Tempted by a Rogue by Lauren Smith – Review & Giveaway

Tempted by a Rogue by Lauren Smith – Review & Giveaway

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Tempted by a RogueAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

DESCRIPTION

The rogue’s temptation would be her undoing…

Gemma Haverford knows exactly who she will marry: James Randolph, the man she’s had a secret understanding with for the last eleven years. With every letter written between them while he’s been off at sea, their love has grown. Now they will be reunited with his return to England.

There’s just one problem. The man whose words she’d fallen in love with isn’t James at all…

Jasper Holland, a gentleman rogue of the first order, is trapped. Talked into a scheme by his best friend, he pretended to be James for eleven years as he wrote to Gemma, even though he’d promised James he’d break it off. But now with his return to England, his secret will come out—and he’ll lose the one woman he can’t live without.

What began as a game of words, now becomes a game of hearts, and Jasper will pay any price to call Gemma his.

 

 

 

REVIEW

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Tempted by a Rogue by Lauren Smith is a quick (less that 100 pages) historical romance that reminds us there are times when a wrong certainly can make a right.  WINK

Gemma Haverford has been waiting for her true love to return from a career at sea so they can start there life together.  Through 11 years of exchanging letters full of hope, honour and love she is ready to get married to the man she has treasured for so long.

Jasper Holland is NOT the man that Gemma is expecting to be reunited with in the secret gardens.  Having a blindfold on fires all the senses though and a smoking hot moment seals Gemma’s heart.  The only problem is, she believes these stolen caresses are from Jasper’s best friend James.  

James wrote to Gemma for the first year apart but decided a life as a rogue was much more satisfying than settling down with one woman.  Jasper takes over the correspondence (pretending to be James) and before he knows it, he is in so deep and completely captivated by this amazing woman.  All Jasper has to do now, if watch his beloved get duped by his best friend and then sweep her off her feet and convince her that he is the man she wants.  

At a welcome home party all begins to fall in place .. and when temper flares and passion awakens, Gemma and Jasper are both in for a turbulent journey full of yummy encounters, verbal jabs and truth that sets them both free.

Before I get into my personal thoughts on this book, I just wanted to share something that I have trouble with when reviewing short reads.  I have read many reviews (for books that are 100 pages or less and I am speaking generally here not about this book) complaining that the story is too short.  Well I tend to get annoyed with that comment because the author doesn’t hide how short the story is and purposely designs it to be a quick read.  So what happens when you are left at the end of a short read feeling like something is missing??  How do you critique without the comment “that was too short and I wanted more!”?  It’s tough!

I did feel like something was missing here and I do believe it was the escalation of tension between our two leads.  I love the build up, the verbal back and forth, the scheming, the passion driven stolen moments and the inevitable happily ever after, but there was just not enough time for me to cherish all of this.  That being said, Lauren Smith can stuff a whole lot of story in a small amount of pages.  I was absolutely smitten with Jasper and I loved that Gemma didn’t hold back where he was concerned.  II also thought James was a jackass and didn’t deserve Gemma.

I have to say it was the not so sweet old lady that stole this book for me.  I love it when crusty personalities cut to the quick and tell it like it is … LOL  This was a great book, and I adore Lauren’s writing style.  I look forward to reading more from her soon!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel

Copy provided by Author

About the authorLauren_Smith_2014
Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

 

 

giveaway

Lauren is graciously offering an e-copy of the winner’s choice of her books to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Lauren Smith on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Please FOLLOW us on TSU for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway open Internationally

9. Giveaway runs from September 22 – September 25, 2015

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Shadow Fall by Laura Griffin – a Review

Shadow Fall by Laura Griffin – a Review

 

Shadow Fall
Tracers series – Book #9
by Laura Griffin
Release Date: September 22, 2015

Shadow FallAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description
Special Agent Tara Rushing arrives at a grisly murder scene and quickly discovers she’s got a serial killer on her hands. The killer is meticulous, making sure to wipe up even the smallest traces of evidence…but the Delphi Center experts are on the case.

The local sheriff has a suspect all picked out—ex-Marine and current security expert Liam Wolfe. Despite all her digging, Tara knows very little about Liam when she shows up at his sprawling Texas compound, which serves as headquarters for Wolfe Securities, and she’s surprised by her intense physical reaction to him.

As she and Liam grow closer, Tara finds herself depending on his skills and expertise to help her track a killer. But when another body turns up, Tara must decide if she can trust the man who’s quickly stealing her heart.


Review:

Shadow Fall by Laura Griffin in the 9th book in her Tracers series. This is my first book reading Griffin, and it will not be my last. Even though this book was the 9th in the series, it read perfectly as a standalone. Any important details regarding the Tracers are explained when needed. What are Tracers? This blurb from Griffin’s site explains it all

AN ELITE GROUP OF FORENSIC EXPERTS WHO HELP HOMICIDE COPS AND COLD CASE DETECTIVES SOLVE THE MOST UNSOLVABLE CRIMES.”

