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Tag: Mystery (page 1 of 2)

Review: With Ties that Bind by Trisha Wolfe

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Author: Trisha Wolfe

Book: With Ties that Bind

tl;dr recommendation: Trisha blows me away EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Book Summary:

This series is a spinoff of the Broken Bonds serial which must be read prior to beginning this first book. Contains spoilers to the Broken Bonds serial.

Detective Ethan Quinn has questions. The Arlington Slasher case is closed, the UNSUB no longer a threat—but Quinn can’t quiet the suspicion he harbors toward his partner and the young, attractive M.E. Not only does he loathe his uncertainty, he’s torn between doing his job and protecting his team.

But burying himself in cases no longer works. He’s restless. On edge. And tired of fighting his compulsions. Quinn has always viewed the law in black and white. Only now his world is swirling with a murky gray that threatens to devour him.

When lead medical examiner Avery Johnson careens toward a dangerous path, she pulls the unwitting detective into a dark web of deception and lust, triggered by a spree of recent killings.

Is this new player linked to the Bathory murders, or is it another copycat?

Time almost took Avery from him once before. As the clock ticks, Quinn will stop at nothing to protect her, refusing to let Avery become a victim again. Against his uncompromising logic, Quinn can’t deny his feelings. Avery forces him to acknowledge his darker desires, tempting his control—which weakens with every second he spends with the feisty M.E. as they hunt down the perpetrator threatening to tear them apart.

Longer Review:

Trisha blows me away EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Her plot twists are unlike anything I have ever read before – she has a completely crazy mind that I want to get lost in over and over. While yes, this is a second in a series, it can also be read as a standalone.

Ethan Quinn is a seriously hot detective. He knows that something deeper is going on with Avery – I mean, she was just abducted afterall. But he’s so used to seeing things in black and white, he’s starting to get concerned that he’s letting gray cloud is vision. When a potential new serial killer starts up again in Arlington, everything starts to get twisted quickly.

Avery is once again at the center of everything. She’s made some choices that thrust her right into the danger zone – exactly where she had just left. I freaking loved her though. Even though she’s been through a lot she’s strong, smart and completely awesome.

Trisha writes characters that have just enough dark to balance out the light – there’s seriously hot sex scenes, tons of secrets and the fast paced thrilling ride that you need. This cover is hot as hell and the story is well developed, smart and scorching. Get to know Trisha NOW.

[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review]

Review: He Wants Me – Part 8 by Julia Swift

Author: Julia Swift

Book: He Wants Me – part 8

Other Books in Series:

He Wants Me – Part 1
He Wants Me – Part 2
He Wants Me – Part 3
He Wants Me – part 4
He Wants Me – part 5
He Wants Me – part 6
He Wants Me – part 7

Link to my review of the first three parts
Link to my review of parts four & five

tl;dr recommendation: These little novelettes are sweet desserts that left me completely satisfied.

Book Summary:

He was supposed to be a one-night fling. Landon Blake: hot tech billionaire, and the wildest sex of my life. Until I find him standing over my boss’s dead body – with a bloody knife in his hand.

They say he’s dangerous. He swears he’s not to blame. Somebody’s setting him up, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
I don’t know who I can trust. I should stay away.

But he wants me.

Longer Review:

We finally get the conclusion we’ve been hoping, praying and waiting for. *GLITTER CANNON!!!* Thank fuck. This installment is a huge relief after such an incredible rollercoaster ride of a series!

Landon and Megan know a piece of the ‘who’ but don’t quite know the ‘why’. The terror threat is still in play and they’re both still in danger. As they maneuver their way to safety, the ride gets a little wild.

One thing that doesn’t falter is the pull that continues to drive them to each other. Their feelings are solidified and their connection is stronger than ever. Landon’s sweet gaze is enough to do me in, but his actions more than make up for his little disappearing act. *swoon*

These little novelettes are sweet desserts that left me completely satisfied! Thank you, Julia!

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

Blog Tour & Review: Sinful Desire by Lauren Blakely

Sinful Desire - Release Week Teaser

AHHHH! It’s the Release Week Blitz for SINFUL DESIRE by Lauren Blakely, the second full-length, standalone novel from her bestselling Erotic Romance Series, Sinful Nights! This new series is a new erotic romance series written in the high-heat, high-stakes, high-glamour style of the Seductive Nights series that readers know and love, but heading in a new direction with a new family that’s full of drama, checkered pasts and dangerous life-and-death secrets.

