin in the city of Los Angeles.

Critics have dubbed the books “poetic,” “literary,” and “hauntingly atmospheric,” which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she’s some sort of braggart who’s too good to give the toilets a once-over every couple of weeks or chop a cord of wood.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

Review: Pucked by Helena Hunting

Author: Helena Hunting

Book: Pucked

tl;dr recommendation: FUNNY SMUT ALERT. this is a must read.

Book Summary:

With a famous NHL player for a step-brother, Violet Hall is well acquainted with the playboy reputation many hockey stars come with. She’s smart enough to steer clear of those hot, well-built boys with unparalleled stamina. That is until she meets the legendary team captain—Alex Waters.

Violet isn’t interested in his pretty, beat-up face, or his rock-hard six-pack abs. But when Alex inadvertently obliterates Violet’s previous misapprehension regarding the inferior intellect of hockey players, he becomes more than just a hot body with a face to match.

In what can only be considered a complete lapse in judgment, Violet finds out just how good Alex is with the hockey stick in his pants. But what starts out as a one-night stand, quickly turns into something more. Post-night of orgasmic magic, Alex starts to call, and text, and e-mail and send extravagant—and quirky—gifts, making him difficult to ignore, and even more difficult not to like.

The problem is, the media portrays Alex as a total player, and Violet doesn’t want to be part of the game.

Longer Review:

Hilarious and wonderfully smutty, Alex and Violet are so weird together and it’s so perfect.

Violet has been around her stepbrother Buck, an NHL player, enough to know that she has zero desire to ever be a puck bunny. She’s not the fuck em and chuck em type anyway, so she’s not overly concerned when she falls into the eyes of Alex Waters, one of Buck’s teammates. She would have stayed away from Alex, but then he started speaking all literary and the blood rushed straight to her clit. I mean, can you blame the girl? A hot man picks up on a literary reference and all bets are off.

I could not stop laughing throughout this book. Violet is one of the weirdest characters I have EVER read, and I fucking loved her. She has a serious case of word vomit every time she opens her mouth. I’d say that she should install a new filter, but it’s too damn funny. This quirk of Violet’s endears Alex, but the man can’t catch a break with her. Of course, Violet is always WAY TOO QUICK to judge. She never gives him the benefit of the doubt, but Alex also hasn’t really earned it yet.

Alex’s monster cock (or Super MC, snuffie, or MC for short) is a key player in this book. So are Violet’s boobs, since Alex has the same weird fascination with them that Violet has for his MC. The sex scenes are off the charts hot and also super funny. I loved that Helena talks up the awkward shifts and weird positions. It made it so much more relatable and real.

There’s a substantial amount of geekery in this book & I loved that so much. I mean, I’m totally playing strip scrabble soon. I was also snort laughing every few pages and made a huge sadface when it ended. I love these two and I loved Helena’s writing. Five incredibly funny smutty stars.

Be prepared for a book hangover with a huge smile. READ THIS!

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review]

Review: Beautiful Secret by Christina Lauren

Author: Christina Lauren

Book: Beautiful Secret (Beautiful Bastard #4)

Other Books in Series:

Beautiful Bastard (Beautiful Bastard #1)
Beautiful Bitch (Beautiful Bastard #1.5)
Beautiful Stranger (Beautiful Bastard #2)
Beautiful Bombshell (Beautiful Bastard #2.5)
Beautiful Player (Beautiful Bastard #3)
Beautiful Beginning (Beautiful Bastard #3.5)
Beautiful Beloved (Beautiful Bastard #3.6)

[YOU’RE WELCOME FOR PUTTING THEM IN ORDER FOR YOU WITH LINKS & EVERYTHING]

tl;dr recommendation: It caused snort laughing & swooning, so basically it’s awesome.

Book Summary:

AN UPTIGHT BRITISH EXECUTIVE. AN ADVENTUROUS AMERICAN NEWBIE. A SEXY INTERNATIONAL SCANDAL IN THE MAKING.

New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author Christina Lauren’s Beautiful and Wild Seasons series hook up in Beautiful Secret for an erotic intercontinental romp that celebrates the best of both worlds!

When Ruby Miller’s boss announces he’s sending her on an extended business trip to New York City, she’s shocked. As one of the best and brightest young engineers in London, she knows she’s professionally up to the task. The part that’s throwing her is where she’ll be spending a month up close and personal working alongside—and staying in a hotel with—Niall Stella, her firm’s top urban planning executive and The Hottest Man Alive. Despite her ongoing crush, Ruby is certain Niall barely knows she’s alive…until their flirty overnight flight makes him sit up and take notice.

Not one for letting loose and breaking rules, recently divorced Niall would describe himself as hopeless when it comes to women. But even he knows outgoing California-girl Ruby is a breath of fresh air. Once she makes it her mission to help the sexy Brit loosen his tie, there’s no turning back. Thousands of miles from London, it’s easy for the lovers to play pretend. But when the trip is over, will the relationship they’ve built up fall down?

Longer Review:

There’s a reason that Christina and Lauren are a contemporary romance powerhouse. The evidence is right here – I present to you, what’s been marked as Exhibit A, BEAUTIFUL SECRET.

Not only do we get to visit with Max, Will (*swoon*) and Bennett, but now Christina Lauren introduce us to a new kind of male hero. Niall is unsure, clumsy, and inexperienced when it comes to women. He may seem outwardly confident at work, but when it comes to romance he’s a bag full of awkward. All blame goes to the ex-wife.

Ruby volunteers as tribute. I mean, WAY TO TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM. However, it wasn’t exactly such a monumental sacrifice being as how she’s been infatuated with Niall ever since she started her internship at his company. Cue, semi-stalker alert. She didn’t so much stalk Niall, she just gathered information. It was research. It was also pretty freaking funny.

Ok, so Ruby’s thrown into going on this trip with Niall, which is not entirely believable because she’s an intern & she’s replacing a high level executive but I don’t really care because, plot. Her goal on this trip is to not make a fool out of herself. Sorry Ruby, but that rule is broken before you even get off the plane. Sweet Christ, I legitimately snort laughed.

Once Ruby stops humiliating herself in front of him and learns how to speak, the dialogue is exactly what I’ve come to expect from these books: funny, sharp, witty, and adorable. Ruby may seem young, but she’s wise for her age. She’s mature, learns to handle Niall well in a short period of time, and is willing to do what it takes to make him comfortable. I so loved her in those scenes.

This book creates intimacy without sex. Don’t get me wrong, there’s sex in the book – there’s lots of other stuff that leads up to sex too – and it’s all incredibly hot and delicious. But, before anyone slides home, there are a slew of intimate sexual situations that I have never read before and I loved that. The dirty talking is well done and, if the fluttering I felt in my stomach was any indication, the sexual tension between the two was perfectly executed.

This series is fantastic, and Beautiful Secret doesn’t let you down. COME JOIN THE FANDOM.

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