Friday, May 31, 2013

Release Day: The Edge of Darkness by Melissa Andrea

The Edge of Darkness
After a tragic accident, Araya Noelle is left with a constant reminder that nothing is forever.
She is forced to give up her chance to be the youngest dancer accepted into Julliard & taking over their high society school by a graceful storm of determination is no longer an option. Instead of dwelling over her loss, she accepts the new future she’s been dealt. In a world as black as hers, there's no room for bitterness, no time for regret. Sheltered from the outside world, Araya has become suffocated by a life she has no control over. Until Ryland Dare comes crashing into her life.
You don’t know true darkness until you've felt light…
Like a firecracker, showering her with colorful sparks of freedom, Ryland quickly sweeps Araya away from her grey existence. For the first time since the accident, living in darkness is no longer something Araya wants to do willingly. Unleashed by the shadows of her reminder, being with Ryland, Araya touches light. Together they will learn what it’s like to feel alive for the first time.
At the edge of darkness, a ray of light, will dare them both to HOPE.
DARE them to LOVE
DARE them to LIVE
Find it on Goodreads and Amazon.

Cover Reveal: All Wrapped Up (The List #2) by Braxton Cole

All Wrapped Up is Book Two in The List Series.
Release Date: July 1, 2013

Mari and Luca continue to work through their list of sexual fantasies in All Wrapped Up, Book Two in The List Series. They've abandoned their original plan of no strings attached and, for the most part, Mari's learning to be okay with it. She definitely likes Luca's strings (and whatever else he might use to restrain her), but she's not sure she's ready to take the next step in their relationship. Luca, sweet, strong, commanding Luca, insists that it's time to move in together. Mari insists it's time to relax and enjoy what they share without complicating things.

With every moment they spend together, Luca shows Mari how good they could be together. Will Mari run away from her emotions, or does Luca have her all wrapped up?

All Wrapped Up is a novella length erotic romance and contains mature adult themes, including graphic and explicit sex.


Find it on Goodreads.

About the Author:
Braxton Cole lives in the Pacific Northwest where she spends most of her time holed up in her office writing stories. When she's not writing, she can be found riding her bike, hiking the fabulous local trails, chasing her kids, or wishing that her thumb was a little more green. She has a bad habit of killing what she tries to grow, but hasn't given up hopes of one day being a successful urban farmer.

Braxton writes erotic romance because romance is the stuff that makes life great, and sex is fun. The two belong together, both in life and in fiction.


Contact info:
Facebook
Facebook Author Page
Website
Goodreads


Birthday Wishes (The List #1) has a NEW COVER!

Mari meets Luca on an adult website. She’s still smarting from a divorce and only looking to explore her desires. They create wish lists of their sexual fantasies and agree to work through them together. No strings, no attachments, nothing but pleasure, and Mari anticipates their first meeting with impatience. But through a miscommunication involving a private text message and Mari’s nosy brother, Luca ends up at her 30th birthday party, before their planned rendezvous. Much to her surprise, they seem to connect better than she expected, and in ways she hadn’t expected. He’s strong, commanding, but also gentle and respectful and he makes her ache in ways she never thought possible.

But when Luca later expresses a desire for something more than just casual sex, Mari's impulse is to run the other way. After all, her failed marriage is evidence that she really shouldn’t go much deeper. Can Luca convince Mari otherwise? Can he help her see that he's her ultimate birthday wish come true?

Birthday Wishes is Book 1 in The List Series is intended for an adult audience only and contains mature themes, including graphic and explicit sex.


Find it on Amazon and Goodreads.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Fierce by Ginger Voight

Blurb:
In the first book in a spin-off series to her best-selling and highly rated 'GROUPIE' trilogy, author Ginger Voight introduces us to a new character named Jordi Hemphill.

All her life, Jordi Hemphill was told that she needed to change to fit in and be accepted. She talked too much, laughed too loud, and most definitely, indisputably and inexcusably weighed too much. In fact, she wore her size-20+ clothes without so much as an apology. She didn’t care to fit in. She didn’t want to be beautiful. Instead, she wanted to wear her hair in funky colors, she itched for tattoos and piercings, and dreamed of a life much bigger than working at the local Burger Palace for minimum wage. She had been born with the voice of a superstar, and something inside her told her it was OK to dream big, even if she had to do it in secret.

On her eighteenth birthday, she takes every last cent she has and buys a one-way ticket for Los Angeles. She is sure her talent will get her noticed by those more open-minded to see it. Then and only then will she show all the naysayers in her hometown that she was a somebody no matter what they say.

Unfortunately Los Angeles wasn't any more welcoming. Jordi didn't fit into their pop machine no matter how well she sang. Other pop princess had the "full package," whereas Jordi still needed to change if she wanted her dreams to come true. It took a plus-size TV producer to take a chance on her, casting her for a reality talent show called "Fierce," which put attitude and talent far above the traditional pop star image.