Lauren Blakely is well known for writing sexy, heartfelt and humorous contemporary romance as well as deeply emotional new adult stories –one commonality in all her books is the scorching hot sexy times. And the Sinful Nights series is absolutely no different! First, there was SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, and now Lauren brings you the passionate and suspenseful SINFUL DESIRE filled with sexy moments that will keep you up all night!

Sinful Desire- cover

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ABOUT SINFUL DESIRE:

This book contains Lauren Blakely’s hottest, dirtiest, and most dominating hero ever! Panties optional when reading this sinfully sexy STANDALONE novel in the NYT Bestselling Sinful Nights series!

He gave her the most mind-blowing night of pleasure ever. He made her want to get down on her knees. He dominated her in ways she’d only dreamed of. And she didn’t even know his name…

Control.

It’s what Ryan Sloan values most. Control of his business, control of his secrets, control of his days and nights. With the way his life spiraled in the past, he needs to stay in charge of his present.

Giving up control.

It’s what Sophie Winston craves. After a wildly successful career, she’s stepped away from the business world and is now focused on her work as her city’s most noted philanthropist.

When she meets Ryan Sloan, the chemistry is scorching, and utterly undeniable. Their desire for each other runs red hot. He wants everything she’s willing to give him in bed, and she wants him to take her to new heights as only he can.

Soon, he has to have more. All of her — heart, mind and body.

The only trouble is, he hasn’t been honest about how he met her and the dangerous connection he has to her brother.

When the truth is revealed, he’ll have to give more of himself than he’s bargained for or risk losing the only woman he’s ever let into his heart.

SINFUL DESIRE is book two in SINFUL NIGHTS, a four-book series. Each full-length novel features a new couple. This high-heat, high-stakes sexy romance series follows the Sloan family as each sibling falls madly in love against the backdrop of sin, money, greed, passion, mystery and suspense…

Sinful Desire - Release Week Teaser 4

✮✮✮TWO BOOKS FOR ONE PRICE! ✮✮✮

Buy One Get One Free This Week Only!

This week ONLY when you buy SINFUL DESIRE (or if you preordered it!) you can get a FREE copy of Lauren’s USA Today Bestseller PLAYING WITH HER HEART. Every eBook of SINFUL DESIRE includes a link in the back of the book to redeem your free copy of PLAYING WITH HER HEART! All you have to do is simply click the link in the back of the book, follow the instructions, and you will be able to download a copy of PLAYING WITH HER HEART readable on any eReader. ONE-CLICK and get two books for one price! If you already read PLAYING WITH HER HEART, there is a paperback giveaway to enter.

The link to redeem your free copy is in the back of every e-book of SINFUL DESIRE this week only…

And that’s not all!

Sinful Desire - Giveaway

Feeling the Desire to have a Sinful night of your own? Then you’ll want to take the Sinful Nights quiz and answer fun trivia questions about the Sinful Nights series! To celebrate the release of SINFUL DESIRE on September 22nd, Lauren is giving away a $500 gift card for a stay at the Ritz Carlton nearest you!*

Everything you need to turn your fantasy into reality and enter the Sinful Nights contest during release week can be found in the back of the SINFUL DESIRE eBook, including the short quiz in the book that you have to complete to enter the contest. The SINFUL DESIRE eBook is the ONLY location with the link to the quiz. The release week contest runs through Saturday, September 26, ONLY, so you’ll have to make this read a quickie to enter to win this awesome prize! In addition to the grand prize, there are several other great prizes in the giveaway!

So grab your copy of SINFUL DESIRE today! Get ready to ignite your passion and dive into SINFUL DESIRE on release day!

*Please note: If you are the winner and there is no Ritz Carlton near you, you may opt to receive a $500 gift card to any Marriott property, or Marriott-owned hotel.

** If you purchase the paperback and would like to participate in the contest, please contact me at lauren@laurenblakely.com for instructions.

Sinful Desire - Release Week Teaser 3

REVIEW

This is a dirty-talking work of art. While a little lengthy (we all like ’em long though), I could have rolled around in the pages for days, especially with Ryan. Holy Hell, I fell for him immediately. My skin prickled and pussy clenched the second he started whispering commands in Sophie’s ear. I’m not sure he could have gotten any hotter. Yes, sir. Please, sir.

Ryan meets Sophie on a complete whim – call it lust at first sight or whatever you want, but when he sees her red lips and rocking body step out of her car in front of the county municipal building he’s instantly hard and needs to know her. Despite their stranger status, their connection is knowing. The anticipation made me feel alive, and Blakely delivers on every promise her characters make.