In Shadow Fall, Tara Rushing, our heroine and an FBI agent, is just coming off a very difficult case, which mentally she has not fully recovered from. Much to her chagrin, she is sent on an immediate assignment in a small town in Texas. When Tara arrives, she finds the local police, especially the sheriff aren’t too happy to have her there. She knows she needs to be one step ahead of them, as they will not willingly be forthcoming with any evidence they find. Tara is also surprised to have a rookie agent assigned to help her, but in the long run she and M.J. learn to work together very well. When they arrive at the scene, they learn a woman was brutally murdered.

Liam Wolfe is our hero, who is a former marine having survived in Afghanistan, and now runs a top notch security firm, with former marines. Tara meets Liam early on, as the murder took place on his land; he was a friend of the victim, which makes him an early suspect. The sheriff would like nothing better than to put the blame on Liam; but Tara and M.J discover quickly that Liam has a valid alibi.

Almost immediately, Liam finds himself attracted to Tara and her to him. But both, due to their own circumstances, do their best to keep their feelings mute. With a second murder, the race is on to find this vicious killer, before another victim is found. Tara meets and begins to work with the people at the Delphi Center lab (Tracers), who have specialized experts in all fields related to DNA, bones, fragments, etc; and they will help Tara find whatever evidence they can pinpoint.

This was such an exciting, suspenseful and captivating storyline, as the case escalates to a serial killer, with murders of women, who upon further investigation are discovered from the past.   I was amazed at the writing and knowledge of Laura Griffin, as it was written so well; with each miniscule finding being deciphered by the Tracers, helping Tara to slowly move toward finding the killer. Both Tara and M.J. know Liam is innocent, but they fear one of his employees is the murderer. The danger escalates as they get closer to finding the killer, which will put both of their lives on the brink of death.

Tara and Liam’s relationship heats up, as their chemistry is off the wall. Despite both of their determination to not act on their lust, the dangers and threats that surround them will bring them to release their tension and act on their feelings. I loved Tara and Liam together, as they made a great and sizzling couple.   I admire Griffin’s ability to give us a nice slow romance, and keep it as part of the background, not taking anything away from this exciting and intense mystery.

I do not want to give spoilers, so I will just say that this was a wonderful exciting, suspenseful and tense story, with some wonderful characters, very interesting details of how this wonderful crime lab works, and a great couple, who blend together so well. Laura Griffin has written a page turner that I could not put down, and has won me over as a writer who deftly puts the pieces together, explaining to us every step of the way. Fantastic story, so well written and now I have to find time to go back to the beginning and read this series from the start.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Sentinel Lost by A.E. Jones – a Review

Sentinel Lost by A.E. Jones – a Review

 

Sentinel Lost
Mind Sweeper series – Book #5
by A.E. Jones

book5ebookAmazon / Kobo / Apple

Description:
How many supernaturals does it take to screw in a lightbulb? For this particular case, way more than Kyle McKinley has backing her up.

\When she stumbles upon a dark museum, missing artwork, and a dead security guard, Kyle and her team are thrust into a new mystery. One involving demons. But not your run of the mill demons—realm demons. Tougher, scarier, and banned from earth, they are escaping from the realm and wreaking havoc in Cleveland, Ohio, of all places.

Now the Feds have shown up, and Kyle has to deal with the one person she prayed she would never see again. Dalton. How can she keep the truth of their past from him without jeopardizing the case? Especially when the Key of Knowledge is part of the mystery. The same Key that almost cost Dalton his sanity and is now threatening hers. Kyle is just starting to get her life back together again with Griffin at her side. And now the Fates are forcing her to choose. But when a demon apocalypse looms on the horizon, her only choice is to embrace the Key to save the world, regardless of what it might cost her.

 

Review:

Ok this review of Sentinel Lost by A.E. Jones could be a little tricky as it’s a continuing story from books one and two, (ignore the novellas as they are a different story) and as I hate to give story lines away, this should be an interesting review

So ……. Start of the book has Kyle chasing a supernatural through a museum; he gets away, leaving a bruised and frustrated Kyle, the rest of her team join her and we find out a poor guard was killed, and another left unconscious, so the team have their next case.

The story moves along at a fast pace. There are a few unexpected moments where you go, oh !!!!  Including Kyle’s ex partner and lover, Dalton.The moment when Demons send Kyle and Dalton to the in between realm. And we find out more from Kyle’s past, (that is a total OMG moment)

Now without giving too much away from previous books, Dalton is a key component to this story. To make matters worse, Kyle is now involved with a shifter leader called Griffin, (he was in the last two main books). She feels torn between Dalton and Griffin, her feelings are a jumble between them both.

For anyone who hasn’t read the previous books Kyle is a human woman capable of altering minds. She works with a supernatural unit who police the supernaturals. Misha is a demon who is a techno geek, and has an insatiable appetite for anything edible. Jean Luc is a 400 year old vampire, who has just been reunited with his mate Talia. Oh and his coffee skills are terrible. Talia, is new to the team, she worked in Vegas, until a case brought Jean Luc and the team back into her life, she is also a vamp, but not nearly as old as her mate.

