August 4, 2017

ALEX IN WONDERLAND BY MAX MONROE-BLOG TOUR


Alex in Wonderland

I’m Matt Hadder.
I’ve been called ruthless, savage—even brutal—by the men and women who work for me. And I’ve earned my reputation.

Wonderland Inc., a party planning organization for every major player in the world, is Oz, and I’m its Wizard. I can make anything—drugs, prostitutes, deals—appear for a night and disappear just as quickly.

This doesn’t make me good or bad—it makes me essential.

Wonderland Inc. was my life, until a beautiful contradiction of innocence and impurity, obedience and rebelliousness named Alex Little stepped in and turned both of our worlds upside down.

Welcome to Wonderland, Alex.
A place where everything appears normal.
But we’re all mad.

Disclaimer:

Please keep your arms crossed over your chest and feet crossed at the ankle as you fall down the rabbit hole. The urge to open your mouth in shock will be strong, but we encourage you to keep it closed. There's no telling what could end up inside.

*Authors not responsible for personal injury on your ride through Wonderland.


Ok, so I went into this book not knowing what to expect. I love Max Monroe-I do-but I'm used to romcom Max Monroe, my swoony Max Monroe. So when I saw the blurb for this it was definitely different from anything I've ever read from them but I still wanted to give it a go. I still found some romance, a bit of a swoon and definitely found the hot and steamy moments they always provide.

Alex threw me for a loop. She seemed a bit younger than I expected for her age, but she was fun. I didn't connect with her at first, I admit, but I did warm up to her. She had some great one liners in here as well.

I fell for Matt in the prologue of the story. I can't lie. He's the reason I kept reading initially, I really wanted to know what made him tick. He was broody, secretive, sexy and powerful. He was a bit shady...but given the nature of this book he needed to be. He's a bit older than Alex, by 15 years, and I know that might bother some but it didn't bother me at all.

There's no denying the chemistry between these characters. It sizzles off the page, even as they both try to resist it. Max Monroe writes some of the best sexy times and I can absolutely say that the tradition of that continued in this book. More than that, I understood the connection between them. They were simply drawn together and fit together like puzzle pieces.

The secondary characters in this book detracted from the overall story for me a bit. I wanted more Alex and Matt and instead had all of these other people and situations vying for attention. I get that this is a different take on Alice in Wonderland and there are a lot of parallels one can make, but the secondary characters really pulled me out of the story sometimes. I did come back to the book more than once instead of reading straight through as I normally do with this duo.

This was a whole new style from Max Monroe and overall I did enjoy it. I'm intrigued to see what Max Monroe comes up with next. I would recommend this title.

 

 



“It is. It’s just…jarring.”

“You don’t find it natural?” I asked, putting a hand to her back and making her step closer. The pleasure girl moaned and writhed, her skin a flushed rose of arousal as Spade continued to play with her. Lou Diamond had joined them now too, feasting on her breasts and stroking his cock while kneeling on the plush red couch behind her opened leg.

Alex shook her head and nodded at the same time, her every nerve ending buzzing with confusion over what she’d been taught was appropriate, and the very opposite way she felt.

“That could be you,” I whispered, leaning into her back and grazing the shell of her ear with my breath.

She shivered—for about a millisecond—before bounding away and turning to meet my eyes, panic stark in hers. “Me? Do that? Like…right here? In front of people?” she stuttered. “No. No. Um, no.”

Excitement shot down my spine at her anxiousness. “No?” I questioned, careful to keep my tone reproachful. I wanted her to feel pressured—just to see if she could withstand it.

After a brief pause, she confirmed with a curt, determined shake of her head. “No.”

At six foot six and two hundred and seventy pounds, I was nothing short of physically intimidating. I was impressed by her backbone.

“Okay,” I agreed easily. Her eyes widened, and her plump lips parted. I took pleasure in her surprise.

PORTER BY GEORGIA CATES-RELEASE BLITZ





Title: Porter
A Men of Lovibond Series Standalone
Author: Georgia Cates
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 4, 2017

Blurb

My employee’s daughter. The tomboy. The kid who once did odd jobs around the brewery. That’s all she was… until three years passed and she walked into my office for an interview.