As their relationship grows from something that could be notched on the one-night stand post to more I fell further for both of them.

I loved everything about Sophie’s strong presence & submissive bedroom spirit. She’s a sassy and accomplished woman and she doesn’t take shit from anyone. She’s completely put together – exactly like this story. Ryan’s dominant nature, need for control, and steely commands had me begging for release. There are so many incredibly hot sex scenes in this book, you should have your vibrator on standby.

The overarching plot involves Ryan’s quest to find out what really happened with his father’s murder. This is a continuation of book 1, but you don’t need to read that one to understand this one (although you should because, BRENT).

The sexiest thing about both of these characters is their confidence and willingness to – *gasp!* – work on things. They know what they want in the bedroom (and it is RED HOT) and while they struggle with issues of the heart, they also act like adults when things get a little complicated. I was cheering for these two from the second Ryan’s dick hardened when he got his first glance of Sophie. The email banter is on point & the submission contains just enough kink to get me off. Basically, this book hits all of my favorite plot points and is hot enough to light me on fire.

Mystery swirls around the story, like a storm cloud building momentum, waiting to strike. Clues are collected, orgasms are reached, and love is solidified. Blakely has incredible talent crafting characters you want to know, want to love, and want to cheer for. She totally achieves that here. Sinful and romantic, Lauren one-ups herself. LOVED. 5 Stars!

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

Excerpt

“His fingers traveled along her spine and up her neck to her hair, grabbing it, turning her so she looked up at him. Her eyes were hazy and full of a lust that matched his. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” he asked harshly.

“I think I do.”

“You are under my skin,” he whispered, as he kept her pressed against the warm hood with one hand, then slinked his other hand down to her waist, and unfastened the slim, orange belt. “And in my head,” he continued as he snapped the belt free. “And I can’t fucking stop thinking about you.”

“I can’t stop either,” she said, and in a flash he wrapped the belt around her wrists, knotting it, twisting it, and tying her hands together with her own accessory. She allowed him, offering up her wrists to be bound. She was a willing hostage.

“That turns me on even more,” he growled in her ear, as he stretched her tied arms along the silver hood.

“Tying me up?”

“Yes,” he said, pressing his erection against her ass. “But what makes me rock hard is the way you let me. The way you want me to. The way you give your body to me,” he said as he grabbed a condom from his pocket, unzipped his pants, and pushed down his briefs.”

And don’t miss the first title in the Sinful Nights Series,

Sweet Sinful Nights - cover

SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS!

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Add it to Goodreads here!

SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS Series on Goodreads

And be sure to watch for the next titles in the Sinful Nights series!

Sinful Longing

SINFUL LONGING – November 17, 2015

Preorder SINFUL LONGING Here!

Add SINFUL LONGING on Goodreads!

Sinful Love

SINFUL LOVE – March 2016

Preorder SINFUL LOVE Here!

Add SINFUL LOVE on Goodreads!


About Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had eight books on the New York Times Bestseller list and fourteen on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire. She recently released SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, the first novel in her new sexy romance series Sinful Nights that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her new adult forbidden romance, 21 Stolen Kisses, hit e-readers in May and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list. In September, she’ll release SINFUL DESIRE, her next title in the bestselling SINFUL NIGHTS series. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign).

Website | Facebook | Twitter | SINFUL DESIRE Goodreads | Lauren Blakely Goodreads

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Review: He Wants Me – parts 4 & 5 by Julia Swift

    

Author: Julia Swift

Books:

He Wants Me – part 4
He Wants Me – part 5

Other Books in Series:

He Wants Me – Part 1
He Wants Me – Part 2
He Wants Me – Part 3

Link to my review of the first three parts

tl;dr recommendation: Trust is built, passion is enflamed, danger increases and the mystery deepens. These little morsels of a book are delicious and will have you begging for more.

Book Summary:

He was supposed to be a one-night fling. Landon Blake: hot tech billionaire, and the wildest sex of my life. Until I find him standing over my boss’s dead body – with a bloody knife in his hand.

They say he’s dangerous. He swears he’s not to blame. Somebody’s setting him up, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
I don’t know who I can trust. I should stay away.

But he wants me.

Longer Review:

This series knows exactly how to dangle you right over the cliff. SHIT, MAN. We’re back with Megan and Landon and provided another far too brief snippet of this romantic and suspenseful story.

Landon’s hiding out, Megan’s lying to the police (and her own attorney *smh*) and both are seeking evidence that will clear Landon from the potential murder charges.