Thanks to Giovanni Carnevale, the lead singer of "Dreaming in Blue" and “Fierce’s” rock star judge, Jordi gets a chance to fight for her place on a national stage.

But will America embrace this alternative diva? Or will they too expect her to conform in order to be accepted... to be loved? Despite the acceptance of new friends and supporters, old ghosts continue to haunt Jordi on her new journey. It will take handsome fellow contestant, Jace Riga, to finally help expose and exorcise the demons that drive her self-destruction.

"Fierce" continues the story introduced in the Ginger Voight novel, "Mogul," where Jordi joins a hodge-podge of other contestants to battle for the championship that dares every single hopeful to live large, to be FIERCE.

Ginger Voight, the author of the best-selling "Groupie" series, brings fame once again to the forefront with her new adult series, beginning with the novel, "Fierce." The characters you grew to love in the "Groupie" trilogy and "Love Plus One" are back to help the incomparable Jordi Hemphill carve a place for her as a pop princess despite the odds in this coming-of-age Rubenesque romance.

Review:
I’m surprised that this book did not make me go on a rampage! Seriously, there are so many people I hate from this book, I don’t even know where to begin, lol.

I love Ginger’s books. This is not my first time reading a book by her, and I have loved them all so far. The heroines in her books are real and inspirational. We don’t get stuck with skinny bitches that are super hot and eat lettuce and run 50 miles a day, lol. We have curvy girls that have real issues and have to work to overcome many obstacles in life. Being a bigger girl myself, I can appreciate and enjoy ANYTHING that Ginger writes. She is AWESOME!

This book brings hope, want, need, inspiration and DRAMA! I hated many, many characters in the book, but I mostly hated Jordi’s Mom and her “boyfriend” Eddie. Really? They have never supported any of her dreams, always put her down, have used her, but now that she is in the spotlight they are trying to catch a ride. COME ON!! And Jordi…poor Jordi….she has so many self-esteem issues she lets them do it. She has never had anyone really like her for her, or love her for her, that is until she moves to LA. She always knew there was much more than Iowa, but never knew just how much more.

I rooted for Jordi through the entire book. Having read the Groupie Trilogy, I knew some of what to expect, but Fierce, just helped give more backbone and insight to something that started in the Groupie Trilogy, which I also love by the way. The characters we meet in Fierce will capture yor heart. You will find your own struggle out of one of the contestants I can almost guarantee you that. If you are looking for something to make you feel good and make you root for the under dog you definitely need to check this out. 4 stars.
 
Okay, so on a side note--just a little more information about the Fierce competition. It is not just for big girls and big guys, it for people of every shape, size, color, deformity...anything that keeps you out of the public spotlight simply because you don’t fit the Hollywood mold. Here are my castings for Jordi and her friend Jace. Of course Jordi doesn’t see herself as hot as I see her, but this is my Jordi.


Then there is Jordi's "friend", Jace. People look at his face and body and just think HOT, but he is a wounded veteran and missing a limb so the pop culture world doesn’t accept him. No one could better fit this physical description than Alex Minksy.






Teaser:
By seven o’clock that following Monday morning, I was back on the studio lot, racing from one building to another in order to make my appointment with Imogene. One did not show up late for an appointment with Imogene. I had already made that mistake once and she bypassed me completely for the next contestant who had “found it important enough to show up on time.” I was five minutes early this particular Monday. Instead of cracking that stony face with a smile, Imogene simply glanced at her watch and glanced over the tops of her glasses to look me over. With a muffled “harrumph,” she told me, “Get on with it. I haven’t got all day.”

My hands were shaking as I lifted the sheet music to the stand in front of me. I had finally decided on the song I wanted to sing, a Celine Dion tune that was sure to show off my range and give me something a little more current than an obscure tune from a musical.

She stood in front of me, arms folded in front of her, glaring over the tops of her glasses as I sang the first couple of bars. Her countenance was as severe as her cropped silver hair, and her pursed lips and narrowed eyes gave nothing away in how she thought I was doing. My voice lost a bit of steam as I made it to the chorus, and actually cracked when I went for my upper register. She held up her hand with an exasperated sigh.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled.

“Don’t apologize to me,” she said. “Apologize to the music.” She stalked over to the table which served as her desk. It was overrun with sheet music, which she flipped through to find what she was looking for. She finally found the one she was looking for, came over to me and thrust it into my hands. “Here. Sing this.”

I glanced down. It was another Celine song, but an upbeat number I had never performed before. “Why?” I asked. When I looked up at her, she had an arched eyebrow that indicated she did not like to be questioned about her choices.

She indulged me an answer anyway. “Because your other choice bored me. It’ll bore the audience.”

“But I don’t know this song,” I offered helplessly.

“Then learn it,” she said. She folded her arms, leaned back against the edge of the table, and waited.

