July 9, 2018

DEVOTED TO PLEASURE BY SHAYLA BLACK - ARC REVIEWS & BLOG TOUR


There's a fine line between his business and her pleasure...
Devoted to Pleasure, an all-new sexy romantic suspense standalone from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shayla Black is available NOW! 


BOUND BY DUTY...

Bodyguard and former military man Cutter Bryant has always done his duty--no matter the cost. Now he's taking one last high-octane assignment before settling down in a new role that means sacrificing his chance at love. But he never expects to share an irresistible chemistry with his beautiful new client.

...TEMPTED BY PLEASURE

As the star of a steamy television drama, Shealyn West knows fame well, but it has come at the expense of her heart. With a blackmailer watching her every move and the threat of career-ending exposure looming, Shealyn hires Cutter to shore up her security and keep her safe, never imagining their attraction will be too powerful to contain.

As Shealyn and Cutter navigate the scintillating line between business and pleasure, they unravel a web of secrets that threaten their relationship and their lives. When danger strikes, Cutter must decide whether to follow his heart for the first time, or risk losing Shealyn forever.


I was not sure how this was going to go...at first, you really think there is going to be a subplot that, well, doesn't work...(at least I wasn't thrilled by it) but it doesn't go that way at all. Usually, I would not put this in a review, but for me, I was kind of hesitant on the direction this was going to take, and so I am saying here that, if you are like me, things are fine. Carry on and enjoy this book.

And, I loved the way this developed. I loved that Cutter was a strong man on his own, with a strict moral code that told him what was, and wasn't right, in a situation. Shealyn is a woman who goes after what she wants, whether it is in her career or in her personal life, and she is willing to sacrifice in order to get the things she wants most.

So, they get one another, and the willingness to do what it takes to do the things they believe they should. It's a connection, at first, that allows them to think their attraction and relationship is a short term fling...and then they realize it is more.

I love how strong Cutter is, how willing he is to put everything on the line for a real relationship, and for Shealyn's trust, and how willing he is to walk away when he thinks that is missing. Saying more is a spoiler, but this worked and it worked well.

I like Shayla Black's writing style, and her willingness to tell a story that is not always easy or simple. She allows her characters to have flaws and faults, to make bad decisions, and to frustrate the reader. When it all works out happily in the end, it becomes an enjoyable ride, even if there was a time or 2 you found yourself angry at the characters.

I recommend this title.



I have to admit, the cover and the Author of this book sucked me in. The blurb gave me a split second pause-Hollywood stories just aren't usually my cup of tea-but I'm glad I gave this book a try. Once I started reading I didn't want to stop.

These characters weren't exactly what I was expecting-and I mean that in the best possible way. They both have their flaws and issues to work through. Is there attraction between them? Absolutely. But there's so much more going on in this book than just the physical attraction between these two.

I genuinely liked Shealyn. I understood her...even if there were moments she drove me crazy. As I mentioned, she isn't perfect but she knows herself. She has reasons for her behavior, and they completely and absolutely work for her. I loved her growth in the book.

Cutter? Well, he was a pretty darn good book boyfriend...even if I occasionally wanted to shake him. He kept me on my toes for sure. But I did love him. His sense of loyalty, strength and sexiness? Yep, he can be my bodyguard anytime.

This book kept me interested the whole way through. I was sucked in from the very start, wondering what exactly was going to happen. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. I thought the writing was smart and strong and the pacing of the book worked well. I won't spoil things by any means, but there were some twists I didn't see coming. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. I recommend this title.