While they sneak kisses and touches, there’s never quite enough time for any more than that. I’m pretty sure Landon’s dick is going to fall off at this point with how much tension is bouncing between them without any release. JESUS.

Trust is built, passion is enflamed, danger increases and the mystery deepens. And then book 4 was over and I screamed for more.

If we were in fifth grade, you would slide over a piece of paper that says “Is Julia trying to kill me? CIRCLE YES OR NO” and then I would circle YES with big, bold red strokes, ripping a hole in the goddamn paper.

That’s sort of where I’m at right now. Dont say I didn’t warn you. Megan and Landon are officially ‘on the lam’ which didn’t sound even like a remotely sexy concept until they did it. Now the thought of seeking out the truth while hiding from The Bad Guys who aren’t the police but worse intermixed with comforting hugs and sweet kisses ALMOST makes me want to give it a try.

There’s more danger in this one and less orgasms, but I’ll forgive you Julia. The memory of the last one is holding me over.

If your this far deep into the story, book 5 will only wet your appetite for more. Let’s hope other wet things will get some attention in the next installment, too 😉

book6.needyounow. kthx.bye.

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

Review: He Wants Me: Parts 1-3 by Julia Swift

       

Author: Julia Swift

Book(s):

He Wants Me – Part 1
He Wants Me – Part 2
He Wants Me – Part 3
He Wants Me – Part 4 – coming soon!

tl;dr recommendation: This is a mysterious, light, fun and sexy story that’s sure to keep you on your toes. loved!

Book Summary:

He was supposed to be a one-night fling. Landon Blake: hot tech billionaire, and the wildest sex of my life. Until I find him standing over my boss’s dead body – with a bloody knife in his hand.

They say he’s dangerous. He swears he’s not to blame. Somebody’s setting him up, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
I don’t know who I can trust. I should stay away.

But he wants me.

HeWantsMeTeaser

Longer Review:

This super fast read got me all worked up and left me hanging….cliff hanging that is. Landon Blake is mysterious, sexy & evidently wealthy. I quickly fell into instalust & Megan did too. I really can’t fault her for losing the ability to speak after Landon’s whispered dirty words. uh huh. We have a dirty talker on our hands – hell yes!

Megan’s working for a HUGE dick. Like a James Deen sized dick without any of the benefits that comes along with that particular appendage. Instead she gets screamed & barked at, forced to capitulate to his every demands…and she does it because, well, she gets paid well. Yet everything Megan thought she knew is about to change when she finds the man she met at the bar standing over her boss’ dead body. I’m dying to know if she’s along for the ride or if she’s going to stand up and scream. GAH!

This novella is a great showing by Ms. Swift. It’s a little bit of a clit tease, leaving me high and dry at the end of each installment just as the plot takes a wild turn, but thankfully there’s more to come *winks*

Julia knows exactly how to keep you glued to the pages. I was flying through this book, searching for a murderer, clasping my hands in fear as Megan is questioned and gasping with excitement when Landon reappears. You don’t quite know what’s going on – but you’re not supposed to.

AND THEN, ohmyGOD. I was so spoiled as I got the first three all at once and now my leg is bouncing and I’m sitting at the edge of my couch.

Julia gives us a bit more information in book 3 – and lets us re-live the heat that sparks off of Megan and Landon. Their kisses are passionate and their touches are brutally not even close to enough. They need to find the killer – and soon.

I’m a little desperate for book 4. I felt that Julia really hit her stride in book 3 and this lightning quick read was over way too soon. This is a mysterious, light, fun and sexy story that’s sure to keep you on your toes. loved! This series packs a great punch and makes you desperate for more. well done, Julia!

[I received a complimentary copy of this series in exchange for an honest review]

Review: The Espionage Effect by Kat & Stone Bastion

THE ESPIONAGE EFFECT is a standalone, full-length, action-adventure romance filled with plenty of the sexual tension, deep emotion, and scorching scenes the Bastions are known for.

This sexy action-adventure romance releases TOMORROW – July 14th!

The Espionage Effect cover

Do you like romance a little more erotic, edgy, darker, filled with action-adventure, toned with mystery, complete with a twist…or two?

If so…

BUY LINKS:
Amazon * KOBO * iBooks

Blurb:

When desire sets you free…control is a matter of perception.

I’m Devin Hill.

Darkness taints my soul.

I’m suffocating. Drowning.

The sweet promise of air? Pure illusion.

Tested as a genius at age seven, I hide my emotions, become what they expect…bury my secrets. At nineteen, I trudge toward a predestined path, blinders on, heart safeguarded.