I cleared my throat as I read through the music. When I opened my mouth, I had zero self-confidence I could pull it off. The more I struggled, the more awkward it got. Finally, with another exhale of exasperation, she stomped over to me. She took up the next verse with a powerful voice that demanded I look at her as she sang, but the minute my eyes came off the page she was pointing her finger back down to it. She wanted me to follow the notes as she demonstrated how it was supposed to be done.

Even without a backup band, her voice boomed through the empty auditorium that had been constructed on the soundstage. When she finished, I could think of nothing to say.

“This is an entertainment competition, not a high school pageant. You will not win by playing it safe. You need to take risks and step outside your comfort zone. You need to own what you can do on this stage. This song can do that for you. Or it can break you. Your choice.” She walked back over to the table and screamed out, “Next!” to dismiss me and invite the next victim into her little lair.

I passed Shelby as I made my way down the steps. She gave me a sympathetic smile as she squeezed my arm. Rather than watch her time at the gallows, I escaped and made my way to the food truck outside. Pepper and Lavender sat together at one of the tables nearby, and beckoned me to join them. They already knew from the look on my face where I had been and what had happened.

“Imogene strikes again,” Lavender smiled, her full lips painted a pale purple color indicative of her stage name. She wore fabulous wigs in varying shades of purple as well, and today she wore a grape-colored bob to match her 60s mod-style plastic dress.

I nodded as I sat. “Tell me I’m not the only one she hates.”

Pepper laughed. “She doesn’t hate you, baby. She’s a hardass, but it’s to make you better.”

“I suck right now,” I responded as I put the sheet music on the table. “She’s given me this song to sing.”

Lavender smiled wide as she picked up the sheet music. “This is a classic. I used to do this for my drag shows. It’s a lot of fun.”

Pepper nodded. “It’s a cover of an old tune. It’s a big sound. You can definitely pull that off, easy.”

I still wasn’t convinced, so after I ate the two of them dragged me to an empty sound stage to show me how it was done. Like Imogene, their voices were big enough to carry the song. Together they filled the empty space with a huge wall of sound. Once they hit the chorus, I finally joined in. They spent the next hour teaching me the song until I no longer needed the sheet music.

More than that, Lavender used her considerable performance skills to show me how to deliver the song. She tried to teach me some dance moves, but I felt like a clumsy idiot as I tried to imitate what she pulled off so flawlessly. She was patient as a saint, as was Pepper, as we fell into an impromptu group choreography I was glad no one else could see.
At least, I thought no one else could see it. When we finished, we were rewarded to hear applause from one lone spectator hidden in the darkened shadows of the empty sound stage.

It was Jace, who had a big smile plastered on his face as he approached. “Bravo! Encore! Encore!” I blushed at least five shades of red while my two companions bowed for our appreciative audience of one. “If that is a group number, it’s brilliant.”

“That’s all Jordi,” Pepper said. “Imogene picked it for her to perform on the premiere.”

“I haven’t decided yet,” I said as I gathered my stuff.

“She’s feeling a little insecure,” Lavender told him quietly with a wink and a nudge of her elbow. She glanced over at Pepper, nodding toward the door so they could leave us alone.

Apparently Jace had some convincing to do.

“So what’s the problem with the song?” he wanted to know.

I shook my head. “I don’t think I can pull that off. I was definitely a weak link in that trio. They not only know the song, they know how to sing it. I feel like a big fat idiot.”

“Hey,” he said firmly as he looked me in the eye. “Don’t talk about yourself like that.” The tone in his voice left no room for argument, so I said nothing. “Sing it for me,” he instructed softly.

I cleared my throat and glanced down at the sheet music, having completely forgotten every single word of a song I had just sung over and over for the last hour and a half. I started to sing, following the notes on the page, and Jace indulged me for about a verse before he finally took the paper from my hands.

“Sing it to me,” he corrected. He took a couple of steps back and gave me a stage. I looked into those deep, green eyes and took a deep breath before I launched into a song that talked about loving someone deeper than a river and higher than a mountain. I sang this to a virtual stranger, memorizing every line in his handsome face as I went through verse after voice of everlasting devotion. By the time I got to the chorus, my huge voice made it all the way to the rafters and back. I got stuck a little on the second verse, so he joined in.

Butterflies tap-danced in my tummy as he sold the song very convincingly through his body language and the look in his eyes. When we hit the chorus, he linked his hand in mine with a smile that I couldn’t help but mirror. He pulled me through a couple of dance moves as we brought it home, our voices echoing in the empty space. He spun me around and I twirled around him, allowing myself to fall completely in character of the song. We were laughing as we finished and he pulled me into a hug. “You are so not a weak link, Jordi,” he said into my hair.

He pulled back a little, but still held me in his embrace. His arms were linked around my waist, pressing me into his strong chest. Long moments passed between us as we did nothing more than look into each other’s eyes. I honestly didn’t know what to say. Nervously I bit my lip, which drew his gaze in that direction. I felt every single nerve ending go up in flames. What it took Eddie physical intimacy to achieve, Jace had managed with just an absently placed glance.