Griffin is the leader of the shifters, in fact he is THE leader of all shifters, he can smell lies and emotions, and has been pursuing Kyle through the first book, and now they are a couple in the second book.  Dalton is human, he was first introduced to us as a liaison between the supes (supernaturals) and the norms (humans). Sparks flew between him and Kyle almost immediately, but now being introduced to the team, he is cautious, wary and not the old Dalton (yes it has something to do with a previous book, no I’m not telling)

Nicholas is the man in charge, he hasn’t had much to do in the books, but I have a feeling he is in the background watching. There are a few other characters involved in both the other books.  The books continue to be well written and the scenes are a joy to read. The characters come alive on the pages, and you ride their emotions as if they were your own.

Although the books are about different cases, there is a storyline going through the books, so to be honest you should read them in order.  So I hope you’ll give this book and the whole series a read. It makes a change to have a female in a lead role. And I hope the A.E. Jones will continue with this series, as a few characters need their stories told.

 


The Pursuit

Mind Sweeper series – Book #4
by A.E. Jones

the Pursuit

Amazon

Description:
A Mind Sweeper novella that delves further into Jean Luc and Talia’s story. Thirty years ago, Jean Luc Delacroix believed he had found his mate in Talia Walker—until she walked out on him. While he has honored her wish to be independent, he cannot forget her. And when they’re thrown together again, Jean Luc’s feelings reignite. This time he will do whatever is necessary to make her his.

Talia learned everything she knows about love—and about being a vampire—from Jean Luc. But the memories of her forced turning and loss of humanity compelled her to strike out on her own to prove she could take care of herself. When she comes face to face with Jean Luc again, she wonders if her continued independence is as important as being with the vampire she still loves.

Before either can acknowledge their feelings, they are embroiled in a deadly case. A killer vampire is draining humans. When suspects are uncovered, the very foundation of the vampire nation is threatened. And when they get closer to the truth, and Jean Luc’s life is in danger, Talia risks her own life to hunt down the killer.  Will Jean Luc and Talia finally find the courage to follow their hearts? Or will the killer destroy them first?

 

 

Review:

I’ve read the Mind Sweeper series by A.E. Jones from the start, and I’ve got a huge soft spot for Jean Luc. This is a novella, it’s a short read but it’s full of drama, and it’s now time for Jean Luc and Talia’s story to continue.

Jean Luc is a 400 year old vampire, he loves the work he does. But he’s always longed for a family. So the unit he works for now has become his family, there is nothing he wouldn’t do for them.

Talia is also working in the BSR ( Bureau of Supernatural Relations) supe squad for short) a sort of police force, and as a bounty hunter before that. She had grown in power and confidence since leaving Jean Luc. Talia was attacked and turned into a vampire, Jean-Luc helped her come to terms with her new life, but she wanted to know if she could do it On Her own, so Talia left and started a new life on her own, but she never forgot her mentor.

The story starts straight after the last book, so Jean-Luc is in Vegas, Kyle has convinced him to see where these feelings he still has for Talia will take him. But when he Knocks on her door, he doesn’t expect to see a 1/2 naked shifter in her home.

There are hints of passion along the way, with a real will they won’t they tension thrown in for good measure. The ending is well done, with some good, bad and ooooh!

I am really looking forward to the next installment.

Reviews by Julie B.

Copies provided by Author

 

About the author

author picGrowing up a TV junkie, AE Jones oftentimes rewrote endings of episodes in her head when she didn’t like the outcome. She immersed herself in sci-fi and soap operas. But when Buffy hit the little screen, she knew her true love was paranormal. Now she spends her nights weaving stories about all variation of supernatural—their angst and their humor. After all, life is about both…whether you sport fangs or not.
AE won RWA’s 2013 Golden Heart ® Award for her paranormal manuscript, Mind Sweeper. Mind Sweeper was also a 2015 RWA RITA® finalist for both First Book and Paranormal Romance.
AE lives in Ohio surrounded by her eclectic family and friends who in no way resemble any characters in her books. Honest. Now her two cats are another story altogether.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

 

 

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Take a Risk Bundle by Robin Bielman-Review and Book Tour

Take a Risk Bundle by Robin Bielman-Review and Book Tour

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$1.99 boxset deal: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

WORTH THE RISK
(Take A Risk #1)
by Robin Bielman

Original Release Date: April 2012
Re-Release: September 15, 2015 as part of the TAKE A RISK bundle by Robin Bielman

ABOUT THE BOOK;

Their love was ancient history…until their paths crossed again.

Samantha Bennett put Dean Malloy out of her mind five years ago, when he broke her heart after a summer fling. But now he’s back in her life, and ready to steal a heritage protection contract that could make or break her career–if he doesn’t steal her heart first. Samantha’s vowed to hate him, but it’s more than anger heating the competition between them.

With sparks flying across the conference table and sizzling in every touch, Dean proposes a weekend liaison. Anything to have Sam again; anything to get her out of his system. But the unresolved feelings between them complicate both their personal and professional lives, and one wild weekend could turn into a disaster that would destroy the one job that means more to Samantha than anything. For a shot at love…is it worth the risk?

REVIEW: WORTH THE RISK is the first installment in Robin Bielman’s adult, contemporary Take A Risk romance series. The series focuses on The World Heritage Fund which specializes in the restoration and preservation of historic sites and archaeological digs-a non profit organization dedicated to heritage protection. WORTH THE RISK follows restoration and preservation experts Samantha Bennett and Dean Malloy’s and the preservation of US Highway Route 66.