Frankee Dawson is no longer that girl I once called Kiddo. She’s grown into a beautiful, sexy, desirable woman. Very desirable. And that’s a problem. She’s my employee’s daughter. Lovibond family. And too young for me. Too innocent.

I want to feel her respond to my kiss.

I want her body to tremble as she anticipates my touch.

I want to learn all the places that bring her pleasure.

But mostly I want her to know that she’s never truly been loved by a man until me.

Frankee is my intern and under me for the summer. Literally. It’s a difficult secret to maintain when you can’t keep your hands off each other.

This was supposed to be a hot summer fling. Sex and fun without commitment—that’s what we called it. But we were wrong. This is more. I’ve never felt this way about a woman. Never cared more about someone else’s happiness more than my own.

I love her and I’m happy. So damn happy… until a terrible mistake from my past springs forward and threatens to rip us apart.

There are a million reasons for her to leave me. And trust me, she should. But all I really need is one good reason for her to stay.



I liked the story of Porter and Frankee. I loved the age difference, the idea that her father was an employee at the brewery, and that her life was changed for the better because her dad worked there, making the relationship feel like there was a lot to lose if they didn't handle it well.

The parts of the book that focused on Porter and Frankee were interesting, and they were hot. I liked their chemistry and their attraction to one another felt real and authentic.

But, there was a lot going on in this book. Enough that, I think, the central romance was diluted to the point that it became a part of many parts of the story and not the focus.

This was an older man, younger woman romance. As well as a forbidden romance, an office romance, a boss to intern romance and one that was complicated by a woman from the past. This was a lot, and I thought it was too much as there are a lot of tropes and subplots in this, and I felt that a little more attention to a couple of them would have served the story a lot better than a little attention to a number of subplots.

I read this as a standalone, and while I was not the biggest fan, I do think this would be one that fans of the other books in the series would enjoy.



The blurb of this book caught my eye. I'm a fan of office romance settings in books, I think they usually have potential for some fun. This was also my first opportunity to read something from Georgia Cates.

I liked Frankee and I liked Porter. I thought they had chemistry and I enjoyed seeing things from both of their perspectives. The times they spent together were mostly sexy and fun. There were times I felt they were both a little immature, but I expected that from Frankee given her age. I was a bit surprised with it from Porter. I will admit I also appreciated the playlists used in this book.

I must say that this story contained a fair amount of drama that I just didn't see as necessary. The subplot of that drew my attention away from our main couple instead of wanting me to read and figure out how they'd overcome this situation. Again, it just didn't seem necessary to me. There was just a lot going on and I think sometimes the focus got away from our main characters.

This is book 3 in a series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. If you're looking for a quick read with some sexy times and drama I'd say to give Porter a try. I will try other works from this author.




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Frankee and I stayed up until three in the morning. I couldn’t keep my hands off of her. Not when she was wearing that sexy-as-fuck lingerie.

I’ve never seen anyone wear anything like that. Sure, I’ve watched porn and seen it on those women, but never on a real-life woman. And never one in my bed.

Frankee is like my very own porno princess.

I gave her six orgasms last night—one an hour. I’ve never done that before. Not that I don’t have the ability. I’ve just never been inclined to.

“Frankee.”

She doesn't stir. Not even a little. I shake her shoulder this time. “Frankee. Wake up, baby. I have to go.”

She rolls to her back and slowly opens her eyes. “Someone fucked me into next week. You'll have to check back with me when it comes around to see if I can wake up.”

“You don't have to get up, but I do have to go.”

“No. Don't go. Staaaay.” She has no idea how badly I want to.

At some point during the night, Frankee washed off her makeup, and I’m seeing her for the first time without cosmetics. It’s confirmed. She’s a natural beauty and doesn’t need that garbage on her face.

“I wish I could stay in this bed with you all day, but I promised Stout I'd help him move his stuff to his new house today. I was supposed to be there already, but I couldn’t bear to leave when you looked so beautiful in my bed.”

I already know he’s going to give me shit for being late.

“Wait a minute… before you go.”

Frankee dashes to the bathroom, still wearing her porno princess attire from last night. That is one convenient getup. I hope she has more of those.