I cleared my throat as I pulled away. “I guess I should head over to see Jorge,” I said.

He nodded as he stepped back. “Yeah, I have an appointment with Imogene.”

I had to smile. “Good luck.”

He laughed. His eyes were thoughtful as he studied me for a moment, then he turned to leave. Before he got to the door, he turned back. “Wanna grab some lunch later?”

A flood of warmth washed over me as I looked into his hopeful eyes. I didn’t know what I saw there, or what I wanted to see there, but the way it made me feel was head and shoulders above the high I got from anything else, even food. Just being in his company made me feel better about me. I felt accepted… wanted… for the first time ever.

Lunch was the least of my concerns as I nodded with a smile.


About the Author:
Ginger Voight is prolific author, freelance writer and optioned screenwriter. Her fiction is diverse, with novels like the edgy, coming-of-age drama DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, and the fun family adventure for kids of all ages, COMIC SQUAD.
Having grown up reading different authors like Danielle Steel and Stephen King, Ginger has always been drawn more to story than to genre. This shows up in her various stories. Titles such as MY IMMORTAL and TASTE OF BLOOD are a delicious, heady mix of horror, suspense, and romance.
Genre romance, however, has held a special place in her heart, ever since she read her first Harlequin novel when she was only eleven. As a result, Ginger is making a name for herself writing romances of her own, starring women who look more like the average American woman rather than those traditionally represented in the size-biased American media. Her Rubenesque romances were created especially for those heroines with fuller figures, who can still get the man of their dreams if only they believe they can. Such titles include UNDER TEXAS SKIES, LOVE PLUS ONE, GROUPIE and PICTURE POSTCARDS.
Ginger was included in the best-selling book by Smith Magazine NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING, featuring her six-word memoir.

Website | Blog| Facebook | Fierce Facebook Page | Amazon | Twitter

The Breathless Trilogy Reading Order by Maya Banks

I haven't had a chance to read this series yet, but I have heard a lot of buzz about it. Many readers are saying it has the "Fifty" feel to it, while others say it is better. I have added it to my TBR and can't wait to read it!

Book 1:
Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking…

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.

The Remembrance Trilogy Reading Order by Kahlen Aymes

Book 1:

Julia Abbot and Ryan Matthews have been inseparable best friends since the moment they met. Each of them fight an internal battle, unwilling to risk their incredible friendship, but unable to quell their deep longing for the other. On the verge of Ryan’s departure to Harvard Medical School and Julia’s for her new job on the opposite coast, they are forced to face the undeniable truth of their deeper feelings and find themselves enthralled in a passion like neither has ever known.

The lovers are faced with forced separation, great distances and others who try to sabotage their relationship as both of them work to build the shared future they both dream of. When their lives begin to finally gel, Julia is offered a promotion that will jettison her career to new heights. Ryan is left angry and bereft as it will only postpone their reunion yet again. In light of the sacrifices she has made for him, he can hardly deny her, and Julia is faced with the most difficult decision of her life. Will she choose the chance of a lifetime or the love of her life?

The Premonition Series Reading Order by Amy Bartol

I started this series earlier this year, I just haven't finished it yet. There have been loads of recommendations on it so I tried it out. It was horrible, but I just don’t think it's what I was looking for at the time I was reading it. Either way, I know I will eventually finish, I just have to get ready for it.

Find my review here.

Book 1:
My name is Evie Claremont and this was to be the making of me–my freshman year of college. I had been hoping that once I had arrived on Crestwood’s campus, the nightmare that I’ve been having would go away. It hasn’t.

I may be an inexperienced seventeen-year-old, but I’m grounded…sane. I look for rational explanations to even the strangest circumstances. Since meeting sophomore Reed Wellington, however, nothing makes any sense. Whenever he’s near, I feel an attraction to him–a magnetic kind of force pulling me towards him. I know what you’re thinking…that sounds fairly awesome. Yeah, it would be…if he liked me, but Reed acts as if I’m the worst thing that has ever happened to Crestwood…or him. But get this, for some reason every time I turn around he’s there, barging into my life.

What is the secret that he’s keeping from me? I’m hoping that it’s anything but what I suspect: that he’s not exactly normal…and neither am I. So, maybe Crestwood won’t be the making of me, but it could be the breaking of me. I’ve been left to wonder if the dark future my dream is foretelling is…inescapable

The Dark Light Series Reading Order by S.L. Jennings

I have read books 1 and 2. I love this series. I cannot wait for book 3 to be released!

Book 1:
LOVE. SEX. MAGIC.

Before her 20th birthday, Gabriella was pretty much clueless about all three. In love with her best guy friend since the age of 14 and too crass and intimidating for most of the male population of Colorado Springs, both love and good sex were virtually a myth.