Until I dare to be wild.

Until Alec Marquez crashes into my world.

Until all that follows redefines everything I’ve ever known.

What happens when you stumble into a world of spies…and discover you belong there?

The Espionage Effect - The Blindfold Pic Quote

Review

Oh hello world of dangerous spies and subterfuge! While Devin is looking to restart her life or just find a new direction for it, she falls into a world that she didn’t knew existed…she and Alec heat up the sheets while the danger spikes around them. Of course, is anything really as it seems?

The first few chapters had me a little confused, but I quickly picked up what Kat was putting down and I realized I was supposed to be a little confused. The entire book is a question of whether things are really as they look and I sort of loved it. It had me thinking *GASP!* and trying to puzzle out the good from the bad, the real from the fake, the truth from the lies. I am also entirely in love with Devin’s brain. She’s incredibly intelligent and delightfully sarcastic – it’s practically a perfect combination.

Alec is equally as enticed with Devin’s brain…and her body…*fans self* He eye fucks her from the very first time he sees her and the heated perusals don’t let up. Even when his brain switches into a calculated mission, the stolen glances between them tell Devin that whatever is building is something even her logic can’t puzzle out.

I loved the layers of danger, sexual chemistry, logic, and betrayal that make up this modern day brainiac James Bond story. I quickly became invested in the characters and fell into the world of spies right along side Devin. Alec is more than welcome to get under my cover(s) anytime….*winks* 4 stars!

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

The Espionage Effect - Kiss in Surf Teaser Pic

About Kat & Stone Bastion:

Shoe and Boot PhotoKat Bastion won several awards for her bestselling debut novel Forged in Dreams and Magick.

Kat and Stone Bastion’s bestselling first novel No Weddings and the No Weddings series were named Best of 2014 by multiple romance review blogs.

When not defining love and redemption through scribed words, they enjoy spending their time mountain biking and hiking in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

Be sure to follow Kat & Stone’s social media pages to keep informed:
Facebook | TalkToTheShoe Blog | Kat’s Twitter | Stone’s Twitter

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

Review: Edge of Midnight by Shannon McKenna

Author: Shannon McKenna

Book: Edge of Midnight

tl;dr recommendation: great suspense, good plot, mostly great character development, insanely steamy sex

Book Summary:

Sean McCloud must protect the woman he has never stopped loving: Liv Endicott. Years ago, Sean had to send Liv Endicott away to save her life. Now he has to keep her closer, very close–for the same reason . . .

THE BREAKING POINT
On the very day an arsonist burns down Liv’s bookstore in a small town in the Washington mountains, she finds fate has another shock in store for her. Amid the smoke, rubble and tears, Sean McCloud appears, calling her name. He’s every inch the man he always was–the man she kept on wanting. But wanting is not the same as trusting, and she doesn’t dare let him get too close. Yet a ruthless killer is gunning for Liv, and she’ll die unless they join forces to unearth a chilling truth–and come together in a blaze of searing passion . . .

Longer Review:

It’s like reading James Patterson with sex! This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I mean it was really hot, sometimes rough and hard sex. Clearly, that’s a win. However, it was a lot predictable and some of the characters grated on my nerves entirely and others just made me want to kick them occasionally.

Sean was actually a pretty great character. He left Olivia all of those years ago because he thought he was protecting her. He did it so that she would survive. However, when the wrong people see Olivia, she’s no longer safe. Of course, she never knew that she was in danger.

Sean has always loved Olivia and won’t let anything happen to her. When he returns to her life, he’s not planning to fall back in love with her, but he can’t help it. Olivia’s old feelings are sparked anew again too. Thus leading to the lots and LOTS of sex. I liked that Olivia gave him a hard time (no pun intended) and didn’t cave to anyone. She was strong and ferociously willing to fight for her freedom from the past that’s holding everyone back.

There’s a ton of danger, suspense & mystery to keep you on your toes and keep you entertained. I wish that the author would have tied up the one massive loose end. There wasn’t a cliffhanger, and each book is a standalone so now I have to check and see of there’s another book that answers my questions…and that bugs me.

SO. overall, great suspense, good plot, mostly great character development, insanely steamy sex. 3.5 stars.

Review: Crossing The Line by Kierney Scott

Author: Kierney Scott

Book: Crossing the Line (The Firing Line #3)

Other Books in Series:

Blurring The Line (The Firing Line #1)
Holding The Line (The Firing Line #2)

tl;dr recommendation: This series is full of fire, passion and a search for justice

Book Summary:

Beth is still reeling from the murder of her beautiful sister Paige – a hit ordered by ‘El Escorpion’, the notorious cartel leader she has relentlessly pursued for the last six years in her role as DEA agent.

