Monthly Archives: August 2015

Falling Under (Ink and Chrome #2) by Lauren Dane-a review

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FALLING UNDER (Ink and Chrome 2) by Lauren Dane-a review

Falling Under

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 4, 2015

Duke Bradshaw, co-owner of the custom motorcycle shop Twisted Steel, is great with his hands and not afraid to get dirty . . . especially in his fantasies about his redheaded neighbor Carmella Rossi.

Carmella has been secretly lusting after her hot, tattooed neighbor for the last three years. His gravelly voice combined with the throaty purr of his custom bike never fails to send thrills down her spine. When Duke asks her to join him at the shop, she can’t say no. Soon their days together spill over into nights that bring her pleasure beyond anything she imagined. But Carmella grew up with bikers, and knows how bad a bad boy can be. Can she put herself at risk for someone who has heart-breaker written all over him?

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: FALLING UNDER is the second installment in Lauren Dane’s adult, contemporary Ink and Chrome slightly erotic, romance series focusing on the men and woman of the Twisted Steel custom car and motorcycle shop. This is Twisted Steel co-owner and former US soldier Duke Bradshaw, and office manager Carmella Rossi’s storyline-a friends to lovers/ forbidden office romance trope that finds Duke falling in love with his neighbor and employee Carmella Rossi. FALLING UNDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. We were first introduced to Duke in book one-OPENING UP.

Told from dual third person perspectives FALLING UNDER focuses on the building relationship-both personal and professional-between Carmella and Duke. Duke is in need of a new office manager at Twisted Steel-enter Carmella Rossi-Duke’s neighbor and the woman on whom he has had a crush for several years. Carmella is in need of a job and Duke’s offer comes at a time when Carmella needs it the most. Duke’s shop is about to undergo an overhaul, and Carmella is the woman to keep everything in line.

The storyline follows two paths: Carmella’s mother is an addict and our heroine believes it is her responsibility to keep her mother on the straight and narrow. Duke, on the other hand, is a man who wants a relationship with his new employee but keeping his feelings a secret is difficult at best when he uncovers what he believes to be a betrayal and heartbreaking reality. Duke’s relationship with his own family is strained but a family emergency will find Duke discovering that he knows little about the people he left behind years before.

FALLING UNDER is a slightly erotic romance storyline. Carmella is a woman who knows what she wants; a divorcee whose first husband is a douchebag and continues to make problems for our storyline heroine. Carmella doesn’t want to commit to a future but enjoys her time with Duke, in the present. Duke is a man who loves to flirt which gets him in trouble a time or two. He is a protective alpha male; and a man whose need for Carmella has him looking towards a more permanent solution. The $ex scenes are sexy and seductive.

Asa and PJ (Opening Up #1) play a secondary and supporting role throughout the storyline. Asa is Duke’s business partner, and along with their fellow US army veteran Mick, run a successful custom car and remodeling shop. Mick is a bit of an enigma whose heart has been stolen by not one but two former lovers. Mick’s story will be told next in COMING BACK (December 2015). We are also introduced to Carmella’s mother and father-a pair of strung out losers who consider Carmella a source of money and food; and Duke’s mother who worries that her son’s relationship with Carmella is forbidden and taboo. The world building continues to focus on the Twisted Steel body shop-the men, the women and the custom car jobs.

FALLING UNDER has a little bit of everything: love, romance, and sex; angst and questionable drama; family dysfunction and letting go. The premise was entertaining and engaging; the characters colorful and energetic; the happily ever after not unexpected but saying that Duke and Carmella’s relationship had too many tiny ups and downs that were constantly blown out of proportion resulting in a bit of a roller coaster of poor storyline cohesion. Misunderstandings and lack of communication make for some ugly bedfellows. In the end, I guess there has to be some sort of drama that affects the present and the future, but sometimes the little things are not always that traumatic.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Series Spotlight Black and White

Opening UpOpening Up
Ink and Chrome #1
by Lauren Dane
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of OPENING UP

About the book: Release Date June 16, 2015

The men of the Twisted Steel custom motorcycle shop are great with their hands… and they’re not afraid to get dirty.

PJ is exactly the kind of woman Twisted Steel owner Asa Barrons doesn’t need. The last thing he wants to do is mix business with pleasure, and PJ has some of the best custom detailing he’s ever seen. But the chemistry between them won’t be denied, and soon he’s introducing her to a whole new world in the bedroom, pushing her far beyond anything she’s ever experienced. PJ finds she can’t get enough, but how far is too far before he consumes her completely?

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Capitol Danger : Romantic Suspense Anthology by JD Tyler, Nancy Northcott, Suzanne Ferrell & Jeanne Adams-a review

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CAPITOL DANGER: A Romantic Suspense Anthology by JD Tyler,  Nancy Northcott, Suzanne Ferrell & Jeanne Adams-a review

 

Capitol Danger

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 25, 2015

A romantic suspense anthology like no other! Four stories, one event and four dangerous missions on the same night.

It’s Inauguration Night. Glamorous balls throughout the nation’s capital celebrate a landmark event. The town and nation are in the mood to celebrate. But not everyone is so pleased.

A home-grown sect known as the Red Mantle plan to make it an event to remember for their own reasons. As their assault succeeds it will be up to those attending the ball to step up and face the fanatics, or die trying.

____________

UNMASKED: An Edgars Family Novella-by Suzanne Ferrell

Abigail Whitson and Luke Edgars are working an undercover operation during the inaugural ball in an attempt to discover who has stolen land to air missiles before they can be sold to a broker—their target for the night. When the playboy arms dealer arrives at the ball, his bodyguard turns out to be someone from Luke’s past.
That isn’t the only surprise of the night. When the ball is invaded by terrorists, Abby and Luke find themselves trying to extract the arms dealer from the fray to protect their mission, while they also risk their lives to protect innocents from the carnage.

DEATH UNDER GLASS, A Faithful Defenders Novella by Jeanne Adams

Edward Millner and his girlfriend Retta Geminous, are celebrating a glittering inaugural. When Red Mantle terrorists take the ballroom, both bullets and glass start flying. Edward and Retta help the agents still standing retake the ballroom, but casualties are high. Can Edward face his demons and use his former Special Forces medical skills to save the night? Can Retta and Edward overcome their troubled hearts in the face of certain death?

