Friday, February 28, 2014

REVIEW: Naughty Vegas Nights by Tawny Weber

Naughty Vegas Nights


Naughty Vegas Nights by Tawny Weber, USA Today Bestselling Author. Tired of her jinx-cursed love life, Natasha Stover figures the only way to fix it is to get naked and naughty with the guy who ruined her for all others. And Lady Luck is on her side.... A weekend in Sin City being a bad boy's favorite toy just might be the cure Natasha's been wishing for.


In the Lucky 7 Bad Boys boxed set! 

***Seven fabulous books on sale for only 99 cents for a short time.*** 

Get lucky with a bad boy. . . .

Whether he's a rock star, a billionaire, or a playboy magician--whether he wears work boots or a suit and tie--bad boys have one thing in common: how good they can make a woman feel. This contemporary romance boxed set sizzles with SEVEN full-length novels by SEVEN bestselling authors, starring SEVEN unforgettable bad boys who will make you melt.

Adri's Review:

First off I want to thank Tawny Weber for getting me an ARC copy so I can write this review. If you've been following the blog for a while and have read our about us section, you know that I LOVE and ADORE second chance romances, and this one is no exception.

This story is part of a boxed set that is currently available for pre-order and will go live March 3rd. 

Natasha Stover finds herself in Vegas for a convention for her Aunt Sharon's sexy apparel boutique. Her plan is to help her aunt who is suffering from MS, to get her sexy apparel on the market in a way that would help alleviate stress from her life. One thing that she didn't expect when she arrived in Vegas was to run into the bad boy she dated for a small while in college. A man that she found was the only one that was able to please her sexually.  

Drew gave a lot up when his father became ill and he needed to begin caring for his little sister. Though he no longer is the bad boy he'd been in college, he is still a hard guy to get inside of. One of the things that he gave up when he was young was Natasha, a woman that not only full-filled him sexually, but I feel like emotionally as well. 

Not only was this a sweet reunion story, with its moments of excitement and emotional upheaval, but it was also extremely sexy. The sexual tension between both characters at the beginning of the story is enough to melt your panties, but that is nothing compared to how things get once they begin their relationship. At one point as a reader I began to think I was going to combust from their connections. 

I hope you will enjoy reading this as much as I did...

Happy Reading... Adri.  

COVER REVEAL: Jacob (Buffalo Rocker Series #2) by N Kuhn



Title: Jacob (Buffalo Rocker 2)
Author: N Kuhn
Release Date: TBD
Tour Organizer: N K Author Services

The newest Rocker Romance from N Kuhn is soon to be released! Check out the hotness of this cover!



Blurb:

Tragedy befalls Melody and Jacob, forever changing their lives. Such young love, destroyed by pain and cruelty. Jacob tries to drown his anger in alcohol and singing, quickly climbing the Country charts. Melody struggles to recover from her accident. Will fate bring them back together or will fame keep them apart?


Meet Len Gunn:
Len Gunn the cover model for Jacob: Buffalo Rocker 2

Catch the first in the series:

Travis (Buffalo Rocker)



Lots of people want to be Rock Stars, but the question is, can they handle it? Travis Dane has never wanted anything more than to be a Rock Star. He dreamed of being just like his father, Marcus. What the idol in his life never told him, is that the road to fame is paved with self destruction. Music, drugs, drinking, fighting and crazy stalkers all battle for his attention. Throw in an uncaring mother and Paparazzi following his every step is disaster waiting to happen. Brittany Landers has never loved anyone like she did Trav. But his temper and drug use drove her into the arms of another man. Finally getting her life on track, striving for her law degree, can Aiden Bland take her mind off of Travis and what he’s going through? Or is he just Mr Wrong Right Now? The emotional rollercoaster of fame is never a Happily Ever After.




About the author:

N Kuhn grew up in a small town in Western New York. Having spent her afternoons outside or with a book, she grew up with a love of reading and writing. Her mother and grandmother fully encouraged this in her. Many years later, after a husband and children, she made a promise to her dying grandmother to fulfill her dream of being an author. Her grandmother lived to see N's name in print. This was a turning moment for her. Driven by ambition and a promise made, she has since published several titles including the Mohawk Trilogy, Tucked In, Buffalo Rocker and the Tricks series.
N Kuhn has several other books that will be out later this year. When she's not writing, she is in college for a Business degree, runs her blog, bartends and promotes for other authors. Family and coffee are her two staples in life.
Check her out on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/nkuhnauthor
Blog: http://nkuhnebooks.blogspot.com
You can also follow her on twitter @mrsnkuhn


Giveaway:





Thursday, February 27, 2014

REVIEW: Undone by Shannon Richard



Undone

Shannon Richard


Description

Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:

Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot
Why a shop would ever sell something called "buck urine"
Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy-and infuriating-Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn't easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who's interested in much more than Paige's car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn't sure she'd ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

Adri's Review:

First off I want to thank NetGalley for approving us to read and review this book.

Ever have a story that you could swear that the author is one of you friends and writes everything you guys talk about? Or that she is reading your mind? Yeah... that is completely how I felt with this book. 

Not only are the characters completely relatable, but their struggles and growth are as well. Something else that I enjoyed so much about this story was that the characters took things slow, they didn't immediately fall into bed together or proclaim their love for each other, (though it isn't a bad thing), they let it come naturally and at a great pace. 

This book also has some very strong emotions... I know I laughed at some of the things that happen to Paige, got angry at the mean characters, cried in the hard times and was scared when somethings happened, but the strongest emotion of all was joy. It was so nice to see her go from so much bad luck to such good fortune.

Brendan sounds like such a sexy character, and his care for his family and friends is incredible. 

And though I know this is one of my more vague reviews, I promise it is only because I don't want to give anything away. Just know that it is a fantastic, keep you on the edge of your seat, don't get anything done until you've finished reading the whole thing kind of book.

Oh and there are more to come... so I will be in line waiting to read them as soon as they become available.

Happy Reading... Adri

REVIEW: His Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones


His Secrets

Description

In this dark and sensual e-novella, which ties into Lisa Renee Jones’s bestselling Inside Out series, Chris’s dark point of view comes to light as he tries to win—then hold onto—Sara’s heart.

In a world where my only escape has been my art, Sara has been the light in my darkness. And there is darkness, the kind of inky black that can bleed from my life into hers.

She doesn’t see it. She doesn’t understand what I’ve shown her. And my biggest fear is that soon...she will.





Adri's Review:

First off a big thank you to NetGalley for approving us the chance to read and review this story.

Before I begin my actual review I have to say that I was attracted to this story first by the cover and title... That being said... I liked this short novella, though I wish I'd read the books that it stems from first. Though the story is very thorough and really fun to read, I did feel a little bit lost on what was going on... No ones fault but my own.

To read on how much Chris's past and secrets torment him and cause him to fear that he will lose Sara is so sad. To see how some of the things that he's been through have had lasting affects not only on him but others as well and that he beats himself up for those things. Also the fact that he is afraid that Sara's life will head in that same direction is heart wrenching. 

Sara is such a strong character and in my opinion so good for him. She shows him that no matter what he says or does she will always love him. That she is there for him and will help him get past all the hurt and darkness. 

As I said I wish I would have read the books that accompanies this novella beforehand, because I think it would've helped me not only understand the plot a bit better but endeared me the characters even more. So I hope you not only enjoy this novella, but the rest of Lisa Renee Jones' series.

Happy Reading... Adri

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

REVIEW: Pleasing the Pirate by Shannon Cullen



Pleasing the Pirate



Blurb

Two hearts are wrenched between love and duty in Sharon Cullen’s tale of a ruthless pirate and the Scottish lass who fills him with desire for something greater than plunder.
 
With her clan’s crops burned and their property confiscated, Mairi McFadden is desperate to free her brother from imprisonment so that he can take his rightful place as chief. Her only hope is the fierce English pirate Phin Lockwood, but the buccaneer laughs at her meager funds. His roving eyes, however, tell Mairi there’s something else he’ll take in exchange for her brother’s rescue. Though she burns with hatred for the English, she’ll do anything to save her clan.
 
The crown has made it clear that Phin has two choices: bring in a certain Scottish traitor or hang. And he’s not about to let a tiny, whiskey-eyed woman get in his way, even if she is pointing a gun at him. When Phin learns that Mairi’s brother is the very man he seeks, he’s more than willing to use the lass as bait. But as the moment of capture draws near, Phin is surprised by his feelings for the courageous beauty who has him considering risking his life—for someone besides himself.

Adri's Review:


First off I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this story and allow me to review it.