Told from dual third person perspectives WORTH THE RISK is a second chance storyline for Dean Malloy and Samantha Bennett. Dean and Sam haven’t seen one another for close to five years following the day Dean walked away without with explanation or future contact. Fast forward to present day where Dean and Samantha find themselves in a bidding war for the same restoration contract through World Heritage Fund, but Dean has an advantage-the company doing the hiring is Dean’s father’s company, but Sam believes her company-Global Site Preservation- is more than capable of handling whatever is offered.

The history between Dean and Sam is one of summer love and heartbreaking regret. Sam was devastated when Dean walked out of her life, and in the ensuing time she has never moved forward with her heart. Meeting Dean after all these years, brings back happy and familiar memories-ones she and Dean are hoping to make again. The $ex scenes are sensual and seductive. The flirty small talk was sexy and fun. There is no over the top graphic sexual imagery.

WORTH THE RISK is a quick read-a little longer than a novella with a reconciliation and a happily ever after. It is a story of second chances; environmental protection; and falling in love. The premise is interesting as the storylines focuses on the historic sites along Route 66; the characters are colorful and believable; the happily ever after and conflict are quick to resolve. The majority of the storyline focuses on the rekindling of the relationship between Sam and Dean.

 

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RISKY SURRENDER
(Take a Risk #2)
by Robin Bielman

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Original Release Date: August 2013
Re-release: September 15, 2015 in the TAKE A RISK anthology by Robin Bielman

Archeologist Lucy Davenport made a promise to retrieve an elusive piece of history buried in the walls of an iconic Indian village. But when she draws unwanted attention that interferes with her secret plans, she’s forced to risk it all with a man who threatens not only her goal, but the walls she’s carefully constructed around her heart.

Keats McCall is an environmental preservationist navigating the globe on behalf of heritage protection. When he catches Lucy at his latest project, he suspects she’s up to something. She’s secretive, sexy as hell—and has trouble written all over her. He devises a plan to keep her close so he can keep an eye on her. But what he isn’t prepared for is just how close he wants to get.

REVIEW: RISKY SURRENDER is the second installment (and novella) in Robin Bielman’s contemporary adult TAKE A RISK romance series. This is archeologist Lucy Davenport and environmental preservationist Keats McCall’s storyline. We were first introduced to Keats in book one Worth The Risk. RISKY SURRENDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives RISKY SURRENDER finds our heroine in a precarious position as she is tasked with seeking out rare finds and historical objects for a man whose reputation is less than worthy. Enter Keats McCall whose business is to protect the archeological and historical finds, and with it comes the suspicion that Lucy has not been honest about her appearance at Keats’s latest dig in an iconic Indian Village. What ensues is a building relationship, built upon a lie, that finds Keats and Lucy falling in love knowing that there is an expiry date upon their relationship when the truth about Lucy’s presence is finally revealed.

RISKY SURRENDER is a storyline wherein our heroine has lost everyone she has ever loved but has found herself in the unenviable position of retrieving the ‘unobtainable’ for a man who likes to collects things that are truly not collectable. Her latest task finds Lucy adhering to a promise she made to her late father but in the end old habits diehard when someone Lucy loves is threatened if she does not retrieve the latest, ancient artifact.

Lucy and Keats’s relationship begins with secrets and lies. Lucy is an archeologist who collects things for other people, and in this Keats sees Lucy as a thief and a threat. Their attraction to one another is immediate; the $ex scenes are seductive. Sam and Dean (WORTH THE RISK #1) make a cameo appearance for a bit of cohesion between stories. Like in the first storyline, there is no over the top graphic sexual imagery.

RISKY SURRENDER is another fast paced, easy read with adventure and the hunt for buried treasure but I felt the character development was a lacking due to the novella length storyline. I am not a fan of ‘info dumping’ but sometimes a couple of paragraphs about personal history and background goes a long pulling the reader into the story. Third person perspective allows for reflection and rumination, and there was room for a little more in Risky Surrender.

 

••••••••••••

HIS MILLION DOLLAR RISK
(Take a Risk 3)
by Robin Bielman

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Original Release Date February 9, 2015
Re-Release: September 15, 2015 as part of the TAKE A RISK bundle by Robin Bielman

Determined to make his latest preservation project on Route 66 a success, Connor Gibson will take any good press he can get. Even if it means spending a week with a reporter. And even if it’s one from a publication he has good reason to hate. Connor certainly isn’t expecting a spontaneous and undeniably attractive blonde who makes him seriously hot for the press…

Charlize Beckett is in deeeep trouble. This is her one chance to prove to her publisher dad that she’s a serious journalist, even if she has to pretend she’s someone else. Worse though, is trying to maintain any objectivity with the way too charming Connor. She can’t help but get into all kinds of sexy trouble with him. But by going off the record, Charlie is putting both her reputation and her heart on the line.