DANGER’S EDGE, An Arachnid Agency Novella by Nancy Northcott

When terrorists disrupt the inaugural ball, new Arachnid Agency operative Kelsey Mitchell tables her planned undercover operation and works to bring help into the hotel. Her only ally is Greg Reed, an FBI agent on medical leave after being shot during a robbery. Kelsey dreads making a novice mistake, and Greg is afraid he’s lost his edge.
Attraction flares between them though Kelsey knows the Feds disapprove of people who work for her freewheeling agency. Together, she and Greg must fight their demons and the terrorists to gather intel for the FBI and create a safe landing zone for a rescue force. Can they succeed against overwhelming odds, or will the battle cost one or both their lives—or their hearts?

LETHAL TARGET: An Armed & Deadly Novella by J.D. Tyler

FBI Special Agent Dalton McCoy is playing a deadly game, working undercover for Methan, leader of the extremist terrorist group, the Red Mantle. He’ll stop at nothing to keep Methan and his men from achieving their goal of bringing down key members of the government. When Dalton’s plans come to an unexpected head at the glittering inaugural ball, he doesn’t count on tenacious reporter Jolie Montfort placing herself in Methan’s line of fire as well. Now the agent must take out the terrorist leader and get them both to safety before it’s too late…

•••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW:

NOTE: Because all four storylines in the anthology CAPITOL DANGER are interconnected revolving around the same set of circumstances and premise, I will review the anthology as a whole, not by individual storylines or authors.

CAPITOL DANGER is an adult, contemporary, romantic suspense anthology that follows the events on the Inauguration Night of the first woman president of the United States of America. The sect known as Red Mantle will stop at nothing to destroy and take down everyone connected to the new female President, and anyone who stands in their way is collateral damage. The storylines cover a timeline of approximately 1-2 hours.

The four separate but integrated storylines, each with a different leading couple, run parallel to one another. Most of the heroes and heroines (as well as a number of operatives) are current or former members of the military CIA, FBI, Special Ops or Dark Ops organizations hired to work undercover to serve and protect. All, if not most, of the leading characters are unaware of the events unfolding in the other storylines; each will have to contend with the massacre that is about to take place within their own Inauguration Ball. Two of the novellas focus on escaping the fallout of the death and destruction; two follow the attempts to survive under mounting murderous rage and a growing number of dead and dying. The anthology contains scenes of graphic language and violence; there are no sexual scenarios.

Three of the novellas-Unmasked by Suzanne Ferrell, Death Under Glass by Jeanne Adams, and Lethal Target by JD Tyler-are installments in existing series; Danger’s Edge by Nancy Northcott is the first in her new Arachnid Agency series. CAPITOL DANGER, as a whole, can be read as a stand alone; the reader will not need prior information from the existing series to understand the premise but saying that there is some history between several of our leading couples who met in previous storylines.

CAPITOL DANGER is a dramatic and intense, engaging and riveting anthology of suspense, mystery, action and drama. There is romance, love, a couple of happily ever afters, and a look to the future for a couple thrown together by a storage closet and fate. All four storylines focus on the murderous and vengeful actions of a misogynistic, religious zealot whose followers are willing to die for the cause. I see the potential for the continuation of some of the storylines-perhaps there is a CAPITOL DANGER II in the development. CAPITOL DANGER seamlessly blends four different styles of writing into an exciting storyline of intrigue and suspense.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Recipe for Temptation (Madewood Brothers Series 1, 3, 4) by Gina Gordon-reviews

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RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION  (Madewood Brothers Series 1, 3, 4) by Gina Gordon-reviews

Recipe for Temptation

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 11, 2015

She’s the woman he loves to hate.

Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she’s desperately trying not to think about how he’d sound whispering dirty things in her ear.

He’s the man she can’t have…or can she?

Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is the fourth and final ? installment in Gina Gordon’s adult, contemporary Madewood Brothers erotic romance series. This is executive chef and restaurateur Cole Murphy, and Madewood family business marketing and public relations manager Penn Foster’s storyline-a story about family, friendships and forbidden love. Although RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone without any difficulty.

Told from third person point of view RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION follows the building relationship between Penn and Cole. Penn has had a crush on Cole-her quasi boss-for close to three years. Her efforts at flirting have all but been ignored but when her yearly family reunion in Hawaii finds Penn coming face to face with Cole, all bets are off. Cole has arrived to partner with Penn in the Foster family ‘funcation’ competition and Penn is determined to win both in and out of the bedroom.

Cole and his ‘brothers’ were all raised by Vivian Madewood-a woman who took a chance on four young boys from the foster care system. Their individual successes in the restaurant business are the stuff of headline news and gossip rags but unlike his brothers, Cole has yet to find someone to share his life. Enter Penn Foster-best friend to his brother’s wife, and the woman who calls to Cole’s heart, but a hands-off policy at work does not allow for office relationships and in this Cole’s time in Hawaii with Penn has an expiry date at the end of the week.

The sexual attraction between Cole and Penn cannot be denied. Penn is sexually aggressive in the bedroom and isn’t afraid to let Cole know what it is she wants but Cole has some issues that he must learn to overcome, and in this Penn is the perfect match for Cole’s pent up inhibitions. There are reasons behind Cole’s reluctance-ones that Penn must come to understand before offering Cole everything that she is and wants. The $ex scenes are hot, seductive and provocative.

All of the previous storyline couples play a secondary role: Jack and Sterling; Neil and Carson; Veronica and Finn. We are introduced to Penn’s rather over-the –top competitive family-a family that barely acknowledges Penn’s success or ability to survive on her own. Penn is considered the quiet child, and in this, her family has not come to terms with the ‘new’ Penn that they see at the family competition. Penn’s father is all about winning, but Cole is hoping to win Penn’s heart.

The world building continues to focus on Vivian Madewood’s foster sons: Jack Vaughn, Neil Harrison, Finn O’Reilly and Cole Murphy. To keep the boys out of trouble and in line, Vivian started the boys on their love of cooking, and with it came four successful restaurant owner, operators and executive chefs. Each young man would eventually ‘pay it forward’ with foundations that are aimed at enriching the lives of boys and girls in the foster care system.

RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is a fun read that focuses on family dynamics and falling in love. There are moments of heartbreak when a father is unable to come to terms with the daughter he has always considered a son, and further sorrow when Cole walks away from the only woman he will ever love. The premise is fun with a little bit of angst; the characters are energetic and commanding attention; the happily ever after is the stuff of headline news. Gina Gordon’s MADEWOOD BROTHERS series looks at a family brought together by one woman who opened her heart and her home to four troubled young boys, and raised them to be successful entrepreneurs and loving men. A must-read series that will put a smile on your face.

Reading Order
Recipe for Satisfaction
Recipe for Attraction
Recipe for Seduction
Recipe for Temptation

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

_________________

Recipe for SeductionRECIPE FOR SEDUCTION
(Madewood Brothers 3)
by Gina Gordon
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 26, 2014

Veronica Whitfield feels like a frumpy old maid. After ten years of raising her younger siblings, she’s desperate to get her sexy back. And why not find it with the man she’s been in lust with since she was twelve years old—her brother’s best friend, Finn O’Reilly?

Finn is looking for love. And not any love—true love. Complete with the white picket fence, two children, and a dog. He’s just been a little unlucky finding it, and he sure as hell isn’t about to consider his best friend’s little sister for the job, no matter how badly he wants her in his bed.

But then Veronica propositions him with a game of dark, delicious seduction. Finn is tempted to indulge his hidden need for kink, but at what cost? Following through could very well ruin their friendship, but maybe—just maybe—helping Veronica rediscover her sexy side is exactly what he needs to find love at last…

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION is the third installment in Gina Gordon’s adult, contemporary Madewood Brothers romance series focusing on four ‘brothers’ who grew up in the foster care system eventually finding a home and acceptance with Vivian Madewood-a woman whose ability to nurture and love extoled a sense of pride and responsibility in four young men whose lives would have otherwise gone in a different direction. This is wedding planner Veronica Whitfield, and executive chef Finn O’Reilly’s storyline. RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION can be read as a stand alone; any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary. The majority of the primary, secondary and supporting characters all grew up in the foster care system, and their life long friendships and love are the backdrop for the Madewood Brothers series.

Told from third person point of view RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION follows a friends to lovers relationship between Veronica Whitfield and Finn O’Reilly. Veronica and her brother Mark are also the product of the foster care system but eight years earlier Veronica discovered her less than responsible mother had a second family, and Veronica soon became a single mother over night to her two younger half siblings. Fast forward and Veronica is preparing to enjoy life for herself now that her younger brother and sister are about to enter university-but life doesn’t always go according to plan when half brother Cal decides higher education is for losers and he has no plans for the future. Enter easy going Finn O’Reilly-Veronica’s brother Mark’s best friend-and the man that Veronica has loved since eleven years old. Finn offers to take Cal under his wing and teach him the ins and out of being a restaurant chef.

Veronica has had a crush on her brother’s best friend Finn O’Reilly since an early age but raising her siblings and holding down a full time job found Veronica will little time left for herself. Knowing that the time had come to act on her feelings, Veronica sets out to seduce Finn O’Reilly and in doing so discovers that the man with whom she had fallen in love wants a future with children and Veronica isn’t willing to follow the same path. Our couple keep secret their relationship from family and friends, and in this, eventual discovery leads to a sense of betrayal and potential loss of friendship.

The relationship between Finn and Veronica is highly sexual; there was never a time that our couple wasn’t actively involved in some sort of physical activity together. Finn is a bit of an a$$ man, and with it comes the need to spank and his use for a spatula whenever Veronica is in the kitchen. The $ex scenes are numerous, erotic and intense. Veronica and Finn love one another but their plans for the future are going in opposite directions.

All of the previous storyline couples and characters play a secondary and supporting role. Veronica, as a wedding planner, is planning Jack and Sterling’s (Recipe for Satisfaction 1) wedding, which is a secondary plotline throughout the story. We are also introduced to Veronica’s half siblings , as well as her brother Mark. Mark has some issues that need to be addressed, and I am hoping Gina has plans to either continue the MADEWOOD BROTHERS series or write a spinoff that focuses on Veronica’s extended family.

RECIPE FOR SEDUCTION is a story about family; about the bonds that strengthen in face of adversity; about the dynamics that are strained when ‘push comes to shove’. There are moments of humor and fun; heartbreak and sorrow; looking forward and letting go. Gina Gordon’s MADEWOOD BROTHERS series is set in and around Toronto Ontario Canada, and as a fellow Canadian I was very familiar with the sights and sounds of the storyline geography-if you ever have a chance go visit Niagara On The Lake-Veronica and Finn had a romantic getaway-you will too.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Recipe for SatisfactionRECIPE FOR SATISFACTION
(Madewood Brothers #1)
by Gina Gordon
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 1, 2013

Being the financial caretaker for her deadbeat parents isn’t the life professional organizer Sterling Andrews dreamed of. Tired of being the dependable—and boring—daughter, Sterling decides to have a little fun. And what could be more fun than seducing rich bad boy chef, Jack Vaughn? Except, after one scintillating night together, Sterling’s not only lusting for Jack, she’s working for him. And remaining professional becomes harder every day.

Already a major success thanks to his exclusive restaurants, Jack Vaughn is looking for something more. Ultra responsible Sterling is unlike anyone Jack has met…but she’s his employee. Unwilling to give her up, Jack makes Sterling an offer she can’t refuse—for four sexy weekends, he’ll indulge her most wicked fantasies with no professional strings attached. But will mixing business with pleasure spell disaster? Or will they find the recipe for satisfaction?

_________________

REVIEW: Recipe for Satisfaction is the first storyline in Gina Gordon’s new Madewood Brothers series. Gina invites the reader into the world of the Madewood Brothers by introducing Jack and his older siblings and we know each will have a story to tell. Recipe for Satisfaction is Jack and Sterling’s story.

Although Recipe for Satisfaction is an introductory storyline I did not feel overwhelmed with information. There is just enough background information about the brother’s and their family history that the reader is left wanting more.

The four Madewood brothers are each successful in their own right, owning and operating a string of nightclubs, restaurants and eateries around North America but when Jack comes home to Toronto for a few weeks of R&R, the last thing he wanted was a relationship. But the death of their mother has left a hole in the family and Jack needed someone to help organize and pack his mother’s belongings. Enter Sterling Andrews-an organizer and planner who would be perfect for the job. But Jack has other plans for Sterling and makes her an offer that she cannot refuse.

The relationship between Jack and Sterling begins as a torrid but not quite one-night stand. Each looking for a night of passion, without commitments, and yet each discovered they wanted something more. As the storyline progressed, Jack and Sterling develop feelings for one another but Sterling’s extended family’s financial problem drives a wedge between Jack and Sterling when Jack accidently discovers the final notice invoices and credit card receipts. Believing Sterling wants only one thing, Jack pushes away the one woman who could make him happy.

Recipe for Satisfaction is a contemporary romance with a predictable happily ever after that is fast paced and fun to read. There are no thought provoking diatribes about life and love, only two people meant for each other who must overcome some personal obstacles as well as some private heartbreaks.

I only had one problem and that was the ending. It was rather abrupt and Sterling’s last pronouncement to the man she loves, should have pushed him away-in my opinion.

Copy supplied by publisher

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Beware of Me (Dark Obsession #4) by Cynthia Eden-a review

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BEWARE OF ME (Dark Obsession #4) by Cynthia Eden-a review

Beware of Me

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 28, 2015

Criminal. Killer. Monster. Ethan Barclay has been called many things in life, and he usually doesn’t care what people say about him. He’s tough, hard, and brutal when he needs to be. But even the most dangerous of men can have a weakness. Ethan’s weakness has–and always will be–Carly Shay.

Their pasts are tied together–twisted and melded by blood and death. Walking away from Carly was the hardest thing that Ethan ever did, but it was also his one good deed. He knew Carly deserved far better than him, and he wanted her to have a perfect life, a life that didn’t involve paying for Ethan’s sins.

Only now the secrets from their past have been revealed, and Carly’s life is on the line. Ethan’s enemies, Carly’s enemies–the predators are closing in on them. But Ethan isn’t going to let Carly be threatened. He will move heaven and hell to protect her. He won’t lose Carly, not again, and for those foolish enough to try and take her from him…they are about to see just how deadly Ethan truly can be.

Author’s Note: BEWARE OF ME is a complete, stand-alone story. All of the books in the Dark Obsession series are stand-alone titles.

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: BEWARE OF ME is the fourth installment in Cynthia Eden’s adult, contemporary Dark Obsession erotic, dark romance, suspense series. This is businessman Ethan Barclay, and PR employee Carly Shay’s storyline- a story of second chances, dark secrets and dangerous pasts. Carly is Julianna Smith’s step sister (Need Me #3) and her tale began to unravel in the previous story. BEWARE OF ME is a stand alone storyline where some of the previous storyline characters plays a secondary or supporting role although for cohesion and history between the characters I recommend reading the series in order.

Told from third person point of view BEWARE OF ME follows Ethan Barclay as he vows to protect Carly Shay from the evil that threatens to destroy her life. Years before Carly and Ethan found themselves the victims of a psychotic crime boss wherein the mantra kill or be killed was the reality of their situation. Fast forward to present day where Carly becomes the target of someone seeking revenge for the sins of years ago-a missing crime boss whose minions want something in return. Carly will become the victim of more than one stalker when reputation and money are on the line.

BEWARE OF ME is a story of second chances for Ethan and Carly. Following their horrific ordeal Ethan pushed Carly out of his life to protect her from the darker side of his criminal past. But both of their pasts have come seeking revenge, and Ethan is determined to protect Carly-no matter the cost. Ethan is a wanted man by the FBI, and the FBI want to uncover what it is Carly is hiding. Ethan is an alpha male and an anti hero-an unscrupulous hero whose own moral code is a series of shades of grey and doesn’t have time to worry about collateral damage. Ethan has vowed to protect Carly with his life when the past comes seeking vengeance and retribution.

The relationship between Carly and Ethan is intense and dramatic; they share a dark and secreted past that has left both with physical and emotional scars. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative; the sexual chemistry is hot and heavy. Ethan is a businessman whose legitimate enterprises hide a criminal past; Carly is a woman whose emotional fragility is tested time and time again. From unsympathetic law enforcement to questionable medical ethics, our heroine finds herself re-victimized at every turn.

The secondary and supporting characters include Sophie Sarantos (Want Me #2) and Detective Faith Chestang-both of whom were introduced in previous storylines-Faith has had a recurring role throughout the series. We are also introduced to FBI special agent Victor Monroe whose own life will become entrenched with Ethan Barclay when an infamous crime lord’s daughter is somehow connected to our next storyline hero. Dr. Keith Nelson is a questionable psychiatrist whose professional relationship with Carly begins to cross the line between right and wrong; Ethan’s personal driver Charles may or may not be what he proclaims to be; and Curtis Atkins, a man who is determined to make Carly pay-once and for all.

BEWARE OF ME is a fast paced storyline of mystery and suspense; betrayal and revenge; romance and love. There are moments of regret and heartbreak coupled with a profession of love but a promise for the future comes with an entirely different set of rules. Cynthia Eden adds a few twists and turns to a storyline that is as unpredictable as the characters we have grown to love.

Reading Order

Watch Me
Want Me
Need Me
Beware of Me

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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And Then Forever by Shirley Jump – a Review

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And Then Forever by Shirley Jump – a Review

 

and then foreverAmazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo

Description
Welcome to Fortune’s Island, where the only rule is to follow your heart.

Love is an extravagance Darcy Williams can’t afford. She prefers the simple life, which includes waitressing at The Love Shack on Fortune’s Island and avoiding temptation. But when a forbidden part of her past steps off the ferry, her safe, guarded existence is turned upside down.

Kincaid Foster has never gotten over his first love. When he sees the wild, beautiful blonde again, dancing her way around The Love Shack, the memories of Darcy’s soft skin, gentle touch, and heated kisses come rushing back. As the privileged son of a wealthy family, Kincaid was too young to stand up to his overbearing father when he and Darcy were together. Now, he’s back on the island—free of the family shackles—and the chiseled, big-time lawyer wants a second chance.

But, Darcy made a promise to keep a secret from Kincaid—a secret that is now a six-year-old girl who looks just like her daddy. If Kincaid finds out about their daughter, Darcy could lose everything. But, she can’t resist the man who stole her heart all those years ago. And it doesn’t take long before both of them realize that anything can happen at The Love Shack on a hot summer night

 

Review:

And Then Forever by Shirley Jump is the 1st book in her new Fortune’s Island series. I have read and enjoyed reading Shirley Jump novels, and looked forward to reading the start of this new series. I am happy to say that this was a fun, quick and enjoyable read.

Darcy Williams is our heroine and a wonderful one at that. We learn early on that Darcy was not happy as a child, as her mother never really paid much attention to her. As soon as she was old enough, she left home for the nearby Fortune’s Island, and lived life to the fullest, since she was totally independent and fun loving. Darcy, who has been a waitress at The Love Shack bar and restaurant from the start, is perfectly happy doing what she does, not to mention the owners and friends have become her family.

Kincaid Foster, who comes from a wealthy family, fell in love with Darcy years ago, and out of nowhere, she wrote him to say goodbye, since he was only there for the summer. Now 7 years later, he returns to the island with his pregnant sister. When he visits The Love Shack, he sees Darcy, and the feelings he felt before arisee quickly. She is shocked to see him, and does her best to avoid him. Kincaid never understood why she pushed him away, but what he doesn’t know is Darcy has a secret.

Though Darcy does her best to keep her distance, the romance slowly begins to heat up again. Darcy fears for Kincaid to find out her secret, and of course, when at the beach he discovers she has a child now 6 years old. Kincaid automatically can see the resemblance to both him and Darcy, and knows Emma is his. Darcy tries to explain that he was going away to college, and his father expected him to join the firm in the future. She did not want to ruin his life.

What she doesn’t tell him is that his father forced her to take some money to take care of the child, with threats to take away Emma, if she ever told Kincaid. What follows is a sweet romance between Kincaid and Darcy, and his happiness to be with both her and Emma. He realizes that being on Fortune’s Island makes him happy and content. He considers giving up his wealthy life in NY, and staying with Darcy and Emma, whom he has fallen hard for. But there still some secrets that will threaten their relationship. Will Kincaid understand why Darcy was afraid to tell him about his father, and forgive her?

The secondary characters are very good, and a few we expect to have stories told about them in future books. We get some snippets from Kincaid’s sister, Abby and Darcy’s friend, Jill. There will be more fun to come on Fortune’s Island. Shirley Jump has written a sweet and emotional story in And Then Forever, and I look forward to the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publicist

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Fourth Debt (Indebted #5) by Pepper Winters-Review and Book Tour

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FOURTH DEBT (Indebted #5) by Pepper Winters-Review and Book Tour

fourth debt blog tour

Fourth Debt
Indebted #5
by Pepper Winters
Genre: adult,contemporary, dark erotic romance

Fourth Debt

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / ibooks / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 11, 2015

Fifth Book in the New York Times Bestselling Series

“We’d won. We’d cut through the lies and treachery and promised an alliance that would free us both. But even as we won, we lost. We didn’t see what was coming. We didn’t know we had to plan a resurrection.”

Nila Weaver fell in love. She gifted her entire soul to a man she believed was worthy. And in the process, she destroyed herself. Three debts paid, the fourth only days away. The Debt Inheritance has almost claimed another victim.

Jethro Hawk fell in love. He let down his walls to a woman he believed was his cure. For a moment, he was free. But then he paid the ultimate price.

There is no more love. Only war. Hope is dead. Now, there is only death all around them.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: FOURTH DEBT is the fifth installment in Pepper Winters’s contemporary, adult Indebted dark, erotic romance series focusing on a six hundred year old debt the Hawk family believes comes due with the first born Weaver daughter-and Nila Weaver is this generation’s payment. FOURTH DEBT is the continuing story of Nila Weaver’s struggles to remain sane and unbroken in the face of her impending death. FOURTH DEBT should not be read as a stand alone as each installment builds upon the events of the previous storylines wherein our heroine pays the price for her ancestor’s sins.

Told from dual first person perspectives FOURTH DEBT follows a grieving Nila as she comes to terms with the greatest loss of her life. No amount of torture or pain can break past the numbness in her heart and her head until a new round of payment extractions finds our heroine facing the worst debt of all.

The premise of FOURTH DEBT continues to be disturbing, dark and demonic. The Hawk family’s need to extract payment comes with it a psychotic need for vengeance and blood. The storyline is awash in graphic details, violent abusive scenarios, and torture all inflicted upon a young woman whose only sin is to be born into the Weaver clan.

FOURTH DEBT reveals some of the Hawk family history: their sickening and violent past; their need for sadistic revenge and payment in blood; their history of forbidden love. The storyline is intense, traumatic and not for the faint of heart.

FOURTH DEBT and the INDEBTED SERIES is an emotional storyline of betrayal and revenge; kidnapping, torture and abuse; love and sacrifice in the face of extraordinary circumstances. The reader is caught in a web of horror; a house of suffering and pain unlike anyone could imagine and through it all our heroine remains steadfast in her love for the man who dropped her into the middle of the unending nightmare.

Pepper Winters’s storylines are controversial and intense; the build up of tension, suspense and anxiety will reach levels of pain and heartache. Her characters are dark, impassioned, and many without a heart or soul. The destructive and twisted nature of greed and revenge lends it focus to a debt where interest continues to grow with each successive generation. No one is safe once the Hawk family demand payment…and payment will be made one way or another.

Copy supplied by the tour operator.

Reviewed by Sandy

Fourth Debt Promo

Excerpt beige

Cut shook his head, looking at his mother. “They never fucking learn.”
Bonnie laughed. “Neither did you, dear. Not for a long time.”
He wrapped an arm around her brittle shoulders. “I can’t imagine ever being so terrible.”
My fingernails dug into my palm as I witnessed a seemingly normal bond. How could evil have so many layers? How could it be so obvious one moment, then hidden by family ties and hierarchy the next?
Bonnie tapped her cane against Cut’s foot. “You’re not forgetting what you did, are you? Because I have news for you—you were worse. A lot worse.” Moving forward, she dislodged his hold. “But I straightened out the mess you made. I put things right. I have every faith you will, too.”
Cut nodded. “Damn right, I will.” His eyes strained but apart from a few cracks in his smooth veneer, I would never have guessed he’d pulled the trigger on two of his children.
He’s dead.
He’s dead.
All because of me.
Inching closer to Jasmine, I whispered so only she would hear. “He tried to shoot you, but Jethro saved you. Do you have no shame?”
Her eyes zeroed in on mine. Thoughts and emotions flickered over her face but she didn’t reply.
Her betrayal hurt. Jethro and Kes had loved her. They’d died for her. Who could claim to love them in return yet continue to be in the same house as the man who’d shot them?
My stomach twisted. “You make me sick.”
Her hands tightened around the rims of her wheels. Shutters slammed over her eyes, but still no response.
Tears stung but I had nothing else to say. Only one promise that she might as well hear, so she’d know who truly loved her brother. “I’ll kill you for this. Just like I’ll kill them.

Series Spotlight

Debt Inheritance
Indebted #1
by Pepper Winters
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotica, dark romance
Release Date: August 18, 2014

FREE ebook for a limited time: Debt InheritanceAmazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /iTunes

Click HERE to read Sandy’s review of DEBT INHERITANCE

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2014

“I own you. I have the piece of paper to prove it. It’s undeniable and unbreakable. You belong to me until you’ve paid off your debts.”

Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. Being the first born daughter, her life is forfeit to the first born son of the Hawks to pay for sins of ancestors past. The dark ages might have come and gone, but debts never leave. She has no choice in the matter.

She is no longer free.

Jethro Hawk receives Nila as an inheritance present on his twenty-ninth birthday. Her life is his until she’s paid off a debt that’s centuries old. He can do what he likes with her—nothing is out of bounds—she has to obey.

There are no rules. Only payments.

A modern day Dark Erotic Romance

___________________________________

First Debt
Indebted #2
by Pepper Winters
Genre: adult,contemporary,erotic,
Release Date:November 12, 2014

First DebtAmazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / iTunes

About the book: Release Date November 12, 2014

Click HERE to watch the trailer for FIRST DEBT (Indebted #2) by Pepper Winters

Click HERE to read Sandy’s review of FIRST DEBT

“You say I’ll never own you. If I win—you willingly give me that right. You sign not only the debt agreement, but another—one that makes me your master until your last breath is taken. You do that, and I’ll give you this.”

Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. Stolen, taken, and bound not by monsters but by an agreement written over six hundred years ago, she has no way out.

She belongs to Jethro as much as she denies it.

Jethro Hawk’s patience is running out. His inheritance gift tests, challenges, and surprises him—and not in good ways. He hasn’t leashed her but he thinks he might’ve found a way to bind her forever.

Debts are mounting. Payment waiting.

______________

SECOND DEBT
Indebted #3
by Pepper Winters
Genre: adult, contemporary, dark, erotic romance
Release Date: January 26, 2015

Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Second DebtABOUT THE BOOK: January 2, 2015

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of SECOND DEBT

“I tried to play a game. I tried to wield deceit as perfectly as the Hawks. But when I thought I was winning, I wasn’t. Jethro isn’t what he seems—he’s the master of duplicity. However, I refuse to let him annihilate me further.”

Nila Weaver has grown from naïve seamstress to full-blown fighter. Every humdrum object is her arsenal, and sex…sex is her greatest weapon of all.

She’s paid the First Debt. She’ll probably pay more.

But she has no intention of letting the Hawks win.

Jethro Hawk has found more than a worthy adversary in Nila—he’s found the woman who could destroy him. There’s a fine line between hatred and love, and an even finer path between fear and respect.

The fate of his house rests on his shoulders, but no matter how much ice lives inside his heart, Nila flames too bright to be extinguished.

_____________

Third Debt
Indebted #4
by Pepper Winters
Release Date: April 17, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, dark erotic romance

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / iTunes

Third DebtABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 17, 2015

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of THIRD DEBT

She healed me. She broke me. I set her free. But we are in this together. We will end this together. The rules of this ancient game can’t be broken.”

Nila Weaver no longer recognises herself. She’s left her lover, her courage, and her promise. Two debts down. Too many to go.

Jethro Hawk no longer recognises himself. He’s embraced what he always ran from, and now faces punishment far greater than he feared.

It’s almost time. It’s demanding to be paid.

The Third Debt will be the ultimate test…

About The Author beige

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Her Dark Erotica books include:
Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)
Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)

Her Grey Romance books include:
Destroyed

Her Indebted Series include
Debt Inheritance
First Debt
Second Debt
Third Debt

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Exposing the Heiress (Once a Marine #3) by Jennifer Apodaca-Review

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EXPOSING THE HEIRESS (Once a Marine #3) by Jennifer Apodaca-a review

Exposing the Heiress

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 4, 2015

This Marine will protect her at all costs…

When wealthy heiress Alyssa Brooks finds out her stepfather has been paying her fiancé to marry her, she’s humiliated and betrayed. She quickly breaks the engagement, only to be blackmailed by her now ex-fiancé, who threatens both Alyssa and the son she gave up for adoption. With nowhere to go, she turns to the one man she can trust.

Former Marine sniper Hunter Reece’s lethal skills could save Alyssa’s life. But his little sister’s best friend has turned into a woman, who is an irresistible mix of secrets and sexiness. And while Hunter can trust himself to protect her, he can’t trust himself to keep his attraction hidden…or even pretend to be the man that Alyssa remembers.

Because the only way to keep the lovely heiress safe is to become the one thing he knows she could never love…a killer.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: EXPOSING THE HEIRESS is the third installment in Jennifer Apodaca (Jennifer Lyon’s) adult, contemporary Once a Marine erotic romance series. This is former Marine sniper Hunter Reece, and celebrity heiress Alyssa Brooks’s storyline- a friends to lovers trope that reveals many hidden secrets and ghosts from the past. EXPOSING THE HEIRESS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from third person point of view EXPOSING THE HEIRESS focuses on Alyssa Brooks as she must go into hiding to protect the son she gave up years before. At seventeen years old, Alyssa would discover she was pregnant and the resulting aftermath would force Alyssa to take stock of her entire life. Fast forward to present day and Alyssa will overhear that her step father has been paying her now former fiancé Nate Madden a hefty sum to marry her in order to gain control of Dragon Wing Productions, left to Alyssa in her late mother’s will. In order to protect her son and his new family Alyssa will approach Once a Marine Security Agency asking for her best friend’s brother Hunter Reece to act as body guard until she is able to take control of her life-once again. What ensues is a waiting game wherein Alyssa will become the target of a vengeful ex-fiance who is willing to go to any measure to take back and destroy what he considers his.

The relationship between Hunter and Alyssa is a friend to lovers trope that sees Hunter craving his little sister’s former best friend. Alyssa has always had a bit of a crush on Hunter Reece, one that began at fourteen years of age, and in the ensuing time has never forgotten a promise Reese made to her. But Hunter is a man with a dark past that haunts his nights with nightmares, horrific memories, and the guilt of a man doing a job no one else wanted to do, and in this Hunter doesn’t do relationships, friendships or love. The $ex scenes are erotic and provocative –Hunter likes to talk dirty in the bedroom but the sexual chemistry between our leading couple felt distant and somewhat flat-Reece’s inability to love was readily apparent throughout most of the read. Having some issues of trust, when the time came to step up, Reese walked away leaving Alyssa unprotected, alone and broken hearted. Some major groveling was needed (in my humble opinion).

EXPOSING THE HEIRESS is an enjoyable but predictable storyline with a little bit of everything: sex, romance, some suspense, friendships, heartbreak and love. Most of the storyline focuses on the building relationship (while in hiding) between Hunter and Alyssa, and the threats from Alyssa’s former fiancé that promise to expose Alyssa’s secret past- the majority of the action takes place in the final few chapters.

Jennifer Apodaca (aka Jennifer Lyon) is a talented author with a spirited energy that comes through in her storyline characters. EXPOSING THE HEIRESS reveals a tender side to a man hardened by the harsh realities of the atrocities of war, and how the love of one woman can melt the ice around a frozen heart.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Series Spotlight

The Baby Bargain The Baby Bargain
Once a Marine #1
by Jennifer Apodaca
Release Date: March 11, 2013
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

Seeing Adam Waters is the last thing veterinarian Megan Young expects. Ex-Marine. Ex-boyfriend. And still extremely dangerous territory. But Adam doesn’t know the secret Megan has been keeping from him. The secret that was created three years ago, after their last night together…

Adam returns to Raven’s Cove to sell his home in a final break with the town and memories that haunt him. The problem is that his attraction to Megan is as blazing hot as it ever was. But when a vicious smear campaign against Megan turns ugly, Adam learns the truth he never knew—he has a son.

Now the only way Megan can protect her child is to strike a bargain with Adam. And it’s a bargain that looks a lot like blackmail.

_______________________

Her Temporary HeroHer Temporary Hero
Once a Marine #2
by Jennifer Apodaca
Release Date : July 14, 2014
Genre: contemporary, adult, romance,

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 14, 2014

Former beauty queen Becky Holmes and her baby are on the run from her dangerous ex. With her dreams of love and marriage destroyed, she’ll do anything to protect her child…even agree to hide out in her boss’s cousin’s house while he’s away.

Wealthy, sexy, and emotionally haunted Logan Knight needs a temporary wife to get his land, per his dad’s rules. No wife, no inheritance. But when that wife lands on his doorstep and comes with a baby, his darkest memories are triggered. He tries to keep his distance, but his efforts are shattered when he starts to have real feelings for his fake wife and child.

Just as Logan begins to think he may have a future with Becky, his attempt to have it all backfires into a betrayal that forces Becky into a heart-wrenching choice no woman should ever have to make.

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Laid Out (Worth the Fight #4) by Sidney Halston-Review and Book Tour

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LAID OUT (Worth the Fight #4) by Sidney Halston-Review and Book Tour

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Laid Out
Worth the Fight #4
by Sidney Halston
Release Date: August 18, 2015

Laid Out

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2015

Growing up an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command.

Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true—but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: LAID OUT is the fourth installment in Sidney Halston’s adult, contemporary Worth the Fight MMA romance series. This is former Special Ops soldier / MMA fighter Cain Sorensen, and nurse Violet Channing’s storyline. LAID OUT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary.

Told from third person point of view LAID OUT follows the rekindling of a friendship between Violet and Cain. After two tours of duty Cain went MIA and in the ensuing time Violet’s emotions were all over the place believing her best friend, and the man that she loved since childhood was missing or dead. She had already lost one friend to the war in the Middle East but losing Cain would have destroyed Violet’s heart and soul.

Violet has issues with self esteem following a childhood where she was always considered overweight or slightly plump, and in this, Violet’s issues of weight are a continuing presence, throughout the story. In the ensuing years Violet has grown into her body but her lack of confidence finds our heroine asking Cain to ‘teach’ her how to make love–and of course- you know what is going to happen when two people who love one another promise to remain friends in the face of everything that is going on.

The relationship between Violet and Cain is one of life long friendship and love. Along with their other best friend and fellow army brat Jeremy, Violet and Cain did everything together including falling in love-the problem-Jeremy and Cain fell in love with the same girl. Upon his return Cain continues to send mixed signals as it concerns his relationship and love for Violet Channing. Cain believes he is not worthy of Violet’s love in the face of all that has happened between Jeremy, Violet and Cain but his back and forth attitude was a little disconcerting throughout the story: his reasons will become very clear when our hero goes missing-one final time. The $ex scenes are erotic and seductive although many fade to black or are implied.

All of the previous storyline couples play a secondary and supporting role throughout the story. Cain’s love for Violet is apparent to everyone but the man in question; Violet’s love for Cain finds our heroine lost every time Cain rejects what it is Violet is willing to offer. There is a building storyline between MMA fighter Enzo Silva and Violet’s BFF Jamie Lynn Calhoun.

LAID OUT is a slow building storyline both in the romance and relationship development. The attraction and sexual energy between our leading couple is filled with anxiety, regret and heartbreak; Cain is unable to get past his guilt; Violet knows it is time to move on when the man that she have always loved is unable to recognize he loves her in return. The bigger issue is Cain’s need to run when everything begins to break down, and Violet’s willingness to forgive Cain upon his every return.

This is a bit of a difficult review as it pertains to the overall ‘feel’ of the story. Cain is a veteran whose personality has drastically changed and in this his emotions and ability to express himself are closed off; almost cold towards the woman that he loves but his continuous mixed signals left me in a constant state of…WTF!! To feel, Cain pushed himself into the underground world of the MMA without thinking about how his actions affected everyone else.

LAID OUT is an emotional and heartbreaking storyline where one man must learn to acknowledge the past before he is able to move on with the woman that he loves. Guilt and the atrocities of war make for some ugly bedfellows when trying to move on with the realities of life.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

excerpt

She was kicking a rock out of the way when Cain grabbed her hand and pulled her to a nearby tree, causing her to yelp as she struggled to keep her balance. At nineteen, Cain was thin and lanky—all limbs. She was still short and stumpy. He turned her around brusquely and pressed her back against a tree, the bark digging into her. She looked up at him and saw an intensity in his eyes she’d never seen before. His cheeks were flushed and the vein by his neck pulsed. Suddenly she became nervous. He’d never looked at her this way—the way the cute guys looked at the pretty girls.
Lately she’d felt flustered when Jeremy was nearby, with his mess of curly dark brown hair and dimpled smile. Feelings that hadn’t been there before were now creeping in. In fact, she could’ve sworn Jeremy had been flirting with her lately—complimenting her clothes and hair, brushing against her “accidentally,” inviting her to the movies without Cain around. But these brief flirtatious moments were with Jeremy. Not with Cain. Never with Cain. Cain was just her friend. A little gangly, a little quiet, a lot overprotective.
That was until now.
Suddenly there was an awareness that had never been there before.
When he licked his lips, her pulse sped up. A foreign feeling—desire—began to take root. He reached toward her hair, and she flinched a little before he tucked a stray strand behind her ear. The tender action surprised her. For the first time, she noticed how clear his blue eyes were, how his hair was so blond it almost looked white. All of a sudden, he didn’t seem like just this boy who was always around. Unfamiliar feelings began to erupt throughout her body. She felt her cheeks flame and her heart race.
When he finally spoke, his voice shook a little. “I’m your friend because I want to be your friend. Not because of your parents or your dumb threats. I don’t like it when you call yourself fat. You’re not fat.”
She nodded and murmured, “Okay.” She drew her lower lip into her mouth and nibbled as her wide eyes gazed at his. Cain reached over and pulled her lip out of her mouth. “You’re nervous.” It wasn’t a question. He knew her well enough to be aware of her tells.
“I . . . uh . . . what are you doing, Cain?”
“I don’t want you to kiss just anyone to get it outta the way.”
Words failed her, so she just nodded again. There was a moment where neither spoke. He just looked at her as if trying to decide on his next move.
“I should be the first person you kiss,” he finally said as his tongue flicked out a little and wet his lips.
She gasped and looked up into his eyes nervously. His eyes never left hers, but his reddened ears and neck showed that he was also nervous. She too knew him well.
Like a fool, she bobbed her head up and down mostly because the words were stuck in her throat. It felt like he stared at her lips for an eternity until he finally leaned forward, causing her to press herself further back against the tree, her hands gripping the bark. He tilted his head to the side and she imitated the action.
Should I open my mouth? Leave it closed? What about my tongue? What should it be doing?
Softly, almost feather light, his lips brushed against hers. Her eyes instinctively closed tight, and she stopped breathing. It was less than ten seconds but it was forever. In that moment she fell into the category of girls who’d had their first kiss. She kept her eyes closed for far too long, and when she opened them he was standing upright, his face even more flushed. Her own tongue snuck out of her mouth to taste her lips. She swallowed and looked at him, her eyes as wide as saucers. What just happened?
Then, with the same intensity in his expression, he leaned back down, but this time he pressed harder against her lips causing her lips to part slightly. His body moved closer to hers, and then she felt his hands grip her waist and his tongue touch her lips before it moved into her mouth and brushed hers for a brief second, his fingers digging into her skin at her waist. She instinctively melded into him, her body seeking him out.
Again he moved away and looked at her. His expression never changed, and neither did hers. Her eyes were wide; she touched her lips, as if to determine whether the kiss had really happened. They just looked at each other, neither saying anything, her heart beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Finally she spoke and said the only thing that came to mind. “Wow, my cup runneth over,” she whispered. It was a phrase he teased her about constantly, but it was exactly how she felt: she could barely contain her happiness.
He chuckled, and the smile did her in: she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Hard. He wrapped his arms around her waist and walked them the half step back against the tree again. Their noses bumped. It was awkward, but as first kisses went . . . it was perfect.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Vi.” It was the last thing he said to her before leaving for war.

Series Spotlight Black and White

Against the CageAgainst the Cage
Worth the Fight #1
by Sidney Halston
Genre: adult, contemporary, MMA romance
Release Date: May 24, 2014

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

For Chrissy Martin, returning to her Florida hometown always seems to bring bad luck. The day starts with a breakup text, followed by a jailhouse phone call from her troublemaker brother. Now a routine traffic stop has ended with her accidentally punching an officer . . . in a delicate place. Then Chrissy realizes that the hot cop on the receiving end of her right hook is none other than the man from her teenage fantasies.

Jack Daniels knows how to take a hit. After all, when he’s not chasing reckless drivers, he’s kicking ass in a mixed martial arts ring. So what takes his breath away isn’t the low blow, but the woman who dealt it: a gorgeous knockout with legs Jack wouldn’t mind being pinned under—who just so happens to be his best friend’s nerdy little sister, all grown up. Soon their instant chemistry leads to a sizzling affair, but Jack and Chrissy are fighting an uphill battle if they want to make love last beyond the final bell.

_____________

FULL CONTACT
(Worth the Fight 2)
by Sidney Halston
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance, MMA

Full Contact

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Click HERE for Sandy’s review of FULL CONTACT

About the book: Release Date October 28, 2014

How could she have been so stupid? When Jessica Cross decides to give her violently jealous boyfriend—the otherwise influential and charming Dennis Stavros—a second chance, she very nearly becomes a statistic. After weeks of healing from a broken rib and collapsed lung, and with Dennis behind bars, Jessica finally feels ready to come out of hiding. But will she ever be able to take a chance on love again with someone new?

Mixed martial arts fighter Slade Martin knows he has a bad reputation. Hell, he’s probably earned it. So it won’t be easy to convince beautiful, vulnerable Jessica that she can trust him—that from the moment she walked into his life, she’s been the only one he’s wanted. Powerful and confident

_____________

Below the Belt
Worth the Fight #3
by Sidney Halston
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary,erotic, romance, MMA

Below the Belt

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Click HERE for Sandy’s review of BELOW THE BELT

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 10, 2015

Once one of the most sought-after names on the mixed martial arts circuit, Antonio “Scarface” Marino watched his career go down for the count as he chased skirts and made tabloid headlines. Now he’s finally making a comeback, and it’s all thanks to Francesca Silva, a Brazilian bombshell as tough as any of her fighters. But who’s the real Francesca: the trash-talking trainer who rides him hard, or the vulnerable woman who blushes at his touch?

Francesca went to the mat to sign Tony because she believes he still has the potential to bring big success to her gym—if she can keep his head in the cage and out of her personal life. After a short-lived marriage soured her on love, a one-night stand is all she can handle. Now Tony’s kisses are stirring up complicated feelings—especially when he agrees to face her ex in the ring. Francesca’s used to freezing guys out. But Tony’s tempting her to give in to the heat.

About The Author Black and White

Sidney_HalstonSidney Halston lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in South Florida with her husband and children.

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• JUST A LITTLE CRUSH by Renita Pizzitola
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• AGAINST THE CAGE by Sidney Halston
• POSSESS by Laura Marie Altom
• AFTER MIDNIGHT by Kathy Clark
• MAKE YOU BURN by Megan Crane
• MY HIGHLAND LOVER by Maeve Greyson
• BREAKING NOAH by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne
• A FASHIONABLE INDULGENCE by K.J. Charles
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