Reunited with her lover and undercover agent Torres, who is now her husband, and raising their adopted daughter Alejandra, she should be happier. But her role in Paige’s death eats away at her, as does her final fling with her old partner Patterson, which she has hidden from Torres …

So when truths are exposed, Beth and Torres’ fierce passion turns into an embittered battle. Beth’s only desire now is to track down El Escorpion once and for all. But will her search for justice cost her everything?

Longer Review:

If you want angst, this gives you angst. Like, an entire book full of angst. I was right at the edge of telling Beth to go fuck herself, but I was thankfully pulled back in. Probably by Torres. because he’s the most sane person in this series.

This is the third in the trilogy and it most definitely packs a punch. You need to read the first two in order to understand this one. Promise. We pick back up with Beth and Torres married, Paige dead, and El Escorpian still on the loose. This book centers around Beth’s problems…the biggest one being that she is terrified of happiness. Instead, she keeps secrets and compartmentalizes her life – focusing only on one goal: get the leader of El Escorpion. She’s under the false impression that if she gets him it will bring her justice for her sister and ease all of the guilt that she hides and refuses to talk about. Sorry honey, not going to work. #justsayin. Of course, Torres is keeping a secret of his own…

Truth: Beth made me angry. Really angry. She says and does some things that I don’t know if I would forgive if I were Torres. But somehow, that beautiful, scary-looking, amazing man is there for her – even when she’s completely despicable. Her tactics are meant to push away anything that could be good in her life because she doesn’t feel that she deserves it, I get that. But man did I disagree with her actions. ANGST, MY FRIENDS, ANGST.

As the danger increases, so did the grip on my kindle. This conclusion kept me reading even when I was close to throwing it across the room. However, even as the truth dripped out and hatred spun from their mouths, I could still feel the love between them. Their love is deep and all-consuming – it’s a lifetime kind of love that forgives the unforgivable. This series is full of fire, passion and a search for justice. Don’t worry, the ending satisfies you in the same way that Torres satisfies Beth, leaving you sated, happy and exhausted. 4 stars!

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

Blog Tour & Review: The Gilded Cage by Lauren Smith

The Gilded Cage
by Lauren Smith
Series: Surrender, #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 9, 2015

Passion that takes no prisoners, and love that tests the limits of ecstasy . . .

Fenn Lockwood comes alive in the shadows. Though he might have physically survived the kidnapping that stole his childhood, the trauma and pain he lived through have marked him forever. Now the only place where Fenn can be himself is within the walls of his private BDSM world—a place of erotic obsession, where desire isn’t just captured . . . it’s bound.

Hayden Thorne knows that behind Fenn’s hardened exterior is a man worth fighting for. Yet to save him from the past that still haunts him, Hayden will have to abandon every inhibition she’s ever had and venture into Fenn’s intoxicatingly sensual world. Each tantalizing second she spends in Fenn’s searing embrace is more delicious than the last and soon Hayden begins to think that she may never want to leave such torturous bliss . . .

Not too much relationship drama; dominant, delicious sex; suspenseful kidnapper/killer on the loose; & a hot as fuck cowboy turned heir to a fortune. YUP, I was so in.

Fenn has finally been found…in more ways than one. He’s been living in Colorado as Fenn Smith and except for random flashbacks that he has been writing off as his crazy imagination, he has zero clue that he’s anything other than an orphaned child and adopted rancher. He’s found a family with Jim and Callie and despite their financial difficulties, he’s a happy man.

When Hayden sprints across the bullpen in a tight little red dress, Fenn’s interests suddenly take a different direction. Even when she reveals the truth to him – that he’s the heir to a fortune, has a twin brother, and the life he currently knows is not totally his own – he wants to take her, spank her and make her his.

The connection between Hayden and Fenn is clearly immediate and oh so hot. The dirty talking foreplay leads to some lightly dominant sex that had me craving more. Hayden is a submissive at the Gilded Cuff, the sex club back home, but she’s never been able to find a Dominant because she sort of mouths off a lot. Honey, they call that topping from the bottom. Anyway, she’s never been with someone who she felt comfortable releasing all control to – until Fenn. His words calm her, his arms comfort her, and his dick quickly claims her.

There’s lots of danger – since a kidnapper/killer is running around – and a few attempts on everyone’s lives. If you don’t want a lot of relationship angst and prefer to hate on the killer running loose who deserves it, then pick this up now. Overall, it’s a great suspenseful romance that I definitely enjoyed. 4 stars.