The things Mairi is willing to do to help her clan and bring her brother back put her on the a path she never expected. Phin plans on trying to use Mairi to help find her brother and save his own hide, little does he know thing don't go exactly as planned.

This is a sweet, somewhat intriguing, time piece story. I love the bit of history that it involves and  old world adventure to it. It is also a great story that shows that life happens when we are busy planning our lives. 

Mairi's dedication and will to do anything for her family is what makes her such a great and strong character. But even through all of her strength she still has this ability to learn, stretch and adapt to the environment she finds herself in. She is a character that starts off with a preconceived notion of a group of people but is quickly proven that not all are the same as the ones she's had the misfortune to encounter in the past. 

Phin is such a complicated character. He is not at all as what he seems to be. He is complex with secrets and needs to protect his loved ones. He is willing to make sacrifices no matter what the consequences to him really are. All that changes though when he meets Mairi.

This is really a great story for those who like to be exposed to not only the past but new cultures as well.    

Happy Reading... Adri

REVIEW: Best Fake Day by Tracey Rogers

Blurb
Faking it never felt so good.

Wedding photographer and romance lover Izzy Latham dreams of finding her own happily-ever-after. When her former teenage crush arrives at her doorstep, looking sexier than ever, and asks to marry her, it should be her dream come true, right? Wrong. It turns out he doesn't want to actually marry her—he only wants to pretend to marry her.

Marriage hater Jack Carter will do anything to close his latest business deal, including finding a wife. The only person who can help him is his childhood friend, Izzy. Except Izzy isn't a little girl anymore. She's definitely all woman, and there's an attraction between them that's hard to ignore.

Jack has to convince Izzy to fake it, but the problem is that she hates to lie. However, she can't deny her feelings for him either. So when Jack makes her an offer she can't refuse, she reluctantly agrees to help him out.

Faking it is the easy part. But what happens when fake starts to feel so real?


Excerpt
 
"Let me work off the money," Izzy said.
She felt Jack's gaze rake over her body, watched the clench of his jaw. "And how are you planning to work it off, Isabel?" he almost growled. "Is that what all of this is about?" he asked as his hand made an indicating sweep over her body. "Dress to impress so you can pay me in kind?"
"Oh God, no," she spluttered. "This is me showing you I'm not the weak, naïve girl I used to be and I won't be pushed around!"
The hard glint in his eyes softened slightly. "You were never weak. Naïve…" He trailed off. "So how exactly were you planning to pay me back?"
"Working here for you for free until I pay you back. I could collect glasses, work the bar, or clean."
"And you have experience in any of those roles?"
"No. But I could learn."
"But what about the house repairs?"
She shrugged. "I could do that during the daytime and work here at night. Then when I'm earning again from my day job I'll pay you back."
"And what exactly is your day job?"
"I'm a photographer. I could even do that here. Take photographs of the patrons and sell them for you."
"You work freelance?”
"I have my own business." She hesitated before elaborating. "As a wedding photographer," she said quickly, hoping he wouldn't snag the teasing opportunity.
Too late. The corner of his mouth quirked until it bloomed until a grin. "A wedding photographer. How appropriate. I knew playing dress-up with your mother's veil and having teddy bears as your guests would have an influence on you one day."
"You mean like wanting to have a traditional wedding where the groom doesn't have to bribe the bride? Yeah, my childhood messed me up real bad," she said with sarcasm.
"You're not working here, Izzy. And this conversation is over."
"No, it's not. I'm giving you a solution to paying off what I owe. I'll work off the amount Ellie paid for our debts and the rest you get from her. So when do I start?"
"You are not working here."
"Why?"
"Do you really want to have some guy groping you as you serve drinks? Or a group of guys? I run a tight ship and look out for my staff, but sometimes it happens."
"I can look after myself. I have been groped before, you know. I can deal with it."
He slid his chair closer, bending his legs so hers surrounded him without touching, but close, very close. He looked up at her under dark lashes. "So if some guy puts a hand on your leg you wouldn’t mind?"
She shook her head.
"And if that hand strayed beneath your dress?" he asked as his hand reached out to graze the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, making her shudder.
She shook her head slowly, earning a dark look. Of course she would mind. But this was Jack.
He stood abruptly, stepping into the v of her thighs. "And if a guy tried to kiss you?"
"I have been kissed before, remember?" she said, inwardly cringing at how breathless she sounded.
"I remember being a boy kissing you as a girl. If I were to kiss you now I wouldn’t be holding back and I wouldn’t be kissing you as a boy—I’d be kissing you as a man."
"Then do it," she demanded.


Erin's Review
I adore Izzy and Jack! Simply adore them! This couple has so much heat between them forget the blankets! The two of them in the tree house was one of my favorite parts of the book.Their story is not only sweet but filled with heartache. Everything isn't always roses and no one knows that better than Izzy and Jack.
 The sexual frustration between them is all too real. You just want to scream at Jack to kiss her or take her on the hood of his car or something! And Izzy, she always wanted the fairytale, will she finally have it?
 Their fake day was perfectly described in detail and you felt like you were their. It almost felt like an intrusion on a very private ceremony between a couple very much in love. If only it were real.
 This was my feel good read. Even through all the struggle the couple goes through, you cannot see them apart. Jack shows some vulnerability beneath his rough exterior and you know just why Izzy falls. You have to read this book to get the rest of the story. You will not be disappointed.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!!~

           HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!

Come on, like you didn't know this was coming!! I just want to tell you, I hope you have a very happy birthday!!
                                                                         
                                            (Because every birthday girl deserves a shirtless Kellan)  




Thank you so much for letting me join you on this journey! This blog is a blast and you make everything so easy! I appreciate you more than you will ever know! You are an amazing person, mother and friend. Don't ever change! Thank you for everything! Love you girl!!!
 



And as a final parting gift....................





cRbDLi on Make A Gif, Animated Gifs


  



make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

RELEASE DAY REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Hard As You Can by Laura Kaye



Hard As You Can:
Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he's shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister's sake, Crystal can't get too close. Until her job and Shane's mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed. 

Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad. He's exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can--and never let go.

Read an Extended Excerpt of Book 1, Hard As It Gets
Buy Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. 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.




It’s release day! And I’m thrilled to share Hard As You Can, the second book in the Hard Ink series, with all of you here today! Hard As You Can follows the surviving members of a disgraced Army Special Forces team as they fight to regain their stolen honor, and finds their investigation crossing paths with a waitress willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive and protect her younger sister. For Shane McCallan, saving Crystal Dean is a mission he refuses to turn down.

Today, I’m excited to share Shane and Crystal’s first kiss! Don’t you love first kiss scenes? Gah! I so do. *grins* Here we go:

“Tell me not to,” Shane said, his voice a raw scrape.

“I can’t,” Crystal whispered in a shaky voice. “I don’t want to.”

Shane’s body took over then, all urgent need and basic instinct. The rest of the world be damned. He pulled her in and kissed her, his lips devouring, his tongue exploring deep. Nothing held back. Nothing denied. Not even as her lips reawakened the sting from the cut on his lip. Totally worth it.

Crystal’s arms came up around him. She trembled against him, and Shane wasn’t sure if it was caused by adrenaline or fear. Unable to tolerate the thought that she might feel forced, he eased off.

She moaned and held him tighter, like his retreat had made something snap within her. Their kisses deepened, and her body moved against his, sinuously, maddeningly, desperately.

They tasted one another again and again, giving in to the heat that had sparked between them from the moment Crystal had collided with him at Confessions. Little nips and bites of lips and teeth warred with long, sensual strokes of tongue that stole his breath and made him instantly hard. The sting in his lip, the throb of his GSW, the aches from Nick’s asskicking, every bit of it faded away—no, her touch made it all go away.

The few times they’d spoken, Crystal had most often been guarded, tentative, fearful. Just as she’d been when he first kissed her. But, now, she was revealing a passionate woman who could be fearless, giving and receiving openly and without hesitation. Christ, the thought that this fierceness was the real Crystal slayed him because it meant she was burying and denying her true self, not because she wanted to, but because she had to.

No, because someone forced her to.

The thought reminded him of the bruises on her arm. Shane had known this woman for three days, and twice in that time she’d been hurt by another man. And both as a consequence for things Shane had done.

A crack of thunder echoed from the heavens, making Crystal jump and gasp into his mouth.
“I’ve got you,” he rasped around a kiss.

Part of him wanted to say more, to tell her he had her and he’d keep her safe. But he couldn’t make himself give up her heat, her sweetness, her obvious hunger—for him.

So he made her a silent promise instead.

Never again, Crystal. He’ll never hurt you again. Not on my watch.

Because Shane McCallan had made a mistake like that once. And, as bad as his sister’s disappearance had been, something’s happening to Crystal would actually be worse because Shane knew it was coming. The one break he’d ever given himself over Molly was that he’d had no way to know she’d be abducted. Didn’t excuse the role he played in allowing it to happen, but he couldn’t have known. But with Crystal, while he might not know when or how this Bruno asshole would strike out to do the ultimate damage, it was all but a done deal at this point. Always was with guys like him. And Shane would go to the grave before he let it happen, before he failed another female for whom he cared.

Because he did care. Made no damn sense given how long he’d known her. And the timing was beyond piss-poor. But there it was all the same.

So that’s Shane and Crystal starting to give in to what they feel for one another – I hope you enjoyed! Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!
~Laura

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”
~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets



Q&A WITH LAURA KAYE

HARD AS YOU CAN is your second book in the “Hard Ink” series (after USA Today bestseller, HARD AS IT GETS). What can readers look forward to?

Readers can look forward to tons of sexy alpha male goodness, awesome bromance between the Hard Ink men, more antics from the Hard Ink puppy, and another great love story between Shane and Crystal. But readers should also be ready for a book that is darker, more intense, and more emotional. This book pushed me to emotional places that were tough as a writer, and might be tough for readers, too. But I think that just makes the payoff at the end so much sweeter!

Describe Shane and Crystal. What are their best traits? What are their weaknesses?

Shane and Crystal are such an amazing couple to me. They’re each exactly what the other needs. Shane’s best traits are his protectiveness, his fundamental kindness, and his soul-deep loyalty (his southern accent and humor are also right up there!). His biggest weakness for sure is a tragedy from the past for which he blames himself—and it’s something that continues to motivate him in Hard As You Can. Crystal’s best traits are her courage, protectiveness, and selflessness—she’s willing to do anything to keep her younger sister safe. Her biggest weakness is also that selflessness, because the sacrifices she’s required to make are getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?

When a woman in trouble assists an ex-soldier's covert mission to regain his team's stolen honor, he finds a new mission to save her, too

What are you most excited about with this second book release?

I’m really excited to take readers deeper into these awesome characters and into the mystery behind the Hard Ink team’s ambush and discharge!

What books are you reading right now?

I’m almost done with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander (yes, I’m very late to the party but OMG JAMIE FRASER!!!). And I’ve recently devoured and loved Juliana Stone’s Offsides and Shelly Thacker’s time-travel historical romance, Forever His.

What can fans of your “Hard Ink” series look forward to next?

There will be two more Hard Ink books in 2014!

Hard to Hold on To – August 2014
Hard to Come By – November 2014
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Laura will also be hosting a Facebook party for HARD AS YOU CAN on 2/25 from 12-9pm EST if you want to help spread the word, that’d be great: https://www.facebook.com/events/416084181828110

Sarah's Review:
Thanks to Laura Kaye and Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review this amazing story so that we could be part of the release blitz!  I have been so excited about this story since I finished the first book.   As soon as I saw Laura post the signup, I pounced!  I knew it was going to be a good one.  This one blew my mind in great way. 

This story picks up almost where the first one ends.  So if you haven't read Hard As It Gets, go buy it and read it!  This review *WILL* contain spoilers if you haven't read the first book.  This is your warning.

As I said above, this story picks up so close to the ending of the first one, but for this story it was necessary to go back and read what happened through Shane and Crystal's eyes.  We see how Charlie's rescue happened and why Shane reacted the way he did. 

Shane is Nick's best friend and brother in arms.  The team is still together as this story takes place at the same time and after Charlie's rescue.  We were able to see the team rebuild their relationship, find out more information about Col. Merritt's treasonous acts and how Charlie is doing after his rescue.   We get to know a little more about Shane and why Crystal becomes important to him. 

Crystal is the waitress that helped the team get Charlie out of Confessions and even though she isn't sure why, she knew she was doing the right thing.  She has her own history that can cause her problems if she is made on helping Charlie escape and the help she provides Shane and the team.  We find out why she is working at Confessions and why she works as hard as she does. 

Jenna, Crystal's sister is one of those characters that I adored because of her courage and her strength.  When Jenna is at the wrong place at the wrong time, you find out just how far Crystal and Shane will go to get Jenna back.   It might help that Easy is a little forceful about making sure Jenna is safe.  I wonder if Jenna and Easy are going to become a couple.