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“That and taking a bullet for you is my job. I do it well. You must believe that, too, or you would have hired someone else.” “You are one stubborn man. My grandfather’s mules could take lessons from you. I’ll be out in ten minutes.” She whirled around and headed for her bathroom in the back, then shut the door. Cutter couldn’t stop the smile from creeping across his face. Had Shealyn just compared him to an ass? He’d decided she had when she emerged in a gauzy white dress trimmed in lace that accentuated the hint of gold in her sun-kissed skin. The thin straps clung to the tips of her shoulders, as if threatening to slip down at any moment, and played peekaboo with her blond tresses. The garment stretched tight across her breasts, the three little buttons keeping the bodice shut threatening to pop if she made a too- sudden move. The flimsy thing also ended well above her knees and, with her white cowboy boots, framed her sleek thighs. Cutter felt his thoughts evaporate and his tongue go dry. The rest of him turned stone hard. He shouldn’t think twice about Shealyn as a woman, but so far, that seemed to be asking the impossible. “You’re wearing that?” She cocked her head at him. “What’s wrong with it? Or are you suggesting this dress is somehow dangerous?” Her challenge and sass turned him on even more. Hell, everything about her did. But he was way out of line. The dress portrayed precisely the image she’d cultivated. It was sweetly sexy. Wearing it, Shealyn looked like a gorgeous siren with western flair… and a hint of innocence. The problem—and obviously all the lust—was his alone. “I’m making you aware that you may attract unwanted male attention in public. But I’ll handle it,” Cutter promised, meeting her gaze and doing his best to shutter the desire burning through his blood. She stared back, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. “You think I’ll attract male attention, huh?” Was she fishing for compliments? Her green eyes danced with something he couldn’t put his finger on. Mischief? Flirtation? No. Why would she come on to him when she was already in a high-profile relationship? Shealyn didn’t strike him as one of those women who got off on yanking a man’s chain. Then again, he didn’t know her well. Whatever she was up to, he couldn’t rise to her bait. “Ms. West?” He kept his voice as inflectionless and polite as possible. “Mr. Bryant.” Another hint of playful dare rang in her tone. “I told you, it’s Cutter.” “All right. Cutter.” She damn near sighed his name. “You going to answer my question?” What the hell did she want him to say? Some reckless part of him he’d sworn he didn’t possess itched to simply show her, cross the half- dozen steps between them, take that wisp of a garment in his grip, and tear it off. Once he’d exposed every inch of her body, he would love to put his hands on her, his mouth on her, so she understood what a dress like that did to him. Hell, what she did to him. A sudden pounding on the door broke the moment between them. “You ready yet?” Tower shouted from outside. Despite the man’s insistence, she didn’t move to admit him or even answer. She just stared Cutter’s way. “I’m waiting.” Cutter searched for a discreet reply. “The dress reveals more skin than it hides. It might give a man the wrong idea.” “What idea is that?” The kinds of ideas racing through his head with juggernaut speed and jetting blood south to his cock. “That he can touch you. That he can have you.” “Is that what this dress makes you think?” The flash of her eyes and the husky voice she used to ask the question torqued him up. She was definitely fishing for his reaction. Was she hoping he bit because she needed the ego stroke… or was she baiting her hook and tossing it his way because she was actually hoping to reel him in? “What I think about the dress doesn’t matter.” “Then why does it bother you? You saw me in less on set.” Oh, he’d seen her damn near naked. Hour after hour of exposed skin had taunted him with all the beauty a country boy like him would never have the right to possess. But this dress appealed to his deepest fantasies. She looked wholesome yet sensual, a woman aware of her appeal. A female who knew exactly what she wanted in her man…

About Shayla:

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than sixty novels. For nearly twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages. Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years. Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

July 8, 2018

THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD BY JENNIFER PROBST - ARC REVIEW

An enriching story of family ties, broken hearts, and second chances from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

When Ethan Bishop returns to the Hudson Valley, his body and spirit are a little worse for wear. As a former Special Forces paratrooper, he saw his fair share of conflict, and he came home with wounds, inside and out. At his sisters’ B & B and farm, he can keep all his pain at a safe distance. But quiet time isn’t easy when a fiery woman explodes into his life…

It’s business—not pleasure—that brings Manhattan PR agent Mia Thrush reluctantly to the farm. Tightly wound and quick tempered, Mia clashes immediately with the brooding Ethan. Everything about him is irritating—from his lean muscles and piercing blue eyes to his scent of sweat and musk.

But as the summer unfolds and temperatures rise, Ethan and Mia discover how much they have in common: their guarded histories, an uncontrollable desire, and a passion for the future that could heal two broken hearts. But will their pasts threaten their fragile chance at a brand-new future?