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

“Please Fenn, we really need to talk. Can I come inside for a minute?” She took a step forward. Coda whined softly from between his legs. Her blue eyes were bright and pale as glaciers. She looked oddly more…wolflike, with dark-tipped ears and a thick mane of fur around her neck rather than the trim ruff of a husky. Her nose was entirely white and the white patch spread up to frame her eyes in a heart shape. She was a beautiful creature.

A very sexy smile curved his lips. “Sure, come on in, honey,”

“Uh, thanks.” The way he said honey this time felt much more like a warning.

Fenn stepped back and allowed her to climb into the trailer. The husky backed up, too, still peering around her master’s knees, ears back, but no longer growling. Hayden let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. It was clear the dog no longer thought she was a threat.

Hayden loved animals, but her parents had never allowed her to have a pet. They ruined nice houses, at least according to her mother. Therefore she’d never spent much time around dogs, especially none like Coda, who looked like a wolf…one that could eat her.

“You want something to drink?” Fenn asked as he closed the door behind her.

A stack of empty bottles littered the tiny counter next to the sink.

“No thanks. I think you’ve had enough for the both of us,” she muttered.

“Probably true.” He sighed and lifted his jeans on the left side to show a tightly bandaged ankle. “Hurts real bad,” he explained with a curt nod at the beers and the half-full bottle of whisky.

“So…what can I do for you, Miss Red Dress?” He leered openly at her, but she caught the faintest playful hint of teasing in his gaze.

“Hayden. Please, call me Hayden.” She tried to move past him, but the cramped confines of the trailer wouldn’t allow her to pass without fully grinding her body against his. As she did so, she had to tilt her head back. He was the same height as his twin, six-foot-three, easy.

“Hayden,” he murmured, one of his hands coming to rest on her hip. His large palm squeezed lightly as she wriggled, fighting off the invasive touch. She was a little ticklish. When he touched her there, she flinched as a bolt of arousal shot from the tips of her breasts down to between her thighs.

The swift movement of her hips brought a sudden change in him. His eyes darkened and his lips parted as he drew in a deep breath, his grip tightening. Fenn pressed his body to hers, pinning her against the fridge behind her.

Trapped. She was trapped and it was the most erotic thing she’d ever experienced. Nothing at the Gilded Cuff had ever made her feel like this…flushed and all too aware of herself and his close proximity. Instinctively she tried to dart around him and escape. But there was nowhere to go.

“Where are you going? I thought that’s what you wanted. A buckle bunny looking for a good hard fu—”

Crack! She slapped him hard across his face before she could think twice, and his head whipped sideways. He didn’t move away, he only turned his face back to hers. There was a handprint-shaped mark on his cheek. He reached up and touched the spot, the intensity of his stare burning through her.

Wow. She was so not the violent type when she was angry, but to insinuate that she…oh yeah, slapping him was the appropriate reaction. She may go to a BDSM club frequently, she may do a few scenes with doms, but she rarely went all the way with those men. She didn’t just sleep around like that. When she went to bed with a man, she wanted a deeper connection. For him to call her a…what was it? Buckle bunny? Red tinged her vision as she seriously considered slapping him again.

“So that’s how you want to play?” His lips firmed into a hard line.

As he spoke, he reached up and collared her throat—not squeezing it, but the possessive hold was fully dominant. Little flutters of excitement stirred in the pit of her belly and a shiver rippled through her. Arousal pulsed to life between her thighs at the gentle domination. She tried to retreat, but couldn’t. He must have sensed her need to resist because he leaned over her, reminding her just how much taller he was. Her whole body flashed with heat and arousal at his silent show of power. It was impossible not to imagine him in full control of her: the way he might pin her down on the bed, his muscled arms twining with hers as he held her captive beneath him. Restrained for his pleasure, and hers. He was a natural dominant. It was obvious in every sweeping gaze, the flex of his muscles, the way he looked at her as if he could not only read her mind, but glimpse her soul. Another thing he and his twin apparently had in common. Dominant, alpha male instincts. She was a submissive but she’d not yet found a dominant who could top her and make her truly want to submit. The way Fenn stared at her, like he was furious and yet aroused, and the gentle grip on her throat? What if he unleashed all of that control on her? It was enough to make her light-headed.

Book 1: The Gilded Cuff

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Book 3: The Gilded Chain

Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award. Lauren loves hearing from readers and can be reached through her website www.laurensmithbooks.com.