And then there’s magic. Freakin’ magic. There’s no way that legend could have a place in her less than exciting life. So why after twenty years of utter obscurity do her adopted parents hit her with the ton of bricks that is her true identity? And how the heck is she supposed to accept all this and instantly become what she was destined to be?

Lucky for Gabs, sexy as sin Dorian is more than equipped to help her embrace these new revelations. And while everything about him feels oh so good, she soon learns that there’s more behind his crystal blue eyes, chiseled body and exotic beauty. Something dark, menacing and downright unnatural. Yet Gabs is in way too deep to even try to turn away from him now.

Dark Light, Book 1 of the Dark Light Series, is the raw, emotional story of a young woman’s journey of self-discovery in a world that was not meant for her. And her scorching hot, lip-biting addiction for the man she can’t deny, no matter the cost.

Biker Rockstar Series Reading Order by Bec Botefuhr

We LOVE bikers and we LOVE rockstars, so you KNOW we will love this series!!

Book 1:
This book is Erotica. It is crazy, beautiful, drama filled and in parts morally incorrect. IT DOES HAVE A CLIFFHANGER ENDING, but I am happy to announce the second book will end happily. It does contain bikers and rockstars, so therefore a different lifestyle, they don’t do things normal people do…you have been warned.

Violet has been raised in a world with bikers, rough men and separated parents. The only savior in her world, was her love for Travis, her best friend. They grew up together, creating a hopeless friendship against all odds. Then he left, with no goodbye, no explanation.

Travis went on and became a successful rockstar, Violet moved on and thought she was finally over it. Then Travis returns and tugs on her heart strings all over again. She finds it hard to say no, she is different now…she isn’t the girl he once adored; dark things have happened to her. What if she isn’t what he believes he wants so badly?

Come on Travis and Violet’s journey of love, heartache and all the things in between.

Groupie Trilogy Reading Order by Ginger Voight

I LOVED THIS SERIES!! So full of drama with a bad boy rock star included. This was right up my alley!

Book 1:
Into any girl’s life a star could fall, but there’s a thin line between love and obsession.

Andy Foster never expected lightning to strike when she met the enigmatic frontman of an up-and-coming rock band, but Giovanni Carnevale left her thunderstruck. At first it is easy to use her freelance writing career as an excuse to indulge the steamy flirtation from city to city. As she gets ever closer to making her lascivious fantasies a reality, however, she finds herself entangled in the fake and sometimes dangerous world of celebrity where nothing is as it seems, including the celebrities themselves.

She hangs on to find something real amidst the illusion, while Giovanni balances what he wants against what he fears most. Over three years they come together and blow apart with the same kind of combustible passion. This keeps them orbiting in the others’ stratosphere despite new relationships and bitter betrayals. They are bound together by something they can’t fight, something that draws the ire of another fan determined to claim Vanni all to herself.

Unknowingly they all race toward a dramatic moment of truth that will leave two people injured, and one dead, with a twist of an ending you may never see coming.

Devoured Series Reading Order by Emily Snow

We LOVE Emily Snow!! We have read all of her books and will continue to read anything she writes, she is just that awesome!

About the series:
Lucas Wolfe is used to getting what he wants—from everyone but one person, that is—so when he meets the wardrobe assistant hired to work his band’s newest video, he’s got to have her. From the moment Sienna first obediently whispers “Yes, Mr. Wolfe”, he knows she’s perfect for him.

Three days.

And he’ll have her stripped down and bound to his bed.

Gabriel Series Reading Order by Sylvain Reynard

This series is not for everyone. I personally loved it, but a few of my friends felt it was slow and boring. If you like books that have a poetic feel with a student/teacher romance, you will love it. If not, you may want to hold off on the series.

Book 1:
Enigmatic and attractive, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a man tortured by his past. Though he takes great pride in his prestigious role as a Dante specialist, he knows he is a magnet for sin, especially lust.

When the virtuous Julia Mitchell joins his graduate seminar at the University of Toronto, she alters their lives irrevocably. Through their connection, Gabriel begins a journey that forces him to unravel the mysteries of their past entanglement, as well as face his many demons.

A sinful exploration of sex, love, and redemption, “Gabriel’s Inferno” is a beguiling intelligent romance filled with intrigue, seduction and forgiveness. Told through witty, dark humor, the narrator relates a captivating tale of Gabriel’s odyssey through the Inferno.

The Blackstone Affair Series Reading Order by Raine Miller

Books 1 and 2 of this series blew me away! I was absorbed into the story.... book 3 not so much. Either way, it was still a pretty good series. Some say it has a Bared To You feeling, I didn't really get that from this. If you are looking for something to help get you over Gideon Cross, this may still help ease that pain.