REVIEW:  HIS MILLION DOLLAR RISK is the third installment in Robin Bielman’s adult, contemporary Take a Risk romance series focusing on a tight knit group of friends. This is millionaire and preservationist Connor Gibson and journalist Charlize (Charli) Beckett’s storyline. Connor was quickly introduced in book two Risky Surrender. HIS MILLION DOLLAR RISK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from third person point of view, the storyline follows Charli as she sets out on a cross country journey along the infamous Route 66 with Connor Gibson. When Charli’s best friend and fellow journalist Ashley becomes ill, and is unable to travel, Charli jumps at the chance to fill in for her best friend’s assignment with Connor Gibson-an assignment that finds Charli impersonating Ashley in a case of mistaken identity. As Connor and Charli set out on their journey along Route 66, Charli will discover that her connection to Connor goes much deeper than an interview for a magazine. There is a tainted connection and history between our couple-one if discovered by Connor-could very well destroy Charli’s career and their building friendship.

The relationship between Charlize and Connor begins tentatively. Connor abhors journalists; his family history with the media predisposes his dislike for all things relating to interviews and journalism but his desire to promote the preservation of Route 66 finds him reluctantly allowing Charli along for the ride. Charli’s interview with Connor will reveal some secrets that hit too close to home. The developing friendship will quickly turn to lovers when our couple is confined with one another 24/7 but Charli’s continuous lie about her true identity is about to come crashing down and destroy her hopes for a future with the man with whom she is falling in love. The $ex scenes are passionate and moving.

The secondary and supporting characters include some of the colorful people Charli and Connor meet along Route 66. Charli’s BFF Ashley is but one phone call away at all times; and Connor’s friends will reveal Charli’s true identity.

HIS MILLION DOLLAR RISK is a fast paced, sweet but predictable read with a little bit of fun and romance, a little bit of $ex, and a little bit of historic scenery. Robin Bielman will captivate your imagination as your travel along with Charli and Connor down the infamous Route 66.

••••••••••

One Night of Risk
(Take a Risk Bundle 4)
by Robin Bielman
Release Date: September 15, 2015

With her mom sick, good girl Malia Davis has returned to Kauai in order do something bad-retrieve a piece of crystal believed to have healing properties. She thinks her only problem is accessing the “closed to the public” temple. She’s wrong. She has an even bigger problem-former Navy SEAL and security expert Clay Doherty, the guy who broke her heart ten years ago who she still wants. Certain that Malia is up to no good, Clay will do whatever it takes to protect her…even if it means losing her for good.

REVIEW: ONE NIGHT OF RISK is the fourth installment in Robin Bielman’s adult, contemporary TAKE A RISK romantic novella series focusing on the men who work for the World Heritage Fund- a non profit organization dedicated to heritage protection. This is yoga instructor Malia Davis, and Clay Doherty, former Navy SEAL and head of security for WHF. Clay was first introduced in book two Risky Surrender. ONE NIGHT OF RISK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives ONE NIGHT OF RISK is a second chance storyline for Malia and Clay. Ten years earlier Clay enlisted in the military, walking away from Malia, the woman he loved, without a word or a glance. Fast forward to present day and our heroine’s mother is ill. Malia has returned to Kauai in search of a Peridot Crystal long believed to be imbued with healing powers. But Clay is head of security at the Halia Alika Temple where Malia has set her sites on the ancient burial grounds in the hopes of unearthing the gemstone to potentially help heal her mother. What ensues is the rekindling of a romance, and Malia’s heartbreaking pain when she goes home empty handed-without the Peridot and without the man.

The relationship between Malia and Clay is one of love that has never faltered although Malia harbors hatred and sorrow for the decade she lost with the man that she once loved. The $ex scenes are provocative and steam, and a little more erotic than in the previous storylines.

All of the previous storyline couples play a secondary and supporting role as we get a glimpse into their current lives, expanding families and professions of love and a happily ever after.

____________________

Robin Bielman’s TAKE A RISK Bundle is engaging and impassioned. The premises are heartwarming, encouraging and inspiring; the characters are colorful and engaging; the happily ever afters are the stuff of fairy tales and hopeful futures. Each of our couples is fated by circumstance and passion with an intense love for the person who calls to their heart. The novellas are quick and easy reads with emotional fall outs and intense interactions but all are connected through the World Heritage Fund and the love of preservation and heritage protection.

Copy supplied through the tour operator as part of the TAKE A RISK bundle promotion.

excerpt

 

-From One Night of Risk Novella
He grinned and the potency of it stole her breath. His dimples should come with an advisory label: Will cause hearts to flutter and panties to spontaneously combust. “What about you?”
“What about me?” She swallowed the lump sitting in the back of her throat.
“You haven’t told me why you’re here.”
She took a step back. His intuitiveness made her jumpy. But worse, his nearness made her light-headed and warm in places she shouldn’t be. She seriously thought about stopping the conversation by flinging her arms around his neck and kissing him until talking was the last thing he wanted to do.
Which would be a huge mistake. She may secretly crave to be a little bit bad, and remember how good being bad with Clay had felt, but right now, given the situation with her mom, her emotions were too raw. She was too vulnerable.
“I’m here for a little R&R and to spend time with Kalani.” That’s what she’d told everyone. With a busy studio and all her free time spent with her mom, she did need a little mental break. A few days to lose herself.
You could lose yourself in Clay.
He narrowed his eyes and eliminated the space she’d put between them. “You also here to excavate?”
What?
His smug smile made her mad…and somehow hotter. Dammit, why did he have to make her feel stuff? Then he licked the pad of his thumb and proceeded to wipe the corner of her forehead. “You’ve got a little dirt here,” he said, his voice and touch equally seductive. “And”—he dropped his arm—“under your fingernails.”
She stared at him. For several long, agonizing seconds.
He could probably tell her what color her bra and panties were with his insane powers of deduction.
“Still the strong silent type when things get uncomfortable.” The annoyingly sexy turn of his lips grew a little bigger.

 

 

About The Author

Robin BielmanUSA Today Bestselling Author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and one crazy-cute dog who loves to chew on everyone’s socks. When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also likes to run, hike, eat cupcakes, and dip her toes in the ocean. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.

 

She loves to connect with readers. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter on her website at http://robinbielman.com.

Places to find Robin Bielman:

Website/Facebook/Twitter/Goodreads/

 

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Claimed by the Mate Volume 1: BBW Werewolf Romance by Kate Douglas and A.C.Arthur – a review

CLAIMED BY THE MATE: Volume 1 (BBW Werewolf Menage 2 in 1 romance) by Kate Douglas and AC Arthur-a review

Claimed by the Mate

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 15, 2015

FERAL PASSIONS (A Feral Passions Novel) by Kate Douglas

Welcome to Feral Passions, a luxurious private resort nestled in a preserve and staffed by dangerously sexy men, making it a haven for women who want to get away from it all. But Feral Passions is a front for a deeper, sexier secret-it’s a hunting ground for these men. Men focused on meeting each woman’s every need. Men who are also the beautiful wolves running wild…and who are looking for mates.

Chereza Dubios is more comfortable solving math equations than she is with her voluptuous body and meeting men. But when her younger sister and best friend trick her into vacationing at Feral Passions, Cherry finds herself attracted and torn between two men who find her curvy body and intelligent mind irresistible. Two men who share a secret-they want to share her.

But that takes trust-can Cherry open herself to love with two sensual and powerful werewolves?

REVIEW: FERAL PASSIONS is the first installment in Kate Douglas’s new, contemporary adult Feral Passions erotic, paranormal romance series. Feral Passions focuses on the Feral Passions exclusive resort owned and operated by a pack of male wolf shifters looking for mates. This is wolf shifters, best friends and lovers Cain and Brad, and human female Chereza (Cherry) Dubios’s storyline.

NOTE: FERAL PASSIONS is a ménage romance with graphic depictions of MM, MFM, and MMF sexual situations.

Cherry is a woman whose self esteem and self confidence has been low for a number of years due to her size and a horrific, sexual experience and bullying in high school. Along with her sister Christa, and Christa’s best friend Steph, the three women have booked a week’s stay at Feral Passions Resort where each will meet their future but not necessarily what each had expected. The storyline follows the building relationship between Cherry, Brad and Cain, as well as getting a glimpse into Christa’s new found relationship with Steph and two other wolf shifters (Wils and Ronan) who believe they have found their future mates. Cherry is a strong, independent woman who loves to read paranormal romance storylines, and in this Cherry begins to suspect that the men of Feral Passions are not what they appear to be.

FERAL PASSIONS is an entertaining and easy read; an erotic, paranormal storyline with a little bit of humor, passion, $ex and a happily ever after with very little conflict or angst-in fact, the conflict(or misunderstanding) was but a blip on the radar and for all intents and purposes was unnecessary and quick to resolve.

•••••••••

THE ALPHA’S WOMAN (A Wolf Mates Novel) by A.C. Arthur

Kira Radney is all delicious curves and strong will and has no desire to be a subservient mate. When a member of her father’s pack attempts to make her his mate by force, Kira has no choice but to flee. The last thing she wants is to submit to any male and their pack. But when her escape attempt leads her straight into the arms of an alpha wolf-a sexy, dangerous, protective alpha-Kira must fight against her need to be free, and her secret desire to be controlled…

REVIEW: THE ALPHA’S WOMAN is the first installment in A.C.Arthur’s WOLF MATES paranormal romance series. This is Blaez and Kira’s storyline- a tale steeped in mythology, a hierarchal society, and a history that goes back hundreds if not thousands of years. The storyline does not focus on shifter wolves but a hybrid species with supernatural powers, increased speed and special abilities.

Kira is an alpha female who is on the run in the hopes of staying one step ahead of her father and his pack. With the recent ‘accidental death’ of her mother, Kira’s future is now in the hands of the males of her father’s pack-a father who is aware of his only child’s potential for great power and rule. Finding herself a ‘virtual’ prisoner of an enemy pack, Kira knows that to escape would mean years on the run ending with her death or imprisonment by the very people with whom she was raised. What ensues, is a slow building relationship between Kira and Blaez, and the revelation that Kira’s future and fate lies in the hands of the wolf with whom she is falling in love.

THE ALPHA’S WOMAN is a slow building storyline wherein Kira’s past, present and future are revealed a little at a time, and Blaez’s true nature and power is not revealed until the very end. There are hints and clues that point at the potential for greatness for both of our leading characters; and the storyline is awash in mythology, wolf lore, and the inception of shifters in a world run by gods and hybrids, wolves and humans. The $ex scenes are aggressive and erotic; consent is dubious on a couple of occasions.

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CLAIMED BY THE MATE is a two part paranormal, romance anthology with pluses and minus that affected my enjoyment or lack there of. Each author and storyline is different in voice, content, structure and writing style. The BBW aspect is addressed in FERAL PASSIONS wherein the heroine’s self esteem and lack of confidence is measured by her size and perceived lack of beauty and attraction by the opposite sex. THE ALPHA’S WOMAN barely touches upon the BBW except to offer up a derogatory comment by the heroine’s pack members who are disgusted by the size of her hips and a$$. In both storylines the big and beautiful woman is the object of ridicule and derision before eventually finding someone who accepts the heroine for all of her perceived faults and extra pounds. I am not a big fan of the BBW storylines as the attitudes about size and beauty add fuel to the perceived notion of fat shaming in modern society regardless of the inevitable happily ever after at the end-it is the path towards happiness that is doused in shame and self deprecation. And if a size 16 is considered too big to be loved, then we all have bigger issues at hand.

FERAL PASSIONS is more fluff than substance focusing on the erotic nature of the ménage love affair; THE ALPHA’S WOMAN is not a ménage storyline but a story steeped in tradition and lore, and finding the one woman ‘selected’ to be the other half of your soul.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Heat of the Moment (The Boys of Summer 3) by Katie Rose-a review

THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT (The Boys of Summer #3) by Katie Rose-a review

The Heat of the Moment

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 22, 2015

The Boys of Summer are back! In Katie Rose’s sweet, sparkling novel, the newest New Jersey Sonic falls for the woman who’s trying desperately to save his career.

Physical therapist Jessica Hart has learned her lesson: Never date professional athletes. She’s been down that road, and barely recovered after the relationship crashed and burned. Then Jessica meets Gavin King. An All-Star slugger with chiseled good looks, Gavin was traded to the Sonics because he hurt his knee sliding into second, and now his future is in her hands. Gavin’s no bad boy—but he’s tempting enough to make Jessica think twice about all her rules.

Gavin is trying to find a comfortable routine. If he wants his old life back, he must take it easy, stay out of the limelight, and keep his distance from gorgeous redheaded physical therapists. The thing is, Gavin isn’t the kind of guy to sit on his ass and let other people pull his weight. And when he sees something he wants, he can’t help but fight for it, even if it means risking everything, even if it only lasts a single moment: like one kiss from Jessica.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT is the third installment in Katie Rose’s contemporary, adult THE BOYS OF SUMMER romantic sports series focusing on the New Jersey Sonics baseball team. This is professional baseball player Gavin King, and physical therapist Jessica Hart’s storyline. THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT follows the rehabilitation of big league slugger Gavin King. Gavin’s near career -ending injury has found our storyline hero in the unenviable position on the DL –Disabled List- as he endures months of physical therapy due to the invasive surgery of repairing the meniscus in his knee. The potential for the injury to destroy his career has landed the once a-list player as the newest member of the struggling New Jersey Sonics following a trade from one of the top rated teams. What ensues is the building relationship between physical therapist Jessica Hart-a young woman who has been burned by a previous relationship with a former Sonics player.

Jessica and Gavin’s attraction to one another is immediate and intense but our storyline heroine wants nothing to do with another professional baseball player. Her previous relationship disaster has left Jessica jaded in the face of a potential love match with Gavin King. Gavin’s history of dating fashion models finds Jessica struggling with self esteem issues about her own beauty and body type. As Gavin continues to pursue Jessica in the hopes of something more, Jessica begins to pull back believing their relationship will end in heartbreak for our storyline heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate without the over the top erotic factor-quite vanilla in context and description.

Most of the secondary and supporting characters include the members of the New Jersey Sonics including Darcy and Chase (Bring on the Heat #1) who are preparing for their upcoming nuptials, and Nikki and Jake (Too Hot to Handle #2). Several of the team management and PT staff are present, as well as both Gavin and Jessica’s exes who are looking for a second chance. Jessica and Gavin’s extended families play a supporting role including Jessica’s brothers who want to know Gavin’s intentions with their little sister.

The storyline premise is interesting although a little slow to build as we follow weeks to months of physical therapy for our storyline hero. The writing is simple although the author has done some research as it pertains to the physical therapy and sports related injuries. The characters are well developed, colorful and believable. The conflict is quick to resolve but in all honesty our heroine is the root cause of most of the storyline anxiety-Jessica has issues of trust, and in this, her immaturity is a point of contention for this reader: any threats to Gavin and Jessica’s relationship are blown out of proportion by the perception of betrayal and the possibility of second chances for Gavin and his ex.

THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT is a light read with a little bit of everything: $ex, romance, conflict, fun and falling in love. There are no complicated scenarios; no mind blowing issues of dark demons or past histories with devastating actions. It is a story about two people who meet under professional circumstances and fall in love.

The Boys of Summer

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Bring on the Heat
Too Hot To Handle
The Heat of the Moment

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Tempest Rising (Rising Storm: Episode 1) by Julie Kenner-a review

TEMPEST RISING (Rising Storm: Episode #1) by Julie Kenner -a review

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TEMPEST RISING
Rising Storm Episode #1
by Julie Kenner
Genre: adult, contemporary, fiction

Tempest Rising

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 24, 2015

Secrets, Sex and Scandals …

Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy… Get ready. The storm is coming.

Nestled among rolling hills and painted with vibrant wildflowers, the bucolic town of Storm, Texas, seems like nothing short of perfection.

But there are secrets beneath the facade. Dark secrets. Powerful secrets. The kind that can destroy lives and tear families apart. The kind that can cut through a town like a tempest, leaving jealousy and destruction in its wake, along with shattered hopes and broken dreams. All it takes is one little thing to shatter that polish.

Ginny Moreno didn’t mean to do it, but when she came home to Storm, she brought the tempest with her. And now everyone will be caught in its fury…

•••••••••••••••••

REVIEW:  TEMPEST RISING by Julie Kenner is the first installment in the multi-authored RISING STORM episodic serial focusing on the people of small town Storm, Texas.

Told from several third person points of view TEMPEST RISING is the premier storyline that introduces the ensemble cast of characters from Storm, Texas-their loves, their lies, their secrets, and their dark and dangerous pasts.

Ginny Moreno and Jacob Salt are college students returning home for summer vacation when the unthinkable happens throwing the town into turmoil, exposing secrets , lies, deceit and betrayal behind the closed doors and quiet façades. From the local Sheriff who’s in love with a married woman in an abusive relationship to a college student who hides a secret affair, TEMPEST RISING and thusly Rising Storm reads like a ‘soap opera’-a ‘Peyton’s Place’-where nothing is as it seems, betrayal and lies are a fact of life, and everyone has secrets that will destroy their lives.

The premise follows several building storylines; the characters are charismatic, colorful and hiding a lifetime of lies; their secrets are dangerous and many. Welcome to Storm, Texas where the weather is about to get ugly!

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

About the author

J.KennerJ. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres. Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.

Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing. JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for him.” A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries. In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

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Takes Two To Tackle (Santa Fe Bobcats #3) by Jeanette Murray-a review

TAKES TWO TO TACKLE (Santa Fe Bobcats #3) by Jeanette Murray-a review

Takes Two to Tackle

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 15, 2015

Sometimes faking it is your only option…

Football player Stephen Harrison has hit rock bottom—he’s fresh out of rehab, lost too much weight to be an effective offensive lineman, and has no support system in place. The Bobcats staff suggests he get a life coach to keep him sober and get him back into playing shape, but Stephen says his girlfriend will help. Too bad he doesn’t have one…

Luckily for Stephen, he does have a housekeeper. Margaret has always dreamed of starting her own elite cleaning service, and the money Stephen offers her to play the part of girlfriend is too good to pass up. But while Mags is helping Stephen bulk up and get ready for training camp, she can’t seem to block the feelings crashing into her heart. And one night of passion will pull both of their heads out of the game.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: TAKES TWO TO TACKLE is the third installment in Jeanette Murray’s contemporary, adult SANTA FE BOBCATS erotic romance series focusing on the men and women of the Santa Fe Bobcats professional football team. This is offensive lineman Stephen Harrison, and housekeeper Margaret Logan’s storyline. TAKES TWO TO TACKLE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives TAKES TWO TO TACKLE focuses on Stephen Harrison’s physical and emotional recovery following a three month stint at rehab for alcohol abuse. Without any means of personal support at home, Stephen lies to the Santa Fe Bobcat staff saying his ‘girlfriend’ will aid in his at-home recovery. Enter Margaret Logan-Stephen’s part time housekeeper- and the woman who will steal his heart. Stephen offers Margaret a business arrangement whereby he will double her wages if she pretends to be his live-in girlfriend. There is an expiry date on their ‘faux’ relationship, and with it will come heartbreak and the loss of friendship and love.

TAKES TO TWO TACKLE looks at the long road to recovery as Stephen’s cravings increase with exposure to his ‘drug’ of choice. While the other players enjoy a beer or two with friends, Stephen craves what it is he cannot have.

The relationship between Stephen and Mags begins as employee/employer to friends to something more. Mags (as she likes to be called) is a part time housekeeper for a number of Stephen’s teammates, and in this many of the players and their wives have grown close to the woman that Stephen wants to call his own. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.

Many of the previous storyline couples and characters play secondary and supporting roles. We are re-introduced to Cassie and Trey (One Night With a Quarterback #1), and Aileen and Killian (Loving Him Off The Field #2). There is some personal trouble brewing for the Santa Fe Bobcats head coach, and his two youngest daughters will begin to act out accordingly, looking for support from an outside source. Cassie’s friend Anya arrives in time to save Mags from a fashion disaster. Anya and Josiah’s story is next-ROMANCING THE RUNNING BACK.

TAKES TWO TO TACKLE continues to focus on the Santa Fe Bobcats professional football team: the players, the girlfriends and wives, the staff, the media and game day excitement. Jeanette Murray pulls the reader into the locker room, onto the field, and behind the scenes as the players navigate the world of professional sports. We are witness to Stephen’s struggles as he endeavors to regain some of the weight and muscle he has lost, as well as staying sober to maintain his position on the team and a positive direction in life.

Jeanette Murray writes a story about two people with issues of betrayal; personal insecurities; and professional demons. The premise is entertaining with some moments of fun and humor; the characters are likeable, colorful and realistic; the romance is slow to build with a happily ever after.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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