Blog Tour & Review: Carnal Risk by Kym Grosso

CarnalRiskBlitz

Carnal Risk
by Kym Grosso
Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, Suspense

CARNAL RISK KYM GROSSO

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Powerful CEO, Garrett Emerson’s, life and corporation are built on a foundation of risk taking and top secret priorities. He works hard, but plays even harder. When tragedy strikes, the charismatic and sexy billionaire takes the gamble of his life by bringing a beautiful consultant into his inner sanctum, exposing her to his exclusive society of extreme athletes who are adventurous both in business and pleasure. Inexplicably drawn to the intriguing woman, Garrett teaches her to face her fears, bringing them both to new levels of ecstasy.

Selby Reynolds, a high profile technology specialist, reluctantly accepts an engagement at Emerson Industries. Discovering secrets and uncovering clues to a murder, she’s swept into Garrett’s dangerous but seductive life of luxury. Captivated by the world renowned capitalist and adventurer, she’s convinced he could crush her heart. As he pushes her sexual limits and their erotic play intensifies, Selby finds it impossible to resist the one man who turns her darkest fantasies into a reality.

When Selby’s life is threatened by a killer, carnal lessons of trust are put to the test, forcing them to choose who is friend and who is foe. Can Selby give her heart to a man who revels in the excitement of flirting with death? Will they prevail against an enemy who threatens to tear apart Garrett’s world, including the fragile connection with the woman he seeks to claim as his own?

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Review:

So, this is not a sex club book. I don’t know why I had that in my head after reading the blurb, but I did, so I think maybe others might too. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just a fact thing.

There IS a club involved: Club Altura. However, I’m still not sure I know what the hell Club Altura is really all about  – other than that it’s Garrett’s private club for people who like to push limits – but I also didn’t care. I do know that this is one hell of a steamy love story with a side of danger.

Selby and Garrett succumb to a massive case of instalove that had me giddy from the start. Technology expert and smart as fuck Selby has Garrett, the CEO who cowers for no one, begging at her feet. I like. I like a lot.  Selby’s a bit of a contradiction as she fears doing anything that would push outside the box – except for that whole risque singing performance. Pretty hot, girl. She also she uses her fears to keep her in a safe, warm bubble. Unfortunately, getting together with Garrett punctures a whole in that bubble and her life goes from safe and secure to hiding from a serial killer. Oops. Life is hard, woman up.

The suspense is great and I loved that side of the storyline. However, while the characters were all clearly passionate about “high risk” activities, I actually didn’t see them doing all that much of them except for jumping out of a plane a few times and surfing (is surfing high risk?). They also didn’t actually work that much, but I’ll forgive that because, serial killer. Note, my only high risk behavior while reading this book was almost spilling water on my kindle. Now THAT would have been a major buzzkill.

Other than the times that I wanted to wrap my hands around Garrett’s neck and shake him, I mostly wanted to wrap my hands around his other appendages and squeeze. Mmmmhmmm, he’s that hot. He’s clearly a little dominant, but I didn’t get an official “Dom” vibe from him, and that was a-ok with me. You do you, Garrett. YOU DO YOU. It was hard not to love Garrett with Stuart Freaking Reardon on the cover of this book. I mean, you put that picture there and my hands start getting grabby. It’s involuntary. [GOOD CHOICE, KYM].

I was at the edge of my seat and the steam of some of the scenes had me almost slipping off. It’s a pretty quick read (by my standards, fwiw) and pretty enjoyable. The characters were well developed and I had a good time trying to figure out who the mole was. Suspense. Danger. Hot sex. Need I say more?

Overall, a good romantic suspense with a redeeming hero who falls hard & fast. I’ll explore my fears with Garrett anytime. 3.75 stars.

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

About Kym Grosso

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Kym Grosso is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the erotic paranormal romance series, The Immortals of New Orleans. The series currently includes Kade’s Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1), Luca’s Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2), Tristan’s Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3) , Logan’s Acadian Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 4), Léopold’s Wicked Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 5) and Dimitri (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 6).

In addition to romance, Kym has written and published several articles about autism, and is passionate about autism advocacy. She also is a contributing essay author in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum.

Kym lives with her husband, two children, dog and cat. Her hobbies include autism advocacy, reading, tennis, zumba, traveling and spending time with her husband and children. New Orleans, with its rich culture, history and unique cuisine, is one of her favorite places to visit. Also, she loves traveling just about anywhere that has a beach or snow-covered mountains. On any given night, when not writing her own books, Kym can be found reading her Kindle, which is filled with hundreds of romances.

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