Book 1:
Brynne Bennett has left scandal in her past and is living the good life. An American grad student at the University of London and part-time photographic model, she’s getting back on track with lots of hard work and focus on a career in art conservation. When successful and charismatic London businessman Ethan Blackstone buys her nude portrait, he wants to possess more than just her image. He wants Brynne in his bed, serving him in every way possible. He has no trouble voicing his desires, and he isn’t taking “no” for an answer.   At first, his dominant nature captivates her, but it isn’t clear if the force of his powerful desire will ultimately awaken or dispel the demons Brynne is carrying inside. There are secrets on both sides of this relationship—huge ones. Can Ethan erase the scars of Brynne’s past so that she can reveal her true self to him? Or will the shadows cast by Ethan’s own mysterious former life destroy their chance at happiness?   Naked is the sizzling, unforgettable story of what happens when a strong woman meets the one man powerful enough to strip away all her defenses, leaving her standing naked and perfect before him.

As I previously stated, I was not very please with book 3, hopefully that will change soon. There have been rumors for a 4th book and it looks like Raine Miller has confirmed it! Here is her blog post:

If you’ve been on Goodreads then you know that a 4th Blackstone book is in the works.  It will be more of a standalone story, taking Ethan and Brynne beyond the happily ever after at the end of most books.  There is so much more still to come for these two that I discovered while writing book 3, and I am eager to share it with readers.  Stories often take on lives of their own and just have to be told the way they wish to be told.  *shrugs*  It’s out of my control really.   No explanation or justification needed, merely a fact.  If you write, then you understand what I mean.

Rock Me (The Ross Siblings) Series Reading Order by Cherrie Lynn

This is SUCH and awesome series! If you love bad boys with soft hearts I highly suggest you check this series out. You will be hooked!

Book 1:
It’s not enough that Kelsey’s husband left her for another woman. Oh, no. The “other woman” had to be her best friend Evan’s fiancée. Not only has she lost her marriage, she fears losing Evan to the lingering awkwardness and humiliation that hangs between them.

Evan has no intention of letting that happen. He’s got plans…namely, an extra plane ticket to Hawaii now his future wife is out of the picture. There’s only one person he wants on the trip with him, the one who’s always been there for him. The one he should never have let slip away into the arms of a traitorous friend who shattered her heart.

Bad Boys Series Reading Order by M. Leighton

I have yet to read this series yet. Ashley has read it and she LOVED it! Many other reads are hooked on it too. Based on the book summary, I am pretty sure I will be hooked too.

Book 1:
One girl. Twin brothers. An uncommon triangle.

When college student Olivia Townsend returned home to help her father run his business, she never imagined a complication like Cash and Nash Davenport—twin brothers different in so many ways but with one thing in common: an uncontrollable desire for Olivia.

Cash is dangerous, sexy, and bad to the bone—a man whose kisses make Olivia forget she is playing with fire. Nash is successful, reliable and intensely passionate—and already taken. But all it takes is one soft stroke to make Olivia forget he belongs to someone else.

However, Olivia is in for a surprise. These boys have a secret that should make her run away as far and as fast as she can. If only it wasn’t too late. A sensual game between three players has begun, and it’s about to spin deliriously out of control.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Tour Stop: Lost and Found by Nicolette Grey

Life comes with its share of losses. In these four novelettes of erotic romance by Nicolette Grey it takes on different forms. “Moving Violations” deals with the loss of freedom and a special dream. “Lost Canyon” begins with the death of a beloved family member in a harsh and foreign environment. In “Time and a Half…Plus Benefits”, the heroine must learn to cope with her low sense of self-esteem after a failed relationship, and “Windswept Beach” portrays a crumbling marriage with the hurts and frustrations that accompany it.

Although each story in this book is unique, they all share the same initial undercurrent of loss as well as the “founding” aspect that brings their heroines through their trials, intact and stronger - love.

LOST & FOUND …the losses we endure with the happy endings we strive for, from Nicolette Grey and Hot Ink Press - because love should never be boring!


Find it on Amazon and Goodreads.

“Moving Violations” (Book 1 in LOST AND FOUND) Excerpt:
Bobby Lee stared out the window. He wouldn’t meet her eyes as their driver opened the door and pulled him to his feet. “All right now, folks, here’s what we’re going to do. Bobby Lee, I’m going to un-cuff you. Go to the front desk of the Sandpiper Motel across the street and ring the bell. When the girl comes, get us a room. And, Bobby Lee? Remember what I told you – as long as y’all do what I say, you’ll both be fine.”

     “Let me see your badge,” Georgia Rae insisted as cold fingers of panic gripped her gut. “You’re way out of line, here.”

     The cop removed his hat and ran a large hand through his hair. Unbuttoning the shirt of his uniform, he removed it and draped it across the seat. Beneath the blue and gray, he was wearing a plain white t-shirt. “Do I need to remind you about Spindrift Drive?” he said in his slow southern drawl.

     Georgia Rae swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


     He chuckled and ran a finger across her cheek. “You and your boyfriend are thieves. I caught you red-handed, so I suggest you shut the hell up.”