I enjoyed this title. Ethan and Mia are, well, not exactly destined to be together...from their first meeting it is obvious how different they are, and that there is just not going to be anything that draws them together.

Until there is, until they realize that their is a life that they can build together, and that this life is one that both are willing to bend, to give, in order to pursue it. And, this was what really drew me to this one. It was about 2 people who fall in love, who shouldn't really when you look at it from the outside, and it was about how life works in ways that make you not only surprised by where you end up, but makes you reassess where you started in the first place.

Sometimes, life is what happens when you are dealing with other things. In this case, a small town babysitting job that Mia doesn't want to take on, for one of her biggest clients, and his daughter, who managed to get herself into a little legal trouble. Does Mia want to be in a small town? Nope. Not even a little, something that she makes more than clear to Ethan...and, well, he'd be just fine if she was no longer in his town.

It's a match not even a little made in heaven...until it becomes exactly what they both want. And, this book is about that journey. It's obvious that one of them is going to have to sacrifice something for them to stay together, and by the time it gets to that point in the book, you are invested in the characters and you believe in their attraction, and it makes the book work well.

I enjoyed this title, and I recommend it.


July 6, 2018

CRAVE BY ADRIANA LOCKE-COVER REVEAL



Who is ready to meet Machlan Gibson?

This STANDALONE novel in the Gibson Boys Series from USA Today Bestseller Adriana Locke will be coming to your Kindle soon. We don't have a firm release date yet, but we're hearing it should be the first of August. (Is it the first of August yet?) What does Adriana have in store for us in Crave? Check this out: 

Synopsis: 

Hadley Jacobs is over Machlan Gibson. Sure, she’ll always be a little weak to the dimple in his right cheek and the way his five o’clock shadow makes him ruggedly handsome. But that’s not enough to cover every other thing about him because they all drive her nuts. Like how he’s won’t admit he’s wrong even when he knows it and how he drives his stupid car a million miles an hour on wet asphalt. As she rolls back into town and takes a seat at Crave, she won’t take the bait. She’s over him. Mostly. Machlan isn’t over her. It’s not because he hasn’t tried. He reminds himself over and over that she’s not the girl for him. After all, she drives him insane with her sassy attitude and the way she calls him out on everything. She beats him at poker, even though she doesn’t know the difference between a straight and a flush, and when she looks at him with her bright, blue eyes, it’s unnerving. When she climbs onto that bar stool and orders a drink, he puts it in front of her and ignores the sparkle in her eyes. He’s not over her, but she won’t know that. But she does know that. And he knows she’s not as over him as she’s pretending to be. When life forces their hand this time, there’s more on the line than a pile of poker chips. It’s their forever. 

 

While we wait for this release, we can "get to know" Machlan through his Spotify playlist here. AND you know you need to add it to your To Be Read List. 


There's a great giveaway associated with this cover reveal too! A signed paperback plus two $10 gift cards. Book money, anyone? LOL! $10 Gift Card to Winner's Choice of Store

 

 As a side note, if you haven't met the other Gibson Boys, you really (really!) must. They're small town. Blue collar. And totally, absolutely delicious. Check out Adriana's Amazon Page and look up Crank, Craft, and / or Cross. All can be read as standalone novels and all are available in Kindle Unlimited. 



www.adrianalocke.com

July 5, 2018

FREED BY CARLY PHILLIPS-EXCERPT REVEAL


An all-new emotional and romantic standalone from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carly Phillips is coming July 10th! 


Fall for the missing Ward sister…

Juliette Collins is privileged and isolated from the world by her over-protective father. She thinks she knows the truth about her history until a file in her father’s safe reveals she has sisters she never knew about. A family she’s never met. Betrayed, she realizes there’s a life waiting for her outside the walls of her daddy’s New York City penthouse and Juliet is determined to live it. Against her father’s wishes, she heads to a small beach community to meet her siblings… and finds herself way out of her depth instead.

In the personal protection business, Braden Clark thinks nothing of taking on a job to watch over a city girl in town for the summer. If her father wants to know his daughter is safe, it’s no problem and an easy way of earning a paycheck. Except Braden doesn’t count on falling for the sheltered Juliette. Watching her experience her firsts, getting an apartment, finding a job, meeting up with her lost sisters, soon Braden’s brand of protection becomes a little too personal. He’s mixing business with pleasure and lying to a woman he’s coming to care deeply about.