She returns from the bathroom with her hair twisted into a topknot. I don’t know what it is that makes that so damn sexy.

She wraps her arms around my shoulders and lowers herself to straddle me on the bed. “Kiss me before you go.”

Her mouth is minty. And hungry, based on the way she devours my mouth and neck. “Is this your plan for tempting me to stay?”

Her hands are working to undo the button and zipper on my jeans. “No. This is.”

 

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Author Bio


Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her music and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Author Links

August 3, 2017

SUDDENLY ENGAGED BY JULIA LONDON-VIRTUAL TOUR


Can Kyra and Dax let go so easily—or has love become a preexisting condition?


SUDDENLY ENGAGED
Lake Haven #3
Julia London
Releasing July 25, 2017
Montlake


Single mother Kyra Kokinos spends her days waiting tables, her nights working on her real estate license, and every spare moment with her precocious six-year-old daughter, Ruby—especially when Ruby won’t stop pestering their grumpy next-door neighbor. At first glance, Dax Bishop seems like the kind of gruff, solitary guy who’d be unlikely to offer a cup of sugar, let alone a marriage proposal. But that’s exactly what happens when Ruby needs life-saving surgery.

Dax showed up in East Beach a year ago, fresh from a painful divorce and looking for a place where he could make furniture and avoid people. Suddenly his life is invaded by an inquisitive munchkin in sparkly cowboy boots—and her frazzled, too-tempting mother. So he presents a practical plan: his insurance will help Ruby, and then they can divorce—zero strings attached.

But soon Kyra and Dax find their engagement of convenience is simple in name only. As their attraction deepens, a figure from the past reappears, offering a way out. Can Kyra and Dax let go so easily—or has love become a preexisting condition?





I enjoyed this title overall.  I liked Kyra and I thought Ruby, her daughter, was adorable.

Dax, well, he was a little grumpy, but with everything going on in his life with his ex, this was understandable, I think anyone would be little grumpy.

There was a lot going on in this book, with the grumpy neighbor, the things Dax was dealing with, the things Kyra was dealing with, and then Ruby’s illness.  In a lot of ways, it made for a full story.  Unfortunately, at times this fullness of the story left me feeling like there was just too much going on.  I know, life can be like this and things come at you all at once, but for me this took away a little from the story.

Overall, you like the main characters, they are relateable, and even though all sorts of things are happening, they don’t turn into tragic characters, which I did like.  The happy ending they reach was well-deserved for all involved, and I did enjoy the journey of this title.

I do recommend this book.
 







Julia London is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than forty romance novels. Her historical titles include the popular Desperate Debutantes series, the Cabot Sisters series, and the Highland Grooms series. Her contemporary works include the Lake Haven series, the Pine River series, and the Cedar Springs series. She has won the RT Book Club Award for Best Historical Romance and has been a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction. She lives in Austin, Texas.



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OVERLOOKED BY LULU PRATT & SIMONE SOWOOD-REVIEW

She’s the closest thing I ever had to a sister

Our parents are best friends and neighbors.
We were raised together.

But one look at her naked body in the window and I’m hard.

How did I never notice her this way before?

Too bad she’s forbidden fruit.

She doesn’t deserve to be in my trail of one and done women.

Plus it would ruin 25 years of friendship between our parents.

But my body craves her.

The longer she stands in the window, the less I’m able to resist.

Screw it.

Before I leave, I’ll give her a few good nights to she’ll never forget.



I have read most of Simone Sowood's books, and I usually enjoy them a lot.  So, this one was a bit of a surprise to me, that it really didn't work all that well.

Strangely, it wasn't the main characters that I was not able to connect with, rather the secondary ones.  I found the parents, and some of the things they said to Zane and Harper about the budding relationship to not only be a little off, but something you would not actually see happening.  Do I see the concern?  Maybe.  Is it the reason for the entire conflict of the book?  No.  No it was not.

Yes, there were other plot lines, and other things that possibly could be considered to be the conflict, but the main one really seemed to be that if Harper and Zane date, it might upset their parents and make it difficult for their parents to stay friends.  They are life long, 25 year friends...if that does it, there is more wrong with the relationship than their kids hooking up.

The writing was not as strong in this one as well, and it is the first that the author has co-written, so I am not sure if that was part of the issue, or if I really was so annoyed by the behavior of the "adults" in the story that I was annoyed by all of the little things too.

While I am able to recommend the author's other books, this is not one I am able to say that about.



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August 1, 2017

SEEING RED BY SANDRA BROWN-ARC REVIEW

#1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sandra Brown delivers her trademark nonstop suspense and supercharged sexual tension in this thriller about tainted heroism, cold fury, and vengeance without mercy.

Kerra Bailey is a television journalist on the rise, and she's hot on the trail of a story guaranteed to skyrocket her career to even greater heights: an interview with the legendary Major Trapper. Twenty-five years ago, the Major emerged a hero from the bombing of the Pegasus Hotel in downtown Dallas when he was photographed leading a handful of survivors out of the collapsing building. The iconic picture transformed him into a beloved national icon, in constant demand for speeches and interviews--until he suddenly dropped out of the public eye, shunning all members of the media. However, Kerra is willing to use any means necessary to get to the Major--even if she has to wrangle an introduction from his estranged son, former ATF agent John Trapper.

Still seething over his break with both the ATF and his father, John Trapper wants no association with the hotel bombing or his hero father, and spurns the meddling reporters determined to drag them back into the limelight. Yet Kerra's sheer audacity and tantalizing hints that there's more to the story rouse Trapper's interest despite himself. And when her interview of a lifetime goes catastrophically awry--with unknown assailants targeting not only the Major, but also Kerra--Trapper realizes he needs her under wraps if he's going to track down the gunmen before they strike again . . . as well as discover, finally, who was responsible for the Pegasus bombing.

Kerra is wary of a man so charming one moment and dangerous the next, and she knows Trapper is withholding evidence collected during his ATF investigation into the bombing. But having no one else to trust and enemies lurking closer than they know, Kerra and Trapper join forces and risk their very lives to expose a sinuous network of lies and conspiracy running deep through Texas--and uncover who would want a national hero dead.

Really, what do I say?  This was Sandra Brown, and she did it again.  I was engrossed from the 1st chapter, I was up too late reading, I finished in about a day, and I didn't want to put it down.  Do I have other books on my list with a sooner publication date?  Absolutely.  Do I have the willpower to allow a Sandra Brown title to sit on my Kindle, unread? No.  No, I do not.

All true, and it happens every time I read one of her titles.  She is just that good.

Bombers, crazy killers, conspiracies, family dynamics that will take years of counseling to straighten out.  It's all in here.  And, it works.  The plot, the writing and the pacing are tightly constructed and you believe what happens to the characters.

And, like she often does, her hero isn't the best...or so it seems at first...for a romantic hero.  Your introduction to him leaves a lot to be desired, and Trapper doesn't seem to care.  Kerra knows she should, she know she should not be attracted to Trapper (John) a down on his luck private investigator who had been fired from his job with the ATF.  But, he is the son of her "hot get" interview target, so she tests him...leaves him a photo, tells him he is going to need a magnifying glass, and waits. He doesn't disappoint, and what you get is a chase across Texas, a couple of corpses, a stolen vehicle or 2, and enough twists and turns that you aren't even sure where the heck you are but you know you have enjoyed the heck out of the ride.

I have joked, more than once, that by the end of the Sandra Brown book, once the characters get their HEA, and they did in this like they always do, that all of the characters are going to need therapy.  Yeah, that's probably the case for this one too, but what a ride.

Was there a HEA? Of course there was.  Ms. Brown tells a heck of a twisty story, but at the end, it's a story about people, about redemption, about a second chance, and about a way to come back to who you were and be a little better off on the way there.  Kerra and John get their HEA, and you believe it. They are going to be a couple for the long haul., although their life might be a little boring going forward, comparatively.

Oh, and for the "gotcha" moment that happens in every book?  Oddly enough, there was nothing that left me absolutely stunned until the end.  I actually found myself thinking that, while there were quite a few jaw dropping moments, that the "OMG did that seriously just happen" wasn't going to be in this book.  And, it was like Ms. Brown heard me...because GOTCHA.

Ms. Brown got me good.  And, I never saw it coming.

I recommend this book.
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