    “Or what?”

     “Jail. Breaking and Entering’s a Class H felony. Let’s see - that’s four to twenty-five years, I believe. Now, are you going to behave, or do I have to run you in?”

     Georgia Rae slumped in the seat staring at her bound hands. Her dreams of California evaporated before her eyes.

“Lost Canyon” (Book 2. in LOST AND FOUND) Excerpt:

     Cecilia stepped from the wagon as they entered the dust-strewn town of Lost Canyon and turned to her father with a weary shake of her head.

     “Are we there, yet?”

     “Not quite, darlin’.” Wayne Tibbits’ voice was terse as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He softened the disappointing news with a brief upturn of his chapped lips and pointed ahead to the distant mountains. “All we’ve got left is the Bighorn Mountains – once we’re over them, we’re home.”

     She sighed and lifted her petticoats as she stepped over the muddy ruts left from another wagon of travelers headed west. “How many more days?”

     Her father looked to the sky and frowned. “Ten’s my guess, if the weather holds. Don’t reckon it will, though. Not from the looks of those clouds overhead.” He patted the seat beside him. “Climb back up and wait here. I’ll ask at the saloon about a place where we can camp tonight - someplace with water and good grass for the horses.”

     Cecilia returned to the wagon and hauled herself up. “This is Indian territory. Don’t you think we’d be better off staying within the town limits?”

“Time And A Half…Plus Benefits” (Book 3. In LOST AND FOUND) Excerpt:

    “William!”

     The screech came from an upper window out of which Trulee Hightower leaned, frowning fiercely. “I’m not paying you to stand around talking! Start unloading! I want everything marked with an orange sticker to come in first.”

     “Gotcha, boss,” Will shouted. Turning to Missy he whispered, “I told you so.”

      From the back of the truck, Matt indicated a large walnut dresser. “Let’s get that one out of the way, Willy Boy. With any luck this’ll go smoothly and we’ll be done early.”

     “You’re not driving back to New York tonight, are you?” Missy asked.

     “Nope,” Will said, rolling his eyes. “Matt’s an eternal optimist. The way Trulee operates, it’ll take at least two days to unload this shit and get it set up. The Twoomeys sprung for hotel rooms for the whole crew for the night. Us included. The soonest we’ll be leaving is tomorrow afternoon.”

    “Why?” Matt said, turning to her with a sly grin. “Got something in mind?”

     Missy felt heat flood her cheeks and shook her head. Ignoring the flutter in her belly, she headed for her car.

“Windswept Beach” (Book 4. in LOST AND FOUND) Excerpt:

     “Well, finally! It’s about time you two showed up!”

      Anna’s eyes traveled up the path to the front porch and settled on the voice’s owner, a tall man with dark hair, muscular build, and wide grin. He waved when he caught her eye and took a sip from the plastic glass he held in his hand.

     “Hi Bruce,” she called, forcing a smile. “Good to see you.”

     In ten steps he was across the yard and standing in the driveway. Anna found herself engulfed in a bear hug as the big man turned to clap Carter’s hand. “Hey, stranger! Meredith and I figured you missed your plane. We were just about to take your room.”

     “Our flight was late leaving Atlanta so we missed our connection in Nassau,” Anna said, disentangling herself from his embrace. “Luckily, they had room for us on the next plane out.”

      Carter dropped his suitcase at his feet and turned to greet his old college roommate properly, with a mock tackle courtesy of their old college football days. “Later’s better than never,” he said, landing on his back. He dusted himself off as Bruce helped him to his feet. “Good to see you, man.”

Upcoming Release:

THE GODDESS OF BLACKWATER POND
Coming in June 2013
 









     The God retraced his steps. Entering the alley, he stopped at the Yukon to retrieve the cup of coffee before approaching the pharmacy’s rear entrance. The tingling in his fingers expanded, coursing down his arms in waves, making control difficult. He relaxed his features into practiced calm as he rapped against the door. There was no need to break into the building; he knew she was expecting him. A moment later, the knob twisted and the door swung silently inward. Without invitation, he stepped inside.

    “Hello, love,” he said, thrusting the cup of hot coffee toward her.

     She smiled up at him, a red halo of curls framing her pale face. Thin, with angular features and light blue eyes, she was a classic beauty, made all the more so, he thought, for her lack of the knowledge.

     “Thanks for coming to pick me up,” she said, taking the cup. “My car should be ready on Monday. Wait here a minute and I’ll shut off the camera so you can come in. I just need a couple more minutes to close the register.”

     The God bent to kiss her cheek. “No worries, love. Take your time.”

     He didn’t release her immediately, gratified when she lingered in his embrace. When she finally pulled away, she was blushing.

    “The camera,” she said, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

     “Of course,” he said, dropping his arms.