Sexual attraction burns bright between them and Braden is by her side as she finds herself, her family, and what it means to love... but what happens when she discovers his secret? That he’s been paid to watch over her all along?

A Standalone Novel

 

“What are you doing?” The first hint of true panic since he’d been found out sliced into her father’s voice. “I’m leaving.” He rushed over, placing a hand on her suitcase. “Juliette, no. We can work this out. I want to make this right.” “You can’t.” The damage was done by withholding information about her family. “Be reasonable before you storm out. You’ve never been away from home alone. Never held a job. What are your plans?” “And whose fault is that? You’ve kept me dependent on you, but now it’s time for me to be an adult. To meet my sisters and live my own life.” She closed her suitcase and zipped it around before turning to face him. “I can promise you, I will be perfectly fine.” “I only ever had your best interest at heart. You have to know that.” He stepped back, a defeated expression on his face. “Would you consider taking a bodyguard?” he asked. “Someone to watch you from afar?” She snorted at that. “No. I’m an adult and it’s time you started treating me like one. I’m taking the summer for myself. I’ll decide what happens at the end of August. Until then, please respect my privacy.” He hesitated, then perhaps seeing the determination in her expression, hearing the certainty about her decision in her voice, he lifted a hand and stepped back. “Fine. I’ll expect to hear from you. Often.” She shook her head. “Sorry, Dad. You’re not telling me what to do anymore.” She hesitated, knowing he had a bad heart and not wanting to upset him more despite how hurt and angry she was. “I know you love me,” she said, voice softening. “And I love you, but it’s way past time for me to be on my own.” “So be it.” She narrowed her gaze, surprised at his capitulation. She’d expected him to turn his chilly anger on her, but he was letting her go without too much of an argument. Relief and excitement filled her soul. She was going to meet her family, experience everything she’d missed out on, and finally, live her own life. For herself and nobody else. 


Preorder you copy today!

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/FreedRWB
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Meet Carly Phillips:

Carly Phillips is the N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of over 50 sexy contemporary romance novels, including the Indie published, Dare to Love Series. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, the mother of two nearly adult daughters and three crazy dogs. Carly loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers.

  

Connect with Carly:

Sign up for Carly’s Newsletter: http://www.carlyphillips.com/newsletter-sign-up/ 
Sign up for Blog and Website updatest: http://www.carlyphillips.com/blog 
Sign up for Text Updates of New Releases: http://tinyurl.com/p3upm5s 
Friend Carly on Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlyphillipsfanpage 
Hang out at Carly’s Corner! (Hot guys & giveaways!) http://smarturl.it/CarlysCornerFB 

July 4, 2018

MOONLIGHT SEDUCTION BY JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT - ARC REVIEW

The de Vincent brothers are back—and so is the intrigue that surrounds them—in New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s sizzling new novel...

Nicolette Bresson never thought she’d return to the de Vincents’ bayou compound. It’s where her parents work, where Nikki grew up... and where she got her heart broken by Gabriel de Vincent himself. Yet here she is, filling in for her sick mother. Avoiding Gabe should be easy, especially when so much of Nikki’s time is spent trying not to be stabbed in the back by the malicious hangers-on who frequent the mansion. But escaping memories of Gabe, much less his smoking-hot presence, is harder than expected—especially since he seems determined to be in Nikki’s space as much as possible.

Gabriel spent years beating himself up over his last encounter with Nikki. He’d wanted her then, but for reasons that were bad for both of them. Things have now changed. Gabe sees more than a girl he’s known forever; he sees a smart, talented, and heartbreakingly beautiful woman... one who’s being stalked from the shadows. Now, Gabe will do anything to keep Nikki safe—and to stop the de Vincent curse from striking again.


Nicolette and Gabe were lovers years ago and as her parents worked for his family, it was a forbidden encounter and as Gabe is a lot older than Nikki, it's an encounter they have kept between them, telling no one and not giving their attraction a chance to become anything else..  But, it was one neither of them can manage to forget, even years later.

So, when Nikki comes back to the estate to assist with her parent's job by filling in for her mother while she is recovering, sparks fly...and both of them try to ignore them.  Until they realize that there is more between them than a liaison years ago, and that both of them are interested in seeing where the attraction will lead.

There is something about the de Vincent family...you know there is something off, something a little sinister...although you never really find out what...and it adds to the ambiance of the story.  It gives this forbidden romance a tension.  It makes you wonder what there is about the family that you don't know, and what secrets they are keeping.

All of this, the forbidden, the family mystery, the interactions with the characters all come together for an incredibly interesting story.

I recommend this title and I enjoyed it.




Buy This Book!

THE ONE YOU CAN'T FORGET BY RONI LOREN - ARC REVIEW

Most days Rebecca Lindt feels like an imposter...

The world admires her as a survivor. But that impression would crumble if people knew her secret. She didn't deserve to be the one who got away. But nothing can change the past, so she's thrown herself into her work. She can't dwell if she never slows down.

Wes Garrett is trying to get back on his feet after losing his dream restaurant, his money, and half his damn mind in a vicious divorce. But when he intervenes in a mugging and saves Rebecca―the attorney who helped his ex ruin him―his simple life gets complicated.

Their attraction is inconvenient and neither wants more than a fling. But when Rebecca's secret is put at risk, both discover they could lose everything, including what they never realized they needed: each other

She laughed and kissed him. This morning she'd melted down. But somehow this man had her laughing and turned on only a few hours later. Everything inside her felt buoyed.

She felt...light.

She'd forgotten what that felt like.


This is the second book in a series that follows a group of people who went to school together, and who survived a school shooting. It deals with how they deal with it, whether they focus on it, or deny that it impacts their lives...and the ways in which their past shapes their lives.

Rebecca is the survivor, and she has put her life together and became a successful attorney. But in her drive, and her focus, to make sure her life means something, she also loses sight of nuance, and is unwilling to bend and see the other side of most situations.

Wes saves Rebecca from a mugging, and he doesn't recognize her as the attorney who represented his ex wife in their divorce. He's dealing with the damage, and is angry at the fact that the settlement wasn't exactly fair...but that the attorney in the case managed to suppress evidence of the truth.

Rebecca and Wes were compelling. Their connection was interesting, and watching them try to see how they worked, how they could get over their past, both hers and the one that they share, was interesting.

I enjoyed this title, and I enjoyed that, while it was focused on one of the survivors, it was removed from the high school world.

I recommend this title.



Buy This Book!

June 28, 2018

DIRTY, RECKLESS LOVE BY LEXI RYAN-COVER REVEAL



Synopsis:

I’m in love with a man who tried to kill me. At least that’s what they tell me . . .Six weeks ago, paramedics found me unconscious in my apartment. Beaten. Bruised. Hardly breathing. When I woke up, I couldn’t remember the last three years or anything about my life in Jackson Harbor. They tell me my fiancé, Colton McKinley, is on the run for what he did to me. They tell me I’m safer if I stay away.

I don’t care if my memories ever come back. I want nothing to do with those missing years . . . until a sexy stranger with angry eyes shows up on my doorstep and demands I stop ignoring him.

Levi Jackson is my fiancé’s best friend, but seeing him sparks something inside me. As the truth unravels in my mind, I know they’re wrong about Colton. My own secrets are far more dangerous than the man I was engaged to.

I return to Jackson Harbor to search for answers and find myself running from a faceless boogeyman and seeking refuge in Levi’s arms. And in his bed.

I can’t deny my feelings for Levi. But as the pile of lies between us grows, I realize that sometimes the truth can’t set us free. It may be the very thing that could destroy us.

Pre-Order Today!

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Meet Lexi:


Lexi Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of emotional romance that sizzles. A former academic and English professor, Lexi considers herself the luckiest girl around to make a living through storytelling. She loves spending time with her crazy kids, weightlifting, ice cream, swoony heroes, and vodka martinis.

Lexi lives in Indiana with her husband, two children, and a spoiled dog. You can find her at her website: www.lexiryan.com

Connect with Lexi:

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