     She left him in the doorway and hurried across the room. A moment later, the security camera disabled, she returned. “Wait here,” she said, taking his hand and leading him into the body of the building. “I’ll be right back.” 

    Settling his lanky frame against the wall, The God watched her take a long sip of coffee before resuming her end of the night duties. Cup in hand, she moved behind the counter with deft efficiency, shutting down the computer and filing prescriptions into their appropriate folders. He admired that about her, her efficiency. It was something he’d enjoy relieving her of.


Meet the Author:

Nicolette Grey began writing three years ago as a way to express her creativity. She has since segued from middle grade and literary fiction to her newest passion, erotic romance. Her two published shorts will soon be joined by another anthology selection ("Snow White" in FETISH FAIRY TALES, edited by Amanda Browning for Hot Ink Press) and two solo books (LOST AND FOUND, and THE GODDESS OF BLACKWATER POND).
When she’s not writing, she enjoys running and hiking with her husband and the family dog.


Contact Info:
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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Review: Take Me Back (A Give & Take Novella- 2.5) by Kelli Maine

DESIRE THAT CAN'T BE DENIED
Rachael DeSalvo is haunted by the past. She's come home to her beloved Turtle Tear Island, where she looks forward to happy days and bliss-filled nights in the arms of Merrick Rocha. But when she finds a trunk full of old photo albums and handwritten notes, Rachael soon realizes that the island has not given up all its secrets . . .

For long before Rachael and Merrick made Turtle Tear Resort their home, this historic island was a haven for sensual, forbidden affairs. As Rachael and Merrick work to restore the grand hotel to its former glory, they will be caught in the perfect maelstrom of conflict and desire.

I normally don’t do reviews for novellas simply because they are so short, but I need to be heard after finishing this one, lol.

I honestly think Kelli is trying to kill me! Literally kill me! Lol. Reading this, I didn’t know if my heart could take it! There is a major bump in the road with Rachael and Merrick and I just wanted to die! I love Rachael and Merrick together and I just can’t imagine what would be to come if there was not a Rachael and Merrick. YES, it’s that serious! Lol.

This novella was AWESOME! Kelli Maine throws in a bit of a spook factor, which I love! It’s not too much that people will be scared, and it’s not too much that people will frown because this is supposed to be contemporary romance. It’s just enough to entice the reader and make them be like…..ooooo where is she going with this. I loved it!

With this book we continue on with the love for Turtle Tear, but also get a look into the passion that is behind the plantation house that is now MJ’s. There is some deceit to the book which of course makes it 10 times better and also a bit of brutal honesty between Merrick and Rachael. Lovers of this series really need to read this! 4 star

Oh, and on a side note. I can't wait for everyone to read and see the play on the name. It totally had me going for a while!


Waiting on Wednesday: Come Alive (EIT #7) by Karina Halle



Anyone that follows this blog KNOWS how much I LOVE Karina Halle! It's almost like I live and breath for her books. They are a necessity for me. It's like breath, eat, shit, pay taxes and read Karina Halle books. Not only do I love Karina's books, but I am overly obsessed with the Experiment in Terror Series. With that being said, I am DYING to get my hands on Come Alive!! Looks like we have a release date of June 23 and it can't get here fast enough!



It’s one thing to bring the woman you love back into your life. It’s another to try and keep her there. For Dex Foray, con­vinc­ing Perry Palomino to open her­self to their bur­geon­ing rela­tion­ship has been more chal­leng­ing than hunt­ing ghosts, bat­tling demons and stalk­ing Sasquatch com­bined. Add in the fact that the only way they can keep their Exper­i­ment in Ter­ror show run­ning is to take on a third part­ner in the form of the mys­te­ri­ous Max­imus Jacobs — all while inves­ti­gat­ing a sin­is­ter voodoo sect in New Orleans — and you’ve got the per­fect South­ern storm and a recipe for dis­as­ter. Luck­ily, Dex has never been one to back down, even when his life –and heart — are on the line.

Come Alive is told from Dex’s POV.

On another side note, anyone that knows me knows my number 1 band of all time is the Foo Fighters. So this below from Karina Halle just makes my day!! Squeee!!!!

Karina says--Inspi­ra­tion: Like I do with most books, this is named after a song. These lyrics from the Foo Fight­ers “Come Live” really res­onate for me:
Noth­ing more to give
I can finally come alive
Your life into me
I can finally breathe
Come alive

I lay there in the dark
Open my eyes
You saved me the day that you came alive




Tuesday, May 28, 2013

New Releases: May 28, 2013

There are soooo many new releases today and many upcoming in June. I recently finished Kelli Maine's newest (Take me Back- A Give & Take Novella) which comes out June 4th and can't wait for you all to read it!

One of my new favorites was released today, The Forever of Ella and Micha (The Secret 2) by Jessica Sorensen. If you are looking for a new release, I highly recommend this one as long as you have read book 1, The Secret of Ella and Micha.

Paranormal:
Contemporary: